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-- PostgreSQL database dump
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-- Started on 2008-08-13 23:46:15

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SET default_tablespace = '';

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-- TOC entry 1515 (class 1259 OID 59675)
-- Dependencies: 3
-- Name: e_editorial; Type: TABLE; Schema: public; Owner: postgres; Tablespace: 
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ALTER TABLE public.e_editorial OWNER TO postgres;

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-- Data for Name: e_editorial; Type: TABLE DATA; Schema: public; Owner: postgres
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COPY e_editorial (accessionno, reference, baselanguage, byline, headline, leadparagraph, pages, publicationdate, publishername, publishergroupname, publishergroupcode, sourcename, sourcecode, tailparagraphs, volume, sectionname, corrections, contact, edition, notes, wordcount, otherdate, otheracn) FROM stdin;
YOMSHI0020071231e4110000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071231e4110000g	EN	\N	Japan faces multipolar world	The position held by the United States as the sole superpower is being shaken, revealing bit by bit the emergence of a multipolar world.	4	2008-01-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The growing uncertainty in the status of the United States is not solely attributable to a decline in international trust in that country as a result of its unwise decisions and conduct in connection with the Iraqi war. An even more essential factor is a decline in the prestige long held by the U.S. dollar as the world's key currency.The euro, the single currency used by 13 European Union nations, has been steadily gaining strength on the international market, and has established itself as the world's second key currency. In fact, oil producers in the Middle East are gradually shifting from the dollar to the euro as a new dependable currency, while further increasing their already massive financial assets as a result of a sharp rise in crude oil prices.To be more exact, these nations now have a portion of their assets in euros. China is following suit as the largest holder of foreign currency reserves in the world.Russia--which has acquired deep pockets partially thanks to a windfall in crude oil income in recent years--also is worth noting. The nation has reversed its conciliatory attitude toward the United States exhibited since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, Russia is poised to pit itself against the United States, apparently striving to revive its erstwhile status as a political superpower.Meanwhile, China has enjoyed sizzling economic growth in recent years. This growth has been so rapid that its economy is predicted to exceed Japan's within a few years if things go well, and become the world's second-largest economic power. China's economic growth has been accompanied by a sharp buildup in its military. China could one day emerge as another pole to rival the United States as a military power.People began to talk about the "BRICs" about four years ago. BRICs stands for Brazil, Russia, India and China and the coinage was made as a prediction that these countries would grow into major economic powers by 2050.According to that projection, China would replace the United States as the world's largest economy in about 40 years. The United States would be second, putting India--which has a population to rival China's--at third.Relations with China importantA more recent projection puts Mexico above Russia in the ranks. Whatever the case, both China and India are bound to emerge as new poles that would reduce Japan to a less prominent economic presence in the world.In 1995, China was already ahead of Japan in purchasing power parity, becoming the world's second-largest by that standard, according to one economic report. The report adds India outstripped Japan in this respect to become the world's third-largest in 2006.The ongoing change in the global power balance may be accompanied by twists and turns and friction among nations. The most formidable challenge facing Japan's foreign policy will be how to deal with China as it emerges as a new pole; that is, how to build "strategically mutually beneficial relations."Still, the foundation of this country's foreign policy--its relationship with the United States--will remain unchanged. Japan must keep its alliance with the United States intact in the foreseeable future. This also will be essential when it comes to keeping this nation's ties with China on a proper keel.This line of reasoning seems to be reflected in Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's call for keeping Japan's alliance with the United States and its relations with Asian neighbors "synergistic."There are concerns that China's rise as a new global power could make the United States less interested in Japan.U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., a candidate for the 2008 U.S. presidential election, has attracted attention with the remark that effectively said the most important bilateral relationship for the United States in the 21st century is with China.Japan-U.S. alliance a cornerstoneNo matter who becomes the next U.S. president, the United States has every reason to regard its relations with China as the most important, if it considers its foreign policy from a medium- and long-term perspective.To maintain relations with the United States as its most important ally, Japan must further step up diplomacy toward achieving that goal, while also shouldering burdens commensurate with this determination.The basis of Japan's efforts to conduct flexible diplomacy--whether in dealing with the United States or China and other Asian countries--is political stability at home. Any turmoil in this country's domestic politics would undermine the credibility behind any statements and pledges made to the rest of the world, and would undermine diplomatic clout.However, this country's current political situation is a far cry from being satisfactory. The opposition camp retains a majority in the House of Councillors, while the ruling parties have an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives.Under this unusual power relationship in the Diet, political leaders are finding it difficult to make swift decisions about important affairs facing this country both at home and abroad. This has been symbolized by protracted confusion over the submission of a new government-sponsored antiterrorism bill aimed at resuming refueling activities in the Indian Ocean.This legislative morass also has been accompanied by a delay in reforming the tax and fiscal systems--a pressing issue that needs to be addressed by the government--while also fundamentally fixing troubled social security systems. The task of tackling these problems has been put off because of the calculated motives held by both the ruling and opposition parties in seeking to win the next lower house election.Social security mechanisms can only endure if they are supported by sound and stable financial resources. State coffers are bound to run out someday if a rise in social security costs cannot be offset by hikes in tax and other sources of revenue. If state finances collapse, social security systems will be doomed to fail, too.The government budget for fiscal 2008 incorporates about 22 trillion yen in social security spending. The figure accounts for one-fourth of general account expenditures. A natural increase in such government spending as a result of the rapidly graying of the population is predicted to come close to 1 trillion yen. The figure is set to stay at that level for the foreseeable future.Meanwhile, the government's debts have surpassed a figure more than 10 times its annual tax revenue, and it continues to grow. The government must pay about 9.3 trillion yen in debt-servicing costs each year.Fiscal, social security systems at riskFor years, the government has sought to curtail an increase in social security-related spending, while unsure about how, and if, it will be able to raise funds for a continuous rise in social security costs.However, the consequence of repeated dependence on such an approach is extremely disturbing. Many people are not only concerned about the future of the state-run pension plan. They also have expressed anxiety that the social security systems in their entirety--medical and nursing care insurance services included--risk collapse.An increase in the consumption tax rate--that is, a rise in financial burdens shouldered by all members of the public--will be the only practical way to replenish state coffers. Both the ruling and opposition parties are fully aware that there is no other way to overcome current fiscal straits. However, they have shied away from fundamental reforms.German Chancellor Angela Merkel's experience may be helpful in this respect. In 2005, the Christian Democratic Union, the then opposition party led by Merkel, won the country's general election despite a seemingly unpopular promise to voters: a plan to raise the value-added tax, Germany's equivalent of the consumption tax.No one welcomes a tax increase. But the victory by Merkel's party demonstrated that Germans understood the importance of raising taxes.Government must show resolveThere is no reason to believe Japanese are unable to understand the need to raise the consumption tax, provided the government adequately explains the necessity of doing so and what kind of social welfare system will emerge in the future.A task of immediate importance to be tackled by the Fukuda administration is to tell the nation and the world that the government is firmly determined to grapple difficult problems it faces. We believe the government should decisively implement policies necessary for properly dealing with other countries, addressing fiscal problems and improving people's lives.This also is true regarding bills submitted to the Diet for such purposes. If necessary, the government should take advantage of a provision stipulated in the Constitution that permits a bill, even if it is rejected or not put to a vote when sent to the upper house, to be adopted into law through a second vote in the lower house, provided it gets a two-thirds majority. The new antiterrorism bill should not be the only piece of legislation deemed needing this constitutional clause.The prime minister has no reason to fear a censure motion by the opposition camp. The two-thirds clause is a rule laid down by the Constitution. A censure motion has no such legal weight. Neither the Constitution nor the Diet Law provides for such a right. A censure motion does not even begin to compare with the weight carried by a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet.Current lower house members have another two years to serve. There is no reason for an early dissolution of the lower house for a general election.Needless to say, determined efforts by the government to implement key policies and pass important bills must be complemented by an attempt to adequately explain to the public why they are needed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 1, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1694	2008-01-01	YOSHIN0020080104e4110006v
YOMSHI0020080103e41300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080103e41300001	EN	\N	How can Japan avoid catching U.S. cold?	The world economy appears to have achieved steady growth at the 5 percent level in real terms in 2007. Although the economies of Japan, European nations and the United States slowed down, those of the BRIC nations--Brazil, China, India and Russia--maintained double-digit growth, compensating for the floundering economies of the developed countries.	4	2008-01-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The International Monetary Fund has forecast that global economic growth will edge down to the 4 percent level. This is because Japanese, European and U.S. economic growth is expected to hover at a low level of about 1 percent to 2 percent, as they did last year, shackling the global economy.The most pressing concern is the possible stalling of the U.S. economy, which was the epicenter of the subprime mortgage loan turmoil after a housing bubble burst.U.S. gross domestic product in the July-September quarter rose 4.9 percent from the previous quarter. However, deterioration of the housing market likely will cool consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of GDP. There is a strong possibility that the U.S. economy, though appearing stable on the surface, has already begun tumbling.Subprime fears persistCollateralized debt obligations, a type of securities backed by subprime loans, were sold around the world. U.S. and European financial institutions are saddled with massive losses due to a rapid expansion in the number of uncollectible housing loans.Due to concern that the whole picture of the losses incurred due to the subprime problem has yet to be revealed, unrest still persists in the global securities and financial markets.A prolonged adjustment in the U.S. economy will adversely affect the economies of Asian countries, with Japan and China at their center, which depend on exports to the United States. There are signs that the previously solid European economy is running out of steam as the U.S.-originated subprime loan woes have spread.A possible hard landing for the overheated Chinese economy and the bursting of its bubble would certainly deal another blow to the Japanese economy.Some people advocate the "decoupling theory," which says that high economic growth in emerging countries fully offsets stagnation in developed countries. But overoptimism on this point must be avoided.To prevent the subprime loan disruption from entering a vicious circle and becoming prolonged, the problem must be put under control. Only by doing so can the global economy be put back on a stable course.Last year, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board shifted to a monetary-easing policy and lowered the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point to 4.25 percent. Coordinating with the European Central Bank and others, the Fed poured a massive amount of funds into the short-term money market.Where is the dollar headed?With the aim of stabilizing the market and propping up the economy, the Fed is considering a further rate cut. But many within the Fed are cautious about another rate cut due to inflation concerns. The Fed also needs to strengthen its policy coordination with the Bank of Japan and the ECB. The Fed's careful steering of financial policy is critically important to prevent the U.S. economy from stalling.A potential risk involving the global economy is that confidence in the U.S. dollar, a key currency, has begun to waver.The euro, the European unified currency launched in 1999, has emerged as an important global currency remarkably quickly due to the fact that the European economy is becoming more and more powerful. With Cyprus and Malta having joined the eurozone, the area has expanded to comprise 15 countries. The value of the euro, a junior key currency, has risen to a record high against the dollar and yen.The dollar accounted for 71 percent of the world's foreign currency reserves in 2001, but the figure had fallen to 65 percent by 2007, while the euro's share of global foreign currency reserves rose from 19 percent to 25 percent during the same period. More countries may abandon the dollar and its value may further depreciate this year.When confidence in the dollar was high, the United States compensated for its huge current account deficit with inflows of funds from Japan, China and Middle Eastern countries. The long-term interest rate in the United States has therefore remained stable at a low level, and high economic growth was maintained. A change in the money flow would break this virtuous cycle.Reform of the Chinese yuan is another focus of attention this year. Rising prices are becoming conspicuous in China. Correcting economic distortions and cooling down the overheated economy are necessary to stem inflation. A further revaluation of the yuan is desirable for achieving a soft landing and bringing the economy onto a stable growth course.Meanwhile, crude oil prices have surged close to $100 per barrel, increasing inflationary pressures around the world. The main factor pushing up oil prices is speculative funds and surplus funds that are flowing into oil markets. Behind this is China's determination to obtain a large slice of natural resources and growing resource nationalism in Russia and some other countries.These huge amounts of funds have grown to be a "monster" in the global economy. They include oil money from petroleum-producing countries in the Middle East and sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), state-affiliated funds of countries such as China, which has foreign currency reserves worth a massive $1.4 trillion, swollen through currency intervention.SWFs of the United Arab Emirates, China and other countries have provided an enormous amount of cash for major European and U.S. financial institutions that were suffering from a scarcity of capital due to the subprime loan problem. These funds are to be welcomed at this juncture, at least, as a "messiah" that appears to be contributing to market stabilization.State money presence biggerHowever, this type of fund has strengthened the presence of state funds in the financial market very quickly. SWFs are expected to expand further in size. Their moves in the mergers and acquisition market likely will draw attention as well. How can state funds be controlled to prevent them from becoming a risk factor? That is a tough challenge facing the global economy.In the field of commerce, an early agreement needs to be reached at the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization, which remains deadlocked. Meanwhile, movements toward bilateral and regional economic partnership agreements are accelerating. Japan should solve a pending issue--strengthening the international competitiveness of its agricultural sector--and promote market opening.To achieve sustained growth, Japan, whose population is shrinking, must have a basic strategy as a trading nation to survive in the global market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 3, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1155	2008-01-03	YOSHIN0020080104e413000ip
YOMSHI0020080104e41400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080104e41400001	EN	\N	Weakened superpower harms world stability	The biggest factor behind this insecurity is the wobbling status of the United States, which as the only superpower once looked as if it was establishing an era of of a unipolar world with its overwhelming strength.	4	2008-01-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Apart from its fumbles in Iraq and other places, the rocky status of the United States is consequential because China and Russia are attempting to expand their international influence, with an aim of becoming other poles that can challenge Washington's dominance.The rise of China is creating changes in East Asian regional power balance.In the seven years since George W. Bush became president of the United States, the biggest trading partnership for Japan and South Korea has shifted from the United States to China. As for military power, China's rapidly increasing naval strength has been felt in the western Pacific--the most strategically important area of operations for the U.S. 7th Fleet.Russia making comebackLooking at Europe, the resurgence of Russia looms large. Under the direction of President Vladimir Putin, the nation has been achieving an annual economic growth rate of nearly 7 percent. Escalating oil prices have helped amplify the might of Russia's resuscitated economy. Russia is ranked third in the world in foreign exchange reserves, behind China and Japan. Some observers predict that in about a decade, Russia will have caught up with Britain and France in economic power.Backed by its strengthening influence on European countries as the supply source of crude oil and natural gas, Russia is taking a more confrontational stance against the United States.Despite the growing influence of China and Russia to change the world's strategic balance, they still lack the strength on a global scale to take responsibility for smooth international relationships.Among the major powers, only the United States is capable of playing a leading role for peace and stability in the world.However, the Bush administration, which is now in its last full year, seems more and more to be losing its leadership.A crisis appears to be spreading from the Middle East to South Asia. It is fueled by the chaotic situation in Iraq, which seems to have little prospect of being resolved; the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, which is in the forefront of the war against terrorism; and by political instability in neighboring Pakistan.In addition, the path to solving North Korea's nuclear issues still is strewn with obstacles.The turmoil in Iraq symbolizes the United States' declining prestige. To revive its dignity and power, the United States, first and foremost, should bring stability to Iraq.Last year's increase in U.S. troops sent to Iraq helped bolster security there. By July, Bush plans to withdraw about 30,000 of its 35,000 reinforcements from Iraq.Work on Iraqi, Afghan orderHowever, with stability in Iraq still remote, maintaining security in Iraq depends on the presence of the U.S. military.Another concern is that the Al-Qaida terrorist organization and the Taliban insurgency are regaining power in Afghanistan. There is currently discussion of sending reinforcements from the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the country.While efforts continued to stabilize Afghanistan, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in neighboring Pakistan--a vital "rear base" in the war on terrorism. The assassination has thrown Pakistan into confusion. Pakistan, the only Islamic nation with nuclear weapons, casts a shadow on the situation in Afghanistan.If the United States fails in reconstruction and peace-building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, it will further destabilize not only the Middle East and Southwest Asia, but the whole of the international community. Japan and the international community as a whole should help the United States in working to reconstruct the two nations.For now, the United States has no choice but to station nearly 200,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, at an annual cost of nearly $200 billion (about \\23 trillion). That is a major burden for the U.S. government.Persuade North KoreaThe question is how this will affect the United States when it implements foreign and security policy in other regions. The United States may not have the funds to exercise its military force elsewhere.The six-party talks on North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear development programs are reaching a crucial stage, and U.S. pressure backed by potential military force serves as an important persuasive element in getting North Korea to decide to abandon its nuclear programs.Since Japan is directly threatened by North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles, Tokyo fears that Pyongyang may delay abandoning its nuclear development if Washington's clout weakens.North Korea has not yet disabled its nuclear facilities or declared all of its nuclear programs completely and correctly, which it had agreed to do by the end of last year under a six-party accord.Similar to Pyongyang's past approach with the administration of former U.S. President Bill Clinton eight years ago, it seems North Korea intends to play tough in order to win major concessions from the United States, knowing that it will have a new administration to deal with in about a year.It is vital to make North Korea realize that there is no future for the regime of Kim Jong Il without an abandonment of its nuclear programs.Japan must strengthen cooperation not only with the United States but also with China and Russia, to form a firm alliance against North Korea. Japan must draw up a strategy to realize North Korea's denuclearization and cooperate with those nations concerned to bring it about.Regain diplomatic cloutJapan should now become more assertive in the international community by resolving domestic political and economic turmoil and becoming more aggressively involved in international politics.Current overseas official development assistance, an extremely vital diplomatic tool for Japan, is only 60 percent of the ODA extended in the 1990s when the nation was No. 1 in the world in such funding. Japan now ranks third--the first time it has dropped to that level in 24 years. This weakens Japan's diplomatic clout.In addition, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean has been suspended, which has stirred doubts in international circles regarding Japan's stance on international peace cooperation activities.Japan is facing a difficult phase in a changing global situation. We have to bring together the wisdom of everybody to ensure we do not stray from the correct path.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 4, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1115	2008-01-04	YOSHIN0020080104e414000t6
YOMSHI0020080105e41500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080105e41500001	EN	\N	Vigilance required to keep economy on track	The subprime mortgage loan turmoil in the United States has buffeted the global economy. Crude oil prices soared to $100 a barrel Wednesday for the first time on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Political instability in some oil-producing nations has unnerved investors and tempted speculators to drive prices higher. All these are ingredients for a recipe for what could become a "third oil crisis."	4	2008-01-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The yen has sharply appreciated against the dollar on foreign exchange markets. Shares nosedived on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the year's first trading session Friday, with the Nikkei index at one point falling more than 700 points from its close on Dec. 28, the last trading day in 2007.How will the Japanese economy fare in 2008? Two issues must be overcome to prevent the economy from stalling and to ensure sustained economic growth.First, vitality must be restored to the household sector, which is an engine of economic growth along with the corporate sector. The current economic expansion, which started in February 2002, has surpassed the Izanagi boom, which ran from November 1965 to July 1970, as the longest postwar period of growth. Strong exports have boosted company earnings, which in turn have helped fuel the recent economic upswing.Bullish corporate performances were expected to trickle down to the household sector through higher wages and better employment conditions, but the benefits still seem intangible to many people. Conversely, in 2007, wages showed little indication of rising.According to a monthly survey by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the average total earnings of an employee working at an office with five or more employees has fallen every month on a year-on-year basis since December 2006.This drop can be attributed to the retirement of baby boomers, who received higher salaries, and the hiring of more nonregular employees, including low-wage part-time workers. In addition, small and midsize companies, whose earnings are being squeezed due to rising raw material costs, have been trying to hold down wages. Large companies that face cutthroat international competition also have been reluctant to increase personnel expenses.But signs of change are on the horizon. In late December, the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) issued a position paper in which it encouraged its member firms to raise wages. This is expected to prompt trade unions to step up their offensive in the annual spring wage negotiations.The decision to raise wages depends on the business judgment of individual companies. But without reenergizing the household sector, and the pay packets of company employees, the Japanese economy will not grow steadily. We hope companies that are able to improve their productivity and competitiveness will raise wages.Escaping from deflationThe government said last month the gross domestic product is projected to grow a real 2 percent and a nominal 2.1 percent in fiscal 2008. The government expects the country will be able to free itself from a situation in which economic expansion in real terms outpaces nominal growth--a symbol of deflation--for the first time in 11 years.The government also projected this situation could be resolved in its economic forecasts for fiscal 2006 and 2007. However, the economy failed to shed deflation because of extremely weak pressure to push up prices, aside from the impact of rising oil prices.Wage increases push up consumer spending, which in turn stimulates business activity. If this cycle takes hold while the corporate sector performs well, prices would edge upward. This would spell the defeat of deflation.The government and the Bank of Japan must do everything in their power to stay on this path. Monetary policy needs to become more cautious. When the government attempted to tighten regulations for building construction authorization, housing starts plummeted. It must be extremely careful not to bungle other policies that could cast a chill over the economy.Another item on the to-do list, albeit from a slightly longer perspective, is to juggle economic growth and fiscal reconstruction.Avoid handout policyLast year, sparks flew in the Liberal Democratic Party between lawmakers who prioritize economic growth and others who believe fiscal reconstruction should come before everything else. The former argue that tax increases should be averted by achieving higher growth, while the latter call for the restoration of fiscal health through such measures as an increase in the consumption tax rate.Achieving higher growth and restoring fiscal soundness are both indispensible for further economic development. To prevent the nation's shrinking workforce from taking the wind out of the economy's sails, it is necessary to improve productivity and reinforce elements that can help growth.Meanwhile, unless massive fiscal deficits are eliminated, or at the very least reduced, private funds would need to be siphoned off to make up for the deficits. This would sap the strength of the economy.Above all else, fiscal health must be restored. The economic slowdown has made for tepid tax revenue increases, leading to some predictions that the government will be unlikely to meet its target of achieving a surplus in the primary balance of central and local governments by fiscal 2011.The government cannot solely rely on expected increases in tax revenues that would accrue through higher growth rates. As society grays, social security costs will snowball. There is no time to waste for formulating measures, including an increase in the consumption tax rate, to restore fiscal health.The policy for achieving growth also should be gone over with a fine-tooth comb. From the viewpoint of seeking improvement in Japanese companies' international competitiveness, lowering effective corporate tax rates will be critical. To implement such measures, the nation must secure necessary financial reserves.The government is working to devise a new strategy for economic growth under the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. Government officials are expected to devise concrete measures centering on "finding links" between urban and rural areas; the elderly and the young; and big and small companies.Economic globalization and advances in information technology have widened income disparities, and the economic recovery has created gaps in sentiment between businesses in urban cities and those in rural areas. Efforts must be made to prevent those gaps from widening.But a handout policy to paper over the gaps or an industry policy in which the government issues prescriptions to help weak companies keep up with strong ones will not raise the nation's real economic ability. The government should take this to heart and implement effective measures aimed at improving corporate vigor and the quality of the labor force.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 5, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1140	2008-01-05	YOSHIN0020080105e415000gu
YOMSHI0020080106e41600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080106e41600001	EN	\N	'China problem' merits global attention	The Beijing Olympics will be held in August. It is 30 years since China introduced reform and open-door policies aimed at transforming itself into a market economy. The Olympic Games provide China with an excellent opportunity to showcase its rapid rise as a new power to its own people and to the rest of the world.	4	2008-01-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the autumn of 2007, China attracted the attention of the international financial community as it established a government-affiliated investment fund to manage its foreign exchange reserves, the largest held by a single nation, for diversified investment purposes. The move is part of an effort to turn China from the world's factory into a great investable economy. If "China money" comes into full play, the nation will be able to make its presence even more strongly felt in the global economy.On the other hand, the sudden expansion of China's national power has been causing serious problems both domestically and abroad. In China, there is no end to social concerns, such as the widening economic gap among the people, rampant corruption and the spread of pollution.International suspicionChina's industrial pollution is affecting neighboring countries, including Japan, and its expansion appears to know no national borders. China's disregard for human rights in its diplomatic efforts to secure resources overseas also is a lightning rod for criticism. International distrust of China's willingness to fulfill the global responsibilities that come with its power has been mounting.China faces the conundrum of whether it will be able to look directly at the "shadows" of its society and cope appropriately with potential crises that lurk at home and abroad.There is growing concern in the international community about the overheating of the Chinese economy, in large part due to the so-called money glut. Stock prices on the Shanghai market rose sixfold in the past two years. Fixed asset investment in 2007 is expected to increase by more than 25 percent on a year-on-year basis.Price levels are approaching the danger zone. The average price increase rate in 2007 remained at the 6 percent level from August and reflected the high cost of commodities for the first time in 11 years. In particular, food prices have increased in excess of 18 percent, putting pressure on China's poor. Inflation is directly tied to social concerns.In late 2007, the administration of Chinese President Hu Jintao made controlling the overheating economy and keeping inflation in check its top policy priority for 2008. It is natural for China to take such measures, but the problem is whether it will be able to achieve its aims.Hu's administration has steadily consolidated its power base. But local governments have a tendency to ignore the directions of the central government and put the highest priority on their local interests. The current restraint policy could prove fruitless due to local governments' two-faced attitude. To solve the fundamental problem of the money glut that is causing the economy to overheat, the yuan must be drastically revaluated.Float the yuanThe yuan rose about 7 percent against the dollar in 2007. But both China's trade surplus and foreign exchange reserves quickly built up. This is proof that the revaluation of the yuan must be carried out at a faster pace. The appreciation of the yuan should be an effective measure against high prices of commodities.A serious situation, such as the burst of the bubble economy, could come about if China attaches too much importance to the Beijing Olympics and its economic growth, stalling the restraint policy and revaluation of the yuan.If China's economy, the third-largest in the world after those of the United States and Japan, stumbles, the negative influence on the global economy could be huge. Japan needs to take concerted action with the United States and European countries and encourage China to act appropriately in its economic management.China's rise is changing the structure of international politics in the military and diplomatic realms as well as economic matters.Arms buildupChina's military spending has increased by double-digit percentages for 19 years in succession, according to figures announced by Beijing. The pace of the arms buildup has recently quickened. The Pentagon's annual report pointed out that the military balance between China and Taiwan is leaning toward China's superiority.Hu's administration, in its replacement of senior military officers in 2007, appointed many generals with experience related to military operations against Taiwan. The focus of the arms buildup and the personnel changes are likely intended as a warning to Taiwan over its strong aspirations toward independence.China's navy is strengthening its power to deploy farther afield. The navy has begun to speak openly of its need for an aircraft carrier. It also is notable that China is building up its missiles and strengthening its air power. The United States and other countries are becoming more wary about the purposes of China's military buildup as the size of its military expansion goes beyond the scope of the assumption of military operations against Taiwan.Military exercises with the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes Russia and several Central Asian nations, have every year increasingly taken on the color of a warning to the United States. There also are movements to make ports and harbors in Myanmar and Pakistan into Chinese military bases. China aims to secure sea lanes to transport crude oil from the Middle East and Africa.In the long run, China likely wants to become a pole to counter the United States, the world's preeminent superpower in both politics and security.China's most recent foreign policy forays have involved provision of massive economic assistance to secure resources in Africa and South America. The problem is that China's diplomatic approach runs counter to conflict resolutions and sometimes impairs the stability of the international order, as seen in China's assistance to Sudan even as fighting continues in the Darfur region.Threat to stabilityThe transparency of the Chinese military remains low.China drew international criticism in January 2007 when it tested an antisatellite weapon, destroying a target satellite with missiles. China's relations with the United States were shaken when it unexpectedly denied the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and other U.S. ships entry to Hong Kong three times in November 2007.In this instance, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates pointed out that the actions likely were decided by the military without informing the Chinese government. The same interpretation was applied in the case of a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine intruding Japanese territorial waters in November 2004. Such cases have sparked concern in the international community.China's expansion in every field, including the economic, political and military spheres, is contributing to instability in the region around China and the international community. The "China problem" will increasingly become a central issue for the entire international community.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1205	2008-01-06	YOSHIN0020080106e4160008c
YOMSHI0020080107e41700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080107e41700001	EN	\N	Alliance with U.S. still diplomatic linchpin	There are a number of problems that the nation cannot tackle on its own, such as how to eliminate North Korea's nuclear and missile threats; how to confront China's presence as it emerges as a major political, economic and military power; and how to engage in ongoing reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan as attacks continue by international terrorist groups across the globe.	4	2008-01-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since the end of World War II, Japan's diplomacy has consistently been anchored by its relations with the United States. To maintain the United States' formidable presence as a superpower--which includes the military deterrent that is the foundation of Japan's security and also key to international peace and prosperity--it is becoming more and more important to maintain the Japan-U.S. alliance.A stronger alliance with the United States involves proactive diplomacy that enables Japan to secure its national interests while closely working with the United States in policy coordination. This does not mean Japan blindly complies with any and all requests made by the United States.Be a partner, not a followerJapan and the United States together are pressuring North Korea to completely abandon its nuclear programs. But Pyongyang has yet to fulfill its promise to provide a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs as agreed under six-party talks. It is, however, continuing to develop nuclear weapons. If North Korea manages to produce small nuclear warheads able to be loaded onto a Rodong missile that can reach Japan, it would expose this nation to even more threats.The nuclear issue is mainly handled through bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea. Japan must urge the United States to press North Korea hard. The United States also should not treat lightly the potential removal of North Korea from the list of terrorist-sponsoring states before progress is made on the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korean agents.To deepen the alliance, it is important to make steady progress in the realignment of U.S. forces stationed in Japan and to promote defense cooperation regarding such matters as the establishment of missile shields and the formulating of cooperation plans in the event of emergencies in areas surrounding Japan.It also is necessary to review the government's contradictory interpretation of the Constitution regarding the nation's right to collective self-defense, which states the nation possesses that right but cannot exercise it. Following the submission of a report on the issue to be compiled soon by a government advisory panel, the government should start reviewing the current interpretation. If the government neglects to make these efforts, the Japan-U.S. alliance will be rocked, and weaken Japan's diplomatic clout.Keep China in mindCombined with a policy to seek stronger Japan-U.S. relations, the promotion of vigorous diplomacy in Asia serves as another linchpin in foreign policy under the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. The core of this diplomacy can be found in Japan-China relations.During Fukuda's visit to China late last month, the two nations made agreements on such issues as the expansion of youth exchanges, but they failed to settle an ongoing dispute over gas field exploration in the East China Sea.What Japan and China should pursue is not merely a friendly relationship but a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship. What could the two nations do to produce results on economic, energy and environmental issues while managing to go beyond differences in strategic approaches? Chinese President Hu Jintao's first visit to Japan, expected this spring, will serve as a touchstone of this.It is essential to encourage China to act responsibly as a member of the international community.Military exchanges through reciprocal visits of naval vessels and other means should be made to help establish a favorable security environment in the region. While seeking more transparency on China's military spending, which has registered double-digit growth for the 19th year in a row, we should pay close attention to China's real reasons for modernizing and expanding the scope of naval and air force operations.It also is important that improvements be made in Japan-South Korea relations, which stalled under the administration of President Roh Moo-hyun. President-elect Lee Myung Bak has indicated he would review South Korea's current conciliatory policy toward North Korea. Tokyo and Seoul should bolster bilateral cooperation to tighten the noose around Pyongyang.=Define SDF's roleAt the Group of Eight major nations summit meeting to be held in July at Toyakocho, Hokkaido, it will be crucial for Japan as the host to be aware that it plays a key role in ensuring stability in Asia--such as through arranging talks between G-8 leaders with leaders of China and South Korea.In terms of security-related legislation, the nation urgently needs to establish a permanent law on the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel on overseas missions.Even if a new antiterrorism law is enacted that would allow the resumption of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean, the legislation will still expire in a year. There could be another considerable waste of political energy over extension of the mission.It is more rational to seek the establishment of a permanent law regarding the SDF's overseas missions, including the refueling operation.For the establishment of such a law, U.N. Security Council resolutions will be a key point of contention.Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa argues that the dispatch of SDF personnel should be limited to activities that are based on U.N. Security Council resolutions. In such cases, he argues, even activities that involve the use of force would not conflict with the Constitution. This would be a shift in the interpretation of the top law and is worthy of consideration.But the dangers associated with an approach that attaches supreme importance on the United Nations must be noted. The Security Council could be paralyzed by China or Russia exercising their veto powers.Japan should decide on its own initiative what international peace activities the nation participates in. Entrusting the Security Council to make decisions can be regarded as relinquishing use of its sovereignty. We should establish frameworks that enable the dispatch of SDF personnel for overseas missions with the approval of the Diet, regardless of whether the Security Council has adopted resolutions on such missions.Reform Defense MinistryThe SDF's overseas missions are limited to logistical support and humanitarian assistance. It is necessary to consider having security enforcement, escort services and vessel inspections added to these missions. By doing so, the SDF's participation in maritime interdiction operations in the Indian Ocean could be put on the table.The SDF's criteria on the use of arms should surely be reviewed when doing this. SDF personnel are currently allowed to use weapons only for self-defense and in emergency evacuations. Unless the criteria are revised to match international standards, which allow those engaged in peacekeeping activities to use arms to carry out their duties, SDF activities cannot be conducted safely and effectively.Drastic reform of the Defense Ministry also is a pressing issue.A series of scandals involving ministry officials came to light last year, such as the bribery case involving former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya and the leaking of information about the Aegis defense system. The ministry needs to work on concrete measures to reform defense equipment procurement systems and protect classified information, and implement them as soon as possible.Restoring public trust will be indispensable if the government wishes to devise the nation's new security policy and put it into practice.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 7, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1353	2008-01-07	YOSHIN0020080107e417000aw
YOMSHI0020080108e41800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080108e41800001	EN	\N	Political stalemate hurts nation, world	What should Japan do to fulfill the responsibilities befitting its status in the international community? How can the nation invigorate itself at a time when its population is rapidly graying as well as declining due to a dropping birthrate? How does Japan assure peace and security under the deteriorating situation in Asia, evinced by North Korea's nuclear development program and China's military buildup?	4	2008-01-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japanese politicians are now tasked with faithfully finding and implementing practical steps to solve these pressing issues.However, the present political landscape--with the ruling coalition in solid control of the House of Representatives and the opposition camp holding the reins in the House of Councillors--creates many hurdles for this country as it tries to make decisions.Crippling international effortsFor example, the enactment of a new antiterrorism law enabling the resumption of refueling missions by Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels in the Indian Ocean has been delayed into this year. After its passage possibly this week, the refueling mission is expected to resume in February, but the country's temporary withdrawal from the "war against terrorism" has undoubtedly let the international community down.Above all, the series of developments over the proposed new antiterrorism law has highlighted Japan's predicament of being unable to make key decisions required by the state to act responsibly as a member of the global community.If situations like this happen again, they will impair Japan's credibility and diminish its say in the international community.The upcoming ordinary Diet session is certain to be stormy, with bills for revising the Special Taxation Measures Law and other issues concerned with people's livelihood on the table.The Democratic Party of Japan is poised to oppose the government's plan to maintain the provisionally higher rates applied to the gasoline and some other taxes that are the main sources of revenue for the special road-related account.If the period for imposing the provisional tax rates expires, as it could at the end of March, gasoline prices will fall, but it will create a shortfall of about \\2.6 trillion in central, prefectural and municipal government budgets.If the bills to revise the Special Taxation Measures Law are enacted after the provisional tax rates are scrapped, gasoline prices will return to high levels. Should this occur, confusion would reign among consumers and municipal administrations.Get bills passed in DietThe Constitution stipulates that a bill passed by the lower house that the upper house rejects or does not vote on in 60 days can become law if approved by the lower house for a second time by a two-thirds majority of those present.The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito should enact the bill for a new antiterrorism law and revise the Special Taxation Measures Law without hesitation by this second-vote tactic if the DPJ sticks to its guns in the upper house. To prevent confusion from the expiration of the provisional tax rates, the government has to expedite the submission of bills to revise the taxation law so that the bills can be passed by the lower house, at an early date.The appointments of personnel requiring Diet approval is another problem. The lower house second vote method cannot be applied to personnel appointments, and the DPJ plans to reject the appointment of a former bureaucrat tipped as a promising candidate for Bank of Japan governor, whose current term expires in March.Depending on the DPJ's handling of the matter, this post charged with handling monetary policies could be left vacant. If this happens, it could compromise the managing of the economy, which is already facing uncertainties due to skyrocketing crude oil prices and problems over subprime loans in the United States.The DPJ is obliged to act responsibly as the largest party in the upper house. If it wants to be a ruling party, it should avoid unproductive confrontation in the Diet and try to find common ground with the ruling camp, through consultations, over issues related to national interests and the people's livelihood.Eschew partisan politicsPrime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa basically agreed to work on a grand coalition during their meeting last autumn. Their move was aimed at establishing a stable political system that could push forward important policies.Fukuda and Ozawa both sensed a brewing crisis in the current political situation, which has crippled the state's ability to make decisions, and believed something needed to be done to break the impasse. We believe it was natural for the party heads to be alarmed by the situation.The LDP and the DPJ must both tackle such issues as social security system reform, a consumption tax hike to finance the social security system and the enactment of a permanent law to enable the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel overseas.The government and ruling parties decided not to raise the consumption tax rate for fiscal 2008. Although they agree that such a hike is needed, their hands were tied given the opposition's control of the upper house. This was apparently the biggest factor prompting them not to raise the rate.In its outlines for tax reforms, the DPJ proposed that revenues from the consumption tax be used solely for social security purposes, but called for maintaining the current rate for now. It said the rate should be hiked only after sweeping reforms to the social security system have been made and after winning the "mandate of the people."If the two major parties dillydally and do not squarely face up to a consumption tax hike and other urgent tasks regarding tax, fiscal and social security, diplomatic and security issues, it will be the people who pay the price.New coalition inevitable?With the term for lower house members ending in September 2009, parties have already set their sights on the next lower house election.There is little reason for the LDP and New Komeito to rush into dissolving the lower house just yet, as they hold more than two-thirds of its seats--which is the number needed for the lower house to approve bills rejected by or left unvoted on by the upper house. Considering the myriad of pressing issues facing the nation, there is no need to be hasty and dissolve the lower house. This would only create a political vacuum.Under the current situation, however, the lower house can be dissolved at any time. Even if the ruling parties win in the next general election, it would be extremely difficult for them to secure more than two-thirds of the seats.On the other hand, if the DPJ secures a majority in the lower house, the DPJ will be the largest party in both chambers. But the DPJ would need to more than double its current number of lower house seats to secure a majority there.Ozawa himself admitted that it would be "extremely tough" for his party to secure on its own a majority in the chamber.Therefore, it appears almost impossible for both chambers to be controlled by the same camp even after the next general election. Furthermore, in a worst-case scenario that seems likely if an election is called, the ruling camp could lose its two-thirds majority and its ability to play its lower house second-vote card.That would only aggravate and prolong political gridlock. If that happens, it is certain calls for a new coalition will be made sooner or later.Prolonged political stagnation and confusion will put the stability of the people's livelihood and Japan's global status at risk.The biggest challenge for the nation's political world is to establish a system that can swiftly push through essential political actions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 8, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1327	2008-01-08	YOSHIN0020080108e418000ev
YOMSHI0020080109e41900002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080109e41900002	EN	\N	Fukuoka case illustrates complexities of law	Although the law must be applied punctiliously, many people must have felt dissatisfied with the length of the prison sentence.	4	2008-01-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The sentence differs significantly from what the prosecutors demanded--the maximum 25 years' imprisonment for dangerous driving resulting in death and injury, and violation of the Road Traffic Law.The 7-1/2-year sentence was given because the district court changed the charge from dangerous driving resulting in death and injury to professional negligence resulting in death and injury, saying the crash happened because the drunk driver failed to notice the vehicle in which the children were traveling because he was not paying due attention.A person who kills or injures a person while driving drunk need not necessarily be charged with dangerous driving resulting in death and injury. The district court judged the defendant "was not drunk to the extent that he was unable to drive normally."However, he had been drinking for about four hours at an izakaya pub and another establishment before he got in his car. The ruling recognized that the crash "was an accident waiting to happen."Given the circumstances, the couple who lost their three beloved children at a stroke cannot accept that the accident was due to simple negligence.Mixed bag of rulingsPolice officers and legal experts have long pointed out that deciding whether to apply the dangerous driving charge is no easy matter as it is difficult to establish a case on a charge of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury.The Fukuoka court's ruling demonstrated the high hurdles involved in applying the charge of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury.Before the crash, there were no signs that the defendant had fallen asleep at the wheel, and his vehicle did not veer from side to side. Police officers who went to the site noted he was "under the influence of alcohol" instead of "drunk" after concluding the defendant's verbal, behavioral and walking abilities were not significantly impaired, and after analyzing the alcohol content of his breath.The prosecutors argued that the defendant was severely drunk, and that the police failed to properly check his breath alcohol level and other indicators of the degree of his intoxication.In connection with the application of the charge of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury, there have been many cases in which prosecutors' demands and rulings handed down by courts at the district and higher levels have been significantly at variance. A February 2006 crash in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, in which four people died illustrates this point.Public mood has hardenedThe focus of the trial in that case was whether the defendant ignored a red traffic signal intentionally or as a result of negligence while driving drunk.In the trial, prosecutors sought a 20-year prison sentence on the charge of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury. The Nagoya District Court, however, handed down a six-year prison term by applying the charge of professional negligence resulting in death and injury. However, the Nagoya High Court nullified the lower court ruling and sentenced the defendant to 18 years in prison after reinstating the charge of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury.In June, the charge of negligent driving resulting in death and injury was introduced to replace that of professional negligence resulting in death and injury. The new charge carries a heavier penalty than the old one.The new charge was introduced after many serious accidents occurred in which the charge of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury could not be laid.Last month, the Amagasaki branch of the Kobe District Court handed a 23-year prison term to a man who caused a fatal accident while driving drunk. The ruling in that case pointed out that "people's awareness of the law has evolved to permit severer punishments [to be meted out] than before." This is an appropriate observation.Using the Fukuoka case as a lesson, momentum against drunk driving must be kept up.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 9, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	741	2008-01-09	YOSHIN0020080109e419000ff
YOMSHI0020080110e41a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080110e41a00001	EN	\N	Is this all we can expect of debate among leaders?	But the first parliamentary debate Wednesday between Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is also president of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, fell well short of such expectations.	4	2008-01-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ozawa spent about two-thirds of the 45-minute debate focusing on the pension record-keeping fiasco, specifically the Social Insurance Agency's admission that it is unlikely to be able to identify the holders of 19.75 million of the 50 million unidentified accounts.Concerning this problem, Fukuda originally held the stance that the issue was not a breach of a campaign pledge by saying to reporters, "Is this as serious as breaking a promise to the public?" But this remark led to a plunge in the approval rating of the Cabinet.Ozawa out to highlight blundersThe reason Ozawa stuck so doggedly to the pension issue and Fukuda's verbal gaffe in the debate is probably because he aimed to leave the public with the impression of a Fukuda Cabinet that makes blunders with a view to a dissolution of the lower house for a general election.However, as Ozawa also pointed out, the pension issue is hardly the fault of Fukuda alone. It is the result of long-term mismanagement by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the SIA.Of course, the pension record-keeping debacle is a problem that needs to be dealt with carefully. The government should promote steady progress in the efforts to match up the unidentified public pension accounts. But what the voters probably wanted to hear more of in the debate session was a discussion of how to build a pension system that the public can have faith in.With no change in the direct confrontation between the LDP and the DPJ over a government-proposed bill to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, the ruling camp is expected to hold a second vote for the bill in the lower house and have it passed into law by a two-thirds majority of those present.But at no point in the debate session did Ozawa touch on the DPJ's alternative to the government's bill, which the DPJ submitted to the upper house at Ozawa's express direction.Debate bereft of real depthIf the DPJ, as the largest party in the upper house, had presented an effective and concrete proposal at an earlier stage, a fruitful debate on the issue could have taken place in the Diet. In the end, though, the DPJ only asked for the government's position on the principle of dispatching the Self-Defense Forces abroad, and the Diet debate on the issue failed to delve any deeper.In the debate session, couldn't the two leaders even manage to exchange opinions about the establishment of a permanent law on dispatching the SDF overseas?The DPJ's alternative does in fact indicate what direction the party feels a permanent law needs to take. This was also one of the main themes in a one-on-one meeting between the prime minister and Ozawa in November. Both parties basically agree on the need for establishing a permanent law. As soon as the new antiterrorism bill is passed into law, it is essential for progress to be made in policy consultations between the two parties regarding a permanent law.During the debate session, Fukuda displayed a generally passive attitude. Unlike the question-and-answer format of Diet committees, the prime minister has the right to develop and express his own counterargument in one-on-one parliamentary debate with opposition party leaders. We certainly wanted to hear a heated discussion on an array of important topics.Diet debate between the prime minister and opposition party leaders has not taken place since May 2007, more than seven months ago. As it stands, the system of debate between the ruling and opposition leaders at the Diet proceeds only to be stripped of its significance. We hope that the two party leaders will take far more opportunity to debate during the next ordinary Diet session and engage in genuine competition for political leadership.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 10, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	773	2008-01-10	YOSHIN0020080110e41a000fi
YOMSHI0020080111e41b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080111e41b00001	EN	\N	Target consumption tax at social security	According to population statistics announced last year, the number of people who were born in the Showa era (1926-1989) dipped below 100 million while that of Heisei-era born people topped 20 million.	4	2008-01-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While the Heisei generation has yet to reach adulthood, in little more than 10 years, it will start becoming the core part of society. At that time, will the nation's social security system still be one that can imbue confidence and be relied upon? The responsibility of giving serious thought to this matter lies with the generations before the Heisei era.The first year of the Heisei era, 1989, also was the first year the decline in the birthrate became so conspicuous.Back in 1966, the birthrate made a sudden dip to the 1.58 mark. The year coincided with the Year of Hinoeuma, or fire horse, which comes once every 60 years in the Oriental zodiac. In Japan, women born in hinoeuma years are believed to be headstrong and deadly to men, and this superstition leads people to avoid having children in those years, which caused a low birthrate.In 1989, the birthrate dipped below the 1966 level for the first time to 1.57, causing what is known as the "1.57 shock."However, compared to the current figure of 1.32, the rate of 1.57 now seems like a high figure we can only dream about.Times changingThe aging of society has progressed. The average life span has extended about four years since the first year of Heisei. Now, men live to 79 and women to 85 on average. The nation's elderly population of those 65 years or older now comprises 21.5 percent of the overall population. This figure has nearly doubled since the first year of Heisei, when it stood at 11.6 percent.However, the nation's politicians did not fail to foresee the trend toward an aging society with a declining birthrate. The first year of Heisei saw the introduction of a 3 percent consumption tax with the aim of providing a solid foundation for sustaining social security.However, since the rate was raised to 5 percent in 1997, discussions on further rate hikes have been seen as taboo. The consumption tax has failed to become the fiscal resource that can sustain a super-aging society with a declining birthrate. It has been incapable of responding to changes in the structure of society and as such must be considered "immature," much like the Heisei-era generation itself.Failing to aid next generationIf issues surrounding the social security system are not resolved, it will almost be impossible to maintain it in the future. This much is obvious when looking at the population structure forecast for 2025, by which time people born early in the Heisei era will have become leading players in society.The structure will basically be an inverted pyramid: top heavy with a small base. The number of people aged between 15 and 64 years old--the working population--supporting one elderly person will drop to 1.9 from the current figure of three.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimates that annual payouts through the social security system, including pensions, medical and nursing care programs, will balloon from the current \\90 trillion to \\141 trillion in 2025.If the current level of benefits in the social security system, which depends heavily on the working generation, are maintained, that generation will no longer be able to bear the burden required to support the system.To ease this problem, there is no alternative other than to spread the burden of providing the fiscal resources for supporting social welfare among a wider variety of people, from the young to the old. In doing so, the burden of social security can be widely distributed among each generation in a society that has a large elderly population. By raising the consumption tax rate, the necessary fiscal resources should be secured.The tax could be raised in stages, but either way, it is necessary to consider a consumption tax rate of 15 percent--the minimum level seen in European countries.Since the introduction of the consumption tax, The Yomiuri Shimbun has consistently made the case that the tax should be designated as a special purpose tax for social welfare and security, so that public understanding can be gained for any increases in its rate.The political response to this issue has been slow, but the current social security situation will no longer allow this matter to be put to one side.This is because a planned increase in the government-funded portion of national pension benefit payments from the current level of one-third to one-half is due to take place by fiscal 2009.The cost of this increase will be about \\2.3 trillion. If this is covered by any other means except by raising the consumption tax, it will be asking the impossible from the nation's finances.Ripple effects in societyThe adverse effects of avoiding debate on raising the consumption tax are not only apparent with respect to pensions, but other areas, too.In the field of medical services, increases in health insurance premiums and in payments by patients at counters have reached their limits. No effective measures have emerged for dealing with the shortage of doctors and nurses.As for the government-run nursing care insurance system, the scandal involving  Comsn Inc. illustrated how care workers are suffering from low wages and how these low wages are also contributing to the chronic shortage of care workers.To secure a sustainable social security system for all, the government's sources of revenue must be enhanced. No matter what, new fiscal resources must be established.Debate can wait no longerSuch an awareness is now commonly shared by the public.According to one Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 49.7 percent of respondents said raising the consumption tax was inevitable for maintaining the social security system, outnumbering the 48.1 percent of those who said they "don't think so."Politicians should courageously present their visions of a social security system for the future with the consumption tax as the system's core fiscal resource.The Liberal Democratic Party's study group on fiscal reforms has issued a proposal that the consumption tax be changed in function to a social security tax. In the proposal, the group said the nation's budget must be divided into two categories--social security and non-social security--and the fiscal resources necessary for social security category should be secured with special purpose taxes. The group said the budget for the non-social security segment should then be streamlined.This proposal is worth discussing. Previously, discussions on a consumption tax hike have been put off with the argument that wasteful spending must be reviewed first, which seems a plausible argument at first glance.But it is a matter of course that government spending be reviewed and then reduced. It is not conceivable for a streamlining of spending alone to secure the fiscal resources needed by the social security system in the age of a graying society with a declining birthrate.In the 20th year since its introduction, the pace of meaningful discussion of the consumption tax must be accelerated this year to pave the way for raising the consumption tax.To ensure that an unshakable social security system is still in place for the children of the Heisei era, the consumption tax must evolve into a social security tax.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 11, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1291	2008-01-11	YOSHIN0020080111e41b000ej
YOMSHI0020080112e41c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080112e41c00001	EN	\N	DPJ has crucial role in reviving political process	Friday's passage was the first time since 1951 that a bill was enacted into law by a second vote with a two-thirds majority in the lower house after it was initially passed by the lower house but then shot down in the upper house. This action was taken in accordance with Article 59 of the Constitution.	4	2008-01-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The wheels of the political process almost ground to a halt during the extraordinary Diet session, adding a new page to the postwar history of the Diet. This session can be summed up as one in which lawmakers faced the huge task of resuscitating the moribund political situation.The key business of the extraordinary Diet session was, not surprisingly, the new government-sponsored antiterrorism bill that sought to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The operation has been suspended since Nov. 1, when the previous antiterrorism law expired.National interest must come 1stThe session was extended twice since Oct. 17, when the government submitted the bill to the Diet. Yet the bill was passed into law only after the new year had rolled around. The MSDF's refueling operation is scheduled to be resumed February. By then, the suspension will have stretched to nearly four months.Historical structural changes are afoot in the international community. It is vital, from the viewpoint of Japan's national interest, that this country maintain a steady footing and wield its international influence. To do so, Japan has to fulfill its necessary roles and carry out its responsibilities.Japan's hiatus from the fight against terrorism, in which more than 40 nations are participating in and around Afghanistan, and abandonment of its responsibility as a member of the international community was only temporary. However, this greatly eroded the trust that many nations placed in Japan, and its aftereffects could yet come back to haunt this country.Under the current Diet situation, Japan cannot swiftly make decisions as a state nor execute essential political measures. From the outside world, Japan may appear to be a state preoccupied with domestic matters and drifting along without a national strategy.Most of this mess should be blamed on the Democratic Party of Japan. As the leading party in the upper house, the DPJ was supposed to shoulder part of the responsibility for ensuring important policies are carried out.Eliminate inward-looking stanceThe DPJ stubbornly prolonged deliberations on the new antiterrorism bill and tried to postpone the vote on it. In a nutshell, the party's attitude toward the end of the twice-extended Diet session epitomized the DPJ's irresponsible attitude.The DPJ initially insisted it would not vote on the bill and preferred to continue deliberations on the bill during the next ordinary Diet session, which is scheduled to be convened next week. However, opposition from the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party eventually forced the DPJ to change tack and vote down the bill in the upper house.The DPJ apparently calculated that the public would take a dim view of the ruling camp's pushy attitude in passing the bill into law by a two-thirds majority of lower house legislators from the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, rather than allowing deliberation of the bill to spill into the next ordinary Diet session.This is extremely small-minded behavior by a party placing priority on its own interests. If the DPJ opposed the bill, the party should have rejected it at an early stage to show the position of the upper house.The DPJ's failure to do so only gave ammunition to critics who question the usefulness of the upper house.We think the JCP and SDP, which insisted on voting on the bill, acted sensibly.DPJ's impractical billThe DPJ did not submit its alternative bill to the government-sponsored bill for a new antiterrorism law to the upper house until Dec. 21. Making matters worse, the DPJ bill was ludicrous under the circumstances, as it said the SDF would only be allowed to participate in humanitarian reconstruction efforts in areas where a truce agreement had been concluded.According to former DPJ leader Seiji Maehara, Ozawa instructed party members to draw up an alternative bill that the ruling camp could not agree to. This, to all intents and purposes, doomed the ensuing discussions on international peacekeeping activities.With the DPJ remaining hostile to the government and the ruling camp while angling for a dissolution of the lower house and a general election, important policies are still in danger of being regarded as instruments in political maneuvering.A political party is entitled to make use of every tactic at its disposal to gain power and win a general election. However, taking a short-sighted approach and putting a party's political ambitions above all else is not a recipe for winning public understanding and support.The people want the government to steadily implement important policies crucial to the national interest and stability of people's livelihoods. Those policies include the establishment of a sustainable social security system built on sound financial sources, stable economic growth, promotion of security policies and the expansion of effective diplomacy to enhance Japan's position in the international community.Twenty-six laws were enacted during the extraordinary Diet session. Most of them directly impact on people's livelihoods and stirred up little confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. Except for the enactment of the new antiterrorism bill, no other important policies that affect the foundations of national interests and people's lives made any headway.Immediate policy talks neededUnder the divided Diet, no policy can make progress unless the ruling and opposition blocs coordinate on it. The DPJ has rejected policy talks with the ruling parties. However, the DPJ could demonstrate its ability to take the reins of government and win over voters by competing with the ruling parties in policy debates and realizing its policies through such discussions.The ordinary Diet session is scheduled to be convened Friday, only a few days after the ongoing Diet session is adjourned Tuesday. Most political pundits are particularly intrigued about whether bills related to the state budget, including bills to revise the Special Taxation Measures Law, are enacted during the next Diet session in the current fiscal year.The DPJ has dug in its heels by insisting that provisionally higher tax rates applied to gasoline be scrapped and opposing government bills to revise the law that would keep the rates intact. The opposition party apparently judged it would be able to score more points with voters, because abolishing the provisional tax rates will result in considerably lower gasoline prices.However, terminating the provisional tax rates would seriously disrupt the central and local governments, which would stand to lose as much as a combined \\2.6 trillion in tax revenues. A political party serious about seeking the reins of government should not play to the gallery but deal with Diet affairs while being thoughtful about the foundation of people's livelihoods.We hope the ruling parties and the DPJ will handle Diet affairs responsibly so the upcoming ordinary Diet session will not become the second round of this barren extraordinary Diet session.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 12, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1312	2008-01-12	YOSHIN0020080112e41c000hh
YOMSHI0020080113e41d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080113e41d00001	EN	\N	HCV law a good start, but more needs doing	The lawmaker-sponsored relief bill became law unusually quickly, being passed just four days after it was submitted to the House of Representatives, and will come into force next Friday.	4	2008-01-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's political decision to provide blanket relief to hepatitis C sufferers has allowed enormous progress to be made on the issue.With the enactment, the plaintiffs and the government are expected to reach an out-of-court settlement soon on a damages suit filed in 2002.Under the law, people whom a court accepts contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood products such as fibrinogen will receive compensation ranging from 12 million yen to 40 million yen per person, depending on the severity of their case. About 1,000 people are expected to be eligible to receive the compensation, which is expected to total about 20 billion yen.The financial relief will be provided through a fund to be set up by the government and drugmakers. However, some drugmakers have yet to clarify their position on the fund.Drugmakers are among those with primary responsibility for drug-induced contraction of the disease, and it is inevitable therefore that they will be expected to accept their share of responsibility for managing the consequences.Preventive measuresOnly a small proportion of the estimated 3.5 million sufferers of hepatitis B and C across the country will be eligible for compensation.The most pressing challenge, therefore, is to improve the nation's medical system so that it is better equipped to cope with hepatitis.There are many ways the disease can be contracted. In addition to tainted blood products, the infection has been spread by shared needles used for vaccinations and through blood transfusions. Indeed, there have been so many cases that it has understandably been described as "the public's disease."In 2006, the Supreme Court ordered the government to pay compensation to hepatitis sufferers for neglecting to take adequate measures to prevent the hepatitis B virus from being spread through vaccinations. It is clear that the government's failure to take appropriate measures is one reason the disease has become so widespread.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry plans to implement a seven-year project to provide grants to promote interferon treatment (which typically costs sufferers between 70,000 yen and 80,000 yen a month) starting this spring. The scheme will cover 100,000 people annually, or about 700,000 in total. The Democratic Party of Japan has submitted a bill to the Diet that would allow for the provision of similar grants for medical expenses.The ruling and opposition camps should move quickly to coordinate such measures so they can be implemented at an early date.Looking to the futureThe nation has been confronted with a series of drug-induced diseases, including subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy, or SMON, thalidomide-caused deformities, AIDS and hepatitis C.Drugs by their very nature will often have side effects of some form or other. However, vigorous regulation of a drug is necessary if there is a chance adverse side effects will outweigh the benefits of their use.The ministry receives about 30,000 reports of side effects each year from medical institutions and pharmaceutical companies.Accurate analysis of this data is essential, and, should crucial information be provided, it is imperative the government to respond quickly. For example, medical institutions should be alerted immediately if there is a problem.To make sure such systems are in place, the ministry must thoroughly review its procedures and do all it can to stop a repeat of these drug-induced diseases.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 13, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2008-01-13	YOSHIN0020080113e41d0009c
YOMSHI0020080114e41e00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080114e41e00003	EN	\N	Taiwan opposition win bears close watching	It was a far more devastating rebuke than expected for the administration of incumbent two-term President Chen Shui-bian, who has served for nearly eight years. We wonder what effect the election results will have on the future of Taiwan and the situation in East Asia, where China-Taiwan relations play a vital role.	4	2008-01-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As such developments affect the area's security and economic matters, Japan needs to keep a close eye on the situation as it progresses.The main pattern in Taiwan's elections was that the Nationalists campaigned for reconciliation with China, while the pro-independence DPP aimed to increase its strength based on the rising "Taiwanese consciousness."In the election, the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, not only criticized the DPP's confrontational policy toward China, but also attacked a series of corruption scandals involving those around Chen and the party's failures in economic policy. As a result, the Nationalists succeeded in marshaling people's dissatisfaction with the current administration to achieve the landslide victory.Successful campaign strategyThe Nationalist Party also formed a united front with other opposition parties, including the second-largest opposition People First Party. Also, the party's characteristic organizational power was fully utilized to great success.The DPP's campaign was spearheaded by party leader Chen himself, who told the public that unification with China would be the only option if the Nationalists won an overwhelming majority. However, the public was not receptive to his appeal.Now the Nationalist Party is one step away from reclaiming power after eight years in opposition. The party's victory was so impressive that even its senior members were surprised by the result.Even so, we doubt this major victory will be reflected in the presidential election.In Taiwan, a pendulum effect has been observed for years as the parties alternate in election victories.The Nationalist Party took about 51 percent of the proportional representation votes this time, while the DPP took about 37 percent. The difference is smaller than that in the number of seats both parties garnered overall. The figures from the proportional representation votes are considered similar to the popularity ratings of the parties.Can DPP recover?The key to victory in the presidential election for the DPP is how much momentum the party can regain under the leadership of former Premier Hsieh Chang-ting, the party's presidential candidate, particularly in regard to the backing of party members and supporters who are concerned about the current situation.However, even if the DPP manages to maintain its hold on the presidency with a come-from-behind victory by Hsieh, its handling of the government will be a moot question in the face of opposition control of the legislature.The Nationalist Party now has the power to remove the president by submitting such a motion to the Legislature as it obtained more than two-thirds of the seats. If the party succeeds in winning the support of independents and controlling more than three-fourths of the seats, it would be possible to change the Constitution.If Ma Ying-jeou, the Nationalists' presidential candidate and former party leader, wins the presidential race, the ruling party will dominate the administration, bringing back memories of the era when Taiwan was ruled by a Nationalist Party dictatorship.At the time of the presidential election, a referendum also will be held on whether the island should join the United Nations as Taiwan, an idea espoused by Chen. China has heightened its readiness against Taiwan as it sees the move as a step toward independence. As the United States and France also oppose the idea, the issue is gaining international attention.Japan declared it may not support the move if the referendum leads to a change in the status quo in the relations between China and Taiwan. Given this, Japan should persuade Taiwan not to adversely affect the area's stability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 14, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2008-01-14	YOSHIN0020080114e41e00082
YOMSHI0020080115e41f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080115e41f00001	EN	\N	Present new strategy to stop global warming	The area of the Arctic Ocean covered by ice shrunk to its smallest ever in the summer of 2007. In Siberia, melting permafrost is resulting in increased release of methane trapped underground. The ice cap atop Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya is in danger of disappearing.	4	2008-01-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abnormal meteorological phenomena such as massive hurricanes are becoming more frequent and are believed to be caused by global warming. Japan's highest temperature of 40.9 C was recorded last summer, breaking a record that stood for 74 years.Global warming is not a thing of the future. It is an urgent issue that must be tackled immediately with the cooperation of all nations.Japan, as host nation of the Group of Eight summit meeting in July at the Lake Toya hot-spring resort in Toyakocho, Hokkaido, must play a leading role in the fight against global warming.This year marks the beginning of the five-year period during which industrial nations are obliged to cut greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.When the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997, there was a certain amount of momentum among nations to jointly tackle global warming. The accord, however, fell short of creating a unified front among the international community to deal with the problem.The United States, widely regarded as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases until recently, withdrew its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, arguing it could adversely affect its economy.China, which some institutions regard as the largest emitter of such gases based on the latest data, and India, the fifth-largest emitter, are not obliged to cut gas emissions as they are considered developing countries under the protocol.Kyoto only partial solutionGas emissions by the countries required to cut them under the Kyoto Protocol account for only 30 percent of total global emissions.There are no international regimens for fighting global warming other than the clearly flawed Kyoto Protocol.According to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the cowinner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, the average temperature is projected to rise by up to 6.4 C by the end of this century unless effective measures are taken to address the problem of global warming.Rises in temperature inevitably cause drought, damaging crop harvests and resulting in water shortages. They also cause flooding from rising sea levels, leading to the spread of infectious diseases.To prevent this, the international community must speed the process of putting measures to fight global warming in place after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. Flaws made in creating the Kyoto Protocol must not be repeated.First, it is important to have a post-Kyoto framework encompass all major greenhouse gas emitters, including China and the United States. While the Kyoto Protocol mainly obliged industrial nations to cut their gas emissions, the new framework should require developing nations to shoulder adequate burdens.Next, concrete rules on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have to be formulated. Should specific reduction targets be set for each country as was done under the Kyoto Protocol or should other methods be adopted?During the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to Climate Change Convention (COP13) held last month, participating countries tangled over whether to set a numerical target for greenhouse gas emissions to be cut by developed countries as a whole. As a result, stipulating such a target was postponed for further discussions.There is no doubt that each country will champion its own interests even more fiercely when it comes to discussions on setting country-by-country numerical targets.The European Union is calling for country-by-country reduction targets, apparently aiming at developing emission trading markets in the region.Since its withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol, the United States has been firmly opposed to setting targets. A confrontational structure pitting the European Union against the United States has taken hold in international negotiations over global warming countermeasures.Japan, which has fretted over how to keep the United States at the negotiating table, has yet to clarify its own position on whether to set obligatory reduction quotas for each country. The nation's industrial sector strongly rejects the method.National targets neededHowever, country-by-country reduction targets are necessary for each nation to responsibly tackle cutting greenhouse gas emissions. A breakthrough must be achieved in future negotiations.The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is considered to be reluctant to take environmental protection measures, but Washington may significantly shift its approach if the Democrats take power.China's position makes the problem even more complex. Beijing rejects taking on any obligation of its own while demanding developed countries make further efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Developed countries must take concerted action to pressure China, as a major greenhouse gas emitter, to shoulder a reasonable share of responsibility.The Kyoto Protocol obliges Japan to curb greenhouse gas emissions by an average 6 percent from the 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. Though the Kyoto Protocol is imperfect, Japan, which ratified it, has to do everything it can to live up to its obligation.However, achieving the 6 percent reduction is a hard task for Japan, which already had a high level of energy-saving technology and energy conservation in fiscal 1990. Indeed, the amount of Japan's greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal 2006 was 6.4 percent larger than that in fiscal 1990.Achieving aimsThe Environment Ministry plans to purchase greenhouse gas emission quotas from overseas so it can offset some portions of emissions to achieve the 6 percent reduction target. According to one estimate, this scheme would cost as much as 1.2 trillion yen. Would the public be willing to accept a plan to spend a chunk of taxpayers' money for the mere purpose of achieving the required 6 percent reduction while the country is in dire fiscal straits?Japan has propounded a target of halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. What we need now is not stopgap measures, but a policy with a long-term perspective.Japan could contribute to the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions more than ever by further promoting innovation of energy-saving technologies and offering its know-how to developing countries.This year's G-8 summit meeting will have a decisive impact on creating a post-Kyoto Protocol framework. Japan, as the summit chairman, must take the initiative and present a definitive strategy in discussions there.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 15, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1106	2008-01-15	YOSHIN0020080115e41f000bu
YOMSHI0020080116e41g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080116e41g00001	EN	\N	Don't play politics with special bill on bonds	A plan for bond issuance in fiscal 2008 has been compiled. The plan will serve as the core element for revenues in the fiscal 2008 budget. Under the plan, the issuance of national bonds will total 126.3 trillion yen, including new issuances and refinancing of already issued bonds.	4	2008-01-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	New bond issuances will total 25.3 trillion yen. Issuance of bonds to refinance those issued in the past that will mature next fiscal year will total 92.5 trillion yen. Bond issuances to finance the fiscal investment and loans program, meanwhile, will total 8.4 trillion yen.Of the 25.3 trillion yen worth of new bonds, 5.2 trillion yen worth are construction bonds to cover public works projects, and the remaining 20.1 trillion yen worth are deficit-covering bonds.To issue deficit-covering bonds, a special law on public bond issuance must be established every fiscal year.The Democratic Party of Japan has opposed the bill for the establishment of a special law based on its position of opposing the government's proposals.But now that the DPJ is the largest force in the House of Councillors. If it maintains such a stance, the budget could be voted down in the upper house.In such an event, the budget could be passed after the House of Representatives votes for it a second time with a majority of two-thirds or more. But if that happened, the execution of the budget would be delayed, and people's daily livelihoods would be adversely affected.Such a turn of events would run counter to the DPJ's political vision that places priority on protecting people's livelihood. The DPJ should not use the bill on a special law on public bond issuance as a political football.Individual, foreign investors upBond issuances in fiscal 2008 will decline by 17.5 trillion yen from fiscal 2007. The amount is more than 40 trillion yen lower than the peak year of fiscal 2005. This is the result of the government's efforts to reduce the amount of its bond issuance, including advancing the redemption of bonds by using the surplus in special accounts in the government budget. About 12 trillion yen was used from the special accounts to help redeem government bonds in fiscal 2006. In fiscal 2008, 10 trillion yen from the special account surplus will be used for this purpose.Major holders of government bonds include Japan Post Bank Co., banks and life insurance companies. To correct this imbalance, in which institutional investors hold the lion's share of government paper, the Finance Ministry has engaged in campaigns to sell more government bonds to individuals and overseas investors.As a result, bond holding by individuals now accounts for 5.3 percent of overall bonds issued, and the figure for overseas investors stands at 6.8 percent. Both figures have approximately doubled in the past five years. This effort to increase holdings by individuals and foreign investors should continue.Interest rates a concernThe amount of outstanding bonds will reach 553 trillion yen at the end of next fiscal year. This figure is equivalent to about 10 years' worth of central government tax revenues. Given the huge amount of outstanding national bonds, moves of interest rates must be closely watched.According to a Finance Ministry estimate, if long-term interest rates rise by one percentage point, the interest payment on national bonds will increase by 1.4 trillion yen.The government's budget for fiscal 2008 earmarks 9.3 trillion yen for bond interest payments. Higher interest rates could easily push such interest payments over 10 trillion yen.The yield for 10-year government bonds--the benchmark for long-term interest rates--has recently hovered at a low level of around 1.4 percent. This is because market players believe the Bank of Japan will not hike interest rates anytime soon given the uncertain outlook for the economy. Another factor is that the creditworthiness of government bonds has increased with the brakes put on the increase in government debt.However, if the market judges the government is not making sufficient efforts for fiscal rehabilitation, ratings of government bonds will decline, leading to a hike in interest rates. The government must keep this possibility in mind at all times.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	781	2008-01-16	YOSHIN0020080116e41g000gd
YOMSHI0020080117e41h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080117e41h00001	EN	\N	Pursue every avenue to avoid a 'March crisis'	On Tuesday, stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange plummeted again, triggered by the announcement by  Citigroup Inc., the largest U.S. bank, that it booked a net loss of $9.83 billion in the October-December quarter due to write-downs for subprime mortgages.	4	2008-01-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In addition, the U.S. Commerce Department reported on the same day that retail sales fell in December. News of the weakened retail demand fueled fears of a slowdown in the U.S. economy, accelerating declines in stock prices.As a result, the U.S. dollar slipped briefly below the \\106 line on Wednesday in Tokyo, increasing the yen's appreciation against the dollar. Also, the Nikkei Stock Average plunged 468 points from Tuesday's close to 13,504, the lowest close since October 2005.Major U.S. financial institutions, including  Citigroup, have raised capital from a batch of investors, including a sovereign fund in the Middle East.But distrust among market players will be hard to quell as they are anxious about how much further losses will balloon and whether adequate capital to stabilize the financial system has been secured.Split Diet another risk factorMany observers say it will take more time to discern the entire picture of the financial losses incurred due to the subprime mortgage mess and reassure the market.The U.S. Federal Reserve Board is likely to cut interest rates further. Also, the U.S. government is examining measures to boost the economy. How far those approaches can properly support the real economy in the United States may serve as a key to deter chain-reaction stock price falls for the time being.In the Tokyo market, uncertainty over Japan's economic prospects is also prevailing. The U.S. economic downturn and the yen's appreciation against the dollar may hurt corporate performances, while price hikes due to high crude oil prices may prompt a drop in personal spending. In addition to such concerns, political turmoil in Japan is amplifying the market's anxiety.Under the divided Diet, in which the Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties control the House of Councillors, and the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito have a majority in the House of Representatives, it is feared that bills to revise the Special Taxation Measures Law, whose aims include maintaining the current gasoline tax rate and keeping intact the current corporate tax break for capital investment by small and midsize companies, may not be passed through the Diet before the end of this fiscal year.Onus on oppositionThere are also fears that the divided Diet may make it difficult to appoint a successor to Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui, whose term will expire in March, meaning that Japan could find itself without a financial playmaker.If such a situation develops, it is inevitable that Japan's economy will enter a period of turbulence as it is now in a delicate stage. Rumors that such a scenario could occur in March are spreading in the market.The government and ruling parties must closely watch trends in the real economy and come up with necessary countermeasures swiftly.Meanwhile, the opposition parties must also take careful note of the tense economic situations at home and abroad.It would be no good if the opposition camp were to oppose--for only partisan interests--whatever measures the ruling camp proposed, only to end up triggering a recession.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2008-01-17	YOSHIN0020080117e41h000gt
YOMSHI0020080118e41i00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080118e41i00002	EN	\N	LDP must come up with consistent policies	In spite of the convention, there seems to be no easy way out of what is being called the most serious crisis for the LDP since its foundation in 1955.	4	2008-01-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In July, the LDP lost its dominance in the upper house to the DPJ after a crushing election defeat, making bills drafted by the government and the ruling parties difficult to pass into law. The LDP also will have to square off with the DPJ in the next lower house election, which, though a date has not been decided, is already on lawmakers' minds.It was natural that the debates at the LDP's convention focused on how to handle the ordinary Diet session to be convened Friday and how to prepare for an election by trying to breathe new life into the party.What should the LDP do to overcome the current political impasse?Heed public sentimentsThe action plan adopted by the convention says the LDP will continue to seek policy consultations with the opposition parties and create a new framework to manage the Diet in order to realize essential policies for the state and the people. The problem is how, given the current political situation, the LDP should give concrete form to its action plan.The LDP also must deal with a bill to maintain the provisionally added gasoline tax rate, which will become a major flash point in upcoming Diet debates. It should do this from the viewpoint of carrying out policies necessary for the people's benefits.However, the LDP cannot gain the understanding of voters just by touting the necessity of road maintenance and construction. It should continue to make the voters understand the bigger picture of using the revenue from road-related taxes, which includes the gasoline tax, for general purposes and rehabilitating state finances.The LDP's action plan for the next lower house election stresses that the party should not become overconfident that the party is stronger than other parties in regional constituencies and should not be optimistic about public support turning in its favor.In the July 2007 upper house election, it was clear that the LDP's traditional support base, such as voters involved in postal services, agriculture and construction industries in rural areas, had been weakened. The LDP cannot expect anything matching its success in the 2005 lower house election, in which it won a landslide victory mostly due to winning over swing voters through populist campaigns. The election gained unusual public attention with so-called assassins pitted against postal rebels--LDP lawmakers who voted against postal privatization bills.Remember core beliefsPrime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is also LDP president, stressed in his address to the convention, "I want to make 2008 a turning point, one for a society in which consumers and ordinary citizens play a leading role."Of course, it is important to come up with policies that are in line with the needs of the general public. But voters may feel that the LDP's campaign policies in its action plan are almost the same as those of the DPJ, which fought the upper house election under the slogan of putting priority on people's well being. But the LDP should not resort to pork-barrel spending policies just to outdo DPJ policies.The action plan also states that the LDP will adhere to its traditional conservative political positions.It is indispensable for the LDP to cooperate with its coalition partner, New Komeito, in the next lower house election. For the LDP to pass its bills into law, policy coordination with the DPJ also is essential. As a result, it will be difficult for the LDP to come up with policies distinctly its own.However, to reinvigorate itself, the LDP should present consistent policies covering social security and national security, and project a vision for the country befitting a conservative party. Fukuda, as LDP president, should display leadership toward this goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	717	2008-01-18	YOSHIN0020080118e41i000dy
YOMSHI0020080119e41j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080119e41j00001	EN	\N	Major parties have duty to debate key issues	Fukuda said in his speech that there is no model for overcoming such problems and "the government must create a new Japan on its own."	4	2008-01-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At about the same time as Fukuda was addressing the Diet, the Nikkei Stock Average temporarily dropped below 13,400 for the first time in two years and three months. Hiroko Ota, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, later said in her Diet policy speech that Japan was no longer in a position to be called a top-tier economic power.The current ordinary Diet session is charged with finding concrete solutions to these problems through serious policy debates, in addition to compiling the fiscal 2008 budget and passing related bills into law before fiscal 2007 ends in March. Fukuda's policy speech serves as an outline of the Diet's tasks.More details neededNobody could accuse Fukuda of failing to recognize the pressing problems the government must tackle. But when it came to concrete solutions, the prime minister served up nothing more than a list of conventional policies devoid of anything that will inspire the public. This was the overriding impression we felt when listening to Fukuda's policy speech.For example, Fukuda briefly mentioned an increase in the consumption tax rate would be an indispensable financial resource for establishing a stable social security system. "It's necessary to make efforts to realize drastic reform of the tax system, including the consumption tax, at an early stage," he said. That is a fair point, but Fukuda's remark did not go beyond the framework of the ruling parties' outline for tax reform.Under these circumstances, it is anyone's guess as to what will really change, and how. Of course, this does not give the public peace of mind.Sometimes voters have to swallow "bitter medicine." A political leader has a responsibility to present necessary policies to stabilize people's lives, persuade the people of the merits of these policies and seek their understanding. This is politics that truly focuses on the people--an approach the prime minister spoke of in his policy speech. We hope Fukuda will present clearer and more precise policies during upcoming debates.Playing political gamesThe government and the ruling parties should hold Diet debates mainly with the Democratic Party of Japan, which, as the largest party in the House of Councillors, shoulders part of the responsibility of promoting important policies. But DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, who has insisted that the provisionally raised gasoline tax be abolished, has dubbed the current Diet session "a Diet to reduce the price of gasoline." Some DPJ members are calling for the House of Representatives to be dissolved over the gasoline tax issue.The DPJ figures that voters would welcome a drop in the price of gasoline due to the abolition of the provisionally raised rate, which is due to expire in March. The party assumes this would work to the DPJ's advantage in the next lower house election. However, if the DPJ's top priority is resorting to such a strategy to manage the political situation, this would be nothing more than trivial populist politics. The DPJ's plan of action would not do anything to end the current political impasse caused by the split Diet.We hope the DPJ will roll up its sleeves and join serious debates on consistent policies concerning the existence of the state and the stability of people's lives. Doing so would present voters with a real alternative in the next lower house election.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2008-01-19	YOSHIN0020080119e41j000f0
YOMSHI0020080120e41k00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080120e41k00002	EN	\N	Govt's economic policy guidelines offer little	The Cabinet approved the government's medium-term guidelines for economic and fiscal policy, titled, "The future course and strategy of the Japanese economy." The guidelines set the goals of making young people hopeful for the future and ensuring the elderly have a sense of security in their lives.	4	2008-01-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But measures to achieve these goals, which were listed as the strategy for economic growth and the policy for fiscal and social security reform, were short on specifics and insufficient in bringing about a speedy reform.The nation's nominal gross domestic product per capita ranked second among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member nations in 1993. However, Japan's ranking sank to 18th in 2006. In regard to the stock markets, foreign investors have lost interest in Japan, selling their shares and sending stock prices hurtling downward.Japan falling behind"Japan is falling out of step with changes in the global economy," Ota said in her speech to the Diet. If the government is aware of this cold reality, it should immediately present measures that will rectify this situation.The answer is not on the level of rocket science: Boost the economy's ability to expand, and carry out drastic reform of tax and fiscal policies.In estimates released with the medium-term guidelines, the government concluded that achieving its goal of lifting the primary balance of the central and local governments into the black in fiscal 2011 would be very difficult.Previous estimates had suggested that a surplus in the primary balance could be attained by that fiscal year. But as the growth rate forecast was revised downward due to the recent economic slowdown, tax revenues are expected to be less than previously estimated.The latest estimates bring home the fact that action to raise the growth rate, even with a shrinking population, and to establish a stable social security system by ensuring increased tax revenues through an increase in the consumption tax rate and other measures, should be taken without delay.Strategy for growthThe strategy for growth mapped out in the medium-term guidelines mainly focused on improving the nation's ability to "get connected" and "cope with environmental issues." The strategy proposes that growth be achieved through cooperation between urban and rural areas as well as major and smaller companies, and that the nation's environmentally friendly and energy-saving technologies should be catalysts for this growth.The problem is that the government plans to consider detailed measures for the strategy toward spring. These measures will be included in the basic guidelines for economic and fiscal reform to be compiled around June. The government also failed to expedite the previous policy stance on tax and social security system reform, saying only that it aims to implement drastic reform on the consumption tax and other tax systems as early as possible.Above all else, anxiety over the Japanese economy must be stubbed out at home so foreign investors can become more confident about plowing their money into Japan. For this end, a blueprint for effective policies must be laid out, both in and outside Japan as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	596	2008-01-20	YOSHIN0020080120e41k0009l
YOMSHI0020080121e41l00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080121e41l00002	EN	\N	More teachers should help lift student abilities	The government has decided to include funds in the fiscal 2008 budget that will allow for the employment of 1,000 more teachers. Also planned is the hiring of 7,000 part-time teachers--mainly those who have retired from the teaching profession. The part-time teachers will be allotted about half the lesson hours assigned to a regular teacher.	4	2008-01-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the government has shelved a plan to increase school clerical staff, which had been aimed at reducing the amount of clerical work shouldered by teachers.An increase in the number of extremely busy teachers in recent years is a major factor behind the Education, Science and Technology Ministry's ongoing efforts to increase the number of primary and middle school teachers.According to a ministry survey conducted in fiscal 2006, teachers work an average of close to 11 hours every day. However, the survey, the first of its kind to be conducted in 40 years, showed teachers directly deal with children for about 6 1/2 to seven hours per day at school, including lesson hours. The rest of the time spent at school and elsewhere is devoted to attending seminars and meetings, producing reports and dealing with parents.A recent report drawn up by the Central Council for Education, an advisory body to the education minister, repeatedly mentioned the need to increase the quotas for school personnel.Panel calls for increaseFor example, the report detailing proposals advanced by the panel said the ministry faced the pressing task of raising the number of school personnel to ensure teachers can give every child individual attention.The report urged the ministry to end its cram-free education policy and increase the number of lesson hours for major subjects at primary and middle school by more than 10 percent. The report cited science-related courses, among others, as subjects requiring such efforts.This is significant as an international academic survey and other findings show that the academic ability of Japanese children in these subjects has declined.The council's report seems to have reflected its belief that translating its recommendations into action would require more teachers to better educate children.The ministry is seeking an eventual increase of about 21,000 teachers and clerical staff over a three-year period starting in fiscal 2008. In its budgetary request for fiscal 2008, the ministry is seeking an increase of 7,000.Exception to the ruleHowever, the teaching profession is no exception to cuts in government personnel stipulated in the administrative reform promotion law.The law incorporates a provision that will seek to curtail the number of public school teachers and other personnel at a pace exceeding the rate of decline in the number of students. The government's comprehensive reform policy set for fiscal 2006 called for a reduction of about 10,000 school personnel over a five-year period.In fiscal 2011, the number of students at public primary and middle schools is projected to decline to 10.1 million, down from 10.34 million in fiscal 2007. This means it will not be easy for the ministry to have its request for more school personnel accepted.How many teachers are needed to properly educate children? The question should not be explored solely from the standpoint of administrative reform.For years, the ministry has not been fully aware of how teachers work in schools. If it demands more teachers, the ministry should present more convincing data to prove its point.The increase in the quotas for teachers and part-time instructors under the fiscal 2008 budget should be regarded as an important asset for the ministry.With this in mind, the ministry should examine the results of the increase, including whether teachers can set aside more time for directly dealing with children and whether the academic ability of students--their ability to apply science-related skills, for example--has improved.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2008-01-21	YOSHIN0020080121e41l000c6
YOMSHI0020080122e41m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080122e41m00001	EN	\N	DPJ's claims at Diet leave many questions	The issue should be viewed in consideration of the long- and medium-term perspectives, not through the rose-colored filter of euphoria over a short-term drop in gasoline prices.	4	2008-01-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Diet interpellations by representatives of each political party over Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's policy speech started Monday. The main focus for both ruling and opposition parties is the provisional tax rate issue.Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama strongly demanded the provisional rate of the gasoline tax be eliminated, saying it had been introduced 34 years ago and now works on behalf of a number of vested interests.Fukuda counterargued that the provisional rate needs to be maintained to secure revenue for both the central and local governments, to preserve the principle that those who benefit most from the roads should pay for them, and from the viewpoint of promoting measures to fight global warming.Inconsistent argumentsLiberal Democratic Party Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki also pointed out that the DPJ does not have a clear plan to compensate for the shortfall of about 2.6 trillion yen in tax revenue for the central and local governments that would result from the abolition of the provisional gasoline tax rate.The DPJ claims that incorporating the current revenue sources set aside for road construction into general revenue is necessary for reforming road construction projects.Indeed, the government cannot escape criticism for failing to incorporate the higher tax rate into the main provisions of the gasoline tax law for more than 30 years.However, the DPJ's explanations regarding an alternative revenue source to replace the revenue lost by abolishing the provisional rate are ambiguous and inconsistent. It would be impossible to maintain the level of local governments' road construction and maintenance projects if the provisional rate were abolished.The DPJ explained that the 1 yen trillion expected to be paid by local governments for public works projects under the central government's direct control would instead come from the central government. This is just a simple transfer of costs from local governments to the central government.Can a decrease of revenue as large as 2.6 trillion yen be compensated for just by making road construction projects more efficient and cutting construction costs? The DPJ also said an "anti-global warming measure tax" will be introduced in the future that would replace the gasoline tax and other taxes with provisionally higher rates. If so, how heavy will the tax be? The DPJ's arguments raise a multitude of questions.Campaign promiseThe major opposition party even promised it would abolish expressway and highway tolls except in some major cities. Hatoyama once advocated the idea that "Bitter pills rather than honeydew may have blessed effects," when he was DPJ president. Isn't the DPJ now simply promising the public honeydew with an eye to wooing voters to their camp for the next House of Representatives election?Meanwhile, the DPJ is going to submit a bill during the current ordinary Diet session aimed at making special taxation measures more transparent. Through introducing the bill, the party intends to evaluate past use of special taxation measures and other things case by case to review the appropriateness and effectiveness of such measures. This could provide valuable insight, and it may be good for both the ruling and opposition parties to honestly discuss the issue of how to evaluate special taxation measures.Hatoyama further criticized the ruling coalition over the overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces, saying the past and present LDP administrations have no firmly established basic principle on the issue.If this is the case, the DPJ should be an enthusiastic participant in the discussion on establishing a permanent law for the overseas dispatch of the SDF and willing to debate the "basic principle" involved in the issue at great length.DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa again did not take the podium during Diet interpellations on the prime minister's policy speech. During the extraordinary Diet session, he gave priority to speaking on behalf of a candidate in the Osaka gubernatorial election while the lower house was taking a second vote on the bill for a new antiterrorism law, abstaining from the vote.If the top leader of the top opposition party makes light of Diet deliberations, we cannot expect revitalization of the legislature.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	776	2008-01-22	YOSHIN0020080122e41m000fh
YOMSHI0020080123e41n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080123e41n00001	EN	\N	U.S. stimulus package key to calming markets	In the Tokyo market, the Nikkei Stock Average saw a decline of nearly 1,300 points Monday and Tuesday together, falling beneath the 13,000 mark. In other Asian countries, including China, and Europe, stock prices briefly nosedived across the board.	4	2008-01-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To put the brakes on the global stock market plunge, Washington needs to come up with an economic stimulus package that market players can believe in.Market attention is focused on the package the U.S. government is going to compile in combination with the hefty 0.75 percentage point interest rate cut announced Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Board.Stock prices slid further because the outline of the emergency economic stimulus package announced by U.S. President George W. Bush last week lacks punch. New York stock prices plummeted due to selling by disappointed investors, and the global market suffered in turn.Bush package impressiveBush reportedly had planned to unveil the package at the end of this month, but hastily advanced the announcement as the U.S. economy slowed down abruptly due to the escalation of the subprime loan problem.Bush said the package will be worth up to $150 billion (about 16 trillion yen). Its major pillars are believed to be income tax rebates and cuts in corporate tax rates to promote capital investment, though Bush stopped short of revealing details of the tax cuts.He even failed to present measures to revive the housing market, which is the core of the subprime loan problem. If lavish tax cut rebates are in fact introduced, they will have only a limited effect in stimulating consumption. The president's announcement of the carelessly prepared policy discouraged the market.Bush needs to quickly coordinate policies with Congress and announce concrete bailout measures as soon as possible.The extent of the subprime loan problem has become evident, with losses incurred by U.S. and European financial institutions reportedly topping $100 billion. The losses are expected to continue to snowball. Financial institutions that guaranteed securitized products in which subprime loans are incorporated have begun to suffer management woes.U.S. must end vicious circleVoices are now growing for injecting public funds to enhance the capital adequacy of financial institutions and for the introduction of measures to help mortgage holders. The U.S. government should resolve to end the current vicious circle using all means necessary.The sharp decline in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where prices fell by an especially large margin, is said to have been partially caused by the administration of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, which has not signaled a clear direction in its economic and fiscal policy, aggravating the market's anxiety.Market responses will probably change only if the administration shows its determination to swiftly reapprove budget-related bills on a second vote at the House of Representatives if they are rejected at the House of Councillors.The so-called decoupling theory holds that even if industrialized nations are in an economic slump, the high growth of newly emerging economies such as China will ameliorate the situation. But this theory is now less persuasive. The newly emerging economies should also do their bit to help prevent a crisis.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2008-01-23	YOSHIN0020080123e41n000gj
YOMSHI0020080124e41o00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080124e41o00002	EN	\N	Avoid needlessly disturbing people's lives	Besides the temporarily raised tax rate, the package also includes bills on extensions of and revisions to about 110 special taxation measures due to expire at the end of this fiscal year. All of them are closely linked to people's daily lives. The ruling and opposition parties should swiftly start debate on the package so that it can be passed by the Diet before the current fiscal year ends.	4	2008-01-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If gas tax cut, others would riseThe Democratic Party of Japan is stressing the benefits of a tax reduction effect that would result from the abolition of the "provisionally" raised tax rate. However, the package includes many other special taxation measures, including tax breaks, and so if it were voted down, many of these other measures would lead to effective tax increases. The tax breaks include an alleviation of corporate tax for small and midsize companies that have purchased industrial machines, and an exemption on petroleum and coal tax levied on heavy fuel oil used for fishing vessels and greenhouses.Another tax break in the package that is due to expire at the end of March exempts from taxation all interest from offshore transactions carried out by overseas financial institutions for funds held in accounts opened at domestic banks. If this tax break expires, it is feared that a large amount of the \\23 trillion deposited in such accounts at Japanese banks will be taken elsewhere.A measure covering special tax treatment of tobacco and whisky brought into the nation as "souvenirs" from overseas trips will also expire. It will make tax payment procedures more complicated, possibly lengthening significantly the time needed to pass through customs.The Finance Ministry estimates that if the package is not passed before the end of the fiscal year, 23 resulting changes will lead to an increase in national tax revenues totaling more than \\1 trillion. But if taxes suddenly rise by such an amount, a wide range of people will be adversely affected.The gasoline tax is levied when the gasoline is shipped from the primary wholesaler. Therefore, even if the "provisionally" raised gasoline tax rate were no longer imposed, it would not necessarily result in cheaper gasoline prices on April 1, the day after the current measure is due to expire.However, some gas stations might start discounting gasoline prices to attract customers on that day. It is expected that gas prices would differ considerably depending on the gas station.We believe consumers would become very confused by such a wide range of different prices.Without doubt it is less than desirable that an elevated tax rate on gasoline has stood for more than 30 years despite this higher rate being termed "provisional." With hindsight, the tax rate itself should have been raised under the gasoline tax law.However, if the provisional tax rate were abolished at this stage, it would cause a drastic decrease in revenue. As both central and local governments continue to suffer severe fiscal constraints, it is a matter of course that existing tax revenues be secured by maintaining the temporary tax rate.Discuss purpose of elevated taxHaving said that, it would be better if the revenue from the tax were not used exclusively for building and maintaining roads as a special-purpose tax revenue, but spent without such restrictions as a general source of revenue.The DPJ insists on channeling for general use tax revenues currently earmarked for road construction and maintenance. So why don't the government and ruling parties have a serious discussion with the DPJ over this point?The tax reform bills were submitted to the Diet in the form of a package of measures, as is customary. But the DPJ says discussions should be conducted by separating the issue of the provisionally raised tax rate from others in the package. However, it is actually possible to revise individual bills that form the package.The DPJ should not go out of its way to disrupt Diet business for its own partisan interest.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2008-01-24	YOSHIN0020080124e41o000fm
YOMSHI0020080125e41p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080125e41p00001	EN	\N	Mull permanent law on SDF overseas missions	Along with the support ship Omi, which is scheduled to leave Sasebo Naval Base in Nagasaki Prefecture on Friday, the MSDF destroyer will resume as early as in mid-February providing fuel to the ships of the United States, Britain and other participating countries fighting terrorism.	4	2008-01-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Returning to the fight against terrorism should be nothing but one chapter of Japan's contribution to world peace. Now we have to begin considering moves to undertake overseas missions on a more permanent basis.The MSDF withdrew from the Indian Ocean in November upon the expiration of the previous antiterrorism law. The disruption to the refueling mission will have lasted nearly four months.More than 40 countries are participating in the fight against terrorism in the area, which is aimed mainly at maintaining security and assisting in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, as well as engaging in maritime interdiction activities to monitor and detect the movement of terrorists and the transportation of weapons in the Indian Ocean. These nations have been fulfilling their roles earnestly, despite the fact that more than 700 of their people have lost their lives in Afghanistan.From an international viewpoint, Japan is seen returning to its mission, but only the least dangerous part of all--providing logistic support to the maritime interdiction activities.Japan needs to help moreJapan's official development assistance has been on the decline in recent years. In 2006, the nation fell to third in the world in this respect, behind the United States and Britain. We have to put the brakes on Japan's slide away from contributing to international society.For that purpose, the fight against terrorism, which is directly tied to Japan's own peace and security, is vital. For reconstruction in Afghanistan, financial support as well as physical support by SDF troops and civilians should be seen as two wheels on the same car.The newly enacted Antiterrorism Law will expire in one year. As Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has said, it is a pressing task to consider a permanent law regarding the dispatch of SDF members overseas.The ruling parties reportedly plan to set up a team of lawmakers to look into the possibility of legislating a standing law as early as next month. Naturally, this derives from the desire to have a permanent law that will be able to flexibly respond to circumstances as they arise, rather than having to push through new, time-limited antiterrorism laws.Will there be a stipulation that a U.N. Security Council resolution should be a prerequisite before SDF members can be dispatched? Will such activities as peacekeeping, guarding and vessel inspection be added to SDF overseas missions? Will the criteria of SDF members' use of weapons be changed to international standards?With these points of contention on a permanent law already clarified, we hope a serious discussion now will begin over Japan's participation in international peacekeeping activities.Diet approval still requiredIf vessel inspections are included in the SDF's overseas missions, the MSDF could participate not only in refueling operations but also maritime interdiction activities.The MSDF is said to have the necessary equipment and capabilities for that, so why is the Diet not discussing this issue?Approval by the Diet is still required, however, for an actual dispatch of SDF members overseas even if a permanent law is established. Without formulating a wide range of agreements among the ruling and opposition parties, such overseas missions cannot be carried out smoothly.In addition to the divided Diet, where the ruling parties have a majority in the House of Representatives and the Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties control the House of Councillors, many uncertainties exist in this year's political climate, including the prospect of a possible lower house dissolution. Still, every preparation should be made in order to allow for flexibility in SDF dispatches.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	693	2008-01-25	YOSHIN0020080125e41p000f1
YOMSHI0020080126e41q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080126e41q00001	EN	\N	Police interrogation guidelines not a cure-all	The National Police Agency has formulated guidelines calling on police forces across the nation to supervise and monitor the interrogation of suspects to ensure inappropriate methods are not used. The guidelines were drawn up after revelations last year that investigators used clumsy and coercive interrogation practices in several cases.	4	2008-01-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Kagoshima Prefecture, the prefectural police questioned 12 people for extended periods on suspicion of vote-buying in violation of the Public Offices Election Law and detained some of them for long periods without any corroborative evidence. The 12 were forced to confess to the violations.During the interrogations, the police reportedly resorted to such techniques as threatening to investigate the suspects' families if they did not come clean. They also suggested that admitting to the charges would allow them to return home earlier. Such interrogation practices should, naturally, be deplored. The Kagoshima District Court later found all 12 defendants not guilty.The NPA guidelines are intended to prevent reckless and harsh questioning and abuses on the front line of an investigation.The guidelines stipulate that questioning conducted between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and those lasting for eight hours or longer a day will require prior approval of the chief of a prefectural police or police station. They also call for installing one-way mirrors in all police interrogation rooms.Keeping a close watchThe main purpose of the guidelines is to bolster supervision of this nation's police forces. Internal supervisory bodies independent from investigation sections will be established at each prefectural police headquarters, and supervisors responsible for ensuring that the guidelines are observed will be posted at each police station.A chief investigative officer will be required to report the details of an interrogation to an internal supervisory body. A police station's supervisor will have to confirm the interrogation conditions and respond to any complaints from suspects by reporting these details to the supervisory body. The body has the authority to question interrogators and interview suspects.The guidelines prohibit investigators from playing on the anxieties of suspects and injuring their dignity. Physical contact also is not permitted.A lay judge system will start from 2009. If lay judges sit in cases in which oppressive interrogation techniques are found to have been used, they could question the credibility of a confession.Police could be hamperedInvestigative authorities could have avoided this mess if they had controlled their actions and themselves. However, if investigators become overly fearful of the internal supervisors and become reluctant to tackle difficult cases in which suspects deny the charges against them, police investigations could come unstuck.A dearth of investigative skills by police forces, including a lack of leadership and judgment by senior police officers, could open the door to forcible investigations. Efforts must be made to ensure inappropriate methods are not used and to improve the investigative abilities of law enforcement bodies.The Japan Federation of Bar Associations and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan have proposed that interrogations should be video- and audiotaped. This would bring greater transparency to the entire process. They claim that the NPA guidelines will not prove adequate on their own.The NPA waved off this proposal, saying that suspects being taped would feign ignorance of the cases involving them and would not speak the truth. This would make it difficult for investigators to solve these cases and it could be considered an invasion of privacy of any third parties mentioned during questioning.Will videotaping interrogations and installing one-way mirrors mean the end of false confessions? Will public safety be shaken? The merits and demerits of this process should be carefully considered. The answers to these questions will depend on the extent to which the NPA guidelines take root in the nation's police forces.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2008-01-26	YOSHIN0020080126e41q000fg
YOMSHI0020080127e41r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080127e41r00001	EN	\N	Tough road ahead to achieve Fukuda's vision	In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Fukuda proposed a plan under which each country would cut greenhouse gas emissions by a quantified target.	4	2008-01-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the 13th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP13) held in December in Bali, Indonesia, Japan was perceived by some countries to be reluctant to incorporate specific numerical targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Fukuda's change of tack on this issue suggests he has woken up to the fact that setting numerical targets will be indispensable for dispelling this negative image. Taking the initiative in future negotiations on the matter also would go a long way in this regard.Under the Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change that stipulates targets for curtailing greenhouse gas emissions until 2012, developed countries as a whole are seeking to cut emissions by an average of 5 percent from 1990 levels in the period between 2008 and 2012. During the plan he unveiled in Davos, Fukuda proposed that each country increase the volume of greenhouse gas emissions it could cut under the post-Kyoto framework, and called for a review of the base year so the entire process would be "fair."=Cooperation essentialFukuda's proposal apparently reflected a recognition of unfairness in the Kyoto Protocol.During his speech, Fukuda pointed out the importance of international cooperation for curing environmental ills. He said Japan was willing to transfer the country's world-leading environment-related technologies to other countries.Fukuda presented an example to press his point home. If China, India and the United States had Japan's coal thermal power generation efficiency, they could cut a combined 1.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions--a figure equivalent to Japan's total gas emissions for one year. Japan must make greater efforts to showcase its superb environmental technologies and innovations to the world.But then comes the hard part: How can Japan turn Fukuda's vision into tangible action?Easier said than doneAchieving the country-by-country quantified targets proposed by Fukuda will entail taking on some daunting tasks.Can his plan placate the European Union, which is set on concrete numerical targets? Can it win over the United States, which has bristled at the EU's calls for such targets? Can Fukuda's envisaged method convince emerging countries, including China and India, to take a seat at the negotiation table? These are all formidable obstacles that must be overcome.The Kyoto Protocol obliges Japan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by an average 6 percent from the 1990 level during the period between 2008 and 2012. Reaching this target is proving to be anything but straightforward. However, the wheels will fall off Fukuda's vision if Japan cannot achieve this goal. As such, the prime minister should exercise his leadership skills and pull out all the stops to get all the domestic players on board so this pledge can be achieved.Measures to combat global warming directly affect each country's industrial and energy policies. The negotiations are a power game in which developed, emerging and developing countries pursue their own national interests.We hope Fukuda will fully demonstrate his ability as a coordinator to defuse conflicting national interests and as a national leader tasked with securing Japan's interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	623	2008-01-27	YOSHIN0020080127e41r000bi
YOMSHI0020080128e41s00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080128e41s00002	EN	\N	First job for Osaka gov. must be to fix finances	Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who also is LDP president, and the ruling parties may have breathed a sigh of relief as they are faced with a difficult political situation due to the split Diet, in which the ruling coalition parties have a majority in the House of Representatives and the Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties control the House of Councillors.	4	2008-01-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The first and largest task the new governor should tackle is rehabilitating the prefectural government's critical fiscal conditions.Since the burst of the bubble economy in the early 1990s, the prefecture's debts have swelled due to economic pump-priming spending and the construction and operation of Kansai International Airport, among other things. In addition, revenues from two corporate taxes, the main pillars of its tax revenues, have dropped significantly. As a result, Osaka Prefecture's financial situation has deteriorated to one of the worst levels in the nation.As a way out of the quagmire, the Osaka prefectural government has tackled administrative reform through such measures as cutting the number of prefectural government employees by 30 percent during the terms of Yokoyama Knock, who was governor from 1995 to 1999, and his successor, Fusae Ota. Nevertheless, the prefecture has an outstanding debt of about 5 trillion yen, an amount that exceeds its annual budget.Set example for othersCurrently, the Osaka prefectural government has put off paying its debts and shifts money to the general account as a loan from the fund established to repay its debts. As a result, it avoids being downgraded to the status of a deficit-ridden local government by the central government.To improve the serious financial situation of local governments, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to allow them to issue local government bonds to offset their debts. But the ministry's policy will not solve Osaka Prefecture's problems.The new governor has no choice but to cut expenditures further and try to increase revenues. It is necessary to take drastic measures, such as merging or abolishing corporate bodies financed by the prefectural government and integrating water supply and other projects that overlap with those of the Osaka municipal government. We hope that the prefectural government will take measures that will serve as an example in fiscal reconstruction for other local governments.This was the first direct confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties in an Osaka gubernatorial election since 1975 when the LDP and the then Japan Socialist Party backed rival candidates.Proxy battle for partiesIn the past two elections, Ota, who decided not to run for a third term, was backed by both the LDP and DPJ. However, the Osaka gubernatorial race became a battleground for the ruling and opposition parties as DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa embraced a confrontational strategy against the LDP in both national and local elections and in principle prohibited supporting candidates together with the ruling parties.The DPJ gave full support to Sadatoshi Kumagai, a former university professor. The party sent Diet members of its recently launched "gasoline price cut promotion team" to support the candidate. However, not a few voters apparently felt it was strange to bring up a national issue in the local election.Ozawa was absent for the second vote in the lower house on a bill for the new antiterrorism law, choosing instead to travel to Osaka Prefecture to rally support for Kumagai. Criticism of Ozawa may also have worked against the candidate.Voter interest in the election was quite high as the voter turnout was 49 percent, 8.5 points higher than in the previous election. This also was probably advantageous for Hashimoto, who is a popular TV personality.As Hashimoto has no previous administrative experience, his ability to steer the prefectural government is unknown. We hope he will carry out sound policies, without just relying on his popularity.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 28, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	707	2008-01-28	YOSHIN0020080128e41s000c8
YOMSHI0020080129e41t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080129e41t00001	EN	\N	Sometimes a manager isn't a manager	The ruling suggests companies should not increase the number of nominal managers for only the sake of management's convenience.	4	2008-01-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Labor Standards Law obliges companies to pay augmented wages for overtime work and working on holidays. However, under the law, this stipulation does not apply to those in "managerial or supervisory positions."The bone of contention in the lawsuit was whether the manager in question falls into this category.The ruling said the manager of the outlet run directly by the company only carried out labor management for the outlet and ran the outlet according to an instruction manual issued by the company, and pointed out that the man was not given a "significant assignment or discretion."The ruling also said the manager was forced to work long hours and had no discretion in setting his working hours, adding that his wages "cannot be said to have been enough for a person in a managerial position."The ruling suggests the manager was judged not to be in a true managerial position from all aspects including tasks, working hours and wages.What's in a name?People with managerial titles such as department chiefs, section heads and outlet managers in corporate organizations are not necessarily in managerial positions under the law. The ruling is based on judicial precedent and a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry instruction that whether a person is in a managerial post must be judged on the basis of his or her situation on the job.A former outlet manager of Konaka Co., a leading menswear chain operator, had requested a district court to open a labor inquiry, saying it was unfair for the company not to pay him overtime on the grounds he was in a managerial position even though his duties were the same as those of ordinary staffers. The case was settled after Konaka decided to pay about 6 million yen to the former shop manager.In the restaurant and retail industries, many cases have been reported in which employees' overtime pay and other allowances were cut to reduce labor costs on the grounds that they were in managerial positions. The reason behind this is apparently intensified competition in those industries.New title, old wagesAccording to the plaintiff in the  McDonald's case, his annual salary after becoming an outlet manager in 1999 never topped his maximum annual salary prior to becoming an outlet manager. He had to endure tougher working conditions following the promotion, for example, being required to work 63 days in a row in one instance, and usually being on duty from early in the morning until very late at night. On occasion, his overtime work exceeded 100 hours per month.The court's ruling may force not only  McDonald's but also many other companies to revise their labor management.In this year's spring labor offensive, labor unions are making an increase in the augmented wage rate a high priority. The government is considering revising the Labor Standards Law to increase the current augmented wage rate.However, even if the rate is increased, working conditions will not improve if stretched interpretations of what constitutes a managerial position aimed at encouraging unpaid work and so-called service overtime work without pay are not addressed.The business community and labor unions must work together to create a working system that can strike a balance between how people work and how much they earn.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2008-01-29	YOSHIN0020080129e41t000h1
YOMSHI0020080130e41u00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080130e41u00001	EN	\N	Bush has long to-do list in twilight of presidency	In addition to the still-chaotic situation in Iraq, the U.S. administration is saddled with gloomy prospects for its economy.	4	2008-01-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Compared with last year's address, this year's had a sharply different evaluation of the United States' economic condition.The 2007 address boasted of a robust economy that saw the 41st consecutive monthly expansion of its job market helped by the creation of 7.2 million jobs. This powerful economic growth, however, suddenly slowed down after the subprime loan fiasco came to light.There is a heightened concern for the U.S. economy, which has been hit by a chilled housing market and shrinking employment.Bush acknowledged that his country's economy is slowing down, saying, "Our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty."The worldwide simultaneous stock market plunges triggered by the United States this month have already dealt a major blow to Japan. If the U.S. economy goes into a recession, it will have serious implications for the Asian economies, mainly Japan and China, that depend heavily on the United States for exports.Priming package neededThe president urged Congress to approve an economic stimulus package as early as possible. The $150 billion pumping-priming package being negotiated between the U.S. administration and Congress centers on income tax rebates and tax incentives for corporations to make investments.Procrastination in responding to the economic situation would adversely affect the global economy.The U.S. administration and Congress must devise and implement measures promptly to prevent the U.S. economy from stalling. Also, they should not hesitate to put in place additional measures deemed necessary.Also in the address, Bush spoke with pride of the drastic improvement in the security situation in Iraq resulting from the buildup of U.S. troops that started there a year ago.Without doubt, declines in the number of people killed in terrorist attacks and sectarian strife are important fruits of the surge.But Bush stopped short of presenting a path for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, apparently because he fears such a move might fan sectarian strife again.The situation in which the United States must deploy more than 100,000 troops in Iraq will continue for some time, which brings with it a heavy financial burden.Dark clouds have spread over the United States, with no silver lining in sight. The approval rating for Bush has been hovering at a low level of around 30 percent. Seventy-seven percent of respondents in a recent U.S. opinion poll said their country was heading in the wrong direction.U.S. mustn't kowtow to DPRKAlthough the Bush administration has entered its twilight year, we hope Bush will do his best to overcome the difficulties facing him as leader of a superpower that has the responsibility to ensure stability and prosperity in the world.There was no reference to North Korea in Bush's speech this year, probably due to the fact that the stalled six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program have produced no tangible results in having North Korea scrap the program.But in future negotiations with North Korea, Bush should never make easy compromises just for the sake of leaving a legacy for his administration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 30, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2008-01-30	YOSHIN0020080130e41u000gg
YOMSHI0020080131e41v00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080131e41v00002	EN	\N	DPJ must vote on bills before end of FY07	As a result, the ruling bloc agreed Wednesday to withdraw a stopgap bill for extending the provisional gasoline tax and other road-related tax rates two months beyond their March 31 expiration.	4	2008-01-31	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But, considering the uncertainty over the future course of the nation's economy and the need to avoid political stalemate, it is only natural that a last-ditch effort was made by the ruling and opposition camps.To help stabilize the economy, people's lives and the finances of local governments, it is necessary to make a quick start to debate over the fiscal 2008 budget and tax system-related bills so that their passage through the Diet can be achieved by the end of fiscal 2007.Sticking to partisan lineBut why was the Democratic Party of Japan so strongly opposed to the stopgap bill drafted by the ruling camp, which aimed to avert turmoil in people's lives and the national economy? It may be that the DPJ feared its basic strategy to work the political situation in its favor was likely to be thrown off track.From the outset, the DPJ has taken the line that the lowering of gasoline prices was an unshakable goal, insisting that it would block passage of the tax system-related bills during fiscal 2007. The strategy holds that if the ruling parties have to reinstate the provisional gasoline tax rate after there is a fall in gasoline prices, the DPJ would be able to shake up Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's administration with a censure motion and other measures, forcing a dissolution of the lower house for a snap general election.However, running with this hard-line strategy is tantamount to a total denial of the significance of Diet debate. And winning support from the electorate for such a position must surely be difficult.In 1996, the defunct New Frontier Party led by Ichiro Ozawa, now president of the DPJ, opposed an injection of public funds to help liquidate failed housing loan corporations and paralyzed the Diet for three weeks with physical resistance. But the party's strategy buckled under public criticism, and its failed Diet strategy heralded the party's demise.Lesson from past blunderBut the DPJ is no erstwhile opposition party. It is currently the biggest party in the upper house and bears a large responsibility in national politics. The DPJ may have accepted the mediation offer and looked to regroup in its fight against the ruling camp, having learned the lesson of the 1996 case, even if this means it has been forced to change its strategy.The essence of the compromise solution is for the Diet to reach a conclusion one way or the other before the end of the fiscal year after thoroughly debating the issues through public hearings and question-and-answer sessions involving relevant officials and experts.Still, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama has said voting on the tax system-related bills before the end of the current fiscal year is still "not certain."However, lower house Speaker Yohei Kono from the Liberal Democratic Party and upper house President Satsuki Eda from the DPJ, both clearly stated at a joint press conference that as long as the bills are in the Diet, their fate should be decided by vote, confirming that the upper house would finish debating the bills and take a vote on them by the end of the fiscal year.It is indeed an "obligation" of each political party to make sure this compromise solution is carried through.The compromise solution also allows for the tax system-related bills to be modified if the ruling and opposition camps agree to do so.There are clearly many points of contention, such as how to reform the current system of road-related taxes. But it is necessary for the ruling and opposition parties to seriously debate these issues.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	708	2008-01-31	YOSHIN0020080131e41v000fx
YOMSHI0020080201e42100002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080201e42100002	EN	\N	Food safety system must be strengthened	A growing number of cases have been reported of people, not only in Chiba and Hyogo prefectures but in various other regions, suffering nausea and diarrhea after eating frozen gyoza made at a factory operated by Hebei Foodstuffs Import and Export Group Tianyang Food Processing in Hebei Province, China.	4	2008-02-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A large amount of methamidophos, an organic phosphorus agricultural chemical, was detected in the gyoza and in its packaging.A full disclosure of the extent of the food-poisoning cases and their causes is essential.There have been reports in the past of imported food products from China containing excessive amounts of agricultural chemicals. However, victims in the current cases include a child who became seriously ill after eating the food. It is believed the chemical level in the gyoza was at a near lethal level.Clues point to productionThe production, usage and import of methamidophos is banned in Japan. Inspected packages of frozen gyoza have not revealed any tampering. The most probable conclusion is that the chemicals made it into the products during the manufacturing process in China.China's food inspection authorities released a statement saying it was taking the situation seriously and would release its findings on its investigations.We hope they will keep their word and that the Chinese authorities will thoroughly investigate the incidents.Importers that placed orders to the Chinese factory in question should carry out their own investigations as they have the responsibility of providing satisfactory explanations and preventive measures to Japanese consumers.It also is worrisome that it took so long for the public to be warned after the first case was reported.The first food poisoning case was found on Dec. 28 in Chiba. Additional cases were discovered on Jan. 5 in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture, and on Jan. 22 in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture. Police and public health centers in each city learned of the food poisonings and followed through with investigations. But it was only on Tuesday when it was found that frozen food products from the same factory in China had caused these problems.Reaction too slowIn the cases of Chiba and Takasago, if investigators had learned that the damage was coming from the same frozen gyoza brands, the other cases, such as in Ichikawa, might have been prevented. It is necessary to examine how authorities handled this problem and to strengthen cooperation between authorities.Japan's quarantine system to check imported foods also is inadequate. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry carries out safety checks on imported foods by sampling about 10 percent of them. But for agricultural chemicals, it mainly checks perishable foods. Inspection methods need to be reviewed.Also, in various parts of China, large-scale food-poisoning cases caused by residual agricultural chemicals and other substances have happened one after another. We have to question whether China as a whole plays fast and loose with food safety. If China does not improve its attitude toward food safety, a fundamental solution to this problem will be difficult.At their first meeting held in Beijing in December under a new framework for ministerial dialogue to enhance mutually beneficial ties, Japan and China agreed to cooperate on food safety. Japan needs to now ask China strongly to improve its situation surrounding food safety and also work to help China improve its food management.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2008-02-01	YOSHIN0020080201e421000fo
YOMSHI0020080202e42200002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080202e42200002	EN	\N	Council proposals need progress checks	The recommendations will only become meaningful once they have been implemented. The government must carefully examine whether those proposals are actually put in place.	4	2008-02-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government will set up a new body this month that will be charged with checking each of the proposals and how they could be applied in the classroom. Yet questions linger over just what authority the new organ should be given and on what standards its achievement should be gauged. We also think it would be better to give the body the authority to encourage swifter implementation of proposals that might be lagging behind schedule.Reflecting recommendations on a wide variety of fields, the checklists comprise 36 items in six fields, including boosting academic achievement and the quality of teachers. However, the report did not spell out specific methods for checking progress on getting the proposals off the drawing board. This is an urgent task that needs to be addressed.The council, which was set up in October 2006 under the initiative of then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was tasked with improving academic achievement and student moral standards. The proposals put forward by the panel are intended to achieve these objectives.Grading panel ideas not easyWill the panel's recommendations lead to improved applied skills in mathematics and science and reading comprehension in Japanese? Will the recommendations be reflected in the results of nationwide academic achievement exams or international academic achievement surveys? These issues must be closely watched during the checking process.Trying to measure whether moral standards are improving is fraught with difficulty. However, a decline in bullying and juvenile crime could be a useful marker for gauging progress on this issue.As a governmental panel of experts, the Education Rebuilding Council promptly hammered out the policy of departure from cram free education, and pushed for immediate revisions on three education reform-related bills, including the Fundamental Law of Education.However, some skeptics have sniffed at the panel proposals, criticizing them for being too broad, disjointed and lacking in detail.Opinions also have differed between the council and the Central Education Council, an advisory panel to the education minister.For example, the Education Rebuilding Council called for moral education to be made a subject taught and graded in class, while the Central Education Council shelved the issue.Right personnel vitalThe nation's education policies will remain confused during the examination of the Education Rebuilding Council's recommendations unless the status of the new organ is clarified.Selecting the right personnel for the new body will be vital. The proposals' inspections will be of little practical use unless they are conducted by a person who knows the ins and outs of running a classroom.Currently, several people, mainly experts from the private sector, are being sized up for selection as members of the new organ. But we wonder if it would be more effective to select teachers with a proven track record for improving student academic achievement and forming close ties with student households and communities?In his recent policy speech in the Diet, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda spoke of his determination to revitalize the education system. "It is the responsibility of adults to create an environment conducive to bringing up young people who will be the future of Japan," he said.After receiving the council's final report, Fukuda said, "The government will work to realize and follow up on these proposals so the findings of the panel's discussions will be fully made use of."Abe made educational reform his top priority while in office. In contrast, Fukuda has barely spoken about education, which has made it difficult to figure out where he stands on this issue. Nevertheless, we hope Fukuda will lead the way in reforming the nation's education system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 2, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2008-02-02	YOSHIN0020080202e422000gs
YOMSHI0020080205e42500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080205e42500001	EN	\N	Digital copyright vs consumers' desires	Video recording and copying of terrestrial digital broadcasts is strictly limited, but a new device designed to circumvent this restriction has become available.	4	2008-02-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Machines that can receive digital terrestrial TV broadcasts are regulated to protect program copyright. Broadcasts received by authorized machines can be digitally copied only once.The new device, produced in Taiwan and sold over the Internet, is problematic because digital broadcasts received via the device can be stored on a personal computer and copied onto a DVD or other medium an unlimited number of times.The restriction on copying was introduced on the grounds that the digital format makes it possible to produce a perfect copy that maintains the original sound and image quality. If such copies are circulated on the Internet or through other media by third parties, secondary use of content by the copyright holder--such as the sale of programs on DVD--would be adversely affected to a significant degree.In analog format, quality deteriorates with each generation of reproduction, so fewer copying restrictions have been introduced.Copyright law unclearThe device from Taiwan is not a standard product, but government officials say it is difficult to determine whether the device itself can be banned under the Copyright Law and related legislation. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry asked experts to study the matter.In 2011, analog terrestrial broadcasting will end and the switch to the digital format will be complete. Digitalization is intended to make the most efficient use of the airwaves and free up wavebands for allocation to cell phone networks and other uses. As such, digitalization is of significant public interest.However, this transition should not inflict unreasonable damage to copyright holders and other stakeholders. Measures to protect copyright must be introduced.If a loophole is left open, TV viewers might not purchase authorized recorders, which would adversely affect sales of such machines.There is a plan to ease the rules on copying and increase the number of authorized copies from current single copy to 10 reproductions--a move called "Dubbing 10." However, the Dubbing 10 plan faces a rough ride.Impasse on easing of rulesLast autumn, when an easing of the copying restriction was agreed on, copyright holders organizations thought they would receive compensation for easing copying restrictions. However, the electric appliance industry rejected their demand, saying as long as restrictions remained, even if the permitted number of copies was increased, compensation should not be necessary.Recorders built with the Dubbing 10 function are already on the market with the eased copyright restrictions set to take effect in June. However, some hard-line copyright holders argue the restriction should not be eased under the current conditions.The Cultural Affairs Agency, which mediates between copyright holders and the electric appliance industry, has urged both sides to seek compromise. However, the Dubbing 10 issue has not been settled.The Dubbing 10 plan was created after an outcry from consumers that the single-copy rule was too restrictive and inconvenient. If the Dubbing 10 plan gets hung up in a standoff between copyright holders and electrical appliance makers, it will be a blow to the popularization of terrestrial digital broadcasting as well as quick dissemination of equipment that can handle the broadcasts. Both sides should engage in earnest discussions in order not to betray consumers' expectations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	586	2008-02-05	YOSHIN0020080205e425000ja
YOMSHI0020080206e42600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080206e42600001	EN	\N	Rebuild regime encircling N. Korea	We also hope that the transfer of power in South Korea will help rebuild an encircling net around North Korea, to be formed by Japan, South Korea, the United States and other concerned nations. Through such a strategy, it is hoped progress can be made in having Pyongyang abandon its nuclear program.	4	2008-02-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the five-year tenure of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Japan-South Korea relations chilled over the "history issue" and the disputed Takeshima islets.President-elect Lee Myung Bak, on the other hand, has expressed his determination to strengthen South Korea's ties with Japan."For new and mature relations between South Korea and Japan, I myself do not want to demand that Japan apologize and reflect," Lee said, referring to the historical issues dividing the two nations.Lee Sang Deuk, vice speaker of the National Assembly, who is also the president-elect's elder brother, agreed with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and other Japanese leaders when he visited Japan in mid-January that the two nations should build a future-oriented relationship.Fukuda will visit South Korea to attend Lee's inauguration on Feb. 25, resuming "shuttle diplomacy" between the two nations that has been suspended for more than 2-1/2 years.Visits to Japan by Lee are under consideration after the South Korean general election in April and the Group of Eight summit of major nations to be held in July in Toyakocho, Hokkaido.We hope frequent diplomatic contacts between the two leaders will bring the two nations ever closer.Coordinated strategy neededThe first and foremost task that the two nations must tackle is to coordinate their diplomatic strategies toward North Korea.Roh has insisted on maintaining a conciliatory approach to North Korea that has tended to focus on unilateral aid to that country.South Korea's security relations with Japan and the United States have become bumpy, leading Washington to opt for a framework of talks on Asian issues attended by Australia, Japan and the United States, rather than the Japan-South Korea-U.S. framework.Discord among Japan, South Korea and the United States is one of the factors encouraging North Korea to behave selfishly over nuclear issues.North Korea failed to keep its pledge to give a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs by the end of last year.Japan, South Korea and the United States must have close consultations and urge North Korea to take necessary steps soon toward abandoning its nuclear programs.Lee has indicated that his government will review its conciliatory policies toward North Korea, saying Pyongyang must abandon its nuclear programs before Seoul extends large-scale economic assistance to that nation.Lee also has proposed that a $40 billion international fund be established for aid to North Korea, with $10 billion of it being provided by Japan as economic assistance to be extended to North Korea after the two nations normalize their diplomatic ties.Of course, the scale of Japan's economic assistance should be left to negotiations between Tokyo and Pyongyang. But it is only natural to think that the concerned nations should cooperate in assisting North Korea if the nation scraps its nuclear programs.Abduction issue unresolvedBut Japan's precondition for providing economic aid is the comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues, including North Korea's missile programs and the abduction of Japanese by North Korea, in addition to its nuclear programs.We therefore hope to see concerted actions by Japan and South Korea also in solving the abduction issue. For example, South Korea could prod North Korea into making progress on the issue.Lee, a former Seoul mayor with a background in business, has clearly stated that he will put importance on economic issues. For him, the most immediate and important challenge is to resume negotiations to conclude a free trade agreement between South Korea and Japan that have been suspended since November 2004.South Korea is Japan's third-largest trading partner after China and the United States. And Japan is also the third-largest trading partner of South Korea after the same two nations.They should resume FTA talks as soon as possible as opening each other's market would bring them tremendous benefits.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 6, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	749	2008-02-06	YOSHIN0020080206e426000fz
YOMSHI0020080207e42700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080207e42700001	EN	\N	U.S. presidential battle still rages on after 'peak'	The coast-to-coast Super Tuesday battle, in which 24 states held primaries and caucuses, was considered likely to be decisive in establishing the leading candidates. But for both parties the results fell short of being conclusive.	4	2008-02-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Vying to capture delegates who will select the Democratic Party's presidential nominee are Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Clinton has a slim lead over Obama, but it will take more time to see who will secure the party's nomination.Meanwhile, in the Republican race, Sen. John McCain of Arizona has taken a big step toward cementing his nomination after a major expansion of support in his favor. His increase in popularity has partly been driven by his unwavering stance on Iraq, for which he has consistently stressed the need for extra troops to quell violence and regain security. McCain has also been bolstered by the failure in the Florida primary of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who once seemed destined to win the party's nomination. Giuliani finished a distant third in the state and decided to withdraw and endorse McCain.In the southern states, however, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose support base comprises traditional conservatives, swept to a huge haul of delegates.The talking point, then, is to what extent McCain will be able to make inroads into conservative support in the party.Experience or change?Clinton won the biggest states in the Democratic contest--California and New York. There was concern in the Clinton camp that Hispanic voters would switch their support to Obama because influential figures for Catholic Hispanics such as Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts had endorsed Obama. But Clinton's victories in California and New York seem to have scotched such fears.At the same time, more and more younger voters and African-Americans are giving their support to Obama, who calls for a clean break from the entrenched partisan conflict that deepened during the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, rather than Clinton, who claims a wealth of political experience in Washington. Support among voters hoping for Obama's "change" is spreading.If elected, the 71-year-old McCain would become the United States' oldest first-term president, surpassing former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who took office at the age of 69. For his part, Obama is seeking to become the first black president, while Clinton is vying to become the country's first female president. All three candidates generate different expectations of change.3 historic candidatesBut, no matter who becomes the next U.S. president, that person will inherit the negative legacy of the Bush administration. The new president will have to clean up the mess of the Iraq war and put the economy back on its feet.The political situation in Iraq is still too unstable for the United States to be able to draw up a strategy for withdrawal. The sudden U.S. economic slowdown sparked by the subprime mortgage fiasco means the nation will see its budget deficit for fiscal 2009 rising again in contrast to the trend of recent years.An unstable United States is casting a shadow of anxiety over the prospects of maintaining stability and prosperity in the world.What policies will the candidates seeking to lead the post-Bush administration adopt for tackling a mounting range of global issues such as international terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction and global warming?What we should pay attention to from this point on is the substance of their policy debates.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 7, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2008-02-07	YOSHIN0020080207e427000fc
YOMSHI0020080208e42800002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080208e42800002	EN	\N	DPJ needs to present road tax alternatives	The ruling and opposition parties must present their views in such a way that voters can understand the valid points of contention concerning collection of taxes allocated for funding road construction, including the provisional gasoline tax rate that expires on March 31.	4	2008-02-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In addition to the tax revenues for road projects, many policy matters must be discussed, such as pensions, medical care and a possible hike of the consumption tax rate.Considering the uncertainty over the future of the nation's economy, including a recent decline in stock prices, it is important to approve the fiscal 2008 budget and tax system-related bills within this fiscal year, which ends March 31.As the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council Chairman Sadakazu Tanigaki said, if the provisional gasoline tax rate is abolished, people would have to shoulder a burden in a variety of ways and local governments would suffer huge financial difficulties.Mediation offer was vitalThe lower house speaker and the House of Councillors president offered to mediate on the gas tax law problem in late January in a bid to avoid an all-out confrontation between the ruling and opposition blocs concerning the provisional gasoline tax rate and other road-related tax issues. The mediation offer might be considered a veiled warning--to the ruling bloc as well as the opposition--that any Diet impasse could adversely affect people's lives.Immediately after the mediation offer was announced, Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa and Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama saying they accepted the mediation offer, but that voting on the tax-related bills before the end of the current fiscal year is not necessarily guaranteed.As long as the heads of both chambers of the Diet specified a vote should be held before the end of the fiscal year, each party should, as a basic tenet of parliamentary procedure, comply with the mediation effort. Each party must live up to the points specified in the offer.At the committee, DPJ Vice President Katsuya Okada warned that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's Cabinet threatens to upend the policy set under former Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe of allocating tax revenues originally earmarked for highway projects into general revenues. Looking into the government's midterm plan for road construction that maintains the tax revenues for highway projects for 10 years, Okada's assertion makes sense.Party rift possibleTo deepen such debates, the DPJ should present a concrete alternative, as Tanigaki has done, concerning how many and what kinds of roads should be constructed and where they should be built if the provisional gasoline tax rate is abolished.However, there are some DPJ lawmakers who openly oppose the party policy of transferring some revenues earmarked for road projects to general revenues and abolishing the provisional gasoline tax rate.Some DPJ lawmakers also question the assumption that the fall in revenues for local governments, which would occur if the provisional gasoline tax rate expires, would be compensated under a plan to end a requirement that local governments cover part of the burden for national construction projects in their areas.In December, near the end of the extraordinary Diet session, the DPJ finally submitted to the upper house an alternative bill to the government's bill for a new antiterrorism law permitting the resumption of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The submission of an alternative bill was driven by the fear among the DPJ leadership of a potential ideological split within the party over the issue.If the DPJ repeats this kind of tactic regarding road-related issues, it will generate a great deal of criticism that the party is irresponsible.Would road construction be impossible without tax revenues for such projects? Should the provisional gasoline tax rate simply be made a normal tax rate?It is possible the ruling and opposition parties could modify their stances regarding these questions and find common ground. But before they can do this, each side will need to have viable alternatives fleshed out.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	708	2008-02-08	YOSHIN0020080208e428000f3
YOMSHI0020080209e42900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080209e42900001	EN	\N	Foreign investment in airports a risk to security	A plan drawn up by the Construction and Transport Ministry to regulate foreign investment in this respect has whipped up heated debate within the government and the ruling parties.	4	2008-02-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Narita International Airport Corp., the operator of Narita Airport, will be fully privatized and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, probably in fiscal 2009. The ministry's plan would prohibit foreign companies from holding more than a one-third stake of voting rights in the operators of major domestic airports and related facilities.Domestic airports do not only serve as bases for this nation's air traffic and commodity distribution. They also undertake operations critical to the public interest, including quarantine inspections and immigration control. If domestic airports fall under the thumb of foreign corporations, the nation's security could be put at risk. The government has every reason to regulate foreign investment in the Narita Airport operator, given that it will go public in the near future.However, the ministry's regulatory plan has antagonized some members of the government and the ruling parties. They claim the plan runs counter to the government's desire to expand foreign investment in this country.Other nations doing likewiseOutstanding direct foreign investment in Japan accounts for only about 3 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, compared with more than 30 percent in European countries and 13 percent or so in the United States. Lawmakers opposed to the regulatory plan insist it would prompt foreign companies to think twice about directly investing in Japanese corporations at a time when this nation was trying to catch up to these countries in this field.It should be noted, however, that the United States and European countries have imposed regulations on foreign investment that are more rigorous than Japan's, if they conclude they are necessary to protect their national security, despite their otherwise receptive attitude in this respect. In fact, many such countries have taken measures to fend off foreign attempts to gain control of their domestic airport operators. Some governments even own a majority stake in their airport operators.These nations are inclined to further strengthen their regulatory measures as foreign government-affiliated investment funds, including those of Russia, China and oil producers in the Middle East, wield increasing financial clout.Chilling precedentsSome international airports in Britain and Denmark, neither of which has imposed restrictions on foreign investment, have been acquired by foreign corporations. After gaining control of the airports' operators, these companies slashed expenses at the airports, hoping to rake in more short-term profits.The consequences of their belt-tightening policies have been disturbing: drops in service quality due to personnel shortages, long lines of passengers waiting to check in, and substandard sanitation. There also are growing concerns that even quarantine inspections and antiterrorism measures could be neglected.Japan could be no exception to all this if unrestricted foreign investment in domestic airport operations were permitted.Objections raised by some legislators to the Construction and Transport Ministry's regulatory plan are said to reflect speculation that the ministry wants to exclude foreign investment to ensure domestic airport operators remain companies at which bureaucrats can land cushy postretirement jobs.These politicians are letting their imagination run away with them. Privatizing an airport operator does not necessarily mean retired bureaucrats will parachute into these plum jobs in the future. But if the ministry wants to allay suspicion about the motive behind its regulatory plan, it should know better than to excessively meddle in the business operation of domestic airports.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 9, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2008-02-09	YOSHIN0020080209e429000i3
YOMSHI0020080210e42a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080210e42a00001	EN	\N	G-7 failed to specify concrete action	Although the G-7 leaders were concerned about the world economy, which has seen a slowing in growth, they failed to take concrete action for policy coordination. Their achievements from this viewpoint must be seen as inadequate for ensuring market stability.	4	2008-02-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.S. economy has been shaken by the subprime mortgage crunch, which is becoming more and more serious. The G-7 meeting was held as worldwide stock prices continue to fall. Whether G-7 leaders would be able to map out effective measures to tackle the problem was the main focus of the meeting.The G-7 statement after Saturday's meeting said the world economy is in a difficult situation and confronted with an "uncertain environment." Previous views by G-7 leaders have been too optimistic, and it was expected that significant revisions to their stances and an increased concern about the current situation would be made.Coordination difficultThe statement, however, said the world economy remains solid. It went on to stress that the G-7 nations would act individually and collectively to secure stability and growth in their economies.The leaders likely intended to stave off a growing gloomy outlook for the world economy.But they failed to specify concrete fiscal and financial measures, and the statement failed to offer anything new.Recently, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board announced significant cuts in interest rates, and the government hammered out an emergency economic stimulus package. There is no sign, however, in Japan or Europe of similar cuts in interest rates or of broad fiscal measures being adopted. It has become clear that situations differ in each country and it is difficult to coordinate actions.Help financial institutionsSome observers have said the United States should use public funds to settle the subprime problem, citing Japan's experience in handling post-bubble economic problems. But the U.S. government has been wary of such action, and the statement did not touch on it. If Japan--as the chair of the G-7 meeting--had taken the initiative in referring to the necessity for doing so, it could have sent a strong message to the markets.It should be noted that the statement did call on financial institutions suffering from losses incurred in the mortgage crunch to estimate their losses, disclose them and reinforce their capital bases if necessary.The mystery of which financial institutions have losses, and of how much, has caused prolonged market turmoil, and created a self-sustaining vicious circle. It is important for each financial institution to expedite necessary actions.Central banks in the United States and Europe have provided funds to financial markets to try to stabilize markets. Also, financial authorities in each nation need to continue taking such measures in order to stabilize the management of financial institutions.It also is essential to have a medium-term policy.An interim report compiled by the Financial Stability Forum, comprising financial authorities of major nations, called for measures such as a review of evaluation systems of securitized products, which have been a major cause of worsening the subprime problem. Efforts must be made to tackle these issues.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 10, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2008-02-10	YOSHIN0020080210e42a0009t
YOMSHI0020080212e42b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080212e42b00001	EN	\N	Iwakuni election result smoothes jet relocation	Yoshihiko Fukuda, a former House of Representatives member of the Liberal Democratic Party, was elected mayor of Iwakuni, defeating former Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, who has opposed the relocation project. Fukuda's electoral victory has shown an increasing number of local citizens are inclined to accept the transfer plan.	4	2008-02-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main focus of the campaign for Sunday's race was the pros and cons of a plan adopted by the Japanese and U.S. governments to relocate 59 carrier-based and other aircraft from the Atsugi Naval Air Facility to the Iwakuni base by the end of 2014.The relocation plan is in line with the goals pursued in the ongoing process of realigning U.S. armed forces in Japan--that is, maintaining deterrence and reducing the burdens shouldered by residents living near U.S. military bases. The realignment project could fundamentally affect this country's security.Given that the security environment in East Asia contains elements of instability, the presence of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and their jets is indispensable for this nation.Meanwhile, groups of residents living in the vicinity of the Atsugi base--located in a densely populated area near Tokyo--have filed noise-pollution lawsuits over the years, the last of which marks a fourth stage in such litigation. Groups of plaintiffs have been awarded more than 4 billion yen in state compensation during the three stages of litigation.Sensible solutionThe project to transfer carrier-based aircraft to the Iwakuni facility is extremely reasonable and significant in light of the need to reconsider the burden shouldered by residents near U.S. bases and reduce noise pollution caused by their presence.An offshore runway will be completed at the Iwakuni base in fiscal 2008. This is expected to help reduce noise pollution around the facility even after the 59 planes are relocated to the Iwakuni facility. According to a Defense Ministry prediction, the so-called noisiness index will stand at 75 or over in areas covering 4,000 households, a large decline from 17,000 now.The index stands at that level in areas covering 240,000 households living near the Atsugi base.The government must patiently talk to the Iwakuni city government and local residents about the significance and necessity of transferring the U.S. aircraft and reach an agreement with them over the relocation project as soon as possible.We believe success in resolving the dispute over the Iwakuni base could provide an impetus for government efforts to make headway in transferring the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.Shift in perceptionIhara has opposed the transfer plan, citing the result of a local referendum conducted over the project in March 2006. Eighty-seven percent of voters opposed the plan in the referendum.In response to the result, the government decided not to set aside 3.5 billion yen in subsidy for the construction of a new municipal office. Confusion prevailed in the municipal administration, as demonstrated by the fact that the Iwakuni City Assembly--in which members in favor of the relocation project hold a majority--voted down the municipal budget for fiscal 2007 four times.We find all this highly deplorable.No mayor has authority to scrap a government plan comparable to the relocation project in question.This means carrier-based aircraft can be transferred to the Iwakuni base even if the Iwakuni mayor remains steadfast in opposing the project. The fact remains, however, that support from local residents for the plan is essential for enabling the U.S. forces to use the Iwakuni facility and deploy troops smoothly and stably.The Iwakuni municipal government has demanded that civilian aircraft be allowed to use the base. Proposals advanced to complement the relocation project include a plan to build housing for U.S. soldiers as a means of covering anticipated losses to be incurred through a local residential land development project.By cooperating with the national government in the relocation plan, the Iwakuni city government will find it possible to carry out various regional economic development projects.The newly elected mayor should work to make progress in carrying out both the relocation project and economic development plans.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	751	2008-02-11	YOSHIN0020080212e42b00086
YOMSHI0020080213e42d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080213e42d00001	EN	\N	Govt must take time over consumer affairs reform	Fukuda reportedly handpicked the 11 panel members, including Gakushuin University Prof. Takeshi Sasaki and  Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Chairman Kunio Nakamura.	4	2008-02-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel is scheduled to produce a report on its suggestions by the end of May, but we wonder if it is being asked to reach a decision too quickly.Putting consumers firstWe recognize Fukuda wants to bring about a speedy review of consumers affairs administration. But as the matter is a huge issue that could lead to the realignment of government ministries and agencies, any move that could result in the panel doing a rough-and-ready job should be avoided.The prime minister has shown strong awareness of the necessity to reform consumer affairs administration ever since he assumed the post in autumn, according to sources close to him.Fukuda apparently has been alarmed by a series of incidents and accidents related to consumer safety, including a spate of scandals involving the false labeling of food, carbon monoxide poisoning accidents caused by water heaters and the sale of paper shredders that cut people's fingers.Furthermore, the nation is currently in the grip of a scandal involving Chinese-made gyoza tainted with pesticide.The latest scandal has shed light on the unsatisfactory state of the nation's consumer safety administration, as evidenced by poor cooperation between local governments and the central government, a key factor behind the central government's slow response to the gyoza poisonings. The tardy response prompted Fukuda to launch the panel earlier than scheduled.Fukuda has stressed the importance of having consumers take the center stage. Government policies to date have emphasized promoting industries and tended to neglect the protection of consumers' interests and safety.In fact, consumer affairs administration is currently handled by 10 government ministries and agencies, including the Cabinet Office; Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry; Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, and the Financial Services Agency.Sectionalism in consumer affairs administration means the government often is slow in responding to emerging problems.How can this situation, in which the administration of consumer affairs is beset by many difficulties, be rectified?A package of proposals made last month by the Liberal Democratic Party's newly established research commission on consumer affairs will be used as the basis for discussion. The commission's proposal called for the unification of consumer counselling services and establishment of a new organization tasked with supervising consumer affairs policies.Specifically, it said the new organization could be constituted in one of three ways by:-- Creating a "Consumer Agency," which is an independent government office.-- Forming an administrative commission, similar to the Fair Trade Commission.-- Beefing up the functions of the Cabinet Office's Quality of Life Policy Bureau and the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan.Under the LDP panel's proposals, the new entity would urge government ministries and agencies to rectify poor practices and supervise them if problems arise.Difficult taskThe decision by the LDP to list three reform options provides an insight into how difficult it is to unify the administration of consumer affairs.A question remains as to whether the new organization will be able to serve as a command center if government ministries and agencies retain their authority and roles in overseeing consumer affairs.On the other hand, consumer affairs issues are diverse, which makes it difficult for a government body to deal with problems outside of its jurisdiction.The newly established panel's ability to untangle complicated administrative webs will be put to the test.The immediate task for the new panel is to heed the important lessons learned from the gyoza scandal--the government should establish a system that can facilitate quick and flexible administrative responses to consumer issues by integrating consumer information into one entity.It should then spend time thinking about whether a sweeping realignment of government organizations is necessary to improve the administration of consumer affairs. This, we believe, is a realistic approach.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	721	2008-02-13	YOSHIN0020080213e42d000fh
YOMSHI0020080214e42e00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080214e42e00003	EN	\N	U.S. govt must reinforce discipline at bases	The marine allegedly lured the girl into his car by offering to drive her home and then raped her in the car. Such a rape, if committed, would be unforgivable.	4	2008-02-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In order to maintain the credibility of their alliance, the Japanese and U.S. governments urgently need to map out effective measures to prevent such alleged crimes from occurring and ensure the measures are thoroughly implemented.The Naha and Okinawa municipal assemblies adopted resolutions protesting to the U.S. government over the alleged incident. The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly also will adopt a similar resolution Thursday.In 1995, a 12-year-old primary school girl was raped by three U.S. servicemen in the prefecture, and similar cases have occurred since then. It is natural, therefore, that local residents are angry.New measures neededU.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer and Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, commander of U.S. forces in Japan, rushed to the prefecture to apologize to Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima over the incident. They promised the governor they would fully cooperate with the investigation and strictly enforce discipline and morals at U.S. bases across Japan.What is needed, however, is not a knee-jerk reaction to this alleged sexual assault, but effective measures to guard against a recurrence of such crimes.The U.S. Marine Corps in the prefecture makes its newly arrived marines attend a two-day training seminar. In addition, servicemen and servicewomen ranked sergeant-level or lower who live on the bases are subject to an overnight curfew and U.S. military officials patrol entertainment districts on weekends.But these measures have resulted only in a limited reduction of sexual crimes.This alleged rape by a U.S. serviceman could shake the Japan-U.S. alliance. It is necessary to establish a system of continuous education for all 33,000 U.S. forces stationed in Japan over the need to avoid any actions that could damage Japan-U.S. security relations.Further restrictions on the hours U.S. servicemen and servicewomen can be away from their bases and increased patrols should be considered.The Japanese and U.S. governments should cooperate closely to prevent the latest incident from impacting on the realignment of U.S. bases in Japan.Implement troop transfersAbout 74 percent of U.S. military facilities in Japan are concentrated in Okinawa Prefecture. By 2014 the functions of Futenma Air Station in Ginowan will be transferred to Nago, and the roughly 8,000 marines and marine headquarters staff based in the prefecture will be moved to Guam. Carrying out these plans without delay is the shortest way to lessen the financial and other burdens shouldered by the prefecture.The rape case that occurred in 1995 resulted in the 1996 Japan-U.S. agreement on the relocation of the functions of Futenma Air Station to another site in the prefecture. But the initial relocation plan met with problems, mainly due to opposition by local residents. The same thing should not be allowed to happen again.We hope the Okinawa prefectural government and other related municipalities will cooperate to promote the realignment of U.S. bases in Japan, a move that would have the added benefit of preventing a recurrence of similar incidents.For Japan's security, the deterrent power of U.S. forces in Japan is indispensable. A future task is to reduce friction between U.S. bases and local residents and build neighborly relations.It is vital that Tokyo and Washington strive to improve safety measures, prevent incidents, reduce noise pollution and promote mutual understanding through exchanges between U.S. servicemen and local residents living near the bases.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2008-02-14	YOSHIN0020080214e42e000f6
YOMSHI0020080215e42f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080215e42f00001	EN	\N	GDP data good, but uncertainties growing	The gross domestic product rose 3.7 percent on an annual basis in the October-December period, marking positive growth for the second consecutive quarter.	4	2008-02-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The newly released figures are significantly higher than analysts' predictions. Players on the country's stock markets also responded to the Cabinet Office's preliminary GDP report favorably, bringing about a significant surge in stock prices.The high growth rate is attributable mainly to an increase in companies' capital investment backed by buoyant exports to other Asian countries and the Middle East. The economy has also begun to shake off the lingering negative impact of a housing investment slump that resulted from the enforcement of the revised Building Standards Law last summer. The report proves that economic expansion led by the corporate sector was firm--at least until the end of last year.Dark clouds ahead?But uncertainties are growing over how long strong exports and corresponding brisk corporate activities will last.In the United States, the subprime mortgage fiasco is affecting its economy, triggering fears that it could fall into recession. If that happens, there is no way to avoid a negative impact on the economies of emerging nations in Asia and other regions, and Japan's exports to those nations would become sluggish.Escalating raw material prices and a recent appreciation in the yen also are beginning to cast a shadow on corporate performances in Japan.Although companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the whole are predicted to post the highest recurring profits ever for the fifth straight year in their earnings reports for the business year ending in March, a growing number of firms have begun revising profit predictions downward. If companies become cautious about the future outlook on exports and business performances, a slowdown of their investment in plants and equipment will be unavoidable.On the other hand, personal consumption, which is described as one of the two wheels for domestic demand--capital investment is the other--has been in the doldrums because of slack wage growth. There is a fear that price increases in food and petroleum-related products, including kerosene, will dampen already weak consumer spending.Diet impasse bad for marketThough GDP growth for the quarter was higher than expected, it does not mean we should worry less about a potential economic downturn. Rather, we need to be increasingly vigilant to ensure the nation can sustain its economic recovery.Financial market instability sparked by the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis continues. If a steep decline in stock prices does not let up, fears could accelerate over a stalled economic recovery. Market stability is vital.Though opposition bloc control of the House of Councillors makes it difficult to proceed with Diet deliberations smoothly, it is vital to get Diet approval of the fiscal 2008 budget and the passage into law of tax system-related bills within the current fiscal year, which ends March 31.If debate over the provisional gasoline tax rate gets tangled up in further bickering and Diet approval of next fiscal year's budget and passage of related bills are delayed, this will impact people's lives and, as a result, further destabilize markets.Maintaining economic recovery requires that each of these destabilizing factors be nipped in the bud, one by one.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 15, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2008-02-15	YOSHIN0020080215e42f000er
YOMSHI0020080216e42g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080216e42g00001	EN	\N	Sino-Japan cooperation vital over gyoza scandal	It is vital that the police authorities of Japan and China cooperate closely to unearth the truth.	4	2008-02-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced its desire to set up a joint investigation team for the case. There is no chance of the inquiry moving forward without a proactive attitude from China--the country where the gyoza were made. It is therefore incumbent upon the Japanese government to urge China to undertake a thorough probe.Knock-on effectIn addition to frozen gyoza, consumers are increasingly hesitant about buying other frozen food products, indicating a prevailing distrust of food imported from China. Any delay in tackling the issue could deal a severe blow to that country. Adverse effects also are starting to surface in Japan's frozen food industry--a direct result of the gyoza affair.To alleviate consumers' concern and minimize unrest within the frozen food industry, it is vital that the truth comes to light.More than two weeks have passed since the poisoning cases came to light.Following the initial report, frozen gyoza contaminated with another organic phosphorus pesticide, dichlorvos, also were found. All the foods in question were made by Tianyang Food Processing in Hebei Province, China. Methamidophos, which is not available to the general public in Japan, was found inside unopened gyoza products.The Chiba and Hyogo prefectural police forces set up a joint headquarters to investigate the poisoning outbreak on suspicion of attempted murder, and have been speaking to importers, retailers and others involved in the handling of Chinese-made gyoza products in Japan. The police have said it is highly likely the pesticide was added during the manufacturing and packaging processes in China.This theory is based on the apparent difficulty involved in deliberately contaminating the gyoza products during shipment, as packs are sealed in cardboard boxes before being shipped, and only opened after being delivered to retailers in Japan.The authorities are concentrating their efforts on the methamidophos pesticide and are attempting to learn its provenance by analyzing its chemical constituents. If there is a confirmed match with pesticide constituents available in China, it would raise the likelihood that the substance was added to the products before being shipped to Japan.Due to sovereignty issues, Japanese investigators are unable to search Tianyang's manufacturing plant or question those concerned. However, if the Japanese police were able to obtain scientific data it would greatly aid the Chinese investigation.It also is strongly suspected that the contamination was not caused by residual pesticides in the dumplings' ingredients, as the concentration of the pesticide detected in some of the tainted products was extremely high.Lack of consistencyA senior official of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said, "A small group of radicals who don't want to see Sino-Japanese friendship develop might have taken extreme measures." A week later, the same official said the possibility of a harmful substance having been deliberately added by someone during the manufacturing and shipping processes was "extremely small." However, his remark does not appears to be based on any concrete evidence.Japan and China should increase and enhance their communications to avoid a vicious cycle of apportioning blame. Establishing the cause of the incident based on clear evidence is the only way to regain consumers' trust.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 16, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2008-02-16	YOSHIN0020080216e42g000j1
YOMSHI0020080217e42h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080217e42h00001	EN	\N	Think practically about Defense Ministry reform	A government panel studying ways to reform the ministry has given up a plan to submit an interim report detailing proposals for that goal by the end of February. An important factor behind the panel's decision was what is seen as a radical reform plan advanced by Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba. His proposal has expanded the range of issues to be addressed in debating how to reform the ministry.	4	2008-02-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ishiba's reform plan would integrate Defense Ministry bureaus mainly staffed by civilian officials, or so-called suits, with the staff offices of the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense forces, all of which comprise uniformed personnel. This would be complemented by a plan to reorganize the integrated sections into three divisions that would be tasked with working to improve the SDF's defense capability, deploying SDF troops and dealing with issues related to Diet proceedings and public relations, respectively.Admittedly, Ishiba should be commended for emphasizing the need to increase cooperation between the civilians and uniformed personnel. However, confusion would be bound to result from the radical proposal to scrap the SDF staff offices. The proposal should be dismissed as illogical. In fact, many ministry officials are cautious about Ishiba's plan.Ishiba plan unworkableThe United States and other major nations have military forces comprising three arms--ground, maritime and air forces. If Japan reorganized the SDF into units fundamentally distinct from those of other countries, it would hamper efforts to cooperate with the United States and other nations in an emergency. Such an unusual arrangement would also hinder defense exchanges with other countries in times of peace. It would erode the tradition established by each of the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense forces, while also undermining the morale of uniformed personnel.A practical option we can offer is to make progress in establishing a modestly mixed organization through a significant increase in personnel exchanges between bureaucrats and uniformed officers. This reform is based on the assumption that the current framework of the ministry's internal bureaus and the SDF staff offices would be kept intact.There are approximately 240,000 SDF personnel, only 70 of whom carry out their duties at the ministry's internal bureaus. Their positions are no higher than that of assistant section chief. Meanwhile, only four bureaucrats have been on assignment from the internal bureaus to the GSDF.An increase in the number of uniformed officers serving in the internal bureaus, coupled with efforts to assign them to the position of section chief or higher rankings, would make it easier to ensure their military expertise in regard to the operations of SDF troops and the use of weapons is reflected in defense policies devised by the ministry.This would help produce better personnel in the SDF. For example, uniformed officers would be able to gain practical experience in devising and coordinating policies, thus broadening their perspectives concerning national security issues. This is significant in that such officers are destined to join the SDF's top echelons in the future.Let soldiers hold executive postsThe principle of civilian control does not mean that the suit-wearing bureaucrats must keep uniformed officers under their thumb. This fundamental rule requires the prime minister, the defense minister and Diet members to direct and control the SDF. Given this, there is nothing wrong with uniformed officers becoming executive officers at the internal bureaus.If they work at SDF bases, bureaucrats will be able to understand the actual circumstances under which the SDF operates. This will provide them with an opportunity to acquire higher expertise in various defense issues.Smooth communication between bureaucrats and uniformed officers would help ensure there is no repeat of a case such as the one in which an MSDF section chief did not report to relevant departments an error in an announcement concerning the amount of fuel provided by an MSDF ship for a U.S. vessel.A review of the current personnel allocation method is also essential for better reforming the ministry's procurement system. It should be noted that the bribery scandal involving former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya acted as a trigger for a campaign to reform the procurement system.For years, the Defense Ministry assigned more talented personnel to key divisions charged with devising defense policies and improving the nation's military power. The ministry has been negligent in personnel allocation at headquarters for buying equipment and building facilities.It is imperative that the ministry improve its procurement personnel both qualitatively and quantitatively. This is essential for properly monitoring work conducted by defense equipment manufacturers and trading houses while also streamlining its purchase of defense-related equipment, an undertaking worth more than \\2 trillion annually. Doing so will serve to increase the ministry's overall capabilities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	840	2008-02-17	YOSHIN0020080217e42h0009t
YOMSHI0020080218e42i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080218e42i00001	EN	\N	Care needed in opening youth trials to victims	The Legislative Council recently submitted the outline of a proposal to revise the Juvenile Law to Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama. The proposal calls for allowing crime victims and their families to attend the trials of the young offenders whose actions affected them. The Justice Ministry is to submit a bill to revise the law to the current Diet session.	4	2008-02-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The proposal recommends that victims and their family members be allowed to attend trials at the judge's discretion when young defendants are charged with murder or other crimes involving deaths or willful infliction of injuries, including charges stemming from fatal traffic accidents.In ordinary criminal trials, the emphasis is on meting out punishment to those found guilty, but in cases involving juveniles held accountable for criminal conduct by the family court the emphasis is placed on deciding what should be done with offenders, such as sending them to reformatory facilities to aid their rehabilitation. At present, privacy is well protected as the law stipulates that trials of minors should not be open to the public.Deprived of rightsMany victims of crimes committed by young offenders, therefore, argue that closed-door court procedures deprive them of their right to know the details of what actually led to the alleged crimes. Some crime victims said they wanted to hear the offenders explain why they committed their crimes.The proposal takes crime victims' views into consideration in line with the Basic Law on Crime Victims and other related legislation.By being tried in the presence of the victims of their alleged crimes, juvenile offenders are expected to recognize the seriousness of what they are accused of having done and to deeply regret their actions. The presence of the victims and their families in the courtroom is also expected to help the fact-finding process by dissuading juvenile defendants from making false statements. These are advantages likely to result from allowing crime victims to observe trials of juvenile defendants.But there also is a completely opposite view. Some people are concerned that juveniles might be intimidated by the presence of victims and that they might become unable to speak frankly about what happened and how they felt about it.Effect of observersBeing overly concerned about how things look to the victims, judges might refrain from trying to establish a rapport with juvenile defendants, and question them harshly instead.If a young defendant refuses to speak, it may negatively affect the fact-finding process.Some crime victims oppose the idea of attending trials, saying that victims may relive their painful experiences through the offender's statements in court.Care must be taken about such points when the revised law is enacted. Judges need to carefully decide whether to grant the victims and their families access to the trial after examining psychological conditions of both the accused juveniles and the victims.Courtrooms for juvenile trials are normally very small, measuring only about 20 square meters. When offenders and victims are in the same room, their emotions might be running high, possibly causing unforeseeable trouble. It will be necessary to take measures to ensure safety in the courtrooms.Thorough discussions should be held on the points at issue in Diet deliberations so that the new system can help fact-finding efforts and the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2008-02-18	YOSHIN0020080218e42i000bl
YOMSHI0020080218e42j0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080218e42j0000f	EN	\N	Preserve stability on Balkan Peninsula	Serbia's autonomous southern province of Kosovo declared independence Sunday. Serbia has opposed Kosovo's independence, saying the division of the nation cannot be allowed, and said it would counter the move with diplomatic and economic sanctions.	4	2008-02-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Serbia has said it has no intention of exercising military power against Kosovo. Kosovo, whose people are mostly of Albanian ancestry, has tried to refrain from creating a festive mood out of consideration for its Serb minority.Accidental clashes must be avoided. In this regard, both Serbia's self-control and Kosovo's consideration for its Serb residents, though minimal, are significant. It is appropriate that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has expressed its intention to actively intervene in ethnic clashes or other emergency situations.Of concern is the possible escalation of ethno-nationalism in Serbia. Riots expressing opposition to Kosovo's declaration occurred in various parts of the country. This is a test for the Serbian leadership's crisis-management abilities.Revive dialogueU.N.-mediated negotiations on the status of Kosovo failed late last year, but solutions for peace and stability of the region can only be found through dialogue. Leaders on both sides must seek substantial measures to solve the essential issues.The complicated nature of the issues is also reflected in relations among members of the international community involved.Belgium, Britain, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy and the United States issued a joint statement supporting Kosovo's declaration of independence under their understanding that Kosovo's independence under the supervision of an international organization is the only option for maintaining stability and order in the region.The European Union plans to send 2,000 personnel to support Kosovo's efforts at nation building. The mission's members will oversee police and the legal system in Kosovo. The EU has taken on the huge responsibility of overseeing the smooth transfer of authority from the United Nations to the government of Kosovo.Slavic solidarityDespite such Western moves, Russia is adamant in its support for Serbia, making the situation more uncertain.As people in both Russia and Serbia are mainly Slavs, Russia has traditionally taken a pro-Serbia stance. However, Russia could not stop NATO's 1999 air war against Serbia.As a countermeasure against Kosovo's independence, Russia has suggested it would support independence of the pro-Russia region in Georgia. Such an argument would draw suspicion from the international community that Russia wants to link every matter to the East-West struggle and to use it as a bargaining chip.Japan plans to soon recognize Kosovo as an independent country, but what Japan can do for newborn Kosovo is limited.However, Kosovo's unrest should not damage stability on the Balkan Peninsula, or elsewhere. Japan has to seek measures it can undertake to support Kosovo.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	492	2008-02-19	YOSHIN0020080219e42j000iu
YOMSHI0020080220e42k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080220e42k00001	EN	\N	Why couldn't Aegis ship avoid hitting a boat?	A thorough investigation is necessary to determine what caused Tuesday's collision between the Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis-equipped destroyer Atago and a fishing boat in the Pacific off Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture that left two crew members of the fishing boat missing.	4	2008-02-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Yokosuka Coast Guard Office searched the Atago on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in endangering ocean traffic.The Atago, which had conducted missile-launch tests off Hawaii, was five hours away from Yokosuka Port when the incident occurred. It is common sense in navigation to watch for fishing boats and other vessels when sailing near Japan's coastal areas.Atago's crew at fault?Aegis-equipped vessels have the world's highest class of radar, which is capable of simultaneously tracking more than 100 missiles or airplanes. The Atago, which was inaugurated last March, is the newest among the five Aegis-equipped destroyers in the MSDF fleet. Its construction cost is staggering at about \\140 billion.At the time of the accident, around 10 MSDF members, including those on lookout duty, were on the bridge. The water where the two vessels were traveling was calm and visibility was good.So why did the crew members fail to detect the fishing boat in time?Even a high-tech vessel cannot prevent an accident unless its crew members operate the ship properly and pay full attention to safety.It has been 20 years since an MSDF submarine collided with a pleasure fishing boat, leaving 30 people dead.The latest accident raises the question: Was it caused by slackness on the part of the Atago's crew members?Japan's security cannot be ensured if an Aegis-equipped destroyer fails to avert a collision with a fishing boat."If the fishing boat had been a vessel on a suicide bombing mission, what on the earth would the MSDF have done?" said Yoshimi Watanabe, state minister in charge of financial policy and administrative reform. Watanabe had a good case for making such a comment.Some people might wonder if the MSDF's maritime patrolling and ship-inspection activities are done properly.Abrasions believed to have been produced by the collision were detected on the Atago's starboard bow.According to the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea, when two ships cross paths, the ship that observes the other on its starboard side must change its course to prevent a collision. Thus, some believe the Atago was the one that had the responsibility to avert the collision.The Defense Ministry must cooperate with the Japan Coast Guard to examine how the accident happened and identify those who should bear responsibility for it. This is necessary if the ministry wants to work out effective measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.It also is disturbing to learn that the crisis-management system within the ministry itself is defective. Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba was informed of the accident as late as 90 minutes after it occurred--a turn of events that prompted Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to instruct Ishiba to devise a far better crisis-management system."The minister should be informed as soon as possible," Fukuda was quoted as saying to Ishiba.It is an urgent task to establish a system in which the defense minister and other relevant officials are informed more swiftly in accordance with the gravity of the given situation.MSDF must prevent scandalThe MSDF has been hit by a series of scandals in recent years.A leak of top-secret information on Aegis-equipped destroyers by MSDF members strained security relations between Japan and the United States.The MSDF also released incorrect data on the quantity of fuel an MSDF ship provided in 2003 to a U.S. supply ship in the Indian Ocean, and mistakenly discarded logbooks before the period they were required to be kept for ended.In December, a fire broke out on the destroyer Shirane, which was docked at the MSDF Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.The MSDF should take careful steps to prevent scandalous affairs from occurring if it wants to restore the public's trust in it.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 20, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	723	2008-02-20	YOSHIN0020080220e42k000eo
YOMSHI0020080221e42l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080221e42l00001	EN	\N	100 dollars-a-barrel oil makes alternative energy a must	The sharp price jump resulted from a flow of speculative funds into the market, based on such factors as moves by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. This signals further worries for the world economy, which has been seriously hit by the U.S. subprime mortgage fiasco.	4	2008-02-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Governments, corporations and consumers in developed nations must therefore accelerate their efforts toward developing alternative energy sources as well as making greater efforts to save energy. Sustained efforts in these directions would ensure nations are better placed to deal with high oil prices, even if the price of crude stays around the $100 level.Oil price climbing againOil hit the $100 mark on Jan. 2 for the first time in history. After that, the price hovered around $90 for a while, but a trend toward higher prices seems to be intensifying again.One of the factors that drove the oil price up this time was that market players became sensitive to speculation that OPEC might decide to reduce oil output at its March meeting. Also, the announcement by Venezuela's state oil company,  Petroleos de Venezuela SA, that it would stop selling oil to Exxon Mobile Corp., a major U.S. oil firm, is believed to have played a role in the price hike.The price of oil used to hover around the $10 to $20 mark about a decade ago. However, oil prices shifted upward after hitting rock bottom around the time of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The underlying reason for the price hikes since that time has been rising concern about securing crude oil amid increasing tensions in the Middle East.In addition, skyrocketing demand for oil in developing and emerging nations, led by China and India with their remarkable economic growth, has further pushed up oil prices.Also, speculative funds have shifted from financial markets to oil and other spot markets, further accelerating price increases.Under these circumstances, many observers forecast that oil prices will not return to levels lower than the $40-$50 bracket from now on, although prices will rise and fall.If so, there must be a renewed focus on exploiting new oil fields. For example, Brazil has developed a new technology that allows it to drill deep-sea oil fields, enabling it to join the group of oil-producing nations. Also, Russia is moving ahead with oil field exploitation in East Siberia, a region paid scant attention in the past.It also is vital to develop alternative energy sources to oil, such as nuclear and solar power, and fuel cells.As for saving energy, there is room for energy efficiency improvements in developing nations' industrial sectors.Learning from past crisesTaking the two oil crises in the 1970s as a lesson, Japan has committed itself to introducing measures aimed at cutting its dependence on oil. As a result, the nation's use of oil as its primary energy source has been reduced to less than 50 percent from about 80 percent before the oil crises.Due to recent appreciation of the yen, the import price of crude oil on a yen basis has stayed at a level that has not caused the level of damage done to the nation by oil price hikes in the past.When oil costs $100 per barrel, it is certainly a burden for Japan, but it is not so big that the nation cannot overcome it.The most effective way to tackle high oil prices is to calmly proceed with further measures to minimize our dependency on oil.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 21, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2008-02-21	YOSHIN0020080221e42l000g2
YOMSHI0020080222e42m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080222e42m00001	EN	\N	Boost Japan's Afghan aid for war on terrorism	The Maritime Self-Defense Force's supply vessel Omi refueled a Pakistani Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean on Thursday afternoon, in line with the new Antiterrorism Law that was enacted in January. The refueling operation resumed after a nearly four-month hiatus.	4	2008-02-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the Indian Ocean, more than 10 vessels from six countries--Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Pakistan and the United States--have been engaged in maritime interdiction activities that monitor and take action against terrorist movements, as well as checking for the transport of weapons and narcotics at sea. New Zealand also is scheduled to participate again this year by dispatching its vessels to the area.While the MSDF was absent, Pakistani vessels had to make port calls at a base for refueling, causing their work efficiency to decrease by about 40 percent.The refueling activity constitutes the core of Japan's effort in the war on terrorism. Only a limited number of countries, such as Japan, Britain and the United States, can maintain a long, sustained refueling mission. Since it represents a physical contribution that works to the MSDF's strengths, such as highly skilled ocean-based refueling techniques, we hope it will be continued steadily.It also is important for the government to pay careful attention so as not to cause a recurrence of a scandal in which the fuel oil supplied by the MSDF was used for U.S. operations in Iraq, an issue that emerged during the course of Diet deliberations on a bill for a new antiterrorism law.Work on other issuesHowever, we should also not forget that part of the war on terrorism is assisting with Afghanistan's reconstruction.The Afghan situation faces a very difficult phase. Since last year, activity by the Taliban, the former ruler, has gained momentum and suicide bombings have increased sharply. The International Security Assistance Force, dominated by North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops, is planning to increase its troops to deal with the situation, despite the loss of more than 750 soldiers.In early February, Japan hosted an international conference on reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan. The problems discussed included measures to thwart the Taliban's rise, restore civil order, improve the Afghan government's governing abilities, revamp poor districts and eradicate poppy cultivation there, which currently makes up 90 percent of the global production.It is clear that the country has abundant problems. However, there have been no effective measures to eliminate them.Financial cooperation is keyJapan has so far provided $1.25 billion in cooperation funds that have been used, for example, for road construction, education and the disarming of former soldiers. This is the second-largest contribution following that of the United States. Currently, Japan places emphasis on the disbanding of illegal armed groups led by local warlords and providing indirect support for provisional reconstruction teams run by the United States and European countries.Japan has been extending assistance to nongovernmental organizations working in school construction and vocational training in areas run by Lithuanian- and Swedish-run provisional reconstruction teams. Synergistic effects by parties involved are expected in such areas.At this point, it is not realistic to dispatch Self-Defense Forces members to Afghanistan. Inevitably, Japan's cooperation must come from financial support.Because of this, it is important for Japan to find the best way to expand cooperation and maximize its results in security restoration and regional reconstruction efforts. Technical and personnel know-how accumulated by Japan through its long years of official development assistance should be used to aid the war on terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2008-02-22	YOSHIN0020080222e42m000g8
YOMSHI0020080223e42n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080223e42n00001	EN	\N	Foreign residents' suffrage not political issue	Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa promised South Korean President-elect Lee Myung Bak in Seoul on Thursday that he would make efforts to have South Korean residents in Japan gain the right to vote in local elections.	4	2008-02-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	"It's regrettable that Japan is dragging its feet. I'll do my utmost so as to realize such voting rights in Japan," Ozawa was quoted as telling Lee, showing his determination to submit a relevant bill to the Diet as soon as possible and get it passed into law.However, from fundamental viewpoints, including provisions in the Constitution and the ideal state of the nation, the right to vote cannot be extended to foreigners even in local elections.A 1995 Supreme Court ruling on the issue clearly stipulates that the right to select and dismiss public officials under Article 15 of the Constitution rests with "Japanese people," meaning those who have Japanese nationality. It also says that the "residents" who choose heads and assembly members of local governments should be "Japanese people."The Constitution clearly denies foreign nationals the right to vote in elections, including local ones. Local autonomy is part of an order based on the Constitution. Anything that contravenes the top law should not be allowed.Foreign subversion a threatLocal governments control their residents' rights and duties, as well as establish ordinances that stipulate punishments. They exercise public authority similar to that of the central government. In addition to providing public services, local governments are also involved in handling problems related to the central government's basic policies, such as security and education.The law stipulating procedures to be followed in the event of an armed attack on the nation and the people's protection law call for cooperation between the central and local governments during an emergency.If foreigners holding the nationality of a nation hostile to Japan abused their permanent resident status and exercised their voting right to obstruct cooperation between the state and local governments, Japan's safety would be threatened.Within the DPJ, a group of Diet members has been established to promote local suffrage for permanent foreign residents.On the other hand, another group of DPJ Diet members who are cautious on the issue has also been formed in the party. The latter group was doubtless set up because its members are strongly concerned that the foundation of the nation could be shaken if local suffrage was extended to foreigners.'95 ruling sent mixed signalsThe issue has been repeatedly brought up as the 1995 Supreme Court ruling says in its obiter dictum commentary that providing local suffrage to foreigners with permanent resident status is not prohibited under the Constitution, and that it is a matter for the Diet to take up.The obiter dictum of the 1995 ruling appears to contradict the reasoning underpinning the decision, and it has no legal force. Arguments for local suffrage based on this commentary are unrealistic.The real problem is that moves within the DPJ to support local suffrage for foreign permanent residents are backed by the idea that the issue will serve as a wedge to split the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.New Komeito, which backs giving local suffrage to foreign permanent residents, has already submitted a bill on the matter to the Diet, but it has been shelved because many LDP members are uneasy about the issue.The DPJ probably believes that if it submits a bill similar to New Komeito's to the Diet, New Komeito will support it and the LDP will be dealt a blow.The DPJ is dealing with the local suffrage issue based on political motives. Such an attitude is impermissible especially in respect to an issue that concerns what this nation should aspire to be.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 23, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2008-02-23	YOSHIN0020080223e42n000g4
YOMSHI0020080224e42o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080224e42o00001	EN	\N	Profits mustn't come before national interest	The Children's Investment Master Fund (TCI), a British investment fund, has become the biggest shareholder in Japan's largest electricity wholesaler,  Electric Power Development Co., known as J-Power, after acquiring a 9.9 percent stake in it.	4	2008-02-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	TCI informed the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry in January of its plan to hike its stake in J-Power to 20 percent, triggering a debate on Japan's national security.TCI is known as an "outspoken shareholder" because it has been involved in the reorganization of stock exchanges and financial institutions in Europe. It reportedly has a strong corporate culture of seeking short-term profits.At the J-Power shareholders meeting in June 2007, TCI proposed a large dividend increase, but the proposal was rejected. In December 2007, TCI asked J-Power to accept two TCI executives as board members and halt wholesale rate cuts periodically carried out by the company. Again, J-Power rejected the requests. This likely prompted TCI to hike its stake in J-Power in order to strengthen its influence over the utility.N-plant plan might be at riskIt is common knowledge that TCI has made many requests that could undermine the management of J-Power.The Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law mandates that a foreign investor gain prior authorization to buy a stake of 10 percent or more in a Japanese company in a government-designated business field. The electricity industry is one of more than 20 designated sectors, including the weapons, aviation and nuclear power industries.When the ministry determines there is a risk that the purchase by a foreign investor of a stake in a Japanese company in one of the designated categories could affect the nation's security, it can order the foreign investor to alter or scrap its plan. The ministry, which is discussing the propriety of TCI's plan to hike its stake in J-Power, should consider the plan carefully before drawing a conclusion.J-Power is a wholesaler that sells the electricity it generates to other electric power companies. Its output is more than 16 million kilowatts, about the same as that of the nation's fifth-largest power utility,  Tohoku Electric Power Co. It also plans to build a nuclear power plant in Aomori Prefecture.It takes a long time and a huge amount of money to design, construct and operate a nuclear power plant. If TCI is reluctant to invest in such a plan in consideration of its short-term profits, Japan's long-term energy strategy could suffer.Govt should explain its stanceIt is possible the promotion of investment into Japan by foreign firms could be hurt if the ministry orders TCI to rethink or abandon its plan.Experts have pointed out that if the ministry rejects TCI's plan, foreign firms might conclude that Japan was still a closed society, and investment by them could drop.However, when basic national interests are deemed to be at stake, both advanced and developing countries normally impose some restrictions on investment from overseas.Sound and wholesome investment, of course, is very much welcomed. The government needs to carefully explain its policy on this issue to foreign firms.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 24, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	587	2008-02-24	YOSHIN0020080224e42o0009c
YOMSHI0020080225e42p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080225e42p00001	EN	\N	27-year-old murder case resurrected in U.S.	Kazuyoshi Miura, the key figure in the case, has been arrested in Saipan at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department.	4	2008-02-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The police arrested Miura, the former president of an imported goods trading firm, on suspicion that he conspired to shoot dead his wife, Kazumi, in Los Angeles in November 1981. Miura is expected to be transferred from the U.S. territory to Los Angeles.There is no statute of limitation on murder in the U.S. judicial system. Former senior Japanese investigators were surprised by Miura's arrest and news that the U.S. authorities had not abandoned their investigation into the case. U.S. investigators have told their Japanese counterparts that the arrest was made because of "fresh evidence," but whether Miura will be indicted remains to be seen and it is unknown how the investigation will develop.In Japan, the Supreme Court finalized Miura's acquittal on murder and fraud charges five years ago. He had been suspected of fraudulently receiving about 160 million yen from insurance policies on Kazumi. Miura was convicted on a separate attempted murder charge for colluding with a former actress to hit Kazumi on the head with a metal hammer. He spent six years in prison after being convicted on this charge.1 crime, 2 casesThe Japanese Constitution prohibits double jeopardy--holding a suspect criminally responsible for an act for which they have already been tried and acquitted.The principle of double jeopardy does not apply in the case of rulings by foreign courts. The Japanese Penal Code stipulates that a defendant found not guilty by a foreign court can still be tried for the same crime in Japan.After the Supreme Court acquitted Miura in 2003, he traveled to Saipan on several occasions. When he was arrested there Friday, he reportedly protested, saying that he had been acquitted in Japan. But there is no legal barrier to his arrest. The LAPD might have been waiting for a chance to arrest Miura on a visit to the United States.The person who shot Kazumi Miura was never identified and no significant material evidence was gathered. Japanese investigators had difficulty investigating as the crime took place in another country.Overturned on appealThe Tokyo District Court convicted Miura of the murder of his wife and sentenced him to life imprisonment, but the Tokyo High Court overturned the lower court decision on appeal. The high court said in its ruling that it was a complex and difficult case to handle as the prosecution's case was based on a number of "mosaic-like indirect facts." In the end, the Supreme Court did stick to the benefit of the doubt, the basic principle in a criminal trial.In the United States, sentencing is usually made through plea-bargaining if a suspect admits committing the crime. If a suspect denies the allegations, juries chosen from the general public give a verdict.What outcome will result from the search for the truth under U.S. criminal procedures and judicial system, which differ from those of Japan? This is a matter of grave concern for the Japanese police and judicial circles.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 25, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2008-02-25	YOSHIN0020080225e42p000bf
YOMSHI0020080226e42q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080226e42q00001	EN	\N	Lee offers good chance for rebuilding ties	Japan and South Korea should try to resuscitate their stagnant bilateral relationship, taking advantage of the inauguration of Lee, who calls for engaging in productive diplomacy. Furthermore, it is of vital importance to rebuild the cooperative relationship among Japan, South Korea and the United States to effectively deal with key issues such as abolition of North Korea's nuclear program.	4	2008-02-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In his inauguration speech, Lee reiterated his proposal for the international community to provide large-scale aid to Pyongyang on the condition that North Korea dismantle its nuclear program and open itself up to the rest of the world. His statement about North Korea was one of the focal points of attention.The stabilization of the Korean Peninsula through North Korea's scrapping of its nuclear program also will be necessary for revitalizing the South Korean economy--a top-priority task for that nation.N. Korea nukes top priorityThe most pressing issue is how the international community can persuade the administration of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to abandon its nuclear program.Lee apparently wants to deal with the issue mainly by strengthening Seoul's alliance with Washington.The Roh administration provoked distrust on the part of the United States by repeatedly speaking in defense of Kim's government on issues related to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.Mending fences with Washington is an urgent challenge for South Korean diplomacy.During his speech, Lee said: "Based on the deep mutual trust that exists between our two peoples, we will also strengthen our strategic alliance with the United States." This is the reason Lee picked the United States as the first nation he is to visit--in April.In addition to reinvigorating its relationship with the United States, Lee said South Korea will equally strengthen cooperative ties, in particular, with Japan, China and Russia.Treading carefullyLee used the term "equally" apparently out of consideration for China, which is alarmed by Seoul's move to strengthen ties with Japan and the United States.In his first summit with the Japanese leader, Lee agreed with Fukuda to resume frequent reciprocal visits. Lee's trip to Japan in April--following his U.S. visit--will be the first such visit.Fukuda and Lee agreed to hold preliminary talks with the aim of resuming negotiations for an economic partnership agreement.In addition to the promotion of trade and investment, the two nations need to cooperate in their policies on energy and small and medium-sized companies."If South Korea and Japan cooperate, it will create a major force in the international community," Lee was quoted as saying. It is essential that the two nations produce tangible results over issues connected to North Korea, the environment and assistance to developing nations, among others.The goal of having a "future-oriented" relationship between the two nations has repeatedly hit snags. Learning a lesson from this, Japan and South Korea must mutually make constant efforts to prevent differences over their shared history and territorial disputes from hampering the sound development of bilateral relations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 26, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	606	2008-02-26	YOSHIN0020080226e42q000fu
YOMSHI0020080227e42r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080227e42r00001	EN	\N	Full review of MSDF safety system needed	Last week's collision between a Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis-equipped destroyer and a fishing boat off Chiba Prefecture increasingly appears to have been the result of a string of human errors by crew members of the destroyer.	4	2008-02-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The crew members did not go on full alert after they spotted several fishing boats nearby. Although the MSDF vessel Atago was sailing through waters that are heavily used by marine traffic, the autopilot was not switched to manual steering until one minute before the destroyer collided with the fishing boat. All 26 personnel on night shift duty finished their stints soon before the accident without confirming whether any obstacles were in the vicinity of the Atago.These human errors cannot be put down to a simple lack of attention. Furthermore, a backup system to appropriately deal with such mistakes should be a fundamental provision.Shortcomings exposedIn an unusual move, the MSDF will suspend all exercises scheduled to be held Thursday and Friday to check the operational safety of its vessels and aircraft. On this occasion, the MSDF must examine thoroughly whether there were any flaws in manuals on lookout protocol, rotation of duty shifts and switching from autopilot to manual steering, in addition to educating crew members about pertinent laws and safety practices.It took about 90 minutes to report the accident to Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba--a glaring shortcoming in terms of crisis management. Measures must be devised immediately to correct the process that allows tardy accident reports by the MSDF.An administrative vice defense chief notice issued in September 2005 included an instruction that states the defense chief must be notified of serious accidents within about one hour.However, some Defense Ministry officials on night-shift duty early on Feb. 19, when the accident occurred, were unaware of this instruction. This is an appalling situation. A process must be established in which night-duty officials regularly confirm such instructions.The ministry was told on the evening of the day of the accident that the fishing boat was spotted 12 minutes before the collision, rather than the two minutes that had been initially reported. But the ministry did not reveal this discrepancy until the following evening.Let investigation proceedThe opposition bloc has clamored for Ishiba's resignation over the delay in revealing this new information, saying it was tantamount to concealing information. Ishiba flatly denied these claims. He insisted that it took time to confirm the accuracy of the information and to determine whether it was appropriate to disclose these details.Indeed, the 10-minute discrepancy regarding the timing of the detection of the fishing boat is hardly a matter that the Defense Ministry would want to cover up.The ministry has refrained from questioning the destroyer's crew and other personnel since the day after the collision to let the Japan Coast Guard lead the investigation into the incident. The ministry reportedly has not obtained detailed information on the collision. The JCG has asked the ministry not to disclose the prime factors that caused the accident.It is natural for the JCG to be in the vanguard in the investigation. But the accident was extremely serious and aroused great public concern. The Defense Ministry and the JCG should explain the facts of the incident in the Diet and at press conferences, while being careful not to hamper the investigation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 27, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2008-02-27	YOSHIN0020080227e42r000fs
YOMSHI0020080229e42t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080229e42t00001	EN	\N	Textbook screening should be balanced	The council, an advisory panel to the education, science and technology minister, will finalize its opinion by summer, along with a reexamination of the screening standards to ensure they are in line with revisions of school curriculum guidelines.	4	2008-02-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The most important task in screening textbooks is to eliminate unjust interference. Even if more transparency is brought to the process, it is vital that more attention be paid to prevent interference.Meetings of the council, which is tasked with screening whether descriptions in textbooks are appropriate, are held behind closed doors--not just for general sessions, but also meetings of committees for each subject and the relevant subcommittees.Only for the general session is a summary of the proceedings drawn up, but with speakers' names withheld, before being posted on the ministry's Web site after screening is completed. No gist is drawn up for the meetings of committees and subcommittees.The ministry has said one of the reasons for this is because council members can freely exchange their views in quiet surroundings that allow discussions to proceed smoothly.Confidentiality vs opennessDuring 2000 and 2001, drafts of a middle school history textbook compiled by members of the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform were leaked to outsiders, and the Chinese and South Korean governments expressed strong opposition to descriptions in the books, even before the council had decided whether to approve the textbook.Although the textbook eventually was approved after screening, the impartiality and neutrality of such screenings are threatened if unjust interference and pressure enter the picture.It is extremely important to secure an environment that allows members to engage in undisturbed discussions.At present, the drafts that the textbook publishers submit for screening, and samples approved by the council, are shown to the public after screening as well as the council's opinions and comparative descriptions of before and after revisions.Since discussions are completely closed, it is difficult, through just viewing the council's opinions and samples, to understand the process leading to conclusions reached by the meetings.Would it not be better to consider disclosing the gist of the proceedings at the committee and subcommittee levels after the screenings are completed?Expert opinion has weightAppropriate post-verification following these screenings could help future screenings.For example, based on study reports submitted by the textbook examiners, who are employees at the education ministry, we would be able to see how council members make their arguments. This in turn would add further pressure and responsibility on examiners and council members when carrying out their duties.At the screenings, covering complex events as well as issues involving diverse views, experts are selected when necessary to provide materials for the examiners to prepare reports.For the descriptions on the drafts submitted by the textbook publishers regarding the mass suicides during the Battle of Okinawa, the council issued an opinion that they were not certain whether the Imperial Japanese Army had forced residents to commit mass suicides.If opinions from historians specializing in the Battle of Okinawa had been included, they could have helped the council reach its decision.We would like the council to consider improving its screening process, including using experts more effectively.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 29, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2008-02-29	YOSHIN0020080229e42t000gy
YOMSHI0020080301e43100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080301e43100001	EN	\N	Has China given up on probe for truth?	The Chinese Public Security Ministry said at a press conference Thursday that there was an extremely low likelihood the gyoza became contaminated in China with the organic phosphorus pesticide methamidophos.	4	2008-03-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A senior official of the ministry also said the Japanese side had not provided results requested by China of tests carried out in Japan on the tainted gyoza.China's assertion is completely at odds with an explanation given by the National Police Agency based on investigations by the Japanese police so far that "the possibility the pesticide was mixed into gyoza in Japan is extremely low."Denial can't go unchallengedFurthermore, according to the NPA, it did provide the test results to the Chinese side. The NPA also says its repeated requests for the Chinese side to reveal information concerning investigations into past poisoning incidents caused by methamidophos in China have not been answered. In light of these details, NPA Commissioner General Hiroto Yoshimura had good reason to issue a strong rebuttal, saying that China's assertion "cannot go unchallenged."The Chinese side previously proposed investigating the case with a joint investigation team comprising Japanese and Chinese authorities.The latest Chinese announcement came immediately after a senior NPA official visited China and agreed with the Chinese side to accelerate the investigation by encouraging closer coordination and the exchange of evidence for an early settlement of the case. This development threatens to endanger future bilateral cooperation on the investigation.Some observers believe a political decision at a level far above the investigation authorities may have been made in China.But, in contrast with the NPA's response to the Chinese denial, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said: "China said it wanted to thoroughly investigate the case in cooperation with Japan. They seem very willing to do so."The prime minister apparently wants to avoid the issue developing into a political one. This may be the right approach to take.Safety before politicsIt must be noted that the issue is related to food safety, though. The reality of the current situation is that more and more consumers are hesitating to buy Chinese-made food products.An attempt to settle the issue politically by keeping the facts ambiguous will only serve to leave emotional ill will on both sides. It may also lead to growing distrust among consumers.The Chinese side also said there was no possible culprit among the workers at the gyoza factory in question and that no problems were found in any part of the factory's production process, from the handling of raw materials such as vegetables to the production and shipping processes.However, even if a suspect were found among the workers, that person might not quickly admit to contaminating the products. It is also unclear if the Chinese side checked up on former workers such as those who recently retired or were fired.China also said that "under certain conditions methamidophos can penetrate product packaging." Logically, this means the products could have been tainted with the pesticide in Japan. But most members of the public will remain unconvinced by such an elaborate hypothesis of how the tainting took place.China should do its best to find out what really happened by closely cooperating with the Japanese investigative authorities and taking preventive measures. Only in this way can China regain the trust of Japanese consumers in Chinese-made food products.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2008-03-01	YOSHIN0020080301e431000g3
YOMSHI0020080302e43200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080302e43200001	EN	\N	Japan should effectively utilize marine resources	The first version of the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy being compiled under the Basic Law on Ocean Policy is set to list a number of issues the nation must tackle with that goal in mind.	4	2008-03-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As shown in the draft basic plan, which has been devised by the government's headquarters on ocean policy and is expected to be approved by the Cabinet in mid-March, there is a wide range of marine policy measures the nation must address.The policy areas fall within 12 categories, including the development and use of ocean resources; securing maritime transport; conservation of the marine environment; promotion of scientific surveys; enhancement of public understanding of maritime issues; and nurturing human resources.This country has a small land mass, but its surrounding waters are vast: Japan ranks sixth in the world in terms of the combined areas of its territorial waters, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.In addition, Japan's seabed topography is diverse. Its waters include abyssal seas and hydrothermal ore deposits. There is also an abundance of biological resources.Public, private efforts neededThe draft basic plan recommends that these vast oceans be better understood, used and protected through policy measures. Many issues therefore are addressed in the draft plan, although it will be effective only for five years after its implementation.Concerned ministries and agencies must cooperate to make the best use of the oceans surrounding Japan so it does not remain merely an insular nation. The government must actively seek the collaboration of industry circles and the public in this regard.There are many measures that should be adopted immediately.The development of energy and mineral resources is one such example. The development of oil and natural gas reserves may be possible in the nation's surrounding waters. Mineral resources could be obtained in those seas.The draft basic plan sets a goal of devising resource development plans and putting resources gleaned into commercial use in a decade or so. Technological development and detailed planning are required to achieve this target.The management of data obtained from ocean surveys, which government bodies and research organizations have kept separately, should be unified as soon as possible. This would facilitate the creation of a database--something indispensable for the efficient management of marine affairs.Establishment of necessary legal systems also is an urgent task. Japan lacks necessary legislation to ensure its security, such as laws enabling action to be taken against suspicious foreign vessels found in Japanese territorial waters.Geopolitical issues involvedInternational perspectives also are important. Japan's exclusive economic zone borders the waters of seven nations and territories, including China and South Korea. In some areas, claims for economic waters lodged by Japan and other nations overlap. This problem was highlighted when China proceeded with the development of natural gas fields in the East China Sea.As the draft basic plan suggests, Japan must continue negotiations with other nations in line with international rules, such as the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, and act firmly to protect its own interests.The nation also should not neglect efforts to pass on knowledge and information it obtains through its ocean surveys and environment protection activities. It is important that efforts made by Japan as a maritime nation are well understood by the rest of the world.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 2, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2008-03-02	YOSHIN0020080303e4320000i
YOMSHI0020080303e43300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080303e43300001	EN	\N	Expedite increase in bar exam takers	The government hopes to increase the number of people passing the National Bar Examination to 3,000 annually by the end of 2010. But Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama has said the number of legal experts should be curbed, starting in 2011. In fact, he has established a team tasked with studying how to achieve that goal.	4	2008-03-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The growth in the number of legal professionals constitutes a pillar of judicial reforms aimed at making the judicial system more accessible. There are about 27,000 judges, prosecutors and lawyers in the nation today. The figure is expected to reach about 50,000 around 2018.The justice minister defended his argument, describing the latter figure as "too many." He also said this country should not be transformed into a litigious society. He seemed to have the United States and European nations in mind when he said this.However, let us compare the number of legal experts per 100,000 people in various major nations. The figure stands at an overwhelming 373 in the United States, but setting aside whether such a high ratio is appropriate, consider that the same ratio works out at only 21 in Japan, compared to 222 in Britain, 204 in Germany and 86 in France.Jobs scarceThere are growing calls among lawyers in this country for the government to reconsider its plan to raise the number of successful examinees in the bar examination to 3,000 annually. This is chiefly due to the difficulty lawyers face in finding jobs at law firms, particularly in large cities. Lawyers account for more than 80 percent of legal experts in Japan.However, the public surely would find it unacceptable to oppose an increase in the number of legal professionals simply because of job scarcity.It has also been argued that the rise in the number of legal experts would foster excessive competition among them, encouraging them to seek profits before all else. However, lawyers have every reason to compete in providing clients with better services. We believe competition among lawyers will help sort the good from the bad in the legal trade, thus improving the overall quality of services by lawyers.About half the lawyers in the country work in Tokyo. However, there is only one or no lawyer in 24 areas outside Tokyo that are under the jurisdiction of district courts or their branches.Demand to growThe list of cases in which suspects can be assigned court-appointed lawyers will be expanded beginning next year. There were 6,760 cases in which suspects were allotted state-appointed defense counsels last year. The figure is expected to increase 10-fold in the future.Can this plan serve its purpose in areas where there are few lawyers? A priority for the government will be rectifying the uneven distribution of lawyers among regions.Slow progress in meeting the target for an increase in the number of people passing the bar examination would adversely affect the management of the recently instituted Japanese-style law schools and the content of their curriculums. Failure in this respect could fatally scuttle efforts to produce legal experts with practical know-how, the main goal for the introduction of the new law schools.The lay judge system will start next year. This will greatly affect the methods adopted by judges, prosecutors and lawyers in fulfilling their duties. For instance, the system is expected to shorten the duration of trials by holding hearings on consecutive days.The Supreme Court should reexamine the current legal trainee system. This will be important for preventing a decline in the quality of legal experts due to an increase in successful applicants for the bar examination.The judicial system is now at a crossroads. The question to be explored is how to make the system more accessible to members of the public.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 3, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	679	2008-03-03	YOSHIN0020080303e433000d4
YOMSHI0020080304e43400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080304e43400001	EN	\N	What to expect from new Russian regime?	We refer to Sunday's Russian presidential election in which Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev--Russian President Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor--won a landslide victory, as widely expected.	4	2008-03-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Medvedev reiterated his intention to nominate Putin as his prime minister. A Kremlin official in charge of election campaigning described the new administration as a "two-seater regime." The establishment of such a regime was a foregone conclusion.Medvedev hardly even campaigned in the election. This, together with the fact that the election of the supreme leader of a major nation proceeded as if following a prepared script, undeniably left a bad taste in the mouths of many people both inside and outside Russia.This is the reality of "Russian democracy." It is, therefore, necessary for other nations to work out diplomatic policies toward Russia and deal with the nation based on this understanding of the Russian political system.Putin still in picturePutin has shown his intention to continue playing a leading role in running the country, as evidenced by his announcement of long-term national strategies through 2020. Putin also takes pride in having established a firm footing for pursuing such strategies.For Medvedev, putting cooperation with Putin front and center will stabilize and strengthen his own position. In the coming months, if not years, Russia will cope with domestic and international challenges with the two men working hand in hand.There is no immediate prospect of stopping the surge in crude oil prices, with the benchmark price hitting $103 per barrel. The new Russian administration will undoubtedly continue to place the use of such energy resources as oil and gas at the center of its policies.Russia has signed an accord with Bulgaria and Hungary concerning a pipeline to send Russian gas to European nations. Russia has signed a comprehensive energy pact with Serbia that puts Moscow at an advantage, while forging a united front with Belgrade over Kosovo's announcement of independence.Rethinking strategyIn announcing Russia's long-term national strategy last month, Putin mentioned the necessity of formulating a new military strategy to deal with new threats.Putin was apparently referring to the U.S. missile defense program and the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization when he made the remarks.The revival of Russia as a major power will be a fundamental goal of the nation's diplomatic and security policies.Japan, for its part, cannot be nonchalant about the birth of the new power structure in its neighbor.As long as Putin maintains his influence, no major changes are expected in Moscow's policies toward Japan.The government is considering a visit to Russia by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. It is important for Fukuda to see for himself where the new administration in Russia is heading and if there will be any changes in the strategic environment concerning Japan and Russia.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	509	2008-03-04	YOSHIN0020080304e434000ju
YOMSHI0020080305e43500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080305e43500001	EN	\N	Diet's top law councils must start deliberations	Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, former DPJ President Seiji Maehara and some other senior party leaders have assumed the posts of adviser and vice chairman of a suprapartisan league of incumbent and former lawmakers that aims to revise the Constitution. This is the first time DPJ members have taken executive posts of the league, which is chaired by former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.	4	2008-03-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As situations at home and abroad are constantly changing, the nation's top law has increasingly grown out of touch with reality. Calls within the main opposition DPJ to tackle the issue of establishing a new constitution--a guide to direct the nation in the new era--have apparently been simmering under the surface.The fact that senior DPJ members have taken key posts in the league, Hatoyama said, means that "the deliberative councils on the Constitution will possibly get down to business during the current Diet session."Lawmakers now have to immediately start the ball rolling on their talks in the House of Representatives Deliberative Council on the Constitution and its counterpart in the House of Councillors.DPJ's stance puzzlingThe lower house is currently controlled by the ruling bloc and the upper house is dominated by the opposition camp. Under this confrontational situation in the Diet, the DPJ has been reluctant to start discussions at the councils, saying the political environment is not conducive to a level-headed discussion of the Constitution.This attitude leaves us shaking our heads.Failure to start debates at these councils, as stipulated in the National Referendum Law on constitutional revision, is simply negligence by the politicians. As members of the legislative body, DPJ lawmakers must not ignore a law that was established by the Diet.The councils must discuss a range of issues, including the nation's international peacekeeping activities.Refueling operations on the Indian Ocean have resumed under the new antiterrorism law. But the law is time limited and will expire after one year. Squabbling over whether to extend the law will undoubtedly flare again when the expiration date approaches.In this regard, the issue of establishing a permanent law on refueling activities will probably go on the agenda for discussion by the top law deliberative councils.How the nation's international peacekeeping activities should be conducted cannot be discussed unless the councils also go through the Constitution with a fine-tooth comb.A supplementary provision of the National Referendum Law calls for considering lowering the minimum voting age from the current 20 years old to 18. It also calls for discussing legislative measures to lower the age of adulthood from 20 to 18 under the Civil Code.Other issues on agendaThe Legislative Council, an advisory panel to the justice minister, has started deliberating whether the legal start age of adulthood should be lowered from 20 to 18. Members of the Legislative Council must discuss their views for the future of Japanese society with its declining population, in addition to putting their heads together regarding responsibilities and obligations of the people.The Diet's top law deliberative councils also must provide citizens with a vision for how the nation and society should be through exhaustive discussions on such matters.Some elements of the DPJ remain hesitant to broach the topic of constitutional revision. Former socialists in the main opposition party bristle at the mention of revising the top law.The DPJ appears to be taking care not to tread on the toes of the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, both of which are fiercely determined to keep the current Constitution as it is, to maintain cordial relations between the parties in the run-up to the next general election.However, discussions on the Constitution must not be distorted or stalled for strategic reasons. Hatoyama and the other DPJ executives in the suprapartisan league should help ensure the councils function as they were intended.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2008-03-05	YOSHIN0020080305e435000fy
YOMSHI0020080307e43700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080307e43700001	EN	\N	Road-related tax issues should be resolved	Bills, including one for revising the Special Tax Measures Law to maintain these provisionally high tax rates, have been passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the House of Councillors. But deliberations on the bills have yet to start. The Democratic Party of Japan, the dominant party in the upper house, should agree to start the deliberations as soon as possible.	4	2008-03-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The system designed to apportion a good portion of road-related revenues for road construction, maintenance and other road-related projects creates a number of problems. It has been pointed out that an abundance of financial resources accrued from road-related taxes have left road construction projects to be assessed leniently, thus allowing unnecessary highways to be build continuously.Even in the government's midterm road construction plan, in which 59 trillion yen would be spent in the coming 10 years, many questions linger over whether that much money is needed. It is also speculated that inappropriate data may have been used for predicting future traffic volumes.Much room exists for the ruling and opposition parties to amend the road-related tax bills. Once they do this, they should pass the revised bills through the Diet and into laws by the end of this fiscal year.Provisional rates key issueIn late January, the ruling and opposition blocs accepted a mediation offer by the speaker of the lower house and the president of the upper house on a stopgap bill for extending the provisional gasoline tax and other road-related tax rates. As a result, the ruling parties withdrew the stopgap bill. The mediation plan requires the ruling and opposition parties to amend the bills on the basis of their agreement to do so.Road-related tax revenues for fiscal 2008 will amount to about 5.4 trillion yen, of which 2.6 trillion yen will be the result of provisionally high tax rates.The government-drafted bill would maintain the provisional tax rates and continue the system of using most of the tax revenues as the source for road-related projects.Meanwhile, the DPJ has hammered out a counterproposal, which includes ending provisional road-related tax rates and having road-related tax revenues made available for general use--plus a drastic review of road construction and maintenance projects.If the ruling and opposition parties are to discuss revising their bills, the key focus will be on how to deal with the provisional road-related tax rates.These should be kept basically as they are. If the provisional road-related tax rates are abolished at one stroke, the central as well as local governments would lose out on massive financial resources. Given the current severe financial circumstances, this might not bode well.However, shortening the period of maintaining the provisional road-related tax rates as well as cutting some of the tax rates could be discussed between the ruling and opposition blocs. We hope lawmakers of both camps will rack their brains more on this issue.Use revenue appropriatelyIn addition, progress should be made in transferring a greater share of the road-related tax revenue to the general account budget.In the fiscal 2008 budget, about 190 billion yen from road-related taxes is set to be made available for general use. In the past, the government has repaid debts incurred by Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority with a maximum of 480 billion yen per year. In light of how much was spent on this one item, the 190 billion yen allocation seems small.Criticism that road construction and maintenance projects cannot proceed if the road-related taxes are switched over to general revenue is unfounded.For necessary road projects, a budget should be formulated from general revenue, after appropriate assessments. This would terminate the construction of unnecessary roads.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 7, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	681	2008-03-07	YOSHIN0020080307e437000k9
YOMSHI0020080308e43800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080308e43800001	EN	\N	Monetary, fiscal division no reason to reject Muto	The ruling and opposition parties should settle the appointments issue as quickly as possible by gaining Diet approval in accordance with procedure.	4	2008-03-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government has proposed that Toshiro Muto, former administrative vice finance minister and a deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, be promoted to governor. The government has also nominated Masaaki Shirakawa, a former Bank of Japan executive director and currently professor at Kyoto University, and Takatoshi Ito, a Tokyo University professor and member of the government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, as deputy governors of the central bank.Muto is highly reputed for his work in implementing the central bank's monetary policy in support of Fukui over the past five years as well as for his wide array of connections in economic and political circles. Shirakawa, who has expertise in monetary policy theory, and Ito, an economist of international renown, would assist the new governor in implementing his policy.Both chambers must agreeThe appointments of the central bank's governor and deputy governors require approval from both chambers of the Diet. Should the Democratic Party of Japan, the largest party in the House of Councillors, oppose the appointments, the nomination process will be back to square one. If Fukui's term expires in the meantime, the governor's post will be left vacant.If this situation materializes, the Bank of Japan's monetary policy management will face serious problems amid growing uncertainty over the global economy and nervous financial markets resulting from the U.S. subprime mortgage loan fiasco. An erosion of international confidence in the Japanese government would inevitably result.Some within the main opposition party have voiced strong opposition to the nomination of Muto, a former top bureaucrat in the Finance Ministry, saying it runs contrary to the principle of keeping fiscal and monetary policymaking separate."Separation of fiscal and monetary policymaking" was a term originally used when financial administration, including supervision of banks, was detached from the functions of a previous incarnation of the Finance Ministry.The DPJ, however, uses the term with a different meaning. The party apparently wants to use the term to express fears that the Bank of Japan's independence from the government--an essential requirement--might be impaired if a former Finance Ministry official became governor.However, it is not unusual in other countries for officials from finance ministries to become central bank chiefs.Provenance not key factorThe first and foremost qualification a Bank of Japan governor must have is a wide knowledge of the economy and finance in general combined with an ability to make sound judgments on appropriate policies and to explain them to those outside the central bank. What is important is whether the person can diligently fulfill the duties of the head of the central bank, not which organization the person formerly belonged to or what the person's career background might be.The current political row over the appointment of the Bank of Japan governor has led to a Diet decision establishing a procedural rule for major personnel appointments under which candidates proposed by the government must deliver speeches to the Diet before a vote takes place. In the current case, the rules and administration committees of both houses will hear speeches by the proposed appointees Tuesday.The DPJ and other opposition parties should make a decision on the appointments by calmly assessing the candidates' personal abilities based on their speeches.Currently, the ruling and opposition parties are still at odds over the start of deliberations on the fiscal 2008 budget in the upper house. But it is the duty of the political world, which is responsible for maintaining stability in people's lives, to treat the appointment of the Bank of Japan governor and the issue of budget deliberations as entirely separate matters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 8, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2008-03-08	YOSHIN0020080308e438000fq
YOMSHI0020080309e43900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080309e43900001	EN	\N	Sharp rise in China's arms spending worrying	But how can it explain its military expansion, having chalked up double-digit growth in annual military spending over the past two decades?	4	2008-03-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In his policy speech to the National People's Congress on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao frankly admitted that consumer prices are surging, and that low income earners have been hard hit as a result.The consumer price index in China, whose economy is still booming, began rising significantly around last summer. The rate of the CPI increase in January stood at 7.1 percent, the highest level in about 11 years.Price hikes are particularly high among essential food products, including pork. The CPI in February, when the people celebrated the Lunar New Year, is expected to be even higher, likely due to damage incurred from heavy snowfalls in central and southern parts of the nation. A yellow alert signal is flashing.Inflationary pressures risingIn addition to surges in the prices of oil and food on foreign markets, China is facing high import prices as the exchange rate of the yuan is set low.The Chinese government has set a target of keeping the CPI's rate of increase this year at about 4.8 percent, the same level as last year. But many observers believe that will be difficult to achieve.If the Chinese government fails to effectively ease inflationary pressures, social tensions will grow. The administration's political foundation would then be shaken, as occurred in the case of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident. Whether the Chinese authorities can implement effective monetary and fiscal policies will be the key point in this regard.In the wake of the scandal in which gyoza exported to Japan were found to be tainted with pesticide--which has yet to be resolved--and the fuss over the safety of Chinese products exported to the United States, Wen pledged to take tougher steps to ensure the safety of more than 7,700 products, such as by establishing necessary legal systems.It is a matter of course for China to take such steps. The international community is closely watching whether the Chinese government will keep its promise.No one is threatening ChinaMeanwhile, Japan, other nations neighboring China and the United States are strongly concerned about Beijing's growing military spending. China's defense budget surpassed that of Japan for the first time last year. In fiscal 2008, China plans to spend 409.9 billion yuan (about \\5.98 trillion) on defense, up 17.7 percent on fiscal 2007.The U.S. Defense Department has said in recent annual reports that China's actual military expenditures are two or three times larger than officially announced. If this is true, China ranks second after the United States in military spending.There is no rational reason for such military expansion as China faces no imminent threat. Its military capabilities, including details of its equipment, however, remain opaque.In the Chinese Communist Party Congress in the autumn, Chinese President Hu Jintao called for political reform to increase democratization within the party. But concrete measures have yet to be taken in this respect. We hope China keeps its promise to pursue "democracy with Chinese characteristics."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 9, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2008-03-09	YOSHIN0020080309e4390009t
YOMSHI0020080310e43a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080310e43a00001	EN	\N	Reform bill must shore up money market	The government has submitted to the Diet a bill aimed at revising the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law. A central pillar of the bill is to reform the current system so as to expand the list of financial products traded in the market, while also increasing the number of market players and attracting more funds from domestic and foreign investors.	4	2008-03-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Specific measures include a plan to establish a market in which foreign and start-up companies would be able to have themselves listed through simple information disclosure. The bill would also expand the list of investment choices offered under exchange-traded funds that are popular with institutional and individual investors alike, to include such products as precious metals.Another pillar of the bill is to relax regulations on the scope of services provided by financial institutions. The plan is aimed at making it easier for banks to undertake new business operations, thus shoring up their international competitiveness.The bill would ease controls on bank executives taking up top positions at securities companies and vice versa while also relaxing regulations on banks and brokerage houses sharing customer information. The bill would also ease some restrictions on banks holding stakes in other corporations. Measures include an end to a ban on banks and insurance firms being engaged in greenhouse gas emissions trading.Put savings into circulationJapan needs to take full advantage of financial assets held by its citizens--worth 1.5 quadrillion yen--and investment money from oil producers and other foreign countries. This will be essential in keeping Japan's economy vibrant despite its declining population.We hope the bill will serve to increase the role of this nation's financial sector. Doing so would transform Tokyo into a more attractive money market that could draw more funds from overseas while highly competitive financial institutions could efficiently provide money for industrial sectors that require funds.Easing regulations on financial products trading is certain to benefit financial institutions, granting them greater freedom of action. As a result, financial institutions should exercise greater self-discipline in their conduct of business.It has been argued that banks and securities firms sharing their customer information could undermine their customers' interests. For example, banks that seek to recover loans from companies could use their securities subsidiaries to ensure such corporate customers increase their capital when they have no need to do so.Better monitoringTo avoid such harmful effects, the bill states that financial institutions must keep a closer watch on their own business operations. Each financial institution must strive to achieve this goal by, for example, closely examining business transactions conducted by corporations under its wing. It will also be necessary to set up a division tasked with blocking inappropriate transactions.Expansion of the domestic financial market must be complemented by efforts to ensure the fairness of the market. The bill incorporates a measure to impose greater penalties for unfair business transactions.For years, critics have said the amount of penalties to be imposed on offenders under the current system is disproportionately low, compared with the amount of profits unlawfully gained by them. To rectify this, the bill would use a new calculating formula to nearly double the amount of penalties to be paid by offenders charged with insider trading, for instance.Will the bill fulfill its purpose in this respect?Some people have insisted that the amount of penalties to be paid by offenders should be raised to levels that would constitute harsh punishment. The issue should be thoroughly addressed during Diet debate on the bill.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 10, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2008-03-10	YOSHIN0020080310e43a000bn
YOMSHI0020080311e43b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080311e43b00001	EN	\N	Soaring foreign reserves pose serious risks	Japan is the second country in the world to surpass the $1 trillion line following China, which holds about $1.5 trillion in foreign currency. Next on the list come Russia and India. Japan is the only developed country to hold such vast foreign currency reserves.	4	2008-03-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Such reserves are foreign currency-based assets held by a government and a central bank for settlement of trade transactions and for payment of overseas debts.In the case of Japan, the government and the Bank of Japan carried out massive yen selling and dollar buying operations in 2003 through early 2004 to stop steep appreciation of the yen. As a result, the government accumulated a sizeable amount of dollar-based assets.Japan has not conducted similar market intervention since the spring of 2004, but it manages about 90 percent of its foreign currency reserves in dollar-based assets, including U.S. Treasury notes and bonds. With gains earned from managing such dollar-based assets and the increase in the value of U.S. Treasuries, the nation's foreign currency reserves have ballooned.Putting reserves to workManagement of such assets has produced a yield of about 4 percent per annum and it is reported that profits from managing the foreign reserves have topped 3 trillion yen a year.What should be noted is that foreign currency reserves are not net assets for the nation and the reserves have increased with borrowing.The government issues short-term securities known as financial bills (FBs) to procure funds in yen from financial and other institutions. Then, it sells the yen and buys dollars.With the increase in the foreign currency reserves, the outstanding balance of the FBs also has increased to total about 102 trillion yen. This is all Japan's debts.Moreover, if the dollar's depreciation continues, yen-calculated values of dollar-based assets will decline, further deteriorating the nation's fiscal condition. When U.S. government bonds can be managed with high interest rates, profits can be expected. But if interest rates in the United States and Japan are reversed, foreign currency reserves will incur losses.Japan now faces a situation in which it cannot sell the U.S. government bonds it holds, because if it did so, the Treasury bonds and the dollar would decline in the markets, reducing the value of the remaining reserves.Double-edged swordThe nation seems to be in a dead-end in that it has no adequate way to deal with the ballooning foreign currency reserves while risks connected to foreign exchange and interest rates can only heighten.Some members of the Liberal Democratic Party have started studying the possibility of Japan establishing a sovereign wealth fund financed by the foreign currency reserves and other resources. The move is aimed at coming up with ways to counter moves by China and oil-rich Middle East countries using sovereign wealth funds.However, the government must be extremely careful in creating such a fund bankrolled with borrowed money from the foreign currency reserves. Many issues must be addressed, including whether profits can be earned through careful management and who should be responsible when losses are incurred.But it is also problematic if the expanding foreign currency reserves are left unaddressed and the reserves continue to be top-heavy with the U.S. government bonds.Hopefully, the foreign currency reserves and outstanding balance of FBs can be reduced with a minimum of risk and without sparking chaos in the markets. In the wake of the nation's foreign currency reserves having topped the $1 trillion line, discussions must speed up to address these matters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 11, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2008-03-11	YOSHIN0020080311e43b000g2
YOMSHI0020080312e43c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080312e43c00001	EN	\N	Are only ex-execs at fault for Shinginko's woes?	The bank released Monday an in-house investigation report that pointed the finger at its former management, including the former chief executive officer and others who sat on the board when the bank was inaugurated, for the mess. The report claimed these executives pushed ahead with the provision of loans with lax screening standards.	4	2008-03-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the report, management officials did not fully examine whether borrowers had the ability to pay back their debts and encouraged employees in charge to extend the largest loans possible to borrowers. The bank did not hold anybody responsible even if the borrowers failed to make repayments as long as the loans had been extended more than six months earlier.Shinginko Tokyo was established to provide loans to small and midsize companies that were unable to procure funds due to the credit crunch. However, its actions clearly strayed from what is demanded of a bank.Some cash-strapped firms were probably able to stay afloat thanks to the sloppy lending practices of Shinginko Tokyo. But it is no stretch of the imagination to assume that many unsound corporations flocked to the bank to borrow money. For example, it has been revealed that the bank provided loans to a meat wholesaler accused of falsely labeling beef, immediately after that scandal surfaced.Reckless loansThe Tokyo metropolitan government shelled out 100 billion yen, or more than 80 percent of the bank's capital, effectively making Shinginko Tokyo a subsidiary.The metropolitan government plans to file criminal complaints and civil lawsuits against the members of the inaugural management team.The reckless provision of loans provided by the bank operating with funds from Tokyo taxpayers cannot simply be swept under the rug. It is, therefore, natural to pursue the responsibility of the former management team.The report, however, made no mention of the responsibility of the metropolitan government. Many Tokyoites probably cannot accept the fact that Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and other top metropolitan government officials are behaving like victims in this sorry saga.Ishihara made the bank's establishment a key campaign pledge when he was running for his second term in office and played a central role in getting it up and running.Bad timingThe bank was intended to help small and midsize companies that were facing tough times during the economic slump. But the economy turned for the better, and major financial institutions were beginning to focus more on providing loans to small and midsize companies when Shinginko Tokyo was established three years ago. Perhaps the setting up of the bank itself should have been reconsidered then and there.No sooner had the bank opened its doors for business than warning bells about its future began ringing even louder. The metropolitan government was supposed to have paid close attention to the details of the bank's management from the very beginning. If it failed to do so, the metropolitan government should be deemed negligent. The explanation put forward that it did not know anything about the bank's sloppy business practices does not hold water.The metropolitan government is going to great lengths to make itself appear to be the victim in this matter, apparently in the hope of obtaining the assembly's approval for the provision of an additional 40 billion yen to the bank. But instead of shoveling more funds into the bank, Ishihara should admit his mistakes and be courageous enough to pull the metropolitan government from the banking business.Any move that pours salt on this wound will be unacceptable to Tokyo taxpayers. The metropolitan government must find a way to minimize its losses and withdraw from this industry on the premise that the bank is closed for business.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 12, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	658	2008-03-12	YOSHIN0020080312e43c000eq
YOMSHI0020080313e43d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080313e43d00001	EN	\N	DPJ should handle BOJ appointment responsibly	At its plenary session Wednesday, the upper house voted down the government's plan to promote Bank of Japan Deputy Gov. Toshiro Muto to become the bank's next chief and appoint Tokyo University Prof. Takatoshi Ito as a deputy governor. With the opposition bloc, including the DPJ, controlling the upper house, their decision to reject the government's appointments sank their nominations.	4	2008-03-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The upper house did, however, give the green light to Kyoto University Prof. Masaaki Shirakawa, a former central bank executive director, to take up the other deputy governor post.The government will come under pressure to resubmit to the Diet an appointment plan for the two posts left unfilled by the upper house's decisions. The term of incumbent Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui expires Wednesday. The government has little time to present another appointment plan, regardless of whether it resubmits the same lineup or an alternative with different nominees. This chaotic state of affairs has no precedent.The primary responsibility for this mess lies with the DPJ.Political point-scoringThe DPJ rejected Muto's appointment as the Bank of Japan governor, saying that the central bank would not be able to maintain its independence if Muto, a former Finance Ministry bureaucrat, assumes the central bank's top position. The party's assertion is, however, unconvincing.The revised Bank of Japan Law, which came into force in 1998, strengthened the central bank's independence from the government.Indeed, Muto spoke at length about the importance of the central bank's independence during Tuesday's hearing at the Rules and Administration committees of the two chambers. "During the five years I served as deputy governor, I considered [things] 100 percent from the standpoint of the Bank of Japan," he said. We do not have any reason to doubt him.Former U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker pushed ahead with a tight monetary policy while regularly clashing with the government, earning himself the nickname "inflation fighter" in the process. He also served as a deputy treasury undersecretary.This suggests the DPJ's reasoning for opposing Muto's appointment due to his career background as a former Finance Ministry bureaucrat does not quite stack up.We think the DPJ's real motive lies more in trying to squeeze the government and the LDP than making genuine personnel evaluations. If so, the DPJ's attitude must be regarded as an attempt to use the dispute over the selection of the bank's new top official as a tool for achieving its own political purposes.Market fearsThe DPJ approved the nomination of Shirakawa as a central bank deputy governor. With the lower house's approval, Shirakawa will serve as an interim governor and be in charge of the central bank's day-to-day operations if the post of governor remains vacant after Fukui's term expires.However, a deputy governor cannot be expected to carry weight comparable to that of the governor in fulfilling his duties. This would exacerbate uncertainties about Japan's monetary policy and stir up anxieties that could lower the market's confidence in the economy.Japan's failure to get its important personnel affairs in order also would arouse distrust among other countries of the nation's political process.Opposition parties, especially the DPJ, should be more aware of their responsibilities and willingly join discussions with the ruling parties to defuse this situation.Naming a new candidate for the bank's governor so easily could deflate the confidence of whoever is put forward for the position. With this in mind, we hope the nation's lawmakers will make a calm decision on who should be the top central banker.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	700	2008-03-13	YOSHIN0020080313e43d000ff
YOMSHI0020080314e43e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080314e43e00001	EN	\N	Strong yen could hurt nation's economy	This drop in the dollar is a serious cause of concern for the Japanese economy, which is already showing unsteady signs. It is necessary to pay close attention to these foreign exchange movements.	4	2008-03-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The dollar also has dropped significantly against the euro and other Asian currencies--the euro is currently at its highest level against the dollar. The dollar's fall against other currencies is nearly across-the-board.With the impact of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis becoming much more serious, concern over the U.S. economy has further mounted. It seems investors are selling more dollars out of fears of a U.S. recession.Meanwhile, crude oil has topped $110 per barrel and looks set to go higher. The rise in oil prices is a sign that as financial markets destabilize, investors are shifting dollar assets into oil, gold and other spot commodities.Markets wary of Fed boostThe U.S. Federal Reserve Board announced in coordination with four other central banks in Canada and Europe that it will lend up to $200 billion of Treasury securities to financial institutions in exchange for securities backed by mortgages. This announcement appears to have halted a chain reaction of falling stock prices on global markets and somewhat eased investor anxieties.However, the markets also see the central banks' move as only a makeshift measure, and cracks are already appearing in market confidence.Prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange largely dropped Thursday due to the surging yen. The Dow Jones industrial average also has seen persistent volatile trading.The greatest market worry is that there is as yet no fix to the subprime mortgage crisis. Policies by the U.S. government and the Fed to establish financial stability have failed to work. A feeling of uneasiness has spread across markets.Dark clouds on horizon?More difficulties probably await the Japanese economy. A booming U.S. economy and the weak yen have been a boon to Japan's economy, with export industries, such as automobile and electrical machinery, being the chief drivers.But the double punch of the downturn in the U.S. economy and the appreciation of the yen may directly hit profits in these export industries. Furthermore, a delay in the recovery of corporate performances could influence individual incomes and dampen consumption.As of October, many companies predicted the dollar would be at 115 yen for calculating their earnings for the March settlement term. Shortly after the New Year, many companies changed that estimate to 105 yen. But reality has even exceeded that prediction.Indeed, even if the prices of raw materials, such as crude oil, rise, the burden of the price increase can be eased by the yen's appreciation. But with such large price increases, the benefits derived from this appreciation are limited.With the triple whammy of the yen's appreciation, falling stock prices and the rise in crude oil prices, the stalemate regarding the appointment of a new Bank of Japan governor could work in favor of speculators. To avoid further complications, the nomination of a new central bank chief should be resolved as early as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	564	2008-03-14	YOSHIN0020080314e43e000e3
YOMSHI0020080315e43f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080315e43f00001	EN	\N	Politics shouldn't stir economic trouble	The issue of appointing a successor to Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui, whose term of office will expire Wednesday, is still unresolved. This is an extraordinary situation.	4	2008-03-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Political parties must stop using this issue as a political football.The government-proposed appointment of central bank Deputy Gov. Toshiro Muto as the bank's chief was approved by the House of Representatives through the ruling parties' majority in the chamber. But the government-proposed nomination had already been voted down by the House of Councillors, in which the Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties have the majority. As a result, the plan to promote Muto to the post of central bank head is back to square one.The government intends to submit another nomination. But the problem is how the DPJ, the largest opposition party, will respond to a new proposal.With mounting concern over the economic downturn in the United States, the U.S. dollar has dropped sharply. The yen's appreciation and falling stock prices could seriously affect Japan's economy.At this time, all central banks need to cooperate closely with one another to help stabilize the world's financial markets. A vacancy in the governorship of Japan's central bank cannot be allowed.The idea has been mooted that Kyoto University Prof. Masaaki Shirakawa, who has been approved by both chambers for one of the two posts of central bank deputy chief, should take the role of acting governor. But the responsibilities for monetary policy for the person at the helm of the bank at this time is so heavy that an acting chief cannot be expected to fulfill all the duties of the post.DPJ's logic blinkeredThe DPJ opposed Muto's nomination mainly because he previously worked at the Finance Ministry. This reasoning is incredibly blinkered. Despair over this situation has been voiced by market players and those in economic circles.The DPJ, particularly on this occasion, must respond to any new appointment proposal taking full account of its responsibilities as the dominant party in the upper house.The DPJ's approach to recent tax bills, including one for revising the Special Tax Measures Law to maintain the provisional gasoline tax rate, has also raised many questions.With the DPJ and other opposition parties rejecting debate on the issue, the start of deliberations on the fiscal 2008 budget in the upper house has suffered a significant delay. Debate on the tax reform bills has also been postponed to next week or possibly later. The expiry date of the provisional tax rates at the end of March is fast approaching.DPJ must honor dealIn late January, the ruling and opposition blocs accepted a mediation offer by the speaker of the lower house and the president of the upper house over the threatened use of a stopgap bill for extending the provisional gasoline tax and other road-related tax rates. Both blocs agreed the upper house would finish debating actual bills and vote on them before the end of the current fiscal year. This agreement should not be rendered worthless.To this end, debating revisions to the bills is necessary. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda instructed the ruling parties to draw up a draft revision. The government and the ruling bloc should compile this draft revision and push hard to win early DPJ agreement through discussions with that party.Among the likely points to be discussed are: making tax revenues earmarked for road-related projects available for general use; shortening the extension period of the provisional tax rate; and reviewing the government's plan to pour 59 trillion yen into nationwide road construction projects over the next 10 years.Does the DPJ really consider it permissible to cause a short-term fluctuation in gasoline prices solely for the purpose of driving the Fukuda administration into a corner?If so, the DPJ can hardly be described as a party genuinely aspiring to take over the reins of government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 15, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2008-03-15	YOSHIN0020080315e43f000fj
YOMSHI0020080316e43g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080316e43g00001	EN	\N	Policyholders, too, must check pension records	Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe on Friday reported to a ministerial meeting on the issue that name-identification work on about 50.95 million unidentified records had been completed.	4	2008-03-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But what he meant by "name-identification work" was merely computer-aided operations under which some records were regarded as those of people whose names had been read slightly different from the actual ones.Masuzoe said the government probably would be unable to identify 20.25 million records, or about 40 percent of the overall number of unidentified accounts. Surely, the minister should not have confidently claimed that he had kept his pledge to complete name-identification work by the end of this fiscal year.Even with regard to records that may possibly be identifiable, confirmation work is said to be proceeding slowly.The Social Insurance Agency mailed pension record information to those who may be the holders of unidentified pension records, asking them to check if there was any missing information in their pension records. But the agency did not receive replies from more than 60 percent of those it contacted. Most of those who did reply said their records did not need to be corrected.Lack of imagination evidentThis situation also can be attributed to the bureaucratic manner in which the agency set about tackling the problem. The first version of the letter the agency mailed failed to provide any guidance for policyholders regarding which part of their records should be carefully checked to determine if any information was missing.Obviously, many elderly pension recipients cannot be expected to accurately recall details of their employment at companies they worked for decades ago. Though the agency later sent out a revised letter to these people, agency officials clearly failed to show a customer-friendly attitude in proceeding with their administrative work.The ministry and the agency should take to heart the government's pledge to "check the records until the last person is identified" and make a more sincere effort to solve the problem from the viewpoint of policyholders.The government in April will start sending letters to all pension recipients and policyholders now working, asking them to check their premium payment records.It is important that those who receive the letter thoroughly check their records by themselves.Some records may be found to be incomplete as the computer-assisted name-confirmation work has failed to identify all the accounts. It is also possible that data will be found to be missing because pension premiums may have been embezzled by agency officials, municipal government workers and employees of companies that the policyholders worked for.IC card will prevent problemsPolicyholders must take it upon themselves to help uncover flaws in administrative work or fraudulent conduct, even if doing so is bothersome. And from now on, policyholders should make sure they are receiving the amount of pension benefits to which they are entitled.To restore public trust in pension systems, it is essential that the pension records fiasco be resolved as soon as possible in a convincing way, and that a system be established for policyholders to check their eligibility for benefits whenever necessary.To prevent such a chaotic situation from recurring, the government also should expedite work toward the introduction of an integrated circuit-equipped social security card for pension, health insurance and nursing care insurance services.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 16, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2008-03-16	YOSHIN0020080316e43g0009a
YOMSHI0020080317e43h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080317e43h00001	EN	\N	Decline in U.S. power cause for concern	There is cause for concern that the current situation may have resulted in a decline in the ability of the United States to play a role in and live up to the responsibility it previously assumed in preserving peace and security of East Asia. This is a matter of serious concern for Japan.	4	2008-03-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As it turns out, no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq, contrary to the assertion repeated by the United States, and supported by Britain, in going to war with Iraq. The U.S. death toll has reached about 4,000 and has cost Iraq an estimated 100,000 lives--some put the number as high as 150,000. There is as yet no sign of Iraq becoming peaceful or stable.This has encouraged some critics to denounce the U.S. military action as a war without cause. However, one must remember what had happened before the start of the war. Failure to do so means forgetting why the United States went to war against Iraq.The terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, left the country increasingly suspicious that some "rogue" states were building and proliferating WMD.Fear of WMDThe United States had good reason to regard former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with suspicion, given his administration's violation of several U.N. Security Council resolutions. For more than 10 years after the end of the Gulf War, the former dictator failed to take necessary measures to convince the international community that its WMD had been scrapped.It was not until U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 was adopted that Iraq accepted international inspections. The resolution stated the nation would face "grave consequences" if it continued to reject U.N. inspections in violation of its duty as a member of the world body.However, Iraq's cooperation in U.N. inspections was limited. The country would not have given even limited cooperation in this respect if the United States and Britain had not flexed their military muscles. Saddam could have averted war if he had proved that no WMD existed in his country. In light of Saddam's failure to do so, the blame must fall on his administration when it comes to discussing who brought on the war.All nations believed Iraq possessed WMD. In fact, it had used chemical weapons to attack Iran and Iraqi Kurds. One influential Japanese newspaper carried an editorial urging Iraq not to use such weapons after the United States went to war with that country.The United States and Britain were pitted against France, Russia and Germany in debating whether to launch a strike on Iraq, a development that temporarily left the U.N. Security Council incapable of fulfilling its duties. Given the circumstances surrounding the international community at that time, Japan had no choice but to support the decision by the United States and Britain to invade Iraq.Failure of nation-buildingU.S. President George W. Bush stated the military attack was aimed at removing the threat posed by Iraq and restoring that nation's rule to its people.Five years after the start of the war, the United States has fallen short in transforming Iraq into a democracy. The ongoing turmoil would not have ensued if the United States had taken all possible means to ensure postwar Iraq was properly governed.The Bush administration was apparently convinced its military power could resolve all problems arising in postwar Iraq, paying little attention to the history of sectarian and ethnic strife in that nation.Admittedly, the U.S. decision to send more troops to Iraq last year has temporarily halted a deterioration in that nation's public order and security. It should be noted, however, that the presence of 140,000 U.S. troops is the linchpin of security in Iraq. This indicates the U.S. military presence may well have to be maintained there for an extended period of time.Long-term occupationIt is disturbing to see that the chaos in Iraq is contributing to a decline in the U.S. leadership role in the international community, a development that could undermine global peace and security.With this in mind, the United States must strive to help the Iraqi government stand on its own and stabilize the country. The Bush administration should also make progress in its diplomatic efforts to stabilize the entire Middle East. A top priority for Bush's successor will be to meet this challenge.Stability in Iraq--or a lack of it--is vitally important for Japan, a nation that relies on crude oil imports from the Middle East for 90 percent of its oil consumption. Therefore, our country must continue to aid Iraq by contributing personnel and postwar rehabilitation assistance.The Air Self-Defense Force is continuing transportation activities related to Iraq's rehabilitation under the extended special legislation for Japan's aid in Iraq's reconstruction. It is important for the government to make the ASDF's work and its significance better understood by the public.Repercussions from the Iraqi war can be seen in East Asia's security. This presents a grave problem for Japan.The start of the war was followed by North Korea's outright decision to resume its development of nuclear weapons. It even conducted missile and nuclear tests despite international condemnation. Pyongyang defended its possession of nuclear arms, saying Iraq was attacked because it had no nuclear weapons.North Korea's nuclear test has fundamentally exacerbated the threat to Japan's security.Another matter of concern is China's rapid emergence as a military superpower. In a meeting with a U.S. commander, a Chinese military official reportedly suggested the United States and China divide the Pacific Ocean, thus enabling each nation to control half of the sea. If such a division ever comes to pass, it would expose Japan to a military threat from China and put its survival as a nation at risk.Dangers in AsiaJapan cannot afford to overlook the United States' predicament in Iraq, coupled with its declining power in East Asia. Mainly supported by U.S. military might, the international community can exert great pressure on North Korea to scrap its nuclear weapons program. If the U.S. influence declines, North Korea will never dismantle its nuclear weapons.What should Japan do to help ensure East Asia's security and prosperity? To achieve this goal, this nation should maintain its close relationship with the United States. A decline in U.S. power in this part of the world would undermine Japan's national interests.Japan must share its perception of the importance of East Asian security with the United States, while confirming that cooperation between the two nations will help ensure this part of the world prospers in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1177	2008-03-17	YOSHIN0020080317e43h000az
YOMSHI0020080317e43i0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080317e43i0000k	EN	\N	China's ethnic policies led to Tibet riots	Tibetan exiles across the world have staged protests, damaging China's image abroad ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games to be held in August.	4	2008-03-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is ironic that the riots occurred when the National People's Congress, China's parliament, is in session until Tuesday because the parliament had made social harmony, including harmony among ethnic groups, one of the main themes of the annual session.The latest riots could be considered the product of China's failed policy toward Tibet.The Chinese authorities announced that 13 people were killed and 61 policemen were injured in rioting in Lhasa, while the Tibetan government-in-exile gave different figures, putting the death toll at 80 and the number of injured at 72 as of Sunday night.The Tibetan government-in-exile called for an independent international investigation team to be sent to Tibet, a suggestion that was immediately rejected by Beijing. China apparently does not want to let the international community know the real situation in Tibet.History of violenceThere have been many clashes between the security authorities and Tibetan residents since the 14th Dalai Lama sought asylum in Dharmsala, India, in March 1959 following the Tibet rebellion.Hu Jintao, who was reelected president during Saturday's National People's Congress session, oversaw an armed crackdown during the 1989 Lhasa revolt as party secretary for the Tibet Autonomous Region.Since the mid-1990s, China's policy toward Tibet has centered around economic and social development, symbolized by the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which opened two years ago between Golmud in Qinghai Province and Lhasa.The Chinese government encouraged the ethnic Han majority to migrate to the region through commercial development and other projects. As a result, Chinese became the dominant language over Tibetan and the assimilation of Tibetans into the Chinese majority has progressed in the educational and cultural fields.Attempts to assimilateThe Tibetan government-in-exile says Han people now outnumber Tibetans in the Tibetan-inhabited areas, including the Tibet Autonomous Region, which has a total population of about 2.8 million, due to China's migration policy.Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities have clamped down on monks and residents who took part in antigovernment activities, sent party and military personnel to temples and forced patriotic education as part of its efforts to repress Tibetan culture.Also, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which is China's Achilles' heel along with Tibet, the migration of Han people has been encouraged, triggering persistent resistance movements among the Uygur people.The Dalai Lama dropped his demand for Tibetan independence in the 1990s and switched to a policy of seeking a "high level of autonomy" for Tibet.China and the Tibetan government-in-exile have intermittently engaged in behind-the-scene dialogue.The Chinese government should take the recent rioting as an opportunity to begin making concessions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	505	2008-03-18	YOSHIN0020080318e43i000f8
YOMSHI0020080319e43j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080319e43j00001	EN	\N	A failure to fulfill duty to global economy	The government Tuesday submitted to the Diet its new appointment plans for the successor for current central bank Gov. Toshihiko Fukui, whose term is to end Wednesday, and one of his two deputies.	4	2008-03-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government nominated Koji Tanami, governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, as Fukui's successor, and Kiyohiko Nishimura, a member of the central bank's Policy Board, as a deputy governor.However, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, the largest party in the House of Councillors, decided to oppose the nomination of Tanami because he previously served as administrative vice finance minister, among other reasons. The DPJ claims Tanami would not be able to ensure the separation of fiscal and monetary policy. His nomination is expected to be voted down at the plenary session of the upper house Wednesday.Nishimura's appointment is expected to get the green light from all parties. As a result, the posts of the two deputy governors will be finalized as both chambers of the Diet already gave the thumbs-up to the appointment of Kyoto University Prof. Masaaki Shirakawa as the other deputy governor.DPJ prime cause of messWorryingly, the governor's post will almost certainly be left vacant. According to the Bank of Japan Law, incoming Deputy Gov. Shirakawa is expected to fill the governor's slot as an acting governor.The ripple effect of the U.S. subprime loan problem has expanded, and the dollar's depreciation has accelerated recently, sending global financial markets into a funk. If Japan, the world's second-largest economy, cannot find someone to fill the central bank governor's post, any excuse Japan throws up will probably be given short shrift if other nations judge Japan has abandoned its responsibility to help stabilize the global economy.The DPJ's irresponsible attitude is the underlying cause of this mess. The party opposed the initial government plan of promoting central bank Deputy Gov. Toshiro Muto to succeed Fukui, saying his stint as administrative vice minister would run counter to the principle of keeping fiscal and financial policy separate.Lack of communicationFocusing on Muto's job background, while ignoring his qualifications and expertise in both fiscal and financial policies as a policymaker, defies all logic.However, the DPJ felt obliged to oppose Tanami's nomination, saying that he basically had followed the same career path as Muto.As such, DPJ leaders said Tanami was not an expert in international banking. The government hoped the DPJ would accept the plan because Tanami has a proven track record that includes reforming the Finance Ministry.The DPJ doggedly stuck to its unreasonable position and cut off any chance for compromise with the government and ruling parties.This is not the attitude befitting a responsible political party.Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said he could not understand the thinking of the DPJ on this issue. Indeed, the lack of communication between the government and ruling parties and the DPJ only made the chaotic situation even worse.If the post of the Bank of Japan governor becomes vacant, other countries will perceive Japanese politicians as being incapable of making important decisions. The government, as well as the ruling and opposition blocs, should not let this problem fester any longer.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 19, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2008-03-19	YOSHIN0020080319e43j000ie
YOMSHI0020080319e43k0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080319e43k0000l	EN	\N	Vacant BOJ post must be filled quickly	The world's financial markets are staring down the barrel of a crisis. A new central bank chief must be appointed without further delay.	4	2008-03-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Democratic Party of Japan-led opposition bloc used its majority in the House of Councillors to vote down the government's nomination of Koji Tanami, currently governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, to replace Toshihiko Fukui, whose term ended Wednesday.As a result, Masaaki Shirakawa, a Kyoto University professor who has been endorsed by the House of Representatives and the upper house to become a deputy governor, is expected to become the acting Bank of Japan chief until a new governor is appointed.Some observers believe Japan's financial policies can be implemented by an interim governor, and skeptics say the dispute over the selection of the bank's top official is destined to drag on. However, we think these viewpoints are irresponsible.Can Shirakawa, as acting governor, implement bold and urgent policies in the heat of a financial system emergency, for instance?Confidence, influence on lineIf the acting governor has to fill in for the governor for an extended period, market players will lose faith in the prospects for Japan's financial policies. In turn, confidence in the Bank of Japan would wane.In addition, Japan's influence in the international arena, including an upcoming meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven leading economies, would, understandably, be sapped.Above all else, the fact that this country's lawmakers cannot smoothly select a person for a role as important as the Bank of Japan governor will amplify the perception overseas that "Japan can't make necessary policy decisions."Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who has the authority to nominate a candidate to be the bank's chief, must do everything in his power to untangle this mess as quickly as possible. He needs to choose the government's next nomination and then win the support of the opposition parties for his plan.Nominations for the Bank of Japan's new governor put forward by Fukuda were rejected twice. The opposition bloc, which shot down the nominations in the upper house, must bear its share of responsibility for the negative fallout brought about by the leadership vacuum at the central bank.DPJ the main culpritIn particular, the DPJ, which controls the upper house, deserves the lion's share of the blame for allowing this appalling situation to come about.Is the DPJ aware of the extent of the current international financial crisis? And just who does the DPJ consider to be the best person to become Bank of Japan governor and deal with this turmoil?We wonder whether the DPJ properly scrutinized the qualifications and expertise of the candidates already put forward by the prime minister on top of the financial policies that they adhere to.Simply throwing up a list of tenuous reasons for rejecting the nominees--such as the candidates' background as top Finance Ministry bureaucrats--betrays the DPJ's claims to be a party that fulfills its political responsibility.The selection of the new Bank of Japan chief should be decided responsibly by the ruling and opposition blocs. Rather than using the issue as leverage for achieving its own political purposes any longer, the DPJ should come to its senses and endorse a suitable nominee.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2008-03-20	YOSHIN0020080320e43k000c3
YOMSHI0020080321e43l00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080321e43l00002	EN	\N	Akita case primer for lay judge difficulties	The Akita District Court sentenced Suzuka Hatakeyama to life in prison, instead of the death penalty demanded by the prosecution, for the two murders in Fujisatomachi. The defense council appealed the decision on the same day to a higher court.	4	2008-03-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Hatakeyama had admitted killing the boy, but denied planning to kill her daughter, Ayaka, who according to the charges drowned after Hatakeyama pushed her over a bridge railing into a river. The defense maintained that Ayaka's death was an accident resulting in death as Hatakeyama only brushed Ayaka off while the girl was sitting on the railing and trying to hold on to her mother.Pressure on judges greatThe prosecutors had no physical evidence and had to rely on the testimonies of people who knew Hatakeyama. The testimonies included accounts that Hatakeyama had always seen her daughter as bothersome prior to the incident.The ruling sided with the prosecution's argument and ruled that Hatakeyama intended to kill her daughter and the boy. However, the ruling added that Hatakeyama committed the crimes on impulse without premeditation and in a mentally unstable state.This may be the key factor that made the court hand down a life sentence instead of the death penalty. The ruling appeared to be a close decision, as indicated by a sentence in the court ruling that read "there is ample reason to think [the defendant] is required to atone [for her crime] with her own life."The lay judge system will have to deal with serious cases such as this. Lay judges will have to make decisions based on the evidence presented and decide if a defendant had an intention to kill, and if it was premeditated or carried out on impulse.The psychological pressure on lay judges will be immeasurable.Faster trials not so easyIn the Akita case, judges, prosecutors and lawyers met before the first hearing in the trial to narrow down the list of contentious issues to be argued in the legal dispute. This procedure is meant to shorten the length of trials and is usually completed in several meetings. But in this case, 12 meetings were held, a sign that it was a difficult case.Court hearings in the case ended up lasting six months. From September until Wednesday's ruling, 14 hearings were held, with a maximum of four hearings being held in one month.The Supreme Court expects most trials under the lay judge system to be wrapped up in five hearings or fewer. However, if defendants plead innocent, some trials will probably not go so smoothly even if judges, prosecutors and lawyers continue to hold pretrial meetings to narrow down points of contention. The Akita trial is an example of this type of case.Lay judges sitting in on difficult trials also will be burdened with arranging their schedules so that they can carry on their office or other work, while making time to attend court hearings.In the lay judge system, it may become difficult to make sure cases are thoroughly examined while at the same time ensuring that the burden placed on lay judges is not unreasonable.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2008-03-21	YOSHIN0020080321e43l000bx
YOMSHI0020080322e43m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080322e43m00001	EN	\N	SDF must put an end to scandals, accidents	The Defense Ministry must take this opportunity to draw a line under the string of scandals and accidents.	4	2008-03-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The other two incidents were a Dec. 15 fire on the destroyer Shirane at the MSDF's Yokosuka base and the leakage of secret information on Aegis destroyers. It is suspected that the fire on the destroyer was sparked at a spot near a fridge-heater that a crew member had brought aboard without permission. If the fridge-heater did indeed cause the fire, it could be put down to poor discipline.The MSDF's Atago accident investigation committee pointed out in its interim report that fewer crew members than normal were assigned to monitor the radar at the time of the collision, and that the Atago's watch status was, therefore, "inappropriate." It also said that collision-avoidance measures taken after the destroyer spotted the fishing boat were insufficient.The MSDF should do its utmost to formulate and carefully implement measures to prevent a recurrence of similar problems, including revising MSDF staff education and training programs.The MSDF should, for instance, establish a system for captains and other officers to regularly instruct their subordinates so duty officers and lookouts keenly understand their roles and carry out their duties properly.Chronic personnel shortageIt has been pointed out that structural problems in the MSDF lay behind the Atago accident.The ships involved in the three cases were regular MSDF vessels, not patrol aircraft or submarines. As MSDF personnel generally dislike long-term sea assignments, it is very difficult to secure sufficient personnel. Also, crew members who show greater skills tend to be assigned to patrol aircraft.Duties assigned to MSDF vessels have increased--the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, for example--interrupting regular training programs.On many occasions, crew members have to leave their duties aboard vessels to study how to use high-tech equipment or laws and ordinances on the sea, resulting in a chronic manning shortage. Quite a few MSDF vessels operate with just 80 percent of their normal complement.The MSDF should study mid- and long-term measures to overcome its personnel shortage.It is also important that the various lessons learned from the three recent cases be handed down to future defense officials and SDF personnel.What are the real problems?The questioning of the Atago's chief navigator by the Defense Ministry on the day of the accident presents no problem, and it has now been confirmed that the ministry notified the Japan Coast Guard that it would question the chief navigator before the JCG started its investigation. But it is strange that the ministry, one of the parties involved, now says it cannot grasp the whole picture of what happened because the JCG's investigation took priority.The real problems are that reports to senior Defense Ministry officials were delayed, and that explanations about the accident changed several times, for instance.But we doubt the justification for blaming flaws in communications and information sharing within the ministry on its organizational reform.Ishiba earlier proposed integrating the functions of internal bureaus, where bureaucrats work, and staff offices for uniformed officers, and reorganizing the ministry. But this idea carries a high risk of inviting disorder and undermining morale within the ministry. Failure of the ministry's reform must not be permitted to happen. Calm discussions are needed on this matter.We believe it is appropriate for the ministry to proceed with a policy to transform it into an organization that loosely combines bureaucrats and uniformed officers by greatly increasing personnel exchanges between the two sides.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	687	2008-03-22	YOSHIN0020080322e43m000f9
YOMSHI0020080323e43n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080323e43n00001	EN	\N	Taiwan voters offer olive branch to China	Ma's victory will bring the territory's main opposition party back to power for the first time in eight years. The former KMT chief's election as president means Taiwan voters opted for friendly relations with China and closer economic ties.	4	2008-03-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ma's electoral victory likely is bound to temporarily set back Taiwan's ongoing efforts to make progress in democratization and "Taiwanization," the process of establishing systems distinct from those of China--politically, culturally, educationally, linguistically or otherwise. The movement started in the 1990s, when Lee Teng-hui was president.The easy victory achieved by Ma, who hails from China, can be attributed mainly to the ruling DPP's failure to properly run the island, as best demonstrated by the economic slump there. This is significant in that his election comes against the backdrop of a trend in recent years for Taiwanese to claim a distinct identity.Voters disillusioned with DPPPrior to Saturday's election, Taiwan voters had appeared to be deeply disappointed by the series of scandals involving relatives of President Chen Shui-bian, including his wife and his daughter's husband, as well as his close aides. Since taking office in 2000, Chen has become increasingly inclined to establish Taiwan as an independent state. His adherence to a hard-line policy toward China has made it impossible for him to sit at the negotiating table with Chinese from the mainland.China has grown into a remarkable economic powerhouse during Chen's two terms as president, to the growing frustration of Taiwan voters. They felt their island was not benefiting from China's economic success despite its geographical and cultural closeness to the mainland.During his election campaign, Ma told voters that he would seek to maintain the status quo in dealing with China. He ruled out the possibility of integrating Taiwan with China, establishing the territory as an independent state and using force to settle any disputes across the Taiwan Strait.Admittedly, Ma emphasized the need to maintain a one-China policy. However, this was also complemented by his conciliatory approach toward native Taiwanese, who account for 85 percent of the island's population. He said the future of Taiwan must be determined by the 23 million Taiwanese.Will Ma keep this policy intact after taking office?China wary of president-electMeanwhile, Ma has insisted on the importance of respecting human rights, blasting China's military crackdown on demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in 1989--and more recently, in Tibet. This has left China wary of Ma. In fact, he has never been invited to visit Beijing. What kind of relationship will the president-elect seek in dealing with China?The most important challenge facing Ma will be to turn around Taiwan's slumping economy through cooperation with the island's legislature, where the KMT holds a stable majority gained in January's election.China likely will favorably respond to a proposal advanced by Ma to create a common market. However, too rapid progress in such efforts could bitterly antagonize Taiwanese.Ma has said Taiwan will seek good ties with Japan. On the other hand, he has strongly opposed Japan's territorial claim to the Senkaku Islands. Given this, his policy toward Japan should be closely watched.The future of Taiwan could significantly affect East Asia's security. We hope Taiwan's president-elect will exercise care and caution in running the island.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2008-03-23	YOSHIN0020080323e43n0009f
YOMSHI0020080324e43o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080324e43o00001	EN	\N	White paper failed to embrace N-power	Now, more than ever, the role of nuclear power needs to be widely understood.	4	2008-03-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the recently released White Paper on Nuclear Energy compiled by the government's Atomic Energy Commission failed to send such a message.The annual white paper usually features a special section on key issues and provides information regarding government initiatives taken on the issues from the standpoint of the development and use of nuclear power. For example, when the nuclear fuel cycle was hotly debated, the white paper for that year explained why it was necessary.This year's white paper merely provides a simple overview of situations concerning nuclear power both at home and abroad. The commission is supposed to be the nation's control tower on nuclear energy policy. Has the commission abandoned its vital duty to promote the role of nuclear power?There is, as yet, no prospect of  Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, which was ordered to stop operations of all the seven reactors after being struck by a powerful earthquake, resuming operations. It also is unknown whether or how the problem of disposal of high-level radioactive waste produced in the process of nuclear power generation will be resolved.Issues piling upProblems related to nuclear power are accumulating. Given this situation, it is even more vital that the commission informs the public about the nation's nuclear energy goals and how it intends to achieve them.In many other parts of the world, the efficiency of nuclear power generation has again been drawing keen attention. The generating capacity of nuclear power plants is huge, and virtually no CO2 is emitted.Plans for building nuclear power plants have been gaining momentum rapidly and widely. Worldwide, there are about 435 nuclear reactors operating. The number is expected to increase to about 790 by 2030.A panel of experts set up by the commission compiled a report this month on envisaged use of nuclear power in the future. The report called for making nuclear power generation part of the effort to tackle global environmental problems, and listed specific measures to support the construction of nuclear power plants overseas and the development of innovative technologies.Pushed to back burnerThe white paper touched on the contents of the report only briefly, without referring to the concrete measures it listed.Nuclear power seems to have been relegated to the background in terms of the government's policy priorities.At the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda made no mention of nuclear power generation in his speech on global warming.There is concern that issues regarding nuclear power will not be on the agenda at a meeting of energy ministers of the Group of Eight major nations scheduled to be held in Aomori Prefecture in June.In the prefecture, there are many nuclear-related facilities such as a reprocessing plant for spent nuclear fuel. A brochure on the meeting put out by the prefecture makes no reference to nuclear power generation, but merely states that great efforts have been made on solar and wind power generation.Drawing up of policy on nuclear power should be open and fair.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2008-03-24	YOSHIN0020080324e43o000bu
YOMSHI0020080326e43q00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080326e43q00002	EN	\N	Clock running out for provisional gas tax rate	People's daily lives could be thrown into chaos if the gasoline tax rate and other special tax measures, such as those related to real estate and automobiles, expire at the end of the month.	4	2008-03-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The House of Councillors, however, has not even started deliberations on the tax-related bills, including one to revise the Special Taxation Measures Law, which would maintain the current gasoline tax rate.The Democratic Party of Japan on Tuesday finally proposed establishing a meeting of the policy research council chairmen and Diet affairs committee chairmen of the ruling and opposition parties, to discuss the tax-related bills. Each political party should exercise wisdom in ensuring that the ruling and opposition camps sit at the negotiating table to amend the tax-related bills.As a counterproposal to the government-sponsored bills that have been approved by the House of Representatives, the DPJ submitted bills stating that the provisional gasoline tax rate will be scrapped as of the end of March and that the terms of other special tax measures will be extended in accordance with the government-sponsored bills.Political posturingThe DPJ hopes to pass bills other than those related to the provisional gasoline tax rate at the upper house by the end of March. However, the ruling parties regard the DPJ's move as a rejection of the government-sponsored bills and are set to have them approved again at the lower house by taking advantage of the two-thirds-majority rule stipulated in the Constitution. This would see the bills enacted.Should that happen, the provisional gasoline tax rate would not be abolished. This is precisely why the DPJ is stalling any attempt to start deliberations even on its own bills.If the Special Taxation Measures Law expires, the ramifications would be tremendous. For example, the measure to levy no tax on interest earned on the 24 trillion yen foreign financial institutions have deposited in Japanese banks would be terminated. A massive chunk of these funds could be quickly pulled from Japan if this measure is rescinded.A tax-free measure on naphtha, a petroleum product, also would be scrapped, leading to price increases for many plastic products.The measure to reduce or exempt tax when registering real estate holdings also would be abolished. If this happens, a person who purchases a 50 million yen condominium, for instance, will have to cough up more than 100,000 yen in additional tax payments.The tax-free ceiling of the automobile acquisition tax would be lowered from the current 500,000 yen to 150,000 yen. The number of used car buyers required to pay this type of tax would skyrocket.DPJ playing hardballIf the ruling parties have the government bills reapproved at the lower house at the end of April, these special tax measures will be reinstated. If more and more consumers decide to wait until these measures are brought back to life before buying products to be affected by the revised measures, it could spell bad news for the nation's economy.The DPJ maintains that if the ruling parties reject, at an envisaged joint meeting, its demands for abolishing the provisional tax rate and for integrating road-related tax revenues earmarked for road construction and maintenance into the general account, it would be tantamount to "not making any compromise."But, conversely, we think it is the DPJ that is refusing to make concessions by turning a deaf ear to proposals advanced by the ruling camp, and insisting its demands be accepted in their entirety.If the DPJ one day takes the reins of government and becomes a ruling party, could it honestly justify these actions it took while it was the main opposition party? The DPJ should carefully ponder this point.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	658	2008-03-26	YOSHIN0020080326e43q000l4
YOMSHI0020080327e43r00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080327e43r00002	EN	\N	Shinginko affair needs steady hand on tiller	A special budget panel of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly has approved a controversial plan to invest the additional sum. The plan likely will be approved at Friday's plenary session of the metropolitan assembly.	4	2008-03-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Shinginko Tokyo was established in 2004 to provide loans mainly to small and midsize companies, and started operations in April 2005. The metropolitan government invested \\100 billion of about \\120 billion capital. To cover interest payments on bonds issued by the metropolitan government to raise this initial \\100 billion, \\10 billion is required. This means the amount of money paid by the metropolitan government to set up Shinginko Tokyo and keep it above water will reach \\150 billion, including the newly approved investment of \\40 billion.This amount could easily build another collection of gigantic Tokyo metropolitan government buildings. Needless to say, this money comes from the taxes of Tokyo residents.Tokyoites wary of moveMost Tokyo citizens are skeptical about infusing such a huge chunk of money into the financially troubled bank. According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 73 percent of respondents opposed the extra financing.At the end of this month, Shinginko Tokyo is expected to have incurred cumulative losses of \\101.6 billion since it started operating three years ago. It is highly likely the metropolitan government's initial investment of \\100 billion will disappear in a cloud of smoke.The bank's losses are already enormous. So what are the reasons behind the plan to throw yet more money at the troubled organization?Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and other senior officials of the metropolitan government say liquidating the bank would cause tremendous inconvenience to its 9,000 corporate borrowers and result in a further loss of more than \\100 billion in taxpayers' money, which would be needed following the bank's liquidation to meet such costs as the repayment of deposits.Members of the panel from the Liberal Democratic Party and its metropolitan government coalition partner, New Komeito, who have been supporting Ishihara, voted in favor of his plan on condition the metropolitan government uses no further taxpayer-derived money on it, and establishes a surveillance system to oversee the management of the heavily indebted financial institution.It might be seen as the second-best policy to use taxpayers' money to avert turmoil that could immediately arise--if the bank is closed sooner or later.Explanations inadequateHowever, the metropolitan government has not clearly said so. Instead, it has said it will introduce streamlining measures--including drastic cuts in the numbers of employees and bank branches--but plans to revitalize the institution by strengthening the division that lends money to venture businesses, as well as through other new operations. But this approach to the bank's revitalization is very bureaucratic, extremely optimistic and overly lenient. The metropolitan government's account of how the bank incurred such huge losses also lacked sincerity.The bank only offered the assembly a digest version of its internal investigation report--comprising a few meager pages--analyzing the reasons for the huge losses, saying that revealing the report in its entirety would adversely affect its plan to file a lawsuit aimed at placing the responsibility squarely on the bank's former management, and that the report included personal information. The bank's attitude will not win the understanding of Tokyo residents.Shinginko, however, seems set to survive. But further aggravating the damage with unrealistic "reconstruction measures" should not be tolerated.At the metropolitan assembly, Ishihara finally admitted his own part in the affair and apologized for the financial fiasco at Shinginko Tokyo. Ishihara should take time out to rethink the plan for the bank's management--on the assumption that the bank will gradually withdraw from the banking business in the future.We think the best way for Ishihara to take responsibility is to resolve the problem once and for all during his term in office.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2008-03-27	YOSHIN0020080327e43r000h8
YOMSHI0020080329e43t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080329e43t00001	EN	\N	Court didn't recognize 'order' to commit suicide	An army veteran and a brother of a deceased veteran filed the damages suit with the court against Nobel Prize-winning writer Kenzaburo Oe and Iwanami Shoten Publishers. They claimed "false" descriptions stating that the army ordered the civilians to commit suicide en masse during the Battle of Okinawa were defamatory and asked the defendants to pay compensation.	4	2008-03-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But, recognizing the "deep involvement" of the Imperial Japanese Army in the mass suicides, the ruling rejected the plaintiffs' claim.At the same time, the court said it was reluctant to recognize that the army's involvement went as far as issuing orders as described in Oe's book and ultimately avoided passing judgment on the "order" issue.Last year, in the high school history textbook screening case, a passage stating that citizens "were forced by the Japanese army into committing the mass suicides" was amended to say they "were driven to commit mass suicides using hand grenades and other means distributed to them with the involvement of the Japanese army."Panel's stance appropriateThe opinion formed by an advisory panel to the education minister as part of the textbook authorization process was that as it was not entirely clear whether the army had "forced" the suicides to take place, a judgmental description should be avoided.The panel's position not to permit use of phrases such as "the Japanese army forced mass suicides" as long as there is no clear historical evidence seems an appropriate one.With regard to the mass suicides on Tokashikijima and Zamamijima islands in Okinawa Prefecture, for much of the postwar period it has been generally accepted that garrison commanders "ordered" residents to do this. The view is based on accounts given by survivors and local residents, some of which were recounted in the book "Tetsu no Bofu" (The Typhoon of Steel), a record of the Battle of Okinawa published in 1950 by The Okinawa Times.But when writer Ayako Sono researched the mass suicides on Tokashikijima island for a book written in 1973, the paucity of evidence supporting the explanation that garrison commanders issued such orders became clear.Account cut from history bookTaking this new position into account, a passage regarding the garrison commanders' suicide order on Tokashikijima was expunged in 1986 from the book "Taiheiyo Senso" (Pacific War) by historian Saburo Ienaga, originally published by Iwanami Shoten.Also with relation to Zamamijima, in 1985 The Kobe Shimbun reported assertions by a former garrison commander that no such order for local residents to commit suicide was issued. A book was also published in 2000 that included testimony from a woman who said a garrison commander refused to hand over ammunition for her to commit suicide.At the same time, there is also testimony stating that the Japanese army did distribute hand grenades to residents for that purpose.However, there has been no discussion to date denying the "involvement" of the army itself with relation to the mass suicides.The core point in the trial has been whether the army issued a specific "order."The plaintiffs intend to appeal the ruling to a higher court. We will keep a close eye on developments in that court.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	592	2008-03-29	YOSHIN0020080329e43t000ic
YOMSHI0020080331e43v00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080331e43v00001	EN	\N	Govt must coordinate intelligence activities	In April, the secretariat's Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office will be assigned information analysts for the purpose of improving the ability of staff and officials at the Prime Minister's Office to collect and analyze intelligence.	4	2008-03-31	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Initially, the new system will have three intelligence analysts. Two more analysts will join them by the summer. Each analyst will be assigned to cover his or her own area of expertise regarding intelligence vital to this nation's security, including the Korean Peninsula, China and other Asian countries, international terrorism and military affairs-weapons of mass destruction. They will be charged with drafting intelligence evaluation reports on themes from a medium- and long-term perspective.Their work will be followed by a joint meeting of top officials from the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office and director-level officials from four key government organizations--the National Police Agency, the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the Public Security Intelligence Agency. After studying the drafts prepared by the team of analysts, these officials will compile the final reports. They also will be tasked with deciding which kind of theme should be addressed in producing intelligence evaluation reports.The new system should be used to steadily improve this country's intelligence apparatus, which critics say is poor compared to those of other major nations. The government should nurture intelligence specialists from a long-term point of view. Such officers should be properly rewarded for their contribution to intelligence gathering and analysis. It is also essential to ensure expertise in information analysis is accumulated as an asset to the nation's intelligence-gathering system, not as skills acquired by individual analysts.Making analysis publicIn the United States, an intelligence evaluation report on North Korea's nuclear weapons development program is well-known through the news media. A similar report on Iran's uranium enrichment activities has achieved considerable public attention.The government has said it will keep intelligence evaluation reports classified. But we suggest the government draw up two versions of each report in the future--one for publication and the other classified. The quality of such a report could be improved if it were open to public scrutiny.The intelligence services separately run by the four government organizations have long been known for their lack of cooperation in gathering and analyzing secret information. Cynical minds say this lack of cooperation explains why intelligence does not circulate among these organizations, does not reach top government leaders and tends to be leaked.The Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, a key organ responsible for supervising the four ministries and agencies, is chiefly staffed by high-ranking bureaucrats from the NPA. The three other organizations regard the intelligence and research office as an arm of the NPA, so they tend to shy away from providing important information to this office.Intelligence analysts to be assigned to the intelligence and research office will be chosen from the four organs, as well as the private sector. This will be complemented by a plan to dispatch liaison officers from the four ministries and agencies to the office.Poor coordination costlyHowever, these measures alone will be insufficient in overcoming the harmful effects brought about by the lack of cooperation among the four ministries and agencies.We propose the government reduce the number of senior NPA bureaucrats sent to the intelligence and research office, while also assigning more officials from the Foreign and Defense ministries to the office. All this must serve to transform the intelligence and research office into a tower of strength that can command intelligence-gathering and analysis.It will also be important to ensure that the four ministries and agencies are able to share intelligence if necessary, instead of allowing the intelligence and research office to keep all secret information to itself. This will be indispensable for changing the attitude adopted by each ministry and agency to improve this nation's intelligence gathering ability.There is a limit to what can be achieved through technical changes in relevant organizations and systems, when it comes to promoting reforms. The bottom line is whether necessary personnel will fulfill their duties in the required manner. Therefore, the government should work to ensure the intelligence and research office is constantly staffed by capable personnel.We also hope the four government organs will improve their abilities to collect intelligence both at home and abroad. Efforts to acquire highly accurate information are essential to make sure the intelligence and research office's analytical skills are brought into full play.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	820	2008-03-31	YOSHIN0020080331e43v000fa
YOMSHI0020080401e44100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080401e44100001	EN	\N	Don't delay 2nd vote on road-related taxes	The provisional higher tax on gasoline and other provisional taxes that provide fiscal resources for road construction and maintenance expired Monday. With the reduction of the tax rate on gasoline, prices at the pump will decline, but a fiscal shortfall will result. The government must implement every possible measure to avoid confusion.	4	2008-04-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To stabilize people's daily lives and local governments' fiscal conditions, the provisional higher gasoline tax and other road-related taxes must be revived as soon as possible.Tax bills, including one to maintain the provisional gasoline tax rate, can be put to a second vote in the the ruling bloc-controlled House of Representatives on or after April 29, and passed by a two-thirds majority. The prime minister should not hesitate to opt for this course of action.The bills can be passed on a second vote in the lower house under a rule of democracy laid out in the Constitution if no compromise is reached in talks between the ruling and opposition camps to amend the bills. It is important for the prime minister to clearly demonstrate his determination in this matter. Such an attitude will eliminate confusion to the extent possible.Alternatives offeredFukuda had earlier presented proposals to significantly amend the bills in an attempt to avoid expiration of the provisional tax rates at the end of fiscal 2007 on Monday. The main point of the prime minister's proposals was to abolish the system of gasoline and other specific taxes solely intended as fiscal resources for road construction and maintenance and to direct revenues from those taxes into the general purpose tax revenue stream starting in fiscal 2009.However, the Democratic Party of Japan has not shown any sign of compromise and has stuck to its idea of directing revenues from the road-related taxes into the general revenue stream in fiscal 2008. This is an immature attitude.The main opposition party also urges the immediate elimination of the provisional tax rates, but the fiscal 2008 budget has already been approved and it is difficult to reduce taxes in the government's current fiscal situation.The DPJ is advised to negotiate with the ruling camp to amend the bills giving priority to turning road-related taxes into general purpose taxes and to discuss the use of revenue from such taxes.Delaying tacticsThe tax-related bills have been left untouched for a month at the House of Councillors since they were sent from the lower house. It is an abnormal situation.The ruling and opposition camps have agreed to deliberate on the bills in the upper house, and such deliberations should not be delayed any longer.There is an argument that it would be difficult, from a political perspective, to raise gasoline prices once they have dropped.However, should the provisional tax rates cease to be in effect for one year, the shortfall in tax revenues will reach 2.6 trillion yen. The people will eventually have to pay the price.Fukuda has to repeatedly explain to the public that the tax bills must be passed by the Diet through a second vote in the lower house.The DPJ is set to submit a censure motion against the prime minister to the upper house if the bills are passed by the ruling camp through a second vote in the lower house.However, a censure motion has no standing under the Constitution, the Diet Law or any other legislation.The prime minister's proposals to amend the tax bills were a political decision reached despite resistance within his Liberal Democratic Party.The proposals can now be seen as promises to the people. Fukuda must exert his leadership by fulfilling his promises.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 1, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2008-04-01	YOSHIN0020080401e441000hx
YOMSHI0020080402e44200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080402e44200001	EN	\N	Freedom of expression must be protected	Expressed views should be afforded every respect, no matter what political message they might be espousing, whether left-wing or right-wing.	4	2008-04-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, five movie theaters in Tokyo and Osaka decided Monday to cancel the showing of "Yasukuni," a documentary film about Yasukuni Shrine jointly produced by Japan and China.One theater in Tokyo, which had been scheduled to show the movie from April 12, had been harassed by protesters who blared their message through loud speakers mounted on a truck. The theater also had received many phone calls from people urging that the film be kept off the screen."[Showing the film] could inconvenience other nearby theaters and commercial facilities," a theater official said in explaining the reason for canceling the screening.Some movie theaters even decided not to show the film to prevent any trouble from arising although they had not been directly targeted by protests.International spotlightThe movie by Chinese director Li Ying, who is a long-term resident of Japan, depicts the reality of Yasukuni Shrine from various angles over the past 10 years. The film won the best documentary award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival last month, an honor that thrust it into the international spotlight.The film shows scenes of elderly men wearing military uniforms paying homage, and bereaved family members of Taiwanese who died fighting as members of Japanese forces demanding that the shrine remove the souls of their relatives from the list of the war dead enshrined at the Yasukuni facility. The documentary also shows a young man disrupting a ceremony held at the shrine's precinct to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.A sacred sword and mirror are objects of worship at Yasukuni Shrine. The film also devotes some time to Japanese swords, describing them as a source of emotional support for people in this country.The film shows pictures--including one of a Japanese soldier beheading a Chinese with a sword--that some Japanese scholars say are bogus photos concocted by China for propaganda purposes.Funding not the issueSome Diet members, including House of Representatives member Tomomi Inada of the Liberal Democratic Party, have questioned whether it was appropriate that public subsidies had been used to help make the film. However, the issue of whether providing public funds for the film was appropriate should be kept separate from that of whether the film should be shown."To prove that our action does not signify an attempt to restrict the freedom of expression, we don't want [the screening] to be suspended," Inada said.In 1997, a lecture by journalist Yoshiko Sakurai was canceled at the demand of a group that had regarded remarks Sakurai made over the issue of so-called comfort women as questionable.Such odious actions that seek to suppress the freedom of expression and freedom of speech must not be repeated.Starting next month, 13 theaters from Hokkaido to Okinawa Prefecture are scheduled to show this film. We hope the movie theaters, in close coordination with the police, will do their best to prevent any unsavory incidents arising from this situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 2, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	560	2008-04-02	YOSHIN0020080402e442000fq
YOMSHI0020080403e44300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080403e44300001	EN	\N	Don't jeopardize alliance's credibility	The term of the pact on budgetary allocations for that purpose, known as the sympathy budget, expired at the end of March, creating a void in the implementation of budgetary measures related to the nation's obligations in this respect. This is the first such gap since sympathy budget allocations were introduced in 1978.	4	2008-04-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Until a new agreement is created for similar purposes, the United States will foot bills for utility charges and other relevant costs incurred by U.S. military bases in Japan.However, the repercussions of this awkward gap are already being felt: The relocation of fighter plane exercises at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture to other parts of Japan has been postponed until May or later.A bill for a new agreement for fiscal 2008-10 is expected to pass the House of Representatives on Thursday. The lower house's decision on the agreement will be automatically finalized on the strength of a constitutional provision 30 days after the bill is received by the House of Councillors. This means the upper house's failure to vote on the bill because of drawn-out discussions does not prevent the enactment of a new pact on the sympathy budget.The sympathy budget--a necessary expense for Japan's security--affects the foundation of the bilateral alliance. Expiry of the agreement should not be taken lightly.DPJ's change of tackThe agreement expired due to a substantial delay in deliberations on the bill for a new agreement. These deliberations were shunted onto the back burner as the ruling and opposition parties sparred over the government nomination of a new Bank of Japan governor and tax reform bills, especially road-related tax bills.Wrangling between the ruling and opposition parties should not be allowed to adversely affect people's lives and local government finances, not to mention diplomacy.The attitude of the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan toward the dispute cannot be overlooked. The DPJ this time opposed the bill, in contrast to 2000 and 2006 when it threw its support behind the agreement.The DPJ has taken a swipe at the bill, saying that shouldering the wages of employees at entertainment facilities on U.S. bases, including golf courses, bowling alleys and bars, is unreasonable.The U.S. military's entertainment facilities are located not only in Japan but also in other host countries. The facilities are intended to provide U.S. military personnel with a similar quality of life to what they could expect back home.Comprehensive review neededThe fat should certainly be trimmed from the costs for hiring Japanese employees at U.S. bases and the bases' utility bills. But this matter should be discussed calmly as part of the comprehensive review that Tokyo and Washington agreed on to make host nation support more efficient and effective.According to U.S. Defense Department statistics, Japan pays 75 percent of the expenses of U.S. military forces stationed in Japan--the highest of 26 major host nations. Meanwhile, Japan's defense budget soaks up less than 1 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, the lowest among the 26 nations. In addition, Japan ranked 20th in personnel dispatched on international peacekeeping activities.These numbers have stuck in the U.S. craw.The DPJ's resolve to "say what must be said to the United States" is itself not a bad thing. However, ensuring the Japan-U.S. alliance is based on mutual trust, as the DPJ seeks, will not be easily achieved if the largest opposition party plays hardball again, this time on the sympathy budget.This comes on the heels of the DPJ's strident opposition to the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces' personnel to the Indian Ocean for antiterrorism operations and Iraq for humanitarian and reconstruction work.The DPJ only has itself to blame if it is perceived as anti-American. An alliance cannot be built without sharing a fundamental stance, even if this entails making demands of the United States.This could raise doubts about whether the DPJ has what it takes to hold the reins of government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 3, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	732	2008-04-03	YOSHIN0020080403e443000fa
YOMSHI0020080404e44400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080404e44400001	EN	\N	Preindictment handover should be norm	The Kanagawa prefectural police Thursday arrested a seaman apprentice, who is a crew member of the Aegis-equipped Cowpens stationed at the Yokosuka base, on suspicion of robbing and stabbing to death a Tokyo taxi driver in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, last month.	4	2008-04-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The 22-year-old sailor deserted the base early last month and was detained by the U.S. Navy in Tokyo on March 22, three days after the driver was found fatally stabbed in his taxi. He was then questioned by the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigation Service at the base on desertion charges.This case is one in which criminal procedures under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement are applicable.The bilateral agreement stipulates that U.S. military personnel held in U.S. custody in connection with criminal cases be detained until they are formally indicted by Japanese authorities. However, an agreement reached between Japan and the United States in 1995 made it possible to apply the accord in a flexible manner so they could be handed over to the Japanese authorities prior to their indictment, if their cases involves such serious acts as murder.Full cooperationBefore the arrest of the sailor, the U.S. naval forces in Japan promised that the navy would fully cooperate with Japanese investigators and they provided the prefectural police with the sailor's fingerprints and other information. They also said the navy would cooperate by allowing Japanese investigators to question the sailor on the base. It was also explained that the navy was willing to accept a request from the Japanese side for the sailor's handover at any time.Procedures so far--from the questioning of the serviceman to his handover--have been carried out as the U.S. naval forces had pledged. The measures under the 1995 agreement were honored without any major problem.This marked the fifth handover of a U.S. servicemen before the filing of a formal indictment. Bereaved families and victims have good reason to hope the Japanese investigative authorities probe such cases thoroughly. Early settlements of these cases also help put to rest the anxiety felt by residents in the local communities.It is important from now on to consistently implement the handover of a U.S. serviceman who commits a crime in Japan, prior to a formal indictment.Dangerous deserters?In the U.S. Navy's investigations, the the sailor initially denied his involvement in the murder, but later confessed to it.A credit card in the name of the sailor was found inside the taxi. From material evidence, including his cell phone records, he was found to have given his acquaintances hints that he committed the crime. A security camera installed near JR Shinagawa Station in Minato Ward, Tokyo, where the taxi of the murdered man picked up its last passenger, caught the image of a man resembling the sailor.The sailor might have felt there was no escape from the investigators once he had been confronted with such solid evidence.The case is unusual in that a navy deserter has become a suspect. Currently, there is no system obliging the United States to inform Japan about U.S. servicemen who have deserted from bases.If a deserter conceals himself or herself in Japan, it could constitute a destabilizing factor in the preservation of public security in this country. It is necessary for the Japanese government to immediately discuss with the U.S. government how to share such information.Crimes committed by U.S. serviceman in Japan seem endless. Several heinous incidents, including murder cases, occur every year. The U.S. military should take effective measures to prevent such crimes in order to establish a good relationship with local residents.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2008-04-04	YOSHIN0020080404e444000fk
YOMSHI0020080405e44500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080405e44500001	EN	\N	Can personnel agency function adequately?	A bill to reform the nation's civil service system, which sets the basic policies for managing the personnel affairs of public servants, has been presented to the Diet.	4	2008-04-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The content of the basic bill addresses a whole range of different points. The bill proposes abolishing the existing fast-track promotion system of so-called career bureaucrats and calls for establishing a cabinet personnel agency to integrate the management of personnel affairs for key posts.But the rather varied menu this bill is taken from includes too many half-baked items. To give more substance to the content and create truly effective measures, deeper discussion of these ideas is necessary.The creation of the cabinet personnel agency, to be headed by the chief cabinet secretary, is aimed at breaking what is seen as a harmful lack of coordination among vertically divided ministries and agencies in implementing government policies due to their sectionalism.The cabinet personnel agency would be responsible for employing staff who pass tests for "managerial positions" and assigning them to ministries or the Cabinet Office at which they would help formulate policies. This category of public servant is one of three to be reorganized.Exams dictating career pathsUnder the current system, three different examinations, from category I--the highest category--to category III, largely determine subsequent career paths. The bill proposes a new exam system for the three new different types of civil service job.The agency also will coordinate changes in posts in a cross-ministrial way for public servants as part of a new development program for candidates of senior posts, allowing officials from any of the new types of civil service jobs to be appointed to senior posts regardless of which exams they originally took.This measure will help tackle the current rigid nature of bureaucrats' careers, which tend to be predetermined based on employment examination results and help reinvigorate the system by trying to cultivate candidates for senior posts according to their abilities and track records.But if the current system by which each ministry and the Cabinet Office takes on new public servants at its own behest is changed in favor of hiring decisions managed by the cabinet personnel agency, would this stop new graduates from entering their ministries of choice?The bill states that candidates for senior posts in the program would experience a variety of work at different administrative organizations. But with such a policy, would it actually be possible for bureaucrats to develop the kind of expertise that is indispensable for their work?Cabinet agency vetoUnder the bill, each ministry would draft personnel proposals for senior posts, including administrative vice ministers, bureau chiefs and department heads, but the cabinet personnel agency would be allowed to examine the eligibility of officials proposed for posts and to compile its own lists of candidates, if necessary.But there are concerns that this rule could lead to repeated conflicts over personnel affairs between the cabinet personnel agency and each government ministry.In a typical year, about 600 public servants pass the Category I exam and are treated as fast-track bureaucrats who can potentially reach senior positions. The number of public servants currently in those senior posts is about 900.Just one government agency would be involved in the hiring of new officials and the appointments of all the senior positions for all the ministries. Is it really possible for such an agency to comprehensively manage the huge amount of personnel information this would involve and to make sure personnel management was handled smoothly? If the agency were provisionally put in charge of such a task, a huge staff would be needed.The bill also proposes transferring all the responsibilities for personnel affair issues relating to public servants that are currently handled by other administrative organizations, such as the National Personnel Authority. But to ensure this new agency does not itself become bloated and ineffective, it is necessary to more thoroughly discuss from various viewpoints the position of the agency with respect to the government and the specific limits of its authority.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	728	2008-04-05	YOSHIN0020080405e445000g4
YOMSHI0020080406e44600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080406e44600001	EN	\N	Medical mishap panels will aid patients, doctors	The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has hammered out the details of the committees, which are expected to be tasked with investigating the cause of deaths resulting from medical malpractice and to work for the prevention of the recurrence of such mishaps. The ministry intends to devise a bill to establish such panels and submit it to the current Diet session.	4	2008-04-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is preferable for medical mishaps to first be investigated by a neutral and specialized third party before cases are brought to the police or courts. The committees, therefore, should be launched as soon as possible.Medicine is not almighty. Even if treatment that is considered the best is fully provided, patients may lose their lives for unforeseeable reasons. There are, however, some cases in which patients die as a result of unbelievable malpractice at hospitals.It is sometimes difficult for bereaved families to distinguish between the two. Currently, if a bereaved family is not convinced by a hospital's explanation on the cause of death of a family member, its choices are limited to filing a civil lawsuit or filing a criminal complaint with police.Nearly 1,000 medical disputes are brought before the courts annually. The number has doubled from a decade ago. Given this situation, hospitals are inclined to cover up things that could be considered negligence on the part of their medical staff. Lessons learned from malpractice, consequently, are not applied to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.Wide powers envisagedIt is unfortunate that mutual distrust exists between medical institutions on one hand and patients and their families on the other. It is, therefore, necessary to establish a system under which bereaved families' wish to receive a full account of the cause of death of their loved ones will be honored, and, at the same time, doctors will be protected from unreasonable accusations over the treatment they provided to the patients.The ministry envisages that medical safety investigation committees comprise a central entity and regional bloc panels. To ensure the neutrality of the committees, their members would include not only doctors, but also lawyers and experts in other concerned areas.Medical institutions would be obliged to report to the committees certain cases, including those in which patients died unexpectedly. The committees also would accept requests made by bereaved families to investigate the cause of the patients' deaths.Neutrality crucialThe committees would release their reports after weighing concerns over the protection of personal information and then provide proposals for recurrence-prevention measures. They would notify police only if they determined that a patient died as a result of intentional malpractice or serious negligence by medical staff and that falsification of medical records or other irregularities occurred. The police would be expected to give due regard to the panels and take into account whether the panels saw fit to notify them when they investigate cases.If a panel report clearly demonstrates that a hospital shoulders blame in respect of a particular case and clarifies the extent of the hospital's responsibility, if any, the hospital's talks with patients and their families over admitting responsibility and paying compensation would be expedited, obviating the need for litigation.The committees, however, will not function properly unless both doctors and patients regard them as neutral, fair organs.The ministry needs to examine in more detail matters such as in what cases medical institutions should report to the committees and in what cases the committees should notify police.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2008-04-06	YOSHIN0020080406e4460009q
YOMSHI0020080407e44700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080407e44700001	EN	\N	Ministries must expand public-private tenders	The government's control board on public-private competitive bidding has published a second evaluation report on the introduction of the process at each of the 13 major government organizations: the Cabinet Office, 11 ministries and the National Police Agency.	4	2008-04-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Given grades from A down to E, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry scored best with a B, while the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry were given Cs. However, the 10 other organizations all received a D grade.Compared with the evaluation announced last June, the situation has shown little improvement. The impression people naturally get is that the various ministries and agencies in Kasumigaseki, the nation's bureaucratic center, lack the zeal to carry out the competitive bidding process.The public-private sector competitive bidding--known as market testing--got into full swing about two years ago as part of the government's regulatory reform. It is designed to reduce the cost of administrative red tape by liberalizing and contracting out the provision of public services to the private sector through competitive bidding. It also aims at improving such services.Only 12 services opened for bidsSo far, 71 services normally provided by government organizations and independent administrative institutions have been selected as targets of the new system. Among them, competitive public-private sector bidding was introduced for only 12 services, including collection of premiums of national health insurance by the Social Insurance Agency and issuance of real estate registration certificates at local legal affairs offices.The health ministry got its B in the recent evaluation because it has already liberalized part of the health insurance premium collection service and, additionally, it has decided to open the job introduction service at the Employment Security Bureau, known as Hello Work, to competitive bidding.However, the insurance premium collection service was offered for market testing making because the agency was criticized for a series of scandals.Also, the ministry at first bitterly resisted opening the provision of services at Hello Work to bidding among potential service providers. Tenders are scheduled for within the current fiscal year. But if a bill to revise the public service reform law does not pass the current Diet session, there will be no prospect of actually carrying out the bidding.We urge the government to aim at early passage of the bill in the Diet to produce good results from the liberalization of Hello Work services as early as possible.Ministries still reluctantThe ministries are moving slowly in introducing the market testing procedure because there are no consequences for receiving a poor grade in their evaluation.The market testing control committee that monitors the ministries' moves keeps asking the ministries to liberalize their services, but the ministries are resisting strongly, and expansion of the range of services subject to market testing has not proceeded.Drastic reinforcement of the committee's authority may be necessary.The committee has designated statistical surveys, collection of public funds and administration of government buildings and facilities, among other tasks, as high-priority candidate services to be subject to the public-private competitive bidding system. In addition, it has decided to open up services in the central government's regional arms and so-called internal administration work such as personnel and salary management at municipal government offices to such liberalization.However, the ministries still show a passive attitude toward such changes and are expected to strongly resist such a move. What should the government do to break the deadlock in pushing market testing forward? Maybe this is the time for politicians to play a greater part.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2008-04-07	YOSHIN0020080407e447000b2
YOMSHI0020080408e44800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080408e44800001	EN	\N	Constitutional debate mired in Diet morass	According to a recent public opinion poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun, the proportion of those supporting constitutional revision dropped to 42.5 percent. Those who do not support constitutional revision stood at 43.1 percent.	4	2008-04-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since The Yomiuri Shimbun's 1993 survey of public opinion on the Constitution, the number of people who supported revision had always surpassed the number of those who did not. In the latest opinion poll, however, this trend was reversed by a slight margin. The percentage of those polled in favor of amending the nation's basic law dropped for the fourth consecutive year.The biggest reason for this, perhaps, is stagnation of constitutional debate in the Diet as well as within each party.In May, the Diet enacted the National Referendum Law, which stipulates the procedures for amending the Constitution. But the Deliberative Councils on the Constitution in both chambers of the Diet, which were established in accordance with the law, have yet to start debate.Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who proactively pushed for revision of the Constitution, resigned abruptly last September after his Liberal Democratic Party was trounced in the House of Councillors election last summer. In a sea change, his successor, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, has hardly mentioned constitutional amendment.Fading supportIn the latest poll, 47 percent of LDP supporters surveyed were in favor of revising the Constitution, dipping below the 50-percent mark for the first time since 1998.Many of the respondents perhaps deemed it difficult to move ahead with debates on revising the Constitution when the upper house is controlled by the opposition camp, while the House of Representatives is under the control of the ruling camp. Also, the absence of a strong indication by Fukuda in support of constitutional amendments might have influenced public opinion.The Democratic Party of Japan voted against the National Referendum Law last year in an apparent attempt to clarify its strategy of confrontation against the ruling camp just before the upper house election. The DPJ also did so out of consideration for some of its members who are quite cautious about constitutional revision as well as for the sake of election cooperation with the Social Democratic Party, which has pledged to keep the Constitution intact.The percentage of DPJ backers polled who favored constitutional revision reached 67 percent in 2005, exceeding the figure of 64 percent among LDP supporters. But the proportion of DPJ supporters who back amending the basic law has since dropped to 41 percent.DPJ dodging issueThe stance of the DPJ, which is unwilling to squarely deal with the issue of constitutional revision, may be a factor in the decline of support for revision among party backers.The focal points of the last extraordinary Diet session were the resumption of the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean by the Maritime Self-Defense Force and debates about how the Self-Defense Forces should contribute to international peace. No progress was made in constitutional debates in the wake of a bribery scandal involving a former administrative vice defense minister and suspicion that fuel MSDF vessels provided to U.S. vessels was diverted for use in U.S. operations in Iraq.The latest poll also found 46 percent of those surveyed support the establishment of a permanent law spelling out the rules for dispatching SDF troops abroad. The proportion was larger than the 42 percent of respondents who did not think a permanent law was necessary.The largest number of respondents supporting revision chose the following reason for amending the Constitution: "There have emerged new problems that cannot be dealt with under the current Constitution, including the issue of contributing to international peace." This answer was chosen by the largest number of amendment supporters in similar opinion polls in the past.In addition, about 70 percent of the respondents said more active constitutional debates should be held.It is now essential to debate the Constitution from various viewpoints, including security and environmental perspectives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 8, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2008-04-08	YOSHIN0020080408e448000fd
YOMSHI0020080409e44900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080409e44900001	EN	\N	Dialogue the only cure for torch, Tibet unrest	To successfully carry out the Games--an event of peace--the Chinese government must restart talks with the exiled Tibet government as soon as possible.	4	2008-04-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The relay started April 1. In London and Paris, groups of exiled Tibetans and human rights activists resorted to disruptive tactics, with some trying to grab the torch and to block the relay run. However, these unruly protests will do little to whip up sympathy for the causes the demonstrators are championing.The torch relay will move to San Francisco on Wednesday. After passing through several cities in Southeast Asia and elsewhere, the torch's path will come to Nagano on April 26. Every possible measure must be taken to ensure that no unrest occurs as the torch is carried through the Japanese city.The blame for this disgraceful situation that runs counter to the Games--a sporting event--rests with the Chinese side.Hu standing firmU.S. President George W. Bush held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, last month over the phone. In the conversation, the U.S. president expressed his concern over the Tibet situation and urged Hu to start "substantive dialogue" with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.However, the Chinese president responded by justifying the use of force in the crackdown in Tibet. Hu described the protests in Tibet as undisguised serious and violent crimes.Tibet is calling for a "high level of autonomy," not independence. Dialogue between the Chinese government and the Tibetan government-in-exile had been held intermittently in the past, but these talks have gone cold since last year.Demonstrations are continuing in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and neighboring areas. Failure by the Chinese government to handle this smoldering tinderbox appropriately could end up casting a pall over the Beijing Games.Leaders of such countries as Brazil, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany and Poland have already said they will stay away from the Aug. 8 opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.Simmering tensionsIn China, patriotic nationalistic sentiments are becoming increasingly fervent. An Internet petition decrying recent anti-Beijing Games protests, including pledges not to attend the opening ceremony, collected 2.2 million signatures, mainly among young Chinese.If these angry sentiments end up morphing into criticism directed toward the Beijing government, the fabric of Chinese society could start fraying.The Dalai Lama supports Beijing's hosting of the Olympic Games. He also has been quick to speak out against actions to disrupt the torch relay. The Buddhist spiritual leader also has gone to pains to say he was ready to have talks with the Chinese government.Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will meet with Hu when the Chinese president makes a state visit to Japan next month. The Japanese government should use Hu's visit as an opportunity to develop proactive diplomacy with China, to help bring stability to Tibet and to ensure the Beijing Games are a shining success.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 9, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	547	2008-04-09	YOSHIN0020080409e449000gb
YOMSHI0020080410e44a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080410e44a00001	EN	\N	Fukuda talks tough, but will things change?	Fukuda, who also serves as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, went so far as to say that the largest opposition party's rejection of four government-proposed candidates for the roles of central bank governor and deputy chief was "an abuse of power and authority with regard to personnel issues."	4	2008-04-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fukuda also pointed a finger at the DPJ's character as a political party. "The DPJ is slow making a decision about each issue," he said. "I don't know whom we should hold talks with."Fukuda's remarks may be taken as a complaint of sorts that reflects his desire to see the DPJ assume a share of responsibility to run the nation as the dominant force in the House of Councillors.Ozawa fired back: "It's natural that the government and ruling parties should talk [with opposition parties] from the start of the budget's compilation. You lack proper perception about the opposition camp's majority in the upper house."However, Fukuda countered by saying, "That's why we've repeatedly proposed holding policy consultations [with the DPJ] since October last year."Depth lackingThis is the second time Fukuda and Ozawa have clashed in a party leader debate session in the Diet. During the first, in January, they discussed the pension records fiasco. Fukuda adopted "clinch tactics," which he used to cede concessions to the DPJ, likely because he thought the party's cooperation was crucial in the split Diet, in which the ruling parties have a majority in the House of Representatives, while the opposition parties control the upper house.However, the DPJ used prudent political judgment to drive Fukuda's administration into a corner, and steadfastly stuck to its political guns over central bank personnel and deliberation of bills in the Diet.Fukuda's strong irritation over his failure to promote dialogue with the DPJ appears to be the driving force behind his more confrontational stance during Wednesday's debate.Although the party leader debate attracted public attention, it did not tackle any issues in great depth per se, and seemed more like a mutual exchange of criticism.The two party leaders agreed that the practice known as amakudari--in which senior bureaucrats assume postretirement jobs at bodies related to the sectors they formerly oversaw--should not be recognized as their "vested interests." But they failed to hold constructive debate on such issues as striving to work together in the future on personnel issues requiring Diet approval.Fukuda seeks DPJ cooperationDuring the debate, Fukuda asked Ozawa for the DPJ's cooperation over the government's policy of integrating road-related tax revenues into the general account budget, starting in fiscal 2009. But Ozawa held firm, saying the LDP's decision--and the Cabinet's approval--to use road revenue sources for general purposes from fiscal 2009 would be a prior condition for discussions between the ruling and opposition parties.But as long as Ozawa solely seeks to turn the political situation in his own party's favor, we believe there is no guarantee that talks will be held, even if the Cabinet approved the matter.Many observers have pointed out that the DPJ could set a high hurdle for the realization of discussions by, for example, using the Cabinet's approval as a reason for its refusal to start talks.Fukuda said he would incorporate the general use of special road revenue sources in the Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Reform in June. However, before that, we believe it is necessary for him to draw up a clear plan for the use of these funds.If he fails to do so, and if the ruling parties pass tax-system related bills with a majority of two-thirds in a second vote in the lower house to restore the provisional gasoline tax rate that expired at the end of March, Fukuda will find it difficult to gain the public's support.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 10, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	706	2008-04-10	YOSHIN0020080410e44a000fx
YOMSHI0020080411e44b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080411e44b00001	EN	\N	Kodansha case brings up basic tenet of reporting	The report released by the committee on Wednesday pointed a strong finger at the publisher and the author of "Boku wa Papa o Korosu Koto ni Kimeta" (I Decided to Kill My Dad), which explored the case in which a first-year high school student killed his three family members.	4	2008-04-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	"There are no indications that [the writer] strived to gather corroborative information in a sober and honest way," the panel said in its report. "The editors did not adequately fulfill their checking role." These observations were apparently intended to criticize the publisher and author for lacking necessary ethical and moral conduct.The report also pointed out that the author and editors were "naive and uninformed" about their obligation to conceal their news sources.A good part of the book in question comprises direct citations from statements to investigators by the student, who is the eldest son of a doctor from Tawaramotocho, Nara Prefecture, and others. The publication of the book led to the arrest and indictment by the Nara District Public Prosecutors Office of a psychiatrist who examined the student and served as the news source. The psychiatrist was arrested for alleged unlawful disclosure of confidential information, a violation of the Penal Code.The freelance journalist and editors obtained the psychiatrist's permission to access documents on the boy's psychiatric tests and investigative depositions after promising that the journalist would not photocopy the materials, not use direct quotes from the materials and show the psychiatrist the draft version of the book before publication. However, the journalist photographed the documents with a digital camera. She also broke the other two promises.Journalistic ethics violatedIt is a basic tenet for journalists and editors to keep promises with a person from whom they are gathering information. This blunder is a breach of trust that has trampled on this very basic principle.According to the report, the author said that one of the reasons for publishing the book was that the boy's grandfather had told her in an interview that, "I want you to convey the truth if you know what it is."However, the grandfather criticized the author after the book was published, saying "I wasn't told that she would publish a book like this."Why was the book, which is based on poorly gathered information, published? We feel the author and editors were too simplistic about publishing the book, just hoping to turn out a book that would sell well. Kodansha announced on the same day the report was released that it would set up an in-house publishing ethics committee. They should certainly give serious thought to their conduct.About the investigative authorities' getting involved in the issue of the book's publication, however, Kodansha said, "Any attempt to regulate the media is extremely dangerous."However, it is "a serious error in terms of publishing ethics," as the report points out, that made this incident a criminal case.A heavy responsibilityLate last month, the Defense Ministry sent papers on an Air Self-Defense Force colonel for allegedly leaking confidential defense-related information, a violation of the Self-Defense Forces Law, in connection with a Yomiuri Shimbun article carried in one of our morning editions.Citing Japanese and U.S. sources, the report said an accident, believed to be a fire, had occurred in a Chinese Navy submarine during an underwater cruise in the South China Sea. The ministry alleged that the colonel leaked relevant information to The Yomiuri Shimbun.Our information-gathering activities for this report were conducted in an appropriate manner. The matter belongs to a totally different category than the case involving Kodansha. There is a big difference between our report, which did not have any problem in its information-gathering methods, and the latest case in which the information-gathering activities were open to question.There is no way we will reveal our news sources. We would like to affirm that the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press carry a heavy responsibility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 11, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	741	2008-04-11	YOSHIN0020080411e44b000e1
YOMSHI0020080412e44c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080412e44c00001	EN	\N	Blueprint in sight for reform of road taxes	The government and ruling parties hammered out a policy to abolish the road-specific tax revenue system from fiscal 2009 and incorporate these taxes into general expenditures. They officially concluded the agreement in line with a reform plan Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced in late March.	4	2008-04-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Democratic Party of Japan had sought an assurance that Fukuda's plan would be made concrete, and the government and ruling parties responded to the DPJ's request, fulfilling a condition set by the main opposition party for the start of policy debates on the issue with the ruling parties.The DPJ also has proposed the use of these tax revenues for general expenditures. Now is a good time to review various problems afflicting road-related projects as a whole, including the structural one of bureaucrats taking advantage of their position to make a handsome profit from the system. Both the ruling and opposition parties should discuss the matter seriously to realize drastic reform of the system.Extra rates must be revivedThe agreement includes the abolition of the road-specific tax revenue system, reexamination of provisional tax rates for gasoline and other items and reviewing the midterm road maintenance plan to spend 59 trillion yen over the 10 years from fiscal 2008.Attention is now focused on how to handle the provisional gasoline tax rates at the Diet. The DPJ has strongly insisted that these tax rates, which expired on March 31, should not be revived.However, if nothing is done, the central and local governments stand to lose revenues worth 2.6 trillion yen annually, which would push them into an even direr financial situation.The amount of tax levied on gasoline in major European countries is much higher than that levied in Japan. Given that international cooperation has become vital to tackle global warming, Japan's stance could be called into question if the gasoline tax remains at the current level.The provisional tax rate levied on automobile weight, meanwhile, will expire at the end of April.Pass bills in 2nd voteThe tax system-related bills, including one to maintain the provisional gasoline tax rates, were passed by the House of Representatives, but there is no prospect of their being put to the vote at the House of Councillors. The lower house will be able to pass the bills with a majority of two-thirds in a second vote on April 29 or later. The bills should be swiftly passed by the lower house in a second vote to enable these tax rates to be revived.From fiscal 2009, the road-specific tax revenues should be used for general expenditures by including the provisional gasoline tax rates into regular tax rates to help rehabilitate the finances of the central and local governments.A bill to revise the special measures law to maintain resources for road-related projects, which stipulates the road-specific resources system, also was passed by the lower house, but it remains stuck in the upper house. A second vote on the bill in the lower house will become possible on May 12 or later.If the revised bill is not passed into law, local governments will not receive road-related subsidies. Their ability to implement their fiscal 2008 budgets has, therefore, been severely hampered.We believe it would be realistic for the lower house to pass the special measures bill in a second vote on the assumption that the road-specific tax revenue system will be abolished from fiscal 2009.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2008-04-12	YOSHIN0020080412e44c000f5
YOMSHI0020080414e44d00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080414e44d00002	EN	\N	G-7 must take all steps to reverse downturn	On Friday, the finance ministers and central bank governors from Japan, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United States met in Washington.	4	2008-04-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The statement says, "The global economy continues to face a difficult period," adding that the turmoil in global financial markets remains "challenging and more protracted than we had anticipated."The U.S. housing crisis linked to subprime mortgage-backed securities has deepened, making it obvious that a feared business slump is becoming a reality in the United States. The G-7 finance ministers and central bank heads may have had no choice but to frankly acknowledge that the global economy is deteriorating.They expressed concerns about a rapid decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, citing adverse effects caused by the depreciated dollar to the world economy and finances. Their statement also says rising crude oil prices could constitute a factor behind a slowdown in the economy.Public funds should be usedImmediately prior to the G-7 meeting, U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke described the current economy as being "among the most severe episodes of the postwar era."The joint statement can be interpreted to imply that the G-7 nations share a sense of caution about troubles that lie ahead.However, the G-7 statement is unclear about what kinds of specific measures should be taken to overcome the deepening crisis. It says the G-7 members will "continue working closely together." But it stops short of citing specific measures and pledges that the respective G-7 members will do all they can, saying that each nation is committed to "taking action...consistent with our respective domestic circumstances."In Friday's meeting, Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga told the United States that Washington needs to keep "all possible options" open, with the aim of solving the subprime loan crisis. Nukaga's remark seems to have been intended to mean that the United States should consider using public funds to defuse the crisis, with the bitter lesson learned from the collapse of Japan's bubble economy in mind.Nukaga's calls for infusions of taxpayers' money have been echoed by the International Monetary Fund and former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan.To help resolve the subprime-related crisis, the United States has continued to considerably relax its monetary policy and supply money to the financial market. However, Washington has remained negative about using public funds to overcome the problem. The latest G-7 statement does not mention the need to infuse taxpayers money as a means of riding out the crisis.Close coordination neededAll this shows how difficult it is for the G-7 nations to coordinate policy to overcome economic and financial woes.Instead of mentioning infusions of public funds, the latest statement emphasized the need for financial institutions to determine the amount of financial losses they suffered due to the subprime-related crisis as soon as possible, while also hurrying to raise capital under their own initiative.Top executives from Japanese, U.S. and European financial institutions convened on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting. They were urged to increase their institutions' capital, and, in the event of a global financial crisis, extend financial and other assistance.This may indicate an annoying dilemma faced by the G-7 nations, which feel they must turn to the private sector as they seek to overcome the ongoing crisis.The G-7 finance ministers and central bankers also said they would draw up a timetable to implement financial stability measures. The move was in line with a final report put together by the Financial Stability Forum, a panel comprising financial supervisory bodies from major nations that advises the group about how best to supervise financial markets, in an attempt to ensure there is no repeat of the current credit crunch.Admittedly, it is a worthwhile job to strive for stability in the global economy, with a clear deadline set for the target. However, it is not known what can be accomplished from this.No one is sure whether--and how--financial markets in the world will be stabilized. Can workable measures be immediately carried out to end what is called the greatest postwar financial crisis? The G-7 statement is not an end to the group's efforts to overcome the crisis but a new start for a daunting task assigned to its member nations in achieving the target.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 13, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	810	2008-04-13	YOSHIN0020080414e44d000a5
YOMSHI0020080415e44f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080415e44f00001	EN	\N	Let SDF take greater role in U.N. operations	Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda stressed in his policy speech to the ordinary Diet session in January that Japan will "play a responsible role in the international community as a nation that will contribute to the peace and advancement of the world." This commitment has also been cited as one of the five key policies to which the Cabinet attaches great importance.	4	2008-04-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the nation's current situation is far from Fukuda's goal.As of Jan. 31, Japan ranked 82nd in the number of participants in U.N. peacekeeping operations and political missions, with 38 personnel assigned to such duties, including those dispatched to the Golan Heights in the Middle East. Japan trails behind all other Group of Eight industrialized nations, China and South Korea.The Foreign Ministry and others have proposed dispatching Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to the U.N. Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and the U.N. Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Middle East. The UNMIS, which is separate from the U.N. peacekeeping operation in the war-torn Darfur region in western Sudan, covers southern Sudan, where a peace accord was signed by the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army.Weak objectionsSome officials at the Defense Ministry have voiced doubts as to whether Japan's national interest is served by sending SDF personnel all the way to Africa to take risks. We find that line of assertion too passive.The SDF's international peace cooperation activities were upgraded to primary duties in January last year, when the Defense Agency's status was raised to that of a full ministry. Later, the GSDF set up the International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit, which conducts research on international peace cooperation activities, and the Central Readiness Force to serve as an advance guard for U.N. peacekeeping operations.For example, one idea is to dispatch GSDF personnel to the UNMIS headquarters in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. It would be an excellent opportunity not only to play a responsible role as a member of the command center staff, but also to examine the actual circumstances surrounding a U.N. peacekeeping operation.Incorporating such fresh information as the type of duties expected to be performed by the main unit of the dispatched personnel in southern Sudan along with determining the sort of dangers existing there, the Defense Ministry can examine what the GSDF units can do there. It will be to the Defense Ministry's own benefit to steadily accumulate knowledge regarding peacekeeping operations.Permanent law neededAlso, the government should speed up its examination of the establishment of a permanent law regarding the dispatch of SDF troops overseas.The ruling parties planned to set up a team of lawmakers to look into the possibility of establishing a permanent law at the end of February. However, the team has not yet been formed due to the reluctance of New Komeito.The time limit set for the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean will end in January next year when the the current Antiterrorism Law expires. It is not too early to discuss the contents of a permanent law that could take effect from this time. Before the matter becomes a crisis, it is desirable to discuss from various viewpoints what form Japan's international peace cooperation activities should take.At present, the use of weapons by SDF personnel is strictly limited. It is an urgent task to reduce the restrictions on the use of weapons by troops in pursuing their missions to the same level as other countries.This will also be an important key to SDF participation in more peacekeeping operations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 15, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2008-04-15	YOSHIN0020080415e44f000fq
YOMSHI0020080416e44g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080416e44g00001	EN	\N	A pension system that is fair, sustainable	With this stark projection in mind, The Yomiuri Shimbun has put forward a set of concrete proposals for how the pension system should be reformed, and where the financial resources to fund reform plans should come from.	4	2008-04-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We hope our proposals will serve as a basis for public discussion on this important issue, and encourage the steady promotion of social security system reform.The Yomiuri proposals for pension system reform would significantly rectify defects and drawbacks in the system while basically maintaining the current formula as a form of social insurance.A state-run pension plan that is carried out as social insurance services, presupposes mutual assistance among members of the public, making it possible to ensure the amount of pension premiums paid by each subscriber to prepare for his or her golden days is reflected in the sum of benefits to be received by the subscriber. By tapping such advantages, the Yomiuri proposal incorporates a mechanism to guarantee a certain level of pension payment for every person in his or her old age.Trim qualifying periodTo be specific, we suggest reducing the pension recipient qualification from the current 25 years of enrollment to at least 10 years. This would enable almost everybody to comfortably join the pension system.We propose creating a system to guarantee a minimum of 50,000 yen in pension benefits per month, with the full amount of benefits set at 70,000 yen per month, which would be received by subscribers who have paid premiums for 40 years under the basic pension plan. As basic disability pension benefits would be increased in line with these moves, our proposals would help ensure income security of disabled pensioners.As a result, there would be few people without pension benefits or with meager benefits, thus considerably reducing the number of elderly people who will have to go on welfare. If this transpired, elderly people would feel less of a financial burden when premiums to be levied under the nursing-care insurance system and the new health-care plan for the aged are deducted from their pension benefits in advance.We would like parents to be exempt from paying premiums for the basic pension plan for three years after having a baby. We think supporting younger parents through their pension system will be effective as a measure to halt the declining birthrate.In addition, we propose introducing social security numbers to help realize a carefully crafted tax reduction and exemption measure for poor households and the correct and fair collection of premiums.Our proposed reforms would require tax resources of 3.2 trillion yen. Considering that the government-funded portion of national pension benefits will be raised to 50 percent, the total will be 5.5 trillion yen--a figure equivalent to revenue derived from a two percentage-point increase in the consumption tax. Of course, this amount is nothing to be sneezed at, but compared with a system in which basic pension benefits are financed entirely from tax revenues, this necessary tax rate increase is relatively small.The system of pension benefits paid equally to elderly people entirely with tax money, not on the basis of premiums, would surely be easier to understand than the current complicated system.Challenges aheadHowever, at least an additional 12 trillion yen--an amount that would soak up consumption tax revenues while the rate is 5 percent--will be needed to finance the system entirely with tax money. If the consumption tax rate is raised ostensibly to underpin the pension system, there would be no prospect for securing resources to maintain and improve medical and nursing care systems.It is the medical and nursing care systems, not the pension system, that will first face a financial crisis as society continues to gray. In 2025--when baby boomers have all turned 75 or older--the increase in pension benefits paid out is projected under the current rate of increase in the elderly population to be 1.4 times what they are today. But in the same projection, medical fees and nursing care fees will see an increase of 1.7 times and 2.6 times, respectively. Pension system reform should be done in full consideration of these estimates.Of course, great challenges would come with the transfer of the current pension system into a system of basic pension benefits financed entirely from tax revenues.This transition to a new system would take about 40 years to complete. People currently aged 20 to 60 pay pension premiums under the current system, and it would be unfair to have them change course in midstream. If the government were to try to reduce this changeover period, many people would surely feel slighted.Yet, it is unavoidable, given the complicated nature of the transfer to this new system, that feelings of distrust in the pension system would likely grow.According to an estimate by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, public spending on the social security system was about 30 trillion yen in fiscal 2007. This is likely to increase to 41 trillion yen a year in fiscal 2015.Some observers insist that if current economic growth is maintained, tax revenues also will grow and will be able to cover most social security costs. This is too optimistic. Business fluctuations and dark economic clouds have already appeared over the nation. It is irresponsible to assume there can always be an increase in tax revenues on call that can keep the social security system afloat.Special tax reasonableBy changing the consumption tax into a special-purpose social security tax, the government should be able to win public understanding for a raise in its rate.The tax rate for daily necessities, such as food, would be 5 percent, while the tax rate for other goods and services would be 10 percent. This is based on Yomiuri proposals and taking into consideration the costs for improving the medical and nursing care systems and for measures against the declining birthrate.Assuming progress is made in tackling the declining birthrate and caring for the growing population of elderly people, it would be necessary to discuss in the future the adoption of a tax rate on goods and services of about 15 percent--a rate at the lower end of rates found in Europe.The aging of the population itself is not something to be worried about. In fact, we should celebrate such longevity in people's lives.Why is discussing the graying of society usually greeted with pessimism? It is because current revenue sources for social security would be burdened to the point that they could not cope well with these changes of the times.The current system depends too much on people who are still working. People supporting the current system will not be able to endure the burden if the government tries to maintain this system as it is while the birthrate continues to decline and the population continues to age.It will be necessary to establish a mechanism that spreads the burden of covering welfare expenses across all generations and as gently as possible. We should work to have a society that does not find elderly people witnessing their children and grandchildren in financial agony, and themselves lamenting the long lives they are living.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1251	2008-04-16	YOSHIN0020080416e44g000fa
YOMSHI0020080417e44h00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080417e44h00002	EN	\N	Confusion over health insurance no surprise	The ongoing turmoil clearly indicates that both the national and local governments had neglected to make full preparations and adequately explain the new system to elderly people, despite a major change in the nation's health insurance program that would affect about 13 million people aged 75 and older.	4	2008-04-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	About 80 local governments reportedly have made mistakes in the collection of premiums, and about 45,000 people have complained that their new insurance cards never arrived.Confusion also can be seen in their understanding concerning a system in which premiums are now deducted from their pension benefits. A number of people mistakenly believe they have to cough up premiums in addition to those that they paid in the past.Premiums for nursing care insurance already have been deducted from pension benefits, and elderly people who previously had to visit municipal government offices to pay their health insurance premiums no longer need to do so. But even such basic points of the new system have not been properly explained to them.Unpleasant tasteAfter a crushing defeat in the House of Councillors election last summer, the government and the ruling parties quickly hammered out measures for the new system to reduce or exempt premium payments under certain conditions, which made it far more complicated.Despite this, the government made little attempt to explain the new system. This apparently triggered emotionally charged arguments on the name of the new system--literally, "a health insurance system for the very elderly"--which left an unpleasant taste in many people's mouths.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry then hastily changed the name to "the so-called health system for longevity." However, the main point at issue is not the poor naming of the system.The cause of the confusion lies with the bureaucratic work carried out by the ministry and local governments. It is entirely natural that elderly people have become angry. However, whether or not the new system is necessary is a separate matter altogether.Future medical spending is expected to balloon in line with the aging population.Previously, most elderly people were covered by the public health insurance program run by municipal governments. A number of municipalities with high ratios of elderly people had been facing a dire situation vis-a-vis the new system. Also, insurance premiums had varied significantly among municipalities, depending on their fiscal situations.Leveling of burdensUnder the new system, management is integrated at the prefectural level so financial burdens can be shared within each prefecture. Some people now pay higher premiums than before while others have had their premiums lowered. But regional gaps within the same prefecture are to be eliminated.The new system also includes a measure to have elderly people with high incomes pay in accordance with the amount of money they have coming in. Premiums for low-income elderly people are, on the whole, to be lowered--although this does not hold true in every municipality.The new system is operating in accordance with the needs of a quickly graying society. But given the government's failure to provide full explanations it is hardly surprising that many elderly people become confused.The deduction of premium payments from pension benefits has elicited widespread negative reaction. This is due partly to the fact that the nation's pension system was not working well, and that many elderly people must get by on small pensions.We believe the fuss over the new health insurance system highlights the fact the pension system is in urgent need of reform.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 17, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2008-04-17	YOSHIN0020080417e44h000f0
YOMSHI0020080418e44i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080418e44i00001	EN	\N	ASDF's Iraq airlifts not integral to use of force	However, the high court's ruling seems to be full of holes, including a misinterpretation of laws and facts related to activities of the Self-Defense Forces in Iraq.	4	2008-04-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the case before the court, members of a citizens group demanded that the ASDF's dispatch to Iraq be ruled unconstitutional and suspended. They also sought compensation from the government for what they have argued is psychological pain caused by the dispatch.The high court dismissed all those claims. It even rejected the group's demand to judge on the constitutionality of the ASDF's deployment to Iraq. According to the court, the deployment does not infringe upon the interests of the plaintiffs and their demand is not in conformity with the legal requirements of a civil case.Nonetheless, the presiding judge mentioned in an obiter dictum commentary that part of the ASDF's mission is "unconstitutional."Was this comment really necessary?In line with U.N. rulesThe government cannot appeal to the Supreme Court because it technically won the case. Since the plaintiffs also do not intend to appeal, the high court's decision will be finalized. However, it is undesirable for a ruling of this sort to be left as judicial precedent.The special law to help the reconstruction of Iraq stipulates that SDF troops provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in "noncombat zones."The court recognized in its ruling that fighting between multinational forces and local armed insurgents in Iraq is "international combat." Based on this premise, the court concluded that the ASDF's mission to airlift armed soldiers from multinational forces to Iraq is an act integral to the use of force by other countries, and therefore this can be considered as Japan itself using force.However, mop-up operations against armed insurgents by multinational forces are based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1483, which was passed in May 2003, and other decisions made to help Iraq's stability and safety. The Iraqi government itself supports the operations. They are legitimate activities to maintain security.Not in 'combat zones'Even if those operations are considered uses of force, it still does not pose any constitutional problem, as the ASDF's mission to airlift soldiers of multinational forces is not integral to the use of force.The Cabinet Legislation Bureau lists four conditions--such as geographical relations and proximity--to judge if an action is integral to the use of force. If soldiers start fighting immediately after they get out of an ASDF plane in Iraq, this aerial transportation could be considered integral to the use of force. But the reality is completely different.The ruling called Baghdad a "combat zone." But an operation plan for the ASDF, which is made based on the special law, limits the area of its activities to Baghdad Airport, which is far from being called a "combat zone." Security is maintained and commercial planes routinely arrive and depart there. If it were to become a combat zone, the ASDF would suspend its operations in accordance with the law.The ASDF's transportation activities currently constitute an essential part of Japan's contribution to international peace. We hope ASDF members are not discouraged by the high court's ruling and continue their important mission dutifully.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 18, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2008-04-18	YOSHIN0020080418e44i000ed
YOMSHI0020080419e44j00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080419e44j00002	EN	\N	Japan, China should start solving issues 1 by 1	Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi reportedly agreed that the two nations should take advantage of the opportunity presented by Hu's visit to dramatically advance and deepen a "strategic, mutually beneficial relationship."	4	2008-04-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But judging from the current state of bilateral relations, Japan and China are not in a position to revel in optimism that such a dramatic advancement in their relations can take place.Shallow food-poisoning probeThe cases of food-poisoning involving gyoza products made in China are still unresolved. The foreign ministers confirmed during their talks Thursday that cooperation between their respective investigative authorities would be strengthened, a statement that is just a matter of course.Earlier, Hu told senior Japanese lawmakers including Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki, who recently visited China, that Beijing was attaching extreme importance to the issue of ensuring food safety. If so, the Chinese leader should urge the Chinese public safety authorities, which seem to be neglecting getting to the bottom of the food-poisoning cases, to do more.If China attempts to make a political settlement on the cases by shelving fact-finding efforts, all that leaves us with is an emotional confrontation between the people of the two nations and a lack of confidence felt by Japan toward Chinese products that will never be eradicated.Likewise, regarding the dispute over natural gas field-exploration projects in the East China Sea, progress toward a settlement of the issue has yet to be seen in what is seen as a test of that "strategic, mutually beneficial relationship."During their meeting late last year, was it not the case that Fukuda and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao confirmed their resolve to settle the issue as soon as possible?Japan surely cannot make concessions over its proposal to jointly develop with China the gas fields near a median line that Japan has used to demarcate their claimed exclusive economic zones. Making this the basic stance of Japan, it is important that the nation press China hard to make a decision that will resolve the issue quickly.More transparency neededBut bilateral issues are not the only important matters to be discussed.At the Group of Eight major nations summit meeting to be held in Toyakocho, Hokkaido, in July, global warming is set to be the main topic. Japan, as the chair of the meeting, must repeatedly urge China, a major emitter of greenhouse gases, to make efforts to voluntarily cut its emissions.As the Beijing Olympics approaches, the Tibet issue also cannot be overlooked. Komura told Yang it was in China's interest to be more open and transparent with information on the situation in Tibet and called for China to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama without any preconditions. Komura thus called on China to clearly demonstrate a stance of seeking a dialogue with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. This was a sensible recommendation.Yang said rioting in Tibet was aimed at tarnishing the Games and insisted that the issue was an internal matter in which other nations should not meddle.But as long as China maintains this stance, it will not obtain the understanding and support of the international community. To remedy this and for the success of the Games, too, how about China taking some advice from its neighbor?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2008-04-19	YOSHIN0020080419e44j000fl
YOMSHI0020080420e44k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080420e44k00001	EN	\N	Talking shouldn't just be for sake of talking	The consultation body--established to discuss sweeping reform of the system for earmarking road-related taxes for constructing and maintaining roads, among other uses--held its first meeting Friday. The two camps finally sat down at the same table after the government and ruling parties, which decided to scrap the system of setting aside road-related taxes for such purposes and to use the revenues for general purposes, called on the opposition parties to discuss how needed to get this policy up and running.	4	2008-04-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	That both camps agreed to start talks is the good news. The bad news is that they still have starkly different objectives they are bent on accomplishing during Diet confrontations from around the end of this month. However, political bickering should never be allowed to bring political consultation to a grinding halt.The Democratic Party of Japan still insists on permanently abolishing the provisional gasoline tax rate. The largest opposition party also is calling for all road-related taxes to be freed up for general expenditures beginning this fiscal year.DPJ standing firmThe DPJ has shown no sign of agreeing to hold a vote in the House of Councillors on a tax bill that would restore the provisional gasoline tax rate or on a bill to revise the law stipulating exceptions in relation to financial resources for road construction and maintenance, which serves as the basis for maintaining the system of earmarking road-related tax revenues for such purposes.Some observers have suggested the DPJ agreed to establish the consultation body to deflect criticism that it had rejected all offers to hold talks.The central and local governments together will lose \\2.6 trillion in annual tax revenues if the expired provisional tax rates are not restored. If a bill to revise the law stipulating exceptions concerning financial resources for road construction and maintenance is not approved by the Diet, it would also have serious ramifications for road-related projects ordered by local governments.If the DPJ does not agree to conduct a vote at the upper house, the ruling parties will have no choice but to vote again on the two bills in the House of Representatives--a step that would constitute Diet approval and enact the bills into law.The ruling parties apparently have an ulterior motive for holding talks with the opposition parties: It will be easier for them to resort to voting on the bills for the second time in the lower house.Some members in the opposition camp insist their parties should refuse to hold talks should the ruling camp take a second vote on the bills. We are concerned that the opposition's rejection of talks would torpedo a splendid opportunity to promote reform of the budgeting framework by freeing up road-related taxes for general expenditures.Breaking from the pastEfforts to unshackle road-related taxes for general spending ran up against a brick wall during the administrations of former Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe due to staunch resistance from lawmakers championing road construction.Now is a prime opportunity to review the entire process for road construction projects. Many critics have heaped scorn on this process for allowing wasteful spending. Many issues must be ironed out if road-related tax revenues are integrated with the general account, such as how to use these revenues, how to change road construction plans, and how to provide financial support to local governments.The government and the ruling parties are set to use the consultation body as a springboard for advancing talks with the opposition parties on tax system reform, including a possible hike in the consumption tax.Criticism of the dysfunctional Diet, where the upper house is controlled by the opposition camp while the ruling camp has a comfortable majority in the lower house, has been steadily mounting. The ruling and opposition parties should hold sincere discussions about implementing important policies so as not to deepen public distrust of the political world.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	711	2008-04-20	YOSHIN0020080420e44k000a9
YOMSHI0020080421e44l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080421e44l00001	EN	\N	Political effort needed for decentralization	The committee for the promotion of decentralization and government ministries and agencies are engaged in an all-out battle ahead of the committee's first advisory report that is expected to be released by the end of next month.	4	2008-04-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Cabinet Office and relevant ministries have steadfastly rejected the transfer of authority over road and river management from the central government to local governments.Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has instructed Cabinet members to cooperate with the government advisory panel after insisting that "the handling of the matter by the Cabinet Office and each ministry is inadequate.""I want you to make decisions as elected officials," Fukuda reportedly told them.The relevant Cabinet members, including the construction and transport, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and education, science and technology ministers, must head Fukuda's words. They should speak out and take action not as mere mouthpieces of their own organizations, but as members of the Cabinet that is resolved to promote decentralization.Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Hiroya Masuda will soon start separate negotiations on the matter with these ministers.Minister owed supportMasuda, a former Iwate governor, served as the acting chairman of the decentralization committee before assuming his cabinet post. We hope he will closely cooperate with the National Governors' Association and other bodies, and produce tangible results. Fukuda and Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura have a responsibility to support him.The first advisory report will focus national highways currently under the direct control of the central government and class one rivers that flow within Tokyo or a single prefecture. The question is whether it is possible for this report to clearly state that management authority over those roads and rivers should be transferred from the central government to Tokyo and other prefectural governments.Tokyo and other prefectural governments were in charge of managing national highways, as an administrative function delegated by the central government, until around the end of the country's rapid economic growth in the 1970s. Therefore, it is illogical to say that only the central government can handle such management.The government and ruling parties have already decided to stop the use of road-related revenues solely for road construction and maintenance, and instead allow them to be used for general purposes starting from fiscal 2009. As road construction is to undergo drastic reform, the time is ripe to boldly review the roles of the central and local governments and increase efficiency.Obstructing changeThe Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry opposes the transfer from the ministry to local governments of the authority to grant permission to change the use of farmland larger than four hectares to nonagricultural purposes. The ministry insists that the current uniformity in decisions will be lost if the responsibility is handed over to different prefectural governments.Decentralization will never be possible if nationwide uniformity is required in all matters. The local governments can only exercise their autonomy and demonstrate their originality when a degree of variation is allowed.In addition to the transfer of power from the central government to prefectural governments, similar delegation of authority by prefectural governments to municipal governments is important as well. This would be aimed at increasing the degree of freedom of action of administrative organizations, which deal more closely with local residents, by entrusting them with authority in a variety of areas, including giving permission and approval to establish welfare facilities and kindergartens, and manage personnel affairs involving public school teachers and other employees as well as class composition.The decentralization committee plans to compile its second advisory report by the end of this year--a review of local branches of central government organizations, an even higher hurdle to clear. It is essential to move ahead with the delegation of authority that has long been left pending to build momentum before tackling this future task.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 21, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	688	2008-04-21	YOSHIN0020080421e44l000bt
YOMSHI0020080422e44m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080422e44m00001	EN	\N	Fukuda-Lee meeting marks dawn of new era	On Monday, the two leaders held talks in which they agreed to resume regular visits to each other's country and expand bilateral youth exchanges. They also agreed to hold working-level talks in June in an effort to restart negotiation to forge a bilateral economic partnership agreement.	4	2008-04-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Not only closer dialogue between the two leaders but also expansion of personal exchanges at various levels are sought to drastically improve the Japan-South Korea relationship. It also is vital to strengthen cooperation on the economic front.It is believed that Lee's pragmatic stance was reflected in the joint press statement that spelled out such measures. These measures also constitute a set of policies aimed at advancing bilateral relations in a wide range of fields after years of stagnation in this respect as a result of then South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's adherence to his principles concerning the bilateral history.Work together on world issuesAt the meeting, the two leaders confirmed their intention to enhance cooperation on global issues such as development assistance to poor countries and environmental protection. For example, Japan provides educational materials to schools built in Africa with South Korea's support. The two nations also will join hands to come up with measures to prevent contamination of the Sea of Japan. Continued cooperation is essential for the realization of the two nations' shared goals.The North Korean nuclear issue is now in a crucial phase. The two leaders' perception about the issue seems to be reflected in their agreement that their countries would shore up their cooperation with the United States in urging Pyongyang to "completely and accurately" declare all its nuclear weapons programs.In exchange for declaration of its nuclear activities, North Korea has demanded the United States remove the reclusive country from the list of terrorism-sponsoring states designed by its State Department.However, a correct declaration on North Korea's plutonium stockpile is the core of the issue. Therefore, easy concessions must not be granted. If a deceptive declaration claiming less than the actual stockpile is accepted, it may lead North Korea to secretly possess nuclear weapons in the future.Full disclosure necessaryPlutonium stockpiles possessed by North Korea are not the only item that must be declared. How many nuclear weapons and detonators does Pyongyang possess? Where are its nuclear testing sites and nuclear weapons production facilities located? North Korea's nuclear program should be fully disclosed in a manner verifiable by other countries, and such items and facilities must be included in the list of equipment and facilities subject to dismantlement.To achieve this, it is important to resume high-level talks among Japan, South Korea and the United States, which have not been held in recent years, at an early date. It is necessary to negotiate with Pyongyang after strategically coordinating the three nations' policies on North Korea.It also is vital to exert a certain measure of pressure on North Korea in cooperation with China, which chairs six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, thus gaining concessions from the hermetic nation.Prior to meeting with Fukuda, Lee and U.S. President George W. Bush confirmed they would act to strengthen the U.S.-South Korea alliance, including freezing a plan to gradually reduce the number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.This is good news for efforts to deepen cooperation on security among Japan, South Korea and the United States, as well as between Japan and South Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2008-04-22	YOSHIN0020080422e44m000fl
YOMSHI0020080423e44n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080423e44n00001	EN	\N	Actions eclipse age in death sentence ruling	In the trial of the case sent back from the Supreme Court, the high court sentenced to death a man charged with killing and raping a woman and strangling her baby daughter in Hikari, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in 1999, when the defendant was 18.	4	2008-04-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The sentencing reflects a judgment by the Supreme Court, which rejected rulings by the Yamaguchi District Court and the high court to sentence the man, a former company employee, to life imprisonment. In rejecting the lower court's decisions, the nation's top court said the fact the defendant was a minor at the time of the crime did not constitute a compelling reason to avoid a sentence of capital punishment.Tuesday's ruling clarified, more than previous judgments have, the parameters for applying the death sentence in criminal cases involving juveniles.A major focus of the trial of the remanded case was whether the defendant could be rehabilitated.The ruling said he killed the 23-year-old housewife with the intent of raping her, and shoved her 11-month-old daughter onto the floor then strangled her. The ruling spelled out the gravity of the defendant's criminality, describing his crime as "a cruel, atrocious and inhumane act."No room for leniencyDuring the trial, defense lawyers did a U-turn on the defendant's previous statements. They denied he had intended to rape the woman and kill both victims. Instead, the defense counsel argued the defendant's conduct constituted a case of bodily injury resulting in death.The judge rejected this assertion as an unnatural and unreasonable excuse, and ruled that the defendant had dropped his responsibility to squarely face up to the seriousness of the crime and instead focused on trying to avoid the death sentence.As it turned out, however, the defense counsel's argument defeated its own purpose. The high court used the assertion as a basis for its conclusion that the defendant was unlikely to be rehabilitated and highlighted his antisocial nature. As such, the judge said there was no way to find extenuating circumstances for leniency.Under the Juvenile Law, anyone under 18 years of age is exempt from being sentenced to death. In fact, the previous rulings at the district and high courts that decided against the death sentence made much of the fact that the defendant was 18 years and 1 month old.Guidelines for judgesA nine-item guideline for applying the death sentence was presented by the Supreme Court when it decided in 1983 to scrap a lower court's life sentence on Norio Nagayama, who had been charged with fatally shooting four people. Criteria listed in the guideline included the nature of the crime, the motive for the crime, the cruelty of the murder method, the bereaved families' emotional response, the impact of the crime upon society, and the circumstances to be considered after the crime, including the defendant's attitude.After the guideline was presented, death sentences were finalized for juveniles only twice, including the Nagayama case. In both of these cases, the killer was 19 years old at the time and murdered four people.On Tuesday, the death sentence was handed down in a case in which two people were murdered. It is reasonable that the number of victims is not the overriding factor in determining whether the death sentence should be handed down, and that the details of the crime and the circumstances after the event should be taken into consideration.The lay judge system will start in May 2009. Many people are concerned about how to decide what punishment is appropriate for a crime if they sit on the judge's bench. The psychological burden to be shouldered by lay judges in handing down a death sentence would be extreme.The defense counsel has already appealed to the Supreme Court. We hope the top court gives a more clear-cut guideline to citizens, who will be involved as lay judges in hearings for serious crimes, for applying the death sentence in cases in which juveniles have committed serious crimes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2008-04-23	YOSHIN0020080423e44n000fl
YOMSHI0020080424e44o00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080424e44o00004	EN	\N	Transparency essential for arms disposal project	On Wednesday, the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested a former president of Pacific Consultants International and three others on suspicion of aggravated breach of trust in connection with the government project to dispose of chemical weapons abandoned in China by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.	4	2008-04-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since fiscal 2004, the PCI group, including the Abandoned Chemical Weapons Disposal Corp. (ACWDC), a wholly owned subsidiary of PCI's holding company, has been the exclusive winner of discretionary contracts related to the project awarded by the Cabinet Office. Orders totaling about 23 billion yen were given to ACWDC between fiscal 2004 and 2006.The PCI group allegedly increased profits by recommissioning work on the project secured by ACWDC to several affiliated and other companies. The four arrested officials are said to have misappropriated 120 million yen of project outlays in the process. The prosecutors also intend to build a fraud case against the accused as they are suspected of padding bills on project fees.Questionable decisionThe PCI group was only tasked with conducting a preliminary survey to decide how to dispose of the abandoned chemical weapons. Was this really a job that required such a high degree of expertise that the contract for it needed to be discretionary and awarded to just one company?In 2004, the Japan International Cooperation Agency suspended PCI from bidding on official development assistance contracts because of accounting irregularities. In 2006, the Board of Audit found that PCI had embezzled a total of about 140 million yen in ODA projects in 16 countries, including Costa Rica.The Cabinet Office must bear a heavy responsibility for placing the disposal project in the hands of such a tainted firm. The prosecutors have to thoroughly investigate how and why the office arranged contracts with PCI. They also must clarify how the misappropriated money was used by the former PCI president and others.Taking care in futureBetween 300,000 and 400,000 chemical munitions abandoned by the Imperial Japanese Army are said to have remained buried in the Haerbaling district of China's Jilin Province. The government has been shouldering all of the expenses associated with the project to render the weapons harmless based on a 1999 memorandum between Tokyo and Beijing. Japan had spent a total of 47.1 billion yen by the end of fiscal 2006.Hundreds of billions of yen more will reportedly be needed for efforts to locate and recover the chemical weapons and to make them harmless.At the beginning of this fiscal year, the Cabinet Office stopped offering discretionary contracts and introduced general public competitive bidding on the project. This is a sensible measure to eliminate collusion with private firms.Some observers point out the costs of the project have jumped unnecessarily during negotiations with the Chinese side. The Board of Audit and other relevant government organizations therefore need to carry out stringent checks to determine if the scale of the project has been set at an appropriate level.Transparency is paramount if the disposal project is to be carried out satisfactorily.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 24, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2008-04-24	YOSHIN0020080424e44o000fi
YOMSHI0020080425e44p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080425e44p00001	EN	\N	Latest imported beef discovery poses no risk	Under a bilateral beef trade agreement, such risk materials are required to be completely removed from beef products before they are shipped to Japan. Though it is highly likely that the parts were erroneously placed in the shipment, this is a regrettable occurrence. We urge the United States to take serious measures to determine what caused the mistake and prevent any recurrence.	4	2008-04-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The beef in question was shipped last August from National Beef in California for Yoshinoya Holdings Co., the nation's largest operator of restaurants serving gyudon beef-on-rice dishes. The risk materials were found in one of 700 boxes that had been stored in warehouses in Japan.Though all the boxes were supposed to contain short plate cuts of meat for gyudon, one package was found to include top-quality steak meat with spinal material.In the United States, such meat with spinal parts is sold as just another ordinary product. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry therefore suspects National Beef erroneously packed the beef for the U.S. market into a box bound for Japan. It seems to have been a simple mistake.Situation differs from beforeAfter the first BSE infection was confirmed in the United States in December 2003, Japan completely banned imports of U.S. beef. Though the ban was lifted in December 2005, Japan reimposed a total ban on beef imports from the United States only a month later following a discovery of spinal parts in a meat shipment. On that occasion, serious faults were uncovered in the U.S. inspection system--both U.S. exporters and inspectors had little awareness of criteria set up for beef exports bound for the Japanese market.The situation this time is largely different from then. In this regard, we believe the government made an appropriate decision in not imposing a blanket ban on U.S. beef imports, though imports from National Beef will be suspended for the time being. In response to the latest discovery of spinal material in U.S. shipments, Japan decided to step up its quarantine inspections of imported beef. The government will increase the frequency of random checks on boxes of imported beef from 1 percent to 2 percent at present to 10 percent.As for beef imports that have undergone quarantine inspections, wholesalers and meat processors are currently required to examine the meat by opening all boxes.Rules in place workA worker at a Yoshinoya meat-processing factory in Saitama Prefecture discovered the spinal parts before they were processed. In this regard, we believe it is fair to say there is almost no possibility that consumers could have eaten dangerous beef parts. We urge consumers not to overreact this latest news calmly.Japan and the United States are currently in talks over whether to ease Japan's import conditions on U.S. beef. We believe the latest discovery of spinal material and the ongoing negotiations on the relaxation of import conditions should be separately discussed.Japan currently limits U.S. beef imports to meat obtained from cattle aged 20 months old or younger, which is thought to pose less of a risk of BSE. But the United States is demanding Japan remove the condition. We find it quite difficult to accept the U.S. demand to scrap the age limit. However, international standards consider meat from cattle aged under 30 months old as safe.Therefore, even if the government relaxes the age limit to 30 months, we believe it would pose no problems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 25, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2008-04-25	YOSHIN0020080425e44p000e8
YOMSHI0020080426e44q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080426e44q00001	EN	\N	Evidence shows DPRK proliferating N-arms	The announcement of new evidence confirming North Korea's involvement in nuclear proliferation has complicated the process of the six-party talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. It also might push U.S.-North Korea talks regarding Washington's insistence that Pyongyang make a full declaration of its nuclear programs back to square one.	4	2008-04-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The United States is convinced that the secret nuclear facility that Israel destroyed in an air strike in September was a reactor being constructed with the assistance of North Korea to develop nuclear weapons, the White House said in a statement.Mystery surrounds the air strike as neither Israel nor Syria have provided detailed information about it. The United States has remained tight-lipped about the raid, too. But Washington has finally demanded that Damascus give a clear, detailed explanation about the facility for the first time in the nearly eight months since the air strike after releasing video footage and photos taken of the plant.In the statement, the White House also issued a strong warning to Iran, which is defying resolutions calling for sanctions that have been issued by the U.N. Security Council by continuing uranium enrichment work.6-way talks imperiledAt issue is how the introduction of the latest evidence will affect the six-party framework.North Korea categorically denies that it has engaged, is engaging or will engage in nuclear proliferation activities. However, materials released by the United States include images of a North Korean said to be a nuclear scientist standing by a Syrian counterpart, while the building in question resembles a North Korean nuclear plant. How does Pyongyang intend to explain these points?North Korea was expected to shortly make a "complete and accurate" declaration of its nuclear activity, which originally was to have been submitted at the end of 2007, after Pyongyang and Washington agreed a tentative deal on the matter at working-level negotiations earlier this month.According to sources, the two sides are trying to craft a vaguely worded settlement in respect of North Korea's suspected uranium enrichment program and nuclear proliferation to Syria, with Pyongyang's acknowledgement of U.S. concerns over those central issues to be contained in an appendix to its declaration of its nuclear activities.But can this really be called a "complete and accurate" declaration of North Korea's nuclear activities? At any event, the latest statement can be interpreted to mean that Washington is demanding that Pyongyang give a clearer explanation of its nuclear activities--at least, about its proliferation activities.Avoid easy compromisesA feature of the tentative agreement between the two countries is that the United States would remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism if Pyongyang declares the amount of plutonium it has and accepts a method of verifying that declaration.There are concerns, however, over whether North Korea will provide less than accurate figures for its plutonium production. It is not clear how much Pyongyang will cooperate with international verification activities. If the country is hastily removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, the verification process might end up in the air.It is impossible to eradicate North Korea's nuclear threat without it providing a "complete and accurate" declaration of its nuclear programs. Easy concessions must be avoided in negotiations with Pyongyang.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2008-04-26	YOSHIN0020080426e44q000f5
YOMSHI0020080428e44r00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080428e44r00002	EN	\N	Festive spirit absent in run-up to '08 Games	Had there been major disturbances, TV footage of such scenes likely would have triggered an emotional response from the Chinese people. It was previously pointed out that such a situation could result in directing Chinese people's patriotic nationalism, which is symbolized by the current anti-French campaign, toward Japan.	4	2008-04-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nagano municipal government officials and police who were tasked with ensuring the security of the event in Nagano must have been greatly relieved after the 80 torchbearers completed the 18.7-kilometer journey without major disruption.Relay seems pointlessNevertheless, the entire event was highly unusual. It was a far cry from the image of peace and harmony that the Olympics aims to project.Chinese flags big and small lined the route, and many Chinese students in the country kept pace with the torchbearers, waving Chinese flags. Members of human rights organizations holding Tibetan flags voiced their protest against Beijing's crackdown on Tibet.As the torch relay was heavily guarded by about 100 police officers, many spectators were probably unable to catch even a glimpse of the torchbearers.Many people watching the event live on TV must have wondered what was the point of holding the torch relay under such conditions.Some people described the relay as "citizen-free" and as a "torch convoy."There has been a series of severe obstructions in almost every city through which the Olympic torch has passed. Under the circumstances, it is unavoidable that concerned cities and police authorities go on full alert, prioritizing the safety of the torch.Ball in China's courtWe have freedom of speech in this country. Clamping down on certain political activities prior to the relay was therefore out of the question. The measures taken in the Nagano event appear to have been inevitable.During the relay, six people were arrested for attempting to obstruct the torch relay procession or otherwise disrupt it. Some demonstrators hurled flyers at the procession. But although there were scuffles between pro-China and pro-Tibet demonstrators that resulted in injuries, the event was not seriously marred.The Chinese government fervently hopes to boost national prestige through staging the Olympics in Beijing. Despite the chorus of sharp criticism from around the world against China's Tibet policy, which has ended up linking that policy to the Olympics, Beijing has maintained a tough stance on the Tibet issue, rejecting such criticism as "interference in domestic affairs."China remains far apart from the international community in terms of its sense of human rights issues.Beijing has finally expressed its willingness to resume a dialogue with a representative of the Dalai Lama, the supreme leader of Tibetan Buddhism. But this should not end up mere posturing for the sake of the Olympics.Can the the current depressing atmosphere surrounding the Olympics be improved so the Games can be an enjoyable sports festival? It all depends on China.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 27, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	531	2008-04-27	YOSHIN0020080428e44r0009c
YOMSHI0020080428e44s0002t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080428e44s0002t	EN	\N	Elevate Japan-Russia ties to higher plane	Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda visited Russia over the weekend and met separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President-elect Dmitry Medvedev. During the meetings, Fukuda agreed to cooperate on specific items on which Russia is seeking accord in the areas of energy, transportation and the environment.	4	2008-04-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fukuda and Putin agreed to continue trying to resolve the territorial dispute over the Russian-held islands off Hokkaido.As Fukuda said during the meeting with Putin, it is difficult to "raise the relationship between the two countries to a higher level" without making progress in discussions on the northern territories. Japan must persist in repeatedly holding negotiations so that the two nations can settle the issue of sovereignty control over the islands is returned to Japan from Russia.Russia, for its part, is trying to expand its influence over the Asia-Pacific region, where many economies are booming.Mutual benefitTo maintain its volume of energy exports--pivotal to ensuring its economic growth--Russia needs to develop natural resources in eastern Siberia and conserve energy at home. Moscow apparently aims to use Japanese investment and high technology to help achieve these goals.Siberia is a promising area that also could supply energy resources for Japan. During the summit talks, Japan agreed to jointly explore oil fields in eastern Siberia, partly with the aim of using this economic cooperation as leverage to win concessions from Russia in the territorial dispute.Putin, however, merely stated that, "We would like to advance negotiations [over the territorial dispute] through repeated talks, and to make progress [in resolving the dispute], we would like to develop the overall relationship between the two nations."With its robust economy fueled by soaring prices for oil and other natural resources, Russia has seen a resurgence of nationalism and many Russians are clamoring for the nation to return to superpower status. There has been no change in Russia's hard-line stance toward Japan.Officially ending the warOnly peace treaty negotiations remain untouched among the six items of cooperation included in the Japan-Russia Action Plan that was agreed to during the 2003 summit meeting between the Japanese and Russian leaders. The Japanese government regards the action plan as something that will pave the way for settling the territorial dispute.When Putin visited Japan for talks in 2005, however, Tokyo and Moscow were unable to even issue a joint political statement due to the wide gap between the two sides' positions on the dispute. Japanese officials feel they have hit a brick wall over the issue.Fukuda is scheduled to meet Medvedev on the sidelines of the July Group of Eight summit at the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido. It is hoped that with the inauguration of the new Russian regime, Fukuda will be able to advance negotiations by confirming the validity of key diplomatic documents regarding peace treaty negotiations previously signed by Japan and Russia.It also is important for Japan to cooperate with Russia in forming a framework for tackling global warming--the major agenda item at the upcoming G-8 summit--as well as on such issues as the elimination of North Korea's nuclear program and the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2008-04-28	YOSHIN0020080428e44s000uj
YOMSHI0020080429e44t00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080429e44t00002	EN	\N	Revisions would boost institutions' efficiency	The government presented to the Diet a bill to revise the law regulating independent administrative institutions. The pillars of the bill are the establishment of a new panel charged with playing the sole role in assessing all 101 independent administrative institutions, and the introduction of a public recruitment system for executive directors--the top post at such institutions--and inspectors.	4	2008-04-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Institutions' performances and the progress made in achieving their three- to five-year mid-term goals are currently assessed twice--first by the Cabinet Office or a ministry that supervises each institution, and then by a central government organization.But the initial evaluation by the ministries or the Cabinet Office tends to be lenient as these government organs select their own assessment committee members. Even the Japan Green Resources Agency, which was abolished this spring following the exposure of bid-rigging at the initiative of government officials, had been rated "A," the second-highest grade in the five-level evaluation scale, before the scandal. Most of the independent administrative institutions are believed to have been given similar high marks.Unified evaluation authorityUnder the proposal, the new panel acts as a sort of central scrutinizer, examining and evaluating the institutions more objectively and with the added authority to recommend necessary measures to the appropriate minister. The panel also is empowered to make recommendations to the prime minister and dismiss executive directors of the institutions.For the new panel's enhanced authority to be properly exercised, it is vital to recruit members who are both enthusiastic supporters of the reform of independent administrative institutions and extremely knowledgeable in relevant areas.The public recruitment system for executive directors and inspectors is aimed at eliminating the practice of reserving some senior posts for amakudari--the appointing of senior bureaucrats to post-retirement jobs related to the sectors they formerly oversaw. Currently, former bureaucrats occupy executive director posts in 45 institutions.We hope the independent administrative institutions will streamline their operations by hiring more figures from the business community and adopting private-sector notions of efficiency. When former senior bureaucrats from government offices that supervise the institutions are hired for senior posts, the selection process must be transparent.Returning public fundsUnder the current law, when such institutions sell real estate holdings, they can retain profits equivalent, the difference between the holdings' market values and their original book values and return only the gains to the national coffers. Under the revision proposed in the bill, they would be required to hand over all proceeds from the sale of property to the central government.The institutes plan to sell off a total of more than \\600 billion in assets. From the standpoint of rehabilitating the nation's finances, requiring the institutes to return to the government all the money raised by the sale of assets is a measure that should have been enacted earlier.The new bill would prohibit the institutions from helping employees secure new jobs with companies having close capital and business ties with them. A common criticism is that these related companies accept former institution employees in return for favorable treatment such as the awarding of discretionary contracts.These firms with close ties to independent administrative institutions are said to have vast internal reserves. The surplus money of 28 firms related to the Urban Renaissance Agency alone totals \\37.1 billion. Efforts should be made to review the contractual relationships with such closely connected firms and the return of some of their surplus money should be sought.Given the standoff in the Diet, prospects for the revision bill being passed into law are dim. The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has good reason to support public recruitment to fill executive director posts and the restriction on reemployment of institutions' employees by related firms. We hope the party will take a positive approach in the deliberations and cooperate in the early passage of the revisions into law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 29, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2008-04-29	YOSHIN0020080429e44t000b1
YOMSHI0020080430e44u00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080430e44u00002	EN	\N	Govt must clearly state its plans for education	The Central Council for Education, an advisory organ to the education, science and technology minister, has compiled a report concerning the basic education promotion plan. The plan is the first of its kind to lay out the government's mid- and long-term education policy targets.	4	2008-04-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Based on the revised Fundamental Law of Education, the plan will express a vision for what kind of education this country should pursue in the next decade, while also incorporating policies to be carried out over the next five years.However, the council's recommendations remain unclear about what should be done, in fact, to achieve the goal, failing, for example, to state how much money will need to be spent to improve the quality of classroom education.Since local municipalities will draw up their plans based on the government's plan, we hope the Central Council for Education will make its proposal even more specific before the Cabinet finalizes the plan.Will teacher numbers rise?The most noticeable aspect of the plan is its call for increased investment in the nation's education system, which experts have noted is lower than in many other nations.The report, despite having the subtitle "The Realization of a Nation Built on Education," describes planned investment abstractly, stating, "By securing financial revenue streams needed for the [education] budget, the government should strive to shore up investment in education to achieve educational standards comparable to those of the United States and major European nations."Under the new teaching guidelines, both school hours and the amount of content studied will increase.The new teaching guidelines will be implemented at primary schools in fiscal 2011 and middle schools in fiscal 2012. However, for science and mathematics both the number of school hours and the amount taught will drastically increase from next fiscal year as a transition measure to full-scale implementation of the new measures.To ensure the new teaching guidelines can be successfully implemented, the number of teachers must be increased.However, in this regard, the Central Council for Education's recommendations only state, "Preparations to improve conditions, including an increase of the quota of teachers, will be steadily made."During discussions at the council, some members criticized the wording of the recommendations, with one saying: "I don't think anything will be changed by reading this. These are expressions worded to assist financial authorities."The Liberal Democratic Party's Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Division has voted to ask that the government include in its recommendations numerical targets for investment and the provision of additional teachers.Targets can play a key roleAlso of concern is that it is unclear to what extent academic achievement can be boosted from the current level in five years.In the recommendation, the council calls for improvements, saying, "Under past education platforms, practices of setting clear goals and verifying outcomes to assist with planning new approaches were insufficient."However, few targets are stated in the recommendations. In basic educational plans drawn up by other countries as well as those drawn up by local municipalities, targets, including those for academic achievement, are often specified.In Britain, the basic educational plan states that during the five years ending in 2008, the percentage of 11-year-olds who achieve a standard level in English and mathematics in nationwide achievement tests should hit 85 percent. Plans in Finland, France and others also include such numerical targets.By the end of fiscal 2011, Okinawa Prefecture aims to ensure an average grade of 70 percent is achieved by students taking nationwide achievement tests in Japanese, mathematics or arithmetic for sixth-graders in primary schools and third-year students in middle schools.If the government includes specific targets in its plan, we believe its educational targets can be achieved.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	689	2008-04-30	YOSHIN0020080430e44u000df
YOMSHI0020080501e45100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080501e45100001	EN	\N	PM must fulfill promise on road tax revenues	By way of responding to this question and angry criticism provoked by the public, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is now obliged to fulfill his pledge to incorporate road-related tax revenues--currently used exclusively for road-related projects--into the general purpose revenue account.	4	2008-05-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A set of tax code bills, including one to reinstate provisionally high rates of gasoline and other road-related taxes, were enacted Wednesday after a plenary session of the House of Representatives--controlled by the ruling parties--passed them with a second vote by a majority of two-thirds or more of those members present.With the bills' passage, gasoline will cost more at the pumps. But had prices remained at the low levels seen last month, a revenue shortfall of about 2.6 trillion yen would have resulted. Eventually, taxpayers would have had to stick their hands in their pockets to come up with this cash.The government and the ruling parties saw it as their responsibility to enact the bills via a second vote in line with constitutional provisions.Contradictions raisedAt a press conference, Fukuda said a consultation panel comprising members from the ruling parties should be set up to compile a bill, within the year, aimed at funneling all road-related tax revenues into the general account budget.However, Fukuda's wish to realize this plan from fiscal 2009 contradicts a revision bill that stipulates special measures for revenue sources vis-a-vis road-related projects. This bill allows gasoline tax revenues to be used for road-related projects for the next 10 years.The prime minister needs to thoroughly explain how road-related taxes would be used as general revenue, as well as seek public understanding over the issue to facilitate the expeditious passage of the bill.The tax bills were enacted after they were deemed as having been rejected by the House of Councillors. A constitutional provision stipulates that if the upper house fails to take final action within 60 days of receiving a bill passed by the lower house, the lower house can consider this a rejection of the bill by the upper house.The upper house's failure to even vote on the bill during the stipulated period in effect denied its own powers as a legislative organ.It is our belief that the Democratic Party of Japan, the leading party in the upper house, bears a particularly heavy responsibility. If the DPJ was serious about abolishing the provisional tax rates, it should have presented more convincing alternative sources of revenue.If the party merely boasts it has succeeded in lowering gasoline prices, it may lead down the dark alley of political populism, in which political leaders meekly play to the gallery.Censure motion on holdThe DPJ and other opposition parties have decided--for the time being--not to submit to the upper house a censure motion against Fukuda.If such a motion was presented and passed, it would mean the opposition camp could not hold question-and-answer sessions with the prime minister. In such a case, the only option left to the opposition camp would be to reject Diet deliberations for an extended period.As censure motions are not legally binding, there would be virtually no consequences if the prime minister chose to ignore such a protest. The opposition parties likely deemed they would be unable to force the Fukuda Cabinet to resign en masse--thus triggering the dissolution of the lower house and a subsequent snap election--even if they persevered with a strategy of rejecting Diet deliberations.Rather than stubbornly continuing to play hardball, we believe the DPJ should hold talks with the ruling parties to ensure that moves toward funneling road-related tax revenues into the general revenue account would not be stymied. By doing so, the DPJ would better demonstrate its ability to take the reins of the government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	687	2008-05-01	YOSHIN0020080501e451000db
YOMSHI0020080502e45200003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080502e45200003	EN	\N	Fed faces tough balancing act on policy	This means the Fed faces even greater difficulties in deciding what kind of monetary policy should be adopted under the circumstances.	4	2008-05-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Fed on Wednesday trimmed the federal funds rate, or its key short-term target rate, by 0.25 percentage point to 2 percent per annum. This is the seventh rate reduction since September and marks a total decrease in the rate of 3.25 percentage points.If the inflation rate is deducted from this, the annualized rate of 2 percent is actually negative. This means the U.S. central bank has demonstrated its resolve to arrest an economic slowdown and contain the financial turmoil stemming from the subprime loan crisis by lowering the rate to such a level.However, the latest rate reduction is smaller than the 0.75 percentage point cut in March. The Fed's action appears to signify an attempt to contain the risks of both recession and inflation.Problems on many frontsThe U.S. gross domestic product only grew an annualized 0.6 percent in real terms in the opening quarter of 2008. This low rate of growth has resulted from a drastic reduction in housing investment and sluggish personal consumption. This is the first time in 17 years that the U.S. GDP growth rate has come in below 1 percent for two straight quarters.Some economists warn that the U.S. economy has already entered a recessionary phase. Although the financial turmoil is showing signs of a gradual calming, losses at financial institutions in the United States and European countries may continue to grow. It seems more time will be needed before the subprime loan problem settles down.Meanwhile, there is growing cause for concern about inflationary pressure due to the increasing prices of gasoline and food. A major factor behind these price hikes is speculative money flowing into crude oil and grain markets in the search for better investments. Some analysts point out this is a side effect of a loose monetary policy.Potential world dangerThe Fed did not provide details of its future policy in its latest statement, but some economists believe the central bank is winding down its credit-easing campaign because further cuts might accelerate inflation and the continued rate reduction has reached the limits of its capacity to stimulate the economy.However, it might be too early to call this the end of the rate-cutting strategy. It is believed that the Fed will remain determined to provide an underpinning for the economy in the form of interest rate cuts, first and foremost, if it feels there is an increasing danger of stagflation--the combination of recession and inflation.In fact, the U.S. government is implementing front-loaded income tax cuts as an economic stimulus measure, but the impact this might have on spurring consumption is still unknown.If the U.S. economy weakens further and there is a protracted recession, it will adversely affect the world economy, causing a potential deceleration of economic growth in emerging countries in Asia and other parts of the world, including China and India. The Fed cannot afford to overlook the potential for such a situation to develop.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 2, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	579	2008-05-02	YOSHIN0020080502e452000bd
YOMSHI0020080503e45300002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080503e45300002	EN	\N	Constitutional debates shouldn't be put on hold	In May last year, the national referendum law, which stipulates procedures for constitutional revision, was enacted. The groundwork for establishing a new constitution has thus been laid.	4	2008-05-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the deliberative councils on the Constitution, which were set up under the new law in the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, have never got down to business. This is partly because the opposition Democratic Party of Japan has been reluctant to start discussions given the current confrontational situation in the Diet, where the lower house is dominated by the ruling parties and the upper house controlled by the opposition camp.When a suprapartisan lawmakers league for establishing a new constitution, chaired by former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, held a convention Thursday, some opposition lawmakers, including DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, who serves as an adviser to the league, did not attend. This apparently reflects the "divided Diet" situation.At the convention, the suprapartisan league adopted a resolution calling on the deliberative councils on the Constitution to start discussions as soon as possible, to initiate the process of constitutional revision. Further delays in the councils' activities would be tantamount to dereliction of legislative duties.The ruling and opposition parties should immediately draw up rules on the councils' operational procedures and start discussions for constitutional revision at an early date.Top law provides for revoteThere are a number of issues facing the councils, including the role of the two-chamber system.The Constitution contains provisions setting out the legislative process in a divided Diet. Article 59 stipulates that a bill becomes law in a second vote at the lower house when it is approved by a majority of two-thirds or more of members present after the upper house has rejected it following its passage in the lower house or when the upper house fails to take vote on it within 60 days of receiving it from the lower house.Resorting to this rule, the government and ruling parties passed by a second vote a new Antiterrorism Law enabling the resumption of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean and a set of tax code bills reinstating the provisional high gasoline tax rate.The passage by revote of the new antiterrorism bill, which was rejected by the upper house, and of the tax bills, on which the upper house failed to vote, presents no constitutional problems.Make it easier to pass billsA private advisory panel to the upper house president in the past proposed, as part of upper house reform efforts, that a requirement for the lower house's passage of a bill in a second vote be relaxed from a majority of two-thirds or more to a simple majority. When the Liberal Democratic Party was drafting a new constitution, a similar idea also was floated.Such reform surely will require constitutional revision, and it is unlikely that such a move will take place anytime soon.The power of the upper house seems to us to be too strong compared with that of the lower house. Isn't it about time that the roles of the two chambers were reviewed? The ruling and opposition parties should have vigorous discussions on issues related to constitutional revision.The divided Diet has mede it difficult for decisions affecting the nation to be made promptly. If sufficient discussions on the role of the Diet are held, it likely would result in the creation of new rules for the Diet as well.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 3, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2008-05-03	YOSHIN0020080503e4530008g
YOMSHI0020080505e45500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080505e45500001	EN	\N	Communication means making eye contact	This is the slogan used for posters and events for this year's Child Welfare Week, which starts today with Children's Day. The slogan was created by an 8-year-old boy in Okinawa Prefecture.	4	2008-05-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The boy said his mother scolds him, often saying, "Look me in the eye" and "You won't understand how people you're talking to feel if you don't look them in the eye." He said from this experience, he came to think that: "People can understand the feelings of others easily if everybody makes eye contact when they talk. They also can be generous to others."By scolding children, mothers teach them important things. Indeed, this boy properly understands his mother's feelings. It is surely a good mother and child relationship.Looking each other in the eye when we speak is not as easy as it sounds. There are so many incidents that make us keenly aware of this in the Internet age.What is worrying, among other things, is that "cyber-bullying" has become so rampant among children.Faceless attacksOn unofficial school Web sites, words intended to disparage classmates are posted to be read by an unspecified number of people. Those messages are anonymous.The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has confirmed that there are about 38,000 unofficial school Web sites, but a private organization estimated the number at more than 300,000.Anonymous bullying is more insidious and sneakier than incidents in which the bully's identity is clear. Even though such bullying often starts just for fun, it quickly escalates in its maliciousness and spreads in an anonymous world.In a recent case, two teenage boys who became acquainted on an online profile site, built up a hatred of each other via online messages they exchanged. Eventually, they met for the first time and one of the boys attacked the other with a metal baseball bat, inflicting serious injuries.Anonymity breeds contemptAs long as people face each other, they should at least be aware of how much they are harming other people. In a human relationship without eye contact, hatred can easily go beyond a bearable limit and lead to extreme violence.However, the Internet and cell phone text messages cannot not bear all the blame. What is important is how we use them. E-mail can be a good tool even between a parent and child because it could enable them to convey their emotions without feeling embarrassed, as they might when actually facing each other.However, this can only be true if they maintain mutual trust.In a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey about family ties, just 9 percent of respondents said family bonds "have been growing stronger." It also found that 84 percent agreed that "family members have less time to spend with each other these days." The results are worrisome.First, let's talk more with parents, children and other family members eye-to-eye. We hope people will affirm the importance of facing each other on Children's Day.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5, 2008)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	538	2008-05-05	YOSHIN0020080505e4550008o
YOMSHI0020061231e3110000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061231e3110000j	EN	\N	Remove taboo from debates over Japan's national security	The international community has been misled by North Korea for a long time. After agreeing to scrap its nuclear program in 1994, when former U.S. President Jimmy Carter visited the country, North Korea secretly developed its nuclear program while receiving energy assistance from the rest of the world.	4	2007-01-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The six-party talks over the past 3-1/2 years consequently served only as a tool for North Korea to buy time so that it could carry out a nuclear test. No significant advancement was seen in the resumed round of talks at the end of last year. Can we force North Korea to abandon its nuclear program in future? This is highly unlikely.The six-party talks went round in circles and got nowhere. We suspect this is because there are considerable differences of opinion about the level of threat that they feel is posed by North Korea between Japan and the four other participants in the talks. Taking into account Japan's position, this view seems correct.China, Russia and the United States have an overwhelming retaliatory ability against North Korea's nuclear capability, in that they have a nuclear deterrent and are not as threatened as Japan.It is notable that South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's administration seems to prefer a conciliatory policy in responding to the nuclear program being developed by his countrymen's cousins north of the border.We are afraid that North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons will become a fait accompli if the current situation drags on. What should Japan do then?It would not be difficult for Japan to become a nuclear power if the nation is committed enough to follow such a path.Going nuclear unrealisticJapan possesses the scientific and technological capability of some of the world's top minds. Some say it would take only three to five years for Japan to become a nuclear nation, particularly as we have already acquired sufficient rocket technology to launch satellites of several tons into space.However, it is not realistic for Japan to choose to go nuclear in the current international environment.A declaration by Japan that it would develop nuclear weapons would be the last nail in the coffin for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which is already frayed due to, for instance, India's and Pakistan's possession of nuclear weapons.It might facilitate the emergence of nuclear nations such as Iran and others from the Middle East as well as other nations around the world, destabilizing the international community. Japan's economic foundation, which depends on stable international trade, will become vulnerable as a result.If the option of going nuclear is not a choice, we have to depend on the nuclear umbrella of the United States as a realistic option.The problem then is whether the nuclear umbrella is really functional. To make it work, constant efforts are required to ensure that the Japan-U.S. alliance relationship continues to be trustworthy.To beef up the alliance's efficacy and capability to respond to crises, Japan should exercise its right of collective self-defense so the country can sufficiently fulfill its responsibilities.This would not be difficult as the government only has to change the current interpretation of the Constitution on the matter. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must make an important decision now.China key to North Korean issuesHowever, the most urgent task for the government now is to try to work toward North Korea's dismantling of its nuclear weapons program.China can wield a strong influence over North Korea. If Beijing stopped supplying oil and food to Pyongyang, North Korea's current regime would face collapse immediately.What shall we expect from China in dealing with North Korea? In this regard, Tokyo has to maintain close communication with Beijing. What Abe termed as "strategic mutual beneficial relations" with China must be promoted from all possible angles.At the same time, Japan itself has to strengthen its comprehensive deterrent power, though within the framework of conventional weapons.It is natural for Japan to achieve the early deployment of a missile defense system and then upgrade it. Though its interception capability is not guaranteed 100 percent, possession of the system itself will serve as a deterrent to some extent. The government also must determine whether it should achieve a deterrent power capable of attacking enemy bases.Of the nation's three nonnuclear principles of "not producing, possessing or introducing nuclear weapons into Japan," the revision of the third principle could be the subject of discussion. During the Cold War, some U.S. Navy ships that called at ports in Japan were believed to have been carrying nuclear weapons as a matter of tacit common sense. Because of this, there were claims that the government only held two or 2-1/2 nonnuclear principles.It is highly unrealistic that Japan should possess nuclear weapons, but discussions on whether Japan should be allowed to do so should not be considered taboo. Opposition to such discussions amounts to limiting freedom of thought.Fiscal soundness importantEstablishing a sound national security system is one of the most important elements for a nation to exist. To support this, the country has to have a healthy economic and fiscal foundation.Japan is hardly free from any concerns on this matter.The central and local governments hold long-term debts of more than 770 trillion yen, amounting to about 150 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. Of this, the central government alone holds nearly 600 trillion yen. Among developed countries, Japan is facing one of the worst fiscal situations.Abe has said, "No fiscal reconstruction without economic growth." In some aspects, his assertion is correct. However, his upbeat strategy assumes that if an annual growth of 4 percent in nominal terms continues for 18 years, the GDP will reach 1 yen quadrillion. But this is an unrealistic scenario.This strategy ignores apparent empirical rules of the economy under which peaks and bottoms come cyclically. The economy also is affected by global economic developments, such as the U.S. economy and the fate of overinvestment in China.If the economy grows in nominal terms, long-term interest rates will increase.One study estimates that if the long-term interest rate rises by one percentage point, the government will face a 1.6 trillion yen increase in interest payments on government bonds in the first year, 2.8 trillion yen in the second year and 4 trillion yen in the third year.If the rate climbs by three percentage points, the figure will balloon to 4.7 trillion yen in the first year, 8.6 trillion yen in the second year and 12.5 trillion yen in the third year.As a matter of fact, the long-term interest rate hovered in the 4 percent-6 percent range in the late 1980s, and more than 95 percent of debt-servicing costs in government budgets went on interest payments. The rate climbed above the 8 percent line in the early 1990s, the final years of the bubble economy.The nation's fiscal condition is also affected by annual increases of 1 trillion yen in social welfare costs because of the aging of society.Consumption tax hike inevitableIt has been said the nation will face a social problem in 2007 as postwar baby boomers, born between 1947 and 1949, will start retiring. This has been dubbed the "year 2007 problem."There is both pessimism and optimism over how the baby boomers' retirement will influence the Japanese economy. What is certain is the aging of society will further accelerate.On the other hand, the birthrate 50 years from now is estimated at 1.26, meaning that the average number of children a woman gives birth to will be 1.26 in her lifetime compared with an estimate of 1.39 five years ago.If the declining birthrate and graying of society continues at the current pace, the nation's social welfare system, including pension programs, will eventually become no longer viable.An increase in the consumption tax, through which all generations, including elderly people, share social costs, is inevitable. European Union countries levy value-added taxes--the equivalent of Japan's consumption tax--of between 15 percent and 25 percent.The ruling parties have said discussions on a consumption tax increase should start in autumn. This is virtually postponing the inevitable until after the House of Councillors elections this summer.If a mechanism to impose a lower rate on daily necessities, such as perishables and educational and cultural items, as is the case in EU countries, is introduced, and the public is given plenty of notice, a hike in the consumption tax could be achieved in fiscal 2009.The government and the ruling bloc should decide as soon as possible to start discussions on an early increase.The average life span is expected to increase further, but it is not impossible to halt the declining birthrate if the country tackles the issue as a national project.France may be a good model. It provides child allowance and family benefits that are four times higher than those in Japan. It also introduced tax incentives, improved child support measures and came up with other measures to reverse the declining birthrate, the fertility rate is approaching 2.1.It is time for the government to establish a comprehensive system to counter the declining birthrate by avoiding pork barrel measures, such as increasing the child allowance from 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen.To do so will increase the fiscal burden, but it is a necessary expense for formulating a grand plan for the nation from a long-term perspective.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1674	2007-01-01	YOSHIN0020070104e31100063
YOMSHI0020070103e31300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070103e31300001	EN	\N	Map out strategies for international crises	How can the international community overcome these crises, which could become matters of life and death?	4	2007-01-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	They cannot possibly be solved overnight. All that can be done is to make tenacious efforts to establish a new order through international cooperation and by using collective wisdom.U.S. President George W. Bush, in his first State of Union address in January 2002 after he assumed the presidency, described North Korea, Iran and Iraq as an "axis of evil." He later invaded Iraq and placed the prevention of nuclear development by North Korea and Iran as a central item on the agenda of his administration's diplomacy.The Bush administration must make the strenuous efforts to resolve the problems it faces, though doing so will be no easy task.As the U.S. occupation and administration of Iraq has failed, criticism against and dissatisfaction with the United States' Iraq policy, which seems directionless, led to the Republican Party's crushing defeat in the 2006 midterm election.Bush will announce his new Iraq policies early this year. The issue is whether he will be able to present policies that will be effective in stabilizing Iraq.Almost four years after the start of the war in Iraq, the country is on the verge of a civil war. To deal with the deteriorating public order and security situation, the U.S. government has been forced to station 140,000 troops in the country. The death toll of U.S. forces since the start of the war has now reached 3,000.In December, the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan advisory panel to the U.S. Congress, submitted to Bush a report that recommended that the U.S. military accelerate a change in its main mission so most combat troops can be withdrawn by March 2008 while transferring responsibility to maintain public order and security to the Iraqi government. But Bush is said to be considering increasing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.How will the United States promote a political compromise among factional groups in Iraq and a dialogue with neighboring Syria and Iran? Although a quick remedy cannot be found to improve the Iraq situation, we hope that Bush will make every possible effort to prevent it from worsening.The precondition for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq is establishing a solid foundation for security in Iraq. If Iraq becomes a hotbed for terrorism, the world will become even more unstable. The international community should also cooperate for Iraq's stabilization.Road map for rebuilding IraqGround Self-Defense Force troops have withdrawn from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, but the Air Self-Defense Force is continuing its transportation mission. The stability of the Middle East is indispensable to Japan, which relies on the region for more than 80 percent of its oil imports. It is important for Japan to contribute to regional stability through its support for Iraq's reconstruction.North Korea, which is seen as the largest destabilizing factor in Northeast Asia, is sticking to its demand that U.S. financial sanctions against the country be lifted, a demand that has hampered the progress of the six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear development program. North Korea apparently believes only possession of nuclear weapons will allow the continued survival of the Kim Jon Il regime.The United States must maintain its hard-line policy toward North Korea to comprehensively solve problems related to that country, including its missile development and missile launches, as well as the abduction issue, which Japan aims to resolve.China, which puts top priority on its economic growth and stability, attaches the greatest importance to its relationship with the United States. The strengthening of Sino-U.S. relations would lead to progress in resolving problems related to North Korea.Emerging big powers' dutiesThe United States is carefully watching how China, India and Russia, as emerging major powers, will handle problems facing the international community as it believes their moves will become a major factor in deciding the international security environment in the 21st century.The rapid rise of China and Russia as major powers is noteworthy in terms of their energy policies.China has surpassed Japan to become the second-largest petroleum-consuming country after the United States. With the sudden increase in energy consumption in China, competition for energy resources has intensified in various parts of the world.Russia, the world's largest natural gas exporter and second-largest crude oil exporter, is awash in cash due to the jump in prices of these commodities. Russia is a far cry from the feeble country it was in 1998, when it almost went bankrupt.What we should watch carefully are moves by Russia to expand its political influence in the international community by wielding its growing economic power.European countries, which depend on Russia for their natural gas supply, harbor a mounting distrust of Russia following its pressuring of Ukraine and Belarus by threatening to cut the natural gas supply to those countries. Meanwhile, Japan lost operational control in a petroleum and natural gas development project off Sakhalin, the Sakhalin-2 project.The methods Russia employs to strengthen its national control over energy industries and boost the prices of oil and gas has become a destabilizing factor straining international relationships, with natural resources being used as a weapon.When the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, Russia showed a determination to avoid a situation in which its nuclear power-related interests in Iran would be affected by international sanctions. Russia's attitude, which indicates that the country attaches more importance to its own economic interests than efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation, only confuses the world.At a time when it seems that the crises facing the international community are becoming ever more serious, Japan must map out strategies to overcome them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1037	2007-01-03	YOSHIN0020070104e313000ig
YOMSHI0020070103e3140000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070103e3140000f	EN	\N	Japan-U.S. alliance key to handling DPRK threat	How can Japan deal with this security threat? The government must promote strategic diplomacy toward North Korea's nuclear disarmament, envisaging the formation of a new order not only in Northeast Asia, but also in East Asia as a whole.	4	2007-01-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of course, the government must not fail to formulate effective measures to protect the nation's peace and safety, on the assumption that an emergency could occur.Meanwhile, a resumption of the six-nation talks, which are in recess, is nowhere in sight. North Korea has stuck to its demand that the United States lift financial sanctions imposed against it and has refused to discuss scrapping its nuclear weapons program. During the breaks in the talks, Pyongyang continued developing nuclear arms to make itself a nuclear power by fait accompli.North Korea has already deployed about 200 operational Rodong long-range missiles targeted at Japan. Japan will be exposed to the danger of nuclear attacks if Pyongyang succeeds in making nuclear bombs small enough to be carried on these missiles.The most important diplomatic challenge for Japan is how to deal with China's rapidly growing power in economic, military and many other fields. Particularly, it is important to convince Beijing to do all it can to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. This will be a real challenge for the "assertive" diplomacy advocated by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.Japan, China share interestIf realized, North Korea's nuclear disarmament would promote peace and stability not only in Northeast Asia, but also in the whole of East Asia. This is a common interest both for Japan, a trading nation, and China, a nation pursuing further economic growth.The six-nation talks have broken down due to the participating nations' lack of solidarity--a split has emerged between China, Russia and South Korea, which have been conciliatory to North Korea, and Japan and the United States, which have maintained a hard-line attitude toward the country. This division has allowed Pyongyang to develop nuclear weapons. The same mistake should never be repeated.Japan must play as active a role as possible to build a common strategy among the five concerned countries.In the process of forming a new order in East Asia, Beijing is trying to show leadership not only on the North Korea issue, but also on political, economic, security and other issues. It will not easily change its stance against Japan's permanent membership of the U.N. Security Council.Japan must keep urging China to change its position on this issue. To succeed in this endeavor, Tokyo should enhance its broad cooperation with various players in the East Asian region, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Australia, Central Asian countries, India and Russia.This will facilitate not only North Korea's nuclear disarmament, but also the creation of a new order in East Asia that is in line with Japan's national interest.However, diplomatic efforts alone cannot guarantee Japan's safety. A basic task for the country is to build a system capable of neutralizing North Korea's nuclear threat and dealing with every kind of contingency.The Japan-U.S. alliance is the foundation for this country's safety and regional security. It is an urgent task to deepen and strengthen the alliance so it can function smoothly and effectively in the face of the real threat that North Korea's missiles and nuclear weapons represent.Japan and the United States must smoothly carry out the realignment of U.S. forces, including the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, as soon as possible. At the same time, Japan must quickly improve the capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces to carry out joint operations with their U.S. counterparts, accelerate the deployment of a missile defense system and reform the organization and equipment of the SDF, which still contains relics of the Cold War.Enhancement of the Japan-U.S. alliance requires government approval of the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, which is prohibited at present according to the government's interpretation of the Constitution. If Japan cannot exercise the right of collective self-defense, it will obstruct smooth joint operations between Japanese and U.S. forces and damage the reliability of the alliance."We'll study each [emergency] case to determine whether it involves the use of the right to collective self-defense," Abe has said.His comment suggests that the government plans to deal with this problem by stretching its interpretation of the right to individual self-defense. But this is not a fundamental solution.It is also an urgent task for the government to develop a system capable of drafting and carrying out an appropriate security policy plan quickly, in response to the constantly changing security situation in East Asia. It is a matter of course that the Defense Agency, which will be promoted to a ministry this year, shoulder a heavier burden of responsibility as the administrative organ in charge of protecting the nation.Build reliable security systemThe government is considering development of an organization similar to the U.S. government's National Security Council. Of course, the Japanese governmental system is different from the U.S. presidential system. But a new system must be established to enable the Prime Minister's Office to implement foreign and security policy in a unified manner.In the past, the government often took a long time to coordinate polices because of open rivalry among government ministries and agencies, such as that between the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Agency.Important information has not been analyzed in a comprehensive way and has not been used appropriately in security policy planning and risk management because it has been reported to the Prime Minister's Office separately by different ministries and agencies. The evils of such sectionalism should be eradicated for good.The passage of bills to give the Defense Agency ministry status and to revise the Fundamental Law of Education shows a maturation of public opinion that was never seen in the Cold War days, when ideological confrontation between conservative and progressive parties was commonplace.All political parties must recognize once again that foreign and security policies are issues that go beyond partisan interests because they relate directly to the fundamental national interest of this country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1116	2007-01-04	YOSHIN0020070104e314000tm
YOMSHI0020070105e31500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070105e31500001	EN	\N	Risky road ahead for world economy in '07	In 2006, the global economy is likely to have achieved a real growth rate of 4 percent. The United States, which saw a year of brisk personal spending and corporate capital investment, expanded its imports, helping the global economy to grow.	4	2007-01-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Benefiting from the appreciation of the dollar against the yen, Japan increased its exports, putting its economy on track to finally emerge from deflation. The European economy also was robust, which helped to strengthen the euro. China and India, as well, enjoyed high economic growth rates.However, the U.S. growth engine on which the global economy depends, has been sputtering since the middle of last year.While some economists are optimistic, it would be best to exercise caution.The U.S. economy recorded a real gross domestic product growth rate of an annualized 2 percent in the July-September quarter last year in comparison with the previous quarter, a sharp drop from the 5.6 percent increase of the January-March quarter--a situation brought on by a drastic decrease in home-buying.A key factor in determining the fate of that country's economy is the financial policy of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. The board suspended interest rate hikes in August and kept the federal funds rate, a target for short-term interest rates, at 5.25 percent annually.Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's next move will be a political decision, one that takes into consideration both a slowdown in the economy and inflationary pressure. Some market watchers speculate the Fed will reduce interest rates sometime after spring to prop up the economy. It is hoped that the Fed will steer the economy away from a slowdown and keep the growth rate at around 3 percent.Euro may play central roleThe European economy, meanwhile, has entered a phase of strong growth with the recovery of capital investment by its manufacturing industry.Germany has raised the rate of the value-added tax, which is similar to Japan's consumption tax, to 19 percent from 16 percent, a hike that took effect Monday. Some economists said the economy had received a boost by increased consumption prior to the tax hike.But a close eye must be kept on a possible backlash. The European Central Bank, which is concerned over possible inflation, has continued to raise interest rates. With that, the euro has risen to its highest-ever level against both the dollar and yen.The euro has become increasingly significant in the international monetary market--a possible sign that the system in which the dollar completely dominates the international monetary market is being tansformed into a dollar-euro system.If this trend intensifies, however, the dollar could experience a sell-off and weaken against the yen, delivering a blow to Japanese export firms benefiting from the weak yen. The government has to transform the Japanese economy quickly into one based on domestic demand so it can remain stable even if exchange rates become volatile.China must seek stable growthThe Chinese economy has had an annual growth rate of more than 10 percent, helped along by vigorous investment and exports. The country's economic boom seems set to continue until the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but an end will eventually come to the overheated economy.In the summer of 2005, the Chinese government finally decided to float the yuan though on a limited scale. However, it has since continued to intervene in the exchange market in an attempt to keep the currency from strengthening too much. The exchange rate has hovered around the 7.8-yuan-per-dollar level, and has had a minimal increase rate. The country's foreign exchange reserves, meanwhile, have exceeded $1 trillion.Late last year, U.S. and Chinese officials held their first "strategic economic dialogue." At the talks, the United States again urged China to work toward a more freely floating currency.The United States' trade deficit with China appears to have exceeded $200 billion in 2006, resulting in the spreading of hard-line attitude among members of Congress and the private sector.It might be difficult for China to make drastic changes to its monetary policy due to a growing economic gap between urban and rural areas and an increasing unemployment rate.But Beijing must work to accelerate the revaluation of the yuan and to help its overheated economy land softly on the path of stable economic growth. This year, China's reformist policy will face a real challenge.Prepare for higher oil pricesThe price of crude oil is hovering at around $60 per barrel. At the end of 2006, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to cut crude oil production even further. This will tighten the supply-and-demand situation, meaning crude oil prices are likely to again reach the highs of last summer.If this happens, global economic growth will slow and concerns will grow over inflation. There is no decisive factor in the stabilization of oil prices. It must be reached through steady effort, including talks between oil producers and consumers, as well as further energy conservation.There are concerns over growing nationalism in countries rich in crude oil and natural gas, such as Russia and Venezuela.Beijing is trying hard to secure energy resources in Africa and other regions. Japan will need to offer its energy-saving technology to China to lower that country's demand for crude oil.The World Trade Organization's Doha Round of multilateral trade talks, which was suspended last summer, should be reorganized. Its ministerial talks will be resumed by the end of this month. The member countries should reach an agreement as soon as possible.If the Doha Round collapses, negotiations among the members will be accelerated to ink bilateral or regional economic partnership agreements. Japan, however, lags behind the other members in EPA strategy. It is high time for Japan to take the necessary actions, including liberalization of its agricultural market, in preparation for EPA negotiations with Australia, a farming giant.As the economy continues to globalize, multinational corporations continue to reorganize. In the steel industry, Arcelor Mittal, which has suddenly become the world's largest steelmaker through mergers and acquisitions, is allegedly looking for a company to take over in Asia.Close attention also should be paid to automakers competing in the development of next-generation eco-friendly cars.We are now in an age of large-scale mergers and acquisitions. Japanese companies must be resolute to overcome this difficult challenge.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1123	2007-01-05	YOSHIN0020070105e315000ht
YOMSHI0020070106e31600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070106e31600001	EN	\N	Economic recovery must be tangible to all	The current economic climate is not as bone-chilling as that of the days of deflation-led recession. While the temperature has warmed up, it is not warm enough to shed the overcoat just yet.	4	2007-01-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The rewards of the economic upturn have not yet been felt by most people, and fears that the economy might become deflationary again stubbornly linger.Meticulous care and scrutiny are necessary to ensure the economic recovery continues. At the same time, daring policy measures are required to maintain and improve the robustness of the growth, and to rebuild government finances that are on a knife-edge as the population is decreasing. This challenge is confronting the Japanese economy today.Get rid of deflationFirst and foremost, the economy must completely banish the scourge of deflation this year. This will strengthen the economy's foundation and make the recovery more tangible. Employment and wage trends are the keys to defeating deflation.Companies raking in record profits through brisk exports to the United States and other Asian countries are employing more workers, but their salaries have largely been reined in. As a result, spending is not increasing, the economy is lacking strength and commodity prices are not rising.Since the current economic uptick started in February 2002, the average growth rate of nominal wages on a year-to-year basis has been minus 0.1 percent. Real economic growth has recorded an average annual rate of 2 percent, a far cry from the 11.5 percent logged during the Izanagi economic boom.The year-on-year growth rate of the national consumer price index, which excludes fresh food prices, was a meager 0.2 percent in November.Since the asset-inflated bubble economy collapsed in the early 1990s, firms have reduced their workforces, production capacity and debts. Amid intensifying international competition, however, they are still cautious about raising wages.Part-time and temporary workers, who receive smaller pay packets than regular workers, are on the rise. Today, they account for one-third of the nation's employees. An increase in the population of the working poor--people who toil away but cannot make ends meet--is becoming a social problem.Raise interest rate carefullyThe government and the Bank of Japan explain that robust performance in the private sector eventually will spread to the general public through lower unemployment rates and higher wages.The central bank plans to raise interest rates gradually--if the economy goes according to script.However, what effects structural changes in employment conditions have on wages, consumption and commodity prices must be analyzed and determined carefully. The U.S. economy, which slowed down in the second half of last year, also is a cause for concern. If the central bank raises interest rates at the wrong time, even this economic recovery, which does not feel real for many people, could stutter to a halt.Baby boomers born between 1947 and 1949 will start retiring en masse this year. Japan's working population is estimated to decrease by 4 million in the next 10 years due to the falling birthrate, unless more women and senior people enter the workforce.Any reduction of the workforce will rob the nation of an impetus for growth. An increase of senior citizens also will raise the total amount of social security benefits, putting further strain on the government's finances and a heavier burden on the working population.A well-founded strategy must be drawn up to avert such a situation.Don't be overly optimisticPrime Minister Shinzo Abe launched his administration last year with the aim of enhancing the nation's growth. His administration should accelerate its efforts to improve the economy's productivity through technological and business innovation, and draw in the vitality of other Asian nations by promoting free trade.However, it might be wrong to consider enhancement of growth, which should be a goal, as a means for fiscal reconstruction.As tax revenues are increasing thanks to buoyant company earnings, the so-called incoming-tide strategy is gaining support among members of the government and the ruling parties. This strategy aims to rebuild government finances with the increase of tax revenues that result from economic growth.According to an outline of economic and fiscal policies for fiscal 2006 compiled by the government last summer, 16.5 trillion yen is necessary in the fiscal reform to achieve a surplus in basic fiscal revenues and expenditures of central and local governments in fiscal 2011. The government announced a plan to cut between 11.4 trillion yen and 14.3 trillion yen from expenditures and to cover the remainder with an increase of revenue.However, at the end of last year, the Cabinet Office estimated that 13 trillion yen was sufficient to restore fiscal health, when calculated on the basis of increased tax revenues.If this is true, increased revenues will not be necessary to plug the remaining gap. This estimate assumed tax revenues would remain at a high level under a nominal economic growth rate of 3 percent.Not a done dealHowever, the economy will have its ups and downs. Banking on restoring fiscal health with the benefits provided by economic growth, whose size is quite unpredictable at present, is a bit of a gamble.Achieving a surplus in basic fiscal revenues and expenditures is not a goal of fiscal reconstruction. If a reduction of the central and local government debts totaling 770 trillion yen is taken into consideration, an increase in the consumption tax rate, with reduced rates applied to essential daily commodities and additional cuts in expenditures, is unavoidable.The government and the ruling parties should not rely on overly optimistic outlooks. They also should not postpone policies that would dump the burden on future generations.They should carry out necessary policy measures without taking their eyes off hard reality, though it is natural to pay due consideration to maintaining favorable economic conditions to relieve that burden as much as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1049	2007-01-06	YOSHIN0020070106e316000de
YOMSHI0020070107e31700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070107e31700001	EN	\N	Social security system must be buttressed	Baby boomers--those born in the postwar years 1947-49--will turn 60 years old and retire en masse over the next three years. This lies at the heart of the 2007 problem. About 2.7 million babies were born each year during those years--2.5 times more than the number of babies born each year today. This mass of people in the nation's demographic composition is standing at the entrance to their senior years.	4	2007-01-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These baby boomers have been supporting the nation's pension and other social security systems. In a few years, however, they will be the ones who need to be supported. The pension programs and the health and nursing care insurance systems could face financial ruin unless measures are taken to reform them.Many people in the baby-boomer generation remain in good health as they approach the age of 60. The baby boomers have supported the nation's rapid economic growth and played a leading role in creating a new lifestyle since the war. Tapping their energy to assist with child-raising and to reinvigorate local communities could provide an excellent opportunity to build a new mutual assistance system in society.Hopes and anxietiesThe 2007 problem brings both hopes and anxieties.As the nation's average life expectancy is approaching 90, senior life can be divided into two periods. People in the first bracket aged younger than 75 can be called the "young old," while those in the second period, aged 75 and above, are the "old old."For some time to come, baby boomers will be the "young old." It would be a terrible waste not to make the most of their vitality.Many baby boomers are keen to work well into their senior years. According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, almost 50 percent said they would like to keep working until age 65, 15 percent replied "until 70" and 10 percent said "over 70."If baby boomers all retire once they reach their 60th birthday, handing their experiences and skills on to the next generation will become very difficult. This will be a massive loss for the economy.The introduction of the law for the stabilization of employment of the aged obligated companies to raise the mandatory retirement age for their employees in a phased manner. Companies should implement this measure steadily.Baby boomers will be expected to play a leading role in changing society into one where people with the will and ability can keep working, regardless of their age.Much to offer societyMore than 60 percent of baby boomers also said they would like to contribute to nonprofit or volunteer organizations, according to the survey.If new retirees can play active roles in society, it will open new horizons for the elderly.Many young parents, who have nobody to turn to for advice, are struggling to bring up their children. More and more elderly people without any relatives are dying alone.Our society needs a new social network to replace crumbling neighborly and blood ties. Baby boomers could create a new source of neighborhood unity and be the key actors in introducing and nurturing this unity.Clouds on the horizonMore serious problems lie in wait. When baby boomers approach and become the "old old," medical and nursing-care costs will skyrocket almost overnight. The financial foundations of the nation's social security system must be buttressed before then.In the fiscal 2007 budget, social security costs exceeded 21 trillion yen and accounted for 45 percent of general policy expenditures. Pension, medical and nursing-care benefits now total 90 trillion yen.The cost of these benefits will snowball to 141 trillion yen in 2025 when the baby boomers have become 75 or older, according to a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimate.At that time, the nation's demographic composition will resemble an upside-down pyramid, with smaller numbers of younger people at the bottom. For every senior citizen aged 65 or older, there will be just 1.9 people of the working generation--those aged between 15 and 64--a significant drop from the 3.1 people at present.If baby boomers work longer, definitions of the "working" generation and the "elderly" will have to revised. Nonetheless, the current social security system, which depends heavily on the working population, cannot sustain the huge elderly population when baby boomers become the "old old."Finding revenue sources to pay for drastic measures to halt the falling birthrate and other social welfare programs will be extremely difficult, especially after funds earmarked for senior citizens have been set aside.The only solution is to make every generation share an equal burden in providing money for social welfare programs. Accordingly, an increase in the consumption tax is unavoidable.Uncork consumption tax hikeHowever, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration has kept a lid on discussions on increasing the consumption tax--the only feasible option left as a financial source for social security programs--out of concern that such talks could derail the ruling parties' chances in the House of Councillors election scheduled for this summer.The opposition Democratic Party of Japan also has shied away from the tough questions and retracted its proposal to introduce another type of consumption tax as a financial source for social security programs.If the consumption tax rate is set at 15 percent, the minimum rate for similar taxes in European countries, the increase would have to be implement in a phased manner. Political and social agreements on how much and when must be reached before then.Discussions on the consumption tax must start as soon as the Diet is convened so that the increase is completed while baby boomers are still the "young old." Policymakers should fulfill their duties on this issue.Will the nation's social security system face a crisis or be reborn as a stronger one with the aging of the baby boomers? Time is running out to find a solution to the 2007 problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1071	2007-01-07	YOSHIN0020070107e31700098
YOMSHI0020070108e31800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070108e31800001	EN	\N	New adults should devote selves to society	Singer-songwriter Ayaka Fuchigami, 28, who is a nurse in Kumamoto, continues to perform at concerts at juvenile reformatories in the Kyushu region in her spare time while maintaining her hectic schedule at a hospital.	4	2007-01-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fuchigami has been performing since she was about 19 years old. A turning point in her musical career came four years ago when she started to perform at concerts at reformatories organized by a probation officers' organization.When Fuchigami was asked by a reformatory to sing at a concert for the first time, she hesitantly took the stage. "I sang a song with a message--'You can change yourself. Let's try harder, so that you can love yourself,'" she said.Fuchigami's songs moved her young audience to tears. Seeing such an emotional response, she choked up and could not sing any more. She later received a letter from a boy at the reformatory telling her the day he heard her sing was the happiest day of his life.Due to the spread of norovirus, Fuchigami was busy working at the hospital at the end of last year and in early January. She will start performing at concerts again at the end of this week. She said, "It's my dream to tour all the juvenile reformatories in Japan." We hope she is able to realize her dream.Dedicated volunteerAspiring rakugo storyteller Akihiro Kunieda, 27, a senior at Tokyo University, tells his comic stories in a way that almost outshines the professionals when performing for elderly people at nursing homes in Yokohama from New Year's Day. "To become a good storyteller, it's important to gain a lot of practical experience," he said. To that end, he has given about 100 volunteer performance at schools, hospitals and reformatories as well as nursing homes.When Kunieda visited a school for the blind in Tokyo to entertain the students, the children laughed loudly at his storytelling and he presumed that they could feel his gestures through subtle movements of the air. After the performance, he was told by a student that his voice was very easy to listen to. He shed tears of joy when he heard the student's comment.Kunieda practices hard 13 hours a day to hone his performance skills. He won first prize in an all-university rakugo championship. "Every time I perform at such a facility, I feel a real sense of fulfillment. It's worth doing." Until he graduates, he said he would welcome requests to perform.Vitality and courageYoung people are showing their talent and willingness to give something back to society through volunteer activities. Society benefits from their vitality and courage. It is a wonderful thing.In Yubari, Hokkaido, where the local government has suffered fiscal collapse, young people organized their own coming-of-age ceremony held Sunday with the cooperation of the city government. Until last year, the municipal government had subsidized the ceremony to the tune of about \\600,000 annually, but this year, it could not provide funds due to its fiscal collapse. The venue for the ceremony was changed from a hotel to the civic hall. A municipal government official said: "The ceremony itself might have been impossible this year. We're very sorry for the new adults."For the first time, six new adults from vocational technical schools participated in the executive committee that arranged the ceremony. They worked out programs and solicited contributions to finance the ceremony. They also asked guests to offer their services free of charge. Sunday may have turned out to be an unforgettable day for the new adults of Yubari.When Hakuhodo Inc. polled baby boomers about what time in their lives was the happiest, 77 percent of the men responding and 82 percent of women said their 20s were the best years of their lives.This year, 1.39 million people will mark the transition to adulthood with their 20th birthday. Although they may face difficulties, we hope they will make the best of their own lives so that they can look back on their 20s as the best years of their lives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	715	2007-01-08	YOSHIN0020070108e31800077
YOMSHI0020070109e31900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070109e31900001	EN	\N	Time right for overhaul of education system	The Fundamental Law of Education, which was revised for the first time since its enactment in 1947, shows the nation's new education philosophy. The "goals of education" in the revised law specify the need to cultivate broad-based knowledge and wisdom, a sense of morality, public-mindedness and a love of one's nation and home province.	4	2007-01-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Related laws and ordinances and the government's curriculum requirements will be changed following the revision of the law. Institutional changes to support the new education policies will take concrete shape.The problem is which direction the reform will take. The Education, Science and Technology Ministry should finally break away from the cram-free education policy.When it revised the curriculum requirements in 1977, the government came out with a policy to reduce class hours and carefully select course contents for the first time since the end of World War II. At the time there was mounting criticism against cram education and excessive emphasis on rote memorization.Class hours were decreased by 10 percent and the curriculum contents were reduced by 20 percent. From the 2002 academic year, course content was cut by a further 30 percent compared with that of 1977.Reduced standardsAs a result, the academic ability of primary and middle school students has dropped from the top group in the world, according to two international academic ability surveys, including one by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.In response to criticism of the decline in academic ability, the ministry repeatedly tried to change direction. It allowed schools to teach material not included in textbooks and released statements encouraging schools to assign students homework and provide supplementary classes.Despite the cram-free education policy proving to be ill-advised, the government has yet to admit its error and break away from the mistaken course.Under such circumstances, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe established his advisory panel, the Education Rebuilding Council, as one of his eye-catching policies to make Japan into a "beautiful nation."Precedents in the past of education reforms led by the prime minister and his aides comprise the Ad Hoc Council on Education under former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, and the National Commission on Educational Reform under former prime ministers Keizo Obuchi and Yoshiro Mori. It is expected that the Education Rebuilding Council will present proposals different from those offered at the behest of government officials by the ministry and its Central Council for Education.Abe said, "We'll try to revitalize the nation's public education in order to ensure that opportunities will be provided to all children to acquire a high level of academic ability and a respect for social norms." But it will be a rocky road to achieve such an ideal.The first report on education reform by the Education Rebuilding Council will be released this month, but judging from the outline announced at the end of last year, it will lack specifics and mean little to the public. The expression "reexamination of cram-free education," seen in an earlier draft, was removed.This may be because the council is showing consideration for some of its members, including senior officials of the Education, Science and Technology Ministry who were dispatched to the council, and ruling party lawmakers lobbying on behalf of the education ministry. However, discussion at the council should not be watered down for such a reason and the prime minister should more actively lead the discussions.Another criticism is that the topics taken up in the council meetings are within the framework of policies of the education ministry and the Central Council for Education. In order to increase its influence, the Education Rebuilding Council must consider the social situation surrounding education and make long-term and comprehensive proposals.Increasing class hours--an idea to be included in the first report by the Education Rebuilding Council--is a theme the council should tackle. How should the council approach the idea in a way that sparks public discussion?Resuming Saturday classes may be one way to increase teaching hours. It would be the first revival of the previous six-day school week in 15 years.Five-day vs six-day weekThe five-day school week was proposed in a report compiled by the Ad Hoc Council on Education in mid-1980s and there was much discussion about its introduction, a move eagerly sought by the Japan Teachers' Union. The five-day week was introduced on a trial basis once a month from 1992 and twice monthly from 1995, and was fully implemented at all public schools in the 2002 academic year.The aim of the five-day school week is to increase the time children spend at home or being involved in their community, and to encourage them to learn and think independently. It became necessary to offer children opportunities and forums for that purpose, and adults had to change their thinking to fit the system.But what is the reality? The five-day week has yet to win full acceptance and students do not know how to spend Saturdays. The solution for many parents and children was to attend cram schools on Saturdays, while at the same time the number of children who spend most of the day playing computer games has increased.Initially, half of private primary, middle and high schools refused to adopt the five-day week. Public schools, concerned about the widening gap in academic ability between private and public school students, are increasingly providing supplementary classes on Saturdays.Many in the academic world argue that if classes on Saturdays are revived, even if class hours are increased, the children's burden would be smaller. Some suggest it would be possible on Saturdays to provide intensive integrated study classes for which schools can set the curriculum regardless of the framework of conventional subjects.A senior education ministry official said: "If teachers don't like the six-day school week, they need not come to schools on Saturdays. It's a good opportunity for university students who want to be teachers, retired and former teachers and people in the community to revitalize schools."Market principles irrelevantRecent discussion of education policy is peppered with references to market principles.The government's Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform has discussed introducing a school voucher system and allowing parents to send their children to public schools outside their school zones. The latter proposal was included in the council's final report.The voucher system would allow students to choose schools and submit their vouchers to the schools. The more vouchers submitted to a school, the more financial support it would receive from the government.It is necessary for schools and students to compete in appropriate ways, but the excessive introduction of market principles into education could obscure the essential qualities of education.In addition, the Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform has discussed whether boards of education are really necessary and the introduction of renewable teaching licenses. Are such issues problems to be discussed in terms of economic deregulation?Rebuilding the education system for the sake of the children is the major premise of education reform.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1226	2007-01-09	YOSHIN0020070109e319000cd
YOMSHI0020070110e31a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070110e31a00001	EN	\N	Bolstering ties with EU, NATO good for Japan	On Tuesday, the prime minister left for a five-day tour that includes visits to Britain, Germany and France. His planned visits to the EU and NATO headquarters merit particular attention.	4	2007-01-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abe is scheduled to deliver a policy speech at a North Atlantic Council meeting, emphasizing the need to shore up cooperative relations between Japan and NATO--a move that will make him the first Japanese prime minister to do so at the NAC meeting. It is necessary to greatly increase Japan's cooperation not only with the EU as an integrated political and economic bloc, but also with NATO as a basis for Europe's security.Today, both NATO and the EU have evolved into entities a far cry from their structures during the Cold War days.In 1949, NATO was established as a military alliance comprising the United States, Canada and 10 European countries. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has been expanded to include Eastern European nations. Today, it has 26 member states.Meanwhile, the EU has also been expanded to incorporate some members of the former Soviet bloc. Its membership rose to 27 nations this month. This means the EU has been transformed from a Western-bloc community into a union that covers nearly all of Europe.The EU and NATO members share such values as freedom and democracy with the United States, which has long maintained an alliance with Japan. Abe's European tour offers an opportunity to beef up Japan's relationship with the EU and NATO, both of which have boosted their membership while also undergoing significant changes in their structures.SDF aids NATO in AfghanistanNATO's intervention in the Bosnian conflict was the alliance's first activity outside its members' territories. The alliance has since strived to deal with various threats in many parts of the world, including ethnic disputes and acts of terrorism. NATO-led international security and assistance forces have been deployed in Afghanistan.Common ground can be found between NATO's activities in Afghanistan and those being conducted by the Self-Defense Forces in the Indian Ocean. The Maritime Self-Defense Force is carrying out refueling operations in the region. Meanwhile, SDF personnel worked to aid Pakistanis afflicted by a devastating earthquake in 2005, operating near an area in which NATO troops were conducting relief activities.Good EU ties will help P-5 bidMeanwhile, Foreign Minister Taro Aso is set to start a weeklong tour of Eastern European nations, including Bulgaria and Romania, both new members of the EU. His tour follows his pledge made at a NATO meeting in May to promote close cooperation between Japan and the alliance, including defense-related exchanges. Aso has said he is determined to make progress in creating what he calls an "arc of freedom and prosperity," in cooperation with the prime minister.It should be noted, however, that an obvious difference exists between Japan's security environment and that of the European countries.Earlier, controversy arose over a proposal to lift a ban imposed by the EU on arms exports to China. This seems to reflect a perception gap between Japan and European nations concerning China's rapid military buildup in recent years and the military environment surrounding Asia.The prime minister should urge European leaders to cooperate in preventing North Korea from becoming a nuclear power, and also to make efforts to resolve the abduction issue and strictly implement sanctions against the reclusive state.Increasing exchanges with European nations in economic, political, security and many other fields is certain to support Japan's efforts to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 10, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2007-01-10	YOSHIN0020070110e31a000fs
YOMSHI0020070110e31b0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070110e31b0000l	EN	\N	Anti-drunk driving bill must fulfill its purpose	The NPA has compiled a bill aimed at realizing that goal. The government will submit the bill to the ordinary Diet session that will open in late January, with the aim of implementing the revised legislation by the end of the year.	4	2007-01-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bill would sentence offenders to prison terms of up to five years, a significant increase from the current maximum penalty of three-year imprisonment. The main feature of the bill is a provision that would punish not only the drunken driver, but also anyone who allowed him or her to drive after drinking.This means that the new legislation would clearly define it as a crime to lend a car to anyone drunk, or buy or serve a person drinks knowing he or she will drive a car. Such abettors would face imprisonment of up to five years. The bill would also sentence a person to a prison term of up to three years if he or she is found to have ridden in a drunk driver's car.Undoubtedly, a person must be most severely punished if he or she refuses to abide by the never-drive-after-drinking rule. The fact remains, however, that the tendency of people not to feel guilty about drinking with someone who will drive later, as well as the willingness of restaurant and bar owners to serve drivers alcohol, has contributed to the large number of serious accidents caused by drunk drivers.Given this, the NPA's bill signifies an attempt to reinforce the government's campaign against drunken driving.String of tragediesThe NPA's legislative measure to increase penalties against drunk driving follows a similar step implemented to revise the law in 2002. In 2001, the Penal Code was changed to incorporate a stipulation that severely punishes any one caught driving while intoxicated or in a dangerous manner. All this was made possible largely because of a bitter lesson learned from a tragic accident that took place in 1999. Two girls were killed when a truck driven by a drunk driver plowed into the back of a passenger car along the Tomei Expressway.The fatal accident caused in August by a Fukuoka municipal government employee who drove after drinking will still be fresh in people's minds. The accident killed three children.This tragedy stirred up public fury over drunken driving, eventually leading to the creation of strict legislation against driving after drinking.It is impossible to imagine how profoundly families of DWI victims must regret their deaths. They have every reason to hope offenders will be severely punished.Any cautious pedestrian or safe driver could be struck by a car carelessly driven by a drunken driver. The vicious cycle of tragic accidents being followed by the tightening of penalties must end once and for all.The bill also incorporates a provision that would impose heavier penalties on hit-and-run drivers. They would be sentenced to prison terms of up to 10 years, compared with five years under the current legislation. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of such accidents. Ninety-eight percent of the drivers responsible for causing fatal hit-and-run accidents have been arrested, but the figure falls below 30 percent if statistics include nonlethal cases.Too many scofflawsThe less-than-satisfactory arrest rate can be attributed to the shortage of police officers assigned to investigate such cases. It should be recognized, however, that the bill designed to impose heavier penalties on offenders will serve its purpose if they are arrested without fail.The death toll from traffic accidents stood at 6,352 last year, a decrease of about 10,000 from an all-time high. The figure compares with statistics gathered 51 years ago.However, the number of people injured in traffic accidents exceeded 1 million last year, the eighth year in a row the figure has topped that level.Admittedly, there has been a drop in then number of traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers since the Road Traffic Law was revised in 2002. Still, there is no end to the number of drivers who flagrantly break the law.Some specialists have emphasized the need to conduct education aimed at correcting offenders' proneness to drunk driving, given the large number of such repeaters. Some carmakers have set out to build a car whose engine cannot be started if it detects alcohol on a driver's breath. Progress should be made in implementing such measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	796	2007-01-11	YOSHIN0020070111e31b000ey
YOMSHI0020070112e31c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070112e31c00001	EN	\N	Will new Bush plan really stabilize Iraq?	The issue is over whether this new plan will actually function as planned.	4	2007-01-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The situation in Iraq is deteriorating rapidly. About 23,000 Iraqis lost their lives last year to sectarian violence, with nearly 80 percent of those deaths occurring in the latter half of the year. The U.S. troop fatalities, meanwhile, had risen to more than 3,000 since the start of the war.The new policy is aimed at remedying this difficult situation. It seeks to defeat the insurgents and terrorist groups by injecting additional troops, while at the same time extending economic and reconstruction assistance programs worth more than $1 billion in hope of having the Iraqi government pull its weight.Bush apparently hopes such measures will pave the way to stabilizing Iraq.Under the new plan, Bush has refused to accept a phased withdrawal of troops or hold talks with Iran and Syria--as recommended last month by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. The president instead has opted for an increase in troops.Cleaning up his own messThe Bush administration led the invasion of Iraq, and therefore must want to be the one responsible for its stabilization.In his speech, the president admitted that past efforts to secure peace and order in the country had failed because of an insufficient number of troops. Based on these past mistakes, Bush said, "I believe that it [the new strategy] will" succeed.However, there are many problems that must be addressed.The Democrats, which control Congress, oppose sending additional troops and are pressuring Bush by reminding him of the power they have over approving his budget. The latest opinion survey in the United States showed 61 percent of Americans oppose sending additional troops, while only 36 percent approve.Bush will try to implement the new strategy with fresh military commanders and a new diplomatic team. Amid the unfavorable conditions, the president has to prove that the new plan will be effective.Maliki has conflict of interestSectarian violence between Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias in Baghdad continues to escalate. Combat troops newly injected into Iraq will have to deal with these two groups.If there is a jump in U.S. troop fatalities, the Bush administration likely will become even less popular in the United States.The Iraqi government, with which the United States has been cooperating, is hard to rely on.Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, has pledged to break up the militia groups. Yet, the largest of these groups is the Al-Mahdi Army, led by anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who supports Maliki's government. Will Maliki actually break up the Shiite militia groups that would lead to the undermining of his political foundation?Deterioration in the situation in Iraq will lead to instability throughout the Middle East, and, consequently, the world. For its part, Japan should continue its efforts to contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	546	2007-01-12	YOSHIN0020070112e31c000ef
YOMSHI0020070113e31d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070113e31d00001	EN	\N	Stay alert to prevent spread of bird flu	In 2004, bird flu was confirmed among birds in this country for the first time in 79 years in outbreaks in Yamaguchi, Oita and Kyoto prefectures. In 2005, a massive infection ravaged birds in Ibaraki Prefecture.	4	2007-01-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In these cases, the infection was neither properly nor swiftly suppressed. In Ibaraki Prefecture, it took nearly one year to completely quell the disease. This woeful response resulted from the inability of the central and local governments to swiftly devise appropriate measures, a problem compounded by chicken farm operators that concealed information on the matter.The central and local governments must do all they can to contain this latest outbreak of what appears to be avian flu and prevent its spread.Some measures have already been introduced, such as suspending the transfer of chickens between the farm affected and other chicken farms within a 10-kilometer radius.Local authorities have set up checkpoints to control the movement of people in the affected area. The restrictions might affect the daily life of residents, so we hope the organizations concerned and chicken farm operators communicate and cooperate appropriately to ensure the infection is isolated and does not spread.No need to panicMiyazaki Prefecture is home to the nation's largest number of broiler chickens. There have been no reports of people becoming infected with bird flu after eating chicken meat or eggs. Spreading rumor can exacerbate the damage already caused: Great care should be taken to prevent people from blowing this episode out of proportion.Although an analysis of the virus from the farm in question has yet to be completed, all efforts must be made to prevent human infection during clean-up work, such as while disposing of infected birds.At the farm, 2,400 chickens died over a three-day period. The suddenness of the symptoms suggests the virus is the virulent H5N1 type--the same strain confirmed in the three cases in 2004.This particular strain has spread across much of Asia over the past several years. In several cases, the virus has infected a number of humans.Global response neededInfections have been especially rampant in Indonesia and other countries where people keep chickens in their backyards. According to the World Health Organization, of the 264 people so far infected with the H5N1 strain, 158 have died.Pinpointing the infection route in the latest case will be vital. Initially, migrant birds were suspected to be the source of contamination. In Hong Kong, such birds were found to be infected with a bird flu virus.In South Korea, avian influenza was detected in November for the first time in 2! years.In China, cases of human infection from bird flu have been popping up on a regular basis. People from these areas could unknowingly bring the virus into Japan, so international cooperation to combat the bird flu infection is indispensable.China has been criticized for dragging its feet when it comes to supplying pertinent information to international organizations such as the WHO. The government must request Beijing to cooperate more with regard to information exchange and surveillance of infections in areas affected by bird flu.Of greatest concern is that while the virus continues to spread among birds, it could mutate into a new type capable of person-to-person transmission. According to one estimate, if this nightmare scenario occurs, one in four people in Japan will be infected, and several hundred thousand people could die. We must remain vigilant.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2007-01-13	YOSHIN0020070115e31d000oz
YOMSHI0020070114e31e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070114e31e00001	EN	\N	Fujiya faces long battle to regain consumer trust	Fujiya was recently found to have used out-of-date milk to make cream puffs at its Saitama plant in autumn, and shipped out 16,000 such puffs. Meanwhile, levels of bacteria 10 times higher than guidelines set by the government were found in other confections. These products also were shipped out. Fujiya also was found to have produced apple pies using expired ingredients.	4	2007-01-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For a food company, quality control is vitally important. When such a company has been found to have breached relevant regulations, it can hardly excuse itself by putting the transgressions down as "careless mistakes."The company's corporate culture has been called into question. Fujiya cannot simply brush off its responsibility for the problems simply because there have been no health complaints reported by consumers.Hit by a declining consumer base against the backdrop of a declining birthrate and the rising popularity of imported confectionery, the nation's confectionery industry has been in a slump. Fujiya's confectionery division has recorded operational losses since the year ending in March 2003.Problems covered upPerhaps the pressure to reduce operating costs prompted Fujiya to cut corners on safety measures during the production process. Defects in its compliance system can also be pointed out.More problematic is the fact the company kept the latest batch of irregularities from the public until the media caught wind of them.A report by an in-house investigation team indicated the company was aware of the repercussions should news of the problems get out. "If the media found out the company had used milk that had passed its expiration date, a financial crisis or failure of the company would be inevitable...Once they were made public, the company would suffer the same fate as Snow Brand," said the report, which was presented to its top management, including the president.This report appears to be nothing more than advice for concealing the irregularities. Fujiya President Rintaro Fujii denied this, saying: "There was no such attempt [to conceal the problem]. We put priority on grasping the facts and finding ways to improve the situation."However, Fujii's explanation is far from convincing. The company should have quickly made the facts of the matter public and alerted consumers to the problem. Recalling related products and suspending sales until the safety of its products were verified were other steps that should have been taken.Snow Brand lesson ignoredThe fate of Snow Brand Milk Products Co. should have served as a warning. Despite being aware that its products had caused mass food poisoning, Snow Brand delayed by one day making the case public and recalling its products, exacerbating the damage and scope of the problem. The company's behavior unleashed a torrent of complaints from customers, and Snow Brand eventually was forced to break up its corporate group.A corporate culture that pays scant attention to product safety, puts off required measures in response to mishaps and conceals such problems jeopardizes the longevity of a company. Lessons from the food poisoning caused by Snow Brand's products in 2000 appear to have gone unlearned.The monitoring of food companies by public authorities also needs to be examined.At its Sapporo plant, Fujiya was found to have failed to enter the purchase date of some raw materials on its production ledger, an omission overlooked during an inspection by a public health center official.Just how long Fujiya will continue its suspension of operations at its retail outlets remains unclear. Some major retailers, including department stores, also have started taking Fujiya's products, in addition to its confectionery, off their shelves.Fujiya must thoroughly investigate the facts behind this case and take measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring. However, there will be no quick fix for the company as it seeks to regain consumer confidence.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	701	2007-01-14	YOSHIN0020070114e31e000c7
YOMSHI0020070114e31f0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070114e31f0000d	EN	\N	Building a shared strategic relationship	During talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Philippines on Sunday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his intention to visit Japan in April, while asking Abe to visit China in the latter half of this year.	4	2007-01-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	His visit will be the first by a Chinese leader since then Prime Minister Zhu Rongji visited in October, 2000.Will the top leaders use this opportunity to put dialogue between the two countries back on a steady course?At the outset of their talks, Abe expressed hope their meeting would be a "meaningful" one in developing a shared strategic relationship.That relationship, agreed to when Abe visited China in October, is meant to boost Japan-China relations by turning the political and economic wheels of both countries so as to solve issues of common interest.In addition to bilateral issues, Japan and China also need to work to improve the ever-serious security environment in the region. From this standpoint, the most important issue now is to frustrate North Korea's attempt to build itself up as a nuclear power.Challenge of PyongyangThe six-party talks intended to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear development programs ended late last year without results or any prospect for the talks to resume.Abe asked China, which chairs the six-party talks, to urge North Korea to modify its stance on the nuclear programs. Wen responded by saying that China would promote cooperation at the six-party talks. How far Beijing is willing to go to persuade Pyongyang will provide a measure of the future course of the shared strategic relationship between Japan and China.Following the Japan-China summit talks, the trilateral summit talks between Japan, China and South Korea resumed for the first time in two years.Agenda for improvementDuring the talks, the three leaders agreed to create a consultative body composed of high-ranking diplomats to discuss regional and global issues, providing a framework for enhancing dialogue among the three countries.While the three leaders, in their joint statement called on Pyongyang to take concrete, effective steps toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, they did not delve into specifics on the issue.In an apparent reference to North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals, the three leaders went only as far as mentioning the importance of addressing the international community's "humanitarian concerns." This likely had much to do with differences over the issue among the three countries.During his recent talks with European leaders, Abe emphasized the importance of continuing international pressure on North Korea.To form an international coalition against North Korea, the participation of European countries is needed. Yet the most important thing is for Japan, China and South Korea, on the basis of close Japan-U.S. relations, to cooperate.Achieving this task will require Abe to do his utmost in carrying out diplomatic efforts toward China and South Korea in the days ahead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	532	2007-01-15	YOSHIN0020070115e31f001e9
YOMSHI0020070116e31g00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070116e31g00002	EN	\N	Will envisioned charter change ASEAN?	ASEAN leaders agreed Saturday at their summit meeting held in Cebu, the Philippines, to bring forward the target date for achieving their goal of creating an ASEAN community by five years to 2015. They also agreed to establish an ASEAN charter by the end of this year.	4	2007-01-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The envisioned ASEAN constitution is said to include revisions to the group's long-held doctrines of noninterference in member states' internal affairs and unanimity. Such revisions will mean a major change in basic principles of ASEAN management.ASEAN leaders agreed to establish a new ASEAN charter at their summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur in December 2005. Since then, the Eminent Persons Group, which comprises 10 notable individuals representing the 10 ASEAN member nations, including former Philippine President Fidel Ramos, has formulated guidelines for drafting the charter. ASEAN leaders endorsed the guidelines at the latest summit meeting.In the guidelines, the EPG members proposed maintaining the unanimity principle in voting on defense, diplomatic and other fields directly related to national sovereignty but recommended introduction of majority decisions in economic and other fields requiring more flexible responses.Major policy shiftThe guidelines propose that ASEAN members faithfully observe the provisions of the charter if it is established. They proposed that a summit meeting of ASEAN leaders should be transformed into a more powerful ASEAN council authorized to impose sanctions, including suspension of membership, on a member nation for serious violation of the charter. This is counter to the traditional ASEAN principle of noninterference in members' internal affairs.A separate high-level task force that includes one representative from each ASEAN member will now work on a draft of the charter to be accepted by the organization at the ASEAN summit meeting in November.But why is ASEAN trying to make a charter now?The presence in ASEAN of Myanmar, which is far behind in democratization, is apparently one of the reasons. Emphasizing regional harmony, ASEAN has not actively interfered in Myanmar's internal problems. With establishment of the charter, however, the organization aims to win the trust of the international community by enhancing its capacity to act as a group, since not only Myanmar but also ASEAN currently faces mounting criticism from governments in Europe and North America.Rising rivalsThe other major factor is the declining standing of ASEAN in the international community, a structural change caused by emergence of China and India.ASEAN has been attracting foreign investment and using it as a springboard to enhance solidarity and economic development among member countries by staying ahead of other Asian groupings in regional integration.To vie with the increasing influence of China and India, ASEAN must further speed up its consolidation and cement its unity. ASEAN leaders also decided at the latest summit meeting to strengthen the functions of the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta.But the future of the regional grouping is not necessarily bright. At the most-recent summit meeting, Myanmar, with the backing of Vietnam, protested the overhaul of the doctrine of noninterference in internal affairs. ASEAN also lacks a strong leader who can keep together member countries with different political systems and development levels. Some bumps and detours cannot be avoided until establishment of the charter in November.ASEAN is extremely important not only politically and economically, but also historically for Japan. Success or failure of ASEAN reform will directly affect stability in the region. Close attention must be paid to the effects the drafting of the charter could have on the future of ASEAN.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	619	2007-01-16	YOSHIN0020070116e31g000j3
YOMSHI0020070117e31h00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070117e31h00003	EN	\N	Confrontation alone can't earn DPJ voters' trust	The DPJ said that is the party's biggest goal and described the ordinary Diet session to start on Jan. 25 as a major battlefield where the major opposition party will take a more confrontational stand against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration.	4	2007-01-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	That will show how much sympathy and voters' trust the DPJ can win.However, there is some doubt over its policy stance. For example, the DPJ says in its fiscal 2007 action plan that it will look toward situations after the upper house election is over and strengthen its cooperation with the other opposition parties.Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, who attended the convention as a guest, urged the DPJ to work with her party to topple the coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito. The SDP also urged the DPJ to strongly oppose a national referendum bill that is designed to set procedures for revision of the Constitution.However, the DPJ has already proposed its own version of a national referendum bill to the Diet. This means the DPJ has a position totally different from that of the SDP, which objects to the bill itself.Party can't be fish and fowlThe DPJ's action plan says the party will explain its policy and opinions to voters in an easy-to-understand manner by clearly demonstrating the differences between it and the LDP.However, it likely will become increasingly difficult for the DPJ to keep its original policy line if it places more importance on its cooperation with the other parties in the upper house election.At the last extraordinary Diet session, the DPJ, in tandem with the SDP and the Japanese Communist Party, boycotted deliberations on bills to revise the Fundamental Law of Eduction and to upgrade the Defense Agency to a ministry because the DPJ fielded a joint candidate with the two parties in the Okinawa gubernatorial election.But the DPJ had presented a counterproposal to the bill on revision of the Fundamental Law of Education and finally supported the bill to upgrade the Defense Agency to a ministry. It was unreasonable for the DPJ to form a coalition with the SDP and the JCP, which both opposed the bills. The DPJ should regret the fact that the coalition as a result only confused its stance in the Diet.The national referendum bill, which is directly related to the foundation of the country, should not be used as a political football.Local chapters doubt policiesRepresentatives from local chapters of the DPJ also questioned guidelines on major policies the party compiled in preparation for the day when it takes office. Doubts were raised over the wisdom of a policy to use all the consumption tax revenues as a fiscal source for a basic part of the public pension program while keeping the consumption tax rate at 5 percent.The DPJ won the upper house election in 2004 by advocating a pension system reform plan that included a consumption tax hike of 3 percentage points to secure a fiscal source for the basic pension. So why has the party changed the policy? Can it find a new financial source?The representatives from the local chapters asked such questions because the party apparently did not give them adequate explanations.The DPJ leadership failed to give sufficient explanations on its basic policies for the party's own members. Under such a situation, can the party win understanding from a wide range of voters?LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa considers plans to reform the public employee system, the education system and the Social Insurance Agency as three major bones of contention it has with the DPJ. Nakagawa is trying with those three issues to rock the DPJ, which is supported by unions of local government workers, the Japan Teachers' Union and others.The DPJ should lock horns with the LDP by presenting and discussing detailed counterproposals at the Diet. That will lead to its winning voters' trust as a responsible party aiming to win office in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	722	2007-01-17	YOSHIN0020070117e31h000g3
YOMSHI0020070117e31i0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070117e31i0000j	EN	\N	Is LDP really ready for upper house poll?	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is also the LDP president, said at the convention's opening: "We would like to tackle constitutional revision going back to the principles on which the party was founded," and, "We'll fight the House of Councillors election fair and square. We'll surely be able to win in it," among other things.	4	2007-01-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Except for the period around the time the party was created through the merger of the Liberal Party and Democratic Party, the LDP had avoided putting constitutional revision on the political agenda under the so-called 1955 regime, named for the party's almost uninterrupted rule of the country since that year. If political parties will debate constitutional revision, the upper house election will be an epochal one both historically and in terms of constitutional debate.We wonder to what extent party policies adopted at the convention can gain the support of voters. The party policies contain goals including:-- Early passage of the national referendum bill and starting a nationwide discussion on the establishment of a new constitution.-- Promotion of educational reform and rebuilding of public education.-- Restoring trust in the nation's pension system and the dissolution of the Social Insurance Agency.They are, however, only a "table of contents."There is almost no mention in the new policies about rehabilitation of the nation's coffers, which are beholden to huge debts. Moreover, even the new policies lack detailed explanations and concrete steps on how to implement them.Support for Cabinet dwindlingOn the constitutional issue, the prime minister has made the political decision to make amending the nation's top law one of the main items on the political agenda, the party should get the ball rolling toward that goal by energizing the revision movement.A big question here is how to reform the party to meet the challenges of the times. It is important for the LDP to elucidate the contents of its reform plan and the direction in which the reform leads.Abe's administration got off to a smooth start in autumn, but his Cabinet's approval rating has been on a steady decline due to such problems as the return of the so-called postal rebels and the resignation of a minister, among other issues. If he fails to stop the rot, the party could face a defeat at the hands of Democratic Party of Japan in the upper house election like the one it experienced in the previous upper house vote three years ago.The support rate of the DPJ, the No. 1 opposition party, has been hovering at a low level. New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, has been supporting the LDP in various elections. Have these factors lured the LDP into letting its guard down?If the ruling parties fail to maintain a majority in the upper house, they will have a hard time getting bills passed. But there was little concern over this evident at the LDP convention.No 'Koizumi theater' for AbeMeanwhile, voters with no particular party affiliation, who now greatly influence the results of elections, are increasingly "deserting Abe," and the number of LDP members has been steadily declining. To gain wider backing for the LDP, support for those who seek a "second chance" in life, and promotion of local economies would be very effective. However, we cannot say that the LDP has come up with concrete policies in these regards that will make a big impression on voters.Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi attracted swing voters to achieve electoral victories employing a pattern in which he fought against "resistance forces" within the party.Abe said he would fight the election "fair and square." He must mean he will face the election with a strategy different from that of Koizumi and with his own policy achievements. To do so, it is important for Abe to reinforce unity within the party and bring his various policies to fruition.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2007-01-18	YOSHIN0020070118e31i000ef
YOMSHI0020070119e31j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070119e31j00001	EN	\N	BOJ's accountability put to test	It was the right decision to postpone a rate hike. But it was not good that a chaotic situation has arisen in which the central bank's credibility could be undermined.	4	2007-01-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It has been reported that the nation's economy is expanding, supported by healthy corporate performances. However, personal consumption lacks robustness and the trend toward price increases is weak.When the central bank postponed a rate hike at a policy-setting meeting in December, Gov. Toshihiko Fukui said, "We need further data" on consumption and prices.There have been no economic figures since that decision to indicate that the rate should be increased.The Bank of Japan paints a scenario in which a healthy corporate performance positively impacts individual households. Is this scenario becoming a reality?The central bank must thoroughly analyze such a scenario and the actual economic situation, then take the necessary steps to ensure that we break away from deflation.When compared with other countries, Japan's interest rate level is extremely low. It must be raised gradually as the economy recovers. An increase should not be made in haste, except when consumption appears certain to improve and both wages and prices are expected to increase.Politicians should show restraintKey government and ruling parties' members applied pressure on the central bank before the latest policy meeting, with some going as far as hinting at revisions of the Bank of Japan Law.Following the policy meeting, Fukui denied any political consideration in the decision, telling reporters, "The decision was made based on economic and price conditions--not on other factors."But as the decision was not to raise the interest rate, some observers are saying the Bank of Japan caved in to political pressure.If this view spreads, it could greatly damage the credibility of the Bank of Japan's neutrality in policymaking. The central bank's independence is legally guaranteed. Politicians in the ruling bloc should refrain from making comments that would undermine that independence.Communication is keyThe Bank of Japan is not good at speaking its mind. There was initial speculation the central bank would raise the key interest rate. But such forecasts disappeared just prior to the two-day meeting, with both the long- and short-term interest rates taking a beating in the market Wednesday.It comes down to this: The Bank of Japan did not have enough "dialogue" with the market.During the meeting, three members of the Policy Board opposed the current monetary policy and jointly tabled a motion to raise the key interest rate. Due to this development, there likely will be more speculation of a rate increase at the Policy Board meeting next month.The central bank is required to do its utmost to explain its policy stance so as not to cause confusion in the market. To do so, it must maintain close communication with the government and the ruling coalition.If it does decide to raise the key interest rate, the Bank of Japan needs to communicate to the public in layman's terms why it has chosen to do so. The central bank is now at a crucial stage in which its accountability will be put to the test.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2007-01-19	YOSHIN0020070119e31j000e5
YOMSHI0020070120e31k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070120e31k00001	EN	\N	Get the wheels turning on Futenma relocation	Nearly nine months have passed since Tokyo and Washington reached an agreement on a realignment plan of U.S. forces stationed in Japan.	4	2007-01-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The realignment plan calls for the relocation to be completed by 2014. However, even an environmental assessment, the first step in relocating the air station's function from Ginowan to Nago has not started yet. We are concerned whether this goal will be met under the prevailing circumstances.The central government, the Okinawa prefectural government and the Nago municipal government should do all they can to reach an agreement.At the meeting, Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro requested a revision to the current relocation plan, saying the two runways aligned in a V-shape should be constructed further offshore from Camp Schwab than has been stipulated in the plan.The idea of having the runways in a V-shape was initially produced in response to Shimabukuro's request that U.S. military helicopters should not fly over residential areas. Does the mayor have a legitimate reason now to ask the central government to change the relocation plan?Unhelpful commentsHowever, the central government also has been guilty of some less-than-helpful behavior. Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma had suggested he would allow the plan to be revised. "It would be fine if the new airfield had only one runway. I don't mind what plan we settle on, as long as the government, local governments and the U.S. government can agree on it," Kyuma said earlier this month.Kyuma's comment apparently was aimed at Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, who was elected in November after asserting in his campaign that he could not agree to the V-shape plan. However, trying to produce a new plan will soak up an enormous amount of time.Kyuma's careless comment seems to have given the Okinawa side an excuse to seek a revision to a plan that already has been finalized.The Okinawa governor reiterated that the Futenma Air Station should be "shut down" within three years to "eliminate the danger" around the station.Sway local govtsThe central government needs to do everything in its power to eliminate the dangers posed by the air station, such as by asking the U.S. military to change its flying routes to avoid residential areas when U.S. military aircraft take off and land. The governor must know full well that closing down the air station is no easy task.The Defense Ministry insists construction work for the relocation can be hastened. The quickest way to eliminate the danger is to complete the new facility by immediately starting an environment assessment.Tokyo and Washington agreed during a meeting of the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) in 1996 to relocate the Futenma Air Station. The relationship of trust between Japan and the United States will be seriously tarnished if the envisioned runways cannot be constructed, despite more than a decade passing since the agreement was reached.The government must do all it can to persuade the Okinawa prefectural government and the Nago municipal government to set the relocation plan in motion. If the plan cannot be implemented due to protests by local governments, the government needs to consider establishing special legislation to transfer some gubernatorial authority to the state.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2007-01-20	YOSHIN0020070120e31k000ez
YOMSHI0020070121e31l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070121e31l00001	EN	\N	LDP must act on bill to get Japan in space race	The Liberal Democratic Party hopes to significantly improve the situation by establishing what it calls the "Basic Space Law." The legislation would call for a Space Strategy Headquarters to be set up and presided over by the government to promote comprehensive space-related policies.	4	2007-01-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The three main pillars of the proposal are:--Reinforcing the nation's security through the development and utilization of space.--Promoting space-related research and development.--Promoting the development of the space industry.In line with these three main goals, Space Strategy Headquarters would compile a list of topics and measures the government and space industry should incorporate into a basic program and then work to make them a reality.The nation's space development program will require a massive budget and a wide variety of technology and cooperation between industry, the government and the academic world. But as there has been no government command center, the party must act promptly to compile a bill and pass it into law.Security uses acceptableNew Komeito, on the other hand, has been cautious about the Basic Space Law, afraid it may go beyond the government's policy of the peaceful utilization of space. The junior coalition party is overreacting.The government's definition of "peaceful utilization of space" refers to its development as being "nonmilitary." But on the international stage, this is a very strange interpretation, one that also severely limits the Self-Defense Forces' use of satellites.The so-called Outer Space Treaty, to which Japan is a signatory, points to the peaceful utilization of space, stipulating that it not be used for the deployment of weapons of mass destruction. Yet the treaty does not mention military-related uses, such as ground surveillance by satellites. Even if the signatories utilize space in such a way, it will not contravene the treaty.To keep the basic law in line with the international standard, the LDP plans to include in its proposal the phrase, "in keeping with clauses stipulated in the Outer Space Treaty."With security uses--such as ground and communications surveillance--playing such a prominent role in the development of its space program, it seems rather strange to disavow such uses.Both communications satellites and the Global Positioning System, which is used in car navigation systems, were originally developed for military purposes. It was only later that they were transferred to civilian use and became widely used.The Basic Space Law is not limited to the issue of national security, as it is designed to facilitate the well-balanced development of its space program and utilization of space. We urge New Komeito to cooperate with the LDP to move ahead with the bill.Trailing internationallyJapan is still struggling in its development of its space program.For instance, the H-2A is Japan's only booster rocket for launching satellites. Although it is cutting-edge technology, only about 91 percent of its launches are successful, and thus does not meet the standards of space programs elsewhere. The booster is too large to lift small or midsized satellites, and is not cost-efficient. The H-2A is expected to be employed in the satellite-launching business, but that has yet to become a reality.Only a handful of launch projects attract global attention. With very few practical-use satellites being ordered and government research and development projects being the only source of such income for corporations, it may be difficult to even maintain the current technology.Countries such as China and India have gotten serious about their development programs and use of space. If we sit on our hands, we may find Japan has become an undeveloped country in the realm of space.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2007-01-21	YOSHIN0020070121e31l0009n
YOMSHI0020070121e31m0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070121e31m0000d	EN	\N	Antiflu measures will strengthen nation	A group of experts brought together by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has published a set of guidelines on what national and local governments, as well as corporations and private individuals, should do if a new type of influenza strikes.	4	2007-01-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The expert panel presumes that the bird flu virus could mutate into a variant that could cause a human-to-human infection--that is, the outbreak of a new type of influenza.The avian flu virus has not yet developed into such a variant, but many experts say it is only a matter of time before the virus mutates.Humans have no immunity to a virus that has yet to infect them and the ministry has predicted about 25 percent of the population could become infected if a new flu strain struck this country. In a worst-case scenario written by the ministry, an estimated 2 million people would be hospitalized, and about 640,000 could die.Such a scenario must never be permitted to come to pass.The guidelines proposed by the expert panel covers 12 categories of preventive measures. The most important strategy devised by the panel calls for minimizing the spread of infection at an early stage.The guidelines state that anyone infected be immediately quarantined, while also restricting the activities of people who have come into contact with the infected person. If the need arises, flu-struck areas could be sealed off from traffic, and all sorts of public activities could be subject to government control, including restrictions on gatherings.Build needed legal frameworkHowever, questions can be raised about what kind of effective measures could be implemented under the current legal framework. To ensure the new guidelines serve their purpose, it will be necessary to discuss what kind of specific steps should be carried out, including the need to take new legislative measures.It is also essential to clearly define who should be given priority in receiving vaccinations and antiviral medicines. People in this category include medical workers and police officers, as well as gas and electric power company employees responsible for maintaining their facilities.The panel's guideline on the kind of medical care system that is needed emphasizes designating hospitals that specialize in examining anyone suspected of catching a new flu variant, while also setting up reception desks for outpatients.Emergency suppliesThe panel also proposed each household and community keep two weeks of food on hand, and the establishment of a system to better aid elderly people living alone if the flu strikes.However extensive, the guidelines should be regarded as incomplete. It is vital to ensure as many people as possible join discussions about how to improve these guidelines. Widespread public involvement would help the nation better prepare for other emergencies.Common ground can be found in the measures taken to contain the spread of the new flu and those needed to counter bioterrorism. This is also true of efforts to store emergency food in case of an outbreak of the new flu strain, as such measures will also ensure emergency food supplies are available in the event of a major earthquake or other disaster.Increasing cooperation among medical institutions will improve the system's ability to provide services on a day-to-day basis. Efforts to grasp the circumstances surrounding elderly people in each community are essential with the graying of society.Fighting the threat posed by new flu variants offers a good opportunity to examine the shortcomings and inadequacies inherent in each community.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2007-01-22	YOSHIN0020070122e31m000eu
YOMSHI0020070123e31n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070123e31n00001	EN	\N	More than words needed to beat bid-rigging blight	On Monday, the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office searched the head offices of three general contractors--Obayashi Corp., Kajima Corp. and Shimizu Corp.--on suspicion they interfered with competitive bidding.	4	2007-01-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These corporations are believed to have rigged bids on contracts for projects to extend a municipal subway route in Nagoya. The municipal government called for bids on construction work along five sections of the extended route between February 2006 and June that year.In late 2005, large construction corporations in this country pledged to end their industry's long-running bid-rigging practice once and for all. They said they would take measures to achieve this goal, including setting up departments charged with ensuring their businesses would never again violate laws, and transferring employees previously responsible for rigging bids on construction projects to other sections.Headway in achieving the industry's proclaimed departure from the bid-rigging practice was seemingly being made. This was demonstrated by the fact that major construction firms took the lead in ensuring low-price bids were offered for public works projects put up by many local governments.Old habits die hardHowever, it is believed that bid-rigging has been surreptitiously going on.The three general contractors in question have defended their alleged wrongdoing, insisting that their agreement to rig bids on the subway route extension projects had been reached before their proclamation of ending the practice. They have said employees directly responsible for offering bids continued to put off ending the practice.All that is no excuse. The firms' negligence in this respect means that their top executives lacked firm determination to end the practice and did not bother to ensure their no-more-bid-rigging pledge was adhered to by all sections of their organizations.Those top officials must be taken to task for failing to end their industry's penchant for bid-rigging. If bid-rigging is allowed to continue, it could deal a fatal blow to the industry's overall image. With this in mind, all major construction companies must take fundamental measures to end the practice, including reshuffling their management.The declaration of an end to bid-rigging was jointly issued by five general contractors--the three in question, and Taisei Corp. and Takenaka Corp.The repercussions of the proclamation were considerable. This set a trend to be followed by the industry as a whole, and all second-tier construction firms followed suit.Deja vuAll large construction companies promised to end the practice 14 years ago, when many top officials, including the then Miyagi and Ibaraki governors, were arrested in connection with a bid-rigging scandal involving general contractors. However, there was no end to cases of bid-rigging. This caused many skeptics to take the declaration issued by the industry in 2005 with a grain of salt. They dismissed the proclamation as a temporary attempt to fend off criticism of bid-rigging in the industry.It should be noted, however, that the revised Antimonopoly Law, which took effect last year, greatly stiffened penalties imposed on offenders. This was complemented by the introduction of a system designed to reduce penalties to be paid by corporations if they voluntarily declared their involvement in bid-rigging.All this was expected to encourage general contractors to end their bid-rigging for good. Consequently, the latest bid-rigging scandal has greatly disappointed many people.Preventing new cases of bid-rigging requires construction firms to keep an even closer watch on employees responsible for offering bids. If they cannot shed their old practices, they will be permanently subject to crackdowns by investigative authorities. That would be an appalling predicament.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2007-01-23	YOSHIN0020070123e31n000ge
YOMSHI0020070124e31o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070124e31o00001	EN	\N	Diet debate should clarify election issues	Let's look back at last year's ordinary Diet session. Because of the fuss over a bogus e-mail presented in the Diet by the Democratic Party of Japan, deliberations there fell into confusion. As a result, there were not enough debates over structural reform, education issues and security policy, among other topics. The then Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, which was already in its last phase, did not show zeal to pass important bills and postponed many of them until the next administration.	4	2007-01-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This year, before the Diet session, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faced a series of scandals concerning political fund money, one of which resulted in the resignation of a Cabinet minister. The opposition parties plan to pursue Abe's responsibility for appointing key figures in such scandals and are even considering summoning the minister who resigned as a sworn witness to testify in the Diet. They are thus ready to confront the ruling parties squarely.Of course, the importance of political ethics cannot be ignored. But the legislative branch's honor will be impugned if revelations of scandals and the exchange of verbal jabs at the Diet finally lead to a political mud-slinging contest. Lawmakers would be better advised to discuss in a cool manner measures to increase transparency concerning expenses listed in political fund reports, such as questionably high costs for running politicians' offices.Legislative mountain to climbImportant bills are piled up in the ordinary Diet session, ranging from those concerning the basic framework of the nation to those closely related to people's daily life.One of them is a national referendum bill that defines the procedure for revising the Constitution. The Liberal Democratic Party is determined to have the bill enacted at the Diet by May 3, Constitution Day, when the nation celebrates the 60th anniversary of the top law's enforcement.Within the Democratic Party of Japan, there are those who argue that passing the bill will benefit only the Abe administration, which has set constitutional revision as one of its main political goals. However, the DPJ basically agreed to revisions to the bill following a major concession by the LDP. If the opposition party raises an objection to the bill merely as an election strategy, it is not a responsible political party.If the DPJ strengthens its joint front with the Social Democratic Party, which itself opposes the bill, or is influenced by the opinions of minority groups such as former Socialists within the DPJ who oppose the bill, strains within the biggest opposition party will increase, causing it to struggle to maintain party unity.The constitutional revision issue will bear fruit only when the two major parties, the LDP and DPJ, cooperate with each other. To pave the way for this, the national referendum bill should be made law as soon as possible with the agreement of both parties.Little discussion on tax hikeIn addition, the reduction of various disparities in society and revisions to employment rules are urgent tasks. Education reform in line with the revised Fundamental Law of Education and prevention of North Korea's nuclear armament are other important subjects. Abe and DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa should play leading roles in discussing the issues related to the security and safety of the people.Nevertheless, both parties have backed away from the issue of raising the consumption tax rate. In such a situation, we cannot expect that discussions on social security system reform, including the nation's pension program, will be very deep.Diet deliberations tend to be regarded lightly in a year when both nationwide local elections and an upper house election are held as politicians are busy with election campaigns.However, precisely because this is the year when such important elections will be held, both ruling and opposition parties should clarify their differences in views on various issues through Diet deliberations and then wait for the judgment of voters in the elections.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	721	2007-01-24	YOSHIN0020070124e31o000gg
YOMSHI0020070125e31p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070125e31p00001	EN	\N	Education panel report deserves full marks	The pillars of the report are seven proposals that the nation must tackle.	4	2007-01-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report met criticisms that it "lacks freshness" and that its compilers' discussions were "insufficient." However, we say members of the panel did a great job, expending a lot of effort in compiling the draft for discussions on the fundamentals of education within a short period of three months. Now that the first report has been presented, the prime minister's determination and Diet members' responses to the proposals will be tested in terms of whether and in what form the proposals will be realized.The most notable feature of the proposals is that the panel came up with a clear stance to "reexamine education with latitude." The report recommends a "10 percent increase in class hours," "confirmation of basic understanding and knowledge" and "improvement of too thin textbooks." It thus calls for revisions of curriculum guidelines.Revise related laws soonBehind the widespread unease over children's declining academic ability is the "education with latitude" policy that slashed the content of subjects to be taught and shortened class hours drastically. For the first time as a governmental panel of experts, the council declared a "departure from education with latitude." This fact has great significance.The panel made a review of the five-day school week system one of the subjects to be studied later. We hope panel members will deepen their discussions from a variety of perspectives on how to improve children's academic ability.The report also calls for early revisions of laws in line with the intent of the proposals.One such law is the Education Personnel Certification Law, whose revision is planned to permit the introduction of a system to make the teacher's license valid for a fixed term, after which it would have to be renewed. The panel proposes a system to remove unfit teachers, such as those lacking teaching abilities, from the classroom and suspend their licenses. The proposal is severer than the renewal system proposed by the Central Council for Education, an advisory body to the education, science and technology minister.The ministry will ask the advisory panel to study the Education Rebuilding Council's proposals and submit a bill to revise the law to the ordinary Diet session. Proper consideration should be given to compilation of the bill so as not to lose the intent of the rebuilding council.Proposals should spur debateThe council also picked, as an issue of urgency, revisions of the law concerning the organization and operation of local education administrations as an emerging task for a drastic reform of boards of education. In view of the boards' inappropriate handling of the issues of bullying and the failure of some high schools to teach required subjects, some council members went as far as to argue for the abolition of the boards, but arguments favoring an overhaul of the boards' functions won the day.Concerning the reform of education boards, the council proposed, among other things, the "clarification of responsibilities," "transfer of authority over appointment of teachers to city, town and village education boards" and "external evaluations of boards by a third-party organization."The panel set as a subject for further study the reinforcement of the education ministry's right to direct and supervise education boards.If the central government's involvement is increased, it is indispensable for the ministry to reflect on the causes of and its responses to problems such as the planting of questioners at so-called town meetings and its failure to instruct education boards appropriately despite the fact that it knew of the high schools' failure to teach required subjects.Other proposals include more active utilization of an existing system to suspend from school children who repeatedly bully as well as a review of regulations prohibiting teachers from using corporal punishment. One proposal mentions the importance of discipline at home.Taking into consideration the report's recommendations, now is the time for society as a whole to debate education.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2007-01-25	YOSHIN0020070125e31p000fw
YOMSHI0020070126e31q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070126e31q00001	EN	\N	China's antisatellite test may spark space arms race	Many observers have said China intended to demonstrate its ability to attack satellites, especially U.S. spy satellites.	4	2007-01-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The experiment surely will lead to a change in the U.S.-China military balance and affect security in East Asia, including Japan.China is the first country since the end of the Cold War to conduct a test to destroy a satellite. Was it China's intention merely to demonstrate it had the ability to destroy satellites? Washington criticized the test, saying it ran against the spirit of international cooperation in space development. Japan and South Korea were among the countries that echoed the U.S. concerns.Of particular concern to the international community is China's continuing secrecy regarding its military information.U.S. military intelligence recently confirmed the Jan. 12 test, and the U.S. media later reported on the details of the test. It took 10 days after the reports for Beijing to officially acknowledge it had conducted the test.The only announcement made prior to the official Beijing statement was through a Foreign Ministry spokesman, who said that China had always, and would always, oppose any arms race in space.The Chinese government, however, dodged the issue of whether it had conducted the test. This evasive manner leaves the international community no choice but to be wary of any calls by China for the "peaceful utilization of space."Challenging U.S. superiority?In recent years, China's space program has progressed rapidly, and even has seen the successful launch of manned capsules. This most recent test, however, only served to increase concerns that China will transform its space technology for its military purposes.Beijing's defense white paper, released in December, states that the improvement of the country's space technology is to become the main pillar of the development of China's defense-related science, technology and industry. If this is true, how was this antisatellite test conducted and how does it relate to the national defense program? China must be forthcoming on this matter.Last year, Washington revised its space policy for the first time in 10 years. The revised policy emphasizes the development of space in terms of national security. Within the U.S. government, there are those who warn that the Chinese test is the first step in challenging the United States, which holds an overwhelming superiority in space development over China. If this proves to be the case, it will lead to an arms race in space.China may fall victimMeanwhile, space junk resulting from the test is another cause of concern. When the missile's warhead destroyed the old Chinese weather satellite at an altitude of about 850 kilometers, it was blasted into an estimated 2 million pieces, each measuring more than one millimeter. They will orbit Earth for at least another 10 years and may damage other satellites.The United States, which already possesses the antisatellite attack ability, has refrained from conducting a test during the past 20 years because of the space junk problem.Since the Cold War era, there has been a remarkable increase in the civilian use of space. If this test disrupts international telecommunications and other satellite-oriented systems, China, too, will suffer.The international community, which would be affected in both military and civilian sectors, should demand that China be more forthright with information about its military and communicate responsibly with the international community.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2007-01-26	YOSHIN0020070126e31q000fl
YOMSHI0020070127e31r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070127e31r00001	EN	\N	Abe must get teeth into reform plans	We eagerly await to see how he puts these words of determination into action. We hope he provides sufficient explanations of the details and process of the reforms he is seeking, and discusses them in depth at the Diet.	4	2007-01-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	"We shouldn't just hold fast to Japan's successful postwar model," Abe said. His comment indicated he believed many of the country's basic frameworks simply could not keep up with changes in the modern world.The revisions to the Constitution that Abe advocates will require him to clearly state a new vision of Japan. Accomplishing this first task is imperative if our nation is to free itself from the postwar regime. To do so, Abe must have the Diet pass a national referendum bill because the planned law will define the procedure for revising the top law.Abe has made no secret of the fact that he considers education reform--although he prefers to use the term "education rebuilding"--his Cabinet's top priority. With revisions to the Fundamental Law of Education completed in the previous Diet session, he will tackle a review of the so-called cram-free education system, and revisions to education-related laws to restructure the public education system.One such measure is introducing a system to renew teachers' licenses at regular intervals. "The quality of teachers holds the key to rebuilding education," Abe said in his speech. He should proceed with education reform that is certain to accomplish its intended objectives.Security policy in spotlightTurning to foreign and security policies, Abe spoke of further strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and restructuring the "legal framework for security measures that are appropriate for the times."To do so, the first task awaiting his administration is to enable the nation "to exercise the right of collective self-defense." At present, according to the Cabinet Legislation Bureau's interpretation, Japan has this right, but is not allowed under the Constitution to exercise it. Abe said he would "push forward with studies into specific cases" in which the right to collective self-defense could be exercised. We think these studies should be a starting point, not an end to the process.The Self-Defense Forces' cooperation in international peacekeeping activities was upgraded into one of the SDF's primary duties at the same time as the Defense Agency was upgraded to a full ministry this month. Abe also should set the ball rolling on discussions to establish a permanent law to realize swift overseas dispatches of SDF members on peacekeeping operations.Put people at easeIn a society with a declining population, the government must build sound social security systems, including pension and health insurance systems, that give the people peace of mind.The prime minister has introduced a policy to promote a new growth strategy with technical innovation at its core and boldly carry out various administrative reform measures, including reform of the public servant system. All of these matters are equally important and must produce results.At the end of his policy speech, Abe quoted Yukichi Fukuzawa, a 19th-century political theorist and the founder of Keio University. The words touched on the importance of boldly challenging difficulties, and not flinching from them.If Abe wants to quote Fukuzawa, he must explain why he postponed discussions on drastic reforms of the nation's taxation system, including consumption tax, until autumn at the earliest. His intentions in this regard are somewhat puzzling.Abe needs to squarely face up to daunting problems that lie ahead--and devise policies to overcome them.A House of Councillors election will be held after the current ordinary Diet session. We hope our nation's politicians will not narrow-mindedly focus on their parties' election strategies during the Diet session, but will see the bigger picture and thoroughly discuss the path this country should take in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	691	2007-01-27	YOSHIN0020070127e31r000fr
YOMSHI0020070128e31s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070128e31s00001	EN	\N	Architects must maintain professional ethics	Inspections by the Construction and Transport Ministry and the Kyoto municipal government have found that two hotels in Kyoto had only 71 percent and 79 percent, respectively, of required earthquake resistance.	4	2007-01-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The hotels are owned by the Apa Group, which operates many other hotels and apartments around the country.The Kyoto municipal government recommended the group to suspend operations of the two hotels. This step could inconvenience many students who reportedly planned to stay at the hotels while they take entrance examinations for universities in Kyoto.Structural calculations for the hotels were made by Class 1 architect Mitsuo Mizuochi in Toyama, and the buildings were certified in 2003 by the Kyoto Organization of Confirmation and Inspection, an authorized private inspection firm.Structural calculation software reportedly flagged Mizuochi's initial design as having problems, but the architect allegedly overwrote results of the program to give the plans a passing bill of health.The number of diagonal beams in the hotels required in his structural calculation sheet was reduced considerably in an actual working diagram. Those beams also had been replaced with thinner ones.Investigation neededThis is malicious chicanery. Why did the architect fabricate the buildings' seismic integrity? Was the Apa Group really blind to what he was doing? An architectural office in charge of managing the construction projects and the inspection company that failed to notice the falsified data also should be held responsible for this case. A thorough investigation is required to get to the bottom of the matter.Mizuochi compiled structural calculations for 168 hotels, apartments and other buildings in the past 10 years. The construction ministry has ordered concerned local governments to reinspect the earthquake-resistance of the buildings in question and examine if their data were falsified. The local governments should make these checks as quickly as possible.In December, the Tokyo District Court sentenced disqualified Class 1 architect Hidetsugu Aneha to five years in prison for his role in fabricating earthquake-resistance data for condominiums and other buildings. Since his fabrications were revealed in November 2005, an architectural design firm in Fukuoka Prefecture and a disqualified Class 2 architect in Sapporo also were found to have fudged seismic strength data. They committed their illicit acts, in various places around the country, at the time when Aneha falsified structural calculation sheets.Lives at stakeMost disturbing about the latest case is that Mizuochi is not only a Class 1 architect, but also a registered structural engineer certified by the Japan Structural Consultants Association. Only 2,500 or so registered structural engineers in Japan are recognized by the association as elite architects with advanced knowledge, skills and abilities in structural design. This fact demonstrates just how deep the falsification problem extends.The ministry revised the Building Standards Law and other related laws after the Aneha incident. Falsifying structural calculation has been made punishable by imprisonment, and building certification procedures have been revamped. The revised law will come into effect in June. However, giving closure to the Aneha incident and revising the building certification system will not be the final chapter of the fabrication scandal.Other buildings that lack required earthquake resistance due to fabricated calculations might still be standing, endangering those inside them. The ministry is randomly sampling buildings to inspect their seismic strength, but more encompassing inspections might be necessary in areas expected to suffer extensive damage in earthquakes.The architectural industry also must do its best to enhance the ethics of architects and building engineers. After all, fabricating seismic integrity is a serious crime that threatens many lives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	628	2007-01-28	YOSHIN0020070128e31s00094
YOMSHI0020070129e31t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070129e31t00001	EN	\N	Will talks mark new era in Japan-Russia ties?	Will this herald be a new start for Japan-Russia relations that have been somewhat stagnant recently?	4	2007-01-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is important not only to continue the strategic dialogue, but also to upgrade it to the foreign ministerial level and then to summit level.Japan's policy toward Russia faces drastic changes in the security environment.Russia had suffered from economic turmoil and stagnation after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. But its economy is booming today thanks to abundant crude oil and natural gas resources as leveraged by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow is now confident about its position and is taking an increasingly aggressive diplomatic stance based on its energy resources.For example, Russia's state-owned gas monopoly OAO Gazprom recently took control of Sakhalin Energy Investment Co., operator of the Sakhalin-2 natural gas development project, from foreign investors, including Japanese companies.Russia flexing musclesMeanwhile, Russia as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which comprises China, Russia and four Central Asian countries, has been enhancing military relations with China, a growing economic and military power, through large-scale joint military exercises. This is a significant move affecting the security of Japan and the East Asian region.Russia also is a member of the six-party talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. It is also important for Japan to win Moscow's cooperation in realizing the abandonment of Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, which threaten Japan's security.Under such circumstances, the strategic dialogue is of greate significance. Tokyo should press Moscow to understand its positions and opinion with an eye to the formation of a new order in East Asia.It is difficult to say that Tokyo's approach has been based on the right strategy or that it has dealt appropriately with security environment changes and new challenges in its relations with Russia.Ministry in disorderOne of the reasons for this is apparently due to confusion in the Foreign Ministry section in charge of Russia in connection with the political scandal over the government-financed aid project for the northern territories under the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. It also has something to do with its aftereffect. Tokyo's relationship with Moscow apparently is stagnating in comparison with its relations with other major countries.After all, the northern territories issue is the biggest impediment to developing Japan-Russia relations.Putin has often referred to resolving the territorial issue. He has once recognized the validity of the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration and suggested settling the dispute by returning two of the four northern islands to Japan.However, opposition to the return of the northern territories to Japan is strong within Russia due to growing nationalism. With the booming economy, very few officials in the Russian government believe the return of the northern territories should be seriously considered to obtain economic cooperation from Japan.Under the current circumstances, it is not easy for Tokyo to settle the territorial dispute and sign a peace treaty with Moscow.However, conditions for the dynamic development of Japan-Russia ties cannot be realized without settling the territorial dispute. Though it is not a forum for discussion of the territorial issue, Japan needs to seek a solution to the dispute, even during the strategic dialogue. To realize this, the strategic dialogue must be continues and deepened.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2007-01-29	YOSHIN0020070129e31t000br
YOMSHI0020070130e31u00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070130e31u00001	EN	\N	DPJ must present compelling proposals	The opposition party leader's questions highlighted points of contention for the House of Councillors election this summer. We hope constructive discussions will follow.	4	2007-01-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the beginning of his remarks, Ozawa posed a question about whether politicians should pursue constitutional revision--which the prime minister has been seeking--or "reforming people's livelihood."This argument is Ozawa's attempt to highlight the differences between his party and the Abe administration.However, Ozawa is aware that revision of the Constitution is an important political task. Constitutional revision and rebuilding people's livelihood are both tasks that have to be dealt with. Ozawa should not have offered such an either-or argument.In his interpellation, Ozawa placed rectifying income and other gaps between haves and have-nots as the most urgent task. The DPJ leader asserted that social disparities in Japan had become the largest in the world under the administrations of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Abe.The government will submit to the Diet a set of labor-related bills, including one to improve payment and other conditions of part-time workers, as part of the government's efforts to build a society that gives people a second chance at success.Addressing disparitiesIn response, the DPJ plans to submit a bill to create legislation to rectify the gaps. The main opposition party should immediately present the specific steps and means the party would like to see put in place to correct the gaps.On the issue of financial resources for social welfare, Ozawa proposed all revenue from the consumption tax should be specifically used to help finance the basic pension plan, while keeping the rate at its current 5 percent. This marks a departure from his party's conventional argument that a 3 percentage point hike in the consumption tax rate is necessary to finance the basic pension.To explain the new proposal, Ozawa presented an estimate stating that the public burden from other sources used for financing the basic pension plan has increased to an amount equal to a 3.5 percentage point consumption tax hike, adding that the consumption tax should not be increased.However, can the mounting pension payouts be dealt with without a consumption tax hike? Ozawa's explanations failed to persuade.Rural assistanceOn the agricultural issue, the DPJ leader proposed a system to aid farming households, including part-time farmers, in which the gap between production costs and market prices would be directly paid to all struggling farmers.This system would not strengthen the nation's agricultural sector, and would only solidify the current inefficiencies in the farming situation.To secure financial resources to realize the envisioned reforms, Ozawa said the central government's subsidies and tax grants to local governments should be provided as lump sums to be used at each local government's discretion. He also proposed all public corporations and independent administrative institutions should be disbanded in principle. The DPJ leader must show specific ways to realize such proposals.Touching on the issue of political funds and accounting, Ozawa said, "No decent discussions can be started," unless issues involving politicians' office expenses are resolved. But this remark apparently lacks significance.While it is important to get to the truth in political funding scandals to secure the public's trust in politics, and to enhance the transparency of political funds, what voters want is Diet debate on specific ways to solve a host of important policy issues.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2007-01-30	YOSHIN0020070130e31u000gp
YOMSHI0020070131e31v00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070131e31v00001	EN	\N	North Korea must agree to scrap N-program	Chief negotiators from the United States and North Korea met in Berlin on Jan. 16-18 to discuss the six-party talks. During the meetings, Washington must have strongly urged Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions.	4	2007-01-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ball is now in North Korea's court. But looking at its past behavior, there is little room for optimism.The last six-party talks held in December ended without any discussions being held on the dismantling of Pyongyang's nuclear programs because North Korea persisted in demanding that U.S. financial sanctions against it be lifted first.Prior to the six-party talks, the United States and North Korea started an experts meeting on the financial sanctions Tuesday in Beijing. How Pyongyang responds in this meeting will be an indicator of its stance in the six-party nuclear talks.In September 2005, Washington banned U.S. financial institutions from conducting transactions with a Macao-based bank that holds North Korean accounts on the ground that the bank was involved in North Korea's money-laundering activities.As a result, about $24 million worth of North Korean assets were frozen. However, there are reports that the United States is considering lifting sanctions on some of the assets that it deems to have no connection with illegal acts.Regime propped up by nukesBut even if such a move is made, there is no guarantee that North Korea will take steps that will definitely lead to the scrapping of its nuclear program.It is possible that Pyongyang will pull off a "coup" in the shape of a partial lifting of the U.S. financial sanctions, but flimflam on the key issue of denuclearization by announcing a "freeze."If it does that, it could resume nuclear weapons development anytime.In a joint statement adopted at the six-party talks in September 2005, North Korea "committed to abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing programs."But despite nearly 1! years having passed, North Korea has not shown any intention of discussing specific steps toward the abandonment of its nuclear program.We can only assume that North Korea is accelerating its drive toward becoming a nuclear nation in the belief that only by being armed with nuclear weapons can North Korea guarantee the security of the regime under its leader, Kim Jong Il.Resolve 3 issues togetherAs a matter of fact, while stalling the six-party talks process, Pyongyang went ahead with ballistic missile test launches and a nuclear test. Its nuclear facility producing uranium is still in operation. It is obvious that Pyongyang is buying time to become a nuclear nation by fait accompli.If North Korea refuses to begin scrapping its nuclear programs during the resumed six-party talks, the international community must unite to put further pressure on Pyongyang.The U.N. Security Council economic sanctions resolution is the key ground for doing so. Japan must be prepared to apply further pressure at any time.During the talks, there is a possibility of establishing a Japan-North Korea working committee under the six-party process. Japan must maintain its stance of resolving the nuclear, missile and abduction issues comprehensively.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	569	2007-01-31	YOSHIN0020070131e31v000h2
YOMSHI0020070201e32100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070201e32100001	EN	\N	Revelations of cover-ups at N-plants appalling	An in-house investigation by Tokyo Electric Power Co. revealed that there were many wrongdoings in the past, including the falsification of data concerning equipment inspections--something closely related to the safety of nuclear facilities--at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata Prefecture and its Fukushima No. 1 and No. 2 nuclear plants in Fukushima Prefecture.	4	2007-02-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Voices asking how such irregularities could have occurred likely will be raised.In 2002, the then chairman and the president of TEPCO were forced to resign to take responsibility for multiple cases of data manipulation at its nuclear facilities.This time, following the revelation of the falsification of inspection data for dams by electric power companies, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency ordered each electric power company to conduct a survey of its facilities.TEPCO's investigation found 199 cases at three nuclear power plants that possibly violated related laws and ordinances. The number of cases that violated its internal regulations likely was huge.Among them, an egregious example of data manipulation was found. Although, in 1992, a pump for emergency use was broken at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa No. 1 reactor, TEPCO covered up the malfunction and passed the state inspection.Safety principles floutedThe three principles to ensure the safety of a nuclear power plant when a problem occurs are halting operations, cooling the reactor and confining radiation. The pump in question is designed to cool the reactor core in an emergency. TEPCO finagled the government inspection to make it appear that the pump was working normally, and the reactor was kept in operation after the inspection.The company deserves to be severely criticized for its cavalier attitude toward safety. The government inspections also were riddled with flaws.However, each case mentioned above happened before the 2002 data manipulation cases. It is likely that these irregularities were overlooked because at that time the government inspections attached more importance to examining documents than to interviewing employees of electric power companies. According to TEPCO's in-house investigation, the broken equipment in question was repaired, and data have not been manipulated recently. Therefore, the safety of the facilities has not been compromised, according to TEPCO.But TEPCO should thoroughly examine why it committed such irregularities, breaking laws and ordinances in the process, and learn a lesson from the experience.Since the 2002 cases, TEPCO's inspection system has been largely reformed. The system to check plant operations and the preservation of records has been strengthened, and it is difficult for irregularities to happen under the new system. In addition, the government inspection system also was renewed so specialized inspectors can make surprise inspections.Inspections must be stringentWrongdoing cannot easily be committed under the present circumstances. But if the safety-first attitude weakens, even the new inspection systems will not fulfill their purposes. Both TEPCO and the government should redouble their resolve to ensure safety.Under the current inspection system, an electric power company must suspend operations of its nuclear power plants every 13 months and check specified items. But the government is considering adopting such as system as introduced in the United States and Europe, in which the state decides the operational period and inspection items for each nuclear reactor individually because experience suggests that with that system, power companies can operate nuclear power plants more flexibly and maintain safety at a higher level.However, the plan will not work unless a strict inspection system is in place. TEPCO should leave behind once and for all a corporate culture that condones falsifying inspection data.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	628	2007-02-01	YOSHIN0020070201e321000fx
YOMSHI0020070202e32200002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070202e32200002	EN	\N	DPJ betrays expectations as alternative for LDP	They said they would abstain from the deliberations on a supplementary budget until Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa resigns over his recent comparison of women to "birthing machines."	4	2007-02-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Boycotting Diet sessions to have their demands met was a tactic used by the defunct Japan Socialist Party, which had earned the reputation of being a perennial opposition party. The Democratic Party of Japan--the opposition party seeking to take office as an alternative for the Liberal Democratic Party--should not emulate this bad habit.During a speech about Japan's declining birthrate, Yanagisawa made a gaffe, saying, "I'm sorry to call women 'birthing machines,' but [because there is a fixed number of birth-giving machines and devices], all we can do is to ask each one of them to do her best." He immediately followed the statement with an apology.Referring to women as "birthing machines" is an outright blunder. The health minister is a Cabinet member who plays an important role in initiating and implementing measures to combat the declining birthrate. He bears serious responsibility for what he said.Ozawa at heart of DPJ approachThe DPJ recently convened a meeting between its head and those of the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party, which jointly called for Yanagisawa's resignation over his remark, which "disregards women and belittles their human rights."Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave Yanagisawa a strong warning and offered a very unusual apology during an interpellation session at the Diet: "I also want to offer my deepest apologies for his comment, which were upsetting to many women."Why is the DPJ taking a hard-line stance? DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa is behind the party's tactics in the Diet.During Monday's interpellation session, Ozawa said he "could not hold deliberations seriously" at the Diet session without first settling a spate of scandals regarding politics and political funding, such as lawmakers' dubious accounting of office expenditures by their political groups, indicating that the DPJ would wage an all-out confrontation with the ruling coalition.Referring to Yanagisawa's remark, Ozawa focused his attack in line with intensifying coverage on TV, with many programs "[condemning] Yanagisawa's gaffe."Boycott counterproductiveAs July's House of Councillors election approaches, Ozawa will likely seek to create a unified front within the opposition camp. The DPJ leader may consider an approach that further damages the image of the Abe Cabinet, whose approval ratings have eroded. The opposition lawmakers' push to force a major Cabinet member to resign at the opening of the Diet session is another strategy to stall the ruling camp's momentum.Meanwhile, Ozawa challenged the ruling camp during the interpellation session by listing a set of "pressing" domestic issues, including reforming the current education system and the employment law system, which is based on lifetime employment.The fiscal 2006 supplementary budget, the deliberations for which the opposition camp boycotted, also covers spending, such as for funding for repair work on damage caused by torrential rains.Despite this, Ozawa has been taking the initiative in the opposition camp's boycott of the lower house Budget Committee session. The DPJ might not deserve to be called a party capable of taking over the rein of the government.The opposition camp says the health minister's remark was an "unforgivable blunder as a human being." If the opposition camp sees Yanagisawa as unworthy of his position as a Cabinet member charged with reviewing measures to battle the declining birthrate and for reform of the employment legislation, it would make more sense to deal with the matter at the deliberations--not to boycott them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2007-02-02	YOSHIN0020070202e322000fn
YOMSHI0020070203e32300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070203e32300001	EN	\N	Letting victims speak in court not plain sailing	A subcommittee of the Justice Ministry's Legislative Council has released a set of guidelines for the introduction of a system that would authorize crime victims and their families to question defendants and witnesses within the scope of discretion allowed by judges. The system also would enable them--after consultations with prosecutors--to state their opinions about whether the prosecution's demand for a specific punishment for the crime was sufficient or not.	4	2007-02-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Crime victims and their families have been directly affected by the crimes committed. Yet, they have long been kept out of trial proceedings.The Criminal Procedure Code, which was revised in 2000, entitles crime victims and their families to express their opinions about cases in dispute, if they so wish. However, the law does not allow them to directly question defendants and witnesses in court.The proposed system would enable crime victims and their families to question defendants and witnesses. Similar systems have been introduced in France and Germany. In Japan, groups of crime victims have strongly urged the government to adopt such a system.Doubts on applicability lingerHowever, it is questionable whether the system can serve its purpose in this country, whose judiciary system differs fundamentally from those of Germany and France. For instance, judges in Japan have less power in presiding over court cases.Furthermore, there are serious concerns that the sentiment of crime victims could affect and disrupt criminal trials. It is feared that crime victims and their families could make groundless remarks while also questioning defendants and witnesses beyond the bounds of discretion permitted by judges.The guidelines for the system would require crime victims to inform prosecutors of their intention to take the stand in court before questioning defendants and witnesses. It is questionable, however, whether prosecutors will be able to properly deal with victims and their families when they are emotionally involved. Such skepticism also has been expressed by judges.Many criminal cases subject to the proposed system, including murder and robbery resulting in injury, also will be covered by the planned joint judge-jury system in which randomly selected citizens would team up with judges in trying cases. It is doubtful whether citizens who try cases as lay judges will be able to make levelheaded decisions about a criminal case as they hear the emotional opinions of crime victims and their families.Trials could drag onThe panel's latest proposal for adopting the system also included a plan to introduce a supplementary system. The scheme stipulates that judges trying a case under the former system also will examine a claim for damages by victims and their families. The current system for damage suits requires victims and their families, as well as lawyers representing them, to gather evidence needed to prove their points, separately from their efforts to do so in criminal trials.We welcome the proposed supplementary scheme, which would make it unnecessary for victims and their families to collect evidence in cases involving their claims for compensation.However, some specialists fear that criminal cases to be tried under the supplementary system could drag on if lawyers representing victims and their families stated their cases in a manner that would earn their clients an exceedingly large amount of compensation.Crime victims must be afforded every consideration in trials that involve them. However, the system that would allow their participation in criminal cases would fundamentally change this nation's criminal justice system. Caution must be exerted in addressing the issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2007-02-03	YOSHIN0020070203e323000gh
YOMSHI0020070204e32400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070204e32400001	EN	\N	Fight against global warming must start now	This chilling conclusion was included in a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the most authoritative group on global warming, comprising 2,500 scientists from around the world.	4	2007-02-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The IPCC's latest report--a collection of the most up-to-date scientific findings about the greenhouse effect and climate change--came six years after its third such report was published in 2001. The new report states in no uncertain terms that the warming of Earth has accelerated over the past six years.The IPCC's third report said the average temperature of our planet had risen by 0.6 C during the 100 years from 1901 to 2001. However, the latest report said the average temperature had risen by 0.74 C over the 100 years through 2005. These figures indicate the pace of the rise in the average global temperature is increasing.The report also shed light on the cause of global warming. According to the report, the heating of the planet was "very likely" caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases discharged through human activities. The phrase "very likely" meant a probability of more than 90 percent that human activities were responsible, the report said.Some scientists have sniffed at the argument that greenhouse gases are the culprits behind global warming. However, the latest findings, obtained through six years of research by IPCC scientists, have added credibility to this theory.Getting hotter, fasterThe report predicted Earth's average temperature could rise by up to 6.4 C by the end of this century, and added that the impacts caused by this climate change would reverberate for several centuries to come. The figure represents an increase of 0.6 C from a forecast made in the 2001 report.All these findings point to the sobering--and increasingly undeniable--fact that the planet is getting warmer at an ever-quicker pace.What should be done to halt the heating of the Earth? Before anything else, every nation must acknowledge the problem needs to be addressed seriously.The latest report was the first of its kind to link abnormal weather on a global scale to the increasing temperature of the planet. It said extreme weather such as torrential rain, heat waves, unusually mild winters and massive typhoons are not unrelated to global warming, adding that abnormal weather could strike parts of the world more often than in the past.Japan is not immune to this problem. The country has been battered by a raft of weather anomalies in recent years, including devastating typhoons, concentrated heavy rainfalls, extremely heavy snowfalls and unseasonal warm weather. Today, many people in this country feel their lives are being impinged upon by abnormal weather.Woes waiting in the wingsOver the years, Arctic and Antarctic sea ice has been steadily melting. Some scientists have suggested sea ice in the Arctic Circle could disappear entirely in the latter summer months as we near the end of the century. Sea levels are predicted to rise by up to 59 centimeters. Should these projections all come to pass, the world's socioeconomic and ecological systems could suffer crippling blows.However, efforts to halt global warming taken by countries thus far have been halfhearted at best. The Kyoto Protocol on global warming, which was adopted in 1997, is a centerpiece of the fight against global warming. However, scant progress has been made in achieving the protocol's CO2 reduction targets.The United States, the world's largest CO2 emitter, has not signed on to the pact. The protocol also excludes China and India--both of which discharge an increasing amount of CO2 as a result of their rapid economic expansion--from the list of nations required to reduce their CO2 emissions. The protocol only incorporates measures to tackle global warming that will run until 2012. The international community's most pressing task is to bring its fight against global warming back on track as early as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	688	2007-02-04	YOSHIN0020070204e3240009p
YOMSHI0020070205e32500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070205e32500001	EN	\N	TSE should seek Asia bourse alliances	The two exchanges will cooperate with each other in a broad range of fields, including mutual listing of exchange-traded funds and other financial instruments and joint development of system infrastructure. The TSE and NYSE will also enter into talks on capital alliance as the Tokyo bourse plans to go public in 2009.	4	2007-02-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The movement toward realignments and tie-ups among stock exchanges around the world is gathering speed. The NYSE will merge this spring with Euronext N.V., which operates European exchanges, including those in Paris and Amsterdam.Nasdaq Stock Market Inc., which runs the Nasdaq exchange market, has launched a hostile takeover bid for London Stock Exchange PLC.These moves were prompted by the deepening globalization of the economy and the rapid progress in information technology, which allows faster and easier cross-border movement of funds.Globalization leads tie-up trendIt has become increasingly important for stock exchanges around the world to increase the number of companies they list and to offer various financial products to secure enough market transactions to make profits.It takes an enormous investment to develop and maintain systems able to smoothly handle huge volumes of transactions. The move toward mergers and tie-ups among exchanges also is aimed at reducing such burdens.The TSE is no exception. The combined market capitalization of the companies listed on the TSE is second only to that of the NYSE. However, the TSE's status as an international stock exchange has declined. It had 127 foreign companies listed in 1991, but the figure has since dropped to 25.Survival of the fittestIf the TSE's presence continues to decline, and fewer foreign companies and institutional investors use the TSE, its listed domestic companies will face difficulties in procuring funds and investors will have less opportunity to make investments. An effective way to prevent such a scenario is for the TSE to increase its convenience through alliances with other exchanges.Following the move of the NYSE, the London Stock Exchange has sounded out the TSE about a tie-up. U.S. and European markets are looking to Asia in order to lure companies in the growing region into their markets. The TSE has to be vigilant to ensure Asian companies and funds do not flow into the United States and Europe, bypassing the TSE.The TSE is also considering tying up with other stock exchanges in Asia. It must firm up its footing as a core exchange in Asia by aggressively trying to attract Chinese and Indian companies that are about to go public, while also focusing on protecting investors.At the same time, the Tokyo bourse also must prepare for possible risks related to its plan to become a listed company and its tie-up with the NYSE. As a key part of the nation's financial infrastructure, the TSE has to maintain stable management. In this regard, the TSE must be prepared to defend itself against any possible takeover bid.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	544	2007-02-06	YOSHIN0020070206e326000it
YOMSHI0020070207e32700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070207e32700001	EN	\N	A-bomb survivors living abroad need help fast	Based on the five-year statute of limitations stipulated in the Local Government Law, the central and local governments have been refusing to pay health care benefits when survivors living overseas claimed the benefits.	4	2007-02-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a trial in which the justification of such administrative action was examined, the nation's top court rejected the administration side's claims.Measures offered by the administrative side have always followed judicial judgments. Initially, the central government took the position that atomic bomb survivors living overseas may not receive health care benefits in line with a document titled Notification No. 402, issued in 1974 by the chief of the Public Health Bureau of the then Health and Welfare Ministry.However, since the Supreme Court ruled in 1978 that the survivors may receive the benefits as long as they are living in the country, the government issued a revised notification stipulating that atomic bomb survivors may receive the benefits while they are staying in Japan, but will lose the right to the benefits if they leave the country.The Osaka District and Osaka High courts later handed down rulings in a similar suit in which both courts said atomic bomb survivors will never lose their entitlements to the benefits no matter where they choose to live.The central government abandoned a plan to appeal the high court ruling to the Supreme Court and started providing the benefits. However, the government paid only five years' worth of benefits retroactively, based on the five-year statute of limitations rule.Ruling harshly scolds govtsThis time, the Supreme Court ruled that Notification No. 402 was "illegal since it misinterprets the Atomic Bomb Victims Relief Law and other related laws." Similar rulings were issued at the district or high court level, but Tuesday's decision is the first time the top court has made such a judgment.On the claim regarding the statute of limitations, the Supreme Court said, "Applying [the statute of limitations] is impermissible since doing so would run counter to the principle of faith and trust."The court therefore pointed out that based on Notification No. 402, the administrative side actively obstructed the demand for benefit payments by the survivors living abroad, making it extremely difficult for them to exercise their right to the benefits with the result that their claims ended up being barred by the statute of limitations.The ruling is stricter than any past judgments that have accused the central and local governments of acting irresponsibly.Concerning the justification of applying the statute of limitations, views in past court judgments have been divided. In the latest case, the Hiroshima District Court approved the application, while the Hiroshima High Court said it runs counter to the principle of faith and trust.Unambiguous messageTaking into consideration that even judicial judgments have been divided, we cannot flatly criticize the actions taken by the central and local governments.However, Tuesday's decision was the unanimous view of all four Supreme Court justices assigned to the trial. The administration authorities must take the ruling seriously.In response to the Supreme Court ruling, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will stop applying the statute of limitations and disburse unpaid benefits to the survivors. This is a natural course of action, taking into consideration the intent of the Atomic Bomb Victims Relief Law, which calls for "comprehensive assistance measures" for atomic bombing survivors.According to the ministry, among atomic bomb survivors living overseas, there are several hundred people who did not receive health care benefits partially or totally due to the application of the statute of limitations rule.The average age of the atomic bombing survivors is 74. The government should deal with their benefit claims speedily.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2007-02-07	YOSHIN0020070207e327000fd
YOMSHI0020070208e32800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070208e32800001	EN	\N	No sense in striking easy bargain with DPRK	The most important item in the statement is a pledge by North Korea that refers to the "abandonment of all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs." However, the six-party talks have not borne any fruit although nearly 18 months have passed since the adoption of the joint statement. What is worse, North Korea's nuclear development has advanced, and Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test despite calls from the international community warning it against doing so.	4	2007-02-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the six-party talks continue to have no effect in stopping North Korea's nuclear armament, there is no point continuing them. This round of talks is an especially important phase as the raison d'etre of the six-way framework is being questioned.In the latest round of talks, the United States reportedly aims at having the parties to the talks agree on at least to two points as "preliminary measures" toward North Korea scrapping its nuclear programs--a freeze of the operations of nuclear-related facilities producing plutonium at Yongbyon and the return to North Korea of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.Freezing facilities no solutionThe problem is whether an effective agreement that can bring about the denuclearization of North Korea will be concluded. The other issue is what the country will demand in return.According to U.S. nuclear experts who visited the country, North Korea wants more than 500,000 tons of fuel oil annually and the lifting of a U.S. Treasury Department sanction that resulted in the freezing of North Korean accounts at a Macao-based bank, instead of accepting the "preliminary measures." Furthermore, it maintains that light water reactors must be constructed and handed over to the country as a final step for the abandonment of its nuclear ambitions.These points are quite similar to the Agreed Framework of 1994 between the United States and North Korea, which has already been voided. North Korea suspended the operations of the Yongbyon facilities, but restarted operations at the plant in 2003, saying the framework had been breached by the United States. If the operations of the Yongbyon facilities are suspended, production of plutonium--an essential material to produce nuclear weapons--will be suspended at least temporarily.But if operations at its nuclear-related facilities are suspended rather than the plants being dismantled, North Korea could put them back online anytime.Little is known about a nuclear development program using enriched uranium that Pyongyang is said to be secretly developing. A similar mistake should not be repeated.Action needed on abductionsThe joint statement also stipulates Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States will promote economic cooperation with North Korea, including energy assistance. However, this is all based on the premise that North Korea abandons its nuclear ambitions. Carrying out such assistance too hastily may assist North Korea's nuclear development.Japan is under immediate threat from North Korea's nuclear weapons as this country is located within the range of its Rodong missiles. Meanwhile, North Korea has not shown any sincerity toward resolving the issue of abduction of Japanese by North Korean agents.It is natural that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan will not offer any assistance to North Korea unless there is progress in the abduction issue.If a working group on Japan-North Korean relations is created in this round of talks, Japan should carefully assess what action North Korea takes on the abduction issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2007-02-08	YOSHIN0020070208e328000fc
YOMSHI0020070209e32900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070209e32900001	EN	\N	Fleeing foreign criminals should be tried in Japan	At the first hearing of the case Tuesday, Milton Noboru Higaki, admitted all the charges. Higaki allegedly killed Mayumi Ochiai in a hit-and-run in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, in July 1999. It took two months for the Shizuoka prefectural police to identify the suspect and by then Higaki has already fled to Brazil.	4	2007-02-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is of the utmost importance that Japanese authorities prevent foreign criminals from escaping punishment in this country. This eventually will help prevent the recurrence of fugitives escaping justice and improve security in Japanese society.Brazil's Constitution prohibits the extradition of its nationals. This, of course, also means it does not have an extradition treaty with Japan. Therefore, the Japanese government had to request proxy punishment by Brazilian authorities, which would press charges based on Brazilian laws.This is the first time for the Brazilian government to hold a trial applying proxy punishment against a suspect that has fled Japan.Brazilian law imposes a prison sentence of up to six years on a driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run, far shorter than the maximum of 7! years under Japanese law. Nonetheless, the worst situation--the alleged perpetrator escaping punishment altogether--can still be avoided.A growing problemCrime committed by foreign residents is becoming a serious problem. The number of foreign nationals who committed crimes in Japan and then fled to other countries increased sharply from 221 in 1996 to 656 in 2006.Of them, 291, the largest group, were Chinese nationals, followed by 92 Brazilians and 50 Koreans, according to 2006 statistics.In the case of Higaki, it has taken eight years since the suspect was identified for a trial to get under way. Part of this slow process could be attributed to red tape, including the translation of evidence from Japanese into Portuguese and negotiations between Japanese and Brazilian authorities.Japanese authorities should start procedures requesting proxy punishment in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry immediately after realizing that a foreign suspect has fled the country.It is still reasonable, however, that foreign suspects who have committed crimes in Japan should also be brought to justice in Japan.More extradition pacts neededExtradition treaties have been inked with South Korea and the United States. The Foreign Ministry is reportedly asking the Brazilian government to find a way to conclude an extradition treaty with Japan in a way that does not violate the Brazilian Constitution.Tokyo should be more aggressive in seeking extradition treaties, in consideration of the actual situation regarding crimes committed by foreign residents who then escape abroad.As for crimes committed by Chinese residents in Japan, which pose the most serious problem, Japanese and Chinese authorities have been increasing cooperation in investigations since the late 1990s, chalking up a track record of proxy punishments. Taking Japanese feelings toward China into consideration, the Chinese authorities sometimes arrest and punish their nationals who have returned to China after committing serious crimes in Japan even without Tokyo's request for proxy punishment. Yet, there still remain many suspects who have succeeded in escaping punishment for crimes committed in Japan.Though some foreign governments may not always go along with the idea, the Japanese government should still try to sign extradition treaties with as many countries as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2007-02-09	YOSHIN0020070209e329000fd
YOMSHI0020070210e32a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070210e32a00001	EN	\N	Pass bill soon to spur U.S. force realignment	The major features of the bill, which was submitted to the Diet on the same day, are subsidies for local governments that agree to the relocation of U.S. forces to their regions and the construction of necessary facilities, and financial support for the planned relocation to Guam of U.S. marines currently stationed in Okinawa Prefecture.	4	2007-02-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, including the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, is facing mounting problems. The bill must pass the Diet as quickly as possible to help the government make the realignment plan a reality by winning the consent and cooperation of affected local governments and residents.The central government has been providing subsidies to local governments located near U.S. bases. But, according to the bill, the amount of subsidies will be increased in line with progress made on the realignment, including agreement to the realignment plan and the start and completion of related construction work. With this approach, the government hopes to encourage municipalities to cooperate.The government's financial situation is dire. It cannot spend taxpayers' money freely on local governments around U.S. bases without seeing progress on the realignment plan.Okinawa still thorn in sideOkinawa Prefecture has not yet accepted a plan calling for the construction of two runways in a V-shaped formation in Nago for the relocation of the Futenma Air Station, though Tokyo and Washington have already done so. Nor has the prefecture allowed the central government to begin a required environmental assessment. Passage of the bill would be one way to help resolve the standoff.Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima supported the bill at a recent press conference saying, "I agree to push ahead with the realignment plan." But, he added that the central government's assistance was necessary in making use of sites vacated by the U.S. forces.If he truly believes what he is saying, Nakaima should work harder to reach an agreement with the central government.The central and local governments must cooperate with each other to realize a smooth realignment of U.S. forces in Japan that goes according to plan.If the bill is passed, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will be freed up to finance the development of facilities in Guam for U.S. marines relocating from Okinawa Prefecture.This means that a consortium financed by the JBIC and private firms will construct housing there for marines and their families.Guam at present does not have facilities that can accommodate the 8,000 marines and their 9,000 family members. If Japan provides financial assistance for housing development through the JBIC, they will be relocated quickly.No choice but to helpOne of the purposes for the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan is the reduction of the burden on Okinawa Prefecture, where 75 percent of the facilities and land used by the U.S. forces are located. The relocation of marines to Guam will be a relief for the prefecture. However, it is the U.S. Marine Corps high level of mobility and readiness that maintains the region's current level of deterrence.The government requested that the U.S. government relocate the marines to Guam. Tokyo must therefore offer a certain amount of assistance to Washington to make the move a reality as soon as possible.This, however, will be the first time for the central government to spend such a large amount of public money on the construction of U.S. military facilities in a foreign country.There are quite a few points of contention in this plan, including whether it is right to use the state coffers to fund the move, and how private funds should be used in connection with housing development in Guam. The government must be detailed in their explanations to the Diet during deliberations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 10, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	692	2007-02-10	YOSHIN0020070210e32a000fj
YOMSHI0020070211e32b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070211e32b00001	EN	\N	Increased cost of power must be shared evenly	Under the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) system, which obliges utility companies to utilize a certain amount of new energy sources, such as wind and solar power, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has decided to increase the obligatory use of new energy sources to 16 billion kilowatt-hours in fiscal 2014, about a three-fold increase on the current use of renewable energy sources.	4	2007-02-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new requirement will bring about a 30 percent increase on the current obligatory utilization of 12.2 billion kilowatt-hours, which will end in fiscal 2010. With the new obligatory amount, power generation from new energy sources would account for 1.63 percent of total electricity sales, compared to the previous target of 1.35 percent.Under the new RPS utilization rules, solar power--the most costly renewable energy source--will be considered to be worth twice as much as other new energy sources as an incentive designed to appease the power industry, which opposes the increase of the obligatory standard.The RPS system requires that a certain proportion of utility companies' power supply must come from new energy sources. If a company fails to meet the target, it will be obliged to purchase electric power generated by wind or other new sources from other companies to cover the shortfall.Under this system, the ministry aims to increase the value of new energy, as well as its attractiveness, to promote the development of power generation from new sources.Energy securityExpanding the use of wind and solar power, which do not emit CO2, would help tackle global warming and, as such energy can be produced domestically, improve the nation's energy security.In this regard, the hike of the obligatory level is an appropriate measure, especially because it includes an incentive for solar power, a field in which technological innovation can be expected.However, an increase in the use of new energy resources will push up the cost of electricity. For example, the cost of generating solar power is about 46 yen per kilowatt-hour, nearly eight times as expensive as the 6 yen or so it costs to generate nuclear- or coal-generated power. It is estimated that the total cost of attaining the obligatory use of new energy resources would be more than 100 billion yen a year.Germany leading wayIn Germany, which encourages the introduction of new energy resources, power companies are obliged to buy electricity generated by wind and solar power at cost. The total amount was about 400 billion yen in 2005, equivalent to 245 yen a month for each household.Japanese power companies will be able to absorb the higher cost without passing it on to consumers if the cost is derived only from the RPS program.But power companies will have to buy CO2 emission credits from other nations, which is likely to cost hundreds of billions of yen, because it has become difficult to reach the industry's voluntary action plan target to reduce CO2 emissions, due to reduced operation rates of some nuclear power stations.The purchase of emission credits, on top of the change in obligatory amounts under the the RPS system, will have a significant influence on the corporate management of power companies. It would become a real problem for the public to share the cost of measures to fight global warming, such as in Germany.The controlled price is applicable for only 37 percent of the total sales of electricity--the amount used by ordinary households and small businesses--and is a reflection of the liberation of the power business. Sharing electricity costs should be fair, even if a rise in costs is inevitable because of the battle against global warming. Heavy users, such as big businesses, which can negotiate the price they pay, should not be allowed to take advantage of the situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	694	2007-02-11	YOSHIN0020070211e32b000aj
YOMSHI0020070213e32c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070213e32c00001	EN	\N	Strong economy will correct weak yen	The two-day G-7 meeting held in Essen, Germany, ended Saturday, adopting a joint statement that said, "Exchange rates should reflect economic fundamentals."	4	2007-02-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This wording was along the same lines as the previous ones.However, the latest statement called for Japan's economic recovery to be "recognized by market participants" and indirectly mentioned risks related to fluctuating unilaterally exchange rates--an apparent expression of concern over the yen's excessive depreciation against other major currencies.How will exchange markets respond to the statement? Will the yen's depreciation accelerate or slow down? Could there be an unforeseen--and dramatic--development?The yen has been weakening. Recently, it has floated in the 158 yen range against the euro, hitting record lows, and has been sitting at about 121 yen against the U.S. dollar, the weakest level in four years.Interest rate gapOne reason for the depreciation of the yen is the gap between the nation's interest rates and those of the United States and Europe as the Bank of Japan maintains its ultra-low interest rate policy.Germany, host nation of the latest G-7 talks, and other European countries have expressed concerns that appreciation of the euro in tandem with depreciation of the yen hurts European firms' competitiveness.The European position derives from the view that the weak yen has been helping Japanese exporting companies increase profits, thereby sustaining the Japanese economy.However, the United States has backed Japan, saying exchange rates should be determined by the market.While Europe wanted to push for a correction of the yen's exchange rate, Japan wanted to avoid a situation that would see the yen's value begin to rise. The United States plans to stick to its strong-dollar policy.So the absence of direct reference to the yen in the statement was the product of a compromise.However, Japan should not be complacent as a result of the latest G-7 talks, because vocal opponents of the weak yen have emerged in the U.S. auto industry and Congress.A weak yen also means the economy is weak. The longest period of economic boom since the end of World War II continues, but it is not strongly felt by consumers.Robust economic recovery should be achieved via strong consumer spending, and not heavily dependent on an increase of exports helped by a weak yen.As the economy becomes stronger, interest rates are more likely to be hiked. If interest rates are hiked, the yen will naturally appreciate.Tough choicesThe Bank of Japan will hold a meeting of its Policy Board next week. The main focus of the meeting will be whether the policy-setting panel, which forwent an interest rate hike at its last meeting, will opt for a rate rise. It will not be an easy decision to make.In the statement, the G-7 pointed out the need to closely monitor hedge funds, which handle a vast amount of funds. We would like to give high marks for this view.Yen-carry trades by hedge funds, in which the funds borrow yen at low interest rates to invest into financial assets of other major currencies with higher interest rates, are increasing. This is one of the factors behind the yen's depreciation.If the management of hedge funds becomes difficult due to rapid fluctuation of exchange rates or other factors, a global financial crisis might erupt. Measures should be drawn up to address the potential risks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2007-02-12	YOSHIN0020070213e32c00082
YOMSHI0020070214e32e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070214e32e00001	EN	\N	N-weapons left unclear in deal with North Korea	In the six-party talks that concluded in Beijing on Tuesday, the participants, including North Korea, adopted a written document that specified the initial-phase measures to be implemented by the six countries within 60 days to fulfill the contents of the joint statement signed in 2005.	4	2007-02-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As the first step toward implementing North Korea's promise to "abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs," North Korea is required to "shut down and seal the nuclear facility in operation at Yongbyon." It also will be required to accept the return of inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency for verification purposes.At the Yongbyon facility, enough plutonium to make one nuclear weapon is produced every year. If the facility is shut down, meaning that the production of plutonium there is stopped for the present, a certain "result" can be said to have been achieved.But Japan and the United States have called on North Korea to abandon all its nuclear programs, including uranium enrichment, in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" manner. Tuesday's agreement is a far cry from the goal the two countries have sought.Diplomatic victory for KimNorth Korea initially will be provided with emergency energy aid equivalent to 50,000 tons of fuel oil in exchange for shutting down and sealing its nuclear facilities.Remaining energy aid equivalent to 950,000 tons of fuel oil will be provided at the next stage by the time North Korea completes the disabling of its nuclear facilities and submits complete reports on all its nuclear programs. At the same time, North Korea and the United States will hold bilateral negotiations on lifting U.S. financial sanctions against North Korea.Although North Korea went ahead with a nuclear test, the Kim Jong Il regime was able to extract promises of energy aid and bilateral negotiations on diplomatic normalization with the United States. The country must believe it has achieved a diplomatic "victory."The agreement this time also does not mention a secret nuclear development program using enriched uranium. We are worried that the latest agreement will suffer the same fate as the so-called 1994 Agreed Framework between the United States and North Korea, which collapsed later. The processes for the dismantlement of nuclear facilities and the relinquishment of nuclear weapons and plutonium are not at all clear.North Korea can be expected to make the same exorbitant demands in future negotiations as it did in the six-party talks this time. In fact, Pyongyang has said in the past that it would only scrap its nuclear programs after light water nuclear plants it is given go online. The road to the scrapping of Pyongyang's nuclear programs is an extremely rough one.Keep sanctions in placeThe most important thing to bear in mind is that the latest agreement does not mean that Pyongyang's nuclear development has stopped. Neither has North Korea promised to halt nuclear tests. If North Korea succeeds in downscaling nuclear weapons and developing a ballistic missile with nuclear warheads, Japan, which is within the reach of a Rodong missile, would face an even more serious threat.The United Nations and Japan on its own have imposed sanctions on North Korea as it carried out a nuclear test despite international warnings not to do so. As long as the process for the scrapping of nuclear programs remains vague, the continuation of such sanctions is natural.Unless there is progress on the issue of North Korean agents' abduction of Japanese nationals, Japan will not provide aid to North Korea. What stance will Pyongyang take at a working group meeting between Japan and North Korea that is to be held within 30 days? Japan should carefully discuss aid after seeing how Pyongyang acts in the meeting.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	675	2007-02-14	YOSHIN0020070214e32e000gs
YOMSHI0020070214e32f0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070214e32f0000g	EN	\N	Policies must be focus of elections	Under Wednesday's accord, the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, are scheduled to submit a bill aimed at revising the Public Offices Election Law to the current Diet session and get it adopted by the end of next week.	4	2007-02-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bill would lift the current ban on electoral candidates distributing leaflets after the official start of election campaigns is proclaimed--a move that would permit them to hand out a certain number of copies of their local manifestos.In this country, manifestos issued by political parties in their campaigns for House of Representatives elections have become known as sets of promises they hope to deliver if and when they come into power. These written statements incorporate pledges including numerical goals and their target dates. By inspecting whether--and to what extent--such promises have been fulfilled after lower house elections, each voter can decide which party he or she will support in the next election.Political parties in this nation, including the LDP, New Komeito and the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan, issued their first manifestos in the 2003 lower house election. The new practice followed Britain's tradition in this respect. The Public Offices Election Law was revised in the same year to allow political parties to distribute copies of their manifestos among people in designated locations.Pact should spur voter interestThe LDP-New Komeito agreement to revise the law again should serve to generate greater interest among voters in policy issues during campaigning for the upcoming elections to choose prefectural governors and city, town and village mayors.In similar elections in 2003, Iwate Gov. Hiroya Masuda and some other candidates announced their manifestos. This has since helped popularize the practice nationwide.The current law permits candidates for top seats in local governments to distribute copies of their election promises among people--but only as part of their political activities conducted prior to the official start of their election campaigns. Distributing postcards to voters is all candidates can do during their election campaigns under the law.The latest accord came after the National Governors' Association and some other organizations had urged the ruling and opposition parties to change the law, insisting it was unreasonable to ban candidates from distributing pamphlets to a large number of voters.With the purpose of the legislative changes in mind, candidates for the forthcoming elections should state their main policies and specific methods in the leaflets they will distribute.No candidate should be allowed to use such handbills merely to advertise himself or herself, instead of his or her key policies. Doing so would be a far cry from making their polices known to voters through local manifestos.A number of candidates who will run in the local elections are expected to issue their manifestos. An important task facing voters is to fully examine whether the candidates will strive to deliver their promises after the elections.Electoral system needs reviewLast week, a large meeting was held in Morioka to examine Gov. Masuda's success--or lack of it--in achieving the goals set in his manifesto. The governor gave himself 70 points, while local academics and critics awarded him 66 points. The gathering exemplified a good measure of success in this respect by some local communities whose governors and mayors had put their policies to voters through their manifestos.However, the distribution of local manifestos and ensuing efforts to examine their results have been seen only in some communities. It is still difficult to say that voters in many parts of this country have learned to objectively examine whether each candidate has carried out his or her manifesto, for the purpose of better judging for whom he or she will vote in the next election.The Public Offices Election Law imposes a number of restrictions on candidates, including a ban on the use of the Internet in election campaigns. Questions can be raised about whether the current system can facilitate elections in which candidates compete against each other through their policies. Both the ruling and opposition parties must not neglect to constantly review the electoral system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	733	2007-02-15	YOSHIN0020070215e32f000fo
YOMSHI0020070216e32g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070216e32g00001	EN	\N	Interest rate hike a tough decision for BOJ	GDP rose by an annualized 4.8 percent in real terms during the October-December period, a significant increase from 0.3 percent in the preceding quarter. The high growth rate in the last quarter can be attributed to a favorable 1.1 percent rebound in consumer spending, the figure for which decreased by 1.1 percent during the July-September quarter.	4	2007-02-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Corporate investment in plant and equipment remained firm during the last quarter, but exports appeared to suffer a mild slowdown. Some economists have predicted the growth rate will greatly slacken in the January-March quarter.The latest GDP statistics will be used as a basis for judging whether interest rates should be raised at the Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting Wednesday and Thursday.At similar meetings in December and January, the central bank decided not to raise the interest rates, saying it wanted to closely examine how personal consumption and price trends could unfold.Economists split over forecastEconomists seem to be split over how the growth of personal consumer expenditure in the last quarter should be assessed. Some specialists regard the growth rate as an indication that a steady improvement in personal spending will continue, believing that the drop in this respect during the July-September quarter was a temporary development due to unseasonable weather. Others claim the growth in private consumption during the last quarter only served to offset the previous quarterly drop, concluding consumer spending remained weak.There also are concerns about current price trends. The domestic demand deflator, a barometer of domestic price trends, registered year-on-year negative growth for the first time in two quarters. Many economists have said the year-on-year consumer price index, excluding perishables, will reenter negative territory in the not-too-distant future.For years, prices have remained unchanged, reflecting the lack of growth in private consumption due to a scant increases in wages.During the meeting in January, Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui proposed the current monetary policy be maintained, while some members insisted on raising interest rates. This resulted in the votes cast by the nine-member policy board being divided six to three over whether to raise the interest rates.In its upcoming monetary policy meeting, the central bank will face a difficult decision on whether it is time for an interest rate rise.Deflation still a threatWe believe the central bank should remain cautious about raising the interest rates if we stop to remember deflation has not yet been completely overcome. However, harmful effects caused by many years of extremely low interest rates cannot be disregarded.It should be noted that the yen carry trade--the use of low-interest yen funds for investment in U.S. corporate bonds and other high-interest foreign-currency assets--has contributed to the drop in the value of the yen. Experts have warned that excesses in this respect could cause a sharp rise in the yen's value.European participants in the recent meeting of Group of Seven finance and central bank governors in Germany expressed dissatisfaction with the depreciation of the yen.The weak yen, caused in part by extremely low interest rates in Japan, has earned domestic exporters great profits, a factor contributing to the economic recovery. This has drawn fire from other nations.The economic expansion enjoyed by the corporate sector today must also favor ordinary households, raising their consumption expenditure. This will make it unnecessary for Japan to rely on extremely low interest rates and a cheap yen for economic recovery.This outcome is essential to ensure that the nation's economic expansion, the longest since the end of World War II, will further continue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	680	2007-02-16	YOSHIN0020070216e32g000eg
YOMSHI0020070217e32h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070217e32h00001	EN	\N	Time to test measures against takeover bids	This is a development that will test the effectiveness of measures by Japanese firms to counter takeover bids.	4	2007-02-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In response to Steel Partners' move, Sapporo reportedly is set to put into action a package of antitakeover measures adopted last year by its board of directors with the aim of maintaining the company's independence. Steel Partners likely will file suit to suspend the action if Sapporo succeeds in mobilizing its defenses against the takeover bid.In Japan, rules regarding ways a firm can protect itself from a takeover have not yet been fully developed. The ruling in the possible litigation would set the standard for the legitimacy of measures in conjunction with how much leeway companies have in defending themselves.Sapporo's measures require that a bidder explain its business plan in advance if that firm seeks to acquire 20 percent or more of shares with voting rights. If Sapporo determines that the plan will damage its corporate value, it will issue equity warrants to nonbidding shareholders with one warrant per share. If the warrants are put into play, the bidder's voting rights will be cut nearly in half.This is a preventive method known as a "poison pill."Finding the loopholesSteel Partners already holds an about 19 percent stake in Sapporo. Through the public offer, the investment fund is seeking to increase its voting rights at Sapporo to 66.6 percent--a hair below the two-thirds mark, which would require a bidder to purchase all the shares. By seeking a 66.6 percent stake, Steel Partners can avoid this obligation.In its bid, the investment fund is offering 825 yen per share, about 12 percent higher than the average price of Sapporo's stock over the past month. Many experts in the securities industry believe Sapporo shareholders would not accept to an offer with this low of a premium.Last year, the investment fund launched a takeover bid for noodle maker Myojo Foods Co., of which it already held a large stake. However, as Myojo sought help from noodle maker Nissin Food Products Co., Steel Partners sold its Myojo shares to Nissin in that firm's takeover bid for Myojo for a profit.He said, she saidSapporo may argue Steel Partners' real intention behind the takeover bid is to resell acquired shares to a third party for a profit, instead of gaining control of the management because, Sapporo may claim, Steel Partners only sought a portion of outstanding shares at a low premium.For its part, Steel Partners may charge that Sapporo's defense measures had not been approved at a general shareholders meeting and issuance of equity warrants to all shareholders but Steel Partners would run contrary to the principle that all shareholders must be treated equally.Japanese companies became aware of the threat of corporate takeover after a number of hostile takeover bids in 2003 by Steel Partners for listed midsize companies.However, according to Nomura Securities Financial and Economic Research Center, only 190 listed companies--5 percent of those on the nation's stock exchanges--have introduced measures to fight takeovers, indicating just how defenseless Japanese companies are to the ever-increasing threat.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	580	2007-02-17	YOSHIN0020070217e32h000fq
YOMSHI0020070218e32i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070218e32i00001	EN	\N	Merger may trigger industry realignment	Daimaru Inc., the nation's fourth-largest department store operator, and Matsuzakaya Holdings Co., the seventh-largest, have started negotiations with an eye to integrating their operations.	4	2007-02-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the integration of these two long-established department store operators is realized, it will result in the nation's largest department store group, with combined sales of nearly 1.2 trillion yen.Recently, specialty stores--including those for home electronics, men's clothing and household sundries--have been attracting an increasing number of consumers. Department stores, meanwhile, are losing their customers. With the recent decline in the nation's population, the country's purchasing power is expected to wither. Under such circumstances, the two companies must have based their decision to integrate on the belief that their growth would suffer if they did not take immediate action.The envisioned integration would see the two retailers introduce unified procurement and distribution systems in order to cut costs. Daimaru and Matsuzakaya are not alone in their view that something must be done to survive within the industry. There is no ruling out the possibility of other business tie-ups centered on such long-established department store operators as Takashimaya Co.--the nation's largest in terms of sales--Mitsukoshi Ltd, or even Isetan Co. These retailers, too, will have to consider integration or alliances that might also involve smaller regional department store chains.Old dogs, new tricksThe nearly 300-year-old Daimaru has a particularly strong base in western Japan. Matsuzakaya, which has a network of stores in the Nagoya and Tokyo metropolitan areas, is approaching its own 400th anniversary.As both have been in operation for centuries, the two retailers are believed to have been reluctant to undergo a major realignment. Their decision to move toward a possible integration therefore sent shock waves through the industry.But the real question is: Will these streamlined operations strengthen their management base? The current business environment is not good. During the bubble economy, the nation's department stores recorded sales upward of 10 trillion yen in 1990. But as of last year, that figure had fallen by 2 trillion yen, and has yet to show any signs of bottoming out.Industry observers say the department store operators may need to take other drastic measures, including integrating with other retail outlets, such as supermarket chains, if the move is to prove beneficial.Dept stores can't go it aloneOne good example is Millennium Retailing Inc. which has under its umbrella department store operators Seibu Department Stores Ltd. and Sogo Co.Seibu and Sogo suffered setbacks because their overly lax management during the bubble economy attempted to rebuild through integration, only to limited effect. Eventually, Millennium was acquired by Seven & I Holdings Co., which owns the Seven-Eleven Japan Co. chain of convenience stores and supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co.In the Kansai region, Hankyu Department Stores Inc. and Hanshin Department Store Ltd. continue their negotiations for a possible tie-up. The collaboration is encouraged by the successful integration of Hankyu Holdings Inc., a railway operator, and Hanshin Electric Railway Co. It is believed the Hankyu and Hanshin department stores will be able to receive necessary assistance from companies within their groups.The negotiations between Daimaru and Matsuzakaya ultimately may lead to a major realignment of Japan's retail industry.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	589	2007-02-18	YOSHIN0020070218e32i0009b
YOMSHI0020070219e32j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070219e32j00001	EN	\N	African nations wary of China's aid	Chinese President Hu Jintao may have felt a change in this respect during his recent visit to eight African countries. This will make it necessary for China to think twice about its desire to secure energy resources in African countries.	4	2007-02-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Beijing's efforts to win African nations over to its side have been particularly evident since Hu took office.His latest African tour followed a similar visit to that part of the world in April 2006, marking the third of its kind by the Chinese leader. In June, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited seven African nations. In November, leaders from 48 African countries attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-African Cooperation, during which Beijing announced it would double its African aid, among other programs.During his latest tour, Hu pledged economic aid worth more than $300 million to six African countries, including Sudan, an important oil exporter to China. It is believed that more than half of China's foreign assistance is received by African nations.In recent years, China has been stepping up efforts to secure natural resources from African countries in exchange for massive aid and investment. Today, Africa accounts for more than 30 percent of China's total oil imports.Turning blind eyeChina has been engaged in a single-minded effort to secure energy resources from African countries, keeping silent about iron-fisted rule and the suppression of human rights in these nations. Beijing's diplomatic approach has aroused deep distrust among Japan, the United States and European nations.Sudan's Darfur region is the scene of the world's worst ongoing humanitarian crisis and a focus of international attention. Prior to Hu's African visit, the U.S. administration sent a special envoy to Beijing, where he urged China to play a constructive role in helping resolve the four-year Darfur conflict. During talks with Sudanese leaders, Hu urged them to promote dialogue with antigovernment rebel groups and accept U.N. intervention in resolving the conflict.The Chinese leader's attitude should be seen as unusual, given his country's adherence to the principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of other nations. His approach apparently reflected Beijing's efforts to defuse growing criticism leveled against it by European countries and the United States.Responding to concernsEven some African nations have also become increasingly cautious about China's diplomatic drive. In recent years, China's exports to Africa have greatly exceeded its imports from that part of the world, as shown by a deluge of Chinese clothes and electrical home appliances flooding African markets. This has been coupled with a massive influx of Chinese into Africa because of their country's foreign aid.South African, Zambian and other political leaders in the region have described China's diplomacy as a form of neocolonialism. Such sentiment can be seen in recent incidents, including an anti-China riot in Zambia and the kidnapping of a Chinese engineer in Nigeria.During his speech in South Africa, Hu emphasized his country's efforts to increase imports from Africa. He also argued common ground could be found in the modern history of China and Africa, saying both suffered from acts of colonial aggression by world powers. His remarks reflected the fact that there was a growing sense of wariness in Africa toward China.The critical attitude taken by the international community toward China must be seen as a reaction to Beijing's aid-for-resources diplomatic drive. China has never disclosed information about how and where its foreign aid is used. This has aroused global concern about China's external assistance, which has increased by 20 percent annually in recent years. China must face this stark fact.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2007-02-19	YOSHIN0020070219e32j000b6
YOMSHI0020070220e32k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070220e32k00001	EN	\N	Abe must clarify policy priorities	Cabinet approval ratings naturally fluctuate. But the rating of the Abe Cabinet has gone into free fall in the short period since it was launched in September. This is a very rare phenomenon.	4	2007-02-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is time Abe did something to improve his Cabinet's fortunes.The approval rating in October immediately after the start of his Cabinet was 70 percent, the third-highest rating for a fledgling cabinet. This may be because the public pinned high hopes on Abe's perceived "freshness" as the nation's first prime minister born after the end of World War II, and the boldness with which he made efforts to achieve a breakthrough in Japan's relationships with China and South Korea by visiting those countries immediately after taking office. But February's rating dropped to 45.3 percent, down about 25 percentage points from that in October. The disapproval rating is 42.7 percent this month.Lack of leadershipVarious reasons have been identified to explain why the Abe Cabinet's approval rating has been falling.Following the row over the Liberal Democratic Party's decision to allow the so-called postal rebels, who were expelled from the party for not supporting former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization plan, to return to the party, Masaaki Honma, chairman of the government's Tax Commission, and Genichiro Sata, state minister for administrative reform and regional revitalization, were forced to resign from their posts due to scandals in December. This year, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa has been severely criticized for gaffes he made, including his remark that women are "birthing machines."Of those polled in the latest Yomiuri survey who said they disapproved of the Cabinet, most said their disapproval was due to their not supporting Abe's political stance. The scandals and gaffes by the ministers and the key person in a government panel, all of whom were selected by Abe, may explain the survey results.What the Abe Cabinet should seriously accept is that an increasing number of people do not support the Cabinet, citing the fact that Abe does not project an image of stability.Having seen the prime minister's poor handling of the scandals that hit his government immediately after they came to light, and the problems he has had trying to implement his policies, people are concerned about his capacity to manage the government.Too many advisory panelsAbe had hoped to deal with various policy problems through the Prime Minister's Office. But LDP lawmakers advised Abe not to establish so many panels and councils whose functions overlap.There are myriad panels and councils tasked with strengthening the functional capacity of the Prime Minister's Office, promoting innovation, raising growth capacity, and so on. But there are so many committees that we cannot see what the Abe Cabinet attaches importance to, nor what policies it wants to realize.Concerning education reform, a pet policy of the prime minister, the reorganized Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform has opposed proposals made by the Education Rebuilding Council. Abe should display leadership to gain the Cabinet's endorsement of the three related bills for education reform.Further blunders by Cabinet members should not be allowed. Although less than six months have passed since the Abe Cabinet was launched, there are already rumors of an impending Cabinet reshuffle.Meanwhile, discord persists among aides to the prime minister on important issues--posts Abe himself newly established.The February approval rating was not so bad as to threaten the future of the Cabinet. But public support is important for the Cabinet to promote necessary policies.One way to stop the rot would be to tell the public what policies the Cabinet will promote and by when it will realize them, thus accelerating the implementation of the policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2007-02-20	YOSHIN0020070220e32k000g7
YOMSHI0020070221e32l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070221e32l00001	EN	\N	Mr. Ozawa, what about the Tsunoda scandal?	On Tuesday, Ozawa released details of the documents, including receipts and contracts, concerning office expenditures covering the period from 2003 to 2005. He has been criticized for his fund management organization's logging a large sum of money for the acquisition of property in 2005 when Ozawa declared 415 million yen in his political funds report.	4	2007-02-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The series of scandals began at the end of last year with the discovery of inappropriate accounting records by the political organization of Genichiro Sata, then state minister for administrative reform and regional revitalization. Sata admitted "there has been an inappropriate accounting procedure" and resigned from his ministerial post.Later, two other Cabinet members--Education, Science and Technology Minister Bunmei Ibuki and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka--as well as Ozawa and DPJ Policy Research Committee Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto were also implicated in scandals linked to questionable political funding reports.Ozawa was the first lawmaker to give a public breakdown of office expenditures. He has not been accused of breaking the law, but some ruling party lawmakers have questioned the propriety of his office's purchase of properties by using a portion of its expenses. Ruling camp lawmakers should examine the unveiled documents and grill Ozawa if they find questionable elements in them.Disclosure came too lateOzawa said at a press conference Tuesday, "Cabinet members and Liberal Democratic Party executives should disclose the management expenses of their offices." Taking this opportunity, why don't those who were implicated in the scandals disclose a breakdown of their political account expenditures records? Their doing so would also prompt constructive discussions on how to find ways to remove people's distrust in politics.Even so, it seems undeniable that Ozawa's disclosure came too late. During a Diet interpellation session at the end of January, Ozawa said he "could not hold deliberations seriously at the Diet session" without details of office expenditures being unveiled. He also said, "I myself am prepared to make public my expenses at any time."Deliberations at the House of Representatives Budget Committee are in the final stage, and in-depth debates over the relationship of politics and political funding have yet to be held. This is partly because opposition party members boycotted deliberations at the lower house Budget Committee en masse over Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa's remark comparing women to "birthing machines."Ozawa's disclosure of details related to his office expenses and his urging Cabinet members to follow suit can be interpreted as indicating that he aims to further rock the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose centripetal power is weakening.DPJ not gaining on LDPHowever, the DPJ has no cause to celebrate. Although the LDP's approval rating is declining in line with the dropping approval rating of the Abe Cabinet, the DPJ's approval rating is still flagging, indicating that the party does not represent an alternative for voters who are deserting the LDP. In addition, the DPJ does not have a strong presence at the Diet.Ozawa's disclosure can also be seen as a bid to try to make a breakthrough in current situations surrounding the DPJ.If that is the case, the DPJ should examine and clarify suspicions over political donations made to DPJ lawmaker Giichi Tsunoda, former House of Councillors vice president, whose campaign headquarters in Gunma Prefecture allegedly received donations from an organization affiliated with the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), in violation of the Political Funds Control Law, which prohibits political groups from receiving donations from non-Japanese and organizations comprising mainly foreigners. This is quite different in nature and more serious than the scandals relating to the lawmakers' office expenditures.People's trust in the DPJ would be boosted if the party took a strict approach to the Tsunoda case, instead of leaving it unresolved.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	692	2007-02-21	YOSHIN0020070221e32l000gd
YOMSHI0020070221e32m0000o	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070221e32m0000o	EN	\N	Stability, public trust should be BOJ goals	From last July until January, the central bank had been against raising the interest rate as there were some somewhat negative indicators. Since then, economic indicators on consumption and other commodity price-related measurements have either leveled off or weakened.	4	2007-02-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The central bank should explain fully to the market and the people on what grounds it considered it possible to raise the interest rate at the current stage and why it judged that the interest rate hike was needed.For the nation's gross domestic product statistics for the October-December period, personal spending showed a large increase, rebounding from sluggishness attributed to last summer's bad weather.Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui said he judged on the basis of the GDP change that consumption was on a moderate upward trend. However, he also said that a sudden hike in wages was not expected, and that all we can hope was that consumption was on an extremely slow rising trend.Corporate productivity and investment in plants and other facilities have been steadily recovering. Concern about a sudden economic slowdown in the United States has alleviated, and there is a growing belief that a negative impact on Japan's exports is avoidable.Looking to the futureA hike in the key interest rate would be natural if the central bank was convinced of the health of the household sector, which has seemed weak compared with that of the corporate sector.If interest rates remain ultralow for a long period in spite of the economic recovery, economic activity, including investment, will be distorted.The yen's recent weakness against the dollar and the euro is caused by yen-carry trade, in which investors borrow yen funds cheaply at low interest rates and invest them in higher-yielding assets denominated in the dollar and other currencies. Observers pointed out that real estate investment has begun to heat up in some metropolitan areas. The central bank considers it necessary to raise interest rates in order to hold down excessive investment and to further extend the business boom.But many observers have said it is unclear whether consumption and commodity prices will shift to a rising trend from their current levels. Among the policy board members, only Kazumasa Iwata, deputy governor of the central bank, opposed the interest rate hike. His opposition showed discord within the bank over the issue.It is necessary for the central bank to carefully check whether consumption and commodity prices will take a turn for the worse. If the central bank considers raising the interest rate further, it should carefully think about the intervals between a hike.Resisting political pressureBefore the policy board meeting in January, there was a string of remarks by the government and ruling parties putting strong pressure on the central bank not to raise the interest rate. But this time, there were fewer such loud voices. If the central bank cannot assure the public that it judges policies from a fair and neutral standpoint, without being influenced by political pressure, it will not be able to promote its policies smoothly.It is a condition for promoting the normalization of interest rates that the central bank should lead the nation's economy to stable growth through appropriate decisions and fulfill its accountability for policies that maintain public trust.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	624	2007-02-22	YOSHIN0020070227e32m000na
YOMSHI0020070223e32n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070223e32n00001	EN	\N	Press must protect freedom of information	No defense secrets can be allowed to leak to foreign spies, undermining this country's national interests.	4	2007-02-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This does not mean, however, that it is permissible to stop people accessing information that should be made known to them through media reports if it is for the good of the public.It has been found that the Self-Defense Forces' military police questioned an Air Self-Defense Force colonel at the ministry's Defense Intelligence Headquarters and other locations on suspicion of leaking secrets to a Yomiuri Shimbun reporter. His home and other locations were searched in connection with the case. It has been reported that the colonel allegedly leaked documents classified as confidential to an outsider in violation of the Self-Defense Forces Law.The ministry's rare and forceful action greatly concerns us when we weigh it against the freedom of news gathering and reporting and the people's right to know.String of SDF leaksWhat prompted the ministry to take such a strong measure was a Yomiuri Shimbun report carried in the paper's morning edition in May 2005. Citing Japanese and U.S. defense sources, we reported that an accident, believed to be a fire, had occurred in a Chinese Navy submarine during an underwater cruise in the South China Sea. The article said the incident made it impossible for the submarine to continue on its course under its own steam so that the vessel was being towed toward Hainan Island.The then Defense Agency expressed its strong displeasure about the article. It is believed that the agency was displeased because information about the fire it had obtained from U.S. sources.Six months after the Yomiuri report, the agency filed a complaint with the military police, although the agency was unable to identify a suspect responsible for the alleged leak.Earlier this year, about 12 months after the criminal complaint was filed, the ASDF colonel was questioned and his house was searched.The action came after the military police had secretly continued its probe into the affair after the complaint was filed.The SDF have in recent years frequently been disgraced by scandals involving their personnel. In 2000, a Maritime Self-Defense Force lieutenant commander was found to have leaked secrets to a military attache at the Russian Embassy in Tokyo. Last year, there were a number of cases in which defense-related information was leaked from computers held by SDF personnel and others.Earlier, the Self-Defense Forces Law was revised to tighten penalties against leaking defense secrets. In the spring of last year, the agency put together a package of fundamental measures aimed at preventing the leak of confidential information.Ministry overreactedWe feel the strong action taken against the ASDF colonel was an attempt by the Defense Ministry to convince the U.S. administration that the affair would not adversely affect bilateral efforts to protect the confidentiality of defense-related information shared by the two countries. Observers have also said the ministry may have singled out the colonel for punishment, making his case serve as a warning for others, in an effort to tighten the discipline of SDF personnel.We believe the ministry's action will make government employees, who meet with reporters seeking information from them, timid about handling information obtained in the course of their duties, a move that could eventually restrict the freedom of news gathering and reporting. Doing so would also hamper the people's right to know.The Yomiuri Shimbun has confirmed that the reporter in question conducted news-gathering activities properly and in a manner that did not violate laws or deviate from socially accepted standards.We are also determined to protect the confidentiality of news sources as we have always done, and gather and report news for the purpose of better ensuring the public's right to know.This duty of news organizations must be reconfirmed now.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	702	2007-02-23	YOSHIN0020070223e32n000kl
YOMSHI0020070224e32o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070224e32o00001	EN	\N	Iran's actions mock will of global community	Iran's conduct makes a mockery of the will of the international community.	4	2007-02-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a report submitted to the Security Council by International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, Iran has continued to expand--not suspend--its enrichment program.At this juncture, it is important for the international community to take a more resolute stance against Iran.Program continues to growAt an underground facility in Natanz in central Iran, workers have completed the installment of two cascades, each containing 164 centrifuges. Work also is reportedly scheduled to be completed shortly on two more sets of cascades.Furthermore, Iran has notified the IAEA of its intentions to further expand its enrichment program to an industrial-scale capacity of 3,000 centrifuges by May. The Natanz facility has acquired 8.7 tons of uranium hexafluoride, more than enough to produce enough enriched uranium for one nuclear weapon.Iran still claims its enrichment activities are for generating nuclear power for peaceful purposes. However, the ElBaradei report says it is impossible for the U.N. nuclear watchdog to establish that Iran's nuclear technology is limited to peaceful purposes, as the country has not cooperated in IAEA inspections.UNSC must work as oneIf Iran does not meet the demands of the international community, there will be few options left.As the U.N. resolution warns of additional sanctions if Iran does not comply, the Security Council must hold urgent deliberations to consider new sanctions.It is absolutely imperative the five permanent members work together in this matter, as Iran's nuclear program is progressing at a rapid pace.China and Russia were reluctant to introduce strict sanctions against Iran during Security Council deliberations in December over the current resolution. While Beijing and Moscow do have close economic ties with Tehran, the two permanent Security Council members need to adopt a responsible attitude as major nations to help prevent nuclear proliferation.With the recent dispatch of an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East, the United States has been increasing its already formidable presence in the region, in what is most likely a move directed at Iran.Iran continues to demand that a diplomatic solution be found. If Tehran is serious about this, it should take a tangible first step, such as suspending its enrichment of uranium. Doing so may help to ease tensions Iran has caused and provide a major premise on which to base further negotiations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	467	2007-02-24	YOSHIN0020070224e32o000fs
YOMSHI0020070225e32p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070225e32p00001	EN	\N	Spy satellites necessary, but need improvement	The government launched into orbit its fourth intelligence-gathering satellite Saturday from Tanegashima island in Kagoshima Prefecture, aboard the domestically manufactured H-2A No. 12.	4	2007-02-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The surveillance network will consist of four satellites: Two optical satellites equipped with telescopic cameras and two radar satellites that can take clear images at night or during cloudy weather. After necessary checks have been made in orbit and the fourth satellite is activated, the four satellites will be able to take pictures of anywhere on Earth up to twice a day.The government should put the system into full operation as soon as possible.Japan must immediately set up a system in which the government can photograph any location on the planet at any given time, perform detailed analyses of the images and utilize the results.The security environment surrounding our country has become much more serious since North Korea conducted a nuclear test and test-launched several ballistic missiles last year. China, too, has been beefing up its military presence as it becomes more active in the waters adjacent to us.With these considerations, expectations are high for this orbital surveillance network.Getting off the groundStill, it has taken considerable time for the spy network to take shape. The government began planning the surveillance system in response to the test-launch of a Taepodong-1 missile by North Korea in 1998. According to the original plan, the four-satellite system was scheduled to be completed four years ago.However, problems with launching the H-2A rocket led to delays. The first two satellites were launched in March 2003, but when the November 2003 launch failed, the remaining two satellites were lost. Considering this loss, the government decided to limit payloads to one satellite per launch. In September last year, an optical satellite was successfully put into orbit.As these satellites are of a sensitive nature, the government cannot commission other countries for the launches. However, the government did not take such measures as preparing backup satellites as insurance against failed launches.The first two satellites are quickly nearing their five-year life span. The government must begin preparing replacements.The next launch is scheduled for 2009. So as there are no gaps--even for a short time--in the functioning of the spy network, the government must aim to steadily manufacture and launch the satellites, avoiding the past problems of delays.Seeing world through new 'eyes'It also has become a pressing need for the government to improve the quality of the satellites' "eyes."The two optical satellites currently in operation are only capable of detecting objects down to about one meter wide. This is about the level of resolution necessary for distinguishing a truck from a passenger car. This is no more powerful than commercially available satellites.The government has set a target of improving resolution to 60 centimeters in next-generation optical satellites. Saturday's payload also included an experimental optical satellite for that purpose.Even if Japan can obtain information from this network, the government does not have the software that would allow it to fully analyze and utilize the data. We need highly advanced technology and software produced domestically. The country should not cut corners on the development of technologies for this purpose.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2007-02-25	YOSHIN0020070225e32p00097
YOMSHI0020070226e32q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070226e32q00001	EN	\N	Counter proliferation of military technology	Three Yamaha Motor employees including a senior general manager have been arrested on suspicion of violating the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law by attempting to export to China an unmanned helicopter for industrial use. Police said they would send papers on Yamaha Motor as a corporate body to district public prosecutors.	4	2007-02-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The police searched the headquarters of Yamaha Motor and other locations in January last year. For more than a year before the three people were arrested, the police carefully investigated the capabilities of the unmanned helicopter, including repeated test flights.As a result, the police concluded that the helicopter was equipped with an automatic flight control system that did not require remote control. They also concluded the unmanned aircraft was of a type easily converted into military use for spraying biological and chemical weapons.The aircraft falls under the category of equipment included on a special list of items, regulated under the Export Trade Control Ordinance of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, that requires the ministry's approval for export, regardless of destination, to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.However, the police say the three did not obtain the ministry's permission and applied for customs clearance by understating the capabilities of the aircraft.Conflicting evaluationsAt a press conference after the police searches, Yamaha Motor denied breaking the law, stating the helicopter did not belong on the special list since it could not function on autopilot. The company is expected to take a similar position in the trial and on other occasions.However, efforts to control export trade in military-related items is part of an international framework to prevent proliferation of WMD.The ministry is asking exporting companies to confirm the final use and end customer, even for items not on the special list.Yamaha Motor should have consulted with the ministry about whether the helicopter fell into one of the categories on the control list before it determined on its own that it was only for civilian use.China has a keen interest in Japan's science and technology and is aggressively seeking technology transfer and gathering technical information. The Chinese may be interested in not only improving their industrial sector but also in adapting technologies to military use.Risks ignoredOver the last several years, Yamaha Motor has allegedly exported at least 10 unmanned helicopters to China. One of them was exported to a weapons manufacturer linked to the Chinese People's Liberation Army. In this era of rapid advancement of civilian technology, Yamaha Motor was probably too insensitive about the danger of exported technologies being converted to military use.Yamaha Motor, taking the situation seriously, has announced it will undertake company-wide reform of its export control system.Previously, the company approved each business department's independent decisions on export items concerning whether they are regulated or not. Yamaha Motor changed the system to a dual checking system. It will also review in-company training programs and internal regulations concerning export control.The importance of such actions is not limited to Yamaha Motor alone. Other export companies should consider the issue as their own problem.Illegal exports to North Korea and Iran have also been uncovered recently. The ministry has beefed up its control, for instance, by conducting inspections without advance notice.However, we hope the ministry also considers the need to review the related laws and ordinances, including the imposition of tougher penalties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2007-02-26	YOSHIN0020070226e32q000bb
YOMSHI0020070227e32r00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070227e32r00002	EN	\N	Govt must draw up map for bright future	The report, which lists a set of guidelines for pursuing the target, is titled "Innovation 25." The title reflects the government's desire to achieve the goals stipulated in the report through innovative efforts by the end of 2025.	4	2007-02-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The world is undergoing rapid changes. To maintain the nation's prosperity and the stability of its people's livelihoods, it is vital to devise a long-term strategy for accomplishing the target.The interim report, compiled by a Cabinet Office advisory panel comprising seven scholars and business leaders, calls for changes in society and various systems.First of all, the report predicts acceleration in the shrinking of the population and the graying of society during the next 20 years. As circumstances stand today, services provided for one person aged 65 or older are financed by social insurance premiums paid by four workers. It has been predicted, however, that such expenses for a single aged person will have to be covered by two workers in 2025 as a result of a sharp decline in the working-age population.In the not-too-distant future, China is forecast to overtake our country in gross domestic product. Japanese corporations are expected to face even keener competition in the international market due to further progress in the spread of the Internet and the globalization of the economy.Problems that have been worsening include a shortage of natural resources and energy supplies, global warming and other environmental problems and a scarcity of water and food.Improving productivity keyImproving Japan's productivity is the nation's one and only means of ensuring it can survive and prosper in the future. The latest report says Japan should increase its productivity through innovation. It concludes that the goal can be achieved through efforts by members of the population to change their sense of values, saying they should reconsider how they work, while efforts also need to be made to secure better human resources. The report also calls for rethinking how corporations and various social systems are operated.For instance, the report argues that subjects should be taught in English at colleges and universities to keep this country abreast of the ongoing globalization. It also calls for abolishing the current system that divides undergraduate departments into humanities and science courses. Proposals include encouraging corporations to embark on new business ventures by establishing a system that would exempt them from liability if accidents arose in the course of the operation of such ventures.In 1990, the United States established the Americans with Disabilities Act to better protect the interests of physically and mentally challenged people. This has served to promote the growth of corporations that manufacture and provide welfare products and services. Noting this example, the latest report says the government should establish systems designed to create new industries.Leave no one behindThe report cites 20 innovations it predicts will be introduced in the pharmaceutical, engineering and other fields in the next 20 years, including a cure for senile dementia, a robot capable of household chores and afforestation of deserts through artificial rain.However, questions can be raised about whether the future predicted by the report will be rosy for everyone. The report says those who stand out from others will tend to become even more talented. It also states that its proposals would transform Japan into a society open to the rest of the world that values speed in getting things done.However, we fear that such an approach may leave some people apprehensive about whether they will be able to keep up with the rapid pace of change. There also are concerns that the income divide among people may further widen.To allay such concerns, the report says the government must be firmly determined to gain support from members of the public, whatever opposition it may face.By the end of May, the government is scheduled to draw up a road map for the measures listed in the report and put together a final report on its long-term strategy for creating an innovative society. The government must clearly show the public what it will do to accomplish the goals. Doing so is essential to ensure the people find their future promising.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	759	2007-02-27	YOSHIN0020070227e32r001gg
YOMSHI0020070228e32s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070228e32s00001	EN	\N	Supreme Court ruling on 'Kimigayo' sensible	The top court's decision was the first of its kind to be given in the series of lawsuits filed in connection with the hoisting of the Hinomaru national flag and the singing of the national anthem. We hope the latest ruling will help dispel confusion arising from orders issued by school administrators to raise the national flag and sing the national anthem during school ceremonies.	4	2007-02-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Eight years ago, the woman--then a music teacher at a municipal primary school in Hino, western Tokyo--refused to play the national anthem on the piano at an entrance ceremony. Later, she received disciplinary punishment from the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education.The woman insisted that her right to freedom of thought and conscience had been violated by the order issued by the school principal, saying she had the freedom to "refuse to sing 'Kimigayo' in unison [with students] and accompany them on the piano." She said "Kimigayo" could be associated with Japan's acts of aggression in other Asian nations before and during World War II. Citing this line of reasoning, she filed a lawsuit, demanding that the disciplinary action taken against her be revoked.However, both the Tokyo District Court and the Tokyo High Court ruled against her.The lower courts ruled that the teacher had a legal obligation to fulfill her duties as a public servant, adding that her right to freedom of thought and conscience was subject to restrictions. The order issued to her was reasonable, and the punishment meted out to her was lawful, according to the rulings given by these courts.Pending suits will be affectedThe Supreme Court rejected her argument about what she had asserted to be her constitutional right to freedom of thought and conscience, saying it was "the woman's own view of history and the world in relation to 'Kimigayo,' and her own belief fostered in her life as a member of society."The top court defended the order issued by the school principal, saying it "did not reject the woman's view of history and the world," and that it "did not impose or ban a certain ideology, or force her to declare whether she believes in a certain ideology."Tuesday's ruling found the order in question constitutional, stating that the woman had an obligation to abide by the order issued by her superior as a government employee, and that the Education, Science and Technology Ministry's curriculum guidelines and other school-related regulations require teachers to provide students proper education about the national flag and anthem. We find the ruling reasonable.The latest ruling is certain to affect the trials in respect of similar lawsuits filed by teachers who were disciplined for their refusal to stand and sing the national anthem in unison when they were told to do so during school ceremonies. These suits, including the 10 in Tokyo, have been filed by close to 1,000 teachers nationwide.Sept. district court ruling oddIn September, the Tokyo District Court handed down an unusual ruling on a suit filed in connection with a notice issued by the chairman of the metropolitan board of education to ensure the national anthem was sung in unison during entrance and other ceremonies at metropolitan high schools, as well as orders issued by school principals to get the anthem sung. The court found the notice and the orders unconstitutional and unlawful, stating they violated the right to freedom of thought and conscience.Had the Supreme Court ruled on the Tokyo case, the notice and the orders would not have been acknowledged as having been issued to reject the historical and world views of teachers and impose a certain ideology on them.It is disturbing to see that a certain group of teachers has long propagated their objection to the national flag and anthem in school as a political campaign.In 1999, the National Flag and National Anthem Law was established. Education-related laws incorporate various provisions requiring teachers to educate students about the importance of the national flag and anthem. Schoolteachers have every reason to abide by these regulations.Schools across the nation will soon hold graduation and entrance ceremonies. An important task to be assumed by school administrators and teachers is to ensure such ceremonies are conducted for students in a solemn and peaceful manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	793	2007-02-28	YOSHIN0020070228e32s000gi
YOMSHI0020070228e3310000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070228e3310000h	EN	\N	Emerging China threatens global market	The first global simultaneous stock plunge with China as its epicenter may indicate this structural change in the global economy.	4	2007-03-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the sudden tumble in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets in China as the starting point, the Dow Jones industrial average at the New York Stock Exchange recorded its worst nosedive since the figure recorded soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States on Tuesday.European markets and those in newly emerging economies, including Brazil, also suffered major declines. At the Tokyo market, the Nikkei Stock Average briefly fell by more than 700 points Wednesday from the previous day's close.In China, backed by high economic growth and steady business advancements, surplus funds have been flowing into the stock markets, keeping share prices buoyant. Coupled with a sense of caution over high share prices at the markets, speculation that the Chinese government would start taking steps to control the overheated stock markets has spread, swelling sell orders, according to market analysts.Major correction unlikelyWhat is noteworthy is that the circumstances in China greatly affected markets in other countries, including the U.S. market. This is probably because the plunge in stock prices was taken as a sign that the Chinese economy is moving into a downward phase, and because of the prevailing view that if the Chinese economy takes a turn for the worse, the global economies, including the U.S. economy, will also suffer.Looking at the U.S. economy, there are certainly indicators showing weak factors, such as corporate production and capital investment. However, a majority of analysts think a major economic slowdown is avoidable. Meanwhile, business sentiment in Europe is steady. Consumption in Japan remains soft, but corporate-related indexes have stayed firm.The global stock price plunge did not occur because the fundamentals of the global economy suddenly deteriorated. There is no reason to panic over the global stock market meltdown.Yet it is important to note that movements of surplus funds on a global level were behind the recent stock price hike in various countries, including Japan and the United States. When the flow of funds to be invested changes greatly, the global economy will be affected in various ways.China holds keyAs U.S. stock prices declined, the dollar was sold on the foreign exchange market, and as a result the yen's appreciation and the dollar's depreciation progressed. The yen-carry trade, in which the Japanese currency is borrowed from Japanese financial companies at low interest rates and invested in higher-yielding foreign currency products, has been a major factor in the recent depreciation of the yen. However, as some pointed out, moves against the carry trade have started because of fears that the yen may further appreciate.If the yen's appreciation progresses rapidly and confidence in the dollar is shaken, both Japan and the United States will be hard hit economically.Prompted by the latest global stock price plunge, financial markets could be roiled. This should be avoided by all means.At the end of the day, China holds the key in this regard. It is still unknown whether China can wisely control moves in its financial markets, where abundant funds have come to flow along with the country's rapid economic expansion. Currency and financial authorities of all nations, including those of China, should closely exchange information.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2007-03-01	YOSHIN0020070301e331000fw
YOMSHI0020070302e33200002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070302e33200002	EN	\N	Corporate responsibility called into question	When the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office last year brought to light bid-rigging in contracts for sewage works projects, prosecutors searched branch offices of Shimizu Corp., Kajima Corp. and Hazama Corp. and indicted a former adviser to Obayashi Corp.'s Nagoya branch and other people under the Penal Code's provision on bid-rigging.	4	2007-03-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the subway bid-rigging case, the FTC filed the criminal complaint with the Nagoya prosecutors office against the five major general contractors on suspicion they violated the Antimonopoly Law. The prosecutors office arrested sales representatives and the former adviser of the five companies' Nagoya branches. This was the first time that general contractors had been the target of a criminal complaint over violations of the Antimonopoly Law.The prosecutors, together with the FTC, aimed to come down hard on the general contractors in this case because they apparently judged it necessary to teach the general contractors a severe lesson.Stiff penaltiesUnder the bid-rigging provision of the Penal Code, only individuals can be deemed to be criminally responsible, and held accountable for their actions. However, when the Antimonopoly Law is applied, corporations can be fined up to 500 million yen or slapped with surcharges under a provision that allows both individuals and their companies to be punished. Additionally, parties that placed the contract order might demand damages for breach of contract, and the Construction and Transport Ministry can impose business suspension orders on the violators.Top executives of Shimizu, Kajima and Obayashi, together with other general contractors, declared in late December 2005 that they would no longer rig bids. However, officials in charge of sales at the three firms' Nagoya branches continued to manipulate the subway construction orders even after this declaration.The companies arranged to decide which firms would receive orders in mid-December 2005, just before the declaration, but they placed tenders based on backroom deals during bids in February and June last year. After the declaration, Shimizu and Kajima are suspected to have held talks again because bid-rigging was feared to be uncovered, and had swapped the sections of track they were supposed to receive orders to construct.No excuse offered by the firms can justify their actions, and they have been criticized for deceiving the public. After learning a criminal complaint had been filed, Obayashi Corp. announced the resignation of three executives, including a vice president, and returned a portion of the salaries of 166 executives, including the chairman and president. This is a natural course of action.Like Obayashi, the four other general contractors accused by the FTC should reflect on their misconduct.Coming clean pays offThis time, Hazama was exempted from the criminal complaint because it voluntarily reported its involvement in the bid-rigging before the district prosecutors office began its investigation. This was the first time a company had been exempted from a criminal complaint because it admitted to its wrongdoings. Hazama will be able to avoid hefty fines or surcharges because of its willingness to come clean.Some observers have suggested the new system, which was launched last year, is flawed because individuals and companies who commit illegal activities can avoid being punished for their wrongdoings.However, the system has proved effective in bringing to light and preventing the recurrence of bid-rigging cases. Some officials from general contractors have taken a swipe at Hazama for stealing a march on its competitors. However, such criticism does not hold water because the companies in question were engaged in the illicit act of bid-rigging.Why are major general contractors unable to survive without rigging bids? We would like the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office to scrutinize the fundamental factors that encourage and sustain bid-rigging and reveal the truth of the matter in court.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	687	2007-03-02	YOSHIN0020070302e332000fl
YOMSHI0020070303e33300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070303e33300001	EN	\N	N-waste site search chance for debate	Since late 2002, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan, set up by the government and power industry, has been accepting applications from local governments hoping to be designated inspection districts, which would allow them to be considered as possible nuclear waste sites. Toyocho is the first local government that has applied for such a designation.	4	2007-03-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We believe this issue provides us an opportunity for constructive discussion on the problems associated with nuclear power generation.It is not just the residents of Toyocho who are complaining about the decision. Neighboring towns in Kochi and Tokushima prefectures have railed against the move, saying, "Don't ask for waste from nuclear power stations," or have demanded that the environment be protected.But more than anything else, it is important that we calmly discuss the necessity for and safety of such disposal sites.Cautious processThe level of radioactive waste in question, many experts say, does not present a significant danger when handled appropriately.It is radioactive material generated when spent nuclear fuel from power stations has been chemically treated and vitrified. Because of the high temperature of the waste, it is to be cooled for 30 to 50 years at storage facilities before being buried at least 300 meters underground.If this plan is derailed, it will become impossible to reprocess spent nuclear fuel in Japan. This would result in the suspension of the country's nuclear power generation, which provides 30 percent of the nation's power needs.Because of this, the selection of disposal sites is of great importance for maintaining the nation's energy supply.Of course, sites must be carefully selected and public anxieties must be assuaged. It is for this reason a strict, three-step procedure has been worked out.The process begins with a two-year investigation that includes inspecting earthquake records and other data on strata problems in the candidate area. The next step is a four-year-investigation that will focus on the area's geology and will include drilling surveys. For the final step, an experimental burial facility will be constructed and placed underground to provide researchers with much more detailed data. For each step, the government's permission is required, as well as the local government's consent.Financial temptationAt the moment, Toyocho has not yet become a disposal site, but is merely offering itself as a potential candidate. Even if the first stage of the inspection moves ahead, there would be no construction and the local environment would not be disrupted.Speaking about the town's application, Mayor Yasuoki Tashima said, "This a good chance for a small town to contribute to a national project."Tashima has said he would continue to look into what priority waste disposal sites are given in the nation's energy policy and the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as safety issues. He also said he would carry out a referendum before entering the final stage.Once the inspection process begins, the town and neighboring communities will receive 1 billion yen in grants annually. Commenting on this, Kochi Gov. Daijiro Hashimoto compared the subsidies to "the government flashing money in a municipalities' face."However, there are a number of nuclear facilities that receive subsidies. This is why it is necessary for the Japanese to share the burden in certain sectors.Without this policy, the nation's nuclear energy policy would collapse. This problem must be considered from a broad point of view, and not be opposed merely for the sake of opposition.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2007-03-03	YOSHIN0020070303e333000gp
YOMSHI0020070304e33400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070304e33400001	EN	\N	A politician can't live on campaigning alone	Politicians passed the budget at the lower house earlier than usual, probably prompted by the political schedule that includes upcoming nationwide local elections and this summer's upper house poll. The upper house election is considered to be a political showdown between the ruling and opposition parties.	4	2007-03-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, politicians should not become overzealous, forsaking deliberations or carrying out policies to focus on their campaigns.A budget is a reflection of the most important issues facing the nation. For this reason, sufficient, productive debate needs to be held on it. Despite this, the lower house Budget Committee failed to give the budget its full attention.Time intended for deliberation on various issues was wasted as lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties boycotted the discussions in response to Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa's comparison of women to "birthing machines." One key issue to be discussed was how best to combat the declining birthrate. But this, too, was merely touched upon.Fighting detracts from issuesSo far this Diet session, lawmakers have yet to delve into any constructive policy debate over either the widening socioeconomic gap or revisions to be made to existing employment rules--both issues that were supposed to be major issues, yet have only left us frustrated.The ruling and opposition camps are moving at a snail's pace when it comes to making political funding and spending transparent. The public is likely to be suspicious that Liberal Democratic Party and DPJ lawmakers have something to hide.Both camps need to figure out as quickly as possible ways to make public the use of the funds to run politicians' offices, and whether the funds can be used to acquire real estate.Debate in the Diet offers voters insight into policy differences, which can serve as a guide for the unified local and upper house elections.But the only things voters have seen so far are broadsides of criticism over scandals involving the parties and Cabinet ministers.Time to pick up the paceOne issue in which the public has great interest is education reform. The government should hasten its efforts to reconcile differing opinions between such organizations as the Central Council for Education and the Education Rebuilding Council, and should aim for rapid Cabinet approval of three proposed education reform bills.An in-depth discussion in the Diet over education reform will give voters information on which to cast their ballots in the coming polls.By May 3--Constitution Day--the LDP wants to pass a bill on national referendums that defines the procedure for revising the Constitution. To achieve this goal, deliberations need to get under way.The DPJ, which attaches importance to campaigning with other opposition parties, including the Social Democratic Party, apparently aims to prolong the debate. But this bill is to provide the country with a much-needed law on how to go about revising the Constitution. Such a bill should not be used politically.The six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear ambitions are at a critical stage. Japan faces an uphill battle over the issue, as it aims to achieve not only a comprehensive solution to the nuclear issue, but also those of missile launches and abductions of Japanese citizens.Japan also is in need of a clear road map toward fiscal rehabilitation and reform of the social security system, including pensions.With all our country faces, we cannot afford to be devoid of political debate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2007-03-04	YOSHIN0020070304e3340009r
YOMSHI0020070305e33500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070305e33500001	EN	\N	Forestry industry needs more manpower	This is mainly due to changes in the structure of the international market concerning supply and demand of timber and, as such, it is expected that the self-sufficiency ratio will rise further. The increase in domestic timber production should lead to the rejuvenation of the nation's forestry industry.	4	2007-03-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Japan, the forestry industry has gone into decline due to an increase in cheap imported lumber. As a result, forests were devastated.The nation was more than 90 percent self-sufficient for a period after World War II. However, the ratio declined over half a century thereafter and hovered at the 10 percent level in recent years.In 2005, however, the figure rose 1.6 percentage points from the previous year to hit the 20 percent mark for the first time in seven years. The reason was that timber imports declined 6.2 percent while the production of domestic lumber increased 3.8 percent. The ratio is estimated to be in the 20 percent range for 2006.One of the reasons behind the increase in the self-sufficiency ratio is an increase in the international price of timber, as China and other emerging nations, which are enjoying rapid economic development, increase imports. For example, China imported 30.44 million cubic meters of timber in 2005, double the amount it imported five years ago.Price hike drives imports downUntil recently, Japan has imported a large quantity of cheap tropical wood such as lauan from Indonesia. However, logging regulations are being tightened in countries in Southeast Asia and other regions due to depletion of natural resources.In line with the changes in supply and demand, differences in domestic and foreign prices of timber also have been narrowed, or even reversed.For instance, prices of domestic cedar and imported larch, both used for plywood production, reversed in 2004. At the end of last year, domestic cedar was priced at \\13,000 per cubic meter compared with \\17,500 per cubic meter for imported larch.Changes in the timber market have prompted the use of trees that were abandoned after being thinned. As techniques in processing the thinned wood into housing plywood have been developed, the amount of thinned wood consumption reached 2.84 million cubic meters in fiscal 2004, an increase of about 1 million cubic meters from the amount 10 years ago.Acting to conserve forestsThe government has set up a ministerial meeting concerning forest protection and promotion of the forestry industry, putting forth a plan to expand the thinning zone by 1.2 million hectares in the coming six years to 3.3 million hectares. If more thinned wood is used, it will lead to conservation and fostering of forests, even to the maintenance of flood control benefits.However, there are some agendas that must be tackled. About two-thirds of the nation's forests are privately owned. There are some cases in which the landowners are unaware of their ownership due to inheritance or other reasons. Also, a report said the owners of more than 20 percent of the privately owned forest do not live nearby, becoming one of the factors for forest devastation.To stop forest devastation, we have to increase the number of people engaged in the forestry industry. Currently there are only about 60,000 people engaged in the industry, one-seventh of the number employed about 50 years ago.The Forestry Agency is carrying out a nationwide campaign to promote employment of middle-aged people in the forestry industry. The task of securing and nurturing human resources for the nation's forestry industry is urgent.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2007-03-05	YOSHIN0020070305e335000bn
YOMSHI0020070306e33600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070306e33600001	EN	\N	Will Wen's fine words translate into action?	In his annual report to the National People's Congress, China's parliament, Wen repeatedly stressed that he wants to realize "social fairness and justice."	4	2007-03-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Admitting that prominent concerns relating to people's welfare have not been resolved sufficiently, Wen enumerated measures to address a series of issues concerning people's livelihood, including correction of economic disparities, anticorruption measures, education, health care, public security, local governments' seizures of farmland and environmental pollution.The administration of Chinese President Hu Jintao will enter its second term when the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is held in autumn. The focus of attention at the meeting will be whether the Hu administration can construct a stable power base.It will be impossible to strengthen the administration's centripetal force without resolving the people's concerns. Therefore, it is not surprising that Wen placed most emphasis on issues concerning people's livelihood in his speech. Some measures he outlined, such as ones related to land seizures, are long overdue.Property rights bill keyAs for the nation's economy, Wen said China would aim for economic growth of around 8 percent in 2007, the same growth target as last year. This year's target is lower than last year's actual growth rate of 10.7 percent and this year's predicted rate of more than 9 percent. Wen's speech was aimed at indicating a move away from the past economic expansion policy and at ensuring that the nation's approach of seeking sustainable economic growth is made known to every sector of society so members of the public will work toward the goal.But the question is whether the measures Wen described--from the micro to the macro level--will be effective.At the current National People's Congress, a landmark property rights bill that will enshrine in the Constitution the right to own property is scheduled to be passed. China long considered that property lay in the public domain as a national asset, but reflecting the development of the market economy and the rapid growth of private enterprises in the country, a clause on protection of legally earned property was written in the Constitution when it was revised three years ago.The property rights bill is designed to embody the latest revision of the charter and caps China's efforts to transform itself into a market economy.The envisioned law stipulates that the government must compensate farmers whose land is seized and city residents who are evicted. However, it is common for local governments to make large profits by reselling land-use rights that they obtained by paying a small amount of compensation. Given this, many observers--even those within China--are skeptical of whether the new legislation will help correct the situation.China has made little progress in the protection of intellectual property, despite enacting related legislation, much to the irritation of the international community.Narrowing rich-poor gap vitalIf China fails to strictly enforce not only the property rights law, but other policies and planned laws that Wen described during his speech, the gap between the rich and poor will widen, which may incite social unrest. To eradicate corruption and the abuse of public authority, comprehensive countermeasures must be taken that attack these evils at their root.The Hu administration should realize anew that it is hopeless to pursue the long-term stability of the administration without making appropriate political reforms in tandem with economic reforms.It is worrying that China has again boosted its military spending--a double-digit increase for the 19th consecutive year. As for foreign policies, Wen said he wants to create a harmonious world. In that case, China should first respond to the international community's request that it clarify its defense spending.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2007-03-06	YOSHIN0020070306e336000gf
YOMSHI0020070307e33700002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070307e33700002	EN	\N	Don't misinterpret comfort women issue	The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives is deliberating a resolution against Japan in connection with this issue. The resolution calls on the Japanese government to acknowledge historical responsibility for the Imperial Japanese Army's coercion of young women of other Asian countries into sexual slavery during World War II and urges the prime minister to apologize for the sexual exploitation.	4	2007-03-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The resolution says the Japanese military commissioned the acquisition of comfort women. However, no documents have been found to support this assertion. Historians also accept that no such orchestrated action was undertaken by the Japanese military.We wonder whether the U.S. lawmakers who sponsored the resolution have evidence to back their claims.At a Diet committee session, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the resolution was "not based on objective facts." Foreign Minister Taro Aso has expressed a similar view, calling the resolution "extremely regrettable."Since the resolution is filled with distortions, the government must properly explain the facts and do everything to prevent it from being adopted.Kono statement inaccurateConcerning the recruitment of comfort women, the prime minister stressed, "None of the testimonies confirmed coercion in the narrow sense."Abe explicitly asserted that the comfort women were not forcibly recruited, saying there was no "coercion like the hunting of comfort women, with officials rushing into houses to drag women out, like kidnapping them."However, Abe acknowledged that private recruiters lured women against their will in a "broader sense of coercion." These cases are totally different from coercion by the military.Some mass media organizations and Diet members have stretched the meaning of "coercion" and criticized the government, ignoring the nitty-gritty of the issue and spreading the mistaken perception of the issue.Why has the comfort women issue been dredged up repeatedly?The main reason is the 1993 statement issued by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono. The statement suggested that the Japanese military forcibly recruited comfort women, saying, "The authorities were directly involved" in the recruitment of such women.However, a former deputy chief cabinet secretary and other officials later said that phrase was written without the facts having been confirmed.Govt caved in to pressureA group of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers wants to have the Kono statement revised, saying vague expressions in the statement have led to misunderstandings.The U.S. House resolution criticizes such moves in Japan, saying they represent their "desire to dilute or rescind the 1993 statement."But it could be a natural course of action to revise the inaccurate Kono statement.What was behind the issuance of the Kono statement was the government's misjudgment--made under pressure from South Korea--that its acknowledgement that the comfort women were forcibly recruited would lead to the settlement of the issue.The government should not make the same diplomatic mistake in its response to the U.S. House resolution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	522	2007-03-07	YOSHIN0020070307e337000g4
YOMSHI0020070307e3380000n	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070307e3380000n	EN	\N	Nikko-Citigroup deal a lesson for all	Nikko Cordial and Citigroup Inc. of the United States have agreed that Citigroup will obtain more than 50 percent of Nikko's outstanding shares through a takeover bid.	4	2007-03-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Depending on the moves of foreign investment funds that are snapping up Nikko Cordial shares left, right and center, the takeover bid may yet fail. If the bid succeeds, it will be one of the largest acquisitions of a Japanese corporation by firms with foreign capital.The Tokyo Stock Exchange will shortly make a decision on whether it will delist Nikko Cordial for inflating its earnings and falsifying its financial statements. If the company is booted off the TSE, customer resentment will deepen and more personnel likely will seek to abandon the Nikko Cordial ship. A major plunge in the Nikko share price seems quite likely. Nikko needs to do all it can to regain the confidence of customers and the market as quickly as possible.Citigroup is one of the world's largest financial groups. Reinforcing its Japan strategy was a critical task, and by taking Nikko under its wing, the group can fortify its business foundations, such as corporate and retail securities services. Citigroup and Nikko are already working together through a joint corporate securities service company.Chance to clean the slateBoth companies have been quick to praise the benefits the tie-up could bring, saying they can lay the foundations for conducting total financial services by harnessing the strengths of both firms. However, the companies should not forget that moves to make the business deal were set in motion by Nikko's betrayal of the market."Crisis management measures must be taken to dispel the uneasiness of shareholders and employees over the delisting matter," Nikko Cordial President Shoji Kuwashima said.Coming under the umbrella of the U.S. financial giant should not be just a temporary measure for Nikko to alleviate their worries, but a golden opportunity to change the corporate culture that brought about the illegality--and to begin anew as a company that complies fully with the letter of the law.Citigroup also was forced to withdraw from the retail banking field for wealthy individuals because of law violations in 2004, including failure to address deals suspected to have been money laundering. Establishing credibility with the market and clients is a vital task for Citigroup, as well as Nikko.Foreign firms circlingWith the growing trend of "investment rather than saving" among Japanese, major domestic financial groups are being required to sharpen their securities strategies. Quite a few foreign capital firms are keen to grab a slice of the 1,500 trillion yen in financial assets owned by individuals.Yuji Yamamoto, state minister in charge of financial policy, even went so far as to suggest that the tie-up could be a shot in the arm for the Tokyo financial market's internationalization. "I hope the new move in the securities business will lead to activation of the market," he said.Now that Citigroup will enter the Japanese market, domestic securities firms will need to reconsider their business strategies, including additional alliances and reorganization of the industry, while carefully monitoring the moves of foreign firms.However, they should not forget that serving their customers and restoring credibility must come before everything else, including the pursuit of corporate growth and profits.Nikko has been absorbed by Citigroup as a result of its illegal activities. This cold reality should serve as a good lesson for all.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2007-03-08	YOSHIN0020070308e338000f7
YOMSHI0020070309e33900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070309e33900001	EN	\N	Govt must stand firm in North Korea talks	The first working group meeting on normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries under the six-party agreement reached in February ended Thursday.	4	2007-03-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan's top priority in the negotiations--the first in 13 months--was to resolve the abduction of Japanese by North Korean agents. This stands to reason because Japan should not normalize the bilateral relations without resolving the issue of abductions that trampled on Japan's state sovereignty and the human rights of the Japanese people. It is also necessary for Japan to pressure Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programs and missile development that threaten Japan's security.The Japanese side again asked North Korea to promptly return 12 abductees--including Megumi Yokota--whose fates remain unknown. The negotiators also demanded North Korea reinvestigate the abductions and hand over seven suspects allegedly involved in these crimes.However, the Japanese representatives came up against a brick wall. North Korean negotiators simply repeated that the abduction issue had already been settled. In addition, they abruptly refused to attend the talks that were scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Although the talks resumed Thursday morning, they lasted just 45 minutes as North Korea cut short the negotiations. Pyongyang said the two sides were too far apart on the issues to be discussed and that there was no point in continuing the talks.North Korea's stance is extremely insincere.International resolve weakeningNorth Korea appears to be trying to drive a wedge between Japan and the other four countries involved in the six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. The reclusive state's strategy is aimed at Japan, which has taken the firmest stance against North Korea by imposing unilateral sanctions.The United States has softened its hard-line stance toward North Korea to a policy of dialogue. Another working group meeting to normalize the U.S.-North Korea diplomatic ties has started. South Korea shows a keen interest in supplying Pyongyang with fuel oil, food and fertilizer. North Korea's relations with China and Russia, which became strained following Pyongyang's nuclear test in October, are starting to recover.As the international coalition against North Korea following its nuclear test has become loose, Pyongyang might be trying to force Japan to drop its hard-line stance. To accomplish this goal, it seems to be trying to give the impression that Japan has become the obstacle to progress in the six-party talks by comparing the Japan-North Korea working group meeting with talks held by the U.S.-North Korea group, which Pyongyang lauded as being "constructive."Economic cardNorth Korea will undoubtedly press Japan to provide massive economic and energy aid to Pyongyang, which would be implemented in return for Pyongyang disabling all its nuclear facilities in the next phase of action following the first phase for denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.However, the government must stand firm and not cower in the face of Pyongyang's strategy. The government's basic stance is that Japan will not give aid to North Korea unless progress is forthcoming in the abduction issue. If Japan refuses to take part in the aid provision scheme, Pyongyang will not be able to receive as much as economic and energy assistance as it expects.Some in the Japanese political fold are disturbed by the prospect of Japan being isolated or left behind the four other nations in the six-party talks. But giving too much weight to such opinions would play right into North Korea's hands.Of course, Japan should avoid becoming isolated. To this end, Japan must devise scrupulous strategies to reach comprehensive solutions on the nuclear and missile development and abduction issues by strengthening cooperation with Washington based on their alliance, and by maintaining close communication with China, Russia and South Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2007-03-09	YOSHIN0020070309e339000e9
YOMSHI0020070310e33a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070310e33a00001	EN	\N	Ministry must get serious on battling bid-rigging	The FTC has concluded that the officials have been deeply involved in unsavory practices related to floodgate projects tendered by the ministry.	4	2007-03-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is the first time a ministry has been subject to the law to prevent collusive bidding at the initiative of its officials. The Construction and Transport Ministry has placed the largest number of orders for public projects and should take the lead in preventing this type of bid-rigging. But it was the ministry itself that was involved in the rigging of the bidding process.The minister said he was quite ashamed of himself. But this problem will not go away unless the ministry shows some serious remorse over the issue and works diligently to prevent bid-rigging from happening again.How widespread is the practice?First and foremost, the ministry should thoroughly investigate its involvement in other rigged tenders. The ministry has formed a panel comprising vice ministers and other senior officials to investigate ways to prevent the bid-rigging. The panel has begun questioning those involved in the bid-rigging for the building of floodgates. The panel should urgently question retired officials and others connected with the bid-rigging, and make public its findings in an attempt to eradicate corruption.Following the FTC demand for submission of a plan to put an end to such corruption, the ministry has come up with a variety of measures to prevent collusive bidding initiated by government officials.One such measure requires officials who have been approached for information regarding the bidding process to record the way in which they were approached and report the methods to the ministry section dealing with the problem. Another measure calls for the widespread introduction of a competitive bidding system under which it would be difficult to rig a bid, and to strengthen penalties for companies violating the law.These measures, however, are nothing special.Amakudari--in which high-ranking bureaucrats take up executive posts at corporations or government-affiliated organizations after they retire--is a hotbed for such bureaucrat-led bid-rigging. Many retired ministry bureaucrats took up posts with companies that were involved in this type of bid-rigging. Generally, the greater the retired officials a company hires, the more preferential treatment it receives for projects.Reform amakudari practiceThe Construction and Transport Ministry has instituted a stopgap measure prohibiting ministry officials from being employed by firms that have been involved in the bid-rigging. The measure will apply until the companies set up their own systems to comply with the law and regulations.This measure is too lenient. It is akin to ordering ministry officials to just wait until things cool down. The ministry needs to prohibit officials from landing in posts at companies that participate in ministry projects.Yoshimi Watanabe, state minister for administrative reform, has compiled a plan to reform the amakudari practice. It calls for the establishment of a "human resource bank" in the Cabinet Office and standardized job placement for retired bureaucrats to prevent amakudari that was seemingly forced upon them by every ministry and agency. This plan needs to help bring about an effective system to exorcise amakudari of its evils.The companies involved in the bid-rigging for the floodgate projects have been fined 1.7 billion yen.  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., however, was exempted from the penalty because it was the first company to come forward and report its participation in the bid-rigging to the FTC, before the commission began investigating the matter. The penalties for five other firms, including Ishikawajiwa-Harima Heavy Industries Co., were reduced 30 percent when they later voluntarily reported their involvement.The dangers of bid-rigging are becoming greater. The best thing a company can do is to avoid joining the bid-rigging process in the first place, thereby ensuring that it will not become the subject of a whistle-blower.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 10, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2007-03-10	YOSHIN0020070310e33a000ev
YOMSHI0020070312e33b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070312e33b00001	EN	\N	Education reform needs constructive debate	Near confusion dominated the final stages of discussions partly because of the unbending attitude of the Education, Science and Technology Ministry over certain pressing issues in the hope of bolstering the government's authority over the education system.On Saturday, the Central Council for Education managed to adopt outlines for the three bills.	4	2007-03-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We hope Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration will submit the bills to the current Diet session immediately, with the aim of ensuring that legislators hold constructive debate on them.The most contentious issue addressed by the council was a bill aimed at revising the law on the educational administration of local governments. The main focus of the debate was whether to increase the central government's authority over local boards of education.Ministerial limitsEarlier, the Education Rebuilding Council, a newly created powerful advisory body to the prime minister, proposed granting the education minister the power to issue advisories and orders to have boards of education correct their methods for handling issues. The action reflected the council's concern about the failure of education boards to properly address problems that have grabbed headlines of late, such as school bullying and the failure of many high schools to teach students certain required subjects.The council also decided the education minister should play a certain role in selecting the superintendents of prefectural education boards.The education minister was stripped of these two powers in 1999, when a package of decentralization laws was enacted. This meant the education system was not exempt from efforts to curtail the central government's involvement in local governmental affairs.The Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform, an advisory body to the Cabinet Office, opposed an attempt by the Education Rebuilding Council to reinstate the education minister's previously held powers, arguing that doing so would run counter to ongoing decentralization trends. Six local government-related associations--including the National Governors' Association and the Japan Association of City Mayors--agreed with this stance.However, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry remained adamant in restoring these powers to its minister.The ministry presented the Central Council for Education with a reform plan that included a proposal to return the two powers to the education minister in line with a set of proposals advanced by the Education Rebuilding Council. The ministry's plan also incorporated a proposal to authorize boards of education to issue instructions and advisories to private schools.Many members of the Central Council for Education raised objections to an attempt by the central government to have a greater say in matters handled by education boards. Some members of the ruling parties criticized the ministry for "going too far."As it turned out, the council decided, in effect, against permitting the central government to have a role in the selection of education board superintendents and gave boards of education the authority to "instruct" private schools. Meanwhile, the council approved a proposal for returning to the education minister the power to issue advisories and orders to have education boards take corrective measures.Some education ministry officials have accepted the council's conclusion as "fairly satisfactory" to the ministry. They probably mean that the ministry effectively convinced the Education Rebuilding Council and the Central Council for Education to end discussions in a manner favoring the ministry's positions. There is no denying, however, that the ministry appears to have forced the two panels to adopt the ministry's stance. This impression remains strong.Putting teachers to the testThe Central Council for Education's proposals include an outline of a bill to revise the teachers' license law, requiring every teacher to attend lectures every 10 years for renewal of their license. The proposals also incorporate a plan to impose stricter control on teachers deemed unfit to teach. It is essential to revise and create necessary laws authorizing boards of education to prevent problem teachers from teaching classes.A bill to revise the School Education Law in line with the spirit of the already revised Fundamental Law of Education incorporates a provision requiring primary and middle schools to encourage students in cultivating "an attitude that loves our country and their hometowns."All this will likely expedite efforts to revise the ministry's course of action. There are many issues to be addressed here, including proposals to raise the number of school hours and teach English in primary schools.We hope the Central Council for Education, will state their opinions frankly on various issues related to education reform in discussions hereafter.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	798	2007-03-11	YOSHIN0020070312e33b0009z
YOMSHI0020070313e33d00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070313e33d00002	EN	\N	Can TSE still secure investors' trust?	The securities company included inflated profits in its financial statements for the business year ended in March 2005 and thereafter by manipulating finacial statements of a special-purpose company under the Nikko group and through other means.	4	2007-03-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of the TSE's criteria for removing listed companies from the bourse is if the "effects of false reports on financial statements and other documents are serious."The TSE concluded that Nikko Cordial's wrongdoing did not justify delisting, saying, "We could not obtain solid evidence that the false accounting was carried out by the company systematically," adding that the amount of inflated earnings was relatively small.A matter of perspectiveKanebo Ltd., which was delisted in 2005, concealed excessive debts by window-dressing its accounts with more than 200 billon yen in inflated earnings for five years.Seibu Railway Co. was delisted in 2004 for falsely reporting the shareholding ratios of major shareholders over 40 years.There is an argument that the degree of sin in Nikko Cordial's falsifying of statements is low compared with these two cases. But the former management of the nation's third-largest securities company engaged in accounting manipulation, and the special investigation committee of outside experts set up by Nikko Cordial itself reported that the falsifying of financial statements was done intentionally and systematically.The total amount involved in the false statements may be small, but it was still an extremely malicious act to deceive investors.It has been pointed out that the application of the TSE's delisting criteria may be arbitrary. If the Tokyo bourse fails to explain exactly why it decided to let Nikko Cordial stay on, investors will be suspicious that the TSE is soft on the securities industry, which the TSE belongs to.No room for favoritismIf numerical figures are introduced as a way of weighing the merit of a delisting, the TSE will not be able to punish malicious acts that do not meet such numerical standards.However, whether to delist a company is an extremely serious decision that greatly affects the future of a company under such scrutiny. The decision also greatly affects shareholders.The TSE needs to clarify to the market what conditions meet delisting criteria.The stock exchange itself aims at becoming a listed company in 2009. It should not, in an excessive pursuit of profit, extend inappropriate considerations to listed companies--which are major sources of revenue for the TSE--and should not be lax on deciding on a delisting.The TSE plans to spin off its self-regulatory functions, including the supervision of listed companies, to a separate company. The independence of the separated company from the management of the TSE must be secured firmly.Though it avoided delisting, Nikko Cordial must seriously accept responsibility for betraying its shareholders. The TSE's decision over Nikko Cordial will have a significant impact on a plan by Citigroup Inc. of the United States to make a public tender offer on the securities company. Nikko Cordial must disclose all related information to investors.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	556	2007-03-13	YOSHIN0020070313e33d000g4
YOMSHI0020070314e33e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070314e33e00001	EN	\N	Japan-Australia accord key to East Asia stability	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard signed a Japan-Australia joint declaration on security cooperation Tuesday.	4	2007-03-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan has maintained security cooperation relations with the United States, which is Japan's only military ally, and this is the first time it has formed such a relationship with another country.In the East Asian region, there are a number of issues, including North Korea's nuclear weapons development and China's military buildup, that threaten the peace and stability of the region.There also are a number of destabilizing factors for the international community, including the increasingly chaotic situation in Iraq, the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and Iran's nuclear program.Though Tokyo and Canberra have maintained close economic relations since the 1957 Japan-Australia Commerce Agreement, the addition of enhanced relations on security is a reflection of rapidly changing international realities.Shared valuesJapan and Australia both are market economy countries. The two countries share the same values, such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Both countries are the United States' military allies.In the trilateral security relationship of Japan, Australia and the United States, the cooperation between Tokyo and Canberra has been relatively weak. Enhancement of such relations will contribute to peace and stability, not only in East Asia but also the whole international community.Australia is not Japan's military ally, so it is difficult for the two nations to undertake a joint operation militarily even after agreeing on enhanced security cooperation. However, the two nations have already achieved a number of cooperative results.For example, when Japan dispatched Ground Self-Defense Force troops to southern Iraq to extend humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for the country, the Australian military force secured the safety of Japanese noncombat troops. The two countries are key members of the Proliferation Security Initiative against North Korea and other countries.The concerted efforts of the Self-Defense Forces and the Australian forces produced good results in relief efforts for the victims of the devastating tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake off Sumatra, Indonesia, in December 2004.The joint declaration stipulates stronger cooperation in various fields, including international peacekeeping activities, efforts to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, antiterrorism activities and securing marine and air transportation safety. The two countries will compile an action plan for such items.Deepening such relations will lead to peace and safety in the region.Economic ties also importantThe issue from now on is how the two countries can produce results of the cooperation based on the joint declaration. To achieve this, Tokyo and Canberra have to deepen their strategic dialogues.The two countries already have two dialogue frameworks between their respective defense and foreign ministers, and the joint declaration stipulates the creation of a joint dialogue attended by the two defense chiefs and two foreign ministers in a so-called two-plus-two framework. This is the second time for Japan to set up "two-plus-two" talks, following those with the United States.It is also important to strengthen economic relations between the two countries. To create strategic relations with Australia, Japan also has to push negotiations for a bilateral economic partnership agreement to build two stable pillars of security and economy in their relations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2007-03-14	YOSHIN0020070314e33e000f8
YOMSHI0020070315e33f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070315e33f00001	EN	\N	Review of political funds reporting system overdue	Following the case of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, former Justice Minister Hiroshi Nakai, a House of Representatives member of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, admitted his political fund reports stated that more than 10 million yen was paid for utility and water charges for three years, even though the office of his fund management body is housed in the Diet members office building, which does not levy such charges.	4	2007-03-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With nationwide local elections and the House of Councillors election on the horizon, the DPJ has been relentlessly pursuing the responsibility of the farm minister. But the revelations of Nakai's murky reports have left the party with egg on its face.Matsuoka's fund management organization reported utility and water costs of about 28 million yen over the five years to 2005. The farm minister should clarify why the costs reached such a staggering amount. As long as he insists that he filed his reports in accordance with the law, it is no wonder that even some Cabinet members have raised questions over his attitude.Other lawmakers fingeredThe problems look likely to widen. DPJ Policy Research Committee Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto and other lawmakers also are suspected of making similar dubious statements regarding the expenses for the offices of their fund management bodies mainly registered within the Diet members office building. All lawmakers suspected of such falsifications, irrespective of their political colors, should make public the content of their reports and fully explain the details of their funds.The Political Funds Control Law does not require lawmakers to report breakdowns and receipts for operating expenses, including utility and water charges. The system should be reviewed to clarify the points that have given rise to a series of scandals and improve the transparency of the flow of political funds and expenses.The DPJ and New Komeito have both proposed that lawmakers be required to provide receipts with their political fund report if the expenses exceed a certain amount, and that these receipts be made public. The DPJ wants receipts to be given for expenses that exceed 10,000 yen, while New Komeito considers 50,000 yen as an appropriate standard. Discussions on the revision of the law should be based on such proposals.Tip of the icebergBut the problems appear to go beyond utility expenses. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa reported a total of 1 billion yen as office expenses to acquire and possess properties. This takes the issue to a whole new level.Are properties worth that much really necessary for lawmakers to continue their political activities? Some observers also have pointed out that politicians could even use their political funds to build personal wealth as a nest egg for life after retirement. Discussions on revising the law also must take these points into consideration.Even more serious than the dubious office expenses is the failure of Giichi Tsunoda, an upper house member of the DPJ who was a former vice president of the upper house, to record political donations in his political fund report. However, a solution to this problem has not been forthcoming.Particularly worrisome was the allegation that Tsunoda received donations from entities affiliated with the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). If true, this would violate the Political Funds Control Law that prohibits lawmakers from accepting donations from foreigners and foreigners' organizations. Such donations more than likely influenced Tsunoda's political activities, so this matter cannot simply be swept under the rug.Both ruling and opposition parties should swiftly do all they can to solve the problems of money in politics, and tackle such pressing problems as education system reform and the widening economic discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2007-03-15	YOSHIN0020070316e33f000ei
YOMSHI0020070316e33g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070316e33g00001	EN	\N	Lifting U.S. sanctions won't rein in N. Korea	The Macao bank, which has had its North Korea-related accounts frozen, has been suspected of helping North Korea launder money and being involved in other illegal activities. How will the U.S. decision affect the thorny process of forcing Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear development programs?	4	2007-03-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The United States has left it up to the Macao authorities to decide how to handle at least $25 million (about 2.9 billion yen) in North Korea-related accounts at the bank. The money, which has been judged as having no connection with any illegal activities, will be returned to North Korea. The U.S. decision, in effect, paves the way for unfreezing these accounts at the bank.But some observers have pointed out that perhaps less than half of the North Korean funds frozen at the bank will be released. Although the next step is entirely in the hands of the Macao authorities, any partial lifting of a ban on North Korean assets would not necessarily lead the reclusive state to agree to abandon its nuclear development programs in line with the agreement reached at six-party talks.Illegal activitiesThis dispute has been simmering since September 2005, when Washington, suspecting that North Korea-related accounts at Banco Delta Asia were linked to unlawful activities, designated the bank as a primary money-laundering concern on the basis of U.S. domestic law and suspended it from dealing with U.S. financial institutions. Since then, the United States has been investigating the case with the cooperation of the Macao authorities.The investigation substantiated these concerns. Among the illegal activities uncovered were the use of counterfeit U.S. banknotes, illicit trade of drugs and fake brands of tobacco, and activities leading to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Some estimates suggest several hundred million dollars were laundered through the bank. The United States quite justifiably criticized the Macao bank for its lax auditing and discipline and took the legal measure of banning transactions between the Macao bank and U.S. financial institutions. Continued monitoring of these illegal activities is essential.At the six-party talks in September 2005, North Korea promised the other participants--Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--it would scrap its nuclear weapons and abandon its nuclear development programs. But in negotiations two months later, North Korea demanded the financial sanctions imposed by the United States be lifted, and refused to attend six-party talks for more than one year. During this hiatus, North Korea test-fired several missiles and conducted its first nuclear test.Give and takeAt the six-party talks held in February, participants agreed to offer North Korea energy aid in return for Pyongyang taking the first steps to stop the operation of and seal nuclear facilities at Yongbyon within 60 days, measures that would halt the production of plutonium.An airtight process for permanently dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear development programs remains elusive. Now is an important stage at which relevant countries must take necessary steps toward this goal.North Korea promised International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei during his recent visit that it would implement the initial measures of the deal, including a return of IAEA inspectors to North Korea. However, North Korea also placed a caveat on the deal, telling the IAEA chief that it all depended on the sanctions being lifted.If North Korea remains dissatisfied even with the lifting of sanctions and refuses--again--to faithfully implement the agreement reached in the six-party talks, the process to dismantle Pyongyang's nuclear development programs would collapse. In that event, of course, providing aid, including heavy fuel oil, to North Korea should be ruled out.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2007-03-16	YOSHIN0020070319e33g0005p
YOMSHI0020070317e33h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070317e33h00001	EN	\N	Ruling in Horie trial condemns mammonism	The ruling was unusually harsh for a securities law violation such as accounting fraud. The defense immediately filed an appeal with the Tokyo High Court.	4	2007-03-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During its final arguments, the defense stressed that, "This trial has been a mirage devised by the prosecution, who ignored objective evidence."Horie also appealed to the court, saying, "I sensed the prosecutors wanted to send me to prison because they blamed me for the market turmoil."However, the Tokyo District Court said in its ruling that Horie was the one who touted the nonexistent profits that were behind his companies' fictitious growth.In testifying before the court, Ryoji Miyauchi, former Livedoor chief financial officer, and other witnesses said Horie played a leading role in the group's window-dressing scheme. Horie, however, insisted that Miyauchi played the key role, saying, "There were many occasions when [Miyauchi] ignored my instructions."Sifting through the liesDuring the trial, the issue over who was actually telling the truth became a pivotal one, and in the end, the court decided to accept the testimony and evidence, including e-mails, provided by Miyauchi and other witnesses.According to the ruling, Livedoor executives not only boosted the stock prices by booking fictitious profits on earnings reports, but also rapidly expanded the aggregate market price by employing a massive share splitting strategy that broke the law.Although Horie said he could do anything he wanted as long as it did not break the law, it turns out he actually was involved in illegal activities. So it is not surprising that Horie received a prison term that he is expected to serve.Horie is scheduled to appear later this month as a defense witness in the trial of Yoshiaki Murakami, founder and former head of the so-called Murakami Fund. Horie's testimony would have been a bargaining chip for Murakami as Horie had an all-out confrontation with the prosecutors at his own trial. However, the credibility of his forthcoming testimony is now in question.Case triggered law revisionsA variety of issues concerning stock dealings and corporate audits have surfaced during this case.As a result, drastic revisions have been made to the Securities and Exchange Law, ensuring stronger penalties for illicit stock dealings, such as the window-dressing of accounts. The audit system also is in the process of being improved by revisions to the certified public accountant law.However, these will not be sufficient to plug all the legal loopholes. Strengthening bourses and the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission's monitoring ability also will be important.The first trial took half a year--unusually quick for such a large-scale financial case. We expect similar speed from the high court.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	518	2007-03-17	YOSHIN0020070317e33h000l9
YOMSHI0020070318e33i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070318e33i00001	EN	\N	Personal information law rife with problems	It was recently revealed that the personal information of 8.63 million customers was stolen by a former employee of a firm contracted by  Dai Nippon Printing Co. in the largest information leak of its kind.	4	2007-03-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The customer data that was pilfered had been provided to Dai Nippon by 43 companies, including credit card issuers and insurance firms, that placed orders with the printing firm for direct mailers and other publications. Included was such data as credit card numbers, some of which have reportedly been used in fraudulent Internet transactions.The employee in question was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department and indicted on theft charges, in which damages amount to a mere \\250--the cost of the magneto-optical (MO) disk he used for copying the information.The massive difference in cost to society at large and the \\250 for which the staffer has been charged highlights the delays in improving the legislation. It is nonsensical for the theft of information not to carry a penalty merely because it is not treated as property.In this case, the employee took an MO disk from the office supplies, making it possible for the police to charge him with theft under the Penal Code. If the man had copied the data to his own disk, the police would have had difficulty bringing theft charges against him.Closing the loopholesPenalties under the personal information protection law, which took effect two years ago, do not apply against individuals, such as company employees, who steal information. At the time of the law's enactment, observers pointed out this loophole.Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers had once advocated revising the personal information protection law, saying the law should carry penalties for stealing information.However, debate on the revision has come to a standstill, as lawmakers in New Komeito and the opposition camp insist the revision could discourage would-be whistle-blowers and media informants.The theft of personal information also has occurred at other companies. The extent of the risk associated with committing such a crime also has become greater. By adding new elements to quell the concerns of lawmakers, the LDP should move ahead with closing loopholes in the personal information protection law by introducing legislation that would aim to suppress information theft.Share the blameIn the information industry, a welter of companies has received orders for system construction, operation and advice under vague contracts.The relationship between a principal contractor and its several levels of subcontractors is complicated. The man who stole the data from Dai Nippon worked for a company that was a subcontractor on the lowest rung.Although risk is not inherent in subcontracting per se, it would be difficult to safely manage several contracts on a number of levels.Dai Nippon admitted its poor management, saying the company did not take sufficient measures against information leaks.However, the companies that placed orders with the printing firm also are responsible. Did they need to provide Dai Nippon with their customers' credit card numbers for the printing of direct mail? Dai Nippon has only released 20 of the 43 client companies whose customers' data were stolen. We wonder whether the remaining 23 companies have broken the bad news to their customers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2007-03-18	YOSHIN0020070318e33i0009w
YOMSHI0020070319e33j00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070319e33j00002	EN	\N	Policy assessments must remain true to intent	The policy assessment system was introduced to help ministries review their own policies by analyzing their effects.	4	2007-03-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While the Board of Audit monitors whether tax money is being used lawfully and appropriately, the policy assessment system is intended to determine whether tax money can be used more efficiently.The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is the government's watchdog over the policy assessments carried out by each ministry. Recently, the ministry carried out large-scale studies on about 100 randomly selected public works projects, and found 14 of them were problematic.One example is a project to develop water supply facilities around the Chubetsu Dam in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The Asahikawa municipal government estimated the city's population would increase from 360,000 in fiscal 2003 to 383,800 within 40 years, and concluded that the project should continue with the aim of ensuring a sufficient water supply for the city. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which provides subsidies for the project, was of the same opinion.Reality checkIn fact, the city's population declined by about 3,300 over the past five years, and the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry last year requested a new policy assessment of the project. As a result, about \\4.25 billion was cut as expansion work on the water purification plants was scaled back and similar work canceled.If the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry had carried out a proper policy assessment with the latest population data in the first place, such waste could have been avoided.Such problems are not limited to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. Policy should occasionally be reassessed from a viewpoint of ensuring types and methods of studies used to examine future demands are correct and whether there are other, more effective projects to achieve the same ends.Self-indulgent reviewsPolicy assessments tend toward indulgent results because ministries check their own policies. To avoid self-serving policy assessments, each ministry has a third party body of experts to check its policy assessments. There has been criticism that third-party checks of policy assessments have become mere formalities in which vast volumes of information are given only a cursory examination. The role of third-party panels should be drastically reviewed.Policy assessment results are posted on ministries' Web sites, but not all the data used are disclosed, nor are the methods of assessment. New ways to disclose the results of policy assessments should be considered so that the public has greater access to information.Unlike public works projects, such policies as measures to counter the declining birthrate, as well as juvenile delinquency, are difficult to evaluate in terms of cost-effectiveness. How can such policies be properly assessed? Ministries have to find better ways to carry out policy assessments.At the center of the nation's bureaucracy in Kasumigaseki, the term, "assessment fatigue" is sometimes heard. The term reflects the idea that bureaucrats produce policy assessment reports without aim or purpose. The initial purpose of the policy assessment system--realizing effective, efficient government--must not be forgotten.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	557	2007-03-19	YOSHIN0020070319e33j000qy
YOMSHI0020070320e33k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070320e33k00001	EN	\N	Denso's management of classified data lax	A Chinese engineer working for leading auto parts manufacturer Denso Corp. has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement for allegedly downloading information from the company's database into a personal computer provided by the firm for company use and removing the PC from the company premises.	4	2007-03-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The engineer is alleged to have downloaded about 130,000 blueprints for items including an industrial robot and a diesel fuel injection pump. The downloaded data cover about 1,700 products, of which 280 were categorized as classified.The engineer downloaded most of the data in the latter half of last year. Since October, he has traveled to China three times. He destroyed his own PC's hard disk in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.This suspicious behavior indicates he has already leaked classified information to China.National interest at riskDenso enjoys a high global reputation for its technologies and products. The downloaded blueprints are for commercial products, but they could be converted to build military hardware. Vast amounts of such data may already have been passed to China. The case must be thoroughly investigated to determine whether the data were stolen for commercial or military purposes.Denso's data management clearly was lax. The issue is not the losses to be incurred by one company, but whether Japan's national interests will be threatened.Before coming to Japan, the Chinese engineer worked for a state-run military company that manufactures missiles and other products. He serves as deputy chairman of an association of auto engineers in Japan whose members include Chinese nationals. We wonder why a foreigner with such a background was assigned to a section where important information was accessible.Anti-espionage laws lackingAt a time when economic activities between Japan and China are intensifying, Yamaha Motor Co. has been charged with illegally exporting unmanned helicopters to China. The National Police Agency believes China is trying to obtain various advanced technologies and related information in Japan.Following a series of revisions, the maximum penalty for leaking corporate secrets stipulated in the Unfair Competition Prevention Law has been increased to 10 years in prison--in line with punitive provisions in the U.S. Economic Espionage Act.The Penal Code stipulates a maximum penalty of five years in prison for embezzlement. The police reportedly also plan to establish a case under the Unfair Competition Prevention Law as it provides for a heavier punishment.Though there are some controls on spying under the Unfair Competition Prevention Law, some government officials have pointed out that no legislation has been established to deal comprehensively with espionage activities.The issue is not limited to confidential data in the private sector. The government must quickly come up with ways to prevent foreign spies obtaining defense and diplomatic secrets.Management of important information and employment of foreign engineers and researchers are not issues that can be left to the private sector alone.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	522	2007-03-20	YOSHIN0020070320e33k000fj
YOMSHI0020070321e33l00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070321e33l00002	EN	\N	Nuclear power stations must be operated safely	International competition over energy resources has been intensifying in recent years, and global warming continues to escalate. As the white paper notes, it is impossible to tackle these difficult problems without expanding nuclear power generation.	4	2007-03-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The significance of nuclear power generation is, first of all, that the ratio of fuel cost as a proportion of power generation cost is low. The price of uranium as the fuel has been rising sharply recently. But in actuality, the impact of the price rise on the power generation cost has been small. The supply of uranium has been stable.According to an estimate published in autumn last year by the International Energy Agency, in 2030 global energy demand will be about 1.5 times the current demand due to the economic development of emerging economies, including China. Nuclear power stations are indispensable in terms of maintaining energy security.The white paper points out that nuclear power stations do not emit carbon dioxide, which causes global warming.Ironically, this fact was highlighted when  Tokyo Electric Power Co. suspended operations of all its 17 nuclear power stations for a year from 2002. The firm acted because its tampering with inspection documents came to light. TEPCO compensated for the loss of its nuclear power generation with thermal power generation, increasing CO2 emissions by 42 million tons.Japan has pledged internationally to cut its CO2 level by 6 percent from the 1990 level by 2010. Forty-two million tons is not a small figure; it is 3.4 percent of the 1990 level.No room for complacencyHowever, as was brought home by the attempt of  Hokuriku Electric Power Co. to hide a criticality accident at its Shika nuclear power station in Ishikawa Prefecture, we should not ignore the recent series of revelations that power utilities covered up problems they experienced with their reactors.We doubt that those in the power industry are keenly aware of the heavy responsibility operators of nuclear power stations bear.The AEC has also compiled its view on securing nuclear power generation safety. In it, the commission asks power companies to realize information disclosure with a high degree of transparency and strict compliance with laws. The view was attached to the white paper.Although the cases in which past problems were concealed were all discovered through internal investigations carried out by power companies, which voluntarily announced them, it is an urgent task to reform the mind-set of those in the industry to prevent similar troubles.N-power wave of the futureOn a global scale, the significance of nuclear power stations has been praised, and moves to construct new nuclear power stations have been accelerating. The number of developing countries aiming to introduce nuclear power stations has increased. However, fears over the safety of nuclear plants and the risk of their aiding the proliferation of nuclear weapons persist.The fact that nuclear power stations are not approved as a means of combating global warming illustrates the depth of these concerns. In the Kyoto Protocol, which defines international measures to fight global warming, developing countries will not be regarded as reducing CO2 emissions even if they construct nuclear power stations with the assistance of industrialized nations. Thus, nuclear power is removed from the Kyoto Protocol as a way to ease global warming.To improve this situation, the white paper urges Japan to act positively to include nuclear power generation as part of measures to cut CO2 emissions. To make such a move persuasive, power companies should aim at operating nuclear power stations safely and steadily.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2007-03-21	YOSHIN0020070321e33l000dc
YOMSHI0020070324e33o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070324e33o00001	EN	\N	Tamiflu ban needs rational reevaluation	Tamiflu can bring down a high fever caused by influenza. In fiscal 2005 alone, the Tokyo-based pharmaceutical company that acts as Japan's sole importer and seller of Tamiflu shipped enough of the drug to cover 8.6 million flu patients. However, there have been 1,763 reported cases of suspected side effects from the drug, including 23 extraordinary cases in which Tamiflu takers--mainly those aged from 10 to 19--jumped from the balconies of their homes after taking the drug.	4	2007-03-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry has refused to acknowledge that the 23 instances were the result of side effects of Tamiflu, saying such abnormal behavior can be brought about by high fevers caused by the flu.In the meantime, the ministry has decided to ban Tamiflu for the treatment of flu patients aged 10 to 19. It also will reexamine the cases of suspected side effects. This means the ministry has become more open-minded about determining whether Tamiflu was the direct cause of the abnormal behavior, instead of just discounting the drug's possible role.The ministry has every reason to be concerned as it is puzzled why some people who have taken Tamiflu exhibited strange behavior. It should be noted that the ministry was slow to address problems arising from the use of certain pharmaceuticals to treat patients. Failure in this respect caused significant suffering for a large number of patients. The mistake should never be repeated.However, the ministry's decision to ban the use of Tamiflu in treating preteen and teenage patients should be questioned, as the drug is still permitted to be dispensed to other age brackets. This could cause concern among patients and spread confusion among medical workers.Problem is in prescriptionWe believe it is wise for the ministry to inform the public over the circumstances in which Tamiflu should be prescribed to patients. This should be complemented by efforts to ensure medical workers do not administer the drug in other circumstances.Tamiflu is regarded by many specialists as necessary for treating flu-stricken infants, who could become desperately ill. It is also believed that Tamiflu is good for elderly people who are too weak to battle a high fever.The problem lies in that Tamiflu is commonly used to treat not only adults, but also young people.Healthy adults can recover from the flu in just a week with enough rest. According to some specialists, giving them Tamiflu would only have limited effect, such as suppressing their fevers, thus hastening their recovery by only a day or two.There are concerns Tamiflu may have been dispensed to patients without much thought. Given this, it is necessary to reexamine the current method for administering the drug.Findings must be convincingThe ministry is carrying out a survey of about 10,000 people over whether they have experienced side effects from the drug. We hope the ministry will release scientifically convincing results of the survey as soon as possible.It also is important for the ministry to conduct the survey in a manner credible to the public. The ministry did the right thing by removing one doctor from its research team after discovering he had received research funding from the firm that sells Tamiflu in this country.In any case, it is necessary to pay close attention to flu patients to watch for any abnormalities in their behavior. In fact, a middle school student jumped from a building late last week, after a high fever caused him to become delusional. He had not taken Tamiflu. This proves how dangerous it is to presume patients will not act abnormally as long as they do not take Tamiflu.The whole problem must be dealt with in a calm and scientific manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2007-03-24	YOSHIN0020070324e33o000kd
YOMSHI0020070325e33p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070325e33p00001	EN	\N	Japan, U.S. must share intel for missile shield	Later this month, the government will start deploying the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air guided missiles at the Air Self-Defense Force's Iruma Base in Saitama Prefecture, and the Cabinet has finalized emergency guidelines for the missiles' operation.	4	2007-03-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The missile defense system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles heading toward Japan with Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) missiles launched from Aegis-equipped destroyers and PAC-3 missiles launched from land.The missiles will be deployed sequentially on sea and land, with completion scheduled for as early as fiscal 2010.Last summer, North Korea fired seven missiles into the Sea of Japan. Pyongyang has 200 Rodong missiles that are capable of reaching any part of the archipelago in only 10 minutes.The missiles are a serious threat. The government must act quickly to set up a sound missile defense system.The Cabinet guidelines clearly spell out the government's policy for dealing with the launching of a missile, without prior warning toward Japan.Under the guidelines, the defense minister would issue an interception order in advance, and ASDF units manning the PAC-3s would launch the missiles under the orders of the Air Defense Command.Japan can't go it aloneHowever, mapping out emergency guidelines does not mean Japan is capable of dealing with incoming missiles alone. Whether the missile defense system will work as planned depends on whether an enemy missile can be accurately and quickly detected when launched and then tracked by radar.To this end, intelligence gathered by U.S. early-warning satellites is indispensable. This summer, the United States reportedly plans to deploy a system at the U.S. Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture to receive the intelligence. The government must persuade Washington to allow the SDF prompt access to such intelligence so that it can respond swiftly.A system in which Japan and the United States share intelligence--even in times of peace--must be established. This is one of the reasons the U.S. Air Force and Air Self-Defense Force will locate their individual command centers at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo as part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.Relationship of trustCurrently, the government interprets the Constitution as forbidding the country to exercise its right to collective self-defense. This view should be revised to increase U.S. trust in Japan.U.S. Aegis destroyers deployed in waters near Japan are supposed to intercept any missiles launched at Japan. However, if one of Japan's Aegis destroyers were to let a missile heading for the United States pass through Japanese airspace unhindered, Washington would lose faith in Tokyo.Japan and the United States are considering signing a General Security of Military Information Agreement to prevent the leakage of defense secrets. Under the envisaged agreement, Japan would be required to possess the same level of secrecy as the United States.The government must reassure United States that secrets would not be leaked if given to Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	533	2007-03-25	YOSHIN0020070325e33p00097
YOMSHI0020070326e33q00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070326e33q00002	EN	\N	Noto Peninsula quake shows we're all at risk	An earthquake was unexpected in this region, so it provides us with a lesson that no place in Japan is safe from a disastrous temblor.	4	2007-03-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Reports of collapsed and damaged houses and buildings, damage to basic utilities such as water supplies, and subsided roads have streamed in from areas in the affected region, mainly in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures.One woman was killed and more than 190 people were injured. Out of fear, and as a precaution against aftershocks, about 2,500 people have taken refuge at community centers and other public facilities.The government set up a task force in the Crisis Management Center of the Prime Minister's Office. In response to a disaster relief request by the Ishikawa governor, the Self-Defense Forces have started relief operations and aerial surveys to ascertain how much damage has been caused.Aftershocks have been continuing.Local governments, police and firefighters should work together to rescue people and provide relief to those who have suffered as a result of the quake.Many communities have been cut off due to damaged roads. There are many households in which elderly people live alone. The authorities must therefore carry out coordinated efforts to meet the various needs of each affected locality.Protecting against quakesIn the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004, more than 60 communities were cut off and supplies of water and food did not reach them for some time. A government study carried out in the wake of this earthquake found that about 17,000 communities likely could be isolated in the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake.In the Noto earthquake, most of the houses that were destroyed were old wooden ones. It is said that 25 percent of the nation's houses and apartment buildings do not have sufficient earthquake resistance.The government has been promoting the strengthening of houses and buildings to ensure they can survive a quake, but renovations and reinforcement work are proceeding slowly. In this regard, the government must urgently introduce new measures.We must be preparedThe Noto Peninsula had been regarded as an area with a low likelihood of being hit by a large earthquake. The government's Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion said on its nationwide forecast maps for specific earthquakes that the likelihood of an earthquake with a magnitude of lower 6 on the Japanese intensity scale or higher hitting the area within 30 years was almost zero.Western Fukuoka Prefecture, which was struck by a strong earthquake in 2005 that killed one woman, was another area where the likelihood of an earthquake measuring lower 6 or larger hitting within 30 years was listed as almost zero.We should accept that there is no place in Japan that is immune from an earthquake. We must be prepared for such an emergency at any time, anywhere in the country.In response to Sunday's earthquake, experts pointed out that seismic activity across the whole of western Japan has been intensifying.It is forecast that a devastating earthquake--either a Nankai or Tonankai earthquake--with its focus off the Kii Peninsula and the surrounding areas could strike western Japan at any time.If such a quake occurred, it could wreak havoc across large areas from Shizuoka Prefecture to Miyazaki Prefecture. According to a government projection, if the worst-case scenario occurred, a major quake in the region could kill an estimated 18,000 people and destroy about 360,000 houses.We cannot afford to waste any time in strengthening measures against earthquakes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2007-03-26	YOSHIN0020070326e33q000b4
YOMSHI0020070327e33r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070327e33r00001	EN	\N	New target for fiscal reconstruction needed	The budget signifies the first step down the path of rebuilding the nation's fiscal house. Yet the road to that pending issue is still long.	4	2007-03-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the mounting pressure of rising social security costs due to the declining birthrate and an aging population, it is necessary to discuss new ways to trim future fiscal deficits.The compilation of the fiscal 2007 budget was aided by tax revenue increases. The issuance of new government bonds totaled 25.4 trillion yen, down 4.5 trillion yen from the initial fiscal 2006 budget.The deficit in the primary balance--tax revenues minus expenditures other than debt-servicing costs--will shrink to 4.4 trillion yen, a marked improvement from the initial fiscal 2006 budget.The government aims at a zero deficit in the combined primary balance at the national and local levels by fiscal 2011. As general-account fiscal surpluses at the local government level have already been realized, and the central government's deficit level is expected to shrink markedly, Diet deliberations on the fiscal budget this time around lacked enthusiasm.Even if the deficit in the primary balance, a barometer for fiscal soundness, is eliminated, the hefty issuance of new government bonds will not stop. The government should reconsider whether current fiscal reconstruction targets are appropriate.Bound by bondsLet us apply this logic to the fiscal 2007 budget. Even if the 4.4 trillion yen deficit in the primary balance were eliminated, the budget still needed an issuance of new government bonds worth more than 20 trillion yen.With this large sum of new government bonds issued, the government can hardly say its "reconstruction of the fiscal house has been realized."It will be inevitable for the amount of outstanding government bonds to grow. According to the Finance Ministry, the amount of outstanding government bonds, which will total 547 trillion yen at the end of fiscal 2007, is estimated to reach 605 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2010 and 715 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2016, should the current system stay unchanged.There is little hope for tax revenues to make any significant increase in the years ahead. Meanwhile, outlays for debts-servicing and social security spending will grow.3 routesFiscal reconstruction should primarily focus on holding down the annual issuance of new government bonds and reducing the amount of outstanding government bonds. To realize this, three routes on the path to reform need to be considered.One is to hold the annual fiscal deficit down to less than 3 percent of the gross domestic product--on a par with that of the European Union. In the case of Japan, the issuance of new government bonds should be about 15 trillion yen.The other is to hold the issuance of new government bonds down to less than the redemption cost for government bonds, which comes to 11.4 trillion yen in the fiscal 2007 budget. By doing so, the outstanding amount of government bonds will decline.Lastly is limiting the issuance of government bonds mainly for public works, which total 5.2 trillion yen in the fiscal 2007 budget.The issuance of those government bonds that are meant for improving public facilities can be forgiven even if the debt-servicing burden is, to a certain extent, passed on to the next generation.Each of these three routes has difficult hurdles, but unless they are cleared, there will be no real progress down the path of fiscal reconstruction.A revenue shortfall for the state budget can be covered only through drastic tax reforms, including a hike in the consumption tax. It would be almost impossible to balance the budget only through spending cuts.It is the responsibility of the government and the ruling parties to present to the public a new target for fiscal reconstruction and ways to secure revenue and seek the public's support.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2007-03-27	YOSHIN0020070327e33r000hu
YOMSHI0020070328e33s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070328e33s00001	EN	\N	Govt shouldn't act hastily in reforming amakudari	The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has approved the government's basic policy concerning reforming of the public employee system, including the idea of creating a human resources bank system that differs from the existing one. The system consists of two banks, one for bureaucrats at central government offices and the other for government employees dispatched to local offices.	4	2007-03-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new bank system, to be instituted within the Cabinet Office, will manage the reemployment of retiring public officials in an integrated manner. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the purpose of creating such a system is to completely remove the practice arranging amakudari through forcible mediation by each ministry, dangling authority and budget appropriations as carrots.However, the design of the banks will be left in the hands of experts to be selected to form a study panel. The prime minister said the the new bank system will be established as soon as possible and functional within three years of its establishment. But at this stage, no details of the bank systems' mechanism and operations have been revealed. That is why ministries have voiced opposition to or concern over the plan.Indeed, under the current situation, in which each ministry decides where retiring officials will work, government employees tend to place loyalty to their ministries above all else, with an eye to securing employment in the private sector or at government affiliates after their retirement.This is one of the causes of each ministry's vertically structured administrative setup, often described as "serving ministries' interests, not the national interest."Move could damage moraleThe government introduced the current human resources bank within the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry in 2000. But the bank has no regulations to prevent amakudari mediation by ministries and has only helped reemploy one individual. It exists only in name.We do not believe the amakudari problem will be mitigated or improved by having the Cabinet Office in sole control of reemploying retiring bureaucrats.If the new human resources bank does not work sufficiently, making public employees feel worried about their future, this of course will adversely affect the morale of incumbent public officials. In addition, it is possible that able young people may shun government careers.Given sea changes in the international community and Japan's economy and society, national government employees bear huge responsibilities for people's livelihood and steering the nation. Japan's future will be endangered without securing able bureaucrats who can think strategically and display skill in policymaking, administration and international negotiations.Other options openThe government says it will submit a bill to revise the National Civil Service Law and other related laws to the Diet. However, it does not see the bills' passage within the current Diet session as a foregone conclusion. Some in the ruling parties seem keen to make the issue of reform of the civil servant system a bone of contention for this summer's House of Councillors election as voters may view it as an issue that will help them decide which candidate to vote for.However, this is an issue that is related to the nation's foundations. Reform should not be undertaken hastily.The government's basic policy on reform of the national government employee system has as one of its major pillars the introduction of a merit and achievement system. It is a matter of course to correct such practices as the seniority system and simultaneous promotion and pay raises for personnel on similar career tracks.Creation of the so-called expert staff category job, introduction of an open recruitment system for certain ranking jobs, expansion of exchanges with the private sector and extension of the retirement age may be needs of the times.However, the new human resources bank system is not realistic. There is no guarantee that the system can respond to the needs of the times.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	717	2007-03-28	YOSHIN0020070328e33s000jg
YOMSHI0020070329e33t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070329e33t00001	EN	\N	Teachers, classmates also offenders in bullying case	The court thus clearly acknowledged a causal link between the bullying and the suicide, a decision that overturned a lower court ruling that denied there was any such link.	4	2007-03-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The high court focused on how much physical and mental suffering the bullying had inflicted on the student, and drastically increased the amount of compensation to be paid to the victim's parents from the lower court decision.The victim was tormented by two classmates, who subjected him to degrading acts such as removing his trousers and underwear while in class. They also assaulted the victim while pretending to be wrestling with him, maltreatment that happened every day for a period of time.Although teachers at the school were well aware of what was going on, they neglected their duty to instruct the students and supervise the situation to resolve the bullying problem.Rare rulingThe high court also acknowledged the responsibility of the teachers for failing to do anything to stop the bullying. However, the court denied the teachers bore any responsibility for the student's suicide, saying they could not have predicted that the student would begin suffering from depression or take his own life.This is a rare ruling in which the judiciary added a profound observation on the issue of bullying, a scourge that is prevalent in many schools and in society.After analyzing various patterns of bullying, presiding Judge Hiromu Emi took the remarkable step of severely criticizing the classmates' failure to respond to the bullying."Not only the perpetrators of the violence, but the cowardly behavior by other classmates who neglected the bullying constituted a significant element [of the bullying]," the judge said. "It could be said that every classmate was an offender."The judge also referred to the negligence of some parents to properly discipline their children, saying that parents should keep their responsibilities in mind. "It would be fortuitous if bullying doesn't prevail in society, given many parents' lack of social virtues and their failure to set good examples for their children," the judge said in a stinging rebuke.School's response inadequateThe blundering response to the bullying by the school and teachers also received a verbal lashing from the judge."It is the epitome of folly to deny that bullying is not going on, based only on students' denials during questioning," the judge said."The teachers tried to settle the situation by forcing the offending students to apologize, despite the school's not grasping the situation accurately. There are no grounds for calling this an antibullying measure," the judge said.The judge's remarks should serve as an alarm bell, highlighting the fact that bullying cannot be resolved unless it is tackled by society as a whole. We hope this ruling stirs up discussion in various fields.In the past, family members of children who have committed suicide have brought cases to trial in the hopes of learning the facts of their children's death. However, many court rulings denied there was a causal link between the suicides and the bullying, on the grounds that no suicide notes had been left.The latest court decision might offer a ray of hope for those families.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2007-03-29	YOSHIN0020070329e33t000gq
YOMSHI0020070330e33u00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070330e33u00001	EN	\N	Sapporo shareholders valued long-term growth	This seems to suggest that many shareholders place priority on long-term stable returns over immediate gains made through a sale.	4	2007-03-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Steel Partners Japan Strategic Fund, a U.S. investment fund, will now face massive restrictions on its acquisition bid.Sapporo's current defense plan includes:-- Obliging would-be purchasers aiming to acquire a stake of at least 20 percent in proportion to total voting rights to provide Sapporo with a detailed business plan.-- Allocating one warrant per share for shareholders who are not the purchaser, thereby lowering the proportion of the purchaser's voting rights, when Sapporo determines the plan to be detrimental to the corporation.As these were decided upon by the company's board of directors, the shareholders had not yet approved the strategy.When faced with Steel Partners' buyout offer, Sapporo decided it would seek approval for defense measures every year at its annual shareholders meeting, with an aim of boosting the measures' legitimacy. The antitakeover strategy was put to a vote at Thursday's shareholders meeting.If the measures had been rejected, Sapporo would have found itself without effective means to stave off the takeover.Preparation paid offPrior to the meeting, both Sapporo and Steel Partners were unsure over which side would obtain a majority, needed to implement the measures. Both sides approached Sapporo's individual shareholders--who control the outcome of the vote--in an attempt to sway them.Usually, companies planning a takeover bid will buy shares for at least 10 percent more than the most recent stock price. If another firm moves in with a counteroffer, the original offer will increase.Sapporo's shareholders could have profited had they backed the Steel Partners bid. However, more than two-thirds of the shareholders--a surprising margin--voted for Sapporo's proposal. It is thought that not only loyal stakeholders, but also many individual shareholders, supported Sapporo's management.Previously, Steel Partners has launched hostile takeover bids against  Yushiro Chemical Industry Co., textile dyer  Sotoh Co. and noodlemaker  Myojo Foods Co. Although all three bids were unsuccessful, Steel Partners was able to obtain increased dividends and significant gains by selling off their shares. Without any antitakeover measures in place, the firms were unnerved by Steel Partners' actions, being forced to opt for an emergency way out.Sapporo, however, issued a warning to Steel Partners with its defense plan, and it put a tentative end to the bid at the shareholders meeting. This was proof the defense plan, which Sapporo prepared in advance, was functioning properly.Keep shareholders happyIn this age of buying and selling of companies, stocks have become a way to control how the company operates.Tokyo Kohtetsu Co., which attempted to become a subsidiary of Osaka Steel Co., failed to get support from its individual shareholders and the proposal was rejected at its shareholders meeting. This was because the shareholders considered the equity exchange ratio to be disadvantageous to them.Sapporo has successfully repelled the first blow of the hostile takeover bid. But now, the company must seek to boost its corporate value with quality management, because shareholders are not always so forgiving.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	564	2007-03-30	YOSHIN0020070402e33u0008a
YOMSHI0020070330e33v0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070330e33v0000f	EN	\N	Chaos in Iraq shouldn't be left unresolved	It is natural that Japan, as a member of the international community, would continue to support the efforts of the United Nations and 26 countries to prevent the collapse of Iraq and pave the way for its reconstruction.	4	2007-03-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government has submitted to the Diet a bill to revise the special law on our country's role in the reconstruction of Iraq by extending by two years the Air Self-Defense Force's activities, which comprises air transportation support. The bill must be passed during the current session.Despite the large-scale military campaign conducted by U.S. and Iraqi forces to bring security to Iraq, there have yet to be any signs of improvement.If the chaos in Iraq serves to further destabilize the greater Middle East, it also may harm Japan's national interests, namely that of crude oil imports from the region, which account for about 90 percent of this country's oil.ASDF plays indispensable roleThe ASDF mission in Iraq comprises three C-130 transport planes and about 200 personnel, and already has performed nearly 500 airlifts of personnel and supplies.Based out of a military base in Kuwait since March 2004, the ASDF's main mission is to transport personnel and supplies for the Ground Self-Defense Force and multinational forces to southern Iraq.After the GSDF withdrew from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, the ASDF expanded its mission to include the transportation of U.N. personnel and supplies to Baghdad and Irbil, in northern Iraq.Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki rates the ASDF activities highly, saying the Japanese personnel play a major and indispensable role. They also play a support role to the United Nations. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called them an important means of transporting personnel and goods.It is said that every six months, the government is going to review the basic plan, which stipulates the details and location of the activites the ASDF is to carry out. It is necessary for the government to be able to respond flexibly to changes in the situation in Iraq, as security and the political process in the country remain unclear.The government should carefully explain its reasons for extending the ASDF deployment and the significance of doing so.DPJ must take clear stanceThe Democratic Party of Japan will submit a bill to abolish the special law, opposing a deployment extension. The DPJ might seek to make Japan's role in Iraq a campaign issue in this summer's House of Councillors election.DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa calls the war on Iraq an "egoistic action" by the [U.S. President George W.] Bush administration, adding "Japan needs to decide to not blindly follow the United States, correcting that country's mistakes."Is it justifiable for Japan to take a "wait and see" stance and do nothing as Iraq implodes?The DPJ calls for Japan's participation in U.N. peacekeeping activities. Opposing the extension appears to contradict this policy as Irbil is home to a U.N. base and the ASDF is in the country on the behest of the world body.The DPJ should be clear during Diet deliberations about how it believes the current Iraqi situation should be dealt with.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	575	2007-03-31	YOSHIN0020070402e33v000vm
YOMSHI0020070401e34100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070401e34100001	EN	\N	Action louder than words in Mideast peace plan	Leaders at an Arab summit meeting in Riyadh have proposed a comprehensive Mideast peace plan that urges Israel to withdraw from land occupied in the 1967 Middle East War and accept the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.	6	2007-04-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The plan promised that Arab states would normalize ties with Israel, among other things, in return for those demands and a fair resolution of the Palestinian refugee issue.The plan is similar to one proposed by Arab leaders five years ago. But peace efforts in the region have come to nought since the Middle East road map reached an impasse.Chance to resume talksThe plan was proposed amid continuing strife. All parties and nations concerned need to work together to implement the plan, considering it an opportunity to resume dialogue.The Arab leaders also decided to appeal to other countries and organizations concerned, including Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations. The plan is a declaration by Arab nations that they will take the initiative in tackling the region's problems.They seemed to regret not being actively involved in solutions to important problems linked to safety and order in the region, such as Iraq and the Palestinian issue. But the Arab leaders will be put to the test, not through the promises they have made, but through their deeds.Israel has rejected past Arab peace plans. But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rated the new peace initiative highly, believing it might serve to help stalled negotiations. With it, he said, comprehensive peace could be obtainable within five years.At the same time, Olmert made clear he opposed the part of the plan that calls for Israel's acknowledgement that Palestinian refugees have the right to return to their homeland.However, his flexibility over not categorically refusing the Arab proposal was welcomed--to an extent. It is important for Olmert to seek steady progression, rather than take hasty action that may lead to another failure. It is essential that Israel work to build confidence among Arabs, with the aim of gradually resuming talks.Palestinians must bend, tooThe Fatah movement and Islamic militant Hamas, two Palestinian organizations that have been fighting each other, have formed a unity government. This bodes well for an increased momentum toward peace.Of course, it is not enough. The new Cabinet should respond to the demands of Israel and the international community, including recognition of Israel's existence and bringing an end to the fighting with that country.It is important for the international community, especially the United States, to offer its support to the Palestinians. There also are high expectations for a Japanese plan to develop the Jordan Valley in an effort to promote peace through the cooperation of those involved. The goal of Middle East peace requires continued stable, consistent assistance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	514	2007-04-01	YOSHIN0020070401e341000dw
YOMSHI0020070402e34200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070402e34200001	EN	\N	Will changes in U.S.-ROK alliance affect security?	How will this affect the security of the Korean Peninsula?	4	2007-04-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In line with the transfer, the current U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command headed by a U.S. general will be disbanded. The U.S. forces in South Korea and the South Korean military then will be under independent chains of command, with the U.S. forces moving to a supporting role.Plans to defend South Korea, which have lasted for more than half a century, will undergo a drastic change. Will the change undermine the framework for dealing with threats from North Korea?This is an issue that also affects Japan's security. Japan needs to keep a close watch on how the changes in the U.S.-South Korea security system will unfold.The United States was entrusted by South Korea with the operational command and control of South Korean forces during the Korean War, including formulation and implementation of campaign plans.While peacetime operational control over the South Korean military was transferred back to South Korea in 1994, wartime operational command is still held by the commander of the U.S. forces in South Korea as head of the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command.Demand for autonomyThe administration of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has strongly called for the return of wartime operational control. By reinforcing the country's own defense strength, the administration aimed, to some extent, at asserting its independence from the United States.In South Korea, some are critical of the planned transfer, chiefly conservatives, including some in the opposition Grand National Party.Those critical of the transfer believe it will force the country to boost its defense spending, thus increasing South Korean security costs.Besides such discontent, they fear that the U.S. handover of the wartime operational control may undermine the security of South Korea when a nuclear arms development program is under way in North Korea.Should an emergency arise on the peninsula, will South Korea be assured of definite and prompt reinforcement of U.S. troops? Will the transfer accelerate the reduction of U.S. troop levels in South Korea? Will it lead to a decline in deterrence against North Korea, giving the communist neighbor greater opportunity to seize the initiative?Keeping guard upBoth the United States and South Korea emphasize that the U.S.-South Korean alliance has not been undermined, with the deterrence against North Korea firmly maintained.If so, the two countries may need to make an effort to dispel such fears in realizing the transfer.U.S. Army Gen. B.B. Bell in South Korea cited as a subject for discussion between the United States and South Korea the need to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the U.N. Command in South Korea.Since the truce in the Korean War, the U.N. Command in South Korea has assumed such roles as maintaining the ceasefire, dealing with violations of the ceasefire accord and conducting crisis control should a conflict arise between the two Koreas.Only the U.S. and South Korean forces are part of the U.N. command and the U.S. commander in South Korea controls the command by doubling its head.With the dissolution of the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command and the transfer of the wartime operational control, the South Korean military will no longer be under the command of the top U.S. general in South Korea.Will the U.S. and South Korean forces be able to cooperate and respond promptly on the frontline confronting North Korea should a crisis arise on the peninsula?With no peacekeeping system replacing the truce agreement, the United States and South Korea should not leave this matter unclear.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	666	2007-04-02	YOSHIN0020070402e342001kj
YOMSHI0020070403e34300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070403e34300001	EN	\N	BOJ should be cautious on rates despite recovery	According to the Bank of Japan's Tankan survey for March, released Monday, the diffusion index for large manufacturers dropped by two percentage points from the previous quarterly survey taken in December, while there was no change in the index for large nonmanufacturers.	4	2007-04-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The figures mark the first time in a year that the index for large manufacturers has declined from the previous quarter.Analysts said the fall was due to a drop in exports resulting from the slowdown in U.S. economy and an adjustment in the production of electronic parts and materials, as well as the worldwide drop in stock prices and the yen's appreciation.Meanwhile, the mining and industrial production index also declined in February--the second straight monthly decline--indicating that the nation's production activity has entered a slight lull.On the other hand, in the nonmanufacturing sector, business sentiment among service-related firms improved. Recent household budget surveys have indicated that private consumption has been on a moderate upturn since early January, following a similar trend in the October-December period. The quarterly survey has underscored such patterns in recent months.The corporate sector seems to be marking time, though brisk conditions in the household sector have compensated for the sluggish state of the corporate sector, allowing the overall economic recovery to remain on track.Too early to judge on expansionHowever, it is still too early to say whether these trends will lead to domestic demand-led economic expansion through a strong upswing in personal consumption.The outlook for the U.S. economy has become more uncertain than it once was. The stock market also remains unstable. Depending on how events unfold , businesses could become even more cautious.Commodity prices, which are considered a useful means of gauging the temperature of the overall economy, have so far been unable to settle on a steady, positive path.The consumer price index for February, excluding perishables, was down 0.1 percent from a year earlier, marking the first year-on-year decline since April last year. The decline was chiefly due to the fall in oil prices.The Bank of Japan says that consumer prices can be expected to remain on a positive track in the longer term. The drop in commodity prices is expected to be temporary, while the decline in oil prices will actually benefit the economy overall, meaning serious concern over the state of the economy is unwarranted, according to the central bank.Consumer prices could fall furtherYet the prevailing view in the private sector is that consumer prices will decline further in the summer, and will continue to decline in the autumn and possibly after due to oil prices and the slow pace of wage increases.The expansion in the workforce has underpinned overall consumption, though conditions have not yet reached the stage whereby wage hikes are boosting consumption enough to create a moderate rise in prices.Believing that interest rates are currently too low, the central bank feels it necessary to raise interest rates gradually. Should commodity prices decline, real interest rates, or nominal rates minus the rate of price increases, are expected to rise, without the central bank raising interest rates.As land prices in major urban areas have risen markedly of late, there are concerns about the adverse impact the current extremely low interest rates are having.Should the central bank decide on a further hike in interest rates, however, it may need to be prepared to explain in greater detail the prospects for commodity prices, and how the bank would take these into account through its monetary policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2007-04-03	YOSHIN0020070403e343000ev
YOMSHI0020070404e34400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070404e34400001	EN	\N	Time for govt to pursue more active trade policy	The major focus of nine-month negotiations between Washington and Seoul was on whether South Korea would decide to further open up its markets for automobiles, rice, beef and other farm products.	4	2007-04-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The deal requires South Korea to abolish tariffs on beef imports within 15 years, while also lowering tariffs on oranges. The pact also requires Seoul to improve its tariff and tax systems for large automobiles in a manner that will benefit U.S. carmakers seeking to increase their exports to the South Korean market. Meanwhile, the agreement requires the United States to immediately eliminate 2.5 percent tariffs on imports of small and midsize cars from South Korea.The broad agreement also covers government procurement, intellectual property rights and services.Rice--of concern to Japan--was removed from the list of items subject to trade liberalization under the bilateral pact. This has caused some observers to dismiss the pact as a minor deal that has been struck out of the desire only to successfully conclude the two nations' negotiations.However, the latest agreement has dealt a strong blow to Japan, which has not yet signed an FTA either with the United States or South Korea.ROK fears rise of China, IndiaSouth Korea was a good partner in Japanese efforts to oppose global pressure to open this nation's agricultural market during the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations under the World Trade Organization.The South Korean administration of President Roh Moo-hyun was alarmed by China's and India's rapid rise as new economic powers in recent years. The success in concluding the FTA means that the South Korean president was able to override strong objections from domestic farmers to opening up the domestic farm market. This reflected his desire to promote structural reforms at home by liberalizing the domestic market.The accord can help the United States use the South Korean market as a base for its economic strategy in Asia, years after the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in 1994.The FTA between the United States and South Korea, when it takes effect, is expected to significantly affect Japan. Japanese carmakers and auto parts manufacturers will be put at a disadvantage over their South Korean competitors in exporting products to the U.S. market--at least in terms of tariff payments.However, the U.S. and South Korean governments are certain to experience great difficulties in getting their agreement approved by their respective legislatures.The Roh administration is burdened by a decline in its approval rating. Meanwhile, the U.S. Democratic Party has blasted the accord as an excessive concession on the part of the United States.The lack of progress in the current Doha Round of WTO talks is being accompanied by growing interest among nations around the world in establishing bilateral and regional FTAs and forming economic partnership agreements. Japan cannot afford to sit back and watch other nations move in that direction.Jump-start Tokyo-Seoul talksJapan has reached EPAs with only eight nations, the latest of which was signed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with Thailand on Tuesday. Its EPA talks with South Korea have been suspended since 2004. We believe the Japanese government should bring the stalled talks back on track.A stumbling block to trade negotiations between nations is how to address concerns among domestic farmers. The Japanese government has been unable to implement any new steps, faced with objections from domestic farmers to further opening up the domestic market.Japan will start EPA talks with Australia in late April. The government should make headway in negotiations with the large farming country, noting the fact that the U.S.-South Korea agreement has removed rice from the list of items subject to trade liberalization.What should be done to increase Japan's competitiveness in the global farm market and recover from its delay in forming trade pacts with other nations, a move essential for taking the lead in promoting global free trade? The success in signing the U.S.-South Korea agreement implies Japan must make a daring decision to change its defensive trade policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	750	2007-04-04	YOSHIN0020070404e344000fu
YOMSHI0020070405e34500002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070405e34500002	EN	\N	New legislation needed to help divorcees	This line of thinking can be seen in a special bill being drawn up by the ruling parties to reconsider how to apply Article 772 of the Civil Code, which presumes a baby delivered by any woman within 300 days after her divorce to be a child of her former husband. The bill is expected to be submitted to the current Diet session soon.	4	2007-04-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The article has been part of the Civil Code since the law took effect in 1898. The provision is aimed at clarifying the legal responsibility of fathers to support their children, thereby stabilizing their relationships with their families.This means the law has remained unchanged, although it was established at a time when it was scientifically difficult to decide whether a baby of a remarried woman was the progeny of her new husband or her former husband.Under the current legal system, a woman must complete complicated court procedures if she wants to legally establish that a baby born to her was not fathered by her former husband. For instance, she must get her former husband to deny fathering her baby, or prove it was impossible for her to become pregnant by him.It is not uncommon for a woman to become pregnant and give birth to a baby within 300 days after getting divorced. Furthermore, an increasing number of women give preterm birth due to advances in medical technology.Article holding women backArticle 772 can pose a great hindrance to a woman seeking to legally establish her new husband as the legal father of her child after getting divorced from her former husband because he physically abused her. If her former husband refuses to cooperate in completing necessary court procedures, she will expend a lot of time and trouble to complete the process. This is a great burden for a woman to bear so soon after giving birth.Records of such procedures completed by a woman, including her former husband's name, are preserved in her baby's family register. This can pose a psychological burden on her as she starts a new family.In some cases, remarried women have not registered their babies' births, hoping to avoid the trouble of going through complicated procedures. Naturally, the names of these babies have not been entered into any family register.The new bill would allow remarried women to register their babies as the children of their new husbands if they prepare certain documents, including certificates of DNA analyses. Such women would no longer have to complete court procedures for that purpose.Simplifying the necessary procedures would significantly reduce the burden to be shouldered by remarried men and women hoping to have their babies legally recognized.Caution neededAs circumstances stand today, due caution is exercised if a family court conducts a DNA analysis. An organization that specializes in such an analysis visits a family court, where it collects tissue samples from the people involved.It is necessary to carefully study how to complete the procedures in an appropriate manner under the envisaged system. A workable method must be devised to ensure no DNA data is fabricated.To complement the bill, the Liberal Democratic Party is considering submitting to the Diet session another bill aimed at revising the Civil Code to shorten the period in which women are barred from remarrying, from 180 days to 100 days. This is part of an effort to enable divorced women with children to remarry as quickly as possible.In 1996, a similar proposal was incorporated into a report produced by the Justice Ministry's Legislative Council. On that occasion, however, the idea was abandoned because it had been combined with a proposal for introducing a system in which married couples would be permitted to assume separate surnames, both involving the revision of the Civil Code. A number of LDP members opposed the latter proposal.It might be advisable for lawmakers to debate the bill on changes in Article 772 separately from the one designed to shorten the remarriage prohibition period, if it takes them a long time to reach a consensus on the latter bill.What matters most is reconsidering how to apply the article in question--which does not meet the needs of the times--as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	758	2007-04-05	YOSHIN0020070405e345000e6
YOMSHI0020070406e34600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070406e34600001	EN	\N	Drive to revise top law must stay on course	This confrontation has affected the people's view of the nation's top law.	4	2007-04-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey conducted last month, 46 percent of respondents said the Constitution should be revised, eclipsing the 39 percent who wanted the Constitution left untouched. Supporters of constitutional revision have outnumbered opponents in annual Yomiuri Shimbun surveys for 15 straight years.However, in the latest poll, the proportion of pro-revision respondents dropped by nine percentage points from the survey conducted a year ago, marking the third straight year-on-year decline.In October 2005, the Liberal Democratic Party adopted its own draft for a new constitution. Soon after, the DPJ compiled a set of proposals for constitutional revision. The two parties in December reached a broad agreement on a national referendum bill that would set procedures for constitutional revision.The prime minister decided to put the revision on the political agenda, and has spoken of raising constitutional revision as a campaign issue for the House of Councillors election to be held this summer. Abe's moves should have sparked debate on the matter and swollen the ranks of respondents supporting revision of our highest law.However, it appears that quite the opposite has happened. In the latest survey, support for constitutional revision dropped in all age brackets and among supporters of all political parties.Support fading in DPJThe falloff was particularly conspicuous among supporters of the DPJ, where 41 percent were in favor of the revision--a decline of 17 points from the previous survey. In earlier polls, more than half of DPJ supporters had said the Constitution should be revised.DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has been taking an increasingly confrontational stance against the LDP as a political tactic for the upcoming upper house election. Ozawa opposes the ruling camp's national referendum bill, mainly because he placed top priority on election cooperation with other opposition parties, especially with the Social Democratic Party, for the upper house poll.Ozawa originally was an advocate of constitutional revision. However, his party now includes a number of former socialists, who strongly oppose any moves to tinker with the Constitution. If the DPJ enters substantial debate on constitutional revision, an internal rift could threaten the unity of the party. Ozawa's handling of the matter, which appears aimed at avoiding dissent within his party, might have swayed the attitudes of the party's supporters.Detailed explanation neededEnthusiasm for constitutional revision among supporters of the LDP led by Abe who strongly advocates revision, also appears to be waning. According to the survey, the proportion of LDP supporters who wanted the top law revised dropped by 10 points from the poll a year before.Of those who supported the Abe Cabinet, 34 percent oppose a revision.To prevent the public from getting unnecessarily wound up over the matter, the prime minister must start explaining precisely how he wants to change the Constitution--including the content of any revisions and the procedures for making these changes.Japan and the international community face a troubling security environment, including the deteriorating situation in Iraq, North Korea's nuclear test and China's continuing military buildup. These matters require Japan's politicians to consider whether and how a national security article should be written into the new constitution.After the government failed to quickly respond to the 1990 Gulf crisis, the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law was established in 1992. Since then, public awareness of the Constitution has drastically changed.Given the domestic and international environments, the constitutional revision process should not be delayed, but instead steadily pushed forward. This is a task to be tackled now.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2007-04-06	YOSHIN0020070406e346000do
YOMSHI0020070407e34700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070407e34700001	EN	\N	Make sure you keep tabs on your pension	A new system started this month that allows divorced couples to split pension payments for the corporate employees' pension plan and mutual-aid pension plan.	4	2007-04-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Subscribers to the corporate plan are usually husbands. But the new system has been designed to offer financial support to elderly divorced women. The system recognizes that premium payments were made through collaboration by a husband and wife. The introduction of this system is appropriate.Until last year, the number of divorces had declined for four straight years. There are those who say that many women were simply waiting until the new system took effect to divorce their husbands.However, there are many misconceptions about this new system. Without a proper understanding of how it works, many people may find themselves regretting their actions.Under the new system, a divorced couple is allowed to divide a portion of the corporate pension benefits commensurate with premiums that were set and paid when the couple was still married. The basic pension, however, is not covered under the new system.If a woman worked for a period of time during her marriage, she and her former husband will divide the combined benefits from the corporate employees' pension plan.The rate at which the benefits will be divided will be decided after discussions with the divorced couple, with the woman receiving up to 50 percent. If no agreement is reached, the case will be moved to a family court, which will mediate a settlement or issue a ruling.Prepare for every possibilityNext April, a further system will be introduced, with a divorced couple splitting pension payments equally. This system will only cover married couples paying premiums from fiscal 2008.When a subscriber to a corporate employees' pension plan dies, his or her spouse is entitled to receive three-quarters of the benefits as the next-of-kin. The right to the pension, however, is forfeited upon divorce.It is crucial that those thinking about divorce first learn the new system's details inside and out. The Social Insurance Agency provides counseling to meet the needs of such spouses.Whether you are thinking about divorce or not, it is essential to learn how much you will receive in benefits in a variety of scenarios.This is particularly true in regard to the agency's records of pension enrollments, which are not necessarily accurate.Not just SIA's responsibilityIn the past six years alone, 220,000 people were found to have received less in pension payments than they were entitled to.As it was only a decade ago that each resident received their basic pension plan number, the accuracy of payment records prior to 1997 can be rather dubious.The agency should undoubtedly bear the brunt of criticism for its lax record keeping. But, rather than merely leveling criticism at the agency, each and every person should check his or her own pension enrollment records.In fiscal 2008, the agency will begin in earnest regularly sending pension premium statements to subscribers. People, particularly younger ones, should develop the habit of checking their records.Pensioners--especially those who switched jobs--must place close attention to their records and should double-check them by visiting their local social insurance office or pension consultation center.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2007-04-07	YOSHIN0020070407e347000dv
YOMSHI0020070408e34800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070408e34800001	EN	\N	Strong leadership vital to fight global warming	This was the warning in a report compiled by Working Group II of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Scientists and government officials have been debating the global warming assessment report titled, "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability."	4	2007-04-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Working Group I performed an analysis only on climate change, while Working Group II has focused mainly on the impact global warming has on nature, society and the economy.The first group's report, issued six years ago, warned that global warming's impact had begun to appear in certain regions. The latest report, however, says global warming already is being felt by societies and nature around the globe.What of the future? If no measures are taken to combat global warming, the report warns, hundreds of millions of people will begin to face serious water shortages--all this brought about by a rise of about 1 C in the Earth's temperature.If the average global air and ocean temperature increases by 1.5 C to 2.5 C, 20 percent to 30 percent of the world's species will face extinction. Almost all coral reefs on the planet will suffer bleaching and could be nearly wiped out. When global temperatures rise 2 C above the average, several million more coastal residents will become the victims of floods each year.There is still hopeThe report stresses that it is possible to lower such risks associated with climate change if the appropriate countermeasures are taken.Exactly what kind of measures should be taken to avoid this outcome?At a summit meeting in March, European Union leaders agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions--including carbon dioxide--by more than 20 percent over the entire EU by 2020 from the 1990 level. The plan was designed to fortify the emission reduction target for the 2008-2012 period, assigned to the regional grouping under the Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming.Just after returning from a January trip to Europe, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed the Environment Ministry to formulate a policy he has dubbed the "21st Century Environment Nation Strategy." In March, he set up a ministerial panel for this purpose comprising the chief cabinet secretary, environment minister, economy, trade and industry minister, and foreign minister.China, U.S. roles indispensibleTaking into consideration June's Group of Eight summit meeting in Germany and other major international gatherings, the prime minister appears ready to take the lead in creating a post-Kyoto Protocol framework to prevent further global warming.However, international concerns and national interests complicate efforts to tackle global warming. Because of this, the international community needs a persuasive leader.However, there is one thing that is certain. Without the cooperation of China and the United States--two nations not bound by the Kyoto Protocol--we cannot expect any measures to prevent global warming to be effective. The two countries, which account for a combined 40 percent of global CO2 emissions, demanded until the last minute that the working group soften the wording in its report about the impact of global warming.The real subject at hand now is how best to involve China and the United States in efforts to combat global warming. Expectations are high that Japan will contribute in this regard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2007-04-08	YOSHIN0020070408e348000b8
YOMSHI0020070411e34b00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070411e34b00002	EN	\N	N. Korea sanctions card must be used effectively	It was a natural outcome, considering the attitude of the North Korean government.	4	2007-04-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The decision was the result of the government's comprehensive judgment of the circumstances surrounding North Korea, including nuclear development issues, and the fact that no sincere responses have been made by the country on the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korean agents. We believe it was an appropriate decision.A suspected attempt to bypass the sanctions and illegally import North Korean-produced clams using a China-registered cargo ship was discovered earlier, and the skipper of the Chinese vessel was arrested. The sanctions' efficacy should be further reinforced by strictly applying related laws and ordinances and conducting thorough inspections.Abduction issue unresolvedAmong the five participants at the six-party talks trying to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions, Japan is the nation that faces the most serious threat from North Korea because of the country's nuclear weapons development.But North Korea has yet to implement "initial phase actions" for the implementation of the Sept. 19, 2005, joint statement, such as shutting down and sealing the Yongbyon nuclear facility, which was agreed on in the six-party talks in February this year. It is very difficult to expect North Korea to carry out the initial phase actions within the 60-day period that the parties agreed on.As a reason for the noncompliance, North Korea has cited the delay in returning funds frozen at a Macao-based bank, but that is a self-centered and self-righteous excuse.Given that even no first step has been taken by Pyongyang toward denuclearization, Japan has no option except to continue its own sanctions.Since the United States softened its stance toward North Korea, agreeing to approve the unfreezing of the funds at the Macao bank and enter into a bilateral dialogue, the effect of the sanctions imposed against Pyongyang based on a U.N. Security Council resolution has been weakened.As the willingness in the international community to impose sanctions and other forms of pressure on North Korea seems to have dissipated, there are some domestic voices saying that Japan will become isolated internationally if it acts independently on sanctions.However, Japan must deal with the issue of the abductions, which it views as a state crime committed by North Korea. At a meeting of the Japan-North Korean working group during the recent six-party talks, North Korea stuck to its position that the issue has been already resolved and threatened to cancel a session of the meeting.Independent action neededIt is also an important task for Japan to remove the threat posed by North Korea's 200 Rodong missiles that North Korea has aimed at Japan.Concerning both issues, it is a matter of course for Japan to obtain the understanding of the international community, including the United States, to seriously tackle them. But more than anything else, Japan should demand that North Korea resolve the issues proactively.The government set the term of the sanctions at six months. This may be based on the judgment that it should be able to respond flexibly to changes in the situation vis-a-vis North Korea, and that the decision on whether to maintain the sanctions could work as a trump card in negotiations with North Korea.With an eye on future Japan-North Korean negotiations on the abduction and missile issues, it is important for Japan to use its own sanctions as a bargaining chip in a flexible and effective manner, assessing the situation meticulously. If necessary, the government should consider imposing stronger sanctions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2007-04-11	YOSHIN0020070412e34b000il
YOMSHI0020070412e34c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070412e34c00001	EN	\N	Don't let political issues hinder Japan-China ties	Wen arrived in Tokyo earlier in the day, the first visit to Japan by a Chinese leader in 6! years.	4	2007-04-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the talks, the two leaders agreed to start high-level economic dialogue and to enhance cooperation in environment and energy fields.But their discussions made clear many tasks still need to be addressed to develop the current relationship into a "strategic, mutually beneficial relationship" with a spirit of bringing common strategic benefits to both countries.The "joint press statement" issued after the summit talks included a broad range of economic and other items, but many pending political issues were touched on only briefly, if at all. Work to finalize the wording of the joint press statement went through many twists and turns until the last minute, apparently due to political issues.The location of gas fields in the East China Sea that are to be jointly developed was only defined as "a relatively wide sea area that both sides can accept," and the leaders only affirmed that talks on the development should be stepped up.China has been eager to expand its marine interests. Beijing has repeatedly sent a marine survey vessel into Japan's exclusive economic zone.If China fails to live up to the spirit of "mutual benefits," the East China Sea cannot become a "sea of peace, cooperation and friendship."Differing perceptionsThe two leaders also agreed to promote defense dialogue. However, the reality is that China conducted a test early this year to destroy a satellite with a ballistic missile, and Beijing is pressing ahead with its military buildup.Both sides have rarely seen eye-to-eye on U.N. Security Council reform. On this issue, the Chinese side said it "hopes Japan will play a bigger constructive role in the international community."However, China has vociferously campaigned against Japan's bid to become a permanent member of the Security Council. Can China really accept Japan having greater clout in the international political arena?The most urgent issues facing Japan are to stop North Korea's nuclear development and to resolve, once and for all, the abductions of Japanese by North Korea. China chairs the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, so it is to the government's advantage to work closely with China and stay on the same page on this matter.In tune on abduction issueWen said he hoped the abduction issue would be resolved swiftly and that his country would extend all assistance necessary to accomplish this. "I understand, and feel sympathy with, the humanitarian interests of the Japanese people," Wen said.Bilateral cooperation on this issue will serve as a touchstone of whether the countries can build mutually beneficial relations.As Abe and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed on last autumn, such a relationship can only be realized "when issues affecting building relations of the two countries are resolved with the political and economic wheels moving forward."To elevate the relationship from "friendship" to "strategic and mutually beneficial," pending political issues must be untangled through dialogue between leaders of the two countries. Abe's visit to China this year and a possible visit to Japan by Hu would help accomplish this goal.(From the latest edition of The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	588	2007-04-12	YOSHIN0020070412e34c001bd
YOMSHI0020070413e34d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070413e34d00001	EN	\N	Wen's speech heralds change in China's stance	Two points Wen mentioned in his speech give us much food for thought.	4	2007-04-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The first is historical issues. Wen acknowledged clearly that Japan had apologized for its wartime behavior. "The Japanese government and leaders have expressed their stance on historical issues repeatedly and publicly admitted the nation invaded [China and other Asian countries], and expressed profound remorse and regret to victimized nations," the premier said, adding, "The Chinese government and people appreciate this."The second key point of Wen's speech was Japanese official development assistance to China. Wen spoke generously about the assistance, saying, "Chinese people will never forget it." He said aid from the Japanese government and people had contributed toward "reform, opening-up and modernization of China."As was expected, Wen also made a veiled request to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not to visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine. "I hope promises will be kept through [Japan's] concrete actions," he said, referring to previous pledges by Japanese leaders to show remorse.Stepping from Jiang's shadowHowever, the change in Chinese attitude toward Japan is obvious when compared with that of the government of former President Jiang Zemin. His administration had kept historical issues at the forefront of the relationship.When Jiang visited Japan in 1998, he demonstrated a high-handed attitude in insisting that a joint statement include an expression of "profound regret" for Japan's wartime activities. It was during Jiang's presidency that patriotic, anti-Japanese education in China became so pervasive. This sowed the seeds that eventually triggered the anti-Japanese demonstrations that erupted in China in the spring of 2005.In the three weeks leading up to Wen's visit to Japan, the government-run  China Central Television aired programs on Japan, including its culture and the lifestyles of people, as well as interviews with dignitaries in various fields.Wen's speech in the Diet also was televised live at home. This might be part of China's efforts to step back from excessive anti-Japanese education and quell anti-Japanese sentiment among its people.For the current Chinese administration of President Hu Jintao, ensuring the country successfully hosts the Beijing Olympics next year and Shanghai World Expo in 2010 is essential to stabilize its political footing.Ties set to enter new phaseRealizing sustainable economic growth is China's top priority, and cooperation from Japan is indispensible for achieving this objective. This point apparently was reflected in Wen's Diet speech.It was unusual for a top Chinese leader to express words of appreciation for Japan's ODA as unequivocally as Wen did. Even though Japan's ODA has played a significant role in many projects, including infrastructure development in China's coastal areas. However, the Chinese people rarely are made aware such assistance comes from Japan.Japan will halt the provision of new yen loans to China just before the Beijing Olympics start next year. This will symbolically usher Japan-China relations into a new phase.Many hurdles lie ahead on the path to building "strategic, mutually beneficial relations" between the two countries. In his Diet speech, Wen said Chinese tradition "places priority on virtue, not on force."We hope China will demonstrate such a tradition with actual concrete actions in Japan-China relations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2007-04-13	YOSHIN0020070413e34d000et
YOMSHI0020070414e34e00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070414e34e00002	EN	\N	Charter referendum bill not a political tool	The House of Representatives on Friday passed the ruling coalition-backed bill that lays down the procedures for amending the Constitution. It is expected to be passed into law by the House of Councillors during the current Diet session.	4	2007-04-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Passage of such a bill is unprecedented in the country's postwar history.The bill should have been passed into law with support from both sides of the chamber. Yet on the eve of the lower house vote, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan submitted its own bill, leading to a showdown with the ruling parties--a regrettable development.All things considered, we cannot help but question the DPJ's stance.Late last year, the DPJ and the ruling camp reached a nine-point agreement over what should be modified in the national referendum bill as originally proposed by the ruling camp. Lawmakers on the lower house's Special Committee for Research on the Constitution had been negotiating on the matter with an eye to issuing a joint proposal for the bill.The bill that passed the lower house had been drastically revised to meet DPJ demands, including reducing the voting age for the referendum to 18, was little different from the DPJ's bill.Eye on upcoming electionStill, the DPJ submitted its own referendum bill to the Diet, apparently aimed at contrasting itself with the Liberal Democratic Party ahead of this summer's upper house election.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for a bill to be quickly passed into law, saying the ruling camp can stress the importance of constitutional amendments while campaigning for the upper house election.The DPJ leadership, including party head Ichiro Ozawa, chose not to participate in a joint proposal, presumably because it would behoove the party to contrast its stance on the national referendum bill to that of the ruling coalition.The biggest difference between the two bills are the accepted reasons for a referendum. The ruling coalition's bill allows only for constitutional amendments, while the DPJ's bill is applicable to any other issue for which a referendum is deemed appropriate.DPJ plan contradicts principlesA referendum on general policy issues, however, would run contrary to a parliamentary democracy, one of our country's governing principles, as put forth in the preamble of the Constitution: "The Japanese people, acting through our duly elected representatives in the National Diet..."The opposition's proposal may also bring about a rise in populism. For instance, if an opposition party were to bring a hike in the consumption tax--through which the people of Japan share fiscal burdens broadly and equally--to a referendum, it could result in political chaos as the general public would prefer that their taxes be kept as low as possible.The DPJ says necessary legal measures would be stipulated in a supplementary provision with the intention of ensuring compatibility with representative democracy. But fundamental problems will not be solved through makeshift measures.Many DPJ lawmakers no doubt support amendments to the Constitution and want to see the referendum bill passed into law. The bill should no longer be used as a political football.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	563	2007-04-14	YOSHIN0020070414e34e000e6
YOMSHI0020070415e34f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070415e34f00001	EN	\N	Risks hidden in G-7's optimism over economy	G-7 finance ministers and central bank governors issued a joint statement following their talks in Washington, saying, "While risks remain, the world economy is experiencing its strongest expansion in more than 30 years."	4	2007-04-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the statement, they said the U.S. economy "remains solid even as domestic demand moderates to a more sustainable growth path," while Japan's "economic recovery is on track and is expected to continue." They also said the euro area is "expecting a healthy upswing."The G-7 finance leaders recognize that, for now, the global economy is stable.The statement adopted at February's G-7 meeting in Essen, Germany, warned of volatility in the capital market.Later that month, a sharp tumble on the Shanghai market sent stock markets plunging worldwide. For the time being, Japanese and U.S. bourses have recovered almost to the levels they enjoyed before the disruption.Each of the G-7's member countries has concluded that the financial markets have recognized the risks and made adjustments accordingly.U.S. cause for concernThe statement issued from Washington emphasizes more strongly than before the health of the global economy, presumably because of the G-7 financial leaders' collective relief that the stock markets recovered in such a short period of time. The sentiment also may be intended to alleviate concerns over problems lying dormant in the market.But the group's latest statement also contains a passage seen previously: "We remain confident that the implication of these developments will be recognized by market participants and will be incorporated in their assessment of risks."The possibility remains, however, that the world's stock markets will once again become chaotic. Caution is needed.The biggest cause for concern may be the U.S. economy, which has shown signs of a slowdown.Recently, there has been a surge in the number of defaults on subprime mortgages, given to individuals with poor credit history, as the bubble in the U.S. housing market burst. This also has led to a spate of bankruptcies of firms dealing with the mortgages.While there are those who believe the bursting of the housing bubble will have limited impact, there is no way to be certain. It is necessary to respond to rising concerns over inflationary pressure and a possible economic slowdown. Yet the statement did not allude to such risks in the U.S. economy.With regard to Japan's economy, the corporate world's economic sentiment has been growing dark of late.The G-7's leadership on financial policy will be put to the test when we can see how much the global economy expands and how accurate their optimistic outlook proves to be.Stance on exchange rates vagueThe finance leaders reiterated their February stance on exchange rates, saying, "Excessive volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates are undesirable for economic growth."The statement did not refer to correcting the undervalued yen, which reached a record low against the euro Friday, trading in the \\161 range.This will be read by the financial markets as tacit approval by the G-7 of the current exchange rate level. A close eye needs to be kept on the yen to make sure it does not fall further against the euro.The statement also warned of the need for "boosting domestic demand," though it did not name any country in particular. Japan needs to realize a domestic demand-led economic recovery without relying on a surge in exports supported by a weakening yen.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2007-04-15	YOSHIN0020070415e34f000b2
YOMSHI0020070416e34g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070416e34g00001	EN	\N	North Korea fails to fulfill commitment	However, North Korea did not cease its nuclear activities or seal off the Yongbyon nuclear plant by the deadline. Moreover, inspectors from the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency have not yet been invited back into the country to monitor and verify the shutdown of the nuclear facility.	4	2007-04-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Now is the time to question the efficacy of the Feb. 13 agreement in dismantling North Korea's nuclear programs.North Korea should immediately honor its commitment by shutting down the nuclear facility and accepting IAEA inspectors. If it does not, South Korea should not provide 50,000 tons of fuel oil to North Korea as aid in return for its denuclearization.As a prerequisite for living up to its commitment, Pyongyang is still seeking to have Washington lift financial sanctions.The financial sanctions put pressure on North Korea. Due to alleged illicit financial activities, the United States decided two years ago to prohibit a financial institution in Macao from dealings with U.S. banks. Fearing possible U.S. penalties, banks around the world successively froze bank accounts related to North Korea, which is believed to have dealt a huge blow to North Korea.Vital concessionThe administration of U.S. President George W. Bush took the bold policy shift of easing its pressure on North Korea. In March, Washington compromised with Pyongyang, by accepting Pyongyang's demands to release the entire $25 million frozen at Macao's Banco Delta Asia. The six-way talks, which were in a hopeless situation, suddenly revived with this U.S. policy shift.The U.S. approach is based on a perception that North Korea--which responded sharply to the financial sanctions--conducted missile test launches in July and a nuclear test in October, reacted contrary to what might have been expected, escalating the threat of nuclear proliferation.However, it is difficult to say the U.S. compromise has produced the expected result.The United States struggled for a month to solve technical issues involved in releasing the funds to North Korea, indicating that procedures within the United States and advance coordination with Chinese authorities were far from adequate.Pyongyang's prioritiesWashington should bear partial responsibility for the slow going in the initial steps. It is assumed that Pyongyang is of the opinion that it has the upper hand in the way events will unfold.North Korea said it would cease operations at the nuclear plant and accept IAEA inspectors after confirming the lifting of the sanctions.North Korea told New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic U.S. presidential hopeful who visited the country earlier this month, that Pyongyang would start living up to its commitment the day after the funds were released, asking for a 30-day extension of the deadline.To a certain degree, extending the deadline cannot be avoided if North Korea takes the initial steps. First of all, we have to assess incontrovertibly whether North Korea will stop operations at the nuclear facility and terminate plutonium production.Prospects of the next steps, including dismantling the nuclear plant, remains uncertain.If North Korea tries to postpone the honoring of its commitments, there is no choice but to go back to putting pressure on that country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2007-04-16	YOSHIN0020070416e34g000at
YOMSHI0020070417e34h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070417e34h00001	EN	\N	China must stop being pirate product paradise	To cease being a paradise of product piracy, China should thoroughly enforce regulations to protect intellectual property rights.	4	2007-04-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Illegally copied DVDs and CDs of copyrighted movies and music are widely produced and sold in China. The motion picture and recording industries are economic powerhouses in the United States. The trade in illegally copied products amounts to \\65 trillion annually worldwide, and most of the pirated merchandise is believed to be made in China.After joining the WTO in 2001, China strengthened its policies to protect intellectual property rights, cracking down on pirated products and increasing criminal penalties.In reality, however, the nation's regional governments are lax in enforcing regulations on pirated products, letting them proliferate throughout the country.This is indicative of Chinese society's tendency to skirt copyright laws. The filing of the complaint with the WTO by the United States shows its dissatisfaction with China's stance.Protectionist mood in U.S.At the end of last year, the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush launched a U.S.-China strategic economic dialogue, to try to amicably solve trade issues with China. However, protectionism has prevailed in the U.S. Congress and in many industries, as irritation mounts over the soaring U.S. trade deficit with China as well as the delays in reforming the yuan's exchange rate.In February, the U.S. government filed a complaint with the WTO over Chinese export subsidy programs, saying they unfairly harmed U.S. companies. Also, in March, the United States decided to impose preliminary countervailing duties on imports of coated paper from China. This series of actions indicates the United States is taking a tougher stance toward China.Following the filing of the complaint over intellectual property rights, trade negotiators from the United States and China will try to resolve the dispute within a 60-day consultation period. If that fails, a dispute settlement panel will be established at WTO. If the panel accepts the U.S. complaint, it will recommend China make changes to improve the situation.Restrained approachThe fact that the United States did not rush to take a unilateral approach by imposing sanctions based on its domestic law and instead is trying to resolve the dispute at the WTO may indicate restraint on the part of the U.S. government.We hope the WTO's proceedings succeed in resolving the dispute.Japan is also affected by Chinese pirated items such as illegally copied animated films and TV programs, game software and even automobile parts. The annual loss to Japanese companies due to pirated products is said to top \\9 trillion.Along with the European Union, the Japanese government is weighing whether to attend U.S.-China negotiations at WTO as an observer. Japan should urge China to improve the situation, in the hope that the idea of safeguarding intellectual property rights would take root in Chinese society.Meanwhile, Japan has dispatched a mission to China comprising intellectual property specialists from both public and private sectors, to advise the Chinese on the issues involved, including making legislative arrangements as well as fostering specialists on preventing product piracy. It is also important to continue such patient support.Other nations should strengthen their crackdown at the border, aiming to ensure that Chinese pirated products do not spread throughout the world via Asian countries.China is enjoying continuing high growth, so its trade surplus has been expanding. China must take appropriate action in accordance with its responsibility to support the multilateral trading system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2007-04-17	YOSHIN0020070417e34h000fh
YOMSHI0020070418e34i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070418e34i00001	EN	\N	No time to waste when tackling child abuse	A suprapartisan group of lawmakers has drafted a bill to revise the Child Abuse Prevention Law. The revision bill will be submitted to the Diet during the current ordinary session and is expected to pass the Diet in May.	4	2007-04-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main objective of the revision is to enhance the power of children's consultation centers.Under the proposed changes, if parents are suspected of abusing a child and fail to acquiesce to a voluntary search or to report to the authorities when asked to do so, a prefectural governor would be able to obtain a court warrant allowing officials from a children's consultation center to enter the house in question. Police officers would accompany representatives of the center.These envisioned powers are surely only natural for an administrative body, meaning that the changes are already too late.During debate over a previous revision of the law in 2004, the argument was proffered that police and children's consultation centers should have greater powers to enter homes. However, such proposals were dropped after the opposition bloc objected to what it said would be a violation of human rights.But since the earlier revision, many tragic cases have surfaced of children being abused.Another tragic caseOne incident that stands out was in May of last year, when a 3-year-old boy was starved to death. The boy's parents locked the door to their house and refused to allow officials from a children's consultation center to enter. The current law meant center staff did not have the power to take the boy into protective custody.In response to this tragedy, the National Police Agency sent a notice to police forces across the country advising them to take advantage of a clause in the law covering police duties that says officers are allowed to enter a building when a person is in imminent danger.Spotting danger, taking actionYet establishing whether a person is in imminent danger is not easy.The latest revision therefore allows for a search to be conducted if certain conditions are met, and proper procedures are followed. Children's consultation centers would take the lead in such a search under the envisioned changes, with police empowered to extend support to the center. When necessary, police should take the lead in any search.Another proposal is to allow children's consultation centers to issue an order to the parents of a child placed in protective custody at a welfare facility, under the authority of the governor, not to come near the child in an effort to take it back. The revision envisages making violation of the order a criminal offense.The revision bill also stipulates that children's consultation centers and municipal governments are obliged to check on the well-being of a child if they receive information of possible child abuse.With these increased powers will come obligations on administrative bodies to fulfill their duties.In 2006, 59 children died in their homes as a result of child abuse. There is therefore no time to waste in tackling this issue.Yet the proposed revision is scheduled to go into force next April--nearly one year from now.This delay is unnecessary. Even if this date has been set to allow local authorities additional time to comply with the changes, this is no excuse. Establishing a system to allow children's consultation centers to seek court warrants can be done within this fiscal year. Saving a child's life should be the overriding priority.(From the earliest edition of The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2007-04-19	YOSHIN0020070419e34j000dz
YOMSHI0020070419e34j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070419e34j00001	EN	\N	Politicians mustn't bow to threats of violence	Ito's shooting has shades of the January 1990 shooting of then Nagasaki Mayor Hitoshi Motoshima by a senior member of a rightist organization. The rightist was incensed by Motoshima's remarks that he thought "the Emperor [Showa] bore responsibility [for World War II]." Motoshima was seriously injured in the attack.	4	2007-04-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The man suspected to have shot Ito is the acting head of a gang organization affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi crime syndicate. Ito was shot at close range from behind after he returned to his election campaign office in front of JR Nagasaki Station after campaign stops in the city. The suspect was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder."I shot the mayor. I was planning to kill him," the suspect reportedly told police.Ito was elected mayor in the 1995 election by defeating Motoshima, after serving as a Nagasaki Municipal Assembly member and then a Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly member. In March he announced he would run for election to head the Japan Association of City Mayors.Truth must be uncoveredWhy did the gangster gun down Ito? We wonder whether he had a personal vendetta against the mayor or some trouble concerning the city government's administration. Or did his ideological background drive him to commit the crime? We expect the police will leave no stone unturned as they investigate the case, his motive and possible accomplices to this horrific crime.Across the country, campaigns for the second round of the two-stage local elections are under way. We must ensure that candidates can safely speak openly about their policies and pledges, and do not need to cower or keep quiet due to the threat of being attacked--or worse. The police need to reconsider how to tighten their security precautions for candidates. We also should examine other factors lurking behind this case.Most local governments face crippling fiscal management problems. Public works projects have been reduced, and bid-rigging in the construction industry has been greatly curtailed and violators punished. Every local government faces the challenge of reform that cuts the constraints of the past. However, bowing to any sort of outside pressure will not result in a healthy administration.Regional politics also targetedThe regional politics arena has not been spared from the blight of politically motivated attacks. In October 1996, the mayor of Mitakecho, Gifu Prefecture, who temporarily froze the construction of a facility to dispose of industrial waste, was attacked at his home by two unidentified men and seriously injured.Violence against local administration officials has been escalating as gangsters and politically oriented groups have been squeezing the administrations to pursue their interests.Among Diet members, House of Representatives member Koki Ishii was stabbed to death in October 2002 by a man who presided over a right-wing organization. In August, a right-wing organization member set fire to the home of the parents of former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Koichi Kato in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture. Police believe the suspect had become infuriated after Kato remarked about issues related to Yasukuni Shrine. After this case, some Diet members voiced their concerns over attempts to use violence to suppress freedom of speech.We must not allow our society to become one that suffocates and stifles freedom of political activity.(From the earliest edition of The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2007-04-18	YOSHIN0020070418e34i000f6
YOMSHI0020070420e34k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070420e34k00001	EN	\N	Bid-rigging blight taints another ministry	On Thursday, the Fair Trade Commission searched the Japan Green Resources Agency (J-Green), an independent administrative entity under the jurisdiction of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, and other locations on suspicion of violating the Antimonopoly Law.	4	2007-04-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The agency is suspected of having taken the lead in rigging bids for projects ordered by the agency to survey locations and soil for building forest roads.The FTC is considering filing a criminal complaint with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office against the agency. It is highly likely the prosecutors will launch an investigation into the case.In March, the FTC demanded the Construction and Transport Ministry terminate bureaucrat-led bid-rigging after current and retired ministry officials were found to have been involved in recent bid-rigging. This was the first time the FTC had applied the law to crack down on such practices by a ministry.In 2006, the governors of Fukushima, Miyazaki and Wakayama prefectures were arrested in connection with bid-rigging cases. This case was particularly staggering because bureaucrat-led bid-rigging practices continued even after the governors had been arrested.Cozy relations to blameJ-Green and the agriculture ministry must reflect seriously on the latest case, which stemmed largely from the I'll-scratch-your-back-if-you-scratch-mine relationship among the ministry, J-Green and the ministry's public entities. The roots of bureaucrat-led bid-rigging seemingly pervade the very structure of these entities.The FTC believes officials of J-Green's local branch offices consulted with public entities that wanted to win the bids and decided the winners of geological survey operations related to building forest roads. Executive board members of J-Green and others later approved the decisions.J-Green's chairman of the board of directors previously served as Forestry Agency director general. The directors include former officials of the farm ministry. Not surprisingly, many retired officials of the ministry and J-Green were reemployed at the public entities.The projects the FTC targeted were part of the ministry's large-scale projects that use tax money to improve forest roads. Organizations related to forestry projects were virtually tripping over themselves to get a slice of this pie.3rd-party check neededThe agriculture ministry orders the largest number of public works projects after the Construction and Transport Ministry. The agriculture ministry promotes many of its public works projects in the same manner as that of the forest road improvement projects. Observers say the bid-rigging practices that were uncovered this time likely have spread their tentacles into other public works projects.The responsibility of the farm ministry is grave. Normally, the ministry itself should throw light on the problems. But some skeptics question whether the ministry is truly capable of washing its hands of these murky practices.We think a third-party panel should be established under the direct jurisdiction of the prime minister to investigate the case.Efforts must be made to improve the bidding system and reform the so-called amakudari practice in which retired bureaucrats take up executive posts at corporations, government-affiliated bodies and other organizations.Review of the agriculture ministry's projects themselves is of utmost importance. Many public works projects ordered by the ministry, such as building forest and agricultural roads, are not as essential as they once were.The ministry should strictly calculate the cost-effectiveness of its public works projects and pull the plug on inefficient projects. Abolishing related independent and public entities would enable the ministry to reduce the amount of tax money wasted.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2007-04-20	YOSHIN0020070420e34k000e5
YOMSHI0020070421e34l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070421e34l00001	EN	\N	New maritime laws well overdue	The House of Councillors on Friday passed the basic maritime law, which was drafted by lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner New Komeito and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan. The law will be enforced as early as July.	4	2007-04-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This should have been done long ago. But now the government needs to roll up its sleeves and set about creating a system for drawing up and implementing effective strategic maritime policies.The basic law specifies the nation's responsibility to map out and implement maritime policies in a comprehensive and deliberate manner. Put simply, the law requires the government to compile a basic maritime policy plan.To promote the maritime policies, the new law will create a "general maritime policy headquarters" in the cabinet secretariat, which will be headed by the prime minister, as well as a post of state minister in charge of maritime policies.The basic law is designed to arrange maritime policies as a national strategy with the headquarters acting as a control tower to ensure the policies are carried out in an integrated fashion.The government must reorganize the nation's maritime strategy and take measures to make the best use of the nation's maritime resources.Too many cooks?However, every Cabinet member will have a role at the headquarters and the staff will comprise employees from all ministries.If the ministries continue to stick to their usual sectarian way in such spheres as foreign affairs; agriculture, forestry and fisheries; economy; trade and industry; environment and defense and fail to cooperate in implementing the government's maritime policies, the headquarters will not function well.The prime minister and the state minister for maritime policies will have to exert strong leadership in coordinating the actions of the ministries, and douse any signs of sectionalism among them. Leadership also will be required when handling the dispute with China over natural gas exploration in the East China Sea and with South Korea over maritime research activities around the Takeshima islets, known as Dokdo in South Korea.In addition to the basic law, the maritime structure safety water zone demarcation law also was passed by the upper house on the same day. This law is intended to secure safe maritime resource development--including natural gas field development and experimental drilling--within Japan's exclusive economic zone.Safety zones necessaryThe second law enables the Construction and Transport Ministry to create safety zones up to a radius of 500 meters around drilling facilities, and prohibit vessels from entering the zones without permission. The law provides a legal basis for the Japan Coast Guard to forcibly eject any Chinese vessel that obstructs drilling operations by companies within Japan's EEZ.The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994, allows nations to set their safety zones within the EEZ. China and other major countries have domestic laws to bar ships from entering the safety zones. However, until now Japan had no such law because it lacked a ministry or agency specifically tasked with overseeing maritime policies.The Japan-China joint press statement issued during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Japan in mid-April said the two countries would promote joint development on the premise that such activities do not infringe on the positions or domestic maritime laws of the other.With the enactment of the basic maritime law and the maritime structure safety water zone demarcation law by the Diet, preparations have been completed for promoting negotiations with China.We hope the passage of the two laws will help solve problems pending between the two countries.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2007-04-21	YOSHIN0020070421e34l000dj
YOMSHI0020070422e34m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070422e34m00001	EN	\N	Fight gangs to keep guns off nation's streets	On Friday, a gangster armed with a pair of handguns holed up inside his apartment in Machida, Tokyo, after shooting another gangster to death. The man fired several shots at a patrol car and police officers during a 15-hour standoff.	4	2007-04-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The incident came only a few days after Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito had fallen to an assassin's bullet. Friday's incident must have struck many people as another gun crime that could put them at risk, although no local residents were injured.Given this, it is essential to clamp down on organized criminal syndicates and confiscate their guns.Statistically, crimes committed with firearms do not appear to be a deepening problem in this nation. There were 53 shooting incidents last year--the fewest in the past 20 years. There also has been a steady decline in the number of guns confiscated by police in recent years. The number of guns seized last year stood at 458, about 30 percent of the level 10 years ago.However, the National Police Agency has said, "Crime syndicates have been able to purchase and control a large number of guns in recent years." The NPA's view is that organized criminal groups have become cleverer in concealing their guns.For many years, in the gangsters' world, they say there is one gun--or even three guns--for every gangster. This means crime syndicates have invariably sought to arm themselves with guns.Stemming the flowLast year, several members of a gang affiliated with the Inagawa-kai crime syndicate were arrested in connection with the organization's smuggling of handguns aboard a Philippine-registered ship. Police also discovered submachine guns and automatic rifles the gang had smuggled into the country. The case was an exception to the general failure of the authorities to detect gun smuggling.Most guns bought, sold and possessed in Japan have been produced overseas, mainly in the United States, the Philippines and Russia. The handgun used in the attack on the Nagasaki mayor was manufactured in the United States.An antigun government task force has said the government will step up its gun control efforts. Relevant ministries and agencies must work together to prevent the spread of firearms.Twelve years ago, the Firearms and Swords Control Law was revised to introduce such investigative methods as undercover operations and surveillance of suspects to enable investigators to obtain vital evidence. We hope the government will study whether the revised law needs to be amended again to provide for harsher penalties, for example.Anti-gang struggle a priorityIt has been 15 years since the Antigang Law was enforced. Some critics have said that the law has made it difficult to determine how crime organizations manage themselves and raise funds. They say the law has encouraged criminal groups to disguise their unlawful conduct by pretending to conduct legitimate corporate and political activities.In fact, there has been no decline in the power of criminal organizations. Therefore, more workable methods must be devised to combat them.The government should also step up efforts to revise and create laws necessary for concluding an international protocol banning the unlawful production and sale of firearms under the U.N. Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.Four years have passed since Japan signed the protocol, which seeks to promote international cooperation in investigations into transnational crimes by requiring firearms to be inscribed with export and import records. We believe the government has been slow to take necessary steps in this respect.A few days ago, a number of students fell victim to a shooting rampage that took place at Virginia Tech in the United States.We cannot regard the incident as having nothing to do with us. Standing idly by in this respect means we could face an irreversible threat. We must prevent this nation from becoming flooded with guns, no matter what.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2007-04-22	YOSHIN0020070422e34m000a7
YOMSHI0020070424e34o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070424e34o00001	EN	\N	Transplant issue needs urgent consideration	In its draft proposal for revising guidelines on application of the Organ Transplant Law, released Monday, the ministry clearly states: "A kidney removed in medical treatment should not be used for a transplant." The revised guidelines are expected to be finalized this summer.	4	2007-04-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the revision, the transplant of a diseased kidney--a practice undertaken by Makoto Mannami at Uwajima Tokushukai Hospital, and some fellow doctors--would be explicitly banned.Last month, the Japan Society for Transplantation and other concerned associations issued a statement stating transplants carried out by Mannami and his fellow doctors "cannot be accepted either medically or ethically." The ministry's draft was produced as a response to this statement.Transplanting a diseased kidney to another person is a medically questionable practice, the dubiousness of which was underscored by the fact Mannami and his colleagues did it in such a determined way but only involved a very small number of physicians. The practice, which is now just in its experimental stages, should naturally not be undertaken under current circumstances.Door left open for researchYet the draft's clause stipulating a ban also states, "except for carrying out clinical research." This means the door has been left ajar for further diseased kidney transplants.It is therefore important to establish a system whereby all matters relating to diseased kidney transplants are examined by an independent body under the Japan Society for Transplantation. If a system for diseased kidney transplants is to be put in place, any transplant should be carried out with the utmost care. And adequate clinical research must be undertaken to determine if such a practice can be recognized as an acceptable medical treatment.The draft also establishes new procedures for live donor transplants in which a kidney or a part of a liver from a healthy donor is removed and transplanted to another person. The suggested procedures include measures to confirm the will of organ donors and also the biological relationship of donors and recipients.The current Organ Transplant Law focuses mainly on transplants from those considered brain dead, but barely covers issues surrounding live donor transplants.But the reality is that there have been many cases of live donor kidney and liver transplants. It has been noted that the absence of proper rules could lead to organ trading.It is an interesting twist that the Mannami scandal, which emerged during an investigation into organ trading, has prompted the health ministry to take a comprehensive look at the law.Law may need changesThe planned revision addresses how the law should be applied. However, the law itself may need to be rewritten to meet the current realities of live donor transplants.Organ trading and diseased kidney transplants have been taking place because patients requiring transplants are unable to wait for extended periods to receive an organ from a brain dead patient.The law, which went into force in 1997, had a clause stating it should be reviewed after three years. But the law has been left untouched for 10 years now.Thousands of transplants are carried out each year in the United States using organs from brain dead donors, and hundreds of such procedures are undertaken in many European countries. But in Japan, just 53 cases have so far been recorded because of the strict nature of the law here, which sets more rigid conditions on organ provision from brain dead donors than are found in other countries.Under these circumstances, many patients travel abroad to receive organ transplants, and there have reportedly been many cases of organ trading. This situation should not be left unaddressed.Tackling the challenges posed by organ transplants cannot be done unless a proper discussion of the issue is undertaken with some urgency.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2007-04-24	YOSHIN0020070424e34o000id
YOMSHI0020070425e34p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070425e34p00001	EN	\N	Yeltsin: Key player in USSR's breakup	Boris Yeltsin, Russia's first president, died Monday. He was 76.	4	2007-04-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Cold War, which formed the framework of international politics for several decades, was declared over in 1989 by then U.S. President George Bush and his Soviet counterpart, Mikhail Gorbachev.But the real end of East-West confrontation came when the Soviet Union collapsed with the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, led by Yeltsin.Without Yeltsin's determination, reconstruction of the post-Cold War world order would have taken a different turn.On the domestic front, Yeltsin introduced a system to allow power to change hands through free elections in post-Soviet Russia. He promoted reforms--including guaranteeing the media's freedom of speech--that would have been unthinkable in the Soviet-era reign of terror. Along with paving the way for capitalism, Yeltsin made other significant achievements.Reforms brought upheavalsOn the other hand, his rapid and radical economic reforms, centering on abolition of price controls and the privatization of state-run companies, had a great impact on the livelihood of Russian people and fomented distrust in his administration.Also, his policies allowed a handful of entrepreneurs to take advantage of the sale of state properties and accrue huge fortunes overnight. In this regard, it was natural that the Russian people, who had been fervent supporters of Yeltsin, grew rapidly disenchanted with his government.Political and social unrest, and the failure of economic policies during the transitional postcommunist period took its toll on Russia's national strengths, and against the background of this reality Yeltsin had to adopt a piecemeal, omnidirectional diplomacy.In 1997, Yeltsin acquiesced in the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In the same year, he enabled his country to play a key role in the international community by joining the Group of Seven industrial nations, creating the Group of Eight.Whither Putin's Russia?Yeltsin also was a leader who strove to effect a breakthrough in Japan-Russia relations: He awakened great expectations in Japan that the issue of the Russian-held northern territories could be settled.In 1993, Yeltsin made a state visit to Japan during which he signed the Tokyo Declaration, which Japan views as a key basic document on the northern territories issue.Four years later, Yeltsin held talks with then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in the eastern Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk and agreed that the territorial dispute should be resolved and a peace treaty concluded by 2000.Russian President Vladimir Putin, handpicked by Yeltsin as his successor, has expressed admiration for the role played by his predecessor in the disbandment of the Soviet Union.But how can the fruits of the collapse of the Soviet Union be used to enhance stability in the international community? It is a disturbing fact that the direction in which Russia--a country enjoying high economic growth--is heading is a mystery.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	539	2007-04-25	YOSHIN0020070425e34p000hh
YOMSHI0020070426e34q00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070426e34q00002	EN	\N	Grill Chongryon execs to unravel abductions	The Metropolitan Police Department on Wednesday sent a written request to three top officials of the pro-Pyongyang association asking them to undergo police questioning over the alleged kidnapping of two children of a woman from Hokkaido. The three officials included the association's chairman, So Man Sul.	4	2007-04-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This was the first time Japanese police authorities had made such a request to top Chongryon officials in connection with the alleged abductions. While it is unclear whether they will cooperate with the questioning, their refusal would only deepen suspicions swirling around the association over the matter.The two children allegedly were abducted and taken to North Korea by a spy ship from a beach at Obama, Fukui Prefecture, in 1974.The police investigation into the children's abduction uncovered details that suggest Chongryon was connected to their disappearance.Agents involved in the abduction worked for Universe Trading, a trading company established in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, by the then first vice chairman of Chongryon, who apparently wielded considerable power in the association. A female agent who allegedly was instrumental in snatching the children was a senior executive of the trading company at the time, and the company itself served as part of a North Korean intelligence organization.Student league fingeredThe MPD also is examining the role of the central headquarters of the Korean Student League in Japan, an entity under the Chongryon umbrella. The league is suspected of screening and providing Korean students living in Japan who would become agents for North Korea.The female agent who arranged the abduction and the other woman who allegedly took care of the two children during the abduction joined Universe Trading through the activities of the league.According to public security authorities, Chongryon acts under instructions given by the regime in North Korea.Consequently, there is good reason to believe the residents' association got hold of information related to activities of the trading company and the student league. Moreover, So had assumed a key post in the residents' association.Doubts surfaced beforeSuspicions that Chongryon had a hand in the abduction of Japanese have surfaced before.A former chairman and other senior executives of the Osaka prefectural association of the Korean Traders and Industrialists in Japan, also under the umbrella of Chongryon, allegedly were involved in the abduction of Tadaaki Hara in 1980. The MPD searched the Osaka association and related offices in connection with this matter.North Korean agent Sin Gwang Su, who is suspected of abducting Hara along with Yasushi Chimura and his wife, Fukie, allegedly contacted Chongryon officials and received financial assistance from them while he was lying low in Japan."North Korean spies have smuggled themselves into Japan and conducted espionage activities...Chongryon officials were involved in such activities on some occasions," a senior official of the National Police Agency testified at the Diet.Besides the abduction of the two children and of 12 other Japanese officially recognized by the government, an official linked with Universe Trading has testified that agents working for the trading company abducted about 30 people, including young people with family ties to North Korean residents in Japan.Police authorities must intensify their investigation over how deeply Chongryon was involved in these illegal activities, and how it committed such acts in this country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2007-04-26	YOSHIN0020070426e34q000ew
YOMSHI0020070427e34r00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070427e34r00002	EN	\N	Balance protection, use of private data	The personal information protection division under the Social Policy Council of the Cabinet Office, which is reviewing application problems of the information protection law, will compile its opinions in June. We hope the division will come up with effective ways to correct these contorted views of how the law should be applied.	4	2007-04-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Before all else, the ministries concerned should review the operational guidelines and spare no effort to disseminate the content and objectives of the law to the public.The derailment on the JR Fukuchiyama Line in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, in April 2005 that killed 107 people is a good case in point. As worried relatives of passengers sought to confirm the safety of their loved ones, hospitals and JR West were divided over whether they should even provide the names and condition of those injured in the accident.Under the law, personal information of an individual cannot be provided to a third party unless the person gives their consent, in principle.Yet the law has an exceptional provision that states such information may be provided to a third party "when there is a need for such information for the protection of a person's life, his/her body or his/her property, but at the same time it is deemed difficult to obtain the person's consent."Tricky problems remainThe Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has attached to its guidelines a rule that echoes this provision by allowing the ministry to respond to such inquiries without a person's consent in the event of a large natural disaster or accident.Yet, some problems cannot be solved with the review of application guidelines alone.Take, for example, a phone tree that will be distributed among parents of students. Education, Science and Technology Ministry guidelines state that if a students' name list is compiled for such a network, a school should gain the prior consent of students' parents on such occasions as school admission procedures and use only the data of those who give consent. Yet a name tree of students--should it be restricted to such a degree--would be of little use.With the effort required in gaining parents' consent, putting together such a contact network is more trouble than it is worth. Some schools might end up doing away with such a list.In Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, which was hit hard by the recent Noto Peninsula Earthquake, there was no complete list of people who need assistance in a disaster. Local public administrators had been unable to obtain some people's consent to allow personal information to be entered on such a list.Winning a person's consent is an obstacle that prevents information essential to society from being distributed properly and makes it difficult for the offices concerned to take actions that are quite reasonable.Protect private interestsWe think the law should be revised and exceptional regulations eased to enable the provision of personal information to a third party without a person's consent--as long as the provision serves the public benefit and does not markedly damage the interests of the person.The excessive protection of personal information often stems from concerns that such information could be misused if it is not properly protected. One factor leading to such misgivings is that personal information is often used by companies hawking goods and services over the telephone.Regulating telephone sales may be one way to reverse the tendency toward excessive protection of personal information.With the enactment of the law, public awareness of the importance of protecting personal information has risen. By the same token, this law does not go so far as to deny the usefulness of personal information.The relevant system must be restructured to find an appropriate balance between the protection and use of personal information.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	679	2007-04-27	YOSHIN0020070427e34r000ez
YOMSHI0020070428e34s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070428e34s00001	EN	\N	Citigroup's move should pep up securities market	The U.S. financial giant Citigroup Inc. completed its takeover bid for Nikko Cordial Corp. on Friday. Citigroup raised its stake in the Japanese brokerage to 61 percent and spent 920 billion yen on the offer, the largest ever acquisition of a Japanese firm by a foreign company.	4	2007-04-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Citigroup also is considering turning Nikko into a wholly owned subsidiary. Nikko, which has been embroiled in an accounting fraud scandal and is facing difficulties surviving on its own, has been given a new lease of life under Citigroup's umbrella.Citigroup, one of the world's largest financial services groups, already has a joint venture with Nikko for corporate securities. The U.S. brokerage has leverage to make use of the business resources of Nikko, the nation's third largest brokerage, with more than 100 branches nationwide for individual investors.New players in gameCitigroup's takeover of Nikko creates a strong rival for domestic firms. Megabanks and major securities firms need to revise their strategies to contend with this new challenge.Merrill Lynch & Co., which took over Yamaichi Securities when it went bankrupt in 1997, was forced--due to the sagging stock market and failure to win Japanese customers' acceptance of its business methods--to downsize its business activities targeted at individuals.However, domestic investor sentiment regarding foreign funds has changed significantly since then. Citigroup is aiming to succeed in the Japanese market, with the establishment of a holding company inside Japan and a system to provide general services in both the banking and securities sectors.Looming behind all this is growing international attention on Japan's financial market--which has seen an increasing shift from savings to investment--and its 1,500 trillion yen in individual financial assets. Besides Citigroup, other foreign corporations may seek a foothold in this market, with mergers and acquisitions as the driving force.Altered alliancesMajor domestic financial groups have already strengthened their strategies in securities businesses, including expansion through mergers with affiliated brokerage firms as well as making such firms wholly owned subsidiaries.From now on, financial groups may have to consider committing to reorganizations and partnerships.Intensifying competition in the market is expected to lead to improved convenience for individual investors, as well as corporations, in raising funds. If financial and brokerage businesses thrive, Japan's economy also will naturally grow.To make this happen, it also is vital to engender a market environment in which individuals feel secure when making investments.In an effort to prevent in-house misconduct--including accounting falsifications such as that committed by Nikko--which damage investor trust, market leaders such as brokerage firms and banks should take all possible measures to strengthen their corporate structures to stave off any such misdemeanors.In addition, it is important to implement a penalty system for listed firms if they violate regulations, as well as strengthen the monitoring powers of the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission and the Tokyo Stock Exchange to prevent illicit transactions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	555	2007-04-28	YOSHIN0020070428e34s000fc
YOMSHI0020070501e35100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070501e35100001	EN	\N	Safeguard high tech, but don't hinder FDI	The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry will tighten regulations on foreign companies' investment in Japanese companies this summer by revising the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law for the first time in 16 years.	4	2007-05-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Currently, the law obliges foreign companies to file prior reports when they seek to obtain a stake of 10 percent or more in a Japanese company in the arms, aircraft-manufacturing, nuclear power and other defense-related industries.The government examines each application, and if it concludes that an application is problematic, it is empowered to issue an advisory or order to change or cancel an investment plan. But the government has never imposed such measures.METI plans to make companies that manufacture general-purpose products, such as carbon fiber, titanium alloys, robots, machine tools, small batteries and optical lenses, subject to this regulation.Carbon fiber can be used to produce ballistic missiles and the main wings of fighter jets. Small batteries can be used in military communications equipment and optical lenses in spy satellites.Japanese companies have a competitive edge in these products' fields.New threats emergingNew types of global threats have been increasing, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and international terrorism. Companies in China and other countries with a status that is unknown may attempt to purchase Japanese companies that have advanced technologies. Foreign funds may try to take over such companies.In terms of national security, what is worrisome is that Japan's general-purpose technologies can be converted to military use. To alleviate such concerns, regulations must be tightened to protect these technologies. Doing so will contribute to the security of not only Japan, but also the world.The Exon-Florio provision in the United States empowers the U.S. government to screen a foreign company's plan to purchase a U.S. company and to cancel the acquisition if necessary.Britain, France, Germany and other countries have tightened investment regulations to which foreign companies are subject. It has become a global trend for countries to take steps to prevent foreign companies' purchasing domestic companies when their doing so would imperil national security.Japan wants to increase foreign direct investment to vitalize its economy. At a glance, the planned tightening of controls under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law seems to run counter to this goal.Apply new control carefullyThe so-called triangular merger system, in which a foreign parent company is allowed to merge its Japanese subsidiary and a Japanese company through a stock swap, starts Tuesday.Some people in the business world, who are worried about the outflow of technologies overseas, view the envisioned revised law as a defensive measure against triangular mergers.However, the tightened control must only be imposed to protect national security. When the government receives a report that a foreign company plans to invest in Japan, the government should examine the report carefully--but only from the viewpoint of safeguarding national security.If investment regulations are abused by Japanese companies as a defensive measure against mergers and acquisitions, economic growth backed by FDI will be jeopardized.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	570	2007-05-01	YOSHIN0020070501e351000d8
YOMSHI0020070502e35200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070502e35200001	EN	\N	More competition a must for electricity industry	The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has resumed discussions on liberalizing the retail electricity industry in its subcommittee on electric power suppliers of the Advisory Committee on Natural Resource and Energy.	4	2007-05-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Currently, the only customers who are allowed to freely choose electric power suppliers are small-scale factories with contracted demand for at least 50 kilowatt-hours, and larger consumers. The focus of the ministry's discussions has thus been on whether to complete liberalization by expanding such choice to households.But calls for the early total liberalization of the electricity industry have decreased markedly. This can largely be explained by newcomers to the industry, who are heavily dependent on petroleum-based fuels, and who have been directly hit by soaring crude oil prices, seeing their competitiveness decrease.Idemitsu Kosan Co. has withdrawn from the retail sale of electric power, while GTF Institute Co., financed by  Mitsui & Co. and others, has been dissolved. The remaining newcomers, even if they are profitable large-scale electricity suppliers, are struggling for survival, which could deter any further new entrants to the unprofitable household electricity sector.Total liberalization of the electricity industry under current conditions would likely lead to "unristricted monopolies," which could have an adverse impact on the electricity industry.Gradual expansionLiberalization of the retail electricity business began in March 2000 for a limited number of large-scale customers, such as large factories. Since then, the scope of liberalization has been gradually expanded, with the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry to determine the final level of liberalization at the resumed committee meetings.As of January, newcomers to the industry accounted for just 2.4 percent of total electric power that would fall under liberalization. In terms of competition among existing electric power companies, there has been only one new entrant affiliated with  Kyushu Electric Power Co. that expanded into an area within the jurisdiction of  Chugoku Electric Power Co.Falling costsDespite this, since 2000 average electricity cost for household use fell by about 1.3 yen per kWh nationwide. Before liberalization began in Japan, electricity costs for household use were three times those of the United States and those for industrial use four times those in the United States.However, by 2006, electricity fees for both household and industrial use had dropped to less than double those in the United States, while they were actually lower than those in Britain and Italy. The difference between domestic and foreign prices is shrinking.In addition to low interest rates and the reduction in capital investment, increased cost-consciousness of existing electric power companies as a result of the liberalization is driving the drop in electricity costs.But a change in awareness among existing electric power companies is not sufficient. Many of these firms were found to have falsified generation data and worked to conceal problems, laying bare their dependence on regional monopolies.The volume of wholesale transactions at the Japan Electric Power Exchange, which new entrants view as a place to procure electric power, is small, while fees for electric power cable use are comparatively high. If the current situation were improved, and existing electric power firms were encouraged to expand into an area covered by another firm and could secure the same conditions for gaining customers as existing firms, then incumbents would have to improve to remain competitive.On the matter of emissions of carbon dioxide per kWh of electric power generated by existing firms, emissions by  Chugoku Electric Power Co., which is less dependent on nuclear power, were about 80 percent higher than those of  Kansai Electric Power Co., where CO2 emissions are the lowest.There is therefore a possibility that customers might begin to seek electricity from firms with lower CO2 emissions, a move that could spur fierce competition among existing electric power firms.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2007-05-02	YOSHIN0020070502e352000bt
YOMSHI0020070503e35300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070503e35300001	EN	\N	2007--historic year in top law's history	The Diet is certain to pass during the current session a national referendum bill drafted by ruling parties to set the procedures for constitutional amendment. The legal environment indispensable for formulating a new constitution as new guidelines for the new age will be created.	4	2007-05-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Article 96 of the Constitution includes a clause concerning constitutional amendments. But so far, no law for the procedures to actually amend the Constitution has been put in place.In 1953, the then Home Affairs Ministry began to draft a bill for a national referendum, but the Cabinet did not endorse the bill. Since then, the government and the Liberal Democratic Party have continued to avoid putting the problem of national referendum on the political table during the ideological confrontation between conservative and left-leaning camps. Consequently, any further attempts to introduce such a bill have not got off the ground.In general, a national referendum law--a law to be attached to a constitution--should be formulated when the constitution is promulgated. The legislative body failed to plug this constitutional loophole, so finally correcting this shortcoming will be a historic development.Changes at home, abroadA number of critical changes in Japan and abroad since the 1990s have fanned the flames of the national referendum law. Overseas, we have seen the end of the Cold War and the ensuing changes in the international community. At home, the political order that took root in 1955 and centered on the battle between the LDP and the then leading opposition Japan Socialist Party has collapsed, eroding the JSP position as a pillar of elements that favor leaving the Constitution unchanged. Rapid changes in Japanese society also have played a part in changing perceptions about the nation's top law.The enactment of the national referendum bill into law will promote concrete moves for a new constitution.The national referendum bill specifies that the Diet Law should be revised to establish a new examination committee for the Constitution to replace the current Research Commission on the Constitution set up in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors in 2000. The new committee should be established immediately after the national referendum law is proclaimed.The examination committee for the Constitution has the authority to examine, initiate and produce draft proposals for constitutional amendment. But in consideration of talks in late 2006 between the ruling parties and the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan, the committee is expected to refrain from exercising this authority for the three years between the law's proclamation and its enforcement.The Constitution states that any amendment to it shall be initiated by the Diet through a concurring vote of two-thirds or more of all members in both houses. Such a meticulous method is essential.However, apart from the submission and examination of draft revision proposals, discussions on their summaries and outlines are possible and should be promoted by all means.Parties not on same pageThe LDP has announced its draft for a new constitution with concrete provisions. The DPJ made its proposal on the Constitution that shows the party's basic direction for constitutional amendment. The LDP's coalition partner, New Komeito, has been discussing the inclusion of so-called new human rights in a revised top law. All these parties share a common understanding that changes in the times have made amendments to the Constitution--the basic law of the nation and society--necessary.Nevertheless, it is incomprehensible that the ruling and opposition parties are squabbling over this issue.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has tried to depart from the stance of former administrations that shelved moves to enable constitutional amendment. He has made this matter the highest-priority issue of his administration. To that end, the ruling parties and the DPJ need to take concerted action to achieve this objective.DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa may turn an ear to the Social Democratic Party, which is resistant to changing the top law, when it comes to election cooperation among opposition parties. But Ozawa used to be, in effect, an active advocate of constitutional amendment.Key points are clearThe key points of contention regarding constitutional amendment have already been laid out. The examination committee for the Constitution is responsible for whittling down any draft for constitutional amendment, such as what parts of the Constitution are problematic and how to revise them.The LDP and DPJ basically agree that it is necessary to include new human rights, such as environmental rights, the right to privacy and the rights of crime victims--changes in society that could not have been imagined when the Constitution was drawn up. They also are practically on the same page when it comes to the need to redefine the ambiguous "public welfare" and a specification on intellectual property rights.But at the core of the constitutional amendment debate is Article 9.Leaving Article 9 as it is makes it impossible to take every possible measure to counter the deterioration of Japan's security environment. Our security is threatened by North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and China's growing military power, as well as the instability of the international community, including the situation in Iraq. Article 9, in its present form, clearly does not fully live up to the nation's interests.The LDP's draft for a new constitution lays out in black and white the possession of military for self-defense and its participation in international peacekeeping operations. Although the draft does not specifically mention the right to collective self-defense, it endorses the exercise of this right. The DPJ also endorses the limited exercise of this right.We think that a basis for constructive discussion on Article 9 has been created to some extent.End confusing interpretationThe government should change its contradictory interpretation that the nation possesses the right to collective self-defense, but is prohibited from exercising it. The Japan-U.S. alliance would be meaningless if the Self-Defense Forces, when they are near U.S. forces deployed to protect Japan, cannot assist U.S. troops when they come under attack. Under the current situation, changes in Japan's security environment and the international community require Japan and the United States to strengthen their alliance. The government should lose no time in amending the Constitution.Abe set up an expert panel concerning the reestablishment of a legal foundation for national security. The panel will discuss the possibility of exercising the right to collective self-defense under the current Constitution in four situations, including one scenario in which the nation shoots down missiles launched toward its allies using the missile defense system. The four situations were all examples of what could be considered as exercising the right.What is important is that Abe specified that the current Constitution should be reexamined, including the exercise of the right to collective self-defense. His comment may indicate his willingness to revise the government's interpretation of the Constitution.It is time for Japan to unchain the problem of the right to collective self-defense that has hampered the development of security policies on the basis of the Japan-U.S. alliance and international peacekeeping operations. In that sense, 2007 could be the year to turn a historic new page in postwar constitutional history.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1281	2007-05-03	YOSHIN0020070503e3530008o
YOMSHI0020070504e35400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070504e35400001	EN	\N	Bolster deterrence against North Korea	A joint statement issued at the so-called two-plus-two meeting, titled "Alliance Transformation," reconfirmed that the United States would continue to protect Japan with its nuclear umbrella.	4	2007-05-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At a press conference during her visit to Japan in October, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States would provide Japan with all forms of deterrence. The latest accord was even more explicit, stating "the full range of U.S. military capabilities--both nuclear and nonnuclear strike forces and defensive capabilities" would be extended to defend Japan.The statement delivered an unmistakable message: The two nations are determined not to tolerate any act of provocation by North Korea. The United States also might have hoped the statement would discourage some Japanese from asserting their country should possess nuclear arms.North Korea has test-fired ballistic missiles and conducted a nuclear test since the previous two-plus-two meeting held a year ago. The reclusive state has yet to implement initial-stage measures for dismantling of its nuclear programs agreed on during six-party talks in February.Carrots and sticksA carrot-and-stick approach will be essential for getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear development program. Moves to promote dialogue with that country while also exerting pressure must be complemented by efforts to reinforce military deterrence toward the unpredictable country in case the regime loses its grip on the country.Participants at the latest SCC meeting also agreed some interceptor missiles would be deployed earlier than initially planned under the missile defense system, and to shore up bilateral efforts to exchange necessary information.A North Korean ballistic missile could reach Japan in just 10 minutes. Given this, Japan and the United States need to constantly share pertinent information on sea-based and ground-based interceptor missiles deployed by the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. forces. It also is important that the two nations draw up a plan for joint operations as soon as possible while clearly defining what role would be fulfilled by each nation and what cooperation should be promoted between them.Mutual trust essentialThis requires mutual trust between Tokyo and Washington. The recent scandal over the leak of secrets concerning Aegis-equipped destroyers of the Maritime Self-Defense Force was the last thing both sides needed in this respect.The Defense Ministry should do its utmost to protect the confidentiality of its military information and data, based on an agreement adopted at the latest meeting to conclude a General Security of Military Information Agreement.The joint statement reconfirmed bilateral efforts to promote the realignment of U.S. military bases in this country. It stated that completing an alternative facility for the Futenma Air Station by the end of 2014 was critical to the success in realigning U.S. forces in Okinawa Prefecture.U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates emphasized that the United States would not agree to revise a plan earlier adopted by Tokyo and Washington to construct two runways to form a V shape. Implementing the earlier accord is a shortcut to significantly reducing the burden shouldered by Okinawa Prefecture as host to many U.S. military bases. The Japanese government must increase its efforts to reach a consensus with local governments that will be affected by the Futenma relocation project.The joint statement incorporated an agreement that Japan would continue to play a role in rehabilitating Iraq and Afghanistan and that the two countries would increase cooperation with Australia, India and member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.Bilateral efforts to boost multilayered relationships with other nations, based on a robust Japan-U.S. alliance, will help bring about an "alliance transformation," a goal stipulated in the joint statement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2007-05-04	YOSHIN0020070504e3540007m
YOMSHI0020070505e35500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070505e35500001	EN	\N	Let's encourage children to find each other's good	This slogan will be featured prominently during Child Welfare Week, which began Saturday--Children's Day. The motto was conceived by an 11-year-old boy from Okinawa Prefecture.	4	2007-05-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The slogan reflects the wishes of the primary school student to see people search for and recognize each other's strengths. The boy has good reason to believe that doing so will help rid our society of bullying and suicide among children.Many people will probably take the sentiment to heart, and feel that the schoolboy recognizes the importance of sympathizing with others and respecting them. The slogan may encourage people to consider the circumstances surrounding today's children.According to a nationwide survey released by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry in September, the number of bullying cases in fiscal 2005 decreased by 7 percent from a year earlier. The survey also said that since fiscal 1999, no child had committed suicide as a result of being bullied.However, the release of these findings was followed by the revelation that many children who were the victims of bullying had taken their own lives. In some cases, children left suicide notes before killing themselves. These incidents gave the lie to the ministry's findings.Net offers anonymityThere also has been an increase in children using the Internet to post nasty messages about others. A third-year middle school student in Sendai developed school phobia after being targeted in such a way. In Yamanashi Prefecture, a high school student attempted to kill herself for similar reasons. Those responsible for the plight of these students must be regarded as even more loathsome and mean-spirited than other types of bullies in that they remain anonymous when they torment their victims.Bullies satisfy their egos by teasing their victims about their shortcomings. Teachers should teach children, including bullies, that school is where the strengths and talents of each and every student must be discovered and nurtured. The slogan for Child Welfare Week represents the starting point for such education.We also hope parents will try to look for the good in their children and encourage them to realize their potential.However, there are many disturbing statistics, including the results of a Yomiuri Shimbun survey of middle school students over supportive comments received from their parents. About 50 percent of those polled said they had never received such encouragement or that they could not remember when they had.Parents, kids estrangedThe result of a Cabinet Office survey of parents of primary and middle school students is no less disturbing. According to the survey, 34 percent of the mothers polled and 67 percent of the fathers said they did not know their children's fears or anxieties. The survey also said one in four fathers were unable to interact with their children on weekdays.According to a survey by UNICEF of 15-year-old children around the world, 29 percent of those surveyed in Japan said they felt lonely, compared with less than 10 percent in other industrialized nations.It is highly worrisome that the survey points to an increase in the number of Japanese parents who do not bother to take a strong interest in their children's lives, leaving them in the care of their teachers.We believe parents and other adults should be more in touch with children at school, at home and in the community. Doing so is an obligation to be fulfilled by adults.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2007-05-05	YOSHIN0020070505e3550006x
YOMSHI0020070508e35800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070508e35800001	EN	\N	Safety first the best way to plug theme park fun	The Osaka prefectural police have launched a full investigation into the derailment of a roller coaster Saturday at the Expoland amusement park in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, and the amusement park's offices are being searched on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injury and death.	4	2007-05-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A female passenger on the roller coaster was killed and 19 others were injured when an axle on the second car of the stand-up six-car Fujin-Raijin II ride broke. Early analysis suggests the axle most likely broke as a result of metal fatigue.It has also been confirmed that the axle had not been changed since the ride opened in 1992, even though it should have been clear that the part was particularly susceptible to wear and tear. Four other domestic amusement parks operate the same type of roller coaster, but each operator at the four has changed the axles on the ride at least once.It is obvious that Expoland did not properly inspect and maintain the axle, even though it should have been aware that the part could suffer metal fatigue.The Expoland operator was legally required to regularly inspect the axle, but it seems that safety inspections of the ride were lax.Expoland has until now conducted annual inspections of cars, which included taking them apart and checking them with ultrasonic devices. But this year it planned to carry out maintenance work after the Golden Week holidays. In addition, Expoland gave "A" grades to all the items to be checked. An "A" grade means there is no problem with safety. The amusement park has presented the Suita municipal government with the safety report.Thorough investigation neededWe hope the prefectural police will thoroughly investigate what went wrong, taking into account everything from the ride's design to inspections by the amusement park, in the interests of avoiding a recurrence of such an accident.The Construction and Transport Ministry instructed all amusement parks nationwide to conduct an emergency inspection of their roller coasters. It was natural for the ministry to do so, but it is also necessary for the ministry to discuss establishing proper criteria for regular inspections and to settle on what should be contained in these reports.Each roller coaster manufacturer should also put its energies into improving safety measures and inspection systems.Declining visitor numbersAmusement parks are already concerned about a declining number of visitors because of Japan's falling birthrate. Smaller operators are also engaged in fierce competition for visitors with large theme parks such as Tokyo Disneyland. As such, they have introduced scarier rides that give passengers ever greater thrills. The Fujin-Raijin II in question was a popular ride because of its rapid climbs, steep descents, sharp turns, and its top speed of 75 kph.The problem is there have been other accidents in recent years with roller coasters similar to the Fujin-Raijin II. For example, two university students were seriously injured at the Fujikyu Highland amusement park in Yamanashi Prefecture in 2001, when a popular roller coaster came to a sudden halt, while at Nagashima Spaland, an amusement park in Mie Prefecture, 10 people were injured in 2003 when a roller coaster came off the tracks and stopped suddenly.Rides at amusement parks are treated as structures under the Building Standards Law. If they meet the legal standards when they are just built, most of the subsequent safety management is left in the hands of amusement parks.However, with the number of experienced safety inspectors for rides at amusement parks on the decline, new measures such as training programs for employees are now necessary to avoid future accidents.Amusement park operators should not forget that a roller coaster is a "vehicle," and that as such they have the serious responsibility of protecting passengers' lives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2007-05-08	YOSHIN0020070508e358000ir
YOMSHI0020070509e35900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070509e35900001	EN	\N	1997 currency crisis mustn't be repeated	A framework with high capital mobility must be built quickly to protect Asian currencies from speculative funds.	4	2007-05-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the scheme agreed on by the 13 nations, if the value of a nation's currency suddenly plunges, liquidity from the pooled funds will be immediately provided to prop up the currency through market interventions, preventing the crisis from expanding.Asian nations including Japan completed in 2000 the so-called Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI)--a regional network of bilateral currency swap pacts in the region, in which one nation supplies necessary foreign reserves to another in the event of a currency crisis.The new framework expands the web of bilateral deals into a single scheme facilitating multilateral deals.The currency crisis in Asia in 1997 was triggered by the collapse of the Thai baht after a massive exodus of speculative funds, including those of foreign hedge funds.The crisis spread to Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and other nations, triggering steep falls in stock prices and financial crises.The CMI was created from this lesson to prevent the recurrence of such a crisis. Since its creation, the reserve mechanism, which holds funds totaling about $80 billion (9.6 trillion yen), has never been activated.China, Japan can take leadSince there is no telling when a currency crisis will occur, it is important to construct a safety net stronger than the CMI, as doing so will surely help stabilize the Asian currencies.Ten years have passed since the Asian currency crisis, and situations surrounding Asia have greatly changed. Nations shifted from the dollar-pegged fixed currency regime to the floating exchange system and have been enjoying high economic growth. In addition, the importance of the Chinese yuan has greatly increased.However, in the liquidity-driven markets worldwide, there remains a fear that hedge fund traders may speculate in newly emerging economies, for instance. Cooperation among Asian nations to strengthen protection against currency uncertainty will serve as a shield against hedge funds.Details on the framework are still being worked out, including how much foreign reserves would be pooled, how to decide the contributing proportion among the participating nations and how to manage the pool.China currently holds the world's largest amount of foreign reserves, totaling about $1 trillion, followed by Japan, with nearly $900 billion. The two countries should take the lead in deciding the details of the new scheme and operating it.Fund should complement IMFIn autumn 1997, Japan proposed the creation of an "Asian Monetary Fund," an Asian version of the International Monetary Fund. This was aimed at restoring currency stability by strengthening regional cooperation, since the IMF could not deal properly with the Asian currency crisis.However, the attempt to launch the Asian Monetary Fund failed due to opposition from the United States, which wanted to maintain its influence in Asia through the IMF. China also opposed the proposal as it was wary about Japan's taking the initiative in managing the proposed fund.Although the new scheme is similar to the Asian Monetary Fund proposal, its purpose differs as it will function solely as an instrument to provide funds for intervening in the market during a currency crisis. We hope the new scheme can develop as a framework to prepare for currency risks, as well as complement the functions of the IMF.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2007-05-09	YOSHIN0020070509e359000gy
YOMSHI0020070510e35a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070510e35a00001	EN	\N	Authorities must stamp out intimidation by gangs	On Wednesday, prosecutors indicted Tetsuya Shiroo, a senior member of an organized crime group affiliated with the nation's largest crime syndicate, Yamaguchi-gumi, for murder, obstructing electoral freedom in violation of the Public Offices Election Law and other charges over the shooting during the city's mayoral election campaign.	4	2007-05-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the indictment and other sources, Shiroo had become increasingly frustrated over the city government's lukewarm response to his demands. He shot Ito twice in the back from close range to prevent him being reelected to a fourth term, as he was expected to do easily.The gangster repeatedly visited the municipal government to demand the authorities pay to repair his car, which he claimed had been damaged by a pothole on a city road. His demand was turned down. Shiroo also held a grudge against the city for its refusal to extend loans through its loan program to a construction company that was a major source of funds to the gangster.The municipal government's response to his demands was perfectly reasonable. "I wanted to show the power of a criminal group to regain its fund-raising power," Shiroo reportedly told investigators.Democracy threatenedHowever, taking the life of a mayor for such reasons is highly unusual. The crime stemmed from financial frustrations--no political or ideological motives were behind it.In addition to murder, prosecutors included the Public Offices Election Law violation in the indictment. This suggests they consider the fatal shooting a serious crime that rocked the foundations of our democracy.The suspect reportedly was having difficulties raising money to contribute to the Yamaguchi-gumi affiliated group he belonged to. The nation's largest crime syndicate's structure--in which members make contributions to their groups, which in turn pass the money on to the Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters--must be thoroughly investigated.After the Nagasaki slaying, the office of a support group for Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada, who has been pushing for the construction of a new station on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line in the prefecture to be frozen, received an intimidating phone call. The voice at the other end said: "If you don't want what happened in Nagasaki to happen to you, build the new station."Gangsters use many schemes to coerce money from administrative entities, such as pressuring officials to purchase goods or to approve the provision of welfare assistance after intervening in public works projects.United effort requiredLast year, administrative entities consulted with the police on 2,391 cases of such intimidation. The central and local governments should never squander tax money and distort the fairness of a public administration by caving in to unreasonable pressure.Every section of a government must firmly stand up to such improper behavior, rather than letting one section or one official deal with the matter. The police must closely work with administrative entities and make sure officials remain safe from criminal thugs.The central government last year compiled a set of measures for excluding criminal organizations from public works projects. One such measure obliges contractors to report to police and public entities if gangsters tried to intervene in such projects. Punitive measures will be slapped on any contractor that fails to report such activity.However, a mechanism that can eradicate all efforts by gangsters to target administrative entities is urgently required.There are so-called quasi members of crime organizations--people who associate with criminal groups and often use the relationship to gain advantage. The number of such people is increasing, but they keep their shady ties under wraps. The National Police Agency is concerned police will be unable to deal with crimes and other incidents simply by determining if individuals are criminal group members.Allowing people to flagrantly undermine the health of society must never be tolerated. All members of society must share a strong determination to ensure they do not flinch in the face of such intimidation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 10, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2007-05-10	YOSHIN0020070510e35a000fs
YOMSHI0020070510e35b0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070510e35b0000k	EN	\N	Lawmakers must come clean over political funds	The prosecutors indicted Muraoka for not including the donation by the Japan Dental Association (JDA) to Heisei Kenkyukai, a political organization of the Hashimoto faction, in its political fund report. Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto was chairman of the organization. The failure to report the donation to the internal affairs and communications minister violated the Political Funds Control Law.	4	2007-05-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Toshiyuki Takigawa, the then faction treasurer, testified that Muraoka decided not to issue JDA a receipt for the donation at a meeting of faction bigwigs. The hearings in both courts largely hinged on the credibility of testimony given by the treasurer.The lower court judge dismissed the treasurer's testimony as "unnatural and completely unreliable," adding that he "intended to prevent responsibility for the scandal from falling on Hashimoto and to minimize damage inflicted on the faction."Key testimony acceptedHowever, the high court took a much more accommodating view of Takigawa's testimony. The judge said, "it is rational and natural," and added, "what the treasurer is saying is consistent with the fundamental points made immediately after his arrest."Moreover, the high court judge said, "Muraoka, as acting chairman of the faction, played a significant role in getting a consensus among the senior members not to report the donation."The high court acknowledged, as the district court had earlier, that JDA donated 100 million yen to the faction.According to the high court ruling, political fund reports form "the grounds for people to monitor politicians' activities--and to criticize them." The court was quite justified in pointing out that neglecting to report the 100 million yen donation to a major faction of ruling party "stirred up considerable public suspicion over the flow of political funds."This was the first time that the special investigation unit of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office had targeted the faction's political funds, the true state of which are difficult to see from the outside.More murky transactionsThe trial also shed light on the fact that the faction also distributed between 100 million yen and 200 million yen in cash, amassed through fund-raising parties, to candidates running in the House of Councillors election. The faction failed to enter these funds in its reports.After the lid was opened on this can of worms, the Political Funds Control Law was revised and the maximum donation that could be made between political organizations, which previously had had no limit, was set at 50 million yen per year.However, the truism that running in elections requires huge sums of money still holds water.Public distrust of the ties between politics and money remains high. The flow of money to lawmakers and factions is still difficult to accurately grasp, due to cases of roundabout donations involving an LDP political fund organization called the People's Political Association.Of course, investigators should try to prosecute offenders. But the onus also falls on politicians to make the flow of political funds more transparent to restore voters' trust.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	565	2007-05-11	YOSHIN0020070511e35b000tn
YOMSHI0020070512e35c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070512e35c00001	EN	\N	Iraq quagmire was Blair's Achilles' heel	Blair announced Thursday he would step down as prime minister on June 27. In his speech, the prime minister highlighted his achievements during his 10 years in office that included a healthy economy and a low unemployment rate.	4	2007-05-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This economic success probably kept the Labour Party in power for such a long time.In the decade since the 54-year-old Blair moved into Downing Street, Britain's economy has expanded and the country's per capita gross domestic product has exceeded that of Japan to become second only to the United States, among major countries.Without his market-centered policies, such growth would not have been possible.Reforms not fully realizedAs leader of the opposition Labour Party, Blair removed from the party platform a clause calling for the "nationalization of production means."Blair moved the party, which had a reputation of being dependent on labor unions and working to protect their interests, toward the center, and dubbed it "New Labour."The health of Britain's economy can be attributed to economic reforms implemented by the Conservatives when they were in power. But the Blair government can be proud of itself for realizing not only the current economic success, but also a lower unemployment rate than other major European nations, including France and Germany.Some pundits, however, say Blair failed to fully realize the reforms expected when he became prime minister in 1997. While he injected funding into medicine and education, he failed to achieve reforms in these fields.Ultimately, he had no choice but to announce he would step down in the middle of his tenure. His popular support had fallen and pressure had been mounting for him to leave No. 10 ahead of the next general election, expected to be held in 2009.Shoulder to shoulder with U.S.The deteriorating situation in Iraq is no doubt the largest factor behind Blair's falling approval rating.By placing priority on his country's alliance with the United States, the prime minister offered British troops for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, in defiance of both the British public and members of his own party.In Thursday's speech, Blair admitted that incidents of international terrorism had only increased since Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime was removed from power. But he stuck with his unswerving convictions, saying, "I decided we should stand shoulder to shoulder with our oldest ally, and I did so out of belief."In the recent French presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy, 52, was chosen to succeed Jacques Chirac. How will a change in the leadership of two major European Union countries affect the European bloc?British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, 56, is widely expected to succeed Blair as prime minister. Brown is a party heavyweight and played a leading role in the Labour government alongside Blair.Britain possesses significant influence in the international arena and is a close ally of the United States. Japan, as another U.S. ally, must watch Britain closely to see if and how its domestic and foreign policies will change.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	569	2007-05-12	YOSHIN0020070512e35c000gs
YOMSHI0020070513e35d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070513e35d00001	EN	\N	Expanded Tokyo service must precede 'open skies'	There has been a flood of proposals calling for expanded air service to and from Japan's airports as part of the Asian Gateway Strategy championed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.	4	2007-05-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The construction of large airports throughout Asia--including South Korea's Incheon Airport and China's Shanghai Pudong Airport--undermines the status of Narita Airport, which has traditionally been a hub for international flights.As things stand, Japan, whose volume of containers shipped by sea already has fallen to a second-tier ranking, may lose its standing to other countries in Asia as an air transport leader.The Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform and private-sector members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy have called on the government to adopt an open skies policy. The Asian Gateway Strategy Council, chaired by Abe, has proposed likewise.Under bilateral civil aviation agreements, Japan coordinates flight routes, number of flights and number of airlines transiting the nation with partner countries. An open skies agreement allows airlines to reciprocally set routes and flight numbers without government involvement.In line with the current trend, the United States and the European Union recently concluded such an agreement.It is advisable for the government to adopt such a policy so that Japanese carriers will be forced to become more internationally competitive.Narita, Haneda at capacityWhile Kansai and Chubu international airports--as well as smaller, regional airports--have room to expand the number of arrival and departure slots, Narita and Haneda airports are running at capacity, and therefore are unable to expand access for foreign airlines.Adopting an open skies policy without increasing the number of slots at the metropolitan area's major airports would make Japan appear to be been paying lip service to that policy.The Construction and Transport Ministry has adopted a policy that will allow foreign carriers to serve smaller airports. Regulations also should be drastically eased for foreign airlines serving Kansai and Chubu airports, a move that would lead to a more stable management of the two airports.But the problem remains over what to do about international flights in and out of the two major airports serving the Tokyo area.With the northward extension of the second runway at Narita and the construction of a fourth runway at Haneda, both to be completed over the next few years, the terminals will be able to secure larger flight quotas.There are currently about 40 countries whose air carriers are on a waiting list to begin service to Japan's main international airport. Slots created through the expanded quotas will be filled from this list.Many hurdles remainBy alleviating noise problems to mollify local residents, the government will be able to gain acceptance for expanded service at Narita Airport.The ministry's view of Tokyo's Haneda Airport as a domestic terminal that serves to supplement Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture is at odds with that held by both the gateway council and the Tokyo metropolitan government, both of which want to see more international flights through the Tokyo hub.At the same time, the nation's regional airports are calling for increased service to and from Haneda. From the viewpoint of revitalizing local economies, it will be difficult to reject such demands.International flights can be increased by expanding flight times to the early-morning and late-night hours.It also is essential to make full use of Haneda's runways by having low-noise airplanes approach and leave Haneda on the inland side.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2007-05-13	YOSHIN0020070513e35d000b8
YOMSHI0020070514e35e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070514e35e00001	EN	\N	Alleviate fear and pain of cancer treatment	This nation has been battling to reduce the number of people afflicted with cancer and to allow those who have been diagnosed as having cancer to receive proper treatment that causes less fear or pain.	4	2007-05-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To respond more effectively, the government has been compiling a "basic plan to promote measures to fight cancer" based on the Basic Law for Anticancer Measures enacted in June last year.The basic plan is expected to spell out the targets the nation should achieve in more than 10 areas--such as the reduction of the cancer death rate and the improvement of treatment facilities--within 10 years and what measures it should take to achieve them.The anticancer measures taken by Japan so far are said to be inferior to those taken by the United States and advanced European nations.Japan is short of radiologists and doctors knowledgeable about in the use of anticancer drugs. Treatment to alleviate cancer patients' pain is inadequate because the divisive issue over whether to fully inform cancer patients of their condition sometimes serves as a hindrance, in addition to the insufficient capability of the current system to back up such treatments.The government, for its part, is unable to assess whether cancer patients in Japan are receiving proper treatment in line with international standards as it lacks a mechanism to assess their situations.Firsthand knowledgeThe basic plan is being worked out by a panel of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry comprising cancer patients and cancer treatment specialists. The panel has so far held three meetings.The major concern that has arisen in the course of its discussions is the perception gap between patients and doctors.The patients, who have fears about their conditions and are dissatisfied with their treatment, have made very specific and detailed proposals for the targets and measures to be adopted in the basic plan.One of the proposals is to make and distribute a booklet for all cancer patients, explaining standard treatments and support systems available.Other proposals include the compilation of a "cancer white paper" by each prefecture and setting a goal of eradicating teenage smoking.Some doctors on the panel, on the other hand, asserted that priority should be given to solving serious problems in the nation's medical system.It is true that the medical system is plagued by such problems as uneven distribution of doctors by region and a shortage of doctors. But for the patients on the panel, such an argument appears to be beside the point.Customize measuresAnticancer measures should be painstakingly worked out by accommodating the differing lifestyles of each region.Medical checkups are a good example. The timing of cancer detection determines the treatment required and the patient's odds for overcoming cancer. But on average, fewer than 20 percent of people have medical checkups because municipal governments are reluctant to offer them, citing financial difficulty.The Basic Law for Anticancer Measures stipulates that the prefectural governments each compile a plan for battling cancer. The basic plan being considered would be significant in that it would make each local government aware of its responsibility and prod it to take steady anticancer measures.This is why the basic plan must have specific goals and detail concrete measures.The government plans to allocate funding for new anticancer measures that will be in line with the basic plan in the fiscal 2008 budget.As the nation's severe fiscal condition does not allow for a large allocation, it is hoped the panel will swiftly narrow its discussion so that it can identify what goals are needed for the country's fight against cancer and how to achieve them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	653	2007-05-14	YOSHIN0020070514e35e000bt
YOMSHI0020070515e35f00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070515e35f00006	EN	\N	Get down to nitty-gritty of revising Constitution	The House of Councillors on Monday approved the national referendum bill with a majority vote by the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and others.	4	2007-05-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the bill's passage through the Diet, citizens will be able to exercise their right in relation to amendment of the Constitution--the most important right among those the citizenry possesses.Both at home and abroad Japan today faces an environment that was unimaginable at the time of the Constitution's promulgation. There have been drastic transformations in international affairs that affect Japan's national security and similarly fundamental changes in the nation's economy and society.Furthermore, Japan must go through further enormous changes.Monday's legislation of the national referendum bill provides an important foundation to create a new charter that will serve as a guiding principle for the nation in the new era.There was little for the ruling and opposition parties to dispute in the National Referendum Law, so it was unfortunate that Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa--with an eye to the upper house election in July--adopted a confrontational approach against the ruling coalition, using the referendum bill as a political football.Onus on DPJ, New KomeitoAt the voting at the upper house plenary session on Monday, DPJ lawmaker and former Posts and Telecommunications Minister Hideo Watanabe voted for the bill, saying he did so based on his "beliefs as a politician."It is a safe assumption that there are many lawmakers in the DPJ who harbor similar beliefs. We hope they will drop their futile confrontation with the ruling coalition on the matter as soon as possible.At an extraordinary Diet session to be convened after the upper house election in July, a constitutional examination panel will be established in each chamber of the Diet where debates on constitutional revision will take place before an outline of a constitutional draft is presented for debate at a plenary session of the Diet a few years later.Since the referendum law will be put into effect three years after its proclamation, constitutional revision drafts cannot be submitted at the Diet before the referendum law takes effect. But the most important task for the panels is to identify specific points of contention for the purpose of starting the procedures for constitutional revision promptly once the law takes effect.In 2005, the LDP released its full article-by-article draft of a new constitution. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his party's draft top law will be an issue in campaigning for the forthcoming upper house election.Although the DPJ released its proposal on constitutional revision in 2005, while New Komeito insists on strengthening the existing Constitution by adding new elements to it, neither party has spelled out its proposals in article-by-article format.The issue now is not whether to revise the Constitution. Rather, now is the time to discuss, since constitutional amendments are to be made, which parts should be revised and how they should be revised.From this viewpoint, we hope both the DPJ and New Komeito will make efforts to put their proposals into article-by-article format. It is important for both parties to get down to the nitty-gritty of writing their article-by-article proposals for constitutional revision and promote procedures for drawing up the outline that will form the basis of the constitutional revision draft.Also, relevant laws must be revised as soon as possible.Japanese nationals aged 18 or older are set, in principle, to have the right to vote in the national referendum. In accordance with this, Article 3 of the supplementary provision of the referendum law stipulates reviewing the Public Offices Election Law, the Civil Code and other relevant items of legislation that define those aged 20 or older as having the right to vote or as being legally adults.Lower age of majority to 18A study by the National Diet Library shows that 162 of the 186 countries and territories of the world set the age of majority at 18. Those nations include not only European countries, such as Britain, France and Germany, and the United States, but also Russia and China. This is a global standard. It is, therefore, natural to set the age at which people become adults in the eyes of the law at 18.In a society with a falling population, doing so could also serve to cultivate a sense of responsibility about the nation's future among the younger generations.Needless to say, it will not be easy to make necessary revisions to related laws.More than 100 related laws will be affected if the age of majority is revised to 18. Such revisions may have a large impact on the perceptions of what an ideal society should be, including the rights, duties and protection of citizens. For example, if one commits a crime at age 18, he or she will bear criminal responsibility not as a juvenile, but as an adult, effectively toughening penalties for lawbreaking.A juristic act by a juvenile requires the agreement of his or her legal representative, in principle. If a person can sign a contract in accordance with the Civil Code at age 18, it will expand the scope of economic activities undertaken by the younger generations. This will have the concomitant effect of increasing the responsibilities borne by young people.Considering the sweeping effects that lowering the age of majority will have, the issue should be studied from the perspective of how to create an ideal society.At the voting at the upper house's Special Committee for Research on the Constitution on Friday, a resolution containing 18 items was adopted with the approval of the LDP, New Komeito and the DPJ.The items in the resolution--including one that calls for studying issues regarding constitutional revision at the constitutional examination panels until the enforcement of the National Referendum Law--are reasonable, on the whole.By extending a certain amount of consideration to the position of the DPJ, the ruling coalition parties might have calculated that they should leave open the possibility that they can work with the DPJ for constitutional revision in the future.Drop voting rate provisoA worrying factor is that one item in the resolution calls for studying the significance and advisability of setting the minimum required voting rate before the referendum law is enforced.The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party have long called for the introduction of a minimum voting rate, in which a referendum is nullified unless the voting rate reaches a certain level.Behind this lies the political motive of making the minimum required voter turnout a hurdle to prevent any constitutional revision.But only a few countries have introduced the minimum required voting rate system. Among the leading industrialized nations, the United States and Germany do not have a national referendum system regarding constitutional revision, while France and Italy do not have a minimum required voting rate system for referendums on revising their basic laws.The national referendum bill submitted by the DPJ, which was voted down at the House of Representatives, did not refer to a minimum required voting rate. The DPJ should not insist on such a system.Debates at the constitutional study committees will make voters face constitutional revision as a real task. In response to the demands of the present age, we must firmly take a big step toward a new constitution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1287	2007-05-15	YOSHIN0020070515e35f000gl
YOMSHI0020070516e35g00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070516e35g00008	EN	\N	Baby hatch a temporary solution not to be abused	The nation's first baby drop-off facility, at Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto, received the boy on its first day of operation late Thursday. The boy said his father had taken him there, and the Kumamoto prefectural police are trying to establish his identity and hope his guardians will get in touch.	4	2007-05-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The official name for the drop-off point is Konotori-no-Yurikago (Stork's Cradle), with the hatch located in a wall on the first floor of the hospital. It has a 50-centimeter-by-60-centimeter door that can be opened from the outside, while on the inside there is an incubator to help a baby survive. When the door is opened, it triggers a buzzer at the nurses' station, while a closed-circuit camera monitors the incubator while a doctor or midwife goes to assist the infant.The hospital hopes the hatch will help mothers who have chosen not to have an abortion, and instead have decided to nurture the young life inside them, by offering those finding it difficult to cope with their newborn a chance to come back for the child when they have had time to reflect on their actions.It was therefore a surprise to find an infant, not a newborn baby, had been placed in the hatch. The boy's father should have first visited a child consultation center. If such incidents continue to occur, they could begin to have a negative impact on operation of the baby-hatch system.Legal uncertaintiesWhen the hatch was installed at the hospital, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry informed the Kumamoto municipal government of its position that it could not immediately determine if the hatch violated any laws, including the Child Abuse Prevention Law. It was also unclear whether in some cases its use could constitute abandonment of guardians' duties under the Penal Code. The ministry based its decision on the premise that the system is intended to rescue newborn babies.Legal issues aside, there is a deep-held suspicion among members of the public that such a system could encourage parents to irresponsibly abandon their child-rearing duties. Sanae Takaichi, state minister in charge of measures to deal with the declining birthrate, commenting after the case came to light, said that childbirth and child-rearing are the responsibility of parents, and that they should not take such responsibilities lightly.About 200 cases of babies being abandoned are reported every year to child consultation centers. According to the National Police Agency, there are 20 to 30 cases of infanticide annually.In Germany, baby hatches were installed at 80 institutions nationwide, such as hospitals and nursery centers, and about 40 newborn babies are left there each year. But there are pros and cons of the baby hatches.Too early to judgeIn Japan, it is too early to judge the suitability of the baby hatch as it has only just gone into operation, and a decision cannot be made on this single case.To discourage the abandonment of children, it is necessary to have in place systems to support parents who are finding it difficult to raise their child.It is already possible for such parents to leave their children in the temporary care of infant homes by approaching child consultation centers, and to later take the children back when they are ready.The Okayama prefectural chapter of the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has acted as an intermediary between parents who cannot care for a child and those couples looking to adopt a child, and has orchestrated about 300 adoptions over a 15-year period.For mothers who do not know about such systems, the baby hatch can act as a temporary, emergency shelter. But we hope the baby-hatch system will be used properly, and in line with its original purpose.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	709	2007-05-16	YOSHIN0020070516e35g000jr
YOMSHI0020070517e35h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070517e35h00001	EN	\N	Abe-Ozawa debate a big letdown	Many observers hoped the first such debate between the two leaders during the current ordinary Diet session would be a forum for airing points of contention for the upcoming House of Councillors election, and also what the future course of this country should be.	4	2007-05-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the debate never came close to discussing details of the nation's future course and differences between the prime minister and Ozawa on key policy issues. They should hold further debates to deepen discussions on these important matters.Ozawa brought up such topics as views on the Imperial system, education and the postwar regime, spending cuts and the decentralization of power in connection with government subsidies.The DPJ leader urged the system of prefectural and municipal boards of education should be revised to instead empower the central government to extend "instructions and advice" to prefectural and municipal boards of education, as called for in the government's bills to revise three educational reform-related laws.Too little, too lateWhen the debate turned to state subsidies for local governments, Ozawa claimed the framework of central government ministries and agencies has led to a huge waste of public funds. He said this framework should be drastically changed.However, Ozawa did not make any specific proposals about how his party would deal with any of these issues. Abe, on the other hand, only trotted out the conventional views he had previously expressed in the Diet and on other occasions.The debate session was limited to 45 minutes and offered precious little that was constructive. Voters might question whether debates between party heads serve any real purpose.If debates between the prime minister and heads of opposition parties were held more frequently, their discussions could be more substantive. Indeed, we wonder why the debate was held only now, even though the Diet session started in January.Ozawa changes his tuneOzawa has apparently considered it more important to tour local upper house constituencies, mainly ones where a seat is up for grabs in the upcoming July poll.In his 1993 book "Nihon Kaizo Keikaku" (Blueprint for a New Japan), Ozawa wrote, "Diet members must make their views known to the public through Diet discussions so they can be judged by the public."Furthermore, when he was head of the now defunct Liberal Party, Ozawa was a leading advocate for the introduction of face-to-face Diet debates between the prime minister and opposition party chiefs. He hoped these debates would add some pizzazz into the Diet.Such debates provide opposition parties with the opportunity to distinguish their stances from those of the ruling parties, and to make their presence felt.Critics have naturally jumped on Ozawa for squandering this opportunity. Members of the ruling camp, and the opposition Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party have ripped into the DPJ leader for not grabbing the bull by the horns in the debate. Even some elements from his own party have been frustrated by Ozawa's failure to make the most of his chance to attack the prime minister.Since the debate sessions were introduced in 2000, the number of such verbal jousts between a prime minister and opposition leaders has declined year by year. If this trend continues, this system will become a mere formality. The current Diet session is scheduled to end, on June 23, but further debates should be frequently held.We hope Abe and Ozawa hold meaningful debates to show us which of them has the credentials to be our nation's political leader.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2007-05-17	YOSHIN0020070517e35h000eu
YOMSHI0020070518e35i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070518e35i00001	EN	\N	Don't count chickens despite GDP growth	The quarterly GDP in real terms grew by an annualized 2.4 percent from the pervious period, for the ninth straight quarter of growth, the Cabinet Office announced Thursday. Coming on the heels of the October-December quarter's 5 percent growth in real terms, the January-March figure exceeded Japan's potential growth--the rate achieved when its available labor and production is fully employed--which is said to be between 1.5 percent and 2 percent.	4	2007-05-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, doubts linger over whether this stable economic expansion will continue.Corporate capital investment declined by a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent from the previous quarter, marking the first drop in five quarters. The decline can be attributed to slower industrial output due to inventory adjustments in the information technology industry and a slump in auto sales.Buoyed by healthy corporate performances, many companies seem to have a strong appetite for capital investments. But because a high level of capital investment has already been made, these companies may lose their stomach to keep pouring money into these fields.Exports a driving forceA lot hinges on the health of the U.S. economy. Depending on what happens on that side of the Pacific, corporate capital investment here could dwindle as a driving force for Japan's economy.In the January-March quarter, an increase in private consumption compensated for the decline in capital investment. Personal consumption in the quarter was energized by robust performances in the fast-food and restaurant industry and brisk sales of drinks due to the relatively mild winter weather. It was the second consecutive quarterly increase.However, some observers voiced uncertain about how long healthy personal spending could continue if a damper is maintained on wage increases.Exports of goods and services grew at a brisk 3.3 percent in real terms, while increases in exports to China and other Asian nations offset a drop in exports to the United States.The contribution of exports to the GDP greatly exceeded that of domestic demand, showing the economic expansion is being driven by exports.Whether anxieties over the future of corporate capital investment and personal consumption--the twin engines of domestic demand--can be erased holds the key to continuous economic expansion.Wages, prices not risingNominal growth in GDP, which more accurately reflects people's livelihoods, stood at an annualized 1.2 percent in the three-month period, again dipping below the real-term figure. The quarterly GDP deflator that shows trends of prices continued to decline. The nation's economy failed to break free from deflation in fiscal 2006 as the government had targeted.Since fiscal 2003, real growth has continued to hover at about 2 percent. If real growth eclipses potential growth, demand is supposed to exceed supply and prices and wages increase.However, recently prices and wages have not improved as much as expected. The March consumer price index for items, excluding perishables, dropped by 0.3 percent from the same month last year, a larger drop than February's 0.1 percent decline.Why are prices and wages not increasing despite the continued economic expansion? Some private-sector economists point out that much higher growth rates must be realized before prices and wages start to climb.The Bank of Japan says prices tend not to increase due to economic globalization and other factors. These must be carefully analyzed so surefire ways to finally shrug off deflation can be devised.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2007-05-18	YOSHIN0020070518e35i000f3
YOMSHI0020070519e35j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070519e35j00001	EN	\N	Joint self-defense right needs new interpretation	On Friday, an expert semigovernmental panel tasked with studying specific cases relating to the right to collective self-defense held its first session. The 13-member council, chaired by former Ambassador to the United States Shunji Yanai, is scheduled to submit a report to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in autumn summing up their discussions on four types of scenarios, including that on missile defense.	4	2007-05-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Shortly after Friday's meeting, Yanai said, "The Constitution must be interpreted in a manner that reflects the fundamental changes taking place in our security environment. We should discuss issues in a manner the public can grasp and come to a commonsense conclusion."Since the end of the Cold War, grave new threats have emerged, including global terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs pose a threat to our peace and security. China's rapid military buildup is another element of regional instability.Given this, it is essential to shore up this country's alliance with the United States and play an active role in international peace cooperation activities. Doing so will help to ensure our own peace and security. To achieve this goal, the government should not adhere to its current interpretation of the Constitution concerning the right of collective self-defense. Yanai's remark reflects such a belief.Explanation must be convincingDuring Friday's session, one member of the council emphasized the importance of discussing issues concerning the right of collective self-defense in a manner that is convincing to other nations--as opposed to giving lawmakers plausible but evasive answers regarding the interpretation of the Constitution, as the government has done in the past.For many years, discussions in the Diet about the right to collective self-defense have been conducted solely from a domestic point of view. Such an assertion could be dismissed as extraordinary in the eyes of other countries. We hope the expert panel will study each scenario relating to this right in a way that reflects the actual circumstances surrounding the Self-Defense Forces, instead of falling into a theoretical debate, discussing the issues in an unrealistic manner.The government's self-imposed restrictions on this country's right to collective self-defense can be demonstrated, for example, through a hypothetical scenario in which a U.S. warship is attacked in international waters, while a Maritime Self-Defense Force ship is nearby.An MSDF ship and a U.S. warship are generally some distance apart when operating together on the high seas, except when one is refueling the other. Therefore, there would be only a few situations in which the MSDF vessel could take action to repel an attack on the U.S. ship under the framework for the individual right of self-defense and legitimate self-defense.The expert panel could end up embroiled in unrealistic and futile discussions if it debates a Japanese vessel's ability to repel such an attack based purely on the distance between the two ships. Obviously, it would be best to conclude that the Constitution allows this country to exercise its right to collective self-defense, a move that would enable the Self-Defense Forces to operate effectively in such an event.Interpretation must be consistentIf the government changes its interpretation of the top law and concludes we can exercise that right for limited purposes, it will be necessary to ensure that the government's previously held view is consistent with its new stand to a certain degree.We hope the panel will exercise wisdom in producing a proper line of reasoning to achieve that goal.The prime minister has said it is necessary to create and revise relevant laws relating to the right of collective self-defense. It would be impossible to provide a solid legal ground for the government's view of the right if its opinion changes with each new administration. With this in mind, it is essential for the government to create a basic law on national security that sets the standard for collective self-defense.The government must also work to gain public support in this respect, given that a change in the government's interpretation of the Constitution can affect the foundation of our national security. It is important for the government to discuss pertinent issues in a transparent manner. This is essential also to avoid alarming our neighbors.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	772	2007-05-19	YOSHIN0020070519e35j000fx
YOMSHI0020070520e35k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070520e35k00001	EN	\N	House of Councillors must undergo change	The upper house began its activities on May 20, 1947, when the first Diet session under the Constitution was convened.	4	2007-05-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There are now only a few months left to go before the 21st upper house election, a poll that both the ruling and opposition camps regard as a do-or-die political battle.Essentially, the upper house is expected to check and complement the House of Representatives. But how does the upper house really function?It has been some time since the upper house was referred to as a "carbon copy of the lower house." Political clashes in the lower chamber often manifest themselves in the same form in the upper chamber.The latest example of this was seen in 2005, during the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The upper house rejected and scrapped a package of bills to privatize the nation's postal services, triggering the dissolution of the lower house for a snap election that September.After the ruling parties won a landslide victory in the general election, the government resubmitted a set of postal privatization bills that eventually made its way through the Diet.It takes considerable time to pass a bill into law because the upper house deliberates bills in a manner similar to that of the lower house. If the House of Councillors fails to pass a bill, the government will be unable to carry out its policies.Upper house too influentialBoth the ruling and opposition parties are gearing up to secure a majority in the upper house because they believe the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be left in limbo if the ruling camp fails to do so.In the 1998 upper house election, the Liberal Democratic Party took a humiliating beating, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. The administration of Hashimoto's successor, Keizo Obuchi, was forced to accept opposition demands during negotiations to revise the government-sponsored bills to rehabilitate the financial system.Failure to control the upper house that year forced the LDP to form a coalition government and left a lasting influence on the nation's political structure that can be felt even today.Actions by the upper house were never meant to lead to this kind of situation.The role and authority of the House of Councillors should be examined from the viewpoint of how we as a nation can build a new political system in these changing times.A more distinct roleA set of proposals by a panel of experts presented to then upper house President Juro Saito in 2000 can serve as a basis for reviewing the position of the upper house.The panel's proposals would have the upper house play the role of a "seat of reconsideration," distancing itself from the administration and other powers while emphasizing in-depth deliberations from a broader perspective.Specifically, the panel proposed that the upper house remove itself from electing the prime minister and that members refrain from taking posts on the cabinet or as senior vice ministers.The proposals, however, have been ignored.When some LDP lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to incorporate some of these ideas into their party's draft of a new constitution, they were met with strong resistance from upper house members within their own party.These politicians could not stomach the proposals as they were certain to weaken the upper chamber and force them to give up their vested interests.The upper house election system, a combination of voting districts and proportional representation, is similar to that of the lower house. This is one of the reasons the upper house may appear to be no more than a carbon copy of the lower house, blurring the distinction between the two chambers.Upper house members still depend heavily on industry, special interest groups and labor unions to bring in votes and political contributions.An LDP-led Cabinet still has a quota for ministerial posts for LDP upper house members, chosen through the seniority system. The practice is a remnant of the old regime established in 1955, when the LDP became the dominant ruling party, with the Japan Socialist Party taking its place as the major opposition.For these reasons, the upper house cannot continue as it is.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	751	2007-05-20	YOSHIN0020070520e35k000an
YOMSHI0020070521e35l00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070521e35l00009	EN	\N	Battle against infectious diseases in need of review	Rubeola is spreading among teenagers and people in their 20s across the nation, and the number of high schools and universities that have suspended classes to stop the spread of the disease among students is rising.	4	2007-05-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to reports to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, including those made by medical institutions for children, the number of patients with measles has topped 600.As this figure is collated only from a specified group of hospitals required to report infectious cases to the authorities, rather than all medical institutions, the actual number of such patients is far higher than the reported figure.A large number of patients with measles are found in major cities and, as this is the largest outbreak of the disease in recent years, it is feared that the situation will become more serious when the number of patients peaks in early summer, as is usually the case.Measles highly contagiousOnly vaccinations can prevent infection and, with the exception of those that have caught measles previously, people are advised to be examined at medical institutions and vaccinated if necessary. Local governments, such as the Tokyo metropolitan government, have incorporated subsidies for vaccination costs for those aged between 10 to 19 as an emergency measure.Measles is caused by a virus and there are many cases where measles patients also contract pneumonia. There are even cases where measles patients have developed encephalitis and died. Although measles is mainly found among young children, even a teenager can develop a serious condition, making it something we cannot take lightly.With an incubation period of about 10 days, a carrier of the virus will spread the infection through coughing before developing any symptoms. As the disease is highly contagious, it is natural for schools whose students come down with measles to cancel classes.There are even universities, such as Tokyo Gakugei University, which have made it mandatory for students involved in teaching practice to get vaccinated. Prevention and early containment is essential to deal with infectious diseases.In the United States and other industrially advanced countries in the West, the number of patients with measles number several every year and these countries have taken strong measures against measles, such as making it conditional for a student to be vaccinated before being admitted to primary school.2 inoculations neededIn Japan, however, the government remains halfhearted over the use of vaccination, primarily because the side effects stemming from vaccinations against infectious diseases has become an issue of public concern in the past.In Japan there was an outbreak of measles in 2001, with the number of cases reported from the specified group of medical institutions reaching about 30,000 and the nationwide total estimated at close to 300,000.At that time, the United States criticized Japan for being "an exporter of measles" because it feared Japanese tourists would be carriers of the virus.Faced with such a state of affairs, pediatricians and other experts intensified their appeals for people to get inoculated, which saw the number of children vaccinated at the age of 1 rise. Yet a one-time vaccination may leave a person with insufficient immunity against the disease, or might not guard against his or her immunity in later years.In Europe and the United States, the vaccination is usually administered twice. In Japan, the public-funded system for two-time vaccinations--the first one taken at the age of 1 and the second prior to enrollment in primary school, started in spring 2006.The fact that an overwhelming number of young people today have been vaccinated only once has been a cause of the repeated spread of the disease. It is necessary for two-time vaccinations to become a common practice.Trepidation among people to get vaccinated is also seen as a reason for the spread of such infectious disease as mumps. By learning lessons from the spread of measles, measures against other types of infectious diseases should be reviewed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2007-05-21	YOSHIN0020070521e35l000as
YOMSHI0020070522e35m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070522e35m00001	EN	\N	Management must heed market, shareholders	Without support from the stock market, strategies adopted by corporate managers to try to protect their interests will founder. The business merger between the two companies was promoted by a major shareholder.	4	2007-05-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The twists and turns in the merger negotiations resulted from a feud within Pentax. The two companies had reached a basic agreement on the merger in December, but Pentax replaced then President Fumio Urano, who had taken the initiative to push for the merger, at the board of directors meeting in April and canceled the plan to merge with Hoya. Takashi Watanuki, who opposed the merger plan, was appointed president.In response, Pentax's largest shareholder, asset management firm Sparx Group Co., asked Pentax to reinstall the pro-merger Urano as president by using its right as a shareholder to make proposals. Hoya prepared a takeover bid for Pentax in an effort to bring about the merger.Watanuki, who was resolved to the end that the company could survive on its own, probably thought he held a trump card in the shape of a package of measures to strengthen the firm's management that was announced in mid-May. But the market reacted coolly toward the measures, which centered on the scrapping of underperforming projects, and Pentax's stock price flagged. That certainly was a miscalculation on the part of Pentax's management.Pentax at faultIn the end, Watanuki accepted the takeover bid by Hoya last week and reached a general agreement on the merger. Hoya intends to launch a friendly takeover bid for Pentax and make Pentax its subsidiary in June.Although the battle over the merger has been resolved, Pentax management deserves to be criticized for misreading how the market would act and causing confusion over the merger. After putting Pentax--renowned for its digital camera technology--under its umbrella, Hoya aims to accelerate its efforts to advance in the medical equipment field, thus demonstrating the benefits of the merger.In the new era of large-scale corporate mergers and acquisitions, any company may be targeted for a merger or threatened by a buyout attempt any time. The merger between Pentax and Hoya offers a lesson for other companies.Accountability keyIn general, companies with a specific profile are an easy target for corporate M&As: Their stock is priced relatively low in spite of their technical capabilities; they employ overly optimistic corporate strategies; they do not make effective use of their assets; or they have much retained earnings.An example in this mold is  Bull-Dog Sauce Co., the nation's leading sauce maker, which has become the target of a takeover bid by U.S. investment fund, Steel Partners Japan Strategic Fund. To avoid such a situation, management should properly tackle difficult tasks, such as implementing management reforms, improving corporate value, increasing the aggregate market value of shares and preparing measures against buyout attempts.The market and shareholders are scrutinizing corporate management more closely. As general shareholders meetings approach, there are signs that shareholders will demand as their right that companies pay higher dividends. Corporate management must hold itself accountable to the market and shareholders.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	559	2007-05-22	YOSHIN0020070522e35m000gg
YOMSHI0020070523e35n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070523e35n00001	EN	\N	Reforms key to vitality of Tokyo financial mart	Discussions on how to revitalize Tokyo's financial market have taken place in the Council on Fiscal and Economic Policy and the Council on Financial Services, an advisory panel to the prime minister.	4	2007-05-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The suggestions include a proposal to loosen regulations covering the integration of banking and securities services, to encourage financial institutions to provide a wider range of services. A further suggestion under consideration is the creation of a comprehensive exchange to allow not just stocks and bonds to be traded, but also metals and agricultural futures.Through these discussions, we expect to see some creative suggestions on how to revitalize the system and create an easy-to-use market.These talks come at a troubling time for the Tokyo financial market, which seems to have lost international competitiveness in recent years.Tokyo risks falling behindCurrently, the aggregate market value of Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed shares make it the world's second-largest bourse. However, when comparing figures for the end of 1990 with the end of last year, it can be seen that the value of Tokyo stocks has risen by just 1.6 times over this period.This is largely due to the fact that the Japanese economy was mired in recession after the bubble economy burst, pushing stock prices down to low levels.In contrast, the aggregate market values of stocks listed in Shanghai and Hong Kong have multiplied dozens of times during the same period.It would therefore not be surprising if Tokyo lost its position as Asia's financial center.To avoid this, it is vital to make the Tokyo market more attractive, and one that will attract money from inside and outside the country.Reexamining the boundaries between banking and securities could be one way of transforming the market.At present, banks and securities firms under the umbrella of the same financial holding company are not allowed to share customer information. But if such information-sharing were allowed, it could allow for the provision of a variety of financial services combining banking and securities services to corporations when raising funds, and to investors managing their assets.It would also help accelerate the shifting of the nation's individual financial assets, totaling 1.5 quadrillion yen, from savings to investment, allowing the industries to use funds more effectively.Such changes would also likely attract European and U.S. financial institutions, which set the precedent of integrating banking and securities, to Tokyo, along with overseas funds.Concerns over deregulationHowever, there are concerns that if deregulation goes too far, banks would make corporations increase capital for the purpose of calling in loans, which would have adverse effects, including on shareholders. Precautionary measures against this would therefore be necessary.European and U.S. stock exchanges include exchange-traded funds in gold, crude oil and grains. Thus, investors are expanding potential investments to include not only stocks, but commodity futures.Integrating the functions of each exchange in Tokyo--which are currently categorized as stocks, financial futures, commodities and others--could create new investment options and expand the pool of market participants. On the other hand, some experts have voiced concern that the integration may complicate the market structure and also increase transaction costs. Changes should therefore be considered extremely carefully.Market reforms should improve convenience for investors as well as others participating in the markets. It is vital to monitor the actions of financial institutions as well as listed firms, and to protect investors adequately. It is also necessary to strengthen the workings of the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission and other related organizations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2007-05-23	YOSHIN0020070523e35n000gq
YOMSHI0020070524e35o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070524e35o00001	EN	\N	Realignment of U.S. forces should be sped up	At the heart of the law is the establishment of a system that will provide state subsidies to local governments that accept the transfer of U.S. military facilities, forces or training exercises. The subsidies are designed to be allocated to affected municipalities incrementally in four stages--after acceptance of a plan, after an environment assessment evaluation, on the commencement of construction and on completion of realignment.	4	2007-05-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This framework makes perfect sense because it gives due consideration to municipalities that will shoulder the burden and cooperate on a matter that greatly affects national security.The biggest potential snag to the plan is the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to Camp Schwab in Nago, in the prefecture.Okinawa Prefecture and Nago requested a revision of the current relocation plan agreed to by Tokyo and Washington, saying the runaways that will be aligned in a V-shape should be constructed further offshore than originally planned. They are unlikely to accept the environmental impact assessment without a revision of the relocation plan.However, if the relocation work drags on, the realignment might not be completed by 2014, as planned.Washington standing firmThe U.S. government has rejected making any revision of the current relocation plan. Washington is concerned that once a revision is accepted, demands by the U.S. forces for further revisions--such as extending runways--might snowball.The relocation of Futenma Air Station is a part of the realignment plan that includes transferring 8,000 marines from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam and returning six facilities in the south and central areas of the prefecture. If Okinawa and other local governments insist on making revisions, implementing the entire plan, and thereby greatly reducing their burden, might hit a brick wall.Local authorities are increasingly seeking practical measures to cope with the situation. For example, an administration committee of Henoko district, Nago, which is located close to Camp Schwab, decided on May 15 to revoke a 1999 resolution opposing the relocation of Futenma Air Station.Concerning the plan to transfer aircraft from the U.S. Navy's Atsugi Naval Air Facility to the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the Iwakuni municipal assembly in March adopted a resolution demanding the mayor take practical and effective measures, given the importance of the policy on national security.Practical approach favoredForty-seven of the 68 affected municipalities said they accepted or understood the realignment. The central government should do all it can to persuade the other municipalities and implement the realignment of U.S. military forces without delay. This will strengthen the credibility of the Japan-U.S. alliance.The law also allows the government-funded Japan Bank for International Cooperation to finance or provide loans for private-sector projects to construct family houses and water supply and sewerage systems in Guam.These projects might end up costing the government $6.09 billion, including $3.29 billion in financing and loans. This will be the first time the central government has spent public money for constructing U.S. military facilities within the United States, but details about how this public money would be used was not brought up in Diet deliberations.The government has a responsibility to provide a clear account of how the money will be spent, and to make efforts to ensure the projects are completed efficiently and that costs are trimmed whenever possible.Gaining the understanding of the public will be indispensable to maintaining and strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2007-05-24	YOSHIN0020070524e35o000f1
YOMSHI0020070525e35p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070525e35p00001	EN	\N	Global climate initiative hinges on China, U.S.	The policy should serve as a starting point to create a post-Kyoto Protocol framework to combat global warming, a cause that must involve every member of the international community.	4	2007-05-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Kyoto Protocol calls for lowering overall emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 5 percent below 1990 levels in the commitment period of 2008 to 2012.The policy illustrates Japan's view of the shape of the post-Kyoto Protocol international framework. Abe is expected to discuss his initiative at the summit meeting of the Group of Eight major nations next month in Germany.The Kyoto Protocol stipulates country-by-country numerical targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Japan's new initiative is aimed at obtaining agreements from other countries to work toward a unified global target, and then to discuss how to meet this goal.The main objective of the policy announced by Abe is to halve emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the current level by 2050. With this figure as the common global target, Abe argued that technological developments and other efforts should be made to ensure any reduction of greenhouse gas emissions does not impinge on economic growth.The United States--the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases--steadfastly refuses to ratify the protocol. China, which is expected to surpass the United States eventually as the largest emitter of such gases, is not obliged to reduce its gas emissions under the protocol.All must be involvedGiven these circumstances, Abe's latest proposals are worth following up. To ensure the new framework is effective, the participation of the United States and China is essential.The European Union has its own numerical target to reduce greenhouse gasses by more than 20 percent of the 1990 level by 2020.Abe's ultimate objective is "a flexible and diversified framework that takes the situation of each country into consideration." To form this framework, whether to set country-by-country numerical targets will need to be discussed. Japan may have to tread carefully should a row flare up between the European Union and the United States and China.Three working groups under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently announced their own reports. The reports said the planet would steadily heat up over the next 100 years and predicted Earth's average temperature could rise by up to 6.4 C by the end of this century if the world's thirst for fossil fuels continues unabated.Despite this gloomy prediction, the reports offered a ray of hope: Global warming can be halted if appropriate measures are taken in time. The reports urged each country to tackle the issue.Giving assistanceAbe also said the government is ready to extend technological and financial assistance to developing countries that actively take steps to deal with global warming.Japan's energy-saving technologies are top-shelf. They will certainly be a significant tool to help combat global warming.Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan is required to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent from the 1990 level. But in 2005, these emissions increased by 8.1 percent. The rise in emissions caused by office buildings and homes reportedly was particularly noticeable. Getting people to cooperate by making small efforts, such as setting the temperature on air conditioners a few degrees higher in summer, is crucial.Japan will only be able to persuade other countries to sign on to the new initiative when its own people do their best to help the cause.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2007-05-25	YOSHIN0020070525e35p000e9
YOMSHI0020070526e35q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070526e35q00001	EN	\N	Reality must be faced in fight on juvenile crime	On Friday, the Diet adopted a bill to revise the Juvenile Law more than two years after the government submitted it to the legislature.	4	2007-05-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The revised law clearly defines the authority given to police to investigate cases involving juveniles under 14 years of age. Juveniles below the age of 14 are not subject to criminal punishment if they commit such offenses as murder and robbery. The law authorizes the police to question such juveniles and their parents, search locations related to their offenses and seize relevant items.Before the revision, the law did not incorporate a provision permitting such juveniles to be accommodated at reformatories. However, the revised legislation stipulates the minimum age of juveniles to be housed at reformatories to be "about 12."Four years ago, a 12-year-old middle school student killed a 4-year-old boy in Nagasaki. This was followed by a case in which an 11-year-old girl stabbed a classmate to death in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, the following year.The legislative reform was a response to the series of shocking crimes involving juveniles. This is a natural reaction to the situation.The Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations opposed the legislative change, criticizing it as an attempt to "increase police authority." They also have insisted that juveniles who committed criminal offenses be housed at correctional facilities in which they could be aided in rehabilitating themselves.Old law failed policeHowever, the old Juvenile Law did not include a provision concerning police investigations into criminal offenses committed by juveniles. Some parents rejected requests for their children and themselves to appear for questioning, while also refusing to submit pieces of evidence. This hampered police efforts to uncover what was behind juvenile criminal offenses and ensure that such wrongdoing did not recur. Some family court judges have said they had received insufficient documentary evidence concerning investigations into juvenile offenses.Some juveniles might not have the capability to properly make a judgment about the offenses they have committed. We hope the police will work to increase the credibility of their investigations into such cases by, for example, more frequently using officers specializing in juvenile psychology.In judging whether a juvenile held responsible for a criminal offense should be housed at a reformatory, it is important to consider the severity of his or her offense, as well as his or her mental and physical state at the time of the offense. Whatever their age, juvenile delinquents must receive corrective education to aid their rehabilitation.Correctional facilities for juvenile delinquents--institutions established under the Child Welfare Law--are designed to rehabilitate such children by treating them as if they are members of a family. Those housed at such facilities include young runaways and child-abuse victims. Therefore, it is highly questionable whether juveniles who have committed serious offenses also should be accommodated there.Rehabilitating childrenThe Justice Ministry has said it will introduce a program aimed at correcting primary school students' behavior through various measures that include psychiatric care at reformatories. Under the system, some parents also might need guidance.The government's initial bill incorporated a clause authorizing the police to investigate juveniles likely to commit crimes in the future, including those who date gangsters and visit adult-entertainment shops. However, the clause was criticized as being "obscure in defining juveniles with a criminal bent." The provision was eventually deleted.In many cases, such juveniles come from disadvantaged family backgrounds. Some also cannot leave the young street gangs they have joined.The removal of the clause will do nothing to improve the situation. The latest revision of the law will not overcome the problem. The government should take this to heart and seriously think about how to better deal with juvenile delinquents, by joining hands with each community and school.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2007-05-26	YOSHIN0020070526e35q000gi
YOMSHI0020070527e35r00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070527e35r00002	EN	\N	Innovation key to Japan's future	Innovation here refers to innovation both technological and social in nature, while 25 is the target year--2025.	4	2007-05-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As its title indicates, the guideline sets specific goals for realizing extremely-difficult-to-develop high technologies by the close of 2025. At the same time, it addresses policy tasks the government must tackle in realizing and diffusing such technologies. These include educational reforms, regulation system reviews and financial support for such endeavors.As it is--with the declining population and rapidly graying society--Japan cannot avoid a major eclipse of its production power. Sooner or later, a rapidly growing China will surpass Japan in terms of gross domestic product. It is possible India will follow suit.The guideline is significant in that it serves as a "guidepost" for Japan to maintain its power by taking full advantage of its scientific and technological capability.Rethink old ageFor example, the guideline calls for a sharp reduction in the number of patients afflicted with senile dementia, against the backdrop of an advancement in the study of Alzheimer's disease. Among the variety of goals included in the guideline is the development of sophisticated robots to reduce the time required for housework and child-rearing.If the number of people suffering from senile dementia is reduced and senior citizens become healthier and more vigorous, we will need a major overhaul of the social security system and the way people work. Increased free time could broaden the scope of our activities and drastically change our lifestyle.If Japan is successful in introducing technological and social innovations, it will boost its vitality while maintaining a competitive edge. But that cannot be done without first securing excellent human resources.Revamp universitiesThe strategic guideline stresses the importance of reforming universities to become centers of education and research--a task that will be tackled over the next three years. One measure calls for putting priority on funding young researchers who are still flexible in their ways of thinking.It will support universities in their efforts to bring in excellent human resources from abroad as instructors and double the quota of foreign faculty members. Without educational and research institutions that are open to the world, the nation cannot participate in research on an international level.The guideline also urges universities to accept students without distinguishing between science and humanities majors, therefore providing them with a broader education. It also encourages them to lecture in English. These are important goals if the nation hopes to foster human resources comparable with their foreign counterparts.Several years ago, the United States and the advanced European nations came up with policies using the key word, "innovation." Japan is of a like mind. If it idles away in this regard, Japan may face an ever-worsening situation.We cannot afford to fall behind in the international competition to secure excellent human resources and to excel in the development of new technologies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	535	2007-05-27	YOSHIN0020070527e35r00091
YOMSHI0020070528e35s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070528e35s00001	EN	\N	Competitive university funding detrimental	The Finance Ministry and expert government panels, including the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, are increasingly insistent that the current subsidy allocation formula based on the size and capacity of a university be changed to one based on evaluation of each university's achievements in research and educational activities.	4	2007-05-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Such an idea is questionable. Is it necessary to introduce competitive principles primarily designed for fiscal discipline into the allocation of state subsidies to universities?Many officials at national universities should have been shocked by the estimates unveiled recently by the Finance Ministry.If the operating subsidies were reallocated in line with subsidies allocated for key scientific research projects on the basis of research activities and actual results, 74 out of 87 national universities would see their subsidies reduced.Hardest-hit would be Hyogo University of Teacher Education, which would see its subsidies cut by 90.5 percent. According to the estimates, nine of the hardest-hit universities would be those specializing in educating would-be teachers.Meanwhile, most national universities in regional areas would see their subsidies cut. Only 13 universities would come out ahead, including former imperial universities such as Tokyo University and Kyoto University, which would see their subsidies doubled.Lowering qualityThe possible deterioration in the management of universities specializing in educating would-be teachers and those in regional areas, which are supposed to serve as regional intellectual centers, is cause for concern.Due to the declining birthrate, national universities have also had to reorganize and integrate. While it is understandable for national universities to reorganize or integrate themselves to maintain and improve their educational standards, the economic rationalization of state universities may lower the quality of institutions for higher education as a whole.Branches of learning, particularly the liberal arts and humanities, and pure sciences, the benefits of whose research are less obvious, will decline in the long run. In the future, there will be little room for researchers to throw themselves into such embryonic research as that could lead to a Nobel Prize. What constitutes "results" and who would assess them and how are all unclear.The introduction of competitive principles in the allocation of state subsidies to national universities is being championed by private-sector members of the council, with Finance Ministry officials and other related offices following suit.Taking sidesThe Education, Science and Technology Ministry, worried about further reduction in state subsidies to universities, has sided with the universities, which are intensifying their opposition to the result-based subsidies allocation plan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked the Education Rebuilding Council, which is under his direct control, to summarize the results of discussions.In proportion to the gross domestic product, government fiscal assistance to institutions of higher education in Japan remains only half the average of industrially advanced nations.In light of its tight fiscal situation, the government deems it difficult to increase outlays for higher education. Yet we hope the education council can come up with proactive proposals to put the nation's universities on a more solid footing.Regional state universities also must make further reform efforts. It is essential for these universities to offer educational programs distinctive enough to attract students even from other prefectures, while developing their strengths in specific areas of study.They must also emphasize their significance in terms of their contribution to regional economies and the development of human resources for local governments and other key entities.These functions make it all the more necessary to ensure stable provision of operational subsidies for national universities. It is detrimental to hastily call for putting such funding on a result-oriented, competitive footing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2007-05-28	YOSHIN0020070528e35s000do
YOMSHI0020070529e35t00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070529e35t00002	EN	\N	Minister's death requires political self-reflection	Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka attempted to kill himself in his room at a Diet members apartment building in Tokyo and died later the same day. The reason for his suicide is unknown, but his death was truly tragic.	4	2007-05-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Agricultural policies, including those for domestic agricultural reforms, are an important part of Japan's agenda for agriculture negotiations at the World Trade Organization and for promoting agreements on free trade.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed Matsuoka from the agriculture ministry because he thought highly of Matsuoka, who was well versed in agricultural matters. Observers said Abe believed that while promoting agricultural liberalization, Matsuoka would be able to quash resistance from within Japan.Abe appreciated Matsuoka's role in the agreement reached by Japan and Australia to start negotiations on an economic partnership agreement.Farm sector in focusIn this age of globalization, what should Japan's agricultural sector be like? Matsuoka committed suicide just when the country is facing such a crucial turning point.Matsuoka has been rigorously questioned during the current Diet session about the problem posed by the relationship between politics and money.Matsuoka set up his political fund management organization in the rent-free Diet members office building, and the organization claimed large sums for utilities and other office expenses. When responding to questions posed by opposition parties, he consistently reiterated that he had filed his reports properly and in accordance with the law, though he never offered a detailed explanation on the issue.It recently came to light that Matsuoka had received donations from contractors on projects ordered by the Japan Green Resources Agency, which is the subject of a criminal investigation by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office in connection with bid-rigging. The agency falls under the jurisdiction of the agriculture ministry.With the House of Councillors election approaching, there were some even within the Liberal Democratic Party to which Matsuoka belonged who were calling for his resignation from the post after the current Diet session ends on June 23.Although it is important to avoid careless speculation, Matsuoka's death clearly prompts the question of whether the psychological pressure of this string of problems drove him into a corner.Preventing future tragediesSo, what can be done, in political terms, to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy?Since the issue of Matsuoka's office expenses was revealed, revision of the Political Funds Control Law has come under the spotlight. On this, the contents of the draft changes drawn up by the ruling parties and the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, are different.Both proposed lawmakers be required to provide receipts with their political fund report if the expenses exceed a certain amount, and that these receipts be made public. But the ruling coalition wants receipts to be provided for expenses that total \\50,000 or more, while the latter considers it more appropriate for the figure to exceed \\10,000. The ruling coalition also proposed such a requirement be limited to political fund management organizations, while the latter insisted that it should be applied to all political organizations.In all of this, the problem of the relationship of politics and money should be discussed in terms of what political changes need to be made and what lawmakers can do to secure voters' trust. The problem should not be used as a political football for lawmakers with an eye on July's upper house election.At present, the only problem attracting attention at the current Diet session is office expenses. Yet the fact that Giichi Tsunoda, a DPJ lawmaker and a former upper house vice president, received political donations from an organization affiliated with North Korea, is much more serious. We therefore cannot understand why Tsunoda's case has not been properly investigated.While treating Matsuoka's death seriously, there remain many problems for lawmakers to tackle.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2007-05-29	YOSHIN0020070529e35t000j3
YOMSHI0020070530e35u00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070530e35u00001	EN	\N	Govt must act to prevent abuse of subcontractors	While listed companies are declaring record-high profits one after another, small and medium-sized companies are still in the process of recovery.	4	2007-05-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the Bank of Japan's Tankan quarterly survey of business sentiment in the three months to March, the diffusion index of small and medium-sized manufacturers was as low as plus 8, while the index for large-sized manufacturers jumped to plus 23.The government has cited ensuring fair trade practices with subcontractors as a pillar of its strategy for boosting the growth capacity, aiming at improving the production level of small and medium-sized companies.It plans to compile this element into a basic guideline on economic and fiscal policy management and structural reform in June.The position of small and medium-sized companies is comparatively weak. Even if production costs increase, subcontractors have difficulties in passing on the increase in the prices they charge large companies. There reportedly are some cases in which large companies have withheld payments to subcontractors.Under such circumstances, large companies rack up profits while small and medium-sized companies are left to sink or swim. Even if they improve productivity through corporate efforts and technological development, they will not necessarily see increased profits. Accordingly, it is hard for them to hike their workers' salaries.Legal protections existTo maintain the vitality of its economy and realize a full-fledged business recovery, Japan needs more dynamic small and medium-sized companies.As for trade practices with subcontractors, the subcontract law--a supplement to the Antimonopoly Law that prohibits the abuse of preferred status--bans large companies from forcing small and medium-sized companies to accept such practices as delayed payment, to ensure fair trade practices. If the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry confirms that a company has violated the law, METI asks the Fair Trade Commission to take remedial action. The FTC then issues a business improvement order to the company.This spring, Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corp., a lighting fixture maker that is a subsidiary of Toshiba Corp., was found to have forced its subcontractors to discount their prices. Upon receiving a business improvement order from the FTC, Toshiba Lighting & Technology returned the deducted amount of money to the subcontractors and compiled measures to prevent a recurrence of the abuse.It was the first time in 3 1/2 years that METI had requested the FTC to take remedial action. In addition, it was the first time that METI had released the name of the company to the public at the stage of making its request to the FTC.Boost monitoring functionBy employing the Antimonopoly Law and the subcontract law more proactively, the government should strengthen its monitoring functions to protect subcontractors. The government should not hesitate to release the names of abusive companies from the standpoint of "punishing one serves as a warning to hundreds."METI wants companies in the fields of information and telecommunications devices; automobile manufacturing; textiles; and digital content, including software, animation and video games--all of which utilize droves of subcontractors--to draw up their own guidelines on fair trade practices and comply with them.Draft guidelines were drawn up last year by companies in the formed and fabricated materials industry, including metal mold manufacturers. Other industries should also compile their own guidelines immediately and strive to follow fair trade practices.The prosperous coexistence of major companies and small and medium-sized companies--their business partners--will grow the Japanese economy. For that purpose, it is vital not to drag down hard-working small and medium-sized companies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2007-05-30	YOSHIN0020070530e35u000gi
YOMSHI0020070531e35v00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070531e35v00003	EN	\N	Don't let guard down against unemployment	However, we should not assume the economy is out of the woods just yet. Steady efforts must be made to ensure the improvement in employment conditions stays on track.	4	2007-05-31	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the ministry, 2.68 million people are unemployed in April, down 160,000 from the same month a year ago.The unemployment rate hovered in the 1 percent range until the mid-1970s, and in the 2 percent range until the early 1990s. However, this rate rose as high as 5.5 percent when many companies were undergoing massive restructuring and laying off hordes of workers to survive the economic doldrums after the bubble economy burst.The total employment seen during the period of high growth after the end of World War II likely will remain out of reach. Compared with the post-bubble period, the employment situation has been recovering greatly.The recent improvement in the unemployment rate owes much to the increased corporate appetite for hiring more employees. This has been fueled by the economic recovery and the onset of the mass retirement of baby boomers, who began turning 60 this year. However, when looking at the latest statistics, the devil lies in the details.Youth jobless rate still highThe unemployment rate for people aged 24 or younger stood at a disconcerting 7.5 percent. The figure for people in the 25 to 34 age bracket, who had the misfortune of trying to find jobs during the "job-finding glacial period" after graduating from school, stayed stubbornly high at 5 percent.Although the employment situation has improved for young people, their unemployment rates remain extremely high, compared with the time when new graduates joining companies was the norm.Meanwhile, 1.87 million people last year were regarded as freeters--young people who do not or cannot find steady jobs. This figure is down by 140,000 from the previous year, but many freeters in their late 20s and early 30s are struggling to break out of the rut in which they are trapped. Companies must do more to promote the stable employment of such youth.The employment picture was mixed for prefectures. For the January-March period, Gifu and Mie prefectures recorded unemployment rates in the 2 percent range, but Okinawa and Aomori prefectures and Hokkaido said their figure topped 5 percent. Such figures reflect regional economic disparities.Nonregular workers increasingThe quality of employment also must be looked at. The number of nonregular employees, such as part-timers and workers dispatched from temporary worker agencies, has continued to snowball, topping 17.26 million, or 33.7 percent of overall workforce.The number of regular workers rebounded last year, but the trend toward a diversification of employment types has not changed.The revised law on part-time workers was enacted last week to help improve their working conditions. A growing number of companies in the distribution, apparel, financial and other industries have been switching the status of their nonregular workers to regular workers. Fair treatment of workers based on ability and working conditions will invigorate workers' willingness to toil hard. This will be crucial for sharpening a company's competitiveness.Overall corporate performances have improved recently. However, wages have not risen accordingly, sparking concerns about individual consumption in the months to come. Adverse effects of long working hours, chiefly among men in their 30s, also have been pointed out. These issues have to be resolved through efforts by management and workers.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry in April revised the employment insurance system by lowering the rate of insurance premiums per salary shared by both workers and their employers. The measure was introduced due to decreased payouts from employment insurance. The improvement in job security has brought about such benefits.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 31, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	680	2007-05-31	YOSHIN0020070531e35v000fd
YOMSHI0020070601e36100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070601e36100001	EN	\N	Keep global pressure on North Korea	On Wednesday, foreign ministers from the Group of Eight major nations met in Potsdam, Germany, where they agreed to work to have North Korea scrap its nuclear weapons development program and resolve the issue of its abductions of Japanese.	4	2007-06-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We believe the agreement will exert a certain degree of pressure on Pyongyang. But what should be done to foster even closer international cooperation in settling the North Korean problems?During Wednesday's meeting, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said: "Our patience is not unlimited. If necessary, pressure on North Korea should be increased."North Korea has yet to implement the initial steps toward the abolition of its nuclear weapons program, which it promised to carry out under an agreement reached at February's six-party talks. Therefore, Aso had every reason to call for greater pressure to be exerted on the communist state.However, what should be done to step up pressure on North Korea? The attitude taken by each nation toward the issue is far from simple and unanimous. The current situation poses a vexing question about what Japan must do to help achieve this goal.Pyongyang must scrap N-armsA chairman's statement adopted at the latest meeting incorporated international calls for North Korea to swiftly implement the initial-phase steps aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, and to scrap all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The statement also insisted the abduction issue be resolved as soon as possible.The statement was a strong message urging North Korea to scrap its nuclear arms. During the G-8 summit meeting that will open in Heiligendamm, Germany, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should ensure the G-8 countries reiterate their determination expressed in the chairman's statement.It should be noted, however, that the six-party talks are an important tool for urging North Korea to abolish its nuclear weapons program. Some developments that have taken place among the participating nations in recent months have disturbed Japan.First, the United States--a nation with which Japan must closely cooperate--is changing its policy toward North Korea. Washington now appears more inclined to set its sights on nuclear nonproliferation, rather than denuclearization.Japan faces the greatest threat from North Korea's nuclear weapons. We find it impossible to accept any attempt to recognize Pyongyang's possession of nuclear arms as a fait accompli.Threat greater than IranIt would be extremely disconcerting for Japan if North Korea is removed from the U.S. list of states that support terrorism while the abduction issue remains unresolved. That would in effect leave this country to resolve the dispute without the help of other nations.South Korea's recent moves also are a cause for concern. In mid-May, trains from South and North Korea crossed the countries' border for the first time in 56 years. This could encourage Seoul to resume aid to the North, months after it suspended such assistance in the wake of Pyongyang's test-firing of missiles. Japan must try to persuade ensure South Korea not to restart assistance to the North even though its northern neighbor has not delivered on the promises it gave in February's agreement.During the meeting of the G-8 foreign ministers, the United States and European nations paid closer attention to Iran's nuclear ambitions than to North Korea's nuclear weapons development program. Iran has not yet agreed to stop its uranium enrichment program.Aso was correct when he said, "North Korea poses an even more serious threat than Iran because it has already conducted a nuclear test." It is necessary to further step up international pressure to North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2007-06-01	YOSHIN0020070601e361000fj
YOMSHI0020070602e36200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070602e36200001	EN	\N	Education panel report incomplete, unfocused	The new report, which follows the first one released in January, suggests reinstating Saturday classes, shortening summer vacation and introducing 15-minute classes in the morning as ways to increase class hours by 10 percent at schools.	4	2007-06-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While the current five-day school week would be maintained, the decision to reintroduce Saturday classes would be left up to schools and local boards of education.What happened when the nation switched from a six-day week to a five-day week needs to be thoroughly discussed. Discussions are also needed on why half of all private schools continue to hold classes six days a week, and parents and teachers should be asked their views.The council is obliged to validate and assess the reinstating of Saturday classes and to create a system under which educators and schools will decide on this matter at their own discretion.No grades for 'moral education'Initially, the council had intended to call for the upgrading of "moral education" to a subject--along the lines of Japanese and mathematics--but the report states merely that moral education is "different to other graded subjects." The panel's conclusion takes into consideration objections by some people, including Central Council for Education Chairman Masakazu Yamazaki, who said "[moral education] shouldn't be taught as a subject."Under the council's proposal, students would not receive grades for moral education, which will be taught by homeroom teachers using textbooks and supplementary materials, putting this method of teaching moral education to the test.One plan not included in the previous report is the reformation of universities and graduate schools. Several recommendations to meet such ends include strict evaluation for graduation, increasing the number of students matriculating in September and the expansion of English-based education to attract talented foreign students. The council also has proposed drastic reorganization and integration plans for national universities.Performance-based pay, fundingWorth noting in the report is a proposal for educational finance reform based on competitive principles, such as efficiency, performance-based funding and the introduction of "selection and concentration" into certain fields.On the allocation of subsidies to state-run universities--a subject on which the Finance Ministry and the Education, Science and Technology Ministry are at odds--the panel has recommended the money be provided based on effort and results.The council should not seek to introduce competitive principles based on efficiency into education.The report says the salary system for teachers at public primary, middle and high schools should be revised to award educators based on their performance. But it is not clear who will assess the teachers or by what standards it will be done.Excessive introduction of competitive principles into education might lead to a chaotic situation among teachers and schools. The council has yet to discuss the issues of a school voucher system and the efficient allocation of funding for public schools. These issues, too, require the council's attention.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	542	2007-06-02	YOSHIN0020070602e362000gk
YOMSHI0020070603e36300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070603e36300001	EN	\N	Greater preparedness needed for disasters	Japan is disaster-prone, and there is a growing likelihood a major event is imminent. Yet there has been little progress made over what we should do to prepare ourselves as time passes since the last natural disaster.	4	2007-06-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The onus is not only on the government. If businesses, communities and individuals do not make the necessary preparations, a disaster may be much worse than it need be.For instance, the threat of torrential rain is growing. Looking at the past 30 years, downpours registering 100 millimeters or more per hour have doubled over the past decade. This is the level of rainfall at which people begin to feel scared.Several tornadoes hit Japan last year. One twister that ravaged Saromacho, Hokkaido, left nine people dead and 31 injured--a record for Japan.Some experts have said that both the increase in torrential rains and the rise in tornadoes are linked to global warming. If this proves to be true, we are likely to see such weather patterns intensify.Major earthquake forecastExperts also believe it is only a matter of time before a major earthquake--such as the predicted Tonankai and Nankai quakes, or an earthquake centered beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area--strikes, inflicting widespread damage. As seen in March's Noto Peninsula Earthquake, even those regions traditionally deemed less likely to be hit by a major quake can be vulnerable.Where should we go to escape floods? Is our furniture anchored so it won't fall over in a quake? Can we get in touch with our family at a moment's notice? Does our community have a plan for people to help each other? There is no shortage of things we can do ahead of time to soften the blow.According to a Cabinet Office survey, only 20 percent of those polled said they have securely anchored their furniture. The survey showed that people are far from prepared for a major earthquake, and they have not put much thought into what they can do.Most people do not evacuate to higher ground even when they are warned of a possible tsunami. Following an earthquake off the Kuril Islands, only 10 percent of residents along Hokkaido's Pacific coast evacuated as advised.What kind of damage would we see in a worst-case scenario? The government needs to make the public more aware of the possibilities and encourage people to make greater preparations for such disasters.Technology a help, hindrance"The more built-up a society becomes, the higher the degree of damage it will suffer in the event of a natural disaster," physicist and essayist Torahiko Terada (1878-1935) wrote. As he put it, new weaknesses in our civilization have emerged.Take buildings, for example. According to the white paper, the number of buildings with basements has doubled in Tokyo in the past 20 years, while the number of high-rises more than 100 meters tall has quadrupled in three central Tokyo wards in the last 15 years.Some of the problems the paper says these buildings will face include increased flood damage in basements and elevators stopping after an earthquake.Extended families are spending noticeably less time together and there has been an increase in the number of senior citizens living on their own. Rural areas continue to hemorrhage their populations. These factors have shaken human resolve to help each other in times of emergency.Yet we also have modern conveniences such as cell phones and the Internet--both useful tools in dealing with disasters. In some foreign countries, the governments text message disaster-related information to cell phones. We should also explore ways to make better use of modern technology.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2007-06-03	YOSHIN0020070603e363000bd
YOMSHI0020070604e36400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070604e36400001	EN	\N	More effort needed to lure foreign students	The government's Asian Gateway plan includes a goal of tripling the number of foreign students enrolled at universities and other educational institutions in Japan--currently standing at 120,000--by the end of 2025.	4	2007-06-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Education Rebuilding Council, for its part, proposed in its second report that Japan reshape a policy on foreign students from the viewpoint of national strategies, including industrial and diplomatic policies.In the course of the council's discussions, some called for setting a target of accepting 1 million foreign students.Japan's standing in the international community would be boosted if it could nurture an affinity for Japanese culture among excellent human resources from abroad.At a time when human resources are increasingly moving across national borders, hiring capable foreign workers who have studied in this country would certainly give Japanese companies a competitive edge.When the government came up with a plan in 1983 to accept 100,000 foreign students, students from abroad numbered a meager 10,000. Now that this target has been reached, the emphasis should now shift from increasing the number of students to attracting top-quality students.International scholarsThe United States and European nations are fighting for the lion's share of excellent foreign students. The number of people studying abroad has dramatically increased globally, with students from Asia leading the trend. One estimate puts it that their numbers will roughly triple by the end of 2025.Students from China and South Korea account for 80 percent of the foreign students in Japan, but the fact remains that many top-notch students from these countries are studying in the United States.How can Japan catch up with the United States as a magnet for excellent foreign students?Under the Asian Gateway plan, Japan will aim to maintain at least its current share of foreign students, or about 5 percent of foreign students in the world, while also ensuring foreign students coming to Japan are of high quality.In order to attract highly capable human resources, the nation must have an education system that is based on high standards and cutting-edge research. It is also necessary to expand the scope of classes taught in English.Boost appealOne thing that diminishes the attractiveness of Japan as a destination for studying is reluctance on the part of Japanese companies to hire foreigners, citing language barriers and differences in customs.In some cases, students keen to study in Japan sent letters of inquiry to professors, but had to abandon their plans because their letters went unanswered.Britain has offices responsible for helping students wishing to study in the country in 110 nations, while Germany has such offices in 13 nations.The Japan Student Services Organization, on the other hand, has offices in South Korea and three other countries.The Asian Gateway plan proposes increasing the number of overseas offices that provide counseling to students wishing to study in Japan and give necessary advice when they return from Japan. The government should promptly take necessary steps in line with this proposal.Other issues the nation must address are increasing the number of students studying Japanese in foreign countries and improving the housing situation in Japan, which foreign students find difficult to cope with.Japan cannot afford to waste any time in taking effective measures to encourage more foreign students to study in this country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2007-06-04	YOSHIN0020070604e364000bv
YOMSHI0020070605e36500002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070605e36500002	EN	\N	Draft economic policy leaves too much unclear	The draft covers a wide range of items--strategies for economic growth, administrative and fiscal reform, the environment, education, security and disaster prevention, among others. But as the contents are too broad, the main thrust of the guideline is unclear.	4	2007-06-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On the issue of the economy, the draft placed top priority on economic growth and enhancing quality of life against the backdrop of a declining population. It stressed that various systems established on the premise that the population would continue to grow now require fundamental review. This is correct. The problem will be taking effective, concrete measures.Dodging painful reformsWe cannot escape the feeling that the policies in the draft have avoided reforms that could be painful for voters, such as whether to raise the consumption tax, while paying extra attention to widening income inequality and regional issues, most likely with an eye on the upper house election.The strategies for strengthening economic growth focus on policies that avoid compounding the widening economic gap, including assisting job-seekers and raising wages for workers at small and medium-sized companies. In an effort to revitalize regional economies, the government will study the possibility of establishing a state-backed bailout body for midsize firms facing difficult business conditions, modeled on the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan, which dealt with corporate reconstruction for Daiei Inc. and Kanebo Ltd.But it is unclear whether the functions of a regional version of the IRCJ would duplicate policies on revitalizing regional small and medium-sized companies that the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry already has started, as well as industrial revitalization funds from the private sector. Despite the lack of adequate discussion on the issue, the possibility of creating a regional version of the IRCJ was still included in the draft.The government may be hoping to appeal to the regions by showing it is paying careful attention to areas that fall behind in economic recovery.On the other hand, the draft does not include policies on the promotion of economic partnership agreements that would lead to greater market liberalization of farm products because of difficulty coordinating the wording of such policies at the draft stage.Greater detail necessaryOn the pressing issue of placing the nation's finances on a sound footing, the draft says the government will realize the expenditure reform announced in the 2006 guideline on economic and fiscal management. But such fiscal rehabilitation cannot be realized by simply cutting expenditure.The draft indicates the government will begin a full-scale discussion about reforming the country's tax system, including a consumption tax rate hike, in the autumn or later. But it has only demonstrated an abstract basic philosophy, talking of securing equality between and within the generations. What the public wants to know is the direction more concrete reforms will take.This year marked the seventh since the government began to compile annual guidelines on economic and fiscal management. It is now established as a basic guideline for policy management. Recently, aiming for increased budget allocations, each ministry and agency has been vigorously pressing to have its policies included in the guideline.As a result, there are signs the contents of the guideline are already being diluted. When the guideline is officially compiled, the Abe Cabinet should make clear what its priorities are and what the Cabinet considers its most pressing issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2007-06-05	YOSHIN0020070605e365000gs
YOMSHI0020070606e36600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070606e36600001	EN	\N	Craft systems to build energy-saving society	The Environment Ministry has released this year's white paper on the environment, which focuses on the problem of worsening global warming and technologies to combat it.	4	2007-06-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Countermeasures against global warming are the main item on the agenda during the upcoming Group of Eight industrialized nations' summit meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, that starts Wednesday.Seventy-one percent of the respondents in a recent poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun said they felt alarmed by global warming.We believe many people are of the opinion that something must be done to tackle the problem.In Japan, which has the most cutting-edge energy-saving technologies in the world, carbon dioxide emissions have been declining in the industrial sector, notably in the manufacturing industry.On the other hand, CO2 emissions from households and office buildings have drastically increased. The white paper points out that the proactive adoption of energy-saving measures in the civilian sector would have a profound effect in reducing CO2 emissions.The white paper cited a familiar example: Switching incandescent lightbulbs to compact fluorescent lights in homes would slash domestic electricity consumption by 80 percent and result in a yearly saving of 1,900 yen in the average electricity bill.Three-pronged effortEnergy-saving technologies for home electrical appliances have made great strides. The white paper estimates that the CO2 emissions of a detached house could be cut by 44 percent if the householders traded in their air conditioners, refrigerator, lights and other home electrical appliances manufactured 10 years ago for the latest models and installed double glazing.It is vital not only for the industrial and transport sectors to further promote energy-saving efforts, but also for individuals to do what they can at home in this regard.To realize a "low-carbon society," the white paper says it is crucial to unite three key elements--further development of energy-saving technologies, encouraging people to alter their lifestyles to one based on energy-saving efforts as well as systematic reforms to spread energy-saving technologies.But the white paper does not list specific measures on the institutional reforms. The Environment Ministry said this is a subject to be examined in the future.Govt subsidies would helpAn incandescent lightbulb can be purchased for as little as 100 yen, while a compact fluorescent light costs around 1,000 yen. It will be costly to renew home electrical appliances.In their Tuesday morning editions, major newspapers carried a full-page advertisement in which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife call for people to switch to compact fluorescent lights.It is a matter of course to raise the public's awareness about the need to prevent global warming through this type of advertisement.In addition, why won't the government study the possibility of introducing a system to ease the financial burden that people will have to shoulder in purchasing energy-saving products, even if only slightly? If demand increases, prices will drop due to mass production, accelerating the spread of the use of energy-saving products.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	548	2007-06-06	YOSHIN0020070606e366000g4
YOMSHI0020070607e36700002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070607e36700002	EN	\N	Comsn deserves licensing suspension	More than 1,600 facilities out of about 2,000 operated by the company, better known as Comsn, will not be able to operate after their six-year operating licenses expire. Licenses will not be renewed until the end of 2011, virtually expelling the company from the nursing care business. This might seem harsh, but we think it is appropriate considering what is at stake.	4	2007-06-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Comsn's alleged irregularities came to light first in Tokyo, followed by in Aomori, Gunma, Okayama and Hyogo prefectures. The company used devious tactics such as falsely claiming a new facility to provide nursing care and other services had a regular nursing care worker.As if that was not enough, when prefectural governments were about to revoke the designations for the facilities implicated in the misconduct, the company filed an application to close them in a bid to avoid incurring penalties. If such misconduct is allowed, the very foundation of the nursing care insurance system will be shaken. As such, the ministry had good reason to take the steps it did.Responsibility lackingComsn's actions have shown that the company lacks responsibility as a leading nursing care firm and was prepared to flout the law. It is no great stretch of the imagination to consider the company might have obtained nursing care benefits through other underhanded means.The revised Nursing Care Insurance Law, which came into force in 2006, states that an enterprise that breaks the law will not be able to renew the licenses for any of its other offices. The punishment handed down to Comsn is the first time the ministry has enforced the "guilty by association" provision.The measure follows the letter of the law, but its enforcement will greatly affect the 65,000 or so people who rely on Comsn for nursing care. Most of these people will have to find alternative care before the operating licenses expire. They must not end up as the biggest losers in this mess.Ministry must do moreComsn and its parent company Goodwill Group Inc. have announced they will hand over all of Comsn's business to a Goodwill subsidiary. The companies said this was necessary to maintain the services to its users and to secure the employment of Comsn's workers. However, this simply appears to be an attempt to keep the business within the group.The ministry should consider whether such a practice, which takes advantage of a loophole in the law, should be allowed in a business that serves the public welfare. Comsn's misdeeds provide a prime opportunity for a sweeping revision of the government's basic stance on this matter.Nursing care insurance was launched to entice into the market nursing care companies seeking to make a profit and to ensure a steady supply of service providers. However, the government appears to have put quantity before quality and its supervision of the industry has been lax.Nursing care insurance payouts combined with the amount shouldered by individuals are expected to reach \\7.4 trillion this fiscal year, and to keep growing. Severe punishments must be dished out to those who cheat the system, and the system as a whole needs to be regularly checked to prevent malicious companies from abusing it.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	586	2007-06-07	YOSHIN0020070607e367000f2
YOMSHI0020070608e36800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070608e36800001	EN	\N	Closer ties with Australia will aid U.S. alliance, Asia	The foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Australia met in Tokyo on Wednesday at the first so-called two-plus-two meeting between the countries.	4	2007-06-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The inaugural Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Consultations was held based on the Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation signed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Australian counterpart, John Howard, in March. Australia is the second country with which Japan has held two-plus-two talks, following in the footsteps of such a meeting with the United States. The latest Japan-Australia talks have catapulted the bilateral relationship into a new phase.During the talks, both countries agreed to tackle such "common issues" as North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan.Over the weekend, the defense ministers of Japan, Australia and the United States met in Singapore for their first trilateral talks, and agreed to strengthen tripartite security cooperation.Japan and Australia are crucial U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region. The establishment of a "quasi alliance" between Japan and Australia will reinforce the bonds connecting the three countries, and help strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and the stability of Asia. It also will widen the scope of Japan's diplomacy.Keep an eye on ChinaIn the Japan-Australia talks, the two sides agreed to urge China--which is stampeding along the road to becoming a superpower--to play a constructive role in the international community and to enhance the transparency of its military buildup. In this regard, Japan, Australia and the United States must work closely together.The ministers also agreed the Self-Defense Forces would participate in a joint Australia-U.S. military exercise to be held in late June and on an Australia- and Indonesia-led simulation exercise for disaster relief operations in Southeast Asia during the first half of next year.The SDF and the Australian military forces have a good track record of cooperating on various activities, including U.N. peacekeeping activities in Cambodia and East Timor, as well as disaster relief efforts after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. More recently, Australia readily took over the security duties for the SDF's reconstruction assistance activities in Iraq after Dutch forces withdrew.A reliable partnerInternational peacekeeping activities have been upgraded to a core SDF mission. The Australian military forces have significant overseas experiences under their belts and are a reliable partner of the SDF."Australia is Japan's senior when it comes to overseas activities," Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma said. Cooperation between the SDF and Australian military forces will become even more important in the coming years.Tokyo and Canberra have a number of issues on which they must work together, such as fighting international terrorism, preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and securing the safety of sea lanes in Southeast Asia.Japan and Australia should keep working on exchanging information and conducting joint activities on such issues. Doing so will enable them to put their new security relationship on a firm, sustainable footing.With the Japan-Australia-U.S. trilateral framework as a stepping stone, Japan should strive to widen cooperative relations with other countries.This summer, Abe will visit India, a country that the prime minister is committed to improving relations with. His visit will be a golden opportunity to get India involved in this framework.Also at the top of the government's to-do list is rebuilding cordial relations with South Korea. Japan's diplomatic relations with South Korea have been restrained under President Roh Moo-hyun, even though Seoul is an ally of Washington--like Japan and Australia.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2007-06-08	YOSHIN0020070608e368000fr
YOMSHI0020070609e36900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070609e36900001	EN	\N	How will the G-8's new eco-plan unfold?	This agreement has created an environment in which the nations of the world can work together to battle climate change.	4	2007-06-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, which calls for lowering the amount of greenhouse gases during the commitment period of 2008 to 2012 is not in itself enough to curb global warming. One major reason is that the United States, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gas, did not ratify the treaty. It is therefore significant that the United States has agreed to consider a framework for a post-Kyoto Protocol.All major emitters of greenhouse gases will be involved in setting up a new plan to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 2009, according to the agreement. China and India, which are not obliged to reduce their gas emissions because they are categorized as developing countries, would also be encouraged to participate in the framework.Where to begin?At the summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, the leaders of the major economies did not make clear the year on which the target emission cuts will be based.The European Union has been pushing for emissions to be cut to half of the 1990 level. It would be difficult to curb emissions from that level as global emissions at the time were less than they are currently.The United States, meanwhile, refused to set a numerical target at the summit.Falling between the U.S. proposal and that of the EU, Japan's scheme to halve gas emissions from the current level proved popular among EU leaders during their meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to the summit.The Japanese proposal was used as the basis for discussion, and has been credited as a diplomatic achievement by Abe.This summit was characterized by the G-8 leaders avoiding in-depth discussions on issues with which they disagree and agreeing only on points on which they could work together. It was inevitable that the world leaders would not touch on emission reduction targets as they wanted China and the United States to join in.The framework for the post-Kyoto Protocol will continue to be discussed, particularly at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia, in December.Accord step in right directionMajor greenhouse gas emitting countries must participate in measures against global warming, for they will not be successful on their own. For this reason, the agreement between the leaders of the eight member nations is significant in that it is a plan that can be discussed under the framework of the United Nations.Of course, many hurdles remain: Will each country have individual reduction targets as in the Kyoto Protocol? How should China and India be handled under the plan?The coming meetings should be used to compile an effective framework.Certainly global warming will be on the agenda at next year's G-8 meet at Lake Toya in Toyakocho, Hokkaido. As the host country, we must fulfill our responsibilities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	553	2007-06-09	YOSHIN0020070609e369000gw
YOMSHI0020070611e36a00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070611e36a00002	EN	\N	Turn the birthrate rise into a lasting recovery	According to the demographics for 2006, the total fertility rate--the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime--rose 0.06 percentage point to 1.32 in 2006.	4	2007-06-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 2000, the year of the last year-on-year increase, the rate rose 0.02 point, due in large part to the start of the new millennium, which apparently inspired couples to procreate.However, the birthrate continued its fall, reaching as low as 1.26 in 2005. The figure in 2006 should be noted not only for being the first rebound in many years, but also a marked increase.Last year, 730,000 couples got married, an increase of nearly 20,000 couples over the previous year, while the number of newborns totaled 1.09 million, up 30,000 from the previous year.It is indeed a happy development that many new families and new lives have been created.Yet we cannot rejoice as there are strong doubts whether the birthrate will continue to rise in the years ahead.Economic woes lessenAnalysts believe this latest rise stems chiefly from the economic recovery.The unemployment rate has dropped with the improvement of employment situation, and therefore so are the economic concerns that cause couples to think twice about getting married or having a child. Yet ups and downs are a natural part of the economy, and prosperity will not last forever.Making matters uncertain is the fact that those who were born during the second baby boom (1971-1974) have reached their mid-30s, meaning the number of women in their reproductive prime will fall sharply in the coming years.The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research has released a long-term population projection that shows the birthrate hovering at the 1.2 level for much of the next 50 years, while the total population continues to shrink.How can we avoid this fate?To do so, we should create a society where people can get married and have children without any worries or without being affected by economic situations.We hope we can increase the number of young parents and create a society in which future generations are instilled with a longing for betrothal and parenthood.Lesson from FranceFrance has succeeded in reversing its own declining birthrate, with the fertility rate recovering to the 2.0 mark.While social conditions in France differ from those in Japan in many aspects, France has succeeded in bucking the trend by coordinating everything--from taxes to employment--in a way that helps people balance child-raising and career. Of course, this sort of achievement cannot be possible without huge fiscal spending.The government has established a panel to study key strategies to support children and families through comprehensive measures to deal with the declining birthrate. Because the House of Councillors election is approaching, however, the government and ruling parties have not gone so far as to discuss the issue of how to raise necessary fiscal appropriations.The panel has been thorough in its detailed discussion of proposals. Now these measures must be prioritized and action must be taken to put them in motion.We hope this latest rise in the fertility rate will develop into a lasting recovery.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 10, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2007-06-10	YOSHIN0020070611e36a000a4
YOMSHI0020070612e36c00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070612e36c00006	EN	\N	More research vital for reducing suicide rate	Why do so many Japanese resort to suicide? To devise and implement appropriate measures to prevent people from ending their own lives, the causes, motives and backgrounds must first be exhaustively examined.	4	2007-06-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the enforcement of the basic law regarding antisuicide measures in October, the government recently compiled suicide prevention guidelines that include a target of reducing the suicide rate (the number of suicide per 100,000 people) by more than 20 percent by 2016. We think the government should create a support system in which local municipalities, schools, companies, medical institutions and private organizations work together to rid society of this epidemic.Of the people who committed suicide last year, 6,969 did so due to financial difficulties, including slumping business and daily hardship. This figure represents a drop of 10 percent from the previous year, a trend partly helped by the ongoing economic expansion--the longest after World War II.However, 1,919 people committed suicide due to work-related issues such as failures on the job and frictions with bosses or colleagues. This was the highest figure for this category since the NPA began recording statistics in 1978.Work stress on riseAccording to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, a record high 205 people were acknowledged in fiscal 2006 as being eligible to receive workers compensation due to suffering mental disorders brought on by job stress.Despite recent brisk performances in the corporate sector, the number of people who feel stressed at the workplace and with their jobs appears to be increasing. Ensuring employees are of sound health, both physically and mentally, is a task corporate society must not brush under the carpet.The NPA statistics indicated the number of suicides increased in proportion to age. As before, the largest proportion of suicides were motivated by health problems. Also, the number of suicides by middle-aged people stayed stubbornly high.Most disturbing was the 886 students and pupils who committed suicide last year, a record high. Fourteen primary school pupils committed suicide in 2006, up seven from the previous year, and 81 middle school students took their own lives, an increase from 66.According to the NPA statistics, the number of suicides committed out of angst or stress over poor academic performances, entrance examination failures and squabbles with other students has been increasing. What drove these youngsters at primary and middle school to bring their lives to a premature end?No single answerThe suicide prevention guidelines define suicide as a death that results after a person has been driven into a corner psychologically due to a complex combination of various conditions, such as social factors. The guidelines spell out different approaches tailored for juvenile, middle-aged and elderly people.In recent years, suicides committed by people who had been bullied, had been worn down caring for bedridden or unwell relatives, or to get insurance money to repay multiple debts have made headlines. The background surrounding each suicide case differs from one person to the next, including the situation at school or at home.The basic law regarding suicide prevention measures states that collecting, analyzing and providing information on this issue is essential. The NPA plans to further examine the circumstances and motives that push people to commit suicide in a bid to grasp the overall background behind these deaths.Accurately understanding the wide range of mental, societal, economic and other factors that led to suicides will help the government form detailed, effective measures that will help stop people from taking their own lives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2007-06-12	YOSHIN0020070613e36c000f3
YOMSHI0020070613e36d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070613e36d00001	EN	\N	Proceed carefully on civil service reform	The bills center on the creation of a so-called new human resources bank under the Cabinet Office that will oversee the recruiting of retiring senior bureaucrats by related organizations and companies.	4	2007-06-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Why is the prime minister showing such strong enthusiasm for the bills?Abe says that arranging for the reemployment of retiring officials by individual ministries and agencies, a practice called amakudari, is a hotbed of bid-rigging at the initiative of former or incumbent government officials, and as the eradication of amakudari is strongly sought by the public, he wants the bills to be passed into law in the current Diet session.The Japan Green Resources Agency had secured plum jobs for retiring officials at companies that won agency contracts through tender bids rigged at the initiative of former government officials. Successive Social Insurance Agency directors general hopped from executive posts at one related organization or company after another, reaping huge financial rewards. Abe may have these problems in mind.Due to a string of such problems, voters' distrust of public servants and criticism of amakudari have been increasing. There are indications Abe hopes to use such sentiments to his party's advantage in the House of Councillors election set for July by publicly bashing the bureaucracy. Such a move smacks of populism.Total overhaulThe true aim of any sweeping reform of the public servant system must be to establish a system to map out necessary policies for managing the state, improving society and easing the provision of administrative services. The problem of amakudari is important, but from a wider perspective, it is only part of the reforms the government is pursuing.Of course, it is unforgivable for government officials to cause a scandal and ignore the errors made in managing pension records while lining their own pockets. It is natural for those responsible to be severely punished.It is undeniable that the efforts by individual ministries and agencies to secure cushy jobs for retiring officials have built loyalty to ministries and agencies among bureaucrats, which has led to the government's vertical administrative structure in which a lack of coordination among ministries and agencies hampers implementation of government policies.The elimination of the adverse effects of amakudari is a significant challenge, but what is needed most for that purpose is to review the current system of encouraging officials to take early retirement after reaching a certain age.Rising to the topGovernment officials who pass the first-class civil servant examinations rise to executive posts in ministries and agencies. But after age 50, those who fail to make the final leap to administrative vice minister in each ministry and agency are encouraged to retire early and take jobs at related organizations and companies through amakudari.One way of changing this system would be to create new posts for specialists in which they can make use of their expertise and experience even if they cannot become administrative vice minister or bureau chief. It also is necessary to extend their career.Concerning these problems, the government intends to introduce related bills to an ordinary Diet session next year. The amakudari issue should be considered as part of the total package. Singling out the human resources bank as a point of contention and making it a high priority seems to postpone the drastic solution.The bills are being discussed in the upper house Cabinet Committee, but the clock is running out for the current Diet session. There remain other important bills, such as three related bills for education reform and those for SIA reform.Therefore, the government should not consider forcing passage of the bills to reform the public servant system in the current Diet session. It also is time for the government to reconsider the bills.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2007-06-13	YOSHIN0020070613e36d001bd
YOMSHI0020070614e36e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070614e36e00001	EN	\N	Chongryon HQ deal an outrageous act	The headquarters in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) as well as the land the building stands on were sold to the investment advisory company run by the former agency director general.	4	2007-06-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The agency is a government organ responsible for investigating potentially subversive groups under the Antisubversive Activities Law. The list of such organizations includes Chongryon.It should be noted that the investment advisory firm is headed by a figure who once led an organization charged with keeping watch on potentially subversive activities, including those conducted by Chongryon. During his service at the agency, he also headed its Second Intelligence Department, a section responsible for dealing with issues related to Chongryon and North Korea.He now practices law. However, his involvement in the purchase of Chongryon's building and land by his company should not be dismissed simply as an act conducted by a private person.During a press conference Wednesday, the former agency director general explained a \\3.5 billion fund had been established at the request of Chongryon to buy its property, saying, "I hope Chongryon will buy back [the property] in five years."Chongryon has said it will continue to use the building although the transaction was made late last month. However, Chongryon's decision to sell its property must be deemed extremely questionable under the circumstances.Financial shenanigansSince the late 1990s, all 16 credit cooperatives serving pro-Pyongyang Korean residents have collapsed. These cooperatives extended loans to Chongryon, using fictitious names and through other means.This incurred irrecoverable loans totaling about \\62.8 billion. The state-backed Resolution and Collection Corporation (RCC) filed suit against Chongryon, demanding it repay the loans.On Monday, the Tokyo District Court will rule on the case.In recent years, the RCC has taken legal action against former officials of the credit cooperatives, including the filing of criminal complaints and claims for damages. The trials in these cases have shown that Chongryon had long used the credit cooperatives for its own benefits. The major culprit behind the failure of the cooperatives was their alleged illegal loans to Chongryon.It should also be noted that more than \\1 trillion in taxpayers' money has been injected into the credit cooperatives, ostensibly to protect the interests of depositors. Given this, the RCC has every reason to desperately try to recover the loans.Circumventing court, RCCDid Chongryon sell its building and land, knowing the court would rule against it Monday? If so, the association's decision must be regarded as malicious.Questions persist as to whether the transaction in question was aimed at getting around expected court orders for the organization to evacuate its facilities and auction off its property.The former Public Security Intelligence Agency official defended his involvement in the deal, saying, "I did so to defend the interests of [pro-Pyongyang] Korean residents, taking note of the fact that they are carrying out activities at [Chongryon's] headquarters. I do not intend to benefit North Korea."However, we feel his action served to aid Chongryon.In 1994, he answered questions from lawmakers concerning Chongryon at a Diet session. He said, "[Chongryon] believes in [then North Korean leader] Kim Il Sung's teachings as the one and only and absolute. Kim Jong Il's doctrine is its guiding principle for activities." He also told the Diet that about 5,000 pro-Pyongyang residents were engaged in covert activities in this country.Questions must be raised about whether his testimony before the Diet does not conflict with his involvement in the real estate transaction.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2007-06-14	YOSHIN0020070614e36e000f8
YOMSHI0020070615e36f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070615e36f00001	EN	\N	Yodo hijackers' wives blamed for abductions	The Metropolitan Police Department obtained arrest warrants for two women wanted in connection with the 1980 abductions of Toru Ishioka, who was traveling in Spain, and Kaoru Matsuki, who was studying Spanish there. Both women were married to members of the group of radicals who hijacked the  Japan Airlines airliner "Yodo" in 1970.	4	2007-06-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The warrants are for the arrest of Yoriko Mori and Sakiko Wakabayashi, both of whom reside in North Korea, on suspicion of abducting the two men with the intention of forcing them into marriage.The nine Yodo hijackers defected to North Korea and are believed to have participated in North Korea's state crimes and other illegal operations.Their involvement must be thoroughly investigated.The two women approached Ishioka and Matsuki in Spain and asked them to accompany them to Vienna, where the two men were apparently abducted. At the time, North Korea used Vienna as a base for its activities against the West, and there were many North Korean spies engaged in secret operations in the region.An arrest warrant also has been issued for Kimihiro Uomoto, another Yodo hijacker who has been implicated in the 1983 abduction of Keiko Arimoto, who was studying in Britain at the time. One of the hijackers' wives apparently approached Arimoto and lured her to her abductors.For the good of the country?In the late 1970s, the late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung was reported to have told the hijackers to "continue the revolution by giving birth to the next generation."That meant they should get married and have children so that, one day, the children could start a revolution in Japan. For that purpose, the hijackers targeted young Japanese men and women.The idea is incredible and ridiculous, and what they did was extremely cruel. Their wives were mobilized in their stead.Pyongyang told Tokyo that Ishioka and Arimoto had married and had a child but the whole family died in 1988 from gas poisoning caused by a coal heater. North Korea said Matsuki died in a traffic accident in 1996.Such North Korean accounts have no credibility. The government should continue to press North Korea to reveal the truth about Ishioka, Matsuki and Arimoto, as well as other abductees who have yet to return home.Hijackers used as collateralIt is believed that arrests and deaths have whittled the number of Yodo hijackers in North Korea down to only four. Their wives have returned to Japan one by one, and only Mori and Wakabayashi still live in that country.Those remaining in North Korea have asked the government to allow them to return to Japan without being subject to criminal charges. Such a self-centered argument should not be accepted.North Korea is on the U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring states. One apparent reason for this designation is that the regime continues to shelter the Yodo hijackers.For Pyongyang, the Yodo hijackers are a bargaining chip for Washington to remove North Korea from the list.In six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear development in February, the United States said explicitly that Washington would start the process of delisting North Korea as a terrorist state. From Japan's point of view, this will not be acceptable until the abduction issue is resolved.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2007-06-15	YOSHIN0020070615e36f000fd
YOMSHI0020070616e36g00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070616e36g00002	EN	\N	N. Korean N-program still a threat to Japan	On Thursday, the funds in question were transferred from Banco Delta Asia SARL (BDA) to a Russian bank where North Korea holds accounts, through the  New York Federal Reserve Bank and Russia's central bank. If Pyongyang ascertains the funds have been received into the North Korean accounts, it will signify an end to the procedures for the latest money transfer.	4	2007-06-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In September 2005, the United States designated the BDA as an institution subject to U.S. sanctions under the Patriot Act, which provides tools for intercepting terrorism, saying the bank had played a role in North Korea's money-laundering and other financial irregularities. This action barred U.S. financial institutions from conducting transactions with the Macao-based bank.As a result, the return of the funds in question can be regarded as a supralegal action. The latest move also means the money was allowed to be transferred to a third country. We feel the action was hardly a satisfactory settlement of the controversy.North Korea insisted the return of the funds be a prerequisite for implementing the accord reached in the six-way negotiations. The decision made by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush to make concessions to Pyongyang can be seen as an attempt to prevent a collapse of the six-nation talks.N. Korea must keep its wordThe question is what should be done to get North Korea to carry out specific steps toward scrapping its nuclear weapons program.Four months have passed since participants in the six-party talks reached an agreement aimed at halting Pyongyang's nuclear weapons development. The deadline set for the start of the implementation of the initial-stage steps passed two months ago. North Korea should no longer be allowed to shirk fulfilling its obligation in this respect.It will not be a difficult task for North Korea to carry out the initial-phase steps. All it has to do is halt operations at its aging nuclear facilities and accept inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Doing so will earn it 50,000 tons of fuel oil in return. North Korea will also receive 400,000 tons of rice from South Korea.It should be noted, however, that North Korea would be able to resume plutonium production anytime if it does nothing more than to freeze its nuclear facilities. It could also threaten to end its nuclear freeze.With this in mind, it is essential to get North Korea to implement steps that follow the initial-phase ones as early as possible. Pyongyang has promised to "completely declare all nuclear programs" and "disable all existing nuclear facilities."N-arms Kim's trump cardHowever, it remains unclear whether the programs in question include a uranium enrichment program. Another question is how to define "disablement" of existing nuclear facilities. Crucial questions concerning North Korea's denuclearization--including the scrapping of its nuclear weapons and plutonium programs--have yet to be resolved in future six-party negotiations.It is almost impossible to become optimistic about whether North Korea and other participants in the six-way talks will be able to reach an agreement on how to scrap that country's nuclear weapons program.We cannot expect North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to readily give up his country's nuclear weapons, which he regards as the trump card for keeping his regime in place. Therefore, North Korea's nuclear weapons remain a serious threat to Japan's peace and security.U.N. sanctions aimed at banning transactions that could aid North Korea in building weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles are still in place. The international community must not let down its guard on North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	680	2007-06-16	YOSHIN0020070616e36g000ga
YOMSHI0020070617e36h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070617e36h00001	EN	\N	Social security ID plan merits discussion	This is one reason why Japanese people harbor an acute sense of distrust in and dissatisfaction toward the social security system.	4	2007-06-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced a policy of promptly introducing a system to assign a single social security number to each person in the nation, enabling records of their premium payments and benefits under the pension, medical and nursing care insurances programs to be put under one umbrella.It is true that people in those generations that are still healthy and many years away from receiving pensions are not receiving much in the way of "benefits" from the social security system. This factor is contributing to the low rate of collection of pension and health insurance premiums.We believe the introduction of a social security identity number system merits consideration, given that the nation needs to change the current troubling situation for the better and foster trust in the social security system.The proposed social security ID numbering system would make available information regarding the total a person has paid in premiums into each social security plan, and how much benefits he or she has received in payments for medical and other welfare services from public funds. It would be able to tell how much pension he or she is entitled to receive in the future.Personal data must be protectedAs things stand, many people have the impression that they are simply shelling out premiums month after month and shouldering high medical fees. If we were properly provided with information on the payments we made and benefits we received and can expect to receive, it would certainly deepen our trust in the social security system.There is another merit to the unified ID system. Paperwork on marriage and job changes would be registered across the board in the pension, medical insurance and other social security plans, resulting in the simplification of workloads at related offices and thereby leaving little room for errors to occur in paying pensions.The government has long been considering the introduction of a social security ID numbering system, but moves toward the introduction of such a system have been stalled because of the reluctance by a large number of people to have their records collated in view of the necessity of protecting personal information. Needless to say, proper measures must be put in place to safeguard such data.Blunders in keeping pension premium payment records--which prompted Abe to announce his plan for introducing the social security ID numbering system--were caused primarily by defects in the structure and nature of the Social Insurance Agency. A panel established at the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry will take on the task of pinpointing the causes of the errors as well as identifying where the responsibility for the fiasco lies.Fiasco could have been avoidedWe also cannot overlook the fact that the basic pension number system currently in place was established in a haphazard manner.The system was introduced in 1997 by a ministerial ordinance, not by law. In addition, as the number is applied only to the pension system, many people ignored the numbering system until they became close to the age eligible for pension benefits.If the government had introduced a comprehensive social security ID numbering system, pension records would have swiftly been integrated with those on medical, nursing care and unemployment insurance, and the chaos we are seeing today could perhaps have been avoided.New Komeito has proposed an advanced version of the basic pension numbering system, tentatively called the "comprehensive social security account" system. The Democratic Party of Japan has also urged the introduction of a "pension passbook" and taxpayers numbering system. Their stances are similar to that of Abe.To eliminate distrust in the social security system, the ruling and opposition parties should start earnest discussions on the introduction of a social security ID numbering system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2007-06-17	YOSHIN0020070617e36h000a7
YOMSHI0020070617e36i0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070617e36i0000f	EN	\N	Govt support for small firms needs fine-tuning	In its "Basic Policy for 2007" to be adopted soon, the government is expected to propose the creation of what it tentatively calls the "local economy revitalization corporation." The government plans to have the new organization up and running in April.	4	2007-06-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The economic recovery has helped many major companies improve their business performance. The bullish economy also has enabled major banks to almost complete the disposal of nonperforming loans.However, the recovery has been less tangible in regional areas, with many small and midsized companies still struggling to regain a solid footing. Nonperforming loans still plague many financial institutions in these regions.In light of this, the government decided to create a new organization to support such companies. The new entity is modeled on the Industrial Revitalization Corporation (IRC), which was disbanded in March, one year earlier than originally scheduled, after bailing out financially troubled major companies such as Daiei Inc. and Kanebo Ltd.Shades of the IRCThe outline of the new entity being considered is similar to that of the Industrial Revitalization Corporation. The government envisages the 50 billion yen capital needed for the new entity, which is expected to operate for five years, will be put up by such organizations as the Deposit Insurance Corporation.The new body will be manned by former IRC staff and private-sector experts. The government plans to have the new entity extend support to midranking businesses with annual sales of more than 2 billion yen, through debt-factoring and financing. It also will support semipublic joint venture companies financed by local governments.Having a public-purpose organization extend support to local businesses will untangle their often-complicated business interests and help accelerate the disposal of nonperforming loans. Accordingly, we think this organization could be effective in revitalizing local economies.Yet a similar body--the conference to revitalize and support small businesses--is already in place. The conference is supported by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry. The institutional setups of these two bodies must be coordinated to ensure their functions do not overlap.The conference for small businesses started operating in February 2003, just before the Industrial Revitalization Corporation opened its doors. The conference has a base in every prefecture, with licensed tax accountants, business consultants and other experts offering advice to small businesses trying to restructure themselves to stay afloat.Entities must be in tuneThe conference coordinates ideas with financing banks and maps out revitalization plans, including debt forgiveness, for businesses in need of urgent help. In the past four years, the conference oversaw 1,800 revitalization plans, helping nearly 90,000 people across the nation keep their jobs.The conference often asks corporate revival funds established by such entities as local financial institutions to assist floundering businesses through financing or debt-factoring. The conference performs, in effect, the same functions as the entity envisaged by the government.Some observers are calling for the two entities to be integrated, with the new entity serving as the central organization and conferences in prefectures functioning as "branches." It would be useful for these branches to offer functions such as debt-factoring.Should these organizations act independently of each other, they would end up scrambling for business and perhaps fall into the trap of being too generous in extending support.The bottom line is the government must create an organization in which specialists with expert knowledge of local situations can apply their skills to serve as many businesses as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2007-06-18	YOSHIN0020070618e36i000bf
YOMSHI0020070619e36j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070619e36j00001	EN	\N	Court ruling will pile pressure on Chongryon	In addition, the court issued a provisional execution order that allows the RCC to seize Chongryon properties, even before the ruling is finalized.	4	2007-06-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This ruling was the result of a relentless pursuit of the responsibility of Chongryon, which has constantly operated in an arbitrary manner over the years under the instruction of North Korea.Observers said that Chongryon has insufficient creditworthiness. Consequently, Chongryon's property, including its headquarters building in Tokyo, might be seized and put on the auction block.More than 1.14 trillion yen of public funds was injected into the now-defunct North Korea-linked Chogin Tokyo credit association and other credit associations. The RCC should treat this case the same as any ordinary debt collection case and go about collecting the money with a minimum of fuss. That will help alleviate the financial burden shouldered by the public.Funds that flowed from the defunct 16 Chogin credit associations serving pro-Pyongyang Korean residents in Japan to Chongryon ended up as bad loans.Since the years soon after World War II, Chongryon has collected money--sometimes forcibly--from the credit associations, including by allocating contribution payments. This was one major cause of the Chogin credit associations going belly-up.We wonder how this massive amount of money that made its way to Chongryon was used. The suspicion that some of the money might have been illegally transferred to North Korea was even debated in the Diet.Shady real estate dealAnother can of worms was opened in the days before the ruling was handed down, with revelations that the ownership of the land and building of Chongryon's headquarters in Tokyo was transferred to an investment advisory company headed by a former head of the Public Security Intelligence Agency. More eyebrows were raised over the fact that a former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations serves as a representative of Chongryon.The ownership was transferred without any monetary transaction. The two parties agreed Chongryon would buy back the land and building five years later. The investment advisory firm headed by the former Public Security Intelligence Agency chief turned out to be a dummy company.The parties initiated procedures to cancel the entry in the property register transferring the Chongryon real estate to the firm because the investment company could not raise the required 3.5 billion yen. However, suspicions over the veracity of the deal persist. We find it incredible that people connected to the transaction admitted the deal was an attempt to prevent the seizure of the property.Uncover the truthThe Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation squad is investigating whether a bogus registration was made in an attempt to sidestep the compulsory execution procedures, such as seizure of assets, on suspicion of recording falsehoods in an official electronic document.We hope investigators will leave no stone unturned as they uncover the truth behind this matter, and pinpoint who was the brains behind this scheme.Observers point out that Chongryon has been losing its clout as many members drift away from the organization, leading to declining revenue from patronage contributions and membership fees.Compounding Chongryon's woes, an increasing number of local municipalities have reexamined their tax reduction on exemption measures for fixed assets and other taxes on Chongryon's facilities, and decided to slap taxes on the pro-Pyongyang organization. Several Chongryon-related facilities have been seized after debt repayments or tax payments could not be made.The North Korean regime has admitted its agents abducted Japanese in the past, and Pyongyang brazenly tested a nuclear device last year and often test-fired missiles. Some people with ties to Chongryon are said to have had a hand in various crimes committed by North Korea.Public scrutiny of Chongryon likely will only get harsher with Monday's ruling.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2007-06-19	YOSHIN0020070620e36j0008v
YOMSHI0020070620e36k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070620e36k00001	EN	\N	Economic guideline must be fleshed out	The economic guideline for 2007 was endorsed by the Cabinet on Tuesday. The official name was changed from "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform" to "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Reform" with the aim of making it easier for the public to understand and remember the guideline.As pointed out since the draft stage, the policies included in the guideline are intended to please everyone. We can hardly see how the government will prioritize and realize them to change the structure of the country's economy and enable the nation to maintain its vitality even with the falling population.	4	2007-06-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The policies in the guideline leave much to be discussed in more detail.Foremost is the expenditure-revenue reform plan. The government said it would cut expenditures over five years as promised in its 2006 guideline. But to achieve that end, it is necessary to lay out the details of systemic reforms in several fields, including public works projects and social security.Restoring financial healthConcerning efforts to put the nation's finances on a healthy footing, the government should hurriedly lay out the entire blueprint, fully discussing tax system reform and setting a new goal for fiscal reconstruction. Discussion on the tax system will start in autumn.With the economic recovery and resultant increase in tax revenue, there has been mounting pressure from the ruling parties to increase expenditures. Abe is urged to display his leadership in this regard.The economic policy guideline for 2007 specifies that the government should strengthen its efforts in pursuit of economic partnership agreements to reap the full benefits of economic globalization. But concerning negotiations with the United States and the European Union, which both trade with Japan in massive volumes and are important strategically for Japan, the guideline only mentions that the government will discuss it as a future issue.Role of public opinionThis is because the government considered the strong public concern about the influence of liberalizing the agricultural products market on domestic agriculture. The government should promptly discuss ways to strengthen Japan's farm sector. It is important to map out strategies for EPAs while taking into account the ongoing Doha Round of global trade talks under the auspices of the World Trade Organization.It is difficult to design institutional arrangements to realize some policies in the guideline, such as the creation of a regional industrial revitalization corporation and the introduction of a new tax system under which a portion of each residence tax payment will be transferred to the municipality where the taxpayer was born.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe included in the guideline reports from various expert panels started at his initiative, such as the Council for Asian Gateway Initiative and the Education Rebuilding Council. Detailed measures to deal with the pension record-keeping fiasco, which has drawn increasing public criticism, also were included in the guideline.But the guideline does not get to the nub of the problem of expenditure cuts. This may be because the next House of Councillors election is drawing near. It is the first such basic guideline on economic and fiscal reform under Prime Minister Abe. The prime minister should more clearly present the goals of his reforms and the mechanisms by which he intends to achieve them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2007-06-20	YOSHIN0020070620e36k00154
YOMSHI0020070621e36l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070621e36l00001	EN	\N	Revised education laws must be given substance	The three laws incorporate various reform measures, including the adoption of a system of renewable licenses for teachers. Other measures include the creation of the positions of school vice principal and chief teacher.	4	2007-06-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The revised Educational Personnel Certification Law will fundamentally change the teaching qualification system. The current system grants a teacher's license of unlimited duration to anyone who has obtained the required credits in a college or university teacher-training course. However, the revised law requires teachers to renew their licenses every 10 years, starting in fiscal 2009, attending a 30-hour course of lectures to do so.The question is what kinds of programs will be organized for those renewing their licenses? The new system will do little to improve the status quo if the lectures for teachers seeking to renew their licenses are not very different from the current programs attended by those who have taught for 10 years.The new system stipulates teachers seeking to renew their licenses must attend a course of lectures at teachers colleges. These colleges also will assess the performance and aptitude of the teachers attending such programs. This must be complemented by efforts by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry to establish clearly defined guidelines for determining whether individual teachers' licenses should be renewed.Initially, the introduction of the license renewal system was studied as a measure to remove unqualified teachers from the classroom. However, the Central Council for Education, a key government advisory panel on educational issues, proposed the system also be used to periodically renew the knowledge and skills of teachers. The proposal has been incorporated into the revised Educational Personnel Certification Law.Weeding out bad teachersThe revised Law for Exception on Educational Civil Servants seeks to properly deal with teachers unfit to teach. The legislation clearly states that such teachers are required to attend programs aimed at improving their skills. The law also stipulates that teachers be discharged from their duties if they have made no improvement in this respect. We hope every local board of education will strictly apply the new rules set down in the law.The revised School Education Law enables each school to appoint a vice principal, a chief teacher and a guidance teacher. The vice principal's role falls halfway between the duties of the principal and the assistant principal. The chief teacher will be responsible for bringing together his or her colleagues. The guidance teacher will be better paid and charged with setting a good example for other teachers.We hope the revised law will improve the ability of each school to keep itself running smoothly while also increasing the motivation of each teacher.Recruitment vitalHowever, these legislative changes must be accompanied by efforts to ensure teachers assigned to the newly created positions do not have to assume extremely heavy burdens in performing their duties. This is important as it is difficult to increase the number of teachers under the current circumstances. It is also a pressing task for the Education, Science and Technology Ministry to reform the teacher's wage system in a manner that will properly reward individual teachers for their abilities and performance.The legislative changes are expected to expedite efforts to revise the ministry's current teaching guidelines. There are numerous tasks to be tackled in achieving the goal, including discussions on the pros and cons of a proposal to make English a required subject in primary school. Another task is to study specific ways to increase the number of school hours by 10 percent, a proposal advanced by the Education Rebuilding Council.The revised Local Education Administration Law authorizes the education, science and technology minister to issue instructions and demand corrective measures if local boards of education are found to have violated relevant statutes and flagrantly neglected their duties, such as by failing to take action against schools that have not taught required subjects.The latest legislative changes have drawn fire from critics who insist the revised laws will serve to increase government control of the education system. However, we believe the government has an obligation to correct obvious defects in the education system.The ministry should do its utmost to translate the new legislative changes into action. This also must be accompanied by fiscal measures to ensure the government's efforts to rejuvenate the education system make headway. With this in mind, it is necessary to see whether the prime minister will be able to demonstrate leadership in trying to accomplish the goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	793	2007-06-21	YOSHIN0020070621e36l000fp
YOMSHI0020070622e36m00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070622e36m00002	EN	\N	We must see Iraq mission through to end	The special law on the nation's support for Iraqi reconstruction has been extended for two years, allowing the Air Self-Defense Force to continue its transport mission, aiding in the reconstruction of the country.	4	2007-06-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There are currently more than 190,000 people from 26 countries--mostly the United States and Britain--engaged in security and humanitarian activities in Iraq. Five other countries from the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Singapore and South Korea, are also supporting the reconstruction efforts.None of these activities can be considered safe, as terrorism continues on a regular basis. Since the war began in March 2003, more than 3,500 U.S. troops have been killed. Other countries, too, have lost personnel, but they continue to provide support for the reconstruction of Iraq and stability of the Middle East.The ASDF performs its relatively safe missions using three C-130 transport planes. But when landing at airports in the war-torn country, personnel must be vigilant against surface-to-air missiles launched by militants. So far, ASDF transport missions have not been targeted.The ASDF has flown more than 500 missions over three years, transporting personnel and supplies for the international forces and the United Nations. Both the Iraqi government and the United Nations have rated the missions highly.The ASDF mission can be regarded as assistance to the United States, for which the Iraqi situation is a most pressing issue. Thus, the mission is contributing to bolstering the Japan-U.S. alliance.More than money neededThe ASDF's activities are intended to stress its contribution of human resources, while minimizing the danger to its personnel. This is the most practical option for Japan to serve the best interests of the nation.The government announced its plans to extend to Iraq $5 billion in official development assistance in autumn 2003. But only $1.5 billion in grants has been provided so far. Of the remaining $3.5 billion set aside for loans, $2.1 billion has been earmarked to finance 10 projects, none of which have begun. This is because, in addition to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, the Iraqi government is not sufficiently prepared to commence such projects.Self-Defense Forces personnel are a natural option for carrying out ODA projects too difficult or unsafe for civilian contractors.Getting out safelyWhen the House of Representatives approved the law's extension last month, it adopted a resolution calling on the government to work out an exit strategy for withdrawing the ASDF.The Ground Self-Defense Force safely withdrew from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah in July. There was a well-mapped-out exit strategy for the GSDF withdrawal--it was timed to coincide with the handover of administrative control from the multinational forces to local authorities and the withdrawal of Australian and British forces from the area.As for the ASDF, an exit strategy must be well conceived by carefully studying moves of other countries and the local situation.To restore law and order in Iraq, it is necessary to resolve sectarian religious conflicts and obtain cooperation with neighboring countries.Japan hosted a seminar in March on national reconciliation in Tokyo, with senior leaders from all of Iraq's religious sects in attendance.In May, Foreign Minister Taro Aso called for cooperation from Iran and Syria at an international conference on Iraqi stability held in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. It is important that the government also continue such diplomatic efforts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2007-06-22	YOSHIN0020070622e36m000fd
YOMSHI0020070623e36n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070623e36n00001	EN	\N	Use extended Diet session constructively	The current ordinary Diet session has been prolonged for 12 days, meaning it will close on July 5. The decision has pushed back the forthcoming House of Councillors election to July 29.	4	2007-06-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Sharp antagonism between the ruling and opposition parties in the Diet session has left discussions on various legislative bills unfinished, including a set of bills aimed at reforming the Social Insurance Agency, a special bill drawn up to abolish the statute of limitations on pension payments and another designed to revise the National Civil Service Law.The legislation for reforming the SIA will abolish and dissolve the agency while also stripping its staff of their status as government workers. This signifies an attempt to end the bureaucratic negligence and inefficiency inherent in the SIA.The bills must be written into law as soon as possible to reform the method for conducting administrative work involved in the pension system. It is easy to recognize the importance of taking on this task if one stops to think about a number of problems facing the agency. For instance, the SIA remains unsure about whether it will be able to identify more than 50 million pension payment records. This has been coupled with scandals involving SIA employees. All this has arisen partly because of the SIA's labor practices, which are unacceptable.Don't politick over pensionsThe Democratic Party of Japan has insisted on integrating the National Tax Agency with the SIA to create a "revenue agency." However, the leading opposition party's proposal should be dismissed as an attempt to keep government workers' labor unions intact. This would not fundamentally resolve the problem.The bill seeking to abolish the statute of limitations on pension payments is aimed at helping determine to whom the pension premium payment records in question belong. This is essential if subscribers to the pension plan are to receive proper benefits on the basis of the pension premium records. Given the importance of these tasks, the bill needs to be adopted as soon as possible.The DPJ and other opposition parties are striving to confront the government and the ruling parties in the runup to the upper house election, by singling out the SIA problem as the main focus of the election. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is apparently trying to take advantage of the extended Diet session in an effort to turn the tide against his administration, by passing the SIA reform bills and other legislation. In recent weeks, the approval rating for his Cabinet has nosedived.It should be noted, however, that the confusion arising from the SIA's failure to properly maintain pension records could significantly affect people's lives. The dispute should not be used as a political football by the ruling and opposition parties, however. Efforts to settle the problem require constructive discussions.In recent months, a tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition camps has focused on the dispute over the records on pension premium payments. They never bothered to debate how to reform the pension system during this time. It is no exaggeration to say that they have ignored their responsibilities as politicians.Civil service bill needs scrutinyQuestions should be raised about the bill aimed at revising the civil service law. The prime minister's decision to extend the Diet session seems to reflect his desire to adopt the bill by the close of the session.Abe has said he will work to establish a center that would play the sole role in arranging for retired senior government employees to take up positions at corporations in the private sector and elsewhere. His plan is aimed at eliminating the so-called amakudari practice.We do not feel the center will serve its purpose unless the prime minister's idea is complemented by measures to correct defects in the current bureaucratic system. For instance, it is necessary to reexamine the current practice of most senior bureaucrats at each ministry retiring from service before reaching the mandatory retirement age. It is also important to create a system in which government employees would continue to work by taking advantage of their expertise, instead of quitting before their mandatory retirement age, as circumstances stand today. Another idea would be to extend the retirement age of bureaucrats.The opposition parties are striving to ensure the bill is scrapped due to the lack of time for discussions even in the extended Diet session. They are also trying to determine when is the best time to submit a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet. All in all, the extended session likely will set the stage for an even more bitter confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties.The political parties should realize their important task is to engage in constructive debates and present their respective policies on crucial issues. They should not unnecessarily confuse the situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	843	2007-06-23	YOSHIN0020070623e36n000fs
YOMSHI0020070624e36o00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070624e36o00002	EN	\N	Japan must act to prevent collapse of Doha talks	Both are somber facts that require serious consideration.	4	2007-06-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ministerial talks among the Group of Four--the United States, European Union, India and Brazil--collapsed Thursday, days after they convened in Potsdam, Germany, with the aim of reaching an agreement before the end of the year.Since it started at the end of 2001, the Doha Round of talks has broken down many times and is still struggling to find a way out of the imbroglio.If the G-4 had reached a basic agreement during the recent talks, it could have generated the momentum needed to conclude the Doha Round on schedule.U.S. President George W. Bush's "fast-track" trade promotion powers that were granted by the U.S. Congress will expire at the end of June. A delay in reaching a broad agreement could therefore tie the hands of the United States, which will hold a presidential election next year. It is possible the United States will pull out of the talks.Situation grimThe situation makes it unlikely the talks will be concluded by the end of this year.The talks in Potsdam collapsed because the United States, EU and developing nations, represented by India and Brazil, were not willing to make compromises over cuts to farm subsidies, lower farm tariffs and lower manufacturing tariffs, respectively.Bush blamed India and Brazil for the breakdown, while developing nations were critical of the United States. But all G-4 powers should jointly be held accountable.Japan was unable to participate in the G-4 negotiations. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Norihiko Akagi earlier visited Germany to ask that Japan and Australia be included in the talks, widening the framework of the negotiations to a Group of Six.The 1997 economic guidelines, titled "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Reform" and adopted by the government Tuesday, called on Japan to "make a contribution befitting its status as the world's second-largest economy to bring the Doha Round of talks to a successful conclusion."But the very fact Japan was unable to take part in the Potsdam talks makes this pledge sound hollow.Agricultural reforms neededJapan has opposed a proposal to limit the number of farm products on which some WTO members can maintain high tariffs, and instead called for an increase in this number. For example, Japan now imposes a 778 percent tariff on imported rice.Japan's resistance to opening its agricultural market has alienated WTO members. It should instead make some painful concessions regarding the opening of its market so that it can take a leading role in the negotiations. To do this, Japan must improve its farm productivity and quickly revive long-stalled efforts to reform the structure of its agricultural sector.The collapse of the Doha Round talks is expected to accelerate moves to forge free trade agreements or economic partnership agreements at a bilateral or regional level.The Doha Round, however, has broader objectives than FTAs and EPAs, aiming at the promotion of free trade across wide areas, including the agricultural, mining and industrial, service and investment sectors. The talks also aim at bringing more wealth to the global economy, including developing nations.The responsibility lies with Japan, EU, the United States and other key WTO members to prevent the total collapse of the Doha Round of talks and to make a fresh start in negotiations as early as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2007-06-24	YOSHIN0020070624e36o00092
YOMSHI0020070625e36p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070625e36p00001	EN	\N	'Transborder smog' from China problematic	Substances that cause this smog reportedly have drifted over from China. The government must devise measures to prevent this "transborder pollution."	4	2007-06-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Photochemical smog forms when air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons emitted by automobiles, factories and business establishments react with sunlight in the atmosphere, creating a photochemical oxidant mainly comprising ozone. When this reaction occurs on a massive scale, the oxidants form a white, foggy layer of smog.This smog can cause headaches, loss of consciousness and other health problems, especially among children and students, who spend many hours outdoors. Less serious cases include eye irritation and coughing.When the density of photochemical oxidants in the atmosphere reaches a certain level, prefectural governments issue a warning to local communities. In some years during the 1970s, warnings were issued by prefectural governments on more than 300 days.Good work being undoneAs tighter emission controls were clamped on vehicles and factories in the 1980s, the number of days per year when such warnings were issued fell below 100. However, since 2000, warnings have been issued on more than 100 days each year. This number even eclipsed 200 one year.This year, warnings had been issued on 44 days as of the end of May, more than 10 times the average recorded by this date in the past five years.What is more, the smog is occurring in more areas. On May 9, a warning was given in 22 prefectures, including Niigata Prefecture, that previously had never issued such a warning.The Meteorological Agency has started making more detailed predictions of when and where photochemical smog might occur, based on weather conditions and other factors. Starting with the Tokyo metropolitan area, the agency plans to make predictions for the entire country.Govt must take actionAnalyses by research institutes such as the National Institute for Environmental Studies have indicated that nitrogen oxide emitted from plants and automobiles in China were transformed into photochemical oxidants and were blown by the wind over to Japan.Local governments in the Kyushu region, including Fukuoka Prefecture, where photochemical smog has been detected frequently, have started taking countermeasures. They are calling on the foreign and environment ministries to monitor air pollutants in Asia and to urge China to do more to fight air pollution. Both ministries should quickly take action to deal with the matter.Needless to say, the problem of air pollution caused by hydrocarbons, compounds that are found in exhaust gas from automobiles and in paint, remains unresolved. Measures also must be taken to deal with this problem.At the same time, municipal governments across the country should reinforce their preparedness to deal with photochemical smog on the premise that this smog can affect very wide areas.It also is important to minimize the possible dangers posed by this pollution by promptly issuing warnings and calling on people to stay indoors when smog levels rise.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	541	2007-06-25	YOSHIN0020070625e36p000bc
YOMSHI0020070626e36q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070626e36q00001	EN	\N	Public trust in food undermined once again	The Hokkaido prefectural police have searched the head office and other related locations of Meat Hope Co., a meat-processing firm based in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, on suspicion the company falsely labeled ground beef mixed with pigs' hearts and mutton as "ground beef." Such actions would violate the Unfair Competition Prevention Law. The investigation could lead to fraud charges against the firm.	4	2007-06-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A search by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry officials also found that Meat Hope had shipped domestic beef mixed with imported beef.As if that was not enough, Meat Hope also was found to have taken back frozen croquettes that were past their use-by dates from Hokkaido Katokichi Co., a frozen food company in Hokkaido, and resold them after changing the expiry dates. Hokkaido Katokichi produced frozen croquettes using Meat Hope's "ground beef."Meat Hope President Minoru Tanaka directly ordered his employees to take these deceitful steps in a bid to prune costs. In a corporate culture common in companies under the absolute control of one man, Meat Hope employees could not go against the orders of their boss.The president told reporters after the story broke that this was an industrywide problem and consumers, who willingly buy the products, should be held responsible for the problem, thus passing the buck to others.The president appears to lack any hint of feeling responsible for manufacturing and selling products that end up in consumers' stomachs. We hope the Hokkaido prefectural police investigate the company and its actions to reveal the truth behind the alleged wrongdoing.Not the 1st such caseUnfortunately, this was not the first time companies have been less than honest about the ingredients in their products or sold foods past their shelf life.Five years ago, Snow Brand Foods Co. was found to have disguised imported beef as domestically produced meat. The resulting public outrage eventually led to the company's breakup. More recently, confectioner  Fujiya Co. used out-of-date milk in cream puffs, a scandal that resulted in the confectioner being shunted under the umbrella of another major food company.Such acts not only pose a risk to the health of consumers, but they also can directly affect the survival of companies. Meat Hope likely will suspend its operations and dismiss all its employees. Other corporate managers should keep in mind the lessons that have come out of the Meat Hope shambles.Authorities missed chanceSome observers have suggested authorities have failed to respond well to a precursor to the current Meat Hope scandal. In February 2006, reports of Meat Hope's alleged falsification reached a local branch office of the agriculture ministry. The ministry said it judged the Hokkaido prefectural government should be in charge of such a case, and passed the information on to the prefectural government. However, the prefectural government said it had no record of receiving such a report from the ministry.Exactly who knew what and when is unclear. But the fact remains that an opportunity to uncover the wrongdoing much earlier was blown due to the ineptitude of the authorities. When such information reaches the authorities, a system should be in place among relevant ministries, agencies and local governments to swiftly react and take action.Inspecting meat using a DNA-based test is one reliable method to uncover its true origin. Finding such falsification is extremely difficult when beef mixed with other meats is discreetly processed, but the DNA inspection can see through such a ruse and accurately identify the content of the meat.Checking every single product would be a mammoth task. But manufacturers tempted to slip some extra ingredients into the mix might think twice if authorities make it a rule to conduct inspections without giving advance notice whenever they deemed necessary. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry should promptly start discussing concrete measures to stamp out such illegal acts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2007-06-26	YOSHIN0020070626e36q000gy
YOMSHI0020070627e36r00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070627e36r00002	EN	\N	Steel Partners faces shareholder backlash	An overwhelming majority of general stockholders decided in favor of long-term stable growth of companies, not immediate profits. We believe this may highlight the soundness of Japan's capital market.	4	2007-06-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the general shareholders' meeting of  Bull-Dog Sauce Co. on Sunday, where executives of the company sought to win approval from shareholders for a poison pill takeover defense against Steel Partners, about 80 percent of the total vote supported the company's measures. The figure was well in excess of the two-thirds majority necessary for approving a special resolution that has a powerful effect.Steel Partners' proposals were voted down by a huge margin at shareholders' meetings of sewing machine maker  Brother Industries Ltd. and electric equipment trader Inaba Denki Sangyo Co., where substantial dividend increases were sought.Warren Lichtenstein, the head of Steel Partners Ltd., visited Japan before a string of shareholders' meetings. He said that Steel Partners has always been and continues to be a long-term investor that values its relationship with company management. He also said that Japanese companies' takeover defense measures were the worst in the world.Takeover equals quick profitLichtenstein called for Bull-Dog shareholders to vote against the company's takeover defense measures, saying that voting against them would lead to long-term profits for the company.However, there was a strong backlash among Bull-Dog shareholders against Steel Partners, saying that its intrusive attitude toward a company with a history of more than a century was unforgivable and that the U.S. investment fund does not present a specific management vision.This adverse reaction among shareholders toward Steel Partners stems from the U.S. fund's approach of accumulating stock and then making aggressive demands.Although they were successful in getting through the shareholders' meeting, the Bull-Dog management still faces some hurdles. Steel Partners filed for an injunction with the Tokyo District Court to suspend exercise of the defense measures.Bull-Dog's antitakeover measures would allocate three equity warrants per share to shareholders as of July 10. The sauce maker will issue equity warrants in the same manner to Steel Partners, but the fund will not be able to exercise the option to turn the warrants into shares and instead the sauce maker will buy them back from the fund for about 2.3 billion yen.Holdings watered downIf the defense measures are exercised, Steel Partners' stake will decline to less than 3 percent from the current 10 percent.As for defense measures aimed at foiling unwanted takeover bids, the Tokyo High Court handed down a strict ruling against defensive measures by management in a 2005 lawsuit connected to a high-profile takeover battle between  Livedoor Co. and  Nippon Broadcasting System Inc.Except cases in which those who want to take over aim to undermine corporate value--such as by dismantling a company--for their own benefit, the court ruled such defense measures unfair, considering them efforts on the part of management to protect itself, not the company's shareholders.Attention will be paid in the case relating to Bull-Dog to how the Tokyo District Court views Steel Partners' approach to investment and how the court evaluates the significance of the special resolution gaining the support of more than 80 percent of the total voting shares.In 2003, when Steel Partners made a tender offer for two Japanese companies for the first time, the two companies failed to act and were forced to pay excessive dividends.It is a step forward that Japanese companies can use defensive measures to counter a takeover bid. Not settling for this step, the management should continue making efforts to gain support from shareholders.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2007-06-27	YOSHIN0020070627e36r000gp
YOMSHI0020070628e36s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070628e36s00001	EN	\N	Get facts straight on 'comfort women'	The Japanese government should try to correct the United States' misinterpretation of history in order to remove a source of future trouble, while at the same time working to block passage of the resolution by the House of Representatives plenary session.	4	2007-06-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The resolution calls for the government to accept historical responsibility and apologize for "its Imperial Armed Forces' coercion of young women into sexual slavery." It describes "the comfort women system" as "one of the largest cases of human trafficking in the 20th century."The resolution was made without verifying the facts and smacks of cheap rhetoric. It makes us doubt the wisdom of U.S. lawmakers.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed "sympathy from the bottom of my heart" and said he "felt sorry" during his meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush and congressional leaders during his visit to Washington in April. The prime minister also said that the 20th century was a century of human rights violations and Japan was not totally blameless.Abe's remarks did not stop adoption of the resolution by the lower house committee.The resolution is merely one of many adopted at the U.S. Congress. It is not legally binding. Some observers say Japan does not have to take it seriously.Govt must dispute false chargesHowever, this is the wrong conclusion to draw. If Japan does not counter these arguments, this erroneous historical view will become accepted as established fact.Before World War II, many women were put to work as comfort women against their will by parents and brokers. But this does not mean the Japanese military coerced the women.In past studies, no evidence has been found showing "coercive recruitment of comfort women by the military or authorities." The government explicitly presented this observation in March in response to a question by an opposition lawmaker.On what is the resolution based? Reportedly, the 1993 statement by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono played a significant part.The statement said that Japanese military and authorities were "directly or indirectly involved in...the transfer of comfort women." Such wording apparently led to the misapprehension that there was coercive recruitment.Kono apology politically drivenThe 1993 statement was motivated by a political desire to deflect pressure from South Korea on the comfort women issue. But it has helped broaden the misunderstanding.Apparently out of diplomatic consideration, Abe has said he stands by the Kono statement. But as long as the prime minister takes this position, the misunderstanding about coercive recruitment will remain. If the statement is found to be erroneous, it should be modified without hesitation.In March, Foreign Minister Taro Aso referred to the lobbying in support of the resolution as an "operation to estrange Japan and the United States." Anti-Japan forces in the United States linked with Chinese and South Koreans have exercised their influence behind the scenes on behalf of the resolution.If the matter is left unaddressed, further demands for apologies will be repeated. The government must methodically elucidate the historical truths involved in the issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	561	2007-06-28	YOSHIN0020070628e36s000fx
YOMSHI0020070629e36t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070629e36t00001	EN	\N	Miyazawa: Embodiment of postwar politics	On Thursday, Miyazawa died as a highly seasoned politician who served as prime minister from November 1991 to August 1993.	4	2007-06-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 1951, Miyazawa attended the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty as part of the Japanese delegation. During those days, he was serving as secretary to then Finance Minister Hayato Ikeda.Later, Miyazawa entered politics. In 1991, he became prime minister after serving in such important positions as director general of the Economic Planning Agency, international trade and industry minister, foreign minister, chief cabinet secretary and finance minister. By assuming these portfolios, Miyazawa continued to play a key role in the nation's political decision-making process.Miyazawa was a politician from the conservative mainstream that originated with former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida. He witnessed Japan's restoration of sovereignty and its return to the international community, the nation's success in rebuilding itself in the postwar era and achieving high economic growth and its eventual rise as an economic power. Throughout his political career, Miyazawa stuck to his belief that Japan should remain a lightly armed nation seeking economic prosperity. Miyazawa's faith in this respect served as a philosophical base for his political career.Premiership too late in lifeMiyazawa was described as a standard-bearer for the New Right and part of the so-called "new leader" trio for his fame as a lawmaker with an international perspective, great intellect and policy expertise. No one doubted he would someday become prime minister.However, he was 72 years old when he reached the pinnacle of his political career by becoming prime minister. This country was experiencing great changes both at home and abroad, including the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the bubble economy. The time when Miyazawa could perform to his fullest had long passed. His rise to eminence as prime minister had come too late.Ultimately, Miyazawa's fall from grace as prime minister coincided with an end to the Liberal Democratic Party's long reign marking the collapse of the LDP-dominant political regime that originated in 1995.Miyazawa often said: "A nation can be governed either by the rule of right or the rule of might. I will not stand by the rule of might. The position of prime minister should not be a post that you can shoot for." He was tipped as a candidate for prime minister many times. But his apparent lack of desire for power meant he lost several opportunities to lead the government.Miyazawa was occasionally called "a self-composed rationalist who doesn't try to take the blame." This attitude was reflected in his failure to demonstrate a strong leadership role in resolving a variety of problems facing the country.Little success in finance roleDuring his tenure as prime minister, Miyazawa called public attention to problems arising from massive nonperforming loans held by banks as a result of the collapse of the bubble economy. But he did not take any measures to address the problems. His failure to do so served to prolong the economic slump, leaving the recession further exacerbated.In 1998, Miyazawa was named finance minister of the administration of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi that was inaugurated amid an unparalleled economic crisis. He assumed the post at the strong request of Obuchi.Miyazawa was known as "the Korekiyo Takahashi of the Heisei era" for his resemblance to the latter in the circumstances surrounding their appointment to the position. Before World War II, Takahashi was named finance minister after first serving as prime minister. As finance minister, he successfully resolved a financial crisis.However, Miyazawa failed to bail the country out of the economic crisis with which the country was faced.Since taking office, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been calling for "a departure from the postwar regime." How, we wonder, did Miyazawa--a politician who may be called the embodiment of the postwar regime--view the political scene at the end of his life?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	710	2007-06-29	YOSHIN0020070629e36t000e8
YOMSHI0020070630e36u00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070630e36u00001	EN	\N	Rakuten fails to sway TBS shareholders	At the meeting, 77 percent of the investors approved TBS' measures to ward off the Internet mall operator's proposed takeover. Rakuten, which has the largest stake in TBS, with 20 percent, urged the appointment of its President Hiroshi Mikitani to the broadcaster's board of directors, but the proposal was rejected.	4	2007-06-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The move proved a stumbling block for Rakuten in its plan to press TBS to enter into a business alliance under the concept of "integrated communication and broadcasting."Of particular interest at this year's round of shareholders meetings was the "activist shareholder," such as investment funds that engaged in proxy fights against management over proposals that included a demand for increased dividends.At  Bull-Dog Sauce Co.'s annual meeting, 89 percent of the stockholders voted in favor of management's measures to thwart a takeover by a U.S.-based investment fund.At the shareholders meetings for  Chubu Electric Power Co. and  Electric Power Development Co.--known as J-Power--another fund's proposals, including that for increased dividends, were overwhelmingly voted down.Such decisions on the part of the shareholders indicate they weighed their long-term profits and exercised good judgment.Court backs antitakeover movesIn the Bull-Dog case, the Tokyo District Court rejected the U.S. fund's request for an injunction barring Bull-Dog from exercising defensive measures, saying the company's plans were overwhelmingly backed by its shareholders.As for TBS, the broadcaster plans to issue share warrants for free to existing shareholders when a shareholder seen as a threat to TBS' corporate value seeks a stake of 20 percent or more. Through this method, TBS can thwart the bid by diluting the bidder's share in the broadcaster.Backed by overwhelming support at the shareholders meeting, TBS plans to put the defense system into practice. Rakuten is expected to take the case to court. However, its prospects seem slim when taking into account the Bull-Dog ruling.Tranquilizer or cure?In October 2005, Rakuten acquired a 15 percent stake in TBS and sought to integrate its business with TBS. Initially, TBS rebuffed Rakuten's request, but it eventually agreed to consider a possible tie-up. The two sides discussed such topics as combining TBS programs with Rakuten's Internet marketing.However, the discussions were fruitless. Instead of teaming up with Rakuten, TBS has launched endeavors with other companies, including Recruit Co. This move is an apparent reflection of the broadcaster's distrust of Rakuten in its bid to take control of TBS.TBS employees and network affiliates also are opposed to a closer relationship with Rakuten. A company does not belong only to its shareholders. Rakuten must have been unconvincing in its efforts to gain confidence from those who have a individual stake in TBS.TBS is one of many companies that have resumed the practice of cross shareholding. The crossholding of shares is the most effective way to protect a company from a hostile takeover.Some situations are unavoidable, such as an approach by an investment fund. But excessive cross shareholding will cause a company's funds to sit idle for the sole purpose of protecting management's control. Cross shareholding should not be used as a mere "tranquilizer" for corporate executives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2007-06-30	YOSHIN0020070630e36u000fs
YOMSHI0020070701e37100002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070701e37100002	EN	\N	Politics needs less drama, more measured debates	Following a fierce struggle between the ruling and opposition camps, key bills were passed into law at a plenary session of the upper house early Saturday morning.	4	2007-07-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bills include ones related to reforming the Social Insurance Agency, one to scrap the statute of limitations for pensioners to make benefit claims so those whose payment records are missing can recover what they are due, and a set of bills to reform the civil service. Although the current Diet session has been extended for 12 days through Thursday, the current session has effectively ended.The laws concerning reform of the SIA are designed to get rid of bureaucratic complacency and overhaul the agency so as to regain public trust in the public pension system. This will be achieved by disbanding the agency and having its public servant employees become private-sector workers. These plans must be realized as soon as possible.What caused Diet turmoil?This Diet session also saw the passage into law of bills concerning a national referendum to facilitate constitutional reform and three bills related to revamping the education system. All these laws concern the fundamentals of what our nation should be like.The passage into law of the national referendum has resolved a defect of the Constitution that stemmed from the fact that while the top law has a chapter concerning its amendments, there had been no law prescribing procedures for a national referendum to allow such revisions. It is epoch-making that the people can now wield their supreme sovereign right: amending the Constitution.With the passage into law of the three education reform-related bills, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has moved a step toward realizing the "rebuilding of education" that Abe championed. It is important that related measures be implemented steadily so tangible results can be achieved in fostering future generations.On the whole, however, what was notable about recent business in the Diet was the state of chaos there, rather than the passage of important legislation.The turmoil was partly a result of the consistently confrontational stance of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan under the leadership of Ichiro Ozawa, who aims, first of all, to have the ruling parties lose their majority in the upper house.Having lured the ruling camp into locking horns with the opposition camp, the DPJ probably aimed at creating a situation whereby the ruling parties could be criticized for railroading the legislation through by exploiting their "tyranny of numbers."As for the national referendum law, members of both the ruling parties and the DPJ initially decided at the commissions for research on the Constitution in both Diet houses to jointly modify the related bill. Due to opposition from the DPJ leadership, however, the cooperative stance of the ruling and opposition camps collapsed.How will the Diet tackle the issue of the critical state of the finances of the central and local governments, whose balance of long-term debts, when combined, is expected to total about \\770 trillion at the end of fiscal 2007?How should social security systems, including the public-run pension programs, be reformed to make them both stable and sustainable? And how should the Diet deal with other key issues, such as a hike in the consumption tax, to secure revenues for welfare programs?Meanwhile, diplomatic- and national security-related challenges are also mounting, including the issue of North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, which pose a serious threat to the peace and security of Japan.The Diet should have taken up for discussion these important issues, which are directly tied to the very basis of the nation and people's daily lives. But--unsurprisingly--constructive debates in the Diet on basic issues between the ruling and opposition camps took second place to politicking.As a result, the final phase of the Diet session was characterized by finger-pointing and slanging matches over such issues as money and politics--concerning questionable spending of political funds by Diet members' offices--and over the pension record-keeping blunders.Key issues left undiscussedDuring the current Diet session, the question-time debates between Abe and opposition party leaders were held only twice. How about holding one more question time? By doing so, the days left till the scheduled end of this session could be more useful. Through such a debate, the ruling and opposition party leaders could highlight the key points of contention during the upcoming upper house election.Political parties have already announced their official campaign promises for the upper house election. From now on, they should exchange views to delve further into key issues. For example, there is the issue of the consumption tax.The DPJ has proposed that the current consumption tax rate be maintained, but that all revenues from the tax be allocated to fund the basic portion of the public pension program, and that the current level of benefit payments under that program be left unchanged.In the 2004 upper house election, the same party advocated reform of the pension system, including an increase of about three percentage points in the consumption tax. Why has the DPJ changed its tune? It should explain in more detail how the current level of benefit payment can be maintained without hiking the consumption tax.The Liberal Democratic Party has promised a drastic reform of the tax system, including the consumption tax, by the end of this fiscal year. Yet it also shelved full-fledged discussions on the issue to autumn or later.Both the LDP and the DPJ may have judged that their hammering out policies that would make taxpayers assume more financial burdens at this point would work to their disadvantage during the upcoming election. But a responsible political party should not shy away from discussing the issue of raising the consumption tax.The DPJ has made the principle of "protecting people's pensions" the mainstay of its 10 key policy pillars. The party probably decided it would benefit by putting the pensions issue in the forefront of the election campaign.But discussions on the pension system should not become a mere extension of the jousting seen in the final phase of the current Diet session. What voters want to see is an exchange of persuasive opinions concerning specific ways to eliminate people's concerns in, and realize drastic reforms of, the pension system.This year marks the 60th anniversary of the convening of the Diet under the present Constitution, when the upper house began its functions. It is important, on the occasion of the upper house election, to give a thought to what the upper house should represent, while looking back on the way the current Diet session turned out.Upper house not playing roleThe upper house is expected to provide checks and balances on the House of Representatives and supplement its functions.In reality, however, it has become a carbon copy of the lower house, with interparty rivalry in the latter mirrored in the former, making the upper house a chamber representing the current political situation of confrontation and disarray.The fierce struggle between the ruling and opposition camps staged at the plenary session of the upper house on Friday and Saturday was a replay of the battle fought earlier at the lower house.Is this state of affairs desirable? Thinking about the roles and powers of the upper house begs the question of how a political framework for a new era should be constructed.Voters would be well advised to ponder this point in the upcoming upper house election.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1300	2007-07-01	YOSHIN0020070701e371000a5
YOMSHI0020070702e37200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070702e37200001	EN	\N	Making SIA nonpublic key to reform	In the wake of a series of scandals, it became clear in 2004 that the SIA should not go on as it was. After three years, the law to reform the agency was enacted early Saturday.	4	2007-07-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the law, the SIA's pension department will become a public corporation called "Nihon Nenkin Kiko" and be staffed by nonpublic servants. The nation needs to establish an organization that can be trusted by the public--a task that must be done in tandem with the straightening out of incomplete pension records.The opposition parties have adamantly asserted getting to the bottom of why the blunders in pension record-keeping occurred should be sorted out before discussing the form the new organization handling pension records should take.But the fundamental causes of the SIA's scandals, including the bungled record-keeping, have been discussed at length at various forums, including government panels of experts, over the past three years.Shoddy work ethicTop SIA posts have been occupied by fast-track bureaucrats of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry for short stints. So-called noncareer officials who have entered and stayed at the SIA for their entire careers have been in charge of practical operations and done their jobs as they saw fit. Local SIA officials who were labor union members were spoiled by lax work conditions that were in line with work rules decided through labor negotiations.Employees who felt their positions put them above the public and prioritized union interests were the ingredients that led to the SIA mess.Making all these employees nonpublic servants is one way to remedy such an organizational culture. This prescription should not be changed ever after the blunders in pension record-keeping have come to light. On the contrary, we think these revelations have made the need for such a shakeup even more obvious.Nihon Nenkin Kiko will be launched in January 2010. All SIA officials will resign en masse and a third-party organization will screen them to select employees suitable for the new public corporation. SIA employees who remain reluctant to change their ways will not be rehired.the  Japanese National Railways was privatized in 1987 and transformed into Japan Railway companies in the same way that SIA will be transformed. JR companies have since broken free from the shackles of the officialism of JNR.Much still to be doneStraightening out the pension records is an immediate task for SIA officials. This will be difficult, monotonous work, but it will serve as a good opportunity to find out which employees are prepared to knuckle down.This work will require a tremendous amount of man-hours. Accordingly, the SIA should be prepared to outsource work that can be entrusted to private firms, setting a precedent for the new public corporation, which plans to outsource a considerable portion of its work.Along with the law to reform the SIA, a law scrapping the statute of limitations for pensioners to make benefit claims also was enacted last week. A third-party committee tasked with examining pension records has been launched.The government plans to send a letter detailing each person's pension premium payments to all of the about 100 million pensioners and pension subscribers. Remedial measures to deal with the pension record-keeping fiasco have taken shape.Any public distrust of the organization handling pensions and the pension system itself must be swiftly and surely eliminated. In this regard, there should be no disagreement among the ruling and opposition parties.We think the ruling and opposition parties should concentrate their discussions on such matters as the necessity of social security numbers and how to secure financial resources for the pension system, including whether the consumption tax rate should be raised to fund pensions. These matters likely will lead to the overhaul of the nation's pension system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2007-07-02	YOSHIN0020070702e372000c0
YOMSHI0020070703e37300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070703e37300001	EN	\N	Pollution suit settlement important step forward	It has avoided a prolonged trial and should lead to the early implementation of relief measures for asthma sufferers.	4	2007-07-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The defendants in the suit--the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments, Metropolitan Expressway Co. and seven automakers--and the plaintiffs have accepted the settlement mediated by the high court, 11 years after the first group of plaintiffs filed the case, seeking compensation for asthma caused by air pollution from vehicle exhaust fumes in Tokyo.A key point in the settlement plan is the creation of a system of subsidies for sufferers' medical care, to be funded by each defendant. The system will be aimed at each of the estimated 200,000 asthma sufferers in Tokyo, with the defendants expected to cover all of sufferers' individual medical costs.The central government will dip into a fund for preventive measures against asthma and contribute 6 billion yen for the system, following a decision by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.Some have questioned the prime minister's decision to use a fund reserved for national projects aimed at preventing asthma, including one targeting medical checkups for infants, to cover medical fees for sufferers in Tokyo. It will therefore be necessary for the Environment Ministry to ensure preventive projects are not adversely affected.First case of its kindIn the suit, about 520 asthma patients in Tokyo sought compensation, claiming pollutants, especially those emitted by diesel-powered motor vehicles in Tokyo, had damaged their health.The case marked the first time in Japan that auto manufacturers were defendants in such a suit. In previous cases, such as a pollution suit in Kawasaki, companies emitting pollutants from factory chimneys were named as defendants.The amount to be paid to the plaintiffs was the main focus of the settlement. In previous suits, companies paid each plaintiff about 4.5 million yen to 7.7 million yen.Based on this, the plaintiffs in the Tokyo suit sought a total of more than 3 billion yen in compensation from the automakers. But the high court proposed the automakers should pay 1.2 billion yen to the plaintiffs, or about 2.3 million yen for each one.The high court justified this figure by noting the possibility that their asthma could have been caused by reasons other than air pollution, and that the case could not therefore be discussed in the same terms as past cases.The high court took into consideration the fact that the plaintiffs lived not only along the arterial roads in Tokyo metropolitan areas, but also in the suburbs.This was a reasonable judgment.Looking to the futureThe Tokyo District Court acknowledged some plaintiffs suffered from asthma caused by emissions from diesel vehicles and ordered the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments and the former state-run Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation to pay compensation over their failure to properly manage the roads. Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation is the forerunner of Metropolitan Expressway. However, the court turned down demands made against the automakers.The automakers accepted the high court's settlement proposal, including the payment, saying they would fulfill their social responsibility. This played a large part in driving the parties toward agreement over a settlement and likely was tied to the fact that environmental measures are key issues for firms and directly affect their corporate images.The high court's plan also presses for the construction of overpasses arterial roads and planting of trees and other greenery along roadside areas.We hope the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments will steadily promote the plan so the settlement can lead to measures that ease traffic congestion and improve the environment in the Tokyo metropolitan area.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2007-07-03	YOSHIN0020070704e373000be
YOMSHI0020070705e37500002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070705e37500002	EN	\N	Russia, U.S. should team up on key issues	With relations between the United States and Russia at their most strained since the end of the Cold War, U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin held summit talks on the Maine coast in the United States.	4	2007-07-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.S. president invited his Russian counterpart to the Bush family compound, where he was warmly greeted by the president and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, a reflection of the younger Bush's view of Russia not as a rival to be confronted but as a potential partner in cooperation.The gap between the two leaders has not been bridged on the issue of the U.S. missile defense system, a focal point of their discussion.The United States plans to establish a radar station in the Czech Republic and to base interceptor missiles in Poland as the first steps in building a missile defense system in Europe. The United States' plan is based on the assumption that Iran, which is proceeding with its nuclear program, might be able to develop a long-range missile that could reach the whole of Europe by 2015.Russian alternativeRussia strongly opposes the building of a U.S. missile defense system inside the former Soviet bloc nations. However, it is a step forward that Russia proposed a substitute for the U.S. plan.Putin's counterproposal entailed modernization of an existing Russian radar base in Azerbaijan and joint use of radar facilities that would be established in southern Russia. In addition, the Russian president again demanded Bush cancel the plan to establish missile defense system facilities in the Czech Republic and Poland.While Bush said the United States will discuss Putin's proposals at consultative meetings, the U.S. president explicitly told the Russian president he had no intention of changing the U.S. plan.There is opposition within the United States to the deployment of a missile defense system in East Europe out of concerns for the accuracy of the system. Russia's proposals could simply be a tactic to try to get the United States to change its stance on missile defense while Russia plays for time in the bilateral negotiations.Iranian standoffOn Iran's nuclear development, a matter that must be urgently addressed, the talks between Bush and Putin seem to have failed to reach clear agreement.In defiance of the U.N. Security Council's two sanctions resolutions against Iran that demand the nation stop enriching uranium, Tehran continues its controversial nuclear development activities.How can this situation be addressed? The Security Council will soon start discussing a new resolution to strengthen sanctions against Iran that would include inspections of Iranian cargo vessels and aircraft and freezing Iranian financial assets.If Washington and Moscow--two of the five permanent members of the Security Council--fail to act in concert, Tehran's nuclear development cannot be stopped. Russia, which holds economic interests in Iran, and China are said to be cautious about strengthening sanctions against Iran.However, Iran should not be allowed to continue uranium enrichment any further. As nuclear superpowers, the United States and Russia have a duty to take effective actions for nuclear nonproliferation. Effective measures should be implemented at the initiative of Washington and Moscow.Strategic cooperation between the United States and Russia also is key to the process of the six-party framework that seeks to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2007-07-05	YOSHIN0020070705e375000j2
YOMSHI0020070706e37600002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070706e37600002	EN	\N	Pension data reform must be carried out	In a press conference Thursday, Abe said his government would strive--even earlier than initially scheduled--to collate a massive number of flawed pension premium payment records to determine to whom they belong.	4	2007-07-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If it makes headway in carrying out the task according to a road map drawn up under Abe's plan, the government will be able to correct nearly all defects in the pension records before the current Social Insurance Agency is replaced in 2010 by a pension agency.Admittedly, the flaws in the pension records should not be blamed on the Abe administration. Still, the prime minister must deliver on his promise to remedy the defects. This is essential to ensure the envisaged pension agency does not inherit a negative legacy from the SIA.It is unknown to whom an estimated 50 million pension records belong.Abe to speed up processAbe recently told the Diet the government would finish collating those records "within a year." However, during his news conference, he said his administration would complete the task "by the end of the year." The prime minister also promised to send written notices to those presumed to be subscribers to whom the records in question belonged "by the end of the current fiscal year," which will end on March 31.The government will send detailed pension premium payment records to about 100 million state-run pension subscribers and recipients by the end of October next year, moving forward the earlier deadline of March 2009. All this means anyone aged 20 and older will be able to obtain the details of his or her pension records within about a year.There is always a way.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the SIA had remained doubtful and pessimistic even about the prime minister's pledge to collate the 50 million flawed records within a year. However, the government has consulted with a computer system company in an effort to develop a computer program designed to achieve the goal. Now, the government is confident it will be able to complete the program in November.This illustrates how poorly the ministry and the SIA have carried out this job.Claims should be respectedCorrective measures also have been devised to deal with subscribers whose records--or part of which--have been lost despite their premium payments. An independent committee established at the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry to address the problem is close to finalizing a set of basic guidelines for dealing with such subscribers.The guidelines will require the government to rectify relevant records if claims filed by subscribers are "obviously not unreasonable" or "plausibly reasonable."For example, a woman whose records are partly missing despite a record showing her husband has never failed to pay premiums would be dealt with under those guidelines. The government likely will use the husband's premium payment records as circumstantial evidence to correct the woman's pension records.True, it is necessary to implement measures to prevent anyone from falsely claiming he or she has paid premiums. Nonetheless, the government should respect the claims filed by members of the public, first and foremost. This must be followed by efforts to swiftly examine the claims filed and ensure that the large number of people concerned have their rights to receive pensions restored.The prime minister also said the government would combine these measures with a plan to introduce a system in which every member of the population would be issued a social insurance card. The planned system requires efforts to centralize information concerning social insurance services received by individuals, including medical care and unemployment benefits as well as pension payments, although the confidentiality of such information must be preserved. This is essential to ensure there is no repeat of the confusion arising from the revelation about the flawed pension records.To properly translate the plan into action, the pension and other social insurance systems must be reviewed thoroughly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2007-07-06	YOSHIN0020070706e376000et
YOMSHI0020070707e37700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070707e37700001	EN	\N	Govt should increase security talks with China	In 2007, China posted a two-digit increase in its defense budget for the 19th year in a row.	4	2007-07-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	What is the objective of this rapid military modernization?The white paper, "Defense of Japan, 2007," cites talk in Washington that the military buildup has to do with more than just Taiwan. The paper also says China is trying to build up its navy for operations in more remote areas and to strengthen its air force for advance action.These descriptions, which did not appear in previous reports, indicate the government's concern over the military expansion in terms of national defense and a potential conflict between China and Taiwan, as well as safety in international waters.High-level talks opportunityFollowing China's antisatellite weapons test in January, a U.S. official testified before Congress that Beijing is showing more confidence in its military than it has before.The government should convey its security concerns to the Chinese. Demanding that Beijing behave responsibly and increase its transparency on defense issues will ensure peace and security in the region.As reciprocal visits between Japan and China are back on track, the relationship between our two countries has shown marked improvement. These visits are a good opportunity to increase vice-ministerial level talks on strategic and security issues, as well as to open up the possibility of military-military ties.It is important that the two nations exchange views frankly and grow to trust one another.How about asking China to disclose information on the considerable number of intermediate-range missiles thought to be targeting Japan?Paper short on PyongyangAs the white paper states, North Korea's nuclear program and missiles are a serious threat not just to Japan, but the entire international community. In light of last year's successive tests of ballistic missiles by the country, we should continue to monitor improvements in North Korea's military capabilities, including the development of longer-range Scud and Rodong missiles.However, the white paper does not delve deeply enough into Pyongyang's nuclear test in October. While the government does not need to show all its cards, shouldn't it have given the Japanese public a more detailed analysis and explanation to convey the harsh reality of the situation?It is Japan that is most affected by North Korea's nuclear program. It is only natural that Tokyo would demand that Pyongyang implement February's six-party deal in which North Korea agreed to shut down and seal its Yongbyon nuclear facility.Also important were diplomatic efforts by the nations concerned to increase last year's U.N. embargo on items deemed to have possible uses in weapons of mass destruction.With regard to upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry, the white paper emphasizes the significance of strengthening the government's ability to plan defense policy.What kind of policy and strategy should the ministry take in regard to China and North Korea? Dealing with this question is the top priority for the ministry at present.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	556	2007-07-07	YOSHIN0020070707e377000g3
YOMSHI0020070708e37800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070708e37800001	EN	\N	Top law, consumption tax are key election issues	It is a matter of course to expedite efforts to resolve the problem, thus dispelling public concern over the public pension system.	4	2007-07-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To build a stable, trustworthy pension system, the most important thing is to secure a reliable financial source. Yet none of the parties' campaign pledges respond adequately to that requirement.The Liberal Democratic Party has pledged to carry out a drastic reform of the tax system, including the consumption tax, within fiscal 2007.But this pledge is virtually identical to one it made in its manifesto for the House of Representatives election in 2005--all the party has done is delay resolution of the issue until autumn this year or later.The Democratic Party of Japan, in its campaign pledge, has proposed that the current consumption tax rate be maintained, but that all revenue from the tax be allocated to fund the basic portion of the public pension program.During the previous upper house election, the DPJ pledged to increase consumption tax by 3 percent to fund pension programs.The party has offered no explanation of this about-face, leaving voters at a loss over its intentions.No time to sit on the fenceOf course, the pension issue is not the only thing that must be taken up for discussion as a key policy question in the upper house election.The national referendum law, which stipulates procedures for amending the Constitution, was passed into law in May. In three years' time, the submission of a bill to amend the top law will be made possible. Those elected in the upcoming upper house election will assume the heavy responsibility of revising the Constitution.In this sense, by citing at the beginning of its 155-item manifesto "the promotion of legislation for a new constitution," the LDP has shown itself to be a responsible party.The party has also said it aims to "rebuild the legal basis for national security," including the issue of the right of collective self-defense.The DPJ, however, makes no reference to constitutional amendment in its "50 priority policies." It merely says it would "let the people discuss the issue in a free and broad-minded manner," and that it would discuss "prudently but proactively" whether there are matters that could be agreed on at the Diet in respect of the issue of constitutional revision.New Komeito, for its part, has gone only so far as to write in its campaign manifesto that it would "aim at incorporating new ideas, including fundamental rights other than those already written in the top law, in three years' time."Both the DPJ and New Komeito appear to be shirking the issue of constitutional revision. Meanwhile, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party oppose amending the basic law. Each party should make clear its stance on the issue and argue its case vigorously.DPJ farm plan short on detailsMeasures for dealing with the declining birthrate and agricultural policies are also important. The DPJ has proposed the provision of a monthly child allowance of \\26,000 for each child that would be paid until the child graduates from middle school, and the introduction of a "system for farm household income compensation," under which a deficit-covering subsidy would be paid to farming households that incur a shortfall between the production costs and market price of their produce.It would cost \\6 trillion to introduce a child allowance system, while the income compensation program for farming households is estimated to cost between \\1 trillion to \\2.6 trillion. The DPJ should present to the public a plan for financing such programs persuasive enough to win public understanding.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2007-07-08	YOSHIN0020070708e378000a4
YOMSHI0020070709e37900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070709e37900001	EN	\N	Collective defense right needs deeper discussion	Experts on a panel tasked with discussing how to rebuild the legal basis of our nation's security have been thrashing out just what assistance Japan should be able to extend to the United States in two scenarios.	4	2007-07-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel had largely agreed that the government's interpretation that the Constitution bans the nation from wielding its right to collective self-defense should be changed. Such a view is reasonable.The members also were mostly on the same page when it came to the issue of protecting U.S. vessels on the high seas. The experts said there was a limit to what could be done in accordance with the nation's use of its right to individual self-defense or with its legitimate self-defense based on the provision concerning the use of arms for protection, as stipulated in Article 95 of the Self-Defense Forces Law.Even when Maritime Self-Defense Force ships and U.S. vessels are jointly engaged in ship inspections or escorting and surveillance activities, they usually conduct their operations well apart from each other. It could be a stretch to interpret the law as saying that an SDF vessel could consider an attack on a U.S. vessel beyond the horizon as an attack on itself, and strike back in legitimate self-defense.Alliance at stakeThe experts also are trying to reach a consensus of opinion on the interception of a ballistic missile fired at the United States. Most panel members believe exercising the right to individual self-defense or exercising police authority stipulated in Article 82 of the SDF law, irrespective of whether the missile flies over Japan, is unreasonable.The antiballistic missiles that Japan is deploying are not capable of shooting down missiles aimed at the U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Guam. However, these missiles likely will gain this capability in due course.Stating in black and white that Japan will intercept such missiles--if it has the means to do so--is essential.The protection of U.S. vessels and intercepting ballistic missiles are issues that affect the foundations of the Japan-U.S. alliance. If Japan should sit back and do nothing during an attack on the United States because it claims its hands are tied by constitutional restrictions, the alliance will fall apart at the seams. Wielding the right to collective self-defense, which is recognized by the U.N. Charter, would be a natural response in such circumstances.From next month, the panel will pore over the two remaining scenarios that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wanted examined regarding the exercise of the right to collective self-defense. One scenario is the use of arms by troops engaging in international peacekeeping activities. The panel will put the finishing touches on all the four scenarios and compile its report in autumn.Laws will need revisingShould the panel report propose giving the nation the green light to exercise the right of collective self-defense, its explanations and reasoning must be convincing enough to win people's understanding. Preparing relevant laws to accommodate this change also will be an urgent task.It is only reasonable that the SDF law be revised to give new duties to the SDF. Establishing a basic law concerning national security in tandem with this revision would be desirable.We hope the panel also will discuss having the basic law stipulate in general terms in what cases the right to collective self-defense can be used.Some members of the government and ruling coalition parties are concerned that the momentum for constitutional amendment might be lost if the constitutional interpretation is changed. Such opinions are absurd.At the earliest, Diet members will have to wait three years from now to propose a constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, there is no telling when we could be faced with a contingency that would require the nation to exercise the right to collective self-defense.Changing the constitutional interpretation is an urgent matter. The work to revise the Constitution as the whole can begin immediately after this interpretation is changed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	730	2007-07-09	YOSHIN0020070709e379000b6
YOMSHI0020070710e37a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070710e37a00001	EN	\N	War-displaced finally get a better deal	Plaintiffs of lawsuits filed nationwide decided Sunday to accept the new support measures proposed by a project team of the ruling parties. This package will lead to the retraction of lawsuits against the state filed at 15 district courts by about 2,200 of the 2,500 Japanese who were abandoned in China during the closing days of the war but have moved back to Japan to live permanently.	4	2007-07-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Currently, a monthly payment of \\80,000--consisting of a welfare payment and benefits of the basic pension plan--is provided to a war-displaced person with no income. Under the proposal, this figure will increase to \\146,000.As a special measure, benefits in the basic pension plan will be increased to the full amount of \\66,000. Currently, the war-displaced receive only one-third of the full pension. In addition, they will receive a special benefit of \\80,000 to replace the welfare payment.The average age of war-displaced who returned to Japan permanently exceeds 70. Many are not conversant in Japanese because they were raised in China and have struggled to adapt to life in Japan. Most have an unstable income, and more than 60 percent of them receive welfare payments from the government.The ruling bloc plans to legislate relevant bills at the extraordinary Diet session in the autumn, with the support measures coming into effect perhaps as soon as early next year.Helping handThe relief measures are expected to give a crucial leg up to the war-displaced who often have had trouble making ends meet and are getting on in years.The war-displaced were seeking state compensation, saying that the government did not enable them to return to Japan much earlier and failed to help them become financially independent after they arrived back here.The war-displaced people's calls for redress through the courts have largely run into a brick wall. Of eight district courts to have ruled on the lawsuits, only the Kobe District Court sided with the war-displaced and said the state should provide compensation. In other lawsuits, the courts did not recognize the state's responsibility to provide compensation, making it virtually impossible for the plaintiffs to win the lawsuits.After the Tokyo District Court turned down all demands by the plaintiffs in January, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his policy that the government and the ruling coalition would concoct measures to assist the war-displaced."Putting aside the ruling, we have to consider the situation of the war-displaced people as they are getting old," he said.Letting the lawsuits run their course would simply allow the current situation to drag on.A bumpy roadWhat particularly rankled with the war-displaced was the means test that would be obligatory for those on a special benefit scheme. The government-run test would scrutinize their income from part-time jobs and employee's pension, and the special benefit would be reduced in proportion to their income.The war-displaced rejected the scheme, arguing that this was tantamount to the government monitoring their livelihood.However, the project team of the ruling bloc managed to smooth the ruffled feathers by adding a proviso that stated 30 percent of war-displaced people's personal income would be exempt from the calculations used to deduce the payouts.As for the means test that remained in the measures, the chairman of the ruling parties' project team said, "It would be unfortunate if the war-displaced were criticized for being treated too favorably." That is a reasonable position.We hope the new measures will help the war-displaced and their families lead stable lives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2007-07-10	YOSHIN0020070710e37a000f9
YOMSHI0020070711e37b00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070711e37b00002	EN	\N	Substance of campaigns deserves attention	Voters should place the highest priority on policy in choosing parties and candidates. It is important to closely examine pledges to be made by political parties and their candidates.	4	2007-07-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The selection of parties and candidates by about 103 million eligible voters will have a large influence on the development of policies on issues deeply tied to our daily lives, such as pensions, education and medical care. It also will direct the flow of basic national policies on economic, diplomatic and security affairs.Both ruling and opposition parties have already been campaigning fiercely in the preliminary skirmishes leading to the election, in hope of capturing a majority in the upper house.The foundation of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could be shaken depending on election results, rendering the political situation more unstable.Ichiro Ozawa, president of the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan, said he intends to retire from politics if the opposition camp is unable to win a majority in the election. There is also a possibility that the DPJ could fall into confusion following a loss at the polls.Scandals crowd out issuesIt is unfortunate that issues that require extensive discussion tend to be obscured by continual political turmoil, including recent gaffes by former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma regarding the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan during World War II and problems over the office expenses of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Norihiko Akagi. As the government is busy coping with make-shift measures for the Social Insurance Agency's pension record blunder, debate on reforming the entire pension system rarely takes place.The upper house election will be the first nation-level election to be fought by the Abe administration. How will voters evaluate Abe's achievements at the Diet: revising the Fundamental Law of Education, upgrading of the Defense Agency to a ministry and enacting into law the national referendum bill, which stipulates procedures for amending the Constitution?In its election manifesto, the DPJ pledged to secure 15.3 trillion yen to finance new projects to create a single pension system, subsidize households with children and provide financial aid to each farm household, among other measures. It plans to raise the money by reforming the system under which the central government gives subsidies to local governments, cutting administrative costs and largely doing away with public corporations in principle, while keeping the consumption tax rate at 5 percent.Fueling policy debateSpecifying concrete figures for revenues and expenditures in the manifesto will stimulate policy debates, we believe, but there are signs the DPJ hurriedly compiled the revenue plan following the ruling block's criticism of it as favoring lavish spending. We hope that the DPJ will present more concrete reasons for compiling the figures.It is important to consider policies together with ways of securing the fiscal resources needed to pursue them. What administrative services do taxpayers expect and what burdens are they ready to accept for the services? The ability of taxpayers to examine policies will be tested in the election.Constitutional amendment is an issue indispensable to the establishment of a new national framework. It is necessary to coolly determine what sort of national structure each party envisions.The voter turnout in the previous upper house election was 56 percent, the fourth lowest on record. Japanese expatriates will be allowed to vote for candidates in constituencies for the first time in this month's upper house election, in addition to proportional representation bloc candidates. As of October 2006, expatriate voters were estimated to number about 800,000.Securing the broadest possible participation by voters in the election process is one of the cornerstones of democracy. We would like to listen closely to what each party and candidate says in their campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2007-07-11	YOSHIN0020070711e37b000f7
YOMSHI0020070712e37c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070712e37c00001	EN	\N	Serious talk on pension reform long overdue	The leaders of the seven principal parties held a panel discussion at the Japan National Press Club one day before the official beginning of the campaign for the House of Councillors election.	4	2007-07-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Discussion of the pension system has been focused only on fixing responsibility for the mismanagement of pension records and tentative solutions for the problems created.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, who considers the upcoming election an occasion to see whether voters trust the government's pension system reform plan, exchanged words on the same subjects in the discussion.However, Abe explained the government has offered all the measures and policies it can. The opposition parties did not object to the government's measures during the debate, indicating the time has passed for talking about whether government moves to correct the mismanagement of pension premium payment data are appropriate .What parties should debate is reforming the pension system for the sake of ensuring peace of mind and stability in the people's livelihood.Ozawa proposed tackling issues over the pension system, a notion supported by Abe and New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota. This is progress voters want to see such a constructive debate on the matter.Fixing the systemThe main topic of discussion was how to fund the pension system reform.Ozawa reiterated his party's plan to maintain the consumption tax rate at the present level and to allocate the entire \\13.3 trillion in revenue from the consumption tax to funding pensions.Ozawa unveiled a scheme to limit payment of pension benefits according to income level. Under the plan, those whose annual income is more than \\12 million would not be paid the basic portion of pension benefits since they would already be able to receive an amount equal to or exceeding the basic current monthly pension payment of \\230,000 through the portion of the benefit tied to the geared-to-income pension premiums previously paid. Ozawa proposed the scheme, taking into account that the fiscal resources could prove insufficient even with all the revenue collected through the consumption tax allocated to fund the basic pension benefit.Abe and Ota said Ozawa's idea is problematic, pointing out that it would be necessary to increase the number of people not receiving the basic benefit to 40 percent of pensioners for Ozawa's plan to be feasible.Further examination neededFurther discussion of taxation and fiscal resources is necessary to tackle this issue, including examination of the possibility of raising the consumption tax rate, with attention to various problems such as changes in the rate of economic growth, the declining birthrate and the aging of the society and the government's huge long-term debt. Discussion of the issue thus far has been insufficient and there still is much to consider.With regard to the Constitution, Abe said he would do his best to secure a two-thirds majority for the ruling coalition in each chamber of the Diet to meet the two-thirds requirement for initiating constitutional amendments.It is difficult to understand Ozawa's position that the Constitution should be amended if the nation's circumstances change and changes to the Constitution become necessary, but that it is not necessary to push the issue of amending the Constitution in the upper house election since the Constitution has not been amended for 60 years.Is not the significant change in the nation's circumstances the driving force that has made constitutional amendment a real issue?Argument among the parties should be intensified over other important issues including diplomacy, security, education and the economy in addition to pensions, taxation, the fiscal system and the Constitution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2007-07-12	YOSHIN0020070712e37c000f5
YOMSHI0020070713e37d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070713e37d00001	EN	\N	Upper house poll calls for bold debate	Campaigning for the House of Councillors election officially kicked off Thursday.	4	2007-07-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Our country suffers from a combination of a declining birthrate and graying society, as well as a decreasing population. With this, how can the nation shore up its social security system, including the pension program? How should the country deal with the worsening security environment? How can we proceed with tax and fiscal reforms, including a possible hike in the consumption tax?The political parties and their candidates must present clear ideas on such fundamental issues, which are closely linked to our lives and how to run the country. They must be bold in their discussions of these issues.Abe focuses on 'achievements'Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to win voters through what he touts as his administration's achievements since taking power in September. Under his watch, the Fundamental Law of Education--the defining law on education--was revised and the Defense Agency was upgraded to the Defense Ministry.The National Referendum Law, which stipulates procedures to amend the Constitution, also was enacted under the administration in this year of the 60th anniversary of the top law's promulgation.He was the first prime minister in the past 50 years to realize such ambitions, developments he refers to as a "break from the postwar regime."During his first speech of the campaign, Abe touched on those achievements and emphasized an "acceleration of reform"--apparently showing he believed these three achievements to be the biggest of his tenure so far.Other significant achievements the Abe Cabinet cites are the enactment of a law to disband the Social Insurance Agency, reestablish it under a different name and strip employees of their public servant status; and the enacting of a set of three laws on education reform, the centerpiece of which was the introduction of a teachers license renewal system.But how will voters grade Abe's "achievements"?The Democratic Party of Japan and the People's New Party each backed legislation to upgrade the Defense Agency, while the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party opposed the move. The DPJ made counterproposals for revising the Fundamental Law of Education and for establishing a national referendum law, meaning the largest opposition party was not totally opposed to Abe's two new laws.However, the DPJ voted against the government's bill to revise the top education law and the ruling camp-sponsored national referendum bill--apparent moves to confront the government and ruling camp in the run-up to the upper house poll.What will the electorate think of such maneuvering by the opposition camp? This is one thing voters should take into account before stepping into the polling booth.Platforms offer insightThe voting public will focus not only on what the candidates and their parties have done already, but also on what they promise to do in their party platforms.Among its main campaign promises, the DPJ has proposed a \\26,000 monthly child allowance that would end with graduation from middle school, and subsidies to farmers to make up for the gap between production costs and market prices.Some critics have called these policies pork-barrel politics. The DPJ must explain to the voters the necessity of these policies and how it intends to finance them.In regard to the high-profile pension issue, the ruling and opposition blocs have finally begun discussing how to reform the state-run pension system. These deliberations, however, must go deeper and consider such options as a consumption tax hike.The DPJ has said it wants the tax rate to remain unchanged, and that the revenue from the consumption tax should be used to fund the basic pension plan. We wonder whether this would be enough to finance these payments and how the government can secure the money needed to pay for the social security system--including medical services--as a whole.Tax hikes are a bete noire during a political campaign. Yet the DPJ won favor with voters after proposing a consumption tax hike of three percentage points to fund pension payments during the last upper house election in 2004.Revision of the Constitution is the core element of Abe's goal of breaking from the postwar regime. It is supposed to be the banner of the Abe Cabinet.The prime minister must be explicit in how the Constitution is to be revised and how that revision is to be carried out.The campaign pledges of the DPJ and New Komeito illustrate those two parties' lack of commitment to constitutional revision.DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa is supposed to be an advocate of conditional revision. Perhaps Abe and Ozawa should debate the issue.North Korea's nuclear weapons program is the most serious threat facing Japan's national security. It is not clear the six-party framework on North Korea's nuclear development will lead to Pyongyang abandoning its nuclear program.China continues to build up its military capabilities, helping to bring about a deterioration of Japan's national security environment. Discussion of diplomacy and national security should figure prominently in the election.LDP, DPJ lock hornsThe latest upper house election is effectively a two-party race between the LDP and DPJ, with each party fielding an almost identical number of candidates.Since the 1989 upper house election, the LDP has never secured a majority alone in the upper house. Since 1996, the LDP has only managed to control the Diet by forming a coalition with other parties.Of particular interest in this election is whether the ruling coalition of the LDP and New Komeito can secure a majority.In his first campaign speech, Ozawa said that if the opposition failed to achieve a majority in this poll, "There is no prospect for a change of government in Japan," emphasizing he would do what was in his power to keep the ruling camp from gaining a majority of 122 seats.The LDP is facing a headwind because of the pension record-keeping blunders, inappropriate remarks by Cabinet ministers and political funds scandals.If the ruling camp fails to secure a majority in the upper house and the opposition bloc makes its grab for the reins of power, the foundation of the Abe administration will be significantly undermined. With political realignment in mind, Ozawa appears to be pushing for a dissolution of the House of Representatives.This means Ozawa is using the upper house as a means to seize power.The upper house is often described as an "organ of reconsideration" that prevents the lower house from going overboard. Confrontation between political parties in the lower house--the main stage for power struggles--have seeped into the upper house, and it has been rendered an "organ of politicking."How should we view these developments in the upper house? This latest election provides us a good opportunity to reexamine the function and role of the upper house.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1202	2007-07-13	YOSHIN0020070713e37d000ci
YOMSHI0020070714e37e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070714e37e00001	EN	\N	Focus of pension issue shifting to system reform	The third-party panel established at the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has approved claims filed by subscribers to the state-run pension system who sought to have their pension records corrected. The 15 cases involved subscribers whose premium payment records could not be found despite their assertion they had paid their premiums.	4	2007-07-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The cases were the first of their kind to acknowledge the right of subscribers to receive benefits despite their being unable to provide receipts and other material evidence proving they paid their premiums. The committee examined various circumstances surrounding their lives and career records before accepting their claims.The panel deserves credit for its prompt action to deal with the cases in question. We hope it will strive to ensure as many subscribers as possible are able to get their rights to the benefits they are owed restored. Doing so is essential to regain the public's trust in the pension system.According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun poll, 65 percent of those surveyed said the pension-related problems should be the most contentious issue to be taken up during campaigning for the House of Councillors election. This finding seems to reflect growing interest among many members of the public in resolving the current dispute over seriously flawed pension records.There are no differences among political parties in their opinions about how to remedy the defective pension records. In fact, progress is being made in restoring the rights of subscribers who would otherwise be unable to receive benefits, as demonstrated by the third-party panel's latest move. What should be done is to steadily implement the corrective measures.Funding key issueThe focus of the campaign for the upper house election should be how to reform the pension system. The point at issue is how to raise funds for the pension system. Both the ruling and opposition parties remain ambiguous in many respects concerning how to finance the system.The percentage of contributions to the system from the state coffers for pension benefits will be raised to half of the financial resources required by the end of fiscal 2009. This means another 2.5 trillion yen in funds must be raised.However, the ruling parties have only said they would work to cover the necessary costs by reconsidering government spending and increase tax revenue. This means the ruling camp is avoiding discussions on whether to raise the consumption tax rate.The leading opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, is no less blameworthy in this respect. The DPJ has said all state-run pension programs should be integrated, and a system set up in which every member of the population would be paid a minimum level of pension benefits. The opposition party has said its reform plan will be funded by all revenue deriving from the 5 percent consumption tax.The DPJ's plan would set the limit on the amount of income earned by subscribers eligible to minimum pension benefits. However, the party remains unclear about how many elderly people would be entitled to such allowances. It is questionable whether revenue from the current consumption tax would be enough to cover the expenditures incurred by the DPJ's plan.In its campaigns for previous upper house elections, including the 2004 poll, the DPJ emphasized the need to create a 3 percent consumption tax from which revenue would be solely used to fund the pension system. This has given cause for doubting the DPJ's integrity in this respect.The opposition party's call for creating an integrated pension plan is no less open to question. The idea will require the adoption of a system in which individual subscribers would be given taxpayer identification numbers. This system is essential to keep close tabs on the income gained by self-employed individuals and others. However, the DPJ has not bothered to address this issue.Ideas needed, not slogansThe ruling and opposition camps do not deserve to be called responsible parties if they only trumpet slogans pleasing to the ear.It is also necessary to debate how to rectify the current system, besides holding discussions on how to cover future pension payments and fundamentally reform the current pension plan.New Komeito, the junior partner in the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition, has proposed revising legal provisions that require subscribers to pay premiums for at least 25 years before they can become eligible for benefits. The party argues the period in question should be shortened.New Komeito has also insisted on extending the term of nonpayment to be recovered through retroactive payments. The current rule allows subscribers to make up for two years of unpaid premiums retroactively. New Komeito has proposed increasing the period to five years. The idea is worth considering.We hope all political parties will conduct constructive debate on how to transform the state-run pension programs into a reliable system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	867	2007-07-14	YOSHIN0020070714e37e000ea
YOMSHI0020070715e37f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070715e37f00001	EN	\N	China must overhaul product safety policy	In the United States this spring, pets were fatally poisoned after consuming pet food that contained contaminated ingredients produced in China. Since then, harmful substances originating in China have been detected one after another in exported items including confectionaries, toothpaste, vegetables, diet foods, marine products, cosmetics and toys.	4	2007-07-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Panama, it recently was reported that more than 100 people died after taking cough syrup containing the toxic chemical diethylene glycol that had been imported from China. In Japan, Australia and European Union member states, among others, Chinese-made toothpaste was recalled after it was found to contain the same chemical.The issue of the safety of Chinese products is nothing new, but the increase in deaths and illnesses caused by Chinese products in recent months cannot be overlooked.In China, illegal activities based on a profit-first mentality have been getting more serious year after year. This is the main factor behind the rise in the number of cases of people being sickened by Chinese products.Corruption at root of problemThere has been a spate of shocking incidents resulting from unsafe products in China in recent years.Three years ago, 14 people died after drinking fake liquor in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Last year, more than 20 people were killed in Guangzhou and Anhui Province after they took fake drugs.The Chinese government said it prosecuted 68,000 cases of food safety violation last year. However, there seems to be no end to irregularities originating in dubious ties between government officials and private businesses. In the most egregious example, the former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, the central government organ in charge of overall administration of food safety, was executed after he was convicted of taking bribes for approving fake and substandard medicines.The spread of crimes such as the production of fake drugs is just part of the current problem. To meet rising overseas demand, Chinese firms have been using raw materials without due regard to safety and managing the manufacturing process sloppily. Countries importing Chinese products cannot devise countermeasures fast enough to prevent risky products from entering their respective domestic markets.Countries importing products from China should apply pressure on that country to prevent further damages being caused by its products, which are being shipped across the world by unethical producers. Other countries could take a page out of Japan's book in this regard.Japan showed the wayFive years ago, a scandal erupted in Japan over Chinese-made spinach that was found to contain illegally high levels of residual agricultural chemicals. In response, the Japanese government introduced a system to strictly prohibit the sale of agricultural and other products that contain amounts of residual agricultural chemicals and additives exceeding allowable levels.When Japan introduced the system, which was dubbed the strictest in the world at the time, China strongly objected. After the system was put into force, however, it worked better than expected. In addition to preventing inflows of dangerous food products into Japan, it produced a secondary effect within China: In places where agricultural commodities are produced for export to Japan, producers began paying much more attention to food safety.This time, the Chinese government initially lashed out at foreign media for "exaggerating" the food safety problem. However, as criticism of China grew internationally, it shifted its stance, pledging to reinforce safety administration at every level, from production to distribution.The Chinese government should be keenly aware of the seriousness of the problem and must overhaul its food safety policy. If not, Chinese products will face the danger of being removed from global markets.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2007-07-15	YOSHIN0020070715e37f0009s
YOMSHI0020070716e37g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070716e37g00001	EN	\N	Parties should discuss fiscal reconstruction	Political parties should discuss the issue during the campaign for the House of Councillors election and explain precisely how they plan to put the fiscal house in order.	4	2007-07-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan have incorporated in their official campaign pledges a plan to put the primary balance in the black by fiscal 2011. This would mean government expenditures are balanced by tax revenues and government income from other sources, except for bond issues, at the central and local government levels.Although the parties are aiming at the same target, they have offered starkly different approaches to achieve this goal.The LDP asserts that cutting government expenditure is the way to go. The party has calculated that 16.5 trillion yen of revenue is needed to realize the primary balance.The LDP said the shortfall should be made up mostly by cutting between 11.4 trillion yen and 14.3 trillion yen in expenditure for welfare programs, personnel costs of public servants and public works projects. The remaining shortfall of between 2.2 trillion yen and 5.1 trillion yen would be made up by tax increases, the party said.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa have repeatedly said the natural increase in tax revenue generated by the economic recovery could bring in enough revenue to eliminate the need to jack up taxes.Take off rose-tinted glassesHowever, according to a summary of closing accounts for fiscal 2006 compiled recently by the Finance Ministry, actual tax revenues fell short of projections by 1.4 trillion yen.An economy fluctuates and is not guaranteed to act as expected, so numerical estimates can often end up way off the mark. Relying too much on overly optimistic forecasts could invite ill-advised policies. The LDP needs to think seriously about how to fill the shortfall that cannot be resolved by expenditure cuts alone.The DPJ also has been a proponent of unrelenting efforts to cut expenditure. But many skeptics have raised questions about the cuts proposed by the DPJ.The DPJ claims more than 15 trillion yen could be trimmed from the central government's budget. Of this, 6.4 trillion yen would be saved by reviewing central government subsidies to local governments, and abolishing, in principle, inefficient public corporations and independent administrative corporations would save 3.8 trillion yen. An additional 1.3 trillion yen will be pruned by eradicating bid-rigging and the so-called amakudari practice of retired high-ranking bureaucrats taking up cushy jobs at corporations and government-affiliated organizations.DPJ plans questionableDPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has said considerable cuts in expenditure are possible if the administration system is changed at its roots. However, the subsidies on which the DPJ has set its sights are mostly related to social welfare and compulsory education programs. They should not be cut on a whim.The DPJ plans propose the allocation of financial sources made available through taxes and spending cuts to fund the basic portion of the public pension program and create a child allowance. This plan will not help reduce the fiscal deficit. Fiscal reconstruction as advocated by the DPJ might end up being no more than a facade.Securing stable revenue sources is imperative to achieve fiscal reconstruction. Consumption tax is clearly the most reliable revenue source.The DPJ has ruled out raising the consumption tax rate, while the LDP has resisted making any clear-cut comments on its stance, saying only that any possible increase should be discussed in detail in autumn or later.The ruling parties and the main opposition party are responsible for putting the finishing touches to any drastic reform of the tax system, including consumption tax, that is essential for fiscal reconstruction. They have an obligation to explain the details of their plans to the public.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	707	2007-07-16	YOSHIN0020070716e37g0007u
YOMSHI0020070717e37h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070717e37h00001	EN	\N	Extend quake aid fast after learning conditions	Nagaoka, Kashiwazaki and Kariwamura, all in Niigata Prefecture, and Iizunamachi, Nagano Prefecture, were jolted by a temblor measuring upper 6 on the Japanese intensity scale of 7 on Monday morning. The Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake, whose focus was underground off the coast of Niigata Prefecture, was so strong that many people were knocked off their feet.	4	2007-07-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The trickle of reports of damage and injuries soon became a stream and the extent of the devastation gradually became apparent.The awesome power of the earthquake cracked and destroyed roads and bridges, flattened homes and set off landslides. Lifeline utility services, such as water and electricity, were seriously disrupted. In the hours that followed, the death and injury toll steadily increased and strong aftershocks continued to rattle the area.The government set up a task force at the Prime Minister's Office, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to Tokyo after cutting short a visit to Nagasaki, where he was campaigning for the upcoming House of Councillors election.The most pressing task is to rescue people trapped in the rubble and assist victims of the earthquake. The government should work with the Niigata and Nagano prefectural governments and affected municipalities to accurately grasp conditions on the ground and quickly provide help where it is most needed. Measures also should be taken to minimize any damage arising from aftershocks.Some lessons unlearnedAre more victims still in collapsed houses or trapped under landslides? Have any isolated communities or households been overlooked? Are there any elderly people waiting to be rescued inside houses on the verge of collapse? Is sufficient support being extended to victims?Less than three years have passed since the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake hit in October 2004. In Nagaoka and elsewhere, more than 200 households are still enduring uncomfortable lives in temporary housing and trying to get back on their feet.Monday's earthquake occurred on a faultline about 40 kilometers from the focus of the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake. An earthquake can strike any part of the Japanese archipelago. We have to stay alert.Several dozen primary and middle school buildings, which serve as shelters during a disaster, and the Kariwamura village office and other places were damaged by the earthquake. The necessity of reinforcing such facilities against earthquakes has been pointed out time and again. However, such work has often been put off. The government should urgently inspect the earthquake resistance of such buildings in places battered by Monday's earthquake and in other areas, and take measures to ensure the buildings are structurally sound.Unnerving fireAfter the earthquake struck, a small fire broke out at  Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station. The plant's reactors automatically shut down when safety devices designed to detect tremors were triggered. The fire broke out in a transformer outside the reactor facility. Apparently, the fire did not directly endanger the reactors.However, it took about two hours to extinguish the fire. Some people may have felt disquieted watching black smoke billow from the transformer.Although the safety of the reactor itself has been verified, TEPCO should examine whether it could have reacted to the fire more quickly.The 2004 Chuetsu earthquake derailed a Shinkansen bullet train for the first time. In the latest earthquake, the trains stopped safely as the earthquake fail-safes functioned properly.According to  East Japan Railway Co., seismometers installed along the Joetsu Shinkansen line and other locations detect earthquake tremors almost instantly and cut power transmission. Monday's earthquake derailed several local trains, but no major damage has been detected on the Shinkansen lines.Since the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, the system to quickly detect earthquakes has been enhanced and upgraded. This system functioned properly on Monday. But above all else, preparing for the worst is the best option.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2007-07-17	YOSHIN0020070717e37h000at
YOMSHI0020070718e37i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070718e37i00001	EN	\N	Campaign should spark debate over education	The ruling Liberal Democratic Party was instrumental in achieving the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education late last year, fulfilling one of party's most earnest desires since its foundation in 1955. At the ordinary Diet session, three education reform-related bills, including one to require teachers to renew their licenses, were passed into law.	4	2007-07-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP is emphasizing these Diet achievements in its upper house election campaign. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has touted "education rebuilding" as part of his ambition to "break from the postwar regime," may want to more strongly promote the achievements to the public.In its election pledges related to education, the LDP has claimed its top priority is improving the quality and ability of teachers by smoothly implementing the renewable teaching license system and another measure to purge unqualified teachers.The public is watching to see what form such new systems will take and how firmly they take root in the field of education.Revised laws spark changesThe LDP's education pledges include the cultivation of "true academic ability" and a "respect for social norms." To that end, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry has begun a reexamination of the teaching guidelines and standardized testing has begun nationwide.We hope each political party and candidate will actively engage in debate on education relating to these concrete measures.Most of the LDP's promises on education, with a few exceptions such as free preschool education, are designed not directly to call for large budget increases. It may be because the LDP took into consideration the government's strained fiscal conditions. Coalition partner New Komeito made campaign promises similar to those of the LDP.On the other hand, the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, pledges to increase spending on education by 50 percent, describing current spending as being at the lowest level among advanced countries. The Social Democratic Party also pledged to raise education spending to 6 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.Free tuition, govt allowanceIn its campaign platform, the DPJ pledges to eliminate tuition fees for public high schools, and further, to establish a system to pay a child allowance of 26,000 yen per month until children graduate from middle school. The DPJ says it will not put the responsibility of raising and educating children solely on parents and instead support them in meeting their responsibility through the whole of society and eradicate "educational discrepancy."It is a fact the Japanese government spends less on education than other advanced countries. Spending on higher education is about half that of other advanced countries.The debate on fiscal spending on education attracts attention every time establishing research bases and developing talent that can compete internationally are called for or the declining academic ability of Japanese children is revealed by the results of international tests. But the debate does not develop into a fundamental discussion and, in the end, a mood to improve the fiscal support for education for those purposes has never been enhanced.How much the government should spend on education is a topic of considerable public attention. We would like to hear parties and candidates speak in terms of national strategies in the election campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2007-07-18	YOSHIN0020070718e37i000dp
YOMSHI0020070719e37j00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070719e37j00002	EN	\N	N-facilities must ensure safety in quakes	The Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake violently shook TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. The electric power company should put together a set of safeguards against natural and other disasters and explain how these measures would fulfill their purposes in such an event. Meanwhile, the government must urge TEPCO to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of its nuclear power stations.	4	2007-07-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The power utility's initial response to Monday's earthquake was far from satisfactory. It was slow to put out a fire at the power station sparked by the quake. A small amount of radioactive water leaked from the plant, although its radioactivity was well below the government-set hazard level. To make matters worse, TEPCO was slow in confirming the radioactive water had leaked and reporting the incident to the government and other authorities.Are other nuclear power stations fully prepared to withstand major disasters? All electric power companies need to inspect their safety measures.There are concerns about whether each nuclear power plant has been properly designed to resist earthquakes. A seismometer installed on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa station recorded a strong shock about 2! times greater than the facility's earthquake-resistant design was intended to withstand.Danger hard to predictNuclear power stations now in operation were designed to withstand a quake occurring directly under them. However, earthquakes are natural phenomena, meaning it is impossible to predict how powerful each quake could prove to be. That explains why each nuclear power plant has been designed to fully withstand any earthquake.It is essential to inspect whether the latest earthquake was powerful enough to cause critical damage to equipment and buildings at the power station.Nonetheless, neither TEPCO nor the government ever imagined a nuclear power plant could be struck by an earthquake whose impact so greatly exceeded the level of maximum probable shock as that of Monday's temblor.Shocks that exceeded the level of maximum probable impact set for the safety standards of nuclear power plants--though not as big as Monday's temblor--have been recorded on two previous occasions. One was at  Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Onagawa power station in Miyagi Prefecture in August 2005, and the other at  Hokuriku Electric Power Co.'s Shika nuclear power plant in Ishikawa Prefecture in March.If nothing is done to adjust the differences in the the maximum level of seismic shock anticipated in designing nuclear power plants and the impact recorded by such facilities during earthquakes, it will only allow anxiety over the safety of nuclear power stations to prevail among the public.Standards constantly evolvingIn the autumn of 2006, the government's Nuclear Safety Commission put together a new set of guidelines for earthquake-resistance of nuclear power plants. The new guidelines reflected an increase in scientific knowledge about faults in all parts of the nation since the panel had compiled such standards in 1981, as well as advancement in earthquake-resistance technology.The new guidelines require electric power companies to closely examine active faults near the grounds of their nuclear power stations, using state-of-the-art technology. The guidelines also incorporate even more detailed standards for predicting the seismic impact of earthquakes.The government has instructed all electric power companies to determine whether their existing power plants fit the new standards. If necessary, it will also require the utilities to renovate their facilities to strengthen their earthquake resistance.However, it will likely take the utility firms three years to complete such tasks. That will be too late to be of use. The government should urge the electric power companies to take necessary steps as early as possible.The government and the Kashiwazaki municipal government do not intend to allow TEPCO to resume operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility until its safety is confirmed. Given this, it will be very difficult for TEPCO to meet the demand for electricity this summer. This will leave the company no choice but to manage the situation by using all its other power facilities, including thermal power stations, and promoting energy conservation.Nuclear power generation is important in the fight against global warming and for the nation's energy security. The government must provide the public with information about the significance of nuclear power generation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	793	2007-07-19	YOSHIN0020070719e37j000em
YOMSHI0020070720e37k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070720e37k00001	EN	\N	Murakami's profit-first practice condemned	The Tokyo District Court on Thursday handed a two-year prison sentence to Murakami, founder of the so-called Murakami Fund, for insider trading involving shares in  Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc. The court penalized him about \\1.15 billion--a record high for a Securities and Exchange Law violation. Murakami's defense team appealed immediately to the Tokyo High Court.	4	2007-07-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Murakami Fund made about \\3 billion in profit through its dumping of NBS shares. The ruling said Murakami "abused general investors by illegal means and profited at the expense of the general public."The ruling, which did not allow a suspended sentence, took into consideration the serious level of damage inflicted by Murakami on the securities market by compromising its fairness and causing the public to lose trust in it.The fund purchased additional NBS shares with the aim of selling them at higher prices after asking  Livedoor Co. to buy a large volume of shares under the strong impression that prices would rise.Livedoor allegedly passed Murakami a tip in November 2004 that it would purchase one-third of NBS' shares. The focus of the trial was whether this information could be considered insider information.Murakami's defense team said Livedoor's plan to purchase the shares was exaggerated and had no hope of being realized. But the ruling determined that the knowledge afforded Murakami indeed constituted insider information, as Livedoor had intended to purchase a large number of the broadcaster's shares and had prepared sufficient funds, in line with the prosecution's claims.Mammonism spurnedMurakami and former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie achieved iconic status, attracting public attention at a time when Japan was emerging from a long recession following the collapse of the bubble economy.Horie was sentenced in March to 2! years in prison for padding Livedoor's accounts.The ruling said Horie committed a crime in the sole pursuit of making profits, while condemning Murakami's profit-first attitude as horrifying. The court forgave neither of them for their involvement in illegal financial alchemy, under the assumption that money is everything.Murakami founded the Murakami Fund when he was a bureaucrat with the International Trade and Industry Ministry with the goal of creating a management base in Japan through which shareholders would be respected. But in increasing the size of the fund, he lost sight of his original intention, instead moving purely in the pursuit of profit.Funds should be scrutinizedManagement at several companies, including  Bull-Dog Sauce Co., are perturbed by investment funds that aim to purchase a significant stake in their company.In its ruling regarding a potential takeover of the sauce maker, the Tokyo High Court identified some investment funds as "abusive acquirers," pursuing their own interests by aiming to sell shares at higher prices.A new system requiring investment funds to register or submit their names will soon be introduced, based on a law on financial products, in a bid to enhance transparency. Such a system would enable financial authorities to inspect investment funds. The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission should also be given more power to control these funds' activities if they go overboard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	554	2007-07-20	YOSHIN0020070720e37k000dj
YOMSHI0020070721e37l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070721e37l00001	EN	\N	Latest 6-way talks leave no ground for optimism	As a nation that faces serious missile and nuclear threats from North Korea, Japan has no ground for optimism after the conclusion of the latest session of talks Friday.	4	2007-07-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest six-party talks among the heads of delegations from Japan, China, the two Koreas, Russia and the United States only ended up with an agreement on the schedule of future meetings, including working group meetings next month and six-party talks in early September, followed by talks among the foreign ministers of the six participating nations.At the latest meeting, there were no discussions of specific steps on the next phase following Pyongyang's freeze of its nuclear facilities. No deadline was set for that stage, though setting one was to have been the main task of the latest session.The February agreement among parties to the six-party talks stipulated "Provision by the DPRK of a complete declaration of all nuclear programs and disablement of all existing nuclear facilities." The DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.In return, the other five nations in the six-party process promised to extend "economic, energy and humanitarian assistance" equivalent to 950,000 tons of heavy fuel oil.DPRK doesn't keep its wordBelieving such actions could be accomplished by the end of this year, the United States aimed to include a deadline for implementation of the next phase in a statement concerning the latest talks. To do so, a road map of the second phase would have had to have been drawn up after discussing detailed specific steps. But the six delegates seem not to have held such in-depth discussions.How thoroughly can the working groups discuss the "complete declaration" of programs and "disablement" of facilities? Also, will they be able to discuss details of assistance steps and how they will be carried out?Can the next session of the six-party talks--to be held based on the outcomes of the working groups' discussions--produce a road map for the second phase?North Korea has given up nothing that it has acquired from its nuclear programs. Even if complete declaration of nuclear programs and disablement of nuclear facilities is realized, what lies ahead is negotiations on North Korea's nuclear weapons and the abandonment of its nuclear materials, including plutonium.Negotiation is never an easy process. This is especially so when the negotiating partner is Pyongyang.On the implementation of the first phase of its denuclearization, North Korea ignored the promised deadline of "within next 60 days" set in the February agreement. Pyongyang demanded that Washington lift financial sanctions imposed on it and refused to observe any of the items in the agreement until all North Korean-linked funds frozen at a Macao bank were returned to Pyongyang.U.S. in too much of a hurryAs a matter of fact, North Korea is demanding that Japan and the United States drop their "hostile attitude" toward North Korea, saying the complete implementation of the February agreement depends on action by Tokyo and Washington.In this regard, what Pyongyang wants is no longer to be regarded as a terrorism-sponsoring country and the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on it. Even if a deadline is set for implementation of the next phase of its denuclearization, North Korea likely will ignore it until its demands are met.The United States seems to be rushing to implement the February agreement. But as long as no clear road map toward North Korea's complete abandonment of nuclear programs has been produced, Washington should not opt for easy compromises with Pyongyang.In this regard, Japan must consult with the United States closely. Tokyo must carefully assess Pyongyang's intentions at the working group on bilateral issues in August.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2007-07-21	YOSHIN0020070721e37l000ez
YOMSHI0020070722e37m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070722e37m00001	EN	\N	Farm sector needs boost to thrive in open market	Overhauling the nation's agricultural policy is a task that cannot wait if the nation wants to remove the stigma such a policy leaves.	4	2007-07-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During campaigning for the upcoming House of Councillors election, agricultural issues have emerged as an important point of contention.In rural constituencies where only one seat each will be contested, the outcomes of the races hinge on farmers' votes. We hope the ruling and opposition parties will hold in-depth discussions on how to strengthen the agricultural sector.Economies of scale neededChanting the slogan "agriculture on the offensive," the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito are touting measures to stabilize the management of large-scale farms growing five items--rice, wheat, soybeans, beets and potatoes grown for starch.Until last fiscal year, the government had been providing item-to-item subsidies to all farmers for produce, including wheat and soybeans.From this fiscal year, however, the government narrowed the scope of subsidy recipients to farms above a certain size and community agricultural societies, whose members jointly engage in growing crops and keeping accounts.This subsidy measure is aimed at encouraging farmers to enlarge their operations for better productivity. Both the LDP and New Komeito stress they will continue to promote this management stabilization measure.Intensive farming is essential to reduce costs. If the price gaps between domestic produce and imports narrow, farmers will put up less resistance to the lowering of tariffs on agricultural products.The Democratic Party of Japan, however, criticizes the ruling parties' policy, saying it would mean "abandoning small-scale farmers." We would like to hear what the DPJ has to say about specific measures to raise farm productivity.DPJ should fully explain planTaking a different tack on the issue from the ruling parties, the DPJ, the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and other parties in the opposition camp have vowed in their campaign pledges to introduce policies that would subsidize a certain amount of farmers' income.The DPJ calls for establishing a system to subsidize item-by-item gaps between the production cost and market price of rice, rapeseed and other items for farmers shipping produce worth 500,000 yen or more per year.Take rice, for example. The DPJ says that under its plan, rice farmers would be compensated even if the price of their rice plunged to 5,000 yen per 60-kilogram bag. If those farmers were paid a 10,000 yen subsidy--representing the gap between the cost and price of their rice--they would make 15,000 yen per bag, the party says.The DPJ says the new system would be financed by reorganizing the government's budget for the agricultural sector, which currently is centered around public works projects. By doing so, the party says, 1 trillion yen a year could be procured for the system.The LDP, however, contends that the DPJ's plan would not provide profits to farmers as they would only receive amounts covering the shortfall between price and cost. It also criticized the measure as a "mere reckless provision of subsidies."The DPJ's proposal, however, raises concerns over the implications of market opening on its system. If Japan imports more and more cheap agricultural products from abroad, the prices of domestic produce will fall. Some say the 1 trillion yen funding the party eyes will not be enough to fund its plan.The DPJ should give full explanations about the system to those who have doubts about the plan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2007-07-22	YOSHIN0020070722e37m0008b
YOMSHI0020070723e37n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070723e37n00001	EN	\N	Parties need to address effectiveness of policies	Despite the continuing record-breaking period of economic expansion in the postwar period, most of people are not particularly optimistic because households and local economies lag behind in reaping the rewards of this recovery, while businesses operating in major cities mostly reap the benefits in most cases.	4	2007-07-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is only natural for the issues of income disparity, the widening gap between large businesses and small and midsized firms, and the disparity between major cities and rural areas to have become focal points in the House of Councillors election.Disparities must be tackledThe Liberal Democratic Party, which uses the slogan, "Letting people get a real feeling of economic growth," is poised to narrow these disparities by improving people's livelihoods through economic growth.While stating that it aims to realize economic growth of about 2.5 percent, even with a declining population, the LDP has pledged in its official campaign promises to secure job opportunities for young people, revitalize small and midsized companies and promote the rejuvenation of economies outside the major cities.New Komeito has also pledged to take steps to improve job opportunities for young people, among other pledges.Holding up the slogan of "Prioritizing people's lives," the Democratic Party of Japan says it will make an effort to eliminate disparities among people in a more direct manner.For instance, the DPJ promises it will raise the minimum hourly wage to 1,000 yen in three years from the current national average of 673 yen, while tripling the budget related to small businesses from the current level in these years. The party also promises that it will establish a system to subsidize farmers to make up for the gap between production costs and market prices.The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party also assert that they would substantially increase the minimum wage.Measures to eliminate income disparity, which would directly improve people's lives, will serve as to gain significant voter support in the election. Since they are official promises, how they would fit with overall economic policy and whether they would be compatible with fiscal and related policies will be called into question.The biggest task the Japanese economy faces is how to maintain its vitality in a society with a declining birthrate. Also needed in any measure against income disparity is a position, as part of a growth strategy, that addresses how to foster the growth of the economy and distribute its fruits among people.On this score, we cannot help but feel that these parties' assertions are still some way off getting to the nub of the problem.How will they realize the enhanced productivity needed to achieve their targeted economic growth or foster new industries? Unless the parties present clear-cut processes to realize their pledges, the reliability of their strategies for dissolving income disparity through economic growth will be met with skepticism.Strong economy key issueSupport for the weak in the Japanese economy, including small and midsized businesses and farming households, is indeed necessary. Yet providing lavish public financial support, while leaving any future image of the Japanese economy obscure would keep the industrial structure dependent on government subsidies, thus further hindering rather than promoting economic growth.Motivating local governments by further transferring administrative powers to them is key to revitalizing economies outside of major city areas. Yet there has so far been little discussion about altering tax revenue sources, that would help support the decentralization of power.In-depth policy discussions, centering on these issues, are what the voters hope to hear more of during the election campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2007-07-23	YOSHIN0020070723e37n000a4
YOMSHI0020070724e37o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070724e37o00001	EN	\N	Security issues ignored in election campaign	Politicians have a responsibility to squarely address the vital issue of how to secure the nation's peace and safety. However, diplomatic and security issues have barely registered a blip in the campaign for the July 29 House of Councillors election. We think each political party and candidate should be doing more to stimulate debate on such issues.	4	2007-07-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Liberal Democratic Party's election pledges comprise 155 items, of which 10 are about diplomacy and six refer to security matters. To many people, the LDP's manifesto appears to be little more than a list of the government's policies. One item spoke of the party's determination to resolve the abductions of Japanese by North Korea by securing the return of all abductees still thought held in the reclusive state with national prestige at stake.In the latest round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, delegates were unable to set any time frame for Pyongyang to report and disable its nuclear facilities. The process for North Korea's disarmament remains murky.Alliance a vital toolKeeping a rock-solid Japan-U.S. alliance is essential for maintaining and enhancing a deterrent to North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles. The same can be said about the alliance for making progress on the abduction issue.The LDP manifesto says the Japan-U.S. security alliance must be strengthened and defense cooperation between the countries should be tightened. The LDP apparently understands the importance of a robust Japan-U.S. alliance for tackling knotty North Korea issues.The Democratic Party of Japan manifesto says the largest opposition party would seek to establish proactive diplomacy and build a strong and equal Japan-U.S. relationship based on mutual trust. The DPJ then undermines this sentiment by spelling out that the Self-Defense Forces personnel dispatched to Iraq should be brought home immediately.The Air Self-Defense Force's logistics mission in Iraq is one important pillar supporting the Japan-U.S. alliance. If Japan pulls the plug on the mission without presenting any alternatives, would it be possible to maintain the solid and equal alliance?Actions and wordsDPJ President Ichiro Ozawa said the alliance should be based on a fair relationship and that each party must say what needs to be said. But in diplomatic circles, doing what one has to do is the premise for saying what one needs to say. Unless the DPJ does this, it would be in the same boat as the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, which oppose strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance.In its basic policies for taking the reins of the government decided in December, the DPJ endorsed exercising the right to collective self-defense in some situations. However, the DPJ did not mention exercising the right in its manifesto. This backtracking likely was due to consideration over division on the matter within the party. The LDP also has yet to specify in black and white its position, saying it will deal with the issue after a government expert panel compiles its conclusions this autumn.The LDP manifesto speaks of seeking the enactment of a permanent law concerning overseas dispatches of SDF personnel for international peace cooperation activities. This marks a step forward from its manifesto for the 2005 House of Representatives election that said the LDP would discuss the permanent law. The manifesto of New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, pledges to boost to 10,000 the number of personnel specializing in international peace cooperation activities.The right to collective self-defense and the permanent law on SDF overseas dispatches will become major focal points after the upper house election. Responsible political parties and candidates should make their positions clear and ignite debates during the election campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2007-07-24	YOSHIN0020070724e37o000h3
YOMSHI0020070725e37p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070725e37p00001	EN	\N	Quake reveals auto production bottleneck	The Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake on July 16 triggered the shutdown of auto parts manufacturer Riken Corp.'s plant in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, making it unable to supply piston rings for use in automobile engines.	4	2007-07-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A piston ring is an essential engine part that determines fuel efficiency. Riken, which has about 50 percent of the domestic market, supplies piston rings to the 12 automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp.Naturally, the automakers were forced to suspend production when their stocks of piston rings ran out.As a result of combined efforts among the automakers to help the parts manufacturer get back up and running, Riken was able to restart production Monday. With the parts maker back on line, some automakers resumed production the same day.Knowledge about how to help earthquake-hit companies, which has built up in the wake of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and other disasters, seems to have been utilized in supporting Riken. It is fortunate that Riken did not have to suspend operation for a longer period.Reduced outputHowever, due to the temporary halt, the 12 carmakers produced about 120,000 fewer vehicles than their original production plans called for, including a 55,000-vehicle drop in production at Toyota. The figure was more than three times the 40,000-vehicle production shortfall caused by the Great Hanshin Earthquake. It is likely to take time to make up for the reduction in output.Why were automakers forced to suspend production and why did the problem at a single plant have such a widespread impact? Resolving these questions will be a task for the Japanese auto industry to tackle as its business performance continues to improve.Japanese automakers use the Kanban just-in-time production system, in which a manufacturer keeps only a minimal inventory of materials, in this case auto parts, needed for production. The system, which was first introduced in Japan by Toyota, aims at seeking financial efficiency and is a source of competitive power.Disruption can halt systemBecause it carries only minimal stocks of parts, an automaker cannot sustain production if the supply of an essential part is disrupted as it was in this instance.The automakers have strong links with Riken. For example, Toyota jointly developed a highly sophisticated piston ring with Riken.This is one of the strengths of Japanese automakers. At the same time, they have to rely on Riken to ensure the supply of piston rings.How can the automakers balance maintaining competitiveness through cost-cutting efforts and securing a stable supply of parts?The automakers need to undertake risk management planning to the greatest extent possible, doing such things as diversifying suppliers and avoiding centralization of production in specific area.The suspension of automobile production due to the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake is also considered a warning to the whole manufacturing industry. For example, in the electric appliance manufacturing industry, many companies depend on certain suppliers for essential parts. Plants not only in Japan, but abroad may be stricken by disaster.Taking this incident as a lesson, every company should reexamine its production system in preparing for emergencies. The reexamination would lead to further strengthening companies' competitiveness.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2007-07-25	YOSHIN0020070725e37p000h3
YOMSHI0020070726e37q00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070726e37q00003	EN	\N	Nuclear reactor still safe despite quake	The problems that occurred at the nuclear power plant run by  Tokyo Electric Power Co. when it was hit by the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake on July 16 have made headlines every day since then.	4	2007-07-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The news reportedly prompted a popular Italian soccer team to suddenly cancel its visit to Japan.Reservations for rooms at inns and hotels in the prefecture have been canceled at what would normally be the most profitable time in summer. According to the prefectural government's calculations, the loss resulting from misgivings related to the earthquake could be between \\100 billion and \\200 billion.It is necessary to keep calm.The amount of radioactive substances leaked was minute: one-billionth to one-ten millionth of the emission standards stipulated by the government and the utility. Judging from the way the leaks occurred and the types of materials involved, it is unlikely that the leaks originated in the reactor and there was no damage to the environment.Human error had roleNeglecting to turn off the exhaust system caused radioactive materials to be emitted into the air, but the incident has passed. The leak was caused by human error rather than mechanical damage inflicted by the earthquake.Atsuyuki Suzuki, chairman of the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan announced on July 19 that the safety of the nuclear had been maintained since the three important mechanisms of "cessation," "locking" and "cooling" were working normally.The government's guideline on quake-resistant design and construction of nuclear facilities proved effective in principle.However, related facilities including exhaust ducts and fireplugs that are not designed or built with special quake-resistant features were badly damaged. A crane in the nuclear reactor building designed to be quake-resistant to some extent was also found to have been damaged. More than 60 problems at the nuclear power plant have been reported so far.But these problems should be differentiated from the issue of the safety of the reactor.Learn from incidentWhat is important is to review how much effect the quake had on the nuclear reactor in addition to analyzing the tremors of the earthquake. Another task is to determine how much can be done to ensure the ability of related facilities to withstand quakes.The earthquake is said to have been the largest ever to hit a nuclear reactor, if so, we should make sure to improve the safety of all nuclear reactors in the country, taking advantage of and learning from the incident.An inspection team from the International Atomic Energy Agency is set to visit Japan to check the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. Japan's technological expertise in quake-resistance design is the highest in the world. The efforts taken to ensure the safety of nuclear reactors should be conveyed to the inspectors. It would lead to dispelling misgivings abroad.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	516	2007-07-26	YOSHIN0020070726e37q000mf
YOMSHI0020070727e37r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070727e37r00001	EN	\N	Mitsukoshi-Isetan tie-up not end of realignment	Fourth-ranked Mitsukoshi Ltd., the nation's oldest department store chain, and No. 5 Isetan Co. have entered into negotiations to integrate their businesses.	4	2007-07-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If realized, the tie-up will result in the largest department store group in the country, with annual sales topping \\1.5 trillion. The integration also will narrow the industry to just four major groupings, with the Mitsukoshi-Isetan group sitting on top.Retailers are facing increasingly fierce competition from operators of supermarkets, convenience stores, specialty shops and mail-order firms. This is evidence that, even after increasing their size through integration, department store operators will be in no position to let down their guard.In the race to survive, it seems inevitable that further alliances must be formed. Retail-sector analysts are now turning their sights to yet another round of realignment that goes beyond that field.Marriage of convenienceFounded more than 330 years ago, Mitsukoshi was a leading department store, based on its position as the oldest of the long-standing department stores in the country. But its reputation was tarnished following a 1982 management scandal involving then President Shigeru Okada. The retailer suffered another blow in the early 1990s, when it entered a slump following the burst of the bubble economy. It has yet to fully recover.Isetan, on the other hand, has proved popular with its selection of high-fashion lines, posting strong sales and profits.In light of the two retailers' positions, it seems the integration talks got under way after down-on-its-luck Mitsukoshi approached Isetan with hat in hand.The two store networks rarely overlap, meaning that Mitsukoshi and Isetan will complement each other.Through standardization of operations, the two retailers will be able to cut costs of logistics and purchasing. But, some observers say the greatest benefit of the planned integration is that Mitsukoshi will be able to adopt Isetan's management know-how to carry out its own reforms.Means of survivalIn 1990--the height of the bubble economy--department stores posted cumulative sales of nearly \\10 trillion. But that figure has turned downward to the \\7 trillion level.Department store operators have been desperately expanding in an attempt to survive. Four years ago, Seibu Department Stores Ltd. and Sogo Co. integrated their businesses under holding company Millennium Retailing Inc.In September, Daimaru Inc. and Matsuzakaya Holdings Co.--parent firm of the Matsuzakaya department store group--will create J. Front Retailing Co. to integrate their businesses.In October, Hankyu Department Stores Inc. and Hanshin Department Store Ltd. will integrate their businesses.However, fearing for its future if it confines its dealings to the department store business, Millennium Retailing has opted to become part of the Seven & I group--a massive retail group including Seven-Eleven Japan Co. and supermarket operator Ito-Yokado Co.Rival Aeon group may be hoping to bring department stores into its fold. There are many department stores--mainly affiliated with railway companies--which have not yet become entangled in the current wave of realignment.But for the time being, the plans and actions of these department stores will continue to be of great interest as their role in the department store realignment unfolds.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	565	2007-07-27	YOSHIN0020070727e37r000e0
YOMSHI0020070728e37s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070728e37s00001	EN	\N	Keep a cool head when you vote	Unlike an election for the House of Representatives, an upper house election is not one in which a government is chosen. Sunday's poll will nevertheless help determine the future direction of Japan, which faces rapid changes. However, there was no serious debate over policies. The only things that seemed to garner voters' attention were ministers' gaffes and suspicious actions.	4	2007-07-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Voters' attention was aroused by Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma's controversial remark that was taken as justifying the atomic bombing of Japan and led to his resignation, and by the political funding scandal over office expenses that Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Minister Norihiko Akagi became mired in.While these are issues that should not be overlooked, political parties should have been competing with each other by arguing the effectiveness of their policies and presenting road maps for the nation's future.Pressing issues shirkedThe most controversial issue in the upper house poll is the pension system, which is closely linked to people's daily life.The focus of discussions on the pension system, which initially revolved around the issue of how to deal with the pension record-keeping fiasco, seems to have shifted to the more fundamental issue of how to build a pension system that people can trust.The ruling parties claim the current system should be preserved, while raising the rate of funding for the basic pension from the national coffers from one-third to half. The Democratic Party of Japan plans to cover the total amount of basic pension through the consumption tax, which it will peg at the current rate of 5 percent.When the ruling parties have criticized the opposition parties for not spelling out clearly how welfare payments will be funded, the opposition parties have responded by claiming that the current pension system is collapsing. Discussions on the pension system, instead of focusing on practical issues, have ended up as mere slanging matches.But how to deal with the pension system is not the only issue that should have been raised in the election campaign.Long list of tasksGiven that the central and local governments are shouldering a total of 800 trillion yen worth of long-term debt, fiscal reconstruction is a pressing issue. Concrete measures for tax and fiscal reform need to be studied, including raising the consumption tax in response to the expansion of social security costs.North Korea has yet to be persuaded to abandon its nuclear development program, which is the most serious security threat Japan faces. Following the passage of the national referendum law, detailed discussions on the revision of the Constitution, which would stipulate a new framework for the nation, also need to move forward without delay.But discussions on these important issues did not become animated during the campaign, as candidates have preferred to hide behind such issues as the pension system, which attract public attention.The focus of Sunday's election is whether the ruling parties can retain a majority in the upper house despite the strong headwind they face. The opposition parties assert that if the ruling parties lose their majority, it will be the first step toward a change of government. The ruling parties, on the other hand, contend that if they are defeated, politics will become confused, and the "lost decade" of the 1990s would be repeated.A point that voters should consider is what kind of political situation they want after the election.Voters should not be misled by populist policies and appeals, which are always a feature of elections. They should keep a cool head and look at the election issues from a range of perspectives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2007-07-28	YOSHIN0020070728e37s000da
YOMSHI0020070728e37t0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070728e37t0000h	EN	\N	Ponder the nation's future when voting	Our nation faces major changes at home and abroad. How should we maintain and advance our national power to secure a firm position in a rapidly transforming world? And how should we stabilize our national life at a time when society is aging, the birthrate is declining and the population is shrinking?	4	2007-07-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We should elect lawmakers worthy of representing the people who will draw up basic policies for governance and tackle thorny issues related to people's lives. Which political party has made the most responsible election promises? We should examine the parties' campaign pledges closely once again.During the election campaign, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe touted the achievements of his administration, including improved ties with China and South Korea; the first revision, since its enactment, of the Fundamental Law of Education, long called the "constitution for education"; and the enactment of the National Referendum Law, which stipulates procedures for amending the top law.How we evaluate these achievements of the Abe administration will also serve as a yardstick in voting.Array of pressing tasksIrrespective of the election outcome, both the ruling and opposition parties must deal with key policy issues following the election.These include building a foundation for stable economic growth; rebuilding the fiscal foundations of the government, which is saddled with massive long-term debts; overhauling social security systems related to the public pension, medical care in general and nursing care for elderly people; and reforming the taxation system, including hiking the consumption tax, to fund the reconstruction of welfare systems.Other key policy tasks are reforming the civil service and identifying the key points concerning constitutional revision--a job for the panels to be set up for that task in both Diet houses.Getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear development program, resolving the issue of that country's abduction of Japanese, and devising measures to deal with international terrorism, including the extension of the Antiterrorism Law, are also matters of the utmost urgency.Elected upper house members must deal with these issues immediately. We should make sure that the candidates we vote for are able and talented enough to deal successfully with these issues.Confusion undesirableWe also should bear in mind that the election outcome could have a serious impact on political trends and Diet business in the months ahead.The upper house has been a source of political turmoil since the Liberal Democratic Party lost its working majority in the house in the 1989 upper house election.Should the opposition parties take over the reins of power from the ruling parties in the upper house, they will gain the initiative in handling bills in the chamber.Of course, decisions of the House of Representatives trump those of the upper house when the chambers disagree over the designation of the prime minister, approving the budget and ratifying treaties.Even if a bill is rejected at the upper house, the ruling camp can get it made into law by having it passed a second time through the lower house by a majority of two-thirds or more.In reality, however, things would not be so easy. Depending on how the opposition parties acted, key domestic and foreign policies might not be implemented, and bills related to people's daily life might not be enacted, thus risking unnecessary political turmoil, political impasse or a political vacuum.Japan's politics is at a crossroads. Let's firmly wield our precious voting right, with which we will choose the future course of the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2007-07-29	YOSHIN0020070729e37t0009h
YOMSHI0020070730e37u00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070730e37u00001	EN	\N	Despite LDP setback, show must go on	It is certain to have a major impact on both the political management of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has declared he would maintain his grip on the reins of the government, and the manner in which business is conducted at the Diet. The result of this election could well alter the nation's political structure.	4	2007-07-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Liberal Democratic Party suffered a humiliating loss, while coalition partner New Komeito had to settle for a poor showing--costing the ruling bloc its majority in the upper chamber.The Democratic Party of Japan, meanwhile, made impressive gains, becoming the largest party in the upper house.The political winds shifted in favor of the DPJ in the wake of public criticism of "blunders" by Abe's government and the LDP, including pension record-keeping errors, questionable handling of office expenses by the LDP's Cabinet members and controversial and careless remarks by Cabinet members.Persistent dissatisfaction regarding "social and economic disparities" among laborers and rural dwellers, who believe they are not benefiting from the nation's economic expansion, apparently resulted in sharp criticism of the Abe administration and the ruling parties.The election tactics of DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa also appeared to have proved successful. Ozawa focused his campaign efforts on prefectural constituencies in which one seat was up for election. In those constituencies, traditional LDP support bases such as the construction industry, agricultural sector and postmasters' organization, have eroded.DPJ now bears responsibilityThe DPJ, which will take leadership in managing affairs in the upper house as the largest party in the chamber, must bear heavy responsibility in this "twisted" situation in which the ruling coalition has a majority in the House of Representatives and the opposition has a majority in the upper house.Ozawa has insisted that the DPJ's sights are set on a transfer of power by obtaining a majority in the upper house. With an eye to realigning the political landscape, Ozawa seems determined to squeeze the government and ruling coalition so it has no option but to dissolve the lower house.If a bill sponsored by the government and the ruling coalition passes the lower house and is sent to the upper house, the opposition bloc-controlled upper house can reject or revise the bill. This situation leaves the government and the ruling coalition on shaky ground should the opposition bloc submit a bill to the upper house that is passed and sent to the lower house.As things stand, adopting a censure motion against the prime minister or a Cabinet minister is no longer such a far-fetched prospect. Should such a situation occur regularly, turmoil would engulf the nation's political world.The ruling coalition, which controls more than two-thirds of lower house seats, can pass again and pass a bill that is rejected at the upper house. However, this will not be easy in reality.Of most concern is the effect Sunday's results will impart on promoting key domestic and international policies.One issue that could get bogged down is tax and fiscal reform, including raising the consumption tax rate to secure sufficient fiscal resources to stabilize the social security system for the provision of pension, medical and nursing care.All the opposition parties are opposed to raising the consumption tax rate. But simply taking a defiant stance on this issue will make it difficult to forge a consensus on how to construct a stable social security system at an early date.Another issue is the realignment of U.S. forces stationed in Japan. How will the opposition camp deal with the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture? The DPJ opposed the special law to promote the realignment of U.S. forces. The DPJ's handling of this matter could undermine trust in the Japan-U.S. security alliance that is essential for ensuring this country's peace and security at a time when North Korea's nuclear development program poses a serious threat.The repercussions of Sunday's election also could extend to the Antiterrorism Law. If it becomes impossible to extend the law because of opposition from the DPJ, the international community will regard this country as being reluctant to participate in international peacekeeping activities. Disturbingly, Japan's voice in the international community could lose some of its clout.If these concerns become reality, the two-chamber system and the raison d'etre of the upper house will be called into question.Not time for political gamesWhen it comes to important issues at home and abroad, it is important that the DPJ firmly stick to its stance as a responsible political party rather than simply playing political games.The LDP's crushing defeat in Sunday's election was a result of widespread dissatisfaction toward the party over a number of issues.The pension record-keeping blunders stoked distrust in the government administration over the pension system. A string of scandals involving dubious accounting reports for office expenses by Genichiro Sata, state minister in charge of administrative reform, former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, and his successor Norihiko Akagi, all raised public skepticism about "politics and money." Sata resigned after his scandal came to light and Matsuoka committed suicide after it was reported that he received questionable political donations.The LDP also suffered a serious blow when then Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma made a comment that was construed as justifying the United States' atomic bombing of Japan. The statement later led to Kyuma being forced to resign from the post.Abe has been the subject of strong criticism for appointing such ministers, who are said to have received their portfolios as reward for their contributions to Abe's campaign to become LDP president.However, there has yet to be a prime minister who has totally shunned the spoils system when awarding appointments.Abe must respect mandateThe pension issue--the most contentious matter in the poll--and the widening socioeconomic gap are a legacy echoing from past administrations. Responsibility for these problems should not rest entirely on the 10-month-old Abe administration.The pension fiasco was the result of lax management on the part of the Social Insurance Agency. Past cabinets that failed to properly oversee the agency bear much of the responsibility.One factor behind the widening social and economic disparities is that the government failed to introduce economic stimulus measures during the so-called lost decade starting in 1991. The drive to promote competitive market policies under Heizo Takenaka--then state minister for economic and fiscal policy under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi--played a key role in widening the gap.Had Abe distanced himself from Koizumi's extravagance, the current prime minister would not be accused of producing negative policies that reflect those of his predecessor.Despite suffering this serious setback, Abe stuck to his guns, saying, "I will fulfill my duty to pursue a new type of nation-building." This apparently was his way of expressing determination to tackle constitutional revision and educational reform under the concept of making a "departure from the postwar regime."To do so, Abe must take seriously the voters' mandate, and must work to rebuild the foundation of his administration and his party, all the while seeking ways to cooperate with the DPJ.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1275	2007-07-30	YOSHIN0020070731e37u00054
YOMSHI0020070731e37v00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070731e37v00001	EN	\N	The hard work starts now for DPJ	This seemingly extraordinary distribution of power in the legislature seems set to last for an extended period, unless there is a major change in the current political landscape that may arise from another round of realignment.	4	2007-07-31	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the political situation is now fraught with elements of instability, politicians and political parties must roll up their sleeves and deal with a number of tasks. Any delay in implementing policies that can affect people's lives is unacceptable.On Sunday night, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, "I'll discuss matters with the Democratic Party of Japan, and give careful attention to its opinions." The DPJ's overwhelming victory in Sunday's election will allow the party to take the initiative in steering the upper house as the dominant force in the chamber.DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama also struck a conciliatory tone. "We shouldn't say no to whatever the ruling parties say in the upper house. We should act as sensible and responsible politicians," he said.Both Abe and Hatoyama are correct in stating how responsible political parties should behave.However, there are concerns about whether the DPJ will steadfastly adhere to that principle.Antiterror law an early testThe immediate test of the leading opposition party's determination to follow through on its word will come when it must deal with a government plan to extend the Antiterrorism Law, which will expire on Nov. 1. The proposed extension of the law will become the greatest focus of an extraordinary Diet session to be convened in the autumn.Maritime Self-Defense Force ships have been refueling U.S., British and other countries' warships in the Indian Ocean as part of Japan's aid to those vessels engaged in an antiterrorism campaign in Afghanistan. Given the deteriorating situation in that country, the government should not call off the dispatch of the MSDF ships.If the MSDF dispatch is withdrawn, Japan would be regarded as a dropout in the global campaign against terrorism. Such a stigma could tarnish this country's credibility in the international fight against terrorism.The Antiterrorism Law has been extended three times. The DPJ has opposed the extension of the law every time the Diet voted on a bill for that purpose. While the ruling coalition retained a majority in the upper house, the government was able to push such bills through the Diet. However, this is no longer the case, given that Sunday's election handed the opposition camp a majority in the upper house.Admittedly, a bill rejected by the upper house can still become law if it is passed a second time by the lower house by a majority of at least two-thirds of its members. However, such procedures require a great deal of time.If confusion arises from legislative procedures taken to extend the law, it could send the international community a garbled message about Japan's attitude toward the antiterrorism campaign.Will the DPJ still oppose an attempt to extend the law?The DPJ has said it will squeeze the Abe administration until it decides to dissolve the lower house for a snap general election, to realize a change of government. Doing so will require the DPJ--which lacks enough seats in the upper house to hold a majority in the chamber on its own--to cooperate with the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party in dealing with government-sponsored bills in a manner that serves its interests.Given this, the DPJ must heed the opinions of the JCP and the SDP. We feel this need to play a delicate balancing game with the other parties might make it difficult for the DPJ to act sensibly and responsibly, instead of simply opposing whatever the government may propose.Needless to say, the Liberal Democratic Party will face even greater challenges in overcoming hurdles after suffering Sunday's thumping electoral defeat.Abe takes a body blowAbe has said he is determined to stay on as prime minister. However, the LDP's defeat has dealt a blow to the leadership and authority of his administration. He will experience great difficulties in getting his administration going, but he must not dawdle in getting it back on its feet.During a press conference Monday, Abe said he would reshuffle his Cabinet and the LDP's top echelon. He emphasized he would "place the right people in the right jobs" and "form a team in which [all LDP members] are united in carrying out policies."Upon its inauguration, the Abe administration was ridiculed as "a Cabinet formed by ministers who have best served him." Obviously, Abe handpicked some lawmakers as members of his Cabinet to reward them for contributing to his victory in the LDP presidential election last year.His Cabinet was also derided as "a group of good friends." It includes some lawmakers personally close to the prime minister.The Cabinet's deteriorating reputation was exacerbated by scandals involving questionable office management expenditures claimed by some Cabinet members and gaffes by other ministers. Questions arose over whether these Cabinet members were qualified to serve in their posts, a move that undermined the leadership and authority of the Abe administration.All this adversely affected the LDP's campaign for the upper house election.In reshuffling his Cabinet, it is essential that Abe appoint competent and able persons from the LDP to ministerial posts. It also is important he think about what kind of leadership should be established in the LDP caucus in the upper house, with the aim of better negotiating with DPJ leaders in that chamber.By the same token, lawmakers should consider how the upper house can fully serve its purposes. The DPJ's rise to be the largest force in the upper house will transform the chamber into a principal battlefield for the ruling and opposition camps. This means the upper house could become a main theater of political showdowns between the ruling and opposition camps.All this is a far cry from the principal role that should be played by the upper house under this nation's parliamentary system of government.Ozawa must stick to principlesThis sentiment was echoed by DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa. When serving as leader of the defunct Liberal Party, Ozawa said, "The lower house and the upper house have nearly equal power....Even the upper house has become an assembly of people affiliated with political parties...It has become impossible for the upper house to fulfill duties different from those of the lower house."He added: "Gaining a majority in the lower house does not allow a political party to display strong leadership...Therefore, the collective opinion expressed [by voters] in a general election is not reflected in what [the ruling camp] actually does."Ozawa's remarks were intended to deplore restrictions imposed on a group of politicians who hold a majority in the lower house. The presence of the upper house does not permit such a group to ensure stability in their efforts to run the nation.This is true with the LDP. The LDP's dominant grip on the lower house must allow the party to display strong leadership in carrying out affairs of state. However, its lack of a majority in the upper house may not allow the LDP to do so.Today, somewhat ironically, Ozawa seems to be spearheading an attempt to prevent the ruling parties from displaying strong leadership, by taking advantage of the opposition bloc's success in gaining a majority in the upper house.However, the DPJ must know it has a responsibility to make headway in implementing necessary policies if it truly seeks to snatch power from the ruling coalition.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1351	2007-07-31	YOSHIN0020070801e37v000e6
YOMSHI0020070731e3810000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070731e3810000k	EN	\N	Break-up of Comsn serves public good	Care must be taken not to give users of home nursing-care services cause for concern.	4	2007-08-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet, this is just the beginning. Goodwill and Comsn have a responsibility to transfer their home nursing-care business smoothly to trusted operators.Comsn will hand over about 1,200 facilities and their staff involved in providing visiting nursing-care services to local firms, selling off its businesses to different firms in each prefecture. Goodwill will decide which companies will take over its businesses by early September by consulting an independent panel of experts.At first, Goodwill planned to sell all of its nursing-care businesses as a single package to another company. That plan brought the whiff of a takeover to the issue for a while after Nichii Gakkan Co. and Watami Co., both major nursing-care firms, announced they would launch bids to buy up Comsn's businesses and a trading company showed interest in entering the race.Consequences of illegal actsThe nursing-care insurance system contains a regulation under which licenses for all of a company's facilities will not be renewed if the firm operates illegally.Comsn had to withdraw completely from the nursing-care business due to this regulation.If Comsn transfers its nursing-care businesses as a single package to another company, such a move would only end up creating another Comsn-like company, bringing concern that similar turmoil could occur.Also, if many care workers are recruited at once by a major nursing-care operator, it will be difficult to respond to demand in the nursing-care business that differs in accordance with local situations.Taking this into consideration, Goodwill's decision to transfer its business to buyers to be selected in each prefecture is appropriate.Yet, the situation may arise that no buyer is found in some areas. In such a case, it is necessary to take effective measures to provide continuous nursing-care services through local social welfare councils as a replacement.Ensure local coverageIt is also vital to set up a system in which local operators operate cooperatively. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and prefectural governments should instruct local operators in an appropriate manner.Comsn's selling point is that it provides nursing-care services at all hours of the day and night. Many people rely on the company because almost no other operators provide similar services.In transferring the business, Goodwill must find a buyer willing to faithfully provide round-the-clock service. Buyers should be able to carry over the excellent aspects of Comsn's service and develop them further.Comsn's illegal acts were vicious as the company obtained licenses to open facilities through fraudulent applications including applications which listed an inflated number of care workers. The discontinuation of their nursing-care business is a matter of course.Experts have pointed out that behind the scenes, however, lies a serious shortage of workers in the nursing-care industry as a whole since working conditions for care workers are hard to improve under the current structure of nursing-care benefits.It also is an urgent task to examine how to secure care workers from a long-term perspective.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2007-08-01	YOSHIN0020070802e381000ga
YOMSHI0020070801e3820000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070801e3820000e	EN	\N	Mistaken view of history must be corrected	The resolution accuses the Imperial Japanese Army of having "coerced" women from Asian countries to work as "sex slaves" before and during World War II.	4	2007-08-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of course, it would be remiss not to state that the Japan-U.S. alliance is absolutely vital to the national interest of Japan. In addition to close military and economic relations, both countries share common values such as democracy and human rights.Nevertheless, we must refute the distortion of the facts espoused by the resolution. Allowing misunderstanding of the facts to go unanswered might have the unfortunate effect of creating problems in the Japan-U.S. relationship.Flimsy originsIn the early 1990s, a certain Japanese newspaper reported that women had been forcibly recruited as "comfort women" under the name of "volunteer corps." This represents a groundless interpretation of the fact that women volunteered to work as "women corps" during the war at factories and other installations.In 1993, then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono issued a statement including wording that could be taken as indicating comfort women were recruited forcibly by government and military authorities. This served to spread misunderstanding of the comfort women issue both at home and abroad.But, as the government has repeatedly asserted, there are no documents proving that women were recruited forcibly as comfort women.Despite this, some people even in Japan continue to claim there was "coercion" in recruiting women as comfort women. They develop their arguments without providing undisputable examples of "coercion" and take the U.S. House resolution--which describes the comfort women system as "one of the largest cases of human trafficking in the 20th century"--at face value.Japan singled outSo-called comfort stations were not limited to the Imperial Japanese Army. U.S. Occupation forces used such comfort facilities in Japan, and it is now known that the South Korean military had similar facilities during the 1950-53 Korean War. During World War II, the German military also had "comfort" facilities with women who had been recruited systematically and forcibly from areas occupied by the German forces.So why was Japan singled out as the sole target for the U.S. resolution?Vigorous lobbying by a Chinese-affiliated, anti-Japan organization that has extensively supported U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., who initiated the resolution, played a key role in the move to adopt the resolution. There is no such an organization seeking to sully Germany. Of course, no organization in the United States seeks to condemn the "moral responsibility" of the U.S. military for its actions.The possibility that similar resolutions could be approved by the Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress cannot be ruled out. Japan's diplomatic authorities must make more efforts to dispel the misunderstanding of the comfort women issue in the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	531	2007-08-01	YOSHIN0020070802e381000g9
YOMSHI0020070803e38300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070803e38300001	EN	\N	DPJ mustn't play politics with Antiterrorism Law	The Democratic Party of Japan has expressed its opposition to the extension of the law, which expires Nov. 1. This is not the kind of attitude that shoud be taken by a responsible political party seeking to take over the reins of the government. The DPJ needs to rethink its position on the law.	4	2007-08-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Referring to the extension of the law, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa said: "Our assertion [about the law] has remained unchanged. As we have opposed it [the extension], there is no way we will shift to supporting it now."Probably one reason Ozawa made this comment was to rattle the government and the ruling coalition parties. But he should not be allowed to place priority on his party's efforts to turn the political situation in its favor at the expense of measures against terrorism.Japan has been listed as a possible target of terrorist attacks, and it is known that senior members of international terrorist groups lurked in Japan. Extension of the law is vital to national security.The Antiterrorism Law is a temporary law used to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to refuel vessels of the multinational force in the Indian Ocean, as well as for other operations.The legislation was established in 2001 following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States that year. The law has been extended three times since 2003. The DPJ opposed the establishment of the law and all extensions.Opposition unjustifiedThe main opposition party recognizes "the importance of tackling the eradication of terrorism through a united international community," yet it also says the government has failed to give satisfactory explanations or provide sufficient assessment of MSDF activities. But this is not enough to justify the party's opposition to extending the law.Since December 2001, the MSDF has provided 480,000 kiloliters of fuel and other supplies in 763 operations to vessels from 11 countries, including the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Pakistan, which were engaged in activities to block the marine transport of drugs and weapons by terrorists. The MSDF's operation has garnered high praise from those countries.In Afghanistan, increased moves by the Taliban, which once controlled the country, have emerged this year, including the abduction of 23 South Koreans last month.The international community must enhance activities to eradicate terrorism.A test of leadershipIf the dispatch of the MSDF is ended, Japan will be seen as exiting the fight against terrorism and will lose international credibility. Such figures as U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer have expressed concerns over how the DPJ will act regarding an extension of the law.The government plans to convene an extraordinary Diet session next month at which it will submit the bill to extend the law for one year.The bill is expected to easily pass the House of Representatives, after which it will be sent to the House of Councillors. But once there, the bill will have a rough going because the upper house is dominated by the DPJ.If the bill is rejected in the upper house early on, it can still be established as law through a two-thirds vote in the lower house. The ruling camp of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito have enough seats to make this happen.But if the DPJ intentionally prolongs deliberations over the bill in the upper house long enough, the law will automatically become void on Nov. 2.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey, 46 percent of people said they did not think the DPJ was capable of becoming the governing party, compared to 36 percent who said it was.If the DPJ fails to take a responsible attitude on diplomatic and national security issues, doubts will mount as to whether the DPJ has the ability to govern. How the party handles the extension of the Antiterrorism Law will be a major litmus test.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	700	2007-08-03	YOSHIN0020070803e383000ev
YOMSHI0020070804e38400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070804e38400001	EN	\N	Will Dow Jones be able to keep its independence?	Rupert Murdoch's massive global media and entertainment empire, News Corp., has signed an agreement to buy Dow Jones. Australian-born Murdoch's News Corp. owns a number of corporations, including The Times, the Fox broadcast network and the Twentieth Century Fox film studio. Dow Jones, which issues the leading U.S. business daily, has enjoyed great fame as a century-old newspaper publisher.	4	2007-08-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	News organizations in the United States and Europe are experiencing hard times due to the decrease in their circulation and advertising revenue that has ensued from the spread of the Internet. In April, Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, accepted a buyout offer from a U.S. real estate mogul.To improve their business performance, these companies are working to expand the scope of news distribution through the Net. In May, Canadian financial data provider Thomson Corp. bought Reuters Group PLC. Thomson's purchase of the British news and financial information company symbolizes the aggressive attempt by news organizations to iron out their financial difficulties.A hands-on proprietorNews Corp.'s decision to buy Dow Jones has been regarded as an effort to improve the quality of a business news channel it will open in October while also increasing the quantity of economic information it distributes through the Net.The greatest focus of buyout negotiations between News Corp. and Dow Jones was Murdoch's tendency to stick his nose into the editing of newspapers he owns.In 1981, Murdoch bought The Times, a British quality paper. A third-party committee was established to ensure the independence of the paper's editorial policy. However, Murdoch disregarded the committee's opinions and sacked the paper's editor, whom he disliked.In the 1990s, Murdoch removed BBC news reports from broadcasts delivered by a Hong Kong-based satellite TV station News Corp. owns. Murdoch's move reportedly reflected his decision that BBC broadcasts critical about China would hamper his efforts to do business in that country.Dow Jones is a listed company. However, the newspaper publisher's founding family has been able to ensure the independence of its editorial policy by acquiring 64 percent of voting rights through its multiple-voting rights shares. For years, the founding family has refrained from intervening in the paper's editorial policy.News Corp. divided familyHowever, News Corp. successfully drove a wedge between the already divided opinions of members of the founding family about the buyout by offering a purchase price exceeding the market price of Dow Jones shares by a hefty 60 percent.If Murdoch interferes too much with Dow Jones' editorial policy, it will deal a blow to the publisher's reputation and credibility, undermining its corporate value. Both Dow Jones insiders and outsiders are already apprehensive about this.Murdoch's latest buyout has shown the dilemma a news organization faces when it offers its stocks to the public. Dow Jones did its utmost to defend itself from a corporate buyout by acquiring multiple-voting rights shares. However, the company's line of defense quickly collapsed following Murdoch's offer to buy shares at an extremely high price.All Japanese newspaper publishers are unlisted corporations. The circumstances surrounding them are different from those of U.S. and European newspaper publishers. By properly accommodating advances in the Internet society to help stabilize our business foundation, we hope we can continue to issue a newspaper trusted by the public.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2007-08-04	YOSHIN0020070804e384000ff
YOMSHI0020070805e38500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070805e38500001	EN	\N	'Professionalize' commodity futures mart	Commodity futures trading is an important industrial foundation that serves as a pricing referent for natural resources such as crude oil and grains--essential for economic vigor--and also acts as a risk hedge for related industries to help them avoid suffering damage from major price changes.	4	2007-08-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet there is a relatively high ratio of individual investors in the nation's commodity futures market, and there has been conspicuous friction between these investors and commodity trading firms, while business corporations and institutional investors have made only sluggish efforts at participation in the market.Public administrators and those involved in the market need to expedite their efforts to come to grips with problems afflicting it, thus allowing it to perform its primary functions.The report, compiled by a panel established by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry to study ways of boosting the competitiveness of the nation's commodity futures market, has coined the slogan "professionalization of the market" for the reforms.In line with the expansion of the global economy, the worldwide trading volume of the commodity futures market in 2006 showed an almost threefold increase from five years earlier.Conversely, trading volume on the domestic market peaked in fiscal 2003, shrinking in fiscal 2006 to 55 percent of its fiscal 2003 level.Trading hour imbalanceA major factor behind the sluggish domestic market is the inconvenience suffered by "professionals," such as business corporations and institutional investors.While trading can be conducted almost all day in major overseas commodity markets, trading at TOCOM lasts only five hours each day.The electronic transaction system used for making trades lacks efficiency and is unable to meet fully the needs of domestic and foreign investors who utilize state-of-the-art computer transactions.The panel's report has called for several improvements and cites specific areas for tackling, such as an overly rigid daily limit set for price changes, in comparison with those of overseas markets.TOCOM plans to expedite its efforts to address such issues by introducing a new transaction system, which the exchange hopes will start operating within the next fiscal year.We hope TOCOM takes account of investors' needs and implements reforms in a steady fashion to ensure that improved convenience for investors induces more investment.Misleading claimsOn the other hand, offering full protection for individual investors is important. Revisions to the Commodity Exchange Law in 2004 and 2006 tightened regulations on traders' sales techniques.While the number of complaints made by investors to organizations such as the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan is on the decline, there are repeated cases of consumers being talked into making investments with misleading claims of assured profit.Depending on whether these and other similar troubling cases continue, it may become necessary to consider the introduction of yet-tighter regulations, such as a ban on uninvited sales calls on individuals who have no interest in trading or investing.Futures trading, in which investors can potentially generate large profits, or suffer huge losses, is often said to be an area novice investors should stay away from.TOCOM has also introduced a mini futures contract in which trading units are broken down into small lots.Yet rather than attempting to woo an increasing number of amateur investors, efforts would be more effectively channeled into building a market that can be fully utilized by professional investors, which in turn will act as a solid foundation for growing the market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2007-08-05	YOSHIN0020070805e385000b3
YOMSHI0020070806e38600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070806e38600001	EN	\N	Between a rock and a hard place on N-arms	The two cities have held a memorial service on these days every year to remind future generations of the tragedy and to appeal for the eradication of nuclear weapons, the use of which is carried out without regard to the laws of humanity. Despite the earnest appeals of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world is still beset by nuclear fears.	4	2007-08-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korea, which defied international calls for restraint and conducted a nuclear test in October, undoubtedly poses the biggest threat to Japan. Six-party talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions have yet to present a clear path for the reclusive state to follow for that end.Suspicions also have increased over Iran's nuclear development.On June 30, then Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma said the atomic bombings were "something that couldn't be helped." His remark touched off fierce criticism as, many said, it appeared to justify dropping the atomic bombs on the two cities. However, the rebukes were mostly emotional, and did not provoke much discussion over Japan's complex situation when it comes to nuclear issues.Japan can never condone the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that claimed more than 200,000 lives.Two birds with one stoneThere is a strong view in the United States, on the other hand, says the atomic bombings were necessary to bring an early end to World War II, averting a possible U.S. invasion of the Japan's main islands and thereby saving the lives of many U.S. soldiers.Although the United States was well aware that Japan had virtually lost its capability of continuing fighting the war, Washington used the horrific nuclear weapons without prior warning.Dropping the atomic bombs had the purpose of deterring the Soviet Union from joining the war against Japan. Testimonies given in the United States substantiate this claim.During debates among party leaders just before campaigning for the House of Councillors election started last month, Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to demand the United States apologize for the atomic bombings.However, Abe responded, "It's also true that Japan needs the [U.S.] nuclear deterrent" to counter North Korea's nuclear threat.The dropping of the atomic bombs can never be justified. On the other hand, the nation has no option but to depend on the U.S. nuclear deterrent for our national security. Japan has been tormented by this dilemma since the end of the war.Activists dividedIn 1965, Japan's antinuclear movement split into two groups--the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) aligned with the Japanese Communist Party, and the Japan Congress against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikin) affiliated with the then Japan Socialist Party.The breakup was mainly caused by friction between the JCP and JSP, with the former asserting that nuclear weapons possessed by socialist nations were for defensive purposes, and the latter denouncing nuclear weapons held by any state.Japanese antinuclear activists have called for the eradication of nuclear weapons since the years of U.S.-Soviet confrontation. But today, Japan is staring down the barrel of the North Korean nuclear threat. These activists have never squarely come to grips with this dilemma.In a peace declaration to be made Monday, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba is expected to strongly reject the "outdated, mistaken policies" of the United States. However, Akiba is not expected to directly mention the North Korean nuclear program in the declaration.How can we make our calls for the eradication of nuclear weapons more compelling? We must rise up to this challenge.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2007-08-06	YOSHIN0020070806e386000bt
YOMSHI0020070807e38700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070807e38700001	EN	\N	N-plant inspection to offer lessons for world	Above all else, the inspection team should check the safety of the nuclear reactors. We hope its findings will be released promptly.	4	2007-08-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Less than a month has passed since the fatal magnitude-6.8 earthquake rocked the prefecture on July 16. Workers are still clearing up the mess caused by the temblor inside the plant operated by  Tokyo Electric Power Co.The government and TEPCO were quick to accept the U.N. nuclear watchdog's offer to inspect the plant at an early date because they wanted an impartial assessment of the plant's condition.Communities near the facility have been hit hard by harmful rumors spawned by an unnecessary fuss over the leak of a small amount of radioactive material. Local residents also are banking on a quick release of the delegation's findings so they can get back on their feet.Although the plant suffered damage, including a small fire at a power transformer, the safety of the plant's nuclear reactors was never jeopardized. The leak of radioactive substances was miniscule--less than one-10 millionth of the dose of radiation that an ordinary person is naturally exposed to per year.Inspectors on tight scheduleThe IAEA is best known as the nuclear watchdog tasked with preventing nuclear proliferation. It also plays the vital roles of providing technical cooperation and information to ensure the safe and responsible use of nuclear energy. The U.N. body should work to debunk harmful rumors stemming from nuclear incidents.Never before has a nuclear power plant anywhere in the world been struck by such a powerful earthquake. Some damage to equipment might not have been detected yet. It will take some time for the extent of the damage to be fully revealed.The IAEA team will examine the plant for most of this week. However, the inspectors probably will be strapped for time trying to detail all the damage caused by the earthquake.Rather, the inspectors should focus on the crisis-management systems of the government and TEPCO and their attitude toward enhancing safety at nuclear power plants. Lessons should be drawn from the IAEA assessment that can be shared with the international community.For example, the delay in extinguishing the fire and getting to the bottom of the actual extent of the damage caused great anxiety among the public. Information sharing among relevant authorities also was insufficient. Initially, the government and TEPCO had no public relations apparatus in place through which to provide information. Consequently, the safety status of the nuclear reactors was poorly explained, setting off speculation and misunderstanding that the plant was blighted by serious problems.Prepare for all eventualitiesProblems are unexpected. Indeed, that is why they are problems. Even an apparently robust system might have deficiencies that overlook some potential pitfalls.Fingers likely will be pointed at the government and the nuclear power plant's operator over their tardiness in preparing for major threats, such as an earthquake.Nuclear power plants are designed based on the antiseismic guideline set up by the Nuclear Safety Commission. The guideline was revised last year based on the most up-to-date knowledge available.Checks of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant based on the revised guideline were scheduled to be completed by next year. The government deemed this procedure acceptable.Making efforts to enhance safety is common sense. But it is essential to decide what matters should be given priority.We hope the IAEA will accurately convey the true condition of the nuclear power plant--including how it will be operated from now on--to the world.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	650	2007-08-07	YOSHIN0020070807e387000fu
YOMSHI0020070808e38800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070808e38800001	EN	\N	DPJ must now show it deserves voters' faith	Eda became the first person from outside the Liberal Democratic Party to assume the post since 1955, when the Liberal Party and the Democratic Party merged into the LDP. Including the chairmanship of the upper house Rules and Administration Committee, the DPJ has assumed a leadership role in steering all upper house chamber proceedings.If other opposition parties, such as the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, cooperate, the DPJ will be able to reject every bill presented by the government and the ruling camp.	4	2007-08-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ruling parties, with a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives, can still pass bills even if the upper house rejects them. But the opposition camp will be able to block even these efforts if it extends deliberations on them for up to 60 days, within which the session in which they were introduced, or the legislation's validity, expire.Uncharted watersThere have been three occasions since the end of World War II that the ruling parties occupied a majority of seats in the lower house, while the opposition at the same time held a majority in the upper house. Each time, forces pressing for compromise with the ruling parties existed in the upper house.But this time, there are no such forces at work, and the ruling and opposition parties are in uncharted waters in terms of Diet management.The DPJ intends to actively pursue lawmaker-sponsored bills in the upper house. It plans to submit to the current Diet session a bill prohibiting pension premiums from being used for purposes other than what they were originally intended, preventing the money from being used, for example, to build recreation and welfare facilities.Also at the next extraordinary Diet session, the DPJ plans to present a bill to revise the Political Funds Control Law that would require political organizations to attach receipts to their funds reports for every operating expense, even if it is only a single yen. In addition, it is planning legislation to end the practice of amakudari, in which retired public servants take cushy jobs in the private sector or at government-affiliated bodies.But unless the DPJ secures support for its planned bills from the ruling camp, it will find they are scrapped at the lower house stage. If the DPJ tries to exploit the probability they will be rejected, and uses opposition from the LDP to draw contrasts between the parties, the DPJ will be roundly criticized for placing party politics first, and open to the charge it is only interested in rattling the ruling camp.Negotiating with LDP keyIf the DPJ is serious about passing its own bills into law, it should consider asking the ruling camp to negotiate on changes to the bills.On the issue of extending a law allowing the Self-Defense Forces to support U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean, DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan and former President Seiji Maehara indicated their willingness to negotiate with the ruling parties. The DPJ might take into consideration the importance of antiterrorism efforts and the Japan-U.S. alliance. If so, it should make serious efforts to reach agreement with the ruling camp.The DPJ intends to use the right of Diet members to investigate state affairs to ask the government to produce necessary materials to help it get a clear picture of the issues surrounding misappropriation of pension premiums and wasteful use of tax revenues. If this right is exercised properly, it could be an effective tool for rooting out administrative problems, and help bring a sense of order to each ministry and agency.As to personnel matters requiring Diet approval, if the upper house rejects key personnel, the whole process has to start from scratch, as the lower house is not allowed to vote on rejected personnel appointments.The DPJ says it opposes appointing someone who has served as vice finance minister to be the next Bank of Japan governor. But the DPJ should stop bureaucrat-bashing that is simply aimed at making itself popular with voters.If the DPJ does not promote important policies, and if it fails to shrug off the suspicion that it is not capable of holding the reins of government, there can be no chance of it reigning power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	782	2007-08-08	YOSHIN0020070808e388000fq
YOMSHI0020070809e38900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070809e38900001	EN	\N	Can Roh-Kim summit help denuclearization?	South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun will visit Pyongyang on Aug. 28 for a three-day meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, marking the first South-North summit in seven years.	4	2007-08-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The six-nation talks are set to enter a discussion about "next-phase actions" after the "initial-phase steps" have been nearly completed under February's agreement aimed at eventually abolishing North Korea's nuclear weapons, including a halt to operations at Yongbyon's nuclear facility.Given certain progress achieved in carrying out February's accord, the forthcoming inter-Korea summit talks must serve to make substantial headway in the six-way negotiations.What kind of action will Roh seek from the North Korean leader to get his country's nuclear weapons program abolished at an early date? What kind of pledge will the South Korean president obtain from Kim? We believe Roh should act according to his nation's principles in dealing with his counterpart at the summit meeting.Legacy and manipulationFebruary's accord requires North Korea to "disable all existing nuclear facilities" and "declare completely all nuclear programs."The reclusive state will be reciprocated with "economic, energy and humanitarian assistance up to the equivalent of 950,000 tons of heavy fuel oil. In early September, participants in the six-party talks are scheduled to resume their meeting to produce a timetable for these "next-phase" actions.Roh has only six months left in his presidency. There are concerns that Kim could take advantage of Roh's desire to achieve results with the time Roh has left in office. This means Roh could end up following North Korea's lead in the upcoming summit meeting.If South Korea promises to increase its aid to the North outside the six-party framework, it could delay resolving the dispute over the nuclear weapons program.The impact of the summit talks on the South Korean presidential election scheduled for December is significant.On Aug. 20, the South Korean opposition Grand National Party is scheduled to nominate its candidate in the race. The GNP is reportedly by far the favored choice in the presidential race. It is believed, meanwhile, that the ruling camp is striving to take advantage of the upcoming summit meeting to turn the tables on the opposition party.Pyongyang's agreement to hold an inter-Korea summit meeting at this stage may reflect its desire to see left-leaning forces run the South Korean government--not the GNP, which has taken a stern attitude toward the North.A path toward peace?South Korea reportedly hopes to use the summit talks to lay the foundation for devising military confidence-building measures and establishing a framework for peace on the Korean Peninsula.The South Korean government hopes to see the summit meeting transformed into talks on a "permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula," a scheme stipulated in February's agreement. South Korea wants to initiate four-party talks that include North Korea, China and the United States, to declare an official end to the Korean War and ensure a peaceful coexistence of the two Koreas.South and North Korea have been at odds for more than five decades since a truce was struck in the Korean War. The security environment in this part of the world is starkly different from that of the Cold War period. North Korea's nuclear weapons present a serious threat to regional stability--particularly Japan's peace.Military tensions between the two Koreas can directly affect our nation's security. It is important that Japan should unreservedly state its case in this respect to ensure our national security is kept intact.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2007-08-09	YOSHIN0020070809e389000ew
YOMSHI0020070810e38a00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070810e38a00005	EN	\N	Court rulings push review of A-bomb disease criteria	In connection with this year's ceremonies to mark the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Abe met with representatives of survivors' groups to tell them he would instruct the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry to review its criteria for being recognized as a sufferer of atomic bomb disease.	4	2007-08-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abe's comments effectively acted as an announcement of a new policy.The new policy took the ministry by surprise, leaving bureaucrats busy dealing with the matter as not even the most senior officials had been clued in, indicating the decision had been made at the highest level.Under the Atomic Bomb Victims Relief Law, people qualified for recognition as an atomic bomb survivor are those who were near Ground Zero in Hiroshima or Nagasaki on the days of bombing or within two weeks of the bombing.Such certified survivors are provided with an atomic bomb survivor health handbook and are entitled to free medical treatment. In addition, the majority of the survivors receive monthly health care stipends of about \\34,000.Atomic bomb radiation disease patients--those who developed cancer and other diseases because of exposure to radiation--are entitled to a monthly allowance of about \\137,000 to cover treatment costs.Time ripe for political solutionCurrently, there are about 250,000 people registered as atomic bomb survivors. But only about 2,200 people are recognized as atomic bomb radiation disease patients, meaning there are still significant barriers to recognizing causal relationships between diseases and radiation exposure.A key element of the government's criteria is a formula by which radiation exposure is calculated based on the distance from Ground Zero.But there are some observers who doubt the validity of this formula. Atomic bomb survivors whose applications to be certified have been rejected have filed lawsuits at a number of the nation's courts.So far, six district courts, including those in Tokyo, Osaka and Kumamoto, have ruled for the plaintiffs. This is a sign that the courts find the government's current criteria too rigid.Taking this trend into account, it seems the time is ripe for a political solution to the matter.However, it is no easy task to review the recognition criteria. Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa has said his ministry would set up a panel to review the criteria and report its conclusions within a year. If the panel were to decide to expand the scope of support for the survivors, it would require vast fiscal resources.Abe's move consistentSome atomic bomb survivors have given Abe high marks for his comments, while others believe the directive was a mere political grandstand play to help shore up his Cabinet approval ratings that have plummeted.However, Abe has been successful in settling long-running lawsuits against the government, including those over air pollution in Tokyo; lung disease linked to government-funded tunnel construction; and compensation sought by Japanese displaced in China at the end of World War II.The prime minister also has shown initiative in settling lawsuits filed by people infected with hepatitis through tainted blood products. Coupled with Abe's latest move, the prime minister seems to have made a political decision consistent with his previous ones.The ruling parties have established a project team to review the criteria. The opposition camp appears to support the move.Atomic bomb survivors are aging. This is no longer a matter to be settled by the courts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 10, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2007-08-10	YOSHIN0020070810e38a000jj
YOMSHI0020070811e38b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070811e38b00001	EN	\N	Calm must be restored in global financial marts	The European Central Bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve Board pumped a large amount of funds into the short-term money markets in an attempt to prevent a meltdown. The Bank of Japan also injected 1 trillion yen into the market. It was the first time that the Japanese, U.S. and European central banks had acted in concert to inject massive liquidity into the market since immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.	4	2007-08-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If movements to withdraw money from the financial markets accelerate, reflecting the turmoil caused by the subprime loans problem, a credit crunch could result. The Japanese, U.S. and European central banks did the right thing by coordinating quickly to prevent the chaos from worsening.Subprime woes spread wideSubprime loans are provided at low interest at first, but the interest rate rises steeply after about two years. When housing prices were climbing in the United States, borrowers could have refinanced their loans at lower interest rates.But since the collapse of the housing bubble, the number of borrowers who cannot refinance or repay their mortgages has grown. The rate of delinquent subprime loans stands at about 14 percent. The high delinquency rate was caused by lax screening of borrowers, and a correction in the market looks inevitable.The problem is that securitized subprime loans were sold to investors worldwide.Several housing loan companies have gone bankrupt in the United States. In addition, investment funds and institutional investors that hold securitized financial products have begun to suffer losses. Banks around the world that have been financing these investment funds will be affected, too.The ECB's urgent injection of cash into European markets was triggered after BNP Paribas, France's leading financial institution, announced that it would freeze its funds that have been making high-risk investments connected with subprime loans. A second-tier bank in Germany, meanwhile, saw its creditworthiness threatened due to the subprime problem.In Japan, Nomura Holdings Inc. and Shinsei Bank suffered losses. The effect of the subprime issue on Japanese financial institutions seems to be minor at the moment, but caution is needed to prevent the turmoil spreading to Japan.Concerted actions neededThe screening of housing loan applications in the United States has become stricter due to the surge of defaults on such loans. Observers worry that a negative chain reaction, such as a slump in housing investment and personal consumption, could trigger a recession.However, the U.S. economy continues to grow at a rate of at least 3 percent. The European and Asian economies are also strong. Looking at the fundamentals of the global economy, there is little ground for pessimism.The Fed decided to keep the key interest rate unchanged this week, but it may lean toward an easing of interest rates sooner or later. The ECB and the Japanese central bank need to keep their guards up.Volatility in the global financial markets may continue for some time. Coordination among Japan, the United States and European nations is extremely important from now on.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	577	2007-08-11	YOSHIN0020070811e38b000c3
YOMSHI0020070813e38c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070813e38c00001	EN	\N	In hosting 2008 Games, China's dignity at stake	There is less than a year to go before the opening of the Beijing Olympics on Aug. 8, 2008.	4	2007-08-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It will be the third time that the Olympic Games have been held in Asia, following the staging of the event in Tokyo and Seoul, with the latter hosting the Games 20 years ago.China, which joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, the year it was chosen as the host nation of the 2008 Olympiad, has since seen its economy grow at more than 10 percent annually.The Beijing Olympics will provide a prime opportunity for China to showcase its recent development. The Chinese government has been carefully preparing for the event, on which it has staked national prestige.Lofty ideals envisionedAs the Olympics approach, however, various problems that could prevent the successful running of the Games have surfaced, arousing strong concern among participating countries.Top of the list of problems is the nation's environmental degradation, notably air pollution.The Beijing Olympiad will be held under the three themes of "Green Olympics," "High-Tech Olympics" and "People's Olympics."Under the "Green Olympics" theme, the Chinese government has put priority on tackling environmental issues, such as air purification and greening. But its efforts have failed to arrest environmental pollution.The environmental situation in China is so bad that an international organization even described air pollution in certain Chinese cities as being among the worst in the world.To protect their athletes' health, the delegations of Japan and other nations may decide not to arrive in Beijing until just before the Olympics open. The water shortage in the city is another concern shared by these nations.Under the "High-Tech Olympics" slogan, the Chinese government is developing technology to eliminate clouds and stop rain so the opening and closing ceremonies can be held under clear skies.But we believe what is needed more than clear skies is clean air. All nations participating in the Olympics hope the air pollution in China can be alleviated for the Games.There are more challenges when it comes to the theme of "People's Olympics," which places priority on the human angle in connection with the Games.The international community supported China's hosting of the Olympics in Beijing partly because it believed the Games would give China an opportunity to improve its human rights situation.In January, the Chinese government relaxed restrictions on foreign reporters.But according to a survey by The Foreign Correspondents Club of China in Beijing, 40 percent of respondents said they had encountered interference from authorities even after the regulations were relaxed. The club has received many reports of intimidation of sources and violence directed against foreign correspondents, their staff and sources.Many tasks remainThis media situation shows China still has a long way to go before it can guarantee an open Olympics. Also, the relaxed media rules will be in place only until October next year.In connection with redevelopment projects for the Olympics, there have been frequent reports of forceful evictions of residents that disregarded their human rights. Also, China faces loud international criticism for its support of Sudan, which is blamed for massacres in the Darfur region, with some U.S. lawmakers even saying their country should boycott the Games in protest over the issue.High-ranking Chinese government officials have repeatedly stated their wish to use the Olympics to establish a new model for economic development.To realize that goal, China must work to eradicate social ills, such as the protection of vested interests and rampant corruption. How much China can do in tackling these challenges will determine the level of dignity it can achieve as an Olympic host nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2007-08-12	YOSHIN0020070813e38c0007d
YOMSHI0020070814e38e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070814e38e00001	EN	\N	Slowing GDP growth spurs cautious stance	The real growth rate of GDP for the quarter was an annualized 0.5 percent, sharply down from an annualized 3.2 percent gained in the January-March period. The positive growth was maintained for the 10th consecutive quarter, but it is the first time in three quarters that the real growth rate went below the current potential growth rate, which the Bank of Japan sees as something between 1.5 and less than 2 percent.The growth rate plunged mainly because exports to the United States saw sluggish growth due to the effect of the slowing U.S. economy and a diminishing rate of growth in personal consumption.	4	2007-08-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the slowing rate of growth for the April-June period was expected since it came after the period of comparatively high levels of growth since the October-December period.Quarterly results of major firms whose business year ended in March have included drastic increases both in sales and profit for the first quarter of this business year. Companies are still strongly motivated to make capital investments. The GDP report says capital investment for the April-June period was up 1.2 percent from the previous quarter, which saw a growth of 0.3 percent, showing a steady tone.Improvement seen by year-endAs the pattern of healthy corporate sectors being a locomotive for pulling the economy forward has been maintained, many observers see domestic economic growth gathering momentum again in and after the latter half of this business year if the U.S. economy picks up.Nevertheless, there are some factors that threaten the realization of such a scenario for economic expansion.The prime example is the tailspin in financial markets caused by problems associated with subprime loans--housing loans for low-income earners--in the United States. The central banks of Japan, the European Union and the United States in coordination poured a huge amount of funds into the short-term money markets as an emergency measure. Some economists predict the move will halt the plunge in stock prices.However, it is still unclear whether the market will return to normal without significant change. If the unrest in the market is prolonged, consumer confidence may decline along with the plunging stock prices or financial institutions may become more careful in extending loans. It will become necessary to properly assess how such anxiety in the market will affect the real economy.Vulnerable to U.S. slowdownIn particular, if the U.S. economy suffers a serious blow, the possibility for recovery of Japan's exports to the United States, the premise for this country's economic expansion, may be lost.As reasons for the slowdown in domestic consumption for the April-June quarter, many point to such factors as the increase in resident tax burden from June due to the transfer of some tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments and abolition of the fixed-rate across-the-board tax cut, in addition to growing concerns over the rising prices of gasoline and some food items.However, as a major factor, we should focus on the continued low growth in wages. The per capita wage has not been increasing so much. Under the circumstances, even if the jobless rate decreases as employment opportunities increase, recovery in consumption will not pick up enough steam to boost the entire economy.The Bank of Japan will hold its Policy Board meeting on Aug. 22-23. The focus of the meeting is whether the central bank will decide on an additional interest rate hike following an increase in February. Members of the board need to carefully analyze how such risk factors will affect the outlook for the Japanese economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	694	2007-08-14	YOSHIN0020070814e38e000c2
YOMSHI0020070815e38f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070815e38f00001	EN	\N	Mark end-of-war anniversary calmly	A national ceremony will be held Wednesday at Nippon Budokan hall at Kudan, Tokyo, in memory of the war dead. It will be attended by the Emperor and Empress, and the heads of the three branches of government: the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the House of Councillors; the prime minister; and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.	4	2007-08-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is a formal event of the utmost solemnity for Japan.But the situation outside the event site has not been serene and silent.There was a clash of opinions in the past over prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine, located close to the Nippon Budokan. The disagreement grew especially heated during the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.The shrine debate went beyond Japan and developed into a diplomatic row with China and South Korea. Ties with China were particularly seriously affected, with the Sino-Japanese relationship being characterized as "hot economically, cool politically."But the situation seems to have changed this year, making it possible to mark the memorial day calmly.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has adopted a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on the issue of visiting Yasukuni, refusing to say whether he would or would not go, or whether or not he visited the shrine, in an attempt to blur the issue as a focus of political and diplomatic discord.As a result of his strategy, as well as China's domestic situation and its diplomatic strategy, the bilateral relationship between Japan and China has much improved.Emperor's feelings revealedThis year, all the members of Abe's Cabinet likely will refrain from visiting the shrine. This may be partly because the Cabinet, under the current circumstances in which the Liberal Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat in the latest upper house election, decided it should avoid unnecessary political friction.But on the other hand, Cabinet members also might have taken into consideration the facts about how Emperor Showa felt about Yasukuni Shrine's enshrining the so-called Class-A war criminals, which were made public from last year to this year.This year again,On this particular dayAt Yasukuni ShrineThe annual event is heldWhile I am in deep sorrow.Recently, it became clear that the "sorrow" expressed in the poem on Yasukuni Shrine composed by Emperor Showa in his later years was a reference to the grief he felt over the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at the shrine. In his recent book, poet Hirohiko Okano revealed the antemortem testimony of Yoshihiro Tokugawa, former grand chamberlain to Emperor Showa.According to Okano's book, Emperor Showa was concerned that the enshrinement of the Class-A war criminals would change the function of shrine--to appease the souls of the war dead--and create problems with nations that were involved in the war.Harboring these sentiments, Emperor Showa opposed the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at the shrine, the book said.This was not the first time that it had come to light that Emperor Showa had strong reservations about the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni.In July 2006, it was learned from a memorandum written by the late former Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Tomohiko Tomita that Emperor Showa stopped visiting the shrine because of the enshrinement of the Class-A war criminals.In April 2007, it was made public that the diaries kept by Ryogo Urabe, a former chamberlain of the Imperial Household Agency, included entries that confirmed Emperor Showa's opposition to the Class-A war criminals' enshrinement.One of the difficulties with the debate on the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine is that the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also called the Tokyo Trial, at which Class-A war criminals were tried, was a trial conducted by the Allied Powers and was not a venue where Japan itself tried to find who were responsible for the war.There are quite a few questions concerning the process and results of the Tokyo Trial.For instance, some defendants designated as Class-A war criminals bore no serious responsibility for the war, while there were bureaucrats in the army and navy who were never indicted though they led Japan down the path to war with the United States. Without doubt, there are problems with the designation of "Class-A war criminal" in the Tokyo Trial.Time to bury 'Yasukuni issue'The Yomiuri Shimbun established an in-company committee to reexamine the war responsibility of Japanese political and military leaders in the Showa War, while avoiding the "war criminal" concept used at the Tokyo Trial. It compiled its final report in August last year.(The Yomiuri coined the term "Showa War" in connection with its war responsibility series to describe the period of conflict lasting from the Manchurian Incident of 1931 [Showa 6] to the end of World War II in 1945 [Showa 20].)Those whom the committee judged to be war criminals included two of those designated as Class-A war criminals at the Tokyo Trial whose enshrinement with other war dead at Yasukuni Shrine was criticized by Emperor Showa, with the emperor referring to the men by name. They are Yosuke Matsuoka, who served as foreign minister, and Toshio Shiratori, who was ambassador to Italy.The two officials failed to grasp the international situation properly and aggressively promoted the conclusion of the Tripartite Alliance Treaty among Japan, Germany and Italy, thus decisively aggravating Japan's relations with the United States and Britain. This became a major factor paving the way for the conflict with the United States and Britain.There is no doubt that many of the Class-A war criminals, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, are also "Class-A bearers of war responsibility" who led Japan into a reckless war and caused the Japanese people the direst distress.It is also true that the war they helped start caused misery for the people of East Asia.Considering the past circumstances, if Yasukuni Shrine hopes to revive Imperial visits to the shrine, the Class-A war criminals must be enshrined separately from the war dead.If, however, Yasukuni Shrine decides it cannot separately enshrine Class-A war criminals in light of Shinto teachings, that is its choice to make as a religious organization.If the government involves itself in the decision of the religious organization, it will violate the principle of separation of politics and religion stipulated in the Constitution.But we think that if Yasukuni Shrine takes this stance, debates on the establishment of a new national facility to commemorate the war dead or expansion of the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, are bound to intensify.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1166	2007-08-15	YOSHIN0020070815e38f000gs
YOMSHI0020070815e38g0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070815e38g0000i	EN	\N	LDP, DPJ should consider grand coalition	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely hoping to use the changes to unify his party. But even if he is able to reassert his authority, the LDP has already lost its majority in the House of Councillors.	4	2007-08-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This means bills now require the approval of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, or have to pass the House of Representatives for a second time if they are rejected by the upper house, or if 60 days have elapsed since they are first passed by the lower house.However, it is unusual for bills to be passed by the lower house for a second time.In addition, even though decisions on the budget by the lower house supersede those of the upper house, the budget cannot be implemented without related bills. Failure to pass these could therefore have a significant impact on the public.Even if the ruling parties were to maintain a majority in the lower house should it be dissolved and a general election held, it would be extremely difficult for them to regain a majority in the upper house within the next three, or even six years.Administration of government duties could be thrown into turmoil for an extended period.The prospect of such disruption raises the question of whether there is any real choice but to have the DPJ, which controls the upper house as the largest opposition party, take some responsibility for running the country--perhaps by establishing a grand coalition--to avoid a crisis in the governance of the nation?This would mean the LDP casting aside party interests and asking the DPJ to play a role in government.The DPJ for its part would be faced with some difficult decisions.For example, the public might start to doubt the ability of the DPJ to assume the reins of government if all it did was challenge and try to undermine the ruling parties and the government, and it would sometimes have no choice but to compromise if it wanted to place day-to-day public life and national interests first. If it failed to do so, it would have to take responsibility for any resulting turmoil in the administration.The DPJ must consider that the current favorable political winds may not blow forever, and there is no guarantee the party would win a general election in the next year or two, if dissolution of the lower house does not take place in the immediate future.If the DPJ is truly interested in implementing its policies, surely the idea of a grand coalition is worthy of consideration?Major challenges aheadThere are many important issues facing the nation that require urgent attention.One of these is the reconstruction of the social security system, including pensions and medical and nursing care provision. Huge amounts of money will be required to cope with rising annual social security expenditure underscored by the twin challenges of a declining birthrate and an aging population.However, the government also needs to consider how best to rebuild the nation's finances, with long-term central and local government debt totaling about 770 trillion yen--a figure likely to grow further. Reducing expenditure will not be easy, and both the LDP and the DPJ therefore know full well that the consumption tax rate will have to rise.Other important issues include the country's external relations and national security, for example, the thorny issue of how to deal with the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Meeting this challenge will require Japan to consolidate its alliance with the United States and work more closely with China.There are a number of differences between the LDP and the DPJ over these issues. We therefore feel the two parties should, if they form a grand coalition, put together a broad policy framework that could resolve such differences. Other opposition parties also should join such a coalition if they find an accord acceptable.The immediate task confronting the government is how to resolve the dispute over its desire to extend the Antiterrorism Law, which will expire on Nov. 1. We believe the LDP and the DPJ would find it easier to adjust their respective positions and make necessary compromises over the controversy if they were partners in a coalition, rather than engaging in political maneuvering in the Diet.This also is true with other key security issues, including the nation's missile defense program and the ongoing process of realigning U.S. armed forces in the country. There seem to be few significant differences in the basic positions of major LDP and DPJ factions over the nation's foreign and security policies.A coalition government also would allow the LDP and the DPJ to better exchange frank opinions about pension and other social security issues, and could herald a system of policymaking.The LDP is scheduled to start discussions on fundamental reform of the tax system this autumn. If the DPJ joins such discussions, it would make it easier to gain public support for a rise in the consumption tax rate, for example.German experience a modelIn the past, Germany has seen a social democratic coalition government, made possible by the SPD, which established a grand coalition with a long-reigning conservative bloc comprising the CDU/CSU.For the DPJ, a key question on whether to join a grand coalition is whether the country's second-largest political party would see its influence diminished, or whether it would in fact find the public more likely to trust it to run the country. The German experience suggests it depends on how seriously the party strives to acquire the skills of governance.The administration of German Chancellor Angela Merkel also is a grand coalition formed by the largest party, CDU/CSU, and the second-largest party, the SPD, in November 2005.Merkel has been able to raise the value-added tax rate from 16 percent to 19 percent. Two-thirds of the increase in tax revenue has been used to help shore up the country's finances, while the rest of the increase has been used to lower unemployment insurance premiums. Her government also has raised the maximum income tax rate from 42 percent to 45 percent, on the recommendation of the SPD.These changes have offered Merkel some measure of assurance on whether and when the nation's coffers can be rebalanced. In 2008, her government plans to reduce corporate taxes.Of course, two parties forming a coalition risk overheated internal policy debates. Still, such a coalition government would be an efficient way to administer state affairs, and would create stability.We therefore suggest the LDP and the DPJ explore the possibility of forming a grand coalition as soon as possible, rather than risk seeing the anticipated extraordinary Diet session descend into futile verbal jousting.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1180	2007-08-16	YOSHIN0020070816e38g000c7
YOMSHI0020070817e38h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070817e38h00001	EN	\N	Can Defense Ministry cope with real crises?	The case in question is Defense Minister Yuriko Koike's plan to get the current Administrative Vice Minister Takemasa Moriya to resign from his post and replace him next month with the minister's secretariat chief, who previously worked for the National Police Agency.	4	2007-08-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When reports of Koike's plan surfaced in the media, Moriya was visibly upset, complaining he had not been consulted on the matter. Soon after that, he began an effort to have a career defense official, who is currently a bureau chief, named as his successor.But it is the minister--not the vice minister--who makes personnel decisions. Though there were procedural problems with the way Koike's plan has progressed, Moriya has overstepped his authority by publicly dissenting against his minister.Koike reportedly tried to contact Moriya late at night by cell phone regarding the personnel change, but was unable to do so. She said this had happened twice in the past.What would happen at the Defense Ministry in a time of crisis if the minister was unable to get in touch with the vice minister?Failure to follow procedureAs vice minister, Moriya has seen success on such issues as the realignment of U.S. forces stationed in Japan and the promotion of the Defense Agency to a ministry.On the other hand, he has held his position for more than four years--an usually lengthy tenure for a vice minister--leading to criticism that the ministry's leadership is stagnant.For her part, Koike may have thought the timing was right for her to assert her leadership and bring about a radical change within the ministry.But the matter has been complicated by the defense minister's delay in discussing her plans with such key officials as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki.Personnel changes involving senior ministry and agency officials are to be decided, as a rule, more than a week before being officially approved by the Cabinet, by the Cabinet Secretariat's panel comprising the chief cabinet secretary and three deputy chief cabinet secretaries.Koike reportedly tried to schedule the official appointment of a new vice minister for Wednesday. But Koike did not discuss the matter with Shiozaki until Monday.Shiozaki displayed his irritation and decided to postpone the appointment of a replacement for Moriya, saying the next defense minister, who will take the post in the Cabinet reshuffle scheduled for Aug. 27, should make the decision.For Koike's plan to be realized, she should have conducted herself in a more prudent, meticulous manner.Abe capable manager?Verbal lapses by some Cabinet members and the replacement of four ministers brought about the problems with the quality and disposition of the officials in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration--and the responsibility Abe bears for appointing them.Some have begun questioning Abe's governance, particularly in connection with such issues as the friction between Shiozaki and Koike and the discord within the Defense Ministry.Abe, as the head of the Cabinet, is responsible for getting the whole system back in working order.The Defense Ministry, which was upgraded to its current status in January, is now faced with a variety of serious issues, including whether to extend the term of the Antiterrorism Law and the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.It cannot afford to waste energy over the replacement of the administrative vice minister. It must put an end to the confusion now.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2007-08-17	YOSHIN0020070817e38h000ek
YOMSHI0020070818e38i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070818e38i00001	EN	\N	Action needed to protect real economy	The government and the Bank of Japan must boost their vigilance of financial markets to minimize any adverse effects the market volatility might have on the well-performing real economy.	4	2007-08-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Tokyo Stock Exchange was swept up in a bearish wave again Friday, sending stock prices plunging.Stock markets around the world fell sharply over the past week, triggered by fears over the problem of irrecoverable subprime mortgages provided to U.S. low-income earners. There is no end in sight to the market turmoil despite the injection of huge amounts of liquidity into the short-term money markets and other efforts by monetary authorities of major economies.The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 874 points Friday, the third consecutive day the index renewed its lowest closing level for the year. Since the global stock plunges started one week ago, the Nikkei index has lost about 1,900 points.Yen surge shatters projectionsMeanwhile, the yen surged on the foreign exchange market, with the dollar quoted at the 111 yen level--the lowest level in 14 months--at one point Friday.Since the current turmoil started, the yen appreciated by about 7 yen against the dollar, smashing through the 115 yen mark that many export-oriented companies projected as the dollar-yen exchange rate for the foreseeable future.On the TSE, foreign investment funds off-loaded Japanese shares to lock in profits to cover losses incurred in securities backed by U.S. subprime mortgages.Furthermore, the yen surged as a result of moves by market players to exit from carry trades in yen, in which investors borrow Japanese currency at a low interest rate and invest it in currencies of countries that offer higher interest rates.On Friday, Japanese investors also sold shares in export-oriented companies, such as automakers and electric appliance manufacturers, on fears that the surging yen will hurt such companies. As a result, many shares on the TSE tumbled.The stock prices and the yen are in a vicious circle, with the shares dropping and the currency appreciating.Subprime loans root of woesOutstanding subprime loans, which many observers believe is the main cause of the downturn in global stock prices, reportedly stand at $1.3 trillion. This amount is dwarfed by the U.S. gross domestic product, which exceeds $13 trillion. But the subprime mortgages were securitized and circulated in global markets, making it difficult to determine who has such securities and how much they hold.Doubts and fears fanned by uncertainty over who holds subprime mortgage-backed securities triggered global credit fears. Monetary authorities of major economic powers must pinpoint the holders of such securities.The Bank of Japan will hold a policy meeting next week to discuss whether to raise the key short-term interest rate. Unless the volatility in the stock and foreign exchange markets subsides, a rate hike will set off more turmoil.The tumbling stock prices and the appreciating yen have underlined a weakness in Japan's dependence on foreign nations for investment and growth in the real economy.On the TSE, nonresident investors make the majority of transactions by value, making Japanese market participants susceptible to their moves--positively or negatively.Japan's economic recovery is supported by robust exports. To stabilize the economy, the government must further invigorate domestic demand.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2007-08-18	YOSHIN0020070818e38i000ey
YOMSHI0020070818e38j0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070818e38j0000e	EN	\N	Fed's rate cut 1st step to ending market turmoil	The Fed cut the discount rate--the interest rate the Fed charges on loans to banks--by half a percentage point to 5.75 percent. This was the first emergency cut approved by the Fed since immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. But the U.S. central bank left the federal fund rate--its key short-term rate--unchanged at 5.25 percent.	4	2007-08-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a statement, the Fed expressed concern about a widening credit crunch and turbulence in stock markets set off by defaults on U.S. subprime mortgages by low-income earners.Referring to the U.S. economy, the statement said "downside risks to growth have increased appreciably."The Fed's rate cut is designed to stem the jumpiness ravaging global financial markets and to arrest sliding stock markets.The cut sent stocks on the New York Stock Exchange soaring Friday and put the brakes on the global financial woes--at least for now.On the foreign exchange market, the steep appreciation of the yen against the dollar has been mitigated.Coordinated actionIn coordination with the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan, the Fed has been injecting huge amounts of liquidity into the short-term money markets. Their concerted actions were aimed at preventing financial institutions from experiencing a cash crunch due to the subprime mortgage problem.The discount rate is the interest rate the Fed charges on loans to financial institutions, which have had a hard time procuring funds. However, the funds provided at the discount rate are restricted, and many observers say the system applying the rate does not go far enough to be effective.The Fed's injection of huge amounts of liquidity into the market and lowering the discount rate will certainly provide a sense of security to market players.The Fed left the federal fund rate unchanged apparently because of the need to remain vigilant against inflationary pressures at a time when the U.S. real economy has been robust for a long time.The U.S. central bank apparently wanted to send a message that the discount rate cut was an emergency measure to calm the volatile markets, but not a change to easing its monetary policy.Crisis far from overSome observers, however, say the credit crisis stemming from the subprime loan fiasco is a deep-rooted problem that cannot be resolved easily, and that the reduced discount rate will only have a limited effect. Concerns remain that the high-flying U.S. economy may slow down.If fears among market players are stoked again, financial storms could buffet stock and foreign exchange markets once more. The Fed might then feel pressured to consider an additional rate cut.The Bank of Japan will hold a policy meeting Wednesday and Thursday to consider whether to increase its key interest rate.After the Fed reduced the discount rate, it became more important for Japan's central bank to take concerted actions with monetary authorities of major economies to stabilize the market.All things considered, we think the central bank likely will keep the key rate unchanged at this week's policy meeting.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2007-08-19	YOSHIN0020070819e38j000a3
YOMSHI0020070820e38k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070820e38k00001	EN	\N	Deeper analysis needed of growth-disparity links	The government's fiscal 2007 white paper on the economy and public finance released by the Cabinet Office earlier this month focused on the widening economic and other gaps as did the one in the previous fiscal year. Why have most people not benefited from the lasting economic recovery? Isn't it because of the widening disparity? While many people feel such doubts, addressing the issue in the latest white paper is the right thing to do.	4	2007-08-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As to why the income disparity among the public is expanding, the fiscal 2006 white paper pointed out that the graying population--a demographic change--was a major cause. The annual white paper for the current fiscal year notably goes one step further and touches on the relationship between economic growth and disparity.Since the 1980s, economic and other disparities have tended to widen in tandem with economic growth in Japan and Western countries, including the United States and Britain. The fiscal 2007 white paper said various factors such as a rise in the Gini coefficient, which gauges income disparity, show the disparity has widened in these countries.Further study neededHowever, analysis of the causes of the disparities is insufficient. The advancement of information technology may someday replace humans in the workforce with machines. Economic globalization will intensify competition between labor in Japan and low-wage workforces in other countries. The white paper said, as a result, wages paid to unskilled workers in the country will fall, widening an income gap with skilled workers.However, as admitted in the white paper, this does not fully explain the expanding disparities.The government is currently pursuing a policy aimed at solving the disparity problem by boosting the country's economic growth and thereby raising people's standard of living. Given the circumstances, attention is being paid to the impact of structural changes in employment and wages, including an increase in the number of low-paid nonregular employees.The white paper points out that one correlation--a rise in corporate profits leads to a rise in wages--has been waning since the 1990s.1 step forward, 2 steps backThe white paper also notes that companies that carried out restructuring during hard times do not increase the number of regular employees even after the economy recovers. In the meantime, nonregular employees are not usually given sufficient education and training to improve their skills, and their skill level is low, which makes it difficult for them to obtain higher wages.What connection do these situations, which seem to be closely related to the widening disparity, have with economic growth and change in the future? A more in-depth analysis is essential.In dealing with the disparity problem, the white paper stressed that, in addition to handling it along with tax and the social security system, it is important to develop a mechanism that will offer education and training opportunities to workers regardless of their employment status.The white paper presents examples showing that companies actively investing in human capital through such schemes as occupational training are highly profitable, and warns that companies' taking an easy option to increase the number of nonregular employees will not do themselves any good in the long run.To solve the disparity issue, it is also important for companies to strengthen their efforts through such means as nurturing human resources and enhancing labor quality.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2007-08-20	YOSHIN0020070820e38k000bt
YOMSHI0020070821e38l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070821e38l00001	EN	\N	Level playing field for SDF's use of weapons	A government expert committee studying specific cases concerning the right to collective defense recently met to discuss the SDF's use of weapons during their international peace cooperation activities. Most panel members agreed that SDF personnel should be allowed to use weapons in aiding foreign troops that have come under fire in areas near their operations.	4	2007-08-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government's current interpretation of the Constitution does not permit the SDF to use weapons to protect foreign troops operating within reach. The government has said the SDF's use of weapons would exceed the range of activities permissible as part of their natural right to self-preservation--except for situations in which the purpose of using weapons is limited to legitimate self-defense and escape from imminent danger. The SDF's use of weapons could amount to the use of armed force, which the Constitution bans, according to the government's interpretation of the supreme law.It should be noted, however, that the constitutional ban in this respect is limited to the use of force "as means of settling international disputes." The idea of permitting the SDF to use weapons in international joint operations belongs to a category of debate entirely different from one relating to the constitutional prohibition on the use of force.Troops' hands tiedThis issue was repeatedly pointed to as a main bone of contention before the government decided to send Ground Self-Defense Force troops to Iraq. Questions were raised about what the GSDF should do if it received a request from Dutch troops to come to their relief in the face of a military attack during their activities in the vicinity of GSDF personnel. Should the GSDF choose to reject the Dutch request despite their joint commitment to Iraq's postwar reconstruction? Or should the GSDF take extralegal measures to provide cover fire?Fortunately, GSDF troops did not face such a situation during their operations in Iraq. If they had been asked to come to the rescue of Dutch forces, however, a GSDF commander would have had to make an extremely difficult decision.During the expert panel's recent meeting, many members insisted the SDF should be allowed to use weapons not only for the purpose of justifiable self-defense and escape from immediate danger, but for the purpose of fulfilling their duties.One hypothetical case cited was that of GSDF personnel finding a road blocked by an armed group during their transportation of water and food supplies. Under the current legislation, troops are not even allowed to fire warning shots, and therefore, would have to change their route.Meanwhile, the Maritime Self-Defense Force is subject to similar restrictions when seeking to conduct a ship inspection. If an unidentified ship flees to avoid inspection, the MSDF is not even permitted to fire a warning shot. All it can do is to ask a foreign ship to support its action.Unable to helpAll this means the current legislation gives the SDF little leeway to effectively aid ships from friendly powers that come under attack.We believe the government should relax the standards for the weapons use in a manner that would match criteria adopted under U.N. peacekeeping missions, for the purpose of enabling the SDF to better perform their duties.There is a growing need to create a permanent law relating to SDF dispatches overseas. Relaxing the criteria for the SDF's weapons use is essential to establish a law that would serve its purpose.During its campaign for July's House of Councillors election, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan pledged to ensure the SDF would play an active role in U.N. peacekeeping. For many years, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has said SDF activities conducted under the U.N. collective-security arrangements do not constitute use of force. Given this, he has no reason to oppose measures to make sure Japan's weapons-use standards match internationally accepted criteria for similar restrictions. It may be advisable for Ozawa to propose such a change to the government and the ruling parties.Some observers say the massive defeat suffered by the ruling parties in the upper house election has made it difficult to change the government's interpretation concerning the right to collective self-defense in line with the opinion expressed by many members of the expert panel. In fact, New Komeito, the partner in the Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition, has increasingly opposed any change in the government's interpretation.Given that the opposition holds a majority in the upper house, it will not be easy to create and change laws necessary after revising the government's interpretation of the top law regarding the criteria for the use of weapons.However, we hope the expert committee will make steady progress in discussions on the issue and put together a well-conceived report on its study, instead of succumbing to the political circumstances surrounding the controversy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	887	2007-08-21	YOSHIN0020070821e38l000g8
YOMSHI0020070822e38m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070822e38m00001	EN	\N	N-plant checks must be rigorous to regain trust	A reactor is the core element of a nuclear power station. So it is important to know if there is any damage to the reactors that has not yet been discovered and if there is any part of them that requires repair work. The inspection must be carried out with utmost care to ensure no damage is overlooked.	4	2007-08-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Nuclear Safety Commission and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency will have to judge the appropriateness of TEPCO's inspection procedures and the results of the checks. Making considered efforts to regain trust should ensure an early resumption of operations at the power plant.The devastating earthquake forced the shutdown of the four nuclear reactors that were operating at the power plant's when it hit. Three other reactors at the plant were not in operation when the temblor struck due to regular periodical inspections.External inspections have so far found no damage that could undermine the safety of the reactors.The main purpose of the latest inspection is to confirm whether the reactors suffered internal damage as a result of the severe tremors from the quake.Inspectors must be candidThe results of the inspection must be released quickly and in an easy-to-understand format.Immediately after the earthquake occurred, the government and the power company failed to act promptly to prevent fears about the plant spreading. Rumors about the plant quickly spread, causing financial damage to local businesses.The inspection should be used to alleviate concerns and misunderstandings about the safety of the power plant with regard to an earthquake.The inspection started at the No. 1 reactor, whose cover was open at the time of the earthquake due to a periodical inspection. A camera will be lowered into the reactor to check inside it.Because a crane used to lift the cover on the No. 6 reactor was rendered unusable by the quake, it is expected to take more than a year to complete checks on all seven reactors.The Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake was the strongest quake to hit a nuclear power plant in Japan. Therefore, inspections on the plant to ensure it is safe inevitably will take a long time.That the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant was hit by a massive earthquake cannot be dismissed as somebody else's business by any of the nation's nuclear power plants.Given that the scale of the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake was beyond the assumed maximum level, antiseismic capabilities of other nuclear power plants must be checked quickly.Energy security at stakeThe Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has instructed power companies to study other nuclear power plants to better understand what would happen to their plants if strong tremors, such as those that hit the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, hit their plants.Also, faultlines near other nuclear power plants will be studied.Such efforts to improve nuclear safety must be made methodically.What is at stake, with regard to the shutdown of any power plant, is the stable supply of electricity, which affects the entire nation's energy security.Even since the end of the Bon summer holiday season last week, the sun has continued to scorch the nation. Electricity demand, mainly to run air conditioners, is increasing.TEPCO, faced with the suspension of operations at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, is walking a tightrope, as it faces the possibility that power demand could exceed its supply capacity, especially if peak daily temperatures of 35 C or higher continue much longer.The power company has been calling on its customers to reduce their electricity use. Power users should try to cooperate with this request.Given the importance of nuclear power generation, measures to improve the safety of nuclear power plants to ensure they have adequate earthquake resistance must be studied.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	703	2007-08-22	YOSHIN0020070822e38m000ey
YOMSHI0020070823e38n00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070823e38n00002	EN	\N	Crisis-management ability of prosecutors in question	The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office recently released a report reviewing a criminal case in which false charges were laid and another in which a group of defendants was acquitted. It is ironic that a case in which a Tokyo prosecutor dropped a criminal complaint filed over an alleged sexual assault without the complainant's consent came to light immediately after the report's release.	4	2007-08-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Toyama Prefecture, a man who was convicted of rape and attempted rape was cleared after he had already served two years and one month in prison for the crimes, which another man confessed to committing.In Kagoshima Prefecture, all 12 people who had been prosecuted on bribery charges for allegedly taking money for their votes in connection with the prefectural assembly election were found not guilty.It is rare for the top prosecutors office to review individual cases, and it was unprecedented for it to release the results of such a probe. That it did so reflects its concern that the public trust in prosecutors has been compromised.Report's proposals vagueThe report points out that investigators placed undue emphasis on confessions in both cases.In the Toyama case, there were several pieces of evidence pointing toward the defendant's innocence, such as telephone conversation records that appeared to confirm his claimed alibi, and the fact that his shoe size differs from that of footprints found at the scene of the crime.In the Kagoshima case, the defendants changed their stories, first confessing their guilt, but later withdrawing their statements. However, prosecutors went ahead and indicted the defendants without conducting adequate investigations to determine whether their confessions were genuine or examining evidence favorable for them.Immature prosecutors who did not have enough experience to deal with serious crimes were in charge of the respective cases. Senior prosecutors should have confirmed the validity of the indictments, but the oversight mechanism did not work well. Experienced prosecutors might have found unnatural points in the confessions.The report is unsatisfactory because it neglects to pin down the responsibility of senior prosecutors, although it criticizes their failure to properly oversee their subordinates.It urges prosecutors to observe the basic principles of investigation to avoid a recurrence of a false accusation, saying they need to look at evidence impartially and not draw hasty conclusions. But such advice is morally nothing more than a matter of course and suggests the top prosecutors office is incapable of coming up with specific measures to tighten up prosecutors' investigative capabilities.Trust must be restoredFour days after the report's release, it emerged that the Tokyo prosecutor had forged documents to enable him to drop a case without the female complainant's consent. He was indicted without arrest for the forgery of sealed private documents and other crimes. He reportedly wanted to wrap up the case before moving to a different prosecutors office. His conduct was outrageous.The case should not be shrugged off as one caused by prosecutors' personal character failings. In the case of the Tokyo prosecutor, why didn't senior prosecutors prevent his misconduct by checking his handwriting on the faked document? What is at stake is the overall prosecution's capability for crisis management.The lay judge system, in which citizens will join professional judges in trying criminal cases, will be introduced in spring 2009. The public's distrust in prosecutors might affect lay judges' ability to make fair judgments. It will not be easy for prosecutors to regain the public's trust, but it is an urgent task for them to do so.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	624	2007-08-23	YOSHIN0020070823e38n000f1
YOMSHI0020070824e38o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070824e38o00001	EN	\N	Japan-India pact propels ties into new dimension	Agreements made in the joint statement signed by the two leaders, titled "On the Roadmap for New Dimensions to the Strategic and Global Partnership Between Japan and India," are multifaceted. Both governments should work to steadily carry them out.	4	2007-08-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abe attached special importance to global warming measures as symbolic of the bilateral global partnership. Abe asked for India's cooperation in his Cool Earth 50 initiative to halve global greenhouse gas emissions from the current level by 2050.Abe gets India's eco-backingSingh praised Abe's initiative as an important contribution to international discussion and announced India's intention to participate in a post-Kyoto Protocol global greenhouse gas emission reduction framework. The Kyoto pact stipulates greenhouse gas emission reduction targets until 2012.Post-Kyoto Protocol measures will not prove effective without the cooperation of major greenhouse gas emitters, such as India, China and the United States.We can safely say the summit was successful in the sense that Abe won a certain level of commitment by India in the initiative.However, Singh also emphasized his country's position as a newly emerging economy, saying it was important to balance environmental protection with economic development. Engaging newly emerging economies, which place top priority on economic growth, will be a major issue in the new framework.Meanwhile, Singh asked for Japan's cooperation in regard to the India-U.S. nuclear accord under which New Delhi will receive Washington's assistance in its civilian nuclear development. Abe, however, remained vague regarding Japan's stance.Cautions on N-issueAt a joint press conference, Abe told reporters, "As the only country on which an atomic bomb has been dropped, we must fully examine and carefully consider the effects on the nonproliferation regime."The accord is a pact with a nation that possesses nuclear weapons outside the framework of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Since such a pact may result in the hollowing out of the NPT regime, it is natural for Japan to be sensitive over the issue.One of the most important aspects of ties as strategic partners is security.The joint statement states that both countries will study ways to cooperate in this field for "maintaining the safety and security of sea lanes in the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions."Securing the safety of the sea lanes is shared by the two countries, which depend on maritime transportation of energy resources, such as crude oil.The two countries' defense officials should meet to discuss these issues as soon as possible.In the area of economic cooperation, both countries have agreed to reach an early conclusion of an economic partnership agreement. The two leaders said they would double the annual trade volume between their countries to $20 billion.Both leaders agreed to move bilateral relations into "new dimensions." The two countries should accelerate their efforts on this matter.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	539	2007-08-24	YOSHIN0020070824e38o000ek
YOMSHI0020070825e38p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070825e38p00001	EN	\N	Everyone must chip in to overcome power crisis	For the first time in 17 years, Tokyo Electric Power Co. implemented emergency electricity supply measures on Wednesday, when temperatures in Tokyo soared to 37 C. TEPCO asked companies that are major users of electricity to cut back their energy usage in exchange for reduced power charges. TEPCO made the power-saving request based on supply-demand adjustment contracts.	4	2007-08-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Accordingly, 23 companies, including Showa Denko K.K., Tokyo Steel Co. and Toho Zinc Co., took measures to reduce their use of electricity, such as shutting down production lines. This means the electricity crisis has affected companies' production activities.TEPCO had prepared to supply 65.27 million kilowatts of electricity, an amount considered sufficient to comfortably meet increased demand brought on by the use of air conditioners in the scorching heat. However, the suspension of operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station after the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake in July slashed the electricity supply available to TEPCO by 7.26 million kilowatts.TEPCO had no optionTEPCO was forced to put all hands to the pump in supplying 64 million kilowatts of electricity Wednesday. Even though it resumed operations at old thermal power plants and asked other electric power companies to divert power to Tokyo and neighboring prefectures, TEPCO had to resort to emergency measures because it lacked sufficient electricity to deal with any possible trouble that might develop once peak demand reached 61.47 million kilowatts.Electricity cannot be stored. A shortfall in supply could cause the voltage and frequency to drop, possibly causing computers to go haywire. In a worst-case scenario, it could lead to massive power blackouts. TEPCO had no choice but to temporarily "abandon" its responsibility for supplying electricity.Worryingly, the request to companies to cap their electricity usage only saw demand dip by about 140,000 kilowatts. Based on past experience, a 1 C rise in temperature pushes up the demand for electricity in areas covered by TEPCO by 1.7 million kilowatts. Consequently, efforts by many consumers and households to keep a lid on their electricity consumption is more effective in saving power than suspending operations at some factories.Safety first at nuclear plantWe all need to keep in mind that air conditioners should be used as little as possible, and set at a slightly warmer temperature than normal, until the late summer heat finally subsides.The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station was jolted by a tremor stronger than any that had hit nuclear power stations in other countries. Inspections of vital parts of the station's reactors, such as the reactor cores, have only just begun. Cutting corners to have the plant considered safe to operate is unacceptable, regardless of whether the supply of electricity is meeting demand.Some experts say the nuclear power station will not resume operations for at least one year. TEPCO needs to put plans in place that will guarantee a stable supply of electricity next summer on the assumption that the nuclear power station will be out of service for an extended period. The nation's largest electric power company should consider resuming operations at power stations that have been suspended due to soaring crude oil prices and expand the amount of electricity diverted from other electric power companies.Electricity cannot be interchanged between eastern and western Japan without devices that convert electric power frequencies. Expanding power companies' ability to overcome this difference in frequency is essential for stabilizing the nation's electricity supply.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2007-08-25	YOSHIN0020070825e38p000hs
YOMSHI0020070826e38q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070826e38q00001	EN	\N	Selecting FX fighter not plain sailing	The FX aircraft will replace 48 F-4 fighters that are deployed at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture and Naha Air Base. The government plans to make its decision next summer to introduce seven fighters under the current midterm defense buildup program for fiscal 2005-2009.	4	2007-08-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of the six candidates to become the FX fighter, the Defense Ministry has taken a particular fancy to the fifth-generation F-22 fighter jet, which is equipped with stealth technology that makes it difficult to detect by radar.During a U.S. Air Force simulation exercise, 12 F-22s "shot down" 108 fighter jets, including fourth-generation F-15s. The F-22s came away unscathed, showcasing their devastating capabilities.Military technology is advancing in leaps and bounds. In East Asia, China's modernization of its air power has been spectacular. When considering the national security environment that will confront Japan 20 or 30 years from now, it is natural that the Defense Ministry is keen to introduce the advanced F-22.Performance not everythingHowever, the decision does not boil down only to which plane performs best. Price, ease of maintenance and other matters must be factored into the equation. If the ministry is unable to introduce F-22s, it needs a fallback plan, such as procuring F-35s that Britain, the United States and other countries are jointly developing.Aside from these issues, other obstacles could yet scuttle the plan.U.S. law prohibits the export of the stealth fighter--a highly advanced jet brimming with eye-popping technologies. The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee recently approved a defense appropriations bill for 2008 with a provision banning F-22 sales to any foreign country. Consequently, the Defense Ministry is reexamining the life span assessment of its F-4 jets as well as considering holding off on its selection of the FX jet until after summer 2009.The cost of acquiring the jets also gives pause for thought. Observers suggest the F-22 would cost more than double the F-15--a mainstay fighter of the Air Self-Defense Force. Even if the U.S. export ban is lifted, the capabilities of an exported F-22 might be diluted if Washington chooses to redesign the onboard computer. Observers also pointed out the need to consider whether repairs can be carried out and replacement parts will be available in Japan.Fears of an arms raceAlso making the U.S. Congress wary is concern that China and South Korea might forge ahead with their own military buildups to counter Japan's introduction of the F-22. This could destabilize East Asia. Furthermore, the possibility that the highly advanced technologies of the F-22 could be leaked--just like confidential data on the Aegis defense system was mishandled by a Maritime Self-Defense Force officer in March--has caused much hand-wringing in Washington.Earlier this year, the Japanese and U.S. governments concluded the General Security of Military Information Agreement, which stipulates how military information should be protected. The government should do all it can to ensure sensitive information is not compromised.In recent years, Japan-U.S. defense cooperation has steadily deepened, as epitomized by the joint missile defense project and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.Officials charged with selecting the new fighter jets should be acutely aware of the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance. The so-called FSX dispute over the development of a support fighter jet in the late 1980s strained ties with our ally. The officials must ensure the choice of the FX jet does not create similar friction.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2007-08-26	YOSHIN0020070826e38q0008j
YOMSHI0020070827e38r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070827e38r00001	EN	\N	ODA policy must balance aid, diplomacy	The ODA budget peaked in fiscal 1997, and has been cut by about 40 percent in the past decade. According to the budget request ceiling for fiscal 2008, the request for the ODA budget will be reduced by 3 percent from the previous fiscal year's budget.	4	2007-08-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform 2006, which the government decided last summer, stipulates the ODA budget should be cut 2 percent to 4 percent every year from fiscal 2007 to 2011. The planned tight ODA budget for fiscal 2008 has been decided based on this policy.Many people have persistently criticized the nation's ODA as inefficient and wasteful. In a sense, it is inevitable the ODA budget was a major target for budget cuts for fiscal rehabilitation. However, there also have been distinct adverse effects of the policy in recent years.In the 1990s, Japan was ranked first in global ODA spending. Last year, the United States was ranked first, followed by Britain. Japan was ranked third. If this trend continues, Japan is expected to fall to as low as fifth place, surpassed by even France and Germany.Dual-purpose programODA is a major international contribution and also an important diplomatic tool. If the government cannot make full use of this tool, taking its national interests into full consideration, Japan's prestige and voice in the international community will decline.The government pledged at the 2005 summit of Group of Eight leaders in Gleneagles, Scotland, to boost ODA projects by $10 billion in five years. It also promised to double ODA for Africa in three years.While making such international promises, the government cut the ODA budget. It gives the international community an odd impression. Failure to steadily live up to international pledges may cause Japan to be distrusted.Next year, we will have two major international conferences in Japan: the Tokyo International Conference on African Development and the G-8 summit at the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido. Also, as a measure to reform ODA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency will integrate institutes to provide technological cooperation, grant assistance and yen credit. The year ahead is an important one in the sense that Japan's ODA policy will face international scrutiny.Policy needs clarificationThe Overseas Economic Cooperation Council, chaired by the prime minister, at the Prime Minister's Office will take the initiative on ODA policy. How can the government provide ODA in such a way that people in the assisted countries understand it comes from Japan? The council should come up with clear-cut policy on this.Under the expanded new JICA, the government will be asked to effectively pursue measures to reduce poverty and improve social and economic infrastructure in developing countries. The need for ODA is high in terms of building peace through such means as antiterrorism and environmental protection measures.Meanwhile, it is also necessary to reinforce the system to evaluate whether ODA funds were used properly from the selection of projects to their conclusion. Efficiency and high transparency should be maintained for such assistance programs.Is it acceptable for the government to leave the dwindling ODA budget as it is? It is time for the government to reconsider its policy of reducing ODA.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2007-08-27	YOSHIN0020070827e38r000jx
YOMSHI0020070828e38s00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070828e38s00004	EN	\N	New Cabinet must carry out vital policies	Abe's motive for his Cabinet reshuffle is unmistakable: He wants to get his administration back on its feet after suffering a historic defeat in the July House of Councillors election, while also restoring his power to unite members of the ruling parties in support of his government. By achieving these goals, Abe hopes to ensure the governing coalition's victory in the next House of Representatives election. Abe's Cabinet reshuffle also is preparation for a tug-of-war between the ruling parties and the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan over their respective key policies in the Diet. This is particularly important for the ruling parties in that they have lost a majority in the upper house, allowing the DPJ to become the dominant force in that chamber.	4	2007-08-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The post of LDP secretary general--a position of pivotal importance in the larger ruling party--has been given to former Foreign Minister Taro Aso. A lawmaker who shares Abe's political goals and basic policies, Aso supported Abe's decision to stay on immediately after the LDP's massive defeat in the upper house election. For years, Aso has been greatly trusted by Abe. Aso's appointment as LDP secretary general reflects Abe's desire to ensure the government and the ruling parties act hand in hand at a time when some LDP members are still discontented with the prime minister's decision to stay on.Ties to oppositionNewly appointed LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara is charged with coordinating policies with the DPJ. During an extraordinary Diet session convened in the autumn of 1998, Ishihara played a role through cooperation with the DPJ in dealing with a financial crisis that struck the nation. This earned him the reputation of being a lawmaker that belonged to a "new breed of policymakers."Meanwhile, LDP General Council Chairman Toshihiro Nikai enjoys good working relations with many DPJ members. There was a time when Nikai acted together with DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa in carrying out political activities.The ruling camp has a majority in the lower house, while the opposition bloc forms a majority of the upper house. Given this distorted power balance in the Diet, the LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, need to gain cooperation from the DPJ if they are to make progress in pursuing their policies. The makeup of the LDP's new top cadre reflects Abe's efforts to make it easier to reach a consensus with the largest opposition party on key policies.The primary task facing the ruling parties is to steadily pursue necessary policies whatever situation they are in.The latest Cabinet reshuffle signifies a major departure from the method used by Abe to form his initial Cabinet, which was ridiculed as a "cabinet of good friends" and a cabinet formed by lawmakers who were rewarded for their efforts to help Abe rise to the top position in the government.The new Cabinet lineup shows Abe has paid some attention to the opinions of each LDP faction to unite party members while also trying to choose capable party members with a history of political accomplishments, including some faction leaders. It is easy to see that Abe strove to form a team dedicated to devising and implementing important policies.Newly appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano is one of the LDP's most prominent policy experts. His appointment to the pivotal position indicates Abe's desire to see the former economic and fiscal policy minister play a central role in adjusting the differences in the opinions of the government and the ruling parties--not just serving as the top government spokesmanSecurity high priorityThe tasks to be tackled by the new Cabinet include devising better foreign and national security policies. Dealing with a deteriorating security environment, including North Korea's nuclear weapons program, requires efforts to shore up the Japan-U.S. alliance. Extending the special Antiterrorism Law is a high-priority task facing the government if it wants to ensure Japan plays an active role in international peace cooperation activities as a responsible member of the global community.A government attempt to extend the Antiterrorism Law, which expires Nov. 1, will become the major focus of the extraordinary Diet session expected to open in the autumn.Former Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura has been reappointed to his former position, while former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura has been named defense minister. Both legislators are the leaders of their respective LDP factions. Their appointments to key positions in the new Cabinet show the prime minister recognizes the importance of addressing the aforementioned issues.Reforms to continueAbe has said the government must continue to promote reforms while also pursuing a new strategy for economic growth. The prime minister's decision to retain two economy-related ministers in his new Cabinet--Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari and Hiroko Ota, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy--reflects his determination to continue his economic policies. Abe had every reason to do so, given that Japan's economic might is a basis of its national strength.Some LDP members have insisted on changing the course of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's structural reform drive, saying negative aspects of the campaign--disparities in the regional economies and employment opportunities--had contributed to the LDP's crushing defeat in the upper house election. The Abe administration may come under growing pressure from LDP members to set aside greater appropriations for policies and programs related to local governments in the next budget.Abe's naming of former Iwate Gov. Hiroya Masuda to the post of internal affairs and communications minister shows his intention to better address problems relating to provincial areas, while also further promoting decentralization. Tasks to be carried out by the minister include correcting economic and other disparities among regions. Masuda's appointment to the top position in the ministry may also be aimed at ensuring the ruling parties are able to fare well in the next lower house election.Admittedly, it is necessary to correct some excesses in the structural reform campaign. However, doing so should not become an attempt to please the public. Delay and backsliding in the reform drive--or lavish spending on government programs related to the regional economies, for that matter--must never be permitted.A report recently issued by an LDP panel analyzing the party's setback in the July election pointed the finger at Abe's inappropriate response to the series of scandals involving office expenditures incurred by members of the preceding Cabinet. The report states future cabinets should improve their ability to deal with scandals and other problems that could seriously affect their fate.The Abe Cabinet should take this proposal to heart. However, efforts by succeeding cabinets will be required to do more than deal appropriately with problems involving individual state ministers. It is necessary for any cabinet to realize that running the government means thinking about how to handle serious problems that could adversely affect its fate as a whole. This is particularly important in that the government faces great difficulties fulfilling its duties and dealing with key issues today.Balance of Diet powerThe extraordinary balance of power in the Diet--the ruling camp's loss of its majority in the upper house and the DPJ's position as the largest force in the chamber--will remain unchanged for some time to come. Such will be the case even if Abe's reshuffled Cabinet puts his administration back on track, enabling him to regain his power to unite the LDP, or if the LDP and New Komeito stay in power by winning a majority of seats in the next lower house election.The situation could remain unchanged for up to 10 years, following the upper house election to be called in six years.This country's national interests would be greatly undermined if strife between the LDP and the DPJ continued during that period, creating an ongoing gridlock and confusion in national politics. Such a situation would seriously damage people's lives.There are numerous issues the government needs to immediately tackle, including not only Japan's external relations but such domestic problems as fiscal reconstruction and reform of pension and other social security programs. Another task is a tax reform that will raise the consumption tax rate as a means of raising funds for fiscal and social security reforms.Some LDP members say it may be necessary for the party to form a grand coalition with the DPJ. If the government experiences great confusion in administering affairs of state, it could add momentum to that line of assertion.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1504	2007-08-28	YOSHIN0020070828e38s000ly
YOMSHI0020070829e38t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070829e38t00001	EN	\N	MSDF's lax info control threatens natl security	The data leak case involving information on Aegis vessels of the Maritime Self-Defense Force started when a lieutenant senior grade, a former instructor at the MSDF's First Service School in Hiroshima Prefecture, removed a magneto-optical disk without authorization from the desk of a lieutenant commander who was a senior instructor at the school.	4	2007-08-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The case took another turn when the lieutenant senior grade copied data on the disk onto compact discs and distributed the CDs to his students. The lieutenant then handed the CDs to petty officers of the destroyer Shimakaze, to which he was later assigned.On the Shimakaze, the data were also stored in an MSDF personal computer shared by crew members. Those who were assigned to firing control on the destroyer had access to the data.On Tuesday, the Kanagawa prefectural police and the MSDF's internal investigation unit searched the Shimakaze and other locations on suspicion of a violation of the law concerning protection of information in connection with the Japan-U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement.It was the fourth such search conducted with the aim of establishing a criminal case. Since the investigation started seven months ago, the routes of the leaked information have been mostly identified. The results of the investigation show the lack of a sense of alertness in an organization tasked with defending our nation.Ministry must take more careThe case first emerged when the prefectural police seized a PC hard disk in a search of the home of a petty officer 2nd class in connection with a visa violation allegedly committed by the petty officer's Chinese wife.How far did the leaked information spread before it reached the petty officer 2nd class? The data could have been leaked to parties outside the MSDF.An Aegis vessel is a U.S.-developed state-of-the-art ship that has a highly advanced air-defense capability.The leaked data comprised the latest information on the Aegis system obtained by senior officers at the MSDF's Yokosuka base who traveled to the United States to learn about the system. The officers, including the lieutenant commander, entered the information they acquired in the MO disks and shared it.Newly appointed Defense Minister Masahiko Komura said at a press conference: "All Japanese administrative bodies treat information too lightly. This could have an effect on the nation's international relations."The Defense Ministry should be the government body that is the most sensitive and careful about information management. The ministry must tighten up its information management.Ties with U.S. affectedIn mentioning a possible "effect on the nation's international relations," Komura doubtless was referring to Japan's relations with the United States. But the effects of the case are already evident.The Defense Ministry is in the process of selecting the nation's next mainstay fighter. The F-22 Raptor, the United States' highly advanced fighter jet, is the strongest candidate for the selection. However, there are now doubts over whether Washington will allow the export of the fighter to Japan.The United States is carefully considering whether to export the F-22 to Japan, and one of the reasons behind its cautious stance apparently is the scandal over the MSDF's leak of Aegis data. Washington apparently is concerned that top-secret high-tech information about the F-22 may be compromised if the fighter is exported to Japan.In response to the scandal, the Defense Ministry has decided to integrate the intelligence security commands at the three branches of the Self-Defense Forces into one new organization next fiscal year. The organizational laxity that allowed key U.S. naval information to reach a sailor of such lowly rank as a petty officer 2nd class must be corrected.The careless attitude of "treating information too lightly" has had a serious impact on Japan's national security. This reality must be recognized and addressed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2007-08-29	YOSHIN0020070829e38t000gn
YOMSHI0020070829e38u0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070829e38u0000j	EN	\N	Japan, Germany should tie up to fight warming	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed Wednesday to cooperate in creating an anti-global-warming framework in which all major green-house gas-emitting nations will participate.	4	2007-08-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Merkel, who took part in negotiations to conclude the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 as environment minister, remains deeply committed to cutting greenhouse gases and wields great influence over the issue.Of course, Japan and Germany have differences on the issue, but the two nations must boost their cooperation ahead of next year's G-8 summit.At the Heiligendamm summit in June, the leaders agreed that "the G-8 will seriously consider proposals to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050." Merkel, who chaired the summit, exercised leadership in building a consensus on the matter, while Abe played a key role by winning concessions from the United States.Post-Kyoto pact needs teethAttention has now shifted to whether China, India, the United States and other major emitters of global-warming gases will commit to a new framework to be put in place after the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol, which calls on signatory nations to cut such gases in 2008-12 from 1990 levels.In September, the United Nations will host a high-level meeting on countermeasures for global warming, and the United States will host a meeting of 15 major emitters of greenhouse gases. In December, a major meeting of signatories to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change is scheduled to be held in Indonesia.At the series of meetings, the participating nations should aim to conclude workable agreements by finding common ground between the United States and European Union as well as between industrialized and developing nations.We should never allow the new framework to become another Kyoto Protocol, under which China, India and the United States are not obliged to cut greenhouse gases.During the summit with Abe, Merkel praised the Maritime Self-Defense Force's operations to refuel German frigates in the Indian Ocean as part of the maritime interdiction element of Operation Enduring Freedom. The operation is being carried out by eight nations, including Germany, Japan and the United States.Her reference to the MSDF's activities was interpreted as signaling her hope that Japan will extend the Antiterrorism Law due to expire on Nov. 1.2 nations have shared goalsThe MSDF's activities in the Indian Ocean are not merely support to the United States, but a concerted action mounted by the international community to fight terrorism.Should the law fail to be extended, the MSDF's operations must be suspended. If that happens, what will the consequences be? We hope Merkel will discuss this point thoroughly when she meets with Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa on Thursday.Merkel is in the process of reworking the Asian diplomacy formulated by her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, which was criticized as placing too much importance on China. Merkel has taken the stance of "saying what must be said" over China's handling of the issues of intellectual property and human rights.She has clearly stated her opposition to the lifting of the EU arms embargo against China, for which Schroeder expressed his support.It is essential for Japan to cooperate with Germany over policies toward China and North Korea as well.Also agreed at the Abe-Merkel meeting was the need to promote reform of the U.N. Security Council. The task of reforming the United Nations must be pursued, no matter how hard it may be.Japan and Germany, both of which aim to join the Security Council as permanent members, must be persistent in trying to convince the international community that U.N. reforms are necessary.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2007-08-30	YOSHIN0020070830e38u000f5
YOMSHI0020070830e38v0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070830e38v0000g	EN	\N	China should improve military transparency	At the meeting, the two agreed to begin reciprocal port calls by Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to China and of Chinese Navy warships to Japan, with a Chinese vessel making the first port call as early as this year.	4	2007-08-31	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	They also agreed that both countries will work toward establishing a hotline between their two defense authorities.Bilateral defense exchanges between Japan and China had been at a near standstill since 2001, mostly due to China's anger at then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which honors war criminals along with the war dead.But a thaw in defense ties began when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Hu Jintao confirmed "strategic, mutually beneficial relations" between the two countries during talks in Beijing in October.Japan's national security is founded on a solid alliance with the United States. But confidence-building efforts between Japan and China, through defense exchanges and security dialogue, would also serve to bolster national security.Better communicationIn April 2001, a U.S. reconnaissance plane and a Chinese fighter jet collided over the South China Sea, with the U.S. plane making an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island.A similar incident involving Japan and China could occur. The proposed hotline is designed to prevent minor incidents from developing into serious situations between the two countries.The MSDF's training fleet has been to 67 countries, but never to China. And never has a Chinese Navy vessel made a visit to Japan.The two countries should aim at realizing at an early date more substantial defense exchanges than mere courtesy visits, such as joint exercises in sea-rescue operations and disaster-relief dispatches.During the talks, Komura urged China to make information--such as the country's aim in building up its military power and details of its military force and units--publicly available.Cao went so far as to say his country is trying to heighten transparency in these areas, but gave no concrete examples.China has posted double-digit year-on-year increases in its defense spending for 19 years in a row. Actual defense spending, however, is estimated to be twice or three times publicized figures because the official tally does not include expenses for procuring equipment from abroad or for research and development costs.Beneficial for everybodyIn January, China conducted a ballistic missile test to destroy a satellite, but has not released details of the outcome. Its navy and air force have been expanding their scope of activities, with a nuclear submarine entering Japan's territorial waters in 2004, and many believe Beijing is procuring equipment to build an aircraft carrier.It is only natural for other countries, including Japan, to become increasingly concerned about China's recent military trend.In the months ahead, Japan and China may well increase opportunities for dialogue, not only through ministerial or vice-ministerial-level talks, but also meetings attended by bureau chiefs, councillors or senior officials "in uniform." This would promote information disclosure through various channels.China is also trying to tamp down the sentiment voiced abroad of "China as a military threat." This is not just in light of the country hosting the Olympic Games in Beijing next summer and the 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai, but also because China needs stable international relations for its economic development.To that end, it is essential for the country to take the initiative in enhancing transparency in the military arena.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2007-08-31	YOSHIN0020070831e38v000ff
YOMSHI0020070901e39100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070901e39100001	EN	\N	Line blurred between official, personal matters	The clouds of suspicion hanging over Matsushima will not be cleared no matter how hard he tries to defend himself by saying he has a clear conscience in drawing a line between official and personal affairs.	4	2007-09-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It has been revealed that Matsushima received \\20 million to \\30 million in cash and three luxury cars from a former board director of a social welfare corporation in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture. Accepting such gifts is unthinkable for an ordinary public servant.Matsushima was given several millions of yen when he bought a new house and later renovated it. He also was given several hundred thousand yen in cash every time he dined with the former board director of the social welfare corporation.Despite being a so-called noncareer-track official who was not expected to obtain a high post, Matsushima became chief of the Welfare Division for Persons with Disabilities and chief of the Policy Planning Division, both of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities, over the two years up to August 2006. These divisions are in charge of granting operating licenses to social welfare corporations, instructing or overseeing facilities for disabled children and subsidy screening.The Hirakata social welfare corporation runs more than 10 special homes for elderly people who need constant care and facilities for disabled children.A clear violationWe think Matsushima's actions are a clear violation of the National Public Service Ethics Law, which prohibits civil servants, for instance, from accepting money or gifts from parties seeking some kind of advantage.The law came into force in April 2000 after an administrative vice health and welfare minister was found to have received cash and borrowed a car free of charge from an acquaintance who operated welfare facilities, among other scandals.Matsushima's case has shades of the case in the 1990s. The ministry has left itself open to criticism for not improving the organization's ethics.Further muddying the waters, Matsushima emphasized accepting the cash was not a problem because his wife and the former board director's wife were cousins.Still, Matsushima's actions constitute "behavior that could invite suspicion and distrust in the execution of official duties"--actions that are banned by law.Did the former head of the social welfare corporation provide wads of cash and the cars just because they were related through their wives? Ever since Matsushima joined the ministry, he had worked in the field of welfare. He should have been alert to any ulterior motive the provider of cash and luxury cars might have had, and kept him at arm's length, even if the provider is a relative.Ties must be investigatedThe Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has launched an investigation into the case. The ministry provided \\1.041 billion in subsidies to the social welfare corporation from fiscal 2002 to 2004. Wasn't there any irregularity in the procedures to grant these subsidies?Matsushima and the former head of the social welfare corporation are said to have known each other for 35 years. The ministry should examine their ties from the beginning and, based on the findings of the investigation, strictly deal with the matter. Anything less will be unacceptable to the public.Matsushima resigned on Aug. 24. The National Public Service Ethics Law stipulates a retired official will not be subject to punishment even if he or she is found to have violated the law while in service.However, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said he was considering having Matsushima return his retirement allowance and part of the salary he had received to government coffers and return the luxury car he is currently using to the original owner. We wonder if, depending on the outcome of the ministry investigation, such measures will be enough.The transparency of the ministry's duties is being questioned. We hope investigative authorities also will look into the matter to find out what really happened.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2007-09-01	YOSHIN0020070901e391000fm
YOMSHI0020070902e39200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070902e39200001	EN	\N	Time to close book on 'cram-free' education	The ministry's move to revise the official curriculum guidelines, which is due to be completed this fiscal year, will be put to the test.	4	2007-09-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry and the Central Council for Education have agreed in principle to increase classroom hours for key subjects, including Japanese and mathematics, at primary and middle schools by 10 percent. They also agreed to allocate more time to physical and health education to reverse the decline in children's physical strength in recent years.As a result, weekly classroom hours will increase by two hours for first- and second-grade primary school students and one hour for other primary school students and all middle school students.The so-called general studies class, a trademark of the cram-free education policy, will be trimmed by one hour per week at primary schools from three to two hours, while middle schools students will take the class for between one and two hours per week. Each school can teach the general studies class--introduced to encourage discretionary education--intensively during a particular period or on Saturdays.Classroom hours decreasingDue to mounting criticism of cram education, the government revised the curriculum requirements in 1977. Since then, classroom hours at primary and middle schools have been on the slide. Increasing classroom hours for the first time in 30 years--should it happen--would mark a shift in the nation's education policy. We welcome efforts to rethink the cram-free policy.A survey on children's academic abilities released in December 2004 showed that primary and middle school students in Japan had declined in comparison with their counterparts in other advanced countries. Shocked by the report, the education ministry began considering a review of its guidelines implemented from the 2002 academic year, which included a 30 percent cut in the course content.In January, the government's Education Rebuilding Council advocated reviewing the cram-free education policy and improving students' academic ability. The council proposed increasing classroom hours by 10 percent and putting more meat on the bones of textbooks derided by some as lacking sufficient content. These proposals seemed to have affected the ministry's shift in policy. The proposals should be reflected in the guideline revision in the pipeline.Don't start English too earlyOne point that does not sit well with us is that all fifth- and sixth-grade primary school students will have English classes once a week, despite the general study class hours being reduced.In March last year, the Central Council for Education's special panel proposal to make English mandatory for fifth- and sixth-year primary school students ignited a fierce debate.The education ministry said English was necessary to help prepare students for the increasingly internationalized world, to secure equal opportunity in education, and to smooth the transition to studying English at middle school. The ministry plans to make English mandatory in the next guideline revision.About 90 percent of public primary schools have implemented English activities in their general studies classes. But do primary school students really need to study English?We harbor doubts that primary school students will benefit from these classes as much as some proponents have made out. Rather, the top priority should be to ensure these students develop solid comprehension and various skills in their native tongue.Many primary school teachers are not confident in their ability to teach English. The ministry said it would train teachers, secure enough native instructors and develop useful instruction material to overcome this shortcoming.That is all very well. But before that, we should ask whether these students really need to learn English in the first place.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2007-09-02	YOSHIN0020070902e3920009s
YOMSHI0020070903e39300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070903e39300001	EN	\N	Get serious about fixing state's finances	Following the ruling bloc's defeat in the latest House of Councillors election, calls have been mounting for an increase in expenditures to help revitalize local economies. To do so, it will be necessary for the ministry to scrutinize budget requests more strictly than usual, allocating budget resources for key policies and trimming expenditures for policies considered less important.	4	2007-09-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Due to the shift in the balance of power in the upper house, the environment surrounding the compilation of the budget has changed completely. A national budget approved by the House of Representatives is automatically enacted even if the upper house fails to act on it within 30 days.But it is difficult to implement a budget unless related bills are passed into law together. It will become important for the government to coordinate budget compilation with the Democratic Party of Japan as the leading party in the upper house.In the upper house election campaign, the DPJ pledged to carry out various policies requiring massive expenditures. Given this, it would be reasonable for the DPJ to try to realize its election pledges by putting forth concrete policy proposals in the form of an alternative budget.Expensive promisesThe DPJ for years publicly touted its own budgets, but stopped doing so in fiscal 2007. With its increased responsibility as the leading party in the upper house, the DPJ should compile its own detailed budget for next fiscal year and seriously discuss at the ordinary Diet session to be convened in early January which is superior--the DPJ's budget or a government-drafted one that will be compiled in late December.The costs associated with the DPJ's election pledges total \\15.3 trillion. They include several giveaways such as \\1.5 trillion for doing away with expressway tolls and \\1 trillion for establishing a system to compensate farmers for income shortfalls.There are many questions in terms of revenue. According to DPJ's election pledges, it is possible to save \\6.4 trillion by reviewing current central government subsidies to local governments.Most of the \\19 trillion in central government subsidies allocated for fiscal 2007 is meant for social security and education-related costs. Under the circumstances, how would the DPJ secure such sizable fiscal resources?Tax reformThe DPJ also said in its campaign that it would secure \\2.7 trillion by reviewing the tax system with an eye to abolishing or reducing income tax deductions for dependents and spouses. It proposes using the money to fund measures to counter the decline in the birthrate, including the establishment of a monthly child allowance that would be paid until a child graduates from middle school. But the party's ability to explain to the public why an income tax hike is necessary for that purpose will be put to the test.For both ruling and opposition parties, what is important is their approach to fiscal reconstruction. About 30 percent of revenues in the fiscal 2007 budget are borrowed money. The long-term debts of the central and local governments will reach \\770 trillion at the end of fiscal 2007.Concerning the use of the consumption tax as steady fiscal resources, the DPJ has promised no change in the tax rate, while the government and ruling parties are in the mood for shelving the discussion.But the reality is that both ruling and opposition parties should focus on the consumption tax in looking for ways to cover increasing social security costs and promote fiscal reconstruction.In revising the tax system, it will be the responsibility of the ruling and the opposition camps to seriously discuss raising the consumption tax.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2007-09-03	YOSHIN0020070903e393000bc
YOMSHI0020070904e39400002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070904e39400002	EN	\N	Diet power shift forced Endo's early resignation	Endo resigned Monday to take responsibility for subsidies illegally received by a farmers mutual aid association headed by the minister himself.	4	2007-09-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Parliamentary Foreign Secretary Yukiko Sakamoto, a House of Councillors member, also resigned her post Monday to take responsibility for inappropriate political fund management of the Liberal Democratic Party branch she represents in the Shizuoka prefectural chapter.Since the Abe administration came into office in September last year, five ministers have been replaced. Endo is the third farm minister to be replaced, following Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who committed suicide, and Norihiko Akagi, who was, in effect, forced out of the job.The agricultural mutual aid association Endo headed in Yamagata Prefecture falsified its application for a compensation program for poor grape production in 1999 due to natural disasters and illegally obtained 1.15 million yen in state subsidies. The act was revealed by a Board of Audit check in 2004. The board has asked the association to pay back the money to the state, something the association did not do until Monday.This problem is clearly different in nature from the so-called politics and money issues that include such problems as dubious office expenses claimed by politicians.Undermining faith in systemThe agriculture minister is the supreme director in executing farming, forestry and fisheries policy, including provision of subsidies. However, the association the minister headed received subsidies illegally. After the fact was revealed, the association hastily paid back the money to the government. In such circumstances, people are bound to lose confidence in farm policy.Farm subsidies are a core issue in reforming the nation's agricultural sector, which faces liberalization demands from other countries. Involvement of the head of the ministry in the subsidy scandal also hampers smooth promotion of agricultural policy. His resignation is a matter of course.As head of the association, Endo knew about its illegal receipt of the subsidies. In addition, the ministry, the Board of Audit and the Yamagata prefectural government all knew about it. Why then was Abe unable to grasp the problem when appointing Endo to the farm minister's post?It may be inevitable for Abe to be asked to take responsibility for appointing Endo to the post. This problem also left us anxious about the Cabinet's crisis management ability.Change in political situationEndo's resignation came only two days after the illegal subsidy scandal came to light. With the massive change in the political landscape due to the reversal of a majority between the ruling and opposition parties in the House of Councillors, the Abe administration was unable to protect Endo even if it wanted to.The Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties were preparing to submit a motion to censure Endo at the upper house when the upcoming extraordinary Diet session is convened Monday. Given the opposition majority there, the motion was certain to pass the upper chamber. Although the prime minister holds the rights to appoint and dismiss ministers and such a motion is not legally binding in any way, it was inevitable that Diet business would wind up in chaos if Endo did not resign.With important issues on the agenda during the session, including the extension of the Antiterrorism Law, Abe's only choice was to remove a factor that threatened to disrupt the Diet.The Abe administration and the DPJ must both recognize that policies vital to the nation and the lives of its people should be promoted and avoid needless confrontations in the current situation of opposing majorities in the two Diet chambers.We hope they will seriously consider what is best for the nation in facing each other in the Diet.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2007-09-04	YOSHIN0020070904e394000h1
YOMSHI0020070905e39500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070905e39500001	EN	\N	Full story of pension fraud must come out	It has been found that there are at least 99 cases in which Social Insurance Agency personnel, as well as city, ward, town and village government employees, pocketed state-run pension premiums and benefits. The amount of misappropriated money totals about 340 million yen.	4	2007-09-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The cases were brought to light after the SIA reported them to a third-party committee established at the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry to study various issues related to the massive number of flawed pension records.It should be noted, however, that the cases in question are only the ones discovered by the SIA and the local governments. They may well be the tip of an iceberg. Given this, thorough measures must be taken to uncover the whole truth behind the problem. The SIA has been extremely lenient in punishing flagrant crimes committed by agency personnel.The 99 cases include 50 involving SIA officials. Only in 27 of the 50 cases have SIA personnel faced criminal charges. Eighteen cases had never even been disclosed until the embezzlement cases were brought to light Monday. In five cases, SIA officials dodged punishment by quitting the agency.Irregularities widespreadDuring a press conference, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said that "it's not too late" to file complaints against SIA officials who managed to dodge criminal charges. He was quite right to say so. SIA personnel who committed crimes must be punished, although taking such action will entail difficulties due to the statue of limitations.The 99 cases include 49 involving local government employees. They embezzled more than 200 million yen. Of the 49, only 32 cases have been made known to the public, although it is not clear what kinds of punishment were imposed on the officials involved.All this shows the SIA was not the only body that carried out its duties related to the management of the state-administered pension system in a slipshod manner. City, ward, town and village governments, which had been commissioned to collect pension premiums until the end of fiscal 2001, were no less lax in this respect.The local governments must take their responsibility to heart and do their utmost to help the SIA correct the seriously defective pension records.It is also disturbing to note that there has been an increase in the number of flawed pension records that have surfaced. There are 180 new cases in which pension subscribers have been able to regain their title to pension benefits by presenting receipts received for their premium payments, despite the absence of SIA records on their payments. In May, the SIA knew of only 55 such cases.The growth in the number of such revealed cases may be explained partly by an increase in the number of people who have taken the trouble to confirm their pension premium payment records. However, success in discovering many such cases in a short period may indicate that a considerable number of similar cases have yet to be disclosed.Fixing records not enoughQuestions can be raised about why the SIA does not possess records on these subscribers' premium payments. The absence of such records shows there may be more cases of pension premiums and benefits embezzlement that have not yet been brought to light--not just those due to errors in clerical work. It is not enough for concerned authorities to merely restore subscribers' records.The third-party panel is still a long way off investigating the nub of the problem. The committee should find out why the SIA does not possess records on premium payments by a large number of subscribers.It should not be forgotten that the latest cases of embezzlement came to be revealed, after all, by the agency. The investigative panel comprises investigation and research specialists, including former Public Prosecutor General Kunihiro Matsuo, who chairs the committee.We hope the panel will directly examine the documents possessed by the SIA and bring to light the questionable cases that would never otherwise be revealed by the agency.Members of the public will not be satisfied with a final report to be issued by the investigative committee if it fails to leave no stone unturned in disclosing any irregularities related to pension premium payments and benefits.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	746	2007-09-05	YOSHIN0020070905e395000hd
YOMSHI0020070906e39600002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070906e39600002	EN	\N	Policies against inequality must cover young people	According to a survey on income redistribution in 2005 compiled by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the so-called Gini coefficient, which shows income and asset differentials among households, stood at 0.5263, up 0.028 points compared with the figure from the previous survey taken three years earlier. The closer the figure is to one, the greater the inequality in a country.	4	2007-09-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The rise stemmed chiefly from the increase in the number of low-income, elderly households. The number of elderly households has continued to increase since 2005, meaning the Gini coefficient also has likely risen.Yet there are various ways of calculating the coefficient.The income redistribution survey tends to produce a higher Gini coefficient than some measures, though the figure has undoubtedly been rising in recent years, as reflected in other types of surveys. The figure for 2005 also marked the first time the figure had topped 0.5.However, if the Gini coefficient is computed on the basis of "income differentials after redistribution," or income after tax and social security contributions are deducted, but with public pension, medical and nursing care benefits included, the figure would fall to 0.3873 for 2005--similar to that recorded three years earlier.Disparities mitigatedMost of the redistributive effect on income has come through social security payments, rather than through taxation. The social security system is therefore succeeding in narrowing disparities and reducing the impact of inequality on people's daily lives, even while this inequality grows in line with the graying society.But even if redistribution is working, we cannot afford to relax.The share of the downward effect on the Gini coefficient that comes from income redistribution has grown from 17 percent in 1993 to 26 percent in the latest survey. This means the transfer of income from the working generation to retirees is growing.This increased burden on the working generation ultimately will lead to an intergenerational sense of unfairness. There is therefore a clear need to implement measures that can secure stable sources of revenue such as through pension contributions, while ensuring the current working generation is not unduly burdened.Youth disparities worryingIt also is worrying that there is growing income inequality among young people, with the latest survey indicating that within this generation, especially among those aged between 25 and 29, the Gini coefficient has grown faster than it has for other age groups. This is likely because of the increase in the number of young people who are unemployed, as well as a rise in the number of low-paid, nonregular younger workers.Another survey taken by the health ministry found more than one-third of those with no fixed address, and who are seeking refuge at Internet and manga cafes, are in their 20s or younger, while half of them are nonregular workers, including temporary dispatch workers or part-timers.If these young people grow older with no change in income inequality or their opportunities for increasing their income, then income disparities across society as a whole may grow further.It is therefore essential that the government offer support for young people in finding jobs, and work to improve labor conditions and raise salaries for nonregular workers as necessary.While addressing income inequality caused by an aging society, the government must not forget to take measures to prevent inequality among young people from widening further.Doing so is one of the most pressing tasks confronting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his recently reshuffled Cabinet.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2007-09-06	YOSHIN0020070906e396000f6
YOMSHI0020070907e39700003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070907e39700003	EN	\N	Top-down negligence cause of unpaid pensions	The Pension Fund Association--which offers services to people who leave companies that are a part of the Employees Pension Fund--was found not to have paid a total of 154.4 billion yen in pension benefits to 1.24 million pension subscribers.	4	2007-09-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The association said pension benefits went unpaid because subscribers had not applied for payments. But this explanation is merely the same excuse the Social Insurance Agency gave recently when it said pensions were paid out only when subscribers applied for them.One-third of the association's 4 million subscribers aged 60 and older have not applied for payments. The association likely failed to inform these people of their pension benefits or ask them to apply.The Employees Pension Fund, which is one of many corporate pension plans, supports the public corporate employee pension plan.The association, which was started in 1967 as an association of employee pension funds, plays a central role in the corporate employee pension system. It restarted operations as a special privately owned corporation based on a law on corporate employee pension insurance in 2005.Since the association's establishment in 1967, most of its top brass have been made up of former vice ministers from the former health and welfare ministry and from SIA directors. This means the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry bears a great responsibility for the mismanagement.Better communication keyA case commonly found in the mismanagement involves a person who when young entered a company that had an employee pension fund, but soon changed jobs.When people begin receiving public pensions over the age of 60, they have to request payouts through the Pension Fund Association, not the SIA.But a majority of people probably do not know if companies they had short stints with so long ago used the Employees Pension Fund.The association mails out notices to people nearing 60 years of age who are entitled to receive pension payments from the fund. But about 20 percent of such notices are returned to senders because recipients have changed addresses. This is the main reason for the high number of unpaid employee pensions.If people develop more of an interest in their pensions while they are young, problems such as these can be avoided. We cannot place the blame solely on pensioners who have failed to claim payouts from the fund.Such a huge amount of unpaid money likely will undermine public confidence in the system.The association says it will increase the number of counseling desks for pensioners and trace recipients by checking residency registries. But this may be too little, too late.Find a solution togetherAs the fund is linked to employee pensions, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry should have the association and the SIA jointly work on solutions.Doing so will give the association more options and enable it to use the public pension scheme's information on pensioners' addresses. It could then alert people about employee pensions when the agency starts sending statements on premium payments to each pensioner or pension subscriber starting around the end of this year.The association is a gigantic institutional investor that manages, in stocks and other markets, 13 trillion yen in accumulated premiums paid by subscribers.In recent years, the association has been an assertive shareholder that has made tough demands on corporate managements.But unless it solves its own problems fully and swiftly, it will be unable to escape criticism for being tough on others but lax toward itself.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2007-09-07	YOSHIN0020070907e397000eq
YOMSHI0020070907e3980000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070907e3980000k	EN	\N	Don't drop guard against North Korea	At the talks, North Korean negotiators said relations between Japan and North Korea had deteriorated and that Pyongyang could not take any further measures as things stand. Such remarks probably were a reference to the economic sanctions Japan slapped on North Korea after the reclusive state's missile test launches and nuclear test, among other factors.	4	2007-09-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, Japan is the country that faces the most serious security threat from North Korea's nuclear weapons development and missile launches. North Korea has itself to blame for the testy relationship with Japan.Both sides agreed at the Ulan Bator meeting to continue discussions and implement concrete steps toward resolving problems between the two nations and normalizing bilateral relations. They also agreed the working group will meet more often.Abductions must be resolvedThe abductions of Japanese by North Korean agents is the key unresolved issue that must be addressed. The steps North Korea needs to take are obvious: repatriate 12 abductees whose safety and whereabouts are unknown, thoroughly investigate the abduction issue and hand over the agents who committed these abductions.North Korea is trying to undermine Japan on the assumption that it holds the upper hand in negotiations, considering recent progress in U.S.-North Korea talks and the crushing defeat of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration in July's House of Councillors election. North Korea likely will call for the economic sanctions to be lifted as one of these "concrete steps." Japan must stand firm.North Korea agreed to come to the table because Washington had encouraged it to improve relations with Japan--including the abduction issue. The United States also expressed its expectation that Japan would help end the stalemate in Japan-North Korea negotiations.Keep DPRK on terror listThe political landscape has been affected recently by the prospect of the United States dropping North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.The United States is reportedly considering removing North Korea from the list, which Pyongyang had demanded in return for the "full declaration" of its nuclear programs and the disabling of its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon.The United States and North Korea likely thought it necessary to improve Japan-North Korea relations in a bid to set the stage for removing North Korea from the list. However, we cannot condone any move to drop the North from this list until the abduction issue has been fundamentally resolved.North Korea might demand Japan help provide energy assistance and drop its sanctions in accordance with progress made in future rounds of the six-party talks. But Japan cannot act arbitrarily while we are unable to see a clear and specific process toward the resolution of the abduction issue and the abandonment of North Korea's nuclear programs.It is more important than ever that Japan adhere to the basic principle of seeking a comprehensive resolution to the nuclear and missile problems and the abduction issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7, 2007,late editions)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	571	2007-09-07	YOSHIN0020070907e397000ep
YOMSHI0020070910e39900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070910e39900001	EN	\N	Shirking the war on terrorism not an option	Bush heaped praise on Japan's support, describing it as "a vital role not only to the United States, but to other countries" that are playing a part in the war on terrorism. Bush urged Japan to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean to support U.S.-led antiterrorism operations. Abe pledged to do all he could to ensure the MSDF mission would continue.	4	2007-09-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In addition to the United States, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf also expressed similar sentiments regarding the importance of the MSDF mission. It is no stretch to suggest this view is shared by the more than 40 countries standing shoulder to shoulder in antiterrorism operations in and near Afghanistan.The government should meet these expectations by taking measures to continue the MSDF's refueling mission after the Antiterrorism Law expires on Nov. 1. Abe will need to translate into action his promise to spare no effort for that purpose.==Govt must explain missionTo begin with, the government needs to better explain to the public the purpose of the MSDF's activities and why continuing the mission is essential. The MSDF's actions are based on UNSC Resolution 1368, which states that the Security Council is "determined to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts." The MSDF's activities are not related to the Iraq war, the launch of which was vehemently opposed by France and Germany. Many people do not seem to understand these facts.The government also needs to find common ground with the Democratic Party of Japan, which opposes the continuation of the MSDF's refueling mission. But if the DPJ sticks to its guns and a bill to extend the Antiterrorism Law is rejected at the House of Councillors--where opposition parties hold a majority --the government will need, by hook or by crook, to have the House of Representatives pass the bill again so that it can become law.During their talks, Abe and Bush confirmed the importance of requiring North Korea to make a complete declaration of all its nuclear programs and disable all its existing nuclear facilities at an early date.Bush said he was aware that the abductions of Japanese by North Korean agents was a sensitive issue, and indicated he would not let the issue be swept under the carpet.Stand firm against N. KoreaNorth Korea has held frequent negotiations with the United States to have itself removed from Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism as soon as possible. Yet during Japan-North Korea negotiations, Pyongyang has refused to budge from its position that the abduction problem has already been settled.As long as there is no significant progress on the abduction issue, Japan should not endorse removing North Korea from the list of terrorism-sponsoring states. Japan should not waver even as North Korea resorts to its old tactic of trying to drive a wedge between Japan and the United States. With Bush's comments in mind, now is the time for Japan to reinforce our bilateral partnership.The summit meeting among Abe, Bush and Howard was the first such three-way gathering for the three leaders. They agreed to strengthen their cooperation on security, global warming and other issues.The Japan-Australia bilateral relationship has deepened rapidly since Abe and Howard signed a joint declaration to expand cooperation on security and defense in March and the foreign and defense ministerial dialogue, or "two-plus-two" talks, was held in June. The Japan-U.S. and U.S.-Australia alliances are the pillars of an emerging multilayered cooperative framework among the three countries.The relationship among Japan, Australia and the United States is an important base for the war on terrorism. Japan should steadily develop this relationship through concrete activities such as joint military exercises among the Self-Defense Forces and the Australian and U.S. militaries.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	723	2007-09-09	YOSHIN0020070910e399000aq
YOMSHI0020070911e39b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070911e39b00001	EN	\N	MSDF refueling mission Japan's international duty	Abe explicitly said at a press conference in Sydney on Sunday that carrying on the MSDF refueling activities was an "international pledge." The prime minister added he would stake his job on extending the operation, and added he would not cling to the job of prime minister if he failed to get the Diet to extend the MSDF refueling mission.	4	2007-09-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The comments reflected his resolve to continue the refueling activities at any cost, by demonstrating his intention to possibly dissolve the Cabinet en masse.In his policy speech at the Diet on Monday, the prime minister said, "Without world peace and stability, Japan cannot secure its security and prosperity." This is a natural stance for Japan--a trading country--to take. To protect Japan's national interests, the government cannot abandon its responsibility to the international community to fight terrorism.DPJ must play ballIn Monday's address, Abe dubbed his Cabinet as one "that will implement policies." He added, "I'll do my best to come up with an answer to each issue by deepening constructive discussions with the opposition parties."To this end, cooperation with the Democratic Party of Japan, the largest force in the upper house, is essential.Abe has proposed holding a meeting as soon as possible with DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, who has strongly opposed any extension to the MSDF refueling mission.Diet affairs in 1990 had shades of today, as the Liberal Democratic Party did not hold a majority of seats in the upper house. As LDP secretary general, Ozawa referred to an agreement between two countries as an international pledge. "The stance of a government that tries to explain its failures by saying, 'We failed because of resistance from opposition parties at the Diet,' can't be accepted in the international community," he said.This comment resonates even louder today with respect to the nation's pledge to support the fight against terrorism--a fight in which not just two, but more than 40 countries are participating.Constitution shows wayWe think Ozawa should accept Abe's offer to hold talks and discuss how Japan can carry out international peacekeeping cooperation activities. The DPJ has insisted on providing humanitarian, reconstruction and other assistance in Afghanistan. The largest opposition party should clearly explain the details of its proposals.The government is preparing a bill to establish new legislation to enable the MSDF to continue the refueling activities. This legislation might take the DPJ's arguments into consideration.When the Antiterrorism Law expires on Nov. 1, the MSDF will have to suspend its refueling mission. But if the new law is established, the MSDF can resume performing its vital role in the Indian Ocean. To do so, the current extraordinary Diet session should be extended and the bill must be passed by the House of Representatives for the second time.Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano has touched on the Constitution's clause stipulating that a bill rejected by the upper house can be approved for the second time at the lower house with two-thirds or more votes to become law."It shouldn't be a big deal. It can be applied as common practice," he said at a press conference.We agree with Yosano. The new law should be established by steadily following the procedures set out by the Constitution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2007-09-11	YOSHIN0020070911e39b000hb
YOMSHI0020070911e39c0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070911e39c0000j	EN	\N	Law revision should help stamp out drunk driving	The revised legislation, which will take effect next Wednesday, incorporates major changes in the current penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol. Serious offenses cited by the law include inducing drivers to drink, lending a car to a person who has been drinking and riding in a car driven by such a person. The law will impose new penalties on such conduct.	4	2007-09-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	All this signifies a change in the government's thinking about who is to blame for drunk driving. The rationale behind the legislative reform is the belief that those who tolerate drunk driving bear much of the responsibility for the crime, although the person who is caught driving under the influence must be the primary target of punishment.The new penalties to be imposed on anyone who has abetted drunk driving are far from lenient. Such a person will be subject to imprisonment of up to five years. Meanwhile, DUI drivers will be subject to a prison term of up to five years, compared with imprisonment of up to three years under the old law. Anyone who is caught driving while slightly drunk will face imprisonment of up to three years, in contrast to a prison term of up to one year under the previous legislation.No one will be permitted to offer a drink to a person who intends to drive a vehicle, and it will be illegal to ask for a ride from a drunk person. This strict rule must be taken to heart by anyone wherever alcoholic drinks are available--at home, restaurants, bars, or parties held by companies, for that matter.Tragedy prompted legislationA major driving force behind the latest revision of the Road Traffic Law was the bitter lesson learned from a collision that took place in Fukuoka in August 2006, involving a car in which a family of five was riding. The car was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by a local municipal employee. The accident killed three children. Prior to the incident, the municipal employee had been drinking with friends at a bar for four hours.The man was dismissed in disgrace. He is being tried on suspicion of dangerous driving resulting in death or injury and vehicular hit-and-run.The municipal employee's lack of awareness concerning the importance of safe driving is simply appalling. Still, the Fukuoka tragedy could have been averted had the man's friends and the bar's owner cautioned him not to drink if he intended to drive.The accident prompted a number of local governments to reexamine their regulations on drunk driving, with some deciding to dismiss employees found to have ridden in a car driven by a drunk driver. The National Police Agency has also asked alcoholic beverage distributors and transport business operators to cooperate in ensuring that people who have been drinking are not allowed to drive cars.There were 257 deaths from DUI-related accidents as of July 31, marking a decrease of 162 from a year earlier. The figure represents 35 percent of the level 10 years ago. The decline apparently reflects an increase in the number of people who have abstained from drinking before getting behind the wheel amid growing criticism of drunk driving.Technology has part to playStill, the statistics show much remains to be done to eradicate drunk driving.In June, a car driven by a man who had been drinking for about 15 hours crashed head-on into a taxi in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture. Shortly before the incident, his car hit another man on a highway near the scene. The two incidents left three people dead.A worryingly high number of drivers fail to comprehend how dangerous drunk driving is. The latest legislative change must be used as a tool for teaching every member of society that drunk driving is a crime.Another task to be tackled by the government is to fight habitual drunk driving--for example, by drivers with alcohol dependence syndrome.In the United States, drivers with DUI records are legally required to equip their cars with devices that prevent the engine from being started if they detect traces of alcohol in breath. We hope the government makes progress in combating drunken driving not only through legal means, but also technological advancement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	753	2007-09-12	YOSHIN0020070912e39c000gh
YOMSHI0020070913e39d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070913e39d00001	EN	\N	Dealing with aftermath of Abe's abrupt decision	The announcement came immediately before opposition and ruling parties were scheduled to interpellate Abe over the policy speech he delivered at the Diet on Monday. The timing is so bad that it is difficult not to criticize the prime minister as irresponsible.	4	2007-09-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There will now be a political vacuum until a new prime minister is elected and he delivers a policy speech to the Diet.Even members of Abe's own Liberal Democratic Party said he should have not waited until now, and that he should instead have resigned immediately following the party's crushing defeat in July's House of Councillors election. Such views are understandable.The LDP swiftly began preparations to hold an election for a new LDP president, possibly on Wednesday.To ensure the political vacuum lasts for as short a time as possible, a new administration must be inaugurated as soon as possible.It has been less than a year since the Abe administration was launched, yet Abe apparently felt compelled to resign when confronted by a twist in the nation's political structure brought on by the opposition parties securing a majority in the upper house, and the Democratic Party of Japan therefore seizing the political initiative as the largest party in the chamber.Abe cited revision of the Fundamental Law of Education, enactment of the National Referendum Law and the upgrading of the Defense Agency to ministry status as his key achievements.PM forced to backpedalBut the LDP's humiliating electoral defeat left Abe no option but to backpedal on policies aimed at a "departure from the postwar regime," including constitutional revision.Although Abe attempted to make a fresh start, he was confronted with simmering scandals linking money and politics--including the resignation of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takehiko Endo--despite a Cabinet reshuffle last month aimed at stamping out such scandals.Saddled with problems that could explode into chaos at any moment, the approval rating for his Cabinet hovered at levels so low that it was difficult--if not impossible--to regain the strength necessary to govern effectively.As things stand, it will be excruciatingly difficult to implement policies in what will be a stormy Diet.Abe's bleak assessment of affairs in the Diet was probably partly behind his abrupt resignation--an act tantamount to throwing out his own administration.But against this backdrop, what was the immediate reason for Abe's resignation?Health problems are said to be one possibility, but even so, his actions are still difficult to comprehend.At a press conference Wednesday, Abe said one reason for his resignation was DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa's rejection of Abe's proposal to hold talks with him over the issue of extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force mission to refuel foreign vessels operating in the Indian Ocean.He explained he had "decided to resign to turn the situation around under a new prime minister" because as long as he remained leader "it would serve as a road block to realizing a meeting between the heads of the [two] parties."But it hardly seems likely the prime minister would resign simply because he could not meet with Ozawa, especially as the Diet is only just embarking on full-scale debate over whether to continue the MSDF's refueling mission.Following a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Sydney, the prime minister said he would stake his job on the MSDF being able to continue refueling operations that the prime minister describes as an "international commitment."Abe said explicitly he would not try to cling on to his job if he failed to achieve this goal.However, Ozawa reportedly responded, "Our views won't be altered by a leadership change within the LDP." This indicates Abe's resignation will not change the DPJ's position of opposing the extension of MSDF refueling activities. Ozawa also has said he would be willing to meet a new prime minister if he is invited to do so.Moving beyond party politicsExtension of the MSDF's refueling operations--which are part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism--must be supported by an agreement that goes beyond the makeup of the ruling and opposition camps.We also believe Ozawa should not continue to oppose extension of the MSDF mission, and we would advise him to do his utmost to turn the situation around under the DPJ's own initiative.If this were to happen, something meaningful will have come from Abe's resignation.But if the DPJ sticks to its guns by opposing extension of the refueling operations, the matter will have to be addressed through new legislation that will replace the Antiterrorism Law.The government and the ruling parties should not be diverted by party politics, but should instead prepare a bill to establish a new law, bearing in mind the possibility the bill could be approved for a second time with a majority vote of two-thirds or more in the lower house, making it law even if were rejected by the upper house.Whoever succeeds Abe as prime minister, his primary task will be to ensure that the mission of the MSDF is allowed to continue--Abe's decision to step down does not mean that Japan's pledge to the international community is retracted.Working with political realitiesThe fact that the ruling camp does not hold a majority of seats in the upper house will not change, even when a new prime minister takes office. The government and ruling camp will still find themselves in a difficult position.With the next lower house election in mind, Ozawa has said he will do his best to realize policy pledges made during the upper house election campaign. But such pledges will have to be incorporated into legislation, and such bills will have to pass a lower house, where the ruling camp holds an overwhelming majority.The next administration will, of course, not just be faced only with the issue of extending refueling operations, but also reform of the social security system, including tackling the fallout of the pension fiasco, reconstruction of the nation's fiscal health and tax reform, including the possibility of a hike in the consumption tax rate.All of these issues are linked directly to the question of what Japan as a nation should be and to its citizens' livelihood.In this regard, despite differences in their policies, both ruling and opposition camps must work to overcome the peculiar power structure in which they find themselves in the two-chamber Diet, so necessary policies can be implemented. The establishment of a grand coalition should also be considered as one way of doing this.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1170	2007-09-13	YOSHIN0020070913e39d000eg
YOMSHI0020070914e39e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070914e39e00001	EN	\N	Candidates' policies must be made clear	That must be the most important theme for the LDP, which will officially announce Friday a presidential election to choose a successor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has announced his resignation.	4	2007-09-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The election of the LDP's new head also is a de facto election of the country's next prime minister. Candidates should present clear political philosophies and strategies, not only regarding urgent policy issues but also fundamental issues of the state, and actively debate policies.The LDP suffered a devastating defeat in the House of Councillors election in July. In summarizing the election results, the LDP has pointed out the need of reinforcing the crisis-management capability of the Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet, noting that there were problems in Abe's leadership and governing abilities.To learn from this, the party should elect a president who has leadership qualities and the ability to govern.In this respect, LDP Diet members and representatives of the party's prefectural chapters have to think beyond factional interests when voting.Achievements pendingAbe's Cabinet has tackled many and various issues.On the diplomatic front, Abe visited China shortly after he took office and improved bilateral relations with Beijing, which had chilled under the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Under Abe, the Fundamental Law of Education was revised for the first time since its enactment, while the bill on a national referendum that stipulates procedures for amending the Constitution was made into law.However, measures have only been half-completed regarding four security scenarios studied by experts that would allow the Self-Defense Forces to exercise the right of collective self-defense under the current Constitution, and for enacting specific policy measures toward rebuilding the nation's educational system.Also, little progress has been made on numerous important policy issues, including the fiscal reconstruction of the central government, which is in a critical situation, tax system reform, which includes a potential consumption tax rate hike, North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear program and the resolving of issues concerning Japanese abducted to North Korea.We are very anxious to know which policies the candidates will take up, continuing where Abe left off, and which ones they will modify or change. In addition, what policies of their own design will they tackle as prime minister? We hope the candidates spell out clearly their ideas on these matters and deepen their policy arguments through the LDP leadership campaign.MSDF issue looms largeOne major impasse Abe cited was that he saw no prospects of having the refueling of foreign vessels by the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean continued through the Antiterrorism Law.This, as Abe has said, is an "international commitment" made by Japan, and it means whoever succeeds Abe must resolve this issue. Even during the presidential election, candidates will have to demonstrate, both to citizens and the world at large, that Japan will not withdraw from this duty.But even with the election of a new prime minister, the fact that the opposition parties hold a majority in the upper house will not change.In implementing policies, it is essential for the new administration to win the cooperation of the Democratic Party of Japan, which has the largest number of seats in the upper house.How exactly will the new prime minister handle relations with the DPJ and try to maintain political stability? It is a political skill of this kind that the new LDP president must process.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2007-09-14	YOSHIN0020070914e39e000h6
YOMSHI0020070915e39f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070915e39f00001	EN	\N	Factions hop aboard Fukuda bandwagon	Buoyed by overwhelming support from LDP lawmakers, his victory was practically a foregone conclusion from the moment the starting gun was fired for the LDP race.	4	2007-09-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The race is expected to be a showdown between Fukuda, 71, and LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, 66, but it should never be an election for the sake of having an election.We hope the candidates will thoroughly debate key issues."Since now is not an ordinary time, I feel I have to [seek the premiership]. It is indeed a time of emergency," Fukuda said as he effectively declared he would run.Fukuda obviously feels the LDP is in dire straits following the bruising defeat in the July House of Councillors election and the abrupt announcement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's resignation.Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, who had shown his willingness to throw his hat in the ring, decided to support Fukuda's bid after meeting with him. "The LDP wants to overcome this difficult situation with everyone in the party working as a team," Nukaga said.All LDP factions, except for the one headed by Aso, suddenly threw their backing behind Fukuda.Sense of crisisIn addition to sharing a sense of crisis in this time of "emergency" that prompted them to form a united front, the factions apparently jumped on the bandwagon in support of Fukuda to side with the candidate certain to win.In declaring his candidacy, Aso said; "[The party] should avoid creating an image that it is sliding back to [the old-style of] an election centered around factions." If he genuinely feels this way, Aso should actively initiate debates with Fukuda.High expectations within the party for Fukuda, a veteran politician, are a reaction to lawmakers' disappointment at the blundering performance of Abe, who became the youngest postwar prime minister at 52.Abe failed to take a resolute stance each time a scandal or gaffe by a Cabinet minister surfaced, leading many to assert that he lacked leadership.Fukuda, who has been elected to the House of Representatives six times, served as chief cabinet secretary for 3-1/2 years during the administrations of Yoshiro Mori and Junichiro Koizumi. He has chalked up tangible achievements with his strong capability to coordinate opinions within the government and the ruling camp.A change in direction?Many in the LDP are banking on Fukuda, who maintained his distance from Abe, to rectify the current policy platform that stresses structural reform, by formulating policies that give more consideration to the well-being of rural communities, especially ahead of the next lower house election.We hope Fukuda will present his political philosophy and the specific policies he wants to pursue at an early date.The LDP presidential election, which was initially set for Wednesday, was delayed until Sept. 23 following grumbling that the election campaign period was too short.With the current extraordinary Diet session effectively in a recess, deliberations on a new bill to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission to multinational vessels in the Indian Ocean have been put on the back burner.This could force the MSDF mission to be suspended for some time.Also, due to the timing of the presidential election, it seems the new LDP president--and by extension, the prime minister--will be unable to attend a high-level U.N. meeting on climate change to be held in New York on Sept. 24 or the U.N. General Assembly the following day.It is essential to minimize any adverse effects that the LDP presidential race might have on Diet deliberations or diplomatic schedules.After the Sept. 23 LDP election, the new prime minister should be elected immediately so that he can form a cabinet as swiftly as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2007-09-15	YOSHIN0020070915e39f000g3
YOMSHI0020070916e39g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070916e39g00001	EN	\N	Fukuda, Aso must hold exhaustive debates	After filing their candidacies for the presidential race, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and LDP Secretary General Taro Aso outlined their policies at a joint press conference. They intend to hold debates, joint campaign speeches and take to the streets for the Sept. 23 election, which will take place at a general meeting of party lawmakers of both houses.	4	2007-09-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The consensus among political observers is that Fukuda has the upper hand, and that the tide of the race already has turned in his favor. But the direction that will be taken by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's successor will only be made clear through thorough debates between the candidates. If they hold such debates, the voters are certain to show greater interest in the race.A chance to rebuildThe LDP should use the presidential election as an opportunity to rebuild the administration and revive the party, which suffered a crushing defeat in the recent House of Councillors election and then the trauma of Abe's sudden resignation announcement.A wide range of issues need to be debated.Key issues include the pros and cons of modifying structural reform policies and the continuation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission, which Abe described as "an international pledge," to the U.S.-led multinational forces in the Indian Ocean.In addition, the new leader will have to tackle reform of the social security system, tax and fiscal reform and the question of whether to raise the consumption tax rate to secure revenue sources for these changes, how to implement policies when the Diet is split between a lower house dominated by the ruling parties and an upper house where the opposition holds a majority, and finally how, under these circumstances, to manage the relationship with the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan.Both Fukuda and Aso said that if elected, they would not change the direction of structural reforms that the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi initiated.However, Fukuda also pointed to what he describes as the "battered economies in rural areas" resulting from structural reforms, while Aso mentioned the "pain caused by the dark side of the reforms."To cope with such challenges, Fukuda said it would be necessary to offer tax incentives. Aso, for his part, suggested redistributing government money, arguing that the government should not stick to an across-the-board 3 percent reduction in public works spending. These positions also will influence the 141 votes held by representatives of the LDP's prefectural chapters.Details essentialWith an eye on the next lower house election, there is likely to be pressure from within the LDP to increase public works expenditures in the budget to be compiled for fiscal 2008. It is therefore necessary to discuss in concrete terms the likely extent of modifications to structural reforms.Fukuda and Aso are on the same page on the issue of the MSDF mission, with both arguing that a new law is needed to allow the MSDF to continue its work.However, Fukuda has emphasized the importance of "collaborating with the DPJ," to resolve the dispute, adding he would "consider the issue flexibly." This raises the question of what Fukuda has in mind when he talks about "collaboration."On the abduction of Japanese by North Korean agents, Fukuda said it was necessary to "devise ways to promote negotiations between Japan and North Korea." In contrast, Aso said the hard-line stance adopted by the Abe administration had produced some results. These conflicting assessments underscore their different approaches to this problem.As both are members of the LDP, there are no big differences between Fukuda and Aso on the major issues confronting the country, such as tax and fiscal reform, fiscal reconstruction, reform of the social security system and a hike in the consumption tax rate.But if the candidates do nothing but issue general statements, and if they fail to really thrash out specific proposals for what a future administration should look like and the policies it will pursue, the party will miss its opportunity to intensify public interest in the race.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	739	2007-09-16	YOSHIN0020070916e39g0009y
YOMSHI0020070917e39h00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070917e39h00002	EN	\N	U.S. troop 'surge' in Iraq didn't achieve much	In a nationally televised address, U.S. President George W. Bush announced he would withdraw some U.S. troops from Iraq, saying security in the country had improved as a result of the so-called troop surge that began earlier this year.	4	2007-09-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Bush said 5,700 troops, including one combat brigade, would return home by Christmas, followed by the withdrawal of four more combat brigades by July next year.The number of U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Iraq is expected to be fewer than the 30,000 reinforcements sent to Iraq. "The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home," Bush said.Bush added he would decide in March the number of U.S. troops needed in Iraq beyond summer next year based on the next report on the situation there to be compiled by the top U.S. commander in Iraq.More than 3,700 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. According to a U.S. survey, 58 percent of those polled favor a reduction in U.S. forces in Iraq. In announcing his plan to cut the number of troops in Iraq for the first time, Bush apparently was paying heed to domestic public opinion.'Too little, too late,' say criticsDemocrats criticized Bush's troop reduction plan as a mere pretense and called for a swift withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. However, there is no guarantee that a rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq under the current circumstances will lead to a favorable turn of events in the country. It could, instead, cause security to further deteriorate.Bush cited Anbar Province, west of Baghdad, as an example of the success of the military buildup. The region was a stronghold for Al-Qaida in Iraq, but the U.S. forces improved security there through cooperation with local Sunni militants.It was to Anbar Province that Bush made a surprise visit early this month with the apparent aim of showing that safety in the area had been secured.However, it is uncertain whether these achievements will spread or even last very long.Some have said the reason the Sunnis cooperated with the U.S. forces was that they wanted money and arms. Concern remains over whether the Sunnis can cooperate with the Shiite-led Iraqi forces after U.S. troops withdraw. Terrorist groups are still rampant.Myriad problemsAn intensifying leadership squabble among Shiite militants over oil interests in once-relatively peaceful Basra in southern Iraq is also a concern in terms of stabilizing the country.One major problem is that there has been little progress in political reconciliation among warring religious and tribal groups.Important bills, including the petroleum law to establish a fair distribution system for oil revenues, and another law to allow former Baathists to be reemployed by the government, have yet to even be deliberated in the parliament. Serious questions remain over the leadership of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.Deterioration of the situation in Iraq will lead to the destabilization of the entire Middle East and other parts of the world. The United States, which bears a great responsibility for the stabilization of Iraq, should redouble its diplomatic efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. The international community also needs to continue its reconstruction support.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	606	2007-09-17	YOSHIN0020070917e39h0008b
YOMSHI0020070918e39i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070918e39i00001	EN	\N	Ensure farmland stays productive	The draft calls for various carrotlike measures such as making it easier for corporations to lease farmland, a practice currently subject to many restrictions.	4	2007-09-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the draft plan seems half-baked as it includes hardly any stick-type provisions, such as imposition of higher tax on arable but unused farmland.The government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, meanwhile, has made bolder proposals on farmland reforms. The ministry will produce a final reform plan this autumn, and it should present a more thorough plan than the draft by taking the council's proposals into consideration.For Japan not to fall behind in the race to conclude economic partnership agreements with other countries, it is inevitable there will be further liberalization of the nation's agricultural market.In doing so, it is essential to improve productivity in the nation's agricultural sector, and the key to improvement is to increase the amount of farmland available to each farming household.Farmland abandonedOn the other hand, the amount of abandoned formerly cultivated land has been increasing in the nation each year. It now stands at about 390,000 hectares--nearly the size of Saitama Prefecture. Unless the situation is addressed now, the abandoned area will expand further.Concerned about the situation, the farm ministry has started discussions on the nation's farmland system by setting up an expert panel early this year to review the system.Leasing of farmland to corporations is already allowed, but is limited to unfavorable land for farming. Due to such restrictions, leasing by corporations is not progressing very well.The ministry's draft calls for easing regulations on leasing of farmlands to corporations to allow them to rent more suitable farmland. The draft also calls for introducing a term leasehold interest system to allow long-term leasing of about 20 years to allow stable agricultural management.The draft also proposes establishing a "farmland information center" in each prefecture to systematically control information on leasing farmland. The centers would provide information on farmland to companies seeking to lease land for agriculture.Change for the betterThose measures seem likely to prove effective, and should be immediately implemented.However, the concept of administrative reform must not be forgotten. The envisioned information centers should be set up using existing organizations and must not be overstaffed.One cause for concern is omission from the ministry's draft of an important reform idea proposed by the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy.The omitted proposal would allow corporations to own farmland. The ministry justifies the omission on the grounds that once possession of farmland is transferred to a corporation, it might convert the land to other uses.Even now, conversion of farmland to other uses is strictly regulated. If corporations violate conversion regulations, correction orders can be issued. New rules must be established to allow for the repurchase of lands if orders are ignored. Possession of farmland by corporations must be allowed.To eliminate the abandonment of cultivated land, strong measurers must be introduced. Tax breaks on fixed property taxes for farmers should be contingent on farmland being cultivated.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	564	2007-09-18	YOSHIN0020070918e39i000cg
YOMSHI0020070919e39j00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070919e39j00003	EN	\N	Debate on policies lacking in LDP race	Capturing the public attention is not a bad development for the LDP, which has been trying to restore its fortunes.	4	2007-09-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a snap Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 58 percent of respondents answered that former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, who reportedly has the upper hand over LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, would make a good party president, while 22 percent supported Aso. The main reasons for Fukuda's support likely are his gentle mien and moderate political stance.The survey results indicate that the candidates' public image will be foregrounded in the poll. This is not necessarily a bad thing because the "character" of a would-be prime minister is one of the points of contention in the race. Unfortunately, there has been insufficient debate over key policy tasks.The lack of time to prepare for the party election after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's sudden announcement of his resignation may be partly to blame. The contents of proposals over what a future administration should look like that Fukuda and Aso released consist of just a few sheets of A-4 paper. They cover the main points of their proposals, but most of them do not stray much from the government's policy line.Structural reform in focusNevertheless, the points of contention have gradually begun to become clear. They include the modification of the structural reform policies former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi initiated, economic strategies, measures to aid the battered economies in rural areas and diplomacy toward North Korea.Fukuda considers it necessary to "make efforts to bridge the economic gap" between urban and rural areas, but stresses that the direction of reforms cannot be changed, and that there can be no turning back. Concerning policies for a future administration, Fukuda indicated he supports those promoted by the Abe administration, such as ones for structural reform and economic growth, as well as the discussion of tax system and tax allocation system enabling struggling local governments to stand on their own two feet.For his part, Aso, who is politically closer to Abe, has openly called for revisions to structural reform policies. Among proposals for a future administration, Aso includes a policy to eliminate concerns held by people about their future lives and economic and other disparities among them as a result of structural reforms as well as aiming for politics that takes the socially weak into account.It may be necessary for Aso, who is said to be lagging behind Fukuda in the race, to go on the offensive to regain the initiative by garnering more votes of representatives of the party's prefectural chapters.But neither Fukuda nor Aso have spelled out what policies they will come up with to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas.Lay cards on tableAs for diplomacy toward North Korea, Fukuda supports the existing dialogue-and-pressure approach, but has hinted he would shift his focus more toward negotiations. He has made clear his determination to resolve the issue of the abduction of Japanese by North Korea "while [he is] in power." Fukuda had been critical of the Abe administration's pressure-oriented, hard-line approach to the problem.On the other hand, Aso maintains that there would have been no dialogue had there not been pressure. These conflicting assessments underscore the candidates' different approaches to this issue.Next week, an election to designate a new prime minister is planned, and the nation's new leader will make his policy speech. We hope both Fukuda and Aso will take a step forward by announcing what policies they would prioritize when in power in order to whip up more public interest in the race.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2007-09-19	YOSHIN0020070919e39j000ge
YOMSHI0020070919e39k0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070919e39k0000g	EN	\N	BOJ, Fed act in concert to shield global economy	The U.S. Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday slashed the federal fund rate, its key short-term rate, by half a percentage point to 4.75 percent--the first cut in 51 months.	4	2007-09-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Bank of Japan on Wednesday decided to leave its short-term interest rate unchanged at 0.5 percent, following a similar move it made last month. On Sept. 6, the European Central Bank also left its benchmark interest rate unchanged.The Japanese, U.S. and European central banks are believed to have taken concerted actions to stabilize the markets.The outstanding losses incurred from unrecoverable U.S. subprime loans extended to low-income earners have yet to be determined, leaving lingering concerns among financial institutions.All eyes on U.S. economyIn Britain, a midsize bank whose main business is providing mortgages is in dire straits due to its difficulty in procuring funds. Even after the Bank of England announced emergency financial assistance measures, the bank's clients have continued to queue up in front of its branches to withdraw their savings.A misstep in dealing with credit crunches--the situation in which financial institutions become unable to obtain or provide funds in the money markets--could result in a financial scare.It is essential for the central banks of major countries to continue their efforts to tame turbulence in the markets.In the United States, the epicenter of the subprime fiasco, there has been a growing concern that its real economy could be adversely affected by the problem.The U.S. labor market has seen a spike in job losses, and the housing market remains sluggish. If personal consumption cools down, the whole U.S. economy could slump. This is why the Fed cut its rate by half a percentage point--a larger margin than expected.The prospects for the Japanese economy are also uncertain.According to revised figures released earlier this month, Japan's real gross domestic product shrank an annualized 1.2 percent in the April-June period, pushing the economy into the minus column for the first time in three quarters.Depending on which path the U.S. economy takes, the recovery of the Japanese economy--which depends on exports--may be scuttled. The situation does not allow for the Japanese central bank to raise the key short-term interest rate anytime soon.However, it is crucial to watch for any side effects that may arise from easing monetary policy.Investors should keep nerveStock prices in Japan and the United States surged after the Fed cut interest rates. On the other hand, the benchmark oil price rose to its highest-ever level after speculative funds flowed into the oil market. It is possible concerns over inflation may be heightened.There has been snowballing speculative investment, aimed at gaining high returns and with disregard for possible risks involved regarding price fluctuations at a time when interest rates around the world are low.The spate of stock price plunges and volatile fluctuations in foreign exchange markets triggered by the U.S. subprime loan problem were partly aggravated by investors beginning to revalue the risks their investments face.Investors should normalize their risk assessment so the world economy can be stabilized over the long term. The world's central banks must steer the economies of their respective countries with extreme care.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2007-09-20	YOSHIN0020070921e39k000ct
YOMSHI0020070921e39l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070921e39l00001	EN	\N	UNSC resolution vindicates MSDF mission	The resolution extends appreciation to eight countries--including Japan, the United States and Britain--participating in maritime interdiction activities in the Indian Ocean as part of international efforts to fight terrorism. Fourteen of the 15 Security Council members voted for the resolution. Russia abstained.	4	2007-09-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The resolution's primary aim was to extend ISAF activities for another year, with the preamble touching on Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the key operation for the continued "war on terror" in Afghanistan and the Indian Ocean.The resolution stressed "the need for sustained international efforts, including those of the ISAF and the OEF coalition."Given the resolution, the government must concentrate its energies to continue the MSDF refueling operations for military vessels belonging to the United States, Britain and other counties.International commitmentJapan has worked to ensure that OEF activities be mentioned in the resolution by persuading the United States, Britain and other countries to push for their inclusion.The government has pushed for this due to assertions by the Democratic Party of Japan that there is no U.N. resolution directly sanctioning OEF--the very reason the DPJ says it is opposed to the extension of the MSDF refueling activities.It would be difficult--if not impossible--to try to have the Security Council adopt a new resolution supporting OEF activities purely out of consideration for Japan's domestic political situation.The fact that the latest resolution stressed the importance of OEF missions--which was made possible through a pragmatic diplomatic approach by the government--will certainly help broaden the Japanese public's understanding of the MSDF activities.Twenty-four Japanese were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Security Council resolution 1368, which was adopted the day after the attacks, calls on the international community "to redouble their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts."It was only natural that Japan enacted the Antiterrorism Law after the resolution was passed and then sent MSDF members and vessels to the Indian Ocean.DPJ must now decideThe maritime interdiction activities include keeping a vigilant eye on the movement of terrorists as well as the transport of arms and narcotics.In accordance with international law, nations participating in the mission inspect suspicious vessels, with the consent, in principle, of the country whose flag the ship flies. These activities are more like police activities than military operations.We do not believe the Constitution prohibits Japan's support of such activities.The DPJ has stuck to its guns in opposing the continuation of the MSDF mission, saying the new resolution is not designed to approve OEF activities. The largest opposition party asserts that a provision for assistance to improve the livelihood of people in Afghanistan would be more effective than the MSDF mission in fighting terrorism.If that is so, the DPJ should swiftly present specific counterproposals. If these include the provision of financial assistance in exchange for the withdrawal of the MSDF members, it will leave the international community deeply disappointed. More than 40 nations are taking part in this "war on terror" at the cost of many casualties.Japan provided as much as $13 billion for the 1991 Gulf War, but was not on the list of 30 countries thanked by the Kuwaiti government in helping liberate the country from Iraq, in an advertisement carried in a U.S. newspaper. We must not forget the lesson that this taught us.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2007-09-21	YOSHIN0020070921e39l0017e
YOMSHI0020070922e39m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070922e39m00001	EN	\N	Debates highlight tasks that lay ahead	LDP presidential election debates following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's resignation announcement ended with a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Friday. Through a series of debates between former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, issues the new administration will need to deal with have been brought to the fore.	4	2007-09-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The biggest issue the new administration needs to tackle is rejuvenating the LDP following its humiliating defeat in the July House of Councillors election.The LDP's resounding setback in prefectural districts in which one seat each was up for grabs resulted in the ruling parties losing their majority in the upper house. How will the new administration revise the structural reform policy line spearheaded by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to correct disparities between large cities and rural areas?Of course, the new administration cannot resort to pork-barrel spending. The new administration will have the major task of deciding how to implement measures that take into consideration the circumstances surrounding regional areas while remaining true to the structural reform policy line.Results needed on issuesAlso important for the new LDP president is what kind of relationship he should build in the Diet with the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which, along with the other opposition parties, commands a majority in the upper house.Another issue is how the new administration will continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.Both Fukuda and Aso stressed the importance of continuing the mission as a major pillar of Japan's international peace cooperation activities. They expressed their determination to submit a bill to the ongoing extraordinary Diet session to enact a new law that would replace the Antiterrorism Law, which will expire on Nov. 1.The U.N. Security Council has just approved a resolution that expresses appreciation for Japan's activities in this respect. With this in mind, the enactment of the bill should not be carried over to next year, a situation that could betray the expectations of the international community.One of the reasons for the LDP's defeat in the upper house was a series of scandals regarding politics and money. The DPJ is poised to press the LDP on the matter by preparing a bill to revise the Political Funds Control Law that will oblige all political organizations to submit receipts for all expenses of 1 yen or more.However, the two candidates maintained a cautious stance on this idea throughout their debates, citing "freedom of political activities" and other reasons. Therefore, they must offer a persuasive alternative.Leadership through actionA competent party head is indispensable for rejuvenating the LDP and for achieving policy coordination with the DPJ. This issue of leadership also was taken up during the debates.When asked what the most important quality the supreme leader in politics should have, Aso said the "power to put up with being alone," while Fukuda cited "determination, especially when the leader resigns." Fukuda also criticized Abe's timing in his decision to resign.However, one cannot exercise leadership merely through having a leader's frame of mind. Leadership requires accurately explaining the state Japan is in, placing priority and presenting a timetable for policies to work on and steadily carrying them out. The question remains whether the two candidates are capable of doing this.During the debates, issues such as constitutional revision and education reform--both fundamental matters of the state--apparently receded into the background. However, these are critical issues that should never be neglected.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2007-09-22	YOSHIN0020070922e39m000fk
YOMSHI0020070923e39n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070923e39n00001	EN	\N	Fight for survival prompting capital tie-ups	On Thursday, Sharp Corp. announced it would become the top shareholder of Pioneer Corp. under a business and capital tie-up, while Bic Camera Co. and Best Denki Co. also struck a capital and business tie-up deal.	4	2007-09-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In an effort to counter an offensive by industry giants, it is believed that firms will find it necessary to expand or strengthen their alliances to focus on their areas of expertise.Similar moves have been seen in such industries as distribution, food and pharmaceutics. We expect this move toward reorganization will not stop any time soon. It will be a challenge for company executives to navigate their firms through the age of large-scale industrial realignments.Banks led the wayThe banking industry, which previously saw major banks vying for supremacy, was reorganized, with three mega-banks emerging as the key players.The industries of sea transportation, aviation and steel also have realigned in a similar manner, with two or three groups now the market leaders in each field.It is expected that industries that did not follow suit, and where many companies are in strong competition, will recognize in the near future. The electronics industry, where such moves are getting into full swing, is a prime example.A capital and business tie-up between Victor Co. of Japan and Kenwood Corp. that was announced in July has prompted a series of industry tie-ups and cooperation deals.Under this deal, Kenwood--a medium-sized company that is strong in audiovisual technology--virtually absorbed Victor, better known as JVC overseas, which was lagging behind in the digital consumer electronics market.The Kenwood and JVC tie-up seemed to have encouraged Pioneer to tie-up with Sharp. Pioneer bet on its future by entering the plasma-screen TV market, but the company has seen poor financial results due to fierce competition.The tie-up with Sharp will help Pioneer enter the mid- and small-sized liquid-crystal display TV market, which the company is banking on to improve its business performance.For Sharp, the tie-up will expand sales channels for its liquid-crystal display panels, while it will be able to introduce Pioneer's advanced car navigation technology.In the electronics industry, Sanyo Electric Co. has decided to sell its semiconductor and cell phone businesses. Sony Corp. plans to sell part of its semiconductor business to Toshiba Corp.These examples indicate a strong tendency among electronics firms toward specialization in their fields of expertise.Retailers eye purchase powerIn the electronics retailing industry, the tie-up between Bic Camera and Best Denki, ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, shows they are deeply aware of the threat posed by Yamada Denki Co., the nation's biggest electronics retailer.To sell merchandise cheaper, even moderately so, than fiercely competitive rivals, retailers must buy merchandise in bulk to negotiate the lowest possible purchase price. The size of a company, therefore, is what matters in the electronics retailing industry.Bic Camera has already formed a capital tie-up with Edion Corp., the second biggest player in the industry. Therefore, Bic Camera, along with Edion and Best Denki, are positioning themselves to challenge industry giant Yamada Denki.Meanwhile, Yamada Denki is said to be considering raising its stake in Best Denki.So it seems the future of the electronics retailing industry is descending into chaos.In such a situation, Yodobashi Camera Co. and Kojima Co., the industry's third and fourth biggest retailers, respectively, will not be able to remain on the sidelines.It appears unavoidable that medium-sized electronics retailers will be part of the next wave of industry tie-ups and and agreements.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2007-09-23	YOSHIN0020070923e39n000ax
YOMSHI0020070924e39o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070924e39o00001	EN	\N	Fukuda faces difficult path to revive LDP	But Fukuda may have little time to bask in satisfaction considering the problems facing him, his heavy responsibility and future political management difficulties he will have to resolve.	4	2007-09-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fukuda, as the new LDP president, first will fill the party's top three executive posts and reach agreement with New Komeito on continuing the coalition government. On Tuesday, he will be nominated as prime minister at the Diet and then set about forming his cabinet.A political vacuum lasting more than 10 days was created as the result of the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and subsequent LDP presidential race. The delay in the Diet schedule has made more urgent the resolution of important problems, including the lack of time to pass a bill to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean. A lengthy extension of the current extraordinary Diet session is unavoidable.Get Diet working againAlthough the effects of the political vacuum were minimized, Diet debates should be put back on track as swiftly as possible. Fukuda has stressed the importance of negotiations with the Democratic Party of Japan for a smooth implementation of important policies as the ruling parties hold a majority in the House of Representatives and the opposition camp controls the House of Councillors. It is necessary for the LDP to deepen Diet debates in order to build a relationship with the DPJ so that the two sides can talk an equal terms.In the presidential race, the LDP's main aim was to revitalize the party after its crushing defeat in the July upper house election and reconstruct the government staggered by Abe's sudden resignation.Fukuda expressed his resolve to "revitalize the party" because his pursuit of the leadership was based on the need to deal with such a crisis.In the recent presidential race, eight out of nine LDP factions expressed support for Fukuda and his decisive victory was regarded as a matter of course. But LDP Secretary General Taro Aso obtained the votes of more than one-third of LDP Diet members and nearly half the votes of representatives of the party's prefectural chapters. Aso's total share of the vote, about 40 percent, made the race closer than expected and showed that Aso put up a good fight.Some observers saw the LDP presidential race as an election based on conventional factional dynamics, but the result showed afresh that pressure from party factions held little sway.Fukuda's victory may, in the end, be attributed to the expectations of those who voted in the presidential election who valued the serious, even grave character he demonstrated as chief cabinet secretary, as well as his skill in political coordination, dovish approach to politics and image of stability.Avoid predecessor's errorsExamining the reasons for the party's crushing defeat in the upper house election, the LDP concluded the voters had doubts about Abe's leadership and governance capability in the face of the massive pension record-keeping fiasco, the problematic links between money and politics, and gaffes made by members of his Cabinet. It also pointed out differences between Abe and the public in policy priorities.From such a viewpoint, the majority of LDP members might have wanted a change from Abe's policies, which had thrown the party into chaos. Some LDP Diet members were reportedly concerned that Aso, who was the first to support Abe remaining as leader immediately after the upper house election, would simply continue Abe's policies.The problems the new administration must tackle already have been made clear in the LDP presidential campaign debates.The biggest and most pressing task to be addressed in the extraordinary Diet session is the continuation of the MSDF's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, a pillar of Japan's international peacekeeping activities. Fukuda has expressed his resolve to submit a bill to continue the mission during the current Diet session and have it passed into law.This would be the biggest test of the Fukuda administration and an indicator of its ability to handle Diet affairs in the future.Many LDP members believe that structural reforms initiated by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi resulted in disparities between large cities and provincial areas, and that this problem was one of the reasons that led to the party's crushing defeat in the upper house election.Fine tune reformsWith a lower house election on the horizon, it is important for the LDP to correct such negative outcomes of structural reforms, in relation with the compilation of the fiscal 2008 budget.To stabilize people's livelihoods and serve Japan's national interests, the new government also must tackle reform of the social security system, taxation and fiscal policy, including hiking the consumption tax rate to provide a source of revenue for the social security system, along with fiscal reconstruction and policies toward North Korea.As Fukuda himself repeatedly stated during the LDP presidential election campaign, the key to promoting a series of important policies will be the restoration of public trust in politics.The new government also must sincerely address the issue of the role of money in politics, where discussions will center on whether to revise the Political Funds Control Law to require politicians' fund-managing organizations to attach receipts for all expense items to political funds reports.The pension record-keeping fiasco must be urgently addressed. Fukuda also must do his best in crisis management in his cabinet and the party to prevent scandals involving his ministers and party leaders.Skill and fortitude neededTo deal with the difficult tasks in this era of rapid change, Fukuda must wield more than his political coordination skills and nonconfrontational approach.We urge Fukuda to display his leadership, in addition to using his political coordination skills, to steer policy in the right direction.Fukuda has to build a united front in the party to allow him to exert his leadership and build momentum.During the presidential election campaign, Fukuda said it was difficult to replace many cabinet ministers in the current Abe Cabinet to form his cabinet as the current extraordinary Diet is in session. Fukuda apparently was considering such Diet business as policy speeches, interpellation by party representatives and deliberations at the budget committees of both chambers.It may be appropriate to appoint many ministers from the current Cabinet, but Fukuda must do his best in consolidating the party's unity by giving due consideration to appointments of major LDP posts and ministers.In doing so, Fukuda may need to consider how to deal with Aso, who earned a significant number of votes in the party election.However, if he hesitates and continues to opt for a spoils system or one based on seniority or factional affiliation in appointing people to cabinet and party posts, Fukuda will fail to regain public trust in politics. Therefore, these appointments will test his leadership and ability to give priority to national interests.If party members lack the guts to revive the party under the leadership of the new president, the LDP cannot be reborn.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1259	2007-09-24	YOSHIN0020070924e39o000c5
YOMSHI0020070925e39p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070925e39p00001	EN	\N	Plethora of challenges await new LDP execs	New LDP President Yasuo Fukuda appointed Education, Science and Technology Minister Bunmei Ibuki as the party's secretary general and former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki as Policy Research Council chairman, and retained Toshihiro Nikai as chairman of the party's General Council.	4	2007-09-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Makoto Koga, who had been sounded out as a possible General Council chairman, was named chairman of the party's newly established election strategy committee, a position on a par with the other three posts under the direct control of the LDP president.Both Ibuki and Tanigaki have cabinet experience and are well versed in policy. Koga and Nikai knew the ins and outs of the party's practical business, including election strategies.The four are all leaders of LDP factions. Some see the new lineup of the party executives as old faction-based politics. But it also can be described as a grave and serious lineup that gives priority to a united party approach.Regain trust, prepare for pollThe challenge for the new party president is to implement important policies steadfastly to restore public trust in the party and to prepare for the next lower house election. Compared with past party leaders, the problems the four new executives have to shoulder, and responsibility they must take for such problems, are extremely grave.At a press conference, Ibuki and Nikai mentioned "Team Liberal Democratic Party" and "smooth party management." These expressions indicate they realize the importance of a united party effort.So far, the administrations of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, under the name of the "leadership of the Prime Minister's Office," have suppressed discontent among party members and pursued top-down policy implementation. Fukuda said he would not lead in the same way as Koizumi and stressed the need to establish a system in which all LDP members participate and cooperate to manage the party.With the party in a critical state, Fukuda likely is trying to change the relationship between the party and the Prime Minister's Office and the method of policy management seen under the Koizumi and Abe administrations.Back to business as usual?But could the party management Fukuda aims for result in the return of conventional politics based on the protection of vested interests and lead to the stagnation of structural reforms he will pursue? The LDP must take care not to invite such a situation.For Fukuda to pursue his policies, it is vital for him to cooperate with the Democratic Party of Japan, which occupies the largest number of seats in the upper house.Fukuda proposes creating a panel in which the LDP and the DPJ can cooperate on such matters as reforming the tax system, fiscal reform including raising the consumption tax rate, and reforming social security systems, including the pension system.The new party leadership must take on the responsibility of pursuing such negotiations between the two parties. Finding a way to cope with the urgent problem of ensuring the continuation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean will be the first test to indicate whether it can handle such a role.Koga will be pressed to retool the LDP's approach to the next lower house election a the party licks its wounds after its crushing defeat in the latest upper house election.Many LDP lower house members, who were elected in lower house single-seat constituencies, were supported by coalition partner New Komeito. Finding a way to establish a smooth cooperative partnership with New Komeito also will be a major problem for the LDP.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2007-09-25	YOSHIN0020070925e39p000fa
YOMSHI0020070926e39q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070926e39q00001	EN	\N	Fukuda faces an array of tough challenges	Fukuda, the Liberal Democratic Party president, was designated the nation's 58th prime minister Tuesday and formed his administration. The Fukuda Cabinet--the nation's 91st--will be officially inaugurated with an attestation ceremony Wednesday morning.	4	2007-09-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Diet remains in a paradoxical situation in which the opposition bloc holds a majority in the House of Councillors while the ruling camp controls the House of Representatives. If the opposition camp opposes a bill, it can be rejected at the upper house.The main opposition party Democratic Party of Japan--the dominant force in the upper house, which is calling for a snap general election to enable it to grab power--has intensified its confrontational approach against the ruling camp.Dealing with the DPJ will be a major challenge for the new prime minister, whose slogan "implement policies steadily and strongly."Given that the Diet is in an extraordinary session, Fukuda retained many ministers from the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe--13 in the 17-minister arrangement have kept their posts, and two have switched portfolios.Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, who served as foreign minister in the Abe Cabinet, is chairman of the Machimura faction, to which Fukuda belongs. Machimura has ample experience in both policy implementation and the management of party and government affairs. He will support Fukuda as the pivot of the Cabinet, by acting as a coordinator within the administration and between the ruling parties.Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, who served as defense minister in the previous cabinet, has been given the portfolio for the second time. Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a similar portfolio as director general of the Defense Agency in the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Cabinet has can-do airOverall, the new Cabinet lineup gives the impression of being a "cabinet that will get the job done," as it comprises a group of experienced, talented people who can be relied on to carry out their duties.Fukuda aimed at "participation by all," but former LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, who gained nearly 40 percent of votes cast in the LDP presidential election as Fukuda's sole rival, turned down the prime minister's request that he accept a cabinet post.However, Fukuda reappointed Kunio Hatoyama as justice minister and Akira Amari as economy, trade and industry minister despite their support for Aso in the presidential race. In this regard, a united front has been formed in the Cabinet.However, forming a strong cabinet and party executive does not mean policy implementation will make headway. The standoff between the ruling and opposition blocs will prevent important policies and political issues from being addressed, meaning that the people's livelihood could be adversely affected and the national interest harmed.To prevent this, as Fukuda has stressed, the government and the ruling bloc must start policy discussions with the DPJ.The DPJ certainly puts the people's livelihood and national interest first as it aims to take the reins of government.MSDF mission vitalIt is essential for the LDP and DPJ to find common ground and put policy discussions on track. As the DPJ asserts, the discussions should be held in an open manner.The first issue the policy discussions must take up is the extension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean--the thorniest problem in the ongoing extraordinary Diet session.So the mission can continue, the government plans to submit a bill to the Diet and have it passed by the end of the session.In opposing the extension of the MSDF mission, the largest opposition party has said the dispatch of MSDF ships and personnel is not directly based on a U.N. resolution, and that the MSDF activities represent the exercise of the right to collective self-defense.The demand and expectations for the MSDF's activities are high in the international community, as demonstrated by the recently adopted U.N. resolution that expressed appreciation for the maritime interdiction activities in the Indian Ocean in which the MSDF is participating.As the DPJ supports international peacekeeping operations themselves, including the war on terrorism, it is necessary--and possible--to find common ground between the two parties.To do this, the government must make efforts to win the understanding of not only the DPJ, but also a wide range of voters concerning the MSDF activities by providing thorough explanations, including information regarding the mission.The same goes for the proposed revision of the Political Funds Control Law--an issue that concerns money and politics.The DPJ is preparing a bill that would require political fund-management organizations to attach receipts to all expenditures of 1 yen or more. The LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, are considering a similar move and are ready to begin talks with opposition parties on the issue.The law in question should be revised during the current Diet session if the parties want to restore public trust in politics.Structural reform softenedWithout discussions with the DPJ, progress cannot be made on issues such as taxation and fiscal system reforms, including a plan to raise the consumption tax rate, and pension and other social security system reforms, as well as the reconstruction of the state finances.The DPJ opposes the consumption tax hike. As a matter of course, wasteful spending must be cut. Is it possible, however, to secure fiscal resources to fund social security programs without raising the consumption tax rate in the future? This is a policy issue that the ruling and opposition parties should discuss and push ahead with based on a broad agreement for the sake of the stability and security of the people's livelihood.The transfer of power from the Abe administration to the Fukuda administration is bringing about a subtle change in the structural reform policy line taken since the Koizumi administration.The coalition agreement between the LDP and New Komeito that was reached prior to the formation of the Fukuda Cabinet states that the new administration will resolutely carry out policies that include minimizing the financial burden on and disparities affecting "people and regions left behind in the process of reforms and the weak," while it will maintain the structural reform policy line.In particular, the agreement says the coalition will promote infrastructure development for regional revitalization and freeze the planned increase in the portion of medical fees elderly people have to pay for treatment. These policies seem to have been devised in anticipation of the next lower house election.However, growing pressure for more government spending on public works projects and others could herald the return of pork-barrel politics. Won't the coalition's policy simply delay medical system reform for the expedient of avoiding an increase in medical expenses for the time being? The government should be coherent in its policy.Top law, education reform keyCompared with the Abe administration, issues concerning the foundation of the nation, such as the Constitution and education seem to have been put on the back burner under the Fukuda administration.Before Fukuda was elected prime minister, Abe's Cabinet resigned en masse. In the former cabinet, the bill on a national referendum that stipulates procedures for amending the Constitution was made into law and the Fundamental Law of Education was revised. The Defense Agency was upgraded to a ministry. These are all historic achievements.The Constitution and education reform are issues that the changed times oblige the government to tackle. Although there might be a temporary stalemate because of changes in the political situation, the broad direction of the government policy on those issues will not change.With the term of lower house members ending in less than two years, the Fukuda Cabinet will soon face a dissolution of the house and a general election.However, the administration should be careful not to allow a political vacuum to develop when a mountain of important political challenges must be tackled. Facing an unprecedented political hardship, Fukuda's newly launched Cabinet must deal with pressing issues one by one and carry out necessary policies with its back to the wall.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1395	2007-09-26	YOSHIN0020070926e39q000gb
YOMSHI0020070927e39r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070927e39r00001	EN	\N	Postal reforms to start in earnest	Japan Post will be split into four business entities--Japan Post Network, Japan Post Service, Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance--under a holding company called Japan Post Holdings Co.	4	2007-09-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance will aim to list their stocks on the market in about three years, and all of their shares held by the government will be sold within 10 years to fully privatize themselves.The holding company will also aim to list its shares, but the government will keep a more than one-third stake in it.Trove of assets to be freed upThe massive amount of funds flowing into postal savings and insurance have long been used for the purchase of government bonds and for loans to public corporations. The primary purpose of postal privatization is to change the nature of postal savings and insurance from one of public financing, so the private sector can utilize funds deposited by people effectively.Japan Post Bank holds 222 trillion yen in total assets, while Japan Post Insurance has 112 trillion yen. They will become the nation's biggest bank and life insurance company, respectively.Japan Post Bank plans to enter the housing loan and consumer credit card businesses, with an eye to providing loans to corporations, among other business goals. Japan Post Insurance aims to enter the medical insurance and other markets.Japan Post Bank wants to abolish ceilings on deposits while Japan Post Insurance hopes to raise the ceilings on the insurance benefits.They will have to seek out new, profitable revenue sources before they can list their shares as private companies. Such diversification of investment vehicles, including the provision of loans, will be consistent with the goal of the postal reforms: diverting the funds of Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance to the private sector.But it will be no easy task to achieve this goal.The diversification of fund investment requires know-how in a wide range of fields, including financial skills necessary for risk management.Given the massive amount of funds the two Japan Post financial institutions hold, any move by them to expand their businesses while the government holds their shares is certain to be criticized as muscling in on the business of private financial institutions.Whether their businesses will unfairly encroach on the business turf of private financial institutions will be a crucial yardstick when the government committee on postal privatization screens prospective businesses of Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance.It is hoped that the committee will make decisions by examining the balance between the amount of funds they hold and their investment abilities, while also looking into how much shares in the possession of the government will have been sold by the time the businesses are launched.Services must be maintainedAnother thorny issue is how to maintain the network of post offices spread across the nation as well as the postal delivery business--a service essential for people's everyday lives.The profitability of the postal delivery service is lower than that of private delivery firms. Streamlining the postal businesses is necessary, but there is persistent concern among rural residents about the possible closure or mergers of post offices in their areas. The new postal entities must maintain the current services and then examine if it is possible to further improve them.There have been many cases of crimes involving postal workers, such as thefts of mail and deposits. And it has been revealed that 14 million pieces of transaction data were mistakenly discarded in violation of in-house rules. Another challenge for the privatized postal companies will be making sure their employees comply with the law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2007-09-27	YOSHIN0020070927e39r000fb
YOMSHI0020070928e39s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070928e39s00001	EN	\N	Pressure on Myanmar must be increased	The junta has begun an armed crackdown against demonstrations that have expanded in many cities, including the largest city, Yangon. The crackdown has claimed lives, including monks who led nonviolent demonstrations, while many others have been arrested.	4	2007-09-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When the Myanmar military opened fire against pro-democracy demonstrators in 1988, more than 1,000 people perished. Such tragic incidents should not be repeated.In order to keep the military regime from running wild, the international community needs to exert pressure.The latest political crisis has been, more or less, brought about by the military regime itself.People in Myanmar have been forced to lead hard lives over the past few years due to continuing price hikes. In mid-August, the junta abruptly and markedly raised fuel prices, including the price of gasoline, igniting people's anger.Getting out of control?It was the monks who initially rose up, voicing the people's discontent over the economy that the monks had experienced personally through their contact with the people when they asked for alms.At first, the demonstrations were peaceful as they called for a retraction of price hikes. However, security forces began using violence against the monks in some regions, and the demonstrations began to expand rapidly, growing into protests involving as many as 100,000 people.What the protesters want is a dialogue with the junta that will lead to democratization. As some young Buddhist monks advocate bringing down military rule, however, the movement has become increasingly political.Some of these monks have even gone to the home of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, and met with her.If the monks, a spiritual pillar for the people, and the pro-democracy forces strengthen their ties, it might bring about an untenable situation for the junta.The military government has probably cracked down on protesters using armed force because of such fears.The primary factor underlying the expanded protests is the people's discontent with the military dictatorship, which has been in power since a coup in 1988.The draft of a new constitution that military rulers presented at a national convention that wrapped up earlier this month has drawn strong criticism from inside and outside the country as it contains provisions that would dilute the process of a transfer to civilian power.Global consensus neededIn Myanmar, devout Buddhists account for 90 percent of the population. If the country's Buddhists, which purportedly includes about 400,000 monks, rise up against military rule in response to the military crackdown, clashes may escalate further.To avert this, the U.N. Security Council issued a statement urging restraint by the military regime. The United States and the council's European Union members also announced a joint statement calling for additional sanctions against the country.Yet China and Russia, both of which maintain close ties with the military regime, oppose a resolution denouncing the country, let alone enacting sanctions.Any international pressure that excludes China would lack impact, as China supports the military regime, both militarily and economically, as its largest donor.As Japan has maintained ties with both the military regime and pro-democracy forces in Myanmar, it should explore ways to contribute to the settlement of that country's difficult situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	570	2007-09-28	YOSHIN0020070928e39s000fh
YOMSHI0020070929e39t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070929e39t00001	EN	\N	Turning a blind eye to crime not an option	Under the system, up to 100,000 yen will be paid from state coffers to anyone who provides information that helps protect a victim or leads to the discovery of a crime.	4	2007-09-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The system will be applicable, for example, to violations connected to paying to have sex with children and child pornography, as well as Adult Entertainment Business Law violations and sexual assaults. Information on human trafficking of women also will be subject to rewards under the system.People who provide the tips can remain anonymous if they wish.The government introduced in May a system to provide a reward of up to 3 yen million to people who offered information that turned out be essential in solving major crimes, including murder. This will be followed next spring by the establishment of a system to offer a reward of about 100,000 yen to anyone who provides information about firearms.The latest system will be part of police efforts to expand the nation's crime prevention system.Public must be informedAny scheme needs to be widely publicized if it is to be successful. It is, therefore, necessary to devise ways to increase the number of tip-offs from the public.The hotline will be handled by Guardian Angels Japan, a private organization dedicated to improving public safety in communities. Information will be relayed to the NPA, which will pass it on to prefectural police forces.Any piece of information provided on condition of anonymity will be given a number. This practice has been adopted after studying the operations of private volunteer groups in the United States and Europe that give rewards to people who provide such information.Last year, 2,229 violations of the Law on Punishment of Activities Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography were uncovered--the highest figure since the law came into force eight years ago.In many cases, girls were sexually abused or ended up falling in with criminal gangs through dating-service Web sites.Buying informationOf course, people should report any crime they witness--regardless of whether a reward is offered. But in reality, many people turn a blind eye if they come across a criminal act. In addition, it is unlikely children who are crime victims will report to police on their own.Some observers deplore the fact that police have to resort to buying information.However, we believe the law enforcement authorities should use any means at their disposal to improve public security. The reward system will help prevent crime if the public comes to understand that somebody nearby will tell the authorities what they witnessed.The hotline will function as envisioned only if its staff members are properly trained. It is important to train them in cooperation with the NPA so they can deal flexibly with calls.The hotline will be dealing with sensitive nuggets of information. The NPA must ensure the information is managed strictly to prevent any leaks and be on the alert against false information that might be planted in the tip-offs.The NPA must precisely explain to the public what crimes will be covered by the reward system. While examining how the system will turn out, the NPA should develop the system into one that the public can trust.(The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2007-09-29	YOSHIN0020070929e39t000g1
YOMSHI0020070930e39u00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070930e39u00001	EN	\N	Kyoto pact flaws must not be repeated	Two international conferences in the United States last week discussed measures for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. About 160 nations participated in the first high-level meeting on climate change held at the United Nations, while representatives from major emitting countries were invited to attend the forum, which was sponsored by the U.S. government.	4	2007-09-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	About 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are spewed into the atmosphere by the European Union and the 16 nations, including Japan and China, that sat at the table of the U.S.-sponsored conference.The United States sniffed at the 1997 Kyoto pact and its calls on signatory nations to cut such gases in 2008-12 from 1990 levels, saying it would harm the U.S. economy. However, Washington changed its stance after some some U.S. states adopted laws requiring cuts in emissions in an attempt to combat global warming. Last week, the United States even chaired the major emitter countries' meeting.At the conference, participants confirmed they would establish a new framework by 2009, and aim for the goal set by leaders at this year's G-8 summit meeting in Germany to cut global gas emissions by half their current levels by 2050.Split over mandatory cutsThere has been much head-scratching over what kind of framework should be created to achieve this target.The Kyoto accord assigns mandatory, country-by-country emission limits for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to signatory nations. The EU insists similar mandatory limits should be incorporated in the post-Kyoto pact, a move apparently aimed at nurturing the international market for trading greenhouse gas credits.However, the United States has shown no sign it will budge from its opposition to mandatory targets on global warming.China, which apparently has dethroned the United States as the world's largest emitter, was not required to make emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol because it was regarded as a developing country. Beijing has bristled at suggestions it should shoulder obligations on a par with those undertaken by developed nations.Japan, meanwhile, insists the post-Kyoto Protocol framework must be flexible and all-encompassing.No easy answersIt is imperative that the post-Kyoto pact has every major emitter on board; the shortcomings of the Kyoto Protocol must not be repeated. Japan's strategy aims to bring major emitter countries to the same table, but the government will have its work cut out trying to get the plan off the drawing board and turning it into action.Transferring clean technology to developing countries is an issue that needs to be addressed. U.S. President George W. Bush called for the creation of a global fund to promote technology on reducing carbon dioxide emission for developing nations. Japan should actively participate in designing the fund's blueprint and its operation.The 13th Conference of the Parties (COP13) to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Bali, Indonesia, in December and the G-8 summit meeting in Hokkaido will be crucial stages for negotiations as the clock ticks down toward 2009.Even if a post-Kyoto framework is created under the U.N. initiative, the fate of the new framework will be determined by a series of negotiations, including the recent U.S.-sponsored conference. Japan must face those negotiations with a concrete strategy in place.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2007-09-30	YOSHIN0020070930e39u000am
YOMSHI0020071001e3a100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071001e3a100001	EN	\N	Can new deal lead to nonnuclear N. Korea?	The latest round of six-party talks were aimed at deciding a "road map" for North Korea's denuclearization under the second phase of a six-party agreement in February, following the first stage of denuclearization steps already accomplished.	4	2007-10-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The negotiators reached a tentative deal on the next steps in North Korea's denuclearization based on a draft agreement presented by China as the host and chair of the talks. But the talks went into a recess as the negotiators must receive final approval of the deal from their governments.It has become commonplace for sessions of the six-party talks not to end as planned. That is because nobody can predict how negotiations with North Korea will turn out until the last moment.What is important is to craft an adequate and stable road map for implementing the next stage of denuclearization. The road map must not be open to ambiguous interpretation and there should be no stagnation or loopholes in the process to bring about Pyongyang's denuclearization.North Korea implemented the first stage of denuclearization this summer, shutting down and sealing its key nuclear facilities and allowing them to be inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Under the next stage, North Korea is required to disable all its nuclear facilities and declare all its nuclear programs.Taking the next stepThe United States and North Korea agreed to set the deadline for the implementation of the disablement and declaration obligations for Dec. 31 at a working-level meeting of the talks in early September.Following the U.S.-North Korea agreement, the latest six-party talks started. The important points in the document are a concrete approach to the disabling and declaration of nuclear facilities and the procedure to provide assistance to North Korea in return.According to sources related to participating countries in the talks, the disablement amounts to removing vital parts from the nuclear facilities to prevent the swift restart of operations. The surrendered components would be kept at different places within the country.Many questions remainUnder the disablement steps, what kinds of facilities are targeted and what parts are to be removed from the nuclear facilities? Who takes charge of the removed parts and how long should they be kept under surveillance? Did North Korea take effective measures for those purposes?The United States shortened the period of disablement that would result from removal of the components from the initial "several years" to "about one year." North Korea maintained that the period should be shortened further, according to sources.The disabling of nuclear facilities is not the same as scrapping them so that they cannot be used again. It is aimed at creating a situation in which immediate nuclear development would be difficult even if North Korea tried to resume operations at its nuclear facilities and establishing a foundation to promote negotiations for a third phase to follow the next step of denuclearization.Under the third step, negotiations would be at their most difficult as the participants strive to force Pyongyang to abandon the nuclear weapons and plutonium it possesses on the basis of North Korea's declared obligation earlier in the process. It is an issue that is directly related to Japan's security.Even if the participating nations can reach agreement in the latest six-party talks, it remains to be seen whether the agreement will become an appropriate foothold for the third step. An optimistic outlook for future six-party talks cannot be encouraged.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2007-10-01	YOSHIN0020071001e3a1000du
YOMSHI0020071002e3a200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071002e3a200001	EN	\N	Fukuda must obtain opposition's cooperation	At the beginning of his key policy speeches at both chambers of the Diet, the new prime minister said, "I'd like to proceed with national policies while sincerely consulting with the opposition parties about important political matters."	4	2007-10-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As Fukuda said, it is difficult to implement policies when the decisions of the two houses differ. The prime minister's comment was appropriate.The question is how Fukuda will manage to obtain the necessary cooperation on policy matters.In the policy addresses, Fukuda repeatedly used the phrase "self-reliance and coexistence." This is a phrase that the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has been using.Fukuda's daring use of the key words of the basic philosophy of the DPJ was probably intended to provide common ground for policy discussions.As a topic for policy consultations with the opposition parties, especially with the DPJ, which is the largest force in the upper house, Fukuda mentioned "designing systems from a long-term point of view" in relation to pension programs.The prime minister added that he would seek "transparent and constructive discussions that go beyond the framework of ruling and opposition camps," in an apparent effort to find a toehold to achieve cooperation with the opposition bloc.Tax reformIn such a process, the focal point will be, as Fukuda pointed out, "drastically reforming the taxation system including the consumption tax," to cope with social security programs and with increasing burdens stemmed from the declining birthrate.The DPJ has asserted its intention to keep the consumption tax rate unchanged and to allocate all consumption tax revenue to fund the pension system.However, it is questionable whether a stable pension system can be built only with such a method.Raising the consumption tax rate to secure stable fiscal resources for pensions and other social security programs is inevitable.As to the extension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for vessels engaged in the war on terrorism, the government plans to submit in mid-month a bill to establish a new law to replace the Antiterrorism Law that currently governs the mission.Fukuda stressed the continuation of the refueling activities would "contribute to our country's national interests" and is "a responsibility Japan must fulfill as a member of the international community." What Fukuda said is true.To meet expectations and requests from the international community, the prime minister has to offer thorough explanations to the public and the Diet to enact the law during the current extraordinary Diet session.Restoring trustFukuda also stressed the need to regain "people's trust" in politics and public administration. This is because policy cannot be advanced without such trust.While discussing efforts to dispel distrust stemming from political funds scandals, the prime minister also urged civil servants "to perform their duties faithfully and to act in such a way as not to bring shame upon themselves."The embezzlement of pension premiums and record-keeping errors seen at the Social Insurance Agency should never be repeated.As to revision of the Political Funds Control Law, discussions have been narrowed to such matters as the degree of disclosure necessary in political funds reports as the ruling bloc now proposes all receipts for payments exceeding 1 yen per item must be attached in political funds reports by political organizations. The ruling and opposition blocs must urgently reach an agreement on this matter.Revising the law, addressing the misuse and misappropriation of political funds, and dealing with problems at the SIA are obviously not enough to dispel the public's distrust. Fukuda must undertake every possible measure to do so.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	675	2007-10-02	YOSHIN0020071002e3a2000h4
YOMSHI0020071003e3a300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071003e3a300001	EN	\N	Maintain impartiality of textbook screening	The drafts of the high school textbooks to be used from next academic year stated that the Imperial Japanese Army forced local residents to commit mass suicide during the Battle of Okinawa toward the end of World War II. In the process of the latest textbook screening, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry suggested revisions to these textbooks' publishers concerning such historical descriptions. The publishers duly rewrote the descriptions.	4	2007-10-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Machimura has instructed education minister Kisaburo Tokai to consider whether it would be possible to correct the rewritten references to the Battle of Okinawa in a manner consistent with the publishers' initial descriptions.Details of incident contestedOn Saturday, about 110,000 people attended a rally held in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to protest the ministry's initial move to have the textbooks revised. The massive rally adopted a resolution demanding the ministry rescind its action.The resolution claims the mass suicide would have never taken place had it not been for the Imperial Japanese Army's "involvement." It also argues that the changes in the references to the Battle of Okinawa can only be seen as an attempt to negate and distort testimonies taken from a large number of local residents who experienced the fierce battle.It should be noted, however, that the ministry's suggested revisions were not intended to deny the army's "involvement" in the mass suicide.For example, the draft of one textbook stated, "The Japanese Army drove local residents out of trenches, murdered some on suspicion of spying and forced others to commit mass suicide and kill each other, using hand grenades that the army distributed to them." In the screening process, the first half of the description was kept intact, while the latter part was rewritten to read that "mass suicide and mutual killing took place, using hand grenades distributed to local people by the Japanese Army."The ministry's decision to suggest revisions to the descriptions in question reflected its belief that it was not necessarily evident whether the mass suicide had occurred as a result of coercion by the army.For years, it had been believed that residents in Tokashikijima and Zamamijima committed mass suicide under orders issued by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Battle of Okinawa. Since the 1970s, however, a number of people have testified against that view.In 2005, a former Imperial Japanese Army commissioned officer and a brother of a deceased former captain filed a defamation suit against writer Kenzaburo Oe, who had published a book describing those soldiers as responsible for issuing mass suicide orders.The ministry's suggested revisions reflected all these developments in recent years.A ministerial ordinance stipulates that revisions to textbooks that have been approved under the screening system should be made possible only if objective facts that have surfaced clearly contradict descriptions given in these publications.Machimura said, "I wonder if it's possible to correct [the rewritten descriptions], respecting the sentiment of people in Okinawa Prefecture."Facts over feelingsThe Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties are considering submitting to the Diet a resolution concerning history textbooks in consideration of the wishes of Okinawan residents.The Cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda may want to prevent the dispute from becoming a contentious issue in the current Diet session. However, history textbooks must be written entirely based on historical facts. Their contents should not be rewritten just to avoid hurting people's feelings and smooth out Diet proceedings.The foundation of textbook screening--a system that must be neutral and fair--could be shaken if descriptions in textbooks are subject to any changes in the political situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2007-10-03	YOSHIN0020071003e3a3000g9
YOMSHI0020071004e3a400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071004e3a400001	EN	\N	For DPJ, confrontation isn't the only option	But is it appropriate for the main opposition party to maintain such an approach?	4	2007-10-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In his questioning of Fukuda, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama urged the prime minister to drastically change the course of the structural reform program launched under the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Hatoyama also demanded that Fukuda rethink the government's budget proposal for next fiscal year.In response, Fukuda stressed he would pursue "politics with warm compassion" by tackling problems such as social and economic disparities to the best of his ability while maintaining the reform drive in principle.The DPJ apparently intended to persuade the public that it is different from the government and the ruling parties with an eye to realizing an early dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election. It is a welcome development that spirited discussions are taking place in the Diet.However, under the current situation in the Diet, in which the opposition bloc holds a majority in the House of Councillors, a political logjam must be avoided, and bills needed for the stability of people's livelihood and the national interest must be passed.Ozawa should step up to plateIn this regard, it was natural for Fukuda and Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki, in his interpellation of the prime minister, to call for policy discussions between the ruling and opposition blocs on such issues as pension system reform, reform of the taxation system, including the consumption tax, and the extension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.But Hatoyama refused to accept the LDP's olive branch, saying, "We don't want to have closed-door talks like bid-rigging negotiations." Instead, Hatoyama urged Fukuda to "organize Diet debates between the prime minister and opposition party leaders before seeking talks with opposition party leaders [in forums other than the Diet]" in order to "realize full-fledged discussions in the Diet."If the DPJ is calling for Diet debates to be held openly, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa himself should have stood at the podium to conduct the party's interpellation. The Diet will be vitalized when the leaders of the two major parties participate in full-scale debates.As per its campaign pledge for the July upper house election, the DPJ plans to submit more than 10 lawmaker-sponsored bills, including one to establish a law to ban the use of pension premiums for anything other than pension benefits, to the Diet during the current extraordinary session.Most of the bills will be submitted to the upper house and likely will pass the chamber because the opposition bloc holds a majority there.However, to pass its bills through the Diet, the DPJ needs cooperation from the ruling camp in the lower house.Clear up refueling questionIf the DPJ seriously wants its bills to be enacted, the main opposition party should seek talks with the ruling bloc. By participating in such talks, the party would demonstrate that it is capable of governing the country.Without such efforts, the DPJ's submission of the lawmaker-sponsored bills should only be regarded as a performance to advertise its views.As for the MSDF's refueling mission, Hatoyama told Fukuda that some of the fuel provided by the MSDF possibly was diverted to a U.S. vessel engaged in the war in Iraq. In response, the prime minister promised to "disclose necessary information as far as possible."There are certain limitations on the disclosure of secret information that relates to U.S. military operations. But the government must seek the U.S. government's cooperation and make further efforts for the disclosure of information on this issue.If the diversion of fuel to the Iraq war is determined to have taken place, Japan should not stop refueling activities. What it should do is to continue to participate in the war on terrorism while making sure the fuel it provides is not diverted.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	709	2007-10-04	YOSHIN0020071004e3a4000eb
YOMSHI0020071005e3a500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071005e3a500001	EN	\N	No Korean peace without denuclearization	The joint declaration, titled the "Development of Relations Between the South and the North and Peaceful Prosperity," was announced Thursday by the two leaders after their summit meeting--the first such meeting in seven years.	4	2007-10-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Before visiting Pyongyang, Roh expressed his hopes for the encounter, saying it would speed up the success of the six-party talks and contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula as well as the rest of Northeast Asia.In this respect, the extent to which the two Koreas would refer to the issue of the North's denuclearization was a focus of attention, but the declaration only states that South and North Korea would "make joint efforts" to ensure the smooth implementation of the previous agreements made at the six-party talks.Keeping 6-party talks in mindThe meeting was held as speculation mounted about what actions, under the six-party agreement, North Korea would take to "disable" its nuclear facilities and provide "a complete declaration" of its nuclear programs by Dec. 31. The summit meeting was the best opportunity for Roh to directly work on Kim for a commitment toward the abandonment of the nuclear programs.In their two rounds of talks, the two leaders reportedly discussed issues geared toward achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula, prosperity for all Koreans and reunification. But both peace and reunification cannot come about unless North Korea abandons its nuclear programs, as neighboring countries, including Japan, will not tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea.The two Koreas agreed to closely cooperate in efforts to put an end to hostile military relations and ensure detente on the Korean Peninsula.The two sides said they would hold talks between their defense ministers in November in Pyongyang to discuss such issues as the prevention of accidental collisions of naval vessels in the Yellow Sea and the establishment of waters for joint fishing.Closer to detente?When then South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and Kim Jong Il held the first North-South summit seven years ago, they did not address detente in their joint declaration. In that sense, the latest joint declaration is indeed a positive development.In the past, both countries have exchanged agreements covering detente and military confidence-building efforts. They even issued a joint declaration on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which prohibits the development, testing or possessing of nuclear weapons as well as the possessing of nuclear reprocessing and uranium enrichment facilities.However, rather than comply with the declaration, North Korea has repeatedly violated it, going so far as to hold a nuclear test. An agreement or declaration alone is not enough to realize detente.The administration of Roh, whose term will expire in less than five months, does not have the power nor the time to promote measures to realize detente. Important issues will be passed to the next administration.Since its inauguration, the Roh administration has struck a conciliatory tone toward North Korea. It is no wonder that the latest joint declaration outlines South Korea's measures to assist the North economically.However, if South Korea carries out massive economic assistance to North Korea outside the framework of the six-party talks, it will inevitably delay solutions to the North Korean nuclear problem.This is a serious point that the next South Korean administration will have to keep firmly in mind.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2007-10-05	YOSHIN0020071005e3a5000hz
YOMSHI0020071006e3a600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071006e3a600001	EN	\N	DPJ must offer viable refueling bill alternative	The government and the ruling parties have shown the opposition parties the outline of the bill for a new law that would authorize the continuation of the MSDF mission. The law, which would replace the Antiterrorism Law that expires on Nov. 1, would have a two-year time limit.	4	2007-10-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new law would limit the MSDF activities to supplying fuel and water for warships of other nations operating in specified regions. The reality of the current MSDF activities in the mission would be more accurately reflected in the bill.A provision demanding ex post facto approval by the Diet prescribed in the current Antiterrorism Law would be deleted. Some critics argue this would weaken civilian control of the Self-Defense Forces. However, we believe this is not the case.Ex post facto OK unnecessaryThe bill, instead, obliges the government to report the MSDF's activities in the mission to the Diet every year. In a nutshell, going through the process of debating the bill to pass it into law means the Diet approves of it.The government plans to finalize the bill and submit it to the House of Representatives in mid-October. The MSDF will be forced to temporarily withdraw from the Indian Ocean because enacting a new law by Nov. 1 is all but impossible due to opposition by the DPJ.Japan's absence from the mission that contributes to the war on terrorism should be kept to the absolute minimum. The government must make every effort to enact the law as soon as possible. Needless to say, the government will need to seek an extension of the extraordinary Diet session, which is to end on Nov. 10. It also has to bear in mind that the bill can be passed by a majority of more than two-thirds in the lower house if the opposition shoots it down in the House of Councillors.The public perception of the MSDF refueling mission also has been changing.In a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll conducted in late September, 47 percent of respondents supported the MSDF mission in the Indian Ocean, eclipsing the 40 percent who opposed it. In a survey conducted in early September, only 29 percent of those polled said they supported the mission, while 39 percent opposed it. These figures clearly show how much the level of support has changed, a shift that can be attributed to the growing awareness of the significance and reality of the refueling mission that has earned plaudits in the international community.The government should spare no effort in explaining to the public the necessity of continuing the MSDF mission and to deepen the people's understanding of what the operation is accomplishing in the Indian Ocean.ISAF participation unrealisticDPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa revealed in his party's gazette that he would like Japan to participate in the International Security Assistance Force deployed in Afghanistan.If the DPJ plans to propose joining the ISAF as an alternative to the MSDF's refueling mission, the main opposition party should make clear in which area of the ISAF mission--security assistance, provincial reconstruction, transportation or other operations--Japan can participate.In Afghanistan, a plague of suicide bombings and terrorist attacks have killed and wounded many ISAF members. Participating in the ISAF is not a realistic option for Japan at the moment.With compilation of an alternative to the LDP bill in mind, the DPJ planned to send a study mission to Afghanistan. However, this plan has been postponed, apparently because the DPJ wants to focus for the time being on pressing the government to disclose details of the MSDF's refueling mission.This is opposing something simply for the sake of opposing it. Such behavior is tantamount to the DPJ abandoning its mission and role as a responsible political party.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2007-10-06	YOSHIN0020071006e3a6000gg
YOMSHI0020071007e3a700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071007e3a700001	EN	\N	Quake warning system must be used wisely	The Meteorological Agency's emergency earthquake warning system, under which warnings will be issued via broadcasts on TV and other devices just before a major earthquake, went into operation last week.	4	2007-10-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Observers expect the system will have its share of glitches and will not be foolproof, and in some situations there will not be enough time to issue a warning before an earthquake strikes. But if the system works exactly as planned, a warning will be broadcast up to 50 seconds before a major earthquake.There are technical limits to how accurate the warnings will be. Nevertheless, we should use the information wisely as it will help prevent loss of life and damage caused by an impending temblor.React calmlyIf you hear the warning at home, you should stay away from large pieces of furniture and take shelter under a table. People should not unduly attempt to turn off a stove because it is dangerous to be near any fire when a tremor hits.At department stores and other shopping facilities, it is better to prepare for the coming jolt by taking refuge inside, rather than dashing toward an exit and getting caught up in a mad panic.People driving vehicles should slow down and park on the left side of the road while paying attention to other vehicles, especially ones coming from behind. Sudden braking and haphazard steering runs the risk of causing a collision.The agency provides information on such measures on its Web site and other media. We hope people will check the information in advance so they are prepared for the day when an actual emergency occurs.When an earthquake occurs, a small, fast-traveling primary wave of the quake reaches the Earth's surface. This is followed by the secondary waves that actually cause the tremors that lead to major damage.An earthquake's focus and intensity can be calculated if seismometers across the nation detect primary waves and then analyze them by computer. This data can make it possible to predict the strength of the ensuing secondary waves and the possible area the earthquake will affect. This, in a nutshell, is how the emergency earthquake warning system works.A public warning will be delivered if the agency predicts a tremor will have a seismic intensity of at least lower 5 on the Japanese scale of 7.System won't benefit allHowever, the system will be of little use for areas very close to an earthquake's focus because the secondary waves will arrive too soon after the primary waves for a prediction to be made.Instead, the warning system will be of most benefit to areas several dozen kilometers from the focus.Technological advances have made this system, which is without peer in the world, a reality. After the bitter lessons of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, the earthquake observation system became more refined with communication networks providing faster data transmission. The analysis of primary waves has also improved.The system has been tested at some railway and construction companies for more than one year. When the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake hit in July, crane operations were suspended at construction sites in Tokyo on the basis of the warning, a move that spoke volumes of the system's ability to enhance safety.However, issuing such a warning to the general public is not without risk. Wary of causing confusion, many municipalities and large facilities such as department stores have decided to postpone providing information based on the warnings.Whenever a warning is issued, the Meteorological Agency should examine how the warnings are utilized and seek to provide accurate information in a timely manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2007-10-07	YOSHIN0020071007e3a7000ay
YOMSHI0020071008e3a800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071008e3a800001	EN	\N	Transparency could ease Diet negotiations	At the first meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy held after the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was inaugurated, it was decided to continue fiscal reforms. In addition, the council decided to focus on two issues--rebuilding regional economies and reforming social security and taxation.	4	2007-10-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These problems were to have been discussed by the council under the administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but due to the change in leadership, such discussions have yet to start. They also are important for the Fukuda Cabinet, which puts the highest priority on stability of people's lives.In his first policy speech, Fukuda pledged to rebuild rural areas and take proper measures to address specific disparities in various fields that will occur as a result of these reforms. He also said that he would drastically reform the tax system, including the consumption tax, in order to secure the necessary financial resources to fund social security programs and cope with the declining birthrate.It is the responsibility of the council to give substance to the prime minister's basic policy and compile specific policy measures.Drafting proposalsThe council plans to work out a new proposal this year to revitalize regional economies. The pillars of the plan are likely to be enhancement of the productivity of small and midsized companies, streamlining and prioritizing agricultural and farmland reforms and investment in public works projects, and creation of an institution to revitalize regional economies.Following the crushing defeat in the July House of Councillors election, there have been growing demands in the ruling parties for an increase in the number of public works projects for rural areas. The council is required to clearly show what the government can do for regional revitalization without spending lavishly for that purpose.Concerning social security and taxation, the council will present to the public an easy-to-understand alternative to the current levels of benefits and burdens.Increasing the consumption tax rate is indispensable as a financial resource to pay for an increase in the government-funded portion of national pension benefit payments for all Japanese, which is planned for realization by fiscal 2009, and mounting social security funding demands. But the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan opposes hiking the consumption tax rate.Give public the factsThe council should show what effect the proposed changes in the pension benefit levels and a hike--or maintenance of the current level--in the consumption tax rate would have on people's lives.Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi utilized the council to stifle objections from the ruling parties and realize policy decisions under the leadership of the Prime Minister's Office. Abe followed in Koizumi's footsteps, but Fukuda is emphasizing the importance of cooperating with opposition parties.Given the circumstances in the upper house, where opposition parties hold a majority, negotiations between ruling and opposition camps are vital to ensure progress on important policy issues. Therefore, some experts have predicted the council's influence on policy decisions may wane.However, the Fukuda administration should continue to take advantage of the fact that discussions among Cabinet members and other expert members of the council are made public at every meeting, which adds a degree of transparency to the policy decision process.If the council works out government proposals after thorough discussions, the opposition parties would be forced to clearly explain to the public the basis of their assertions to counter those of the government. In this way, negotiations between ruling and opposition camps will become meaningful.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2007-10-08	YOSHIN0020071008e3a800095
YOMSHI0020071009e3a900003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071009e3a900003	EN	\N	Narrowing disparities in local tax revenues vital	According to fiscal 2006 settlement of accounts of the prefectural governments, the largest disparity of per capita local tax revenue was between Tokyo and Okinawa Prefecture at 3.1:1. The rate saw little change from the previous fiscal year.	4	2007-10-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Two local corporate taxes--corporate residential tax and corporate enterprise tax--that post higher revenue disparities than other local taxes showed a 6.1:1 disparity between Tokyo and Nagasaki Prefecture, marking a miniscule decrease from the previous fiscal year's gap of 6.5:1.The narrower disparity is chiefly owed to a revised calculation method--in favor of rural prefectures--on allocation of tax payments by large companies, which have branch offices and factories outside prefectures where they are headquartered, to prefectures where local operations are based.However, this is not enough to narrow tax revenue disparities among prefectures. According to the government's fiscal 2007 local finance plan, the Tokyo metropolitan government has a 1.6 trillion yen fiscal surplus. This is extraordinary fiscal health when looking at other prefectures, as 45 prefectures suffer from revenue shortages. Besides Tokyo, Aichi Prefecture is the only one with a fiscal surplus among the nation's 47 prefectures.Sending money homeTo narrow the tax revenue disparities among local governments, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry seeks to introduce the hometown tax system.Under this system, when an individual taxpayer makes a donation to a prefecture or a municipality where he or she was born, for example, the amount of the donation minus 5,000 yen will be deducted from their individual residential tax payment, up to a maximum exemption of 10 percent of their individual residential tax.The overall revenue from individual residential taxes is about 12 trillion yen. If all individual taxpayers make donations to other local governments at the maximum level for tax exemption, about 1.2 trillion yen in tax money will be shifted mainly from larger local governments to smaller ones.However, by using a donation method that is troublesome for taxpayers and setting a maximum exemption, the hometown tax system will have a limited effect in terms of equalizing tax revenue disparities among local governments.In this regard, narrowing tax revenue disparities from the two corporate local taxes will be indispensable.The ministry has been proposing to increase the local portion of the consumption tax. Currently, the 5 percent consumption tax is divided, with 80 percent going to the central government and 20 percent allocated to local governments. The local portion of the consumption tax is called local consumption tax. At the same time, the ministry proposes that some portion of the two local corporate taxes should be shifted to the central government.Consumption tax gapIn simple calculation, the local consumption tax appears to show the largest disparity of 1:10 in the amounts generated between the smallest and biggest recipients. However, as the local consumption tax is collected by the central government and allocated to local governments based on such factors as population and consumption activities, the actual disparity stands at 1:1.9--the smallest disparity among tax items.If the local consumption tax is increased and the two local corporate taxes are reduced, the tax revenue disparities among localities will be narrowed.The Finance Ministry, at the same time, proposes that revenues from the two local corporate taxes should be, like the local consumption tax, collected by the central government and redistributed to local governments based on the number of workers, branches and factories and their location.The consumption tax is a key revenue source for social security. If the central government's portion is reduced, fiscal resources for social security will be threatened. In this regard, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry's proposal should be discussed when the consumption tax rate is raised.For the time being, discussions for reducing tax revenue disparities among local governments should center around the idea that part of revenues from the two local corporate taxes should be collected by the central government and redistributed to local governments.The Democratic Party of Japan seeks to stop such distribution of consumption tax revenue and have all consumption tax revenue allocated to fund the basic pension program. How, then, can local governments cover the loss in fiscal resources that would result from such a measure? The main opposition party should present specific solutions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	795	2007-10-09	YOSHIN0020071009e3a9000d1
YOMSHI0020071011e3ab00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071011e3ab00001	EN	\N	DPJ should submit bill on ISAF participation	By making use of the three party heavyweights--Naoto Kan, Seiji Maehara and Katsuya Okada--the DPJ was apparently doing its best to highlight problems with the government's policies.	4	2007-10-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Kan and Okada focused their criticism on the refueling by the Maritime Self-Defense Force's supply vessels of U.S. and other allies' military vessels that are conducting maritime interdiction operations in the Indian Ocean.The question and answer session between the DPJ heavyweights and the government has made clearer the main points of the debate. The government must now take into full consideration the issues raised in these discussions when drawing up a bill for a new law that would allow the mission to continue, in order to secure the broad understanding and support of voters.Kitty Hawk fuel focus of debateAt the session, Kan also pointed to concerns that the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk was engaging in Iraq war-related operations in the Persian Gulf after being refueled by a U.S. supply vessel that had taken on fuel from an MSDF supply vessel.Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda admitted again that about 3,000 kiloliters of fuel was supplied to the U.S. Navy supply ship by an MSDF supply ship in February 2003, as opposed to the about 750 kiloliters he had previously stated.He also withdrew remarks he made in 2003 based on the 750-kiloliter figure, saying, "It was wrong," and officially apologized for the mistake.Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said it was a simple clerical error involving a numerical mix-up and that the government would punish those responsible for the mistake.However, doing this will not be enough to solve the problem--the government should take appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence of such a mistake.Ishiba talked in detail about the explanations offered by the United States over the Kitty Hawk's activities and stated clearly that the fuel the MSDF provided to the carrier was never used in the Iraqi operations.We hope the government will hereafter offer further details to banish for good any suspicions over the issue.What is important is, as Ishiba emphasized, that information is properly disclosed, except in those cases where full disclosure would compromise military operations or where it proves impossible to secure the approval of concerned nations who refuse to reveal information on reasonable grounds.Of course, the government also needs to ask the United States and other nations concerned to cooperate on these matters. Such disclosures of information are also important for maintaining confidence in the Japan-U.S. alliance.What is the DPJ's position?But all this said, what does the DPJ itself think about Japan's role in the "war on terrorism"? It is incomprehensible that the DPJ's leading lights did not make any constructive remarks in this regard.DJP President Ichiro Ozawa has said that if the DPJ were to take the reins of government, he would like Japan to participate in the International Security Assistance Force deployed in Afghanistan.If this is the case, why doesn't the party submit a bill to allow Japanese participation in the ISAF to the opposition-controlled House of Councillors and get it passed?Ozawa believes Japan can participate in such a mission, even if it is associated with the use of armed force, if it is part of the U.N. peacekeeping operation.He thus maintains that it is natural for Japan to participate in the dispatch of U.N. peacekeeper troops to the Darfur region in Sudan. Submission of such an ISAF participation bill to the Diet would force a new level of debate in this country about Japan's participation in international peacekeeping activities.We hope the DPJ will do its best to help produce fruitful, constructive results through intense deliberations with the government and ruling parties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2007-10-11	YOSHIN0020071011e3ab000lk
YOMSHI0020071012e3ac00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071012e3ac00001	EN	\N	Expressway toll changes should be kept simple	The company plans to adopt a system to charge tolls based on the distance traveled instead of a flat fee. But a substantial change to the proposal seems to be necessary to win the understanding of users since the proposed changes have several problems, including a marked disadvantage for drivers who do not have the electronic toll collection (ETC) system installed in their cars.	4	2007-10-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Metropolitan Expressway has used a flat fee system since it started operations in 1962. The toll for standard cars using routes mainly running through the metropolitan area is 700 yen, but many users who travel only short distances have complained about having to pay a high fee for short distances, calling for a change in the system.In response, the expressway company proposed a system in which the toll would be charged according to the distance driven.  Hanshin Expressway Co. is also studying a similar system.Maximum fee too high?According to the company's proposal, the toll for Tokyo routes would remain at 700 yen for distances from 10 kilometers to less than 19 kilometers. The fees for distances less than 10 kilometers would be reduced in 50 yen increments, with the lowest being 400 yen for distances less than three kilometers.On the other hand, the toll will be gradually increased in 50 yen increments from 700 yen for distances of 19 kilometers or more, with the maximum toll being 1,200 yen, which is 500 yen higher than the current fee. To ensure that total revenue will not fall after the change, while also giving discounts to short-distance drivers, the company has to set the maximum toll at a high level.We understand the rationale for the company's decision, but there is every reason to wonder if the maximum toll is too high.The new system would deal a major blow to the trucking industry, which will have to pay double the standard car toll for a truck. The change in the toll system would increase distribution costs, exacerbate traffic jams on ordinary roads and aggravate air pollution if trucks avoid expressways.Problems with ETC systemThe biggest problem, however, is how to deal with vehicles not equipped with ETC.In principle, those vehicles will have to pay a maximum toll of 1,200 yen as the distances traveled will be unverifiable.This system will be necessary due to concerns that people driving vehicles with ETC might, for instance, try to only pay 700 yen when they actually should pay the maximum toll by pretending their cars do not have ETC devices.The ratio of ETC-equipped vehicles on Metropolitan Expressway roads is now 77 percent. But, in the greater metropolitan area--Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures--the ratio of all vehicles equipped with ETC is only 39 percent.It is, therefore, only natural that there are objections to the new fee system, as it could be seen as a way to remove vehicles not equipped with ETC--a majority of the vehicles in the area.The expressway company plans to call on drivers of such vehicles to use a newly developed, simple device to pay tolls. But it remains to be seen if the device would proliferate under such pressure, as setting it up takes effort.Some are urging the Metropolitan Expressway to lower the maximum toll and raise the minimum toll to alleviate the burden of what will effectively be a toll hike.For example, the maximum toll could be kept at 900 yen or 800 yen, while the minimum toll could be raised to 500 yen or 600 yen.Such gradual steps are necessary to win the understanding of expressway users.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2007-10-12	YOSHIN0020071012e3ac000fc
YOMSHI0020071013e3ad00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071013e3ad00001	EN	\N	Local govt mustn't allow crime to go unpunished	In response to the embezzlement of pension premiums by officials at the city to village level, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry filed a criminal complaint under the name of the Miyagi Regional Social Insurance Bureau chief in Miyagi Prefecture against a former employee of Tajiricho, currently the city of Osaki in the prefecture, who allegedly embezzled pension premiums. The ministry took this step because the Osaki municipal government refused to file a complaint against the former employee.	4	2007-10-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Worryingly, other local governments also do not intend to file criminal complaints against light-fingered employees even if the statute of limitations on embezzlement cases has not expired. We hope the ministry files criminal complaints against every local government employee who has embezzled pension premiums.Strictly dealing with these cases is necessary to regain public confidence in the pension system. A nationwide survey found 101 cases in which local government employees embezzled a total of 243 million yen in pension premiums. However, local governments have filed criminal complaints with police in only 18 of these cases.7 municipalities shirking dutyExcluding a case in which a person who allegedly embezzled premiums had died, criminal complaints have not yet been filed in eight cases although the seven-year statute of limitations has not expired. Only the Hino municipal government in Tokyo filed a complaint at the request of Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe. Six cities and one town, including Osaki, have announced that the local governments would not file criminal complaints.Those governments insisted the cases have been settled. For instance, the Osaki municipal government says the former official had suffered the social ignominy of being dismissed in disgrace and has paid back the money he took.This is a ludicrous excuse. The Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that a public servant is obliged to file a criminal complaint when the person knows a crime has been committed. Public prosecutors have the responsibility to decide whether to indict a person and judges must decide whether to reduce a sentence by taking social sanctions, if any, into consideration. Local governments should not be allowed to forsake their duty to file criminal complaints simply because it suits them.Heads of local governments who do not file criminal complaints against former employees could be accused of putting consideration for people in their inner circles, such as current employees and trade unions, above all else.Some skeptics have suggested the local governments' refusal to file criminal complaints has been so dogged because some benefits and tax money also have been embezzled. Such suspicions are bound to snowball if the localities refuse to respond to the health minister's request.More than a pension issueMiyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai has come out in support of the Osaki municipal government's decision not to file a criminal complaint against the former employee."Many public officials have been punished for embezzling public funds. It's very difficult to accuse only employees who pocketed pension premiums," he said.If we take Murai's comments at face value, then the problem apparently goes well beyond the pension premium wrongdoings. The government needs to investigate just how many criminal acts, such as the embezzlement of public funds, have slipped through the cracks and gone unpunished at the national and local government levels.With the Osaki government dragging its feet, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry finally brought a criminal complaint against the former employee. Although this is a natural response, it is lamentable that the atmosphere between Masuzoe and municipalities, to which he has taken a blunt approach, has become so awkward.This is not the time for both sides to exchange unnecessary disparaging remarks. We hope the central and local governments cooperate and do their best in recovering and identifying pension records.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	683	2007-10-13	YOSHIN0020071013e3ad000fo
YOMSHI0020071015e3ae00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071015e3ae00001	EN	\N	Media has crucial role in lay judge system	"To ensure there is no prejudgment or prejudice imparted on lay judges, I'd like to ask the media to consider various perspectives when reporting on crime," the chief councillor said to the surprise of newspaper, broadcast and magazine reporters at the convention in Fukui.	4	2007-10-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The lay judge system will be introduced in spring 2009. As part of efforts to lay the groundwork for the system, the judicial authorities are seeking a drastic reexamination on how crime is reported in newspapers and other media.Although delivered as a "personal opinion," the chief councillor's comment was the first public airing of a specific appeal by a judicial official to the media. One main point in the lecture was that "information provided by investigative organizations should not be reported as fact."Of course, treating all information as requiring confirmation should be a basic tenet of journalists. Many newspapers have been left with egg on their faces after reporting information that later turned out to be inaccurate. As a result, they refrain from reporting stories in which a specific person is considered a suspect based only on information provided by the police and other investigative organs.A striking requestHiraki's remark was particularly striking in that he indirectly asked for the media to exercise self-restraint. He apparently felt citizens serving as lay judges could prejudge a suspect as being guilty if they see reports of a suspect's "confession," past criminal record, the environment in which they grew up and personal relationships, as well as observers' remarks.Reporters who cover crime stories are committed to conveying the facts correctly and quickly to their readers. Their work aims to satisfy the public's right to know, and evoke an abhorrence of crime and raise awareness among citizens, leading to society as a whole taking measures to prevent crime.Say, for example, a suspect is arrested for a crime that greatly affects society. There is no need to report on the suspect's past criminal record and the like if it has no relevance to this particular crime. But for the media to fulfill its mission, it needs to report vital details, including what the suspect tells police investigators, the social background in which the crime occurred and analysts' views.We believe the public supports this stance. According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, nearly 90 percent of respondents said they "greatly trusted" or "moderately trusted" newspaper reports--a figure that has remained steady in previous surveys.Responsible reporting neededWe can understand that judicial authorities want to shield lay judges from making any prejudgment based on crime reports. After all, they feel such preconceptions could endanger a defendant's right to a fair trial. The media should avoid sensationalistic and muckraking reporting.The foundation for ensuring a fair trial is a task that the three pillars of the judicial community--courts, attorneys and prosecutors--should spare no effort in tackling. However, the legal community is barking up the wrong tree if it thinks putting excessive restrictions on crime reporting will solve this problem, since these restrictions could infringe on freedom of the press and the public's right to know.Hiraki's concern that citizens could be easily influenced by news reports might even reflect the prejudice that the judicial authorities harbor toward lay judges.The introduction of the lay judge system was intended to reflect citizen's common sense in trials. Under this system, the importance of crime reporting and the basic posture of the media will remain unchanged.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2007-10-14	YOSHIN0020071015e3ae000ah
YOMSHI0020071016e3ag00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071016e3ag00002	EN	\N	China needs reforms for 'harmonious society'	In a political report to the congress, which is held once every five years, party General Secretary Hu Jintao, who is also the Chinese president, proposed that the nation depart from its previous growth-first policy and instead seek more "balanced and sustainable growth."	4	2007-10-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Hu first proposed this policy course three years ago with his guiding principle of a "Scientific Development Perspective." During the congress session, the proposal likely will be listed as one of the party's paramount guiding ideologies, along with Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. The inclusion of the new principle will signal the establishment of Hu's power as the supreme leader over the next five years as he enters his second term.But he faces a rocky road.Income gap still wideningDisparity resulting from rapid economic growth dating back to the previous administration under former President Jiang Zemin is extremely serious.Over the past five years, China's gross domestic product almost doubled. But the gap between the rich and the poor grew, with an estimate putting it as high as a 55-fold difference in income between high- and low-income groups. Ordinary citizens and farmers, who are not a part of the privileged few, are losing their houses and farmland without receiving sufficient compensation.There is little sign that environmental degradation will let up any time soon. In fact, far from sustainable growth, people's lives and health are threatened.The administration of Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao has placed importance on such civilian-sector issues as agriculture, medicine, education, pensions and the environment in an effort to rectify the adverse effects of fast growth.In the report to the congress, Hu devoted an entire chapter to improving such civilian-sector problems. Under his administration, the rate of social security expenditure to overall government spending has doubled to more than 11 percent compared with Jiang's time in office. But it is hard to say that positive effects have been noticeably generated.Keeping local govts in checkMeasures against widespread corruption also are urgently required. Controls on local governments, which have functioned as hotbeds of corruption, likely will become tougher. Shanghai, in which the city's top official was arrested, is a typical example of the stricter controls.Local governments also have not been active in implementing measures to conserve energy and to remove or reduce contaminated materials. The Hu administration set out a policy to take into account levels of achievement of those measures in its merit evaluation of local government leaders.For the achievement of Hu's "harmonious society," it is necessary to dramatically step up control over local governments that do not comply with the party's guidance and still stick to growth-first policies. To that end, the party's top executives need to grasp the situations on the ground in local areas and implement reforms such as administrative surveillance by residents.But Hu's report only presented a stereotyped policy of seeking "expansion of the participation of citizens in politics in a well-ordered manner." Notably, there were reports of public security authorities detaining human-rights activists and others before the opening of the congress.To achieve a truly "harmonious society," it is necessary to carry out political reforms that reflect China's increasingly diversified society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2007-10-16	YOSHIN0020071016e3ag000hh
YOMSHI0020071017e3ah00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071017e3ah00001	EN	\N	DPJ must speak its mind on global security issue	The ongoing session of the upper house Budget Committee is the first of its kind to be held under the extraordinary power relationship in the Diet, with the opposition camp holding a majority in the upper house and the ruling camp dominating the House of Representatives. The Budget Committee session has been turned into a verbal battleground between the DPJ and the Liberal Democratic Party, with the parties touting their respective policies there.	4	2007-10-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the session, the LDP raised questions about a DPJ bill aimed at banning the use of state-run pension premiums for purposes unrelated to pension payments. The LDP also challenged the propriety of a plan advanced by the DPJ during July's upper house election campaign to compensate farmers for the gaps in the market prices of their products and their production costs. In exploring the adequacy of the DPJ proposals during the session, the LDP asked the government to express its opinions about the opposition party's policies.DPJ should clarify its policiesUnder the current unusual power relationship in the legislature, it will be impossible for the government to carry out important polices unless the ruling and opposition parties cooperate in this respect. The LDP's move to take up the DPJ's policies in the Budget Committee session may have reflected its desire to highlight the differences between its own and DPJ plans while also trying to find common ground in the two parties' policies.The DPJ was angered by the LDP's action in the session. But we suggest the DPJ take the initiative in upper house debates to ensure its campaign pledges are carried out, a goal that could be achieved by using the opposition camp's predominance in the chamber.We also believe the DPJ should strive to ensure its own bills, including the pension premium legislation, are submitted to a plenary session of the upper house for votes on them as soon as possible, while also quickly submitting to the session other bills it hopes to write into law. Doing so will enable the DPJ to state its opinions about key policy issues at upper house plenary and committee sessions.The greatest focus of the current Diet session is how to settle the dispute over the government's desire to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean.The DPJ should waste no time submitting a bill that would define Japan's responsibility in this respect if it opposes the current MSDF activities. The party needs to clarify its stance on Japan's contribution to the global war against terrorism during Diet sessions.Nonetheless, the DPJ failed to present its own ideas at lower and upper house Budget Committee meetings. Instead, the opposition party devoted a hefty portion of its allotted time to raising questions about suspicions that the fuel supplied by the MSDF to U.S. vessels in the Indian Ocean was used in part for purposes related to U.S. military operations in Iraq. The DPJ also persisted in bringing the government to task for correcting its earlier answer concerning the amount of fuel transferred from MSDF ships to U.S. vessels.The DPJ, however, remained silent on party President Ichiro Ozawa's proposal for Japan to join the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during Diet sessions.Investigation right abused?The main opposition party has been increasingly inclined to summon key figures and demand pertinent documents in connection with the suspicions about the fuel in question, by taking advantage of the constitutional right of Diet members to investigate state affairs.The investigation right of legislators is extremely important authority granted to the Diet. If the DPJ invokes the right simply to boycott or prolong Diet discussions, such a move can only be described as an egregious misuse of the legislature.The DPJ also used former Defense Agency Director General Gen Nakatani's words to trip him up when he said that "terrorists are the only ones" to oppose the MSDF's continued refueling operations. The DPJ's action can be seen as an attempt to delay the start of discussions on a bill the government hopes to submit to the Diet to replace the current Antiterrorism Law, which will expire on Nov. 1.If it repeats such an attempt, the DPJ must be regarded as no different from the defunct Japan Socialist Party, that persistently opposed government policies for the sole sake of opposition.It is also necessary to discuss what kind of responsible role should be assumed by the LDP and the DPJ, respectively, in implementing important policies. One advisable forum for such discussions is a one-on-one debate between Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and DPJ leader Ozawa.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	889	2007-10-17	YOSHIN0020071017e3ah000g9
YOMSHI0020071018e3ai00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071018e3ai00001	EN	\N	Japan mustn't quit war on terrorism	The government has submitted to the Diet the bill for the new antiterrorism law to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.	4	2007-10-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new law would limit the Self-Defense Force's antiterrorism support activities to the MSDF's refueling and water supply mission. The subjects of the mission will be limited to other countries' vessels participating in maritime interdiction activities to prevent the movement of terrorists and the transportation of weapons and drugs.In the interdiction operation, 15 vessels from the United States, Britain, Germany and four other countries are carrying out such activities as onboard ship inspections based on international law. The operation, which does not involve the offensive use of firearms, resembles a maritime policing activity.In this regard, the new bill can easily win the understanding of the public. Limiting the subjects of refueling will certainly prevent the fuel provided from being diverted to the Iraq war.Permanent law neededThe government initially sought a two-year term for the new law. However, in consideration of New Komeito's view that having it enforced for one year would make it easier to maintain civilian control over the MSDF mission, the government set the term of the law at one year.But for Japan to properly tackle the war on terrorism, which will be a long and difficult task, the term of the law that governs the nation's efforts for the war should be longer. After the law is established, creating a permanent law regarding the overseas dispatch of the SDF likely will become a topic of discussion.The current Antiterrorism Law will expire on Nov. 1. The temporary withdrawal of MSDF vessels is inevitable. For the MSDF mission to be resumed at an early stage, the new law must be enacted during the current extraordinary Diet session. However, the prospects for the bill are unclear.If the DPJ, the largest party in the House of Councillors, maintains its opposition to the bill, the government and the ruling camp of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito will have to significantly extend the current Diet session that ends Nov. 10. They may have to resort to the emergency measure of voting on the bill for a second time, exploiting the coalition's more than two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives, if it is voted down in the upper house.DPJ's stance hard to fathomThe DPJ has been working out its counterproposal to the bill. The party reportedly is considering including in its own bill such items as assistance to civilian support services in connection with the activities of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and participation in provisional reconstruction efforts in that country. The DPJ's move is a natural one for a responsible party to make.However, with the expiration day of the current law looming, the DPJ's counterbill must include specific steps that can be implemented immediately. If it is filled with abstractions, it is not worthy of being called a bill.The DPJ also must be held accountable on the issue of why it is opposing the refueling activities as "unconstitutional." In November 2001, the party voted--in both chambers of the Diet--for Diet approval of the overseas dispatch of the MSDF under the Antiterrorism Law. When it opposed the establishment and extension of the law, the DPJ did not bring up the "unconstitutionality" of the legislation as a reason for its opposition.So why is it suddenly claiming that the refueling activities are unconstitutional? The DPJ must offer a clear explanation of its stance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	687	2007-10-18	YOSHIN0020071018e3ai000fd
YOMSHI0020071019e3aj00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071019e3aj00001	EN	\N	Time to crack down on spam e-mail	An expert panel established by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry on Tuesday compiled a draft of an interim report on dealing with such spam.	4	2007-10-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The draft report calls for, among other regulations, prohibiting operators from sending unsolicited advertisements and only allowing such ads when consumers have given prior approval.The ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the law on e-mail transmission, and aims for enforcement by next spring. The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry also plans to revise the Specific Commercial Transaction Law for this purpose.It is a matter of course for the government to protect consumers by toughening regulations against advertisements sent to computers and mobile phones in order to prevent people from being victims of malicious e-mail.But the government's response also has come rather belatedly, and it is hoped that new rules in line with proposals in the draft interim report will be introduced as soon as possible.Current rules lack biteUnder the current law, sales and mailing companies are allowed to send e-mail for advertising and publicity to an unspecified large number of people without any prior agreements from the recipients, as long as the messages are labeled as "unsolicited advertisement." But if the recipient notifies the company that he or she does not wish to receive any more of these messages, the company is required to comply with that request.According to the METI, less than 1 percent of advertising e-mail is actually labeled "unsolicited mail." Even if they are labeled, more than 80 percent of such messages do not include an address to which a recipient can ask not to receive further e-mail.Given the reality of the situation, many see the current rules as being largely toothless.Furthermore, the majority of spam comes from dating site operators or from companies selling illegal software. There also are a considerable number of people who fall victim to the so-called one-click fraud, in which they are illegally charged fees after accessing a Web address linked in spam messages.In many instances, operators resort to a method known as botnet, in which they hack into third-party personal computers to send a large number of spam messages.There is another fraudulent method known as phishing, in which operators try to get personal information, such as credit card numbers, by sending e-mails that look like they have been sent by banks.Tougher penalties neededThe situation is so serious that spamming has become a hotbed for various criminal activities.To strengthen the regulations, it is necessary for the law on e-mail transmission to have clauses providing for heavier penalties for violators. Spam e-mail using the botnet method should be subject to regulation. In addition, penalties, including criminal punishments, should be included in the Specific Commercial Transaction Law.Even if the nation toughens legal regulations over spam, malicious operators will always find loopholes in the law and come up with new methods that can skirt it. Police and relevant authorities must crack down on malicious operators by increasing vigilance.About 90 percent of spam e-mail is sent through overseas servers, such as those in China, to recipients in Japan. Overseas spam should not be left unregulated by any means. As the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry's panel pointed out, it is crucial for Japan to cooperate with other nations in weeding out illegal activities using spam e-mail.Internet shopping using advertisements through e-mail has rapidly proliferated. To prevent spam e-mailing from adversely affecting legitimate online business operators, Japan must crack down on the rampant proliferation of spam.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2007-10-19	YOSHIN0020071019e3aj000et
YOMSHI0020071020e3ak00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071020e3ak00001	EN	\N	Taboo finally lifted on consumption tax debate	The Cabinet Office has submitted to the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy three sets of estimates on future social security payments, such as for pensions and health care, and the financial burden that people will likely have to shoulder.	4	2007-10-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The figures made for grim reading. According to the office, the current payment level of benefits cannot be maintained and the fiscal deficit will expand unless the combined burden of tax and social insurance premiums placed on the people is increased.Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is well aware that sweeping the problem under the carpet is no longer an option, and has spoken of his determination to crack open the debate on the tax rate increase."If we dillydally instead of tackling the problem, we will end up facing a tougher choice [of selecting a tax increase or cuts in benefit payments]," he said.Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi started this trend when he said, "I won't raise the consumption tax rate while I'm in office." Shinzo Abe, Fukuda's predecessor, toed the same line with a basic policy of trying to avoid raising the consumption tax rate by instead resorting to deep cuts in fiscal expenses.Compared with his predecessors, Fukuda's stance as a policymaker is quite responsible.Number crunchingNotable among the three estimates were calculations of changes in the people's burden and benefit payment level through fiscal 2025. These figures were derived by comparing what likely will happen if the current benefit payment level is maintained with an increased burden, with maintaining the current burden level but reducing benefit payments.In the former case, the people's burden will increase by 11 trillion yen if the economy performs well, and 12 trillion yen if economic growth is sluggish. Furthermore, tax revenue will need to be increased by 14 trillion yen to 29 trillion yen to prevent the fiscal deficit from snowballing.In the latter case, benefit payments will, in effect, be cut by about 30 percent in fiscal 2025 from the current level. Tax revenue increases of 8 trillion yen to 24 trillion yen also will be required in this scenario.In any case, the public will have to be prepared to tighten their belts and brace for harder times in their everyday lives.In another estimate with an intermediate fiscal outlook until fiscal 2011, the office considered the fiscal situation in a case in which fiscal expenses were cut by 14.3 trillion yen but with 1 trillion yen then added every year from fiscal 2008, in addition to a case based on the current policy of reducing the expenses by 11.4 trillion yen to 14.3 trillion yen in fiscal 2011.In the incremental rise case, the office said, a tax increase of 6.6 trillion yen will be necessary during a period of low growth to eliminate the deficit in the primary balance of central and local governments.Use figures wiselyThis is the first time the Cabinet Office has produced specific tax increase figures in its future estimates on social security costs, the fiscal situation and the burden to be imposed on the public. At present, the government is compelled to at least consider increasing fiscal expenditure--even if only slightly--to maintain the nation's social security systems, which have been shaken by a lack of doctors and the sharp rise in nursing care insurance benefit payments, among other problems.These sobering estimates pull the rug from under some optimists who thought that fiscal rehabilitation was possible through increases in tax revenue along with high economic growth and cuts in fiscal expenditure.The office's figures were based on the assumption that the tax increase will be split evenly between income taxes and the consumption tax. However, increasing income tax is a tough sell because the effects of tax increases will mainly land on the generations still working. The office's figures should have been based more on the assumption that consumption tax revenue will account for the bulk of the money.The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan says social security systems can be sustained without increasing the consumption tax rate. Will the DPJ maintain its tune on this policy even after seeing the Cabinet Office's estimates? We think the ruling and opposition camps should seek an ideal combination of increases in the public burden and cuts in benefit payments that will keep the people's burden to a minimum.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	780	2007-10-20	YOSHIN0020071020e3ak000fl
YOMSHI0020071021e3al00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071021e3al00002	EN	\N	Parties must be in tune on funds law revision	The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has decided to discuss revising the Political Funds Control Law with the ruling bloc. Public distrust in politics--largely because of a series of money scandals--runs deep. We hope the ruling and opposition parties will combine the best parts of their respective bills and ensure the law is revised during the current extraordinary Diet session.The DPJ has compiled a bill to revise the law that would oblige all of the nation's 70,000 political organizations to attach receipts for any expense of 1 yen or more to political funds reports and disclose them.	4	2007-10-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, have finally agreed that political organizations represented by Diet members and others would have to attach receipts to political funds reports for expenses of 1 yen or more and disclose them in principle. However, the standard for disclosing receipts for expenses in the ruling parties' bill could be watered down as the parties say the criterion "has to be effective in preventing administrative costs from ballooning." The LDP asserts that between 600,000 and 2 million receipts for expenses of 1 yen or more would have to be disclosed, a procedure that would require a considerable amount of time and money.More transparency neededUnder the current Political Funds Control Law, about 11,600 organizations that manage Diet members' political funds are obliged to attach receipts for expenses of 50,000 yen and more to political funds reports and make them available to the public. To increase transparency, we think this obligation must be expanded to cover receipts for expenses less than that figure. The ruling and opposition parties should be on the same page when it comes to the question of whether "1 yen or more" is appropriate. They should reach an agreement on this matter and place a premium on making sure the revision is truly effective.The ruling coalition's bill also stipulates that an independent committee to be set up within the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry will provide advice regarding the proper listing of expenses on political funds reports, as well as offering consultation services on the matter. The bill says the audit of those reports will be entrusted to external accountants and others.It was recently revealed that the LDP branch represented by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda received 8.2 million yen in donations from four companies that won public works projects contracts from the government. As this could violate the Public Offices Election Law, the branch returned the donations. Similar problems were unearthed at LDP branches headed by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi and Education, Science and Technology Minister Kisaburo Tokai.Suspicion also hangs over DPJThe LDP is not the only party tainted by such problems. A political fund management organization represented by DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa reportedly received 17 million yen by renting out three apartments in Tokyo condominium buildings to organizations with ties to the DPJ leader. Because letting the properties might infringe on the Political Funds Control Law, which prohibits asset management by political groups, the political fund management organization decided to return the rent it received.Perhaps most problematic of all is that the people involved in these cases apparently were unaware that their actions possibly were illegal. The political funds reports are submitted to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, and Tokyo and other prefectural election boards, which accept the reports as long as they fit the correct format. However, they do not check the reports' contents, and even receive receipts with the name of the addressee crossed out and another name rewritten in by hand.Establishing an independent committee, as called for by the ruling coalition, would be an effective way to iron out some of the kinks in this situation. That being said, the size of such a committee should be kept to the bare minimum from the viewpoint of administrative reform.The DPJ is doubtful about the necessity of the committee. However, we hope the party will hold constructive discussions with the ruling parties and that the ruling and opposition parties will reach a conclusion on the matter.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	753	2007-10-21	YOSHIN0020071021e3al000aj
YOMSHI0020071022e3am00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071022e3am00002	EN	\N	Constitutional debate must move forward	The commissions were set up in name only in early August based on the national referendum law established in May. However, as no members or chairmen have been appointed, the commissions have yet to start their work. This is because the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Japan, refuse to discuss the formulation of rules that stipulate the commissions' structure and management.	4	2007-10-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The DPJ insists that the national referendum law was bulldozed through the Diet by the ruling parties and says it does not consider the commissions suitable forums for discussions. The main opposition party also is probably showing consideration to parties that support the current Constitution, such as the Social Democratic Party, to maintain the opposition bloc's united front.However, the DPJ has been moving away from the "pro-Constitution fundamentalism" of the old-time opposition parties. Blocking the start of the commissions' activities, as if ignoring the law enacted by the Diet, is not an attitude that a responsible party should take, especially one that is the largest force in the House of Councillors and hopes to take the reins of government.International role at stakeAt the moment, it is important not only to settle the issue of continuing the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean but also to move forward with the country's future international peace activities. To do this, the key constitutional issues must be identified by the commissions.DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa asserts that Japan's participation in activities that entail the use of force would not contravene the Constitution as long as those activities are backed by a U.N. resolution. He also says the country should join the U.N.-backed International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and peacekeeping operations in Darfur.On the other hand, however, Ozawa opposes the MSDF's refueling activities, saying the mission is not clearly approved by a U.N. resolution and constitutes exercising the right of the collective self-defense, which is interpreted as being unconstitutional.Constitutional issues will definitely become an important point of contention after the Diet deliberations begin over the government's proposed new antiterrorism law. However, because the bill is expected to spark a major battle between the ruling and opposition camps, political considerations could serve to distort the constitutional debates.Rational discussion neededIt is desirable for the constitutional issues concerning the foundation of the country's basic policies for such things as national security and international peace activities to be discussed by the commissions in a calm and constructive manner.The DPJ says it is now discussing its own alternative bill to the government's proposed new antiterrorism law. The DPJ says its bill focuses on Japan's contributions to relief and reconstruction efforts abroad to improve people's livelihood, but avoids touching upon the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces overseas that Ozawa favors, likely because many party members oppose such actions and the party has yet to achieve a consensus on constitutional issues.Discussions by the commissions also would help the DPJ organize its approach to constitutional issues concerning Japan's international peace activities. Ozawa's view on this matter is incompatible with the government's interpretation of the Constitution on some points, but it would be good for the parties to thoroughly discuss the issues related to the government's interpretation of the Constitution.Identifying the key problems in discussions between the government and ruling parties, and opposition parties, if realized, will yield great progress.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2007-10-22	YOSHIN0020071022e3am000by
YOMSHI0020071023e3an00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071023e3an00003	EN	\N	Health ministry repeating 'HIV folly'	The documents that the ministry obtained from a drugmaker included information that could identify people who had developed hepatitis C after being administered the blood product.	4	2007-10-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If those infected with the hepatitis C virus are not properly treated, they likely will suffer from cirrhosis or liver cancer. But if they receive proper treatment at an early stage of the disease, they are far less likely to become seriously ill. If those infected with the virus via the blood product had been properly informed, in a number of cases they could have sought treatment before they were found to be suffering from liver cancer. But the fact is the ministry did nothing.Even worse, the ministry initially said it had no documents that included personal information on the sufferers of the disease likely caused by the blood product. The ministry now says that a ministry official formerly in charge of the matter only recently recalled that such documents existed and that the documents were found in basement storage at a ministry building.Denials not credibleTaking into account the case of the HIV-tainted blood products, in which ministry officials hid filed documents, the ministry cannot be immune from public criticism that it again concealed documents to avoid blame for failing to act. Even if that is not the case, doubts have been raised about whether the ministry has seriously tackled drug-induced diseases.What the ministry claimed to have found was information about side effects of the fibrinogen hemostat agent that is produced from blood.The ministry released the results of an in-house investigation into the 418 cases--conveyed from medical institutions to the now-defunct  Green Cross Corp., the maker of the product--that patients administered fibrinogen had developed hepatitis. Up until the 1990s, fibrinogen was administered to nearly 300,000 patients by obstetricians and surgeons. Of them, more than 10,000 patients are believed to have been infected with the hepatitis C virus.In 2002, the ministry received from a drugmaker, which took over Green Cross through two mergers, two types of reports--those in which personal data were blacked out and those in which such data were untouched. The ministry explained that the documents in which the information had not been redacted, were not passed on to the person who took over from the official formerly in charge.Opportunity missedIt was only a decade ago that it became known that hepatitis could cause liver cancer. Many of the 418 cases reported were diagnosed more than 10 years ago. Since sufferers of hepatitis rarely notice symptoms of the disease, it is likely that a number of people are not aware they are infected.Many of the documents found this time included names or initials of those who developed the disease. It is necessary to identify as many infected people as possible, notify them and urge them to receive treatment. The ministry must not repeat its earlier nonfeasance in taking administrative actions.The cause of hepatitis C is not solely in the administration of the blood product. An estimated 1.5 million people have been infected with the virus through vaccination when syringes were reused.Both the ruling and opposition parties are considering relief measures such as aid to help cover medical costs for hepatitis sufferers. Political initiatives should urgently be taken to deal with this problem.	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2007-10-23	YOSHIN0020071023e3an000gj
YOMSHI0020071024e3ao00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071024e3ao00001	EN	\N	DPJ must submit own antiterror bill soon	An essential question to be explored in relation to Japan's contribution to the global fight against terrorism is what kind of role this country should play in this regard, with its national interests in mind.On Tuesday, the House of Representatives started discussions on a bill drawn up to replace the current Antiterrorism Law, which will expire on Nov. 1. The new legislation is aimed at enabling the continuance of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The opposition camp raised questions about collusive ties between former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya and a defense equipment trading company, as well as suspicions that the fuel provided by the MSDF to U.S. vessels in the Indian Ocean may also have been used for activities related to U.S. military operations in Iraq.	4	2007-10-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Moriya is believed to have played golf with a former executive of the company in question on more than 200 occasions. His conduct could constitute a form of entertainment received in violation of the code of ethics for Self-Defense Forces personnel. The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to summon him as a sworn witness before the Diet soon.Moriya should explain, in all sincerity, his stand on the suspicions surrounding him. It should be noted, however, that the Moriya scandal is not directly related to the current dispute over the government's desire to resume the MSDF's refueling operations after the Antiterrorism Law expires. The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan should not be allowed to boycott discussions on the bill just by insisting on the need to uncover the truth behind the scandal.Govt must clear up suspicionsAnother controversy focuses on the government's erroneous announcement about the amount of fuel provided by an MSDF refueling ship to a U.S. fuel supply ship in February 2003. It has been found that an MSDF officer noted the error in the announcement in May that year, but did not report it to his superior or concerned bureaus.His behavior could shake the principle of civilian control. The Defense Ministry should take appropriate steps to ensure there is no repeat of the incident.One important role to be played by the Diet is to clear up suspicions about government policies and activities. With this in mind, the current Diet session must be dedicated, first and foremost, to debating whether the MSDF's refueling mission should continue or be replaced by some other activities.If Japan sits on its hands after the Antiterrorism Law expires, it would deal a blow to the trust of the international community in this country. The DPJ has responsibility to submit to the Diet a proposal that can rival the government-sponsored bill as soon as possible.The DPJ can oppose and kill any bills in the House of Councillors as the largest force in that chamber. But if it only opposes government bills without presenting specific and practical alternatives, the DPJ will be accused of being a mere "resistance party" comparable to the defunct Japan Socialist Party, which earned that name under the so-called 1955 political system.DPJ not acting responsiblyIn a magazine article he wrote, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa said he would strive to ensure Japan joined the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. However, his assertion invited dissenting opinions from a number of DPJ members. This prompted DPJ leaders to try to fend off such criticism by calling Ozawa's argument a "personal opinion."The DPJ's alternative for the government bill is said to comprise support unrelated to military purposes, including food and water, medical services and a reform of the police system in Afghanistan--to the exclusion of an SDF dispatch.DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said if his party's plan includes the SDF dispatch, "it will be almost impossible to form a consensus within the party." His argument should be dismissed as preposterous.Some DPJ members have insisted on putting off submitting their party's own bill until next year's ordinary Diet session. They defend their idea by saying presenting the DPJ's proposal would mean playing into the ruling camp's hands. This attitude must be seen as a mere self-serving parliamentary tactic.We doubt whether the DPJ is truly trying to become a political party that can think and act responsibly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	745	2007-10-24	YOSHIN0020071024e3ao000h6
YOMSHI0020071025e3ap00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071025e3ap00001	EN	\N	Enormous price paid for betraying consumers	The president and three other executives of Meat Hope Co. in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, were arrested Wednesday in connection with a scandal that surfaced in the summer, when it was revealed that the firm mixed ground pork and chicken with ground beef and sold it as 100 percent ground beef. The scandal pushed Meat Hope into bankruptcy.	4	2007-10-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Confectionary maker Ishiya Trading Co., a maker of Shiroi Koibito chocolate cookies--one of the best-known souvenirs from Hokkaido--has been forced to suspend its operations due to falsified eat-by dates.As lessons were not learned from these incidents, more mislabeling scandals were exposed recently.They involved Akafuku Co., an established Japanese-style confectionary maker based in Ise, Mie Prefecture, and Hinaidori Co., a meat-processing company in Odate, Akita Prefecture. A series of appalling irregularities committed by the two firms was revealed.The top management of Akafuku and Hinaidori could not possibly have been unaware that falsifying information on the labels of food products violates laws including the Law Concerning Standardization and Proper Labeling of Agricultural and Forestry Products (JAS Law).They must be held responsible for having broken the law for many years and betraying the consumers who have bought their products.Top executives of food-related companies must manage their firms properly, etching in their minds again the importance of abiding by the law.Contempt for consumersAlthough their methods of mislabeling products differed, Akafuku and Hinaidori have one thing in common: They showed contempt for consumers, who they thought would not be able to tell the difference.Akafuku says its mainstay product, Akafuku-mochi--a rice cake covered in sweet bean paste--is meant to be consumed on the day of production, but it was found that the confectioner sold cakes that it had frozen then thawed. The company lied about the date Akafuku-mochi rice cake confection was made.Furthermore, when the cakes were returned from retail outlets after the eat-by date had expired, the confectioner separated the rice cake and bean paste ingredients so they could be recycled for Akafuku-mochi and other products.The current Akafuku president is the 11th president of the confectioner, which has a 300-year history. The board of directors is made up almost entirely of members of the founding family.The corporate culture of this family-run confectioner--which made it difficult for employees to communicate their opinions to the top echelons of the company--enabled unlawful practices to continue for many years.Hinaidori, meanwhile, claimed that its smoked chicken meat was made from Hinai-jidori chicken, one of Japan's three major jidori, or local breeds of free-ranging chicken raised with special care, but it turned out that no Hinai-jidori chicken was used for its products. The company was also found to have falsified eat-by dates.The Hinaidori president reportedly turned a deaf ear to other executives who urged him to stop mislabeling the firm's products. It seems that the president took his autocratic management style to extremes.Spotlight on food makersThe mislabeling scandals involving Akafuku and Hinaidori came to light after people, most of whom are believed to be whistle-blowers, reported the cases to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry or the Akita prefectural government.As more and more people are demanding that steps be taken to ensure that food is properly labeled, such tip-offs from whistle-blowers are on the increase.The ministry's hotline soliciting information about food mislabeling from the general public had received an average of about 100 calls a month until the end of May, but the number of tip-offs shot up after the Meat Hope scandal. In September, the hotline received more than 300 calls.The management of food-related companies should keep in mind the fact that people will now be scrutinizing the labels of their products more closely than ever.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2007-10-25	YOSHIN0020071025e3ap000i2
YOMSHI0020071026e3aq00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071026e3aq00001	EN	\N	Deal equally with abduction as state crime	It is an especially serious task for the government as it deals with the issue of the abduction of Japanese by North Korea, and the government needs to handle both issues in a coherent manner.	4	2007-10-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In August 1973, Kim, South Korea's democracy leader at the time, was abducted from Tokyo to South Korea. South Korea's Development Committee for Clarifying the Past released a report Wednesday admitting the abduction was carried out organizationally by the then Korean Central Intelligence Agency, a South Korean spy organization.The South Korean government had previously maintained that no state power was involved in the abduction, which developed into an international incident and a major thorn in relations between Tokyo and Seoul.The Wednesday revelation shows a complete change in the South Korean stance, as it has admitted officially for the first time that South Korea infringed on Japan's sovereignty.Japan cannot tolerate such infringement. The South Korean government should offer an apology for the infringement.Curious timing for reportInvolvement by the KCIA, now the National Intelligence Service, had been suspected since immediately after the incident occurred due to the discovery at the abduction site of fingerprints of the then first secretary of the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo. The man was believed to be a KCIA agent, but the South Korean government never admitted involvement.The incident is fading with time. Kim regained his civil rights and served as the country's president from 1998 to 2003. So why has the South Korean government admitted that the crime was carried out by a government organization and why has it released the report now?South Korea will hold a presidential election in December. Pundits say the administration of President Roh Moo-hyun had a political aim, with the presidential election approaching, of striking a blow against the conservative opposition Grand National Party by bringing up a past wrong committed during the period of military rule.After the abduction, the Japanese and South Korean governments continued negotiations in an attempt to prevent relations from deteriorating. As the result, the governments reached a political settlement twice, in November 1973 and July 1975, agreeing not to raise the abduction as a diplomatic issue any further.Cooperation neededThe report expressed "deep regret" that the KCIA carried out the crime. However, it also held Japan responsible for cooperating to reach a diplomatic settlement over the case, which in turn concealed the whole truth behind the incident.At the time, North and South Korea were on opposite sides of the Cold War and military tension on the Korean Peninsula was high. Under the circumstances, Japan apparently judged it potentially harmful to shake the stability of the region by marring relations with South Korea.Criticism against Japan by the South Korean government in the report ignores this consideration. This is unacceptable.Japan has maintained it would review the diplomatic settlement if it discovered that South Korea's state power was involved in the abduction.Japan has to make every effort to bring the whole truth of the abduction to light. One step would be to request the South Korean government to allow Japan to question the then first secretary at the embassy, who was identified as one of the abductors. The South Korean side should cooperate with Japan's efforts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2007-10-26	YOSHIN0020071026e3aq000ie
YOMSHI0020071027e3ar00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071027e3ar00001	EN	\N	N-power station ruling gives nod to plant safety	The Shizuoka District Court dismissed a demand by local residents that the electric power company suspend the operations of the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 nuclear reactors at the power station in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture. The court also rejected a separate request for a temporary injunction to suspend the plant's operations.	4	2007-10-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The lawsuit centered on whether nuclear reactors could safely withstand a powerful earthquake. In a similar lawsuit in March 2006, the Kanazawa District Court ordered the suspension of operations at the No. 2 reactor of  Hokuriku Electric Power Co.'s Shika nuclear power plant in Ishikawa Prefecture. The court said the reactor had "problems" with its earthquake resistance.The latest ruling, on the other hand, gave more weight to the fact that the nuclear power plant was designed and operated in accordance with regulations set under laws and ordinances. We think the court made a practical judgment in line with a 1992 Supreme Court ruling over the Ikata nuclear power station in Ehime Prefecture.Waiting for the big oneThe Hamaoka nuclear power station is in a focus area that seismologists predict will bear the brunt of a major Tokai region earthquake, which is expected to have a magnitude of about 8 on the Richter scale.During the court battle, the plaintiffs asserted that an earthquake more powerful than was assumed when the plant was designed could strike the area. They also said they were worried that the aging pipes and other parts could compromise the plant's safety.The ruling said the nuclear plant is not required to stand up to "every possible situation that could be assumed--even under scenarios that can be plausible only in abstract terms." The ruling was fully in favor of  Chubu Electric Power's assertions that the Hamaoka plant was safe, and as a result, dismissed the plaintiffs' request.The court also made a judgment on a matter that the government had not yet been able to assess.Last year, the government revised the guidelines for screening plant designs to beef up earthquake resistance and the safety of nuclear power plants. Like other plants across the nation, the Hamaoka plant has been inspected again in line with the guidelines. It awaits a final judgment from the government over its safety, but the court said data gathered during inspections "meet the requirements of the revised guidelines."The plaintiffs said they planned to appeal the ruling.The court's judgment, on the whole, spoke volumes of its conviction that earthquake-resistance measures taken by  Chubu Electric were sufficient.By the same token, the electric power company must shoulder the heavy responsibility of taking steps to guarantee the plant can withstand an earthquake.Inspections must be expeditedNuclear plants across the nation are jumping through hoops to meet the requirements of the revised guidelines. No plant has yet to complete the inspections, so all electric power companies must expedite their inspection processes.In July, the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake damaged the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant of  Tokyo Electric Power Co. Although the safety of the nuclear reactors was never jeopardized, a small fire broke out in a transformer facility, fanning public fears about the earthquake resistance of nuclear plants.Nuclear energy accounts for more than 30 percent of the nation's electricity generation and is indispensable for ensuring Japan's energy security. But public sentiment has turned against nuclear power generation after doubts were raised about the earthquake resistance of nuclear power plants this summer.Based on the experience of the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake, electric power companies must rebuild a crisis control system that can cope with a major earthquake. They also must explain in a clear, simple manner about the safety measures implemented at their plants to prevent damage during earthquakes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2007-10-27	YOSHIN0020071027e3ar000fm
YOMSHI0020071028e3as00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071028e3as00001	EN	\N	Don't leave Nova students in the lurch	Nova, the nation's largest English-language school chain, dismissed cofounder Nozomu Sahashi on Friday and filed for protection from creditors with the Osaka District Court under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law. Nova's total debts are estimated at 43.9 billion yen.	4	2007-10-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nova, which was founded in 1981, was a late arrival in the industry, but has relentlessly expanded its business with the aim of opening 1,000 schools nationwide. Now Nova has 300,000 students at about 670 schools, which were staffed by a total of 4,900 non-Japanese instructors and other employees.Despite proclaiming that students could book language lessons anytime they wanted, Nova has repeatedly refused to accept such bookings, citing such reasons as a shortage of instructors. In addition, Nova refused to accept students' requests to have contracts terminated midterm. In June, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry ordered Nova to suspend for six months its soliciting and signing up of customers for new contracts of one year or longer.Shrinking incomeAfter the ministry's order, Nova was swamped with demands to have contracts canceled. Sales plunged, and the company became unable to refund students' prepaid tuition fees. Wage payments for instructors and employees were delayed, and the reeling company was finally forced to close the doors of many schools and cancel their lessons.Sahashi reportedly made a great effort to procure funds by, for instance, issuing at his own discretion new stock purchase warrants to be allotted to overseas-based investment funds. Sahashi's whereabouts are unknown, and even company executives have been unable to reach him, according to sources.Nova's management apparently decided to dismiss Sahashi based on the belief that the company would not be able to rehabilitate itself if the situation was left unchanged.If Nova is forced to go bankrupt or lawyers consolidate its debts, Nova students would have nowhere to take lessons. Instructors and employees also would lose their jobs. Measures should be taken so students and non-Japanese instructors will not be left out on a limb.Students have forked out about 40 billion yen in prepaid tuition fees. But under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law, payments of unpaid wages and taxes have a higher priority than repaying the tuition fees. As a result, students who paid their entire tuition fees in cash in one lump sum are very unlikely to get a full refund.Searching for a sponsorNova's most pressing task is to find a sponsor company for its rehabilitation.Nova's sales and students account for about 50 percent of the English-language school market. Accepting such a huge number of students at the drop of a hat would be beyond the ability of any single firm in the industry. Retail chain companies and Internet firms are reportedly interested in taking over Nova's business.Two lawyers appointed by the Osaka District Court as administrators for Nova said they would try to find a sponsor within one month. The administrators indicated they would begin bankruptcy procedures if they fail to find a sponsor during this period.After the bubble economy burst in the early 1990s, English-language schools went belly-up one after another. In 1994, Nova accepted free of charge students from another chain with 50 schools when it went bankrupt.The economy ministry must work on the assumption that Nova is incapable of getting back on its feet, and arrange remedial measures, such as having other schools accept Nova's students as Nova did in the past.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2007-10-28	YOSHIN0020071028e3as0009a
YOMSHI0020071029e3at00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071029e3at00001	EN	\N	China pulling ahead of Japan in space race	China launched its first lunar orbiter Chang'e 1 on a Long March 3A rocket.	4	2007-10-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In September, Japan launched the Kaguya lunar orbiter on a mission to observe the moon. Kaguya has already entered orbit around the moon. The main satellite and two subsatellites, which separated from the main one, are in the final stage of preparation for their observation of the lunar surface and other missions.Senior officials of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which launched Kaguya, were invited by Chinese authorities to watch the launch of Chang'e 1.The Chinese Communist Party congress has just ended. Publicizing the launching of Chang'e 1 at home and abroad is likely aimed at displaying the prestige of the Chinese government and the party. When China launched the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-6 in 2005, Chinese officials also widely publicized the launch.Successfully launching the lunar orbiter and the manned spacecraft on dates that were previously announced served to attract attention to Chinese technology.China's space technology was already at a high level. China has launched more than 100 Long March rockets since 1970, while Japan's H2-A rocket has been launched only 13 times.Rivalry with ChinaThe Japanese government's space technology staff and JAXA senior officials have long displayed a cool attitude toward China's space technology. Concerning the launching of Chang'e 1, an internal document states: "The observational goal of Chang'e 1 is very similar to that of Kaguya, but Chang'e 1 is inferior in capability to Kaguya."However, we have reservations about such an optimistic attitude on the part of the Japanese officials.China's space development has drastically accelerated. Starting with the launch of the orbiter, China's lunar exploration program comprises a moon landing and a manned moon mission. China also aims to advance its technologies for manned spacecraft. Further, it is moving forward with projects to launch a reconnaissance satellite and establish its own global positioning system.In addition, China is launching communication satellites for Venezuela, Brazil and Nigeria--countries rich in energy resources--using its space program as a tool to secure resources for China.Successful space programChina also received an order from France to launch a communication satellite, proving the commercial success of its program. China has voiced a strong desire to participate in the International Space Station program in which Japan is involved and the United States and Russia play pivotal roles.Also, China achieved success in a satellite-killing experiment, displaying the military use of its space program.Some observers say that in the near future China will become one of the world's leading nations in the field of space development, equivalent to the United States and Russia.In contrast, Japan's space program, despite its successful development of the H2-A rocket, lacks specific targets--including what type of satellite it will launch in the future--due to budget woes.With expanding expenses regarding the ISS, there will not be much money to spare in Japan's space budget. Some experts are voicing concern, saying Japan could face difficulties in maintaining technologies unless it launches the H2-A rocket more frequently.How will Japan progress in space development? Japan will be left behind in the field of space exploration unless it comes up with solid strategies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	586	2007-10-29	YOSHIN0020071029e3at000ce
YOMSHI0020071031e3av00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071031e3av00002	EN	\N	LDP, DPJ should build new political framework	Ozawa may well share Fukuda's sentiment, given his party's responsibility as the largest force in the upper house. The one-on-one meeting between the two comes as the political situation has reached an extremely important phase.	4	2007-10-31	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Maritime Self-Defense Force ships are set to withdraw from their operations to refuel multinational force ships in the Indian Ocean as the Antiterrorism Law expires on Thursday.The government is striving to ensure the early passage of a bill drawn up to supplant the current antiterrorism law, hoping to shorten the period of the MSDF's suspension of its refueling mission designed to support the global fight against terrorism. The new legislation would enable the MSDF to resume refueling activities. However, the government remains unsure when--or whether--it will be able to put the bill through the Diet, as the legislation faces objections from the DPJ and other opposition parties.National interests at stakeFailure to resume the MSDF's refueling operations would deal a blow to the trust gained by Japan from a number of nations working to rehabilitate Afghanistan. The waters covered by the MSDF's mission bear a vital importance for Japan, a nation that depends on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its crude oil imports.Given this, the prime minister, as the top leader of this country, had every reason to offer talks with Ozawa, suggesting they discuss matters of national interest that include the new antiterrorism bill.In Tuesday's talks, Ozawa reportedly reiterated his assertion that the MSDF mission was unconstitutional. The two leaders are also believed to have failed to reach a consensus on the fate of the new bill.Meanwhile, Ozawa pledged to "cooperate, in principle, where we can." Fukuda said, "I felt the DPJ is a party that will cooperate [with the government]."The two leaders will hold another meeting--probably on Friday, when the MSDF vessels will start their withdrawal. This seems to show that both Fukuda and Ozawa believe common ground must be found in their parties' respective positions on the MSDF mission, despite the differences in their opinions. They should persist in continuing talks to overcome their conflict of opinions about refueling activities.Legislative logjamThe ongoing extraordinary Diet session is the first of its kind to be held since July's upper house election, which has produced the extraordinary power balance in the legislature. A lack of progress has been evident in debating important bills during the current Diet session.The Diet session has experienced a hiatus due to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's abrupt announcement of his decision to step down and the ensuing Liberal Democratic Party presidential election. Even with this in mind, the ongoing Diet session has been far from satisfactory in dealing with bills that can stabilize people's lives and improve their quality. Little progress has been made in debating key bills during the session, which will close on Nov. 10--let alone writing them into law.In Tuesday's talks, Fukuda and Ozawa also took up pension reforms. External relations and national security, as well as social security, tax and fiscal reforms, can fundamentally affect people's lives. Given this, it is important for all political parties--particularly the LDP and the DPJ--to reach a consensus about these issues.The ruling coalition is not alone in needing cooperation from its rival. The DPJ will have to secure cooperation from the ruling parties if the opposition party wants its policies reflected in government policies. The DPJ should know it will not be able to gain support from voters if it just seeks to pit itself against the ruling parties, with a view to winning the next general election.We believe the LDP and the DPJ should join hands in building a stable political framework aimed at making headway in implementing important policies. Talks between Fukuda and Ozawa must serve to lay the foundation for achieving such a goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 31, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	735	2007-10-31	YOSHIN0020071031e3av000mb
YOMSHI0020071101e3b100002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071101e3b100002	EN	\N	Long way to go to regain trust in pension system	The third-party committee set up under the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry to examine the issue of record-keeping errors in the public pension program submitted the report to the internal affairs and communications minister the same day.	4	2007-11-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the 700-page document, the committee reports the results of its examination into how it came about that 50 million public pension accounts cannot be matched to their holders, and on the institutional character of the Social Insurance Agency."In respect of pensions, which are important to the people, a total lack of a sense of mission and of responsibility pervaded the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Social Insurance Agency," the report says. This perceived flaw seems to be the fundamental cause of the pension fiasco.Systemic problemThe report categorizes the SIA officials into three types: top SIA officials, including the agency chief, who are health and welfare ministry bureaucrats working for the agency temporarily; non-fast-track officials who have spent their careers at the agency and who effectively steer it; and local officials whose working practices are lax due to labor-management collusion. The report details how this "three-layered structure" produced adverse effects, and it explores the historical background of the structure."The separation of the three layers meant that they lacked the awareness to notice various problems occurring at the front line and to improve operations after dealing with such problems," the report points out, adding, "The labor unions have focused on improving working conditions, and this has hampered proper management of pension records." These criticisms are trenchant.Such problems had already been pointed out individually; what is significant is that the committee took a comprehensive overview of the pension debacle. The report could serve as a precedent for examining failed policy measures and organizational defects.But a problem with the report is that it does not discuss the responsibility of individuals.The report says, "Successive SIA heads and other executive officials bear the heaviest responsibility." It also says, "As the official tasked with overseeing the organization, the health, labor and welfare minister also cannot evade responsibility."The panel said it questioned some past SIA heads, but does not say which ones. The committee also did not question past health and welfare ministers.Report fails to point fingerWhat were those in positions of responsibility thinking at crucial moments? If they had made more effort, couldn't the current fiasco have been avoided? The report lacks teeth as it does not delve into such matters.In the process of the committee's examination, the status of the 50 million unidentifiable pension accounts has started to emerge. By checking almost 8,000 sample accounts with records in the Basic Resident Register Network, or Juki Net, the committee found that the names of slightly more than 30 percent of the holders of the 50 million problematic accounts could be identified immediately, but that it would be very hard to identify nearly 40 percent of them.The issue of the embezzlement of pension premiums by SIA officials and municipal government officials' handling of pension affairs also came under the committee's ambit. The report points out that there may be other potential embezzlement cases that have not been exposed.There is much to do to regain trust in the nation's public pension system. The committee's report is the only first step in this process.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	610	2007-11-01	YOSHIN0020071101e3b1000fp
YOMSHI0020071102e3b200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071102e3b200001	EN	\N	Determination to renew mission being tested	Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued a withdrawal order to two Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels that were engaged in refueling missions in the Indian Ocean, in line with Thursday's expiration of the Antiterrorism Law.	4	2007-11-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There is no prospect in sight for an early resumption of the refueling missions by enacting a new antiterrorism law, which is under deliberation at the House of Representatives. The mission lasted nearly six years.The government should not spare any efforts to pass the bill during the current Diet session. It must stand firm and be willing to let the lower house hold a second deciding vote on the bill if, after initial approval by the lower house, it is rejected in the opposition-controlled House of Councillors. If the enactment of the law is postponed until the next ordinary Diet session, the resumption of MSDF refueling missions will be delayed for a long time.Clout could be weakenedSince dispatching minesweepers to the Persian Gulf in 1991, Japan has engaged in many U.N. peacekeeping missions and has established a track record for participating in international efforts to maintain peace.If the refueling mission is suspended for an extended period, this high reputation and trust Japan has earned in the international community over so many years will certainly be impaired. Japan's diplomatic clout and its say in the world will be compromised, and this will undermine national interests.Such a situation would inevitably adversely affect the Japan-U.S. alliance, which needs to be further strengthened, particularly at a time when the situation surrounding North Korea's nuclear program and the abduction issue has entered a crucial stage.More than 40 nations participate in the U.S.-led antiterrorism war in and around Afghanistan. Although more than 700 troops from 19 nations have died in Afghanistan, these countries have continued joint international actions despite these sacrifices.The only nation among the Group of Eight major powers that has not participated in this campaign is Russia, which invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Now, with the expiration of the Antiterrorism Law, Japan also is a nonparticipant.The war against terrorism must be tackled by the international community as a whole. It also is an issue that concerns all Japanese.An international obligationTwenty-four Japanese were killed in the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, and Japan could be targeted for terrorist attacks in the future.Ships belonging to multinational forces, which the MSDF vessels provided fuel for in the Indian Ocean, recently conducted rescue operations for a Japanese-owned tanker hijacked by pirates off Somalia. Maritime interdiction operations of the multinational forces are important in that they help protect sea lanes vital to trade-dependent Japan.The Democratic Party of Japan has postponed the announcement of a counterproposal for the new government-sponsored antiterrorism bill, despite the refueling mission having been suspended. This action is incomprehensible, and we wonder if this inaction constitutes the dereliction of its duty as the largest party in the upper house.A counterproposal under consideration by the DPJ is said to focus on supporting the improvement of people's livelihood in Afghanistan, including education, disarmament, medicine and the building of infrastructure.But most of this type of support is already being provided for with funds from the Japanese government. Japan's assistance in this area amounts to more than 140 billion yen, second only to the amount provided by the United States.It is essential for nations to provide personnel for antiterrorism operations. Having such personnel work with people from other countries would be indicative of Japan's support, and help strengthen international solidarity and send an important political message to the rest of the world.In this war, Japan can play a role in the fight against terrorism only when it makes contributions both in money and personnel.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2007-11-02	YOSHIN0020071102e3b2000g1
YOMSHI0020071103e3b300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071103e3b300001	EN	\N	Don't allow interference in textbook screening	Recent developments concerning the removal of the phrases in question were politically motivated, and could remain a simmering source of trouble in the future.	4	2007-11-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In textbook screening carried out by the relevant council in spring, a passage that said residents were "forced" to commit suicide was deleted from seven textbooks by five publishers. The fifth publisher is expected to apply soon to have this wording reinserted.The ministry will refer the applications to its council on textbook screening.The government decided to "sincerely deal with" applications to reinsert the phrases in response to widespread anger among people in Okinawa Prefecture over the decision to remove these passages. This displeasure was exemplified by the large demonstration in Ginowan on Sept. 29 calling for the ministry to retract its instruction to remove the references to the mass suicides.Protest numbers contestedProtest organizers said 110,000 people took part. The sheer size of the demonstration later prompted Education, Science and Technology Minister Kisaburo Tokai to say, "How should respond to the sentiment of people in Okinawa Prefecture."However, a leading Tokyo-based security company has questioned the accuracy of the organizers' claim concerning the number of protesters. By counting each participant snapped in a birds-eye view photo of the demonstration, the company concluded the number totaled between 18,000 and 20,000--about one-fifth of the organizers' count.References to forced mass suicide ordered by the Japanese military were deleted during the screening process after testimonies and other materials muddied the waters and made it unclear whether the military "forced" or "ordered" the mass suicides. As a result, textbook screeners issued an opinion saying the description would lead to a misunderstanding of what really happened during the Battle of Okinawa in the closing days of World War II.This stance did not deny that the Japanese military was involved to some degree in the mass suicides.The government has not retracted this opinion, and intends to deal with the matter by allowing the publishers to apply to correct the passages if they wish.Corrections allowedAs stipulated by an ordinance, applications to make corrections to textbooks that have passed the state screening process are allowed in certain cases, including typographical errors, omission of characters and factual errors.The explanation given for the corrections in the latest applications stated "the texts obstructed study." They did not suggest there were any factual errors. For example, "by the Japanese military" was added to the phrase "were driven to commit mass suicide."But we wonder how classroom studies would be obstructed unless such a correction is made.This latest decision opens a can of worms: If a correction application that does not match a screening opinion is allowed, it could set a precedent for allowing the overturning of textbook screening by political interference.What would the government do if the Chinese government or others protest about the content of screened textbooks in the future? Would the government give its consent to a correction to accommodate the feelings of of these people, even if there are no errors in the description?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	581	2007-11-03	YOSHIN0020071103e3b3000c3
YOMSHI0020071104e3b400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071104e3b400001	EN	\N	U.S. rate cut shows Fed strategy changing	On Wednesday, the Fed cut the federal funds rate--a key short-term interest rate--by one-quarter of a percentage point to 4.5 percent. This came on the heels of a rate cut in September.	4	2007-11-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The turmoil in the financial markets was triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis caused by home loans extended to people with weak credit histories. The U.S. gross domestic product for the July-September quarter grew at a brisk 3.9 percent pace--the fastest in 1-1/2 years--despite the strain of a slump in the housing market.The Fed felt the latest rate cut was essential to prevent the adverse effects of financial jitters and the housing slump from spreading to the broader economy. However, U.S. stock prices remained erratic, which seemed to spur the need for a further rate cut.Commodity prices on the riseThe price of oil on the U.S. market has hit a record of more than $96 a barrel, while gold prices recently hit a 28-year high.Prices for oil and other commodities skyrocketed after speculative funds, which shied away from the stock market due to the subprime mortgage crisis, flowed into the commodity markets. Some observers have pointed out that the Fed's credit-easing policy has allowed the speculative funds to muscle in on these markets.In its statement after the recent rate cut, the Fed said it would shift from its current stance of giving top priority to economic growth to one in which the upside risks to inflation "roughly balance" the downside risks to growth.The Fed must exercise utmost care to ensure its policy can cope with shifts in both the real economy and money flows.Surges in global prices of crude oil and agricultural products are making their presence felt in prices in Japan. The nation's consumer price index, excluding perishable foods, is still lower than last year's figure. But recent increases in gas and food prices might leave people feeling as though these goods are more expensive than last year.Wage growth sluggishOf most concern is the tepid growth in wages. If prices of daily goods continue to increase even as wages remain stagnant, many consumers will worry that prices could rise even further. Consequently, consumer spending will cool off.The Bank of Japan plans to increase interest rates gradually. It expects the economy will continue to expand as brisk performances in the corporate sector trickle down to households. Will the nation's economy follow such a scenario?One reason behind the slow increase in wages is the fact that small and midsized companies in Japan are struggling to stay afloat because they cannot pass on rises in raw material prices to consumers. If prices slowly increase, these companies may pass on the price rises, leading to higher wages for employees.How to create such a cycle will be critical for the economy.The Bank of Japan should pay close attention to the effects successive price increases have on the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	555	2007-11-04	YOSHIN0020071104e3b40009j
YOMSHI0020071105e3b500003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071105e3b500003	EN	\N	Grand coalition a desirable goal	DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa announced his intention to resign as party head to take responsibility for the confusion caused by his handling of a proposal, which he said was offered by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda during their meeting Friday, to form a grand coalition with the LDP.	4	2007-11-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If Ozawa takes the responsibility for the problem, there will be no change in the current impasse that has halted progress on policies important to the national interest and people's livelihoods, with the balance of power in the Diet split between the ruling parties that hold a majority in the House of Representatives and the opposition bloc that controls the House of Councillors.Fukuda met with Ozawa to create a new political framework--a grand coalition--to pursue important matters in the Diet.Judging from the press conference Ozawa held to announce his intention to resign, it is clear he approached the meeting with Fukuda with the same purpose as the prime minister.Ozawa said the core part of their meeting was security policy, including the problem of the continuation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean.Security policies to preserve the nation and protect the lives and assets of its people should be pursued on the common foundation among the government, ruling parties and the largest opposition party. It is natural for Ozawa and Fukuda to have given the highest priority to Japan's role and responsibility in the international community's joint efforts in the war against terrorism when discussing the idea of a grand coalition.According to Ozawa, Fukuda expressed his opinion on the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel overseas for international peacekeeping operations, reportedly saying that such a dispatch should be limited to participation in U.N. activities created or authorized by resolutions passed at the U.N. Security Council or the General Assembly.Ozawa has opposed the MSDF's refueling operation as unconstitutional as there has been no U.N. resolution authorizing the operation. Ozawa said he accepted Fukuda's view as a fundamental policy about-face to establish a principle of international peace cooperation and considered the view itself was worth starting consultations with the LDP.Basis of cooperationOzawa's way of thinking is incompatible with the government's conventional constitutional interpretation. On the other hand, the government's constitutional interpretation does not fit with the current realities of international peacekeeping operations. If the ruling bloc and the DPJ agree on how the international peacekeeping operations should be undertaken, it would become an important foundation for a grand coalition. It is a problem that they should seriously discuss.Ozawa said there were fears that if no measures are taken to address the current Diet deadlock between the upper and lower houses, the DPJ's strategy to win the next lower house election and achieving a change in administration would be jeopardized.Among others problems, the DPJ's ability to govern is still in doubt despite the party's resounding victory in the July upper house election, because the DPJ, as a patched-together party, is having difficulties reaching a consensus on basic policies and is in disarray over party management.To prove its competency to govern, it is necessary for the DPJ to put forth reasonable policies, including a plan to reform the social security system. During the upper house election, the DPJ pledged it would have the basic pension benefits funded solely by tax revenues. However, with the current impasse in the Diet, the DPJ cannot pursue those policies without cooperation from the ruling parties, which hold a majority in the lower house.Ozawa insisted that demonstrating its government ability by playing a part in the government and accomplishing things the party promised to do during the upper house election is a shortcut to power for the party. This assertion apparently emanates from his strategy to assume the mantle of government based on his assessment of the political situation.Ozawa said he decided to resign as party head because this proposal was turned down at the party's executive meeting after his talks with Fukuda on Friday and that he judged this was tantamount to a no-confidence vote.Damage to national interestHowever, with the barren political situation continuing, if an early resumption of the MSDF's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean becomes impossible, Japan would lose the trust of the international community and its national security, including the Japan-U.S. alliance, could be seriously undermined.Stalling reform of the social security system, including the pension program, would make people's livelihood unstable and amplify their concerns about the future.The DPJ would have to bear responsibility for any adverse impact on national security and the economy.Except for Ozawa, DPJ executives oppose a grand coalition with the LDP, saying it is against the will of people as shown in the upper house election. They also say such a move would only serve to assist the Fukuda administration.The DPJ leadership apparently is of the opinion that the party should stick to confronting the government and ruling parties and through such a tactic and put them on the defensive in the next lower house election.But its stance undermines the most important duty of politics--implementation of policies that are vital to the interests of the nation and the people.It is worth noting the grand coalition government launched in Germany in November 2005 by the Christian Democratic Union-Christian Social Union alliance and the Social Democratic Party.Since its formation, the coalition government has pushed through an increase in the rate of value-added tax, similar to Japan's consumption tax, from 16 percent to 19 percent and raised the maximum income tax rate from 42 percent to 45 percent. Increased revenues from the higher value-added tax were then allocated for fiscal reconstruction measures and as funds to implement the lowering of the employment insurance rate. The starting age for receiving pension benefits will be raised from the current 65 to 67 in 2010.Germany failed to meet a requirement of the European Union to keep the ratio of fiscal deficits to gross domestic product at 3 percent or lower for four consecutive years from 2002. But the ratio declined to 2.1 percent in fiscal 2006. The improved economic situation can be seen in Germany's steady economic growth and decreases in the country's unemployment rate.In order to break the deadlock resulting from the unusual situation in the Diet, in which two major parties stand in rivalry, and to settle key issues in such areas as tax and fiscal systems; national security and foreign policy; and social security, a grand coalition is desirable.DPJ executives have said they would not accept Ozawa's tendered resignation. If that is the case, they should seriously consider a grand coalition.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1200	2007-11-05	YOSHIN0020071105e3b5000bb
YOMSHI0020071106e3b600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071106e3b600001	EN	\N	Learn lesson from cram-free education	This observation may summarize the thrust of an interim report issued by the Central Council for Education concerning a new course of study. The report points to a bitter lesson drawn from the less-than-satisfactory results of cram-free education.	4	2007-11-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The key government panel on education analyses the failure of discretionary education and attempts to identify the contributing factors. Its latest report is unusual in that it cites several points for reconsideration regarding cram-free education. The report states the number of school hours allocated under the current teaching guidelines is inadequate.The existing course of study is designed to encourage children to develop a "zest for living." The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has said the term signifies making efforts to learn independently, make decisions on one's own, develop problem-solving skills and acquire genuine humanity.The council intends to ensure the goal of encouraging students to acquire a zest for living is incorporated into the next teaching guidelines. The panel says the ability to develop such a quality is even more important with the advent of a knowledge-based society.Meanwhile, the report acknowledges that the specific measures implemented in line with the current course of study have done little to achieve the initially intended targets. To rectify defects in classes that stress rote-memorization, the teaching guidelines incorporate a 30 percent cut in the number of teaching points and a 10 percent reduction in school hours. The course of study also includes so-called integrated learning.Unmotivated studentsHowever, the cram-free method has only left children less motivated to learn. That approach has discouraged students from acquiring basic knowledge and abilities to think and express themselves. All this has aroused distrust among parents in the public education system.With all this in mind, the panel has decided to increase the number of school hours for major subjects by more than 10 percent under the new teaching guidelines while also curtailing the number of integrated learning hours. For example, the number of school hours for mathematics and natural science in primary school will be increased by 16 percent, while that for natural science and English in middle school will be increased by 33 percent.The new course of study is unmistakably aimed at ending the cram-free teaching approach.The latest report also cites the need to improve the skills of students to verbalize their ideas in learning each subject.International academic ability surveys and the ministry's nationwide achievement test have shown that students lack adequate reading and comprehension abilities and the ability to practically apply their knowledge.We hope the new course of study will provide students with more opportunities to write sentences, state their opinions and read books, thus improving their academic abilities.Improvements neededThe report also cites the need to improve the moral education system. In putting together the latest report, the panel decided not to propose making moral education a required subject. Still, no one would dispute the importance of teaching children to abide by rules and laws in a democratic society and enhancing their respect for social norms.The new course of study stipulates fifth- and sixth-grade students in primary school take regular English lessons once a week. This would be complemented by a plan to improve their communication skills with the aid of foreign assistant teachers. The report also states primary school children--unlike middle school students--would not be encouraged to learn specific points of grammar, adding that their achievements would not be numerically assessed, either.However, these plans are open to question. We believe students should be encouraged, first and foremost, to acquire good Japanese-language skills. There are concerns that burdens to be shouldered by primary school students learning English could outweigh benefits to be gained by doing so. We also fear that teaching English in primary school could contribute to an increase in the number of children who take a dislike to the subject at an early stage.The new teaching guidelines would take effect in the 2011 school year at the earliest. It is questionable whether the attempt to continue encouraging children to acquire a zest for living while also ending the cram-free education system would be fully accepted by school teachers and administrators.The government should present specific teaching methods to help achieve the goals stipulated in the next course of study.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	770	2007-11-06	YOSHIN0020071106e3b6000fj
YOMSHI0020071107e3b700003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071107e3b700003	EN	\N	DPJ's counterproposal unsatisfactory	Its content, however, makes it unsatisfactory as a workable counterproposal.	4	2007-11-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The draft outline stipulates that the nation would dispatch Self-Defense Forces and civilian personnel to Afghanistan to participate in provincial reconstruction team (PRT) activities linked with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in four areas, including food production, medical services and transportation.Regarding the ISAF, which DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has called for Japan to participate in, the draft outline says this country will not participate in ISAF activities because the activities have yet to prove effective.The DPJ finally unveiled the counterproposal immediately before the government's bill is to pass the House of Representatives. The current extraordinary Diet session is now expected to be extended by a month, and deliberations on the bill are set to begin in the House of Councillors as early as next week. The DPJ, as the leading party in the upper house, likely judged that it would be irresponsible if it continued expressing opposition to the government's bill without presenting a counterproposal.Many questions unansweredWhat the DPJ should now do, since the MSDF already has suspended its refueling operations in the Indian Ocean, is to present a counterproposal that could be implemented immediately. In that sense, there are many problems with the DPJ's draft outline.In which areas in Afghanistan and what kind of PRT activities would Japan be engaged in? How many SDF and civilian personnel would be dispatched? How would such civilian personnel be recruited? Would their safety be ensured?It is all very well to call for reviewing the criteria on the use of arms by SDF personnel in light of the international standard that allows the use of arms for the purpose of carrying out duties. But could this happen so easily?The DPJ counterproposal limits the nation's participation in PRT activities to areas where a ceasefire agreement has been made or where Afghan citizens are not at risk of attack. But there is no prospect that the Afghan government and Taliban fighters will agree to a truce anytime soon. It seems there is no such area where ordinary citizens are not threatened.Refueling highly evaluatedThe DPJ has argued against the MSDF's refueling mission because the mission was not clearly approved by a U.N. Security Council resolution. But neither PRT activities nor refueling missions require such approval. Only the PRT's military division is placed under the command of the ISAF, which was established under a Security Council resolution.In September, the Security Council adopted a resolution expressing gratitude for the maritime interdiction activities in the Indian Ocean in which the MSDF took part. The MSDF's refueling activities gained high recognition from other nations concerned, and the risks associated with the activities are much lower than PRT activities.Participation in PRT activities is an important issue to be taken up as Japan continues to be engaged in the international fight against terrorism. But PRT activity by itself would not be effective enough to substitute for the refueling mission.Credit should be given to the DPJ for having presented a counterproposal, however. Reviewing of the criteria on the use of arms by SDF personnel and some other measures proposed will be the point of contention in future discussions on the establishment of a permanent law on the SDF's overseas missions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2007-11-07	YOSHIN0020071107e3b7000g8
YOMSHI0020071108e3b800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071108e3b800001	EN	\N	Ozawa flip-flop reveals DPJ's immaturity	This difficult-to-understand, flip-flop drama has brought to the surface doubts about Ozawa's words and behavior as a political leader while revealing the immaturity of the DPJ as a party.	4	2007-11-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the press conference held Sunday afternoon to announce his resignation, Ozawa made clear statements regarding the DPJ executives' rejection of a proposal Friday to hold policy talks with the ruling parties with the aim of forming a grand coalition. He said the rejection was "tantamount to a no-confidence vote [against him]" and that he needed to "take responsibility [for causing confusion]."Statements about resignations should never be made lightly--Even more so when the statement is made by a leader.But his announcement has been withdrawn with such ease that it raises questions about his intention to take "responsibility." Surely many DPJ supporters cannot help feeling misgivings about Ozawa's behavior, too.Can Ozawa be trusted?An even more problematic part of Ozawa's statements at Wednesday's press conference was his quick reversion to the DPJ's long-standing position of taking a confrontational approach toward the ruling bloc with the aim of taking the reins of office after the next House of Representatives election."Without considering the formation of a coalition [with the ruling parties], I will do my best in the [next] general election," Ozawa said at the press conference.It was a complete about-face from his statements at Sunday's press conference. At that time, he said joining the coalition government would provide the DPJ with a shortcut for wresting power from the ruling bloc because it would demonstrate to voters the party's actual ability to implement policies and obtain results in office.Ozawa's basic political strategy is changing all the time and with no satisfactory explanations for those changes. Acting in this way, can Ozawa really be trusted as the head of a party?For the DPJ, it is a matter of grave concern that this series of events has served to highlight the party's fragility.On Sunday, Ozawa lambasted the situation that the DPJ was in, saying there was a "lack of ability" and that "the public has been asking, 'Is the DPJ really capable of running an administration?'"Despite such harsh criticism, the DPJ has tried desperately--and with success--to persuade Ozawa not to quit by making it appear that all DPJ members were in support of Ozawa's leadership.But this clinging on to Ozawa is tantamount to the DPJ proclaiming it has no other politician capable of leading the party.Specter of party breakupBehind the decision to stick with Ozawa is the fear that the man known as the "destroyer" would bolt from the party together with his followers. To avoid the very breakup of the party itself, it was apparently deemed necessary that Ozawa stay on as leader.The DPJ is a hodgepodge of disparate groups. If the party had held an election to choose a successor to Ozawa, cracks might have appeared in its edifice as a result of conflicts among intraparty groups and shifting strategic alliances. This likelihood was apparently another factor pushing the DPJ to ask Ozawa to reconsider his resignation.The latest events have caused considerable damage to the DPJ's image. They have left ill-feeling simmering within the party over Ozawa's criticism of the DPJ, which is likely to hamper Ozawa's efforts to exercise strong leadership in the future.Far from shoring up the foundations of the party like the calm after a storm, the Ozawa flip-flop has instead burdened the party with more difficult problems than ever before.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2007-11-08	YOSHIN0020071108e3b8000ef
YOMSHI0020071109e3b900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071109e3b900001	EN	\N	Fix issues to strengthen Japan-U.S. alliance	The issues include the Maritime Self-Defense Force's withdrawal from its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, the possible lifting by the United States of North Korea from its list of terrorist-sponsoring countries, and a proposed reduction in the so-called sympathy budget--Japan's share of costs for stationing U.S. military forces in Japan. The issues also include the realignment of U.S. military forces stationed in Japan and easing of conditions for importing U.S. beef.	4	2007-11-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates held talks with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and other Japanese officials during his first official visit to Japan.The U.S. defense secretary praised the refueling mission, saying it was a contribution to the whole international community, but called for the mission be resumed at an early stage. Fukuda and other leaders promised that the government would do its best to do so.Results mean everythingThe United States, which leads the international community's "war against terrorism," has refrained from publicly criticizing the MSDF's withdrawal from the Indian Ocean or officially requesting a resumption of its refueling mission. Learning from past experience, the U.S. government apparently decided that high-handed pressure on Japan would produce a contrary result.However, through many channels, the United States has conveyed strong "disappointments" over the issue.Diplomacy is a tough game in which results are all that matters. The Diet is in the messy situation of having the House of Representatives controlled by the ruling camp and the House of Councillors controlled by the opposition bloc. But no matter how much domestic circumstances are used to explain the difficulty of passing a new antiterrorism bill through the Diet, the United States will only be able to sympathize with Japan, not praise it.Japan has to show results, not merely efforts.Tokyo has been asking Washington not to remove Pyongyang from the U.S. list of terrorist-sponsoring countries. If North Korea is removed from the list while there is no progress in the issue of the abduction of Japanese by North Korea, smoldering distrust in Japan toward the United States may begin to boil.The United States has said it will give due consideration to the abduction issue. However, there is speculation Washington would make a decision to remove Pyongyang from the list by the end of this year. A prolonged halt in the MSDF refueling mission could sway the United States' judgment on the matter.Adapt to changing regionAs for the sympathy budget for the U.S. forces stationed in Japan, Gates and Komura agreed that bilateral working-level negotiations on the special accord regarding the budget must be expedited, as the current accord will expire in March.So far, Japan and the United States remain at odds in the negotiations as Japan insists the budget, which totals 217 billion yen for fiscal 2007, must be reduced while the United States says the budget should stay at the current level.It has been said that salaries and other allowances for Japanese working at U.S. bases in Japan are higher than those paid to national public servants.Cuts in wasteful costs must be made. Cool-headed, businesslike discussions must be held. Japan-U.S. relations should not be hurt over just a few billion yen.The U.S. Defense Department this year created the post of assistant defense secretary for Asian and Pacific security affairs, reflecting the department's stance of putting more emphasis on Asia. The department apparently wants to strengthen its organizational structure to deal with China, which is rapidly becoming a military giant, and North Korea, which is posing nuclear threats to other countries.Japan must actively work toward strategically strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance to deal with future changes in the Asian region.The prime minister plans to visit the United States next week to meet with President George W. Bush. The trip will be a good opportunity to enhance this alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2007-11-09	YOSHIN0020071109e3b9000en
YOMSHI0020071110e3ba00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071110e3ba00001	EN	\N	No excuses for stalling new antiterrorism bill	During the originally set period of the Diet session, which effectively ended on Friday, only one law--the revised Natural Disaster Victims Relief Law--was enacted after approval in both chambers that day.	4	2007-11-10	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Friday, the extraordinary Diet session was extended by 35 days until Dec. 15.The power map of the Diet changed drastically after the ruling coalition, which controls the House of Representatives, lost its grip on the House of Councillors after July's upper house election.Further muddying the waters, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly resigned at the onset of the Diet session, paralyzing the Diet in a virtual recess for more than 10 days as the Liberal Democratic Party scrambled to choose a successor to Abe, who was also LDP president. Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa added to the confusion Sunday when he announced his intention to resign, only to officially retract it three days later.Even in these circumstances, allowing the wheels of the Diet to screech to a halt should never be permitted. The ruling and opposition parties must do all they can in the extended session to enact bills that are essential to protect national interests and to stabilize people's livelihood.Give-and-takeLast week's meetings between Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is the LDP president, and Ozawa gave credence to the view that the two parties will need to make compromises to implement policies. Consultations between the ruling and opposition parties are under way on bills closely related to the people's livelihood. The Diet must make the most of this political opportunity to pass essential bills.The most pressing task for the ruling bloc during the session is to ensure early enactment of a new antiterrorism bill.The refueling mission of the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean, conducted as part of maritime interdiction operations to support international antiterrorism efforts in and near Afghanistan, was suspended on Nov. 1 when the Antiterrorism Law expired.Withdrawing from the "war on terrorism" for an extended period will undermine Japan's credibility in the international community and clip its diplomatic clout. A bill enabling this mission to resume must be passed into law by the end of this Diet session.The new antiterrorism bill is expected to be approved by the lower house in the first half of next week and sent to the upper house. The fate of the bill in the upper house rests with the DPJ. The main opposition party carries a heavy responsibility over this issue.Ozawa took a fancy to the idea of forming a grand coalition between the DPJ and the LDP during his talks with Fukuda, but later made an about-face and returned to the DPJ's longstanding stance of confronting the ruling parties. "We won't think about a coalition," he said.Ozawa said he would stick to his guns in opposing the new antiterrorism bill, saying that a "split-the-difference approach" will not help resolve differences between the ruling and opposition blocs over the bill.DPJ must do moreThe DPJ has revealed an outline of support for the war on terrorism that would replace the MSDF refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. However, we feel this is not sufficient to be called a counterproposal to the refueling operation.The largest opposition party should swiftly compile a counterproposal that is both practical and solid enough to gain a passing mark from the international community. The DPJ should then compile a bill for submission to the Diet.Provided that thorough deliberations are conducted in the upper house, it is matter of course to vote on the new antiterrorism bill without pointless arguments that have no real purpose other than to drag out the issue.A bill that is rejected by the upper house after having been passed by the lower house can be made into law if the lower house approves the bill again with a two-thirds majority of members present.If the lower and upper houses remain out of sync over the new antiterrorism bill, the Diet should follow the provision stipulated by the Constitution to untangle such a situation.There is no reason for the government and ruling parties to hesitate to resorting to this step.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 10, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	746	2007-11-10	YOSHIN0020071110e3ba000fj
YOMSHI0020071112e3bb00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071112e3bb00001	EN	\N	Long-term prepaid tuition comes undone	G.education Co., a Nagoya-based cram school operator, will take over Nova businesses, which last month filed for court protection from creditors under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law.	4	2007-11-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nova's students are extremely unlikely to see any of the more than 40 billion yen that they put down in prepaid tuition. Nova had 670 schools nationwide. But G.education will take over up to 200 of Nova's schools, and only 30 will be reopened, starting this week.Nova's students have been hung out to dry. The risks of the prepaid tuition system that has become the norm in the industry have become all too evident. The government and related industries must set about creating a system in which customers can learn without worrying about whether their money will go down the drain.Tuition fees are paid to a business operator in return for services received. When the operator cannot provide these services, prepaid tuition fees should be entirely refunded.Shifty calculationsIn Nova's case, the more lessons a student paid for in advance, the larger the discount they could receive per lesson.However, when a student tried to cancel a contract in mid-course, Nova settled the cancellation by using a higher unit price per completed lesson than when the contract was signed, thereby reducing the amount it had to repay. In April, the Supreme Court ruled Nova's settlement method was illegal.In June, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry ordered Nova to suspend for six months its soliciting and signing up of customers for new contracts of one year or longer due to its exaggerated advertisements, and for other reasons.As the alarm bells began ringing louder and louder, as many as 100,000 students canceled their Nova contracts.However, Nova was unable to meet the refund requests as it did not have sufficient funds at hand. The company had appropriated only about 1.8 billion yen in a reserve fund to deal with cancellation requests as of the end of last business year.The advance payment system is a common practice not only at English language schools, but also at aesthetic salons and cram schools. Tuition fees paid in advance are used for business operating costs, including salaries for lecturers and staff, rent for classrooms and office expenses.Preparing for the worstA case like Nova was just waiting to happen in this country, albeit perhaps on a smaller scale. To help prevent a repeat, related business industries should consider pooling a certain amount of money from students' advance payments.Some observers have proposed that a fiduciary refund preparation scheme be established in cooperation with financial institutions, in which a certain amount of money from advance payments is managed separately from operators utilizing trust funds.Two major industry organizations for foreign language schools have self-regulatory rules to keep such contracts for classes to less than one year.However, Nova set the terms of its contracts for up to three years, as it did not belong to such organizations. This was one major factor behind the sheer scale of losses suffered by students who paid in advance for their classes. This issue should be carefully examined.Leaving this rule to the discretion of business operators and the industry will do little to dispel anxieties whipped up by Nova's demise.The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry should actively instruct the industry in formulating an industry guideline and other necessary measures.From the viewpoint of protecting customers, measures allowing administrative punishment to be dished out if necessary also should be introduced.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2007-11-11	YOSHIN0020071112e3bb000ag
YOMSHI0020071113e3bd00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071113e3bd00001	EN	\N	Rising yen contributes to falling stocks	The government and the Bank of Japan must take even greater care to ensure the mechanism for the nation's economic recovery is not damaged.	4	2007-11-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average briefly fell below the 15,000-point threshold for the first time in about 16 months. The yen briefly jumped to the 109 yen level against the dollar for the first time in 1-1/2 years.Over the past 10 days or so, the Nikkei index fell by nearly 1,700 points, mainly because of ongoing volatility in U.S. stock prices. That instability results from problems related to the massive number of unrecoverable subprime mortgage loans extended to low-income earners in the United States.Swelling losses for U.S. financial institutions and the increasing prospect of a slowdown in the U.S. economy have pushed down stock prices on the New York market. This has affected other markets around the world, including the Tokyo market. Stock prices in other Asian markets also are plunging.Wall Street woes hit JapanThe problem is the impact the trend in the U.S. economy and associated market disturbances will have on the real economy of Japan.The nation's economy is said to be expanding at a moderate pace. The growth rate of real gross domestic product for the July-September period, scheduled to be announced Tuesday, is seen returning to the positive territory although the figure stood in the minus column in the previous quarter. But the economy is sustained by the corporate sector, mainly exporting manufacturers.U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke predicts the U.S. economy will significantly slow down in the October-December period and remain stagnant until spring. He also acknowledged losses for financial institutions resulting from the subprime loan problem may be much larger than initially expected.It is feared this foggy outlook for the U.S. economy could continue for a long period. Market players apparently are concerned that the impact on the corporate sector may be even more serious with the stronger yen.Shrinking reliance on U.S.But some analysts argue the Japanese economy is less dependent on the U.S. economy than in the past, because of the still blooming economies of emerging nations such as China. In the September midterm settlement of accounts for this fiscal year, a number of listed companies registered increases in profits. These companies remain positive on investment in plants and equipment.If this trend spreads into the household sector through improvement in employment and wage levels, the economy could continue to grow.The divided Diet, with the opposition camp holding a majority in the House of Councillors, and the fuss over Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's offer to resign also have caused concern over the nation's readiness to take prompt action in an emergency, a factor exerting downward pressure on stock prices.The fiscal situation continues to be severe, and interest rates are at extremely low levels. Given such circumstances, the government and the central bank must face up to the task of easing the anxious psychology of the market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2007-11-13	YOSHIN0020071113e3bd000h6
YOMSHI0020071114e3be00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071114e3be00001	EN	\N	DPJ's Diet tactics worthy of censure	The passage in the lower house of the government-sponsored bill has set the stage for a new tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition camps in the opposition bloc-controlled House of Councillors.	4	2007-11-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest development marks a phase in which serious questions must be raised about whether the Democratic Party of Japan will adopt an earnest and sincere attitude toward this nation's obligation to play an important role in facilitating international peacekeeping activities. This is significant in that the DPJ can make or break the new legislation as the largest force in the upper house.It is unclear when and whether the upper house will start discussions on the new antiterrorism bill. This is because the leading opposition party is seeking to delay the start of deliberations on the bill. The DPJ holds the chairmanship in both the upper house Rules and Administration, and Foreign Affairs and Defense committees. This means the opposition party can greatly influence the schedule for debates on bills in the upper house.The DPJ intends to ensure the antiterrorism bill is debated at only regular twice-a-week meetings of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, while also insisting its own bill designed to scrap the special law for Japan's aid in the reconstruction of Iraq be discussed before the government-sponsored bill. DPJ executives have already predicted the upper house may be unable to wrap up its discussions on the new antiterrorism bill by the end of the extended Diet session, which will close on Dec. 15.DPJ pursuing selfish interestsThe DPJ's parliamentary tactics can be regarded as an obvious attempt to pursue its own interests instead of fulfilling its obligation to debate important bills in the legislature.The primary duty to be accomplished by the DPJ is to submit to the Diet its own alternative for the government bill. The largest opposition party has unveiled the outline of a bill it is devising for that purpose. But it is unclear whether the party will be able to transform its plan into a full-fledged bill because of objections raised by many party members to their own party's proposal.The outline of the DPJ proposal incorporates activities to be carried out in agricultural, medical and other areas for the purpose of aiding Afghanistan. However, the proposal fails to state clearly which activities will be conducted in which parts of that country.A recent suicide attack killed more than 50 people in the northern part of Afghanistan, where a relatively high level of safety was said to have been maintained. As circumstances stand, questions can be asked over whether it is realistic for Japan to send Self-Defense Forces personnel and civilians to Afghanistan to conduct aid activities.It is also questionable whether the DPJ is truly determined to play a role in Japan's contribution to the international fight against terrorism, given its slow progress in formulating an antiterrorism counterproposal and its inability to present realistic aid programs in Afghanistan.Many questions must be raised about the DPJ bill aimed at abolishing the special legislation for Japan's aid in the Iraqi rehabilitation. The bill, which the opposition party describes as more important than the government's antiterrorism bill, seeks to withdraw Air Self-Defense Force members from their transportation activities in Iraq.Intl spotlight on JapanDPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has argued Japan should play an active role in international peacekeeping activities sanctioned under a U.N. resolution. U.S.-led multilateral forces operating in Iraq have been granted power to maintain peace and aid that nation's reconstruction under U.N. Resolution 1546, which the U.N. Security Council adopted in June 2004. With this in mind, we feel the DPJ bill runs counter to Ozawa's assertion.What if ASDF personnel are withdrawn from their transportation mission in Iraq after an end to the MSDF mission in the Indian Ocean? Japan would be branded as a nation that does not cooperate in international peacekeeping activities.During the lower house discussions on the new antiterrorism bill, the DPJ dedicated itself to raising questions about such issues as suspicions that a portion of the fuel provided by the MSDF for U.S. ships in the Indian Ocean may have been used in activities related to U.S. military operations in Iraq. The opposition party also challenged the ruling camp to a debate concerning collusive ties between former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya and a defense equipment trading company.Needless to say, these issues bear a great deal of importance. Still, the DPJ's line of argument can gain acceptance only at home.The DPJ should engage in a constructive battle of words with the ruling camp in the upper house if it claims to be a party that can think and act responsibly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	863	2007-11-14	YOSHIN0020071114e3be000gh
YOMSHI0020071115e3bf00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071115e3bf00001	EN	\N	Reducing recidivism key to cutting overall crime	The 2007 white paper on crime released recently by the Justice Ministry refers to the "circumstances and countermeasures concerning persistent reoffenders."	4	2007-11-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The white paper takes recidivism as its main theme because in recent years there has been a series of vicious crimes committed by people who previously offended, including a case in which a Nara girl was kidnapped and murdered, and a serial confinement case that took place in Tokyo and Aomori Prefecture.The white paper analyzed recidivism by studying the cases of 1 million randomly selected convicts and the about 1.68 million crimes they committed. According to the white paper, 70 percent of the convicts were first-time offenders, and 30 percent were repeat offenders. However, of the about 1.68 million crimes, nearly 60 percent were committed by recidivists.Finding steady work vitalThe survey results show the importance of finding ways to deal with recidivism. Types of crimes that are often committed repeatedly include theft, stimulant use and assault with or without bodily injury. Prevention of recidivism, mainly targeting those crimes, will help reduce crime overall.Convicts tend to reoffend because they lack money to support their daily lives. This situation must be corrected. Those involved in the rehabilitation of convicts say helping them find steady employment is the best way to prevent recidivism.According to Justice Ministry data, 8 percent of people on probation, including those released from prison on parole, reoffend even after finding a job. But the figure jumps to 40 percent for those who fail to find work.However, it is difficult for convicted people to find employment. Progress has been slow in developing facilities and entities that can accept the approximately 30,000 people who are released from prison annually.Prisons provide job training to help inmates prepare for their release. A new law on rehabilitation established in June obligates convicts paroled from prison to report on their employment situation to volunteer probation officers. The Justice Ministry and Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry last year launched job seminars at Hello Work job centers and other events for released convicts.Some small and midsize companies regularly accept people released from prisons as employees. But the number of such companies is still limited.Aid measures lackingPeople released from prison are temporarily accepted at rehabilitation facilities if they cannot find guarantors, such as family members. The rehabilitation facilities help them find jobs.There are 101 of these government-authorized private facilities nationwide, and they have a total capacity of about 2,300. Management of the facilities is heavily dependent on local charity.The Justice Ministry plans to open four publicly run rehabilitation centers across the country. But their total capacity is only planned to be 60, and plans for two of them have been delayed due to opposition from local residents.Society must do more to promote the acceptance of released prisoners, such as by raising government subsidies for opening or expanding privately run rehabilitation facilities and encouraging social welfare corporations to enter the rehabilitation business.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	560	2007-11-15	YOSHIN0020071115e3bf000gk
YOMSHI0020071116e3bg00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071116e3bg00002	EN	\N	Moriya's new testimony leaves more questions	At the upper house's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Moriya, in his second appearance at the Diet to give sworn testimony, again admitted his close long-term association with former  Yamada Corp. managing director Motonobu Miyazaki, who was arrested by the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on Nov. 8 on suspicion of embezzlement and forgery and use of private documents.	4	2007-11-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Moriya stated he had "no intention to try to avoid criminal punishment" if his conduct was deemed punishable. He also said he would return the retirement allowance he received upon leaving the Defense Ministry in August. Returning this allowance is a matter of course now that Moriya--as the top bureaucrat at the ministry responsible for national security--has severely undermined public trust in the ministry.During his testimony to the upper house panel, Moriya named two politicians who were present when he was wined and dined by Miyazaki--Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, who served as director general of the Defense Agency, and former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma.Both Nukaga and Kyuma have said they do not recall being present at such an occasion.We, however, wonder if Moriya's most recent testimony will actually clear up all suspicions about the scandal.No recollection?The key reason for summoning Moriya was to find out if he, in his capacity as administrative vice defense minister, gave any business favors to Miyazaki.In 2003, Moriya was in charge of the panel to screen defense equipment procurement for the then Defense Agency, which involved him in the selection of an engine for the Air Self-Defense Force's next-generation CX transport aircraft.Yamada was the sales agent for the engine manufactured by  General Electric Co. of the United States. This engine was eventually chosen by the Defense Agency.In his sworn testimony on Oct. 29 before the House of Representatives special committee on antiterrorism affairs, Moriya said he "had not been aware" that Yamada was the sales agent for the engine.However, it was later revealed that Yamada was mentioned in materials distributed at a meeting of the defense procurement panel.Some observers have pointed out that this suggests Moriya committed perjury in his lower house testimony.In Thursday's testimony, Moriya again asserted he had "no recollection of that sort."End corruption, restore trustMoriya also denied in Thursday's testimony an allegation that he urged the relevant Defense Agency section not to mete out punishment in 2002 to Yamada, which had been found to have padded bills for helicopter equipment, yet went unpunished. Moriya testified he had "no recollection" about the matter.The special investigation squad has begun questioning Defense Ministry officials, mainly to figure out if Moriya's testimony is true.Moriya's summoning as a sworn witness in both chambers of the Diet has again highlighted improper ties between the Defense Ministry and businesses over "defense-related vested interests."The ministry already has come under fire over the uncovering of ministry-coordinated bid-rigging cases and other scandals. If it wants to restore its credibility, it needs to eliminate any elements that breed corruption.We believe the Diet has played a role in exposing some truth about the scandal through its questionings of Moriya.Of course, the Diet should continue to work on finding out the whole truth about the scandal. But it should be reminded that the most important task of the upper house Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is deliberating on the bill for a new antiterrorism law, which would enable the resumption of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2007-11-16	YOSHIN0020071116e3bg000et
YOMSHI0020071117e3bh00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071117e3bh00001	EN	\N	Strategy needed in hunt for rare metals	Japan's strategic efforts to get access to rare metals have been found wanting. Just like it does for crude oil, Japan depends on imports for almost all of the rare metals it requires. However, obtaining the metals has, by and large, been left up to the private sector.	4	2007-11-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government must engage in proactive diplomacy to ensure the nation obtains enough of these precious resources.Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari visited South Africa and Botswana this week to agree with the two African countries to jointly develop rare metal mines and cooperate in searching for the metals.Representatives from trading houses and other companies accompanied Amari on the trip. This effort by the government and the private sector has been dubbed "rare metal diplomacy."Thirty-one metals that are found in small amounts are called rare metals. Among them, indium is used in electrodes in liquid crystal panels, and rare earths are used in motors for hybrid vehicles. They are crucial for maintaining the competitive edge of Japan's high-technology industry, and are sometimes referred to as "vitamins for industry."Prices going up and upSouth Africa is a major producer of rare earths and platinum. Japan's technological assistance to that country should be a shot in the arm for rare metal imports.Prices of rare metals have skyrocketed recently as speculative investors seek to cash in on robust global demand. The price of indium has climbed ninefold in the past five years.Only a few countries, including China, Russia and South Africa, are blessed with exploitable quantities of rare metals. China accounts for 55 percent of global indium production and 93 percent of rare earths. Central Asian countries, Central and South American countries and Myanmar are also thought to have untapped reserves of rare metals.China's rapid economic growth has fueled its thirst for rare metals, and the country has tightened export restrictions on these metals as it scrambles to secure rare metal concessions in such countries as South Africa. Russia is strengthening the state's grip on its natural resources.Under such circumstances, so-called resource nationalism is rearing its head in such countries as the global grab for rare metals intensifies.Africa the 1st optionAfrica is a key arena in this battle--and its resources are essential for Japan.Japan pledged to double its official development assistance to Africa over three years. Such money should be used to develop mines and related projects so Japan can secure stable supplies of rare metal resources.In April, Amari visited Kazakhstan and signed an agreement that bodes well for the procurement of uranium. The government must take this resource diplomacy to central Asian and Central and South American countries to widen the net for suppliers of rare metals.The government and the private sector have stockpiled nickel and some other rare metals for a rainy day. They must consider increasing the volume and types of metals kept in these stockpiles.Over the medium and long term, innovative technologies must be developed to collect and reuse rare metals from high-tech products. Finding alternative materials to rare metals also will be imperative. The government must knuckle down and extend support for technological developments to achieve these goals.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	575	2007-11-17	YOSHIN0020071117e3bh000ez
YOMSHI0020071118e3bi00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071118e3bi00001	EN	\N	Japan-U.S. alliance as important as ever	Two issues in particular have been causing furrowed brows in Tokyo and Washington--the suspension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission that was part of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean, and the United States' contemplation of dropping North Korea from its list of terrorism-sponsoring states.	4	2007-11-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fukuda pledged to try his best to pass a new antiterrorism bill as soon as possible to resume the MSDF's refueling mission. Bush expressed thanks for Japan's support for the U.S.-led operation and spoke of his expectation that the mission would begin again before long.A prolonged suspension of the refueling mission would be tantamount to a withdrawal from the "war on terrorism" and could shake the relationship of trust on which the alliance rests.The opposition bloc is trying to delay the start of deliberations for the new antiterrorism bill in the House of Councillors.Fukuda should do whatever is necessary to pass the bill into law during the current Diet session. He should not be shy about having the bill approved in the House of Representatives on the second attempt by more than two-thirds of members present if such a bill is shot down in the upper house.Dealing with North KoreaIssues relating to North Korea were high on the agenda at Fukuda's meeting with Bush. Fukuda stressed how seriously the government feels about the abduction of Japanese by North Korean agents, and about the reclusive nation's nuclear weapons and programs, and missiles. Bush reportedly told Fukuda that he understood Japan's concern that the United States might set aside the abduction issue and try to cut a deal with North Korea, but added, "We will never forget the Japanese abductees and their families."Bush's comments indicate he realizes the importance of the abduction issue. However, he did not clearly spell out that resolving the abduction issue would be a condition for Pyongyang to be removed from the blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism.The abductions were terrorist acts committed by a state. Japan has every right to continue to hound the United States not to be hasty in erasing North Korea's tag as a state sponsor of terrorism.Efforts also must be made to resume Japan-North Korea talks and to make tangible progress in the return of surviving abductees to Japan.Japan has asked Pyongyang to reinvestigate these abductees and repatriate to Japan the radicals who hijacked the  Japan Airlines jetliner "Yodo" and flew it to Pyongyang in 1970. But even if North Korea accepts Japan's demands to reinvestigate the abduction cases and repatriates the Yodo hijackers, we do not think these events alone can constitute "developments" in the problems with North Korea.The nuclear issueNorth Korea's nuclear development remains the most serious threat to Japan's security.During the six-party talks in October, negotiators agreed North Korea would, by the end of this year, disable three nuclear facilities in Yongbyon and provide a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs.The disablement process has started, but the picture gets somewhat murky when talk turns to the declaration. We wonder if North Korea will make public the entire picture of the nuclear programs that Pyongyang seems to regard as imperative for maintaining the present regime.As long as North Korea fails to fully declare the details of its nuclear weapons, plutonium stockpiles, triggering devices, uranium enrichment programs and other aspects of its nuclear programs, the United States must not remove North Korea's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The government should continue to press Washington on this point.The two leaders also brought up other pending matters between their countries, including the realignment of U.S. military bases in Japan, Tokyo's future payments for hosting U.S. military bases in Japan and the relaxation of conditions for U.S. beef imports. Steadily resolving each of these problems will be crucial for strengthening the bilateral alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2007-11-18	YOSHIN0020071118e3bi000a6
YOMSHI0020071119e3bj00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071119e3bj00003	EN	\N	Use fingerprints, photos to boost security	The main objective of the revised law is to block terrorists and foreign criminals from entering the country. If it is proven to be effective, Japan's reputation as a safe country will be bolstered.	4	2007-11-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Foreign visitors, including tourists, aged 16 or older will be subject to the new immigration examinations with the exception only of diplomats and special permanent residents such as South and North Korean residents in Japan.The number of foreigners visiting Japan has been steadily rising. Last year, it totaled about 8.1 million, up more than 650,000 from the previous year.One reason behind the increase is that the government, which has been trying to strengthen the tourism industry, has implemented measures to woo foreign tourists.The government needs to give careful consideration in conducting the immigration checks to avoid a system breakdown or possible confusion in connection with the new examination procedures.Electronic data collectionAn electronic reading device will be used to collect fingerprint data from the index finger of each hand and foreign visitors' faces will be digitally photographed. The scanned fingerprint data will be cross-checked against a blacklist on a database in a few seconds. If the data matches that of suspected criminals on the police's wanted list or information on terrorists obtained through the United Nations and Interpol, the Immigration Bureau will immediately reject their entry into Japan and notify the police.In the past, a man linked to Al-Qaida passed through Japan's immigration despite the fact there was an international warrant for his arrest, complete with his fingerprints. Such a blunder must not be repeated. Fingerprint data collected at immigration can be used in criminal investigations in cases in which police find fingerprints at the scene of a crime believed to have been committed by non-Japanese.The blacklist includes people who have been deported from Japan in the past. An increasing number of people who were once kicked out have later reentered the country with a fake passport or a passport that they obtained by changing their name. The new immigration checks will be useful in preventing such illegal entries into Japan.International effort neededThe government needs to cooperate with other countries and constantly update the database. The bureau apparently expects the new measures will bring about a deterrent effect, which could make suspicious foreign visitors abandon their attempt to enter the country.The United States has already introduced measures to fingerprint and photograph all foreign visitors in principle. Britain obliges visa applicants to be fingerprinted upon issuance. Indeed, many other countries are interested in obtaining personal identification data from foreign visitors, including fingerprints.The government dispatched relevant officials to China, South Korea and Taiwan to explain Japan's new immigration check system. The Asian neighbors, according to the government, basically expressed understanding for the envisioned measures. Fighting terrorism is a common task for the international society. These countries obviously recognize its importance.Japan will host the Group of Eight summit meeting at the Lake Toya hot spring resort in Toyakocho, Hokkaido, next year. Together with strengthening immigration checks, we hope the government will take all possible means to ensure coastal security and prevent terrorism in this country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	581	2007-11-19	YOSHIN0020071119e3bj000bm
YOMSHI0020071120e3bk00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071120e3bk00001	EN	\N	OPEC supports fight against global warming	OPEC usually makes decisions on such important matters as crude oil production quotas at general meetings of oil ministers held several times a year. Mid- and long-term issues are supposed to be discussed at summit meetings of leaders of member states, and the latest meeting was only the third of its kind held since OPEC was established in 1960.	4	2007-11-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a group, OPEC had taken the most passive stance on anti-global warming efforts. Expressing its concerns that reduction in oil consumption would shake the foundations of its members' national economies, the group resisted efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.But in the declaration, the group clearly showed its support for efforts to halt global warming, saying it would support international challenges on global environmental issues and cooperate in forestation projects and other efforts.Money for researchSaudi Arabia, which hosted the summit meeting of OPEC member nations, announced it would provide $300 million in research funds, saying such funds would be allocated for research and development of technologies such as those to contain CO2 underground after separating greenhouse gasses from exhaust released at thermal power plants.As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said global warming was mainly due to human-induced causes, the reduction of CO2 emissions became a task to be tackled by all people around the world. OPEC likely judged it would not be in its best interests if it remained reluctant to support measures to fight the problem.Next year will be the start of the first five years for achieving numerical targets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. OPEC's shift in stance may drive the United States and China, which oppose regulated cuts in such gases, into facing even harder situations.As the price of crude oil nears $100 per barrel, consumer nations had some hope the OPEC summit meeting would decide to increase output.Speculation distorting marketThe largest factor in the recent rise in oil prices is the inflow of speculative funds into the oil futures market. It is not the case yet that the balance of supply and demand on global oil markets has collapsed. Even so, if OPEC shifts to increasing oil outputs, it would effectively weaken the impetus behind speculative transactions.The declaration emphasized OPEC was well aware that a stable oil supply is essential for sustained economic growth in consumer nations. But regarding the more imminent issue of rising oil prices, the declaration only referred to short-term price volatility being harmful to both producers and consumers. OPEC thus did not shift to raising outputs. At a general meeting in December, the group should agree to increase production.Due to economic growth in such rising economies as China and India, global oil demand is sure to increase over the next few years, but it cannot be said that development of new oil fields to meet increased future demand is going well.Oil producing nations have obtained sufficient development funds with the soaring oil prices. But they remain reluctant to raise production levels for fear that prices might go down with increased output. Regrettably, the declaration did not directly touch on this problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	592	2007-11-20	YOSHIN0020071120e3bk000gn
YOMSHI0020071121e3bl00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071121e3bl00001	EN	\N	Japan-China relations at a turning point	Fukuda's recent trip to Washington for talks with U.S. President George W. Bush has been followed by a visit to Singapore for meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and others.	4	2007-11-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Needless to say, China is a nation of primary importance in Fukuda's diplomatic policy in this part of the world. Japan's relations with China--a nation that has risen as an economic and military power in recent years, making its international influence more strongly felt--is a decisive factor for success, or a lack of it, in efforts to build a good framework for international order in East Asia.Given this, Fukuda had every reason to tell the Chinese premier that China has "very great responsibilities" in the international community.Meanwhile, Wen said the Japan-China relationship has reached "an important point." The Chinese premier's statement may have reflected his perception that the primary task to be accomplished by the two countries is to properly accommodate the various changes that have been taking place in Asia and other parts of the world in recent years. Wen's remark came after Japan-China relations were themselves strained due to some thorny bilateral problems, including a dispute over visits to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine by Fukuda's predecessors.Fukuda must achieve resultsA task to be tackled by both Tokyo and Beijing is to further advance their "strategically reciprocal relationship," a goal agreed upon between former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Hu Jintao last year.Tokyo and Beijing must seek to realize this goal through mutual visits by the two leaders that will probably take place by early next year, produce tangible results.Fukuda and Wen also agreed to hold a ministerial-level economic dialogue between their nations in early December. The agreement can be seen as a result of their efforts to promote strategically reciprocal ties. But their efforts have yet to take concrete shape.Cause for concernThere also is cause for concern about the bilateral relationship. Knotty issues include China's military buildup and the dispute over its natural gas field exploration project in the East China Sea. Talks on the latter controversy have stalled, despite the two countries' earlier agreement to deal with the issue under the principle of reciprocity.Japan has urged China to jointly explore natural gas fields in waters around the "median line" adopted by Japan as the line separating the exclusive economic zones of Japan and China. However, Beijing has not made any concessions, insisting instead that such a project should be carried out only on the Japanese side of the line.Fukuda urged Wen to "demonstrate leadership" in resolving the dispute as soon as possible. This indicated the Japanese prime minister believed the controversy would never be resolved through working-level negotiations.The government must write a detailed prescription for the problem prior to Fukuda's visit to Beijing.In tripartite talks Tuesday, Fukuda, Wen and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun confirmed their governments would demand North Korea disable its nuclear facilities, and fully and accurately declare all of its nuclear programs under an earlier agreement adopted at the six-party talks on Pyongyang's denuclearization.Fukuda asked for help from both China and South Korea in striving to resolve the dispute over North Korea's abduction of Japanese and settle issues ensuing from the "unfortunate past."It is also necessary for Japan and China to cooperate in dealing with problems related to the future of the Korean Peninsula.The two nations must further advance their cooperative ties to help promote the prosperity and stability of the international community--especially Asia. Doing so benefits both Japan and China. Still, the strategic and competitive relationship between Japan and China will continue. An extremely important challenge facing Japan is to put together a wise strategy for its diplomacy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	703	2007-11-21	YOSHIN0020071121e3bl000gm
YOMSHI0020071122e3bm00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071122e3bm00001	EN	\N	Use Japan-ASEAN EPA as leverage to bolster ties	On Wednesday, Japan and ASEAN reached a final agreement on the conclusion of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Both sides expect the agreement to take effect in autumn next year after the pact is signed by the parties concerned as early as next spring.	4	2007-11-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan has already signed EPAs with six major ASEAN members--Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei. In total, Japan has signed eight EPAs, including one with Mexico, and some of them have already gone into effect. The ASEAN agreement is the first to be concluded with a regional grouping.Yet, China and South Korea, which are very keen on expanding economic partnerships in Asia, have been ahead of Japan by one or two years in negotiations on free trade agreements with ASEAN. South Korea signed an FTA with the Untied States in April and has already started FTA negotiations with the European Union.Advantages for Japanese firmsJapan's negotiations with South Korea on a free trade agreement have been suspended, while those with Australia, an agricultural giant, are facing difficulties. But the agreement with ASEAN has brought Japan a little forward in the race with China and South Korea. Strengthening economic ties with ASEAN--dubbed the growth center of Asia--brings about various advantages for Japan, which is experiencing a population decline.The pact is expected to give a division- of-labor advantage to Japanese corporations that have production bases in the ASEAN area.The six major ASEAN countries will abolish tariffs within 10 years on at least 90 percent of imports--calculated in monetary terms--from Japan. Vietnam will gradually abolish tariffs on 90 percent of imports from Japan within 15 years, and three other countries will abolish tariffs on 80 percent of tariffs from Japan within 18 years.Because of the EPA, Japan will be able to export parts of liquid crystal display TV sets to Thailand and export finished products assembled in the country to the Philippines or other ASEAN countries without tariffs being imposed. This will greatly enhance the price competitiveness of Japanese manufacturers.Meanwhile, Japan will immediately abolish tariffs equivalent to 90 percent of the imports--calculated in monetary terms--from ASEAN. An additional liberalization of tariffs equivalent to 3 percent of the imports will take effect in five to 10 years.Create truly open marketHowever, some agricultural products such as rice and dairy products are exempt from the agreement. This is because, as usual, Japan maintains a reluctant stance in liberalizing the agricultural market.Japan has proposed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia initiative with 16 countries, involving Japan, the 10 members of ASEAN, Australia, China, India, New Zealand and South Korea. Some see the conclusion of the EPA with ASEAN as the first step toward realizing this initiative.However, it is quite difficult to realize this initiative of creating a truly international open market unless it includes agricultural products. This means Japanese products--Eprice competitiveness in the agricultural sector should be enhanced. Japan should accelerate structural reforms in agriculture so that parties concerned can endure pains that will arise from market liberalization.In their summit meeting, ASEAN leaders agreed to liberalize trade and investment within the area and establish a single market by 2015, aiming at becoming a regional economic community. They signed the ASEAN Charter, which will serve as the basic law for strengthening ties. It is certain that ASEAN's significance will continue to increase.As China and South Korea, as well as India, have been strengthening ties with ASEAN, Japan should use the EPA with the bloc to forge a strategic trade policy with the area.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2007-11-22	YOSHIN0020071122e3bm000fi
YOMSHI0020071123e3bn00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071123e3bn00001	EN	\N	Don't turn upper house into white elephant	On Thursday, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held separate talks with opposition party leaders. He was right to press DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa to cooperate in smoothly managing Diet affairs, particularly in connection with a new antiterrorism bill aimed at resuming the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.	4	2007-11-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It does not seem, however, that the DPJ is fully aware of its obligation in this respect.During the meeting, Ozawa rejected the prime minister's request that a bill for the MSDF mission pass the current Diet session, reiterating that the leading opposition party would oppose the government-sponsored legislation.The upper house is set to start deliberations on the bill Wednesday. Some members of the DPJ and other opposition parties have said they should strive to block the new legislation by, for example, prolonging Diet debate on the bill.However, if the opposition parties even refuse to enter into discussions on the bill, they will be denying the whole point of the upper house's existence. DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama is correct in saying that failure to debate the bill in the upper house will give a fresh impetus to the argument that the chamber is a white elephant and should be done away with.Where are the alternatives?To make matters worse, the DPJ has yet to submit to the Diet an alternative to the government's antiterrorism bill. Neither has the party presented realistic and specific international peacekeeping plans as a means of fighting terrorism. This attitude indicates the DPJ lacks any sense of responsibility.Ozawa has said it is necessary to uncover the whole truth about suspicions surrounding Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya in connection with a scandal involving defense contractor  Yamada Corp.Although doing so is important, the affair is unrelated to Japan's contribution to international peacekeeping activities and should not be used to delay Diet discussions on the new antiterrorism bill.The current extended Diet session is set to end on Dec. 15. It will be difficult to secure the same amount of time as was spent at the lower house to debate the bill in the upper house if one takes into account the time to discuss the bill in the chamber's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Given this, it is inevitable that the Diet session will have to be extended for a second time.If the opposition camp chooses to delay discussions on the bill, the ruling parties may try to have the bill passed a second time by the lower house, which would require a two-thirds majority. Under the Constitution, failure by the upper house to vote on a bill within 60 days after receiving it from the lower house is regarded as a rejection of the bill by the upper house.If the ruling camp opts for that scenario, the Diet session will have to be extended until mid-January.Delay tactics irresponsibleIf this scenario comes about, it will cause a considerable delay in compiling the government's budget for next fiscal year, making it impossible to pass during the next ordinary Diet session and by the end of the current fiscal year. This is bound to greatly affect the day-to-day lives of people. If this happens, the blame will fall squarely on the DPJ.The largest opposition party must, at least, cooperate in discussions on a new antiterrorism bill. The right course of action to be taken by the DPJ is to have the upper house reject it as soon as possible, so that it can be passed a second time by the lower house in line with the provision stipulated in the Constitution.In Thursday's talks with Ozawa, Fukuda also proposed the ruling coalition and the opposition camp carry out negotiations on key policies, including pension system reform and the establishment of a permanent law on the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel for overseas missions.Ozawa rejected all of Fukuda's proposals. If the DPJ does not assume a share of responsibility in implementing important government policies that will affect national interests and people's lives, the voters will not support the DPJ. That would make it even more difficult for the leading opposition party to take over the reins of power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	794	2007-11-23	YOSHIN0020071123e3bn000c3
YOMSHI0020071124e3bo00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071124e3bo00001	EN	\N	All parties must present consumption tax plans	The report proposed that the consumption tax be renamed the "social security tax" and that "revenues other than those from the consumption tax be used for expenditures except for social security."	4	2007-11-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The suggestion is aimed at defanging public resistance to a higher consumption tax rate by specifying that the tax will be used for social security costs.The report also stated the consumption tax rate must be raised to 10 percent or so to cover expenditures needed for pension, medical and nursing care as well as measures to deal with the declining birthrate in the mid-2010s, when all baby boomers will have started receiving pensions.Furthermore, the report urged the government to take tax measures "at an early stage" to deal with the planned increase in the proportion of the state's share in the basic pension payouts to 50 percent in fiscal 2009 and to realize the government target of a budget surplus on a primary balance basis in fiscal 2011.Sharing the burdenThe revenue needed to raise the state's share in the basic pension payouts will be equivalent to that accrued from raising the consumption tax rate by one percentage point. The report set out de facto procedures for raising the consumption tax: The state will begin jacking up the consumption tax from the current 5 percent in fiscal 2009 at the earliest to reach 10 percent or so in the mid-2010s.At a time when society is graying while the birthrate is declining, it is essential to raise the consumption tax--which is not so susceptible to economic fluctuations and is broadly shared by every stratum of society--to ensure the nation can sustain a solid social security system.But the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pulled the plug on discussions on a consumption tax rate increase, and its successor, the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, postponed discussions on a sweeping overhaul of the country's taxation system.In this respect, the fact that a proposal has been made within the ruling party for a specific tax hike margin and its timing--even though it came from a single study group--is not to be sneezed at.No time to wasteHowever, some LDP members remain reluctant to roll up their sleeves and discuss a consumption tax hike.Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda recently remarked, "The public would be furious if we talk about the consumption tax now." He probably had the possibility of dissolving the House of Representatives for a general election in mind when he said this. But failing to address the need to raise the consumption tax will only inflate the huge price future generations will have to pay.Many issues must be cleared before the consumption tax rate is increased, including whether to introduce a reduced tax rate for daily necessities and some other items and whether to raise the local consumption tax rate.The responsibility lies with the LDP, as it holds the reins of the coalition government with New Komeito, to settle these issues and compile a formal policy proposal for fiscal reform.The opposition Democratic Party of Japan opposes any hike in the consumption tax rate. We cannot help but wonder if the state will be able to secure the necessary revenue sources without raising the tax rate. We hope the DPJ will present a clear plan to meet ballooning social security expenditures.A national consensus is indispensable for raising the consumption tax rate. Only after the ruling and opposition parties present concrete options to the people can a proper debate on building such a consensus be started.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2007-11-24	YOSHIN0020071124e3bo000bq
YOMSHI0020071125e3bp00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071125e3bp00001	EN	\N	Vision needed to enact lasting SDF dispatch law	Under the government's traditional interpretation of the Constitution, Japan has the right of collective self-defense, but may not exercise this right. Naturally, this interpretation has caused much head-scratching in the international community.	4	2007-11-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wanted to tackle this problem, established the panel in April. The panel held five meetings, but has been inactive since Abe resigned suddenly from his post about three months ago.In addition, the situation surrounding the panel has been turned on its head due to the Liberal Democratic Party's crushing defeat in July's House of Councillors election and the ensuing change of administration.Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is very cautious about changing this constitutional interpretation, while the LDP's coalition partner, New Komeito, has hardened its opposition to modifying it. Even if the government wanted to change this interpretation, enacting necessary laws would be no easy task because of the current split Diet in which the ruling parties hold a majority in the House of Representatives and the opposition bloc controls the upper house.Nevertheless, the government panel's direct reference to the issue as "shackling" the nation's security policy was eye-opening.Alliance could be shakenThe panel examined four possible scenarios for invoking the right of collective self-defense. Members leaned toward allowing Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense and unleash a counterattack in two cases--when a U.S. warship escorting Self-Defense Forces vessels comes under attack on the high seas, and when Japanese radar detects a ballistic missile likely targeting the United States.If Japan's hands are tied and it is unable to retaliate even in these scenarios, the foundation of the Japan-U.S. alliance would be shaken and the failure to act could cripple efforts to ensure the nation's security.The panel will resume its discussions in December. It should delve deeper into the logical framework for exercising the right of collective self-defense, the definitions of situations in which Japan can exercise this right and the formation of a concrete legal framework for doing so. Even if these goals are not achieved soon, the fruits of their discussions will eventually become obvious in the future.Work still to be doneThe panel also has been chewing over opinions concerning the remaining two scenarios. It is inclined to allow SDF personnel participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations to help defend another country's military forces when they are attacked nearby and to use arms when doing so is deemed essential for fulfilling their duties.The Cabinet Legislation Bureau posits that SDF logistical support to troops from other countries on U.N. peacekeeping operations considered fully integrated with military action of other countries could represent a violation of the Constitution. But many panel members share the view that they should not stick with this interpretation.Whether to refresh the criteria for allowing SDF personnel to use arms will be a key point of contention in preparing a permanent law to allow the dispatch of SDF personnel overseas.If a new antiterrorism bill to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean is passed into law during the current Diet session, the law would be valid only for one year. Unless such a law's legal duration is extended or a permanent law is enacted, Japan's international peacekeeping activities would suffer a black eye.Many lawmakers within the ruling parties and also the opposition Democratic Party of Japan support the enactment of the permanent law. The government and ruling parties should actively find common ground on the issue with the opposition parties.A vision to usher in the enactment of the permanent law will become all the more important in future panel discussions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	691	2007-11-25	YOSHIN0020071125e3bp00091
YOMSHI0020071126e3bq00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071126e3bq00005	EN	\N	Japan lags in ability to fight infectious diseases	Who among us knew the nation was facing such a dire situation?	4	2007-11-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The reason for this predicament is that no special facilities are available to safely handle dangerous pathogens in Japan. Such a situation cannot be ignored for long.Technically, such labs are called Biosafety Level 4 facilities. The biosafety level is an international standard specifying safe handling of pathogens at four different levels, with Level 4 as the strictest.Under Level 4 protocols, an area in which pathogens are handled must be isolated from other parts of a facility with negative air pressure so that air cannot flow outside. Airborne pathogens must be destroyed by high-temperature filter areas in the ventilation system. When working inside the area, a person may be required to wear a hazmat suit.Such a lab is vital for analyzing and researching biological hazards that are highly contagious and life-threatening once infection occurs.Laboratory gapAll industrialized countries, except Japan, have Biosafety Level 4 facilities. Germany and the United States both have more than one such facility. In Asia, Taiwan also operates such a facility.In Japan, labs equipped as Biosafety Level 4 facilities were constructed, although on small scale, by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Musashimurayama, Tokyo, and by Riken in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture.However, residents close to these labs do not accept them. Some residents continue protesting against the labs, so they cannot be used as Biosafety Level 4 facilities.If an outbreak of a highly contagious infectious disease occurs, the nation may have to rely on labs overseas to analyze the disease. Many experts in Japan are seriously concerned that, in a worst-case scenario, patients will not survive and dangerous diseases may unnecessarily spread due to the inability to take swift action.Get existing facilities workingThe government must try to win the approval of residents for use of the labs, at least at the existing sites.The government has been urged in recent years to take measures to guard against bioterrorism attacks. If bacteria or viruses are used to mount a terrorist attack, it must be tackled by immediately isolating and analyzing the pathogen so as to take countermeasures.It is also necessary to have a Biosafety Level 4 lab to undertake research on new infectious diseases that develop in various parts of the world.New types of influenza are a typical example. The facilities are needed to develop vaccines and therapeutic agents.Recently, those in charge of Biosafety Level 4 facilities from around the world gathered at a symposium in Tokyo. What was introduced at the symposium was a unit designed for animal experiments and a sophisticated diagnostic imaging device from the United States--the most advanced nation in this field.The situation in the United States differs widely from that in Japan. Japan should not fall to the status of a developing nation in the field of fighting infectious diseases.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	545	2007-11-26	YOSHIN0020071126e3bq000c2
YOMSHI0020071127e3br00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071127e3br00001	EN	\N	ROK presidential poll affects Japan's security	A record-high 12 candidates have registered for the election to pick the successor to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, scheduled for Dec. 19, of whom three are seen as the main contenders.	4	2007-11-27	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Whoever is elected will face an issue of grave importance in terms of security--determining how to proceed with the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, which is still under nuclear threat from North Korea.The issue weighs heavily on Japan's national security as well. From this point of view, the nation has to closely watch the election campaign.The front-runner is Lee Myung Bak, former Seoul mayor standing for the opposition Grand National Party who opinion polls indicate has the support of about 40 percent of voters. He is followed by Lee Hoi Chang, a former GNP head who is running as an independent, and Chung Dong Young, former unification minister running for the United New Democratic Party made up mostly of former Uri Party members.In the past two presidential elections, conservative forces failed to unite behind a single candidate and lost to the leftist camp. Since Lee Hoi Chang, who left the GNP, is making a third bid after two failed attempts to win the presidency, conservative forces again are split.Leftists unpopularThe left, meanwhile, is struggling to secure solid support due to the unpopularity of Roh, whose approval rating stands as low as about 20 percent, and has a number of candidates running in the election.Reflecting public sentiment in favor of a shift in power, the conservatives are keeping their lead despite being split.Support for the conservatives is being pushed up partly due to discontent expressed over growing gaps in income levels and business performances between companies and growing anxiety among the younger generations over difficulty in finding jobs.But Lee Myung Bak is facing allegations that he was involved in stock price fixing operations by an investment advisory company. Some observers say he might be hit by unexpected turbulence such as a terrorist attack.The three main candidates do not differ much in that they all pledge to seek continued economic growth, but they clearly differ on policy toward North Korea.Different approachesChung embraces the conciliatory "sunshine policy" employed since the administration of former President Kim Dae Jung. Chung has called for promoting economic assistance to North Korea by putting the nuclear issue aside. Lee Myung Bak also touted a plan to provide economic aid to North Korea, on condition that Pyongyang end its nuclear development and promotes reform and a policy of openness.Lee Hoi Chang, on the other hand, opposes one-sided economic assistance and argues that large-scale economic aid should follow only after North Korea abandons its nuclear program. His position is close to that of Japan, which has been skeptical about the existing reconciliation policy.Who wins South Korea's presidency is sure to affect the future course of the six-party talks. Japan should pay very close attention to the campaign debate pertaining to North Korea.South Korea is Japan's third-largest trade partner, following the United States and China. Japan has strong ties with South Korea not only in the area of national security but in the economic sphere as well. The presidential election in the neighboring nation is a matter that we should keep our eyes on.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2007-11-27	YOSHIN0020071127e3br000fm
YOMSHI0020071128e3bs00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071128e3bs00001	EN	\N	Law on financial aid for terrorism victims a must	The plan would require the government to pay compensation, in the form of consolation payments, to Aum's victims that should otherwise have been provided by the cult.We believe there is a need to do so, given that the victims of Aum's terrorist attacks have not been given sufficient compensation.	4	2007-11-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	No one can tell when acts of terrorism will take place. To provide against an emergency, it is necessary for the government to consider specific measures aimed at aiding victims of all terrorist attacks.The LDP team's plan outlines a bill designed to aid victims of various Aum-related crimes. The cult does not have the financial means to pay compensation. This means the victims likely will be unable to receive the full amount of compensation owed to them by the cult. With this in mind, the LDP team has proposed the government pay 2.5 billion yen in solatium, equivalent to the amount Aum has not yet paid.The doomsday cult has been found criminally responsible for such serious crimes as a sarin gassing incident in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, in 1994, and a sarin attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995.In 1996, Aum was declared bankrupt because it lacked the financial means to compensate its victims for the damage they suffered. The group's debts then totaled about 5.1 billion yen, including the 3.8 billion yen it owed in compensation to victims of its crimes and their bereaved families.Bankruptcy to be finalizedThe figures point to the seriousness of the group's crimes and the gravity of the problems ensuing from these incidents.For years, Aum's bankruptcy administrator has sold the cult's facilities and implemented other steps to raise money that could be used to compensate the group's victims. However, the damages paid by Aum to its victims total a modest 1.3 billion yen. The cult's bankruptcy procedures are expected to be completed in March.Under the circumstances, it appears little progress will be made in financially aiding the victims.More than 10 years have passed since Aum carried out its crimes. Admittedly, crime victims can already be aided by a state-run system aimed at aiding victims of random street murders and other unforeseeable accidents. However, Aum's victims cannot expect to receive sufficient aid under this systemU.S. quick to act after 9/11The U.S. government has paid an average of 200 million yen each in compensation to families of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the nation under special legislation created for that purpose.Meanwhile, measures to pay the victims of Aum-related crimes a massive amount of compensation must be complemented by efforts to convincingly explain why doing so is essential.In emphasizing the need to establish a law on compensation for Aum-related crime victims, the LDP team has cited the peculiarity of the offenses committed by the cult. Some LDP members have insisted on citing specific reasons for the creation of the law, including the fact that Aum's crimes were aimed at overthrowing the state, and that their victims had been sacrificed for the state. They also have noted that the victims have made every effort to gain compensation by suing the cult for damages.The LDP plans to submit the bill to next year's ordinary Diet session. Meanwhile, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan also is considering submitting a similar bill to the legislature.Both the ruling and opposition parties must join hands in promoting talks on how to compensate the victims of terrorism and create a law on such compensation as soon as possible.Acts of terrorism must be nipped in the bud, first and foremost. But it also is important to ensure proper measures are in place to swiftly aid victims if such crimes occur.After studying the results of discussions by the LDP team, the Justice Ministry, the National Police Agency and other related government organizations should work to lay down the necessary guidelines and other principles concerning such issues as what kind of crime victims should receive financial aid.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	746	2007-11-28	YOSHIN0020071128e3bs000gl
YOMSHI0020071129e3bt00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071129e3bt00001	EN	\N	Paying for golf judged tantamount to bribery	The special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on Wednesday arrested former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya, who was treated to more than 300 rounds of golf over an 11-year period, on suspicion of receiving bribes.	4	2007-11-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prosecutors judged that the cost of 12 golf outings in Hokkaido and other places--\\3.89 million--paid for by Motonobu Miyazaki, former senior managing director of defense contractor  Yamada Corp., constituted bribes.Moriya's wife was also arrested on suspicion of taking bribes, as his accomplice. Bribe-taking charges are normally applied to public servants. However, when a person who is not a public servant abets bribe-taking, he or she can be punished as an "accomplice without status."The prosecutors decided that Moriya's wife, who was frequently entertained by Miyazaki along with him, falls in this category.It also has been discovered that Miyazaki transferred more than \\2 million to an account in the name of Moriya's wife.Moriya had great cloutThe special investigation squad suspects Moriya did favors for Miyazaki in connection with the procurement of defense equipment, including the engine for the Air Self-Defense Force's next-generation CX transport aircraft.Miyazaki's entertaining of Moriya is considered to have been a token of his appreciation for favors extended as well as a request for continued indulgence. Moriya is believed to have been aware of Miyazaki's intentions in treating him. Slush funds amassed at a U.S. subsidiary of Yamada are believed to have been used to pay for the golfing trips. Miyazaki organized the pooling of the slush funds, which totaled hundreds of millions of yen, at the U.S. company until he left Yamada in June last year.How the slush funds were used in the Moriya case must be cleared up.Moriya held the post of top defense bureaucrat for more than four years--an unusually long period for an official to serve as an administrative vice minister.During his tenure, Moriya spearheaded such tasks as the Defense Agency's upgrading to a ministry and the relocation of U.S. military forces stationed in Japan, wielding strong power in the ministry.Under such circumstances, businesses with vested interests in the defense industry sought to work hand in glove with him.The special investigation squad has searched the Japan-U.S. Peace and Cultural Exchange, an association under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Ministry on whose board Miyazaki served.Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma and other ruling and opposition lawmakers with vested interests in defense policy also served as members of the association's board. The special investigation squad's probe of the association apparently aims to find out whether Miyazaki channeled any funds to the association.Ministry needs reformIt has been found that Yamada padded bills for defense equipment. Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said the ministry will file a criminal complaint against Yamada on suspicion of fraud.Filing a criminal complaint is an appropriate move. However, the ministry also should be held responsible to a great extent in the case because it failed to detect the illicit billings.The government has established an expert panel on reform of the Defense Ministry under the chief cabinet secretary. The move apparently reflects the government's view that the ministry, which has been hit by a series of scandals, is no longer capable of cleaning its own house, and that the Prime Minister's Office should take the lead in reviewing such matters as methods of procuring defense equipment.It is time drastic reforms were carried out to sever the cozy ties between the ministry and the defense industry. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2007-11-29	YOSHIN0020071129e3bt000fg
YOMSHI0020071130e3bu00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071130e3bu00002	EN	\N	Don't summon witnesses just to sling mud	We are seriously concerned about the way the DPJ has handled the summoning of Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga.	4	2007-11-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The upper house's Financial Affairs Committee voted Tuesday to summon Nukaga as a sworn witness Monday by a majority vote of the opposition parties and with the absence of the ruling parties--the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.After the decision, the Japanese Communist Party said it was a mistake to have voted to summon him. Similar sentiments were echoed within the People's New Party.In spite of this, the DPJ said it would follow through on its demand to bring Nukaga before the upper house committee.Under Article 62 of the Constitution, each house is allowed to call a sworn witness to testify as a part of investigations related to the government. Perjury is punishable by up to 10 years in prison under the Diet Testimony Law.DPJ breaking with traditionFor as long as sworn witnesses have been called to the Diet, it has been customary for it to be done through a unanimous vote in one of the houses, to prevent the action from being used arbitrarily and because it could compromise the human rights of sworn witnesses.The upper house's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee initially endorsed--by a majority of votes from the opposition parties and with the absence of the ruling parties--to summon former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya on Nov. 15. Later, the upper house panel held another vote to make Moriya's summoning unanimous, out of respect to the long-standing custom.Despite this, the DPJ is sticking to its guns in summoning Nukaga, even if it means breaking with custom. The party apparently intends to use Nukaga's testimony for partisan interests.We have to say that the DPJ's numerical superiority in the upper house appears to be making the party lose its head.The issue involving Nukaga surfaced when Moriya, while testifying before the upper house committee, said Nukaga had been present at a dinner attended by Moriya and a former  Yamada Corp. executive, among others. The finance minister categorically denied this and presented his schedule for the day that the dinner meeting took place, as well as the testimony of one of those at the dinner who said Nukaga was not there.No connection with scandalThere is no connection between the issue of whether Nukaga attended the dinner and the scandals regarding the Defense Ministry's procurement of defense equipment. It is therefore questionable for the upper house panel to go as far as summoning Nukaga simply over his alleged attendance at the dinner."[Whether Nukaga attended the dinner] is not an issue, but there is suspected collusion between politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen," DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa said. If what Ozawa said constitutes the reasons behind summoning Nukaga, the DPJ is summoning him for summoning's sake and not because of any specific suspicions of wrongdoing by the finance minister.There have been calls within the LDP to summon Ozawa in connection with the receipt of political donations amounting to \\6 million between 1995 and 2006 from  Yamada Corp. by two of Ozawa's political organizations. Ozawa said he returned all the money, but LDP members say Ozawa's mere receipt of the donations from Yamada provides a justifiable reason to summon the DPJ leader.The ruling parties have an overwhelming majority in the lower house. If the summoning of witnesses through a majority vote becomes the norm, the two houses could end up summoning sworn witnesses whenever they feel like it. If this happens, it would rightly be called mudslinging, and the Diet would rightly face criticism for shirking its responsibilities.Summoning witnesses must never be used as a tool for political mudslinging.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2007-11-30	YOSHIN0020071130e3bu000f7
YOMSHI0020071201e3c100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071201e3c100001	EN	\N	A step forward in funds transparency issue	This is a step in the right direction to help increase clarity in the muddy links between politics and money and enhance transparency on how political funds are used. To eradicate public distrust in politics, the Political Funds Control Law must be revised during the current extraordinary Diet session to incorporate this agreement.	4	2007-12-01	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The parties also agreed to establish a third-party organization to go through political funds reports with a fine-toothed comb.A spate of scandals involving inappropriate handling of expenses by political offices of lawmakers from both camps, including cabinet ministers, have surfaced since late last year. Scandals that sullied the reputations of LDP members were one key factor for the party's miserable defeat in July's House of Councillors election.Members of many local assemblies are now obliged to attach receipts for all expenses of \\1 or more when reporting their policy research expenses. The move to revise the law by Diet members came rather belatedly.The parties agreed that receipts for expenses of more than \\10,000 will be attached to political funds reports to be submitted to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry and prefectural election administration boards. Receipts for expenses of \\10,000 or less will be kept by lawmakers' political organizations for disclosure upon request. This course of action will be applied to 2008 political funds reports to be submitted in 2009.LDP's change of heartThe LDP had been rather reluctant to set the line for disclosure of expenses at \\1, saying this would lead to ballooning administrative costs. However, the party eventually warmed to the idea because having political organizations store receipts for meager expenses will keep the lid on administrative costs.Even so, the number of officials at the ministry needed to oversee political funds reports will inevitably increase. Every effort must be made to streamline clerical work to keep such work as copying disclosed receipts to a minimum.The parties agreed to set conditions under which political organizations could refuse disclosure of receipts for expenses of \\10,000 or less. This is because the ruling parties insisted political organizations might not always be able to keep up with a vast number of disclosure requests.But if these conditions enable political organizations to refuse to show these reports when it suits them, the new system will be rendered toothless. Exceptional cases that allow political organizations to refuse to provide information must be kept to a minimum.More work to be doneThe new system will allow disclosed political funds reports to be copied. At present, these reports can only be viewed. In addition, printouts of political funds reports for posting on the Internet will be permitted, which will give the public a better opportunity of monitoring how politicians spend their money.Those matters have been pending for many years. However, a number of issues still need to be addressed.Some lawmakers have several political organizations. These organizations submit their political funds reports separately, which can make unraveling a politician's funding trail an onerous task. More thought needs to be given to the idea of having all organizations attached to a lawmaker present a combined report.The latest agreement is a good example of how the ruling and opposition blocs can reach consensus to compile bills in a divided Diet where the upper house is controlled by the opposition bloc while the ruling camp dominates the House of Representatives.During the current Diet session, the ruling and opposition blocs have cooperated to enact laws that give a leg up to less fortunate members of society, including the revised Minimum Wages Law to increase the minimum wage and the revised Natural Disaster Victims Relief Law.Doggedly maintaining a confrontational approach is not the only option open to political parties. The ruling and opposition blocs must leave no stone unturned as they seek agreement on other bills.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2007-12-01	YOSHIN0020071201e3c1000gx
YOMSHI0020071202e3c200002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071202e3c200002	EN	\N	Japan-China relations looking up on surface	To all appearances, Japan and China have taken a first step toward crafting a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship.	4	2007-12-02	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Komura and Yang agreed to designate 2008 as a year for advancing Japan-China relations, as next year marks the 30th anniversary of the Japan-China Peace and Amity Treaty. They agreed that both countries should strive to achieve tangible results for the good of both sides, including mutual visits of their respective leaders.However, efforts to formulate a mutually beneficial relationship will not produce results overnight.For example, the bilateral foreign ministerial talks produced no progress in the dispute over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea--the most pressing matter between the two nations. The two ministers could only agree to keep working to resolve the issue before a planned visit by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to China.Not all plain sailingProspects for a breakthrough remain murky because both sides are unbending in their stances on the sea border demarcation issue. This matter directly impacts on sovereignty rights for the rich marine resources in the area. China is adhering to a national strategy to secure resources that will support its economic development. Accordingly, negotiations over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea look set to be bumpy to say the least.The foreign ministers agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on security issues. However, this also is easier said than done.China is rapidly becoming a military superpower. Its navy is focusing on developing a blue-water fleet capable of projecting power far afield. In 2004, a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine entered Japanese territorial waters.The greatest concern of Japan and its ally, the United States, is the possibility that China's moves to expand its reach could have far-reaching implications for East Asia's security.Building a strategic, mutually beneficial Japan-China relationship on the security front will require both sides to untangle several crucial problems.Komura and Yang agreed the two nations will press North Korea to disable its nuclear facilities for the sake of peace and stability in East Asia. However, Tokyo's threat perception of North Korea's nuclear program bears little resemblance to that felt by Beijing. The issue is of crucial significance to Japan's national security, yet not necessarily so for China.Problems at homeThe international community also needs to somehow get China involved in the post-Kyoto Protocol framework, as the nation is one of the largest emitters of gases that cause global warming.To take the relationship to the next level, Japan and China must cooperate on these issues to produce visible results.Japan and China often find themselves competing, or even in direct confrontation, on a number of issues. This is not easily avoided, given the differences in national strategies. Unexpected friction and tension can arise at any time, so it is vital to retain channels for strategic dialogue.With the nation's political structure being turned on its head when the opposition parties secured a majority in the House of Councillors in July, the Fukuda Cabinet does not have the wherewithal to easily make decisions that affect matters of state. In these circumstances, Japan's position tends to lose some clout.Building a stable political framework at home is essential for proceeding with strategic dialogue based on Japan's national interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2007-12-02	YOSHIN0020071202e3c2000ah
YOMSHI0020071203e3c300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071203e3c300001	EN	\N	Predatory sales driven by collusive credit firms	The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has submitted to the subcommittee of the ministry's Council on Industrial Structure a draft report to revise the Installment Sales Law. It is aimed mainly at making clear the responsibility of credit firms and introducing regulatory measures, including penalties. The ministry plans to present the bill to the ordinary Diet session next year.	4	2007-12-03	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is critically important to give the highest priority to preventing the kind of damage that is caused by fraudulent business practices and to create a framework for credit contracts that can reassure consumers.The number of complaints about credit contracts filed with public consumer affairs centers nationwide was more than 120,000 in fiscal 2006.Notable were cases of people burdened with debts they could not repay by manipulative sales pitches and promises that "You can make as many credit contracts as you like" and "You have only to repay a small amount each month." More than a few people took out multiple loans.Close links to sellersSeven major credit firms have been found to have had business ties with 180 dubious merchants that had received administrative punishment, including being ordered to suspend business. In the case of Kyoto-based kimono store chain Takeuchi, whose hard-sell tactics came to light when the business failed in 2006, credit firm employees were on standby at kimono exhibitions and concluded credit contracts with consumers there. We cannot help but suspect that the major credit firms are working in collusion with firms using dubious sales tactics.The draft bill to revise the law includes the creation of a business registry system for credit firms dealing with installment payment contracts. It requires them to examine vendors and prevent the signing of contracts with consumers beyond their ability to repay. It also empowers central and prefectural governments to investigate and inspect such firms and impose administrative punishment.In addition, the draft bill makes it possible for victims of fraudulent business practices to recoup money already paid to credit firms.Protecting consumersUnder the current law, even if the victims cancel their contracts with the seller, credit contracts remain in effect. They only become immune from obligation to repay the loan after the contracts are canceled. If they receive a refund of money already paid to credit firms, these companies would be forced to break their business ties with dishonest firms, which could lead to the prevention of fraudulent business practices.However, the ministry envisages cases in which victims can get refunds from credit firms only when it is clear that salespeople lied or were too aggressive in pushing their products on to consumers.There still are many problems to be discussed concerning whether specified cases would be included in the relief measures. They are cases of excessive sales of futon and health appliances, cases in which salespeople disappeared afterward or consumers were found to suffer dementia and did not have the capability to make proper judgments.It also is necessary to set criteria to restrict firms from making loans that are beyond consumers' ability to repay. One idea is to limit the total amount of loans or the annual payments to a certain portion of consumers' annual income and to require credit firms to confirm whether their customers exceed the criteria.The problems concerning consumers also cannot be overlooked. There are cases in which consumers' lives were wrecked due to burden of their debts after purchasing kimono and jewelry priced at more than \\10 million, far beyond their annual income. Consumers should recognize the limits on their ability to repay loans and not be tempted by offers of so-called easy credit.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2007-12-03	YOSHIN0020071203e3c3000bc
YOMSHI0020071204e3c400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071204e3c400001	EN	\N	Defense procurement must be more open	On Monday, an expert committee studying ways to reform the ministry held its first meeting. In February, the panel is scheduled to put together an interim report addressing three points at issue, including how to ensure the transparency of the ministry's equipment procurement system. The two other issues are how to make sure the principle of civilian control is strictly defended by the Self-Defense Forces and preserving the confidentiality of defense-related information.	4	2007-12-04	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the past, the ministry was rocked by such scandals as bid-rigging at the initiative of Defense Facilities Administration Agency officials and the leak of information about an Aegis-equipped destroyer by SDF personnel.The newly established panel is overseen by Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and other top officials at the Prime Minister's Office are reportedly determined to take the initiative in reforming the ministry. This seems to reflect their decision that the ministry should no longer be left to its own devices in this respect.Investigations into Moriya's case revealed that he was extravagantly wined and dined and invited to golf outings by  Yamada Corp., a trading house specializing in the import of defense-related equipment.Massive sum of money spentThe ministry purchases equipment worth more than 2 trillion yen each year. Procurement contracts closed by the ministry at its discretion accounted in value for 86 percent of all such agreements reached in fiscal 2006.Weapons and other defense-related products are manufactured by only a few corporations. This means it is difficult for the ministry to ensure procurement contracts are signed through competitive bidding. For years, the ministry has been allowed to buy products manufactured by domestic corporations despite their relatively high prices. This has been intended, in part, to protect the domestic defense industry.Reforming the ministry's equipment procurement system will require more frequent use of competitive bidding to select firms to supply the SDF. To curtail the cost of equipment procurement, it will also be essential to review the current rule favoring domestically manufactured products over imports.Meanwhile, it is necessary to somewhat relax the nation's three rules on arms exports, which have long served to shut the domestic defense industry out of overseas markets. Ending restrictions on arms exports may include allowing domestic corporations to develop defense-related equipment jointly with foreign companies.Trading houses specializing in the import of defense equipment play a role in the ministry's procurement from foreign countries. This method is peculiar to this country. Australia, Britain and Germany buy products directly from overseas manufacturers. The Defense Ministry has fewer personnel in charge of procurement than their overseas counterparts. The ministry has long needed to rely on information collected by trading houses and their network of personal contacts.Ministry insufficiently vigilantThis left the ministry vulnerable to the sorts of business practices employed by Yamada. The latest scandal shows the ministry was unable to detect a massive slush fund kept by the defense contractor and bill padding by the company.Admittedly, it may be unrealistic for the ministry to immediately start buying products directly from foreign makers, instead of relying on trading houses, as circumstances stand today. However, the ministry should try to gradually reduce its dependence on trading houses, for example, by increasing the number of officials responsible for procurement-related clerical work and producing more personnel in charge of such procedures.The expert panel's decision to emphasize the principle of civilian control reflects its concern about a recent scandal involving a Maritime Self-Defense Force section chief assigned to work related to the MSDF's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. It has been found that he failed to notify his immediate superiors and relevant Defense Ministry departments, despite noticing an error in an announcement concerning the amount of fuel provided for U.S. vessels.Ensuring there is no repeat of such a scandal requires senior ministry officials known as sebiro-gumi (suits) and SDF personnel called seifuku-gumi (uniformed members) to keep each other informed about their opinions. With this in mind, we suggest the ministry and the SDF create more organizations in which both civilian officials and uniformed personnel work together.A qualitative and quantitative increase in personnel exchanges between the ministry and the SDF can also be expected to cultivate talented senior officials in both organizations.Efforts to better protect the confidentiality of defense information call for educating about 270,000 ministry officials and SDF personnel and changing their mental attitude toward their duty in this respect. This must be complemented by taking various steps to achieve that goal.We hope the expert committee will discuss how to shore up the Defense Ministry from various points of view.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	852	2007-12-04	YOSHIN0020071204e3c4000n3
YOMSHI0020071205e3c500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071205e3c500001	EN	\N	OECD education survey must prompt changes	According to results of the Program for International Student Assessment conducted last year by the OECD, Japan, among 57 nations and territories that participated in the test, dropped from second to sixth place in scientific literacy, compared with the previous survey conducted in 2003. The nation also dropped from sixth to 10th in mathematical literacy, and from 14th to 15th in reading.	4	2007-12-05	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When the nation's ranking dropped from the top to sixth in mathematics in the previous survey, Education, Science and Technology Ministry officials said the nation was still one of the best in the world in this subject. This time, despite the rank dropping further, ministry officials still say the nation is among those that score higher than the average of OECD member nations.In science, the nation fell for behind some other nations not only in ranking but also in scores. Finland topped the ranking with a score of 563 points, 32 points higher than Japan's 531. But the ministry maintains that the nation is still among the top-ranked group, citing such reasons as an increased number of participating nations.Officials lacking sense of crisisWe must say that despite the drop in scientific and mathematical literacy, officials lack the sense of crisis it should engender.The results on scientific literacy indicated that Japanese schoolchildren are not good at providing scientific explanations of various phenomena or scientifically analyzing issues.An attitude survey conducted together with the academic survey found that many Japanese students do not consider scientific study valuable or enjoyable. Students said they also feel there are few teachers who attach importance to making presentations or having debates during science classes and who are able to explain or teach the links between science and daily life.According to a ministry school survey, students majoring in engineering and related fields at university account for about 17 percent of all university students, nearly three percentage points lower than a decade ago. Students' tendency not to take science-related or math courses has thus become a serious problem.Cram-free education to blameWhen the latest OECD survey results are taken into account, concerns arise over the future of the nation as a scientific and technological powerhouse. Schools therefore should take innovative measures to interest students in science.The 6,000 or so first-year Japanese high school students who participated in the OECD survey have been taught under the existing school curriculum guidelines aimed at "cram-free education" since they were in the sixth grade of primary school.The Central Council for Education, an advisory panel to the education minister, which is discussing new guidelines, has proposed in its interim report that class hours for major subjects be increased by more than 10 percent and that time for so-called comprehensive studies be reduced. The proposals were made after it was decided that the cram-free education policy caused a decline in the academic abilities of schoolchildren. The panel is expected to compile a final report on the guideline changes in January.A finding in the previous OECD survey that the reading ability of Japanese schoolchildren was declining led authorities to review the cram-free education policy. The latest OECD survey has shed light on declining levels of scientific and mathematical literacy. The government must urgently compile new curriculum guidelines that include detailed measures such as an improvement in teaching methods.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2007-12-05	YOSHIN0020071205e3c5000mh
YOMSHI0020071206e3c600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071206e3c600001	EN	\N	Time we rediscovered flu masks' effectiveness	According to statistics on flu patients released by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Tuesday, about 4,700 medical institutions reported to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases that 7,162 people came down with flu during the week through Nov. 25. That means 1.53 patients per institution had flu, surpassing the benchmark of one patient per institution used to declare the beginning of the flu season.	4	2007-12-06	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The season came in the 47th week of the year, a few weeks earlier than the average year.The number of flu patients has increased markedly in Hokkaido, as well as in the Kanto and Kansai regions.The overwhelming majority of flu patients are aged between 5 and 9. By Nov. 30, the number of schools that suspended classes due to the prevalence of flu had exceeded 300.We have seen sudden drops in temperature and had a spell of dry days so far this winter--meteorological conditions that facilitate the spread of flu viruses.Few immune to A-type flu strainExperts have turned their attention to the fact that flu infections this time have been caused by the Soviet-type A virus, which was not prevalent in the last five or six years. This means that most young children, who make up the vast majority of flu patients, are not immune to this type of virus.Every year, about 10 million people in Japan become afflicted with flu, with more than 10,000 patients, mostly elderly people and babies and infants, dying. This disease should never be taken lightly.Gargling and hand-washing are the basics of preventing infection. Vaccination can prevent infection or lessen the severity of symptoms.The influenza epidemic usually peaks between January and March. During the year-end and New Year's holidays, in particular, adults and children alike broaden their sphere of activities, increasing their chances of being infected. One cannot be too careful in preventing flu infection.In addition to preventing infection, it is important not to spread the virus when one is infected.The influenza virus can spread--at a speed of more than 100 kph--when a patient coughs.If droplet viral infection--the most common route of infection--is prevented, a flu epidemic can be contained.Face masks are effective in lessening the chances of droplet infection. About half of Japanese people wear masks after they get a cold, according to a study. We hope more people become aware of this and wear masks to prevent infection.'Coughing etiquette' neededFlu patients easily become the source of infection if their symptoms are light as they cough while going about their everyday business. One estimate indicates that one patient spreads the flu virus to two to three persons on average.It is feared that a new type of influenza will emerge. An infectious disease specialist even called for the stockpiling of masks--seen as the last resort for preventing infection--as it will be impossible to isolate all patients who come down with a new type of influenza. It is estimated that stockpiling masks would cost several hundred million yen.In its comprehensive measures against a flu epidemic, the ministry adopted the catchphrase "Don't spread influenza--spread an example of proper etiquette when coughing." The ministry calls on people to "urge those who are coughing to wear masks," among other countermeasures.We hope more people become aware of the importance of preventing coughing from spreading the flu virus.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2007-12-06	YOSHIN0020071206e3c6000fy
YOMSHI0020071206e3c70000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071206e3c70000g	EN	\N	OPEC sent wrong message to oil market	But this move may have sent a wrong message to the oil market.	4	2007-12-07	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Before the meeting, many observers predicted the organization would decide to increase output by about 500,000 barrels per day. The market grew expectant that OPEC would agree to hike production to deal with excessively high crude oil prices.With such anticipations, crude oil prices, which were nearing 100 dollars a barrel, dropped to below 90 dollars a barrel, and OPEC apparently lost its motivations to increase output due to this recent price drop.Crude oil prices after the Wednesday meeting did not fluctuate significantly, reflecting a wait-and-see attitude. Some predict prices will stay at current levels for a while. But others say prices will again approach 100 dollars a barrel as the market believes that OPEC views the price of 90 dollars a barrel as acceptable.Speculations have big swayEven at the current level, high crude oil prices are a destabilizing factor for the global economy and has greatly affected the Japanese economy.OPEC plans to hold another extraordinary general meeting in February. At that meeting, OPEC should decide to raise output in order to meet expectations of oil consuming countries that seek lowered oil prices.During the latest OPEC meeting, so-called moderate members, such as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, reportedly proposed an increase in output. Iran and other countries that prefer high oil prices appear to have opposed the idea, leading the organization not to boost production.The oil market is greatly affected by speculative money coming from the financial sector. Of the current price of about 90 dollars a barrel, it is estimated 30 dollars to 40 dollars of that is pushed by money speculation.With this in mind, some analysts say a production hike would little change oil prices. However, OPEC members account for about 40 percent of global crude oil production and about 70 percent of world crude oil reserves. This means speculative market players cannot afford to treat OPEC moves lightly.Both sides can benefitAfter two oil crises in the 1970s, crude oil prices skyrocketed from about 2 dollars a barrel to around 30 dollars a barrel. Against this development, many oil consuming countries started trying to save energy and seek out alternative energy sources. This in turn sent oil prices down to around 10 dollars a barrel and hurt OPEC nations.However, emerging economies such as China and India have changed the situation. Their strong need for oil has pushed up prices, and speculative money has accelerated this price increase. Such circumstances apparently encouraged OPEC to maintain its bully position.The outlook of the current situation, which could be described as an "oil bubble," is uncertain. OPEC must come up with a flexible production strategy that keeps price stability in mind.OPEC members must know that such a strategy will benefit both themselves and oil consuming countries.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 7, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	519	2007-12-07	YOSHIN0020071207e3c7000ia
YOMSHI0020071208e3c800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071208e3c800001	EN	\N	Openness on executions a welcome change	We believe the government should not hesitate to reveal such details on executions that have been carried out in accordance with the law by this nation.	4	2007-12-08	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Commenting on the ministry's decision to publicize the names of the executed inmates, Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama said, "It's necessary for [bereaved families of] crime victims and the public to know and understand if capital punishment is carried out properly and solemnly."The ministry apparently made this decision out of consideration for the victims, both dead and alive, of the crimes committed by executed inmates, and the victims' families. Disclosing the executed inmates' names also fits in with the trend toward greater information disclosure in recent years.Previously, the ministry had not immediately revealed even the fact that some convicts had been executed. Instead, it only listed in an annual report the number of people executed each year.The ministry had defended the practice by saying it needed to consider the mental anguish that executions would cause for the convicts' families and other death row inmates.From 1998, however, the ministry started publicizing the number of executions soon after the sentences were carried out. Media organizations have, on their own accord, traced and reported the names of inmates put to death.Public supports death penaltyIn a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll in December last year, 80 percent of respondents said the death penalty should be maintained or that they "somewhat" support the continuation of capital punishment. Many people apparently believe the death penalty serves as a deterrent to heinous crimes to some extent.As long as society supports capital punishment, it would only be natural for the ministry to reveal the facts about the execution of inmates.Some U.S. states that have the death penalty release the names of executed inmates on Web sites or through other channels.After the lay judge system, which will be applied for trials of serious crimes, starts in the spring of 2009, ordinary people--together with judges--will have to decide whether a defendant should be condemned to death.Doubts may arise about the lay judge system if information on executions is kept secret, even as citizens are set to participate in determining whether a death penalty should be handed down in specific cases. Perhaps the ministry also had this concern in mind when it changed tack and revealed the names of the three men put to death Friday.Death row getting longerAccording to the Criminal Procedure Code, the death penalty is carried out at the order of the justice minister.However, Hatoyama once commented: "I wonder if there's a way to automatically proceed with the execution [of death row inmates] without the involvement of the justice minister."The death penalty is the ultimate punishment. That is the very reason an execution order signed by the justice minister--who wields the overriding responsibility for judicial administration--is required to carry out an execution. We must say Hatoyama's remarks were inappropriate.The Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that the justice minister should give an execution order within six months after a death penalty has been finalized. But, in practice, it takes an average of seven years until an execution is carried out. As a result, the number of inmates waiting on death row has increased to 104.We hope the ministry's decision to reveal the names of executed inmates will give momentum to debate about how this nation should run its capital punishment system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2007-12-08	YOSHIN0020071208e3c8000g1
YOMSHI0020071210e3c900002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071210e3c900002	EN	\N	Tough line needed on premium-diverting firms	A bill on exceptional payment measures for employees' pension premiums was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives. The bill, which aims to help people left out of pocket due to their employers' dishonesty, likely will be passed into law during the current extraordinary Diet session. We think this measure should be taken to galvanize trust in the public pension system.	4	2007-12-09	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A third-party panel set up by the Internal Affairs and Telecommunications Ministry to confirm pension records has been swamped with complaints from people who claim they have no record of paying pension premiums, even though the premiums were deducted from their salaries.The Social Insurance Agency is not solely at fault for the plethora of missing pension records. About 10,000 complaints relating to employees' pensions have been filed. But in half of these cases, the finger is being pointed at companies whose operators did not pay the pension premiums to the government, but instead pocketed this money and frittered it away as operating funds for their businesses.Many victims still in darkMany people are possibly unaware that their premiums have been diverted by such malicious operators. From mid-December, the SIA will begin sending pension records to all the 100 million people enrolled in the pension system. This process will run until October next year. Many cases of embezzlement of pension premiums by crooked business operators may come to light. Taking measures to prepare for such an eventuality is the proper course of action.According to the bill, when companies refuse to pay their employees' pension premiums, the government will provide the payments and guarantee that the employees will receive pension benefits when their working days are over.The government will later charge the companies or business proprietors for the premiums it paid on their behalf. Even if problematic companies go bankrupt, the government would be able to file lawsuits against former owners and other officials to reclaim the money owed to the state. The state of pension premium collection will be reported to the Diet every six months.As long as tax money is used to cover unpaid pension premiums, strict action must be taken to ensure malicious business proprietors do not gain any undue profit through their refusal to pay employees' pension premiums.Govt also at faultSome people felt the government should not ride to the rescue even in cases where companies are to blame for missing pension records. However, it would be difficult for employees to recover the right to receive pension benefits by themselves if problem companies had gone bankrupt by the time they noticed their premiums had been misdirected.In its 2006 report on administrative policy evaluations, the ministry said more than 600,000 companies had not joined the employees' pension scheme despite being required to do so. The ministry criticized the SIA's instruction about the scheme to these companies as being too lenient. These factors suggest part of the blame rests with the government.Work to recover and correct pension records is proceeding with difficulty. The third-party panel has received a total of 29,000 complaints, but it has finished examining only 869 cases, or about 3 percent of the total. It will be extremely difficult for the panel to catch up with the mounting pile of complaints.The passage of the bill into law would facilitate the recognition of about 5,000 cases to be covered by the legislation. If the government is serious about dispelling public distrust in the pension system, more effort should be made to speed up work to untangle the pension record mess.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2007-12-09	YOSHIN0020071210e3c90009q
YOMSHI0020071211e3cb00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071211e3cb00001	EN	\N	Nanjing Incident merits deeper discussion, study	On Dec. 13, 1937, when the Imperial Japanese Army occupied Nanjing, the then capital of China, a great many Chinese citizens became victims of the occupation.	4	2007-12-11	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Nanjing on Thursday, the anniversary of the fall of Nanjing, the Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre will reopen after completing a two-year large-scale expansion project. At the same time, a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the event will be held.Japan-China relations have improved thanks to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China last year and the visit paid to Japan in April by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. China has been avoiding blatant criticism of Japan, out of apparent consideration for the changing situation. China did not make any negative comments even when the Defense Agency was upgraded to a ministry in January.At present, 70 years after the event, the Nanjing Incident is not on the bilateral political agenda.However, there still is a deeply rooted anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese public. Surfing China-based Web sites reveals anti-Japanese opinions being expressed by Chinese youth across the country.Taught to hate?Since the mid-1990s the Chinese government has been reinforcing its anti-Japan patriotic education. At many memorial halls to the war of resistance against Japan in China, including the Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, the exhibitions and sizes of the halls have been repeatedly expanded.At the same time, the Chinese government has repeatedly announced its view that patriotic education is for developing a sense of citizenship in young people for the future and that there is no anti-Japanese education. If that is true, there may be many things that China has to rethink.At war of resistance memorial halls throughout the nation, photos and other materials that emphasize brutal acts by the Imperial Japanese Army have been displayed. It has been revealed by reexaminations of the incident by Japanese scholars that these exhibitions include quite a few fabricated photos made and used by the then ruling Chinese Nationalist Party for its resistance war campaign.A suprapartisan association of Diet members formed to ask China to remove unfair photos from such memorial halls was launched in June and has already started its activities. The Japanese government, too, should urge China to review such exhibitions as they may invite misunderstanding.Dispute over numbersThe Chinese government's official tally of victims of the Nanjing Incident has not been revised from 300,000.Indeed, when the Japanese forces wiped out the remaining Chinese soldiers hiding in the city, many executions and violence against civilians obviously took place, according to records and testimonies from the time.However, there are theories that the number of victims was about 40,000 and that only a fraction of those deaths were murders that violated international law.Recently, even some Chinese scholars say scholarly debate should be deepened on the number of victims. Such a flexible stance has been aired even in China.The Nanjing Incident is an important area for bilateral joint studies on history conducted by Japanese and Chinese historians. It is necessary for Japan and China to jointly proceed with empirical research toward the final report to be compiled next year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2007-12-11	YOSHIN0020071211e3cb000h9
YOMSHI0020071212e3cc00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071212e3cc00001	EN	\N	Putin looking to pull the strings	In a surprise statement carried on state TV Monday, Putin threw his weight behind the 42-year-old Medvedev as the ruling United Russia party's candidate for the March 2 presidential election.	4	2007-12-12	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Putin enjoys enormous popularity and power, as demonstrated by his success in earning United Russia a sweeping victory in a recent parliamentary election. His endorsement for Medvedev is seen as a guarantee of the first deputy premier's election as Russia's next president.There has been speculation that if Putin remains a significant power figure in his successor's government, the Kremlin is unlikely to make a major change in its policies toward Japan, including its stance on the long-standing territorial dispute over the four Russian-occupied northern territories. As circumstances stand today, Tokyo should sit back and closely watch how Russia's domestic politics unfold.Opting for loyaltyPutin's support for Medvedev as his ruling party's candidate for the presidential race shows, first and foremost, that the latter has been singled out as a successor who will listen meekly to the former.Putin hopes to remain an influential figure among Kremlin factions even after his tenure as president expires in May. Given this, he had every reason to believe that the most desirable successor would be someone who would stay loyal to him. Medvedev was the perfect choice in that he long served as Putin's closest aide.There probably were other motives for Putin's decision to handpick Medvedev as his successor.For some months, there has been an intense power struggle among Kremlin factions. The strife among Kremlin leaders originally from security- and defense-related authorities appeared to be too intense for Putin to contain.Kremlin factions are believed to have supported their respective favorites as Putin's successor, including Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and Sergey Ivanov, another first deputy prime minister.If he had picked anyone from among these leaders, Putin would have been unable to restrain the power struggle among those factions. His endorsement of Medvedev--a figure who is at arm's length from these groups--may have reflected such concerns held by the president.Policy continuity expectedMedvedev has emphasized the importance of progress in democratization. He has also said his economic policy will seek to promote a market economy. All this has given the United States and European nations cause to regard him as a relatively liberal figure in the Putin administration. Still, it may be premature to welcome without reservation Putin's support for Medvedev as his successor.Since taking office in 2000, Putin has strived to expand the Russian economy by taking advantage of his nation's abundant energy resources. He has also sought to project his country as a superpower in his dealings with other nations.Observers believe Medvedev will stand by Putin's policies--at least, in the short- and medium-term. For years, Medvedev--also board chairman of the natural gas giant  Gazprom--has spearheaded Russia's diplomatic efforts to exploit its energy resources. There appears to be common ground between Putin and Medvedev in their pursuit of making Russia a great power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 12, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2007-12-12	YOSHIN0020071212e3cc000g0
YOMSHI0020071213e3cd00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071213e3cd00001	EN	\N	Fed rate cut no quick fix for turmoil in markets	The U.S. Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday cut its target for the federal funds rate, the benchmark for short-term interest rates, by 0.25 percentage point to 4.25 percent. It was the Fed's third straight rate cut since September.	4	2007-12-13	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a statement, the Fed pointed out: "Economic growth is slowing, reflecting the intensification of the housing correction and some softening in business and consumer spending. Moreover, strains in financial markets have increased in recent weeks." The U.S. central bank also voiced concerns over prices, saying, "Some inflation risks remain," due to such factors as rising crude oil prices.Markets unimpressedThe Fed's monetary policy operation is in a tough situation as it must simultaneously try to bolster the slowing economy while keeping a lid on inflation. By setting the margin of the rate cut at a quarter point, the Fed apparently hoped to ease credit concerns in the markets and damp down price increases while sustaining the economy.But stock markets reacted unfavorably to the Fed's move. The Dow Jones industrial average at the New York Stock Exchange plunged nearly 300 points Tuesday.Tokyo and many other Asian markets also saw huge drops Wednesday. As many market players had expected a half-point cut, disappointment with the modest reduction led to the sell-off of many issues.Ahead of the Fed rate cut, the U.S. government last week compiled a bailout plan for subprime loan borrowers. The plan calls for freezing for five years low interest rates on subprime loans taken out by about 1.2 million borrowers that are due to rise next year and after. But it is not clear how many borrowers actually will benefit from the plan, and observers say its effects will be limited.It is important for the U.S. government and the central bank to work in concert in respect of the subprime problem. But their recent moves came rather late. All effective measures must be implemented to resolve the subprime problem.If the current turmoil does not settle down, the Fed likely will be forced to come up with a further measure.Central banks must cooperateMany worrisome factors remain for market players. Leading Swiss bank  UBS recently announced that it will write down about \\1.1 trillion on subprime loan-related losses. Meanwhile, subprime losses chalked up by leading U.S. and European financial institutions amount to about \\8 trillion so far. Such losses are likely to increase in the new year.Christmas shopping in the United States this year has been lackluster as the deteriorating housing market has cooled individual consumption. If the real economy in the United States slows down, it will have an adverse effect on the economies of Japan and other countries.Obviously, it will take time to stabilize the roiled financial markets.The Fed on Wednesday agreed with the European Central Bank and three other central banks to cooperate in providing funds for the financial markets. Monetary authorities of leading countries, including the Bank of Japan, must work together more closely and maintain vigilance over the markets.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 13, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2007-12-13	YOSHIN0020071214e3cd000hm
YOMSHI0020071214e3ce0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071214e3ce0000c	EN	\N	Defense Ministry needs to put house in order	A Maritime Self-Defense Force lieutenant commander belonging to the Yokosuka Naval Base was arrested Thursday in connection with the leak of information on MSDF Aegis-equipped destroyers.	4	2007-12-14	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	He is suspected to have violated the Law Concerning the Protection of Secrets for the Japan-U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement. It is the first time the law has been invoked since its enforcement in 1954.The leak has created a feeling of distrust from the United States, causing it to question the advisability of sharing defense-related information with Japan.The Defense Ministry must put its house in order by rectifying its lax organizational nature.U.S.-developed Aegis destroyers play a central role in Japan's missile defense. The lieutenant commander leaked a computer file containing crucial data classified as top secret.Security problems rifeThe spread of the information leaks--as discovered through investigations by the Kanagawa prefectural police and the MSDF's Criminal Investigation Command--show how carelessly classified information has been handled.The lieutenant commander received a compact disc containing a computer file of top-secret information from one of his superiors before he was dispatched to the United States for a training course for top-ranking officers assigned to Aegis destroyers.Soon after attending the course, he allegedly sent the file to another lieutenant commander who was a chief instructor at the MSDF's First Service School in Etajima, Hiroshima Prefecture, at the request of the instructor. They had just attended the same course in the United States.This action led to the leakage, as the file containing top-secret information was copied and ended up in the hands of instructors and students at the First Service School who were not authorized to have access to such secrets. The information also was leaked to crew members of destroyers to which students at the school were transferred. As their colleagues copied various files and shared them with each other, information on the Aegis missile defense system also was exchanged and disseminated.The Yokosuka Naval Base lieutenant commander's action of carelessly handling classified information should be strictly condemned.Information management within the First Service School and on destroyers is extremely poor. Instructors at the school have told investigators that they thought the information could be used as teaching materials for students. Did they ever think about the risk of the information being leaked outside the MSDF?Bad for Japan-U.S. tiesThe information leakage came to light in January when the Kanagawa prefectural police searched the homes of a petty officer second class in connection with a visa violation by his Chinese wife.It is utterly astonishing that a rank-and-file petty officer had on his personal computer's hard drive information on Aegis destroyers, which the United States makes great efforts to keep secret.Last year, another scandal surfaced after secret materials about destroyers were leaked onto the Internet from a private computer belonging to a crew member of a destroyer. It is questionable if the MSDF has instructed its members on the basics of information control. Blame also should be placed on top MSDF officials for having failed to supervise subordinates.The U.S. government is demanding that Japan take thorough measures to prevent any more information leaks. The U.S. Congress reportedly is not endorsing the export of state-of-the-art F-22 fighter jets partly out of fear that the advanced technology used in F-22s could be leaked to other nations via Japan.A panel of experts on reforming the Defense Ministry has started discussing the establishment of a system to protect information. It is hoped that the panel will come up with measures to make the ministry an organization more security conscious while maintaining solid morale.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 14, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2007-12-14	YOSHIN0020071214e3ce001bk
YOMSHI0020071215e3cf00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071215e3cf00001	EN	\N	A troubling position on 'comfort women'	The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning Japan over the "comfort women" issue. The resolution calls for the government to apologize, saying the Imperial armed forces coerced young women in Asia to work as "sex slaves" before and during World War II.	4	2007-12-15	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest development resembles the resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives over the comfort women issue in July. This matter has now spilled over to Europe. The parliaments of Canada and the Netherlands also have adopted similar resolutions.However, interest in the comfort women issue has not necessarily been high in Europe. The European Parliament's resolution was advocated by the minor Green Party and fewer than 10 percent of the members of the parliament were present for the vote.Moves behind the scenesHowever, Amnesty International, an international human rights organization, has organized hearings of former comfort women, including Dutch women, at various places, and is lobbying many governments to adopt resolutions on the issue. Anti-Japanese organizations with ties to China and South Korea are orchestrating such moves behind the scenes.When Japan controlled Indonesia during World War II after ousting the Dutch military, detained Dutch women were taken by Japanese soldiers and forced to become comfort women against their will. However, Japanese military headquarters in Jakarta closed down the comfort station immediately after learning of the incident, and released the women.This was indeed an unfortunate incident, but the story provides "counterevidence" that refutes allegations that the Japanese military systematically coercively recruited women into sexual service.Officers and soldiers involved in the incident were sentenced as Class-B and Class-C war criminals by a war tribunal in the Netherlands after the war.The German military had more than 500 "comfort stations" in East Europe and other occupied areas, yet we rarely hear a peep about this. A number of documents verify this fact, including a report by an official of the Catholic Church to the pope, saying Nazis took Jewish women to serve as prostitutes for German soldiers.Kono statement to blameThe Green Party that advocated the adoption of the latest resolution has many German members. We wonder if they intend to keep silent over what happened in their own country many years ago.One reason why Japan has been repeatedly dragged over the coals regarding the comfort women issue is the 1993 statement issued by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono. The statement suggested that Japanese officials systematically and coercively recruited women to be comfort women.However, there is not one single document or a shred of evidence that substantiates this. Nobuo Ishihara, deputy chief cabinet secretary at that time, later said the Kono statement was issued to deflect pressure from South Korea, which had been pressing Japan to acknowledge it had carted off comfort women.The government must review the Kono statement, which has become a source of misunderstanding in the international community.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 15, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	529	2007-12-15	YOSHIN0020071215e3cf000fe
YOMSHI0020071216e3cg00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071216e3cg00001	EN	\N	Bali climate agreement still has a few holes	After nearly two weeks of talks, delegates adopted the "Bali Roadmap," which sets the agenda and schedule for negotiations on a post-Kyoto Protocol framework after it expires in 2012. They also agreed to complete negotiations for a new global pact to cut carbon emissions by 2009.	4	2007-12-16	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The issue of whether to include specific numerical goals for greenhouse gas emissions cuts in the road map was a lightning rod at the conference.In an attempt to involve the United States in a post-Kyoto pact framework, Japan insisted numerical targets should not be included at this point. This stance won out in the end in Bali.At any rate, now is a crucial time to build a solid foundation for future discussions. In that regard, the Bali conference can be considered as something of a success.EU-U.S. compromiseThe conference become bogged down by a proposal submitted by Indonesia, which chaired the conference, that included the goal of cutting developed nations' greenhouse emissions by between 25 percent and 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.The United States, which has rejected the Kyoto accord and scoffed at calls for mandatory reductions, bristled at this proposal. In contrast, the European Union tenaciously pushed for numerical goals to be set.With neither side showing any sign of buckling, the Bali conference was in danger of ending with nothing to show for its efforts.But after marathon negotiations, the numerical goal was removed from the text after the EU softened its stance. However, the United States and the EU likely will be sparring again when negotiations resume.Above all else, the creation of a new framework must have the participation of all major greenhouse gas emitters. We should not repeat the shortcomings of the Kyoto Protocol, which failed to include China, India and the United States.China must do moreChina is urging developed nations to make further emission reductions and, at the same time, is pushing those countries to provide technologies that cut greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, Beijing has rejected any attempt to make China accept mandatory emission reductions.China's position is causing some furrowed brows, as it is believed to be on track to eclipse the United States as the world's largest carbon dioxide emitter. China has a heavy responsibility to reduce its emissions.It is touch-and-go whether Japan will achieve the target set by the Kyoto Protocol. With future negotiations likely to be touchy, Japan also will be walking a tightrope between the United States and the EU at post-Kyoto pact discussions.The next big stage will be the summit meeting of the Group of Eight developed nations at the Lake Toya hot-spring resort in Hokkaido in July.As chair, Japan needs to coordinate the interests of participating nations. Japan also must craft its strategy before the summit meeting. The clock is ticking.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	542	2007-12-16	YOSHIN0020071216e3cg0009e
YOMSHI0020071217e3ch00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071217e3ch00001	EN	\N	Declining confidence must not derail recovery	The Bank of Japan's Short-Term Economic Survey of Enterprises, commonly known as the Tankan survey, showed that business confidence among major Japanese manufacturers deteriorated in the October-December quarter from the previous quarter, the first drop in three quarters. According to the survey, the diffusion index for large manufacturers dropped by four points from the previous survey.	4	2007-12-17	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Business sentiment of operators deteriorated due to a rise in prices of such raw materials as crude oil, and concern over a slowdown in the U.S. economy triggered by the banking crisis related to defaults on subprime mortgage loans for low-income earners. A sharp decline in the number of housing starts with the enactment of the revised Building Standards Law also had a negative effect on business confidence.The diffusion index for large nonmanufacturers had already deteriorated due to a slowdown in domestic demand, but the latest survey shows the index has dropped further. Business sentiment among small and midsize companies remains low.There is concern that the business sector, which has been supporting the domestic economic recovery, will lose momentum.Consumers less confidentThe downward trend in business confidence also is clear in the household sector.According to the consumer confidence survey by the Cabinet Office, the consumer confidence index in November fell three points from October to 39.8, the lowest level in about four years. Also in the economy watchers survey by the Cabinet Office, the index indicating current economic conditions in November fell 2.7 points from the previous month to 38.8, the lowest level in 4! years.Following the rise in crude oil and grain prices, prices of essential commodities, such as gasoline and food, have been increasing in succession.On the other hand, wages are rising very slowly. Consumers may not feel confident about their future living conditions. But fortunately, in both corporate and household sectors, real economic activities maintain their underlying strength.Performance still improvingCompanies' production continues to increase slowly and exports are climbing. The Tankan survey said capital investment is rising. Personal consumption, though lacking vigor, is not declining. Consumer spending per household for the three months up until October exceeded that of the same period in the previous year.If such a firm trend can be maintained without being threatened by the deteriorating confidence of business operators and consumers, the economic recovery should be sustained.When consumers hold off on purchases, companies hold back on production, which leads to declining business performances.As a result, business operators are further discouraged and capital investment stagnates. Later, the influence spreads to employment levels. Such a vicious circle should be avoided.How will the future performance of the U.S. economy influence the world economy and the exports of domestic companies, and change corporate behavior? How will the trends in commodity prices and wages affect consumption? It is increasingly necessary for the government and the central bank to carefully watch the sentiments of companies and consumers.The international financial markets have taken a long-term hit from the subprime mortgage loan problem. The first priority must be to assure the sustainability of the economic recovery. Further raises in interest rates by the central bank may be difficult for the present.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 17, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2007-12-17	YOSHIN0020071217e3ch000ax
YOMSHI0020071218e3ci00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071218e3ci00001	EN	\N	Mutual ties solid despite U.S. base budget row	Japan and the United States have reached agreement on the so-called sympathy budget for Japan's host-nation financial support of U.S. military forces stationed in this country.The accord is likely satisfactory to both sides, with the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance taken into account. Under the deal, the current special agreement, which stipulates funding for personnel expenses of Japanese employees at U.S. bases and utility costs related to the official duties of the U.S. forces and is due to expire at the end of March, will be extended by three years, with the money allocated for utility costs set to be reduced by a total of 800 million yen. As this fiscal year's sympathy budget stood at 217.3 billion yen, the planned reduction is quite small.	4	2007-12-18	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The costs of maintaining U.S. forces in Japan may involve a zero-sum relationship under which gains for one side are losses for the other side. If the issue were mishandled, it could have serious consequences for the two nations comparable to their past confrontations over economic and trade issues.Providing host-nation financial support is indispensible for maintaining the security alliance with the United States and to ensure peace and security in Japan and Asia as a whole. The two nations shared a common understanding that it would not be in best interests for both sides if reduction in costs totaling billions of yen, as Japan initially demanded, caused friction in overall bilateral relations.Talks didn't undermine trustAlthough the recent negotiations were tough, the two nations settled the issue while maintaining mutual trust.The sympathy budget, which was introduced in fiscal 1978, peaked in fiscal 1999 and has been declining since then.During the negotiations, Japan demanded drastic cuts in the financial support it provides such as the phasing out of utility costs totaling 25.3 billion yen. Japan's demand was driven by the nation's severe fiscal conditions. Despite that, the nation shoulders about 75 percent of costs for U.S. forces in Japan, more than 30 percentage points higher than South Korea, Germany and Italy, which also host the U.S. military in their nations.The United States strongly demanded the current budget level be maintained. The U.S. defense-related budget now totals more than $600 billion annually with spending on the Iraq war and the war against terrorism included. The amount is more than twice that under the previous administration. U.S. officials also took a tough stance in the negotiations because they were apparently displeased by the suspension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean.Speak with one voiceDuring the negotiations, the Japanese side seemed to be in disarray as the Finance Ministry and the Defense Ministry pushed for reductions while the Foreign Ministry was sensitive to the importance of Japan-U.S. relations. Similar problems were seen in the negotiations over the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan as well. Government officials should form a united front prior to negotiations of this kind.It is a matter of course for the government to seek to cut waste in the budget by regarding nothing as sacred, including utility costs of the U.S. forces and personnel expenses of Japanese employees working at U.S. bases.Apart from the accord reached, the government is in talks with a union representing Japanese employees working at U.S. bases. The government aims to abolish special allowances for those Japanese employees--a bonus of 10 percent on top of their basic pay--saying that the system is outdated.If personnel costs are reduced, it will mark the first such cut implemented. The overall amount of the sympathy budget may be reduced further.Regarding U.S. forces stationed in Japan, a number of issues have yet to be resolved in light of realignment of U.S. bases such as the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station and the planned transfer of 8,000 U.S. marines from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam. By settling one issue after another, the nation should deepen the alliance with the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 18, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2007-12-18	YOSHIN0020071218e3ci000fz
YOMSHI0020071219e3cj00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071219e3cj00001	EN	\N	Moriya's acceptance of cash must be decried	On Tuesday, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office served a fresh arrest warrant on him in connection with the bribery case. Its special investigation squad believes Moriya received about 3.6 million yen in bribes from Motonobu Miyazaki--a former Yamada executive who is already being tried on separate charges--while serving as administrative vice defense minister. The cash in question comes on top of the bribes allegedly accepted by Moriya, raising the total to about 7.5 million yen.	4	2007-12-19	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It should be noted that serving as administrative vice defense minister means overseeing the conduct of Self-Defense Forces personnel under the Self-Defense Forces Ethics Law. It is extremely surprising to see that Moriya accepted cash despite his obligation to ensure that the SDF code of ethics was respected.Four former administrative vice ministers, including Moriya, have been arrested for receiving bribes while in office. He is the second to be accused of accepting cash in return for favors, following Nobuharu Okamitsu of the then Health and Welfare Ministry. When Okamitsu was arrested, Moriya was already on the way to becoming a top official at the then Defense Agency.Rot spreads from top downDidn't Moriya learn anything from Okamitsu's arrest?The Okamitsu case served as a trigger for the establishment of the National Public Service Ethics Law and the Self-Defense Forces Ethics Law in 1999. Both laws took effect the following year. When the two laws went into effect, Moriya was director general of the Defense Agency's secretariat, meaning it was his responsibility to ensure that every SDF member was aware of and abided by the SDF ethics law and relevant regulations.Establishing strict rules on the conduct of government employees does not guarantee each ministry and agency will be free from corruption. It all boils down to the question of whether each government employee is truly determined to stay clear of corrupt practices. If an administrative vice minister is corrupt, it is difficult for his or her ministry to ensure all officials in the ministry develop a strong sense of ethics.There are other suspicions surrounding Moriya. It has been found that more than 6 million yen of questionable money was sent to bank accounts held in the names of his relatives. He is also found to have been entertained through more than 300 one-day golf outings.In his sworn testimony, Moriya told the House of Representatives he paid "10,000 yen in fees" every time he played golf with the Yamada executive. It has been determined, however, that he never made any such payments. This means he lied to the Diet, the highest organ of state power.Prosecutors should uncover the whole truth behind his extraordinary collusion with the defense contracting firm. If the Diet files a complaint against him for perjury, the prosecutors must waste no time in acting to prove his guilt.The cash claimed to be a bribe by prosecutors in serving a fresh arrest warrant on Moriya comes from a slush fund created through Yamada's U.S. subsidiary. The pooled money totals at least 300 million yen. Suspicions around this money must also be cleared up.Ministry must clean houseSome other questions also must be explored in the Moriya case. Was he alone in having collusive ties with private corporations? Did any politicians receive money from the slush fund?Prosecutors should try to get an overall picture of the rights and interests involved in the purchase of defense-related equipment.Efforts by prosecutors to investigate the Moriya case should be complemented by steps to correct the Defense Ministry's proneness to corruption. A new expert panel established under the initiative of the Prime Minister's Office should put together a drastic reform plan as soon as possible. Once finalized, a plan drawn up for that purpose must be immediately translated into action.The ministry is carrying out an in-house investigation into relations between officials ranked higher than section manager and corporations that have ties with them. If the ministry clears up the cause of its proneness to corruption and comes up with measures to ensure there is no repeat of the Moriya scandal, it would serve as an initial step toward restoring the public's trust in the ministry.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 19, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	771	2007-12-19	YOSHIN0020071219e3cj000gc
YOMSHI0020071220e3ck00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071220e3ck00001	EN	\N	How will Lee change ROK policy on DPRK?	The presidential election in South Korea was held Wednesday amid simmering dissatisfaction and deepening concerns about the country's deteriorating economy, and the points of contention concerned mostly economic issues.	4	2007-12-20	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Against this backdrop, Lee Myung Bak of the opposition Grand National Party scored a landslide victory because of high expectations shared by voters of all ages about his business and administrative management capabilities, which he displayed as chief executive officer of a major construction company and as mayor of Seoul.Lee also was propelled to victory by disillusionment and resentment among voters against the failure of the administration of President Roh Moo-hyun, who was often the butt of criticism for employing what were dismissed as "amateurish" political style.With the election focused on economic issues, North Korean issues did not emerge as a major point of contention. Nonetheless, the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, now under threat from nuclear weapons, is an important task on the security agenda for the new administration to tackle.Aid plan should be reviewedFor Japan, it is a matter of the utmost interest to see how the change of administration in South Korea will change Seoul's policies toward Pyongyang.South Korea's conservative camp has been criticizing the "sunshine policy" since its adoption by Roh's predecessor, Kim Dae Jung, saying it is too conciliatory toward North Korea.The conservative camp also opposed the increased scope of assistance provided to North Korea under the Roh administration, saying aid was given without prudence or principles. The conservative camp, for its part, puts importance on human rights issues related to North Korea.Its position corresponds with the concerns of Japan, which has doubts about the ongoing conciliatory stance taken by the South Korean administration.In his campaign pledge, Lee said he would provide large-scale economic assistance together with the international community to North Korea on condition that the nation abandon the development of nuclear weapons.But how exactly he intends to go about persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear development program remains unclear. Realistically speaking, the country has no option but to press North Korea to scrap its nuclear development program through the six-party talks. The chances of a settlement of the North Korean nuclear issue will recede if South Korea provides large-scale economic assistance outside the six-party talks framework.From this viewpoint, it may be necessary for South Korea to reconsider its policies regarding the provision of assistance to North Korea, including the large-scale economic aid agreed upon between Roh and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during their summit in October.Tokyo, Seoul must talk soonLee has presented a grand vision to raise the nation's economic growth from the current 4-5 percent per annum to more than 7 percent, per capita annual income from $18,000 (about \\2 million) to $40,000 and the world ranking of its economy in terms of size from the current 13th position to seventh--all in the next 10 years.The president-elect also must tackle a myriad of important domestic tasks, including raising his country's birthrate, which is even lower than Japan's, and the forthcoming arrival in earnest of a graying society.During the last stretch of the presidential election, Lee saw a scandal resurface over suspicions that he was involved in a stock price manipulation case in connection with an investment consultancy company. The Lee administration will be shaken if the scandal develops into something that harms its credibility.Japan and South Korea share common challenges in coordinating security policies and concluding a free trade agreement, although the two nations have differing perceptions about their past.The government should conduct constructive discussions as soon as possible on those pending issues with the new South Korean administration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 20, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2007-12-20	YOSHIN0020071220e3ck000fh
YOMSHI0020071221e3cl00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071221e3cl00001	EN	\N	Missile defense needs Japan-U.S. teamwork	It is hoped that Japan's missile defense network will become effective through repeated exercises and technological verifications that are scheduled to be carried out before it becomes operational next month.	4	2007-12-21	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korea has deployed more than 200 Rodong missiles, which have a range covering the entire Japanese archipelago, but Japan has no antimissle measures in place.When the Kongo returns to its home port at the MSDF's base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan will have an established two-tier missile defense system comprising the SM-3 as well as PAC-3 surface-to-air guided missiles, the deployment of which began at the Air Self-Defense Force's Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture.By the end of fiscal 2010, SM-3s will be carried by four Aegis destroyers, including the Kongo, and PAC-3s will be deployed at 16 air defense and other units around major cities.Needless to say, the missile defense system is not perfect yet.Denial and punishmentMilitarily speaking, deterrence has two meanings: "deterrence by punishment," with retaliatory attacks on an enemy, and "deterrence by denial," with attacks designed to disable and reduce the offensive capabilities of an enemy. Deterrence by denial through the missile defense system will only become more effective only when it is combined with the U.S. military's deterrence by punishment.In this respect, the importance of deterrence by the U.S. military will not change.To effectively operate the missile defense system, it is of crucial importance to have close coordination between Japan and the United States based on their alliance. This is because Japan depends on intelligence gathered by U.S. spy and early warning satellites to detect signs of ballistic missile launches or to confirm the firing of missiles.It has been pointed out that communications and information transmissions between Japan and the United States, as well as between the MSDF and ASDF, were insufficient when North Korea test-fired several missiles in July 2006.In Japan, the U.S. military deploys several Aegis-equipped destroyers with SM-3s, and has PAC-3s placed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture. It is necessary for the two nations to establish a system to divide tasks involving missile defense and to share information through joint exercises.Costly, but importantThe Japanese and U.S. governments are now jointly developing an advanced version of the SM-3 with completion set for fiscal 2014.These new SM-3s will be able to deal with Taepodong missiles, which have a longer range than Rodong missiles, and ballistic missiles with decoys.As it stands, the missile defense program is estimated to cost between \\800 billion and \\1 trillion.Should Japan decide to deploy the advanced version of SM-3s in addition to the current ones, the cost of missile defense will be inflated to the extent that it will affect other defense-related budgets. Japan, therefore, must carefully study the cost effectiveness of its missile defense weaponry to deploy a balanced defense system.If it acts in line with the government's constitutional interpretation that the nation cannot exercise the right to collective self-defense, Japan will not be allowed to fire antiballistic missiles, even if radar detects a missile heading for the U.S. mainland.The current SM-3s are not technologically capable of intercepting a missile heading for the United States, but it is possible that advanced SM-3s could. We wonder if Japan will stand idle and watch a missile heading for its ally pass by, despite having the ability to intercept it.If it understands the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance, the government should of course change its interpretation of the Constitution and expedite the establishment of procedures to enable Japan to fire antiballistic missiles.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 21, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2007-12-21	YOSHIN0020071221e3cl000fr
YOMSHI0020071222e3cm00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071222e3cm00001	EN	\N	Govt mustn't shy from streamlining IAIs	Six entities--including the National Institute of Multimedia Education, and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, will be abolished or privatized, and 16 organizations, mostly research institutions, will be merged into six bodies. Doing so will slash the number of IAIs by 16.	4	2007-12-22	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The plan will be endorsed at a Cabinet meeting Monday.Decisions on whether the Urban Renaissance Agency and the Japan Housing Finance Agency should be privatized--key points in this round of streamlining--have been postponed for three years and two years, respectively.However, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has not shown an inkling of strong leadership on this issue.Grandstanding by Yoshimi Watanabe, the state minister for administrative reform, also was a fly in the ointment of attempts to coordinate the streamlining of those organizations.Watanabe regularly made grandiose remarks on TV programs and other occasions and adopted a hard-nosed attitude in negotiations with ministers, provoking resentment among the ministries that have jurisdiction over the IAIs.In spite of all this, the draft plan included detailed streamlining measures such as reviews of 222 items of clerical work and certain projects (65 percent of all such work), reduction of the personnel and stripping some workers of public servant status. The draft plan also called for assets held by those entities, including housing complexes for their workers, to be sold off.Still work to be doneThe plan was the end result of the Herculean task to check into the necessity of each kind of clerical work.Across-the-board measures that affect all IAIs also were adopted. The percentage of discretionary contracts awarded by those entities will be cut from 48 percent to 14 percent on a monetary basis in parallel with the proportion of such contracts awarded by the central government.Under the draft plan, competitive bids by public and private corporations will be introduced for contracts from 20 such organizations in 29 projects.Salaries at those entities will be trimmed by reducing the wages of some of the top-earners to the level of or below that of administrative vice ministers.But this does not mean the revamp of those entities is a done deal.The government's Headquarters for the Promotion of Administrative Reform must ensure reforms are being implemented to prevent the ministries from watering down the streamlining plan for entities under their jurisdiction. The government also must knuckle down to the task of reviewing the latest plan for additional reforms.Fat must be trimmedThe Employment and Human Resources Development Organization of Japan, which may be abolished within a year, "should specialize in occupational training programs that are not available in the private sector." The Lifelong Human Resources Development Center that is under the jurisdiction of this organization is headed for the scrap heap.Employment subsidies provided by the organization, which have been deemed ineffective, will be discontinued. The draft plan also called for expediting the sales of housing managed by the organization for people who need a place of residence to secure employment.If the plan is carried out properly, the government will probably decide that the organization needs to be abolished. A final decision on the fate of the organization should be made at the initiative of the prime minister.The cozy ties between the IAIs and their affiliated corporations, especially the flow of personnel and funds, also must not be spared from the ax.Many employees at such organizations parachute into cushy postretirement jobs at affiliated corporations, which are contractors of their entities' projects.A Japan Green Resources Agency-orchestrated bid-rigging scandal exposed collusive ties between the agency and affiliated corporations. An eagle eye must be kept on independent administrative entities to ensure they are not bestowing favors in projects in return for those organizations later employing officials of the entities.These reforms are not aimed only at scrapping organizations or downsizing their projects. Special consideration should be given to essential, publicly provided projects, such as services offered by the National Archives of Japan, consultations for consumers offered by the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan and housing leased by the Urban Renaissance Agency for low-income earners.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 22, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	728	2007-12-22	YOSHIN0020071222e3cm000gx
YOMSHI0020071222e3cn0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071222e3cn0000e	EN	\N	Onus on TV stations to watch themselves	The current law stipulates that the internal affairs and communications minister can have the final say on the contents of an NHK program and "order" NHK to broadcast the program overseas. But under the revised law, the minister will only be able to "urge" the public broadcaster to do so. The program content the minister can urge to be aired internationally were limited to those related to important national policies.	4	2007-12-23	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Another key point of contention in the revision of the law was whether a new provision should be established to allow the minister to ask a TV station that aired a problematic program to submit a plan to take preventive measures.This provision was eventually shelved. Ensuring that program production is appropriate has been left up to TV stations themselves.The decision on the minister's power was taken out of consideration of freedom of expression and editorial freedom.However, provisions that could lead to media regulations were not unconditionally deleted or eased.Nevertheless, we should keep an eye on the process for revising the law. A spate of scandals that embroiled commercial TV stations, including one regarding  Kansai Telecasting Corp.'s fabrications in its program "Hakkutsu! Aru Aru Daijiten II" (Encyclopedia of Living), which was brought to light in January, set the revision ball rolling.Bringing laws into lineUnder the current law, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is allowed only to give administrative guidance, such as cautions and warnings. As such, the introduction of administrative punishments, such as an order to improve business operations, in the event of irregularities at TV stations was chewed over during the early stages of the revision process. The Radio Law includes strict punishments, such as suspension of business and rescinding of operating licenses. These tough punishments have never been handed down.Discussion on the introduction of administrative punishment was intended to eliminate a discrepancy in the two laws.Administrative guidance under the Broadcast Law was issued in eight cases in fiscal 2006 and six times in fiscal 2007. Most recently, the ministry rapped the knuckles of TV Asahi for its news program "Hodo Station." In late November, the program aired a clip showing a former female deputy head of a chain store of  McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) wearing a store uniform. TV Asahi had asked her to wear the uniform, even though she had quit the job, while giving an interview and speaking about the falsification of expiry dates of some products sold by the chain.The deceitful use of a stage prop in a flagship news program was faulted for betraying viewers and provoking deep skepticism about TV stations' abilities to ensure they do not overstep the boundaries of what is acceptable.Putting words into actionThe Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO), an independent entity established by NHK and the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan, reorganized in May one of its three committees into a committee tasked with verifying broadcasting ethics. This committee has the authority to investigate programs that cause problems, issue recommendations to TV stations and ask the stations to submit details of preventive measures they undertake.A passage in an additional resolution, which was adopted at the respective internal affairs and communications committees of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, says the committees expect parties involved in this issue, such as the BPO, "to do everything they can to ensure the neutrality, accuracy and autonomy of broadcasting." But so far, the BPO's new committee has only seen fit to discuss one case.If such independent efforts are seen as insufficient, moves to impose stricter media restrictions could find their feet again.TV stations should go the extra mile in their efforts to supervise and police themselves. Anything less would risk losing the confidence of viewers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 23, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2007-12-23	YOSHIN0020071223e3cn000ac
YOMSHI0020071224e3co00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071224e3co00001	EN	\N	Govt must act quickly to help HCV sufferers	The announcement came in an effort to secure a breakthrough with plaintiffs in the ongoing case, and is seen as a political decision to help all HCV sufferers outside the confines of government responsibility for compensation as outlined by the courts.	4	2007-12-24	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Following Fukuda's announcement, the plaintiffs said they viewed the move as "a major step forward," and all concerned may now have found a path toward settling the problem of the drug-induced contraction of the virus.The ruling parties should now thrash out the details of the bill and ensure it is passed into law promptly and with the cooperation of opposition parties.The plaintiffs contracted hepatitis C after being administered with blood products, including fibrinogen, that act as coagulants to stop bleeding following the delivery of babies or during operations. A combined total of about 200 plaintiffs filed lawsuits with five district courts. Four of the five district courts ruled that the government failed to take measures to prevent the virus spreading, and ordered the government to pay the plaintiffs compensation.The out-of-court settlement plan proposed by the Osaka High Court separated plaintiffs into two categories for relief measures--eligible sufferers administered the blood products during the period when state responsibility was acknowledged, and those who are ineligible as they were administered the products outside the designated period.Finding a way forwardThe plaintiffs, who have demanded uniform compensation for all HCV patients, rejected the high court proposal as well as another one offered by Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe, which was based on the high court plan. The health and other relevant ministries maintain the government cannot pay compensation uniformly to all HCV sufferers beyond the framework of state responsibility as defined by judicial authorities.The government is right to say it is difficult to go beyond the judicial framework.With this in mind, Fukuda probably decided the problem was best settled through lawmaker-initiated legislation, rather than have the government exercise leadership outside the judicial framework.Some lawmakers within the ruling parties and all members of opposition parties already have called for uniform compensation for all HCV sufferers. It is possible that government concern over its ebbing support contributed to Fukuda's latest decision.The envisaged bill likely will target every patient able to prove they received tainted blood products. About 1,000 patients are expected to be covered by the bill, including those who have yet to file lawsuits.Much still to doBut many questions remain that need answering, such as to what extent will the government accept responsibility? And how will it decide the amount of compensation? There also may be numerous cases where it is difficult for patients to prove they were administered tainted blood products, as their medical records may have been lost, or for other reasons.Rules must be established swiftly to prevent such problems, by for example agreeing to cover all patients who have a doctor's certificate showing they were administered such blood products.It is essential for a situation to be quickly created to allow plaintiffs suffering from progressive diseases to concentrate on their treatment.Hepatitis also spread as a result of the repeated use of the same immunization needles, and in this case too, the government's failure to take appropriate measures was a major contributing factor.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is promoting measures for the nation's 3.5 million sufferers of viral hepatitis strains. The ministry included in its fiscal 2008 budget 12.9 billion yen in subsidies for treatment of these sufferers with interferon.Measures for tackling hepatitis should not be limited to those suffering from the virus as a result of the tainted blood products. Instead, the government also should promote wider efforts to improve treatment for sufferers and prevent its spread in the first place.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	705	2007-12-24	YOSHIN0020071224e3co00071
YOMSHI0020071225e3cp00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071225e3cp00001	EN	\N	2007 shakes nation's sense of trust	The top 10 domestic news stories as selected by Yomiuri Shimbun readers have highlighted the public's anxiety and its distrust of those in positions of responsibility.	4	2007-12-25	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This year's list contrasts markedly to last year's, which saw three "good news stories" top the list, led by Princess Kiko giving birth to a son, Prince Hisahito.The Kanji character chosen by the Japan kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation for this year was "nise", or false, a word that has undoubtedly passed through many readers' minds this year.The suspension of sales at confectioner  Fujiya Co., and the mislabeling scandal at long-established Akafuku Co., led readers to decide this year's food scandals were the second-biggest domestic story of the year.Ishiya Co., a confectioner in Sapporo that produces and sells "Shiroi Koibito" chocolate cookies, a speciality of Hokkaido, and Senba Kitcho, an Osaka restaurant of upscale restaurant operator Kitcho Group, saw trust in their brands dissipate despite long track records and a proud tradition.But dubious record-keeping was not confined to the nation's foodstuffs.The admission that 50 million pension records could not be identified, an incident that placed third on the readers' list, resulted from the Social Insurance Agency's sloppy record keeping.As things stand, the agency is not able to tell who these records belong to, even though it is in possession of them. Some agency employees compounded the public's distrust when it was revealed they had embezzled pension premiums.Pension debacleThe pension fiasco is one of the major reasons behind the Liberal Democratic Party's crushing defeat in July's House of Councillors election, which allowed the Democratic Party of Japan to become the largest party in the upper house (ranked fourth).The Diet is now divided, with the ruling coalition parties maintaining a majority in the House of Representatives, while the opposition parties control the upper house.The divided Diet led to the resignation as prime minister of Shinzo Abe, who was succeeded by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (ranked first).Abe's resignation shocked many, as he announced it two days after delivering a policy speech in the Diet, and just before he was due to face interpellation by opposition party leaders.Another factor behind the LDP's humiliating defeat, and Abe's subsequent resignation, was the problem of the relationship between politics and money.Former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who had been grilled over his fund-managing organization's dubious use of office expenses, committed suicide without properly accounting for his actions. The incident ranked seventh on the readers' list.Matsuoka's successors also were driven to resign. Norihiko Akagi was dismissed over the dubious use of office expenses, while Takehiko Endo resigned over subsidies illegally received by a farmers' mutual aid association that he headed.Akagi even refused to tell reporters why he had a bandage on his face when responding to questions at a press conference. To many observers, Akagi's attitude was the final straw that broke the back of the LDP's electoral prospects.The victory of former TV personality Sonomanma Higashi (Hideo Higashikokubaru) in the Miyazaki gubernatorial race--number eight on the list--followed the resignation of his predecessor shortly before his arrest over alleged involvement in bid-rigging and bribery cases.This year's top 10 list is unusual because it contains four politics-related stories.But it was not only politicians who did not fulfill their responsibilities, or who provided false explanations to the public.Former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya was arrested over allegations of bribery as he accepted entertainment in the form of golf outings from a defense trader on numerous occasions (ranked fifth).During sworn testimony in the Diet, Moriya said he paid 10,000 yen toward the cost of the entertainment on each occasion, but this was later found to be untrue.In the sporting world, yokozuna Asashoryu was banned from two sumo tournaments after it was revealed that he had played in a charity soccer game in his native Mongolia despite having filed for withdrawal from a local summer sumo training tour (ranked ninth).In late June, 17-year-old sumo wrestler Tokitaizan died after being beaten and kicked by several other wrestlers. Stablemaster Tokitsukaze initially said that the young wrestler and the stablemates involved in the incident were in "regular training."But the stablemaster was dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association after it was revealed that he had hit Tokitaizan with a beer bottle, and required him to spar for 30 minutes before the young wrestler collapsed (ranked 17th).Troubling yearMeanwhile, this year also saw a series of terrible natural disasters.In March, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake registered an intensity of upper 6 on the Japanese scale of 7, and left one person dead (ranked 15th). In July, the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake also with an intensity of upper 6 claimed 15 lives (ranked sixth).In August, the whole country suffered under a heat wave. The mercury hit 40.9 C in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, and Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, breaking a record that had stood for 74 years (ranked 13th).Having already witnessed a series of depressing incidents, the year unfortunately ended with the shooting rampage at a fitness club in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Dec. 14. This story was included as a late addition to the top 10 domestic news stories.But gloomy stories were not the only ones to grab headlines.The Chunichi Dragons won their first Japan Series title in 53 years (ranked 12th). Meanwhile, the Yomiuri Giants grabbed their 31st Central League title and their first pennant in five years (ranked 18th).Boston Red Sox pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima contributed to their team's World Series victory (ranked 19th).Hoping for gold in BeijingBaseball remains persistently popular in this country, as shown by the fact that news of the national baseball team's qualification for the Beijing Olympics next year ranked 50th in our survey, even though this story broke after we started compiling the top stories in our readers' poll.The national baseball team has never captured the Olympic gold, although it did win at the Los Angeles Olympics, back when baseball was only an Olympic demonstration sport."I'm determined to keep providing our fans with dreams and excitement," national team manager Senichi Hoshino said after the team clinched a berth in the Beijing Olympics by beating Taiwan.The sport of baseball, along with softball, will be excluded from the 2012 London Olympics, and it is unclear if it will feature in future Olympic Games. Therefore, it is to be hoped that "Hoshino Japan" will be able to realize the long-cherished dream of taking Olympic gold.Japan earned a record-tying 16 gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics.It is encouraging to see our Olympians perform better than their more burly foreign rivals. If Japanese athletes can get as many medals as expected next year, that would really give the whole country a boost.The New Year will come soon, and everyone is looking forward to receiving New Year's greeting cards from friends. It is to be hoped that delivery of the cards will go smoothly despite the privatization of  Japan Post (ranked 10th).And it is sincerely hoped that next year will be full of bright and encouraging news.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 25, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1263	2007-12-25	YOSHIN0020071225e3cp000am
YOMSHI0020071226e3cq00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071226e3cq00002	EN	\N	Panel's proposals must aid education reform	The Education Rebuilding Council has put together a new report detailing its proposals for education reform, the third of its kind to be issued by the advisory body run under the direct control of the prime minister.	4	2007-12-26	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We hope the panel's recommendations will be reflected in efforts to revise the Education, Science and Technology Ministry's current course of study while also devising a basic educational promotion plan that would detail policy objectives to be pursued by the ministry under the revised Fundamental Law of Education.In its report, the panel renews its call for adding the cultivation of morality to the list of school subjects. The idea follows a similar proposal advanced by the council in its second report. In promoting moral education, the latest report says students would not be graded by scores, and that teachers would not be required to obtain a license to teach the subject. Both primary and middle school students would be taught the subject by their homeroom teachers.Meanwhile, a set of proposals advanced by the Central Council for Education, an advisory panel to the education minister, proposes improving the current teaching system for moral education. However, the proposals do not include a phrase contained in the council's interim report that stressed the need to "continue discussions" on the advisability of giving students moral education as a subject. This means the council is unlikely to propose adding the cultivation of morality to the list of school subjects.Formal school subjects are taught by teachers exclusively licensed to give such courses, using textbooks screened by the education ministry. Students are assessed through numerical standards. The Central Council for Education's decision not to propose moral education as a subject reflects cautious views held by many panel members about using ministry-screened textbooks and grading students by scores.Admittedly, the Education Rebuilding Council differs from the Central Council for Education in this respect. Still, the former panel's call for teaching the cultivation of morality as a subject should be perceived as a strong appeal for the government to improve the current method of promoting moral education.Consensus should be struckNo one would dispute the need to better teach the importance of morality. It is easy to recognize this if one stops to think about the sharp drop in the ages of minors who have committed serious crimes in recent years, combined with a decline in the morality of young people.With the differing opinions of the two panels in mind, the government should reach an internal consensus about the issue by coordinating the views of pertinent officials.What should be used as teaching materials if moral education is set as a subject?The Education Rebuilding Council has said children should be taught to respect other people and love nature by learning about their hometowns and reading tales of great men and women in Japan and the rest of the world, as well as classics and other literature. The panel has also insisted on encouraging students to feel strong emotion toward works of art and culture, as well as sports.We believe teaching materials featuring sports and movies and other forms of enjoyment easily acceptable to young people can be used as good tools for giving students moral education.The Education Rebuilding Council's latest report does not incorporate a plan to adopt an "education voucher" system, a scheme initially studied by the panel as a means of encouraging competition among schools in attracting students. Still, the basic concept of the system remains intact in the report, which proposes assessing individual schools based on the results of their objectives.Adequate funding vitalThe report calls for allowing parents and their children to choose from among different schools. The idea would combine with a plan to give a budget allocation to each school in proportion to the number of its students. All this is designed to raise the quality of each school. The council has said its proposal could be carried out as a model project.There are concerns that the education voucher system could spark excessive competition among schools. It is necessary to carefully determine what could ensue from the proposed system.Alarmed by a decline in the power of Japanese students to apply their scientific and mathematical skills, as shown by the result of a recent international academic ability survey, the report proposes primary schools assign teachers exclusively teaching natural science students in upper grades.The budget for fiscal 2008 incorporates appropriations to increase the number of full-time teachers nationwide by 1,000 and newly hire 7,000 part-time teachers. The plans can be regarded as unusual steps, given belt-tightening measures stipulated in the law on the promotion of administrative reform. The law requires the government to reduce the number of teachers in proportion to a decline in the number of children and students.The budget apparently reflects the government's view that it should not neglect to set aside necessary funds for education-related projects when it considers this nation's future. We believe it may be advisable to use some budgetary appropriations for employing more full-time and part-time teachers to help hire science teachers for primary school students.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	901	2007-12-26	YOSHIN0020071226e3cq000dq
YOMSHI0020071228e3cs00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071228e3cs00002	EN	\N	Strains emerge globally this year	Two problems that affected the global economy significantly have stemmed from a money glut, which represents a kind of strain.	4	2007-12-28	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Crude oil prices rose to the $99 per barrel level in November to hit a record high (ranked 2nd on the list of top international news stories).Against this backdrop is the increasing demand for energy by China and other rapidly growing emerging economies. But the main factor contributing to the skyrocketing oil prices is believed to be the influx of speculative funds, such as investment funds, that have been pumped into the oil market.Surging crude oil prices pushed up the prices of gasoline and kerosene as well as corn, which is used in making bioethanol. This, in turn, had a ripple effect on the prices of grains such as wheat and soybeans, prompting price hikes of such food items as bread and instant noodles.Subprime and China woesOne of the main culprits that shifted surplus money into the crude oil and commodity markets is the problem of subprime housing loans in the United States for low-income earners (ranked 4th).As anxiety over a possible U.S. economic slowdown spread, world stock markets took major hits, sending speculative funds into the oil and other markets.Subprime loans can be paid back only when housing prices go up. Is making light of the risk of an imminent burst in the housing bubble tantamount to creating a strain that made the financial sector lose its way?There can be no denying that the Chinese economy has served as an engine for growth in the global economy. But one phenomenon that symbolized a strain in China's expanding economy became prevalent--worldwide worries over the safety of Chinese products (3rd).Animals died after eating Chinese-made pet food, and harmful substances were found in vegetables, seafood, cosmetics and toys from China. There are now "China free" labels in the United States to indicate the product does not contain ingredients or materials from China.Is China seeing a freewheeling rise of profiteering amid sharp economic growth? We wonder if China will be able to nurture among its people an awareness of product and food safety.Regimes show teethStrains also can become evident in juntas and other heavy-handed regimes or states on the verge of collapse.In September, Myanmar's military regime used force to crush antigovernment demonstrations in its main city of Yangon and other locations (1st). Kenji Nagai, a Japanese videojournalist who was in Yangon to cover protests, was among more than 30 people killed in the armed crackdown.Many Japanese were shocked to see a video grab that showed Nagai being shot at point-blank range by a soldier.In Afghanistan--a country where reconstruction efforts have been stymied, the Taliban abducted in July a group of South Korean church volunteers who were engaged in medical support and other activities (10th). The hostages were later released, except for two men who were were killed by the once-ruling Taliban.The incident stirred renewed debates about how aid to such a region should be provided.In Iraq, there was a spate of terrorist attacks across the nation, although security in limited areas, including Baghdad, improved (12th).In Pakistan, Islamic religious school students and others were holed up in a mosque in Islamabad in July, provoking raids by special military units (17th). Many people were killed in the armed raids.2 Koreas continue danceWhen talking about strained autocratic states, we cannot forget North Korea.In October, negotiators of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear development program adopted a joint document spelling out their agreements that three North Korean nuclear facilities would be disabled and all of Pyongyang's nuclear development programs would be declared (6th). It is said the work to disable the facilities is under way, but North Korea is not likely to meet the deadline for declaring all its nuclear programs by the end of this year, as stipulated in the joint document.In the South Korean presidential race held earlier this month, Lee Myung Bak was elected, and he has called for taking a hard line toward North Korea unlike the administration of outgoing President Roh Moo-hyun.How will Lee review the large-scale aid to North Korea pledged during a summit meeting in October between the heads of South and North Korea (13th), which was held for the first time in seven years? We would like to see how tactfully Lee can deal with North Korea.Leaders changingBritain and France--major powers in the European Union--saw the emergence of new leaders.Nicolas Sarkozy was elected president of France in May, defeating a female Socialist candidate (8th). Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair as British prime minister (14th), and experienced foiled terrorist attacks in his first week (16th).This year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (9th). Gore has been critical of steps taken by the United States and China to counter global warming.The awarding of the prize to them helped boost global concern about environmental issues. But an imbroglio at the meeting this month of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali, Indonesia, showed how difficult it is to find common ground over global warming.This year also saw a series of startling incidents.In April, a South Korean student went on a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech university in the United States, killing 32 people (5th). An interstate bridge in Minnesota collapsed in August, killing a score of people (15th).Strong earthquakes hit Indonesia's Sumatra Island, where a major quake claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people in 2004, this time killing more than 80 people (7th).The U.S. presidential race effectively started (18th), with voting to happen next November. It remains to be seen who will eventually be victorious.The president of the superpower that is the United States wields the greatest influence to clear the fog of uncertainty that is expected to linger for some time. We will keep an unblinking eye on how this election will unfold.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 28, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1091	2007-12-28	YOSHIN0020071228e3cs000d6
YOMSHI0020071229e3ct00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071229e3ct00001	EN	\N	China must fulfill its global responsibilities	During his talks in Beijing on Friday, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda agreed with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders to make the year 2008 "a year in which Japan-China relations take a leap forward."	4	2007-12-29	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Making such a jump will require the two countries to work on specific steps that offer mutual benefits. But the reality is that, at the moment, the leaders have only spoken about such goals.The issue of gas field exploration in the East China Sea epitomizes this situation. Specific measures for jointly developing these fields had been scheduled to be reported to the two countries' leaders in autumn this year.However, Friday's talks gave no suggestion that this issue was close to being settled. At a press conference, Fukuda said he and Wen "shared a firm resolve" to find an early solution to the issue. However, the prime minister failed to show any specific steps that would help untangle this issue sooner rather than later.Securing control over energy resources is a maritime strategy inextricably linked to this country's national security.Easier said than doneThe fact that Tokyo and Beijing have had such trouble reaching agreement on an issue that impinges on national interests exemplifies the difficulties of building a mutually beneficial relationship.By the time Hu visits Japan in spring, the two countries must come up with ideas--including pinpointing areas for joint exploration projects--that will bring about an early resolution of the issue.Climate change will be a key topic on the agenda at the summit meeting of the Group of Eight advanced countries to be held in Hokkaido in July.According to some reports, China's sizzling economic growth has made it the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, eclipsing that of the United States. However, China is reluctant to accept mandatory emissions reductions, despite its calls for developed countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.The prime minister reportedly told Wen that both Japan and China have responsibilities to the global community. This was a veiled call on China to fulfill its responsibilities as a major power.Climate, history issuesDuring the press conference, Wen promised that China would "actively participate in negotiations in a responsible manner and implement various steps earnestly," in reference to the post-Kyoto Protocol framework. We think China should commit itself to joining the post-Kyoto Protocol framework for greenhouse gas reductions to fulfill this international responsibility.Wen also touched on the history issue. "Matters of our bilateral history and Taiwan must be dealt with correctly to enhance the two countries' political foundations," he said. This comment illustrates that as far as China is concerned, the history issue has not faded away and that Beijing wants to wait and see how Japan will handle the issue.The history issue had chilled Japan-China relations in recent years. The government must not make the foolish mistake of allowing the issue to become a festering diplomatic sore again. China, for its part, must change its attitude of pressing its unilateral historical views on Japan.Japan and China have a responsibility to ensure the peace and stability of the Asia region. However, China's opaque military buildup continues unabated, a policy that runs counter to this task. Japan must employ mid- and long-term diplomatic strategies toward China that protect its own national interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2007-12-29	YOSHIN0020071229e3ct0008k
YOMSHI0020071230e3cu00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020071230e3cu00001	EN	\N	Progress being made on helping HCV victims	The bill likely will be submitted to the House of Representatives as a lawmaker-initiated bill as early as Jan. 7. The bill should be enacted into law before the end of the current extraordinary Diet session and compensation should be shared among the hepatitis C sufferers soon after.	4	2007-12-30	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The outline of the bill compiled by a task force of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito states that compensation will be paid to all hepatitis C sufferers able to prove they received tainted blood products such as fibrinogen.The plaintiffs refused a settlement proposed in early December by the Osaka High Court, which limited the range of compensation depending on when the blood products were administered. The plaintiffs rose up in arms, claiming this settlement plan would split the plaintiffs into two categories for relief measures. The outline of the bill went to pains to ensure that the latest plan does not include such a division.The preamble of the bill will state that the government--from the standpoint as a legislative body--should admit its responsibility for failing to prevent the damage from spreading, and offer a sincere apology to the victims. The government plans to release a statement after the bill has passed the Diet.Drugmakers also must pay upFour of the five district courts at which hepatitis C sufferers had filed lawsuits ruled that the state failed to stop the virus from spreading. We think the government should openly admit its responsibility for this mess.Sufferers will be paid compensation of 12 million yen, 20 million yen or 40 million yen, depending on their symptoms. If a victim's condition deteriorates further, the government will pay additional compensation. This is an appropriate measure, given that hepatitis C is a progressive disease.The state and two drug companies that produced the contaminated blood products will set up a fund of 20 billion yen to compensate the victims. The proportion of this amount to be shouldered by the state and the drugmakers remains unsettled. However, since the drug companies have primary responsibility for the occurrence of the drug-induced disease, they should pay their fair share of setting up the fund.About 10,000 people are thought to have been infected by the tainted blood products. About 1,000 people with hepatitis C, which can lead to chronic hepatitis and liver cancer, are likely to be eligible for compensation.Govt had to respondThe plaintiffs and their lawyers were unbending in their appeals for uniform compensation for all hepatitis C sufferers. However, the definition of "all sufferers" was not necessarily as obvious as they perhaps assumed.When the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said the compensation could snowball into an enormous sum unless a clear definition was reached, the plaintiffs and their lawyers clarified for the first time that the number of eligible patients would be about 1,000.Although there were some ambiguities such as the definition of "all sufferers," the despair of the plaintiffs and their legal teams left the government with no choice but to respond.The courts will determine whether each patient is eligible for financial assistance. Unfortunately, discarded medical records and other reasons will hamstring some patients' attempts to prove they were administered a tainted blood product. We hope judgments in these cases will do the right thing and take certifications by doctors and other items of proof into account.The Democratic Party of Japan said the outline of the envisioned bill has its merits because it clarifies the responsibility of the state for this drug-related dispute.In deliberations in the House of Councillors, where the DPJ holds a majority, the largest opposition party should cooperate to ensure the bill is passed quickly.(From the Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 30, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	692	2007-12-30	YOSHIN0020071230e3cu00063
YOMSHI0020080102e3cv00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020080102e3cv00001	EN	\N	DPJ must stop delaying govt's antiterrorism bill	While the DPJ has presented its bill as a proposal for action by Japan in the war against terrorism, its plan will never win support and understanding from the international community.	4	2007-12-31	The Yomiuri Shimbun	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The DPJ initially intended to put off submitting its alternative bill during the current extraordinary Diet session, but changed its policy at the direction of party leader Ichiro Ozawa in an effort to fend off criticism that the party has an irresponsible attitude. The DPJ probably intended to have the upper house debate its bill in parallel with that of the government and postpone the voting on the government's new antiterrorism bill at the upper house.If the government's bill is not voted on by the upper house, the ruling bloc intends to pass it into law via a two-thirds majority vote by the ruling coalition in the House of Representatives in mid-January. If that happens, there is a possibility that the DPJ will claim that the ruling parties forced the bill through the Diet without sufficient deliberations.DPJ's obstruction tacticsBut this would be strange. It is the DPJ that intentionally delayed drafting and submitting its alternative bill. The DPJ should not put off passage of the government's new antiterrorism bill at this stage for parallel debates on the alternative bill or for any other reason.The early resumption of the MSDF's refueling mission is expected by more than 40 countries participating in the war on terrorism as well as five nations that had been receiving fuel from the MSDF--Britain, France, Germany, Pakistan and the United States.In the first place, the contents of the DPJ's bill are very unrealistic and problematic.The DPJ's bill specifies support measures for Japan to take in Afghanistan in two fields. One is to improve security through such measures as disarmament of illegal militia groups and their social integration. Another is to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, such as restoration of roads, water supplies and farmland, and provision of medical services.But the support measures to improve security are almost the same as those for which the Foreign Ministry already has begun to provide financial support. For example, the ministry held an international conference on disbanding militia groups and reintegrating militia members back into civilian society in June in Tokyo.Unrealistic expectationsIn the DPJ's bill, the humanitarian and reconstruction assistance measures will be implemented on condition that a ceasefire agreement has been reached and local residents' livelihoods and safety are not threatened. But in Afghanistan, fighting continues between the Afghan government and the once-ruling Taliban and there has been a spate of terrorist suicide attacks. There is no area in the country that meets such conditions.In the end, the DPJ's bill effectively offers nothing as an alternative to the MSDF's refueling mission that was suspended following the expiration of the Antiterrorism Law on Nov. 1.However, there are noteworthy points in the DPJ's bill. It outlines the basic direction for development of a permanent law to dispatch Self-Defense Forces personnel overseas, while it allows SDF personnel to use arms when doing so is essential for fulfilling their duties.There also are mounting calls within the government and ruling parties to change the criteria for allowing SDF personnel to use arms and for establishment of a permanent law on overseas SDF deployments. If the government's new antiterrorism bill is passed into law, both ruling and opposition parties should seriously discuss these issues and seek common ground.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 31, 2007)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2007-12-31	YOSHIN0020071231e3cv0005s
YOMSHI0020060102e2130000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060102e2130000b	EN	\N	Use wisdom in dealing with aged society	Japan has come to a fork in the road and must choose between two different societies in the future. One path leads to a mature but vital society, and the other to a society whose strength is ebbing away.	4	2006-01-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	No other country has seen its society age so quickly, while its population shrinks. This demographic transition is happening in Japan at an unprecedentedly high speed compared with other countries.Twenty percent of the population is aged 65 or older; the total fertility rate, or the number of children an average woman bears in her lifetime, has fallen to 1.289; and the population aged 14 or under has dropped below 14 percent. The first figure is the highest and the latter the lowest among developed countries.The situations Japan faces now will become clearer if the age-specific demographic structure in 1960 is compared with that of today. The demographic structure of Japan in 1960 was pyramid-shaped, with the vast majority of the population comprising members of younger generations. In this structure, a constant percentage of people born in the same year died of illness or other natural causes as they grew older. The shape of this society shows that it did not yet have adequate medical and welfare systems.In the following year, 1961, health insurance and public pension systems for every citizen went into force. In those days, generous welfare could be provided with a light premium burden because the working population, which sustained the social security system, far outweighed the number of senior citizens.The current demographic structure resembles an oversized head supported by spindly legs.A social system must be built that can support the older generation, and restore the thickness of the demographic foundation.If poor policy measures are taken, Japan will have a demographic composition so unstable as to make it liable to collapse at any time.Over-65s can contribute muchIn the Japanese population, the baby boomers born between 1947 and 1949 and their children, now about 30 years old, constitute two major demographic clumps. The baby boomers have almost reached the age at which they can be described as old. Their children are of child-bearing age.First, the current social security system built based on the pyramid-shaped demographic structure must be reformed before the baby boomers join members of the older generation.In 1960, one senior citizen was supported by 11 people in the working population. But today, only three people in the working population support one senior citizen. In 2025, two people in the working population will have to support one senior citizen.By that time, social security payments will have increased to more than 150 trillion yen or more from about 90 trillion yen at present, according to a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimate.Today, the working population pays for welfare benefits senior citizens receive, in principle. But if this principle, based on the pyramid-shaped demographic structure, is not changed, it will be impossible to maintain the nation's social security system. Society as a whole will have to share the burdens more fairly. Practical discussions should be started immediately with a view toward raising the consumption tax to sustain the social security system.Treating people aged 65 or older as a "dependent" demographic comprising aged, weak members of society is an out-of-date way of thinking from the days of the pyramid-shaped demographic structure.In the coming society, regardless of whether they are young or old, those who need help should be helped properly, while those who still have vitality and wealth should remain in the working population supporting retirees as long as they want.Make it easier to raise kidsThe next 10 years, when children of the baby boomers are still in their 20s and 30s, will be a crucial period to determine if Japan can raise its extremely low fertility rate.Many women fear they will not be able to keep their jobs and raise a family, so they become hesitant to marry or bear children. Reducing working hours, making work schedules more flexible and increasing child care leave are essential to help husbands and wives raise their children.Many couples give up the idea of having more than one child because of their financial condition. Japan lags behind other countries in instituting measures to support families raising children.If it plans to raise the child care allowance, the government should not do so in a piecemeal fashion--it should consider making the allowance worth five figures monthly. It is important to scrutinize policy measures and concentrate limited financial resources on key steps.Japan must not have a society in which parents worry about having children. Parents and children should get along happily. That will make members of future generations feel that they, too, should have children.The beginning of the declining population is a historic turning point for Japan.It is high time that society as a whole looked this problem in the face and decided on ways to cope with it.The steps Japan takes will be route markers for other countries whose populations are also aging. Combining wisdom from every field, Japan must take the path that leads to a mature but vital society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	906	2006-01-03	YOSHIN0020060106e2130001y
YOMSHI0020060104e2150000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060104e2150000e	EN	\N	Leaders must be fostered in an age of decline	The Education, Science and Technology Ministry estimates that the number of students and others wishing to enter university will be equal to the number of university places available in the 2007 academic year.	4	2006-01-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Within a year, the nation will enter an era where all applicants will be able to enter university--at least theoretically.In the 2005 academic year, 160 private universities, or 30 percent of the nationwide total, failed to meet their recruiting targets. There was even a school management failure at Hagi International University in Yamaguchi Prefecture.Just as worrisome is the declining quality of higher education, stemming from unstable school management.If a university suffers a drop in educational or research standards, then its ranking will also fall, making it increasingly difficult for it to recruit a sufficient number of new students.In an attempt to survive, some universities have begun holding entrance examinations that are less difficult to pass, while others are overly dependent on foreign students.If a university cannot keep up its standards, it is inevitable that it will fall by the wayside. Universities are required to differentiate and distinguish themselves in a sound, competitive environment.A country's population can be considered one of its strengths. For Japan, which now has a fast-declining birthrate, it is vital to nurture both researchers who may be able to play an integral part at the cutting edge of their respective fields as well as those students who possess broad-based leadership skills. Only by doing this will the nation be able to maintain its vitality and remain competitive on the international stage.Final report's proposalsIn this sense, we should carefully reread the final report that the National Commission on Educational Reform, an advisory panel to the prime minister, compiled in late 2000.The report criticized the postwar education system's egalitarianism, saying that "a tendency to consider it satisfactory if one student is like another has hindered the evolution of those who could create new values and shape society."The report deemed it necessary "to realize a society that could foster, recognize, and support the leaders that society needs," in fields like politics, economics, the environment, and science and technology.The report did not call for creating an elite echelon through an education system that places too much emphasis on pure knowledge. Nor did the report touch on those politicians and corporate executives who show disdain for rules and morals.What is needed is a reform of the education system at the primary and middle school levels. The university entrance examination system also needs to be modified. These changes are necessary for the nurturing and development of an individual's talent and character. Universities and graduate schools also need to undergo reforms so they are better able to produce a workforce that has both a high level of expertise and a well-rounded education.The final report also proposed that if students were sufficiently able they should be allowed to skip grades and enter university earlier than other students. Such students should also be allowed to enter graduate school when they have completed the majority of their undergraduate course of study, as long as they have received excellent results through their third year. At graduate school they should be allowed to receive their doctorate after three years or more.In last year's entrance examinations, five universities accepted applicants for early admission. Two universities, including Chiba University, accepted a combined total of 10 of these grade-skipping students. This spring, the number of universities that will accept applicants for early admission will rise to six.In the 2003 academic year, 38 universities allowed a combined total of 170 students who had received excellent results through the third year of their undergraduate courses to go on to graduate schools.Need for moral education"People have lost their creative power, their initiative and courage, their endurance, their consideration for other people, and their self-restraint." So reads the National Commission on Educational Reform's final report in describing the state of education in Japan and the image portrayed by Japanese. Five years later, things have hardly changed.We should be aware that education begins at home. Schools should not hesitate in teaching students morals. The final report clearly stated this.In years gone by, when there were many large families and a widespread and rich culture of intra-community interchange, various adults were involved with child-rearing.As the trend toward the nuclear family accelerates, and the time available for contact with children decreases, parents are no longer able to fulfill their obligations to serve as a child's first teacher of life.Home is a place for people to enjoy peace of mind. It is also a place to strictly discipline children. A family has obligations to society to plant a rich sense of humanity in its children. The nation should rebuild family power.Moral education, on the other hand, has long been exposed to attacks from so-called progressive forces, such as the Japan Teachers' Union. It has been the target of ideological disputes, with some saying that it revived the moral education of the prewar years or that it fostered narrow-mindedness.Under Education, Science and Technology Ministry guidelines, students should receive 35 hours of moral education annually. Yet only 80 percent of primary schools and 60 percent of middle schools meet this standard. By improving supplementary reading books, study materials and teaching methods, we should help children develop their self-esteem.Meanwhile, the academic ability of the nation's schoolchildren has declined further from five years ago. Teachers' authority is also in decline. At the root of the call for the creation of teacher training institutions similar to the teacher training colleges of the prewar educational system is the people's apparent longing for a return of dignified teachers with strong leadership skills. Such teachers were common in bygone days, but not now.Efforts to restore power to teachers including not just schoolteachers but university lecturers, are essential if the nation is to produce high-quality leaders and foster a young generation rich in humanity.Teachers need to regain dignityA film titled "Hakase no Aishita Sushiki" will be released later this month. It is based on a novel by Yoko Ogawa about a former mathematics professor who specialized in number theory.In the film the professor is able to retain his memory for only 80 minutes, due to injuries he suffered in a traffic accident. A home-helper and her son, who the mathematician nicknames "Root," learn fascinating aspects of mathematics and its profound nature while they care for the scholar.In the film a mathematics teacher, who is "Root" now grown up, gives his first mathematics class at his first school. This scene is not in the original novel. While talking about his memories of the scholar, his illuminating and interesting class unfolds.As the bell marking the end of class rings, words of thanks spontaneously gush from the students' lips. It is truly a scene that tugs the heartstrings as we witness just what it means to impart knowledge to others.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1227	2006-01-05	YOSHIN0020060106e215000nw
YOMSHI0020060105e2160000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060105e2160000i	EN	\N	Establish new top law for changing times	To tide over years of uncertainty both at home and abroad, it is vital for the country to clearly define an ideal vision of state and society and for the public to share this vision. The establishment of a new constitution is needed to show a vision of what the state and society should be, serving as the guiding principles, and clearly showing the path to follow.	4	2006-01-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Last year when the nation marked the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Liberal Democratic Party formulated an article-by-article draft of a new constitution on the occasion of celebrating its 50th anniversary.The opposition Democratic Party of Japan also released its proposal for constitutional reform.The LDP's ruling coalition partner New Komeito put forward a constitutional revision proposal that added new areas, including environmental and other basic rights.Considering the long years of fruitless discussion on the Constitution since the war, set against a backdrop of confrontation between the conservative and reformist parties, the year 2005 was epoch-making.Yet we should not stand still.According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun poll, more than 60 percent of the public support constitutional reform. This is likely because many people think that the present top law makes it impossible for Japan to deal with changing circumstances. Politics should not lag behind public opinion.To boost reform momentum, it is a matter of urgency that both the DPJ and New Komeito work out their own complete article-by-article drafts of a new constitution. This will make the points at issue clearer, promoting constructive discussion on establishing a new top law.For the moment, a law is needed on a national referendum, which would stipulate the procedures for amending the Constitution.Failure to act unacceptableDespite the fact that Article 96 of the current top law provides for amendment, we are unable to wield our most important sovereign right of amending the Constitution. The legislative branch of government's failure to act over many years is no longer acceptable.The LDP, the DPJ and New Komeito should submit a bill concerning the national referendum to a regular Diet session and get it enacted. Upon its passage, the House of Representatives' Special Committee on the Constitution and the House of Councillors Research Commission on the Constitution should be changed into a standing committee on the top law as soon as possible, which then should start discussing the specifics of a new constitution.There are many points in dispute over a new supreme law.Changes in the regional situation and the international security environment make it urgent for war-renouncing Article 9 to be drastically reviewed.As Foreign Minister Taro Aso has pointed out, China's growing military strength is becoming a threat to regional security.North Korea's nuclear and missile development also poses a grave menace to the safety of Japan. We should not waste any more time in establishing a system to ensure national security.For Japan, a trading country, the peace and stability of the international community is vital. Japan's responsibility to maintain this in cooperation with its ally the United States, will be heavier than ever. While keeping the principle of pacifism, the times require that the Self-Defense Forces be designated in the Constitution as an "army for self-defense," and its role in international peacekeeping also should be spelled out.It is obvious that without having the authority to exercise the right to collective defense, an army for self-defense would be unable to properly do its duty.The LDP's draft of a new constitution has clarified these points, and DPJ President Seiji Maehara is unlikely to contest them. The politicians have a responsibility to draw up specific plans for amending Article 9, overcoming the barriers between the ruling and opposition camps.Foster social responsibilityThe dwindling population, together with the fast-declining birthrate and fast-aging society, will bring about further changes to Japanese society. These changes should not be allowed to undermine the nation's vitality and stability. Presenting an ideal vision of Japanese society is one of the tasks of a new constitution.The disintegration of the family--a basic unit of society--has long been pointed out. Coupled with excessive self-respect and a lack of a sense of obligation and responsibility, family breakdown has caused various social problems recently.Cases of child abuse and domestic violence have been reported more frequently, while juvenile crime also is on the rise. The decline in human relationships has to some extent led to a social tendency of a lack of consideration for others and society.The fast-declining birthrate and fast-aging society are accelerating the trend toward the nuclear family and also increasing the number of single-person households and home alone seniors, making society less stable.It is therefore essential that a new constitution foster a sense of social responsibility and sound ethical and moral principles, based on the importance of society and community.An overreaction to the Personal Information Protection Law has led to situations in which even private information that should be shared by society for public benefit has been "protected." This may cause our society to be more anonymous, undermining the communal nature of a sound society.A new supreme law also should serve as a guideline for dealing with the diverse problems that may arise in line with changes in society.In its reform proposal, the DPJ asserts the need for the "formation of value consciousness as a multilayered community," including individuals, families, the state and the international community. The opposition party also redefines the meaning of "public welfare" as described in the Constitution. Yet the major opposition party does not greatly differ from the LDP's draft on either issue.Looking at what is shared by both the ruling and opposition parties, a new constitution is already in sight. Now that we are about to enter a new era, the need to enact a new top law has become greater than ever.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1058	2006-01-06	YOSHIN0020060109e216000ec
YOMSHI0020060106e2170000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060106e2170000h	EN	\N	Loopholes need closing to stop fraud	Specialists have said the decisive factor in preventing investors from falling prey to such products is the establishment of a law that would impose far-reaching restrictions on the sales of financial products.	4	2006-01-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Financial System Council, an advisory panel to the prime minister, has put together a report that states no time should be wasted in creating such legislation, tentatively called the investment services law.The Financial Services Agency intends to submit a bill drawn up for such a purpose to the upcoming ordinary Diet session. To fully protect investors from fraudulent financial products, the bill should be passed as soon as possible.Stocks and other risk assets that can entail high risks, but produce high returns accounted for a little more than 10 percent of the total amount of financial assets held by individuals in Japan at the end of September, compared with about 50 percent in the United States.The government is working to encourage people to shift the focus of their personal assets management from saving to investment. Efforts to achieve this goal must be complemented by laying down a set of unified rules on investor protection.Scared off by horror storiesIt is feared that a number of individual investors could suffer losses after sinking their money into financial products not covered by the current legislation. Two companies that had business ties with Heisei Denden Co., a Tokyo-based venture that offered low-cost fixed-line telephone services, had collected 49 billion yen from about 19,000 investors before Heisei went bankrupt in October. There are growing concerns that investors may be unable to recover their money.The two companies collected the money through an anonymous association they operated. But the firms disclosed little information about their relations with Heisei because the Securities and Exchange Law imposes no restrictions on fund-raising activities conducted through an anonymous association.Investors must accept a risk of failure. But this risk must be complemented by efforts to ensure companies that collect funds from investors provide them with information about their business operations.The latest report says restrictions must be imposed on all financial products that could eventually cause investors to take losses if and when the amount of their post-investment deposits fell below that of their initially invested money. The report uses catch-all terms in defining the financial products subject to the regulations, instead of naming specific products. This means the law would cover any new financial products that fit the definition. Any companies responsible would receive administrative punishment, including suspended operations, if they sold financial products without explaining to customers the details of the products in precise language.Ministries stymieing reformThe report cites most deposits and insurance policies as financial products not covered by the envisaged law. It only names some financial products, including high-risk derivative deposits and variable life insurances. This is because the banking and insurance industries have strongly objected to greater restrictions being placed on their services.Many financial products subject to the jurisdiction of government ministries other than the FSA are expected to be excluded from the list of products covered by the law. Commodity futures trading is supervised by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry. Fearing the law could undermine their authority, both ministries have said commodity futures trading should never be covered by the legislation.It is disturbing for investors to see that different government departments responsible for supervising financial products have different laws with which to regulate the sales of the products and the disclosure of information by corporations about their operations.In 2000, Britain enacted a financial services market law that covered all financial products. In the forthcoming Diet session, legislators should consider revising the bill on investment services to impose restrictions on a wider range of financial products.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2006-01-07	YOSHIN0020060109e2170012e
YOMSHI0020060107e2180000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060107e2180000d	EN	\N	New diplomatic strategy vital to Japan's survival	The most important challenge facing this country is to deal with the violent changes taking place in East Asia, including China's rapid emergence as an economic and military power. Failure to tackle this task could shake the foundations of the peace and prosperity achieved by Japan over the years.	4	2006-01-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	China is developing deeper economic relations with its neighbors, including Japan, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and also the United States and the European Union through its acceptance of foreign investment and its export drive as a workshop of the world.China's gross domestic product is the sixth largest in the world. However, the country is projected to exceed Japan in GDP in the not-too-distant future, even coming close to the United States in that respect.China threat growingHowever, these favorable circumstances surrounding China are in stark contrast to its approach to international politics and security.China's military spending has seen more than a double-digit increase for 17 consecutive years, a factor that has done much to modernize its military sector and boost its military preparedness. China's neighbors, including Japan, are gravely concerned that its rise as a military power could cause instability in this part of the world.During the East Asia Summit in December, China sought to leave Japan a diplomatic odd man out when it refused to hold a bilateral summit meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, citing his visits to Yasukuni Shrine as a reason.This also was true with China's approach toward U.N. reform. Beijing tried to foil Japan's bid to sit on the U.N. Security Council as a permanent member by exerting diplomatic influence on developing nations to achieve its goal.China's attitude apparently reflects its desire to seize the initiative in establishing an East Asian order, by keeping Japan from gaining a greater voice in the international political arena.The vital question is how to protect the national interests of Japan in relation to political and security issues while also enhancing economic ties with China. With this in mind, this country must strive to devise a long-term strategy for dealing with China.It is important that the international community encourage China to play a constructive role in ensuring peace and prosperity in this part of the world. It will be crucial for Japan to cooperate with major nations surrounding China, including ASEAN member states, Australia, India, New Zealand and Russia, in pursuit of that objective.Earlier, Koizumi said, "The United States is the only country in the world to regard a foreign attack and invasion on Japan as an attack and invasion on itself."He is correct in saying that the Japan-U.S. alliance has always served as a central pillar of this country's peace and security since the beginning of the Cold War. The bilateral alliance has become even more important as Japan's peace and security faces growing threats, including North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs.The rapid changes in the environment surrounding East Asia's peace and security--combined with such new threats as acts of international terrorism following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction--have created a need for a qualitative change in the Japan-U.S. alliance and its further strengthening.U.S. alliance at key stageA final agreement that will likely emerge in March from talks between Tokyo and Washington over the realignment of U.S. forces in this country will mark an important turn of events in efforts to bolster the bilateral alliance.The strategic importance of Japan to the United States will become even greater in that this nation serves as a foothold for the forward deployment of U.S. armed forces that could even cover the arc of instability, which extends from Northeast Asia to the Middle East.To complement the transformation of U.S. forces, Japan and the United States intend to define the role and duty of the Self-Defense Forces in taking concerted action and devising plans for joint operations aimed at dealing with various emergencies. The two nations also will seek to share pertinent information.To confirm the greater depth of their alliance, it may be advisable for the Japanese and U.S. governments to issue a new "Joint Declaration on Security."Efforts to deepen the bilateral alliance require the two countries to improve mutual trust. One of the tasks to be carried out by Japan in this regard is to implement, as soon as possible, a new agreement reached in October between the two nations over the transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.Ten years ago, the Special Action Committee on Okinawa, a bilateral panel studying ways to reduce the U.S. military presence in the prefecture, issued a final report that included an agreement to relocate the Futenma facility.However, the Japanese government has since neglected to take active steps to translate the accord into action. This has fed U.S. distrust in the Japanese government.The foundations of the bilateral alliance will be dealt a blow if the Japanese government fails to rectify this.Peacekeeping efforts crucialGlobal peace is part and parcel of Japan's efforts to survive and prosper as a trading nation. Given this, Japan has every reason to play an active part in the maintenance and creation of international peace.The Ground Self-Defense Force's ongoing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah constitutes part of Japan's efforts to achieve that goal.The government may have good reason to consider withdrawing GSDF personnel from Samawah, with progress being made in establishing a new Iraqi government and British and other multilateral forces set to pull out from the area.However, this does not mean the suspension of Japan's international peacekeeping efforts. Japan needs to use the SDF in the event that an emergency that could threaten international peace erupts in the future.To live up to this obligation, the government should hurriedly work to create permanent legislation for swiftly and smoothly carrying out international peacekeeping activities.Instability in East Asia likely will continue in the foreseeable future. It will be necessary for Japan to play a more active role in resolving problems of regional and global importance.To create an international order desirable for its people, this country should fulfill its responsibility and obligation commensurate with its position in the world.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1148	2006-01-08	YOSHIN0020060109e218001qr
YOMSHI0020060109e21900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060109e21900001	EN	\N	Work hard to make dreams come true	The wave of corporate bankruptcies and downsizing seems to be ebbing. But, crimes and accidents, which disturb the peace and safety of our society, continue to occur. Last year, we saw fatal derailments of Japan Railway trains, abductions and murders of children, falsification of seismic resistance data of condominiums and other unfortunate incidents.	4	2006-01-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Residents of condominiums that were constructed based on falsified seismic data and condemned include many couples in their 30s with small children. They worked hard for more than 10 years--since they were as young as you are--and managed to obtain loans to buy their first homes.Their dreams have been destroyed not only by the disgraced architect and companies concerned, but the practices of the construction industry and administrative authorities supervising them. We must question whether it was appropriate in the first place for the government to entrust blueprint and building inspections to private companies through a wide-ranging policy of deregulation. This is a question that society as a whole must examine.Future issuesYou will face many issues in the future. One of them is the future of public pension plans. Currently, three people in the working generation support one senior citizen. However, due to the population decline, two people of working age will have to support each senior citizen by the time you become 40 years old. As a problem that will directly affect you, please consider how the nation's pension system should be reformed.Wealth disparity is widening in our society. Though everyone was said to be in the middle class before, the Japanese population today is apparently being divided into haves and have-nots, creating inequality in income, employment and education.We are concerned that quite a few young people appear to be discouraged by the widening gap to the extent that they give up their hopes and dreams.Keep hopes aliveIf this is true, we would like to banish such discouraging feeling from our society. We hope you will examine your lives carefully, holding on to your dreams tightly, even if they are small.Some people in your generation have already been capitalizing on their talents, impressing and inspiring us.In the sports world, 20-year-old Ai Miyazato won a record-setting victory in the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament in early December, earning a card for this year's tour. Figure skaters competing for tickets for 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin have also enthralled us.All of them must have worked diligently for years in obscurity before winning fame.We are also surprised by the spectacular debuts and successes of young novelists, actors and actresses.We cannot stop expecting young people to live up to their potential, though all of you will blossom in different forms. We hope you will continue to work hard to make your dreams come true.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	531	2006-01-09	YOSHIN0020060111e219000ms
YOMSHI0020060111e21a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060111e21a00001	EN	\N	Japan should switch to economic offensive	The U.S. economy keeps expanding on the back of brisk consumer spending. Though Japan and Europe still cannot get on track to full-scale, consistent growth, China and India, with huge populations, have continued to record high-growth rates and are about to take their places among the major economic powers.	4	2006-01-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and major private research institutes predicted late last year that the world economy this year would keep expanding, though it might slow down slightly from last year.However, economic risks are increasing, including high crude oil prices and growing imbalances in the global economy, such as the increasing current account deficit of the United States.Housing prices in the United States could be poised to plummet, though they continue to rise for now. Long-term interest rates in the United States, which have been stable thanks to inflows of money from foreign countries, could skyrocket. There could be a major terrorist attack or human outbreak of avian flu. Such incidents would increase risks and harm stable growth of the global economy.In such a situation, however, the Japanese economy would see the end of long-running deflation. The consumer price index in November increased compared to a year ago for the first year-on-year rise since April 1998.Stock prices far exceeded last year's peak at the Tokyo Stock Exchange at the beginning of the new year because investors expected deflation to end and corporate profits to increase.It is high time for the Japanese economy to change to the offensive to unlock the future.The biggest issue for the government at the moment is to pull the nation out of deflation once and for all and to put the nation's economy on track to full-fledged, stable growth with economic plans accurately reflecting business trends, making the nation more risk-resistant as a world economic player.The government also must show clear goals in dealing with mid- and long-term issues such as the progress of fiscal, tax and structural reform plans, and building an economy vital enough to sustain Japan's aging and declining population.In external economic policy, it is important to accelerate establishment of free bilateral, multilateral and regional free trade frameworks.WTO talks in home stretchThe Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations have reached their final stage toward a settlement expected at the end of this year.WTO member nations agreed at December's ministerial meeting in Hong Kong to set April 30 as a deadline to decide on a framework agreement, a requirement if the WTO is to draft a global trade treaty by the end of this year. But many contentious issues were left for a later date, including decisions on detailed formulas for cutting farm tariffs and making exceptions for key agricultural products. Developing countries also remained strongly opposed to the way WTO talks were led by the United States and Europe.It is a source of concern that the global trade order with WTO at its center might collapse and a protectionist trend might prevail throughout the international community if the new round of trade negotiations falls apart and the chance is lost to make new universal trade rules.Japan has so far failed to make any contribution to progress at the WTO negotiations because lawmakers lobbying for the farm industry and agricultural organizations have strongly protested liberalization of the domestic markets for rice and other farm products.Japan was consequently forced to accept disadvantageous conditions since it refused to open the domestic rice market in the Uruguay Round in the early 1990s. The nation will follow in the same footsteps unless the government changes its stance.Cutting individual dealsWhile the Doha Round has faced various challenges, many countries are trying to make bilateral or regional free trade agreements. In Asia, Singapore and Thailand are particularly enthusiastic about making FTAs with countries inside and outside their region.China has already signed an FTA with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and is trying to deepen its trade partnerships with other countries, including South Korea.Another Asian giant, India, has signed bilateral agreements with Chile and Thailand, while it formed the South Asia Free Trade Area with six neighboring countries on Jan. 1.For the last five years, Japan has been working to conclude economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with East Asian countries, which encompass FTAs.However, Tokyo has signed deals only with three countries so far, including an arrangement reached with Malaysia just last month. Japan's unwillingness to open its agricultural market is a factor preventing progress in EPA talks.As a trading country, this nation will face serious problems if it misses out on the global trend of extending networks of bilateral and regional trade pacts in addition to a possible failure of the Doha Round.The government should make any necessary concessions in the trade talks to unfailingly make profits, and Japan must try to work for coprosperity with other countries and areas around the world, including Asian nations, through smooth trading of goods, money and services.Now is the only chance for Japan to switch to a proactive stance with a clear-cut strategy in trade negotiations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	909	2006-01-10	YOSHIN0020060111e21a000ct
YOMSHI0020060110e21b0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060110e21b0000h	EN	\N	Cooperation needed on pluthermal plan	Just as the nation is about to embark on the process of extracting plutonium from spent fuel, the electric power industry has unveiled its plan for the use of plutonium.	4	2006-01-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The plan is a very important one, as the fate of the nation's nuclear fuel cycle--designed to make the most effective use possible of uranium resources--depends upon it.The plan was formulated in response to a call from the Atomic Energy Commission. The governmental panel asked the electric power industry to clarify the specific uses it had planned for plutonium so as not to arouse public misgivings about nuclear fuel. Local governments, including Aomori prefectural government, made the announcement of the plan a prerequisite for test operations at the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant.Under the plan, a composite fuel made of plutonium extracted from spent fuel and uranium will be burned at nuclear power plants in what is called a plutonium-thermal formula. By using this formula, 5.5 tons to 6.5 tons of plutonium extracted from the reprocessing plant will be consumed annually at 16 to 18 nuclear reactors, starting in fiscal 2012.When the reprocessing plant switches from trial to full operation, more than four tons of plutonium will be extracted from spent fuel a year, which will be burned if the plutonium-thermal projects go ahead as planned.Local govts lack understandingThe project, designed to make the most effective use of plutonium obtained as a by-product of generating nuclear power, is the first step in the nuclear fuel cycle and one that it is highly important to implement.But there is a potential barrier to this realization, in that local governments hosting nuclear power plants show little understanding of their benefits. Already, opposition has been voiced against the plan, stemming chiefly from concerns over safety.The loudest opposition has been from Fukushima and Niigata prefectures, where Tokyo Electric Power Co. has nuclear power plants. Because of this opposition, TEPCO alone of 11 electric power companies that have submitted their plans on plutonium use to the commission, was not able to specify which of its nuclear reactors were to be used for the plutonium-thermal project.Nuclear reactor Genkai No. 3 at Kyushu Electric Power Co. is thought to be the most ready to start burning the composite fuel, known as MOX fuel, but some local elements are opposed to the plan.Proactive support the keyNow that the plan has been announced, the commission will determine later this month whether the preparations made by the electric power companies are adequate. But the commission should not only limit itself to assessing the plan, it should support the plan proactively in cooperation with ministries and agencies so as to help win the cooperation of local governments.Plutonium-thermal projects have been implemented successively in many countries. In Europe, projects started in the 1960s and have been implemented at one-third of the nuclear reactors in France and half of those in Germany.To date, there has been no major accident resulting from plutonium-thermal programs anywhere in the world.Even in reactors currently using uranium, plutonium is produced while the fuel is burned, making the situation inside a nuclear reactor similar to one in which a composite fuel made from plutonium extracted from spent fuel and uranium is burned.The nation's electric power companies currently have nearly 26 tons of plutonium stockpiled at reprocessing plants in Britain and France, another reason to expedite efforts to realize the plutonium-thermal project.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2006-01-11	YOSHIN0020060112e21b000i1
YOMSHI0020060111e21c0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060111e21c0000g	EN	\N	TV stations play key role as news organs	The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is to soon hold the inaugural meeting of its "colloquium concerning the state of the communications and broadcasting," a private advisory panel to its chief minister, Heizo Takenaka.	4	2006-01-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP will also discuss the issue at a subcommittee on the advancement of communications and broadcasting industries.Thanks to the rapid diffusion of high-speed, large-volume communications networks, such as fiber-optic communications, it has become more practical to distribute video content over the Internet. Some TV broadcasting stations have started distributing programs over the Internet, while communications companies are strengthening tie-ups with broadcasting firms such as cable television operators.Consolidate related lawsThe fact that there are different laws setting out provisions for how communications and broadcasting businesses should operate is out of tune with the times.It is appropriate to discuss in an integrated manner the revisions of the Communications Industry Law, Broadcast Law, and the Copyright Law, which is essential for the distribution of TV programs over the Internet.Such discussions must take into account the fact that TV broadcasting--through news coverage--has quite an impact on the formation of public opinion. It also plays a great role in the diffusion of culture, as well as the transmission of information during disasters.Takenaka asked, "Why is there no mega-media in Japan?" emphasizing the need to foster a globally operating media in Japan. He also showed his interest in expanding the market for communications and broadcasting businesses, which are estimated to be worth a combined 20 trillion yen. These remarks suggest he is interested solely in communications and broadcasting as an industry.The private advisory panel and the LDP subcommittee will discuss a number of issues. These will include public broadcaster NHK, which has a large number of viewers refusing to pay viewing fees, and the licensing system for private-sector terrestrial broadcasters, which are licensed in principle by prefectural governments to broadcast only within the prefecture.Also to be discussed is the business structure of NTT, which dominates fixed-line communications networks.With regard to NHK, the discussion will not go as far as its possible privatization--in line with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's intention. Likely topics of discussion are how to deal with the large number of viewers refusing to pay their fees, as well as whether NHK has too many channels. Whatever the outcome, there should remain a framework whereby NHK, as a neutral news organization, will be able to continue to exist without a government subsidy.Protect local broadcastingAnother question to be addressed is whether the distribution of TV programs via the Internet should be fully liberalized or not? This would allow major broadcasting networks based in the Tokyo metropolitan area to broadcast programs directly to viewers across the nation, leading to the demise of local broadcasters. This issue needs to be decided with prudence because local content would be damaged if local television stations fall by the wayside.Local broadcasters play an important role as news organizations, transmitting information closely related to people in a specific region. To prevent the information stations broadcast from falling under the influence of specific business groups, local broadcasting is regulated by the principle of preventing one specific media group from dominating a TV broadcasting station. By the same token, it is regulated for a number of media groups to operate a TV station in addition to their own business. It would be dangerous for such matters to be discussed without due consideration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2006-01-12	YOSHIN0020060113e21c000g5
YOMSHI0020060112e21d0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060112e21d0000f	EN	\N	Lack of antiterrorism law puts Japan in danger	Acts of terrorism range from attempts to assassinate VIPs to indiscriminate attacks on ordinary people, using explosives and biological and chemical weapons. Armed agents could raid important facilities. Whatever form it takes, terrorism can inflict great damage on people, facilities and others. It can even imperil a country's national security.	4	2006-01-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But Japan has no comprehensive antiterrorism law. There is a limit to what can be achieved in containing threats posed by terrorism under the current legal system. The authorities deal with each unlawful act that could be deemed a terrorist attack under a law designed to handle a case of that nature.The government is seeking to submit a fundamental antiterrorism bill to next year's ordinary Diet session. It will be necessary for the government to ensure the bill is carefully designed to serve its purpose, while also convincing the public of the need to create such legislation.Govt too slow to actThe government is already applying the finishing touches to the main pillars of the bill, which would provide for the establishment of a government institution tasked with analyzing information about potential terrorist attacks both at home and abroad, and determining whether a newly perceived terrorist threat poses an imminent danger.The other measures the government is considering include designating areas surrounding nuclear power stations and other important facilities as restricted if the planned organ concludes there is an imminent danger to those facilities. Another possible step would be to grant the police greater power to question suspicions persons and inspect their personal belongings at train stations and other public facilities.Another important task will be to define the roles that local governments, corporations and individuals should play in dealing with an emergency. It will also be important for authorities to acquire intelligence on the structure and membership of foreign terrorist organizations deemed to pose a threat to Japan, increase efforts to freeze assets they may possess in Japan and impose restrictions on the range of conduct permissible by Japanese supporters of the group.The United States and major European nations are way ahead of Japan in improving their antiterrorism legislation. Many countries are reviewing their laws in response to a series of terrorist attacks in recent years, including suicide bombings on subway trains and a double-decker bus in London last July.What is needed is coordinated efforts by all nations to fight terrorism. If there are loopholes in its antiterrorism measures, Japan will lose the trust of the international community. With this in mind, this nation should study U.S. and European antiterrorism laws in drafting a basic antiterrorism law.Review wiretapping lawAll this should be complemented by an effort to review the Wiretapping Authorization Law. The current law has hardly been used because of the many restrictions imposed on the authorities when it comes to wiretapping communications. For years, the United States and European nations have used wiretapping as an important tool for criminal investigations. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, these countries have revised their relevant legislation to give themselves greater leeway in conducting communications surveillance.Many government officials believe the envisaged antiterrorism law should apply solely to international terrorism. It should be noted, however, that international terrorists operating in Japan could hide themselves for long periods, as shown by the actions of the North Korean agents responsible for kidnapping Japanese. It will be essential to consider such cases in devising the bill.Transport ministers from the United States, European and Asian nations have met for a two-day international conference in Tokyo that will end Friday to discuss ways to combat terrorist attacks on airplanes, trains and other forms of public transportation. Japan should cooperate with other nations in sharing pertinent information about possible terrorist attacks on public transportation facilities and devising measures against terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	689	2006-01-13	YOSHIN0020060116e21d000g9
YOMSHI0020060113e21e0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060113e21e0000i	EN	\N	Concerted effort needed to fight spread of bird flu	Twenty-one nations, mainly from East and Southeast Asia, met this week for a two-day conference in Tokyo to discuss how to fight new types of influenza. The international meeting, initially proposed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has set the stage for a campaign by nations in this part of the world to contain the spread of new flu viruses at an early stage.	4	2006-01-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After studying the result of discussions at the latest conference, the World Health Organization intends to draw up a manual for containing the spread of new viruses at the initial stage of an epidemic.The government's efforts to host the recent conference--the first of its kind to discuss specific ways to fight new strains of flu viruses--demonstrated that Japan is ready and willing to take the initiative in combating the flu. This country should spare no efforts in doing so, by providing necessary personnel and extending financial, technical and other assistance.There are signs that the virulent H5N1 bird flu, which initially struck Asia, has found its way into Europe. Since autumn, five Chinese have died of the deadly flu. This has been followed by similar cases in Turkey. Since the dawn of the new year, avian influenza has claimed the lives of at least two Turks.China must share informationThe H5N1 flu virus could mutate into a new strain of virus transmissible from human to human. Many specialists have warned that this type of virulent flu could start raging at any time.The question is whether the flu could be contained at an early stage of its spread. This would solely depend on how soon information about the spread of the flu reached the WHO from an area affected by the virulent virus.China's approach to the epidemic crisis is open to question. Not until Wednesday did Beijing disclose the death of two Chinese from bird flu in December. Efforts to devise measures against the flu before it strikes will do little to contain its contagion if information about the spread of the virus comes too late. The Chinese government should disclose information about any damage resulting from the flu as early as possible.Japan cannot afford to remain unguarded against bird flu. The attenuated H5N2 avian flu, which initially struck poultry farms in Ibaraki Prefecture in June, has not yet been broken down. It was reported a few days ago that 77 workers at poultry farms in Ibaraki and Saitama prefectures might have been infected with the H5N2 virus, although they faced no health hazard.The continued spread of the bird flu at poultry farms in these areas is believed to have been caused by the use of an unauthorized vaccine. It is also known that some poultry farmers gave the authorities chickens from other farms for bird flu inspections by their local governments--not those kept at their own farms--so they could get the all clear.Comprehensive testing vitalAll this has raised concerns about whether it will be possible to properly deal with an epidemic that may arise if and when the virulent virus hits this nation. It is necessary to examine whether both the local governments and poultry farmers have taken proper measures to test chickens for the flu.Conventional types of influenza have prevailed six weeks earlier than the previous winter. Everyone would be advised to take sanitary measures such as rinsing their mouths and washing their hands. If only a small number of people have caught conventional flu viruses, it means progress will be made in stockpiling Tamiflu, the antiviral drug considered the first line of defense against the H5N1 strain of bird flu.To combat the possible spread of the new type of flu, the government and medical institutions should inspect and improve their cooperative arrangements for the fight against infectious diseases. Doing so will also help improve the medical health system. No effort should be spared to build a shelter against every storm.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	703	2006-01-14	YOSHIN0020060116e21e001at
YOMSHI0020060114e21f0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060114e21f0000d	EN	\N	Revisions improve gender equality plan	Kuniko Inoguchi, state minister in charge of measures for the declining birthrate and gender equality, explained its aim by saying, "I'd like to put teeth into the basic law for a gender-equal society and try to end the confusion that has arisen in its application."	4	2006-01-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The confusion she referred to is the spread in some municipalities and classrooms of extremist ideas on gender equality denying any differences between the sexes.With this in mind, some misleading expressions in the old plan were corrected this time.This was a reasonable action.Some organizations supporting gender-neutral ideas have distributed pamphlets criticizing Japan's traditional culture, such as the Hinamatsuri doll festival for girls in March and the Boys' Festival in May, as imposing traditional gender roles.The old plan for gender equality stipulated the need for sensitivity toward gender roles formed socially and traditionally, and for a review of various customs and practices at workplaces, homes and in the community.However, the term "gender" was not explained sufficiently in it, leading to the promotion of radical gender-free ideas at some schools, which deny any sexual differences.'Gender-free' not equalityThe revised plan for gender equality stated that the denial of sexual differences under the term "gender-free" differed from the gender equality sought by society.It also described as extremely preposterous such practices as allowing boys and girls to change clothes in the same room regardless of their development stages, and to make them participate in a mixed mock cavalry battle at a sports festival.The government has maintained its view in the Diet and elsewhere that the plan for gender equality does not deny gender roles.Though the misunderstandings have been corrected gradually, the revision of the government's guideline still means a lot.Following the revision of the government plan, local governments' plans for gender equality will be revised. The prefectural and municipal governments have to make schoolteachers and school officials fully understand the government's view on gender equality.The new basic plan also said women should fill at least 30 percent of leading positions in every field of society by 2020, and that gender equality should be promoted in the field of science and technology.Birthrate fall can be stoppedThe Japanese population started declining last year, and the nation is becoming a society with a very small number of children. In developed countries, there is a positive correlation between women's participation in the labor force and the birthrate, according to year 2000 statistics compiled by the Cabinet Office's Council for Gender Equality.Helping women work and raise children at the same time will stop the population decline.Considering this point, the basic plan for gender equality should be fully applied.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	490	2006-01-15	YOSHIN0020060116e21f001ya
YOMSHI0020060116e21g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060116e21g00001	EN	\N	Hanshin quake lesson must be taken to heart	Since then, central and local governments have promoted the reinforcement of buildings against quakes. But the recent seismic data falsification scandal destroyed public confidence in their earthquake-resistance policies.	4	2006-01-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Metropolitan Police Department-led joint investigation team is continuing its investigation of the office of the disgraced architect, the construction company and the condominium sales firm involved in the scandal. Those at the center of the scandal will be summoned this week to the Diet for the second time following their sworn testimony last month.The whole truth about the affair must be uncovered so that the people concerned can be held accountable for their actions. This is necessary to prevent a recurrence of similar scandals, but not enough to restore the public confidence in the government's policy.The central and local governments must jointly inspect and reinforce houses, schools and hospitals suspected of being at risk of collapse if a strong earthquake occurs. They also must urgently review the building construction certification system, which has been revealed to be flawed.Failure of deregulation?Before the Great Hanshin Earthquake, municipalities certified the construction of houses and buildings, including verification of earthquake resistance.But many of the buildings that collapsed in the quake were found to be defective, and municipalities were criticized for failing to handle the certification work properly. In 1998, the then Construction Ministry revised the Building Standards Law and allowed the private sector to certify building construction.The revision was intended to supplement the work of municipalities and was in line with the central government's deregulation policy. But some observers pointed out that it resulted in inspection companies competing not in their reliability of safety inspections but in speed of certification to win more orders, creating an environment for the falsification of construction data. This might be a case in which deregulation under the shift from the public to the private sector has failed.In reviewing the system, it is important to demand better qualifications for private inspection companies, thoroughly supervise them and strengthen penalties for those violating concerned regulations.It is also important not only to deal with the antiseismic data falsification scandal, but also to promote reinforcement of existing buildings against temblors.Road taxes could be usedThe revised law to promote earthquake retrofitting will be put into force late this month. Under the revised law, metropolitan and prefectural governments are required to map out their own plans to promote seismic retrofitting. Municipalities will be given more power so they will be able to reveal names of public buildings or private facilities visited by many people if they fail to follow earthquake-retrofitting instructions.Only a small percentage of buildings to be covered under the revised law--52 percent of public primary and middle schools and 36 percent of hospitals--have been retrofitted against quakes. According to the results of a Yomiuri Shimbun nationwide survey, 24 prefectural governments have not yet compiled plans to reinforce school buildings against quakes.Financial difficulties have prevented municipalities from carrying out anti-quake reinforcement. It is worth discussing if part of the tax revenues collected specifically to pay for highway construction, whose incorporation into the general revenues is now under consideration, could be spent on this.From spring, expenses for seismic retrofitting may be deducted from taxable income.Construction and Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa declared that 2006 should be the year to begin making the whole nation quake-resistant. A first, bold step should be taken toward a reduction of earthquake damage.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2006-01-16	YOSHIN0020060117e21g000az
YOMSHI0020060116e21h0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060116e21h0000i	EN	\N	Horie's business strategy called into question	The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office searched Livedoor's head office and other locations Monday on suspicion a company affiliate violated the Securities and Exchange Law.	4	2006-01-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The affiliate company, formerly known as ValueClick Japan Inc. but now called Livedoor Marketing Co., is suspected of manipulating its stock price upward by spreading takeover rumors when splitting up its stock.Horie also serves as a director of the affiliate. Prosecutors are expected to probe his links to the split.In November 2004, ValueClick Japan Inc. announced it would have its stock split 100-for-1. Immediately afterward, a rush of buy orders for the company's shares sent the price about 45 times higher in a short period.A stock split is a measure designed to enable investors, including those with only limited funds, to invest in a company by reducing the share purchase unit. Since the company's value does not change at the time of the split, the price per share drops, theoretically, to one-hundredth of their price when a firm's outstanding shares are split 100-for-1.Making hay while sun shinesIt usually takes two months after the split for new share certificates to be printed and distributed to shareholders. Until they receive their share certificate, shareholders are unable to sell their newly acquired shares, having only buy orders for the shares made on the market and pushing the price higher.During that period, Livedoor and ValueClick Japan allegedly spread takeover rumors advantageous to ValueClick Japan, thus further overheating its share value. Should the suspicions be proven true, this would constitute a malicious act of deceiving investors.Livedoor itself is a product of the fractionalization of stocks. Over three years, the firm split its shares four times, having one share split into 30,000 shares. As a result, the aggregate market value of the stock increased and provided Livedoor with the financial clout to buy up shares of companies such as Nippon Broadcasting System Inc.The 2001 revision of the Commerce Code permitted splitting stock into ultrafractionalized units. The measure designed to rejuvenate the nation's stock market, which was in the doldrums, has ended up being abused by some up-and-coming business enterprises.Livedoor sailing close to windThe Tokyo Stock Exchange last year asked companies to cap their stock per value split only up to 5-to-1. Yet this measure clearly came only in reaction to keep pace with the market moves.In its attempt to acquire NBS, Livedoor also acquired a sizable amount of NBS's shares in after-hours trading, which is considered off-market trading--a method deemed close to violating the Securities and Exchange Law. The company should, in principle, have made public its takeover bid.The revision of the Securities and Exchange Law last year prohibited this method of share acquisition. Yet Livedoor's buyout, made before the revision, was approved.Horie has become a champion of the times by speaking and behaving flamboyantly during his attempt to acquire a professional baseball club and buy up NBS shares.Yet some criticize his "antisocial" manner, which holds that "everything is possible as long as it is legal." We hope prosecutors will elucidate the whole picture behind the latest goings-on.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2006-01-17	YOSHIN0020060118e21h000g1
YOMSHI0020060117e21i0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060117e21i0000g	EN	\N	Long trial highlights need for judicial reform	On Tuesday--after 17-1/2 years--the Supreme Court rejected the appeal lodged by Tsutomu Miyazaki, 43, and upheld the death sentence lower courts had imposed on him for the abduction and murder of four innocents.	4	2006-01-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But as it has taken so long for the judicial system to finalize the death sentence for Miyazaki, we have to ask: Have criminal trials become meaningless?The insanity pleaMiyazaki enticed four little girls into his car in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, drove off with them, and murdered them. In a room packed with obscene videos, he butchered their dead bodies--even going so far in his depravity as to put a box containing part of the remains of one victim on the doorstep of the house of her bereaved parents. At the same time, he mailed statements to newspapers under the false name of Yuko Imada, claiming responsibility for the murders.The main point of contention during his trails was whether Miyazaki was mentally capable of telling right from wrong at the time he committed the crimes. This was the chief reason his trial dragged on for so long.His first trial lasted for more than seven years, chiefly due to squabbling over psychiatric testimony. The results of three psychiatric examinations yielded three conclusions, including one that said Miyazaki was not mentally ill, and another that said he was in a schizophrenic state at the time he committed the crimes and was therefore only partially accountable for his actions.The Criminal Code stipulates that when a person who commits a crime has impaired judgment, the sentence will be reduced.As the penalty for Miyazaki was to be death if he was deemed mentally sound, and thus fully accountable for the murders he committed, a confrontation raged between the prosecution and the defense team over the results of his psychiatric tests.During a psychiatric evaluation, a court hearing is suspended, and should the results of examinations differ, a court hearing can become bogged down in a quagmire.The Supreme Court ruling has finally brought the Miyazaki case to a conclusion. It upheld the rulings passed by lower courts that said that Miyazaki was fully accountable for his crimes, and ruled that "They were self-centered, cruel criminal acts that leave no room for extenuation."Will lay-judge system be better?The lay-judge system, under which citizens will try criminal cases alongside judges, is to start in spring 2009. But if court hearings proceed in the same fashion as the Miyazaki case, the lay-judge system will be no more efficient than the current one.Under a law related to the lay-judge system, psychiatric examinations will be able to be ordered and administered before a public trial begins. This is designed to avoid disputes over psychiatric evidence, and reduce as far as possible delays to court hearings, which would inconvenience lay judges.Legal circles need to rethink their existing wisdom regarding trial procedures and expedite their efforts to introduce a system under which psychiatric examinations are held before the start of public trials.Even a protracted trial has failed to fully clarify the motives or factors that lay behind the serial murders committed by Miyazaki.Times have changed since Miyazaki was stalking the innocent. We now have the Internet and cell phones, and there is an abundance of information on seedy sex and violence, as well as computer games that revel in such smut.There has also been an increase in brutal incidents targeting little girls, which are similar to the outrages committed by Miyazaki.What the supreme court ruling showed is the urgency and importance of identifying this social pathology and removing it from society's midst.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2006-01-18	YOSHIN0020060119e21i000f3
YOMSHI0020060118e21j0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060118e21j0000g	EN	\N	TSE at center of yet another fiasco	The TSE was forced to suspend trading in all listed shares during its afternoon session as the number of sell orders came close to the computer system's processing capacity, raising concerns the entire system would shut down.	4	2006-01-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The TSE had never previously had to suspend transactions while its computer system was operating within acceptable parameters. Wednesday's event was the first time a stock exchange in a major nation has suspended operations for such a reason, dealing a serious blow to international trust in the Japanese bourse.The problem came a day after investigators searched offices and other locations linked with the Livedoor Group in connection with the scandal. The investigation panicked individual investors, causing them to issue a plethora of sell orders.It is suspected that Livedoor Co., the center of the business group, falsified its accounts. The allegations against Livedoor, if proven, will shatter the trust of investors in the well-known Internet company.Bourse froze people's assetsThe TSE must assume a large share of responsibility for Wednesday's problems as it was a foregone conclusion that a large number of sell orders would be placed after news of the Livedoor scandal broke.Shares listed on the bourse have value to shareholders precisely because they can be converted into money by selling them. Given this, the TSE should have taken measures to ensure it would not have to suspend trading--whatever circumstances might arise.The bourse must do all it can to make sure there is no repeat of Wednesday's fiasco. It must implement measures to improve its computer system, including significantly increasing its order-processing capacity.The current computer system is capable of handling 9 million buy and sell orders and completing 4.5 million transactions daily. During trading Wednesday, the number of completed transactions topped 4 million, causing fears continued transactions would paralyze the computer system. Therefore, the TSE opted to suspend operations before trading closed at the appointed hour.In November, the TSE suspended trading in all listed shares for about three hours because of a system failure. This was followed in December by Mizuho Securities Co.'s failure to cancel a mistakenly placed sell order because of a glitch in the TSE's computer system. This glitch cost the brokerage house massive losses, for which Takuo Tsurushima was forced to resign as president of TSE to take responsibility.New trends, new problemsOver the past few years, the TSE has implemented piecemeal upgrades of its computer system to meet the sharp increase in the number of transactions it carries out. This reflects the growth in the number of transactions by individual investors, including day traders who seek profits through repeated speculative short-term transactions placed over the Internet. This has all contributed to the burden placed on the TSE's computer system.The TSE has asked investors taking advantage of system trading--a computerized method for automatically placing buy and sell orders--to issue such orders in bulk.Another task facing the TSE will be to reconsider the current rules on trading to ensure its computer system will not be overburdened as it processes buy and sell orders.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2006-01-19	YOSHIN0020060120e21j000fk
YOMSHI0020060119e21k0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060119e21k0000h	EN	\N	Economic optimism won't end fiscal crisis	The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has revised its "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Policy Management and Structural Reform," a set of principal guidelines for the government's economic management.	4	2006-01-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In its past midterm economic outlook, the last of which was adopted last year, the key government panel remained optimistic about the economy's future. It predicted government bond-servicing costs would be curtailed because long-term interest rates would fall below the nominal growth rate for an extended period.This is in contrast to a practical forecast produced by the panel in its latest report that predicts long-term interest rates will exceed the nominal growth rate at an early date as the economy gets back on the road to recovery.The panel's optimistic predictions exerted a harmful influence on the public, giving the impression that the depleted state coffers could be replenished without tax increases.In June, the government intends to put together a fiscal reform package to rebuild the troubled state finances, overhauling the current system governing government revenue and spending. We hope the council's revised economic outlook will help aid constructive discussions on ending the fiscal crisis.Economic council dividedThe latest report on the panel's economic outlook comes after intense debate among panel members about whether to shift the tone of their report from optimism to realism.Those opposing the shift included Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka, who previously served as state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy. Takenaka insisted it would be "desirable to ensure long-term interest rates fall below the nominal economic growth."His argument antagonized Kaoru Yosano, who was chiefly responsible for producing the panel's latest forecast as state minister in charge of financial, economic and fiscal policy. Yosano emphasized the need to change the council's economic outlook, saying, "From a historical point of view, it will be difficult to keep long-term interest rates below the nominal growth rate."His view was echoed by Tokyo University Prof. Hiroshi Yoshikawa, a private sector member of the panel, who said, "Theoretically speaking, long-term interest rates should exceed the nominal growth rate."The conflict of opinions reflected differences among the panel's members about what kind of approach should be adopted in an attempt to end the fiscal crisis.No guarantee on taxes, ratesSince last year, Takenaka and Hidenao Nakagawa, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, have said cuts in fiscal spending and the sale of government assets should take precedence over a rise in the consumption tax rate, saying it is too early to consider a tax hike.Undoubtedly, the government will be able to secure an increase in tax revenue if it can increase the productivity of various sectors of society and raise the nominal growth rate.Meanwhile, the government can reduce bond-servicing expenditures if it curbs an increase in long-term interest rates. If both goals can be achieved at the same time, it would create an environment conducive to fiscal reform.However, there is no guarantee that both targets will be accomplished at once. Long-term interest rates have averaged an annual 3.6 percent over the past 20 years, compared with a 2.6 percent growth rate in nominal terms during the period. The figures are comparable to similar statistics in other major nations.Long-term interest rates will inevitably rise if the economy is bailed out of deflation and put back on track. An attempt to keep these rates down through monetary policies will be accompanied by risks.It will be no easy task to accomplish fiscal reconstruction. Government efforts to achieve the goal should begin by honestly and precisely telling the public about the great fiscal difficulties facing this country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2006-01-20	YOSHIN0020060120e21k001db
YOMSHI0020060120e21l0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060120e21l0000g	EN	\N	Koizumi has much to do, little time to do it	On the first day of the 150-day session, Koizumi said in his policy speech that he has stuck firmly to his reform policy for the four years and nine months since he assumed the top government post.	4	2006-01-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	"With privatization of the postal services acting as a springboard, I'll continue with reforms," the prime minister declared.He also pledged to pass a bill to promote administrative reforms in the current Diet session. The bill includes provisions to cut the labor cost of public servants and to consolidate government-affiliated banks. It aims at having Koizumi's successor continue his reform drive.However, the prime minister did not refer to the "defeat of deflation" in the speech for the first time, though he always did so in previous policy speeches. By avoiding a reference to deflation, he apparently meant to indicate that the Japanese economy is recovering because his reformist policy, which has transferred some government operations and authority to the private sector, was right.Nation's finances in a messBut the plans contained in the administrative reform bill will take five to 10 years to materialize. The nation's economy has not yet reached the orbit of stable growth, either.The government should put priority on tax, fiscal, political and social security reforms.The cumulative long-term debts of the central and local governments will have hit 775 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2006. It is impossible to reduce such staggering debts only with cuts in expenditures and by selling off government assets.The advent of a society with a huge aged population and a very low birthrate affects the nation's social security system directly. The current system is bound to collapse in the future because it was designed for a pyramid-shaped demographic structure with a large population of younger people.The prime minister seems to be fully aware that the system is in critical situations. For the first time in the five policy speeches he has made since he assumed office, he said the government would review the entire tax system, including the consumption tax rate.He also vowed to present options and schedules for fiscal reforms on government revenues and expenditures around June.Discuss consumption tax hikeBefore raising the consumption tax rate, however, many issues must be thoroughly discussed, including whether to introduce more than one rate, and whether to earmark the tax for social welfare purposes. Discussions on hiking the consumption tax should start immediately since time is running out.Several bills on the nation's structure are also waiting for Diet approval, including the national referendum bill stipulating procedures necessary for constitutional revision, a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education and a bill to elevate the Defense Agency to a ministry. Since major points on those bills have been already thoroughly deliberated, the prime minister should show his leadership in getting them passed during the current Diet session.The current circumstances of Japan mean that none of the bills can be deferred any longer. As he himself said in the speech, Koizumi must devote himself to his duties during the remainder of his term as prime minister.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2006-01-21	YOSHIN0020060121e21l000fq
YOMSHI0020060121e21m0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060121e21m0000d	EN	\N	Review ban on defense assets in space	We question whether this view is right. Japan seems to be the only such country in the world with this viewpoint. The government should review its interpretation of the peaceful use of outer space immediately based on global standards.	4	2006-01-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A special committee of the Liberal Democratic Party will soon start discussions on expanding the nation's space exploitation policy, which currently places a disproportionate emphasis on research and development, to include security and industrial purposes. The committee will compile an interim report in March and present its proposals to the government around August.The discussions will initially focus on the government's interpretation of the principles of the peaceful use of space.Govt interpretation misguidedThe principles on the peaceful use of space were included in the Outer Space Treaty, which went into force in 1967. It prohibits signatories to the U.N. treaty from placing "in orbit around the earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction."However, the treaty does not rule out using reconnaissance satellites for defensive purposes.In 1969, two years after Japan ratified the treaty, the Diet adopted a resolution to limit Japan's use of space to peaceful purposes only.Since then, the government has stuck to the interpretation that the use of space for self-defense purposes is restricted because "peaceful purposes" means the "demilitarization" of space. In 1985, the government announced an official view that the Self-Defense Forces can only use already commercialized technology such as communication satellites for intelligence satellites because the then Japan Socialist Party and other opposition parties strongly urged the government to include "demilitarization" in its interpretation.But the government's interpretation had an adverse effect on the design of an intelligence satellite developed after North Korea test fired a ballistic missile over the Japanese archipelago in 1998.A high-resolution imaging system is essential to detect signs of a missile launch. Although U.S. spy satellites can reportedly identify an object just 15 centimeters square, an object would have to be 100 centimeters square to be detected by a Japanese satellite. Based on the principle of using commercialized technology, the resolution of Japan's intelligence satellites is on par with the level of private-sector satellite being developed at the time.Better eyes needed in skiesThe government is planning to launch a next-generation spy satellite in fiscal 2009. But, the planned resolution of the satellite would only enable it to detect objects that are bigger than 60 centimeters square--once again in line with private-sector satellites.North Korea has declared that it possesses nuclear weapons. China is also working hard to strengthen its military power, particularly by enhancing its naval and air power and building up its long-range missiles in preparation for a possible confrontation with Taiwan.The necessity of intelligence gathering by means of a sophisticated spy satellite is increasing. Thus the government's interpretation of "peaceful purposes" must be revised quickly to be ready in time for the development of the next-generation spy satellite.Seiji Maehara, president of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, also is positive about reviewing the government interpretation. In March, before he became party leader, Maehara said the Diet resolution on use of space itself should be reviewed.Thus there are no differences of opinion between the ruling and the opposition parties regarding correcting situations that are detrimental to the security of the Japanese people. Cross-party cooperation is a prerequisite to change the government's interpretation of "peaceful purposes" so that a higher-performance reconnaissance satellite can be developed for self-defense.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2006-01-22	YOSHIN0020060122e21m000a0
YOMSHI0020060122e21n0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060122e21n0000e	EN	\N	Put nation's assets to work for citizens	According to Finance Ministry statistics, national assets--including government office buildings, national woodlands, investments in independent administrative corporations and stockholdings in former state-run businesses such as Japan Tobacco Inc.--total about 95 trillion yen.	4	2006-01-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Fiscal System Council, an advisory panel to the finance minister, has compiled a report calling on government offices to strictly monitor the use of national properties to ensure the government is making effective use of such precious national assets. The ministry will submit to the ordinary Diet session bills to revise related laws, including the National Property Law.In working out its plan to reduce the number of public servants, the government plans to have the provision of many government-run services turned over to the private sector. It stands to reason that some government property will become superfluous as the current administration under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi promotes a smaller government.While expediting efforts to pass the bills to revise the related laws, the government needs to make effective use of state-owned land and buildings to prevent national assets from laying idle.Web of bureaucracyThe task of scrutinizing the current use of state property rests with the government ministries and agencies with jurisdiction over such assets. Even when land or space in government buildings fell out of use, ministries and agencies tended to shy away from returning effective control of such properties to the government, while the Finance Ministry, which has nominal control over all state property in principle, finds it difficult to offer unsolicited advice to them.To rectify the ill effects of such bureaucratic sectionalism on property management, the council proposed the Finance Ministry's supervisory functions regarding use of state property be reinforced. The report also proposed the law stipulate the Finance Ministry be authorized to inspect the use of such properties to ensure efficient use.The report also proposed that those government buildings which are made superfluous should be rented to private-sector tenants. If an entire building is rendered redundant, it should be sold, the report said. To promote these measures, the government plans to ease relevant regulations.Subsidized salesWhen a state asset is sold to a local government, it is often done as a gratuitous conveyance or transferred at markedly reduced prices, which, it has been pointed out, is tantamount to a central government subsidy to a local government.The report also proposed that such preferential treatment given to local governments needs to be reviewed so the central government does not suffer losses.Housing for government employees in prime downtown locations is criticized as the "privileges of bureaucrats." The council has proposed that these housing units be sold, as suggested by the prime minister. In particular, those housing units in Tokyo's 23 wards should be reorganized into a larger housing complex and be used jointly by ministries and agencies, rather than by a single entity, while those plots of land that become idle should be sold off to the private sector for more efficient use.It is inevitable for ministries and agencies to give up their privileges as the government solicits public support for fiscal reconstruction.Some within the government assert that selling a significant portion of the state's assets while making a sizable cut in expenditures, could put the government on track toward putting the nation's fiscal house in order.Despite such intentions, there remain many building and plots of land that cannot be sold off, such as national forests and Self-Defense Forces camps. There is also a limit to the revenues to be generated through the sale of such properties. Excessive expectations must be avoided.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2006-01-23	YOSHIN0020060123e21n000ew
YOMSHI0020060123e21o0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060123e21o0000a	EN	\N	Scandal reveals Horie's house of cards	Livedoor allegedly made it appear that one of its subsidiaries would buy out a publishing company through a stock swap, despite the fact that the company had already been purchased for cash by an investment union then under Livedoor's control. Livedoor is then alleged to have handed over newly issued stock of the subsidiary to the investment union, and had the profits earned through the new issue of stock of the subsidiary channeled back to itself.	4	2006-01-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The District Public Prosecutors Office has also accused Livedoor of doctoring the accounts of its subsidiary, which was in the red, to make it appear profitable and implemented its stock split, thus sending the stock price higher.Livedoor is a corporate group whose aggregate market value of stocks once reached about 1 trillion yen, through mergers and acquisitions, investment unions and innovative use of such business practices as stock splits. We hope the district prosecutors office makes clear which aspect of such alchemy crosses the line into illegality.Taking chancesHorie has always walked a fine line, pushing the envelope of the financial system. Stock splits have been authorized, as part of regulatory easing, to make the unit of investment smaller and thus more affordable to a broader range of investors. To split stock at such a high ratio as 100-for-one as Livedoor did, was beyond the expectations of the financial authorities.In its bid against a rival firm to control Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc., the Internet service firm made a sizable purchase of the radio broadcaster's shares in off-hour trading, a practice originally designed to facilitate large stock transactions among companies. Yet trades involving the transfer of management rights had long been considered transactions that should have been undertaken, in principle, through a takeover bid.Horie has openly trampled the tacit rules of the business world, apparently straying on the wrong side of the law, saying that "Unless forbidden by law, anything is possible."Public prosecutors arrested Horie because they considered illegal certain aspects of the business transaction that Livedoor asserted was "on the right side of the law."Absent authorityIn any case, what have the Finance Services Agency and the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission, both responsible for enforcing the Securities and Exchange Law, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which manages the Tokyo stock market, been doing? Concerning the acquisition of the NBS stocks by Livedoor, for instance, the FSA maintained an ambiguous stance by saying, "It was problematic, but lawful."Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of financial, economic and fiscal policy, has suggested such measures as increasing the staff of the surveillance commission. Yet unless such entities as the FSA fulfill their role in monitoring the market, such an expansion will have no effect.Horie's flamboyant conduct and frequent TV appearances have built up expectations among the public of the Livedoor president as a leader able to overcome the sense of helplessness prevailing in the post-bubble era. Yet the Internet-related sales of Livedoor group, which is considered an Internet service business, account for less than 20 percent of its total sales. In reality the group depends heavily on the financial divisions of companies the group has purchased.The aggregate market value of the group's stocks has declined to less than 400 billion yen. The group's shareholders, most of who are reckoned to be individual investors, have been unable to sell their shares as Livedoor stock continues to plunge by its maximum allowable price movement every trading day. The rush of sell orders, triggered by the plunge, has paralyzed the TSE's trading system. The entire episode has been a costly lesson.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2006-01-24	YOSHIN0020060125e21o000h4
YOMSHI0020060124e21p0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060124e21p0000f	EN	\N	Resolve needed over Futenma air base	The central government should take his triumph as an opportunity to break the impasse over the proposed relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to the coast along Camp Schwab, a U.S. marine facility, in Nago.	4	2006-01-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Shimabukuro succeeds incumbent Mayor Tateo Kishimoto, who had once agreed to an earlier plan to relocate the air station to an offshore airfield to be built on reclaimed land. The former city assembly speaker was supported by conservative voters, including business leaders, who expected to secure central government regional development projects through his election victory.Coastal plan the way to goShimabukuro is on record as saying he was opposed to the plan to build an alternative air station at Camp Schwab. However, he told reporters after prevailing in the poll that he would hold discussions with the central government if the plan were modified.Last year, the government mapped out the coastal airfield plan and Washington subsequently agreed to it after being strongly urged to do so by Tokyo. Therefore, it would be difficult for the central government to modify the existing plan even out of consideration for the community's wishes.The central government ought to make every effort to persuade the community to accept the relocation plan. It should, in cooperation with the U.S. side, draw up flight paths for military helicopters using the proposed air station that would dispel the local population's concern over aircraft noise, among other issues. Equally important is for the central government to pay due consideration to regional development projects.Shimabukuro, for his part, is urged to exert his leadership in getting the new plan accepted by seeking reconciliation among the residents of Nago.The cooperation of Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine will be indispensable in resolving the relocation issue as the prefectural chief is empowered to approve or reject the reclamation of public water areas.Inamine is opposed to relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' air station to the coastal area of Nago, but he supported Shimabukuro during the mayoral election campaign. Now that the candidate he backed has won the election, the governor should proceed with talks with the central government.In addition to the relocation of Futenma Air Station, an agreement between Tokyo and Washington on realigning U.S. forces in Japan includes the reversion to Japanese rule of the U.S. forces' Makiminato Service Area and Camp Zukeran in Okinawa Prefecture and the departure of about 7,000 U.S. marines through integration or relocation.National security at stakePutting the accord into practice would ease the burden on the people of Okinawa Prefecture caused by the presence of U.S. bases.It is an urgent task for the Okinawa prefectural government that Futenma Air Station, dubbed one of the most dangerous airports in the world as it is surrounded by residential areas, be dismantled.If Inamine continues to oppose the new relocation plan for the air station, the central government will have no option but to have the Diet vote an ad hoc bill into law to transfer the governor's administrative jurisdiction concerning military bases to the central government.The proposed realignment of U.S. forces in Japan is aimed at not only alleviating the burden on communities imposed by the presence of U.S. troops, but also maintaining and consolidating their military deterrent. The Japan-U.S. alliance is the very foundation of the security of Japan and that of the Asia-Pacific region with Okinawa situated as its keystone.The government is responsible for achieving the accord with the United States, and therefore it must translate its will into action.Its inaction vis-a-vis the 1996 agreement with the United States to relocate Futenma Air Station resulted Washington losing confidence in Tokyo.The government must not be allowed to repeat the same mistake.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	687	2006-01-25	YOSHIN0020060125e21p001eg
YOMSHI0020060125e21q0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060125e21q0000g	EN	\N	NHK's business plan lacks resolution	The plan contains a wide assortment of measures to deal with the many issues the public broadcaster faces.	4	2006-01-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But while superficially the steps appear capable of addressing the issues in a competent manner, they lack the strong conviction needed to get NHK through its crisis.NHK pledges to improve its ability to manage itself, including increasing the transparency of the board of directors.It also says it will streamline the organization by axing 1,200 jobs, about 10 percent of the overall workforce, in the three-year period.While the public broadcaster says it will maintain the number of channels it now operates--five television channels, three domestic radio stations, and some shortwave stations for international broadcast--it says it also will implement feasibility studies to reduce the number of satellite television channels it has.Under the plan, NHK is to maintain the current viewing fee system, having abandoned the idea of scrambling broadcasts and introducing a decoder system to restrict viewing to those who have paid the viewing fee.NHK said it will also tackle the issue of integrating telecommunications and broadcasting.For example, it says it will join One-Seg, a digital broadcasting service for cell phones and other mobile terminals, and implement server-based broadcasting in which viewers can download programs on demand from a server through telecommunications lines.Roots of crisis run deepBut despite this, the business plan shows the public broadcaster's vigorless attitudes toward itself, as it has not undertaken to make any bold departures from its current form and merely intends to ride out its latest crisis by doing the least it can get away with.The roots of NHK's crisis run deep. After the revelation that a producer had inflated production costs, a further 1.25 million people started refusing to pay viewing fees. Based on this, it is estimated that revenues from viewing fees will decline by 53.8 billion yen in fiscal 2006.On top of this, a further 9.71 million households or organizations with television sets have not concluded contractual agreement with NHK to pay for viewing its programs.Altogether, about 30 percent of households and organizations that are obliged to pay NHK viewing fees under the Broadcast Law are not doing so.Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka has established a private advisory panel to discuss the future of NHK among other broadcasting and telecommunications topics.A government council on deregulation and privatization, and a Liberal Democratic Party subcommittee on telecommunications and broadcasting have started discussions about NHK.The questions being discussed include: Should people who refuse to pay NHK viewing fees be punished? Should the content offered by a public broadcaster include entertainment programs? Is the number of channels offered by NHK appropriate?Tougher measures neededRegarding nonpayment of viewing fees, NHK only said in the plan that it would start civil procedures to collect payment in April.As for those who have not concluded a viewing contract, the public broadcaster said it would only "considering whether it would be able to file civil lawsuits."NHK may well need to seek a way to punish nonpayers as a significant number of people are aware that currently they face no penalty.We suggest that NHK reduce the number of channels it operates prior to the completion of the phased introduction of digital terrestrial broadcasting.Doing so would be the quickest way NHK could streamline its bloated organization.The new plan emphasizes the "ability to offer responsible information and diversified programs to everybody" is the mission of a public broadcaster. NHK also is expected to play a role in handing down high-quality culture, such as traditional performing arts, to the younger generation.To fulfill this mission, NHK has to regain a stable management structure as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	663	2006-01-26	YOSHIN0020060126e21q000gp
YOMSHI0020060126e21r0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060126e21r0000c	EN	\N	Don't blame media for Livedoor scandal	At the House of Representatives Budget Committee, a member of the Democratic Party of Japan chided the Liberal Democratic Party for supporting the candidacy of former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie, who was arrested Monday on suspicion of violating the Securities and Exchange Law, in the general election last year.	4	2006-01-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	LDP Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe said Livedoor's alleged wrongdoing had not been revealed at the time. But this does not let him off the hook.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said the Livedoor scandal should be considered separately from vote-getting speeches made for Horie by LDP heavyweights during the election campaign. But as LDP president, Koizumi should still be held accountable for his party's action.Horie used as reform symbolAt the LDP's request, Horie ran in the lower house election in Hiroshima Constituency No. 6 as an independent candidate, but failed.In support of his bid for a Diet seat, Takebe and Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy at the time, visited the constituency.The prime minister said he wished Horie all the best. Takebe called him "my brother, my son."Though he was already successful in business, Horie was willing to take risks to fight for the nation, said Takenaka, who heaped praise on Horie, as if he symbolized the success of Koizumi's reform policy."Prime Minister Koizumi, Horiemon [Horie's nickname] and I will form a scrum for [structural] reform," Takenaka also said.But Horie, who professed that money meant victory, was already famous for doing anything to make money as long as it was not illegal.At the time of the general election, Horie was wreathed in glory after realizing the explosive growth of Livedoor through a series of corporate acquisitions. The LDP apparently tried to use Horie, who was then touted as a hero of the times, as a walking billboard to attract voters' attention.For his part, Horie decided to approach Koizumi and the LDP apparently because he thought they would help further the expansion of his business.Market needs rulesAfter the opposition's interpellation at the Budget Committee, Koizumi finally admitted that he deserved to be censured for his ignorance about Horie. The prime minister would not have asked Horie to run in the general election if he had been aware that excessive reliance on free-market mechanisms can have adverse effects.The question is why, during the deliberations at the Budget Committee, Koizumi criticized the media for treating Horie as a hero. Yes, there were problems in the coverage of some media organizations, including TV stations, which cover anything as long as it is a hot topic. But this does not excuse Koizumi's ignorance.Market fundamentalism is widening the social divide in Japan. Behind the social tendency to undermine market rules is the erosion of a sense of right and wrong caused by distortions in postwar education.Various problems, including poor market-monitoring functions, have been pointed out in relation to the Livedoor scandal. Further discussions on them are necessary at the Diet.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	545	2006-01-27	YOSHIN0020060127e21r000fi
YOMSHI0020060127e21s0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060127e21s0000e	EN	\N	Hamas victory changes Mideast peacemaking	Hamas won a landslide victory in Wednesday's Palestinian election, causing the ruling Fatah movement to suffer a decisive defeat.	4	2006-01-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For years, Hamas has been continuing an armed struggle in pursuit of the goals stipulated in its Charter, which seeks to eliminate Israel. Since the autumn of 2000, when a renewed Palestinian Intifada uprising broke out, the militant group has carried out numerous suicide bombings and other armed attacks, killing a large number of Israelis.Given the group's avowed goals and past activities, the Israeli government has every reason to say it will not deal with a Hamas-led Palestinian government. U.S. President George W. Bush has also said his administration will not regard Hamas as a "partner in peace" unless the group renounces violence as a means to an end.Still hope for peace talksPrior to the election, Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demonstrated a strong desire to bring the troubled peace process back on track. However, Hamas' electoral victory has made it impossible to restart the process in the immediate future.There is no reason why the peacemaking process should become stalled. The lack of progress in the process is an underlying cause of political instability in the Middle East.First and foremost, Hamas should clearly state it will abandon its armed struggle. Although it may find it difficult to shift its approach, the group should maintain a ceasefire that has, in effect, continued since March. Only too obviously, it will be impossible for Hamas to revive peace talks with Israel while also continuing its armed fight.According to polls, a majority of Palestinians hope progress will be made in peace talks with Israel. Given this, it is ironic that they voted for Hamas in the election. Nonetheless, Hamas cannot turn a deaf ear to the wishes of such Palestinians.Hamas' shifting strategyThere still is a ray of hope. Hamas' decision to run in the recent election means the group has already shifted its strategy. Although there are some indications that it did not seek to snatch power from the Fatah movement in the parliamentary election, Hamas will inevitably adopt a practical approach as it prepares to form a government.Israel and the United States are not reluctant to deal with Palestinian leader Abbas, who has rejected the use of violence. It may be a viable option for Hamas to assign him the task of dealing with foreign relations.Hamas has received support from Palestinians through its grassroots policies, including education and welfare programs. However, the main reason for the group's parliamentary victory can be attributed to the popular discontent with the corruption-riddled Fatah movement. Fatah's failure to successfully talk peace also drew fire from voters.The international community is closely watching not what Hamas will say, but what it will choose to do. Hamas has a great responsibility to fulfill in the postelection environment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	540	2006-01-28	YOSHIN0020060128e21s000fi
YOMSHI0020060128e21t0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060128e21t0000b	EN	\N	We hope Daichi proves its usefulness	It is one of the largest satellites so far put into space. The satellite, weighing 4 tons, has a 22-meter-long solar panel that extends from its main body, which is the size of a small bus.	4	2006-01-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After it was launched successfully on an H-2A rocket from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Tuesday, the satellite was fully deployed, including the unfurling of the antenna, within four days. At one point, some of the satellite's equipment did not function properly, but the problems have now been fixed.The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which developed the multipurpose land-observation satellite, came up last year with the objective of "utilizing the fruits of space development widely in people's day-to-day life." The new objective came about after the agency reconsidered its previous stance of emphasizing technological development over practical use.JAXA began specializing in technological development mainly because of past Japan-U.S. trade friction. The government was criticized by Washington over its role in taking the lead in developing and manufacturing operational satellites, while not allowing U.S. companies to enter that field.Yet it is difficult to win people's understanding of space development if it is solely for the purpose of technological development. We hope Daichi's performance will make outer space more familiar to us.Daichi's multiple functionsDaichi carries three types of land-observation instruments, including a high-resolution camera. With this payload, Daichi is capable of taking three-dimensional pictures of objects on the surface of the Earth with a resolution as high as 2.5 meters. It is also capable of observing ground movements even when the Earth's surface is obscured by clouds.Using this instrumentation, Daichi will monitor the Earth around the clock, exploring for natural resources and collecting data for detailed maps of the world's landmasses. At the time of major natural disasters, such as earthquakes, large-scale fires and volcanic eruptions, it will photograph events on the planet's surface.Satellite photographs the government previously obtained to help determine how to extend relief to disaster-stricken areas--for instance, at the time of earthquakes in Japan--were all purchased from abroad. It takes some time before the government is able to obtain these photographs. With Daichi, our nation will enhance its capability of dealing with natural disasters.Should a major disaster take place elsewhere in Asia, the satellite will be able to contribute as part of Japan's assistance to disaster-hit areas by making observations and offering relevant data quickly to those who need them. It is necessary to establish a system for responding promptly to such disasters.New uses for satellite dataIt is also desirable for the collected data to be used for diverse purposes. New types of services using data acquired by satellites are on the increase, including an Internet-based map that combines traditional map information with satellite imagery.JAXA has established a council, comprised of representatives of academic, industrial and governmental entities, to promote the use of data that Daichi collects. The council needs to swing into action.Japan has launched four large-sized satellites, weighing more than 3 tons, in the past. Yet because of malfunctions due to design flaws, for instance, they failed to make a sufficiently active contribution to our space development. The development of large-sized satellites also has its critics, who say their structure is too complex and that they tend to end up as failures.Daichi's intended life span is three years. We hope during that time Daichi fully demonstrates its functions and helps rebuild trust in Japan's satellite technology.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2006-01-29	YOSHIN0020060129e21t0009d
YOMSHI0020060129e21u0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060129e21u0000c	EN	\N	Local govts must fix collusive labor relations	A survey by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry showed that many local governments have paid hourly wages to their employees for time spent on union activities during regular working hours.	4	2006-01-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry survey was the first of its kind to probe the true state of union activities, covering all local governments.The survey was prompted by the revelation last year that many Osaka city government employees involved in union activities during working hours received salaries for hours they did not work, while the union executives and senior Osaka city government officials tacitly approved the practice.According to the survey, the Tokyo metropolitan government and 20 prefectural governments, nine ordinance-designated major cities, and 763 cities, wards, towns and villages were found to have paid wages for time their employees worked on union activities beyond those permitted by relevant ordinances that allow local government employees to be paid for conducting union activities during office hours, by loosely interpreting the relevant laws.In the year ending last June, pay for union activities outside those permitted by law was given to 19,700 employees for a combined 99,000 hours for such activities by the Tokyo metropolitan government. In the case of Yokohama, the total number of employees who received such payment stood at 29,300 for a combined 96,000 hours.Work abandonedSuch states of affairs are as terrible as the record of the Osaka city government, where employees deserting their posts because of union activities during work hours was widely practiced with tacit approval. In Osaka, some union representatives, who were not full-time union officials, effectively abandoned their workplaces to take time off their jobs to engage in union activities, while letting their desks become a storage space for personal computers.In Tokyo's 23 wards, such unauthorized, but paid union activities were routinely conducted during regular working hours.The ministry plans to tell each local government to correct such improper practices and to continue probing the cases in the next fiscal year. All local governments need to make efforts to correct such practices as quickly as possible.Under the Local Civil Service Law, local government employees are obliged to concentrate on their duties and are to take time off if they are engaged in union activities during their regular working hours.The then Home Affairs Ministry set forth a model ordinance 40 years ago for local governments to allow paid time off only for employees representing unions to attend labor-management negotiations to discuss wages and work hours.Law misappliedHowever, there are several local governments that have misinterpreted the model, and established ordinances that allow employees to receive pay while preparing for labor negotiations during work hours by attending union meetings and other activities.They were also found to have given approval for workers to leave their duties with only verbal requests for permission, while having paid those engaged in union activities deemed outside the purview of the relevant ordinances, such as attending May Day rallies, union conventions and study meetings.Meanwhile, 326 governments, including Yamaguchi Prefecture, were found to have given paid holidays to those who took time off for union activities.It is essential to rectify the relevant ordinances that served as the basis for collusive labor-management ties and to strictly manage activities under such ordinances.The Osaka city government reprimanded 254 employees with pay cuts and other disciplinary measures between summer and autumn last year, while the union returned 154 million yen to the city, which had been paid to employees conducting union activities during office hours in the preceding three years.Those local governments found to have engaged in these questionable practices need to fully explain how such measures came to be taken and confirm the responsibility of those senior officials who approved such practices, while asking those employees who received money for conducting union activities during work hours to return such payments.Behind the practice of giving such perks to government employees, fringe benefits that would be unthinkable in private businesses, are labor-management negotiations that are kept hidden from the citizenry. The Tottori prefectural government, and the Osaka city government, if only after its shady practices came to light, are publishing records of labor-management negotiations on their Web site. Other local governments should follow suit.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	750	2006-01-30	YOSHIN0020060130e21u000cb
YOMSHI0020060130e21v0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060130e21v0000g	EN	\N	Govt must address widening gap in society	The Yomiuri's nationwide survey, taken in response to Livedoor's alleged violation of the Securities and Exchange Law, clearly shows that Japanese society remains wholesome despite an emphasis on market principles and competition in recent years.	4	2006-01-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Meanwhile, a significant 74 percent of those polled agreed with the widespread observation that their country is on the way to becoming a society marked by a widening disparity between winners and losers.More than 60 percent of the respondents in their 20s and 30s said Horie's opinions and activities had favorably affected society in many ways. This was in stark contrast to the negative sentiment expressed by those in their 50s and older, more than half of whom said he had a negative impact on many aspects of society.The recent survey showed that younger people were negative about Horie's money-is-everything philosophy and his lack of a law-abiding spirit. At the same time, however, they expressed a favorable view of what they called his success in shaking off a sense of helplessness felt by many people about their society through a new business method using direct financing.Should the widening of the wealth gap be halted? Or should this country be prevented from becoming a society in which once you are a winner, you will always be a winner and once a loser, always a loser, given a certain measure of expansion in the wealth gap? This is a serious question the Livedoor scandal has posed for our nation to explore as we think about what kind of society we should build.Moral questionsIn response to a question about the cause of the latest scandal, most pollees cited such factors as the lack of morality on the part of Livedoor executives, the recent tendency to put money first and a deficiency in the current system designed to keep watch on stock markets and corporations. Fewer respondents cited increasing competition due to deregulation as a reason for the scandal, showing few believe deregulation was a direct cause of the scandal.There is a national consensus that there is a need to improve the morality of corporate executives and more closely monitor companies. The Yomiuri's poll is a clear indication of the public's wishes.The government and the ruling parties are devising specific measures to impose greater restrictions on stock splits and investment associations. It is believed that Livedoor took advantage of stock splits and the anonymity of an investment association in committing its alleged crime. The government and the ruling coalition also intend to shore up the role of the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission and increase the severity of penalties to be imposed under the Securities and Exchange Law.The government should draft bills to achieve these goals as soon as possible and get them adopted during the current Diet session.Horie's campaign frowned onMeanwhile, 57 percent of those surveyed said it was "inappropriate" for the Liberal Democratic Party to support Horie's unsuccessful bid to win office in last year's House of Representatives election, compared with 30 percent who said the LDP's action was "appropriate."There were great gaps among the respondents in different age brackets in their responses to this question. Older pollees tended to consider the LDP's support for Horie inappropriate.This shows political parties cannot expect to gain great support from younger voters if they field candidates who meet their traditional standards for candidacy. At the same time, political parties will antagonize older voters if they unwisely pick candidates unfit for politics. All political parties should exercise additional caution in selecting candidates to field in elections.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he will continue his structural reform drive. However, many people are increasingly aware of the widening wealth gap amid his ongoing reform campaign. The prime minister should know no progress will be made in debating what should be done to rectify the disparity if he merely insists the gap is not expanding.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	714	2006-01-31	YOSHIN0020060131e21v000gs
YOMSHI0020060131e2210000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060131e2210000c	EN	\N	Spring wage campaign must reflect recovery	On Friday, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) will hold a meeting to announce the start of its annual shunto campaign in Tokyo. This will be followed by plans by labor unions at major corporations, including electrical appliance manufacturers, automakers and steel corporations, to present their management with their wage demands.	4	2006-02-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is in contrast to the approach adopted by labor in their shunto campaigns over the past several years, in which they sought mainly to keep workers on the payroll and increase bonuses amid a deflationary recession, instead of trying to win a negotiated wage increase.Unions out for moneyBut this year's shunto is described by many as a revived campaign for wage increases. This is symbolized by the campaign policy adopted by Toyota Motor Workers Union. Wage negotiations between labor and management at the nation's largest car manufacturer can lead off similar talks at other industries.In late January, executives at the labor union of Toyota Motor Corp. employees adopted a plan to demand a 1,000 yen increase in monthly wages. The plan, if finalized, will be the first wage-increase demand in four years. The demand by Toyota Motor Workers Union could greatly affect the fate of this year's shunto campaign as a whole.The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) has expressed a readiness to accept pay raises by management at member corporations. In its latest report detailing guidelines for wage talks with labor, the nation's largest business organization said, "It will be desirable [for management] to appropriately lead [corporations] in a manner that will improve workers' morale without compromising the companies' competitiveness."There is a gap among corporations in their business performance. It is impossible for all companies to raise their employees' wages to an equal level today. However, any corporation whose profitability has improved must distribute a portion of its gains among its employees. Doing so will raise workers' morale and increase a sense of unity between labor and management. It is important to ensure this year's wage talks will help thriving corporations maintain and further improve their business performance.Today, labor and management no longer discuss wage raises in terms of the so-called base-up, or an increase in basic pay scales for all employees. Instead, Rengo is seeking a "wage improvement" in its shunto campaign this year. This is the first time the leading business organization has described its shunto as a campaign for a wage improvement.Labor unions in the electrical machinery industry intend to demand a monthly wage increase of 2,000 yen, while those at steel and other corporations will seek a 3,000 yen increase in monthly wages for a two-year period. Their wage-improvement demands reflect the fact that the performance-based wage system has been established at many companies in recent years. A number of labor organizations regard a wage improvement as an increase in financial resources labor has set aside for wage payment.All must reap rewardsHowever, it will be impossible to improve the vitality of corporations if the wage system benefits only some employees whom management have rated as high achievers. In fact, Nippon Keidanren has emphasized the need to value "ordinary people" who will steadily fulfill their tasks and goals in office.Corporate employees shoulder a greater financial burden in the form of an increase in social insurance premiums today. Beginning in January, the amount of fixed-rate tax rebates was halved. Some observers have said it is necessary to increase corporate workers' wages to keep them properly fed, clothed and housed. An important task facing both labor and management is to improve the wages and other working conditions of employees from a wide range of corporate sectors, including part-time and temporary workers.In recent months, a number of corporations have fallen into crisis due to their neglect of the quality and safety of their products and services. It will be necessary for labor and management to discuss how to prevent such cases as a new task to be tackled in the shunto negotiations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	741	2006-02-01	YOSHIN0020060201e221000hs
YOMSHI0020060201e2220000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060201e2220000g	EN	\N	Researchers who fake data must be punished	A researcher at Seoul National University fabricated landmark research papers on human embryo stem cells, which damaged the national prestige of South Korea.	4	2006-02-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Likewise a senior researcher at Tokyo University, recognized around the world for his academic achievements, is suspected of falsifying data on genetic research.There have been many cases involving the fabrication, falsification or plagiarism of scientific research data.Universities should police selvesThe purpose of the ministry committee is to have universities and research institutes investigate allegations of research improprieties of their own accord.The committee's first task will be to establish a permanent section to listen to accusations made by whistle-blowers at universities and other institutions. When an accusation is received, an investigative committee will be set up. The ministry will oversee investigations and will demand that fraudulent researchers repay research funds they received, and may bar them from qualifying for future grants.A key question is how should research institutes and the government handle research irregularities? It is strange that there are no regulations on the books to punish such irregularities. The government should establish a system as soon as possible to punish academic wrongdoings. There must be an end to the current situation in which research institutes and academic societies take stopgap measures when research irregularities are revealed.In the case of the alleged data falsification at Tokyo University, the RNA Society of Japan reported to the university that the professor's scientific paper and other experiments involving his team could not be replicated, indicating he had fabricated his research papers. But the society, a group of experts in its field, left the investigation in the hands of the university.Penalty system neededThe university set up its own investigative committee, but after 10 months of investigation could not determine whether the scientific papers had been fabricated. The committee concluded there was no scientific data to prove the propriety of the research papers.The professor denies the fabrication. But there remain many suspicious points, including the fact that he did not keep notes of his experiments, something that is considered a basic among researchers.The university will determine a punishment for the professor. But under the current system, the ministry cannot ask him to return the government grant of more than 1 billion yen he received.As Tokyo University's investigation was undertaken by colleagues of the professor and has no legally binding power, the investigative committee merely asked the professor to replicate his experiments. The committee did not question members of his research team.The United States has an organization that supervises investigations by research institutes into irregularities, which is empowered to seize evidence. There is a regulation in force by which the return of government research funds can be demanded.In Japan, if such investigations are left in the hands of universities and academic societies, it will impair public trust in science.Some experts say fierce competition and a highly competitive performance evaluation system in scientific research are behind the irregularities. Researchers are under constant pressure to produce good results, upon which their future posts and research funds are based, the experts say.But these excuses do not hold water. Research irregularities are a breach of faith in science, which is a study to seek the truth.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2006-02-02	YOSHIN0020060202e222000gv
YOMSHI0020060202e2230000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060202e2230000e	EN	\N	Public's understanding needed on Imperial law	Various efforts must be made so the Japanese people understand the issue, and a consensus can be formed.	4	2006-02-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A number of lawmakers, including those from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan, and some experts and scholars oppose or take a cautious stance on the revision of the law to allow females and their descendants to ascend the throne.A suprapartisan group and two private groups on Wednesday adopted a resolution opposing "hasty submission of the revision bill to the Diet," in a move to block the government's plan to submit the revision bill to the current ordinary Diet session in early March.In line with the recommendations of a report released in November by a government panel of scholars, the bill calls for allowing female monarchs and their descendants to ascend the throne.The bill addresses the current situation in which maintaining male-line monarchs looks difficult.Not enough discussion on billJapan has had eight female monarchs, but never an emperor from the female line.All emperors and empresses regnant were from the male line, and opponents of female-line monarchs say allowing such a system would "destroy Japan's history and traditions."Some of them say it would be possible to maintain male-line succession by having men from former imperial households that left the Imperial family after the end of World War II return to the family to father male descendants who could become emperor. There are 11 such families.One problem with having these families return to the Imperial family is that members of the families have spent the last nearly 60 years as commoners.Another issue is that the current Imperial family and the 11 former imperial households are distant relatives--their common ancestors lived in the Muromachi period (1333-1568).The government panel did not hold in-depth discussions on having men from the former households return to the Imperial family. It only said, "It is uncertain whether the public would accept them as members of the Imperial family."But it is a fact that it is doubtful whether the public understands the difference between female monarchs and female-line monarchs--a precondition for discussing whether to allow female-line monarchs.Form consensus on issueLDP General Council Chairman Fumio Kyuma has expressed a cautious view on the submission of the bill to the current ordinary Diet session."Can we just say it's OK [to submit the bill] because support levels in opinion polls are high though the people don't understand [the issue] well?" Kyuma said.Why is it difficult to maintain male-line monarchs? The government should explain to the people details of the revision, including the content of the discussion by the panel, to help form a national consensus on the issue.If such a consensus is formed, lawmakers will have a better environment in which to discuss the bill at the Diet.The issue should not become a political football.The revision bill is not an ordinary bill, and the government should not railroad it through the Diet like it did with the postal privatization bills. But neither should the bill's opponents fight it tooth and nail.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has expressed his desire that the bill be passed during the current ordinary Diet session. But at the same time, he has said he hoped to see a "unanimous vote."It is time for him to do his best to drum up as much support for the bill as possible.The only suitable Imperial House Law for the new era is one that the public feels comfortable with.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2006-02-03	YOSHIN0020060203e223000g9
YOMSHI0020060203e2240000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060203e2240000d	EN	\N	Ruling over tax breaks upholds fairness ideal	The judgment in question was made in respect of a lawsuit filed by local members of the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea, who asserted that it was illegal for the city government of Kumamoto to reduce or waive fixed property and other local taxes for a hall affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).	4	2006-02-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Local Tax Law stipulates that those in special circumstances, such as victims of a natural disaster or people living in poverty, are eligible for a reduction of or exemption from fixed property tax, in line with relevant local ordinances.An ordinance concerning the local taxes levied by Kumamoto says fixed properties that are exclusively and directly used for the public's benefit are eligible for tax reduction or exemption, citing such examples as public halls and similar facilities, and firefighting buildings.Serving the public interest?The biggest issue of contestation was whether the hall in Kumamoto can be recognized as a facility serving the public benefit in the manner of a public hall.The Kumamoto District Court recognized that the hall was used for the public's benefit, thus rejecting the plaintiffs' demand. The court of first instance ruled that "when considering the hall's facilities and its use, it can be recognized as functioning as a public hall or the like."The high court decision reversed the lower court ruling. It is noteworthy that the high court examined the public benefit of the hall taking into account three issues.One issue was who owns the hall. It is owned by a company that was established for the sole purpose of owning the hall and serves no other function.On this point, the high court concluded that it was illegal to give preferential tax treatment to the hall as there were neither any "special circumstances" allowing the hall to be granted such treatment nor any evidence that the hall is used exclusively for the public's benefit.The second issue is what is meant by the "public interest," as referred to here.The high court interpreted the term to mean "something that benefits, in general, the society of our country," and examined whether Chongryon's activities provided any such benefit. In its conclusion, the court clearly denied that the group's activities serve the public interest, saying that Chongryon "conducts activities to advocate the national interests of North Korea and the private benefits of Korean residents of Japan under the leadership of North Korea and in unity with North Korea."Decision sets precedentConcerning the actual use of the hall, the high court, in contrast to the lower court conclusion, said it had found no evidence that the hall served the public interest.According to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, at least 30 city governments--among 49 local municipalities where either a central or local head office of Chongryon was located as of January last year--have granted Chongryon-related facilities either a reduction in or exemption from local taxes. They were given preferential tax treatment by the local governments because it was deemed that they serve the public interest.The ownership and usage of the facilities may differ from one facility to another. Yet when viewed from the point of serving the public interest, the clear-cut yardstick presented by the high court is significant. Local governments that are still giving preferential tax treatment to facilities affiliated with Chongryon for no good reason should review their positions soon.Chongryon has filed lawsuits with district courts in such cities as Tokyo and Osaka, demanding that local governments let the group pay less or no tax. The latest high court ruling will certainly affect the outcome of these cases.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2006-02-04	YOSHIN0020060204e224000he
YOMSHI0020060204e2250000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060204e2250000d	EN	\N	U.S. concerned over China's military power	In the QDR, which outlines defense policies the United States should pursue over the next 20 years, the Pentagon stressed three priorities: how to deal with countries at strategic crossroads--including China; the ongoing war against terrorism; and ways to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.	4	2006-02-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With regard to China, India and Russia, the QDR said the choices these countries made "will be the key factors in determining the international security environment of the 21st century."Even the United States, the sole superpower, cannot secure her safety alone. Gaining the cooperation of not only allied countries, but also nonallied ones is the key to her safety. Accordingly, the United States will adopt a carrot-and-stick approach toward its allies. Although it will aim to foster cooperation, the United States will be prepared to move against an adversary if necessary.China seen as potential foeIn the QDR the Pentagon cited China as having the "greatest potential to compete militarily with the United States."With regard to the potential capability of China's military technologies, the QDR said that unless the United States implemented necessary measures, China "could, over time, offset traditional U.S. military advantages," illustrating the depth of Washington's concern about China's future military development.In the previous QDR, released shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the Pentagon expressed concern over the emergence of military power hostile to the United States in a region stretching from the Middle East to Northeast Asia. Although it didn't specify China by name, the Pentagon was aware of that country's military potential.This time, the Pentagon was more forceful due to U.S. skepticism over China's strategic intentions. China markedly is increasing its military expenditures, and boosting its nonconventional military capabilities.In the annual report on China's military capabilities submitted to Congress in July, the Pentagon said that were China's rapid military modernization to continue, it would certainly present a threat to neighboring areas. This was the first time the Pentagon had referred to a China "threat." The new QDR is a logical extension of this argument.With its military shrouded in secret, China is increasing its nuclear arsenal, and actively setting forth into the open sea.U.S. focus firmly on PacificAs part of the global realignment of U.S. forces, the Pentagon has drawn up a policy that seeks to reduce its number of operational aircraft carriers worldwide from 12 to 11. However, it wants its number of Pacific-based carriers to stay at six.In tandem with a policy of deploying 60 percent of its submarines in the Pacific, this shows the importance the Pentagon attaches to the region as the one where quick military action will most likely be necessary.The new QDR also called for reinforcing U.S. alliances with Australia, Japan and South Korea.A 2004 incident, in which a Chinese nuclear submarine intruded into Japan's territorial waters, revealed that China was conducting intelligence gathering activities as far from its coast as Guam.Japan shares the United States' concern over China's military capabilities. How to deal with China is a top-priority issue that must be dealt with in the framework of the Japan-U.S. alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	589	2006-02-05	YOSHIN0020060205e225000ag
YOMSHI0020060205e2260000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060205e2260000f	EN	\N	Major changes vital for defense agencies	Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga has said the Defense Facilities Administration Agency will be "dissolved" and absorbed by the Defense Agency, adding specific plans will be drawn up by the summer. For years, the Defense Facilities Administration Agency has been operated as an organ affiliated with the Defense Agency.	4	2006-02-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Defense Facilities Administration Agency has been assigned the task of building facilities to be used by the SDF and U.S. forces in the nation, including airfields, harbors, communications installations and hospitals. The agency is also responsible for addressing the host of problems facing people who live near such facilities, including noise reduction and compensation for having to relocate.The agency has about 3,100 employees at its Ichigaya head office in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo and at its eight regional bureaus including offices in Sapporo and Naha. Forty-five percent of them are technical employees. Nearly all employees of the agency's Construction Department, the center of the recent scandal, hold technical jobs. According to observers, a key factor behind the scandal are the strong ties among agency employees, retired officials and companies seeking to undertake projects planned by the agency.Deja vuThe latest incident resembles the scandal revolving around rigged bids on contracts given out by the Defense Agency's Central Procurement Office in 1998. Nukaga, who was also serving as agency director general, had to resign to take responsibility for the scandal. The recent scandal involving the Defense Facilities Administration Agency means the bitter lessons learned from the 1998 incident have not been acted upon and nothing has been done to prevent a similar scandal.The agency has a tendency toward clannishness reflecting the strong sense of family unity felt by agency employees as an expert group. Nukaga's pledge to dissolve the agency must not be reduced to empty words. True reform does not mean merely drafting a new organizational chart combining the Defense Agency with the Defense Facilities Administration Agency.It will be essential to establish a system to monitor the integrated agency, after imposing restrictions on retired officials taking executive positions at corporations in what is known as amakudari (descent from heaven), and explore problems with the current employment, personnel and retirement systems.It is also important to think about people living near military bases who will have to shoulder greater burdens due to plans to relocate some units and facilities, including the transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. Many remain opposed to those plans. To smoothly operate military facilities, the Defense Facilities Administration Agency has a great role to play in obtaining consent from the residents affected.Disagreement over relocationIt has been noted that the Defense Agency and the Defense Facilities Administration Agency are divided over the relocation of the Futenma facility. The difference of opinions between the two institutions will make it difficult to make progress in realigning the military bases and shoring up their roles. The antagonism between the two agencies will also undermine efforts to improve cooperative relations between the SDF and U.S. forces.The Defense Agency intends to make drastic changes in its structure, including a plan to take over some duties related to addressing problems arising from the U.S. military presence, which are currently fulfilled by the Defense Facilities Administration Agency. To achieve this goal, the Defense Agency will draft a bill to be submitted to the current Diet session to revise the law on its establishment. Its plan to merge with the facilities administration agency signifies an attempt to further reform its organizational structure.A vital task in accomplishing these goals is boosting cooperation between the division responsible for addressing base-related problems and the division charged with building, improving and managing facilities. All this is essential to implementing security policies under the Japan-U.S. alliance.There are concerns that the latest scandal could undermine efforts to upgrade the Defense Agency to a ministry. However, the recent scandal and the agency's status should be discussed as separate issues. The facilities administration agency's merger with the Defense Agency should be seen as part of efforts to upgrade the latter's status.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	774	2006-02-06	YOSHIN0020060207e22600044
YOMSHI0020060206e2270000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060206e2270000d	EN	\N	Defense policy no place for referendums	Iwakuni Mayor Katsusuke Ihara has said he intends to hold a referendum on a plan to relocate U.S. carrier-based aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture in March.	4	2006-02-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.S. Marine Corps and the Maritime Self-Defense Force jointly use the Iwakuni facility.In October, the Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to transfer 57 carrier-based planes from the Atsugi Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture, which both the U.S. Navy and the MSDF use, to the Iwakuni air base. The agreement will also relocate MSDF planes from the Iwakuni facility to the Atsugi base to ease the burden shouldered by residents in and around Iwakuni.Ihara has been consistent in insisting the aircraft relocation plan be called off. Prior to the Japan-U.S. agreement, citizens groups presented the mayor with a petition opposing the plan signed by about 60,000 local residents--more than half of the city's population. This has encouraged Ihara to insist on scrapping the relocation plan.However, questions should be raised about the propriety of Ihara holding a referendum on the plan.Timing flawedThe Iwakuni municipal ordinance on referendums incorporates a provision stating the mayor has the power to initiate a referendum. However, most members of the Iwakuni City Assembly have opposed such a referendum, insisting the local government reverse its attitude on the dispute and seek dialogue with the national government to settle the problem. These assembly members have regarded the transfer of carrier-based aircraft to the Iwakuni facility as inevitable.If the mayor forces the referendum, confusion could reign in the municipal government.The referendum is expected to take place March 12. Eight days after the poll, Iwakuni will merge with seven neighboring towns and villages and a mayoral election is slated for April.All this means the outcome of the referendum will reflect the wishes of some--not all--people living in the expanded city. The mayors and assembly chairmen of the seven towns and villages have good reason to oppose Ihara's plan to hold the referendum while their communities are undergoing great changes due to the merger.The referendum is an effective tool for determining the wishes of local residents concerning matters such as municipal mergers that relate only to their own communities. In fact, the Iwakuni municipal ordinance on referendums states matters not subject to the city's authority are not covered by local plebiscites.National security at stakeThe mayor has defended his referendum plan by saying the national government has sought his opinion about the carrier-based aircraft relocation plan and therefore it is necessary to determine residents' wishes concerning the issue.It should be noted, however, that the realignment of U.S. forces in this country is a matter of national security. It follows that the relocation plan does not fall within the city's authority, and that the dispute does not lend itself to a local referendum.The referendum's result is not legally binding. However, the result of the vote could affect other local governments that host U.S. bases, hampering progress in government efforts to forge a consensus on the transformation of U.S. bases.In December 1997, residents in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, voted in a referendum on a plan to build a facility in their area to take over the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. Despite a majority of voters voting against the plan, the then Nago mayor decided to accept the plan and resigned. Confusion arising from all this set the stage for prolonged stalemate in resolving the dispute over the relocation of the Futenma facility.The same error must not be made in the controversy over the Iwakuni base.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2006-02-07	YOSHIN0020060207e227000v3
YOMSHI0020060207e2280000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060207e2280000j	EN	\N	Cautionary tale for firms keen on China trade	After receiving a criminal complaint filed by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, Shizuoka and Fukuoka prefectural police are investigating Yamaha Motor Co. on suspicion of violating the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law for allegedly trying to export a remote-controlled crop-spraying helicopter to China without permission.	4	2006-02-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A senior official of Yamaha Motor initially denied illegality and said, "Our company doesn't recognize any infringement of the law." The company has since refused to comment further.The police and the ministry are expected to further clarify the scope of the incident to prevent a recurrence of similar illicit exports.Yamaha Motor, headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a leading manufacturer and exporter of motorcycles and other machines. It is a reputable company listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company is obliged to cooperate fully with police to bring the whole truth to light. If the allegation is proven, the responsibility of the management must be pursued.Strict international controlsMajor countries around the world restrict export of unmanned, remote-controlled helicopters because they can be used as platforms to deliver and spray chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.Japan, too, has a trade ordinance demanding manufacturers obtain permissions from the economy, trade and industry minister to export remote-controlled helicopters with certain specifications.The police are investigating Yamaha Motor for allegedly attempting to export a remote-controlled helicopter to a Beijing aerial photography company in December.Has Yamaha aided PLA?However, Yamaha Motor is also suspected of having already exported without permission a total of 11 remote-controlled helicopters to China since 2001, including one to an arms manufacturer linked to the People's Liberation Army. If true, this means that a Japanese company helped China strengthen its military power.Some observers have said the Chinese military might have tried to introduce advanced technology from Japan to boost the technology level of its military equipment.In Japan, the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack by senior members of the Aum Supreme Truth cult is still vividly remembered. If our export controls are lax, a terrorist abroad could obtain a remote-controlled helicopter. It is a matter of course for remote-controlled helicopter manufacturers to observe trade regulations.This incident stands as a warning for Japanese companies keen on doing business with China. They should reexamine their inhouse export control systems to check whether their products could be converted for military use.The government also will bear heavy responsibility if it failed to prevent unauthorized exports of remote-controlled helicopters for years.The ministry and customs authorities must exchange information closely with each other and beef up surveillance to shut down any unauthorized exports.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	523	2006-02-08	YOSHIN0020060208e228000gu
YOMSHI0020060208e2290000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060208e2290000j	EN	\N	Imperial pregnancy a cause for happiness	The baby will be the couple's third child after Princess Mako, 14, and Princess Kako, 11, and the fourth grandchild of the Emperor and Empress after the two princesses and Princess Aiko, 4, the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako. Princess Aiko was born in December 2001.	4	2006-02-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The baby will further brighten the Imperial family. According to the agency, the Emperor and Empress heartily rejoiced at the news. It is wonderful news for us, too. We would like to congratulate the Imperial family from the bottom of our hearts.At the annual New Year's poetry reading on Jan. 12, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko both wrote poems that featured a stork, a bird traditionally associated with the appearance of babies. The poems were based on their experiences at a ceremony last September in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, at which white oriental storks bred in captivity were released into the wild. Was the pregnancy in their minds at January's poetry reading?Prince Akishino once said at a press conference that he felt Princess Mako and Princess Kako wished to have and take care of a younger brother or sister. The two princesses probably could hardly wait for a day when they would become elder sisters.Revision plans overhastyIf the baby is a boy, he will be third in line to the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino under the current Imperial House Law. In November last year, a private advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi compiled a draft bill to revise the law to allow female members of the Imperial family as well as descendants of female monarchs ascend the throne. According to the proposals, the child will be sixth in line regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl.The proposed revision to the law has prompted a variety of opinions to be expressed. Koizumi originally insisted he would do his best to revise the law based on the panel's conclusions during the current Diet session. But some lawmakers said changes to the law required more discussions to avoid a rough-and-ready conclusion.Imperial issue not political toolPrincess Kiko's pregnancy has changed the atmosphere from one of confrontation and lawmakers seem to be pulling together. This might be a natural consequence of the news.Speaking at the House of Representatives' Budget Committee on Wednesday, the prime minister said it would be better to pass a revised bill everyone could agree with. He added that he would handle the issue carefully so that it did not become a political football.It is not desirable for Diet deliberations to be confused when discussing an issue related to the Imperial household. The prime minister and the government should not try to pass the amendment bill hastily during the current Diet session. The issue should be discussed more to seek wider public understanding.Childbearing is a daunting task for a woman. Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko probably wish for nothing but the safe delivery of a healthy baby, regardless of its gender. We are quietly looking forward to the child's delivery day.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2006-02-09	YOSHIN0020060209e229000f3
YOMSHI0020060209e22a0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060209e22a0000g	EN	\N	We send Olympians our warmest support	Athletes will compete for medals in 84 events in seven sports, the largest number on record.	4	2006-02-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Six new events will be held, including the men's and women's speed skating team pursuit and the men's and women's snowboard cross. To win a medal in these new events, athletes have to compete not only in terms of speed and techniques, but also tactically. The events will certainly arouse interest as a new feature of the Winter Games.Although the number of events has increased, the International Olympic Committee has been streamlining the Olympiad in recent years.The number of entries is subject to this streamlining process. This time, Japan's bobsledders, two men and two women, almost failed to make the cut. Meanwhile, one Japanese speed skater's entry was canceled as he failed to meet revised qualifying standards set by the International Skating Union. The revision was made because the number of competitors exceeded that set by the IOC.The IOC's decision on the number of competitors will become increasingly strict. To avoid confusion, Japanese officials involved in the Olympics need to work out the best way to select the athletes who will represent Japan.Games not all about medalsA total of 112 Japanese athletes will participate in the events. We wonder how many medals they will win.In the 1998 Nagano Olympics, Japanese athletes won 10 medals, including five gold medals, giving the Japanese people plenty to be excited about. In the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Japanese athletes ended up winning just one silver and one bronze medal.While it hopes to maintain the momentum of the Athens Summer Olympics, in which Japanese athletes won 37 medals, the Japanese Olympic Committee expects Japanese athletes to win five medals. We hope the results will far exceed what the JOC predicts, as they did in the Athens Games.Apart from the competition for medals, there are other shining features of the Games.Competitors in many winter sports find it difficult to find sponsorship. When his financial support dried up, Kazuhiro Koshi, who competes in the skeleton event, had to go around to a number of companies looking for sponsors. He finally managed to find one.The five members of the women's curling team are all natives of Hokkaido. The team, including Ayumi Onodera, who moved to Aomori so she could continue playing the sport at a local curling arena while working, has been training hard together as the sport requires a high degree of teamwork.Meanwhile, the Turin Olympics may be the last Games for some Japanese medalists, given their age.We hope these athletes will see their wishes realized at the foot of the Alps.Stage set for fair playWith the cooperation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, tight security measures will be taken to guard against terrorism. The security operation involves about 15,000 police and military personnel from Italy, with a security budget of about 90 million euro (108 million dollars).Measures against doping have also been tightened. The number of doping tests is expected to be nearly double that conducted during the Salt Lake City Games. Should an athlete test positive for a banned substance, he or she will not only lose any medals won and be suspended, but also may be subject to punishment under Italian law.Now that the stage for fair play is set, let's give warm support to the athletes for the 17 days of the competition, which starts Friday.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2006-02-10	YOSHIN0020060210e22a000ff
YOMSHI0020060210e22b0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060210e22b0000f	EN	\N	'Fairness' watchword in pensions reform	A council on unifying employees pension programs, an advisory panel to the government and ruling parties, will review the corporate employees pension plan and the mutual aid pension program for government workers and study ways to integrate the two.	4	2006-02-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the council has only identified the major points to be discussed and has failed to work out such specifics as when the integration should be realized.Integrating the corporate employees pension plan and the mutual aid pension plan means abolishing various privileges available to those under the public employees pension plan. Therefore, what needs to be done is obvious.For the mutual aid pension plan, 1.7 trillion yen of taxpayers' money is injected annually under the name of "additional expenses" to provide benefits to retired public servants. As the present mutual aid pension plan started as a reconstituted program of a tax-funded pension system for public servants, it is intended that the benefits to be paid in return for the contributions made during the old tax-funded pension system are to be financed by tax money.Harmonize premiums quicklyCurrently working government employees have seen their financial burdens lessened. As a result, they are entitled to receive benefits comparable to those paid under the corporate pension plan while paying smaller premiums. They are even entitled to an additional monthly benefit of 20,000 yen under what is called the "job categories addition."For all the historical context of the program, these systems that elevate bureaucrats over the people should be corrected as soon as possible.The council decided that: (1) the low premium rate of the mutual aid pension plan should be brought in line with that of the corporate employees pension program quickly; (2) the job categories addition should be replaced with an alternative plan such as an enterprise pension; and (3) pension benefits for retired public employees should possibly be cut with an eye to eventually abolishing the "additional expenses" element.This is where the real problems start. If the premium rate of the public and private sector pension programs are to be harmonized, this should be done within three or so years, in a phased manner. If the process of harmonization is dragged out, it will be impossible to realize a drastic reform of pension programs as a whole, including the government-sponsored national pension insurance program.Debate property rights issueSome have pointed out that cutting pension benefits that have already been promised to retired public employees may violate their property rights, guaranteed under the Constitution.Yet a judicial precedent has it that property rights may be restricted in consideration of the public interest.If the government proceeds with a comprehensive reform of the overall pension system, it will be inevitable for property rights to come into question. It is the responsibility of politicians not to regard the issue as taboo, but to take it up for discussion and reach an agreement on the issue.How should the injection of tax money for the additional expenses be abolished? When it is abolished, by how much should pension benefits for retired public servants be cut? The government and ruling parties must present a range of possible scenarios, or a debate that weighs property rights against the public interest will not get off the ground.The issue of integrating the corporate employees pension program and the mutual aid pension plan for government workers has been left unsettled, despite the fact that cabinet decisions on the matter have been made on three occasions since 1984. Given that a review of the entire social security system is required, there is no more time to be wasted.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2006-02-11	YOSHIN0020060211e22b000ca
YOMSHI0020060213e22c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060213e22c00001	EN	\N	SDP cannot turn back clock on SDF	The declaration adopted Saturday by the SDP at its party convention states it will seek to "scale back the Self-Defense Forces, the [current] circumstances of which are clearly unconstitutional...and reform and [eventually] dissolve them in order to establish an unarmed Japan." The declaration also says the opposition party will strive to "transform the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty into one of peace and friendship."	4	2006-02-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Anyone who knows the history of post-World War II Japanese politics may feel as if the SDP has slipped back in time to the days of the so-called 1955 political order, when conservative and left-leaning forces were pitted against each other.In 1964, the Japan Socialist Party, a predecessor of the SDF, adopted a platform titled "The Road to Socialism in Japan." This aimed to scrap the security pact and turn the SDF into national police, disaster relief and construction units. The substance of that document closely resembles the SDP's latest declaration.In the past, the JSP argued the SDF was unconstitutional, while also insisting Japan should strive to become a nation of unarmed neutrality. These assertions long served as key JSP policies. Today, these arguments may be fondly remembered by elderly people as merely one chapter in the JSP's history.Reality faced in 1994All this was turned on its head in 1994, when the party--then called the Social Democratic Party of Japan--formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake (Pioneers). Then SDPJ Chairman Tomiichi Murayama discarded his party's long-running basic principles, saying the SDF were an entity "approved by the Constitution." He also acknowledged "the significance and importance of the Japan-U.S. security setup."Murayama's statement signified a fundamental shift in the SDPJ's bedrock principles. It was not surprising for the party to reverse its unrealistic security policy when it had the job of running the country.In 1991, the JSP dropped "Socialist" from its English name to became the Social Democratic Party of Japan. In 1996, the SDPJ renamed itself as the SDP. The party was expected to retain the basic policies avowed by Murayama in 1994. What on earth has caused the SDP to revert to its old ways?Party seeks unarmed JapanThe SDP has defended its change of heart, saying the SDF has undergone drastic changes since the days of the Murayama Cabinet. Examples cited by the party include the revision of the Japan-U.S. defense cooperation guidelines in 1997, the 1999 legislation to deal with contingencies in areas surrounding Japan, and laws created and revised in more recent years to deal with direct military threats to our country. The SDP also cites the dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Force ships to the Indian Ocean and SDF troops to Iraq, as well as the missile defense program.The periphery emergency law and the legal framework for Japan's preparedness to counter an attack are essential for defending this country's peace and security. The dispatch of MSDF ships to the Indian Ocean and SDF personnel to war-torn Iraq are part of an effort to play an important role in creating and maintaining global peace.Accepting and implementing the SDP's new policies would deprive the nation of ways or means to protect its people's lives and assets. Japan would be the odd man out in the international community.Today, the SDP has been reduced to minor party status. It has just 13 Diet members after years of gradual decline. The party's new policies may reflect its desire to overcome its difficulties by more emphatically opposing constitutional amendment. The party's renewed argument that the SDF is unconstitutional serves as the basis for pursuing that goal.The SDP's new policies may win the party a small degree of popular support for a while. But the SDP will never be able to turn back time's arrow.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2006-02-12	YOSHIN0020060213e22c0008q
YOMSHI0020060213e22e0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060213e22e0000g	EN	\N	Improve monitoring of securities markets	Livedoor Co. and Livedoor Marketing Co., a Livedoor affiliate formerly known as ValueClick Japan Inc., also were indicted on the same charges.	4	2006-02-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The means used in the Livedoor scandal looked modern, but the four were indicted on charges relating to a classic economic crime.According to the prosecutors, they jacked up the share price of Livedoor Marketing by fabricating the takeover plan and padding its financial figures to produce a surplus. They did so to make money by selling new shares of Livedoor Marketing, which were obtained illicitly by investment funds under the control of its parent company, Livedoor, the prosecutors said.The prosecutors have already gathered enough evidence to bring the four into criminal court on charges of cooking Livedoor's books.Though they used relatively new measures including share splitting, corporate acquisition and investment funds, the four were far from the first to fabricate information to boost stock prices. This is a modus operandi seen countless times in past economic crimes.Enforcement failedHowever, the question remains as to why the Financial Services Agency and other securities market watchdogs condoned, and many investors were deceived by, such a primitive trick. The prosecutors are expected to discover flaws in the monitoring system by clarifying the full circumstances of the Livedoor scandal.Horie openly expressed not only mammonism by saying "you can do anything with money," but also his willingness to circumvent the law by stressing "I will cash in on a legal flaw without hesitation."Of his questionable measures, share splitting at a high ratio cannot be used any longer because the Tokyo Stock Exchange has asked listed companies to refrain from such actions and the securities industry revised its rules to prevent a shortage of stock certificates after the largest Livedoor split.Off-hours trading of stocks--the means Livedoor used to acquire shares in Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc.--cannot be used any more to take over a company after the Securities and Exchange Law was revised last year.The FSA also is working on a bill on trading of financial products to require further disclosure of information on investment funds.Too little, too lateLaws and self-imposed restrictions on the securities industry are being revised steadily, though it seems a case of closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.However, the problem is that the concerned parties lack the ability or authority to enforce them.Why did the FSA, the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission and the TSE fail to see through the fraudulent actions of the four? Why did an accounting firm approve financial documents suspected of including window-dressing? Why did the securities company in charge of Livedoor stocks fail to stop the firm's efforts to circumvent the law?The commission's monitoring capability as well as penalties and surcharges for securities crimes should be strengthened as soon as possible.The aggregate market price of Livedoor stocks fell to 64 billion yen on Monday from its peak of 935.3 billion yen in January 2004. Individual shareholders affected by this numbered 220,000.The countdown to the delisting of Livedoor has begun. Securities markets will collapse unless fairness is ensured and investors are protected.With the indictment of Horie and the three others, concerned parties must again take to heart the significance of their respective roles.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2006-02-14	YOSHIN0020060214e22e000h6
YOMSHI0020060214e22f0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060214e22f0000d	EN	\N	Global policy needed on recycling N-fuel	According to the department, the GNEP will promote nuclear power generation inside and outside the United States, which will alleviate problems stemming from the disparities between oil demand and oil supply. To achieve this goal, Washington will revive the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, which has not been undertaken in the United States since 1979.	4	2006-02-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	New lamps for oldUnder the GNEP, countries with nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies, including Japan, Russia and the United States, would take in spent nuclear fuel from countries without such facilities and reprocess the spent fuel into fresh reactor fuel on their behalf. The GNEP would urge countries forwarding fuel for reprocessing to intentionally leave some impurities in the fuel to make it harder for it to be used in the construction of a nuclear weapon.In short, the partnership would be a grand initiative to establish a global recycling system to separate energy elements--uranium and plutonium--from spent fuel and turn them into new reactor fuel.Nuclear power plants are very effective in alleviating the energy crisis as well as battling global warming. We support the new U.S. policy and say Japan should cooperate with the partnership in developing a new technology.The spent nuclear fuel left after the generation of electricity is the main drawback of nuclear power plants. Since the spent fuel contains radioactive waste, the reprocessing or disposal of spent fuel requires the understanding of people living near nuclear facilities as well as a great deal of money.But if the GNEP were set up, many countries would be relieved of the burden of dealing with spent reactor fuel. If it were to join the partnership, Iran, whose nuclear ambitions are being criticized internationally, would be able to build nuclear power plants without protest from other countries.Securities must be givenThe potential fly in the ointment is that countries with nuclear reprocessing capabilities, including the United States, would gain a hold over the nuclear plants of countries that are dependent on their fuel recycling services.Russia's recent decision to slash the supply of natural gas to Ukraine has shown the risk of having an energy policy dependent on a particular country.Such concerns by countries lacking reprocessing technologies must be resolved and newer, more proliferation-resistant reprocessing technologies must be established to realize this initiative.Japan holds a special position in this regard as the only nonnuclear nation in the world that is approved internationally to reprocess nuclear fuel, a technology it promotes as a national policy.A recycling plant built in Rokkashomura, Aomori Prefecture, at a cost of more than 2 trillion yen is scheduled to start a final test run soon using recycled spent reactor fuel. Kyushu Electric Power Co. is working on a scheme to burn a mixture of uranium and plutonium in a pluthermal reactor for the first time in Japan as the Saga prefectural governor has given the green light to the project.If the U.S. initiative is realized, Japan's special position might attract global attention and complaints from the other nonnuclear countries. Japan must achieve nuclear fuel recycling quickly and transmit to the world the fact that it has safe nuclear technology and a strong commitment to the peaceful uses of atomic energy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2006-02-15	YOSHIN0020060215e22f000gu
YOMSHI0020060215e22g0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060215e22g0000f	EN	\N	Is weaker JMA clout healthier for patients?	One thing the decision made very clear is that the Japan Medical Association is not the only body representing medical circles.	4	2006-02-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The payments for treatment given to patients covered by health insurance are revised every two years. Late last year, the government decided to trim medical service fees by 3.16 percent. Given this goal, discussions centered on how best to divide the smaller pie.The latest revision gave extra consideration to remunerations for critical medical services--pediatrics, obstetrics and emergency medical service--which suffer from a marked shortage of doctors. Given the need to exercise restraint in medical service fees overall, the latest revision was varied for effect.New views with enlarged panelA key focus of attention prior to the debate was what impact the expanded council would have on deciding how the payments would be allocated.Previously, the five council seats allocated for doctors had been filled by JMA recommendations. But this was changed ahead of the latest round of discussions to allow hospital organizations to send their own representatives.These hospital organization representatives often presented opinions that were opposed to those of the medical association, which represents the viewpoint of private practitioners.Two key topics of debate were the issuance of free receipts that would show a detailed breakdown of medical services received, and the issue of promoting the use of generic drugs--which have the same effect as brand-name drugs with expired patents, but are cheaper--by changing the formula of prescriptions. The JMA strongly opposed these proposals on the ground they would place "a great mental and economic burden on doctors." But the representatives of hospital organizations did not share this viewpoint and the JMA's assertion was dismissed.Until the latest revision to the makeup of the committee, there were basically no differences in the viewpoints of members representing medical institutions, and any opinion strongly opposed by the JMA failed to win council approval. This illustrates how biased toward the JMA the council was.The latest discussions were given an extra air of tension by the inclusion on the council of a member representing an organization of patients, who not only ante up the fees but are also victims of medical malpractice.Varied input a good thingNeedless to say, the JMA still has a great influence on the council, and some other members found they had to yield ground in favor of the association's viewpoint. For instance, some members representing patients wanted the free receipts to contain as detailed a description of services as the itemized statement of medical bills prepared by medical institutions for health insurance purposes. However, the council concluded that the free receipts need only give a general indication of service provided, such as "medication fees" and "examination fees."Nonetheless, the latest revision showed that when it comes to discussing what kind of medical service the nation needed, the council should comprise a wider sector of society.Now is the critical moment for reforming the council. A bill to revise the law governing the council has been submitted to the current Diet session. Under the bill, the number of seats for those representing the public interest will be expanded from four to six. The issue of how to allocate the council seats will affect the next round of talks on revising medical remunerations.Now that the contents of medical system reform have almost been settled, the review of the social security system, which has been made separately each year, which starts with pensions, then nursing-care then the medical system has run its course.From now on, the integrated reform of social security needs to be expedited, and to do this the council will need a more multi-faceted viewpoint.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2006-02-16	YOSHIN0020060216e22g000fx
YOMSHI0020060216e22h0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060216e22h0000h	EN	\N	Is latest export scandal tied to N-black market?	The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the leading precision measurement device maker on suspicion it violated the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law.	4	2006-02-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The company is suspected of exporting a 3-D measuring tool that can be used to improve the accuracy of gas centrifuges to China and Thailand without the permission of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry. A gas centrifuge is a device that enriches uranium to a level at which it can be used to make nuclear weapons.High-tech products that can be converted for military use, such as high-performance measuring instruments, are listed under the Export Trade Control Order. The order strictly regulates the export of such products, in line with an international framework whose signatories include developed nations such as Japan, the United States and European nations.Clarify whole picture of dealsIt was only recently that Yamaha Motor Co. was searched by police for allegedly exporting remote-controlled crop-spraying helicopters to China without the government's permission.We will have to wait for the result of investigations in the days ahead to learn whether Yamaha exported the product knowing that it was listed under the export control order. In any case, it is evident that Japanese companies have a poor awareness of security issues.The MPD fears that the devices Mitutoyo exported may end up on the nuclear black market.When the International Atomic Energy Agency conducted an inspection in Libya, which was suspected of trying to develop nuclear weapons, two years ago, it found three precision-measuring devices manufactured by Mitutoyo, including a 3-D measuring tool.Mitutoyo had exported the 3-D measuring tool to a Malaysian precision instrument maker in 2001. The machine was brought into Libya the following year.The Malaysian firm is said to have been founded by aides to Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani nuclear scientist suspected of being the nuclear black market's mastermind. The Libyan government admitted to the IAEA that it procured the measuring tools from the nuclear black market.The MPD is investigating whether Mitutoyo exported the product to Malaysia without permission. The export was thoughtless if the company did not confirm the end user of the device and whether it would be used for general purposes. The overall picture of the deals must be clarified, including possible links with the nuclear black market.METI should issue reminderJapanese high-tech products, deemed treasuries of advanced technology, are easy targets for countries that aim to acquire nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, and missiles.North Korea and Iran are also said to have obtained products and technologies that can be converted for military use through the nuclear black market. Some have pointed out that Japanese companies ended up becoming major suppliers of such products and technologies to North Korea.Market competition among high-tech businesses is fierce. Should an illegal export by such a company be revealed, it would be criticized internationally and its reputation would be damaged. It is also possible that Japan's national security could be undermined through illegal exports of high-tech products. METI should make a renewed call on the industrial sector to conduct strict export controls on such products.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17 )	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2006-02-17	YOSHIN0020060217e22h000en
YOMSHI0020060217e22i0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060217e22i0000e	EN	\N	How can we protect children's safety?	The latest incident has fundamentally shaken the belief that the safety of young children going to school can best be protected by their parents.	4	2006-02-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The murders of the two 5-year-olds took place in a rural area of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture. Shortly after the incident, the 34-year-old-woman--the mother of the two victims' classmate--was arrested on murder charges. Friday's incident adds to the series of recent crimes in which children have been targeted while in school or on their way home along school-commuting roads.What came over the woman? We hope the police will uncover the whole truth behind the latest murders.Parents of children attending the two victims' kindergarten take turns shepherding students on their way to and from kindergarten. The latest incident occurred when the mother was driving her daughter and the victims to kindergarten. Using a knife taken from her home, the woman repeatedly stabbed the two children and dumped them out of her car. The woman has reportedly told the police she intended to kill the children.Suspect may have felt lonelyThe woman, a Chinese national, married a Japanese man after coming to live in this country. In the spring of 2004, the couple moved into a new residential neighborhood near the scene of the murders. She is said to have experienced difficulties speaking Japanese and making friends with neighbors and the mothers of her daughter's classmates.In November 1999, a 2-year-old girl was strangled by the mother of her friend in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. The girl's brother and the woman's son were attending the same kindergarten. It is believed that the woman decided to take the girl's life after coming to resent the victim's mother. The woman is said to have felt the girl's mother was giving her the cold shoulder.It will take investigators time to establish the truth behind the Chinese woman's motive for the murders. But it seems that her nationality and language difficulties posed a hindrance to her efforts to interact normally with her neighbors. The woman's feeling of being left out in her community may have caused her to vent her frustration upon the girl. Efforts to determine her motive should try to reveal how she got on in the community and what her relations with her neighbors were like.No longer a monocultureThere are about 2 million foreigners registered as residents in this country today. There is nothing unusual about Japanese marrying foreigners nowadays. In 2002, 36,000 Japanese were married to non-Japanese, meaning one in every 20 marriages was "international" that year.Living with non-Japanese has now become a way of life in this nation. All members of society should think about what it means to live with foreigners.Whatever the reason may be, no murder that takes the life of a young child can be pardoned. There were close to 80 murder and attempted murder cases involving kindergarten and other preschool children in 2005. The only way to protect children from such crimes is for teachers, parents, police and all other members of the community to cooperate in stepping up efforts to achieve this goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	589	2006-02-18	YOSHIN0020060218e22i000fl
YOMSHI0020060218e22j0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060218e22j0000g	EN	\N	Financial policy shifts must not rock the boat	The nation's gross domestic product in the October-December period rose a highly favorable 1.4 percent from the previous quarter, marking an annualized 5.5 percent growth in real terms. The figure shows the economic recovery is increasingly robust following months of leveling off.	4	2006-02-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Increased domestic demand, including personal consumption, has combined with brisk exports to raise the GDP.A number of thriving companies increased the size of their employees' winter bonuses. The ratio of job openings to registered job applications was 1-to-1 in December, the first time in about 13 years.Encouraged by their rising salaries and an improving employment situation, individuals are loosening their purse strings. Exports to the United States and China are also increasing.In an upcoming monthly economic report for February, the government intends to revise upward its overall economic assessment for the first time in six months.All in all, the economy is moving smoothly along the road to recovery. The Bank of Japan is expected to seriously consider ending its sustained quantitative ultraloose monetary policy before long.The year-on-year consumer price index, excluding perishable foods, has exceeded zero for three consecutive months since October, meaning it has already left negative territory. This is a clear sign that the deflationary era is drawing to a close.Deflation not yet curedHowever, during the October-December period, the GDP deflator, a barometer of the overall trend in prices, fell more than 1 percent from the same period in 2004. Emphasizing the significance of this index, the government has insisted the country remains in the grips of mild deflation.The central bank must establish the nation has completely pulled out of the deflationary spiral before scrapping its easy-credit policy. The bank should remain cautious until it is convinced the economy will never become deflationary again. When to end the ultraloose monetary policy must be decided by keeping a close watch on every development the economy makes.As the economic upturn gathers momentum, market players are increasingly assured it will not be long before the central bank ends its easy-credit policy. The bank's decision to halt this policy must be complemented by efforts to ensure its actions do not disturb the market.Zero interest rate to remainThe central bank has repeatedly said it will keep its zero-interest rate policy intact for some time even after ending the ultraloose monetary policy. There are concerns, however, that long-term interest rates could sharply rise if market players act according to what they think the central bank will choose to do once it abandons its current monetary policy.Some government officials and Liberal Democratic Party members have proposed implementing inflation targets to raise the price increase rate to a certain level. Admittedly, inflation targets would make it easier for everyone to know what the central bank is seeking to accomplish. However, some specialists oppose the idea, saying targets could make it difficult to implement flexible monetary policies.The central bank should speedily consider what criteria need to be established when implementing monetary policies, including the pros and cons of inflation targets. It is also important to ensure that when its easy-credit policy comes to an end, it does not disturb the market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2006-02-19	YOSHIN0020060219e22j0009s
YOMSHI0020060219e22k0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060219e22k0000h	EN	\N	Newspapers' status should be respected	The Fair Trade Commission has started reviewing its own designation of several categories of products and services, including newspapers, as exceptions to the application of the Antimonopoly Law. The FTC has said it will form a conclusion on the issue by the end of June.	4	2006-02-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the exception granted to newspapers is forfeited or limited, it could spark an intense competition among newspaper publishers for a greater share of the market. That could also fundamentally shake the newspaper industry's home delivery system, which enables anyone to buy the same newspaper at the same price anywhere in the nation.The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association opposes an expected change in the the special status given to newspapers, citing the need to preserve the home delivery system as a means of steadily distributing newspapers to readers and protecting the freedom of speech.We believe the FTC should keep the special status granted to newspapers in place.The FTC's designation of some products and services as exceptions to the law's application is aimed at preventing unfair sales in their spheres. There are seven categories of products and services, including newspapers, school textbooks and shipping trade, exempted from the law.Reconsidering exemptionsEarlier, the commission said it would reconsider the special status given to five of the seven categories. It has already decided to annul the status given to one of the five categories.Newspaper publishers have been prohibited from setting different prices on their respective papers, depending on whom they sell their papers to and where they sell, with the exception of copies sold as teaching material for students. The rationale behind this rule is that if newspaper publishers were allowed to set any price they preferred, it could trigger a price war, dealing a blow to their business foundations. Such an event would be extremely disturbing in that newspapers must also serve as public institutions.Newspaper and book publishers are authorized to set retail prices on their products under the resale price maintenance system. The resale system and the exception to the Antimonopoly Law granted to newspapers are two halves of the same whole.The two systems complement each other in maintaining the newspaper industry's home delivery system. If newspapers were removed from the list of exempted products and services, it could undermine efforts to preserve the resale price maintenance system.Earlier attemptThe FTC once previously sought to scrap the resale system. Faced with strong objections from the public, the commission reversed its decision and ruled in favor of maintaining the system for the foreseeable future five years ago.The FTC should remind itself of the wave of antagonism among the public toward its desire to abolish the system five years ago. Many members of the public opposed the FTC's idea, feeling newspapers and books were essential for promoting print culture, the advancement of society and freedom of speech. This recognition convinced them of the need to protect the resale system as a means of ensuring newspapers and books fulfilled their role in this respect.Public faith in these systems seems unshaken. According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, an overwhelming majority of those polled support the resale system and the exception granted to newspapers.The law on the promotion of the reading habit, which took effect in July, states it is an obligation for the central and local governments to advance and promote print culture. Given this, it is difficult to say the FTC's stance is in line with the spirit of the law.Eliminating the exception granted to newspapers runs counter to public interests. We hope the FTC rethinks its position.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2006-02-20	YOSHIN0020060220e22k000kd
YOMSHI0020060220e22l0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060220e22l0000k	EN	\N	Defend steelmakers against takeover bids	In January, Mittal Steel Co., the world's largest steelmaker, announced an acquisition offer of 2.6 trillion yen for rival Arcelor S.A. of Luxembourg, the second-largest steelmaker in the world. The news shook steel companies around the globe.	4	2006-02-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Arcelor immediately rejected the offer and asked its stockholders not to sell any shares to Mittal Steel.This is the first hostile takeover attempt between major steelmakers, with previous consolidation within the industry done in a friendly manner.The result of the acquisition talks is difficult to predict, but it is clear that Japanese companies are more likely targets than ever before for takeover attempts by foreign steelmakers. They must fully prepare to deal calmly with surprise takeover bids by foreign companies at any time.At the center of the takeover war is Lakshmi Mittal, chief executive and chairman of Mittal Steel. Indian-born Mittal bought one steel company after another in Asia and Latin America after taking over the business of his father, who had advanced into the electric furnace market from scrap trading.Profiting from privatizationMittal further expanded his holdings by buying inefficient state-run ironworks in Eastern Europe at low prices and rebuilding them.He then started taking over steel companies and plants in Western Europe and the United States. In April last year, Mittal succeeded in a friendly takeover of International Steel Group Inc., the second largest steel company in the United States. The acquisition increased his company's annual crude steel output to 58.95 million tons, exceeding Arcelor's 46.9 million tons per year. The annual output of Nippon Steel Corp., the world's third-largest steelmaker, is 31.41 million tons.However, many of Mittal Steel's products are low-value-added steel for construction and other purposes and the company is not good at making high value-added steel products such as those for cars.It made a buyout offer to Arcelor apparently to increase not only the quantity but also the quality of its products.Quality key assetJapan's major steelmakers produce more high-value-added products than any other steelmakers in the world. Some observers predict that Mittal Steel's next target will be a Japanese company.Domestic steel firms should consider introducing defensive measures against unfriendly takeover attempts, such as adopting so-called poison pill strategies to reduce a raider's ratio of shareholding with share warrants.Iron ore suppliers worldwide have been consolidated into three major groups, while automakers--heavy consumers of steel products--have been merged into six groups. In the background of the global steel industry's consolidation is the intention of steelmakers to enhance their bargaining power against both upstream and downstream industries by increasing their size.The merger of Mittal Steel and Arcelor requires the approval of the European Commission. But the commission is not likely to refuse the merger request because the two companies share eastern and western parts of the European market and the merger is not expected to increase the share of the merged company much in any one country.Excessive consolidation of companies producing steel, a basic industrial material, is not desirable, but no global framework to control it is available.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	575	2006-02-21	YOSHIN0020060221e22l000gv
YOMSHI0020060221e22m0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060221e22m0000g	EN	\N	Govt should take lead in raising patriotism	A number of events are scheduled to raise public awareness of the issue, including a meeting that will be attended by Shimane Gov. Nobuyoshi Sumita.	4	2006-02-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But these efforts to raise public consciousness on a territorial issue that is related to national sovereignty should be undertaken by the central government, rather than being left to a prefectural government.The Takeshima islands had been a fishing ground for Japanese fishermen since the Edo period (1603-1867). In 1905, the islands were incorporated into Shimane Prefecture. Under the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which stipulated the post-World War II territory of Japan, the islands are considered part of Japan.Seoul sees might as rightIn January 1952, shortly before the treaty went into effect in April, then South Korean President Syngman Rhee declared sovereignty over the waters around South Korea and drew a line in the Sea of Japan, claiming fishing rights in the area and sovereignty over the Takeshima islands, known as Tokdo in South Korea. Later, South Korea stationed an armed presence on the islands and has occupied the islands ever since.When the Shimane prefectural assembly established the Takeshima Day ordinance in March, South Korea objected strongly, and exchanges between the prefecture and its South Korean counterparts were suspended.The establishment of the ordinance has aroused public interest in the islands. Between March and January, the prefectural government's Web site received 700,000 hits about the issue, a 4.6-fold increase on the corresponding period a year earlier.But it is worthy of note that public awareness of the Takeshima issue has deepened as a result of the actions of the prefecture, rather than the central government--not that there has not been a massive growth of public awareness over the issue.In March, Seoul permitted its nationals to go on a sightseeing tour of the islands. In April, South Korea's National Assembly passed into law a bill concerning the sustainable use of the islands. Through these steps, South Korea is accumulating a number of fait accompli to reinforce its effective control of the islands.Govt pussyfooting on issueWhenever such actions have been taken by Seoul, Tokyo has protested. But South Korea has shrugged off such protests, calling them "reckless remarks."For its part, Japan has done nothing more than lodge protests, presumably because it considers it would be inappropriate to provoke Seoul to anger. Despite this, the government should not pass the buck when it comes to raising public awareness about the islands' sovereignty.Discontent within the fishing industry, which was the reason the ordinance was established, continues to run strong.The waters around the islands are good spots for such marine products as snow crab. In November 1998, Japan and South Korea signed a fishery accord, whereby the waters around the islands were defined as "provisional waters," putting the islands effectively under joint control.Although seven years have passed since then, the two countries have yet to confirm specific conditions for fishing, in effect driving Japanese fishing vessels out of the area.The two governments started talks on the issue in May last year, but no tangible progress has been made. Both countries should work harder to come up with rules to regulate fishing in the area.Settling a territorial dispute is difficult, which makes it all the more important for the central government to raise public awareness of the issue and reinforce Japan's stance on the matter.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2006-02-22	YOSHIN0020060222e22m000gq
YOMSHI0020060223e22n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060223e22n00001	EN	\N	DPJ mustn't be allowed to switch stalking horses	During the first question time of the current Diet session Wednesday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Maehara mainly debated the reforms implemented under the Koizumi administration and education issues.	4	2006-02-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A prime issue drawing public attention before question time began was an e-mail that Hisayasu Nagata, a DPJ member of the House of Representatives, presented at a Budget Committee meeting of the lower house last week.Nagata said the e-mail was evidence that former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie, indicted for allegedly violating the Securities and Exchange Law, had instructed a subordinate to send \\30 million to the second son of Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe in connection with September's lower house election.Long on talk, short on proofMaehara has repeatedly said the credibility of the e-mail is high. But the opposition party has yet to present any conclusive evidence to back up its claim. While declaring that it has in its possession the name on the account and the account number, the DPJ has unveiled neither.Nagata has not shown himself in public since the committee meeting. Since he also is the chief director of the lower house's Financial Affairs Committee, his absence has hindered the management of the committee.Suspicion over the veracity of the e-mail is deepening, with even some DPJ members saying it may be phony.There were some expectations that Maehara himself would dispel such doubts. Such expectations were reasonable given that Maehara, prior to question time, had repeatedly told people to look forward to question time.Yet when question time arrived, Maehara, against all expectations, sidestepped the issue.During the debate, Maehara made no references whatsoever to the credibility of the e-mail, merely saying he would seek the invocation of the powers of the Diet to investigate the case.While promising to produce corroborative evidence, Maehara said it was his basic premise that the presentation of the evidence be made in tandem with the invocation of the Diet's rights under the Constitution to conduct investigations related to government.But his talk of linking two disjointed items was a poor substitute to serving up the nitty-gritty on the controversy surrounding the e-mail.Time to put up or clam upNaturally, there are times when it is necessary to invoke the investigative powers the Diet holds. But the truth surrounding the e-mail and the allegation against Takebe's son could be made known simply by the DPJ revealing the name on the account and the account number, and by the LDP and DPJ jointly investigating the case.Why then is Maehara so insistent on invoking the Diet's investigative powers?Moreover, the Diet has only twice been asked by the lower house to investigate issues related to government. And as the Diet cannot take any legal action on this score, any investigation could well be ineffective.The first thing that needs to be clarified is the authenticity of the e-mail. And as the DPJ claims the e-mail is genuine, the burden of proof rests with it.Koizumi has said, "It's a question of character for a Diet member to unilaterally criticize and slander someone by citing a real name with respect to information whose credibility remains unclear."Very few people would gainsay this view.The longer the DPJ leaves the matter unresolved by linking the revelation of the account name and number with the Diet's investigative powers, the more the prospects for clarifying the entire issue, including the credibility of the e-mail, recede.Surely the DPJ is not trying to achieve this, is it?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2006-02-23	YOSHIN0020060223e22n000gd
YOMSHI0020060223e22o0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060223e22o0000i	EN	\N	Defense Agency must guard its secrets	It has been found that a list of secret MSDF codes and call signs used to identify MSDF ships were uploaded to the Internet. The Defense Agency must examine the current system used to protect its classified information and take measures to ensure there is no repeat of the latest case.	4	2006-02-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the agency, the classified data stored in a personal computer used by a chief petty officer serving aboard an MSDF destroyer was distributed on the Net through Winny file-swapping software.But the latest affair cannot be dismissed as a simple mistake made by the officer. Questions should be raised about why he was able to take possession of the classified information without permission from his superior and store it on his computer. The flaws in the agency's information management system must be identified and fixed.Plug all loopholesIn 2000, an MSDF lieutenant commander was found to have leaked secret documents to a military attache at the Russian Embassy in Tokyo. The incident prompted the agency to review its system for controlling the use of computers and the storage of its classified data at all its divisions.In January 2003 and October 2005, the agency's administrative vice director general issued notices instructing agency officials to exercise caution in handling information related to their duties. At least, the agency went to great efforts to protect its own classified data.Still, the information held by the chief petty officer has been inadvertently disclosed. This means that the agency must reexamine its information protection system, reminding itself that some Self-Defense Forces personnel could refuse to abide by the information-protection rules imposed on them.In addition to defense secrets that merit special protection, the agency possesses information that can be classified into three categories--kimitsu (top secret information), gokuhi (secret information) and hi (confidential information).The agency has said the data leaked in the latest incident can be graded as hi. But the officer in question was in a position to handle gokuhi information. Given this, the disclosure of the data could have a serious impact on the defense of our nation.U.S. trust could be lostUnder its new National Defense Program Guideline, the agency will integrate the chain of command at the MSDF, Ground Self-Defense Force and the Air Self-Defense Force, starting in late March. This will make it even more important for the SDF's three units to share information.This will also be true with efforts by Japan and the United States to develop a missile defense system. The information-sharing is essential to ensure their MD systems work properly.It will be impossible to expect the United States to provide Japan with important information if there are loopholes in the protection of classified data held by the Defense Agency. The U.S. government would have good reason to be apprehensive because any loopholes in the agency's information protection system could result in the leakage of a massive amount of secrets, a development that would seriously undermine any Japan-U.S. joint military operation.The public's trust in the agency has been greatly shaken by the recent scandal involving the Defense Facilities Administration Agency's initiative in rigging bids on contracts for projects it devised, combined with the latest disclosure of confidential information. Measures should be taken to make sure no secrets held by the Defense Agency are revealed again.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2006-02-24	YOSHIN0020060224e22o000es
YOMSHI0020060224e22p0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060224e22p0000b	EN	\N	Dithering over e-mail makes DPJ look stupid	Earlier, Hisayasu Nagata--the DPJ member who had shown a copy of the e-mail in question at the Diet--told the largest opposition party's top cadre he had decided to step down as a legislator because he had had second thoughts about the e-mail's authenticity. But he changed his mind later and checked in to a Tokyo hospital, saying he needed to "take a rest."	4	2006-02-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nagata handed over the e-mail during a recent meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee to back his claim that former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie remitted 30 million yen to the second son of LDP Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe. He mentioned the son's name in making the allegation.But he later told DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama he wanted to "apologize to the party and the public for acting on my subjective assumptions." This means Nagata acknowledged questions could be raised about his assertion the e-mail was written and sent by Horie.Needless to say, Nagata should clearly explain how he obtained the e-mail and what he did to ascertain whether it was genuine.But Nagata ducked his responsibilities and ran for cover in the hospital. His attitude is extremely irresponsible.Leaders have selves to blameThe DPJ leadership has said it will give itself about a week, during Nagata's hospital stay, to determine whether the e-mail is bogus. But this is simply an attempt to postpone dealing with the issue. If it plans to try to wait out the storm, the DPJ is shirking its responsibilities.DPJ President Seiji Maehara has said Nagata does not have to resign from the Diet. If Nagata quits, it means he has acknowledged the e-mail he obtained is a fake. In that event, the question of responsibility in the ongoing confusion would not rest solely with him. DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshihiko Noda and Maehara would also be called to task, a development that could rock their party.Maehara's remark seems to show he does not want to see such a scenario transpire.But the dispute should not be swept under the rug.It is believed that only some DPJ leaders, including Maehara and Noda, were involved in deciding that Nagata would take the podium to raise questions about the e-mail at the Budget Committee. The current confusion would not have ensued if they had taken the trouble to check whether the e-mail is genuine.Maehara and Noda have only themselves to blame for their clumsy, amateurish approach to dealing with a critical issue, despite their positions as opposition leaders seeking to snatch power.Maehara should explain what his party has done since the controversy arose. He still says he does not think the e-mail is a fake. But his argument will never be accepted by the public if he continues to say so without proving its authenticity.Party should come cleanSince the beginning of the current Diet session, the DPJ has been trying to pin down the government's responsibility in connection with four problems--the Livedoor scandal, the earthquake-resistant data falsification case, the scandal involving the Defense Facilities Administration Agency's initiative in rigging bids on construction projects it put together, and the government's flip-flop in the resumption and suspension of beef imports from the United States.The DPJ must fulfill its obligation to fully answer questions surrounding its approach to the e-mail scandal if it wants to convince the public it has good reason to blast the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Maehara and his party members should take their responsibilities to heart.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2006-02-25	YOSHIN0020060225e22p000eu
YOMSHI0020060225e22q0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060225e22q0000g	EN	\N	Safe GSDF withdrawal from Iraq important	The government said it will finalize the plan and start the troop withdrawal at the end of next month.	4	2006-02-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government must complete all such preparations quickly and ensure that nothing goes astray. The safety of our troops must be the top priority in drawing up the withdrawal plan.The basic plan covering the dispatch of Self-Defense Force troops to Iraq is based on a special law governing the provision of aid in providing postwar reconstruction to Iraq. It stipulates that the withdrawal of SDF troops be decided based upon: the development of the political process in Iraq, the security situation there, the deployment of the Australian and British troops keeping the peace in Samawah, and how much progress toward restorations has been made.Many factors affecting pulloutShiite lawmakers, who won the general election in December, chose the incumbent Ibrahim al-Jaafari as their candidate for prime minister to lead a regular government. However, the formation of a broad-based government has proved difficult and is nowhere in sight.Confrontation between Shiite and Sunni Muslims has become increasingly violent--particularly in the wake of Wednesday's bombing of the Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum in Samarra, north of Baghdad, one of the world's main Shiite shrines.The resultant spiraling violence threatens not only to prevent the creation of the new government but also portends civil war.Samawah, where the GSDF contingent is providing humanitarian assistance, is relatively safe at the moment. But a GSDF withdrawal cannot be decided independently of the situation in other parts of the country. The government must consider Iraq's political and security situations in general.GSDF troops in Iraq are allowed to use their weapons only for self-defense or to effect an emergency escape. This means that they would not be able to defend themselves adequately if attacked while withdrawing.The support of the Australian and British troops in Samawah will be vital to ensure a safe retreat for the GSDF. The government must take into consideration how long the Australian and British forces will be staying in the area.Leaving a legacyThe extent to which Iraq has recovered from the ravages of war also is a criterion to be considered when planning the pullout. Japan has announced it will grant 5 billion dollars in reconstruction assistance, while the United States is to provide 18.6 billion dollars.The government is also planning to build a large power plant in Samawah and signed a deal with a contractor this month. Construction will begin soon.Japanese and Iraqi officials are also discussing yen loans for the construction of such infrastructure elements as electricity, water, sewerage and irrigation facilities. The first project to receive a yen loan will be decided at the end of next month.The GSDF has created jobs for up to 1,100 people a day in Samawah. The government must consider ways and means to provide substitute employment for local residents so that the GSDF withdrawal does not add to problems by adding to unemployment.It is the duty of the government to come up with a withdrawal plan that will make Samawah residents appreciative of the work done by the GSDF over the past two years and resolved to carry on the legacy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2006-02-26	YOSHIN0020060226e22q0009p
YOMSHI0020060227e22r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060227e22r00001	EN	\N	Management must take JAL off autopilot	Two weeks have passed since the strife within the Japan Airlines Group surfaced, but a solution to the unrest is still nowhere in sight. The infighting has already dealt a heavy blow to the business foundation of the JAL Group. Announcement of a midterm business plan to take the group through 2010, originally scheduled for Friday, was postponed to next month.	4	2006-02-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The JAL Group is expected to declare after-tax losses of \\47 billion in the current business year. Its net assets have also gone down to \\170 billion. Its liabilities will soon exceed its assets unless rehabilitation measures are quickly taken. The group cannot afford internal wrangling.All ranking officials in the group must cooperate to normalize the situation. Group executives, particularly those of Japan Airlines Corp.--a group holding company--bear a heavy responsibility in this regard.The current JAL Group was formed after Japan Airlines Co. and Japan Air System Co. merged. Under the umbrella of the holding company, two subsidiaries--Japan Airlines International Co. and Japan Airlines Domestic Co.--operate international and domestic flights, respectively.In-house battles beginThe internal strife surfaced on Feb. 10 when four executives from the international subsidiary produced a petition signed by about 50 managers demanding the resignation of the president and two executives of the holding company.JAL flights have been plagued by a series of serious troubles. In March last year, the Construction and Transport Ministry issued a rare order calling on the international subsidiary to improve its operations.Even after that, however, problems that could have led to major accidents have continued to crop up on JAL planes, including the separation of tires from a landing aircraft and an in-flight engine fire.Its corporate image has been tarnished and the group is losing customers. It is also suffering from skyrocketing fuel costs resulting from high oil prices. It will not be easy to rehabilitate the group, which has been driven into the red by a number of factors.The group's executives last autumn proposed cutting JAL employees' basic salaries by an average 10 percent. But the executives quickly postponed this measure in the face of opposition from the airlines' unions. Their lack of ability to lead the company is obvious.Ousting weak leadershipThe rebel executives said they were demanding the resignation of the holding company's president and the other executives because the group's business performance could not be expected to improve under their leadership. However, the rebel executives, too, are in charge of operating flights and ensuring safety. This looks like a case of the pot calling the kettle black.Fierce factional battles were reportedly part of the corporate culture at the former JAL. Some observers have pointed out that infighting has become even more complex after the merger with JAS.The group can only streamline its business operations at a snail's pace because it has nine labor unions. Its equipment is aging and its operating costs are not competitive. The group has not reviewed flight routes adequately. It has a mountain of issues that require immediate attention.A senior official of the Construction and Transport Ministry, which supervises airlines, would have joined JAL's management if such a situation had happened before full privatization of the company.Today, however, no one but the top management can bring about the unity of the group companies.Passengers are turning increasingly critical eyes on the JAL Group.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2006-02-27	YOSHIN0020060227e22r000ax
YOMSHI0020060228e22s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060228e22s00001	EN	\N	Stiffer penalties alone won't end bid-rigging	Some have claimed that stiff penalties against the officials involved are needed to prevent such bureaucrat-led bid-rigging.	4	2006-02-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ruling coalition parties--the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito--have at long last taken action, agreeing to revise the law to provide for harsher penalties to discourage bureaucrat-driven bid-rigging.Lawmakers of the ruling parties will sponsor a bill to revise the law for submission to the current Diet session. The Democratic Party of Japan has already submitted its own revision bill with the same aim.As there is little difference in opinion between the two camps, both sides should be able to agree quickly and pass the revision into law as soon as possible.The revision was prompted by a series of rigged public works contract tenders orchestrated by officials from governmental organizations.Last year, bid-rigging was uncovered in the awarding of contracts for bridge building projects ordered by the Japan Highway Public Corporation, followed by rigged contracts for electrical installation projects ordered by the Narita International Airport Corporation, and several involving the Defense Facilities Administration Agency.All these cases are characterized by the fact that officials of governmental organizations took the lead in rigging bids.Stricter standards, penaltiesThe current law took effect three years ago with the aim of discouraging officials of governmental or semigovernmental organizations from getting involved in collusive bidding practices but has proved ineffective as it does not include any penalties.Under the revision drawn up by the ruling parties, officials convicted of involvement in bid-rigging will be subject to "imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to \\2.5 million."The present law applies to officials who have contractors rig a bid, predesignate a successful bidder or leak such information as estimated contract prices.The revision bill adds to the list of offenders those who favor firms by abetting them in entering bids and winning contracts.The current law also applies to officials of organizations in which the central or local government is the main investor. Under the revision, officials of organizations in which the central or local government holds a one-third or more stake will be subject to the law, meaning that officials at NTT firms and the newly privatized expressway companies created last year will be covered.Descent from heavenThese measures alone will not prevent bureaucrats from leading bid-rigging. Behind such corruption is the long-standing practice of amakudari--literally "descent from heaven"--in which high-ranking bureaucrats take executive posts at governmental corporations and other organizations upon retirement.At the Defense Facilities Administration Agency, bureaucrats manipulated the tender process to secure soft jobs for retired officials, by determining the value of orders placed with contractors based on the number of jobs they provided. The collusive relationship between the governmental and private organizations involved must be thoroughly investigated.Under the present law, officials of government ministries and agencies are not allowed to accept executive posts at government-affiliated organizations or private companies under their jurisdiction for two years after retirement.In response to the latest scandal, the agency decided to extend the period for senior officials involved in awarding contracts to five years.The long-standing practice of pressuring government officials to retire early must be reconsidered and amakudari must be reduced.The pressure on career bureaucrats to retire early often begins when they reach their mid-40s. Extending the retirement age for administrative vice ministers and bureau chiefs would allow officials to work longer in government.Meanwhile, a way to reduce amakudari must be found through improving the system to reemploy rank-and-file officials after mandatory retirement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2006-02-28	YOSHIN0020060228e22s000pl
YOMSHI0020060228e2310000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060228e2310000e	EN	\N	Nagata's apology won't end e-mail fiasco	None apparently. For despite making an apology at a press conference Tuesday for making the false accusation, Nagata has not fulfilled his duty as a legislator to explain why he made such a baseless charge.	4	2006-03-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nagata apologized for the ruckus caused over an e-mail, which he had earlier told a House of Representatives Budget Committee "proved" that Livedoor Co. had made a secret payment to the second son of Takebe.At the press conference, Nagata said he regretted that the accusation had caused public concern and trouble for the individuals concerned, as well as disrupted business at the Diet.At the conference, DPJ President Seiji Maehara said, "We should indulge in some deep soul-searching for having made an interpellation based on false information and we apologize for this," thereby stating the official party line that the e-mail was bogus.Core problem remainsTo finish laying the scandal to rest, the DPJ suspended Nagata for six months, and Yoshihiko Noda resigned as DPJ Diet Affairs Committee chairman.By offering Noda up as a sacrificial lamb, the party is attempting to distance party leaders from the scandal and build up the party leadership under Maehara.But the heart of the matter--the authenticity of the e-mail--has not been fully resolved: according to Nagata the matter remains vague, while Maehara and the party in a statement said the e-mail was "not genuine."At the lower house committee meeting on Feb. 16, Nagata said that then Livedoor President Takafumi Horie had arranged to have 30 million yen sent to the second son of Takebe. Nagata even criticized Takebe for "selling his soul for money."Nagata said he believed the e-mail was genuine because, "It was written in a natural style," adding "I didn't find any malicious intent such as demeaning someone."What a feeble basis for a judgment!Nagata still seeking fire"It was difficult to work out the details by asking different people for their advice," Nagata said.He added that although time was limited before the Budget Committee began, he decided to make the interpellation because he was fairly confident about the providence of the e-mail.The fact that he decided to make these interpellations on the basis of such flimsy and circumstantial evidence calls Nagata's talent and ability to reason as a lawmaker into question.Yet at the press conference, Nagata clearly said he had never met the person who had provided the information to the intermediary who had given him a copy of the e-mail.Nagata said he would continue to investigate the allegation, saying that just because he was unable to confirm the authenticity of the e-mail did not mean there were no facts whatsoever surrounding the e-mail, including its contents.But will Nagata be able to convince others with this line of logic?No one is saying legislators ought to raise questions at the Diet only when they have information that is 100 percent perfect. But a politician should admit his mistakes and apologize if he finds his claims lack foundation and are unreasonable.The DPJ should not conclude that the matter has been settled. It has the responsibility to explain things by investigating all concerned, including the informant, and discover the truth.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2006-03-01	YOSHIN0020060301e231000fy
YOMSHI0020060301e2320000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060301e2320000e	EN	\N	Panel recommends adopting doshu system	The Local Government System Research Council has compiled a report stating that it favors the adoption of the doshu system and scrapping the current system of Tokyo and 46 prefectures.	4	2006-03-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The number of cities, towns and villages will drop to 1,821 at the end of the month as a result of continued mergers among local governments. There are some prefectures that have less than 20 cities, towns and villages. Some areas in these prefectures are witnessing a rapid decline in population density, which is bound to greatly affect the state of affairs surrounding local communities.Regionalism a growing powerIn recent years, there has been an increasing number of problems that need to be settled through cooperative efforts by neighboring prefectures. For example, eight local governments in the Kanto region, including Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture and Yokohama, have imposed restrictions on gas emissions from diesel vehicles.Another example is a joint campaign by three prefectural governments in the northern part of the Tohoku district to combat an increase in industrial waste in their region.It will become increasingly necessary for local governments to join hands with adjacent municipalities in addressing problems that affect wide areas. The nation will not be able to continue to deal with social and economic changes using a local government system that has remained unchanged since 1888.This need for change has given rise to a controversy over whether to introduce the doshu system.The adoption of the system would kindle a rethink of what course this country should take. An important task in this respect is to work out what roles are to be played by the central government and doshu regional governments, as well as city, town and village governments.The report proposes that city, town and village governments be responsible for implementing policies directly related to the day-to-day lives of their residents. It also states doshu governments should handle activities that cannot be covered by city, town and village governments.The central government should limit itself to carrying out policies that concern external relations, national defense, economic management and social security, according to the report. These plans require the central government to transfer a good measure of its powers to local governments.If such a scenario transpires, it would be necessary to fundamentally review the systems designed to distribute financial resources between the central and local governments and adjust the gaps in the financial powers of local governments. In that event, local governments would have to manage their finances at their own discretion, for example, by determining what kinds of administrative services they would provide for their residents and how much to charge for such services.These changes would pose a daunting task, although they are in line with the ongoing process of decentralization.The combined total of outstanding long-term debts incurred by both the central and local governments is expected to reach 775 trillion yen at the end of fiscal 2006. The central and local governments must work together to streamline their operations, a task that will require them to make their organizational structure and staffing arrangements more efficient and reduce their administrative costs.Hokkaido as a model planThe government and the Liberal Democratic Party are considering a plan to submit to the current Diet session a bill aimed at designating Hokkaido a doshu unit. The bill would grant Hokkaido more administrative powers and relax government regulations in the region. The government considers Hokkaido a pioneering model that would help explore ways to introduce the doshu system in its entirety.However, some Diet members representing Hokkaido have opposed the idea, saying the bill would end preferential treatment given to the region in the provision of subsidies. Some ministries and agencies are also opposed to the bill, which would force them to abandon some of their vested interests in Hokkaido-related projects because the bill would abolish some of their local offices in Hokkaido.This shows it would be no easy task to transform Hokkaido into a doshu regional government, despite not having to implement a municipal merger.The latest proposal will serve as a basis for discussions on the issue. It is important to discuss wide-ranging topics related to the doshu system, including the bill on designating Hokkaido as a doshu government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	774	2006-03-02	YOSHIN0020060302e232000gq
YOMSHI0020060302e2330000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060302e2330000g	EN	\N	Diet business held up by e-mail controversy	A new focus of the current Diet session will be on debates on some important bills, including one designed to promote administrative reform, as well as major issues facing this country at home and abroad.	4	2006-03-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Diet can carry out fruitful debates only if the opposition camp adequately fulfills its duties. As the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan has an extremely important role to play in this respect.The DPJ adopted a confrontational approach to its debates with the ruling parties when the current Diet session opened in January. During the initial stage of the session, the opposition party exchanged fire with the government and ruling parties, mainly by raising questions about their responsibility in connection with four major scandals that rocked the country in recent months--the Livedoor case, the earthquake-resistant data falsification scandal, U.S. beef imports that contained parts designated as risk factors for mad cow disease, and the Defense Facilities Administration Agency's initiative in rigging bids on contracts for projects it had planned.The DPJ's tactic was akin to that adopted by the defunct Japan Socialist Party when it was content to remain an opposition party. The DPJ's approach encouraged lawmaker Hisayasu Nagata to confront the Liberal Democratic Party by presenting a copy of an e-mail he claimed had been written by Livedoor Co. founder Takafumi Horie instructing an employee to send a large amount of money to a son of the LDP secretary general.But Nagata had to dig his own grave when the e-mail was found to have been faked. All this was because he tried too hard to make a name for himself. The DPJ's top cadre was no less careless in that it neglected to determine whether the e-mail in question had been written and sent by Horie.The confusion arising from Nagata's false accusation eventually forced him to fully acknowledge his error and offer a public apology. DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshihiko Noda stepped down to take responsibility for the turmoil.Choice of Watanabe unusualNoda has been replaced by DPJ elder Kozo Watanabe, who previously served as vice speaker of the lower house. Watanabe's appointment as the DPJ's chief parliamentary strategist came after former party President Naoto Kan and two other senior party members rejected requests from the party's leadership to take up the position.Watanabe's extremely unusual appointment shows a strong sense of urgency among DPJ members about the fate of their party. They apparently believe their efforts to pull their party together should begin by mending the ways they deal with Diet affairs.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other leaders of the ruling parties cannot afford to sit back, pleased with the error committed by the DPJ in handling the e-mail in question.The government and ruling parties regard their attempt to pass the bill on the promotion of administrative reform as the most important goal to be accomplished during the current Diet session. The bill incorporates fundamental policies toward and a timetable for various reforms, including a net reduction in the number of central government employees and the integration of government-affiliated financial institutions.DPJ must present own plansIt should be noted, however, that there are many other important bills to be put through the ongoing parliamentary session. The ruling parties are preparing to submit to the Diet some bills aimed at redefining what shape this country should take in the future.The LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, have already met for more than 60 rounds of talks on reforming the Fundamental Law of Education. They have narrowed down the list of specific issues to be discussed in forming a consensus about the whole dispute. Issues include which verb should be used to emphasize the importance of esteeming "one's hometown and state"--ai suru (to love) or taisetsu ni suru (to value). The expression follows a phrase stressing the need to "respect one's traditional culture."It may be advisable for the prime minister to make a final decision about how to phrase the expression if the LDP and New Komeito fail to reach an agreement on the question.Another important bill the ruling bloc hopes to submit is one concerning a national referendum on amendments to the Constitution. A major focus of discussions between the ruling parties is on whether the supreme law should be revised article by article or collectively.Earlier, the ruling parties urged the DPJ to jointly set up a consultative body charged with drawing up a bill on a national referendum on constitutional revision. But the main opposition party rejected the ruling camp's request. The DPJ's attitude can be seen as an extension of its confrontational tactics.DPJ President Seiji Maehara believes in revising the Constitution. He also has been positive about adopting the referendum bill. If it sees itself as a party that acts responsibly, the DPJ should play an active role in getting the bill adopted during the current Diet session.The DPJ should remind itself of its own pledge to present proposals that can replace those submitted by the ruling parties concerning important issues. Doing so will help turn around the fortunes of the troubled opposition party.The best way to promote active debates at the Diet is for the ruling camp and the DPJ to compete in seeing which can present better reform plans again.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	967	2006-03-03	YOSHIN0020060303e233000gf
YOMSHI0020060303e2340000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060303e2340000h	EN	\N	Caution needed over lifting ultra-easy policy	The core consumer price index, excluding perishables, rose 0.5 percent in January from a year earlier, the strongest growth in seven years and 10 months, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said Friday.	4	2006-03-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The core CPI rose in November and December after staying flat in October. Its growth rate has been increasing, too.The January rise in the core CPI occurred mainly because high crude oil prices pushed up gasoline, electricity and gas prices.This development is due to the fact that the Japanese economy has got back on a full-scale recovery track, boosting weak demand that had pushed down commodity prices. The growth in prices means that the Japanese economy has recovered its health and been gaining stamina.With such factors taken into consideration, the economy seems to have finally beaten deflation.Don't roil marketsThe Bank of Japan has started full-scale preparations to terminate its ultra-loose monetary policy introduced in March 2001. The government and the ruling coalition parties had been cautious about lifting the policy, but Kaoru Yosano, state minister for financial, economic and fiscal policy, on Friday indicated his understanding of the justification for terminating the quantitative easing policy, under which the central bank floods the financial system with funds to anchor short-term interest rates near zero, saying it was up to the central bank to determine when to end the policy.The quantitative easing policy was introduced as an emergency measure to prevent the economy from falling into a deflationary spiral. It makes sense for the central bank to try to restore the maneuverability of its financial policy as a whole if the conditions to lift the ultra-easy monetary policy are met.However, there is no guarantee that the economy will not return to a deflationary trend. The central bank should assess the situation cautiously. It should monitor not only fluctuations in the core CPI, but also in the economy as a whole to determine the right time to end the ultraloose policy.In lifting the policy, it is also important not to cause any confusion in financial markets, which have got used to the five-year-old monetary easing policy. A recent decline in stock prices suggests concern on the part of investors over the envisioned policy change. The central bank must try to realize a soft landing so as not to cause a spike in interest rates or a dive in stock prices.BOJ must send clear signalThe monetary easing policy has reduced a variety of interests rates, including short- and long-term rates, and shored up the activities of financial and other companies. Since the central bank pledged to maintain the ultraloose policy until an upward tendency of prices became entrenched, the policy had the effect of lowering mid- and long-term interest rates, which are not targets of the central bank's monetary control efforts.Termination of the ultra-easy monetary policy would mean the removal of a damper holding down interest rates. New measures to replace the current framework need to be taken to stabilize the financial markets.The most important thing is for the central bank to send an unambiguous message that its zero-interest-rate policy will be maintained for a while even after the current ultraloose monetary policy is terminated.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2006-03-04	YOSHIN0020060304e234000gl
YOMSHI0020060304e2350000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060304e2350000c	EN	\N	Pension fund nonpayers must be targeted	The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will submit a bill to revise the National Pension Law, including tougher measures to collect premiums, to the current Diet session. One such measure seeks to improve coordination between the ministry and municipalities overseeing the national health insurance program. This is a reasonable move and should have been implemented earlier.	4	2006-03-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Most national health insurance policyholders are also supposed to contribute to the national pension fund. However, while many faithfully pay their national health insurance premiums, which cover medical costs, they fail to pay their national pension premiums.Over 90 percent of those supposed to pay national health insurance premiums do so, but for national pension premiums this figure drops to about 65 percent.According to a ministry survey, more than 10 percent of those who are supposed to pay into the national pension fund and who have annual earnings of more than 10 million yen, are defaulters.Among those who pay national health insurance premiums but who are in arrears with their national pension premiums, many are believed to be wealthy enough to pay the latter.Targeting deliberate defaultersIf the bills to revise the National Pension Law are enacted, municipalities will be able to shorten the validity of health insurance cards of deliberate defaulters at the central government's request. They will be able to replace ordinary health insurance cards, which are usually valid for one to two years, with cards valid only for several months.Though they will still be eligible for medical treatment covered by health insurance, the defaulters will have to visit municipal offices more frequently to renew their cards.This is a kind of penalty, but it is a fair one. The collection of national pension premiums from those who fail to pay even though they are wealthy enough to do so should be enforced more strictly.Municipalities' concernsSome municipalities have expressed concern over using the national health insurance plan to punish those who do not pay into the national pension fund.However, it is natural for the central government to take some form of action within the social security system framework to maintain the universal coverage of the health insurance and pension plans.The central government needs to spell out the criteria that constitute deliberate defaulters as a precondition to seeking cooperation from municipalities.Municipalities used to be in charge of collecting both national health insurance and pension premiums, but the number of nonpayers increased sharply once the Social Insurance Agency became responsible for collecting national pension premiums in fiscal 2002.This has brought to the fore the agency's organizational flaws, and also a deeper awareness that social security services cannot be implemented effectively without the cooperation of municipal governments, which exist in close proximity to residents' daily lives.Currently, municipalities often refuse agency requests for the income data of nonpayers based on the Personal Information Protection Law. This makes it even more difficult for the agency to achieve its targeted collection rate of 80 percent.The country's social security system is based on cooperation between the central and local governments. The introduction of tougher measures to collect national pension premiums will show whether such cooperation is possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	568	2006-03-05	YOSHIN0020060305e2350009q
YOMSHI0020060306e23600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060306e23600001	EN	\N	Govt must push ahead on fiscal reconstruction	The fiscal 2006 budget is notable for its marked decline in dependence on sales of government bonds, with the amount of bonds to be issued falling short of the \\30 trillion mark for the first time in five years. The reduced dependence on bonds stems from the expectation of increases in tax revenues thanks to the economic recovery.	4	2006-03-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the budget, the government's fiscal condition as indicated by tax revenues and other income, except for bond issues, compared with expenditures, excluding debt-servicing costs, is \\11.2 trillion in the red, an improvement of \\4.7 trillion from the previous year. Some people say the central government is getting on the right fiscal reconstruction track, but whether this will continue remains uncertain. The government should not be misled by excessive optimism into slackening its efforts to put the fiscal house in order.When assessing the likely outcome of fiscal reconstruction efforts, extra attention must be paid to interest rate trends. In the fiscal 2006 budget, the long-term interest rate is estimated at 2 percent, while the government has earmarked \\18.8 trillion for national bond expenses, mainly bond redemption, including \\8.6 trillion for debt-servicing costs.Shifting situationMajor changes are taking place in the economic environment. Speculation the Bank of Japan will end its quantitative monetary easing policy soon has sparked a rise in mid- and long-term interest rates.Rising long-term interest rates will lead directly to higher interest payments for government bonds. According to Finance Ministry estimates, interest will rise by \\1.6 trillion in the first fiscal year alone should the long-term interest rate go up by one percentage point. In the second fiscal year, the cost will grow to \\2.8 trillion and to \\4 trillion in the third fiscal year.Because outstanding bonds could reach as high as \\540 trillion at the end of next fiscal year, the burden of interest payments for those bonds coming due and those that need to be converted to renewal bonds is certain to increase year after year.In fiscal 1985, when the interest rate was higher than it is now, outstanding bonds stood at \\130 trillion. But as the long-term interest rate was about 6 percent, interest payments were about \\10 trillion. With the outstanding amount now at least four times more than the amount in fiscal 1985, it is obvious the impact of rising interest rates will be far stronger than before.Revenue sourcesIn pursuing fiscal reconstruction amid an expected increase in interest rates, the government has no choice but to be steadfast in cutting spending while securing sufficient tax revenues through tax system reform.Based on the assumption of steady economic recovery, the government budget projects tax revenues of about \\46 trillion, less than 60 percent of total revenues, in the fiscal 2006 budget.In order to further reduce its dependence on bonds, it is inevitable for the government to focus on the consumption tax, a light burden shared equally by all consumers.The government plans to map out a comprehensive reform plan for tax and fiscal systems in June. The plan should specify how much the consumption tax should be raised and when.Some within the Liberal Democratic Party are apparently trying to postpone the government's decision on the consumption tax hike in light of the party presidential race slated for autumn and the House of Councillors election in the summer of 2007. Such moves would only delay fiscal reconstruction.The responsible course of action is to put a fiscal reconstruction process in motion before interest rates rise.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2006-03-06	YOSHIN0020060306e236000cg
YOMSHI0020060306e2370000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060306e2370000h	EN	\N	Sellers' job market allows careful choices	We hope graduating students take advantage of the current sellers' market and think carefully about what they really want to do and how they want to make use of their abilities when choosing an employer.	4	2006-03-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Those hired as part of mass recruitment efforts by large companies can look forward to long years of fierce rivalry among their peers as they compete to climb the corporate ladder. We hope they will think cool-headedly about their future and not be swayed by companies' efforts to secure the best available manpower.Now that it has become easier to find jobs at major corporations, the worry is that students on the cusp of graduation will pay little attention to midsize and small companies or small regional enterprises, even though such companies may be well-suited to students. Job hunters need to be flexible in their thinking.According to leading companies' employment plans for the spring of 2007, Toshiba Corp. plans to hire 1,570 new graduates, marking the first time in 13 years the electrical machinery maker has taken on more than 1,000 new graduates at once. Other home appliance, business machine and electronics firms such as Fujitsu Ltd. and Sony Corp. also plan to hire more new graduates.Expanding ranksAmong leading automakers, Honda Motor Co. plans to hire 1,120 new graduates, its first mass recruitment in 16 years.Financial institutions also intend to take on large numbers of new graduates. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. plans to hire 2,350 new graduates, while Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. plans to hire about 1,100 workers fresh out of school.Regardless of industry, the trend among companies to hire more new graduates has become apparent.During the protracted deflation-induced economic slowdown, companies held back on hiring, while restructuring to reduce surplus workers. Such moves are inevitable, to some extent, for companies to ride out the deflationary period.As their business performance has improved, the end results and final timetables for restructuring their workforces have become clear. Businesses plan to hire more new graduates next year, chiefly because they want to inject new manpower into growth sectors to build up their businesses. Firms are going on the offensive to recruit new graduates.Countering scarcitySuch efforts are also intended as a hedge against possible manpower shortages, with the advent of the so-called 2007 problem of mass retirement of baby boomers starting next year.The phenomenon of more than 30 percent of young workers who have secured jobs upon graduation quitting within 3 years has been remarked on recently.The mismatching of new employees' aspirations and the needs of their employers is the result of new graduates' hasty choice of employers. At the same time, it is also necessary for firms to do their best to cultivate their human resources, enhancing their employee retention rate and ensuring that their staff are the main pillar of the company.When the labor market was tight, many companies stopped hiring new graduates, making it extremely difficult for new graduates to find the types of jobs they desired.Among those job-hopping part-time workers and the so-called NEETs--not in education, employment or training--aged around 30, there are many who failed to find the kinds of jobs they wanted during the so-called "ice age for job hunters."We hope companies hire not only more new graduates but also more mid-career job hunters and offer more permanent jobs.Lack of job security is often cited as a major reason for young people not getting married. If the employment picture becomes brighter, with the number of job opportunities expanding, it would contribute to the stability of the whole society, while helping to alleviate the problem of the declining birthrate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	679	2006-03-07	YOSHIN0020060307e237000hl
YOMSHI0020060307e2380000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060307e2380000i	EN	\N	China pouring trouble on gas-rich waters	On Tuesday, Japan and China wrapped up two days of working-level talks in Beijing on exploration rights for natural-gas fields, the first time negotiations on the subject had been held in five months.	4	2006-03-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During similar talks in the autumn, Japan proposed the two nations conduct joint gas exploration in waters that straddle the Japan-China median line, a line of demarcation drawn midway between the two countries' coastlines by Japan to separate the exclusive economic zones claimed by Tokyo and Beijing.Gap reminds wideIn the latest talks, China presented a new proposal. Although the contents of the proposal have not been made public, it is believed there was a considerable gap between the Japanese and Chinese proposals. During the talks, Beijing bitterly opposed Tokyo's demand that China stop exploring for gas in waters on its own side of the median line. Chinese negotiators reiterated their assertion that this exploration was being conducted in Chinese coastal waters not subject to any dispute with Japan.If Beijing accepts the median line as a dividing line between the two nations' EEZs, the waters in which China is carrying out exploration are in its own EEZ. But the waters in question must be regarded as an area contested by the two countries as long as China does not acknowledge the median line as a divider between the EEZs.China's action in the East China Sea has obviously violated the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which requires signatories to "make every effort...not to jeopardize or hamper the reaching of the final agreement."In their latest talks, Japan and China agreed to settle the dispute through dialogue. It is questionable, however, whether they will be able to make progress in resolving the controversy through continued talks.Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai has said Japan will not prospect for natural gas in the disputed area. But he is known as a pro-Beijing politician who once sought to erect a monument in his constituency inscribed with a speech given by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations.When Nikai became a state minister, some observers said China would favorably respond to his appointment, raising hopes that Beijing would make concessions to Tokyo over the gas exploration rights dispute.In the latest talks, however, China rejected Japan's demand that it suspend exploration. Beijing has made steady progress in exploring gas fields, as shown by the fact that it laid pipelines connecting gas fields after last autumn's negotiations. This means Japan cannot expect to break the impasse in the series of talks by adopting a conciliatory approach to the dispute.The latest talks were initially scheduled for October. But they were postponed for an extended period when China took issue with visits to Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Key bills before DietBeijing's attitude on the dispute shows it is seeking to get its ongoing gas exploration accepted by Japan as a foregone conclusion. Japan should make preparations to prospect the waters on the Japanese side of the median line. Doing so would merely be exercising its sovereign rights in the waters.The Liberal Democratic Party intends to submit to the current Diet session a bill designed to ensure the safety of Japanese dispatched to prospect for natural gas in the troubled waters. For its part, the Democratic Party of Japan presented the last Diet session with a bill aimed at defending Japan's maritime interests. It is desirable to get the bills adopted with the backing of as many lawmakers as possible, based on mutual compromise.Demonstrating Japan's determination to protect its sovereignty and interests would cause China to reconsider behaving in a manner that violates international rules.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	745	2006-03-08	YOSHIN0020060308e238000h1
YOMSHI0020060308e2390000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060308e2390000g	EN	\N	Why the govt can't sell assets to ease its pain	A Liberal Democratic Party panel studying fiscal reform has drawn up a plan to step up efforts to sell a sizable portion of government-owned assets. LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa, who chairs the panel, has said the government would be able to sell off about 60 percent of its assets.	4	2006-03-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But we find Nakagawa's idea an impossible dream. The assets include facilities that are indispensable to enable the government to discharge its duties and keep on operating. There is no way the government could sell off 60 percent of its assets. Selling off large parts of the government's assets is obviously, therefore, not a surefire solution to replenish the depleted state coffers.Nakagawa has long trumpeted the sale of government assets as a foolproof way of rebuilding state finances. Under his plan, the government would sell off part of its assets. Profits from the sell-off would be used to reduce the government's fiscal deficit. Nakagawa says his plan would help curb an anticipated increase in the consumption tax rate and delay the start of any such increase.According to the Finance Ministry, the central government has 696 trillion yen in assets. The combined total of long-term debts incurred by the central and local governments is expected to reach 775 trillion yen by the end of next fiscal year. This means that selling off all the central government's assets would write off most of the long-term debts.Fiscally foolish pipe dreamHowever, the calculation must be dismissed as extremely unrealistic. The government's assets include 290 trillion yen it has extended to various institutions. But a good part of the funds for these loans has been raised through borrowing not counted as part of the long-term debts, including investment-and-loan bonds.The government's foreign-currency assets, which total 80 trillion yen, have been acquired through debts accrued by issuing short-term government securities.All this means that the government's long-term debts cannot be curtailed through efforts to collect on loans and sell off foreign-currency assets.The government's public property, including national highways, harbors and rivers, is worth a net 131 trillion yen. However, none of these assets can be sold off. Other government-owned real estate is largely used for such hard-to-sell assets as government buildings and defense facilities. Few of these properties can be sold.The government's contributions to independent administrative corporations and privatized corporations, including funds, facilities and equipment, total 36 trillion yen. Admittedly, some of the facilities will be salable in the near future. But there is no telling when the government will be able to sell off the facilities transferred as an in-kind contribution to highway corporations that were established when the Japan Highway Public Corporation was privatized.Garage sale mentality ill-advisedThe LDP panel cited apartments for central government employees as one example of items that could be sold off. The panel revealed a set of standards for the sell-off of such facilities after inspecting housing for government workers in central Tokyo.Rents for government employees' apartments in the center of Tokyo have been set at a disproportionately lower rate than those for private sector housing in the area. This has drawn fire from the public.Luxurious government-owned apartments built in prime sites should be sold off as early as possible. But we find it unnecessarily radical to sell most government-owned apartments for employees.Many private sector corporations provide employees with company-owned apartments. Given this, a certain number of apartments for government employees are necessary. The visit by the LDP panel to government employees' housing in central Tokyo was an attempt to show off its presence at a time when the public is highly critical of bureaucrats.Some government-workers' apartments could be sold at high prices. But profits from these sales would be a mere drop in the ocean when it comes to trying to clear the massive long-term debts incurred by the central and local governments.A better road to fiscal reconstruction is to reduce spending, combined with an increase in tax revenues due to a rise in the consumer tax rate, which stands at 5 percent today. The duty of the LDP as a party in power is to follow that road.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	772	2006-03-09	YOSHIN0020060309e239000g2
YOMSHI0020060310e23a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060310e23a00001	EN	\N	BOJ should stress intent to keep interest rates low	The central bank on Thursday scrapped the quantitative monetary-easing policy it introduced in March 2001 and returned to a conventional interest-rate targeting policy. The former policy was introduced as an emergency measure to rescue the economy from deflation.	4	2006-03-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The economy is recovering its health. Termination of the ultraloose monetary policy is the first step toward normalization of the nation's monetary policy.The central bank's prognosis is that the economy is winning the war against deflation since the year-on-year change in the core nationwide consumer price index, excluding perishables, has remained positive for four straight months since October.However, some members of the government and the ruling coalition parties say it is still too early to lift the quantitative monetary-easing policy.The stock market did not suffer a feared shock from the monetary policy shift, as stock prices rose Thursday. But only the future movement of the economy will tell if the central bank's judgment was correct. If a full-scale recovery of the economy continues over a long period and deflation is avoided, the Bank of Japan will have been proven right.Pros, cons of policy apparentThe quantitative-easing policy was an experimental measure that has never been tried in any advanced country before.The central bank lowered the unsecured overnight call rate--the interest rate at which banks may borrow overnight funds from other banks--to near zero to break out of deflation. After it could not lower the interest rate any more, it flooded the money market with excess liquidity.As a result, deposit interest rates hit rock bottom, to the dismay of pensioners, while surplus funds flowed into the stock market, creating the conditions for the "money games" that led to the recent Livedoor scandal. Turning a blind eye to those negative effects, the central bank kept the emergency measure in place to overcome deflation.The limitations and effectiveness of the quantitative-easing policy are now becoming visible.The policy did not expand banks' lending to companies as expected, but it did help the cash flows of banks and contributed significantly to the stabilization of the nation's financial system. It helped depress short- and long-term interest rates, thereby reducing the interest burdens of businesses as well as those of the central and local governments.Keep markets in the loopThe economy has been released from the intensive care unit, but it still lacks the strength to start running about. If long-term interest rates skyrocket, the economy could stall. Even after the termination of the quantitative-easing policy, it is essential that interest rates be kept low.But the central bank's new policy guideline is difficult to understand. It said it would introduce an "inflation reference rate" with a range of zero to 2 percent as the appropriate rate of year-on-year change in the core CPI. But it is not clear to what extent this new target will restrict the central bank's monetary policy.Attention is now focused on how long the zero interest rate policy will be maintained. The central bank should continue to support the economic recovery by sticking to the policy for the time being.In conducting its monetary policy, the central bank should improve its communications with the markets and be careful not to trigger wild fluctuations in interest rates and stock prices.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2006-03-10	YOSHIN0020060310e23a000f8
YOMSHI0020060310e23b0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060310e23b0000i	EN	\N	DPJ should join debate on administrative reform	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has described the bill as the centerpiece of his reform efforts and pledged that it would be discussed and enacted in the current Diet session. The bill is also designed to put Koizumi's imprimatur on the administration that will succeed the present one, ensuring it will continue to promote his structural reforms even after the prime minister retires in September.	4	2006-03-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The fabricated e-mail scandal has badly damaged the biggest opposition party. It has sent the DPJ into a malaise, and the party members have stopped pursuing the responsibility of the government and the ruling coalition parties in connection with four recent controversies--the U.S. beef import ban, the Livedoor scandal, fabrication of earthquake resistance strength data and collusive bidding practices involving the Defense Facilities Administration Agency.Nonetheless, the DPJ is still trying desperately to return fire, saying it will not hesitate to boycott Diet deliberations if necessary.However, since its confrontational policy line has been proven to be a failure, it might be a constructive choice for the DPJ to return to a policy of making counterproposals to major bills submitted by the government and the ruling coalition parties. Discussions on the administrative reform bill afford it an ideal opportunity to do just that.Government must slim downThe bill is designed to promote reforms in five fields--government-affiliated financial institutions, independent administrative bodies, special accounts, total labor costs of government employees and assets and debts of the central and local governments--with the aim of creating a simple and efficient form of government.At a time when the nation's population is decreasing, the combined long-term debts of the central and local governments are expected to hit 775 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2006. The times require a streamlined and downsized government capable of dealing with various problems effectively.During the latest debate with the LDP leader at the Diet, DPJ President Seiji Maehara voiced the same opinion and told Koizumi his party could compete with the LDP to realize such a government.The administrative reform bill only stipulates concepts and basic guidelines. How to put flesh on these ideas and materialize them remains to be worked out. An across-the-board reduction of personnel and costs will not necessarily make the government less unwieldy and more efficient. More staff and funds should be invested in areas such as security and education, if necessary.There are many issues to discuss. The negative sides of the Koizumi reforms, which have been pointed out not only by the DPJ, but also by members of the coalition parties, should be discussed thoroughly.Blueprint for future neededThe prime minister said his reforms inevitably would draw protests from government ministries and agencies, political parties and individual lawmakers.One example is the target of reducing the net number of government employees by at least 5 percent over five years.A panel on the reform of total labor costs has already requested concerned ministries and agencies to present their net reduction plans in specified fields, including the compilation of agriculture and forestry statistics, but the plans they have submitted show virtually no reductions.The DPJ should not become a "resistance force" itself by trying to protect the vested interests of labor unions, a major support base of the party.Competition with the ruling coalition parties through Diet deliberations on the future of the nation and the life of its people, and on a "road map" to realize such a future also would be a way for the DPJ to restore the public trust that was lost in the e-mail scandal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2006-03-11	YOSHIN0020060313e23b0005t
YOMSHI0020060311e23c0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060311e23c0000e	EN	\N	Securities crime still demands attention	The government will submit to the Diet a bill dealing with transactions of financial products to protect investors and to stop securities-related crimes.	4	2006-03-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To prevent the appearance of more firms tainted by shady dealings in a similar way to Livedoor, the Diet must get the bill passed into law urgently.The bill's outline was worked out by the end of last year. Financial products that took advantage of legal loopholes had started mushrooming, and an increasing number of people were becoming victims. In order to put a halt to this, the government planned to protect investors by making new financial products automatically subject to regulation.Then Livedoor's irregularities were unearthed in January, and a number of legal defects and weaknesses in the current regulatory framework were exposed. Because of this, extra countermeasures were incorporated into the bill.Tougher penaltiesThe distinguishing feature of the new measures is the strengthening of punishments.Individuals involved in fraudulent schemes and the spreading of speculative corporate information will face considerably harsher penalties than before. Currently, those convicted of such crimes face up to five years in prison with hard labor or a maximum fine of 5 million yen. Under the new bill, both the size of the fine and the maximum jail sentence will be doubled.In the Livedoor affair, an investment fund was misused. Under the new legislation, such funds will be required to disclose information, and on-site investigations of suspected irregularities will be permitted.It will also be a legal requirement for corporate managers to approve the propriety of financial accounts and to personally sign these statements. Under the new regulations, the criminal responsibility of corporate managers will be in the spotlight if there is any suspicion of window-dressing.Still insufficientYet these measures alone will not suffice. There are some issues that have not been addressed because there was insufficient time for discussion before the bill had to be submitted to the Diet.In the case of the misuse of internal information, such as in insider trading, the Financial Services Agency is able to levy fines.Yet in one insider-trading case involving three employees of an Internet-related company, the agency in February ordered the three to pay a fine of just 300,000 yen each.As things stand, the deterrent effect against illegal acts is weak. Penalties must be increased.A drastic review of the auditing system to check work carried out by auditing firms or certified public accountants is also necessary.The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a self-disciplinary association, is in charge of overseeing audits. Yet it has been pointed out that self-regulation carried out in the closed realm of CPAs is likely to end up being lax.In the wake of the manipulation of Enron Corp.'s financial statements, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, an independent organization in the United States, has registered the nation's auditing firms, and directly oversees the suitability of their work.By making reference to such methods, the government should overhaul the current system and never allow the window-dressing of accounts to occur again.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	565	2006-03-12	YOSHIN0020060312e23c000cn
YOMSHI0020060313e23d00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060313e23d00002	EN	\N	Encourage healthy eating habits	The government has drafted a basic plan to promote education on food and nutrition as part of a five-year plan based on the basic law concerning food education enacted last year. The plan will be formally adopted at a conference later this month on the promotion of food education to be attended by ministers and experts concerned.	4	2006-03-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Japanese diet was generally considered to have attained an ideal nutritional balance in 1980, but in recent years the Japanese have been consuming too much fat. Accordingly, the incidence of obesity and chronic lifestyle diseases is on the rise.We must pay more attention to the food we eat. It may be a good idea for the government to encourage people to be more aware of the need to learn more about food and nutrition, provided such efforts do not become obtrusive.The draft plan sets a numerical target of bringing the ratio of people interested in their eating habits from the current 70 percent to more than 90 percent in five years.Boost nutrition educationThe proposed plan also calls for increasing the number of food and nutrition teachers, promoting consumption of agricultural and fishery products in the areas they are produced, and promoting the reuse of food waste.The draft plan also sounds the alarm over the rising number of people who do not eat breakfast--4 percent of primary school children, 30 percent of males in their 20s and 23 percent of males in their 30s.The draft sets a target of bringing down these figures to zero among primary school children and to less than 15 percent among males in their 20s and 30s by fiscal 2010.People who skip breakfast tend to have difficulty concentrating on their work or studies. It is a bad habit, especially for children whose growth could be impeded, and such a dietary habit, once acquired, may be carried over into adulthood.Men in their 20s and 30s may have a variety of reasons for not eating breakfast, so limiting the goal of making sure everyone eats breakfast only to children may be more reasonable.Eat locally produced foodThe draft also calls for encouraging the inclusion of local dishes in school lunch programs. Every district has local specialties that use food nurtured by the districts' unique natural features and climate. The inclusion of such dishes in school lunches will help children learn about their own region.Nonetheless, such developments as local food suppliers and school administrators forming cosy ties by giving too much priority to locally produced food must be avoided.More and more people are eating out too often or relying too much on precooked food available at supermarkets.The plan calls for food-related businesses to offer a healthier balance of food products and dishes. We hope such businesses improve their displays of ingredients used in their products and dishes to guide people in their choices, as long as such efforts do not lead to higher prices.During the Meiji era (1868-1912), encouraging shokuiku was as common as advocating intellectual and physical development. Let us ponder the new, modern-day meanings of such nutritional education.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	561	2006-03-13	YOSHIN0020060313e23d000wg
YOMSHI0020060313e23e0000o	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060313e23e0000o	EN	\N	Livedoor's shenanigans damage faith in TSE	The action follows the filing of a criminal complaint with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office against Livedoor by the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission accusing Livedoor of window-dressing its financial statements. Prosecutors are poised to press for the indictment of former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie and other former executives on related charges.	4	2006-03-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Reports issued by corporations on their final accounts are the most important tool for investors to decide where they should put their money. It should be noted that any attempt by a corporation to falsify its financial statements could shake investors' faith in the stock market. The TSE has every reason to delist Livedoor stock, given the severity of the firm's alleged financial irregularities. The bourse's decision comes too late.Livedoor started its business as a small company that undertook to design Web sites on behalf of client companies. After getting its stock listed on the TSE's Mothers market, it took Livedoor only five years to grow into a business group, whose market value measured in share price temporarily reached close to 1 trillion yen.The driving force behind Livedoor's rapid rise was its successful acquisition of numerous corporations through its stock splits and swaps, as well as its allegedly fraudulent accounting.Exploiting loopholesIf a company chooses to split its shares, it is easy to boost its stock price as a result of a temporary reduction in the number of sell orders for the stock because it takes some time to print new stock certificates. Livedoor took thorough advantage of this in striving to increase its share price.By using the massive market value of its shares as a lever, Livedoor acquired a number of companies through stock splits and swaps, a move that further raised its share prices. This cycle culminated in 2005, when Livedoor acquired a massive number of shares issued by Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc., a large stakeholder in Fuji Television Network, Inc.Livedoor would have been unable to buy such a large number of shares if indirect financing had been the main vehicle available to corporations seeking to raise funds. No bank would have given loans to Livedoor. However, Livedoor's rapid growth was made possible through legitimate but questionable fund-raising schemes available through the stock market.A start-up company deserves to be praised for rapid growth on the stock market if it possesses an epoch-making technology or other truly great potential. But such is not the case with a company that has thrived merely on its favorable image but seeks to become a huge business by taking advantage of loopholes in the stock market rules. The end result of such dubious corporate activities would be economic chaos.Distressing delayRestrictions on stock splits were abolished in October 2001. In January 2004, the TSE noticed some corporations had used the method for improper purposes, but did nothing to rectify the situation until March 2005. The TSE's incredible lack of speed in taking action can only be described as appalling.A financial products transaction bill submitted to the current Diet session, if approved, would tighten the rules and increase the penalties for stock-related crimes, thus making it difficult for anyone to commit such wrongdoing. However, it is still difficult to establish a legal framework that can anticipate every attempt to take advantage of legal loopholes and fully block such irregularities.To ensure market fairness, the Financial Services Agency, the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission and the TSE must work to foil unlawful attempts to exploit such loopholes without delay.Questions should also be raised about the auditing firm that overlooked Livedoor's window-dressing. Such benign neglect only serves to undermine the authority of certified public accountants and the public's trust in their profession.The average share price for firms on the TSE's First Section has recovered from the fall that followed the eruption of the Livedoor scandal. However, the average share price on the Mothers market has dropped about 32 percent since immediately before investigators searched Livedoor-related locations. We hope investors will learn to tell companies they can trust from those they should not.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	751	2006-03-14	YOSHIN0020060314e23e000g3
YOMSHI0020060314e23f0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060314e23f0000g	EN	\N	Stop blaming Winny, fix the real problem	Not quite. Anyone dealing with sensitive information has an extremely heavy obligation in this regard.	4	2006-03-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A number of cases of large amounts of government secrets and personal information being accidentally disclosed on the Internet have come to light in recent weeks, and Winny has been singled out for criticism in all these incidents.Winny was created to enable computer users to exchange music and video files over the Internet. However, the development of the software has been followed by the emergence of computer viruses that can infect Winny, making it act in ways not intended.If infected, Winny can upload data from computers on which it is installed onto the Internet without the knowledge of users.In all the information disclosures reported, the victims had stored important data on personal computers that were running copies of Winny that had been infected with viruses. This has prompted many people to point a finger at the file-sharing software.The recent spate of Winny-related incidents includes the disclosure of information about investigations by the Okayama and Ehime prefectural police. The tendency to single Winny out for criticism can be seen in remarks made by senior officials at the National Police Agency, an organ charged with supervising prefectural police authorities. "Police personnel who use Winny on their personal computers have no awareness of their professional duties," NPA Commissioner General Iwao Uruma said.Lax security true culpritBut blaming Winny alone means blinkering oneself to the true culprit, and one needs to look further. It is disturbing to see that the organizations affected by the incidents were extremely lackadaisical in protecting information and secrets.Questions should be raised about why those responsible for the disclosures were able to copy sensitive information from their office computers onto their own computers, and take it home without permission from their superiors. The ease with which this was done means no measures had been taken to protect the confidentiality of information held by these offices.What if such massive amounts of information had been stored on paper, not computers, and disclosed? The spate of disclosures would be considered highly abnormal.We all have good reason to raise questions about how the organizations affected by the disclosures protect their secrets and data. Are personnel at their offices allowed to duplicate important documents and take them outside? Are they permitted to take such documents home? Are the central and local governments properly equipped to manage the many secrets and personal information entrusted to them?The government and other pertinent organizations must thoroughly reexamine their information-control systems.Govt must accept responsibilityThe Defense Agency intends to buy all its personnel new computers to help them carry out their duties. The decision came after the agency had second thoughts about its standing practice of allowing employees to use their own computers for work.But this purchase must be complemented by efforts to ensure information stored on these computers is properly controlled. If agency officials are allowed to copy data from their office computers onto their personal computers and take them out, the agency will remain susceptible to the disclosure of secrets and data.Winny is not the only software that can be perverted to disclose data stored on computers, there are others. The Defense Agency must ban personnel from using the newly supplied computers for personal use.No government employee should be allowed to take data outside the workplace. Government information and data must be encoded if taken out from the office. Doing so would prevent the data from being understood if disclosed to an outsider. Thorough measures should be implemented to educate government employees about how to properly control data they handle. Furthermore, periodic inspection are needed to ensure these safeguards are being followed.Any organization that has a bitter experience of having secrets and data disclosed has already taken such measures. Government organizations must learn what it means to protect the confidentiality of their information and data.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2006-03-15	YOSHIN0020060315e23f000ha
YOMSHI0020060315e23g0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060315e23g0000j	EN	\N	Wage hikes expected to start virtuous cycle	Major automakers and electric appliance makers agreed in unison Wednesday to the pay raises demanded by unions affiliated to the Japan Council of Metal Workers' Unions, which have spearheaded this year's spring labor offensive.	4	2006-03-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Against a background of corporate recovery, major unions demanded wage increases for the first time in four to six years. Although they have not demanded pay increases in recent years due to the recession and deflation, the unions have changed their policy this spring, saying they would not receive wage increases if they did not demand them now.Old convoy system dying offHowever, the size of the wage increases agreed upon differed sharply among companies, reflecting their performance and management environment.Toyota Motor Corp., which is in the vanguard of the spring labor offensive, met in full their union's demand of 1,000 yen a month. It was the first wage increase at Toyota in five years.Unions affiliated with the Japanese Electrical, Electronic & Information Union demanded a 2,000 yen a month increase, only to accept counteroffers of 500 yen and 1,000 yen. This has violated the time-honored custom among electric appliance makers of awarding uniform pay increases to all unions.Sanyo Electric Co., which is undergoing corporate rehabilitation, broke away from unified wage negotiations at their outset.Competition among electric appliance manufacturers is so fierce that having the edge in just one popular product can make a tremendous difference in corporate performance.It may well be time to reconsider the concept of negotiations aimed at getting the same pay increase for each union.Steelmakers, shipbuilders and heavy machinery makers have stalled on replying to unions demands for wage increases, but have said they will continue to discuss a possible increase for fiscal 2007. It is unusual for these three industries to continue pay negotiations after the date set by the Japan Council of Metal Workers' Unions for companies to reply to union demands.Management in the three industries have stressed the severity of international competition."South Korean companies are growing fast," they said. "A recovery in business performance has been reflected in bonus increases. But, wage increases, which will lead to an increase in fixed costs in the future, may endanger the foundation of management."Their concerns are reasonable if the rise and fall of many companies is taken into consideration. However, management has concluded that labor-management relations, which are amicable at present, would be negatively affected if they did not show a certain level of understanding for the unions' demands.How to slice the pie?During the years when wages did not rise, many companies changed their pay systems from seniority-based ones to performance-based ones. This means that even if management agrees to a pay increase during this spring's labor offensive, it will be distributed to employees based on merit.Also in this spring labor offensive, demands have diversified. For instance, steelmakers' unions have asked management to put a priority on wage increases for middle-aged and senior employees with high skills. Some unions want wage increases decided based on positions and job titles.Both employees and employers need to start talks on determining the most efficient way of distributing any pay increases.Labor-management talks will soon start in small and midsize companies. An improvement in employment conditions for part-time employees is becoming a major topic to be placed on the agenda in the distribution industry.Wage increases at major companies should positively affect the spring labor offensive at a wide variety of companies. The pay rises are also expected to ginger up the entire business sector and lead to enhancement of international competitiveness and an improvement in labor conditions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2006-03-16	YOSHIN0020060316e23g000g2
YOMSHI0020060316e23h0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060316e23h0000d	EN	\N	End bid-rigging for once and for all	Tokyo prosecutors on Tuesday served summary indictments over the alleged rigging of bids for construction projects ordered by the Defense Facilities Administration Agency on representatives from eight general contractors and one former agency official. The Tokyo Summary Court fined them 500,000 yen each.	4	2006-03-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The contractors that won the bids included the big four construction firms--Kajima Corp., Taisei Corp., Shimizu Corp. and Obayashi Corp.Since the latest bid-rigging scandal was masterminded by senior officials of the agency, only a summary indictment--a mere slap on the wrist--was served on the representatives of the construction firms. But the fact remains that they were involved in collusive bidding.Promises ring hollowWhenever they are charged with rigging bids or paying bribes, major construction companies pledge to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes. But their pledges always end up ringing hollow.In a 1993-94 corruption scandal involving the major construction companies, a former construction minister, the governors of Miyagi and Ibaraki prefectures, two mayors and ranking officials of eight construction companies, including the big four, were arrested and indicted. At that time, the construction firms made a public pledge to stop rigging bids."We'll never make covert donations nor fix bids again," the then Taisei president said at a press conference. Kajima and Shimizu held in-house seminars to instruct their employees to observe relevant laws and regulations. The firms were supposed to have rooted out collusion and corruption.Even after that, however, the Fair Trade Commission has continued to turn up new cases of bid-rigging.The leaders of the big four construction companies promised to stop collusive bidding most recently at a meeting in December as the revised Antimonopoly Law was to be put into effect the following month. Behind their pledge was the inclusion in the revised law of a far stricter penalty for collusion.But the question remains: Can the firms really put bid rigging behind them? The watchful eyes of the public are on the construction industry.Amakudari root of problemThe big four construction firms reportedly have transferred their executives implicated in bid-rigging to different sections in an attempt to do away with the consultation body formed to fix bids by the executives, who had influence over other firms in the same industry and ministries and agencies that placed orders construction projects. Though this drastic personnel shake-up is welcome, the companies must not place them secretly back in their old posts after things calm down.In the revised Antimonopoly Law, a new system has been introduced to exempt construction firms from some penalties for collusion if they voluntarily report bid-rigging cases to the Fair Trade Commission. This system might function in the future as an effective deterrent against bid-rigging.As for giving cushy jobs to bureaucrats who retire from ministries and agencies concerned with the construction industry, Taisei President Kanji Hayama, who chairs the Japan Civil Engineering Contractors' Association, said he expected retired bureaucrats to utilize the skills and knowledge they gained at ministries and agencies for the benefit of their new employers, the construction companies.It may not be right to abolish outright the practice of amakudari, in which retired senior bureaucrats take well-paid jobs in industries they formerly oversaw, but Hayama's remarks show he has not fully acknowledged the seriousness of the amakudari problem as it relates to bid-rigging.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2006-03-17	YOSHIN0020060317e23h000ey
YOMSHI0020060317e23i0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060317e23i0000h	EN	\N	Ruling on protecting sources makes sense	For this reason, the high court went on to say, refusal to reveal a news source is permissible unless there are "special circumstances" in which if the reporter refused to reveal his or her source, the damage to society and the public interest might equal or outweigh the benefits to society brought by reporting on the subject for whom the source was used.	4	2006-03-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the latest ruling, the court showed its understanding of the two ironclad principles of journalism, namely the freedom of the press and protection of news sources. As a member of the news media, we give high marks to the ruling.At issue in the court was whether it was justifiable for an NHK reporter to have refused to testify concerning a source during an interrogatory--commissioned by U.S. judicial authorities--in a damages suit filed by a U.S. company against the U.S. government.In its ruling in autumn, the Niigata District Court said it was justifiable for the NHK reporter to have refused to reveal the identity of the source.Upholding that decision, the high court ruling highlights the roles and missions of the media in today's society.District court ruling worryingJust four days ago, a ruling was handed down in a similar trial at the Tokyo District Court in respect of a Yomiuri Shimbun reporter who refused to identify a source.In a ruling that took the opposite view to Friday's high court decision, the lower court said "a reporter is not allowed to refuse to reveal the source of information if it is provided by a public servant who has violated government employees' obligation of confidentiality."In handing down the ruling, the lower court judge also remarked in passing that "even if a reporter becomes unable to gain cooperation from a news source thereafter, as a result of his revealing the source's identity, this development would actually be welcome from the viewpoint of maintaining law and order as the risk of further crimes taking place would no longer exist."This line of logic is tantamount to the court's saying that the media should not gather information from public servants, but merely report what government ministries or agencies announce.Top court set good precedentTuesday's ruling appears to run counter to a 1978 Supreme Court precedent that said a reporter's asking a public servant to provide classified information is "justifiable" as long as the news-gathering was done for the sole purpose of reporting, and the reporter's methods were appropriate.Citing this precedent, the Tokyo High Court also said, "Even if a reporter asks a public servant to break the law [by violating the confidentiality obligation of government employees], the necessity for media to conceal the identity of a news source for social and public benefits remains unchanged.""It is deemed unnecessary and inappropriate to discuss whether a news source has broken the law separately from the judgment on the appropriateness of the purpose and methods of news-gathering," the court added.If this line of logic, handed down on the NHK reporter who refused to reveal his news source during the interrogatory, was applied to the Yomiuri Shimbun reporter's case, the Tokyo District Court, which concluded the reporter's refusal to reveal his source was illegal, would lose the ground for its judgment.We trust a sensible decision will be made at the appeal trial in our reporter's case.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2006-03-18	YOSHIN0020060318e23i000gy
YOMSHI0020060318e23j0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060318e23j0000d	EN	\N	Boosting ties important for regional stability	The trilateral security talks, attended by Foreign Minister Taro Aso, his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, mark an important step for the three countries on the road to deeper strategic cooperation.	4	2006-03-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the emergence of China and India as regional powers, a historic change is taking place in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan and the United States, and the United States and Australia are both in formal alliances. The strategic dialogue between the three countries, which share the values of democracy and freedom, is important for regional peace and stability.Concern over China's militaryThe issue the three countries attached greatest importance to was China, which has been able to build up its military due to its rapid economic rise.China's national defense budget in 2006 shows a 14.7 percent increase from the year before, representing a double-digit year-on-year rise for the 18th straight year.The U.S. authorities have told Congress that China's military spending in real terms is estimated to be three times the figure made public by the Chinese government.The improvements China has made to its air force and navy, and its buildup of ballistic missiles, will lead to increased regional instability.It is natural for the three countries to have jointly welcomed China's "constructive engagement" in the Asia-Pacific region. Yet such efforts need also to be made with the cooperation of India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.In the National Security Strategy of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, the United States urged China to act as a "responsible stakeholder [within the international economic system]."In this document, the United States also said, "Our strategy seeks to encourage China to make the right strategic choices for its people, while we hedge against other possibilities."Saturday's trilateral strategic dialogue can be seen as one such hedge.In East Asia, China is advocating the creation of an East Asian community involving the 10 ASEAN members, Japan, China and South Korea.Japan's preferred stance is to try for a more open regional framework, including working with countries such as Australia and India.Reinforcing cooperation between Japan, the United States and Australia will be important to prevent confusion during the formation of a new regional order in East Asia.Common interests at stakeNeedless to say, the problems the three countries face in the Asia-Pacific region and on the international stage are not limited to China.There are diverse issues such as North Korea's nuclear missile development programs and the Iranian nuclear program. How to cope with the spiraling turmoil in Iraq is also a matter of urgency, while measures to deal with such epidemics as avian flu are vital for maintaining regional stability.With the latest meeting, the strategic dialogue between the three countries has been upgraded from the subcabinet level to the ministerial level.The joint statement of the trilateral strategic dialogue, issued following the meeting, said the upgrading of the talks shows the determination of the three countries to work together to protect their common strategic interests of promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.In order to protect these shared strategic interests, it is important to not only maintain but also reinforce the trilateral framework. To that end, Japan must fulfill its obligations properly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2006-03-19	YOSHIN0020060319e23j000af
YOMSHI0020060320e23k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060320e23k00001	EN	\N	Firms should honor law on employing elderly	The amended law concerning stabilization of employment of elderly persons will eventually require corporations to keep employees on the payroll until they reach the age of 65. In the initial stage of the law's enforcement, companies will be required to keep employees on their payroll until they are 62. In fiscal 2013, the law will raise this age to 65.	4	2006-03-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Corporate workers usually retire when they turn 60--the mandatory retirement age set by many companies.Although the revised law incorporates no penalty to be imposed on corporations that fail to live up to their new requirement, we hope the spirit of the revised law will be accepted by the corporate sector. This will be essential to make it the norm for corporate employees to work until the age of 65.The average life expectancy of Japanese has steadily increased. Undoubtedly, many people can play an active role in society even after they reach 60. Revision of the law represents an effort to complement earlier changes in legislation for the corporate employees pension plan. The starting age for payment to male recipients under the basic pension scheme, which constitutes part of the three-tier employees pension system, will be moved back to 65 years of age, beginning in fiscal 2013.Society needs older workersThe continued birthrate decline and aging population has been accompanied by a drop in the working population. Baby boomers--those born between 1947 and 1949--will reach 60, starting next year. The presence of many elderly workers is important to make this country an even more vibrant society. Their contribution in this respect also will serve to increase the number of people who can shoulder the financial burden to keep the social security system intact.To keep employees on the payroll until the age of 65, the revised law requires corporations to raise their mandatory retirement age while also introducing a system in which corporate workers would be able to work under new contracts after quitting their jobs because of the age limit.The law incorporates a general rule requiring companies to reemploy retirees who wish to continue working under this extended employment system. But they will be able to reduce the list of rehired workers if they reach a labor-management agreement concerning the selection of such retirees.According to a survey conducted by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry in January, most corporations said they would adopt the extended employment system, presumably because the system does not require changes in their wage structure and personnel system.Conditions must be discussedThere are marked differences among corporations concerning how they value the expertise acquired by elderly employees over the years. Some companies take full advantage of the skills and experience gained by aged workers. Meanwhile, progress in efforts by some corporations to automate their operations has narrowed the scope of work available to elderly workers. The difference in this respect also varies according to the category and size of the business.The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) has said each company needs to adopt an extended employment system best suited for its business. Admittedly, each corporation needs to think hard about what kind of system it should introduce. However, it would be against the spirit of the revised law to drastically whittle down the list of rehired retirees.It is also essential to ensure the clarity and fairness in assessing the on-the-job performance, skills and health of retired workers, when it comes to laying down the standards for selecting retirees to be reemployed.We also hope labor and management will fully discuss what kind of wage system, job content and working patterns should be adopted in putting elderly workers on the payroll for a second time. The morale of current employees will certainly pick up if they find their company's reemployment system rewarding their work and contributing to the firm's business performance.The system adopted by each company will not necessarily serve its purpose from the very beginning. There will be changes in the employment situation and the awareness of employees about their working conditions. Given this, it is important to constantly reexamine the system so it can meet the changes of the times.Needless to say, life-time service in the same company is not the only option for retirees. Different people have different ways of working after reaching the mandatory retirement age. The enforcement of the revised law will provide an opportunity to think about how to live the rest of one's life after turning 60.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	817	2006-03-20	YOSHIN0020060320e23k000bf
YOMSHI0020060320e23l0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060320e23l0000k	EN	\N	Ministry to blame for PSE mark confusion	A ban will be imposed in stages on the sale of used electric appliances that do not bear the PSE mark, beginning in April. The Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Law, which took effect in 2001, requires electrical appliance manufacturers to inspect secondhand goods they previously produced, and apply the PSE mark to products that meet government-set safety standards.	4	2006-03-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the law stipulated a grace period of five to 10 years, depending on the type of product. On March 31, the grace period will expire for 259 of the 450 items subject to the PSE law, including refrigerators and television sets. The PSE system will start April 1.However, the ministry has hardly done enough to make the PSE rule known to the public and business and industry circles. Musicians demanded rare and valuable vintage instruments be exempt from the rule. Secondhand goods dealers have also strenuously objected to the regulation, saying they could be forced out of business if the rule was strictly applied. They have demanded the ministry extend the grace period.Partial reversalAll this has caused the ministry to hurriedly reverse its policy, permitting the sale of vintage instruments and some other items without the PSE mark. The abrupt change indicates the ministry may be willing to acknowledge it has not properly prepared to introduce the PSE program.However, the ministry remains unclear on the kind of criteria it will set for instruments to qualify as vintage. The government has not yet established procedures for secondhand instrument dealers to get their products recognized as vintage.The list of used electrical appliances exempted from the PSE rule does not include refrigerators or most other items. The ministry has defended this decision by emphasizing that dealers will be allowed to continue selling such appliances after the PSE rule comes into effect in April if they meet certain requirements. Dealers will be required to inspect products they have registered with the authorities on the manufacturer's behalf, including whether they have the potential to cause a short-circuit, and apply the PSE mark to them.It will take dealers time and money to inspect their products. The ministry has devised measures to aid dealers in this respect, including lending necessary testing equipment free of charge and establishing 500 inspection stations across the country.Schedule must be setHowever, it is still unknown when these steps will be fully implemented. Such stopgap measures only exacerbate the turmoil.The ministry does not intend to extend the grace period, saying some dealers have strived to prepare for the start of the PSE system, knowing the grace period would finish at the end of March.Even so, the ministry needs to think harder about ensuring the smooth start of the new system. To clear up the confusion among retailers and consumers, the ministry must reveal as soon as possible when the measures to aid dealers will be implemented. We believe extending the grace period is unavoidable if the ministry needs more time to work out the planned measures in further detail.The Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Law is intended to help consumers use electrical appliances without anxiety. There is nothing wrong with efforts to increase the safety of electrical appliances. This can be demonstrated by the number of carbon monoxide poisoning cases involving oil heaters produced by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.The ministry has done little to ensure the smooth start of the PSE system since the law took effect five years ago. The ministry only distributed related pamphlets to dealers. It has also been inadequate in making the system known to the public. Clearly the ministry must be taken to task.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2006-03-21	YOSHIN0020060321e23l000ct
YOMSHI0020060321e23m0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060321e23m0000f	EN	\N	3 cheers for Mr. Oh and Team Japan!	Japan lost two of its three games in the second round of the international tournament and failed to qualify for the semifinal in its own right. But, the team came back from the grave to finish top of the 16 nations invited to play in the inaugural series.	4	2006-03-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Well done, Mr. Oh and the Japanese players!Asian baseball got gameBaseball fans all over Japan had a golden opportunity to appreciate the fun and excitement of a game of hardball fought for national honor. Many fans doubtlessly exploded in jubilance in front of their televisions at the moment of Japan's victory.Looking back on the 2006 WBC, which was organized by Major League Baseball, quite a few people will vividly remember the three games Japan contended with South Korea.In the first and second rounds, Japan suffered back-to-back defeats. South Korea, armed with Major League pitchers, was said to be the best team the country had ever fielded--strong enough to beat the United States in the quarterfinal. And although Japan beat South Korea 6-0 in the semifinal, the team was vexed by its performance at the international tournament.As a result, however, Japan and South Korea have shown the world what a high level of baseball there is in Asia.Staging the inaugural WBC was not easy. The participating countries were opposed to the way the MLB planned to distribute the proceeds of the tournament. The United States caused trouble by trying to bar Cuba from the WBC because it is under U.S. economic sanctions. The opening of the tournament itself was once considered in danger.Many Major Leaguers did not participate in the WBC because it was held in March--just before the upcoming season. For instance, New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui decided, after much deliberation, not to play.A truly international contestSome critics say that this means the WBC does not qualify as a true world championship, but we disagree with them. Each country mustered the best team possible under the prescribed conditions. That alone has given enough significance to the WBC to qualify itself as an international tournament.However, the WBC had problems in appointing umpires. Bad calls marred otherwise exciting games. It was also difficult to understand why U.S. umpires were allowed to officiate games involving the U.S. team.Nonetheless, we applaud the WBC for realizing its initial goals--raising interest around the world in baseball, attracting new fans and increasing the number of young people who would like to play the sport.The globalization of baseball and increase of amateur players are important issues that Japanese professional baseball has to discuss seriously, too.In November, after this year's regular season is over, the Asian champion series will be held in Tokyo, featuring the top champions from Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan.We hope the Asian series will raise the level of baseball in Asia to the extent that baseball fans around the world will be surprised again when they see Asian teams play ball at the second WBC in three years time.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2006-03-22	YOSHIN0020060322e23m000cb
YOMSHI0020060322e23n0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060322e23n0000l	EN	\N	Nagata, DPJ have wrought political chaos	Nagata had previously explained at a press conference how he obtained a fake e-mail that said former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie had instructed that a very large sum of money be transferred to a son of Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe. But, Wednesday's statement was the first official defense he had made at the Diet.	4	2006-03-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nagata's explanation before the committee was a little more detailed than his previous ones, but not much. Nagata explained how he came to believe the fake e-mail was "genuine." But no explanation has been given with regards to the purpose behind faking the e-mail nor how a go-between obtained the bogus e-mail and offered it to Nagata.Limit to protecting sourceNagata is still unwilling to reveal the name of his informant. To an extent this is understandable, as nobody would provide information to lawmakers if they were to divulge the names of informants at the drop of a hat.Nonetheless, taking into account the seriousness of the furor--which has caused a major disruption in national politics--the informant needs to be questioned to throw light on the matter in its entirety.By rights, the Democratic Party of Japan, which suspended Nagata's membership for six months, should have interviewed his informant at an earlier stage and made public the results of the interview. The committee should discuss the possibility of questioning the informant at a secret session.The committee took 20 days to start official deliberations on the issue since it was given charge of the disposition of Nagata on March 2. Some critics say the ruling coalition has been intentionally slow in seeking a settlement of the problem so as to reap political hay in the Chiba Constituency No. 7 by-election in late April and in the future management of the Diet.The Diet is expected to pass the fiscal 2006 budget Monday. It will then start deliberations on the administrative reform bill and the health-care system reform bills. The ruling coalition parties are also planning to submit a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education as well as a national referendum bill.Public trust takes a hammeringAll of these are important bills directly related to the future of the nation and lives of the people. If the disruption caused by Nagata is allowed to clog up Diet proceedings any longer, public trust in politics will decline even further. The ruling coalition parties should consider ways and means to shake the Diet free of the impasse.Of course, the DPJ must assume the biggest responsibility. The main opposition party has damaged public trust in it and it has lost its chance to assume office in the near future.DPJ President Seiji Maehara is now being called a lame duck even by fellow party members. It also is unclear when he will be able to finish compiling the party's policy outlines on foreign affairs and national security.These self-inflected wounds are the DPJ's own fault and its own cross to bear. But, the party also must bear heavy responsibility for undermining the dynamism of Japanese politics.Many DPJ members have called on Nagata to leave the Diet in the hope his resignation would clear the air.We would like to ask Nagata himself how responsible he feels for pushing the DPJ and Japanese politics into a deep pit.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2006-03-23	YOSHIN0020060323e23n000gc
YOMSHI0020060323e23o0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060323e23o0000l	EN	\N	Uncover facts behind DPRK state terrorism	The Metropolitan Police Department on Thursday raided locations including an office of the business association under the umbrella of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) in connection with the suspected abduction of Tadaaki Hara in 1980.	4	2006-03-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The raid was conducted because of suspicions that two former senior officials of the business association were involved in Hara's abduction. One owns a Chinese restaurant where the 43-year-old Hara worked before he went missing, and the other, who is dead, once served as chairman of the business association.It was the first time for Japanese police to carry out searches in connection with the series of abductions committed by North Korea, including that of Hara, after identifying suspected collaborators in the abduction at home. It also was the first time officials connected with the pro-Pyongyang Chongryon have been cited in the cases.ROK should extradite suspectTo abduct Japanese to North Korea, North Korean agents needed the help of people living in Japan. Chongryon is an organization under the leadership of North Korea.It is known that Chongryon officials have been involved in the smuggling of North Korean agents into Japan and in the illegal export of Japanese products. It is suspected that Chongryon officials played key roles in abductions.In Hara's case, Sin Gwang Su, 76, a former North Korean agent believed to have masterminded the abduction, has already been put on an international wanted list on suspicion of violating Japanese laws, including the Passport Law.The MPD has also identified another former North Korean agent who lives on Jeju island, South Korea, as an accomplice of Sin in the abduction of Hara. The police plan to put the former agent, together with Sin, on an international wanted list on suspicion of abducting Hara to North Korea.Japan has signed an extradition treaty with South Korea. Based on the treaty, Tokyo should urge South Korea to hand over the alleged accomplice to Japan and question him, together with the former senior official of the business association.The police must strive to learn whether Chongryon was involved in the Hara abduction and other abductions, and identify Korean residents here who helped North Korean agents abduct Japanese.Kim lied to KoizumiSin, who was arrested in South Korea in 1985 for illegally entering the country, was sentenced to death as a North Korean spy. Under an accord reached at summit talks held by the two Koreas in September 2000, Sin, together with other political prisoners, was handed over to North Korea. Ever since, he has been treated as a national hero, basking in the applause of audience members when attending government-organized events in North Korea.Sin is also suspected of abducting Yasushi and Fukie Chimura, both of whom returned to Japan in 2002, and Megumi Yokota, whom North Korea asserts is dead.During questioning by South Korean authorities, Sin allegedly testified that he had been "directly instructed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il" to carry out abductions.Kim lied when he admitted to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during their summit talks in September 2002 in Pyongyang that "the abductions were conducted by some special intelligence agents who were driven by irrational impulses and heroism."While Sin was serving a prison term in South Korea in 1990, Takako Doi, former Social Democratic Party leader, and Naoto Kan, former Democratic Party of Japan leader, signed a petition seeking their acquittal and the release of political prisoners, including Sin.Some political parties in Japan, including the defunct Japan Socialist Party, cozied up to Pyongyang, ignoring the existence of the abduction case itself. The government's diplomatic stance toward North Korea was weak-kneed back then.Concerning the whereabouts of at least 11 other Japanese who have allegedly abducted to North Korea, Pyongyang's responses to Japan's requests that the cases be investigated have been insincere. A thorough investigation into the alleged crimes committed by former Chongryon officials and Sin will put pressure on North Korea to respond sincerely.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2006-03-24	YOSHIN0020060324e23o000gh
YOMSHI0020060324e23p0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060324e23p0000l	EN	\N	Court ruling on N-plant flies in face of science	The court ordered Hokuriku Electric Power Co. to halt the operation of the No. 2 reactor at its Shika nuclear power plant in Shikamachi, Ishikawa Prefecture.	4	2006-03-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the trial, a group of plaintiffs, including residents living in the areas surrounding the plant, demanded that the power utility shut down the reactor, claiming there is a problem with its antiseismic design.True, the Japanese archipelago is one of the world's most earthquake-prone zones. Therefore, each nuclear power reactor's antiseismic design must clear the government's stringent safety criteria. Friday's ruling raised doubts about the validity of those regulations.The initial part of the process of antiseismic designing involves estimation of types of earthquakes that could hit the area where a nuclear power plant will be built. Based on the estimation, the strongest possible seismic shocks are then estimated. Nuclear reactors and related facilities are designed to withstand such jolts.However, the district court ruled that Hokuriku Electric had not taken into account the possibility that an earthquake with a magnitude greater than the power company's worst-case estimate could strike. The court also said the company's seismic vibration estimate was not based on an adequate calculation method.The court thus rejected Hokuriku Electric's argument that the No. 2 reactor had been designed in line with and cleared the government's assessment guidelines on the antiseismic design of nuclear reactors.N-industry could be affectedA reactor's earthquake-resistance capability is designed on the basis of studies of past earthquakes. Stronger earthquakes that are unlikely to occur are not factored into seismological estimations. In fact, the government sets specific ranges of earthquake intensities that must be referred to in antiseismic designs. The ruling showed little understanding of such basic factors concerning nuclear reactor design.Friday's ruling is the first loss by the electric power industry in a lawsuit involving commercial nuclear power reactors. What is more, the No. 2 reactor at the Shika nuclear power plant only began operating on March 15. Kindling fears on the basis of an irrational supposition, the decision could adversely affect the operations of the country's other 54 commercial nuclear power reactors.The ruling seems to have taken into account the effect of the earthquake that struck Miyagi Prefecture last August. At the time, the Onagawa nuclear power plant of Tohoku Electric Power Co. in the prefecture was shaken by a quake of an intensity that exceeded the company's worst-case seismic shock estimations.To deal with such unusual circumstances, the government's guidelines for antiseismic designs permit a certain margin in calculations that errs on the side of caution. The Onagawa plant automatically halted reactor operations immediately after detecting the temblor, with the result that the plant suffered no damage.Panel should make mind upConcerning the existing guidelines, which were worked out more than 20 years ago, there are voices seeking an expansion of the safety margin and more transparency, commensurate with the latest state of scientific knowledge.For instance, the existing guidelines assume that the largest earthquake that could occur with its epicenter just below a nuclear power reactor would have a magnitude of 6.5. It might be sensible to increase the highest estimated magnitude a little. Likewise, seismic vibrations should be predicted more precisely, while allowance for tremor resistance should be cited in specific numerical values.The government's Nuclear Safety Commission has been reviewing the safety guidelines for nearly five years now, but its members have remained divided. The district court's ruling seems to have taken into consideration the discord on the panel. The committee, therefore, should come up with an early conclusion.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	675	2006-03-25	YOSHIN0020060325e23p000hc
YOMSHI0020060325e23q0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060325e23q0000g	EN	\N	JAL's string of blunders must cease	On Wednesday, it was discovered that one of JAL's Boeing passenger planes had remained in service without having undergone a periodical inspection for possible fissures in parts of its main landing gear.	4	2006-03-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	By itself, this is a serious failure. A day after Wednesday's revelation, however, the airline was found to have committed another serious mistake when conducting an urgent checkup of the aircraft's landing gear. The mechanic responsible for the checkup at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido did not use a chemical that would have made it easier to discover a minor nick in the plane's landing gear. This means the passenger jet resumed service despite the airline's failure to fully ascertain the aircraft's safety.JAL's failure in this respect can be partly attributed to the fact that one of the two required chemicals was not delivered to New Chitose Airport because of a mistake on the part of an employee.Nonetheless, this latest failure violated rules stipulated in the airline's inspection manual. JAL's efforts to rectify its initial error turned into a double disgrace for the airline.Insufficient airworthinessThe mechanic explained his failure by saying he wanted to complete the landing gear inspection before the time the plane was scheduled to resume its flight.The mechanic's actions should not be regarded as a simple error. He knew he had neglected to carry out his duties. Failure to properly service an airplane can lead to a major disaster. JAL should take the severity of this failure to heart.To make matters worse, the aircraft in question was a model designated by the Construction and Transport Ministry as one whose airworthiness needed to be improved. Earlier, the ministry had instructed all airlines to shorten the intervals between periodical inspections of these planes. The order came after the landing gear of a plane similar to the JAL aircraft collapsed immediately after landing at Tokunoshima Airport in Kagoshima Prefecture in January 2004.In April 2005, JAL put together a set of measures designed to ensure there was no repeat of disruptions to its flights or maintenance mistakes. However, the airline continued to experience a series of mishaps. These included the thrust reverser on a plane refusing to work and the incorrect installation of engines on another plane. On top of these comes the airline's double error.Passenger numbers downIn recent months, an increasing number of people have been shunning JAL when they fly to far-flung locations, largely because of concerns about the airline's numerous problems. This has adversely affected the airline's business performance.JAL has acknowledged the lack of communication between management and employees. The airline has also admitted its single-minded pursuit of efficient business operations has had harmful side-effects. A five-year business plan unveiled earlier this month states the carrier will spend 60 billion yen to improve flight safety, for example, by shoring up the role of its maintenance section.The recent management infighting at the airline has now subsided. Still, the airline's employees and management remain at odds over employee wage cuts. JAL should know measures to avoid further errors and disruptions--as well as its latest business plan--will not be worth the paper they are written on if management and labor remain unable to join forces in trying to turn around the troubled company.JAL is not the only carrier that should be blamed for failing to properly service its aircraft. In mid-March, it was revealed that Skymark Airlines Co. had flown one of its passenger jets for nine months without properly repairing it. Skymark was also found to have overlooked damage to the aircraft's fuselage.Questions have been raised about Skymark's ability to service its planes, as shown by the fact that 11 mechanics--more than 20 percent of such staff--have quit the company over the past year.Fortunately, none of these errors, oversights and mishaps has ended in disaster. It is imperative that airlines waste no time implementing measures to ensure the safety of their flights.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	740	2006-03-26	YOSHIN0020060326e23q0009m
YOMSHI0020060326e23r0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060326e23r0000e	EN	\N	Integrated command to boost SDF flexibility	There have been rapid changes in the this nation's security environment in recent years. It is essential to step up efforts to ensure the GSDF, ASDF and MSDF can swiftly and effectively deal with these changes.	4	2006-03-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The MSDF sought to use helicopters in transporting food in the wake of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. However, the MSDF's delivery of food was delayed because the earthquake had rendered the heliports the MSDF had planned to use unavailable. Meanwhile, the GSDF and ASDF had set up a temporary heliport near a stricken area, but the information about this never reached the MSDF.This deplorable state of affairs can arouse concerns about whether the SDF will be able to function properly in a national emergency.More recently, the SDF have participated in various international peacekeeping and humanitarian activities overseas, including providing aid to victims of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Sumatra, Indonesia, and humanitarian assistance to war-torn Iraq. Close cooperation among the three arms of the SDF is essential to ensure smooth operation in their overseas missions.Joint command commonThe United States has maintained a joint command structure since the beginning of the Cold War. During the 1990s, many major powers around the world established joint headquarters for their military forces. Given this, the Defense Agency's decision to place the three SDF arms under a joint chain of command represents an effort to meet needs of the changing times.The SDF's new chain of command stipulates a 500-member joint staff office headed by the joint chief of staff be established under the Defense Agency director general. Commands issued by the agency chief will be conveyed to SDF personnel through the joint chief of staff.For years, such commands issued to the GSDF, MSDF and ASDF have been given through each arm's respective chief of staff. The SDF's new chain of command will assign the joint chief of staff the task of conveying commands from the agency director general to the three arms of the SDF.The joint chief of staff will form a joint task force after receiving orders from the director general in the event of emergencies, including missile defense, amphibious landings on isolated islands, major earthquakes and international emergency aid activities. GSDF, MSDF and ASDF personnel will be put into action under commanders of the joint task force.The SDF have conducted command post drills and other exercises since they carried out a Japan-U.S. field training drill in 1986.Similar structureThe United States intends to set up a new headquarters responsible for commanding elements of the army, navy, air force and marine corps--called a unit of employment--at Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture as part of its realignment of its forces in Japan. The plan is aimed at reacting flexibly to emergencies in the Far East and neighboring areas. The SDF's new chain of command will likely make it possible for the SDF to more smoothly cooperate with the U.S. forces.However, there are various tasks to be tackled in operating SDF units under the joint staff office. They include the need to establish a framework for the provision of logistic support for the joint task force and improve the system designed to facilitate communications among the GSDF, MSDF and ASDF. Another task will be to ensure SDF units properly share pertinent information. It is also essential to educate and produce personnel necessary for the new joint chain of command.The importance of civilian control by the prime minister and the Defense Agency director general will remain unchanged even under the SDF's new chain of command. It will also be necessary to fully discuss how political leaders should be involved in making final decisions about SDF operations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2006-03-27	YOSHIN0020060327e23r000lo
YOMSHI0020060327e23s0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060327e23s0000i	EN	\N	Pluthermal power way of the future	The Saga prefectural government and the Genkaicho municipal government in the prefecture accepted Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s plutonium-thermal power generation plan for the No. 3 reactor of the Genkai nuclear power plant. All necessary agreements were obtained to move the plan forward.	4	2006-03-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Kyushu Electric will soon start necessary preparations, including ordering fuel processing, with the aim of starting the nation's first pluthermal power generation plant in fiscal 2010.The electric power company must strive to ensure the safe operation of the reactor, while at the same time continuing its efforts to elicit consent and cooperation of the local government and residents by providing detailed information about its precautions.Kansai Electric Power Co. and Tokyo Electric Power Co. were once close to realizing pluthermal power generation, having gained the approval of the central government and acceptance of local governments.But data fabrication at a British company with which Kansai Electric had contracted for fuel processing surfaced in 1999. In 2004, a fatal accident occurred at its Mihama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture and Kansai Electric was forced to freeze its pluthermal plan.Sidetracked by scandalsAs for the Tokyo utility firm, fabrication of routine inspection reports at some of its nuclear power plants emerged in 2002, leading the Fukushima and Niigata prefectural governments to withdraw their agreements for the utility company's pluthermal plans.The safety level of pluthermal power generation is the same as that of conventional nuclear power generation. Even in conventional power generation using uranium fuel, plutonium is generated in a reactor, and conditions similar to those created in pluthermal power generation occur in the reactor.Pluthermal power generation has taken root in some foreign countries. France operates 21 pluthermal reactors and Germany has 15 reactors running under pluthermal power generation. There have been no major accidents involving pluthermal power generation reported overseas.But Kyushu Electric should avoid losing the trust of the local people by making errors similar to those of Tokyo Electric and Kansai Electric. If such a situation were to occur, the nation's plutonium recycling plan would fail.Vital energy planThe government seeks to promote the nuclear fuel cycle as a key national policy. In the cycle, plutonium in spent nuclear fuel is collected at a reprocessing plant and used as nuclear fuel. Under this process, the amount of radioactive waste will be reduced. Spent nuclear fuel will be reused, instead of being stockpiled as waste.The nation's electric power industry used to use overseas reprocessing plants to reclaim plutonium from spent fuel. Japan stores 26 tons of collected plutonium overseas.In Rokkashomura, Aomori Prefecture, the nation's first commercial nuclear fuel recycling plant is soon to carry out test operation. As a condition for accepting the test run, the Aomori prefectural government said collected plutonium should be reused steadily.In the future, fast-breeder reactors, which are able to burn plutonium effectively, will be put into commercial use. But until such time, reprocessed plutonium fuel must be used in pluthermal generation.With the aim of realizing smooth use of plutonium, the government and the electricity industry intend to start pluthermal power generation at 16 to 18 reactors by fiscal 2010.Other electric power companies should follow the lead of Kyushu Electric.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2006-03-28	YOSHIN0020060328e23s000oi
YOMSHI0020060328e23t0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060328e23t0000e	EN	\N	Teach English at the expense of Japanese?	In a report released Monday, the council's subcommittee on foreign languages recommended that English be taught once a week or so to the students.	4	2006-03-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel said English should be taught as part of general studies or English activities, in the same way as ethics or other special activities, for about 35 lessons a year. But it made clear English should not be made a regular class subject such as Japanese or mathematics.Needless to say there are proponents of and opponents to the full introduction of English at primary schools. However, this is the first time a basic policy on English education at primary schools has been presented.If the council issues a formal recommendation based on the subcommittee's report, the ministry is expected to revise the current curriculum guidelines during fiscal 2006. Thus there is a possibility primary schools will start teaching English in four or five years.Notes on a native tongueBut why should English education start at the primary-school level? Does the subcommittee's report address this question?Some members of the subcommittee and other education experts oppose or are cautious about introducing compulsory English education at primary schools. Many of them argue that primary schools should place priority on helping students acquire greater skills in Japanese.And given the current reading abilities and debating skills of children, this opinion has merit.The report also says, "Japanese ability is basic for the Japanese people, and it should be emphasized through all educational activities."Noting this, the report says teaching Japanese and English at the same time would foster communications skills with other peoples and other cultures. The report urged that discussions on how to teach English at primary school should focus on how to draw on the "synergistic effects" of a connection between English and Japanese eduction.School week already busyDetails of how to teach English at primary schools will be the subject of forthcoming discussions. The ministry should come up with ideas that satisfy those who believe Japanese education is more important than English education.Some experts argue that other major subjects should be given a higher priority than English because the academic skills of children have dropped. The council itself in February recommended that more hours should be allotted to the teaching of Japanese, mathematics and science.One of the reasons the subcommittee proposed making English part of general studies or a special subject instead of making it a regular class subject is that it is not easy to introduce a new subject into the tight class schedule at primary schools.Some say that the introduction of compulsory English education at primary school would be a great burden for students and schools. In answer to this concern, the report cited that more than 90 percent of primary schools have already introduced some form of English-language activity.However, the reality is that these English-language activities are held once a month or so just to provide students with a chance to become familiar with English.If English is introduced as per the subcommittee's recommendation, more human, financial and other resources will be required.The education ministry said the report is a starting point for discussions. Opinions for the report will be invited from the public. Until the final recommendation is completed, discussions should be held at all levels of society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2006-03-29	YOSHIN0020060329e23t000i3
YOMSHI0020060329e23u0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060329e23u0000d	EN	\N	Market reassured by new Fed chairman	The latest rate increase marked the 15th consecutive quarter-point adjustment since June 2004, when the Fed was under the hand of the charismatic Alan Greenspan. This time around, the Fed raised the benchmark short-term federal funds rate a quarter percentage point, as it has done previously, to 4.75 percent per annum.	4	2006-03-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.S. economy is growing firmly. Its gross domestic product for January to March could grow by 4 to 5 percent, with the GDP for this year expected to grow by about 3.5 percent. Meanwhile, there has been no sign of inflation.In a statement issued after the rate increase, the Fed said "economic growth has rebounded strongly in the current quarter but appears likely to moderate to a more sustainable pace," expressing its confidence in the fight against price increases.At the same time, however, the Fed stressed it would remain on guard against potential inflationary pressure, caused by such factors as surging oil prices, suggesting it would continue raising interest rates.Keeping vigilant on 2 frontsThe U.S. economy is now at a delicate phase.Housing investment, a driving force for the economy until recently, has shown signs of a slowdown, while the current account deficit has passed the annual 800 billion dollars mark, reflecting excess consumption. It would not be surprising for long-term interest rates, which have so far been held down due to an influx of money from abroad, to nose upward shortly.The Fed has to maintain guard against two potential problems that may threaten the U.S. economy--an economic slowdown and inflationary pressure. Should the money market be tightened too much, the economy may stall. On the other hand, should credit not be tightened enough, inflation may accelerate.In light of this, some analysts believe the Fed will end the credit-tightening move by pushing the rate up one more time to 5 percent in May, while others say the Fed will stop boosting rates only when it has pushed them up to 5.5 percent by the middle of the year.A delicate balancing actIt will be a difficult balancing act to find a neutral rate that will simultaneously curb inflation, promote economic growth and to decide when to end credit-tightening. Pulling off this act of legerdemain will challenge the new chairman's ability to the fullest.As the Bank of Japan recently scrapped its quantitative monetary-easing policy, attention has now shifted to when the central bank will discard its zero interest-rate policy. The European Central Bank shifted to a credit-tightening stance late last year, ushering in a worldwide round of rate hikes.The halt in rate increases by the Fed and the future course of the U.S. economy will affect the world economy, including that of Japan, which depends a great deal on exports to the United States.It is also necessary to keep a watch on large fluctuations on the exchange market, to be prompted by such factors as differences in interest rates at home and abroad, and changes in stock prices.The new Fed chairman's theory is to introduce inflation targets, thus setting numerical targets for stabilizing prices.Inflation targets are expected to increase the transparency of the central bank's monetary policy. But they also pose the risk of undermining flexibility with regard to policy. This dichotomy has divided viewpoints on the matter sharply.Will the new chairman stick to his own theory? What sort of targets does he want to set? We need to keep a close watch on the judgement calls made by the new Fed chairman.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2006-03-30	YOSHIN0020060330e23u000hh
YOMSHI0020060330e23v0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060330e23v0000g	EN	\N	Muraoka ruling shows murky side of politics	With the latest acquittal, however, the darkness in the nation's politics evidenced by the massive off-the-book donation to the largest faction within the LDP may have deepened.	4	2006-03-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The illegal donation was made by the JDA to the Heisei Study Group faction, whose then chairman was former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. The donation was not entered in the political organization's annual funds report. This is an undeniable fact.The focal point of the court battle was whether--as the prosecution asserted--Muraoka, who was acting chairman of the faction, decided not to have the donation recorded in the report submitted to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry when senior members of the faction held a meeting in 2002.Prosecution scenario rejectedThe prosecution's assertion hinged on how the court would judge the testimony made by Toshiyuki Takigawa, then faction treasurer.In his ruling, the presiding judge said Takigawa's testimony made in court was not credible.As for the meeting of the senior faction members, the judge said it was held only briefly, and that it was "hard to understand" how the important decision to not issue the JDA a receipt for the donation could have been "made in a few minutes."The latest court decision totally rejected the picture of the donation scandal painted by the prosecution, meaning that the prosecution's case was left in tatters.The ruling also hinted at the possibility that the 100 million yen donation could have been made, in effect, to Hashimoto as an individual.The judge also said that as Takigawa was in a subordinate position to Hashimoto when the illegal donation was made, "it was quite natural [for him] to make false statements in order to prevent the scandal from causing trouble for Hashimoto and the faction."The court even went on to refer to the reason why it judged Takigawa's testimony to be false, saying Muraoka, who had already retired from the politics when the scandal surfaced, may have been used as a scapegoat.Question Hashimoto againHowever, the ruling did praise the prosecutors for taking a scalpel to the faction's fund management, saying their efforts "deserved support." The judge's remark was a reference to the fact that probing political funding has long been considered taboo in this country.The trial shed light on the web of intrigue around political funding, including indirect donations to specific LDP factions made via Kokumin Seiji Kyokai (People's Political Association), the political fund organization that accepts donations made to the party.Yet the court ruling repeatedly described the prosecution's scenario as "incomprehensible" and "unnatural." Such assertions by a judge are unusual in criminal trial.The prosecution said it would appeal the ruling immediately. If it intends to base its appeal on points related to Takigawa's testimony, it may need to present new evidence.At the same time, it may be necessary to review the whole matter by questioning those concerned, including Hashimoto, again, so as to reveal the truth behind the donation scandal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2006-03-31	YOSHIN0020060331e23v000hu
YOMSHI0020060331e2410000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060331e2410000g	EN	\N	Maehara's decision comes too late	On Friday, Maehara said all members of his party's top cadre would resign to take responsibility for the turmoil. On the same day, Hisayasu Nagata--the House of Representatives member who dug his own grave by producing a copy of the e-mail at a Diet session--submitted a letter of resignation to the lower house.	4	2006-04-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The lawmakers' actions apparently reflect their desire to turn around the embattled DPJ as it prepares for debates in the latter part of the current Diet session. On April 11, campaigning for a lower house by-election in Chiba Constituency No. 7 will get under way, with the largest opposition party set to lock horns with the ruling coalition in the race.During a press conference held to announce his resignation Friday, Maehara said, "I've found it necessary [for the DPJ] to reshuffle [the party leadership] for the purpose of resolving the deadlock [facing the party], fulfilling its responsibility as the main opposition party and regaining the public's trust in us."Maehara's decision comes too late. It has taken him until the very end of March--six weeks after the start of the confusion--to show how he will settle the problem. This can be blamed on his lack of ability to properly deal with the crisis facing his party.Supporters disappointedThe DPJ was flooded with protests over the latest confusion. Some protesters said they had been disappointed with the DPJ's approach to the problem, while others said they could not trust the party any longer. The DPJ should know it will not be an easy task to restore its supporters' trust lost in the e-mail brouhaha.The confusion created by the DPJ has caused a delay in discussions at the Diet, a development that has further aroused popular distrust in politicians and political parties. The latest turmoil has made it even more difficult for the DPJ to snatch power from the governing coalition. This can be seen, for example, in a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey on voters nationwide. More than 70 percent of those polled said the DPJ is not fit to run the country. The party should be called to task for robbing the nation's politics ofa good measure of vibrancy essential for a transition of power.It will not be easy for the DPJ to get itself back on its feet. It can hardly be said that the problem has been settled once and for all. The party's report on its investigation into the scandal has failed to clear up some mysteries that still surround the fabricated e-mail, including who wrote it and for what purpose.The DPJ is set to choose Maehara's successor at a meeting of party lawmakers from both chambers of the Diet on Friday. The upcoming selection of the top DPJ leader will be the seventh such election since the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was inaugurated in April 2001, and the 10th since the party was established in 1998. The frequent replacement of DPJ presidents seems to show that the foundations of the largest opposition party remain shaky.Too broad a church?The DPJ is a mix of legislators who previously belonged to other parties, including the LDP and the Social Democratic Party. DPJ members include those poles apart in ideological views. There is a great gap among those party members over the issues of external relations, national security and other basic policies.Maehara has taken an extremely practical approach to diplomacy, peace and security. His policies are similar to those of the LDP in many respects. However, this has drawn bitter criticism from DPJ members who previously belonged to the SDP.Maehara has also sought to present alternatives to government policies. But his attitude always antagonized many DPJ members--both conservative and left-leaning--who insisted he adopt a confrontational approach toward the coalition government.Maehara had good reason to be practical in dealing with fundamental policies, given his goal of replacing the ruling coalition. It is also essential for the DPJ to seek constructive debate with the government, based on its counterproposals for important political issues, if it wants to act as a responsible party.It may be difficult for the DPJ to truly turn itself around if its new president refuses to follow in Maehara's footsteps.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	769	2006-04-01	YOSHIN0020060401e241000i4
YOMSHI0020060401e2420000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060401e2420000g	EN	\N	New nuclear facility vital for national policy	This trial run, which seeks to confirm the plant will function correctly, closely reflects the conditions under which the plant will operate. Highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel is being used, and individual operations are comparable to those that will take place when the plant enters full service. The start of the test run means, in effect, that Japan Nuclear Fuel will soon start to extract plutonium from spent nuclear fuel.	4	2006-04-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The nation has striven to implement a nuclear fuel cycle program as a matter of national policy. This policy is designed to use the plutonium contained in spent nuclear fuel as an energy source.At the Rokkashomura facility, plutonium will be extracted from spent nuclear fuel on home soil. The commencement of the test run is a crucial step that will determine the success--or failure--of the nuclear fuel cycle policy.In granting his approval for the start of the test, Aomori Gov. Shingo Mimura emphasized the Rokkashomura plant would do much to safeguard the country's energy security while also helping temper a worsening of global warming.His assessment of the facility's role is germane. Plutonium extracted at the plant will be able to serve as a precious energy source that is "made in Japan." It will also further promote nuclear power as an energy source that emits few greenhouse gases.Safety is vitalIt goes without saying that operations at Rokkashomura must be accompanied by efforts to ensure the plant's safety. We hope Japan Nuclear Fuel will conduct tests with the utmost care before the plant becomes fully operational in the summer of 2007, as previously planned.It is not certain, however, that the trial run will pass without any accidents or mishaps. The Rokkashomura facility is gigantic: if all the pipes in the plant were put in a straight line, they would extend for about 1,300 kilometers. There are about 26,000 joins where pipes connect with one another. Japan Nuclear Fuel has already published a list of more than 200 possible disruptions that could take place at the facility.The facility's operator must properly handle any accidents in a manner that does not undermine the plant's safety, while also disclosing pertinent information if such an event occurs. It is important for Japan Nuclear Fuel to act in a way that does not betray the trust of people in the communities that host the facility, or the public as a whole.Foreign criticism unfoundedThe start of the test has drawn criticism from some countries that claim extracting plutonium from spent nuclear fuel could undermine efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. Japan has also been singled out for operating a spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant while not possessing nuclear weapons. Critics say there is no other nuclear weapons-free country in the world that operates such a facility.They are grossly mistaken. Japan's nuclear program is entirely aimed at serving peaceful purposes. This country has always complied with international nuclear inspections. In light of Japan's longstanding compliance in this respect, the International Atomic Energy Agency decided to simplify some inspection procedures in this country in 2004.Japan Nuclear Fuel must strictly safeguard the nuclear materials held at the plant. Additionally, clear plans detailing the use of the extracted plutonium need to be compiled. To achieve this goal, it is essential to promote plutonium-thermal projects that will burn the extracted plutonium at existing nuclear reactors.The Rokkashomura facility must be run in a manner that will not mar international trust in this country's nuclear fuel cycle policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2006-04-02	YOSHIN0020060402e242000b6
YOMSHI0020060402e2430000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060402e2430000c	EN	\N	Splitting the bill for reorganizing U.S. forces	On Tuesday, Japan's deputy foreign and defense ministers and their U.S. counterparts are scheduled to start the final stage of negotiations over the issue in Washington.	4	2006-04-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During bilateral talks on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, Tokyo has sought mainly to maintain deterrence through the U.S. armed presence while curtailing the heavy burden shouldered by communities that host the U.S. forces. The transfer of the 8,000 U.S. Marine Corps troops to Guam will provide a great opportunity to reduce the burden imposed on Okinawa Prefecture. Given this, Japan has good reason to pay its fair share of the costs of the relocation.About 17,000 people will leave Okinawa for Guam, including the families of the U.S. marines being transferred, but there are no facilities to accommodate the troops and their families on the western Pacific island.According to a U.S. estimate, the transfer of U.S. marines will cost about 10 billion dollars, including expenditures for the construction of headquarters facilities, housing and necessary roads. This means the total cost of the relocation would exceed 1 trillion yen. Washington has demanded Tokyo pay 75 percent of the bill.The United States has defended its demand, saying that the planned transfer is a response to a Japanese demand for cuts in the U.S. military presence in Okinawa Prefecture. Washington insists the transfer of U.S. marines at an early date requires Japan to cover a good part of the bill. The United States has also argued a portion of U.S. defense spending is aimed at defending Japan.Guam key strategic pointIn repositioning its forces, the United States has regarded Guam as an important strategic point in the Asia-Pacific area. The plan to transfer U.S. Marine Corps headquarters personnel from Okinawa Prefecture, as well as logistic support troops, constitutes part of the U.S. global military strategy.However, the U.S. demand for Japan to foot 75 percent of the bill should be seen as extremely disproportionate. Tokyo has no reason to accept the one-sided demand from Washington.Japan has proposed covering part of the bill by extending loans for the construction of housing for the families of U.S. marines. Foreign Minister Taro Aso has said the government wants to reduce Japan's share of the bill to less than 50 percent, adding there is a limit to what the government can afford to pay in splitting the bill.Japan has no reason to pay for the construction of facilities unrelated to the transfer of U.S. marines. The government should demand the United States clearly state the grounds for its estimate of the relocation costs.Sympathy budgetFor years, Japan has paid about 230 billion yen annually to cover part of the cost of maintaining U.S. forces in this country under what is known as a sympathy budget.Undoubtably, the transfer of U.S. marines is certain to curtail the sympathy budget. Still, the Japanese government continues to use taxpayers' money to maintain U.S. military facilities despite its own severe fiscal difficulties. Given this, the public must be convinced of the reasons it is necessary for the government to do so.Earlier, the government said Tokyo and Washington would draw up a final report on their talks on the realignment of U.S. forces by the end of March. However, they were unable to fulfill that promise.The dispute over how to split the bill for the transfer of U.S. marines is not the only thorny issue involved. Little headway has been made in talks between the government and the communities that host U.S. military bases in Okinawa Prefecture, including negotiations over a plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station.The government must step up efforts to convince residents of the prefecture to back its position on those problems. It is an essential task for the government in trying to reach an agreement with the United States over the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	721	2006-04-03	YOSHIN0020060403e243000bs
YOMSHI0020060403e2440000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060403e2440000j	EN	\N	Time is right to update Constitution	In the latest Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey on the Constitution, 56 percent of respondents answered that the nation's top law should be amended. This marks the ninth consecutive year that more than 50 percent of respondents have supported constitutional revision.	4	2006-04-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of the reasons they believe the revision should be made is that "new issues, such as making an international contribution, that the current Constitution cannot deal with have been emerging." This opinion has stayed at the top of the reasons given for supporting constitutional revision since 1993.Since the end of the Cold War in 1989, the international situation has become more fluid. New threats surfaced with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.As the international situation has become more unstable, Japan has to play its role and fulfill its responsibilities--at an appropriate level that Japan can afford--to promote peace and stability in the international community. This thought has gradually taken root among the public.In the survey, more than 70 percent of the respondents agreed that the existence of the Self-Defense Forces should be explicitly mentioned in a revised constitution.More than half supported the use of the right to collective defense.Among those who supported constitutional revision, 64 percent agreed Article 9 should be revised.Changeable worldThe volatility of the international situation has become prominent in East Asia in recent years. The circumstances surrounding the nation's security have become increasingly unstable and opaque due to such factors as North Korea's nuclear and missile development and China's rapid military buildup.Voters seem to have a common view forged by historic changes in the international situation that a national security clause should be included in a new constitution not only to fulfill Japan's responsibilities to contribute internationally, but also to protect the country.In pursuing such a course of action, it would be natural for "an ordinary country" to define the nature and role of the SDF in the Constitution.For the SDF to function smoothly on international peacekeeping missions and for the security of the country and the Asia region, Japan must enhance cooperative relations with the United States in the spirit of the Japan-U.S. alliance.The realignment of the U.S. military forces in Japan will require further close cooperation between the two countries.If Japan cannot exercise the right of collective defense, the Japan-U.S. alliance will not be able to fully function.New kind of pacifismRevision of the Constitution does not mean a revival of militarism.In the opinion poll, nearly 70 percent of respondents said the "importance of peace" should be emphasized in the Constitution. But this pacifism is not the sort seen in the old movements that opposed the SDF and called for protection of the Constitution.Society must pursue proactive pacifism that utilizes the SDF to help create peace.The Liberal Democratic Party compiled its own draft revision of the Constitution last autumn, featuring inclusion of the national right to possess military forces for self-defense.In its constitutional proposals, the Democratic Party of Japan said the use of force can be allowed under such conditions as participation in activities of U.N. multilateral forces.It is the duty of the nation's politicians to come up with a new constitution that will match the needs of the time without lagging behind the views of the people.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2006-04-04	YOSHIN0020060405e244000fl
YOMSHI0020060405e24500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060405e24500001	EN	\N	Asia policy, social gap still key issues for PM	Koizumi has repeatedly said he has stuck to his reform policies without any trace of deviation, and that this stance has helped the economy to recover from deflation.	4	2006-04-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Now while it is true that the economy has recovered during his five-year tenure, we doubt his reform initiatives are the only reasons for the recovery.Koizumi has not been unswayed in his reform initiatives. For example, his pledge to cap new government bond issuance at 30 trillion yen a year was shelved, and a financial-rehabilitation program to promote the disposal of nonperforming loans was changed to a more pragmatic one due to a plunge in share prices.The economy's recovery from deflation was in fact due greatly to the private sector's own efforts, such as a restructuring of human resources.The dark side of KoizumiThe prime minister may congratulate himself on his structural reform drives that called for the transfer of government jobs to the private sector and look upon it as his greatest achievement. But, the privatization of the postal services, which Koizumi views as central to his reform campaign, has only just begun. Whether postal privatization was a success or a failure will not be known for some years to come.The dark side of Koizumi's reforms must also be contemplated. For example, the reforms have led to rampant speculative investment funds and promoted the specter of unbridled mammonism.Many people warn the gap between society's "winners and losers" is widening.The government recently established a council to promote diverse opportunities for people who went bankrupt or lost jobs. This shows the government has started to be concerned about the widening social gap.Under the Koizumi government, the Japan-U.S. alliance has strengthened.After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the prime minister dispatched Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to the Indian Ocean and Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to Iraq to help in postwar reconstruction. The alliance, which has served Japan well in terms of national defense and stability in the Far East region, has expanded to a global level of Japan-U.S. cooperation.However, given that the alliance is basic to Japan's diplomacy, how does the prime minister intend to deal with recent changes in East Asia, including the economic and military emergence of China?The specter of YasukuniThe prime minister's adherence to visiting Yasukuni Shrine has lead to a deterioration in relations with China and South Korea. As a result, Japan has fallen into a situation in which the government cannot conduct strategic diplomacy in the Asian region.During the East Asia Summit in December, China played Japan's history as a trump card with which to lure South Korea and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to its side.Koizumi has criticized China and South Korea, whose leaders refuse to hold summit talks with him, saying his visits to Yasukuni Shrine are a "matter of heart."As Koizumi has said, the Chinese and South Korean responses to the shrine visits amount to meddling in Japan's domestic affairs.But a prime minister is not an ordinary private citizen. A national leader must box clever so that "a matter of heart" cannot be used as a political tool.How can Koizumi get rid of his dark side? That is a question to which he must repeatedly find the answer until he steps down as prime minister.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2006-04-05	YOSHIN0020060405e245001ah
YOMSHI0020060405e2460000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060405e2460000k	EN	\N	East Asia must unite against yellow sand	The occurrences of both yellow sand and sandstorms has been increasing in scale and frequency, and renewed record highs in their arrival in Japan in the three years between 2000 and 2002.	4	2006-04-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While its arrival is expected to peak this month as usual, yellow sand has already been observed in various parts of the country. As of the end of last month, 100 sightings had been recorded at observation points.Yellow sand has wrought unexpected damage. In 2002, airline flights were disrupted due to poor visibility caused by sandstorms. The sand also infiltrated chip-making plants, ruining computer chips, which do not like dust.The situation is more severe in China, which is closer to where the sandstorms originate, as well as South Korea.There are reports of deaths caused by lung problems brought on by yellow sand, and there are concerns about the long-term health hazard that minerals in the sand may present to the lungs.For this reason, schools in South Korea close when a high density of yellow sand in the air is expected.Cooperation vitalYellow sand is an environmental problem that affects a wide area of East Asia. According to an Environment Ministry report, sandstorms in South Korea are considered a "meteorological disaster."Japan, China and South Korea must cooperate in dealing with the problem, including reaching an agreement on the health hazards yellow sand constitutes.Yellow sand originates in arid zones such as the Taklamakan Desert and the Huangtu Plateau in China. Sand and other particles are wafted up by seasonal winds to an altitude of several thousand meters and spread over parts of China, South Korea and even Japan.In their passage over China, sandstorms pick up various pollutants--including agrochemicals--which eventually fall in other countries, including Japan.The increase in the occurrence of yellow sand is primarily due to the environmental degradation of areas where the yellow sand originates. An increase in livestock being put out to pasture has led to a decrease of grasslands, eroding the soil. There has also been an acceleration of desertification in the areas.The Chinese government announced last year that thanks to measures such as afforestation projects, desertification had stopped for the first time since the People's Republic of China was established in 1949.Yet as much as 27 percent of China is now desert. Even in those areas where countermeasures have been taken, desertification continues. In Beijing, the desert has come close to city areas, encroaching by 20 to 30 meters a year.Japan should take leadChina plans to continue its efforts to counter desertification. Japan, as a country on the lee side of the sandstorms, needs to cooperate with China in technical aspects. As desertification is accelerating also in other countries, including Mongolia, Japan needs to extend its cooperation to these countries as well.When it comes to yellow sand, there are many things that need to be clarified. We need to learn all the details about how yellow sand occurs and determine the effect it has on the environment. Headway in establishing a network of observations is making progress in a number of countries including China, thanks to cooperation from Japan.It is necessary to gain a thorough understanding of yellow sand and sandstorms and establish effective countermeasures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2006-04-06	YOSHIN0020060406e246000fb
YOMSHI0020060406e2470000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060406e2470000i	EN	\N	Will law revision fuse TV, Net?	The government is considering a drastic review of the Copyright Law to make it easier for TV programs to be distributed through the Net. But is this issue so simple?	4	2006-04-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Net is no longer technologically inferior to TV broadcasting.With a personal computer linked to a high-speed, large-capacity telecommunications network such as a fiber-optic network, one can watch images as clear as those broadcast on TV.For general viewers, there appears to be no difference between TV broadcasting and Net distribution. Should a TV broadcaster attempts to air the same program both on its broadcasting network and the Net, however, big differences become apparent.For instance, when music from a CD is used for a TV program, a broadcaster must pay the usage fee only after using it. When it comes to program distribution on the Net, however, a distributor needs to gain prior consent from such entities as the producers that put out the CD.This is because there is an exceptional clause in the Copyright Law that is applied to broadcasting in consideration of its public nature.Music and images may not, in principle, be copied or used without the artists' prior permission, while they may be broadcast with their ex post facto approval.Net has unique featuresGovernment ministries, including the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, aim to have such exceptional rules applied to distribution on the Net. By removing such barriers between Net distribution and TV broadcasting, the ministries hope to promote the distribution of programs and reinvigorate program production.Yet the expanded application of the above-mentioned clause in the Copyright Law to the Net would mean the curtailment of the property right of copyright holders such as music producers, composers and singers. Strong opposition to the move reportedly has been expressed to a council of the Cultural Affairs Agency that has started discussing the issue.Unless there are measures that would compensate copyright holders for the curtailment of their property rights, production sites will not be reinvigorated.There is also the problem that unlike broadcasting, which requires large-scale facilities, anyone can distribute programs on the Net.Broadcasting that uses public goods such as airwaves is managed under a regional licensing system. However, it would be difficult to apply such regulations to program distribution on the Net. One distributor or individual after another could seek to be covered by the exceptional clause.Study precedentsAt the same time, should a major TV station based in Tokyo start distributing popular programs on the Net, local, smaller TV stations will be unable to stay in business.TV stations keep large archives of programs they broadcast. Although they are expected to be invaluable assets for future distribution on the Net, their use, except for broadcasting, requires fresh consent from those who performed in the programs, with the result that these assets are sitting idle.The revision of the Copyright Law is partly aimed at making it possible to utilize such programs. In European countries and the United States, a formula is applied under which a broadcasting station, rather than relying on exceptional rules, makes a prior contract with copyright holders, with the result that program distribution on the Net is more common than in Japan.Instead of thinking that nothing can be done without revising the relevant law, we need to discuss wide-ranging measures, including a review of past business practices.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2006-04-07	YOSHIN0020060407e247000er
YOMSHI0020060407e2480000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060407e2480000i	EN	\N	Ozawa must turn DPJ into viable ruling party	Ozawa has achieved various political feats. He became secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party at the age of 47. In 1993, he quit the LDP to play the leading role in toppling the long-reigning party from power and establishing the administration led by Morihiro Hosokawa as prime minister. Ozawa's election as DPJ leader seems to show that many party members want him to flex his powerful muscles in leading the largest opposition party.	4	2006-04-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In running for Friday's election, Ozawa emphasized a change in administration that could take place under the two-party system would bring about true structural reforms. However, the DPJ has many hurdles to clear in removing the ruling coalition from power.First, the opposition party must learn to speak with one voice in addressing fundamental policy issues. DPJ members include those poles apart in their views about the Constitution, external relations and national security.Party too close to unionsIt will not be an easy task for the DPJ to shed its old skin as a mix of members with different political views and form a consensus on each key policy issue.One example of the disparity in views about basic policies among DPJ members concerns Ozawa's proposal to establish a standby force that would participate in U.N. missions instead of sending Self-Defense Forces personnel for such purposes. The idea was earlier agreed upon between Ozawa and House of Representatives vice speaker Takahiro Yokomichi, a DPJ veteran who previously belonged to the defunct Japan Socialist Party.The proposal to set up a standby force separate from the SDF was advanced as a means of sending personnel for U.N. missions overseas, but without dispatching SDF troops. However, the idea must be dismissed as a thing of the past, given the SDF's various accomplishments in U.N. peacekeeping missions and many other overseas operations, including their activities in Iraq.Ozawa has said he will strive to present alternatives to the ruling coalition's policies as his party formulates basic policies and locks horns with the government during Diet sessions.Ozawa insists the basic portion of the state-run pension plan, nursing care programs and medical services for elderly people be financed by consumption tax revenues, for the purpose of transforming the social security system into a fair and stable one. We hope he will give a specific figure in proposing a rise in the consumption tax rate.The DPJ's defeat in September's lower house election can be partly attributed to its failure to present an alternative for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal reform plan, despite its reliance on government workers' labor unions as its main support base.In campaigning for Friday's election, Ozawa received the backing of party members who previously belonged to the JSP and the defunct Democratic Socialist Party. These DPJ lawmakers are closely tied to labor unions. This raises questions about whether Ozawa's DPJ will be able to end its dependence on the unions. It will be an important task for the opposition party to reduce its reliance on organized labor.DPJ must compete on policyMany DPJ members are concerned about how Ozawa will run his party. During his tenure as New Frontier Party leader, Ozawa sought to turn his party into a group that sympathized with his political goals, a move that served to alienate anti-Ozawa legislators. Later, he formed the Liberal Party, but an LP group close to him and another opposing him went separate ways. All this earned him the nickname "destroyer."Ozawa repeatedly said during the election campaign, "I'll have to change myself." This remark seems to reflect his fear that he will be unable to unite his party under his leadership if he sticks to his past approach.Ozawa will now be thinking up a strategy for reducing the ruling coalition to a minority in the House of Councillors in the upper house election next summer. He cannot expect to gain voters' trust if his party boycotts Diet sessions and adopts other stale methods for opposing the ruling parties. The primary duty to be fulfilled by Ozawa as DPJ president is to ensure his party competes with the ruling coalition in seeing which camp can come up with better policies--not merely try to turn the political situation in its own favor.Doing so may appear to be an onerous task. But Ozawa should know that approach will be the quickest way to turn the DPJ into a party voters can trust.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	821	2006-04-08	YOSHIN0020060408e248000f2
YOMSHI0020060410e24900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060410e24900001	EN	\N	Fiscal reform plan requires urgent action	The council disclosed Friday an interim report on all-in-one revenue and expenditure reform. However, members of the key government panel failed to agree on the nation's economic outlook--a precondition to drafting an actual reform plan-- and were forced to present four different scenarios in the report.	4	2006-04-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Without going into details on important arguments such as on spending cuts, the sale of government assets and hikes in the consumption tax rate and other tax rates, the council merely listed seven principles for fiscal consolidation.Long-term interest rates have been rising after the Bank of Japan ended its quantitative easing policy last month.If the Japanese economy completely emerges from deflation, these rates will receive a further boost and are certain to inflate interest payments on the yields of government bonds, which will exceed \\540 trillion at the end of the current fiscal year.This is a time bomb for the Japanese economy.The panel must start discussing concrete fiscal reform measures immediately.Failure to agreeThe council members failed to agree on the nation's economic outlook since a conflict of opinions on fiscal reform measures has intensified among members of the government and the Liberal Democratic Party.Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka and LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa said that, based on the premise of high nominal economic growth, the consumption tax rate hike should be kept to a minimum or postponed.Opposing this view were Kaoru Yosano, minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who insist the government should seriously consider raising the consumption tax rate based on the realistic economic outlook, which takes into account increases in the long-term interest rates.The four scenarios the council presented in the report can be divided into two cases--one in which the long-term interest rates are higher than the nominal economic growth and one in which they are lower.If the nominal economic growth rate exceeds the long-term interest rates, tax revenues will increase. In the opposite case, the costs for interest payments on government bonds will sharply increase. Preconditions for fiscal reform will be totally different depending on how these figures turn out.Another reason the rift between the two groups has not been bridged is because there are behind-the-scenes tactics already in place concerning potential candidates to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Lessons of historyHowever, Japan and other developed countries have seen the long-term interest rates exceeding the nominal economy's growth rates for most of the past 20 years. In light of such data, the council should draft a fiscal reform plan based on much more realistic estimates.As an example, the United States has failed to fix state finances based on an optimistic economic forecast. In the 1980s, the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act aimed to balance federal revenues and expenditures by fiscal 1991. This act was put in force on the assumption that the nominal economic growth rate was set rather high, while long-term interest rates were expected to be rather low. In fact, the opposite happened. As a result, the law simply worsened the country's fiscal crisis.Koizumi is to step down as LDP president in September. Before that, however, he must make clear what direction fiscal rehabilitation should follow, because it is the very backbone of his structural reform policy.The prime minister should not leave all the fiscal reform decision-making to his successor just because his term is running out soon.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2006-04-09	YOSHIN0020060410e249000aj
YOMSHI0020060411e24b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060411e24b00001	EN	\N	Change salary system for local govt workers	Such a proposal was included in a recent report compiled by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry's panel of experts on the salary system for local public servants.	4	2006-04-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report called for revising the way such salaries are determined based on the pay scales of central government officials. It also proposed strengthening prefectural and municipal personnel commissions.The report covers about 940,000 general local government employees, excluding police officers and teachers.In the private sector, it is common to evaluate workers' abilities and achievements to determine their salaries.Contrarily, public servants' salaries are generally uniform and undifferentiated based on the number of years they have worked, regardless of where they work, with annual increases based on seniority.The salary system favors middle-aged and older officials.Many regional areas still have struggling economies and officials at many local governments tend to receive higher salaries than private-sector workers.It is quite understandable that residents criticize the local public servants' salary system and express frustration with it.It is a natural to revise the salary system for local public servants to reflect private-sector pay levels and weigh local officials' abilities and achievements.Rethink pay scaleTo accomplish this, the current practice of modeling the salary system for local government officials on that of the national civil service must be reconsidered. As long as this practice is in place, salary levels for local officials will be higher than private-sector pay levels in areas where private-sector salary levels are low.Reform of national civil service salaries is on the agenda after the National Personnel Authority made a set of recommendations last year.The NPA recommended the government cut civil service salaries by an average of 4.8 percent to reflect private sector salaries in outlying areas, and to provide special allowances to national government officials working in urban areas where the private-sector pay level is high.The authority also advised introducing a pay scale based on duties and responsibilities and containing seniority-based pay increases. It also urged reducing the salaries of middle-aged and older officials.Those measures will be introduced gradually over five years from fiscal 2006. Local governments should follow suit.To reflect private-sector salary levels in areas outside major cities, a survey of private salaries must be conducted under a different methodology than that currently used by the NPA.Expand parametersCurrently, the NPA survey covers companies with 100 or more employees, but survey also should include companies with fewer than 100 workers to reflect a broader cross section of private sector salaries in setting salaries for local government employees.This could result in lower salary levels for public servants. Labor unions and other organizations oppose broadening the scope of the survey, but the key consideration should not be protection of the vested interests, but the best interests of local residents.Prefectural and major city governments get recommendations on pay scales for public servants from personnel commissions.However, under the practice of following the national pay scale, many of their recommendations have been copies of the NPA recommendations on national officials' salaries. There have been no major differences among recommendations by commissions of different local governments.To enable them to make recommendations to meet local conditions, the system of local personnel commissions must be reviewed and their functions should be strengthened.Local governments are facing critical fiscal situations with more than 200 trillion yen in long-term debts. At the same time, decentralization of power is proceeding.Speed is essential in reforming the salary system of local public servants.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 11, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2006-04-11	YOSHIN0020060411e24b000hc
YOMSHI0020060411e24c0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060411e24c0000i	EN	\N	DNA test shows North Korea's cruelty	This shows once again the inhuman acts to which North Korea will stoop.	4	2006-04-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Without showing the least sincerity in working toward a resolution of the abduction issue, North Korea has repeatedly made false explanations on all aspects of the matter.The number of South Koreans abducted to North Korea totals 485. The Japanese government needs to work closer with South Korea in investigating the contemptible state terrorism of North Korea.With regards to the husband of Yokota, North Korea told the Japanese government that her husband belonged to "a special organization."During working-level talks between Japan and North Korea in 2004, a Japanese delegate met with a man who claimed to be Yokota's husband. But he refused to be photographed, saying he belonged to a special organization, and it has yet to be confirmed whether that man was Yokota's husband.Abductees forced into marriageThe fact that Yokota's husband was in reality a South Korean abductee initially came from Kaoru Hasuike, himself a repatriated abductee.It is no wonder that Pyongyang concealed the truth because Yokota's husband was also abducted to North Korea.Yokota was abducted by North Korean agents in November 1977, while a 13-year-old middle school student. And the man believed to be the father of Kim Hye Gyong, Yokota's daughter born in North Korea, was abducted to North Korea in August 1978 when he was a 16-year-old high school student. The identification has been made based on DNA tests of samples taken from his relatives and Yokota's daughter.The two were both minors at the time of their abduction and were later forced into marriage.When they held talks in September 2002 in Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il told Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that the abductions were conducted "by special intelligence agents driven by irrational impulses and heroism."Pyongyang also said that the rogue agent who abducted Yokota had "acted arbitrarily and without orders."But there is no way such explanations from North Korea can be trusted. Based on verbal statements made to investigators, including one made by repatriated abductee Hitomi Soga, there are other abductees in North Korea from countries such as Thailand and Romania.These statements are proof the abductions was conducted in an organized way by the state. The abductees could have been forced into marriages under the orders of the upper echelons of North Korea.Pyongyang's pathological liesWith regard to Yokota, North Korea has consistently been flippant in its attitude toward Yokota's parents and the Japanese government.Pyongyang said Yokota was dead and provided the Japanese government with ashes Pyongyang claimed were her's and had been kept by her husband after she was cremated. But the result of an earlier DNA analysis proved the remains were not those of Yokota.Initially, Pyongyang said Yokota died in March 1993. Since then, North Korea has corrected this to say that Yokota was in hospital till October 1993, and died in April 1994. But the hospital that Pyongyang claimed Yokota stayed in was a different one than that named by Hasuike. It is quite doubtful whether Pyongyang has made investigations at all into the fate of Yokota.Although Yokota's husband has been finally identified, many things remain unclear. For instance, how were the victims abducted and how were they held captive? The government should not let North Korea stamp the abduction issue "closed." Investigations into the issue must continue and bring to the fore the real picture of what North Korea has done and is doing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2006-04-12	YOSHIN0020060412e24c000ge
YOMSHI0020060412e24d0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060412e24d0000i	EN	\N	A chapter closes in debate on 'patriotism'	Now that the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito have settled the issue among themselves, they need to submit the bill to the Diet soon, so that it can be passed into law during the current session.	4	2006-04-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The definition the task force agreed on reads: "to cultivate a mind that respects tradition and culture, loves the nation and homeland that have fostered them and at the same time respects other countries and contributes to international peace and development."Baseless fears need counteringIt took the two parties a long time to agree upon a mutually acceptable definition as both camps had held fast to their own views.While the LDP advocated the phrase "a mind that loves the nation," New Komeito said the phrase would "give the impression of returning to education tainted with militarism and totalitarianism as seen before the war," and advocated the term "a mind that treasures the nation."New Komeito in citing reasons for its opposition to the LDP wording said, "'to love the nation' can also be interpreted as 'to love the governing structure,' and the phrase 'to love' does not lend itself well to law."However, New Komeito compromised on its ideals and both the phrases "to love" and "the nation" made it through the task force and are contained in the bill. In a reciprocal question of consideration, the LDP said the phrase should be interpreted to mean "the nation that has fostered culture and tradition" so as to make clear that "the nation" has nothing to do with "governing structure."The line of logic that says "patriotism means education as seen before the war" has also been voiced by the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party. Similar views are present within the Democratic Party of Japan, chiefly among those who came from the defunct Japan Socialist Party.However, there is no country apart from Japan that considers the teaching of patriotism in a negative way. Even when reviewing the postwar process as a peace-loving nation, there is not even the slightest possibility of Japan returning to "education as seen in prewar years."After all, the situation surrounding education in Japan does not permit such optimism whereby legislators could continue futile discussions.Respect begins at homeThe current law, which was enacted in 1947, contains many expressions that talk of respecting the dignity of the individual, but makes no reference to fostering a sense of public duty. Ever since the law was enacted, critics have said it would encourage a selfish way of living, and a lack of consideration among members of society.There is moral decay among juveniles, and ever younger members of society are committing crimes. In addition, there has been a spread of a self-centered, money worship as witnessed by the Livedoor scandal, indicating these fears have come to pass.Both the LDP and New Komeito also agreed on having the wording "a sense of public duty" stipulated in the bill. Based on the idea that parents are the first teachers of their children, the bill added a provision on education at home, while incorporating the need to cultivate the spirit of working in consideration of an increase in the number of NEETs, (not in education, employment or training).In building a solid base for the future society of Japan, these ideas are important, and the Fundamental Law of Education needs to be revised to reflect the needs of the times.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 13, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2006-04-13	YOSHIN0020060414e24d000fj
YOMSHI0020060413e24e0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060413e24e0000h	EN	\N	To revive 6-way talks, put pressure on DPRK	North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan reiterated his country's assertion that Washington must end financial sanctions against the reclusive state if it wants the six-way talks reopened.	4	2006-04-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During a press conference on Thursday, he said that if the United States imposed sanctions and pressure, North Korea would take a "hard-line" approach.Pyongyang's attitude will only cause the international community to exert even greater pressure on it.A joint statement issued at the six-nation talks in September called for resolving the controversy through peaceful means. But international efforts to settle the dispute through dialogue are bound to remain bogged down if North Korea refuses to rejoin the talks.The U.S. decision to impose financial sanctions on the communist state is unrelated to the six-party negotiations. Pyongyang should no longer be allowed to hinder efforts to restart the talks by finding fault with the actions of the other countries that are party to the talks.Sanctions unrelated to talksIn September, the United States imposed sanctions against a Macao bank, accusing it of assisting North Korea in illegal activities. Washington had every reason to clamp down on those engaged in counterfeiting U.S. dollars and laundering money for North Korea under domestic laws.The U.S. ban on transactions between the Macao bank and U.S. financial institutions has cost the bank international trust, forcing it to freeze a Pyongyang-linked bank account and putting investigations into the matter into the hands of the authorities.According to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill, the bank account in question holds 20 million dollars, or about 2.4 billion yen. The amount is equivalent to the bill for energy consumption in North Korea for a week.Japan, the United States and three other participants in the six-way talks have said they are willing to extend energy aid to North Korea and improve relations with that country if Pyongyang scraps its nuclear weapons program.North Korea should know it will gain nothing if it insists that the U.S. sanctions are lifted, but that it will be able to greatly benefit by making a solemn promise to scrap its nuclear weapons program during the six-party talks.It is all too obvious which option would serve North Korea's interests. Pyongyang's tenacious attempt to delay a new round of talks apparently shows it has no intention of abandoning its nuclear weapons program.North Korea's nuclear weapons development is going on amid a stalemate in the six-country negotiations. Specialists presume the communist nation may possess enough plutonium to produce about 10 nuclear weapons. Operations at its plutonium production reactor continue. All this indicates North Korea is determined to make more nuclear weapons while the six-way talks are at a standstill.U.S.-China meeting keyThe five other countries that are party to the talks will have no choice but to take a tougher line with North Korea if it refuses to return to the negotiating table.There are growing calls in the United States for taking sterner sanctions against Pyongyang to force it to scrap its nuclear weapons program. Later this month, the U.S. Congress is scheduled to hold public hearings on the North Korean problem. The current gridlock in the six-nation talks likely will expedite efforts by Japanese legislators to create a law that would require the government to impose sanctions against North Korea if it does not work to settle human rights issues.A U.S.-Chinese summit meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday. The U.S. and Chinese leaders should put together workable measures to help move the six-way talks forward. The two nations have a heavy responsibility to fulfill as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. If the six-party talks collapse, it means the Security Council will need to impose sanctions on North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2006-04-14	YOSHIN0020060414e24e001bg
YOMSHI0020060414e24f0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060414e24f0000i	EN	\N	Unscrupulous lenders should be reined in	The Financial Services Agency on Friday ordered Aiful, one of the major firms in the consumer credit industry, to suspend part of its operations at about 1,900 branches and outlets around the country for between three and 25 days for violating the Moneylending Control Law.	4	2006-04-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is the first time that the agency has imposed such a punitive measure on every branch and outlet of a major consumer loan company.The FSA investigation of Aiful reportedly found that its employees employed aggressive means to collect debts, such as calling borrowers repeatedly at their workplace. The agency also found that the company does not have any internal rules to prevent such illegal acts.In recent years, the number of complaints against Aiful's collection methods has been increasing. Lawyers last year formed a nationwide group of people claiming to have been victimized by Aiful and filed a class action lawsuit against the firm.Aiful must take management responsibility for the illegal acts of its employees and quickly compile guidelines to prevent a recurrence of such practices.Legal gray zone a problemIt is an urgent matter to tighten legal restrictions on moneylenders to prevent them from breaking the law, such as by employing excessively aggressive collection methods. An FSA advisory panel is now reviewing the Moneylending Control Law for that purpose.The biggest problem is the existence of a legal gray area between the two different maximum interest rates set respectively by the Interest Limitation Law and the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law. The former sets the annual interest rate ceiling at 15-20 percent, depending on the amount borrowed, while the latter sets the maximum interest rate at 29.2 percent a year. But criminal charges may only be filed against a moneylender when the interest rate it charges exceeds the latter's ceiling.Interest rates in the legal gray area between the two maximum interest levels may be applied to consumer loans if borrowers voluntarily agree to them or other conditions are met. Many consumer loan companies lend money to their customers at interest rates that are high, but still within the gray area. Problems with the repayment of interest, continue, however.Legal treatment of such interest rates also was discussed in the case of the class action lawsuit filed against Aiful. The Supreme Court said in reference to other recent cases that conditions allowing the interest rates in the legal gray zone should be stricter.The gray area interest rates should be abolished. The government should study unifying the interest rate ceiling set by the Interest Limitation Law with that set by the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law.Regulate advertisingThe current law only stipulates administrative punishments for violators, such as suspension of their operations or cancellation of their business licenses. It takes a long time to mete out such punishments, too.If a business improvement administrative order was added to the punitive measures that may be applied against violators, authorities could act quickly to prevent loan sharks from victimizing more people.About 2 million people are said to be heavily in debt--in other words, they have become unable to repay money they borrowed from multiple consumer credit companies.It is a matter of course that customers of consumer loan firms should not borrow money more than they can repay, but advertising hype encouraging people to borrow money is problematic, too.The current law prohibits misleading advertisements, in principle, but lacks detailed standards. Clear rules should be set as soon as possible to tighten restrictions on advertising by consumer loan companies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2006-04-15	YOSHIN0020060415e24f000g1
YOMSHI0020060415e24g0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060415e24g0000e	EN	\N	'05 protests still cloud Japan-China ties	These incidents led to a significant worsening of relations between Japan and China.	4	2006-04-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The demonstrations were, in some aspects at least, encouraged by the Chinese government in an attempt to put pressure on Japan's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.The protests were sparked in Chengdu, before spreading to Beijing and other cities.The April 16 demonstration in Shanghai was the largest of the string of anti-Japanese rallies. Some demonstrators, chanting "Patriotism is innocent," turned violent.Following this rally, the Chinese government under President Hu Jintao sought to control the demonstrations in an effort to maintain stability. The fervor of anti-Japanese rallies fell away.However, since the demonstrations, feelings of mutual distrust and antagonism between Japan and China have increased.There are no signs that relations will improve.Missions damagedThe Chinese government has maintained that the cause of the demonstrations was Japan's interpretation of history in relation to developments leading up to and during World War II.Both the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai and the Japanese Embassy in Beijing suffered extensive damage from rocks thrown by protesters.Japan has sought an apology for these incidents and repairs to its damaged diplomatic missions, but none has been forthcoming. Damage caused by rocks thrown at the consulate general is still clearly visible.China's behavior not to agree to Japan's requests violates an international convention.The demonstrations have spurred on the rise of hard-line opinions and anti-Chinese attitudes in this country.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's fifth visit to Yasukuni Shrine in October amplified anti-Japanese opinion in China.Like a vicious circle, anti-Japanese sentiment in China and anti-Chinese sentiment in Japan continue to rise.However, economic relations between the two countries continue to steadily expand. Despite the anti-Japanese demonstrations, Japan's direct investment into China last year showed a 20 percent year-on-year increase, marking a record high for the third straight year.Bilateral trade posted a record high for the seventh year in a row.The past year can be described as one that witnessed a deepening of relations that were "politically cold and economically hot."Investment share droppingThe East Asian economy, which centers around Japan and China, has seen its interdependency and ancillary relations develop to an irreversible degree. But there is no guarantee that "economically hot" relations between Japan and China will continue.The amount of Japanese investment in China has been growing. But its share of overall Japanese investment in Asia dropped last year to 40 percent from 56 percent in 2004.China faces a number of daunting issues, including a widening social gap, increasing corruption and environmental pollution. The anti-Japanese demonstrations that also called for a boycott of Japanese products represented, to some extent, an eruption of pent-up frustrations among China's citizens.The moves to increase investment in other Asian countries are a reflection of concerns over the risks of investing in China. South Korea and Taiwan, which are more dependent on China than Japan is, are increasingly wary of the risks involved in dealing with China.Worsening ties between Japan and China could possibly destabilize the whole East Asia region. It was precisely such concerns that led U.S. President George W. Bush to recently call for the two countries to open a dialogue.Before Japan-China relations can move forward, it is essential to resolve the bad feelings caused by last year's anti-Japanese demonstrations.Both countries must try their utmost to find ways to improve relations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2006-04-16	YOSHIN0020060416e24g000a7
YOMSHI0020060417e24h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060417e24h00001	EN	\N	Natl unified tests should boost academic abilities	Results of the tests will be sent to prefectural and municipal governments, schools and individual students, along with detailed analyses of the results.	4	2006-04-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Municipalities and schools can learn where they stand compared with others across the country and the national averages and in which subject areas they are weak.The introduction of the tests was decided by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry in response to concerns that children's academic skills have been declining.The main purpose of the tests is to gain a more precise picture of students' actual academic levels and to analyze them to improve teaching methods if the system of instruction is found to be inadequate.A panel of experts at the ministry is currently working out details for the tests.What has been decided is that the tests should be held on a national basis with all students in the grades concerned participating, rather than hold sample tests, to collect detailed data. It was also decided that the tests would have two types of questions: One to check the knowledge of students and another to check students' ability to solve practical problems from daily life by using acquired knowledge.Disclosure problematicApart from such issues, a sticking point of the envisioned tests is how the test results will be released.The ministry has said it would only release limited data, such as prefecture-by-prefecture results.But still, prefectures will know which prefecture is the best or the worst, or where they stand compared with the national averages.The scope of the test results to be conveyed to prefectures, municipalities, schools and students will vary. Prefectural governments will receive results for municipalities and schools within the prefecture. Municipal governments will obtain data for each school under their jurisdiction. Individual schools will receive results for each class and each student.The ministry will not permit prefectural governments to release the data they obtain to the public.Selective releaseHowever, as for the release of data by municipal governments or schools, the ministry's panel believes it cannot simply deny this because they are accountable to local communities and parents.There is concern that if such data are released, it would lead to excessive competition among communities and schools and that unnecessary basic rankings of municipalities or schools would be created.This concern should be addressed. However, we cannot agree that so much information should remain confidential.We propose it should be left to the discretion of municipalities what they reveal and how they do so. Some municipalities may try to wisely use collected data to create an adequate level of competition to raise the academic performance at all schools within a municipality.Release of data may lead private corporations in the education industry to rank schools. Parents would press schools and teachers to do more to raise scholastic skills.The envisioned national tests should bring favorable changes to schools to raise children's levels of academic ability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	538	2006-04-17	YOSHIN0020060417e24h000d5
YOMSHI0020060417e24i0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060417e24i0000f	EN	\N	Fingerprinting visitors common, necessary	The main revision in the bill is the provision in the proposed law to fingerprint and photograph foreign visitors when they enter the country. All foreign visitors aged 16 or older would be subject to the measure, including tourists, with an exception made for those visiting for diplomatic or official purposes.	4	2006-04-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The fingerprints will be electronically taken and sent to the government's data base and compared instantly with stored data on deportees and fugitives wanted by Japanese police or Interpol.The government deems the measure necessary to protect people's lives and property and argues that it not only will help to prevent terrorism, but also will be helpful for dealing with crimes committed by foreigners, cases of illegal entry and visa violations. As the need for revising the law is pressing, the bill should be passed in the current Diet session.During deliberations in the lower house, opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Japan, opposed the bill. The DPJ asserted that, from the viewpoint of promoting friendship and coexistence with foreigners and to guarantee their right to privacy, it is necessary to study the issue carefully, while proposing that the fingerprinting should be put on hold until an international consensus on such measures is formed.Concern over sensitivityThe Judicial Affairs Committee of the lower house added a supplementary resolution to the bill, saying "in consideration of international trends, the time of implementation is to be set with prudence."Yet in the United States, foreign visitors have been fingerprinted since 2004. According to the Justice Ministry, European Union member countries will begin fingerprinting foreign visitors at the time of issuing visas, starting next year. Singapore and Malaysia have also begun studying the possibility of taking similar measures.From the standpoint of immigration control, the fingerprinting of foreign visitors is becoming routine.The state of public safety, as perceived in Japan, is getting worse. The number of arrests made in crimes committed by foreigners hit a record 47,874 last year. There seems to be an endless number of members of foreign criminal gangs who had been deported, but reentered Japan with forged passports and then committed further crimes.Fighting terrorismA Frenchman linked to the Al-Qaida terrorist network and whose name, photograph and fingerprints were on the international wanted list, was found to have entered Japan illegally many times without being detected by Japanese authorities.If Japan becomes a refuge for terrorists or a source of terrorists funds, it will lose the trust of the international community. Fingerprinting foreign visitors is a significant part of Japan's cooperation in the international fight against terrorism.The government hopes to make Japan a popular tourist destination. Some assert that fingerprinting visitors from overseas runs counter to such a goal, but if public safety is undermined, tourists would shy away from visiting.The supplementary resolution adopted by the lower house said that fingerprint data should be "kept for a period deemed necessary and reasonable," and "be used with care when used for purposes other than the original one."All these provisions are important. We hope, however, that they will not make the fingerprinting ineffective for maintaining public security.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2006-04-18	YOSHIN0020060418e24i000fq
YOMSHI0020060418e24j0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060418e24j0000l	EN	\N	Companies fail to learn from past lessons	Further efforts are need to eradicate such practices root and branch.	4	2006-04-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office on Tuesday searched 11 major plant-builders suspected of rigging bids for the construction of a sewage treatment plant ordered by the municipal government of Hannan, Osaka Prefecture.The 11 firms, suspected of obstructing competitive bidding under the Penal Code by deciding the winner of the bid in advance, included Ebara Corp., Hitachi Zosen Corp. and Kurita Water Industries Ltd.In a competitive tender for designated bidders in February last year, the firms are suspected to have agreed that Ebara would win the tender with a bid of more than 2 billion yen.They are also suspected to have rigged the bids for about 50 similar projects worth a total of more than 100 billion yen ordered by local municipalities since fiscal 2003.Bid-rigging continues unabatedA spate of public institution-led bid-riggings have been unearthed since last year, including bridge-construction projects ordered by the defunct Japan Highway Public Corporation and projects ordered by the Defense Facilities Administration Agency.We hope the prosecutors offices investigate the irregularities thoroughly, including any malfeasance on the part of public administrative offices ordering the works.In the sewage plant incident, more than 10 plant builders colluded to rig the bid.The bid-rigging cartel stooped so low as to placate firms that had not originally belonged to the ring by arranging for them to be awarded large-scale projects to entice them into the cartel.The firms are also suspected of having fed local government inflated figures in advance of the bidding, so as to jack up the estimated price for a contract.The firms made it a rule to set their bids at 95 percent or lower than the estimated price set by the local government, so as not to invite suspicion the bids were rigged. This policy shows the pernicious and venal nature of the firms.Included in cartel were other firms involved in rigging bids for bridge projects and floodgates ordered by the central government. Many of these firms have repeatedly been instructed by the Fair Trade Commission to halt their violations of the Antimonopoly Law.Time to close the floodgatesUnder the revised Antimonopoly Law that went into force in January, tools for cracking down on violations of the law have been greatly reinforced. The commission has been given anew the right of investigation, empowering it to search for and seize evidence under a warrant.The new system under which bid-rigging firms that turn themselves in to the commission are exempted from surcharges or have their surcharges reduced led to the exposure of fraud in the floodgate projects. Some companies involved in the floodgate projects even found the moral strength to extradite themselves from the mire of bid-rigging.An investigation by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office has been launched into a suspected violation of the Penal Code.Yet with the revised Antimonopoly Law, district public prosecutors offices are authorized to bring an indictment for the violation of the law, a right previously conferred only to the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office.Should the FTC bring criminal charges against the firms that rigged bids in the latest case, it would be the first time for the indictment to be brought by a district prosecutors office.We hope public prosecutors offices and the FTC use these new tools and expand their dragnet for exposing pernicious bid-rigging made locally.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2006-04-19	YOSHIN0020060419e24j000gk
YOMSHI0020060420e24k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060420e24k00001	EN	\N	New oil shock threatens nation	The sharp increase comes as Iran's unyielding efforts in a nuclear development program have aroused calls for the discussion of imposing economic sanctions against the Islamic republic. This Middle East cause for concern is further exasperated by continuing political tension in Nigeria, a major African oil producer, that shows no sign of abating. The surge in oil prices reflects a massive influx of speculative funds into oil markets against the backdrop of these geopolitical risks.	4	2006-04-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the summer of 2005, crude oil prices reached 70 dollars per barrel on the New York market for the first time, but prices dropped after a relatively short time. However, the latest price increase could remain at a high level for an extended period, due to a combination of various factors.World economy at riskIt is essential to realize that high crude oil prices could deal a serious blow to the world economy. For some years, the international economy has been steadily recovering, absorbing the negative impact of high oil prices. It is disturbing to note, however, that the latest price increase comes amid a rise in long-term interest rates worldwide.Nations around the world must join hands to prevent crude oil prices and long-term interest rates from rocketing at the same time as a result of their mutual influences.Overseas market players are seeking to buy crude oil, nonferrous metals and other resources while at the same time selling bonds whose prices continue to decline as as a result of a rise in interest rates. Copper prices have reached an all-time high, and aluminum, zinc and lead prices have increased to levels comparable to those in 1989.The surge in prices of natural resources could ignite fears of inflation, causing countries around the world to implement tight monetary policies. This could spark concerns about a fall in bond prices, accelerating a shift in the flow of money from bonds to natural resources. This vicious circle is a worst-case scenario that could come about under the circumstances.Successful attempts to reduce the current geopolitical risks would help prevent this worst-case scenario from becoming a reality.The international community must work to ensure that Iran restrains itself from achieving its nuclear ambition, while Nigeria must quell political unrest at home.But it is difficult to see these problems being settled at an early date.G-7 must act as oneFinance ministers and central bank governor from the Group of Seven major industrialized nations are to meet in Washington later this week, and the increase in crude oil prices is expected to top the agenda. The G-7 nations are certain to agree that measures should be taken to shore up their investments in oil fields and refineries.The G-7 finance ministers and central bank governors do not have the direct power to make decisions regarding energy-related issues. Still, we hope they will present workable steps to prevent a rise in both oil prices and interest rates when they meet as financial and monetary policymakers.The International Energy Forum is scheduled to open in Qatar later this month.The meeting will be attended by cabinet ministers from oil producers and consumers, including Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai. Admittedly, the spare oil production capacity of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has diminished, but it is not totally played out. Oil consumers at the meeting should urge OPEC nations to increase their oil production.In Japan, gasoline prices are rising sharply in response to the continued rise in crude oil prices. Japan Airlines Corp. and All Nippon Airways have raised their domestic air fares to offset an increase in fuel prices this month. Increases in these prices are beginning to directly affect the livelihood of the Japanese.Efforts to exploit new oil fields and develop alternative energy sources will take time until they bear fruit. Constant energy-conservation can produce only modest but sure-footed results. Efforts in this respects should be further expended.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	703	2006-04-20	YOSHIN0020060420e24k000es
YOMSHI0020060420e24l0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060420e24l0000h	EN	\N	Settle territorial dispute in coolheaded manner	It would be unfortunate if the two neighboring countries, between which economic activities and flows of people are vigorous, escalated the dispute unnecessarily. As Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said, an amicable settlement would serve the interests of both nations. Japan and South Korea should use their ingenuity to resolve the territorial dispute peacefully.	4	2006-04-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The purpose of the maritime survey planned by the Japan Coast Guard is to study undersea mountains and other geographic features in the area. The area to be surveyed is claimed by both Tokyo and Seoul as lying within their respective exclusive economic zones.The Japanese government decided to collect data on the seafloor topography there so it can make a counterproposal at an international conference scheduled for June in which Seoul plans to propose Korean names for the undersea mountains and valleys in the area.Survey wouldn't violate lawIn connection with the dispute, South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun accused Japan of "trying to justify its past invasion (of the Korean Peninsula)." He also ordered South Korean patrol boats deployed in the waters to be surveyed, warning that Japanese ships could be detained if they enter the area.Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said at the Diet that the planned survey does not violate any international law.The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea grants a coastal state sovereign rights for the exploitation of maritime resources and fishing in its EEZ. At the same time, however, the U.N. treaty guarantees ships of every country the freedom to navigate and conduct scientific research within an EEZ. It also stipulates that a coastal state may not apprehend a state-owned ship of the other country, such as a survey ship, in the EEZ.If South Korea forcibly halts Japan's maritime survey, how will the international community react? No other country will agree with Seoul's proposal to give Korean names to geographic features in the disputed waters.The Japanese government said it will keep the survey ships in Japanese waters as long as diplomatic talks between the two governments continue. Tokyo also told Seoul it would abort the maritime survey plan if South Korea decides not to press its proposals for names for the bathymetric features in the area during the international conference.Even in South Korea, an increasing number of people have been suggesting that the timing for proposing the Korean names should be postponed. We believe Tokyo and Seoul could find a solution to the problem if they discuss it in a coolheaded manner.Roh playing politicsBut we are concerned about Roh's stance of trying to tie everything to Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula to whip up anti-Japanese sentiment among the South Korean public. Since unified local elections, which are a prelude for the presidential election next year, are scheduled next month, Roh might be aiming to use this dispute as a means to boost the popularity of his government.The confrontation over Japan's planned maritime survey could be solved through diplomatic negotiations. But there will be no easy solution for the dispute over dominion over the Takeshima islets.A ruling by the International Court of Justice could be the only solution for the territorial dispute. Though Japan has been seeking such a ruling since 1954, South Korea has refused to discuss it at the U.N. tribunal.Roh said Thursday that some people were claiming sovereignty over areas their country had occupied during a war of invasion. He emphasized that South Korea is entitled to occupy the Takeshima islets by force.If he has such confidence in his claim, he should let the U.N. tribunal rule on the dispute.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2006-04-21	YOSHIN0020060421e24l000f5
YOMSHI0020060421e24m0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060421e24m0000h	EN	\N	Memo to China: Power carries responsibilities	The summit talks between Bush and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, on Thursday showed this was an accurate description. Hu held the talks with Bush on his first official visit to the United States.	4	2006-04-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The focal point of the summit meeting was how Beijing would respond to the superpower's concerns over China's rapid rise.At the talks, the two leaders agreed their countries share "common strategic interests" and emphasized they are ready to build positive relations.But the two leaders could not reach a consensus on the details of the issues that divide them, showing that the bilateral relationship is indeed complicated.The U.S. trade deficit with China topped the 200 billion dollars mark last year. Bush urged Hu to allow the Chinese currency, the yuan, to strengthen to correct the trade imbalances.But Hu failed to make any promises on this issue, merely saying his country would continue to reform the exchange rate regime.On the issue of nuclear proliferation, Bush strongly requested China to use its influence over North Korea to bring the country back to the six-way talks on its nuclear program.He also asked China to use its diplomatic muscle to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions.Hu visit hasn't allayed fearsHu, however, stuck to China's script of calling for continued cooperation and seeking peaceful solutions to the nuclear disputes through diplomatic means.China views its relationship with the United States as the pillar of its diplomacy. One of the purposes of Hu's visit to the United States was to calm concerns in the United States over China.With midterm elections approaching in November, many sectors of U.S. society--mainly the Congress--have voiced fears that China poses an economic and military "threat."The Bush-Hu summit talks, which failed to bear substantive fruit, may reinforce fears over China in the United States.Since the second half of last year, the U.S. administration's China policy has sought to have that country play the role of a "responsible stakeholder."Bush hopes China will agree to act as a stakeholder with common strategic interests.China has received much largesse from the international community. Bush's remark shows the United States' strategy is to offer to deepen its relations with China if the country fulfills its responsibilities.If China aims to promote constructive and cooperative relations with the United States, it should take this new U.S. policy seriously.Checkbook diplomacyPrior to Hu's departure for the United States, China announced purchases of U.S. products from aircraft to soybeans totaling 16.2 billion dollars.By unveiling this shopping list, China may have wanted to ease criticism against China in the United States by demonstrating to the latter the importance of the two countries' economic ties, given the size of the Chinese market, with its 1.3 billion consumers.But what the United States wants China to do is to live up to its responsibilities as a major country.China has been putting efforts into securing natural resources to support its economic growth.In this regard, China occasionally ignores commonly accepted international practices, significantly impacting the international political and economic systems.In the international community too, a consensus is growing that China should meet its responsibilities as a major country.China should realize that the "responsible stakeholder" argument is not only the U.S. view.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2006-04-22	YOSHIN0020060422e24m000hh
YOMSHI0020060422e24n0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060422e24n0000d	EN	\N	G-7 meeting lacked risk-aversion proposals	Although the global economy appears healthy, the tides may be about to turn--yet how best to avoid potential risks remains unclear.	4	2006-04-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the communique issued after the Washington G-7 meeting, participants expressed a bullish assessment of the current economic situation, saying that strong global economic expansion continued into its fourth year and that the outlook remained favorable.However, the communique also noted rising crude oil prices, global trade imbalances and growing protectionism as uncertainties facing the world economy.In the last few days, crude oil prices have posted record highs in the 74 dollars-to-75 dollars per barrel range.Following the United States, which has long since altered its ultra-loose monetary policy, the European Central Bank raised its key interest rate in December. In March, the Bank of Japan scrapped its quantitative monetary-easing policy.As the world's leading economies shift toward tightening their financial policies, long-term interest rates have recently started rising.The International Monetary Fund forecasts the global economy will grow 4.9 percent in real terms this year.However, if the impact of rising oil prices spreads worldwide, or if monetary policies are tightened too much in response to rising inflationary pressures, global growth will slow.No proposal for high oil prices"Sustainable growth without inflation" should be the global economy's goal and movement toward this goal should not be hindered by spiraling oil prices. It was only natural for the G-7 nations to confirm the existence of risks and agree on the need for policy cooperation.However, the G-7 members failed to outline effective risk-aversion measures.Recent oil price hikes have been triggered by the Iranian nuclear issue and the inflow of speculative funds into the oil market. High oil prices cannot be lowered simply by adjusting supply and demand.The communique called for making the oil market more transparent through dialogue between countries that produce oil and those that consume it. It also urged oil-producing states to increase investments in oil exploration and related projects. The communique also stressed the importance of efforts made by oil-consuming countries to save energy.Those are all good proposals. And yet, they are unable to dampen skyrocketing oil prices in the short term.Yuan revaluation unlikelyAs for expanding trade imbalances, the communique called for increased exchange rate flexibility for the yuan, the Chinese currency. The G-7 also issued an annex statement titled "Global Imbalances" that listed the issues countries and regions face.The G-7's calls for China to revalue the yuan followed U.S. pressure during summit talks between U.S. President George W. Bush and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao the previous day.However, China dislikes reforming due to external pressure. An early overhaul of the yuan should not be expected.Instead, the G-7 countries must solve their own problems.The United States has to work to improve its fiscal health and boost national savings. European nations need to implement structural reforms and stimulate domestic demand.Japan should attend to its debt-ridden finances and ensure long-term growth through structural reforms.These have been pressing issues for a long time. To deal with the risks that the global economy faces, each G-7 member state must try to solve its own problems as best it can.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2006-04-23	YOSHIN0020060423e24n000aq
YOMSHI0020060424e24o00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060424e24o00002	EN	\N	JR West must do more to dispel safety concerns	Tuesday is the first anniversary of the fatal derailment on the JR Fukuchiyama Line in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, that killed 107 people.	4	2006-04-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the railway company has made various changes to prevent accidents, it is only halfway through its quest to dispel safety concerns and regain the public's trust. The company needs to try harder.The derailment occurred as the train, which was running more than 40 kph faster than the speed limit, entered a sharp curve without braking. The probe into the cause of the accident has not yet come to grips with the problems that may lie behind the driver's abnormal actions.JR West has been implementing measures in accordance with its safety improvement program drawn up in late May. The program focused on suggestions from front-line workers on preventing accidents. Under the program the company reviewed its training of staff, including train crew, and reinforced the functions of its train service and safety promotion divisions.It has also installed automatic train stop (ATS) systems at curves along the tracks, while loosening up its train schedule. Consequently, there has been some progress made in organizational rearrangement and in improving equipment.A long way to goBut the Construction and Transport Ministry, on the basis of an inspection that rated JR West's safety efforts insufficient, instructed the company in November to implement stronger safety measures.The ministry called on JR West to try harder in seven areas, including clarifying responsibility within the company and improving communication among its workers.The instructions were issued because the company failed to share fundamental operational data among its divisions, leading to mistakes in setting the functioning speed of ATS systems then being checked for use.Even after the ministry's instructions were issued, an accident occurred on JR West's Hakubi Line in Tottori Prefecture in January, with three maintenance crew members struck and killed by an express train.The accident showed the validity of the concerns voiced by the ministry in its instructions, as the deaths resulted from a failure to properly inform the workers on the track of the approaching train.Are there other accidents waiting to happen because of problems within the company?New focusIn April, JR West announced a new corporate philosophy and charter pledging to make safety its first priority and maintaining its railway services as its core business.By doing this, the company intends to shift from seeking new profit sources in train-related businesses and focus on its mainstay. The important thing is how to put such pledges into practice.Since last year, there have been a spate of accidents and operating problems involving not only trains but also airplanes and ships.Concluding that safety awareness in the private sector had eroded and that senior management were not sufficiently involved in ensuring compliance with safety regulations, the ministry has called on public transportation system operators to formulate safety management regulations and to assign executive-class supervisors, who would be responsible for compliance, thus strengthening the central government's supervisory role.One sign of this reinforcement was the enactment late last month of a law to improve transportation safety. We hope the law will be enforced.The entire public transportation system is responsible for the safety of passengers. Everyone working in the transportation industry, from the top management to the rank and file, needs to think deeply about their grave responsibility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2006-04-24	YOSHIN0020060424e24o000nj
YOMSHI0020060424e24p0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060424e24p0000l	EN	\N	Govt needs to explain cost of moving marines	With the settlement, planning for the realignment of U.S. bases in Japan has passed its critical phase. Japan and the United States will finalize an overall package of agreements during a meeting of the top foreign policy and defense officials from both countries in early May. This will mark a big step forward in deepening the alliance between the two countries.	4	2006-04-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During their meeting in Washington on Sunday, Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld agreed that Japan would shoulder 59 percent of the financial burden of the relocation, which is estimated to cost a total of 10.27 billion dollars or 1.14 trillion yen, calculated at the yen-dollar conversion rate for the fiscal 2006 budget.Japan's share comprises grants of 2.8 billion dollars (or 310.8 billion yen) from its general account, government investment of 1.5 billion dollars (or 166.5 billion yen), and loans through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and other financial institutions.But many details about the latest agreement remain obscure. On what basis has the total cost for relocation been estimated? The government says it plans to establish a new third-sector body for the investment, with the invested money expected to be returned. But how will the invested money be returned? And in what specific way will the loans be extended?Explanation owedThe government has a duty to explain the decision to the Japanese public.One of the important objectives in reorganizing the U.S. forces in Japan is to reduce the burdens of hosting U.S. military bases on Okinawa Prefecture. To transfer the 8,000 U.S. marines to Guam as soon as possible, Japan needs to assume its due share of the burden. Another objective is for the Japanese people as a whole to share the burdens of Okinawa Prefecture, which hosts the bulk of the U.S. military bases in Japan.It is unprecedented for Japan to spend state funds on U.S. bases located outside Japan.In addition to the cost of relocating U.S. marines to Guam, the government may be required to spend as much as 2 trillion yen over the next 10 years on other efforts connected to the reorganization of U.S. forces in Japan, including the projects to adjust the surroundings of bases and to promote local economies.The government is considering submitting to the current Diet session a package of bills related to the realignment of U.S. bases in Japan, including one concerning the basis for shouldering part of the relocation cost, one concerning the related investments and loans, and one concerning new grants to concerned local governments.Keep moving forwardWhile it is a matter of course for the government to discuss these issues thoroughly, it should not delay in laying the legal groundwork and pressing ahead with the realignment.Concerning the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to Camp Schwab in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro agreed to the government's modified plan. The relocation of Futenma Air Station is a prerequisite for the relocation of U.S. marines to Guam.To reduce the burden of hosting U.S. military bases, Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine should cooperate with the relocation of the Futenma facility.Former Iwakuni Mayor Katsusuke Ihara won Sunday's mayoral election in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, held following its merger with neighboring municipalities in March. Ihara opposes relocating U.S. carrier-based aircraft from the Atsugi U.S. Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture to the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station, a stance reinforced by the result of a local referendum held last month in which the majority of residents also expressed opposition to the plan.The reorganization of U.S. forces in Japan is designed to deal with the so-called Arc of Instability that stretches from Northeast Asia to the Middle East. The rapid military buildup of China is one factor in the region's instability. The Japan-U.S. alliance has gained importance for its role in maintaining the peace and stability of Japan and the region.Japan must deal with the issue of relocation costs from a realistic and broad perspective.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	756	2006-04-25	YOSHIN0020060425e24p000ex
YOMSHI0020060425e24q0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060425e24q0000i	EN	\N	Leave islet dispute to World Court	In a special statement broadcast live concerning Japanese-South Korean relations, Roh condemned Japan's claim to the islets, known as Dokdo in Korean.	4	2006-04-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It should be noted that Roh emphasized his determination to adopt an open and fearless approach to the problem, saying his country could no longer deal with it quietly.Some South Koreans believe raising an alarm over the controversy means their country acknowledges there is a territorial issue to be settled between our two nations, and that by doing so their country is falling into a Japanese trap.However, Roh called the territorial dispute a task of prime importance to be tackled by his administration, saying it signifies the need to settle historical issues between his country and Japan and a "symbol of restoring complete sovereignty."History in eye of beholderRoh has good reason to leave the matter to the World Court if he is so self-assured about the legitimacy of his country's stand in the dispute.Japan has twice proposed referring the controversy to the court, only to have the proposals rejected by South Korea. Seoul has not even acknowledged the existence of the dispute. This uncompromising attitude has prevented any attempt to resolve the controversy. The Japanese government should continue to propose, at every opportunity, that the problem be brought before the World Court.Roh dismissed Japan's assertion as an attempt to claim territorial rights of the disputed islets by treating them as part of its colonial territory. His statement reflects his belief that Japan annexed the islets as colonies during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5.Japan has every reason to dismiss the South Korean assertion as a one-sided interpretation of historical facts concerning the relationship between Seoul and Tokyo.The Shimane prefectural government's decision to absorb Takeshima into its territory in 1905 was entirely unrelated to Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, which started in 1910.Earlier, the South Korean president criticized the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi as "nationalistic." However, the territorial row between Japan and South Korea has lasted for more than five decades. Does Roh mean to say all Japanese governments have had nationalistic tendencies during the period?In 1952, the South Korean government unilaterally drew a line in international waters, with Takeshima on its side of the line. South Korea has since garrisoned security forces on the islets to place them under its control.During their diplomatic normalization talks that lasted from 1951 to 1965, Japan and South Korea failed to resolve the Takeshima problem, agreeing to postpone dealing with it.Cool heads neededThe waters around Takeshima encompass areas claimed by both Japan and South Korea as their exclusive economic zones. Only a few days ago, Japan and South Korea came very close to starting a skirmish in the troubled waters due to a dispute over an attempt by Seoul to name seafloor topography near Takeshima and register such designations at an international conference in June.Direct conflict was averted through negotiations, and both countries have agreed to resume talks in May on where to draw a line between their EEZs. Roh's demand for Japan to "abandon its undue demand" only makes it difficult to make progress in such negotiations, even allowing antagonism between the two nations to escalate.It is important for Japan and South Korea to cooperate in resolving such problems as the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its abductions of Japanese. The territorial dispute between Tokyo and Seoul must be prevented from adversely affecting efforts to settle important problems unrelated to the controversy. Japan and South Korea should deal with the territorial row in a calm manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2006-04-26	YOSHIN0020060426e24q000fe
YOMSHI0020060426e24r0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060426e24r0000j	EN	\N	Expose irregularities in construction industry	Those arrested included Moriyoshi Kimura, former president of Kimura Construction Co., and Togo Fujita, president of eHomes Inc.	4	2006-04-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The arrests have moved investigations into a new and crucial phase to ascertain the overall picture of the data-fabrication scandal.Aneha allegedly faked structural calculation data sheets for buildings under heavy pressure to cut costs from his clients including Kimura Construction Co. of Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture.The first task facing the investigators is to determine the relationships of power between Aneha and his clients.Time to clean houseAneha was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of violating the architects law by lending his name as a class-one architect to an architectural designer who designed buildings without a state license.Kimura was arrested on suspicion of violating the construction business law by submitting a falsified financial report on Kimura Construction Co. to the Construction and Transport Ministry so that his company appeared to be in the black.These charges, however, are not directly related to the data fabrication.The architectural designer and Kimura both said that name-lending and falsification of financial documents are common practices in the construction business. If this is true, the police should investigate the malfeasance thoroughly.Huser Ltd., which sold units in condominium buildings that did not meet government quake-resistance standards, and General Management Consultant Co., which provided consultation services for hotels using defective buildings, cashed in on Aneha to slash construction costs.They have shaken public confidence in the safety of buildings and given serious damages to people who purchased condominiums or run hotels in defective buildings.What is worse is that nobody involved in falsifying the seismic data is willing to admit liability for the damages incurred by those people. Kimura Construction Co. went bankrupt and Susumu Ojima, president of Huser Ltd., claimed that he himself was a victim.They also said in chorus that they did not know anything about the data being fabricated. The police are to concentrate their investigations on finding new evidence or testimony to disprove these denials and to establish fraud cases against them.Aneha just one of manyAdditional buildings in other parts of the country have been found built based on fabricated structural calculation sheets or with insufficient seismic strength. A class two architect in Hokkaido admitted that he faked structural calculations on 33 condominium buildings, for instance.More confusion has been added to the scandal since several calculation methods, which yield different results, could be used in determining seismic strength of buildings.eHomes was not the only building inspection organ that overlooked Aneha's fabrication of data. Thirty-five municipal governments and government-authorized private building inspection agencies committed the same mistake.Under the government's deregulation policy, private companies were allowed in 1999 to inspect and certify the construction of buildings, which previously could be done only by government offices. As a result, however, some private inspection agencies put priority on profits rather than on reliable inspections, and the inspection ability of municipalities deteriorated.Since news of the fabrication surfaced in November, the Construction and Transport Ministry has taken measures to prevent recurrence of similar incidents. However, the measures did little to alleviate concerns of residents in the defective buildings since new problems surfaced one after another in relation with the fabrication scandal.The police should investigate irresponsible practices in the construction industry thoroughly to determine who is truly responsible for the fabrication scandal. Through that process, flaws in the construction administration will become clear.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2006-04-27	YOSHIN0020060428e24r0007u
YOMSHI0020060427e24s0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060427e24s0000d	EN	\N	Pension system needs root-and-branch reform	But it is doubtful if the policies will speed up the unification process.	4	2006-04-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main purpose of the integration of the two pension schemes is to eliminate the public-private disparities by abolishing a number of advantages offered under the mutual aid pension plan.However, vested interests in the mutual aid pension scheme are left virtually untouched in the basic policies.Pension premiums in the mutual aid pension plan are set low, and the burdens on public servants are lighter than those shouldered by private sector workers.In the basic plans, it will take 12 years to raise pension premiums to the level of those in the corporate pension plan.The system of injecting tax money into the mutual aid pension plan under the name of "additional expenses" will remain almost untouched for the next 50 years.Public servants get easy rideThe mutual aid pension plan was phased in around 1960 to replace the onkyu allowance system for retired public servants. The predecessor plan was financed by tax money.The so-called additional expenses were injected, totaling 1.7 trillion yen in fiscal 2004, in the mutual aid pension scheme on the ground that the portion of pension payments for a former public servant should be paid by tax money for the period that the servant worked during the onkyu system.This means that public servants pay less to support retired public servants than private sector workers pay to support former company workers.The basic policies call for a maximum 10 percent cuts in pension benefits for former public servants to reduce the additional expenses.Some argue that cuts in promised pension benefits are a violation of property rights.But to create a pension system that the public can accept, preferential treatment for public servants must be reduced as far as possible. Trimming their pension benefits is a natural thing to do.However, cuts in pension benefits will have limited effects in reducing the additional expenses. Under the current system, the use of tax money for the additional expenses will continue for more than 50 years with total tax money injected totaling 17 trillion yen.With the envisioned cuts in pension benefits, the total amount will reduced only by 1 trillion yen.The government should come up with other ways to reduce the additional expenses. The mutual aid pension plan has a reserve fund of 47 trillion yen. Part of this fund should be used to reduce the additional expenses.Redress imbalances fasterIt is also problematic that the private-public disparity in pension premiums will continue for years to come.Under the basic policies, pension premiums in the mutual aid pension system will be raised annually, but the premiums will not match those of the corporate employee pension plan until 2018. We wonder why this has to take such a long time.Eliminating public-private gaps in pension plans, including the national pension plan for self-employed people and students, is the first step toward a drastic reform of the state-run pension system as a whole.If no moves are made to redress the current imbalances, the government will be regarded as having no commitment to reform the mutual aid pension plan, though doing so was supposed to be the main plank of overall pension system reforms.The government is scheduled to submit related bills based on the basic policies during the ordinary Diet session next year.Through the processes of mapping out the bills and Diet discussions, the government should strive to eliminate the public-private gaps.Discussions on pension reform should not end with Friday's Cabinet decision. If they do, an overhaul of the pension system will hardly be realized.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	658	2006-04-28	YOSHIN0020060428e24s0011g
YOMSHI0020060428e24t0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060428e24t0000j	EN	\N	DPJ must coordinate views on education	To nurture people who will lead this country in the future, what should the vision and purpose of the nation's education be? Lawmakers should discuss the revision bill earnestly.	4	2006-04-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bill calls for fostering patriotism with such expressions as "public spirit and respect for tradition" and "an attitude that respects the nation and hometown," which are not included in the current basic education law.Cabinets under former Prime Ministers Ichiro Hatoyama, Hayato Ikeda and Yasuhiro Nakasone sought to revise the law. But whenever they tried to bring up the topic for discussion, opposition lawmakers and the Japan Teachers' Union resisted, saying revising the law would be tantamount to reviving militaristic eduction.Govt must compile policiesLooking back at Japan's history as a pacifist country since the end of World War II, it no longer makes sense to drag up the specter of prewar Japan.Schools are facing a number of problems, such as bullying, students resorting to violence, and truancy. Students are committing crimes at an increasingly young age. The number of self-centered children is increasing. Young people's views about work are becoming seriously skewed, symbolized by the increasing number of young NEETs (those not in education, employment or training).The bill calls for establishing a new article to define the role of education at home. Reflecting that postwar education placed little importance on the role of the family, the article stipulates that parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children.The bill also obligates the government to formulate basic plans to promote education that should set out policy goals.We wonder what kind of policies the government will come up with to solve the problems the nation faces with its schooling. The public has a great interest in such policies.In parallel with Diet deliberations, the government should speedily compile policies that meet the needs of the people.The ruling camp of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito hopes to set up a special committee at the House of Representatives as a forum to discuss the bill.But the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan opposes the idea of establishing such a committee.A special committee can hold discussions on an almost daily basis. The DPJ's opposition suggests the party is not ready to tackle revision of the basic education law.DPJ shouldn't duck issueA year ago, the DPJ compiled a report on revision of the basic law. The report included both positive and negative views on the law's revision. The positive view reads: "How many more years will it take until Japan becomes a country in which use of the word 'patriotism' is normal?" The negative view reads: "[The revision] will lead to totalitarian education."But after the compilation of the report, the party failed to discuss revising the law.The DPJ says it will soon compile a counterproposal for revising the law. But it will be a tough task to forge a consensus from among the divergent opinions in the party.Claiming that the Fundamental Law of Education is as important as the Constitution, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama has insisted that deliberations on revision of the basic education law should be held in tandem with discussions on amending the Constitution.The DPJ secretary general's comment represents an attempt to postpone revision of the basic education law. He probably is concerned that Diet deliberations will highlight differences of opinion within his party.Because it is a very important issue, the DPJ must strive to narrow down opinions within the party to a single view. That is an attitude required for a political party that aims to take power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	654	2006-04-29	YOSHIN0020060429e24t000cp
YOMSHI0020060429e24u0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060429e24u0000d	EN	\N	Bush meeting will raise abduction issue profile	Sakie Yokota, the 70-year-old mother of abductee Megumi Yokota, met Bush at the White House on Friday, to call for help in enabling all those kidnapped by North Korea to recover their freedom as soon as possible.	4	2006-04-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This was the first time the U.S. president had met with relatives of a Japanese abductee. Simply by taking place, the meeting has brought the abduction issue to the attention of the international community."I have just had one of the most moving meetings since I've been the president," Bush said. He then promised to cooperate in helping solve the abduction issue, saying "[North Korea] must allow this mother to hug her child again."This will exert strong pressure on North Korea to act sincerely.Prior to the meeting with Bush, Sakie testified at a subcommittee hearing under the House of Representatives International Relations Committee."It saddens me profoundly and I feel so humiliated whenever I think about why we cannot rescue her," the impassioned Sakie said as she spoke of her daughter.Call for actionShe then called on the international community to take resolute action, saying, "I beg all countries to join us in saying that we will not forgive the abductions, and that all the victims must be returned immediately or we will initiate economic sanctions."U.S. congressmen must have been moved by the sorrow and anger this mother showed.The U.S. lawmaker who chaired the hearing proposed Bush give priority to the issue at the upcoming G-8 summit of industrialized nations in July. Nonetheless, it is Japan that must take the initiative in approaching other G-8 members.At the United Nations, resolutions criticizing the infringement of human rights in North Korea have been adopted by its human rights committee and at the general assembly. In pressing North Korea to solve the abduction issue, all opportunities to exert leverage must be seized in the days ahead.Changes are even being seen in South Korea, which has long held a standoffish attitude toward the issue.South Korea wants answersDuring the recent ministerial talks with North Korea, South Korea raised the issue of returning those South Koreans who went missing during and after the 1950-1953 Korean War. The term "missing people" is thought to be an oblique reference to South Koreans allegedly abducted by North Korea, as well as to prisoners of war captured during the conflict but not repatriated following the July 1953 armistice.North Korea has denied the existence of any South Korean abductees, but it has agreed to "cooperate in settling the issue of those people whose whereabouts during and after the war period remain unknown."Lying behind these changes is an increased focus on the issue among South Koreans.According to DNA analysis conducted by Japanese experts, Megumi's husband is believed to be Kim Young Nam, a South Korean allegedly abducted by North Korea in 1978 when he was a high school student. The South Korean government too must make efforts to solve the problem.A former North Korean secret agent who abducted Japanese now lives in South Korea. Japan and South Korea need to cooperate closely to elucidate what the abductions really entailed.There are also things that Japan needs to do by itself. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito has submitted to the House of Representatives a bill concerning ways of dealing with North Korean human rights infringements, whereby the government can impose economic sanctions on North Korea if no progress is made over the abduction issue.In order to reinforce this trump card for exerting pressure on North Korea, the bill must be passed into law as quickly as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2006-04-30	YOSHIN0020060430e24u000bm
YOMSHI0020060430e2510000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060430e2510000c	EN	\N	Super long-term bonds tonic for govt's fiscal state	One idea being studied by the Finance Ministry is to increase the issuance of super long-term government bonds. By increasing the issuance of 20-year or 30-year government bonds while the interest rate remains low, the government will be able to keep a lid on future interest payments on government bonds.	4	2006-05-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry is reportedly studying the possibility of issuing a 50-year government bond--the first time such a bond will be issued here. Some may wonder who would buy a government bond that cannot be redeemed for such a long time, but there would be demand for such bonds among financial institutions, including life insurance companies. Britain and France have issued super long-term government bonds.Since the bubble economy burst, low interest rates have been the norm, preventing interest payments on government bonds from rising dramatically. However, this situation will not be able to continue indefinitely.Strategic plan neededIn years when interest rates are rising, the government needs a more strategic plan for issuing government bonds, including super long-term bonds.Government bonds worth nearly 30 trillion yen will be issued this fiscal year. As government bonds to be refunded as they mature are worth about 110 trillion yen, government bonds and treasury bills worth nearly 140 trillion yen--excluding those bonds issued to finance the fiscal investment and loan program--will be issued.Of this 140 trillion yen, the government plans to issue 10-year bonds worth 24 trillion yen, while issuing super long-term bonds with a 20-year maturity worth about 10 trillion yen, and those with a 30-year maturity at 2 trillion yen.The remaining 100 trillion yen or so will be earmarked for the issuance of short- and medium-term bonds, financing and treasury bills. The makeup of government bond issuance for this fiscal year is quite vulnerable to rises in long-term interest rates.The ministry has earmarked 8.6 trillion yen for interest payments on government bonds in the fiscal 2006 budget, a figure derived from the assumption that the long-term interest rate remains at 2 percent. Yet the long-term interest rate, which hovered around 1.5 percent at the end of last year, has already reached about 2 percent.According to the ministry's calculations, should the long-term interest rate rise by one percentage point, the state's expenses for interest payments on government bonds will rise by 1.6 trillion yen in the first year, 2.8 trillion yen in the second year and 4 trillion yen in the third year. This is because the burden of interest payments on refunding bonds will accumulate year after year.The economic recovery likely will cause interest rates to rise. The government's interest-payment expenses also will snowball accordingly.Interest rates at crux of matterThe idea of super long-term government bonds has been given an airing recently.The nominal interest rate for a 20-year government bond stands at 2.3 percent, and that for a 30-year bond at about 2.5 percent. Should a 50-year bond be issued, the interest rate will be between 2.7 percent and 2.8 percent, according to experts. Fixing the interest rate at this level would be a huge load off the government's shoulders.Outstanding government bonds are expected to reach 542 trillion yen by the end of this fiscal year. The outstanding amount in fiscal 1986 was less than one-third of this figure. At that time, the long-term interest rate was around 5 percent, and interest payments topped 10 trillion yen.If the interest rate regains such a level, the government's plan of getting the primary balance--a fiscal condition in which tax revenues and government income from other sources except for bond issues are balanced by expenditures, excluding debt-servicing costs--into the black will simply be wishful thinking.Even if the issuance of super long-term government bonds is increased, however, the effect of holding down the government's expenses for interest payments will be limited at best.The best way for diluting the impact of rising interest rates is to reduce the outstanding amount of government bonds. The government's top priority should be to secure enough tax revenues, for instance by raising the consumption tax rate at an early date, and to realize the fiscal reconstruction of the central government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	802	2006-05-01	YOSHIN0020060501e251000yh
YOMSHI0020060504e25200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060504e25200001	EN	\N	War responsibility must be clarified by ourselves	The military tribunal, known as the Tokyo Trial, was conducted by the Allied Powers led by Britain, the former Soviet Union and the United States. International prosecutors had indicted 28 political and military leaders as Class-A war criminals, 25 of whom were found guilty. Two defendants died during the hearings, and one was removed from the list of defendants because he was found to be mentally unstable.	4	2006-05-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fourteen of the accused, including seven put to death by hanging--wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo included--are enshrined among the war dead at Yasukuni Shrine. Repeated visits to the shrine by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi have caused a stir both at home and abroad.Was tribunal just?Many questions persist concerning the legitimacy of the Tokyo Trial. For instance, the criteria for qualification as a Class-A war criminal is open to question. The accused included Mamoru Shigemitsu, a wartime foreign minister who served in the position again after the war. The Soviet demand for his inclusion on the list of defendants was accepted immediately before the opening of the tribunal. Upon his death in 1957, a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly offered a silent prayer to Shigemitsu.Another example was Shigenori Togo, who as foreign minister strived to avert war with the United States and worked hard to conclude a peace deal with the Allies in the closing days of World War II.Questions should also be raised about the eligibility of the nations that accused and tried the defendants. The Soviet Union, whose representatives sat on the judge's bench and at the prosecutor's table during the tribunal, had been ejected from the League of Nations as an aggressor in December 1939, three months before World War II broke out.It should also be noted that the Soviet Union breached the Japan-Soviet Neutrality Treaty to fight with Japan toward the end of the war. The Soviets sent 600,000 Japanese soldiers and others to Siberia as prisoners of war, and tens of thousands died in forced labor camps there.This means that the Tokyo Trial was in session while the Soviet Union was flagrantly violating international law.British, Dutch and French troops were reinvading some Asian countries during the days of the tribunal, in which these nations were judging Japan's "acts of aggression" in invading Asian neighbors. It took the Netherlands until 1949--one year after the tribunal delivered verdicts on the accused--for the country to conclude a peace deal with Indonesia's national independence forces. For its part, France never abandoned its ambition to retake Vietnam until 1954, when it suffered a crushing military defeat.It may be necessary to reexamine the propriety of the Allied Powers' criteria for the selection of war criminals and the makeup of prosecutors and judges in the tribunal.Some blame must be admittedFor all this, however, wartime Japanese leaders must bear grave responsibility for causing more than 3 million Japanese to die because of their reckless decision to start war with the Allies, while also inflicting great suffering on other Asian countries. The question is, Which leader should accept what responsibility?Immediately after the end of World War II, some Japanese political leaders took it on themselves to apportion responsibility for the war. The Cabinet of Prime Minister Naruhiko Higashikuni considered opening a trial on war criminals. His successor, Kijuro Shidehara, established a government panel charged with uncovering the truth about Japan's entry into the war. There is reason to believe Tojo would have been found guilty even if he were tried by the Japanese themselves.However, all these moves were halted by the Allies.The Yomiuri Shimbun has been carrying a long-running series of lengthy articles exploring what and who should be held responsible for starting Japan's war with the Allied Powers. We have found our readers are more greatly interested than we expected in the subjects the special series explores. We have received a large number of phone calls, letters and e-mails from readers expressing their opinions about each installment of the series.We are determined to live up to our readers' expectations through continued investigations into the issues pertaining to the responsibility for the war.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 2, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	773	2006-05-02	YOSHIN0020060502e252000cr
YOMSHI0020060504e25300002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060504e25300002	EN	\N	Road map to enhance Japan-U.S. alliance	Defense and foreign affairs ministers of the two countries on Monday finalized plans to realign U.S. forces in Japan.	4	2006-05-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the agreement, most of the relocation items will have been carried out by the end of 2014. These tasks include relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station's heliport functions in Ginowan to a coastal area adjacent to Camp Schwab in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture, the transfer of 8,000 U.S. marines from the prefecture to Guam, and the transfer of carrier-based aircraft at Atsugi Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture to the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture.The government is responsible for implementing this "road map" for realignment according to an agreed schedule.The government also must win the understanding and cooperation of prefectures and municipalities to be affected by this realignment, and as Japan's share of relocation costs will reportedly total 3 trillion yen, it has to show accountability to the public by explaining how the estimate was calculated.While the realignment is part of the global realignment of U.S. forces, it is not being carried out solely for the benefits of the U.S. military.Improved defense at homeA major objective of the realignment is to improve Japan's defense, under the Japan-U.S. alliance, against so-called new threats such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, long-range missiles, and international terrorism.Under the new plans, the commands of the U.S. Army and the Ground Self-Defense Force will be established at Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture. Likewise, the commands of the U.S. Air Force and the Air Self-Defense Force will share Yokota Air Base in Tokyo.A deepening of cooperation between Japanese and U.S. forces during peacetime will enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance.Tokyo and Washington should discuss ways of improving the effectiveness of the security alliance in implementing joint operations, sharing information and carrying out international peace-cooperation missions. They also should accelerate work to clarify role-sharing between the two nations.In 1996, Tokyo and Washington redefined their alliance in the Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on Security.The two nations clarified the importance of their bilateral relations in the Asia-Pacific region, taking into full consideration changes in the region that occurred after the end of the Cold War.Ten years later, Defense Agency Secretary General Fukushiro Nukaga on Monday proposed that both nations discuss a new framework for security cooperation with Japan.Nukaga said the Japan-U.S. security partnership as defined in the 1996 declaration is out of date given the many changes to the international security landscape, including the post-9/11 environment, and the rapid military buildup in China.Expanded international roleIn recent years, Japan has enacted laws to deal with contingencies in the area surrounding Japan and emergency legislation on national security. In addition, Self-Defense Forces troops have been working in Iraq providing humanitarian assistance for reconstruction. They were also dispatched to other Asian countries devastated by a strong tsunami that struck in waters off Sumatra, Indonesia, in December 2004.A joint statement issued after Monday's agreement said the Japan-U.S. alliance plays "a vital role in enhancing regional and global peace and security."Iran and Iraq are named in the statement to clarify the engagement of the Japan-U.S. alliance in the Middle East.It is natural that the purpose and concept of the Japan-U.S. alliance be flexibly revised, and that Japan's role and responsibility in the alliance be clarified, according to the changing international situation.That is also a way to further deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 3, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2006-05-03	YOSHIN0020060503e25300086
YOMSHI0020060503e2540000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060503e2540000a	EN	\N	Sage ruling needed in NTT pension case	Corporate pensions are the main source of income for many retirees, supplemented by payments from the state pension system.	4	2006-05-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Any reduction in payments from company pensions would obviously hit such retirees. On the other hand, if the burden of making pension payments bankrupted a company, the payments would cease completely, which would be the worst-case scenario for both retirees and the company.NTT and the state should hold comprehensive discussions about the many facets of the case.The Tokyo District Court, where the suit was filed, should issue guidelines that satisfy both NTT and its pension beneficiaries.Changes in corporate pensionsTwo years ago, NTT replaced its fixed pension system for retirees with a defined-benefit corporate pension plan under which pension payments are tied to government bond yields. About 250,000 current and retired NTT group employees are covered under the system, with benefits fluctuating depending on the fortunes of the bonds.In addition to this change, all 140,000 retirees from NTT and its group companies were asked to agree to a reduction of pension payments.NTT said it would not be able to maintain its old pension program due to deteriorating financial conditions and low interest rates.However, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which has to approve any reduction in payments of a company pension plan, did not approve NTT's application.Following this decision, NTT filed the suit with the district court seeking a nullification of the ministry's disapproval.The law on defined-benefit corporate pension plans strictly restricts, in terms of both procedures and reasons, changes in a pension program that would result in a loss of benefits for pensioners.In terms of procedures, the law requires a company to obtain the approval of more than two-thirds of pension recipients in order to change the contents of a pension program. The law also requires a company to pay a lump sum to pensioners who so desire it.The law also stipulates that there must be valid reasons to change pension payments, such as a deterioration of corporate performance that endangers the continued existence of the pension program.With the exception of the NTT case, the ministry has approved all other applications, totaling more than 40, to reduce pension payments.NTT had met all the requirements in its application, including getting the agreement of 87 percent of retirees. But the ministry rejected the application on the ground that NTT was not suffering a deterioration in performance because it had been posting profits and paying dividends.Ministry lacks business savvyIn its decision, the ministry produced a new argument, saying "deteriorated performance" means that a company has fallen into insolvency.NTT plans to argue in court that the independence of its management and labor unions should be respected. It said 87 percent of retirees chose long-term stability of the pension program ahead of immediate financial gain.In general, disparities in pension payments between current employees and retirees have widened in corporate pension programs due to changes made during the prolonged economic slump, which only recently has shown signs of ending. Many companies are considering reducing pension payments.Once a company falls into insolvency, it is very difficult for it to rehabilitate itself. The ministry's new definition of business performance lacks an understanding of corporate management.On the other hand, company pension programs can be viewed as deferred payments of retirement bonuses. Thus, any reduction in pension payments would be tantamount to a change of working conditions after the fact.Under what conditions is this allowable?The court will need to exercise sagacity in producing a ruling that is fair and just.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 4, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	666	2006-05-04	YOSHIN0020060504e2540007v
YOMSHI0020060504e2550000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060504e2550000g	EN	\N	It takes an entire village to raise a child	The slogan will be displayed at a weeklong series of events centering on children to be held throughout the nation from Friday, Children's Day.	4	2006-05-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When the girl commutes to and from school by train, she is surrounded by considerate adults and she has no reason to feel uneasy. When she grows up, she in turn wants to be an adult who is trusted by children.The girl said the slogan reflects her experiences in commuting, as well as her wishes for the future.However, are many of the nation's children surrounded by trustworthy adults like the girl is? The sad reality is no.Crimes against kids increasingCrimes against children are increasing. Last year, there were 25,000 Penal Code violations against children of primary school age and younger.There have been some extremely heinous crimes against children recently. For example, a 7-year-old girl was murdered in Tochigi Prefecture late last year, and the killer remains at large. In March, a 9-year-old boy was thrown to his death from a condominium building in Kawasaki by a total stranger.At a number of communities throughout the country, children are taught how to scream loudly when they feel threatened and they learn how to use attack alarms.It is deplorable to see children having to learn such things. But it is inevitable for them to do so.In a Yomiuri Shimbun survey on public safety in March, 68 percent of respondents said they feared children in their communities may fall victims to crimes.Nearly 90 percent said ties in communities should be strengthened--through close communications among neighbors and an increase in community activities--as a measure ti prevent crime.Eighty-two percent said they want to take part in community anticrime patrols.Rebuilding community powerCommunities must rebuild their sense of "community power" so they can protect their children from harm.A good example of a neighborhood watch program is one started by shop owners in the Matsubara district of Setagaya Ward in Tokyo. Members of the group, called the Meidaimae Peacemakers, patrol the community in fluorescent jackets and keep an eye on children on their way to and from school.Since the program started five years ago, the number of crimes in the community has declined and the group has become an indispensable asset for parents."It's important that there are a lot of adults around children, adults whom the children get to know and whom they can trust," the president of the association of shop owners said.A number of community groups have been formed modeled on the Meidaimae Peacemakers.Last year alone, more than 10,000 such groups were established throughout the country. However, some of them were just set up as a matter of form, and did not actually carry out any significant activities.A key point in rebuilding community power will be whether members of the baby-boomer generation, who will start retiring soon, will involve themselves in rebuilding their communities.How can we build a society in which children are surrounded by adults whom they can trust, and in turn grow up to adults trusted by children?We should all think about this on Children's Day.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	589	2006-05-05	YOSHIN0020060506e25500074
YOMSHI0020060506e2570000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060506e2570000c	EN	\N	Consumer financing needs careful scrutiny	A Financial Services Agency advisory panel on moneylending has compiled an interim report regarding reviewing the Moneylending Control Law.	4	2006-05-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the Interest Limitation Law, the upper limit of lending rates is set at between 15 to 20 percent per annum. However, the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law stipulates that the rate's upper limit should be fixed at 29.2 percent per annum, and that violators should be punished under the law.Most consumer financing firms offer loans at so-called gray-area interest rates somewhere between these two figures.The panel has proposed the gray-area interest rates be abolished, and that the legal maximum rates be those stipulated under the Interest Limitation Law.Borrowers seek legal redressLoans at gray-area interest rates can be extended only when certain conditions are met, such as borrowers consenting to pay interest at such rates.Yet there have been many cases in which borrowers obtained loans without fully understanding these conditions. The number of lawsuits in which borrowers demand consumer finance firms return excess interest payments--above the rate stipulated by the Interest Limitation Law--has sharply increased.When examining the conditions under which gray-area interest rates can be applied, the Supreme Court has successively handed down decisions saying that interest payments in excess of the rate stipulated by the Interest Limitation Law are invalid.Taking the judicial judgment seriously, the panel has proposed the gray-area interest rates be scrapped.Unsurprisingly, consumer financing firms are opposed to this idea, saying that if gray-area interest rates are scrapped and the maximum interest rate lowered, their earnings will nosedive, and many firms may go out of business.Yet leading moneylending businesses make huge profits by securing loan funds from financial institutions at annual average rates of less than 2 percent. Their claims of potential penury are far from convincing.Moneylending firms also assert that their loan extension screenings would become stricter were the maximum interest rate to be lowered, which could force many potential borrowers to make recourse to illegal moneylenders.Loan sharks must be dealt withAside from the debate over whether gray-area interest rates should be scrapped, drastic measures to deal with illegal moneylending are urgently needed.Most of the people who have used loan sharks have borrowed sums from various consumer loan firms that they are unable to repay. An estimated two million people are burdened with multiple debts.A measure to prevent moneylenders from excessively extending loans to people who are likely to end up with multiple debts is also required.The panel has pointed out that while the Moneylending Control Law prohibits moneylenders from extending excessive loans, it has no stipulation concerning penalties. If this omission were to be amended, it could act as a deterrent.The panel has postponed its findings on a number of other issues, including whether an upper limit should be imposed on the total amount of loans that can be made available to an individual.With the panel scheduled to produce its final report in June, we hope it scrutinizes the overall problems consumer financing faces in the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2006-05-07	YOSHIN0020060507e25700093
YOMSHI0020060531e25800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060531e25800001	EN	\N	Small, midsize firms need govt lifeline	According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry's "White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises in Japan" for 2006, there has been a gradual improvement in the business sentiment of small and midsize corporations as a result of their successful efforts to bring themselves out of a deflationary slump. Despite this promising sign, there has been no end to the declining number of small and midsize enterprises.	4	2006-05-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During 2001 to 2004, around 290,000 companies in this category closed down each year, with about 170,000 companies being set up annually during the period. This means the number of small and midsize corporations decreased by about 120,000 every year during the four years.Today, there are about 4.33 million small and medium enterprises, a decrease of 1 million from 1986, when the figure peaked at 5.33 million.The industrial sector of society needs constant refreshment, with new corporations established and existing firms going out of business. This is a natural concomitant to capitalism.Age taking its tollHowever, it is disturbing to note that one-fourth of small and medium business operators who closed their companies during the 2001-04 period cited difficulties in finding successors as a reason for closing up shop. A fairly large number of proprietors gave up their businesses despite their companies enjoying good financial health.The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency are considering measures to help small enterprises stay in business, for example, by providing advice in cooperation with chambers of commerce and industry in many parts of the nation.An organization must be established to help small and medium company owners find strongly motivated personnel from outside to take over their business, instead of expecting them to look for such persons among family members, relatives and employees. This should be complemented by efforts to encourage mergers and acquisitions involving small and medium enterprises, to provide young ambitious persons with greater chances to take over the companies run by older people.According to the white paper, the average age of owners of small and medium businesses was 58.5 in 2002. The average age of such managers aged 55 and older who expressed their wishes to retire from their business was 65.1.These figures show that small business owners who started their business during the years of high economic growth have now grown old, meaning a large number of them will retire within the next several years.The rapid increase in the average age of small and medium business operators may compare with the so-called 2007 problem, namely, the difficulty in passing on to younger employees the skills and expertise accumulated by a massive number of baby-boomers retiring from work. The aging of small business owners may prove to be a turn of events in the Japanese economy.Women, elderly have key roleIncreasing the number of new small and medium corporations would do much to prevent a further decline in the number of such companies.In recent years, a growing number of women and elderly people have been starting business in such categories of industry as the service, wholesale and retail sectors. There has also been a rise in the number of women and aged people who want to establish enterprises.The key to success in ensuring economic growth for an aging society with a declining birthrate lies in how to put the abilities of women and elderly people into full play. We welcome their eagerness to start businesses. We also place our hopes in the desire of the baby-boomer generation to take on new challenges after they reach retirement age.The Corporate Law, which took effect this month, has abolished the minimum capital system while also allowing anyone to establish a corporation even if he or she has no capital fund.The government should further improve its programs designed to help people start business to increase the number of highly active small and medium companies. Doing so will provide momentum for revitalizing the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	738	2006-05-08	YOSHIN0020060509e258000lm
YOMSHI0020060509e25900003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060509e25900003	EN	\N	Who watches the corporate watchers?	It is reasonable for them to be furious with Livedoor because they believed false data and invested in the company.	4	2006-05-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The most problematic fact is that certified public accountants and an auditing firm played roles in window-dressing Livedoor's account, acting against their duty as watchdogs of corporate accounting.Cooking corporate books is a malicious crime commited to cheat investors. However, it is not only Livedoor but also Kanebo Ltd., Seibu Railway Co. and many other firms that have allegedly committed the same crime. The parade of such cases seems never-ending.If nothing is done to stop widespread account-rigging, the credibility of the Japanese market will keep eroding and foreign investment in it is likely to dwindle. Drastic preventive measures must be worked out.A subpanel on the CPA system of the Council on Financial Services, an advisory body to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has started discussing the problem. A subcommittee on corporate accounting of the Liberal Democratic Party is also planning to discuss it. The CPA law and other related laws should be revised if necessary to prevent financial window-dressing.First, past window-dressing cases should be thoroughly examined. In the Livedoor case, the firm's management allegedly asked the auditing firm to approve a false account statement. The auditing firm, surprisingly, did not refuse the request and eventually certified it as valid and accurate despite its questionable nature.The firm was said to be afraid that its contract with Livedoor might be canceled.Self-regulation has failedAt present, the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a self-regulating body of CPAs, is checking the jobs done by auditing firms.It is reasonable that this system of peer supervision has been criticized and the possibility raised that it may not be strict enough.In the United States, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a private-sector, nonprofit corporation, was created after the scandal over financial window-dressing by Enron Corp. to directly oversee firms that audit listed companies.Taking the example of the U.S. watchdog body into consideration, the parties concerned in Japan should study more effective, practical measures to oversee auditing firms.Under the current laws, only CPAs directly involved in an effort to cook a company's books are subject to criminal charges and punishments such charges may entail. Auditing firms that comprise five or more CPAs face no charges in such cases.Hold firms responsibleThe Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission has already submitted a proposal to the Financial Services Agency to revise the relevant laws to make auditing firms subject to criminal charges.Auditing firms are responsible for monitoring the work of CPAs they employ to ensure they conduct proper audits of client companies' accounts. If the laws are revised to allow prosecutors to lay criminal charges against auditing firms, window-dressing might be more effectively deterred.An auditing firm's payment is decided by the client company's board of directors. This makes it difficult for auditing firms to point out irregularities by its client company.The new Corporate Law put into effect this month obligates the board of directors to seek approval from the board of auditors or an auditing committee of its company in deciding the fee for an auditing firm. This enhancement of the authority given to in-company watchdogs like the board of auditors is a step forward in preventing accounting fraud.The next step--transfer of authority to decide the fee for the board of auditors from the board of directors--should be considered now.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2006-05-09	YOSHIN0020060510e259000g8
YOMSHI0020060509e25a0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060509e25a0000i	EN	\N	Auditors must fulfill their duty to public	Any CPA or auditing firm failing in this duty lays itself open to severe punishments.	4	2006-05-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	ChuoAoyama PricewaterhouseCoopers failed to exercise this vigilance with respect to the window-dressing of accounts by Kanebo Ltd. As a result, the Financial Services Agency has decided to impose administrative punishments on ChuoAoyama, which will include an order to cease-and-desist from certain auditing operations.This is the first time that one of the nation's "big four" auditing firms--which audit the books of about 80 percent of listed companies--has been slapped with a suspension order.Financial reports and other documents published by companies are the most fundamental sources of information for investors and creditors, such as banks.Is self-accountability enough?It is the duty of a CPA to check that the information in these documents is correct. And it is the duty of an auditing company, an entity with five or more CPAs, to check that its CPAs are properly auditing the accounts of client companies.Three CPAs at ChuoAoyama broke this trust by approving padded financial reports concocted by Kanebo, although they knew full well that Kanebo's financial position was bad.The auditing firm failed to detect the deception by its three accountants and failed to spot Kanebo's falsification of business results to show that it was in the black, when in fact the company was deeply in debt.ChuoAoyama had been reprimanded prior to the Kanebo scandal for problems with the accounts of other corporate clients, including Ashikaga Bank.The FSA's decision to order ChuoAoyama to halt some of its operations is based on the agency's judgment that the auditing firm has serious flaws in its management system.As of the end of January, ChuoAoyama was responsible for auditing the accounts of about 5,600 companies.If the FSA goes ahead and imposes the cease-and-desist order, some of ChuoAoyama's clients may cancel their auditing contracts with ChuoAoyama.In the United States, leading accounting firm Arthur Andersen was forced to disband over its involvement in the Enron Corp. window-dressing scandal.Auditing firms must be made aware they will face severe consequences if their CPAs aid and abet client companies in breaking the law.Let punishment fit the crimeIf the term of suspension awarded ChuoAoyama is a prolonged one, operations of its client corporations, such as collecting data to compile financial reports, may be affected significantly.Out of consideration for any adverse effect on such companies, the FSA is expected to delay issuing the order until after late June, by which time most companies will have held their shareholders meetings.However, such a delay could draw criticism that the FSA's punishment of ChuoAoyama is not severe enough. It is a difficult task to balance the severity of a punishment for a guilty party against the adverse affect it would have on innocent companies.The FSA's Certified Public Accountants and Auditing Oversight Board is inspecting the management systems of the four major auditing firms in light of book-cooking scandals at companies including Kanebo and Livedoor Co.Why did the auditing firms neglect their duty to prevent window-dressing? The board will have to carry out a thorough inspection to determine the causes of the failure.The government's Council on Financial Services is studying reforms of auditing companies. We hope the council will come up with ways to reform the auditing company system to stop any further accountancy malpractices. One measure that would help would be to establish criminal penalties for auditing firms that break the law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 10, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2006-05-10	YOSHIN0020060510e25a001br
YOMSHI0020060510e25b0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060510e25b0000i	EN	\N	Conspiracy clause needed to fight crime	Conspiracy charges could be used to mete out punishment to crime syndicates, terrorist groups or gangs, for plotting to commit serious crimes.	4	2006-05-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is important to stop serious crimes by containing them at an early stage.The U.N. Convention against Transnational Organized Crime adopted at a U.N. General Assembly in November 2000 obliges participating countries to have conspiracy laws in their legal code.So far, 119 countries have ratified and concluded the convention, and it has been put into force.The government has signed the treaty and not only the ruling parties but also the Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party have approved the conclusion of the treaty at the Diet.Divisions over definitionsThere are two sticking points over the conspiracy-charge provision. One is what kinds of organizations will be subject to the charge. The other, what will be considered "plotting" for the sake of applying the charge.As for the types of organizations, the ruling bloc used the definition "organizations whose main purpose is to commit crimes," such as yakuza groups, in its proposals to rewrite the bill.In its proposal, the DPJ used the definition "organized criminal groups," and the main opposition party proposed the charge should only be applied to those suspected of plotting "an international crime" punishable under existing laws by "imprisonment for five years or longer."However, the U.N. convention stipulates the charge should be applied to crimes punishable by "imprisonment for four years or longer" and should not limited to international crimes.The U.N. convention is of the view that excessive limitation of conspiracy laws would lead to delays in detecting and preventing crimes before they are committed.Japan should consider providing for the application of conspiracy charges in light of this international standard.In the ruling camp's proposal, "plotting" a crime includes not only formulating a plan for criminal activity, but also such acts as reconnoitering a planned crime site and raising money to purchase weapons.The DPJ calls for more detailed factors to be known, such as the date a terrorist attack was determined or paramilitary exercise conducted, before conspiracy charges could be brought.Civil liberty concernsThe definition of the charge should not leave room for interpretations to be stretched beyond reason. However, too rigorous conditions for conspiracy-charge provisions would weaken the import of the new charge.The opposition is concerned that conspiracy charges could be used against labor unions and civil groups.In response to this opinion, the ruling camp presented a renewed proposal that reads, "legitimate activities of labor unions and other organizations will not be prevented."The government has to give as many explanations as required during Diet debates to eliminate these concerns.The requirement of the U.N. convention and the purpose of the bill is to clamp down on terrorism and organized crimes through international cooperation. Japan should not become a loophole in an international network to stop transnational crimes.How can such crimes be prevented while preventing interpretations from being stretched beyond usefulness? Diet debates should be carefully carried out.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 11, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	559	2006-05-11	YOSHIN0020060511e25b000g5
YOMSHI0020060511e25c0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060511e25c0000f	EN	\N	Base relocation plan starting to take shape	This marks a step forward in resolving the relocation issue, the focal point of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.	4	2006-05-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the government plan that Japan and the United States agreed earlier, facilities of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station are to be relocated to the Camp Schwab area, with construction of the relocation facility to be completed by 2014.In cooperation with the Okinawa prefectural government and local municipalities concerned, the central government should strive to realize the relocation plan.But there are concerns over whether the plan will proceed smoothly.Devil in the detailsIn a document they issued following the meeting, the agency and the prefectural government confirmed their intention to work out the details of the relocation plan, taking into consideration Okinawa's wishes that dangers posed by the air station to local residents be eliminated.As a measure to ensure the safety of residents living around Futenma Air Station, the prefectural government has proposed that a temporary heliport be built on land in Camp Schwab and used until the completion of the relocation facility, which, under the government plan, will have two runways aligned in a V-shape.But the agency is opposed to the proposal, saying that construction of a temporary heliport was not included in the Japan-U.S. agreement, and that building one could hinder the relocation work.The prefectural and central governments are wide apart on this matter. Coordinating their views on it will be a big task in the days ahead.The document also states that the agency, the prefectural government and concerned municipalities, including the government of Nago, will continue negotiations on the blueprint for the replacement facility.Inamine said that while he would continue negotiating on the basis of the government plan, he does not agree with the twin runway system envisaged in the plan.If Inamine plans to table demands during future negotiations, such as those concerning how the relocation facility should be built, we fear that the government's plan may hit a wall.Local economy needs boostThe 1996 Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa report stipulates that Futenma Air Station is to be returned to Japan within five to seven years in exchange for the construction of an alternative facility.While negotiations between the central and prefectural governments on the relocation plan hit rough going in the years that followed, both agreed in 1999 on the construction of the new facility in waters off the Henoko district of Nago. That plan was later approved by the Cabinet, but the alternative facility was never built.In their forthcoming negotiations, the central and local governments must not make the same mistake they made last time.As part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, 8,000 marines will be transferred from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam. Besides Futenma Air Station, a fairly large portion of U.S. military facilities and districts located in areas south of Kadena Air Base will be returned to Japan. There also are a number of issues that need to be dealt with, such as how to use the returned areas and finding jobs for those who will lose theirs with the return of the bases.The central government also needs to give full consideration to reinvigorating the local economy. Such efforts must be part and parcel of the "road map" for realizing the Japan-U.S. agreement, including the relocation of Futenma Air Station.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2006-05-12	YOSHIN0020060512e25c000gn
YOMSHI0020060512e25d0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060512e25d0000g	EN	\N	Constitutional revision not a party political issue	The opposition party says it will not submit the bill to the current Diet session jointly with the ruling parties of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa made clear at a press conference recently that he was against jointly submitting the bill.	4	2006-05-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ruling parties are expected to eventually submit the bill to the current Diet session on their own.Why does the DPJ find itself unable to submit the bill jointly with the ruling parties?The DPJ apparently reasons that if it were to submit the bill jointly with the ruling parties, it would not be able to make the bill the focus of confrontation between it and the ruling coalition."It will be difficult for the public to understand our stance if we are for the joint submission with the ruling parties when it comes to a national referendum bill, while we submit counterproposals when it comes to other policy issues," the DPJ said.Under Ozawa's leadership, the DPJ styles itself as the party opposed to the ruling coalition on key issues. Apparently, the party believes it is better to be seen to be locking horns with the LDP, as it aims to take power through the House of Councillors election next year and the House of Representatives one later.Basic right denied too longAs a matter of course, it is only reasonable for the ruling and opposition parties to compete over key policy issues, such as social security system reform, tax and fiscal reforms, and economic policies. Voters are also very interested in how the ruling and opposition parties' policy platforms differ.But the national referendum bill itself is not a policy issue that should become a political football to be kicked around by the ruling and opposition parties.Article 96 of the Constitution stipulates that the basic law may be amended. Yet there is no law that stipulates specific procedures to do so. The people remain unable to wield their most important sovereign right: that of amending the Constitution. This situation has obtained since the Constitution was enacted.The enactment of the national referendum law is designed to remedy this case of political nonfeasance, which has prevailed for many years. All legislators are obliged to settle the matter, irrespective of their parties.Yukio Edano, chairman of the DPJ's Research Commission on the Constitution, commented on the national referendum bill at a meeting of the lower house Research Commission on the Constitution in February last year."As the bill would enact a law concerning a basic rule of the state, similar to an amendment of the Constitution, the enactment should not be discussed with rival parties pursuing their interests first, rather than those of the nation...It is desirable for the bill to be enacted on the basis of a broadly formed consensus among parliamentary groups and factions," Edano said.DPJ putting its interests firstAmendment of the Constitution requires the approval of two-thirds or more of all the members of each Diet house. The passage of the national referendum bill into law is also a task that needs to be achieved not only with the approval of the ruling parties, but also that of the DPJ.We believe that under that common understanding, the ruling parties and the DPJ have held many rounds of negotiations over the bill, with the aim of submitting it to the Diet jointly.The DPJ seems to think it should avoid jointly submitting the bill with the ruling parties as doing so would make it appear to be working hand in glove with the ruling camp. This line of thinking leaves the party unable to put its own interests to one side when discussing a "basic rule of the state."When he was the leader of the defunct Liberal Party in 1999, Ozawa's party compiled a similar bill, as the first party to do so, calling for the enactment of a national referendum bill. He also made proactive remarks concerning constitutional amendment.We hope he will deal with the issue by reconsidering the significance of the national referendum bill.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 13, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	732	2006-05-13	YOSHIN0020060513e25d000h9
YOMSHI0020060513e25e0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060513e25e0000c	EN	\N	Nation must strive for technological eminence	The third basic plan for scientific and technological advancement, which will dictate related government policies for the next five years, is now in place.	4	2006-05-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The plan seeks to set aside a hefty 25 trillion yen in budgetary appropriations for scientific projects and policies over the next five years, despite the government's severe fiscal straits. The figure compares with 17 trillion yen in the first five-year plan and 24 trillion yen in the second.The new basic plan allocates a massive 3.57 trillion yen budget for its first year, fiscal 2006.The government must take full advantage of this huge fund to transform Japan into a country that can thrive through its creative technology.Two major tasks need to be tackled to achieve this goal. First, measures should be taken to allow the public to share the benefits of implemented projects. Second, it is essential to secure highly talented employees. In fact, the new plan defines the two tasks as basic policies to be carried out during the five years.Challenges aheadUndoubtedly, these tasks are anything but straightforward.Research and development activities at academic institutions such as colleges and universities are hardly conducive to the rapid development of commercial products. Nor is it easy to see what kind of achievements have been accomplished in these institutions' extensively equipped laboratories. For years, the industrial sector has criticized academics for conducting "research for its own sake."Responding to such criticism, the Council for Science and Technology Policy--the government panel that draws up the basic plan--has set specific targets for each project. The latest plan has 273 targets, including one aimed at raising the success rate of H-2A rocket launches to 90 percent.The council hopes to create a system designed to examine whether a research project is making progress toward its initial targets. The panel should be strict in assessing progress, instead of allowing projects to continue willy-nilly. If no progress is being made on a project, then its methodology should be changed. If necessary, projects should even be scrapped.Among the 273 projects are 62 deemed to be of strategic priority for which the government plans to set aside generous budgets from the outset, including the development of innovative cancer treatments. To achieve their intended aims, the 62 projects require budgetary and other necessary support.Basic research importantEfforts should also be made to further promote fundamental scientific research. Admittedly, it is difficult to see what kind of immediate results basic research can provide. It is no less difficult to set specific goals to be pursued through fundamental research. Still, innovative scientific technology sometimes comes from basic research.The United States has said it will double its basic research budget over the next 10 years. The Council for Science and Technology Policy has also started considering measures to improve this nation's basic research. The panel should speedily decide how to pursue this goal.Securing talented personnel is not an easy task. Today, the public has less interest in science and technology than it once did. Over the past several years, there has been a steady decline in the number of students applying for admission to university science and technology departments such as engineering faculties. According to one set of figures, the number of such applicants has declined to half of the levels in the 1990s.The new basic plan emphasizes the need to raise public interest in science and technology, including improving how science subjects are taught in the classroom.Necessary steps must be taken urgently. Otherwise, there will be no one left to keep running Japan as a nation that thrives through its technological eminence.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 14, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2006-05-14	YOSHIN0020060514e25e0009t
YOMSHI0020060514e25f0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060514e25f0000c	EN	\N	Legal trump card to protect consumers?	The Diet is currently deliberating revisions to the consumer contracts law, including the introduction of this new legal system. If it is realized, a consumer group will be able to represent victimized consumers in filing an injunction against a company to stop fraudulent practices.	4	2006-05-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Various types of scams are widespread in Japan today. Some dealers sell dubious devices which they claim save on telephone bills, but which in reality do not work, while dishonest contractors push house owners to sign agreements for unnecessary remodeling.According to the bill, consumer groups certified by the government will be granted the right to file suit to prevent unscrupulous companies from soliciting or making contracts with consumers.The legal measure will be the first in Japan aimed at preventing the general public from becoming crime victims as well as protecting the interests of consumers as a group.After the consumer contracts law was implemented in 2001, victimized consumers could file a suit against a company to cancel an illicit contract. In practice, however, many consumers are still forced to bear damages silently because their claims are too small to justify the expense of filing lawsuits.Stopping scamsWhile some victims are compensated by court rulings, other innocent consumers are often victimized by the same old tricks.With effective use of the consumer group lawsuit system, the increase in the number of consumers being bilked by scams could be stopped. The bill should be passed as soon as possible.The problem, however, is how to certify consumer groups that can file collective lawsuits. According to the government, such a group must fulfill some requirements such as representing interests of consumers in general and having a constant record of activities for a certain period of time.Several consumer groups have already been established with the aim of winning government certification.Focus effortsIf certified, we hope these bodies will use their group suit rights properly to obtain good results. They should never abuse the rights by filing ill-considered suits against too broad a list of defendants, but should target the worst offenders. According to the law, if one group files suit and loses its case, the other groups cannot file suit over the same case.Especially, the consumer groups should never target a specific company with a group suit at the request of a rival firm.The government has to be strict in certifying consumer groups and it must cancel a group's certification if it does something inappropriate.In Germany and France, consumer groups can represent consumers not only in filing injunctions, but also in claiming damages. The Democratic Party of Japan and other groups contend consumer groups in Japan should be granted similar rights to seek damages for individual consumers.However, their proposal has various problems including the question of distribution of compensation money among concerned parties.For now, priority should be given to stabilizing the operation of this new legal system to achieve results in protecting consumers from scams.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	530	2006-05-15	YOSHIN0020060515e25f000cg
YOMSHI0020060516e25g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060516e25g00001	EN	\N	DPJ should work with LDP on education law	The main opposition party's bill contains many points in common with the government bill, begging the question: Can the ruling parties and the DPJ agree on a compromise with regard to revising the law?	4	2006-05-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One bone of contention may be the definition of "patriotism." The government's bill avoided the use of a direct expression, and defined it as "an attitude...to love our nation and homeland."The DPJ's bill defined it more clearly, saying, "A mind to love Japan." This definition apparently was written bearing in mind that some Liberal Democratic Party members had called for changing "attitude" to "mind."The DPJ has called for a need to "cultivate religious sentiments." There is no such sentiment in the government's bill due to strong opposition from New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner.The omission of such a clause in the government's bill has dissatisfied some LDP lawmakers, and the DPJ's inclusion of a call for religious education appears to be an attempt to drive a wedge between the two coalition parties.Opposition sowing discontentThe DPJ bill also contained a number of other points that ruling bloc lawmakers criticized in the government bill. It appears the DPJ wants to cause disarray within the ranks of the ruling camp in Diet debates on the bills which were to start Tuesday.However, there are many points in the DPJ bill that are held in common with the government bill.The opposition party's bill cites the importance of fostering "public spirit" and contains a new article on "education at home." The DPJ bill also contains a clause on "vocational education," an item discussed in the government bill as one of the purposes of education.Those points are not mentioned in the current basic education law, which was established in 1947.The DPJ must have felt the urgency of the need to revise the current law so that it reflects the existing circumstances of education. However, the DPJ is not united on the issue. Some members--especially former socialists--are cautious about the bill, saying it would lead to education that would force patriotism upon children.The DPJ bill does not include any reference to "unjust control" with regard to educational administration, as does the government bill.The current law reads: "Education should not give in to unjust control" with regard to the administration of education. The Japan Teachers' Union (Nikkyoso) and other groups have used this as a reason to attack the government's administration of state education, such as the screening of textbooks.Pandering to teachers' groupsThe DPJ bill stipulates that "self-initiatives and autonomy of schools should be fully exercised." This wording may appeal to Nikkyoso and other groups active in education administration, despite the exclusion of the "unjust control" stipulation in the DPJ's bill.Will the DPJ be able to reach consensus on such fundamental matters for a reform of the basic education law?Diet sessions on the bills could witness comical scenes in which a DPJ lawmaker, explaining the party's bill, and a former socialist DPJ lawmaker, questioning the government's bill, could end up criticizing the government's bill from totally opposite angles.The Fundamental Law of Education is often referred to as a constitution of education, and it is a basic state law.The revised law should be established with the support of as many political parties as possible.The DPJ's political maneuvering should not be a factor in Diet debate on the bills, and it should not opt for such a tactic as delaying Diet debates.The DPJ should find ways to utilize common points with the government bills for revision of the law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2006-05-16	YOSHIN0020060516e25g000gp
YOMSHI0020060516e25h0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060516e25h0000e	EN	\N	Firms should aim for another bountiful year	They have trimmed surplus labor, excess capacity and debts through restructuring. Their profitability has been greatly helped by a favorable development in the economy, which has climbed out of a deflation-led slowdown and is firmly back on a recovery track.	4	2006-05-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, we should pay attention to the following three worrisome factors: the possible unfavorable effect of the appreciation of the yen, rising oil prices and increased interest rates. Businesses need to reinforce their corporate strength and not allow themselves to be carried away by their robust performances.The firm that best represents the brisk performances of Japanese companies is Toyota Motor Corp.In its consolidated account, the Toyota group posted 21 trillion yen in sales with a net profit of 1.37 trillion yen, marking a record high for the fourth consecutive year.Other automakers, including Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co., enjoyed brisk sales in the key U.S. market, while a weak yen during the business year to March helped reduce export costs.Spreading the wealthThe automobile industry involves many businesses, and solid performances by automakers has helped material suppliers and parts makers boost their business performances. For example, an increased demand for steel sheet helped major steelmakers, including Nippon Steel Corp., post record high recurring profits.In the electrical machinery sector, sales of digital home appliances such as slim televisions are brisk. As a result, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Sharp Corp. have maintained brisk performances. Trading houses are also in excellent shape.A rise in corporate earnings will stimulate private spending, as it will boost individual income through wage raises and bigger bonuses. In turn, stimulated private consumption will boost employment, while reinvigorating corporate spending in plant and equipment.The Japanese economy is entering into a virtuous cycle of self-sustainable growth led by private demand. We need to nurture this development.Some firms missed the busOn the other hand, there are companies that have missed the bus of lively business performances, and posted losses or saw their year-on-year profits decline.Hitachi, Ltd., which was hit by poor sales of digital devices, and NEC Corp., whose sales of semiconductors and mobile phones have been sluggish, have seen their profits decline from a year earlier. Pioneer Corp. and Victor Co. of Japan, both of which are suffering from ever-fiercer market competition, saw their losses worsen.Even within the same electrical machinery sector, the difference between winners and losers has become more apparent.Export-oriented companies will be hit hard if the yen, which soared to 109 yen to the dollar recently, accelerates its rise. Prices of raw materials, against the backdrop of the rising prices of crude oil, are likely to continue rising. Pulp and paper makers, which have a hard time passing the rising cost of their materials onto customers, have seen their year-on-year profits decline.It is widely speculated that the Bank of Japan will lift its zero-interest rate policy by summer. Should the interest rate rise, it will become more expensive for companies to borrow money. This would be bad news for such heavily indebted businesses as electric power companies.However, we should not become overly pessimistic. With domestic demand basically strong, now is time for businesses to inject their corporate resources into promising areas as a new source for earnings. Will they be able to succeed in such ventures, by implementing aggressive restructuring?Firms also need to establish financial management setups that can withstand a worsening business environment that may be brought on by the triple threat of rises in the value of the yen, the price of oil and the interest rate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	681	2006-05-17	YOSHIN0020060517e25h000fz
YOMSHI0020060517e25i0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060517e25i0000f	EN	\N	Fuller discussion needed on education	The subject that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa traded verbal taps, if not blows, over on Wednesday was the issue of education.	4	2006-05-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ozawa had exchanged views with Koizumi at question time on nine occasions while he was leader of the defunct Liberal Party. But Wednesday was the first time for an Ozawa wearing the mantle of DPJ president to cross verbal swords with the prime minister.Deliberations on a government bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education have just started at the Diet. The DPJ will submit its own proposals to counter the government bill, which the party says is "a bill concerning the fundamental law of education in Japan."Exchanges lacked substanceEducation is a long-term program for the state. So Ozawa probably raised the issue at question time because he saw it as the main bone of contention with the Liberal Democratic Party.While making reference to people being murdered by members of their own family at home, the fabrication of earthquake-resistance data used in the construction of buildings, and window-dressing by Livedoor, Ozawa asserted there was need for a political response to deal with "a wild society with dissolute minds.""Although the people are no longer in want of food and clothing, they are in want of a sense of propriety," said Koizumi, emphasizing that politics must play a role in this regard. Koizumi took the tack of answering Ozawa in detail, rather than fobbing him off with terse political slogans bereft of details.Despite these exchanges, much of question time was spent making general remarks about the current situation.Those who listened to the debate were primarily interested in what sort of specific response political leaders would make with regard to what basic principles and policies the country needs to weather its way through the current dismal situation and build the human resources required to shoulder the fate of the nation.Ozawa did this by asserting that it must be made clear where the responsibility lies for regulating the education system.Under the current legislation, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry is supposed to issue "guidance and advice" on the matter. Ozawa said that educational administration should be regarded as "the state's responsibility."While this is, admittedly, an important issue of contention, the two leaders should have debated the definition of "patriotism" and "religious sensitivity" as related to school education.Lackluster question timesIn addition to clearly delimiting their differences, it is important that the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties confirm areas of common understanding on such definitions as "public spirit."When Ozawa was the leader of the Liberal Party, he was allotted only five to 10 minutes during question time. This time, he had 45 minutes in which to engage in a one-on-one debate with the prime minister. Despite this opportunity, the two apparently found it difficult to get stuck into the debate. In future question times, they should deepen their discussions.Wednesday's debate was the 38th question time since the system was introduced in February 2000. The debates have only been held about six times a year on average, and are noted for being light on solid discussion of fundamental policies. Question time should be improved in terms of substance, and frequency.In addition to the issue of education, there are a number of topics appropriate for discussion at question time debate--the social security system, tax and fiscal system reforms, national security and foreign policy toward Asia.We hope question time will become more meaningful, offering guidelines and options for voters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2006-05-18	YOSHIN0020060518e25i000fh
YOMSHI0020060518e25j0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060518e25j0000j	EN	\N	Medical service reforms in hands of prefectures	The package, which contains diverse measures to trim medical costs, calls for establishing a new medical insurance program for elderly people aged 75 or older and for making efforts to reduce the number of patients with lifestyle-related diseases by setting numerical targets.	4	2006-05-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bills are aimed at holding down the increase in medical costs without lowering the quality of medical service. But as they stand now, they are pie in the sky.To what extent will the packages be realized? Prefectural governments hold the key to carrying out the medical system reforms. Under the latest reforms, prefectural governments will play the leading role in medical care administration.The new medical insurance program for the aged is aimed at fostering insurers that will take the initiative to maintain the ever-rising medical expenses for elderly people to appropriate levels.The main operating entity of the program is supposed to be a prefectural association of public services set up to cover all the local governments within the prefecture. Yet it is the prefectural government that is counted on to take the leading role in the program.Other health insurance programs are also set to be reorganized with a prefecture-level organization as the core operator.Belt-tightening neededThe government-sponsored national health insurance program, with local municipal governments as the core operator, will be expanded to cover a wider region. Meanwhile, a health insurance program under the jurisdiction of the Social Insurance Agency and run for employees at small and medium-sized firms and organizations will be operated separately by prefectures.Measures to reduce the number of patients with lifestyle-related diseases will also be implemented in accordance with the medical expenses reduction plan mapped out by prefectural governments, whose results will be examined every five years. The size of medical expenses to be borne by prefectural governments will affect the health insurance premiums to be set by each prefecture.Regional disparities in medical expenses are wide. The average number of days in hospital for inpatients is 27 in Nagano Prefecture, but 56 in Kochi Prefecture.Medical expenses for elderly people per person total 610,000 yen per year in Nagano Prefecture, while the figure for Fukuoka Prefecture is 920,000 yen.The nation's medical care program as a whole cannot be maintained unless prefectures burdened with large medical expenses trim them, and those with smaller expenses make further efforts to pare the costs.Debate bills thoroughlyThe latest reforms are designed to reduce wasteful spending by making prefectural governments responsible as "insurers."Prefectural governments are complaining that their burdens will become heavier. Yet there is a limit to how much the present situation can be improved as long as related tasks are left solely up to the central government. Prefectural governments should tackle the issue with the resolve to assume the leading role.While the bills set down a general framework concerning the expanded role of the prefectural governments, they leave much of the details up to government and ministerial ordinances. What is important is how those frameworks designed to make the best use of the ideas and know-how of local governments can be incorporated into government and ministerial ordinances.It can hardly be said that the deliberations on the bills at the lower house were sufficient, as the bills were, to a great extent, the victims of political maneuvering at the Diet.We hope the House of Councillors will deliberate the bills carefully so that the substance of the government and ministerial ordinances will be revealed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2006-05-19	YOSHIN0020060519e25j000fi
YOMSHI0020060519e25k0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060519e25k0000g	EN	\N	Don't raise rates with undue haste	According to preliminary statistics, the nation's gross domestic product during the January-March period increased by 0.5 percent from the previous quarter in real terms, marking an annualized 1.9 percent growth and a fifth consecutive quarterly increase. This combined with a steady growth in personal consumption and corporate investment in factory and equipment during the last quarter, pointing to a continued economic improvement in recent months.	4	2006-05-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It should be noted that the deflator for domestic demand, excluding crude oil imports and other external factors--one of the GDP deflators that reflect overall prices trends--saw a 0.03 percent year-on-year decrease during the January-March quarter, meaning that the figure almost leveled off during the period.Deflation seems to be overA sign of a possible end to deflation was already seen in consumer prices, excluding perishable foods, during the January-March period. The figure posted a 0.5 percent year-on-year increase for each month in that period.Judging from various price-related indicators, there is no doubt that the domestic economy is shaking off deflation. We hope the government will decide when to declare an end to deflation by closely examining the state of the economy.The current economic condition is making an increasing number of market players convinced that the Bank of Japan will end its zero-interest rate policy by the summer. This is helping gradually raise long-term interest rates.In March, the central bank ended its quantitative easing policy. The Bank of Japan has since been gradually reducing its outstanding current account deposits, funds kept by commercial banks at the central bank for payments to other financial institutions and other purposes.Prior to the bank's decision to reverse its ultraloose monetary policy, the outstanding deposits had stood between 30 trillion yen to 35 trillion yen. By the end of June, however, the bank is expected to ensure the figure comes close to what it deems to be an appropriate level--10 trillion yen or so.If that transpires, the circumstances surrounding the Bank of Japan's monetary policy will be ripe to hike a key short-term interest rate--the rate charged for interbank loans, which the central bank seeks to adjust through its money supply.Recovery engine misfiring?The central bank may want to reverse its zero-interest rate policy as soon as possible, convinced the policy should be seen as an extraordinary measure. However, there are growing concerns about the economy, which has been steadily recovering for many months.In recent weeks, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has seen a frequent drop in stock prices. Also, there have been violent fluctuations in the foreign exchange market, as the yen is strengthening against the dollar after months of a depreciated yen and a strong dollar. All this means a possible change in the driving force behind the economic recovery--high stock prices and a weak yen.Are the recent changes in the stock and foreign exchange markets transient? Are they bound to adversely affect the economy? These questions must be carefully explored.Meanwhile, crude oil prices have been stuck at a high level, contributing to a rise in gasoline, kerosene and other prices. The chances are not nil that consumers will feel inflation is here to stay if the price increase accelerates. The central bank should not hesitate to implement a tight-money policy if that takes place.Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui has said, "[The bank] should not become impatient [about ending the zero-interest rate policy], or miss the timing." The central bank should accurately gauge the economic condition to decide when to reverse the policy, instead of regarding its economic prediction as a given.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2006-05-20	YOSHIN0020060520e25k000h4
YOMSHI0020060520e25l0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060520e25l0000e	EN	\N	U.S. beef exporters must not slip up again	Japanese and U.S. experts basically agreed Friday on conditions to enable the ban on U.S. beef imports to be lifted. Tokyo is expected to make an official decision on the matter in June.	4	2006-05-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We are delighted to hear an issue that has been clouding relations between the two allies is going to be resolved.The government reinstated its ban on U.S. beef imports in January. The ban had been lifted the previous month, but was reimposed because backbones--designated as being risk materials that might cause mad cow disease--were found in imported U.S. beef. This was a serious mistake that U.S. authorities should never have allowed.If such mistakes are repeated, Japanese consumers will completely lose confidence that U.S. beef is safe. Washington and the U.S. meatpacking industry must take every possible precaution to guarantee the safety of beef exported to Japan.However, Tokyo should not leave matters solely in the hands of the United States and should carefully monitor the safety of U.S. beef itself, sending inspectors to meatpacking facilities that are certified to export beef to this country.First ban in 2003Tokyo initially banned U.S. beef imports in December 2003 after the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was confirmed in the United States.After that, talks between the two countries--as well as administrative procedures in Japan--moved forward glacially before U.S. beef imports were finally resumed in December 2005.Japan had two demands for the U.S side before it would sanction the resumption of imports: beef had to be from cattle younger than 20 months, and risk materials in which the BSE-causing pathogen was likely to accumulate--including the backbone, brain and eyes--had to be removed.However, all the bilateral efforts invested in resuming the beef trade came to naught when, just one month later, backbones were found in imported U.S. beef.According to U.S. investigation results, workers at a meatpacking firm shipped beef mixed with designated excluded parts to Japan and U.S. inspectors failed to notice the mistake because neither group understood the specific product requirements for beef exports bound for Japan.This time, the U.S. government reinspected 35 meatpacking plants certified to export beef to Japan and retrained the meatpackers and its own inspectors to comply with Japanese requirements.Japan approves U.S. plansU.S. officials detailed these measures at a meeting with their Japanese counterparts in Tokyo, where they met with Japanese approval.At the meeting, Japan demanded the United States allow Japanese inspectors to visit the 35 facilities before beef imports were resumed and to accompany U.S. officials on surprise inspections once trade had resumed.U.S. officials reportedly expressed their willingness to acquiesce to Japan's bidding.The demands are quite reasonable. However, Japanese officials must discuss matters in more detail with their U.S. colleagues so Washington will finally concur.In December, U.S. beef exports to Japan were resumed while Japanese inspectors were still visiting meat processing plants in the United States. In addition, they were unable to inspect all the plants.Such half-baked measures are said to have indirectly allowed the inclusion of backbones in U.S. beef shipments to Japan.Many Japanese are still concerned about the safety of U.S. beef, while those who love gyudon beef bowls are longing for imports to restart.The revival of U.S. beef in the Japanese market depends on whether Tokyo and Washington can jointly build a system that enables Japanese consumers to feel eating U.S. beef is once again risk free.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun , May 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2006-05-21	YOSHIN0020060521e25l000a9
YOMSHI0020060522e25m00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060522e25m00003	EN	\N	NTT realignment debate needs intl perspective	A private advisory panel to Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka on telecommunications and broadcasting will soon finalize a report that is expected to stress the need to separate so-called last-mile functions of NTT group companies into independent entities.	4	2006-05-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On the other hand, the Liberal Democratic Party's subcommittee on telecommunications and broadcasting industries has acknowledged that the NTT group's management structure is problematic, but it has decided to launch discussions on full-scale reform of the telecommunications giant around 2010.The telecommunications business faces continued technological innovation. The competitive environment inside and outside the nation has been changing drastically.Thus, hasty discussions should be avoided. Participants in the discussions should wait until the direction of changes can be ascertained.The NTT group was restructured in 1999 with the establishment of two regional carriers--NTT East Corp. and NTT West Corp.--and the long distance company NTT Communications Corp. with previous service provider NTT Corp. becoming a holding company. Mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. and other NTT companies were also placed under the holding company.Changing technologyThe 1999 realignment was carried out under the assumption that a small amount of information such as on audio would continue to be carried via copper wires.However, the era of full use of optical fiber networks to send and receive vast amount of data is in sight. Internet protocol technology that does not require use of conventional switching machines has been put into commercial use. The significance of regional companies has declined.The Takenaka panel sees NTT's monopolization of subscribers' lines connecting NTT telephone stations and households as problematic.The panel has pointed out this monopolization has impeded fair competition among telecommunications companies and delayed the diffusion of broadband telecommunications.With this in mind, the panel insists that operations of the last-mile lines should be split off from NTT East and NTT West to new companies.The panel is expected to propose the new companies should lease the subscribers' lines to NTT and other telecommunications companies at the same prices. It also will likely propose that the new companies should not be allowed to use the NTT name and should not exchange personnel with other NTT companies.Open market workingHowever, about 37 percent of the nation's households were using broadband as of the end of 2004. The rate is higher than in the United States and major European countries. Fees for broadband access in Japan are the lowest in the world. Those matters indicate that fair competition is functioning in the nation's telecommunications industry.NTT is obligated to allow competitors to use telephone station spaces to set up telecommunications equipment and to accept the use of its telephone poles by other companies.For the time being, surveillance by the Fair Trade Commission and other bodies to determine whether NTT group companies are observing these obligations will ensure fair competition.KDDI Corp. has purchased Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s fiber-optic network. KDDI has already proved it has the will and capacity to compete with NTT in urban areas with its own lines.In the United States 22 years ago, telecommunications monopoly AT&T was split into a long-distance company and seven regional carriers. However, the realignment continued with regional companies as key players, and the industry has been narrowed down to two major players that have mobile, long-distance and regional services.As the two U.S. telecommunications giants may compete internationally, Japan needs to come up with measures to deal with them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 22, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	620	2006-05-22	YOSHIN0020060522e25m000da
YOMSHI0020060522e25n0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060522e25n0000k	EN	\N	Central govt finances should take priority	Officials from the central government and local governments as well as private groups have eagerly made a number of reform proposals.	4	2006-05-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	What is important is to promote streamlining of central government tax grants to local governments and to enhance the fiscal discipline of local governments.If the central and local governments' fiscal conditions are compared, it is obvious local governments have more leeway. But local governments have been seeking to increase the tax grants they receive from the central government and further transfer of tax revenue sources from the central government.However, local governments should be required to shoulder their fair share of the financial burden and rehabilitating the central government's fiscal condition, which is far more serious than those of local governments, should be the top priority.All concerned parties should know that if the central government becomes insolvent, the independence of local government finances cannot be ensured.In terms of the primary balance--the comparison of tax revenues and other income sources except bond issues against expenditures, excluding debt-servicing costs--the central government is about 11 trillion yen in the red in the fiscal 2006 budget, but local governments combined are 4.4 trillion yen in the black.Red and black inkAfter the burst of the bubble economy, the central government's primary balance ran to 20 trillion yen in the hole at one time. The red ink has been reduced by nearly half, but the government has a long way to go before it is back in the black.On the other hand, local governments have maintained a positive primary balance, except for a short period, and the favorable margin is expected to increase.Under the circumstances, the Fiscal System Council, an advisory panel to the finance minister, has proposed reducing the rate used to calculate tax grants to local governments.Funds are currently automatically allocated to local governments at the rate of about 30 percent of revenues from five national taxes, including the income tax. The amount will total 12.5 trillion yen this fiscal year. Since this amount cannot cover revenue shortfalls of local governments, the government adds a certain amount in the tax grants as a special measure.Revenue shortfall among local governments this fiscal year totals about 1.4 trillion yen. But local governments may not see a revenue shortfall next fiscal year and thereafter.Painless cutsThus, the council argues cutting the rate would not have an adverse effect on local governments.Local organizations, such as the National Governors' Association, have proposed changing the name of government tax grants to local governments to a "local common tax grant" based on the view that the tax allocation is local governments' own common assets.They proposed the rate should be hiked to increase the amount of the grants and should be directly allocated to a newly established special account item.The proposal would put the new tax grant outside the framework of the central government's budget compilation process, and it will make use of tax revenues more opaque.The proposal also runs counter to the spirit of ongoing debates on reforms of the special account.A private advisory panel to Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka has proposed changing the formula for calculating tax grants to local governments from the current complicated one to one based on population and area of a local government.This would greatly affect the amount each local government receives. There are concerns that it may difficult to build a consensus among local governments.The Takenaka panel also urged further transfer of tax revenue resources to local governments.However, it has just been determined that 3 trillion yen worth of revenue sources are to be moved from the central government to local governments as part of the so-called triple reform of local finances.We wonder which tax revenue sources can be transferred to local governments and how much they would be worth.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2006-05-23	YOSHIN0020060523e25n000h6
YOMSHI0020060523e25o0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060523e25o0000g	EN	\N	Banks should thank clients in words, deeds	Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. (MUFJ), Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. all reported record consolidated net profits in their closing accounts for the business year ending March 31. This means they are in a position to repay in full this fiscal year the public funds given to them by the central government.	4	2006-05-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The funds were injected in stages from 1998 onward to prevent the nation from falling into a financial crisis. At its peak, a combined 6.65 trillion yen was injected into the three groups.Thanks to the improved business performances of their corporate borrowers, loan-loss charges provided by the banks became unnecessary, allowing them to book them as gains.MUFJ had gains through unneeded loan-loss charges of nearly 700 billion yen, with net profit in excess of 1.1 trillion yen. This was the second-highest figure among Japanese companies, following the 1.37 trillion yen posted by Toyota Motor Corp.Cutting purse, apron stringsBy repaying the public funds they received, the banks will free themselves of the unusual restraint of being given detailed instructions on how to operate.The banking groups have put themselves in a position to repay the taxpayers' money they borrowed partly by having depositors put up with receiving miniscule interest under the zero-interest rate policy of the Bank of Japan.As a way to return part of its profits to clients, MUFJ had money transfers made directly into its accounts free of charge. Yet this degree of service will not alleviate discontent about low interest among depositors.MUFJ President Nobuo Kuroyanagi emphasized to reporters Tuesday that his bank must show a sense of gratitude to the people. The bank should do its utmost to improve customer services, both in word and deed.On the downside, another recent development was the inexcusable business practice taken by a bank of using its superior position over corporate borrowers.Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. was punished by the Financial Services Agency for having forced its corporate borrowers--small and midsize firms--to purchase financial derivatives in return for extending loans to them.Banks must have an internal code of ethics to prevent employees from entering into illegal dealings.Regional banks seeking almsIn another minus, no sooner have the leading banks shaken off their dependence on taxpayers' money than smaller regional banks have started holding their hands out for public funds.Howa Bank, a small regional bank based in Oita, is doing so because its capital-adequacy ratio has fallen below the required level. The regional bank is expected to become the first bank to receive public support in accordance with the new legal framework for public-fund injections that is chiefly designed to help regional financial institutions reorganize.The ratio of bad loans in proportion to the outstanding balance of loans averaged 5.2 percent for first- and second-tier regional banks combined, or about twice that of leading banks, as shown in their midyear accounts for the term ending in September.Regional banks should not hesitate to use public funds as a way to dispose of their nonperforming loans, a task in which they lag far behind the leading banks.The nation's financial system can regain a sound footing only after regional banks, as well as leading commercial banks, have weathered their problem of nonperforming loans.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2006-05-24	YOSHIN0020060524e25o000gp
YOMSHI0020060524e25p0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060524e25p0000i	EN	\N	Pending issues make bilateral talks important	During the talks with Foreign Minister Taro Aso, held in Doha on the sideline of an international conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing repeatedly criticized, as he had previously, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine. On the other hand, Li emphasized that China intends to resolve, through dialogue, other pending issues between the two countries.	4	2006-05-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	"Chinese-Japanese relations are such that we will benefit from good relations. But if we fight, we will both be worse off," Li said during the talks. As his remarks suggested, China may recognize the importance of improved relations between Tokyo and Beijing for the sake of regional peace and prosperity.For his part, Aso, speaking with regard to China's military buildup, said Beijing needs to improve the transparency of its defense policy and implement confidence-building measures.China should set aside YasukuniLi expressed his intention of resuming vice-foreign ministerial security talks, which have been discontinued since 2002, at the earliest possible time, and of promoting bilateral exchanges on defense.On the issue of China unilaterally developing gas fields in disputed waters in the East China Sea, Aso and Li agreed to provide a communications mechanism between the two countries for use during times of emergency.As to the issue of abductions by North Korea, China had maintained the position that the issue was basically one between Japan and North Korea. When Aso asked Li for China's cooperation on the matter, Li replied his country would consider the matter, taking heed of its importance.Resolving pending issues and easing tensions between the countries, while expanding cooperation and exchanges in energy and environment would serve China's national interests. This view may have led China to hold foreign ministerial-level talks by making use of an international conference.However, there is no prospect at present for the resumption of visits by the foreign ministers to each other's countries. And when it comes to summit talks, there has been no such talks since April last year.In special talks held late March in Beijing, Chinese President Hu Jintao said summit talks between the two countries can be held "once the Japanese leader makes a clear decision not to visit Yasukuni Shrine again."We think it would serve the interests of both sides if China were to mend its stance of not holding summit talks solely because the Japanese prime minister visits the Yasukuni Shrine.S. Korea must be flexibleThe same can be said about relations between Japan and South Korea.During his talks with Aso--the first in five months--South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon called on Japan to "take sincerely" what South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun said in a special statement last month, which said that as long as Japan claims ownership of Takeshima island, known as Dokdo in South Korea, "there will never be friendly ties between South Korea and Japan.""A territorial issue is one that is difficult to resolve all at once. The important thing is [for the two countries] to deal with the issue level-headedly and not to inflame people's sentiments, at the same time bearing in mind each other's position," Aso said. He is, indeed, correct.The important thing is for a country to have the wisdom not to allow the disputes over history or over territory with another country to become a hindrance to improving ties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	624	2006-05-25	YOSHIN0020060525e25p000fn
YOMSHI0020060525e25q0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060525e25q0000f	EN	\N	Common ground in education bills	A special committee on the fundamental education law has started discussions on the two bills at the House of Representatives. Judging from the debate on the bills in its initial stage, it is possible to expect the government and the main opposition party to engage in a meaningful debate about educational issues through their efforts to reach a consensus concerning how to revise the law.	4	2006-05-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi appeared to be impressed with the DPJ's bill when he read out phrases it used to describe patriotism, saying, "It's been well wrought." His remark triggered gales of laughter in the committee chamber.Article 2 of the government bill states this nation's eduction goals in relation to what can be termed patriotism. The article emphasizes the importance of encouraging students "to respect tradition and culture, and love 'wagakuni to kyodo' [our country and hometowns] as the seats of such assets...and develop an attitude [conducive to the acquisition of such qualities]."Earlier, the Liberal Democratic Party keenly sought to incorporate the word "kokoro" (heart) into the provision. In the end, however, the LDP abandoned the idea, instead adopting the word "taido" (attitude). By doing so, the ruling party sought not to offend its coalition partner, New Komeito, which had opposed the idea.DPJ steals LDP's thunderMeanwhile, the preamble to the DPJ's bill emphasizes the need to promote education aimed at encouraging students to "nurture 'Nihon o ai suru kokoro" (a heart that loves Japan)...and revere [the nation's] tradition, culture and art." It is easy to see that the opposition party sought to contrast its bill with the government's legislation by using "Nihon" instead of "kuni" and "kokoro," which the LDP decided not to use in its bill.During a session of the committee, the DPJ raised questions about some items in the government bill by comparing the legislation with its own, while also pointing a finger at what it claimed were defects in the former bill. There was a meaningful give and take of opinions between the government and the DPJ over their respective bills. This was shown in a remark made by the prime minister, who said, "The bills have more similarities than differences. It's possible to pass legislation [for reforming the law] during the current Diet session if the ruling and opposition parties carefully debate [the bills]."Some LDP lawmakers have said the DPJ bill is better than that of their own party. They describe the opposition party's bill as being straightforward in emphasizing the importance of patriotism and conveying the purpose of the bill to the public. They also praise the DPJ bill as meeting the needs of the times, as shown by its emphasis on the importance of home education.Given the similarities in the content of the two bills, the special committee could choose to start discussions aimed at producing a new bill acceptable to both the government and the DPJ, based on their respective bills. We believe it will not be too difficult for the government and the DPJ to cooperate in devising such a bill, considering the similarities in major items of the government and DPJ bills.Patriotism not a dirty wordSome opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, and teachers unions have insisted that the bills must be scrapped, saying they are intended to thrust the importance of patriotism down people's throats. They also have criticized the bills as tools for violating the freedom of thought.There is nothing coercive about encouraging students to have a healthy interest in their nation's tradition and culture and understand the importance of loving their country. If a teacher cannot properly teach students about what it means to love their own country, he or she deserves to be criticized. In other countries, it is not seen as unusual to teach the significance of patriotism.Sixty years have passed since the Fundamental Law of Education was established. The debate at the special committee has raised the curtain on an attempt to revise the law for the first time in six decades, thus setting new goals for Japan's school education.We hope legislators from both the ruling and opposition camps will fully debate the details of the two bills to come up with the best bill for amending the basic education law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	795	2006-05-26	YOSHIN0020060526e25q000g1
YOMSHI0020060526e25r0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060526e25r0000b	EN	\N	Lessons must be learned from Livedoor trial	The prosecutors made the remark in their opening statement at the first hearing in the trial of four former Livedoor group executives, two certified public accountants and the companies Livedoor and Livedoor Marketing.	4	2006-05-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The defendants include Ryoji Miyauchi, former Livedoor chief financial officer. Horie was not present at the hearing since he is being tried separately from the other former executives.In the statement, the prosecutors gave a comprehensive description of the Livedoor affair, allegedly led by Horie himself. They detailed how the stock prices of Livedoor and the other affiliated firms were inflated through the circumvention of laws as well as by illicit measures, and how the CPAs connived in the scam.Meanwhile, the Diet is deliberating a financial products bill to close a loophole in the Securities and Exchange Law that allegedly was exploited by the defendants. To prevent a recurrence of similar cases, the Diet must pass the bill quickly, and the current corporate auditing system must be tightened up as soon as possible.Stock trading shenanigansAt their first hearing, Miyauchi and two former presidents of Livedoor affiliates admitted to most of the charges in the indictments. This will have some influence on the situation of Horie, who is likely to plead not guilty at his first hearing, since the judge in charge of Miyauchi's trial is scheduled to preside over his, too.In buying a company through stock swaps, the defendants allegedly manipulated a stock exchange ratio so the company purchased could receive a huge amount of their company's stocks. They then allegedly inflated their company's stock price with stock splits and window-dressing practices before an investment fund that was covertly under the control of Livedoor obtained the stocks from the purchased company and sold them at a high price to funnel profits to Livedoor itself, according to the prosecutors."Livedoor-style business" thus meant the exploitation of loopholes in stock transaction regulations, which were liberalized when the Commercial Code was revised in a bid to combat the market downturn caused by the bursting of the bubble economy. The aim was simply to increase the aggregate market price of Livedoor, the prosecutors said.Enact necessary laws soonTo increase the transparency of investment fund activities, the financial products bill under deliberation at the Diet includes measures to fix flaws that resulted from deregulation, including notification or registration obligations. The Diet should pass the bill, and it should be enacted into law as soon as possible.The CPAs who were auditing Livedoor not only condoned the window-dressing of the company, but also told its officials how to conceal illegalities. How could this have happened?The Financial System Council, a panel of the Financial Services Agency, is now taking a hard look at the corporate auditing system after a series of corporate scandals, including the window-dressing of Kanebo Ltd.'s books. The council should deepen its discussions, considering new facts revealed through investigations into the Livedoor affair."You can do anything as long as it's legal," Horie used to say before he was arrested. Why were his mammonism and market fundamentalist tendency left unchallenged?Didn't the Financial Services Agency or the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission have any way to check them? The Livedoor trial is also expected to answer this question.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2006-05-27	YOSHIN0020060527e25r000gg
YOMSHI0020060527e25s0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060527e25s0000b	EN	\N	Panel on social security failed to deliver	In the report, the panel acknowledged that reforms of the tax system, including the consumption tax rate, should be implemented to secure a stable supply of funds for the social security system.	4	2006-05-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel also said reforms of the state-run pension programs must be discussed on the premise that the programs be financed by pension premiums, not by taxpayers' money.However, the panel failed to put forward any noteworthy concrete proposals in the report.The group was established as a panel of experts assembled to review social security programs as a whole. But it ended up a meaningless talk shop that failed to deliver.The panel was created after a row over reforming the pension system. After the turmoil, the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan agreed to review the social security programs as a whole.Good beginnings, poor endingsA supplementary provision of the revised Pension Law stipulated that the government also should discuss the social security system, and the panel was created at the same time as the law was revised.The panel members included high-profile figures such as the chairman of the government's Tax Commission, the chairman of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), and the vice chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren). The panel members were all fired up about carrying out meaningful discussion at the early stage of the board's creation.At the panel's inaugural meeting in July 2004, Taizo Nishimuro, then vice chairman of Nippon Keidanren, said the panel had been formed to discuss specific social security programs together as a whole, so as to propose an overall picture of a desired social security system.However, in the course of the following two-year period, the nursing care system and the medical system were reformed independently. Also reformed independently were the Social Insurance Agency and the Central Social Insurance Medical Council after they were rocked by scandals.As a result, the panel ended up having to present its views on social security-related developments after the fact, instead of discussing the overall social security system.The minutes of a panel meeting held in late March of the panel include these comments by Tax Commission Chairman Hiromitsu Ishi as the panel was preparing its final report."Discussions on major social security reforms were done outside of the panel. We held discussions with a big goal in mind. But we could not discuss things with any real meaning after they were settled outside [the panel]," Ishi said.Committee delayed reformsThe failure of politicians to address the issue of the social security system can be laid at the door of the fruitless discussions held by the panel.The panel was expected to play a key role in formulating policy along with another discussion panel of the ruling and opposition parties based on the three-party agreement.But it took nearly one year until the political panel was set up as a joint panel of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.This panel has shown no sign of resuming discussions that terminated after the lower house election in September. The panel now exists in name only.Under such circumstances, it was difficult to expect the chief cabinet secretary's panel to come up with significant proposals.Nonetheless, a review of the social security system as a whole must be carried out by politicians on a nonpartisan basis.The most meaningful result of the panel was that it confirmed the necessity of involving politicians.One passage in the final report reads: "Discussions on the form the nation's social security system should take are nothing but raising the issue of what [form of] nation we seek."This comment should be carried forward into politics.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	680	2006-05-28	YOSHIN0020060528e25s0009s
YOMSHI0020060528e25t0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060528e25t0000c	EN	\N	Law revision means parking crackdown	With the revision of the Road Traffic Law, enforcement of parking regulations will be drastically changed from June 1.	4	2006-05-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the revised law, police will be allowed to outsource enforcement of parking laws to the private sector, and 270 police stations, or more than 20 percent of the police stations nationwide, plan to delegate all or some of their parking related tasks to the private sector.Most of them are police stations in the three major metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, and prefectural capital cities where parking has become a serious social issue.Parking wardens from the private sector will patrol the streets and keep an eye out for parking violations.If a violator fails to pay the fine, the owner of the car will be obliged to pay the same amount for the driver's violation.A violator can no longer opt for the tactic of using the old "Somebody else was using my car" excuse.If the owner fails to pay the fine, he or she will not be permitted to renew the automobile safety inspection for the vehicle.Shorter grace periodUnder the new regulations, police officers or private sector parking wardens will no longer mark the tires of illegally parked cars to give drivers 20 minutes to 30 minutes of grace time, instead they will take a photograph of the vehicle for evidence, then place a sticker on the vehicle five minutes to 10 minutes after taking the photo.If the driver returns to the vehicle before the sticker is placed, they will not be ticketed. However, policing of parking violations will become stricter than before.Police stations have announced their own guidelines on where and when private sector traffic wardens will be working.Enforcement will focus on flagrant and dangerous illegal parking at such locations as arterial roads and intersections.Private sector parking wardens will be considered public servants. If one pays money or gives a gift to a warden in an attempt to avoid being fined for a parking violation, it will constitute bribery.Anyone attacking a warden will be considered to have interfered with a public official in the execution of his or her duties.In this sense, the private sector parking wardens have the same status as police officers and careless acts should be avoided.Wardens from the private sector have to clear questions from drivers deemed to be held responsible for illegal parking at streets thoroughly.Police too busyThe decision to use the private sector to combat illegal parking has been taken because the police have become so busy dealing with crimes and accidents that they cannot spare the manpower needed to strictly enforce parking laws.The police report receiving an increasing number of calls complaining and inquiring about improper parking. Related accidents are on the rise, such as collisions with improperly parked cars and pedestrians being struck by vehicles after stepping out from blind spots created by parked cars.The National Police Agency has instructed the Metropolitan Police Department and prefectural police headquarters to meticulously enforce the revised law by lifting or easing some regulations where suitable. The law should be enforced sensibly based on actual local conditions.Most affected by the law revision will be delivery vehicles. Home delivery service has come to play a vital role in daily life.The NPA has said the police will deal with this issue flexibly by allowing, for example, loading and unloading of delivery vehicles in certain sections of streets at certain times to deal realistically with local situations.At the same time, the trucking industry should make efforts to deal with the revision by securing parking spaces, among other measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2006-05-29	YOSHIN0020060529e25t000q0
YOMSHI0020060529e25u0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060529e25u0000d	EN	\N	Takeover bid only option for railway firms	The holding company of Hankyu Corp., a major railway company operating in the Kansai region, said it would buy shares issued by Hanshin, its rival railway operator in the area, for 930 yen per share. The focus of attention is on whether the so-called Murakami Fund--an investment fund founded by former bureaucrat Yoshiaki Murakami that holds a 47 percent stake in Hanshin--will go along with the tender offer. Hankyu Holding's announcement will be followed by its negotiations with the fund, using Hankyu's offer as a base price.	4	2006-05-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A hard and fast rule followed by any investment fund is to sell shares for more than their initial purchase price, even if the difference in price is slim. Hankyu's offered price greatly exceeds the average price the Murakami Fund paid to acquire Hanshin shares in the past. If it accepts Hankyu's takeover bid, the fund will secure massive profits through sale of its Hanshin shareholdings.Hankyu's tender offer means the Murakami Fund has come very close to success in making easy money. Many members of the public may find the fund's money-making method even more difficult to swallow.In the initial stage of its Hanshin Electric Railway share purchasing bid, the Murakami Fund said its aim was "purely to invest in the shares." Contrary to its avowed purpose of buying the shares, the fund advanced some proposals that could fundamentally shake the railway company's business operation, including a plan to list the Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team on the stock market. The fund also urged the railroad corporation to include nine people chosen by the fund on Hanshin's 16-member board at a shareholders meeting next month, a move apparently aimed at gaining control of the company's management.Change in avowed purposeIn its shareholdings report submitted to financial regulators, the Murakami Fund changed its stated reason for acquiring Hanshin shares to "pure stock investment and participation in [Hanshin] management." Some critics have raised questions about whether the fund's move can be deemed reasonable, judging from its initial report on shareholdings.Railway services are a public utility intended to safely transport people to their destinations.The percentage of shares in such corporations held by individuals is higher than in other categories of business. These shareholders find the perks and preferential treatment received from the railway companies lucrative. Railway companies also possess valuable real estate. All this can make railway firms good merger-and-acquisition targets.Since the Murakami Fund's purchase of a massive number of Hanshin shares last autumn, many major railway firms have announced various measures to fend off corporate takeovers. They should consider more powerful defenses against hostile takeovers--including the poison pill strategy, which grants existing shareholders of a corporation warrants for the purchase of yet-to-be-issued shares--instead of adopting such stale measures as cross-shareholdings.Restraining takeoversThe Construction and Transport Ministry is set to require railway companies' boards of directors to include officials who have abundant experience in railway services as supervisors for the safety of their companies' transportation services. The ministry's measure is certain to impose some restrictions on investment funds seeking to take control of railway corporations.If its tender offer goes through, Hankyu will be able to make Hanshin a wholly owned subsidiary under an integrated management. The merger of such major railway corporations would be the first of its kind since the end of World War II. The envisaged Hankyu Hanshin Holdings would be the country's third-largest private railway operator.It will take Hankyu at least 180 billion yen to acquire Hanshin shares through its takeover bid. Meanwhile, Hanshin will have to pay dearly for the success of its long-time rival's tender offer--it will become a Hankyu subsidiary.For all this, Hankyu and Hanshin have agreed the former's tender offer is the only option acceptable to both. We hope the railway corporations will spell out specific measures to achieve their business integration and show what will emerge from the move as soon as possible.Both Hankyu and Hanshin are known to people in all parts of the nation. Success of the anticipated merger--or a lack of it--may depend on how well they will be able to make the integrated firm even better-known to the public by taking advantage of their respective reputations.The two railway firms should know any listed corporations must convince their customers, business partners and other stakeholders of their business philosophy and strategies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	794	2006-05-30	YOSHIN0020060530e25u000g8
YOMSHI0020060530e25v0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060530e25v0000h	EN	\N	Push steadily ahead with realignment plan	With Cabinet approval Tuesday, the government adopted the basic policy on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.	4	2006-05-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The two cornerstones of the accord are the relocation of about 8,000 U.S. marines from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam and a relocation of the functions of U.S. Futenma Air Station to the Camp Schwab area in Nago, the same prefecture.Many difficult problems remain to be solved, such as how to come up with the 3 trillion yen or so needed to finance the realignment, and a decision on construction plans for a replacement facility for Futenma Air Station in Nago.With regard to funding, the Cabinet decision said the government as a whole will look at ways of paring costs, making reference to the review of the government's midterm defense buildup plan, for which around 24.24 trillion yen has been allocated for fiscal 2005-2009.Rethink needed on defenseWhile the country needs to maintain the capability to defend itself, the government must make a drastic rationalization of such equipment as tanks and heavy artillery, which are considered remnants of the Cold-War era.In order to respond to new security environments, chiefly against the backdrop of the renovation of military technologies, U.S. forces are reorganizing themselves by prioritizing mobility, promptness and intelligence gathering.To facilitate cooperation with the United States, the government needs to review the preparedness of the Self-Defense Forces from this viewpoint. It should explore ways to streamline the organization, deployment and equipment of the SDF, with the three arms of the Ground, Air and Maritime self-defense forces placed under an integrated chain of command, a system launched in late March.With regard to the transfer of U.S. marines to Guam, the government will put a sizable amount of state funds into the construction of facilities there for use by U.S. forces, marking the first time that government money has been spent for such purposes outside Japan.The government needs to expedite the preparation of laws to enable this to take place. At the same time, it should explain in Diet debates the importance of such laws.For its part, the Okinawa prefectural government has expressed its opposition to the Cabinet approval, saying the consultations on the matter held with local governments were insufficient.The central government needs to decide on construction plans without delay by winning the cooperation of local governments, including prefectural governments, through talks in the days ahead.Tie funding to actual progressThe Cabinet endorsement also stipulated that the central government would implement regional development plans for localities that are to assume additional burdens caused by the relocations. However, such measures should not be made recklessly and independent of progress in construction plans.When the Cabinet approved in 1999 the plan to relocate Futenma Air Station, the government promised spending 100 billion yen over 10 years to redevelop the northern part of the prefecture. Although the redevelopment program has been implemented every year since then, there has been no progress made in the relocation of the functions of Futenma.The state funds to be injected for the regional development have been contributed by taxpayers so that the burden of hosting the U.S. forces can be more evenly spread. The government is studying the idea of creating a system to allocate subsidies to local governments according to actual progress made in the relocation plan. If taxpayers' money is allocated according to this formula, the public may be more supportive of the idea.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit the United States late next month to meet U.S. President George W. Bush. It is important for the two leaders to reconfirm the accord on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan reached by ministers, and to confirm the deepened alliance. That would help achieve the latest Cabinet decision.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 31, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	692	2006-05-31	YOSHIN0020060531e25v000ic
YOMSHI0020060601e26100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060601e26100001	EN	\N	Aum trial must end at some point	The decision suggests there was no reason that could be upheld in court in the objection filed by the defense team for Matsumoto, also known as Shoko Asahara.	4	2006-06-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The 10th criminal affairs division of the Tokyo High Court decided in late March to dismiss the appeal made by Matsumoto's defense team. Under law, if the defense counsel objects to a court's rejection of an appeal, it can appeal to another panel of judges at the same court, which it did.The petition by the defense team was examined this time by the 11th criminal affairs division of the court, which also rejected the appeal.Enough of delaying tacticsThe 10th division turned down the appeal filed by the defense counsel because it had failed to present a statement of reasons for the appeal by the prescribed deadline.The Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that a high court shall reject an appeal on a lower court ruling if a defense team fails to submit the statement of reasons for an appeal by a designated date.In filing its complaint, the defense team said the high court's decision to dismiss the appeal just one day before the day when the team had said it would submit the statement of reasons to the court constituted obstruction to the submission.But the date the defense team said it would submit the statement was about 14 months later than the deadline set by the court.The 11th division ruled that the court does not say that it will defer a decision until the statement of reasons for appeal is submitted. With regard to the statement that the defense team submitted after the high court's dismissal, the 11th division pointed out that the statement was light in both content and volume, and therefore could have been submitted by the designated date.Despite this, the team failed to submit the statement by the designated date, "solely because it intended to delay the court proceedings," the 11th division said.In light of all the other evidence, this was a reasonable decision. The latest court rejection of the complaint by the defense team also is appropriate.Matsumoto, who was sentenced to death by the Tokyo District Court about two years ago, has not expressed any intention of appealing to the high court.Although the Supreme Court has yet to make a decision on the case, the defense team's tactic of disobeying the rules has in fact brought the trial closer to an end.What price the search for truth?However, some observers have said it is problematic that the trial on such major incidents involving the Aum Supreme Truth cult trial is to be cut short due to a procedural mistake by the defense team.The reality is that 10 years and one month have passed since the trial of Matsumoto started in April 1996. And over these years, Matsumoto has refused to take the court proceedings seriously."As the trial has been prolonged, some bereaved families have already died without learning the court's final decision," said one person who lost kin as a result of crimes committed by the cult. This remark epitomizes the voices of bereaved family members.There are many riddles remaining in the crimes committed by the cult. There are those who say Matsumoto's trial should continue until the truth is learned. But would this be feasible?The Criminal Procedure Code stipulates the purpose of a criminal trial is "to apply and realize criminal laws and ordinances in an appropriate and prompt manner," and to reveal the truth.The importance of speedy trials is growing with the implementation of the lay-judge system in the offing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 1, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2006-06-01	YOSHIN0020060601e261000gh
YOMSHI0020060602e2630000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060602e2630000f	EN	\N	'Anything goes' mentality evident in stock market	Prosecutors plan to question the fund's owner, financier Yoshiaki Murakami, often dubbed a "shareholder who demands a lot," to determine whether his fund engaged in insider trading in connection with the purchase of the shares.	4	2006-06-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We wonder what was actually going on during the NBS takeover brouhaha.In February last year, Livedoor Co. purchased a massive amount of shares in the radio station, popularly called Nippon Hoso, and engaged in a fierce takeover battle with Fuji Television Network, Inc., which was then aiming at making NBS its wholly owned subsidiary.Suspicions have arisen that Livedoor informed the Murakami Fund of its intention to buy up NBS shares before the fund purchased them. If this is true, it constitutes insider trading, which is prohibited under the Securities and Exchange Law.It is believed that the fund made a huge profit by offloading a massive amount of NBS shares, the price of which surged after Livedoor bought a great amount of them.Profit seen all-importantOften saying it is important for a company to boost shareholder value, Murakami has been demanding that the management of companies whose stock his fund acquires increase dividends and improve their utilization of assets. He argues that such actions benefit not only himself, but also other shareholders.When he purchased shares in Hanshin Electric Railway Co., he proposed listing on a stock exchange the Hanshin Tigers, the professional baseball team owned by the railway firm. Attention is focused on whether he will accept a bid from Hankyu Holdings Inc. to sell Hanshin shares.If it is true that while demanding that shareholders' interests be put first, he engaged in insider trading and obtained unfair benefits, he committed a serious breach of trust against the market and other shareholders. The prosecutors office is investigating the matter very carefully.Former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie, who has been charged with window-dressing his company's accounts and other crimes, once said he should be "allowed to do anything as long as it's legal."Murakami also said: "Financial rules and those in the Securities and Exchange Law are a matter of yes or no. It's not a world of ethics."There is a tendency for people to think they can resort to any method to turn a profit, including exploiting loopholes in laws and rules. We need to put the brakes on this trend to stop it from growing.Pass financial trade bill fastLawmakers in the Diet are debating a bill on trade in financial products. The bill would revise the Securities and Exchange Law to close loopholes in the law. It would expand the range of organizations subject to takeover bid regulations and reduce the scope of exceptional treatment offered to institutional investors in connection with the system of reporting possession of a large number of shares. The special treatment has been used by some investors as a tool to conceal their cornering of shares.The bill would also enhance penalties for insider trading and other financial crimes. It would aim at introducing a new system obliging investment funds, whose activities have been opaque, to register with the authorities and notify them of their operations.We hope lawmakers will pass the bill as soon as possible to beef up controls on stock dealing by investment funds.The Murakami Fund has disbanded its investment advisory unit in Japan and moved its fund operation functions to Singapore.Even though it has become a foreign company, financial authorities should not take their eyes off the Murakami Fund as long as it is involved in trading in Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2006-06-03	YOSHIN0020060603e263000gu
YOMSHI0020060603e2640000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060603e2640000f	EN	\N	Conspiracy of dunces thwarts conspiracy bill	But this is what the Democratic Party of Japan did to a bill intended to revise the law on organized crime to criminalize conspiracy to commit a crime.	4	2006-06-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The trouble began when the ruling coalition suddenly decided to accept a DPJ bill, which is basically an amended version of the original government bill.No sooner had the ruling bloc agreed to the DPJ bill--which it had previously criticized--when in a farcical about-face of its own, the DPJ rejected the coalition's offer to accept the bill in its entirety, and then refused to vote on the bill at the Judicial Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.As a result, parliamentary deliberations on the legislation will probably be carried over to the next Diet session.Both the ruling parties and the DPJ have acknowledged the need to revise the law to criminalize the act of plotting to commit a crime.Coalition flip-flop on DPJ billThroughout deliberations on amending the government-sponsored bill, the ruling parties criticized the DPJ bill, saying it would not enable the state to ratify the U.N. Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.The DPJ-sponsored bill would limit conspiracy charge to crimes that carry a sentence of more than five years of imprisonment and to international crime.However, the U.N. convention requires member countries to make conspiracy charges applicable to crimes that are punishable by four or more years of imprisonment. The convention also calls on member countries not to limit the types of offenses to international crime.Citing the reason for the coalition having had a change of mind on the DPJ bill, Hiroyuki Hosoda, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Diet Affairs Committee, said: "The main proposition of the convention is to stop terrorism. It's better than not having a law."But Foreign Minister Taro Aso disagreed, saying, "We could not ratify the convention [with the DPJ bill]."The two conflicting comments demonstrate that the government and the ruling parties are not in agreement on how to deal with the legislation.This is not the first time that the ruling bloc has acceded to the demands of another party in debating a piece of legislation. The same thing happened when the Financial Revitalization Law was established in the autumn of 1998.With the LDP having suffered a major defeat in the House of Councillors in the summer of that year, the LDP was a minority ruling party in the upper house and was unable to pass a bill though the upper house on its own.But today, the ruling camp has a majority in both chambers of the Diet. If the coalition parties believe their viewpoint is the correct one, they should put their own version of a bill forward for the vote without any shilly-shallying around.Opposition scuttles own revisionBut what is even more incomprehensible than the actions of the ruling parties are those of the DPJ.From the viewpoint of the DPJ's newfound policy of at all times attempting to put forward counterproposals to those of the ruling bloc, the DPJ should be happy that the ruling parties accepted its bill and should have agreed to put the bill to the vote.Instead, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa refused to vote on the bill. Are we to assume that the DPJ bill was nothing other than a political football which Ozawa used to play confrontational games with the ruling camp?Or, was the DPJ's real intention to block the revision of the law on organized crime and its preparation of the counterproposal bill was an act in name only?It is difficult to understand what the DPJ was playing at.The government also is to blame for upsetting parliamentary deliberations on amending its own bill because it presented an incomplete bill to the Diet.The government bill was extremely vague in its definitions of "organizations" that could be subject to a conspiracy charge.In their version of the bill, the ruling parties first defined them as "organizations whose purpose is to carry out crime." They later rewrote the definition as "organized criminal groups."To date, 121 countries have ratified the convention. Should Japan be allowed to become a loophole in the international effort to prevent terrorist attacks and organized crime?Neither the ruling camp nor the DPJ should forget the primary reason for revising the law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 4, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	772	2006-06-04	YOSHIN0020060604e264000am
YOMSHI0020060605e2650002t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060605e2650002t	EN	\N	New energy strategy focuses on security	The report shows the government's energy policies are shifting to focus more on national security. It is a natural course of action to take, given the tight demand-supply situation of major energy resources, including oil, appears likely to be prolonged.	4	2006-06-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report presents three policy goals: Establishing sound energy security, realizing sustainable growths by solving energy and environmental issues in parallel, and contributing to international efforts to resolve issues related to the demand and supply of energy.Previously, the ministry pursued different energy policy goals, focusing on energy security, environmental preservation and reducing energy prices by liberalizing energy-related regulations.What is noteworthy in the report is its abandonment of liberalization and the higher priority placed on energy security.The previous policies were devised at a time when the nation was stuck in a protracted recession and there was a glut in the global energy supply. The urgent task at the time was to reduce domestic energy costs, which were relatively high compared to the global level, in an attempt to regain the nation's international competitive edge.As a result, liberalization of regulations on gas and electricity has gone forward, mainly for large lot users. Gas and electricity fees for ordinary households also have declined. One of the previous goals has almost been achieved.Changing situationSince that time, the world energy supply-and-demand structure had changed drastically. Populous countries such as China and India have begun growing rapidly, pushing up world energy demand.Investment in refineries and new oil field development has been contained due to an earlier prolonged sump in energy prices, resulting in reduction of supply capacity.International competition for natural resources involving such countries as China has been increasing.In the 1990s, energy resources were an ordinary commodity that could be easily purchased on the market, but they have again become a strategic commodity whose prices are determined outside of the framework of market mechanisms.The New National Energy Strategy was produced to reflect such changing conditions.Central aimsThe report emphasizes five numerical goals to be achieved by 2030:The five goals are:--To improve energy-use efficiency by 30 percent.--To reduce dependency on oil from the current 50 percent to 40 percent or less.--To reduce dependence on oil in the transportation sector from the current nearly 100 percent to about 80 percent.--To increase the ratio of electricity generated by nuclear power to 30-40 percent or more.--To boost import of nationally developed crude oil from the current 15 percent of total imports to about 40 percent.Japan's energy-use efficiency has improved by 37 percent in the past 30 years. It is difficult to squeeze more from a rag that already has been wrung dry, but further energy-saving efforts are required.To reduce oil dependency in the transportation sector, the use of mixed fuel made from gasoline and bioethanol produced from plants such as sugar cane must be promoted. Fuel cell-powered vehicles using hydrogen are also a key to reducing oil dependency.In this regard, the auto industry must strive to further develop the needed technology and the government should come up with measures to promote use of gas-bioethanol and fuel-cell vehicles.Since imports of nuclear fuel are seen as stable, it is a dependable source of energy at a time when crude oil supply is tight.Less than 30 percent of the nation's electricity comes from nuclear power plants. Thus, the report's numerical target on this matter should have been more specific.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 5, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2006-06-05	YOSHIN0020060605e265000ay
YOMSHI0020060606e26600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060606e26600001	EN	\N	Law takes second place to desire for profit	Murakami is suspected of insider trading for acquiring a large number of Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. shares, based on advance knowledge of Livedoor Co.'s purchase of a sizable amount of the radio broadcaster's shares, which was announced on Feb. 8 last year.	4	2006-06-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When a public tender offer is made, the price of the target company's shares will usually go up. Someone who buys a bloc of shares in the company based on inside information prior to the public announcement of the takeover bid and then sells them when the price has soared after the takeover bid was made public would be able to reap a hefty profit.Such action--moving one step ahead of general investors--constitutes an unfair stock transaction and is prohibited under the Securities and Exchange Law, with violators subject to up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to 3 million yen.Earlier Monday, Murakami, speaking at a press conference held at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, admitted to insider trading but repeatedly emphasized that he did not intend to make profits through insider trading.Yet the Murakami Fund purchased a sizable number of NBS shares before Livedoor Co. made public its acquisition of a controlling stake in NBS. The fund then sold about 80 percent of its NBS shareholdings by the end of February last year, reportedly reaping at least about 10 billion yen in profit.'Didn't mean to break law'Murakami's contention that he did not intend to make profits through insider trading is hard to believe.Murakami regards himself as "a pro among the pros" in stock trading. When he was working as an official of the former International Trade and Industry Ministry--now the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry--he was engaged in making laws and ordinances concerning mergers and acquisitions. He also has among his close aides a former employee of a leading securities company and a former high-ranking National Police Agency bureaucrat.Given such circumstances, Murakami's excuse that he had an inaccurate understanding of what constituted a violation of the Securities and Exchange Law is completely unacceptable.Profit fund's main goalThe primary objective of an investment fund is to return the largest possible profit to investors. Has the Murakami Fund been under strong pressure from investors at home and abroad to generate profits commensurate with investment risks while it has increased its operating assets to nearly 400 billion yen?Murakami initially advocated changing Japanese companies from the shareholders' side. Yet some informed officials say his philosophy has shifted to embrace a profit-first approach.Murakami's arrest, following that of former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie in January, has brought to the fore the reality that those young advocates of free-market principles, who have often been called society's "winners," have no qualms about breaking the law for the sake of profits.During his press conference, Murakami said his fund would sell its stake in Hanshin Electric Railway Co. to Hankyu Holdings Inc., which is offering a takeover bid for Hanshin. He also made clear his intention to retire from stock investment business because he had broken the law.Some observers suggest Murakami is trying to keep his fund in business by admitting his guilt and thus swiftly resolving the situation. Public prosecutors must provide a detailed account of the extent of the Murakami Fund's misconduct.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 6, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2006-06-06	YOSHIN0020060606e266000p6
YOMSHI0020060606e2670000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060606e2670000k	EN	\N	Plans to reform NHK cannot put money first	One of the proposals was made by a private advisory panel to Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka, while the other was compiled by a Liberal Democratic Party subcommittee.	4	2006-06-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a bid to have their respective opinions included in the government's annual basic policy on economic and fiscal management and structural reforms, which is to be compiled next month, both panels will likely intensify their lobbying of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other political leaders.On the whole, the Takenaka panel studying the future form of telecommunications and broadcasting, is calling for a drastic revamp of the public broadcaster on the basis of marketplace principles.On the other hand, the LDP subcommittee, charged with studying the advancement of telecommunications and broadcasting industries, regards NHK as an entity that "assumes the social duty of supplying reliable information throughout the country" and calls for gradual reforms in consideration of the public nature of NHK.Reform, not ruinationChanging the characteristic of NHK, which is also a news organization, by putting the priority on making it more efficient economically would be fraught with ill effects. Any reform of NHK should be pursued on the basis of the proposals made by the LDP subcommittee, which are the more realistic of the two.The biggest difference between the two proposals lies in the proposed organizational structure of NHK.The Takenaka panel recommends that the sports and entertainment sections, which have been tainted by a string of scandals and whose public nature, according to the panel, is not very high, become a subsidiary of another section.The panel's idea is to have the new subsidiary compete with private-sector broadcasters, while having the core business of NHK as a public broadcaster buy and broadcast programs from those who produce programs better and cheaper than NHK.The LDP panel squarely opposes the proposals of the Takenaka panel, saying the idea of having operations, currently conducted as the core business of NHK, handled by a subsidiary should be pursued with prudence from the viewpoint of strengthening the effectiveness of corporate governance of the public broadcaster.The slackness in corporate management that permitted a flurry of scandals needs to be rectified, however, it is unreasonable to have it directly linked to organizational reform.To have the opinions of viewers reflected in its programming, program production and broadcasting must be managed in an integrated manner.The Takenaka panel calls for cutting three of NHK's eight TV and radio channels. For its part, the LDP panel also has proposed a reduction in channels, but to a lesser extent.Viewing fees must be paidBoth panels also agree on the issue of viewing fees, which have not been paid by as many as 30 percent of viewers. They both call for making television set owners legally obliged to pay them, with the option of penalties if this measure fails to work.But the Takenaka panel considers a substantial reduction in viewing fees a precondition for making fee payment mandatory, while the LDP panel opposes any reduction, saying any irresponsible cut in viewing fees would degrade program quality.All things considered, it is hard to understand why NHK remains silent--given all the heated discussion being made outside NHK.With regard to the managerial system of NHK, which is considered by some observers as having ceased to function properly, the LDP panel recommends that its board of governors first discuss proposed reforms.As long as NHK shows no eagerness in helping itself recover unpaid viewing fees and the issue of restructuring its bloated group of its subsidiaries, we doubt whether NHK can reform itself.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2006-06-07	YOSHIN0020060607e267000h2
YOMSHI0020060607e2680000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060607e2680000f	EN	\N	Sharp trading practices must be stamped out	The law, which the Diet enacted Wednesday by making fundamental revisions to the Securities and Exchange Law, incorporates measures to prevent investors from taking unfair advantage of legal loopholes and to tighten restrictions on investment fund managers whose actual operations are not very easy to see.	4	2006-06-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Investigators have clamped down on Livedoor Co.'s alleged accounting fraud and the so-called Murakami Fund's suspected insider trading. These cases cause other countries to cast a suspicious glance at the fairness of the Japanese stock market.The new legislation has expanded the scope of cases in which investors must use a public tender offer if they seek to acquire more than one-third of stocks issued by any listed corporations through off-market trading.Closing the backdoorIn buying a massive number of Hanshin Electric Railway Co. shares, the Murakami Fund first acquired stocks through off-market trading until its stake in the railroad firm was close to one-third. This was followed by the fund managing to increase its stake through trading within the market until the ratio exceeded one-third. To prevent investors from resorting to such sneaky tactics, the law obliges them to adopt a tender offer if they seek to buy stocks both within and outside the market.The new law has also shortened the period during which institutional investors must submit reports on their massive shareholdings in listed corporations to the Financial Services Agency, from "within 3-1/2 months" under the current legislation to "within three weeks." The move is intended to prevent institutional investors from engaging in unfair stock trading by taking advantage of an extended time span stipulated in the old law. The extended period between the purchase of stocks by such investors and their submission of reports to the authorities would have made it difficult to see how they acted in buying and selling stocks.The new law also requires investment funds to register and report the names of their representatives and their locations, while also making it possible for the FSA to inspect their operations if necessary. The law has also strengthened penalties against insider trading and market manipulation.However, it is necessary to constantly reevaluate whether these rules are sufficient to achieve the law's intended purposes. In revising the Securities and Exchange Law, the government decided not to increase the amount of penalty surcharges levied on inside traders and other wrongdoers. However, we believe such penalties must be increased to more effectively prevent stock trading irregularities. Another task to be tackled is to increase the role of the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission in monitoring the market.More transparency neededWe also believe the government should consider expanding information subject to disclosure by investment funds, including data concerning investors. The government should implement measures to do so by examining how well the law serves its purposes.Another main pillar of the new law is to more strongly protect the interests of consumers. The law incorporates a set of regulations applicable to the sale of all financial instruments with which investors could take losses because the amount of their post-investment deposits fell below that of their initially invested money. Earlier, there were a different set of rules for each category of financial instrument and seller.These revisions are aimed at preventing fraud cases involving financial products not subject to legal restrictions. Efforts to encourage people to invest more money in stock trading, rather than saving it, call for improving the stock market environment to ensure consumers can buy financial products without anxiety.All systems operated to keep the stock market in check must be reformed in a manner that better protects the interests of consumers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2006-06-08	YOSHIN0020060608e268000fa
YOMSHI0020060608e2690000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060608e2690000d	EN	\N	Ensuring safety of elevators vital	The fatal accident that took place at the 23-story apartment complex operated by the Minato Ward housing corporation has sparked widespread concerns about the safety of elevators. At some buildings whose elevators are similar to the supposedly faulty model in Tokyo, the elevators have been put out of service.	4	2006-06-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Metropolitan Police Department has launched an investigation into the case, suspecting professional negligence resulting in death.Was the elevator in question defective? Had it not been properly maintained? The MPD is set to determine why the boy was crushed to death by staging a reconstruction of the accident. It has been found that the elevator had sometimes made unusual sounds.On Wednesday, investigators searched the offices of Schindler Elevator K.K., which manufactured the elevator, its maintenance company and the Minato Ward housing corporation. To ensure there is no repeat of the accident, efforts must be made to uncover the whole truth behind the incident.Maker's attitude questionableThe accident occurred when the student was about to get out of the elevator while sitting astride a bicycle. The elevator suddenly went up, with its door open.It is legally required that elevators be equipped with safety devices designed to ensure they do not ascend or descend while their doors are open.Push the "Close" button by the door of an elevator and a sensor inside the elevator decides whether the door has been shut. If it determines the door has been closed, the sensor sends a signal to the elevator's utility room, ordering its control board to allow the elevator to ascend or descend. This releases the brake on the elevator, causing it to go up or down.The latest accident is believed to have occurred when something went wrong with this process.Across the nation, there are about 7,000 elevators produced by Schindler Elevator, a unit of Switzerland-based Schindler Holding AG. The accident in Minato Ward has been followed by reports about problems elevators in many parts of the country, including cases in which people were confined inside elevators. These problems are not peculiar to Schindler-made elevators. However, the Construction and Transport Ministry, the government organ in charge of the safety of elevators, should urge those responsible for the maintenance of buildings to inspect all Schindler-manufactured elevators as soon as possible.Questions should also be raised about the attitude taken by Schindler since the the accident took place. The company has not told residents in and near buildings outfitted with Schindler-made elevators anything about the incident. Initially, the firm rejected a request from the Construction and Transport Ministry to reveal information about the location of its elevators. This has raised serious doubts about the company's position on its responsibility to explain why and how the latest accident happened.Computers ubiquitousIncidents similar to the accident in Minato Ward have taken place both at home and abroad in the past. In Japan, two accidents involving elevators produced by another manufacturer occurred, killing one person. Both cases were attributed to defects in safety devices attached to the elevators. One of the two incidents took place as a result of a glitch in an electronic circuit inside a safety device.Today, elevators are not the only product controlled by a computer. Nearly all home electrical appliances and automobiles are computer-controlled. Computer programs and integrated circuits that control the operation of these products have become extremely complex. Specialists have said it is impossible to remove all defects from these programs and ICs. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of cases in which manufacturers have had to recall defective products.Two years ago, the Japan Elevator Association urged member elevator makers to take measures to rectify the situation, including equipping their products with fail-safe devices. Did Schindler Elevator and other manufacturers act responsibly?The elevator is an apparatus often used by people in all age brackets. All possible means should be taken to ensure the safety of elevators.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2006-06-09	YOSHIN0020060612e269000c1
YOMSHI0020060609e26a0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060609e26a0000e	EN	\N	Japan obviously needs a defense ministry	The Cabinet endorsed Friday a set of bills related to the promotion of the agency's status. The bills were immediately submitted to the Diet.	4	2006-06-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 1964, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda approved a bill to promote to the agency to a ministry.However, the government at that time decided not to submit the bill to the Diet because it was afraid the bill would become a political football in the age of ideological confrontation between conservatives and liberals.Thus, Friday's move by the government can be viewed as a step toward realization of this long pending issue.The bills are unlikely to pass the current ordinary Diet session, given that it will close June 18. But the government should do its utmost to have the bills passed during the extraordinary Diet session to be convened in autumn.SDF's roles have expandedIn other countries, all governmental organizations tasked with jobs of national defense are ministry-level organizations. There is an argument that the agency should not be upgraded to a ministry because doing so would ruffle feathers in neighboring countries. But that is an absurd line of thinking.The Defense Agency currently is an external body of the Cabinet Office. While cabinet ministers are allowed to put key issues on the agenda of cabinet meetings and submit budgetary requests to the finance minister, the Defense Agency director general does not have such powers.When it comes to maintaining national security, what is important is to maintain the framework of civilian control, in which the prime minister is the supreme commander of the Self-Defense Forces and issues defense mobilization and other orders. It is also important that the nation's basic defense policies are protected. Those two elements will be kept unchanged after the change of the agency's status.Amid the change in the national security environment in the post-Cold War era, the roles of the SDF have expanded beyond preventing and responding to invasions. They are now faced with the emergence of diversified threats, such as terrorist attacks and ballistic missile attacks.In connection with the realignment of U.S. forces stationed in Japan, the missions and roles of the SDF will be comprehensively reviewed. As Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi put it, the Japan-U.S. alliance is evolving into a "Japan-U.S. alliance in the world."The missions of the SDF have expanded to international peacekeeping activities. The Ground Self-Defense Force has been carrying out relief work in central Java, Indonesia, which was hit by a devastating earthquake last month. GSDF troops are also assisting in humanitarian reconstruction work in Iraq.In addition to promoting the agency to a ministry, the bills also call for international peacekeeping operations to become one of the SDF's main tasks, along with defending the homeland. PKOs currently are a "supplementary task" of the SDF.Without peace and stability in the international community, Japan's security cannot be guaranteed. It is also natural to make international peacekeeping activities one of the SDF's main missions.DPJ should back billsThe main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has decided its stance on the bills.A number of DPJ lawmakers established a "parliamentary league to seek the early establishment of a defense ministry" in April last year. Quite a few DPJ members support the promotion of the agency to a ministry. The defunct Liberal Party, which was led by DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, advocated the agency's promotion to a defense ministry.Protection of the lives and property of the people is the most important duty of a government. If the DPJ aims to become a governing party, it has no option but to support the envisioned upgrade of the agency.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 10, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2006-06-10	YOSHIN0020060610e26a000mi
YOMSHI0020060611e26c0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060611e26c0000b	EN	\N	Don't slacken efforts for fiscal reconstruction	With the economic recovery, Japanese companies have increased their earnings, while personal incomes have been improved greatly.	4	2006-06-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These factors have boosted revenues from such key sources as corporate taxes and income taxes, pushing the central government's expected tax revenues for fiscal 2005 past the 49 trillion yen mark.For fiscal 2005, the Finance Ministry had initially projected 44 trillion yen in tax revenues. The ministry then revised the figure to 47 trillion yen in line with the compilation of a supplementary budget. Yet the latest revenue estimates for fiscal 2005 exceed the revised figure by as much as 2 trillion yen.A prevailing view has it that the upward trend in tax revenues will continue in the months ahead, especially since the fixed-rate, temporary income tax reduction--with income taxes cut by 20 percent--will be trimmed by half starting this year and will be totally abolished next year.Those companies that had avoided paying corporate taxes under rules allowing them to offset earlier losses with gains posted in following years, are expected to resume their tax payment against the backdrop of the economic recovery.Exceeding expectationsIn its 2006 budget, the central government earmarked tax revenues totaling about 46 trillion yen. Yet there is a likelihood tax revenues could exceed 50 trillion yen.We should be pleased that tax revenues, which have remained low for many years since the collapse of the bubble economy, are getting back on a recovery track.Yet there are worrisome trends.For the government to eliminate the deficit in the primary balance--the balance between expenditure and revenue excluding government bond issuance and debt-servicing costs--by fiscal 2011, it must make up revenue shortfalls of 20 trillion yen.The government initially planned to make up the shortfall through an equal mix of expenditure cuts and tax hikes, including an increase in the consumption tax.Then came the rising tide of increasing tax revenues. Counting on this, the government and the ruling parties recently began trying to find ways to bring the revenue shortfall to about 10.5 trillion yen.Should the revenue shortfall shrink, the government can allow for it when working out spending cuts and tax hikes necessary to make up for the revenue shortfall.Avoiding discomfortThe government and the ruling parties apparently want to avoid, as much as possible, the pains that will come with the expenditure cuts and tax increases. If the ruling parties back away from the fiscal reforms, the belt-tightening mood within the government may disappear.Tax revenues fluctuate greatly, depending on economic trends. There have been subtle changes recently, as indicated by falling stock prices around the world.The history of national finances shows governments that have based their fiscal programs on the assumption of healthy tax revenues eventually end up in trouble.Rather, it is the objective of fiscal reconstruction that needs to be reviewed. Even if the deficit in the primary balance is eliminated, the government will still have to continue issuing bonds worth nearly 20 trillion yen.It is necessary for the government to reconfigure the fiscal target so as to steadily reduce the huge amount of bonds outstanding by holding down the value of bonds issued.It is the consumption tax we can count on for steady tax revenues, as its revenues are little affected by the overall economic trend.The government should bear in mind that to proceed with fiscal reconstruction, it is essential for the consumption tax to be raised at earliest possible date.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	628	2006-06-12	YOSHIN0020060612e26c00111
YOMSHI0020060614e26d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060614e26d00001	EN	\N	Taxi deregulation not hailed by drivers	In the taxi industry, regulations adjusting supply and demand were abolished in February 2002. With the deregulatory move, restrictions were greatly eased on new entries to the taxi trade and increases in the number of cabs put into service by taxi operators, as well as the setting of fares, including various discounts.	4	2006-06-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The deregulation was intended to promote competition and increase demand, thus enhancing users' convenience and expanding the taxi business. In line with such aims, the number of cabs in service has increased while taxi operators are competitively cutting fares.Yet no increase in demand has occurred. As a result, the average earnings of taxi drivers have continued declining, while traffic accidents, apparently due to extra workloads, have increased. The plight of taxi drivers has been mentioned by opposition party members in the Diet as an "instance of failure under the Koizumi reforms."Taxis are a means of public transportation. The present situation surrounding the taxi business, whereby confidence in its reliability has been shaken due to increases in accidents and other factors, needs to be corrected. We hope the subcommittee comes up with concrete and effective measures to deal with the dismal situation.Relaxed rulesThe Construction and Transport Ministry asserts that the eased regulations have helped to improve such new services as wheelchair-friendly cabs and vans, while at the same time bringing about such effects as reduced waiting times for taxis.On the other hand, the ministry also acknowledges that the deterioration in working conditions for drivers and in the management ethics of taxi firm operators may lower the quality and safety of cab service. The ministry cites circumstances peculiar to the taxi industry as the reason for these concerns.It is difficult for passengers to choose a preferred taxi operator when hailing a cab on the street, and customers cannot know the level of service provided until they get out of the taxi. For those who use a cruising cab on a street, the service often ends up as one-time service, leaving a taxi driver with little incentive to offer good service.Drivers' pay is based on their fares. But when companies invest money to buy new cars, which ideally could be used to carry more passengers and allow pay raises for drivers, the current intense competition means the investment does not result in more pay for drivers. This problem is unique to the taxi industry.Tough on driversShould the number of cabs in service be increased in excess, it would only drive drivers' earnings down, while the overall business operation would be little affected. For such reasons, even those "bad business operators" who would be driven out of service if they were in other businesses are able to keep operating, according to the a ministry analysis.Based on such views, the subcommittee will make a proposal to expedite the withdrawal of problem-prone business operators from the taxi trade.The panel will propose that taxi firms promote strict operational management to prevent traffic accidents and that those who violate management rules be given harsh administrative punishments. It will also propose, as an issue for further study, that the ministry impose administrative punishments on companies that violate such laws as the Labor Standards Law, by cooperating with the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.A revival of the regulation designed to adjust supply and demand in the taxi business will only discourage excellent taxi operators. Yet social regulations need to be followed by taxi business operators for the benefit of customers. We would support the subcommittee promoting such a policy.Yet, there is a problem with the idea that the geographical test now given only to taxi drivers in Tokyo and many cities in Osaka should also be required in ordinance-designated major cities across the country.With car navigation systems becoming so common, geographical knowledge is not a vital requirement for drivers. We think restrictions on qualification should be limited mainly to their driving records.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 13, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2006-06-13	YOSHIN0020060613e26d000gd
YOMSHI0020060616e26e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060616e26e00001	EN	\N	Economic management requires prudence	The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average last week dropped below the 15,000-level for the first time in six months. It plummeted Tuesday, suffering its biggest single-day loss this year. It has lost 19 percent since reaching a high in April.	4	2006-06-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The other major stock indexes in the United States, Europe, Asia also are falling. It is hard to tell when this spontaneous worldwide decline will end.We do not need to become too nervous, but since stock prices are said to reflect the economic situation six months hence, we cannot afford to be overly optimistic either.Observers have pointed out that market concerns over the future of the U.S. economy have caused share prices to fall.After U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke last week expressed concerns about inflation, the U.S. market has become bearish due to dual investor worries that the Federal Reserve will keep raising interest rates and the U.S. economy will stagnate.Foreigners pulling out fundsIn Japan the view prevails that foreign investors have begun withdrawing their funds from the Tokyo stock market. Observers are increasingly cautious that a possible U.S. economic slowdown will adversely affect the Japanese economy.Selling grew further Tuesday after Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui told a Diet committee in the morning that in 1999 he put \\10 million into the investment fund headed by Yoshiaki Murakami, who was arrested on June 5 on suspicion of insider trading.Meanwhile, economic indexes still show the economy set to make a powerful recovery. The government Monday revised upward the gross domestic product's real growth rate in the January-March quarter from the previous quarter from a preliminarily reported 1.9 percent to 3.1 percent.Figures for both capital investment of private firms and private consumption were revised upward, showing the economy's steady recovery is being driven by domestic demand.5th month of recoveryAccording to the government's monthly economic report issued in June, the economy has been recovering for five straight months.Because of this, the government and Bank of Japan so far seem to be optimistic about the tumbling share prices."There seem to be various reasons [for falling stock prices]," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said. "But the Japanese economy is on a steady recovery track."However, there are several causes for concern. According to the results of the Economy Watchers Survey, in which the government question people working in occupations easily influenced by the economic climate, street-level economic conditions in all the 11 regions surveyed worsened in April and May compared with three months previously.Meanwhile, an increasing number of business leaders have become cautious about corporate performance prospects.Due to the burgeoning economic recovery, the government has begun discussing when to declare an end to deflation and the central bank is considering lifting its zero-interest rate policy. However, if stock prices wallow at low levels for an extended period of time, there are genuine concerns that private consumption and capital investment will be badly hit.The government and the central bank should be prudent in implementing policy measures, and take every possible risk into consideration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 14, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2006-06-14	YOSHIN0020060614e26e000h9
YOMSHI0020060614e26f0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060614e26f0000g	EN	\N	DPJ shouldn't act out of partisan interests	Many bills on the nation's basic policies, such as those on education and defense, were submitted to the current Diet session.	4	2006-06-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education was taken up at the Diet for the first time since the law was enacted in 1947.Though the Cabinets led by Prime Ministers Ichiro Hatoyama (1883-1959), Hayato Ikeda (1899-1965) and Yasuhiro Nakasone tried to revise the law, the opposition parties and the Japan Teachers' Union blocked the revision, criticizing it as a revival of the ethnocentric, militaristic education that prevailed before the end of World War II.The national referendum bill is an effort to end negligence on the part of the legislature that has continued for nearly 60 years. The Constitution has clauses stipulating in general terms how it may be revised, but there is no law that spells out procedures for constitutional revision. Until this bill becomes law, the public cannot exercise its most important right--the right to amend the Constitution.Little time to ponder billsIt was also the first time for the government to submit to the Diet a bill to upgrade the Defense Agency to a ministry.Considering the political schedule in autumn and after, it will not be easy to pass the carried-over bills quickly at the extraordinary Diet session in autumn because it will last only two months.It will also be difficult to allot sufficient time for deliberations on the bills at next year's ordinary Diet session because an election for the House of Councillors is scheduled in summer.Koizumi said he decided not to extend the current Diet session because "it would be nice for both the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan to have a quiet time to muse on the future of the country before they have their respective party presidential elections" in September.But the two parties will not have much time to ponder this country's future at a time when the LDP presidential election race is going into overdrive. We have to question Koizumi's stance of leaving difficult problems to the prime minister that will succeed him.The DPJ drafted and submitted to the Diet counterproposals to the bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education and the national referendum bill. Since the bills made by the government and the DPJ were both laid on the table, Diet deliberations on revision of the education law, which lasted a total of 50 hours, were very constructive. There were no futile ideological arguments, such as calling revision of the law a revival of militaristic education.Nation's future top priorityBut there was also a strange development in the final stage of the current session. DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama last week revealed his intention to scrap his party's counterproposal to the bill to revise the education law.That was equivalent to saying, "Our bill is defective." Apparently realizing that his move would expose him to criticism, Hatoyama later changed his mind and decided to carry the DPJ bill over to the next Diet session.Since Ichiro Ozawa became president of the major opposition party, the DPJ has become noticeably more confrontational toward the ruling coalition parties. If the DPJ proposed its own bills only to prevent deliberations and voting on the government-sponsored bills, it is no different from disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing, the usual practice employed by the defunct Japan Socialist Party.The DPJ will look more like a responsible political party only if it cooperates in the quick passage of the bills on "the way Japan should be." It should not be swayed by partisan interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	676	2006-06-15	YOSHIN0020060615e26f000fp
YOMSHI0020060615e26g0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060615e26g0000d	EN	\N	BOJ head must be above suspicion	At a session of the House of Councillors Budget Committee on Thursday and at a press conference later the same day, Fukui again explained about his 10 million yen investment in the so-called Murakami Fund.	4	2006-06-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fukui invested 10 million yen in the investment fund when Yoshiaki Murakami, who was arrested last week on suspicion of insider trading, established the fund in 1999. The central bank governor was serving as chairman of the Fujitsu Research Institute at that time.Fukui has said his investment in the fund was meant to "encourage" Murakami, who was advocating reform of the nation's corporate governance. The investment was not problematic at that time because there was no way Fukui could have known that the Murakami Fund would become linked to insider trading in the future, and the transaction was an economic activity conducted by a private person.However, it is a mystery why Fukui did not withdraw his investment in the fund when he assumed the post of central bank governor.Fukui must tell whole storyThe Bank of Japan's in-house rules stipulate that its officials must refrain from making personal profits that would draw suspicion from the public in light of their duties at the bank.The Murakami Fund operates in a way that does not require direct instruction from investors such as Fukui. In this regard, Fukui's investment was similar to purchasing an investment trust, which does not violate the central bank's in-house rules.The central bank has said as much, and Fukui himself said he did not think he should have canceled his contract with Murakami Fund when he took the helm at the central bank.But the central bank governor holds a highly responsible position in respect of the nation's monetary policies, and his words and deeds have a great impact on the market. The position requires a high degree of trustworthiness and neutrality.The central bank governor must avoid acts that could give the impression that he or she is trying to make profits from the market, or that he or she is backing a specific investor or company, even though such an act is not proscribed in the central bank's rules.Fukui applied to cancel his contract with the Murakami Fund in February, and his investment will be settled at the end of this month. But this has come too late.Fukui has said he declared the profit he made from his investment in the Murakami Fund in his annual final tax return. But he has not revealed how much profit he declared or how much his investment has grown, merely saying he was "thoroughly checking" these figures.BOJ's independence at stakeIn the market, a feeling is emerging that it will become difficult for the Bank of Japan to make key policy decisions freely because it might place too much consideration on relations with politicians.Fukui is to blame for causing such suspicions.Fukui should reflect on his lack of caution and fully disclose the details of his investment, including how much profit he made from it.A mechanism to prevent the recurrence of such incidents should be established.Following the example of Britain's Bank of England, setting rigorous rules on the management of assets of senior Bank of Japan officials would be one way to maintain the public's trust in the central bank. A rule could be established to oblige such officials to entrust their financial assets to financial institutions so that the decision on how to manage their investments is taken out of their hands.The U.S. Federal Reserve Board obliges its chairman to disclose his or her assets. It is worth studying whether the same obligation could be applied to Bank of Japan governor.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2006-06-16	YOSHIN0020060616e26g000fq
YOMSHI0020060616e26h0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060616e26h0000i	EN	\N	New law shows Japan's resolve on abductions	The move will have shown Pyongyang that the government and people of Japan are firmly resolved not to forgive and forget the abductions of Japanese to North Korea--a state-sponsored crime by that country.	4	2006-06-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new law calls for the government to do its utmost to bring all abductees home and requires the government to impose economic sanctions against North Korea if the country does not do more to protect human rights.The sanctions clause gives the government legal ground to punish North Korea.Initially, the ruling coalition and the Democratic Party of Japan submitted two separate bills for the law. However, toward the end of the ordinary Diet session, the two sides found common ground and submitted a single revised bill to the Diet.If the two sides had failed to reach agreement, and the establishment of the law had been delayed, Pyongyang would have concluded that Japan was divided on the legislation, and it could have taken advantage of such a situation.Parties' cooperation paid offUnder the leadership of Ichiro Ozawa, the DPJ has taken a confrontational approach toward the ruling camp.But the party must have decided that it would be impolitic to pick a fight over the sanctions legislation.Due to the two sides' agreement to revise their bills, the resulting legislation contains stronger measures than those in the initial bills.The ruling camp's version did not have a stipulation supporting those who defect from North Korea. The DPJ's bill did not have a clause about imposing sanctions.The new law includes both elements.Needless to say, the establishment of the law will not produce immediate results. To resolve the abduction issue, international cooperation to lay siege to North Korea must be strengthened.If Japan imposed sanctions alone, their effects would be limited. Therefore, the law on North Korea's human rights abuse calls for enhanced international cooperation and stipulates that the government should " take international developments [on the abduction issue] into consideration comprehensively" when deciding whether to impose sanctions.Japan has been lobbying the other members of the Group of Eight major nations to have the abduction issue put on the agenda of the G-8 summit meeting in St. Petersburg next month.During summit talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush in the United States later this month, the two leaders are expected to confirm again that they will cooperate on the issue.Pyongyang obviously rattledIn a recent statement issued by the North Korean Foreign Ministry, Pyongyang accused Japan of scheming to make the abductions an international issue and of trying to make Japan-North Korea relations worse than ever. The statement reflects North Korea's concern over Japan's moves.North Korea has said it will allow Choi Gye Wol, the mother of South Korean abductee Kim Young Nam, to meet her son. Kim is believed to be the husband of Japanese abductee Megumi Yokota.With this invitation, North Korea seems to be trying to drive a wedge between Japan and South Korea by softening South Korean public sentiment.The administration of South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun has not been proactive about solving the abduction issue. It does not want to do anything that might set back its policy of reconciliation with North Korea.But Japan-South Korea cooperation is the most important element of the international strategy toward North Korea.Tokyo must steadfastly entreat Seoul to strengthen Japan-South Korea cooperation on the abduction issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2006-06-17	YOSHIN0020060617e26h000h2
YOMSHI0020060617e26i0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060617e26i0000h	EN	\N	Koizumi's reforms remain contentious	How can the nation maintain its vitality, peace and prosperity as the population declines? Koizumi's successor will have to tackle a number of weighty issues, and will shoulder a heavy responsibility. The implications of this presidential election extend far beyond the internal joustings of a single political party.	4	2006-06-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has reportedly said he will formally declare his intention to stand in the presidential poll after the mid-July summit talks of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations.Meanwhile, cross-factional hopes among mostly veteran LDP members are pinned on former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda declaring his candidacy.Constructive debate neededFinance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Foreign Minister Taro Aso also intend to run in the election, while Taro Kono, a young House of Representatives member, has expressed his willingness to stand. Some also view backing Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of financial, economic and fiscal policy, as a good idea.Political maneuvering within the party will intensify in the days ahead. There is no telling how the election will ultimately turn out.Even though we have had more than five years of the Koizumi administration, we still do not have a final framework for the future, within which a stable economic society and requisite policy structure can be realized.The outcome of postal services privatization, which Koizumi considered to be the cornerstone of his structural reforms, will only be known 10 years hence, when they are fully privatized in 2017. And as for reforming the four highway-related public corporations, it is hard to say that the goal of not permitting the construction of loss-making expressways has been accomplished.The issue of paramount importance in the election is for candidates to recap Koizumi's structural reforms and to hold a constructive discussion that seeks to map out the nation's future.The Koizumi administration began amid a serious deflation-led economic recession. Although the economy has recovered, it still lingers in shadows of uncertainty cast by disquiet over the U.S. economy and soaring oil prices.The next administration has to solidify sustainable, stable economic growth. This is one of the most important issues in the leadership contest.Rectifying the "negative" aspects of the Koizumi reforms will be a big challenge for the incoming administration.Some people say that social "disparity [between winners and losers]" has expanded under the Koizumi administration. Abe has said he will create a social framework whereby losers will be given another chance. Fukuda, Tanigaki and Aso have also said how to resolve the disparity issue is likely to become a bone of contention during the party poll.End political opportunismAs Koizumi has said, disparity exists in every society. Taking that to be true, just how much disparity is permissible? Or does disparity even need to be amended? Discussing the issue will allow us time to ruminate upon just what constitutes an ideal society.The market fundamentalism principle has given rise to a Mammonist mindset wherein the likes of Takafumi Horie, the former president of Livedoor Co. who was arrested on allegations of violating the Securities and Exchange Law, and Yoshiaki Murakami, who headed the so-called Murakami Fund but was arrested on suspicion of insider trading, are hailed as heroes.The creation of a fair and stable economic society is imperative.Deregulatory moves have been promoted under the slogan of "transferring government jobs to the private sector."Yet, while the job of construction confirmation--a key process needed for officially approving a building's construction blueprint--has been opened to the private sector, private-sector inspection firms have failed to function properly, giving rise to fudged earthquake resistance data in the construction of many condominiums and hotels. Excessive deregulation must be reviewed.The reform of the social security and tax and fiscal systems are issues of the highest priority that have been left for Koizumi's successor to deal with. In the absence of tax increases, these reforms will be onerous. Yet Prime Minister Koizumi said he would not increase the consumption tax rate during his tenure, thus effectively putting a lid on the consumption tax reform debate.Tanigaki has already broached the prospect of raising the consumption tax rate at an early juncture. We hope other potential successors elucidate their views on the topic.The basic policy of economic and fiscal management and structural reforms, which will be compiled next month by a panel of members of the government and ruling parties, will effectively indicate the next administration's policy in this area.Assertions within the LDP that tax hikes or cuts in the amount doled out on public works projects should be avoided in light of the House of Councillors summer 2007 election are deeply troubling.So long as a political leader continues to feed the public with carrot policies without making recourse to inflicting pain with the stick, reforming the social security and the tax and fiscal systems will remain inconceivable. That is not the path a responsible political leader should head down. There is no need for a successor to even follow Koizumi's populist political style.Asian diplomacy a priorityIn the leadership contest, it is highly likely that Japan's Asian diplomacy will be another major point of dispute.Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Japan-U.S. alliance has deepened.In the changing East Asian security environment, as seen by North Korea's nuclear and missile development and China's military buildup, reinforcing the alliance is vital for the nation's safety. With the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces on international peacekeeping missions and burgeoning Japan-U.S. security cooperation, this alliance has gone global.Following North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's acknowledgement of the multiple abductions of Japanese by North Korean agents when Koizumi visited Pyongyang in autumn 2002, it is only natural that the issue has deeply permeated into the national psyche.These are the "results" achieved by the Koizumi administration, which need to be both improved upon and reinforced.The problem is Japan's relations with China.During the 2001 party presidential election, Koizumi made a campaign pledge to visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine as prime minister. Since taking office, he has kept his promise.However, China has used Koizumi's prime ministerial shrine visits as a political trump card. As a result, political relations between the two countries have rapidly retrogressed.Japan and China are greatly responsible for ensuring regional peace and prosperity. Reestablishing congruous relations with Beijing is one of the most pressing diplomatic issues for the next administration.Within the LDP, some believe that prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni will become yet another disputed topic among the presidential hopefuls.Should the party be rent in two over the Yasukuni issue, it may enable China to profit from the division and use it as a political bargaining chip, in effect manacling the next prime minister in his ability to dictate policies toward China. Making the Yasukuni visit an election issue requires judicious circumspection.Koizumi declared openly his intention to "destroy the old LDP." Yet the parliamentary system of government will crumple in the absence of political parties. The issue of how to construct a sound party-based political system is another salient task with which the post-Koizumi administration must contend.Abe has said that Constitutional amendment will be a far-reaching assignment for the next cabinet. We hope presidential hopefuls discuss this as they ponder "what the nation should be like."What sort of principles will the next administration advocate and what sort of policies will it tackle? We hope the presidential election will be one that offers the populace a set of guidelines for solving various issues both at home and abroad.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1353	2006-06-18	YOSHIN0020060618e26i000a6
YOMSHI0020060619e26j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060619e26j00001	EN	\N	Redouble efforts to solve cancer crisis	A bill drafted by Diet members to oblige the central and local governments to step up the battle against cancer was passed into law.	4	2006-06-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The fundamental principle of the law is to promote cancer research and improve treatment. To achieve this, the law stipulates the central and local governments should work out basic programs to promote cancer-fighting measures every five years and implement necessary steps.The law requires the central government to encourage people to improve their daily lifestyles, including developing healthier eating habits, and promote cancer prevention. It also urges the central government to try to raise the consultation rate for cancer checkups to detect the disease at an early stage and provide appropriate treatment.Nothing the law requires of the central and local governments is new in regard to fighting cancer. Most of the measures are included in the central government's anticancer strategies it reviews every 10 years.The anticancer legislation was enacted because the central government's past efforts were seen as insufficient. Those involved in cancer treatment should seriously consider the reasons for enacting the new legislation and redouble their efforts.Dire circumstancesThe cancer treatment system is in disarray. Several prefectures, including Kyoto, have no major hospitals for cancer treatment. Seriously ill cancer patients have no choice but to visit medical institutions in other prefectures, such as those in Tokyo.Advanced cancer treatment comprises a comprehensive mixture of surgery, radiation treatment, drug therapy and other treatments. But many cancer patients cannot receive such advanced treatment. There is a lack of experts in such fields. For example, while there are about 10,000 specialized chemotherapists in the United States, there are only about 50 in Japan.An urgent task is the establishment of a system to register cancer patients in order to grasp their situation. Such a system would be indispensable for learning where and how patients are developing cancer and to check the effectiveness of their medical examinations and treatment.Registration a necessityMany European countries and the United States use obligatory registration systems of that kind. But in Japan, only some local governments have voluntarily introduced the registration system. Fewer than 10 prefectures have highly detailed databases on cancer patients.Concerning the frequency of mesothelioma caused mainly by asbestos, experts pointed out that if a registration system for the disease was established, those concerned would have realized the real situation much earlier.The basic law requires the central and local governments to help medical institutions collect information about how cancer patients develop the disease and analyze it. There is no specific mention of a registration system, but they should plan such a system.The basic law stipulates that a 20-member council, including representatives of families of cancer patients, should be set up to work out the basic programs to fight cancer. It is important to include concrete goals in the basic programs to solve a mountain of problems.There are more than a few cancer patients forced to go from one hospital to another for information and treatment. Efforts should be made to eliminate such "cancer refugees."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2006-06-19	YOSHIN0020060619e26j000av
YOMSHI0020060619e26k0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060619e26k0000i	EN	\N	Cultural Affairs Agency must rebuild itself	On Monday, the education, science and technology minister and the agency's director general apologized for the agency's failure to properly repair richly colored wall paintings inside Takamatsuzuka ancient tomb in Asukamura, Nara Prefecture. The ministry disciplined agency officials responsible for the agency's mismanagement, which has caused a deterioration in the surface of the paintings.	4	2006-06-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 2001, the agency conducted work to prevent a cave-in at the entrance to a stone chamber of the tomb--but without doing enough to ensure mold did not grow on the chamber wall. The agency's failure in this respect caused a large amount of mold to appear on the surface.In 2002, the agency was so careless as to damage a painting on the western wall of the chamber during an inspection of mold on the chamber walls. The agency repaired the damage without publicizing the incident.In its report submitted to the Cultural Affairs Agency, an agency panel of specialists and academics said the agency's failure to properly preserve the wall paintings could be attributed to its inherent tendency to work without cooperation among its internal organs. The committee cited the agency's sectionalism and its insufficient awareness of the need to disclose information and perform its duties with clear explanations.The lack of cooperation and coordination among the agency's internal sections was exemplified by its work to prevent a cave-in at the entrance to the stone chamber in 2001.Poor internal cooperationThe agency's Monuments and Sites Division undertakes to preserve the ancient tomb as a whole, while the Fine Arts Division supervises the wall paintings. The Fine Arts Division asked the Monuments and Sites Division to undertake work to prevent a cave-in at the tomb in 2001, but failed to emphasize the need to implement anti-mold measures essential for preventing a deterioration in the surface of the paintings.Meanwhile, the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo--an organ commissioned to preserve the paintings--had never been informed of the agency's decision to carry out the work.The committee's report concludes the work was conducted in a manner that did not consider possible damage to the interior of the stone chamber. The panel goes on to say it was not clear who was responsible for each stage of the work.The agency's lack of readiness to disclose information and adequately explain its conduct was brought to light when it became known what the institution had done to repair the damage to the paintings.Agency officials responsible for the repair work did not publicize the damage, believing it could be covered by ordinary maintenance work. Instead, the agency applied mud to the paintings.The decision to conduct this repair work was given by section chiefs in charge of the work. This means that the decision by specialists within the agency was rubber-stamped.Misleading the publicIn another case, the agency provided the media with a copy of the photograph it claimed to have been taken after one of the paintings suffered damage. However, it has been found that the photo in question was falsely dated, meaning it had been taken before the painting was damaged.Each category of administrative duties fulfilled by the Cultural Affairs Agency is largely is left to the care of agency experts in that field. This may have encouraged agency officials to shy away from playing a part in each other's work--resulting in sectionalism. This tendency has also contributed in part to the agency's tendency to conceal information.There is a pressing need for the agency to increase its internal cooperation and its cooperation with external institutions. This must be complemented by efforts to clarify where responsibility lies with respect to each of the agency's assigned tasks, while also adopting a positive attitude toward information disclosure.The agency is scheduled to dismantle the stone chamber in February as a means of better preserving the wall paintings. The plan is a painful decision by the agency, which has been alarmed by the uninterrupted deterioration in the surface of the paintings. Dismantling the chamber means greater risks involved in the preservation of the paintings. Given this, the agency has an even greater responsibility to fulfill.The agency's apology and its punishment of those responsible should not be a mere formality. Its latest action must serve as an initial step toward reforming itself. The Cultural Affairs Agency must hold only itself responsible for achieving the goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	800	2006-06-20	YOSHIN0020060620e26k000h0
YOMSHI0020060620e26l0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060620e26l0000g	EN	\N	GSDF pullout not end of assistance for Iraq	On Tuesday, the government decided to pull GSDF units out of the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, ending its humanitarian aid for the war-torn nation's rehabilitation. This was followed by an order issued by Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga for the GSDF withdrawal.	4	2006-06-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Over the past 2-1/2 years, about 5,500 GSDF members have been dispatched under the special legislation for Japan's aid in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq. The GSDF mission in Iraq is the first time Self-Defense Forces have operated in foreign territories, with the exception of Japan's participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations and disaster-relief activities.Today, troops from 28 countries, including the United States, are working to maintain peace in Iraq and provide humanitarian assistance for the country's reconstruction. The GSDF's activities in Iraq have done much to reconfirm the Japan-U.S. alliance as a main pillar of both nations' commitment to global peace and to shore up bilateral relations.The establishment in May of a full-fledged Iraqi government marked significant progress in that nation's political process. The power to maintain peace and order in Samawah, where the GSDF units are operating, will soon be transferred from British and Australian troops there to local public security authorities. This has given the Japanese government cause to determine the time is ripe for the GSDF pullout.No GSDF member has died while on duty in Iraq. We hope the government will expend all possible means to ensure the safety of GSDF personnel in Samawah until the last troop returns home safely.Japan's interests at stakeInstability in Iraq would destabilize not only the Middle East, but the entire international community. Success in rebuilding Iraq is vitally important for Japan, a nation that relies on the Middle East for close to 90 percent of its crude oil imports.In response to a request from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan for Japan to assist in U.N. transport activities, the government intends to continue and expand the Air Self-Defense Force's support operation. Improvement of Iraq's public order will lead to the reestablishment of U.N. offices in the country. This will provide an opportunity for Japan to expand its role in Iraq's rehabilitation.It also will be necessary for Japan to increase aid to Iraq through its official development assistance. The government has already said it will extend a total of 5 billion dollars in aid to Iraq, including 1.5 billion dollars in grants-in-aid. This nation has already provided the latter financial assistance. The government must implement specific measures to extend its promised yen loans to Iraq.SDF's activities must continueIt is essential that Japan continue international peace cooperation activities by the SDF for the purpose of ensuring the peace and stability of the international community.However, the government will be unable to swiftly deal with each new emergency that may arise if it must create a new law to handle the situation. The government must hasten the creation of a permanent law on the SDF's international peace cooperation activities.Earlier, a subcommittee of the Liberal Democratic Party's National Defense Division advanced one proposal concerning Japan's international peace cooperation activities. The subcommittee said SDF troops should be dispatched for such missions with approval by the Diet, even in the absence of a U.N. resolution or a request from an international organization. Given the U.N. failure to function over divisions among Britain, France, Germany and the United States before the Iraq war, the subcommittee's proposal merits consideration.The LDP panel also proposed reviewing the standards for the use of weapons by SDF personnel. It is important to ensure the rules are defined in a manner that would enable the SDF to smoothly fulfill their duties.Efforts to establish a permanent law covering Japan's international peace cooperation activities constitute a task to be tackled by the government that takes over the reins of the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	726	2006-06-21	YOSHIN0020060621e26l000gj
YOMSHI0020060623e26m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060623e26m00001	EN	\N	Lifting of beef ban requires vigilance	With the agreement in place, U.S. beef shipments to Japan are expected to resume as early as the end of next month.	4	2006-06-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While many consumers, such as gyudon beef bowl connoisseurs, welcome the development, quite a few are worried whether U.S. beef will be safe.It must not be forgotten that the imports will be resumed amid both supporting and opposing opinions.Japanese and U.S. officials concerned with the beef trade have to do everything they can to ensure the beef that will be on the tables in Japanese households is safe. In this context, all-out quality control at U.S. meat-packing plants that ship beef to Japan must be ensured.Imports of U.S. beef were first banned in December 2003 following a confirmation of the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States.The ban was lifted late last year after a year of negotiations between Japan and the United States, and following the completion of administrative procedures in Japan.The ban was reimposed a month later because parts of backbone were found in a shipment of veal from the United States. Backbones are considered a specified risk material because BSE-causing pathogens are likely to accumulate in them.Joint inspections neededThe reimposition of the ban was the correct action to take because one of the conditions for a resumption of beef imports was that all specified risk materials were to be removed from beef to be shipped to Japan.At the time, the U.S. side explained that workers at the meat-packing plant that handled the veal shipment and the U.S. inspector at the plant had not been fully aware of the conditions regarding beef exports to Japan. This was quite surprising.During the latest negotiations, the United States explained it had checked all 35 plants licensed to export beef to Japan, and inspectors had been fully trained, a move that won Tokyo's approval.Beef imports will resume after Japan has inspected all the 35 facilities.In December, U.S. beef was arriving in Japan even while inspections were being carried out by Japanese officials and after a resumption of imports had been officially agreed upon.In addition, not all meat-packing plants handling beef exports to Japan had been inspected.These government actions drew criticism from Japanese lawmakers, experts and consumers, who said the Japanese government was not taking a firm enough stance on the issue.S. Korea sets good exampleThose incidents must be utilized as lessons. Like Japan, the South Korean government recently considered resuming imports of U.S. beef. However, it decided not to restart imports for the time being because it had discovered some inappropriate points during its prior inspections of U.S. meat-packing facilities.Japan should learn from such rigorous inspections.The U.S. side also agreed to allow Japanese inspectors to take part in random inspections. Continuous inspections would help prevent the inclusion of risk materials in shipments to Japan.A key point of the latest negotiations was how Japan would respond to any violations of the terms of a resumption of imports.U.S. negotiators insisted that only a facility that violated the conditions should be banned from exporting beef to Japan, instead of Japan imposing a total import ban.After the negotiations, the two sides agreed that appropriate measures will be taken according to the nature of the violation.While safety is of paramount importance in the planned resumption of U.S. beef imports, at the same time, the two countries must exercise ingenuity to avoid unnecessary friction between them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2006-06-22	YOSHIN0020060622e26m000fw
YOMSHI0020060623e26n00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060623e26n00002	EN	\N	Duties ignored in pursuit of profits	The Financial Services Agency has ordered Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., a major nonlife insurer, to halt sales of its so-called third-sector insurance products such as cancer and medical insurance products indefinitely and to suspend sales of mainstay nonlife products, such as fire and automobile insurance, for two weeks.	4	2006-06-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The FSA launched an investigation of the nonlife insurance industry following the scandal over nonpayment of insurance claims by nonlife insurers that broke out in autumn and uncovered further cases of nonpayment involving medical insurance products and special supplementary contracts on automobile insurance products sold by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance.In autumn, the insurance company reported to the FSA that it had discovered 27,000 cases of nonpayment in respect of additional policies on automobile insurance, such as those covering the cost of hiring an alternative vehicle and another that covers "solatium" costs of a policyholder to be used for visiting the injured when the holder caused a traffic accident.However, the FSA's investigation discovered 17,000 more cases of nonpayment.In May, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. received a business suspension order from the FSA because it was found to have failed to pay out on its policies in an additional 1,300 cases. The figure for Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance was surprisingly high.Practices constituted fraudThe firm misled policyholders in a significant number of cases by, for example, telling them that if they claimed on their policy, their premium would go up, thereby discouraging subscribers from submitting claims.For medical insurance policies, necessary medical examinations were skipped, and the insurer's employees wrongly refused to pay out on insurance claims at their own discretion.Such practices are so malicious that they can only be described as fraud. It was right for the FSA to impose the exceptionally severe administrative punishments on the insurer.The company has neither a system to detect the wrongful nonpayment of insurance claims nor a mechanism through which customers' complaints and the actual situation of the nonpayment cases could be conveyed to the top management. A fundamental duty of an insurance company--paying out on legitimate insurance claims--was treated lightly.Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance President Hiroyuki Uemura on Wednesday said his firm had "failed to build a [proper] management structure," admitting that the nonpayment problem occurred due to a system failure in the company as a whole.To regain its customers' trust, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance must drastically reform its overall operations.Firms should search soulsAmid the fierce competition within the insurance industry, the company tried to boost its sales system to maximize profits, but failed to put in place necessary management control systems. As a result, the nonpayment scandal occurred, and subscribers to Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance's policies lost out. Other nonlife insurance companies made the same errorsHowever, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and other nonlife insurance companies are not the only ones to have gone astray.In the financial industry as a whole, a number of companies have received suspension orders from the FSA since autumn due to their inappropriate business practices. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co. received a suspension order due to nonpayment cases and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. was issued with one due to its employees' illegal methods of selling financial products.The tough days that followed the bursting of the bubble economy are long over, and the environment is right for banks and insurance companies to engage in healthy competition.Under such circumstances, an urgent task for them is to strengthen their profitability.However, are they treating their customers lightly due to an overemphasis on chasing profits? Even companies that have not been punished by the FSA need to think again about how they conduct their business.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2006-06-23	YOSHIN0020060623e26n000ex
YOMSHI0020060623e26o0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060623e26o0000j	EN	\N	Murakami had Horie twisted around his finger	Yoshiaki Murakami, the former head of the so-called Murakami Fund, was indicted Friday on charges of insider trading involving Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. shares.	4	2006-06-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Murakami allegedly approached Livedoor Co. executives with a proposal that the firm buy up NBS shares. Yet he later sold off the NBS shares the fund held when their price soared after Livedoor announced that it had bought a big stake in the media company. This fact came to light after Murakami was arrested by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.Shortly before his arrest, he told reporters that he inadvertently broke the law by buying shares in NBS, which he said he had heard was the target of a hostile takeover. But the reality was quite different from what he told reporters.Murakami allegedly prodded Livedoor to buy the shares in the media company by saying, "If Livedoor buys one-third (of all the NBS shares), those shares, together with the ones held by the fund, would enable us to take over the management right of NBS."Moreover, the fund sold off much of its NBS shares on the market without transferring them to Livedoor. By doing this, Murakami and the fund duped then Livedoor President Takafumi Horie and other Livedoor executives. In short, Murakami directed the series of irregularities from behind the scenes.Horie 'used'At a press conference held shortly before his arrest, Murakami said he did not intend to make profits by exploiting Livedoor. To public prosecutors, however, he admitted the fund continued buying up NBS shares for the purpose of making profits.In the same vein, he has reportedly admitted he felt "sorry for Horie," as he used him to make profits.With regard to stock dealings by the Murakami Fund, there have been many cases in which the fund solely intended to earn profits through short-term dealings, of, for instance, shares of Myojo Foods Co. and those of Shinanen Co., a fuel sales company.Murakami appeared on the stock market as an aggressive shareholder with such mottos as "Change corporate boardrooms [filled with contented executives]" and "Raise corporate value."Some critics say Murakami was initially upright, but changed as the amount of money handled by his fund ballooned. Yet public prosecutors who questioned Murakami have concluded that his primary motive was making profits.Watchdogs should bare teethMurakami has been praised for having created tension between corporate managers and shareholders, as an aggressive shareholder unafraid to speak his mind. But prosecutors are critical of him, saying that such a benign view is tantamount to thanking burglars for making people lock their doors.In the past few years, Livedoor and the Murakami Fund have compromised the fairness of stock trading, causing disarray in the stock market. Finding such players and driving them out of the market would restore stability in the market.As the judicial authorities will ultimately aim at putting Murakami on trial, an enormous amount of time and labor will have to be expended on investigations. It will be difficult for public prosecutors to keep a close eye out for the emergence of another Murakami Fund and prevent further irregularities by themselves.The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission should reinforce its monitoring by inspecting and investigating, and taking necessary administrative action.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	606	2006-06-24	YOSHIN0020060624e26o000ge
YOMSHI0020060624e26p0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060624e26p0000f	EN	\N	Plans to boost birthrate omit ideas on funding	But the question is: Will the package put the brakes on the falling birthrate? For despite the title of the package, it lacks substance in terms of originality and impact.	4	2006-06-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The package lists 40 items, centering around the two main themes of support for child-rearing, and reforming the work practices.With regard to support for child-rearing, the package lists measures for four child-rearing stages in accordance with age: newborns and infants; preschoolers; primary school children; and middle, high school and college students.In reference to new work practices, the package contains ways to help younger people have families and rear children through such measures as assisting young job-hopping part-time workers find full-time jobs, and reducing excessive working hours.But we cannot rid ourselves of the notion that the package has only narrowed down and rearranged what the support plan for the children and child-rearing parents, which the government has been tackling since fiscal 2005, has touted.Too few new ideasSince the so-called Angel Plan--the first package of measures of this kind--the government has devised so many packages of measures for the declining birthrate that it has nearly run out of plausible measures. What is lacking in the new package is a way to tackle the task with a priority order attached, as it stands, the new package is a mere extension to existing packages.One of the few really "new" measures in the latest offering is an increase in the child-rearing allowance for parents with infants.Currently, allowances are paid to parents with a primary school child, with a monthly sum of 5,000 yen per child up to the second child, and 10,000 yen a month to the third child and those born later.From next fiscal year, the new package would pay an additional sum to parents with infants under 3.It would be a good idea to improve economic assistance to child-rearing parents, by focusing on providing it to young parents with infants.Show us the moneyWhen it comes to the actual amounts of money needed and a source of revenue, however, nothing has been worked out. The government and the ruling parties merely say the specifics would be discussed at the time of compiling a fiscal budget.With regards to other measures, discussions that would pin down a revenue source have all been put off.If the measures remain half completed like this, they would end up as a futile exercise in lavish spending that would have little effect. If the government and the ruling parties intend to formulate a budget to stem the declining birthrate, they must first determine how to bankroll it.That said, there are limits to what the new package could do to stem the declining birthrate in the first place.In the government's annual basic policy on economic and fiscal management and structural reforms, to be compiled next month, the issue of how to cut social-security expenses has become a major theme.It is not easy to find the revenue to implement measures to deal with the declining birthrate. While it is essential to raise consumption tax to fund medical care and welfare programs, full discussions on these issues have yet to be started.As things stand, it would be difficult to implement specific measures that require a source of revenue. The fact that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has constantly sidestepped discussion on raising consumption tax may have driven the government and the ruling parties to their current position whereby they cannot come up with any effective measures to deal with the declining birthrate.It may be necessary for those interested in succeeding Koizumi as prime minister to review the contents of the package, together with its revenue source, before taking the job.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	676	2006-06-25	YOSHIN0020060625e26p0008y
YOMSHI0020060626e26q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060626e26q00001	EN	\N	New U.N. rights body must confront violators	The council, which replaced the discredited Human Rights Commission as a pillar of U.N. reform, has begun operations in Geneva.	4	2006-06-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Human Rights Commission played an important role in laying down international rules on human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights. However, the commission tarnished its own prestige and credibility by granting membership to nations that sought to stifle criticism of their human-rights situations.The experience has been a bitter lesson for the United Nations. This can be seen in the U.N. decision to stiffen standards for selecting members of the council. A U.N. member state seeking a seat on the council must win votes from at least 96 U.N. countries, a majority of the global body. The council is authorized to suspend a nation's membership if it is found to have committed serious human-rights abuses and more than two-thirds of members of the U.N. General Assembly adopt a motion against that country.The 47 members of the council, including Japan, must take the lead in setting good examples for other U.N. member countries as true guardians of human rights. They have to implement workable measures to resolve serious human-rights problems in many parts of the world.Abductions test council's cloutThe abduction of Japanese and other nationals by North Korea is a good example of grave human-rights violation. The abduction problem poses a test for the council's ability to address human-rights issues.During the first meeting of the council, Japan emphasized its determination to resolve issues related to North Korea's human-rights situation, including the abduction issue, through increasing its cooperation with other nations in resolving human-rights problems in that country.To help accomplish that goal, Japan said it would support a proposal to adopt, as soon as possible, a treaty aimed at prohibiting government organizations in any U.N. member state from abducting people, and punishing offenders. Needless to say, Japan's action reflected its desire to refute the North Korean assertion that the abduction issue had been resolved. Given Pyongyang's stand in the dispute, Japan and other nations must continue to step up pressure on that country to address international concern about its human-rights situation.Condemning abusesThe now-defunct Human Rights Commission adopted resolutions on North Korea for three consecutive years, beginning in 2003. Last year, the General Assembly passed a censure motion against the country, the first of its kind to be adopted by the global body.Japan should continue to press other U.N. members to adopt a resolution demanding North Korea repatriate Japanese abductees and agree to a U.N. inspection of its human-rights situation.It should be noted, however, that China, Russia and South Korea are members of the council. In the past, Beijing and Russia have voted against motions to censure North Korea. Seoul has abstained from voting on such motions. There are concerns that these nations may continue to adopt a negative attitude toward an international proposal to condemn North Korea.It is also important to note that the eligibility of some members of the council to speak about human-rights issues is open to question. Meanwhile, the United States has refused to join the council, saying little progress has been made in reforming the United Nations. All this arouses doubts about whether the council will be able to take steps to improve human-rights situations around the world.The council is tasked with periodically inspecting the human-rights situations in all U.N. member states. Specific procedures to conduct such inspections have yet to be laid down.Admittedly, there are many problems to be surmounted in ensuring the council fully serves its purpose. Still, the council's primary task is to address such specific cases of human-rights violations as North Korea's abductions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2006-06-26	YOSHIN0020060626e26q000bn
YOMSHI0020060628e26r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060628e26r00001	EN	\N	Consumption tax hike path to balanced budget	On Monday, the government, the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, put together the plan for simultaneously reforming government expenditures and revenue. The reform package will be the main pillar of a broad reform policy to be adopted by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in early July. The next comprehensive policy initiative will be the last of its kind by the Koizumi administration.	4	2006-06-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest reform plan calls for achieving a neutral primary balance in state finances in five years, while reducing spending by the central and local governments by a range of \\11.4 trillion to \\14.3 trillion. The government has said the differential of about \\3 trillion between the two figures is an attempt to accommodate changes in the economy.The reform plan would cut the central and local governments' payroll costs by \\2.6 trillion and social welfare costs by \\1.6 trillion. However, the plan is vague about how much should be cut from the budget for public works projects. It only states the amount of expenditures for public works projects should be reduced by \\3.9 trillion to \\5.6 trillion. This reflects the concern of LDP members in the House of Councillors who have opposed making major cuts in public works spending, in the belief that such a move could adversely affect the LDP's upper house election campaign in the summer of 2007.Nonetheless, the cuts in spending for public works projects have deepened from the initial estimate.Raise tax rateQuestions should be raised about the reform package's approach toward increasing the government's annual revenue. The package is ambiguous about increasing the consumption tax rate. The government and the ruling parties should have clearly stated the consumption tax rate, currently 5 percent, should be raised.The reform plan predicts the government will face a shortfall of \\16.5 trillion when it seeks to achieve a surplus in the primary balance of the budget in five years. This means it will have to raise about \\2 trillion to \\5 trillion through a tax increase, with spending cuts making up the rest of the \\16.5 trillion revenue shortage.A one-percentage-point hike in the consumption tax is worth a revenue increase of about \\2.5 trillion, which means an increase of one point to two points in the tax rate would produce the revenue needed to balance annual expenditures and revenue.With their duty as primary policymakers in mind, the government and the ruling coalition should have stated they would raise the consumption tax rate to cover the revenue shortfall. However, the reform package is vague on this issue, only saying its plans "will not directly lead to an increase in a specific tax rate." It is easy to see the government and the ruling parties are trying to put off the necessary consumption tax hike.If the increase in the spending cuts is intended to conceal its desire to increase the tax, the ruling coalition's motive for curbing expenditures should be dismissed as dishonest.Perennial election issueIt should be noted that the dispute over a proposal to increase the consumption tax will not end with the upper house election . The upper house election will be followed by a House of Representatives election. If it seeks to prevent the tax increase from becoming a major campaign issue, the ruling coalition will never be able to raise the tax.The government and the ruling parties remain reluctant to take drastic steps to rebuild the state's troubled finances. Their attitude is anything but responsible. They should redesign the reform package to produce a plan that clearly states the need to raise the consumption tax.Questions should also be raised about the ruling coalition's decision to lower its estimate for the revenue shortfall by \\3.5 trillion from an initially projected \\20 trillion. The ruling parties have said the decision reflects a greater-than-expected increase in tax revenue as a result of an improvement in the economy.Needless to say, the growth in tax revenue is a welcome change. However, it may be wiser to use the revenue growth to help redeem the massive amount of government bonds issued in the past, or reduce the amount of such bonds to be issued in the future, instead of using it to cover the budget shortfall.The government and the ruling parties should set the estimate for a revenue shortfall at \\20 billion, as initially projected, and redesign their reform package in a manner that would offset the shortage through cuts in expenditures and a tax increase.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	829	2006-06-27	YOSHIN0020060627e26r000fr
YOMSHI0020060627e26s0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060627e26s0000g	EN	\N	Govt must rethink restrictions on M&As	The news of the creation of the mega-corporation must have sent shock waves down the spine of the Japanese steel industry.	4	2006-06-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Mittal has grown rapidly, absorbing steel companies--mainly in Southeast Asia and Central and South America--through a process of mergers and acquisitions.Observers in the steel industry have reportedly referred to Mittal as "a lucky adventurer."Mittal mainly produces cheap multipurpose steel products. However, with the merger with Arcelor, which has expertise in high-end products such as steel sheet for automobiles, Mittal will be able to further increase its presence in the industry.The new megacompany will have a crude steel output of more than 100 million tons. This is more than three times that of Japan's largest steel company, Nippon Steel Corp., the world's third-largest steelmaker.Speculation is rife that Mittal will target the East Asia region for its next move. Japanese steelmakers, whose technologies are rated the most advanced in the world, are prime targets for Mittal.In Japan, JFE Steel Corp. was created through a merger of Kawasaki Steel Corp. and NKK Corp.Nippon Steel, Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. and Kobe Steel Ltd. have agreed to enhance their working relations, including cross-share holdings, to fend off any takeover attempt.National productivity at riskHowever, it is unclear to what extent Japanese steel companies could fend off an all-out hostile takeover bid by a foreign company. Domestic mergers would be one option for Japanese steelmakers to fend off overseas takeover bids.But the Fair Trade Commission's criteria for mergers is very hard to meet--the monopoly watchdog only approves a merger when a merged entity would have 35 percent or less of the domestic market share.From the viewpoint of global corporate realignment, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has urged that the figure be eased to 50 percent or less.The outline for economic growth strategies drafted by the government and ruling parties says the standard should be reviewed this fiscal year.The Japanese steel industry has been cooperating with other industries, such as auto industry and electrical appliance industry, and has been providing the steel products required by these industries. This cooperation has sustained the competitiveness of the Japanese manufacturing industry as a whole.Merge or submerge?But if a Japanese steel company were to become a subsidiary of a foreign company, the nation's production system may suffer.Globally, mergers and acquisitions are becoming active in such industries as chemicals and drugs.In the near future, Japanese companies in various industries may seek to expand their size. The FTC's criteria for approving mergers should be reviewed to meet the changing times.However, simply changing the number from 35 percent to 50 percent would only reduce the FTC's discretionary power.It would be better to stipulate that a merger would be approved if a resulting market share of 35 percent to 50 percent "would not hamper competition."In addition, factors other than market share--such as conditions vis-a-vis competition with foreign rivals--should be considered in examining a merger plan.If such points were considered, the right environment would be created for the birth of behemoth corporations with matching competitiveness.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	592	2006-06-28	YOSHIN0020060628e26s000g4
YOMSHI0020060628e26t0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060628e26t0000c	EN	\N	Japan should follow Germany's lead on tax	Earlier this month, the German parliament passed a bill to raise the main rate of value-added tax (VAT) from 16 percent to 19 percent in January. VAT in Germany is equivalent to consumption tax in Japan.	4	2006-06-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The reduced VAT rate, which is applied to daily necessities such as food, tap water, newspapers and books will remain unchanged at 7 percent.The VAT rate had already been hiked six times since the days of West Germany. However, all of the increases had been one percentage point increases, nothing like the latest increase of three percentage points.The increase is expected to bring an additional 24.5 billion euro (3.6 trillion yen) in revenue, or about 1.1 percent of the country's gross domestic product.Way to replenish state coffersIf this tactic were applied to Japan, an additional 6 trillion yen would have flowed into state coffer's after only five months of Diet deliberation following a submission of a bill to the Diet in February.In Japan, many lawmakers, government officials and experts have expressed the need to increase the consumption tax rate.But progress toward a realization of an increase has been slow. Discussions by the government and ruling parties over the reform of government expenditures and revenues as a whole have failed to present detailed proposals for a reform of the tax system.We cannot help but feel there is a wide gap in the sense of responsibility between Japan and Germany with regard to fiscal conditions.In the German general election in September, the Christian Democratic Union and its sister party, the Christian Social Union, pledged to increase the VAT rate. The rival Social Democrats vowed to increase the maximum rate for the income tax as a campaign pledge.Both sides failed to win a majority in the election, and talks over the formation of a coalition continued for two months. As a result, a grand coalition was formed with Angela Merkel, head of the CDU, as the new chancellor.During the talks, the two sides agreed to increase VAT and income tax at the same time.About two-thirds of the increased tax revenue from VAT will be used for fiscal rehabilitation, and one-third will be used to help reduce unemployment benefit premiums paid by workers and employers.Time to stop shilly-shallyingGermany's combined federal and local government fiscal deficits have stood at more than 3 percent of the GDP since 2002. The country, as a leader of the European Union, needed to bring down the rate to 3 percent or lower to meet one of the requirements to join the European single currency.There have been opinions from both inside and outside of Germany, opposing the planned tax increases, saying economic growth at 1.8 percent this year will decline to 1.2 percent next year.However Finance Minister Peer Steinbruck ignored these calls, saying there was no other option.Japan's fiscal deficit in 2005 accounted for 5.6 percent of the GDP, far higher than Germany's 3.6 percent.Facing the worst fiscal deficit among developed countries, the government and ruling coalition have demonstrated a lack of a sense of crisis.To maintain social security and to reduce fiscal deficits, Japan has no options, but to increase the consumption tax rate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2006-06-29	YOSHIN0020060629e26t000h5
YOMSHI0020060630e26u00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060630e26u00002	EN	\N	Kim's remarks followed Pyongyang's script	Kim Young Nam, a South Korean abductee who is believed to have married Japanese abductee Megumi Yokota, spoke to reporters at a hotel in North Korea on Thursday after he was temporarily reunited with his mother and sister, who live in South Korea, for the first time in 28 years the previous day.	4	2006-06-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On the whereabouts of Yokota, Kim said she committed suicide in a hospital in April 1994, while she was being treated for depression.Referring to what the North Korean government claims are the remains of Yokota, which were handed over to Japan, and which Japan later identified as not being those of Yokota, Kim denounced Japanese claims as an encroachment on the human rights of himself as a husband and of Yokota.By saying this, Kim merely parroted the claims made by the North Korean government. By having her husband speak of Yokota's death, Pyongyang may want to make her "death" a fait accompli.Yet we cannot believe that Kim could speak freely in North Korea. His remarks clearly were scripted by Pyongyang.ROK should demand truthKim himself is one of those South Koreans who were abducted to North Korea. He was abducted from a beach in South Korea in summer 28 years ago, when he was a first-year high school student.North Korea has consistently denied that it abducted any South Koreans. Kim most likely denied that he was abducted so as not to contradict Pyongyang's stance on the abduction issue.Kim said he got into a small boat at a beach, fell asleep and drifted out to the sea, where he was rescued by a North Korean boat. He then settled in North Korea, he said.He also said he worked at a special organization that handled the issue of the unification of the two Koreas, met with Yokota, then a Japanese language teacher, and married her. These explanations were in accordance with what we had assumed.Kim's comments remind us of the case of Takeshi Terakoshi. He went missing while he was out fishing at sea. Twenty-four years later, he was found living in North Korea. He has settled in the country as a senior official of the North Korean regime.The inhuman modus operandi of North Korea, which treats people's lives and even the fate of a family as matters of no consequence, has been highlighted once again.Kim's abduction is an undeniable fact that the South Korean government has confirmed on the basis of testimonies given by former North Korean agents.The South Korean government should demand that Pyongyang give a clear picture of the whole issue in the days ahead, including revealing the whereabouts of the four former high school students who were abducted in a manner similar to the way Kim was snatched.N. Korea trying to hide crimeKim, accompanied by his 18-year-old daughter, Hye Gyong, whom he is believed to have conceived with Yokota, his second and current wife and their 7-year-old son, was reunited with his mother and sister.Their reunion was presented as that of a family who participated in the Pyongyang program to reunite families separated by the division of the Korean Peninsula, a program that symbolizes the reconciliation of two peoples who belong to one race.It is becoming apparent that North Korea is trying to conceal the crime of abduction that it sponsored as a state.Kim was trotted out probably because Pyongyang wanted to limit the impact of the finding that Kim is highly likely the husband of Yokota, revealed through the DNA examination conducted by the Japanese government.Pyongyang may also be trying to drive a wedge between Japan and South Korea to prevent them from cooperating on the abduction issue.The government should expose the inconsistencies in Kim's comments and deal ever more strictly with North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2006-06-30	YOSHIN0020060630e26u000fs
YOMSHI0020060630e2710000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060630e2710000i	EN	\N	Bilateral alliance will only get stronger	At their summit meeting in Washington on Thursday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush described the Japan-U.S. relationship as "one of the most accomplished bilateral relationships in history." Afterward they issued a joint statement titled "The Japan-U.S. Alliance of the New Century," which aims to deepen their cooperation on a global scale.	4	2006-07-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the Koizumi administration dispatched Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to the Indian Ocean in accordance with the Antiterrorism Law.When the Iraq war started, Tokyo swiftly made clear its support for the United States and later dispatched Ground Self-Defense Force troops to Samawah, southern Iraq, in line with special legislation governing Japan's aid for the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.The range of activities of the Self-Defense Forces has expanded on an unprecedented scale while Koizumi has been in office. The realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, as was agreed on by Tokyo and Washington, will reinforce cooperation between the SDF and U.S. forces and transform the quality and parity of the alliance.The phrase regarding the "complete and prompt implementation of agreements" contained in the joint statement might also be a reference by the two countries to confirm the qualitative change.Rethink collective self-defenseTo galvanize the alliance further, the government must change its constitutional interpretation concerning the right of collective self-defense from its current position that "Japan possesses the right, but cannot exercise it," to one that states "Japan can exercise this right."The current interpretation not only fails to match the common view of the international community, but might become an obstacle to Japan-U.S. cooperation.For the government, reviewing its interpretation of the right to collective self-defense has become all the more important.During the summit talks, Bush questioned Koizumi regarding Japan's relations with China. Koizumi replied that he could not understand why China refused to hold summit talks due to its displeasure with his visits to Yasukuni Shrine. The United States also should be keeping a watchful eye on the strained relations between Japan and China.In the joint statement, Koizumi and Bush affirmed that "robust Japan-U.S. cooperation will embrace China's dynamism and contribute to maintaining peace and tranquility in Northeast Asia."China's influence in the region can help to keep a leash on North Korea, which has the potential to cause instability in the region with its nuclear arms development, its preparations for launching a Taepodong-2 missile and the abduction issue.It is important that Japan and the United States carry out strategic diplomacy based on their alliance so China can assume its role as a "responsible stakeholder" in the region.Even friends disagreeHowever, Tokyo does not blindly follow Washington on every issue. It is only natural for the government to speak its mind when it disagrees with Washington, such as on Iran's nuclear development and the U.S.-India nuclear power accord. The exchange of candid opinions will reinforce the relationship.Koizumi repeatedly emphasized that no bilateral relationship in the world is as important as that between Japan and the United States.No matter who succeeds Koizumi as prime minister later this year, Japan's diplomatic policy, which revolves around the alliance with the United States, will remain unchanged. This could be considered the most important message expressed in the latest summit talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 1, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2006-07-01	YOSHIN0020060701e271000gr
YOMSHI0020060701e2720000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060701e2720000e	EN	\N	Hashimoto's mixed political legacy	He advocated six major reforms, including administrative reform centering on the restructuring of government ministries and agencies; economic and fiscal reform including deregulation and the financial Big Bang; and social security reform to deal with the aging population and falling birthrate.	4	2006-07-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	He was motivated by his understanding that Japan's political, economic and social systems created after the end of World War II, which enabled it to become an economic superpower, were suffering from institutional fatigue and had to be drastically reformed. In that sense, Hashimoto was the first advocate of the structural reform track that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has adhered to.Economic policy blunderHowever, Hashimoto also will be remembered for committing a monumental policy error while trying to rebuild an economy groaning under the sheer weight of nonperforming loans.When the economy was showing glimmers of a slight recovery, Hashimoto raised the consumption tax rate, ended some tax breaks and hiked pension premiums. Those measures sent the economy into a tailspin, causing the worst deflation-led recession in the postwar era.Subsequent administrations had to place utmost priority on policies to deal with the negative legacy from this miscalculation. Cabinets led by Keizo Obuchi and Yoshiro Mori tried to rebuild the economy by following an expansionary fiscal policy. But the Koizumi Cabinet, born during a crisis of worsening deflation, took the structural reform tack again. At the time, this looked like a historical irony.The government will reportedly announce soon that the economy will finally emerge from deflation by the end of this year. The nation is poised to overcome Hashimoto's negative legacy.One significant accomplishment of his administration was reconstructing the Japan-U.S. security alliance in a period when a new international order was sought after the end of the Cold War. The Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on Security, which stressed enhancement of bilateral defense cooperation, was agreed on by the Hashimoto Cabinet and then U.S. President Bill Clinton's administration. Hashimoto also paved the way for the relocation of U.S. bases in Okinawa Prefecture, including an agreement on the return of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to Japan.An old-school politicianWhile the nation was in a state of major change, Hashimoto succeeded in making reform guidelines. But his government failed to produce enough results in domestic affairs partly because it initially was a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake (Pioneers), which all championed different basic policies. His administration's poor performance in domestic politics also could be attributed to Hashimoto himself, however, who was still tied to the old-fashioned style of politics.He succeeded control of the LDP's largest faction formerly led by Obuchi and ran in the party's presidential election in April 2001 in a bid to become prime minister again. However, he lost to Koizumi, who proclaimed himself free from the factional approach to political administration.The revelation of an illegal 100 million yen donation from the Japan Dentists Federation to the Hashimoto faction marked the beginning of the end and served as the catalyst for his retirement from the political fold.Hashimoto's final years seemed to mirror the demise of factional politics in the LDP.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 2, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	596	2006-07-02	YOSHIN0020060702e2720009z
YOMSHI0020060703e27300003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060703e27300003	EN	\N	License renewal for teachers meaningless	However, the Central Council for Education has proposed a new system that makes teaching credentials valid for every 10 years and requires teachers to take refresher courses to renew them. The council will soon submit a report recommending introduction of the system to Education, Science and Technology Minister Kenji Kosaka.	4	2006-07-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Judging from the draft report, we have to question whether the system is really necessary. The main reason for our doubt is that the purpose and meaning for introducing the system are ambiguous.A series of wrongdoings committed by teachers, including molestation, have been reported recently. Meanwhile, more and more teachers are labeled as lacking sufficient teaching ability because they are unable to conduct classes or instruct children in a disciplined way.Along with the current disciplinary and discharge system, is it possible to create a system to reexamine the ability of teachers and to immediately remove those with problems from classrooms?To answer this question and eliminate public mistrust of teachers, the education minister consulted the council two years ago on introducing a renewal system for teaching licenses.Not screening systemHowever, the council now says in its report that the system is not aimed directly at weeding out teachers lacking sufficient ability.Instead, the council says that it should be a positive system to help teachers stand in front of students with confidence and pride as well as to aid them to win the respect and trust of society under conditions where their licenses are guaranteed for 10 years after renewal.Teachers' licenses will be renewed automatically if they take at least 30 hours of refresher courses conducted by education boards of local governments. Those who fail to complete the courses will lose their licenses, but can apply to be relicensed if they take refresher courses at a later date.If this system is enforced, however, teachers will not endeavor to keep up their level of ability on a routine basis and make serious preparations for renewal of their licenses. Will they feel confidence and pride if their licenses are renewed automatically by just listening to lectures? Above all, will this lead to a recovery of the public's respect for and trust in teachers?Course content vagueIn addition, the nature and the extent of the license renewal refresher courses is not clear.The council said in the draft report that refresher courses will be designed to keep up with changes in children and society as well as to help teachers improve their characteristics and strengthen their abilities.Even now, teachers who have 10 years of teaching experience attend lectures with similar content in refresher courses. They also have numerous opportunities to receive specialized training on how to teach subjects under new curriculums or in counseling and giving guidance to students.What is the difference between such lectures and the content of the refresher courses for license renewal? If there is not a sharp distinction between them, the license renewal system will end up without substance.To live up to the spirit of the license renewal system described in the draft report, it will be enough just to apply the current disciplinary and discharge system more strictly and to enhance the current teacher retraining program.If introduction of the license renewal system gives the impression of tangled bureaucratic procedures, the number of excellent students who wish to become teachers might decrease. Such a result would lead to a total failure of the licensing system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 3, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2006-07-03	YOSHIN0020060703e273000d6
YOMSHI0020060703e2740000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060703e2740000k	EN	\N	Crucial decision due on interest rates	In the Bank of Japan's Tankan economic outlook survey for June announced Monday, the diffusion indexes for large companies in both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing sectors showed improvements, admittedly small, in business confidence.	4	2006-07-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The recent, but temporary, plunge in stock prices did not have a major impact on business sentiment, and business confidence has grown.Expecting the economic expansion will continue, corporations are actively investing in plants and equipment. According to Tankan, planned capital investment in fiscal 2006 is at the highest level since the bubble economy.The unemployment rate for May showed employment conditions have improved, and the nationwide consumer price index for the month illustrated that prices of goods and services are following an upward trend. Given those factors, the government is considering releasing an economic assessment saying the "Japanese economy will get out of deflation within the year" at a July 19 monthly meeting of Cabinet ministers involved in economic policy.In addition to the two economic gauges, the results of the Tankan survey for June came out. Speculation among market players is increasing that the central bank will decide to end its zero-interest rate policy during its next Policy Board meeting July 13-14.Logical policy progressionIt is natural for interest rates to rise along with an economic recovery. Since it lifted the ultra-easy monetary policy in March, the Bank of Japan must have had the end of the zero-interest rate policy in mind as a next step.However, the central bank should not forget there are several points of concern regarding the future prospects of the nation's economy.With the U.S. economy expected to slow down, it is possible the nation's exports to the United States may start to suffer in the second half of the year.The main reason for increased prices is the high price of oil. Expansion of domestic demand as a driving force to push up prices is not strong. Some say that it is not yet certain that deflation will be overcome.In August 2000, the Bank of Japan, under the leadership of then Gov. Masaru Hayami, ended its zero-interest rate policy in defiance of the government's opposition. The nation's economy then deteriorated.Different circumstancesFactors in the current economic environment, such as the conditions of nonperforming loans held by financial institutions, are different now, but the constant is that monetary policymakers must prudently assess economic conditions.Ending the zero-interest rate policy is necessary if it is feared that economic growth with suddenly slow in a backlash to the heating up of capital investments. But even so, other factors, such as overseas economic conditions, stock prices and price movements, must be comprehensively considered if the central bank decides to lift the zero-interest rate policy.The Bank of Japan is feeling the heat due to the scandal over Gov. Toshihiko Fukui's investment in the so-called Murakami Fund.If the central bank delays its decision on lifting the zero-interest rate policy, it will be criticized for bowing to the government because the central bank is indebted to the government over the governor's fate. On the other hand, if the Bank of Japan decides to end the policy, it may also be criticized for forcing through the policy because it wanted to emphasize its independence from the government.However, Fukui must ignore such criticism and make the proper judgment based on economic conditions.It was Fukui himself who caused the scandal. He should be ready to accept criticism over the central bank's monetary policies and should do his best to make correct judgments when it comes to policy decisions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 4, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2006-07-04	YOSHIN0020060704e274000g6
YOMSHI0020060705e27500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060705e27500001	EN	\N	Shrinking govt not just a matter of numbers	The government has decide on a plan for a net reduction of public servants across the nation. The maximum staffing levels allowed at government ministries, agencies and local offices--totaling at 332,034 currently--will be reduced by 18,936, or 5.7 percent in five years starting with fiscal 2006. The plan is viewed as a reform of personnel costs to help reduce total government spending.	4	2006-07-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It has long been pointed out that there are many government sections that have lost their roles and functions due to changing economic and societal conditions.The slow progress so far in streamlining the government structure and making it more efficient can be blamed on the bureaucracy, which has tried to protect its vested interests.In the latest plan, the number of officials will be reduced by 8,200 by limiting new hirings and not filling vacancies created by retirements. In addition, nearly 8,000 officials will be transferred to independent administrative institutions whose workers are nonpublic servants. But those measures are merely playing with numbers.About 3,000 officials working on agricultural and forestry statistics, and food control at the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry will be transferred to other government bodies, with about 730 to be moved during the first fiscal year.Some of those officials must feel concerned about whether they can adapt to new positions as many are relatively old. The transferring of such officials will require proper retraining programs.Major task for new premierThe full-scale reduction will be one of major tasks of the next Cabinet under the prime minister who succeeds Junichiro Koizumi. His successor must steadily carry out the plan, and should introduce extra cuts if necessary, depending on the progress of the plan.The government will soon finalize the basic policy on economic and fiscal management and structural reform for fiscal 2007, and the policy will call for an early start of discussions on the nation's public service system along with the staff-reduction plan.A simple and effective government cannot be realized just by reducing and adjusting numbers. National public servants are tasked with compiling and executing important policies for the nation and its people.Problems still not addressedTo get through this time of great change, it is extremely important to enhance the quality and abilities of public servants to improve the functions of government.In 2004, the government compiled a bill aimed at reforming the national public servant system, introducing an ability-based classification system of public servants and tightening restrictions on government officials taking private sector in the amakudari practice, in which retired bureaucrats take positions in industries they formerly oversaw.However, due to disputes between the government and public servants over whether pubic servants should be allowed to have the right to collectively negotiate employment conditions--one of the basic labor rights--the bill has been shelved since then.The government has said it would discuss basic labor rights for national public servants. We believe the right to collectively negotiate employment conditions should be extended to public servants. Conclusions on this issue should be reached as soon as possible to realize the reform of the public servant system.There are a number of aspects of the public servant system that have had adverse effects for a long time and have not been addressed. They include the seniority system, a lockstep mentality, a vertically compartmentalized administrative structure, rigidity and ineffectiveness.The issue cannot be solved by introducing a merit- and achievement-based system and restricting the practice of amakudari. What is needed for drastic reform of the bureaucracy is the strong leadership of politicians.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2006-07-05	YOSHIN0020060705e275000iq
YOMSHI0020060705e2760000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060705e2760000i	EN	\N	United front needed against North Korea	North Korea on Wednesday launched seven missiles, including a Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile, which landed in the Sea of Japan.	4	2006-07-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the launch of the Taepodong-2, which has parts of the western United States within its range, apparently failed, Pyongyang also launched missiles including the Rodong, which can reach the Japanese archipelago.Under the U.S.-North Korean accord signed in 1999, North Korea froze its missile launches. Later, Pyongyang promised to extend the moratorium until 2003.Under the 2002 Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il vowed that his country would continue its moratorium on missile tests beyond 2003.Pyongyang Declaration floutedThe missile launches by North Korea clearly violate the 2002 Pyongyang Declaration.They also run counter to the spirit of the joint statement of the six-nation talks issued in September, which confirmed that the parties to the talks would make "a joint effort for the regional peace and stability of Northeast Asia."The missiles were launched at a time when North Korea is proceeding with the development of nuclear arms, while refusing to return to the six-way talks, in which Japan, the United States, South and North Korea, China and Russia are participating.Should the country succeed in developing a nuclear warhead that can be mounted atop a missile, it would pose a serious threat to the international community as a whole, not just Japan.In reference to the launches, Pyongyang said, "This is an issue that concerns our country's autonomy, and nobody has the right to discuss the rights and wrongs of this issue."The missiles fell into the Sea of Japan, where many Japanese fishing vessels were operating. Missile launches without prior warning are utterly impermissible.Later the same day, the Japanese government invoked the law banning vessels of a specific country from calling at ports in Japan, thus prohibiting the Man Gyong Bong-92, a North Korean passenger-cargo ferry that was about to enter Niigata-Nishi Port, from entering Japanese ports for six months.With the sanction, human exchanges between Japan and North Korea will be restricted. Export controls on goods related to missiles and nuclear development also will be further tightened.Applying sanctions reasonableIt is only reasonable for Japan to implement all possible sanctions against North Korea.North Korea's missile launches should be seen as a brinkmanship strategy on Pyongyang's part to persuade the United States to engage in a direct dialogue in the hope that Washington will lift its financial sanctions imposed against Pyongyang for the latter's crimes, which include counterfeiting U.S. dollars. But it is impossible for North Korea to realize a U.S.-North Korea dialogue through intimidation.Such a dialogue is all the more unlikely to take place given the apparent failure of the launch of a Taepodong-2, which Pyongyang had counted on using as a bargaining chip.The United States remains firmly opposed to direct talks with North Korea. It is likely that Washington will now adopt a sterner approach toward North Korea.In the recent Japan-U.S. summit talks, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush agreed to demand that North Korea exercise self-restraint and said their countries would "exert various pressures" on Pyongyang if it launched a missile.China and Russia, for their part, warned North Korea not to launch any more missiles. South Korea also called on North Korea to exercise self-restraint, saying a missile launch by Pyongyang would have a "serious impact on the international community."Now that all these warnings have been ignored, these countries cannot let North Korea's reckless acts go unpunished. The international community must cooperate to prevent North Korea from developing and proliferating such weapons of mass destruction as nuclear arms and missiles.With regard to North Korea's missile launches, the U.N. Security Council, in response to requests from Japan and the United States, has begun unofficial talks. In the immediate future, Japan and the United States will seek the adoption of a Security Council resolution denouncing North Korea. Eyed later are discussions on the imposition of sanctions against North Korea.At a time when the international community should be making a concerted effort to exert pressure on North Korea, the stances of China, Russia and South Korea give cause for concern.China, as North Korea's biggest aid donor and trading partner, and the country chairing the six-nation talks, has an important role to play in the current crisis.Yet China was opposed to a proposal to refer North Korea to the Security Council after it launched a Taepodong in August 1998.As it has now lost face, China has joined the unofficial talks in the Security Council this time. But it remains cautious about the imposition of sanctions, saying they would complicate the political situation in Northeast Asia.Russia also has close ties with North Korea. Like China, it opposes taking harsh measures against North Korea.Reinforce international coalitionSouth Korea, which under President Roh Moo Hyun has adopted a policy of reconciliation toward North Korea, may constitute the Achilles' heel of any international coalition to be formed against North Korea.Despite Japanese protests, a South Korean survey ship carried out a survey of sea currents near the disputed islets known as Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan.The surveyed waters are in an area disputed by Japan and South Korea that each claims is part of its exclusive economic zone. The vessel also entered Japan's EEZ around Takeshima, known as Dokdo in South Korea.The hard-line stance of South Korea is in line with Roh's anti-Japan policy.In South Korea, however, not a few are skeptical of Roh's stance against Japan.A leading South Korean newspaper pointed out that Roh was trying to unconditionally defend North Korea, which poses a real threat to South Korea, while playing up a nonexistent threat from Japan.In the latest launches, North Korea fired at least one Scud missile--a missile that could target South Korea. Seoul should squarely face the presence of a real threat from North Korea. We hope South Korea will join hands with Japan and the United States to form the pillar of an international coalition against North Korea.In the latest crisis, the interests and viewpoints of the concerned countries are not necessarily congruent. Although it will not be easy, Japan, in cooperation with the United States, should do its utmost to solidify the unity of the international community through every possible opportunity, not only at the Security Council, but also at the summit talks of the Group of Eight major powers in St. Petersburg next week.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 6, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1160	2006-07-06	YOSHIN0020060706e276000es
YOMSHI0020060706e2770000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060706e2770000f	EN	\N	UNSC resolution not ultimate goal	The Japanese government has presented to the Security Council a draft resolution that includes sanctions against North Korea.	4	2006-07-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The draft resolution denounces the missile launches by North Korea and calls on Pyongyang to immediately cease the development, testing, deployment and proliferation of ballistic missiles and reconfirm its moratorium on missile launches.The draft text also calls on U.N. member states to withhold all funds, goods and technology that could aid North Korea's missile and other weapons of mass destruction programs, including its nuclear weapons program.But it will be difficult for the Japan-led draft resolution to be adopted as it is. Of the five permanent members of the Security Council, which hold a veto right, China and Russia are opposed to imposing sanctions on North Korea because they have close relations with the country. The two nations are taking a cautious stance even on the adoption of the draft resolution itself.DPRK won't scrap N-programWhen North Korea test-fired a Taepodong missile in August 1998, the Security Council failed to adopt a resolution against North Korea, merely issuing a statement for the press, which carries less weight than a chairman's statement, expressing its "concern."This time, China and Russia are calling for a chairman's statement, which has no binding power, instead of a resolution.The situation has completely changed from the time when North Korea's nuclear development was frozen. The country has resumed its nuclear development and has announced it possesses nuclear arms.The launching of a missile that could be armed with a nuclear warhead is a serious military provocation that threatens the safety of Japan and peace in Northeast Asia as a whole.As a compromise, the Security Council may end up adopting a resolution merely denouncing North Korea that does not include sanctions. Such a resolution would have little effect.North Korea called the latest missile launches "part of a regular military exercise to boost self-defense," vowing that it would continue testing missiles.Even if the Security Council issues a resolution denouncing Pyongyang, there is no way that the reclusive country will cease the development of nuclear arms and missiles.Threat not widely recognizedThe problem for Japan is that other countries do not take the threat of North Korea as seriously as Japan does.The United States, Japan's main ally, does not believe it is in imminent danger from North Korea as the Taepodong-2 missile failed, meaning that Pyongyang is not yet capable of hitting the United States.However, Japan is within range of Rodong missiles, which North Korea is deploying in preparation for a war. Should North Korea succeed in the development of a nuclear warhead, Japan would be at risk from a direct strike by a nuclear missile.While it is important to increase international pressure against North Korea at such venues as the Security Council, such pressure alone will not ensure Japan's safety.It is a matter of urgency for Japan to prepare an effective means of defending itself against the threat of North Korea's nuclear arms and missiles, in tandem with reinforcing the Japan-U.S. alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2006-07-07	YOSHIN0020060707e277000f6
YOMSHI0020060707e2780000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060707e2780000i	EN	\N	Consumption tax hike must be introduced soon	This will be the last policy guideline drafted by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who said he will step down in September when his term as Liberal Democratic Party president expires. It should have hammered out more drastic measures, including an early consumption tax hike, to rebuild the nation's finances--the most important policy agenda for Japan at present.	4	2006-07-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, in the guideline, the Cabinet discussed tax system reforms only cosmetically, and showed little can-do spirit.It might have wanted to avoid a tax rise, which is unpopular with voters, because it was taking into account the House of Councillors' election slated for next year. But, isn't it the responsibility of the government and the ruling coalition parties to tell the public candidly that an early consumption tax increase is essential to secure the finances needed for social security and to reconstruct government finances?The Koizumi Cabinet has tackled various reforms, including privatization of four postal services, since it was inaugurated five years ago. But it has always been hesitant about raising the consumption tax rate. It is a pity that the Cabinet has not changed the stance even in its final days.New PM must tackle taxWe would like to urge whoever succeeds Koizumi as prime minister to tackle a consumption tax hike head-on.The government's economic and fiscal policy guideline is comprised of two main pillars--new economic growth strategies, and revenue and expenditure reforms. According to a scenario assumed in the guideline, the government could realize stable economic growth by following the new strategies, and could also pave the way to the fiscal reconstruction by proceeding with revenue and expenditure reforms.An immediate objective of the fiscal reform is to achieve a surplus in the primary balance five years out. Assuming a nominal economic growth rate of 3 percent per year, spending cuts and tax increases would generate the 16.5 trillion yen necessary to achieve a primary balance surplus, according to the guideline.Guideline aims questionedThe problem, however, is that the two pillars of the guideline do not complement each other. The new economic growth strategies have many items requiring fiscal outlays, including development of airports to attract tourists from abroad and investment promotion to revitalize regional economies.But, an expenditure reform will drastically cut outlays, including the budget for public works projects, because a tax increase will be higher to fill a revenue shortfall if spending is not slashed enough.However, quite a few experts have questioned whether it is possible to achieve 3 percent economic growth, a rather high aim, with the two pillars of the guideline not working well with each other.If the economic growth target is not reached, it will become difficult to collect enough tax revenue. This will make it impossible to achieve a surplus in the primary balance with only 2 trillion yen to 3 trillion yen in tax revenue increases to be made through tax system reforms.How could this problem be solved? It would be more reasonable to seek public backing in advance for a certain increase of the consumption tax.Some members of the LDP Tax System Research Commission have said it is necessary to increase the consumption tax rate to 10 percent, and quickly. This sounds a just argument.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2006-07-08	YOSHIN0020060708e278000gt
YOMSHI0020060710e27900003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060710e27900003	EN	\N	Mindan-Chongryon thaw doomed from start	On May 17, heads of the Korean residents groups in Japan jointly announced to much fanfare that they would end their antagonism and confrontation that existed between them for more than half a century and cooperate with each other for ethnic unity.	4	2006-07-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Relations between Seoul and Pyongyang have improved rapidly since South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il held their historic summit meeting in June 2000.Roh Moo Hyun, who succeeded Kim Dae Jung as South Korean president, is an advocate of the appeasement policy toward Pyongyang, while North Korea is fanning the flames of anti-Japanese and anti-U.S. sentiment among Koreans, advocating self-determination and unification of the Korean Peninsula.For the South Korean government, reconciliation between the Mindan and Chongryon embodied its appeasement policy within Japan. And Pyongyang probably expected the thawing of relations would enhance Chongryon's position in Japan, which had been eroded due to widespread resentment over the abduction of Japanese by North Korean agents and the infiltration of Pyongyang's spy ships into Japanese waters.Thus, the reconciliation trumpeted by leaders of the two Korean residents groups in Japan reflected the political intentions of their respective home countries.Missiles the final strawHowever, Mindan nullified the reconciliation statement less than two months later. This suggests the "historic reconciliation" was more show than substance.Mindan leader Ha Byeong Ok said his organization took the step because North Korea test-fired seven ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday."North Korea's missile launches can't be justified because it made not only our compatriots in Japan but also Japanese very anxious," Ha said, urging Pyongyang to put an immediate freeze on missile launches and its nuclear development.He indicated that Mindan could not bury the hatchet with Chongryon when North Korea presents a security threat to Japanese society.Since the reconciliation statement was announced, many regional chapters of and organizations affiliated with Mindan poured scorn on the leaders who signed the agreement with their North Korean counterparts.An extraordinary Mindan central committee meeting, held on June 24 to explain why the agreement was reached, descended into a chaotic slanging match. Mindan leaders might secretly have viewed North Korea's missile launches as a godsend to enable them to resolve this internal dissent by withdrawing from the agreement.Rift ran deepThe two Korean residents organizations in Japan have constantly been locked in bitter strife and confrontation, echoing the ideological conflict between North and South Korea.In the past, Chongryon encouraged many Korean residents living in Japan and their Japanese spouses to "return" to North Korea. But an increasing number of them today defect from the reclusive nation due to the brutal hardships of life and persecution. Mindan has helped about 100 defectors from North Korea come to Japan.This assistance for defectors from North Korea is just one problem deepening the rift between the two groups.From the beginning, Mindan and Chongryon probably did not share any common ground on which they could strike a reconciliatory agreement mirroring the intentions of their home countries.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	570	2006-07-09	YOSHIN0020060710e2790009y
YOMSHI0020060711e27b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060711e27b00001	EN	\N	Upgrade antimissile defense capability	Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga said Japan should consider acquiring the capability to attack enemy missile bases. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe expressed a similar view.	4	2006-07-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Their comments were based on the idea that if it became clear Japan was the target of a missile attacks, the threat would have to be eliminated by attacking the missiles' bases.In 1956, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama presented a view on the possibility of attacking enemy bases in case of an urgent and unjust invasion of Japan. It said, "It hardly can be thought that the Constitution is intended to require us to self-destructively sit and wait."By this, the Hatoyama Cabinet meant attacking enemy bases was within the jurisdictional framework of self-defense if no other way is determined to be possible.Three of seven missiles launched by North Korea on Wednesday were said to be Rodong missiles designed to mainly target Japan.Some experts say the Rodong missiles have been upgraded with their performance enhanced.Growing dangerThe missiles launched also reportedly included a new type of Scud missile with an extended range that can reach parts of Japan such as the Kyushu and Chugoku regions.For Japan, the threat posed by North Korea's missiles has grown more serious.The government plans to introduce a missile defense system to defend the nation from ballistic missile attacks.The two-layered system employs Aegis-equipped destroyers armed with the Standard Missile 3 (SM3) and land-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC3) surface-to-air missiles.The government will deploy SM3s and PAC3s in stages, starting in fiscal 2007 and at the end of fiscal 2006, respectively. Nukaga said his agency would study the possibility of moving up introduction of the missile defense system, a natural action to take given the threat from North Korea's missiles is increasing.However, fully operational 200 Rodong missiles and 600 Scud missiles are reportedly deployed in North Korea and if several missiles are launched from separate bases within a short interval of time, the missile defense system cannot deal with them.Right to self-defenseAttacking missile bases to counter a missile attack against Japan is an exercise of the right to self-defense allowed in the Constitution.The government should not fail to study which types of weapons, such as long-range fighter-bombers and long-range missiles, Japan should have to provide the nation with the capability to counterattack enemy bases.However, in the 2004 discussion for the midterm defense buildup program for fiscal 2005-09, a proposal for studying the acquisition of surface-to-surface long-range precision-guided missiles to respond to enemy invasions of remote islands was scrapped due to opposition by New Komeito, the coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party.There is a difference between possessing the capability and actually using it in an attack. If Japan does not possess the capability we will "self-destructively sit and wait."Can the situation in which "we have the right, but we do not have capability" continue any longer? Debates should be deepened to cope with the changing national security environment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	564	2006-07-11	YOSHIN0020060711e27b000ft
YOMSHI0020060711e27c0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060711e27c0000g	EN	\N	Tougher rules needed to police moneylenders	The panel has therefore basically backed the adoption of the existing ceiling mandated under the Interest Rate Restriction Law, instead of the 29.2 percent ceiling imposed under the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law.	4	2006-07-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Hopefully the lower ceiling as proposed by the LDP panel will not spawn an increase in the number of multiple-loan borrowers who rack up debt after debt without thinking and later find themselves in deep financial difficulties.Interest rates that exceed the ceiling of 15 percent and 20 percent under the Interest Rate Restriction Law are technically illegal. But consumer loan firms are allowed under certain conditions--such as with the consent of the borrower--to lend money at an interest rate higher than the upper limit.In addition, criminal penalties are not imposed unless the interest rate exceeds the 29.2 percent maximum stipulated under the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law. Therefore, most consumer loan firms charge interest rates in the legal gray area between the ceilings set under the two laws.Abolish multiple loansIt is proper that these gray-area interest rates be made illegal and interest rates on loans be lowered given the growing number of people who find themselves having to take out new loans to pay off old loans that have skyrocketed due to high interest rates.The Financial Services Agency is of the same mind as the LDP panel.A revision to laws to tighten the regulation of consumer loan companies could be realized at an extraordinary Diet session in the autumn.The moneylending industry has opposed any such revision, saying that if interest rates are lowered, consumer loan firms would have to screen borrowers more thoroughly and as a result those whose loan requests were rejected would turn to loan sharks.However, the existence of loan sharks is not a reason to rationalize the charging of high interest rates by legal consumer loan firms. Regulations to crack down on loan sharks should be strengthened as a separate issue.What is required for those who need money but cannot borrow it due to high interest rates is a system whereby public institutions offer counseling services and support.The LDP panel left for future debate the matter of proprieties over the exceptional measure under which consumer loan firms can charge interest rates above the ceiling on small loans and short-term loans. Any such exceptional measure should not be allowed easily as it could become a legal loophole when the laws are revised.To avoid an increase in the number of multiple-loan borrowers, it is important that people do not find it easy to take out many loans.Industry should clean houseThe report proposed that administrative punishments be imposed on consumer loan firms that lend people more money than they can repay, and measures should be discussed to avoid overborrowing by setting a lower limit for the amount of monthly repayment or shortening the period of repayment.The government and ruling parties should swiftly establish an effective framework for that purpose.The moneylending industry also should do its bit to avoid a growth in the number of multiple-loan borrowers. TV commercials that give potential customers the idea that loans are trouble-free are part of the problem. There is much to be done--including a review of such advertisements, the improvement of a counseling system for borrowers, and the introduction of a complaint-handling system.It is also important for consumer loan firms to raise their self-awareness of the need to abide by laws and regulations, such as those that prohibit dunning borrowers to repay loans.The report requires that consumer loan firms join prefectural moneylending associations. A system should be established in close cooperation with the administration to strengthen self-imposed controls on the part of the moneylending industry and protect consumers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	691	2006-07-12	YOSHIN0020060712e27c000gl
YOMSHI0020060714e27d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060714e27d00001	EN	\N	UNSC should not delay action on North Korea	The international community should swiftly express its strong condemnation of North Korea's launch of ballistic missiles in defiance of the warnings of other countries.	4	2006-07-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Eight countries, including Japan, presented a draft resolution to the Security Council that includes measures to take sanctions against North Korea. But as China, which opposes the resolution, has asked the Security Council for time to apply diplomatic pressure on North Korea, the council has delayed the vote on the resolution.There is nothing for the Security Council to do but watch Beijing's diplomatic efforts for the time being, but time is limited.Inaction will breed defianceIf the members of the Security Council cannot take prompt concerted action, North Korea will become more defiant against the international community and continue to develop nuclear weapons and missiles.The draft resolution would exert strong pressure on Pyongyang if adopted. It has a binding power obliging North Korea to immediately cease missile development, test-firing, deployment and proliferation, and to promise to freeze any further missile launches. It also requires the country to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear programs immediately and unconditionally.Other U.N. members should act to prevent all transactions with North Korea regarding missiles and weapons of mass destruction.China, a permanent member of the Security Council, presented a counterproposal of a nonbinding president's statement. But Beijing's proposal did not even acknowledge North Korea's missile launches as a "threat" to the international community and did not mention Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter as a legal basis for imposing economic sanctions against North Korea. Under such a president's statement, Pyongyang would not be affected at all.North Korea depends on China for its energy--including oil--and other important materials. China holds the power of life and death over North Korea, but it does not use the power effectively. This may be because China feels little sense of crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear development.China's diplomatic efforts will not be successful unless North Korea vows to freeze missile launches again and return to the six-party talks immediately and unconditionally.National security at riskThe six-party talks have been suspended for eight months. During the period, North Korea continued to develop nuclear weapons. If China fails to persuade North Korea to return to the six-party talks, the talks will be proven dysfunctional.There is another option that emerged within the Security Council--the idea of adopting a two-stage method to resolve the dispute over North Korea's latest missile launches starting with the issuance of a very strict president's statement. If this does not work, the council would then move to adopt a resolution to impose sanctions on the country.However, if North Korea continues to stick to its current position, we believe the Security Council should consider the adoption of a resolution with strict measures.It is Japan that is most exposed to the serious threat of North Korea's missiles and nuclear weapons. The Rodong missiles that are already deployed for use in North Korea are capable of reaching Japan.The adoption of the resolution or resumption of the six-party talks would not necessarily ensure the safety of Japan. But if the international community cannot realize even these goals, the safety of Japan and East Asia will be badly undermined.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2006-07-13	YOSHIN0020060713e27d000ef
YOMSHI0020060713e27e0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060713e27e0000e	EN	\N	China-Russia resolution too soft on North Korea	China and Russia on Wednesday circulated at the U.N. Security Council a draft resolution that expresses "serious concern" over the July 5 multiple missile launches by North Korea.	4	2006-07-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The two countries withdrew a nonbinding presidential statement they had proposed previously, realizing that it would not be endorsed by the other Security Council members.This goes to show that the tide of the times, common sense and the conscience of the international community all call for a Security Council resolution in respect of North Korea, as Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has said.But the China-Russia resolution has many problems in comparison with a draft resolution proposed jointly by eight countries including Japan and the United States.The eight countries' resolution obliges North Korea and the other member states of the United Nations to prevent the proliferation of missiles, but the China-Russia text only calls upon all the members of the world body to do so.The eight countries' text calls North Korea's latest missile launches a threat to international peace and security.The U.N. Charter stipulates that the Security Council may take economic sanctions and other measures against a party concerned if it determines the party poses a threat to international peace.However, the China-Russia draft only says that the missile launches had "a negative effect on the peace and stability" of East Asia.Pyongyang threatens worldA missile is a means of delivering nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. North Korea sells its missiles to a variety of countries, including Iran and Pakistan. This shows that the proliferation of North Korean missiles is a threat to the peace and security of not only East Asia, but also the world as whole.Coincidentally, a foreign ministerial meeting of six countries, including China and Russia, discussed Iran's nuclear program and agreed to support adoption of a Security Council resolution obliging the clerical regime to suspend its nuclear fuel production completely. The foreign ministers also confirmed that the six countries would seek action, including economic sanctions, based on Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter if Iran does not comply.North Korea has already declared that it possesses nuclear weapons and has just conducted multiple missile tests. The reclusive state represents a far more imminent threat than Iran. Obliging Iran to stop production of nuclear fuel but just asking North Korea to reestablish a moratorium on missile launches does not reflect this reality.China's actions need watchingHowever, China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said he would veto the eight countries' proposal if the draft was put to a vote without any modifications.China failed to persuade Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear programs and reestablish a moratorium on its missile tests. The Japanese public must watch the actions of China, which is trying to protect North Korea in spite of the failure of its diplomacy.Although the concerned countries all agreed to adopt a Security Council resolution on North Korea's missile launches, the China-Russia draft is insufficient. Japan is now expected to discuss a modification of the resolution's contents. In that case, Japan, together with the United States, should urge the concerned countries even more strongly to discuss the modification based on the eight countries' text.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2006-07-14	YOSHIN0020060714e27e000ep
YOMSHI0020060714e27f0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060714e27f0000h	EN	\N	Maintaining health of economy vital	The consumer price index rose for seven straight months until May. The central bank's quarterly short-term Tankan economic survey also confirmed in June that corporate managers are strongly disposed toward capital investment.	4	2006-07-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Considering that the risk of the economy falling back into deflation is minimal, the central bank revised another monetary policy it had adopted as a special measure to deal with deflation, following the scrapping of the quantitative monetary-easing policy in March.Pressure for price increases is not yet on the rise, except for some effects deriving from rising oil prices. Some in business circles believe the central bank should not have scrapped the zero-interest policy so fast.However, the markets had predicted the ending of the policy based on the Tankan results and other economic factors, and have already responded to it. The central bank's decision was unavoidable. What is most important is maintaining the health of the Japanese economy, which has just managed to rise from its sickbed after a protracted illness.U.S. economy a concernThe central bank had a bitter experience the last time it scrapped the zero-interest policy, in August 2000. The economy took a sharp downturn partly due to the collapse of the economy inflated by the information technology industry, and the central bank was forced to introduce the quantitative-easing policy only seven months later.Also this time, some factors for concern remain over the prospects for the economy. In the United States, the economy seems to be losing steam, while inflation fears are increasing. Instability in U.S. economy would deal a heavy blow to Japan's export industry. Stock prices remain volatile in and out of the country.In Japan, individual consumption seems to be recovering very slowly. The central bank expects that a boom in the corporate sector will boost household spending, prolonging the duration of the nation's economic growth. But the real economy may not grow according to such a scenario.First of all, the effects of an interest rate hike on the economy must be studied carefully.BOJ must regain public trustFollowing the end of the zero-interest policy, major banks will raise the ordinary deposit interest rate, which has been 0.001 percent annually--almost zero. They will raise the rate 100-fold to 0.1 percent a year, but depositors will still earn only a tiny amount of interest.Meanwhile, interest rates for housing and corporate loans have already started rising. If lending rates continue to rise, burdens on small and medium-sized companies, and on households will increase. If long-term interest rates are increased, the government will have to make larger interest payments on government bonds, further deteriorating the state finances.The central bank said it will raise the level of the policy interest rate very slowly in the future. It also promised that it will not speed up the pace of raising interest rates faster than necessary by carefully assessing economic activity and prices. It must stick to its promise.The reputation of the Bank of Japan was badly damaged by Fukui's investment in the so-called Murakami Fund. To regain the public trust lost in the scandal, the central bank has no choice but to satisfy the public's wish for stability in the domestic economy through implementing suitable policy measures in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2006-07-15	YOSHIN0020060715e27f000fa
YOMSHI0020060715e27g0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060715e27g0000b	EN	\N	Automaker tie-up could reshape industry	GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner and Nissan and Renault President and CEO Carlos Ghosn have agreed to embark on an "expedious, confidential review" of the potential benefits the alliance would provide the three companies. The review is expected to take about 90 days, the two executives said in a statement.	4	2006-07-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	GM suffered a loss of more than 10 billion dollars in 2005 and has been drastically restructuring its business. However, sales in the North American market--GM's main theater--remain sluggish.The tie-up talks were urged by major shareholder Kirk Kerkorian, a billionaire who runs the investment firm Tracinda Corp. He judged GM's restructuring would not be completed successfully with Wagoner in charge and hoped Ghosn, who has been lauded for his ability to turn Nissan around, would throw GM a lifeline.Wagoner initially was cautious about the tie-up, but probably could not resist the wishes of "the shareholder who demands a lot."Finding common groundDuring the 90-day review period, GM and the Nissan-Renault alliance are expected to study the possibility of common procurement of auto parts and cooperation in developing environment-friendly technologies, in addition to relocating production of Nissan's vehicles to GM plants. The tie-up study talks could eventually see Nissan-Renault capital being invested in GM.GM's annual global auto output is about 9 million units, while the Nissan-Renault alliance churns out about 6 million vehicles. Should the tie-up materialize, their combined annual output of 15 million units would be nearly double Toyota Motor Corp.'s about 8 million units.The possible tie-up also could stimulate the global automobile industry and spark a structural reorganization of the industry.At present, Toyota and GM have a joint venture manufacturing vehicles in the United States. Isuzu Motors Ltd. and Suzuki Motor Corp. have business and capital tie-ups with GM. The Japanese automakers will need to review their relations with GM and possibly revamp their management strategies.But will the tie-up between GM and the Nissan-Renault alliance actually bring about sparkling results? Wagoner and Ghosn issued a statement in which they said they agreed to a "review of the potential benefits of such an alliance." They must rigorously verify what merits the tie-up will bring to all parties involved.Not a done dealAny management expert would struggle to restructure GM in a short period of time. Among the pressing problems that need to be addressed are a review of the high-cost structure represented by the automaker's generous welfare program and development of fuel-efficient cars.Ghosn has been hailed for transforming Nissan into a profitable company in just a few years through a drastic restructuring program and the blanket purchase of auto parts. He reportedly is quite positive toward GM's restructuring and said he would sniff out any potential benefits of the three-way alliance.However, expecting too much from the "Ghosn Legend" is not without risk. Nissan's disappointing recent domestic and foreign sales have taken some of the gloss off his reputation.If the Nissan-Renault alliance overcommits itself to GM, the three companies could drag each other into the mire. Many Nissan officials are anxiously hoping this scenario does not eventuate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2006-07-16	YOSHIN0020060716e27g0008k
YOMSHI0020060716e27h0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060716e27h0000c	EN	\N	Intl community must act on N. Korea	The adoption of the resolution demonstrates the international community's determination not to accept actions that pose a threat to its peace and security.	4	2006-07-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The issue now is what action is the international community willing to take.The resolution states that the missile launches "jeopardize peace, stability and security in the region and beyond," and demands that North Korea return to a moratorium on launching missiles.The resolution also requested U.N. member countries prevent missiles, and missile-related items and technologies being transferred to North Korea. It also asks them not to purchase missiles from North Korea.An initial draft resolution cosponsored by Japan, the United States and six other nations had a reference to Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which would enable the imposition of sanctions on North Korea. But the reference was dropped in the resolution as accepted.The initial draft's call to "obligate" U.N. member countries not to procure missiles from North Korea was changed to the milder "requires."Conflicting national interestsThe Security Council is an international arena in which the interests of member countries often conflict with each other. It is rare for one country's viewpoint to be accepted in full by other members.China and Russia each have a stake in North Korea and threatened to veto the resolution to express their opposition to any reference to Chapter 7 because they placed a priority on their national interests.However, the two countries eventually accepted the resolution out of concern they would be isolated in the international community, which has hardened its stance against North Korea.Japan, which played a key role in drawing up of the initial draft resolution, played its part to defend its national interests by bargaining fiercely with China and Russia.Immediately after the vote, North Korea said it "totally rejected" the resolution, adding it would continue test-firing missiles as part of its efforts to "bolster deterrent for self-defense in the future."The adoption of the resolution does not mean that North Korea will immediately return to the six-way talks on its nuclear development program or reestablish moratorium on test-firing missiles.What is important for Japan, is to work toward resolving nuclear and missile issues related to North Korea, which are serious threats to this nation. Japan should utilize the resolution as a first step in resolving the issues.Time to pressure PyongyangInternational cooperation must be strengthened to put more pressure on North Korea.Missiles are a prime source of foreign currency for North Korea. Therefore, the Security Council resolution's calling for member countries not to procure missiles from North Korea would be tantamount to economic sanctions if obeyed. Japan and the United States should take initiatives to create an effective system to prevent missile proliferation.Japan should continue to promote the Proliferation Security Initiative in cooperation with Australia, the United States and other countries to enhance a system to monitor nuclear and missile-related items to and from North Korea.Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has instructed ministries to study possible further government sanctions on North Korea and strengthening relations with other governments to deal with North Korea.The Liberal Democratic Party is studying a bill on economic sanctions to enable the government to restrict financial institutions from transactions with overseas accounts that are suspected of being used to launder money. The bill should be passed into law as soon as possible.The Security Council resolution must not be allowed to end up as a mere rebuke of North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2006-07-17	YOSHIN0020060717e27h00072
YOMSHI0020060719e27i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060719e27i00001	EN	\N	Make intl cooperation on N. Korea effective	The Group of Eight major powers ended their annual summit Monday in St. Petersburg, with the adoption of a chair's summary.	4	2006-07-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The chair's summary condemned North Korea's recent launching of ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear payloads, saying: "These missile launches intensify our deep concern over the DPRK's nuclear weapons programs and we strongly urge the DPRK to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs. We strongly support the six- party talks, and urge the DPRK to promptly return to them without precondition and to cooperate in implementing the joint statement of September 2005 in good faith. We also urge the DPRK to respond to other security and humanitarian concerns of the international community, including early resolution of the abduction issue."The chair's summary, in principle, follows the resolution adopted Saturday by the U.N. Security Council. Yet it is a unified condemnation of North Korea by the leaders of the eight major powers, who have great responsibility for maintaining the peace and stability of the international community. North Korea should take this latest warning from the international community seriously.Russia at helmThis year was the first Russia had chaired the G-8 summit talks. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the six-nation group led by Russia and China, appears to be taking on shades of an "anti-U.S. league." There were concerns that Russia would emphasize its own national interests at the summit.Against the backdrop of such concerns, the G-8 countries were able to present a unified front on the issue related to North Korea because the Security Council, including China and Russia, unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn North Korea shortly before the summit talks, and put in motion a process to form a united front at the summit.China was invited to attend the St. Petersburg summit as an observer. Bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the G-8 summit included those between Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush in which China was given high marks for its support of the U.N. Security Council resolution. During the talks, Bush thanked Hu for his leadership.China, as North Korea's biggest donor country, wields strong influence over Pyongyang. Bush's gratitude to Hu may imply that Washington wants China to assume a heavier responsibility as a guardian for North Korea, while it aims at making the international coalition against North Korea more effective.Restart six-way talksDuring the talks, Hu also emphasized that the way to resolve issues related to North Korea lies in the early resumption of the six-nation talks. He went on to say that China would move forward with the six-way talks and promote the denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way through dialogue and negotiations.China had earlier sent Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei to North Korea to try to persuade the country to return to nuclear disarmament talks, but to no avail.China, which lost face, has no reason to sit still in dealing with North Korea. We hope China uses its influence, including its economic leverage, on North Korea, to get the country to return to the six-way talks, which China itself chairs, and to halt its missile launches.Scheduled later this month are a foreign ministerial meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea and the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting, which North Korea's foreign minister will attend.It is important to intensify international pressure on North Korea by utilizing these international forums. Japan, for its part, must use its diplomatic power to further reinforce international cooperation against North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2006-07-18	YOSHIN0020060718e27i000cl
YOMSHI0020060718e27j0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060718e27j0000i	EN	\N	SDF stepped up in its Iraq mission	As Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi put it, "There were no pistols fired, and no guns pointed at anybody," and there were no fatalities among the GSDF personnel.	4	2006-07-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The work carried out by about 5,500 GSDF members has been given high marks by the Iraqi government, and their mission was a success.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted earlier this month, 68 percent of pollees said the activities by members of the Self-Defense Forces "contributed" to the reconstruction of Iraq, compared with 28 percent who said they "made no contribution." Gradually, the public are backing the activities of the SDF.Protecting intl, natl interestsThe stability of the Middle East, which accounts for about 90 percent of the nation's crude oil requirements, is very important for Japan.The situation in the Middle East has become increasingly unstable, with the attack on Lebanon by Israeli forces and the nuclear situation in Iran making reconstruction in Iraq a very important task for Japan.It is necessary not only for the Air Self-Defense Force to continue providing logistical assistance but also for Japan to extend further economic aid through official development assistance.As the GSDF pulled out of Iraq, Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga emphasized that participation in international peacekeeping missions by the SDF is vital for Japan to fulfill its role as a responsible member of the international community.However, there are many problems in this regard.The government has submitted to the Diet a bill designed to promote the Defense Agency to ministry status and one to revise the Self-Defense Forces Law, which would recognize participation in international peacekeeping missions as a proper duty of the SDF. The government should expedite its efforts to have the bills passed into law.Assuming these legal preparations, Nukaga also emphasized the need for Japan to have a permanent law so that it could act promptly when the country needs to engage in peacekeeping operations.One of the reasons for the GSDF pullout from Iraq was that the Australian and British forces providing protection for the GSDF troops in Samawah are to withdraw from the region late this month, and therefore the safety of GSDF troops could not be guaranteed.But this excuse will not work with the international community. Japan cannot say that it needs protection from other countries whenever it is part of an international peacekeeping operation.Currently, the use of arms by an SDF member is allowed only for self-defense or as "an act of necessity."Neither Japan nor the SDF will win the confidence of other countries if SDF troops stand by and watch when troops of another country protecting the SDF are attacked.The criteria concerning the use of arms needs to be brought into line with the standards adopted for U.N. peacekeeping operations, which permit the use of arms in the pursuit of such missions. The use of arms in such tasks is totally different from the reason the use of force is prohibited by the Constitution.GSDF have right to stand proudWhen the first batch of GSDF members returned from Iraq to Narita Airport in July 2004, they all wore suits. This was because Narita International Airport Corp., in response to lobbying from anti-SDF groups, asked the Defense Agency not to allow returning GSDF members to wear their uniforms.This rule was later changed and returning service personnel were allowed to arrive home wearing their uniforms.The GSDF members who are now in Kuwait will return to Japan within this month. There must be no repeat of the rule to prevent them proudly wearing their uniforms as they return from a job well done.The SDF members who have just completed their duties and served the national interests deserve a respectful welcome home.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	676	2006-07-19	YOSHIN0020060719e27j000fg
YOMSHI0020060719e27k0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060719e27k0000h	EN	\N	Report on income gap poor in analysis	Since the 1980s, Japan has been witnessing a mild increase in its Gini coefficient, which is a measure of income disparities. In recent years, the growth in the income gap has been particularly noticeable among those whose ages fall between 20 and 34.	4	2006-07-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The white paper attributes the widening income divide in that age bracket to a continuously high jobless rate among young people, combined with an increasing number of part-time and other nonregular employees. Nonregular employees are usually at a disadvantage when it comes to pay raises, compared with employees on a regular payroll.New jobs for old?Many young people who graduated from school at a time when the nation was experiencing severe deflation, had to take part-time work. They were unable to find the jobs they preferred during what has been termed the "glacial period of job-seekers." Despite the recent improvement in the economy, they are still undergoing great difficulties in switching jobs. Many corporations take a negative view of their ages and work history as part-time workers.The white paper says it will be difficult to fill the income gap if part-time employees in that age group remain nonregular workers when they become middle-aged and elderly.Will the current trend continue? How will it affect the economy in its entirety?The latest report only says the widening income disparities among young people could lead to an expansion in the gap among members of the population as a whole. The white paper does not predict whether an increasingly favorable environment surrounding job-seekers as a result of an improvement in the economy will do much to curtail the income divide.All in all, the white paper is less than satisfactory in its analysis of various aspects of the growing gap between rich and poor.Given this, it is not surprising that the report has only presented conventional measures to deal with the problem. The white paper merely cites the steps implemented by the government in the past, including increased efforts to promote vocational education for students. Measures also include greater efforts by job placement offices to help young people land jobs.Ideas for remedies neededChief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, a leading candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency, has said he will strive to create an environment in which "losers" would be given a second chance to turn their fate around. How to close the widening gap among members of the public will likely become a major focus of debates among LDP lawmakers seeking to replace Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi as party president.We believe the latest white paper should have offered a deep analysis of the income divide and workable prescriptions for the problem. Doing so could have provided a basis for discussions among the candidates for the LDP presidency.The report also includes an analysis of Japanese-style management. It states that efforts by the corporate sector to set great value on employees--through the lifetime employment system, for example--has served to accumulate good human resources, a contribution to the strength of domestic corporations.Talented personnel are a key source of the nation's corporate sector. There are concerns that extreme difficulties experienced by young people in becoming regular corporate employees and the widening income divide among people in that age bracket, combined with a decline in the population and the graying of society, could undermine the quality of human resources available to domestic corporations.This point of view needs to be heeded in considering the gap among people and thinking about how to deal with the problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2006-07-20	YOSHIN0020060720e27k000ef
YOMSHI0020060720e27l0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060720e27l0000g	EN	\N	Emperor Showa spoke from heart in memo	It has been revealed that he said: "That's why I've since stopped visiting [the shrine]. That's how I feel in my heart." The emperor made this comment in reference to Yasukuni Shrine's decision in 1978 to add the Class-A war criminals to the list of the war dead enshrined at the Shinto sanctuary.	4	2006-07-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The remark was included in a newly discovered memorandum written by then Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Tomohiko Tomita. The memo was dated April 28, 1988.In October 1978, Yasukuni Shrine enshrined the 14 Class-A war criminals, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, as "Showa martyrs." The 14 wartime political, military and other leaders were tried at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, known as the Tokyo Trial.After the end of World War II, Emperor Showa paid eight visits to the shrine, the last of which took place in November 1975. The current Emperor has never worshipped at the shrine since ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne in 1989.Meanwhile, a visit to the shrine in 1975 by then Prime Minister Takeo Miki sparked controversy over whether a shrine visit by the prime minister should be seen as an act that has been performed in an official or personal capacity.Memo ends controversyFor years, two theories have been advanced concerning Emperor Showa's refusal to visit the shrine. One theory has it that his attitude can be regarded as an indication of his objection to Yasukuni Shrine's decision. The other sees his refusal as arising from a desire not to arouse a dispute over whether shrine visits are personal or official. The fact remains, however, that both theories are speculation. But the discovery of the memo in question means the controversy has arrived at a conclusion.The memo quotes Emperor Showa as telling Tomita that the "Class-A [war criminals] have been enshrined [with the war dead], even including Matsuoka and Shiratori." The emperor was probably referring to former Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka and former Ambassador to Italy Toshio Shiratori.Matsuoka and Shiratori strived to ensure Japan, Germany and Italy signed the Tripartite Pact in 1940. Their work did much to trigger the war between Japan and the United States.In a monologue disclosed in 1990, Emperor Showa bitterly criticized Matsuoka for his role in the signing of the treaty, saying, "[He] may have been bought off by [Adolf] Hitler."With his position as a constitutional monarch in mind, Emperor Showa is believed to have restrained himself from speaking much about whether Japan should enter World War II, despite his constant desire to avert Japan's participation in the war.Do Emperor Showa's remarks in the memo show he found Yasukuni Shrine's decision to enshrine the Class-A war criminals unacceptable?It should be noted that another historical document cites him as making favorable comments about some Class-A war criminals. He described one war criminal as "a person who has done distinguished service to our country, although the United States sees him as a criminal."Find way out of disputeThe discovery of the memo is certain to cause a stir in the continued dispute over a proposal to remove the Class-A war criminals from the list of the war dead honored at the Yasukuni facility and enshrine them somewhere else.However, Yasukuni Shrine has dismissed such an arrangement as "impossible," saying doing so would go against Shinto teachings. If the government pressures Yasukuni Shrine, a religious corporation, to remove the Class-A war criminals from its list of the war dead, it would be against the principle of separation of religion and politics.Foreign Minister Taro Aso has proposed transforming Yasukuni Shrine into a state-run facility. But it will be impossible to carry out his proposal unless the Shinto shrine agrees to be given such status.It may be advisable to grant Yasukuni Shrine the freedom to conduct religious activities in a manner that fits its wishes, while exploring alternative options for honoring the war dead. Probable measures include erecting a state-run memorial for the war dead or expanding the government-run cemetery for unidentified fallen soldiers in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward.We believe considering such alternatives is the only way to resolve the Yasukuni dispute.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	755	2006-07-21	YOSHIN0020060721e27l000ex
YOMSHI0020060721e27m0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060721e27m0000i	EN	\N	Supreme Court ruling reflects trend of times	Customary international law upholds the principle that a state government has immunity from having to appear as a defendant in a civil lawsuit under the jurisdiction of the judicial authorities of another state.	4	2006-07-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a trial in which the scope of the exemption was contested, the Supreme Court on Friday handed down a ruling that overturned a 1928 ruling by the Supreme Court under the Meiji Constitution.The 1928 ruling centered on the principle that a state government is not under the jurisdiction of the judicial authorities of another state unless it agrees to be so. Since this idea recognizes almost no exceptions, out of respect for state sovereignty, it is called "absolute jurisdictional immunity."The Supreme Court decision Friday was made in respect of a civil suit in which two Tokyo companies sought payment and interest for computers they delivered to the Pakistani government.In February 2003, the Tokyo High Court turned down the claim by the Tokyo companies, citing the immunity principle.By contrast, the Supreme Court adopted the principle of limited jurisdictional immunity, under the idea that exemption cannot be extended even to a foreign government in an action brought under laws on civil affairs.Japan lagged behindAs the economy has been becoming more globalized, and business deals transacted by individuals and company with foreign government are increasing, the top court's decision was a natural one.Limited jurisdictional immunity was introduced a long time ago in Europe and the United States.In France, Germany and Italy, the principle of limited immunity had been adopted by the first half of the 20th century, in the form of court precedents.The United States, Britain, Singapore and some other countries established legal frameworks for limited jurisdictional immunity in the 1970s.The United Nations started work to establish an international treaty adopting the idea in 1978. In December 2004, the world body adopted the Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property.But in Japan, only one court ruling had been made based on this principle, by the Tokyo District Court in November 2000, in a case involving yen-denominated bonds issued by Nauru. However, the Tokyo High Court made a different decision, based on the 1928 decision.Establish necessary lawsAccording to the Supreme Court, the issue of jurisdictional immunity arose in 20 lawsuits in the six-year period to 1999. Most of the decisions in these cases were made based on the 1928 decision.Some judges in Japanese courts say they tend to follow precedents in complicated cases that involve state sovereignty.If such an attitude led courts to fail to keep up with the times and make rulings out of tune with international common sense for a long time, they should reflect on their negligence.The government has not signed the U.N. convention yet, and it has not made efforts to establish necessary legislation. It deserves to be criticized for its tardiness.The top court decision should be used as a springboard to launch necessary procedures to come up with a legal framework for limited jurisdictional immunity.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	547	2006-07-22	YOSHIN0020060722e27m000es
YOMSHI0020060722e27n0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060722e27n0000d	EN	\N	Fukuda had nation's interests at heart	Fukuda reportedly decided against throwing his hat in the ring because he thought running for the presidency would stir up Yasukuni Shrine visits as a key campaign issue. Fukuda has been circumspect about visits to the shrine, whereas Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, the prime contender to become the next LDP president and therefore prime minister, has not been shy in expressing his support for visits by lawmakers to the shrine.	4	2006-07-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the two men had gone head-to-head in the race, it could appear both at home and abroad that the nation is divided on the visits. Fukuda reportedly said avoiding such a scenario was in the nation's interest.China and South Korea have tongue-lashed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for visiting the shrine. In particular, China has used the issue as a political bargaining chip and refused to hold summit talks between leaders of the two countries. The South Korean government under President Roh Moo-hyun has adopted a similar attitude.Koizumi has earned brickbats and bouquets for visiting Yasukuni Shrine each year since he took office. But if the LDP presidential election, which effectively will decide the next prime minister, is dominated by heated debate on the Yasukuni issue, rifts within the LDP likely will come under the spotlight. What will happen then?China in the shadowsChina can be expected to intensify its political maneuvering toward Japan. A widening LDP split over the issue will allow China to glean maximum advantage from the issue. Should this happen, diplomatic options available to Koizumi's successor toward China will be limited. This could impact Japan's national interests.Fukuda probably was concerned that such a situation would arise if he had chosen to run in the election.While he was serving as chief cabinet secretary, a private advisory panel to Fukuda proposed in late 2002 that a new national war memorial be constructed.However, Fukuda opposed setting aside funds to examine the proposed memorial when the fiscal 2006 budget was being compiled at the end of last year. He reportedly told his aides at the time that setting aside a budget for this purpose--in effect, caving to China's pressure--would invite trouble again in the future.Fukuda has constantly championed the need to improve relations with Beijing and criticized Koizumi's Yasukuni visits.However, how to pay respect to the war dead is a matter that should be determined by Japan alone. It is not a matter for other countries to stick their noses into.Issues must be debatedFukuda's decision not to bid for the LDP presidency reminds us of "kokushi," or a patriotic man, a word rarely used nowadays.Fukuda turned 70 years old earlier this month. "Do you think a man of my age can serve as prime minister?" he asked reporters. But many politicians have become prime minister after turning 70. His remark might have been nothing more than an excuse.Now that Fukuda has dropped out of the running, Abe holds all the cards in the race to succeed Koizumi. However, the election campaign should not just go through the motions like a sport match held after the champion has already been decided.The next administration will have to deal with a number of issues. How can stable economic growth be ensured? How can reform of the tax and fiscal systems and social welfare systems be carried out? What about raising the consumption tax rate? How can relations with China be repaired? How can the nation be protected from such threats as North Korea's missiles and nuclear development?The ruling party's election campaign should be dominated by fruitful political debates on concrete measures for domestic and diplomatic issues that the next government will have to deal with.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2006-07-23	YOSHIN0020060723e27n0008p
YOMSHI0020060723e27o0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060723e27o0000e	EN	\N	Ratchet up pressure on North Korea	The government has begun preparations for imposing financial sanctions on North Korea, which would follow the initial sanctions, which included the barring of the Man Gyong Bong-92 cargo and passenger ferry from Japanese ports for six months.	4	2006-07-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of the financial sanctions will be to identify corporations and individuals related to Pyongyang's development of missiles and weapons of mass destruction and publish the blacklist in a government gazette. Another will be to block remittances to the corporations and individuals in question overseas and freeze any funds they may have in Japan.Under the resolution adopted in reaction to North Korea's missile launches earlier this month, which was passed by unanimous vote at the U.N. Security Council on July 15, all U.N. member states are required to prevent any transfer of financial assets that would contribute to Pyongyang's development of missiles and WMDs.Japan played an important role in the adoption of the resolution and should act on its own initiative to promote closer ties with other countries so the resolution can be properly implemented.To make the blacklist complete and effective, it is vital to share the information with major powers such as Britain, France and the United States. It is better to have more countries implement sanctions against North Korea in order to prevent funds slipping through the net of sanctions and flowing to Pyongyang via third countries.Resolution must be obeyedWhile the resolution was not based on Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which would have made the sanctions mandatory and legally binding, Japan, Britain, France and the United States insist the use of the word "require" in the resolution makes compliance mandatory for member nations.However, it is difficult to expect China, Russia and South Korea to take concerted action with other countries on sanctions against North Korea. China and Russia opposed using wording in the draft resolution that would lead to sanctions and South Korea maintains a conciliatory stance toward Pyongyang.As such, there is no other alternative but to impose sanctions against North Korea by a coalition of the willing first.The United States imposed financial sanctions on North Korea last autumn. Since then, Pyongyang has refused to take part in the six-party talks on its nuclear development program and made the lifting of the financial sanctions a condition to return to the talks. That suggests the U.S. sanctions are serious for North Korea. In addition to the United States, Japan, Australia, Britain and France could become the core members of a coalition of the willing.Recruiting alliesForeign Minister Taro Aso is on a tour of Asia. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit Mongolia and other Central Asian countries. A series of strategic trips will see Cabinet members dispatched to countries with more distant ties to Japan over the summer. It is necessary to take advantage of such a chance to expand cooperation among countries that will implement the U.N. resolution.North Korea still insists that it will not be bound in any way by the resolution. If Pyongyang does not vow to return to the six-party talks and halt its missile launches, it will be necessary to expand the scope of the financial sanctions.The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will soon make public the outline of a draft bill that will make it possible to restrict trade with overseas banks suspected of money laundering. It would be best to have more trump cards for the sanctions.It is important for Japan to clearly show North Korea it intends to strengthen pressure on the country until it vows to dismantle its nuclear development program and end its missile launches.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2006-07-24	YOSHIN0020060724e27o000b7
YOMSHI0020060726e27p00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060726e27p00002	EN	\N	Law would help police follow the money	The government's Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures against Transnational Organized Crime and Other Relative Issues and International Terrorism is proposing a new law to prevent distribution of money made from crime. The headquarters made public the outline of a bill the government plans to submit to an ordinary Diet session next year.	4	2006-07-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bill is in line with the recommendation issued by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.But smooth passage of the bill into law is not a given. The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) has been increasingly critical of the government's policy. Another bill that would criminalize the act of conspiring to commit a crime even in cases where no other illegal act is committed has been carried over to the next Diet session. The bill on financial transactions involving funds of dubious origin could follow in the footsteps of the conspiracy bill. In dealing with it, the government and the JFBA must debate the issue in a calm and straightforward manner.Broader networkThe current system requires financial institutions to report suspicious transactions to the government. The bill in question is aimed at abolishing this system and establishing a new law to widen the scope of those required to report suspicious transactions to include lawyers, judicial scriveners, administrative scriveners, certified public accountants, certified tax accountants, real estate agencies and even jewelers.With money-laundering methods becoming more crafty and complicated, people in these professions could encounter financial transactions involving proceeds of crime or terrorist-linked activities. The envisioned law is aimed at expanding the surveillance network and using the data for criminal investigations.The government also is considering shifting the responsibility for accepting mandatory reports of suspicious transactions from the Financial Services Agency to the National Police Agency on the grounds that the NPA, since it is in charge of fighting organized crime, is the most appropriate agency to deal with such information.The JFBA opposes the government's plan to transfer the duty from the FSA to the NPA.Natural enemiesThe JFBA member argues: "The planned system requiring lawyers to report suspicious financial transactions to the National Police Agency, which is a lawyer's opponent in criminal trials, would endanger the independence of lawyers and bar associations and impair public trust in them." Furthermore, the federation also questions the idea of requiring lawyers to report suspicious transactions.Canada, the European Union and the United States have already prepared laws to cope with the FATF recommendation, but none of them use the same system. EU countries require lawyers to make such reports, but Canada does not. The United States has no such regulations involving lawyers.The government must strive to establish an effective system in line with the goals of the FATF recommendation.Terrorism and organized crime have become international. For each country to counter them cooperatively, the enactment of the law should not be delayed. It would be effective in stamping out drug-related crime linked to North Korea and its illegal commercial transactions.While finalizing the bill, it is expected that various quarters will question the new system, including its definition of a suspicious financial transaction. It is important for the government to fully and carefully explain the contents of the bill to all concerned.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2006-07-25	YOSHIN0020060725e27p000eg
YOMSHI0020060726e27q00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060726e27q00003	EN	\N	Nikkei Shimbun lax with privileged data	The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on Tuesday arrested the man, a staffer in The Nihon Keizai Shimbun's advertising bureau, on suspicion of insider trading.	4	2006-07-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Between December and January, the man allegedly made about 30 million yen by buying shares in five listed companies, on the basis of unpublished information garnered while working for the newspaper, and selling them at a profit.Insider trading distorts share prices and undermines the fairness of the securities market. If such unethical practices were to prevail, ordinary investors would eventually shun the stock market.The employee of the newspaper, commonly known as the Nikkei Shimbun, gained his information by reading the contents of legal notifications before they were published in the business daily.Duty to publicLegal notifications are advertisements with immense public importance. The Commercial Code obliges joint-stock companies to announce important matters, including the issuance of new shares, stock splits and settlement of accounts, for investors and other interested parties by publishing legal notifications in the official gazette or daily newspapers.These legal notices often contain important information likely to affect share prices. The stock splits the Nikkei employee was viewing with an eye to purchase would lead to an increase in stock prices after they were announced.The scandal-tainted Livedoor Co. often used this method to boost its share prices.Because of this, newspapers are obliged to protect the confidentiality of legal notifications before publication. At the Nikkei Shimbun, however, any member of the advertising bureau could read the contents of legal notifications before they were publicized because they were left unprotected on the company's computer network, which means the newspaper's information management system was lax.Stricter management neededIn June last year, the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission filed a complaint with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office against a sales director at Nihon Keizai Advertising Co., a client of the Nikkei Shimbun, for insider trading by exploiting information in a legal notification on stock splits.After the incident, the Nikkei Shimbun held workshops for its employees on the need to observe and respect the confidentiality of such information. It also distributed to members of the advertising bureau booklets on house rules prohibiting dubious trading in stocks.However, these efforts did not prevent insider trading. The arrested employee had attended two of these workshops, and allegedly told an internal inquiry that he knew insider trading was illegal. Despite this, he said he went ahead with the practice as though it were a game. This clearly shows that the seminars and booklets did not work.Following the revelations of the incident in February, Nikkei punished executives in the same month. The managing director in charge of advertising was forced to resign, and two executives at the advertisement bureau, including the bureau head, were demoted, and all the directors had their pay cut. The newspaper also told employees in the news, sales and advertising bureaus to completely stop trading in stocks.Strict management of information and compliance by staffers are essential for the news media, which is privy to a lot of information. Those working for news organizations must seriously accept their responsibility not to undermine the trust of their readers or viewers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	588	2006-07-26	YOSHIN0020060726e27q000ej
YOMSHI0020060727e27r00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060727e27r00003	EN	\N	New system not cause of doctor shortage	A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry panel has compiled a report regarding supply and demand for doctors for future. According to the report, as things stand, the nation will continue to have a sufficient number of doctors as a whole. But it warned that if the average weekly working hours of doctors, who are routinely overworked, were reduced to 48 hours or less, Japan would need an extra 9,000 doctors.	4	2006-07-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But at the moment, the total number of doctors is increasing by 3,000 or more a year, and no prefecture is suffering from declining numbers.Nonetheless, some prefectures are complaining about a shortage of doctors because core hospitals in charge of community health care, such as those run by prefectural and municipal governments, are experiencing a sudden shortage of doctors.This sharp decrease was triggered by a new training system for new doctors introduced two years ago.Young doctors eye new vistasBefore then, most medical training was given at university hospitals. But under this system, new doctors often were only able to learn skills in a very few limited fields, and they were forced to do odd jobs--like under an apprentice system.To help them learn a wider range of medical skills, new doctors were allowed to receive training at general hospitals.The result was that nearly half of them chose to work at general hospitals in major cities where they could see a variety of cases, rather than at university hospitals. As a result, university hospitals in the countryside experienced a shortage of new doctors and had to recall experienced doctors sent to hospitals run by local governments.In addition, a steady stream of doctors have been leaving busy medical departments, including obstetrics and pediatrics, where they have to be on call day and night.Although some hospitals have many doctors, many others are understaffed. This means they have to work a lot of extra hours, which increases the risk of malpractice. Some hospital doctors, unable to put up with such a harsh working environment, resign and open their own clinics. But few new doctors are coming forward to fill the vacancies. This shortage of doctors was aggravated by the recall of experienced doctors by university hospitals.The university hospitals say the new training system is the cause of the problem. But this is not so. Although the new system might have room for improvement, the root problem lies in the nature of university hospitals and the lack of planning in the way doctors are assigned to hospitals.Hospitals, heal thyselvesUniversity hospitals could attract doctors-in-training by offering training conditions better than those at general hospitals.It is important to allocate enough doctors for each region. Neighboring municipalities should get together and set up a system whereby they can share core facilities in their region and allocate doctors intensively.New doctors, who have finished their two-year training period under the new system, are now arriving on the medical front line. How to deploy them effectively is the key to solving shortages of doctors in particular areas.Not all young doctors want to work in urban areas. Even in rural areas, hospitals that are enthusiastic about community medical care attract a lot of young doctors.The quickest way for a rural municipality to attract young doctors would be to work flat out on the construction of a pioneering medical care system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	608	2006-07-27	YOSHIN0020060727e27r000e2
YOMSHI0020060728e27s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060728e27s00001	EN	\N	Candidates in LDP poll should discuss policies	Tanigaki is the first LDP lawmaker to officially throw his hat in the ring in the fight for the LDP presidency. He explicitly said the consumption tax rate should be increased from the current 5 percent to at least 10 percent at the earliest possible time by the mid-2010s.	4	2006-07-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has repeatedly said he would not hike the tax as long as he is in office. Consequently, there has been virtually no debate about raising the tax.The prime minister must have judged that efforts to cut spending for fiscal rehabilitation would be undermined if the government were to rely on a consumption tax increase to ensure fiscal health.However, spending cuts alone cannot repair state finances. A consumption tax hike is an inevitable measure to secure necessary funds to maintain social security systems, including the pension program.Tanigaki serves as finance minister, overseeing the nation's tax system and fiscal situation. His broaching the issue of hiking the consumption tax--and his mentioning a specific figure--could spur discussion on the issue.Talk about consumption taxWith the House of Councillors election set for next summer, the prevailing opinion within the LDP is that debate on a consumption tax hike--which will put further burdens on voters--should be postponed.However, as Tanigaki said, politicians should be straight and candid with the public. In the LDP presidential election campaign, politicians have the responsibility to talk directly about a consumption tax hike.As former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, who had been considered a strong possible candidate in the presidential election, has decided not to run in the race, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has a comfortable lead in the race.As a strong candidate to become the next prime minister, Abe should expound on his view on the advisability of raising the consumption tax.As for Japan's Asian diplomacy, Tanigaki said he would "refrain from visiting Yasukuni Shrine if I became prime minister," in an effort not to worsen relations with China and South Korea.Abe has said it is natural to pay tribute to those who died fighting for the nation. By saying he will not visit the shrine, Tanigaki may be attempting to distance himself from Abe.Voters' interests paramountTanigaki vowed to "normalize [Japan's] Asia diplomacy," but this country's Asia diplomacy is not limited to relations with China and South Korea. Abe has said Japan-U.S. cooperation should involve India and Australia among other countries. We would like to hear discussions on diplomacy from a strategic and broad perspective.Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Aso are expected to formally announce their candidacies in the LDP presidential election soon. Some other key LDP members also are tipped to run in the race. They will engage in policy debates at a series of regional party forums that will kick off Friday with the Tokyo bloc meeting.The LDP presidential election will effectively determine who will succeed Koizumi as prime minister. The election campaign should consider the interests of not only LDP members, but also those of voters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	565	2006-07-28	YOSHIN0020060728e27s000es
YOMSHI0020060729e27t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060729e27t00001	EN	\N	North Korea's isolation deepened after ARF	A ministerial meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum was held in Malaysia on Friday, with North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun in attendance.	4	2006-07-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A chairman's statement condemning North Korea's missile launches early this month was announced at the meeting. The statement also called on Pyongyang to return unconditionally to the six-way talks on its nuclear program.Paek rejected the statement.He claimed that by carrying out the series of missile launches, his country was maintaining its readiness to defend itself. He also slammed the U.N. Security Council resolution earlier this month, saying, "The [adoption of the] resolution was a provocative action against North Korea."Paek reiterated that North Korea would only return to the six-way process if the United States lifted its economic sanctions. He also warned that Pyongyang might quit the ARF.At the meeting, Japan and nine other countries as well as the European Union expressed concern over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Paek's comments demonstrated Pyongyang's determination to, effectively, ignore these voices.Some member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have friendly relations with North Korea. However, in addition to the ARF chairman's statement, which was backed by Japan, Australia and the United States, a joint statement of an ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting also stated concern over the missile launches.China angry over losing faceNorth Korea refused to participate in a foreign ministerial meeting of the countries involved in the six-way process. Thus, a meeting of 10 countries--five from the six-party process and five other countries--was hastily arranged, and the participants agreed to steadily implement the measures stipulated in the Security Council resolution. The resolution requires U.N. member countries to prevent the transfer to North Korea of missile-related materials, technologies and funds, among other points.North Korea's isolation in the international community has become more evident after the series of ASEAN-related meetings.China reportedly recently froze North Korean-related accounts at the state-run Bank of China. The move may be a sign of China's anger over its losing face when Pyongyang ignored Beijing's call for it not to test-fire missiles.China also might have judged that by altering its stance toward North Korea, it could put the United States in its debt as Washington has been busy dealing with the Middle East crisis.Keep up global pressureSouth Korea has suspended rice aid to North Korea. The step is seen as the minimum step the government of President Roh Moo-hyun could take to deflect criticism of his administration's reconciliatory approach to North Korea that may emerge at home and abroad.The countries concerned have different views on North Korea, including on the threat it represents. Therefore, Japan should continue to make diplomatic efforts to maintain global pressure on North Korea.In his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Japan was considering imposing economic sanctions on North Korea based on the Security Council resolution.Rice replied that Washington was also considering additional sanctions against Pyongyang, saying that the resolution should be followed up on.To effectively pressure North Korea, China's cooperation is indispensable. Japan and the United States must work closer to persuade China to take further action against North Korea, following its freezing of the bank accounts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2006-07-29	YOSHIN0020060729e27t000fd
YOMSHI0020060729e27u0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060729e27u0000e	EN	\N	Too much privacy against public interest	A Social Policy Council division advising the Cabinet Office on a review of the Personal Information Protection Law has compiled a broad package of study items, including the "excessive" protection of personal data by public entities and the ways the private sector handles private information. The division will compile its own ideas in summer next year.	4	2006-07-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since the law was put into force in April last year, there have been numerous cases of such excessive protection of personal data due to overreaction by individuals and organizations.Even during emergencies such as natural disasters and accidents, hospitals often refuse to respond to inquiries by individuals regarding the safety of relatives. Some schools no longer maintain emergency-contact networks for parents, or even graduation albums.Overreaction must be avoidedAt local municipalities, officials are having a hard time compiling lists of those vulnerable during disasters, such as the elderly, disabled, pregnant women and nursing mothers.The Kanagawa prefectural government has compiled a handbook calling on residents to "make a good use of private information, while protecting it."But only 2.6 percent of local governments have taken measures to deal with such overreaction.To prevent overreaction, a clear-cut interpretation of the law must be established. In addition, the guidelines issued by ministries and agencies--which cover various sectors ranging from medicine to education--should be made widely known to the public.Fifteen ministries and agencies agreed in late February to strengthen measures to prevent such overreaction, however, this has had little effect so far. A review of the way the laws are being applied, by and of itself, will have only a limited effect.There have also been many problems related to the public administration services provided by ministries and agencies, and local governments.In more than a few cases, administrative offices have not made public the academic backgrounds or dates of birth of senior officials at the time of personnel changes. At times, administrative offices have concealed the names of officials who have been disciplined or the names of entities by which former officials were employed after leaving public service.The concealment of such information is usually made on the grounds that the law governing the protection of computerized personal data held by administrative bodies prohibits the use of such data for purposes other than originally intended, or that the person concerned has not given his or her approval.Public has right to knowThe Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association points that "information on individuals has been protected on the ground of protecting the individual's right to privacy." As things stand, news organizations cannot monitor the public administration. This also runs counter to the purpose of the Personal Information Protection Law, which was to make the public administration more transparent.The Japan Federation of Bar Associations has come up with proposals for revising the laws. While depending on the nature of private information and the intended purposes of the use once the information is disclosed, the federation says it is more beneficial for information to be provided rather than protected, thus information on individuals should be made available. Included in the proposals is one that such a provision be added to the Personal Information Protection Law.The federation also proposes that information on government employees implementing public duties be excluded from the provision that restrains the provision of such information under the law on the protection of computerized personal data held by administrative bodies.This will become one of the focal points of debate in the days ahead.Issues related to overreaction may not be capable of being resolved simply by explaining the rationale behind the laws, or by reviewing the guidelines governing government offices. They need to be made through a comprehensive study of specific proposals on how to revise the law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	679	2006-07-30	YOSHIN0020060730e27u00098
YOMSHI0020060731e27v00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060731e27v00001	EN	\N	IRCJ must wind up without burdening public	The revitalization of Daiei, which the IRCJ assisted, has achieved a major aim--to rehabilitate key financially troubled but viable firms.	4	2006-07-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Market competition is fierce in the retail industry and although Daiei will leave the protective environment of the assistance body, the firm's prospects cannot be viewed with much optimism. Marubeni, as Daiei's new parent company, is now responsible for putting Daiei's corporate operations back on track in the months ahead.Since it started operating about three years ago, the IRCJ has assisted in the rehabilitation of 41 businesses. With Daiei--once a symbol of the nonperforming loan problem--"graduating" from the school of corporate rehabilitation, the IRCJ's task has neared its completion.The establishment of the IRCJ was designed to accelerate the disposal of nonperforming loans of financially troubled firms by purchasing credits from banks that extended loans to such companies, and to realize an integrated revitalization of the nation's financial and industrial sectors.Aim almost accomplishedHelped, to some extent, by the economic recovery, the IRCJ has almost accomplished its original aim.The decision to set up the IRCJ, a public organization funded by such entities as the Deposit Insurance Corporation, has proven to be merited.Unlike such legal steps as the application of the Corporate Rehabilitation Law, assisted companies were able to rehabilitate themselves, while having some of their business resources left untouched and utilized for their rehabilitation. As the IRCJ also served as a coordinator between struggling firms and the financial institutions that had extended loans to them, negotiations with banks to waiver certain obligations were often trouble free.The involvement of the IRCJ also proved beneficial for financial institutions. Once the IRCJ decided to extend its assistance to a firm, its remaining credit was reclassified as a sound loan. In this way, the IRCJ proved useful for both the assisted companies and banks.The amount the IRCJ has spent on investment and purchasing credits from financial institutions is about \\1 trillion.One of the IRCJ's key investments was a \\420 billion injection given to rehabilitate Kanebo, Ltd., a showpiece company as symbolic of the loan problem as Daiei.By selling its entire stake in Kanebo for \\440 billion, the IRCJ made a profit of about \\20 billion. And through the sales of its equity stake in Daiei, the IRCJ moved about \\20 billion further into the black.The IRCJ saw its settled account move into the black for the business term ended in March last year, making it likely it will have turned a profit when it eventually winds up.Saving firms can be profitableIt is also more likely, therefore, the IRCJ will be able to live up to its original public pledge that it would not cause any financial burden on taxpayers.The other achievement made by the IRCJ is its proof that the task of corporate reconstruction can be viable as a business enterprise. Before the creation of the IRCJ, banks would usually take the lead in supplying manpower and funds to struggling corporate borrowers, to help them rehabilitate themselves. In cases where such assistance from banks failed to get troubled businesses back on their feet, troubled firms often turned to legal measures such as the Corporate Rehabilitation Law.We have seen that if corporate management of troubled companies is propped up and corporate earnings are therefore improved, the value of these companies can be greatly increased. Many businesses have come to realize that by selling a stake in companies they have helped revive, profits can be made.It is now possible the IRCJ could be disbanded before the end of this fiscal year, rather than keeping it alive until the originally scheduled disbandment date of March 2008.The experts who currently work for the IRCJ will eventually be employed by private firms. They will be expected to serve as core members of these firms to actively assist corporate revitalization businesses.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	721	2006-07-31	YOSHIN0020060731e27v000b1
YOMSHI0020060801e28100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060801e28100001	EN	\N	Business expansion not goal of postal privatization	The plan lists many business expansion projects, including those for the postal banking unit tentatively named Yucho Bank and the postal insurance unit tentatively called Kampo Life Insurance.	4	2006-08-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the plan, only the new corporation's enthusiasm for new business projects is evident rather than the original purposes of postal privatization: streamlining of government enterprises and improving the efficiency of postal services.Yucho Bank is planning to start offering housing loans and financing for small and medium-sized companies, while Kampo Life Insurance is planning to sell medical and indemnity insurance. According to the plan, the bank also wants to abolish or raise the current 10 million yen ceiling per depositor, and the life insurance firm would like to raise the current 10 million yen ceiling per policyholder.After privatization, Yucho Bank will have the largest combined assets of any financial institution in the world, and Kampo Life Insurance will be the biggest company in the domestic life insurance industry. The two will become extremely powerful business juggernauts once they are privatized and start doing business like other conventional companies.Make efficient use of incomeTo survive as a private company, it is necessary to secure sources of income. So far, the huge amount of money collected by postal savings and postal life insurance services have been used inefficiently within a government framework as funds to purchase government bonds or for fiscal investments and loans. To revitalize the national economy by funneling this money into the private sector, it is better to widen the variety of options for which these funds can be used.However, it should be allowed only after mail delivery, postal savings, life insurance and over-the-counter services are completely privatized.According to the plan, stocks of Yucho Bank and Kampo Life Insurance will be listed in 2011. Over the subsequent five years, the holding company will sell all shares in the two firms to private investors, but until that time the government will remain involved in the two firms.If they collect funds and win customers with the backing of the government, the two firms will not be competing fairly against other private firms. It also runs counter to one of the purposes of privatization--reduction of public financing. The government panel on privatization of postal services should severely supervise expansion into new businesses during this transfer period.Universality vitalMeanwhile, the plan does not present a clear picture on how to maintain the universal service or delivery of mail to every part of the country for the same price. This is more important than expansion of financial businesses from the viewpoint of public convenience.A review of unnecessary expenditure being conducted by Japan Post, a public corporation currently in charge of postal services, is still only half complete.Government-commissioned post offices are strongly resisting reform plans that include a revision of salary and personnel systems for their postmasters, and unification of business communication lines between government-commissioned and ordinary post offices as it will seriously affect their vested interests.A series of scandals involving post office workers have been uncovered, including the illegal discount of postage charges and embezzlement cases. Unless all the companies in the group try to heighten awareness of costs and compliance among their employees, they cannot become full-fledged private corporations.Many things must be done to make privatization successful before expanding the areas of business.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2006-08-01	YOSHIN0020060801e281000f9
YOMSHI0020060802e28200002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060802e28200002	EN	\N	Govt must act to realize 'Assured Security'	According to "Defense of Japan 2006," which was endorsed Tuesday by the Cabinet, North Korea's nuclear development has probably reached a rather advanced stage. It also says that Pyongyang's launch of seven ballistic missiles, which can be used as vehicles to deliver nuclear warheads, caused "grave concern."	4	2006-08-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The missiles reportedly included not only Rodong missiles, which can strike anywhere in Japan, but also new Scud missiles that have an extended range and can reach part of Japan. The treat from North Korea's missiles is becoming more serious for Japan than ever.Japan intends to start the introduction of a missile defense system at the end of this fiscal year. Tokyo and Washington also have agreed to start the joint development of a next-generation interceptor missile. However, more efforts are required to broaden defense and to improve the nation's ability to intercept ballistic missiles.The threat from ChinaThe white paper also points out that the Chinese Navy and Air Force are becoming more active.In September, five Chinese Navy ships were spotted in an area of the East China Sea where Japan and China are disputing the rights to the development of undersea gas fields. The white paper says that deployment of the vessels was gunboat diplomacy on Beijing's part, intended to show Japan that China had the power to protect its maritime interests.Air Self-Defense Force fighters were scrambled a record 107 times in fiscal 2005 to warn against Chinese planes threatening to intrude into Japan's airspace. This was eight times more than during the previous fiscal year. The white paper said the Chinese planes were probably trying to "collect data" on activities such as Self-Defense Force's communications.The white paper predicts that activities by Chinese forces, which are currently being modernized, will extend beyond waters close to China. Given this, Japan must not fail to take appropriate precautions.Growth in China's military spending has been in double digits in percentage terms for the past 18 years, and has swelled to 13 times what it was at the beginning of this period. However, this military spending does not include all the money spent on research, development and procurement of equipment. Japan must demand that China increase the transparency of its military build-up and spending.Japan-U.S. alliance is keyTo deal with factors such as these that are destabilizing the security of the nation, the Japan-U.S. alliance must evolve according to changes in the security environment.The white paper says the nation's "first major step" toward that goal is the plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan, which was agreed upon by Tokyo and Washington in May. The white paper says that Japan should carry out the realignment quickly and completely in cooperation with the United States.The government must handle the relocation of the U.S. Marines Corps' Futenma Air Station and other realignment projects responsibly. It also needs to improve interoperability between Japanese and U.S. forces in tactics, equipment, intelligence and communication to make joint actions smoother.Deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance is the best way to achieve "Assured Security."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 2, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	586	2006-08-02	YOSHIN0020060802e282000g7
YOMSHI0020060803e28300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060803e28300001	EN	\N	ODA must be utilized as diplomatic tool	However, the reorganization should not be allowed to end up as a mere name change. It must be accompanied by a positive commitment to improve the nation's ODA strategy.	4	2006-08-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the past, the Economic Cooperation Bureau was in charge of bilateral ODA, while the Global Issues Department handled multilateral ODA. One of the reasons for the reorganization was to place the management of all forms of ODA under one bureau.In addition, the position of director general for global issues was created, with the aim of coordinating policies for global problems, such as bird flu and environmental issues, with overall ODA strategy.The government in February reformed its basic ODA policy at the same time it reorganized government-related financial institutions.ODA is an important diplomatic tool for an advanced country such as Japan. However, 13 ministries and agencies were involved in the nation's ODA programs, resulting in an inefficient operation, which in turn led to an ambiguously defined ODA strategy.The major feature of the reform was the establishment of the Council of Overseas Economic Cooperation, chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, which will act as the "control tower" for the government's basic ODA strategy. Other members of the council, which held its first meeting in May, include the foreign and finance ministers. The Foreign Ministry's structural reorganization is in line with the reform.Foreign Ministry holds the keyUnder the basic strategy, the Foreign Ministry will coordinate the work of ministries and agencies so it will function as the core organ planning ODA programs. However, unless the ministry's ability is improved, a clearly defined strategy for overseas assistance programs will not be established.The council decided at its second meeting in June to lift the freeze on yen credit to China for fiscal 2005. This was based on a highly political judgment taking into consideration the entire picture of Japan-China relations.But Japan will terminate the provision of new yen credits to China by 2008, when the Beijing Summer Olympic Games will be held. It was a natural decision since China is no more a developing country and is actually an aid donor.However, China has serious environmental problems such as acid rain and marine pollution. After Japan ceases providing yen credits to China, one major subject will be how to proceed with technological cooperation in terms of environmental protection.We would like the council to clearly formulate the direction of overseas assistance programs, after discussing the aims of ODA programs, which nations and territories the government wants to place the full weight of its assistance behind, and in what fields.Improve ODA qualityThe Foreign Ministry will have an increasingly important role in supporting the overseas cooperation council. The ministry needs to cut ODA costs as much as possible and improve the quality of the assistance, which has been criticized as wasteful.Given the announcement of the basic policy for economic and fiscal management for 2006, the guideline for fiscal 2007 budget appropriation request for ODA was cut by 3 percent from the previous fiscal year.On the other hand, Japan has pledged to the international community that it would increase ODA by $10 billion in the next five years and double ODA to Africa in the next three years.The main task facing the government in this respect is to make ODA recognized as the aid that shows the Japanese flag to the world. It is important for the ministry to use its ingenuity to the maximum in finding the best way to get the best results with a limited budget.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2006-08-03	YOSHIN0020060803e283000g1
YOMSHI0020060804e28400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060804e28400001	EN	\N	Prompt reform needed to revamp SIA	A panel of experts on Thursday released its final report on an independent investigation into national pension premium exemptions that were inappropriately awarded without applications being submitted by those concerned to increase the rate of premium payments.	4	2006-08-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The number of irregular cases has swollen to 385,440 nationwide, according to the investigative panel's findings. Although the panel says there is no evidence the agency instructed its employees to take inappropriate actions, it is crystal clear the wrongdoing was rampant throughout the agency.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has said it will punish nearly 2,000 staff members of the agency, including those at the main office. But punishments should not be limited to just a slap on the wrist.The panel's report made the agency's organizational defects even clearer.The inappropriate practice began almost simultaneously at social insurance offices throughout the nation late last year. Measures to inappropriately exempt people from paying pension premiums had been prevalent among employees, but the agency itself remained oblivious to these practices.Murase must face musicThe agency also dropped the ball when it came to handling the matter after the scandal came to light. When it launched its own investigation, a number of social insurance offices were not forthright in their reports, and some offices even repeatedly concealed information. It took five rounds of nationwide investigations until a clear picture of the scandal was brought into the open."This government organ's disciplinary rules are not functioning as they should," one panel member said. "The agency is incapable of doing what it should as such an organization." Is this the result of the two-year effort by the agency's head, Kiyoshi Murase, who had joined from the private sector?Some people say Murase should resign his post to take responsibility for the scandal. However, his resignation would only serve to please agency employees who despise reform and are happy with the status quo. To take responsibility, Murase must face up to the results of the probe and move ahead even more diligently with his policy of reform.Murase has pursued his goal of increasing the rate of premium payments to 80 percent. However, last fiscal year's rate stood at about 65 percent. The rate will only further decrease if the portion created through the questionable methods of this latest scandal is removed.Force defaulters to pay upIt is natural that people would be angry about the lackadaisical organizational character of the agency, but this must not become a reason for failure to pay pension premiums. The pension system works when it is supported mutually by all the people of Japan. The agency should stringently work to collect premiums from those who do not pay despite having sufficient income.The scandal has caused deliberations on a bill to reform the agency to be carried over to the next Diet session. The bill stipulates a new system that would call on defaulters to pay the premiums in cooperation with the national health insurance affairs sections of municipal, town and village governments. The agency must also take steps to increase the effectiveness of its activities.The premium payment rate should not be improved through increased exemptions, but instead by the agency beefing up its ability to collect them. To that end, reform of the agency should be accelerated.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 4, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2006-08-04	YOSHIN0020060804e284000f7
YOMSHI0020060805e28500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060805e28500001	EN	\N	Japan's commitment to Iraq must not waver	Aso was quoted by a Foreign Ministry official as telling Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that the government remains committed to supporting reconstruction efforts and would continue airlifting supplies by the Air Self-Defense Force and extend other support, mainly through yen-loan-financed projects.	4	2006-08-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is natural for Japan to be actively involved in Iraq's reconstruction, as it depends on the Middle East for about 90 percent of the crude oil it needs.The foreign minister's surprise visit to Iraq was made immediately after Ground Self-Defense Force personnel completed their withdrawal from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, where they helped rebuild water supply facilities and distribute water, as well as provide medical support. The visit should alleviate Iraqi concerns that support would start petering out.Yen loans pillar of supportThe pillar of Japan's support for Iraq is the up to $3.5 billion in yen loans it is providing. So far, the loans have been allocated for use on four projects: improvement of port and harbor facilities; refurbishment of thermal power plants; supply of irrigation-related materials; and machinery; and construction of bridges and roads in Samawah. They are all important parts of social infrastructure supporting Iraq's economic activities.Through the official signing of contracts for the projects, the government will make international tenders for them with consulting and construction firms. But the yen loans for the four projects account for only 20 percent of the $3.5 billion. To begin full-scale efforts in Iraq's reconstruction, it is necessary to further narrow down which projects to concentrate on and make them a reality.But it is the worsening security situation in Iraq that is hampering the smooth implementation of these yen-loan projects.The clashes between Shiites and Sunnis have intensified, mainly in Baghdad, and terrorist incidents are frequent. The United States, which once tried to reduce its troops in Iraq, recently decided to increase its forces in Baghdad. Some high-ranking U.S. military officers have voiced concern over the situation in Iraq. One of them said there was the possibility of the current situation developing into civil war.It is currently difficult for Japanese companies to directly take part in Iraq's reconstruction efforts and expand economic support. But Japan should prepare as much as possible for eventual full-scale support, such as by training Iraqi technical experts in neighboring Jordan.ASDF still key playerIn addition to the yen-loan projects, another pillar of the government's support is ASDF transportation activities.On Friday, the government decided to revise the basic plan for deployment of the Self-Defense Forces for reconstruction assistance to Iraq to include Arbil, a city north of Baghdad, as one of the destinations for ASDF airlift operations. The change of the basic plan is aimed at helping in the transfer of U.N. workers in Baghdad and Arbil.The United Nations significantly scaled down its activities in Iraq after terrorist bombings targeted its Baghdad headquarters in 2003. But with the start of the Maliki administration, the United Nations intends to expand its activities in Iraq.It is the responsibility of Japan as a member of the international community to actively support those U.N. activities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 5, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2006-08-05	YOSHIN0020060805e285000ge
YOMSHI0020060805e2860000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060805e2860000e	EN	\N	Peace declaration skirts new nuclear threat	Today marks the 61st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and Wednesday will mark the same for Nagasaki. Is it not time to begin calmly discussing responsibility for the atomic bombings without being swayed by the ideological or political confrontation between conservative and progressive forces?	4	2006-08-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The rules of engagement agreed on by warring parties in World War II prohibited the use of weapons that inflict unnecessary suffering and attacks on defenseless cities. Some observers suggest the atomic bombings could violate this agreement.Just 10 years have passed since the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued an advisory opinion that, in general, the use of nuclear weapons violates international law. Even in the cities obliterated by the atomic bombs in 1945, movements have sprouted that question why the bombs were dropped and where responsibility for their development and the decision to drop them rests.In July, a mock international trial organized in Hiroshima by citizens, mainly atomic bomb victims and lawyers, found 15 Americans treated as defendants, including former U.S. President Harry Truman, who made the final decision to use the atomic bombs, guilty of committing crimes against humanity through their roles in the process that eventually led to the bombs being dropped.Differing perceptionsIn the United States, the commonly accepted view is that the atomic bombings helped hasten the end of the war, thereby reducing the number of war casualties that could have been expected had the fighting dragged on. Although a wide perception gap over the atomic bombings remains between Japan and the United States, discussing the matter is imperative.The mock trial likely was held in a mood of anti-U.S. sentiment typical of many conventional antinuclear movements. Calm, rational discussion was at a premium in the trial.Some observers suggest the atomic bombings could have been avoided if the war had ended earlier. Chances for the guns to fall silent sooner they did presented themselves many times, such as the time of Germany's surrender, the end of fighting on Okinawa, and the announcement of the Potsdam Declaration in which the Allied Powers presented Japan with conditions for its surrender.Discussion on responsibility for the destruction wrought by the atomic bombs also must home in on the actions of Japan's leaders and why they dilly-dallied when it come to ending the war.A missed chanceDays commemorating the atomic bombings will come about one month after North Korea test-fired seven missiles, which could be used to carry nuclear warheads, in defiance of warnings from the international community. Hiroshima and Nagasaki officials have a prime opportunity to issue a message conveying the atomic bomb victims' anger over Pyongyang's brazen act.However, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba will not touch upon such a message in the Peace Declaration he will make Sunday. Instead, the pillar of his declaration will be an action program that urges 1,403 cities in the world belonging to the "Mayors for Peace," an organization headed by Akiba, to press nuclear powers to confirm whether their cities are targets of the weapons and, if they are, to exclude them from the target list.But would any nation realistically disclose top military secrets, such as which cities are in its nuclear sights?If Akiba's declaration throws up only starry-eyed slogans far removed from the current international situation, he will be turning a blind eye to the gravest nuclear attack threat facing Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2006-08-06	YOSHIN0020060806e286000as
YOMSHI0020060807e28700003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060807e28700003	EN	\N	Income tax hike won't rectify income disparity	One of the driving forces behind this is Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who has announced his intention to run in the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election in September. Tanigaki has proposed increasing the consumption tax rate from 5 percent to 10 percent, while also emphasizing the need to "review income and inheritance taxes."	4	2006-08-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The consumption tax has been regarded as highly regressive in that its financial burden falls more heavily on low-income earners. Tanigaki's proposal is intended to make up for this regressiveness through income tax hikes.His ideas have been echoed by LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa, who has tacitly supported an income tax increase. "[This nation's] income redistribution system has become less functional. It is necessary to debate how to regain this functionality," he said during a recent television appearance.For years, the government has been easing the income tax burden as a primary means of stimulating the economy. There seems to be a consensus that the government should strive to ensure equality of opportunities instead of equality of results, and to transform this country into a society in which all people are rewarded for their efforts.Income gapIncreasing income taxes signifies a bold departure from the pursuit of these goals.In recent months, several members of the government's Tax Commission have insisted on income tax hikes, including an increase in the maximum income tax rate. The move comes as the council is preparing to produce an interim report on tax system reform in autumn. Those members have defended their calls for a rate hike, citing the need to rectify the expanding wealth disparity and counter the regressive nature of the consumption tax.There is no doubt about the widening income gap between rich and poor in Japan. The Cabinet Office's "Annual Report on the Japanese Economy and Public Finance, 2006" states the gulf between haves and have-nots is not the real root of the problem, and that the growth in the number of nonregular employees, including young part-timers, is one of the most disturbing developments in the income distribution picture.If so, imposing greater taxes on high-income earners and reducing their take-home earnings will offer no solution to the problem. A real cure for the problem is to ensure more young people are employed as regular workers and to raise their income.High ratesIn 1985, the maximum rate for personal income taxes stood at 88 percent. The rate, which covers the combined total of income and resident taxes, has since been reduced over and over again. Today, the figure stands at 50 percent--a 37 percent income tax and a 13 percent resident tax.Still, the rate of 50 percent exceeds about 46 percent in the United States (New York City), 40 percent in Britain and about 48 percent in France. The rate will stand at 45 percent in Germany if the country's legislature adopts a pending tax increase bill.Yuko Matsuoka, translator of the global megahit Harry Potter series, has been embroiled in legal controversy with the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau over which country should be considered her place of residence, Japan or Switzerland. She has transferred her certificate of residence to Switzerland, where she has paid her income taxes. However, the taxation bureau has told her that she failed to declare her income to the Japanese authorities, insisting her main place of residence is in Japan.Matsuoka has said the transfer of her residential certificate to Switzerland was not intended to reduce her taxes. There has been no end to the number of high-income earners leaving this country, hoping to avoid paying heavy income taxes at home.In this globalized world, if Japan goes it alone in hiking income taxes more and more high-income earners, who would otherwise contribute to the nation's economic vitality, will leave this country.The regressiveness of the consumption tax can be eased by setting lighter tax rates for such daily necessities as food, tap water, pharmaceutical products and newspapers. Therefore, it is unreasonable to raise income taxes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	729	2006-08-07	YOSHIN0020060807e287000ck
YOMSHI0020060808e28800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060808e28800001	EN	\N	Employers, unions spurn labor ministry's proposals	The discussion at a subcommittee of the ministry's Labor Policy Council has become complicated. Initially, the ministry wanted to build a tentative consensus about pending issues at the subcommittee on labor conditions by the end of July, hoping to submit necessary bills to next year's ordinary Diet session. Under the circumstances, however, the ministry has had to give up its plan to do so.	4	2006-08-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The subcommittee started discussions in October. Themes taken up at the panel include a plan to create a labor contract law and a fundamental review of work-hours regulations stipulated in the Labor Standards Law. In June, the ministry presented rough drafts necessary for such legislation.The ministry's drafts address a wide range of pertinent issues. They seek to clearly define the rules to be accepted by labor and management concerning dismissal, job transfers and leasing of employees, while also reexamining regulations on overtime work. Rules for disciplinary action and retirement also will be subject to a review.However, representatives of labor unions and corporate managers openly opposed the ministry's proposals. The managers issued a collective opinion to the effect that the subcommittee's discussion was still insufficient. The labor representatives followed suit, thus causing the panel to keep its discussion in abeyance for more than one month.A ministry official has said the stalemate can be attributed to the ministry's failure to conduct adequate consensus-building with the labor and management representatives behind the scenes. However, the whole matter is not that simple.Workers, companies dividedAll subjects discussed at the subcommittee can significantly affect business administration and employment. To make matters worse, labor and management are bitterly divided over most issues taken up at the panel.The ministry's drafts call for adopting a system in which a financial settlement would be arranged in a labor-management dispute over dismissal, saying it would be difficult for a discharged employee to return to his or her job once such controversy has arisen. The management supported the idea as a means of "settling the dispute in a prompt manner."However, labor representatives have argued the system would encourage management to believe "an employee could be dismissed just by paying money."The drafts also incorporate a plan to expand the list of employees not bound by rules on overtime work--such as those in managerial positions--to include some white-collar workers. The proposal has antagonized labor representatives, who contend the plan would encourage long working hours.Red tapeMeanwhile, corporate managers have objected to a proposal that would require them to present employees with written notice if they want to make changes in wages and working hours, or transfer workers to other jobs. They have also opposed an increase in the rate of extra wages paid for overtime work. Management representatives have defended their position, saying these proposals would present a great burden for small and midsized companies that do not have general affairs departments, and contribute to an increase in unnecessary overtime work.All in all, the drafts contain both carrot and stick for labor and management. The ministry may have presumed its drafts would be acceptable to both sides, but as it turns out, the ministry was too optimistic about how unions and employers would respond to the proposals. It is also difficult to say the drafts contain convincing data needed to explain why these rules must be written into law.Rules on labor contracts and working conditions could be smoothly applied if they were acceptable to both labor and management. We believe the ministry needs to readjust its approach to break the current stalemate. It would be wise for the ministry to reconsider its drafts and greatly narrow down the list of themes addressed by the panel, instead of hastily trying to reach a consensus on the issues now.Undoubtedly, there are problems to be solved at some workplaces, including mercilessly long working hours. We hope labor and management will put the whole question into broad perspective and fully debate what kinds of rules would be desirable for them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2006-08-08	YOSHIN0020060808e288000g3
YOMSHI0020060809e28900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060809e28900001	EN	\N	Make swimming pools safe for children to use	Responding to the death of a 7-year-old girl at a city-run swimming pool in Fujimino, Saitama Prefecture, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry has conducted an emergency survey concerning the safety of such facilities nationwide. The study covered swimming pools at about 30,000 public schools, as well as about 2,900 pools managed by local boards of education.	4	2006-08-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the survey, safety grates were not properly fastened over the mouths of drainpipes at 305 swimming pools in Tokyo and 37 prefectures. The study also revealed that drainpipes at 1,596 pools in Tokyo and 36 prefectures are not fitted with internal grilles to prevent swimmers from being sucked deep inside the pipes.It has been found that one of the two grilles over the mouth of the drainpipe at the Fujimino pool had fallen off. The pipe also lacked an internal grille. The 7-year-old girl was drawn deep into the pipe by the strong sucking force of water around the inlet.Earlier, the ministry issued a notice that swimming pools found to be defective through its survey must be closed until measures have been taken to ensure their safety. Many public schools and boards of education have already shut such swimming pools. Their action must be seen as inevitable, given that the use of such pools could pose a threat to swimmers.Questions must be raised about why nothing had been done to fix these defective pools.Ministry notice little heededAccording to the Japan Sports Facilities Association, there were 59 accidents involving water inlets and outlets at pools between 1965 and 2004, in which 54 people died. Most of these accidents took place at school swimming pools. Given this, accidents involving school pools can hardly be described as unusual.Each year, the ministry sends a notice to city, ward, town and village boards of education concerning measures to be taken to prevent accidents involving school pools.Beginning in 1996, the ministry incorporated into the notice fail-safe preventive measures: Fastening inlet grates with bolts and installing fittings to prevent swimmers from being drawn into them. The notice stated public swimming pools were also subject to these rules.However, the number of accidents taking place at swimming pools in recent years shows the ministry's notice has not been thoroughly conveyed to those responsible for supervising such facilities. The task of implementing safety measures has been neglected. The blame must fall on local boards of education.There also may be reason to presume the ministry misguidedly believed it had fulfilled its duty just by issuing notices to local boards of education.Accident waiting to happenAccording to a survey conducted by the Japan Sport Facilities Association in fiscal 2003, drainpipe grates were not properly affixed at 583 school swimming pools, while internal grilles to prevent swimmers from being sucked deep into water pipes were defective at 222 school pools. Later, the ministry said a follow-up survey showed the number of defective swimming pools had dropped to slightly more than 10, adding measures had been taken to improve the situation.The ministry may have been shocked by the latest findings about the safety--or a lack thereof--of swimming pools.The ministry is carrying out research on state-run and private school pools, as well as public pools run by entities other than boards of education. Meanwhile, the Construction and Transport Ministry intends to conduct a similar survey covering more than 1,850 pools built in urban parks nationwide.All organizations responsible for the management of swimming pools, including those run by the private sector, should cooperate in implementing measures to ensure the safety of such facilities.We hope children will be able to safely enjoy swimming at pools again as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2006-08-09	YOSHIN0020060809e289000ft
YOMSHI0020060810e28a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060810e28a00001	EN	\N	CPA-client collusion must be severed	On Wednesday, the Tokyo District Court found three CPAs, all of whom had worked for ChuoAoyama PricewaterhouseCoopers, guilty of helping Kanebo, Ltd. falsify its accounts by turning a blind eye to the firm's window-dressing for more than five years.	4	2006-08-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of the accountants was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for three years, and the others one-year prison sentences suspended for three years. The sentences were as expected, as the three had admitted the charges.During the trial, attention focused on why the three accountants had cooperated in the fraud committed by Kanebo--once a leading textile and cosmetics company--despite their obligation to scrutinize corporate accounting.Biting the hand that feeds youIn its ruling, the district court said another ChuoAoyama accountant had gone along with Kanebo's request to ignore its false accounting, before the three accountants became ensnared in the fraud. The court concluded the defendants had chosen to ignore Kanebo's falsification of its books for fear that past improper accounting audits surface, which would lead to blame being apportioned to them and the company.The court went on to say that the current audit system was prone to collusion between CPAs and the corporations they audit because CPAs are being asked to point the finger at problems in the accounting practices of the very firms that pay them.The ruling also said ChuoAoyama had been derelict in inspecting the work of its own accountants.In the late 1990s, problems with the current audit system started coming to light, exposed by a series of deplorable events at many corporations, including fraudulent accounting and the abrupt failure of financial institutions once considered healthy.This gave rise to growing calls for a fundamental review of the system. In 2004, many parts of the Certified Public Accountants Law were revised. However, no effective measures have been taken to correct the system's structural problems, including the practice whereby the auditing fees paid to CPAs are covered by the corporate clients they audit.New system neededOne proposal that has been advanced is to set up a fund to pay accountants for their services, using contributions from shareholders at corporations they audit. However, the idea has been criticized as unrealistic.We believe a more practical solution would be to grant a board of auditors the right to determine the size of the fee paid to the audit corporation that inspects the firm's books. Under the current practice the board of directors at a client corporation are authorized to do so.To shore up efforts to monitor internal operations at audit corporations, it is necessary to consider revising laws to ensure criminal punishment can be imposed on not only CPAs but the audit corporations to which they belong. It may also be advisable to strengthen administrative punishment of CPAs and audit corporations. Doing so would deter them from taking part in fraudulent corporate accounting.In response to the accounting fraud committed by Kanebo and Livedoor Co., the Financial System Council, an advisory body to the prime minister, is discussing how to establish a new audit system. The scandals involving the two corporations should be further examined to ensure measures under consideration better serve their purposes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 10, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	587	2006-08-10	YOSHIN0020060810e28a000f0
YOMSHI0020060811e28b00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060811e28b00001	EN	\N	Japan-Mongolia ties strategically important	This is probably why Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided to visit the country before he leaves office.	4	2006-08-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During his meeting with Mongolian Prime Minister Miyeegombyn Enkhbold on Thursday, the two leaders agreed to establish a "forum for dialogue" over regional situations, including North Korean issues.With the establishment of the forum, Japan may hope Mongolia will join the international coalition against North Korea, with which Mongolia has had diplomatic relations since it was a communist state.At the forum, the two countries, naturally, will take up for discussion moves by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which groups China, Russia and four Central Asian nations, with Mongolia taking part as an observer.Ulan Bator draws a lineThis organization has raised its profile not only over the development of energy resources in Central Asian nations, but also as an emergent "anti-U.S. league."Last summer, Uzbekistan demanded the withdrawal of U.S. military bases from its soil, in line with a policy adopted at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. There is now only one U.S. base in Central Asia--in Kyrgyz Republic.Mongolia has drawn a line between the organization's stance and its own. Sandwiched between the two major powers of China and Russia, and with China's economic influence rising recently, Mongolia is attempting to foster better relations with the United States, in an apparent bid to reduce its dependency on China and Russia.The United States, for its part, attaches importance to Mongolia, which it wants to use as diplomatic leverage against China and Russia. In autumn, U.S. President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld paid separate visits to Mongolia in which they discussed ways to reinforce bilateral relations in areas including military cooperation. On Friday, Mongolia will start joint military exercises with U.S. forces on its soil.Tokyo's help welcomedJapan is another country with which Mongolia is hoping to reinforce its bilateral relations.Since Mongolia became a democracy in 1990 and shifted to a market economy, Japan has been its biggest aid donor. In recognition of this, Mongolian presidents and prime ministers have visited Japan on eight occasions in the past 16 years.For Japan, stronger relations with Mongolia are strategically significant when this country involves itself in regional developments, in step with the United States, in respect of the organization's energy policy.Due to remarkable performances by yokozuna Asashoryu and other professional sumo wrestlers from Mongolia, sumo is said to be enjoying a boom in Mongolia. Given the pro-Japan sentiment in Mongolia, Japan to reinforce its ties with the country with relative ease.During his meeting with Enkhbold, Koizumi presented the people of Mongolia with copies of the Japanese folktales picture books "Kasa Jizo" (Kasa Guardian Deity) and "Tsuru no Ongaeshi" (The Grateful Crane). This was in response to a request from Mongolia asking Japan to recommend some of its folktales that Mongolia could include in its primary and middle school textbooks.If the affinity among people of both countries strengthens at a grassroots level like this, bilateral relations between Japan and Mongolia will become firmer in turn.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	577	2006-08-11	YOSHIN0020060811e28b000fm
YOMSHI0020060812e28c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060812e28c00001	EN	\N	Review antiterror steps, learning from U.K. probe	British security authorities have arrested a group of suspects who allegedly intended to blow up U.S.-bound flights from Britain in midair. They reportedly planned to bring down about 10 U.S. jetliners simultaneously.	4	2006-08-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If carried out, the attack would have been a major disaster as terrible as the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.There are many unclear points about the latest case, but the U.S. authorities have indicated the possible involvement of the Al-Qaida terrorist network.In the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. domestic flights were targeted. The perpetrators threatened crew members and passengers aboard the flights with box-cutters and hijacked the aircraft, which they crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The domestic flights were targeted because security measures for such flights were lighter than those for international flights.This time, however, international flights were targeted, with different methods employed. The suspects reportedly planned to take on board liquid explosives concealed in beverage bottles. They may have thought that they could escape detection through such methods. Having changed the target and method of their attacks, they were determined to commit indiscriminate mass murder.Japan could be targetedUnder the circumstances, Japan obviously cannot stand by and do nothing. In 1994, a bomb went off aboard a Narita-bound passenger flight departing from Manila, killing one passenger. The attack was carried out by an extremist Islamic faction. A man with links to Al-Qaida who was arrested in Germany in 2003 reportedly entered Japan illegally on several occasions.It is possible that domestic and foreign passenger airplanes flying in and out of Japanese airports could become a target of terrorism.As a matter of course, the Construction and Transport Ministry immediately instructed domestic airlines and airports to take comprehensive security measures, in response to the attempted terrorist attacks in Britain.Airports at home will become ever-more crowded with stricter hand luggage inspection, particularly when they see an exodus of holidaymakers flying abroad during the Bon holiday period. Yet security cannot be bartered for anything. Public cooperation is essential to prevent terrorism.We hope the British authorities will bring to light the whole picture of the latest terrorist plot. Countries will have to develop adequate security measures to respond to the latest threat.Enact necessary legislationFollowing the simultaneous terrorist attacks on London's transport network 13 months ago, British authorities further tightened their antiterrorism measures, which were said to have been among the most stringent in the world at the time of the attacks.Japan should study what legal arrangements and investigation methods taken by the British authorities proved effective in foiling the latest terrorist plot.The government is compiling a bill on antiterrorism measures aimed at preventing terrorist attacks. It must come up with a comprehensive law to enable the security authorities to deal with a crisis.The government also should review the Wiretapping Authorization Law as the conditions for wiretapping are strict. It should study similar systems adopted in Western countries.The perpetrators of the U.S. terrorist attacks in 2001 and the suspects in the latest case in Britain were both lying low in sleeper cells.It would be extremely dangerous if operational bases for Islamic extremist groups were established in this country. Also coming into question this time is how capable the nation is in collecting information concerning terrorists.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2006-08-12	YOSHIN0020060812e28c000cs
YOMSHI0020060815e28d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060815e28d00001	EN	\N	U.S. economic wobbles could impinge on Japan	The economy expanded an annualized real 0.8 percent in the April-June period from the previous quarter, according to a preliminary government report. Although the figure fell short of the annualized 2.7 percent logged in the January-March period, it represents the sixth consecutive quarter of growth.	4	2006-08-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the April-June quarter, capital investment climbed 3.8 percent, the highest in the past 10 quarters. Personal spending showed a 0.5 percent increase from the previous quarter, brushing off concerns that the prolonged rainy season and bad weather might have dented consumers' willingness to open their wallets.Another good sign was that on a nominal basis, gross domestic product for the second quarter posted a 0.3 percent rise, surpassing real growth.Due to a constant fall in prices, the country's economy has been stuck "in reverse"--a situation in which real growth exceeds nominal growth. However, the situation was resolved for the first time in three years in the past quarter, indicating the escape from deflation is drawing ever nearer.Not all good newsBut the report was not all milk and honey. We are worried about the slowdown of exports, which, together with domestic demand, had been leading the economic recovery. Exports posted growth of just 0.9 percent in the April-June quarter, a considerable drop from 2.2 percent growth logged in the previous quarter, mainly due to the sluggish growth in exports to the United States. Ripples from the slowdown of the U.S. economy are finally reaching the Japanese economy.Companies remain bullish, with capital investment rising as expectations heighten that the global economy with the United States as its center will steadily grow. Yet, the United States is confronting an economic slowdown and concern over inflation. Depending on how these factors pan out, Japan's exports to the United States could slow down even further and capital investment could be negatively affected.Also of concern is the fact that personal consumption has yet to gain momentum. This has been caused by companies remaining unbending in their drive to curb labor costs. Firms have been keeping a squeeze on wage increases, despite chalking up improved corporate earnings.Timing key for rate riseThe scenario envisaged by the government and the Bank of Japan in which the economy continues to expand as the buoyant corporate sector positively affects households remains to be realized.The Bank of Japan, which put an end to its zero interest policy last month, decided Friday to leave its monetary policy unchanged for the time being. Regarding the timing of a possible rise in the interest rate, Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui said the central bank "will do it slowly." However, bullish remarks by central bank policymakers have some observers forecasting the short-term interest rate could be raised sooner, rather than later.An interest rate increase will be indisputably necessary if corporate capital spending overheats or a bubble begins to emerge in land prices.However, prudence is needed in raising the interest rate while the prospects of the U.S. economy and the recovery in personal spending remain uncertain. The possible repercussions of the interest rate increase on the exchange rate and the impact of consistently high crude oil prices on the domestic and global economy should be closely monitored.Should the current economic expansion continue until November, it will outlast the Izanagi boom of the late 1960s and be the longest period of growth since World War II. An eagle eye must be kept on policy management to ensure sustained economic growth, as well as on the economic situation after November--should the period of expansion last that long.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 13, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2006-08-13	YOSHIN0020060814e28d00075
YOMSHI0020060814e28f0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060814e28f0000d	EN	\N	Responsibilities for 'Showa War' assessed	On this particular day	4	2006-08-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At Yasukuni Shrine,The annual event is heldwhile I'm in deep sorrow.This poem was composed by Emperor Showa in 1987 for the Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of the war. This year, the "particular day" falls on Tuesday and a national ceremony will be held at Nippon Budokan hall at Kudan, Tokyo, in memory of the war dead.The ceremony will be attended by the Emperor and Empress, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the House of Councillors, and the chief justice of the Supreme Court. This is an event of the utmost magnitude for Japan.So-called Class-A war criminals are not excluded as subjects for the memorial service. Notwithstanding this fact, opinions remain divided over the issue of enshrinement of the Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine. Why is this?One possible factor is that the term "Class-A war criminals" lumped together various figures into a single category by the victorious countries of the war at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also called the Tokyo Trial. In addition, where responsibility for the war resides has not been verified by Japan itself.Immediately after the war, there were actually moves within the government to examine how war responsibility should be allocated, including a war criminals court plan drawn up by the cabinet of Prince Higashikuni and a war investigation commission plan drafted by the cabinet of Kijuro Shidehara. These plans, however, were aborted by the General Headquarters of the Occupation Forces due to various reasons.Defining the warSince summer of last year, The Yomiuri Shimbun has worked to clarify what degree of responsibility wartime political and military leaders should bear. We have steered clear of following the Tokyo Trial's designation of who were "war criminals." Our criteria included responsibility for steering the country toward war, responsibility for being unable to prevent the war from starting and responsibility for not ending the war sooner.The Yomiuri Shimbun examined the period from the Manchurian Incident of 1931 that preceded the Sino-Japanese War until the end of the war against the United States, Britain and the Netherlands.No single term adequately encapsulates the series of wars fought in this period. Names such as the Greater East Asia War, Pacific War, Asia-Pacific War or 15-Year War evoke historical emotions or fail to sate geographical deficiencies.The Yomiuri Shimbun has decided to collectively call these wars the "Showa War" because we feel this name--chosen because of the period when the conflict took place--is unrestrained by geographical limits or historical views.Our findings have been reported from time to time in The Yomiuri Shimbun over the past year. Coupled with the report in Sunday's issue, today's report is a grand summary of the yearlong process.Many Class-A war criminals at the Tokyo Trial overlapped with the figures judged "mainly responsible" by the committee. However, the lineups are considerably different.Reassigning blameFor instance, Gen. Heitaro Kimura, who was sentenced to death by hanging as a Class-A war criminal, did not play any specific roles in important phases before and during the Showa War that warranted his being accused. Similarly, we did not find any good reason for assigning war responsibility to Finance Minister Okinori Kaya, a Class-A criminal sentenced to life imprisonment--he simply was a state minister when Japan started hostilities against the United States. Moreover, he opposed the Japan-U.S. war.On the other side of the coin, we found responsibility lay with Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki for failing to prevent the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's entry into the war by delaying the timing for ending the hostilities. This contrasts with his often-reported achievement of bringing the war to an end.The deaths of some leaders allowed them to avoid being tried as Class-A war criminals, although they bore great responsibility for the war.Perhaps the most prominent example is Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe, who committed suicide in December 1945. He bears extremely heavy responsibility for being indecisive at critical moments, making a string of miscalculations and wrong judgments and being easily swayed by opinions of the military.Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka also misread the international situation by promoting and signing the Tripartite Treaty with Germany and Italy, which was a key step in the slide to war against the United States. Although Matsuoka was indicted as a Class-A war criminal, no sentence was given because he died of natural causes before the ruling was handed down.In addition, some military bureaucrats--namely Army and Navy General Staff officers--were not indicted although they could be considered to be more substantively responsible for the war than Class-A war criminals.Many of those staff officers escaped scot-free from being held responsible for the deaths of more than 3 million Japanese soldiers and civilians by continuing to push their leaders and exceeding their authority as they sought to expand military operations, wage the war and continue to fight even as hopes for victory faded. These officers died peacefully after the war.Needless to say, we should not forget that Japanese were not the only victims of the Showa War.International situation misreadThe path toward the war and its unfolding afterward was closely intertwined with the international situation that time, as world powers attempted to read the global shifts and envisioned their own strategies and power games.In the Sino-Japanese War, for example, the United States had backed--even before the Japan-U.S. war broke out--the government of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) led by Chiang Kai-shek by providing military supplies through the so-called "Aid Chiang Route."Meanwhile, Britain and France decided to dispatch expedition troops to support Finland after the Soviet Union invaded the Nordic country in 1939. But because Finland capitulated to Moscow, Britain and France did not cross swords with the Soviet Union.The Soviet entry into the war against Japan was a clear violation of the Japanese-Soviet Neutrality Pact. The Soviet Union had secretly agreed to a request by Britain and the United States at the Yalta Conference to join the war against Japan after the defeat of Germany.Even so, hedging about the responsibility of political and military leaders who made blunders in dealing with the international situation and brought unspeakable suffering to Japan and neighboring countries by starting the reckless war cannot be justified.It is difficult to consider the war responsibility and wartime crimes of victor countries unless the responsibilities of Japanese leaders have been clarified and summarized on our own.We believe only by doing so can a ray of light be shone onto the prospects for settling problems over interpretation of history.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1167	2006-08-15	YOSHIN0020060815e28f000b2
YOMSHI0020060816e28g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060816e28g00001	EN	\N	Question of Yasukuni remains unresolved	"The same criticism and opposition emerged even when I avoided Aug. 15. So, it makes no difference which date I go. If that is so, today was the appropriate day, was it not?" the prime minister said after the visit.	4	2006-08-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The visit finally fulfilled one of the pledges the prime minister made five years ago during his campaign to be elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party.Koizumi's latest visit was the first by a serving prime minister on the date the war ended since Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone did so 21 years ago.Koizumi paid his first visit to the shrine, where Class-A war criminals are enshrined along with the war dead, after being elected prime minister back in 2001, but on Aug. 13 out of consideration to foreign relations. Since then, he has visited the shrine every year, but not on Aug. 15.However, this did not prevent China from being increasingly critical of Koizumi's visits to the shrine. So the prime minister's remark, "So, it makes no difference which date I go," expresses his candid feelings about his past five visits.Asked later in the day what he thought are problems involving Yasukuni, Koizumi immediately referred to criticism from China.China inconsistent in criticismClass-A war criminals were enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine in the autumn of 1978, and the fact was made public in the spring of 1979.Then Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira and his immediate successor, Zenko Suzuki, continued to visit the shrine as their predecessors had before.However, their visits to the shrine never became an issue. Ohira and Suzuki, as prime ministers, made visits to China, where they received warm welcomes. Chinese leaders also made a number of visits to Japan.China started protesting about prime ministerial visits to the shrine when Nakasone made an official visit as prime minister to Yasukuni on Aug. 15, 1985. This shows that China's criticism of prime ministerial visits to the shrine is inconsistent.Since 1985, China has used historical issues between the two countries as diplomatic trump cards on a number of occasions.The prime minister said there is one line of reasoning that says if he complies with the opinions of China and South Korea, Japan's foreign policy in Asia would go smoothly. But Koizumi has rejected such an argument, saying, "I don't necessarily think so."But the prime minister has failed to explain how relations between Japan and China should be treated in promoting the nation's diplomacy in Asia. Koizumi said the visit was "a matter of his heart." But that comment will not resolve the problem. We wonder what prospects and strategies Koizumi had in mind when he made the campaign pledge to visit Yasukuni Shrine."I did not go to pray for any particular person," Koizumi said. "I visited the shrine to offer condolences to all of those who died in war."His statement can be taken to mean that he did not visit the shrine to pray for the souls of Class-A war criminals.During the last Diet session, Koizumi said he admitted they, the Class-A war criminals enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine, were war criminals, something his predecessors had never acknowledged.What were war criminals?But, is it not a contradiction to visit Yasukuni Shrine where "criminals" are honored? In the first place, what were Class-A war criminals? The prime minister has to date never really tried hard to answer those questions.Koizumi also said that his visits to Yasukuni Shrine did not violate the constitutional principle of the separation of politics and religion because "I also visit Ise Grand Shrines every year."Ichiro Hatomaya and Ohira, late prime ministers who were Christians, as well as former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama of the Japan Socialist Party offered Shinto prayers at Ise Grand Shrines, but their visits never become political issues as violations of the Constitution.On this matter, what Koizumi said was correct.Discussions on Yasukuni-related issues this summer are noisier than usual partly because they have became a focal point of next month's LDP presidential election."As I told the Diet, I would like to leave evaluations of the last war, including Class-A war criminals, to the judgment of historians," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, who is seen as the front-runner to succeed Koizumi.Abe has also said he will not talk again about his own visits to the shrine. He apparently does not want to make his visits a political issue in consideration not only of protests by China and South Korea, but also due to the wide variety of opinions held by members of his own party.Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who has promised not to visit Yasukuni Shrine if he becomes prime minister, said that a further deterioration of relations with China and South Korea must be avoided.Foreign Minister Taro Aso, the other LDP presidential candidate, has proposed a plan to transform Yasukuni Shrine into a national facility for the war dead after it voluntarily goes into liquidation.A new way to mourn war deadMeanwhile, the discovery of a memorandum written by Tomohiko Tomita, a former Imperial Household Agency grand steward, has caused significant ripples. According to the memorandum, Emperor Showa said he never visited Yasukuni Shrine after Class-A war criminals were enshrined there.However, there are a wide variety of interpretations of the Emperor Showa's true intention behind the remark, if indeed he made it. These include whether he was displeased with the enshrinement of all Class-A war criminals.Tomita's memorandum has caused some members of Nippon Izokukai (the Japan War-Bereaved Families Association) to say they approve the idea of separate enshrinement of Class-A war criminals. This has further complicated discussions on ways to commemorate the war dead.After all, the government should discuss a new way to mourn the war dead, including the construction of a new national facility or the expansion of Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery.The next prime minister has to tackle the problems Koizumi will leave regarding this issue. Deeper discussions should be held among the Japanese public, too.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1068	2006-08-16	YOSHIN0020060816e28g000bp
YOMSHI0020060816e28h0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060816e28h0000i	EN	\N	Youth work patterns exhibit worrying trend	The increase in the number of freeters--those who do not have regular jobs but instead work part-time--and the problems caused by the phenomenon have been pointed out repeatedly. But there is no evidence that the situation has improved.	4	2006-08-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The nation's population has already entered a phase of decline. The number of young people active as full-time members of the workforce started declining in the middle of the 1990s, and the decline will continue. We would like to see young people work with ambition at their jobs and do their bit to support society. The white paper emphasizes the importance of taking measures to help young people find full-time jobs.With the economy showing signs of recovery, bright prospects are expected for new graduates from universities and high schools. However, the prospects for those who have graduated but have not found work are quite gloomy. For young people who graduated in the "glacial age for employment," which lasted until recently, quite a few have had to content themselves working in jobs that are not the ones they really want to do.Bad and getting worseThe nonregular employment rate among young people, which was a little more than 10 percent by the early 1990s, has continued to increase. This year, the rate is 48 percent for the age group between 15 and 24, and 26 percent for the group between 25 and 34. The rate is increasing not only in the service industry but also in the manufacturing industry.Obviously this is not healthy from the employment point of view. In fact, the white paper uses the expression "a negative scenario" that will become a reality, in its explanation of factors that will cause future employment worries.If their job status remains unstable, it will remain difficult for young people to improve their vocational skills in their place of employment as they get older, and they will not be able to expect any pay rises. While some of them may currently receive financial support from their parents, the difference in income they receive compared with those who have been working full-time since starting employment will be made abundantly clear when they have to become financially independent. Then the wage gap will continue to remain.Danger to societyNot surprisingly, the number of young people not enrolling in social insurance has been increasing. This will lead to an additional burden being placed on people already paying social insurance premiums, as they will have to help support those not paying into the system.The white paper also points out that the increase in the number of young people not in regular employment is aggravating the low birthrate.According to research by the then Public Management Ministry (now the International Affairs and Communications Ministry), the rate of married males in the 30 to 34 age group was 59 percent for full-time employees and 30 percent for nonregular employees. Nonregular workers probably are reluctant to marry as they cannot map out a future.This hampers the stability and saps the vitality of society and affects the country's international competitiveness. According to the white paper, administrative offices, corporations, schools and local communities have been asked to cooperate in dealing with the issue.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has begun to implement measures to support young people, and has introduced a number of programs such as "trial employment" and the "Job Cafe" scheme. However, the ministry must investigate on a regular basis whether these measures are bearing fruit. Likewise, the lessons taught at public vocational schools and private vocational technical schools should be practical and geared at what industry wants."The economy is currently in a recovery phase, and now is the time to improve the employment situation for young people" the white paper emphasizes in various parts of the report. Of course, it is necessary for young people to have the zeal to want to become vocationally independent. We also hope corporations will look at their their employment and management practices from a long-term point of view.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	742	2006-08-17	YOSHIN0020060817e28h000dt
YOMSHI0020060817e28i0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060817e28i0000c	EN	\N	Govt must take initiative in promoting N-power	The agency made clear in the plan that the government will play a leading role in the promotion of nuclear power generation because it said the solution of problems related to the maintenance and promotion of nuclear power generation will be put off if the private sector, including electric power companies, continues to have exclusive control over nuclear power generation projects.	4	2006-08-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the plan, the agency will help electric power companies maintain the ratio of nuclear power generation at at least 30 percent of the entire electric power supply. To realize this, the agency proposes the establishment of a system to reserve funds for building nuclear power plants. It also says the government will take the lead in developing next-generation nuclear reactors.The agency specifies the promotion of the nuclear fuel cycle project to effectively use spent nuclear fuel and sets the goal of operating a fast-breeder reactor for commercial use by 2050 as a pillar of the project.Expectations have been raised internationally over the potential of nuclear power as a secure energy resource. European countries and the United States have unveiled new government-led nuclear power policies one after another. Japan should not lag behind them in the promotion of nuclear power.Consistency keyIt is a long time since the deregulation of the electric power industry began on the basis of market principles and allowing the private sector to take the initiative. In its nuclear power policies, the government's hands-off attitude has been noticeable as it has pushed private sector-led liberalization. Particularly in the nuclear fuel cycle project, there are those in the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, which should be a promoter of the project, calling for the project to be frozen due to its high cost.If the government fails to maintain a consistent attitude in its nuclear power policies, the private sector will become cautious about nuclear power projects. As a result, manufacturers of nuclear power facilities could reduce their technological investment, which could lead to a decrease in the number of talented employees.As is mentioned in the introduction to the agency's plan, it is important to maintain consistency in nuclear power policies in the medium- and long term.The measures called for in the policy, such as personnel training and promotion of research and development, should be implemented steadily.Plant operation rate too lowBut there is cause for concern when we look at the current situation of nuclear power generation. There are too many problems hindering the operations of nuclear power plants, and their operation rate remains low. The rate was below 60 percent in fiscal 2003, 68.9 percent in fiscal 2004 and 72 percent in fiscal 2005.In consideration of global warming, the government intends to raise the rate to more than 87 percent, but the current situation is far from that goal. The operation of 12 reactors has been suspended this summer.Three reactors of Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture were shut down when it was revealed that pipes in the reactors were too thin, leading them to crack, and that a worker put control rods in the wrong place. The ministry issued a strong warning to the operator.There also was a problem that gives rise to concern over technological capabilities. Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture and Hokuriku Electric Power Co.'s Shiga nuclear power plant in Ishikawa Prefecture each shut down a reactor in June when blades of the latest-designed turbines made by domestic manufacturers fell and were damaged. The reactors were newly built, and the problem is suspected to have been caused by mistakes in their design and construction.Without efforts to secure the safety of nuclear power plants and maintain and improve nuclear-related technological capabilities, the plan for the long-term safe usage of nuclear power will fail.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	703	2006-08-18	YOSHIN0020060818e28i000eo
YOMSHI0020060819e28j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060819e28j00001	EN	\N	Antiterrorism Law should be extended	Washington has asked Tokyo to have the Maritime Self-Defense Force mission to supply fuel and water to the multinational fleet patrolling in the Indian Ocean.	4	2006-08-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The United States made the requests because the Antiterrorism Law, which permits the dispatch of the MSDF ships, will expire in November. Japan should extend the law so it can continue its logistic support mission.Under President Hamid Karzai, Afghans have been rebuilding their country with international assistance since the Taliban-led regime was driven from power in 2001. But many Taliban and Al-Qaida remnants are hiding near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, making the country a front line in the war against terrorism.The alleged mastermind of the terrorist plot to blow up airliners, which was foiled by British security authorities, is said to be an Al-Qaida operative who received training in explosives at a camp run by the terrorist organization in the border area.U.S.-led multinational forces are stepping up their seek-and-destroy operation against terrorists in Afghanistan, while vessels of nine countries, including the United States and Britain, are patrolling in the Indian Ocean. A major pillar of the war against terrorism is intercepting at sea ships carrying terrorists, transporting weapons to Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters or smuggling narcotics, which provides funds for terrorism.Interdictions achieve purposeWhen former Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Taku Yamasaki visited Washington last month, Peter Rodman, U.S. assistant defense secretary for international security affairs, told him that patrolling in the Indian Ocean has become extremely important, given the resurgence of Taliban activities in Afghanistan.Conducting more than 30,000 ship inspections a year on average, the multinational fleet has so far confiscated a large amount of weapons and ammunition, including 535 automatic rifles found on a sailing ship in May 2004. The amount of narcotics confiscated annually reached 6.8 tons in the last year for which data exist, more than fivefold the amount seized in Japan in the same period.Not only members of the opposition parties, but also some in the ruling coalition have complained that the dispatch of MSDF ships to the Indian Ocean is tantamount to running a gas station that does not charge its customers, questioning whether the dispatch should be extended. But they are mistaken.Permanent law neededDeliberations on a bill to extend the Antiterrorism Law will be held during an extraordinary Diet session scheduled in autumn. Passage of the bill will be a primary task for the administration led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's successor.The law has already been extended twice since its enactment in October 2001. If it is extended again in autumn, that will be the third time.Japan will not be able to carry out international peace cooperation activities quickly and smoothly as long as it enacts a special law that contains a sunset clause and extends it repeatedly whenever circumstances so dictate.Some lawmakers not only within the LDP, but also within the opposition Democratic Party of Japan have called for the enactment of a permanent law for SDF dispatches. It may be time to draft such a law on international peace cooperation activities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	558	2006-08-19	YOSHIN0020060819e28j000fm
YOMSHI0020060819e28k0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060819e28k0000f	EN	\N	Time to pull plug on wasteful road spending	The government and the ruling parties have decided to put off fundamentally reviewing tax revenues specified for highway construction, improvement and other road-related projects until the end of the year.	4	2006-08-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Initially, the government was scheduled to spell out specific measures to reexamine the current system for such tax revenue sources. These measures were to be incorporated into a so-called large-boned reform policy finalized in July, the last of its kind to be adopted by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.However, the Liberal Democratic Party made little headway in forming an internal consensus about the review due to objections from LDP legislators who want to keep the system intact, as well as from the automobile and petroleum industries.In late 2005, the government and the ruling parties agreed to transform road-related tax revenues into general revenues while maintaining the provisional tax rates, which were first set in 1974 and later revised to reach levels almost double the legal rates initially stipulated in the system. This was supposed to be complemented by efforts to work out details of the reform.However, the task of discussing the particulars has been easily cast aside as Koizumi's term of office as prime minister enters its final days. Koizumi has been a chief driving force behind the review of the system.No time to wasteA fiscal crisis still faces the national and local governments. There is less need these days to pump massive amounts of tax revenue into road-related projects than in the past. We believe the administration to be led by Koizumi's successor from next month should waste no time in starting the review of the system to finalize the details of the reform.The revenue source earmarked for highway-related projects comprises yields from such taxes as gasoline and automobile weight taxes. The national government has earmarked 3.5 trillion yen in such revenue under the fiscal 2006 budget, and local governments 2.2 trillion yen in the same fiscal year.Since assuming office five years ago, Koizumi has trumpeted his desire to reform the system. However, he was unable to turn his hand to that task in those days because of pertinacious objections from dorozoku lawmakers.In December, however, Koizumi was able to hammer out basic policies concerning the review of the system. The LDP's overwhelming victory in last autumn's House of Representatives election earned him greater leadership currency for running his party.Road-related revenue divertedAdding to calls for reviewing the highway-related tax revenue is an anticipated massive surplus to be generated under the system, beginning next fiscal year. Over the years, the government has repaid a portion of debts incurred by the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority, which was privatized last year. The government has set aside 450 billion yen to repay the remainder of the debts under the current fiscal budget. About 160 billion yen in road-related tax revenue has been earmarked for urban renewal projects.All this means that about 700 billion yen in road-related tax revenue has been set aside for projects unrelated to highway construction, combined with about 50 billion yen in revenues already allocated to general revenues.Some dorozoku legislators hope to lay the review of the system to rest by transforming automobile weight taxes--about 570 billion yen under the current fiscal budget--into general revenue. Their wish is to keep a pillar of the system intact just by giving up a small amount of revenue generated by the system.All highway-related tax revenue should be turned into general revenues. Truly essential roads should be built with budgetary allocations approved through a rigorous assessment of the projects to construct them.Many local governments hanker for more highways to be built in their areas. We believe, however, that substantial progress has been made in building highways nationwide over the years. Revenue raised for road construction, improvement and highway-related projects have contributed to the continued construction of roads, including unnecessary ones. Wasteful spending on needless highways must be ended once and for all this fiscal year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	722	2006-08-20	YOSHIN0020060820e28k0009u
YOMSHI0020060820e28l0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060820e28l0000d	EN	\N	Schools' quake safety must be determined	The move is intended to thoroughly check school safety while children are on vacation and to take necessary measures such as renovation work at the earliest opportunity.	4	2006-08-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The municipal government of Hachioji, Tokyo, started earthquake-resistance inspections of buildings at six middle schools earlier this month. The city government will carry out earthquake-resistance redesigning and renovation work over the next several years after analyzing the results of the inspection.The city plans to complete checks of old school buildings and school gymnasiums by the end of the fiscal year. "The city's fiscal conditions are tight, but we would like to place priority on checking school safety," an official in charge of the project said.The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has instructed local governments throughout the nation to inspect school buildings and gymnasiums to evaluate their resistance to earthquakes.The ministry's move came amid increasing concern that earthquake-resistance evaluations and renovations of buildings and gymnasiums at public primary and middle schools constructed before the current earthquake-resistance standards were set in 1981 have not progressed.Many schools predate standardsAmong the 131,000 school buildings and gymnasiums at primary and middle schools nationwide, 83,000, or more than 60 percent, were built before 1981.Of them, about 23,000 have been determined strong enough to withstand a major earthquake. The problem is that 33,000 buildings and gymnasiums have been determined not to have sufficient earthquake resistance, but have not been renovated to improve their earthquake resistance, and another 27,000 structures have not even been inspected to determine their degree of earthquake resistance.Renovation work to improve earthquake resistance will require local governments to come up with hundreds of millions of yen. Even though half of the budget for such purposes will be provided by the central government, it is not an easy decision for local governments to undertake renovation work.However, failing to carry out earthquake-resistance inspections of school buildings and gymnasiums is irresponsible. According to a survey by the education ministry, 339 local governments have not carried out any earthquake-resistance examinations of school buildings and gymnasiums built before 1981.Financial concerns citedAccording to the survey, when asked why they had not carried out the examinations, 46 percent of local governments said they planned to do so this fiscal year or later and 27 percent said they had plans to merge or close schools and to renovate remaining facilities. However, 255 local governments, or 18 percent, cited financial difficulties.While a simple type of examination costs only 200,000 yen to 300,000 yen per structure, a sophisticated inspection might cost several million yen. The education ministry says: "Financial difficulties cannot be a reason. They are just not willing to do the inspections."Local government should sincerely accept the ministry's view.It must be noted that many schools are designated as temporary evacuation areas in the event of a major disaster.In the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, 60 percent of evacuees sought refuge at schools. In recent disasters stemming from heavy rains, many school gymnasiums were used as evacuation shelters.If local governments keep closing their eyes to the dangers of school facilities that are used as evacuation shelters, they will face criticism that they have caused a man-made disaster should a natural disaster hit.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2006-08-21	YOSHIN0020060821e28l000be
YOMSHI0020060822e28m00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060822e28m00003	EN	\N	Leadership race should drive policy debates	Foreign Minister Taro Aso formally announced his candidacy for the party leadership Monday, and unveiled the policy agenda his administration would pursue.	4	2006-08-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki has already announced his candidacy. Abe plans to announce his candidacy and policy platform on Sept. 1. Thus, it is almost certain the race will become a three-way battle.The campaign should move into high gear from here on out, but the debate over policy is not heating up.One reason is Abe's significant lead to date. Following the example of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, two LDP members who once considered entering the leadership race--Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga and former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki--gave up their leadership aspirations.Tanigaki and Aso belong to small LDP factions, and support for them is limited.The desire among party members to be on the winning side in the leadership race has resulted in support snowballing for Abe in the LDP ranks. There is an impression that the LDP presidential race is effectively over, pouring cold water on policy discussions that should be part of the campaign.Election concernsAnother reason for the shallow policy discussion in the election may be considerations related to the House of Councillors election next summer. The issue of raising the consumption tax rate is a good example. Tanigaki insists the rate should be raised to at least 10 percent by the mid-2010s at the latest.However, Abe has only said that he would consider such a hike when studying drastic reform of the overall tax system after implementing spending cuts. He has not presented a time frame or said how much the tax should be increased. Aso only said, "I'll ask the public to accept necessary tax hikes."The two lawmakers' attitudes probably reflect opinions within the party that a tax hike should not be highlighted in the LDP presidential election because it would disadvantage the ruling party in the upper house poll.However, reform of the tax and fiscal systems and social security system cannot be addressed without discussing the issue of revenue sources. In this regard, the issue of a consumption tax rate hike cannot be avoided.Stifling discussionIf the political opportunism driven by the national election hampers in-depth policy discussion in the LDP presidential poll, the party will lose credibility.Broad and basic issues, including reforms of the tax, fiscal, social security, education and administrative systems, must be strenuously discussed.There are some issues that could spark in-depth discussions among the three candidates.On foreign policy, Aso said his government would "take coherent ways [in relations with China] while pursuing common interests." In his recent book titled "Utsukushii Kuni e" (Toward a Beautiful Nation), Abe proposed separating political matters and business issues. Tanigaki has said, "Diplomatic considerations must be made not to provoke other countries with the issue of Yasukuni Shrine visits."On education reform, Aso proposed lowering the age of starting compulsory education. Abe advocates reform to boost the academic abilities of children and to secure high-quality teachers.Policies are the raison d'etre of a political party. Especially when it comes to a governing party, carrying out active policy discussions is a responsibility it has to fulfill for all voters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2006-08-22	YOSHIN0020060822e28m000g5
YOMSHI0020060823e28n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060823e28n00001	EN	\N	Abe, Aso, Tanigaki must spell out policies	Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday presented during a convention of the LDP's south and north Kanto blocs a portion of their visions on government, and called on conventioneers to support them.	4	2006-08-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It was the first time the three figures had sat down together ahead of the election that will choose a successor to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.We hope the three candidates will engage in deeper discussions with regard to their policies.Constitution, Asia hot topicsTouching upon revision of the Constitution, Abe said, "The next LDP leader should demonstrate strong leadership to put it on the political agenda," strongly hinting at his determination to have a new constitution adopted based on the already announced LDP draft, if elected.A constitution personifies the principles of a state--the nation's goals. Regardless of who will succeed Koizumi, it is natural for politicians seeking to assume the top post of a nation to make clear their position regarding the establishment of a new constitution.The key point of any revision of the existing Constitution is Article 9, which renounces war. Within the LDP, there are active and passive camps regarding exercising the right of collective self-defense in relation to Article 9.Tanigaki has called for revising the supreme law, vowing to clarify Japan's right to exercise the right guaranteed by the United Nations."This should be done not just through changing the government's interpretation of the Constitution, but by revising the Constitution," he said.However, some say that Japan's current contributions to international peace would be restricted if the nation had to wait for a revision to the top law.Whether Japan should exercise the right to collective self-defense is an issue that concerns the basis of the nation's security policy and needs to be discussed in depth.Another point of contention is Japan's foreign policy toward other Asian nations.While positioning the Japan-U.S. alliance as the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy, Abe emphasized the importance of the partnerships with India and Australia, which share the same values as Japan such as freedom, democracy and basic human rights. Tanigaki, bearing relations with China and South Korea in mind, said it is indispensable that a framework be maintained in which top leaders can hold discussions.When he sketched out his own administration the other day, Aso said he would make his case in a logical manner through proper channels on issues which Japan cannot make a compromise with China or South Korea, a view common with Abe.However, these opinions are not enough. The three candidates should each present a clear picture of their thoughts on Japan's policy toward the rest of Asia, and how China fits into it.Too many issues not debatedAbe touched upon a strategy for growth, including the development of human resources and new technologies.Abe and Aso also argued that the Fundamental Law of Education should be revised in the next extraordinary Diet session. Tanigaki emphasized the need to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas through the use of local taxes.None of them, however, took up the issue of raising the consumption tax rate.At the bloc convention, the three candidates simply announced their policies without entering into direct debate as agreed upon under a general procedural rule. This made it very difficult for them to expand discussion on the key points of their policies.Unless they change their methods of getting their message across, there will be only shallow discussions among the three. Efforts should be made to have them engage in a full debate so we can clearly compare their polices.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2006-08-23	YOSHIN0020060823e28n000g2
YOMSHI0020060825e28o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060825e28o00001	EN	\N	UNSC must stand firm on Iran's N-effrontery	It is believed that in a reply made Tuesday to an incentives package offered by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, Iran effectively rejected the idea of freezing its uranium enrichment program.	4	2006-08-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the contents of the reply have not been announced, Tehran has reportedly proposed a new formula for negotiations, while refraining from discussing the issue of abandoning its uranium-enrichment program as demanded under the incentives package.Uranium enrichment is necessary to produce nuclear fuel suitable for use in atomic power generation programs, but enriched uranium could also be used for production of nuclear weapons. It is because of this that the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution demanding that Iran suspend uranium enrichment under penalty of sanctions in the future.Tehran its own worst enemyIran's response, which does not touch upon uranium enrichment, evades calls by the international community for Tehran to suspend such activities. Iran's proposal regarding a new negotiation formula is nothing other than a machination designed to circumnavigate discussions at the Security Council on sanctions.The incentives package offers cooperation in the construction of light water reactors in Iran and a guaranteed fuel supply if Tehran stops enriching uranium.Given that Iran has dared to ignore these offers and has said it will continue to enrich uranium, we cannot accept the claim made by Iran at face value that it has the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.It is Iran itself that has invited suspicions within the global community by, for example, carrying out a nuclear development program in secret for 18 years until 2002.Because of this record, it will not be easy for Iran to regain the confidence of the international community.An end to Iran's uranium-enrichment program must be absolutely nonnegotiable.The whole of the Middle East is currently in disarray. Intensified terrorist attacks and religious confrontations are driving Iraq to the verge of civil war. Although a cease-fire was achieved between Israel and Hizbollah, there is no clear outlook regarding the future of the situation in Lebanon. The Palestinian situation is similarly unclear.Under such circumstances, any nuclear development by Iran could push the crisis in the Middle East beyond the bounds of control.China, Russia must back councilThe conciliatory stance toward Iran by China and Russia, who have economic interests in the country with regard to oil and nuclear power stations, has been a major factor in Iran's maintaining a hard-line stance. China and Russia need to maintain the firm stance they had when they agreed to adopt the U.N. Security Council resolution calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program by Aug. 31.If Iran maintains its defiant attitude after the deadline, discussions on economic sanctions will be the next step. Then the true mettle of the members of the U.N. Security Council will be tested. The members of the council should continue to present a united front so that Iran will not be able to take advantage of any break in the ranks.The situation is rather difficult for Japan, which depends on Iran for about 14 percent of its imported crude oil, but Japan must deal with the issue based on the principle of nuclear nonproliferation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2006-08-24	YOSHIN0020060824e28o000qa
YOMSHI0020060825e28p00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060825e28p00002	EN	\N	Asian trade partnership will test diplomacy	Asian trade partnership will test diplomacy	4	2006-08-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At a meeting of economic ministers in Malaysia, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai officially announced an ambitious Japanese plan for a free trade agreement that encompasses East Asia and the Pacific.Whether the ambitious plan actually can be realized will be a test of Japan's trade diplomacy.The economic partnership agreement proposed by Nikai involves 16 nations: Japan, China, South Korea, the 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and Australia, India and New Zealand. The agreement is designed to abolish tariffs on commodities, promote investment, protect intellectual property and take other steps to liberalize trade in a wide variety of areas. Japan wants to hold negotiations on the plan as soon as each nation has examined it.The population of the 16 nations under the "Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia" plan totals about 3.1 billion, about half of the global population. Combined gross domestic product of these nations is about $9 trillion, about one-fourth of the global GDP.If the plan is realized, trade and investment will be further accelerated, pushing up Japan's GDP by 5 trillion yen.Lackluster responseHowever, the initial reaction from these nations has been unenthusiastic. This is probably because they are suspicious about whether Japan will take the initiative in liberalizing its market.The Doha Round of the World Trade Organization's multilateral trade negotiations were broken off in July. As a result, many nations are focusing on bilateral and regional free trade agreements as well as economic partnership agreements.However, Japan lags other countries in this area. Only five nations concluded or have agreed to conclude economic partnership agreements with Japan. Negotiations between Japan and South Korea have been suspended. With ASEAN, negotiations have faced rough going in the agricultural field, with an agreement planned for next March is unlikely.On the other hand, China has already concluded a free trade deal with ASEAN. Furthermore, it has long been arguing for an economic partnership of 13 nations--ASEAN members, Japan, China and South Korea--forming an East Asia Community.Avoiding Chinese dominanceNikai's proposal to include Australia, India and New Zealand is designed to counter China's influence in the smaller grouping. The members are identical to those in an 16-nation East Asia Community plan proposed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.However, the issue of liberalizing agricultural markets has always been a barrier in Japan's trade negotiations with other countries.Within the Japanese government, opinions are divided over the East Asian economic partnership plan. For instance, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry is reportedly uncomfortable with the plan. One major factor is inclusion of Australia, an agricultural giant, in the liberalization plan.Japan's growth hereafter depends on whether an "open Asia-Pacific" can be wisely utilized. Japan needs to beef up the international competitiveness of its agricultural products so that the domestic agricultural business sector will not suffer under market liberalization. The government has to come up with measures to effectively reinforce the agriculture sector.The post-Koizumi administration will have the important task of departing from the long-held "defense only" trade policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	546	2006-08-25	YOSHIN0020060825e28p000el
YOMSHI0020060826e28q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060826e28q00001	EN	\N	Illegal high-tech exports threaten global security	The vice chairman was in charge of the firm's export division.	4	2006-08-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Those arrested are suspected of having illegally exported two 3-D measuring devices needed for the development of nuclear weapons to a Malaysia-based affiliate firm in 2001 without obtaining permission from the economy, trade and industry minister.It is a serious crime to undermine the efforts of the international community to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.One of the two machines was found in Libya. It had been discovered before that a firm linked to Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan acted as an intermediary in the sale of the device. Khan, a Pakistani nuclear researcher, is said to have created the "nuclear black market."Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency found the device in 2003, when they inspected a nuclear facility in Libya after the country abandoned its nuclear development program. Did Mitutoyo think the case would never come to light?What is more, the company illegally exported a different type of precision measuring machine and related software to Iran, which is working on a nuclear development program.Were end users on risk list?The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has been placing very strict export controls on high technology that can be used for development of WMD to Iran, Iraq, North Korea and Libya, naming the four nations as "states of concern."Mitutoyo is one of the top firms in Japan in the field of manufacturing precision measurement devices. Its share of the global market is about 30 percent.The company, which represents the country, evaded export control regulations by altering the 3-D measurement devices' performance data to bring them within the legal limit, making it appear that it did not need to apply for permission to export the devices. Moreover, the president himself was directly involved in this case.According to the Metropolitan Police Department, there is a possibility that about 10,000 3-D measurement devices had been exported using this ploy. We fear that many of the devices were exported to the four countries. The MPD must get to the bottom of the matter.Strengthen monitoring stepsTo prevent WMD from proliferating, the U.N. Security Council has asked all member states to strictly control exports of goods and materials needed to produce such weapons. METI has also been issuing warnings to corporations over the issue while reinforcing related regulations, including revisions to the Export Trade Control Ordinance.However, there seems to be no end to illegal export cases. An investigation is continuing into Yamaha Motor Co.'s alleged illegal export to China of unmanned helicopters that can be used for military purposes.A case of a freeze drier that can be used for making biological weapons being exported to North Korea also has been unearthed. In this case, a Taiwan route was used.There are indications that North Korea is close to conducting a nuclear experiment. Japan is said to have been the center of North Korea's procurement of nuclear development-related materials and equipment.Illegal export is a serious crime that threatens national security. METI, customs offices and police should cooperate to further beef up measures to prevent such activities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	579	2006-08-26	YOSHIN0020060826e28q000gj
YOMSHI0020060827e28r00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060827e28r00001	EN	\N	Research guidelines mustn't stifle talent	This is because the Education, Science and Technology Ministry has recently compiled two sets of guidelines in response to a recent series of scandals involving dishonest researchers.	4	2006-08-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of the guidelines is designed to prevent the illicit use of research funds subsidized by the government. The second is intended to put an end to the falsification of research results, such as the fabrication of data and plagiarism in research papers.In regard to preventing the misuse of research grants, a set of guidelines instructs research institutes, such as universities, to tighten their management of research funds.Government research grants are provided to researchers through the research institutions to which they belong. Unless these research institutions change their attitudes, the misuse of funds cannot be eliminated.At Waseda University this spring, a professor obtained research funding through the ruse of employing part-time workers as her assistants. The university received a tip-off about this, but its investigation into the matter was far from thorough.Misuse of funds widespreadThe misuse of government research funds is not restricted to Waseda University--about 10 cases a year have been reported from universities around the country over the past several years.Both the government and research institutions have mismanaged research funds.In some cases, the misappropriation of funds has not been for personal gain. Although technically questionable, there have been cases of researchers padding business trip expenses by falsely claiming the funds were used for hiring part-time workers.Given such fraudulent behavior, the ministry will ask researchers next fiscal year to own up if they have committed any illegal acts.For quite some time now, it has been said that government research grants are not easy to use because the purpose to which the money is put must be specified in minute detail.It is important to create a system that makes grants easy to use for researchers, but at the same time makes fraudulent usage difficult. However, if an individual deliberately purloins public funds to line his or her own pockets, the government has to take a tough stance and should not hesitate to file a criminal complaint.Fabrication of resultsThe guidelines on illicit research results call for research institutions to set up offices to receive tip-offs and to establish investigation bodies within them.These are required because at present there are no organs to deal with serious breaches of trusts, such as the fabrication of scientific and technological data.A year ago, a scandal surfaced at Tokyo University involving the possible falsification of research findings. However, due to the lack of an investigation system, very little headway has been made in determine the true facts of the matter and the university is nowhere near ready to decide upon appropriate punitive measures.Securing new or bigger research funding leads to a better position within research institutions, therefore, competition among researchers is intensifying and the temptation to obtain research funds by stooping to illegal methods is strong. Given this assumption, research institutions have to come up with a system to check and verify the use of research funds.There are many research results whose legitimacy can only be determined by experts, and the interpretation of data varies from one field of study to another. This means that the validity of research results should basically be verified by such organizations as academic societies.The government and research institutions have to learn to apply the new guidelines according to the actual situations that pertain in the world of research, so that the guidelines do not end up being a tool for an inquisition that puts to the sword bona fide research.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2006-08-27	YOSHIN0020060827e28r0009s
YOMSHI0020060828e28s00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060828e28s00001	EN	\N	Rising labor costs may dim China's appeal	One major factor is the presence of migrant workers. In China, about 120 million farmers once worked at factories and construction sites in urban areas, sustaining the nation's economic growth.	4	2006-08-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Over the past three or four years, however, the number of migrant workers has decreased, resulting in increases in labor costs at a record high pace.Last year, the average salary for workers throughout the country increased by 14.1 percent compared with 2004.This year, many local governments are raising the minimum wages of workers, set independently by localities. The move is in line with a policy set out by the administration of President Hu Jintao to protect the poor.The local government of Shanghai, where the average salary is the highest in the country, decided to boost the minimum wage by about 9 percent. Major cities such as Guangzhou, Beijing, Tianjin and Dalian, where many foreign companies have their Chinese bases, have decided to introduce double-digit increases in the minimum wage.The decline in the portion of migrant workers in the labor force is partly due to economic reasons, including an increase in farming income and increased job opportunities in provincial regions.Shifts in populationIn addition to the economic factors, demographic changes in the country, in particular the decline in the number of young people in farming villages, are affecting the labor supply. The labor shortage in the relatively developed coastal regions, including Guangdong Province, has started to spread inland.Under the circumstances, local governments of major cities are growing more concerned. Hikes in the minimum wage have started to take on a tinge of competition to secure sufficient numbers of workers.If labor costs continue to climb in China, foreign companies doing business there may have to revise their management strategies.Furthermore, China is reviewing its policy of giving favorable treatment to foreign companies.One major issue is whether to unify corporate income tax, which is similar to Japan's corporate tax, as the rates for foreign and domestic companies differ. China has given a preferential tax rate to foreign firms in an attempt to procure funds from overseas as it has suffered from a shortage of capital.Attractive tax arrangementWhile the tax levied on domestic companies is about 33 percent, foreign companies pay less than 15 percent.However, with competition between domestic and foreign firms intensifying, criticism has increased over the preferential treatment given to foreign firms in China.As debate on whether to abolish favored treatment for foreign companies continues, the State Development and Reform Commission recently announced unification of corporate income tax rates. The commission manages China's economic policies.At the same time, the commission said it would shift its policy of luring foreign companies from "quantity" to "quality." To enhance its international competitive edge, China will probably become more selective toward foreign businesses, giving priority to foreign companies in high-technology industries.If the new policies are put into effect, the investment environment will be greatly affected. For foreign firms, China's attraction as a target for investment will inevitably decline.However, compared with other Asian countries, China still holds economic advantages. Increases in labor and other costs will promote advancement of domestic markets and industrial structures.Both positive and negative aspects of the increased costs in doing business in China must be thoroughly examined.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2006-08-28	YOSHIN0020060828e28s000ca
YOMSHI0020060829e28t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060829e28t00001	EN	\N	Soaring fuel costs hit bus, taxi businesses	Taxi companies in Oita Prefecture applied to the Construction and Transport Ministry to raise the ceiling on taxi fares by about 10 percent. In the case of regular bus services, a company in Saga Prefecture raised its initial fare from 150 yen to 160 yen in June after getting ministry approval.	4	2006-08-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Taxi and bus companies throughout the country are trying to follow suit.The purchase price of liquefied petroleum gas, the main fuel for taxis, reached 71 yen per liter last month, about a 22 percent rise from the average price of 58 yen for LPG in fiscal 2003. The price of diesel oil used for buses has gone up even more.Especially in areas where the local economy is stagnant, some taxi companies have gone bankrupt as they could not cope with rising fuel costs. Bus companies in remote areas are hastily abolishing money-losing routes. It may be inevitable for the government to allow a minimal increase in fares for areas other than major cities.Generally, companies in the Tokyo area have been leading other areas in taxi fare hikes. In Tokyo, too, several taxi companies have started to study a major fare hike for the first time in 11 years.From cuts to increasesA difference in the circumstances surrounding the taxi firms from past fare hikes is that they have been competing to cut fares since a major deregulation in February 2002.The ministry does not start assessing applications for taxi fare hikes until the total number of taxis controlled by the firms applying comprise 70 percent of all the taxis possessed by cab companies in the area. If a rate hike were approved for fewer than 70 percent of taxis in a district, confusion would result.In the past, several firms in an area of Nagano Prefecture applied for a fare increase but later withdrew the application because they could not get enough companies involved and were unable to collect 70 percent of the total number of taxis in the area.In urban areas including Tokyo, complicated maneuvering seems to have been going on over whether the applying firms' taxis will top 70 percent of the total, whether major firms will leave fares unchanged or whether owner-driver taxis will follow suit.Fare hike tough to sellThere are no changes between urban and rural areas in terms of the rising fuel costs that trouble taxi firms. However, we wonder whether they can win the support of the public if they only raise fares for individual clients in urban areas while still fiercely competing in offering discount rates for major corporate clients.The fare hike will only result in a shift away from taxis by clients if the firms are unable to make logical and reasonable explanations.The number of passengers carried by bus services, which once hit about 10.1 billion annually at its peak time in fiscal 1968, declined to 4.3 billion in fiscal 2004. During the 36-year period, the decline in the number of passengers was 38 percent for the three major urban areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, and 69 percent in other areas.The national average ratio of current income to current expense in fiscal 2004 was 96-to-100 for private bus firms and 83-to-100 for public bus firms, showing deficits for both sectors.The number of passengers decreases after a bus firm abolishes routes to cut deficits, which consequently increase again in a vicious circle.It may be unavoidable for the government to increase subsidies to maintain rural bus routes to cope with the rise in diesel oil prices.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2006-08-29	YOSHIN0020060829e28t000gl
YOMSHI0020060829e28u0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060829e28u0000j	EN	\N	Japan must rebuild resource diplomacy	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, both rich in natural resources.	4	2006-08-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Kazakhstan he met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and forged an agreement to improve cooperation in the natural resources and energy fields, including the development of uranium mines and the uranium trade. Kazakhstan has the world's second-largest reserves of uranium.In Uzbekistan, Koizumi also reached an agreement with President Islam Karimov on various fields of cooperation including the development of uranium mines. Uzbekistan ranks 10th in the world in terms of uranium reserves.World hungry for uraniumThe price of uranium, an energy resource that is essential to the economy and industry, is now more than six times what it was five years ago.This is because of global concerns that supply and demand will grow tighter in the near future as China and India, thanks to their booming economies, place an emphasis on the construction of nuclear power stations to meet their rising energy demands.The situation is being further accelerated by the global trend of a return to nuclear power due to the sharp rise in crude oil prices. Britain and the United States, for instance, have both started plans for building new nuclear power stations.Given this backdrop, it is inevitable that there will be an intensification of competition among nations to secure adequate supplies of uranium, and Japan should not fall behind other countries.However, Japan is falling behind in terms of its resource diplomacy in Central Asia. The prime minister himself decided to visit the countries this time in a bid to effect a recovery from the current setback there.In Kazakhstan, China concluded an agreement in February 2004 that included the development of uranium mines. In 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the Central Asian nation, and the two nations agreed to closer cooperation in the energy field.Canadian and French companies are also engaged in uranium mining development there.Japan has obtained rights to uranium development in Kazakhstan only recently--this January.Rare metals in high demandUranium is not the only resource of the two Central Asian countries in which other countries are interested.Other rare metals have also seen sharp price increases. Molybdenum, for example, is now worth six times what it was three years ago, while the price of tungsten has quadrupled in the same period.Rare metals are used in a wide variety of fields, mainly in the high-tech field, because of their special characteristics such as heat resistance and ferromagnetism. Ninety percent of Japan's imports of tungsten, which is indispensable for making refractory metals, comes from China. Diversification of supplying countries is another important subject.Uzbekistan has an abundance of tungsten and molybdenum. Kazakhstan is the world's third-largest producer of chromium, and the sixth-largest producer of manganese. Closer ties with the two countries will contribute to securing a stable supply of rare metals.It was the first time that a Japanese prime minister had visited the Central Asian countries.The visits this time followed a visit to Mongolia, a country rich in copper and coal, the prices of which have also been rising.However, it is not easy for Japan to make up for the current delay in such resource diplomacy.The administration that succeeds Koizumi should get serious about tackling the resource diplomacy. It should enhance and develop it.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2006-08-30	YOSHIN0020060830e28u000fs
YOMSHI0020060831e28v00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060831e28v00001	EN	\N	Bilateral talks needed to ensure safe fishing	However, Russian authorities reportedly are planning to indict Noboru Sakashita, the 59-year-old captain of the Kisshin Maru No. 31, on charges of intruding into and poaching in Russian-controlled waters.	4	2006-08-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Tokyo and Moscow should in the very near future hold talks on measures to prevent a recurrence of such an incident so that Japanese fishing boats can operate safely in waters around the disputed islands off eastern Hokkaido.What is extremely regrettable in the incident is that one of the four crew members of the fishing vessel was shot dead by a Russian coast guard. He was the first Japanese fisherman to be shot in an international dispute at sea since 1956.Tokyo must grill MoscowIn 1998, Tokyo and Moscow signed an agreement that supposedly guaranteed the safety of crew members fishing in the waters where the incident happened. The agreement has enabled Japanese boats to catch pollack, Atka mackerel and octopus safely in waters that are effectively controlled by Russia, though it did not include crab, for which the Kisshin Maru No. 31 was trawling.However, the agreement does not stipulate any rules regarding the enforcement of measures to prevent poaching.If Tokyo were to agree with enforcement measures based on Russian judicial procedures, it would mean that Tokyo recognizes Moscow's jurisdiction over the waters. That is why Tokyo has given priority to the safety of fishing crews in the waters, shelving the jurisdiction issue, which is directly linked to the question of who has sovereignty over the northern territories.However, the latest incident has highlighted a flaw in the agreement. Since the territorial dispute has not yet been resolved, Tokyo and Moscow have to discuss practical measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident without touching upon which has jurisdiction over the waters.In 2000, the Japanese and Russian coast guards agreed not to open fire when arresting vessels suspected of poaching. It is urgent that Tokyo confirm whether the agreement is still effective.In talks with Moscow, Tokyo should demand detailed explanations on whether the shooting at the Kisshin Maru No. 31 was acceptable or excessive according to the rules of engagement. This would lead to the imposition of appropriate preventive measures.Japan must stick to claimSome observers have said that changes in Russia's attitude toward poaching were behind the incident.Moscow has recently been tightening state control on natural resources and enhancing its maritime policing of poaching to protect its fishery resources. But Japan should strongly urge Russia not to allow this protective attitude to express itself as excessive security, such as shooting at fishing boats. At the same time, Tokyo has to instruct Japanese fishermen not to do any fishing that goes against the agreement.The northern territories are an integral part of Japan, so Tokyo must continue to press Moscow to return the four northern islands to Japan.Taking advantage of the latest incident, Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, said that the return of Habomai and Shikotan islands before the two other islands is an option worth serious consideration. In addition to Hatoyama, there are several other politicians who support this idea, rather than the return of all the four islands at once.However, the government must remain resolved to claim sovereignty over the four disputed islands.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2006-08-31	YOSHIN0020060831e28v000ft
YOMSHI0020060901e29100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060901e29100001	EN	\N	Tokyo faces long road to win 2016 Olympic bid	The nation's capital probably managed to beat its rival, Fukuoka, because it came up with a highly feasible plan backed by a well-developed infrastructure, including transit systems and accommodation, and financial muscle.	4	2006-09-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to its proposal, Tokyo has transit systems and accommodation facilities that are more than adequate to deal with the 8.5 million visitors expected during the Olympics. The capital would not have to purchase additional land for the Olympics, either, because it plans to build all major venues, including a main stadium and athletes village, on its own land.Most of the 500 billion yen cost for construction of facilities and 300 billion yen in operating expenses will be covered by contributions from the central government and the private sector, the proposal says.Tokyo will also save a total of 400 billion yen over four years starting in fiscal 2006 as a reserve fund if the envisaged contributions fail to reach the target figure. This appears to make Tokyo's financial strength unquestionable.Plan must be compellingIn a report compiled before the announcement of Tokyo's candidacy, the Japanese Olympic Committee praised Tokyo's plan, saying it could give it the edge in the international race to decide a venue for the 2016 Summer Olympics.But Tokyo has just crouched down at the starting line in the race. The goal is a general assembly of the International Olympic Committee scheduled in October 2009.If the general assembly selects it, Tokyo will host the Summer Olympics for the first time in more than 50 years and become the first city in Asia to become an Olympic venue twice. The first time was in 1964.But the race is expected to be tough. Can the Summer Olympics be brought back to Asia from Europe again after Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012?The United States wants to host the Summer Olympics for the first time since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, while Rio de Janeiro is aiming to be the first South American city to host a Games.To win in the general assembly's final ballot, Tokyo will have to explain in detail the philosophy behind its Olympic bid, which must be attractive and compelling enough to obtain a majority of votes from IOC members, and provide concrete plans.Public must be won overTokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara repeatedly said he wanted to realize a 21st-century-style Olympics in Tokyo. According to the capital's plan, the Tokyo Olympics would be the most spatially compact yet, would make full use of advanced technology and will put priority on eco-friendliness.But some members of the JOC say each detail of the plan needs to be fundamentally reviewed if Tokyo is to win the international competition.The biggest challenge ahead of Tokyo now is how to get the public's support. Many people may want to know why Japan should host the Summer Olympics now.The 1964 Tokyo Olympics unified the nation because it marked Japan's complete recovery from the ravages of World War II and its return to the international community. It also provided an opportunity to develop urban infrastructure, such as Shinkansen bullet train lines and expressways.If a majority of the people wants to again feel the spirit of the 1964 Olympics, Tokyo will gain a boost in the bidding race ahead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	594	2006-09-01	YOSHIN0020060901e291000ge
YOMSHI0020060902e29200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060902e29200001	EN	\N	With favorite in stalls, LDP race gets serious	We hope policy discussions will intensify during the campaign.	4	2006-09-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abe will face Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Foreign Minister Taro Aso in the election.Abe is seen enjoying a favorable lead even before the election formally kicks off Friday. With factions within the LDP expressing their backing for Abe one after another, support for the chief cabinet secretary has snowballed.Many lawmakers have been maneuvering for favorable treatment in the new administration, paying repeated visits to Abe at the Prime Minister's Office.Probably because the result of the LDP election is a foregone conclusion, policy debates in the runup to the official campaign have so far been shallow.But the winner of the election will become the nation's next prime minister. The election campaign is a good opportunity to begin a serious discussion over the course Japan will take in the future. Policy debates in the campaign should not end up dull discussions.Tanigaki confused on securityDifferences in the candidates' assertions are apparent, for example, on the issue of the nation's right to collective self-defense.Aso has said Japan would be able to exercise the right to collective self-defense with a change in the government's interpretation of the Constitution. "If a Japanese ship is attacked by terrorists in the Indian Ocean, the ship will be helped [by Japan's allies], but we can't help an ally's ship," Aso said. "Does such an attitude hold water in today's world?"Abe holds a similar view.Tanigaki, however, asserted, "The issue should be addressed with a revision of the Constitution, instead of change in the interpretation." But he also said the time was not ripe for constitutional amendment. Does Tanigaki mean it is OK for Japan not to be able to deal with an emergency?As for Japan's Asia diplomacy, while Tanigaki has proposed "setting up hotlines with the leaders of China and South Korea," Abe has come up with the idea of holding strategic dialogues with Australia and India while strengthening relations with China and South Korea.Abe probably wants to stress that avoiding friction with neighboring countries is not the only task for the nation's Asia diplomacy.Aso said he would "firmly face China, which is emerging politically, militarily and economically." He seems to want to draw a line between himself and pro-China lawmakers who believe friendship with China should come first.Discuss consumption tax hikeTanigaki has made a concrete proposal in respect of taxation and fiscal systems by prposing to raise the consumption tax rate to at least 10 percent by the mid-2010s.Aso said he would "implement thorough spending cuts first before asking the people to shoulder a necessary tax increase."Abe contended that "if a target rate for the consumption tax rate is decided in advance, it will be difficult to carry out spending cuts."But it will be impossible to realize fiscal rehabilitation with spending cuts alone. In an age in which society is progressively graying and the birthrate declining, it is an urgent task for the government to secure stable financial resources for social welfare spending. Discussions on a consumption tax rate hike cannot be avoided.The slogan for the LDP presidential election is "Who should lead the 'next Japan'?" We need bold discussions and concrete ideas over the future shape of the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2006-09-02	YOSHIN0020060902e292000fs
YOMSHI0020060903e29300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060903e29300001	EN	\N	Intl community should stand united on Iran	A resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council in late July called for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment by the end of last month--or risk facing sanctions.	4	2006-09-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, ElBaradei's report, which was submitted to the Security Council last week, revealed that Iran had defiantly expanded its enrichment activities, flying in the face of the international call for the suspension of such activities.According to the report, Iran resumed production of low-enriched uranium by injecting necessary material into a cascade of 164 interconnected centrifuges. The resumption took place a week before the Thursday deadline the international community had set for suspending the enrichment.Furthermore, Iran reportedly told the IAEA that it would soon complete a second cascade, and would carry out a test run of the second machine within this month.The report also pointed out the U.N. nuclear watchdog had not been able to elucidate the whole picture of Iran's nuclear program due to that country's inadequate disclosure of information, and that Iran had become less cooperative with IAEA inspections.Missed opportunityThe deadline was a prime opportunity for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and rebuild trust with other countries. Instead, Tehran thumbed its nose at this chance, and its actions have only served to stir up suspicion and distrust in the international community.The resolution adopted on July 31 states the Security Council would "adopt appropriate measures" such as sanctions under a fresh resolution if Iran did not meet the international call for the suspension of its enrichment program. Faced with Iran's hard-line stance, the international community must intensify debate over bringing sanctions against the country.The five permanent members of the Security Council--Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--plus Germany will soon start discussing what kind of punitive measures could be imposed on Iran, as well as a possible timetable for such measures.The United States wants the six countries to compile a Security Council draft resolution for sanctions within this month. However, the outcome of the discussions remains far from certain as not all the countries are completely in tune over the next step.Dialogue still an optionChina and Russia, which have close ties with Iran, remain reluctant to impose sanctions, and although frustrated by Iran's stubborn attitude, the European Union has said it will continue dialogue with the country.Both sides seem to have judged there is still a chance Iran could change tack and agree to halt uranium enrichment.U.S. President George W. Bush took an uncompromising stance on Iran's latest defiance, saying, "There must be consequences for Iran's defiance."However, the U.S. administration has also showed a degree of flexibility. It said it would stop discussing sanctions providing Iran suspends the enrichment, even after the deadline.It is imperative for the international community to maintain airtight unity toward Iran's nuclear activities. Even if dialogue with Iran continues, any splintering of views among major countries would break the back of the effort to achieve the ultimate objective of halting nuclear proliferation.Prudent, painstaking discussions are required to resolve this standoff.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2006-09-03	YOSHIN0020060903e293000a4
YOMSHI0020060904e29400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060904e29400001	EN	\N	Politics must not delay Futenma relocation	Negotiations have finally started between the central government and the Okinawa Prefecture side, which consists of the prefectural government and four municipalities involved, concerning the relocation of the Futenma Air Station to the coastal area of Camp Schwab in Nago. However, there are several obstacles to surmount in the talks. The most serious is the gap between the two sides over the development plan for the northern part of the prefecture.	4	2006-09-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The central government has decided to proceed with the plan to aid development of the northern part of Okinawa Prefecture by spending about \\100 billion over 10 years. The plan was drafted when the Cabinet approved relocation of the air station to Nago, off the city's Henoko district in December 1999.That plan was scrapped when the Cabinet in May approved the basic plan for realigning U.S. forces in Japan that included a new plan to relocate the Futenma station to the coastal area of Camp Schwab.As a result, the development plan for fiscal 2007 to 2009 was suspended.Since the site to which the air station was to be relocated was changed, a new economic development plan should be compiled.Taxpayers share burdenHowever, the Okinawa Prefecture side demanded that the development plan should be carried out unconditionally, making it a precondition for sitting at the negotiation table to formulate a relocation plan.The basis of the development plan is that taxpayers across the country will share the burden of Okinawa Prefecture in supporting the U.S. bases. Therefore, it is natural for the government to carry out the plan according to the level of progress made on of the relocation project. Taxpayers will not support funneling money into the prefecture, specifically the concerned municipalities, if no headway is made on the relocation project.The prefecture has been asking the central government to construct an interim heliport at Camp Schwab as it is necessary to immediately remove the potential dangers posed by Futenma Air Station, although the government plan does not mention such a heliport.However, a memorandum exchanged between Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine and Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga stipulates that the relocation plan is "based on" a government plan to build two runways in a V-shape at Camp Schwab.Local concernsConcerning the interim heliport, municipalities in the camp's vicinity have expressed concern about accidents and excessive noise. Some point out that such a heliport would not allow the U.S. marines to maintain the same capability as Futenma Air Station, equipped with runways suitable for fixed-wing aircraft.From the viewpoint of removing the danger of the Futenma Air Station, early realization of the relocation of the air station to Nago is the swiftest option.The relocation project should not be needlessly delayed because of the problems over the economic development plan and interim heliport. After the 1999 Cabinet approval, the Okinawa prefectural and Nago city governments demanded that the new air station should be used only for 15 years. That demand, among other factors, stalled the relocation project. The same mistake should not be repeated.To realize the relocation by 2014, a construction plan should be compiled by the end of October. However, the issue of the realignment of U.S. forces will likely be the main focus of the Okinawa gubernatorial election in November. Some observers say it will be difficult for the prefectural government to clarify its position concerning the matter before the election and the talks thus will not progress.Yet, the Futenma relocation project should not be stalled due to political considerations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2006-09-04	YOSHIN0020060904e294000bm
YOMSHI0020060905e29500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060905e29500001	EN	\N	Trial of fallen Internet icon deserves attention	Horie, accused of violating the Securities and Exchange Law, denied all the charges against him at the first hearing and pleaded not guilty, saying "I never committed the crimes alleged in the indictment and I gave no instructions to anybody to commit such wrongdoings."	4	2006-09-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since his arrest in January, Horie has maintained his innocence. He has consistently refused to sign or put his seal on depositions. As was widely expected, he made clear his intention to argue against all of the prosecution's claims at the trial.Prosecutors built their case in the Livedoor scandal based on the belief that Horie was fully in charge of making false entries in earnings reports to the Financial Services Agency and taking fraudulent measures and spreading rumors to raise stock prices of an affiliate firm.Horie's defense counsel countered that the case was a hoax made up by prosecutors "dressing up an act that constitutes no crime to make it look as if it is a grave crime." The defense team further said Horie did not have any "recognition of illegality" or give "instructions to subordinates," as argued by the prosecution, and insisted he was innocent of the charges.Confederates' confessions keyThe prosecutors plan to prove Horie's active involvement and direct instructions to subordinates in the violations based on confessions of his former close aides including former Livedoor Chief Financial Officer Ryoji Miyauchi and others who have been separately tried.The former close aides said in their trials that Horie himself said the only way for the firm to achieve profit targets was for them to carry out the window-dressing all the way through. The prosecutors are quite confident of proving their case.Although Horie has no outside support and has been left on his own, he reportedly has a strong desire for the trial to go forward, saying "I would like to express my own thinking in the trial."He once told people around him, "We can do anything, as long as it isn't illegal." The backlash in society against the money-worshipping philosophy of the market supremacist turned him from a symbol of the so-called winners into the defendant. In a sense, Horie's own philosophy on money will be judged in the trial.Speeding up processFor this trial, a new system of pretrial summary procedures introduced last autumn was applied for the first time in a case involving a major financial crime. The system is designed to speed up the trial process by prearranging points of contention and evidence for the trial to speed deliberation by the court.As a result the foci of the trial were reduced to a handful of points, making the issues in trial easily understandable.For example, there is the issue of investment fund associations--investment funds allegedly used by Livedoor for window-dressing its accounts. Whether they are seen as dummy firms of Livedoor or as legally separate organizations that actually exist will be a key issue in determining if a crime has been committed in this case.For trials that attract public attention, the pretrial arrangement should be actively applied.In Horie's trial, hearings will be held one to three times a week. It is also scheduled that Horie will even see his former close aides in court in some of the 20 cross-examinations of witnesses. The subsequent five hearings set aside from November for questioning the defendant will see the climax of the trial.As a test case of measures to realize a swift trial, the Horie trial is an important event that deserves strict attention.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2006-09-05	YOSHIN0020060905e295000g2
YOMSHI0020060906e29600003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060906e29600003	EN	\N	Measures needed to keep jail guards honest	The chief guard allegedly transferred a gang boss from a solitary-confinement cell equipped with a surveillance camera to one without one on his request. In return for the favor, the chief guard allegedly took his family to Tokyo Disney Resort in Chiba Prefecture and a hot spring resort in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture at the expense of the gangster. The guard also allegedly received a car and cash from the gang boss.	4	2006-09-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In addition to this, he reportedly received a total of several million yen from other detainees, including the current and sixth head of the Yamaguchi-gumi crime syndicate, by suggesting that he could give them favorable treatment.The guard neglected his duty to keep security and order at the detention house.Collusive relationshipsThe Osaka incident is the sixth case of collusion between guards and detainees to surface in the past four years.In 2002, a guard at Chiba Prison was arrested for receiving 150,000 yen in return for lending a gangster a cell phone and giving him food. Later on, several guards at prisons in Tokyo, Tokushima and Miyagi prefectures were punished for lending cell phones to inmates or passing on messages to relatives.The majority of inmates who asked guards to do favors for them were gangsters who exploited the slack the guards cut them for infractions of minor prison rules.Guards at Nagoya Prison were accused of abusing inmates four years ago. Such violence against detainees--who have been placed in a weak position--cannot be tolerated. On the other hand, it is difficult to condone guards acquiescing to the demands of gangsters.In principle, guards are not allowed to hold private conversations with detainees. In detention houses, many of detainees are not allowed to meet anyone except lawyers. They must be isolated from outside contact because investigations and trials could be affected if they were told which accomplices had been arrested or what witnesses had said."My defenses were down after working [at the detention house] for more than 10 years," said the Osaka Detention House chief guard.System must be checkedIt is necessary not only to investigate how he fell victim to temptation but also to determine the flaws within the detention house's administrative system.Whenever a gangster entered the detention house, the chief guard asked his superior to put him in charge of the new detainee. He was known among the detainees as being willing to do favors for gangsters.His superiors also allowed the chief guard to move detainees to different cells, something normally not done without good reason, indicating his superiors were lenient when it came to the control and supervision of guards.Since the detention house has a closed environment, it is important for the guards to keep an eye on each other to prevent illegalities. But the chief guard was responsible for as many as 40 detainees. This made it difficult for his colleagues to check his relationship with detainees.In some large prisons, guards are paired up to deal with gangsters or other inmates who are difficult to handle. Detainees should be dealt with according to their attitudes.According to some observers, the Osaka Detention House case is the tip of an iceberg. It is necessary to review the work of guards in all prisons and detention houses.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 6, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2006-09-06	YOSHIN0020060906e296000gk
YOMSHI0020060907e29700002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060907e29700002	EN	\N	Imperial birth truly a blessed event	It is really wonderful to hear that the delivery was successful. This is the happiest event for the Imperial family and we would like to congratulate them from the bottom of our hearts.	4	2006-09-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, the baby is their third child, following Princess Mako, 14, and Princess Kako, 11. He is the fourth grandchild for the Emperor and Empress after Princess Aiko, 4, the daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako.To add to the happiness, the baby was a boy, for which the Imperial family had long waited.After Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino, the next nine babies born to the Imperial family were all girls. This is the first baby boy in 41 years for the Imperial family, and the first Imperial heir born in the Heisei era.The Emperor and Empress were told of the birth of the prince during an official visit to Sapporo. The Imperial couple must have special feelings for the child, who is their first grandson.As the Imperial House Law stipulates that a male descended from the Imperial line should assume the throne, the newborn prince is third in line to succeed to it after the crown prince and his father.Delivery from worriesPrince and Princess Akishino may well have harbored worries about the birth, until they heard his first spirited cry.This was because doctors for Princess Kiko had diagnosed her as having placenta previa partialis, a condition in which part of the placenta blocks the cervix, which meant there was the possibility of a premature birth or severe hemorrhaging. The princess, 39, was also at a relatively advanced age to have a baby.That was why the couple decided--the first time in the Imperial family--to use a private hospital in Minato Ward, Tokyo, which has the most advanced equipment, rather than the Imperial Household Hospital. The princess entered the hospital in the middle of August in preparation for the delivery, because it was considered better for her to relax calmly in bed.Princess Kiko must feel greatly relieved after carrying out her important duty under pressure. How happy Prince Akishino must feel about the birth of his first son.Perfect planningIt was also pleasing to see that Imperial Household Agency officials ignored precedent in favor of ensuring perfect medical preparedness.Princess Kiko was found to be pregnant in February. This was the same time that even lawmakers of the ruling coalition parties were heatedly discussing the pros and cons of a report compiled in November by a private advisory body to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on revising the Imperial House Law.The report recommended the law be revised to allow females and descendants from the female line of the Imperial family to assume the throne to ensure a stable succession. However, opponents to the report said the tradition of allowing only male descendants of the male line to ascend the throne should be maintained.The report also recommended that the eldest child be ranked top in order of succession among sons and daughters of the emperor. But opponents said the eldest son should be ranked top among his brothers and sisters.However, the news that Princess Kiko was pregnant caused people to express more cautious opinions and shy away from any idea of a hurried and slipshod revision of the Imperial House Law. Koizumi intended to submit a bill based on the report to revise the law during the last ordinary Diet session, but he ultimately gave up on the idea.Political discussions on the Imperial succession made the public even more interested in the gender of the expected baby. This must have placed additional pressure on Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko in addition to any other anxieties they may have had about the delivery.A medical supervisor of the Imperial Household Agency said at a press conference held to announce the Imperial pregnancy that the couple had declined to learn the gender of the baby before its birth. The supervisor said they had done nothing special such as gender selection, either.Whether a boy or girl, a conceived fetus is a priceless life for a couple, and what the royal couple said was a perfectly natural thing for expectant parents to say.Fruitful debate must continueThe report compiled by the advisory council on the revision of the Imperial House Law was submitted to Koizumi, who is soon to step down and a new prime minister elected."Normally, results of the report would be utilized also under a new minister," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, widely seen as the front-runner as next prime minister. "However, it won't be impossible to start a new study project."Some may still believe that females of the Imperial family and descendants from its female line should be allowed to assume the throne, while others may think that the birth of the new prince has made any revision of the Imperial House Law unnecessary.It is no longer necessary to come to a conclusion on the issue quickly, but discussions on the matter should be continued.Under the current Imperial system, Princess Aiko, Princess Mako and Princess Kako will have to leave the Imperial family when they get married. It is clear that the number of Imperial family members will decrease in the future. How to deal with this must be studied.The government and the Diet should study what system of Imperial succession is best and meets the approval of the public.The Imperial family is a symbol of Japanese culture and tradition, and loved and respected by many people in the country. The Imperial House system should not be allowed to become endangered.The name of the newborn prince will be announced at the Meimei no Gi, the Imperial naming ceremony, to be held Tuesday, the seventh day after his birth.Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko decided upon the names for Princess Mako and Princess Kako. Will the couple do so again?We hope their son will grow up in good health and are looking forward to seeing what type of boy and later of young man he will become as a prince of a new century.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1090	2006-09-07	YOSHIN0020060907e297000dx
YOMSHI0020060908e29800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060908e29800001	EN	\N	Moscow high-handed over resource control	The Russian Federal Service for the Supervision of Natural Resources filed the action with a Moscow court, claiming that a natural resource development project off Sakhalin Island should be suspended because it has failed to take proper measures to preserve the environment.	4	2006-09-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the plaintiff wins the case, oil and natural gas production in the Sakhalin-2 project will be frozen until the alleged environmental violations are corrected.Sakhalin-2 is a project jointly undertaken by international oil major Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corp.The project aims to produce 9.6 million tons of liquefied natural gas per year, a figure that accounts for about 16 percent of Japan's LNG imports. Exports of LNG to Japan and other countries are scheduled to begin in 2008.A number of environmental groups in and outside Russia say the project will damage the surrounding environment. Such claims should not be casually dismissed as groundless.But the Russian government has applied various pressures on the project, seeking the participation of the state-controlled gas company OAO Gazprom. This is probably because Sakhalin-2 is the only 100 percent foreign-funded project among large-scale natural resource development projects under way in Russia.Ulterior motives for lawsuit?Suspicions cannot be erased that the lawsuit was not filed out of a desire to protect the environment, but is instead maneuvering on the part of the Kremlin to realize Gazprom's participation in the project under favorable conditions.Russia, as country with plentiful supplies of natural resources, has seen its economy boosted due to high crude oil prices. The country repaid its debt to the Paris Club of creditors last month with a final tranche of $21.6 billion, completing in advance its repayment of the obligation incurred as a result of the 1998 currency crisis.On the back of its strong economy, Russia has been accelerating steps to strengthen state-controlled energy companies.Moscow also has been taking forcible and high-handed measures in respect of its natural energy resources. For instance, it halted operations of a pipeline connected to Lithuania after that country refused to sell a state-run oil-refining company to a Russian company.Putin must show leadershipThe lack of a developed legal infrastructure in Russia has been a risk factor for foreign investment into the country.Japan Tobacco Inc. is fighting a lawsuit at the Russian Supreme Arbitration Court after it was judged, for no apparent reason, to have evaded value-added tax.A medium-sized Japanese trading company gave up its interest in a joint venture with a Russian company after the Russian side made unjustifiable demands when the joint venture's business took off.Russian President Vladimir Putin has been inviting foreign companies to invest in his country. Responding to Putin's call, Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. have decided to build assembly plants in St. Petersburg.For Russia to see sustainable economic growth, it is inevitable for it to develop major manufacturing businesses that can create significant job opportunities, which Putin must well know.However, if Russia depends on foreign capital in rough times but then twists the law to its own ends in good times, foreign companies will become reluctant to invest in the country. Putin must show leadership over the issue of Sakhalin-2 appropriate for a national leader.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	588	2006-09-08	YOSHIN0020060908e298000eh
YOMSHI0020060909e29900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060909e29900001	EN	\N	Abe win a fait accompli, but LDP race no yawn	Japan's economy and society and the international community are in a whirlpool of historic change. The administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has taken the first steps to face up to such changes. The new administration will bear the heavy responsibility of setting the future course of the nation to realize a stable and peaceful country.	4	2006-09-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP poll will effectively determine the next prime minister, who must carry out this crucial task.The LDP presidential election officially kicked off Friday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Foreign Minister Taro Aso filed their candidacies for the poll. The new LDP president will be elected on Sept. 20.Within the party, Abe already is seen as a shoo-in for the presidency. It has been pointed out that Abe's comfortable lead in the race is the reason why there has been little in-depth debate over policies so far.However, it is because Abe enjoys a comfortable lead that in-depth discussions are necessary.It is highly likely that policies and proposals on how the administration should be led that Abe presents during the campaign will be implemented by the new administration. Thus, voters also have a great interest in the LDP presidential election.Topics of debate setIn this regard, Abe has a particular obligation to stimulate debate during the campaign by clearly explaining how he intends to deal with important policy issues and form the new cabinet and party leadership lineup.We expect Tanigaki and Aso not only to present their own policy proposals, but also to intensify debate among the candidates by pointing out the shortcomings and flaws they perceive in Abe's policies.On the basis of the candidates' policy visions and remarks, the items on the agenda for the campaign debates have already been identified. They include constitutional amendment, education reform, Asia diplomacy--in particular, relations with China--and the issue of national security in connection with international peacekeeping activities and the exercise of the right to collective self-defense.Other topics likely to be debated are the issue of maintaining economic growth in tandem with fiscal rehabilitation, and whether to raise the consumption tax.Abe, for instance, has said studies are necessary to determine which Self-Defense Forces activities should fall within the purview of the right to exercise collective self-defense. This probably is based on his view that such studies are inevitable to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and enhance the scope of the SDF's international peacekeeping activities. This will be an important topic of discussion during the campaign.Nation needs a road mapAfter registering their candidacies, the three presidential hopefuls participated in a joint press conference at which differences in their views on relations with China were apparent.Saying Japan has its "door open," Abe and Aso expressed the common view that China is wrong to reject Japan-China summit talks due to its opposition to Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine.Tanigaki, meanwhile, said Japan's top political leader must show consideration for the feelings of neighboring countries.On the reform of the social security system, Tanigaki reiterated his belief that a consumption tax rate hike is unavoidable to secure financial resources to support welfare programs.Neither Abe nor Aso, however, broached the issue of securing revenue resources in remarks they made in connection with social security reform.The three have not discussed policy issues sufficiently. At public debates and other occasions during the campaign, they must present clear ideas to voters on how to guide the country through difficult times.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	666	2006-09-09	YOSHIN0020060909e299000hd
YOMSHI0020060911e29a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060911e29a00001	EN	\N	More solidarity needed in fight against terrorism	The United States, which wields dominant capabilities in diplomatic, military, financial and other fields, is the only country equipped to lead an international coalition against terrorism. At the same time, the United States is a country that has been targeted and damaged by terrorist attacks, not only the Sept. 11 attacks.	4	2006-09-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But it is difficult to say with any certainty that the war on terrorism has produced satisfactory results in the five years since the 2001 attacks.The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush has regularly mentioned the changes in Afghanistan and Iraq, against which the United States conducted military operations in the years after the 2001 attacks, as the most obvious results of the war on terrorism.In Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition forces toppled the hard-line Taliban regime, eliminated bases and training camps of the Al-Qaida international terrorist network and established a democratic government. Washington also has worked to install a democratic government in Iraq after unseating former President Saddam Hussein. The United States sees these two countries as the front line in the war on terrorism.Much remains to be doneBut the process of rebuilding and maintaining security in Afghanistan and Iraq is a rocky process. These fledgling democracies cannot do it alone--they need the help and support of the international community. Taliban forces have regrouped and are regaining their strength in parts of Afghanistan, and conflict among religious groups in Iraq could boil over and escalate into a civil war. Both countries are at a crucial stage.The international community needs to further strengthen cooperation to ensure the stability of the two countries. From that standpoint, we are concerned about the widening split among the U.S. public over the war on terrorism.The approval rating for the Bush administration soared to nearly 90 percent immediately after the 2001 terrorist attacks, but support for the president has been hovering on the 30-percent level of late. According to the latest U.S. opinion survey, only 25 percent of respondents said the United States was doing well in the Iraq war, while about 60 percent said they opposed the war. These figures mark a complete turnaround from immediately after the start of the war.The deteriorating confidence in Bush's leadership makes it difficult for the United States to implement unyielding strategies against terrorism because they are not widely backed by the public. The United States finds itself at a crucial stage.Cooperation worksIn August, British police foiled an alleged terrorist plot that aimed to blow up U.S.-bound passenger jets from Britain. Several British nationals of Pakistani origin and Pakistani "facilitators" living in their homeland were arrested in connection with the plot. The work by security authorities in these countries was a sparkling example of how international cooperation can successfully prevent terrorist attacks from reaching the execution stage.However, this means Islamic extremists are still undoubtedly plotting to unleash terrorist attacks in various parts of the world. Since the 2001 attacks on the United States, countries including Britain, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Spain have suffered appalling attacks at the hands of terrorists. Japan also has been named by Al-Qaida as a possible target for attacks due to its dispatch of troops to Iraq on a humanitarian and reconstruction mission.The United States has raised the hackles of many people by resorting to a more unilateralist bent backed up by its overwhelming military power. Regardless of the content of the policies Washington employs in the war on terrorism, the most important thing is that terrorist forces that reject freedom and tolerance must be stamped out.Strengthening international cooperation is the only way to encircle and eradicate the scourge of terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 10, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2006-09-10	YOSHIN0020060911e29a000av
YOMSHI0020060912e29c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060912e29c00001	EN	\N	Debate on collective defense makes headway	During a campaign debate sponsored by and held at the Japan National Press Club, the three candidates standing in the Sept. 20 election held their first full-fledged three-way public discussion.	4	2006-09-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Among the issues discussed was the nation's right to collective self-defense, which according to the government's interpretation of the Constitution, Japan possesses, but is not allowed to use.One candidate, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, presented a hypothetical situation in discussing the issue: If U.S. and Japanese warships were patrolling the sea-lanes in international waters and the U.S. vessels were attacked, Japan's forces could not strike back in their defense. For Japan, which relies on the Middle East for nearly 90 percent of its crude oil imports, the safety of its sea-lanes is vitally important.Abe questioned whether under such circumstances, assistance provided to a U.S. ship by a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel should be considered an exercise of the nation's right to collective self-defense, expressing doubts about the validity of avoiding discussion or study of such a crucial issue.Scenarios to considerMeanwhile, Foreign Minister Taro Aso presented an example of an MSDF vessel, sailing with vessels of a multinational force coming under attack in the Indian Ocean. He then questioned whether it is justifiable for Japan not to be able to defend the other ships belonging to the multinational force while such vessels were defending the Japanese ship.Aso then asserted the government should lay down specific conditions under which Japan can exercise its right to collective self-defense.Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki reiterated his stance that the issue of collective self-defense should be dealt with through a constitutional amendment.Even Tanigaki, however, acknowledged the need to, as Abe asserted, "study [the issue]" from the standpoint of making the Japan-U.S. alliance more workable. Tanigaki said, "Study is necessary to discuss and reach a definite conclusion on the extent to which the issue is one of collective self-defense or individual self-defense."Even within the LDP, there are some who strongly oppose the use of right to collective self-defense, leaving the party unable to reach a compromise solution.Inching closer to consensusIn this sense, the debate shows some progress has been made in that all the contenders, including Tanigaki, who is affiliated with the so-called dovish group, have agreed on the need to study the issue.Reinforcing the Japan-U.S. alliance is one of the highest priorities for the next administration. The main opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan, also considers it a basic part of the nation's foreign policy.The scope of Japan-U.S. cooperation as an alliance for world peace is not limited to the areas surrounding Japan. The international peacekeeping activities by the Self-Defense Forces will further expand.Considering the changes in the international situation, especially in East Asia, the issue of collective self-defense is certain to be an immediate priority should Abe take office. His active approach to the issue reflects his perception of its urgency.If efforts to define the right to collective self-defense fall into troublesome discussion, the administration may be unable to take appropriate action.The approval of exercising the right to collective self-defense should be provided for through a change in the government's interpretation of the Constitution, while acting on the right should be left up to the highest levels of the next administration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2006-09-12	YOSHIN0020060912e29c000l2
YOMSHI0020060913e29d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060913e29d00001	EN	\N	Rules on spy satellites must be reexamined	On Monday, the H-2A rocket No. 10 was launched, inserting the nation's third spy satellite into orbit.	4	2006-09-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan currently has two optical satellites--including the latest one--that are capable of photographing the Earth with high-resolution cameras. However, these satellites cannot photograph the Earth at night or when it is cloudy. In addition, Japan has only one radar satellite, which uses radio signals, to keep an eye on the world.The intelligence-gathering satellite project was formulated in the wake of North Korea's launch in 1998 of a Taepodong-1 ballistic missile that splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off northern Japan. The government initially sought to operate four intelligence satellites under the project, but the launch of the H-2A rocket No. 6 carrying an optical and radar satellite failed in November 2003.The JAXA is scheduled to launch another radar satellite in early 2007. This means the nation must give itself until early next year to operate two optical and two radar satellites, as initially planned.Keeping eyes on North KoreaHowever, Japan's three spy satellites failed to detect North Korea's launch of a Taepodong-2 missile in early July. Likewise, despite their best efforts to monitor moves indicative of a missile launch by North Korea, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis-equipped destroyers were unable to pick up the Taepodong launch on their radar. In fact, it was a U.S. early warning satellite that picked up the Taepodong launch at its crucial moment.North Korea appears ready to go ahead with another missile launch, and may even carry out a nuclear test. These possibilities pose a serious threat to Japan, and given this, this nation should not be content to rely on the United States for access to satellite-gathered intelligence related to Japan's national security.First and foremost, the government must ensure a fourth intelligence-gathering satellite is successfully launched.There are other tasks to be tackled by the government in this respect. In 1985, the government stated the technological levels of satellites to be used by the Self-Defense Forces would be comparable to those of commercial satellites. This "generalization principle" must be reconsidered.Govt must act with resolveIn 1969, the Diet adopted a resolution concerning the nation's use of space for peaceful purposes. In passing the resolution, the opposition camp strongly demanded the "peaceful" use of space be interpreted to mean the use of space for "nonmilitary" purposes. The government gave in to the demand. This means restrictions have been imposed on the use of space by the SDF, even if it is purely designed to defend the country.Japan's intelligence-gathering satellites are subject to the generalization principle. U.S. early warning satellites are capable of differentiating between objects 10 centimeters in diameter. In comparison, Japan's spy satellites can only discern objects that are at least one-meter square. A next-generation satellite to be introduced in fiscal 2009 would be able to differentiate between objects as small as 60 centimeters square.The government is free to change its official view concerning the use of satellites if it chooses to do so. We believe the government should reexamine its principle, which works against national interest, knowing it could undermine national security. The government should do all it can to increase the resolution of the next-generation satellite.Monday's launch of the H-2A rocket was the fourth successful liftoff in a row, raising the success rate to 90 percent. This shows that Japan's H-2A rocket technology is coming to maturity.We cannot ask other nations to launch rockets carrying Japanese reconnaissance satellites on our behalf. It is extremely important for Japan to possess domestic rockets capable of doing so, and the country must continue to improve its rocket technology.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 13, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	711	2006-09-13	YOSHIN0020060913e29d000gf
YOMSHI0020060914e29e00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060914e29e00001	EN	\N	Asia's expectations for Japan on increase	These noteworthy findings were yielded by a recent survey conducted jointly in seven Asian countries by The Yomiuri Shimbun, The Korea Times (Hankook Ilbo) and the Gallup group.	4	2006-09-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The survey showed that Japan still wields a not inconsiderable influence over other Asian countries.The survey was conducted in Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, and was the third of its kind following similar polls in 1995 and 1996.The rise of ChinaIn the 10 years since the last survey, the most noteworthy change in the world has been the rise of China, and the latest survey reflected this change.More than 80 percent of pollees in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia said they had a "good impression" of China.Asked whether "the economic development of China would influence the economy" of their own countries, the majority of respondents, barring those in Japan and South Korea, said it would influence their countries "more positively."The findings indicate the relations these countries have with China have been deepening politically and economically.China's expanded influence in the future compared with other countries is being widely acknowledged as obvious. Asked, "Which countries or territories do you think will become most influential including economic power on the Asian region in the future," respondents in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam placed China on top of a list of about 20 countries and territories.While the "emergence of China" has been much heralded in recent years, the "decline of Japan" has been pointed out for a long time now.Nearly 60 percent of Japanese respondents said Japan's influence in Asia was getting "weaker" or "somewhat weaker."However, the survey showed Japan's diplomatic foundation in Asia is still sound and that Japan is not facing a "decline."The majority of people in other countries said Japan's influence in Asia was getting "stronger" or "somewhat stronger."Rumors of 'decline' incorrectAsked whether Japan was playing "an active role in the development of Asia as a member of Asia," about 90 percent of respondents in the Southeast Asian countries said "very active" or "somewhat active," with increases between six and 18 percentage points from the 1996 survey. About 80 percent of respondents in India also had a similar view.People in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam gave high marks to Japan with regard to trust.Japan's long-time commitment to helping nations build themselves and develop economically have fostered pro-Japan sentiments in the countries Japan has helped.Also, amid China's emergence, those countries are recognizing again the significance and importance of Japan, which has built close economic and other relations with those countries.This development runs counter to the views held by the Japanese themselves.In addition to economic relations, expectations for Japan's leadership are widening to such fields as counterterrorism, antipiracy, disaster relief and the fight against infectious diseases.An environment in which Japan can conduct a more active foreign policy in Asia is developing--as proved by the latest opinion poll.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 14, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2006-09-14	YOSHIN0020060914e29e000fy
YOMSHI0020060915e29f00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060915e29f00002	EN	\N	Take harsh measures against violent students	At another school, a fourth-grade boy yelled at a male teacher, "Why are you interfering?" when the teacher tried to stop a fight. The boy then hurled himself at the teacher, scratching his arm.	4	2006-09-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Schoolteachers have increasingly become victims of school violence. But they may not physically restrain children when they are assaulted by students."If we use corporal punishment to discipline students, we'll be fired. How are we supposed to deal with school violence?" This commonly voiced complaint probably reflects the feelings of most teachers.There seems to be no end in sight to violent acts by primary school students. In the school year ended in March, a record-high 2,018 cases of school violence at public primary schools were reported, for the third straight year of increase.The figure is up about 50 percent from that for fiscal 1997, the year the education ministry started to compile the statistics on school violence, when it stood at 1,304 cases.Acts of violence against teachers rose particularly steeply, with 464 cases reported in the 2005 school year, up a whopping 38.1 percent from the 336 cases recorded the previous year.Violence between students, at 951 cases, and vandalism, at 582 cases, also remained high.The ministry notes that the same students tend to repeatedly act violently. Many such students seem incapable of accepting a scolding from teachers and unwilling to change their ways.These problem students lose their temper when they are told off by teachers for misbehaving or when they are asked to abide by school rules.Parents must fulfill dutiesThe issue of student violence should be addressed by schools in a comprehensive manner. But the reality is that at many schools, the matter is left up to individual homeroom teachers.What is most important is to gain understanding and cooperation from parents.At one school, for example, parents, including those of problem students, took it in turn to observe lessons. With continued efforts, order returned to the "collapsed class."But some parents of troubled students lash out at schools when they are asked to attend meetings to discuss their children's behavior, saying the schools are singling their children out unfairly.But it is the obligation of parents to teach their children that violence is not a permissible way to express one's feelings.Light punishments a problemSchools, meanwhile, should take firm measures against students whose behavior is beyond the pale.In the last school year, police took into custody just 11 primary school students who acted violently.Just one student--a fifth-grade boy in the Chugoku region--was suspended from school under the School Education Law. He repeatedly damaged supplies at his school and tried to take his classmates out of the classroom during lessons. The school took the tough measure since the boy had misbehaved in this manner for five months after joining the school from another school.The largest number of punishments issued under the law was light admonishment to 20 primary school students in the last school year. Including those cases, punitive measures were meted out to only 27 students under the law. Other violent cases ended up with the misbehaving students merely being verbally scolded or warned.How can such light punishments be expected to bring about a change of heart in problem students? Students may be encouraged to misbehave repeatedly because they know they are unlikely to be strictly punished.Excessively violent behavior and other acts that infringe on other students' right to receive an education may have to be punished with the perpetrators' forcible ejection from class.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2006-09-15	YOSHIN0020060915e29f000h1
YOMSHI0020060916e29g00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060916e29g00001	EN	\N	What are the lessons of Matsumoto's trial?	In its judgment in the case of Chizuo Matsumoto, also known as Shoko Asahara, the founder of the Aum Supreme Truth cult, the Supreme Court rejected a special appeal made by Matsumoto's defense counsel over judicial proceedings, finalizing the death sentence previously given to the cult leader.	4	2006-09-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The series of crimes carried out by the cult members was unprecedented. Including the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system and one in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and the murders of lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto, who had been helping people with complaints against the cult, as well as his wife and their 1-year-old child, 27 lives were claimed, and more than 5,000 people were injured.The bereaved families and victims of these horrible crimes must wonder why they occurred, and they must have hoped to hear the truth about them from the person who masterminded them. Before the protracted court battle started, society as a whole had pegged this hope on the judiciary.Accused tried to get off hookIn his first public hearing held in April 1996, Matsumoto made only incomprehensible religious utterances, holding up his arraignment. One year later, in his first proper statement in court, Matsumoto claimed that the crimes were committed by his followers, denying his involvement in the crimes and asserting his innocence.Faced with their former guru's attempt to protect himself, his accused followers displayed anger and grief at their trials, with some vowing that they would tell the truth themselves.Nine months later, Matsumoto once again asserted his innocence. Thereafter, he stayed silent in court in an apparent attempt to ignore the fact that he was on trial.Matsumoto became discontented with the way his defense counsel proceeded with his cases and started refusing to meet with his counsel at the Tokyo Detention House. Even when he did agree to meet with his lawyers, he did not speak. His distrustful and uncooperative stance led the defense team to adopt inappropriate courtroom tactics.When he was notified of the death sentence handed down by the Tokyo District Court in February 2004 and of the rejection of his appeal by the Tokyo High Court in March this year, Matsumoto reportedly said angrily: "Why is that?" and "I'm innocent!"If those statements reflected his feelings, he should have expressed his views clearly in the courtroom and communicated properly with his defense counsel. His defense team bears much of the blame in this regard.Defense heavily responsibleWith the defense and prosecution teams engaged in a full-scale face-off from the onset of the trial in April 1996, 257 public hearings were held over a period of nearly eight years until the Tokyo District Court ruling was handed down in 2004.By repeatedly conducting nitpicking cross-examinations, Matsumoto's defense team spent more than 1,000 hours questioning a total of 522 prosecution witnesses in court. That was five times more than the time the prosecution team spent on its cross-examinations.Included in the defense team was a lawyer known as an activist for the abolition of the death penalty. He used to say, "When dealing with [cases in which] the death sentence [could be applied], attempts at keeping the trial going as long as possible and thus helping the defendant stay alive will serve the interest of the defendant." This stalling tactic was based on distorted logic.The district court was also spineless. Worried that the hearings could be pushed into disarray with the resignation of the defense counsel, the court failed to direct the litigation in a strict manner. In the face of the seemingly futile and protracted court battle, distrust in the judicial system prevailed among the public.Learning lessons from Matsumoto's district court trial, the Criminal Procedure Code was revised, leading to the introduction of pretrial summary procedures, a system designed to speed up the trial process by prearranging points of contention and evidence for the trial to speed up court deliberations.Meanwhile, calls grew for introducing a lay judge system, in which members of the public team up with judges in trying criminal cases. Lessons learned from Matsumoto's district court trial accelerated the trend toward judicial reform.After the appeal at the high court, the new defense team adopted the tactic of seeking to extend the deadline for the submission of the appeal documents.The defense in late 2004 asked the high court to extend the Jan. 11, 2005, deadline for submitting a statement to the high court outlining the reasons for its appeal against the district court ruling, saying it would be unable to meet the deadline since it could not establish meaningful communication with the defendant. The high court approved the defense's request that the deadline be extended.As the new deadline of Aug. 31, 2005, approached, however, the defense asserted that Matsumoto was not competent to stand trial and called for him to be treated first. The team said it would not submit the statement until the results of a psychiatric test of Matsumoto were ready.The risky gamble by the defense turned out to work against it. Based on the result of the psychiatric test, which found the defendant competent enough to stand trial, the high court discontinued the trial and rejected the appeal.If the defense had submitted the statement before the deadline, there could have been room for it to call into question the defendant's competency to stand trial at the high court.By failing to submit the statement in time, the defense deprived Matsumoto of the opportunity for a court hearing. As a result, Matsumoto's lawyers accelerated the finalization of his death sentence. This was an irreparable tactical error.In rejecting the special appeal filed on behalf of Matsumoto, the high court said that "from the viewpoint of the duty of lawyers to defend the defendant's right [to trial], it [the defense team's move] was problematic."The top court, in handing down its decision, said that "both the defense team and the defendant must be held responsible for having brought the case to the current situation."This comment was entirely reasonable.It is possible that the court will demand that the bar association to which the defense lawyers belong punish them for drawing out the litigation.The bar association must not treat the defense team leniently. The issue of dragging out trials unnecessarily is one that those in legal circles need to settle properly.Society still affectedWhat effect has the Aum Supreme Truth cult and the spate of crimes it conducted had on Japanese society?The two sarin gas attacks were indiscriminate terrorist attacks, targeting large numbers of citizens. We should remember the fact that these terrorist attacks took place in Japan six to seven years earlier than the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.The whole nation was revulsed by Aum's terrorist attacks. Despite the occurrence of the attacks, however, neither the government nor society showed any strong inclination to eradicate terrorism or to take steps to prevent terrorist attacks from happening.A move to disband the cult by applying the Antisubversive Activities Law was shelved. The cult continues to exist, though it has changed its name, with as many as 1,650 followers continuing their activities at 30 facilities across the country. Problems between the cult and people living near cult facilities continue.In response to a spate of international terrorist attacks, the government in December 2004 decided on an action plan concerning ways to prevent terrorism. By learning lessons from the crimes committed by Aum, ministries and agencies concerned need to do their utmost to secure citizens' safety.Every time a "seminar" sponsored by the cult is held, a large number of young people attend, handing over large sums of money. The issue of how to rescue young people who get involved with the cult is one that society as a whole should consider.The culmination of the trial of the cult's former leader marks the end of a key phase in the Aum-related litigation. Yet the ripples caused by the cult continue to disturb this society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1399	2006-09-16	YOSHIN0020060916e29g000g2
YOMSHI0020060917e29h00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060917e29h00001	EN	\N	Keep in step over North Korea sanctions	The United States is attempting to exert pressure on North Korea by imposing tougher sanctions on the reclusive regime in a bid to shepherd it back to the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. South Korea, however, prefers to take a more conciliatory tack toward its northern neighbor and after his talks with Bush, Roh was far from enthusiastic about wielding a bigger stick.	4	2006-09-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	"This isn't the appropriate time to consider the possibility of a failure of the six-party process [or about imposing sanctions]," Roh said.Roh's reluctance to play the sanctions card is understandable when viewed from the standpoint of his country's conciliatory policy toward North Korea. However, stringent sanctions are one way to push North Korea back to the six-way talks that have been stalled since September last year.Pyongyang snubs intl societyTwo months ago, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to denounce the July 5 missile launches by North Korea. U.N. member countries have been asked to take measures that would prevent the transfer of money, materials and technologies that could be linked to Pyongyang's development of missiles and weapons of mass destruction.The resolution also called on North Korea to return to the six-way talks--which also include Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--immediately and unconditionally.North Korea has thumbed its nose at the resolution and has shown no indication of retaking its seat at the six-nation talks. As things stand, the only recourse available to force North Korea to comply is to exert more pressure on Pyongyang, based on the U.N. resolution.The government plans to impose financial sanctions against North Korea, by banning the withdrawal of money from Japanese bank accounts of organizations and individuals suspected of involvement in North Korea's development of missiles and weapons of mass destruction, as well as remittances from these accounts to accounts abroad.Roh told Bush that South Korea had taken measures such as suspending shipments of rice, fertilizer and other aid to North Korea in response to Pyongyang's test-firing of ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan in July. "These steps are, in fact, similar to sanctions in their effect," Roh said. However, the South Korean president gave no sign of taking any additional measures against North Korea.To ensure financial sanctions have bite as well as bark, it is essential for Japan to gain the cooperation of South Korea and the United States. If Seoul is loath to play its part, it could lead to cracks developing in the unity of the coalition of nations exerting pressure on North Korea.Diverging viewsDespite being an ally of the United States, South Korea differs from Washington--and Tokyo--in its views on how to defang security threats presented by the North Korean regime. South Korea often criticizes approaches taken by Japan and the United States, rather than North Korea's irresponsible behavior, when it comes to dealing with North Korean issues. Roh has even indicated he accepts North Korea has good reason for developing nuclear weapons.As a result, the U.S.-South Korea alliance has increasingly been fraying at the seams.During their summit meeting, the two leaders also discussed the return of wartime command of South Korean troops to Seoul.The United States said it would be possible to return the wartime command of South Korean troops--which have been under a U.S.-led U.N. command since 1950--as early as 2009. Washington and Seoul hope to reach an agreement on specifics during bilateral security talks scheduled for next month. Following the transfer, the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command will be dissolved.How will this development affect the security situation on the Korean Peninsula? This issue also impinges on Japan's national security. While we keep an eye on the future course of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the Japan-U.S. alliance also must be further developed and reinforced.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	750	2006-09-17	YOSHIN0020060917e29h000ai
YOMSHI0020060918e29i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060918e29i00001	EN	\N	Society must cherish its elderly citizens	When the government released its findings on the number of centenarians for the first time in 1963, only 153 people made the list. According to demographic forecasts, the number of centenarians is expected to top 160,000 in 2025 and 510,000 in 2050.	4	2006-09-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The uninterrupted increase in the life span of the Japanese is cause for celebration. However, the question is whether Japan is--and will remain--a society in which long life can be regarded as a source of happiness.According to a national census taken last year, about 4.05 million elderly people live alone, an increase of 1.02 million from five years earlier. The steady rise in the average age of the Japanese is being shadowed by an increase in the number of senior citizens living by themselves, largely as a result of changes in the lifestyles of Japanese families.For many years, a large number of aged people in this country have lived under the protection of their families and communities. However, a reduction in the number of extended families and decreasing contact with neighbors in recent years have made it necessary to make up for the protection that had been extended to elderly people by their families and neighbors in the past. Such programs are just beginning to take shape.Problems must be addressedIt is particularly crucial to address problems arising from the increasing number of elderly people suffering from senile dementia. There are an estimated 1.7 million such elderly people in the nation today, many of whom live alone and are unaware they have the disease.In recent years, many such people have fallen prey to despicable sales tactics. This shows that the adult guardianship system is not fully fulfilling its purpose, partly because there is a shortage of people who can serve as such guardians.We also should not turn a blind eye to the increase in the number of elderly citizens who die alone. The Tokyo metropolitan government is set to test a system designed to check on elderly people living on their own by keeping tabs on the workings of the water meters at their homes. Meanwhile, local governments in many other parts of the nation are working to help establish nonprofit organizations aimed at keeping watch on people in their golden years living on their own.Success--or a lack of it--in dealing with age-induced problems, including senile dementia and elderly people dying without anyone present will largely rest with what people in that age bracket choose to do.Elderly have much to offerStatistically, anyone aged 65 and older is defined as an elderly person. However, all people in that age bracket do not necessarily fit the peculiarities generally accepted as common to the aged.For instance, a number of people in their late 60s have offered to participate in projects designed by Tokyo and some other local governments to train personnel to serve as adult guardians. They would play a central role in forming a network of personnel replacing families and communities as guardians for elderly people in need of protection. One might hesitate to describe these personnel as "elderly people." Instead, they should be called "young" elderly people.We hope aged people with a great deal of experience and an appetite for life will play an active role in various fields, including projects aimed at addressing problems arising from the rapid aging of society, supporting families raising children and the so-called NEETs--young people not in employment, education or training.This year's government list of the nation's oldest citizens names people aged 109 and older. However, 17 people in that age bracket refused to allow their names to be included on the list, citing privacy concerns.We find it a pity that these 17 people chose to remain anonymous, although they may have had their own reasons for their stance. However, it would be a shame if there comes a time when no one knows who is our oldest citizen. We hope this country becomes a society in which a long life is a matter of celebration for everyone.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	744	2006-09-18	YOSHIN0020060918e29i00082
YOMSHI0020060919e29j00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060919e29j00001	EN	\N	Nihonbashi revival plan bridge to brighter future	On Friday, a committee of experts studying ways to revitalize the Nihonbashi area, a symbolic icon of the nation's capital, submitted a final report on the project. The committee started discussions on the matter under the instruction of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in late 2005. Friday's submission of the report means the council formed a final conclusion on the project just days before the prime minister steps down.	4	2006-09-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report proposes a two-kilometer section of the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway be transferred underground. This would be accompanied by a plan to remove some buildings that dot the banks of the river over which the bridge stands, while also building terraced water parks on the banks.The metropolitan expressway, a steel and concrete structure that hangs over the Nihonbashi bridge, is a terrible eyesore for local residents and visitors. The committee's bold conclusion reflects its belief that restoring the Nihonbashi area's cityscape to its original state serves as a basic guideline for urban renewal plans to be put together in the future.A conceptual drawing of a yet-to-be-restored Nihonbashi cityscape showed a refreshing scene of the river adorned with pleasure boats and people enjoying a stroll along promenades built along both banks of the river. The Nihonbashi area would be transformed into a picturesque stretch blessed with a sense of spaciousness. All this suggests the area would become a new place of interest in Tokyo.High hurdles remainA potential fly in the ointment is that the whole project would cost a hefty \\400 billion to \\500 billion. Subway lines and sewage pipes under the area also would present a hurdle to the Nihonbashi renewal project if the expressway section were to be transferred underground.The plan would require dozens of buildings in the area to be relocated. These buildings include some structures of historical significance. Talks with owners of these buildings over their relocation are expected to be far from easy.Given this, the project will certainly prove to be a daunting challenge.Effective measures can be taken to settle the exorbitant bills the project would entail. An exception made to regulations on the floor-area ratio can be taken advantage of in trying to overcome the difficulties. The special rule provides preferential treatment to landowners whose buildings must be relocated under urban renewal plans like the project in question. If their buildings fall short of their floor-area ratios in their initial locations, such landowners are entitled to use residual floor-area ratios in their new locations.Cap the public's burdenLand prices are high in the Nihonbashi area. Selling rights to residual floor-area ratios for buildings in the area would rake in sizable profits, meaning the cost of compensating landowners who would have to relocate their buildings could be curtailed. According to an estimate, costs to be covered by public expenditures for the project could be pruned to \\100 billion to \\200 billion through such schemes.The expressway that stands over Nihonbashi bridge was constructed in a manner that ensured it would be completed in time for the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. More than 40 years have passed since the highway was completed. It will be necessary to consider sprucing up or drastically repairing the expressway in the not-too-distant future. We feel it may be pardonable to use some taxpayers' money to carry out the project if the plan is regarded as part of reforming the whole expressway.Economic efficiency was regarded as the top priority when the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway was built, aiming high level of economic growth. In the 21st century, however, preservation of the cityscape is taking greater precedence.Large-scale public works projects have ruined the landscape in many parts of the nation. We hope the latest report will encourage people to attach greater importance to the cityscape.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	724	2006-09-19	YOSHIN0020060919e29j000c6
YOMSHI0020060920e29k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060920e29k00001	EN	\N	More options needed to pressure N. Korea	The government imposed financial sanctions against North Korea on Tuesday. The sanctions effectively ban 15 North Korean-related organizations and trading firms as well as one individual from remitting funds overseas. The sanctions also prevent them from withdrawing funds from financial institutions in Japan.	4	2006-09-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The measure was decided in line with a U.N. Security Council resolution unanimously adopted on July 15, condemning North Korea's test-firing of missiles on July 5.The U.N. resolution urged North Korea to return to the six-party talks immediately and unconditionally, and to refrain from further missile launches. The resolution also called for U.N. member countries to prevent financial resources for North Korea's missile and weapons of mass destruction programs from being transferred into the country.Time to act in unisonAlthough more than two months have passed since the adoption of the resolution, North Korea has been ignoring it. Imposing sanctions was the right course of action for the government to take to show Tokyo intends to live up to the spirit of the resolution because Japan played an active role in bringing the resolution to be adopted.On Tuesday, Australia also announced it had imposed similar financial sanctions against North Korea.The Japanese and Australian governments consulted each other prior to their announcements, and they were timed to coincide just before the start of annual addresses by leaders of member countries at the U.N. General Assembly.International cooperation is necessary to maximize the effects of the sanctions. The simultaneous announcements by the Japanese and Australian governments clearly showed the necessity of such coordinated action to the international community.China and South Korea, which have far greater trade with North Korea than Japan or Australia, should impose similar sanctions to see the largest possible effect of the measures.China has cooperated with the United States in its investigation into a Macau bank suspected of having helped North Korea launder money. It has also frozen North Korean accounts at a Macau branch of the Bank of China.China and the United States have agreed to cooperate with each other to investigate money laundering and counterfeiting linked to North Korea.However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it was opposed to Japan's imposition of sanctions against North Korea, a comment that runs counter to its support of the July 15 U.N. Security Council resolution.S. Korea must get onboardSouth Korea is obviously reluctant to increase pressure on North Korea. During his talks with U.S. President George W. Bush earlier this month, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said it would not be appropriate to impose further sanctions.Working-level talks among Japan, South Korea and the United States are scheduled to be held soon. Hopefully, such talks will lead to South Korea being persuaded to join international efforts to put pressure on North Korea."Now that it has become clear that dialogues alone cannot change attitudes of North Korea, there is no way but to put more pressure on North Korea," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.The Liberal Democratic Party plans to submit a bill to establish a special law on financial sanctions during the extraordinary Diet session to be convened Tuesday. The bill aims at placing restrictions on transactions with overseas bank accounts that are suspected of being involved in money laundering.It is better to have more options to put pressure on North Korea. The bill should pass the Diet during the next extraordinary session.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2006-09-20	YOSHIN0020060921e29k0003y
YOMSHI0020060921e29l00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060921e29l00001	EN	\N	New LDP president will need strong team	Abe is expected to be elected prime minister at an extraordinary Diet session to be convened Tuesday. He will become the first prime minister born after the end of World War II.	4	2006-09-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abe garnered 464 votes, far exceeding the 136 votes gleaned by Foreign Minister Taro Aso and the 102 votes cast for Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki.Abe's share of the ballots was 66 percent, compared to the 62 percent awarded to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi when he was elected party head for the first time in 2001.This indicates Abe has a firm foundation from which to run the country.However, both Aso and Tanigaki surpassed the 100-vote mark, and they fought a better election than expected. It appears that some members of the party decided to put the brakes on a runaway Abe victory.LDP's new poster boyThe strongest factor behind Abe's victory was his public popularity, as shown by opinion surveys. The huge public support for Abe undoubtedly gained him supporters within the party, with expectations for him being an ideal face to represent the party in the House of Councillors election in summer and other scheduled elections.In other words, it was his public popularity rather than his vision and policies that was behind the strong support for Abe.The flip side to this is that if his administration runs into trouble and his public support declines, his ability to lead the government and the LDP would be weakened, destabilizing his administration.Abe made ambiguous statements about policy issues during his presidential election campaign.His basic stance on fiscal rehabilitation is that it should be realized through a natural increase of tax revenues by placing priority on economic growth.However, he failed to present practical strategies for this growth. Instead, Abe made remarks such as "Enhancing productivity through innovations," or "Taking Asian growth for Japanese growth."Abe has served in only a handful of key posts, including party secretary general and chief cabinet secretary. He has never directly managed the nation's economic policies, and we are deeply concerned about this.Economic experience lackingIn this regard, Abe, as the next prime minister, will have to appoint talented people as economic ministers as well as form a good team of economic brains to assist him in addressing economic policies.Abe also failed to present clear-cut views on the issue of Yasukuni Shrine and the assessment of the nation's history. His strategy seems to have been to avoid raising the issue during the campaign, instead preferring to hide behind ambiguities.However, when he becomes prime minister, Abe will not be allowed to take such an ambiguous attitude.In addition, Abe failed to earnestly discuss the issue of increasing the consumption tax. For his part, Tanigaki mentioned raising the tax to 10 percent, taking the view that a tax increase is inevitable for the sake of fiscal rehabilitation.If Tanigaki had floated the possibility of imposing a lower rate of consumption tax on food and other daily necessities than on other goods, debates on consumption tax increase during the campaign could have been intensified.Abe ought now to clearly present his views on how to deal with a number of policy issues.His ability will be first tested in forming a new cabinet and picking the LDP executive lineup."I want to make a balanced team that includes young, middle-aged and old people," Abe said at a news conference after winning the presidency, referring to the formation of his cabinet and LDP leadership.Abe needs a strong team that will put business first because he will inherit a number of important issues left unfinished by the Koizumi administration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2006-09-21	YOSHIN0020060921e29l000mr
YOMSHI0020060922e29m00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060922e29m00001	EN	\N	Ruling on flag, anthem will have baleful effect	The ruling means that teachers are not obliged to obey the notice and orders, and that they cannot be punished for not complying.	4	2006-09-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Incumbent and former teachers of high schools and schools for disabled children run by the metropolitan government had filed a lawsuit with the court against the government, claiming that forcing them to show respect for the national flag and anthem infringes on their freedom of thought and conscience.The teaching guidelines set by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry say schools should instruct students to sing the national anthem in front of the national flag at entrance ceremonies and other school events. The court ruled that it cannot be said that the guidelines obliged teachers to do so as well.The incumbent and former teachers who filed the lawsuit stuck to their principles and opinions by not standing in front of the national flag and singing the national anthem. But their activities appear to fly in the face of the instruction stipulated in the guidelines.Court's decision naiveThe ruling said it is meaningful to hoist the national flag and sing the national anthem at ceremonies, and that it is important to have students recognize the importance of the flag and anthem and cultivate an attitude of respect toward them. But will students develop such an attitude if they attend school ceremonies at which teachers refuse to stand in front of the Hinomaru and sing "Kimigayo"?We fear the ruling shows an inaccurate understanding of these teachers' activities. The ruling said their activities are not designed to disturb the ceremonies, and that there is no danger that students will be emboldened to refuse to sing the national anthem in front of the national flag, nor any danger that their education will be impaired.We question the the way of thinking apparent in the ruling, which said the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" cannot be recognized as being neutral in religious or political terms.Is that right? Various opinion surveys show that the flag and anthem have taken root in Japanese society and are supported by most of the public.The national flag is hoisted and the national anthem is sung in spring and summer national high school baseball tournaments at Koshien Stadium. Japanese national team players faced the national flag and sang the national anthem before their matches in the soccer World Cup finals in Germany.Plaintiffs' rights overvaluedIt is common practice across the world to show respect for national flags and anthems at ceremonies, regardless of whether they are those of one's own country or of another.In its conclusion, the ruling said entrance and graduation ceremonies are precious opportunities for students to feel a sense of occasion and of new beginnings, and to deepen their sense of belonging to a group.In spite of that, the court likely came to its conclusion as it overestimated the importance of freedom of thought and conscience for the minority of teachers who filed the lawsuit.The ruling emphasized the severity of the notice issued by the metropolitan government's education board and orders from principals while underestimating the influence on students of the actions of the teachers who filed the lawsuit.It is a strange ruling that could influence the management of entrance and graduation ceremonies from now on.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 22, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2006-09-22	YOSHIN0020060922e29m000fe
YOMSHI0020060923e29n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060923e29n00001	EN	\N	We share Abe's feeling on incompetent teachers	An Education, Science and Technology Ministry official interpreted the latest figure to mean that the system has taken root and is working effectively.	4	2006-09-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Teachers identified as incompetent receive training for a specified period at education board training centers and other facilities. Last academic year, one-third of the 506 teachers deemed to lack the requisite professional skills returned to their schools after retraining, and one-third resigned voluntarily or were asked to resign before and during the retraining sessions. The remaining one-third are still undergoing retraining.The system of assessing teachers is aimed at identifying incompetent teachers and returning them to their former positions through instruction and retraining, or removing them from their workplaces if there is no sign of improvement in their teaching ability. The ministry official likely wanted to claim that the system is producing practical results after being introduced by prefectural governments and ordinance-designated major cities.Statistics misleadingOf the 506 teachers deemed incompetent, those newly recognized as lacking in teaching ability amounted to 246, down 36 from the previous academic year.The ministry is optimistic about the results of its program, saying that the number of incompetent teachers is decreasing. But we question this view as the statistics do not seem to support it.Each education board asks a panel of academic experts to assess teachers on the basis of reports made by school principals. The criteria for defining teachers as incompetent and the periods for retraining such teachers differ among the education boards. Fukuoka Prefecture had the highest number of teachers who were newly recognized as lacking in teaching ability in academic 2005, with 29--15 branded so by the prefectural education board and 14 by two ordinance-designated cities in the prefecture. A senior official of the Fukuoka Prefectural Education Board said, "It's our understanding that the system is designed to help [incompetent] teachers return to the classroom."The number was the largest among the prefectures because the prefectural government identifies such teachers at an early stage, before the problems in their teaching ability become serious, and helps them return to their workplaces quickly.On the other hand, no teachers were newly recognized as incompetent in five prefectures and two major cities. There apparently are some education boards whose systems for identifying incompetent teachers are not working effectively, perhaps because it is not long since those systems were introduced. But experts claim that some education boards are reluctant to identify teachers as incompetent because they are scared of confronting teachers unions and other organizations.License plan needs rethinkIt is good to offer teachers who lack adequate skills the chance to return to their workplaces. But out of consideration for children, we hope that education boards will get rid of highly incompetent teachers. It is possible to dismiss teachers for a lack of teaching ability, but in reality, only about 10 teachers lose their jobs for this reason every year."Incompetent teachers should resign," said Shinzo Abe, the newly elected Liberal Democratic Party president, who advocates the introduction of a fixed-term, renewable teacher's license as a way of weeding out teachers who cannot teach their subject. It seems he is very worried about the quality of teachers, who shoulder the responsibility for public education.The ministry is mapping out a system for a fixed-term teacher's license, but the system likely would not be designed with the express aim of removing incompetent teachers. What does Abe think of a system that lacks such a clear purpose? The ministry should take its plan for a fixed-term teacher's license back to the drawing board.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2006-09-23	YOSHIN0020060923e29n000dq
YOMSHI0020060924e29o00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060924e29o00001	EN	\N	Last M-5 rocket launch leaves successor up in air	The M-5 rocket will now be retired from service. With its last successful launch, the M-5 leaves a record of six successes and one failure since the M-5 No. 1 launch in February 1997. For a new rocket, this record is quite acceptable.	4	2006-09-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Looking back, Japan's solid-fuel rockets date back to 1955's pencil rocket. Continuing the tradition, the M-5 is among the world's largest rockets of its kind, with one of the best performance levels in the world.There are many who lament the retirement of the M-5 rocket. However, the decision is inevitable if we consider the problems associated with the rocket.Costly launchIts main disadvantage is that it is too expensive. One launch costs about \\8 billion. If a U.S. liquid-fuel rocket were used as a launch vehicle for the same satellite, the cost would be halved. The per-payload cost is five times that of Japan's mainstay rocket, the H-2A, which also uses liquid fuel.In terms of performance, it has been pointed out that the M-5 rocket has trouble with significant vibrations. There have been worries over possible adverse effects on precision devices mounted on satellites and probes carried by the rocket.The M-5 was first developed by the former Education Ministry's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), which focused on space exploration. Japan only had small solid-fuel rockets until 1990, when development of the M-5 started, and the government was unable to handle major programs, such as planetary exploration.Around the same time, the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of the former Science and Technology Agency, which focused on satellites for practical use, had been developing the H-2, the predecessor of the current H-2A rocket.The hierarchical administrative system prevented ISAS from studying the use of the H-2 rocket.No comprehensive policyThe situation changed, however, when the two organizations merged into JAXA. After opting to use the H-2A for planetary exploration, the government this summer decided to retire the M-5.Yet, the government does not have a comprehensive policy for rocket development after the M-5.It has a program to develop a rocket smaller than the M-5, but has not decided yet on its specific performance duties, launching method or even what kind of satellite it will launch.ISAS and NASDA jointly developed the solid-fuel J-1 rocket 10 years ago, but the project was aborted due to its high costs.As a project separate from JAXA, the liquid-fuel GX rocket for medium-sized satellites has been under joint development by the government and the private sector. But the rocket's capabilities overlap that of the M-5's replacement. What should the government do to balance the use of these two types of rockets?In addition, the GX rocket's development has been mired in technological problems.With the retirement of the M-5, the H-2A will be Japan's only rocket for a while. There is even a risk that the country's space development will stop entirely if the H-2A develops serious problems.Solid-fuel technology, which has been cultured by past development projects up to the M-5, likely will be lost if no follow-up research is carried out. The government has no time for hesitation in deciding which way to go.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2006-09-24	YOSHIN0020060924e29o0009b
YOMSHI0020060925e29p00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060925e29p00001	EN	\N	China's media controls out of step with times	Since the beginning of September, the Hu administration has introduced a string of measures to restrict the news domestic and international media can report. Rules announced on Sept. 10 require foreign news agencies to seek approval from and pass censorship by the Chinese government's Xinhua News Agency to distribute news, graphics and pictures in China.	4	2006-09-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For the past decade, Beijing has imposed a similar requirement on economic information. However, these new rules broaden the scope of restrictions to general news and prohibit the dissemination of news that the government deems violates national unity and sovereignty, endangers national security and interest, and fans ethnic hatred.The Chinese government announced on Sept. 13 the national program on cultural development, which has been branded by critics as virtual control over speech and culture. The program comprised 48 items in 10 chapters covering a wide range of issues, including communist party theory, public morals, news services and the cultural industry. The program requires news media to give full coverage of the views of the Chinese Communist Party and accentuate its positive aspects.Boosting Internet controlsThe program also puts a clamp on free competition in the press by requiring newspapers and magazines to improve the quality of their content and balance their circulation by internal adjustment or colluding among themselves. Promotion and development of party newspapers, including the People's Daily, are now also obligatory.Tighter controls have been imposed on Internet use and access in China since early September. Sites containing illegal and harmful content, such as pornography, have been shut down, and sites run by dissidents have come under suffocating scrutiny. These controls will continue until the end of next month.In its early days, the Hu administration appeared willing to promote media reform and curbed excessive dissemination of political propaganda. However, the administration has since changed tack and its new policy further tightens the squeeze on news organizations and limits information available to Internet users.The reason behind this U-turn was the emergence of new media organizations that represent the views of socially disadvantaged people, amid growing public frustration with and criticism of income disparity, and the highhandedness and corruption of authorities. That policy has been reinforced by the latest rules.Distrust inflamedOnly one year remains until the next National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, where leaders of the Hu administration will aim to tighten their grip on the party. In preparation for this, a key plenary meeting of the party's Central Committee is scheduled to be held next month. It is de rigueur for the communist government to try to calm stormy political seas by clamping down on free speech and thought.Restrictions on foreign news agencies have inflamed distrust and suspicion of the Chinese government among the international community. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who was visiting Europe when the new rules were announced, faced a barrage of criticism by leaders and media of the countries he visited and was told that China should protect freedom of speech.International interest in and criticism of Beijing's gag on the media will inevitably heighten as the 2008 Beijing Olympics approaches. However, the outpouring of criticism both at home and abroad of the media restrictions have rolled off the Hu administration like water off a duck's back.Beijing's measures are remnants from a past era. It is questionable how effective they will be in today's information age.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2006-09-25	YOSHIN0020060925e29p000cx
YOMSHI0020060926e29q00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060926e29q00001	EN	\N	Abe's LDP pick made with eye on election	Abe, who is set to be elected prime minister at the Diet on Tuesday, had to build a strong team so the party can deal with two important tasks lying in wait for his administration--to realize policies under his government and for the LDP to win the House of Councillors election next summer.	4	2006-09-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In deciding the new LDP leadership, Abe must have given consideration to LDP members who played leading roles in enabling him to reach the LDP's top post.Abe on Monday appointed Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa to the post of party secretary general, the most important party post after the presidency. Nakagawa, who belongs to a party faction led by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, is a trusted confidant of Abe, who belonged to the faction until he was elected LDP president.Abe appointed Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa to be the party's Policy Research Council chairman. The faction led by former Labor Minister Bunmei Ibuki, to which the new policy chief belongs, was quick to express support for Abe early on in his bid for the LDP presidency.Former Health and Welfare Minister Yuya Niwa was given the post of General Council chairman. Niwa played a crucial role in building support in his faction, which is jointly led by former LDP Secretary General Makoto Koga and Niwa himself, for Abe, despite initial anti-Abe moves by some members.Under such circumstances, the appointments of Shoichi Nakagawa and Niwa seem to be rewards dished out to those who helped Abe reach the presidency.Mentor picked for No. 2 postHidenao Nakagawa worked tirelessly as a mentor to Abe during the race for the party presidency. As the party's Policy Research Council chairman, Nakagawa was at the forefront of compiling this year's basic policies on economic and fiscal management and structural reforms that will be used as building blocks by the Abe administration.Nakagawa also has close personal ties with party heavyweights, including Mikio Aoki, chairman of the LDP's upper house lawmakers' caucus.The Abe administration will have to deal with a raft of vexing issues. It must ensure economic growth remains stable and address rehabilitation of state finances. It also must not shy away from reform of the social security system and education.The new LDP secretary general will be tasked with bringing the party to actively address those issues and to support the new administration.The Democratic Party of Japan, under President Ichiro Ozawa, is expected to take a confrontational approach toward the Abe administration in Diet debates and other occasions.However, if the Abe administration successfully carries out policies under such circumstances, public support for Abe as prime minister will snowball and he will gain popularity as the "party's face" for elections, including the upper house election. Abe apparently calculated his pick as new party secretary general will help bring about such a scenario.Much work to be doneAs Aoki put it, if the ruling coalition parties lose their majority in the upper house in next summer's election, the Abe administration will become a lame duck.At his first press conference as LDP's secretary general Monday, Nakagawa said he would swiftly coordinate opinions among LDP upper house lawmakers. Nakagawa has his work cut out as relations between Abe and the LDP upper house members were decidedly chilly after Abe remarked he might review the party candidates who would stand in the upper house poll.Nakagawa also was quick to point out he would spare no effort to prepare the party for the election. Given the importance of the upper house poll, this comment was par for the course.Nakagawa's appointment as secretary general seems to have been made out in consideration of these points.Abe also has put out feelers that he wants to mend relations between the cabinet and the LDP, which were strained from time to time under outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Former LDP Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe described himself as a "great yes man" to Koizumi. But the relationship between Abe and Nakagawa will be different; the new secretary general will more likely be offering advice to Abe.Abe met Monday with New Komeito leaders and agreed to maintain the coalition government.The new cabinet lineup is more important than the party leadership when it comes to addressing policy issues. Abe must formulate a strong cabinet lineup capable of dealing with domestic and diplomatic issues.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	786	2006-09-26	YOSHIN0020060926e29q000i7
YOMSHI0020060926e29r0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060926e29r0000e	EN	\N	Abe rewards factions in Cabinet lineup	The creation of a Cabinet led by such a young prime minister, who at 52 is the youngest postwar premier, reflects the changing times that are presenting urgent challenges for politicians to solve.	4	2006-09-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	How will the new Cabinet put the economy, which has only recently emerged from a prolonged period of deflation, onto a stable growth track given the declining population? How will it attempt to rehabilitate state finances, which are in a critical condition, as the central and local government face outstanding long-term debts of 770 trillion yen?How will the new administration create a sustainable social security system, including the pension system? How will it reform the education system to foster human resources for the future of Japan?Portfolios for services renderedThe new Cabinet has to deal with a wide range of issues to build Japan into a vigorous nation, and the nation's political leaders have to address these issues at this point in time.As prime minister, Abe has to lead the efforts to tackle these issues. However, he lacks enough political experience to do so. His only cabinet credential is having served as a chief cabinet secretary.Knowing this, Abe repeatedly emphasized he was going to build "a balanced cabinet with the young, middle-aged and old, which could deal with issues with all its might."However, looking at the lineup of the new Cabinet, it shows that what Abe actually did was to award many of the portfolios to to those who help him win the Liberal Democratic Party presidency.Four Cabinet posts went to an LDP faction led by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, and of which Abe himself was a member until elected party president last week.Two members of the faction led by former Labor Minister Bunmei Ibuki were given Cabinet posts in return for the faction having thrown its support behind Abe at an early stage, giving an initial impetuous to his campaign, which as a result grew in momentum. Although only the fifth-largest grouping within the LDP, Abe also appointed an Ibuki faction member as chairman of the LDP's Policy Research Council.The faction jointly led by former Health and Welfare Minister Yuya Niwa and former LDP Secretary General Makoto Koga received four Cabinet posts, although the faction is only the third-largest one in the LDP. The faction also supported Abe's bid.Although some Cabinet positions went to members of factions that did not order members to vote for Abe, all the appointees had been actively involved in bringing Abe to power.Also some lawmakers with vested interest won posts they have influence, including the agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister. Such appointments may hamper further promotion of structural reforms which Abe has pledged.Is new Cabinet up to the task?As a whole, the Cabinet appointments were the result of post-hunting by LDP lawmakers. Is it the best team that Abe could have formed? We worry whether the new Cabinet is capable of achieving the policies Abe wants to realize.The new prime minister says he places priority on economic growth, saying, "Without growth, there will be no future for Japan." It is natural for him to think that a nation's economic power is the base for an increase in living standards and to earn recognition in the international community.From this viewpoint, ministers responsible for the economy will have key roles to play in the new Cabinet. As his finance minister, Abe appointed Koji Omi, a former state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories and state minister for science and technology, while former Labor Minister Akira Amari became economy, trade and industry minister.Abe also appointed Prof. Hiroko Ota of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies as state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy.The choice of lineup for his top three economic ministers does not clearly indicate what strategies for economic growth and economic and financial policies Abe wants to pursue. We are concerned about their ability to take and maintain political leadership over their ministry bureaucrats. With the Cabinet as it is, we question whether the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, a body that should play an important role in the government's decision-making process, will function as required.In spite of this, the government has to tackle policy issues. This is presumably why Abe appointed Yasuhisa Shiozaki, who is of the same generation as himself and a familiar acquaintance, as chief cabinet secretary. And it is to the same end that Abe has increased the number of advisers to the prime minister.Although Abe says his strategies for economic growth are the promotion of research and development and other innovations as well as the absorption of economic growth in other Asian countries, what this means in reality is not clear. We hope that Abe will specify what his polices are and implement them swiftly, and that the results will yield steady fruit.Abe also says that financial rehabilitation cannot be realized without economic growth. To be sure, if tax revenues increase along with the economic growth, this would contribute to financial rehabilitation. But even if the primary balance goes into the black as planned in the government's policy for economic and financial management, a huge amount of financial deficit would still remain.The problem of how to secure revenue sources to pay for the social security system should be seriously considered.Abe considers that tax reforms, including a rise in the consumption tax, should be discussed in the autumn next year or later. But to alleviate public concern, the prime minister should show at an earlier stage his vision of reform, such as his stance for tax finances and the social security system.Repairing damaged bridgesOne of the most important tasks for the new Cabinet it is to reestablish diplomatic relations with China. The reappointment of Taro Aso, who has similar diplomatic views as Abe, as foreign minister shows Abe wants the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry to work with each other with regard to diplomacy with China and to address the nuclear and missile issues posed by North Korea.The basis of Japan's diplomacy is the Japan-U.S. alliance. Using the alliance, the new administration has to approach economic and military power China so that the Asian neighbor will contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region.Abe has shown a willingness to meet with the Chinese leader, and a Japan-China summit meeting may be realized on the sideline of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Hanoi in November. However there is no sign the two leaders are planning to visit each other's countries.What soured diplomatic ties with China was Koizumi's repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine, and Abe has been vague about whether he will visit the shrine.Abe has said he will seek to enhance relations with Australia and India which share similar values with Japan--such as liberty and democracy.Implementing a broad strategic Asian diplomacy is a key task for the Abe government.The new prime minister has said he wants to led the country away from what he terms a "postwar regime," saying he will put amending the Constitution on the agenda for his Cabinet. He has even set a target of revising the top law revised in five years.Abe wants a new constitution that will point the future direction for Japan and which will guide us in dealing with the changing times. Work to establish a new constitution should be accelerated under the leadership of the new prime minister.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1319	2006-09-27	YOSHIN0020060927e29r000g6
YOMSHI0020060927e29s0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060927e29s0000h	EN	\N	Gov. Sato lent clout to Fukushima bid-rigging	The governor may have concluded he could not avoid taking moral and political responsibility for a bid-rigging scandal that involved his younger brother, Yuji.	4	2006-09-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Sato took responsibility for the arrest of his brother Monday by the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of bid-rigging by prearranging the bids contractors placed for public works projects ordered by the prefecture.Yuji had also served as a representative of a political organization for the governor.By taking advantage of the governor's authority, Yuji allegedly wielded strong influence over the construction industry in the prefecture. It is said that his clout was such that a construction company could not expect to work on a public works project in the prefecture without his endorsement.Cut from the same clothA middle-ranking general contractor, which had nothing to do with the men's wear business, conducted a questionable land deal with the men's clothing maker and sales company run by the governor's brother. Other construction firms also reportedly made sizable purchases of men's suits from the company. Gov. Sato himself is a major shareholder in the company.In addition to Yuji, a former head of the prefectural government's civil engineering division was arrested.No matter how much the prefectural government denies it, there was an elaborately contrived framework for bid-rigging set up at the initiative of government officials.This bid-rigging mechanism went unchallenged for many years. Did any senior government officials or members of the prefectural assembly voice their doubts over public works contracts?In 1976, the then governor of the prefecture was arrested on charges of receiving bribes. The prefecture learned no lessons from that experience.We hope the prosecutors office makes a thorough investigation into the case and determines whether the governor himself was involved in the scandal.Fukushima Prefecture has applied to its public works projects the catchphrase "producing locally and consuming locally," a phrase used in a drive to get prefectural residents to consume locally produced farm products, by prioritizing with local construction firms when placing orders.The prefecture reportedly selected bid-winners at "study meetings," gatherings of local construction firms. Some sources say that the bids for most of the public works projects in the prefecture were rigged."Promoting a local economy" sounds nice. In reality, however, the catchphrase was another term for a self-serving public administration that operated at the expense of public works projects.History repeating itselfA contributing factor to the scandal was the fact that the prefectural government become moribund under the extremely long reign of Sato, who served five terms--or 18 years.The governor who succeeds Sato will have to thoroughly review the public administration and policies implemented by Sato.The latest case is not peculiar to Fukushima Prefecture alone.Three years ago, a similar scandal came to light in Saitama Prefecture, when a relative of the governor took advantage of the governor's authority to boost her say in the prefectural administration and amass questionable funds. She was arrested by the special investigation squad, and the governor was forced to resign, too.With the enforcement of a revised Antimonopoly Law in January, which includes heavier fines, construction firms en mass have taken steps to eliminate bid-rigging. It is also necessary to have the old mold wiped away from local politics.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2006-09-28	YOSHIN0020060928e29s000fx
YOMSHI0020060929e29t00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060929e29t00001	EN	\N	National Sports Festival puts best foot forward	The event will mark a step forward in creating a new-style national athletic meet that fits the changing times.	4	2006-09-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The 61st meet this year will combine events that previously were held separately in summer and autumn.By moving up by two years the plan to cut by 15 percent the number of athletes and officials taking part in the event, which has swollen to as many as 30,000, this year's meet will see a reduction of about 500 participants in six events.The Hyogo prefectural government, which will host the event, will utilize existing facilities and build no new ones solely for the annual event.For the target shooting competition, Hyogo will borrow facilities used last year, when the athletic meet was held in neighboring Okayama Prefecture.With the exception of yachting events, which have been held in other prefectures in years when the meet has been hosted by inland prefectures, it will be the first time for an event to be held outside the host prefecture.Hyogo split the cost of sporting equipment such as that for rowing events, which is unlikely to be used much after the national athletic meet is over, with Okayama and Akita, the prefecture that will host the annual event next year.Hyogo estimates the cost for holding the meet at 17.9 billion yen, down 30 percent from the previous year and less than one-fifth the average cost of staging it between 2002 and 2004, marking a drastic reduction of expenditures on the event.'Accessibility' pushedThis year's event is designed to be more "accessible" for the public. In a break from normal practice, no admission fee will be charged for the opening ceremony or the high school baseball tournament.Thirty-nine events will be broadcast live over the Internet, with the footage archived until March next year.This has been made possible thanks to the coordination with the Japanese Olympic Committee, which owns the portrait rights for some athletes, and NHK, the public broadcaster that will air events in the meet. This is an initiative that we hope will be continued in the future.The reform of the athletic meet, for the time being at least, is primarily targeted at streamlining it, in response to the fiscal straits of local governments. Yet a lack of cash is not the only problem the sports meet faces.Overshadowed by the growing popularity of such international sports events as the Olympics and the soccer World Cup, the national athletic meet has seen a decline in the number of top-notch athletes taking part in it. As public interest in it has dwindled, some say it should be scrapped.Meantime, the victory-at-all-costs mentality among participating prefectures remains unchanged.In the Okayama meet, the tennis association of Fukui Prefecture falsified the records of preliminary matches so two players could represent the prefecture in the national meet, even though they did not take part in the preliminary matches and thus were not qualified to perform in the national meet. When the falsification came to light, their records in the national meet were deleted.Objectives subject to reviewIn a bid to give the national athletic meet a makeover, the Japan Sports Association will compile a new reform plan by the end of this year. The association says it will review the objectives of the national meet, which originally was launched as part of Japan's postwar reconstruction.For instance, should the annual event continue to be called the National Sports Festival? Might it be possible to introduce a candidacy system in deciding the hosting prefecture, which has so far been decided in rotation? Or would it be possible to change the time of year the event is held so leading athletes could compete in it?The association is also studying the possibility of expanding the number of events for women and juveniles, without changing the overall size of the event. Also under review is the idea of holding core events every year and holding events deemed optional once every few years.We hope the association will come up with a new vision for the national athletic meet full of attraction, by inviting opinions not only from the world of sports, but also from other circles.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	758	2006-09-29	YOSHIN0020060929e29t000gg
YOMSHI0020060930e29u00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020060930e29u00001	EN	\N	Abe should explain how he'll realize his vision	On Friday, Abe delivered his inaugural key policy speech before both houses of the Diet, emphasizing his efforts to transform Japan into "a beautiful nation." The policy address suggests Abe will use "building a beautiful country" as a pet slogan during his term in office, much in the way that his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, championed "structural reforms without sacred cows."	4	2006-09-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prime minister pledged to seek economic growth through technological innovation, saying, "To ensure [Japan] continues to thrive as a beautiful nation in the 21st century, it's vital that [the country] sustains stable economic growth."The advent of a society whose population is declining means a continued drop in this country's working population. Admittedly, technological innovation, with the aim of offsetting the decline in the workforce, is extremely important to improve the nation's productivity. Nonetheless, all the government can do is to encourage private corporations and researchers to work hard in pursuit of this target.Tax, fiscal measures keyThe question is what kind of measures--tax, fiscal or otherwise--the Abe administration should implement.To further promote administrative and fiscal reform, the prime minister said he would strive to trim all fat from the government. This seems to reflect his belief that the government must be capable of tackling its tasks swiftly and resolutely--not just that administrative operations must be streamlined.Abe's belief in this respect can be seen in his promise to shore up the role of top officials at the Prime Minister's Office as a control tower for government ministries and agencies. Measures to be taken to achieve this goal include a plan to establish a council comparable to the U.S. National Security Council. However, there are many problems to be solved in accomplishing this target, including what kind of power and roles should be assigned to the Japanese version of the NSC. Another issue concerns how to segregate the duties to be fulfilled by the council from those assumed by the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Agency.The prime minister expressed a readiness to rejuvenate the education system and establish a new constitution to break away from the "post-World War II regime." He also pledged to address problems relating to the right of collective self-defense, saying, "I'll fully study the issue by examining specific examples."Educational issues must be tackled from a long-term perspective. Meanwhile, fiscal reconstruction is a task that cannot be delayed.Study consumption tax hikeOn whether to hike the consumption tax, the prime minister said he would not shirk his responsibility to address the issue in a bid to avoid controversy. However, Finance Minister Koji Omi said he would not start discussions on the matter any earlier than next autumn. If Omi's remark means he does not want the issue to adversely affect the ruling coalition in its campaign for next summer's House of Councillors election, we feel he is trying to avoid the controversy that raising the tax would generate.In his policy speech, Abe also addressed Japan's strained relations with China and South Korea. He said it would be important to ensure "each can discuss issues with the other in a future-oriented and frank manner." Progress reportedly is being made in unofficial negotiations aimed at resuming summit meetings with China and South Korea. How these talks will evolve is an issue that merits close attention.Abe's inaugural policy address focused on fundamental issues, including what kind of society his administration wanted to transform this nation into, and outlined his key policies. The new prime minister should fully explain what he will do to grapple with the various challenges facing his administration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2006-09-30	YOSHIN0020060930e29u000hk
YOMSHI0020061001e2a100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061001e2a100001	EN	\N	A child abuser's home must not be his castle	The National Police Agency recently issued a notice to prefectural police authorities informing them that they should not hesitate to go into the homes of parents suspected of abusing their children. The directive is part of a strategy of ensuring--first and foremost--the safety of potential victims. The NPA has also urged police authorities to rigorously investigate suspected abusers by invoking all and any Criminal Code provisions as required, including those related to violence and attempted murder.	4	2006-10-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To complement the NPA's move, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has urged children's consultation centers and concerned institutions in all prefectures to increase their cooperation with the police in dealing with child-abuse cases.We hope police stations and children's consultation centers will take to heart the significance of the notices issued by the NPA and the health ministry and strive to ensure the safety of potential child-abuse victims. It is also important that concerned organizations exchange information with each other to determine how to handle individual cases.Police need power to actChildren's consultation centers handled a record 34,451 child-abuse cases last year. The number of child-abuse cases in which arrests or other actions were taken by the police stood at 120 during the first half of this year. The figure marked a half-yearly record since 2000, when the NPA started compiling comparable data.Some parents have refused to open the door when staff from child consultation centers visit them, preventing their children from being seen. Some parents even resort to violence in such cases.The Execution of Police Duties Law authorizes police officers to enter the house of a suspect without a warrant if they believe someone's life is in danger. The NPA's issuance of the recent notice is intended to encourage concerned institutions to make full use of their powers to go into the homes of suspected child abusers.The issuance of the directive points to an increase in the number of serious child-abuse cases that cannot be solved unless the police come to the fore.Child abuse is a crime, and successful efforts by the police to rescue victims and arrest suspects would serve as a warning to potential child abusers.Children's rights come 1stThe Child Abuse Prevention Law was revised in October 2004. In reforming the law, however, lawmakers decided not to incorporate into the legislation a provision authorizing police officers to forcibly enter the homes of suspects who denied access to officers. This was because opposition parties and other entities opposed the provision, saying it would be a violation of a constitutional principle barring anyone from unauthorized entry into another's home. They also criticized the provision, saying it was an attempt to intervene in personal affairs under the initiative of the police.However, if police officers are not authorized to enter the home of parents suspected of child abuse, it is tantamount to turning a blind eye to crimes against victims. Some children's consultation centers argue that if the police were permitted to enter the homes of potential abusers, they would find it easier to place children under their protection in a timely manner. Taking all the above into account, it is necessary to correct the inadequacies in laws relating to the prevention of child abuse.In 2004, there were 49 child-abuse cases in which the victims died. In 37 of the cases, responsible organizations had not received reports about the abuse, thus were unable to take action to deal with it. In many cases, the organizations do not know anything about a child-abuse case until it surfaces somehow, while meantime the neighbors of the victims knew something unusual was happening.Residents of a community should call the police if they suspect a family is abusing a child. It is important that all members of a community keep an eye out for child abuse so that such heinous crimes can be eradicated.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 1, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	720	2006-10-01	YOSHIN0020061001e2a1000ay
YOMSHI0020061002e2a200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061002e2a200001	EN	\N	EPA with Manila will aid nursing shortfall	This EPA is the nation's fourth following agreements with Singapore, Mexico and Malaysia. However, the Philippine deal broke new ground by including for the first time "movement of people" in the agreement.	4	2006-10-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although Tokyo has decided to allow Filipinos to come and work here as nurses and caregivers, the agreement is not an entirely open invitation, as qualifications gained in the Philippines will not necessarily be recognized in Japan. Those with proper qualifications will be allowed to stay in Japan for three to four years as "candidates," and they will be required to obtain Japanese nursing and caregiving licenses during this period. If they fail to do so, such candidates will have to return to the Philippines.There is no reason to prevent Filipinos who sit and pass the same national examinations as Japanese to get nursing and caregiving qualifications from staying in Japan to work in those fields.More than 10,000 nurses from the Philippines have been sent each year to the United States and other countries under a government initiative. These nurses have earned sparkling reputations for their abilities and skills.Tackling the language barrierHowever, most of the countries that accepted these nurses have been English-speaking countries, where language barriers for them were minimal.Having clear communication between a nurse or caregiver and the patient is critical. There will be no problem in this regard if nurses and caregivers can prove their linguistic ability by passing national examinations that are conducted in Japanese.However, passing the tests will be no piece of cake.Filipinos that arrive in Japan as "candidates" to be nurses and caregivers will study Japanese for six months, and then start working as assistants at hospitals and nursing care facilities that have good records of accepting students as interns while they study to pass the exams.These hospitals and facilities will have to offer identical working conditions, including wages, to candidates from the Philippines as those given to similar Japanese assistants, and also provide an environment conducive to learning Japanese.Whether such candidates can successfully acquire the qualifications needed to work in Japan as nurses and caregivers depends to a great extent on the enthusiasm of such institutions.Benefits for both sidesThe unfettered exchange of goods and human resources under an EPA will bring vitality to both partners. Of particular interest to this nation is securing a stable supply of workers in an aging society with a declining birthrate.Many hospitals and other medical institutions in Japan are on the brink of a potentially crippling shortage of trained nurses and caregivers. Some estimates suggest the nation needs another 40,000 nurses.According to a survey by an organization concerned with elderly welfare, less than 40 percent of elderly care institutions said they have enough workers.The EPA with the Philippines will help address this looming shortfall in the nursing and caregiving fields. If the acceptance of nurses and caregivers can be implemented without any hitches, it will serve as a model case for accepting workers in other professions from overseas.Fostering nurses and caregivers from overseas as valuable human resources to help serve in the nation's medical and welfare fields in the future is an important task.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 2, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2006-10-02	YOSHIN0020061002e2a2000c5
YOMSHI0020061003e2a300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061003e2a300001	EN	\N	Diet discussions must be more constructive	Instead, the torch of opposition was carried by DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama in interpellations with Abe regarding the policy speech he delivered last week. In his role as pinch-hitter, Hatoyama succeeded, but only to a limited extent, in raising some interesting points of debate in the main opposition party's first face-to-face grilling of the new prime minister.	4	2006-10-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In discussing reforms of the social security system and the tax and fiscal system, an increase in the consumption tax rate is a core issue.In his policy speech Friday, Abe said, "I won't run away," in reference to increasing the tax.Seizing on this remark, Hatoyama charged that Abe intended to increase the tax after the House of Councillors election in July next year.Don't link tax with pollHatoyama's allegation may simply have been a tactic to give the public the impression that the Abe administration and the ruling parties of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito want to avoid discussing a consumption tax increase for the time being, while intending to rise the tax after the upper house election.However, this criticism by the DPJ with an election in sight will not deepen discussions.In response to Hatoyama's attack, Abe reiterated his fallback position, saying discussions on a reform of the tax system would be carried out next autumn or later, after thoroughly addressing spending cuts and administrative and fiscal reforms.Hatoyama should have pressed Abe on how he intends to achieve spending cuts and administrative and fiscal reforms, and how drastically he would tackle the tax reform.Ozawa said the consumption tax rate should remain at 5 percent, but that it should be converted into a welfare tax. The DPJ chief said revenues this tax should be used for social security.Would this change of assignment of tax revenue be able to cover ballooning social security costs? For more constructive debates, the DPJ has to present clearer views on what to do about the consumption tax.Opposition needs fresh materialRebuilding relations with China and South Korea is another important issue.Pointing out that there had been no summit talks between Japan and China, and Japan and South Korea for some time under the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Hatoyama pressed Abe, "How do you intend to address these diplomatic failures?"However, it is almost certain that Abe will soon meet with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts.Instead of the same old criticism, it would have been more constructive if Hatoyama had asked Abe how he intends to rebuild relations with China and South Korea.In regard to the realignment of U.S. military forces stationed in Japan--a major point in strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance--Hatoyama only said, "We are concerned about the future" with reference to the vast financial burden Japan will have to shoulder in connection with the realignment.Given such a lackluster performance, we cannot see how the main opposition party would deal with changes in the international security environment such as North Korea's nuclear and missile developments and China's military buildup.On Monday, DPJ lawmakers, including Hatoyama, took up a wide range of issues, including tax and fiscal issues, diplomacy, education reform, social inequality and decentralization of power.All those issues are important. However, Diet interpellation sessions tend to end up as one-way affairs.So, we expect government leaders and lawmakers to utilize other Diet occasions, such as debate between the prime minister and opposition party leaders, to hold detailed and constructive discussions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2006-10-03	YOSHIN0020061003e2a3000gz
YOMSHI0020061004e2a400002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061004e2a400002	EN	\N	Pyongyang's N-threat has entered new stage	North Korea has yet to say when and where it will conduct the test. But Foreign Minister Taro Aso expressed a strong sense of caution, saying North Korea's actions in the past suggested that it could be expected to make good on its threat fairly soon.	4	2006-10-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If it goes ahead with the test, North Korea would provide concrete proof of its declaration that it has nuclear capability, and the development of nuclear weapons would enter a new stage.This would pose an extremely serious threat to peace and security in the region. The international community can hardly overlook such a situation. As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, the international community would have no choice but to adopt a stricter stance toward North Korea than it did when Pyongyang test-launched missiles in July in spite of warnings from the international community.Some observers say it is possible that North Korea will conduct a nuclear test in the near future. It also was reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il himself expressed to Russian and Chinese diplomats in Pyongyang his desire to push ahead with an underground nuclear test.Sanctions have hit hardWhy is North Korea so determined to conduct a nuclear test?Its main aim may be to persuade the United States to change its stance on strengthening sanctions against Pyongyang, such as freezing North Korean-linked bank accounts, and to draw the United States into a direct dialogue with Pyongyang.In July, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution denouncing North Korea for its missile launches. In addition, on the basis of the UNSC resolution, Japan and Australia have begun imposing financial sanctions on North Korea. The series of sanctions is said to have badly hurt Pyongyang.According to a statement by the North Korean Foreign Ministry, Pyongyang will conduct a nuclear test but will not use nuclear weapons first or spread them beyond its border. It also said in the statement that it will make efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a goal confirmed in the joint statement for the six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear development in September 2005.But if North Korea pushes ahead with the nuclear test, the international community will judge the North Korean Foreign Ministry's statement to be hollow.China's help essentialUsing China's leverage over North Korea will be indispensable to coax Pyongyang back to the six-party talks with the aim of urging it to exercise restraint and pressing it to abandon its nuclear ambitions.Abe plans to visit Beijing on Sunday to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and then travel to Seoul on Monday to hold talks with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. Of course, Pyongyang's announcement that it will conduct a nuclear test will be one of the major items to be discussed at the summit meetings.The summit meetings will be a good opportunity for Japan to mend bilateral relations with the two countries, with which Japan has been unable to hold top-level talks recently. Abe said in his policy speech that he would take a firm stance diplomatically. As he approaches a key test of his diplomacy, we hope Abe will make every possible effort to take effective and concrete measures to dissuade North Korea from conducting a nuclear test.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2006-10-04	YOSHIN0020061004e2a4000gi
YOMSHI0020061005e2a500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061005e2a500001	EN	\N	Abe's diplomatic mettle about to be tested	The summit meeting between Japan and China will mark the first encounter between the top Japanese and Chinese leaders since April last year, and that between Japan and South Korea will be their first since November.	4	2006-10-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If Japan neglects efforts to reduce the friction with its Asian neighbors, it will have trouble flexibly promoting its strategic Asia diplomacy in cooperation with India, Australia and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.The United States and ASEAN countries have expressed concern that the strained relations between Japan and China are negatively affecting regional stability.Abe likely picked China and South Korea as the first countries he would visit after becoming prime minister because he took into consideration such voices of concern from abroad.Concerning the problem of visits by Japanese prime ministers to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine, China pressed Japan to give a firm promise that Abe will refrain from visiting the shrine when the two countries coordinated the summit talks, according to sources.But since becoming president of the Liberal Democratic Party, Abe has adopted an ambiguous strategy on the Yasukuni issue, saying that he would refuse to say whether he visited or will visit the shrine.Compromise over Yasukuni?Japan did not accept China's request on the Yasukuni issue, the sources said. So how did the two countries manage to meet halfway and agree to the resumption of summit talks? There must have been behind-the-scenes coordination and political maneuvering through various diplomatic channels before the summit meeting was officially decided.In his response to questions from opposition party leaders at the Diet, Abe made clear that he accepted the government's position expressed by former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II in 1995 in which Murayama apologized for the damage and suffering Japan's colonial rule and aggression caused to people of other Asian nations. Concerning what this newspaper has termed the Showa War--waged from the 1931 Manchurian Incident to the end of the Pacific War--Abe said Japan should frankly reflect on the fact that it had caused such huge damage to itself and other countries.His comment may have been a message aimed at China.With the resumption of summit talks with China and South Korea, we will watch closely whether the Yasukuni issue will remain an obstacle to the relationships between Japan and China, and between Japan and South Korea.South Korea may have approved Abe's visit out of concern that efforts to improve the Japan-South Korea relationship would fall behind those to mend Japan-China ties.N. Korea issue a focus of talksNorth Korea's announcement that it will conduct a nuclear test will be one of the major items to be discussed in Abe's summit meetings with the Chinese and South Korean leaders.Abe intends to tighten the encircling net around North Korea in cooperation with China and South Korea as well as the United States. Abe's stance is that if Pyongyang goes ahead with the nuclear test, additional sanctions against the country will be needed.Although Japan and the United States will seek the adoption of a statement by the U.N. Security Council president asking for Pyongyang to exercise restraint, China is reluctant to take this step. China and South Korea have been cautious about imposing sanctions on North Korea. In this respect, Abe's forthcoming summit meetings will see his diplomatic ability tested as prime minister.It is necessary to create an environment in which the leaders of Japan, China and South Korea can have frequent discussions in order to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear development. The summit meetings should be a step toward that goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 5, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2006-10-05	YOSHIN0020061005e2a5000f2
YOMSHI0020061006e2a600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061006e2a600001	EN	\N	Top court seeks reform of vote weight disparity	The Grand Bench ruled that the House of Councillors election in 2004 was carried out in a constitutional way despite a 1:5.13 disparity in the weight of one vote between the most and least populated electoral districts. But it added an unprecedented suggestion, saying that it is in line with the principles of the Constitution to study ways to decrease the disparity, including a review of the system's framework.	4	2006-10-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In upper house elections, constituencies are zoned based on prefecture and are allocated an even number of seats.The Grand Bench has handed down rulings on six suits related to the vote weight disparity in upper house elections. However, this is the first time that a majority of the justices has referred to a review of the election system itself.In 2004, the Grand Bench said in its ruling on the results of the 2001 upper house election that there were good reasons for constituencies being zoned based on prefecture and allotment of an even number of seats. In its ruling this time, however, a majority of the justices called for a review of the system, with two of them saying the current electoral zoning and the even number allotment system should be revised.Difficult balancing actIt is extremely difficult to achieve equality in the weight of one vote in upper house elections if the current system is maintained on the basis of existing prefectural population figures.The Constitution stipulates that half of the seats in the upper house be contested every three years.If the minimum quota of upper house seats were set at two in each prefecture and quotas were allocated to prefectures in proportion to their populations, Tottori Prefecture, which with 600,000 residents is the least populated prefecture, would be awarded only two seats and Tokyo with a population of 12 million would get 40 seats. This means that equality in the weight of one vote could not be attained unless the total number of seats to be contested in constituencies were more than 400.Upper house panel must actThe Supreme Court made the unprecedented suggestion because it placed importance on equality in the relative value of votes.However, the Grand Bench said in its 2004 ruling that it would be constitutionally questionable in terms of equal opportunity for voting for a winning candidate if the allotment of even numbers of seats were revised and only one seat were allocated to some districts. The current system must be reviewed deliberately.The top court said in its latest decision that the 2004 upper house election was held in a constitutionally sound way. It took into account that the Diet enacted a revised Public Offices Election Law during the last ordinary session to rectify disparities in the relative value of votes, although the law was not enacted until after the election was held.The revised law will reduce the number of upper house seats in two constituencies by two each, while increasing the number of seats in two electoral districts by two each.However, the top court did not consider that the law--including the so-called four plus, four minus formula--alone was enough.House of Councillors President Chikage Ogi called it "minor reapportionment" and told a suprapartisan council in charge of upper house reform in February to draft a substantive reform bill in time for the 2010 upper house election. But the council has reacted very slowly and so far has only met twice to discuss the reform since then.Voter's confidence in the upper house will be jeopardized if nothing is done, even though it will not be easy to change the electoral system framework.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2006-10-06	YOSHIN0020061006e2a6000gu
YOMSHI0020061007e2a700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061007e2a700001	EN	\N	Afghanistan assistance needed more than ever	The outcome in Afghanistan will affect the course of the war against international terrorism. Today, the determination and strength of not only the Afghan government but the entire international community is being challenged.	4	2006-10-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	U.S. and British forces started carrying out air strikes against targets in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, five years ago. These actions were aimed at Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaida terrorist network, who masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, and the Taliban government that was harboring the terrorists.Karzai not deliveringShortly after the start of the offensive, the Taliban regime collapsed. Since then, Afghanistan has adopted a new Constitution, carried out presidential, lower house and provincial assembly elections, and developed institutions to reconstruct the country.However, contrary to the expectations of many, the new government led by President Hamid Karzai, which was inaugurated two years ago, has not been able to stop a deterioration in security and economic stagnation.The deterioration in security has been caused by the resurgence of the Taliban. Taliban fighters are continuing their relentless resistance, mainly in the southern part of the country, despite the search-and-destroy operations being mounted by U.S. forces and the International Security Assistance Force led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.One of the factors that has led to the resurgence of the Taliban is the stagnation of the economy.An overnight recovery of the Afghan economy would, of course, be virtually impossible since the country has experienced conflicts for more than 20 years. However, the current government should be held responsible for its policy failures, which resulted in the unemployment rate reaching 40 percent. The Taliban has recruited young unemployed people to fill its ranks.A marked increase in drug production in Afghanistan is also a major concern. The amount of opium produced in the country is expected this year to account for more than 90 percent of the world's total output. The Taliban is coining money hand over fist by supporting drug cartels.Drug money also is lining the pockets of central and local government bureaucrats.Such corruption is so deep-rooted in the political structure of Afghanistan that it impedes administrative work and causes public distrust in the administration.The Karzai administration should formulate assertive approaches aimed at eradicating corruption and enforcing antidrug measures. If it fails to regain public confidence, national reconstruction will remain a pipe dream.Japan must do its bitAssistance by the international community has become more important than ever for Afghanistan. In particular, the importance of the ISAF will increase as it will be put in charge of security in all provinces this month. This is also a crucial period for NATO, which leads the multinational security force. Effective measures, including reinforcements for security forces, are required to improve security.In Japan, the Cabinet has endorsed a bill to revise the special antiterrorism law to extend the logistic support of Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to the multinational fleet in the Indian Ocean for another year. This decision is natural.Japan cannot stand by, while this difficult situation prevails in Afghanistan. The Diet should approve the bill as soon as possible so as not to disrupt the unity of the international community.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	572	2006-10-07	YOSHIN0020061007e2a7000gt
YOMSHI0020061008e2a800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061008e2a800001	EN	\N	N. Korea will not fear a U.N. paper tiger	The presidential statement is the best measure for the international community to take at this stage of the game. However, we should not hold our breath that the statement will accomplish anything.	4	2006-10-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If North Korea goes ahead with a nuclear test, the security environment in the East Asia will be changed significantly.The emergence of a new nuclear power following India and Pakistan would bring the international community's efforts toward achieving nuclear nonproliferation to naught. In light of this, Pyongyang must not be allowed to go ahead with a nuclear test.The Security Council was justifiably strong in its criticism of North Korea, saying in the presidential statement that a nuclear test would "constitute a threat to international peace and security," and "bring universal condemnation by the international community."In the statement, the Security Council expressed "deep concern" over North Korea's statement that it would conduct a nuclear test, and it urged Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks "immediately" and "without precondition."The statement went on to say "the Security Council will act consistent with its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations," if North Korea ignores calls from the international community.Sanctions not mentionedJapanese Ambassador to the United Nations Kenzo Oshima, as president of the council, emphasized this phrase in the statement "suggests the international community would act under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter."Actions under Chapter 7 mean sanctions, but the statement did not include a clear reference to sanctions against North Korea if a nuclear test were conducted. This indicates Japan and the United States had to do some horse trading with China and Russia when drafting the statement, as China and Russia take a more reconciliatory approach toward North Korea.However, the fact that sanctions are not mentioned in the presidential statement cast doubts on whether the statement demonstrates the will of the international community. It is also unclear whether the Security Council would immediately agree on sanctions if Pyongyang carries out the test.After North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles in July, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the launches. But it failed to institute sanctions imposed by the international community.A country with nuclear and missile ambitions, North Korea would view any disarray within the international community as an advantage.Actions needed to back wordsSome say things would be better if the United States were to hold bilateral talks with North Korea.But if Washington, which has insisted on talking with North Korea only within the framework of the six-party talks, changed its stance and opened a dialogue with Pyongyang, it would mean the United States was giving in to North Korea's threats.North Korea must return to the six-way talks immediately and unconditionally.China and Russia, which have strong economic and political relations with North Korea, should exercise their influence more.The six-way talks have been suspended for nearly a year. China, which chairs the six-way talks, has an obligation to do all it can to bring about an early resumption of the talks.If North Korea continues to refuse to return to the talks, the other five countries--Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--could hold talks over issues concerning North Korea.At the end of the day, the presidential statement is a just a piece of paper, and North Korea has not even balked at refusing to comply with U.N. resolutions, which have a binding force. The warning contained in the presidential statement should not be allowed to end up as so many wasted words.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is meeting his Chinese and South Korean counterparts Sunday and Monday, respectively, will have to discuss what concrete measures can be taken with regard to North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2006-10-08	YOSHIN0020061008e2a8000b2
YOMSHI0020061010e2a900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061010e2a900001	EN	\N	China's action on DPRK N-test key to Japan ties	The meeting marked a welcome resumption in talks at the highest level between the two countries and was significant in that it came on the heels of North Korea's threat last week to conduct a nuclear test.	4	2006-10-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abe described Pyongyang's plan to carry out the nuclear test as "a serious threat and a challenge to the nonproliferation system." He urged China--the closest thing the reclusive state has to an ally--to exercise what leverage it still holds over North Korea to pressure Pyongyang to cancel its plan.Hu's response would have been music to Abe's ears. "China will work to urge [North Korea] to refrain from conducting the nuclear test," Hu said, adding that Beijing shares Tokyo's deep concern on this matter.In a joint press statement released after the meeting, the two leaders also clearly stated the two countries "will cooperate with each other to exert our best" to address the issue.Differing perceptionsBeijing regards Pyongyang as a friend, and its perception of the threat posed by North Korea strays from that of other countries. Despite this, China sided with Japan to try to stop North Korea from carrying out the nuclear test.Displeasure in the United States and other countries likely would snowball should China continue to take a lenient approach toward North Korea. A failure by Beijing to put the squeeze on Pyongyang also would impair relations with Japan, which seem to have taken a turn for the better. China must have taken these sentiments into consideration.However, China remains reluctant to impose sanctions against North Korea. As long as China continues to drag its feet on this issue, it will remain out of step with other countries over North Korea, and it will be difficult to stop Pyongyang's reckless behavior.Abe must try to hold such talks with Chinese leaders more frequently and urge China to take the lead in persuading North Korea to act responsibly.The joint statement stated both countries will work hard to build "strategic" relations for mutual benefit. The statement also said the two countries have a serious responsibility to contribute constructively to the preservation of peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world.Moving past YasukuniBut can Japan and China really forge a "strategic" relationship? How China tackles the problems posed by Pyongyang's nuclear test will be a litmus test.Hu pressed Abe not to visit Yasukuni Shrine, saying the prime minister should "take appropriate measures to eliminate political obstacles."Abe responded only by saying, "I don't intend to discuss whether I will visit the shrine."The government might have discreetly passed a message to China to let the country know Abe will not visit the shrine while he is in office, or the government might have secretly made such a promise to Beijing.China's willingness to hold the summit talks with Japan indicates a more flexible stance by Beijing, which had previously insisted that such a meeting could not go ahead unless Japanese prime ministers stopped visiting the shrine.The Yasukuni issue had been at the heart of Japan-China relations. However, the emergence of North Korea's nuclear test plan offers the chance for a new outlook."Future-oriented relations" can be crafted while working to resolve this particular issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	624	2006-10-09	YOSHIN0020061010e2a90009i
YOMSHI0020061011e2ac0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061011e2ac0000d	EN	\N	Bold proposals needed on education reform	The 17-member council is tasked with deliberating specific ways to accomplish Abe's oft-stated goal of revitalizing the state-run education system to provide all children with the opportunities to develop higher scholastic ability and proper respect for social norms. The blue-ribbon panel has said it will submit proposals reached through consensus one by one.	4	2006-10-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new council is the first of its kind to be created under the direct control of the prime minister since the establishment of the National Commission on Educational Reform in 2000. The latter panel was launched by then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and operated until his successor, Yoshiro Mori, quit in April 2001. The commission on education reform was preceded by the Provisional Council on Education, which came into being in 1984, when Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone was in office.Abe should take the initiative in making tangible progress in revitalizing the education system.There are concerns that proposals to be advanced by the new panel may contradict the measures implemented for similar purposes by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry and submitted by the Central Council for Education, a key advisory body to the ministry.Fresh ideas neededAfter receiving proposals from the Central Council for Education, the ministry has already started devising measures to require teachers to periodically renew their licenses. This is also true with another proposal issued by the council to adopt a system in which primary, middle and high schools are assessed by independent organs--not by themselves, as in the past--concerning their teaching programs and school administration. In September, the ministry started the system at 124 public schools on a trial basis.The education ministry and the two separate panels on education reform reportedly have agreed on which roles should be fulfilled by which organ. The Education Rebuilding Council is charged with laying down an overall framework for education reform and setting basic goals. Meanwhile, the ministry and its Central Council for Education are responsible for discussing specific ways to attain such targets. It is necessary to coordinate the opinions and proposals advanced by each organ in preventing any confusion from arising among their respective tasks.It should be noted, however, that many members of the public hope to see the new panel come up with proposals distinct in nature from those usually submitted by government organs. We feel it may be impossible for the council to achieve its goal if it stands by the framework laid down for a similar purpose in the past. In that event, the panel would be criticized as having failed to live up to the expectations of the public.The list of possible topics to be addressed by the council includes the adoption of a system designed to issue all families coupons called education vouchers for their children to attend schools of their choice, as well as a system in which a new semester at colleges and universities would start in September. Another topic would concern whether to require students to engage in volunteer activities.Implement proposals quicklyThe education voucher system could help invigorate the public education system through competition among schools in attracting children. However, critics say the system could widen the disparity in popularity among schools, even forcing some schools to shut down.The industrial and educational circles remain cautious about starting a new semester in September. The pros and cons of introducing the system were discussed by the Provisional Council on Education and the National Commission on Educational Reform. However, the proposal has not been widely accepted by the public. This is also true with a proposal to obligate students to engage in volunteer work. During its discussion, the commission decided the proposal should not be carried out.How to halt the decline in the scholastic ability of children will be an issue that the new panel must not fail to address. Topics related to that problem include how to increase the number of class hours to make up for a large cut in such hours made following calls for the introduction of "stress-free" education. The panel should also assess the current five-day school week at public schools.We hope the new council's 17 members will conduct constructive discussions by closely looking at how the education system works and what teachers and students need. The government should waste no time implementing proposals to be submitted by the panel.We also hope many people will discuss education reform, spurred by debates at the council.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	789	2006-10-12	YOSHIN0020061012e2ac000ic
YOMSHI0020061013e2ad00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061013e2ad00001	EN	\N	New laws needed to enforce sanctions	The action preceded the adoption of a resolution by the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions of its own on North Korea.	4	2006-10-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main pillars of Japan's sanctions are a complete ban on port calls by North Korean ships, a total prohibition on imports from that country and a blanket ban on entry into Japan by North Korean nationals.The government's decision is intended to encourage other members of the Security Council to draft a stern resolution that will serve its purpose, by taking the initiative as the current chair of the council in adopting an unforgiving attitude toward Pyongyang. The members of the Security Council are working to coordinate their opinions regarding the specifics of the resolution.The government's decision can be described as an indication of what Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calls "assertive diplomacy." The government must tenaciously continue diplomatic efforts to ensure the international community rigorously punishes North Korea for its outrageous conduct.The government is considering further sanctions after the Security Council resolves to penalize the communist state, including expanding the current list of organizations subject to financial sanctions. It is of paramount importance to impede North Korea in its attempts to develop, build and proliferate weapons of mass destruction through all means possible.Ship inspections problematicThe United States has insisted that ships to and from North Korea be inspected in international waters with the aim of preventing Pyongyang from importing WMD-related materials and technologies and spreading such weapons abroad.Although such measures should, in principle, be incorporated into a set of international sanctions against North Korea, such actions would present a daunting challenge for Japan if they were actually taken. The Maritime Self-Defense Force has no legal authority to halt foreign vessels by use of such forcible measures as firing warning shots. Given this, Japan would be unable to effectively conduct activities to assist the proposed international sanctions.The Ship Inspection Operations Law--legislation for complementing the law on operations by the Self-Defense Forces to assist U.S. forces during an emergency in areas surrounding Japan--stipulates the SDF be authorized to take part in ship inspections if the government decides a situation facing the country legally constitutes an emergency great enough to affect the peace and security of the nation.Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma has said it would be difficult to define the nuclear test conducted by North Korea as an emergency as stipulated in the law if there were no other developments that could exacerbate the situation.It would be no less difficult for Japan to play an effective role in carrying out international inspections of ships bound for and originating from North Korea if the current situation were to escalate to the stage where it could be recognized as a crisis as stipulated in the law governing emergencies in waters around Japan. For example, it would be difficult to expect North Korea to accept without resistance nonbinding ship inspections by Japan.Given the great difficulties facing Japan in this respect, it would be difficult for the MSDF to inspect ships under the circumstances.Limit to MSDF operationsWe believe it is advisable for the government to consider an alternative--that is, limiting MSDF operations to refueling ships dispatched to inspect vessels entering and leaving North Korean ports, as part of Japan's logistic support for other U.N. member nations conducting international ship inspections. To do so, the government must take new legislative measures.During a session of the House of Councillors Budget Committee, the prime minister said, "There is a great problem to be surmounted in responding to emergencies that may arise in the international community." The remark shows Abe acknowledged there is a limit to what can be done to deal with emergencies under the current legal framework.If that is the case, the Abe administration should be prepared to work out effective legislative measures.No country in the world will support Japan if it just sits back and watches, despite a direct threat posed by North Korea's attempt to become a nuclear power, when other U.N. members join international ship inspections.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	739	2006-10-13	YOSHIN0020061013e2ad000fg
YOMSHI0020061014e2ae00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061014e2ae00001	EN	\N	Are China, ROK game to 'punish' N. Korea?	Chinese President Hu Jintao and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun met in Beijing on Friday, but the two leaders only reiterated the standard responses, such as "resolving the issue through peaceful dialogues and negotiations."	4	2006-10-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.N. Security Council is set to adopt a resolution calling for economic sanctions against North Korea. But if Beijing and Seoul, which have supported Pyongyang psychologically and materially, continue to shilly-shally about adopting tough measures to deal with the renegade country, the effectiveness of the resolution will be called into question.Since North Korea's announcement Monday that it had carried out a nuclear test, China has been telling the international community that Beijing is ready to cooperate on the issue.In an angry tone of voice earlier this week, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya said, "There has to be some punitive actions" against Pyongyang's claimed nuclear test, showing that China was ready to accept sanctions against North Korea.The devil they knowTimed to coincide with discussions at the U.N. Security Council to finalize the U.S.-led draft of a resolution, Hu dispatched State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan as his special envoy to Washington.In his meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush and other senior U.S. officials, Tang agreed with the U.S. view that a strong message should be sent to Pyongyang and that its nuclear test should be severely condemned.But will China actually take steps that merit the use of a word as strong as "punitive"?China has controlled the lifeline of North Korea as its largest aid donor and trading partner. Furthermore, Beijing's influence over Pyongyang has increased in recent years along with China's economic expansion.If China were to stop its supply of crude oil and food to North Korea in tandem with the U.N. resolution, the regime in Pyongyang could well be brought to its knees.In such an event, a great flood of North Korean refugees would doubtlessly rush into China. The chaos resulting from such an influx of refugees would have a great impact on the diplomatic and domestic affairs of China, and would stall its economic growth.This is a nightmare scenario for the Chinese leadership.In addition, North Korea has served as a buffer zone for China, enabling it to avoid direct military confrontation with the United States. If North Korea were to collapse, China's national security environment would change drastically.The devil they fear moreWell aware of this possibility, China has objected during discussions at the Security Council to the inclusion of military sanctions in the U.N. resolution, saying it cannot allow military action against North Korea. China also has been reluctant to freeze or reduce aid to North Korea, asserting Beijing's assistance to Pyongyang is mainly provided to improve the living conditions of the North Korean people.These positions are far from the punitive actions needed. It seems that what both China and South Korea fear more is secondary damage from the demise of the North Korean regime, rather than North Korea becoming a nuclear power.If this is so, Pyongyang will come to the conclusion that there is no fear of China and South Korea cutting off aid, and the situation will turn out the way North Korea, which has been playing extreme brinkmanship, has wanted.If there is any sign of reluctance to impose effective sanctions, it will embolden North Korea to proceed with its nuclear development, which in turn would lead to the international community having to bring further pressure on North Korea.This would certainly lead to military sanctions, which Beijing and Seoul would not want to see.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 14, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2006-10-14	YOSHIN0020061014e2ae000hb
YOMSHI0020061015e2af00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061015e2af00001	EN	\N	Top law interpretation imperils nation's security	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could not have been any clearer when he stated Japan is the nation facing the most serious threat from North Korea. It is natural for Japan to use every option at its disposal if the U.N. Security Council adopts a resolution imposing sanctions, including inspections of North Korean vessels.	4	2006-10-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said Japan must provide a "meaningful contribution" for ship inspections conducted in line with the U.N. resolution. The government must do all it can, even without being prompted by Schieffer.This situation should impel the government to change its long-held constitutional interpretation under which Japan has the right to collective self-defense, but cannot exercise this right. The government also needs to comprehensively revise its guidelines on the use of force.Washington will be expected to play the leading role in any such ship inspections. The government reportedly has been considering extending logistic support to the United States under the law governing Self-Defense Forces operations to assist U.S. military forces during emergencies in areas surrounding Japan. The government also is chewing over the idea of carrying out its own inspections in emergency situations in areas surrounding Japan under the Ship Inspection Law.MSDF's hands tiedHowever, if a U.S. vessel is attacked by a North Korean ship during an inspection, a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel is forbidden from offering any assistance to its ally, even if it is present during the engagement. This is because any offensive action by an MSDF ship to protect a U.S. vessel would be regarded as exercising the right to collective self-defense.Any such failure to extend assistance would cause the credibility of the Japan-U.S. alliance to evaporate instantly. Under the circumstances, Japan's peace and security could be vulnerable.The law governing SDF operations to assist U.S. military forces during emergencies in areas surrounding Japan only stipulated Japan's logistic support to U.S. forces. Therefore, the MSDF cannot extend refueling and other support to vessels from countries other than the United States. The MSDF cannot come to the aid of ships from other nations that come under fire.Abe has repeatedly said in the Diet and on other occasions that the government will study under which specific scenarios would such actions be regarded as an exercise of the right to collective self-defense.Such action is indispensable for maintaining the credibility of the Japan-U.S. alliance.Time is of the essenceWith the international community poised to slap sanctions on Pyongyang, Japan will imminently face security situations that must be dealt in cooperation with the United States. There is no time to fritter away on such a "study."The effectiveness of inspections conducted under the Ship Inspection Law is questionable. Japan cannot fire warning shots or seize a target vessel because the law does not authorize the use of such force.If a suspect ship does not stop, refuses to allow Japan's inspection or fails to change course as requested, Japan's vessels can do nothing but simply follow it. In effect, Japan will end up doing little more than hindering inspections by other nations.Japanese authorities cannot fire a warning shot because such action would be regarded as the threat or use of force prohibited by Article 9 of the Constitution.But is nonsensical. New appropriate guidelines for the use of force should be worked out.The government should no longer be hamstrung by a conventional interpretation of the Constitution that is no longer compatible with the realities of today's world.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2006-10-15	YOSHIN0020061015e2af000as
YOMSHI0020061016e2ag00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061016e2ag00003	EN	\N	Concrete action must follow UNSC resolution	Although the sanctions have teeth, agreement was reached only after Japan and the United States made compromises out of consideration of concerns expressed by China and Russia. However, the international net closing around the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, which has been steadily moving its nuclear development program forward, has taken shape.	4	2006-10-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Each country should immediately take effective and concrete measures to ensure the resolution achieves what it is intended to do.The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution against North Korea that calls on U.N. member nations to impose economic sanctions on North Korea under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter.North Korea went ahead with its nuclear test in defiance of strong warnings from the Security Council. The international community has every right to respond by cranking up the pressure on North Korea in the form of sanctions.The resolution clearly rules out using military force to make the sanctions stick, and its language was watered down from an earlier draft by the United States. This was in consideration of China and Russia, who remain reluctant to squeeze the North Korean regime any further.Neighbors hold the keyThe resolution specified that all nations must ban the import and export of weapons of mass destruction--including nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles--to and from the reclusive state, freeze North Korean financial assets, and refuse the entry of North Koreans involved in the nuclear development program into their countries. The resolution also allows for inspections of cargo ships traveling to and from North Korea to search for banned weapons. The sanctions are aimed at prohibiting the transfer of materials, funds and personnel to "drive North Korea into a corner."However, whether such a strategy will be effective depends on China, South Korea and Russia, the three nations that border North Korea.China and Russia are reluctant to impose sanctions on North Korea. Although South Korea joined the countries that sponsored the draft resolution, Seoul appears loath to drop its reconciliatory approach to Pyongyang under its "sunshine policy." The effectiveness of the sanctions will boil down to a large extent on how tightly these countries enforce the sanctions.If North Korea's neighbors fail to implement the sanctions strictly as called for by the resolution, a gaping hole would open in the net around North Korea.Japan's security at stakeNorth Korea's missiles and nuclear weapons directly affect and endanger Japan's security. Tokyo has already unleashed unilateral sanctions against Pyongyang, including imposing a total ban on North Korean vessels from Japanese ports. With the adoption of the U.N. resolution, how to inspect cargo ships leaving and arriving in North Korea is an issue that the government must face squarely.The possibility cannot be ruled out that a U.S.-led international coalition will conduct a forceful inspection of ships leaving and arriving North Korea. Yet if the government refuses to budge from its interpretation that the Constitution gives Japan the right to collective self-defense, but that it cannot exercise this right, Japan will have its hands tied when it needs to play a meaningful role in such inspections.The U.N. resolution has two clear objectives--to prevent North Korea from developing a nuclear arsenal, and to bring Pyongyang immediately and unconditionally back to the six-party talks on the country's nuclear development program.However, North Korea has shown no intention whatsoever of putting the brakes on its nuclear development, and some Pyongyang officials have warned that sanctions would be tantamount to a declaration of war. North Korea might even be tempted to conduct additional nuclear tests.If North Korea ignores the UNSC resolution, the Security Council should immediately ratchet up the magnitude of the sanctions. The government also should not shy from imposing further unilateral sanctions on North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2006-10-16	YOSHIN0020061016e2ag000c1
YOMSHI0020061016e2ah0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061016e2ah0000l	EN	\N	Rules needed now on surrogate birth	Reproductive medicine has advanced rapidly, but so far there has been no corresponding advancement in the related laws governing pregnancy, birth and paternity in this country.	4	2006-10-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the maternity clinic doctor in Nagano Prefecture who handled the case, the woman, whose daughter had undergone a hysterectomy because of cancer, was implanted with an embryo created from her daughter's egg and son-in-law's sperm through in vitro fertilization. The baby was born in spring last year.The baby has been healthy, according to the doctor. The surrogate mother/grandmother developed symptoms of menopause after the delivery, but her condition has since improved.There are natural risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, and the death rate among pregnant women increases with age from the late 30s. Given that the woman who gave birth to the baby this case is in her late 50s, the burden on her heart, blood vessels and other organs must have been great.The doctor said he allowed the woman to be impregnated because she wanted so strongly to give birth to the baby, even at risk of her own life. At the same doctor's clinic another case of a surrogate delivery by a woman for her grandchild has been scheduled. However, we cannot ignore the great risks involved in this field of medicine.Rules neededSurrogate birth is the only way for women who have lost their wombs to have their own children. The question is whether the government will approve the measure. If the government approves it, the next question is how to minimize the risks. Work is necessary to make rules governing the practice.A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry panel compiled a report on the issue in 2003, recommending that surrogate birth should be prohibited and those violating the ban be punished. The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology also compiled guidelines the same year for its members prohibiting the practice.However, the issue was not debated at the Diet and thus there has been little progress made in drafting a law governing the practice. The surrogate birth in question took advantage of the lack of rules addressing the practice.Meanwhile, the number of Japanese who go to the United States to seek surrogate mothers has been increasing because the procedure is freely practiced there. Related problems have repeatedly surfaced.Conflicts ariseTV personality Aki Mukai and her husband, former pro wrestler Nobuhiko Takada, had twins with the help of an American surrogate mother. Since the Shinagawa Ward government has refused to receive the birth registrations of the twins, the couple and the ward office have been battling out the issue in court.Under current Japanese law, the woman who gives birth is regarded as the baby's mother and the existence of a genetic parent-child relationship is not considered to guarantee a legal parent-child relationship.In the Nagano Prefecture case, the baby was registered as the baby of the grandmother and then adopted by its genetic parents.Out of consideration for the welfare of such children, the defects in the legal system must be addressed.In addition to the risks, the practice of surrogate birth is sometimes criticized for treating the human body as a baby-making machine. In some countries, such as France, the practice is prohibited. Others, such as Britain, allow the practice under government supervision on the premise of ensuring safety and preventing commercialization of surrogate birth.With these examples in other countries as references, the government must debate practical rules.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2006-10-17	YOSHIN0020061017e2ah000hq
YOMSHI0020061018e2ai00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061018e2ai00001	EN	\N	ROK's 'sunshine policy' has brought dark clouds	It is an urgent task to limit North Korea's nuclear threat by imposing effective economic sanctions on the country based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718.	4	2006-10-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	South Korea joined the countries, including Japan, that sponsored the draft resolution. This obligates Seoul to do its best to prevent Pyongyang from developing nuclear weapons.After the resolution was adopted, the South Korean government said it welcomed and supported the Security Council's decision, but it has not yet clarified what sanctions it will implement against North Korea.South Korea's opposition Grand National Party said the reconciliation policy South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's administration has adopted toward North Korea helped Pyongyang arm itself with nuclear weapons.Economic assistance provided to North Korea by the administration of Roh and that of his predecessor, Kim Dae Jung, is said to have reached 4.58 trillion won (560 billion yen) in total.DPRK channels aid to militaryThe "sunshine policy" initiated by Kim's government has been continued by Roh's. South Korea has shut its eyes to the nature of Kim Jong Il's government, which funnels every available resource to the military. Seoul has continued to extend assistance to Pyongyang even after North Korea openly resumed the development of nuclear arms.Tours to Mt. Kumgang and development of Kaesong Industrial Park, which are South Korea's major assistance projects for North Korea, generate annual income of $20 million (2.4 billion yen) for Pyongyang and as such are important sources of foreign currency for the North. The GNP is urging the South Korean government to freeze the projects immediately because it claims tour fees, charges for use of the park's land and salaries for North Korean workers, which are all paid in foreign currency, are used to fund the development of nuclear weapons.The GNP's concern is reasonable. South Korea's assistance programs will become even more important revenue sources for North Korea, which has been desperate for foreign currency now that the international net around the country has been tightened.Far from preventing Kim Jong Il from developing nuclear arms, South Korea's sunshine policy toward North Korea has instead helped it do so.Time for Seoul to change tackNorth Korea broke the 1992 Joint South-North Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula that Seoul and Pyongyang concluded. The sunshine policy has failed utterly.U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Japan, South Korea and China this week to discuss economic sanctions against Pyongyang with the leaders of those countries. The foreign ministers of Japan, South Korea and the United States will hold talks in Seoul, too. South Korea should be urged to review its appeasement policy toward the North through close strategic talks among the three countries.If sanctions against North Korea are insufficient, North Korea's nuclear threat will only mount. Roh said it has become hard to maintain the reconciliation policy after North Korea defiantly pushed ahead with the nuclear test, but he has not yet ditched the policy.This is a serious problem that Japan cannot overlook since this nation faces North Korea's nuclear and missile threats directly. The direction of South Korea's policy toward the North must be closely watched.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2006-10-18	YOSHIN0020061018e2ai000fz
YOMSHI0020061019e2aj00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061019e2aj00001	EN	\N	Japan reassured of U.S. N-umbrella deterrence	U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday told Foreign Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo, the first destination on her whistle-stop tour of East Asia and Russia, that "the United States has the will and the capability to meet the full range, and I underscore full range, of its deterrent and security commitments to Japan [under the Japan-U.S. security treaty]."	4	2006-10-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Rice emphasized the deterrent function of the U.S. nuclear umbrella, indicating that U.S. forces will lead the defense of Japan if Pyongyang attacks it with nuclear weapons.Some observers say Japan, South Korea and Taiwan will try to obtain nuclear weapons if North Korea further develops its nuclear weapons program. China is most worried about a nuclear arms race starting in Asia.Rice apparently made the statement to try not only to bring North Korea under control, but also to send a message to China that Beijing should urge Pyongyang more strongly to give up its nuclear bombs to prevent an Asian nuclear arms race.Japan must help check shipsThe U.S. nuclear umbrella is the only protection that Japan, which does not possess nuclear arms, has against nuclear attacks by North Korea. To make it function as reliable deterrent, constant efforts to deepen the Japan-U.S. security alliance are required.One such effort is Japan's active participation in inspections of North Korean cargo based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, which was drafted by the United States.Aso and Rice agreed in the talks to implement every sanction in the resolution, including inspections of cargo entering and leaving North Korea. This is a matter of course for Japan, which chairs the Security Council this month.When she visits South Korea, China and Russia after Japan, Rice is expected to urge the three countries bordering North Korea to ensure inspections of cargo entering and leaving the country both by land and by air.Japan's participation in cargo inspections, a linchpin of the sanctions, has a very significant meaning in that it will prompt South Korea, China and Russia to do the same.Remove legal hurdlesThe government is planning to have the Maritime Self-Defense Force participate in cargo inspections at sea or ship inspections based on the Ship Inspection Operations Law. The main jobs for MSDF ships will be logistic support, such as carrying out surveillance on and pursuing suspicious ships, and fueling U.S. Navy vessels.To do that, however, North Korea's nuclear test has to be identified as an "emergency in the periphery" under the law to deal with contingencies in the area surrounding Japan. This is the most practical way to realize ship inspections by the MSDF since Japan has no other law to authorize such inspections, and it would take too much time to enact a new law.The Ship Inspection Operations Law, on the other hand, has some flaws. First, the law requires the MSDF to obtain the consent of a ship to be inspected. It does not allow the MSDF to fire warning shots nor exert coercive power, either. Since the law to deal with contingencies in the area surrounding Japan, which is the legal premise for ship inspections, was designed to permit the MSDF to offer logistic support to U.S. forces, it does not allow the MSDF to support ships from other countries, such as Australia.It is necessary to study revising and creating laws as soon as possible to enable Japan to conduct ship inspections more efficiently, though the Ship Inspection Operations Law must be applied to the current situation for the time being.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	650	2006-10-19	YOSHIN0020061019e2aj000fv
YOMSHI0020061020e2ak00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061020e2ak00001	EN	\N	Ruling on teen killer carries onerous burden	The ruling carries with it a heavy responsibility for the justice system in that a prison that accepts the convicted youth will have to try to rehabilitate him.	4	2006-10-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The youth, who was 17 years old at the time he committed the crimes, has been diagnosed as having "pervasive developmental disorder," in which a person has impaired social interaction skills and is obsessively preoccupied about a limited set of activities and interests. The youth did not exhibit any conspicuous feeling of guilt, or did not express sufficient remorse toward the bereaved families.Justice for victims, kinThe defense team thus sought a supervisory sentence, such as having the youth placed in a juvenile reformatory instead of having him sent to prison.The court did not agree, and instead paid more consideration to the feelings of the victims' bereaved family members as well as to strong public sentiment toward juvenile crimes. In the ruling, the court said the offender had exhibited murderous intent and was mentally competent to be held responsible for his actions, adding that his acts were extremely malicious.Even so, the court did not sentence him to life, the maximum sentence allowed under the Juvenile Law. The district court took into consideration the fact that the youth had a developmental disorder, saying it was a matter that should be taken into full account.If the sentence is finalized, the youth will be placed in a juvenile prison. Although this name is used to describe a correctional facility for criminals 19 years or younger, there are many adult inmates serving their time out in juvenile prisons. It has been pointed out, however, that officials at such prisons have to spend most of their time focusing on prison management, such as supervising inmates' work details, and do not have enough time to get around to rehabilitation education for juveniles.In regard to this, the court said the juvenile prison that accepts the youth should give consideration to his developmental disorder and should have on staff a properly qualified counselor-instructor so that the prison will be able to come up with rehabilitation program to instill in the youth a sense of repentance for his crimes in several steps.The court also said the youth should receive long-term continued guidance even after reaching the age of 20, the age of adulthood in Japan.The ruling pointed out the youth could best be rehabilitated at a juvenile prison, not at a juvenile reformatory, because juvenile prisons can now treat minors accordingly to their individual needs following the revision in May of the law on treating inmates. However, the defense disagreed, saying that juvenile prisons, even since the change, are not capable of providing the treatment needed.More security neededThe ruling places on juvenile prisons the dual burdens of achieving rehabilitation and preventing recidivism at the same time, and the one that accepts the youth will have to prove the wisdom of the ruling by realizing these goals.The Neyagawa incident and the June 2001 attack at Ikeda Primary School attached to Osaka Kyoiku University in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, sent shock waves throughout the nation's schools.To strengthen their safety, schools have introduced a wide range of safety measures. However, only about a half of primary schools are equipped with security cameras and other safety devices, and less than 10 percent have security guards.Schools have to be more proactive in introducing equipment and personnel to enhance school safety. At the same time, teachers, local communities and the police have to cooperate closely.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2006-10-20	YOSHIN0020061020e2ak000e5
YOMSHI0020061021e2al00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061021e2al00001	EN	\N	OPEC needs to learn lessons of history	The decision is a cause for concern because it may lead to a rapid increase in crude oil prices, which recently stabilized.	4	2006-10-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In August, the average OPEC oil price rose to the $71 a barrel range, but it was only around $56 this week. A number of factors for the decline have been cited. One of them is an increase in U.S. stock prices as speculative investors shift from commodities to stocks. Another is that U.S. reserves of oil are higher than last year.The emergency meeting was convened to discuss a reduction in output as a way of countering declining oil prices.The meeting demonstrated a number of moves that will stir oil markets. For example, it agreed to cut production by 1.2 million bpd, which was a larger reduction than the 1 million bpd cut initially expected. It also suggested it might decide on a further output cut at its extraordinary general meeting in December.Slowing demand for oilGiven that the organization is an international cartel, it is natural for it to seek an increase in oil prices.However, excessively high oil prices would cool the global economy. This would lead to a decline in demand for oil, which in turn would have an adverse affect on oil-producing countries. As such scenarios have played out in the past, the key question is: Hasn't OPEC learned from past lessons?The International Energy Agency recently forecast this year's global crude oil demand would total 84.6 million barrels a day, 1 million barrels a day higher than in 2005. Though the IEA predicted an increase, the increase was revised downward by 600,000 bpd from a year before.The downward revision was based on the fact that demand for crude oil has slowed in North America and other regions. Oil-producing countries should realize that the abnormally high crude oil prices that were in force until this summer have started to affect global demand.Conflicts within cartelThe OPEC emergency meeting also was highlighted by conflicts between member countries with surplus production capacity such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and members without such capacity, including Nigeria.The actual oil outputs of Nigeria, which has been experiencing ethnic conflicts; Venezuela, where the president and the state oil company are at odds with each other; Iran, whose oil wells are outdated; and some other OPEC members have been below allocated country-by-country quotas.Under the agreed production cuts, the reductions will be based on how much members were pumping last month, rather than on quotas. The move reflects the desire of countries that have surplus production capacities to have countries that have failed to meet their quotas share the pain of production cuts.OPEC members that have not met their quotas could increase their output capacity by introducing the latest technologies to develop new oil fields and to enhance production at existing oil fields. Price increases are not the only way to increase oil revenues.The Tokyo oil market Friday recorded a minimal rise in crude oil prices despite the OPEC decision. The international oil cartel's intention has not had the desired effect for now, but the outlook for oil prices and demand is unclear.Efforts must be made to develop alternative energy technologies, such as atomic energy, and to encourage energy saving.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2006-10-21	YOSHIN0020061021e2al000g1
YOMSHI0020061022e2am00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061022e2am00001	EN	\N	Russian ties critical to East Asian diplomacy	This milestone presents a prime opportunity for both countries to ponder what kind of relationship they should strive for in the future--and how this can be accomplished.	4	2006-10-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that he wanted to resolve the northern territories issue with Japan, and that the two countries should explore ways for concluding a peace treaty.In his recent policy speech before the Diet, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized that making progress in relations with Russia could greatly benefit both countries.Solving the dispute over the northern territories and concluding a peace treaty hold the key to reinforcing and advancing bilateral relations.The joint declaration says that after the conclusion of a peace treaty, the Habomai islet group and Shikotan island will be returned to Japan. However, the northern territories--Kunashiri, Etorofu and Shikotan islands and the Habomai islets--belong to Japan. Because of this, the joint declaration plainly spelled out that both countries would continue to negotiate for the conclusion of a peace treaty after diplomatic ties had been restored.Putin's remarks suggest he might be angling for a settlement of the long-standing territorial dispute through the return of only the Habomai islets and Shikotan.More recently, he criticized Japan for shifting its stance and seeking a peace treaty after the return of the four islands, a change he claimed strayed from the principle of the agreement contained in the joint declaration. Putin's assertion is completely unacceptable.A tangled problemResolving the territorial issue will not be a simple task.Russia's economy has made a stunning recovery on the back of soaring oil prices, so Moscow's need to make concessions in the territorial issue in return for economic assistance from Tokyo is diminishing. Compounding this, nationalism and support for policies that seek to reclaim Russia's position among the world's great powers are gaining strength in Russia, so opposition to concessions on territorial issues is hardening.The shooting at and seizure of a Japanese fishing vessel near Kaigarajima island in disputed waters off northeastern Hokkaido in August and the recent suspension of the Sakhalin-2 oil and natural gas development project, in which several Japanese companies were involved, may reflect the current delicate situation in Russia.Nevertheless, building strategic relations with Russia is a task of great importance for Japan's diplomats.Uncertainties remainThe international situation in East Asia is changing rapidly. China's economic growth seemingly knows no bounds and India is becoming more influential in the region. Factors of uncertainty, in terms of regional security, include China's growing military might and North Korea's development of nuclear weapons.Japan must pursue a multifaceted, strategic diplomatic course to secure the peace and prosperity of the nation.However, there has been a lack of movement and progress in our bilateral relations with major nations in East Asia, particularly since Junichiro Koizumi became prime minister in 2001.Summit meetings with China and South Korea recently resumed under the Abe administration. Should these meetings generate positive results, the sorry state of Japan-Russia relations will become ever more apparent.Russia is a key player in East Asia. A close Japan-Russia relationship could become an effective diplomatic bargaining chip toward China. Warmer ties also might prove useful in restraining other countries, including Russia itself, from taking actions that may run counter to Japan's national interest, over such issues as North Korea's nuclear development program.The government should leave no stone unturned in carrying out its strategic diplomacy in East Asia.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 22, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2006-10-22	YOSHIN0020061022e2am000aa
YOMSHI0020061022e2an0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061022e2an0000b	EN	\N	Sinister trends emerging under Putin's watch	Anna Politkovskaya was known as a fierce critic of the administration of President Vladimir Putin through her investigative reports and other publications.	4	2006-10-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of course, it would be foolhardy to assume the Putin administration was somehow involved in her murder. Nonetheless, the prevailing view suggests her death might be linked to her reporting.Putin deplored the shooting of Politkovskaya in her apartment lobby in broad daylight as a "disgustingly cruel crime." He also promised U.S. President George W. Bush, who expressed his concern over reports of suppression of free speech in Russia, that his administration would thoroughly investigate her death.At the very least, Putin's administration bears a great responsibility for the "shadows" lurking behind this incident.Politkovskaya's shooting bears all the trademarks of a contract killing by a hit man.Journalists being targetedAccording to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent nonprofit organization, 13 Russian journalists, including Politkovskaya, have been murdered since Putin came to office in 2000.The Putin administration holds the management rights of the three major TV networks in Russia. It also has been tightening its grip oven the news media and blatantly pressuring reporters who write less-than-complimentary articles about the government.The administration's maneuvers have put the lives of journalists critical of the administration in grave danger.According to the CPJ, none of the 13 murders has been solved. This brings the competence and stance of Russia's judicial and police authorities into question.Journalists are not the only professionals in Russia who have to keep a wary eye over their shoulder. In the past month, four people, including the Russian Central Bank's First Deputy Chairman Andrei Kozlov, have apparently been murdered in contract-style hits. The failure to find the killers leaves the impression in Russian society that the perpetrators "will get off scot-free."Racism on the riseEqually worrisome is the recent rise of ultrarightist groups that preach racism and xenophobic views.A recent spate of crimes and assaults have targeted exchange students from such regions as Africa and Asia. Even a compatriot, such as Politkovskaya, can be labeled an "enemy of Russia" if they criticize the administration.The logic of differentiating friend from foe might be reflected in Russia's foreign policy.Georgia, a small former Soviet republic south of Russia, is a case in point. Russia has cut land, sea and air traffic routes to Georgia and cracked down on companies run by Georgians in Moscow.This suffocating clampdown likely stems from the fact that the Putin administration considers the pro-West administration of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili as an "enemy of Russia." The United States and other Western nations have every right to be troubled by the uneasy standoff between the two countries.Russia must tidy up its act on many points if it wishes to behave as a major power should.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	528	2006-10-23	YOSHIN0020061023e2an000cz
YOMSHI0020061025e2ao00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061025e2ao00001	EN	\N	Intl cooperation vital to N. Korea siege	The United States and four other nations--Japan, China, Russia and South Korea--have failed to announce specific measures to carry out economic sanctions unanimously adopted by the U.N. Security Council. This could spark concerns about whether the five nations will be able to take coordinated actions against the reclusive state.	4	2006-10-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The five countries have been unanimously adamant in protesting to North Korea's nuclear test and its possession of nuclear weapons. However, their inability to implement forceful and specific actions against Pyongyang means they have failed to send a strong message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.The South Korean government told Rice it was "carefully reconsidering" joint projects with North Korea that have served to earn the latter foreign currency, including a tourist venture at Mt. Kumgang. At present, these projects are continuing.In Moscow, Rice met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, but the Russian government has yet to show signs of moving to impose sanctions on North Korea.Sanctions essentialWe believe the five nations should implement necessary sanctions against Pyongyang under the U.N. resolution as swiftly as possible. This should be complemented by an effort to establish cooperative relations among them, including sharing relevant information, to prevent the transfer of goods, personnel and money potentially conducive to the production and sale of missiles and weapons of mass destruction.Rice's visit to Beijing was preceded by a trip to Pyongyang by Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan as a special envoy dispatched by President Hu Jintao for a meeting with the North Korean leader.After returning home, Tang said, "Fortunately, [the visit] has not been in vain." He also urged Rice to adopt "an even more positive attitude" in trying to restart six-party talks aimed at scrapping North Korea's nuclear weapons program.However, it is unknown what Kim actually said in talks with Tang.Media reports that followed Tang's return home have quoted Kim as telling the Chinese envoy that Washington should make unilateral concessions to Pyongyang in resolving the current nuclear crisis. One report cited the North Korean leader as saying, "[We] will not conduct another nuclear test if the United States pledges not to exert pressure [on North Korea]." The other quoted him as saying, "If the United States does so, [Pyongyang] will return to the six-nation talks, but the United States must lift financial sanctions [on North Korea]."N. Korea unmovedAll his remarks indicate Pyongyang's position on the whole dispute remains unchanged. They are tantamount to insisting that North Korea will not accept a demand for it to return to the six-party negotiations that started in 2003, as stipulated in the U.N. resolution.The communist state has said it will consider the U.N. resolution as "a declaration of war." It also persists in seeking to arm itself with nuclear weapons.In September, the participants in the six-way talks adopted a joint statement saying North Korea had promised to abandon its nuclear weapons and its nuclear weapons development program. However, Pyongyang has used the six-party talks only to buy itself time to further advance its nuclear weapons program.It is impossible to expect North Korea to lightly abandon its nuclear weapons if and when it rejoins the negotiations. By taking advantage of a probable lack of progress in the talks that may follow, Pyongyang will be able to produce a number of nuclear weapons with its abundant natural uranium resources and nuclear facilities.The imminent challenge facing Japan--a nation directly threatened by North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles--is to unite with other nations in placing the belligerent country under an even more powerful international siege.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	675	2006-10-24	YOSHIN0020061024e2ao000g7
YOMSHI0020061025e2ap00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061025e2ap00002	EN	\N	Govt must put brakes on bond issuance	He seems to envisage a scenario in which corporate profits and personal income will grow to increase state tax revenues and decrease fiscal deficits as long as stable economic growth continues.	4	2006-10-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of course, economic growth is one of the conditions necessary for fiscal reconstruction. However, the debts of the central and local governments total 770 trillion yen. The fiscal crisis Japan faces now is such that it cannot be remedied at once with a natural increase in tax revenues even if the Japanese economy keeps growing by 2-3 percent annually for several years.Fiscal reconstruction cannot be realized without implementing measures such as drastic spending cuts and a radical reform in the current taxation system, including a hike in the consumption tax.Abe appears to intend to initiate discussions on a consumption tax hike after the House of Councillors election scheduled for next summer. But he has yet to say whether the government will raise the tax.It may be politically difficult to announce a consumption tax hike at an early stage. But it is obvious that raising the tax is necessary for fiscal rehabilitation. Rather than sidestepping the consumption tax issue, the nation's leader should tackle it squarely.Tax revenues will peak soonThe political mettle of the Abe administration will be tested soon, in the process of compiling the fiscal 2007 budget. Budget requests made from ministries and agencies by their deadline at the end of August totaled 85.7 trillion yen, 6 trillion yen more than this fiscal year's budget. Ministries and agencies crafted various policy measures to make them appear to be key objectives of the Abe administration.Tax revenue increases will hit a ceiling someday soon, though they are buoyant now, fortunately. Tax revenues hit a record-high 60 trillion yen during the peak of asset-inflated bubble economy. Since then, the government made several tax cuts to stimulate the economy. Even if a similar bubble economy were to come today, tax revenues would reach around 55 trillion yen at most. This suggests that the government should not harbor excessive expectations for a natural tax increase.This makes it more important than ever to trim inflated budget requests. The prime minister voluntarily cut his salary by 30 percent, but this should not end up as a mere political performance. The scalpel of reform must be wielded on wasteful government spending, including personnel costs of public employees, local allocation tax grants, and costs for the construction and maintenance of roads.Channel spending wiselyMeanwhile, political decisions will be required to increase budgets for some important policy goals. Those include defense spending, which must be increased to cover the costs of the relocation of U.S. bases in Japan and development of a missile defense shield, and budgets for measures to deal with the declining birthrate, on which the future of Japan literally depends. In summary, the fiscal 2007 budget must be well thought out, with the importance of each item weighed.The administration of Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, increased the amount of outstanding government bonds by 174 trillion yen in 5 1/2 years. Even if the issuance of government bonds is limited to some extent in next fiscal year's budget, the astronomical amount of outstanding government bonds will continue to increase.The amount of outstanding government bonds should be reined in and then cut. In rebuilding the state finances, Abe must not forget this goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2006-10-25	YOSHIN0020061025e2ap000fv
YOMSHI0020061025e2aq0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061025e2aq0000i	EN	\N	DPJ should cooperate in revising education law	Given this, the logical thing for the DPJ to do if it seeks to revise the law is to engage in constructive debates in the Diet. However, the party has resorted to the tactic of delaying such debates--a move that is difficult to understand.	4	2006-10-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Diet debates on revision of the basic eduction law have just resumed. The government and the DPJ each submitted their own versions of revision bills during the previous ordinary Diet session, and nearly 50 hours were spent discussing the draft legislation.The government and DPJ bills have much in common. Both stress the important role that education plays in ensuring the succession of tradition and of fostering patriotism and public spiritedness, and both have articles on education at home.Neither of these points are included in the current law, which was established soon after World War II.Neither bill stipulates a term for compulsory education, which is set at nine years in the current law. Out of concern over the perceived decline in children's academic ability, the omission is aimed at allowing flexibility in the term of compulsory education. Six years currently are allocated for primary school education and three years for middle school. The omission would allow for the extension of the term of compulsory education.No time to wasteRebuilding the nation's education system is an urgent task. During the ordinary Diet session next year, lawmakers will discuss revising the law on teachers' licenses to establish a system in which the licenses are renewed periodically to enhance the quality of teachers. If the basic education law is revised, the government will start working to map out a basic outline for education promotion that will set policy goals for education authorities.The Fundamental Law of Education provides the philosophy and guidelines for coming up with specific measures to rebuild the nation's education. Revision of the law must be accomplished quickly.The DPJ, which shares concerns about the nation's education with the government and the ruling parties, should cooperate for the progress of Diet discussions on the law revision and should make efforts for their opinions to be reflected in the revision.However, the DPJ has opposed the resumption of such debates, and the start of full-fledged discussions has been delayed until next week. The main opposition party also continues to refuse talks with the ruling bloc to amend the government bill.Bill isn't a political footballThe government bill describes patriotism as "an attitude to love our nation and homeland," while the DPJ bill refers to "a heart that loves Japan." Not a few LDP members give high marks to the DPJ's clearer definition of patriotism.If the DPJ endeavors to have its own proposals reflected in the revised law, there will be a possibility that the government bill can be amended. However, the party has made this difficult.What is even worse, the DPJ has agreed with the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, whose basic vision differs from the DPJ's, to try to block the government bill during the current Diet session.In such circumstances, the DPJ's submission of the counterbill can be seen as nothing but a tool to delay Diet debates. Such a tactic reminds us of the methods of the Japan Socialist Party, the SDP's predecessor.There may be a feeling within the DPJ that if it enters into discussions with the ruling bloc to amend the bill, disarray within the party will be highlighted, and therefore, it would be better to maintain a confrontational attitude toward the ruling camp in the run-up to the House of Councillors election next summer.But education affects a country from a long-term perspective. If the DPJ uses education as a political football, it will work against the party in elections and, moreover, the main opposition party will lose the public's trust.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	694	2006-10-26	YOSHIN0020061026e2aq000f0
YOMSHI0020061027e2ar00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061027e2ar00001	EN	\N	Course-skipping schools do students disservice	Many of the schools explained that they skipped certain subjects so they could concentrate on subjects that would feature predominantly in university entrance examinations. The schools apparently acted out of a desire to raise the percentage of students who passed entrance examinations for tough universities.	4	2006-10-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, ignoring the rules is not something that can be tolerated, especially at educational institutions.Some of the schools even went so far as to submit false reports to boards of education stating that their students were taught compulsory subjects when they were not.These compulsory subjects are specified in the government's curriculum guidelines, which set out learning content for students.More to learning than examsThe core of the issue is the geography-history category. According to government curriculum guidelines, students have to take "world history" and either "Japanese history" or "geography."However, many of the high schools in question taught only one of the three options. At some schools, world history was not taught, even if the other two subjects were taught.It seems many schools and teachers did not follow the correct course of study out of consideration for students who did not want to learn subjects not necessary for university entrance examinations.However, even if students had this mentality, it was the duty of their teachers to explain the reason behind learning subjects not needed for entrance examinations.If the logic were permitted to stand that subjects not needed to pass university entrance examinations need not be taught, the significance of teaching such subjects as physical education, arts or home economics would be undermined.Not teaching compulsory subjects deprived students of the opportunity to learn them at a steady pace. To make up for the loss, students now face the burden of having to take 70 lessons in the next five months until graduation, the situation for which schools and teachers should also be held accountable.Failure to teach compulsory subjects is not new. Five years ago, similar incidents came to light in western Japan, but no substantive measures were taken to correct the situation.In addition to geography and history, it also is reported that compulsory science subjects and "information technology" were not taught properly at some high schools.Full inquiry, debate neededThis situation should prompt a full inquiry into the practice of skipping compulsory subjects, and the Education, Science and Technology Ministry should issue instructions to high schools through boards of education to correct the situation.It is important to address the situation so that students who have been taking subjects properly in line with the teaching guidelines and their parents do not harbor sentiments of unfairness and distrust.The ministry is working to revise the teaching guidelines. In 1989, given the increasing significance of globalization, world history was made a compulsory subject.Recently, from the viewpoint that it is important to understand the history and culture of one's own country, there is a strong tide of opinion that Japanese history ought to be a compulsory subject.There also is the opinion that schools should be given the authority to choose which subjects should be compulsory.Wide-ranging discussions should be carried out as part of the process of revising the curriculum guidelines.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2006-10-27	YOSHIN0020061027e2ar000fu
YOMSHI0020061028e2as00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061028e2as00001	EN	\N	Permanent law needed on SDF dispatch	However, it is high time that something was done so that the government did not have to continually resort to such makeshift measures before Japan can do its bit.	4	2006-10-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Democratic Party of Japan opposed the extension of the law, saying it was very problematic that the government did not give detailed explanations of the MSDF's activities and the results obtained.But the main opposition party's objection to extending the law, which goes into effect Wednesday, was not logical.DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa said in the basic policies he outlined when he was reelected party president in September that Japan should work toward establishing peace as a member of the international community. If he really meant this, then the DPJ should have been able to agree to the draft revision of the special antiterrorism law from a broader viewpoint.Draft bill already on tableIn Diet deliberations on the bill, the DPJ mentioned the necessity of a permanent law that stipulates the principles for the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel overseas.The special antiterrorism law was enacted to provide support to U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, and has now been extended three times since it was enforced in November 2001. To enable the provision of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq, the government established a special measures law for Iraq and dispatched Ground Self-Defense Force troops there for 2! years.The Liberal Democratic Party and the DPJ both agree that international efforts to establish peace will not be able to proceed smoothly and in a timely manner if Japan has to enforce a limited-period special measures law every time an emergency occurs, and then have to keep extending the law. A permanent law for that purpose should be enacted immediately.A subcommittee of the LDP's Nation Defense Division has finalized the outline of a draft bill for the permanent law. This draft would serve as a basis for discussion on a permanent law.The draft says that with prior Diet approval, it would be possible to dispatch SDF personnel overseas without a U.N. resolution or a request from an international organization.In regard to the Iraq war, the U.N. Security Council did not function smoothly as a result of conflicts among permanent members. Japan should consider the possibility of participating in joint international activities by the coalition of the willing with the Japan-U.S. alliance as the foundation.Japan must do its dutyThe subcommittee's draft expands the sphere of SDF activities to allow personnel to defend themselves as well as providing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, as assistance would be difficult to provide if SDF troops were not allowed to defend themselves. The SDF must be given the right to patrol and stop subversive activities at the very least. In order to take part in international peace missions, the SDF should be allowed to participate in such activities as providing protection, guarding areas and inspecting ships.Therefore, it is indispensable to relax standard operating procedures governing the use of weapons by SDF personnel by bringing them into line with the standards governing the use of weapons in U.N. peacekeeping operations. The use of weapons under such circumstances is a different matter from the use of force, which is prohibited by the Constitution.The current situation, under which Japan is not allowed even to fire warning shots while inspecting ships entering and leaving North Korea, should be changed.The peace and security of the international community is the basis of Japan's existence. Japan must not fail to make preparations domestically to reinforce this basis.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2006-10-28	YOSHIN0020061028e2as000g6
YOMSHI0020061029e2at00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061029e2at00001	EN	\N	Inaction over N. Korea N-test risks end of NPT	Due to the current situation, in which the international community has found itself unable to stop Pyongyang from developing its nuclear arsenal, this concern is mounting.	4	2006-10-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If Iran, which continues to expand its uranium-enrichment program, follows North Korea, that would cause a nuclear domino effect that would reach Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. There is also an increasing danger that nuclear weapons would be transferred to terrorists.With the collapse of the NPT framework, peace and security for the international community, including Japan, would be seriously threatened.Time to act on test ban treatyThe five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council--Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--have the privileged position of being nuclear-weapon states, as guaranteed by the NPT. Therefore, they bear the greatest responsibility to prevent nuclear proliferation.Tackling nuclear disarmament is an important first step toward fulfilling this responsibility.However, the five have so far made little efforts to this end. China and the United States have yet to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush has always voted against a resolution for nuclear disarmament that Japan presents to the United Nations every year. This is because the Japan-drafted resolution, which highlights the importance of compliance with the NPT, includes an item calling for the CTBT to urgently be brought into effect.At the First Committee of the U.N. General Assembly in October, a Japan-drafted resolution newly condemning North Korea for its recent nuclear test was adopted with 169 nations voting for it. Those opposed to the resolution were India, North Korea and the United States. So, concerning this matter, the United States was on the same side as North Korea.Were all U.N. member states to comply with international rules and regulations, including the NPT, it would provide an important basis for pressing North Korea to abandon its nuclear development program. But in fact, the NPT framework is being shaken to its foundations.U.N. powerless over PakistanIndia and Pakistan, which are not signatories to the NPT, conducted multiple nuclear tests in 1998, which demonstrated they are nuclear powers. But the U.N. Security Council could not impose strict sanctions on the two countries because China and Russia defended them.Sanctions imposed by Japan and the United States on Pakistan were lifted due to its promise to cooperate with the U.S.-led antiterrorism campaign that began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Japan and the United States turned a blind eye to Pakistan's possession of nuclear weapons.In 2005, India and the United States reached an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation. The United States accepted India as a nuclear state, with a view to aiding its entry into the emerging Indian market and putting pressure on China.Japan should put all its effort into stopping North Korea from becoming a fully fledged nuclear power. But the situation is becoming more and more difficult.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	554	2006-10-29	YOSHIN0020061029e2at000ah
YOMSHI0020061030e2au00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061030e2au00001	EN	\N	Decentralization drive still falling short	The government has submitted to the Diet a bill aimed at transferring some administrative power to local governments. The bill, which also seeks to transfer some tax revenue sources to local governments, calls for a reexamination of the current systems that govern purpose-specified grants-in-aid and tax allocations to local governments. It also calls for the distribution of tax revenue sources between central and local governments to be reconsidered.	4	2006-10-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bill would establish a committee comprising specialists and academics at the Cabinet Office to discuss specific ways to promote decentralization. The government intends to submit in 2010 to the Diet a package of bills designed to translate into action a set of recommendations to be made by the committee.In 2002, the package of laws on the promotion of decentralization took effect after a similar law had been established in 1995. The 2002 legislation sought to end the hierarchical relationship between the central and local governments with the former higher than the latter, and instead establish relations of "equality and cooperation." For instance, the system for administrative duties performed by local governments on behalf of the national government was scrapped through implementation of the omnibus law. Under the erstwhile system, local governments had been treated as subordinates controlled by the central government.Modest resultsHowever, the government has produced only limited results with the current legislation, as shown by a modest \\4 trillion cut in subsidies for specific projects, which was offset by a tax revenue transfer worth \\3 trillion under the so-called triple reform of local finances. This is a far cry from establishing a relationship of equality and cooperation between the national and local governments.The central government still imposes various restrictions on local governments under ordinances and guidelines for subsidies. These regulations make it difficult for local governments to carry out policies suited to the circumstances surrounding their respective areas.For instance, local governments hoping to draw up basic projects that would directly affect local residents, including land utilization and improvement of their sewerage systems, must obtain consent from ministries and agencies that supervise such undertakings. This makes it impossible for local governments to devise necessary projects swiftly. They also must spend a great deal of time and money in sending officials for meetings with officials from relevant ministries and agencies in Tokyo to gain consent for their new projects.The National Governors' Association has called for ending "excessive restrictions [on projects drawn up by local governments] and involvement [in such undertakings] by the national government." The association said regulations by the central government have undermined the autonomy granted to local governments.The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry apparently hopes to take advantage of the envisaged law on the promotion of decentralization as it tries to generate momentum for a second round of the reform drive for decentralization.Difficulties aheadHowever, efforts to abolish a tax revenue source transfer and end an excessive degree of involvement in local government projects by the national government are expected to provoke strong opposition from central government ministries and agencies as such measures would force them to abandon their vested interests.Private-sector members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy have proposed the committee charged with studying how to promote decentralization of power be comprised of "persons who will strive to strip ministries and agencies of their vested interests under the leadership of the prime minister." Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must demonstrate strong determination to take on various challenges facing him. If he does not, the government will struggle to move on to the next phase in its drive for decentralization.Meanwhile, local governments have their own tasks to overcome in promoting decentralization. Fiscal failure facing the Yubari city government in Hokkaido has shown how reckless the local government was in carrying out development projects and how inept it was in addressing fiscal issues.Needless to say, Yubari--a city with debts exceeding \\63 billion--is only one of the few municipal governments that have been careless in drawing up and implementing projects. It should be noted, however, that the reform drive for decentralization would prove to be of no practical use if local governments were unable to properly use the administrative power and tax revenue sources transferred to them from the national government.Local governments are still in dire fiscal straits. They must learn how to effectively manage their administrative and fiscal operations, for the purpose of making preparations for the planned transfer of administrative power and tax revenue sources. Doing so would bring the decentralization reform drive one step forward.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	805	2006-10-30	YOSHIN0020061030e2au000c4
YOMSHI0020061031e2av00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061031e2av00002	EN	\N	Surprise discount plan sparked confusion	Softbank Mobile Corp., the third largest cell phone carrier in Japan, was forced to stop accepting applications for switchovers Saturday and Sunday because the company's computer systems were overwhelmed by a huge number of applications.	4	2006-10-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Softbank's attempt to slash cellular phone charges is appreciated, but its preparations were wholly inadequate.Quite a few consumers wasted precious weekend hours to visit the company's outlets only to be refused switchovers. Softbank has to enhance its computer systems quickly and make appropriate preparations within the company to ensure customers are not inconvenienced again.The confusion was triggered by Softbank announcing its new discount price plans only a day before the number portability service started. The plans include a flat-rate system for unlimited calls and e-mail text messages between Softbank phone users with only basic charges.The plans were kept secret to maximize the impact of the dramatic announcement. Not only the company's agents but also a majority of the company employees, including those in charge of the computer systems, were reportedly not informed of the plans.Preparation neededDepartment stores and supermarkets increase the number of salespeople when they have special sales.If the mobile phone carrier intended to introduce the new price plans, dubbed "revolutionary low charges," it should have outlined the plans in advance to those concerned so appropriate preparations could be made.In the past, the Softbank group caused a similar problem with sales of asymmetric digital subscriber line service. The group signed up many subscriptions with low rates and free distribution of connection devices, but it failed to keep up with the flood of new customers and took a long time to establish the newly sold ADSL connections for subscribers. Some customers had to wait months and their complaints flooded the then Pubic Management Ministry.Nonetheless, it is indisputable that Softbank's low rates have accelerated the spread of ADSL in Japan, giving the nation one of the highest rates of broadband penetration in the world.Cell phone charges in Japan are said to be higher than those in the United States and Europe. Introduction of number portability aims at giving a new boost to the mobile phone industry here and promoting competition toward improvement in service, including reduction of charges.3-way price competitionIn this sense, Softbank's flat-rate system is a new service in line with the purpose of number portability.However, Softbank's rivals--NTT DoCoMo Inc. and KDDI Corp.--claimed that a majority of cell phone users would be able to enjoy lower charges with their subscriptions since the flat-rate system offers discount charges to only a limited proportion of Softbank subscribers.NTT DoCoMo and KDDI should state this up front in comparison advertisements if they are sure their claim is true.If they find their customers are switching over to Softbank because their price plans are less attractive, both companies should take some countermeasures to lower basic and call charges.Many users apparently feel that discount systems of NTT DoCoMo and KDDI are difficult to understand.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 31, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	555	2006-10-31	YOSHIN0020061031e2av000gu
YOMSHI0020061101e2b100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061101e2b100001	EN	\N	Tournament aims to hit home run for disabled	The first international baseball tournament for physically challenged people will be held Saturday and Sunday at Skymark Stadium in Kobe.	4	2006-11-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Four teams from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States will participate in the event. It may be a small event, but we hope it will evolve into a global phenomenon.Baseball is not included in the Paralympic Games. The Kobe tournament can be seen as a disabled people's version of the World Baseball Classic, held this spring for the first time. Major League Baseball will present the participants in the Kobe tournament with badges identical to those given to players in the World Baseball Classic."Their vigorous play is the result of unimaginable efforts and will provide hope and courage to people all over the world," Shigeo Nagashima, honorary lifetime manager of the Yomiuri Giants, who serves as chairman of the executive committee, said in a statement.A batter swinging a bat with only one arm; an infielder catching a ball and immediately throwing it after removing his glove--such plays will certainly impress spectators. We hope many people will go to the stadium to watch them play.The Japanese team consists of 19 players aged from 25 to 52, including the event's only female pitcher. We hope they will do as well as Team Japan, led by Sadaharu Oh, did in the World Baseball Classic.37 years of historyThe history of baseball for disabled players dates back to 1969, when outfielder Yutaka Fukumoto and his teammates from the then Hankyu Braves, a predecessor of Orix Buffaloes, visited a welfare facility for disabled children in Kobe and taught them how to play baseball. In 1981, people who used to stay at the facility formed a baseball team, and in 1993 a national tournament started.During the Kobe event, representatives from the four participating countries and Venezuela will discuss the establishment of an international organization to promote baseball for disabled people.They hope to hold the second tournament in the United States three years from now, at the same time as the second World Baseball Classic, with the event held every four years thereafter, participated in by an increasing number of countries.To promote baseball for the disabled globally, unified rules and qualification criteria for participation will need to be drawn up.For the Kobe tournament, as it is hosted by the Japan Dream Baseball League, the Japanese association of handicapped baseball, local rules will apply.Stealing bases and bunts, which require physical agility, will be banned. Another player can act as a runner to first base when a batter with a disability that hinders running is at bat. A player who is unable to field can be at bat in a preregistered order.Intl criteria to be discussedAs a qualification to participate in the Kobe tournament, Japanese players must possess a handbook for the disabled issued by a prefectural government and certifying their disability, though it will be difficult to come up with unified qualification criteria for participants.Representatives from the five countries have to carry out discussions to come up with international rules and participation criteria, so that people can participate regardless of the degree of their disability and still enjoy the excitement of baseball.With the Kobe event as a springboard, the joy of baseball should be shared by more disabled people.Currently in Japan, 30 teams in 22 prefectures are members of the Japanese association, with 750 registered players.Every prefecture should have at least one team, and games with able-bodied players should be promoted, too.It seems that baseball for disabled players is not so popular in countries other than the four participating in the Kobe tournament. We hope the Kobe event is successful and leads to an increase in participating countries in future international tournaments.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 1, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2006-11-02	YOSHIN0020061102e2b2000gi
YOMSHI0020061102e2b200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061102e2b200001	EN	\N	Don't let N. Korea call itself a nuclear power	Three envoys from China, North Korea and the United States who represent their countries in the six-way framework reportedly agreed to resume the six-party talks at an early date during an unpublicized meeting they held in Beijing on Tuesday. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, Washington's envoy to the six-way talks, said the negotiations would resume in November or in December.	4	2006-11-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Pyongyang had demanded that the United States lift its financial sanctions against North Korea as a precondition for it returning to the talks.But Washington has rejected the demand, maintaining that its sanctions are a law-enforcement measure against Pyongyang's illegal acts, such as counterfeiting dollar bills and money laundering, and that the sanctions have nothing to do with the six-party talks. The U.S. Treasury Department formally concluded last week that the North Korean regime has counterfeited the U.S. currency.Hill said North Korea had not sought any conditions for returning to the six-party talks. However, it is not clear if, when the talks restart, Pyongyang will agree to their continuation with no conditions.Sanctions should stay intactThe North Korean regime under leader Kim Jong Il had long refused to return to the six-party talks. Despite warnings from the international community, it test-fired ballistic missiles and then went ahead with a nuclear test.Though it has agreed to return to the multinational framework, such a government must be watched closely to see how it deals with the talks. Though it has agreed to return to the talks, the threat North Korea poses as a nuclear-armed country has not lessened at all.The international community is about to start implementing sanctions under a unanimous U.N. Security Council resolution against North Korea to punish it for going ahead with the nuclear test. The siege laid by the international community around the communist state in the form of sanctions should not be weakened.Participants in the six-way talks, which started in August 2003, issued a joint statement in September last year. Even while the talks were going on, Pyongyang continued its nuclear development. In the end, Pyongyang only used the framework to buy time.Even after the talks resume, Pyongyang may continue its nuclear development. We must not make the same mistake again.Japan must work with U.S.After it declared in February last year that it possessed nuclear weapons, Pyongyang argued that the six-party talks should become disarmament negotiations. This indicates that North Korea wants to participate in the six-way framework as a nuclear power.Foreign Minister Taro Aso explicitly said that North Korea should not be allowed to rejoin the talks as a self-declared nuclear power. That makes sense because Japan faces a more serious threat than any of its neighbors from a nuclear-armed North Korea.After the six-party talks resume, the different stances toward Pyongyang between the Japan and the United States on the one hand and China, Russia and South Korea on the other may become conspicuous. The most important thing for Japan is that it presents a united front with the United States. For its part, Washington should realize that the six-party talks will be a diplomatic milestone for the United States that will test the credibility of the Japan-U.S. alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 2, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2006-11-01	YOSHIN0020061101e2b1000hk
YOMSHI0020061103e2b300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061103e2b300001	EN	\N	New guidelines for a new era needed	Does the postwar Constitution now need to be amended to better serve Japan?	4	2006-11-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Recent remarks made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicate that he feels it does, and he is on record as saying he wants to see the Constitution revised during his tenure as president of the Liberal Democratic Party.Many prime ministers, out of a desire to avoid having the issue become a bone of contention, stated that they had no desire to revise the Constitution while in office. This is true not only of the long postwar period during which conservative and progressive forces were ideologically at odds, but also in the years that followed.It is an epochal development that Abe has avowed his intention of establishing a "new constitution."As a typical example of provisions that no longer suit the times, Abe cited the war-renouncing Article 9 and has proposed it be amended from the viewpoint of "protecting Japan" and "contributing to the international community."The prime minister's proposal is quite reasonable today given the current international situation and the security environment surrounding Japan, but it would have been unthinkable at the time the Constitution was established.Given that North Korea conducted a nuclear test last month, Japan must seriously consider the possibility of being subjected to a nuclear attack. Likewise, the rapid buildup of China's military also is cause for concern for Japan. The security environment surrounding Japan has entered an unprecedentedly critical phase.Defining the SDF's roleThe first thing that needs to be done is to have the Self-Defense Forces, which are tasked with protecting Japan, clearly defined in the Constitution as "armed forces."For the Japan-U.S. alliance to function smoothly, it is also necessary to make clear in the Constitution that Japan be allowed to exercise its right for collective self-defense. As long as the government sticks to the current interpretation of Article 9, which says Japan has the right to collective self-defense but cannot exercise it, it will hinder joint actions taken by Japan and the United States.The foundation for the existence of Japan as a nation that lives on international trade is dependent on peace and stability in the international community.Unless Japan fulfills its role, commensurate with its economic power, in creating and maintaining peace in the world, it cannot be considered a responsible member of the international community.However, Article 9 does not carry an explicit provision for the SDF to assume their role.How should Article 9 be changed, so as to protect Japan's peace and prosperity?A draft for a new constitution drawn up by the LDP clearly stipulates the "possession of armed forces for self-defense" and Japan's "contribution to international cooperative activities."Parties must merge draftsFor the issue to be discussed in a constructive and practical manner, the Democratic Party of Japan and New Komeito should work out their own drafts for article-by-article amendments of the Constitution. But while political parties should avoid making rough-and-ready proposals, they cannot afford to take things easy.Of course, the problem is not limited to Article 9. There are diverse issues that need be defined clearly in the Constitution, including newly defined human rights, such as the right to privacy.In establishing a "new constitution," it is necessary to quickly enact a referendum bill on amendments. The bill drawn up by the ruling coalition of the LDP and New Komeito, and the one drafted by the DPJ are both under discussion, and the main point of contention has been narrowed down to the issue of the age requirement for voting in the referendum. Ichiro Ozawa, the leader of the DPJ, has said "the bill is the one that concerns procedures and there are few problems."By having the bills modified and unified into a single bill, the legislation could be passed into law with the approval of the ruling parties and the DPJ.We hope the 60th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution will become the one in which the nation will take an important step for establishing guidelines toward a new era.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 3, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	724	2006-11-03	YOSHIN0020061103e2b3000bm
YOMSHI0020061104e2b400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061104e2b400001	EN	\N	Closing in on the truth of the Soga abductions	The Niigata Prefectural Police Headquarters on Thursday obtained an arrest warrant for a female North Korean agent on suspicion she abducted the two women.	4	2006-11-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The police said the agent, who goes by the name Kim Myong Suk, is between 70 and 80 years old and about 150 centimeters tall. They have also released an artist's sketch of what she looked like at the time of the abductions. They added she was a member of the foreign intelligence department of the Workers' Party of Korea at the time of the abductions, and is now believed to be living in North Korea.The police obtained the arrest warrant as a result of their dogged investigations.The National Police Agency said it had placed the woman on an international wanted list through Interpol.Agent could help crack casesKim should be aware of the current whereabouts of Miyoshi, who remains unaccounted for. The North Korean agent may also have been involved in other abductions, and by taking her into custody, the investigative authorities might be able to come closer to learning the truth about the abductions.Hitomi, then a 19-year-old nurse, and Miyoshi, then 46, were abducted by three men near their home on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. Kim was believed to have entered Japan about a week before the abductions.Describing her voyage by boat to North Korea, Hitomi told government officials: "There was a Japanese-speaking woman aboard the boat, who spoke to me in Japanese. She did not sound Japanese judging by her pronunciation."Hitomi said that after being abducted near her home, she was bound hand and foot and bundled into a sack. She added she had not seen her mother since then.North Korea says it knows nothing about the abduction of Miyoshi, insisting there is no record of her having entered the country. But there is no way we can believe what is said by Pyongyang, which has repeatedly lied on the abduction of Japanese and other issues.Pyongyang a pariah stateThe government officially recognizes that 16 Japanese have been abducted in 11 incidents. Kim is the fifth person for whom Japanese police authorities have obtained arrest warrants, naming them as the perpetrators of the abductions.Pyongyang has told Japan that the agents who were in charge of the abductions have been executed or given long prison sentences. However, one of the operatives involved in the abductions, Sin Gwang Su, is treated like a hero in North Korea. Kim may have been treated likewise.It is difficult to believe that North Korea will respond as a sensible member of the international community and agree to Japan's demands. Nevertheless, Japan has to insist that Kim be handed over.The whereabouts of other Japanese abductees, including Megumi Yokota, who was abducted in 1977 at the age of 13, remain unknown. The current state of affairs is that the abduction issue is far from being fully resolved.In addition to the threat it has posed to the international community with its missile launches and nuclear test, Pyongyang also is counterfeiting bank notes and manufacturing stimulant drugs.The police authorities have to investigate thoroughly all sorts of illegal actions Pyongyang has repeatedly committed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 4, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2006-11-04	YOSHIN0020061104e2b4000ed
YOMSHI0020061105e2b500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061105e2b500001	EN	\N	3rd-party probe needed for Wakayama scandal	The announcement came only days after he denied any involvement in the scandal and declared he would stay on. However, he could not evade his political responsibility for bringing confusion to the prefecture's administration.	4	2006-11-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This case came to light soon after a bid-rigging scandal involving the former Fukushima governor and his younger brother resulted in both men being arrested. The causes of collusive bidding at the initiative of public organizations such as prefectural governments or officials in such organizations, as seen in these cases, are deep-rooted. Investigations into the murky deals should not be called off simply because the governor has stepped down. The nature and reach of the collusive relations should be thoroughly investigated.Kimura remained defiant even after the Wakayama prefectural treasurer, his closest aide, who has since resigned from the position, was arrested by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of obstructing public competitive bidding. "I never ever knew about the bid-rigging and I believe the treasurer wasn't involved," Kimura insisted. Trotting out such an explanation will not wash with prefectural residents.Even after the treasurer was indicted, Kimura tried to defuse the matter by announcing punitive measures such as cutting his own salary and declining to accept his retirement allowance. However, he ended up only energizing prefectural assembly members seeking to pin responsibility on the governor and demanding his resignation. Further, the treasurer was rearrested on suspicion of involvement in another bid-rigging case. Amid this confusion, Kimura eventually decided to relinquish his post.Cosy tiesIn the bid-rigging, a former golf course owner, who was quite influential in selecting companies to carry out public works projects, and an adviser to a major general contractor had coordinated which companies should receive the job. The treasurer had the final say as a virtual "voice from heaven." The former golf course operator reportedly pocketed about \\120 million as a reward for his efforts.Kimura and the former golf club owner became acquainted when Kimura was a deputy governor of Osaka Prefecture. They often played golf together and the former golf club owner was a frequent visitor to the Wakayama governor's office. The governor himself introduced the former company president to the prefectural treasurer.Kimura promoted reform of the prefecture's bidding system, such as by expanding general competitive bidding, but bid-rigging cannot be stamped out if construction companies are allowed to enter public works projects at the behest of the "voice from heaven."Of the 65 construction projects with targeted tenders of more than \\100 million that the Wakayama prefectural government ordered last fiscal year, 22 successful bids were for 95 percent of the target price or higher. The prefecture's collusive bidding structure almost certainly had a firm grip on the proceedings for these bids.More scandals to come?The setup in which a person close to a prefectural governor has a hand in rigging bids reared its head in Fukushima Prefecture. In this case, a younger brother of the former governor had reportedly been spending rewards accrued for his help in rigging bids as gubernatorial election campaign funds for the former governor.In the Wakayama case, where did the money go? Could it be true that Kimura had no part whatsoever in the bid-rigging?The Wakayama prefectural government needs to conduct an independent probe into the matter, by establishing a third-party investigation panel, for instance. The prefectural assembly also should reflect upon its glaring failure to function as an organ that checks the work of the prefectural government.Since last year, authorities have uncovered a string of large-scale bid-rigging cases, including those involving the Defense Facilities Administration Agency and former Japan Highway Public Corporation. This illustrates the determination of investigative authorities to eradicate bid-rigging practices. The scandals that have tainted Fukushima and Wakayama prefectures might just be the tip of the iceberg--authorities reportedly have been informed of bid-rigging involving local governments themselves.This year, the revised Antimonopoly Law came into force. The law stipulates tougher punishments for violators and strengthens the arsenal of authorities trying to eliminate bid-rigging practices. Central government and prefectural bureaucrats, not to mention the construction industry, should take a long, hard look at the reality of the situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	760	2006-11-05	YOSHIN0020061105e2b5000am
YOMSHI0020061107e2b600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061107e2b600001	EN	\N	Time to strip SIA staff of public servant status	Deliberations on the bills, which did not pass in the previous ordinary Diet session, resumed in the current session. However, the bills appear destined to be scrapped because of insufficient deliberation.	4	2006-11-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This epitomizes the public's frustration over a string of scandals that have tarnished the agency. We think the bills should go back to square one and start from scratch.The Liberal Democratic Party said it would drop the current bills--one of which would transfer agency employees to a new organization without changing their status as full-fledged public servants--and submit completely revamped bills to next year's ordinary Diet session.The most important part of this bill would be to turn the new organization into an independent administrative corporation whose employees are not public servants. This is a reasonable approach, considering the snowballing distrust of the agency set in motion by the recent scandals.The currently deliberated bill plans to reorganize the agency into an organization called the Nenkin Jigyo Kiko (pension business organization).The envisioned body would be set up in a way that bears little resemblance to other government offices. For instance, important decisions will be discussed at a pension management panel that consists of external experts, while a special auditor would oversee personal information and handle inappropriate actions by employees.Panel split over new agencyHowever, the new organization, under the current bill, is designated as a "special organization" of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. It would be almost identical to the current agency, which is an external bureau of the ministry. Employees of the new organization would continue to be treated as public servants.The expert panel that created a basic platform for the bill last year was split on this point until the last moment. The panel opined that employees of the new organization should not retain their status as public servants; instead, the experts suggested, the new organization should be a completely independent administrative corporation.The panel favored this tack because the nonchalance of agency employees was mostly to blame for a raft of scandals, such as leaks of personal information of pensioners, corruption related to a number of large arbitrary contracts, shady supervisory fees for agency-related publications and mistakes in supplying pensions, to name a few.Intense interest focused on what reforms the agency's director, Kiyoshi Murase, who was plucked from the private sector, would implement. After being appointed to transform the agency in July 2004, he exhorted employees to do their jobs, but warned they were skating on thin ice and would lose their public servant status if effective results were not soon forthcoming. Although they would continue to be government employees, Murase had in effect handed down a kind of "suspended sentence" over their status as public servants.Improvements hard to findHowever, a look at what the agency--or more precisely, agency workers--has done since then does not make for pretty reading. More than 380,000 cases of illicit exemptions of national pension premiums have been uncovered, and social insurance offices in several prefectures concealed facts related to the exemptions, resulting in punitive measures being imposed on about 1,700 employees.Put simply, this shabby conduct will not change provided the agency remains an organization of public servants. The employees should be designated as nongovernment workers and lackadaisical employees should be their prized out of their posts.Even if the agency is transformed into an independent administrative organization, the government should retain responsibility for the pension system. Sufficient discussions are needed on important issues, such as how to deal with the right to forcibly collect pension premiums. Opinion within the LDP is split on the new organization, with some members even toying with the idea of carving off the SIA's premium collection sector and unifying it with the National Tax Agency. As such, just exactly what shape the new organization will take remains difficult to pin down.However, doing nothing--and leaving the tainted agency to muddle along unchanged--is the worst option on the table. The government and ruling parties should inform the public as soon as possible what the new organization will look like.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	731	2006-11-06	YOSHIN0020061106e2b6000c4
YOMSHI0020061107e2b700002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061107e2b700002	EN	\N	Clear legal, ethical rules needed for transplants	At the hospital in Ehime Prefecture, 11 transplants were performed using kidneys removed because they were diseased. All of the kidneys were removed from patients not related to the recipients, and the transplants were carried out over a two-year period from autumn 2004.	4	2006-11-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The hospital was previously embroiled in a kidney transplant scandal involving an organ trade involving the same doctor.The most problematic cases are two transplants using cancerous kidneys. The recipients were administered with immunosuppressive drugs to prevent immunological rejection, therefore facing higher risks of the spread of cancer. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's guidelines on transplants involving brain-dead donors ban donations from cancer sufferers.The remaining nine cases involved kidneys affected by such conditions as ureteral strictures and benign tumors that did not necessarily need to be removed. Even if such a kidney is removed and then successfully treated to allow it to function properly, it should be reimplanted in its original owner.Consent not obtainedOn the whole, the consent of donors and recipients was not properly sought. Letters of consent were obtained only from three donors. No consent letters were obtained from the recipients.Of the 11 kidney removals, five were carried out at four hospitals in Okayama and Kagawa prefectures by a network of doctors, including the younger brother of the doctor who carried out transplants at Uwajima Tokushukai Hospital.The brother who removed kidneys at hospitals in Okayama Prefecture lied to the hospitals involved, saying he wanted to have the kidneys examined by pathologists to enable him to take the kidneys out of the facilities. The group of doctors thought the removed kidneys should be used for transplant, considering it wasteful to simply discard the organs.Those hospitals, especially the heads of the hospitals, should also bear some blame for their failure to realize the removed kidneys were to be used for transplants.The ministry will start investigating what information was provided to the patients and what consent procedures were taken. The ministry will also check whether removals and transplants were carried out properly from a medical standpoint.In-depth probe neededThe ministry must fully investigate the incidents and find out whether similar practices have been carried out at other hospitals.The scandal stems from a lack of legal control on live organ donor transplants .The ethical guidelines set out by the Japan Society for Transplantation say only that an organ transplant involving an unrelated living donor has to be reviewed by a hospital's bioethics committee and the committee has to seek the society's opinion. The guidelines have no binding legal force.The Organ Transplants Law bans organ trades and unlicensed mediations in organ transplants from living donors. But the law does not set criteria on medical conditions of donors and it does not stipulate rules on how to verify spontaneous wills of donors.Clear rules, including a legal framework, must be established as soon as possible, and new rules should include one to require examination by a third-party organization.After the kidney trade scandal, The Yomiuri Shimbun surveyed 135 hospitals in the nation that carried out kidney transplants from living donors. More than 20 percent of them said they have declined to carry out kidney transplants due to suspicions about the circumstances surrounding the donors and recipients, including a suspected exchange of money.On the other hand, 40 percent of the hospitals do not have a system to prevent such a questionable practice. Only nine hospitals said their ethics committees examine all transplants in advance.Unless a rigid monitoring mechanism is established, trust in transplants will be lost.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2006-11-07	YOSHIN0020061107e2b7000g4
YOMSHI0020061108e2b800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061108e2b800001	EN	\N	Freedom of speech at issue in N-debate	Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa has called for a debate on national security issues involving nuclear weapons, while Foreign Minister Taro Aso offered his support for Nakagawa's proposal, saying, "If such a discussion is blocked, it would be criticized as the suppression of freedom of speech."	4	2006-11-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is a sincere stance by responsible politicians to raise the issue of how Japan can come up with countermeasures against North Korea without possessing nuclear weapons.But LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Toshihiro Nikai criticized Nakagawa and Aso, saying their comments would invite misunderstanding.Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma said such a debate would send the wrong message.The comments by Nikai and Kyuma apparently reflected their concern over the possible adverse effects of the remarks by Nakagawa and Aso on Diet management and the Okinawa gubernatorial election. Diet debates on the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education and the promotion of the Defense Agency to a ministry are gearing up.National security keyHowever, protecting the peace and safety of Japan is a crucially important task. Short-term political concerns should not be a reason to block a debate on nuclear weapons issues from the viewpoint of national security.Some argue that such debate would lead the international community to believe Japan will become a nuclear nation. However, given the financial burden of nuclear development and the risk of causing friction with the international community, acquiring nuclear arms is a very unlikely option for Japan.Nakagawa and Aso have also said explicitly that Japan should maintain its three nonnuclear principles of not possessing, not producing and not bringing in nuclear arms. Their stance is based on the view that possession of nuclear weapons is not a viable option for Japan.The three nonnuclear principles were established by the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1967 during the Cold War, when conservatives and leftists were at loggerheads. However, the national security climate has changed dramatically.As Aso said, we can have a discussion on why the three nonnuclear principles were established and how they should relate to the current situation.Such a debate might result in the confirmation that Japan should stick to these principles. That would be a meaningful discussion.Hatoyama contradicts selfThe opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Japan, have strongly criticized Nakagawa and Aso. Some elements in the opposition bloc even called for Aso to be ousted as foreign minister.Under the administration of then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi in 1999, Shingo Nishimura, then parliamentary vice minister of the Defense Agency, was ousted from his post after making remarks suggesting Japan should be armed with nuclear weapons.DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, who was serving as the party's leader at that time, defended Nishimura."If one is fired immediately after talking about whether Japan could be armed with nuclear weapons or not, we can't hold discussions [on the matter] at the Diet," Hatoyama said. "It's questionable to argue that such an issue shouldn't be discussed," he added.Hatoyama should remember his own comments.In the age when conservatives and leftists were in a head-on confrontation, constitutional revision was seen as a taboo subject, and cabinet ministers who mentioned it were instantly dismissed.If a debate on how Japan can ensure national sercurity in the face of threats of nuclear weapons was blocked, it would be suppression of the freedom of speech. It is important to enter into the debate with a cool head.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2006-11-08	YOSHIN0020061108e2b8000gr
YOMSHI0020061108e2b90000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061108e2b90000f	EN	\N	Bush no lame duck in matters of diplomacy	The results are a severe setback for the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush and his Republican Party.	4	2006-11-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A Democrat will hold the post of speaker of the House. As the Democratic Party will hold the chairmanship of each committee, the party will be able to hold frequent hearings on the propriety of U.S. government policies and exert strong pressure on the Bush administration.The competition between the two parties will grow fiercer ahead of the presidential election in two years' time.Will the sea change in U.S. politics lead to a weakening of the Bush administration and affect its diplomatic policies? This is something Japan should monitor closely.Some believe Bush will be a lame duck for the last two years of his term of office as Congress will be controlled by the Democrats. But that view may be too pessimistic: There are numerous examples in the past when this scenario did not play out in Congress when it was under control of the opposition party.For example, the United States under former President Ronald Reagan successfully concluded the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in the last two years of his term. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton made efforts to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East and to resolve the North Korea problems during his time as a "lame duck."Iraq key issue for U.S. votersPresidents who serve a second term have the advantage of being able to devote themselves to the promotion of their policies without having to worry about campaigning again. Although they might find their hands tied by Congress on domestic issues, they still wield great power in the fields of diplomacy and security. Therefore, it cannot be said that Bush's diplomatic leadership has been weakened.The reason for the Republicans' defeat mainly lies in the chaotic situation in Iraq. According to a U.S. public opinion survey, the focus of attention for voters was the Iraq issue as well as scandals involving Republican lawmakers.More than 2,800 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since the start of the war. There is no immediate prospect of the withdrawal of the 140,000-strong U.S. force in Iraq. The United States may have attained its goals of establishing a new Constitution and a democratic government after the collapse of the administration of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but the security situation in Iraq has yet to be stabilized, and Iraq is in danger of descending into civil war.Don't give DPRK upper handPublic dissatisfaction with and concern over the Bush administration, which has failed to improve the situation in Iraq, might have led voters to support the Democratic Party.The Bush administration will not pull U.S. troops out of Iraq until the country is stabilized, and it will position its involvement in Iraq as a matter of the highest priority in its foreign policy.What is extremely important for Japan is how the United States will deal with the North Korean issue.If Washington devotes all its attention to the Iraq problem and loses interest in the North Korea issue, there is a fear that Pyongyang will take advantage of such a situation and accelerate its nuclear development program.It is important to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear development program diplomatically through the six-party talks. Without active U.S. involvement in the talks, they will not have a successful outcome.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2006-11-09	YOSHIN0020061110e2b9000fc
YOMSHI0020061110e2ba00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061110e2ba00001	EN	\N	How will Rumsfeld exit affect Iraqi policy?	The Iraq war was the main reason the Republican Party was dealt such a crushing defeat in the midterm elections.	4	2006-11-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There were voices not only from the Democratic Party but also from within the Republican Party and the U.S. military calling for Rumsfeld to resign to take responsibility for the situation in Iraq.By changing his defense secretary, Bush may be trying to achieve a breakthrough in Iraq.Bush nominated former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Robert Gates as Rumsfeld's successor, expressing his hope that Gates "will prove to be a man of vision who will see threats still over the horizon and prepare the United States to meet them." The problem is whether the new defense secretary will be able to come up with policies that will lead to a breakthrough in the current quagmire.Continuing mission in IraqThe president emphasized that he would seek the cooperation of the Democrats, who will control Congress. He intends to explain the Iraqi situation to executive members of the Democratic Party and hear their opinions on the situation there. By doing so, he will seek to ask the Democrats to share responsibility for policy with regard to Iraq.A bipartisan study group on Iraq led by former Secretary of State James Baker is soon to submit proposals for policies on Iraq to the president and Congress. Gates also is a member of the study group. There is a possibility that the proposals will include one that the United States should have dialogues with Iran and Syria, according to sources.Taking the proposals into consideration, the Bush administration is expected to come out with new strategies for stabilizing the situation in Iraq.More than 20 countries have dispatched troops to Iraq to maintain security and help reconstruct the country. The Air Self-Defense Force is transporting supplies to Iraq. The shift in U.S. policy on Iraqi will have a large impact on the cooperation of participating countries, including Japan, for Iraq's reconstruction.U.S. base realignmentRumsfeld also was in charge of the transformation of U.S. military bases on a global basis.In South Korea, Washington agreed with Seoul to reduce U.S. forces by one-third. The two countries are discussing the problem of how to shift the United States' right to command in time of war to South Korean troops. Will Rumsfeld's resignation influence the realignment of U.S. bases there? This is also a matter that will influence Japan's security at a time when North Korea is pursuing a course of nuclear armament.As for the realignment of U.S. bases in Japan, Rumsfeld played a leading role in talks on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture and the transfer of marines stationed in the prefecture to Guam. What influence will his resignation have on these issues?The realignment of U.S. bases in Japan is not only a matter for the United States. It is also directly linked to Japan's security. In May, Japan and the United States agreed to a bilateral "road map" on implementing realignment plans. The United States is unlikely to revise the agreement just because of a change of defense secretary. But it is necessary for the two countries to reconfirm the agreement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 10, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2006-11-10	YOSHIN0020061110e2ba0019k
YOMSHI0020061111e2bb00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061111e2bb00001	EN	\N	No need for govt to issue order to NHK	However, wasn't there another way Suga could have asked the public broadcaster to comply, rather than issuing an order?	4	2006-11-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Even members of the Liberal Democratic Party to which he belongs criticized Suga's decision. "It's horrible," said Toranosuke Katayama, secretary general of the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors.Suga's order is based on the Broadcast Law, which stipulates that the internal affairs and communications minister has the right to order NHK what it should cover in its international broadcasts. The cost of airing these designated programs is shouldered by the government under the law.Honey better than vinegarIn the past, Suga's predecessors have issued orders for NHK to focus on important national policies and on the government's views on international issues in its programs. However, those orders were all issued in abstract language that respected the independence of the public broadcaster, which is chiefly funded by viewer fees. Although NHK received these government orders, it broadcast them only after editing them at its discretion.But, the latest order is different in that it spells out that the broadcaster must air programs on abductions of Japanese by North Korea.Of course, it is extremely important to support the victims of the abductions and resolve the abduction issues by helping the international community better understand the situation. In that sense, NHK's international service has a very important role to play.NHK has said on several occasions that it has voluntarily reported on the abduction issues in detail as a matter of course.In fact, about 700 out of 2,000 or so news reports on North Korea aired from January through September on NHK's international shortwave service were related to the abductions.Suga might have felt there should have been more such programs, but he could have taken a more moderate approach rather than issuing an order, for the Broadcast Law also states that a broadcaster has the freedom to edit programs.Specter of state interferenceSuga's preference for issuing orders has prompted public concern of possible government interference in the contents of broadcasts.After issuing the order, Suga said he was not going to interfere with program content. Asked if similar orders would be issued to private broadcasters, the minister said "no way."Any political interference that undermines freedom of the press and broadcasting cannot be tolerated.It is only natural that NHK Chairman Genichi Hashimoto said after receiving the order that the public broadcaster would continue to stick to its basics of independent and autonomous programming in the editing of its international broadcasts.It has now become necessary to debate how an order should be issued to a broadcaster.With an increasing number of viewers refusing to pay fees to NHK, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is reviewing the Broadcast Law, and is considering including stipulations stating that viewing fees are mandatory and the introduction of delinquent charges.The issuance of orders to a broadcaster should be reviewed, too, so as to avoid a recurrence of the latest contretemps.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 11, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	557	2006-11-11	YOSHIN0020061111e2bb000go
YOMSHI0020061113e2bc00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061113e2bc00001	EN	\N	Board of Audit, Diet must work in tandem	Changes have also been afoot at the Diet level. There has been an increase in cases in which the House of Councillors, which attaches more significance to settlement of accounts than it did in the past, has asked the national audit board to check the contents of specific items in state expenses to see whether tax money is being squandered.	4	2006-11-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In June last year, the upper house took the unusual step of asking the Board of Audit to inspect nine items, including those in the central government's special accounts and social security costs. The Board of Audit submitted reports on two of the cases to the Diet last year and seven reports this autumn.In those reports, the Board of Audit pointed out a number of special allowances, which were not paid to national public servants, were being provided to employees of local governments. It also was revealed that many people depend on welfare benefits without receiving public pension payments despite being entitled to do so. These problems surely could be taken up in future Diet deliberations.This summer, the upper house again asked the national accounting watchdog to investigate three items, including arbitrary contracts in the central government's procurement programs. The watchdog is already trying to get to the bottom of these problems.Watchdog growing in statureThe audit board has been undergoing a transformation. Without waiting for the Diet to make a request, the board has from time to time reported to the Diet on results of its various independent inspections. In the past, the board submitted a report on government spending to the Diet only at the end of each fiscal year. However, revisions to the Board of Audit Law enabled the watchdog to submit results of its inspections to the Diet at any time it saw fit.We hope the board will independently and vigorously inspect any suspect practices and call on relevant ministries and agencies to deal with problematic points as soon as possible.Among these new moves, the annual report made public Friday discovered billions of yen had been squandered by the government through wasteful expenditures--as it has been every year.The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry's program to extend subsidies to reduce the excessive number of fishing boats was one glaring example of such wastage. Under the program, four-ninths of subsidies paid to fishermen who scrapped their fishing boats was shelled out by the government on condition that the remainder would be shared by other fishermen who continued to operate their boats.According to the board's investigation, some fishermen who continued to operate their boats made it appear that they had paid their share, although they actually did not, and let fishermen who kept their boats on dry land receive 250 million yen in subsidies.Infuriating waste of moneyThe report is brimming with such wasteful and unfair expenditures by government organs. Any taxpayer who read the report's findings would feel their blood boil. We hope government ministries, agencies and other organizations will seriously reflect on the shoddy practices pointed out in the report.The reforms were designed to give full play to the investigative capacity of the board by giving it much more freedom to examine the accounts after requests by the Diet and its independent research. However, the board should not stretch itself too thin by endlessly expanding targets for inspections. Being unable to conduct thorough inspections would dilute the effectiveness of the Board of Audit.The Diet and board must not forget that a "selective and intensive" mind-set is necessary to stamp out this problem. They should home in on problematic fields and leave no stone unturned in their investigations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2006-11-12	YOSHIN0020061113e2bc000c1
YOMSHI0020061114e2be00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061114e2be00001	EN	\N	Fukushima poll not linked to education law	The election was called to pick a successor to Eisaku Sato, who quit the post over a bid-rigging and payoff scandal. Former House of Councillors lawmaker Yuhei Sato won the race by a wide margin over four other candidates.	4	2006-11-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While independent candidate Sato was backed by the Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party, a female lawyer supported by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito came in second.One major factor in Sato's victory was his high name recognition as a former DPJ Diet member who was also supported by conservative voters.To regain public trust in the prefectural administration hurt by the scandal, the new governor has to examine the scandal and implement appropriate reforms.During the campaign, the new Fukushima governor pledged to reform the system used for bidding on contracts for public works projects. Sato has said he would introduce an open tender system in principle to replace the current closed tender system in which only designated companies are allowed to bid. With a limited number of companies participating under such a system, it is relatively easy to rig bids.Lengthy tenureThe former governor held his post for 18 years over five terms. The new governor has pledged not to stay in office for more than three terms, reflecting sentiments that the former governor's long tenure party contributed to causing the scandal.Limiting the number of terms for local government heads has become a topic of legislative discussion a number of times. However, no related laws have been established due to objections that such a law would violate the freedom to choose one's occupation as guaranteed by the Constitution.If governors declare voluntarily that they will refrain from seeking a fourth term, it could eliminate the adverse effects of a governor serving for a long time, without touching on a constitutional issue.During the campaign, the LDP decided not to support gubernatorial candidates seeking reelection after a third term. The DPJ and New Komeito have similar policies. Such moves by political parties would put the brakes on governors serving for extensive periods of time.Odd interpretationWhat is difficult to understand is the DPJ's response to the result of the Fukushima gubernatorial poll.DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said, "It's a message [from the public] to restart deliberations on revision of the Fundamental Law of Education."Hatoyama's remark suggests the main opposition party intends to block passage of the revision bill by the House of Representatives, something the ruling camp aimed to accomplish later this week.The SDP also said it would intensify its attack on the revision bill in the Diet.However, the revision bill was never an issue in the gubernatorial election.Moreover, Sato tried to distance himself from the DPJ during the campaign, calling himself a candidate from "a prefectural people's party" that is not affiliated with any political parties or groups.In campaign speeches, he repeated slogans pledging to reform the prefectural administration and repeatedly raised issues and tasks directly related to the prefecture.Sato never expressed opposition to the revision of the basic education law during the campaign as such a move would be bound to draw criticism from conservative voters.The DPJ may want to use Sato's win to repair the damage to its reputation resulting from the humiliating defeats of its candidates in the lower house by-elections last month, but it is unreasonable to connect the results of the Fukushima gubernatorial election--a local poll--with the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education.Saying the poll result is a call for reopening the debate is twisting the story to the party's own advantage.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	676	2006-11-14	YOSHIN0020061114e2be000gd
YOMSHI0020061115e2bf00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061115e2bf00001	EN	\N	Govt maintains resolve on N. Korea sanctions	The latest measure, to take effect Wednesday, is in line with a U.N. Security Council resolution on sanctions imposed following North Korea's nuclear test on Oct. 9. Japan is the second country to have implemented such a measure, following Switzerland.	4	2006-11-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in a bid to maintain his regime, is said to secure the loyalty of his close aides and high-ranking military officials by giving them foreign-made luxury goods.The government has placed an embargo on goods that could be used for such purposes, a move that followed an embargo on "materials linked to nuclear and missile development."These items account for about 16 percent of Japan's exports to North Korea. Apart from the actual effects of the embargo, the latest move can be said to have the symbolic meaning of making clear Japan's intention of not easing punitive measures against North Korea unless the country abandons its nuclear and missile development programs.The United States is scheduled to implement its export embargo on luxury goods to North Korea shortly.Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari said he hoped the export ban by Japan and the United States would serve as a guiding principle for other countries to follow.Japan, in tandem with the United States, should encourage other countries to take similar measures.Unity among 5 nations keyThe six-way talks aimed at urging North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program will resume next month. Yet Pyongyang, which has said it will return to the six-way talks, has chosen to style itself as a nuclear power.Even when the talks resume, a long, tough road lies ahead of achieving the objective of having North Korea abandon its nuclear and missile development programs.Only if the sanctions are effective as a bargaining chip will we be able to demand that North Korea abandon its nuclear and missile development programs at the six-nation talks. That is why the five countries that will negotiate with North Korea need to maintain unity in reinforcing sanctions against it.However, South Korea has decided to maintain the cross-border Mt. Kumgang tourist resort and Kaesong industrial complex projects, which it funds. Seoul has also refused to formally join the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative, a campaign aimed largely at stopping North Korea from trafficking in weapons of mass destruction by sea.Similarly, Russia is also taking a conciliatory stance toward North Korea. China, for its part, has adopted a wait-and-see stance since North Korea announced it would return to the six-way talks.Tighten net around NorthShould a split emerge between Japan and the United States on one side and China, Russia and South Korea on the other, it will be practically impossible to press Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile development programs.The meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum that starts in Hanoi on Wednesday will bring together the leaders and foreign ministers of Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States.The holding of summit talks among Japan, South Korea and the United States is also being studied. Bilateral talks are scheduled, too, including those between Japan and China, and between Japan and Russia.In this series of talks, Japan plans to urge China, Russia and South Korea to steadily implement the measures listed in the U.N. sanctions resolution.To prepare the environment for the six-nation talks, it is important that the coalition tighten its grip around North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2006-11-15	YOSHIN0020061115e2bf000r1
YOMSHI0020061116e2bg00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061116e2bg00001	EN	\N	Opposition's reasons for boycott are baloney	The bill was voted on at a meeting of the House of Representatives special committee on the education law Wednesday. It passed the panel by majority vote and is expected to pass the lower house plenary session Thursday before being sent to the House of Councillors.	4	2006-11-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Members of opposition parties did not attend the committee meeting in a demonstration of their intention to boycott the vote. As a reason for the planned boycott, they said priority should be put on getting to the bottom of the scandal over government-prompted staged questions at town meetings on educational reform.The government has repeatedly said it submitted the revision bill after taking into consideration opinions expressed at the town meetings and other venues. Seizing on this explanation, the opposition camp claims the bill is defective as it was compiled based on the staged questions asked at such meetings.2 bills very similarThe government said the questions were intended to invigorate discussion, but it is clear that it went too far.However, it is a leap of logic to conclude that the revision bill is also problematic. As examples of "opinions voiced at other venues," the government mentioned discussions at the National Commission on Educational Reform and the Central Council for Education. It is quite unrealistic for the opposition parties to assume that the bill was compiled based purely on the results of the town meetings.The Democratic Party of Japan also argues that the recent series of bullying-induced suicides by schoolchildren and the failure by some high schools to teach certain compulsory subjects are problems directly related to the contents of the revision bill. The DPJ says the bill needs to be debated further before it is voted on.The DPJ's counterproposal submitted to the Diet stipulates nurturing patriotism and a sense of public morality, and contains an article referring to education at home. There are no major differences between the government and DPJ bills. Comparing the language on cultivating patriotism in the bills, some within the Liberal Democratic Party even say the wording in the DPJ bill is better than that in the government bill.Both bills probably ended up very similar because the ruling parties and the DPJ share the same belief that enhancing children's respect for social norms and attaching importance to the role of the family will help solve problems schools face, such as bullying.If the DPJ seriously thinks bullying-induced suicides are related to the contents of the bill, it should invite the ruling parties to hold discussions to amend it.Political expediency evidentHowever, the DPJ has urged a boycott of a vote on the bill together with the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, which are totally opposed to revising the law. It seems that the DPJ is trying to exploit the issue of bullying-induced suicides, which has distressed many people in the nation, as an excuse to delay a vote on the bill.The bill has already been deliberated at the lower house special committee for more than 100 hours. If the opposition parties think more debate is needed, they should soon sit down with the ruling parties in the upper house to discuss the bill. However, the opposition parties oppose establishing a special committee in the upper house to discuss the bill and are set to prevent the upper house from beginning deliberations on the bill by refusing to recommend members for the committee from their parties.They say the deliberations were not conducted satisfactorily, but at the same time they are blocking the deliberations. By taking such a contradictory attitude they show that what they have said so far was based on political expediency to block a vote on the bill.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2006-11-16	YOSHIN0020061116e2bg000er
YOMSHI0020061117e2bh00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061117e2bh00001	EN	\N	Reliable info key to escaping tsunami	Tsunami triggered by the earthquake, the focus of which was northeast of Russian-held Etorofu Island, reached an area extending from Hokkaido to Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday night through Thursday morning. Waves up to 80 centimeters high were recorded in some locations.	4	2006-11-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Need for quick responseThe best course of action in the event of a tsunami is to evacuate to high ground as soon as possible. The Meteorological Agency took this golden rule to heart when it issued tsunami warnings and advisories before releasing information about the earthquake.The tsunami warning issued by the agency covered 22 cities, towns and villages in Hokkaido. Local governments in these areas issued evacuation recommendations and directives to their residents.Two people went missing in the 2003 Tokachi Offshore Earthquake, which caused waves up to four meters high. However, only about 30 percent of city and town governments in areas subject to tsunami warnings by the agency issued evacuation recommendations.The methods adopted by local governments in responding to the tsunami warning Wednesday night were much better. This may have been partly because the catastrophe triggered by the earthquake-caused tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004, which killed close to 300,000 people, was still fresh in their minds.However, it took some local governments an hour to issue evacuation advisories after the agency had issued its tsunami warning. In other locations, residents were slow to seek refuge because their city and town governments were inundated with inquiries about evacuation centers.As it was, only small waves were generated by the latest earthquake. There is no telling, however, when a giant tsunami may strike the nation. The authorities of the cities, towns and villages at risk from tsunami should examine any problems that arose over the way they issued the latest tsunami warnings. The lessons learned from this must be taken to heart in devising measures to be taken in the event of an earthquake that could trigger tsunami.The Kamaishi city government in Iwate Prefecture must learn a hard lesson in this respect. In response to the agency's tsunami advisories, the municipal government issued an evacuation directive to residents, but only 74 people evacuated. This is extremely disturbing in that there are 17,636 residents and about 7,000 households in the city.Restudy lessons of historyThe Sanriku district--a northeastern part of the Tohoku region that includes Iwate Prefecture--was struck by a powerful earthquake in 1896. The earthquake and the subsequent tsunami killed more than 20,000 people, a grim lesson for residents along the coast. Their lesson has it that "When there is a danger of tsunami, do not turn to anybody for help--even your parents or children. Run, run and run."We feel residents in Kamaishi may be oblivious to their ancestors' harsh experience. Failing to flee from a tsunami until the last minute means you can be engulfed by it. The central and local governments should reiterate the importance of evacuation to members of the public.There is also room for improvement in the method used by the Meteorological Agency to forecast tsunami and issue warnings. The agency was slow to gather data about the latest earthquake because the quake's focus was distant from seismometers installed in eastern Hokkaido.The current tsunami forecast system can issue a warning several minutes after an earthquake strikes any coastal area in Japan. However, it took 14 minutes to do so Wednesday night. The system also predicted tsunami could reach two meters high, far exceeding the actual height of the waves.It was also disturbing to note that the agency had canceled a tsunami advisory before an 80-centimeter-high tidal wave reached Miyakejima island in Tokyo. It prematurely withdrew a tsunami advisory on its Web site.Reliable information is needed to escape tsunami. This should never be forgotten.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	740	2006-11-17	YOSHIN0020061120e2bh000eb
YOMSHI0020061118e2bi00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061118e2bi00001	EN	\N	New name added to N. Korea's roll of shame	The National Police Agency has concluded that Kyoko Matsumoto had been abducted by North Korean agents 29 years ago. Early next week, the government will officially acknowledge her as one of the Japanese abducted by North Korea. Matsumoto's case--the 12th of its kind to be confirmed by the government--has raised the number of government-acknowledged abductees to 17.	4	2006-11-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Only five abductees have been repatriated. By taking advantage of the six-party talks and by exploiting all other available means, the government must demand that the reclusive state reveal the whereabouts of the remaining 12 abductees, including Matsumoto. The government must do its utmost to ensure their return home.In October 1977, Matsumoto, then 29, went missing after leaving home, saying she was on her way to a knitting class.A neighbor happened to see her as she was forcibly taken to a beach by two men, and an unidentified ship was seen in waters near the scene of her abduction. A former North Korean soldier who defected from his country has testified that he saw a woman who looked like Matsumoto at a military facility in his country.One month before Matsumoto's disappearance, Yutaka Kume was abducted from a beach in Ishikawa Prefecture. One month after Matsumoto's abduction, Megumi Yokota was abducted from a beach in Niigata Prefecture. In 1978, 10 people were abducted from the coast in Fukui and Niigata prefectures, including Yasushi Chimura and his fiance.Pyongyang's state terrorismAll of these crimes were committed by North Korean agents working under orders from their government, using spy ships to take the abductees to North Korea. The abductions by North Korea were blatant acts of state terrorism. Matsumoto's case clearly shows that the North Korean government was the mastermind behind all of these crimes.During the 1970s and later, unidentified ships were frequently spotted in waters around Japan. However, the government did not investigate suspicious activities by unidentified vessels in relation to North Korea or the disappearance of Japanese. In other words, the government totally failed to perceive North Korea as a terrorist state.Many mysteries surround the abductions. The NPA has placed five North Korean operatives on an international wanted list, saying they perpetrated the crimes. However, these agents fled to their country after committing the crimes.Never give in, never surrenderA private-sector investigative committee is continuing its investigation into the disappearance of about 460 Japanese, excluding the 17 abductees. The group has said it is difficult to eliminate suspicions that these people also were abducted by North Korea. The commission has said there is good reason to believe 34 of them were abducted by North Korea.During a meeting between former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2002, Pyongyang only acknowledged it had abducted 13 Japanese. By accepting the responsibility for the abductions of these 13 people, North Korea is trying to put the whole dispute to rest. But it must not be allowed to get away with it.The government must continue to investigate all the abductions to uncover the whole truth behind the cases. The perpetrators of those crimes and collaborators in Japan must be identified.The government has imposed sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear test conducted last month, by banning port calls by North Korean ships and visits by North Koreans. But Japan cannot afford to relax its vigilance against the unpredictable regime, which has carried out a large number of terrorist and other crimes in other countries over the years. The government should not fail to take precautions against the possibility of new spying activities by North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2006-11-18	YOSHIN0020061118e2bi000ij
YOMSHI0020061119e2bj00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061119e2bj00001	EN	\N	5-party solidarity key to pressing N. Korea	The government must use its full diplomatic repertoire to further enhance this unity. As part of this effort, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with the leaders of China, Russia, South Korea and the United States on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi on Saturday, and confirmed their basic stances on the six-party talks that are expected to resume in the first half of December.	4	2006-11-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The nations agreed that North Korea will not be recognized as a "nuclear power" when it sits at the six-nation talks, and that sanctions imposed on the reclusive regime under a U.N. Security Council resolution after Pyongyang's nuclear test in October will remain in place. The five countries also agreed that the six-party talks must achieve concrete results toward realizing a nuclear-free North Korea.In his meetings with the leaders of the four countries, Abe went to great pains to stress the importance of producing "concrete results."Pyongyang vowed to give up its nuclear weapons program in a joint statement issued after the fourth round of the six-party talks in September last year. However, North Korea broke that promise when it conducted its nuclear test last month.The government has every right to distrust Pyongyang's claims and promises because we directly face nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.Concrete steps imperativeAs Abe pointed out, North Korea must make "concrete" steps, including allowing inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency to resume, toward abandoning its nuclear and missile programs.The upcoming round of the six-party talks warrants no optimism.North Korea has explicitly said it will attend and speak in the talks as a "nuclear power." Pyongyang also repeatedly insisted that Washington should first lift economic sanctions it slapped on North Korea, arguing that if the sanctions were dropped, it would not need nuclear weapons.Gaps also remain between two camps that have formed among the five countries, with Japan and the United States on one side, and China, Russia and South Korea on the other.The latter three have said expectations for the talks should not be set too high, referring to "concrete results" that all five would seek from Pyongyang. They even went so far as to suggest the United States should make concessions regarding its economic sanctions against Pyongyang.China dragging the chainThe Third Committee of the U.N. General Assembly on Friday a resolution condemning North Korea's human rights abuses, including its abduction of foreigners. The abduction of Japanese by North Korean agents is an issue of paramount importance to the government.South Korea abstained from voting on a similar resolution last year, but Seoul voted in favor of the latest resolution. China and Russia, however, voted against the resolution, as they did last year.Japan and the United States sought to hold foreign ministerial talks with China, Russia and South Korea on North Korean issues on the sidelines of the APEC talks. However, the talks were not held primarily due to foot-dragging by China, which was worried the talks would "provoke" North Korea. Instead, North Korean matters were debated only at an informal breakfast meeting of foreign ministers from the APEC countries Thursday.A special statement expressing "strong concerns" about Pyongyang's nuclear test is expected to be issued Sunday. China initially was averse even to issuing this statement.Pyongyang has made an art form of trying to drive a wedge between the Tokyo-Washington camp and the grouping of Beijing, Moscow and Seoul. With the five countries' interests and expectations not completely in harmony, maintaining and reinforcing their solidarity on pressing North Korea will be a crucial test for Japan's diplomacy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	683	2006-11-19	YOSHIN0020061119e2bj000ar
YOMSHI0020061120e2bk00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061120e2bk00009	EN	\N	Time to boost economic ties with Asia-Pacific	Summit talks held among leaders of the 21 nations and territories of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum--including Japan, China, Russia and the United States--wrapped up Sunday in Hanoi. The declaration issued by APEC leaders called for studies on the idea of creating a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), an APEC-wide free trade agreement initially proposed by Washington. The declaration said APEC members should report back on their findings of such studies at the 2007 summit meeting to be held in Australia.	4	2006-11-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	APEC lumps together a myriad of political systems and economic powers. However, with some members wary of the United States, an FTAAP is unlikely to be established anytime soon.When combined, the APEC area forms a massive market whose gross domestic product accounts for about 60 percent of global GDP and which includes about 40 percent of the world's population. It would be a bold step for the government to look into the possibility of establishing the FTAAP to promote "open regional cooperation."Conflicting intentionsThe United States came up with the FTAAP plan to counteract separate efforts by Japan and China to set the ball rolling on free trade frameworks that did not include Washington. The United States also hopes the FTAAP would help rein in China's economic clout.Beijing, which has concluded an FTA with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also is seeking an economic partnership agreement to be signed by itself and the 10 members plus Japan and South Korea.As a counterproposal, Japan threw up a plan for an East Asia EPA framework that would include the 13 economies mentioned in China's proposal plus Australia, India and New Zealand.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was reasonably enthusiastic about the U.S. initiative. "It's a significant step to study the proposal as a multilayered approach," he said.How can the FTAAP concept and Japan's proposal be linked? The government must make a tough decision after carefully observing the intentions of other countries.Many tasks at handIn his policy speech and on other occasions, Abe has stressed that Japan should try to harness the growth and dynamism of Asia.EPAs help improve relations with other nations. However, the government has thus far signed EPAs with only four countries, including Singapore. The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy plans to review an EPA road map to increase the nation's EPA partners.Japan must first complete pressing tasks, including reaching a prompt agreement with ASEAN, and resuming stalled talks with South Korea. The government also must set its sights on starting negotiations with Australia, an agricultural power.From a practical perspective, Japan should set about accomplishing these tasks one by one. This approach would eventually lead to a bigger free trade framework.But to do so, Japan inevitably would need to proceed with structural reforms. In particular, enhancing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector is imperative.The APEC declaration also stressed the importance of reviving the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks of the World Trade Organization. The government should play its part in bringing about an early resumption of these talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2006-11-20	YOSHIN0020061120e2bk0012x
YOMSHI0020061121e2bl00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061121e2bl00002	EN	\N	DPJ must act sensibly to join mainstream	In stalling the Diet session, the DPJ might have felt ashamed of its associations with the Japan Socialist Party, a predecessor of the current Social Democratic Party.	4	2006-11-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The opposition parties, including the DPJ, which have totally shunned the deliberations to protest the adoption of the bill by the ruling parties at the House of Representatives, are likely to stop boycotting the deliberations to normalize Diet proceedings as early as Tuesday.During this time, the DPJ refused to recommend party lawmakers as members of the House of Councillors' Special Committee on the Fundamental Law of Education and also boycotted deliberations of bills that have nothing to do with education issues.The approach is the same resistance strategy taken by the former JSP as its usual practice.In his book "Nippon Kaizo Keikaku" (Blueprint for a New Japan), DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa criticized as the "tyranny of the minority" a situation in which a bill supported by the majority had to be changed after the demands of the "spoiled children" of the minority were accepted to pacify them.'Spoiled children'A "minority of spoiled children" is an accurate characterization of the DPJ. It might have been difficult for Ozawa to cling to the party's Diet strategy indefinitely.Originally, the DPJ supported the revision of the law, and in fact presented its own draft bill to the Diet. Nevertheless, the DPJ took concerted action to boycott deliberations in cooperation with the Japanese Communist Party and the SDP, both of which oppose the revision of the law.The DPJ may have valued concerted action among opposition parties aimed at strengthening the confrontational approach to the ruling parties in consideration of the upper house election in the summer next year and intended to use anything they could to manage the political situation in its favor.Realism triumphs in OkinawaBut in the Okinawa gubernatorial election Sunday, a candidate backed by the DPJ and other opposition parties lost to another supported by the Liberal Democratic Party.There was concern within the DPJ over supporting a candidate who opposes the existence of U.S. bases in Okinawa Prefecture, which could invite serious criticism of the party's security policy. It might be a cause of the defeat in the election that the DPJ put priority on the "alliance among opposition parties" without agreeing to policies.Younger DPJ lawmakers spoke out in favor of returning to the party's original stance in an effort to break away from the traditional image of being an opposition party that does nothing but resist the ruling parties' moves in the Diet. These voices might urge the DPJ to change its strategy to normalize Diet proceedings.The DPJ has yet to clarify its position on related bills to upgrade the Defense Agency to a ministry. It may be because the DPJ fears for the relations between the JCP and the SDP, both of which utterly oppose the bills.However, there are many DPJ lawmakers who say publicly that they would support the bills if they were voted on.The alliance of the DPJ with other opposition parties whose basic policies are incompatible with those of the DPJ only invites confusion in the party ranks.The DPJ should take the lead in constructive deliberations on such bills as the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education and the upgrading of the Defense Agency to a ministry that are fundamentally connected with statehood. That is the attitude that a real responsible party should take.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2006-11-21	YOSHIN0020061121e2bl000ge
YOMSHI0020061122e2bn0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061122e2bn0000k	EN	\N	Creating 'Japanese NSC' requires Abe to take lead	An advisory panel chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was launched Wednesday to enhance the functions of the Prime Minister's Office concerning national security.	4	2006-11-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abe has said that one of the main tasks for his administration is to reorganize and strengthen the functions of the Prime Minister's Office so that it will serve as the control tower for foreign and security affairs. The newly launched panel of experts will study measures to realize what the prime minister envisages, with a Japanese version of the United States' National Security Council in mind.Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone's administration established the current Security Council of Japan in 1986 to enhance the ability of the Prime Minister's Office to manage security affairs and national crises.However, the security council seems to have lost its raison d'etre and to have been reduced to a body that merely rubber-stamps the course the government unofficially decides on key policy measures, including the National Defense Program Outline and the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces troops abroad."I've attended the security council twice, but the members just listened to reports without holding in-depth discussions at both meetings," Yuriko Koike, special adviser to the prime minister on national security, said recently. "Japan lacks a system to map out a national strategy [on security]."Sectionalism ties govt's handsBoth the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Agency have been unwilling to help the Prime Minister's Office strengthen its authority over foreign and security affairs, apparently worried that their authorities in these fields could be undermined.Although the government bodies have sections that gather and analyze intelligence, they are not structured in such a way that they can report important information to the Prime Minister's Office at their own initiative, nor get the most out of gleaned intelligence to serve the national interest.In designing a Japanese NSC, it is essential to study ways to get rid of sectionalism in government ministries and agencies, which often leads bureaucrats to put priority on their own organizations' interest rather than the national interest. Also, the intelligence-gathering capability of the Prime Minister's Office should be beefed up. If it lacks adequate capability in this regard, the envisaged Japanese NSC would not be any different from the current Security Council of Japan.Hire, train specialistsIt is also necessary to study measures to hire and train staffers specialized in analyzing intelligence and devising policy.Currently, the assistant chief cabinet secretary in charge of national security and crisis management serves as head of the secretariat for the Security Council of Japan. He has as many as 110 staffers under him, who are brought together from the other government organizations. Most of them are temporarily dispatched to the secretariat, often holding their original posts concurrently.The current security council does not bear comparison with the NSC in the United States, which has 200 specialized staffers and reports its analysis of intelligence regularly to the U.S. president.To create an efficient and functional organ, the new panel should hold in-depth discussions on the shape of a Japanese version of the NSC.Such discussions will require the prime minister to show strong leadership.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2006-11-23	YOSHIN0020061123e2bn000cq
YOMSHI0020061124e2bo00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061124e2bo00001	EN	\N	Prepare for worsening business environment	However, the companies need to formulate game plans so that they can continue to increase their profits without depending on favorable business conditions, such as the depreciation of the yen, as such a fortunate circumstance cannot continue for ever.	4	2006-11-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In general, the companies saw double-digit growth in their sales and ordinary profits from a year earlier. They also saw revenues and profits grow for the fourth straight year as well as record profits.The companies have improved their balance sheets by streamlining facilities, employees and debts, moves that have enabled them to make thorough cost cuts. These restructuring efforts are apparently bearing fruit.The Japanese economy is on an upswing causing an expansion in domestic demand, and there have also been increased sales in markets overseas, including the United States and China, which is enjoying a high rate of economic growth. The general depreciation of the yen also has boosted profits for exporting companies. These factors brought a synergistic effect.Autos, appliances doing wellAutomobile and electric appliance industries are representatives of companies that have benefited from these windfalls.According to its consolidated midterm financial settlements, Toyota Motor Corp. chalked up more than 11 trillion yen in sales and 1 trillion yen in operating profits, both record highs.Among electric appliance makers that enjoy robust sales of flat-screen television sets and the other digital home appliances, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Sharp Corp. announced positive earnings as in the previous years, while steel, chemical, trading and marine transport companies saw positive results, too. Most major banks also announced record profits now that they have eliminated their bad debts.Among industries showing good business performance, however, Nissan Motor Co., which has not introduced any new models during this period reported a fall in operating earnings. Among electric appliance companies, Sony Corp. saw a large drop in profits and Hitachi, Ltd. has slipped into the red overall. The business performance of both companies has suffered from defective products.Important factors in the pursuit of profits is whether companies can develop products that satisfy market needs, and bring them into the market at the appropriate time. In addition, they need to be able to guarantee the safety of products and maintain the prestige of their corporate brands. Such collective corporate strength has divided companies into winners and losers.Slowdown forecastIn settlements of accounts in the business year ending March 31, listed companies are most likely to see increases in both sales and profits for five straight years, but their growth rate is expected to slow down in the second half of the current fiscal year.There are several worrying factors for this prediction. Foremost of which is that the U.S. economy is slowing down with a downturn in the housing market. If this affects consumption, auto sales will be affected in North America. This in turn will have a malign influence on the Chinese economy, which depends heavily on exports to the United States.If the yen starts to appreciate, this will have a negative effect on Japan's exporting companies' profits. Sluggish personal consumption could dampen domestic demand, too.While there is no need as of yet to be pessimistic, preparations should be made for a deterioration in the business environment as the current benefits being reaped from strong foreign demand and the weak yen might start dropping off.Companies should accelerate their selection and consolidation of business projects, concentrating manpower, money and other management resources sufficiently on profit-making sources. In the global business competition, success depends on how quickly business judgments can be made.Meanwhile, many companies have announced an increase in cash dividends in their interim financial results reports. As part of defense against a takeover, it is necessary for the companies to place more emphasis on the dividend policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2006-11-24	YOSHIN0020061124e2bo000bx
YOMSHI0020061124e2bp0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061124e2bp0000j	EN	\N	NPA must keep officers on right side of law	Such laxity by the police is of major concern to the public--the people the police are supposed to serve. This also could erode public trust and expectations for the National Police Agency's efforts to better maintain civil order.	4	2006-11-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In one case, a 44-year-old senior police officer of the Saitama prefectural police was arrested for allegedly robbing three post offices in Gunma Prefecture. In another, a former assistant police inspector of the Kanagawa prefectural police, 59, was arrested on suspicion of pocketing cash kept as evidence at a police station he was working for.Meanwhile, the number of police officers and staffers punished for drunk driving between January and early October was 26, eclipsing the 25 recorded for the whole of 2005.A total of 194 police officers and staffers were punished in the first half of this year for many kinds of misconduct, including criminal offenses, traffic violations, troubles in their private lives, and failing to properly fulfill their supervisory responsibilities.The number of police personnel punished for misconduct had been on the decline since peaking in 2002. However, this figure has jumped by 50 percent this year from the same period last year.Integrity falling by wayside"We're in an extremely grave situation," National Police Agency Commissioner General Iwao Uruma said at a Nov. 2 meeting of prefectural police chiefs from across the nation. "We'll never be able to regain public trust in the police unless we prevent such misconduct."Uruma is quite right to be concerned. Most of the scandals have involved middle-aged and senior police officers, rather than younger officers. This apparently shows an increasing number of police officers fail to understand the fundamentals of the ethics code, which include being conscious of their duty and moral integrity.The NPA has been reforming the police organization since a series of misdeeds surfaced six years ago, including an attempt by the Kanagawa prefectural police to hide the use of a stimulant drug by one of its officers.Several countermeasures were implemented to stamp out these transgressions, including the development of training programs to improve the quality of officers and enhancing the internal inspection system. Why has misconduct by officers been on the rise again despite these steps? The reasons for this wave of wrongdoing must be pinpointed and examined.Effective measures neededThe police officer who allegedly robbed three post offices was quoted as saying he was having difficulty paying back a housing loan and debts from consumer loan companies. His debts reportedly ballooned to more than 50 million yen, an amount far beyond his means to repay them. The disgraced former assistant police inspector was said to owe 6 million yen to consumer loan firms.The Saitama prefectural police announced they would try to prevent a recurrence of such criminal behavior by one of its own by thoroughly examining the personal lives of officers and providing better lifestyle guidance and counseling services to them. However, it is very difficult to intervene in the private life of a police officer just through guidance and counseling. Prefectural police headquarters around the country must come up with effective measures to prevent police misconduct.Stricter discipline alone will not necessarily reduce police misbehavior. The vast majority of the nation's 250,000 police officers are doing their jobs diligently and honestly. The best way to prevent such misdeeds is to make police officers more proud of their work and what they offer society.Like other baby boomers, police officers of that generation will soon retire en masse. Meanwhile, the NPA has a plan to increase the police force by 10,000 officers over the three years up to fiscal 2007. How can the NPA change the force into a better-motivated, stronger and more reliable organization under such circumstances?The NPA will not be able to better maintain civil order unless it successfully overcomes these problems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	709	2006-11-25	YOSHIN0020061125e2bp000gv
YOMSHI0020061126e2bq00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061126e2bq00001	EN	\N	Don't use biofuels to power farm industry	The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry aims to increase in about 15 years the annual domestic production of bioethanol--ethanol made from biological material--to 6 million kiloliters, a figure equivalent to about 10 percent of the nation's current annual gasoline consumption. Current annual bioethanol production is a paltry 30 kiloliters.	4	2006-11-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has criticized the agriculture ministry's target as being "exorbitant." Is the farm ministry's goal realistic? The ministry should clarify precisely what steps it will take to achieve the target.The Cabinet adopted last year a plan to meet the goal stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Under the plan, the government seeks to procure the crude oil equivalent of 500,000 kiloliters of biofuel, either through domestic production or imports in fiscal 2010.Aiming at different targetsHowever, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry's target for domestic production of biofuels amounts to the equivalent of 3.6 million kiloliters of crude oil. This figure is not even in the same ballpark as the government's target.The farm ministry has said increasing domestic biofuel production will help revitalize local economies, improve employment conditions and increase incomes. But these should not be the prime reasons for ramping up biofuel production.Some crops that could be used as material for biofuels, such as rice that would be grown on unused farmland, hold great promise if they are grown and turned into fuel efficiently.One automaker has started a challenging project to develop technology that will enable ethanol to be produced from rice straw.However, if the farm ministry's goal is perverted to protect agricultural products that would lose out in the face of real competition, such as beets and sugar cane, government policies aimed at fostering "brand" farm products recognized and admired around the world would be undermined.Needless to say, reducing oil dependency for fuels for automobiles and other vehicles is absolutely critical. Nearly every such mode of transport runs on an engine powered by oil. Consumption of oil has hardly fallen in recent years.Cooperation neededUnder the plan to meet the Kyoto Protocol, the government is trying to devise ways to introduce various types of biofuels. Mixing gasoline with bioethanol or biosynthetic fuels has been studied, as has production of biodiesel fuel made from vegetable oil. However, many hurdles remain before they become viable.How can affordable raw materials be secured domestically or through imports? How can production and distribution systems for biofuels be developed? Will vehicles that run on biofuels become the norm?Before these issues are resolved, fuel-cell powered vehicles might become more popular. Hybrid vehicles--vehicles that run on a combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor--have steadily become more common. If new, cleaner vehicles that do not rely on biofuels become accepted modes of transport, producing large amounts of biofuels may no longer be needed.Technology is advancing every day. If government officials turn a blind eye to this fact and keep only a single goal in mind, they will be unable to formulate a flexible response to the problem.Government bodies must work together to solve all the issues, instead of setting an excessive, unattainable goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2006-11-26	YOSHIN0020061126e2bq000a2
YOMSHI0020061127e2br00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061127e2br00001	EN	\N	NPA survey findings on pensions dubious	In particular, the authority found that the allowances public servants receive were slightly smaller than those of employees in the private sector. However, the report also gives the impression that public servants seek only to maintain their vested interests in one form or another.	4	2006-11-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government approved at a Cabinet meeting in April a basic policy to unify the employees' pension for salaried workers and the mutual aid pension mainly for public servants.Unifying the pensions will result in the abolition of various preferential treatments associated with the mutual aid pension, including the "job category addition," an add-on pension payment. Of course, this system will be abolished under government plans.However, many public servants have argued that because private-sector workers have the corporate pension, a similar system should be created if the job category addition is dropped. The National Personnel Authority studied what kind of new system was desirable and scrutinized the postretirement payments, including retirement allowances, for the public and private sectors.Divorced from realityOf most concern are the findings put forward in the report.According to the NPA, a national public servant receives on average 29.6 million yen from the combined retirement allowance and job category addition. However, an average private-sector employee receives 29.8 million yen from the retirement lump sum and corporate pension payments--200,000 yen more than national public servants.The report also said public employees would receive 2.41 million yen less than their private-sector counterparts if the job category addition is scrapped. The report concludes some measure should be introduced to fill this gap.But is anyone--other than public servants--convinced by the authority's explanation? We think the report is quite divorced from the reality.The rate of collection for the authority's questionnaire was nearly 80 percent for companies with 1,000 or more employees, but this figure plunged to only 50 percent for companies with less than 100 workers. The survey targeted employees who had worked at the same company for 20 years or longer. However, the survey did not adequately reflect the situation of midsized and small companies, which tend to have high job turnover rates and no corporate pension programs.Reasoning lacks substanceThe NPA lists several reasons that attempt to justify why public servants should receive generous pension payments. However, none of the reasons are overly compelling.For instance, it says, "Public servants face strict restrictions on their right to engage in labor disputes, and are prohibited from taking side jobs." Can this really be a reason for giving them a sweet deal through the pension system? Public servants do not have to worry about their employer going belly-up--a luxury not afforded to private-sector employees. And as civil servants basically work until their retirement age, they can receive generous pensions.Another dubious reason given was, "Public servants must refrain from securities trading and are therefore restricted from ways to build up their assets for postretirement life." But how many salaried workers are buying and selling shares to put aside a nest egg for their life after retirement?If the government proceeds with a plan to study preferential pension treatment on the premise of creating a corporate pension system for public servants based on such a debatable report, the public's belief that the nation's pension systems are unfair will only deepen.The entire survey process should be carefully reviewed and another survey conducted. Only after this has been completed should the issue be studied as part of a comprehensive reform of the public servant system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	639	2006-11-27	YOSHIN0020061127e2br000cj
YOMSHI0020061128e2bs00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061128e2bs00001	EN	\N	Chapter closes in saga of LDP postal rebels	The 12 postal rebels were among those ousted last year by the LDP over their opposition to the LDP-led government's postal privatization policy. The group, which includes former Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma, submitted a joint petition Monday, seeking to rejoin the party.	4	2006-11-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of the 12, 11 also submitted written pledges to support postal privatization and reflect on their past antiparty conduct. The exception was Hiranuma, who has not changed his stance of opposing the privatization of Japan Post. The 11 legislators are to be readmitted to the party.While they had a difference of opinion with the party over the privatization of the postal services, the postal rebels share the party's views when it comes to political beliefs and basic policy issues such as national security, education and the Constitution.As such, it was only reasonable for some to point out the absurdity of their being apart from the party.Nonetheless, the turmoil within the party over the issue of readmitting the postal rebels has made it difficult for voters to understand the situation.After the House of Representatives was dissolved over the rejection of the postal privatization bills in the House of Councillors, the 12, including Hiranuma, who won were reelected, voted for LDP President Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister when the Diet resumed in a special session.Hiranuma holding outAll the rebels except for Hiranuma gave up their opposition and voted in favor of the privatization bills, which were abandoned with the dissolution of the lower house but resubmitted following the election to the house.Most of what the rebels have pledged has already been carried out, in effect, following a predetermined course toward readmission to the party.Yet the LDP was divided on the issue between those favoring readmission and those opposing it, primarily because the issue was discussed as one linked closely to the party's strategy in the upper house election next summer.Within the party, particularly among the LDP's upper house members, the prevailing view was that it would be difficult for the ruling coalition parties to secure a majority in the next upper house election, making it essential to gain the backing of the postal rebels and the strong support bases in their constituencies. They called for early readmission of the postal rebels.Tough criteriaOn the other hand, LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa presented strict conditions for the postal rebels to be readmitted to the party.They were required to pledge that they would adhere to the party's rules and do their best to fulfill the party's campaign promises, including the privatization of Japan Post. Further, they had to promise their full support of the policy speech made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and submit a written pledge clearly stating they would resign as a legislator if they failed to keep their promise to the party.Nakagawa may have judged that if the rebels were readmitted too easily, the party would invite opposition from voters, a liability in the upper house election.Such reasoning may have helped Nakagawa stick to his guns and insist on the rebels meeting his conditions for readmission, including the submission of their written pledges.While a chapter of sorts has closed with the readmission of the 11 postal rebels, the party will likely be left with a lingering question of what to do with Hiranuma and those postal rebels who failed to get reelected to the Diet last year.Abe should exert his political leadership on this issue as the LDP president. Should the party create such a state of internal disorder again, it will lose voters' confidence.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2006-11-28	YOSHIN0020061128e2bs000g8
YOMSHI0020061129e2bt00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061129e2bt00001	EN	\N	Govt too slow to rein in pro-Pyongyang groups	It is believed that the wife of an executive of the Korean Association of Science and Technology in Japan (KAST), an organization affiliated with Chongryon, attempted to smuggle medical supplies, including intravenous solution bags obtained from a Tokyo doctor without authorization, into the reclusive state.	4	2006-11-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	IV bags are used to help patients recover after they undergo surgery. The government of North Korea is suspected of involvement in the woman's alleged attempt to smuggle the bags, hoping to use them to treat high-ranking government officials and military officers in that country.It seems extremely unlikely that the woman in question is the sole culprit in the case. Since last year, there have been several cases involving pharmaceutical products bound for North Korea, including one in which a huge amount of IV bags were illegally exported to the communist state. Another case involved a North Korean resident who attempted to smuggle IV bags into North Korea without declaring them at a customhouse. Cases also include one in which a trading corporation run by a KAST official shipped the bags to North Korea.KAST implicated yet againThe latest case is not the first one in which KAST was identified as a key player in irregularities tied to North Korea. A Tokyo optical equipment manufacturer illegally exported to North Korea a powdering machine that could be used to fuel missiles, after receiving a request from a KAST executive to do so. It has also been found that data related to the Defense Agency's missile development fell into the hands of an application software company operated by a KAST executive.KAST, an organization comprising North Korean scientists and engineers in this country, is controlled by the North's Workers' Party of Korea. It is necessary to uncover the truth behind KAST's activities.Even prior to the latest case, the police authorities suspected KAST had played a role in the unauthorized transfer of advanced technology from Japan to North Korea. Appearing before the U.S. Congress, a former North Korean engineer has testified that 90 percent of parts used to build North Korean missiles were acquired from Japan.Various products and technology have been sent to North Korea from Japan over the years. All this has supported--directly or indirectly--an attempt by North Korea, a military state under the iron fist of Kim Jong Il, to build missiles and promote its nuclear weapons program. The latest case must be examined to determine whether North Korea used IV bags for a purpose unrelated to their intended use.The Japanese government should have taken measures even earlier to foil illegal activities by Chongryon and KAST. However, the government has failed to squarely confront the realities of North Korea's wrongdoing.Keep up pressure on DPRKChongryon issued a statement concerning sanctions adopted by Japan after North Korea conducted a nuclear test, criticizing them as "unprecedented and extremely unreasonable steps."Even considering the fact that Chongryon is an organization dedicated to Kim Jong Il, the statement must be seen as preposterous in that it disregards the profound nuclear threat felt by the Japanese.The government reportedly intends to revise the Customs Law and the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law with the aim of increasing penalties for unlawful exports. The plan is aimed at ensuring its sanctions against North Korea will better fulfill their purposes. It is essential to keep exerting strong pressure on the communist state to force it to abandon its nuclear weapons program. This also must be complemented by an effort to increase precautions against possible terrorist attacks and other unsettling moves.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2006-11-29	YOSHIN0020061129e2bt000gn
YOMSHI0020061130e2bu00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061130e2bu00001	EN	\N	Aid-for-resources drives China's diplomacy	This has been particularly evident over the past month, during which Beijing appears to have poured most of its diplomatic resources into both regions. China's latest move has even more clearly demonstrated its desire to achieve leadership in international politics while also seeking to tap natural resources in these parts of the world.	4	2006-11-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Oct. 30, Chinese and Southeast Asian leaders met for a summit in southern China, marking the start of Beijing's monthlong diplomatic drive. The one-day summit was followed by the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in early November. The latter summit, the first of its kind ever held, was attended by leaders from 48 of the 53 African countries.In mid-November, Chinese President Hu Jintao held an intensive series of meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Hanoi. He then visited India and Pakistan from Nov. 20 to 26 after going to Laos, which pursues a socialist course as China and Vietnam do.Hu's visit to India was the first of its kind to be made to the southern Asian country by a Chinese head of state in 10 years. During his visit, the two nations agreed to meet regularly for highest-level talks. In Pakistan, Hu and President Gen. Pervez Musharraf reconfirmed their nations' sustained friendly relations.New strategic partnershipSince taking office in 2003, Hu has strived to build stronger diplomatic relations with Asian and African countries. During an international summit in Jakarta in April 2005, the Chinese president emphasized his nation's desire to form a new strategic partnership with Asian and African developing countries. China's latest diplomatic drive was an embodiment of its new strategy for increasing ties with Asian and African nations.During the one-day summit with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in October, China called for establishing a framework for regional peace and security that would include military exchanges. To help reduce the gap between haves and have-nots in the region, Hu also pledged to extend massive financial aid to ASEAN countries. China and Vietnam agreed to cooperate on a joint undersea oil field project.During the Beijing summit, China agreed it would double its aid to African nations and set up a fund aimed at encouraging Chinese corporations to invest more in those countries. Chinese efforts to increase cooperation with African countries would be concentrated on projects related to natural resources and energy.China's ambition to secure natural resources abroad by using its foreign assistance as a tool for that objective is particularly noticeable in Africa. China's aid to that part of the world accounted for more than half of its total overseas aid in 2005. Meanwhile, China's oil imports from African nations comprised more than 30 percent of its total petroleum imports in that year.Japan's donor status at riskBeijing has never interfered in the internal affairs of African countries it has aided, which are marked by dictatorial rule and the suppression of human rights. That approach has helped advance the Chinese goals.For many years, Japan has been given credit for its aid to less-developed countries in Asia and Africa. China's increasing foreign aid could deal a blow to Japan's status as a major international donor. In fact, China approached Asian and African countries and got them to oppose Japan's bid to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. As it turned out, Japan's plan fell through.Meanwhile, China is drawing fire from industrial powers for its lack of principle in extending overseas aid. Beijing could arouse resentment among its aid recipients if it continued to buy natural resources in a manner that would only benefit itself. China has not necessarily been assured that it will be able to continue its current policy toward developing nations in Asia and Africa.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2006-11-30	YOSHIN0020061201e2bu0009r
YOMSHI0020061201e2c100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061201e2c100001	EN	\N	'Defense Ministry' OK by Diet long overdue	Members of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan voted in favor of the bills together with Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito lawmakers. The lower house overwhelmingly supported the bills, with more than 90 percent of lawmakers voting for them.	4	2006-12-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bills, which are strongly linked to the naion's security, are very important, and it was unreasonable for lawmakers to have long been divided over the matter.A bill to upgrade the agency to a ministry was adopted in 1964 by the Cabinet under then Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda. But it did become law, and the organization has not remained an agency ever since the creation of the Self-Defense Forces in 1954.This was because socialists and other leftist forces, in confronting conservatives during the Cold War, advocated "unarmed neutrality" and asserted the SDF was unconstitutional. As a result, such elements did not treat seriously the concept of national defense, which is to protect the safety of the people.Sign of the timesHowever, with the end of the Cold War, Japan's national security environment has changed drastically. The government has dispatched the SDF to participate in a number of international peacekeeping operations, making significant achievements overseas.It is natural to upgrade the agency to a ministry if one takes an earnest look at the current reality and believes the Defense Agency and the SDF should evolve into entities fit to handle current situations.The DPJ must have lent its support for the bills due to its renewed awareness that it should act as a responsible political party.However, the main opposition party still holds many issues in contention. Many of the party's former socialist members did not attend Thursday's plenary session, boycotting the vote. Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives Takahiro Yokomichi, leader of the DPJ's former socialist group, voted against the bills.One of the bills calls for the SDF's international peacekeeping activities to be promoted to a "core mission." During discussions on the bills, the DPJ requested that "SDF activities in Iraq should be carried out as an 'auxiliary mission' not as one of the 'core missions.'" The DPJ's request was in apparent consideration for the former socialist members within the party.If international peacekeeping activities remain an auxiliary task--such as carrying out civil engineering works projects and extending assistance to domestic sporting events--the SDF would not be able to fulfill its increasing responsibilities to peace in the international community.Greater responsibilitiesMany difficult tasks remain regarding our national security. How should Japan respond to North Korea's nuclear arms development and to the realignment issues of U.S. military forces stationed in Japan, including the relocation of the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture? The DPJ has a duty to initiate constructive discussions.With the upgrading, the new ministry and the SDF will have greater responsibilities. However, there are concerns that a recent spate of incidents involving the SDF will cast doubt on the ability to fulfill such responsibilities.The morning of the day the bills passed the lower house, it was reported that information on security exercises at the Air Self-Defense Force's Naha Base had been inadvertently uploaded to the Internet from a personal computer belonging to an ASDF member.In February, internal Maritime Self-Defense Force information, including classified data on a destroyer, was compromised, with preventive measures introduced later.The "Defense Ministry" and the SDF should work to establish a system that includes tighter information control in order to ensure the confidence of the public and Japan's ally, the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	663	2006-12-01	YOSHIN0020061201e2c10014t
YOMSHI0020061202e2c200001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061202e2c200001	EN	\N	Tax panel must discuss consumption tax hike	Almost the entire lineup of the tax panel has been replaced since Abe came to power in September, and the commission's discussions are increasingly directed by the Prime Minister's Office.	4	2006-12-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prime minister has repeatedly trumpeted that "there will be no fiscal reconstruction without economic growth." The commission's report has faithfully followed this slogan by including proposals for cuts in many taxes--including corporate taxes.Buoyed by the recent rosy economic conditions that have seen the period of expansion surpass the so-called Izanagi Boom, tax revenue this fiscal year is expected to top \\50 trillion, \\4 trillion more than was projected in the initial fiscal 2006 budget.The commission recommends a strategy that reinforces corporate health by lowering the tax burden on companies, which will lead to an natural increase in tax revenue that will help get the fiscal house back in order. At first glance, this plan sounds reasonable.However, new issuance of government bonds totaling at least \\25 trillion must be earmarked for next fiscal year for the government to be able to compile the fiscal 2007 budget. Stable revenue sources must be secured to come up with reliable social security systems.Despite such circumstances, the phrase "consumption tax" was a glaring omission from the latest report. The massive fiscal deficit must be addressed through economic growth coupled with an increase in the consumption tax rate. In this regard, we are concerned that the panel's recommendations focused only on economic growth.Breaking the shacklesThe report called for drastic reforms of the nation's asset-depreciation system, which has been disadvantageous to companies here compared with systems in other countries.For example, companies currently are allowed to book 95 percent of their capital investment as tax-exempt costs. However, the report called for allowing firms to treat the entire amount of depreciation costs as tax-exempt expenses. It also recommends shortening depreciation periods for production facilities of high-technology products such as liquid crystal displays, which at present are set much longer than those in other countries.These measures would lower the tax burdens on Japanese corporations and eliminate some of the handicaps that could stifle their efforts to compete in the international marketplace.However, the report also pointed out that the amount of municipal property tax paid on production facilities will decline because this tax is paid in conjunction with corporate taxes.If the depreciation period of a nuclear power plant expires, local administrative demands--such as special firefighting requirements--will remain as long as the plant is in operation. In this regard, municipal property tax also should be reviewed.Regarding so-called triangular mergers, in which a Japanese subsidiary of a foreign firm acquires a target Japanese company by using the parent company's stock to obtain the Japanese company's stock, the commission recommended that tax levied on the Japanese company on capital gains from such transactions should be deferred to a not-yet-specified later date. This is a reasonable proposal that would ensure the taxation system would not hamper triangular mergers.Members not on same pageDiscussions at the commission saw members butt heads over exceptional measures on individual income taxes in which the tax rate on capital gains and dividends on shares of listed companies is set at 10 percent. A majority of members suggested the rate should be raised to 20 percent, on a par with the 20 percent rate on other financial income, such as interest on savings. But others argued the 10 percent rate should be maintained to firm up the cash flow from savings to investment.The report urged that the exception should, in principle, be abolished. But the commission left the final decision in the hands of the ruling parties.At present, the roles of the government's tax panel and the Liberal Democratic Party's Research Commission on Tax System are split; The government panel discusses the overall picture of the tax system while the LDP panel studies the details. This is not an ideal division of responsibilities. We think the two tax panels should take a step back and consider what their respective roles should be.The government's tax panel will start deliberating major tax reforms early on the new year. At that time, panel members should not try to sweep discussions on increasing the consumption tax rate under the rug.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	768	2006-12-02	YOSHIN0020061202e2c2000h9
YOMSHI0020061203e2c300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061203e2c300001	EN	\N	Prison not only cure to youth crime problem	The focus of the trial was whether the boy's rehabilitation would be better served by handing down a criminal punishment or adopting protective measures.	4	2006-12-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The presiding judge handed down his ruling based on the Juvenile Law, which was revised in 2000 to stress criminal punishment rather than protective and corrective measures.The boy, now 17, allegedly killed his parents, who were janitors at a construction company dormitory in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, and destroyed their room by triggering a gas explosion when he was a first-year high school student. The boy was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department and sent to the Tokyo Family Court.However, a formal trial was held after the family court sent him back to prosecutors.At court hearings, prosecutors said it was important to demonstrate that a criminal punishment could be handed down even to a minor who commits a vicious crime--like this boy did. Meanwhile, his defense counsel asked the district court to return the boy to the family court, saying priority should be placed on the boy's rehabilitation, rather than locking him up behind bars.Punishment to fit the crimeBut the judge said it was necessary to rehabilitate the minor by handing down a punishment commensurate with his actions to make him realize his responsibility for what he did.The judge also said society would approve of seeing the boy properly punished. His ruling apparently reflected society's increasing intolerance of juveniles who commit appalling crimes.The Juvenile Law was totally revised shortly after World War II when the nation was under the control of the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers, to shift its emphasis from criminal punishment to protective measures. However, more and more people have taken a dim view of the one-sided protection of juvenile criminals in recent years as the number of brutal crimes committed by juveniles has been on the rise.Such simmering doubts and criticism eventually led to a revision of the Juvenile Law in 2000, a main crux of which was the idea that even juveniles must atone for their crimes. With this revision, the age limit of people subject to criminal punishment was lowered from 16 years and older to 14 years and older. This revision is based on the same laws that Britain and the United States started to carry out in the 1980s.Tackle root cause of problemBut dishing out criminal punishments is not a silver bullet for stopping juvenile crime. A string of cases in which children aged 14 and older murdered or attempted to murder their parents has shocked the nation in recent years. According to the National Police Agency, 17 such cases were reported last year--the highest figure in the past decade--and 11 cases have been reported this year.The most pressing task we face is pinpointing how to prevent such crimes from happening in the first place. Attempting to elucidate why minors commit heinous crimes by trying to determine what lay behind their bitter thoughts at formal or juvenile trials is no easy matter.Officials at juvenile prisons or reformatories must unlock the hearts of young offenders to reveal the background to the crimes they committed, and their motives.We hope the findings of such research could be used by society to prevent similar crimes from being committed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2006-12-03	YOSHIN0020061203e2c3000am
YOMSHI0020061204e2c400001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061204e2c400001	EN	\N	Japan should enhance partnership with NATO	NATO leaders approved the Comprehensive Political Guidance at a summit meeting in Riga on Wednesday. The policy document recognizes the principal threats to the military alliance in the coming 10 to 15 years include terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and calls on NATO forces to reinforce and improve their capabilities to deal with these threats.	4	2006-12-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The document also stipulates that the 26 NATO member nations should improve relations with nonmember states--widely assumed to be Japan, Australia and New Zealand.Proponents of NATO often boast that the grouping is the most successful military alliance in history. Backed by impressive military might, the alliance played a major role in ending the Cold War and triggering the disintegration of the former Soviet Union.Since the curtain came down on the Cold War, NATO has expanded its scope of operations to countries beyond its territory, such as Afghanistan, to respond to regional conflicts and terrorist threats.Afghanistan mission is keyThis transformation has been inspired and instigated by sweeping changes in the global security environment. NATO operations in Afghanistan are of crucial significance: If the mission to maintain security in Afghanistan fails, global trust in NATO--a pillar of the international security framework--will be shaken. This might eventually affect Japan's security.NATO leaders were quite justified in devoting much of their talks at the summit meeting in the Latvian capital to the situation in Afghanistan. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force is encountering dogged resistance from Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, the alliance's major theater of battle at present. Security in the war-torn nation is barely improving and reconstruction plans are making little progress.ISAF has deployed 32,800 troops around Afghanistan. However, these troops are bound by operating restrictions, known as caveats, that contributing nations have placed on their forces. These caveats set restrictions on the number of troops, the equipment they can carry, and the areas where they can be deployed--and hamstring the force's ability to flexibly dispatch troops to other parts of the country. NATO leaders agreed at the summit meeting to relax these restrictions, but it is too soon to tell how much the current situation will be improved.Ability to assist limitedThe document suggests NATO should enhance its partnership with Japan, Australia and other countries because the alliance, which also has sent forces to Kosovo and Iraq, apparently wants them to help share its growing responsibilities.However, Japan's cooperation with NATO will have certain limitations because although the nation has the right to collective self-defense, it cannot exercise that right, according to the government's interpretation of the war-renouncing Constitution. However, in a sense, Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels refueling U.S. naval vessels in the Indian Ocean are already indirectly helping ISAF contingents operating in Afghanistan.Japan is living in the shadow of North Korea's nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. Cooperation with NATO to prevent international terrorist activities and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is essential for maintaining the security of the international community, including Japan.That is why Japan should strengthen its partnership with NATO.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	568	2006-12-04	YOSHIN0020061204e2c4000br
YOMSHI0020061205e2c500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061205e2c500001	EN	\N	Govt must spend revenue windfall wisely	State tax revenues are increasing steadily due to economic recovery. Tax revenues are expected to total 52 trillion yen to 53 trillion yen next fiscal year, an increase of 6 trillion yen to 7 trillion yen over the current fiscal year.	4	2006-12-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Demands are growing from among the ruling parties and all government ministries and agencies to increase spending for public works projects and other policies, the expenditure for which was reduced by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Despite an anticipated increase in its tax revenue, the government still needs to issue a massive volume of government bonds. Doing so is essential to ensure the government adequately finances projects and policies it hopes to carry out under its fiscal budget. The outstanding long-term debts incurred by the national and local governments now amount to 770 trillion yen. This means the government cannot afford to loosen the reins in its efforts to replenish its depleted coffers.The prime minister should take advantage of the growth in tax revenue to greatly reduce the issuance of government bonds, thus drawing up a clear road map for fiscal reconstruction.Given this, the first test of Abe's approach to fiscal reform is what kind of supplementary budget his government will compile for this fiscal year. The government is expected to raise slightly more than 50 trillion yen in tax revenue this fiscal year. The figure compares with an initial estimate of less than 46 trillion yen. The government can be happy its prediction was wrong.Funding demandsMembers of the ruling parties are calling on the government to use the "unexpected" rise in tax revenue to fund the main planks in the Abe Cabinet's policy platform, including providing job opportunities for part-timers and others discontent with their work and surroundings as part of "second-chance" measures.However, such government projects should be financed by the regular budget. A supplementary budget needs to fund projects of great urgency such as aiding victims of natural disasters. It is desirable for the remaining financial resources to be set aside under a supplementary budget to help curtail the amount of government bonds to be issued this fiscal year. Although the Cabinet planned to issue government bonds worth about 30 trillion yen, it may be possible to reduce the amount by 2 trillion yen to 3 trillion yen.The government has said it will carry over a surplus of 900 billion yen in budgetary appropriations from the fiscal 2005 budget into the National Debt Consolidation Fund. This decision should be praised. The government could do better than merely redeeming the outstanding government bonds as early as possible.Cutting debtThe government would be able to reduce the issuance of government bonds to 25 trillion yen or so next fiscal year if it kept its spending for the year at a level comparable to that of the current fiscal year, complemented by a plan to incorporate a good portion of a projected tax revenue increase into the next budget.Doing so would help the government reduce a deficit in its primary balance to about 6 trillion yen annually, a move that would bring the government closer to realizing the long-sought goal of achieving a surplus in primary balance.To accomplish this, it is important for the government to continue its restraint in fiscal spending. Admittedly, some budget items merit consideration of an increase in appropriations, including the realignment of U.S. forces in this country, missile defense-related projects and programs designed to halt the continued decline in the birthrate. For all this, however, the government must strictly assess budgetary requests from each ministry and agency.The focus of discussion on the issue is on how to allocate tax grants from the central government to local governments. Growth in tax revenue raised by the national government means an automatic rise in a legally required share of tax revenue given to local governments. This will likely be combined with an anticipated large increase in tax revenue to be collected by local governments. We feel all this will improve the fiscal health of local governments.The projected increase in the legally defined allocation of tax revenue to local governments could offset shortfalls incurred by local governments, even producing surpluses in this category of tax grants. Such surpluses should be used to repay debts of more than 50 trillion yen incurred under the special account for tax allocations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	772	2006-12-05	YOSHIN0020061205e2c5000hj
YOMSHI0020061206e2c600001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061206e2c600001	EN	\N	Stop firms from abusing foreign trainee scheme	The injustices committed under the system, which seeks to help trainees from developing nations acquire technical skills in Japan, cannot be overlooked.	4	2006-12-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a Justice Ministry investigation, about 9,500 foreigners absconded during their on-the-job training or an intern program at factories and other facilities over the 5 1/2 years to the first half of this year.Most of the absconding trainees have stayed in the country illegally. In some cases, they have turned to crime. The number of absconders who committed crimes during the first half of the year stood at 17, including one charged with murder and 13 accused of theft, according to the National Police Agency statistics.The blame for cases involving groups of such absconders lies with host companies that have unlawfully forced such foreigners to work for extremely low wages and for too many hours. These firms tend to regard foreign trainees as a source of cheap labor that can be used to make up for their shortage of workers.In mid-November, three Chinese trainees at a sewing factory in Aomori Prefecture sought protection at a local labor standards inspection office. They could no longer endure being forced to work overtime for 370 yen per hour--a pittance.In August, a Chinese trainee at a pig farm in Chiba Prefecture stabbed to death an agricultural organization employee who had helped arrange for his training and also seriously injured two others. The trainee had been disgruntled with his low wages and other working conditions.80% of firms broke lawAccording to an on-the-spot investigation conducted by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry last year, 730 corporations sponsoring foreign trainees, or about 80 percent of the total, violated the Labor Standards Law and the Minimum Wages Law. The offenses committed by these companies included falsifying wage slips and sexually harassing trainees in violation of their human rights.All this has arisen from an attempt by companies to unrestrictedly increase the number of trainees they accept, hoping to meet their need for cheap labor.The foreign trainee system initially was designed to host foreigners employed by Japanese corporations overseas. In 1990, the system was reformed to enable small companies to accept foreign trainees through their industrial associations. In 1993, the system was modified to allow trainees to work at Japanese companies as interns for two years after receiving training there for up to one year.The number of such trainees is growing steadily. The recent economic recovery has also given rise to a call for a further increase in the number.The government has said it will decide within the curremt fiscal year how to overhaul the system under a three-year plan revised in March to promote regulatory reform for more private participation.Give trainees legal protectionCorporations that sponsor foreign trainees are not subject to the Labor Standards Law because the visa status of the trainees in the initial stage of their programs is nonworking. It is necessary to revise the relevant legislation to bring the trainees--including those on intern programs--under the protection of the law.The current system incorporates a provision that prohibits a company from accepting new trainees for three years if it engages in employment irregularities, including paying illegally low wages. However, the provision has done nothing to prevent such wrongdoing. Offenders must be more severely punished, for example, by fining them.The Japan International Training Cooperation Organization--a state-backed foundation responsible for visiting and instructing factories and other facilities that host trainees--is no less open to question. JITCO directors are retirees from five government ministries, including the Justice Ministry and the health ministry. They have been extremely lax in supervising sponsor companies. In fact, the Liberal Democratic Party has called for reexamining JITCO's operational structure.Steps must be taken as early as possible to improve the situation in which companies have exploited to use cheap foreign labor under the current legislative framework that imposes restrictions on unskilled foreign workers in this country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	723	2006-12-06	YOSHIN0020061206e2c6000hp
YOMSHI0020061207e2c700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061207e2c700001	EN	\N	Drivers with dementia should hang up car keys	The National Police Agency plans to introduce a new system to obligate drivers aged 75 and older to undergo a simple test to check their cognitive ability when they renew their driver's license. For that purpose, the agency will submit to the next ordinary Diet session a bill to revise the Road Traffic Law.	4	2006-12-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Even though they may feel reluctant to do so, drivers must hang up their car keys if they are diagnosed as suffering from dementia or pedestrians and other drivers will have to fear for their safety on the nation's roads.As a person's cognitive ability deteriorates, he or she tends to drive erratically and fail to obey traffic lights. Many accidents have occurred when elderly drivers have driven the wrong way along expressways and caused collisions.Under the current driver's license system, a license is suspended or canceled if the holder is diagnosed with dementia. But in the four-year period to June since the system was introduced, only 192 people were made subject to this rule.Police cannot know whether a driver has dementia unless the person in question is involved in an accident or his or her family members inform police. Also, some people may be driving vehicles not knowing they suffer from dementia.Preventive medicineAccording to an estimate by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, there are 1.7 million dementia patients who require nursing care or other forms of support. One study says the figure is expected to climb to 2.5 million by the end of 2015.If dementia is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment can be provided to slow down the progress of the illness. Making a simple cognitive test obligatary for aged drivers would not only prevent traffic accidents, but also act as a form of preventive medicine.In the envisioned new system, if signs of reduced cognitive ability are detected in the test, this would not necessarily lead to the immediate suspension or cancellation of a driver's license. The driver in question would receive driving guidance in accordance with his or her lowered ability at a lecture when renewing his or her license, for example.But when dementia is suspected, the concerned driver would be required to see a medical specialist. If confirmed to be suffering from dementia, the driver would have to give up his or her license.The number of fatal traffic accidents has been increasing in tandem with the increase in the number of elderly drivers. But this does not mean elderly drivers must be barred from the nation's roads.In some areas, senior citizens depend on vehicles in their daily life. We hope the envisaged system will work as a mechanism to identify elderly people suffering from dementia and help people with lowered cognitive ability drive safely.Limited license an optionIt is worth discussing an additional system under which a special driver's license would be issued to people with reduced cognitive ability that would allow them to drive in limited areas in the future, banning them from driving on expressways and highways, for example.Currently, people aged 70 or older must renew their driver's license every three years. But cognitive ability can decline and dementia progress between license renewals. There is a program in place that encourages drivers to return their license voluntarily when they lose confidence in their driving ability. If family members of a driver know the driver is no longer able to drive safely, they should persuade him or her to hand in his or her license.Currently, it costs drivers aged 70 or older 8,250 yen to renew their driver's license, including the fee for a lecture for elderly drivers. The introduction of a simple test to check cognitive ability should not place a further financial burden on elderly drivers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 7, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2006-12-07	YOSHIN0020061207e2c7000fc
YOMSHI0020061208e2c800002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061208e2c800002	EN	\N	Can Iraq panel report offer way out of mess?	The bipartisan advisory panel to the U.S. Congress submitted to President George W. Bush on Wednesday a report containing recommended changes for the United States' Iraq policy. The group studied possible approaches the United States could take to deal with the deteriorating situation in Iraq.	4	2006-12-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report was compiled by senior Republicans and Democrats, including former Secretary of State James Baker. The commission said the United States' policy for Iraq was failing and made 79 recommendations aimed at a breakthrough in Iraq.Bush said he "will take it [the report] very seriously," and is expected to come up with a new Iraq policy within several weeks. What remains at issue, however, is the content of this new policy.As to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq--the point of contention in U.S. policy--the report recommended the forces' primary mission evolve from one of combat to "training and supporting the Iraqi Army." By doing so, the panel reported, "The United States could start moving forces out of Iraq, getting all combat brigades not needed for force protection out by the first quarter of 2008."Bush's policy 'not working'Bush has been saying U.S. troops would remain in Iraq until the country was secure and democracy has been established, stressing the U.S. military would see its mission through to victory.However, the report slammed this policy, saying, "The United States should not make an open-ended commitment to keep large numbers of U.S. troops deployed in Iraq." Instead, it emphasized that the United States should help the Iraqi government become self-sustaining by placing the onus on the Iraqi government to maintain security. This idea aims at reducing the burden on the U.S. military by enhancing Iraq's security force.If the panel's recommendations are implemented, the withdrawal of the 140,000 U.S. troops currently in the country could begin next year, illustrating that the commission had apparently taken into consideration Democrats' calls for an early withdrawal.However, the report rejected the idea of an "immediate withdrawal," saying it would only invite more bloodshed and anarchy.Tough choicesA gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq as recommended in the report is ideal, but there is no guarantee of success, as the current situation is extremely difficult. Every month, about 3,000 Iraqis are killed in sectarian violence, which has worsened since the country's democratically elected government assumed power. In this regard, the governing ability of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has failed to crack down on militant groups, is very questionable. But the U.S. administration has no option but to support him.The report also urged Bush to make diplomatic efforts to improve the situation, saying there should be a new U.S. push for peace in the Middle East, including the Israel-Palestinian issue.The group also said it was important for the U.S. administration to deal directly with Iran and Syria, countries with which Bush has refused to hold talks.Iraq's neighbors will have to be involved constructively to bring stability to Iraq.Further deterioration of the situation there will serve to destabilize the Middle East as a whole, and will adversely affect the global economy.The Japanese government formally decides today to extend the Air Self-Defense Force's support mission in Iraq until the end of July. Japan, too, must proactively involve itself in the reconstruction of Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2006-12-08	YOSHIN0020061208e2c8000f8
YOMSHI0020061209e2c900002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061209e2c900002	EN	\N	Change the system that breeds collusive bidding	Former Miyazaki Gov. Tadahiro Ando, the third governor held over involvement in bid-rigging, allegedly instructed a former treasurer and the head of the environment and forest department at the prefectural government to help an engineering company win a contract for a design related to a public works project. The Tokyo-based engineering company reportedly helped Ando's successful campaign in the 2003 gubernatorial election.	4	2006-12-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Former Fukushima Gov. Eisaku Sato, who was the first of the three governors to have his alleged wrongdoings exposed, appeared to distance himself from construction companies shortly after he won his first gubernatorial race. In the last election campaign, however, his brother allegedly raised a campaign fund from general contractors that was used to bribe prefectural assembly members. And former Wakayama Gov. Yoshiki Kimura allegedly sought the cooperation of construction firms within the prefecture so he could run for a second term with the endorsement of the Liberal Democratic Party.Waging a winning campaign for a gubernatorial election reportedly requires a war chest of several hundred million yen, as well as support from many people and groups. As a result, all three governors owed many favors to certain contractors, which were apparently repaid in the form of special treatment in the awarding of public works contracts.Closing the netThe recent uncovering of the governors' alleged misdeeds came about partly because investigative authorities since last year have instructed their local offices to leave no stone unturned in tracking down those involved in collusive bidding. Consequently, collusive bidding allegedly made at the behest of government officials, with the prefectural governor at the top, came to light.The average price of contracts for projects worth more than \\100 million ordered by the Miyazaki prefectural government in fiscal 2005 was about 95.8 percent of the original estimate--the highest figure of any prefecture.Thirty of 47 prefectural governments reported the average contract price for public works projects they ordered topped 90 percent of the original estimate. Faced with these figures, we cannot help but suspect that collusive bidding has spread its tentacles to many local governments.What should be done to stamp out the roots of this corruption? First of all, general competitive bidding, which many local governments use infrequently for public works projects worth above a certain amount, should be adopted more widely. Tighter regulations and heavier penalties for those who dabble in collusive bidding also should prove effective. Most general contractors have pulled the plug on collusive bidding since the penalties for those found to have been involved in such practices were raised sharply with the revision of the Antimonopoly Law.Tougher penaltiesIn the current Diet session, the law concerning the prevention of government official-led collusive bidding was revised. Public servants who place orders for public works projects through improper bidding procedures now face imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to \\2.5 million.These penalties are heavier than those meted out to violators charged with collusive bidding under the Criminal Code. While the revision should be effective in bringing an end to the practice, it should have been made much sooner.Meanwhile, a project team, established within the National Governors' Association and tasked with exploring ways to prevent collusive bidding, came up with a raft of proposals. Most importantly, they highlighted the need for a whistle-blowing system. Such a system must be put into place quickly, in line with the spirit of the law concerning the protection of informants who speak out in the public interest, so as to prevent such whistle-blowers from being mistreated for speaking out.A governor wields immense power as head of a prefectural government, and must take the lead in preventing illegal activities being committed in his or her administration. Unless the administration of local governments are overhauled, and the heads of such bodies behave responsibly, we should not expect much progress in the transfer of administrative powers to local governments.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	717	2006-12-09	YOSHIN0020061211e2c90005n
YOMSHI0020061211e2ca00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061211e2ca00001	EN	\N	Don't let abduction issue slip out of sight, mind	The campaign begins this year as is stipulated in the law concerning human rights in North Korea that came into force in June.	4	2006-12-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The law stipulates the government has a responsibility to make its "utmost effort" to resolve the abduction issue. The law also requires the government to boost international cooperation in related issues, including aiding defectors from North Korea, and to cooperate with private-sector organizations.The threat posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear development programs grows more serious by the day. Yet we also must keep the abduction issue--an abhorrent crime committed by a state--at the forefront of our minds. We hope the campaign will help many people realize the gravity of the issue.The government has officially recognized 12 abduction cases by North Korea, with 17 Japanese recognized as being abducted. So far, only five have returned safely to Japan.Talking to a brick wallThe government has repeatedly asked North Korea to confirm the safety and whereabouts of all Japanese abductees, to exhaustively examine the truth behind the abductions, and hand over those responsible for these crimes to Japan. However, Pyongyang has tried to brush off these requests by insisting all the surviving abductees have returned to Japan. North Korea could hardly be more insincere if it tried.A government-organized "meeting of citizens to think about the abduction issue" will be held during the campaign week. Private organizations, including the liaison council for families of abductees, plan to hold a lecture meeting and a photo exhibition. Also on the schedule is the first international conference on the abduction issue, with families of abductees from South Korea and Thailand also attending.Next year will mark the 10th anniversary since families of Japanese abductees formed the liaison council and jump-started efforts to rescue their loved ones. We should assist their work and help to build support for resolving the issue.Spreading the wordMegumi Yokota was just 13 years old when she was snatched by North Korean agents on her way home from middle school in Niigata. Her mother, Sakie, went to the United States and met with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House in April to seek his support for resolving the abduction issue. "I have just had one of the most moving meetings since I've been the president," Bush said after speaking with her.A documentary film directed by a Canadian couple, titled, "Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story," recently was released in this country.Abductees' families must have been greatly encouraged by Bush's remarks and the film depicting Megumi's story.Last December, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution in its plenary session expressing concern over North Korea's human rights situation, including abductions of foreign nationals to North Korea. And last month, a General Assembly panel adopted a draft resolution criticizing North Korea's human rights infringements that is expected to be adopted at the plenary session shortly. The government must continue to urge the international community to exert pressure on North Korea until the issue is resolved.Worryingly, China and Russia opposed both of these resolutions. South Korea, which abstained from voting last year, changed tack and voted in favor of the latest resolution. Just how to deal with this harsh reality remains a major diplomatic challenge for the government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	619	2006-12-10	YOSHIN0020061211e2ca000t9
YOMSHI0020061212e2cc00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061212e2cc00004	EN	\N	Sanctions effective tool against North Korea	It will also be the first meeting held since North Korea's nuclear test in October. The success or failure of the meeting depends on whether Pyongyang demonstrates it is willing to abandon its nuclear ambitions, but the prospects are said to be very grim.	4	2006-12-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The United States proposed the establishment of a working group to discuss a solution to issues related to U.S. financial sanctions on North Korea, a condition Pyongyang has demanded for its return to the six-way talks. However, the talks are bound to end in stalemate if North Korea sticks to the financial sanctions issue and avoids discussing its own nuclear program.In the joint statement adopted at the six-nation talks on Sept. 19, 2005, North Korea promised to give up all of its nuclear weapons and its existing nuclear development programs. To draft a detailed action plan to reach that goal is one of the most important issues after resumption of the talks.In the preparatory meeting to resume the six-party talks, the United States reportedly demanded North Korea close its nuclear testing site, suspend operations at an experimental nuclear reactor in Yongbyon, report all of its nuclear facilities and accept inspections of them by the International Atomic Energy Agency.Concessions unlikelyHowever, North Korea, which has insisted on being officially recognized as a "nuclear power" since its nuclear test, will never easily accede to such demands. Pyongyang also must have considered the weakening of U.S. President George W. Bush's administration due to the Republican Party's defeat in the recent election to be to its advantage. The talks are expected to run into rough waters from the beginning.North Korea has been advancing its nuclear development program during stalemate of the six-party talks. The situation surrounding Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions has become worse in the three years and four months since the six-party talks started.Since 2003, the country has produced enough plutonium to make 10 nuclear bombs. Its nuclear reactor is now producing enough plutonium to make a new nuclear bomb every year. Pyongyang also has revealed a plan to construct a larger nuclear reactor.The six-nation talks are destined to lose their significance if they fail to halt and roll back this nuclear development.Lack of unified approachThe other five participants in the talks--Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--could not stop North Korea's nuclear ambitions mainly because they lacked a common strategy. In the run-up to next week's resumption of the talks, the five nations have yet to agree on any concrete measure to make Pyongyang abandon its nuclear capability. This makes it difficult for them to change Pyongyang's determination.It is necessary to further enhance coordination among the five nations in the future so that Pyongyang cannot divide them. Among the five, China has a more significant role than the other nations because North Korea depends on it for imports of oil and food.Kim Jong Il's government has both domestically and internationally flaunted its nuclearization through the nuclear test. However, it has merely invited the strengthening of an international coalition against the country. The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution to impose economic sanctions on North Korea, while Japan and the United States strengthened their own sanctions on the country.One of the reasons Pyongyang apparently decided to return to the six-nation talks was that it wanted the other participants to relax the sanctions on it. This makes maintenance and enhancement of the sanctions all the more effective in urging North Korea to abandon its nuclear capability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 12, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2006-12-12	YOSHIN0020061212e2cc000hh
YOMSHI0020061213e2cd00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061213e2cd00001	EN	\N	Cell phone firms' ads pushed wrong buttons	The Fair Trade Commission on Tuesday issued a warning to SoftBank Mobile Corp., saying the cell phone service provider ran misleading advertisements in possible violation of the law against unjustifiable premiums and misleading representations.	4	2006-12-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The antitrust watchdog also issued cautions to NTT DoCoMo Inc., KDDI Corp. and PHS operator Willcom Inc. The three companies received the milder sanction because their advertisements were deemed less malicious.Advertisements are important information to help consumers choose a product or service. If the content of advertisements is inappropriate, consumers can no longer trust them.Winning contracts by misleading consumers obviously violates social rules. The four companies should reflect upon their actions and do their utmost to provide consumers with appropriate advertisements.MNP system behind problemThe turmoil was triggered by the introduction in late October of the mobile number portability (MNP) system, in which a cell phone user can switch a service provider without changing the cell phone number.Taking advantage of the introduction of the MNP system as an opportunity to boost its share in the cell phone market, SoftBank went on the offensive. The advertisements it ran during this sales campaign became the issue.SoftBank Mobile widely advertised that it would offer free calls and free e-mail in its cell phone service. But in fact, a number of conditions had to be met to receive such benefits. SoftBank Mobile's advertisements failed to cite these conditions clearly.As the third-largest cell phone company in the nation, behind NTT DoCoMo and KDDI, SoftBank Mobile may have felt under pressure. But that does not excuse its actions.It is no wonder that many people who viewed TV commercials and other advertisements were deceived into believing they could make and receive phone calls, and send and receive e-mails for free.SoftBank Mobile also came up with another offer in which the monthly basic fee is discounted by 70 percent if one subscribes to the company's service by Jan. 15.This policy was not subject to the FTC's move. But if the company continues to offer the discount deal after Jan. 15, that means the company deceived people who subscribed to it before that day. In that case, the FTC said it would issue a warning or take other measures against SoftBank Mobile.The commission also pointed out problems with advertisements by KDDI and the two companies.The FTC said the language in the advertisements was inappropriate because it misled consumers into believing they could immediately receive a 50 percent discount in the basic subscription fee for some plans, or carry over without limit unused portions of a free call deal to the following month.Although KDDI and NTT DoCoMo strongly criticized SoftBank Mobile's advertisements, the FTC's latest move shows they also engaged in inappropriate practices.Make fee plans clearerCell phone fee plans are complicated, and the explanations in the brochures are also difficult to understand.The cell phone service industry should begin discussing ways to make fee plans more comprehensible to consumers so they can be more easily compared with other plans.The introduction of the MNP system is aimed at encouraging cell phone firms to cut fees for the services they offer, which are much higher than those in Europe and the United States. However, true price competition has not started in the country.Cell phone and PHS companies must come up with inexpensive and easy-to-understand fees to meet consumers' expectations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 13, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2006-12-13	YOSHIN0020061213e2cd000gl
YOMSHI0020061214e2ce00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061214e2ce00001	EN	\N	Winny ruling spotlights engineers' moral duties	The Kyoto District Court on Wednesday convicted Isamu Kaneko, a former Tokyo University graduate school research associate who created the file-sharing software Winny, of enabling violations of the Copyright Law and fined him \\1.5 million.	4	2006-12-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The software allows personal computers connected via the Internet to exchange data easily. If it were used for legal data exchanges, there would be no problem. But Winny has mainly been used to maliciously exchange copied movie and music data illegally.Kaneko had been accused of aiding copyright infringement under the Copyright Law by developing the software.A technology always has bright and dark sides. A knife can be used to cook or kill, for example.Dark side exposedThe ruling exposed the dark side of Winny. The court judged that Kaneko was well aware that the software would hurt society if it was misused. Despite that, the court said, he continued to develop and modify the software, and distribute it on the Internet for free, causing copyright infringements.The ruling may be a message to engineers involved in technological development that they have to be aware of the dark side of the technologies they create. This message applies not only to Winny. It is a moral issue that engineers involved in technology development must take to heart.With Winny, a multiple number of personal computers relay data files from one to another. It is impossible to identify the PC that first distributed the files.The anonymity afforded by the Winny network made it a hotbed of copyright infringement. There is no denying that the software can easily be used maliciously.Moreover, someone created a computer virus targeting Winny. If infected with it, a PC inadvertently uploads stored data to the Internet. Many incidents have occurred in which data were released onto the Internet recently, and similar problems continue to be reported.More than 400,000 people in the nation reportedly still use Winny. They should realize the danger inherent in using the software.Emergence of new businessBefore he was arrested in connection with his development of Winny, the former researcher stressed the significance of seeking new business models in an era in which music and movies are exchanged over the Internet.Since Kaneko's arrest by the Kyoto prefectural police in May 2004, computer technology development has progressed rapidly.Music distribution via the Internet has become part and parcel of our daily lives. Movie distribution is also becoming rapidly popular. A new business emerged utilizing a file-sharing software similar to Winny.This is because, as the district court recognized in its ruling, this type of software is useful. With such software, data do not have to be stored in servers, enabling their smooth exchange.The new business employs a system to prevent illegal copying of files--balancing protection of copyright and convenience.Some experts pointed out that the latest ruling may dispirit engineers. But the creation of software similar to Winny has proceeded apace. There is no need for such concern.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 14, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	534	2006-12-14	YOSHIN0020061215e2ce000fs
YOMSHI0020061215e2cf00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061215e2cf00001	EN	\N	Japan-India partnership vital in East Asia	Japan must accelerate its economic and interpersonal exchanges with India to promote strategic diplomacy.	4	2006-12-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a summit meeting to be held Friday, visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to agree to bolster their countries' strategic relationship by such means as strengthening the partnership for regional cooperation in East Asia. They also are likely to reach an agreement to work toward a strategic dialogue among Japan, Australia, India and the United States, as proposed by Abe.In an address Thursday in the House of Representatives, Singh said now was the time to establish a strategic and global relationship between the two nations. Defining India and Japan as two Asian great powers sharing universal values, Singh said the deepening of the Indo-Japanese relationship is fundamental to the formation of an Asian economic community.EAS should take leadConcerning the proposed East Asian economic partnership agreement and the concept of an "East Asia Community," Japan and India both stress the importance of utilizing the East Asia Summit (EAS), a framework of the region's 16 countries that comprises Japan, Australia, China, India, New Zealand and South Korea, and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.On the other hand, China asserts that ASEAN plus Three (Japan, China and South Korea) should take the lead in the region.Singh may have stressed the "common values" as a basis for bilateral cooperation between his country and Japan as he is alarmed by a hegemonic Chinese move to exclude the United States and promote regional cooperation under China's lead.At the second EAS meeting, to be held in January, participants are expected to confirm their cooperation in the region, particularly on the issue of energy security. India is located in a critical position linking East Asia with the oil-exporting Middle East. Cooperation between Japan and India to develop the EAS into the central framework for in-depth regional cooperation would put pressure on the Chinese-led alternative.India's economy has grown at an annual rate of 8 percent, with its size comparable to that of South Korea and vying to become Asia's third largest economic power.Indian ties need to improveCurrently, however, Japan's relationship with India is not as strong as it is with China, a relationship that has been described as "economically hot." Japan's trade with India is one-twenty-eighth that of its trade with China. The number of regularly scheduled flights between Japan and India is one-sixtieth that of those between Japan and China. Allowing for geographic and historical conditions into consideration, the numeric difference is just too great.China also has been aggressively courting India. When Chinese President Hu Jintao visited India in November, the two leaders said they would seek to double their trade value by 2010.As it stands now, the value of trade between the two countries is three times that between Japan and India.At Friday's summit meeting, Abe and Singh are likely to agree on such issues as starting negotiations of an economic partnership agreement, a large increase in the number of regular flights, and economic assistance to India for the construction of freight railways linking major cities in India.This will lead to a viable strategic relationship with India by which closer ties are promoted through tangible cooperation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 15, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	606	2006-12-15	YOSHIN0020061215e2cf0019i
YOMSHI0020061216e2cg00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061216e2cg00001	EN	\N	Revised education law offers chance for change	The rebirth of the so-called constitution on education means the opening of a new phase of Japan's education. We should regard this historical turning point as an opportunity for the people to turn their attention to what they want out of education.	4	2006-12-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Many people called for the revision of the law immediately after its enactment. Every time such voices were raised, they were drowned out by progressive forces who insisted there was a campaign to "revive the Imperial Rescript on Education and militarism."There was a long period when even discussion of revising the law was considered taboo.One of the factors that changed this has been the recent deterioration of education. Bullying and violence have caused turmoil at schools and students are losing their desire to learn. The influence of local communities and home life in the education process has weakened.Overemphasis on individualsAs the original education law put too much emphasis on individuals and respect for individual characteristics, it might be that public-mindedness, discipline and moral fiber have fallen by the wayside and a self-righteous way of thinking has taken their place. Was it necessary to include in the text of the revised law such current ideas as education at home, education for preschool children and lifelong education? These ideas have gradually become more persuasive.The report at the end of 2000 by the National Commission on Educational Reform, a private advisory panel of the prime minister, opened the way for discussion of the revision. The report officially proposed revising the Fundamental Law of Education for the first time.In response to the report, the Central Council for Education recommended to the education minister what the revised law should cover to suit current circumstances. The ruling parties began to seriously discuss the revision and in April this year the government submitted to the Diet its bill to drastically revise the law.The revision of the law has been discussed fully and from all angles over the past six years.Useless debate on patriotismThese discussions, however, include fruitless debate over the issue of patriotism.Progressive forces opposed the inclusion of patriotism in the text of the law on the grounds that it would "force patriotism on the people and produce Japanese citizens who support a country that wages war."In Japan, which has established itself as a peaceful nation, why does fostering love for where we live and cherishing our homeland connect with such distorted ideas of waging war against other countries?Progressive forces criticized the revision of the law as a change for the worse and used its argument in an effort to stop the revision.This problem seemed to have been resolved after the opposition Democratic Party of Japan included the expression "cultivate the spirit to love Japan" in the preamble to its own bill for the revision of the law.The government-sponsored bill included in the text a provision titled "the goals of education" the expression "the respect for the nation's tradition and culture and fostering of an attitude of love for the nation and the homeland that cultivated them." The DPJ's bill expressed this sentiment in a more direct and honest way.We welcome the enactment of the revised law as it is expected that education will be provided on the basis of respect for the nation's history, tradition and culture and the cultivation of a feeling of love for the nation.In addition, it is also expected that the influence of local communities and home life will be revived and children, young people and future generations will be raised as proud Japanese citizens.Mounting problemsTo realize these ideas, there are mounting problems that the government, especially the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, has to tackle. First, the government has to determine whether the courses of study, as well as the School Education Law and other related laws need to be revised.There is a possibility that the contents of courses may be changed in such subjects as social studies and moral education since the revised Fundamental Law on Education now includes patriotism and respect for tradition, culture and public-mindedness.Each of these values is important and we hope teachers will instruct children, whose minds are pure, on these values correctly and steadily from the beginning.There are those who speak of the need to increase class hours and teaching content because of concern over the decline in academic ability, as is often reported in the media.Concerning the failure to teach compulsory subjects, there is an argument over whether these subjects are relevant.The government now has to consider policies related to courses of study, such as whether to make English teaching at primary schools compulsory, that have been held in abeyance.Govt must promote basic planRevisions to the School Education Law, that defines the standard of the nation's school system, may be necessary. The law defining local boards of education and the teaching license law should also be reviewed. The Education Rebuilding Council, which is under the direct control of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has also been studying these points.Another important issue is the compilation of a "basic plan for education promotion," by which the central and local governments would work to promote various education policies systematically.The Central Council for Education has already selected some concrete examples of policy targets that may be included in the basic plan. These are:--Carrying out nationwide academic achievement tests to improve the courses of study.--Aiming at halving bullying and school violence cases in five years.--Improving moral education to raise children as responsible citizens of a free and fair society.The government must work out a policy framework that enhances the general academic level of public education.At the same time, we urge the government to come up with measures to expand the range of discretion for those working on the ground and keep opportunities alive for those at schools and in communities to provide creative ideas.There is no need for the government to be too hasty. Education is a long-term policy and people's interest in education at present is at its highest point.Taking into consideration various recommendations, including those to be made by the Education Rebuilding Council, we hope the government will take its time to build a new future vision for Japan's education.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1102	2006-12-16	YOSHIN0020061216e2cg000ga
YOMSHI0020061217e2ch00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061217e2ch00002	EN	\N	National security debate needs fresh start	On Friday, a set of bills drawn up to upgrade the agency's status became law when an overwhelming majority of legislators--mostly from the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan--voted in favor of the legislation.	4	2006-12-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The passage of the bills means the agency has been granted a status it justly deserves more than five decades after it was established. This will certainly improve the morale of Self-Defense Forces personnel who guard the nation. Given this, the agency must shed its old skin to better fulfill its duties as a ministry.Japan's peace and security environment remains uncertain and unstable, as demonstrated by China's rise as a military power and North Korea's nuclear weapons program. It is essential for the nation to consider how to deal with these uncertainties.A major bone of contention disputed during parliamentary debates about the bills was on how to improve the government's ability to formulate defense policies.With the aim of putting together a long-term defense strategy, the Defense Agency is set to establish a "strategic planning office" at its Defense Policy Bureau next fiscal year.This must be complemented by an effort to properly define the relationship between the office and a similar organ being contemplated by top officials at the Prime Minister's Office that will be akin to the U.S. National Security Council.Living in the pastThe nation's defense setup has largely remained unchanged since the days of the Cold War, when SDF members and tanks were deployed in Hokkaido.The government should strive to make its defense system more efficient and effective to better deal with new threats in the changing security environment, including acts of international terrorism and ballistic missiles.Numerous tasks must be undertaken in shoring up the Japan-U.S. alliance. It is essential to make steady progress in realigning U.S. forces in this country and to draw up joint operation plans in preparation for a possible military attack on Japan or a military crisis that may break out in areas surrounding the country.There also is a pressing need to build a missile defense system earlier than previously planned, for the purpose of combating the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons.Another main feature of the newly enacted laws is a provision that expands the list of primary SDF missions to include international peace cooperation activities. For years, such activities have been defined as auxiliary duties.Legal support neededThe government's basic defense program outline emphasizes the need to "improve the international security environment to ensure our nation is safe from any threat," citing the task as one objective to be attained through its defense policy.International peace and stability are vital to Japan's peace and prosperity. With this in mind, it is quite natural that the SDF's involvement in international peace cooperation activities has been made one of its main obligations under the new legislation.To engage in such activities as one of their primary duties, the SDF must act even more quickly if the need arises. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a permanent law designed to send SDF troops overseas in a flexible manner--not legislation of a specified duration such as the Antiterrorism Law and the special law on Japan's support for Iraq's reconstruction.Doing so will help this nation clearly demonstrate its readiness to contribute in this respect. Creating a permanent law must be complemented by efforts to reconsider the range of SDF operations and standards for use of weapons by SDF personnel to ensure these criteria conform to those of other nations.Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma said this country stands at a crossroads in considering what kind of national security policy will best serve its purposes.The Defense Agency and the SDF should know they face a critical turn of events, and work to properly fulfill their obligations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 17, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	709	2006-12-17	YOSHIN0020061217e2ch000b8
YOMSHI0020061218e2ci00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061218e2ci00001	EN	\N	Japan's voice at U.N. must match contribution	The move followed Japan's regaining of its independence under the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1952 and the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union in 1956. Japan finally returned to take a seat with the international community 23 years and nine months after it withdrew from the League of Nations in March 1933.	4	2006-12-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan's decision to pursue a path of diplomatic isolation before World War II led to terrible devastation and seriously damaged its national interests.As a nation with limited natural resources, Japan has no option but to cooperate with the international community as a trading nation. It is imperative that Japan participate in various activities of the body that aims to uphold peace and stability around the world.Japan has attached great importance to the United Nations while at the same time staying snugly bound to the alliance with the United States that guarantees our security. The postwar prosperity that Japan has enjoyed proves this diplomatic strategy was the correct path to follow.Growing responsibilitiesJapan's international status has climbed in the 50 years since it joined the United Nations. As the world's second-largest economic power after the United States, Japan has grave responsibilities to fulfill in the 21st century.The nation's presence at the world body also has increased. Japan has been elected as a nonpermanent U.N. Security Council member nine times, the most among the U.N. family's 187 nonpermanent members. This fact illustrates that Japan's efforts in such fields as international peacekeeping, disarmament and humanitarian and development assistance have been widely accepted and supported by the international community.When Japan was accepted as a U.N. member, the nation contributed only about 2 percent of the U.N. general budget. This figure has since snowballed to 19.5 percent, making Tokyo the second-largest financial contributor to the United Nations after Washington.Japan's contribution eclipses the combined 15.3 percent paid by four of the five permanent Security Council members--Britain, China, France and Russia.Many tasks lie before Japan's diplomatic corps to secure status and clout in the United Nations commensurate to Japan's contribution. Japan should work to reform the Security Council and seek to become a permanent member of the council.Changing security challengesSince the Cold War ended, regional and ethnic conflicts have frequently erupted. Issues such as international terrorism; proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; human rights abuse; environmental destruction, including global warming; and communicable diseases must be faced and resolved at a global level.Resolving such problems by trying to cobble together agreements among countries with differing interests is strenuous work. But without such efforts, peace and stability cannot be maintained. In this regard, Japan needs to play a more proactive role in the international body. Doing so will best serve its national interests.However, Japan could be doing more to help U.N. activities. Of the more than 80,000 U.N. personnel currently deployed on peacekeeping activities, only 31 are Japanese. This figure ranks 80th among U.N. member countries. The number of Japanese serving as senior U.N. officials is the lowest among major U.N. members.Japan must strengthen not only the financial contribution it makes, but also the presence of its officials in the United Nations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 18, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2006-12-18	YOSHIN0020061218e2ci000c9
YOMSHI0020061219e2cj00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061219e2cj00001	EN	\N	Local govts must prove anticorruption abilities	The guidelines come amid extraordinary circumstances in which the governors of Fukushima, Wakayama and Miyazaki prefectures have been arrested over bid-rigging for public works projects in a short span of time. The association must have felt that if it did not show it was able to police itself, local government would lose its clout.	4	2006-12-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Each prefectural government will produce a progress schedule based on the guidelines and will announce the actual extent of its progress every year.The association will request municipal governments throughout the nation to introduce similar steps. All local governments need to come up with effective systems to reform the public procurement process.The guidelines stipulate that bidding on public works projects by government-designated participants should be abolished and contracts for public works projects worth \\10 million or more should in principle be awarded through open tenders, with the aim of improving transparency of public works tenders.The guidelines also call for introduction of electronic bidding systems within three years as such a system is said to help prevent bid-rigging because participants cannot know who else is participating.Measures proposed in the guidelines effectively ask prefectural governments to introduce measures already in place in "advanced" prefectures such as Nagano and Miyagi.Reforms save tax moneyIn Nagano Prefecture, the average winning bid on public works contracts stood at 98 percent of the prefectural government's maximum expected price. However, since the prefectural government introduced reform measures in fiscal 2002, the percentage has declined. The average this fiscal year as of end of October stood at 79 percent.Many local governments still award contracts at an average of 90 percent or more of their maximum expected price. Such local governments should implement drastic reforms.Many prefectural governments have systems to facilitate whistle-blowing to detect illegal acts by governors and senior officials at an early stage.However, to make such systems effective, a body that accepts reports of suspected wrongdoing must be set up as an external organ comprising lawyers and other experts, instead of within local governments, so that whistle-blowers would be more willing to step forward.Reforming the bidding systems alone will not be enough to stop bid-rigging.In the latest scandals, the relationships between the former governors and supporting corporations were called into question as such supporters earn favors from the governors in return for backing them in elections.Individual responsibility vitalGovernors themselves need to have strong wills to control themselves. The guidelines call for governors "to keep in mind" the need for transparent relations with corporations during election campaigns. But governors have to do more than "keep in mind" the need to act ethically in dealing with supporters.The guidelines also call for enhancing monitoring capabilities of assemblies and auditing committees. The problem now is that such bodies are not properly performing their oversight duties.In the guidelines, the association asks the central government to revise related laws on employment of former local public servants, saying there is no regulation to prohibit retired local public servants from becoming employees at companies they supervised while working in government.Measures proposed by the association alone will not lead to drastic reforms. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has to thoroughly examine the legal systems with an eye to stopping corruption by governors and mayors.The Diet recently enacted a law to promote decentralization, and fresh debates on decentralization will soon start. When more authority is handed from the central government to local governments, governors and mayors will have more power.If local government heads become embroiled in corruption through use of these strengthened powers, it would lead to mistrust of local administrations by the residents they are supposed to serve. Such a situation would put the brakes on decentralization.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 19, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2006-12-19	YOSHIN0020061219e2cj000gf
YOMSHI0020061220e2ck00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061220e2ck00001	EN	\N	Govt, BOJ must ponder best path toward growth	The government forecasts that gross domestic product will rise 2 percent in inflation-adjusted real terms and 2.2 percent in nominal terms in fiscal 2007 from the fiscal 2006 figure.	4	2006-12-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the government revised downward the fiscal 2006 growth projection from the previous 2.1 percent in real terms and 2.2 percent in nominal terms to 1.9 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. The revision was made due to a drastic slowdown in personal consumption and meager price increases.Due to deflation, the nation's economy has been stuck in reverse--with real growth exceeding nominal growth--and efforts to break away from this situation will roll over into the next fiscal year.In July, the Cabinet Office released an estimate that the fiscal 2006 growth projection would be revised upward, saying corporate capital investment and private consumption were healthier than expected. But personal consumption in the July-September quarter plunged. Bad weather was partly to blame for the slowdown during that period, but wasn't the government's outlook on the prospects for economic growth overoptimistic?Since autumn, consumption and price rises have been slack.Wages not rising fast enoughAccording to the Bank of Japan's December Tankan quarterly survey of business confidence, the business sentiment of both major companies and small and medium-sized companies posted increases--though modest--from the September survey, showing that business confidence in the nation continues to hold steady. The yen's depreciation and stabilized crude oil prices have contributed to corporate profits.However, the business sentiment of major companies in the retail sector, which is closely tied to personal consumption, and in the service sectors for individual consumers, such as travel and leisure businesses, has declined.The core nationwide consumer price index, which excludes perishables, rose 0.1 percent in October from a year before.One major factor behind lackluster consumption and price increases is the slow increase in wages. The government and the central bank believed healthy corporate performances would improve employment and income conditions, thus leading to a rise in household spending.But it has become apparent such a scenario is not unfolding as the government and the central bank expected.Forgoing rate hike naturalFollowing a two-day meeting of its Policy Board, the Bank of Japan decided Tuesday to maintain its current monetary policy and forgo a further hike in the key short-term interest rate, following the lifting of the zero-interest-rate policy in July. It was a natural decision for the central bank to make under the current economic situation.At a press conference Tuesday, Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui said, "The economy is expanding slowly but steadily." But Fukui also said consumption and prices must be closely watched.Some experts say the standstill in wages is a result of structural employment factors, including the growing rate of nonregular workers, such as part-timers, among employees.The government and the central bank must thoroughly analyze how long the situation in which wages tend not to increase will last, and how it will affect consumption and prices.They must find the right path toward realizing a departure from deflation and achieving a sustainable and visible ecoomic expansion.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 20, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2006-12-20	YOSHIN0020061220e2ck000g5
YOMSHI0020061221e2cl00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061221e2cl00001	EN	\N	Optimism over budget looks a bit premature	On Wednesday, the Finance Ministry released its proposed budget for fiscal 2007--the first to be compiled under the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Of particular interest is projected revenue of 53.5 trillion yen, up 7.6 trillion yen over the initial budget for fiscal 2006.	4	2006-12-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Boosted by this increase, the government will be able to reduce the issuance of government bonds, used to make up for shortfalls in revenue, to 25.4 trillion yen, down by 4.5 trillion yen from this fiscal year's initial budget.By doing so, Abe's instructions to Finance Minister Koji Omi to slash new bond issuance by a record amount have become reality.As a result, the deficit in the government's primary balance--tax revenue and government income from other sources, not including bond issues, minus outlays, except debt-servicing costs--will be halved to 4.4 trillion yen, compared with this fiscal year's initial budget.Back in the black?The government plans to bring the combined primary balance of the local and national levels into the black by fiscal 2011. Yet the projected shrinkage of the primary balance deficit suggests the government could realize the target ahead of schedule, indicating a possible giant step forward in the quest to put its fiscal house in order.Looking at these figures with a level head, however, one will soon realize the situation does not warrant optimism.Although the issuance of government bonds will be reduced, they still account for 31 percent of the government's overall revenue. Thus there is no change in the basic fiscal situation facing the government: It will be unable to compile a budget without a sizable debt.The long-term debts of both the central and local governments continue to rise and are projected to reach 773 trillion yen by the end of next fiscal year.The government expects the economy will see a 2 percent real annual growth rate for next fiscal year, but this projection largely will depend on the economic trends in China and the United States. Should the domestic economy slow down, there is no way the government can expect tax revenue to be as substantial as the ministry has projected.We need a tax revenue source that will be the least likely to be affected by economic trends. The consumption tax fits this bill. The Abe administration should recognize that an increase in the consumption tax is essential to put fiscal reconstruction on track.Get out of the redThe general account budget for next fiscal year is 82.9 trillion yen, up 3.2 trillion yen from the fiscal 2006 projection. The general expenditure--core policy-related outlays--for fiscal 2007 will rise to 47 trillion yen, the first year-to-year increase in three years.Of the general expenditure, the ministry proposes 21 trillion yen in social security-related spending. It indicates an increase of only 600 billion yen over that earmarked for the initial budget for fiscal 2006. If the government does not work to keep this outlay down, it will expand every year in trillion-yen units, and it will become necessary for the government to resort to drastic measures to keep the spending in check.Spending on public works projects and official development assistance has been reduced by between 3 percent and 4 percent from the fiscal 2006 budget, in accordance with the government's basic policy, announced in July.Defense spending will be cut by 0.3 percent, while spending on missile defense projects will get a large boost--a necessary step when taking into account the direct North Korea military threat.Debt-servicing costs--payments on the principal and interest on government bonds--likely will increase by 2.2 trillion yen to 21 trillion yen, on a par with social security spending.This is because the ministry plans to add 2.1 trillion yen in debt-servicing costs to liquidate part of the central government's 19 trillion yen share of debts in the special account for local tax grants.We welcome starting repayments next fiscal year of debts in the special account for local tax grants, which have long been left untouched. The government needs to clear these debts as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 21, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	749	2006-12-21	YOSHIN0020061221e2cl000kj
YOMSHI0020061222e2cm00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061222e2cm00002	EN	\N	Honma resignation a setback for Abe	Commission Chairman Masaaki Honma, however, has been pressured to quit his job in the face of a scandal surrounding his use of an apartment for government employees.	4	2006-12-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe accepted his resignation Thursday.A weekly magazine recently wrote that Honma was living in a Tokyo apartment for public servants with a female acquaintance without filing the necessary paperwork for her.Since that report, there had been doubts over whether it was appropriate for the tax panel head to remain in his post.His resignation was inevitable, but he took his sweet time about it.Honma, a professor at Osaka University, moved into the apartment in central Tokyo in 2003 after he was appointed a private-sector member of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy.As he had to commute to Tokyo almost every week, the Finance Ministry--which oversees the apartment--let him use it.Honma also served as chairman of the council's research committee on government assets and debts. In this post he was charged with finding ways to sell off or make effective use of state-owned assets, including apartments for civil servants.Did he never question that he was taking advantage of accommodation at such a low rent?While it is the ministry that is to blame for renting him the apartment too readily, Honma lacked prudence in accepting the offer.Tax panel chief fit the billAbe's appointment of Honma as head of the government advisory panel received a lot of attention--in all likelihood because he symbolized Abe's "growth-oriented tax policy."The policy calls for increased tax revenue through sustained economic growth and avoiding a hike in the consumption tax by all means.To make his policy a reality, Abe reportedly opposed the continued tenure of council Chairman Hiromitsu Ishi, who was in favor of raising the consumption tax, instead choosing to appoint Honma, who was a proponent of the economic growth model.Honma lived up to Abe's expectations in his formulation of a new tax system for next fiscal year. The tax panel's proposed reform placed emphasis on economic growth, while recommending almost nothing but tax cuts, including a reduction of the corporate tax. The proposal included no reference to the consumption tax.The commission's management has also fallen under the leadership of the Cabinet Office, rather than the Finance Ministry and the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, as has been the tradition. The Tax Commission has therefore become an advisory panel to the prime minister in both name and substance.Who's really in charge?The Liberal Democratic Party's Research Commission on the Tax System--which regards itself as having the final say in tax affairs--is concerned about the government's tax panel gaining leverage through Abe's support.Senior LDP tax panel members have repeatedly called for Honma's dismissal, thereby applying pressure on his backers. Honma's resignation will be a blow to Abe.The three-way struggle for leadership over tax affairs has only just begun between the prime minister, the LDP and the Finance and Internal Affairs and Communications ministries. But no matter who wins out, the direction for tax reform is clear.A stable source must be secured for social security-related outlays while maintaining economic growth and raising the consumption tax.We hope the government will select as Honma's successor someone who will be able to comprehensibly explain such a basic direction for tax reform to the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 22, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2006-12-22	YOSHIN0020061222e2cm000g6
YOMSHI0020061223e2cn00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061223e2cn00001	EN	\N	Stronger sanctions needed against N. Korea	Almost no progress was made because North Korea rejected discussion of the key point of the talks--the abolition of its nuclear program--until the United States lifted its financial sanctions.	4	2006-12-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the other participating countries cannot stem Pyongyang's moves for nuclear development, there is no meaningful way in which the six-country talks can continue. The other five countries--Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--should work out a common strategy to deal with this issue, such as measures to strengthen sanctions.Pyongyang playing for timeIn September 2005, the United States suspended transactions by U.S. banks with a Macao-based bank at which North Korea had opened accounts it used to channel illegal funds gained through money laundering and the counterfeiting of U.S. banknotes. The same kind of financial sanctions have been imposed on North Korea by other countries.The financial sanctions are a major blow to the administration of Kim Jong Il, which is why Pyongyang is so desperate to lift them.The United States agreed to bilateral meetings with North Korea concerning financial sanctions in an effort to have Pyongyang adopt a positive stance on the abolition of its nuclear development program. The United States set a date for bilateral talks in New York in January because it wanted to distance the meeting on financial issues from the six-party talks in Beijing.But North Korea stiffened its attitude on abolition of its nuclear development program, even though this was the essential theme of the six-party talks.In the joint statement issued at the six-party talks in September 2005, Pyongyang promised to abolish its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear development program.However, in the six-party talks this week, North Korea demanded both financial and U.N. sanctions be lifted as a prior condition to starting discussions with other participating countries on scrapping its nuclear program. Pyongyang also adopted a provocative stance, saying it would take measures to strengthen its nuclear deterrence capability, which threatens countries that are calling for strengthening or a continuation of sanctions. It is behavior that runs counter to the joint statement.North Korea, which has conducted a nuclear test, still continues to operate nuclear facilities. At the six-party talks, Pyongyang expressed pride in being "a nuclear power," saying it was satisfied with being a country with a nuclear capability. Such behavior suggests Pyongyang will never abolish its nuclear development program. Rather, North Korea may play for time to try to make the international community accept a nuclear-capable Pyongyang as an established fact.In the six-party talks, China unofficially proposed the establishment of working groups in five fields, but North Korea did not agree to this. As a result, China lost face as the chair nation.China must exert influenceAmong the five countries, China has an especially strong connection with Kim Jong Il and holds the power of life and death over North Korea as it is the only key supplier of energy and food. If China fails to exert its influence on Pyongyang, there is a possibility East Asia will destabilizeNorth Korea avoided bilateral talks with Japan. It did not show a sincere attitude toward addressing the abduction issue, to which Japan has attached great importance.As it stands, the international community has little choice but to strengthen sanctions against North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun. Dec. 23, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2006-12-23	YOSHIN0020061223e2cn000es
YOMSHI0020061224e2co00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061224e2co00001	EN	\N	Will Japan-China study narrow gaps in history?	Each nation or race has its own perspective on history, and that, inevitably, will always diverge from the perspectives of other nations or races. Based on that premise, it remains to be seen just how successful the panel will be in deepening mutual understanding of the two countries' history.	4	2006-12-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Sharing a common understanding on history is a terribly difficult task. In 2005, a report on a joint study of historical relations between Japan and South Korea was released, but it merely included opinions of Japanese and South Korean historians.Japanese members of the joint study group said they were surprised and disappointed with their South Korean counterparts, who were so nationalistic and bent on making strong political remarks that they often forgot that they were supposed to be researchers.In the study with Chinese historians, differing political systems could be another potential fly in the ointment. Tokyo University Prof. Masayuki Yamauchi, a member of the Japan-China panel, said the Chinese Communist Party had the final say when it came to interpreting history in China."Since Chinese historians cannot necessarily speak their minds freely, a joint study of history might spark a fresh controversy in Japan-China relations," Yamauchi said.Differing interpretationsCompounding these problems are various arguments over interpretations on the history of the Sino-Japanese War.For instance, the Chinese government officially claims the Imperial Japanese Army killed more than 300,000 people in the 1937 Nanjing Incident.This figure has been criticized by Japanese historians and many U.S. and European scholars who remain dubious over why the number of victims eclipsed the total population of Nanjing at the time, which was estimated to be between 200,000 and 250,000.Whether the panel will be judged a success depends largely on whether it can scrutinize history based on hard evidence, without stooping to emotionally charged arguments, such as claiming Japan is trying to erase its past wrongdoings. One option to prevent such unhelpful moves would be to invite researchers from the United States and other neutral countries to sit on the panel.Glimmers of hopeBut signs of change have been detected on the Beijing side. Since autumn last year, moves within China to reevaluate the role of the Kuomintang army in the Sino-Japanese War have gained momentum. Compared with the Chinese Communist Party's conventional view of history, this suggests Japanese and Chinese scholars could whittle down differences in their understanding of the two countries' history.In addition, China agreed to Japan's request to include the history of Japan-China relations after the end of World War II as a subject of the joint study. The panel also will examine how Japan's economic assistance has contributed to China's development.Since Abe's visit to Beijing, political dialogue between the two countries has become increasingly active and bilateral relations have taken a turn for the better.The agreement Abe and Hu signed made no mention of prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine, visits that have riled Beijing in the past. Instead, the agreement said China acknowledged Japan had followed the path of a peaceful country for more than 60 years since the guns of World War II fell silent.Will the gaps in perspectives of history between Japan and China be filled in? Will Beijing stop using historical understanding as a diplomatic bargaining chip against Tokyo?While it would be rash to expect too much with regard to the panel's prospects for success, we will closely monitor any changes made by the Chinese side.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2006-12-24	YOSHIN0020061224e2co0007n
YOMSHI0020061225e2cp00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061225e2cp00001	EN	\N	Solidarity key to success of Iran sanctions	Instead of bowing to international demands to halt uranium enrichment, Iran has defiantly widened and accelerated its nuclear program. The Security Council was left with little alternative but to pressure Iran with sanctions to force the Islamic republic to halt its nuclear activities.	4	2006-12-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The resolution obliges Iran to end uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities as well as the construction of heavy water reactors. It bans U.N. member countries from trading or transferring materials and technologies to Iran that could contribute to its nuclear and missile development programs.The resolution also requires all member states to freeze financial assets owned by individuals and organizations involved with Iran's nuclear and missile development.The Security Council resolution gave Iran 60 days to comply with the demands. Should Tehran fail to come into line, the resolution warns the world body would take "further appropriate measures."Ominous signsAll eyes will be on just how Iran will respond. In a sign that does not bode well, Tehran immediately rejected the resolution and issued a statement insisting the country "will continue its peaceful nuclear activities."Should Iran remain defiant, the international community will need to stand united. A unified, strong response will increase the resolution's effectiveness.This point comes into sharp focus when considering the differing views and stances taken by major countries during the tough negotiations that eventually resulted in the resolution being approved. Whether all the key players can stay on the same page from now on remains a serious concern.A draft of the resolution, compiled by Britain, France and Germany, sought to impose an embargo of a wide range of items, ban travel by individuals involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs, and freeze the assets of such individuals and organizations. The United States supported this tough draft.However, Russia insisted the scope of embargo items should be narrowed and punitive measures should be deleted. China stood with Russia on this point.The European countries and the United States were desperate to get a resolution approved, so they were forced to relent and the final resolution was reduced to a watered-down version of the draft.Iran advancing N-programChina and Russia have close relations with Iran, particularly with regards to nuclear plant construction and securing oil resources, so their softer line toward Iran was hardly unexpected. But Beijing and Moscow have left themselves open to criticism that they made light of the threat Tehran's nuclear development poses to the international community by placing priority on their own economic interests.According to a report compiled last month by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Iran has completed a second centrifuge cascade, expanding its nuclear development activities. It is forging ahead with the construction of a heavy water reactor capable of producing material that could be used to produce nuclear weapons, and has yet to fully disclose information on its nuclear program.This situation cannot be left unaddressed and allowed to fester.The Middle East is awash with destabilizing factors, including the war in Iraq, the political crisis in Lebanon and the Palestinian issue. Add Iran's opaque nuclear development to the mix, and a nightmare scenario looms.The international community must keep an eagle eye on Iran's next steps. Should the need arise, the United Nations must not hesitate to consider additional sanctions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 25, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2006-12-25	YOSHIN0020061225e2cp000a4
YOMSHI0020061226e2cq00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061226e2cq00001	EN	\N	Traditional sense of value threatened	The news voted most important was the birth of Prince Hisahito, son of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko. Nearly 90 percent of readers chose this story as the most important of the year.	4	2006-12-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Before the birth of the new prince, there was much debate over the pros and cons of allowing a female to become empress regnant and whether a female line of succession should be allowed after a panel of Imperial House Law experts compiled a report in November last year that argued such a system should be allowed. The panel was prompted to begin its discussions by concerns that Japan would run out of heirs to the throne unless the law was revised.The news greatly influenced discussions about how the Imperial family should be constituted. After the announcement of Princess Kiko's pregnancy in February, the opinion that hasty discussion on the matter should be avoided rapidly spread.Figure skater Shizuka Arakawa's gold medal performance at the Turin Winter Olympic Games was voted the second most important story, and the news that Team Japan, led by Sadaharu Oh, had won the first World Baseball Classic, ranked third.This marks the first time bright and happy news has occupied the top three slots in the poll since 1990. In 1990, the marriage of Prince Aya, now Prince Akishino, to Kiko Kawashima ranked first ahead of two other good-news stories.Rounding out the top 10 this year, the victory of Waseda Jitsugyo High School in the first replayed final in 37 years of the the National High School Baseball Championship, ranked fifth and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters' first victory in 44 years in baseball's Japan Series ranked eighth.In all, four sports stories made the top 10.Market fundamentalismThe Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office searched the head office of Livedoor Co. in the Roppongi Hills complex in Minato Ward, Tokyo, on Jan. 16, when the nation still felt the optimism of seeing in the New Year.A week later, prosecutors arrested then Livedoor President Takafumi Horie and other executives. This news ranked sixth in the poll.Horie made headlines with his attempt to acquire radio broadcaster Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. in 2005. He also unsuccessfully ran in the general election for the House of Representatives in September 2005 as an "assassin" candidate against one of the so-called postal rebels who opposed then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal reform bills. So news of the arrest of the "wonder boy" sent shock waves throughout the country.It was Horie who devoted all his energies to making money with legal, but questionable methods such as after-hour stock trading and stock splits.Horie was arrested on suspicion of window-dressing account settlements in violation of the Securities and Exchange Law.At the same time, many people pondered the mammonist attitude expressed by Horie, who did not hesitate to say, "You can buy people's hearts with money."The arrest of Yoshiaki Murakami, who headed the so-called Murakami Fund, ranked 28th. Murakami, another mammonist, bluntly said, "What's wrong with making money?" immediately before his arrest.The two scandals involving Horie and Murakami highlighted issues concerning market fundamentalism.Prof. Masahiko Fujiwara of the women-only Ochanomizu University, wrote one of the best-selling books of the year. In his work, titled "Kokka no Hinkaku" (The Dignity of a Nation), Fujiwara lamented the current state of Japanese society, saying: "The morality that penetrates the very DNA of the Japanese has been damaged. Recently, mammonism supported by the market economy has further damaged it badly."Children victims of crimeThis year also saw the emergence of reports about suicides by children who were bullied at school. The stories, which greatly shocked people, ranked 7th.A first-grade middle school student from Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, wrote in his suicide note that his classmates were always calling him "poor" and "a thief." A second-grade middle school student from Chikuzenmachi, Fukuoka Prefecture, left a note in which he said, "I can't live anymore as I have been bullied."Suicides by bullied children followed in other parts of the country, including Yamanashi, Gifu, Osaka and Saitama prefectures.At the Chikuzenmachi school, the student's homeroom teacher was found to be the root cause of the bullying. In Takikawa, Hokkaido, the city's board of education hid the bullying that led to the suicide of a sixth-grade primary school girl. It is regrettable that educators involved in these cases lacked necessary self-awareness and a sense of responsibility as educators. The issue of high schools that did not teach mandatory classes to their students, which ranked 15th in the poll, was probably caused by similar failings.Meanwhile, we saw cases of parents and other adults who seemed to lack in things that are thought natural to human beings. In Fujisatomachi, Akita Prefecture, Suzuka Hatakeyama is suspected of killing her 9-year-old daughter by pushing her off a bridge into a river. In Daisen, in the same prefecture, a mother of a 4-year-old boy together with a male acquaintance were arrested on suspicion of leaving the boy in an irrigation ditch where he subsequently died.Is the image of a mother as one who, above all others, cherishes her own child, a thing of the past?The number of child abuse cases in which the police made arrests or conducted investigations during the first half of this year was about 120, the worst record for a six-month period since the police started taking statistics on child abuse cases in 2000.First-grade primary school student Goken Yoneyama, 7, was allegedly killed by Hatakeyama. In Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, two pupils at a kindergarten were killed by the mother of a child who went to the same kindergarten. In Kawasaki, a third-grade primary school boy was thrown from the 15th story of a condominium by a middle-aged man. The man was a father of three.This succession of cases in which children were victimized by adults who lacked basic human qualities ranked ninth.Because of drunk driving by a Fukuoka municipal government employee in August, three infants aged 1 to 4 were killed in a heart-wrenching incident. The story ranked 10th. The municipal employee crashed into a sport-utility vehicle carrying the family, including the children, causing the car to plunge into the sea, and the man fled the scene of the accident without making any attempt to rescue them.The launch of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ranked fourth, placing it among other stories of social importance. The first prime minister born in the postwar period emphasized the need to "build a beautiful country." According to him, "A beautiful country, Japan, is a country that values culture, tradition, history and nature." It is also "a country underpinned by free society, which respects discipline and has dignity." The revisions to the Fundamental Law of Education were the first important step toward realizing this goal.Each of the top-ranking good news stories wiped away the sense of stagnation overshadowing the nation. We always hope for refreshing news in every field at the close of each year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1260	2006-12-26	YOSHIN0020061226e2cq000de
YOMSHI0020061227e2cr00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061227e2cr00001	EN	\N	Construction industry must heed Aneha ruling	The sentence matched that demanded by the prosecution. The current Building Standards Law stipulates only a fine for data fabrication, which was at the core of the case. This apparent flaw in the law has been pointed out since Aneha was arrested. He received a prison sentence as he was convicted of perjury under the Diet Testimony Law for the false testimony he gave regarding the data fabrication issue as a sworn witness before the Diet.	4	2006-12-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the ruling, Aneha, who had juggled figures to make a name for himself as a capable architect who could cut design costs, continued to fabricate data to maintain his reputation.The prosecution also pointed out that Aneha never stopped to think that his deed might threaten the lives and safety of the residents of buildings he helped construct, and that he thought only of pursuing his own interests.A later probe found that Aneha fudged quake-resistance data for 99 condominiums and hotels. The residents of 11 condos that could collapse if an earthquake measuring upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 occurs were forced to evacuate, and some of the buildings were demolished. If the residents wish to rebuild them, they will find themselves out of pocket. They remain in a tough situation.The residents could not hide their anger at Aneha's deed after listening to the sentencing. Taking into consideration the serious damage caused by the data fabrication and its large impact on the society, some of them may feel that they cannot accept the ruling.Problems systemicAt both the summoning of sworn witness and court hearings, Aneha asserted that failed building contractor Kimura Construction Co., which built many of the defective condos and hotels, pressured him to cut costs. But the judges rejected his claim, saying he was just trying to pass the buck to Kimura. They added that it was natural for a private firm to make efforts to reduce costs, and pointed out that many people had been deceived by his words.The ruling indicated that the data fabrication was committed by Aneha under his own initiative. But the incident shed light on the many systemic problems in the construction industry regarding the process of building certification.Government-authorized private building inspection agencies and local governments failed to detect Aneha's data fabrication. Building inspection was opened up to private firms in 1999, and some of them failed to exercise due diligence, content merely to pocket their inspection fees.Better oversight neededIt also was found that some contractors and owners of buildings left the securing of the buildings' safety completely in the hands of other organizations, and that some construction firms cannot afford to pay compensation for the defective buildings they erected.In addition, since Aneha's data fabrication was revealed, inappropriate building designs made by architects other than Aneha have been detected one after another nationwide, with problems involving data fabrication and sloppy strength calculations.The Construction and Transport Ministry has revised the Building Standards Law and the Architect Law to strengthen penalties where necessary and has reexamined the building certification system. These revised laws will be enforced from next year. The legal framework to prevent a recurrence of building malpractice has been prepared. But the problem is how to make them work effectively.The ruling pointed out that the construction industry as a whole should make efforts to restore confidence in its expertise and professional ethics. At the same time, we hope efforts will be made to restore confidence in the oversight of the construction industry.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 27, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2006-12-27	YOSHIN0020061227e2cr000dz
YOMSHI0020061229e2cs00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061229e2cs00001	EN	\N	Abe needs to rebuild his administration	Sata, state minister for administrative reform and regional revitalization, announced his resignation to take responsibility for the scandal that developed after it was revealed that his political organization submitted false political funds reports. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved Sata's resignation.	4	2006-12-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The resignation came just a day after the scandal blew up, no doubt because the Prime Minister's Office judged it could not defend Sata's conduct and sought to minimize damage to the government caused by the scandal.Sata's departure was the second setback for Abe in terms of personnel he handpicked, following the resignation of Tax Commission Chairman Masaaki Honma after a weekly magazine reported Honma was living in a Tokyo apartment for government officials with a woman who was not his wife.Since the start of Abe's administration, the approval rating of his Cabinet has tumbled due to problems including the readmittance of the so-called postal rebels to the Liberal Democratic Party and the planting of people paid to ask questions at town meetings organized by the Cabinet Office. Sata's resignation clearly is another reversal for the government.Why were books cooked?Sata's political organization, the Sata Genichiro Political Research Group, presented to the government political funds reports that claimed 78.4 million yen in maintenance expenses for a nonexistent office in Tokyo, including heating and electricity charges, from 1990 to 2000.The expenses reportedly were entered in income and expenditure reports on political funds until 2000. Therefore, even if they were fictitious, the statue of limitations in respect of the alleged crimes has already expired. But if a Diet member files a false report about political funds, it hardly enhances public confidence in politics. Sata cannot evade his moral and political responsibilities.Sata said the expenses to maintain his offices and those for his political activities were genuine. But the expenses for his offices of his support group in Gunma Prefecture, from where Sata was elected, were listed as expenses for the Tokyo political organization. He said he was unfamiliar with the details of the accounting procedures.Why was it necessary to do the bookkeeping in this manner? How widespread were the accounting irregularities? Sata's story leaves strong doubts about the accounting. He must fulfill his responsibility as a politician and give a full explanation of the alleged accounting irregularities.Scandal could derail reformsIt is said that Abe picked Sata for the ministerial post as a reward for coordinating efforts by midranking LDP lawmakers in the party presidential election to realize the Abe administration. As a state minister, he was in charge of promoting important policies Abe's Cabinet has touted, including administrative reform and an overhaul of the public servant system.Sata said at a press conference that he would resign to avoid having the scandal lead to confusion in national politics. The reform of the public servant system likely will be one of the focuses in the battles between the ruling and opposition parties at the next ordinary Diet session. If Sata remained in his post, the ruling parties would be exposed to attacks from opposition parties, which could hinder the promotion of the reform.To change his administration's fortunes, Abe will have to resolve several issues, including the selection of Sata's successor, and bring about solid results. That is the way to restore public confidence in his administration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 28, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2006-12-28	YOSHIN0020061228e2cs000d6
YOMSHI0020061229e2ct00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061229e2ct00002	EN	\N	2006 a year of further global destabilization	Many of the Top 10 international news stories chosen by readers of The Yomiuri Shimbun dealt with this destabilization, both regionally and globally. The stories include North Korea, which selfishly argues for the continuation of its nuclear program; the United States, as it struggles with the continuing chaos in Iraq; and a Middle East peace process in utter disarray.	4	2006-12-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Amid the anxiety and confusion, the international community is about to enter 2007 with no clear sense of how to proceed.Nightmare becomes realityThe nightmarish scenario in which North Korea would someday conduct a nuclear test became a reality this year, and was chosen as the top international news story of 2006.In July, North Korea launched seven missiles, including the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile, toward the Sea of Japan. This story ranked No. 3 in our survey. In October, North Korea conducted its first underground nuclear test at a site in the country's northeast.The international community condemned North Korea after it brazenly launched its missiles and conducted the nuclear test, ignoring repeated demands from other countries to refrain from such actions. The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution to impose sanctions on North Korea, the main pillars of which were financial sanctions and cargo inspections to prevent the transfer of materials that could be used for weapons of mass destruction.Japan, which faces a serious threat from North Korean nuclear missiles, led the discussion on the issue at the Security Council. China and Russia, which North Korea views as "allies," also signed onto the first UNSC resolution for sanctions against Pyongyang.With mounting pressure against North Korea, the six-party talks on the country's nuclear program resumed in December, about 13 months after the previous round of talks. However, North Korea continued to demand throughout the talks that financial sanctions imposed by the United States be lifted. The talks adjourned fruitlessly, without a decision on further rounds.The question is how can we persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, particularly as it prides itself in being a "nuclear nation"? This will be the greatest point of contention in this region in 2007.Iran's nuclear development--which came it at No. 15--is a problem as serious as that of North Korea's. In February, Iran officially admitted it was enriching uranium. The Security Council in December unanimously adopted its first resolution on sanctions against the country.Claiming that nuclear development is an inalienable and nonnegotiable right, however, Iran condemned the resolution as merely "a piece of torn paper" and maintains that it will continue its nuclear development program.U.S. diplomacy at dead endThe political power map changed in the United States, which, as the only superpower, holds the key to maintaining international order. In November's midterm elections, the Democratic Party succeeded in obtaining majorities in both houses of Congress for the first time in 12 years. This news ranked fifth among readers' top international stories. The Democrats also made significant gains in nationwide gubernatorial elections.The prime factor in this setback to the administration of President George W. Bush was the chaotic situation in Iraq.In May, a full-fledged Iraqi government headed by Nouri al-Maliki from the Islamic Dawa Party of the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance was inaugurated. The Shiite coalition won in the National Assembly election in December 2005. This story ranked No. 11 in the poll.At No. 6 came November's death sentence for Saddam Hussein, who was toppled as Iraq president during the war in that country. The sentence follows his conviction for crimes against humanity, including the killing of 148 Shiites in the town of Dujail. His sentence was finalized earlier this month.Although Iraq has somehow managed to achieve certain goals, such as the formulation of the Constitution and establishment of a full-fledged government, the security situation has yet to improve. Sectarian violence continues to escalate, with many observers saying the country already has descended into civil war. The number of U.S. military deaths since the U.S.-led invasion began is about to reach the 3,000 mark.Attention is now being focused on how the Bush administration claws its way out of the quagmire and what kind of changes it makes to its Iraq policy.Terrorism still rampantNews of terrorist attacks have flooded in from around the world. In Mumbai, the almost-simultaneous bombings of seven trains and stations killed 179 people in July, a story that ranked No. 10 in our poll. In Britain, a foiled plot to blast transatlantic airliners out of the sky in August ranked 13th. Such an attack would have been terrible blow for the country, which had been the victim of coordinated bombings the previous year in London.The No. 9 story of the year according to our readers was that of Alexander Litvinenko--a former lieutenant colonel in Russia's Federal Security Service and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin--who died in London in November, where he had been in exile. It was learned that he was killed with polonium-210, a radioactive substance of peculiar qualities. Some people close to the case believe Russian intelligence agents were involved in the murder.The price of crude oil also continued its rise from the previous year. In July, its per-barrel price topped $77, bringing a new record high and placing it at No. 7 on our readers' list. In addition to China's ravenous demand for oil, Israel's invasion of Lebanon--a story that ranked 16th--and other regional conflicts contributed to the high prices.The spread of avian influenza, meanwhile, does not seem to be waning. Human deaths from bird flu topped 100 in March and 150 by the end of October. The news ranked eighth on our list.In May, Indonesia, the origin of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed about 230,000 people, suffered another major earthquake, this time killing about 6,000 residents of central Java. This sad news ranked second in the Yomiuri survey. In the Philippines, 11,000 were killed in a major landslide in February. This came in at No. 22.Science news not dwarfedThe scientific community was no stranger to high-profile news, either. At its general meeting in Prague in August, the International Astronomical Union decided to strip Pluto of its status as a planet, choosing to instead classify it in the newly created category of "dwarf planet." This historic news ranked fourth. The demotion of Pluto also sent the world's publishing houses rushing to edit school textbooks.In South Korea, Seoul University Prof. Hwang Woo Sok was indicted on embezzlement and violations of that country's bioethics law for fabricating articles in which he claimed to have succeeded for the first time in creating human embryonic stem cells through cloning, a story that was at No. 14 in our poll. But this was not just someone else's problem, as a Tokyo University professor also was fired this month for falsifying research papers.The year 2007 will probably prove to be a year of milestones as world leaders must guide the increasingly uncertain international community toward stability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1235	2006-12-29	YOSHIN0020061229e2ct0008n
YOMSHI0020061230e2cu00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020061230e2cu00001	EN	\N	Power firms struggling to generate public trust	Fortunately, there are no cases that pose an immediate danger. On the contrary, there are absurdities that make us wonder, "Is there any meaning to that?" The prime example is the data fabrication that came to light at the Oi nuclear power station operated by Kansai Electric Power Co. in Oicho, Fukui Prefecture.	4	2006-12-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Hot water is discharged at power stations, with temperatures measured at two points: the drain outlet immediately after power is generated and the outlet to the sea. Normally, the temperature at the outlet immediately after power generation is higher than that at the outlet to the sea. However, the temperature at the lower current was higher by 0.1 C at the Oi power station.The power station did not investigate whether it was due to malfunctioning measuring devices or changes in the temperature of the sea water. Instead, it made reports to the local government after fabricating a lower temperature at the outlet to the sea.No companies escape blameAs it was data that could have landed the company in trouble, we suspect it fabricated the figures to sweep the whole business under the carpet.The country's 10 power companies throughout the country, with already more than 1,000 cases uncovered. The power companies should conduct thorough investigations and make sufficient arrangements to prevent a recurrence of such cases.The incidents of misconduct started with Chugoku Electric Power Co. Two months ago it was revealed that a subsidiary fabricated survey data for Doyo Dam in Shinjoson, Okayama Prefecture, whereby Chugoku Electric when it learned of the deception.Power companies have a duty to periodically report survey data on dams to the relevant authorities under the River Law. This is because a dam may give way if it becomes deformed or water begins to leak from it. Such deception also violates the Electric Utility Law that governs the business of power companies.Other cases include the fabrication of the temperatures of drainage water at a thermal power station and hiding the fact that nitrogen oxides exceeding the limit stipulated under the Air Pollution Prevention Law had been discharged at another power station.Alarmed by the situation, the Construction and Transport and Economy, Trade and Industry ministries demanded that power companies checks their data and reports results by the end of the year.The results were disastrous. At 68 dams throughout the nation, deformation and the fabrication of survey data, including water levels as well as failures to make necessary reports to authorities, were discovered. It was also discovered that repair work was done without permission at more than 500 power stations. Fabrication of data on hot wastewater was found at several nuclear power stations.Energy supply jeopardizedThe electric power industry had a similar incident that eroded public trust four years ago. A Tokyo Electric Power Co. nuclear power station fabricated inspection data, a revelation that was followed by news of various cases of misconduct by power companies. Distrust spread among residents and local governments where nuclear power stations are located, causing the power stations to suspend operations. The incident thus jeopardized the nation's stable supply of electricity. In particular, it became difficult to get approval from both local governments and residents to carry out the so-called pluthermal programs that effectively utilize uranium resources.A pluthermal program, which uses plutonium taken from spent nuclear fuel as fuel after mixing it with uranium into mixed oxide fuel, is indispensable for effectively utilizing nuclear power. This year some companies, including Kyushu Electric Power Co., obtained approval from local governments o pluthermal programs, giving it an opportunity to actually carry out pluthermal programs.At such an important time for promoting the programs, distrust toward power companies among communities should not become further widespread.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 30, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2006-12-30	YOSHIN0020061230e2cu0006e
YOMSHI0020070102e2cv00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020070102e2cv00001	EN	\N	Saddam's execution won't solve Iraq's woes	However, we believe the execution was carried out too hastily and was political motivated. We need to assess how his execution will affect the reconstruction of Iraq, which desperately needs national reconciliation.	4	2006-12-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Saddam ruled Iraq with an iron fist for about 30 years and maintained stability in the country by oppressing the Shiites and Kurds. He had been the crowning symbol of Sunni rule of the country.His execution might fuel the fire of sectarian conflict that has been intensifying and threatens to tear the country apart. Because of this, some observers predicted there would be room for political maneuvering about the timing of sending Saddam to the gallows.Instead, the administration of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which is dominated by Shiites, rushed the process that resulted in Saddam's execution.A major gambleDid Maliki's administration try to sate the thirst for vengeance among Shiites and Kurds in order to display its authority over the country as the security situation threatens to spiral out of control? Did the administration think the current situation is so serious that it would not be affected significantly by the fate of Saddam?Whatever the case, the execution must be viewed as a major gamble.Maliki's most pressing priority is to bring about national reconciliation. Without this, any attempt to maintain his administration and rebuild the nation would be cut off at the knees.After Saddam's execution, a bomb planted in a minibus killed more than 35 people in a fish market in a mostly Shiite town south of Baghdad. The bomb's connection with the execution was not immediately known, but the Maliki administration must have expected that Sunnis would intensify the offensive against his fragile administration in retribution for Saddam's death.A chance missed?Saddam's trial was an excellent chance to test Iraq's fledgling democracy, but the fairness of the trial was questioned by some observers. Allegations of intervention by political leaders also tainted the trial process. Iraq's new leaders, who were chosen through democratic elections, may have squandered a prime opportunity to leave as a precedent a democratically conducted trial of a dictator who regularly flouted the rule of law.We also are concerned that Saddam's execution will make it very difficult to find out the truth about other crimes committed by his administration, such as mass killings of Kurds and the invasion of Kuwait.Assistance for Iraq's reconstruction from the international community, especially by the United States, has taken on an even greater importance.U.S. President George W. Bush is scheduled to reveal his new Iraq policy early next year. Forthright examinations of Bush's past Iraqi policy are crucial to determine what its flaws were and why it did not pan out as planned.The Bush administration needs to devise a flexible, effective policy to ensure its assistance to Iraq's reconstruction achieves its goals.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 31, 2006)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	536	2006-12-31	YOSHIN0020061231e2cv0005l
YOMSHI0020041231e1110000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041231e1110000e	EN	\N	New national strategy needed for new reality	This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, which was preceded by wars in China from the early years of the Showa era (1926-1989). Those born in 1945 will turn 60 this year, which is the end of the Chinese sexagenary cycle.	4	2005-01-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A period equivalent to two generations has passed since the end of the war. During that period, both Japan and the international community have drastically changed from what they were in the postwar years.The postwar period was characterized by the Cold War structure in which the United States and the Soviet Union were at loggerheads. The disintegration of the Soviet Union meant the victory of the market economy over the socialist planned economy. More than a decade has passed since then.Now the world has entered a new and turbulent period in history. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, followed by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the complexion of the global situation has been transformed into a highly volatile one.The world economy is also in the middle of rapid structural changes, led by revolutionary developments in information technology.If the government fails to deal properly with such turbulent international situations, Japan will quickly go into a decline. The government must create mid- and long-term national strategies in line with the future course of those changes and carry them out steadily and unflinchingly. Quick reactions are required to keep up with a world transforming at high speed.But it is a matter of concern whether Japan can respond expeditiously to the international and domestic changes because there remains in the country an old-guard clique that cannot break away from the postwar way of thinking.Vestige of postwar democracyThe clique's way of thinking is a vestige of the "postwar democracy" that was cultured for several years after the war through censorship, control over freedom of speech and manipulation of mass media, all conducted extensively and cunningly by the GHQ.The process of drafting and establishing the current Constitution was the most important subject over which the GHQ exerted control.The preamble to the Constitution, which was drafted by the GHQ, says the security of the nation can be preserved if we trust in "the justice and faith of the peace-loving people in the world."This and the second section of Article 9, which renounces "war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes," created the postwar illusion that Japan could pursue a unilateral pacifist policy regardless of the realities of the world.So what are the practical tasks the country can undertake in dealing with the realities facing the international community?Washington is now working on a global realignment of U.S. forces. It aims at not only dealing with new threats posed by Islamic fundamentalist groups, which consider the United States as the prime target of their terrorist attacks, but also at revising its global strategy based on a long-term vision as the sole superpower in the world.As part of that mission, Washington is planning to enhance the rapid deployment capability of U.S. troops in the Asia-Pacific region to address the "arc of instability" ranging from Northeast Asia to the Middle East.This move cannot be considered separately from Japan's long-term national security. The government has no choice but to plan for various contingencies in which Japan must exercise its right to collective self-defense if it takes into consideration the cooperative and mutually complementary Japan-U.S. relationship.The Constitution does not need to be revised to enable the nation's collective self-defense right to be exercised. The exercising of that right will become possible immediately if a prime minister decides to change the official interpretation of the Constitution. It is high time for the prime minister and all other lawmakers to make a clear departure from the postwar democratic mind-set, which was allergic to any military-related issues.Revise education lawThe Fundamental Law of Education was established as one of the postwar paradigms, along with the Constitution.Though the need to revise the law has long been pointed out, the revision work still faces major challenges. The focus of discussions is how patriotism should be treated in the law. Japan must be the only country in the world whose people argue whether it is OK to be patriotic.Such a strange phenomenon takes place here because the old-guard clique still maintains some influence. Hearing the word "patriotism," they automatically kick up a fuss, warning that it means a return to isolationism, the prewar mentality or a revival of militarism.In the process of drafting the education law, the government insisted on including "respect for tradition" in it. But the GHQ forced Tokyo to delete this reference and to stress respect for individuality in the law.Negation of respect for tradition, which is tantamount to denial of patriotism, has led to a dilution of civic spirit and caused confusion in education today. We suspect respect for individuality often ends up meaning that children are allowed to do as they like. That can lead, in turn, to a deterioration of discipline in the classroom and also is probably a factor in the recent decline of students' academic ability.Shift from overegalitarianismThe structure of the global economy has altered drastically with the rapid growth of the Chinese economy. India and Brazil are on their way to becoming major economic powers.Watching the future course of the global economy, the government must adopt policies that keep the Japanese economy competitive. This means developing human resources. Education in Japan must be reformed, starting with the education law.The GHQ, which nourished postwar democracy, was led by so-called New Dealer leftists. They were ideologues stressing equality of results rather than ingenuity and responsibility along with freedom. They would be called leftist liberals today.For instance, the new taxation system based on the report by U.S. economist Carl Shoup (1902-2000) was created in 1949, when Japan was still under occupation. The system, which was based on egalitarianism, placed direct taxation at its center and imposed a heavy progressive tax on income.At present, all the Western European countries maintain their social security programs under taxation systems with indirect taxes levied at around 20 percent in the form of consumption or value-added taxes.By contrast, there is staunch opposition in Japan toward the attempt to raise the consumption tax from the current 5 percent to 10 percent. Such a move is criticized as victimizing weaker members of society. This might be a legacy of egalitarianism characteristic to the Shoup taxation system.Of course, some tax reduction measures have to be considered for food and other daily neccesities if the consumption tax is hiked considerably. Tax reduction measures similar to those in North America and Europe also should be considered for newspapers, books and other intellectual or cultural items.In any case, it is apparent that a social security system with direct tax revenues and insurance premiums from the working-age generation as major financial sources cannot be maintained any longer. The consumption tax, which is imposed extensively but lightly on all sections of society including the young, the old, men and women, must become a central part of the nation's taxation system.In what is the most sweeping change in the country's demographic situation since the Meiji era (1868-1912), Japan's population will start to decrease rapidly after its peak in 2006.In particular, the working-age population will decline for the next 30 years at the fastest pace in the world. If the situation is left unattended, the real national income in 2030 is estimated to drop by 15 percent compared with that in 2000.Japan is entering a difficult period when it will become harder to maintain the size and productivity of the Japanese economy itself--premises for sustaining the social security system.The long-term national policy of Japan is now being called into question. The nation must leave behind the postwar way of thinking and quickly take strategic measures to maintain the vitality of the state and its people both domestically and internationally.For Japan, there is not much time left.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1429	2005-01-01	YOSHIN0020050105e11100063
YOMSHI0020050102e1130000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050102e1130000d	EN	\N	New diplomatic strategy essential	Despite assigning to history the Cold War structure that defined the course of postwar politics and security, the world is still searching for stability.	4	2005-01-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is unclear if East Asia can build a new stable order for the region anytime soon, given the number of variables, including the future course of China, which has emerged as an economic and military power.Bringing about a stable global order is an essential task for the international community if it wants to deal effectively with new threats to peace after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States--namely international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.This task also is of extreme importance for Japan. The Iraqi situation will continue to be a crucial test for this country.The United States, as the sole superpower, is the key player in maintaining global peace. With Iraq's elections scheduled for Jan. 30, the deterioration of security in that country is of grave concern. If U.S. efforts to reconstruct Iraq and bring peace to that nation fail, the Middle East will be racked with instability as a consequence, with catastrophic implications for the international community.Japan-U.S. alliance keyGlobal peace is essential to Japan's continued existence. This is why Japan continues its humanitarian assistance to the Iraqis and supports U.S. efforts to reconstruct that nation. Undoubtedly, the Japan-U.S. alliance will carry more weight in the dynamics of the global security framework.North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs pose a serious threat to Japan. It is obvious, therefore, that the Japan-U.S. alliance is vitally important to Japan's handling of North Korea-related issues. Furthermore, the alliance serves to a great extent as a "common asset" for peace in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly as the region must deal with the continuing military buildup of China.The United States is currently in the process of realigning its armed forces around the world. As part of this process, it wants to make Japan a strategic post to counter terrorism and deal with conflicts in the so-called "arc of instability" stretching from northeast Asia to the Middle East. A major terrorist attack or conflict in this region could have serious implications for Japan. The oceans along this arc provide vital routes for Japan to ship crude oil from the Middle East. Without these routes, it would be difficult--if not impossible--for the Japanese economy to survive.Must accept responsibilityIn cooperation with the United States, Japan needs to play a key role and assume as much responsibility as possible to keep this region stable.There are many roles that should be played by the Japan-U.S. alliance. To make the alliance stronger and more significant, the two nations must remain in close contact so they can work out meaningful strategies.One development in East Asia worth mentioning concerns China. While it is enjoying booming economic growth, China is pressing ahead with its defense buildup program, particularly in modernizing its navy and air force.Although Japan and China are sure to see their economic ties become more intertwined, relations in the political and security arena will likely be marred by increased tension.As China is ruled by its monolithic Communist Party, it differs from Japan in terms of freedom and democracy. Determining what stance Japan should adopt toward China is a key long-term task for this nation from diplomatic and security standpoints.Japan has paid far too much consideration to avoiding friction with China.China's efforts to develop undersea resources include the exploration of a natural gas field near Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The movement threatens to siphon off Japan's gas resources as the natural gas fields stretch into Japan's EEZ. In the past, Japan has chosen to turn a blind eye to this development.Build new order in E. AsiaJapan must discard this attitude and place top priority on coming up with strategic diplomacy to ensure the nation's security and prosperity.The two goals this nation must adopt in this respect are to boost economic relations with China and protect our national interests in the political and security areas.China probably plans to take a leading role in formulating a new order in East Asia by building up its political, economic and military power.It seems that China, as the East Asian "leader," is planning to become a power equal to the United States.It is difficult to imagine that any regional community could be formed in East Asia without problems because of the diverse political systems, religions and cultures.But that does not mean Japan should not do its utmost to build a new order in the region that will cater to this country's national interests, especially at a time when the nations in the region are pressing ahead with their national agendas.With the United Nations observing the 60th anniversary of its establishment this year, efforts to reform the world body are crucial. The core of these efforts will be how to reform the U.N. Security Council.Increase voice in U.N.The system of seating the five victors in World War II--the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China--as permanent members in the U.N. Security Council does not reflect the reality of the international community in the 21st century. This is obvious when we consider why the United Nations failed to function properly in the run-up to the Iraq war and on other occasions.If the status quo is allowed to continue, Japan's opinions are unlikely to be reflected during U.N. Security Council discussions if a contingency should arise on the Korean Peninsula, a matter of life or death for Japan.Japan, which is campaigning ahead of a summit meeting of U.N. member nations in the autumn, should take a central role in the reform of the council.Reform of the Security Council will not be easy. But Japan must do its best to make its presence felt so that the international community will take note of Japan's viewpoints in this respect.Japan must develop a new diplomatic strategy in the face of historic changes in the world and the environment surrounding global security.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1099	2005-01-03	YOSHIN0020050105e113000h5
YOMSHI0020050103e1140000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050103e1140000f	EN	\N	It's time for a great leap toward new constitution	The Cold War, which defined international politics during much of the postwar period, ended years ago. The traditional battle between conservatives and progressives based on ideological differences, which was red-hot in postwar politics, is a thing of the past. The high economic growth era, which lasted for about 20 years until the mid-1970s, is history. The term "postwar democracy" is being buried by change.	4	2005-01-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is an opportune time to design an ideal vision of the nation, a plan that can address historic changes that were unimaginable when the Constitution was created.Revising the Constitution simply means creating strong foundations for the improvement of 21st century Japan, advancing past postwar thinking.Public supports changeAccording to a recent opinion poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun, 65 percent of respondents supported constitutional revision. The public is keenly aware of the disparity between reality and the ideals and rules stipulated in the Constitution, a gap they know is far beyond its limits. This awareness is broadly based.It is therefore only natural that the Diet and political parties have made visible moves toward reform, backed by this change in public opinion.At the Diet, research panels of both houses will submit final reports that stipulate the necessity of revising the Constitution to their respective chairmen as early as spring. Afterward, the panels most likely will be transformed into organs for deliberation on a bill on a national referendum on constitutional reform, which will map out procedures to change the top law.The Liberal Democratic Party will determine a draft constitutional revision bill in November for the 50th anniversary of the party's creation.Main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) will compile proposals on the Constitution in March, which will serve as foundation for the drafting of a constitutional revision bill in 2006.New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, also will discuss constitutional reform, based on the notion of kaken, which means the party upholds the existing Constitution, but also supports additions to clauses and/or new clauses in such areas as the environment.The politicians have a responsibility to accelerate debate on constitutional revision, beyond the framework of the ruling and opposition parties.Postwar concepts outdatedWhen discussing the Constitution, it must be recognized that regarding the nation and its people as in conflict, or overemphasizing "respect for individuals," are typical postwar democracy concepts.Individualism must entail recognition of the importance of society and respect for the freedom and rights of others. But among those who believe in individualism, there has been a marked tendency to cling to mere individualistic behavior.As a result, it has been pointed out that people value concepts such as fairness and justice much less than before. With the ties that bind people in the community being lost, people are greatly worried that the foundation for society's existence is being undermined.The collapse of the family is a prime example. Each day brings another report of abuses against children and aged people in their homes. There have even been cases where socially withdrawn youths have killed their parents. The number of aged people living alone has been increasing.This is the reason why The Yomiuri Shimbun incorporated a "clause on the family" in our 2004 proposal for revising the Constitution.Individuals cannot exist in isolation from society. The question of how to rebuild ties among various communities such as regions, corporations, schools and families, can be addressed as part of the process of constitutional reform.Today we see many problems that no one imagined when the Constitution was created, including environmental destruction, breaches of privacy and massive leaks of information on individuals.For instance, there are many vulgar weekly magazines that impugn people's reputations or infringe on their privacy purely for the sake of increased sales. These are far from being in the public interest.Balance rights, dutiesAnother key issue is to define in the Constitution relatively new rights, such as those concerning the environment and privacy.The present top law places too much emphasis on rights in its statements on rights and duties. This imbalance must be corrected.A draft outline on constitutional revision compiled by the LDP in November stipulates the people's "obligation" to maintain the nation's independence and security.A state has an obligation to protect the life and assets of its people. However, a state can do so only if the state's independence and security is guaranteed. Quite a few countries have stipulations in their constitutions on the "duties of defending the nation," even if they do not have a military draft.New concepts have emerged in such areas as preserving the environment, in addition to traditional notions such as the obligation to pay taxes. Due to changes in society, the relationship between rights and duties has to be reconsidered from new viewpoints.Article 9 key issueThe core issue for constitutional revisions is Article 9. More than anything else, a "National Defense Army" has to be stipulated in the Constitution to correct the fictitious notion that the Self-Defense Forces are not a military force.Looking around the world, such an explanation cannot be found in other countries' constitutions. It is a typical example of Japan's postwar thinking.It is similarly illogical not to permit the nation to exercise its right of collective defense or use force for the purpose of maintaining and securing international peace.The range of the SDF's activities will expand internationally along with the changes in the global security environment after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Needless to say, the revision of Article 9 is important for Japan's security. In addition, we should speed up the revision of the article to ensure the creation and maintenance of international peace.This year should be one in which a thorough debate is conducted beyond postwar thinking to provide a springboard for constitutional revision.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1050	2005-01-04	YOSHIN0020050105e114000sg
YOMSHI0020050104e1150000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050104e1150000h	EN	\N	Education system change vital to nation's future	The results of two international academic ability surveys, one of which was the 2003 Program for International Student Assessment conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, clearly showed that Japan was no longer in the international top ranks of academic ability for primary and middle school students.	4	2005-01-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Immediately after the results of the surveys were released, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry began discussing measures, including increasing class hours and preparing materials that would guide teachers so they could improve classwork. This shows that the ministry has recognized that the reasons behind the decline in academic ability can be found in fewer class hours and poor teaching methods.But the measures under discussion are only makeshift ones. What we really need to do is break completely away from the "education free from pressure" policy that has held sway for the past 25 years or so and restore what the nation's education has lost since the end of World War II.From the end of the war through rehabilitation and the rapid period of growth from about 1955 to 1970, Japan maintained an education policy that stressed the importance of knowledge. The then Education Ministry introduced a legally binding course of study to be used across the nation, as well as a nationwide achievement test that allowed it to measure the actual academic ability of each student.Teachers' union obstructionistThe Japan Teachers' Union was strongly opposed to the ministry's policy of state control of educational content, and was able to have the achievement test abolished after 10 years.It is true that some students were unable to handle classwork in a system that stressed rote memorization, and many such students dropped out of school. As a result, the union called for the introduction of a five-day school week and a reduction of class hours in public schools. In the latter half of the 1970s, the ministry, under pressure from the union, adopted a more "education free from pressure" policy.In the 1980s, the Ad Hoc Council on Education came out with a basic policy that emphasized the individuality of students. In spite of criticisms that "freedom is being confused with self-indulgence" and "it's not an 'education free from pressure' policy, it's a loose one," the "education free from pressure" policy and the principle of individuality are still used by school authorities to decide how classes are taught.Just three years ago, the ministry introduced a new course of study under which class hours were reduced by a further 10 percent and educational content was cut by 30 percent.The Education, Science and Technology Ministry, under public pressure to take measures to halt the decline in students' academic ability, has denied that it follows an "education free from pressure" policy while continuing to take measures based on just such a policy. The ministry is to blame for any "distortion" in the education policy.Immediately before implementing the current course of study, the then Education Ministry announced the "Manabi no Susume" (an exhortation toward learning) policy as the basis for concrete measures to improve the academic ability of students.The following year, the ministry partially revised the course of study, adding an addendum that allowed teachers to teach beyond the limited contents in the suggested curriculum.Ministry under a spellAlthough the ministry has now in effect abandoned the "education free from pressure" policy for one that places a priority on enhancing students' academic abilities, it is still somewhat under the spell of its old policy.Such constant changes in basic policies that affect educational content only throws teachers and children into confusion.We do not seek a return to the era of rote learning and academic elitism.We need to find a way to instill in children the love of learning so that they will be eager to tackle new subjects. These days, entering a prestigious university and joining a leading company are no longer the ultimate goals for many, meaning that it is harder to motivate students to study. More than ever, we need teachers with leadership skills and the ability to motivate their students.It is also important to teach students the value of cooperation through competition. Because there is so little competition at school now, when students are suddenly tossed into the real--and very competitive--world, they do not know how to handle it. Many quit their jobs lightly, others become NEETs (not in education, employment or training), and not a few opt for suicide.Revise fundamental lawHow can we come up with a new educational philosophy to replace the "education free from pressure" system?Revising the Fundamental Law of Education is a good place to start.The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, the ruling coalition, have agreed to highlight educational goals in their draft on revising the education law. Some of the proposed goals not found in the current education law include the search for truth, cultivation of a wide range of sensitivities and a sense of morality and the development of a sound body. Also included are the importance of justice, responsibility and a sense of public duty, respect for life and nature and learning good manners.Concerning patriotism, the ruling coalition's revision draft will also include a section on learning to respect traditional culture and "love" or "cherish" one's hometown and the nation.These things all seem to be qualities the Japanese should have naturally, but in fact, if we do not teach them, they will disappear.Discussions necessaryDiscussions on the basics of the education system will be necessary on the path back to regaining these "lost qualities," and eventually we will have to change the relevant laws and systems. Then we can say that we have created a new educational philosophy.This will not be a quick remedy for the years of "education free from pressure" teaching, but gradually the effects will become evident in a reverse of the decline in academic ability, educational decay at school and the rise in juvenile delinquency.Some people have criticized these goals, saying they will lead to an infringement of individual thought and beliefs or that education will return to prewar conditions. These criticisms are far off the mark. We ask of these people: How would you teach our children?The government plans to present a draft bill to revise the education law in an ordinary Diet session in late January. The education ministry is currently working out provisions to the revised law.Children are the future. We hope that those interested in educational reform will tackle these problems seriously, in consideration of the fact that the quality of education provided to children today will decide the future of Japanese society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1170	2005-01-05	YOSHIN0020050106e115000i0
YOMSHI0020050105e1160000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050105e1160000d	EN	\N	Nation must develop a society of longevity	With this in mind, anyone may have reason to be disinclined to call those aged 65 "elderly."	4	2005-01-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to current demographic statistics, the 85 million people aged between 15 and 64 are defined as the working-age population, while the 25 million people aged 65 and above are designated as the elderly.Based on these statistics, experts have painted a pessimistic outlook for our society because every 3.4 people of working age have to support one elderly person.Change definition of elderlyWhile the average life span for males is now close to 80 and for females near 90, many people in each age bracket brim with a surprising amount of vitality.Many 65-year-olds could pass as being in their early 50s had they been the same age three or four decades ago.Even though the number of those categorized as elderly by the conventional definitions used in the postwar period has increased, this does not necessarily mean that there has been a rise in the number of people who require society's support for their daily needs.Let us try raising the minimum age of those defined as aged to 70. Under this assumption, an additional 7.4 million people would be categorized as being of working age, meaning that the ratio of workers to the elderly would rise to 5.25-1.The outdated definition of the elderly also should be reviewed. If we reform the way people are employed and the way the social security system is managed, then it is possible to see the advent of a society of longevity instead of a society of senility.Now is the time to develop a society of lifelong active service, in which those in need of support are aided, while those who are healthy and willing to work continue supporting others.Society's vitality threatenedChanges in the demographic structure will shortly reach an important phase.With the declining birthrate, the nation's population as a whole will peak in 2006 and diminish thereafter. As long as we continue using the conventional definition of the working-age population as those aged up to 64, we may eventually enter an era in which we cannot maintain society's vitality.From 2007, the first baby boomers of the postwar era--those born between 1947 and 1949, about 7 million in total--will start turning 60.From this generation onward, the eligible age for receiving the full public pension will become 65. With this in mind, the law concerning the employment of people of advanced age was revised last year, making it mandatory for businesses to phase in systems to keep workers employed until they reach 65.While the new requirement will impose an added burden on firms, they could comply by modifying seniority-based wage systems and by promoting work-sharing.Raising the retirement age to 65 only marks the first step toward achieving a society of lifelong active service. Let us close the gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy--a new barometer employed by the World Health Organization--and then lift the working age closer to the two barometers.The first baby boomers are a powerful generation who have developed new lifestyles in the postwar period. We hope they take the lead in redefining the image of the elderly.Share burden of welfare costsSooner or later, however, the first generation of baby boomers will be in need of support sooner or later. In order for them to contribute to society as long as possible, it is necessary to develop a social security system on which they can rely during their declining years.Social security-related expenditures have topped the 20 trillion yen mark for the first time in the central government's fiscal 2005 budget. The total amount of social security benefits to be paid under the public-run pension, medical, and nursing care programs tops 80 trillion yen.As things stand, the total amount of social security benefits to be paid under the public-run programs will increase to more than 150 trillion yen a year in 2025, according to an estimate made by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. That is the year when the first baby boomers will pass the age of 75.Eventually, the nation's demographic structure will resemble a tapering, candlelike form. Welfare policies that depend on younger workers will collapse due to financial difficulties. There is no alternative but for a broad section of society, irrespective of age, to share the financial burden as evenly as possible.In this regard, the building of a resilient social security system will require a hike in the consumption tax rate.Parties must act on accordAs the historic turning point of the population decline approaches, it is necessary to examine how the financial burdens for the public pension, medical, and nursing care programs and their benefits should be apportioned.Under the accord reached by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito with major opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) during a Diet session on a reform of the public pension system last year, the three parties said they would conduct a full-scale review of the social security system by March 2007. This should have been set as a deadline given the historic demographic changes under way.But the work of creating a new social security system, which is supposed to be undertaken on a suprapartisan basis, has been abandoned ever since.Minshuto has not fulfilled its promises made under the three-party accord since it puts priority on short-term political bargaining.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has not even started discussions on hiking the consumption tax, an inevitable measure to raise funds for public welfare in the years ahead.The little time left should not be wasted. Political leaders need to fulfill their responsibilities.In this anniversary year, Japan's greatly aging society stands at a crossroads. It can take a path toward either a society of longevity or one of senility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1069	2005-01-06	YOSHIN0020050107e116000e8
YOMSHI0020050106e1170000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050106e1170000j	EN	\N	Japan has key aid role in wake of tsunami	The number of fatal victims of the earthquake and ensuing tsunami in waters off Sumatra island, Indonesia, continues to rise even after the death toll exceeded an estimated 150,000. Victims also include more than 5 million people who have lost their homes and other foundations of their livelihoods.	4	2005-01-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Thursday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other international leaders met in Jakarta to discuss post-disaster relief measures. They agreed to set up a U.N.-led framework for international assistance to stricken countries and adopt an early warning system for tsunami that will cover the Indian Ocean. Koizumi's pledge to "extend (Japan's) utmost aid in the form of funds, manpower contribution and expertise" seems to have reflected his desire to ensure his country does all it can to achieve the goal in a manner commensurate with its position as a major power in Asia.Thursday's summit, hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was attended by 26 nations and international organizations. In an urgent appeal, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said international organizations would need 977 million dollars to help the victims of the tsunami over the next six months.Donor nations have already promised to extend more than 3 billion dollars in assistance. Japan intends to provide a total of 500 million dollars in grants-in-aid for the stricken countries and international institutions to cover their immediate needs. To swiftly and efficiently distribute the international aid, it is essential for the United Nations and nations concerned to closely coordinate all the work involved.Risk of secondary damageAccording to experts, it will take five to 10 years to reconstruct destroyed houses and other buildings, as well as economic and industrial infrastructure in the devastated nations. The United Nations and the international community will have to use all the powers at their disposal in taking on this daunting challenge. Given this, Japan had every reason to tell other international donors that it would extend additional financial aid, hoping to help finance long-term reconstruction work in the stricken areas.It is very worrying to note that secondary damage from the latest disaster could occur in the form of serious food shortages and the spread of infectious diseases. In fact, the World Health Organization has warned that the spread of epidemics could place an estimated 150,000 lives at risk.Japan is set to send about 800 Self-Defense Forces personnel to Indonesia and other stricken nations. The mission will be the largest of its kind. The SDF members will engage in medical activities and disinfection as a means of preventing the spread of infectious diseases.In many stricken areas where hot weather is combined with torrential rain, drinking water has been contaminated, and decomposing bodies lie unrecovered. We hope that the SDF personnel will do their utmost to halt the spread of secondary damage in these areas.Stricken region a tinderboxFor as long as it has existed, Japan has been struck by a large number of earthquakes and tsunami. This has raised the level of this country's seismological and antidisaster research to one of the highest global standards. Japan will be able to play an active role in establishing an early warning system for tsunami that covers the stricken areas by taking advantage of its experiences and expertise.For years, Japan has enjoyed close relations with the ASEAN countries in the political and economic spheres. This country's efforts to make its presence more strongly felt through its aid for the rehabilitation and reconstruction work is significant in that there is a gathering momentum for a plan to build an "East Asian Community."The stricken areas lie in the so-called arc of instability stretching from West Africa to Southeast Asia. Armed conflicts and terrorist attacks have wreaked havoc on some parts of the region. Any delay in the reconstruction of the tsunami-hit areas could serve to destabilize the region. Japan's aid for the region will contribute to its own security and global stability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	717	2005-01-07	YOSHIN0020050110e117000fb
YOMSHI0020050107e1180000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050107e1180000i	EN	\N	NHK management must reform itself	His remarks were interpreted as meaning that he would resign after NHK's budget is approved by the Diet, a process usually completed in March.	4	2005-01-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ebisawa probably took the public broadcaster's current difficult situation into serious consideration and concluded that his resignation is the only way to deal with criticism by viewers over several embezzlement scandals involving NHK employees.A series of scandals began to surface last year, including misappropriation of program production funds by a former chief producer who had been in charge of "Kohaku Uta Gassen," a year-end singing competition, and many other popular shows.The scandals revealed some NHK employees seem to have forgotten that the public broadcaster operations are funded by viewing fees collected from the public. Like the Social Insurance Agency that recklessly spent insurance premiums collected from the public, some at NHK did not seem to worry about going into the red.The Broadcast Law requires viewers to pay fees to NHK. Revenue from viewer fees totals 650 billion yen a year.Annoyance understandableViewers are paying NHK to maintain and develop a reliable public broadcasting organization as a public asset. We can understand how some viewers upset with the scandals are inclined to refuse or suspend payment of their fees.Viewers anger was amplified by the kid-gloves approach taken by NHK and its president since the scandals surfaced.Ebisawa said during a special apology and explanation program aired on Dec. 19 that the scandals were not reported to the president.As for the increase in the number of people refusing to pay viewer fees, he said, without a sense of crisis, that public broadcasters in other countries also have difficulties collecting such fees.However, the mea culpa program apparently failed to convince viewers. After it was aired, the number of people refusing to pay viewer fees increased further.Attitude must changeThe public is criticizing not only the scandals themselves but also the character of the whole organization, which was unveiled by the scandals."Kohaku Uta Gassen" aired on Dec. 31 to the lowest ratings in the program's history. The content of the show was apparently poor, but the low ratings could also be a reflection of NHK's present lack of popularity with the public.The management committee, NHK's supreme decision-making body, bears heavy responsibility. It will have to appoint a new NHK president. The committee can not be allowed to remain a mere figurehead.Ebisawa said he would formulate a reform plan and present it on a special program. The committee should be demanding the best from the reform plan and take responsibility for its execution from start to finish.The Broadcast Law stipulates that NHK exists to air quality programs to benefit public welfare. It should strive to regain the public's confidence as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	513	2005-01-08	YOSHIN0020050110e1180017p
YOMSHI0020050108e1190000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050108e1190000c	EN	\N	Japan, U.S. must join to forge new intl order	This is an important question not only for the United States, which is currently at war and considers Iraq as a major battleground against terrorists, but also for Japan.	4	2005-01-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Is the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush going to strengthen its unilateralism in its second term or is it going to pursue international cooperation? The foreign and security policies of the United States will always have major implications for the world.The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks revealed that international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are the main new security threats since the end of the Cold War.All members of the international community must move urgently to prevent and deter such threats that can infiltrate any border.In 2002, the Bush administration said in its National Security Strategy report that the United States was ready to launch preemptive attacks unilaterally if such action was deemed necessary to maintain the security of the nation. At the same time, it said no single nation could build a safer and better world on its own.A new international order will likely emerge through the process of enhancing international cooperation to prevent proliferation of the new threats.What kind of system of international cooperation is the United States planning? And what role is the dominant superpower going to play in that system?Iraq at crossroadsThe answers will slowly become apparent this year. A touchstone for the United States is the critical situation in Iraq in 2005.Free elections, which were impossible under the dictatorship of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, are scheduled in late January to create a national assembly. The assembly will draft a constitution by August and put it to a referendum in October.In December, a general election will be held under the new constitution to launch a regular government.The success or failure of this political process has a critical meaning for the international community. If the United States fails in Iraq, one of the largest oil producing countries in the world is likely to plunge into civil war and become a hotbed of terrorism.The combination of the quagmire in Iraq and the battered reputation of the United States will further accelerate proliferation of the new threats, putting the world into a dangerous condition. Japan's two most important national interests, its security and prosperity, also will be endangered.The entire international community must help the political process advance smoothly, despite the various challenges to be faced in the future.The biggest concern is obstruction of the elections by anti-U.S. militants. An election boycott planned by Sunni Muslims, who belonged to the ruling class under the defunct Saddam regime, also poses a problem.Though Sunni Muslims account for only 20 percent of the population, the unity of Iraq will be lost if they withdraw from the political process.Many worries will remain even after the elections.If Shiite Muslims who comprise the majority of the population come to control Iraq, their opponents may cause unrest within the country. Separatist and independence movements among the Kurds in northern Iraq and conflicts among other domestic factions over oil interests also are destabilizing factors.Meanwhile, U.S. casualties in the Iraq war have exceeded 1,300. Washington still has to keep 150,000 troops in Iraq, despite Bush's declaration 20 months ago that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended." This apparently shows a setback in postwar governance. War expenses totaling 50 billion dollars (5 trillion yen) a year also pose a heavy burden for the U.S. government as it suffers from a massive fiscal deficit.More than military neededThe reality is that even the United States cannot place the reconstruction of Iraq in a stable orbit using only military might.Of course, military strength is necessary to achieve security in Iraq, but assistance from the international community is essential in the political process, including the elections, and reconstruction of the war-torn country.It is important for the United States and some European countries to try to heal the rift created by the Iraq war. Bush's scheduled visit to Europe in February will be a significant diplomatic opportunity for that.Iraq is not the only problem in the world. There are many other issues that must be dealt with, including nuclear development programs in North Korea and Iran, and the Palestinian issue, which has become more volatile since the death of political leader Yasser Arafat. The United States has to exercise its leadership in solving these problems.The United States is the only superpower and its defense budget accounts for nearly 50 percent of all military spending in the world. It also has the largest economy. Only the United States has the resources to play the central role for peace in the world after the end of the Cold War.The United States is now reforming its intelligence agencies for the first time since the early Cold War period and reviewing the alignment of U.S. forces abroad, which still reflects the era of World War II and the Korean War.Shift forces to reflect realityWashington and Seoul have agreed to reduce U.S. troops in South Korea, and Tokyo and Washington are now discussing realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.Those efforts are aimed at dealing accurately with complicated and opaque threats that differ from those of the Cold War period, and at enabling quicker deployment of troops to respond to any contingency.U.S. reform efforts to break away from its old security and intelligence systems will influence Japan's foreign and security strategies significantly.The government should reform Japan's national security system based on further enhancement and development of its alliance with the United States to prepare to play a more important role in building global peace.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1028	2005-01-09	YOSHIN0020050110e119001u0
YOMSHI0020050109e11a0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050109e11a0000c	EN	\N	New adults must ponder what it means to work	Compared with the corresponding figure from a few decades ago, it is a somewhat lonely number. When the first generation of postwar baby boomers came of age in 1970, the group totaled 2.46 million.	4	2005-01-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ever since 1994, when the figure hit a second postwar peak, the figure has been on the decline. It is projected to fall below the 1.3 million mark in 2010.Almost 50 percent of Japanese young people go to college now, meaning that nearly half of those who are celebrating their Coming-of-Age Day are students. Many others are no doubt already working, either full-time or part-time. And there are probably some who have been categorized as NEETs (not in education, employment or training).Having come of age, they are no longer legally prohibited from drinking alcohol and smoking, and they now have the right to vote. These 20-year-olds are unmistakably standing at the doorway to adult society.But before walking through that door, we would like them to pause for a moment and think about what the word "work" actually means, as it should serve as the very basis for one's life plan.Finding jobs was once easyWhen these young people were born, the economy was headed toward a bubble period. The unemployment rate stood at 2.7 percent, only half of what is now.Businesses were so eager to recruit new graduates that most of the graduating students had already ended their search for a job when the official job-seeking season for college students, set in a so-called "gentlemen's agreement," began.Following the bursting of the bubble economy there was a protracted period of economic slowdown, with the storm of corporate restructure raging. It became extraordinarily difficult for graduating students to find jobs, a problem that could last for a while.Particularly worrisome, though, is the increasing number of young people who are unwilling to seek employment.According to a survey conducted in 2003 by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the NEET population increased by 40,000 people from a year earlier to 520,000, while the number of job-hopping part-timers rose 80,000 to 2.17 million.These figures had much to do with the fact that businesses were not preparing future workforces by hiring new workers. In the face of this, many young people lost their will to work and began seeing the idea of working as meaningless. This decline in the employment of young people places the nation's economy in danger.Career education vitalIn both colleges and high schools, career education, designed to help students think positively about working, has become popular, largely because of the need for young people to draw up "career designs" as early as possible in their education.Presently, half the nation's colleges and universities have also started internship programs, under which students are provided with job experience at companies while earning credits."I learned that 'to work' means not only to wait for my boss to tell me what to do or to wait for a customer to ask, but also to think on my own and come up with better ways to get the job done," a student at a private college wrote in a report.The student, who participated in an internship program at a firm in Tokyo last summer, went on to write, "I was able to raise my awareness of what it meant to become a working adult, something quite different from being a student with a part-time job."We hope students will take advantage of such programs to earn job experience, no matter how short it may be.If they can get a feel for what it is like to make their way in adult society, that should certainly provide them with a hint or two on how to plan their lives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2005-01-10	YOSHIN0020050111e11a00088
YOMSHI0020050110e11b0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050110e11b0000h	EN	\N	As China goes, so goes the world	Over the past quarter of a century, China has achieved average annual economic growth of 9 percent. The Chinese economy, which is expanding by gulping down capital and natural resources as if it were a black hole, now holds sway over the international market in all areas.	4	2005-01-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This could be seen as proof that China, which firmly established itself as the "factory of the world," has also become the "growth center of the world."In line with the economy's rapid growth, the country's ambition to become a military power shows no sign of abating. China's military expenditures have increased by more than 10 percent every year since 1989, allowing the country to make marked progress in modernizing its military equipment, geared toward warfare involving advanced technology. In particular, the buildup of its navy and air forces has been notable.The prevailing view has it that the military balance between China and Taiwan will shift to put China in an advantageous position within a few years.China looking outwardThe energy propelling this growth is no longer focused only inward, but has begun to expand outside the country. One after another, Chinese business enterprises are entering the international market. Late last year, a leading Chinese personal computer company purchased International Business Machine Corp.'s personal computer business, sending shock waves around the world."Venturing abroad" seems to be the key phrase in China's strategy for making inroads into the foreign market, and its sights are set first and foremost on the countries that belong to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.ASEAN, which was originally seen as an anticommunist bloc, was for a long time at odds with China. From the beginning of its formation, Japan boasted of its political and economic clout over the ASEAN countries. But after the Cold War ended, China stepped up its attempts to establish a presence in ASEAN countries by approaching them both economically and diplomatically, trying to counter Japan's position.The race between Japan and China to conclude free trade agreements with ASEAN countries is a foretaste of the rivalry between the two countries, which is expected to escalate in the months to come.Some predict that China will become the next superpower, surpassing even the United States both economically and militarily, in the first half of this century.China itself has stated a national goal of "achieving a great revival of the Chinese people by the middle of this century."This "great revival" could mean the rising of a superpower that can compete with the United States, a superpower like the Chinese empire that once dominated Asia. When it comes to a detailed vision of such a China, however, none yet exists.It is hard to foresee in which direction China's economy, which is the engine for the revival of the empire, will go.No development model existsWe have no development models for a country with a population of 1.3 billion. How will the problems facing China concerning its natural resources and environment turn out? Will the country be able to deal with rapid social changes under the one-party rule of the Chinese Communist Party? What influence will China's rapid rise on the international scene have on the international order, and what responses will they make?Besides these thorny issues, disparities in income and other problems that have accompanied the country's rapid growth are undermining basic society.The income disparities among both regions and individuals show no sign of decreasing. While a wealthy class has recently emerged, the jobless rate in urban areas now tops 10 percent, and 150 million workers in rural provinces are deemed to be redundant.Bureaucrats continue to enjoy the same vested rights they had during the years of a centrally planned economy. Economic development programs often become hotbeds of corruption, while measures taken against the underprivileged, such as evictions, are increasing. Revolts by such underprivileged members of society, such as farmers and the poor, are taking place more often.Chinese leaders themselves have begun sounding the alarm, saying China is standing at a crossroads between "golden years of development" and "years full of contradictions." This alarm seems reasonable to us."Scientific development," which has been the guiding principle of Chinese President Hu Jintao's leadership, is aimed at modifying the doctrine of "the economy ahead of everything else," as pursued by former President Jiang Zemin. It calls for sustainable development that takes the underprivileged and environmental issues into consideration.But the capability of Hu to pull off this kind of development remains an open question.While Hu touts politics that make the interests of the people a priority, he has so far acted only halfheartedly when it comes to anticorruption measures or political reform.While he advocates cooperation with neighboring countries, the Chinese government has proceeded with marine development projects in areas that do not belong to it, including Japanese territorial waters.Once again seen as threatEscalating its policy that Taiwanese independence must be blocked, by force if necessary, China has deployed submarines in open waters. Among neighboring countries, including those who belong to ASEAN, the view of China as a potential threat is once again on the rise.The growing nationalistic sentiment in China is also a matter of concern. Nationalism can sometimes become a vent for public discontent. One example of this is the anti-Japanese furor that erupted during the Asian Cup soccer finals, which proved difficult for public security authorities in China to control.During his period as leader, Jiang made effective use of anti-Japanese sentiment to maintain the communist party's power, which had begun to decline because of a drive toward less ideology, largely an effect of the market economy.Local supporters of the Chinese soccer team who booed the Japanese national team, and students upset by a skit performed by Japanese students studying in Xian, who turned to mob violence, apparently are relics of the Jiang era.For the Chinese, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II means celebrating their victory in an "anti-Japan war." Will we see any progress away from the Jiang doctrine in China during this historic year? This will be an important factor in predicting future bilateral relations between Japan and China.No matter what direction China eventually takes, its intentions, and those of its neighbors, including Japan and ASEAN member countries, as well as the United States will continue to comingle over such issues as economic interests and principles of democratic government.It is impossible to keep China at arm's length. In building a new order in East Asia, as well as on a global scale, China must be a factor, although a huge and uncertain one.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1172	2005-01-11	YOSHIN0020050112e11b000db
YOMSHI0020050111e11c0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050111e11c0000g	EN	\N	Fair shake for inventors best deal for nation	On Tuesday, both sides accepted a compromise proposed by by the Tokyo High Court over the former employee's demand that the company pay him an amount of money commensurate with his contributions to the invention of the blue LED.	4	2005-01-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The court-mediated settlement came after Shuji Nakamura, a professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, filed a lawsuit against Nichia demanding the chemical maker in Tokushima Prefecture pay about 20 billion yen in compensation for the transfer of the patent to the firm, for which he had been working at the time of his invention.The latest settlement requires Nichia to pay Nakamura about 844 million yen, including interest. In January 2004, the Tokyo District Court ruled that he had played a major role in the invention of the blue LED and ordered the company to pay him 20 billion yen. The litigants appealed that decision to the high court, but both Nichia and Nakamura accepted the high court-brokered compromise, although neither found the proposal wholly satisfactory.The amount of money the high court ordered the firm to pay was unprecedentedly large, although it was significantly smaller than that ordered by the lower court. In recent years, a number of corporate employees have filed similar lawsuits against employers.The revised Patent Law, which sets rules on rewards for corporate inventions, will take effect in April. The legislation is aimed at preventing a flood of similar lawsuits through efforts by labor and management to set reasonable standards for the amount of money to be paid for corporate inventions.Better environment neededLabor and management must learn a lesson from the latest settlement and hasten to create a better environment for corporate research and development under the revised law.During the trial, Nichia argued that it had undertaken the risks involved in Nakamura's research work, and that it had worked extremely hard to commercialize his invention. The chemical firm made this argument in an attempt to evade the district court's order for it to pay a massive 20 billion yen in compensation. That order shocked corporations around the world, which worried that they would be unable to stay in business if they found themselves in a similar position.Meanwhile, Nakamura urged the high court to fairly assess his contribution as a scientist to the invention of the blue LED. In truth, the invention brought about a complete change in the technology of artificial light sources. Blue LED technology is used in a vast array of equipment, including traffic lights and lighting apparatus.Both arguments had meritThe high court ruled that the actions taken by Nichia in connection with Nakamura's invention had merit, while attaching a great deal of importance to Nakamura's contribution to the development of the blue LED. Given both these conclusions, the court decided that Nakamura's contribution had accounted for 5 percent of the development of the blue LED, down from 50 percent in the district court's sentence.Explaining one reason for its ruling, the high court said a similar lawsuit involving Ajinomoto Co. had ended when a former company scientist accepted a compromise acknowledging that his contribution to the development of an artificial sweetener had accounted for 5 percent of the invention.The Patent Office has distributed to corporations booklets that detail various matters to keep in mind as labor and management seek to set standards for rewards for inventions. Some corporations are trying to revise their current method for rewarding employees for their inventions, for example by scrapping the upper limits on the amount of money to be paid.These efforts show the need to set reasonable standards for rewards. The latest lawsuit has shown how difficult it is to lay down such criteria. It is also important for corporations to note that assessing employees' inventions solely through monetary rewards will do little to resolve the dissatisfaction felt by corporate scientists or to encourage them to further devote themselves to research and development.Some corporations have implemented measures to better reward employees for their inventions. Steps taken include raising salaries and other benefits received by the employees, and aiding talented engineers who start their own companies after quitting the firm by allowing them the use of any inventions they made while on the payroll.We hope that corporate engineers will be better treated in future as an investment in increasing the nation's industrial power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	791	2005-01-12	YOSHIN0020050113e11c000gy
YOMSHI0020050112e11d0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050112e11d0000h	EN	\N	Government must raise consumption tax rate	The Plaza Accord marked a major turn of events leading to various changes and other developments in the nation's economy.	4	2005-01-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 1985, finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Five major nations met at the Plaza Hotel in New York, where they agreed to adopt a coordinated policy mainly aimed at rectifying the sharp rise in the value of the U.S. dollar.The strength of the Japanese economy was an object of envy among other G-5 countries in those days. The Plaza agreement served as a demand by these nations for Japan to boost domestic demand as a means of curtailing its trade surplus.But Japan's excessive efforts to increase domestic demand triggered the bubble economy, in which huge investment was made in new factories, real estate and equities. The government's failure to cope with the ensuing situation through various economic policies has led to an array of economic woes in the past decade, including the collapse of the economic bubble and a protracted deflationary recession.Not out of woods yetThe Japanese economy is finally recovering from its economic malaise. Still, the nation cannot afford to heave a sigh of relief. The world is entering an age of megacompetition with the rise of China and some other nations as new economic powerhouses. Japan must know that it is bound to lose its position as an economic power if it does not stand up to daunting challenges it faces today.The immediate task this nation must tackle is to bring its troubled economy back on track by bailing itself out of deflation. Japan must ensure that 2005 will be the first year of its economic revitalization. Another challenge facing this nation is to rebuild its tattered finances. Undoubtedly, this task will require a great deal of time.All this means that the nation must undertake to achieve two difficult goals--one that must be accomplished immediately and another that must be pursued from a long-term perspective.The task of replenishing the depleted state coffers represents a target that must be reached by looking at the issue from a long-term viewpoint, complemented by efforts to start making necessary preparations now.The series of fiscal measures taken by the government to improve the economy has helped prevent the economy from tumbling into a deflationary spiral. However, this also has left the nation with a negative legacy--a massive fiscal deficit. A decline in tax revenues as a result of the recession has only exacerbated the problem.All this is expected to raise outstanding long-term debts incurred by the central and local governments to more than 770 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2005.Mired in debtIn fiscal 2005, the amount of refunding bonds issued to redeem ordinary government bonds is expected to exceed 100 trillion yen. The issuance of refunding bonds means borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.Combined with the amount of government bonds to be issued in fiscal 2005, the figure reaches a horrendous 169 trillion yen.If market players have doubts about Japan's fiscal sustainability, the price of government bonds will decline, causing long-term interest rates to take an upward turn. If interest rates rose by 1 percent, the nation's government bond-servicing expenditures would increase by about 1.2 trillion yen in fiscal 2005. We fear Japan is a walking time bomb.In late 2004, the government shifted the focus of its economic management to restoration of fiscal health when it decided to reduce income and residence tax rebates to half. Given the severity of the fiscal crisis, members of the public must accept a certain increase in their financial burdens.But there is a limit to what can be achieved through adjusting tax items. With this in mind, the government should waste no time in considering a rise in the consumption tax to ensure every member of the public assumes a reasonable increase in his financial burden.The advent of an aging society has greatly boosted social security-related costs. The amount of appropriations for that category of welfare adds up to more than 40 percent of general account spending under the fiscal 2005 budget.The government stands ready to curtail medical spending on elderly people and some other items in this category of budgetary expenditures. But doing so will do little to help solve the fiscal crisis. The only option the government has is to raise the consumption tax rate, which stands at 5 percent now, as a means of securing a stable revenue source.Koizumi must do U-turnNo progress has been made in implementing a proposal to seriously discuss a rise in the consumption tax rate. This is mainly because Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he does not intend to raise the rate while in office. The prime minister must scrap his policy immediately and declare his administration will start seriously debating the tax increase.Admittedly, relying solely on tax increases would not restore this country's fiscal health. In drawing up the fiscal 2005 budget, the government did not do much to reduce annual expenditures. This was symbolized by its decision to start construction work along some new Shinkansen routes. Calls for an increase in the financial burden to be shouldered by the public must be complemented by efforts to trim fat from the budget.The short-term target the government must achieve is to revitalize the economy.The continued deflationary pressure has waned considerably in recent months. The Bank of Japan has predicted that the consumer price index for fiscal 2005 will increase by 0.1 percent on a year-on-year basis. But this modest improvement means that the CPI could return to negative territory sooner or later. At this point, there is no telling whether the nation will be able pull itself out of deflation.Payoff system to take effectMeanwhile, the monetary authorities should stick to their easy-money policy. The central bank must continue its quantitative relaxation of credit until deflation is vanquished once and for all.Despite an improvement in the deflationary situation in recent months, this nation's financial system is still far from strong.Major banks have entered the final stages of their efforts to write off nonperforming loans. This is in contrast to many regional banks that have made only slow progress in disposing of bad loans. The government should make headway in realigning regional financial institutions by injecting taxpayers' money into them as a lever to accomplish the goal.In April, the government will completely end a freeze on the so-called payoff system, which guarantees each depositor a refund of a principal of 10 million yen and its accrued interest in the event of a bank failure. This means that depositors--except for holders of no-interest checkable deposits used for payment services--may not be refunded all the money in their bank accounts if their banks fail. A complete end to the freeze on the payoff system may encourage depositors to become even more selective about which bank to use.The government and the central bank must take all possible means to ensure that the end to the freeze on the payoff system will not have too adverse an effect on the financial system as well as the economy of areas covered by regional banks.The Japanese economy will restore its erstwhile vitality only through successful efforts to achieve restored fiscal health and economic revitalization.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1285	2005-01-13	YOSHIN0020050114e11d000g4
YOMSHI0020050113e11e0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050113e11e0000h	EN	\N	Taxpayer ID needed for pension reform	Introduction of a taxpayer identification number system has now become a political issue that should be discussed as a matter of urgency as part of a drastic reform of the public pension system that will reassure the public of the system's viability.	4	2005-01-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the system, every taxpayer will be given a personal identification number that must be presented to pay or receive a salary; to perform monetary transactions; and to do major business deals. It is designed to enable taxation authorities to obtain more accurate information on personal incomes.A taxpayer identification number system is a global standard in taxation. Similar systems are implemented in the United States, South Korea and some European countries.The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito said in its tax reform outlines unveiled in December that it would work on the introduction of the number system because it would help realize the appropriate and fair imposition of tax.The major opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), and the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) have been urging the introduction of the system, too.But past discussions on introduction of the system have become bogged down on the issues of how to avoid negative influences on business dealings and protect privacy.In the latest tax reform outlines, the coalition parties merely put forth commonsense opinions. We could not see their determination to put the system into operation.Explain system's benefitsThe need for a taxpayer ID system has recently been increasing rapidly because accurate information on incomes is essential to reform the pension system properly. The taxpayer ID system is the only way to provide such accurate information.The national pension premium for a person is 13,300 yen a month regardless of his or her income. The government has no choice but to make the premiums same for everyone under this scheme because it is extremely hard to determine the exact income of self-employed people, who comprise a majority of those subscribing to this system.If taxation authorities can acquire more accurate information on subscribers' incomes through the introduction of the ID system, the national pension system will be able to charge pension premiums according to subscribers' incomes. This is the first step toward consolidation of public pension systems.If the system is introduced, even a salaried worker will be required to present his or her ID number to open a bank account. The bank will inform tax authorities when a large amount of money is paid into or withdrawn from the account.But unless such inconveniences that will accompany the introduction of the ID system are accepted, pension reform will remain a pipe dream. The public will understand the necessity of the system if it is explained in detail.Of course, every possible measure must be taken to protect privacy. Legal measures must be enhanced to ensure that taxation and bank officials maintain the confidentiality of personal information so as to prevent leaks.Comprehensive plan neededIt was once feared that self-employed people would lose their entrepreneurial spirit, and that the nation's economy would lose vitality, if a system was introduced that made their incomes transparent.But such fears are misplaced nowadays. Income and resident taxes have been drastically reduced, and the maximum tax rate has fallen to 50 percent in total.The Finance Ministry plans to introduce an optional ID system for people who have large amounts of nonsalary income. The ministry will use the system to monitor revenues from bank deposits, profits from sales of stocks and dividends, and that gained through other financial instruments.But an optional ID system would be useless for pension reform. Concerned parties should immediately begin studying the introduction of a comprehensive ID system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2005-01-14	YOSHIN0020050117e11e0002a
YOMSHI0020050114e11f0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050114e11f0000h	EN	\N	SIA probe results should lead to reform	According to the report, about 100 agency officials accepted bribes in the form of entertainment and presents from private companies. Some were invited to play golf in other countries or were given expensive watches.	4	2005-01-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A law on ethics in government and a moral code for national government employees were put in place in the wake of a corruption case involving a senior official of the defunct Health and Welfare Ministry, the ministry's predecessor.But agency officials apparently ignored them.Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hidehisa Otsuji apologized at a press conference, saying the officials involved in the scandals had not reflected enough on their conduct.Apology not enoughHowever, words are not sufficient to settle this problem. He said he would decide how to punish the officials after consulting with the National Public Service Ethics Board. We think the heaviest penalty possible should be levied.Even more problematic was the ministry's October report on internal investigations into the scandals. It failed to bring to light the systematic involvement of the agency in a situation in which agency officials received cash from private firms to supervise the editing of pamphlets.Agency officials received a total of 601.46 yen million in such editing fees from private companies over five years until fiscal 2003. But the ministry reported in October that there had been no systematic involvement of the agency in managing and allocating the fees.In reality, the officials who actually did the supervisory work never received the money directly. The agency's accounting section collected the fees and distributed them to involved sections. The agency, in fact, was the one moonlighting.MPD uncovered truthThis was revealed not by internal investigations, but by the Metropolitan Police Department, which investigated the bribery scandals.Five senior officials of the ministry were given written reprimands over the lenient internal investigations--a punishment that was in itself lenient.The agency said the supervising job itself was not a problem because it was clearly separate from the agency's primary business. This statement, however, cannot be taken at face value. The agency's systematic involvement makes it hard to get over the suspicion that there might have been some mixing of the supervising job and the agency's official job.The pamphlets supervised by the agency officials were purchased by the agency in large numbers. Since the private companies paid the supervising fees from the proceeds of those sales, they were in essence paying using the taxpayers' money. The fees should be returned to the public coffers.The health, labor and welfare minister said the results of the internal investigations would be used as a basis for a drastic reform of the agency, as pension reform can no longer be delayed.We will definitely be keeping an eye on the proceedings.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	530	2005-01-15	YOSHIN0020050117e11f000mo
YOMSHI0020050115e11g0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050115e11g0000d	EN	\N	Utilize all resources to lessen quake damage	Public funds distributed to quake-hit areas for reconstruction alone have topped 16 trillion yen. We would like to use this occasion to ponder the value of what was lost in the quake and the importance of preparing for disasters.	4	2005-01-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	How can we make the most of the lessons we have learned from the quake over the past 10 years? We should use this anniversary as a springboard to review afresh disaster prevention efforts already made and to push forward other measures to protect against earthquakes.During the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, the Self-Defense Forces, firefighting and other authorities responded very quickly to the disaster.In addition, volunteers, who have grown in number and expanded the activities they engage in, and officials from cities that concluded an accord on mutual support during natural disasters, gathered to help out in quake-hit areas.The experience gained in implementing such emergency relief activities have come in handy during the recent tsunami disaster in countries along the Indian Ocean.But many issues remain that need to be resolved, and some new problems have cropped up.In Niigata Prefecture, a wireless system for transmitting disaster-prevention and public administration information broke down in half of the quake-hit municipalities, while four of the municipal offices that were to serve as key bases for disaster-relief efforts were destroyed in the quake.Many areas were unable to receive vital information because they did not have emergency power sources or had not yet reinforced buildings against major earthquakes.After the Hanshin quake, it was observed that the worse an area had been damaged, the later relief arrived, largely because of disrupted flows of information.Info framework neededWhat is needed is a framework under which the central and prefectural governments collect firsthand information from residents affected by a quake, while also relying on an enhanced system that accurately predicts the damage produced by a quake, based on its intensity and the condition of buildings and the subsurface.Municipal governments have been slow to improve local disaster-prevention systems.According to a survey conducted last year on the ability of prefectural governments to lessen damage during a disaster, local authorities scored an average of only 43.5 points out of 100.The same survey, conducted by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency under the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, also found that many municipal governments were less than eager to review antidisaster measures and relevant organizations, and had failed to conduct damage projections.In the next survey of this type, to be conducted next fiscal year on city, town and village governments, it is to be hoped that such inadequacies will be thoroughly examined.Seismic activity upWe must keep in mind that the Japanese archipelago has entered a period of unusually frequent seismic activity.At a Central Disaster Prevention Council meeting to be held in spring, the government will set a target of lessening possible damage from the predicted Tokai quake and the Nankai and Tonankai quake.The maximum fatalities projected for these two quakes are 9,200 and 18,000, respectively. But effective disaster-prevention measures must be aggressively implemented to halve those estimates.To lessen possible damage, it is vital to make houses and other buildings more quake-resistant. According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, such measures have been taken by only 7 percent of people polled.It might be worthwhile for the government to consider offering tax breaks for those who implement quake-resistant measures, as well as publicizing support available for such efforts and developing reasonably-priced quake-resistant methods.It is also essential to reinforce the nation's tsunami-fighting measures, which have been called into review by the recent tsunami disaster.While expediting such efforts as reinforcing coastal dikes and drawing up evacuation plans, it is also necessary to enhance residents' awareness of such disasters.All natural disasters are different, and they will continue to strike in spite of man's best efforts. While we will never be able to eliminate natural disasters, we can lessen their impact.We urge everyone to do even more to lessen the damage caused by natural disasters by utilizing all resources at the disposal of the government and the public.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	740	2005-01-16	YOSHIN0020050117e11g001bw
YOMSHI0020050116e11h0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050116e11h0000f	EN	\N	China must be urged to act responsibly	The six countries, which were leaders in many sectors ranging from currency to trade, confirmed that they would all cooperate for the first time in history toward rebuilding the world economy, which had fallen into its worst postwar recession due to the autumn 1973 oil crisis.	4	2005-01-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It was a historic meeting for Japan, which had been on the path of economic reconstruction since the devastation of World War II. Thirty years after its defeat in 1945, it was accepted as a major player in the world economy, then led by the United States and a few European countries.Another 30 years have passed since that first summit meeting. We have ushered in a new year that sees the world economy burdened with such risk factors as a sharp decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, soaring oil prices and a negative rebound from China's overheated economy.World economy growingAccording to the World Bank, many countries last year saw economic growth higher than average growths registered in the 1980s and 1990s, while the world economy posted a 4 percent growth for the first time in four years.Although the world economy is projected to slow down to 3.2 percent growth in both 2005 and 2006, due to such factors as volatile high oil prices, the bank said this year could be a starting point for the world economy to realize long-term stable growth, thanks to structural reforms and expansion in free trade.The best-case scenario amid such a moderate slowdown in the world economy is for countries to realize stable, domestic demand-led economic growth while going ahead with structural adjustments in such areas as state finances and employment.But non-economic factors still have the potential to damage the world economy--factors such as the Iraqi situation, international terrorism and speculative funds trends.It is important to improve the ability of the world economy to manage risk and secure sustainable, stable growth.Japan must assume an active role in this task.We need to work harder to promote, under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, a new round of multilateral trade talks, which have entered their final stages; to reinforce the functions of the International Monetary Fund; and to build a safety net for East Asian currencies and foster the Asian bond market.Accelerate FTA negotiationsIt also falls to Japan to accelerate negotiations toward the conclusion of bilateral free trade agreements centered in East Asia.The greatest change now impacting the global economy is the rapid rise of the Chinese economy.The Chinese economy is year-by-year catching up with the industrially advanced countries of Japan, the United States and Europe at an ever-accelerating pace.The amount of China's annual trade will certainly be shown to have surpassed that of Japan to become the world's third-largest last year. In terms of gross domestic product, the country became the world's 7th-largest in 2003. There are even estimates that 10 years from now, China could surpass the United States, currently the country with the largest amount of trade.The Chinese economy has up to now been praised, as it has been one of the major engines driving the expansion of the world economy. Recently, however, concerns have arisen that in a rebound from excessive investment and production, the Chinese economy might slow down, dropping China's domestic economy into chaos and having a negative impact on the world economy.For Japan, which continues to deepen economic ties with China over a broad range of interests, including bilateral trade and investments, the impact on its economy could be huge.China needs soft landingThe biggest challenge China faces now is to realize a soft landing into stable growth.Chinese policy-planning authorities have visited the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Japan frequently since autumn.Japan has been forced to learn some bitter lessons as a result of the bursting of the bubble economy and policy mistakes. We should be able to help China formulate a policy that will lead to an economic soft-landing by teaching it these bitter lessons.Crude oil prices, which are still quite high, also pose a great threat for importer countries such as Japan.The high oil prices stem partly from a lack of capacity to pump oil in oil-producing countries and partly from the uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East.But they have more to do with the impact of the rapid increase in oil consumption by China. The country has become the second-largest oil consuming country, next to the United States, with the increase in oil it consumed from a year earlier accounting for one-third of the world's entire increase in oil consumption. China must try to control its oil consumption.The rapid rise of the yen and the euro against the dollar will also decrease the chances of stable growth in the economies of Japan and Europe.The increases in the United States' fiscal and current account deficits, which lie behind the rapid decline in the value of the dollar, could send U.S. stock prices sharply down and long-term interest rates higher.Yuan pegged unfairlyBy pegging the yuan currency at a rate to the dollar far lower than its real market value, China has held down the export prices of its products on a U.S. dollar basis and driven up exports, sending the U.S. current account deficit higher.Since late last year, both Japan and the United States have urged China to revaluate the yuan to the dollar. The two countries should help China devise a system to implement the revaluation smoothly by helping the country fend off the shock such a measure could cause.China, which joined the WTO three years ago, is moving ahead with opening its markets. But it continues to control the import of certain raw materials, while its protection of intellectual property rights is inadequate. There has been an uncountable number of cases concerning the unauthorized use of trademarks and patents held by companies in Japan, the United States and Europe, and their brand-name goods are frequently copied.Japan, the United States and European countries must persevere in their efforts to persuade China to strictly observe WTO rules and bring the country into the world's free trade system.China is expected to be invited to attend a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven major industrialized economies in February and a summit meeting of the major powers in July.A summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and a ministerial meeting of the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks are scheduled for late this year.Japan, the United States and European countries must urge China to act like an "economic power with responsibility" through this series of talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1210	2005-01-17	YOSHIN0020050118e11h000ay
YOMSHI0020050117e11i0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050117e11i0000e	EN	\N	Aid mission a test of integrated command	The latest SDF mission was the fifth of its kind to be carried out under the Japan Disaster Relief Team Law. The mission should be regarded as epochal in many respects. First, the scale of dispatch has never been greater. Second, the mission was part of an international cooperative effort made by many countries. Third, the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense forces joined to form two groups that were sent on the mission.	4	2005-01-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Operating from the Thai Navy's Utapao Base, the ASDF has begun transporting goods and supplies in cooperation with the United Nations and armed forces from more than 10 countries, including the United States. Meanwhile, the GSDF is set to begin transporting goods, providing medical services and preventing the spread of infectious diseases in late January, shuttling between stricken areas and MSDF transport ships anchored in waters off Sumatra.But Indonesia's separatist movement is gathering momentum in Aceh, northern Sumatra. For years the Sri Lankan government has been fighting a civil war with separatist Tamils. And pirates infesting the Malacca Strait continue to pose a serious threat to tankers and other vessels.It is disturbing to note that the areas the SDF will cover on its mission lie in a so-called arc of instability.Ensure security quicklyEfforts to aid those in the disaster-stricken areas will require Japan and other nations to continue to extend various forms of assistance, including the provision of food, medical services and supplies and the reconstruction of infrastructure. We believe it is particularly important to use these coordinated aid efforts to help Indonesia and Thailand, both leading nations in the devastated Asian region, to recover from the tsunami disaster as soon as possible. This would help ensure the peace and stability Japan and the rest of the world need to provide efficient relief.The swift U.S. decision to aid stricken nations seems to reflect Washington's desire to help stabilize the arc of instability. Stability in the region is also essential to ensure Japan's peace and security. Given this, the SDF had every reason to cooperate with U.S. forces and the United Nations in aiding the stricken nations.Realignment previewThe United States has sent about 15,000 troops to the stricken areas. Most of these U.S. solders are from bases in Japan. Japanese and U.S. aid may serve as a basis for determining what roles should be assumed by U.S. forces and the SDF in connection with the planned realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.For the latest mission, rather than having just the GSDF and the MSDF coordinate their mission through a newly formed unit, all three branches will be uncer the coordinated command of the Joint Staff Council as they carry out their mission.In March 2006, the GSDF, MSDF and ASDF will formally be placed under an integrated command. The government should take this opportunity to explore possible problems involved in such an integration by closely observing how the GSDF and MSDF work together under the Joint Staff Council on their aid mission. Doing so could help ensure more efficient operations under the integrated chain of command.If the GSDF, MSDF and ASDF are to fulfill future duties swiftly and effectively, the lack of coordination among the three SDF branches must be ended. The plan to place the three SDF organs under an integrated command is a first step toward structural reform of the SDF.The government intends to revise the Self-Defense Forces Law with the aim of expanding the list of SDF missions to include international peacekeeping activities. If the SDF can successfully carry out their mission in the stricken areas, the public will be more apt to recognize the necessity of revising the law, which could expedite achieving that goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	712	2005-01-18	YOSHIN0020050119e11i000gg
YOMSHI0020050118e11j0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050118e11j0000f	EN	\N	LDP cannot rest on postwar laurels	The year 2005 is significant as it marks the 50th anniversary of the LDP's foundation as well as the 60th year since the end of World War II.	4	2005-01-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP has played an important role in the development of the economy and society over the postwar years, by taking the helm of state affairs under the so-called 1955 political order. Japan has grown to become the world's second-largest economy, a feat that has dramatically raised the living standards of its people.The LDP demonstrated its ability as the ruling party best during the days of uninterrupted high economic growth. The party's chief task in those days was to cut the growing pie and distribute the slices among various public groups.Policies lack commitmentBut the collapse of the bubble economy changed all that. Today, the task facing politicians and political parties is to set priorities and swiftly implement truly necessary policies, instead of dividing the pie and helping its supporters defend their vested interests.And the LDP has failed to do what it should to take up that challenge. The party's negligence in this respect has partly contributed to the emergence of the so-called lost decade.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pledged "structural reforms without sacred cows" when he took office in 2001. But the task to be tackled by the LDP is to reform the nation's political structure, of which it itself is an essential component.The LDP took a backseat to the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), in the proportional representation segment of last year's House of Councillors election. This served as a chilly warning to the LDP in that the results of a proportional representation contest reflect the strength of each political party.The campaign policy adopted by the LDP for 2005 acknowledged that the party faced a crisis, and stated it was "not a party blind to the warning (it must heed)." But it is questionable whether the LDP has good reason to say so.Questions can be raised, for example, about the LDP's attitude toward postal privatization. The LDP's campaign policy did not state that it would seek to privatize the postal system, although the party promised to do so during campaigning for the 2003 House of Representatives election and the 2004 upper house election. Instead, the campaign policy only said that it would promote postal reforms. The LDP's evasive attitude was an apparent attempt not to antagonize operators of government-commissioned post offices. These postmasters constitute one of the party's core support associations.This was also true with the party's approach to a reform of the social security systems. The campaign policy did not discuss possible measures to raise funds for a reform of the systems, including an increase in the consumption tax rate.Admittedly, the platform insisted on promoting the triple reform of fiscal relationships between the national and local governments. It should be noted, however, that the LDP joined hands with some ministries and agencies in opposing a reform of the current system governing grants-in-aid for specified purposes and local tax allocations, while the government was working to put together the fiscal 2005 budget.Party reform long overdueAll this shows that the LDP is still inclined to do as it did under the 1955 system. The party's approach to reforms is marked by strategies to protect its vested interests and an attempt to put off dealing with difficult problems.Government efforts to implement important policies would be hampered if policies proposed by the Cabinet were changed for the worse as a result of objections from the LDP. The dual structure used in formulating government policies has been cited as an evil practice since the days of the 1955 political order. It is also deplorable that both the Cabinet and the LDP rely on bureaucrats for expertise in policymaking.The LDP has been no less negligent in taking steps to reform itself. For years, the party has called for various reform plans, including establishing a think tank as a means of ending its reliance on bureaucrats for policymaking expertise. However, the party has put off implementing these plans.The LDP is scheduled to finalize a set of new fundamental principles and party platform at a convention marking the 50th anniversary of its foundation in November. An important task facing the party is to lay a new foundation for its structure as a political party that stands ready to meet the challenges of a new age.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	814	2005-01-19	YOSHIN0020050120e11j000hv
YOMSHI0020050119e11k0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050119e11k0000f	EN	\N	Don't water down postal reform bill	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said at a recent meeting of ministers and experts on postal privatization that it was a rare reform in that it was opposed by every political party. Like he said, those opposed to postal privatization in both the ruling and opposition parties are digging in their heels.	4	2005-01-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The chairman of the nationwide association of government-commissioned postmasters is scheduled to attend for the first time a rally against postal reform that is to be held late January by labor unions including that of Japan Post.The labor unions are support bases for Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and other opposition parties, while the association backs the Liberal Democratic Party.It is strange to see the two sides working hand in hand to fight postal privatization.These opposition forces will again urge political parties to water down the postal privatization bill. But if they consider themselves to be responsible, the parties should think about the ideal shape of a future Japan and not kowtow to vested interests.A total of 340 trillion yen collected through postal savings and kampo life insurance premiums has been infused into government-affiliated public corporations to sustain inefficient enterprises. The postal privatization aims at reforming this structure and recycling funds from postal services into the private sector to vitalize the Japanese economy.In the process of drafting a postal privatization bill, any attempt to fudge it should be eliminated. Every aim of the postal reform must be incorporated into the bill.Some job losses inevitableThe government and the ruling parties are poles apart on the privatization issue. The LDP is planning to demand that the government reflect on the contents of its own policy, which the party drew up in December, concerning the privatization bill. The LDP is demanding the universal provision of not only mail delivery, but also postal savings and life insurance services across the country in addition to the maintenance of the network of post offices at the current level.A major purpose of the reform of postal savings and kampo life insurance is to make these bloated businesses leaner by removing government guarantees and establishing fair, competitive conditions for the private sector.As a matter of course, it is impossible to avoid a realignment of the 24,700 post offices around the country and a reduction of some of the 380,000 postal employees, including part-time workers.Minshuto must show its cardsThe LDP insists on maintenance of the network of post offices at the current level out of consideration for government-commissioned post offices, a support base of the party. But postal reform cannot be advanced on the premise of maintaining the status quo.The postal reform policy compiled by the government in September requires universal service for mail delivery only. This makes sense because mail is still the basic means of communications among the general public. But no other advanced country requires universal provision of savings and life insurance services.If universal services are expanded, the government will have to provide a huge amount of subsidies to post offices. Additional burdens on taxpayers would contradict the aims of the postal reform.Privatization of postal services will become a focus of discussions at the ordinary Diet session to be convened Friday. Nonetheless, Minshuto, the biggest opposition party, has not yet compiled its own counterproposal on the issue.Minshuto has the responsibility to make its counterproposal as soon as possible if it claims to be a party aiming at taking office.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2005-01-20	YOSHIN0020050121e11k000g5
YOMSHI0020050120e11l0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050120e11l0000e	EN	\N	Zeitgeist demands a new constitution	The Institute for International Policy Studies (IIPS), a political think tank chaired by former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, has unveiled its draft revision of the Constitution. Major economic organizations, including the Japan Business Federation, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have already announced their proposals on constitutional revision. Based on them, nationwide discussions should be accelerated toward writing a new constitution.	4	2005-01-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Each draft and proposal deals with Article 9 of the Constitution.For instance, the IIPS draft retains "renunciation of war" in the first paragraph of Article 9, but revises the second paragraph that prohibits maintenance of "land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential." It defines the Self-Defense Forces as a military to defend the country and stipulates that the SDF would participate in international peace cooperation activities.The preamble to the current Constitution says, "We have determined to preserve our security and existence, trusting in the justice and faith of the peace-loving peoples of the world."But taking into consideration the reality of the global security environment, this is obviously naive. It is high time that the fictions about the SDF were eliminated and its role as a military defending the country clarified in the Constitution.Much has changedSome critics say revising Article 9 would put China on its guard and hinder the development of economic relations between the two countries. We disagree.Japan is a trading country whose prosperity relies on free economic activities conducted in an atmosphere of peace and stability guaranteed by the international community.The world has faced international terrorism and other new security threats since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.It is a matter of course that the SDF play an active role not only in homeland defense, but also in keeping and creating peace worldwide.The IIPS draft also stipulates personal rights to privacy and honor, environmental rights and intellectual property rights as new privileges to be added to the Constitution. Meanwhile, it also stipulates duties, including protecting the environment and the peace and independence of the country.Because Japan is a different country from the one that existed when the Constitution was formulated, the concepts of rights and duties, and the relations between public and private stipulated in the Constitution naturally should be reviewed.The IIPS draft also proposes enhancing the prime minister's authority to establish a cabinet-led political system, and the addition of a clause covering political parties to revitalize party politics. These issues should be widely discussed.3rd era of upheavalJapan is said to have entered the third era of major change, the first two being the periods after the 1868 Meiji Restoration and the nation's 1945 defeat in World War II.Many draft constitutions were proposed amid the national fervor to build a modern nation before the defunct Japanese Imperial Constitution was promulgated in 1889.Like those days, an atmosphere favoring revision of the Constitution is developing today. The public apparently is expressing its frustration that Japan cannot get through this historic transition period nor renew itself without a new constitution as a national guideline.Each draft and proposal demands a new constitution that reflects the present picture of Japan based on its history, culture and tradition, and also envisions the ideal nation and society that the country should strive to be.Lawmakers bear a heavy responsibility for satisfying those demands.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2005-01-21	YOSHIN0020050124e11l000sf
YOMSHI0020050121e11m0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050121e11m0000h	EN	\N	Don't let reform distract govt from key issues	Regarding the passage of the postal privatization-related bills into law, he emphasized his adherence to his government's basic policy, referring specifically to the idea of splitting Japan Post into four businesses to handle mail delivery, life insurance, savings, and the management of a nation-wide network of post offices under a holding company, and the government's intention to take away postal employees' status as public servants following privatization. Both ideas are opposed by many members of the Liberal Democratic Party.	4	2005-01-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The focal point of the just-opened Diet session lies in how the government and the ruling coalition parties will iron out their differences over bills related to the postal service privatization.Should the bills be submitted before the government wins the party's approval, it is certain to send the Diet session into disarray.The postal service privatization is primarily aimed at changing the practice of collecting sizable amounts of money through the postal savings and postal life insurance premiums and injecting the funds into inefficient projects run by public corporations.Through the Diet deliberation, Koizumi needs to fulfill his duty and sufficiently explain the significance of the postal service privatization and how the postal services would be managed as private entities.Koizumi has a year and a half to go as the LDP president and as prime minister, including the period of the current Diet session.Other issues vitalAmid changing situations both at home and abroad, Koizumi faces important issues that may affect the future course of the nation.For instance, there is the issue of constitutional reform. The research commissions on the Constitution of both chambers of the Diet plan to submit their final reports to the Diet and to submit a bill to establish procedures on a referendum to amend the Constitution in May.In advance or afterward, the LDP plans to compile its own draft proposals for Constitutional reform. Koizumi, as the LDP president, should take the lead in promoting discussion on this issue.In his policy speech, however, Koizumi's only reference to the issue was to say it was time to deepen discussions. Koizumi should have made clear his own views on the Constitution, while presenting his ideas for building a new vision of the state for the 21st century to the Diet.The revision of the Fundamental Law of Education is essential for nurturing future generations who will inherit the nation. For the revision, both the LDP and its junior coalition partner New Komeito are hammering out their differences over the issue of how to treat the wording of a section on "patriotic spirit."Koizumi said, as he did last year, that he would proactively deal with the revision by giving due consideration to public opinion.Leaders must leadHow does the prime minister intend to revise the law? It is his responsibility as the political leader of the country to give his own opinions on how to revise the education law and to promote discussion of the revision.As to the overall review of the public-run social security system, including the integration of the public pension programs, there has so far been no progress made in discussing the drastic reform of the system among the LDP, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).For its part, Minshuto should take the initiative and start discussing the issue with other parties, including the LDP.It is uncertain how the issues of Japanese abductees and Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development ambitions, which directly threatens the peace, safety and sovereignty of Japan, will turn out. The public security situation in Iraq, to which the Self-Defense Forces personnel have been dispatched, is closely related to the way post-war reconstruction assistance should be carried out. Improving bilateral ties with China is also important.The issue of postal service privatization is indeed important, but these other key issues, both domestic and foreign, should be given as high or higher priority than postal reform.These diverse issues need to be discussed further through the Diet question period and the deliberations at the Budget Committee and other forums.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	744	2005-01-22	YOSHIN0020050124e11m001cq
YOMSHI0020050122e11n0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050122e11n0000g	EN	\N	Promote global effort on disaster management	The 2nd U.N. World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held last week in Kobe and participated in by delegates from 168 countries and international organizations, adopted a ten-year international framework for action to reduce the effects of natural hazards.	4	2005-01-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In response to the unprecedented natural calamity caused by a tsunami in the Indian Ocean last month, the adoption of the international framework is a declaration of the resolution of the international community to enhance its ability to reduce the damage caused by natural disasters.Regarding tsunami-related measures, the conference's focal issue, the participants agreed to support a U.N.-led effort to establish a tsunami early warning system for the Indian Ocean. The participants also agreed to aim at introducing a similar system to cover other coastal areas in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Atlantic.Also proposed was the idea of establishing a global warning system against other natural disasters, storms, floods and droughts.There are many issues in dealing with tsunami alone. For instance, it took eight years to start operating the International Tsunami Information Center, which was established in Honolulu, Hawaii, following a tsunami disaster triggered by a major earthquake in Chile in 1960.There are not enough tsunami experts in countries around the Indian Ocean. Systems to detect oncoming tsunami, to issue warnings and to disseminate relevant information to affected communities need to be established from scratch. It is also essential to educate people on what a tsunami really means.Using Japan's observation network, the government plans to offer tsunami information to coastal countries in the Indian Ocean as a provisional measure until the tsunami warning system is fully operational.Share experienceThe word tsunami comes from the Japanese language. By making use of its experience and knowhow concerning tsunami, Japan should be able make a wide range of contributions by helping countries build their disaster-management organizations, offering technical assistance and helping them organize personnel.The main pillars of the disaster reduction action plan consist of establishing a warning system, reinforcing social infrastructure and promoting disaster-related education. These are the very basics of disaster-preparedness efforts, but putting such measures into effect is easier said than done.So far, international disaster management efforts have mainly consisted of emergency relief activities following disasters.U.N. Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland proposed during the conference to spend more than 10 percent of relief expenses on disaster prevention. It is desirable for every country to understand that being prepared for disasters reduces loss of life and damage to property and other social assets.The strategy on disaster reduction adopted in the first conference in 1994 in Yokohama was very much a declaration. However the strategy was not accompanied by an effective implementation plan and progress in improving disaster management systems differed among countries.U.N. must take leadFrom now on, it is necessary for U.N. organizations specializing in this area to take the lead in checking how quickly the action plan of each country is being implemented and in helping them steadily improve their disaster reduction systems.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi presented a policy of actively utilizing official development assistance in lessening disaster-related losses.Continuous support is needed, starting from such development and post-disaster reconstruction measures as the establishment of criteria for earthquake-proof buildings and improvement of seawalls to efforts to prepare for the next natural catastrophe.Among developing countries, there are some who have claimed to be utterly dependent on assistance and funds from developed countries. Yet it is the affected country that is primarily responsible for reducing disaster losses. The fundamentals of such assistance lie in prompting countries to help themselves.Every year, 250 million people fall victim to natural disasters around the world. Climate change and environmentally destructive development have made the earth more fragile. The international community cannot afford to delay in the battle against natural disasters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	675	2005-01-23	YOSHIN0020050124e11n000cv
YOMSHI0020050123e11o0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050123e11o0000c	EN	\N	Lawmakers' pension plan needs drastic reform	A research panel on the mutual-aid pension system for legislators has issued a report detailing proposals to greatly reduce benefits received by lawmakers, while also raising their premiums.	4	2005-01-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In October, premiums paid by subscribers to the state-run corporate employees' pension plan were hiked. In April, premiums for the national pension plan, which covers every citizen, also will be increased.This is in stark contrast to the lack of efforts by Diet members to reform their pension plan. For years, few legislators have bothered to upgrade the system as a means of showing the public what it means to tighten the belt.All political parties should work together to draw up a bill to revise the law on their pension scheme as soon as possible, based on the proposals advanced by the panel, which advises the speakers of both chambers of the Diet. The bill must be written into law during the current Diet session.Diet members' plan generousUnder the law on the mutual-aid pension system for Diet members, subscribers who have reached the age of 65 are eligible to receive about 4.12 million yen annually after their resignation from the Diet if they have paid about 1.26 million yen a year for 10 years. This means they get their money back after just three years of receiving the pension.The pension scheme for lawmakers pays subscribers about 80,000 yen in additional payments to the basic amount of their annual benefits for each additional year of service in the Diet. For lawmakers who have served for 50 years or longer, the payment is about 7.41 million yen annually.The state coffers cover 70 percent of the costs under the lawmakers' mutual-aid pension plan. Meanwhile, subscribers to the system receive more than twice as much as ordinary pensioners. They do not have to take a reduction in their benefits even if the economy enters a deflationary phase of falling prices. They also are entitled to receive benefits under other public pension programs.Last year, the privileged pension plan for legislators drew even more public criticism when it became known that a number of lawmakers had not joined the national pension plan or had failed to pay premiums.The advisory council's proposals would require subscribers to the legislators' pension program to pay premiums for 12 years or more before becoming entitled to benefits. The panel's report also calls for increasing the amount of premiums to be paid under the system from about 1.26 million yen to 2.19 million yen annually.As circumstances stand today, subscribers to the system receive about 4.28 million yen annually if they have paid premiums for 12 years or longer, but not exceeding 13 years. The panel's proposals would curtail the amount to about 2.88 million yen.The proposals also would stop adding benefits to the basic amount received by subscribers if they have served in the Diet for 30 years. This means that the highest amount of benefits paid to subscribers a year would not exceed 3.92 million yen.All these proposals, if implemented, would reduce the proportion of taxpayers' money used to finance the lawmakers' pensions to 50 percent. The figure may well be regarded as reasonable in that the ratio of premiums paid by corporate employers to maintain the employees' pension system currently stands at 50 percent. The corresponding figure for the share of the basic pension plan to be covered by state coffers also will be raised to 50 percent by the end of fiscal 2009.During discussions at the advisory panel, some political parties insisted on scrapping the mutual-aid pension program covering Diet members. It should be noted, however, that financially supporting lawmakers' retirement allows them to carry out their duties fairly while in office.Other advanced countries have similar pension programs for their lawmakers. Given this, the advisory council had good reason to define the legislators' pension plan as "an indispensable cost" needed to keep this country a parliamentary democracy.Fundamental review neededThe panel's report says its proposals must be implemented "as soon as possible." This shows that the proposals should be regarded as only temporary corrective measures.There are many problems to be addressed in fundamentally reforming the pension program for Diet members. Necessary measures include integrating the system with a mutual-aid pension scheme for central government employees and adopting a defined-contribution pension plan that would determine the amount of future benefits paid to each subscriber, based on the investment gains realized on their accumulated premiums.It is impossible to decide how to reform the lawmakers' pension program unless the government-run pension system is reformed in its entirety. All political parties should start debate on drastic reform of the system as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	865	2005-01-24	YOSHIN0020050125e11o000cr
YOMSHI0020050124e11p0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050124e11p0000g	EN	\N	Minshuto must devise concrete plan of action	If leading opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is serious about snatching power from the ruling coalition, it should have presented proposals that would trump the policies set by Koizumi.	4	2005-01-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But Minshuto President Katsuya Okada failed to offer such alternatives during his debate with the prime minister.This was best seen in his attitude toward postal privatization, a task the prime minister has called the "main pillar" of his structural reform campaign. Although Okada called privatization "the right thing to do," he failed to present any specific measures to achieve the goal.This stance may have reflected his desire not to antagonize the Japan Postal Workers' Union, a major Minshuto supporter that opposes postal privatization. But such a stance makes it questionable as to whether the main opposition party will be able to reach an internal consensus on the issue and present alternative plans for transforming the state-run postal services into private operations.Need for revision agreed onSerious questions should be raised about Okada's failure to mention the constitution.The Liberal Democratic Party intends to prepare a draft aimed at revising the Constitution by the end of the year. Minshuto is seeking to draw up a similar draft, and hopes to finalize it next year. These moves seem to show that both the LDP and Minshuto recognize the need to revise the basic law, as this country and the rest of the world are at a critical turning point in history.Debating various constitutional issues means discussing what kind of nation and society we want to transform Japan into. Debates on the Constitution serve as a basis for discussions on such policy issues.Some Minshuto members, mainly those who previously belonged to the Social Democratic Party, remain cautious about rewriting Article 9 of the Constitution. They are bitterly opposed to conservative members of the opposition party, who favor a reform of the supreme law.If internal conflict over the matter prevents its leader from arguing the pros and cons of proposed constitutional reforms, then Minshuto cannot be called a responsible party.Okada's policies unclearIt is difficult to understand just what Okada's foreign and security policies are. He told the Diet: "Although we believe it's necessary to build a relationship of trust with the United States, it is also necessary to attach a great deal of importance to diplomatic ties with Asian countries." But he has provided no clear statement as to how the Japan-U.S. alliance should be defined in terms of Japan's foreign policy.One practical approach Japan could adopt in this respect is to continue working to keep the alliance intact, while promoting cooperation with other countries.This is essential to cope with changes in the nation's security environment, including the presence of such elements of instability as North Korea, the emergence of international terrorism and other new threats.Okada criticized Koizumi, saying, "(The prime minister) has failed to build a relationship of trust with China." It should be noted, however, that the bitter resentment felt by the Japanese and Chinese about each other has largely arisen from actions taken by China in recent years. China has rapidly stepped up its military preparedness. The country's demand for the prime minister to stop visiting Yasukuni Shrine is an act of interference in our internal affairs. Okada should clarify his attitude on these issues.Another bone of contention concerns how to reform the state-run pension system. Minshuto has insisted on increasing the consumption tax rate as a means of financing the reform. The opposition party has said that the basic pension plan, which covers every member of the population, should be entirely funded by tax revenues.Minshuto has also urged the government to adopt a taxpayer identification number system for the purpose of integrating all government-administered pension programs into a single scheme. All these plans require a drastic reform of the pension system.Okada has recognized the need to promote discussions on pension reform between the ruling and opposition parties. We suggest the LDP and its junior coalition partner, New Komeito, start full-fledged discussions with Minshuto on pension reform under an earlier accord signed for that purpose.Okada wrapped up his question-and-answer session by telling the Diet: "Minshuto is already prepared to take power." This is an empty statement, however, if his party is unable to present voters with specific prescriptions for various policy issues.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	791	2005-01-25	YOSHIN0020050126e11p000hl
YOMSHI0020050125e11q0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050125e11q0000h	EN	\N	New boss must restore public faith in NHK	His early departure was no doubt a result of the need NHK felt to present a new leader to the public as quickly as possible to help stem the growing movement by the public to refuse to pay viewing fees to the broadcasting corporation.	4	2005-01-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since summer, NHK has been jolted by a series of scandals, including one of embezzlement involving a senior program producer. Consequently, there has been a steep rise in the number of households refusing or suspending payment of viewing fees as required by the Broadcast Law, a piece of legislation that lacks punitive clauses. As of the end of November, 113,000 households had refused to pay the fees.In December, Ebisawa appeared in a special NHK program that investigated the scandals. He expressed his views and apologized to the nation. But his appearance did nothing to halt the widespread movement to withhold fees, and executives of the corporation fear that the number of households refusing to pay viewing fees could reach anywhere between 450,000 and 500,000.Viewers have jaundiced eyesIn drafting its budget for fiscal 2005, NHK envisaged a year-on-year reduction of 7.2 billion yen in revenue from viewing fees, the first negative projection in its history. This bleak forecast, in the eyes of many industry observers, made it inevitable that Ebisawa would have to resign to assume responsibility as chief executive.While many people have refused to pay viewing fees to NHK because of the way Ebisawa has doggedly clung to his post, many others are doing so as a token of protest against the corporate culture at NHK, which they blame for the series of scandals. Therefore, the resignation of the president alone is hardly likely to bring an end to the fee-withholding movement.Genichi Hashimoto has a very grave responsibility as the new president of NHK. The first thing he has to do to regain viewers' confidence is to spell out specific measures to prevent any recurrence of scandals by exerting his leadership in reforming the management and operations of the corporation.The management committee of NHK is to establish an advisory council of prominent people to review the fee system and the role of NHK as a public broadcaster. Instead of creating a titular body, the management committee should make sure the panel actually does the job for which it was created.Politics and programmingIn addition to the mounting number of households refusing to pay viewing fees, NHK has come under fire over a program aired four years ago that focused on Japan's sexual violence during World War II.The original program idea was pitched to NHK by an affiliated company. After deciding to go with it, the corporation outsourced the production of the program to the affiliate.A subcontractor of the affiliate was assigned to produce the program, which was later edited by an NHK director and other staffers. After previewing the edited footage, executive editors of NHK instructed the editing staff to change some parts.Early this month, The Asahi Shimbun reported that Shinzo Abe, then deputy chief cabinet secretary, and Shoichi Nakagawa, who is now economy, trade and industry minister, pressured NHK to change the content of the program. Both NHK and the two politicians have denied the Asahi report. All parties involved should refrain from skirting around the point in question and verify what really happened.Apart from the dispute itself, the subject of the program should be questioned in connection with the Broadcast Law, which obliges the broadcaster to be neutral and fair. Members of NHK's staff should have involved themselves more deeply in the production of the program by undertaking coverage and editing duties from the outset in a responsible manner.NHK is making a fresh start with the replacement of its president. One of the things it should do as part of this new beginning is review its system of producing programs.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	693	2005-01-26	YOSHIN0020050127e11q000hu
YOMSHI0020050126e11r0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050126e11r0000f	EN	\N	Top court judgment on Korean case a wise one	The top court's Grand Bench handed down the decision confirming the constitutionality of the treatment of the South Korean resident in Japan, who filed a lawsuit to seek compensation from her employer, the metropolitan government, for its refusal to allow her to sit the exam. The Supreme Court judgment was the first of its kind concerning promotion of foreign civil servants.	4	2005-01-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the lawsuit, the Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of the metropolitan government, saying the refusal was constitutional. But the Tokyo High Court, overturning the lower court decision, said the local government violated the Constitution by excluding those of its employees who are foreigners from its promotion exams across the board.Since the latter half of the 1980s, an increasing number of local governments, responding to a spate of requests from South and North Koreans in Japan with special permanent resident status, have been adopting an open-door employment policy for foreigners.During their respective recruiting processes, 11 of the country's 47 prefectures and all of the 13 specially designated large cities--which are granted administrative privileges equivalent to those of prefectural governments--no longer discriminate against people because of their nationalities, in principle.As for promotion of civil servants with foreign nationalities to managerial positions, the Supreme Court's ruling now serves as the basic code.Responsibilities often overlapIn Wednesday's decision, the top court said those local government employees who exercise public authority in stipulating local residents' rights and obligations and determining important policies, among others, "are presumed under the Constitution to be people bearing Japanese nationality."Local governments' managerial officials fit this definition exactly. Therefore, the metropolitan government had concluded that requiring managerial course examinees to meet a certain criterion--having Japanese nationality--would not run counter to the Constitution.It is natural for local governments to implement administrative services and community policies on their own. However, their duties overlap into areas that the central government is primarily responsible for--national security, regional law and order and education.These matters should be handled by Japanese. That is why the Supreme Court stated in the ruling that "the utmost responsibility resides with the people as regards the way the central and local governments are governed." Therefore, if a foreign resident seeks to be promoted to a managerial position with the right to exercise public authority, it is logical for him or her to acquire Japanese nationality.Govts should exercise cautionThe Local Officials Law has no explicit provisions requiring local civil servants to have Japanese nationality. However, the Cabinet Legislation Bureau stated as early as in 1953 that officials who are "involved in the exercise of public authority or the formulation of the will of the state need to have Japanese nationality."But the bureau's opinion is one thing; explicit criteria are another. In reality, approaches to the employment and promotion of foreigners vary from one local government to another.Now that the Supreme Court has clarified that "public authority should be exercised by managerial staff with Japanese nationality," the central and local governments should compile an unequivocal and common standard for civil servants with foreign nationalities.Prudence is now required on the part of local governments in appointing foreigners to managerial positions that carry the right to exercise public authority.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2005-01-27	YOSHIN0020050128e11r000gg
YOMSHI0020050127e11s0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050127e11s0000g	EN	\N	Don't leave interpreting Article 9 to bureaucrats	A Liberal Democratic Party committee has begun laying down the draft of a new constitution, which it aims to have compiled by the end of April. Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) plans to compile its own draft for revising the Constitution.	4	2005-01-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Among the many points to consider in writing a new constitution, the main one, obviously, is Article 9 of the top law.Discussions need to be deepened to establish a basic guideline for protecting the security of Japan and the international community in a new era.It is also necessary to thoroughly examine the conventional interpretation of Article 9, how it should be interpreted, and how political leaders should deal with the article. An issue of particular importance in this regard is the Cabinet Legislation Bureau.In the postwar years, the task of interpreting Article 9 within the government has been placed exclusively in the bureau's hands.One example illustrating this is the status of the Self-Defense Forces, which, according to the bureau, shall have "the minimum ability required to defend the nation." Another is the bureau's interpretation that Japan has the right to exercise collective defense, but may not exercise it.As the dispatch of the SDF on overseas missions has became a reality since the end of the Cold War, the bureau came up with a way of dealing with the SDF's "involvement in the use of force." This interpretation has it that the SDF may provide rear-area support that does not "involve the use of force (by other nations' militaries)," which the Constitution prohibits.The issue of what is a combat zone and what is not, which has been contested since before the SDF's dispatch to Iraq, flows from that interpretation.SDF's role limited at presentYet the bureau cannot continue dreaming up ad hoc interpretations of Article 9 forever. This is one factor that makes the formulation of a new constitution an urgent issue.The bureau is merely a division within the Cabinet. Under the law concerning the establishment of the bureau, its functions are to "express its opinions" concerning legal issues to the cabinet, the prime minister and cabinet members. From a legal point of view, the bureau does not have the right to fix the interpretation of the Constitution.In reality, however, the bureau's interpretation of Article 9 has influenced the government's national security policy. As the bureau has interpreted the Constitution to mean that the nation may not exercise the right for collective defense, various restrictions have arisen governing the SDF's involvement in international peacekeeping cooperation activities overseas. Similar restrictions apply to the SDF's involvement in the use of force.Politicians neglecting dutyBut it is politicians who should bear the real responsibility for national security policy. While listening to the opinions of the legislation bureau concerning the interpretation of Article 9, the core of the nation's security policy, it is the prime minister who should make a final decision on the matter.For their part, politicians have skirted political conflicts by not making their stances on Article 9 clear and by using the bureau's interpretation as an excuse to sit on their hands.The bones of contention concerning Article 9 are whether the SDF should be described as "military forces" and whether to have the SDF's participation in international peacekeeping cooperation activities stipulated in the supreme law.Yet if political leaders delegate all the responsibilities for interpreting the article in the new constitution to the bureau and dodge their own obligations, nothing will change.During the process of discussing issues linked to writing a new constitution, a firm guideline should be established for political leadership to be exercised in the interpretation and application of the clause in the constitution that concerns national security.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2005-01-28	YOSHIN0020050131e11s000sw
YOMSHI0020050128e11t0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050128e11t0000j	EN	\N	Plan to rebuild MMC does not go far enough	The main pillar of the plan is for three Mitsubishi group firms, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., to take part in a capital increase worth 270 billion yen planned by the automaker.	4	2005-01-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	MMC also has worked out a plan to reorganize its money-losing business operations abroad, while supplying products to other automakers under original equipment manufacturing arrangements.Its top management, including chairman and president, will step down en masse to take responsibility for MMC's poor business performance.Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Chairman Takashi Nishioka will double as chairman of the struggling automaker, placing MMC inside the strong support system of the Mitsubishi group.MMC implemented a sizable capital increase last summer. When combined with the latest plan, the automaker will have increased its capital base by nearly 800 billion yen. Yet it remains uncertain whether such financial assistance will help the company turn its declining sales around.Corporate rescuer eyedThere is even speculation the automaker may have to resort to seeking financial support from another leading automaker in place of DaimlerChrysler AG, should the company's performance remain sluggish in the days ahead. DaimlerChrysler currently is the largest shareholder in MMC, but relations between the two have deteriorated.It appears that in order for MMC to make a full recovery, the next move is essential.In 2000, MMC was placed under the umbrella of DaimlerChrysler, but Mitsubishi group and DaimlerChrysler later fell out over the corporate rehabilitation plan for MMC. Then in April last year, DaimlerChrysler decided to end its financial support for MMC, withdrawing from the management of automaker.At that time, the Mitsubishi group played a key role in providing a capital increase of 496 billion yen and helped MMC work out a corporate rehabilitation plan.Soon afterward, however, the automaker was rocked by yet another scandal involving the covering up of product defects to avoid recalls, which drove MMC's sales down by as much as 40 to 50 percent from a year earlier.Handcuffed by debtMeanwhile, financial institutions, concerned about MMC's future prospects, began calling in the company's loans. As a result, the automaker had to spend the additional fund collected through the capital increase on debt repayment rather than on development of strategically important new vehicle models.Under the latest corporate rebuilding plan, MMC intends to supply products through original equipment manufacturing arrangements to Nissan Motor Co. and Peugeot Citroen group. Such an arrangement may help MMC boost operations at its plants, but to a limited effect.To break out of the current situation, the automaker needs, first and foremost, to recover its sales.Hit by a string of scandals involving defects in its trucks that resulted in accidents, including one in which a wheel fell off causing a fatal accident, the automaker has yet to overcome its negative brand image. The new top management will need to do their best to regain consumers' confidence in its vehicles.On top of that, the automaker is in dire need of a new hit model. Yet it is expected to take some time for MMC's new model to reach the market.Furthermore, some observers are pessimistic, saying it would be difficult for cash-strapped MMC to compete successfully with the rival automakers in the development of new models.For all the corporate perils it faces, MMC has a payroll of more than 40,000 and a large number of trading partners and corporate clients.The Mitsubishi group is responsible for exploring every possibility for MMC's corporate rehabilitation, including drastic business tie-ups with other firms.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	653	2005-01-29	YOSHIN0020050131e11t001cr
YOMSHI0020050129e11u0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050129e11u0000f	EN	\N	North Korea sanctions viable, practical option	The reclusive state's defiance in this respect can best be seen in its attitude toward the Japanese judgement that the remains claimed by North Korea to be those of abductee Megumi Yokota were those of another person. Pyongyang has submitted to Tokyo a document dismissing the results of a Japanese analysis of the ashes as a "fabrication."	4	2005-01-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The North Korean assertion contains no scientific evidence. It does not even deserve to be refuted. The totalitarian country has argued that it would have been impossible for Japan to determine whose remains they are by conducting a DNA analysis, saying that the remains had been cremated at a temperature of 1,200 C. This suggests Pyongyang may have burned the remains at such a high temperature with the aim of making it impossible for Tokyo to confirm whose they were.North Korea's attitude may reflect its desperate desire to end the prolonged abduction controversy once and for all by establishing as fact its assertion that eight abductees died, and two never entered the country.The government reportedly intends to take issue with the North Korean claim and demand a new response to the results of the Japanese analysis. Japan has every reason do so do, but its demand should not give North Korea an opportunity to stall.There are growing calls for the government to implement economic sanctions against the isolationist regime, which has ridiculed the Japanese government and people. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has expressed support for the calls, saying that it is "reasonable" to impose sanctions against North Korea.Stick vs carrotAt the same time, however, the prime minister has said the abduction dispute should be resolved through "dialogue and pressure." Under the circumstances, Japan must exert even greater pressure on North Korea, although it should also try to make progress in settling the controversy through dialogue.The government has already made the preparations necessary to adopt sanctions against North Korea, including revising the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law and establishing a law that could bar North Korean ships from calling at Japanese ports.The Liberal Democratic Party and main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) are considering submitting to the current Diet session separate bills aimed at supporting defectors from the starving country. Such a bill, if established, would serve to exert effective pressure on North Korea.Effective steps to achieve the goal include a law aimed at requiring ship owners to compensate for oil pollution caused by their vessels in waters around this country. The law, which takes effect March 1, could serve as a means of carrying out economic sanctions against the reclusive nation if strictly enforced by restricting North Korean ships seeking to visit Japanese ports. Few North Korean shipowners have liability insurance against damage claims incurred through accidents involving their vessels.Sanctions a suitable responseWe find it appropriate to consider limited sanctions against North Korea at least for the present. Possible measures include imposing restrictions on money transfers to North Korea and attempts by people to bring cash into the country. Another possible step is to regulate calls at Japanese ports by the Man Gyong Bong-92 as a symbolic restriction against North Korean ships sailing between the two countries.China and South Korea are concerned that North Korea may use Japan's economic sanctions as a pretext to refuse to attend the six-nation talks aimed at scrapping Pyongyang' nuclear arms program.An important issue to be considered in implementing sanctions against North Korea is whether the international community will support Japanese actions. This will affect how Pyongyang responds to sanctions. To ensure imposing sanctions will help resolve the abduction dispute, Japan should gain support from the United States, China, South Korea and Russia for its actions.Needless to say, the objective in adopting sanctions against the communist state is to make headway in settling the abduction controversy. Economic sanctions are not an end but a means. The government should consider every issue related to sanctions if it is to take such steps, including what kinds of sanctions should be adopted, when and under what circumstances and what it hopes to gain through such measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	738	2005-01-30	YOSHIN0020050131e11u000dl
YOMSHI0020050130e11v0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050130e11v0000a	EN	\N	Road map needed for final trade deal	In Davos, Switzerland, trade ministers from about 20 countries--including Japan, the United States and major European countries--held an informal session Saturday, the first of its kind in six months, and agreed to seek to reach a final agreement next year.	4	2005-01-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The "mini-ministerial" meeting concluded that the new round would have to reach basic agreements on all specific steps essential for the liberalization of agriculture and other sectors during a key ministerial meeting set for Hong Kong in December this year, which all 148 countries and regions that make up the WTO will attend.To that end, the ministers attending the Davos meeting confirmed that draft agreements would be hammered out by summer.The new round effectively had remained suspended since last summer largely because of the U.S. presidential election and the change of the European Union's trade commissioner.The European Commission's new leadership was installed in November, and the second administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is to nominate a new U.S. trade representative shortly.Meets to boost momentumThe WTO plans to hold another mini-ministerial meeting in March. Likewise, a ministerial meeting of member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is scheduled for May, and a trade ministerial conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is set for June.The new round of multilateral trade talks is aimed at setting a new global trade regime, with a view to accelerating the liberalization of trade in a wide range of goods, including farm and manufactured products, and services.Smooth growth of trade under rules common to all member countries and regions will greatly contribute to sustainable development of the global economy.The countries concerned should work out a road map for reaching a final accord on a new wide-ranging global trade treaty, using Saturday's agreement in the informal ministerial meeting as impetus for progress in the new round, and providing multilateral talks further momentum through the series of planned ministerial sessions.Launched following an international agreement reached at Doha in autumn 2001, the multilateral negotiations have hit one snag after another, with the main problems being discord between industrialized and developing countries and among importers and exporters of farm products.Resolve key disputesLast summer, WTO members agreed on a framework for modalities that would pave the way for setting new world trade rules. However, the current disputes remain unresolved.Basic agreements are hardly expected to be mapped out for all the relevant sectors in time for the decisive ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December. But no effort should be spared to first deal with problems in core areas such as agriculture.Each participating government should do its utmost to reach agreement on specific steps to implement lower tariffs on farm products--the most sensitive area in the multilateral negotiations.Measures also should be agreed concerning import quotas on low-tariff products to be adopted in compensation for exceptions to otherwise across-the-board tariff cuts; the products to be exempted from global rules; and the removal or reduction of export subsidies and similar stimulatory measures for exports.Governments around the world are increasingly inclined to negotiate bilateral free trade agreements ahead of a final agreement on global trade talks.However, it must be pointed out that such FTAs will impede the liberalization and facilitation of global trade if bilateral or regional initiatives are not carried out in a manner compatible with the WTO's multilateral negotiations.A situation in which each FTA has rules unique to it and discriminatory to other countries would pose a great threat to Japan, a trade-oriented nation.In its quest for FTAs, Japan is desperately trying to catch up with the United States and countries in Europe and Latin America. But it should always remember that it has a major role to play in facilitating the new round of multilateral trade negotiations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	693	2005-01-31	YOSHIN0020050201e11v000y6
YOMSHI0020050131e1210000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050131e1210000h	EN	\N	Election a success, but much still to be done	Emerging from a polling station, an Iraqi man thrust up a finger stained with bright blue ink to show that he had voted, shouting, "This is a medal of honor for Iraqis who risked voting."	4	2005-02-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Iraq's provisional National Assembly election drew voters out in greater-than-expected numbers. Insurgents made good on their threats to carry out suicide bombings at polling stations in Baghdad and other areas, killing more than 30 people. Most Iraqis, however, were undaunted by these threats.The first free election in Iraq clearly demonstrated the Iraqis' firm determination to rebuild their tattered nation.The international community was enthusiastic in its praise of the National Assembly election. Germany and France joined the United States and Britain in hailing Sunday's landmark poll. This is in stark contrast to the attitude of the first two countries, which opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Germany and France also have refused to join the United States and Britain fully in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.Chance to cement tiesWe hope Iraq's first multiparty vote in nearly half a century will provide an opportunity for nations around the world to further cement ties in their campaign to rebuild the war-torn country.But Iraq's election should be seen as just the initial hurdle the country must clear to achieve a true democratic process. The international community cannot afford to rejoice unreservedly over the election.The greater-than-expected voter turnout can be attributed to the fact that many of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority and Kurds voted. But in Sunni-dominated northern and western Iraq, where insurgents and forces still loyal to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein are active, only a few people turned out to vote. In addition, a campaign by major Sunni parties and groups urged voters to boycott the election.Possibility of deeper riftThe nationwide proportional representation system adopted in Sunday's poll also could serve to further deepen sectarian and ethnic divisions in Iraq, according to some analysts. This raises concerns that the Sunnis could challenge the legitimacy of Sunday's election, citing the regional gap in voter turnout.It remains to be seen who actually won the election. But there is good reason to believe that the Shiites, who account for about 60 percent of the population, will win many of the assembly seats.The National Assembly is charged with drafting a constitution by mid-August after establishing a transitional government. The first task facing the new parliament and the transitional government will be to facilitate reconciliation among the divided groups.It is particularly important to alleviate the frustrated anxiety felt by once-privileged Sunni Muslims over their postelection standing. They fear they might be kicked off the political stage. A way should be found to include Sunnis in the new government and parliament. Doing so might do much to improve security conditions in Iraq.This should be complemented by efforts to ensure that greater progress is made in rebuilding the country.These dual efforts are extremely important to put Iraq's democratic process on the right track, leading to a full-fledged democratic government for the troubled Middle Eastern nation by the end of the year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	582	2005-02-01	YOSHIN0020050202e121000ha
YOMSHI0020050201e1220000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050201e1220000e	EN	\N	Japan must stress role it has played in U.N.	Advisory panels to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan released reports in late December and early January that are germane to this ambition as they commented on the principles and criteria an aspirant nation should possess to become a permanent member of the council.	4	2005-02-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These principles and criteria should be instrumental in reforming the council to strengthen the function of the United Nations.A report by the U.N. High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, which was published in late December, said countries that have made the largest contributions in terms of finance, military assistance and diplomacy should be allowed to take part in the decision-making of the Security Council. In concrete terms, this would include making financial contributions to the United Nations and participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations.All the factors mentioned in the report are indispensable for the United Nations to be able to fulfill its function, and they are reasonable principles and criteria.ODA-to-GNP ratio unrealisticIn addition to these principles and criteria, there is the question of official development assistance provided by countries aiming to become permanent members of the Security Council. According to the report, the ratio of ODA to gross national product should be at least 0.7 percent, and the ODA should be of an adequate amount.A report by the U.N. Millennium Project concerning strategies to overcome poverty, which was released in early January, required those seeking permanent membership of the council to achieve the goal of 0.7 percent by 2015.Of the five current permanent members of the Security Council, Britain has the highest ratio at 0.34 percent, while that of the United States is only 0.15 percent. While Japan's ODA-to-GNP ratio is 0.20 percent, Japan is the world's second-largest provider of ODA after the United States. While there are countries in north Europe whose ratios of ODA to GNP exceed 0.7 percent, their economic scale is too small to rank them equally with Japan and the five permanent members of the Security Council.The requirement of 0.7 percent is not realistic for major countries. Therefore, the Japanese ambassador to the United Nations urged a recent unofficial meeting of the U.N. General Assembly to further discuss the high-level panel criteria for choosing permanent members of the Security Council.Nation has paid UNSC duesJapan's financial contribution to the United Nations constitutes about 20 percent of all contributions, and exceeds the total contributions of all permanent members of the Security Council, save for the United States.The cost that Japan has shouldered for U.N. peacekeeping operations is also the second-largest after the United States. Japan first took part in a PKO in Cambodia in the early 1990s and one in East Timor, among others.What is most important for permanent membership of the Security Council is how much candidate members have contributed to U.N. activities.A summit meeting of U.N. member states will be held in the autumn. Before that, Annan will compile a report in March to direct the flow of discussions on reforming the world body.It is important for Japan that the report note Japan's opinion that it could play a large role and fulfill its responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council to strengthen the function of the United Nations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	623	2005-02-02	YOSHIN0020050203e122000h8
YOMSHI0020050202e1230000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050202e1230000g	EN	\N	Expand eligibility for road toll discounts	JH already offers discount toll rates during certain hours. In April, it plans to launch the expressway equivalent of a frequent-flyer program.	4	2005-02-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet there is much opposition among private drivers toward the discount system. This is because only cars equipped with the electronic toll collection (ETC) system are eligible for the discount system.Only about 25 percent of automobiles using highways in the nation have the ETC system installed. It is only natural that drivers whose vehicles do not have ETC fitted are upset about the planned discount system, feeling that they have been left out.The Construction and Transport Ministry claims that by introducing the discount system it is making good on the promise to "reduce expressway toll by 10 percent" it made when arranging the privatization of the public highway corporation, scheduled for fiscal 2005.If this is the case, then the fruits of the privatization should be shared equally by the largest possible number of people.The ministry and JH should revise the discount system as soon as possible to make non-ETC automobiles also eligible for the off-peak discount.Govt claims ETC essentialThe toll discount system has three categories: (1) the discount for using expressways during certain hours; (2) the mileage discount; and (3) the discount for large-lot users.Tolls for those using expressways between midnight and 4 a.m. were cut by 30 percent starting in November. From Jan. 11 this year, a new discount rate hours service started, whereby an ETC-equipped automobile that passes through a tollgate in and around Tokyo or Osaka between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. or during rush hours outside those areas--between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. or between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.--receives a 50 percent discount.Under the mileage discount service, those clocking up tolls worth 50,000 yen will receive a refund worth 8,000 yen.The ministry justified restricting the mileage discount service to ETC-equipped automobiles by saying that for the introduction of a system as complex as the mileage discount service, the use of ETC is essential.The ministry reasons that as the number of ETC-equipped automobiles increases, traffic jams will be alleviated, benefiting other drivers. Also, with wider use of the ETC system , JH will be able to reduce the number of toll collectors, thus cutting operational costs.But it costs at least 10,000 yen to install the ETC system on an automobile. Users of the system must also have a credit card to pay the tolls. An ETC system for motorcycles is still under development, and its introduction is a long way off.Make system more usefulIn light of these factors, it is apparent that the plan to offer privileges only to ETC-equipped automobiles is highly problematic. The task of making the ETC system more useful should come first.Under the ministry's wing, there is a public-interest foundation that earns commissions from the ETC system. A view within road-related businesses has it that the ministry may be giving preferential treatments to ETC-equipped automobiles so as to help the foundation gain more commission through the wider use of ETC.We find it hard to believe that the ministry would act out of such naked self-interest. If the ministry treats non-ETC automobiles the same as ETC automobiles, rumors like this will not spread.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2005-02-03	YOSHIN0020050204e123000fd
YOMSHI0020050203e1240000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050203e1240000i	EN	\N	World's sole superpower faces daunting tasks	Not only Japan but also other countries may have listened with great interest to the State of the Union address delivered by U.S. President George W. Bush at the start of his second term in office.	4	2005-02-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Bush outlined his domestic and foreign policy targets, including a reform of the public pension system, assistance to promote democracy in Iraq and the Middle East, and the continuation of the war on terror.The challenges that lie before the Bush administration are how to win support and cooperation from the U.S. Congress and the international community in achieving these goals.Expounding the doctrine of "expansion of freedom," the basic tone of Bush's speech was hopeful and optimistic.In the fields of diplomacy and security, Bush reiterated his stance of supporting moves toward democracy in the Middle East in cooperation with countries that share with the United States the idea and values of freedom.He also emphasized that while trying to block the rise of tyranny and terrorism, he would not force other nations to do things the U.S. way.Bush must demonstrate this stance in concrete form in Iraq.Stabilizing Iraq vitalThough the National Assembly election in Iraq was held successfully, it is only the beginning of a tough road ahead for the country. The most important thing is to realize stability in Iraq as soon as possible. And this depends on whether the coalition of the international community can be rebuilt in the days ahead, not to mention self-help efforts on the part of the people in Iraq.Bush was optimistic about this challenge, saying it was achievable as long as Iraqi people desire liberty and are determined to rebuild their nation. Yet the security situation in Iraq remains severe.Bush said U.S. forces would stay in Iraq until a democratic government was established in the country, indicating the U.S. resolve to fulfill its responsibilities until conditions in Iraq have stabilized.Stability in Iraq, in a true sense, cannot be achieved without the cooperation of countries in Europe and the Middle East.The planned visits by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Middle East and Europe will mark the first step in the U.S. diplomatic efforts to win such cooperation. We hope her visits are successful.Domestic to-do list longThe cooperation of the international community also is essential to solve the problems of North Korea and Iran's nuclear arms programs.While calling Iran the "world's primary state sponsor of terror," Bush also emphasized that Washington was cooperating with its European allies in persuading Iran to give up its uranium enrichment program.Bush did not label North Korea either a sponsor of terror or a tyrannical state, merely saying, "We are working closely with governments in Asia to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions."He avoided using any inflammatory language in reference to North Korea, probably so as not to give Pyongyang an excuse to postpone its return to stalled six-country talks aimed at persuading it to abandon its nuclear program. North Korea, in fear of being pressed to abandon its nuclear ambitions, remains reluctant to attend the talks.On the domestic front, Bush laid out a drastic overhaul of the public pension system. In line with the advent of an aging society, Bush warned that the entire pension system would be bankrupt by 2042 if things remain as they are. He proposed the introduction of private retirement accounts with a defined contribution formula.Even a superpower like the United States faces daunting tasks on the domestic front, similar to those Japan faces.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2005-02-04	YOSHIN0020050207e124000g8
YOMSHI0020050204e1250000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050204e1250000l	EN	\N	Diet must end games, attend to key concerns	However, legislators failed to live up to their obligations during the initial stage of discussions on the fiscal 2005 budget at the House of Representatives Budget Committee. Throughout the early budget debate, the ruling and opposition parties played trivial games over money scandals in which they had been involved.	4	2005-02-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Leading opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) criticized the Liberal Democratic Party over a scandal involving a 100 million yen donation received by the LDP's faction previously led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. Minshuto members said it was impossible to lay to rest the public's distrust of politicians and political parties unless measures were taken to increase the transparency of political funds.Meanwhile, the LDP spotlighted suspicions that a teachers' union in Yamanashi Prefecture had been involved in raising funds for a political organization supporting a Minshuto legislator. LDP members told the Budget Committee the funds had been raised illegally in that the teachers' union, the political organization and the Minshuto member's support association were united.Both scandals show the remnants of the so-called 1955 political order are at work. Common ground can be seen in the two incidents as each case has arisen from an attempt to raise and distribute political funds. The LDP is still a faction-based party, while Minshuto relies largely on labor unions for financial and other support.End finger-pointingThe dispute over the two scandals must be debated with an eye to determining what kind of relationship is appropriate between politics and money. Diet members should never let debate become mired in finger-pointing.What should be done to increase transparency of the ways politicians and political parties are funded and restore public trust in politics? An important task facing legislators in this regard is to argue the pros and cons of every pertinent issue and discuss measures to fundamentally review the current system in which political parties collect and distribute political funds.Another feature of the first-stage Diet debate concerns a proposal to revise the Constitution. Discussions on the issue between the ruling and opposition parties could set the stage for reaching an agreement among major political parties on this fundamental issue.Former Minshuto President Yukio Hatoyama insisted on revising Article 9 of the Constitution, saying the supreme law should incorporate the principle of "pacifism, the establishment of an army and commitment to international cooperation." Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi agreed.Hatoyama's assertion nearly matches the outline of a draft devised by the LDP in November. Koizumi's answer to Hatoyama can be regarded as an unprecedented attempt by the prime minister to reach a consensus with the main opposition party on constitutional reform.Agreement possibleIn his answer to Minshuto President Katsuya Okada's question about a reform of the social security system, the prime minister said, "It is necessary to consider using the consumption tax" to reform the system. Koizumi's remark marked a departure from his repeated pledge not to raise the consumption tax rate while in office. He also indicated the need to integrate all government-run pension programs into a unified scheme and adopt a taxpayer identification number system.The prime minister's statements may reflect his desire to convince Minshuto to reverse its refusal to start discussions with the ruling parties over pension reform. Still, the verbal give-and-take between the LDP and Minshuto shows that the parties are increasingly prepared to come to the negotiation table.There are only minor differences of opinion between the LDP and Minshuto on goals and policies to be pursued. This is in stark contrast to the bitter contest between the LDP and the Japan Socialist Party under the 1955 political order.It is possible for the LDP and Minshuto to reach a consensus on each policy issue through discussion today. To achieve this, both parties should promote careful, but constructive discussions on policy. Given their dominant position in the Diet, the LDP and Minshuto should take this to heart in carrying out parliamentary debates.Lawmakers should promote in-depth discussions on amending the Constitution, reforming the social security system and other key issues in the current Diet session.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	734	2005-02-05	YOSHIN0020050207e125001ab
YOMSHI0020050205e1260000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050205e1260000c	EN	\N	Asian Woman's Fund based on distortions	The government-authorized corporation has been in operation for about 10 years, mainly with the aim of providing allowances for purported former comfort women in other Asian countries. The corporation, which has nearly completed its mission, will be disbanded in two years.	4	2005-02-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The corporation was established in 1995. It has since collected about 600 million yen in donations from Japanese, and has given 285 purported former comfort women in South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines 2 million yen each.It should be noted, however, that a major driving force behind the establishment of the fund was an attempt by some quarters of society to misrepresent historical facts on the purported former comfort women.For example, some newspapers campaigned to convince the public that the system created to form corps of women volunteers eager to contribute to the war effort during World War II was an attempt by the Imperial Japanese Army to forcibly recruit women as comfort women. This did much to ensure the mistaken perception both at home and abroad that the women who worked at brothels had been forced to do so by the Imperial Army after being forcibly transported to such facilities for sexual servitude. The campaign aroused a sensational reaction, especially among South Koreans.Kono's statement ridiculousThe Japanese government was thoughtless in dealing with the rising tide of antagonism overseas as a result of the campaign. An excellent example of this was seen in a statement issued by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono under the Cabinet of Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa in August 1993. Kono's statement said "the government authorities had played a part" in what critics called "forcible transportation" of women for service at brothels.However, the statement was unsupported by historical facts. Kono's comment has been discredited by testimony from several senior officials in the Miyazawa government, including then Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobuo Ishihara. A high-ranking bureaucrat who was director general of the Cabinet Councillors' Office on External Affairs during the days of the Miyazawa Cabinet also said the same thing before the Diet.No forcible transportationsAll this shows there were no grounds for the assertion that the comfort women were victims forcibly transported to wartime brothels.But Kono's patently false statement took on a life of its own, somehow transmogrifying to become the official view of the Japanese government about the issue of purported comfort women.In South Korea, the statement was takenas the Japanese government's acknowledgment of its purported "forcible transportation" of women to brothels. In Japan, too, a campaign to "compensate forcible transportation" gathered momentum. All these developments led to the establishment of the Asian Women's Fund.The attempt by some quarters of society to distort the historical facts on purported comfort women was also one cause of the ongoing dispute between NHK and The Asahi Shimbun over which lied about an altered television program.Kono's statement was a boon for a campaign to conduct a "women's international tribunal of war criminals" in December 2000, a mock trial the NHK program in question featured.What criteria were adopted by the Asian Women's Fund to produce a list of women "eligible" to receive allowances? The fund was established with little effort to inspect historical facts about purported comfort women. Given this, it is no wonder that some always have viewed the fund with skepticism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2005-02-06	YOSHIN0020050207e126001yb
YOMSHI0020050211e12700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050211e12700001	EN	\N	G-7 club must include emerging economies	The G-7 said at the outset of its communique issued the same day that the group had "held an informal meeting with key global economies."	4	2005-02-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Those key global economies were China, which attended the previous G-7 meeting in October, and other powerful emerging countries, such as Brazil and India.Group's effectiveness waningWith the emergence of China and other economies in the 1990s, policy coordination among only Japan, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United States has limited effectiveness in achieving sustainable global economic growth.The G-7 has been inviting and exchanging opinions with finance ministers from China, Russia, Algeria, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates since autumn 2003, depending on each meeting's agenda, in an attempt to include them in the group's policy coordination effort.However, this was the first time the powerful emerging countries had been invited to a meeting of the G-7 as a group, reflecting their strong influence on the global economy.The G-7 explained in the communique that it invited them "to respond positively to the challenges and opportunities of the global economy" with recognition of "the need for greater and wider partnerships."The rapid emergence of the major emerging economies has dramatically changed the global economy. In the middle of such a change, policy coordination by the G-7 club is no longer viable. Inviting them to the London meeting is an admission by the G-7 of the need for drastic reform to ensure their inclusion.Practical measures lackingThe limited reach of the advanced nations' club is reflected in its communique. In the backdrop of a steady global economic recovery, the G-7 showed its willingness to tackle the current challenges facing the world economy, but fell far short of practical policy measures.To sustain global economic growth, the G-7 said in the communique that "key priorities are that the United States has committed to fiscal consolidation; Europe and Japan to further structural reform."But the group failed to include policy measures to achieve these goals.Instead, the G-7 simply reaffirmed that "exchange rates should reflect economic fundamentals" and stressed "excessive volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates are undesirable for economic growth." It added the group would "continue to monitor exchange markets closely and cooperate as appropriate."This part of the communique just repeated the same language used in last year's G-7 meeting, which was a compromise of different opinions among Japan, the United States and European countries.The group also did not mention any short-term practical measures to deal with soaring oil prices, instead presenting long-term goals such as improving the transparency of the crude oil market.China's gross domestic product now exceeds that of Canada, a G-7 member, and it will soon surpass Italy's. Brazil and India also are rapidly catching up.Consumption of raw materials and fuels, including crude oil, in those countries has increased sharply, having a major effect on the global economy.It is no longer possible to devise effective economic measures without the involvement of such emerging economies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2005-02-07	YOSHIN0020050208e127000cs
YOMSHI0020050207e1280000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050207e1280000d	EN	\N	Operator must rebuild public trust in Monju	Modification of the Monju nuclear reactor, which has been shut down for more than nine years since a 1995 sodium leak accident, has been given the go-ahead to commence soon.	4	2005-02-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa on Sunday approved a government plan to modify the reactor after accepting the government's confirmation of the reactor's safety and offer to revitalize the prefecture.The reactor will resume operations in 2008 if construction and tests by the state-run Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute--its operator--proceed as scheduled.Accident mismanagedThe reactor has been idle for too long. One of the major reasons is the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corp., the institute's predecessor, failed to regain the trust of local residents after the 1995 accident.The corporation failed to fully explain what happened and hid a videotape recording of the scene of the accident.This should never happen again.According to the government construction plan for Monju, a temperature gauge that sparked the sodium coolant leakage will be modified, with safety measures against such leakages to be enhanced. The institute should aim to gradually resume operations, spelling out to the public details of the modification process and the tests.Sodium reacts with water in an explosive manner. This was one of the reasons the safety of the Monju reactor was questioned, but the modification work should address this concern.Needless to say, priority must be placed on securing the safe research and development of atomic energy. Consistent efforts to improve safety are required to gain public understanding.Eyes of the world on reactorNot only domestic, but also international attention is focused on the resumption of the Monju reactor because it will become a R&D base for the nuclear fuel cycle, maximizing the use of uranium resources.Fast-breeder reactors like Monju are supposed to produce more nuclear fuel than they consume. They also produce less nuclear waste due to their improved efficiency.Japan, which has few natural resources, is promoting the development of a nuclear fuel cycle as a national policy from a viewpoint of energy security. The Monju reactor is expected to play a central role in this strategy.Scientists around the world have predicted that next-generation nuclear reactors will be fast-breeder reactors like Monju, and multinational cooperation in this area has already started.Although various types of fast-breeder reactors have been designed overseas, the Monju reactor, which aims to produce electricity for commercial purposes, is reputedly the most technologically advanced. France reportedly wants to cooperate with Japan in its R&D.Since uranium resources are still considered abundant, many countries have decided to focus on development and modification of light-water nuclear reactors for the time being.However, some countries, including China and India, are speeding up development of fast-breeder nuclear reactors to secure energy resources for the future.The Monju reactor should be fully utilized for R&D in nuclear fuel cycle technology to pave the way for its commercialization in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	540	2005-02-08	YOSHIN0020050211e128000e4
YOMSHI0020050208e1290000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050208e1290000f	EN	\N	Govt must integrate policy financial bodies	The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has decided to make the reform of these institutions a priority this year.	4	2005-02-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government has set the period until the end of March as one in which private financial institutions should make all-out efforts to dispose of bad loans, prioritizing this task, while putting off a review of the financial bodies.To date, this review is only half complete, having stalled in the face of strong resistance from government offices and legislators representing the interest of these institutions.A previous reform, carried out in 1999, only went as far as to integrate the Japan Development Bank and the Hokkaido-Tohoku Development Cooperation into the Development Bank of Japan, and to merge the Export-Import Bank of Japan with the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund to form the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.The government stopped short of retrenching the businesses of these institutions and allowed them to retain their roles through the integrations, while at the same time leaving other policy financial institutions intact.Strong leadership neededAs it did before, the new round of reforms of policy financial institutions is likely to meet strong resistance from government offices and legislators with vested interests. To counter this, we hope Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will exhibit the same strong leadership in these reforms as he has in the privatization of postal businesses, which he calls the "centerpiece of reforms."Postal privatization is aimed at transforming the current public-financing structure, which consists of a large amount of private funds flowing into the state, by having it circulate into the private-sector economy and reinvigorate the economy as a whole.With the state-run postal services, a sizable amount of funds were collected through postal savings and postal (kampo) insurance, which were then channeled into policy financial institutions.The management of these funds, collected through the postal services, was switched entirely to self-management by the Postal Services Agency in 2001. Nonetheless, there was no change in the conventional structure, whereby the postal businesses operator, which is now Japan Post, purchases a large amount of government bonds, including fiscal investment and loan program bonds, thus supplying the funds for policy financial institutions to extend loans in line with government policies.Structural reform, long-championed by Koizumi, will be completed only when the postal businesses, which constitute the "entrance" of the government's fiscal investment and loan program, and the policy financial institutions, which constitute the "exit" of the program, are overhauled.Major realignment requiredThere are similar policy financial institutions in other industrialized countries. But outstanding loans extended by policy financial institutions in Japan account for nearly 20 percent of the nominal gross domestic product, far greater than in Britain or the United States, where they account for somewhere in the 5 percent territory.As a result, a sizable amount of loans, the interest on which is lower than those on the market, outrivals private financial institutions, thus distorting the financial market.In the forthcoming review, the government must thoroughly examine whether it is appropriate for government-affiliated financial institutions to remain involved in their conventional businesses. The policy financial institutions should pull out of businesses whose functions are deemed complete or those that should have been handled by private-sector institutions in the first place.It is also inevitable that these institutions undergo organizational integration.For instance, there are three institutions set up to extend loans to small and midsize firms--the National Life Finance Corporation, the Japan Finance Corporation for Small Businesses, and the Shoko Chukin Bank. It is necessary to study how to integrate these institutions so as to enhance their efficiency.While criticizing the businesses of policy financial institutions as one to outrival the private-sector business, private banks have shied away from extending loans which carry high risks. Private banks need to realize that they are obliged to supply funds to the national economy.(From the early editionof The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2005-02-09	YOSHIN0020050211e1290019u
YOMSHI0020050209e12a0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050209e12a0000j	EN	\N	Protection needed against hostile M&As	The president of Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc. must have felt that way when he met with Takafumi Horie, president of Internet service provider Livedoor Co.	4	2005-02-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Livedoor acquired a large number of stocks from institutional investors in a matter of two hours through the Tokyo Stock Exchange's off-hours trading system Tuesday morning, becoming a major shareholder, with a 35 percent stake in NBS.Livedoor said it would send its executives to the broadcaster and launch a business that combines Internet service and broadcasting.Cases like this, in which a company's stock is acquired despite the opposition of the management, are called hostile mergers and acquisitions. Similar cases have been increasing rapidly as the dissolution of cross-shareholding ties among companies accelerates.When a company is listed on the market, it becomes susceptible to a stock buyout. The manager of a listed company must keep a close watch on the trends of its stocks.Stockholdings distortedNBS is a radio broadcasting station with a pivotal role in Fujisankei Communications Group. NBS owns a 22.5 percent stake in Fuji Television Network Inc., while Fuji TV owns a 40.3 percent stake in The Sankei Shimbun.By holding a large stake in NBS, whose total value of shares is small, Livedoor will be able to influence the management of the entire corporate group.Taking advantage of distortions in stockholdings, investment funds both at home and abroad have been buying NBS stock.Alarmed by this development, Fuji TV has decided to make the broadcaster a subsidiary, purchasing NBS stocks in a takeover bid.Investment funds that place top priority on yields are circling like vultures over companies that have large asset values but small market values. They do not hesitate to dissolve a company and strip its assets after acquiring the management rights of the company.Companies that have accumulated large amounts of retained earnings and those that own sizable stakes in blue-chip firms are most vulnerable to these investment funds.Last year, M&As worth a total 1.9 trillion dollars were carried out in the world. Most were friendly, but 14 percent were hostile.Japanese firms easy targetsWith the advance in globalization of businesses, it makes sense to buy a stake in Japanese companies, whose share prices are relatively cheap. Unless managers of Japanese companies are able to protect themselves against takeovers, there is a danger that Japan will become a place where foreign businesses can harvest Japanese companies at will.In the United States, many firms have adopted a method of diluting the effect of a buyout in which existing shareholders are given a preemptive right to purchase shares of a new issue before it is offered to others when more than a certain ratio of shares are targeted.A study panel within the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry shortly will compile its ideas concerning what countermeasures should be taken for hostile M&As and under what conditions.Corporate managers should prepare themselves against hostile M&As by making reference to the panel's proposals. If the countermeasures are designed only for their self-protection, they will not serve shareholders' interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2005-02-10	YOSHIN0020050211e12a00271
YOMSHI0020050210e12b0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050210e12b0000e	EN	\N	Stay cool in face of DPRK bluster	The six-way talks have been stalled since the last round in June. Resumption of the negotiations has been repeatedly delayed because of Pyongyang's refusal to return to the negotiating table.	4	2005-02-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korea's latest statement came as speculation was increasing that the six-way talks could restart since U.S. President George W. Bush had launched his second-term administration. The communist state also cited Japan's attitude on the abduction issue as another reason for its decision to suspend participation in the talks. We find Pyongyang's statement extremely regrettable.If North Korea categorically refuses to rejoin the six-nation talks, the dispute over that country's nuclear program will be brought before the U.N. Security Council, setting the stage for discussions on possible international sanctions on the nation. The crisis, however, has not yet escalated that far.The statement said Pyongyang was forced to suspend its participation in the talks "till we have recognized that there is justification for us to attend the talks and there are ample conditions and atmosphere to expect positive results from the talks." The announcement also said North Korea was unchanged in its desire to solve the issue "through dialogue and negotiations" and pursue its goal to "denuclearize the Korean Peninsula."The tirade from North Korea may be regarded as another attempt to wring concessions in exchange for its return to the six-party talks. Its threat to suspend participation in the talks for an indefinite period should be seen as designed to accomplish that goal.Nuke admission ups anteChinese Communist Party officials are scheduled to visit Pyongyang soon. North Korea is grossly mistaken if it believes it can take advantage of the planned visit to pressure China, the host of the six-nation talks, to urge the United States to soften its hard-line policy toward it.Progress--or a lack of it--in the six-party talks hinges on whether North Korea will decide to scrap its nuclear development program in its entirety, including a uranium enrichment program. North Korea should know better than to play for time. It should dismantle its nuclear program immediately.In its statement, North Korea said it had manufactured nuclear weapons "to cope with the Bush administration's ever-more undisguised policy to isolate and stifle" the communist state. The statement was North Korea's first official announcement that it possesses nuclear arms. Pyongyang also reiterated its determination to maintain its nuclear program, saying it would build more silos for nuclear weapons.5 parties must remain unitedNorth Korea's latest reference to its nuclear ambitions could be regarded as an attempt to extract more carrots from the five other nations, including energy aid and security guarantees. Pyongyang is sticking to its risky strategy of using nuclear weapons as a bargaining chip.North Korea is the only nation to have withdrawn from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Its attempt to arm itself with nuclear weapons, using nuclear technology it acquired while a signatory to the treaty, is intolerable in that doing so could fundamentally shake the foundation of the NPT regimeJapan, the United States, China, South Korea and Russia are pursing the mutually shared goal of scrapping North Korea's nuclear program. But they have separate tactics for achieving the target. The United States remains tough toward the reclusive state, while South Korea and China are conciliatory toward it. This could allow Pyongyang to drive a wedge into any cracks that exist in the alliance among the five nations.The five countries should strongly urge North Korea to rejoin the six-way talks as soon as possible, while maintaining a united front and not reacting too strongly to Pyongyang's threat.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	666	2005-02-11	YOSHIN0020050214e12b000cd
YOMSHI0020050211e12c0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050211e12c0000i	EN	\N	Senkaku Islands dispute a matter for central govt	To complement the action, the Japan Coast Guard will send personnel to conduct periodic maintenance checks on the facility, which was built by a domestic political organization.	4	2005-02-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These moves are aimed at showing neighboring countries that Japan has effective control over the Senkaku Islands. By doing so, the government is seeking to prevent a recurrence of an incident in which Japanese sovereignty was violated when a group of Chinese activists unlawfully landed on Uotsurishima in March 2004.China's claims irrationalChina, which has insisted on its territorial claim to the islands, has issued a statement saying the Japanese actions are "illegal and invalid." But China's assertion should be dismissed as entirely unreasonable. It is obvious, both from a historical point of view and under international law, that the Senkaku Islands are inherently part of Japanese territory.In 1895, Japan annexed the group of islands. No other nations challenged Japan's action until 1971, when China and Taiwan abruptly insisted on their respective ownership of the islands. In the same year, a U.N. survey of the East China Sea identified a massive amount of oil and natural gas in the seabed of the area.For years, Japan and China have been at odds over their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the East China Sea. Japan has insisted that the two nations' EEZs be separated by what it calls the "Japan-China median line," a line of demarcation drawn midway between the Japanese and Chinese coastlines.This is in stark contrast to the position of China, which has argued that its EEZ should extend as far as a trench in waters immediately west of Okinawa Prefecture, including waters around the Senkaku Islands, which it calls Daioyu.Since the late 1990s, China has been exploring offshore gas fields in the East China Sea after conducting a survey of seabed resources in the region. Such moves may infringe upon Japanese sovereignty in violation of the U.N. Convention on the Sea of the Law, which bans signatories from performing acts that hamper efforts to reach an agreement between nations at odds over their surrounding waters.The government has set aside appropriations for a project to build a marine research ship under the fiscal 2005 budget, hoping to carry out negotiations with China, based on accurate data. The government also should start prospecting for gas fields in areas around the Japan-China median line as soon as possible.Last year, China suddenly started claiming that Okinotorishima--an island situated in the southernmost tip of Japanese territory in the Pacific Ocean--is "rocks." If the island is defined as "rocks" as claimed by China, it means a 400,000-square-meter reduction in Japan's EEZ.China has built a concrete structure on a shore reef on Spratly Islands, a group of islets, atolls and other formations in the South China Sea, over which the Philippines and some other countries have claimed sovereignty. By doing so, China has insisted the shore reef in question is an artificial island that it has built. China's move should be dismissed as an extremely opportunistic approach.Under a bilateral agreement, China must inform Japan of a plan to conduct a marine survey in waters around this nation's EEZ before actually doing so. Beijing's assertion that Okinotorishima is rocks reflects its desire to carry out a free survey in the area for the purpose of collecting data needed for navigation by Chinese submarines. Last year, China conducted illegal marine surveys in the region.Tokyo govt plans actionThe Tokyo metropolitan government intends to build an electric power facility on Okinotorishima island, using temperature differences in the ocean, and also aid fishing in waters around the island.These plans are aimed at showing other nations that waters around the island lie in Japan's EEZ. However, the dispute over the island is not an issue that should be left to the hands of the metropolitan government. The central government should take the initiative in dealing with the problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	727	2005-02-12	YOSHIN0020050214e12c0011x
YOMSHI0020050212e12d0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050212e12d0000d	EN	\N	Challenges await new Thai government	Thaksin will be the first Thai prime minister to secure a second term through democratic election, in a nation where military dictatorships and coup d'etats were the status quo for a long time.	4	2005-02-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In his second term, he is also going to lead a one-party government for the first time in the nation's history. The voter turnout for the general election was also the highest ever.The most significant outcome of the last election is that it has paved the way to establishing a civilian government in the country. It is also important to note that a very stable government, one with more than 70 percent of the seats in the lower house, will be created after this fair election.However, some questions remain over whether long-term rule by the same government can be realized in Thailand where democracy has just begun to take root.Thaksin, a telecom business tycoon, has adopted a chief-executive-officer-style approach to politics since he took office in 2001. He has demanded efficiency and achievement from government bureaucrats and dealt with important issues in a top-down way.Privileged populistOn the other hand, Thaksin took a populist line. He spent a huge amount of money on aiding small-hold farmers and the poor, and succeeded in increasing his support base, though the opposition criticized this action as a dole-out policy. In the last election, voters gave Thaksin an overwhelming mandate to lead.At issue in his second term is how he will use his power, considered by critics to be excessive. Opposition parties and civic groups warn that the prime minister's political style will become even more high-handed. Additionally, he has been constantly criticized for cronyism for appointing relatives and associates to important political posts.Nonetheless, Thaksin is going to have a bigger voice internationally since he has succeeded in cementing his domestic ground.In his first term, the prime minister has been working on the independence of the Thai economy, learning a lesson from the Asian currency crisis of late 1990s. Under Thaksin, Thailand has voluntarily weaned itself from Japan's official development assistance, stressing the need to become independent of foreign aid. Meanwhile, Thaksin has emphasized regional integration and joined those advocating the creation of an Asian bond market.Key Asian nationThe destiny of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations depends on how Thailand, now the largest regional power with its steady economic growth, will balance its own interests and burdens from regional integration.Thailand will also be a key country for Japan's Asian policy, which is now challenged by the rapidly-growing influence of China in the region. Placing importance on its relationship with Japan, the biggest investor in Thailand, the Thaksin government has been trying to strengthen its ties with China and India, and also discussing free trade agreements with many countries around the world.Negotiations on a free trade agreement between Japan and Thailand have entered a final stage. With the end of the general election, the stalled talks will start moving forward again.The government should make it a high priority to conclude a favorable free trade agreement with Thailand, which can become the new foundation for further enhancement of the bilateral relationship, and must utilize the agreement to revitalize its general policy on Asia.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2005-02-13	YOSHIN0020050215e12d000an
YOMSHI0020050215e12g0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050215e12g0000h	EN	\N	Bill submission boosts missile defense system	The submission was a basic legal preparation by the government to enable it to deal comprehensively with such new security threats as the launch of a ballistic missile aimed at Japan.	4	2005-02-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The missile defense system is designed to intercept an incoming missile with a Standard Missile 3 based on an Aegis-equipped warship, and Patriot Advanced Capability 3 surface-to-air missiles.The need for speedy responseA ballistic missile launched by North Korea would reach Japan in about 10 minutes. But under the current SDF law, an order to intercept a missile requires the prime minister's decision based on approval to mobilize the SDF by the Cabinet and Security Council of Japan.The mobilization of the SDF for defense purposes can only be ordered if another country has launched a military invasion.But since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, there have been rising new threats of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction.The latest legal arrangements are intended to enable the nation to respond to these changes affecting national security.Under the bill, the Defense Agency chief would be empowered to order a missile interception, after the prime minister gave preapproval at a Cabinet meeting in situations where there were advance signs of missile launches.In contingencies other than these, the agency chief would be able to order missile interceptions in accordance with the emergency guidelines drawn up by the agency chief and approved in advance by the prime minister.Also included in the bill is a clause requiring the prime minister to notify the Diet after issuing an interception order. Mandating Diet involvement ensures civilian control over any such situation. The bill is designed to enable the government to react promptly to contingencies while ensuring civilian control.Further actions requiredThe keys to detecting indications of missile launches are gathering information via satellites and intercepting communications, monitoring troops concentrations and the fueling of missile launchers, which precede missile launches.To detect such signs, it is vital for Japan to cooperate closely with the United States, while at the same time Japan needs to improve its information-gathering capability.Under the bill, the government is supposed to tell the public if the Cabinet thinks it likely that a ballistic missile is to be launched at Japan. Yet there remain several issues that the government needs to discuss, such as how to convey to the public the necessity of taking cover and when.The bill assumes that missile defense arrangements are limited to dealing with ballistic missile aimed at Japan. This is because the government thinks intercepting missiles targeted at the United States would be tantamount to Japan exercising the right to collective self-defense.Would it be proper for Japan to sit back and not intercept a missile aimed at the United States? Should Japan do nothing to intercept such missiles, its alliance with the United States would immediately fall apart.This issue should not be left unresolved. The government must change its interpretation of the Constitution so that the nation can exercise the right to collective self-defense.It is the responsibility of the government, which is supposed to protect the lives of people and their property, to construct a mechanism that will enable the appropriate operation of the missile defense system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2005-02-16	YOSHIN0020050217e12g000j0
YOMSHI0020050216e12h0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050216e12h0000f	EN	\N	Japan must strive to fulfill Kyoto pact commitments	However, there are many problems to be tackled in trying to achieve the goal set in the international protocol adopted in 1997. First, there is no telling how soon the United States--the world's largest CO2 producer--will retract its secession from the protocol and return to the pact. Second, the protocol does not obligate developing countries--including China and India, both of which have seen a rapid increase in their CO2 emissions in recent years--to seek emission reductions. Under the circumstances, there are concerns about whether the protocol will do much to protect the global environment.	4	2005-02-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is essential that the enforcement of the international pact--officially titled the Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change--should mark a historic step forward in the anti-global warming campaign. To help accomplish this, Japan must fulfill its obligation to achieve its emission reduction target. Doing so would help prod the United States to rejoin the protocol while also encouraging more developing nations to sign up to the pact.The government intends to draw up an emission reduction plan that will incorporate specific steps. The Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is scheduled to finalize the plan in May. The plan must spell out effective measures.Energy-saving steps keyThe protocol requires Japan to curtail its greenhouse gas emissions between 2008 and 2012 by 6 percent from its 1990 level. However, this country's CO2 emissions have continued to increase since the pact was signed in 1997. The CO2 discharge in fiscal 2003 was 8 percent higher than the 1990 levels. This means that Japan must reduce its emissions during the 2008-12 period by 14 percent from the 1990 level.A central pillar of this country's emission reduction strategy is through energy-saving efforts. The 14 percent emission reduction poses a formidable challenge for Japan, which has already done all it can through many years of striving to conserve energy long before other industrial powers bothered to do so.The amount of CO2 emissions from factories in this country has slightly declined since 1990. This is in stark contrast to a significant increase in emissions from the tourist and freight transport industries, as well as offices and households. CO2 emissions in these sectors have increased 20-40 percent since 1990. The amount discharged from these sectors totals an estimated 600 million tons, compared with 470 million tons from factories.All this reflects a shift of focus in this nation's industrial structure from manufacturing activities to service-oriented operations.It is very disturbing that this country has been unable to halt the rapid increase in CO2 emissions from the sectors in question and put together workable measures to overcome the problem.Service sector must do its bitA set of energy-saving measures devised by the government includes a plan by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry to expand the list of business operators required to submit energy-conservation plans. The list would include shipping agents and cargo owners. Currently, only factory owners are obliged to submit such plans.Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry intends to urge the public to raise its awareness about the need to conserve energy. For instance, the ministry wants to tell members of the public that they should run air conditioners at a higher temperature in summer.Today, this country's industrial sector and its people must adjust themselves to energy-saving needs. The enforcement of the protocol could provide an opportunity to do that.The Environment Ministry has proposed creating an environmental tax on gasoline, gas and other fossil fuels to curb their consumption. In late 2004, the government's Tax Commission issued a report stating that the environmental tax should be considered as soon as possible to reduce CO2 emissions from the tourist and cargo transport industries, as well as households.A task facing the government in introducing the new tax is to gain support and cooperation from the public. This should be complemented by an effort to establish a system in which business corporations would be required to disclose their CO2 emissions on their own.Every possible means should be implemented to achieve this country's emission reduction target.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	765	2005-02-17	YOSHIN0020050218e12h000gq
YOMSHI0020050217e12i0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050217e12i0000j	EN	\N	With opening of Centrair, passengers should benefit	On Thursday, Chubu Airport was put into service after five years of work to construct an artificial island in waters off Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture. The new airport is the third full-scale international airport to be built in the nation, following Narita and Kansai airports. In the initial stage of its operations, Chubu Airport will cover routes to and from 24 domestic cities and 25 overseas cities. Its operator expects to serve an estimated 12 million passengers annually.	4	2005-02-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A chief advantage Chubu Airport enjoys is its ability to provide easy connections between domestic and international flights. A passenger departing from any regional airport for Chubu Airport early in the morning will be able to transfer to an international flight at the new airport before noon. To emphasize this advantage, the operator advertises the airport as a gateway to international flights, which can be boarded within 75 minutes after a passenger gets on a plane at a regional airport.For years, a number of travelers from regional airports have had to stay overnight at hotels near Narita Airport if they want to take morning flights to overseas destinations from the airport. This symbolizes the government's failure to take into account passengers' convenience when planning airports. The opening of Chubu Airport may somewhat mitigate the inconvenience endured by passengers.Convenience kept in mindInitially, the operator of Kansai Airport hoped to draw as many passengers as possible by providing easy connections between domestic and international flights. However, Itami Airport has been kept in service even after Kansai Airport opened in 1994. This is because residents living in areas that host Itami Airport demanded that it be kept open.This has left the Itami facility serving domestic routes, while Kansai Airport serves international passengers. This division has contributed to a decline in the business performance of Kansai Airport.Aichi Prefecture did not commit the same mistake. Nagoya Airport will be used only for commuter airplanes. Chubu Airport has taken over all routes previously covered by midsize and large planes to and from Nagoya Airport.Meanwhile, the operator of Kansai Airport is seeking to serve domestic routes again, as shown by a plan by Skymark Airlines to open a route between Haneda and Kansai airports in spring. This may trigger competition between Chubu and Kansai airports in drawing passengers who use connections between domestic and overseas flights.A 28-minute train ride connects Chubu Airport to Meitetsu Nagoya Station, a terminal station operated by Nagoya Railroad Co. The airport is also within easy reach of the Tokaido Shinkansen line. For those living in an area near a Shinkansen line in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the time required to travel from there to Chubu Airport is no greater than that needed to go to Narita Airport.The operator of Narita Airport was transformed into a joint-stock corporation last year. Chubu Airport could give Narita Airport a run for its money.Lower landing fees a boonNarita, Kansai and Chubu airports will fight an even tougher battle in the air cargo transport business. As circumstances stand today, most air freight from Nagoya and neighboring areas is handled by Narita and Kansai airports. The opening of the new around-the-clock airport will change this completely.The new airport, built under a private sector initiative, was constructed at a cost 15 percent lower than initially projected, saving about 120 billion yen. This has helped lower landing fees. The fee charged for a jumbo jet landing at the new airport is 290,000 yen lower than that at Narita Airport and 170,000 yen lower than at Kansai Airport.Landing fees directly affect freight rates. The lower landing fees charged at Chubu Airport will give the airport an edge in drawing air cargo from many locations.Airport operators around the world are attempting to draw more airlines by lowering their landing fees while also improving their profitability through efforts to expand their parking lots and shopping areas.With this in mind, Narita, Kansai and Chubu airports are competing to attract well-known businesses to their facilities. They should know, however, that their primary duty is to enable passengers to depart from and arrive at their facilities in a safe and convenient manner. Passengers will turn their back on airports that fail to live up to this obligation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	754	2005-02-18	YOSHIN0020050221e12i000fd
YOMSHI0020050218e12j0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050218e12j0000j	EN	\N	Governors must first put own house in order	The presidency had long been a honorary post and a senior governor usually was appointed through negotiations among the members.	4	2005-02-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The election system was introduced when a new president took office in 2003. However, Gifu Gov. Taku Kajiwara won by default as the only candidate nominated.Aso is the first elected president of the association.He has to work on ways to transfer more administrative authority to local governments from the central government and find methods to have national policies reflect the opinions of local governments. His tasks are far more important than those of previous association presidents.All prefectures are different. They have different fiscal conditions and problems. Prefectural and municipal governments often have conflicting interests.If he makes adjusting those conflicting interests a top priority, Aso will never be able to make any constructive proposals. The new president must overcome conflicting interests with strong leadership.No longer a social clubThe governors' association had long been a social and lobby group. However, when it discussed the so-called triple reform of central and local government finances, the governors adopted their own plan to cut central government subsidies by a majority vote. The association has grown out of being a mere social club by deciding to express opinions without dwelling on consensus.However, the contents of their proposal to decrease national subsidies on compulsory eduction and social welfare services were questionable. They seem to have just played with figures without understanding the basic fact that central and local governments have different roles to play.Local governments will never be able to move the central government if they fail to gain a clear view of the way they should tackle issues concerning compulsory education and social welfare.Governors must act responsiblyThe Central Education Council will discuss whether to maintain the central government's financial support for compulsory education. However, the association refused to attend the council because it was dissatisfied with the number of council seats allotted to representatives of local government. This is unreasonable. The association should attend the council and voice its opinions loudly.Local governments also have to reform themselves if they plan to promote decentralization of power.The Finance Ministry has pointed out that tax grants to local governments are spent inefficiently. High salaries of local government employees and their under-the-table allowances also have been criticized. If these concerns are left unattended, it will be difficult to build public support for the transfer of more administrative power to local governments.The new president also must show his leadership in correcting these problems.They call themselves the association of "fighting" governors, but such a nickname is not supposed to mean just making demands of the national government.It is high time for the governors' association to evolve further into a group that can carry out a painful self-reform.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	529	2005-02-19	YOSHIN0020050221e12j00194
YOMSHI0020050219e12k0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050219e12k0000e	EN	\N	Civil servants must think when socializing	The government is going to revise ethical rules for national government employees at the request of the National Public Service Ethics Board of the National Personnel Authority.	4	2005-02-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of the major elements of the revision is that restrictions on public servants wining and dining with stakeholders will be relaxed as long as they pay their own way.Under the current rules, national service officials need approval from their superiors to eat or drink at night with stakeholders. After the rules are revised, they will no longer need such approval. Only in cases where the tab is likely to exceed 10,000 yen in total will they have to report it in advance.The regulations are to be relaxed because government ministry and agency officials complained that the current rules are so strict they prevent exchange of information with other public servants or people in the private sector.At the National Public Service Ethics Board, government officials also pointed out various problems caused by the strict rules--many officials are daunted and have become unwilling to collect information from or exchange opinions with outsiders or they collect information only from the Internet without leaving the office.Some bureaucrats also complained the current restrictions have prevented them from getting unfiltered information and caused more difficulties in policymaking--their most important job.It is very important for central government officials to collect necessary information from various high-quality sources in formulating and carrying out policy.Sensible limits must applyTo discharge their original responsibilities, central government officials need to socialize with stakeholders to a certain extent, but common sense must be used to set limits. Such an approach assumes public servants have a sense of mission to work for best interests of the nation and its people. Of course, the relaxing of the regulations must not lead to a resurgence of unrestricted fraternization with stakeholders including the wooing of public servants with excessive entertainment from stakeholders from the private sector.The National Public Official Moral Code and rules of ethics for national government officials were put in place in April 2000 because a series of scandals involving elite bureaucrats surfaced in the late 1990s.Senior officials of the Finance Ministry and the then International Trade and Industry Ministry were treated to excessive entertainment and given expensive gifts by businesspeople and an administrative vice minister of the then Health and Welfare Ministry accepted a bribe.Since the public lost confidence in public servants, the government strictly restricted socializing by national government employees with people they met through their jobs and were in a position to give approvals, licenses, contracts or grants to or whose firms they might have to inspect or supervise.Scandals still surfacingOf course, bureaucrats are no longer being treated to excessive entertainment or expensive gifts. However, scandals which further deepen public distrust of national government officials still keep surfacing.One example is a scandal involving the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Social Insurance Agency. Their officials systematically received and shared fees paid by private publishers for supervising the editing of information booklets which were made with state subsidies.The latest revision will add clauses to the ethics rules prohibiting the acceptance of fees for supervisory work or any other systematic illicit conduct.The ethics rule book would not need such clauses if central government employees simply used common sense and each one listened to his or her conscience.The nation faces important and difficult problems concerning its social security system, aging population, low birthrate, finances, education system and environment. The responsibilities and roles of central government employees in solving these problems have become more important than ever.Public servants must have a sense of duty to fulfill their responsibilities and play their roles.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2005-02-20	YOSHIN0020050221e12k001vu
YOMSHI0020050220e12l00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050220e12l00009	EN	\N	Restructuring plan doesn't go far enough	A bill designed to transform the corporation into an independent administrative corporation from fiscal 2007 has been submitted to the Diet.	4	2005-02-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A sizable amount of financial support will be provided by the government for the transition. Though the move is meant to curtail the operations of public corporations that have outlived their original roles, it will place a heavy burden on taxpayers.That being the case, the housing corporation itself may need to undergo thorough corporate restructuring. Yet the restructuring plan drawn up by the corporation does not seem to go far enough.The corporation has procured funds through the government loan and investment program and has extended long-term, fixed-rate loans to individuals. In recent years, however, the public corporation has been outstripped by more competitive private-sector financial institutions offering softer loans, and has seen a sharp decline in its number of loan customers.With the trend of reorganizing public corporations, the Cabinet at the end of fiscal 2001 approved a proposal to abolish the public housing loan entity. Since then, the government has been studying what form the new entity taking over the businesses of the housing loan corporation should take.Major change in businessAccording to the bill, the new entity will, in principle, withdraw from the business of directly offering housing loans to individuals and will instead specialize in securitizing housing loans offered by private financial institutions.With the securitization of their housing loans by the new entity, private financial institutions will be able to avert future risks of interest rate hikes, letting them offer long-term, fixed-rate housing loans with greater assurance.Several steps have been decided on to effect the transition of the existing corporation into a new entity.First, the government has decided to allow the housing loan corporation to make advanced repayments of funds extended through the government loan and investment program without penalty.Under the former regulations governing the funds extended through the government loan and investment program, a public corporation was required to pay compensation fees when making advanced repayments, commensurate with interest payments that the government would have received.Early repaymentOnce the bill becomes law, the housing loan corporation is expected to carry out advanced repayments totaling 10 trillion yen in stages, while it will be exempt from paying the compensation fee to the government, totaling about 1 trillion yen.In addition, the government will give subsidies to the housing loan corporation totaling about 1.5 trillion yen over seven years, starting in fiscal 2005, enabling it to dispose of its lending losses.The housing loan corporation plans to trim its staff of 1,100 by 4 percent within two years, and it will study the possibility of cutting employee ranks by a further 10 percent in the following five years. It also plans to reduce salaries by 6 percent in the first two years.With the corporation getting out of the direct loan business, previously the main part of its work, it should be able to streamline its organization and dramatically reduce its staffing levels.Some have even pointed out that the corporation should have those former bureaucrats who have landed cushy jobs as executives at the corporation retire en masse, while halving the number of people on the payroll.Private-sector businesses that have fallen into dire financial straits are undergoing corporate restructuring that is several degrees of magnitude more stringent than the housing loan corporation's planned makeover. The corporation should not be allowed to dodge its responsibility with its latest restructuring plan.The Diet needs to scrutinize any questionable aspects concerning the bill during its deliberations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2005-02-21	YOSHIN0020050222e12l000cl
YOMSHI0020050221e12m0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050221e12m0000d	EN	\N	No time left to waste on social security reform	Nine months have passed since the three major parties--the Liberal Democratic Party, its ruling coalition partner New Komeito and the opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan)--agreed last May "to review the nation's overall social security system in an integrated manner, including the unification of the public pension schemes."	4	2005-02-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Against the backdrop of a declining birthrate and an aging society, the review of the social security system has become the public's greatest concern.Yet much precious time has been wasted.While the Diet debate has begun, it consisted of only a one-day session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, with representatives of both the ruling and opposition camps stating their views. The discussion needs to develop into constructive talks as soon as possible.However, lawmakers appear preoccupied with scoring political points during the current Diet session. Minshuto members walked out of the lower house plenary session during a representatives' interpellation, while the ruling and opposition parties have traded barbs over the politics and the money involved.Koizumi changes heartNotable among such developments is the remarks made by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in response to a question about the social security system.When Minshuto leader Katsuya Okada, in an interpellation to Koizumi's policy speech, urged the government to use consumption tax revenues to finance the public pension system, Koizumi said, "As a matter of course, it will be studied."With regard to the consumption tax, Koizumi had repeatedly said that as long as he was in office, he would not hike the rate. The recent remarks made by Koizumi are indeed a huge step forward.In addition to the idea of using consumption tax revenues, Minshuto has called for the unification of the public pension schemes and for the introduction of a taxpayer identification number system.Koizumi also has indicated that he will launch a study of these ideas as quickly as possible. On major points of the discussion, there is little difference in terms of the course of action between the LDP and Minshuto.As to the way to progress the debate, the LDP has called for "reviewing the nation's overall social security system in an integrated manner," while Minshuto has urged debating the pension system first.But while the two appear far apart, there is essentially no difference.As long as they attempt to make a drastic reform of the pension system, they inevitably need to review the benefits and burdens of the social security system as a whole, which will make it necessary for taxation reform to be discussed as well.While leaving the political maneuvering behind, the three parties need to start debating the issue immediately, in accordance with their tripartite accord made last year.SIA overhaul neededIn making the social security system one worthy of public trust, there also is an urgent need for an overhaul of the scandal-tainted Social Insurance Agency, which is charged with managing the social security schemes.On the basis of a draft proposal to separate the agency from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, an advisory committee has started drawing up plans to reform the agency from scratch.In line with such a development, lawmakers need to start full-fledged debate on reform of the SIA.After peaking next year, the nation's population will start to decline. In view of such a historic phase, legislators need to discuss measures from a wide-ranging perspective to support a rapidly aging society, including a hike in the consumption tax, to develop a sound security system as soon as possible.The parties cannot be considered responsible if they continue to pursue their narrow interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2005-02-22	YOSHIN0020050223e12m000hs
YOMSHI0020050222e12n0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050222e12n0000f	EN	\N	N. Korea must return to N-talks	The statement was made in response to a message conveyed to him from Chinese President Hu Jintao by a senior Chinese Communist Party official visiting the reclusive state. The message stated that China "hopes to see the six-country talks resume as soon as possible."	4	2005-02-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Kim's statement came after the North Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Feb. 10 saying Pyongyang would suspend participation in the talks "for an indefinite period" until "there are ample conditions...to expect positive results."In his talks with the Chinese official, Kim reportedly said, "We will return to the negotiating table anytime there are mature conditions for the six-party talks." But Kim's statement cannot be taken as a positive response to calls from the five other nations participating in the talks for Pyongyang to retake its seat at the bargaining table. Neither did his remark signal a definite intention to resume talks. In our opinion, North Korea should agree to unconditionally resume the talks as soon as possible.Media accounts varyThere was a slight difference between Chinese and North Korean media reports in their overtones with respect to Kim's statement. China's state-run news agency quoted the North Korean leader as saying his country would not withdraw from the six-way talks. However, the North Korean media did not mention any such remark, instead emphasizing Kim's call for U.S. action to break the impasse, saying he hoped the United States would show "trustworthy sincerity."His remark may have been intended to signal to other nations that success--or lack of it--in resuming talks would depend on Washington making concessions to Pyongyang.But North Korea should comprehend that no progress can be made in the talks unless it scraps its nuclear weapons development program in its entirety. Pyongyang's unbending attitude only makes it even more difficult to resolve the dispute through peaceful means. The first step to be taken in overcoming the current deadlock would be for Kim to scrap all his nation's nuclear weapons programs, including uranium enrichment.Through a Foreign Ministry statement, North Korea announced officially that it possessed nuclear weapons, and that it would continue to develop nuclear arms. The international community cannot look the other way while North Korea is brazenly trying to arm itself with nuclear weapons.Intl community must actNorth Korea's nuclear development program not only threatens global efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation, it poses a threat to peace and security in Northeast Asia. This perception is shared by both Japan and the United States. Through closer cooperation with China, South Korea and Russia, Japan and the United States should continue to urge North Korea to abolish its nuclear weapons program.The five nations should implement measures to ensure North Korea halts its development of nuclear arms while urging it to return to the six-nation talks.North Korea restarted its nuclear facilities by ending a moratorium on their operations in violation of a framework agreement signed with the United States in 1994. If it starts to reprocess spent nuclear fuel from its reactors, North Korea would be able to produce enough plutonium to make one nuclear weapon a year.The international community must act resolutely against North Korea if it tries to step up its nuclear weapons development program and refuses to rejoin the six-way talks. If North Korea fails to live up to its obligation, the U.N. Security Council should discuss imposing sanctions on it.North Korea will present an even more serious threat to the global community unless steps are taken to exert greater pressure on it.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2005-02-23	YOSHIN0020050224e12n000ic
YOMSHI0020050223e12o0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050223e12o0000i	EN	\N	Close legal loopholes to avert buyout spree	The Financial Services Agency is set to investigate the move taken by Internet service provider Livedoor Co. to buy a large number of shares issued by Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. through pre-market trading at the Tokyo Stock Exchange.	4	2005-02-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Securities and Exchange Law states that anyone who wishes to buy shares issued by a listed corporation outside stock exchanges with the aim of taking control of the firm must do so through a takeover bid. The law requires a party launching a takeover bid to disclose his objective, the number of shares he seeks to buy and his purchase price beforehand.However, Livedoor bought a massive number of NBS shares through pre-market trading--not a takeover bid scheme. Both pre-market and after-hours trading are acknowledged as lawful transactions taking place "within the market" because the practice uses the TSE's trading system.It should be noted, however, that the purpose of takeover-bid trading is to provide every market player with an equal opportunity to buy and sell stocks by conveying pertinent information to not only investors involved in an M&A, but also to private shareholders. Granted this principle, we feel that Livedoor's approach runs counter to the spirit of the Securities and Exchange Law.Authorities complacentThe FSA and TSE have said Livedoor's method is not illegal, but that its approach could draw criticism from the public. For years, the authorities have been lenient in regulating corporate buyout because they tended to believe no securities firm and investor would do what is not accepted as a decent business practice. We feel that their attitude in this respect has allowed Livedoor to employ strong-arm tactics in attempting to acquire NBS.If business practices like Livedoor's approach go unchecked, it could encourage many other ambitious investors to imitate the Internet service company's method in buying out businesses.The FSA is considering revising the law to stipulate that anyone conducting pre-market and after-hours transactions carry out such trading through a takeover bid if his aim is to take control of a company. The government should submit a bill to the current Diet session and ensure its early passage, a move that would correct defects in the current law.Protect private investorsMeanwhile, the Justice Ministry is preparing to submit a bill aimed at reorganizing corporate laws.Initially, the ministry wanted the bill to promote a drastic corporate realignment as a means of reinvigorating the domestic economy. The bill was designed to adopt a system in which a party attempting a corporate buyout would be allowed to exchange shares the party issued with those issued by a target corporation. The system would save M&A players the trouble of raising the massive amounts of money needed to pull off buyouts.But there are growing concerns among business leaders who fear such a system could encourage foreign corporations to single out Japanese companies as easy targets. With this in mind, the ministry intends to furnish the bill with a set of measures aimed at preventing such a buyout offensive. We hope the ministry will put together workable steps to be included in the bill.It is also necessary to create and revise bills to protect private investors. An investment service law has been proposed to safeguard the interests of shareholders, financial futures buyers and others. However, the bill has not yet been established.If growing competition in M&As leaves private investors holding the short end of the stick, it would cause a flow of money out of the domestic stock market. That would deal a blow to the Japanese economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2005-02-24	YOSHIN0020050225e12o000gm
YOMSHI0020050224e12p0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050224e12p0000d	EN	\N	Keep broadcasters out of foreign hands	Broadcasting companies, which do business over those airwaves, have important responsibilities to the public, including transmission of accurate information in case of natural disasters.	4	2005-02-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Therefore, the Radio Law stipulates that the license of a radio communication company will be canceled if one-third or more of its outstanding shares with voting rights are owned by foreigners.The law is even tougher on radio and television broadcasters, which stand to lose their license if 20 percent or more of their shares are owned by foreigners.If the public nature of airwaves and a broadcasting company is taken into consideration, it becomes a matter of course to enforce restrictions on foreign investment.However, the Radio Law has a major flaw. Though it restricts direct foreign investment in a broadcasting company, the law is not clear on investment by a Japanese company in which a foreign company holds a major stake. The law must be revised as soon as possible to prevent a foreign company gaining indirect control over a broadcaster.Horie has designs on SankeiThe problem of indirect control was highlighted when Internet service provider Livedoor Co. started buying up the shares of Nippon Broadcasting System Inc.To buy them, Livedoor raised funds by issuing convertible bonds to U.S. securities firm Lehman Brothers.If those bonds are converted to shares, Lehman likely will become a major shareholder controlling Livedoor.In that case, through the capital relations among Livedoor, NBS, Fuji Television Network Inc. and The Sankei Shimbun, it might be possible for the foreign investor to influence The Sankei Shimbun, a member of the Japanese press.In fact, Livedoor President Takafumi Horie criticized Sankei's editorial policy and said he would like to make the daily newspaper more focused on entertainment or business news.Most major countries except Britain restrict foreign investment in broadcasting companies. The United States and France has laws prohibiting even indirect foreign control of domestic broadcasters.Law out of step with timesIn 1950, when the Radio Law was established, nobody could have predicted today's globalization of media. However, it is negligent of the government to leave that legal loophole unplugged by failing to keep abreast with changes that have occurred in society since then.NBS decided Wednesday to give Fuji TV the right to subscribe to its new shares because it concluded that its remaining in the Fujisankei Communications Group was in the interest of its shareholders.In response, Livedoor, whose ratio of stock holdings in NBS will drop as a result, sought an injunction at the Tokyo District Court to prevent NBS issuing share warrants to Fuji TV.Livedoor and Fuji TV are expected to have a fierce court battle over the interpretations and applications of the Commercial Law and the Securities and Exchange Law.We await the outcome of the trial with interest. Meanwhile, one thing should not be forgotten. Livedoor's buyout attempt is not a mere issue of share trading--it involves the issues of freedom of speech and expression.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	531	2005-02-25	YOSHIN0020050228e12p000g7
YOMSHI0020050225e12q0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050225e12q0000h	EN	\N	Estimate drives push for quake readiness	In its final report, the panel of the Central Disaster Management Council provided a worst-case scenario--an earthquake measuring a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale with its focus located beneath the metropolitan area north of Tokyo Bay--and predicted it would cause 112 trillion yen in economic damage. The loss would exceed the country's annual budget and account for about 20 percent of the gross domestic product, pushing the national economy to the brink of collapse.	4	2005-02-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Houses and buildings as well as water supply systems would be so badly damaged that as many as seven million people would be forced to take shelter elsewhere. In other words, one of every five residents in Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa would be in distress.The panel predicted about 850,000 houses and buildings would be completely destroyed or burned. About 13,000 people would be killed--up from 12,000 deaths mentioned in its interim report issued late last year.The updated estimate of damage reminds us anew of how vulnerable the densely populated, heavily industrialized Tokyo metropolitan area is to a catastrophe, built as it is in one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions.Act sooner, not laterTaking the final report into consideration, the government plans to hammer out a series of disaster reduction measures by summer. Needless to say, it must act quickly.The panel gave elaborate estimates of damage to not only utilities such as electric power, city gas, water and communications grids, but also roads, railways and underground shopping malls. Based on the estimated level of destruction of the metropolitan area's social infrastructure, the panel calculated damage to various industries.Electric power and city gas supplies would be disrupted, affecting more than one million households. All lifeline systems, including gas pipelines, should be made far more earthquake-resistant.The number of fatalities among people traveling in vehicles on roads and trains at the time of a catastrophic earthquake was estimated to be limited--as few as 300 even during commuting hours. The estimation reflected the fact that expressway and railway structures across the country have been reinforced in the wake of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.Nevertheless, as in the case of the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake on Oct. 23, firefighting and rescue operations would be hampered even if only parts of roads and railways were severed. The government will have to look into alternative routes to launch emergency operations.Grave physical damageDamage to homes and office buildings would total an estimated 55 trillion yen--the largest portion of the overall estimated damage--which would be so phenomenal that it would impede postquake reconstruction. Measures should be implemented to make such structures more earthquake-resistant.The extreme centralization of corporate head offices and production centers makes the metropolitan area more prone to a greater disaster in economic terms. The panel predicted an overall production contraction of 39 trillion yen. Corporations should more seriously work out disaster management plans to cope with a major earthquake with its focus beneath the metropolitan area.We feel insecure when we take a look at the level of the preparedness of the ministries and agencies as well as other related organizations responsible for rescue operations, rehabilitation and reconstruction.The government has 39 online systems that will be used for rescue and relief operations in the event of a major earthquake. But a report published by the Cabinet Office together with the panel's damage estimate said emergency recovery measures were in place for only 10 percent of the information networks.Measures to reduce the impact of such a disaster must be reviewed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2005-02-26	YOSHIN0020050228e12q001c1
YOMSHI0020050226e12r0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050226e12r0000e	EN	\N	Launch marks revival of space program	The rocket put the Multifunctional Transport Satellite 1 Replacement (MTSAT-1R), which replaces the no longer functioning Himawari 5 weather observation satellite, into orbit as scheduled, fulfilling its role of sending a satellite into space.	4	2005-02-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The satellite will move to a geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometers above the Earth over the next 10 days, controlled by the U.S. firm that built it.Once it is confirmed as fully operational, control of the satellite will be turned over to the Meteorological Agency, which plans to start using the satellite for weather observation in May.Currently, Japan has no weather observation satellite of its own. Since the Himawari 5 ended its life span in 2003, Japan has been relying on the U.S. weather satellite GOES-9. As it is an old satellite, there is no telling how long it will keep running.Although the Meteorological Agency has to wait until the satellite starts operating to call the replacement a success, the rocket has undeniably proved its worth and taken a step toward its own revival.With the successful launch of the seventh H-2A rocket, it is important for the rocket to continue to produce tangible benefits.Strive for improvementThe H-2A rocket is made up of about 280,000 parts. To further enhance its reliability, it is necessary to make a constant effort to review the parts and composition.Following the failed launch of the sixth H-2A rocket in November 2003, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which is responsible for the development of the rocket, conducted general inspections of its design and production process, markedly improving the rocket booster that caused the failed launch.To optimize performance, rockets must be designed at the limits of structural tolerance. The dilemma for engineers has always been balancing structural reinforcement with performance.The new rocket booster, having undergone structural changes to enhance its reliability, saw its overall performance fall by 10 percent.No matter how well a rocket performs, it is useless if it is prone to failure. The issue of the performance versus reliability trade-off remains to be settled by the engineers.More launches plannedIn fiscal 2005, three H2-A rockets are scheduled to carry three satellites into space.Planned are the launch of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite, which will prove effective in monitoring natural disasters, that of MTSAT-2, and that of the Information Gathering Satellite, which is important for national security. Failure is not an option in any of the three launches.The nation's space development program is in a difficult situation. While Japan should strive to become a scientific and technological power, the space development program has been left off the priority list of the central government, and accordingly had its budget cut.With the zeal for satellite development fading and the turn of the rockets declining, engineers are said to have lost much of their enthusiasm.Becoming able to develop and operate rockets, satellites and space probes on its own will enhance the country's overall technological power. The space program has a vast role to play in such areas as national security and international cooperation.With the frequent occurrence of global-scale natural disasters, such as the recent Indian Ocean tsunami, the monitoring of natural disasters from outer space is gaining importance. If Japan can use its space technology to contribute more to reducing natural disasters in Asia, the country will gain prestige around the world.We hope the latest successful launch marks a step forward in building a solid position in the sphere of space development.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2005-02-27	YOSHIN0020050228e12r00204
YOMSHI0020050227e12s00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050227e12s00009	EN	\N	Defects in rights bill can't be left to later	The bill was slammed over certain provisions that were said to be restrictive of the media's freedom of expression. It also was criticized over the proposed status of a human rights commission that was to be set up to support victims of rights violations.	4	2005-02-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Despite this, the government and the ruling coalition parties are attempting to get the bill passed without changing its basic outline, using the expedient means of "suspending" the media-related provisions, and of placing the law under review after a certain time.The government may plan to lift the suspension after a certain period. We cannot support the government's plan to get the bill passed while avoiding the main point of contention.Police, prisons original targetsThe bill to protect human rights was originally devised after the United Nations recommended to the government that an organization be established to provide relief to victims of human rights abuses by public authorities at such institutions as police stations and prisons.Yet under the proposed bill, violations of human rights through excessive news gathering are deemed subject to the same "special relief" as that for discrimination and maltreatment by public authorities.The bill also gives the human rights commission the power to block media organizations' news gathering.The bill's problematic stipulation defines excessive news gathering as "repeated or continuous following, waiting, blocking, surveillance, uninvited visits, telephone calls and facsimile transmissions."As part of their news gathering, media organizations conduct stakeouts and seek cooperation for coverage by telephone and fax.Should such legitimate news gathering activities be considered "excessive," assiduous and tenacious efforts by the media based on the people's right to know may become untenable.It also is unreasonable for the bill to call for the establishment of the human rights commission as an auxiliary entity of the Justice Ministry.Complaints of human rights violations are often made against prisons and immigration control facilities, which are under the ministry's supervision. How can the law be applied fairly and effectively?When the bill was previously submitted to the Diet, The Yomiuri Shimbun compiled its own draft of suggested revisions, saying the Diet should pass it only after such shortcomings were corrected.In the proposal, The Yomiuri Shimbun called for the deletion of the provision concerning the definition of excessive news gathering activities, while asserting that the human rights commission should be set up within the Cabinet Office, and a system be established whereby the media could appeal decisions made by the commission.Controversies over the media's excessive news gathering efforts have occurred in such cases as the serial murders of primary school children by a Kobe teenager in 1997 and the arsenic-laced curry poisoning case in Wakayama in 1998.There is no doubt that these controversies influenced the decision to restrict media coverage when the bill was being drawn up.Industry acting on concernsFor this reason, the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association devised rules to prevent excessive news gathering activities, while establishing a subcommittee tasked with solving any relevant problems.There also have been moves among newspaper firms to form an examining committee that includes outside experts.In the broadcasting sector, a committee concerning broadcasting and human rights, which is designed to handle public grievances, has been operating since 1997.The resubmission of the bill without changing the provisions related to news coverage effectively ignores the industry's voluntary efforts.The government should resubmit the bill to the Diet only after rectifying its defects, rather than trying to avert public criticism by "freezing" the key media provision.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2005-02-28	YOSHIN0020050301e12s000cl
YOMSHI0020050302e13100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050302e13100001	EN	\N	Futenma relocation plan must be reviewed	As long as the relocation issue is not settled, the realignment of U.S. bases in Japan to be undertaken as part of the overall transformation of U.S. forces worldwide will not advance smoothly, which may hinder efforts to bolster the Japan-U.S. alliance.	4	2005-03-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At a security meeting held Sunday, Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense chiefs confirmed the importance of steadily implementing the 1996 final report of the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) for the stable stationing of U.S. forces in Japan.Under the final report, the site of the Futenma Air Station was supposed to be returned within five to seven years, while an offshore heliport was to be constructed as an alternative facility.Yet the decision on constructing an offshore airport in the Henoko district of Nago has been delayed, while it is projected to take 12! years to complete the construction of the civilian-military airport, starting from an environmental assessment and landfill work. There is no doubt the relocation plan has effectively been shelved.U.S. frustrated by delayShortly after the Japan-U.S. ministerial meeting, Richard Lawless, U.S. deputy defense undersecretary for Asian and Pacific affairs, said options other than moving the base to Henoko, as per the SACO final report, should be considered. He made this remark out of frustration with the station's long delayed relocation.Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said later that the government did "not rule out the possibility" of finding an alternative site.An alternative plan should be discussed, with the Nago relocation considered separately from the SACO final report.Nonetheless, the government should not bring up again the issue of Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine's assertion that the new U.S. heliport should be used by U.S. forces for no longer than 15 years.Setting a time limit on the use of such facilities would damage the Japan-U.S. alliance and the trusting relationship between the two countries.The common strategic goals agreed upon during the recent security meeting included bilateral efforts to deal with China's military buildup and North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs.Japan needs U.S. deterrentThe security environment is deteriorating for Japan, as shown by the recent incursion into Japanese territorial waters by a Chinese nuclear submarine.Maintaining a deterrent is the highest priority for Japan as it is key to ensuring the nation can respond to changing international situations and secure its own security and regional stability.To maintain a deterrent, it is necessary for the U.S. bases in Japan to operate smoothly. To do so, it is necessary for good relations to be maintained between the municipalities and their residents that host U.S. bases and forces.In August, a U.S. military helicopter crashed near Futenma Air Station. To not provoke public antipathy toward U.S. bases with accidents or noise pollution, it is necessary to reduce the burden on Okinawa Prefecture, which is home to 75 percent of U.S. bases in Japan.Among alternative proposals are having the helicopter units of Futenma integrated into the Guam or Kadena base, or relocating them to Shimojijima or Iejima island. Another idea that has been floated is dispersing the forces both inside and outside the prefecture by function, such as transport and midair refueling by helicopters and transport aircraft.How can the Futenma issue be settled? For both countries to achieve their common strategic interests, it is essential to deal with the issue from the viewpoint of how the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces in Japan should share their roles and functions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2005-03-01	YOSHIN0020050302e131000iq
YOMSHI0020050301e1320000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050301e1320000e	EN	\N	SMFG must settle bad loans finally	Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. on Monday significantly revised downward its projected consolidated results for fiscal 2004, saying it would run a 240 billion yen net loss, against its original projection of a 180 billion yen profit.	4	2005-03-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In April, a refund ceiling will be imposed on ordinary bank deposits after having been frozen for two years. This means deposits--excluding non-interest-yielding deposits for business settlement--will not be protected in full in the event of a bank failure. Settlements of accounts by banks for the business year ending this month, therefore, have attracted attention as they will help determine how far each bank has progressed in regaining financial health.Unsettling settlementSMFG's settlement of accounts moving into red ink the month before the refund cap is to be imposed shows that the group's management is still burdened by bad loans. The announcement undoubtedly sent shock waves through market players.In explaining the projected net loss, SMFG said it had decided to increase the costs for disposing of bad loans in order to bring a final settlement to the bad-loan problem.But SMFG apparently was forced to increase its loan-loss reserves significantly at the instruction of the Financial Services Agency, which had conducted an inspection into SMFG's financial standing.If that was the case, SMFG cannot avoid being criticized for procrastinating over the disposal of bad loans, and the group's management must squarely shoulder the brunt of the blame for putting off measures to restore the group to sound fiscal health.As far as major banks are concerned, the task of writing off bad loans has at last entered the final phase following the belated steps taken by SMFG.UFJ Holdings, Inc., has taken a series of measures to deal with or to reconstruct its major loan recipients, including the troubled supermarket chain operator Daiei Inc. The government has set a goal of halving the ratio of outstanding bad loans held by major banks to their total lending during the three fiscal years ending this month. All major banks are expected to attain this goal.Preventative public-fund shotsIn response to the improved financial situation of major banks, the FSA is set to impose the refund limit in April as scheduled.But there are a considerable number of regional financial institutions that have dallied over the disposal of bad loans, and quite a few of them have vulnerable business foundations. In light of this, depositors will be vigilant in selecting their banks. The FSA, therefore, must pay as much attention as possible to prevent any cracks from developing in the nation's financial system, which includes regional financial institutions.The financial function enhancement law has been enforced to enable financial institutions that appear sound superficially--but are actually in the financial doldrums--to receive a preventive injection of public funds. This injection of taxpayers' money is key to reconstruct the finances of ailing regional financial institutions. The management of an institution concerned about its future should be encouraged to consider a booster shot of public money.After the imposition of the refund limit, regional financial institutions must dispose of bad loans as soon as possible. When the task is completed, Japan's financial system will be truly regarded as sound.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2005-03-02	YOSHIN0020050303e132000j5
YOMSHI0020050302e1330000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050302e1330000k	EN	\N	Root-and-branch reform needed to revive Daiei	The state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan, which Daiei asked for reconstruction assistance, has unofficially decided to pick a Marubeni Corp.-led consortium as a sponsor for the ailing major supermarket chain. The decision will be officially announced soon.	4	2005-03-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Marubeni, a major trading house, is the second-largest shareholder in Maruetsu Inc., a food supermarket chain in the Daiei group. Marubeni apparently was chosen because it submitted a rehabilitation proposal for Daiei that foregrounded Daiei's food supermarket business, which reflected the IRCJ's thinking.Daiei will restart with financial assistance totaling more than 1 trillion yen from banks. It cannot afford to fail. The leadership of the IRCJ and the Marubeni-led consortium faces the daunting task of doing away with the gigantic supermarket chain's obsolete business practices, often sarcastically called the Daiei syndrome, and building a new management model for it.The IRCJ compiled a basic reconstruction plan for Daiei at the end of last year. According to the plan, 53 unprofitable stores among Daiei's 263 outlets will be closed, while 100 new food supermarkets will be opened in the Tokyo metropolitan and Kansai areas.Business style outdatedThe sponsor was selected based on whether it could carry it out the plan to the letter.The IRCJ did not want the other supermarket chain to become too large by absorbing Daiei. Probably for that reason, Ito-Yokado Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of the United States were dropped from the candidate list at an early stage.At the final stage, supermarket chain operator Aeon Co. and investment fund Kiacon Corp. were left as contenders in addition to the Marubeni-led consortium. But Aeon, whose own business was shaky, and Kiacon, which had little experience in managing supermarkets, were given demerit marks respectively.First, the Marubeni-led consortium should try to overhaul Daiei's business style.Daiei is known for demanding large rebates for purchasing goods from wholesalers. Daiei officials, who pocket the rebates, had to put goods on display even if they were not very popular. As a result, many shoppers took their business elsewhere. As long as this evil remains, it will be impossible to revitalize the stores.End cozy ties with affiliatesThe back-scratching relations between Daiei and its affiliated companies should be terminated. It was a custom for Daiei to ignore costs and to order affiliated companies to build new stores or renovate old ones because former officials of the parent company were appointed executives of affiliated firms. The new management of Daiei must sever such ties.Due to the lingering business slump, many talented employees have been leaving Daiei. The company is said to be still dependent on the seniority system, but it should not cling to such a system at this critical moment in its history. For the sake of Daiei's reconstruction, it is essential for the company to adopt a merit-based employment system and recruit outsiders.Quite a few Japanese firms are suffering from excessive debts. Daiei's reconstruction must be put on track to make it a rehabilitation model for such firms.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	551	2005-03-03	YOSHIN0020050304e133000he
YOMSHI0020050303e1340000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050303e1340000f	EN	\N	Betrayal of investors caused Seibu's downfall	The arrest marked the beginning of the end for the Seibu empire, which comprises 135 companies reigned over by Tsutsumi, a scion of the founding family.	4	2005-03-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Seibu Railway group has an unusual structure. Unlisted Kokudo, whose biggest shareholder is Tsutsumi, controls the listed Seibu Railway and other group companies.Management of the Seibu Railway group, which was to all intents and purposes Tsutsumi's pet firm, has always been opaque to outsiders. The prosecutors must clarify the reality and problems of the Tsutsumi reign.It is suspected that Tsutsumi conspired with subordinates to submit falsified financial statements on Seibu Railway for fiscal 2003, in which Kokudo underreported the number of Seibu Railway shares it held. Tsutsumi and his subordinates are suspected of disguising Kokudo's shares as those owned by a large number of former employees of the railway operator. Kokudo apparently was forced to lower its share ratio because any company found in violation of the Tokyo Stock Exchange regulation that stipulates that the combined shareholding of the 10 largest shareholders should not exceed 80 percent is liable to be delisted.A half-century of malfeasanceTsutsumi also is suspected of insider trading. Before the falsification came to light in October, he sold a large number of Seibu Railway shares--actually owned by Kokudo--to 10 companies in September without informing them of the share's true provenance. This would constitute a serious betrayal of the market, investors and shareholders.It is a serious problem that this corporate wrongdoing has continued since 1957 or even earlier, apparently with the aim of dodging taxes on property left by Yasujiro Tsutsumi, founder of the Seibu Railway group, and to prevent a corporate takeover. The extent of Tsutsumi's involvement in the scam is one of the points investigations will focus on.The Seibu Railway group took advantage of the land development boom in Japan that began after the end of World War II with a railway, a public utility enterprise, at the center of its business. The group developed leisure business ventures including hotels and golf courses all over the country.Tsutsumi's circle of contacts spread to the worlds of politics and sports. The U.S. business magazine Forbes in 1990 named him the wealthiest man in the world.Taxation authorities last month started official investigations into how he created and managed his assets. They should thoroughly investigate whether his tax procedures have been appropriate.Left behind in the digital ageThe issue of stock ownership falsification surfaced against the backdrop of the revision of the law on stocks and bonds.The revision will lead to the introduction of an electronic share registry and trading system that will digitize stocks of listed companies by 2009. Since the digitization process will require shareholders to be identified, Kokudo realized it had to dispose of those of its shares that were listed under false names.In other words, modern requirements for transparency in the stock market have toppled the Tsutsumi empire.Terumasa Koyanagi, former president of Seibu Railway who committed suicide on Feb. 19, made a symbolic statement when this year's business started."The company's common sense has been at odds with society's common sense," he said.The fall of the Seibu empire was down to the cold hard fact that it failed to change with the times. The revival of the Seibu Railway group will be possible only when it can regain the public trust by taking to heart what society takes to be common sense.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2005-03-04	YOSHIN0020050307e134000hb
YOMSHI0020050304e1350000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050304e1350000g	EN	\N	Substantial talks needed on pension reform	All parties should aim to agree on an overall picture of the reform as soon as possible, without degenerating into political bargaining.	4	2005-03-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prospects for launching talks on the issue are looking brighter in both camps since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi responded to a call from opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) to make discussion of public pension reform his government's "first priority."At a meeting of the parties' secretaries general slated for Wednesday, the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito will formally ask Minshuto to start talks on the issue.But the parties are unlikely to hold substantial talks any time soon, as their opinions differ widely on the form the discussions should take.At the meeting of the secretaries general, the ruling camp will call for establishing party-to-party talks to be attended by secretaries general and policy research council chairmen, and for setting up a subcommittee within the Committee on Health, Welfare and Labor of both houses of the Diet.While it plans to agree to the establishment of the subcommittee, Minshuto does not intend to go along with establishing party-to-party talks.Partisan considerationsWith the unified by-elections for the House of Representatives slated for late April and the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election in July, Minshuto believes it would be less able to attack the ruling camp over the public pension issue should it agree to the interparty talks.Within Minshuto, there are even those who oppose taking part in any discussion with the ruling camp on social security reform.Some Minshuto members, including vice president Ichiro Ozawa, are critical of the party leadership headed by leader Katsuya Okada, saying the party is "playing right into the hands of the LDP."This is unreasonable. They should not turn pension reform into a political football.The issue of overhauling the social security system has been shelved for 10 months since the three parties agreed to drastically reform the system. They should not allow partisan considerations to delay discussion any longer.At the envisaged subcommittees, views on practical and technical matters would be exchanged, making an unlikely forum for members to reach a consensus on the shape of the reform.Act responsiblyFor a broad discussion of the issue ranging from the basic aims and procedures of the reform to the changes in the tax system that could accompany it, parties in both camps must speak in a responsible manner.At the meeting of the secretaries general, Minshuto plans to call for adopting a resolution at the health, welfare and labor committees calling for drastic reform, as a precondition for launching discussions on reforming the social security system.The party should draft a resolution as quickly as possible, without sending the party into disarray over minor disagreements over the wording of the resolution.Such matters as where the discussions should be held or what the initial resolution should say are not essential issues.In the current Diet session, Koizumi has repeatedly made clear the need to discuss unifying the public pension systems, using consumption tax revenues for the social security plans, and introducing a taxpayers' identification number system--all proposals for which Minshuto has called.As long as both camps remain self-indulgently intent on orchestrating partisan clashes no substantial discussions can be expected.At the upcoming meeting, both camps need to first confirm what sort of basic principles they will follow in working out a unified revision of the social security system and to enter a serious discussion.They must not betray public expectations once again.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2005-03-05	YOSHIN0020050307e135001cm
YOMSHI0020050305e1360000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050305e1360000c	EN	\N	Govt must stick to point of postal reform	Through prior discussion, the major points in the bills have steadily taken shape. When it comes to the details, however, the bills appear to drift away from the original aims of the postal services reform, as the government has been swayed by requests from the Liberal Democratic Party.	4	2005-03-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As there is still some time left for the bills to be finalized, the government needs to do its best to explain the point of the reforms to the ruling parties.The government compiled in September the basic guidelines for the privatization of postal businesses. Consultations on the bills have moved forward with the basic guidelines being modified according to the demands of the ruling parties.The main change lies in guaranteeing universal service in postal savings and life insurance. Under the original guidelines, providing uniform service across the nation was only required for mail and parcel delivery services.Gift for LDP backersMaintaining universal service in all lines of business gives extra consideration to the association of postmasters of government-commissioned post offices, a key support organization for the LDP.These privately owned post offices, which will become the core of the nationwide network of post offices, account for nearly 80 percent of the post offices in Japan. Providing little in the way of mail and parcel delivery services, these post offices mainly handle postal savings and postal life insurance.According to the government's modified plan, the Financial Services Agency, during the 10-year transition period to full privatization starting in 2007, will require the two companies to be created through privatization to manage postal savings and life insurance services to entrust their business to another company that will manage the nationwide network of post offices, when the agency grants them licenses as banking and insurance business operators.Once privatization is complete, a fund will be established based on the government's sale of stock in the envisaged postal savings bank and postal life insurance company. The fund will compensate the two companies for the commissions they will pay to the nationwide network of post offices to provide services on their behalf. This measure is designed to prevent those privately owned post offices, some of which are located in remote areas, from closing down.Consolidation neededMost of these privately owned post offices, however, are concentrated in metropolitan areas. If efficient management of postal businesses is pursued through privatization, the closure or consolidation of some of these post offices would be inevitable.Money coming out of the fund created with proceeds from the sale of government-owned stock in the two firms is, in effect, government subsidies.Will the government be able to win public understanding for using public subsidies to maintain the network of privately owned post offices, while avoiding restructuring the network?Privatization is intended to let business operators pursue efficient corporate management. To have operators of postal savings bank and insurance businesses obligated to provide universal service runs counter to the purported purpose of postal privatization.Yet within the LDP, opposition to the privatization remains strong, making it uncertain that even the government's modified plan can win their consent.In light of the prevailing sentiment within his party, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has indicated he intends to forego submitting the bills to the Diet this month and instead will allow more time for consultations with the ruling parties.For the bills to be passed into law, the approval of the ruling parties is essential.There is no alternative but for the government to show persistence in persuading them of the necessity for the reform and to win their consent.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	658	2005-03-06	YOSHIN0020050307e1360021q
YOMSHI0020050306e1370000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050306e1370000e	EN	\N	SDF's call for guards shows need for reform	In late February, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said his nation would send hundreds of extra troops to Samawah after the withdrawal of Dutch soldiers from the region in May. This will leave Samawah with 450 Australian soldiers and 150 British troops.	4	2005-03-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The decision came after Japan worked hard to solicit the contribution from Australia, with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi telephoning Howard for that purpose. The United States and Britain also approached Australia over such assistance.There are concerns that the withdrawal of Dutch troops could reduce the stability of Samawah. This could arouse doubts about the safety of SDF troops in the area.The Koizumi administration could attract a great deal of criticism if any SDF personnel suffered serious harm in Samawah. The prime minister's decision to ask Australia to send more soldiers reflected such concerns.In fact, Howard said the primary duty of the Australian soldiers would be to ensure the safety of SDF troops in Samawah. Meanwhile, the U.S. and British governments may have wanted to maintain international cooperation in rebuilding the war-torn country by helping keep the SDF stationed in Samawah. Improving ties between Japan and Australia is desirable for peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.Still, it is important to think about why Japan had to ask Australia to send more soldiers with the aim of protecting SDF troops. The question illustrates the problems to be explored in connection with the SDF's mission in Iraq.Weapons-use policy illogicalKey issues to be addressed in this respect include one concerning Japan's self-imposed restrictions on the use of weapons by SDF personnel.Members of U.N. peacekeeping operations are authorized to use weapons against threats to their duties, but the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law limits the SDF's use of weapons to cases in which SDF personnel must defend themselves from an armed attack and in which using weapons is the only means of defense.The special legislation for Japan's aid in Iraq's reconstruction, which served as a legal basis for the government's decision to dispatch SDF units to that country, is comparable to the law in regulating the SDF's use of weapons. Restrictions imposed by these laws reflect concerns that SDF personnel using weapons for purposes unrelated to efforts to defend themselves from a military attack could contravene the Constitution, which bans the use of force as a means of settling international disputes.However, the use of force and the use of weapons should never be regarded as synonymous with each other. If they were permitted to use weapons in performing their duties, SDF personnel would be able to improve their ability to ensure their own safety. In that event, Japan would feel less need to ask other nations to send troops for their defense.Restrictions could impair tiesAnother issue to be considered in connection with Australia's decision to send more soldiers is the right of collective self-defense, which the government has long said the Constitution bans this country from exercising, even though the nation has this right.What if SDF personnel did nothing to support Australian troops if they came under armed attack, citing Japan's constitutional ban on the exercising of the right in question? How would the SDF's failure to act strike Australians?The government's new National Defense Program Guideline has expanded the list of main duties fulfilled by the SDF to include international peace cooperation activities as a mission comparable to the task of defending this country from a foreign attack. The new defense program will help send more SDF troops on overseas missions.If domestic laws related to restrictions imposed on the SDF are kept in place, however, Japan would still have to ask other countries to send troops to defend it.That would arouse questions about whether this nation is able to smoothly carry out international peacekeeping efforts.The dispute over this country's self-imposed ban on the exercise of the right to collective self-defense is an issue that should be settled by the government changing its interpretation of the Constitution. No defects in domestic laws and policies should be left uncorrected.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	774	2005-03-07	YOSHIN0020050308e137000co
YOMSHI0020050307e1380000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050307e1380000g	EN	\N	End yen loans to China by 2008 Beijing Games	Yen-based loans constitute a good portion of this country's official development assistance to China. Japan has extended a total of about 3 trillion yen in such loans to China over a quarter of a century.	4	2005-03-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The nation's ODA to China has been used mainly to improve infrastructure, laying the foundation for its rapid economic growth.Today, China has grown to become the world's seventh-largest economic power. It is cementing its position as an associate member of the Group of Seven meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors. China has attracted more than 60 billion dollars annually in foreign direct investment while extending economic aid to developing Asian and African countries.Given this, there is good reason to conclude that the yen loans have served their purpose. The government should determine when to end yen loans to China and devise specific procedures for implementing the plan. This is an appropriate time for the government to do so as it intends to finalize the amount of fiscal 2004 yen loans to China by the end of the month.Public criticism growingSince fiscal 2001, the government has reduced yen loans to China each year. The move reflects growing public criticism about China's attitude toward relations with Japan in recent years.China has stepped up its military preparedness despite receiving yen loans from this country, while also criticizing visits to Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.The amount of yen loans to China in fiscal 2003 stood at 96.7 billion yen, less than half that of the all-time high in fiscal 2000.Judging from this pace of reduction, it is reasonable for the government to call off yen loans to China as early as fiscal 2008, when Beijing hosts the Olympic Games.This would enable Japan to set aside a greater amount of money for other yen loan projects, including aid for Iraq's reconstruction. The government should use yen loans for purposes that better serve the interests of this country.Some government officials seem to be concerned that calling off yen loans to China could adversely affect Japan-China relations.It should be noted, however, that the two nations are inseparably tied to each other economically. Last year, China became Japan's largest trading partner. Meanwhile, Japan compares with the United States and European nations as one of China's major trading partners.In 2004 alone, Japan's direct investment in China, including plant investments by Japanese firms, reached 5.5 billion dollars. Progress also is being made in attempts by Japanese and Chinese manufacturers to specialize in different products.Continue other aidEnding yen loans to China does not necessarily mean that other forms of aid should be cut.Japanese grants-in-aid to China for the development of human resources are meaningful if they are extended in a manner that promotes mutual understanding. The assistance may well include projects to host Chinese students studying in Japan.Japanese efforts to continue technical aid for China's environmental programs would help halt global warming and air pollution.The Japan Iron and Steel Federation has adopted a plan to aid China's steel industry in its efforts to promote energy conservation and curtail exhaust emissions.The federation is considering holding a workshop for Chinese interested in acquiring technology needed to achieve such purposes. It is advisable for the association to cooperate with the government in transforming the workshop into a joint project aimed at further encouraging Chinese specialists to gain the technology they need on their own.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2005-03-08	YOSHIN0020050310e138001et
YOMSHI0020050308e1390000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050308e1390000e	EN	\N	Time for Livedoor to end money game	This has rendered the voting rights the radio broadcaster had in Fuji TV void under the Commercial Code. By doing so, Fuji TV has avoided a situation wherein Livedoor, the largest shareholder in NBS, could indirectly control the management of the Fujisankei Communications Group, the media conglomerate to which Fuji TV and NBS belong.	4	2005-03-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The television network, which has more than one-third of the outstanding shares in NBS, also has obtained the power of a veto to prevent special resolutions--used to make important management decisions such as mergers or revision of corporation charters--from being passed at shareholders meetings.The war's not won yetThe next set piece in the takeover battle will be the upcoming trial over NBS' plan to issue a large number of warrants for new shares allocated to Fuji TV. Livedoor, an Internet-related services company, asked the Tokyo District Court to issue an injunction to stop the plan.If the request is rejected and the warrants are issued, shares owned by Fuji TV will constitute 70 percent of the outstanding shares in NBS at maximum. This will significantly lower the influence Livedoor has over the radio station.However, if Livedoor's request is approved, management of NBS will cease to function properly due to a conflict between the two major shareholders.We can understand the concerns of the 238 employees of NBS and others related to the radio station. Furthermore, troubles at NBS would inconvenience listeners who love its programs.Even during the takeover-bid period, Livedoor has continued to buy shares in NBS. The company reportedly plans to buy a majority of them and to change all the board directors at NBS.The voting rights NBS holds in Fuji TV will be restored if Livedoor can control the board of directors and decrease Fuji TV's holdings in NBS to 25 percent or less by allocating new shares to a third party.Fuji TV's current success in the takeover war is just a momentary respite, and does not go to the root of the problem.Nonetheless, the number of shareholders responding to Fuji TV's takeover bid was more than expected. On the last day of the takeover-bid period, the closing price of NBS shares on the market was 11 percent higher than Fuji TV's purchasing price, but many corporate shareholders sold their stocks to the network, taking their business relations with Fuji TV and the public nature of NBS into consideration. In doing so, these companies must have expected criticism from their own shareholders.Sneak attacks backfireCorporate shareholders may have responded differently, however, if Livedoor had launched a takeover bid for NBS openly and squarely.Livedoor purchased the large number of NBS stocks through off-hours trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. By doing so, Livedoor has shown itself in an unflatering light.This takeover war has placed heavy financial burdens on Fuji TV, Livedoor and NBS. The longer the conflict lasts, the heavier the burdens will become. It is high time for them to find a common landing site.Broadcasting stations do business over the airwaves--public property allocated by the government. Since they also are news media, their public nature should not be forgotten.Unfortunately, a sense of mission for this public nature does not come across from Livedoor.It may be time for the company to end this money game.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2005-03-09	YOSHIN0020050310e139000hn
YOMSHI0020050314e13a00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050314e13a00001	EN	\N	Late but key step toward welfare systems reform	Secretaries general of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) have agreed to compile an outline of the pension reform by autumn. To this end, they are planning to set up subcommittees under the Health, Labor and Welfare committees in both houses of the Diet as forums in which to discuss the issue.	4	2005-03-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, since social security is very important and its reform involves efforts to revamp the whole tax and fiscal systems, another forum may also be needed in which the secretaries general and chief policymakers of each party can hold interparty discussions.Some Minshuto members reportedly have insisted that the party should continue its opposition to the ruling coalition over the pension issue because unified by-elections of the House of Representatives are scheduled for April.Okada showing leadershipHowever, Minshuto has proved itself to be a responsible party as its leader, Katsuya Okada, has succeeded in controlling such oppositions through his strong leadership.Minshuto proposed consolidating pension schemes, using the consumption tax to cover some costs of the pension system and introducing an identification number system for taxpayers. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has promised to discuss them in a forward-looking manner.In preparation for the upcoming by-elections, Minshuto should appeal to the public by displaying leadership in consultations over the pension issue with the ruling coalition. That would be the most suitable stance for a party working to take office, which Okada has described as his party's aim.Talks on social security are to start with a debate on reforming the pension system as Minshuto had demanded.It is all right to give priority to discussions on reforming the pension system as part of a comprehensive review of the social security system. However, it would not be advisable to freeze discussions on the medical care system and nursing care insurance until the specific details of pension system reform are made clear.The nursing care insurance system is to be reformed this year, as is the medical care system next year.Now is the time to discuss them simultaneously with talks on pension reform. The pension system should be the engine that drives a comprehensive review of the entire social security system.Although Minshuto proposals are suitable as the basis of discussion, they should be studied in a flexible manner.Consumption tax hike inevitableMinshuto has proposed limiting the use of additional funds gathered as a result of increasing the consumption tax to the public pension system, and to fund the basic pension solely through the use of tax money. Those specifics have only been roughed out, although they are related to taxation and finance in the future and a foundation of the social security system.What should be the position or role of consumption tax in the overall government budget? How should insurance premiums and tax money be balanced as a source of financing the social security system? These points have to be discussed thoroughly.In any case, it is essential to increase consumption tax to raise finances for the social security system. But to gain public understanding for this move, wasteful expenditure--including pensions for Diet members and salaries for civil officials--must be slashed as much as possible at the same time.Such major issues cannot be discussed at subcommittees of the Health, Labor and Welfare committees. A forum for interparty discussions should be established as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2005-03-10	YOSHIN0020050311e13a000gn
YOMSHI0020050310e13b0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050310e13b0000l	EN	\N	Blanket-testing cattle for BSE makes no sense	The Cabinet Office's Food Safety Commission should promote discussion on the issue soon with a view to dropping its insistence on wholesale testing.	4	2005-03-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The issue of lifting the nation's ban on U.S. beef imports has begun adversely affecting relations between Japan and the United States.U.S. President George W. Bush urged Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi by telephone Wednesday to have Japan resume imports of U.S. beef as soon as possible. Meanwhile, U.S. legislators have submitted a resolution to the Congress, calling for the Bush administration to take retaliatory steps against Japan.As things stand, it seems that the issue could produce friction in relations between Japan and the United States, which had until recently been basically good.The biggest impediment preventing settlement of the issue is foot-dragging by the Food Safety Commission.System unscientificJapan slapped its ban on U.S. beef imports after the first case of mad cow disease was found in the United States in December 2003. The ban was implemented because unlike Japan, the United States did not introduce blanket testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.But Japan is the only country in the world that blanket-tests beef cattle for BSE, irrespective of their age.In most European countries, only cattle aged 30 months or older are subject to blanket testing because it is difficult to detect BSE in cows younger than that age, in whose bodies the abnormal prion protein that causes the brain-wasting disease in cattle is not present in detectable quantities.It is common knowledge that the most effective way of preventing BSE-contaminated beef from reaching consumers is to thoroughly remove and dispose of cattle brains and spinal cords, which are the parts most susceptible to contamination with BSE.In Japan, calls for ending the blanket-testing system have been on the rise since spring last year.In response to such pressure, the commission concluded in a report it compiled in September that it is difficult to detect BSE in cattle aged 20 months or younger using the current testing method, indicating its stance that blanket testing should be ended.End interminable debatesAfter the commission entrusted its panel of experts to conduct a full-fledged discussion on the issue, in response to formal requests for advice sought by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, cautious views prevailed in the commission. Although six months have passed since the discussions were launched, the commission has yet to reach a conclusion.How long will it continue debating the issue? Blanket testing was taken primarily as an emergency measure to prevent panicky consumers from stopping eating beef. Now that consumers have calmed down, it is only reasonable for the testing standards in Japan to move into line with international standards.Even if the commission does decide to recommend that blanket testing be ended, specific conditions for lifting the import ban will have to be discussed. Given this, the removal of the ban may not come until this autumn.Nevertheless, the panel of experts meets only once every three weeks, a situation that is bound to invite criticism from the U.S. side that Japan is playing for time.At home, there are those who suggest that the beef import ban be lifted on condition that the country of origin of U.S. beef products is clearly specified, leaving consumers to decide whether to buy them.The commission needs to recognize the strong irritation it has aroused, both at home and abroad, by its dawdling.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2005-03-11	YOSHIN0020050314e13b000fz
YOMSHI0020050311e13c0000m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050311e13c0000m	EN	\N	Rival firms must work to avoid legal quagmire	The Tokyo District Court on Friday ruled in favor of Livedoor Co., granting an injunction to stop NBS from issuing share warrants to Fuji TV.	4	2005-03-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	NBS urged the court to reconsider the ruling later the same day. Unless the injunction is lifted, NBS will not be able to issue the warrants for up to 47.2 million shares to Fuji TV.If both sides continue fighting to take over NBS, with neither side able to gain control NBS, the management of the radio broadcaster may become paralyzed.Such a situation, which could damage the broadcaster's ability to serve the public, must be avoided. The question is how the two sides will act in the days ahead.The court has ruled that when there is competition to control a company's management, the issuance of share warrants is unfair if it is aimed solely at maintaining control by the current management.The district court judged that NBS's decision to issue the share warrants is aimed at helping the Fujisankei group, which includes Fuji TV and NBS as its core firms, to maintain control over NBS.NBS's decision to issue the share warrants to Fuji TV was made hurriedly, while Livedoor was moving fast to buy controlling interest in the radio broadcaster.Unfair actionObservers pointed out that if NBS's move were allowed, its board members, who are supposed to be appointed by the shareholders, would be able to pick out those shareholders who would comply with the board members' wishes and increase their shareholdings in the company by issuing share warrants. The court order to stop NBS from issuing share warrants came as expected.Yet the court ruling also indicated that situations could arise in which the issuance of such new shares could serve the interests of a company and its shareholders, and in certain circumstances should be permitted.The court said the ground rules for such issuance are still being discussed and it is hoped fair and clear-cut rules would be set forth as a result.Such comments amount to a call by the judiciary to eliminate defects in the present laws and rules governing corporate buyouts.Off-hours trading questionedThe purchase of massive amounts of NBS shares in off-hours trading by Livedoor last month has raised questions over whether it violated the Securities and Exchange Law. The radio broadcaster claimed the issuance of new shares was meant as a legal countermeasure to protect the company from a hostile takeover that violated exchange rules. But the district court judged Livedoor's purchases were legitimate.The court battle involving these companies has only just begun. Even if the dispute over the provisional disposition is settled, the court battle over the original suit and a related suit for damages is most likely to be prolonged.Putting the court battle aside, it is necessary to expedite efforts to close legal loopholes concerning ordinary corporate acquisitions and map out market rules. The government has taken prompt action of late, with the Financial Services Agency starting to study revising the laws regulating off-hours stock trading.The latest court ruling indicated that issuance of new shares with the intention of helping the existing management in a battle for corporate control against an aquiring firm is likely to be deemed a violation of the current law. However, defenses prepared by a company beforehand on the assumption that it may face a hostile takeover bid are acceptable, making it all the more important for companies to be prepared for such possibilities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2005-03-12	YOSHIN0020050314e13c001a0
YOMSHI0020050316e13d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050316e13d00001	EN	\N	Tung resignation leaves H.K. at crossroads	Reports say that his resignation as the territory's first postcolonial leader after the end of British rule in 1997 is tantamount to dismissal by the Chinese leadership.	4	2005-03-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Tung's departure from Hong Kong's top position symbolizes the increasing political intervention in the former British colony by Beijing, which assured the island territory a high degree of autonomy at the time of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule.Tung's rise to power as Hong Kong chief owed a great deal to his achievements as a shipping tycoon. His strength in this respect was coupled with his close relationship with then Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.However, Tung's poor performance as Hong Kong's political leader disappointed the Chinese leadership. He was slow to end domestic economic turmoil arising from the Asian currency crisis, which struck in the year Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule. Tung's delay in making preparations to prevent the spread of SARS in 2003 cost a number of lives in the territory.Tung stumbledThe same year, Tung was forced to retract an antisubversion bill that he had submitted to Hong Kong's legislature to crack down on anti-Beijing activities after massive demonstrations against the proposed legislation broke out in the territory. The protests greatly energized the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and rapidly undermined the citizens' trust in Tung. His fall from grace illustrates Beijing's decision that an unpopular leader such as Tung could further destabilize Hong Kong's political situation if he stayed on.Tung has been named vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The position is regarded as an honorary post given to retired high-ranking Chinese officials.Beijing's one-country, two-systems policy, which allows Hong Kong to keep its capitalist economy and guarantees a high degree of autonomy, forms the basis for China's rule of the island. Beijing's decision to appoint Tung vice chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference was intended to pave the way for him to make a graceful exit. In doing so, Beijing wanted to shake off the impression that Tung had been dismissed, while also emphasizing its readiness to ensure that Hong Kong continues to enjoy a high degree of autonomy.Independence underminedThe fact remains, however, that there has been a continual erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy as a result of Beijing's increasing political influence over the territory.In December, Chinese President Hu Jintao attended a ceremony celebrating the fifth anniversary of Macau's return to Chinese rule, during which he met with Tung and other top Hong Kong officials. Hu openly criticized them, saying they should improve their ability to run the territory. The scene was broadcast live on television, showing Beijing's domination of Hong Kong.Tung's resignation will likely be followed by Hong Kong Chief Secretary Donald Tsang's appointment as acting chief executive. Tsang, the second-most powerful figure in the Hong Kong government, is expected to be officially named as Tung's successor in July.China may want Hong Kong's new chief executive to stabilize the island's political situation. Its wish is probably to see the new Hong Kong leader enjoy the support of Hong Kong residents, not repeating Tung's errors, and properly control the pro-democracy movement to sustain the territory's prosperity.If China fails to see this transpire, it could further undermine the domestic and international trust in its one-nation, two-systems policy. China's policy toward Hong Kong has reached a crucial stage.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2005-03-13	YOSHIN0020050315e13d000ap
YOMSHI0020050314e13f0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050314e13f0000j	EN	\N	No room for bloated central govt salaries	It has been pointed out that in regional areas, central government employees' salaries are much higher than those of private sector employees, whose pay has been kept in check by depressed regional economies. The salaries of central government employees are also said to increase rapidly on considerations of egalitarianism and seniority.	4	2005-03-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Responding to this criticism, the National Personnel Authority compiled a plan to review the central government employee salary system and presented it to their labor union. This review is also part of central government employee system reform. The personnel authority is planning to incorporate the review into its recommendations to be presented to the government in August.The nation's finances are in critical condition, with 538 trillion yen in government bonds projected to be outstanding as of the end of fiscal 2005. The government may have to ask the public to shoulder further financial burdens, such as a consumption tax hike, to maintain the social security system. But before such measures are taken, expenditures must be drastically slashed.In the fiscal 2005 government budget draft, personnel costs account for 4.7 trillion yen, or 5.7 percent of the general account. A review of the central government employee salary system is urgent from the viewpoint of the nation's finances.Govt workers paid moreThe personnel authority divided the country into seven blocs and compared the salaries of central government employees with those of workers in the private sector.According to the results of the survey, the salaries of central government employees were higher than those of private sector employees in five blocs, excluding the Tokyo and Kanto-Koshinetsu blocs. In the Hokkaido-Tohoku bloc, the gap in the bureaucrats' favor was nearly 5 percent.The personnel authority proposed in the review to decrease the basic salaries of all central government employees by as much as 5 percent in accordance with the difference between salaries of central government officials and private sector employees in the Hokkaido-Tohoku bloc. But it also proposed to grant special regional allowances--up to 20 percent of basic salaries--to central government officials working in the two blocs where those in the private sector are paid more highly.Merit-based pay neededSalaries of central government workers are believed to increase based on seniority and egalitarianism, rather than on merit, as ordinary pay raises, which should be granted only to those working effectively, are given to 98 percent of central government employees, making it seemingly an automatic pay raise.The personnel authority proposed the introduction of a merit-based pay system and the softening the pay-raise curve for middle-aged and senior employees as it has been sharper than in the private sector.The private sector took such measures a long time ago. The introduction of these measures for central government employees could be seen as too late.The authority said the review was just meant to revise the pay system and not to reduce the total amount of salaries. But in fiscal 2006 and after, the total amount of salaries must be slashed, in addition to reducing the number of central government employees.Personnel costs, including salaries for police officers and teachers, accounted for more than 26 trillion yen in total, or 28 percent of local government budgets in fiscal 2002. Local governments also have serious financial problems, with long-term debts totaling more than 200 trillion yen.The public has also criticized local government employees for their handsome salaries. The salaries of local government officials must also be reviewed as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2005-03-15	YOSHIN0020050316e13f000id
YOMSHI0020050315e13g0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050315e13g0000j	EN	\N	What up with high school students?	These disturbing findings are contained in a recent survey on motivation, learning and daily lifestyles of high school students in Japan, China and the United States conducted by Hitotsubashi Bungei Kyoiku Shinkokai, a foundation under the jurisdiction of the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, and the Japan Youth Research Institute.	4	2005-03-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It would be really saddening if these feelings are true of the nation's high school students.It is surprising, reading the survey results, to see how little Japanese students study every day. According to the survey, 45 percent of Japanese students said they rarely study on weekdays except at school in comparison to 15 percent in the United States and 8 percent in China.Similar results were shown in the Program for International Student Assessment released last year by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.Pupils lack pepAccording to the organization, Japanese high school students study a mere 6.5 hours per week on average outside school. This is only a half the amount of extracurricular study among South Korean students and 8.9 hours less than the average among the countries surveyed.It is still fresh in our memory that the survey also revealed a decline in reading comprehension among Japanese students.The results of the latest survey showed that Japanese students also had a poor attitude when it came to learning. Three-quarters of Japanese students surveyed said they often were only half-awake or fell asleep in class. Only one fourth of them said they study willingly, and only one-third said they ask teachers if they have questions.In general, Japanese students are not eager to study or make an effort.Asked what they would like to do if they could do anything they wanted, 38 percent, the majority, said they wanted to live without working. This was also the largest percentage of the three countries surveyed. Many Japanese students also are pessimistic about their future, with 16 percent saying their future would be bad or not so good.This decline in educational standards and scholastic enthusiasm was pointed out two years ago in a report by the Central Education Council. The report said feelings of self-doubt and having no control over one's fate were spreading among young people. They also were losing respect for rules and models, morality, the spirit of self-sufficiency and motivation to learn. In addition, the survey pointed out increases in bullying and truancy.Although Japanese youngsters have had these feelings for a long time, nothing has been done to alleviate them.Patriotism passeWhat is the most shocking is the attitude of these students toward Japan.Asked if they are proud of their own country, nearly a half of Japanese students said no. Although about 50 percent of high school students in the United States and China feel proud of their national anthems and flags, just a little over 10 percent of Japanese students said they do.According to the survey, 57 percent of Japanese students do not feel proud of the national flag, and 65 percent are not proud of the national anthem. The number of such students increased compared to figures in a similar survey in 1989. About 70 percent of Japanese students do not stand up to pay respect for the national flag and the national anthem at school ceremonies. One of the causes for this might be teachers exhibiting ideological aversions toward them.Submission of a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education was postponed at the current Diet session as even some members of the ruling coalition are opposed to the incorporation of a passage on patriotism in it.It is unfortunate to see that some Japanese students do not feel proud of their own country and love it. The whole of Japanese society should seriously consider the problems highlighted by the latest survey.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2005-03-16	YOSHIN0020050317e13g000hg
YOMSHI0020050316e13h0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050316e13h0000f	EN	\N	Time for straight talk on Takeshima issue	On the same day in 1905, the island officially became part of Shimane Prefecture with the issuance of a prefectural notice. Back then, this isolated island in the Sea of Japan was uninhabited. Since the end of World War II, however, the island has been occupied illegally by South Korea.	4	2005-03-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prefectural government says the passage of the ordinance was aimed at enlightening the Japanese public regarding this country's sovereignty over the island.The move is a reasonable one as many Japanese had little interest in the issue despite the fact that the island is part of our territory historically and according to international law.Yet South Korea, which calls the island Tokdo, is furious about the ordinance. A spokesman for South Korea's Foreign Ministry demanded that it be scrapped immediately. From Japan's standpoint, this is unreasonable.Concerning the issue of sovereignty over Takeshima, the historical context over many years and the public sentiments of both countries are intertwined. It is an issue that cannot be solved quickly. We call on the South Korean side, in particular the government and the media, to tackle the issue in a more level-headed way.Fishing rights behind disputeThe bilateral dispute over the island's sovereignty dates back to 1952, when the South Korean government established the so-called Ri Seungman Line, with which Seoul asserted its jurisdiction over waters in the high seas, including those around the island in dispute. Since 1954, South Korea's coast guard has regularly stationed personnel on the island.During negotiations on the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea, the two countries were unable to reach an accord over the island's sovereignty.When the need arose to draw a line demarcating a 200-mile exclusive economic zone in line with the enactment of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea in the latter half of 1990s, Tokyo and Seoul did not touch on the issue of the island's sovereignty, instead agreeing to establish a provisional area around the island under joint administration.The problem is that the bilateral rules governing fishing operations around the island have yet to be established. The main fishing ground in the area has been dominated by South Korean fishing boats, which have driven out Japanese fishing boats. Behind the passage of the Takeshima Day ordinance is strong discontent among those concerned in the fishing industry.Out of consideration of public opinion at home, the South Korean government has refused to agree to Japan's proposal for intergovernmental talks that would set rules for fishing operations in the area. Given this, bilateral friction between the two countries will only intensify. Bilateral talks should be launched as soon as possible.Important principle at stakeThe Shimane prefectural government has called on the central government and the Diet to set up an organization to handle the issue and to have the issue taken up for study at school. Both proposals make sense.We wonder how many Japanese properly understand the legitimacy of Japan's claim of sovereignty over the island, including its historical background. The government should make more efforts to raise public awareness of the issues surrounding Takeshima.The present state of affairs in Japan is in a stark contrast to that in South Korea, where the public is well aware of the issue, which is aired not only through school textbooks, but also in a popular song titled "Tokdo is Our Land."The territorial issue is a fundamental one that relates to the dignity of a state. It should not be trivialized.As long as the government sticks to its principle of avoiding a row over the Takeshima issue, it will be difficult for the Japanese people to understand the issue properly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2005-03-17	YOSHIN0020050318e13h000gh
YOMSHI0020050317e13i0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050317e13i0000k	EN	\N	Energy-saving efforts needed globally	The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed during its general meeting Wednesday to raise output of crude oil by 500,000 barrels per day with immediate effect, and by another 500,000 bpd if prices do not fall.	4	2005-03-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The output hike went beyond the 500,000 bpd increase that had been expected.Yet markets around the world took little heed of OPEC's move, with prices of benchmark crude futures on the markets of New York, London and Tokyo marking fresh highs. U.S. light crude topped 57 dollars for the first time and looks set to head toward 60 dollars.Crude oil prices are still sky-high in March, when demand for heating oil normally falls in the Northern Hemisphere, not only because of the tight supply and demand situation in the crude oil market, against the backdrop of rising demand in the United States and China, but also due to cold weather in Europe and the influx of speculative funds into the market. The uncertain situation in the Middle East is yet another factor behind soaring prices.Unlike last autumn, when only U.S. crude prices were rising, prices of North Sea and Middle East oil are also skyrocketing. Dubai crude, a benchmark for Japan's imports, is hovering in 47 dollars territory, narrowing the price gap with U.S. crude from 16 dollars seen last autumn to 10 dollars now.On the back of rising petroleum prices, prices of coal and liquefied natural gas have also risen sharply.Heed lesson of 1970sSpurred by the two "oil shocks" it experienced in the 1970s, Japan transformed itself into one of the world's leading energy-saving nations. In 1979, the value of Japan's crude oil imports accounted for 39 percent of its total imports. Recently, crude imports have been reduced to about 15 percent of total imports, making this country less vulnerable than it once was to economic damage from rising oil prices.But the latest round of oil price hikes is likely to continue for the foreseeable future because OPEC member countries see their excess production capacity dwindling due to the series of output increases, making it difficult for them to meet any increased expansion in demand.Japan should explore ways to save energy with the same sense of urgency it showed when the country was hit by the oil shocks.As early as next month, the Cabinet will adopt a plan to realize the targets set out in the Kyoto Protocol. The promotion of efforts to reduce global warming, which will be incorporated in the plan, will become the government's countermeasure for rising crude oil prices.All workable measures should be adopted. These include voluntary steps on the part of industry, improvement in the insulating properties of buildings, increased fuel efficiency in automobiles, greater use of energy-saving electrical appliances by the public, an increase in the operation rate of nuclear plants and development of new energy sources.China guzzling oilWith crude oil prices having hovered around the 50 dollars level for a protracted period, the development of natural resources around the world is about to get under way at long last. Some countries have launched full-scale projects to develop natural resources deemed less profitable than light oil, such as oil sand, by Canada, and ultra-heavy oil, by Venezuela.But it will take time to develop these resources. Unless countries around the world make serious efforts to save energy until new natural resources can be developed, all oil-consuming countries will be at the mercy of rising crude oil prices.China has a particularly heavy responsibility in this respect because the country has been increasing its oil consumption by about 15 percent annually. It is largely to blame for the latest round of crude price hikes.We hope China will expedite its efforts to create the "energy-saving society" that Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has envisaged. Japan could extend technical cooperation in this field.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2005-03-18	YOSHIN0020050321e13i000gs
YOMSHI0020050318e13j0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050318e13j0000h	EN	\N	ROK interfering in Japan's affairs	The statement says that South Korea's basic policy toward Japan is to demand this country "thoroughly uncover the truth about problems" related to the history of the two nations and "truly apologize for and reflect on its conduct."	4	2005-03-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Thursday night, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura issued a statement saying that "it is not wise to reverse the wheel of bilateral history." As a nation that maintains diplomatic relations with South Korea, Tokyo had every reason to oppose Seoul's one-sided statement.Seven years ago, then South Korean President Kim Dae Jung told Japan his country would lay to rest the long-standing dispute over bilateral problems arising from the past, saying, "The South Korean government does not intend to bring up the issues of the past."Kim's sentiment was echoed by his successor, Roh, who pledged "not to bring forward (historical issues) as a focal issue while in office" during a Japan-South Korea summit in July.Barely one year after saying so, however, Roh retracted his statement. It is difficult for the two nations to establish future-oriented bilateral relations based on mutual trust, if the South Korean president frequently changes his policy toward Japan.Stirring anti-Japanese sentimentThere is a rising tide of anti-Japan sentiment in South Korea in reaction to actions taken by the Japanese, including the Shimane Prefectural Assembly's adoption of an ordinance designating Feb. 22 as Takeshima Day. South Koreans also have been antagonized by descriptions contained in middle school history textbooks screened by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry.The South Korean government's latest statement seems to reflect Roh's desire to boost his administration's flagging popularity by emphasizing its hard-line policy toward Japan.The statement also called for cooperating with "conscientious forces in Japan" and stepping up efforts to establish networks combining Japanese and South Korean citizens.However, questions should be raised about which forces South Korea considers "conscientious"?Distorting 'comfort women' factsIt should be remembered who has further complicated Japan-South Korea relations by distorting wartime history to give the public the mistaken impression that the system created to form corps of women volunteers assigned to work at military factories and other facilities was an attempt by the Imperial Japanese Army to forcibly recruit women as so-called comfort women. The driving force behind this campaign has been self-tormenting and "conscientious" Japanese.We feel that what South Korea calls "conscientious forces" as it deals with the controversy over history textbooks are some media organizations sympathetic toward leftist values that do not accept a diversity of historical views and values, as well as freedom of thought.The statement also says South Korea is concerned that Japan's textbook screening system approves "history textbooks that glorify (Japan's) acts of aggression and use of strong state power in the past" without making alterations in their descriptions.This should be dismissed as interference in the internal affairs of Japan, or an attempt to exert pressure on this country to change its method of screening textbooks. The textbook screening system constitutes an institution established as a form of sovereignty to be exercised by this country.The contents of textbooks have never been made known to the public while they are being screened. But these "conscientious" Japanese have smuggled into South Korea unpublished textbooks still undergoing the screening process.Roh's adherence to a hard-line policy toward Japan will only provoke ill-will among Japanese toward his country. South Korea's one-sided statement undermines bilateral relations and regional stability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2005-03-19	YOSHIN0020050321e13j001cn
YOMSHI0020050319e13k0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050319e13k0000f	EN	\N	Rice visit step forward for vital alliance	Rice and Machimura reconfirmed the two nations' determination to cooperate on tackling a wide variety of specific tasks through the alliance. The list of themes taken up during their talks on Saturday ranged from North Korea's nuclear weapons program and realignment of U.S. forces around the world to the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.	4	2005-03-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Their dialogue can be regarded as an initial step toward putting into effect a recent agreement reached at the Security Consultative Committee--known as the two-plus-two meeting of Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense ministers--to increase the cooperative relationship between the two countries through the alliance.During her talks with Machimura, Rice strongly urged Japan to resolve the ongoing dispute over a U.S. demand for a resumption of imports of U.S. beef, an issue that has sparked discord between the two nations. The controversy should never be allowed to undermine favorable Japan-U.S. relations. Both Tokyo and Washington should calmly deal with the dispute and settle the issue as soon as possible.China key concernUnder the circumstances, a matter of primary concern for the two nations is six-party talks aimed at scrapping North Korea's nuclear weapons program and what kind of role China could play in the negotiations. The reclusive state's nuclear ambition poses a grave threat to regional peace and stability. Given Beijing's strong influence over Pyongyang, it is essential for China to play an active role in urging North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons.During their recent meeting, the Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense ministers agreed to press China to increase the transparency of its military preparedness and peacefully resolve the Taiwan issue. Over the years, China has stepped up its military power. It has not given up the option of settling the Taiwan problem by military means.Those taking part in the two-plus-two meeting also urged China to play a responsible and constructive role in dealing with matters of regional and global importance, including North Korea.During talks on Saturday, Rice and Machimura agreed to urge China to play an even greater role in solving the problem of North Korea's nuclear program. Rice told the foreign minister that she intended to press Chinese leaders to do so during a trip to Beijing.On same pageThe comments attributed to Rice and Machimura reflect their matching views that China's contribution in this respect would serve as a test of whether the country will become a constructive and peaceful partner in efforts to maintain the regional order.It is no coincidence that Rice decided to visit East Asian countries in the order of Japan, South Korea and China, marking her first visit to this part of the world since her appointment as secretary of state in the second administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.In an influential magazine on foreign policy issued in early 2000--months before Bush's inauguration--Rice criticized her boss's predecessor, Bill Clinton, for not visiting Tokyo or Seoul while making a nine-day visit to Beijing, insisting Clinton had treated Japan lightly as an ally.Undoubtedly, Rice's argument was part of an effort to defend the national interests of the United States. It is essential for Japan to cooperate with the United States and South Korea in dealing with issues related to Japan and fighting the threat posed by North Korea, when it comes to protecting the interests of this country.Given North Korea's nuclear threat and China's increased military preparedness, it is more and more important for Japan to cement its alliance with the United States and further promote strategic dialogue between the two countries.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2005-03-20	YOSHIN0020050321e13k0020n
YOMSHI0020050320e13l0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050320e13l0000c	EN	\N	Iraq can't afford delay in political process	Iraq has formed an interim constitution, gained sovereignty and succeeded in holding an election for the provisional Iraqi National Assembly. These achievements should be praised.	4	2005-03-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But Iraq now looks to be having difficulties in climbing the next step.Assembly dragging its feetThe National Assembly was finally convened 1-1/2 months after the Jan. 30 election. But the makeup of the transitional government has yet to be determined.The assembly also has failed to elect a president and two vice presidents, which have to be endorsed by two-thirds of the chamber's 275 members.The three top officials, who will form a presidential council, have the authority to appoint the prime minister. Until they are elected, a transitional government will not be established.The assembly is required to draft a permanent constitution and submit it to a referendum, which is to be followed by a new national election in December to establish a fully constitutional government.All of these are important political issues requiring serious deliberation and careful preparations. As not much time is left, parties and factions in the assembly should try to launch a transitional government as soon as possible.The key players are the United Iraqi Alliance and the Kurdish Alliance, which secured first and second place in the elections, because the required two-thirds majority can be secured if they unite.The two major parties have continued to negotiate since the election, but failed to reach an agreement before the assembly was convened.The Shiite-backed United Iraqi Alliance reportedly has disagreed with the demands of the Kurdish Alliance, including the incorporation of Kirkuk, an oil-rich city in northern Iraq, into Kurdish territory.Since Iraq is made up of different ethnic and religious groups, a clash of views has been expected to a certain extent. However, the leaders of those groups should not delay the political process by putting their own interests first.People's hopes unfulfilledThe Iraqi people, who risked their lives to vote in the election, must be hoping for the establishment of a democracy. If they become disillusioned with the political process, it could bring the reconstruction of the war-torn country to a standstill.Iraqi police and military, as well as Shiites, remain under constant attack by terrorists, including suicide bombings. The lack of an improvement in the security situation is starting to become detrimental to the reconstruction process.The development and reinforcement of Iraqi security forces are also urgent tasks, since Italy and some other countries, mostly European, have announced plans to reduce or withdraw their troops from Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	491	2005-03-21	YOSHIN0020050322e13l0008v
YOMSHI0020050321e13m0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050321e13m0000g	EN	\N	LDP has major task in reforming top law	Each subcommittee of the LDP's drafting panel has marshaled its arguments about issues it has explored in relation to constitutional reform. Interim reports produced by these subcommittees say the new basic law should remain unchanged from the current Constitution with regard to such fundamental principles stipulated in its preamble as the sovereignty of the people and pacifism.	4	2005-03-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The committees state that the new constitution should incorporate references to Japanese history, culture and tradition. They also argue that the revised constitution should state the people's determination to remain an independent nation and defend their security.Each nation's history, culture and tradition serves as the basis for its statehood and the lives of its people. Given this, there is good reason to ensure that the preamble to the new constitution refers to the nation's history, culture and tradition.Trusting in others not enoughIt is impossible for this country to ensure its security and survival by solely "trusting in the justice and faith of the peace-loving people of the world," as stated in the current Constitution. It is only reasonable for Japan to clearly show its will to preserve its independence and security.The LDP's drafting committee says the amended constitution should not change the nation's adherence to the renunciation of war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of setting international disputes, as stipulated in the first paragraph of Article 9 of the current Constitution. The issue constitutes the major focus of the dispute over amending the basic law.Instead, the panel insists on rewriting the second paragraph of the article in question to define the Self-Defense Forces as an army, clearly stating this nation has the right of self-defense.This should be complemented by creating a fundamental law on national security to lay down requirements for the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, according to the committee.The panel proposes expanding the list of main SDF duties to include international peacekeeping missions. It also calls for the revised constitution to state the people's obligation to defend their country from a military attack.These proposed changes are indispensable in enabling this country to cope with the drastic and structural changes that have taken place in the international community and this nation's security environment since the establishment of the current Constitution.The LDP's panel also argues that the new constitution should include such new human rights principles as the right to privacy, environmental rights and crime victims' rights in its chapters on the people's rights and obligations. Such chapters would state that the people have the obligation to shoulder financial burdens for the purpose of maintaining the social security system, defending their families and honoring the dignity of life.These reforms are all essential to deal with the problems our contemporary society faces as a result of the complicated and varied changes that have occurred during the 60 years since the end of World War II.Political reforms vagueHowever, we find the LDP committee unsatisfactory in its attitude toward constitutional changes in the political system, including the Diet and Cabinet. The ruling party should be criticized for its slow efforts to deal with constitutional issues that could directly affect it.For example, the party's commission has hardly discussed the pros and cons of a proposal to define the status of political parties in the new constitution. This is significant in that political parties play a central role in this nation's parliamentary democracy.The panel is no less vague about the kind of role the Diet should play as a bicameral forum for debates on state affairs under the revised constitution. This is largely because LDP members of the House of Councillors have been angered by a proposal to give the House of Representatives precedence over the upper house under the two-chamber system.According to the panel, the outline of a new LDP platform to be adopted along with an LDP-drafted constitution in November, when the party will celebrate its 50th anniversary, will show the public what kind of country Japan should be transformed into in the new century.The revised constitution would serve as a guiding principle in the pursuit of that goal. Achieving this goal requires efforts to implement various policies and measures. Needless to say, this task should be carried out by politicians.We feel, however, that politicians and political parties have been unable to cope with the changes that have taken place both at home and overseas in the postwar period.They have been extremely slow to reform themselves, and this has contributed in part to the distrust among voters in this nation's political system. It is important to ensure that the new constitution shows the role politicians must play in leading this country forward.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	887	2005-03-22	YOSHIN0020050323e13m000e5
YOMSHI0020050322e13n0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050322e13n0000h	EN	\N	Capitalize on moves to expand UNSC	In a recent report on reforming the world body, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said U.N. member states should make a decision on expanding the council before world leaders meet in New York in September.	4	2005-03-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Annan said in the report that the U.N. Security Council should be enlarged to make it more representative of the world today, possibly with a mind to having Japan become a permanent member of the council.The five permanent membership seats of the Security Council have been dominated since it was founded 60 years ago by Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.Annan's report contains proposals welcomed by Japan, which wants to see the number of seats expanded.In backing the recommendations made by a high-level panel of experts for expanding the council, Annan referred to Plan A and Plan B.2 plans reveal 2 mind-setsPlan A would add six new permanent members and three new nonpermanent seats to the current 10 seats. Plan B does not call for any new permanent members, instead calling for eight new semipermanent seats with four-year terms, subject to renewal, plus one new nonpermanent seat.Permanent seat aspirants Japan, Brazil, Germany and India back Plan A. While other countries, including Italy and Pakistan, are supporting Plan B-- apparently in a bid to scuttle Plan A.Japan believes that 40 to 50 countries support Plan A, while a smaller number support Plan B.While Annan has said it would be desirable that an agreement be reached unanimously, he added that a failure to do so would not constitute an excuse for postponing the action, and the issue would be put to the vote.His remarks made it clear that reform of the council should not be brought to a standstill due to objections of a minority.Qualified for the jobWhen viewed from performance, Japan is well qualified to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council as it shoulders 20 percent of the entire U.N. budget, second only to the United States. Japan's contribution is larger than the contributions of the U.N. Security council members combined--if the United States were excluded.Japan has served nine two-year terms as a nonpermanent member of the council. It has also contributed to U.N. peace-keeping operations, including one in Cambodia.U.S. President George W. Bush has also made clear his support of Japan becoming a permanent member. In the eyes of the world, Japan's presence is larger than many Japanese think.But despite all this, Japan's road to permanent Security Council membership will not be easy. There also remains the thorny issue of whether the current five permanent members of the council, with their vested interests, are truly keen to see any real reform of the United Nations.A resolution for an expansion of the council with Japan as a new permanent member would have to be approved by a general assembly vote by two-thirds of member countries, or by more than 128.To realize this, Japan needs to better promote its proactive stance of dealing with such tasks as international peace-keeping activities and extending official development assistance to developing countries.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2005-03-23	YOSHIN0020050324e13n000ip
YOMSHI0020050323e13o0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050323e13o0000e	EN	\N	Horie's views on media give cause for concern	In line with the Tokyo District Court decision, the high court on Wednesday said NBS' plan to issue the warrants was aimed at maintaining Fuji Television Network Inc.'s control over NBS and ordered NBS to cancel the issuance--the outcome that Livedoor sought.	4	2005-03-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the days ahead, Livedoor will continue expanding its stake in the radio broadcaster to enable it to take over the management of the firm. Livedoor reportedly aims to purchase Fuji TV, its main target, as well, in a bid to eventually gain control over the entire Fujisankei Communications Group.In doing so, Livedoor will be able to transform the various media firms, including The Sankei Shimbun and Fusosha Publishing Inc., within the Fujisankei group.The "corporate values" that ostensibly were the bone of contention that NBS and Livedoor fought over in court basically were economic ones. In the latest court battle, the characteristics of media, such as their public nature and their responsibility to pursue journalistic activities, were not taken up for debate.Horie ignorant of press rolesNow that Livedoor President Takafumi Horie's plan to take control of a media group is close to being realized, the business mogul's view of the media has come into question.During a recent interview with a newspaper reporter, Horie said: "Journalism, which was needed when there was no Internet, is no longer necessary...The media are merely conduits. The best thing for the media to do is to transmit information as it is."Horie apparently meant that all the media are required to do is release raw information on the Internet and leave it up to recipients of that information to decide how to interpret and apply it.In an interview with a magazine reporter, Horie also said, "As news eventually will become accessible only through the Internet, the issue is how to kill newspapers and television."In his scenario, the final phase of his money games may be abolishing newspapers and TV. To our disappointment, we can only assume that Horie has no understanding whatsoever of the roles the existing media play.Journalism a noble callingNewspapers and news divisions of broadcasters put their hearts into news-gathering and news-reporting activities with the aim of keeping watch on those in power, exposing social injustices and forming public opinion. Merely relaying information released by ministries and agencies of the central government or by private businesses or releasing news of incidents cannot be considered to be journalism.By finding out hidden facts and providing the public with related information, the media honors the public's "right to information."Moreover, a broadcaster uses the public assets of radio waves for transmitting news. Broadcasters are obliged, under the Broadcast Law, to maintain political neutrality, not to distort facts and to provide the public with diversified opinions.A broadcaster also is required to serve the public interest by calling on the public to evacuate to safe places or by promptly releasing such information as the victims' names when disasters strike.Given Horie's views on the media, we are worried about the fate of the broadcasting sector.Horie also said he would turn The Sankei Shimbun into a newspaper that would seek to entertain readers first and foremost and would contain more business news coverage. Is he even trying to do away with the breadth of coverage that the news media have long offered?One is free to pursue economic values in money games. Yet the fundamental spirits of journalism is a far cry from the pursuance of money.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2005-03-24	YOSHIN0020050325e13o000h5
YOMSHI0020050324e13p0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050324e13p0000g	EN	\N	Roh's anti-Japan stance serves no one's interests	The South Korean president has bitterly criticized Japan for its attitude toward such bilateral issues as the territorial dispute over Takeshima island and history textbooks compiled in this country.	4	2005-03-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Wednesday, Roh vowed to deal with these problems uncompromisingly, saying, "(South Korea) can no longer overlook the (Japanese) determination to justify its acts of aggression and its history of colonial rule and achieve its hegemonic ends again."Earlier, the South Korean government issued a statement demanding Japan "apologize for and reflect on" a host of problems arising from its past conduct. Roh's latest statement follows as an extension of this demand. The statement, which marks a reversal in South Korea's policy toward Japan, is bound to further aggravate bilateral relations. We find the situation deplorable.Roh's argument should be dismissed as one-sided, unfair criticism of Japan.The South Korean government blasted the ordinance recently adopted by the Shimane Prefectural Assembly to designate Feb. 22 as Takeshima Day, saying the action constituted "an attempt to justify Japan's acts of aggression in the past and disavow South Korea's independence (from Japan)."Remarks verge on paranoiacFor years, the Japanese government has insisted that the controversy over Takeshima, which South Koreans call Tokdo, is an issue unrelated to Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. For more than half a century, the two countries have been at loggerheads over which nation has sovereignty over Takeshima, which South Korea occupies. In normalizing bilateral ties in 1965, Tokyo and Seoul agreed to resolve the dispute through diplomatic means. If such an approach failed, they also agreed, the controversy would be settled through arbitration to be conducted through procedures acceptable to both parties.Roh also said that "history textbooks that distort facts are making a comeback," criticizing what he described as "another attempt to justify (Japan's) history of aggression." His statement should be dismissed as an attempt to exert pressure on Japan's textbook-screening system.It should be noted, however, that the contents of the textbooks in question are still being screened under the system, which constitutes an institution established as a form of sovereignty exercised by this nation. The South Korean president's statement must be seen as interference in the internal affairs of Japan.Most disturbingly, it appears that Roh regards the Japanese government's attitude as indicative of a national conspiracy in Japan to invade his country.The president said the passage of the Takeshima Day ordinance and the screening and adoption of the textbooks in question were "acts carried out with the backing of Japan's ruling forces and the central government." Roh went so far as to assert that these acts would "nullify Japan's efforts heretofore to reflect on and apologize for it past conduct."South Korean press worriedThe president's attitude poses a serious problem. He seems to be rejecting cooperative relations between Japan and South Korea as meaningless, while also brewing unnecessary misunderstanding, distrust and resentment between the peoples of South Korea and Japan. That bodes ill for the future of the bilateral relationship.Roh's attitude has been so irrational it has stirred up criticism at home. The Chosun Ilbo has admonished him, saying it is "never wise" for him to make headstrong statements on sensitive diplomatic issues. The South Korean daily's sentiment has been echoed by the Joongang Daily News, another major daily in that country, which has urged Roh to deal calmly with the bilateral relations, saying he appears to "demand Japan surrender by putting up a white flag."Roh's hard-line approach could make it impossible for the two countries to promote dialogue. That could adversely affect six-party talks aimed at scrapping North Korea's nuclear weapons program, playing into the hands of the reclusive state as it seeks to arm itself with nuclear weapons.We urge Roh to rethink his attitude.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	707	2005-03-25	YOSHIN0020050328e13p000ib
YOMSHI0020050325e13q0000m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050325e13q0000m	EN	\N	Protecting populace requires planning	On Friday, the Cabinet adopted a set of basic guidelines on what to do to defend the population in the event of an armed attack or large-scale terrorist strike on Japan.	4	2005-03-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To protect the lives and assets of the people, the guidelines define procedures to be carried out by the central and local governments in instructing residents to evacuate and rescuing victims of a military attack. They will be used as standards for applying laws intended to protect people's lives and property in the event of a national emergency. The legislation was enacted in June as part of the legal framework to prepare for state emergencies.The basic guidelines divide armed attacks into four categories--invasions, guerrilla and commando raids, ballistic missile attacks, and air strikes. The guidelines describe methods of and procedures for evacuation and rescue operations to be conducted in each category of military attack, as well as points that require attention.In the event of a ballistic missile attack, for example, the guidelines state that people must be guided to the interior of concrete buildings, underground shopping malls and station buildings. It should be noted that North Korean ballistic missiles pose an imminent threat to this nation's peace and security. Each member of the public should keep in mind how to escape in the event of an armed attack.In the case of a nuclear, biological and chemical attack, the guidelines urge people to avoid escaping in the downwind direction and minimize their skin exposure to the air by wearing gloves, hoods, rainproof cloaks and masks.Terrorist attack eyedA large-scale terrorist attack is regarded as a greater possibility than a military attack. The guidelines list such actions as an attack on a nuclear power station and the spraying of sarin nerve gas and anthrax in this category. To cope with such threats, the guidelines call for implementing measures comparable to those taken to deal with a military attack.The Cabinet's approval of the guidelines will be followed by an effort by the prefectural and municipal governments to devise plans that detail even more specific evacuation and rescue procedures and methods. The local governments must muster expert opinions from as many specialists as possible from both the private and public sectors to put together plans that reflect local factors, including geography, population density and transportation networks.In the event of an armed attack, local governments are expected to play a key role in guiding residents to safety, distributing daily necessities to them and improving the environment surrounding evacuation centers. It is essential for every local government to coordinate with police and fire services and the Self-Defense Forces to make cooperative arrangements and decide which task should be assigned to which group.Being preparedThe government is scheduled to conduct an evacuation and rescue drill by the end of fiscal 2005. The exercise, the first of its kind to prepare for a military attack, will entail the central and local governments, as well as such designated public institutions as broadcasting stations, communications firms, electric power, gas and transportation companies and medical institutions.Those involved in such exercises should constantly examine whether there are any shortcomings in their emergency plans, and revise the plans as needed.The basic guidelines only require members of the public to shore up their fire brigades and other voluntary antidisaster organizations while also supporting voluntary activities. It is necessary to more seriously discuss what individual citizens can do in times of national crisis. The government should consider urging people to join in planned drills.It is important to ensure the members of the public will be better protected in the event of an armed attack through close cooperation between the central and local governments, combined with the support of each resident.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	680	2005-03-26	YOSHIN0020050328e13q001fc
YOMSHI0020050326e13r0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050326e13r0000g	EN	\N	Seibu group rebuilding must not trouble public	Kokudo Corp., the core of the group, is to be divided into two companies, one continuing to run the company's leisure-related business and the other managing the assets of former company chairman Yoshiaki Tsutsumi. Seibu Railway Co. would then absorb the leisure-business company and Prince Hotels, Inc., according to the report.	4	2005-03-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new Seibu Railway will ask the creditor banks to purchase new shares worth 200 billion yen in total to boost its capital because the value of assets held by Kokudo, which has been developing ski and golf resorts, are eroding due to declining land prices.Consequently, the ratio of shares in Seibu Railway held by Tsutsumi, who has been indicted on a charge of violating the Securities and Exchange Law, will drop drastically, changing the company from his personal empire to an ordinary corporation.The group's interest-bearing debts total 1.4 trillion yen. However, the report said the creditor banks would not be asked for any financial assistance such as waiving debts or lowering interest rates. The group plans to pay off 400 billion yen of the debt in three years by selling some of its assets and with profits to be earned by Seibu Railway.Plan questionedSome Seibu Railway shareholders questioned why the creditor banks, who do not give any financial assistance, are leading the reconstruction plan and why Seibu Railway has to absorb Kokudo and Prince Hotels.In its report, the panel argues that Kokudo, a major shareholder in the railway operator, asked it to draft the reconstruction plan and the business foundation of Seibu Railway would be strengthened if resorts and hotels were operated together with it.The creditor banks must support the newborn Seibu Railway. The validity of the reconstruction plan can only be proved after the reorganized Seibu Railway group is put back on track.Seibu Railway is a major private railway company transporting 600 million passengers annually. Though Tsutsumi said he was not interested in the company, the railway business has consistently racked up 100 billion yen in sales yearly and turned an operating profit of more than 15 billion yen annually.Customers ill-servedNonetheless, railway passengers have been treated unkindly. Only 38 percent of Seibu Railway's main stations have been made barrier-free, though more than 80 percent of the major stations on lines run by the Odakyu Electric Railway Co. and Tokyu Corp. are barrier-free. Seibu Railway also has 96 crossings in Tokyo, the largest number among all the railway operators in the country.Seibu Railway should not be used to fund debt repayment. Instead, the fruits of the reconstruction plan should be given back to passengers in the form of improved service.Among the many resorts owned by Kokudo, those in other countries will mainly be sold off. Kokudo reportedly will also study the possibility of selling off domestic resorts with low profitability or taking drastic measures to boost their profits.The Seibu Railway group's resort facilities, especially those located far from Tokyo, have provided local residents with precious job opportunities. That is why local governments in areas where those facilities are located are upset about the reconstruction plan.If it has to pull the plug on resort facilities in a certain area, the group is obliged to minimize the damage to the community by finding a trustworthy company to take over the facility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2005-03-27	YOSHIN0020050328e13r00257
YOMSHI0020050327e13s00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050327e13s00006	EN	\N	Postal privatization not a priority	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who considers postal privatization his most important policy issue, seems to be trying to wrap up his "structural reform without sacred cows," which he has pushed since the inauguration of his administration.	4	2005-03-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But whether privatization of the postal services is really a priority issue is questionable.According to the results of an opinion poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun in mid-March, less than 10 percent of respondents said the prime minister should deal with postal privatization as a priority. The issue ranked 13th among the 17 policy issues in the survey.A total of 60 percent--the largest group of respondents--replied that social security system reform and the economy were the top priority issues. They were followed by employment, public safety, education and taxation issues, according to the poll.Of course, necessary policy measures must be carried out even if voters are not particularly interested in them. Privatization of the postal services is necessary to stop 340 trillion yen collected in postal savings and kampo postal life insurance from flowing into public corporations to sustain inefficient projects.Social security more pressingBut we believe the prime minister should give top priority to reforming the pension and other social security systems to build a stable foundation for the lives of the public. The Japanese population will start decreasing after reaching a peak in 2006. After 2007, many baby boomers will be 60 years old or older. A sustainable social security system must be constructed as soon as possible.The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) have already agreed to compile an outline for pension reform by autumn. Soon a joint council of the Houses of Representatives and Councillors will begin talks on the issue, with all parties, including the Japanese Communist and Social Democratic parties, participating.However, it will be difficult to discuss in detail the funding for the reform, the most important point, because the prime minister has declared that he will not raise the consumption tax rate during his term of office.True leadership neededThe prime minister should exercise true leadership by announcing a plan to raise the consumption tax and provide a detailed blueprint for social security reform.Minshuto and other opposition parties should respond to such a move in a responsible way, without acting on partisan interests.Koizumi has been in power during a very important period of time, when the Japanese economy and society, as well as the international community, have undergone drastic changes.Following the last upper house election, in July 2004, there will be no national elections until the upper house election in July 2007, unless the lower house is dissolved.This period was expected to be a "golden" three years during which the prime minister could take drastic policy measures.But this will result in something far from golden if postal privatization is realized while more important issues are left unattended.There are so many items on the agenda, all of which are important in building a new national and social foundation for Japan, including fiscal and educational reforms, and writing a new Constitution.As leader of this country, Koizumi is responsible for deciding the priority of these issues, and paving the way for their realization during the remaining 18 months of his term.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2005-03-28	YOSHIN0020050329e13s000eh
YOMSHI0020050328e13t0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050328e13t0000c	EN	\N	About time for decision to end blanket testing	A Food Safety Commission panel of experts under the Cabinet Office on Monday adopted a policy that eases the rules requiring the BSE tests on home-grown cattle. Under the eased rules, the current policy of blanket testing is to be dropped, with cattle aged 20 months or younger to be excluded from the tests.	4	2005-03-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The commission will formally submit its recommendations to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry next month.Blanket testing, which has been in use since October 2001, could come to an end as soon as June.Japan is the only country in the world that blanket tests beef cattle for BSE, irrespective of age.Blanket testing was adopted as an emergency measure to stop the flight of panicky consumers from eating beef, and it proved effective to a certain degree.Most experts believe, however, that it is difficult to detect BSE in young cattle, even under blanket testing. Once the initial panic subsided, the government should have terminated blanket testing.Conclusion was obviousAfter it was tasked with working out proposals, the panel spent half a year discussing the issue before finally reaching this obvious conclusion. It has been criticized both at home and abroad over the way it conducted proceedings, meeting only once every three or four weeks.The minimum age at which cattle are to become subject to BSE testing under the new rules has been set at 20 months, primarily because the youngest cow confirmed to have BSE through blanket testing was 21 months old.But the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which decides international safety standards for cattle, sets the age for cattle to be tested at 30 months or older.Standards still too strictMost countries in Europe conduct BSE testing in line with OIE standards, meaning that even the new rules Japan will adopt are much stricter than international standards.And even with the lifting of blanket testing, imports of foreign beef, including U.S. beef, will not be resumed anytime soon.Before beef imports from the United States can be resumed, the food safety commission must judge the possible risks of U.S. beef.The ministries concerned, including the health ministry, have reportedly decided to narrow their inquiries to the commission down to the safety of U.S. beef from cattle aged 20 months or younger that have had their brains and spinal cords--the parts deemed most susceptible to BSE contamination--removed. The ministries are apparently hoping to prevent a widening of the range of discussion.Initially some argued for the need to seek the commission's advice on how to confirm the age of cattle and how to check whether those parts deemed most susceptible to BSE contamination are properly removed in the United States.But Japan has basically accepted the U.S. statement that the age of the cattle can be ascertained by the quality of the meat. It will not be necessary for the issue to be taken up for discussion in the commission again.If new advice is requested of the commission, it must begin discussions soon. Should it react to such requests too slowly, it will be seen as being negligent.The government must quell the public's fears over beef by explaining that, even without blanket testing, the meat will be safe as long as the parts most susceptible to BSE contamination are completely removed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2005-03-29	YOSHIN0020050330e13t000ki
YOMSHI0020050329e13u0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050329e13u0000f	EN	\N	Don't loosen the reins on financial institutions	With the lifting of the long-imposed freeze, a depositor faces the possibility of not seeing a full refund of deposits in the event a bank fails. Under the so-called payoff system, each depositor will only be assured of receiving a government-guaranteed refund of a maximum of 10 million yen in principal plus interest.	4	2005-03-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government is to lift the freeze because it has judged that the disposal of nonperforming loans held by financial institutions has passed the critical stage, and with it are gone fears the nation's financial system could be plunged into disorder.The imposition of a refund limit will help impress upon international financial circles that Japan's financial sector has bailed itself out of a critical phase and is now back to a normal state. But in reality, the nation's financial sector has yet to get back on a perfectly even keel.Even after the lifting of the freeze, the government should take care to prevent the financial system from becoming unstable. To do so, the government needs to keep a close eye on financial institutions.Prior to the launch of the payoff system, financial institutions established a non-interest-bearing settlement account. Settlements such as fund transfers are essential to our daily lives. It is correct and just that the government guarantee the full refund of such settlement deposits.The decadelong 5-year freezeTen years ago, then Finance Minister Masayoshi Takemura announced a five-year suspension of the refund limit, on the ground that should the payoff scheme be launched at the time, it would cause financial instability.In the years that followed the five-year suspension, the government repeatedly put off capping refunds. During times when the introduction of a payoff system was deemed likely to trigger financial instability, the postponement was deemed reasonable.Ten years have now passed since the five-year suspension was imposed. However, the nation's fiscal health has yet to recover fully from its malaise.Leading financial institutions are seen as likely to achieve the government-set goals of halving their respective nonperforming loans ratio--the ratio of bad loans in the overall lending portfolios--in their accounts for the business year ending March 31.Nonetheless, major banks remain underpinned in their capital base by public funds and have yet to stand on their own feet.In addition, locally based financial institutions, including regional banks, lag leading banks in their disposal of nonperforming loans, many of which have weak capital bases.The government needs to continue urging financial institutions to make efforts to bolster their capital strength.Use taxpayers' moneyThe necessary tools for reinforcing the nation's financial system are at hand.The reorganization of locally based financial institutions must be proactively promoted by using taxpayers' money in accordance with the law concerning special measures for buttressing their financial functions.If a bank fails, the government can head off fears of a financial crisis by not applying the refund ceiling to the bank. The Deposit Insurance Law stipulates that the deposits are to be fully refunded under such circumstances.Under the payoff system, all depositors are held responsible for their own deposits. But the idea of depositors anxiously trying to determine which bank is in danger is not considered normal.To prevent the nation sliding back into such a situation, the senior management of financial institutions are urged to manage their banks with a view to these fears.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	623	2005-03-30	YOSHIN0020050331e13u000jb
YOMSHI0020050330e13v0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050330e13v0000h	EN	\N	Power companies must put safety first	The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has said there has been erosion of a serious desire for nuclear safety at KEPCO.	4	2005-03-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Wednesday, the agency's accident investigation committee issued a final report on a fatal accident that took place at a KEPCO nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture in August, killing five workers and injuring six others. The report points a finger at KEPCO, saying the fatal steam blowout at the power utility's Mihama Nuclear Power Plant must be primarily attributed to its inadequate sense of responsibility and its inappropriate maintenance of the facility.The report stated that KEPCO's "safety first" policy had been reduced to an empty slogan over the years, adding that nothing had been done to correct the situation. This means that KEPCO's primary emphasis on business efficiency played a part in causing the accident.A similar lesson was drawn from a scandal that arose over Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s move to falsify records of its inspections of nuclear power stations three years ago. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)--a nuclear safety watchdog body operated by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry--said TEPCO's nuclear power division had become complacent and did not place enough importance on pursuing safety.Lesson went unheededThe fatal disaster at the Mihama facility shows that KEPCO did not learn a lesson from the TEPCO scandal.During the initial stage of its probe, the accident investigation committee sought to determine why a secondary coolant pipe installed at the Mihama facility had worn thin. However, progress in the committee's investigation showed that questions must be raised about KEPCO's business attitude. The committee found that the power utility had neglected to properly maintain coolant pipes installed at the facility in question.In late March, KEPCO drew up an action plan aimed at ensuring that the pursuit of safety is the centerpiece of its corporate culture. The move came only after the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency had refused to accept plans devised by KEPCO for preventing a recurrence of the Mihama disaster--not once but twice. The agency told KEPCO that its plans were vague on what role top company officials would play in ensuring the safety of the power utility's facilities.The committee's latest report calls on KEPCO to review its business practices, adding that its two action plans were not convincing enough to determine the firm's operational problems would be resolved. The report reflected the committee's distrust in KEPCO's top management.Deregulation a safety issuePrior to the issuance of the committee's report, KEPCO decided President Yosaku Fuji and Chairman Yoshihisa Akiyama would resign to take responsibility for the Mihama accident. But Fuji will remain a member of the power utility's board, while Akiyama will step down one year later. We find it difficult to say KEPCO has done all it should to take the blame for last year's disaster.The report also said the government should share responsibility for the Mihama accident, saying the disaster was partly attributable to the government's policy of allowing each electric power firm to check the thickness of pipes installed at power stations under their in-house regulations. It is important to ensure all power utilities are thoroughly monitored and given necessary instructions through NISA.As circumstances stand, KEPCO's nuclear power generation accounts for 44 percent of its total electric power production, close to 20 percentage points greater than the average of all power utilities.Until about 10 years ago, the utilization ratio of KEPCO's nuclear power plants was 10 percent or so lower than the national average. This state of affairs caused KEPCO to desperately seek an improvement in its nuclear power operation rate, contributing to a decline in its awareness of the importance of safety.Beginning in April, the government will expand the list of corporations in the electric power industry eligible for deregulation. This will entail even greater competition among companies operating in the industry, forcing them to further curtail their operating costs. All electric power firms must remind themselves of the need to pursue a safety-first policy in this age of deregulation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2005-03-31	YOSHIN0020050401e13v000iq
YOMSHI0020050331e1410000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050331e1410000g	EN	\N	Give younger workers more responsibility	If you start working this spring, it will mark your first step into the adult world. What is the significance of becoming a working member of society?	4	2005-04-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	People who were born in the year the war ended will reach the retirement age of 60 this year. In 2007, the highly populous baby-boom generation that came into the world after people in that age bracket will start reaching retirement age.This year marks the start of a major change in generations. The change also may be described as a starting point for the corporate sector of this society as it strives to achieve growth.This can be seen in the results of a survey conducted on listed corporations by the Japan Productivity Center for Socio-Economic Development. A significant 58 percent of those polled said an increasing number of younger employees would be given managerial positions after those in the baby-boom generation reach retirement age.This nation is bound to see a further decline in its birthrate, meaning the population will start to fall sooner or later. Younger generations will become an extremely precious asset for any organization.Women making presence feltA challenge facing young people today is to properly inherit the skills and knowledge accumulated by the prewar and baby-boom generations while also improving their own creativity. Older generations want to see young people work hard to accomplish this goal. We hope young people will become the driving force behind society in the new age.This country is experiencing fierce global competition. There is a gathering momentum for corporate mergers, integration, realignment and buyouts. Various difficulties lie ahead of the nation. But rising to that challenge will build a promising future for this country.Such major corporations as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Nissan Motor Co. have said they will appoint more female employees to managerial posts. The policy adopted by these companies reflects their decision that it is essential to develop and market products using women's know-how.There has been gradual progress in widening the scope of areas in which women can assume important positions in corporate activities. We hope women will make their presence more strongly felt through efforts to carry out their work assignments.Those who have become working members of society this spring may include many nonregular and part-time workers. Many corporations remain unchanged in their decision to place part-time and temporary employees on their payroll as a means of curtailing their personnel costs.It is important for new young employees to learn from their work and improve their abilities and skills every day, whatever status they may have at their companies.Don't throw in the towelDespite their successful efforts to find jobs amid keen competition among job seekers, many young people quit after working for a short period. Their jobs may not match their first choices. Their companies may not fit their personalities. Still, they should know that if their decision to quit was made just to escape the job or company they disliked, handing in their notice is not the solution.In recent years, an increasing number of corporations have been employing people in the so-called second group of new graduates, which includes job-hoppers. It may be a constructive option for such workers to use their job change as a step toward achieving their new goals.It may take young new employees five or even 10 years to find fulfillment in their job. But the greater difficulties they experience while at work, the more satisfied they will feel when they have overcome their problems. One day, each and every new working member of society will feel this to be the case.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	675	2005-04-01	YOSHIN0020050404e141000jh
YOMSHI0020050401e1420000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050401e1420000i	EN	\N	Preparation needed to ease impact of quake	The Central Disaster Prevention Council of the Cabinet Office on Wednesday announced strategies to reduce casualties and economic damage resulting from a strong earthquake. In them, the government for the first time has unveiled numerical targets for disaster management.	4	2005-04-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to government estimates, a Tokai earthquake, or Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes would kill 27,000 people and cause economic damage totaling 94 trillion yen. The strategies are designed to halve both of them in next 10 years. Those quakes are expected to occur in the near future.To achieve its goal of halving predicted damage, the council listed 20 numerical targets including increasing the ratio of earthquake-resistant houses in the country from the current 75 percent to 90 percent. It also listed 35 non-numerical targets such as reinforcement of rescue teams.Scientists have warned many times that a strong earthquake will occur in the near future. The likelihood of Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes in the next 30 years is said to be over 50 percent. The numerical damage-limiting targets were made almost too late.Based on the strategies, the central and local governments and all of us should try to make Japan more quake-resistant.Much to be doneThere is a mountain of things that have to be done. Fifty percent or more of primary and middle school buildings around the country, which are intended to be used as evacuation shelters, are not suffieciently earthquake resistant, nor are 40 percent or more of hospitals, which will be hubs for relief operations in the event of a quake.Residences are being made quake-resistant too slowly, though it is said to be the most effective measure in reducing casualties and economic damage resulting from a quake.Ministries and agencies concerned, including the Construction and Transport Ministry, which is in charge of making residences quake-resistant, and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, which is responsible for infrastructure, such as power and gas lines, are acting too slowly. Most of them are still studying disaster-reduction measures or making no detailed plans.Even though the strategies provide numerical targets, not much progress can be expected in such a situation. Practical plans must be put into place to make the strategies a reality.Put plans into effectFor example, the government last year proposed requiring houses to be evaluated in term of earthquake resistance when they are bought or sold to encourage owners to make them more resistant to jolts. However, the proposed measure has not yet gone into effect.It is also necessary to clarify who is responsible for which disaster-prevention measures. Individuals and railway companies would be responsible respectively for securing furniture, fixtures and fittings in homes and strengthening railway facilities, which were listed in the government's strategies.Meanwhile, the strategies also listed many projects requiring vast amounts of money, including rearrangement of densely built-up areas and reinforcement of riverbanks and shorelines. Without assistance from the central government, it will be difficult for municipalities to carry out such work smoothly.The government is moving to plot disaster-management strategies for a near-field earthquake in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Tokyo and other prefectural governments around the country also will be required to map out their own strategies to deal with earthquakes that may happen in their respective areas.However, without steps to realize them, even the best-laid plans will fail. The central government must study as quickly as possible how to make necessary funds available for disaster-prevention measures and how to develop the necessary laws and other legal mechanisms for them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2005-04-02	YOSHIN0020050404e142001eo
YOMSHI0020050402e1430000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050402e1430000f	EN	\N	Minshuto proposal on postal reform lacking	LDP lawmakers representing those with vested interests in the postal services must be gloating privately to see the contents of Minshuto's proposal.	4	2005-04-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Minshuto proposed monitoring Japan Post's efforts to reform itself for the time being and to maintain its status quo as a public corporation. The party also avoided clarifying details on the direction it thinks management should take in the future by "not ruling out any option."It appears the set of postal privatization bills drafted by the government is likely to be watered down as a result of its compromise with the LDP. However, the Minshuto proposal is more backward-looking on postal reform than the government's proposal, to the extent that it is unworthy of being called a counterproposal.Minshuto has proposed sticking with the status quo allegedly because it incorporated into its proposal the opinions of labor unions, including the one at Japan Post, that are its support organizations.Unions behind weak proposalThe unions have urged Minshuto to oppose the privatization of postal services. Lobbying by the unions seems to have succeeded as a group formed by Minshuto lawmakers cautious about the postal privatization now includes about 60 percent of the party's members in the House of Representatives in its ranks.There is nothing wrong with a political party listening to the opinions of its supporters. However, Minshuto will fail to gain the broad support of voters if it gives priority to the interests of a particular group and adopts a backward approach to reform of the public sector, an issue that will influence the future of Japan. As the main opposition party, Minshuto has a responsibility to make a substantial counterproposal as soon as possible.In its proposal, Minshuto severely criticized the government plan, saying it would create a gigantic financial institution that would drag down private businesses. The party also said the government plan was insufficient in reforming public corporations, which receive major funding from the postal services, and is likely to increase jobs for retired government officials by splitting Japan Post.No alternatives offeredSome of these points are understandable. The question is, however, what does Minshuto offer as an alternative reform plan?The party proposed reform measures to some of those problems, such as reducing funds in postal savings and Kampo life insurance by lowering maximum amounts of deposits and insurance.Though their inflated sizes must be reduced, the party failed to clarify target dates, maximum amounts and other details. Without such specifics, it is impossible to evaluate Minshuto's proposal.Minshuto President Katsuya Okada has repeatedly said it is desirable to privatize postal services in the future and that postal workers do not have to be government employees.However, none of them were included in the latest proposal. Why didn't it reflect the opinions of the party leader?Postal privatization is the most controversial issue in the latter half of the current Diet session. But we cannot expect constructive discussion on postal reform if the main opposition party fails to make a solid counterproposal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2005-04-03	YOSHIN0020050404e1430023x
YOMSHI0020050403e1440000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050403e1440000d	EN	\N	Intellectual property court just 1st step	Often the most advanced technologies are at stake in these lawsuits, involving issues that are hard to understand. In order to pass fair judgment on violations, knowledge from experts in various fields is essential.	4	2005-04-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the past, when such cases were taken to court, local courts would pass judgment by studying the issues involved virtually from scratch. Such a modus operandi is no longer viable due to rapid advances in technology.There can be huge financial rewards from the successful commercialization of technology. But if a court battle over such technology takes years to conclude, the firms whose rights have been violated can suffer enormous damage.The new high court was created in response to demands from the business community for accurate and prompt judgment on such cases.Eighteen judges will devote themselves to this field. Meanwhile, more than 100 technical experts commissioned by the court, including university professors, will advise judges to help them make decisions.We hope the new court will set precedents and fully meet the expectations of the business community. At the same time, judges and lawyers must be fostered in this field.Intl competitiveness at stakeIn other countries such as Germany and the United States, there are courts specializing in intellectual property.Washington sees the protection of intellectual property as one of its key policies in boosting the international competitiveness of its industry. U.S. courts also have helped their firms by passing judgments favorable to the protection of their intellectual property rights.In a bid to catch up, the government has implemented various measures in recent years, making the goal of "building Japan as an intellectual property power" a national strategy.To foster this policy, the government has boosted spending on science and technology, supporting businesses to realize the commercialization of their technologies.The government also has promoted reforms to boost the protection of intellectual property rights. The establishment of the new high court therefore constitutes the key pillar in such efforts.In addressing this issue, the judiciary has had the first trials of lawsuits involving patent infringement handled only at the Osaka and Tokyo district courts. Hearings for intermediate appeals also have been handled, since last year, solely at the Tokyo High Court.Cases that in 1997 used to take an average of nearly 20 months to be heard can now be dealt with in only nine months.Message to foreign copycatsThere have been many incidents in which the nation's advanced technologies have been copied overseas, damaging the interests of Japanese firms.In this regard, the new court's establishment sends a powerful message to the world that Japan is serious about this issue.While it is rare for courts to advertise their presence to other countries, the new court should foster the transfer of information overseas by quickly releasing its judgments in English.Yet these efforts alone are insufficient for the reform task. There are mountains of pending issues, particularly in the management of patents.As an example, the central government's tardiness in examining patent applications left 600,000 cases awaiting judgment as of the end of last year.Reform of the relevant systems, including patent examinations, should be further accelerated.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	577	2005-04-04	YOSHIN0020050405e144000cq
YOMSHI0020050404e1450000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050404e1450000f	EN	\N	Goals of privatization must be achieved	The government has adopted an outline of the bills meant to accomplish that goal, but the privatized postal businesses as envisaged in the outline may not differ much from the business as it is currently operated by Japan Post.	4	2005-04-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Working from the outline, the government and the Liberal Democratic Party will fine-tune the bills for the final time. But as it stands now, it is doubtful that the government will be able to accomplish the goals the reforms were originally aimed at.The focal issue in drawing up the outline was whether the stakes in the new postal savings and kampo postal insurance firms to be held by the envisaged holding company should be disposed of entirely. Koizumi has decided that they should be.But the outline also says the holding company, as well as the mail delivery service firm and the company that will manage the post office network, will be able to buy shares on the market in the two privatized financial entities.When the 10-year privatization process begins in April 2007, the holding company, one-third of whose shares the government will retain, will have under its umbrella all four privatized entities. The holding company will dispose of its entire stake in the two financial entities within 10 years.Govt could stay involvedIf the holding company buys back shares in the two financial entities, the government will maintain its indirect involvement in the two entities.In line with the privatization, business restrictions on the new postal businesses will be lifted, allowing them to conduct business freely. Concerns have been raised that private businesses will then be unable to compete on an equal footing with the privatized businesses.The LDP has asserted that it will be necessary to maintain unified management of the four privatized postal businesses by having the holding company retain a certain number of shares in the two financial entities even after privatization.The government has acceded to the LDP's wishes and approved the buyback of shares in the two financial entities.Total separation neededIn fact, it is necessary for the two financial entities to be separated completely from the other two postal businesses so as to isolate any possible risk. Should the mail delivery service, for instance, run into difficulties, it could have a negative effect on the management of the postal savings company, thus throwing the nation's entire financial system into uncertainty.The stipulation in the outline that effectively makes it mandatory for the postal savings and postal life insurance businesses, in addition to the mail delivery service, to provide universal service across Japan, is also problematic.In the outline, a condition for granting business licenses for banking and insurance services to the two financial entities is that the two entities entrust the post office network with their business, so as to make such services available universally.In the meantime, a fund will be created by selling shares in the postal savings and life insurance businesses following privatization. The fund is designed to enable the two financial entities to continue giving business to the post office network.Should business operations at these new entities be bound legally by such obligations, efficient corporate management could be rendered impossible.For a long time, the original postal services supported projects that were often inefficient, injecting into public corporations an incredible 340 trillion yen in public funds.Privatization is primarily aimed at rectifying such structural defects, leading to the reinvigoration of the national economy.It is important that postal reform accomplishes this important task. The government must not be allowed to pay lip-service to the idea of privatization.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	650	2005-04-05	YOSHIN0020050406e145000i1
YOMSHI0020050405e1460000m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050405e1460000m	EN	\N	Publishers correct mistaken views	A major focus of public attention on this year's screening has been on history and civics textbooks. All textbooks by the eight publishers--including those written by members of the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform and published by Fusosha Publishing Inc.--eventually passed the ministry's examination.	4	2005-04-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Only one history textbook mentions the so-called comfort women. Currently, three history textbooks are being used that include references to women who provided sexual pleasure for soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army at military brothels during World War II.History textbooks toe the lineHistory textbooks produced by seven publishers and used until the end of the 2001 school year touched upon the subject of comfort women. But four of these seven publishers dropped the references in textbooks to be used in academic 2002. This was also true of one produced by Fusosha, which published a history textbook for the first time.The publishers' initial decision to include references to the "comfort women" in their history textbooks in those days largely reflected the widespread mistaken perception about so-called comfort women. It was believed both at home and abroad that those women had been transported for sexual servitude. Some groups in this country propagated the misguided notion that the wartime system created to form corps of women volunteers assigned to work at military factories and other facilities could be regarded as an attempt by the Imperial Japanese Army to forcibly recruit women as "comfort women."However, the perception has been proved wrong. Given this, publishers had a good reason to remove references to "comfort women" from their textbooks.Another focus of attention was on the rekindled territorial dispute between Japan and South Korea over the Takeshima group of islets. Civics textbooks compiled by Fusosha and two other publishers, as well as a geography textbook produced by another publisher, include a reference to the controversy.Fusosha's textbook also incorporates a photograph of Takeshima island, which South Koreans call Tokdo. The photo caption included in the textbook submitted to the ministry for screening described the dispute as having "pit this country against South Korea over its right of possession." During the ministry's screening, however, Fusosha's textbook was rewritten to read that "South Korea unlawfully occupies Takeshima."There is no wonder publishers that mentions any territorial dispute reflect the government's view about the problem in their textbooks.Chinese, S. Koreans upsetThe Chinese and South Korean governments appear to have been antagonized by the results of the ministry's latest textbook screening. The South Korean government reportedly intends to set up a team that will support a joint campaign by Japanese and South Korean citizens groups to prevent middles schools from adopting the textbooks compiled by the Japanese Society for history Textbook Society, known as Tsukuru-kai.Obviously, Seoul's move should be regarded as interference in the internal affairs of Japan.Shortly after the ministry's textbook screening four years ago, a similar campaign was conducted, targeting officials of education boards in some areas where Tsukuru-kai's textbook was being considered to be a final choice. While staying at home, these officials received telephone calls from members of organizations urging them no to adopt the textbook.Three years ago, the Textbook Authorization Research Council, a ministry panel charged with screening school textbooks, urged the government to create "a peaceful environment" for officials responsible for selecting school textbooks to be used at schools in their areas. In those days, a prefectural school in Ehime Prefecture whose teaching system integrates middle and high school curriculums was disturbed by confusion as it sought to adopt Tsukuru-kai's textbook. The prefectural office was surrounded by a human chain formed by groups opposing the school's decision.The ministry's textbook screening is a system established as a form of sovereignty to be exercised by this nation. No foreign country should be allowed to exert pressure on the Japanese system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	692	2005-04-06	YOSHIN0020050407e146000hy
YOMSHI0020050406e1470000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050406e1470000i	EN	\N	Govt stance on textbooks sending mixed signals	This is primarily because the Education, Science and Technology Ministry has allowed publishers to include what it calls "expanded descriptions" in their textbooks submitted to the ministry under its screening system. The expanded descriptions exceed the range of teaching items covered by the ministry's course of study.	4	2005-04-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The growth in the number of pages is particularly noticeable with mathematics and science textbooks. These textbooks are an average of more than 20 percent thicker than their predecessors. Under the ministry's screening process in the 2000 school year, publishers had to remove from their textbooks references to such teaching points as the quadratic formula, ions and hereditary regularity.However, these teaching points found their way back to mathematics and science textbooks as "expanded descriptions."The expansion of teaching items can be regarded as a result of the ministry's regret about the policy it adopted under its preceding screening in 2000. Publishers narrowed down the teaching items to be incorporated into their textbooks under the ministry's course of study, which sought a 30 percent reduction in the number of teaching points. Consequently, the publishers had to compile thinner textbooks, arousing concerns about a decline in the academic ability of students using such textbooks.To help alleviate such worries, the ministry revised its screening guidelines, allowing publisher to include "expanded descriptions" in their textbooks. Many of the teaching points deleted in the 2000 academic year have been brought back to science and mathematics textbooks.Ministry's attitude confusingIt is difficult to understand the basic attitude taken by the ministry in dealing with expanded descriptions publishers wanted to include in their textbooks.One publisher added a footnote to an expanded description included in its science textbook submitted for screening. This caused the ministry to tell the publisher that the textbook "does not clearly state (the expanded description in question) is not covered by the course of study."Consequently, the expanded description was rewritten to emphasize it deviated from the course of study, and to include a sentence that said students "do not necessarily have to learn it."It is questionable whether students will be motivated to study the expanded description in question if they read the sentence. Teachers also may be unsure about how to explain the description in class.However, the ministry has stubbornly defended its position, saying it only cited the opinion advanced by the Textbook Authorization Research Council--a ministry panel charged with screening school textbooks--about the significance of expanded descriptions when it gave the publisher a critical comment about the reference in question.Undoubtedly, it is necessary to impose limits on the range of expanded descriptions so no publisher may be uninhibited in incorporating such additional references. Still, we feel the ministry is too negative about including expanded descriptions in textbooks. Its attitude also will undermine efforts to arouse greater interest among students in learning more than the course of study dictates while also helping them better understand items stipulated in the teaching guidelines.Onus on teachersMeanwhile, the ministry ordered publishers to rewrite 149 expanded descriptions included in their social studies textbooks, saying they are covered by its course of study. As a result of this order, no history textbook incorporated expanded descriptions. Geography and civic studies textbooks included just more than 10 such additional references, respectively. The teaching items initially included as expanded descriptions in the textbooks submitted to the ministry but deleted later were incorporated as ordinary brief essays.Some textbook editors have complained that efforts by textbook writers to show ingenuity in stimulating students' intellectual curiosity through writing expanded descriptions were wasted. Few textbook publishers share the sentiment expressed by the ministry, which says it fully explained the purpose of expanded descriptions to the publishers prior to its screening process.An important task facing teachers is think about how to better use fatter textbooks. Currently, the ministry's Central Council for Education is discussing a possible increase in the number of class hours. However, teachers will have to teach under their current tight class schedule for the time being. Success--or a lack of it--in properly using the new textbooks depends on whether teachers will be able to demonstrate proficiency in class.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	741	2005-04-07	YOSHIN0020050408e147000gc
YOMSHI0020050407e1480000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050407e1480000h	EN	\N	Public demanding constitutional revision	Sixty-one percent of respondents to the latest opinion poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun said the current Constitution should be revised. This is the second-highest figure since this newspaper started surveying public opinion on the nation's basic law in 1981.	4	2005-04-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This goes to show that opinion in favor of revising the Constitution has become widespread and deep-rooted.A record-high 71 percent of respondents also agreed that a national referendum law should be created to stipulate procedures for revising the supreme law, indicating that many people think it is high time for lawmakers to take practical steps toward revising the Constitution.More than half of respondents supporting constitutional revision said new problems have emerged that the current Constitution cannot deal with. Nearly 60 percent also said Japan cannot play an appropriate role in international peace cooperation activities under the current Constitution.The public also is increasingly interested in new kinds of human rights, including those concerning privacy and the environment.Changes in the international, economic and social situations have brought Japan to a historic crossroads. It is a matter of course that the public demand for a new constitution, which will form the basic guideline for the future direction of the country and life of its people, has become stronger.A consensus has developedLooking at the results of the latest survey, opinion trends among respondents supporting Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the largest opposition party, are noteworthy.Of them, a record-high 67 percent said they supported revising the Constitution, while 64 percent of supporters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party backed revising the basic law. Forty-nine percent of Minshuto supporters also replied that Article 9 of the Constitution, the most controversial, war-renouncing provision, should be revised, while 50 percent of LDP supporters agreed with this proposition.Both figures show that opinions of LDP and Minshuto supporters on the Constitution have converged. Pro-Constitution "fundamentalism," which calls for keeping the current Constitution intact by all means, has now become a remnant from the days when conservative and progressive parties were constantly at loggerheads. Whether to revise the fundamental law, including its Article 9, is no longer a major political issue.To propose revision of the Constitution, the support of two-thirds of Diet members is required. The survey results show that nearly two-thirds of respondents supporting the LDP or Minshuto back constitutional revision.This means that the foundation for proposing such a move at the Diet already exists if the opinions of those supporting New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, are added to those of LDP and Minshuto supporters.Bring New Komeito into foldThis sea change in public opinion has prodded lawmakers to act on the constitutional revision issue. The constitutional research commissions of the Houses of Councillors and House of Representatives are scheduled to announce their final reports on amending the top law by the end of this month.The lower house commission likely will report that a majority of its members back constitutional revision. After the two reports are released, both commissions should be transformed into standing committees on constitutional revision to work for the passage of a national referendum bill as soon as possible.The LDP will soon draft an outline for a new constitution and adopt its own draft constitution at a party convention scheduled in November to celebrate its 50th anniversary.Minshuto also will compile its proposal on revision of the supreme law soon and announce a bill to revise it in 2006, which marks the 60th anniversary of promulgation of the current Constitution.Political conditions must be quickly developed to include New Komeito, whose position is only to add a few provisions to the current Constitution, so that concrete discussions on the fundamental law can be accelerated among the major parties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2005-04-08	YOSHIN0020050411e148000ge
YOMSHI0020050408e1490000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050408e1490000i	EN	\N	Parties finally talking about pension reform	The panel is the first of its kind to be jointly established by the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors since 1990, when legislators addressed the consumption tax and other tax issues. Exceptions were joint panels on a reform of the Diet and a proposal to relocate the Diet.	4	2005-04-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The newly established committee comprises influential lawmakers from all major political parties, including their secretaries general and chief policymakers. We hope they will discuss pertinent issues in a manner commensurate with their influence.The joint panel will debate pension reform first, with the intention of producing the main outline of a reform plan by autumn.The deadline should not be extended. Despite an agreement reached among three major parties to start discussions on pension reform in May, members of the parties did nothing to tackle the task for nearly one year. A resolution adopted by the Diet to establish the joint panel states that "no time should be wasted" in discussing ways to reform the state-run pension system.Admittedly, there seems to be great differences among political parties concerning their approach to pension reform. But no major difference can be seen in the basic approach to the problem between the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, and the main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).Key issues setMinshuto has already raised major issues to be discussed. The three key problems include whether some government-administered pension programs should be integrated into a single scheme, whether a taxpayer identification number system should be adopted and whether consumption tax revenues ought be used to help fund the pension system.Minshuto has proposed transforming all three state-run pension plans--one covering corporate employees, the other serving national and local government workers and another to which all residents of the nation subscribe--into a single system.Meanwhile, the ruling parties have insisted on combining the corporate employees' pension plan with the mutual-aid pension for government employees first. The differences in opinions among the three parties can hardly be regarded as a bitter conflict.During a recent question-time debate with Minshuto President Katsuya Okada, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said it was desirable to combine all the government-administered pension plans into a single scheme in the end. This means that uniting the state-run pension plans is the mutually shared goal of the ruling coalition and Minshuto. It will be possible for the two camps to reach a consensus on pension reform if they look at their disagreement in this light, as a mere difference in their approaches to the problem.Different means to same endMinshuto has said their proposals to establish the taxpayers identification number system and use the consumption tax to finance the pension system are part and parcel of their reform plans. Under Minshuto's plans, the government would establish a basic pension system to be funded by revenues from the consumption tax. This could be complemented by a plan to add benefits to basic pension payments received by each subscriber in proportion to the income earned while on the payroll. The income earned by subscribers would be determined under the taxpayers identification number system.Whatever formula may be used to integrate the pension programs, however, the adoption of the taxpayers identification number system and the use of the consumption tax must be implemented for the purpose of ensuring fair taxation and fiscal health. With this in mind, the ruling parties should strive to carry out such plans, whether Minshuto has proposed them or not.We hope the ruling parties and Minshuto will work to reach an agreement, instead of antagonizing each other over specific issues. They should know the public expects them to hold constructive discussions on pension reform.As circumstances stand, the LDP is less enthusiastic about pension reform as a result of its internal strife arising from conflicting opinions among party members about postal privatization. Meanwhile, Minshuto appears to regard the dispute over pension reform as a political game.If the joint panel is reduced to an empty forum for partisan games, politicians and political parties would be further distrusted. Their neglect in this respect must not be tolerated.The recent Diet resolution on the establishment of the joint committee is perfectly correct in stating that a primary task facing legislators is to "accomplish reform."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	775	2005-04-09	YOSHIN0020050411e149001aq
YOMSHI0020050409e14a0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050409e14a0000f	EN	\N	Indecent flyers making residents uneasy	At multiple-family dwellings such as condominiums and apartment complexes, in particular, such flyers are stuffed into residents' mailboxes almost every day.	4	2005-04-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But pink chirashi--flyers advertising pornographic videos and other adult entertainment services--are often lurking among the advertising flyers, causing consternation to many residents. It is only natural that people want such flyers to disappear.The National Police Agency has submitted a bill to the Diet to revise the Adult Entertainment Businesses Law.One of the key points in the revision calls for imposing criminal penalties on those who distribute such indecent flyers to home and apartment mailboxes. Under the revised law, those who distribute such flyers, as well as the operators of the businesses advertised, would be fined up to 1 million yen.Penalties will be harsherEven under the present law, the distribution of such indecent flyers is banned. But no penalties are imposed on such business operators unless they fail to comply with orders issued by a prefectural public safety commission to stop distributing the flyers.Under the revised law, the law enforcement authorities would be able to promptly take action--including arresting offenders, including operators of indecent businesses, once a violation of the law has been confirmed.In addition, organized crime groups are involved in many adult entertainment businesses.In one case, a middle school girl who allegedly read an indecent flyer that was dropped into her family's mailbox at their condominium began working for an adult entertainment business.Even though the revision would greatly tighten relevant regulations, an NPA panel of experts on the public administration of adult entertainment businesses said, "No one is going to be against tougher rules, except for adult entertainment businesses."Cooperation neededTo improve the present situation, it is also important for the police and residents to work together. It is also necessary to win cooperation from operators of printing and advertising businesses.In 2003, 254 orders banning the distribution of indecent flyers were issued, leading to 3,919 arrests. But of these arrests, 70 percent of offenders got off lightly after being charged with violations of the Minor Offenses Law. In these cases, only those who distributed the flyers were arrested. The operators of the businesses advertised went untouched.One prefectural government after another has enacted regulations to prevent public and private nuisances, targeting the distribution of these flyers. This development indicates that there have been many complaints from residents over the flyers, and calls for tighter regulations.With the public safety situation deteriorating and people's wariness over suspicious-looking people in their neighborhood increasing, such regulations could be seen as community public safety measures.Many of the leaflets stuffed in mailboxes provide consumers with useful information, but some housing units have been forced to put up signs forbidding all leaflets.As to the unauthorized entry onto other people's property to put leaflets into mailboxes, there must be a certain code of conduct that considers the rights of the residents. On this occasion of the submission of the bill revising the adult entertainment law to the Diet, we should carefully ponder this issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	557	2005-04-10	YOSHIN0020050411e14a001zg
YOMSHI0020050410e14b0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050410e14b0000e	EN	\N	Liberalization cutting electricity price gap	Starting this month, retail sales of electricity have been further liberalized, affecting as much as 63 percent of the total domestic market. The Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) to trade surplus electricity has also started operation.	4	2005-04-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There are now enough measures to encourage not only nonpower companies to enter the business, but to stimulate competition among existing electric power companies.In this new environment, electric power providers, both new and old, should further pursue cost reduction and improve the quality of service they provide to customers, including lower prices.In Japan, liberalization of the electricity business has been carried out in a carefully calculated step-by-step manner. Liberalization of retail electricity sales started in March 2000 to factories receiving 2,000 kilowatts or more of high-voltage electricity. Last April the range of customers was expanded to include smaller industrial users receiving at least 500 kW of power and large-scale retail outlets. This month the target was further expanded to cover much smaller commercial customers receiving as little as 50 kW of power.Corporate newcomers to the electricity business, forced to rely on the transmission networks of 10 long-established electric power companies, used to be charged every time they transmitted power from one company's network to another.But now they are to be charged only once at their final destination, making it easier for any company to provide power to clients nationwide regardless of the distances involved.Trading marketThe new trading market, JEPX, is mainly for the newcomers to buy surplus power from the long-established electricity companies. But those old companies also can purchase electricity through the JEPX, for instance, to cover shortages while repairing damaged facilities. We expect the market to maintain the most reasonable prices through active trading of electricity.The price of electricity differs slightly even among the 10 long-established power companies. Competition will naturally be even tougher if companies manage to lower the cost of power generation and then launch sales efforts in areas dominated by regional power companies.A decline in overall electricity prices through cutthroat competition will sooner or later hit power companies. But the tough environment also forces each company to consider what its optimal business strategy ought to be.Twenty-one companies have newly entered Japan's electric power market, which until 2000 was dominated by 10 long-established utilities. But the 21 companies held only 2.3 percent of the liberalized portion of the market as of December. None of the 10 traditional companies has taken full advantage of liberalization by gaining new customers in territories controlled by rival utilities.Utilities holding fastThe 10 old-line companies have done their best to avoid losing customers to the newcomers and each other by lowering their prices several times, including those for household-use electricity, an area in which fees are still regulated. Thanks to their efforts, the price gap between domestic and overseas markets has been significantly reduced.In 1999, the ratio of the price of household electricity between Japan and Germany was 1 to 0.71. The ratio in 2002 was 1 to 0.94. The ratio between Japan and Italy was 1 to 0.81 in 1999 but in 2002 it turned out to be 1 to 1.25 with the price of electricity in Italy becoming higher than in Japan. The Japanese price is still almost twice the U.S. price, but it is catching up with most European countries.In what was described as the ultimate liberalization, some governments, including the State of California, forcibly separated the generation and transmission divisions of electric power companies. But the decision created power generating companies unwilling to sell and transmitting companies that lacked capability, causing a spate of large-scale power blackouts.Having lowered prices without causing blackouts, Japan should be confident of the current policy of step-by-step liberalization. As far as liberalization of electricity sales for household use is concerned, we can well afford to wait until the scheduled start date in 2007 to begin considering how to liberalize the regulations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	714	2005-04-11	YOSHIN0020050412e14b000d9
YOMSHI0020050411e14c0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050411e14c0000k	EN	\N	Japan must press ahead on UNSC seat issue	During a recent meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, three permanent council members--the United States, China and Russia--expressed extremely negative views on expanding the council at an early date.	4	2005-04-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This can be regarded as an adverse development for Japan in its quest to join the council as a permanent member. The government must do its best to reverse this unfavorable tide. All efforts possible should be made to expedite an expansion.Last month, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented member states with two plans for expanding the council. Plan A would incorporate six new permanent members into the council, but deny them veto power, while Plan B would establish a new position of quasi-permanent membership, also without veto power. Annan asked U.N. members to form a consensus concerning his proposals by the opening of a U.N. summit meeting in September. Failing that, he said, U.N. members should settle the issue through a vote.During the recent General Assembly meeting, a U.S. representative said, "We should not be bound by artificial deadlines," adding that the issue should be dealt with based on a broad consensus. China also objected to setting a deadline for making a decision on Security Council expansion, and urged U.N. members to make a decision through a consensus. Russia in turn agreed.This means that three of the five permanent council members have gone against Annan's recommendations.An expansion of the council would mean an erosion in the vested interests enjoyed by the current council members, who no doubt want to maintain the status quo.UNSC frozen in placeSince the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, the five major nations that were victorious in World War II have been the only ones to occupy permanent seats on the Security Council. This means that the makeup of the central U.N. organ has remained unchanged for 60 years.Over the years, Japan and Germany, both vanquished in the war, have become key players in the maintenance of peace and security in their respective regions. The two nations--the second- and third-largest contributors to the U.N. coffers, respectively--have both participated in U.N. peacekeeping missions.Both Japan and Germany are fully qualified to sit on the council as permanent members, but neither has been able to attain that status.Not a reflection of realityThese facts show that the framework of the Security Council no longer properly reflects the realities of the global community. It would be difficult for anyone to claim that the council is structured in a way that enables nations around the world to join hands in tackling challenges of global importance in the 21st century.It is disturbing to see that U.N. members have been unable to reach a consensus on the specifics of an expanded Security Council, despite an agreement reached through more than 10 years of discussions about the need to reform the council .Japan has expressly told other U.N. members that the global body should settle the controversy through a vote if it is unable to do so through unanimous consensus.Forty-two years ago, the United Nations added four nations to the list of nonpermanent security council members. This is the only precedent for success when it comes to expanding the council. It should be noted that the world body decided to expand the list through a vote.Japan supports Plan A. The government hopes to join with India, Germany and Brazil to ensure that the United Nations adopts a resolution calling for an increase in the number of both permanent and nonpermanent security members in June. Japan must gain the approval of more than 128 U.N. members--or two-thirds--if the resolution is to be adopted. We cannot afford to be optimistic on this issue.There are many difficulties to overcome as Japan strives to achieve its goal. Italy, South Korea, Pakistan and other nations have launched a full-fledged campaign opposing Plan A, hoping to prevent rival countries from joining the council as permanent members. China and South Korea are also campaigning against the plan, more specifically by naming Japan as a nation unworthy of the status of permanent member.Japan must strive to accomplish this goal by using all possible diplomatic means.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	778	2005-04-12	YOSHIN0020050413e14c000hg
YOMSHI0020050412e14d0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050412e14d0000e	EN	\N	Organ transplant law needs to be revised	Why are children with heart diseases denied heart transplants in Japan? Why do they have to undergo heart transplant surgeries overseas?	4	2005-04-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Performing heart transplants on children with heart disease requires hearts from child donors. However, the current Organ Transplantation Law does not permit organ donation from brain-dead children. Consequently, children with serious organ disorders have to find child donors abroad. This is a sorry state of affairs.A group of lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito is preparing to submit to the current Diet session a bill to revise the Organ Transplantation Law.The United States and European nations authorize organ donation from brain-dead patients if their families give consent. It is not necessary to determine whether a patient wished to donate his or her organs before becoming brain-dead. For years, a large number of organ transplants from brain-dead donors, including children, have been carried out in these countries.Japan out of step with WestThe bill being prepared by the LDP and New Komeito members is designed to bring legal regulations on organ transplants in line with those adopted in the United States and European nations. By revising the current law for this purpose, the legislators hope to legalize organ donation from brain-dead children and allow more children's lives to be saved through transplant surgeries.In October 1997, the Organ Transplantation Law took effect, paving the way for organ donation from brain-dead patients. However, there have since been only 36 organ transplants from brain-dead donors in this country. This paltry figure compares with several thousand similar cases in the United States and hundreds of cases in some major European countries each year.The small number in Japan is attributable to extremely strict regulations imposed on organ donation under the current law. Under the law, organ donation from a brain-dead patient requires the patient to state his or her wish to donate organs in writing before his or her brain death. This must be complemented by consent from his family. The law also permits people aged 15 or older to state their wish to donate organs.Review long overdueWe find it reasonable to revise the law in a manner that allows more people to pass the baton of life to others when they become brain-dead. Needless to say, this relay must be approved only if the patient has received all possible treatment, and the donor's family has agreed to donate the patient's organs.In August, the Cabinet Office conducted a survey on organ transplants from brain-dead patients, including a questionnaire concerning whether such surgery should be approved if it is impossible to determine whether a patient wished to donate organs before his or her brain death. According to the results of the poll, 55.2 percent of the respondents said they supported such organ transplants if the families of patients approved them. This is in contrast to 35.4 percent who answered otherwise.The Organ Transplantation Law incorporates a provision requiring the law to be reviewed three years after its enforcement. However, the law has not been reviewed for 71/2 years. This means lawmakers have neglected their responsibilities. They should give members of the public an opportunity to rethink how to set more desirable standards for organ transplants, through discussions on the bill submitted to the Diet.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2005-04-13	YOSHIN0020050414e14d000hy
YOMSHI0020050413e14e0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050413e14e0000k	EN	\N	Wen seeking to justify anti-Japan violence	Wen's statement was the first of its kind to be made by a Chinese leader about the recent anti-Japan protests in Beijing and some other major cities in China. Wen described the demonstrations as rallies against a Japanese bid to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, saying, "Strong responses from the Asian people should make the Japanese government reflect deeply and profoundly."	4	2005-04-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Chinese premier expressed opposition toward Japan's desire to join the council as a permanent member, discussing the issue in relation to problems arising in the history of Sino-Japanese relations. Obviously, Beijing is seeking to take advantage of the so-called history issue and the anti-Japan protests as a means of discouraging Tokyo from campaigning to gain permanent membership in the council.It is easy to see why the Chinese security police did not bother to restrain a crowd of demonstrators hurling stones and plastic bottles at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing.Beijing flouted lawIt should be noted that the Chinese police's benign neglect was an unmistakable violation of international law. Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations states that signatories to the treaty are "under a special duty to take all appropriate steps" to protect each foreign embassy at home from "any intrusion or damage" and to prevent "any disturbance of the peace" of the embassy or "impairment of its dignity."This explains why U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher criticized Beijing's attitude toward crowds of anti-Japan demonstrators, saying the Chinese government must assume the responsibility for preventing violence against foreign diplomatic and consular offices it hosts.But the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman has repeatedly said the current confusion must be blamed on the Japanese government's attitude toward the history issue, insisting China had no share of responsibility in the problem. If it intends to abide by international law, the Chinese government should accept Japanese demands for an apology and compensation for the damage this country suffered as a result of the violent behavior of Chinese demonstrators.In recent years, China has seen a rash of antigovernment riots in many parts of the country as a result of growing dissatisfaction felt by farmers and workers about the widening gap between the rich and the poor, who have been left behind during their nation's rapid economic growth.Remarks carefully targetedA gradual decline in the anti-Japan rallies seems to reflect an attempt by the Chinese government to rein in demonstrators over fears that the protests could develop into an antigovernment campaign, encouraging Chinese people to criticize their government and sparking social unrest at home.A driving force behind the anti-Japan sentiment among the Chinese has been the "patriotic education" promoted by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin. His emphasis on patriotism was almost synonymous with an anti-Japan campaign primarily aimed at deflecting the public's criticism of the government, thereby maintaining the Communist Party's iron-fist rule.The Chinese premier's latest reference to the anti-Japan rallies, made despite the fact that the movement has gone off the boil, appears to show that he believes he can get himself heard by some Japanese, judging from the views they have expressed about the history issue in connection with the demonstrations. They have said the anti-Japan protests have arisen because the remarks made about the history issue in Japan have bitterly antagonized the Chinese, arguing that the Japanese should "reflect" on their words and deeds.This line of argument has encouraged China to criticize Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2005-04-14	YOSHIN0020050415e14e000he
YOMSHI0020050414e14f0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050414e14f0000f	EN	\N	China violating norms of intl relations	This move was an attempt to counter China's unilateral development of gas fields there. It is only natural that Japan, as a sovereign nation, shows a firm resolve to protect its maritime resources.	4	2005-04-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	China has been developing the Chunxiao and Duanqiao gas fields on the Chinese side of the median line. They will start commercial operations there this summer.The government surveyed the seabed on the Japanese side of the median line and confirmed that the two gas fields stretch extensively into the Japanese side. Tokyo requested that Beijing suspend development and asked for data on the fields, as such commercial operations will remove natural resources from the Japanese side as well. China, however, has not responded to these requests.The government should quickly carry out the necessary procedures for test-drilling on the Japanese side to collect detailed data on the gas fields.Japan and China have not yet agreed on the boundaries of the EEZs and continental shelves that lie between them in the East China Sea.Demarcation line at issueTokyo has claimed that the boundary should be a median line drawn at an equal distance from the coasts of the two countries. Beijing has claimed that Chinese territory includes waters near Okinawa Prefecture that contain the Senkaku Islands, which are originally Japan's territory, based on the principle that takes into consideration the natural extension of the continental land mass into the sea. This means that a continental shelf extends from the Chinese continent to the seabed under the islands.But the equal distance principle is currently in use as an international rule to demarcate disputed waters.Beijing criticized Japan for starting procedures to grant exploratory rights as a serious provocation to "the rights of China" and to "the norms of international relations." This accusation is quite unreasonable.Beijing ignoring requestsBeijing has bulldozed through the development of the gas fields, ignoring Tokyo's repeated requests for their suspension. It is apparent that China has violated the norms of international relations.According to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, concerned parties must make every effort to avoid endangering or preventing the formation of a final agreement over disputed waters.For the past four decades, therefore, Japan has shelved applications from private companies seeking exploratory rights for natural gas fields on the Japanese side.Approvals for test-drilling were also deferred due to the government's excessive consideration for China--and to its ostrich policy on issues concerning Japan's giant neighbor. However, if Japan continues to say nothing about the commercial operations in Chunxiao and other gas fields now, it will amount to de-facto approval for demarcation as China wishes.The government must take every possible measure to protect ships digging experimental wells. When a commercial ship hired by the government recently surveyed the Japanese side of the median line, Chinese naval destroyers cruised around it, apparently in an effort to intimidate.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the largest opposition party, has compiled an outline of a bill to protect drilling ships using Japan Coast Guard patrol boats. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is studying the compilation of a similar bill. The ruling and opposition parties should cooperate with each other to effect such a law as soon as possible.Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, in an upcoming Japan-China foreign ministerial meeting, should again strongly urge his counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, to suspend China's development of the gas fields.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2005-04-15	YOSHIN0020050418e14f000gs
YOMSHI0020050415e14g0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050415e14g0000g	EN	\N	Report marks step toward new constitution	The Research Commission on the Constitution submitted the report to the lower house speaker Friday, winding up five years of discussions. The report discussed specific sections of the Constitution the might be revised, pointing out the steps the nation could take to pave the way toward amending the basic law.	4	2005-04-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report specifically used the words "majority opinions" when referring to subjects that two-thirds of the commission members agreed on. The careful use of these words apparently reflects the fact that amendments to the Constitution can only be initiated through a concurring vote of two-thirds or more of all the members of both chambers of the Diet.Regarding the preamble to the Constitution, the majority of commission members agreed that the preface "should stipulate the inherent history, traditions and cultures of our country."Concerning Article 9, the focal point of discussions on the Constitution, a majority of commission members were of the opinion that the first paragraph of the article that renounces war should be maintained, but said they would not rule out a revision that would clarify the right to exercise self-defense and the role of the Self-Defense Forces. Two-thirds of commission members agreed that Japan has the right to collective self-defense.The majority of the commission members said there should be a stipulation in the Constitution that the country could participate in collective security operations, such as multinational forces, under the auspices of the United Nations.New human rights favoredIn the area of rights and obligations of the people, a great majority of commission members favored writing new human rights into the Constitution, including environmental rights and protection of privacy.The House of Representatives and the House of Councillors both set up research commissions on the Constitution in 2000. These were the first commissions on the top law set up in the heart of national politics since the government's Research Commission on the Constitution, which was convened between 1957 and 1964.Indeed, the establishment of the parliamentary commissions was a historic development, as the Diet is the institution that has the right to initiate revisions to the Constitution.Over the five-year period since the inauguration of the research commissions in the two houses, the backdrop to discussions on revising the Constitution changed drastically. The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the ensuing developments in Afghanistan and Iraq, North Korea's nuclear weapons development and China's quest to become a military superpower have combined to change the Japanese perception of security, international cooperation and collective self-defense.Article 9 amendment keySuch changes were reflected in the lower house commission report, which highlighted the necessity of amending Article 9.According to the report, many members were of the opinion that the Diet should create a standing committee in each chamber to deliberate a possible bill for a national referendum, with a view to continuing discussions on the Constitution in such forums.Under the existing top law, there is no act providing for a national referendum that can stipulate revisions. As a result, the people have been deprived of their supreme right to amend the Constitution. The Diet is to blame for this oversight.The Diet should launch the proposed standing committees on the Constitution in both houses, and, as soon as possible, embark on discussions on a bill for a national referendum--and enact such a law.The report as a whole is expected to be so widely supported that it is likely to serve as a basis for further discussions on the Constitution among political parties and at every level of Japanese society.The upper house's Research Commission on the Constitution is scheduled to release a final report soon. The Liberal Democratic Party, for its part, plans to adopt a draft of a new constitution during a party convention in November on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Likewise, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the main opposition party, is to compile its version of such a draft.The ongoing discussions on the Constitution are finally moving to a critical stage. Great strides are being made toward a new one.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	740	2005-04-16	YOSHIN0020050418e14g001at
YOMSHI0020050416e14h0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050416e14h0000f	EN	\N	Settling territorial dispute to benefit Japan, Russia	Behind the postponement is the failure of the Japanese and Russian governments to narrow their discord over the sovereignty of Habomai, a group of islets, and Shikotan, Kunashiri and Etorofu off eastern Hokkaido. Tokyo has been demanding that Russia acknowledge that the four islands belong to Japan, while Moscow has been advocating a resolution of the dispute by returning two of the islands--Habomai and Shikotan--to Japan.	4	2005-04-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The 1855 Treaty of Commerce, Navigation and Delimitation between Japan and Russia definitely established that the four islands--the northern territories--were Japanese territory. However, the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin seized the islands--which inherently belong to Japan--in the closing days of World War II in violation of the 1941 Neutrality Pact between Tokyo and Moscow. The four islands remain occupied by Russia today.Therefore, Japan, as a matter of course, has been refusing to resolve the territorial dispute with the reversion of two of the four islands as proposed by Russia.Since last autumn, the Putin administration has repeatedly said it will settle the dispute with Japan by returning only two islands on the basis of the Joint Declaration of 1956, in which the Soviet Union agreed to hand over the islands of Habomai and Shikotan to Japan after the signing of a peace treaty.Settlement not mentionedIt must be pointed out, however, that the Joint Declaration--which led to the normalization of diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Moscow--never mentioned that the territorial dispute would be settled with the reversion to Japan of the two islands. Because there was no end in sight to the issue of the sovereignty over Kunashiri and Etorofu at the time, Japan and the Soviet Union agreed in the Joint Declaration "to continue negotiations on the conclusion of a peace treaty" after the reestablishment of normal diplomatic relations.The Tokyo Declaration on Japan-Russia Relations agreed upon and issued in Tokyo in 1993 by Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and Russian President Boris Yeltsin named the four islands and stated that the two countries would negotiate "an early conclusion of a peace treaty through the solution of this issue."This is the very point that has been repeatedly affirmed in bilateral summit talks and in bilateral agreements involving Russian leaders, including President Putin. Needless to say, territorial negotiations between Tokyo and Moscow must be based on the 1956 Joint Declaration and the 1993 Tokyo Declaration.Last autumn, Russia ended four decades of territorial confrontation with China by delimiting the eastern section of the China-Russia border. The Moscow-Beijing accord was followed by the successful conclusion of delimitation negotiations with Kazakhstan in January. In both cases, the disputes were politically resolved by dividing disputed areas equally.History of territories uniqueIt would not be practical to immediately apply such a method to the northern territories because the historical background of the Tokyo-Moscow territorial dispute differs from ones between Russia and China , and Russia and Kazakhstan. Nonetheless, Russia's delimitation agreements with the two neighboring countries are very significant in that Moscow abjured the territories it had occupied and President Putin made a decision to end the lingering sovereignty disputes.President Putin has emphasized that the northern territories issue should be settled with due consideration to the mutual interest of both Japan and Russia.Russia has been strengthening strategic relations with China while remaining wary of the possibility of its self-asserting neighbor emerging as a threat. To keep Beijing in check and maintain the regional power balance, it appears that Moscow thinks it would be wiser to also have strategic relations with Tokyo. Strategic ties between Japan and Russia would be consistent with Japan's national interest.During a summit meeting in Moscow in January 2003, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Putin confirmed their determination to solve the issue of the sovereign affiliation of the four islands and conclude a peace treaty as early as possible. The two countries should return to the spirit expressed in the Moscow summit talks and draw their resources for furthering bilateral relations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	735	2005-04-17	YOSHIN0020050418e14h001yw
YOMSHI0020050417e14i0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050417e14i0000c	EN	\N	China must accept its responsibility	The G-7 finance ministers and central bank chiefs, in a joint statement issued Saturday in Washington, expressed concern over the impact of such factors as surges in the price of crude oil and economic imbalances--the widening gap among the growth rates and surpluses of major countries--on the world economy. The concern was expressed in even stronger terms than in the previous joint statement issued after February's session.	4	2005-04-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the statement failed to list concrete policy steps to deal with these concerns.The statement described the rising price of crude oil as a "headwind" that threatened the hopes for expansion of the world economy.But when it came to how the world should overcome the crisis, the G-7 statement merely said it welcomed efforts to expand information on the global oil market as well as to expand the midterm energy supply.February's joint statement was more straightforward, calling for greater investment and innovation to increase oil development while stressing the significance of energy from the viewpoint of global security.Key player missing at G-7The U.S. twin deficit of trade and current account continue to expand, foreshadowing dismal growth for the world economy, while economic recovery in Japan and Europe is slowing down. Saturday's G-7 statement also failed to provide a prescription for policy coordination to tackle those challenges.The economic conditions in Japan, Europe and the United States differ a lot, both domestically and regionally.But that is not the only reason policy coordination was difficult at last weekend's G-7 meeting. Both the Chinese finance minister and the president of the People's Bank of China, who were invited to the meeting as guests, were conspicuous by their absence.China is the world's seventh-largest economy in terms of gross domestic product. It is expecting a growth rate of more than 8 percent this year. Beijing also is the second-largest consumer of crude oil after the United States. More than a quarter of the United States' trade deficit is with China. Without Beijing's presence, it will be increasingly difficult for any meeting to come up with concrete steps to tackle problems such as crude oil prices and economy imbalances.Evasion not escape routeChinese delegations have twice attended G-7 meetings as guests, including February's. On both occasions, China was strongly urged to pursue economic reforms, including depreciating the yuan. It is widely believed that Chinese officials decided not to attend the latest G-7 meeting to avoid any further pressure for reform. And one of the strongest pressures on China is the U.S. demand for depreciation.U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow, in the meeting's presidential conclusion issued separately from the joint statement, strongly demanded more flexibility of the yuan. This reflects the sentiment in the U.S. Congress and industry circles, which have accused China's pegging of its currency to the U.S. dollar as the origin of the sharp increase in imports from China.Even if by declining the G-7 invitation China thought it could avoid facing such demands, its absence does not allow it to escape the accusation of being irresponsible.Unless China includes itself in the framework of major international meetings, and recognizes its responsibility to adopt correct policies, Beijing will continue to be a source of trouble for the world economy. The G-7 must mount a coordinated effort to include China in its framework.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	620	2005-04-18	YOSHIN0020050419e14i000e0
YOMSHI0020050422e14j00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050422e14j00005	EN	\N	Fuji TV-Livedoor scrap provides vital lesson	Under an agreement to end their competition, Fuji TV will acquire the Livedoor group's shares in NBS, accounting for 50 percent of the Tokyo-based radio station's overall stake. Furthermore, the television network also will invest in the Internet portal services company by subscribing to new Livedoor shares, and the two companies will set up a joint task force to study a possible business alliance.	4	2005-04-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The settlement can be regarded as a draw. Livedoor originally aimed to take over NBS--the largest shareholder in Fuji TV, which is much larger than the radio station--as a step to involve itself in the management of the television network.Now that Livedoor has agreed to give up its trump card--its stake in NBS--to Fuji TV, it is doubtful that the television company will seriously join forces with the once hostile corporation.The damage inflicted on Fuji TV in the battle is not minor. Monday's accord enables it to make the radio station a subsidiary, in line with its original intention, but it will have to bear an enormous financial burden. The offered price for purchasing Livedoor's stake in NBS is higher than Fuji TV's original takeover bid for the radio company, and its acquisition of Livedoor shares will add to its financial burden.2 investment firms winAt least two entities have emerged as definite winners in the battle between Fuji TV and Livedoor. One of them is the U.S. investment bank that underwrote convertible bonds issued by Livedoor to raise funds for buying NBS shares. The other is the domestic investment fund that focused on NBS ahead of Livedoor and other investors.Livedoor has rapidly established itself as a major Internet-centered group by taking advantage of one loophole after another in the laws governing the stock market. For example, it earlier employed a stock-split method--which does not change the aggregate market value of the corporation concerned--with an eye to shoring up its stock price. In February, it acquired a massive amount of NBS shares through off-hours transactions.However, Livedoor appears to have failed to outmaneuver stock market professionals this time. Over a short period of time, business jargon such as "poison pill," "crown jewels" and "white knight" have become household terms. In other words, the Fuji TV-Livedoor battle has led not only business managers, but also the man in the street to realize that Japan has finally ushered in a full-fledged era of corporate mergers and acquisitions. This is an unexpected by-product of the tense drama.But the nation has much to learn from what it has observed since early February.Learn from M&A dramaFirst, businesses--listed ones in particular--have to prepare sufficiently to cope with hostile M&A bids. While the high road to safeguarding a company is to enhance its value and make acquisition bids more costly, corporate managers need to arm themselves with common-sense defense steps, such as a poison pill, that make a takeover bid more costly to a hostile acquirer.There should be a review of the existing laws and regulations that govern takeover bids and compulsory disclosure of large-scale ownership changes. Any loopholes in the regulatory regime should be rectified on the basis of an ethical view that assumes the worst about human nature so that reckless M&A activities would have little chance of success.The Fuji TV-Livedoor case also has offered us an opportunity to think seriously about the news media's social responsibility. Livedoor President Takafumi Horie has shown no respect for the media's role in reporting and editing and, instead, attached importance to the entertainment and money-making business aspects. Treating his attitude as a bad example, the news media should continue to serve the people's right to know.Integration of information technology and broadcasting operations is an issue that should be sorted out soon. Such a combination can follow friendly negotiations--not those conducted in a hostile atmosphere.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	715	2005-04-19	YOSHIN0020050420e14j000gw
YOMSHI0020050419e14k0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050419e14k0000k	EN	\N	Structural reform plan needs an overhaul	The council report warns that Japan will go into a slow but steady decline if it fails to overcome these problems.	4	2005-04-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a crisis scenario presented in the report, the population in 2030 will be 10 million less than today, and the decrease in the labor force will hurt productivity and economic growth. Tax revenues will consequently decrease, but social security expenses will increase, aggravating the fiscal crisis.These undoubtedly are problems the government should tackle squarely. The key issue is how to avoid the envisaged crisis.According to the council report, this will require advancing structural reforms across the board. It says their results, to be seen in the next year or two, will determine this country's destiny.However, few of the policies the report proposes as structural reforms are new. The government has been working on most of them.A day late and a dollar shortThe real problem is that the measures now under way are being implemented too slowly and do not go far enough in the first place. The council report should have studied the reasons for this and proposed effective countermeasures.It says that improving per capita labor productivity will offset the negative effects of the population decrease.The report also says adequate class hours should be secured at school because quality education is essential to improve individual abilities. The recent decline in Japanese children's academic abilities is attributed to the "education with latitude" provided at primary and middle schools since 2002. This policy misstep should be reviewed and a new direction for Japan's education policy mapped out.Meanwhile, the report also stresses that economic globalization will provide opportunities for Japan. In concrete terms, the report urges the government to conclude free trade agreements with other countries. In reality, however, negotiations on FTAs have been delayed due to resistance from domestic opponents of liberalization and sectionalism among government ministries and agencies.Lacking any proposals to overcome these problems, the report carries little weight.Japan seen as a boiled frogIf it was intended to emphasize the necessity for reforms, the report should have studied the structural reform programs Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet has been working on. The Cabinet has stopped short of carrying out any other reforms except disposal of nonperforming loans at banks, privatization of Japan Highway Public Corporation and postal privatization which is still a work in progress. The Cabinet's reform efforts have been unsystematic and insufficient.The report urges the public to share its concerns, referring to the boiled frog analogy.An urban legend has it that if you put a frog in a kettle filled with water and heat it gradually, the frog will ignore the incremental change in temperature and eventually boil to death. This analogy warns that those who ignore changes in the times will end up facing insurmountable problems. This analogy should also be pointed out to the government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	547	2005-04-20	YOSHIN0020050421e14k000gt
YOMSHI0020050420e14l0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050420e14l0000k	EN	\N	Parties must act to change Constitution	The submission of the report marks the end of discussions on whether the Constitution should be reformed, and indicates the time has now come to take concrete steps to create a new constitution.	4	2005-04-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report from the House of Representatives commission used the words "majority opinions" when referring to subjects that two-thirds of the commission members agreed upon, clearly setting its sights on revising the supreme law.But the upper house report showed arguments in favor of and against many of the issues debated.The commission members discussed all possible amendments. All of them agreed not only to stick with the pacifism expressed in the preamble to the Constitution and Article 9, but also with "active pacifism" such as contributions to international peace.Some members insisted that the Self-Defense Forces and contributions to international peace should be stipulated in the new constitution.The majority agreed that new human rights, including environmental rights and protection of privacy, should be written into the top law.Top law must reflect new timesLike the lower house report, the upper house document has highlighted problems the Constitution has with regard to the international situations and Japanese society today, both of which have changed drastically since the Constitution was adopted.Discussion on revising the Constitution was a political taboo for many years after the end of World War II, a period when conservative and progressive parties stood squarely against each other. However, when the gap between the Constitution and reality started becoming increasingly evident after the end of the Cold War, lawmakers at last began discussing revisions.However, the dawn of the 21st century has brought further changes to the international situations--including global security--and Japanese society, and demands that we do more than just discuss the issue.The Research Commissions on the Constitution were formed in both houses of the Diet, which have the right to propose initiatives for amending the Constitution. They discussed the supreme law in a comprehensive manner and presented a wide variety of opinions on it.Let the public decideHowever, some groups remain opposed to amending the Constitution, still clinging to the ideology of the old days when conservative and progressive parties stood squarely against each other.For example, they say the Constitution is a restraint imposed on lawmakers, implying that lawmakers should not touch the supreme law as it regulates them. However, that is an inverted logic, denying the responsibilities of lawmakers.It is a matter of course that lawmakers propose amendments to the Constitution in line with domestic and international changes. Presented with proposals, the public can decide on them through a national referendum.This is what responsible lawmakers should do to respond to the mandate given them by voters.Most countries, including major countries in Europe and North America, have amended their constitutions many times.Both the ruling coalition--the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito--as well as Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) bear a grave responsibility to see that the Constitution is amended.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	552	2005-04-21	YOSHIN0020050422e14l000gr
YOMSHI0020050421e14m0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050421e14m0000j	EN	\N	Minshuto group making positive move on defense	A group of Minshuto Diet members will shortly establish a "league for realizing at an early date the establishment of the national defense ministry."	4	2005-04-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In its plan for establishing the ministry, the party says the name "national defense" conveys the essence of the mission of "defending the state." If it was named the "defense ministry," the subject of its defense would become ambiguous, the party reasons. This is a constructive argument.Minshuto had hitherto been opposed to the agency being given ministerial status.With the establishment of the league, the party should conduct further discussions on the issue and make the establishment of the national defense ministry a party policy. Such a movement would help qualify the party to assume the reins of government.The Liberal Democratic Party has advocated in its official pledge for national elections the upgrading of the Defense Agency's status to that of a ministry. The party also has continued discussions with New Komeito, its ruling coalition partner, over a "bill for establishing a defense ministry."Within New Komeito, however, there have been calls that it is too early for such a move. Therefore, it is highly likely that the bill's submission to the Diet will be put off until after the current session.In such a situation, the movement within Minshuto is set to cause a stir.Govt should draft billThe promotion of the agency to ministerial status is an issue that concerns the administrative organs of the central government.Should the LDP, New Komeito and Minshuto ultimately agree on the establishment of the ministry of defense (or national defense), it is only reasonable for the bill to be drafted by the government, rather than as legislation by Diet members.The Defense Agency is currently an external organ of the Cabinet Office. Japan is the only country that does not have an administrative organization in charge of national defense and security on a par with other administrative organizations.Should it be promoted to a ministry, a defense (or national defense) minister would be empowered to call Cabinet meetings and submit proposals. The minister also would be able to formulate ministerial ordinances.The nation's security and crisis control systems--a fundamental of the state--also would be reinforced.The security situation surrounding the nation is becoming more difficult, as indicated by North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs and China's military buildup.As a result, the responsibility and role of the Defense Agency, which is in charge of dealing with national security, has become greater than ever. It is unreasonable for it to remain an agency.Basic policies must be agreedThe basic policies that are fundamental to a state's future, including those related to national and social security, are issues that all political parties should address by going beyond the framework of the ruling and opposition camps.There should be no such developments as the Japan-U.S. alliance being disrupted, or the state-run pension system undergoing major changes every time there is a change of administration.Under the so-called 1955 political framework, which centered on confrontation between the ruling LDP and the then leading opposition party, the Japan Socialist Party, there were no changes of power. This is because the JSP completely differed from the LDP in its basic policies, including national security.Voters cannot possibly vote for a change of government as long as the leading opposition party continues to argue, with increasing vehemence, its differences in terms of basic policies compared with those of the ruling parties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2005-04-22	YOSHIN0020050425e14m000fy
YOMSHI0020050422e14n0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050422e14n0000j	EN	\N	Human rights bill needs drastic changes	The bill was scrapped when the House of Representatives dissolved in 2003. This year, moves emerged to resubmit it to the Diet by freezing the media-related provisions, which were criticized due to their interference with press freedom.	4	2005-04-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Yomiuri Shimbun has asserted that the bill should be submitted only after modifying the provisions that curtail the media's news-gathering activities, rather than merely freezing them.With regard to where a human rights commission should be established, The Yomiuri Shimbun proposed that the commission be set up within the Cabinet Office, rather than as an external organ of the Justice Ministry, from the viewpoint of fairness and effectiveness.Taking into consideration the discussions over the main part of the bill following the proposal, this newspaper believes the LDP should allocate enough time to make drastic revisions to the bill, instead of submitting it hastily with little modification.Nationality provision dubiousThe main point of dispute is in the area of nationality. The bill eliminates the provisions concerning nationality that are currently included in the Civil Rights Commissioners Law.Under the bill, people recommended by the head of a municipal government--either a city, town or village government--are eligible to become a commissioner, irrespective of nationality.This was not questioned when the bill was first submitted to the Diet in March 2002. Yet afterwards, the abductions of Japanese by North Korea came to light.This time, many LDP members expressed the concern that if anyone connected with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) became a commissioner, he or she may regard any criticism from politicians over the pro-Pyongyang association's response to the abduction issue as a violation of human rights. The lawmakers are quite right to be concerned by such a possibility.Commission's powers excessiveOpposition also has emerged toward the commission's powers. The present commissioners are supposed to investigate, gather information and make recommendations on human rights issues.On the other hand, the human rights commission to be created under the bill is empowered to make on-the-spot inspections of concerned locations on its own, without a written court order. It also can ask those persons concerned to come to the commission, question them and confiscate relevant materials.The Justice Ministry says none of these powers, including on-the-spot inspections, are mandatory and therefore can be challenged. Yet anyone who refused to respond to such demands without rightful reason can be slapped with an administrative fine.The ministry explains that similar provisions can be found in the Antimonopoly Law and the Law for the Settlement of Environmental Pollution Disputes.Yet cases in which a business is subject to an on-the-spot inspection over its activities are completely different from matters in which an individual or private dwelling becomes subject to an inspection over suspected human rights violations.The ministry says the commission will exercise its authority in a limited and prudent way in specific cases of human rights abuse, such as the abuse of small children and the elderly. If so, such cases should be handled with other individual laws, rather than this comprehensive legislation now under discussion.Those LDP members who oppose the bill say there is no need for diverse cases of human rights violations to be covered by a comprehensive and all-encompassing range of restrictions. Their assertion is quite convincing.Should the law be applied arbitrarily, human rights may be violated in the name of their protection.The party should review the bill further to address all such misgivings.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2005-04-23	YOSHIN0020050425e14n001ae
YOMSHI0020050423e14o0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050423e14o0000b	EN	\N	Better scholastic results only first step	This is in contrast to the worrisome results of similar tests conducted in recent years, including the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Since the findings from the latest PISA test were released last year, specialists have pointed to a decline in the scholastic ability of Japanese children. The results of the government survey have given the Education, Science and Technology Ministry cause to heave a sigh of mild relief.	4	2005-04-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government's latest survey tested 450,000 children--from fifth-grade primary school students to middle school students in their third year--when they entered the second year of learning under the ministry's guidelines for school curriculums.Improvement widespreadThe achievement test included hundreds of the same questions as those given in a similar test carried out in the 2001 academic year, when the ministry's previous teaching guidelines were still in place. The percentage of correct answers given by examinees in the latest survey increased in all subjects and all grades except for Japanese language, social studies and mathematics for first-year middle school students, compared with the ratio in the 2001 test.The increase in this respect is particularly noticeable with mathematics for primary school students in their fifth and sixth grades and natural science for middle school students in their first to third years. This is the antithesis to a widely accepted observation that there is a growing tendency among contemporary Japanese children to like mathematics and natural science the least.The ministry sees the results as a sign that gradual progress has been made in efforts to comprehensively teach children basic knowledge and skills.The task of teaching children the basics belongs to teachers in the classroom. The questionnaire answered by teachers in the latest test shows that an increasing number of schools have adopted team teaching, small-class teaching and proficiency-dependent teaching in mathematics and English classes. The survey also shows that teachers have become increasingly interested in giving students extended learning, after-school supplementary lessons and more homework.Still more to be doneMeanwhile, the latest test results show what needs to be done to improve the scholastic ability of Japanese children. The PISA test revealed that there had been a decline in the ability of Japanese children to read and comprehend. In the government's latest test, such a tendency was seen in the remarkably low percentage of correct answers given by children, ranging from sixth-grade primary school students to second-year middle school students, to questions about the Japanese language that required written answers.For example, less than 20 percent of first-year middle school students gave correct answers to questions requiring them to read a passage of writing, state which part impressed them most and describe how they felt about it.Whatever subject they may learn, children must have the ability to read and express their opinions and feelings. Students should be given more time to develop reading and writing skills.Late last year, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry said the scholastic ability of Japanese children was not among the best in the world. This was the first time that the ministry had acknowledged a decline in the academic proficiency of Japanese students.Ministry officials remain cautious about the results of the latest test, saying it was too early to conclude the decline in the academic ability of Japanese children had been stemmed. The ministry says the improvement in scholastic proficiency was made as a result of efforts by teachers to educate children in a manner that would give them more knowledge under an instruction issued by the ministry in 2002. The ministry adds that these efforts have been combined with growing concern about a decline in the reading and other abilities of Japanese children.The results of the latest test will be reported to the Central Council for Education. We hope the results will encourage the council to fulfill its duty with a sense of concern in reviewing the current course of study and discussing a possible increase in the number of school hours.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2005-04-24	YOSHIN0020050425e14o001yl
YOMSHI0020050424e14p0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050424e14p0000e	EN	\N	Planning best defense against takeover bids	The recent battle between Livedoor Co. and Fuji Television Network Inc. to acquire a greater stake in Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. has given corporate executives a grim lesson about the need to devise effective precautions against a possible unfriendly takeover bid. Otherwise, a targeted company could have to pay dearly to fend off a hostile buyout bid.	4	2005-04-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	An important task facing a top corporate manager whose corporation has become a hostile takeover target is to protect his employees, clients, business partners and company. Given this, corporate executives have every reason to put together precautions against an unfriendly takeover bid.The government should support the move. The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Justice Ministry intend to draw up a set of guidelines for defense against a hostile takeover bid. The guidelines are aimed at defining what kind of precautions would be deemed fair--not just conducive to protecting the interests of corporate executives.A METI panel has put together a report on its discussions on anti-takeover precautions devised in the United States and Europe and on the domestic legal system as it relates to corporate mergers and acquisitions.Poison pill suggestedThe report concluded a poison pill can serve as the best defense against an unfriendly takeover bid in this country. This defense measure grants existing shareholders of a corporation warrants for the purchase of newly issued shares. If a hostile bidder has acquired more than a certain percentage of shares in the company, the existing shareholders will be issued new shares, thereby diluting the voting rights of the bidder.The committee's report also proposes the opinions of corporate executives and approval of shareholders be treated seriously in adopting the poison pill policy against a hostile takeover bid.The envisaged guidelines will likely follow the recommendations stipulated in the report. But some specialists have said adopting the poison-pill defense could pose tax-related problems for shareholders. METI and the Justice Ministry need to coordinate their policies in consultation with the tax authorities to clear up such problems. Possible measures include a plan to defer taxes on shareholders until their shareholdings are sold.Restraint requiredThe Tokyo Stock Exchange has asked all listed corporations to restrain themselves from taking excessive defense measures. The TSE's request is largely reasonable, as shown by its speaking out against the golden-share defense, a type of share that gives its holder veto power over important changes to the company's charter, including a merger. However, the TSE should have emphasized that fair precautions against an unfriendly takeover bid would protect the interests of ordinary shareholders.The Livedoor-Fuji TV battle over control of NBS has shown that anomalies in the shareholdings of corporations could induce a hostile takeover bid. NBS was a major shareholder in Fuji TV, although the aggregate market value of the former's shareholdings was smaller than that of the latter.The case is also true with the Ito-Yokado group. It has been announced that three members of the group--Ito-Yokado Co., Seven-Eleven Japan and Denny's Japan Co.--will establish a holding company to correct the anomaly.Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is 13 times greater than Ito-Yokado in terms of the aggregate market values of their shareholdings. The Ito-Yokado group's move is partly aimed at preventing a merger and acquisition of the supermarket chain by the world's largest retail business through an exchange of shares.Domestic listed corporations include many parent companies whose subsidiaries are also listed. This practice is peculiar to Japan. Should business groups in this country fundamentally reform their corporate structure as a means of fighting off a takeover bid or should they choose to adopt specific defensive measures in the event such a bid is launched? This issue poses a formidable challenge for companies in this age of corporate mergers and acquisitions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2005-04-26	YOSHIN0020050427e14q000ih
YOMSHI0020050425e14q0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050425e14q0000f	EN	\N	Cause of derailment disaster must be found	One of the derailed cars crashed into an apartment building beside the line and bent from the middle to form a chevron shape, indicating the extreme force of the impact in the accident.	4	2005-04-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It was one of the worst train disasters in Japan since the 1963 accident on the Japanese National Railways' Tokaido Line in Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama, which killed 161 and injured 119.The police and the Construction and Transport Ministry's Aircraft and Railway Accident Investigation Commission must thoroughly investigate how the train was operated as well as the condition of the rails and the structure of the cars to find the cause of this tragic derailment and prevent the occurrence of a similar accident.It also is a matter of course for West Japan Railway Co. to do its best to find if there was any problem in its train traffic control.The train overshot the stop line and was forced to reverse at a station before the accident site, putting it about 90 seconds behind schedule. The driver might have exceeded normal speed to make up the lost time. Many passengers said the train had been traveling much faster than usual.Speed likely a factorThe section of the rails where the accident took place was a curve where the speed limit was 70 kph. But the bend came after a straightaway where the limit was 120 kph. According to a JR study, the train should not have jumped the rails unless it was moving at 133 kph or faster.The driver of the derailed train was 23 years old with only 11 months driving experience. In June, he overshot a station by about 100 meters. The police and the investigation commission also have to investigate whether the training program for drivers and instructions for them on how to make up delays are appropriate.The JR Fukuchiyama Line is one of the major routes in the Kansai region for transporting workers and students commuting to Osaka. It operates on a very tight schedule during morning and evening rush hours. JR West has been criticized for using the congested timetable on the Fukuchiyama Line to transport passengers faster than a private railway line running a parallel course.Safety before profitsJR West was completely privatized in March last year. Since revenues from its transportation business saw sluggish growth, the company has been trying to increase profits by taking measures to rationalize operations, including reduction of labor costs. If that made the company neglect its safety responsibilities, it would be a problem.The derailed train cars were made of stainless steel to keep them light and to ensure they could travel fast, but they are also said to be unable to withstand a strong impact in the event of an accident.The automatic train stop system was in operation at the accident site, but it is an old type that stops trains only when a traffic signal is red. If the system had been of the newer type that stops trains when they exceed a certain speed, such a tragedy might have been avoided.Due to the improvement of automatic safety systems, the number of railway accidents has gone down by half in comparison with 20 years ago.Nonetheless, if a railway company does not try to improve measures to prevent accidents, it could lead to a disaster. The latest accident has taught us this tragic lesson.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2005-04-26	YOSHIN0020050427e14q000ig
YOMSHI0020050426e14r0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050426e14r0000h	EN	\N	Koizumi has much to do and little time to do it	The priority task of the Koizumi government since its inauguration has been to build a foundation for the future of Japan, which is now at a historic turning point. It must make every effort to achieve that goal.	4	2005-04-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	About 60 percent of respondents to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun poll positively evaluated the past four years of the Koizumi administration. But many of them were dissatisfied with his achievements on political issues. Nearly 60 percent said Koizumi had announced a lot of policies with catchy slogans, but had carried out only a few of them.Though the prime minister considers privatization of postal services as the priority issue for his administration, voters' opinions differ. They said the Koizumi Cabinet should put top priority on tackling economic and social security issues.Problems at home, abroadWhen his administration was formed in 2001, Japan was undergoing serious deflation and a recession. Its economy has already climbed out of recession since banks have disposed of the bulk of their nonperforming loans.Nonetheless, deflation is continuing. The decrease of the labor force as a result of the population decline starting in 2007 will be a factor that could prevent the steady growth of the Japanese economy. The government must overcome many obstacles to build a solid foundation for the further economic development of the country.The social security system, including public pension programs, must be reformed quickly to alleviate public concern about the future.Reforms of the taxation and fiscal systems of the country, including a consumption tax hike, must be considered to sustain the social security system.Though the prime minister said he would not raise the consumption tax rate during his term, Koizumi should at least make preparations for the hike.Meanwhile, Japan's relations with China and South Korea have been deteriorating. Its bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council faces increasing difficulties, while the six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear development program have been stalled for a long time.It is also a very important political task for the Koizumi administration to solve those problems by vigorously carrying out foreign and security policies based on the Japan-U.S. alliance to protect the national interests of Japan, including its safety and prosperity.Lame duck status loomsThe prime minister is often criticized for giving insufficient explanations and lacking persuasiveness. His leadership is often questioned, too. Koizumi must erase such public skepticism and tackle pressing political issues.Koizumi is suspected of planning to dissolve the House of Representatives if he fails to pass the bills on privatization of postal services at the current Diet session.But he cannot afford to cause a political vacuum now.Besides, the government may lose its centripetal force and the prime minister may become a lame duck if LDP members start searching more openly for a successor to Koizumi and the opposition parties intensify their criticism against the government ahead of a possible lower house election.Since Japan now faces difficult problems both domestically and internationally, national interests might be damaged if the Diet becomes unable to take appropriate action quickly.Not only the prime minister, but also each political party must refrain from acting in an irresponsible manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2005-04-27	YOSHIN0020050428e14r000i1
YOMSHI0020050427e14s0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050427e14s0000f	EN	\N	What's the point of postal privatization?	What was the original goal of the privatization? That question should be the point of departure for lawmakers discussing the reform in the Diet.	4	2005-04-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan Post, which currently operates the nation's postal services, is the world's largest state-run financial institution. Funds totaling 340 trillion yen collected through postal savings and kampo postal life insurance had been channeled into the operation of public corporations, supporting the often inefficient operation of these businesses.Thanks to reform of the government's Fiscal Investment and Loan Program, Japan Post now manages the funds on its own. Nonetheless, postal funds are still being tapped to underwrite the fiscal investment and loan program bond, which public corporations and other entities issue to secure cash to run their businesses. As such, there has been little change in the flow of the funds.By having the funds, which are now managed by the state, circulated in the private sector, the nation's economy could be reinvigorated. This is what the privatization of the postal services is aimed at, first and foremost.When we look at the written agreement on amending the bills that the government exchanged with the ruling coalition parties, however, there are not a few points that leave us doubtful over whether the purpose of the reform will be realized.To achieve the reform through Diet deliberations, the ruling and opposition parties should be ready to amend the bills, if necessary, and have them passed into law.Loophole will undo reformContained in the bills is the proposal to have the government's stake in the savings bank and life insurance units, which are to be created under a holding company to take over the businesses of Japan Post, sold during the 10-year transition period before full privatization by March 2017.Yet the agreement contains a loophole: The other two arms of Japan Post to be spun off--mail delivery and post office management, which also will be under the holding company--will be allowed to purchase part of the stakes sold on the market by the two financial units. Meanwhile, the holding company will not be penalized if it fails to fulfill its obligation of selling all its stake in the saving and insurance units.By exploiting the loophole, the two financial entities will remain under the umbrella of the government-financed holding company, leaving the government still involved in the operation of the two units.There are also various types of business risks involved. For instance, should the mail delivery unit fall into financial difficulties, the other two financial units could be adversely affected. If its customers withdrew their postal savings, the financial system could be dealt a serious blow.This loophole should be closed.Vested or national interests?Under the bills, the privatized firms can also enter into new business fields at their own discretion during the transition period. But if they grab sizable market shares, it will raise fears that existing financial institutions will be marginalized.The government should, instead, have the two financial units compete on an equal footing with the private sector financial institutions during the transition period. This would mean scaling down the operations of the postal savings and life insurance units.Within the Liberal Democratic Party, fierce opposition remains to the privatization of Japan Post. Meanwhile, the No. 1 opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has come out against the bills.The LDP has the national federation of associations of heads of government-commissioned post offices as its leading support organization, while Minshuto has labor unions, including that of workers at Japan Post, at its support organization. The opposition of both parties to the bills may stem from consideration of the interests of their respective backers.Will legislators leave postal reform deadlocked in their attempt to protect their vested interests, or will they put priority on the national interest of charting out a desirable future image of the nation? Another question that arises in tandem with Diet deliberation on the postal bills is where the priorities of political parties should lie.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	721	2005-04-28	YOSHIN0020050429e14s000h1
YOMSHI0020050428e14t0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050428e14t0000f	EN	\N	Minshuto shouldn't let constitutional talks stall	Minshuto initially intended to decide on its constitutional reform proposal by March, a goal the party made clear in its action program. However, due to the lack of progress made on discussions within the party, Minshuto failed to work out a proposal, instead coming up with a draft plan for amendments by Yukio Edano, the chairman of the party's constitutional study panel.	4	2005-04-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Compared with what was written in its interim report unveiled in June last year, the latest draft shows that the major opposition party has made little progress in its discussions. It is badly lagging on the issue.With regard to national security, the draft says that in an amended constitution, "a limited right to self-defense (only in the advent of armed attack) should be clearly stipulated," and that "Japan's participation in U.N.-led collective security activities should be clearly stipulated," as per the interim report.Internal divisions apparentHowever, the wording of "the use of force" on the basis of a U.N. resolution, which was in the interim report, is not in the draft. The deletion is chiefly due to strong opposition from party members who formerly belonged to the now defunct Japan Socialist Party.While it refers to "a limited right to self-defense," the draft makes no reference to the right to collective self-defense. The same can be said with the constitutional status of the Self-Defense Forces. The lack of reference to these points apparently reflects the intraparty conflict.As long as Minshuto remains unable to clearly state the basis of national security--a policy of paramount importance--in its draft of constitutional revision, it can never be considered qualified to assume the reins of government.The stalled debate on the Constitution within the party may stem not only from internal divisions, but also from its political calculations concerning the next House of Representatives election.Some senior members of the party have cautioned that if the discussions are brought to a conclusion, Minshuto would be in accord with the Liberal Democratic Party on many issues, making it difficult for the party to take a confrontational approach against the LDP in the election.As a matter of fact, in its draft, Minshuto states as a basic principle for nation-building that "the shape of the nation should be clearly stated, which would take into account our nation's history, traditions and culture."An LDP subcommittee for drafting a new constitution also says it will propose having "the description of Japan's land, nature, history and culture added" in the preamble of a new supreme law.Parties must work togetherProposing the amendment by the Diet of the Constitution requires the approval of two-thirds or more of all the members of each house. As things stand now, no proposals will pass unless the LDP and Minshuto join forces.Edano and other panel members say that unless both parties reach a consensus by starting with a clean slate, rather than coming up with separate drafts for constitutional amendments, it will be impossible to win the approval of the necessary number of lawmakers.Minshuto remains reluctant to present its own draft of an amended Constitution. So long as this is the case, no progress will be made on top law reform talks within the party.After five years of discussions, the research commissions on the Constitution of both houses of the Diet recently submitted their final reports to their respective houses. In the meantime, the LDP's subcommittee has compiled an outline of a new constitution.According to a recent poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun, 60 percent of the public support constitutional revision. The tide of opinion has turned in favor of top law reform.If Minshuto considers itself ready to take the reins of government, it should present an image of the nation and society it aims to create. The party should not let constitutional discussions remain at a standstill.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	689	2005-04-29	YOSHIN0020050502e14t001mo
YOMSHI0020050429e14u0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050429e14u0000e	EN	\N	NPT conference must revitalize disarmament	The fate of the world's peace and security will be at stake at an international conference to review the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which starts Monday at U.N. headquarters in New York.	4	2005-04-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The NPT came into effect in 1970 with the aim of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting the peaceful use of atomic energy.Under the treaty, only five nations--Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--are allowed to have nuclear arms, with other signatory countries banned from possessing them. It also aimed to prevent an arms race by requiring the five nuclear powers to negotiate reductions of nuclear weapons in good faith.Only three U.N. member countries--India, Israel and Pakistan--have yet to join the NPT. While it may be called unfair because it robs sovereign nations of the right to bear nuclear arms, as the most universal treaty on the reduction and nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, it has played a major role in keeping the peace.Threats from inside, outHowever, the nuclear nonproliferation system faces grave challenges from both inside and out.India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests seven years ago, pouring cold water on global efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. Israel, another nonsignatory, is believed to own nuclear weapons.The three nations should be strongly urged again to join the treaty at the international conference. At the same time, the system's flaws should be fixed.The most urgent issue is how to deal with North Korea, the only signatory to have declared its right to withdraw from the treaty. The reclusive state has declared that it possesses nuclear weapons and is openly continuing their development.The development of nuclear arms by obtaining the necessary technology and facilities under the facade of peaceful use for energy purposes is a serious violation of the treaty that will destroy the nuclear nonproliferation system from within. If this is overlooked, it will set a bad precedent.North Korea must be urged to return unconditionally to the six-nation talks, in which it has been lobbied to abandon its nuclear development program. In addition, new measures must be taken to prevent other countries from following its lead.Arms reduction efforts neededSome proposals have been made to restrict the peaceful use of atomic energy with the aim of preventing the spread of nuclear arms.The United States has proposed preventing countries from starting to enrich uranium and reprocess plutonium. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei proposed freezing such technology or putting it under international control.However, it is impossible to maintain the effectiveness of the NPT system just by urging countries without nuclear weaponry to restrict their activities. The nuclear powers have to work on nuclear disarmament more actively.The United States and China have not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Due to a standoff between the two nations, negotiations have not been able to start on a "cut-off" treaty on fissile material production, such as highly enriched uranium.The international conference will end in failure if countries both with and without nuclear arms merely engage in finger-pointing. Instead, signatory nations should try to take practical measures to maintain the NPT system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2005-04-30	YOSHIN0020050502e14u0013v
YOMSHI0020050430e1510000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050430e1510000d	EN	\N	Strategic approach needed toward S. Asia	The latest summit talks should be used as the basis for developing more strategic Japan-India ties, including economic, political and security links.	4	2005-05-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	India has a population of more than 1 billion and has maintained an average growth rate of six percent since liberalizing its economy in 1991.Visiting India in April to end a border dispute between China and India, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed with Singh to build strategic relations between the two countries.In March, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chose India as the first stop on her tour of Asia to reinforce the U.S.-India relationship.There also is an urgent need for Japan to strengthen and expand its ties with India, which is becoming a regional power, to maintain the balance of power in Asia in the face of China's growing economic and military influence.One step behindHowever, Japan's policy toward India has always been one step behind other countries. Koizumi was the first Japanese prime minister to visit India since former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori visited the South Asian country in August 2000.India has become the largest recipient of Japan's yen loans, topping China in fiscal 2003, but that alone does not produce a strategic orientation for Japan-India relations.As Koizumi said, Japan and India should take full advantage of the latest summit talks to realize the maximum potential of their relationship.The joint statement included a promise to greatly increase the volume of trade between the two countries. Bilateral trade in 2004 was valued at 6 billion dollars, only half of that between India and China.Japan has to work harder to conclude a free trade agreement with India. India will be asked to further reform its economy, including relaxing restrictions on foreign investment and promoting greater efficiency in administrative procedures in order to attract the attention of Japan's business sector, which has tended to focus on China.Enhancement of the security dialogue and initiation of energy cooperation talks were also stipulated in the joint statement, which will have significant meaning in terms of Japan's international strategy.Protecting lifelinesSea lanes in the Indian Ocean and routes to transport oil from the Middle East to Japan are considered the lifelines of Japan's economy. Japanese and Indian authorities will increase exchanges to protect the routes from maritime terrorism and piracy.China is steadily building bases in the Indian Ocean, including radar stations on Coco Islands in the territorial waters of Myanmar.Enhancement of security ties between Japan and India will put pressure on China as it seeks to reinforce and deploy its navy.On Saturday, Koizumi visited Pakistan and held talks with President Pervez Musharraf. He said in the Japan-Pakistan joint declaration that Tokyo would help Islamabad in its fight against terrorism and resume yen loans to the country.Japan needs to adopt multilateral approaches in dealing with the rapidly changing situation in Asia. The construction of strategic partnerships with India and Pakistan are important elements in them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2005-05-01	YOSHIN0020050502e151000k7
YOMSHI0020050503e15200004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050503e15200004	EN	\N	Basic law changes must guard press freedoms	The latest development marks a new stage in the dispute over the pros and cons of proposed amendment to the fundamental legal framework. A matter of immediate concern to be tackled by lawmakers next is to pass a bill on a national referendum over constitutional reform at an early date. The envisaged law would lay down procedures to be followed in revising the Constitution.	4	2005-05-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is disturbing to note, however, that the bill put together by the ruling parties incorporates a provision concerning regulations on reporting by news organizations.The bill would ban the media, including newspapers and broadcasters, from publishing inaccurate reports and comments about any national referendum on the supreme law. The bill also states that newspaper and magazine publishers should be barred from taking advantage of their position to print reports and commentaries with the intention of influencing the outcome of a national referendum. The proposed legislation provides for severe punishment of offenders, including imprisonment.Should regulations be as strict as that? A national referendum on the Constitution should be used to help promote a campaign for public debate on the pros and cons of constitutional reform, backed by a variety of media reports and comments. This would encourage as many voters as possible to participate in a referendum.Referendum not electionAdmittedly, the Public Offices Election Law includes similar restrictions on the media. It should be recognized, however, that a national referendum on the Constitution is distinct in nature from elections conducted to select Diet and local assembly members, as well as local government leaders.Undoubtedly, no news organization should publish reports that could seriously undermine the fairness of a national referendum. However, the media should never be bound by excessive restrictions that could deter them from publishing reports and commentary needed by the public.Public objection to restrictions on the media could combine with opposition to amending the Constitution, hindering passage of the bill.The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, are set to start discussions on the bill with the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), shortly after the Golden Week holidays. The LDP has said that it will not necessarily adhere to its own bill in debating pertinent issues with the two other parties. Meanwhile, Minshuto has argued that the envisaged law should not include restrictions on the media.Don't muzzle mediaWe hope that the parties work to produce a bill that will fully respect freedom of the press.We are also concerned that efforts by political parties to draft a new constitution could be hindered. According to the report issued by the Research Commission on the Constitution of the House of Representatives, many lower house members insisted on incorporating the so-called right of access to media into the Constitution as a new right. The right of access would provide readers, television viewers and radio listeners with an opportunity to respond to reports by the media while also authorizing them to demand news organs provide more details about their reports.The right of access is not part of Japanese law. The Supreme Court has never permitted members of the public to demand the media give them an opportunity to rebut their reports and comments. Most scholars have said that it is difficult to rewrite the Constitution with the aim of incorporating the right of access, because the right concerns relations between individuals. They argue that the Constitution defines the people's rights in relation to their state.If the right in question is written into the Constitution, it would probably encourage certain ideological groups to protest media reports disadvantageous to them, citing the right of access as a basis for their assertion. Politicians and bureaucrats would also be encouraged to exert further pressure on the media.In recent years, the government and the ruling parties have sought to further control the media whenever they work to create new legislation, including the Personal Information Protection Law and a yet-to-be-established human rights protection law.Efforts to create legislation to secure new individual rights should never cause the media to shrink from their duties and undermine the people's right to know. Such a hindrance would be a total loss for the media and the public.(From The Yom (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	753	2005-05-02	YOSHIN0020050503e152000bz
YOMSHI0020050502e1530000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050502e1530000f	EN	\N	Constitutional change has become inevitable	Debating the pros and cons of a proposal to revise the nation's supreme law was considered taboo during the days of antagonism between conservative and leftist forces in this country following the end of World War II. In 1994, however, The Yomiuri Shimbun published a proposal to revise the Constitution. The proposal signified a daring attempt to defy the taboo.	4	2005-05-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is worthwhile to remember situations both at home and overseas in those days. In 1989, the world witnessed the end of the Cold War. In 1992, Japan sent Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to join U.N. peacekeeping operations in Cambodia, marking the GSDF's first mission abroad.This country was confronted with a host of challenges during those years, including the strain imposed by its postwar economic prosperity, the advent of an aging society and the advancement of the information society. There also were growing calls for expanding the scope of human rights to include privacy and environmental rights.The Yomiuri's 1994 proposal for amending the Constitution reflected our belief that there was a widening gap between the principles stipulated in the basic law and the realities faced by the nation as a result of changes unforeseen when the supreme legal framework was established. We wanted the proposal to serve as a basis for discussions on the pros and cons of constitutional reform.Proposals sparked oppositionThe Yomiuri's proposal bitterly antagonized forces opposed to changing the Constitution. Other major dailies carried articles opposing constitutional amendment, saying there was no need for it.Our 1994 proposal was followed by similar proposals in 2000 and 2004 as complements to the initial version of constitutional reform. This also was complemented by our proposals for changes in other elements of government, including national security policies, the cabinet and government organs.On Constitution Day in 1997, we proposed establishing a permanent committee on the Constitution in each chamber of the Diet. This was followed by the establishment of the Research Commission on the Constitution in both houses of the legislature in January 2000. Our proposal has born fruit in the form of final reports submitted in April to the speakers of both chambers by the panels after five years of discussion on a variety of constitutional issues.Some political parties and news organizations even opposed the establishment of the councils as forums for discussing the Constitution. Today, no political party or news organ bothers to do so.Circumstances favorableWhat is the current environment surrounding a proposal to amend the basic law?Both the Liberal Democratic Party and the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), are working to draft new constitutional proposals. According to the final report published by the Research Commission on the Constitution of the House of Representatives, more than two-thirds of committee members reached a consensus on many issues, including the right of self-defense and the Self-Defense Forces' position in the Constitution.The Social Democratic Party--the successor to the Japan Socialist Party, which bitterly opposed changing the Constitution--has been reduced to a minor group that holds only a dozen Diet seats.There has been a great change in the public's perception of the Constitution over the years. A Yomiuri poll shows that more than 60 percent of those surveyed support amending the fundamental law.All this was unthinkable only 10 years ago. We are proud that the Yomiuri has been correct in discussing the changes of the times and raising questions about various problems with the Constitution since publishing the 1994 proposal.Legislators in both chambers of the Diet are poised to enact a national referendum bill that spells out the procedure for revising the Constitution. The time for amending the Constitution is growing increasingly ripe. This trend is irreversible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2005-05-03	YOSHIN0020050504e1530008u
YOMSHI0020050503e1540000m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050503e1540000m	EN	\N	New rule should cover existing diesel vehicles	Upon the recommendations made by the Central Environment Council, the ministries concerned, including the Environment Ministry, have begun making preparatory steps toward compiling related laws.	4	2005-05-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new regulation is aimed at cutting emissions of particulate matter (PM) from diesel vehicles, including trucks, effectively to zero and slashing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The regulation, which virtually bans PM emissions, is said to be the first of its kind in the world.Air pollution, including that produced by road traffic, which causes such health hazards as asthma, remains a serious problem, especially in urban areas. Such health hazards are said to stem primarily from car exhaust fumes, in particular, those that contain PM.Among the air pollution controls instituted by the central government, measures against PM are said to have lagged by as many as 10 years at one time behind those taken by the United States and European countries. The new regulation is partly aimed at bringing Japan in line with Western standards on vehicle emissions.Offer incentives to carmakersTo boost the effect of the regulation, the new restriction should also be applied in stages to vehicles already in use.In doing so, it would be advisable to ask automakers to make efforts to lower the cost of installing filters in existing cars, offering tax incentives for them to do so, if necessary.The world's most advanced regulation on emissions has been made possible thanks to automakers' efforts to develop diesel particulate filters.Under conventional technology, efforts to reduce NOx emissions had led to increases in the amount of PM. As the government put priority on controlling NOx, it neglected to compile anti-PM measures.This changed following a series of court rulings in respect of lawsuits filed over road traffic-induced pollution, including air pollution by heavy traffic in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, which pointed out administrative negligence in the battle against air pollution, in particular the government's delay in taking measures against PM.The governments of Tokyo and neighboring prefectures in the metropolitan area have banned, in principle, diesel vehicles whose PM emissions exceed the standards set by the governments from using their roads. In following suit, the central government tightened up related regulations.Automakers have also made efforts to develop such new technologies as a system to reburn exhaust gas through flue-gas recirculation and the use of a special catalytic agent, raising the prospect of realizing a new exhaust standard.Current regulations laxThe problem is that the requirements under the new regulation will not be made mandatory until four years from now, and will cover only new vehicles, leaving existing ones exempt from the regulation.A law that regulates PM emissions from automobiles was put into force in 2002, if only in a limited area. In designated areas such as Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture, where traffic volumes are large, diesel vehicles whose PM emissions exceed the relevant standard are banned.Yet the proportion that have achieved the environmental standard for exhaust particles, chiefly PM, stands at only about 60 percent in those areas. Under the official vehicle inspection system for diesel vehicles, only black exhaust smoke is measured--PM emissions are not checked. The regulations are inadequate.The priorities are to enhance the effectiveness of the current regulations and at the same time modify the official vehicle inspection method in preparation for the new regulation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2005-05-04	YOSHIN0020050505e1540007m
YOMSHI0020050510e15500001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050510e15500001	EN	\N	Build a 'big future' for the next generation	So goes this year's slogan for Child Welfare Week, which begins Thursday, Children's Day.	4	2005-05-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A female middle school student coined this bright and hopeful catchphrase. Each and every child has a different potential. We hope every child will grow up happily, while pursuing his or her own dream.But can we adults confidently say, "You bet!" to the message conveyed in this slogan? It is difficult to say that every child is now in an environment where he or she can feel certain of having "the same big future."The most worrisome problem afflicting children is an increase in child abuse. The number of cases brought to the children's welfare centers of prefectural governments and of ordinance-designated major cities topped 26,000 in fiscal 2003, up 12 percent from the previous year.Expand safety netA survey by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry showed that among child abuse cases that resulted in death, 20 percent of those deaths could have been prevented by child welfare centers, but despite their having been informed of cases of child abuse, the centers failed to provide adequate family counseling.In light of this situation, the Child Welfare Law was revised in April, making municipal governments of cities, towns and villages responsible for providing counseling services to prevent child abuse.Municipal governments have implemented measures to help families, such as providing child-care classes for parents and offering financial assistance to families in need. They should also include measures to prevent child abuse in their efforts to help families, thus having child abuse dealt with by local communities.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has also eased requirements for potential child welfare officers, the number of which is small, to allow nurses and teachers to become officers.Tackle NEET problemWith the breakdown in personal relations in regard to community and blood relations, it will become ever more important for local administrative offices to become more involved in the lives of troubled and isolated families. It is an urgent task to beef up cooperation within local communities and increase the necessary manpower.Looking into the near future, the problem of young people categorized as NEETs (not in education, employment or training) should not be left unattended, either.According to a Cabinet Office survey, as many as 850,000 people aged 15 to 34 are NEETs.Why aren't they making use of their abilities? What discourages these young people from fulfilling their potential? The authorities concerned should analyze the factors behind this phenomenon and work out measures so that today's children do not become tomorrow's NEETs.As part of the educational programs at primary and middle schools, children should be given a greater opportunity to observe various occupations, by improving programs in which students tour workplaces and gain hands-on experience. We should try to make children understand, both at school and at home, that every job has a meaning and should be a source of pride.What can we do to have each and every child grow up with a belief in their "big future"? Children's Day is also a day when adults should ponder this question.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	561	2005-05-05	YOSHIN0020050509e155001js
YOMSHI0020050506e1570000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050506e1570000j	EN	\N	JR West can't continue without attitude change	The recent derailment of a JR West train has been followed by various revelations about irresponsible actions taken by both employees and management in connection with the April 25 disaster, in which 107 people died.	4	2005-05-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	All this seems to highlight defects in JR West's corporate culture. The railway company must be overhauled to put safety first.It has been revealed that 43 JR West employees joined a bowling contest held by the firm's Tennoji conductor office on the day of the Fukuchiyama Line derailment.All these employees, including the chief of the office, knew about the accident, and many of them were aware that a number of passengers had been killed.Despite this, none of the employees said the bowling contest should be canceled, and they even went drinking afterward.It is even more disturbing to know that JR West employees held more than 10 events after the disaster, including golf competitions and an overseas trip. These events drew about 180 employees.The company was no less negligent in ensuring necessary information about the derailment was conveyed to all employees. JR West says it has taken all possible means to adequately deal with problems arising with disasters since the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.The fact remains, however, that JR West failed to say the recent accident had taken a death toll when it informed its employees through its in-house public address system.Strict policy incomprehensibleTwo JR West motormen happened to be aboard the ill-fated rapid-service train as passengers. Although they escaped unhurt, they went to their respective offices instead of joining desperate efforts to rescue the wounded.Why did they neglect to join rescue operations? One reported the accident to his boss from the scene of the disaster, but his superior did not tell him to rescue the wounded. Another boss even told him not to be late for work.Since last month's disaster, JR West has drawn fire for its blind obedience to its own train schedule. The two motormen's failure to join rescue efforts may serve as another indication of the railway firm's excessive emphasis on running trains strictly to schedule.JR West did not do enough to ensure the safety of its operations even after the disaster. For instance, an official said services could be restored on the Fukuchiyama Line even before installing new automatic train stop system (ATS) devices along the line.The official retracted his remark shortly after Construction and Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa said the ministry would permit JR West to resume services on the line only after setting up new ATS devices.The official's attitude showed a lack of awareness about his duty to ensure the safety of passengers.Only 7.7 percent of JR West tracks are covered by the new ATS. This compares with 29.7 percent at East Japan Railway Co., which has also introduced a fail-safe automatic train control system along its Yamanote and some other lines.Profits should be 2nd to safetyThe operational policy of JR West's Osaka branch, to which the deceased driver of the derailed train belonged, cites "Make money" as its first goal, and "Safe transportation" as its second goal.We feel the emphasis on profitability may be prevalent among all JR West officials and employees. Drastic measures should be taken to reform the railway firm, including changing the attitude of all employees to focus on safety.Even after the disaster, JR West has experienced a number of operational problems, including overruns. The company should know that it can no longer perform its duty as a provider of public transportation if it fails to fundamentally reform itself for the sake of safe train services.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2005-05-07	YOSHIN0020050509e1570014o
YOMSHI0020050507e1580000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050507e1580000b	EN	\N	PM's presence at WWII ceremony questionable	Leaders from 50 countries, including U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao, also will attend the ceremony that includes a parade of war veterans.	4	2005-05-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the position of the Japanese leader at the ceremony seem to be very tenuous.Germany surrendered to the Allied forces on May 8, 1945. Since the Soviet era, Russia has designated the following day--May 9--as a holiday to commemorate its victory over Nazi Germany.With Russia's encouragement, the U.N. General Assembly last year adopted a resolution to declare May 8 and 9 as remembrance and reconciliation days. Referring to the resolution, Koizumi said that he decided to attend the ceremony because it will commemorate the fact that former enemies have become friends despite the war.However, his understanding of history, which has led him to make the decision to attend the ceremony, is highly questionable.International law floutedOn Aug. 9, 1945, three months after the surrender of Germany, the Soviet Union unilaterally broke the Japan-Soviet Neutrality Pact and began to attacking Japan. In addition, after the end of the war, it took several hundred thousand Japanese servicemen to Siberia as prisoners of war and forced them to work as slaves, against international law.The Soviet Union, now Russia, which occupies the northern territories that Japan claims sovereignty over, has not yet signed a peace treaty with Japan.Besides, World War II was triggered by the partition of Poland plotted by Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin, respectively German and Soviet dictators.Then the Soviet Union invaded Finland, seized its territory and annexed three Baltic states. Nonetheless, the leaders of the Soviet Union were never tried at an international court like the Tokyo Tribunal of War Criminals because they were winners in the war.We are wondering what position the Japanese prime minister will be able to occupy at the ceremony to celebrate the end of what is known in Moscow as the "Great Patriotic War."Japan different to GermanyGerman Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also is to attend. However, Japan's conduct during World War II should be distinguished from that of Nazi Germany because the latter systematically and methodically tried to wipe out Jews as a state project, apart from an act of war.South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun recently criticized Japan's efforts to atone for its misdeeds during the war, comparing them with those of Germany. However, a Jewish organization in Germany dismissed his criticism against Japan, saying that Nazi Germany was too diabolical to allow any comparison and analogy to others.It must be remembered that deep insight into history is one requisite of good diplomacy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	495	2005-05-08	YOSHIN0020050509e158000cx
YOMSHI0020050508e1590000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050508e1590000e	EN	\N	Fix lawmakers' pensions sooner, not later	Many members of both the ruling and opposition parties said the drastic reform proposal, which included possible abolition of the pension plan, should be considered over an improvement of the current plan. Though drastic reform is necessary, if it cannot be accomplished now, lawmakers should instead discuss possible remedial measures at hand.	4	2005-05-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the current plan, a Diet member can start receiving pension benefits of between 4.12 million yen and 7.41 million yen a year at the age of 65 after retirement if he or she contributes 1.26 million yen a year to the plan for 10 years or more.A major point of the advisory panel's reform proposal is reduction of the state subsidy to the Diet members' pension plan from over 70 percent at present to 50 percent. The panel also proposed increasing lawmakers' yearly contributions by 70 percent from the current level and cutting their annual benefits by 30 percent. The chairmen of the upper and lower houses have urged Diet members to make a law based on the proposal as soon as possible.However, many members of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) are calling for abolishing the pension plan itself. Junior members of Minshuto proposed consolidating the Diet members' pension plan with the public pension system, while some upper house members of the LDP said a retirement benefit system should be created to replace the pension plan.Radical reform takes timeBoth are drastic reform plans containing many issues for discussion and it will take a lot of time before lawmakers can reach agreement. If the pension plan is abolished, a new financial source has to be found to pay benefits to former parliamentarians already collecting the pension. Paying all of them from state coffers would increase the burden on taxpayers.If the lawmakers' pension plan is consolidated with the public pension system, is it consolidated with the national public service mutual aid pension plan, the private company employees' pension plan or all the public pension plans including the national pension plan?This is not an easy question to answer as a complete picture of the public pension system reform has yet to be made clear.This is the first time Diet members have reviewed their own pension plan since it was established in 1958. More than 20 years have passed since the state subsidy climbed from its initial 30 percent to 50 percent. Members of the both ruling and opposition parties have shied away from addressing the issue to protect their own vested interests.Immediate action neededThe panel called for the reform proposals to be implemented quickly and urged Diet members to pass them into law during the current Diet session apparently due to concern over harsh criticism from the public that lawmakers are still receiving handsome pension benefits and generous state subsidies for their own pension plan while trying to cut benefits under the public pension system.Nonetheless, preparations to turn the proposals into legislation have made little progress.One hindrance is a generational clash that might also become an obstacle in reforming the public pension system. Many junior lawmakers support abolition of the pension system, while senior lawmakers, who have already qualified to receive benefits, and former Diet members tend to defend the current system.In April, the monthly premium for the national pension plan for the self-employed and others was raised by 280 yen, but the salary for Diet members has increased by 90,000 yen a month. If nothing is done to reform their pension plan, the lawmakers will be blamed for avoiding their own pain by forcing the public to carry a heavier burden.They should quickly implement remedial measures proposed by the advisory council, while continuing to discuss drastic reform of the lawmakers' pension plan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2005-05-09	YOSHIN0020050510e159000c6
YOMSHI0020050509e15a0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050509e15a0000f	EN	\N	Perils of open registry policy now apparent	The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has established an expert panel on the open records system that is to hold its first meeting Wednesday.	4	2005-05-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Four pieces of data on residents are, in principle, available to the public--a resident's name, address, gender and birthdate.The idea behind making the records available to the public when the Residents' Basic Register Law was enacted in 1967 was that the basic registry, as the only official record to authenticate residents' addresses, would also serve communities' administrative and business needs.But things are happening now that would have been unimaginable when the law was drafted.According to a ministry estimate, such records are perused as many as 13 million times a year, with 70 percent to 80 percent of the requests coming from direct-mail businesses.Meanwhile, many residents have complained to municipal governments that their addresses have been revealed to others without their knowledge.Privacy concerns risingA 2003 Cabinet Office survey showed 43 percent of those polled said their address and telephone number were personal information they did not want revealed to others. The figure was nearly four times the 11 percent recorded in a 1989 survey. Public awareness of the need to protect personal information has been rising.The Personal Information Protection Law requires businesses making use of individuals' personal information to manage such data properly, making clear the reason for their use and forbidding firms from offering such data to third parties without the individual's consent.Given such legal requirements, the present open records system clearly lacks proper information management.Most local governments compile the public records by individuals' addresses, enabling those who read them to deduce the makeup of a household.Criminal abuseIn January, a girl in Nagoya was sexually assaulted by a man who allegedly abused the public records system to find his victim.The suspect reportedly went through the basic residents' register at a local ward office and copied the addresses of primary and middle school girls in households comprised of one parent and one child. In applying for access to the registry, the man allegedly claimed he needed to collect information "for advertising music lessons."It has also been pointed out that the system is open to abuse by con artists specializing in telephone fraud.The Residents' Basic Register Law stipulates that a local government can refuse access on the grounds of "wrongful purpose" or when it finds other "due reason." Nonetheless, it is obvious there are limits on a government ability to prevent abuse of the system.It is therefore only reasonable the present system has drawn so much public attention.Some local governments say the residents' registry should not be available to the public except when used for official purposes or for endeavors such as public surveys and academic research that serve the public good.Some local governments, for example Kumamoto, are considering an ordinance to further regulate access with the aim of fending off direct-mail businesses.The issue of how freely available such information should be is a key consideration. Should such judgment be left to the discretion of a local government? The task of working out a basic rule applicable nation-wide is an important issue that needs to be studied.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2005-05-10	YOSHIN0020050512e15a0011r
YOMSHI0020050510e15b0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050510e15b0000k	EN	\N	Financial institutions monitored inefficiently	The mainstream in the financial services sector used to be banks and securities companies operating as "financial specialty stores" on their own.	4	2005-05-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Today, however, financial groups have come to operate diverse businesses under their umbrella, such as banks, securities firms and insurance companies.In a bid to catch up with front-runner U.S. and European financial conglomerates, Japanese megabanks and some manufacturers have established similar groups.The Financial Services Agency has released a draft guideline for supervising financial conglomerates. It is primarily aimed at urging operators of financial conglomerates to reinforce their corporate governance to prevent irregularities.The FSA cited as one operational problem the difficulty for a financial conglomerate to properly supervise the management of many affiliated firms under its umbrella.It also pointed out the possibility of a financial group's giving its clients unfair treatment. For instance, when a financial conglomerate becomes aware that a corporate borrower of a bank under its umbrella has fallen into financial difficulties, the parent unit might have the borrower issue debentures through a securities firm, also under its umbrella, thus recovering the loaned money the affiliated bank has extended.FSA's thinking outdatedThe problem is that the FSA itself is behind the times.In carrying out its financial inspections, the FSA sends its inspection teams to a bank and a securities firm under the same financial group separately on different dates. The FSA also exercises supervision over banks and securities firms separately.While financial institutions operate diverse businesses cross-sectionally, the administrative system for businesses remains sectional.There are other causes for concern. From July onward, the FSA will no longer be in charge of inspecting the securities business. This duty will be carried out solely by the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission.In future, banks and insurance firms will be inspected by the FSA, while securities firms will be inspected by the SESC. There will be no provision for inspecting a financial conglomerate as a whole.Responding to this concern, the draft proposes that the agency and the commission establish a "cooperation council," designed to enhance communications between the two organizations.The organizations should concentrate on inspecting and supervising financial institutions, not get sidetracked by turf wars.Take cues from U.K. exampleBesides these immediate steps, drastic reforms of the systems to monitor financial institutions need to be discussed. Behind bureaucratic sectionalism is the fact that various laws are in place that cover specific businesses, such as the Banking Law, the Securities and Exchange Law, and the Insurance Business Law. Some have pointed out the need for a law covering all financial lines of businesses cross-sectionally.In response to the maturation of the era of financial conglomerates, Britain enacted the Financial Services and Markets Act in 2000 to regulate financial services and markets, and established the Financial Services Authority to inspect and supervise the financial sector in an integrated manner.Stocks held by Japanese financial institutions have lower aggregate market values than those held by their U.S. and European counterparts, making the Japanese institutions more vulnerable to corporate takeovers.As ways to fend off takeovers, it is highly likely that Japanese financial institution will aim to become conglomerates. The government should review steps to be taken by financial administration authorities to beef up their supervisory capabilities by making reference to those taken by such countries as Britain.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	592	2005-05-11	YOSHIN0020050512e15b000jr
YOMSHI0020050511e15c0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050511e15c0000g	EN	\N	Japan must play big role in ITER project	The ITER is a multibillion dollar project involving Japan, the EU, the United States, Russia, China and South Korea. The project is aimed at creating a "mini sun" on the Earth by creating nuclear fusion.	4	2005-05-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For the past 2-1/2 years, the participating nations have been negotiating over which country should host the world's first experimental nuclear fusion reactor. Japan is seeking to host the ITER project in Rokkashomura, Aomori Prefecture, while the EU is striving to build it in Cadarache in southeastern France.Both Rokkashomura and Cadarache have their advantages and disadvantages as proposed sites for the facility. Undoubtedly, it is difficult to determine which side should host the project just by looking at both locations from the standpoint of their ability to supply electricity and transport necessary supplies, as well as their living environments.The participants in the ITER project are evenly split over which location should become home to the reactor. The United States and South Korea support Japan's bid to host the project, while Russia and China are in favor of an EU plan to build the reactor in France. Their negotiations have been focused on which side has the deeper pockets.According to an estimate, the ITER project will cost about 1.3 trillion yen during a 30-year period, including expenditures for the facility's construction and operation. The participating countries have sought to reach a consensus about specific budgetary matters related to the project. Key issues include how much the eventual host of the reactor will pay to build the facility, and what kind of favors would be given to the nation that loses out.National interests at stakeDuring a vice-ministerial meeting in Geneva in early May, Japan and the EU reached a broad agreement on their respective proposals. Their agreement is designed to ensure the loser will not be left holding the short end of the stick. For example, the agreement states that the host should cover half the construction costs, while the loser should shoulder 10 percent of those expenses and receive 20 percent of the contracts for necessary construction projects.It is almost impossible for the participating nations to conduct further negotiations in a manner that would force the bidders to shoulder bigger financial burdens. This can be seen in a change in the attitude adopted by the Japanese government toward the ITER project. Some government officials are seeking to forge a consensus among those involved in the project both at home and abroad, with a view to building the reactor in France.The negotiations among the participating countries will reach a critical point when they meet for a ministerial conference next month. During the upcoming meeting, Japan must gain an assurance from the other nations that it will receive significant benefits through research related to the ITER project.This country should play an important part in the project as a means of improving its nuclear fusion technology. This should be complemented by efforts to ensure Japanese scientists assume a principal role in experiments that will follow the building of the reactor. These conditions are essential for this nation to lay the foundation for a successful attempt to put nuclear fusion to practical use at home.Govt sending mixed messagesDuring past negotiations, the EU has remained steadfast in its determination to host the project. It even threatened to start construction of the reactor without the other nations by the end of the year, hoping to use the project as a symbol of its unity.It can hardly be said that the Japanese government has spoken with one voice on the ITER issue. The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has been enthusiastic about hosting the ITER, while the Finance Ministry has objected to the project over concerns about a possible increase in the Japanese share of financial burdens. The Finance Ministry's sentiment has been echoed by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, which fears hosting the project might mean a cut in its budgetary resources related to nuclear power generation.With the government preparing to attend next month's meeting, concerned ministries and agencies should cooperate to protect the national interests of this country.The ITER project got off the ground in 1985, when the United States and the former Soviet Union jointly proposed the plan. The ITER has raised hopes for access to an inexhaustible energy source, if it is put to practical use.Japan must take to heart the role it should play in promoting the ITER project. The nation faces a moment of truth as it recognizes the significance of the endeavor.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	810	2005-05-12	YOSHIN0020050513e15c000h9
YOMSHI0020050512e15d0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050512e15d0000i	EN	\N	N. Korea can't be allowed to possess nuclear arms	Pyongyang has announced it has removed about 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods from a nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. The latest development has raised concerns that the reclusive state may further advance its nuclear weapons program.	4	2005-05-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is extremely disturbing to imagine the outcome if North Korea has successfully made its nuclear weapons small enough to be loaded into a ballistic missile, while continuing to build such an arsenal. Such a scenario presents a direct threat to Japan, a nuclear-free nation that can be reached by North Korea's Rodong ballistic missiles.This country must step up its preparedness to combat the threat, including further advancing its missile defense program. To ensure this nation's peace and security, the government needs to review the security system in its entirety and improve its defensive capabilities.Numerous bombs possibleAccording to experts, the communist state could extract enough plutonium to build one to three nuclear bombs in a matter of one to two years after reprocessing the spent nuclear fuel rods to be preserved in a cooling pool.The United States presumes that North Korea has already produced up to eight nuclear weapons. Pyongyang's recent move to remove spent fuel rods as a possible means of making plutonium could enable the country to build a number of nuclear arms. Meanwhile, there are signs that the regime may go so far as to test a nuclear device.In recent years, North Korea has been pushing ahead with the development of nuclear arms after announcing its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, although it has insisted its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. That nation's move must be seen as a matter of international concern in that it could deal a fatal blow to the NPT.UNSC may need to actHow should Japan and other nations respond to North Korea's nuclear armament?The Japanese and U.S. governments intend to use six-nation talks as a means of resolving the current crisis. If the situation further deteriorates, Tokyo and Washington want to bring the North Korean issue before the U.N. Security Council. If Pyongyang refuses to abandon its nuclear ambition by any means, the council would be forced to take strong action against North Korea, including international sanctions.The North Korean government must take this to heart. What it chooses to do could affect the attitudes of China, South Korea and Russia, all nations that have been cautious about implementing sanctions against the North.The five nations--Japan, the United States, China, South Korea and Russia--should take all possible means to ensure the North unconditionally returns to the six-party talks as soon as possible. This should be complemented with measures aimed at preventing the illegal trading of plutonium and other nuclear-related materials.In February, North Korea said it would suspend its participation in the six-nation talks for "an indefinite period," adding it would work to make nuclear weapons. In late March, the country announced that it had become a nuclear power, insisting that the talks be turned into "a conference on nuclear arms control."North Korea is attempting to ensure the international community accepts its possession of nuclear arms as a fait accompli. Admittedly, it is impossible for any nation to determine the progress in North Korea's nuclear weapons program. But Japan must deal with the current situation in consideration of the worst possible scenario.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2005-05-13	YOSHIN0020050516e15d000gm
YOMSHI0020050513e15e0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050513e15e0000k	EN	\N	Showa Day gives chance to review history's lessons	The revision of the National Holidays Law was approved at the plenary session of the House of Councillors with a majority vote by lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan.	4	2005-05-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new national holiday was created in recognition of the significance of the Showa era (1926-1989).DPJ shows responsibilityHowever, the enactment of the new national holiday was not easy. Though similar bills were submitted to the Diet in 2000 and 2002, both were scrapped.The DPJ was initially opposed to the bill, but started supporting it at deliberations of the ordinary Diet session in 2003. During the current Diet session, deliberations on the bill advanced smoothly because the largest opposition party showed its willingness to pass it. The party's action should be praised as a sign of responsibility.The new law states that Showa Day provides the people with an opportunity to consider the nation's future by looking back at the Showa era, when the country achieved a full recovery after going through turbulent times.Showa was a special era, an epoch in Japanese history, when the nation entered World War II, lost it, recovered from its devastation and achieved a miraculous economic development.The main meaning of Showa Day is to reflect on the period and to learn lessons from the past in order to create a brighter future.Following the change, Greenery Day will be moved to May 4, currently called National People's Day.April 29 was originally a national holiday to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Showa (1901-1989). After his demise, the Diet passed a revision bill submitted by the government to rename the day as Greenery Day.If its historical meaning had been considered accurately, the day then should have been called Showa Day instead of Greenery Day.However, the government at that time avoided the name, allegedly out of concerns that the opposition parties, including the Japan Socialist Party, would have opposed the idea.Public campaigns to demand the creation of Showa Day later became increasingly active, leading to the submission of the bill to the Diet.Enactment echoes pastBefore the end of World War II, Nov. 3 was a historic holiday to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Emperor Meiji (1852-1912). But during the Allied occupation following the end of the war, it was renamed Culture Day.During the Meiji era (1868-1912), it was celebrated as the emperor's birthday as a matter of course. Though it was removed from the list of national holidays in the following Taisho era (1912-1926), it was redesignated a national holiday in 1927, during the early Showa era, due to wide popular support.Showa Day's enactment has followed a similar pattern.Many Japanese may have mixed feelings about the stormy days of the Showa era. However, these are becoming part of history, as even the generation born shortly after the end of World War II is turning 60.On Showa Day, we should ponder the Showa era and review its historical lessons, passing them on to younger generations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	557	2005-05-14	YOSHIN0020050516e15e001cl
YOMSHI0020050514e15f0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050514e15f0000c	EN	\N	Stop letting farmland lie fallow	The bill includes the creation of a system that will force owners of long-idle farmland to lease it to a third party. The government apparently considers a forcible measure necessary to stop productive farmland lying fallow.	4	2005-05-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Idle agricultural land reportedly accounts for 340,000 hectares or 7 percent of the total agricultural land in Japan. The government submitted the revision bill out of fear that any further increase in unused land might lead to the rapid collapse of the agricultural industry.The introduction of a forcible measure seems to be inevitable to protect precious agricultural land. Agricultural organizations reportedly support the bill. The clause in the bill related to forcible leasing should be enacted with priority.The Agricultural Land Law imposes a duty of cultivation on farm owners. In reality, however, an increasing amount of farmland is left unattended because owners have become too old to work the land or their successors have moved to cities.Abandoned land a problemAbandoned agricultural land is a problem for neighboring farmers because it becomes a source of weeds and garbage is illegally dumped on it. It is becoming a big problem in farming villages because the owners often ignore requests by agricultural groups to properly maintain their land.The revision bill aims to enhance the authority of local governments over agricultural land. Under the current law, they cannot force owners of idle farmland to cultivate or sell the land. However, if the laws are revised, governors will be allowed to place leasing rights on unused land and lease it to third parties without the consent of owners who ignore local government instructions.Many farmers and agricultural corporations are planning to expand the scale of their operations. If a legal system is created to help willing farmers and farming groups obtain farmland, it likely will improve agricultural productivity and reduce idle farmland simultaneously.The revision bill also aims to allow ordinary corporations to participate in farming activities by leasing agricultural land. Under the current law, only farmers, or a corporation in which a majority of its executives are farmers, can lease agricultural land.Corporations have already begun farming in designated structural reform districts where regulations on farmland are relaxed. The bill aims to expand the system nationwide.The revision bill, however, does not allow corporations to own farmland. The Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said corporations might use farmland to dump waste or resell it after a short period for profit if they are allowed to own such land.Ministry's position wrongBut we cannot support the ministry's position. Corporations will find it difficult to use leased farmland because they cannot make long-term production plans for it.Most companies that have begun farming in special structural reform zones are believed to be serious about their agricultural interests and are greatly appreciated by local communities.Illicit use or resale of farmland can be prevented if legal arrangements are made in advance to monitor companies closely and to repossess farmland if they do not follow government instructions.Selling unused farmland to corporations for better use will benefit the agricultural industry in Japan far more than leaving the land to lie fallow. The agriculture ministry should reconsider its position.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2005-05-15	YOSHIN0020050516e15f0021g
YOMSHI0020050515e15g0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050515e15g0000c	EN	\N	Lesson must be learned from derailment	The biggest causal factor in the accident was that the train was running at least 30 kph over the speed limit. With the present operational management system of West Japan Railway Co., however, it was impossible to prevent the train from exceeding the speed limit.	4	2005-05-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is a matter of urgency to establish a multiple safety backup system and have all train operators learn from this latest derailment.It is necessary to thoroughly inspect all tracks and vehicles and review operational management.Railway safety facilities have been upgraded, with the Shinkansen bullet trains taking the lead. Of the older railway lines, however, there are some whose safety facilities remain inadequate. There also is a huge disparity between lines when it comes to safety equipment.The Construction and Transport Ministry has decided to have the nation's train operators upgrade their automatic train stop (ATS) devices as an emergency measure. The ministry will make it mandatory for the train operators to install a device that will prevent a train from exceeding the speed limit on curves as sharp as the one where the recent derailment occurred.Priority speed, not safetyJR West decided to install new types of ATS along the Fukuchiyama Line two years ago. But the company has put off the installation because it put priority on running faster trains.Safety measures are to be taken, in principle, as a responsibility of train operators. Yet the involvement of public administrators in such efforts also is important. Construction and Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa said the ways the ministry has given guidance in the past need to be examined.Even before the results of the fact-finding probe into the latest derailment are known, the ministry should root out the problems and take necessary measures, including establishing correct installation standards for safety devices.There was no derailment prevention rail in place on the curve in question because the curve was excluded from the installation standards set by the ministry following the fatal derailment along the Hibiya subway line of the then Teito Rapid Transit Authority. The ministry should study whether the standards need to be reviewed.Stronger, safer cars neededAlso coming to light as a result of the derailment is the vulnerability to side-impact of light-weight train cars. The need to reinforce the cars was pointed out by the Railway Accident Investigation Commission of the former Transport Ministry after the Hibiya Line derailment.Yet such proposals run counter to the current trend of making trains lighter, and train operators have yet to take any concrete measures. Meanwhile, no actual collision tests have been conducted.For instance, Shigaraki Kogen Railway Co., whose train was hit head-on by a JR West train in 1991, introduced a train with fewer metal interior parts--parts that can turn a passenger rail car into a deathtrap in an accident. Multi-faceted research is urgently needed.Improvements in equipment and facilities entail a sizable amount of money. While such efforts may be burdensome for financially weak train operators, all operators should make investing in safety a top priority.In particular, train operators in major cities with congested railway schedules should not have any defects in their safety systems. Underlying the train exceeding the speed limit was the overstretched operating pattern of JR West. The ministry will also work out ways to guide train operators to form reasonable train timetables.Accidents happen. Train operators responsible for protecting the lives of passengers need to make constant efforts to reinforce safety systems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	628	2005-05-16	YOSHIN0020050517e15g000cu
YOMSHI0020050516e15h0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050516e15h0000h	EN	\N	Blood donation system in serious jeopardy	It is necessary for the ministry to make people aware of this critical state of affairs and work out measures to ensure no lives are lost because of a shortage of donated blood.	4	2005-05-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the Japanese Red Cross Society, the number of blood donors has been declining. Compared with a total of 6.61 million donors recorded in 1994, the figure fell to 5.62 million in 2003. The decline is especially noticeable among donors in their teens and 20s, with the number of donors in that age group down about 35 percent in 10 years, from 3.03 million in 1994 to 1.98 million in 2003.As a significant number of donors give 400cc of blood at a time, rather than the usual 200cc, the society manages to secure the annually required amount of about 2 million liters. Should the number of donors decline further, however, the stock of blood will fall close to the absolute minimum. It is necessary to stem the increasing reluctance of people, particularly young people, to donate blood.Impact of population declineMaking matters worse is the effect of the declining birthrate and aging society on the blood donation system.At present, 80 percent of those needing transfusions are aged 50 or older, while 80 percent of donated blood comes from those under 50. As the elderly population will increase while the number of young people declines, only 63 percent of the blood required for transfusions will be secured in 2025 if current trends continue, according to an estimate by the Red Cross.The only way to prevent such an estimate from becoming reality is to raise public awareness of the need for donations and increase the number of regular donors. The importance of the blood donation system should be taught at primary and middle schools. Such efforts will serve as a gateway for children to learn the preciousness of life and teach them the importance of contributing to society.Also important is a review of the system for receiving blood donations. Paying donors transportation costs to blood donation facilities is one idea worth studying. To maintain a donation system supported by the goodwill of donors, it is necessary to exercise our brains.Further restrictionsThe reinforced control on donations in connection with the government's measures against bovine spongiform encephalitis, better known as mad cow disease, also is a worrying factor.At present, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry bars blood donations from people who stayed for more than a month in BSE-plagued Britain after 1980. The ministry will tighten the restriction further as early as this month by banning donations from people who stayed even a day in Britain between 1980 and 1996.With the new restriction, blood donations are expected to continue declining by a national average of 3.6 percent and by 6.7 percent in Tokyo alone.It is questionable whether the risk warrants the refusal of blood donations from holidaymakers who stayed only briefly in Britain.In the United States and Europe, there are no restrictions on blood donations from those who stayed in Britain for less than six months. The ministry itself put off implementing the new restriction in April when there was a critical blood shortage.Will the new restriction further deter people from donating blood? The ministry says it will "put the new restriction into review if necessary." The ministry ought to act flexibly by correctly grasping the real situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2005-05-17	YOSHIN0020050518e15h000i7
YOMSHI0020050517e15i0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050517e15i0000j	EN	\N	Govt, BOJ must do more to spur domestic demand	During the January-March period, the nation's gross domestic product grew by an annualized 5.3 percent from the October-December quarter in real terms, according to a preliminary report by the Cabinet Office. The figure is significantly higher than anticipated.	4	2005-05-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest figure comes after the economy continued to cool off for many months, seeing negative or zero growth in real terms since the April-June period last year. For the first time in one year, the economy has expanded by more than 5 percent on an annualized basis. According to many analysts, the government is coming closer to achieving its goal of putting the economy back on the road to recovery by the end of the year.The latest rise in the growth rate can be attributed primarily to a recovery in personal consumption. The employment situation has taken a favorable turn, as shown by the fact that the rates of job availability have nearly reached their highest level since the collapse of the bubble economy. The favorable trend is also true with wage standards, as indicated by a year-on-year increase in the average amount of bonuses paid to employees last winter.All this seems to have encouraged consumers to loosen their purse strings.All not as rosy as it appearsBut it would be premature to conclude, solely based on the latest report, that the economy has climbed out of a plateau. The current favorable consumer spending figures should be taken with a grain of salt.It should be noted that private consumption dropped as a result of typhoons and an unusually warm winter during the October-December period. The latest recovery in personal consumption can be seen as a rebound from these negative developments.It is also disturbing to see that exports appear to be losing momentum after serving as the main engine for the economy. The report shows that total exports have dropped by 0.2 percent from the previous quarter in real terms, marking the first decline in 13 quarters. This is largely due to a decrease in exports to other Asian markets.Successful efforts to replace exports with personal consumption as a chief economic booster would help generate a domestic demand-led recovery. It is possible to expect the economy to attain even firmer growth if private consumption--a factor that accounts for more than 50 percent of the nation's GDP--gains more steam.Greater efforts should be expended to facilitate a shift from external demand to domestic demand as a main contributor to economic recovery. The duty of the government and the Bank of Japan is to bring the economy back on the road to a sustainable recovery on the strength of domestic demand.Deflation still a milestoneThe government has not yet been able to bail the country out of deflation. Beset by its massive deficits, the government finds it impossible to implement fiscal measures as a means of improving the economy. Given this, there is good reason to expect monetary policies to play an even greater role in driving the economy.In recent months, a controversy has arisen over whether to modify the current account deposit target set by the central bank, a main pillar of the quantitative easing of credit.The dispute reflects the Bank of Japan's frequent failure to receive sufficient offers from banks to sell government bonds and other securities in recent months, meaning that the central bank cannot pump into the market as much cash as it wants to. This is partly because there has been a decline in credit demands by financial institutions that prepared for deposit withdrawals, as financial uneasiness felt by the public has been allayed.It may be advisable for the central bank to show flexibility in modifying its current account deposit target to a certain extent and adjust its monetary management to changes in capital requirements.The key objective to be achieved by the monetary authorities is to help end deflation while also maintaining the framework for quantitative monetary easing policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	712	2005-05-18	YOSHIN0020050519e15i000ie
YOMSHI0020050518e15j0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050518e15j0000k	EN	\N	DPJ still doesn't look like a party ready to govern	In recent years, this nation has seen the emergence of the Liberal Democratic Party and the DPJ as the two dominant forces in its political landscape. The DPJ is seeking to remove the LDP-led ruling ruling coalition from power in the next House of Representatives election. However, the leading opposition party still has a long and arduous path to tread toward its goal.	4	2005-05-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll taken in May, 36 percent of those surveyed said they supported the LDP, compared with only 12 percent of pollees who said they backed the DPJ.Okada has said, "The DPJ has two roles to play (as the largest opposition party)--keeping watch on the government and making preparations to take power."Keeping the current administration under observation means examining policies formulated by the government and the ruling parties, and raising questions about the propriety of each policy. It does not just mean taking a confrontational attitude toward the government.In January, members of the DPJ and the Social Democratic Party left the House of Representatives floor for some time, protesting Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's refusal to take the podium to answer Okada's question about his policy speech for a second time.Boycotting a parliamentary session was a tactic adopted by opposition parties during the days of the so-called 1955 political order. The practice represents a failure to fulfill responsibilities as a lawmaker. Such behavior is anything but an effort to keep watch on the government.Making preparations to take power means establishing a set of goals to be pursued as a party in power and implementing measures to fight elections. With this in mind, the DPJ should present a set of policies that could replace those of the government if it were to come into power.Policies full of holesOkada has good reason to pursue the goal of removing the ruling parties from power, first and foremost. But it is still unclear what kind of government the DPJ is trying to establish. This is because the party has not yet presented a comprehensive set of basic policies on such issues as what kind of nation the party will strive to transform Japan into. Key issues also include external relations, national security, pensions and education.Another matter of concern for Okada is the presence of Minshuto leaders and members critical of his political approach, including party Vice President Ichiro Ozawa and former President Yukio Hatoyama.The DPJ should know that it could make its presence more strongly felt if it put together a set of key policies that could rival those of the current administration. For example, the party has presented a pension reform plan. The DPJ's plan would integrate state-run pension programs into a single scheme, using tax revenues to fully finance the basic pension plan. To accomplish this goal, the party has proposed increasing the consumption tax rate.The DPJ's inadequacy in this respect has been its failure to advance discussions about how to proceed with its pension reform plan. It took the opposition party nearly a year to agree to sit at the negotiation table with the ruling parties after reaching a three-party agreement to start debates on pension reform.This is also true with the DPJ's attitude toward the issue of postal privatization. The party voted against government-sponsored bills on postal reforms without presenting alternative plans.The DPJ's stance is a far cry from the responsible approach that should be adopted by a party seeking to take power.Vital issues sidesteppedOn the occasion of the first anniversary of his rise to the top position in the main opposition party, Okada has published a set of proposals for the nation's foreign and security policies. But his proposals are too abstract to be implemented.The proposals emphasize the need to create an "East Asian community," before mentioning the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance. It should be noted that China is a nation where the Community Party rules with an iron fist. The country does not share such values as freedom and democracy with Japan.Given this, it would be impossible for Japan to join hands with other Asian nations in establishing a regional community comparable to the European Union. Okada's proposals skirt this issue.The proposals also state that the Japan-U.S. alliance should be brought into full play as a "stabilizing force" in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the proposals do not explain how the bilateral partnership should be put to work.Also, the proposals do not touch on such vital issues as the status of the Self-Defense Forces and the right of collective self-defense.The DPJ will find it impossible to complete its preparations to snatch power if it neglects to discuss such key issues simply because of its failure to achieve a consensus on them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	855	2005-05-19	YOSHIN0020050520e15j000h9
YOMSHI0020050519e15k0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050519e15k0000j	EN	\N	Diet mustn't delay new panels on top law	According to a report compiled by the lower house Research Commission on the Constitution in April, more than two-thirds of lawmakers on the panel were of the view that a new permanent committee should be set up to discuss issues related to constitutional revision, including a bill for a national referendum.	4	2005-05-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It goes without saying that the Diet should set up the proposed standing committees in the two chambers at an early date to facilitate the debate on top law reform.Time running outWhile the Diet has only one month to go before its annual ordinary session completes its regular term, no agreement on the launching of such new panels is in sight.It is doubtful whether a bill concerning a national referendum to ratify revisions to the Constitution will be submitted before the end of the current Diet session, even if the standing committees are established during the remaining days of the session.The delay in forming the standing committees has been caused by the lack of consensus among lawmakers about the definition of the proposed panels and by the fact that a set of bills for the privatization of postal services likely will have priority from now on.Although Article 96 of the supreme law stipulates the process of amending the Constitution, no national referendum law governing the revision process exists. If the situation is not rectified, amendments to the Constitution--the people's exercise of their supreme power--will not be possible. Diet members should not prolong the history of inaction in the political sphere on the issue any more.The lower house's Research Commission on the Constitution has specified the points for debate on constitutional amendments. For example, a majority of its members called for constitutional measures regarding the country's right to self-defense and the Self-Defense Forces and for the incorporation in the supreme law of new types of human rights, such as concerning the environment and privacy.The Diet should thoroughly deliberate those points and find common ground on each one.Incorporate parties' viewsFor its part, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is scheduled to draft a new constitution in November. Next year, coalition partner New Komeito and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan also plan to work out their respective drafts for amending the top law. All the drafts from the political parties should also be taken up in the Diet's debate on constitutional reform.The lower house's commission cited a majority of lawmakers as proposing that a standing committee taking over the existing panel retain the basic framework of the commission.Some members of both the coalition parties and the DPJ say a new permanent committee should follow the role of the Research Commission on the Constitution, with an additional function of deliberating a bill for national referendums. However, it must be pointed out that no bill has been designated to or deliberated on by Diet research commissions to date.The establishment of a national referendum law is essential, but it can only be a transitional step in a much greater overall shift to a new constitution. Considering the importance of constitutional reform, the formulation of standing committees at the Diet on the Constitution is essential.The Diet Law should be revised to pave the way for the launch of standing committees on the Constitution in both chambers, and for having the new permanent panels deal with not only a national referendum bill, but also a bill for constitutional amendments and related bills. It also is desirable for the new standing committees to be as large as the existing Budget Committees.The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party predictably will continue to oppose the establishment of standing committees on the top law in both houses.But there are some members of the ruling parties and the DPJ who are also irresponsible in that they are not enthusiastic about the creation of the standing panels, as they fear that the standing committees' debate will center on constitutional amendments.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	717	2005-05-20	YOSHIN0020050523e15k0021k
YOMSHI0020050520e15l0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050520e15l0000k	EN	\N	Full debate needed at postal reform panel	Prior to the lower house move, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, determined to press ahead with postal reform, decided to remove two top bureaucrats of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry who were reluctant to back the postal privatization plan.	4	2005-05-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a related development, Koizumi appointed Taku Yamasaki, a political ally and former vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, as candidate for the post of top director of the ruling bloc on the ad hoc lower house committee.The prime minister's high-handed personnel decisions means his pet political cause has finally reached the most crucial stage.Committee has work cut outIt has to be pointed out that the new special committee has a lot to do.First, it needs to have intense discussions to clarify the aim of postal privatization.Japan Post has more than 340 trillion yen in postal savings and kampo postal insurance funds, financing special public sector corporations and subscribing to government bonds. The postal system has thereby propped up inefficient state-owned businesses and financed budget blowouts.The overall aim of the postal reform is to change such a paradigm and dissolve the world's largest state financial system.Postal savings and kampo insurance date back to the Meiji era (1868-1912) and the Taisho era (1912-1926) when the government assumed the role of collecting deposits and writing insurance. As private financial institutions have matured, the importance of state financial services has diminished.Second, both the ruling and opposition parties should thoroughly deliberate the related bills at the new special committee. It is vital for the panel to refine the bills to ensure the realization of the reform's goals.The government's bills for postal privatization have some problems because it yielded to pressure from the LDP when they were written up.The top goal of postal reform is to completely privatize the postal savings and kampo insurance areas. Koizumi has decided, at his own discretion, to sell the government's entire stake in the postal savings bank and the kampo insurance company, which are to be set up as transitional units before privatization.Privatization goals at riskNevertheless, the compromise between the government and the ruling party has made the bank and the insurer in the postal system free from penalty even if they do not fully privatize themselves. Furthermore, the postal bank and the kampo insurance company will be allowed to cross-hold shares in the two entities and in the over-the-counter postal service company.The goal of completely privatizing Japan Post thus faces the risk of being torpedoed. The new special committee should plug any loophole in the postal reform bills that could leave them emasculated.It is possible that the planned new postal entities could take advantage of the period of transition to full privatization to diversify their operations as much as possible, emerging as overwhelming competitors in various sectors.One idea floated was to empower the proposed privatization commission--which will have a mandate to supervise postal reform--to make necessary recommendations to ensure the progress of the privatization. However, the LDP forced the plan to be dropped.We believe it is essential to make the privatization watchdog powerful enough to prevent the postal units from becoming even stronger.Third, all the opposition parties have been campaigning against the postal privatization plan, without coming up with any viable counterproposals.In March, the Democratic Party of Japan, the biggest opposition party, unveiled its views on postal reform, saying it would monitor the reform of Japan Post. It favored the continuation of the status quo while desiring the public corporation to trim its scope of operations.The DPJ is threatening to boycott the new special committee's deliberation apparently as a tactic to emphasize its opposition to the LDP. If the DPJ expects to take power, it should participate in the panel's debates and compete with the ruling bloc over the content of postal reform proposals.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	717	2005-05-21	YOSHIN0020050523e15l001bc
YOMSHI0020050521e15m0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050521e15m0000g	EN	\N	No time to get carried away by good results	It is certain that companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange have registered increases both in income and profit for their annual account settlements ending in March for the third consecutive year, with current profits surpassing the previous high set last year.	4	2005-05-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the research arm of Shinko Securities Co., 947 of First Section-listed companies that had announced their settlement accounts for fiscal 2004 by Friday --excluding financial institutions and brokerages--recorded a sales rise of 6.4 percent from a year earlier, a rise in recurring profits of 23.9 percent and a rise in after-tax profits of 35.6 percent, respectively.Primary factors behind the buoyant performances were price increases in commodity markets such as steel, and increased exports, mainly to China and the United States, markedly pushing up sales.Increased sales, coupled with reduced manufacturing and sales costs thanks to rigorous corporate restructuring, have sharply driven up profits.Environment to get tougherYet the business environment is likely to become harsher in the 2006 March account term because the raw material price increases will only slightly be passed on to prices for finished products, while there are signs of slowdown in the United States and Chinese economies.Nonetheless, listed companies should have confidence in their stronger corporate standing. We hope they will fix their eyes on business fields with new potential and inject ample funds gained from increased earnings into these fields.According to the institute, all 30 business sectors registered year-on-year increases in earnings and profit for the account settlement term ending in March. More than one third of companies posted record-high recurring profits, the institute said.Making marked advances were long-established business sectors such as steel, oil refinery, maritime transportation and trading houses.Nippon Steel Corp. has increased its per-worker crude steel output by 3.17-fold over the past 15 years. Meanwhile, leading trading houses, which have shifted their main lines of businesses to investment from trade intermediation, benefited from high dividends from equity ownership, mainly of overseas subsidiaries in energy fields. These developments suggest that companies are now seeing the seeds they sowed during stagnant years blooming all at once.Dividends to growBuoyed with brisk business performance, one in every two companies is expected to increase or resume dividends. The total sum of dividends of all the listed companies that close their accounts in March, including financial institutions and brokerages, is expected to reach nearly 3.7 trillion yen, up about 700 billion yen from a year earlier.There are also moves among listed companies to raise pay-out ratios, the percentage of a company's profits to be paid out to shareholders in the form of dividends. Such moves will prove effective in expanding the pool of individual investors and in dealing against hostile merger and acquisition attempts.Many of those companies also are set to adopt measures to counter corporate acquirers, such as increasing their authorized capital or reducing the quorum of directors. It is necessary for the firms to develop reasonable corporate safeguards while gaining shareholder understanding.According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, the average age of equipment owned by private-sector firms has risen year after year to 11.5 years in 2003. Shortly after the burst of the bubble economy in early 1990s, the average age of private-sector business equipment was 4.9 years younger than that in the United States. In 2003, the difference narrowed down to 0.9 year. It is a matter of urgency that business equipment be renewed.With the first of the baby-boomers reaching mandatory retirement age soon, the task of passing manufacturing techniques on to the next generation urgently needs to be undertaken. There is no room for businesses to be carried away by the third consecutive year of brisk business performance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2005-05-22	YOSHIN0020050523e15m000fy
YOMSHI0020050522e15n0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050522e15n0000c	EN	\N	Japan must join pursuit of scientific progress	ES cells have the potential to grow into any type of human cell or tissue in the body. For instance, ES cells can be cultivated to form nerve cells, which can be used for the treatment of those suffering from spinal cord injuries, possibly helping them to walk again.	4	2005-05-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Moreover, the team cultivated these ES cells from the patients' own cells. Therefore, it is expected there will be no immunological rejection when they are implanted into patients. This use of cloning technology has also proved efficient. The team has produced 11 human ES cell batches, called lines, from nine cell donors, aged from 2 to 56, who each had different health problems.In order for this cloning technology to be used for actual treatment, the safety of this method needs to be confirmed. By using a patient's own ES cells, researchers will be able to find out how diseases develop and learn how they might be cured. Research on this therapeutic cloning will be accelerated around the world.Cloning breakthroughScientists in various parts of the world, including Japan, have succeeded in creating ES cells with embryos left over in fertility clinics. But until recently it was considered difficult to reproduce ES cells from a patient's own cells.The research team first harvested 185 eggs that were donated by 18 unpaid volunteers. The team then removed the gene-containing nucleus from them, and later inserted into those eggs DNA from skin cells of the 11 patients and created cloned embryos. The team then cultivated cloned embryos into a structure called a blastocyst and removed ES cells from the blastocysts.The research team succeeded, chiefly because they used eggs from younger women and because they had outstanding technology for creating cloned embryos. The team has been flooded with requests from around the world seeking their technologies.Yet caution about this kind of researches remains, as they use cloning technology that leads to human cloning. There are also those worrying about excessive burdens on women who donate eggs.With caution prevailing in Japan, researchers are unable to conduct this sort of research. Related research has been banned by under the laws regulating cloning technology, while the cultivation of ES cells is limited to the use of embryos left over from in vitro fertilization.Officials slowing progressThe Council for Science and Technology Policy, chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, released a report last year, that approved research on creating ES cells using cloning technology. Yet the ministries concerned with working out plans based on the report have yet to hold any substantial discussions on the issue, due chiefly to their taking the utmost care in addressing the issue.As things stand now, Japan will be left behind the rest of the world in the area of cloning technology. Once this therapeutic cloning is put into practical use overseas, Japanese patients would have no other recourse but to seek out such technology abroad, incurring sizable medical expenses.In South Korea, there is a law concerning life ethics, under which the creation of human clones is prohibited. Yet the South Korean government is quite affirmative regarding the medical application of cloning technology, keeping in mind the possible practical applications in the future. The latest research was carried out with government funds and overseen by the government and the universities involved in accordance with the relevant laws.Can Japan afford to sit idly, watching such efforts being made by researchers abroad? The latest success imposes a serious task on Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2005-05-23	YOSHIN0020050524e15n000dt
YOMSHI0020050523e15o0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050523e15o0000j	EN	\N	Diet boycott damages DPJ's credibility	To protest the ruling coalition's efforts to establish a special committee on a set of postal privatization bills at the House of Representatives, the leading opposition party has refused to attend all parliamentary sessions. The DPJ has said it will seek to scrap the bills.	4	2005-05-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The opposition party has argued that the bills run counter to a fundamental law enacted to transform central government ministries and agencies in accordance with the organizational chart set out by the government in January 2001. The basic law states that a public corporation set up to take over the state-administered postal services should be "subject to no review, including privatization."The DPJ has insisted that questions should also be raised about provisions in the postal reform bills the party says would allow the government to set many specific rules on postal reform through ministerial ordinances rather than through changes to the envisaged laws. The opposition party has interpreted this as meaning the government may revise the bills to make them more acceptable to Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers opposed to postal privatization.However, none of the DPJ's assertions justify its decision to boycott Diet sessions. The party's argument should be dismissed as trivial in terms of reforming the postal system.No barrier to reformThe government has said that the fundamental law on reform of the government's structure does not bar attempts to promote further reforms for that purpose. There are still strong objections to postal privatization among LDP legislators. Some party members have insisted the bills be revised. The bills would call for creating more than 230 ministerial ordinances on technical matters and procedures related to a plan to split Japan Post into a handful of corporations.An important task facing legislators is to identify problems involved in the postal reform effort and thoroughly debate how to resolve them.Despite the decision to establish the ad hoc committee on postal reform, lawmakers have not yet met to hear the government explain the purview of the bills at a plenary session of the lower house which would set the stage for the start of discussions on the bills at the committee. The DPJ's boycott of Diet sessions is tantamount to abandoning its responsibilities as a political party and as Diet members.If it insists the bills have defects in their central pillars, the DPJ should return to Diet sessions as soon as possible, and clearly state its opinion of them.Position changedInitially, DPJ President Katsuya Okada said state-run postal savings and life insurance services should be transformed into private sector services, while efforts should be made to take postal workers off the government payroll. However, he now insists Japan Post be kept intact. His change of heart probably reflects his desire not to antagonize postal-related labor unions that support his party and DPJ lawmakers with a stake in postal services.Meanwhile, DPJ Vice President Ichiro Ozawa and former party President Yukio Hatoyama have become even more bitter in criticizing the DPJ's top echelon for its failure to win two lower house by-elections in late April, saying the party should adopt an even more confrontational attitude toward the government and the ruling parties.We feel the DPJ's failure to present alternative bills--an indication the party is still unable to reach a consensus on postal reform--encouraged the party to play to the gallery when it decided to boycott Diet sessions.The DPJ has also refused to attend a meeting of Diet members representing various parties as directors of the lower house Rules and Administration Committee. The steering committee is a forum for discussing the way Diet sessions are run, not for debating policies that split political parties. The DPJ's boycott of the steering committee meeting must be seen as extremely unreasonable.Some DPJ legislators, mainly junior members, say their party will not be able to gain public support for its refusal to join parliamentary debates. Their argument may reflect their thinking that the DPJ should know better than to adopt the kind of resistance tactics taken by the former Japan Socialist Party under the so-called 1955 political order.The DPJ has called itself a "party preparing to take power." If it came into office, would the DPJ accept opposition parties refusing to attend parliamentary sessions? The longer it stays away from the Diet, the more remote the DPJ's goal of snatching power from the current ruling coalition becomes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	779	2005-05-24	YOSHIN0020050525e15o000he
YOMSHI0020050524e15p0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050524e15p0000h	EN	\N	China should mind its manners	On Monday, Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi returned home from her visit to this country, abruptly canceling a planned meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi just a few hours before the meeting was due to take place. Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura is correct in saying that Wu's behavior was a "breach of a minimal standard for international etiquette."	4	2005-05-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The vice premier's action was extremely disturbing not only in that she canceled the talks at the last minute. It should be noted that the meeting was arranged at the request of China. If he had met with Wu as initially planned, Koizumi would have told her his government intended to expand the list of Chinese cities whose residents would be issued tourist visas from Japan.China has long been perceived by many Japanese as a nation that highly values courtesy and etiquette. How would China feel if an important person from another country behaved like Wu did in dealing with a top Chinese leader? The dispute over Wu's action is not an issue that can be laid to rest without an apology from China.Initially, Beijing said Wu had to "attend to emergency public duties" when it explained why she had to return home immediately. On Tuesday, however, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman issued a statement citing strong dissatisfaction felt by Beijing about remarks made by Japanese leaders, including Koizumi, about repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine by the prime minister as a reason for its decision to cancel Wu's planned meeting with the prime minister.Shrine visits a domestic issueThe statement was made in an apparent reference to remarks made about the Yasukuni issue by Koizumi during a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee on May 16. The prime minister said, "No other nation should interfere in deciding how (the prime minister) should pay tribute (to the Japanese war dead)." He also said, "I'll make a decision about when to visit (the Shinto shrine) in an appropriate manner."A memorial service for fallen soldiers in any country is to be held in accordance with that nation's culture and tradition. Admittedly, there are arguments among Japanese for and against prime ministerial visits to the shrine, which enshrines Class-A war criminals. However, the controversy should never be settled through interference by another country.Wu's abrupt return home was preceded by talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese politicians, including Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe. During the meeting, Hu cited Koizumi's worship at Yasukuni Shrine and the government's school history textbook screening as "moves I don't want to look at." He also compared efforts to improve Japan-China relations with the construction of a building. "A building cannot be erected without piling up bricks one by one. But it is possible to destroy a building in a moment," Hu said.China not fulfilling pledgeIt should be recognized, however, that China--not Japan--has been responsible for hampering efforts to improve the relationship between the two nations in recent years. Beijing's actions deserve to be seen as moves no one wants to look at and as a possible attempt to destroy a building in a moment.These actions include the intrusion into Japanese waters by a Chinese nuclear submarine and that country's unilateral natural gas exploration in areas surrounding the Japan-China median line in the East China Sea. The most recent cases include anti-Japanese rallies that damaged the Japanese Embassy in Beijing and the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai, as well as Wu's cancellation of her talks with Koizumi.China apparently violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations when it did nothing to prevent anti-Japanese demonstrators from vandalizing the Japanese missions. Beijing has failed to apologize for its benign neglect.During a meeting in Jakarta in April, Koizumi and Hu reiterated their determination to promote dialogue between their nations. China should think about what it must do to honor that agreement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	712	2005-05-25	YOSHIN0020050526e15p000h8
YOMSHI0020050525e15q0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050525e15q0000h	EN	\N	Textbook opponents need lesson in logic	During his meeting with some major Japanese politicians, including Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe, Chinese President Hu Jintao mentioned "moves I do not want to look at in recent years." He cited visits to Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese political leaders and Japan's attitude toward the Taiwan issue. Hu also cited "school textbooks that glorify (Japan's) history."	4	2005-05-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Chinese government has said eight middle school history textbooks approved by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry under its screening system this spring include "rightist ones denying that Japan committed acts of aggression [in other Asian nations] and glorifying its [wartime] conduct." However, Beijing has never indicated which descriptions in these textbooks it deems to be specific examples in this respect.A similar case was revealed by Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura in his reply to a question raised at a recent session of the House of Councillors Foreign and Defense Committee. Despite his criticism of Japanese school textbooks, Machimura said, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing had never read any of them.Why is Fuso text singled out?Li's criticism is ridiculous. Does his attitude show that Chinese leaders have accepted, without question, assertions made by some Japanese news organizations about a textbook written by members of the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform and published by Fuso Publishing, Inc.? These news organs have criticized the textbook in question as "lopsided."What does it mean to describe history in a well-balanced manner?The middle school history textbooks produced by seven publishing houses incorporate no references to such prominent historical figures as Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), a leading court scholar, poet and a political figure of the Heian period (794-1192); Ninomiya Sontoku (1787-1856), a farm technologist and the leading agricultural philosopher of the late Edo period (1603-1868); and Heihachiro Togo (1847-1934), a fleet admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Fuso Publishing is the only one to mention these figures in its history textbook.Only three publishers, including Fuso Publishing, mention Emperor Showa and Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (ca 685-705), the most important poet whose work is contained in the Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves), the earliest anthology of Japanese verse.One textbook does not touch on any of these figures. But it does refer to Yu Gwan Sun (1904-20), a young female activist in the Korean independence movement. Given this, are the news organizations in question justified in insisting that this textbook is well balanced in describing Japanese history, while pointing the finger at Fuso Publishing's textbook?Chinese taught to hate JapanIn their sections concerning contemporary history, Chinese school textbooks are particularly detailed in their description of Japan's acts of aggression.A manual for history teachers in China states that teachers should emphasize "the atrocity and brutality (of the Japanese)" in teaching about the "Nanjing Massacre." It also says teachers should encourage students to bear "a deep grudge [against Japanese people] for their imperialism."During a recent meeting with the Chinese foreign minister, Machimura said Chinese school textbooks include "factual inaccuracies and brutal descriptions." He also said these textbooks incorporate "few descriptions about Japan's determination to remain a peaceful nation in the years following World War II."In his response to Machimura, the Chinese foreign minister did not discuss the descriptions in his nation's history textbooks. Instead, he addressed the issue only in abstract terms, saying that Machimura treated the Chinese textbooks on a par with the "rightist textbooks" published in Japan.If Beijing sticks to its unbending attitude on the textbook issue, Japan and China will never be able to resolve the dispute.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2005-05-26	YOSHIN0020050527e15q000gw
YOMSHI0020050526e15r0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050526e15r0000g	EN	\N	Time is ripe to resume imports of U.S. beef	The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry asked the independent commission on Tuesday to discuss whether the country should maintain its import ban. To enable Japan to reopen its market to U.S. beef, it is essential the panel determine that U.S. beef is as safe as Japanese beef. A group of experts on the commission will shortly begin examining the case.	4	2005-05-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The import ban has been in place for 1-1/2 years following the discovery in December 2003 of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease, also known by its scientific name of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).The United States has strongly called for an early resumption of beef shipments to Japan on a number of grounds, including that the BSE-infected cattle had been imported from Canada. Japan has refused to comply with Washington's request because the United States does not blanket test slaughtered cattle for BSE.Relaxation of testingEarlier this month, the Food Safety Commission recommended Japan's BSE testing system for slaughtered cattle of all ages be revised to exclude those slaughtered at 20 months of age or younger. The panel based its recommendation on the fact the youngest cattle found infected with BSE in Japan was 21-months-old.The commission was originally expected to take only two or three months to make its recommendations, but the process took more than six months. The delay can be attributed to the experts group only meeting on average once every three weeks and requests for substantial volumes of documents by some members of the panel.The commission should refrain from repeating the unjustified delay in its discussions on the matter. The experts group should aim to conclude its debate as early as possible by holding comprehensive and intensive discussions as required.With a change to Japan's testing system, it will become much easier to resume imports of U.S. beef.Officials in Japan and the United States share a view that it is sufficient to check the quality of meat to verify the safety of cattle slaughtered at 20 months or younger that may not have been tested for BSE.To meet Japan's safety requirements, the United States has promised to remove the brain, spinal cord and any other specified risk materials from cattle slaughtered for export to Japan.International shiftGiven these facts, the agenda before the Food Safety Commission experts group have effectively been resolved in inter-governmental negotiations and other bilateral discussions.The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which sets international safety standards for livestock, is likely to make a decision within the week to allow the trade of boneless beef without restriction.Although the OIE's decisions are not binding on signatory countries, they can serve as criteria for settling trade disputes at the World Trade Organization. In other words, Japan's policy of permitting imports of beef depending on the age of cattle could become the focus of a WTO dispute if a trade complaint was filed against Japan.Japanese officials involved in the beef issue should decide taking such an international move into consideration when deciding their policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2005-05-27	YOSHIN0020050530e15r000fk
YOMSHI0020050527e15s0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050527e15s0000g	EN	\N	Home is the soldier, home from the wars...	Officials from the Japanese Embassy in Manila have been sent to the southern Mindanao city of General Santos to verify whether the two men are in fact WWII stragglers.	4	2005-05-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The two men, both in their 80s, are believed to be Yoshio Yamakawa, a lieutenant, and Tsuzuki Nakauchi, a corporal.According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and other sources, the two men were engaged in operations on the island when the war ended in 1945.During the ensuing six decades, the two have hid out in mountainous areas of the island that are controlled by rebels, remaining "on duty" as it were, although the war has long ended.We would like to offer words of consolation from the bottom of our hearts to the two men for their long years of hardships.Stragglers feared court-martialThe near-unbelievable tale of their survival surfaced when a man from Nagasaki Prefecture involved in a logging project in Mindanao came across the two men in August. The man reported the news to a war veterans association in Japan, which sent members to the island to make contact with the two men.The two stragglers reportedly told the members of the association that they were uneasy about returning to Japan because they were afraid of being court-martialed and executed.The association managed to allay their concerns by sending in to the two men old magazines that reported the case of former 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda, who hid out in the jungle on Lubang Island in the Philippines until 1974 when he was returned to Japan. The association also sent a note saying "There is no need to worry."The honor for reaching out to these two former soldiers lays squarely with their fellow veterans who went through the same hardships during the war as the two men had.Both of the two men reportedly want to return to Japan.We ask the government to help realize their return to Japan as soon as possible and to extend generous support to the two if they want to resettle in Japan.When it comes to the return of former Japanese soldiers to Japan, we remember Shoichi Yokoi, who was found in the jungle in Guam in 1972, and the discovery of Onoda two years later.Search for forgotten soldiersIn the 30 years or so since the discoveries of Yokoi and Onoda, has the government done enough to determine whether there are still forgotten soldiers who have yet to return from the battlefield?When it receives information that a man believed to be a former Japanese soldier has been spotted, the health ministry contacts the Foreign Ministry, which dispatches officials to the area in question to determine if there is any truth to the rumor.In tandem with an ongoing project to collect the remains of Japanese soldiers, the health ministry gathers information concerning soldiers who have not returned from the battlefield.However, some war veterans associations are dissatisfied with the meagre results made through government efforts. As these former members of the Imperial Japanese armed forces are all reaching an advanced age, is the government taking it for granted that there are no war survivors any more?Reports from Mindanao indicate there are other stragglers in the area. We hope the government will make a thorough investigation and search for any possible survivors.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2005-05-28	YOSHIN0020050530e15s001b5
YOMSHI0020050528e15t0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050528e15t0000e	EN	\N	Not enough progress toward free trade	The two countries have agreed in principle to conclude a bilateral economic partnership accord, pillared by a free trade agreement (FTA).	4	2005-05-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The deal with Malaysia is the fourth for Japan, which has already agreed to conclude FTAs with Singapore, Mexico and the Philippines.Currently Japan is finalizing FTAs with Thailand, South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Japan also is expected to launch FTA negotiations with Indonesia next month.Meanwhile, Japan is expected to begin preparatory talks on launching formal FTA negotiations with Chile and India next month. Japan has already agreed to the establishment of a study panel into an FTA with Australia.With the latest accord struck with Malaysia, it is hoped Japan will see the FTA negotiations accelerated and the expansion of a network of free trade that promotes stable growth of the Japanese and East Asian economies.FTA's falling shortBut when looking at what was agreed between Japan and Malaysia it appears the accord will fall far short of the goals Japan originally hoped to realize.Under the accord, the two countries agreed to exclude rice, soybeans and dairy products from items subject to tariff elimination, while leaving plywood subject to further negotiations, highlighting that the two countries have put off settling difficult issues.With regard to tariffs on automobiles and iron and steel products, the two countries agreed only to eliminate them in stages over the next 10 years, while agreeing to immediately remove tariffs on auto parts produced in Malaysia. The two countries also agreed to continue negotiating on the issue of eliminating tariffs on services such as transportation and investment.Under pressure from officials concerned about agricultural, forestry and fishery industries, the Japanese government is likely to make as little movement as possible on farm and fishery product tariffs.In exchange for winning concessions on agricultural, forestry and fishery products, Japan could be forced by trading partners that want to protect their domestic industries to compromise on industrial product tariffs that Japan hoped to see removed.This is the pattern that has been followed in negotiations with Thailand, with which Japan hopes to ink a deal by July.Because Thailand accepted Japan's proposal for putting off the removal of tariffs on rice, the two countries reached an accord over certain agricultural, forestry and fishery products.Showing strong disapproval of Japan's call to maintain tariffs on steel and automobile products, Thailand has recently begun suggesting that some issues should be renegotiated, including those on agricultural products.Japan playing catchupHaving lagged far behind the worldwide trend toward regional FTAs, Japan is now trying to catch up with other countries on the conclusion of bilateral FTAs, an effort also aimed at making up for little progress in the new round of multilateral trade talks under the auspices of the World Trade Organization.As things stand now, however, progress toward the conclusion of bilateral FTAs, which would be inferior in quality, may bring about only a limited economic effect.At a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy last month, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi again called on concerned ministers to make an effort in promoting the conclusion of FTAs.Yet opposition to liberalizing agricultural, forestry and fishery markets remains strong in the industries concerned, as well as among legislators and ministries that represent the interests of relevant sectors.It has become more important than ever for Koizumi to wield his leadership to work for the benefit of the entire nation and ensure the conclusion of high quality FTAs.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2005-05-29	YOSHIN0020050530e15t001zx
YOMSHI0020050529e15u00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050529e15u00009	EN	\N	Energy securitymust be improved	The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry's energy white paper for this year focuses on the nation's energy security. Since last year, crude oil prices have risen sharply, mainly as a result of increased demand in Asia, including China and India. It appears the current tight relationship between oil supply and demand will remain unchanged for some time. This likely will further increase the need for Japan to secure energy.	4	2005-05-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This country's energy-sufficiency rate still remains at a modest 19 percent if its water-power and other domestically produced energy is combined with its nuclear power generation. Japan's nuclear power is considered semi-domestically produced energy.Although it exceeds the ratio of 15 percent in Italy, the figure falls far below the ratios of 73 percent in the United States, 51 percent in France and 39 percent in Germany. Given these figures, the nation's energy situation is its Achilles heel.Japan can afford to remain indifferent to its own disadvantage in energy security if it can buy abundant energy at stable prices. However, such a favorable energy situation is a thing of the past.Mounting pricesThis can be seen in the import prices of major types of energy. With the January 2002 figures as an index of 100, uranium stood at 219 on a U.S. dollar basis in January 2005, crude oil at 199, power station coal at 148, and liquefied natural gas at 130. This means that the prices of not only crude oil but all other major energy sources have sharply risen.According to the white paper, the skyrocketing prices can be attributed to a less-than-satisfactory level of investment in energy development due to a decrease in the prices of energy sources during the 1980s, combined with the tight supply-demand relationship resulting from the surge in energy consumption in Asia. The white paper goes on to say that the situation has been exacerbated by negative factors such as political instability in the Middle East, an accident at a uranium mine in Canada and an influx of speculative funds.If all energy consumption in Asia is converted into oil consumption, the figure stood at 740 million tons in 1971, the eve of the first energy crisis. The figure shot up to 2.77 billion tons, accounting for 29 percent of the world's total energy consumption, up from 14 percent. According to an estimate, the figure is expected to increase to 5.97 billion tons in 2030, mainly because of increases in China.Regional energy securityJapan should urge other Asian countries to boost their oil stocks as soon as possible. This is important to ensure Asian nations secure a stable supply for the future. Doing so would enable Asian countries to curb a surge in petroleum prices if the energy situation worsens, instead of flocking to oil-producing nations to continue purchases.It is also important for Japan to impart its advanced energy-saving technology to other Asian economies.In recent years, Japan and China have been bitterly at odds over natural resources in the East China Sea. The government should not compromise its basic stand on the issue. However, Japan would be wise to cooperate with China in areas of mutual interest, including the development of energy-saving technology. It would benefit Japan to help China correct its tendency to waste national resources.This must be complemented by efforts to promote nuclear power generation at home in a safe and steady manner. The government should also seek to increase the utilization ratio of domestic nuclear power plants.The surge in uranium prices could be effectively countered by reusing spent nuclear fuel. Further delay should not be permitted in developing a fast-breeder reactor that could most efficiently burn uranium.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2005-05-30	YOSHIN0020050531e15u000co
YOMSHI0020050530e15v0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050530e15v0000j	EN	\N	Bring Monju reactor back on line ASAP	On Monday, the top court ruled in favor of the government in a lawsuit over the legitimacy of its safety review of the experimental reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.	4	2005-05-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 2003, the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court found in favor of a claim by a group of residents around Monju that the government's safety inspection conducted prior to the reactor's construction had been seriously flawed. The high court nullified the government's 1983 permission to build the Monju reactor. However, Monday's ruling overturned the lower court decision, finalizing the government's victory in the suit.Operations at the Monju reactor have been suspended since a massive leak of sodium coolant occurred at the facility in December 1995. The high court's ruling served as a hindrance to efforts to gain the support of the residents in the area hosting the reactor to resume operations at the facility, which started to undergo repairs in March aimed at ensuring an accident like the 1995 disaster could never happen again.For years, the government has said its efforts to make the most effective use of uranium under what is called the nuclear fuel cycle is a main pillar of its nuclear power policy. The Monju reactor is the centerpiece of the policy. Given this, it is necessary to steadily carry out repairs at the reactor so it can resume operations at an early date.Injunction hard to swallowMany specialists called the high court's determination that the government's safety review of the reactor was unlawful far-fetched.For example, nuclear reactors function with multiple protective mechanisms. The system is aimed at preventing an accident at a reactor from spreading to the outside of the facility. It is impossible that all such protective mechanisms fail at once. In fact, the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) does not presuppose that such a situation may take place as it inspects the safety of a reactor.The high court's sentence said such a danger could not be ruled out, concluding that the government's safety assessment of the Monju reactor was seriously flawed.It should be noted, however, that no technology could be put into use if it was required to be absolutely safe even under nearly impossible conditions.To rule on the legal dispute over the propriety of the government's approval to build the Monju reactor, the Supreme Court primarily examined whether there were any unreasonable elements in the series of steps taken to complete the procedure. Monday's decision showed that the top court respected the judgment given by the NSC concerning the technicalities of the Monju project. The latest ruling was in line with judicial precedents set in administrative lawsuits over the nation's nuclear power program, which valued the judgment of specialists.Absolute safety impossibleHowever, Monday's decision was no guarantee of the safety of the Monju reactor. It is important to remember that the 1995 accident occurred because defects in the design of a thermometer installed at the facility had been overlooked.It should also be recognized that operations at Monju have been suspended for close to 10 years. It is essential to determine whether parts and components comprising the reactor have deteriorated. The government and the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC), the developer of the Monju reactor, have an extremely heavy responsibility in this respect.It is also important for the Monju operator to gain the public's full trust. In the 1995 disaster, the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC), the predecessor of the state-run JNC, failed to properly handle the incident. The PNC did not adequately explain to the public the circumstances of the disaster, for example. The corporation also tried to conceal information about the incident. All this added to the public's distrust in the PNC, affecting the high court in its ruling on the case.The JNC intends to compile and reveal a list of possible accidents that may take place at the reactor. The plan is aimed at assuring the public that the reactor will remain safe whatever accidents may occur at the facility. All efforts should be expended to achieve this goal as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	748	2005-05-31	YOSHIN0020050601e15v000i1
YOMSHI0020050531e1610000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050531e1610000k	EN	\N	Govt should reform SIA to regain public trust	On Tuesday, an advisory panel to the chief cabinet secretary on the reform of the agency compiled its final report. The focal point of discussion at the panel has been whether the new public pension entity should be set up as an affiliate of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry or as an independent administrative corporation.	4	2005-06-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The advisory panel recommended in its report that the government maintain a direct involvement in the pension system and assume clear and full accountability for the management of the new entity. In this regard, it called on the health minister to appoint the chief of the new organization.In the years ahead, those who have not contributed mandatory public pension premiums will be subject to compulsory collection of the contributions in arrears--affecting several hundred thousand people each year. Some members on the experts panel had argued that the new entity should be an independent administrative corporation. But the panel concluded that the new organization should be part of the government as it would exercise public authority.Transparency a worthy goalThe Social Insurance Agency has been involved in a host of scandals--the leakage of information concerning individual members of the public pension system; revelations of corruption stemming from the agency's discretionary placement of orders for computers and related systems, involving massive amounts of money; dubious fees paid to SIA officials from publishing companies; and mistakes made with pension payments. Indeed, the public harbors deep-seated distrust of the SIA. Can a government organization root out all the problems afflicting the SIA?What the panel envisages as the new organization appears to be quite different from any of the existing government entities. For instance, a pension management conference comprising outside experts will discuss key issues concerning the administration of the new organization, according to the panel. A management council that will count pensioners among its members will provide input on the organization's services, while the post of special inspector will be created to ensure privacy rights are protected and irregularities prevented. The proposed entity will thus be very conscious of governance from outside.The recommended organization is very unusual and deserves our appreciation as an approach to make government offices more transparent.Political factors consideredThe lower and upper houses of the Diet, for their part, plan to launch a joint committee to reform the country's social security regime with a view to mapping out an outline for that goal by autumn. The shape of the organization that will administer the public pension system will depend wholly on what sort of system the Diet and the government eventually adopt.The panel apparently took possible political developments into consideration in recommending that the new organization be a health ministry affiliate for a while rather than an independent administrative corporation.As the Liberal Democratic Party remains divided over the nature of the new pension organization, it is not yet known whether the proposed entity will be put under the ministry's control.Whatever the shape of the new organization, it is important to recover credibility in the public pension system and raise the number of people paying pension premiums. The new entity should be efficient and trusted by the public.The establishment of the new organization must not result in a mere change of the signboard from Social Insurance Agency to something new.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2005-06-01	YOSHIN0020050602e161000j6
YOMSHI0020050601e1620000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050601e1620000e	EN	\N	Japan must protect its maritime interests	In the latest meeting, the two countries, though agreeing to continue the talks further, made no progress on the issue, indicating that future discussions will be more difficult.	4	2005-06-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This time, Japan strongly demanded--once again--that Beijing divulge information on its gas development projects, including the Chunxiao gas field, in the area and immediately suspend those projects. China did not comply with the Japanese demand.The fundamental cause of the dispute is the absence of a bilateral agreement to delineate boundaries between the Japanese and Chinese exclusive economic zones that allow the countries concerned to claim sovereign rights over seabed resources.Sovereignty issue centralDuring this week's talks, Japan maintained that the median line from its and China's coastlines should be adopted as the line of EEZ separation. China, for its part, reiterated that China's EEZ extends to the Okinawa Trough, where its continental shelf reaches.The reason why the Chunxiao gas field is a point of contention is its location--about four kilometers on the Chinese side of the median line--which may enable China to siphon off resources on the Japanese side of the line.In the talks, Tokyo and Beijing agreed to set up a working group involving Foreign Ministry officials from the two countries to discuss the drawing of EEZ boundaries. However, Japan and China are unlikely to easily reach agreement, considering that the dispute boils down to the issue of sovereignty.China tabled a proposal for jointly undertaking development projects as "a provisional measure pending an agreement on the line of separation." But the Chinese proposal only covers the area within the Japanese side stretching from the median line between the two countries to the Okinawa Trough. In other words, it is exactly in line with the Chinese claim concerning the EZZ demarcation line. Japan naturally opposed the proposal.Is Chinese offer sincere?While calling for joint development projects, China resumed construction work on the Chunxiao facility, aiming to embark on gas production in October. In the latest talks, Japan and China agreed to explore ways for breaking the impasse by continuing to study the possibility of jointly prospecting natural gas fields. But it is doubtful that the two countries will be able to make the talks fruitful.Unless China suspends its construction work in the East China Sea, the joint development proposal should be dismissed as a pretext to win time.Japan's basic policy is that joint development projects should cover both Japanese and Chinese sides of the median line with benefits from such projects evenly shared. This is naturally what joint development is for.Demand in China for oil and natural gas has been rising rapidly against the background of its steeply growing economy. China regards gas fields in the East China Sea as a key energy supply source for the eastern coastal areas, including Shanghai. Under such circumstances, there seems little possibility of China compromising in the talks with Japan.In April, the Japanese government began administrative procedures to grant the private sector the rights to prospect natural gas fields in the East China Sea close to the median line. If the bilateral talks make no headway and China continues going ahead with its development projects, Japan should calmly opt to take necessary measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2005-06-02	YOSHIN0020050603e162000hj
YOMSHI0020050603e16300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050603e16300001	EN	\N	Urgent measures needed to stem falling birthrate	According to 2004 demographic statistics released Wednesday by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the total fertility rate--the average number of babies born to a woman during her reproductive years--stood at 1.29.	4	2005-06-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The figure, when calculated down to the second decimal place, as is usual, was the same as the previous year.However, when calculated down to the third decimal place, the figure stood at 1.289 compared with 1.291 in 2003, only a small margin but still a new low.Should the birthrate continue to fall, the workforce will decrease and consumption will slow, causing serious economic effects. It also would threaten the sustainability of the social security system, including pension programs.Joint public-private effort keyIs there any way for Japan to boost its low birthrate, the second-lowest among major industrialized countries after Italy, which posted a rate of 1.24 in 2001? This is a challenge that both the public and private sectors should tackle jointly and seriously.With the full enforcement of the law concerning the promotion of measures to help support child-rearing families in April, businesses have been obliged to work out and implement action plans that include such specific numerical targets as the rate of child leave taken by employees.The law is designed to create an environment conducive to workers, particularly women, pursuing both a career and child-rearing. Businesses with 301 or more full-time employees on the payroll are required to submit their action plans to a prefectural labor bureau.But according to the Tokyo Labor Bureau, only one-third of about 4,000 businesses in Tokyo subject to the requirement have submitted their plans.As no penalties are meted out on firms that fail to submit a plan, the law's effectiveness is open to question. Nonetheless, the attitude of the business community is called into question.The government's approach in tackling the issue also has been less than thorough.Plan a grab bag of measuresThe government has come up with a new five-year program starting this fiscal year for helping people with child-rearing. Yet the plan has turned out to be one aimed at pleasing everyone, as it contains measures proposed by each government ministry and agency.For instance, the plan even calls for making city and riverside parks in urban areas barrier-free to create towns where people feel safer raising children.In 1995, the government implemented what it called the "Angel Plan," originally a 10-year plan for helping people in child-rearing, which was revised in 1999 as a new five-year plan for fiscal 2000-2004. Despite these measures, the birthrate continued to fall.The government should analyze the reasons these past measures have failed to achieve tangible results and allocate funds efficiently by spending them on projects deemed worthwhile.The public pension system reform undertaken last year was based on the optimistic assumption that the fertility rate would hit the bottom at 1.31 in 2007 and rise as high as 1.39 thereafter.As things stand now, it will be impossible for the government to meet its target of keeping future pension benefit levels at 50 percent of average take-home pay.It also will be necessary for the government to rebuild the social security system by doing all it can to prevent the birthrate from declining further, while recognizing that a rapid upturn is unlikely.It is urgent for the social security system to be reconstructed to withstand a further decline in the birthrate, such as by utilizing consumption tax revenue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2005-06-03	YOSHIN0020050606e1630022f
YOMSHI0020050603e1640000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050603e1640000k	EN	\N	Govt must expedite new war memorial	Koizumi said Thursday at the House of Representatives that he understood the Class-A war criminals--those found guilty at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also known as the Tokyo Tribunal--were war criminals.	4	2005-06-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prime minister was speaking in response to a question asked by Katsuya Okada, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, at a session of the lower house's Budget Committee.If this is the case, then Koizumi should not visit Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class-A war criminals along with other war dead.Criminality disputedCritics both at home and abroad have cast doubts as to whether the Tokyo Tribunal, held on the basis of a court regulation stipulated by the Occupation authorities' GHQ, was justifiable in light of international law.The case in point is the "Pal ruling," whereby Judge Radhabinod Pal, who represented India at the tribunal, acquitted all the defendants, saying that given the history of their own imperialistic adventures, the United States and European countries were not entitled to try Japan.Moreover, following the 1952 San Francisco Peace Treaty, the death of Class-A war criminals by public execution has been treated as "death in the course of public duty."Mamoru Shigemitsu, who was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment as a Class-A war criminal, became a deputy prime minister and foreign minister under the administration of then Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama in 1954.Okinori Kaya, who was given a life term as a Class-A war criminal, served as justice minister under the administration of Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda.As a result, a "criminal" became a guardian of the law.Yet there were no particular objections made by other countries when these former "Class-A war criminals" had their lost honor restored by becoming cabinet members.From such a historical context, many have argued strongly that the so-called Class-A war criminals are not "criminals," although they have to shoulder the guilt of recklessly dragging their country into a war.It was in 1978 when these Class-A war criminals were enshrined, together with the war dead, at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine.Although the enshrinement became public knowledge in 1979, then Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira and Zenko Suzuki, Ohira's successor, visited the shrine as their predecessors did.Ohira said, "I think that the judgment on Class-A war criminals or on the Greater East Asia War will be made by history," thus declining to express his own opinion on whether they were criminals.In response to Okada's question Thursday, Koizumi also said, "I'm not visiting the shrine as a duty of prime minister. I'm visiting due to my own beliefs," making clear that he is visiting the shrine as a private individual.If his visits to the shrine are made as a private citizen, he should think of a better way to worship there. It is questionable for him to step into the holiest Shinto shrine and enter his name with his title of "prime minister" when making a private visit.The issue of distinguishing between a visit to the shrine in a private or official capacity gained public attention after then Prime Minister Takeo Miki, on his visit to the shrine in 1975, said he went there as a "private individual."Yet succeeding prime ministers visited the shrine without specifying whether their visits were in an official or private capacity.Suzuki followed a policy of not answering questions as to whether his visit was in a private or official capacity.Yet it is a different story when a prime minister clearly distinguishes his visit to the shrine, as when Koizumi says he is not visiting the shrine as part of his duties as prime minister.Constitutional hurdlesOne solution proposed to the problem of the prime minister's visits is to have the Class-A war criminals disenshrined and enshrined elsewhere.But Yasukuni Shrine is a religious organization. If political leaders pressure the shrine to enshrine Class-A war criminals separately, they would be violating the principle of the separation of state and religion under the Constitution.It is up to the shrine as a religious entity to interpret the contents of its rites, including whether it should enshrine the war criminals separately.As there are various religions and sects in Japan, there are also many who oppose the prime minister's visits to the shrine due to religious reasons.If it is difficult for Yasukuni Shrine to enshrine Class-A war criminals separately in light of Shinto doctrine, the only way to solve the problem lies in building a national memorial that is nonreligious.In 2001, when the Koizumi Cabinet was inaugurated, a private panel to then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda discussed ways to mourn the war dead. It came up with a proposal the following year that a nonreligious national facility be built to commemorate the war dead and pray for peace.The report lacked concrete ideas as to what sort of facility should be built or how to mourn the war dead. The government should put the finishing touches to the proposal as soon as possible and start building a new memorial facility.At Arlington National Cemetery in the United States, there are tombstones for unknown soldiers as a central memorial, at which visiting heads of foreign states often lay a wreath of flowers.A new national memorial can be built as an outdoor facility. One idea raised is for a monument to be established at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in central Tokyo. This is worth discussing.The government-sponsored memorial service for the war dead, held every Aug. 15, could still be held at Nippon Budokan hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.China ties unlikely to improveYet even if Koizumi stops his visits to Yasukuni Shrine, it will not necessarily improve Japan's bilateral relations with China anytime soon.Even after the fact that Class-A war criminals were enshrined at the shrine was made known, China did not protest publicly when prime ministers Ohira and Suzuki made successive visits to the shrine.It was after then Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone made an official visit to the shrine in 1985 that China began lodging protests to such visits.In yielding to Beijing's protest, Nakasone discontinued his visits to the shrine in the following year. The action handed China a diplomatic bargaining chip that it has continued to exploit.In later years, China, alarmed by the declining power of the Chinese Communist Party regime after the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, intensified its policy of "educating people with patriotism and anti-Japanese sentiment," fostering a vast population with anti-Japanese sentiment year after year.The slogans seen during the wave of anti-Japanese protests in April focused on the issue of Japan's campaign for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council and on Taiwan.When pondering future bilateral relations with China, the government must keep a close eye on the domestic situation there.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1198	2005-06-04	YOSHIN0020050606e164000n2
YOMSHI0020050604e1650000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050604e1650000f	EN	\N	Time for all-out effort to win UNSC seat	The so-called Group of Four--Japan, Brazil, Germany and India--has urged all U.N. members to support a resolution it drafted on an expanded council. The four nations are seeking to ensure the resolution is adopted by the end of June, and new permanent members selected in mid-July. The G-4 nations hope a resolution for revising the U.N. Charter is adopted within two weeks of the selection of new permanent members.	4	2005-06-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The G-4 resolution would expand the list of 15 council members to include six permanent members and four nonpermanent members. It does not say that new permanent members should be granted a veto, instead stating that "new permanent members should have the same responsibilities and obligations as current permanent members."Many U.N. members have opposed a proposal to give new permanent members the right of veto. The G-4's cautious position is an attempt to gain the support of as many countries as possible through a conciliatory approach that may include changes to its draft resolution.To get the resolution adopted, the G-4 must receive the support of two-thirds or more of all 191 member states, meaning it must be backed by more than 128 nations. If the resolution is rejected, Japan's attempt to become a permanent member would be dealt a fatal blow. This country must clear the first hurdle to its ambition by any means.Opponents gathering alliesHowever, U.N. members opposed to the G-4 resolution are stepping up efforts to win allies and present a united front against the four countries' ambition.China and South Korea have been particularly obstinate in opposing Japan's bid for a permanent council seat. The Chinese ambassador to the United Nations has called the G-4 resolution a dangerous move, saying his country will vote against it.Each U.N. member seeking to become a permanent member has met strong resistance from rival countries in its own region. Germany's ambition has antagonized Italy; India's determination has attracted objections from Pakistan; and Brazil's bid has angered Mexico and Argentina.These opposing nations do not want the G-4 countries to gain greater political strength in their respective regions. Antagonism expressed by China and South Korea over Japan's ambition apparently reflects such sentiment.P-5 should accept intl realityThe United States and Russia, both among the five permanent council members known as the P-5, support Japan's bid to join them in that capacity. It is disturbing to see, however, that both have expressed negative views toward expanding the council's framework, as shown by their opposition to settling the dispute at an early date.The P-5 members, which also include Britain, China and France, are concerned that if Japan becomes a permanent member, their vested interests would be undermined, and their influence eclipsed.It should be noted, however, that the P-5 framework established by the victorious powers of World War II does not reflect the reality of the international community after 60 years of rapid change. This has hampered the council's ability to properly fulfill its duties today.Reform of the United Nations, including Japan's proposal to become a permanent member, should be seen as meeting the demands of the times.In a report issued in March, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan cited as requirements to be met by new permanent members, financial contributions to U.N. coffers and service in U.N. peacekeeping missions.For years, Japan has greatly contributed to the United Nations, as demonstrated by its donations to the global body, which exceed the total amount given by Britain, China, France and Russia.Japan should hold nothing back in urging other U.N. members to support its bid to become a permanent member of the Security Council.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2005-06-05	YOSHIN0020050606e165001c1
YOMSHI0020050607e16600005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050607e16600005	EN	\N	Govt must find exit from road to nowhere	This imprudent practice must be corrected as soon as possible.	4	2005-06-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In recent years, momentum has been building for the review of the current system governing tax revenues set for highway construction, improvement and other road-related projects. The momentum has grown because the system is projected to produce a massive surplus in years to come.Government revenue earmarked for highway-related projects totals about \\3.5 trillion. The revenue, which comprises yields from the gasoline, automobile weight and other automobile-related taxes, is largely used to finance road-related projects, including the construction and improvement of national highways.Debts incurred by the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority include \\1.47 trillion in loans shouldered by the government on behalf of the public corporation. The loans in question are to be repaid from road-specific revenues. In fiscal 2003, the government paid back about \\220 billion, and roughly \\300 billion last fiscal year. In fiscal 2005, the government has earmarked \\480 billion to repay a portion of the loans.At this pace, the government is certain to clear the loans next fiscal year. This means the government will generate a \\500 billion surplus as a result of its earlier-than-planned repayment of the loans in fiscal 2007 and thereafter. The expected surplus will be an important asset for the fiscally troubled government.Policy has run its courseRoad conditions have improved remarkably over the years. The need to pour a huge amount of money into road construction and improvement projects has diminished. Given this, it is time for the government to reconsider the road-specific revenue system in its entirety.The Finance Ministry strongly insists on allocating tax revenues earmarked for highway-related projects as general account revenues.The government is experiencing severe financial difficulties. The amount of outstanding government bonds is expected to reach about \\540 trillion by the end of the current fiscal year. Given the current fiscal crisis, it is only reasonable for the government to transfer road-specific revenues to the general state coffers. The government could build truly necessary highways by setting aside needed budgetary resources from general account revenues.If it is difficult to reconsider the system all at once, we believe the government should greatly expand the list of projects to be funded under the road-specific revenue system. It may be wise to allocate resources from the system to projects that have not yet seen much progress as a result of the government's fiscal constraints, despite the need to push them forward without delay. For example, such resources could be used to make schools, hospitals and local government offices earthquake-resistant. Another possible project is to implement programs aimed at tackling problems arising from the declining birthrate, including building more day care centers.Use money wiselyRoad-specific revenues have already been used to partly finance such projects as elevating railway crossings and laying electric power lines underground to improve the cityscape. The government may be wise to drastically increase the number of such projects that are partly financed by road-specific revenues.Local governments have their own road-specific revenue sources worth about \\2.2 trillion a year. The specific-purpose revenue sources in this category should be reformed, too.The rates of the gasoline, diesel oil delivery and some other road-related taxes have provisionally been set at considerably higher levels than the basic rates stipulated in the rules established for the highway-specific revenue system.Some specialists have said that these provisional tax rates should be abolished if revenue from these taxes are to be used for purposes unrelated to road construction and improvement. It should be noted, however, that the automobile- and fuel-related tax rates in Japan are higher than in the United States but are lower than in European countries.The government would suffer a sharp drop in revenue from road-related taxes if the tax rates were brought down to the basic rates set in the system. We believe that it would better benefit the public to use the provisional tax rates as the standard rates and use tax revenue for useful purposes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	727	2005-06-06	YOSHIN0020050607e166000cc
YOMSHI0020050606e1670000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050606e1670000f	EN	\N	Revision essential to human rights bill	Within the ruling coalition Liberal Democratic Party, Kaoru Yosano, chairman of the Policy Research Council, plans to meet with leading opponents and proponents of the draft this week prior to the party making a decision on what to do with the draft bill.	4	2005-06-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The opponents of the draft bill have argued that the definition of human rights violations is equivocal.The draft stipulates "unlawful discrimination, abuses and other types of deeds that infringe upon the human rights" as human rights violations. In its comment, the Justice Ministry specifies offenses subject to punishment under the Criminal Code and unlawful acts under the Civil Code as cases of infringement on human rights.However, there is the possibility of "other types" of human rights violations being prone to broad interpretation at the discretion of the authorities. If this is the case, statements politicians make on the basis of their respective political beliefs and creeds and opinions news media express as part of their news-reporting duties may be unjustly claimed as human rights violations.Clarity neededTo dispel such anxieties, what constitutes a violation of human rights should be more clearly defined.The draft bill would give immense authority to a human rights commission, which, as part of its investigatory powers, will be able to conduct searches of relevant places, summon people concerned and interrogate them--all without court-issued warrants. People refusing to comply with the commission's orders will face penalties.Depending on how the human rights commission is run, the panel itself may infringe upon human rights, such as the freedom of thought, conscience and expression, guaranteed by the Constitution. Therefore, it is natural for the opponents of the draft bill to feel deep concern.Another focal point in the LDP's internal debate over the draft bill is what will happen to a provision on nationality. The draft allows not only Japanese citizens but also non-Japanese residents to become members of the human rights commission at the recommendation of the chief of a city, town or village government.Abuse fearedThe opponents of the draft bill are afraid of a situation in which many members of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) may become commissioners and immediately take issue with politicians critical of Chongryon in connection with the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea as cases of human rights violations. Such anxieties have not yet been soothed.The human rights bill was once abandoned. Nonetheless, it was reinstated suddenly early this year. In the previous discussions over such a bill, a provision concerning restrictions on the activities of the news media and having the human rights commission affiliated with the Justice Ministry were major points of dispute. As for the two provisions, the proponents of the draft bill are now trying to ward off criticism by hinting at "freezing" or "reviewing the law after a few years."To dispel fears about the draft bill, it should be fundamentally revised without rushing to submit the bill to the Diet. Both the government and the LDP should refrain from acting hastily and instead, think twice about the draft bill.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	555	2005-06-07	YOSHIN0020050608e167000ic
YOMSHI0020050607e1680000q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050607e1680000q	EN	\N	Raised tax credits means raised charity donations	To have a "culture of donations" take root in Japan, the government's Tax Commission is expected to propose an expansion of tax credits for donations in its outline of tax system reforms to be announced shortly.	4	2005-06-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Civic bodies such as nonprofit organizations and charity foundations have of late been increasingly active in filling shortfalls in welfare and related areas.If the lowering of tax burdens on donors leads to an increase in donations to enhance activities of NPOs and other recipients, our society will become more stable. In this context, we want the Tax Commission to come up with a drastic policy proposal concerning tax credits for donations.The income tax regime currently allows tax benefits for charitable donations to be the annual total of donations minus 10,000 yen, though the allowable deduction should not exceed the equivalent of 30 percent of the year's overall income. To increase tax credits of this kind, the entire amount of donations should be subject to tax deduction--without subtracting 10,000 yen. Alternatively, the ceiling of the allowable deduction should be raised.The resident tax system is far less generous toward donations than the national income tax regime. It allows deduction of donations minus 100,000 yen and sets the ceiling at the equivalent of 25 percent of the overall income. Given that the local tax is paid as a de facto fee for living in a certain area, a drastic increase in local tax benefits is inadvisable. Nevertheless, it would make sense to narrow the gap with provisions under the income tax regime.Reform stresses public interestThe reform of taxation for donations is under way alongside the effort of the government's Secretariat for the Promotion of Administrative Reform to reform public interest organizations such as shadan hojin incorporated associations and zaidan hojin incorporated foundations.Late last year, the reform unit in the Cabinet Secretariat drafted proposals for reforming the country's 25,825 public interest corporations. The government's move reflected the public's criticism that such entities have been authorized after lenient screening processes by the central and local governments for the purpose of providing cushy postretirement jobs for bureaucrats.Under the proposed reform plan, the establishment of public interest organizations would be liberalized, while the central and prefectural governments would set up respective third-party watchdogs to check whether the organizations would actually serve the public. Only public interest entities that won the watchdogs' approval would be entitled to enjoy tax benefits.The income tax regime allows tax credits for donations to be almost unconditionally applied to donations to the central and local governments as well as schools and social welfare corporations. In contrast, such tax credits are currently permitted for donations to only 34 NPOs authorized by the National Tax Administration Agency and 901 public interest corporations authorized by the Finance Ministry.Current system easy to tweakA majority of members of the Tax Commission favor having tax credits apply to donations to all public service corporations once their reform is completed. The government commission also should consider expanding the application of tax credits to include donations to NPOs.Tax credits for donations under the local resident tax system are more rigidly applied--donations to NPOs and public interest organizations are excluded from the umbrella of tax credits. The reason for this narrower window for tax credits is the fact that the Tokyo metropolitan government, for example, would suffer a decline in local tax revenue if a Tokyo resident became entitled to enjoy tax benefits for his charitable donations to an organization in his native prefecture.But there would be no conflict of interest if an NPO based in a certain place received donations from a taxpayer living in the same administrative area. There is some room for exploring a solution concerning this particular aspect of tax credits for charitable donations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	698	2005-06-08	YOSHIN0020050609e168000hc
YOMSHI0020050608e1690000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050608e1690000h	EN	\N	Paid trash collection price of greener society	However, we are now producing more ordinary waste, mainly in the form of household garbage, than we did 10 years ago, with the current figure standing at about 51.6 million tons a year.	4	2005-06-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In accordance with the Waste Management Law, the Environment Ministry is to promote fee-based collections of ordinary waste collected and disposed of by local municipalities.By charging residents for the amount of waste they put out for collection, municipal governments aim to reduce household garbage.Unified rates neededDifferent municipalities use different methods of collecting and sorting garbage, with some outsourcing the work. Personnel and other expenses also differ from municipality to municipality, and as a result each municipality has a different way of calculating the costs of garbage disposal.The ministry should promptly work out guidelines that provide a unified way of calculating such costs, as well as a table of reasonable fees.According to a ministry survey, about 40 percent of the nation's 1,295 municipalities have introduced fee-based garbage collection, while more than 200 municipalities are studying the idea.It is mainly financially strapped small and midsize municipalities that have begun charging for garbage collection. Many richer urban districts still provide the service for free, with the exception of a charge for the disposal of large items.In 23 municipalities that have a population of more than 100,000 and have started charging for the collection of ordinary waste, the volume of garbage per resident has declined by more than 15 percent on average over the 10-year period from five years before and five years after the imposition of fees.If residents become more aware about the need to reduce waste, excessive packaging used at supermarkets and shops likely would decline, which might prompt manufacturers into producing more resource-conserving products.Residents must pay own wayMunicipalities will have no option but to charge for disposing of household waste, but they should ensure the charges are not excessive.When setting up a paid garbage collection system, municipal governments need to establish fees that residents will accept and that also will meet the cost of handling waste.The city government of Fukuoka, which plans to start charging for household waste collection in October, has been studying the system for two years and has held about 170 meetings with residents to win their understanding over the new service.When introducing a paid collection system, municipalities must explain details fully to residents, including how much it will cost to collect trash, and dispose of it, and how the money will be used. Unless a municipal government wins the understanding of residents, it cannot rely on simply charging fees to control the amount of household garbage generated.Charging for the collection of ordinary garbage, including household waste, is a price we have to pay to create a resource-conserving society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	520	2005-06-09	YOSHIN0020050610e169000h6
YOMSHI0020050609e16a0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050609e16a0000k	EN	\N	Banks should compete to keep deposits safe	The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito plan to submit a bill to the current Diet session that will require, in principle, that banks compensate depositors who are victimized by illegal withdrawals made with forged or stolen cards. We hope the bill will be passed into law as soon as possible.	4	2005-06-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the bill, banks are obliged to prove whether blame lies with the victim. If the depositors are found only "slightly" to blame for the theft, banks are required to compensate 75 percent of losses. The amount of compensation has been raised from 50 percent, which was earlier proposed by a panel of the Financial Services Agency examining ways to compensate such losses.Banks consider bill toughBanks consider the compensation measure in the bill tough. Yet banks have so far refused, in principle, to compensate such losses. In other major industrialized countries, banks have taken measures to compensate depositors victimized by illegal withdrawals, irrespective of whether they are made with forged or stolen cards.Banks should think deeply about their failure to aid victims and change their position to give serious consideration to the protection of depositors.Now that the bill has set out the principle of bank responsibility to compensate losses incurred by depositors, there may arise new problems.A group of corporate racketeers were recently arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of attempted blackmail after they tried to extort money from Mizuho Bank by claiming their deposited money had been stolen with forged cards.Some have pointed out that the legislation may increase the likelihood of people falsely claiming to be the victim of cash-card theft.Under the bill, when a withdrawal has been made with a stolen cash card, the cardholder is required to immediately report the theft to police and to tell their bank how much money has been stolen.Yet doubts remain as to whether these requirements alone would prevent fake victims from extorting money from banks. During the deliberation in the Diet, these issues need to be thoroughly discussed.In dealing with cash-card theft, all banks should establish a section in their head office to centralize collection of information related to such thefts and liaise with police, rather than leaving the handling of cases to each branch office.Thefts could be preventedThe amount stolen with forged or stolen cards totaled about 2.1 billion yen between January and November last year. The loss through illegal withdrawal has been sizable because the magnetic information on a cash card can easily be read with a machine, that is used for forging cards. If banks had made an effort to move to a more secure cash card system, these losses could have been prevented.At the moment, banks, in particular leading ones, are taking steps to adopt difficult-to-forge IC cash cards and to introduce biometrics to identify a cardholder through a vein on a palm or fingerprint.These efforts are being taken only to a limited extent. A sizable volume of funds is needed to change the cash card system. Yet banks should not spare making such an investment. We hope banks will compete to enhance the security of deposited money.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	569	2005-06-10	YOSHIN0020050613e16a001hm
YOMSHI0020050610e16b0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050610e16b0000i	EN	\N	Public must join fight against fakes	It should be pointed out, however, that buying counterfeit goods and pirate recordings undermines intellectual property rights, in addition to damaging the international competitiveness of Japanese industry. The government must step up efforts to stop people buying and selling fakes.	4	2005-06-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government's Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters has put together a plan to root out counterfeit products that calls for the creation of an international treaty, in which nations around the world would join in preventing the spread of fake and pirated products.International action neededThe counterfeit market knows no national borders, and remarkable progress has been made in improving techniques for producing fakes. Nowadays, major areas for the production of counterfeits are not limited to China and some other Asian countries, with many other areas becoming home to their production.Fake products include not only brand-name goods, but high-performance home electronics and expensive fruits.The value of counterfeits bought and sold worldwide totals an estimated 65 trillion yen annually. This means that producers of authentic goods and other firms are suffering huge losses.Interpol has warned that the fakes business is a major source of funds for criminal and terrorist organizations.However, the anticounterfeiting laws of many nations, including Japan, are primarily aimed at preventing fakes from entering their countries.Under these legal systems, it is difficult to prevent the export of counterfeit goods and halt the passage of such products from one country to another.The proposed treaty on preventing the proliferation of fake and pirated products is aimed at increasing shoreline operations to combat such goods thorough cooperation among nations.The intellectual property headquarters' plan proposes nine articles for the treaty. The articles would ban the export and passage of counterfeit goods, confiscate fakes and profits from counterfeit trading, hand over offenders to their own nations and exchange pertinent information among signatory countries.The government should take the lead in creating the anti-fakes treaty as soon as possible.Fix legal loopholesIt also is imperative that the government step up efforts to prevent counterfeit transactions at home. Any individual can bring fakes into this country if he or she does not sell them here. This is a loophole in the legislation.The headquarters says this loophole must be plugged. It also says the government should shore up its fight against the sale of counterfeits via online auctions.To root out copycat products, it is necessary to tighten penalties against transactions involving them. The government intends to consider toughening the penalty on violating rights protected under the Patent Law and the Copyright Law from five years in prison to 10 years.In Japan, many people buy fakes without much thought. In France, however, even possessing counterfeits is considered a crime comparable to the possession of drugs.Through its planned anti-fakes measures, the government should encourage members of the public to see counterfeits as unlawful.Creating and improving laws related to intellectual property rights is essential to better protect and use such properties. Relevant government ministries and agencies should work together in upgrading the legislation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	551	2005-06-11	YOSHIN0020050613e16b000p9
YOMSHI0020050611e16c0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050611e16c0000e	EN	\N	U.S.-S. Korea trees obscure N-talks forest	However, we are concerned with the outcome of the talks because a question remained over how closely the two leaders agreed on their measures to deal with Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons.	4	2005-06-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After the talks, Bush told reporters that the United States and South Korea were "of one voice" on the issue and would keep cooperating to urge North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program in a verifiable way.Roh asked Bush to nod after saying that the bilateral alliance was working very well.Washington is skeptical of Seoul taking a conciliatory approach to Pyongyang. Nonetheless, Washington tried to highlight its strong ties with Seoul after the summit talks, apparently to hide their differences.This is a very delicate time now as North Korea has sent mixed signals on whether it will return to negotiations with five countries including the United States, South Korea and Japan.However, if the United States avoided discussing important but difficult problems with South Korea to spotlight their friendship, it would be detrimental to finding a solution to the North Korea nuclear weapons issue.Don't delay decisionsThe South Korean side said that Bush and Roh did not discuss specific measures to be taken if the situation deteriorates. This means they deferred significant discussions on when and under what conditions the six-party talks should be given up as hopeless and economic sanctions or other options should be considered in dealing with North Korea.The longer the stagnation of the talks lasts, the further North Korea can advance its nuclear weapons development program. Situations surrounding the six-nation negotiation have changed completely since North Korea boasted it has become a nuclear power.Even if it is resumed, the six-party negotiation will inevitably face more difficulties with North Korea demanding a bigger reward for its nuclear disarmament.If a settlement of the nuclear development issue is delayed longer, Pyongyang could take full advantage of the time to further develop its nuclear weapons and missiles.Nation in perilJapan will be exposed to the direct threat of North Korea's nuclear warheads as the Japanese archipelago is within range of Pyongyang's Rodong ballistic missiles. Japan cannot overlook the emergence of a situation further endangering its national security.The Bush administration has a policy giving top priority to putting strong pressure on North Korea. It is trying to form an international coalition to eradicate financial sources for development of weapons of mass destruction and to prevent their proliferation.During his talks with Roh, Bush expressed his concerns about strained relations between Japan and South Korea apparently because he did not want the international coalition to be damaged.In the six-party talks, the United States proposed offering a guarantee of safety and energy assistance to North Korea in addition to improvement of their bilateral relations.However, North Korea will not listen to such offers without an element of coercion. It is important for the concerned countries to apply a carrot-and-stick policy jointly without any discord on North Korea to urge it to dismantle development of nuclear arms. In that sense, the cacophony between the United States and South Korea is obscuring a prospect of the six-party negotiation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2005-06-12	YOSHIN0020050614e16c000a4
YOMSHI0020050614e16f0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050614e16f0000e	EN	\N	Enhance preparedness for missile defense	The bill's passage through the lower house marks a step forward in improving readiness for protecting Japan's safety. The bill should be passed into law as soon as possible.	4	2005-06-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the missile defense system, Japan will intercept an incoming missile by deploying the Standard Missile 3 interceptor to be mounted on Aegis vessels and the ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 interceptor.North Korea is said to have beefed up its deployment of Rodong missiles, which are capable of reaching Japan. About 200 missiles already are deployed.If North Korea succeeds in mounting smaller nuclear warheads on missiles, Japan will be exposed to an even more serious threat.China has about 110 intermediate-range ballistic missiles that have all Asia, including Japan, within their range, and it is replacing them with more advanced ones.DPJ's opposition misguidedA Rodong missile could reach Japan within about 10 minutes. Japan must develop the capability to intercept such a missile promptly.Under the present law, however, a prime minister cannot issue an order to intercept a ballistic missile unless the mobilization of the SDF is approved by the cabinet and the Security Council of Japan. This being the case, there is no way for Japan to shield itself should a missile be fired at it.Under the bill, the Defense Agency chief would be authorized to issue an intercept order to the SDF, with the prime minister's consent at a cabinet meeting, should signs be detected that a missile attack is imminent.In emergencies, when there is no time to seek the prime minister's consent before a missile attack, the Defense Agency chief also would be able to issue an intercept order, in accordance with the preapproved emergency guidelines.The bill stipulates that when missile intercept measures are taken, the prime minister must swiftly report the results to the Diet.The Democratic Party of Japan had demanded changes to the bill, calling for ex post facto approval of the intercept by the Diet. After its proposal was rejected by the ruling coalition, the DPJ opposed the bill.But the DPJ supported the package of laws to deal with emergencies. Isn't the DPJ failing to show the necessary responsibility as a party that claims to be ready to take power if it opposes a bill designed to protect Japan?Information-sharing vitalTo detect signs of a missile launch promptly, it is vital for Japan to share information with the United States. There are some who regard Japan's sharing information with the United States to be questionable as such information-sharing constitutes Japan's using the right of a collective self-defense. Yet Japan and the United States, as an alliance, have shared information for a long time. Should the issue of collective self-defense be brought up, we need to question the current state of affairs.Together with the bill to revise the SDF law, the lower house passed a bill to revise the law concerning the establishment of the Defense Agency, designed to integrate the operational command of the Ground, Maritime and Air self-defense forces.Under the bill, a joint chief of staff will be created, assisting the Defense Agency chief in a complementary manner. The missile defense system will, indeed, test the results of the integrated operation of the three SDF units.The Defense Agency will move the research on the next-generation interceptor missile system, conducted jointly with the United States, to the development stage in next fiscal year. It is also necessary to enhance the interceptor capabilities by having the range of its shield expanded. It is important for the missile defense system to be operated effectively.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2005-06-15	YOSHIN0020050616e16f000lm
YOMSHI0020050615e16g0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050615e16g0000l	EN	\N	South Korea has changed, North Korea hasn't	How has the situation on the Korean Peninsula, where elements of the Cold War structure remain in place, changed since then? This is an important issue when we ponder the national security of Japan.	4	2005-06-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With delegates representing the government of South Korea attending, a festive event is being held in Pyongyang to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the joint declaration of the two Koreas.No talks between the two countries' leaders have been held since the first summit meeting, however, and a visit to Seoul by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, stipulated in the declaration, has not been realized.Meanwhile, the security environment surrounding the two countries--a pivotal issue that the joint declaration ignored--has changed markedly over the past five years.North Korea, which once said it had no intention of acquiring a nuclear weapon, does not hesitate to say today that it has become a nuclear power.With Pyongyang's declaring itself a nuclear power, the security environment for Japan has drastically altered, too.'Sunshine policy' has failedThe administration of South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun was launched when North Korea openly resumed its nuclear development two years ago.Inheriting the "Sunshine policy" adopted by the preceding administration of President Kim Dae Jung, the Roh administration has continued to fund a project to rebuild a trans-Korea highway and railway that run north-south through the two countries.It also has supported a project to attract tourists to Mt. Geumgang in North Korea and another to build an industrial complex at Gaeseong in that country, while approving most visits to North Korea by private sector groups.The Roh administration has repeatedly stressed that it will not countenance North Korea's becoming a nuclear power.Yet even after Pyongyang publicly declared that it possessed nuclear arms, the administration has not changed its stance of "expanding exchanges and cooperation" between the two Koreas. This is tantamount to the administration's approving of Pyongyang's becoming a nuclear power.Meanwhile, there are no substantive signs that North Korea is reforming or opening its doors to the world under the autocratic regime of Kim Jong Il.While accepting the food, fertilizer and economic assistance it needs, the Kim regime maintains a despotic rule at home, strictly limiting access to the outside world.The six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions have been at a standstill for nearly a year.South Korea failed to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions even after offering Pyongyang the carrot of economic assistance. North Korea will not change its stance unless the South hints at taking economic sanctions or containment tactics.Peace-at-any-cost mentalityThe summit talks held five years ago have brought about no changes whatsoever in the North Korean regime. On the contrary, it is South Korean society that has undergone marked changes since the talks.As the sense of brotherhood between the two Koreas has been emphasized, the sense among people in the South of the threat posed by the North has fundamentally changed, as has been indicated by various public opinion surveys.For example, the description of North Korea as South Korea's "chief enemy" have been removed from the South Korean white paper on national defense. This is a major change from the viewpoint of a country's national security.In effect, Seoul has disarmed itself psychologically.With regard to the North-South summit talks, former South Korean President Kim Dae Jung was criticized for the fact that the talks were only realized after cash and other inducements equivalent to 500 million dollars were handed over to Pyongyang. Yet all the summit produced was a change in the perception of national security in South Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun June 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2005-06-16	YOSHIN0020050617e16g000gw
YOMSHI0020050616e16h0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050616e16h0000f	EN	\N	Kid gloves needed for info law revision	A proposed revision to the law seeks to punish not only the person responsible for a business if the personal information it holds is leaked to outsiders, but also every individual directly associated with the leak.	4	2005-06-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Liberal Democratic Party intends to submit to the current Diet session a bill revising the law. It includes a provision that would impose a maximum one-year prison term or fine of up to 500,000 yen for the provision of personal information to a third party for illegal gain. Offenders in this category would include current and former employees, and employees at a company commissioned to process personal data held by a firm.The current Personal Information Protection Law punishes a person responsible for an enterprise that handles a massive amount of personal data. The law does not act against the person who leaked the information.Illegal actions continuingSince the establishment of the law, there have been numerous cases in which company workers and others have copied a large amount of personal information possessed by their firm and smuggled it out.The police find it impossible to investigate individuals responsible for such leaks under the law. Under the circumstances, the legislation cannot be expected to help prevent these irregularities.Personal information leaked through such foul play has been used to carry out fraud involving fictitious telephone calls and bills. A company may have to pay a huge amount of money to apologize to customers for the leak of their information, such as by giving them cash vouchers.Critics have pointed to a loophole in the current law. They are correct in saying the law should incorporate a provision concerning anyone directly responsible for the leak of personal information. Legislative measures should be taken as soon as possible to put an end to such wrongdoing.The attempt to include penalty measures in the law should be complemented by care in determining what constitutes the structural elements of an offense.There are concerns that an attempt to categorically prohibit anyone from providing outsiders with personal information could punish him or her, when his or her conduct should be defended. The law should not punish anyone who has blown a whistle to correct his or her company's irregularities and provided the media with information that should be made known to the public.Admittedly, the bill should limit punishment to those responsible for the leak of information for unlawful gain. It should be noted, however, that the bill would discourage possible informants from providing outsiders with necessary data if it was unclear about what kind of act would constitute a crime in the provision of personal information.Otherwise, the bill would thwart an attempt to provide the public with the information it both wants and needs.Law's side effects damagingWith the law fully enforced, confusion has arisen at some firms that have overreacted to restrictions imposed by it.There was confusion among police stations, hospitals and West Japan Railway Co. over whether to announce the names of those killed and injured in the April 25 derailment of a JR West train in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture. In some cases, the organizations refused to comply with inquiries from the media, the families of passengers on the train and local governments concerning the names of victims, citing the full implementation of the law as a reason.Many primary and middle schools have scrapped lists of students' addresses and phone numbers to be used in an emergency. Under the law, these schools are permitted to prepare such lists with the approval of students' parents.Before abolishing the lists, however, most of them did not bother to ask parents whether they wanted such lists produced or scrapped.There is no doubt the protection of private information is essential, but excessive restrictions in this respect can harm society. Due care should be taken to ensure that efforts to punish personal offenders of the law do not expand the list of activities subject to restrictions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2005-06-17	YOSHIN0020050620e16h001z1
YOMSHI0020050617e16i0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050617e16i0000k	EN	\N	Compromise needed to ensure U.N. reform	The United States has announced a U.N. reform plan to increase the number of permanent members to incorporate "two countries, including Japan." The U.S. plan would not grant the new permanent members veto powers.	4	2005-06-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The so-called Group of Four nations--Japan, Brazil, Germany and India--has presented a proposal to adopt a resolution aimed at adding six new permanent and four nonpermanent members to the council. The latest U.S. proposal means that Washington fully supports Japan's bid to join the council as a permanent member, but is against the G-4 plan.Japan already is striving to gain the support of more than 128 U.N. member states--two-thirds of the global body--to get the G-4 proposal adopted.UNSC must reflect intl changesThe international community has undergone drastic changes in the past 60 years following the establishment of the United Nations.The G-4 countries have insisted on expanding the council, which is dominated by the five permanent members known as the P-5--the victorious powers of World War II, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--to better reflect the current international situation. The G-4 has every reason to do so.Under the circumstances, Japan does not have to change its approach to U.N. reform. The government should pursue the goal of getting the G-4 plan adopted by intensely lobbying the United States and other nations to back the proposal.The United States has always been negative toward expanding the council. Washington is concerned that if a nation opposed to U.S. foreign and security policies becomes a permanent member, it could undermine U.S. interests.The United States fears an expanded Security Council would become inefficient, presenting a hindrance to efforts by the key U.N. organ to make swift decisions and action. The U.S. proposal to invade Iraq in March 2003 met strong opposition from France and Germany.The U.S. attitude on U.N. reform reflects such worries.P-5 protecting interestsThe United States is not the only P-5 country negative toward considerably increasing the number of permanent members and giving new permanent members veto rights. The P-5 club wants to protect its vested interests. China's objection to Japan's bid to become a permanent member probably indicates Beijing's determination to remain the only Asian permanent member.The United States intends to explain the details of its latest plan during an upcoming meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. The administration wants new permanent members limited to Japan and another country, while also citing economic, military and financial contributions to the United Nations as requirements for new permanent members.It is questionable whether the U.S. proposal will be endorsed by many U.N. members, including developing countries in Africa and Asia. It also is unclear whether the United States will seriously seek to have its plan implemented.Is it possible to find common ground in the G-4 and U.S. proposals? Japan should do all it can to achieve the goal of reforming the Security Council.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	565	2005-06-18	YOSHIN0020050620e16i0018o
YOMSHI0020050618e16j0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050618e16j0000d	EN	\N	Failure to solve EU rift will result in stagnation	The summit meeting of EU leaders was held under difficult circumstances after French and Dutch voters rejected the proposed EU constitution. However, the summit talks did not overcome the imminent political crisis, but rather further exposed an internal rift among members of the enlarged 25-nation bloc.	4	2005-06-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The EU has been able to maintain a strong influence over the international community because it has steadily enlarged its membership and enhanced political and economic integration among member states.EU faces declining influenceIf it fails to fix the internal disunity that surfaced at the summit meeting, EU influence in international politics will certainly decline.EU leaders agreed at the meeting to extend the deadline for ratification of the troubled constitution until at least mid-2007, giving up the initial target of putting it into effect in November 2006.Although the deadline has been extended, there is no guarantee of progress on the ratification process in countries where ratification procedures have not yet been finished.Following Britain's decision to put on ice plans for a referendum on the constitution, Denmark and Ireland announced they also would postpone referendums due later this year. Nobody would deny that the EU constitution is in a hopeless situation.EU leaders reportedly held fierce debates over the 2007-13 budget. Discussion focused on the annual rebate from EU coffers paid only to Britain. Britain won the refund of some of its contribution to the EU budget because it has few farmers and receives only a small proportion of EU farm subsidies.France and Germany proposed at the summit talks that Britain's rebate be cut, arguing that it places enormous financial burden on the bloc's budget.However, Britain said it would trade changes to its rebate only if the farm subsidies of the Common Agricultural Policy, which account for more than 40 percent of the EU budget, are reformed.The summit talks finally broke down because it was impossible for France, which benefits most from EU farm subsidies, to accept Britain's proposal.National interests dominateEU leaders bickered over leadership at the meeting, blatantly pursing their respective national interests.British Prime Minister Tony Blair took a tough approach apparently because he assumed that French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, whose popularity at home is flagging, eventually would quit the political scene.Britain will inherit the EU presidency for six months from July. If the new EU president fails to find solutions to unresolved but important issues, including the budget, the EU can expect long-term stagnation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	493	2005-06-19	YOSHIN0020050620e16j000fp
YOMSHI0020050621e16k00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050621e16k00001	EN	\N	Local govts not making case on education	This prospect appears certain following two days of intensive discussions by the Central Council for Education's special committee on compulsory education about whether to scrap the central government subsidy covering half of the salaries for teachers at primary and middle schools.	4	2005-06-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The majority of the committee's members argued for upholding the current system. They stressed that the central government subsidy was needed to secure stable and steady financial resources to ensure the appropriate allocation of teachers to improve the quality of compulsory education.Meanwhile, delegates from six organizations representing local governments, including the National Governors' Association, called for abolition of the subsidy and transfer of tax revenue sources equivalent to the amount of the subsidy from the central government to local governments. However, they failed to make a convincing argument on how such a change would improve the education system."If the subsidy is [abolished and] included in a general account budget, that will give more freedom to local governments and will enable them to design compulsory education that is more suitable to local needs," they stressed.It is hard to say, however, that the delegates representing local governments detailed what kind of education program they would like to create through use of the tax sources.'Money first, answers later'"If the transfer of tax sources is decided, then I will discuss details of our education program," said one delegate, but such a statement is far from convincing.Meanwhile, those members of the committee supporting the central government subsidy retorted with specifics.Subsidy supporters said that even under the current system it was possible to make education programs more suitable for local needs by granting local governments more discretion in spending central government subsidies.Distrust in local governments is deep-rooted among those supporting the central government subsidy. They suspect that some of the local governments, which have financial difficulties, might spend revenues from transferred tax sources on something other than education.Committee members representing local governments said misappropriation could never happen, but such an abstract counterargument will not persuade those supporting the central government subsidy.In many developed countries, including France, all teachers are central government employees, and the national government covers all expenses for compulsory education.Let central govt pay allSome academics supporting the national subsidy, expressed a radical opinion that the central government also should cover all expenses for compulsory education. Those representing local governments had varying opinions on this proposal, with at least one clearly supporting it.Local governments have not yet sent their delegates to the general assembly of the Central Council for Education. Though the Education, Science and Technology Ministry allotted them two seats on the assembly, they are still demanding three.Members at the special committee also reviewed the current and future of the compulsory education system as a whole, debating a reduction of hours for comprehensive studies and introduction of a renewal system for teaching licenses.However, those representing local governments initially expressed their unwillingness to participate in deliberations on education theory, with many asking to send more appropriate proxies.The education council is supposed to conclude its discussions by autumn in connection with the so-called triple reform of the fiscal relationship between the central and local governments.Those representing local governments will remain overwhelmed by those supporting the central government subsidy until the end of the committee unless they can show their seriousness in discussing education.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2005-06-20	YOSHIN0020050621e16k000ba
YOMSHI0020050620e16l0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050620e16l0000h	EN	\N	Japan, ROK must work for true understanding	The two leaders spent more than 90 percent of their talks on issues related to their basic perceptions of history.	4	2005-06-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At a press conference held after the talks, Roh said, "We share the notion of trying to understand each other, but have not reached the point of agreement," admitting that they failed to bridge the gap.This cannot be helped. Different perceptions of history affect the dispute over the sovereignty of Takeshima island and the screening of history textbooks. There is no way for the two countries to easily reach agreement on these issues.History issue thornyDuring the recently held joint research on history by scholars of both countries, it was obvious once again the difficulty the two countries face in reaching agreement on history.In relation to the issue of perceptions of history, Roh emphasized that both countries needed to make efforts to share the other's views over history and thinking about the future so as to contribute to the future peace of Northeast Asia.The important thing, though, is for both countries to understand each other's different views of history.Nevertheless, the two leaders did reach agreement on some issues. Thanks to diplomatic preparations that led to the summit talks, the South Korean side called on Japan to study the establishment of a new peace memorial, which Japan agreed to do.With regard to the establishment of a new war memorial, a private advisory panel to then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda compiled a report on the matter in 2002. The government should proceed with discussions as soon as possible over what sort of facility should be built.Koizumi told Roh that, "It is extremely important [for the two countries] to hold a candid dialogue toward the future so that a relationship of trust and friendship between the two countries can be developed and reinforced."To that end, it is necessary for the two countries to exchange views candidly on various levels.Trust essential to relationshipYet the South Korean government has even criticized the remarks made unofficially by Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi. During his meeting with South Korean lawmakers visiting Tokyo, Yachi reportedly said that the government was hesitant to share information with Seoul because the United States did not trust South Korea on the North Korean nuclear issue.As long as the two countries cannot exchange views based on their true intentions, there is no way to establish constructive diplomatic ties.During the talks, the two leaders also agreed to work for the early resumption of the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear programs, and on close cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea. This probably relates to the two leaders' perception that cooperation among the countries is important for the regional security of East Asia.South Korea has taken a reconciliatory approach toward Pyongyang by extending economic assistance, showing a stark difference with the stand taken by Japan and the United States.How much will South Korea be able to come in line with Japan and the United States? The latest remarks have not alleviated our concerns.On Wednesday, Japan and South Korea will hail the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations. Over the past 40 years, bilateral economic ties and a relationship of mutual dependence have developed to a major level.It is very important for the two countries not only to agree on continued dialogue, but also to build the relationship to make substantial achievements in securing regional peace and prosperity.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2005-06-21	YOSHIN0020050622e16l000hz
YOMSHI0020050621e16m0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050621e16m0000i	EN	\N	Numerical targets vital for limiting medical costs	The focal points in working out the guideline are social security spending and personnel costs of public servants, which have not been reformed properly despite the government's straitened finances. In light of the critical state of the government's fiscal management, these areas should not be exempted from fiscal belt-tightening anymore.	4	2005-06-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In particular, the nation needs to keep to a minimum the increase in social security expenses, which are expected to rise every year by more than 1 trillion yen in the central government budget.Social security benefits, which combine benefits for pension, medical treatment and nursing care, totaled 86 trillion yen last fiscal year.Welfare costs spiralingWith the increasingly aging society, expenses for social security benefits will continue growing and are projected to reach as much as 152 trillion yen 20 years from now.Among others, medical expenses are projected to grow from 26 trillion yen posted last fiscal year to 59 trillion yen. Medical expenses are projected to mark a 2.3-fold growth, far greater than the 1.8-fold growth expected for the benefits for social security as a whole.In working out the latest basic policy, a private sector member of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy proposed that a numerical target be set for holding down medical expenses, by using a numerical value that takes into account the growth rate in nominal gross domestic product plus the rate of increase in the elderly population.The nominal GDP growth rate, however, has hovered around zero percent in the past few years, while the rate of increase in the number of elderly people has stood at about 0.5 percent, making the numerical target quite low.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has argued that the numerical target for holding down medical expenses, which are growing 3-4 percent every year, is inadequate as there is too large a gap between the real growth and the targeted growth.As the council failed to reach a consensus on the matter, it has put off setting a specific numerical target under the latest basic policy.Nonetheless, the council members have agreed on the need to set a specific policy target to hold medical expenses in check, having the policy stipulate that the council would come up with concrete measures this autumn.Cut public servants wage billAs for pension benefits, the brakes have been applied as the pension system has switched from one whereby benefits are linked to the rate of price increases into one tied to macroeconomic indicators that takes into account such factors as the decline in the labor force.The council should come up with an appropriate yardstick for holding down the expansion in medical expenses as well, by combining several economic indicators. We urge the council to expedite its efforts to put the finishing touches on various targets.Together with the setting of numerical targets, there are other things the ministry needs to do. Medical expenses are rising markedly chiefly because of the fact that doctors tend to prescribe more medicine than is necessary and because a large part of expenses related to meals, fuel and lighting for inpatients is covered by public-run health insurance. Unless this wasteful spending is rationalized, the attempt to hold down medical expenses will fail.As for reduction in the total personnel costs of public servants, the basic policy urged the government to set a goal for reducing the overall number of public servants.Yet the policy does not cite any specific measure for reducing public servants' wages. It also calls for reviewing the wage system for national public servants, which is now under study, but without presenting any substantial steps. The policy should propose a specific process for reducing their salaries, together with those of local government employees.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	694	2005-06-22	YOSHIN0020050623e16m000hx
YOMSHI0020050622e16n0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050622e16n0000h	EN	\N	Sweeping steps needed to counter card fraud	However, the latest turmoil arising from the theft of a massive amount of credit card information from a U.S. data-processing company has thrown cold water on the convenience that plastic money has provided society.	4	2005-06-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The personal information stolen from the U.S. firm includes data on credit cards issued by Japanese corporations in alliance with Visa International Inc. and MasterCard International Inc. The stolen data has been used for unlawful purchases and other illegal purposes.The theft of personal information has been attributed to the U.S. data-processing firm's sloppy method of storing and controlling its accumulated data. It has been revealed that the company did not bother to use secret codes in managing and processing its information. Doing so could have prevented the stolen data from being used for unlawful purposes.The U.S. company did not remove the data from its computer system after processing them as required by corporate clients, either.All this means that the firm did not abide by rules set by international credit card companies in processing customer data when it was commissioned to do so.Each credit card company possesses a large amount of customer information. Once leaked or stolen, such data could be used criminally, adversely affecting a huge number of people.Reaction to theft too slowOver the years, various Japanese corporations, including financial institutions, department stores and petroleum companies, have issued credit cards in partnership with such international credit card firms as Visa and MasterCard. The total value of purchases made through credit cards has increased year by year, raising the total to about 26 trillion yen in 2003.Domestic credit card companies should check whether their data-processing systems are fully guarded against from illegal access from outside and whether data could leak from the systems. They should learn a lesson from the theft of credit card information from the U.S. firm.In October, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry put together a set of guidelines to be followed by credit card companies in protecting their customer information. These corporations should ascertain whether their employees are thoroughly abiding by the guidelines.To contain the spread of damage from the compromising of personal data, credit card companies must make the affair known to the public while also informing their individual customers of the problem. But it took Visa and MasterCard about a month to reveal the theft of data after determining their customer information had been stolen. This may have given acquirers of the stolen data time to fleece a large number of people of their money.International action necessaryDomestic credit card firms should urge their international partners to promptly establish a system in which they would be notified of any data leak without delay. They should also tell the international credit card companies to ensure nothing comparable to the latest leak ever happens again.There are concerns that credit cards forged by using the data leaked in the United States may have been used to buy electrical products in Japan.It is known that personal information on credit cards is being sold and bought through the Internet in the United States. Japanese police and credit card companies should investigate whether data acquired through such a method has been used to buy the electrical appliances in question.There is a limit to what one country can do to prevent the illegal use of credit card data. We believe it is advisable for the government--the National Police Agency and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry in particular--to join with the United States and other nations in setting up a forum for discussions on the problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	658	2005-06-23	YOSHIN0020050624e16n000gs
YOMSHI0020050623e16o0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050623e16o0000i	EN	\N	Data leak shows need for virus crackdown	It has been revealed that maintenance and inspection data on some nuclear power plants, including Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari Nuclear Power Station, was leaked and became accessible on the Internet.	4	2005-06-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The leak took place at a Mitsubishi Electric Corp. subsidiary commissioned to inspect nuclear power stations. A computer virus infected a PC owned by an employee of the subsidiary, leading to the data's distribution via the Net.The subsidiary should be called to task for allowing the employee to copy important data from his firm's computer system. Its method of controlling data was extremely sloppy.The virus in question can affect file-sharing software called Winny, which is able to distribute data not intended for distribution by its user.In recent years, there have been a large number of cases in which data have been leaked from computers used by an organization. Such leaks have included data of hospital patients and records of police investigations. Was the employee at the Mitsubishi subsidiary aware of the risks involved in using Winny?Key info must be guardedThe succession of data-leak cases in recent years has prompted businesses to take precautions. Some companies have imposed strict regulations not only on employees using their own PCs in the office, but also those using PCs allocated by their firms. For instance, these firms do not permit employees to keep important corporate information in their PCs.All organizations should be reminded that no important information should be stored where there is danger of a leak.Nuclear power stations must be heavily guarded against a possible leak of data from such facilities. This is essential to help protect nuclear power plants from terrorist attacks.The Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law, which the current Diet session has revised, requires operators of nuclear facilities to increase precautions against a leak of pertinent information. The revised law also obligates employees at such facilities to protect the confidentiality of data accessible to them at work. Offenders can be sentenced to prison terms.According to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, there is no evidence that the data leaked in the latest incident included information directly related to the operation of nuclear reactors.However, the data in question included photographs of some sections of nuclear power stations. The internal structure and design of a nuclear power station is classified data.There is no telling how terrorists will take advantage of a blind spot in security at nuclear facilities. To prevent incidents similar to the latest leak, the government and the electric power companies affected by the latest incident must thoroughly examine details of the leak and implement strict precautions.Pass legislation swiftlyThere is no legislation for directly punishing producers of computer viruses. This should change.The Convention on Cybercrime, which Japan signed in 2001, requires signatory nations to step up efforts to fight computer viruses.The government has submitted to the current Diet session a bill to revise the Penal Code with the aim of punishing the production of viruses. The envisaged law would sentence any offender to a prison term of up to three years, or a maximum fine of 500,000 yen. The bill also includes a provision punishing anyone who has provided others with viruses or possesses them.The government should ensure early passage of the bill to crack down on computer viruses.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2005-06-24	YOSHIN0020050627e16o000fs
YOMSHI0020050624e16p0000r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050624e16p0000r	EN	\N	Shareholder meets must help improve governance	These meetings are the key decision-making forums for joint-stock corporations. Board members are required to hold earnest dialogues with shareholders and clarify their strategies to win their approval. Companies that attempt to stage-manage such meetings will struggle.	4	2005-06-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Listed companies have traditionally chosen to convene shareholders meetings on the same day as other businesses to reduce the threat posed by the attendance of sokaiya racketeers.A decade ago, 96 percent of Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed companies held shareholders meetings on the same day. This year, the proportion has fallen, with 60 percent of such meetings scheduled for Wednesday.One of the reasons for the change is a series of police crackdowns on racketeers, which have reduced their menace to businesses.Another factor is the decline in cross-shareholdings. This trend has led to an increase in the number of shareholders, including institutional investors, who want management to listen to them.As a result, a growing number of businesses are willing to spend plenty of time for substantial discussion with shareholders. This is a favorable development.Antitakeover steps key issueThis year's focal point is how shareholders will react to defensive measures being planned by managements against possible hostile takeover bids.The tug-of-war early this year over control of radio broadcaster Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. heralds the arrival in Japan of a wave of hostile takeovers.More than 100 companies are expected to seek shareholder approval of their antitakeover measures. One such step is the introduction of poison pills, which when triggered can allow the issue of additional shares at below market price, diluting the bidder's holding in the takeover target.But if the exercise of such a defensive measure results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares, the stock price will inevitably decline, damaging shareholders' interests. As a result, prior approval by shareholders is essential to justify the introduction of antitakeover measures.Boards get reform powersUnder a series of revisions to the Commercial Code, companies are no longer required to abide by a uniform regime of corporate governance. Instead, each business is allowed to adopt a governance style suited to itself by revising its articles of incorporation. In other words, the business community is entering an era of articles-based governance.The new round of revisions to the code, due to be endorsed by the Diet shortly, will give firms further leeway to change their governance rules.For example, each company will be able to have its board of directors determine the dividend ratio once such a rule is written into the articles. Likewise, the board will be authorized to determine voting rights by type of shareholder.Both reforms, which involve a shift of final say pertaining to corporate decisions from a general shareholders meeting to the board, are aimed at boosting management efficiency. If management wants shareholders to delegate authority to it, it has to be stipulated in the articles. This means that general meetings of shareholders will only gain in importance.Each company is obliged to send a set of proposals requiring shareholder approval to each stockholder by at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled general shareholders meeting.Institutional investors say they are always overwhelmed the week before shareholders meetings as their offices become flooded with corporate proposals. Companies should think of preparing and dispatching such proposals much earlier for thorough scrutiny if they really want to serve the interests of shareholders.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2005-06-25	YOSHIN0020050627e16p001b3
YOMSHI0020050625e16q0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050625e16q0000e	EN	\N	U.S. mad cow discovery shouldn't affect study	Nevertheless, this should not directly affect the ongoing debate in Japan over lifting a ban on U.S. beef imports. The expert group on the issue in the Food Safety Commission of the Cabinet Office should steadily continue with its discussions.	4	2005-06-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The first U.S. bovine spongiform encephalopathy case was confirmed in a cow born in Canada. The cow in the latest case was highly likely born in the United States.Given the fact that the U.S. and Canadian beef markets are closely related, it had been assumed that BSE would eventually be found in a U.S.-born cow.Case outside import controlsThe cow in the latest U.S. case was more than 8 years old. Japan's discussions on the resumption of U.S. beef imports concern cows aged 20 months and younger.Washington has promised that it will guarantee beef exports to Japan are from cows aged 20 months or younger, and it will completely remove internal organs that have the most risk of containing BSE, such as brains and spinal cords. Such specified risk materials tend to store the abnormal prions that cause the disease.The promises made by the United States basically satisfy Japan's conditions for the resumption of beef imports.The second BSE-infected cow in the United States first tested positive in a simple test in November. It was later found negative in a confirmation test.However, under the advice of an internal bureau, the U.S. Agriculture Department retested the cow under a more sophisticated method called the Western blot method. The method is used in Japan and Europe.As the result, it was finally confirmed positive by a laboratory in Britain.This led the United States to believe its BSE testing methods were insufficient, and the Agriculture Department suggested the introduction of the same testing method as used in Japan and Europe.This was the right decision. Determining the true situation concerning BSE infection is the first step for the United States to deal with the issue.Accurate testing crucialIf the accuracy of its testing is improved, the number of cows confirmed to be infected with BSE may increase. However, what is important is not to allow dangerous beef to be sold.The United States should broaden its criteria concerning the removal of risky parts from cows to gain consumers' confidence.Japan has tested all heads of cattle since the discovery of a BSE-infected cow in September 2001. So far, 4.5 million cattle have been checked, with 20 BSE-infected cows discovered.Since the youngest one to be infected with BSE was 21 months old, the Food Safety Commission wrote a report last month in which it said it was not necessary to test cows aged 20 months or younger.Japan's testing of all cows is unprecedented in the world. This policy should be changed.Internationally, BSE tests are conducted on cows aged 30 months or older. Japan must ensure its testing is more in line with the global standard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	536	2005-06-26	YOSHIN0020050627e16q001zh
YOMSHI0020050703e16r00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050703e16r00003	EN	\N	Diet must end inaction on Constitution	Submission to the Diet of a bill laying out the rules for the national referendum needed to amend the basic law has been postponed.	4	2005-06-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While the campaign for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election is in full swing, the ruling and opposition parties in the Diet are at odds over the set of bills concerning the privatization of postal services. The postponement probably is linked closely to the current situation in which it is highly unlikely the ruling and opposition camps will get down to work and tackle the referendum bill.The movement toward revising the Constitution should not be delayed.It is necessary to have the research commissions on the Constitution of both houses of the Diet recast as standing committees during the current Diet session and have the referendum bill submitted to an extraordinary Diet session in autumn to have the bill passed into law as soon as possible.In the meantime, discussion on the Constitution should quietly proceed. The Liberal Democratic Party committee to draft a new Constitution will shortly present an outline of proposed amendments and start putting its ideas into provisions.The Democratic Party of Japan has put together the party's views concerning a constitutional amendment into draft proposals. We hope the DPJ will hold more substantial discussions on the Constitution within the party.Discussion neededThe ruling and opposition parties must discuss the details of the referendum bill on several points they differ widely, such as whether constitutional amendments should be made as a total package or article by article and whether universal suffrage should be granted at age 20 or age 18.There also are differences over the criteria for a majority of votes required for ratification of the amendments--that is, a majority of valid votes or total votes cast; and whether the period of time between the Diet approval of amendments and the implementation of a referendum should be from 30 days to 90 days or from 60 days to 180 days.The LDP, New Komeito and the DPJ all recognize the necessity of passing the bill into law as soon as possible. The three parties should start discussing their differences so the bill can be passed into law as early as the extraordinary Diet session that will be convened later this year.While such a subject is not addressed in the DPJ's draft, the draft worked out by the ruling camp contains an article that concerns regulating the media, an invocation of a clause of the Public Offices Election Law.Press freedomUnder this law, media outlets are prohibited from carrying news coverage or editorial comments "with the purpose of affecting the outcome of the public vote in the national referendum."Yet, a vote whereby people elects legislators or heads of local governments from among several candidates differs completely in nature from the one whereby people express their approval or disapproval of a bill concerning constitutional amendments. It is also unreasonable for the clause of the Public Offices Election Law to be invoked in the bill concerning the referendum without modifying it.The then Home Affairs Ministry worked out a bill governing a national referendum on the constitutional amendments in 1953, which contained no media-regulating clauses. The Research Commission on the Election System that drew up an outline for the bill refrained from placing unnecessary restraints on the press, reasoning that "in light of the nature of the matter, it would be better to give the media as much discretion as possible."On the issue of the Constitution, it is necessary for people from every walk of life to have a free and open-minded exchange of views. That is exactly what a mature democratic society is all about, and it is this point that needs to be considered over and over again when enacting the law concerning referendum on constitutional amendments.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2005-06-27	YOSHIN0020050628e16r000et
YOMSHI0020050627e16s0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050627e16s0000k	EN	\N	Remain on guard even against less toxic virus	Unlike the H5N1 strain that caused such an uproar when it hit farms in Yamaguchi and Kyoto prefectures last year, the latest outbreak involves the H5N2 strain, which is considered less toxic.	4	2005-06-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nonetheless there have been cases overseas in which a milder strain of bird flu mutated into a highly toxic virus. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Ibaraki prefectural government should not stint in their efforts, but must do their utmost to track down the infection route and prevent the disease from spreading.At the poultry farm where the latest bird flu outbreak occurred, the egg production rate began falling while the number of chickens dying began rising in April, prompting the farm's management to ask a private inspection organization to investigate the case.The investigation detected the virus and the relevant offices, including the agriculture ministry, made the final confirmation.The prefectural government has decided to put down 25,000 chickens, while banning the transportation of chickens and eggs from a five-kilometer radius around the farm.First outbreak in JapanThe case marks the first time the H5N2 virus has been detected in Japan. There is no denying it took some time to confirm the outbreak, as the virus, because of its low toxicity, caused little conspicuous damage.Learning a lesson from the outcry following the bird flu outbreak last year, the farm ministry had the Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Law revised, making it obligatory for business operators to immediately report any suspected cases of disease to the relevant authorities. It has also reinforced the penalties to be imposed on violators of such requirements.At the same time, these business operators are urged to report regularly every week to the authorities, concerning the number of chickens they breed and the number that die.This time, however, the operator of the poultry farm did not report the incident to the authorities promptly, as it did not initially consider the situation to be abnormal. In this respect the farm operator can hardly be blamed.In the reports, including those on the number of dead chickens, the outbreak was initially overlooked because both the farm ministry and the prefectural government concluded that the number of deaths was within the normal range, with no distinct developments such as a rapid rise in the daily number of deaths.Better test neededWhat should be done to confirm the outbreak of the disease as quickly as possible? Experts have pointed to a need to improve the sample test.After the epidemic of bird flu cases in various part of Asia, prefectural livestock hygiene centers have had 10 chickens within the jurisdiction picked out for inspection every month.If such checks are carried out more frequently with a larger number of chickens inspected, the possibility of detecting an occurrence at an early stage will rise. Each prefectural government needs to address the issue positively.It is worrisome that the infection route has yet to be confirmed. There are various views saying that a migratory bird may have brought in the virus or that an employee of the farm who took a trip abroad may have brought in the virus on the sole of his shoe. The route of infection must be clarified. The infection routes of last year's cases remain veiled in mystery.Should the route be found, effective countermeasures can be taken. We hope the government will expedite its efforts in clarifying the route, through cooperation with neighboring countries. In addition to this, it is necessary for operators of poultry farms to take thorough measures to prevent wild birds from entering their premises.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2005-06-28	YOSHIN0020050629e16s000i0
YOMSHI0020050628e16t0000n	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050628e16t0000n	EN	\N	Japan has key role in ITER project	During a ministerial meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, the EU and five nations agreed that the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor would be built in Cadarache, southern France.	4	2005-06-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A nuclear fusion reactor could serve as an artificial sun on the Earth. Such a plant is expected to produce inexhaustible energy. However, there still are a number of technical problems to be surmounted in an attempt to use a fusion reactor for practical purposes. Given this, it is essential to study how to clear these hurdles, using the ITER project as a basis for achieving the goal.The ITER would be a gigantic facility. The main part of its reactor would be comparable to the Great Buddha of Nara in size. The facility also would house a mass of precision machines used to control the colossal amount of energy it would generate.It will take 10 years to build the reactor and cost about 1.3 trillion yen to construct and operate the facility before it is dismantled 35 years later.If they combine their expertise and financial contributions, the participants in the project will be able to develop research on how to solve related technical problems.Japan and the EU should closely cooperate with the other participants--the United States, Russia, China and South Korea--to develop the project. They should work out the details of the project as soon as possible, to break ground for the reactor.Many benefits on offerDespite its concession to the EU in the dispute over the location of the reactor, Japan has gained assurances from the other ITER participants that it will reap rich benefits from the project.The EU will pay half of the 500 billion yen bill for the ITER's construction. Japan and the other four nations will shoulder 10 percent of the remaining costs each. This country also will receive 20 percent of orders for necessary construction work, obtaining a portion of the share allotted to the EU. All this will provide Japan with an opportunity to gain practical experience in building a nuclear fusion reactor.The envisaged ITER Organization will be headed by a Japanese, and 20-30 percent of the employees at the international institution also will be Japanese.Some facilities related to the ITER project also will be built in Japan, including a research laboratory that will receive data on the operation of the reactor through a high-speed communications network and analyze the reactor's condition. The EU will cover half of the costs to be incurred by building such facilities in this nation.Japan has a greater share of work to do in operating the ITER than the other nations. This means that Japan must shoulder a greater responsibility for the project. The government must work with the EU to ensure that cooperation among all ITER participants is maintained during the project.Smooth cooperation vitalThe U.S. administration still has not gained consent from the Congress concerning the United States' share of the costs of the ITER project. The United States quit the ITER project at one point because of objections to it from Congress. It is unclear whether the United States will be willing to cooperate with the other ITER participants.Meanwhile, China and South Korea reportedly are dissatisfied with the preferential arrangements awarded to Japan despite the fact that the three nations will pay the same share of the ITER costs.For years, Japan has been in the forefront of nuclear fusion research. By taking advantage of its accumulated expertise, this nation should contribute to the project in the form of technical and personnel assistance. This is essential to gain support from the other ITER participants for Japan's position in the project.To make up for losses suffered by giving up its bid to host the ITER in Rokkashomura, Aomori Prefecture, the government should also take necessary steps at home. For years, the northeastern village has cooperated with the central government in promoting this nation's nuclear energy program. With this in mind, the government should reward Rokkashomura for its years of cooperation, for instance, by making the village home to facilities related to the ITER project.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	742	2005-06-29	YOSHIN0020050630e16t000ie
YOMSHI0020050629e16u0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050629e16u0000k	EN	\N	Koizumi's about-face on postal bills strange	Prior to the agreement, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had been consistent in rejecting amendments to the initial bills. The prime minister's deliberately uncompromising attitude may have reflected his attempt to ensure that the core of the government-sponsored set of bills remained unchanged.	4	2005-06-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Tuesday, Koizumi reversed his stance when he accepted the accord on amendments to the bills, expressing a favorable view about the changes in the legislation. The abrupt change in his attitude may have upset many people.It is questionable whether the amended bills on postal privatization will be able to serve their initial purposes.The amendments include a provision that would allow a holding company to be created through the privatization to buy back shares issued by the envisaged postal savings bank and postal insurance company after having disposed of them--a move that would enable the holding company to "successively possess" such shares.Tuesday's agreement also will expand the list of duties fulfilled by a post-privatization company responsible for mail delivery to include providing financial services on behalf of the postal savings and insurance firms.All this signifies an attempt to ensure mail delivery, postal savings and insurance businesses are operated as seamless services after the privatization. However, such an attempt could hinder Koizumi's campaign to reform the current postal system, in which the government has amassed a huge amount of money in the form of postal savings and insurance premiums over the years. The funds collected through what could be dubbed a state-run financial business stand at 340 trillion yen today.The latest accord must be followed by an effort by the government and the LDP to explain why the bills had to be amended. Meanwhile, the Diet should also debate the bills to the fullest.Govt decision-making warpedThe latest talks between the government and the LDP over amendments to the postal bills have raised questions about the government's decision-making process.For years, the government and the LDP have adhered to the so-called preliminary review system. This long-running practice requires the government to obtain the LDP's approval for any bills before submitting them to the Diet.However, the practice was not applied to the postal privatization bills because the prime minister and LDP lawmakers with vested interests in postal affairs were sharply divided over the legislation. Eventually, the LDP did not approve the bills, only permitting them to be submitted to the Diet.On Tuesday, the LDP General Council took the unusual step of approving the amended bills by a majority vote--not through a unanimous decision as in the past. This shows that the preliminary review system runs counter to efforts by the Cabinet to take the lead in formulating key policies. The confusion erupting at the General Council--the LDP's supreme decision-making organ--must be seen as another reminder that the preliminary review system is not functioning.DPJ has offered no alternativeThe Democratic Party of Japan has insisted that the status quo be maintained when it comes to postal privatization, saying the government-sponsored bills must be scrapped. The leading opposition party's stance reflects the fact that its main supporters include postal-related labor unions.The DPJ has taken the same line as some LDP members opposed to postal privatization, instead of presenting an alternative for the government's postal reform plan. The opposition party is far from what it calls itself--"a party preparing to take power."The attitude adopted by the LDP's coalition partner, New Komeito, is difficult to understand. New Komeito did not bother to tell the LDP how it wanted the bills to be amended. Instead, the party devoted itself to ensuring a vote on the bills would take place after the forthcoming Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.New Komeito was probably concerned that an anticipated tug-of-war between those for and against postal reform during the voting on the bills could adversely affect the party's efforts to win the election. New Komeito's stance can be regarded as an attempt to defend its own interests first.According to various polls, few voters are interested in postal privatization. The latest confusion over amendments to the bills may have left voters even more seriously disillusioned.All political parties and politicians must take to heart lessons from the latest confusion.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	786	2005-06-30	YOSHIN0020050701e16u000hp
YOMSHI0020050630e1710000n	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050630e1710000n	EN	\N	Fraudulent renovators must be stamped out	The Metropolitan Police Department arrested them on suspicion of fraud by deceiving people into signing contracts for unnecessary repairs.	4	2005-07-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The group made a total of 11.5 billion yen worth of construction contracts with 5,339 people over the last three years. Police suspect that most of them were made in a dishonest manner.To gain entry to people's homes, the four reportedly told owners that they would check the condition of their homes free of charge. They would then induce them to sign renovation contracts by making the owners anxious, telling them that the pillars were rotting or their houses might collapse if they were not repaired.The police quoted one of them as saying that he lied in line with the company's policy to make sales. The whole group might have been involved in this fraudulent business. The police must investigate it thoroughly to determine the scale of the damage and the illegal profits gained.Inspection technique cunningThis kind of business is dubbed as an "inspection sales technique" because renovation company employees visit houses on the excuse of checking them for defects.Consumer advice centers around the country have been receiving many complaints and questions about this activity since about two or three years ago, with 12,000 cases reported last fiscal year.Around the country, there seem to be many other devious firms undertaking similar practices to those arrested. The authorities must crack down on these operators and punish them severely to eradicate this kind of crime.Many of the victims have been elderly people. The perpetrators would lie that they would check the roof or conduit pipes for free, or that they would give a special discount for sample repair work.Some of them have even gained entry by using the ruse of asking to use the toilet, attempting to give the impression of being their friend for conversation before swindling repair contracts out of the elderly.After forming one contract, the firms' usual method has been to keep on pointing out further defects to win additional repair orders.Fraud could discourage repairsIt is necessary to make houses earthquake-resistant in preparation for strong temblors in the future. However, if such fraudulent companies prevail, the public might become overly cautious about renovation work on their houses, which would prevent necessary reinforcement against quakes.The home renovation market is reportedly worth several trillion yen a year. This kind of fraud might damage many honest renovators.With the aging of our society, crimes targeting the assets of elderly people are set to increase. In many cases, it takes longer for seniors to realize that they have been deceived.Their family members or neighbors must pay attention to them. A legal guardianship program for adults, which is mainly used for elderly people who have lost their sense of judgment, should be used more to prevent their victimization.The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan has warned the public not to believe everything renovation firms say, but to deal with them carefully, such as asking for a quote of the costs. Such caution on the part of consumers is crucial.Not only the police, but also the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, which regulates certain sales techniques, should deal with such fraudulent companies more severely, including issuing orders forcing the suspension of their business.Cooperation among concerned authorities, including local governments, also is essential to eradicate these rogue operators.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2005-07-01	YOSHIN0020050704e171000h8
YOMSHI0020050701e1720000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050701e1720000l	EN	\N	Govt should open labor market	The 2005 White Paper on International Economy and Trade, released by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry on Friday, was the first white paper to present concrete proposals for accelerating the liberalization of the labor market.	4	2005-07-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	METI's voice has now been added to that of the business community and other groups that have been calling for granting foreign workers greater access to the Japanese labor market.The National Council for Promotion of Economic Partnerships, which consists of business leaders and scholars, last year urged the government to implement measures to support foreign workers. These proposals included expanding the range of qualifications that would enable guest workers to stay in the country as well as easing the qualifications required for visas.The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry made a similar policy recommendation two years ago.Therefore, the METI white paper can be taken as a government response, albeit a belated one, to such voices from the private sector.Economy needs fresh bloodJapan's population is projected to peak in 2006 and then start contracting. More pressingly, the workforce is expected to shrink at a greater rate than the overall population. In an attempt to slow this decrease in the labor population and keep the economy from shrinking, the government has adopted policies aimed at encouraging more women and the elderly to join the workforce.However, the white paper pointed out that even if those policies bear some fruit, Japan will not be able to avert a contraction of its workforce that will start in 2015.To help keep the economy on a sustainable growth track, the METI report called for the acceptance of highly skilled and talented workers from abroad, including East Asia, in parallel with the active utilization of women and senior citizens in Japan.The white paper specifically recommended that procedures for entry and employment for foreign workers be simplified, while offering treatment commensurate with one's abilities and talents. It also referred to the possibility of expanding the range of qualifications for which work visas would be granted.It went on to recommend that successful trainees in Japan be offered jobs that would allow them to capitalize on their newly acquired skill sets and social security services, such as health insurance and educational assistance, be improved for foreign workers and their families.In 1999, the government decided to offer preferential treatment to foreigners working in 14 sectors, including as lawyers, medical doctors and computer engineers.Other bounties to be wonNevertheless, various associations of people afraid of losing jobs to foreigners, lawmakers who lobby on the behalf of such groups, as well as government entities such as the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry remain unenthusiastic about accepting foreign workers.This slowness on the part of the government to accept foreign workers has been adversely affecting negotiations with member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regarding free trade agreements. As a result, no early signing is in sight for an FTA with the Philippines even though Tokyo and Manila reached a basic agreement in November on the accord. The stumbling block is a failure to agree on the number of Philippine nurses and nursing care providers to be accepted in Japan.Japan should hurry up in opening its labor market to ensure continued economic development in this country and its surrounding areas by realizing free and balanced flows of talent, goods and services in East Asia.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2005-07-02	YOSHIN0020050704e172001ca
YOMSHI0020050707e17300001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050707e17300001	EN	\N	No time for complacency as HIV infections rise	Last year, 1,165 new HIV infections and diagnoses of full-blown AIDS were reported, the first time new cases have exceeded 1,000 in one year. The accumulated total of confirmed HIV-positive and AIDS cases has topped the 10,000 mark so far.	4	2005-07-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the number of HIV/AIDS cases remains relatively small when compared with infection rates in the United States or Europe, it would be a serious mistake to become complacent.While the number of newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients is leveling off in many other industrialized countries, it is rising at an accelerating pace in Japan.Infections hitting youngOf particular concern is that as many as 30 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases are discovered only after symptoms have appeared, suggesting that a large number of people are unaware of their infection until they develop full-blown AIDS.A research group within the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has forecast that HIV infections will reach 50,000 in 2010. The beginning of an explosive rise in infections may be imminent. We should attempt to avoid this preventive efforts and by improving the testing system.The most important factor is to educate the younger generation. People in their 20s or younger accounted for 35 percent of those diagnosed as HIV-positive over the past five years, while those in their 30s accounted for 40 percent, indicating that the infection is rapidly spreading among young people.The growth in infection among young people is primarily caused by an increase in unsafe sexual activity among youth.Abortions among minors, which averaged about 30,000 a year from 1995 to 1999, has risen to more than 40,000 a year since 2000.A report has found that nearly 50 percent of female high school students and more than 30 percent of male high school students have engaged in sexual activity, with one-tenth of sexually active female high school students infected with chlamydia bacteria.They must be provided with proper sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention information both at school and at home.Also needed is a strengthening of cooperation between public administrative offices and nongovernmental organizations that offer advice on HIV/AIDS and support HIV-positive people.Experts looking for answersThe 7th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) is under way in Kobe. Representatives of NGOs and public administrators from countries in Asia and the Pacific are exploring ways to provide education to prevent HIV infections as well as medical treatment and other support for AIDS patients.The center of HIV/AIDS prevalence is about to shift from Africa to Asia. While there is a concern over an explosive spread of HIV/AIDS in China and India, other countries, such as Thailand, have taken successful national measures to rein in the spread of HIV/AIDS.Japan is extending financial assistance to developing countries for measures to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pledging $500 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It also is important for the government to make use of the lessons learned by developing countries and take proper measures at home.We should take this opportunity to build a broad system of cooperation among organizations and institutions concerned with HIV/AIDS and to rid this society of complacency over the spread of HIV/AIDS.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2005-07-03	YOSHIN0020050704e1730020v
YOMSHI0020050707e17400002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050707e17400002	EN	\N	Competing in tech race requires better plan	The guideline lists six goals, such as "making dramatic discoveries and inventions," "reaching a breakthrough in science and technology," and "making environmental protection consistent with economic growth."	4	2005-07-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We wonder how Japan can possibly rebuild itself as a technological power with such a vague set of goals.The guideline is designed to build a country where people can lead a "healthy and safe life," while at the same time creating new expertise and enhancing the international competitiveness of Japan.Based on this guideline, the government will work out its third five-year basic plan. This follows the second Science and Technology Basic Plan that is to be completed this fiscal year.Yet the guideline appears to be one intended to be all things to all people. It neither spells out specific projects for research and development nor distinguishes itself clearly from the second basic plan.With such a plan, how can Japan possibly compete with such newly emerging technological powers as China and South Korea, both of which are catching up fast with Japan, let alone other industrially advanced nations?Specific goals neededIn a public poll taken by the Cabinet Office, nearly 80 percent of people said the guideline needs to set forth "concrete goals." In order to rebuild Japan as a technological power, it is necessary for the government to come up with specific goals.The central government injected sizable amounts of money into science and technology projects, spending \\17 trillion for the first five-year plan, that lasted until fiscal 2000, and \\21 trillion for the second five-year plan.The government is also boasting of results from the past plans. It said that the number of scientific papers published by Japanese researchers has increased to the point where it is second only to those from scientists in the United States. Universities, which were formerly criticized as an ivory tower, have emerged from their academic shell, with the number of venture businesses started by universities topping 1,000.Yet we should not take them at face value. While the number of applications for patents filed by university researchers has increased, their revenues have not increased. Meanwhile, there have so far been no major patents granted that are of significant interest to businesses at home or abroad.The third basic plan will be pointless unless strict evaluations are made of the current state of affairs.Millions spentState universities and research institutes have constructed new buildings lately. Sizable amounts of money, in some cases hundreds of millions of yen, have been granted to researchers at these institutes, leading some to ridicule the payments as a "bubble in research expenses."On the other hand, researchers have increasingly become busy with writing research grant proposals, leaving less time for research. The task of improving the environment for research is also important.The state also has a role in tackling large-scale research and development, something private-sector organizations generally shy away from due to the high risk involved.As in the case of technology for analyzing genes, there are many instances in which Japan, despite its initial lead in the area, ended up suffering a complete defeat against foreign rivals, chiefly because central government officials in charge had failed to understand world trends in specific fields and had cut related budgets.The latest guideline is also uncertain when it comes to the task of fostering the next-generation researchers. Under the first and second basic plans, measures were taken to increase the ranks of young researchers. Yet there are still instances in which the number of posts for researchers have been insufficient or so poorly paid that those taking them have been unable to pay social insurance premiums.What tasks does the guideline want tackled? What goals does it hope to achieve? The council should chart out a clear course for Japan to rebuild itself as a technological power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	693	2005-07-04	YOSHIN0020050705e174000cj
YOMSHI0020050704e1750000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050704e1750000j	EN	\N	Parties must progress beyond 1955 bickering	Questions should be raised about the attitudes taken by political parties in the run-up to the latest situation. They should seriously consider whether their behavior has measured up to voters' trust.	4	2005-07-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	All opposition parties have taken exception to the postal reform bills. Some LDP lawmakers are also opposed to the legislation. If 46 LDP legislators voted against the bills Tuesday, the legislation would be rejected. At issue now is whether the bills will be adopted in Tuesday's plenary session, a move that will send the legislation for a new round of debate at the House of Councillors.The passage of the bills at the lower house committee was preceded by confusion within the LDP as the party's top cadre sought to frustrate an attempt by antireform party members to rise in revolt against the legislation. Prior to the committee's voting on the bills, the LDP replaced eight LDP committee members believed to oppose the bills.Koizumi firmMeanwhile, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he will not ask his Cabinet to resign en masse even if the bills are scrapped. His remark is apparently intended to fan lawmakers' fear of seeing the prime minister dissolve the lower house for a general election if the bills are killed. The LDP's top echelon has been desperate to discourage party members opposed to postal privatization from rising in revolt. To exercise strict control over such legislators, the LDP's leadership has told them they could be unfavorably treated in the decision of which party members will receive the party's official endorsement in the next lower house election, and in the allocation of key positions in the party and the cabinet.Prior to the passage of the bills at the lower house committee, the LDP revised the legislation to reflect some opinions of antiprivatization party members. The move was aimed at driving a wedge between such LDP lawmakers. However, there are concerns that amendments to the postal reform bills could undermine the intended effect of the legislation.LDP lawmakers opposing the bills are those closely tied to the state-run postal system, including some seeking to defend the interests of the national association of operators of government-commissioned post offices. These postmasters constitute a major LDP support group.Shades of pastThe situation shows the LDP has yet to fully shed its old skin as a key player in the so-called 1955 political framework. The party's political approach was marked by an effort to hand out benefits to its supporters in return for their backing. The presence of antireform lawmakers within the LDP indicates the party still has a long way to go in remaking itself.The Democratic Party of Japan is open to the same criticism. The leading opposition party's attitude is comparable to that of antiprivatization LDP lawmakers in that it has insisted on keeping the state-run Japan Post intact. The DPJ's stance is an attempt to protect the vested interests of postal-related labor unions that support the opposition party.It is rumored the DPJ may choose to delay voting on the postal reform bills in an effort to scrap them. For instance, the party could submit no-confidence motions against Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy and postal privatization, at the lower house plenary session. This could be followed by an attempt by the DPJ to block the passage of the bills by adopting so-called ox-walk delaying tactics.Such an approach is typical of the parliamentary tactics adopted by the Japan Socialist Party, another key player in the 1955 political order.The DPJ is talking about preventing the vote on the bills at the plenary session, in the hope of forcing the prime minister to delay his departure on Wednesday morning for the forthcoming Group of Eight summit meeting.By doing so, the DPJ wants to postpone the voting until after the summit meeting. Such an attempt to use the important international conference to play political games at home must be condemned.The DPJ is striving to outmaneuver the LDP and kill the government-sponsored bills instead of presenting an alternative. The DPJ's approach falls far short of fulfilling the obligations of what it calls a "party preparing to take power."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	789	2005-07-05	YOSHIN0020050706e175000in
YOMSHI0020050707e17600003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050707e17600003	EN	\N	PM mustn't call election if postal bills aren't OK'd	However, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may have felt as if he were walking on thin ice while legislators were casting their ballots for or against the six bills. When the votes were counted proponents of the bills outnumbered opponents by a scant five.	4	2005-07-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Until just before the opening of the lower house plenary session, the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership struggled to discourage anti-postal privatization lawmakers from voting against the bills or abstaining from the vote. To try to keep these party members in line, the LDP leadership told them they could be removed from the list of candidates to be fielded on a party ticket in the next lower house election. Top LDP officials also told probable dissenters they could be unfavorably treated in the awarding of key positions in the cabinet and party if they revolted against the bills during the vote.Anti-privatization LDP members included the senior vice justice minister and a senior vice health, labor and welfare minister. Prior to the voting on the bills, several dissenters, including the two senior vice ministers, tendered their resignations from key posts in the Koizumi administration to clearly demonstrate their objection to the legislation.Vote has shaken Koizumi govtAll in all, a staggering 37 LDP legislators voted against the bills. The figure may have surpassed the forecast by the LDP's top cadre.In the past, there were cases in which a number of LDP members rebelled against the party's leadership when the Diet voted on a no-confidence motion against the cabinet. Their rise in revolt was a result of leadership struggles within the LDP.However, there had been no case in which so many LDP legislators defied the party's leadership in voting on ordinary bills. The latest strife within the LDP could shake the foundation of the Koizumi government.Tuesday's passage of the bills has set the stage for a new tug-of-war over the legislation at the upper house. If 18 LDP lawmakers acted in concert with the opposition camp in voting against the bills, the legislation for privatizing the state-run Japan Post eventually would be scrapped.Heartened by the slim difference in the numbers of votes cast for and against the bills at the lower house plenary session, anti-privatization LDP members likely will reinforce their united front against an attempt by the party's leadership to put the legislation through the Diet. An even more bitter fight may be fought over the bills between pro-reform and anti-privatization legislators within the LDP, or between the ruling and opposition camps, for that matter.Koizumi has said he intends to dissolve the lower house for a general election if the bills fail to clear the Diet. However, threatening to dissolve the lower house will not deter anti-privatization upper house members from opposing the bills. The upper house cannot be dissolved.Anyway, it would not be right for the prime minister to dissolve the lower house if the upper house rejected the bills.Public apathetic to postal billsPrior to the vote on the bills Tuesday, the Democratic Party of Japan decided not to submit a no-confidence motion against Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and postal reform policy, although the opposition party had previously considered doing so as a means of delaying the vote.The main opposition party's change of heart seemed to reflect its belief that doing nothing to delay the vote would more strongly unite antireform LDP members in casting ballots against the legislation, meaning that the bills would more likely be killed.The DPJ hopes to take advantage of the current confusion within the LDP as it seeks to snatch power from the ruling coalition. The opposition party is convinced that if it ensures the bills are scrapped, the prime minister will dissolve the lower house for a general election, and that such a scenario would divide the LDP, making it possible for the DPJ to win the lower house election.However, many voters would become even more indifferent to politics if lawmakers diverted their energies toward a parliamentary battle over the postal bills.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll, 60 percent of those surveyed said they wanted the government to improve the economy first and foremost, while 56 percent said a reform of the pension and other social security systems was a task of prime importance for the government. These figures compared with 30 percent-plus of the pollees citing job creation, the North Korean problem and crime prevention.Only 7 percent cited postal privatization, meaning the reform was ranked 16th among the 17 items listed in the poll.There are numerous problems to be tackled by the government in building a solid future for this country. The bills on postal privatization are not the only ones that must be seriously addressed by legislators in the final stage of the current Diet session.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	881	2005-07-06	YOSHIN0020050707e176000h7
YOMSHI0020050706e1770000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050706e1770000j	EN	\N	Central, local govts need to cut payrolls	The system in which central and local government employees receive higher salaries than workers in the private sector has been harshly criticized, as has the system in which public servants' salaries increase automatically on the basis of seniority without their having to worry about their employer going bankrupt or about restructuring.	4	2005-07-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The accumulated long-term debts of the central and local governments will exceed 770 trillion yen in total at the end of fiscal 2005. Tight fiscal constraints notwithstanding, total employment costs for central and local government employees accounted for 27 trillion yen of general policy spending in fiscal 2005. The government recently announced in its so-called big-boned guidelines on economic and fiscal management and structural reform that the wage bill for public servants should be slashed. But the policy was unveiled too late.The problem is whether the central and local governments can actually take effective measures in line with the new guidelines. According to the big-boned framework, net reduction targets for public servant payrolls must be decided. The central government's new guideline for local administrative reform already stipulates that local governments should achieve reduction targets for their payrolls in the next five years that are higher than 4.6 percent, which is the net reduction in the last five years.Maintain quality of servicesThe central government said a net reduction target will be stipulated in its basic guideline to be compiled in autumn. Not only the central government, but also local governments should map out detailed reduction targets and plans and to carry them out step by step.However, governance and public services must not deteriorate with the reduction in public servant numbers. Their office duties and projects must be reviewed comprehensively, while outsourcing and the introduction of competitive bidding for services should be tried. Streamlining of office work with the introduction of information technology will not only improve administrative services, but also lead to a reduction of the workforce.It makes sense to review local government staff sizes following the consolidation of some municipalities.Along with a net reduction in fixed personnel numbers, the wage systems of central and local government officials need to be reviewed.The National Personnel Authority is planning to review the pay structure of central government workers. According to the authority, the pay scale will be cut by 5 percent to redress the wage disparity with some private sector workers, but special allowances of up to 18 percent of salary will be provided to central government employees working in areas where salaries in the private sector are higher than the national average.However, the review will not reduce the total personnel costs.Sample small firms' wagesSalaries for general office employees of the central government are decided in accordance with those in the private sector. The National Personnel Authority surveys the salary levels paid by private companies with more than 100 employees around the country. Based on the survey results, the authority makes recommendations to the central government.However, if smaller companies are included in the samples, the survey results would better reflect wages in the private sector and lead to a reduction in the total personnel costs.Wages of local government employees are based on the pay scale for central government workers. That widens the wage disparity between local government and private sector workers in regions where the wage level in the private sector is low.This naturally makes salaries of local government employees look overgenerous in the eyes of residents there.The harmonization of pay scales for central and local government employees also should be reviewed as an urgent policy issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2005-07-07	YOSHIN0020050708e177000gd
YOMSHI0020050707e1780000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050707e1780000j	EN	\N	DPJ dragging its feet in debate on top law	On Thursday, a Liberal Democratic Party panel decided on an outline of a draft constitution. The ruling coalition party will write clauses based on this outline and complete a new draft constitution by its 50th anniversary in November.	4	2005-07-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We expect the LDP not only to deepen discussions on the draft among party members, but also to spark debate on constitutional reform at all levels of society.The LDP outline contains a wide variety of revised points. According to it, Japan's land, nature, history and culture will be described in a preamble to a new constitution. It is natural that the nation's characteristics are presented in the preamble.SDF oversight needs correctingPacifist principles also will be included in Article 9 of the draft constitution. Then, it will stipulate that Japan retains Self-Defense Forces to protect itself, defining them clearly as the military. The current Constitution lacks provisions on the SDF--one of its biggest separations from reality.If the SDF is defined as the military, it will naturally establish a military court. This is common sense for the rest of the world.One of the SDF's roles will be to contribute to the peace and stability of the international community, according to the LDP outline. This is a matter of course because the security situation concerning Japan and the rest of the world has drastically changed in the 60 years since the end of World War II.In addition, the term "public welfare," which often appears in the current top law, will be replaced in the draft constitution with words such as public interest and order to clarify its concept.As for local government autonomy, new clauses will be added to clarify the roles of the central and local governments, and their mutual cooperation, according to the outline. This aims at making a new constitution suitable for an age of decentralization.Amendments to the Constitution currently need to be initiated by the Diet, through a "concurring vote of two-thirds or more of all the members of each House."This will be relaxed to "a concurring vote of a majority or more," according to the outline. This will make it easier to revise the new constitution in the future to adopt to changing times.The LDP panel failed to reach a conclusion on some issues, such as the rights and duties of the people. The party must do so as soon as possible concerning such new rights as environmental rights, and new duties such as the duty to care for the family.Most of the revised points proposed in the LDP outline were approved by two-thirds or more of members of the research commission on the Constitution at the House of Representatives, including members of the Democratic Party of Japan.This suggests that the LDP has considered conditions to propose the revision of the current Constitution, and expects negotiations on it with the main opposition party in the future.Opposition party irresponsibleWe wonder why constitutional discussions in the DPJ have been deadlocked, even though the party pledged that its own revised constitution would be drafted by next year's 60th anniversary of the current top law.The DPJ has been taking an increasingly confrontational approach to the government and the ruling coalition over the postal privatization bills. This might prevent the party from discussing constitutional reform with the LDP.Since the party has declared that it aims to take the reins of government from the current ruling coalition, a more responsible stance for the DPJ would be to debate the issue actively.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2005-07-08	YOSHIN0020050711e178000fx
YOMSHI0020050708e1790000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050708e1790000g	EN	\N	G-8 solidarity essential in war against terror	They have given a clear message that the international community will never yield to terrorists.	4	2005-07-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Thursday's simultaneous bombings of London's transport system have prompted the G-8 to unite against terrorism.Japan also could become a target of international terrorism. This country should continue its front-line role in the war against terrorism.The question is whether the international community can make effective arrangements for such tasks, including building a framework and making legal preparations.Ratify antiterror treatyIf a comprehensive antiterrorism treaty is concluded, a legal framework for detaining suspected terrorists and for punishing them could be put into place.But there are no prospects for its conclusion due to differences in views over how to define terrorism. The G-8 nations, which have united in calling for its early conclusion, need to persuade those countries against it to approve the treaty.If a nuclear weapon is used by a terrorist, the seriousness of the damage would be incalculable.It is necessary to put into effect as soon as possible the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, a treaty approved at the U.N. General Assembly in April. Also needed are efforts in expanding the number of participating countries in the Proliferation Security Initiative, which aims to interdict shipments and transfers of nuclear materials and technology.It also is important to take specific measures now ahead of such steps. The leaders' declaration included a plan to tighten security to prevent terrorists from bringing explosives into transport systems and one to crack down on small-sized vessels.In Japan, there would be huge casualties if a Shinkansen bullet train, subway line or airport was targeted by terrorists in urban areas. The government needs to take more effective preventive measures as soon as possible by boosting international sharing of information and reinforcing surveillance systems.In the case of Japan, it is essential to guard against a terrorist strike from the sea. Yet it is difficult to identify such vessels used in terrorist strikes as there is no international registration system for these ships. It is therefore necessary to introduce a new regulation and a registration system.Action needed on N. KoreaDuring the discussion over political issues, the leaders agreed on the need for the early resumption of the six-way talks, with the aim of making North Korea--which announced its possession of nuclear weapons in February--abandon its nuclear ambitions. In addition, they agreed to expedite efforts to reach a comprehensive solution over relevant issues, including Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese.Notwithstanding the seriousness of the nuclear issue, an issue particularly important to Japan concerning the threat of terrorism is that of North Korea.As a G-8 member, Japan should assume a front-line role against international terrorism, acting resolutely in partnership with its ally the United States.The front line against terrorism is broad, including Iran and Iraq.Concerning Iran, the leaders confirmed they would take Tehran's nuclear program to the International Atomic Energy Agency for discussion, should the situation become critical.The G-8 nations plan to work together on Iraq's postwar reconstruction, with the United States and Britain going beyond their past conflict over the Iraq war with France and Germany. The declaration also said the G-8 countries would take a proactive approach toward Middle East peace.In fighting terrorism, it is necessary for the G-8 nations to further reinforce their solidarity.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2005-07-09	YOSHIN0020050711e179001aj
YOMSHI0020050709e17a0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050709e17a0000h	EN	\N	Increased aid to Africa must be used effectively	The leaders reached an agreement on assistance to Africa that was incorporated in a chairman's summary made by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, following talks with leaders of seven African countries, including Nigeria.	4	2005-07-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In addition to the cancelation in full of debts owed by 18 of the poorest African nations to three international institutions--a measure the G-8 agreed to last month at its finance ministers' meeting--the G-8 countries said they would double their financial aid to Africa and aid to all developing nations by 50 billion dollars by 2010, of which 25 billion dollars was allocated specifically to Africa.The leaders also have hammered out a course of action to promote investment in education and public health as well as foster manpower in agriculture to urge African countries to support themselves and assist in improving their economic infrastructure to promote private-sector investment.Aid with strings attachedAs preconditions for assistance, the G-8 has called for African countries to make efforts toward promoting democracy, securing transparency in policy implementation, eradicating corruption and realizing peace and safety within the region.Criticism has been raised regarding aid sent in the past, saying funds were spent recklessly and unconditionally, used by leaders of recipient countries to fatten their own purses and increase corruption. The preconditions are probably meant to prevent a reoccurrence of such a situation.It also is important for the world to extend a helping hand to Africa, which suffers from poverty, conflict and infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, so it can become a region of peace and stability.In September, aid to Africa will be discussed at the world leaders' meeting at the United Nations. We hope this meeting will prove successful in implementing such aid so as to bear tangible results by involving major nations besides G-8 members.Avoid wasteful spendingAt the latest summit meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pledged that Japan would increase its official development assistance by 10 billion dollars in the next five years, doubling its aid to Africa in the next three years.Japan's pledge also aims to win support from African countries, which have a large number of U.N. votes, for its bid for a seat on the U.N. Security Council, as the plan to expand the Security Council is reaching a critical phase.As Japan's pledge of doubling its financial assistance has contributed to the G-8 agreement on the sizable increase in aid to Africa, Koizumi received thanks from Blair. From now, however, Japan needs to extend aid that will be appreciated by people in recipient countries and help reduce poverty. Wasteful spending should not be tolerated under the current tight fiscal conditions.Japan has been successful in extending assistance to other Asian countries, contributing to economic development and self-support in such countries by promoting the improvement of economic and social infrastructure through a combination of grant-aids, soft yen-loans and technical cooperation, in accordance with recipient nations' real needs.Japan should make use of such successes not only in its aid for Africa, but also as major nations form a framework to distribute aid to developing nations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2005-07-10	YOSHIN0020050712e17a000ac
YOMSHI0020050711e17c0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050711e17c0000f	EN	\N	N. Korea must dispose of nuclear weapons	The six-party talks aimed at making the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free will resume later this month.	4	2005-07-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During unofficial bilateral talks held to set the stage for resuming six-country negotiations, the United States acknowledged North Korea to be a sovereign state, reiterating its intention not to invade or attack the reclusive state. Washington also pledged to carry out bilateral talks within the framework of the six-party negotiations. These U.S. assurances did much to ensure North Korea would return to the bargaining table.Since their third round in June 2004, the six-nation talks have been stalled, with Pyongyang refusing to reopen the negotiations.The communist state's decision to attend the new round of talks marks a step toward halting its nuclear weapons development. Participants in the resumed talks must ensure North Korea agrees to scrap its nuclear arms program.In June last year, the United States told North Korea that the nations involved in the stalled talks would extend energy assistance and improve relations with that country if Pyongyang worked to dismantle its nuclear weapons development program in a verifiable manner.Pyongyang's withdrawalHowever, North Korea put off replying to Washington's proposal for Pyongyang to make a "strategic decision" to scrap its nuclear weapons program. In February, North Korea demanded the United States retract Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's remark designating the country as "an outpost of tyranny," announcing it would suspend its participation in the six-party talks for an indefinite period.Later, Pyongyang announced it possessed nuclear weapons, saying it was removing spent nuclear fuel rods to use them to produce such arms.No country has ever dismantled its nuclear weapons after negotiations with other nations wanting the nuclear power to do so. It is increasingly difficult to attain the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula as the communist state is even more loudly trumpeting its nuclear arms program.The driving force behind North Korea's decision to attend resumed talks seemed to be the emphasis placed by China and South Korea on the need to aid North Korea as a means of ensuring its return to the negotiation table and not on sanctions that could be imposed by the five nations.Carrot instead of stickIn Seoul, South and North Korea are carrying on a dialogue on various bilateral issues, including 500,000 tons in food aid from the South for the North. Pyongyang's decision to return to the six-party talks has provided justification for South Korean assistance to the North. In fact, Seoul is reportedly ready to present "important proposals" during the resumed talks, including one for additional energy aid.On Tuesday, Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan is scheduled to visit Pyongyang for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Their meeting will likely be focused on Chinese aid to North Korea.In the United States, the Democratic Party has criticized President George W. Bush, saying his administration's unwavering hard-line policy toward North Korea has done nothing to deter the country from developing nuclear arms. This may explain why Rice said, "The real issue now is to make progress"--not just to resume the negotiations.Progress in the negotiations--or a lack of it--depends on how North Korea will respond to other participants in the resumed talks. Japan will find it impossible to join hands with other nations in extending energy assistance to North Korea unless there are assurances given that it will scrap its nuclear weapons without fail.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	619	2005-07-12	YOSHIN0020050713e17c000gs
YOMSHI0020050712e17d0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050712e17d0000h	EN	\N	Closer Japan-U.S. ties key to pressure on North	On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice agreed during a meeting in Tokyo that Japan and the United States would press North Korea in the six-nation talks--to be resumed in late July--to agree to dismantle its nuclear program. What is important is that the talks produce concrete results.	4	2005-07-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korea has been proceeding with its nuclear weapons development program even since the previous round of six-way talks in June last year. In February this year, it revealed that it had manufactured nuclear weapons, an extremely serious development for Japan.Japan's security will be in grave danger if North Korea manages to downsize nuclear warheads to the extent that they become compact enough to be carried by the North's Rodong missiles, which have a range covering Japan. Therefore, it was natural for Machimura to emphasize in his meeting with Rice that the new round of six-party talks would have to produce substantial results concerning not only the nuclear issue, but also the missile issue.Japan most at riskDuring the previous round of talks, the United States proposed that the countries concerned extend energy-related assistance to North Korea and take measures to improve relations with it, provided that Pyongyang took steps toward dismantling its nuclear weapons program.North Korea recently said it would respond to the U.S. proposal in the upcoming six-nation talks. However, North Korean can hardly be expected to respond by making the bold move to scrap its nuclear program.South Korea, China and Russia are opposed to North Korea's nuclear development program because of their fears that it will jeopardize the region's security. Nevertheless, these countries have no reason to fear that they will be exposed to possible nuclear attacks from the North. Thus, Japan's level of awareness of the nuclear threat from North Korea is very different from that of the other three neighboring countries.China has been the largest donor country for North Korea. South Korea, for its part, has been actively implementing policies to appease Pyongyang by providing aid such as food and fertilizer to the North.But this policy of reconciliation cannot be said to be effective as a strategy to persuade North Korea to scrap its nuclear program.Little ground for optimismA recent North Korean broadcast quoted a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Pyongyang as saying that of the participating countries, only Japan had not contributed to the resumption of the six-party talks.The statement indicated the North's displeasure over the fact that Japan had not been extending as much aid to North Korea as South Korea and China. Furthermore, the spokesman's remark showed Pyongyang's intention to drive a wedge between Japan, the United States and South Korea with the main aim of isolating Japan from the other parties to the talks.North Korea apparently has decided on a strategy of keeping itself from being encircled by a strong coalition of countries determined to force it to terminate its nuclear weapons program.On top of the nuclear and ballistic missile issues, North Korea's abduction of Japanese--an infringement of Japan's sovereignty--remains a pending issue between Tokyo and Pyongyang.What the North handed over to Japan in December as the remains of Megumi Yokota, one of the Japanese abducted by North Korean agents, turned out to be those of a different person. Despite the Japanese government's protests, North Korea has continued to act in bad faith on this matter.In her talks with Machimura, Rice fully supported Japan in connection with the abduction issue. In contrast, China said--in the words of Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei--that the abduction issue should not be on the agenda at the six-party talks.All told, Japan is not in a position to feel optimistic about the outcome of the forthcoming round of such talks. To press North Korea to make up its mind to abolish its nuclear program, Japan must act in concert with the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	723	2005-07-13	YOSHIN0020050714e17d000h4
YOMSHI0020050713e17e0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050713e17e0000h	EN	\N	Upper house must avert political chaos over bills	The current Diet session, already extended beyond the regular term, has less than a month to go. At this stage, there can be no telling what will happen to the bills in the upper house, either, given the confrontation between the ruling and opposition camps and the presence of dissidents within the Liberal Democratic Party.	4	2005-07-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Considering the original cause and importance of privatizing Japan Post, the bills in question ought to be voted into law during the current Diet session.The postal savings and kampo life insurance services of Japan Post have so far amassed a total of 340 trillion yen to keep special public corporations' inefficient projects and operations afloat. This structure must be rectified to enable postal funds to be channeled into the private sector as a way of revitalizing the Japanese economy. This exactly meets the needs of the times.In the upper house plenary session's purview of the bills, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi outlined the legislation, repeatedly emphasizing that he was prepared to offer "scrupulous" explanations and deal "sincerely" with lawmakers' views.His words appeared to show he had reflected on the strong-arm attitude and tactics he employed in the lower house to get the bills passed there. This approach triggered anger among some LDP lawmakers, on top of opposition to the privatization program itself, ending up producing a massive rebellion within the LDP in the lower house showdown.In the upper house, the prime minister should make every effort to gain as wide support as possible for the bills, beginning with explaining the fundamental reason for privatizing Japan Post.Welfare system needs reformThe lower house amended the bills to expand the list of services granted to post offices after the privatization. The expanded operations would include services undertaken on behalf of a postal savings bank and a postal insurance company--a step that would nullify the very goal of postal privatization by means of breaking up Japan Post. The upper house must not allow any further compromise of that kind.Meantime, even though the upper house's debate on the postal bills has just got under way, lawmakers have already been talking about the possibility of Koizumi dissolving the lower house for a snap election in the event of the rejection of the bills in the upper house.The prime minister has indicated that rejection of the bills would be tantamount to a vote of no-confidence in his Cabinet, and that he would resort to the dissolution of the lower house in response.During the lower house deliberations on the privatization bills, he repeatedly threatened to dissolve the house, a tactic that was aimed at silencing opponents of the bills, but ended up throwing the situation into disarray.Needless to say, Japan cannot afford to see a political vacuum that would result in the dissolution of the lower house.To forge a solid basis for the future of the country, the reform of the pension and other social security systems as well as tax and fiscal regimes must be urgently addressed.DPJ not thinking straightOn the diplomatic front, too, Japan has to tackle a host of important issues. Given the gravity of the responsibility of politicians under such circumstances, the prime minister must be prudent enough not to easily resort to the dissolution of the lower house.In addition, it would be questionable to dissolve the lower house, which earlier voted for postal privatization, in the event of the bills being rejected by the upper house.The Democratic Party of Japan is demanding that the upper house's ad hoc committee on postal privatization wait until Tuesday--the day after this month's national holiday--before getting down to business. The largest opposition party seems to have come up with a scenario designed to leave Koizumi no choice but to dissolve the lower house--drag out the debate on the bills, thus creating a chaotic situation toward the end of the current Diet session before they are voted down.The DPJ obviously thinks it will prevail over the LDP in a snap election of the lower house if the ruling party remains divided. However, it is irresponsible for the main opposition party to maneuver to gain the upper hand instead of presenting its own plan for postal privatization.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	768	2005-07-14	YOSHIN0020050715e17e000fq
YOMSHI0020050714e17f0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050714e17f0000d	EN	\N	Govt right to uphold marine interests	The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has granted the company concessions to conduct experimental drilling at three sites located east of what Japan claims is the median line separating the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones of Japan and China in the East China Sea. The Chunxiao gas field, where China is unilaterally exploring for natural gas, is located just west of the three sites across the median line.	4	2005-07-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan's resources at riskIn the East China Sea, the sea boundary separating the EEZs of Japan and China, in which a country can claim sovereignty over seabed resources, has yet to be decided.Japan asserts that the median line drawn midway between the two nations' coastlines should be the boundary, while China claims its EEZ reaches to the edge of its undersea continental shelf, namely as far as the Okinawa Trough.If China begins operating the Chunxiao gas field, there is a possibility that seabed resources lying under the Japanese side could be taken by China.Japan has repeatedly asked China to suspend its development of the gas field while calling on Beijing to offer relevant data, but China has not responded.During the second-round working-level talks between the two governments held in May, China proposed joint development in waters east of the median line on the Japanese side.Japan rejected this unfair joint development, as it did not include the Chinese side. Nonetheless, the two countries agreed to establish a working group to determine the sea boundary.However, the working group has yet to commence its work. The third-round working-level talks, which were originally scheduled for July, have been postponed until next month or even later at China's request.It is said that the preparations for operating the Chunxiao gas field will be completed by late August. It is obvious that China is playing for time to start operating the gas field.Therefore, it was necessary for Japan, as a countermeasure, to grant test-drilling rights to Teikoku Oil. If the government overlooked China's unilateral development of the gas field, it would be an acknowledgment of China's assertion concerning its sovereignty and the seabed resources.Now that it has been granted drilling rights, Teikoku Oil will work out detailed test-drilling plans for submission to METI, and will launch boring work using a drilling vessel.Whether the oil developer actually starts test-drilling also depends on China's reaction to the latest government decision.Safe drilling must be ensuredChina has strongly objected to the government's awarding of the drilling rights. When Japan conducted a seabed probe, China sent naval vessels to nearby waters to hold the Japanese move in check. The government should make absolutely sure the test-drilling can be done safely.It is necessary for METI, in cooperation with such relevant ministries and agencies as the Foreign Ministry, the Japan Coast Guard and the Defense Agency, to take comprehensive measures, including preparing relevant laws to secure safety from the test-drilling to production stages.Development of marine resources such as in the East China Sea, where the sea boundary has yet to be determined, is a practice that is usually conducted multilaterally.The issue could be resolved if both sides take up for discussion joint development in the sea areas of both countries separated from the median line, considering each nation's share of investments and interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2005-07-15	YOSHIN0020050718e17f000eh
YOMSHI0020050715e17g0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050715e17g0000i	EN	\N	Preparations needed for baby boomers' retirement	This year's white paper on the economy and public finance has analyzed, for the first time, a theme of great interest to all.	4	2005-07-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These baby boomers were born between 1947 and 1949, totaling about 6.8 million in number. They account for 5.3 percent of the nation's population, forming what is referred to in the white paper as a big "lump" in the population composition.The white paper points out that there are both positive and negative aspects concerning the retirement of baby boomers on the nation's economy and society.A plus is the positive effect on labor costs for businesses, as wages earned by baby boomers account for about 16 percent of the total.Japanese companies have long been burdened with high labor costs, while other Asian countries such as China, with lower wages, have been closing the gap on Japan in international competitiveness. The white paper said the baby boomers' retirement would bring about a large decline in labor costs for firms.In the meantime, companies will become more positive toward hiring young workers, a development expected to markedly improve the employment situation for youth.Intl competitiveness at riskThe negative aspect of things is the ill effects on the international competitiveness of Japanese companies. With their advanced technical skills, baby boomers have long been a driving force behind firms' research and development efforts.According to a recent survey, 40 percent of managers feel some misgivings that "with the massive retirement of this generation, the transfer of technical skills from veteran workers to younger ones within their companies may not go smoothly."Some companies have introduced a system to rehire retired employees, also studying ways to ensure that the knowledge and skills of veteran workers is passed on to their younger colleagues. Yet the rehiring of these veteran workers alone is an insufficient response to the negative effects of baby boomers' mass retirement.Since the burst of the bubble economy in the early 1990s, Japanese companies, as part of cost-cutting measures, have reduced on-the-job training spending on workers.Firms should not spare any expense in enhancing the technical skills of young workers. There is no alternative to boosting labor productivity to overcome the problem of an ever-shrinking workforce.Savings decline a concernParticularly serious among the negative effects seen is a sharp fall in the presently high savings rate.As baby boomers retire, they will start breaking into their savings for their daily living expenses, thereby pushing down the overall savings rate.The household savings rate, or the percentage of household disposable income saved, will fall to about 3 percent in 2010 from about 8 percent in 2003, according to an estimate of the white paper.It is shocking that the savings rate is projected to fall to a level as low as that of the United States, which is known for its low savings.The nation's high savings rate has been the main reason massive amounts of government bonds have been smoothly absorbed.Will the savings decline constitute a major hindrance to the absorption of government bonds? If so, what kind of measures will be needed? The white paper has failed to make an in-depth analysis of this matter.Baby boomers' retirement will have more negative than positive effects. Both government and the private sector should spare no efforts in preparing for these workers' impending mass retirement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2005-07-16	YOSHIN0020050718e17g0017t
YOMSHI0020050716e17h0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050716e17h0000b	EN	\N	Shiretoko a treasure Japan shares with world	It is extremely gratifying to note that Shiretoko has been internationally recognized for its scenic beauty. We hope Shiretoko's designation as a world heritage site will provide an example of successful efforts to preserve the environment surrounding such a location by ensuring that the endeavor properly mixes with the fishing, forestry and tourist industries, as well as the lives of local residents.	4	2005-07-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The World Heritage Convention--signed by 180 nations, including Japan--serves as a basis for the identification of a world heritage site. Shiretoko's designation was approved at a meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in South Africa. Shiretoko has become the third location in Japan to be named a world heritage site, following Yakushima island, located off Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Shirakami Mountains, which straddle the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures. Both the island and the range of mountains were named heritage sites in 1993.There are rigorous requirements to be met by a location proposed as a heritage site. The location must be the one and only site of its kind to have "outstanding universal value" in the world. Shiretoko's identification as a heritage site can be attributed to the ecological bounty of its land and surrounding sea, rather than its natural landscape.A chief contributor to Shiretoko's natural bounty is the arrival of ice floes in the winter. Shiretoko is the southern limit of drifting ice in the Northern Hemisphere.The sea surrounding Shiretoko is home to a food chain in which plankton attached to floating ice is consumed by fish, which in turn are eaten by seabirds, brown bears and other mammals. The food chain starts in the sea and continues onshore in Shiretoko.Safeguarded by geographyProtected from uncontrolled exploitation by the many steep mountains created by volcanic activites in the region, Shiretoko is a habitat for Blakiston's fish owls and other internationally known rare species. Shiretoko also is endowed with diversity in vegetation, as shown by the presence of 817 varieties of plants, including many alpine species, in the area.The World Heritage Committee's decision to name Shiretoko a heritage site covers about 71,000 hectares of land in the region, including waters as far as three kilometers offshore. Shiretoko is Japan's first heritage site to incorporate fishing grounds.This country has a grave duty to fulfill in living up to the world heritage status given to Shiretoko. First, it is essential to properly preserve marine resources in the area while protecting the livelihood of local fishermen. This poses a formidable task that should be tackled as soon as possible. It also is necessary to protect the local environment, and at the same time, promote tourism and enable local residents to earn their daily bread.For years, waters off Shiretoko have been known as home to pollack fishery. In recent years, however, there has been a sharp decrease in pollack catches. Meanwhile, the area is a habitat for the Steller's sea lion, an endangered species that consumes pollacks. Local fishermen are concerned that new restrictions may be imposed on their operations in the sea around Shiretoko.Conserve natural resourcesThe Environment Ministry, the Hokkaido prefectural government and local fishermen's associations have established a council to better protect the Shiretoko area. The council is working to devise a plan for supervising the waters in question.It is necessary to conduct scientific research on Steller's sea lions, fish and other marine products in the sea. This is essential to ensure local fishermen play an active role in drawing up a plan for managing the waters in question. Participants in the council should look for a way to make sure local fishermen can continue to operate in the waters of Shiretoko while identifying and protecting spawning grounds for fish.The seas in question lie close to four northern territories occupied by Russia. The sea's ecosystem knows no national borders. In 1992, Japan and Russia started visa-free exchanges. The two governments also are conducting a joint study on the history of bilateral exchanges that date back to the days preceding the Meiji era (1868-1912). We hope the Japanese government will urge Russia to expand the scope of their joint research to include a study of the waters between Shiretoko and the Russian-held northern islands.The geographical name of Shiretoko derives from "shiri etoku," an Ainu phrase that means the utmost ends of the Earth. Shiretoko's designation as a heritage site may provide a good opportunity to learn the history and culture of Ainu people.Shiretoko would be recognized as an even more valuable asset if the area was better preserved and grown as a world natural heritage site.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	835	2005-07-17	YOSHIN0020050718e17h001u9
YOMSHI0020050719e17i00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050719e17i00001	EN	\N	Reading, writing key to education, culture	Lawmakers hope the legislation will reverse the trend among the public to shy away from print culture and halt the decline in reading ability and comprehension among children.	4	2005-07-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bill is unusual in that it is a concerted effort by 286 legislators from both the ruling and opposition parties.We hope the House of Councillors will approve the bill and that it will be passed into law.The bill defines "print culture" as reading, writing and publishing books, periodicals and other cultural assets produced through these activities.A landmark provision in the bill is one stating that it is the obligation of the central and local governments to advance and promote literacy and a love of the printed word.A task of immediate importance that should be addressed by the central and local governments is to create more public libraries and improve the quality and functions of those under their control. According to the Japan Library Association, Japan has more than 2,800 public libraries, a threefold increase from 30 years ago.More libraries neededHowever, the number of libraries per 100,000 people in Japan compares poorly with that in other major countries. The figure for this country stands at 2.11, contrasted with 17.48 in Germany, 8.83 in Britain and 5.77 in the United States.In addition, the nation's libraries are not distributed evenly. Whereas nearly all cities and Tokyo's 23 wards have libraries, fewer than 40 percent of towns and villages have public libraries.To make matters worse, there has been an uninterrupted decline in the number of librarians at these as a result of local governments cutting back on personnel spending over recent years.The bill requires the central and local governments to establish sufficient libraries to meet the needs of residents, wherever they may be. It also calls for increasing the number of librarians and books on the shelves as well as improving the method of operating libraries to better serve users.School libraries also are below acceptable standard. Only 36 percent of primary schools meet the book inventory standards set by the central government in proportion to the size of each school. The figure for middle schools is an equally disappointing 31 percent.Funds divertedThis is largely because many local governments have used state subsidies earmarked for improving libraries at schools for other purposes because they are in financial difficulty.Given this, measures should be taken to increase the number of books at school libraries and the number of librarian-teachers serving as book-reading guides for children.The bill calls for implementing steps to help improve the ability of children to read, write, research and communicate their thoughts--in short, to boost their language proficiency--in all facets of school education.It is vital to improve the ability of children to use Japanese--the prime tool needed to comprehend any other subject taught at school.To complement the bill, the lawmakers sponsoring the bill have produced a set of policies aimed at achieving the goals set in the legislation. These include a government-backed campaign to encourage children to love books from babyhood, and a plan to incorporate library and reading courses among students training to be teachers.Another measure is to push for translating into Japanese publications from nations whose literature has seldom been rendered into Japanese.We hope all these plans will be translated into action.The bill also designates Oct. 27--the first day of Book Week--as Book and Print Media Culture Day. We hope that on this day the people will reflect upon the importance of books in their daily lives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	650	2005-07-18	YOSHIN0020050719e17i0007s
YOMSHI0020050718e17j0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050718e17j0000d	EN	\N	Japan needs trade pact with ASEAN	Such initial ASEAN members as Thailand and Singapore, both economically vibrant members of the group, are scheduled to abolish their tariffs by the end of 2010. Meanwhile, Laos, Vietnam and other nations admitted to the ASEAN later are expected to do so by the end of 2015. The two-stage tariff abolition plan has been devised out of consideration for the great economic disparities among ASEAN members.	4	2005-07-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The earlier-than-planned implementation of tariff reductions by China and the ASEAN may be a calculated move reflecting selfish motives on all sides as they seeking to use the FTA for their own benefit. According to analysts, China wants to use the ASEAN to boost its rapid economic growth while the 10-member group seeks to take advantage of China's rise to economic excellence in its international trade.The total value of trade between China and the ASEAN reached 105.8 billion dollars in 2004, more than doubling from 41.6 billion dollars in 2001. Analysts have said it is a matter of time before China will replace Japan as the ASEAN's largest trade partner.China's power growingIn recent years, China has gained a greater say in regional politics, as shown by its active involvement in promoting a proposal to create an East Asian community and in increasing cooperation in the area on regional peace and security efforts, including antiterrorism measures.Meanwhile, the ASEAN nations have been using their relations with China as a bargaining chip in their foreign policies. Japan, South Korea, Australia and India are fiercely competing to establish FTAs with the ASEAN. This represents an advantage the FTA between China and the ASEAN has provided for the group.It should be noted, however, that the China-ASEAN pact is far from sweeping. Under the agreement, items subject to a reduction in tariffs to 5 percent or lower account for only 40 percent of goods. The accord will seek to broaden the range of goods in this category two years later--but not to greater than 60 percent of imports.The agreement has also incorporated many exceptions aimed at putting off reducing tariffs on such important items as cars and rice.This may be attributable in part to a renewed wariness felt by the ASEAN nations toward China during their FTA talks.ASEAN members reticentThere is growing concern in Thailand that inexpensive Chinese goods may dominate the domestic market. This is significant in that Thailand has been a chief FTA promoter. Only four ASEAN nations, including Malaysia and Singapore, had ratified agreements related to the FTA pact by July 1.The sense of caution felt by the ASEAN about China may speed progress in talks between Japan and the group over an FTA agreement.However, negotiations between the two sides started only this spring. There has been little progress in bilateral talks, either. Although it has reached basic accords with the Philippines and Malaysia, for instance, Japan is finding it difficult to put the finishing touches on agreements with the two nations. Tokyo is unsure whether it will be able to reach even a basic agreement with Bangkok.The government has emphasized it has a "lofty goal" to pursue in concluding an FTA with the ASEAN, saying its efforts to reach such an agreement are intended to formulate a far-reaching economic partnership that will cover not only goods but services, investment and personnel development.However, Japan's delay in establishing an FTA with the ASEAN means China will accomplish more in trade within the region. This country should do all it can to make progress in FTA talks with the ASEAN nations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2005-07-19	YOSHIN0020050720e17j000cc
YOMSHI0020050719e17k0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050719e17k0000i	EN	\N	Compulsory education about to get makeover	If maintenance of the current subsidy system is included as a recommendation in the council's final report to be issued at the end of October, a proposal made last year by the central government and the ruling coalition to transfer a total of 2.4 trillion yen in tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments will be reviewed and the transfer of tax revenue sources that generate 850 billion yen for compulsory education will be canceled.	4	2005-07-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In that case, the so-called triple reform of the fiscal relationship between the central and local governments itself might founder. The council's report will be a bitter pill for the government and the ruling coalition to swallow as it will force them to revise their reform plan.Equal opportunities for allThe central government subsidy is the most stable financial source to secure teachers capable of keeping and improving the current standard of compulsory education as well as the funds to sustain quality education, many of the special committee members were quoted as saying in its report.The Constitution guarantees all people the right to receive an equal education, so it is quite natural for the central government to take charge of the bedrock of compulsory education and shoulder necessary expenses for it because it is the government's function to realize that right.Some committee members trying to uphold the central government subsidy have been questioning the transfer of tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments because they were very concerned about securing a stable source of funding for compulsory education.They were not convinced by committee members from six organizations representing local governments who said that even the current law obliges local governments to provide necessary expenses for compulsory education.Those representing the local governments also stressed that the transfer of tax revenue sources to local governments would increase their freedom and enable the allocation of teachers and organization of classes more suitable to the conditions in their prefectures. But this opinion was countered by committee members who pointed out that such benefits also could be achieved modifying and expanding the discretion currently granted to local governments in spending the central government subsidy. The members representing local governments failed to present a very convincing vision on education in the special committee report.Political interference unwiseMeanwhile, they can also expect a political showdown on the issue.Michihiro Kayama, administrative vice minister for internal affairs and communications, said last month that the central government subsidy should definitely be incorporated into the general revenues of local governments, but the Education, Science and Technology Ministry protested against his remark. If a recommendation of the Central Council on Education can be rejected through the wielding of political power, its long deliberations were in vain from the very beginning.The central government subsidy is not the only issue for the council. It has been discussing various important items on the political agenda, including reviews of the curriculum guidelines and the period for integrated study to halt the reported decline in the academic ability of Japanese children; implementation of a nationwide academic aptitude test; and introduction of a renewal system for teaching licenses and special graduate school programs for teachers.The council also will incorporate its conclusion on those issues into the report to be issued this autumn. There is no doubt that the next three months will be a critical period in forming the bedrock of Japan's compulsory education.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2005-07-20	YOSHIN0020050721e17k000fz
YOMSHI0020050720e17l0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050720e17l0000e	EN	\N	U.S. report points to risks posed by China's military	Should China's rapid modernization of military power continue, it could certainly present a threat to its neighboring areas, the Pentagon report said.	4	2005-07-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The language used in the report to refer to China's military expansion is much more direct than that in previous Pentagon reports, indicating the strong concern harbored by the United States over the issue.Information on China's military, including its defense spending has long been shrouded in secrecy. The country's actual military spending is two to three times higher than Beijing publicly announces, making it the third highest in the world, behind that of the United States and Russia, the report says.Should China continue spending at this pace, its military capabilities will be more than three times the current level by 2025.Referring to China's military equipment, the report voices serious concern over the buildup of the Chinese naval and air forces, in particular.In recent years, Chinese forces had focused on boosting their capability to deal with a contingency in Taiwan.Pointing out that Beijing's military buildup has already begun to change the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait in China's favor, the report says Chinese military planners are looking to expand their country's power in the Asia-Pacific region beyond their immediate goal of dominating rival Taiwan.An odd 'defensive' policyIn its white papers on national defense, the Chinese government has repeatedly emphasized that China will stick to a "defensive" security policy and never pursue hegemony.When we look at recent moves by China, however, a gap between its words and deeds is evident.China is intensifying its efforts toward expanding its presence in the high seas. The intrusion into Japanese territorial waters by a Chinese nuclear submarine is part of such activities.Taking into account the recently soured Japan-China relations, the report also expresses concern that if tensions between China and other countries escalate over China's claims to disputed territory or resource rights, crises and conflicts could erupt. The report also refers to territorial disputes China has with such countries as Vietnam and the Philippines.Not mentioned in the report is the fact that China is throwing its energy into improving ports and harbors in Myanmar and Pakistan that could be converted for military use. This indicates China's aim to extend the reach of its military into its neighboring countries.The concern felt by Washington over China's military capabilities is shared by many of China's neighbors.Generals rattling sabersHigh-ranking officers in the Chinese military forces have also made hard-line remarks recently.Recently, a professor at the country's National Defense University who holds the rank of major general hinted at the possibility of China's launching a nuclear attack on the U.S. mainland. "If China confronts militarily with U.S. forces, China would be prepared to see Xian and all the cities located east of Xian destroyed. The United States also needs to be prepared to see several hundreds of its cities destroyed," he warned.A prevailing view has it that military authorities are gaining clout in China. It is said that Chinese President Hu Jintao does not yet hold full command over the military forces as he only recently took over the post of chief of the military from his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, a worrying factor for the immediate future.U.S.-Chinese relations will affect the future international order. Should China's military expansion be allowed, that framework will become unstable.The U.S. report is also a wake-up call to Japan and its neighbors to take steps to handle the military rise of China, which is becoming the biggest threat to their national security.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2005-07-21	YOSHIN0020050722e17l000ft
YOMSHI0020050721e17m0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050721e17m0000d	EN	\N	Govt right to suspend wasteful dam projects	It is the first time the construction of a dam under the central government's direct control is to be suspended after work has already started.	4	2005-07-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is only reasonable for the central government to withdraw from these public works projects--in which a sizable amount of funds has been injected--if they are deemed no longer necessary.Construction of the two dams in question started in 1983 and 1989, respectively. A combined sum of about 94 billion yen, or more than 70 percent of the total project costs, has been injected so far.Yet such prefectures as Kyoto and Osaka, which initially planned to take water from the dams and have shouldered part of the construction costs, announced that they would withdraw from the projects, citing declining water demand.There also were fears that the construction costs shouldered by local governments might be passed on to consumers in local water charges if the dams were completed.As the ministry itself put the construction projects under review, questions also have emerged about their cost-effectiveness and urgency in terms of flood control. The discontinuation of the construction projects is therefore a logical decision.Feasibility questionedPlanned dam projects have recently been put under review across the nation.Many dam construction projects have been planned on the basis of the growing water demand during the rapid economic growth period from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s.Yet due to changes in the water situation, the tightened fiscal situation of local governments and environmental problems, 99 dams have been suspended since 1996. Most of these suspensions were made while the projects were only at the planning stage.Yet the construction of Tokura Dam in Gunma Prefecture, which is under the control of the Japan Water Agency, was suspended in 2003, even though the dam was already under construction.On the other hand, among the 194 dams either planned or under construction, quite a few have seen growing costs.Some of these dams may no longer be necessary with regard to water utilization and flood control. It is necessary to put these under scrutiny to determine as soon as possible whether they should be continued.It took four years of discussions to reach the decision to suspend construction of the two dams. In the meantime, both the Maruyamagawa river in Hyogo Prefecture and the Yuragawa river in Kyoto Prefecture were inundated when the Kinki region was hit by Typhoon No. 23 last autumn, leaving 10 people dead.With regard to Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture--90 percent of the urban area of which was flooded by torrential rains--the Construction and Transport Ministry had earlier drawn up a hazard map covering almost the same area as that flooded. Nevertheless, only about 7 percent of the area was protected by embankments, far below the national average of 58 percent.If some of the money injected into dam construction had been diverted to flood control, the area would have suffered much less damage.Fallout a challengeDealing with the aftermath of the suspension of dam construction also is a daunting task. Some people already have moved out of the areas to be submerged by a planned dam. With regard to relations between the central and local governments, there are issues of local development concerning dam construction.For a dam along the Daidogawa river, part of the construction of a road to replace an existing prefectural road, which is worth about 8 billion yen, has yet to be completed.The Shiga prefectural government, angry over the dam's discontinuation, has taken the stance that it is reasonable for the road construction to continue.Meanwhile, the Osaka prefectural government, which is developing a new town by taking advantage of the scenery offered by a planned dam, is calling for an alternative facility.If the cost of meeting such demands from municipalities that host dams increases, much of the meaning of suspending wasteful public works projects would be lost.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	715	2005-07-22	YOSHIN0020050725e17m000dw
YOMSHI0020050722e17n0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050722e17n0000i	EN	\N	Further revaluations of yuan essential	China also has ended the yuan's decadelong peg to the U.S. dollar, instead tying the currency's value to a basket of currencies of its major trading partners, including the euro and the yen. The shift shows China's desire to ensure its currency's value better reflects its economic relations with nations and territories other than the United States.	4	2005-07-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nonetheless, the latest rise in the yuan's value cannot be described as adequate, given China's current economic power. China should further revalue its currency.China shows independenceIt was previously believed that China would conduct a revaluation in August, ahead of a visit to the United States by Chinese President Hu Jintao in September. The earlier-than-anticipated hike in the yuan's value may well be seen as China's desire to show other nations it has taken the action at its own initiative, not in response to outside pressure.In 1994, China chose to effectively peg its currency to the U.S. dollar, initially at the rate of about 8.7 yuan per dollar. Starting in 1997, the Chinese currency was fixed at 8.27 yuan per dollar, a level that should be seen as disproportionately low in consideration of China's expanding economy.The yuan's protracted low exchange rate has done much to increase China's trade surplus, contributing to international trade imbalances.This already has led to a trade dispute between China and the United States over Chinese textiles and other exports. There was strong concern that a further expansion in the trade imbalance could hamper efforts to ensure stable growth of the world economy.China recognized this as a matter of grave concern, implementing measures to ensure its economy could resist the impact of the revalued yuan, including ending government restrictions on the domestic financial market.The U.S. Treasury Department reportedly told the Chinese monetary authorities that the yuan's value should be increased by at least 10 percent, to quell the U.S. Congress' criticism of China.China may have found it impossible to abruptly hike the yuan sharply upward in view of the likely consequences, both at home and abroad. Still, it is imperative for China to consider further revaluing the currency.The modest rise in the yuan's value, if it is kept unchanged, would encourage speculators to buy yuan and sell dollars in anticipation of another revaluation. This could force Beijing to raise the yuan's value to a greater level than it should.Japan's experience a guideIn recent years, Japan and China have been increasing trade, investment and other economic ties. If the latest rise in the yuan's value and a smooth transition to the currency basket help stabilize China's external relations, it should be seen as a welcome move for Japan.In the early 1970s, Japan decided to float its currency, abandoning its peg to the U.S. dollar. China could learn a lesson from Japan's transition to a floating exchange rate regime to help steadily shift to the currency basket.(From the 12th edition of The Yomiuri Shimbun's July 22 issue)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	579	2005-07-22	YOSHIN0020050725e17m000dv
YOMSHI0020050723e17o0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050723e17o0000e	EN	\N	Japan, U.S. cooperation vital to missile defense	A bill to revise the Self-Defense Forces Law, which stipulates procedures to shoot down ballistic missiles using the missile defense system, was enacted Friday after passing the plenary session of the House of Councillors with a majority vote of Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito lawmakers.	4	2005-07-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Revision of the law has simplified procedures for missile interception, allowing the government to deal more quickly with a missile attack.According to the revised law, if a ballistic missile is detected flying toward Japan, the Defense Agency director general will order an SDF unit to intercept it after obtaining approval from the prime minister at a Cabinet meeting.If an incoming enemy missile is detected without any prior buildup of military tensions, the commander of the Air Defense Command can decide to fire an antiballistic missile based on a predetermined emergency manual, the revised law says.However, according to a current government plan, preparations have just begun toward deployment of the missile defense system scheduled for the end of fiscal 2006.Effectiveness the keyThe issue is how to use the system most effectively. We think enhancement of coordination between Japanese and U.S. forces is most important.In the first phase of the missile defense system, a ballistic missile flying toward Japan would be intercepted with a Standard Missile 3 (SM3), fired from a Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyer. If the SM3 misses, the enemy missile would be intercepted with a surface-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC3) missile system to be deployed in the metropolitan and other areas.It would only take 10 minutes for a missile fired from North Korea to reach Japan. In order to detect the launch of a ballistic missile, and to accurately track and destroy it, Japan and the United States need to share data from SDF radars and a U.S. early warning satellite. The missile defense system will not function properly without a unified effort by the two countries.The organization and operation of the SDF must be changed, too. Along with the SDF law, the Defense Agency Law also has been revised to enhance joint operations of air, ground and maritime forces.The Chief of the Joint Staff, under the director general of the Defense Agency, will command the three forces. Japan is behind North American and European countries in terms of joint operation of military forces. SDF troops must be trained quickly to realize efficient joint operations.The capability of interceptor missiles also must be improved.More than one threatNorth Korea is not the only country that poses a threat to Japan.According to an annual report by the U.S. Defense Department, China is enhancing its deployment of mid-range nuclear missiles, which can reach any part of Japan, and trying to improve their capability.According to the Defense Agency, results of an experiment conducted in Hawaii by the U.S. military showed that an SM3 could intercept six out of seven missiles, and PAC3 missiles successfully intercepted 10 out of 12 attempts.In reality, however, if even one missile is not shot down, it will cause tremendous damage to the lives and assets of Japanese people. Accuracy of interception has to be further improved.Japan and the United States have been jointly developing a sea-based interceptor missile that has better capabilities and a longer range than SM3.Japan and the United States also should enhance mutual cooperation in developing missile technology.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2005-07-24	YOSHIN0020050725e17o001sa
YOMSHI0020050724e17p0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050724e17p0000b	EN	\N	Start again from scratch on human rights bill	Opinions on the bill have not yet been fully formed even among members of the Liberal Democratic Party.	4	2005-07-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Some LDP members hope to submit the bill to the current Diet session after quickly obtaining party approval if the postal privatization bills are enacted as scheduled, but the proposed human rights legislation should be shelved for now.A group of LDP members opposing it has been pointing out various problems with the bill, urging the Justice Ministry to make revisions.One of the main problems is the bill's ambiguous definition of human rights violations.It stipulates "unlawful discrimination, abuses and other types of deeds that infringe upon human rights" as human rights violations.However, under this definition, statements made by politicians criticizing the activities of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) for instance could be claimed as discriminatory behavior that constitutes "other types of deeds that infringe upon human rights."Constraint on free speechIf the bill is enacted, freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution is likely to be impeded because the bill covers not only actual damages caused by human rights violations, but also those to be possibly caused.The second problem is the bill would grant excessive power to a human rights commission to be established as an external organ of the Justice Ministry.The commission can summon people concerned and question them as part of "special relief procedures" without obtaining court warrants. It also can demand submission of relevant documents and hold them, and can search premises linked to suspected violations.People refusing to comply with orders of the commission without proper reasons will face administrative fines, according to the bill. If this clause is interpreted broadly, it might invite interference by the authorities equivalent to suppression of free speech and expression. It also might illegally infringe upon the rights of those investigated by the commission.Foreign HR commissionersThe third problem is qualifications of civil rights commissioners who deal with human rights issues at the local level. The bill makes no provision for nationality, such as are included in the current Civil Rights Commission Law. This means that even a foreign citizen could become a commissioner.The concern is that if people related to Chongryon or other interest groups become civil rights commissioners, they might investigate politicians or news media that have criticized them and file complaints with the human rights commission.The intraparty group opposing the bill urged the Justice Ministry to better clarify the definition of human rights violations, reduce the power of the human rights commission and introduce clauses on nationality. But the ministry refused to revise the bill drastically with only a few exceptions.A human rights protection bill should be designed to provide quick relief to victims of real and serious human rights violations without causing new violations.To achieve this, the current bill must be rewritten from scratch. Those LDP members supporting the current bill should no longer insist on swiftly, but sloppily submitting it to the current Diet session.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	539	2005-07-25	YOSHIN0020050726e17p000bl
YOMSHI0020050725e17q0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050725e17q0000e	EN	\N	Bid-rigging scandal reaches the top	The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on Monday arrested Michio Uchida, vice president of the state-owned highway company, on suspicion of assisting with violations of the Antimonopoly Law and breach of trust.	4	2005-07-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Uchida had denied his involvement in the bid-rigging scandal connected to a group of retired JH officials parachuted to executive posts at bridge builders.Prosecutors now accuse him of telling barefaced lies. Even after Takeshi Kondo, then a member of the House of Councillors, was appointed JH president in November, Uchida, a JH employee from the start, has allegedly had a free hand to manipulate order placement and personnel affairs.In the bid-rigging scandal, dozens of people, including a former JH director hired by a bridge builder after retirement, were arrested. The arrest of Uchida highlighted the fact that the bid-rigging was done in cooperation among JH, its retired officials and bridge-building companies.JH must clean up its actJH, which awards construction contracts to bridge builders, must reflect upon this case seriously and try its best to drastically reform itself.Uchida is suspected of helping the former JH director rig the bid on a bridge construction project ordered by the state-owned highway body in May last year, allegedly causing JH to make unnecessary payments of at least 50 million yen.The corporation invited outside experts in October last year to form an inhouse ethics committee to help improve legal compliance by its employees. Uchida was chosen to represent the JH side at the committee and told to draft a code of ethics.However, the man who held such a significant post is now suspected of playing a major role in the bid-rigging scandal. The arrest has set the worst example for other JH employees.Rampant overchargingAccording to the Fair Trade Commission, successful tender prices drop by 20 percent on average after collusive bidding is discovered for public works projects. This means that JH is overcharged by 20 billion yen every year since it places 100 billion yen worth of bridge construction orders per year.Bid-rigging is also suspected in tunnel construction contracts awarded by JH. According to documents released by the company, successful bids for those projects were 97 percent to 98 percent of JH's confidential project price estimates--abnormally high. Investigators are also expected to shed light on this scandal.JH and three other highway-related public corporations are to be divided into six private companies and an independent administrative body on Oct. 1.Unofficial appointments of the firms' top executives have been already made, but the would-be chairmen are former executives of private companies, including those involved in the latest scandal. Their presidents will be from JH or the Construction and Transport Ministry. The legitimacy of those appointments have been questioned recently and they should be reviewed in the wake of the JH vice president's arrest.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	525	2005-07-26	YOSHIN0020050727e17q000fw
YOMSHI0020050726e17r0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050726e17r0000e	EN	\N	Future of 6-way talks hanging in the air	The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and regional stability can only be achieved by having Pyongyang agree to abandon its nuclear programs.	4	2005-07-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The other five countries involved in the talks--Japan, China, South Korea, Russia and the United States--need to do their utmost to achieve this goal.The preceding three rounds of talks failed to bring about any results whatsoever. Should there also be no progress this time, the raison d'etre for the six-way talks will be lost. And if this happens, the issue will be taken up for discussion at the U.N. Security Council, possibly prompting the international body to take punitive measures against Pyongyang.During the previous round of talks in June last year, the United States made a comprehensive proposal to North Korea, urging it to make the strategic decision to dismantle its nuclear programs.The U.S. proposal promised Pyongyang that if it were to reveal the entire picture of all its nuclear development programs--including uranium enrichment--and dismantle them in a verifiable manner, the other countries involved in the six-way talks would provide North Korea with assistance in terms of energy and take measures to improve diplomatic relations.North Korea ups the anteIn its opening remarks at the talks Tuesday, North Korea said it was ready to make the strategic decision to denuclearize the peninsula.But we have to form a clear view of Pyongyang's true intentions as to whether it truly intends to abandon its nuclear ambitions.Unfortunately, we can hold out little hope for a successful outcome at the talks.North Korea announced in February that it had nuclear weapons. A spokesperson for its Foreign Ministry said in March that as the country had became a nuclear power, the situation had changed, calling for the six-way talks to be changed into disarmament talks.Furthermore, there is a possibility of Pyongyang evading a response to the U.S. proposal by saying the proposal had not been made with the knowledge that North Korea possessed nuclear weapons.The only way for North Korea to avoid being isolated from international society is for it to abandon its nuclear programs. That also is the only way it can rebuild its ailing economy.The power gameSouth Korea has proposed supplying 2,000 megawatts of electricity to North Korea if it abandons its nuclear programs. South Korea said it would supply the electricity directly to Pyongyang over power transmission lines it would provide.But the proposal was made without any agreement being reached over North Korea's dismantling its nuclear programs.It is estimated that it would cost about 3.5 billion dollars (about 385 billion yen) to lay the power transmission lines, while supplying the electricity will cost 1 billion dollars a year. Who is supposed to shoulder this financial burden?There are too many uncertainties for this scheme to be supportable.In parallel with the six-party talks, the five countries talking with North Korea should take measures to contain its nuclear development programs.By tightening export controls, general-purpose items that can be used for nuclear development should be kept out of North Korea's hands.It is also essential to strengthen the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), the U.S.-led international effort to interdict shipments and transfers of nuclear materials and technology, so as to prevent the proliferation of nuclear- and missile-related equipment. In particular, the participation and cooperation of China and South Korea in the PSI is important.With regard to normalizing ties between Japan and North Korea, this will become possible only when the issues of Pyongyang's missiles and its abductions of Japanese have been settled between the two countries.Japan has again conveyed this message to North Korea. The assertion was reasonable and necessary.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2005-07-27	YOSHIN0020050728e17r000gt
YOMSHI0020050727e17s0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050727e17s0000i	EN	\N	Make succession system easy to understand	An advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday released a report setting out the points in dispute on this issue that will serve as a basis for further discussion on the Imperial House Law.	4	2005-07-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel has held 10 rounds of meetings since January, while also conducting hearings at which experts on imperial affairs gave their views. The panel is scheduled to compile its final report in autumn.The current Imperial House Law stipulates that "only male heirs from the male line in the imperial family can accede to the throne." In this system, only males directly descended from an emperor can take the throne. In the interim report, the panel presented two conflicting proposals on the succession issue.One is to allow members of former imperial branch families who were divested of their imperial status in 1947, after the end of World War II, to return to imperial status, thus enabling the maintenance of the system of male heirs acceding to the throne.Another option is to accept a female monarch and allow her descendants to succeed to the throne. Under this option, for instance, Princess Aiko, the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako, would be entitled to ascend the throne.Presently, the youngest male who can succeed the Imperial throne is the 39-year-old Prince Akishino. As there is a possibility of no male heirs being born to the throne in the future, the panel members agree on the need to expand the range of heirs entitled to take the throne. While the two conflicting proposals differ over how to ensure succession, both would bring about drastic changes in the current system.A mixed bag of opinionsThe report cited some experts who asserted that the long-held imperial tradition of maintaining the male line in imperial succession should be given greater importance by allowing male members of former imperial branch families to be accorded imperial status again.Yet it also cited other experts opposed to such an idea, saying it would be difficult to win public understanding on returning former imperial branch families to imperial status.The report also cited some experts who said it does not matter whether a male or a female serves as the monarch, the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people. Yet others said allowing an empress would cast doubts over the legitimacy of the throne, and that it would be difficult to expect her to be able to unify the people.These conflicting opinions have been written into the interim report. There are gaps in views that would be hard to bridge because of differences in perceptions of history and in views of the Imperial family held by individuals.No need to rush decisionIn a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey taken in January, nearly 80 percent of the pollees favored the idea of accepting female monarchs by amending the Imperial House Law.Should a boy be born into the Imperial family in the future, however, there is a possibility of public feelings changing subtly. There are also many uncertain factors when viewing the issue from a long-term perspective.Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, who chairs the panel, said the panel would not list the opinions of both sides in the final report. Whichever recommendation is made in the end, it is certain to become a matter of national discussion.There are other thorny issues in store in addition to those mentioned above, including that concerning the order of succession to the throne. For instance, there is the issue of whether, among linear descendants of an emperor, the first child should be given preference, or whether among brothers and sisters, males should be given preference. There also is the question of how an imperial branch family led by a princess should be created.While we should not sit on our hands and wait to see how the situation turns out, the issue is not one whose conclusion need be rushed within a few months.It is necessary to design an accession system that is easier to understand so as to win the support of the people.The important thing is to have a proper discussion on the issue to avoid problems occurring in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	739	2005-07-28	YOSHIN0020050729e17s000f6
YOMSHI0020050728e17t0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050728e17t0000e	EN	\N	Japan needs more nuclear energy	The latest policy guidelines framed by the government's advisory panel incorporate a plan to expand the scope of nuclear energy development and utilization.	4	2005-07-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For years, the commission's policy framework has been treated as a long-term plan for nuclear power research, development and utilization. The government's panel has worked to draw up such a plan every five years to adjust the nation's nuclear program to the changes in the energy situation both at home and overseas.The latest policy framework--the 10th of its kind to be devised since the panel was set up in 1956--has been recast as a set of guidelines for nuclear power policies. The framework also marks a great change in policies to be pursued under the nation's nuclear program.Nuclear power generation is already a key source of energy that accounts for one-third of domestic power generation. However, the latest policy guidelines state the government will seek to ensure atomic power plays an even greater role. This is in stark contrast to the less-than-aggressive policy adopted in the past several plans, the chief aim of which was to maintain the status quo.The shift in the nation's nuclear power policy primarily reflects great changes in the world's energy situation. The rapid economic growth of China and India has raised demand for crude oil and natural gas, contributing to a sharp rise in the prices of such natural resources. The situation is expected to become even tighter in the future.No alternativeAmid an increasingly intense battle among nations around the world for energy resources, Japan has no choice but to depend on nuclear power generation as the central pillar of efforts to ensure its energy security.Nuclear power can also play a significant role in the worldwide campaign to combat global warming in that it produces little carbon dioxide.Many countries in the world are also giving nuclear power more credit nowadays. In the United States, for instance, a proposal to build new nuclear power plants is gathering momentum. No such plan has been considered for more than 20 years. Meanwhile, Sweden and some other nations that once pledged to do away with nuclear power are taking a new look at it as a source of energy.The Atomic Energy Commission's new policy framework lists three specific measures. First, the guidelines insist on using existing nuclear power stations to the fullest, while also promoting the nuclear fuel cycle, a process that make more efficient use of uranium resources. The policy framework also calls for developing new nuclear reactors.Safety firstThe policy framework is correct in stating that it is of the utmost importance to ensure safety in nuclear power generation. In recent years, however, the series of scandals and disruptions that has taken place at nuclear power plants has dealt a blow to the public's trust in the nation's nuclear program.In many cases, operations at nuclear power stations and related facilities have been suspended for long periods because of the distrust felt by residents in areas hosting them about the operators of such facilities. This has served to lower the generating efficiency of nuclear power in this country despite the relatively low frequency of operation being suspended due to nuclear accidents compared with other countries.First of all, the electric utility industry should strive to improve the safety of its nuclear power plants while at the same time restoring the public's trust in its operations. This must be complemented by efforts on the part of the government to adjust its safety regulations to the actual circumstances surrounding nuclear power plants.The new policy framework also cites many other tasks to be tackled, including the safe disposal of radioactive waste. Another task is to secure capable personnel in the area of nuclear power generation. It is important to resolve these problems one by one.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	700	2005-07-29	YOSHIN0020050801e17t000fj
YOMSHI0020050729e17u0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050729e17u0000k	EN	\N	Anti-postal bills pols risk political vacuum	No one can tell whether the legislation will be written into law by clearing debate at the upper house. No matter what it takes, lawmakers must avert the political confusion that could arise from a tug-of-war over the fate of the bills designed to privatize Japan Post.	4	2005-07-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We believe the postal reform legislation should be passed by the Diet. The bills' failure to clear parliamentary debate would not only mean that efforts to reform the postal system will have been thwarted, but it also could adversely affect efforts to lay the foundation for stable economic growth.If 18 LDP legislators vote against the bills in the upper chamber, the legislation will be scrapped. Earlier, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, "Ten or so [LDP] members are certain to oppose [the bills], and about 20 members may vote against them in the end."Koizumi also has said he does not support carrying the bills over to the next Diet session, or revising them again. He has clearly stated his determination to dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election if the upper house rejects the bills, a move that will provide voters with an opportunity to decide who has taken the right action, the prime minister or antiprivatization lawmakers.There has been little progress made in discussing specific issues related to postal privatization. Instead, the focus of attention in the upper house is solely on how many LDP members will vote for or against the bills. The number of LDP dissenters could determine whether the lower house is dissolved. The schism among LDP lawmakers over postal privatization--not rivalry between the ruling and opposition camps--is the root of speculation about a possible dissolution of the lower house.Political games alienate votersThis picture may be difficult for voters to understand. Another puzzle for voters is why political strife in the upper house could trigger a lower house dissolution.The upper chamber cannot be dissolved. The lower house is the only chamber to vote on a no-confidence motion against the cabinet.If the designation of the prime minister in one chamber is in disagreement with the decision of the other chamber, the decision of the lower house becomes the decision of the Diet. The lower house's precedence also applies to approval of the national budget.This nation's parliamentary system of government grants the lower house precedence over the upper chamber. This explains why the system is sometimes called a bicameral system akin to a unicameral system.Given the principle stipulated in the Constitution concerning the nation's parliamentary system of government, LDP members in the upper house need to be cautious in handling the bills.One argument holds that it is unreasonable for the prime minister to dissolve the lower house if the postal privatization bills are rejected by the upper house. However, most constitutional scholars assert that there is nothing wrong with the prime minister dissolving the lower chamber. The government also subscribes to this line of argument.Still, we believe the constitutional theory about the prime minister's right to dissolve the lower house should be discussed separately from the argument about what is good for this nation's politics under the current circumstances.Turmoil may run for monthsIf the lower house is dissolved on the final day of the current Diet session, which will end on Aug. 13, there will be a political vacuum until mid-September, when a new government will be established.What would happen if the LDP lost a large number of lower house seats in a general election, unable to retain a majority in the lower house even if it kept its coalition with New Komeito intact?Such a scenario would mean the LDP would be toppled from power, followed by another round of political realignment and continued political turmoil. If that transpired, a political vacuum following the general election would last even longer.This would disrupt efforts to tackle tasks of immediate importance, including formulating the next budget and promoting the so-called triple reform of local finances. It would be impossible to address issues relating to social security and fiscal reforms, either.The anticipated political vacuum also would undermine efforts to cope with problems affecting external relations, including North Korea's nuclear weapons program and Japan's bid to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.This nation cannot afford a political vacuum. Politicians must think and act from a broader viewpoint.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	801	2005-07-30	YOSHIN0020050801e17u001ac
YOMSHI0020050730e17v0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050730e17v0000f	EN	\N	Merger and acquisitions rules need review	A working group of the Financial System Council, an advisory body to the prime minister, has begun studying the possibility of revising the takeover bid system--basic rules for corporate acquisitions.	4	2005-07-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the current Securities Exchange Law, if a company buys a large number of stocks in a bid to take control of another company, it must use the takeover bid system in which the buying prices and the number of stocks it wants to purchase are announced. This aims to secure equal buying and selling opportunities for general investors through full information disclosure.Ambiguity a problemAmbiguity in the mergers and acquisitions rules caused problems in a hostile takeover bid against Japan Engineering Consultants Co. by Yumeshin Holdings Co. Japan Engineering, a construction consulting firm, decided to implement a stock split for the first time in Japan to defend itself against Yumeshin's hostile takeover bid.Japan Engineering tried to lower Yumeshin's ratio of share holdings by increasing the number of its shares on the market with a stock split.To prevent the split, Yumeshin, a construction management company, sought an injunction at the Tokyo District Court arguing that it was illegal to implement a stock split as a defensive measure, but it was rejected Friday.The original purpose of a stock split was to encourage investors to buy shares by splitting them to lower their price. However, the implementation of a stock split to defend against a hostile takeover is not assumed in the current Securities Exchange Law and the law does not clearly say whether this should be allowed. The Financial System Council started studying a possible revision of the takeover bid system because it concluded the rules needed to be clarified.Some companies, including Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., adopted defense measures, including a stock split, against hostile takeovers at shareholders meetings this year. However, they will not be able to use them if the rules remain ambiguous.The legal defects were highlighted during Livedoor Co.'s attempt to purchase a stake in Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. Livedoor escaped takeover bid rules applied to it with a trick--off-hours trading at the Tokyo Stock Exchange--when it purchased a large number of NBS shares. To close this loophole, the government revised the Securities Exchange Law at the current Diet session to include off-hours trading in conditions requiring the adoption of the takeover bid system.Opportunity for reformTaking this opportunity, the council has to inspect the current rules thoroughly to prevent unnecessary confusion caused by their loopholes and ambiguity.In revising the rules, it also is important to enhance information disclosure to ensure general investors are not disadvantaged.For instance, a targeted company should be allowed to demand a company trying to acquire its stocks to present a business plan. That would give general investors more information to judge whether to support a takeover bid.Each time a hostile takeover is attempted, new loopholes are found and later closed by revision of the law. Such catch-up measures should not be repeated any longer.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	564	2005-07-31	YOSHIN0020050801e17v001y8
YOMSHI0020050801e18100001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050801e18100001	EN	\N	Give ill-gotten gains back to crime victims	Crime victims must file civil suits against perpetrators to seek compensation for damages, but only a few of them actually go to court. The majority suffer the damage inflicted upon them silently.	4	2005-08-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Justice Ministry recently asked the Legislative Council, an advisory body to the justice minister, to deliberate on a draft bill to revise a law aimed at punishing organized crime, including the creation of a system to distribute illegal profits earned by crime organizations to their victims.After receiving a recommendation from the council by the end of August, the ministry intends to submit the bill to an extraordinary Diet session scheduled for autumn.The move is expected to be a major step forward in helping crime victims.According to the ministry's draft bill, the government will keep the profits of criminal organizations that the court decides to confiscate or collect as penalty and will pay out a portion of the money to victims as compensation after their applications are examined and approved by the prosecutor. Victims, who often have difficulty filing civil suits against perpetrators, may apply under the new system, the draft bill says.Govt keeping moneyUnder the current law, proceeds from a crime confiscated or collected as penalty go into the state's coffers and are not returned to crime victims.Assuming that some victims may file civil suits to recover damages, the court may leave a portion of the profits from a crime in the hands of the perpetrator on the understanding that victims can sue to recover the damages they have suffered. However, in reality, the amount of financial damages suffered by victims is established only in a small number of criminal cases prosecuted, making it difficult for many victims to prove how much they lost even in civil suits.The Justice Ministry was prompted to revise the law by a Tokyo District Court ruling on a high-profile loan-sharking case involving Goryo-kai, a group affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi, the nation's largest crime syndicate, in February.The court did not approve the prosecutor's demand to confiscate or collect as penalty most of the \\9 billion in profits generated by the group's criminal activities. The court considered it necessary to leave the money as property of the criminals, so that victims, who allegedly number tens of thousands, could file civil suits to seek compensation.Letting crooks keep lootHowever, this decision may result in leaving illegal profits in hands of criminal organizations. The latest attempt to revise the law aims to fix those defects to enhance relief for victims.To make relief efforts effective, the new system should be easily accessed by victims.According to the draft bill, the prosecutor will announce a period and a scope of damages caused by a series of crimes in the gazette at the time of a court ruling to solicit applications from victims.However, many of the victims may not realize that they are the intended target of the announcement in the gazette. Even if they realize this, many may still hesitate to seek compensation from gangs.The draft bill also says lawyers can be involved in affairs not only related to payment of compensation for victims but also to screening and ruling on their claims. The prosecutor should fully utilize the expertise of lawyers specializing in this field.The Justice Ministry should do its best not to make the new attempt to aid victims mere empty talk.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	608	2005-08-01	YOSHIN0020050802e181000c1
YOMSHI0020050801e1820000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050801e1820000h	EN	\N	Written draft vital step in constitutional reform	The public will be better able to understand discussions on a new constitution if the talks are based on a complete and specific text. In that sense, the LDP draft constitution should be used as a basis to deepen constitutional discussions among political parties as well as at every level of Japanese society to make a new constitution.	4	2005-08-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Like the current Constitution, the LDP draft constitution is comprised of 99 articles under 10 chapters. It attempts to project the future of Japan and its society based on the international community and the Japanese economy and society today, which have changed drastically from what they were when the current Constitution was established.Article 9 of the draft constitution is bound to be the center of attention. It clarifies the pacifist ideas in Section 1 of Article 9 in the current Constitution are to be firmly maintained, but the number of sections is increased to 10 from the present two.Section 2 of the current Constitution, which stipulates "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency will not be recognized," is deleted from the LDP draft. Instead, it stipulates that the Self-Defense Forces are to be maintained and that their role is not only to defend Japan but also to secure international peace and security.PM as commander in chiefTo maintain civilian control over the military, the draft constitution gives the prime minister supreme authority to command the SDF and includes the principle of Diet approval of SDF activities in statutory form.Doing away with the fiction that the SDF is not a military, the draft constitution seems to succeed in appropriately placing the SDF's missions in the context of the current international security situation.The chapter "Rights and Duties of the People" stipulates that responsibilities and duties accompany individual freedoms and rights. It also translates the concept of public welfare in the current Constitution into public interest and order for clarity.The draft constitution apparently is intended to cement the foundation of Japanese society with the type of responsible individualism the current Constitution originally had assumed instead of self-centered individualism.Further clarificationIt also details regulations on local governments, including their roles and residents' rights and duties. As the "principle of autonomy" stated in Article 92 of the current Constitution has been criticized for its ambiguity, the draft constitution apparently intends to clarify constitutional guidelines in the age of decentralization.The draft constitution still leaves several things for further discussions, including its lack of a preamble.For instance, it does not refer to so-called new human rights such as environmental rights. This is one of the problems, along with Article 9, which symbolize a gap between the current Constitution and reality. With further discussions, such rights should be included in the final draft.Based on this first draft, the LDP will announce a final draft constitution at a party congress scheduled in November to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Though it provides a basis for future discussion, the first draft needs further revision.It is better to have more than one detailed draft constitution for constructive discussions.It is to be hoped the Democratic Party of Japan and New Komeito speed up their own constitutional discussions and present their versions of draft constitutions soon.To plan ahead for the future of the state and society is one of the political parties' most important obligations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2005-08-02	YOSHIN0020050803e182000h6
YOMSHI0020050802e1830000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050802e1830000k	EN	\N	SDF that can deal with new threats needed	The white paper said China is actively promoting military reform--centering around the modernization of its navy and air forces--on the basis of its "military strategy of positive defense," with which the country would counterattack when attacked by outside forces.	4	2005-08-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	China's defense spending for this fiscal year, if only that which was publicly announced, is about three times more than the figure for fiscal 1997 and about twice that for fiscal 2000.According to the annual report released recently by the U.S. Defense Department, China's actual defense spending is estimated to be two to three times more than the publicly announced figures.Therefore, it is only reasonable for the white paper to have expressed concern that "China's military modernization could be targeted at expanding power beyond the range of what is deemed necessary for its national defense."Japan-U.S. security ties keyThe U.S. report also points out that China's military buildup, in terms of its pace and scale, has already begun to change the regional balance of power and might possibly become a "definite threat" in the long term.The sense of alarm over Beijing's military buildup is shared by both Japan and the United States.Based on its strategy of expanding its presence in the high seas, China is deploying its naval vessels in such areas as the East China Sea.In November, a Chinese Navy nuclear submarine intruded into Japan's territorial waters around the Miyakojima islands in Okinawa Prefecture. This is a serious situation for Japan, a maritime country close to China.The government should not permit any unlawful acts infringing our national sovereignty. It should respond to such acts resolutely.North Korea is the main destabilizing factor affecting the security of the whole of East Asia, the paper said.It mentioned the possibility that North Korea's nuclear weapons program has already made considerable progress, while emphasizing the need to monitor Pyongyang's development, deployment and proliferation of ballistic missiles.Should Pyongyang gain the capability to mount a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile, Japan would be exposed to a serious threat.Because of such threats, the Japan-U.S. security system should be reinforced and efforts expedited to improve its defensive capability, including defense against ballistic missiles.Better intelligence neededRanging from weapons of mass destruction, proliferation of missiles and international terrorism, the threats to Japan have become diversified, making them ever more difficult to predict.To better deal with such new threats, Japan's capability to quickly gather, share and analyze relevant information needs to be enhanced.The Defense Agency, in line with the planned shift into an integrated operational system at the end of fiscal 2005, will place the Defense Intelligence Headquarters--now under the Joint Staff Council--under the direct control of the agency chief. By so doing, the agency aims to make the unit the central intelligence organization, collecting and analyzing a wide range of information comprehensively.Reinforcing the government's intelligence-gathering and analytical capability is not an issue that involves the Defense Agency alone. The government as the whole should tackle the issue and build a system that is "better able to deal with new threats."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	608	2005-08-03	YOSHIN0020050804e183000hx
YOMSHI0020050803e1840000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050803e1840000d	EN	\N	Japan should ink FTA with Thailand quickly	As part of a new policy aimed at liberalizing imports of automobiles and car components, Thailand agreed to lower import tariffs on large-sized cars from the current rate of 80 percent to 60 percent by 2009.	4	2005-08-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, Thailand decided to leave import tariffs on midsize cars intact for the time being, while agreeing to resume negotiations on this particular issue within five years. Likewise, the elimination of tariffs on imported auto parts will be put off until 2011 "in principle."These developments are a major setback from the Japanese perspective as Tokyo had originally wanted to boost automobile trade by having Bangkok lower or eliminate import tariffs with immediate effect. It is not clear how the pledge to remove tariffs on auto components eventually will be implemented. Also, uncertainty remains about which auto parts will be exempted from the new tariff measures.In the negotiations, Tokyo, hoping to make Bangkok yield to its demands concerning automobile trade, had offered to allow Thai caregivers and cooks to work in Japan. Nevertheless, the two governments have yet to hammer out the number of such workers to be accepted in Japan annually.Lots of talk, little actionJapan has lagged behind the United States and European and Asian countries in striking FTAs. Therefore, two years ago, it embarked on efforts in earnest to catch up with them. But although it has held talks on FTAs with five countries, including Thailand, so far, it has formally concluded FTAs with only two of them--Singapore and Mexico.In November, Japan reached a broad agreement with the Philippines on an FTA during a summit meeting. But no early conclusion of the pact is yet in sight as the two countries remain far apart over certain issues, such as the number of Filipino nurses and caregivers that Japan will accept.The government should make sure that further talks with Thailand toward formally concluding an FTA do not suffer the same fate as the FTA talks with the Philippines.Japan also has been negotiating with South Korea, Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to conclude FTAs. To bring negotiations with them to a successful end as early as possible, it is crucial for Japan to narrow the gap with Thailand quickly and formally conclude an FTA.Japan could lose out to ChinaChina, for its part, has been actively approaching East Asian countries to conclude FTAs. If things develop in favor of Beijing, there is the possibility of China clinching the leadership in forging a web of FTAs in the region.While China's FTA efforts have been focusing on trade of goods alone, Japan has adopted a strategy to conclude high-quality accords or "economic partnership agreements" by incorporating the liberalization of not only trade in goods, but also personnel exchanges and trade in services as well as the strengthening of economic and technological cooperation.But no matter how lofty a goal the conclusion of high-quality FTAs appears to be, it hardly makes sense if few such agreements actually come into effect. The government should finalize negotiations with not only Thailand, but also the Philippines and Malaysia--with which Japan has reached a basic agreement on FTAs--as soon as possible.To win some compromise in FTAs from the foreign countries concerned in core areas such as trade of manufactured products and agricultural, forestry and fishery items, it is important for Japan to offer positive measures in other areas, such as by opening its labor market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2005-08-04	YOSHIN0020050805e184000g7
YOMSHI0020050804e1850000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050804e1850000i	EN	\N	Antinuclear campaign should reflect reality	Instead, the world has witnessed the proliferation of nuclear weapons along with a rising danger of terrorists launching nuclear attacks.	4	2005-08-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Appeals for preventing any recurrence of nuclear attacks made by Hiroshima and Nagasaki will only successfully persuade others when their calls reflect the reality of nuclear weapons in the international community.On Saturday, Hiroshima is set to issue this year's Peace Declaration. The city's mayor, Tadatoshi Akiba, will unveil an action program for denuclearization and set the year 2020 as a target for eliminating nuclear weapons in the world. To that end, he will urge the United Nations specifically to launch a special panel in autumn and work out concrete steps by 2010.Akiba's proposal diverges from what is actually happening in the international community concerning nuclear weapons and, therefore, sounds empty.Today, the international community effectively accepts India and Pakistan as members of the nuclear club, in addition to the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. North Korea also has declared nuclear capacity, while Iran is suspected of having a nuclear development program. Furthermore, black markets for such weaponry is said to exist, and nuclear materials are still reportedly being smuggled out of the former Soviet Union.In May, the seventh Nonnuclear Proliferation Treaty Review Conference was held in New York, but no agreement was reached. In other words, the international regime for nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation is in crisis.Memories fading with timeIn draft form, Akiba's action program for denuclearization envisioned an agreement to be reached during the NPT Review Conference for the conclusion of an international convention to ban nuclear weapons. Although this proposal failed, Akiba plans to turn to the United Nations, which is nothing but a hollow alternative.The average age of the atomic bombing survivors has exceeded 73. Many of the victims do not want the memories of what happened fade away. The municipal governments of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should implement measures to ensure that younger generations inherit the memories of those who suffered in the atomic bomb attacks.In the United States, many Americans have persistently justified the atomic bombings. However, some have been questioning then U.S. President Harry Truman's decision to drop the bombs on Japan especially following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States--a mass, indiscriminate assault.Cities must work togetherAn Associated Press-Ipsos opinion poll of 1,000 Americans conducted in March found that 47 of those surveyed approved of dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while 46 percent disapproved. The narrowing of the pro-con gap apparently reflects a change in awareness among young adults of the suffering the bombs created.Needless to say, Japan has a key role to play in disseminating the actual results of nuclear catastrophe to the rest of the world. The central and regional governments concerned ought to join to consolidate public relations activities abroad by organizing nuclear bomb exhibitions, providing exchange programs for universities and enlightening foreign diplomats, among other measures.In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) and the Japan Congress against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikin) are set to hold international antinuclear conferences separately, as they have done in the past.The division in the antinuclear movement reminds us of the limitations of such groups, which even now place importance on their political doctrines. They should remember the starting point of the antinuclear movement on this particular occasion--the 60th year after the end of World War II.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2005-08-05	YOSHIN0020050808e185001a9
YOMSHI0020050805e1860000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050805e1860000j	EN	\N	Dissolving lower house not in nation's interest	Will the bills be approved at the upper house plenary session and finally enacted? Or will they be rejected, prompting Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to dissolve the House of Representatives?	4	2005-08-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The showdown will come Monday. It is still hard to predict whether the bills will be approved or rejected--the outcome hinges on the behavior that day of LDP upper house members opposing them.Koizumi has repeatedly declared that he will dissolve the lower house immediately if the bills are voted down at the upper house.The prime minister is certainly authorized to dissolve the lower house. But the question is why he should dissolve the lower house and what he aims to achieve by doing so.Even if the prime minister dissolves the lower house assuming the bills are killed, it does not change the membership of the upper house. To override the upper house's disapproval, two-thirds of lower house members have to support the bills. In reality, however, it is impossible to secure such a large margin of support in the lower house.Also, even if he dissolves the lower house for a snap general election, Koizumi seems unlikely to win renomination as prime minister and remain in office at a special Diet session to be held after the election.The LDP won a landslide victory at the upper house election in July 2001 thanks to the booming popularity of Koizumi. However, the ruling coalition party lost both the proportional representation section of the general election in 2003 and the upper house election in 2004 to the opposition Democratic Party of Japan.The results of recent national elections seem to show that the DPJ will have an advantage over the LDP if a general election is held soon.The Japanese Communist Party recently decided to field its candidates only in carefully selected constituencies. As a result, some JCP supporters will instead vote for DPJ candidates in constituencies where no JCP candidates are running, some political observers believe.Election would kill billsLDP lower house members opposing the postal privatization bills are planning to form a new party in preparation for the worst-case scenario, in which they fail to gain the official endorsement of the LDP in a general election. This is a natural reaction because their campaigns will face various difficulties if they run in the election as independents. If the LDP fields its official candidates in their constituencies, the general election will become a race between conservative parties of the same origin, giving the DPJ an advantage.After a general election, if the LDP lost power or even if it held onto power despite losing many seats, LDP members would certainly become more vociferous in questioning Koizumi's responsibility.LDP members opposing the postal privatization bills would be unlikely to vote for Koizumi's renomination at the lower house plenary session to be held after the general election even if they received official party backing and did not form a new party in the election.Even if the present ruling coalition is maintained after the election, enactment of the postal privatization bills will be impossible without Koizumi in power.Meanwhile, the DPJ is supported by the postal workers union and insists on keeping Japan Post as a public corporation. Even if it takes power, the party is highly unlikely to undertake the privatization of postal services.With all those factors considered, the purpose of the lower house dissolution becomes unclear. Some lawmakers said Koizumi is going to dissolve the lower house as a "political suicide" to vent his anger over the failure of the postal privatization, which he has advocated for more than 10 years and views as the centerpiece of his structural reform plan.Privatization of the postal services has a significant meaning in overhauling Japan's economy and society. The rejection of the bills would preserve a state bank that has been inefficiently and opaquely managing 330 trillion yen, a huge fund collected from postal savings and life insurance premiums for years, in contradiction with market principles.According to the results of recent polls, however, few voters consider postal privatization as a priority issue. Just less than 1 percent of respondents to a July poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun replied that they wanted the Koizumi administration to tackle postal privatization as a matter of urgency. Postal privatization ranked 15th among 17 political issues in the priority list, according to the results of the poll.This indicates that voters will be confused over a snap election to be held after the possible rejection of the bills if they are told that postal privatization is a campaign issue.Political vacuum must endWhile postal privatization has been highlighted as a top political issue, there has been a virtual political vacuum for a long time. We have to look squarely at this reality.Reform of the social security system, including public pension programs, is the most urgent issue facing Japan as society is rapidly aging and the birthrate declining, with the result that the population will soon start shrinking.There is a pressing need to rebuild the state finances, including raising the consumption tax to secure a financial source for the social security system.Japan also has a mountain of diplomatic and security issues to deal with. How will Japan shape a new relationship with China, which is quickly becoming an economic, political and military superpower? How can Japan succeed in its attempt to reform the U.N. Security Council by becoming a permanent member of the council to play a bigger role in the international community?The process of drafting a budget for the next fiscal year is bogged down, too. As guidelines on ministries' requests for budget allocations cannot be determined yet, it is still hard to tell when the government's budget, which directly relates to life of the people, can be drafted.The so-called triple reform of fiscal relations between central and local governments that would promote decentralization has been stalled, too.Significant issues to secure the national interests and stability of the people's life have been virtually neglected.If the lower house is dissolved, the political vacuum will last for another month. Depending on the results of the general election, political confusion could last until a new administration is formed, extending the political vacuum even further.Taking those circumstances into consideration, Koizumi should not dissolve the lower house.Since they have already passed the upper house special committee, the postal privatization bills cannot be carried over to the next Diet session. Though it is late in the day, there might be a way to avoid the lower house dissolution.For instance, the upper house could still revise the bills based on sufficient negotiations with the lower house. After approving them, the upper house could return the revised bills to the lower house. Then it could approve and enact them. Enough time is left to do this.After settling the postal privatization issue in such a way, the government and the ruling coalition parties should jointly start to deal with important political issues they face.The prime minister should not extend the political vacuum with a capricious dissolution of the lower house by being too concerned about saving face.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1257	2005-08-06	YOSHIN0020050808e186000im
YOMSHI0020050808e18700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050808e18700001	EN	\N	U.S. rigidity scotched Chinese Unocal bid	China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) on Tuesday gave up its bid to acquire Unocal Corp., an independent U.S. oil company. China's third-largest oil company apparently had to weigh strong objections by the U.S. Congress, which contended the acquisition might imperil U.S. national security.	4	2005-08-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	CNOOC and two other major state-owned Chinese oil companies are scrambling for oil development rights around the world. They are driven by Chinese national policy that seeks to address a sharp increase in its crude oil imports by securing its own energy sources.National interests collideChina's national interests collided with those of the United States, which is trying to protect its own resources. A tug-of-war between the United States and China over energy is intensifying as the demand-supply situation for oil has become tight.Japan is a large-scale energy importer, which supplies only 4 percent of its energy from its own sources. The nation needs to continue steady efforts to develop its own oil sources abroad so it is not overshadowed by the U.S.-China energy war. The significance of nuclear energy, which, in a sense, can be domestically produced, is becoming more important than ever.Unocal develops huge oil and natural gas resources in Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, the United States and other countries.It currently is producing 410,000 barrels of crude oil a day, which is equivalent to 1 percent of Japan's daily crude oil imports. Unocal also has sophisticated drilling technology and has developed deep-sea oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico.Major U.S. oil giant Chevron Corp. initially offered a $16.5 billion bid to Unocal. Although the Unocal management accepted this bid, CNOOC saw in it a rare opportunity and raised its bid to $18.5 billion in an attempt to win over Unocal shareholders.When another Chinese company, computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd., purchased International Business Machine Corp.'s personal computer division this spring, U.S. political and business leaders expressed concern over U.S. national security.Congress lays roadblocksCongress was far more adamant in its objections to CNOOC's proposal and quickly added a clause to a broad energy bill it already had approved to protect U.S. companies from Chinese takeovers .According to the clause, if a company owned or controlled by the Chinese government bids for a U.S. energy firm, the U.S. Energy Department is required to study the potential impact on U.S. national security and to report the results to the U.S. president. Although the clause does not name Unocal specifically, the lengthy study requirement had the effect of delaying significantly CNOOC's attempt to acquire the oil firm.Taking the political environment into consideration, CNOOC withdrew its bid. Unocal soon will decide at its shareholders meeting whether to accept Chevron's bid.China's crude oil consumption increased by 17 percent last year. Its dependence on imported crude oil has exceeded 40 percent.Its three major oil companies are accelerating development of oil fields in Iran, Sudan and other countries where U.S. companies avoid operating for political reasons. These ventures also are rubbing Washington up the wrong way.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2005-08-07	YOSHIN0020050808e187001xj
YOMSHI0020050811e18900001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050811e18900001	EN	\N	Koizumi gambling with future of party, nation	The dissolution of the lower house followed the defeat of the postal privatization bills in the House of Councillors, where 22 lawmakers belonging to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party sided with the opposition camp--the Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party--and voted against the bills. Eight other LDP members either did not show up in the chamber or attended the plenary session but abstained from voting. As a result, the bills were defeated by a 17-vote margin.	4	2005-08-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prime minister, who has long called for the privatization of the country's postal services as the centerpiece of his policy initiative for structural reform, has repeatedly stated that "rejecting the bills would be tantamount to a vote of no-confidence against the Koizumi Cabinet." Therefore, Koizumi presumably concluded that he would have no choice but to dissolve the lower house and directly consult voters.The reasoning behind the political drama sparked by dissolution of the lower house is difficult to comprehend.At this point, there is no telling what the political scene will look like in the wake of the upcoming election. Will the alliance between the LDP and New Komeito be kept intact? Depending on the outcome of the poll, the situation in the Diet will be subject to major changes.Postal reform essentialShould the LDP shed some of its preelection strength, Koizumi's chances of being re-designated as prime minister would be in jeopardy. Even though the postal privatization bills were imperfect, they were essential for moving the country toward economic and social reforms. Conversely, the dissolution can only delay the realization of Koizumi's long-held wish--the privatization of Japan Post.It was unprecedented for the lower house to be dissolved due to the upper house's rejection of bills earlier endorsed by the lower chamber. At an extraordinary meeting of his Cabinet on Monday, Koizumi dismissed Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshinobu Shimamura, who opposed the lower house dissolution, and immediately took over his portfolio to pave the way for dissolving the house.What Koizumi did reminds us of a 1954 political drama in which Shigeru Yoshida, then known as the one-man prime minister, attempted to dissolve the lower house. He threatened to dismiss dissident Cabinet members led by then Deputy Prime Minister Taketora Ogata. Political turmoil was averted when the prime minister abandoned his plan after much persuasion by Hayato Ikeda, then secretary general of Yoshida's party.Thus, it is the first time in Japan's postwar political history that a prime minister has dared to dissolve the lower house even at the expense of sacking one of his Cabinet membersPrime Minister Koizumi--who concurrently serves as president of the LDP--has said he would "do away with the old LDP" and pursue his political goals with "a new LDP." Based on this, he has declared the party will not officially endorse as candidates the 37 LDP lawmakers who voted against the postal bills in the lower house and will instead field rival candidates in those dissident members' single-seat constituencies.If those who do not obtain LDP tickets choose to launch a new party, the conservative camp will be divided into two groups. If this happens, the LDP--which is to mark its 50th anniversary in November--will encounter the worst moment since its foundation.In 1980, then Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira dissolved the lower house when a vote of no-confidence against the Cabinet passed in the house because of the absence of lawmakers belonging to an LDP faction led by former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda. Following what was seen as an accidental development in the Diet, Ohira thought of refusing to authorize party tickets for all Fukuda faction members in the snap election. But a party breakup was averted as he eventually had second thoughts after being persuaded by political allies and aides.Koizumi's statements and behavior leading up to the dissolution of the lower house have been very unusual compared with postwar parliamentary practice. In plain terms, we must ask whether he has violated the accepted process of constitutional government.In the upcoming election, the prime minister intends to herald his postal privatization project as the main point of contention. However, he cannot put aside a set of issues vital to the future of the national economy and society as well as the livelihood of the people. Indeed, Japan is faced with a host of more crucial issues than postal privatization--fiscal rehabilitation, consolidation of social security, national security and relations with China and South Korea, among others. Under such circumstances, it is inadvisable to keep saying the postal privatization issue is the sole point of contention in the poll.Tackle crucial issuesNow that the lower house has been dissolved, what should be created after the general election is an administration that can faithfully tackle imminent political issues.A lower house election is an opportunity to choose a government. In this election, the voters' most important job is to decide which party they should grant a mandate, keeping in mind the possibility of a new coalition.Political parties have a grave responsibility to voters to clarify points of contention in their campaign platforms so that voters can choose parties qualified to hold office.Paralysis of state affairs cannot be avoided with a period of political vacuum created by the lower house dissolution, the general election, the Diet designation of prime minister and swearing in of a new government. The vacuum may last longer, depending on the results of the election.The dissolution led to scrapping many bills, including those on supporting self-reliance among the physically disabled and on regulating political funds.The budget compilation process for fiscal 2006 has already been delayed considerably, threatening to pose serious problems for the so-called triple reform of fiscal relations between the central and local governments, and for social security system reform.The government is expected Tuesday to declare in its monthly economic report that Japan has taken off from an economic plateau. Political and business leaders are now concerned the political vacuum might negatively affect the economy in a very critical period just as it is poised to move onto a full recovery path.The Nikkei Stock Average at the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped by more than \\210 in just the two days of Thursday and Friday. It also fluctuated wildly Monday. Some foreign investors, who were concerned with prolongation of the political vacuum, have already sold their stocks in disappointment. If further stocks are sold, it will negatively affect corporate earnings and cool off personal consumption that is now on a recovery track.Fixing financesAnother question is how the critical fiscal situation of the central and local governments, which have combined long-term debts exceeding \\770 trillion, can be rectified.A new government must also consider how the social security system, including pubic pension programs, can be reformed under tight fiscal conditions.It is apparent a consumption tax hike is essential to secure financial resources for the social security system. Political parties should detail when and how the consumption tax should be hiked during the campaign.The current ruling coalition has not dealt appropriately with important diplomatic issues such as the six-nation talks on halting North Korea's nuclear development program, and U.N. Security Council reform in which Japan aims to obtain a permanent seat.Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which said it aims to take power, failed to make its presence visible during the last Diet session. The DPJ made no counterproposal to the postal privatization bills there. Out of consideration for the postal workers union, which supports the party, the DPJ insisted on keeping Japan Post a public corporation and postponing a conclusion on the issue, thereby making its presence less felt in the Diet. The DPJ did not act to pressure the upper house to reject the postal privatization bills. It seems instead to have taken advantage of the LDP's internal strife. How will voters evaluate such a passive stance by the biggest opposition party?A new Cabinet after the election must be an administration that can deal with outstanding issues. Recognizing this, parties should compete with each other based on their proposed policies in the election campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1465	2005-08-09	YOSHIN0020050810e189000fz
YOMSHI0020050811e18a00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050811e18a00002	EN	\N	No optimism warranted yet on recovery	We cannot be optimistic over whether the economy will get back on track to a full recovery.	4	2005-08-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In its monthly economic report for August, the government revised its economic assessment upward, saying, "The economy is recovering at a moderate pace, with the corporate sector as well as the household sector improving."Based on this judgment, Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, declared that the nation's economy has emerged from a lull. Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui made a similar assessment.The economy, which had been on a recovery track, hit a plateau after posting negative growth in the April-June quarter last year. This means it took nearly 18 months to rise from the plateau.But it is too early to drop our guard.Tasks facing the nation's economy are to overcome deflation and pull out of the prolonged slump that has lasted since the bubble economy burst.The recovery must be strengthened so that weak demand--the main cause of deflation--is eliminated.Watch external risk factorsThere are a number of uncertain factors clouding prospects for the economy. The surge in crude oil prices may hit the performance of Japanese corporations, and the revaluation of the Chinese currency may reduce Japan's exports to China.Close attention must be paid to such external factors.On the domestic front, political developments have become a major concern for the economy as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi dissolved the House of Representatives for a general election.National politics may stagnate due to the political vacuum arising as a consequence of the election campaign, the election itself and the formation of a new administration.Reacting to the expected turmoil, triple lows in stocks, bonds and the yen were recorded last week.The Tokyo Stock Exchange has rebounded with buy orders, but share prices may plunge if the political confusion continues.Budget could be delayedThe political vacuum may last long depending on the election results.Under the government of Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa formed in August 1993, compilation of the state budget for fiscal 1994 was delayed until February the following year. Budget compilation usually is finished in December.The passage of the budget at the Diet was delayed to June 1994, when the succeeding Cabinet under Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata was in power.The implementation of the budget was delayed, further deepening the post-bubble economic slump. This was because political turmoil since the end of 1993 continued.If compilation of the fiscal 2006 budget is delayed and implementation of the budget is dragged out, the economy will be negatively affected. Having just picked up steam, it could suffer a setback.An increase in long-term interest rates is a point of concern as there is speculation that the central bank will end its policy of quantitative monetary easing due to the latest economic assessment.If interest rates surge, companies might cut investment in plant and equipment, dealing a blow to the economy.The Bank of Japan must explicitly express its determination to maintain the quantitative easing policy to prevent a speculative rise in long-term interest rates.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2005-08-10	YOSHIN0020050811e18a000h9
YOMSHI0020050811e18b00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050811e18b00003	EN	\N	Root out bad teachers, nurture good ones	In the 2004 school year that ended in March this year, the number of teachers at public primary, middle and high schools across the country deemed by boards of education to be incompetent increased 85 from a year earlier to an all-time high of 566.	4	2005-08-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Their talent and ability as teachers were highly doubtful. They included those who either often taught incorrect things to students or had insufficient knowledge about specific subjects or lacked teaching expertise. Some did not answer questions or avoided talking to students in classrooms.All boards of education in the country's 47 prefectures and 13 designated major cities--whose governments have administrative power similar to that of prefectural governments--have teacher evaluation committees. Some of them invite lawyers and medical doctors to participate in the panels.Teachers who are ruled to be incompetent are subject, in principle, to a reorientation program lasting between several months and a year. Of the 566 teachers in question, 127 were allowed to resume their teaching jobs, and 112 voluntarily resigned or were dismissed.The success or failure of school education largely depends on the capability of teachers, who directly take care of students.It is unfortunate for students to be taught by incompetent teachers during the only chance they have for schooling. Therefore, such teachers should be told to leave schools following fair and objective evaluation of their ability based on equally fair and objective evaluation criteria.Older teachers less adaptableIt is alarming to learn that about 50 percent of the 566 incompetent teachers were in their 40s and 34 percent in their 50s.The fact that more than 80 percent of the incompetent teachers were so-called veteran teachers is appalling, even considering the fact that 40 percent and nearly 30 percent of the country's 842,000 public school teachers are in their 40s and 50s, respectively.Analyzing the annual nationwide survey, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry commented that older teachers tended to be less able to adjust their teaching methods to accommodate changes in students' needs associated with their growth.The central government and each board of education should implement an improved guidance and training system for veteran teachers.Renewable licenses eyedMeanwhile, boards of education have been introducing a system for early competence evaluation that covers young teachers. Of about 19,500 recruited in the 2004 school year, 191 failed to be formally employed after one year of probation. The disqualification rate of about 1 percent--a twofold jump from three years earlier--was a new high. There was a conspicuous rise in the number of disqualified first-year teachers voluntarily quitting by citing illness.The nation is about to witness a mass retirement of baby-boomer teachers, a situation that will be made up for with mass recruitment of new teachers. The Central Council for Education is likely to call for a new system to have schoolteacher's licenses renewed every 10 years, a proposal that is worthy of consideration.While letting disqualified teachers retire, the central government and boards of education have to make all-out efforts to foster excellent teachers. They should do more homework to improve the whole process--education, recruitment, training and personnel management of teachers.Regardless of the times, students and parents admire and respect those who employ good teaching methods and are warmhearted.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2005-08-11	YOSHIN0020050812e18b000gm
YOMSHI0020050811e18c0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050811e18c0000i	EN	\N	Political vacuum shouldn't delay budget	On Thursday, the Cabinet approved guidelines for budgetary appropriation requests for the next fiscal year.	4	2005-08-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government compiled the guidelines in a hurry, responding to criticism that the political vacuum created by the lower house dissolution and the snap general election could shackle the management of the Japanese economy.Government ministries and agencies were ordered to submit their budget requests by the end of August as usual. This is a reasonable order. If the budget compilation process falls behind schedule, it will affect a variety of policy decisions. The budget for the next fiscal year has to be compiled by the end of this year.The latest guidelines look rather provisional because their contents are almost as same as those of the previous year as a result of insufficient negotiations between the government and the ruling coalition.One characteristic of the guidelines is reductions in many expenditure items of 3 percent, including outlays for promoting science and technology, which have long been considered as protected from cuts.Cuts needed in social securityThe biggest issue in the budget compilation process is social security spending. Such expenditures exceeded the 20-trillion yen level in the fiscal 2005 budget for the first time ever. Due to the nation's aging population, these outlays are expected to increase by nearly 1 trillion yen a year if left unattended.The guidelines include cutting 220 billion yen from this natural growth in social security spending. However, this reduction is insufficient in comparison with the huge size of the automatic increase. A new measure to compress it further must be sought.Private sector members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy proposed to curb the natural spending growth based on an index derived from the economic growth rate and other statistics.Many dishonest bills, lavish and other inappropriate spending have been reported among social security expenditures in the fields of medical, nursing and welfare services.If strictly controlled, the annual growth could be held to 1 percent or so. A solid system to bring this about should be devised by the end of this year.Medical services reform also will be discussed this autumn in a full-fledged manner.Pension, not postal reform keyNevertheless, there is no time for delaying drastic reform of the social security system, including public pension programs. The government and the ruling coalition should make a mental note that this has a higher priority than postal privatization.Expenditure related to public investment will be cut again by 3 percent. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration has kept cutting public investment to return it to the level before it ballooned just after the bubble economy collapsed, when it was boosted to stimulate the economy.The administration has cut public investment by 3 percent every fiscal year after slashing it by 10 percent in the fiscal 2002 budget. It followed the same pattern in the latest guidelines, with public investment-related spending of about 8 trillion yen, which is below the 1990 figure.Though the goal will be somehow achieved, there are still problems in public investment. It still contains a great deal of spending on irrigation, drainage, land reclamation and road development in rural areas.Such funds should be diverted to areas that are more cost-effective, such as the improvement of urban infrastructure.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2005-08-12	YOSHIN0020050815e18c000cc
YOMSHI0020050812e18d0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050812e18d0000l	EN	\N	LDP, DPJ must show clear plans on key issues	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi considers postal privatization as the main issue in the upcoming poll. He has said that the passage of the postal privatization bills, which were scrapped at the last Diet session, will be stipulated in election pledges of his Liberal Democratic Party. He apparently believes it reasonable to make postal privatization a campaign issue as he dissolved the lower house because the bills were rejected.	4	2005-08-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi, also LDP president, ordered the party leadership to field rival candidates in all constituencies of the 37 former LDP lawmakers who voted against the postal privatization bills in the lower house.By making postal privatization the main campaign issue, the prime minister also may aim to marginalize the opposition Democratic Party of Japan in the coming election.Postal reform not only issueHowever, postal privatization is not the only election issue.If the LDP and New Komeito intend to win a majority of seats in the general election to stay in power, they must show clear policies to deal with the various problems facing the nation.According to a July poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun, the public wants the government to tackle the economy's problems; reform of the nation's social security system, including public pension programs; unemployment; the North Korean issue; and public safety and crime, in this order of priority.Though the government has reported that Japan has taken off from an economic plateau, deflation has not been overcome. Also, the so-called triple reform of fiscal relations between the central and local governments is only half finished.Voters are increasingly concerned about the future of the social security system since Japan has an aging society with a declining birthrate, and the nation's population is expected to start falling for the first time in history.A hike in the consumption tax rate seems unavoidable to fund growing social security costs. The parties should show voters their plans to reform pension, medical and nursing programs.They also must sufficiently explain their policies on China and North Korea, which are extremely important for Japan's foreign affairs and national security.Okada playing into PM's handsDPJ President Katsuya Okada has said postal privatization is not a major campaign issue.He apparently thinks it unwise to play the same game with Koizumi. He also undoubtedly is mindful of the fact that the postal workers union, which supports his party, opposes privatization.Okada said Japan Post should be reformed as a public corporation for the first two years, with every option to be taken into consideration after that. However, if that is all he thinks, Okada cannot prevent Koizumi from equating him with LDP members opposed to the bills.The biggest opposition party should not dodge the issue. It should propose a detailed plan to replace the postal privatization bills in its manifesto.The DPJ still has an image as a party of refuge for politicians from various party backgrounds. If it is serious about winning office, it has to show clear guidelines on the Constitution and national security, two most important basic policies.Election pledges must be devised as political strategies aimed at enduring difficult times. If they are decorated with words to please everybody, voters will easily find their weaknesses.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2005-08-13	YOSHIN0020050815e18d0010g
YOMSHI0020050813e18e0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050813e18e0000d	EN	\N	Japan miscalculated but shouldn't quit UNSC bid	The G-4 plan, worked out jointly by Japan, Brazil, Germany and India, calls for a 25-member council, with six new permanent members without veto rights and four new nonpermanent seats. There are currently 15 Security Council members, 10 elected for nonpermanent seats and five permanent members--Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.	4	2005-08-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For the passage of the resolution, it is necessary to win approval from two-thirds of U.N.-member countries, or not less than 128 countries.The G-4 tried to fight jointly for the expansion with the 53-member African Union, but failed to find a common position, despite many similarities in the two groups expansion proposals. Without an agreement with the AU, it has become difficult for the G-4 to secure passage of its resolution.Failure of diplomacyThe G-4 setback represents the failure of the all-out diplomatic effort made by the Japanese government.The biggest miscalculation was over the position China and the United States took, overtly thwarting the G-4 proposal.In China, there were waves of anti-Japanese demonstrations earlier this year opposing Japan becoming a permanent member of the Security Council.While it was apparent that the Chinese government was leery of Japan's bid, Beijing's opposition did not end inside the country.While Japan called on Asian and African countries to support the G-4 bid, China took steps to encourage them not to support the proposal.Some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), under pressure from both Japan and China, expressed discontent, complaining they were forced to choose between the two, far from a vow of support for the G-4 proposal. In the end, Japan was in effect defeated by China's "pressure diplomacy."How should Japan respond to China using such tactics? This is an important task for Japan's diplomacy.Japan also miscalculated how the United States would act, in the end calling on other U.N. member countries to vote against the G-4 resolution should it be put to a vote.While the United States supports Japan becoming a permanent member of the council, it has taken a cautious position toward the expansion, agreeing only to two new permanent members.China, U.S. protect powerLooming large from the opposition of both the United States and China, with no regard for how their position may appear to other countries, is the reality that neither country wants to see their vested power of being a UNSC permanent member weakened with the expansion.As the G-4 countries began working toward the expansion of the council, there also were moves among other countries apparently trying to block their rivals from winning permanent seats.Every country wants to avoid seeing disparity in international political status. The true nature of the international community also has become apparent.The road to expanding the number of permanent seats on the Security Council is rough. But giving in to discomfort would simply maintain the status quo. The United Nations is a forum for countries to assert their national interests. Japan should not miss any chance in its effort to win a bigger say.The leaders meeting of the United Nations, slated for next month, will provide an opportunity to revive moves toward expanding the council.As the meeting is planned for shortly after the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election, the foreign minister, instead of the prime minister, is expected to attend the forum. Japan should make the most of the meeting.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 14 )	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2005-08-14	YOSHIN0020050815e18e001kj
YOMSHI0020050815e18f00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050815e18f00001	EN	\N	Time ripe for review of war responsibility	Included among those who will be mourned are so-called Class-A war criminals. Invitations for the service have been sent to their bereaved families in the past but this has never become a particular topic of controversy among the public.	4	2005-08-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On the other hand, the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals together with the war dead at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo has often become an issue of controversy at home and abroad.While our memory of war is fading, the issue of the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at the shrine has not diminished. Being the 60th anniversary of the end of the war, the issue has been discussed more intensely than usual.This can be said to indicate the complexity of issues concerning the Class-A war criminals.Complicated issuesWhy are the issues complicated? One of the reasons is that the involvement of these people, when viewed individually, was diverse.For instance, the judges representing the victorious Allied powers at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trial) were divided on former Prime Minister Koki Hirota, who was the only civilian among the seven Class-A war criminals sentenced to death, with six calling for the death sentence and five against.Fourteen Class-A war criminals, including the seven who were executed, are enshrined in Yasukuni Shrine. Among the 14 is Shigenori Togo, the former foreign minister who attempted in vain to prevent Japan from going to war and explored ways to bring about an early peace after the war began.Complicating the controversy is the fact that these figures also have been designated "Class-A war criminals."Besides these 14, there were 11 other "Class-A war criminals," including former Finance Minister Okinori Kaya. Kaya was sentenced to life imprisonment but paroled in 1955 and went on to serve as justice minister in Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda's cabinet.Also included in the 11 was former Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu who was sentenced to imprisonment but paroled in 1950 and later served again as foreign minister in Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama's cabinet. Upon the death of Shigemitsu, who represented Japan when the U.N. General Assembly agreed to Japan becoming a member of the world body in 1956, a silent prayer was offered at the General Assembly.Doubts about Tokyo TrialOne of the underlying factors preventing the issue of the "Class-A war criminals" from fading away is lingering doubt about the nature of the Tokyo Trial itself.Judge Radha Binod Pal, who represented India during the trial, was of the opinion that the trial itself was "a ritualized vengeance" by the winner against the loser, and concluded that each of the accused must be found not guilty and should be acquitted on all charges.Yet, the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers forbade the public release of the dissenting judgment until the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect and Japan recovered its sovereignty.In addition to Pal, many U.S. and European experts on international law expressed doubt over the nature of the Tokyo Trial under international law.For instance, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Douglas said the Tokyo Trial was not a judicial tribunal but merely a tool for political power.Allied aggressionOn the other hand, violation of international law and acts of aggression were carried out by some of the victorious Allied powers while the Tokyo Trial was being held.The Soviet Union placed about 600,000 Japanese prisoners of war into slave labor camps in Siberia.France and the Netherlands were "fighting wars of aggression again" to recolonize Vietnam and Indonesia, respectively, against national liberation forces.On May 7 in Riga, U.S. President George W. Bush referred in a speech to the Yalta agreement on the world's postwar regime, signed by Allied leaders from Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States at a meeting in the Crimea. He said it "will be remembered as one of the greatest wrongs of history" because it led to the "captivity of millions in Central and Eastern Europe" under the "iron rule of another empire [the Soviet Union]."This can be considered a "revision of history" by Bush. For Japan, the Yalta Conference was also a forum of "conspiracy" where the United States provoked the Soviet Union into violating the Japanese-Soviet treaty of neutrality and into committing an act of aggression against Japan.Nonetheless, there is no denying that the war caused awful suffering to the people of East Asia, leaving Japan to live with a sense of historical guilt.Even though the war resulted in the early independence of those Asian nations colonized by Western countries, Japan did not start the war for that purpose.The war also caused great misery and pain for the Japanese people.Yet back then, there were some in the political and military fields, and in public and private sectors who opposed Japan going to war. Why, then, did Japan plunge into such a reckless war?Was the Cabinet of Prime Minister Hideki Tojo solely responsible for the war against the United States, Britain and the Netherlands? What about the responsibility of the preceding cabinet under Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe?Who really was responsible?Who should shoulder responsibility for the Sino-Japanese War that led to the war against Britain, the Netherlands and the United States? Although the death sentence handed down to Hirota was unjust, we wonder if he was responsible for the war.What about the responsibility of those who allowed the toll of victims at home and abroad to grow by blocking Japan from making peace at the earliest possible date, despite the worsening state of the war for Japan?If the Tokyo Trial is considered to have had many highly questionable and unfair elements, it may be advisable for the Japanese people to reconsider who bears responsibility for the war.In doing so, it will be necessary to undertake a review that is distanced from the concept of "war criminals" as defined within the political framework of the victorious nations.Such a review can also be made at some distance from the logic of Yasukuni Shrine that enshrined the 14 "Class-A war criminals," together with war dead.Whatever meaning the historic milestone of the 60th anniversary of the end of the war may carry, we may be ushering in an important juncture for us to start a national debate over history.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1124	2005-08-15	YOSHIN0020050816e18f000a5
YOMSHI0020050815e18g0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050815e18g0000f	EN	\N	PM decision needed on state war memorial	It was a matter of great concern--both at home and overseas--whether the prime minister would choose this year's war-end anniversary for a visit to the Shinto shrine that enshrines the war dead, including World War II Class-A war criminals. In inaugurating his administration in April 2001, Koizumi pledged to visit the shrine on Aug. 15.	4	2005-08-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When he visited the shrine in April 2002, the prime minister said, "It's not my wish to arouse renewed apprehension and wariness both at home and abroad by persisting in worshiping [at the shrine] on the war-end anniversary, or shortly before or after it." Koizumi's decision not to visit the facility Monday may show he also remains committed to that policy this year.To mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the war, the government issued a statement in Koizumi's name on Monday, after finalizing it at a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day. The statement follows a similar statement issued in 1995 to commemorate the 50th war-end anniversary by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who led the Social Democratic Party of Japan, a partner in the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition government.Koizumi expresses regretKoizumi's statement largely follows Murayama's in that both express Japan's regret about and apology for its "colonial rule and invasion" and reiterate its determination to live with other countries as a peace-loving nation.Koizumi expressed similar sentiment at the Conference of African and Asian Nations--a summit meeting of Asian and African leaders, known as the Bandung Conference--in Indonesia in April. He offered an apology for Japan's colonial rule and past acts of aggression.Koizumi's latest statement includes a special reference to China and South Korea, in which he says, "I believe it is necessary to join hands, especially with those Asian countries just across the water such as China and South Korea, in maintaining peace and aiming at development in the region." This probably signifies an attempt by Koizumi to soothe criticisms levelled against Japan by the two nations over this country's perception of the so-called history issue.China and South Korea have pointed a finger at what they call an attempt by Japan to become a military power.Survival rests on peaceHowever, it is impossible for this nation to return to its prewar militarism. Japan is a trading country whose survival rests on international peace. It is unthinkable for Japan--a nation in which parliamentary democracy has long been established--to see "military elements get out of control," as China and South Korea contend. Its people are well-advised to recognize the importance of being a peace-loving nation. They will never condone the emergence of uncontrollable militarism.The prime minister must repeat this to Asian neighbors who have seen a rising tide of anti-Japanese sentiment in their countries in recent months.Koizumi's decision not to visit Yasukuni Shrine on Monday is also believed to reflect his desire not to adversely affect his bid to ensure the LDP's victory in the upcoming House of Representatives election.The prime minister has said his postal privatization plan will be a predominant issue to be debated during the campaign for the lower house election. This probably reflects his concerns that he could allow the leading opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, to replace postal privatization with the Yasukuni issue as a focal issue in the election if he visited the shrine Monday.Koizumi also seems to have considered the wishes of the LDP's coalition partner, New Komeito, which has asked him not to visit the shrine.For all this, Koizumi's decision not to worship at the shrine Monday does not mean he has retracted his promise to visit the facility.During talks with South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun in June, the prime minister disclosed a plan to consider building a new state-run facility for paying tribute to the war dead. However, it is unknown whether the government will include research on the building of the new facility in its fiscal 2006 budget expenses.The prime minister should not remain ambiguous about whether to continue visiting Yasukuni Shrine and to build the state-administered facility for the war dead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	756	2005-08-16	YOSHIN0020050817e18g000bo
YOMSHI0020050816e18h0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050816e18h0000j	EN	\N	DPJ goes on offensive with release of manifesto	The LDP, the largest ruling party, which is led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, is seeking to turn the lower house election into a contest between pro- and anti-reform candidates by ensuring the greatest focus of the race is on whether a candidate supports postal privatization. Koizumi also is trying to brand the DPJ as comparable to renegade LDP members who opposed the bills and demonize both groups as antireform forces opposed to privatization of the state-run postal system.	4	2005-08-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Main opposition's postal planInitially, the DPJ was negative about debating postal reform as a focal issue during its election campaign. However, the largest opposition party has incorporated into its manifesto a plan to downsize postal savings and life insurance services. The DPJ has called the plan an alternative to Koizumi's postal reform campaign.Earlier, the DPJ's failure to present its own postal reform plan was criticized as an attempt to evade debating postal privatization as a contentious issue during the general election. The DPJ's release of a manifesto also may reflect its concern that the party could be regarded as an antireform group by voters if it did not present its own postal reform plan.To reduce the 330 trillion yen collected in the form of postal saving and life insurance premiums, the DPJ's manifesto would gradually lower the 10 million yen cap imposed on a postal savings account held by individual depositors to 5 million yen.However, a cut in the massive amount of money kept in the form of postal savings and life insurance premiums would mean a reduction in profits from these services. There are concerns that reduced profits from postal services would adversely effect the operation of mail delivery and the other postal businesses.The DPJ's manifesto also states the government would be responsible for providing universal mail-delivery services. But does this mean that funds from the state coffers would be used to maintain mail delivery services if the business saw worsening performance?Does the DPJ hope to keep Japan Post intact as a public corporation with about 280,000 employees on the national government payroll? Or does the party want to privatize postal services?If the DPJ remains ambiguous about these fundamental issues, its manifesto will do little to offer an alternative to the LDP's postal reform plan.Parties must show their cardsIn an election that provides voters with an opportunity to decide which party holds the reins of government, each party must present its basic policies concerning external relations, national security, social security systems, tax and fiscal matters.To maintain the social security systems, for example, it is inevitable that the consumption tax rate be increased. Given this, the DPJ deserves credit for presenting a plan to adopt a consumption tax, the revenues of which would be used exclusively to maintain the state-run pension system.New Komeito has also announced its manifesto, which calls for making progress in Koizumi's postal privatization campaign, urging voters to choose between reform and a lack thereof. New Komeito has every reason to do so as a partner in the LDP-led ruling coalition.New Komeito cites child-care support, pension plans, medical services and other social welfare measures as tasks of prime importance. However, the party should outline exactly how these programs are to be funded, as the nation is in dire fiscal straits.The LDP is scheduled to release its manifesto soon. We hope each party will seriously debate important issues in its election campaign, including the future of the economy, society and people's lives. Doing so is a task to be tackled by any political party that seeks to run the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	709	2005-08-17	YOSHIN0020050818e18h000f9
YOMSHI0020050817e18i0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050817e18i0000i	EN	\N	Waning of LDP factions led to birth of new party	Their party is named Kokumin Shinto, literally, "people's new party." House of Councillors lawmaker Hideaki Tamura, a member of the Democratic Party of Japan, also joined it.	4	2005-08-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP refused to endorse Watanuki and the other rebels who opposed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal reform drive and decided to field alternative candidates in their constituencies.Independent candidates without any party affiliation have various disadvantages in a lower house election. First, they cannot run a dual candidacy to seek proportional representation seats if they fail to win under the single-seat constituency system. They cannot broadcast campaign messages, either.Watanuki and the other postal rebels apparently had no choice but to form a new party to try to survive in the Sept. 11 election.This is the first time since 1993 that defectors from the LDP have formed a new political party. In the upcoming election, it is important for voters to study the nature of parties and how structure of Japanese politics has changed.Factions have lost functionsThe split in the LDP over the postal privatization bills shows that the so-called LDP politics has changed drastically.The LDP had maintained unity and adjusted policies through compromises reached through negotiations among powerful members of intraparty factions.This was possible because the factions had influence over decisions about distributing political funds and cabinet appointments, and helped candidates in election campaigns.However, many traditional functions of the factions were lost after the combination of single-seat constituencies and proportional representation was introduced in the 1996 lower house election and Koizumi established a cabinet-led policymaking system and top-down management of the party.Among the six existing LDP factions, three have names that begin with the word "former." The faction led by Shizuka Kamei, former chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council, broke up and is now called the former Kamei faction, while many postal rebels belong to the factions formerly led by Ryutaro Hashimoto and Mitsuo Horiuchi in the conservative mainstream of the LDP.Former LDP General Council Chairman Sadatoshi Ozato, who has his own faction, has announced his retirement from politics. All this indicates that the LDP factions are quickly melting away.In the LDP, more and more important policy decisions are made by the party leadership, such as by a majority vote of its General Council rather than through negotiations among the factions. This may suggest that faction-led politics can no longer keep pace with the changing times and respond to important political issues at home and abroad.DPJ in postal union's pocketMeanwhile, the DPJ is a hodgepodge of politicians from the LDP, the defunct Democratic Socialist Party and the former Japan Socialist Party. Both standpatters and reformists coexist in the DPJ, too.Tamura said that he decided to leave the DPJ and to join the new party chaired by Watanuki because his opinions on national security differ from the DPJ's official line.The DPJ officially opposes the privatization of postal services to protect the vested interests of the postal workers union that supports the party. However, many among junior and middle-ranking members of the DPJ support postal reform.The DPJ failed to make a clear-cut counterproposal to the LDP's privatization plan apparently because it was afraid that a potential confrontation within the party might surface.Voters should consider not only policies but also the character of each party as important campaign issues in the upcoming election.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2005-08-18	YOSHIN0020050819e18i000fe
YOMSHI0020050818e18j0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050818e18j0000e	EN	\N	Control tower needed for govt statistics	A Cabinet Office committee on the development of economic and social statistics has written a report demanding drastic reform of government statistics. In its report, it points out that the current data do not accurately reflect Japan's real situation as they have not responded to changes in the industrial structure.	4	2005-08-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a reform measure, the committee has called for the creation of a "control tower" within the government on statistics that can quickly issue orders to ministries and agencies to create and abolish statistics.Each ministry or agency gathers its own statistics for its own purposes. However, this situation has caused problems, since the government cannot obtain the statistics it needs and is unable to change them.The Cabinet Office will establish a special committee in September to discuss the details of the control tower. Even though a review of statistics may lead to reduced budgets and job cuts for government bodies--something they may be expected to resist--reform should be advanced.Service industries overlookedEconomists and business leaders have become increasingly frustrated with government statistics, saying they do not paint a true picture of reality.One such example is statistics on service industries. Even though they have grown to encompass 70 percent of the gross domestic product, each ministry gathers statistics only on the service industry under its jurisdiction.Statistics covering the whole sector on a monthly basis do not exist.On the contrary, there are detailed statistics available on agriculture, the GDP share of which has been shrinking. Of government employees engaged in keeping statistics, more than 70 percent cover this sector.The committee also pointed out the necessity to determine which statistics should have priority, and to reallocate funds and workers accordingly.Firms, citizens need dataStatistics are an important source of information not only for government organizations, but also for private companies and citizens.Businesses use statistics to make decisions on capital investment and hiring of new employees, while individuals make judgments on spending and saving. As a result, statistics should be reviewed from the viewpoint of users.Quicker announcements of statistics also should be considered. In its November proposal, the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) said quite a few business statistics were rarely used due to their slow release.In addition, private companies have complained that the central government asks them to cooperate with too many statistics surveys.The burden on business could be alleviated if overlapping statistics were consolidated, and those with little significance abolished.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	452	2005-08-19	YOSHIN0020050822e18j000fo
YOMSHI0020050819e18k0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050819e18k0000h	EN	\N	Parties need to spell out consumption tax hike	It is noteworthy that the Liberal Democratic Party's manifesto clearly states its goal of "realizing thorough reforms of the taxation system, including the consumption tax, by fiscal 2007."	4	2005-08-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The policy pledge--which is identical to the party's declaration in an annual outline of tax reforms for fiscal 2004--was not included in its policy platform for last year's House of Councillors election. As a result, it is the first time that the party's policy platform has mentioned a specific target year for attaining such a policy initiative.LDP can't avoid issuePrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has ruled out the possibility of raising the consumption tax from the current rate of 5 percent during his term in office.Nevertheless, an increase in the consumption tax is inevitable not only for fiscal reform, but also for generating the resources needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the social security system.The LDP's manifesto certainly means that, as a responsible political party, it can no longer postpone a move toward raising the consumption tax.The Democratic Party of Japan has been calling for some time now for a consumption tax hike purely for the purpose of funding pension benefits. It included this policy in its latest manifesto.As far as their manifestoes are concerned, it can be said the LDP and the DPJ now stand on common ground concerning a consumption tax hike.However, both parties do not specify how much the rate should be raised. They should look into exactly how much of a hike is needed.Germany also is going to the polls, with a general election set for Sept. 18. The ruling Social Democratic Party and the opposition Christian Democratic Union have both started their election campaigns by proposing specific tax rates, including that of value-added tax. The LDP and DPJ ought to follow the German example.DPJ's Iraq policy questionableOn the diplomatic front, the LDP's manifesto emphasizes the need to strengthen the alliance between Japan and the United States first and foremost. It then affirms the importance of improving relations with China and South Korea.In contrast, the DPJ's manifesto first put emphasis on Japan's relations with other Asian countries, followed by the "evolution" of relations with the United States. It also said it would have Self-Defense Forces personnel withdrawn from Iraq by December should it win the poll.The DPJ's stance likely would fracture the Japan-U.S. alliance. The opposition party is required to further clarify its policy.Both the LDP and its ruling coalition partner, New Komeito, have nominated the privatization of Japan Post as their utmost goal. The LDP specifically aims to have the next session of the Diet vote the postal reform bills into law.The opposition camp is opposed to the postal privatization plan. The DPJ's manifesto calls for a reduction in the outstanding total of postal savings and kampo postal insurance operations--a combined 330 trillion yen. But it does not touch on postal privatization out of consideration for the labor union of Japan Post and other groups that back the party.Japan's economy and society remain faced with serious problems--the approach of a demographic contraction, a deflation-trapped economy and concerns about the future of social security. Given the existence of such pressing issues, postal privatization can hardly be the sole point of contention in the election.For their part, voters have to thoroughly check each party's proposed solutions and determine whether they are sufficient.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2005-08-20	YOSHIN0020050822e18k0019y
YOMSHI0020050820e18l0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050820e18l0000a	EN	\N	Pref. govts should finalize emergency preparations	Prefectural governments are working out specific protection measures for residents in compliance with the People's Protection Law, which was enacted last year as part of legislation for coping with emergency situations. They are required to scrupulously devise effective measures in preparation for national security threats, working with city, town and village authorities, business associations, nongovernmental volunteer organizations and Self-Defense Forces personnel.	4	2005-08-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The protection law assumes four security threat scenarios--amphibious invasion, attack by guerrillas or special operation forces, ballistic missile attack and air strike.Deadline for measuresUnder the law, prefectural and municipal governments are required to spell out evacuation and rescue measures by the end of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006, respectively.To date, the emergency programs hammered out by the prefectural governments of Fukui and Tottori have been endorsed by the Cabinet.As Fukui Prefecture has 15 nuclear power plants along the Sea of Japan coast, prefectural government officials already have held meetings with their city, town and village counterparts and utility representatives as required to ensure contingency measures are in place in areas hosting nuclear power facilities. The prefecture has an ordinance that empowers the governor to instruct operators of nuclear power plants to suspend operations in an emergency situation.In Fukui and Tottori, both administrative authorities and residents are known for maintaining a high level of vigilance. Located along the Sea of Japan, both prefectures are vulnerable to intrusions by foreign forces. What is more, a number of Japanese people were abducted from Fukui by North Korean agents.Other prefectural governments are lagging behind Fukui and Tottori in compiling measures to protect their residents. Some have failed to launch a regional consultative council, the initial step toward working out measures stipulated by the law for safeguarding residents. Such seemingly indifferent attitudes seem to be driven by an assumption on the part of regional authorities that their areas are not likely to find themselves dealing with any of the four security threat scenarios.Threat is widespreadBut according to the 2005 white paper on national defense, North Korea has about 100,000 special operation troops, has been developing nuclear weapons and deploying ballistic missiles with a range covering the whole of Japan. This means that the threat to security is not limited to areas along the Sea of Japan. Considering the precarious national security environment, no regional authorities should waste time in preparing their emergency measures.To ensure such measures are effective, it is important that regional administrative authorities act in close cooperation with firefighters, police and SDF personnel. Fukui Prefecture is planning to carry out an emergency mobilization drill in November with the central government. Such practical emergency exercises should be staged throughout the country.In connection to this, it is essential to install a nationwide online communications network to deal with emergency situations. A delay in alerting regional authorities of an emergency would make it impossible to issue an evacuation order in time, unnecessarily heightening the risk of widespread casualties and damage.The central government is studying the installation a nationwide real-time warning system, dubbed J-ALERT, to transmit information concerning emergencies by linking municipal wireless disaster warning systems to communications satellites.An early launch of J-ALERT is essential to ensure regional emergency measures are implemented as early as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2005-08-21	YOSHIN0020050822e18l001xy
YOMSHI0020050821e18m0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050821e18m0000c	EN	\N	Japan must not delay N-waste disposal plan	Municipal governments have been invited to offer a site for the storage of nuclear waste while it decays and becomes harmless. No municipality has reacted to date. The central government and the power industry must make an all-out effort to resolve the impasse.	4	2005-08-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 2000, a law was enacted to manage high-level radioactive waste from the reprocessing of spent fuel by solidifying the waste into glass. Conforming to the legislation, the cabinet adopted a long-term disposal plan that envisages the selection of a storage site by 2028 with disposal beginning in 2038.Time running outThe plan may give the impression that there is plenty of time before its implementation. The reality, however, is that municipalities need to declare their candidacy for providing nuclear waste storage in the next couple of years, otherwise the cabinet decision will prove useless considering the amount of time needed to conduct environmental and geologic surveys and complete other procedures.The government is currently in the process of reviewing the plan, which the law stipulates must be conducted every five years. But it must be pointed out that the country cannot afford to delay the disposal plan any longer simply because of the approach of the deadline set by the initial cabinet decision.Aomori Prefecture is temporarily storing high-level radioactive waste on the premise that a permanent storage site will be built elsewhere as scheduled in the government plan. A delay in locating a permanent site will certainly provoke bitter reaction from the Aomori prefectural government, and threaten to stall the existing process for disposal of nuclear waste.The reluctance by municipalities to step forward reflects a widespread perception that nuclear waste is dangerous." The central government, the power industry and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan, which is responsible for the disposal and storage project, should undertake an appropriate, plain language, public relations effort about the safety of the project.High-level radioactive waste is a by-product of the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel to extract unburned uranium and plutonium. Such waste is liquid and must be solidified into glass--glassification or vitrification--to be disposed of in a repository that would be constructed in a solid rock layer more than 300 meters below ground.Low risk waste disposalGlassification enables nuclear waste to be stored as a solid and has an extremely low risk of dissolving. Even if the worst case scenario--dissolution of solidified waste--occurs, the rock layer is believed to be effective in preventing any radioactive contamination of the surface. The radioactivity of the glassified waste will decrease over time. There is almost no danger of environmental destruction of the area where the proposed storage site would be located.The government plans to extend subsidies to municipalities willing to host a high-level radioactive waste storage site. It is important to draw up a special plan to show the exact benefit a host municipality can expect from the government's fiscal assistance and electric power companies' cooperation.The government should devise an effective approach to encourage municipalities to offer an helping hand so that the country will be able to continue using nuclear power in a stable and sustainable way.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2005-08-22	YOSHIN0020050823e18m000c1
YOMSHI0020050823e18n00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050823e18n00001	EN	\N	Manifestos inadequate on North Korean issue	Dealing with the reclusive state's nuclear weapons and missile development programs is a matter of grave concern for Japan's national security.	4	2005-08-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	What are the views of the political parties on this problem? North Korea should be debated as a major issue in each party's campaign for the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election.The manifestos released by the major political parties for the upcoming poll all cite North Korea as a major policy issue. However, these election pledges are unsatisfactory in many respects.For example, the Liberal Democratic Party's manifesto does not make any specific references to North Korea's nuclear arms and missile programs, a critical issue in the dispute over the communist state.It only calls for "a solution to the North Korean problem."Japan in range of missilesJapan would be exposed to a direct nuclear missile threat if North Korea developed a nuclear warhead. This country is within range of North Korean ballistic missiles. None of the manifestos seem to reflect the threat this nation faces.China, South Korea and Russia--all participants in the six-way negotiations--are not as concerned about the Pyongyang threat as Japan is, but it is a crucial foreign policy issue for this country.During the six-party talks, Japan has urged North Korea to completely abolish its nuclear development program, insisting on denying the country even the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.It should be noted that Pyongyang has used its nuclear facilities for military purposes, citing a nuclear threat from the United States as an excuse.Prior to this, North Korea insisted the facilities in question were being operated for "peaceful objectives."With this bitter lesson in mind, Japan has every reason to urge Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear development program.It is important for Japan to use its alliance with the United States as a basis for its approach to the North Korean problem.Fallback plan needed on talksIt also is necessary for this nation to devise measures to be taken if the six-nation talks fail, including a plan to bring the issue before the U.N. Security Council.The Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto states that the North Korean nuclear and missile programs could "gravely affect" East Asia's peace and security. It says the dispute should be resolved through the six-party talks, adding the issue should be settled at the Security Council if there is no progress in solving the nuclear and missile problems at an early date.The main opposition party's basic stance toward the issue is reasonable. The fact remains, however, that there is a conflict of opinion among the talks' participants. Japan and the United States have argued it is necessary to exert pressure in dealing with North Korea. This contrasts with the conciliatory approach of China, South Korea and Russia.The DPJ mentions the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance, while also saying it will convey the opinions of Japan and other nations in the Asia-Pacific rim to the United States, and, if necessary, urge Washington to exercise self-restraint in dealing with North Korea.However, from a point of view of protecting Japan's national interest, we consider it important for this country to urge China, South Korea and Russia to behave carefully.The nuclear and missile issues must be resolved in a package with the abduction issue before relations between Japan and North Korea are normalized.The parties' manifestos also emphasize the need to resolve the dispute over the kidnapping of Japanese by North Korea. The LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, as well as the DPJ, are particularly unyielding on this issue, with all saying Japan should not hesitate to impose economic sanctions on the communist state if Pyongyang refuses to act in a constructive manner.The assertions of the major political parties convey an unmistakable message from Japan over the abduction issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	700	2005-08-23	YOSHIN0020050824e18n000gz
YOMSHI0020050823e18o0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050823e18o0000g	EN	\N	Time to discuss using e-voting in national polls	In 2002, it became possible to employ e-voting for prefectural and municipal elections. So far, 10 regional governments have used e-voting systems. However, they have encountered a spate of technological hitches because their systems are still fledgling.	4	2005-08-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Kani, Gifu Prefecture, an e-voting system was used in a city assembly election in July 2003, but balloting machines went off-line at all the polling stations. A group of Kani residents filed a lawsuit demanding that the results of the balloting be nullified. In July, the Supreme Court, upholding a high court ruling, invalidated the 2003 poll. As a result, voters in the city cast ballots on Sunday to elect a new assembly--this time, following the traditional handwriting method.What happened in Kani could make people skeptical of e-voting itself, keeping such systems from being used widely in the future.Certification would helpE-voting has tremendous advantages--a much shorter ballot-counting time and the disappearance of hard-to-read or invalid ballots. Even voters with writing difficulties can easily cast their ballots.Many countries, including those in Europe, North America and India, have already turned to online voting in their national elections. South Korea, for its part, will implement e-voting in 2008, beginning with a National Assembly election. In Japan, too, the possibility of using e-voting in national elections should be seriously discussed.To have e-voting widely accepted, it would be a good idea for the government to consider granting official technological certifications to online voting systems. The United States has a federal government certification system for e-voting systems. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to place the matter on the agenda for a study panel of experts to be set up shortly. The panel should give sufficient consideration to the issue.In March, the Kani Municipal Assembly issued a statement saying that it was too big a burden for a municipality to verify the safety of e-voting on its own. It called for the introduction of a third-party certification system.Cost a problemAt present, municipal governments choose e-voting system suppliers through competitive tenders by designated bidders. They require bidders to provide them with data showing the results of test runs and inspection certifications to see whether their systems conform to the state-set technological criteria. However, according to the Kani assembly, the technological expertise of a municipality is limited.Thorough familiarization sessions should be given to municipal government employees. In the case of Kani, lack of preparation was partly to blame for the mishap.Of course, few machines can be free from trouble. In not a few municipalities, adequate troubleshooting efforts by officials assigned to polling stations have prevented technological flaws from developing into a major breakdown of the relevant e-voting systems.In addition to technical problems, the heavy fiscal burden on municipal governments is said to be an impediment to the widespread use of e-voting. To rent, transport and store a network of e-voting machines, each municipal government has to spend 1.5 to two times the traditional election cost.The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is considering extending subsidies to local autonomous bodies--by granting part of the national tax revenue--to help cover the higher cost of introducing e-voting systems. At the same time, measures should be taken to lower the cost itself.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2005-08-24	YOSHIN0020050825e18o000h2
YOMSHI0020050824e18p0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050824e18p0000e	EN	\N	More at stake in poll than postal reform	Needless to say, issues up for voters' verdict are not limited to Japan Post's privatization. The country is faced with a host of important issues, such as social security and fiscal reform, and diplomatic and security issues. Voters should sufficiently scrutinize parties' policy platforms before giving their mandates to parties of their choice to tackle those issues.	4	2005-08-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As of Wednesday, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was known to be planning to field 290 candidates in single-seat constituencies, versus 289 candidates from the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. The numbers are the highest for both parties since 1996, when the combination of single-seat constituencies and proportional representation blocs superseded the multiseat constituency formula. As a result, LDP and DPJ candidates will fight head-to-head in about 280 of the country's 300 single-seat electoral districts.The Japanese Communist Party has endorsed 275 candidates who will run in single-seat constituencies. Earlier the JCP came up with an idea of fielding a smaller number of candidates, a situation that led some political analysts to predict JCP supporters in districts where no party candidates would be running would vote for DPJ candidates as an alternative choice. But now, it has become impossible for the DPJ to count on JCP supporters' votes.New Komeito, the coalition partner of the LDP, plans to field the smallest-ever number of nine candidates in single-seat constituencies.LDP, DPJ to face offAll told, the upcoming lower house election will effectively turn out to be a contest between the LDP and the DPJ over the control of government. If either the LDP-New Komeito coalition nor the DPJ failed to win a majority of seats, the circumstances surrounding the formation of a postelection government could be complicated.When they cast ballots, voters should take into consideration each party's political approach and capability to translate its policy goals into action. In other words, voters need to have a multifaceted perspective on top of their abilities to judge the advisability of each party's policy platforms.Since the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the public has been focusing on a move of the LDP to field new candidates with an aim to ousting former LDP lawmakers who voted against postal privatization bills.Voters mustn't get distractedPrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi let the Prime Minister's Office choose well-known women and bureaucrats to run on the LDP ticket against the so-called postal rebels. "If there are only those who oppose [postal privatization] in one constituency and another, the purpose of the election will become blurred," Koizumi said. He thus is strategically attempting to put postal privatization alone to a vote in the Sept. 11 poll.Driven into a corner, postal rebels have formed new parties--the People's New Party and Nippon. Both are tantamount to mutual assistance groups to run in the election. In fact, a member of the House of Councillors who was one of the founding members of the PNP on Wednesday announced his decision to quit the new party and join Nippon to help it meet the official criteria to be recognized as a political party, which must have at least five incumbent or former lawmakers. This move is unusual in politics.The latest Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll showed a rise in the public approval rating for the Koizumi Cabinet. The prime minister's tactic appears to be working well at this moment--an outcome of the "Koizumi theater" of politics, in which he has staged a "reformist versus rebels" battle.However, given the importance of the lower house election, voters should not be mesmerized by this contest. What is at stake now is to make a correct choice at a time when Japan is at a major crossroads.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	688	2005-08-25	YOSHIN0020050826e18p000ft
YOMSHI0020050825e18q0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050825e18q0000e	EN	\N	Parties must show voters vision for Japan's future	Looking at the manifestos released by the political parties for the Sept. 11 general election, the Liberal Democratic Party has made it clear that it will release a draft of a new constitution by Nov. 15, the 50th anniversary of the party's founding.	4	2005-08-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP's coalition partner New Komeito has said it would add such rights as those concerning the environment and privacy to the top law.Among the preelection opposition parties, the Democratic Party of Japan said it would present a set of opinions concerning the Constitution. Both the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party maintain the stance of protecting the current Constitution.Little detail on top law reformPutting the JCP and the SDP to one side, we have heard little on the constitutional front from the coalition parties or the DPJ, which aims to gain power in the upcoming poll.The LDP has already made public its complete article-by-article rough draft of a new constitution. With regard to Article 9--the center of public attention--the party states in its first section that the country will firmly maintain its pacifist policy, while possessing a "self-defense military" tasked not only with defending Japan, but also securing international peace and security.The LDP should explain to voters what visions of the state and society it plans to pursue in line with its draft constitution, thereby deepening the constitutional debate.New Komeito is cautious toward having the existence of the Self-Defense Forces and its task of contributing to the international community stipulated in the Constitution.Reflecting such discrepancies between the two allies, constitutional reform will not be included among the priority policies to be announced by the coalition Friday. As things stand now, we can hardly expect any lively discussion on the supreme law.New Komeito highly rates the role of the SDF in maintaining and creating peace, and has approved the dispatch of Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to Iraq. As a consequence, it should ensure that the top law specifies the existence of the SDF and its task of aiding international society.DPJ failing own pledgesThe DPJ has placed the constitutional issue at the top of its manifesto, yet it did not include it among its eight priority issues. The party does not seem to have any enthusiasm about addressing the matter.The main opposition party also has not given a time frame for its own constitutional proposals. While it has said it will present its opinions sometime in 2006--the 60th anniversary of the top law's promulgation--its stance on this issue is in contrast with the fundamental ideas of its manifesto, which calls for specifying target dates.The DPJ's manifesto says "it will make sincere efforts in reaching a consensus at the Diet," needed for constitutional revision. This would then be followed by debate among parties on specific reforms.In order to achieve this, the party needs to present its own opinions on the Constitution and have them discussed on the basis of a common understanding.Japan's economy and society, and the international community have undergone drastic changes since the enactment of the Constitution. The so-called "pro-Constitution fundamentalism," which calls for keeping the top law intact by all means, has become a remnant of the days when conservative and progressive parties were constantly at loggerheads.The nation needs a new vision for the state to serve as a guiding principle at a time of major change. Every party should address this issue in the House of Representatives election.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2005-08-26	YOSHIN0020050829e18q000em
YOMSHI0020050826e18r0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050826e18r0000f	EN	\N	Security key poll issue amid dangerous climate	In light of these developments, the challenge of maintaining the peace and security of Japan and the whole Asia-Pacific region has become one of the key issues at the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election.	4	2005-08-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In its manifesto, the Liberal Democratic Party emphasizes reinforcing the security system, based on the Japan-U.S. alliance.The alliance with the United States is vital to Japan's security and an "international public good" concerning the security of the Asia-Pacific region.It is only natural for the LDP to link the issue of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan with the reinforcement of Japan-U.S. defense cooperation.The party also calls in its manifesto for the Defense Agency to be upgraded to the status of a ministry. Japan may be the only country in the world where the governmental organization in charge of such an important matter as national security does not have ministerial status. This is a task that should be realized as soon as possible.Yet there is little in New Komeito's manifesto concerning national security. The party has a duty as a member of the ruling coalition with the LDP to spell out its basic policy on defense.DPJ threatens rift with U.S.For its part, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto refers to the Japan-U.S. alliance only next to this nation's ties with China and South Korea. Should it win office, the party says it would "convey the voices of people in Japan and those in other Asia-Pacific countries to the United States and, if necessary, would urge the United States to exercise self-restraint."What sort of bilateral relations would a DPJ government maintain with Washington? If a rift develops in the alliance, it may have a serious impact on Japan's security. The party needs to fully explain its stance on this issue.International peacekeeping operations also have become an important task for the Self-Defense Forces.The LDP states in its manifesto the need to establish a permanent law concerning SDF missions overseas, ending the current method of addressing each dispatch on a case-by-case basis with special legislation of limited duration. Such a law is deemed necessary for Japan to respond promptly to changing international situations.Iraq withdrawal prematureIn its manifesto, the DPJ says the SDF should be withdrawn from Iraq in December. Similar calls have been made by the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party.Iraq is about to undergo the important political process of inaugurating its government based on its new constitution. Troops from 28 countries, including those of the United States, are carrying out the tasks of maintaining public safety and of extending humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. How can Japan pull its personnel out of the country at such a crucial stage?With regard to the dispatch of SDF personnel on overseas missions, the DPJ advocates the creation of an "international peacekeeping unit" separate from the SDF.The idea of creating such a separate unit came about 15 years ago at the time of the Gulf War, when the government tried to fend off criticism about the dispatch of SDF on missions abroad.Ever since, the forces have gained experiences in various missions overseas. The idea of creating a separate unit is an old argument that is no longer valid.The DPJ says it would formulate a new defense plan within two years, while reviewing the structure, equipment and operations of the SDF.Yet it was only late last year that the government formulated a new National Defense Program Outline. The DPJ needs to explain specifically what it intends to review in the SDF and how.A country's security policy is central to its existence. We hope each party clearly presents its policies on key issues during the war of words in the days ahead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	698	2005-08-27	YOSHIN0020050829e18r0016m
YOMSHI0020050827e18s0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050827e18s0000g	EN	\N	Not too late for debate on education reform	The election pledges released by each party on the education system provide an insight into what each party wants the nation to be like in the future. It also is easy for members of the public to understand and comment on election promises about the education system, based on their own experiences.	4	2005-08-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Judging from the major political parties' manifestos, however, it is hard to say that they have great enthusiasm for education reform. The manifestos provide few specific details and do little to explain how their education reforms will be financed.The Liberal Democratic Party's manifesto cites efforts to make progress in revising the Fundamental Law of Education as the 25th of its 120 promises.The LDP declared it would revise the law in its manifesto for the 2003 House of Representatives election. However, the party was evasive about the issue when it said it was "promoting discussions aimed at revising the law" in its election pledges for last year's House of Councillors election. The LDP's latest manifesto says only that the party will "make progress" in revising the law.Coalition dividedThe LDP's indecisiveness about education reform apparently shows the ruling party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, are divided over whether to incorporate "aikokushin" (patriotism) into a bill that would revise the education law. Although it has agreed to revise the law, New Komeito remains steadfast in asserting that the envisaged law should incorporate "kuni wo taisetsu ni suru kokoro" (a feeling of respect toward the country).New Komeito also has criticized the LDP for proposing the bill include "kuni wo aisuru kokoro" (a feeling of love toward the country), saying the issue should be "carefully considered," taking into consideration the bitter lessons of this nation's pre-World War II history.The Fundamental Law of Education has served as the legal basis of the postwar education system. However, the creation of the legislation was marred by its establishment under the censorship and control of GHQ.The proposal to review the law gained momentum when the National Commission on Education Reform issued a report in December 2000. The report strongly recommended considering "a new fundamental education law that suits a new age." In March 2003, the Central Council for Education issued a report urging the government to revise the current fundamental education law.This was immediately followed by discussions between the LDP and New Komeito. Two years later, however, the ruling parties remain unable to submit a bill to the Diet to revise the basic education law. This may be a disappointment to many members of the public.DPJ silent on reformThe Democratic Party of Japan has not mentioned the issue. In the spring, a DPJ panel on education began debating each paragraph of the current law in the hope of seeing the legislation revised. However, the leading opposition party decided not to include education law reform in its manifesto for the upcoming general election because it was unable to reach internal consensus about whether to revise the law.What do voters think of the DPJ's failure to state its position on the basic education law at a time it is emphasizing its determination to take power from the ruling coalition?Meanwhile, the Japanese Communist Party has insisted revising the law would mean "a change for the worse." The Social Democratic Party's manifesto makes no reference to the issue.Other matters taken up in the manifestos of the political parties include addressing the continued decline in the birthrate. The LDP pledges to provide early childhood education free of charge. Its manifesto also promises to implement measures to address such contemporary issues as the need to protect school children from external threats.The LDP also cites the need to tackle issues related to the growing number of so-called freeters (job-hopping part-timers) and NEETs (those not in education, employment or training). Nonetheless, the LDP's manifesto does not specify how it will address these problems.The DPJ has promised to reform public primary and middle schools. The party's plans include increasing the number and quality of teachers at such schools. The DPJ also has pledged to grant city, town and village governments, as well as school authorities, the power to make decisions about personnel matters and school curriculum. The opposition party should provide specific details on how it proposes to fund and implement these plans.It is never too late. We hope all political parties will upgrade their election promises on education. Doing so will make education reform a key issue in the lower house election campaign, providing electors with a basis for deciding which party to vote for.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	819	2005-08-28	YOSHIN0020050829e18s001uw
YOMSHI0020050828e18t0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050828e18t0000c	EN	\N	Parties must outline their approach to China	How should Japan deal with China? Exploring this question is a major task for Japanese foreign policy this century.	4	2005-08-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is reasonable for each major political party to mention China in its manifesto for the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election. However, the parties' manifestos only call for "increasing cooperation" with China and "rebuilding the bilateral relationship." The parties should outline specific policies toward China and lock horns in debate during the election campaign.Economic relations between Japan and China have become more interdependent in recent years, with Japan's trade with China exceeding that with the United States last year. Building better cooperative ties between Japan and China will serve the national interests of both nations. Doing so will be essential to ensure stability in the Asia-Pacific region.Japan under greater pressureHowever, China has criticized Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for visiting and worshipping at Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class-A war criminals. Since October 2001, there have been no mutual visits between the Japanese and Chinese leaders.A Chinese nuclear-powered submarine intruded into Japanese waters last autumn. In the spring, many anti-Japanese demonstrations took place in China, opposing Tokyo's bid to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. The two countries are still at odds over natural gas exploration projects in the East China Sea.Japan has been coming under increasing pressure in recent years.The Liberal Democratic Party's manifesto states the party will "increase future-oriented partnerships with China and other neighboring countries and make progress in building an Asian community." The LDP should specify what kind of measures it will adopt to achieve that goal.The LDP's coalition partner, New Komeito, proposes making Japan better understood by China through efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges in the private sector.The LDP's promise to make headway in creating an "Asian community" can be compared with Koizumi's proposal for an "East Asian community." The ruling party's position reflects its desire to address concerns that building an East Asian community could mean putting the United States to one side.Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto declares the leading opposition party will "strive to build an East Asian community."All this means both the LDP and the DPJ will seek an economic integration in this part of the world. It should be noted, however, that "community" is a misleading term.East Asia not EUIt is impossible to sum up East Asian governments in terms of a single principle comparable to that championed by the European Union, all members of which share the fundamental principles of freedom and democracy.China and Vietnam are undemocratic states ruled by their respective Communist parties with an iron fist. It is nothing but a sheer illusion to create an East Asian community comparable to the EU.A set of specific foreign policies stipulated in the DPJ's manifesto is preambled by a statement stating that this nation will not stop reflecting on and apologizing for its pre-World War II colonial rule and aggression toward Asian neighbors, while also "reviewing all aspects of the war, which ended 60 years ago."The issue cited by the DPJ has been left unaddressed in the postwar years. The DPJ's proposal is noteworthy in that it will shed light on where responsibility for the war rests.No political party has clarified its basic perception about issues related to China such as the country's economic and energy policies, its rapid military buildup and modernization. None of their manifestos reveal how they will deal with China in the medium and long term.We hope all political parties will present their strategies for dealing with China in a manner that serves Japan's national interest.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	675	2005-08-29	YOSHIN0020050830e18t000cn
YOMSHI0020050829e18u0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050829e18u0000h	EN	\N	Parties must clarify policies for future	On the eve of the official start of election campaigning, leaders of the country's six major parties spelled out their basic policies on such key issues during a nationally televised debate sponsored by the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo. As a result, it has become clear how each party is prioritizing the various issues.	4	2005-08-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who also serves as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, said he wanted to put postal privatization on the national ballot as the House of Councillors had rejected the Cabinet's postal reform bills. Takenori Kanzaki, leader of New Komeito, the LDP's ruling coalition partner, concurred.Katsuya Okada, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, said he wanted to reform Japan, particularly emphasizing pension reform and showing a strong desire to take the helm of government.Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii objected to tax hikes, while Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima stressed the importance of rectifying the gap between the rich and the poor. Both Shii and Fukushima opposed revising the Constitution. For his part, Tamisuke Watanuki, head of the newly formed People's New Party, lashed out at Koizumi over his political style.Fate of postal billsIn their election manifestoes, the LDP and New Komeito have mentioned a goal of having a special Diet session, to be convened soon after the election, pass the bills to privatize Japan Post. It must be remembered, however, that the upper house--which voted down the bills--remains intact.The prime minister said, "Should the LDP and New Komeito win a majority in the lower house election, those who voted against the bills will change their minds to endorse the bills." Koizumi ought to elaborate on the reason he is so confident of seeing the bills voted into law after the election.As for postal savings and kampo postal insurance services, Okada said, "We'll have no choice in the future but to privatize or abolish them." We wonder why the DPJ failed to float a proposal of its own for postal reform during the latest Diet session as pointed out by the prime minister. The DPJ should clarify how its version of postal reform--privatization or abolishment--would proceed.It is desirable for pension and other social security systems to remain solid regardless of changes in government. From such a perspective, Koizumi said the social security issues should not be brought up as a major point of contention during the election campaigning period.Reforming social securityInstead, all parties should continue holding an ad hoc joint parliamentary committee focusing on social security reform, he said. Obviously behind those remarks was his wish to see the general election contested only over postal privatization.Okada touched on a DPJ proposal for integrating the country's pension plans, showing his determination to make social security reform an issue during the campaign. As people become anxious about the future of the social security systems, both ruling and opposition parties are obliged to show the way toward resolving the issue.If one looks into future fiscal resources for social security benefits and fiscal rehabilitation, a possible increase in the consumption tax should emerge as an important election issue.Koizumi said, "If someone wanted to raise the consumption tax, it would be too early to do so in fiscal 2007." It was the first time the prime minister referred to such a time element in relation to a possible tax hike.Okada said the DPJ envisaged the introduction of a consumption tax whose revenue would be exclusively injected into the pension plans in the coming three years during which government expenditures would be slashed. "After that period, we will have to think of a tax increase," he said.The upcoming general election is crucial to setting the course the country will follow in the future. Each party should show the nation more specific future prospects during their election campaigning.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	712	2005-08-30	YOSHIN0020050831e18u000gh
YOMSHI0020050830e18v0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050830e18v0000d	EN	\N	Voters should scrutinize parties' policies	The 12-day campaign for the 44th House of Representatives election--a key opportunity for the nation to set its future prospects and ways to attain them--officially kicked off Tuesday.	4	2005-08-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The election is the fourth of its kind for the lower house, with seats at stake in small, single-seat constituencies and region-based proportional representation blocs. Both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan have fielded the largest-ever numbers of candidates in the single-seat electoral districts. As a result, the two parties are competing each other in 280 of the 300 small constituencies.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who concurrently is president of the LDP, has pledged that "I will go" if his party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, fall even one seat short of the 241-seat majority. DPJ President Katsuya Okada, for his part, has said he will not stay on as party leader if the opposition party fails to take over the government.Their remarks depict the basic nature of the forthcoming general election--choosing a government led by either of the two largest parties.There have been many unprecedented developments concerning the Sept. 11 election since the dissolution of the lower house.Prime Minister Koizumi dissolved the lower house immediately after the House of Councillors voted down his government's bills for postal privatization on Aug. 8. In a quick follow-up, he handpicked well-known women and bureaucrats--all of whom are postal reformists--to run against former LDP lawmakers who voted against the bills. Meanwhile, postal rebels, driven into a corner, consequently formed the People's New Party and New Party Nippon.The prime minister-orchestrated tactic of fielding so-called assassins has resulted in not only an uptrend in voter awareness of the lower house election, but also an increase in the public's approval rating for the Koizumi administration.Voters should not be misled by eye-catching developments that might be suitable for "wide shows" on TV. What does matter now is each party's solutions to the pressing issues facing the nation.Koizumi defines the coming election as a "national referendum" on the postal privatization bills. Indeed, voters are being presented with what seems an easy choice between the postal reformist ruling coalition and the opposition camp, which objects to such reform.Reacting to the ruling camp's criticism that the DPJ has shown no policy initiatives of its own vis-a-vis postal privatization, the largest opposition party has included in its election manifesto a policy of retaining Japan Post, while gradually lowering the ceiling on postal savings with a view to finally halving the overall amount of outstanding savings at post offices within eight years.However, the the DPJ policy is short of specific measures to realize its version of postal reform. For example, the party does not touch on personnel cuts, which would be an inevitable consequence of any contraction of the postal savings system. The ruling parties are critical of the DPJ for giving special consideration to the labor union of Japan Post, which supports the main opposition party.Other issues just as pressingIt goes without saying that issues at stake in the election are not limited to postal privatization.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey conducted just ahead of the official start of election campaigning, voters cited reform of the country's social security system, including pension plans, as the issue of greatest importance.Owing to a shrinking population and the badly shaped fiscal structure, the very foundation of the social security system is being shaken. Presumably, people feel increasingly concerned about their future livelihood because it remains unknown yet what will happen to their burdens and benefits under the pension plans.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's demographic statistics show that the number of new births fell below that of deaths during the first half of this year, leading to a decrease of about 31,000 people in the national population. Therefore, Japan is likely to see a demographic contraction happening earlier than has been projected.In other words, the nation must urgently tackle social security reform.The LDP says it will first seek the integration of the kosei nenkin pension plan for company employees and the kyosai nenkin pension plan for civil servants and then look into the possibility of merging the combined plans with the kokumin nenkin national pension plan for the self-employed and unemployed. The DPJ calls for a fundamental reform by integrating all pension plans by fiscal 2008.But no specific programs, including the actual process for such integration, have been presented, making the future outline of the pension plans cloudy.It should be pointed out that no reform can be realized without causing pain to the people. To secure fiscal resources for social security outlays in the future, the nation cannot avoid a hike in the consumption tax.In its election manifesto, the DPJ has mentioned the introduction of a consumption tax with revenue generated from it to be exclusively spent to finance the pension system. But it does not say how much the consumption tax will be raised or when it will be raised. Without being briefed on specific burdens and benefits in the future, the people can hardly feel reassured.The LDP calls for the reform of the nation's tax regime, including the consumption tax, as early as fiscal 2007. The ruling party, too, should be more specific about its approach to securing resources for social security and its effect on fiscal reform.Given the fact that long-term debts of the central and regional governments now exceed 770 trillion yen, voters can no longer be impressed by such rosy outlooks.Severe intl environmentOn the diplomatic front, Japan now has to think how to forge its relations with China, which is strengthening not only its economy, but also its military might. Likewise, Japan must devise an approach to have North Korea abolish its nuclear weapons development program, which is a threat to our national security. Thus, the circumstances surrounding Japan are severe and uncertain.The DPJ, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party demand that the government pull Self-Defense Forces personnel out of Samawah, southern Iraq.Currently, Iraq is in the political process toward reconstruction of the country. The Iraqi government has asked Japan to extend the stationing of SDF personnel. As a member of the international community, Japan has to play a role necessary for helping stabilize the Iraqi situation.In the election campaign, parties should discuss Japan's diplomatic and security strategies--undoubtedly a key election issue--by setting their sights not only on a specific region, but also on the whole of the international community.The existing Constitution has become out of touch with the environment surrounding Japan's national security, economy and society. The Diet has spent five years--plenty of time--debating at the lower and house chambers' ad hot research panels on what to do with the supreme law. The lower house research committee has come up with a report that basically favors the revision of the Constitution.All of the parties and their candidates must remember that it is their important duty to discuss a new constitution that will show the people the future course of the country and its goals as a nation and as a society.There must be no situation in which genuine party-to-party and candidate-to-candidate contention over policy approaches becomes overshadowed by theatrical politics. Each voter should thoroughly scrutinize which party offers realistic and convincing approaches to the issues facing the nation and will tackle them without delay.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1346	2005-08-31	YOSHIN0020050901e18v000cn
YOMSHI0020050831e1910000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050831e1910000i	EN	\N	You, too, could end up a victim of a disaster	This is probably because there has been a spate of strong earthquakes registering upper 5 or more on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 since the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake in October.	4	2005-09-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Thursday is Disaster Prevention Day. Under the scenario that disasters caused by earthquakes, including a near-field quake in Tokyo, have occurred, a government-sponsored general emergency drill is to be held in Tokyo and eight neighboring prefectures, with an estimated 900,000 people participating. Similar drills will take place in Hokkaido, Osaka and other prefectures across the country.We should not let this raising of public awareness in disaster prevention dissipate. To keep the matter in our minds, we should give full scope to our imagination and ponder what we would do if we were hit by a disaster.The first question is whether we would be able to survive a disaster and how. Even if we did survive, we might end up losing our family or home. There is also a possibility of our losing our jobs if our workplaces were hit by a quake and went bankrupt as a result.Problems will linger even if damage is inflicted only on houses. Even though homeowners can rebuild their residences by borrowing money, those with outstanding mortgages will have to shoulder a double financial burden.All these things were experienced by victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. Moreover, physical and psychological damage from a disaster is difficult to heal.Damage long-lastingIn the case of the Niigata quake, the area hit by the quake remains in a serious situation. Even today, 9,500 people in 2,900 households live in temporary housing. It is not easy to realize the areas' restoration, let alone its reconstruction, which is aimed at making it more earthquake-resistant.Japan is a disaster-prone archipelago. There is a possibility of a large number of people finding themselves in dire straits at any time. How can we minimize damage from disasters? Each one of us must give thought to this, work out suitable measures and put them into practice.Antiseismic retrofitting of houses is deemed most effective in limiting earthquake damage. Are our houses quake-resistant enough? Is our furniture fixed so as not to fall when a major quake hits? Are our preparations for evacuation complete?Few firms preparedLet's look at things more broadly: Have our companies taken adequate disaster-prevention measures? What about the preparedness of our communities and that of local municipal governments?In fact, only 20 percent of companies surveyed by the Cabinet Office said they had worked out plans for continuing business operations in the event of a disaster. Meanwhile, half of primary and middle school buildings, which will be used as temporary shelters for evacuees, are not strong enough to withstand a major earthquake.Densely populated districts, in which a great number of people died during the Hanshin quake, remain in many urban districts, including the Tokyo metropolitan area.Rural areas also have many problems. When the Niigata quake hit, some villages in mountainous regions became isolated as roads became impassable in many places due to the quakes. The number of similarly vulnerable villages is estimated to total nearly 20,000 across the nation, according to the Cabinet Office.It is often said that disaster-prevention measures should be a combination of public help from the central and local governments, mutual help from local communities and individuals' self-help. The most important thing is to make an effort to protect ourselves.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2005-09-01	YOSHIN0020050902e191000f9
YOMSHI0020050901e1920000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050901e1920000d	EN	\N	Parties' ideas main focus of postal reform debate	The Democratic Party of Japan, which had asserted in its election slogan that "There are more important issues," has finally waded into the debate by presenting its specific ideas on postal reform.	4	2005-09-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The 330 trillion yen worth of funds amassed through postal savings and kampo life insurance have been used to cover fiscal deficits, supporting inefficient projects of public corporations over many years.The prime target of postal reform is rectifying this framework to allow the funds to flow, restoring fiscal discipline and rejuvenating the economy.Which postal reform plan will achieve the prime target? This is the main consideration when scrutinizing the parties' manifestos.According to the plan presented by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, a government-funded holding company will be established under which four companies for mail delivery, postal savings, postal insurance and over-the-counter services at post offices will be created in April 2007.The plan also calls for the shares of the postal savings and insurance companies to be fully disposed of within 10 years of privatization. This is designed to allow postal funds to circulate in the private sector by using the lever of privatization.Coalition plan imperfectBut there are problems, too. The holding company will be able to buy back a certain amount of shares of the two new financial entities. Through the buyback, the government will be able to regain its engagement with the two financial entities, as it is allowed to maintain more than a one-third equity stake in the holding company.If the government continues its involvement in the management of funds, there is a possibility that the flow of funds may not change much.On the other hand, the policy presented by the DPJ calls for keeping Japan Post, the present postal services entity, a public corporation.The main opposition party's plan also calls for having the maximum amount of postal savings per individual lowered in stages from the current 10 million yen to 5 million yen, thus halving the balance of postal savings in eight years. This is designed to forcibly reduce the flow of funds going into the public sector, and it may well be a viable option.Yet some have cast doubts on this idea. As those individuals' savings in excess of 5 million yen total only a combined 50 trillion yen, the balance of postal savings will be reduced only by one-fourth.In response to such skepticism, the DPJ says it is possible to halve the balance by taking such measures as having the public corporation recommend clients whose term deposits have matured to switch into investment trust products, which post offices are set to start selling over the counter.Yet is it appropriate for the public corporation to advise postal depositors, who usually put priority on protecting their capital, to place their money in riskier investment trusts?DPJ policy ambiguousShould the balance of postal savings be reduced, personnel cuts would be inevitable, but the DPJ's manifesto makes no reference to this.Although Yukio Edano, the DPJ's acting secretary general, has said 80,000 jobs will go, this has not been made official party policy.DPJ leader Katsuya Okada recently moved a step closer to envisioning the future management structure of the postal services operator, saying, "It's reasonable for postal savings and postal insurance businesses to be privatized in the future."Since Okada has made this clear, the party should present as early as possible specific ideas concerning the future structure of the postal entity.The DPJ's policy has many questionable and ambiguous points, when compared with the plan presented by the ruling coalition.But since the opposition party has now presented its counterproposal, which contains specific numerical targets for realizing postal reform, voters can now compare it with the policy of the ruling coalition.Koizumi says the biggest issue in the Sept. 11 election is whether to approve postal privatization. We think, however, that the focus should be on the substance of the reform.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	727	2005-09-02	YOSHIN0020050905e192001tu
YOMSHI0020050902e1930000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050902e1930000j	EN	\N	Parties under challenge over social security	According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, families of elderly people will account for 37 percent of all domestic households within 20 years, with one-person households accounting for 35 percent of the total.	4	2005-09-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Rapid changes seem to be taking place in the shape of the Japanese family today, with the rapid aging of the population and rise in the number of one-person households. There has been a gradual erosion of mutual help among people who would otherwise be bound by blood or communal ties.All this means that the social security system will have an even greater role to play in an aging society with a declining birthrate.Reform measures cosmeticHowever, politicians and political parties are not keeping up with these changes. All the measures they have announced in the name of reform are just cosmetic steps. This is the root of the anxiety felt by members of the public about the social security system.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll taken just before the start of the House of Representatives election campaign, 40 percent of voters surveyed said they regarded social security reform as a key policy issue. It is only natural that the system, including state-run pension programs, has become one of the major campaign issues in the Sept. 11 poll.All political parties have the important task of showing voters what kind of pension and other social security programs will emerge as a result of their reform plans. They also must spell out the nature of the inevitable greater financial burden to be placed on the public to sustain the social security system.But the manifestos of both the ruling and opposition parties are inadequate in many respects.The manifestos of the Liberal Democratic Party and its ruling coalition partner, New Komeito, reflect their assertion that all basic problems in reforming the state-run pension system were resolved when the Diet passed a set of pension reform plans last year. Their manifestos say they will combine the corporate employees pension plan with a mutual-aid pension program covering government workers.Yet there is nothing new about this integration plan. In 2001, a similar plan was adopted at a cabinet meeting. The LDP and New Komeito should tell voters when they will implement it.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said it is "desirable" to combine the state-run basic pension plan with a pension system to be created by integrating the corporate employees pension plan and the government workers pension scheme. He has also said his administration would "consider" how to accomplish the goal.But the prime minister has not yet stated whether he will take actual steps to achieve the target. He also has avoided discussing the imposition of a greater financial burden on the public, including a rise in the consumption tax rate. Koizumi's attitude is far from responsible.The manifesto of the Democratic Party of Japan promises to implement a pension reform plan that puts the burden on taxpayers. The DPJ's plan would introduce a new consumption tax whose revenues would be used exclusively to finance a guaranteed minimum pension plan.The leading opposition party also has pledged to introduce a taxpayer identification number system for the purpose of properly determining the incomes of self-employed people, while also integrating all state-run pension programs, including the basic pension plan, which covers every citizen.DPJ promises hard to deliverStill, questions should be raised about the practicality of the DPJ's manifesto, which pledges to introduce the new consumption tax and the new pension system three years later. Are all these promises so easy to deliver?There are many difficult hurdles to clear in carrying out the reforms pledged by the DPJ, including devising procedures for replacing the current system with a new one and drawing a line between a guaranteed minimum pension program and social welfare benefits. Given this, the opposition party's manifesto is too ill-defined.The new government that will be formed after the upcoming general election should not be allowed to use the dispute over social security reform for political purposes, as in the past. Doing so would only waste time.All political parties should present voters with specific reform plans in a manner that will enable both the ruling and opposition parties to hold constructive discussions on social security reform.For their part, voters should closely examine each party's manifesto and determine which is truly serious about reforming the system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	794	2005-09-03	YOSHIN0020050905e19300152
YOMSHI0020050903e1940000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050903e1940000b	EN	\N	Fixing state's finances new govt's main task	The combined total of long-term debts incurred by the national and local governments is expected to exceed 770 trillion yen at the end of the current fiscal year. How should this nation deal with the world's largest fiscal deficit? Needless to say, overcoming this crisis requires reform that will entail pain in the form of cuts in annual government expenditures combined with efforts to secure revenue.	4	2005-09-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, there is no denying the campaign manifestos of the ruling and opposition parties are inadequate in addressing the issue. The Liberal Democratic Party's manifesto says the party will strive to achieve primary balance as a step toward fiscal health early in the next decade. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto pledges to accomplish the goal within eight years. But neither party is clear about the specific methods to be adopted to achieve these targets.To curtail government expenditures, the LDP's manifesto only promises to implement such measures as reducing personnel costs through a cut in the number of government employees. Other measures mentioned include a reduction in funding for public works projects. But the manifesto incorporates few specific steps to achieve these targets. The amount of reduced expenditures cited in the LDP's manifesto is too modest.Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Japan is fairly boastful about its pledge to cut expenditures and secure revenue. The leading opposition party's manifesto promises to reduce government expenditures by 17 trillion yen annually while also increasing spending on high-priority policies by 7 trillion yen. This means that the DPJ's manifesto pledges to curtail annual government expenditures by 10 trillion yen.Promises doubtfulHowever, questions can be raised about policies incorporated into the DPJ's manifesto. The opposition party promises to reduce personnel costs for national government employees by 20 percent. However, it is questionable whether the DPJ will be able to achieve such goal as a party backed by Kokko Rengo, a national federation of labor unions at government organizations, independent administrative corporations and public corporations.The DPJ's also pledges in its manifesto to halve the number of large public works projects directly supervised by the central government. It is easy to see this target is difficult to achieve if one stops to think about the need to improve the functionality of large cities, including a Haneda Airport expansion project in Tokyo.The DPJ also promises to dispense with expressways tolls. What can be done to repay the 40 trillion yen in debts incurred by four highway-related public corporations if the opposition party's plan is implemented? Dispensing with highway tolls means no revenue will be gained by operating expressways. This would eventually force the government to use taxpayers' money to maintain expressways nationwide.The DPJ's pledge contrasts with the government's current plan, which will seeks to repay the debts through highway tolls. Some critics also say the party's policy runs counter to efforts to reform the system governing annual government expenditures.Details neededBoth the LDP and the DPJ say little about cuts in social security costs and tax grants to local governments. Expenses in these two categories account for a good portion of the government's annual budget. Given this, it will be impossible to rein in government expenditures if nothing is done to reduce social security costs and tax allocations to local governments. The LDP and the DPJ should present specific measures to deliver on their promises as soon as possible.To secure government revenue, the LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, pledge to fundamentally reform the tax system by the end of fiscal 2007, including the consumption tax. Meanwhile, the DPJ promises to introduce a new consumption tax whose revenue will be used exclusively to help finance the state-run pension plan, a move that will, in effect, raise the consumption tax rate, which stands at 5 percent today.It will be indispensable to increase the consumption tax to cover snowballing social security costs. We hope the political parties will debate how much the tax rate should be raised during their campaigns for the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election.Both the ruling and opposition parties are evasive about discussing hikes in tax rates other than the consumption tax. The state is in dire fiscal straits, as shown by the issuance of government bonds worth more than 30 trillion yen annually. Under the circumstances, it will be almost impossible to replenish the depleted state coffers solely through cuts in government expenditures.The political parties should tell the public it is inevitable that they will have to shoulder greater financial burdens to reform the state finances, although such efforts merit attention to the condition of the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	844	2005-09-04	YOSHIN0020050905e194000eu
YOMSHI0020050904e1950000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050904e1950000a	EN	\N	Public safety belongs on campaign agenda	In the current election campaign, the major political parties have all included enhancement of public safety as one of their election pledges, however, they have hardly discussed it as a campaign issue. Lack of attention to this issue may run counter the priorities of the public.	4	2005-09-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Results of two polls conducted this spring by The Yomiuri Shimbun clearly showed the public has grave concerns about its safety.The biggest group, 61 percent of respondents, said that an increase in crime was the biggest problem in Japan 60 years after the end of World War II. In another survey on public safety, 74 percent expressed worry that they could become crime victims.In their daily lives, many people apparently feel an increase in the number of foreign criminals, that juvenile criminals are getting younger, and the nature of crimes committed is growing increasingly atrocious.A new threat to public safety is international terrorism. This is the first election campaign in this country in which the police have tightened security to contain terrorism. Police are more numerous and more evident in major train stations and other public places in and around big cities.Respect public's concernsThe parties' campaign promises do not accurately reflect the public's concern and actual security situation. In general, they are not cautious enough.The Liberal Democratic Party has promised voters it will take steps to staff unmanned police boxes and halve the number of foreigners staying illegally in Japan. These have already been incorporated in the government's anticrime measures and counterterrorism action plan, which are being carried out by concerned ministries and agencies. Such pledges are appropriate as a party of the ruling coalition, but the LDP has just cited them without detailing how they will be achieved.The Democratic Party of Japan has a drastic revision of the bugging law in its pledges. Since there is no law in the country officially entitled the bugging law, the DPJ are probably referring to the law concerning interception of telecommunications. However, the biggest opposition party has not clarified the contents of its proposed revision.Meet international standardsAuthorities in North America and Europe use similar laws effectively to deal with international terrorism and organized crime.As the times require cooperation among members of the international community, the mindset of calling it the bugging law seems to suggest that the DPJ lacks an international viewpoint.The party also promises to give governors more authority to supervise prefectural police organizations. However, such a move could influence police administration that must be fair, neutral and nonpartisan.When Japan achieved high economic development and entered a period of stable growth in 1979, 1.29 million criminal cases were reported and arrests were made in 59 percent of those cases. However, the number of crimes later started to increase and reached 2.56 million cases last year, while the arrest rate dropped to 26 percent.According to the fiscal 1979 Justice Ministry white paper on crime, the number of crimes did not increase during the economic growth period in Japan after the end of World War II because the country had uniformity in race, language and culture; solidarity and unity among families, local communities and companies; and unique ethics stressing compassion and harmony among people, which has resulted from the nation's cultural tradition.However, the situation surrounding society and crime has completely changed in a quarter of a century. The parties are responsible for facing these changes directly and for considering seriously what measures are needed to ensure public safety.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2005-09-05	YOSHIN0020050906e195000b5
YOMSHI0020050905e1960000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050905e1960000h	EN	\N	Parties mum on vital issue of tax reform	Though only a short period of time remains before Sunday's vote, the parties should try to further clarify their plans on the future of the tax system, providing voters with options to choose from.	4	2005-09-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito that comprise the ruling coalition have said they would carry out drastic tax system reform, including reviewing the consumption tax rate, around fiscal 2007.In past national elections, they had stressed that the consumption tax rate would never be raised under the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Though they took a step forward by referring to tax system reform, they still have left some ambiguity by not stipulating that the consumption tax rate would be raised.The Democratic Party of Japan said that it would not hike taxes in the next three years for fiscal consolidation, while proposing to introduce an additional consumption tax as a revenue source to fund a new minimum pension program. The additional consumption tax rate would be 3 percent, said DPJ President Katsuya Okada.The party should be commended for proposing the consumption tax hike, but it did not specify how it would separate the new consumption tax for the public pension system from the conventional consumption tax.Policy details unclearIt is also unclear whether the new consumption tax rate will be raised automatically as the amount of money needed for pensions is expected to increase steadily.The government's Tax Commission had previously proposed reforming income and resident taxes, but the ruling coalition rejected the idea, stressing that it would never introduce a tax hike aimed at salaried workers. The opposition parties also strongly oppose a tax increase targeted at salaried workers.However, 6 percent of the national income goes to income and resident tax in Japan, compared with 12 percent in the United States and Germany, and 11 percent in France. Japan's rate is lower than not only that of the United States, where tax revenues come mainly from direct taxation, but also those of European countries where tax revenues are mainly from indirect taxes.Silence deafeningOf course, a tax hike aimed at salaried workers is out of the question, but the income tax increase will be unavoidable in the medium and longer term. Nonetheless, no political party has mentioned this issue.In Germany's general election, which will be held a week after Japan's, tax reform to reduce the fiscal deficit has become a major campaign issue.Germany's ruling Social Democratic Party proposes raising the maximum income tax rate by 3 percent, while the opposition Christian Democratic Union promises to lower the maximum income tax rate by 2 percent and to raise the value-added tax rate by 3 percent.Regardless of which party wins, easy-to-understand options are laid out for voters.In Japan, the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party propose raising the maximum income and corporate tax rates. However, in today's globalized business environment, such tax hikes might lead to an exodus of companies from the nation and sap the vitality of those that remain. What are their answers to these concerns?In the election campaigns, the parties are competing with each other in their proposals to increase child-care allowances as a measure to stop a decreasing birth rate. However, only the DPJ has proposed reducing the income tax deduction as a financial source for accomplishing their plan.The parties should stop trying to bribe voters with their own tax money as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2005-09-06	YOSHIN0020050907e196000f1
YOMSHI0020050906e1970000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050906e1970000j	EN	\N	Derailment report leaves questions unanswered	The Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission on Tuesday submitted to Construction and Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa an interim report on the April 25 derailment on JR West's Fukuchiyama Line in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.	4	2005-09-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the report, the train approached the curve where it derailed at about 115 kph, though the speed limit there was 70 kph. Also, the train had overshot Itami Station by about 70 meters shortly before the derailment.These facts had already been brought to light and were confirmed by the report. The report also says the driver did not apply the brakes for about 40 seconds, including when it was running on the stretch just before the curve.Why did the driver behave so oddly? Did he lose concentration? Or was he under excessive stress due to the fact that train drivers of West Japan Railway Co. who commit operational mistakes had to undergo disciplinary retraining while at the same time they reportedly were required to follow excessively tight operating schedules?The interim report fails to clarify these questions. We hope they will be cleared up when the commission makes its final report in about two years' time.The report also reveals that the train conductor failed to operate the radio alarm system designed to instruct nearby trains to stop at the time of an emergency. This could have led to another major accident.Comprehensive probe neededBesides the derailment, there were 46 incidents in fiscal 2004 in which the advanced automatic train stop (ATS) system was activated due to errors by JR West train drivers, the report says.Neither East Japan Railway Co. nor Central Japan Railway Co. reported any such emergency stops on their railways in the same fiscal year, highlighting once again JR West's failure to adopt adequate safety measures.The company has been the subject of harsh criticism from those who claim that its corporate management style prioritizing business efficiency led to the fatal accident.The commission should investigate the accident from a broad perspective, examining a range of items, from management of train operations to whether safety measures are adequate, so the company can come up with steps to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents.JR West's response tardyIn line with the submission of the interim report, the commission made four proposals to the minister for train operators to implement as soon as possible: upgrading the functions of the ATS system; improving the radio alarm system to prevent secondary accidents; enhancing the accuracy of speedometers; and installing data recorders to track how trains are operated.JR West said in late May it had compiled a plan for improving operational safety and put the safety measures into practice.But in the case of the advanced ATS system, for instance, the company has so far installed such devices at only 30 locations, despite its plan to set them up at about 1,200 locations within a year. JR West has been dragging its feet. It needs to expedite its efforts to improve safety measures in line with the commission's proposals.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	543	2005-09-07	YOSHIN0020050908e197000eh
YOMSHI0020050907e1980000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050907e1980000g	EN	\N	Strengthen measures to cope with typhoons	Many people were killed or listed as missing as a result of the typhoon. Even after the typhoon passes, we cannot feel at ease as rivers may continue rising or the ground may have become unstable.	4	2005-09-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We hope damage from the typhoon will not expand further.Typhoons hit Japan every year. In the past few years, however, they have wreaked major damage, as if we were attacked off guard. There have been many cases in which stormy winds and torrential rains have inflicted serious damage.Bringing huge rain clouds, the latest typhoon moved slowly, sometime as slowly as a bicycle. It also brought in a massive amount of moist air to an autumn rain front that was hanging above the archipelago east and west, aggravating the damage from the torrential rains.In the Tokyo metropolitan area, weather-related damage occurred even before the typhoon pounded Japan. Early this week, heavy rain, measuring more than 100 millimeters per hour, hit Tokyo, Saitama and neighboring prefectures, causing many rivers to overflow and flooding many houses above floor level.The Meteorological Agency is increasing its vigilance, pointing out that recently there has been an increase in the occurrence of torrential rains, often following typhoons.Storms now hard to predictSome experts have claimed that the increase in torrential rainfall is linked to global warming. Such rainfall has taken the form of unpredicted and isolated downpours, leaving forecasts almost useless. There have even been cases in which people did not have enough time to take refuge.There is no telling when torrential rain will hit. On the assumption that there is no knowing in advance, the central and local governments need to expedite their efforts to come up with countermeasures. Besides, the Japanese archipelago is becoming ever more vulnerable each year to damage from heavy rains.In urban areas, where streets are paved with asphalt, there is little room for rainwater to escape. Even a midsize or small river can overflow into streets if a storm causes the water level to rise quickly.Meanwhile, hilly lands are losing much of their water-retention ability, chiefly due to land development. In these areas, many houses stand that are vulnerable to landslides. According to a survey taken by the Construction and Transport Ministry, there are as many as 210,000 such danger spots across the nation.Update hazard mapsFirst of all, the central government's meteorological observation system should be improved so the government can issue detailed forecasts quickly. Governments of cities, towns and villages also should define in advance their criteria for issuing evacuation calls and issue them promptly when necessary.Another important task is the upgrading of hazard maps for local governments. A hazard map indicates areas likely to be inundated by overflowing rivers and shows facilities to which people can evacuate. Yet only 30 percent of local governments have upgraded their hazard maps to cover areas at risk if major rivers flood.Local governments that have already upgraded their hazard maps also need to revise them to reflect changing conditions in their localities. In Suginami Ward, Tokyo, which is said to be an advanced locality with regard to countermeasures for natural disasters, some of the areas inundated by overflowing rivers early this week were found to have been left out of areas vulnerable to flooding in the ward's hazard map.Is the area surrounding our residence safe? In protecting our own lives, it is a good idea to check whether our neighborhood is safe from flooding. At the same time, we should confirm the location of places to which we can evacuate in our neighborhood at the time of a natural disaster.The typhoon season is just coming into full swing. We should be on the alert.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2005-09-08	YOSHIN0020050909e198000eh
YOMSHI0020050908e1990000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050908e1990000i	EN	\N	Action needed against illegal bird flu vaccines	There is reason to believe that the sporadic outbreaks of avian influenza in Ibaraki Prefecture and an adjacent area may be due to someone having given chickens an unapproved vaccine.	4	2005-09-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While it is too early to conclude that foul play is involved, the affair is a serious matter that contravenes efforts to prevent further outbreaks. The truth of the matter must be determined as soon as possible.It is known that the recent outbreak has affected 30 poultry farms in Ibaraki Prefecture and one in Saitama Prefecture. Bird flu antibody tests showed that some chickens at these farms were positive, with the virus found at seven farms.According to an Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry panel on avian diseases, genes in the detected virus match those found in Mexico and other countries.It is difficult to believe that birds infected with such viruses have arrived in Japan from Latin America. The subcommittee on avian diseases has said a vaccine made using the avian flu viruses in that region may have been smuggled into this country, and given to chickens at the affected farms.It is presumed that the chickens given the vaccine in question have contracted avian flu because the otherwise preventive vaccine was defective.Vaccine use dangerousThe farm ministry is the only domestic organization that stores preventive vaccines against bird flu. Under the circumstances, however, the ministry does not intend to use them.If they are given such antiviral vaccines, chickens would only show mild symptoms of avian flu if they were infected with the disease. But this means the use of antiviral vaccines would make it impossible to entirely prevent the spread of avian flu.Giving chicken antiviral vaccines could hamper efforts to detect bird flu viruses at an early stage, spreading the disease across many areas.The virus detected in the recent outbreaks of avian flu has a weak strain, but it could mutate into a virulent one.Caution must be exercised even in using an approved vaccine, given the threat that could be posed if the avian flu virus mutated into a human influenza virus.Needless to say, the use of an unapproved vaccine is out of the question. It is against the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Law to import, produce and use anti-bird flu viruses without permission.According to the Japan Poultry Association, an East Asian company has approached a domestic poultry farmer with an offer to sell avian flu vaccines. But little has been done to uncover the truth behind such an illegal channel for the sale of unauthorized vaccines.Other industries at riskThe poultry industry is not the only one susceptible to the use of unapproved vaccines. Swine cholera broke out in Kagoshima Prefecture last year, and it is believed that the culprit was an illegal vaccine.Some poultry and livestock farmers may be using unauthorized vaccines without much thought. The farm ministry, prefectural governments and industry associations should take thorough measures to investigate the way animal drugs are being used in this country.They also should bring criminal charges against farmers found to have used unauthorized drugs.Alarmed by the recent outbreaks of avian flu, the government is conducting an emergency investigation of poultry farms nationwide. The research must continue to ensure avian diseases can be detected at an early stage and to prevent the use of unauthorized vaccines.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2005-09-09	YOSHIN0020050912e199000fm
YOMSHI0020050909e19a0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050909e19a0000j	EN	\N	Election shows change in political landscape	A lower house election gives voters the opportunity to choose a new government. Given this, every voter should think about what kind of administration should be formed to adequately and swiftly tackle a host of problems both at home and overseas, with the aim of laying a solid foundation for this country in the 21st century.	4	2005-09-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Sunday's poll will be the fourth of its kind to be fought since the current electoral formula was introduced for the lower house, combining single-seat constituency races with those contested under the proportional representation (PR) system.The lower house election system is designed to help create a two-party political system, while also facilitating a battle over policy rather than over individual candidates. The latest election campaign shows a certain amount of progress has been made in achieving these goals.The Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan are sparring in 280 of the 300 single-seat constituencies in the upcoming election, 34 more than in the 2003 lower house election.Coalition gave clear choicePrior to the start of the election campaign, the ruling coalition of the LDP and New Komeito told voters they would remain partners if they won the general election. This did much to show that the poll presented a choice between the LDP-New Komeito coalition led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and a government headed by DPJ President Katsuya Okada.Koizumi strived to make postal privatization the one and only issue debated in the election campaign.He did not endorse LDP members who voted against postal reform bills as party candidates, instead playing a key role in fielding women, bureaucrats and well-known figures to stand against postal rebels.Koizumi's daring decision to send such "assassins" to defeat the postal dissenters generated a degree of theatrical excitement among the public, boosting interest in the poll.It should be noted, however, that postal reform is not the only important issue facing this country. There are many other tasks to be tackled by the government, including social security and fiscal reform, external relations and national security.It is hard to say that these issues have been thoroughly debated during the election campaign.Extra debates usefulDuring the 12-day campaign, the leaders of major parties took themselves off the sidelines to debate issues, showing the parties are the center of attention in the race.This contrasted with previous national polls in which the leaders have only locked horns in the debate organized by the Japan National Press Club.While they met at the press club in the latest campaign, they also faced off in five other debates during news programs broadcast by television stations.During these debates, some party leaders revealed specific plans not included in their manifestos. For instance, the DPJ leader said it would be reasonable to privatize two state-run postal businesses--postal savings and life insurance--in reforming the postal system.Okada's action may, in part, have reflected his desire to help his party better contest the ongoing race. At the same time, though, his statement may have make the DPJ's postal reform policies and goals better known to voters.The upcoming lower house election will be the third of its kind to be contested since the LDP and New Komeito formed a coalition government in 1999.Since then, an increasing number of LDP candidates running in single-seat constituencies have urged voters to cast their ballots for New Komeito in PR races. This also is true with some former LDP members who entered the race as independents after voting against postal privatization.Meanwhile, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party have sought to survive the lower house race by telling voters this nation needs opposition parties.The People's New Party and New Party Nippon--both splinter groups of dissenters from the LDP--have strived for seats in the lower house by attacking Koizumi's political methods.How should these changes in the political landscape be viewed in determining what kind of administration should be formed following Sunday's election? Voters should keep their wits about them as they go to the polls.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	738	2005-09-10	YOSHIN0020050912e19a00183
YOMSHI0020050910e19b0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050910e19b0000e	EN	\N	Future of the nation lies in voters' hands	The main issue for voters in this election is whether to choose the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, or the creation of a new government with the Democratic Party of Japan at its center.	4	2005-09-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Today, Japan stands at a major crossroads.The population will soon start shrinking due to an aging society and a declining birthrate. Though it is rising from its slumber, the Japanese economy is not yet back to full health. It also is uncertain whether the current social security system--including the public pension programs--remains sustainable, as the government faces serious fiscal difficulties.The nation faces tough problems, and uncertainty about the future weighs heavily on the public. A voter should cast his or her ballot carefully after pondering what he or she wants for the future of Japan and the lives of its people.Koizumi has defined this election as a national referendum on his bills to privatize postal services.Before the Aug. 8 dissolution of the lower house, public interest in the privatization of postal services was low. But according to results of a poll conducted after the dissolution, postal privatization rose to second in a list of issues considered important by voters when considering which candidate or party to vote for. In this sense, Koizumi's political gamble seems to have paid off.The change in voter attitudes has forced the DPJ to present a counterproposal to Koizumi's postal privatization bills. The main opposition party has proposed maintaining Japan Post, but lowering--in phases--the ceiling on postal savings.In election debates, DPJ President Katsuya Okada added to this by saying postal savings and insurance should be privatized or abolished.Issues kept off the stumpHowever, postal privatization is just one of many important issues facing domestic politics.For instance, according to the results of a poll for The Yomiuri Shimbun, social security system reform was the most important political issue for voters. Those questioned apparently had serious reservations about their post-retirement years.There are only two years to go before those dubbed the baby boomer generation start retiring en masse--and in the same year, the nation's population is forecast to begin its steep decline.In 2004, the birth rate dropped to a record 1.29 children per woman.As the number of children decline, radical reform of the public pension and other social security programs, which are currently designed so that the working generation are forced to support the elderly, will be unavoidable.The DPJ proposes consolidating public pension programs, creating a minimum pension program with money earned from a new consumption tax.Meanwhile, the ruling coalition proposes consolidating pension programs for private company employees and government employees and only reforming the national pension plan after this is achieved. It says reform of the national pension plan should be postponed because currently a large number of people do not pay premiums, but it is very difficult to check their incomes and whether they should be paying.The DPJ and the ruling coalition seem to have cross-purposes and also have failed to clarify the balance between premiums and benefits. Despite this, social security reform remains an extremely important issue that directly relates to the lives of voters.Govt debt a cruel legacyFiscal rehabilitation is another issue that requires immediate attention. Central and local governments have accumulated long-term debts estimated at 774 trillion yen as of the end of this fiscal year, 1.5 times Japan's gross domestic product. We cannot pass on these huge debts to future generations.Every party says measures should be taken to thoroughly cut spending. But of course, it is not enough.The LDP pledged this election to radically reform the current taxation system--including the consumption tax rate--in fiscal 2007. Koizumi has said consumption tax will not go up that year, but it cannot be avoided in the future.Okada, for his part, said the new consumption tax envisioned to pay for the minimum public pension program would be 3 percent."The tax hike will be an option to consider only after spending is cut thoroughly over three years," the DPJ's president said.However, Okada did not give clear explanations of the relationship between his plan and the entire rehabilitation of the government's finances.What about burdens on the public? Fiscal rehabilitation will be difficult only with cuts in spending, largely because the constant growth of the economy cannot be relied on. Raising income tax will be unavoidable in the middle and longer term, a possibility voters must take into consideration.Basic law marks parties outRevising the constitution is an issue that gives rise to discussions over what kind of nation Japan should aspire to become.The LDP and the DPJ both announced their intentions to publish draft constitutions. The former said it would write a new constitution, while the latter promised to reveal its own proposals for revisions to the existing basic law.Meanwhile, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party said they would support the current Constitution.According to survey results, more than 60 percent of the public support amending the Constitution. The time to discuss whether the Constitution should be revised is over. Now, it is time to discuss what parts should be amended.The parties have avoided discussing the issue in detail on the campaign trail, but voters should carefully consider their positions on it.Likewise, voters should consider the parties' positions on security and foreign issues, because the world around Japan is uncertain and constantly changing.The greatest strategic challenge facing Japanese foreign policy in the 21st century is how to deal with a China that is realizing swift economic growth and increasing its military.The U.S.-led "war on terror," which began four years ago today when the United States was attacked, also continues to be an important election issue.In campaigning, the DPJ, the JCP and the SDP all said Self-Defense Forces troops dispatched to Iraq should return home. Voters should consider this policy based on the role they think Japan should play in ensuring international peace and stability.Voters will be accused of making irresponsible choices if they are influenced by flippant rhetoric that seems convincing on the surface. Voting to decide the future of our country comes with a heavy responsibility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1117	2005-09-11	YOSHIN0020050912e19b001wd
YOMSHI0020050912e19c00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050912e19c00001	EN	\N	Postal privatization not only poll issue	Even if the House of Councillors votes down a lower house-endorsed bill as in the case of bills for postal privatization, the bill in question can be sent back to the House of Representatives and voted into law with the backing of a majority of two-thirds or more. This has cemented Koizumi's political strength.	4	2005-09-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan suffered a humiliating setback. The election was described as an opportunity for voters to choose who would take the reins of government between the LDP or the DPJ. But its results turned out to be far from a change of government.After the election, DPJ President Katsuya Okada said he would resign as head of the party since it failed to assume the reins of government. The DPJ will be forced not only to revamp its organization, but also to conduct a drastic review of its strategy for gaining power.Welfare system reform vitalKoizumi will continue to shoulder an extremely heavy responsibility for guiding Japan, which stands at a major crossroads.The third Koizumi cabinet will be inaugurated after he is officially designated as prime minister at a special Diet session to be convened soon. Koizumi has repeatedly declared that he will resubmit the postal privatization bills, which were voted down at the last ordinary Diet session, to the special Diet session so they can be passed as quickly as possible.Members of the House of Councillors who opposed the postal privatization bills will not be able to ignore the voters' will. It makes sense for them to pass the bills as soon as possible next time.The LDP won a decisive victory probably because the "Koizumi theater" strategy, which made postal privatization the sole campaign issue, turned out to be more successful than expected.But postal privatization is just one of the important issues in Japan's politics. In principle, it is wrong to make one issue dominate a campaign at an election designed to choose a government.The most urgent task that Koizumi has to tackle in the immediate future is social security system reform, including reform of the public pension system.Fiscal rehabilitation also cannot be postponed.We also wonder how Koizumi will deal with diplomatic and national security issues, given the volatile international situation surrounding the nation.Koizumi must do his best to deal quickly with such urgent issues. In an expected cabinet reshuffle, Koizumi should create an administration that is able to handle those issues.DPJ never seized initiativeThe latest election was orchestrated by the prime minister from beginning to end. Koizumi took the bold step of dissolving the lower house immediately after the upper house voted down the postal privatization bills.He subsequently refused to endorse lawmakers who voted against the bills at the lower house as LDP candidates and fielded rival candidates against them. In doing so, he set up a confrontation between supporters and opponents of postal privatization.Koizumi also told voters that his party was transforming itself--from the old-style LDP that protected vested interests to a new LDP that considers the benefits of all citizens--succeeding in persuading voters that the party is a reformist one.Voters' interest in postal privatization increased rapidly after the lower house dissolution.Under Koizumi's strategy, not only the DPJ, but also the People's New Party and New Party Nippon, which were formed mainly by LDP postal rebels, sunk into oblivion.The DPJ failed to submit a counterproposal for Koizumi's postal privatization bills in the last ordinary Diet session.The DPJ could do nothing but react to Koizumi's initiatives slowly, presenting one counterproposal after another only after voters' interest in postal reform increased after the dissolution. The party also was criticized for defending the vested interests of the postal workers union.The DPJ put forward public pension reform as the key campaign issue, but failed to make a clear proposal on points such as how to consolidate the national pension system and various other schemes. The feasibility of its pension reform plan was questioned, too.It was a step forward for the DPJ to propose hiking the consumption tax to raise money solely for pension benefits and stipulating that the hike would be three percentage points. But the party, facing criticism that an increase of three points might not be enough to cover the increase of overall social security expenditure in future, was forced to admit that it would have to consider raising that figure.The DPJ proudly touted itself as the originator of running a campaign based on a manifesto. But it was ironic that the party appeared confused when policy debates started heating up, and it ended up in a shaky position.If the DPJ aspires to be the governing party, there are a number of lessons to be learned from the election result. The party must be ready to start from scratch to reform itself.The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party both failed to increase the number of seats, highlighting the fact that it is now hard to imagine that the two parties will ever regain the influence they once had.The two parties' social policies were that of seeking a big government while their foreign and security policies as well as their views on the Constitution were out of touch with today's reality. To most voters' eyes, the JCP and SDP must have appeared as political parties whose part in history has already finished.Voter turnout highestAmong the past four general elections conducted under the election system that combined single-seat constituency and regional proportional representation contests, Sunday's voter turnout was the highest, at about 67 percent.High voter turnouts are said to be disadvantageous to the LDP. This is because the LDP traditionally has relied on industry associations and other organized support groups for its support. New Komeito, which helped the LDP as its coalition partner, also had the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist organization as its power base.In the 2000 lower house election, in which the LDP faced a significant reduction in the number of its seats, then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said, "I hope swing voters stay in their beds." His remark reflected the fact that the party was not good at attracting unaffiliated voters.In Sunday's election, however, the LDP made big gains in urban areas and other parts of the nation despite the high voter turnout. The successful showing can be compared to one made in the upper house election in July 2001, immediately after the launch of the first Koizumi administration, when the party achieved a sweeping victory due to Koizumi's overwhelming popularity.Koizumi and the ruling parties, however, should not be overly proud of the great victory this time. They should carefully examine what tasks they are expected to undertake. They should take concrete steps to achieve those tasks and fulfill their responsibilities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1216	2005-09-12	YOSHIN0020050913e19c000al
YOMSHI0020050912e19d0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050912e19d0000h	EN	\N	Koizumi must carefully consider agenda	The third Koizumi Cabinet will be sworn in on Sept. 21. The Liberal Democratic Party garnered 296 seats in the election, which gives its ruling coalition with New Komeito a total of 327 seats in the House of Representatives, more than two-thirds of the lower house's 480 seats. This means that even if a bill is defeated in the House of Councillors, it can still be passed into law by the lower house.	4	2005-09-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	How will the Koizumi administration move to resolve important issues, such as reform of the social security, fiscal, and tax systems? And how will the administration deal with diplomatic issues confronting Japan? Koizumi should display strong leadership and make full use of the gigantic ruling coalition.Koizumi said he would form his third cabinet by initially reappointing current cabinet members with an eye to making a full-scale cabinet reshuffle and appointing a new party leadership in October after the end of the special Diet session.Koizumi said he would balance the old, the middle-aged and the young in the reshuffle while appointing a wide spectrum of people considered potential candidates to eventually succeed him.We hope Koizumi puts forward a lineup of powerful and fresh members and establishes a system capable of promptly dealing with pending issues.Set prioritiesBuoyed by the LDP's overwhelming victory, some in the ruling coalition are calling for Koizumi to extend his tenure as party president, which is slated to end in September next year. Yet Koizumi must first clarify his intentions regarding what political issues he plans to tackle during the remainder of his term, and how he plans to deal with them. Only after doing this should he draw up a work schedule specifying how he will tackle mid- and long-term issues and how he will prioritize them.Koizumi should not allow the political vacuum--in which key policy issues more important than postal privatization are left largely unattended--to drag on.He should ensure the postal privatization bills are passed in the special Diet session as quickly as possible and do his best to get on with solving more important issues.There are many pending issues on which the Koizumi administration needs to make decisions to expedite the compilation of the budget for next fiscal year, including the triple reform of local government finances, plans for a new medical system for the elderly, and personnel costs for government employees.Looking at the long-term social and economic effects the issue will have on the nation, the highest priority for the government is to tackle the revamping of the social security system.Social security expenses, including those related to medical services and pensions, are ballooning year after year. With the rapidly aging society and declining birthrate leading to a decline in total population, it would be difficult to maintain the social security system as it stands today.If the government sits idle and leaves the system unchanged, "universal social security coverage" and "universal medical insurance coverage" may collapse.The public pension reform law that was passed last year is designed to balance the financial benefits and burdens of those covered by the public pension plan and thus is effective only to "stop the bleeding," at least for the time being.To make the system sustainable over the long haul, it is necessary to first integrate the corporate pension plan for private sector employees and the mutual-aid pension plan for public servants.Despite strong opposition to the integration from public-sector workers, Koizumi must exercise strong leadership to make progress in related reforms.Referring to the integration of these two systems with the national pension plan, Koizumi has said "it would be desirable for them to be unified in the future." He needs to clarify how he intends to achieve this goal.Reform of the tax and fiscal systems must not be further postponed. The combined long-term debt of the central and local governments will top 770 trillion yen by the end of this fiscal year, the largest debt among industrial countries.Spending cuts, tax hikesKoizumi says cutting expenditures is the first step toward a solution. But such efforts alone will not put the fiscal house in order. Inevitably, the public will have to shoulder a heavier financial burden, such as a hike in the consumption tax."I can't have the prime minister who will succeed me bound by what I promise," Koizumi said. Is it responsible for the prime minister to take such a stance?If the consumption tax rate is to be raised, it will take time to discuss and implement the hike. Now is the time to start preparing to raise the tax rate.Japan's diplomatic and security situations are uncertain and unstable.Improving bilateral ties with China, which is rapidly emerging as an economic and military power, is vital.North Korea's nuclear development program poses a serious threat to the nation's safety. The six-way talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions will resume Tuesday. Japan should deal with the issue tenaciously, in cooperation with the United States.The Antiterrorism Law, drafted to empower the Self-Defense Forces to refuel other countries' naval vessels in the Indian Ocean, will expire on Nov. 1. The government also needs to make a decision soon on whether to extend the deployment of Ground Self-Defense Force troops in Iraq or to pull them out of the country when their current commitment expires on Dec. 14.In making these decisions, the Koizumi administration needs to carefully consider the current situations in the areas concerned, Japan's role on the world stage and its bilateral relationship with Washington.Consensus neededThere are broad differences between the LDP and New Komeito on basic policy. While the LDP will work out its draft of a new constitution by November, when the party will celebrate its 50th anniversary, New Komeito remains cautious about amending the war-renouncing Article 9, the core of the constitutional revision. New Komeito also opposes amending the Fundamental Law of Education.The Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education are issues that relate to future visions of the nation and society. As a leading party, the LDP may need to assert its basic policies clearly.The latest election victory resulted from the coalition parties' tight focus on the single issue of postal privatization. Voters have not given the ruling coalition carte blanche on other important issues.If a giant ruling coalition becomes arrogant, it will lose voters' trust and the momentum needed to implement its policies.Koizumi has been accused of practicing "catchphrase politics," without explaining his policies in detail. He should strive to be more accountable.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1174	2005-09-13	YOSHIN0020050914e19d000hx
YOMSHI0020050913e19e0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050913e19e0000h	EN	\N	To make a fresh start, DPJ must search its soul	Before doing so, however, the party needs to conduct a postmortem into the major setback it suffered in the general election.	4	2005-09-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There is no doubt that the opposition party was overwhelmed by the raging "Typhoon Koizumi" in the election. But the DPJ is largely responsible for letting that typhoon blow.According to a public poll taken by The Yomiuri Shimbun immediately after the election, nearly half of the pollees cited "the party's stance over reforms" as the chief reason for the DPJ suffering such a devastating blow. Compared with the Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the DPJ probably looked to voters like a party that was reluctant to carry out reforms.In the latest House of Representatives election, Koizumi made clear his stance of realizing the privatization of Japan Post, even at the cost of antagonizing the nationwide association of postmasters of government-commissioned special post offices and of expelling LDP lawmakers who voted against the postal privatization bills in the lower house.But the DPJ did not submit a counterproposal on postal privatization at the latest ordinary Diet session.In a bid to scrap the postal privatization bills, the party employed the tactic of boycotting the Diet session. It even indicated it was ready to join hands with LDP members opposed to the bills. The party may have attempted to reap what others had sown in the latest election, which saw the LDP divided over postal privatization.Party in thrall of postal unionThe DPJ failed to submit a counterproposal as many of the party's members, chiefly among legislators supported by the Japan Post labor union, favor keeping the postal services intact.As such, it was only natural for voters to consider the DPJ incapable of making any bold reforms, whether it be postal reform or revamping the public servant system.The main reason the DPJ is taking a halfhearted stance on reform is that it comprises members with diverse political backgrounds and ideologies.Within the DPJ, there are many groups made up of legislators who belonged to the defunct Japan Socialist Party or to the LDP, and antagonism between the older and younger generations also is apparent.The DPJ failed to come up with a counterproposal on postal privatization because of the strong opposition to the privatization plan within the party.No-holds-barred talks neededAs for diplomatic and security policies, views within the party vary, for instance, on the issue of Japan exercising the right to collective defense. The party cannot hammer out any clear-cut policy on certain issues or has been forced to shelve sensitive issues because it does not want to reveal its internal splits.The same can be said with the issue of revising the Constitution. The party has been unable to work out its own proposal for a new Constitution, which is supposed to reflect the party's opinions concerning the nation's basic law.The DPJ leadership should take the initiative in working out coherent policies on key issues by holding thorough discussions within the party, without worrying about exacerbating internal divisions.In the Yomiuri survey, more than 60 percent of pollees cited their concern that under a gigantic ruling coalition, the Koizumi Cabinet might govern in a high-handed way. In a parliamentary democracy, an opposition party plays an important role as a check and balance to the governing party.There is a host of issues lying ahead for the DPJ to deal with, in reorganizing the party itself and in reconstructing its strategy for taking power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2005-09-14	YOSHIN0020050915e19e000gw
YOMSHI0020050914e19f0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050914e19f0000h	EN	\N	Top court's ruling over voters' rights a wise one	The ruling given Wednesday by the top court's Grand Bench ordered the government to pay compensation to the plaintiffs, finding the Diet's failure to revise the law to be "unconstitutional and illegal." The judgment was an important one that could greatly influence legal disputes in similar cases brought before district and high courts.	4	2005-09-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There has been a gradual increase in the number of Japanese expatriates in recent years. As of October, an estimated 720,000 Japanese were living overseas. The latest ruling obligates the Diet to revise the law to enable Japanese living abroad to exercise their voting rights in the next national election.The law had stipulated that people eligible to be included in lists of eligible voters were "those who have registered their residency with their municipal, town or village governments," barring expatriates from voting in national elections. In 1998, however, the law was revised to allow Japanese living abroad to vote in races contested under the proportional representation system in elections for both chambers of the legislature.Ruling reflects changed timesThe litigants in the latest case are dozens of Japanese expatriates who were unable to vote in the House of Representatives election in 1996. They filed a damage lawsuit against the government, claiming that "the Public Offices Election Law violates the Constitution, which stipulates the equality of voting rights." The plaintiffs demanded they be granted the right to vote in national elections.However, both the Tokyo District Court and the Tokyo High Court ruled against the plaintiffs.But the Supreme Court ruled the provision in question to be unconstitutional, deciding that "it is unpardonable to prevent voters from exercising their voting rights." The ruling is based on the principle of popular sovereignty.During the trial in the case, the government argued that the restrictions imposed on voting rights of Japanese living overseas was "an inevitable measure to enable elections to be conducted fairly and without confusion." But this assertion should be dismissed as outdated. The top court's ruling correctly pointed out that "remarkable advancements have been made in means of communication worldwide." With this in mind, the government must work to revise the law as soon as possible.Diet's negligence egregiousThe Supreme Court's judgment was the first of its kind to rule that the plaintiffs were eligible for state compensation, citing the Diet's failure to implement legislative steps.A judicial decision that rules a law to be unconstitutional does not necessarily mean that a litigant in such a case is entitled to receive state compensation. The litigant in the case will be eligible for such compensation only if his or her rights have been obviously violated as a result of conspicuous negligence on the part of the Diet.The latest ruling judged that the damage suffered by the plaintiffs must be regarded as such an exceptional case. This means that the top court has decided it is extremely important for a person to be able to exercise his or her voting rights.In the past, courts in this country, including the Supreme Court, were passive about handing down decisions on what litigants claimed to be negligence on the part of the Diet and the central and local governments.But in recent years, the courts have shown somewhat more willingness to redress the damage suffered by members of the public as a result of their rights being violated. Last year, for example, the Supreme Court ruled on suits filed by victims of pneumoconiosis and Minamata disease, deciding that the government's failure to implement necessary regulations in respect of these cases was unconstitutional.In its final proposal issued in 2001, the government's Judicial Reform Council said courts should play a new role in keeping watch on the Diet and the government. The latest ruling is in line with this proposal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2005-09-15	YOSHIN0020050916e19f000gq
YOMSHI0020050915e19g0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050915e19g0000f	EN	\N	Future of 6-way talks in North Korea's hands	What decision will Kim make?	4	2005-09-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There is no cause for optimism, judging from the reclusive state's attitude toward the resumed negotiations. In bilateral talks with the United States, North Korea demanded a light water reactor (LWR) in exchange for dismantling its nuclear weapons program--a repetition of the demand it made prior to the talks' recess.Despite its conciliatory stance toward the North, South Korea dismissed the communist state's demand as hopeless long ago. Earlier, the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization--an international consortium led by Japan, South Korea and the United States--decided it was impossible to continue with a project to build LWRs in the North after it was found the country had broken the U.N.-North Korea Agreed Framework of 1994.UNSC next step if talks failIf Pyongyang clings to its hopeless demand, the resumed talks are bound to end without agreement. This would deal a fatal blow to the six-party framework, forcing the five nations to bring the matter before the U.N. Security Council and setting the stage for discussions on possible economic sanctions against North Korea.In early August, China, which chairs the six-party talks, drafted joint statements four times, with the aim of coming to an agreement on the principles concerning the scrapping of North Korea's nuclear arms development program. The main pillar of China's final draft would require Pyongyang to dismantle all its nuclear weapons and its nuclear program in a verifiable manner.Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States supported the draft. However, North Korea stubbornly demanded the draft incorporate its "right" to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, a stance that forced the abandonment of China's draft.Nukes must be scrapped 1stPyongyang has insisted on using nuclear energy as its right while also not giving up its possession of LWRs.Admittedly, a sovereign state has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. It should be remembered, however, that North Korea has diverted nuclear facilities built for "peaceful purposes" to military use in the past.Pyongyang has said it has withdrawn from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. It also has said it possesses nuclear weapons.North Korea has no right to insist on the peaceful use of nuclear energy unless it pledges to scrap its nuclear weapons in a verifiable manner.It is believed that the draft of a joint statement will incorporate energy and economic aid to North Korea and an improvement in its relations with the rest of the world, including normalizing ties with Japan.However, all these must be complemented by the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.Difficult hurdles lie ahead of the six countries, regardless of any agreement that they reach. They will have to negotiate procedures for dismantling the North's nuclear arms program and verifying that process. It is up to Pyongyang alone as to whether the talks continue.Normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea must be preceded by a comprehensive solution to the controversy over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs and the dispute over North Korea's kidnapping of Japanese.In bilateral talks with North Korea, Japan has demanded the repatriation of abducted Japanese and the whole truth of the kidnappings. Pyongyang must respond to these demands in all sincerity.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2005-09-16	YOSHIN0020050919e19g000f6
YOMSHI0020050916e19h0000n	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050916e19h0000n	EN	\N	Strategy change needed to secure UNSC seat	From his speech at U.N. headquarters, the international community must have gained an understanding of Japan's conviction that the council's expansion is at the core of reforms to the world body. However, its realization remains a problem.	4	2005-09-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A proposal submitted by the so-called Group of Four countries--Japan, Brazil, Germany and India--to increase both the number of permanent and nonpermanent council members was scrapped without being put to a vote.The group failed to secure support from African nations, which represent a large voting bloc, while permanent council members China and the United States attempted to kill the G-4 plan by any means.But this does not mean that the momentum concerning an expansion of the Security Council has dissipated entirely.Council makeup inadequateU.N. membership has increased to 191 countries, nearly four times that at the time of the world body's creation. In the same period, however, only four nonpermanent seats have been added to its Security Council.Permanent membership with veto rights has been monopolized by Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--the victorious powers of World War II.Its membership hardly reflects today's global realities. A majority of U.N. member countries are demanding an expansion of the council, which makes important decisions on the peace and security of the world.In his speech, Koizumi called for a conclusion to be reached on U.N. reform by next September. Japan should make a new strategic plan quickly and continue to push the council's enlargement.Leaders from more than 170 countries attended the U.N. summit meeting to affirm efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals, which include halving extreme poverty by 2015, as well as to work out reforms for a stronger United Nations.Outcome plan watered downThe contents of "an outcome document" on the issues--approved Thursday by U.N. member states--have strayed far from the magnificent goals proposed by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.The contents of the document, which member states clashed over, were watered down in the negotiation process before the summit meeting.The United Nations is a political battlefield where each country's claim on its national interests conflicts with that of others. This harsh reality has been clearly shown in the document.The original proposals on disarmament and nonproliferation were deleted from the document as the member states failed to strike compromises on them.The document supported early reform of the Security Council, but failed to refer to its expansion and to clarify its deadline. The creation of a human rights council was proposed in it, but particulars such as the basis of its membership selection and mission were not agreed.Developing and European countries tried to include a pledge that wealthy nations increase official development assistance to 0.7 percent of gross national product, but it was reduced to a nonbinding target.The outcome document covers issues the international community should tackle. It is important to deepen discussions on them and flesh out their details.Japan, which seeks permanent membership of the Security Council, must actively discuss and tackle them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	588	2005-09-17	YOSHIN0020050919e19h001b7
YOMSHI0020050917e19i0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050917e19i0000d	EN	\N	New DPJ leader faces a very rocky path	Seiji Maehara, 43, narrowly defeated Naoto Kan, 58, to win the presidential election of the Democratic Party of Japan.	4	2005-09-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Many junior and middle-ranking members of the DPJ apparently shared a concern that the party, which had suffered a humiliating defeat in the Sept. 11 lower house election, could not regain its equilibrium without some form of sea change.However, as Maehara nosed out Kan by just two votes, the party will undoubtedly face a rocky road on the way to reconstruction.Many tasks face new broomFirst, Maehara and the members of the DPJ must hold in-depth discussions on why they were badly defeated in the election and what was wrong with their performance.In his campaigning for the presidential election, Maehara declared that if elected he would not be preoccupied with the need to protect the vested interests of labor unions and industrial groups. He also promised a clean break from the hidebound way of thinking at the DPJ, which is frequently been referred to as a hodgepodge of political parties.The DPJ did not submit to the Diet its own counterproposal to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization bills, and consequently quickly fell behind the ruling coalition in the lower house election.The refusal to submit a proposal led voters to believe that the DPJ was protecting vested interests of the Japan Post labor union, which supported the party. As a result, the DPJ suffered a fatal setback in the election, according to Maehara."Even if labor unions and industrial groups have opinions different from ours," Maehara said, "we have to be brave enough to express our own resolutely and confront them."Within the DPJ there are groups of lawmakers from the defunct Japan Socialist Party and the defunct Democratic Socialist Party who have close ties with trade unions, while some former Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers enjoy the support of industrial organizations. The question is: How brave can Maehara be in dealing with them?Maehara also declared that he would run the party based solely on a merit system, meaning that he will appoint people not based on how many times they have been elected, but based on their abilities.He also has said he will not try to maintain the balance of the party's various factions and groups.Can Maehara deliver?The first challenge for Maehara is whether he can in fact appoint party executives as he has pledged to do.He has promised that the DPJ will present a counterproposal to every key policy issue."We will not close our eyes to anything within the party," he said. "Neither will we put off issues because we cannot agree."Maehara is known as an advocate of constitutional revision and places importance on the Japan-U.S. security alliance.He insists that Article 9 of the Constitution should be revised to allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense. As such, his position is very different from that of Kan and his followers who called the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq "a violation of the Constitution."As DPJ leader, Maehara will be expected to overcome intraparty conflicts and clarify the official positions of the party with regard to foreign, security and other basic policies. He also will need to control discussions with the ruling coalition on reforming the social security system, including public pension programs, by making a reasonable counterproposal.Maehara has said he believes in thoroughly debating policy issues at the Diet. Under his leadership, the DPJ should make its mark as the major opposition party by competing with the ruling coalition in policy proposals, rather than by using obsolete resistance tactics such as refusing to take part in Diet deliberations.Maehara has said that he will change the DPJ into a fighting force, but we fear that too many obstacles await him.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2005-09-18	YOSHIN0020050919e19i0020r
YOMSHI0020050918e19j0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050918e19j0000c	EN	\N	'The elderly' need to be redefined	According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, about 25,600 centenarians will be around to celebrate Respect for the Aged Day on Monday. In addition, there are more than 1 million citizens aged 90 or older, the ministry says.	4	2005-09-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	So let us pay our respects once again to those who have more experience in life than us and celebrate their longevity.But we need to redefine the term "the aged." The meaning can be expressed in other word such as "old people" or "the elderly." Yet at what age, does one become "aged?"In demographic statistics, those aged 65 or older are considered to be in their "old age." While those aged between 15 and 64 are regarded as the "working-age population," those aged 65 or older are reckoned as being a "dependent segment of the population," as are those at the opposite end of the scale--those aged up to 14.Doubtlessly there are many people who feel it strange to draw a line at 65 and call those on the right side of the line the dependent segment of the population.Life expectancies increasingIn 1966, when Respect for the Aged Day became a national holiday, the average life span of a Japanese man was 68 while that of a Japanese woman was 73. Today, these figures have increased to 78 and 85, respectively. In the intervening years, the elderly have come to account for nearly 20 percent of the population, compared with about 6 percent in 1966.Has the population of "the aged" increased? The statistics say so. Yet the statistical definition does not match the real situation.According to a Cabinet Office survey that asked those aged 60 or older "at what age should a person be considered elderly," nearly 80 percent replied "70 or older."Shigeaki Hinohara, managing director at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo who is still working at the age of 93, has proposed that the base age for the definition of elderly be raised to 75.If elderly is redefined to mean those aged 70 or more, the ratio of the elderly population will drop by about five percentage points from what it is now.If the employment system were improved, including raising the mandatory retirement age, and the social security system reformed, the image of an aging society would be quite different from how it is pictured now.Baby boomers key factorThe baby boomers will be a key factor in helping to change the definition of elderly. About 7 million baby boomers--those born between 1947 and 1949--will graduate from their 60s into their 70s in the next 10 years or so.Taichi Sakaiya, who called the postwar baby-boomer generation "dankai-no-sedai" in his book, recently wrote a novel in which seven baby boomers--armed with their wealth of accumulated knowledge and experience--rise up to help rejuvenate a local shopping area.If baby boomers, who have taken the lead in creating a new lifestyle for postwar generations, continue to be active, the base age of elderly might be raised from the current 65 to 70 or even older.Those in their 80s or even 90s should be considered, by no means, "the dependent segment of the population."We should create a society, in which those in need of help, irrespective of age, will be provided with it, while those who have the will and the economic power will remain active, no matter how old they are, and continue to support our society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2005-09-19	YOSHIN0020050920e19j0008y
YOMSHI0020050919e19k0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050919e19k0000d	EN	\N	Not time yet to fete N. Korea's N-promise	It was the first time the six countries--Japan, China, Russia, the two Koreas and the United States--had adopted a written agreement since the six-way talks to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions started in August 2003.	4	2005-09-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the agreement marks a clear step forward in the issue, a resolution of the core issue has yet to be reached.The joint statement says the ultimate goal of the six-nation talks is the "verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." To that end, the statement said that North Korea had committed to abandon all its nuclear weapons and its nuclear programs, and return to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and accept International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards at an early date.For its part, the United States has reconfirmed that it has no intention to attack or invade North Korea. Seoul and Washington also have reaffirmed that there are no nuclear weapons in South Korea. These statements are meant to reassure North Korea that it need not fear any nuclear threat from the United States, a fear that Pyongyang has used to justify its possession of nuclear weapons.Need for concrete measuresThe joint statement contains six basic goals concerning North Korea abandoning its nuclear programs. But they are merely rhetorical promises and will remain meaningless unless accompanied by concrete actions.The fifth round of talks is scheduled to be held in early November. During these talks, the six nations will have to agree on concrete plans to implement the agreement, such as specific procedures for the North to abandon its nuclear programs and methods to verify the abandonment.The United States last year put forward a set of proposals on ways to accomplish this. The starting point lies in Pyongyang making public the overall picture of its nuclear programs.Negotiations at the six-way talks will become more demanding in the days ahead.In the joint statement, Japan, China, South Korea, Russia and the United States said they respected North Korea's right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, which Pyongyang has no intention of surrendering. The five countries also agreed to discuss the provision of a light-water reactor to North Korea at an appropriate time, the statement said. In this way, the five countries have at least tentatively imposed a check on the North's demand by saying that Pyongyang has first to give up its nuclear arms programs before it can expect delivery of the reactor.In return, the five countries expressed their willingness to provide energy and economic assistance to North Korea. Included in the joint statement is a proposal by South Korea to provide North Korea with 2,000 megawatts of electricity.Pyongyang must do its bitNorth Korea had not stopped its nuclear development programs while the four rounds of talks were held. It also indicated at times that it was making preparations for resuming the operation of its nuclear reactor and for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel to extract plutonium, while at the same time resuming the construction of a large nuclear reactor. Therefore there is no basis for saying that North Korea has in reality made a strategic decision to abandon its nuclear programs.The joint statement also said Japan and the United States would take steps to normalize bilateral ties with North Korea. Japan and North Korea specifically agreed to take steps to normalize ties based on the bilateral Pyongyang Declaration signed in 2002 and by settling unfortunate past and outstanding issues of concern.But we must reiterate that the precondition for Japan and North Korea normalizing bilateral ties lies in comprehensively settling outstanding issues of concern such as North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs and its abduction of Japanese.There is no way ties between Japan and North Korea can be normalized unless North Korea shows a forward-looking stance at bilateral talks in the days ahead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2005-09-20	YOSHIN0020050921e19k000d1
YOMSHI0020050920e19l0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050920e19l0000g	EN	\N	Little room for optimism in dealings with N. Korea	Government-level talks between Japan and North Korea, including those aimed at normalizing bilateral ties, have been marked by repeated resumption and suspension. Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura has reiterated his determination to seek a comprehensive solution to the dispute over North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs, as well as its abduction of Japanese. However, there is no cause for optimism, judging from the reclusive state's attitude toward these issues.	4	2005-09-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Will North Korea work to resolve these problems in all sincerity? Japan must accurately determine Pyongyang's intentions.Upcoming working-level talks between the two nations will be the fourth of their kind, following Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's second visit to Pyongyang in May 2004. It was concluded through a DNA analysis that the ashes given to Japan in November as those of abductee Megumi Yokota belonged to someone else. Working-level talks have since been suspended as a result of North Korea's refusal to meet.Pyongyang has only repeated its assertion about the fate of the 10 Japanese it acknowledged to have been kidnapped by North Korean agents. The North Korean government has said eight of the 10 died, and that the remaining two never entered that country. Pyongyang has never referred to the fate of dozens of Japanese Tokyo suspects of being abducted by North Korean operatives.North Korea has been extremely insincere in dealing with these problems.Mixed messagesPyongyang has always insisted the controversy over its nuclear arms program is an issue to be discussed between it and Washington, saying Tokyo has no right to be a participant in such talks.On Monday, the six-nation talks aimed at getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions adopted a joint statement saying the nation has pledged to unconditionally dismantle its nuclear weapons and its nuclear arms program, and return to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Only a night after, however, a North Korean government spokesman issued a statement saying his country would scrap its nuclear weapons program only after the United States gave the nation a light water reactor.North Korea's attitude obviously runs counter to its commitment made in the joint statement. Under the circumstances, it is extremely questionable whether North Korea will agree to talks with Japan over its nuclear arms program.Japan must stick to principlesNorth Korean Rodong missiles aimed at Japan, as well as the country's nuclear arms program, pose a serious threat to Japan's peace and security. North Korea's nuclear weapons development is in progress. If North Korea develops a missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, no other nations would face a more horrendous threat than Japan.During the recent six-party talks, North Korea agreed to bilateral meetings with Japan three times. This was followed by an agreement to reopen working-level talks between the two nations.If progress is made in the six-way talks, participants in the negotiations may discuss extending economic aid to North Korea. The country expects Japan to be its largest donor. North Korea's recent attitude toward Japan may reflect its desire to put the suspended diplomatic normalization talks back on track, paving the way for Japanese economic assistance to the communist state.North Korea's seemingly conciliatory stance may also signify an attempt to drive a wedge into the Japan-U.S. partnership while also appeasing the bitter sentiment felt by the Japanese public about the country's attitude toward the abduction issue.All things considered, Japan must stick to its principles in its dealings with North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2005-09-21	YOSHIN0020050922e19l000fe
YOMSHI0020050921e19m0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050921e19m0000j	EN	\N	Time ripe for consensus on top law, defense	On Wednesday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced the lineup for his third Cabinet. His new administration is supported by the ruling coalition's overwhelming strength in the Diet.	4	2005-09-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Meanwhile, newly elected Democratic Party of Japan President Seiji Maehara said he did not intend to use debate over constitutional reform and national security policy as a major focus of confrontation between the largest opposition party and the ruling parties. Maehara is the first DPJ leader to state there is no difference between his party and the ruling parties in basic perceptions about constitutional revision and national defense. He also is the first leader of a main opposition party to make such a statement.Maehara seeks voter trustMaehara's statement may help convince voters the government's security policy will remain unchanged if the DPJ comes to power, and that his party can be trusted as an alternative to the current Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition. This may pave the way for a change of government.In the United States and major European nations, opposing political parties tend to share the same basic positions on national defense.The LDP will announce a draft constitution by November, to coincide with the party's 50th anniversary.The LDP's draft is not expected to alter the first paragraph in Article 9 of the current Constitution in renouncing war as a means of settling international disputes. But the draft likely will revise the second paragraph of the article to state the nation possesses an "army for self-defense." The draft also is expected to stipulate a basic law on national defense be established to outline the requirement for exercising the right to collective self-defense.Maehara's proposal calls for keeping the first paragraph of Article 9 intact and deleting the second paragraph to state the nation possesses the right of self-defense. He also has argued the Self-Defense Forces be regarded as an army, and that the nation be allowed to exercise the right of collective self-defense--that is, the right to regard an armed attack on an ally by a foreign country as a threat to its own security and use force to contain that threat.Maehara has asserted a revised constitution should require the SDF to play an active role in "international peace cooperation activities" under a provision separate from Article 9.He also said the DPJ would comprehensively discuss pertinent issues with a party committed to constitutional reform, apparently aware of the requirement under the Constitution that any revision be initiated by agreement of at least a two-thirds majority in each parliamentary chamber.Opportunity for accordIf Maehara's opinion is accepted as the DPJ's official view by all party members, the opposition party will be able to make headway in reaching a consensus with the LDP about constitutional reform.The circumstances surrounding Japan's national security are marked by a good deal of uncertainty, including North Korea's nuclear weapons program and China's rise as a military power. Maehara attaches greater importance to the Japan-U.S. alliance than his predecessor, Katsuya Okada.The government intends to submit to the newly convened special Diet session a bill to extend the duration of the Antiterrorism Law, which will expire in November, with the aim of enabling the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue refueling warships for the multinational force in the Indian Ocean.The DPJ must decide how to deal with such important issues as the realignment of U.S. forces in this country and the dispatch of SDF troops to Iraq. All these tasks will serve as an initial test of Maehara's ability as DPJ leader.First of all, Maehara must quickly establish consensus on these issues within his party. Some DPJ members--mainly those previously belonging to the Social Democratic Party--have opposed revising Article 9. It will be difficult for Maehara to achieve internal consensus. He should demonstrate strong leadership in accomplishing his aim.Koizumi should spell out specific measures to achieve the goal of revising the Constitution after his party releases its draft, including discussions with the DPJ.All these steps to be taken by both Maehara and Koizumi will set the stage for constructive discussions on constitutional revision and national security between the two largest parties. That will signify a landmark development in this nation's political landscape that never took place under the so-called 1955 system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	790	2005-09-22	YOSHIN0020050923e19m000fs
YOMSHI0020050922e19n0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050922e19n0000h	EN	\N	Upper house problem hasn't disappeared	The postal privatization bills were scrapped at the last ordinary Diet session because 22 upper house members of the Liberal Democratic Party rejected them, as did opposition lawmakers.	4	2005-09-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At that time, the following questions on the status of the upper house were discussed with regard to the fundamentals of parliamentary democracy:Does the Constitution, which stipulates the House of Representatives' superior status, allow the upper house to scrap important bills approved by the lower house? And is the upper house, a bastion of good sense that should be distanced from party politics, allowed to cause a political crisis?Nevertheless, the ruling coalition won 327 seats in the Sept. 11 poll, more than two-thirds of the lower house seats. The victory allows the coalition to have a bill passed again at the lower house if it is rejected by the upper house and returned to the lower chamber.As a result, the upper house problem seems to have disappeared.Current situation uniqueA situation in which the ruling coalition has more than two-thirds of lower house seats is temporary and unique. The recent event in which important bills passed by the lower house were scrapped by the upper house, causing confusion in the political situation, could happen again in years to come.This time, the upper house disapproval of the postal privatization bills created a political vacuum for nearly two months and delayed government efforts concerning significant political issues.We cannot overlook the fact that it damaged political stability and confused the process of policy formation.What should the relationship be between the upper and lower houses, or the status of the upper chamber under the parliamentary cabinet system?Since the political confusion caused by the postal privatization bills is now settled, the upper house problem has to be discussed thoroughly.Reconsider Saito reportTo launch this discussion, a report on the future of the chamber that was compiled in April 2000 by a private advisory group to then House of Councillors President Juro Saito, could be a good starting point.The report defined the upper house as a "chamber of reconsideration" and proposed relaxing the condition for a bill rejected by the upper house to be approved again at the lower house from the current "more than two-thirds of support" to "a majority."It also proposed abolishing the upper house vote on the prime minister and urged chamber members to refrain voluntarily from assuming cabinet posts.However, the report was shelved due to strong opposition, with opponents saying it would weaken the power of the upper house.The LDP will announce its draft new constitution at a meeting in November to mark the party's 50th anniversary.However, the section on the Diet in its first draft adheres to the current Constitution. This is because the draft made last autumn by the secretariat of the LDP Research Commission on the Constitution set the condition for a bill disapproved by the upper house to be passed again by the lower house with a "majority vote," but the party's upper house members strongly protested against it.Rather than seeking to protect their vested interests, lawmakers should strike to build the best possible national political system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2005-09-23	YOSHIN0020050926e19n001lq
YOMSHI0020050923e19o00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050923e19o00008	EN	\N	Top law referendum bill should be passed quickly	This is an important step toward the formulation of a new Constitution. The current one contains a clause concerning revision, but it lacks a law on the procedures involved, an oversight that needs correcting.	4	2005-09-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Referendum bills already have been drafted by the ruling coalition--the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito--and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. They should submit them to the Diet and pass one of them as soon as possible.Research councils on the Constitution in the House of Councillors and the lower house ended their work in April after submitting their final reports to the chairpersons of their respective chambers. Since then, the establishment of new committees on the top law has been an issue for the Diet.Upper house remiss on panelThe upper house has decided not to form a committee this time. This means there is no place to deliberate a national referendum bill at the upper house even if the lower house approves it and sends it to the upper house.The upper house might have thought that the current special Diet session focusing on the postal privatization bills is too short to send the bill to the upper house. However, if it really thinks this is the case, we have to question whether the upper house seriously regrets the long failure to make a national referendum law.The ruling coalition and the DPJ initially agreed to establish a standing committee on the Constitution to discuss constitutional reform.But New Komeito changed its mind, and the three parties agreed to make it a special committee instead of a standing one. Establishment of a special committee has to be approved at every Diet session.New Komeito is cautious about changing the Constitution, including the controversial Article 9, though the party is willing to add environmental rights and other clauses.The coalition party must have worried that not only a national referendum bill, but also a bill to revise the top law would be deliberated if the panel was made a standing committee.New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki has said his party will play the role of a brake on the actions of the LDP, which has an overwhelming majority of lower house seats.Yet if it applies an unnecessary stop to constitutional discussions on the future of Japan and its society, New Komeito will have failed to fulfill its duty as a responsible political party.Speakers' comments errantMeanwhile, House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono and Vice Speaker Takahiro Yokomichi have made questionable remarks on the constitutional issue.At a press conference, the two asked the ruling coalition to be cautious in discussing amendment of the supreme law.Kono is known as a dove for his support of the current top law, even though he is a member of the LDP. Yokomichi, who has moved to the DPJ from the defunct Japan Socialist Party, also is known for opposing amendment of the Constitution, including Article 9.However, Diet committees should be allowed to decide the issues they debate and the manner of their discussion.Kono and Yokomichi are not ordinary lawmakers. Making requests concerning how a certain issue should be discussed would seem to be a deviation from their jobs as speaker and vice speaker of the lower house.The LDP is scheduled to announce its draft new constitution in November. For his part, DPJ President Seiji Maehara has declared, "I will accelerate constitutional discussions above partisan interests."There should be no major obstacles to enacting a national referendum law as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2005-09-24	YOSHIN0020050926e19o00129
YOMSHI0020050924e19p0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050924e19p0000d	EN	\N	G-7 urges cooperation on oil prices, yuan	Twenty years have passed since the Group of Five--Japan, Britain, France, the United States and West Germany-- adopted the so-called Plaza Accord, under which it made a commitment to take concerted action regarding the overvalued dollar.	4	2005-09-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Over the past two decades, the world economy has become ever more globalized and diversified, and the issues facing the G-7 have changed dramatically, as was reflected in Friday's statement.In the joint statement, the G-7 countries expressed their strong concern that higher oil prices, growing global imbalances and increased protectionism endanger the stable growth of the world economy.As ways to deal with higher oil prices, the G-7 nations called on both oil-producing countries and oil-consuming countries to implement eight measures, including an increase in oil supply by oil producers.From yen to yuanThe G-7 nations also implicitly urged China to once again revalue the yuan, by welcoming its recent decision to pursue greater flexibility in its currency regime and expecting the development of a more market-oriented system.Twenty years ago, the currency targeted for revaluation by the G-5 nations to correct global imbalances was the yen, today it is the yuan.The eight measures to deal with rising oil prices are very diverse, ranging from significant investment in exploration, production, energy infrastructure and refinery capacity by both oil producers and oil consumers, to the promotion of energy conservation and the development of alternative energy sources.Friday's statement was the first in which a meeting of G-7 finance ministers--which after all is not a forum of energy ministers--had ventured so far from their home plate of currency and monetary policies.This shows how seriously the G-7 feels rising oil prices will impact the world economy.The Organization of Petroleum Producing Countries, during its plenary meeting held shortly before the G-7 meeting, agreed to move flexibly to increase supplies--within the additional capacity of OPEC members--while keeping the output ceiling unchanged. OPEC said it would also invest in the construction of new oil refinery facilities.Governments, oil producers and oil consumers must fully implement the measures contained in the G-7 statement.Reaching out to nonmembersThe joint statement also called on China to once again revalue its yuan against the dollar, as it did in July. This shows that the G-7 has abandoned its previous position of not stepping into the policies pursued by non-G-7 countries.Even after China revalued its yuan in July, discontent among other countries remains strong, with the U.S. Congress criticizing China's recent revaluation as too little and ineffective in correcting current account imbalances with the United States.Shortly before the G-7 meeting, China decided to expand the range of a managed float linked to a basket of foreign currencies, except for the dollar, while keeping the float range to the dollar unchanged, leaving many G-7 nations skeptical about Beijing's intentions.During the latest meeting, the G-7 also held a meeting with representatives of the newly industrializing economies of China, Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa, as it did when the finance ministers last met in February.The G-7 must urge these non-G-7 countries to adopt new policies, by holding meetings with these emerging economies in the days ahead. In particularly, the G-7 needs to urge China to expand its managed float range for its yuan and to hold down its oil consumption.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2005-09-25	YOSHIN0020050926e19p000a8
YOMSHI0020050925e19q0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050925e19q0000c	EN	\N	Use delay to fine-tune postal privatization bills	With the Liberal Democratic Party winning a landslide victory in the recent House of Representatives election, those LDP members who voted against the bills in the House of Councillors, except for those who left the party, have changed tack to approve the bills. The passage of the bills into law appears certain.	4	2005-09-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the Ordinary Diet session earlier this year, the lower house spent 109 hours deliberating the bills, while the upper house spent more than 81 hours. Sufficient time was spent talking about the bills.Yet there remain some points in doubt, including whether the bills can achieve the main goals of postal reform. Through further deliberation at the Diet, such points in doubt need to be worked out in detail.The bills to be resubmitted to the Diet are almost the same as those voted down in the upper house. A few modifications were made to the bills, including one to put off the start of the privatization of Japan Post, originally set for April 2007, by six months.According to the bills, a government-financed holding company will dispose of all shares of the envisaged postal savings and postal insurance companies. On the other hand, the bills call for allowing the holding company to maintain an interest in them by buying back a certain amount of shares.Can change be achieved?Through the repurchase, the government's involvement in the two financial companies will be restored. There is even fear that the government's interference into the fund management of the two financial companies may continue.Such a development could steer the whole effort away from the original aim of liberalizing a sizable amount of funds from "government enterprise" and rejuvenating the private-sector economy.As long as the points in doubt are sorted out, there could be certain brake placed on when the holding company buys back shares in the two financial companies.Meanwhile, concerns are running high over whether the new companies may become even more bloated through privatization. Such doubts must be addressed.Prior to privatization, Japan Post has rushed into measures to expand its earnings. Starting next month, Japan Post will start over-the-counter sales of investment trusts in its nation-wide chain of post offices. It has also launched a business tieup with Tobu Department Store Co. in merchandise delivery services.Its entry into new lines of business is likely to accelerate as the new companies are freed from the constraints of acting as a public corporation.Advantages during transitionYet during the transition period to full privatization in 2017, the state's support in the form of government financing will remain in place, leaving Japan Post to continue enjoying an advantage over private-sector financial companies. Its entry into new lines of businesses should not be left uncontrolled.In April next year, a privatization committee to monitor the progress of privatization will be established. The committee has a grave responsibility to fulfill in checking the growth of the new entities.Initially, there was a possibility the committee would be charged with advising the government, but the idea was abandoned due to opposition from within the LDP. It is necessary to define the committee's role more clearly through the deliberations.Seiji Maehara, the new president of the Democratic Party of Japan, has expressed his intention to compile his party's counterproposal to the government-proposed postal reform bills. The DPJ's decision stems from its conclusion that the party suffered a major setback in the lower house election primarily because it failed to present a counterproposal.Undeniably, the party's decision came too late, but the presentation of a counterproposal is quite useful in deepening related deliberations in the Diet. The new party leader's ability will be tested by whether he can present a substantial counterproposal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2005-09-26	YOSHIN0020050927e19q000d6
YOMSHI0020050926e19r0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050926e19r0000f	EN	\N	Koizumi must tip hand on range of reforms	Koizumi's latest Diet-opening address was short, second in its brevity only to the policy speech delivered by Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda in 1977. Koizumi frequently referred to "the people" in his speech, a reflection of his confidence in his ability to keep his administration going, backed by strong support from voters in the form of the Liberal Democratic Party's overwhelming victory in the lower house election.	4	2005-09-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In his policy speech, Koizumi cited various tasks to be tackled besides postal privatization, including reform of government-affiliated financial institutions and the so-called triple reform of fiscal relations between the national and local governments. His list also included fiscal reconstruction and cutting the national government's payroll. The prime minister demonstrated his determination to "decisively reduce the size of government" by carrying out these structural reforms.However, he did not discuss the specifics of each reform plan, only reading off his list of self-appointed tasks. This is probably because the primary aim Koizumi hopes to achieve during the current Diet session is to pass the postal reform bills that were voted down by the House of Councillors before the election.Reforms may bring rancorThe prime minister's triple reform campaign and the planned reduction in the government's personnel expenditures have bitterly antagonized government ministries and agencies that will be affected by these plans, as well as lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties who have vested interests in that sector. Koizumi may find it difficult to make headway in reaching a consensus with these government offices while putting together the next fiscal budget, probably the last to be compiled under the Koizumi Cabinet.Which task will the prime minister tackle--and how--after putting the postal privatization bills through the special Diet session? He should live up to the public's demonstrated faith in him and explain how he intends to accomplish his goals during discussions at the Diet.The public is very concerned about social security reform, a contentious issue brought up by the opposition camp in the recent election campaign.According to Cabinet Office opinion surveys taken during the last two years, voters have cited the reform of medical, pension and other social security systems as a task of prime importance they want the government to tackle over the next two years.Forge consensusIn his policy address, the prime minister said it was indispensable for the ruling and opposition parties to "frankly discuss" the social security system and strive to "iron out their differences of opinion." His statement was intended to urge the main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, to agree to start over in their discussions on social security reform and make an effort to reach a consensus on the issue.Newly elected DPJ President Seiji Maehara has indicated his willingness to start such debates with the ruling parties if the ruling camp is determined to seriously tackle the task.We propose the ruling and opposition parties start discussing social security reform in the current Diet session. They should hold in-depth debates about pertinent issues, including a proposal to raise the consumption tax rate to finance social security reform.The prime minister did not mention the dispute over revising the Constitution in his policy speech.The LDP is scheduled to unveil its draft constitutional revisions in November, coinciding with its 50th anniversary. A special research committee on the Constitution has been established in the lower house, setting the stage for discussions on a national referendum bill that details procedures for constitutional revision. Everyone wants to hear the prime minister state his stance on constitutional reform.How will the prime minister seek to carry out various reforms after getting the postal reform bills adopted? This is a matter of major concern to voters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	708	2005-09-27	YOSHIN0020050928e19r000hd
YOMSHI0020050927e19s0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050927e19s0000j	EN	\N	Steps needed to control violent schoolchildren	There has been a sharp increase in school violence at primary schools nationwide, accompanied by a decline in violence at middle and high schools.	4	2005-09-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to statistics compiled by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, there were 1,890 cases of violence at primary schools in the 2004 academic year, an increase of 290 from the previous year. This means the figure has hit record highs for two consecutive years, the worst sets of results since 1997, when the ministry conducted its first survey on school violence.In one reported case, a fifth-grade student jumped on and kicked a teacher who was teaching him the proper way of greeting people. In another case, a sixth-grade student started a fight with a classmate over a trivial matter and kneed him in the face. Another sixth-grade student suddenly lost his temper during a break between classes and smashed windowpanes at a school building.It is particularly disturbing to see that the number of cases in which primary school students assaulted teachers in the 2004 school year increased by 30 percent from 2003.Teachers have good reason to be disturbed to realize that an increasing number of students are making them the targets of violence. Their sentiment is demonstrated by the remark made by a primary school principal in Yokohama who said, "[Teachers] are finding it difficult to deal with violent students because using force to overpower them could be seen as physical punishment."Some students lack social skillsIn many reported cases, primary school students physically attacked others on the spur of the moment. The education ministry has said those children lack patience and do not know how to build good relations with others. The ministry has concluded these students find it difficult to control their emotions.Primary school students have homeroom teachers. This may make teachers feel they should tackle problems on their own, instead of discussing them with other teachers, according to the ministry. The lack of cooperation among teachers in dealing with problem students could encourage such children to use violence against others, the ministry said.The increase in primary school violence is not unrelated to the recent decline in the age of juvenile delinquents. An increasing number of primary school students appear to be willing to resort to violence. Readers probably remember that a sixth-grade girl was slashed to death by a classmate in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, in June last year.Parents' role crucialQuestions should be raised about the number of cases of school violence in primary schools last year. In one prefecture, for instance, there were no reported cases of school violence, compared with more than 120 in an adjacent prefecture. The figure stood at more than 300 in Osaka and Kanagawa prefectures, contrasted with only 43 in Tokyo.According to the ministry, prefectural governments apply different criteria in determining the seriousness of each case to be reported to the ministry, despite there being a set of standards created for that purpose. We believe the latest statistics on school violence may be the tip of the iceberg.What should be done to halt the tide of violence? The ministry has said it will do all it can to encourage teachers and administrators in each school to cooperate in dealing with problem students.What can parents do? Are they doing what they should to prevent their children from enjoying video games, television shows and comics filled with violent content? And it is a foregone conclusion what will happen to children if their parents abuse them or assault their spouses habitually.Parents should rethink how they spend their time with their children at home.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun Sept. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2005-09-28	YOSHIN0020050929e19s000hq
YOMSHI0020050928e19t0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050928e19t0000j	EN	\N	DPJ must clarify policies after postal bills' passage	At the session, Democratic Party of Japan President Seiji Maehara squared off with Koizumi during his first question-and-answer session at the Diet since becoming DPJ leader.	4	2005-09-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under Maehara's leadership, how will the DPJ overcome its humiliating defeat at the recent general election? Through his questions, Maehara was expected to show the new stance of the DPJ and launch his party's first offensive against the prime minister."If a certain policy is beneficial for the whole nation," Maehara said, "the DPJ is willing to cooperate with the government and the ruling coalition without opposing it for the sake of opposing."He also promised that the largest opposition party would make a counterproposal to every major policy issue."We'll compete with the ruling coalition over reform plans, considering what our party would do if it were the ruling party," Maehara said.In the past, the DPJ pursued a confrontational approach in its dealings with the government and the ruling coalition, often boycotting Diet deliberations. However, the public today does not support this futile tactic, originally employed by the defunct Japan Socialist Party under the so-called 1955 political system. The system came into being in that year with the union of the left and right factions of the Socialist Party and the formation of the Liberal Democratic Party.Party has searched its soulThe DPJ did not submit a counterproposal to the postal privatization bills at the last ordinary Diet session because some members of the party supported by the postal workers union opposed the privatization. That was considered to be a major reason for the DPJ's defeat in the House of Representatives election.Maehara's remarks at the Diet seemed to indicate his party has reflected on its election defeat. It will be important for the DPJ to keep this new stance if it wants to win voters' confidence in it as a party preparing to take over the reins of government.Koizumi proposed to have a joint meeting of upper and lower house lawmakers, including DPJ members, to discuss social security system reform. There seems to be no reason for the DPJ to reject this proposal because the reform is for the benefit of the nation.The DPJ should lock horns with the ruling coalition through discussions on social security system reform at the joint meeting. This also will be the first real opportunity for Maehara's DPJ to show its basic posture in a concrete way.In his questions, Maehara also discussed issues related to postal privatization, fiscal reform, the employment system for public officials, the taxation system and pension programs. However, it is difficult to hold in-depth discussions on such issues at a question-and-answer session, which is basically one-way and limited in time.We expect the DPJ to hold in-depth and constructive debates and present its own policy plans in future sessions of the postal privatization special committee or the budget committee.Can voters trust DPJSocial security, taxation and fiscal reforms--the most significant issues after postal privatization--also should be discussed from a broad perspective. Discussions on an ideal constitution and ideas and basic policies on foreign and security affairs also would be significant.If it is intent on seeking power, the DPJ should clarify its policy plans after the postal privatization bills have been passed.Maehara has long been advocating constitutional revision, including amending the controversial Article 9 of the basic law. He also has been questioning the lack of a national referendum law defining procedures to revise the Constitution.He places emphasis on the Japan-U.S. security alliance in his foreign and security policies, which are not very different from those of the ruling coalition.Voters would feel comfortable about putting the DPJ in power if a change of government did not affect the basic policies of the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2005-09-29	YOSHIN0020050930e19t000gs
YOMSHI0020050929e19u0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050929e19u0000g	EN	\N	Privatized road firms face profitability test	The new private companies will set sail with various problems, including debts of 40 trillion yen and the stain of the scandal over the rigging of bids for bridge projects, in which JH's vice president was arrested.	4	2005-09-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The leaders of the new companies include amakudari appointees--former bureaucrats responsible for regulating the firms, who joined them on retirement. They cannot be allowed to keep working in an inefficient and bureaucratic manner.All the companies must aim to become completely independent from the government in doing business in order to benefit from privatization.The highway-related public corporations are to be privatized and split in the following way:First, a newly created independent administrative corporation will inherit their debts and assets, including highways. The six private companies, including three from JH, will take charge of building and maintaining highways, and collecting tolls.The six companies will pay fees to the independent administrative organization for renting highways from it, and the organization will use these revenues to repay the huge debts of the road-related public corporations.Potential for new businessesThe management of the new firms will be under pressure to produce profits.There seems to be various ways for the new companies to make money.One method would be to undertake new businesses. So far, the public corporations have entrusted their affiliates with running only restaurants and small shops at highway rest areas.The new companies will be able to start up various side businesses, including shopping malls and hotels.Those businesses could be developed into huge revenue sources if the new firms handle them directly.The new firms also face the urgent task of cutting costs in their highway operations. While public corporations do not get any benefit from doing this, the private firms could keep as internal reserves about half the cut if they succeed in reducing administration and construction costs. This is the main benefit of privatization.Change in mind-set keyHowever, this will require a change in their former mind-set as protected firms. The new firms must not give priority to affiliated companies in allocating orders. The affiliates must be urged to ensure their surplus funds are returned to benefit road users, in addition to ending cozy ties with the bureaucracy by even refusing to hire amakudari appointees.They must drastically reduce construction costs, too. Of course, bid-rigging must be eradicated. But, the new companies also should try to cut costs by negotiating with contractors, even after deals are made--a common practice in the private sector.On Thursday, the Fair Trade Commission demanded that JH take appropriate action to prevent a recurrence of bid-rigging. The demand was made in connection with the rigging of bids for bridge projects and based on the law to prevent collusive bidding at the initiative of government agencies or officials.The FTC named seven JH officials, including the vice president and a director, for their involvement in the illegal practice.The new companies must take a hard look at themselves after privatization. If they find any losses from bid-rigging, they should not hesitate to demand compensation from those employees responsible. That would be proof of their clear break with the irregularity.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	571	2005-09-30	YOSHIN0020051003e19u000gj
YOMSHI0020050930e1a10000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020050930e1a10000f	EN	\N	Flow of political funds must be fully disclosed	The income and expenditure report on political funds for 2004, which covers political funding reports under the jurisdiction of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, recently has been issued by the ministry.	4	2005-10-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The political funding report made by Heisei Kenkyukai, a fund management organization of the former Hashimoto faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, shows that it has only 297 million yen in funds carried over from the preceding year.In the same report last year, the faction entered 1.85 billion yen in carried-over funds from 2003 to 2004. Where has the difference of 1.5 billion yen gone? It all remains a mystery.The faction said the confusion stemmed from a transfer of responsibilities as relevant documents were confiscated by authorities in connection with the 100 million yen donation made illegally to the faction by Nisshiren, the political wing of the Japan Dental Association.Politicians tend to dispose of monies they do not want publicly disclosed as carried-over funds, aiming to handle them without receipts. Such long-standing practices may be responsible for the size of these unaccounted funds.Should this botched management of funds be left unchecked, the system in which political parties are required to publicize their income and expenditure would be meaningless. Because of this, the Political Funds Control Law is often called a law with many loopholes. Unless this is addressed, the political world's dubious relationship with money will never end.Bills should be enactedIn the wake of the illegal donations made to former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's former faction, both the ruling coalition parties and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan last year submitted respective bills to an extraordinary Diet session to revise the funds control law.But following little deliberation, the bills were abandoned with the dissolution of the House of Representatives earlier this year. The bills should be resubmitted to the Diet and passed into law as soon as possible.The DPJ's bill says a political party or a political fund-managing organization must have its accounts scrutinized by external auditors. This measure would increase the transparency of political donations.The question of whether or not to make it mandatory to have a bank certificate of the fund balance attached to such reports also is an issue that needs to be discussed.Work also is needed on blocking "bypassed donations"--money channeled to individual lawmakers via political fund-management organizations of political parties.Submit reports togetherBesides the political funding reports submitted to the internal affairs ministry by parties and organizations active in more than one prefecture, reports that come under the jurisdiction of prefectural electoral administration commissions of those active in a single prefecture have been made public one after another.From the viewpoint of increasing the transparency of political funding, the separate reports made by the ministry and prefectural commissions need to be publicized at the same time.Under the present law, businesses and other organizations are banned from donating money to fund-management organizations of individual lawmakers. All donations from corporations and other organizations are collected by political parties' local chapters, led by individual lawmakers.These local chapters in single-seat constituencies have to submit their political funding reports to prefectural electoral administration commissions.Some lawmakers have their local chapter channel donated money back to their own political organizations, such as supporters' organizations. Funds from party headquarters also flow to these local branches.To identify the flow of political money, it is necessary to compare the amount of funds reported to the ministry with funds reported to local commissions.To realize the intended meaning of the Political Funds Control Law, which was designed to expose political funding "to public monitoring and criticism through public disclosure," the issue of how the ministry's political funding report should be made public must be discussed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	666	2005-10-01	YOSHIN0020051003e1a1001cw
YOMSHI0020051001e1a20000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051001e1a20000g	EN	\N	Joint development could unlock gas fields impasse	In bilateral working-level talks between Japan and China, the Japanese government proposed that both countries jointly develop gas fields in waters straddling the median line that Japan asserts is the boundary between their exclusive economic zones. China responded by saying it would seriously study the proposal.	4	2005-10-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Joint development can only proceed on the assumption that a relationship of mutual trust exists between the two countries. If China was genuine when it said it would study the proposal, it should have been ready to suspend its development of a natural gas field on the Chinese side of the median line.Beijing already has started producing gas from the Tianwaitian gas field and reportedly is preparing to start producing gas in the Chunxiao field shortly. From this field, which is said to be connected with a gas field lying on the Japanese side of the median line, Japan's marine resources could be siphoned off by China.During the latest talks, Japan strongly pressed China to stop its development of these two fields, but these efforts were in vain. China said it would make its response to the proposal in the next round of talks, scheduled for sometime this month. Yet we cannot rule out the possibility that China is buying time over the issue by allowing the bilateral talks to continue. Such maneuvering could lead to China's development of the gas fields becoming a fait accompli.Waters in disputeDuring the latest talks, China asserted, as it had in the past, that the gas fields being developed are in Chinese territorial waters and are not the subject of any international dispute.If China recognizes the boundary of the exclusive economic zone as the median line between Japan and China, the area with the gas fields under development would have been within China's economic zone. As long as Beijing does not recognize the median line, however, the gas fields being developed by China should be deemed as lying in "waters in dispute."The act of unilaterally developing a gas field in disputed waters would run counter to the spirit of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which calls for concerned countries to make every effort not to jeopardize or prevent them from reaching an agreement. In light of international rules, it is only reasonable that China stop developing the gas fields in question.If China does not agree to suspend this development, Japan should only go ahead with making preparations for test-drilling in gas fields on the Japanese side of the median line.Continue negotiationsShould Japan begin test-drilling in the waters, China will likely attempt to forestall such a move. To ensure safety during the test-drilling, the government must expedite its study of drafting relevant laws.During the talks, both Japan and China reportedly shared an understanding that they should strive to make the East China Sea a "sea of cooperation." However, five Chinese Navy warships were observed recently in waters near the Chunxiao field.If China intends to make the East China Sea a "sea of cooperation," it should refrain from taking such steps that aggravate military tensions.The road to realizing the proposed joint development is expected to be bumpy, and many details remain to be straightened out. Such issues include whether the gas field from which China has already started producing gas should be subject to joint development and how to share the benefits between the two.The most important point is for Japan to proceed with the negotiations with China, keeping the principle of protecting Japan's sovereignty and national interest in mind.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2005-10-02	YOSHIN0020051003e1a200236
YOMSHI0020051002e1a30000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051002e1a30000f	EN	\N	Redirect road revenues to more meaningful use	Koizumi has ordered a reexamination of the use of revenues from taxes collected exclusively for highway construction, improvement and other road-related projects. His administration is set to put together a specific policy on the system by the end of the year.	4	2005-10-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There is a lesser need now to set aside a massive amount of money for highway-related projects than there was in the past, while both the national and local governments are experiencing severe fiscal difficulties. A good measure of progress has been made in building and improving highways in this country over the years. This is in contrast to the roads used at a time when the project-specific tax revenue system was introduced.The prime minister may believe in striking the iron while it is hot. His instructions for the review of the system come at a time when several influential LDP lawmakers with vested interests in highway construction have left the party and retired from politics. Koizumi seems to be convinced this has provided an excellent opportunity to reform the system.The government should conduct a fundamental review of the system, with the aim of turning tax revenues earmarked for road-related projects into general-account revenues.The fiscal 2005 budget incorporates 5.7 trillion yen in revenues from the system--3.5 trillion yen from national taxes and 2.2 trillion yen from local taxes. Such revenues, which come from gasoline, automobile weight and other road-related taxes, are used to carry out road-related projects, including highway construction and repairs.Open to changeSince taking office four and a half years ago, Koizumi has demonstrated a willingness to review the project-specific tax revenue system. However, little progress has been made in reforming the system, as a result of strong objections from LDP legislators with vested interests in road-related projects, the Construction and Transport Ministry and local governments.The LDP's overwhelming victory in the lower house election has turned all this around. The party's victory has generated momentum for starting reforms other than postal privatization. This has been symbolized by a recent remark made by Makoto Koga, chairman of the LDP's Research Commission on Highways, who said, "I don't think [the project-specific tax revenue system] is a sacred cow."One factor contributing to the gathering momentum for a review of the system is a prospect that the system will leave a surplus in the near future. The government has taken over 1.47 trillion yen in debts incurred by the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority, which has been transformed into a joint stock corporation, clearing a portion of the institution's liabilities. The partial debts have been repaid, using revenues from the system. The government budget for this fiscal year incorporates 480 billion yen in appropriations to be used for helping clear the authority's debts.Surplus on horizonThe debts will be cleared next fiscal year, meaning that the system will have a surplus of close to 500 billion yen annually, starting in fiscal 2007. There is no need to return the money to the coffers for road-related projects.Undoubtedly, progress should be made in reviewing the system. However, the argument of some proponents of the review is unacceptable. They have insisted on changing the ratio of revenues gained by the national government to those received by local governments, for the purpose of giving the latter a greater share of the revenues. They propose nothing more than a change in who should receive the lion's share of the tax revenues generated under the system. Such a transparent trick should never be adopted.An issue that will inevitably be debated during the process of reviewing the system are the provisional tax rates stipulated in the system. Gasoline and automobile weight tax rates have been set at considerably higher levels than those set as the regular rates in the main body of the law on the system, leading the automobile industry to call for the abolition of the provisional rates if tax revenues are used for purposes unrelated to highway projects.However, there are concerns that scrapping the provisional rates could lead to environmental degradation from an increase in gasoline consumption due to lower prices. The tax rates on fuel and other road-related items are not much higher than those in the United States and Europe. We believe it wiser to use the standards for the provisional tax rates as the regular rates in the main body of the law, and use tax revenues from the reformed system for meaningful purposes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	824	2005-10-03	YOSHIN0020051004e1a3000cf
YOMSHI0020051003e1a40000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051003e1a40000l	EN	\N	Be cautious in ending easy money policy	Debates on the pros and cons of a proposal to end the Bank of Japan's quantitative relaxation of credit are gathering momentum.	4	2005-10-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The central bank's quarterly survey of business sentiment for September, known as the Tankan, serves as another indication that the levelling-off period has ended. The diffusion index of business sentiment among major corporations, a subset of data from the Tankan, has shown a slight improvement for the manufacturing industry. An improvement in the diffusion index peaked in September last year, followed by a continued drop in the following months. However, the economy is getting back on a recovery track, as shown by two consecutive quarterly improvements in the diffusion index beginning in June.Efforts by major banks to write off their nonperforming loans passed a crucial stage in the business period ending in March. Surpluses in equipment, employees and debts accumulated by corporations are declining to nearly appropriate levels as a result of their efforts to slash the fat. It seems the domestic economy is gradually recovering from the aftereffects of the collapse of the bubble.Next step awaitsResponding to this favorable turn of events, several members of the central bank's Monetary Policy Meeting--including an economist and a private sector executive--have made bold remarks about the need to reverse the bank's monetary policy. In the meeting and their lectures, they have proposed lowering the current account deposit target set by the bank as a main pillar of its quantitative monetary easing policy.Their sentiment seems to have been echoed by Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui, who said the bank could end its quantitative credit relaxation at an early date. "I do not deny [the policy] may end by the end of the current fiscal year," he said.The positive remarks made by Fukui and members of his bank's policy-making meeting about ending the policy reflect the recent improvement in the consumer price index, an measurement of deflationary pressure.In August, the CPI for goods and services, excluding perishable foods, declined by 0.1 percent from a year earlier, showing that the range of drop in the index had contracted. In the near future, soaring crude oil prices are expected to raise gasoline prices and electricity rates, boosting the CPI accordingly. Many economists believe that the negative index will bottom out or take a turn into positive territory.Timing vitalWhen should the central bank's quantitative relaxation of credit end?First of all, it should be remembered why the policy was adopted. In March 2001, the bank implemented the policy, determined to prevent the economy from tumbling into serious deflation. Before ending the policy, the central bank must be certain the nation has been entirely escaped from the deflationary spiral.It is also essential to remain cautious if the CPI takes a turn into the positive. It will be necessary to carefully decide whether such a change in the index is transitional or sustained. The deflationary situation has arisen because demand greatly fell below supply as a result of a sharp drop in consumption. Given this, it is necessary to look at all aspects of the economy, not just the CPI, to determine whether deflation has been laid to rest.There is growing uncertainty about the future of the world economy. There are concerns that the sharp rise in crude oil prices could deal a blow to the U.S. and Chinese economies. This is disturbing in that the growth in the two nation's economies have done much to improve the Japanese economy. This also should be considered as the central bank mulls ending its quantitative monetary easing policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2005-10-04	YOSHIN0020051005e1a4000hn
YOMSHI0020051004e1a50000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051004e1a50000h	EN	\N	Permanent law needed on antiterrorism	The government on Tuesday submitted to the Diet a bill to extend the Antiterrorism Law, which is due to expire on Nov. 1, for another year to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue refueling U.S.-led coalition naval ships operating in the Indian Ocean.	4	2005-10-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The law was quickly enacted with a two-year life span after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. This will be the second extension."It's not good to extend the Antiterrorism Law again and again," Democratic Party of Japan President Seiji Maehara said at a press conference Tuesday. "A permanent law on antiterrorism in general should be drafted."At the last House of Representatives election, the Liberal Democratic Party also pledged to study permanent legislation concerning international peace cooperation activities.There seems to be no difference of opinion on the permanent legislation between the LDP and the DPJ. It is not surprising that major parties share common policies on foreign and security affairs in a stable democracy where government could be alternated among different parties.Ad hoc laws not the answerThe National Defense Program Outline stipulates international peace cooperation activities to improve the global security environment as one of the major activities by the SDF, along with homeland defense. As a legal basis to enable such activities, a permanent law is necessary.The special law to help the restoration of Iraq was enacted, also as a temporary law with a four-year life span, to send Ground Self-Defense Force troops to Samawah in southern Iraq. Stopgap measures like making a temporary law whenever a security threat emerges should not be repeated.The government has already begun studying a permanent law to enable the SDF to participate in international peace cooperation activities, including assistance in the restoration of a devastated country after a war and dispute settlement by multinational forces. The government should discuss its details as quickly as possible for early enactment.To apply the permanent law effectively, it is important to change the Cabinet Legislation Bureau's interpretation on Japan's right to collective self-defense. The bureau says the nation has the right, but may not exercise it. The interpretation must be changed to "the nation may exercise the right."Article 9 the sticking pointMSDF ships have been dispatched to the Indian Ocean since December 2001 based on the Antiterrorism Law. They have been refueling British, French and U.S. aircraft carriers, frigates and other naval vessels that stop and inspect suspicious ships in international waters. From an international viewpoint, refueling such ships effectively means exercising the right to collective self-defense."The SDF may not use force to help troops of another country in charge of security even if they are attacked," Maehara said. "This can't be called real international contribution."If the SDF helps troops of another country in danger, it may be considered as exercising the right to collective self-defense or the kind of use of arms prohibited by the Constitution.The government is responsible for making clear rules on the right to collective self-defense and the use of arms.Japan must try to release itself quickly from the spell of the constitutional interpretation of Article 9.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2005-10-05	YOSHIN0020051006e1a5000he
YOMSHI0020051005e1a60000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051005e1a60000g	EN	\N	Bipartisan effort needed on issue of pols' pension	The lawmakers pension plan has been strongly criticized for being overgenerous in comparison with the employees and national pension programs. A bill to abolish it should be submitted to the Diet and enacted as soon as possible.	4	2005-10-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The pensions are paid mainly to retired politicians aging 65 or older, who had been Diet members for more than 10 years. If a lawmaker pays 1.3 million yen a year while in office, he or she can receive 4.12 million yen to 7.41 million yen a year after retirement. Seventy percent of the benefit is subsidized by state coffers.In January, an advisory panel to the speakers of the House of Representatives and House of Councillors made a proposal to lower the government share of contributions to 50 percent by raising pension premiums and reducing benefits.The ruling coalition plans to introduce a transitional program based on the proposal after abolishing the current pension plan. Then, when pension plans for private company and government employees are unified in the future, the lawmakers pension plan will be consolidated with them, according to the ruling coalition's plan.Lawmakers must set exampleMeanwhile, the DPJ is studying a plan to consolidate all the existing pension plans, including the national pension plan for the self-employed, into one, in which lawmakers also would participate. The DPJ also plans to create a retirement benefit system for Diet members as well as to reduce benefits paid to the retired lawmakers and refund premiums already paid by incumbent Diet members as a transitional measure until all the pension plans are unified.The ruling coalition, however, criticized the DPJ plan for increasing state contributions with the creation of the retirement benefit system. Including this point, the DPJ should clarify the whole picture of how it intends to "abolish" the lawmakers pension plan.In reform of the social security system, it will be unavoidable to ask the public to accept heavier burdens and less benefits due to the rapidly aging society and the declining birthrate. However, the public will never accept this if lawmakers hold on to their current privileges.2 camps should compromiseCompetition between the ruling coalition and the DPJ in reform attempts seems to be accelerating discussions on abolition of the lawmakers pension plan.With this acceleration effect, the parties are also expected to hold serious discussions on fundamental reform of the public pension system in general, which have been stalled recently.Concerning the fundamental reform, the ruling coalition, which puts priority on consolidation of private company and government employees pension plans, stands squarely with the DPJ, which stresses unification of all the public pension programs.Since their basic stances are so different on unification, adjustment of opinions between the ruling and opposition parties over the process of abolishing the lawmakers pension is expected to be difficult.However, reduction of the excessive government share of contributions is an issue that should be tackled immediately. The ruling coalition and the DPJ should overcome their differences quickly to reach an agreement with abolition of the lawmakers pension plan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	549	2005-10-06	YOSHIN0020051007e1a6000ge
YOMSHI0020051006e1a70000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051006e1a70000l	EN	\N	Toyota helping GM with FHI share buys	The move shows Toyota's consideration for the world's largest automaker, as GM is currently struggling.	4	2005-10-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.S. auto giant reportedly approached Japan's top automaker to get it to buy the shares, with the aim of raising funds to restructure and improve its financial strength.Succoring a foeGM's move to sell its entire shareholding in FHI has forced the unexpected reorganization of the Japanese auto industry. The deal can be said to be significant for Toyota in two respects.First, Toyota will be able to maintain cooperation with its U.S. rival, while at the same time putting GM under obligation. While the two firms are competitors, they also are partners in a joint venture manufacturing firm in the United States.This partnership was formed as a result of lessons learned from the 1980s trade friction between Japan and the United States.Through joint production, Toyota showed GM its advanced production system, allowing the U.S. firm to improve its productivity. Ever since, Toyota has indirectly supported the Detroit-based firm, essentially succoring a foe.While GM appeared to have gotten back on its feet with the U.S. economic recovery in the 1990s, escalating competition has hit it hard.In recent years, GM has posted losses and its credit rating has been slashed to junk status. It also has announced job cuts of more than 20,000 positions.The automobile industry is said to symbolize the state of U.S. manufacturing, with GM reckoned as a leading company in the United States. It used to be said that "what's good for GM is good for the United States."But should the world's biggest auto producer suffer a further deterioration, criticism of Toyota--the industry's most successful firm--would increase in the United States, possibly rekindling a trade war. In consideration of this, Toyota raised the prices of its leading models in the U.S. market this year, if only slightly.In a market economy, it is unthinkable for a company to raise the prices of its products or services to benefit rivals. But Toyota has apparently put priority on reducing trade friction.Toyota naturally will benefit from its purchase of FHI shares. The acquisition will help the company--which aims to take GM's spot as the world's biggest-selling carmaker--boost its U.S. production as it will be able to produce Toyota models at FHI's plants in North America.GM not out of woodsThere is no guarantee though that GM will be able to successfully restructure its business through Toyota's support alone. For instance, the burden of medical expenses for current and retired employees, made obligatory through labor-management accords, hangs heavy on the U.S. firm.Soaring crude oil prices are increasingly leading U.S. drivers to avoid gas-guzzling U.S. models. GM apparently lags behind its foreign rivals in technological development, too.The business environment for GM is only becoming harsher. Toyota, which is continuing its advance, will face the "problem" of being too successful for some time to come.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2005-10-07	YOSHIN0020051010e1a70015z
YOMSHI0020051007e1a80000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051007e1a80000g	EN	\N	DPJ taking constructive approach to top law	A case in point is the proposal for a new constitution drafted recently by the Democratic Party of Japan. With regard to Article 9, a key issue of a constitutional amendment, the opposition party's draft calls for the new constitution to stipulate a "restricted right to self-defense," in line with the U.N. Charter.	4	2005-10-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Article 51 of the charter says, "Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security." Naturally, the charter approves of its members "exercising" the right.Under the government's interpretation of the Constitution, our country is not able to wield the right to collective self-defense. Yet the DPJ's draft is interpreted as endorsing the right of collective self-defense.The DPJ's draft calls for permitting Japan to take part in such international collective security activities as U.N.-led multinational forces and U.N. peacekeeping operations, including the "use of force."Watershed developmentIt is probably based on the party's judgment that it would be necessary for Japan to use force in efficiently participating in multinational peacekeeping activities for maintaining or restoring international peace and security.It is indeed a watershed development for the DPJ to endorse the "use of force," even if only within the framework of collective self-defense.The Liberal Democratic Party has compiled an initial draft for a new constitution, stipulating that the nation possesses an "army for self-defense," and that the army can take part in multinational peacekeeping activities.The LDP and DPJ proposals correspond on issues beyond the war-renouncing Article 9 to such issues as human rights, which should be stipulated anew in the Constitution.The LDP is scheduled to release its draft for a new constitution on Oct. 28. The DPJ should make public its proposals in full on the Constitution at an early date. With both the ruling and opposition parties proposals in the public domain, a national constitutional debate will intensify and understanding of a new constitution will deepen.The passage of legislation concerning a national referendum that would stipulate the procedures for a constitutional amendment also needs to be expedited.At a meeting of the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Constitution, held earlier this week, the LDP and the DPJ agreed to work toward the passage of legislation for the national referendum, with approval of at least two-thirds of each house needed for the Diet to initiate amendments to the Constitution.Referendum bill a testThe passage of the referendum legislation through the Diet will be a test along the path to realizing a new constitution.The LDP and DPJ proposals for the referendum legislation differ on matters such as whether the minimum voting age should be 18 or 20. By further discussing these issues, the two camps should reach a consensus and ensure the passage of the referendum bill at the next Ordinary Diet session.DPJ leader Seiji Maehara is an active advocate for amending the Constitution. We would give credit to his party for constructive moves toward establishing a new constitution under his leadership.Within the DPJ, there remain pockets of strong held views opposing constitutional revision or wary of revision, chiefly among legislators who previously belonged to the now-defunct Japan Socialist Party.The DPJ should not postpone the discussion on the Constitution or allow it to be derailed by internal skeptics. Maehara has a heavy responsibility as the party leader to exercise his leadership on this score.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2005-10-08	YOSHIN0020051010e1a8001wv
YOMSHI0020051008e1a90000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051008e1a90000c	EN	\N	Law needed to deal with bioterrorism risks	The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has started revising the Infectious Disease Law under the aim of preventing a biological terrorist attack in this country.	4	2005-10-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Storage and management of pathogens has been left to the discretion of scientists and research institutions. But now the ministry wants to place tighter legal controls on pathogens, although it has been tardy in taking this action.The ministry's Health Sciences Council has been charged with furthering discussions on the revision, and the government is expected to submit the revision bill during the next ordinary Diet session next year. The current situation, in which pathogens are largely uncontrolled, must be corrected as soon as possible.The current Infectious Disease Law classifies pathogens into five categories, depending on the degree of risk they pose. The law also stipulates measures to be taken after an outbreak of an infectious disease, such as isolating and disinfecting patients.However, bioterrorism--the intentional generation and spread of infectious diseases--was not a consideration when the law was written. The law also does not stipulate how such attacks could be prevented.Awareness lackingIn the United States and Europe, strict restrictions were imposed on possessing and handling pathogens after anthrax attacks in the United States four years ago.Japan is a nation that could be targeted by international terrorist groups. A bioterrorist attack on this nation would bring about indescribable horrors and damage.Although Japan already has experienced the terrorist attacks by the Aum Supreme Truth cult, it has failed to fully grasp the severity of the threat it now faces.This was proved during the SARS outbreak overseas two years ago.Japanese researchers brought the SARS virus into the country to study the development of a vaccine. However, even the ministry was unaware of the amount of the virus that had been imported and where it was being stored.If one of the researchers had malicious intentions or the virus had been improperly stored, the nation could have faced a disaster.Deterrence essentialUnder the bill now being studied, possession of several extremely dangerous pathogens, including the smallpox virus, will be prohibited without the government's permission.Anyone who possesses any of dozens of other germs and viruses also must notify the government. The bill calls for punitive measures to be taken against those who break these rules.These regulations should be immediately realized. Punishments stipulated in the revised law should be heavy enough to deter potential terrorist attacks.Improving preparedness to deal with infectious diseases will become more important in the future.Since 1970, humans have been assailed by more than 30 unknown infectious diseases. As people and goods have become able to travel great distances more easily due to improved transportation networks, such as air travel, an infectious disease can spread to all corners of the globe in a short time.Japan must work with other countries to deal with and study any new infectious disease. Japan also must hasten the development of a domestic control system for pathogens that will serve to boost such international cooperation as well as protect the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	551	2005-10-09	YOSHIN0020051010e1a9000fn
YOMSHI0020051009e1aa0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051009e1aa0000d	EN	\N	Crackdown needed on Internet's criminal side	Criminal acts encouraged by Net-distributed information included a recent case in which an employee of the Tokyo Fire Department e-mailed a Web site operator asking him to murder the wife of a man she was having an affair with, and the operator was arrested in connection with the alleged offense.	4	2005-10-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Web site accepted requests from Internet users for consultation about such unlawful matters as murder and revenge. The operator allegedly defrauded the woman of 1.65 million yen in fees for what he claimed to be an investigation into matters related to her request, although he had no intention to kill the targeted woman. A man tied to the operator is also accused of swindling the woman of 3 million yen. All their alleged criminal deeds must be condemned as outrageous.In April, a man allegedly killed a company employee after accepting a request through a dating-service Web site from the victim's wife to murder her husband in return for a 10 million yen reward.In June, a high school student threw a crude bomb into a classroom at his school in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It has been found that he learned how to build the bomb by taking advantage of information on Web sites. In recent years, there have been an increasing number of Net-related juvenile crimes, including cases in which stolen articles have been sold through Net auctions.Easy anonymityAnyone can conceal their identity on the Internet. This can encourage some people to commit bold crimes by taking advantage of the Net, which gives easy access to information about how to make explosives, for example. All this is contributing to the growth in the number of criminals.Under current legislation, Web site operators cannot be held criminally responsible for any crimes committed by others using information distributed through their sites, unless the operator commits an unlawful act. Nonetheless, a crime committed by someone using information from a Web site should be seen as a case in which the operator of the site in question has nearly been involved.Although freedom of speech should never be infringed upon, information that can induce people to commit crimes must not remain unregulated. In one case, a bag-snatcher recruited accomplices through a Web site. Some Web sites provide information about how to produce counterfeit money.Lives take priority over privacyIn early October, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, the National Police Agency and an association of telecommunications carriers jointly launched a system by which Net service providers and Web site operators provide the police with information about people who urge others via the Net to commit group suicide. This reflected the relevant authorities' decision that it would be permissible to disclose information about such persons to protect the people's lives, despite the need to honor privacy of communications.A council formed by relevant government ministries and agencies to protect the public from harmful information on the Net is studying measures to control the flow of such information. Members of the council have suggested setting standards on what kind of information should be controlled as harmful, while Web site administrators would voluntarily delete such information from their sites. However, such an approach can do little to achieve the goal.The United States and some European countries are seeking to regulate the flow of harmful information on the Net, for example, by banning the use of intimidating language and the distribution of information about how to commit suicide.The police need to keep closer watch on the distribution of potentially illegal information, while also implementing stern measures to combat the flow of such information, including punishment against Web site operators.Further progress will likely be made in bringing the Internet into full play in various sectors of society. The Net must be prevented from becoming a hotbed of crime.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	689	2005-10-10	YOSHIN0020051012e1aa000ak
YOMSHI0020051011e1ac0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051011e1ac0000c	EN	\N	Quake aid to Pakistan also helps fight terror	Pakistani President Gen. Perves Musharraf has asked the international community for disaster relief assistance. Japan and other members of the international community must cooperate closely with one other in assisting disaster victims and helping Pakistan reconstruct the stricken areas.	4	2005-10-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government has already sent an emergency rescue team to Pakistan and also is planning to dispatch two or three helicopters and nearly 200 Self-Defense Forces personnel. Since roads to the affected areas are severed, the Pakistani president asked the international community to provide helicopters. Japan should send them as soon as possible.If the Pakistani government cannot take quick and effective disaster relief measures, not only the quake victims but also the general public will get increasingly frustrated with Islamabad, which might eventually lead to political instability in the country.The international community must avoid the destabilization of Pakistan by all means, considering the significance of its position and role in the region.Maintaining stability vitalKashmir--hit worst by the temblor--is a territory over which India and Pakistan have long been in dispute. To maintain stability in the region, the disaster victims should be helped as soon as possible.Pakistan also is the front line in the war against international terrorism. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the Musharraf government severed ties with the Taliban regime in neighboring Afghanistan and joined the international coalition against terrorism.Taliban remnants are still active in southeastern Afghanistan close to the Pakistani border.In addition, more than 3 million Afghan refugees are still living alongside the Pakistani border against Afghanistan. Some of those refugees are said to be involved in terrorism and drug trafficking.Japan can play major roleThe perpetrators of the July bombings in London are suspected of having been in contact with an Islamic militant group in Pakistan that is said to have a close relationship with the Al-Qaida international terrorist organization. Also, Islamic radicals have tried to assassinate Musharraf several times.Relief activities for the victims will stabilize Pakistan by preventing the deterioration of domestic security and will indirectly assist in the eradication of international terrorism. Thus, the dispatch of SDF relief aid personnel and helicopters to the country also can be considered as part of Japan's international peace cooperation activities.Japan should provide not only immediate relief aid, but also long-term restoration assistance to Pakistan.This does not only mean monetary and material assistance. For example, Japan, a country often struck by earthquakes, is good at making long-term plans for post-earthquake reconstruction. Excellent quake-resistant engineering technology this country has developed also will be very helpful in reconstructing buildings and other infrastructure.Japan could play a major role in international assistance for Pakistan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	513	2005-10-12	YOSHIN0020051013e1ac000ii
YOMSHI0020051012e1ad0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051012e1ad0000h	EN	\N	Govt should overhaul its space strategy	The latest development shows that China has been advancing steadily toward developing a full-fledged space program.	4	2005-10-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Only one astronaut was aboard the previous Shenzhou-5 mission in 2003. It lasted just over 21 hours, with the spacecraft orbiting the Earth only 14 times. Caution was the watchword for that mission.The latest mission, by contrast, is aimed at testing technology that will allow Chinese astronauts to stay in space longer. Two years from now, the country plans to have its astronauts conduct extravehicular activities, or space walks. Later, the country plans to construct a space laboratory linking multiple spacecraft together in orbit.In days to come, China plans to start constructing its own space station, using a large-sized rocket now under development.ISS project under threatJapanese officials concerned with space development may have underestimated China's advance into space. Many Japanese experts say China's space program is far from cutting-edge, as its spacecraft are designed based on Russian technology.Yet the international environment surrounding space development is changing markedly. For instance, the United States is curtailing the International Space Station program, which Japan views as the pivot of its manned space activities.The United States has shifted its emphasis in space development toward manned flights to the moon and Mars. Russia seems to have lost interest in new space-related initiatives and is instead putting its energy into organizing space tours for private individuals.Meanwhile, private sector enterprises are proceeding with their own spacecraft development, with space tourism in mind.With the arrival of China as a space power, the international situation will become even more complicated. Moreover, China is using its space technology as a lever with which to expand its influence in Asia.The country even has a plan to launch a program to train astronauts, by establishing an international organization for promoting cooperation in the development of space science and technology in which 15 Asian countries--excluding Japan--will participate.China leaving Japan behindBeijing advocates developing space for peaceful purposes. But the Chinese military is thought to be deeply involved in the country's space development programs.Countries including the United States fear that if China is able to develop its space technology to the level at which it can build its own space station, it would pose a threat to international security.Japan aims at receiving orders for launching artificial satellites, using the domestically developed H2-A launch vehicle. But the H2-A is no match for China's rocket, given the latter's achievements in manned space flight and its ability to launch satellites cheaply.The present situation is such that the significance of the ISS and H2-A, which Japan has held as the two major pillars of its space development program, could be called into doubt. The government should review its space strategy, including rethinking how Japan should pursue international cooperation in space development.But this country does not have an organization to discuss space strategy. The Space Activities Commission, an advisory panel chaired by a cabinet member, was abolished in the reorganization of government ministries and agencies in 2001. Presently, related ministries and agencies decide on space-related policies from the viewpoint of developing science and technology.What is needed is a drastic revision of Japan's space development program, including the functions of space-related organizations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	608	2005-10-13	YOSHIN0020051014e1ad000gz
YOMSHI0020051013e1ae0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051013e1ae0000e	EN	\N	Tottori human rights rule not an example to follow	While advocating redress for those whose human rights have been violated, the ordinance may see violations of human rights by administrative organizations pass unremarked. Neither can we wipe away the fear that the application may become arbitrary.	4	2005-10-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The human rights commission, a relief organization, will comprise five male and female members to be appointed by the governor.Upon receipt of a petition for redress of human rights damages, the commission will investigate the complaint and issue a corrective recommendation to the human right violator. If a violator does not follow the recommendation, his or her name, address and other information will be made public.Enormous powersThe investigative power of the commission is enormous.In principle, the ordinance says the commission is authorized to ask individuals to cooperate with inquiries and provide relevant information. Those individuals who refuse to cooperate without due reason will face fines of up to 50,000 yen. This, in effect, is a regulation with penalties, making it essentially compulsory for individuals to respond to the commission's investigations.On the other hand, the ordinance has a provision saying that if the head of an administrative organization, such as the police or prisons, judges that cooperate with a human rights commission probe would interfere with an investigation, enacting punishment or hindering the maintenance of public safety and order, the organization can refuse to follow the commission's request to cooperate.Suppressive inquiries by police or at prisons, or abusive acts by police officers or prison officials have sometimes become problematic. Even when there is a system of a redress, the human rights investigation would stop once the head of a prefectural police headquarters or the director of a prison refused to cooperate.The ordinance utterly lacks a balance as it imposes penalties on private citizens, while providing loopholes for public authorities. It also is problematic, in terms of independence, that the commission is, effectively, an organization belonging to the prefectural government.It also is a major cause for concern that the ordinance is ambiguous in its definition of "human rights violations" and news organizations are subject to the ordinance.If the news reporting or coverage is deemed to "publicly reveal the facts concerning a private life," with the "purpose of having individuals lose their honor or social credit," such acts would be subject to recommendations for corrective steps.Public interest overlookedWhile it makes no provision for the public interest value of news reporting, it is feared that news stories such as one probing irregularities by politicians may be uniformly subject to the regulations.The bar association of Tottori prefecture issued a statement from its president, saying that the ordinance may run counter to the Constitution.Tottori Gov. Yoshihiro Katayama also admits the ordinance has many problematic points, while hinting at the possibility of revising it in the future.The government aims to have the "bill concerning the protection of human rights" resubmitted to the Diet. The bill has come under fire over issues such as the ambiguity of its definition of human rights violations and power of the human rights commission--similar to criticism of the Tottori prefectural ordinance.With regard to the provisions in the bill to regulate the news media, the central government is trying to fend off criticism by putting a freeze on enforcement of the provisions.While the central government's bill is still hotly disputed, the enactment of the Tottori prefectural ordinance, which contains many problems, was made too quickly. Other prefectural governments should not follow Tottori prefecture's example.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2005-10-14	YOSHIN0020051017e1ae000fz
YOMSHI0020051014e1af0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051014e1af0000j	EN	\N	Deja vu in Rakuten bid to takeover TBS	Rakuten, the nation's largest e-commerce corporation, has proposed the business integration of the two firms under a joint holding company. The proposal came as Rakuten became TBS' largest shareholder, acquiring a 15.46 percent stake in the Tokyo-based broadcaster.	4	2005-10-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest development is reminiscent of an earlier tug-of-war between Livedoor Co. and Fuji Television Network, Inc. over control of Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. that generated a good deal of attention, even among television viewers.Internet companies have good reason to regard the production capability of television stations and their program holdings as extremely attractive. By taking advantage of such programs, dotcom corporations want to attract as many customers as possible to their Web sites.Issues must be consideredIt should be noted, however, that television stations operate as corporations licensed by the government to use limited radio wavelength for the purpose of working for the good of the public. There are a number of issues to be considered if TBS comes under the umbrella of a holding company, including whether the broadcaster will be able to report news fairlyThe spread of fiber optic and other broadband networks means that ordinary households can easily access online video and radio content. The merger of telecommunications and broadcasting is a trend of the times.With this in mind, Nippon Television Network Corp., Fuji TV and some other broadcasters have embarked on projects to distribute television programs via the Internet. Rakuten's bid to raise its stake in TBS can be seen as an attempt to offer such services on its own, rather than under the initiative of a television station.Rakuten's consolidated current account profits stand at 15.4 billion yen, compared with TBS' 21.9 billion yen. However, the market value of shares issued by the former exceeds that of the latter--about 1 trillion yen vis-a-vis 700 billion yen. If Rakuten and TBS agree to set up a joint holding company, the former will probably take the lead in an envisaged integrated business.Rakuten President Hiroshi Mikitani appears to be taking a conciliatory approach in his attempt to form a business tie-up with TBS, as shown by his high opinion of TBS programs. This is in stark contrast to Livedoor President Takafumi Horie, who took a confrontational approach toward existing news organizations. Horie dismissed the significance of news-reporting activities by television stations and newspaper publishers.Similarity with Livedoor bidNonetheless, common ground can be found in the methods adopted by Mikitani and Horie. Both bought a large number of shares issued by their target corporations, and used the shares as a lever for negotiations with their targets. It is questionable whether Mikitani's high-handed method for purchasing TBS shares will benefit his position in negotiations with the television station.Some months before Mikitani's bid, TBS granted an investment firm the right to buy shares to be newly issued by the broadcaster as a means of foiling a hostile takeover bid. TBS' action represents a poison-pill variant aimed at reducing the stake held by anyone in the target corporation.However, TBS has yet to receive approval for the action at a shareholders meeting. There is no denying TBS' defense against management buyout was half-baked.An investment fund has acquired a 39 percent stake in Hanshin Electric Railway Co., a move that threatens to shake the foundation of the railway firm's management. All listed corporations must seriously think about how to defend themselves from a management buyout.Meanwhile, the government needs to create and improve legal rules on corporate takeovers. First of all, the government should replace the current procedures to be completed by investment funds in submitting reports on a large number of shares they have bought, with ones comparable to similar procedures followed by ordinary corporations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	693	2005-10-15	YOSHIN0020051017e1af001ae
YOMSHI0020051015e1ag0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051015e1ag0000a	EN	\N	Passage of postal laws only start of reform drive	The significance of privatizing Japan Post lies in scrapping the postal savings and insurance systems, which have long attracted a massive amount of money in what could be described as the world's largest state-run financial institution. A portion of 330 trillion yen collected in the form of postal savings and postal insurance premiums have been used to make up for fiscal deficits and to finance ineffectual projects devised by public corporations.	4	2005-10-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The aim of the postal reform campaign is to ensure the massive funds circulate within the private sector economy to revitalize the nation's economy as a whole, while also restoring fiscal discipline.It should be noted, however, that the recently enacted laws only provide a framework for the postal reform drive. There are concerns that the privatization campaign, if conducted inappropriately, could stray from its initial objective. The presidents of joint-stock corporations that will be established to take over the functions of Japan Post should take the significance of postal privatization to heart in running their respective companies. Success in the reform drive--or a lack of it--will depend on whether these top officials will be able to live up to this responsibility.Loopholes remainThe six laws incorporate many provisions that may run counter to the fundamental goal of postal privatization. These provisions were designed to address objections from lawmakers opposed to postal reforms.For example, the laws include loopholes that make it possible for mail-delivery, postal savings and postal insurance to be provided as a package of services again, after these services are split into separate businesses under the postal privatization plan.The laws require a government-funded holding company to dispose of all shares it holds in two corporations responsible for providing postal savings and insurance services. However, the laws incorporate a provision that will enable the holding company to buy back the shares it has sold, meaning the government will be able to play a part in managing the two corporations again.Top officials of the holding company and corporations under its umbrella will not take advantage of these loopholes if they truly understand the objective of postal privatization. Given this, it will be essential to choose figures genuinely dedicated to postal privatization.Committee has key role to playIn January, a postal reform managing committee will be established to prepare for the start of the privatization process in October 2007. Committee members will include people who expect to take up top executive positions at the new corporations.Koizumi is correct in saying the ability of a company president can decisively determine the performance of his firm. The new corporations to be established in the pursuit of postal privatization should be led by people from the private sector endowed with management skills.In April, a postal privatization committee will be established under the government's postal reform promotion headquarters to keep tabs on the new corporations. The committee will be charged with monitoring progress in privatization efforts and conducting a review of the entire process every three years. If the committee detects any problems in the process, it will urge the government to correct them. We hope the committee will fulfill its obligation in this respect.In approving plans by the postal savings and insurance companies to start new businesses, the government will be required to listen to the opinions of the committee. These corporations should never be unrestricted in expanding the scope of their business operations, while their holding companies are funded by the government. The committee will have a crucial role to play in preventing the corporations from becoming bloated.The laws stipulate the privatization process will be completed within 10 years. However, the rapidly changing times cannot afford such a tardy process. The government should expedite the reform drive and shorten the privatization process.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	701	2005-10-16	YOSHIN0020051017e1ag001zf
YOMSHI0020051016e1ah0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051016e1ah0000c	EN	\N	Wield reform knife on public checkbook	Under the instructions of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the Administrative Reform Promotion Office and the Policy Research Council of his Liberal Democratic Party have successively started discussions to review the special accounts. The Fiscal System Council, an advisory body to the finance minister, also has started studying problems with the accounts.	4	2005-10-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Many of the 31 special accounts have their own revenue sources and the government has failed to monitor their expenditure closely. In reality, they have become convenient checkbooks for bureaucrats.With state finances in trouble, lavish spending of the special accounts can be left unattended no longer. After studying the accounts, the government should abolish nonessential ones and radically consolidate the remainder.The special accounts were created for a few reasons, such as managing the flow of money in complicated refunding arrangements, redemption of government bonds and for paying interest. Also, public pension and health insurance plans have revenues from premium payments that can be more easily administered in accounts kept separate from the government's general account.Massive amount of moneyThe general account is 82 trillion yen in the fiscal 2005 budget, while total expenditure on the special accounts is 412 trillion yen. Even after money transacted between the special accounts or transferred from the general account is subtracted, 205 trillion yen remains. This shows how large the special accounts are.Of course, not all the special accounts are problematic. Problems are concentrated among special accounts used to carry out policy measures in particular fields, including those related to public works projects and energy. Their expenditures total 17 trillion yen.One is the special account for promotion of electric power development. From it, subsidies are paid to local governments for promoting the construction of nuclear power plants. The account reported 450 billion yen in this fiscal year's budget. Its revenue comes from tax imposed on electricity consumption.However, the account has run a huge surplus in recent years because groups opposing nuclear power have slowed down the pace of building new power plants.Unnecessary constructionThe Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and other major ministries and agencies select subsidy recipients. However, such subsidies often come under fire for being spent on construction of unnecessary buildings.The road development special account is also problematic. It has enormous financial resources earmarked for road construction, including the automobile weight tax and gasoline excise. Every year, 3 trillion yen is spent from the account on road construction.A metaphor used by former Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa was accurate in a sense. He said, "Residents in the main house [the general account] can eat only thin porridge, but those in the backhouse [special accounts] can enjoy sukiyaki [of delicious beef]."The opposition Democratic Party of Japan suggested in its recently announced reform proposal that the special accounts be consolidated by purpose into just six. Koizumi called the DPJ plan "a good proposal" during the Diet session.The LDP is planning to compile a detailed plan to review the special accounts by the end of November. The LDP is expected to compete with the DPJ over special accounts reform by producing a blueprint as good as the DPJ's.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2005-10-17	YOSHIN0020051018e1ah000ci
YOMSHI0020051017e1ai0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051017e1ai0000f	EN	\N	Yasukuni visit needs fuller explanation	Koizumi, dressed in a gray business suit, proceeded directly to the shrine's altar after getting out of an official car and did not sign the guest book nor enter the main hall of the shrine.	4	2005-10-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Monday's visit to the shrine in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward was his fifth since becoming prime minister.On his previous four visits, he signed the guest book as "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi" and entered the main hall. This time, he apparently wanted to stress that the visit was personal by simplifying worship procedures.After the visit, Koizumi said he had not come to the shrine in his official capacity as prime minister. He also said, "I would like to keep explaining [to China and South Korea] that Japan, as a pacifist nation, will never start war again and that it is reasonable to pay proper homage to the war dead."Asian neighbors angryNonetheless, the Chinese and South Korean governments protested the visit. Even within Japan, there are various opinions on his visit. However, Koizumi's explanation of his actions was far from sufficient.The postal privatization bills, the most important political issue for the Koizumi Cabinet, were enacted Friday after being passed in the House of Councillors plenary session.Meanwhile, the prime minister's diplomatic calendar seems to be very full as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is scheduled in November, and East Asia and Japan-South Korea summit meetings are to be held in December.Friday was the first day of the shrine's autumn festival. Koizumi probably decided to visit the shrine on the day because previous prime ministers had also made their visits during spring and autumn festivals.As prime minister, Koizumi apparently did not want to yield to pressure from China and forego the visit, either.In legal battles over the constitutionality of Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, the Tokyo, Osaka and Takamatsu high courts recently each handed down different judgments.Court battlesThe lawsuits the courts ruled on were filed by bereaved families of war dead and activists who argued that his visits infringed on their right to freedom of religion and caused psychological damage.In a side ruling not directly related to contents of the lawsuit, the Osaka High Court said on Sept. 30 that the prime minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine was unconstitutional.Meanwhile, the Tokyo High Court on Sept. 29 and the Takamatsu High Court on Oct. 5 dismissed the plaintiffs' claims without touching on the constitutional issues raised.The Takamatsu court also said that a court could make judgements on constitutionality only when it was necessary to do so to settle a particular issue.In June, the prime minister said he would study a plan to construct a new national memorial for the war dead. However, the government has not yet decided whether to include research expenses for it in the budget for the next fiscal year.How does the government intend to commemorate the war dead in the future? Responsibility for making a clear and reasonable answer to this question falls to the prime minister.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	560	2005-10-18	YOSHIN0020051019e1ai000i9
YOMSHI0020051018e1aj0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051018e1aj0000j	EN	\N	Don't endanger Japan-U.S. alliance	The Cabinet under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi needs to show leadership and solve the problem by taking a hard look at what serves the national interest and what will strengthen the Japan-U.S. security alliance.	4	2005-10-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It was back in 1996 when the Special Action Committee on Okinawa, in its final report, announced that an accord had been reached on the return of Futenma Air Station from the United States within five to seven years, and that an alternative facility would be built. In late 1999, it was decided to have the heliport functions of the station relocated to an area off Henoko, Nago, in the prefecture.Yet the relocation plan has effectively collapsed. While local movements against the construction of a heliport off Henoko continue, an environmental assessment has made little progress, leaving no prospect for construction to be started anytime soon.The biggest factor for all these problems is the government's failure to act proactively to resolve the relocation issue.Washington has urged Tokyo to tackle the relocation issue, which is part of the United States' reorganization of its military forces worldwide, but the Japanese government has again gone AWOL.Washington exasperatedJapan recently proposed a plan to construct the alternative facility within Camp Schwab, but the U.S. side opposed the idea, and instead tabled a plan to build it in shallow waters within a reef alongside the camp, pointing out that the plan enjoyed public support.Saying that the idea of building the heliport in shallow waters would only end up meeting the same fate as the Henoko plan, due to protests from environmental groups, the government has come up with yet another proposal: to build the heliport by reclaiming land along the coastline, where the barracks of Camp Schwab are located. The government is trying to hammer out an agreement on this plan with the U.S. side.The government has scheduled a ministerial meeting of the Security Consultative Committee, to be attended by officials in charge of foreign affairs and national defense matters, in late October and aims to reach an accord on the issue with the United States. But there has been no prospect of such a development so far.After a marine corps helicopter crashed last August in the grounds of Okinawa International University, located near Futenma Air Station, local campaigns against the U.S. bases intensified.It is no wonder that Washington, which no doubt feels that such problems could be avoided if the relocation plan had been realized, has become increasingly irritated with the stance of the Japanese government.Locals' understanding neededFor the U.S. forces, Okinawa serves as an important base for it to deal with contingencies in the "arc of instability" stretching from Northeast Asia to the Middle East.In its interim report released in May, the U.S. Congress committee on the relocation of overseas bases, pointed out that the reduction in the combat potential of the U.S. forces in Okinawa would put U.S. interests in great danger.North Korea's nuclear arms development program poses a serious threat to the national security of Japan. China, meanwhile, is boosting its naval power, intensifying its advances into the Pacific Ocean, including Japanese territorial waters.Under such circumstances, Japan's security will be greatly endangered if the U.S. deterrent force is weakened.If the burden that the U.S. bases places on local citizens is lessened through the relocation of Futenma Air Station, their antipathy toward the bases would be reduced, which could lead to the enhancement of the functions of the bases and the consequent reinforcement of the bilateral alliance.From such a viewpoint, the government as a whole should tackle the issue. But even if an accord is reached between the two governments, it will be necessary to win the understanding of local people. Now is time for the Prime Minister's Office to start taking action to settle the issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2005-10-19	YOSHIN0020051020e1aj000gr
YOMSHI0020051019e1ak0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051019e1ak0000f	EN	\N	An epochal debate on diplomacy, security	It was epoch-making that the prime minister and the leader of the No. 1 opposition party discussed, on a common understanding, diplomatic and security policies, including the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance and China's diplomatic strategy.	4	2005-10-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Japan-U.S. alliance is the pillar of the nation's diplomacy. Acknowledging the importance of the alliance, Maehara pointed out that a major aim of China's diplomatic strategy is to divide Japan and the United States. Koizumi responded by saying, "We should never let ourselves fall for such an attempt (by China) to separate Japan and the United States."Koizumi and Maehara also voiced their common understanding that "solid Japan-U.S. relations are also important for other Asian countries."Under the two-party political system that came into being in 1955, with the LDP controlling both Diet houses and the Japan Socialist Party being the No. 1 opposition party, the JSP advocated "unarmed neutrality," turning the Diet a forum for dogmatic debates over the constitutionality of the Self-Defense Forces.Even after becoming the main opposition party, the DPJ, until it came under the leadership of Maehara's predecessor, Katsuya Okada, attached great importance to Asia and emphasized its cooperative stance toward China.Maehara breaks with pastMaehara's assertion, therefore, can be said to have drawn a line under the DPJ's conventional stance. Even on specific policy issues, Maehara's remarks indicated, at every turn, a stance that attaches great importance to the Japan-U.S. alliance.In reference to the issue of relocating the functions of the U.S. Marines Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, Maehara pointed out that Washington has been exasperated by the lack of progress made on the issue in nine years since the two countries reached an accord on the relocation. He called for an early settlement of the issue, urging Koizumi to show leadership to that end.Maehara made these remarks probably out of his concern that as things stand, the Japan-U.S. alliance could be undermined. Such a stance contrasts greatly with that of Okada, who advocated having the functions of U.S. military bases, now concentrated in Okinawa, "spread outside the prefecture," or "transferred outside the country."On the topic of the East Asia Summit scheduled for December, Maehara mentioned the strong concern held by Washington over Beijing's stance of excluding the United States from the forum and said Washington should take part.Maehara made this remark as he attaches great importance to the military and economic presence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, and to Japan's alliance with the United States.U-turn on bill regrettableIf the basis of a nation's diplomatic and security policy alters with a change of government, voters will hardly feel at ease. It is logical for Maehara, as the head of the No.1 opposition party, which aims to assume power, to attach great importance to the Japan-U.S. alliance.In this respect, it was regrettable for Maehara to have indicated his opposition to a bill to revise the Antiterrorism Law, designed to extend by one year the dispatch of SDF personnel to Indian Ocean. Initially, he showed signs of approving the bill, but met with opposition within his party.Following the question time debate, Maehara said: "With regard to issues fundamental to our country, such as diplomacy and security, there's no longer a big difference (between the ruling and opposition parties) as seen in bygone days over ideology or between the right and the left. This is normal in other major countries, where a change of government takes place as a normal developmentWe hope Maehara sticks to this stance.(From the Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2005-10-20	YOSHIN0020051021e1ak000gd
YOMSHI0020051020e1al0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051020e1al0000c	EN	\N	Review rules on access to residents registers	An Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry panel has put together a report urging the government to fundamentally overhaul the current system, which stipulates basic resident registers be open to the public "in principle." The ministry will seek to ensure the Residents' Basic Register Law and other related legislation are revised during the ordinary Diet session next year.	4	2005-10-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Basic residents registers held by local governments serve as core information used in performing administrative duties. For years, information contained in the registers has been subject to public disclosure, except for cases in which such information could be used for "unlawful purposes." The registers list the names, addresses, sex and birth dates of residents. They also provide information about the make-up of each family.In most cases, basic residents registers are used by people gathering information for use in direct mail advertising and other commercial purposes. Such cases account for about 70 percent of the total, excluding those in which information from the registers is used by local governments in providing administrative services.In the spring, a 31-year-old man was arrested for sexually assaulting primary and middle school girls in Nagoya. It has been found that he committed the crime after looking for fatherless families in the basic residents registers kept by local ward offices.Safeguarding personal dataThere are compelling reasons for authorities to restrict access to basic residents registers, including the need to protect the confidentiality of information in the register and prevent the illegal use of such records.The panel's latest report points out the need to reform the current system governing public disclosure of information contained in basic residents registers. The committee has proposed access to information about large numbers of residents be limited to people seeking such information to conduct opinion polls, academic research or other surveys that will serve the public interest.The report states that access to the basic residents registers should not be permitted for commercial activities.The report also says anyone seeking information from basic residents registers should have to undergo rigorous procedures to have their request approved, adding that applicants should be required to inform local governments how and when the results of research carried out using information obtained from the registers will be disclosed, as well as how documents containing the data will be managed and disposed of.It will also be necessary for research institutions to ensure their researchers carry proper credentials when seeking access to basic residents registers at local government offices.Stiffer criteriaThe report calls for imposing stricter standards on those wanting to see lists of voters produced based on residents registers, adding clear legal criteria should be set for disclosing voters list.In the report, the panel insisted access to information about large groups of voters be restricted to political candidates, parties and organizations, as well as those carrying out election-related polls and academic research, and further that access to such information should continue to be provided free of charge.All this reflects the panel's conclusion that access to such information serves to aid democracy, benefitting the public.The report also says the current system governing the issuance of residence certificates and copies of family registers should be reviewed. Measures should be taken to make sure there is no contradiction between the system and the residents register inspection system, including clarifying procedures to be completed for obtaining certificates of residence and copies of family registers.There are concerns that local governments could regard the overhaul of the residents register access system as an attempt to completely ban access to such records. Confusion could arise if local governments set different rules on gaining access.To ensure smooth operation of the system after the relevant legislation is revised, the ministry should devise unified guidelines to be used by all local governments in dealing with requests for access to residents registers. It is also necessary to outline for local governments specific cases in which access to residents registers should be provided.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2005-10-21	YOSHIN0020051024e1al000fx
YOMSHI0020051021e1am0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051021e1am0000g	EN	\N	Upper house must fix vote value disparity	In the near future, however, the disparity could widen to what the Supreme Court determined to be of unconstitutional proportions. The upper house should hasten to discuss fundamentally reforming the its electoral system.	4	2005-10-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report prepared by a subcommittee of the advisory panel to the upper house president states that a viable step toward reforming the system would be to increase the number of upper house members elected from the most densely populated areas by four and decrease the number in the most sparsely populated districts by four. The government intends to ensure the Public Offices Election Law is revised during the ordinary Diet session next year, to make the necessary changes to the formula before the upper house election in 2007.The upper house panel started discussing ways to reform the system after the Supreme Court ruled in January 2004 that the one-to-5.06 disparity in the value of one vote in the 2001 upper house election to be constitutional.Before reaching the decision, however, six of the 15 justices argued the disparity was unconstitutional. Four of the nine justices who had insisted on the constitutionality of the disparity warned that "if the situation is left unaddressed, there is ample room [for the Supreme Court] to rule [the disparity] to be unconstitutional."Shift seatsThe panel's plus-four, minus-four proposal would reduce the number of lawmakers elected from Tochigi and Gunma prefectures by two each and increase the number of legislators chosen from Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture by two each. If the changes took place, the greatest disparity would stand at one to 4.76. This means the differential would fall within the disparity of one to five, a yardstick set by the Supreme Court in determining the constitutionality of the gap.The report also incorporates a plan to integrate the Tottori and Shimane prefectural constituencies--the two most sparsely populated electoral districts--into a single constituency. The plan would reduce the disparity in the ratio of voters to upper house members in both prefectures vis-a-vis other prefectures to the range of one to four.It should be noted, however, that prefecture-wide contests in upper house elections are largely designed to elect representatives from each prefecture. The plan has drawn strong objections from critics who say it could leave either Tottori or Shimane Prefecture without an elected representative.It will not be an easy task to drastically reapportion upper house seats among prefectures if the current electoral system is kept in place. Given the urgent need to rectify what can be described as an unconstitutional difference in the value of a vote, the only practical approach to the problem is to adopt the plus-four, minus-four formula.The disparity in the value of one vote is not the only problem facing the upper house.Relevance in questionDuring the last Diet session, some Liberal Democratic Party members voted against a set of postal privatization bills, saying the upper house was a chamber for reconsidering bills. Their action caused the upper house to scrap the bills. However, they voted for the re-submitted bills in the upper house after the ruling parties had won a crushing victory in the House of Representatives election in which postal privatization was the main issue. These lawmakers defended their change of heart, saying they would obey "the will of the people."The lower house election has earned the LDP-led governing coalition enough seats that it could vote to adopt bills for a second time after the legislation is rejected by the upper house. Some people have called for abolishing the upper house, as shown by a draft constitution devised by the Japan Junior Chamber, which calls for transforming the Diet into a single chamber.The upper house's raison d'etre is in question, making it even more important for its members to think about how to reform the institution. Tasks the chamber must undertake include reconsidering its roles and authority, and thinking about what kind of electoral system would better serve its purpose.Admittedly, some reforms could entail changes in the Constitution, but without change the upper house could find it impossible to refute the argument that the chamber is a white elephant.Can the upper house resolve the problems it faces as an initial step toward reforming itself? The answer hinges on what the upper house will do to achieve this goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	811	2005-10-22	YOSHIN0020051024e1am0019q
YOMSHI0020051022e1an0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051022e1an0000e	EN	\N	State-affiliated banks should be consolidated	The government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has begun official discussions on reforming eight government-affiliated financial institutions. The Liberal Democratic Party also has started reviewing the institutions. The government and the ruling coalition parties are scheduled to compile their basic reform policy in November.	4	2005-10-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although such reform plans have been broached many times in the past, they all ended up being shelved due to resistance from ministries, agencies and lawmakers concerned. This time, drastic steps must be taken to abolish or consolidate the government-affiliated banks.Postal privatization is often described as the reform that will tighten the "entrance" for huge sums of public funds that flow into state coffers. In contrast, reform of the government-affiliated banks can be dubbed as the "exit" through which these funds flow on to small and midsized companies or to public projects as investments or loans. Reform of the exit must be carried out to complete realignment of the entire public financial sector.Private banks kept out in coldMany of the government-affiliated financial institutions were created during the years of economic recovery after World War II. They sustained the growth of the Japanese economy because private banks were still comparatively weak at the time, but their negative aspects have grown more conspicuous in recent years. In particular, by extending loans at interest rates lower than market rates, they have put the squeeze on private banks by denying them opportunities to do business.The government has injected taxpayers' money into the state-backed banks every fiscal year to make up for their deficits. The outstanding balance of bad loans at nine such banks, including the soon-to-be-abolished Government Housing Loan Corporation, exceeded 8 trillion yen in the last fiscal year. Additional injections of public money will be needed to completely dispose of these bad loans.Integrating government-affiliated financial institutions also is crucial for reducing the government's fiscal burden.Other advanced countries have consolidated their state-affiliated banks. In the 1990s, the French government privatized four such banks and integrated two banks specializing in providing loans to small and midsized companies.Time to roll sleeves upThe time has now come for Japan to thoroughly examine the roles and functions of state-backed banks. Those banks that have outlived their usefulness or whose services could be handled by private banks should be abolished. Services provided by state-backed banks that are deemed necessary should be maintained. However, their loans should be focused on projects that entail huge risks, such as space exploration, or on newly created companies. Depending on the findings of the review, some services could be privatized.Aside from a few exceptions, representatives of those institutions have declared their opposition to the reform at public hearings organized by the LDP and the council. Government ministries and agencies supervising the institutions also oppose the reform.Half, or 38, of the executives at the eight banks are former bureaucrats from government ministries and agencies that oppose the reform. Such opposition apparently is partly aimed at protecting such plum jobs.The ministries and agencies that are supposed to stand at the forefront of the reform are preoccupied with protecting their vested interests. They should seriously keep in mind how this discrepancy is portrayed in a bad light by the public.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2005-10-23	YOSHIN0020051024e1an001ya
YOMSHI0020051023e1ao0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051023e1ao0000d	EN	\N	Companies not for shareholders alone	Legally speaking, the shareholders are the owners of a joint stock company. However, today's companies, whose capital and management are separated, do not function without a variety of parties that support the company such as the management, employees, clients and customers--all stakeholders in a broader sense.	4	2005-10-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Harsh criticism has been mounting against the so-called Murakami Fund, which obtained a massive amount of Hanshin Electric Railway Co. shares, and Rakuten Inc., which proposed integration to TBS management.They are criticized because many people believe the firms are making light of their roles as stakeholders by exercising their rights as shareholders.Can they do whatever they want with a company simply by buying up its shares? This feeling among the public may better reflect the traditional Japanese value of highly esteeming such things as contributing to corporate interests and working steadily.An Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry panel on corporate value that has been studying fair defense measures against hostile corporate takeover bids defined corporate value as "the total of profits one company will earn in future." Accordingly, the value of a corporation is divided between value to the shareholders and value to stakeholders.Balancing interestsWhen a company increases profits through wage cuts, the shareholders' value will increase but its value to stakeholders, especially employees, may decrease. Therefore, the corporate value does not increase in this case. The zeal of employees also will be lessened. In the long run, therefore, it is highly possible negative factors will dominate, the study panel points out.Looking at management styles from a global perspective, U.S. and British companies heavily weigh shareholders, while German and French companies attach importance to stakeholders. However, since capital so often crosses national borders today, the U.S.-British style of management is gaining predominance over the German and French school of thought as the former is considered more efficient.Japan has always heavily weighed stakeholders, much more than Germany does. Board members who were promoted from within the company have been managing firms and external board members, who keep an eye on corporate activities on behalf of shareholders have been taken lightly. At shareholders' meetings, corporations have been limiting shareholders' right to express opinions.New outlookHowever, Japan is now going through a sea change. Various companies are now moving toward ending the crossholding of shares and shareholders are becoming more outspoken.We now see an investment fund that makes not only justifiable demands, but even interferes in the management of a company in which it is a large shareholder, armed with the "logic of capital."The owner of the fund too often emphasizes the potential profits to be made from real estate held by the firm as the source of Hanshin Electric Railway's value. Such a statement treads on the feelings of the railway company's employees who work together to ensure the steady operation of the company's trains every day.World Co., a major apparel maker, has delisted itself from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange to proceed with its long-term management strategy. Excessive intervention in management may invite "self-isolation" of listed firms.The method of buying out a major firm, splitting it into smaller firms and selling them separately has been criticized on a social basis. People are now beginning to think such practices are a thing of the past.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2005-10-24	YOSHIN0020051025e1ao000cu
YOMSHI0020051024e1ap0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051024e1ap0000f	EN	\N	Govt must trim fat in civil service	The smaller and more efficient government being advocated is in tune with the dawning era of a society with a declining population. The degree to which overall personnel costs are trimmed and the ranks of government employees reduced will serve as a yardstick for measuring the efficiency of government.	4	2005-10-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Council on Economy and Fiscal Policy will decide on a basic policy on this issue in November. It is the government's responsibility to work out effective measures to put the policy into effect.The total number of central and local government employees is about 4.04 million. The annual personnel cost for the national civil service is 4.7 trillion yen, nearly 6 percent of this year's general account budget. Personnel costs for local government workers, including teachers and police officers, topped 26 trillion yen, or nearly 29 percent of the ordinary accounts in fiscal 2002.The central and local governments are in critical fiscal condition, burdened with projected combined outstanding long-term debts of 774 trillion yen as of the end of the current fiscal year.Bottom-line necessityCutting civil service personnel costs is a matter of fiscal urgency and a review of the wage system will have only a limited effect, making it necessary to cut the number of public service workers.The government earlier decided to cut nearly 28,000 jobs from fiscal 2006 through fiscal 2009. Yet there are some sectors that need more staff, leaving it unclear how many jobs are to be cut overall.A private-sector member of the governmental advisory panel has proposed a net reduction in the number of central government workers of more than 5 percent in five years.As to local government workers, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry in March set a guideline of cutting more than 4.6 percent in net terms in 5 years.The Administrative Reform Promotion Headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party has set a target of 20 percent net reduction in 10 years in ranks of central and local government employees, chiefly those in administrative jobs.Postal privatization first stepObviously, the net reduction target cannot include the about 260,000 Japan Post employees who will cease to be civil servants when the postal services go private in October 2007. To make a sizable net cut, it is also necessary to drastically streamline and consolidate unnecessary central government regional offices.There is strong opposition within government ministries and agencies to cutting staff and the government would be ill-advised to make across-the-board cutbacks at every ministry.In reducing staff levels it is essential, both at the central and local governments, to review the services being provided and accelerate the shifting of jobs from the public to the private sector through contracting out services and other measures.It is vital to make sizable cuts as needed in line with the services at each ministry and government organization.As Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Taro Aso put it, no government official is likely to say "We don't need this position [in our office]," because bureaucrats are bound to try to protect their own turf and avoid cutting jobs.Without strong political leadership, including that of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, it will be impossible to fend off opposition from government offices and labor unions and promote reform.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2005-10-25	YOSHIN0020051026e1ap000fs
YOMSHI0020051025e1aq0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051025e1aq0000g	EN	\N	Fixed-rate income tax cut should be abolished	In recent years, the government has implemented a series of bold tax cuts to bail the economy out of a deflationary trend.	4	2005-10-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As the government needs to overhaul the taxation system, including the consumption tax, in one year, it has to come up with ways to straighten up the distortion in the taxation system brought about by tax cuts, in tax items excluding the consumption tax. This should also be listed on the agenda for taxation reform.The biggest bone of contention lies in abolishing the fixed-rate income tax reduction.A fixed-rate temporary income tax cut was introduced in 1999 as a measure to stimulate the economy, giving individuals a 20 percent income tax credit (or up to 250,000 yen) and a 15 percent residential tax credit (or up to 40,000 yen). This tax cut is slated to be halved starting next year and the issue of what to do with the remaining half will be taken up for discussion in the taxation system reform for next fiscal year.While there are not a few causes for concern for the economic outlook, such as rising oil prices and the volatile state of the U.S. economy, the Japanese economy is on a steady recovery track. Businesses are performing briskly, while employees' income is moderately increasing. It is reasonable to abolish the fixed-rate income tax reduction.Equal taxation principle keyThe opposition parties are criticizing the planned abolition as running counter to the official pledge made by the ruling parties during the latest general election that "there will be no tax hike for salaried workers."Yet it is natural to consider this official pledge as having been made to oppose the idea of significantly reducing deductions on income tax and other taxes, listed in June as key points under discussion by the government's Tax Commission.There is no time to waste in implementing the transfer of tax revenue sources worth 3 trillion yen from the central government to local authorities, as part of the triple reform of local government finances.For the transfer, the most likely idea to be adopted is to cut income tax, which is a national tax, while raising the local residential tax by the same margin as the income tax cut. It is desirable for the reduction and hike in taxes to be equal for each taxpayer.As long as the fixed-rate income tax cut remains in place, it will be difficult to make the tax cut and tax hike equal for every taxpayer. This also is a reason why there are calls to abolish the temporary tax cut.Assess benefits of tax breaksIn corporate taxes, the focal point lies in whether to do away with the tax credit on experimental research and development expenses, worth 657 billion yen, and the information technology investment tax credit, worth 512 billion yen. These two tax credits will expire this fiscal year.Business circles and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry are appealing strongly to keep the tax credit in place, saying that these two tax credits are proving effective in boosting the international competitiveness of Japanese companies. It is a fact that the capital investment induced by these tax credits has contributed to the current economic recovery.Yet these tax credits were put into place as a temporary measure to last for three years. In discussing taxation system reform, the issue of whether these tax credits should be kept in place or abolished needs to be decided by ascertaining their effect.With regard to indirect taxes, the revision of the liquor tax, which is divided into 10 categories, will be taken up for discussion. The Finance Ministry has compiled a plan to reorganize the types of alcoholic beverages into a broadly defined category and narrow the tax rate differentials among similar types of alcohol.In realizing this, the ministry will be required to come up with a justification strong enough to deflect criticism that the tax hike is primarily targeted at the so-called third-category beer, which is highly popular due to its low tax rate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	752	2005-10-26	YOSHIN0020051027e1aq000ha
YOMSHI0020051026e1ar0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051026e1ar0000g	EN	\N	Govt must expedite Futenma relocation	The latest agreement to reclaim part of waters along tracts of land that house barracks at Camp Schwab in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, is a compromise worked out following concessions made by the United States. Initially, Tokyo insisted on building the new facility on land occupied by Camp Schwab, while Washington demanded the facility be constructed on land to be created by reclaiming a reef along the seashore.	4	2005-10-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During its negotiations with the United States, Japan urged the United States to accept the compromise plan, arguing that it would minimize damage to the oceanic environment as the area in question contains only a few coral reefs and seaweed beds. Tokyo also told Washington that the compromise plan would make it difficult for local residents opposing the relocation project to block construction of the alternative facility because the construction work could begin with sections on the land occupied by Camp Schwab. For months, the local residents have been conducting an anti-relocation campaign in the waters around the area.No more time to wasteThe Japan-U.S. agreement to relocate the Futenma facility in Ginowan was included in a final report issued in 1996 by the Special Action Committee on Okinawa, a bilateral panel studying ways to consolidate the U.S. military presence in the prefecture. If the plan had been implemented as initially agreed, the military installation in question would already have been relocated.But the government has taken few active steps to realize the relocation, including working to reach a consensus with local leaders and residents to be affected by the plan and containing a local campaign to block the project. Almost 10 years have been wasted since the SACO agreement. Given this, the United States has good reason to feel even more deeply frustrated with the Japanese government's inaction in this matter.During a recent lecture in Tokyo, Richard Lawless, U.S. deputy undersecretary of defense for Asia and the Pacific, urged the Japanese government to demonstrate leadership in resolving the Futenma dispute, saying the time wasted through Tokyo's indecisiveness, indifference and foot-dragging must be made up.The government should put together a specific construction plan for the relocation project as soon as possible, while also setting aside appropriations necessary for the plan in the fiscal 2006 budget.To give the plan more concrete shape, it will be essential to gain cooperation from local governments in carrying out necessary procedures, including reclaiming waters needed for the project and conducting an environmental impact assessment. Implementing specific measures to carry out the project may draw objections from local residents. However, the government should not use these difficulties as an excuse for wasting any time in carrying out the project.Asia-Pacific a volatile areaUndoubtedly, the Futenma relocation plan is an important issue to be tackled as part of the realignment of U.S. military forces in this country. But the issue is not the crux of the whole dispute.In recent years, great changes have taken place in the security environment surrounding the Asia-Pacific area, including the emergence of China as a military power, North Korea's nuclear arms program and growing threats of international terrorism. An important task facing Japan is to shore up its alliance with the United States and bring it into full play for the purpose of securing peace and stability not only in this nation, but in other areas in this part of the world.During talks in Washington in late October, the Japanese and U.S. governments are expected to compile an interim report on the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan. Tokyo must be ready and willing to swiftly implement the latest bilateral agreement. The government should not be allowed to remain indecisive about or indifferent toward the Futenma dispute.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	703	2005-10-27	YOSHIN0020051028e1ar000gx
YOMSHI0020051027e1as0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051027e1as0000h	EN	\N	Imperial succession plans need explaining	The private advisory panel on the Imperial House Law unanimously agreed to propose that not only Imperial princesses be granted the right of succession to the throne as empress regnants, but anyone from the female line of the Imperial family--children and grandchildren of an empress regnant.	4	2005-10-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In late November, the panel of academics and other experts is scheduled to issue a final report incorporating these proposals. This will be followed by the government submitting to next year's ordinary Diet session a bill to revise the Imperial House Law.Long history of male lineAll 125 successive emperors have been heirs from the male line of the Imperial family, meaning their fathers are blood relatives of the preceding emperors. Although there have been eight empress regnants, with two of them ascending the throne twice, they were exceptions to Imperial enthronement.The 1947 Imperial House Law stipulates that the throne be succeeded to by princes from the male line of the Imperial family. It will signify a momentous turn of events in the Imperial system if princesses are allowed to mount the throne, and if both princes and princesses from the male line of the Imperial family are granted the right of succession. All this will mark a major change in this nation's historical tradition.Today, there is no younger heir to the throne than 39-year-old Prince Akishino. The status quo could put the Imperial system at risk.During a press conference, Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, who chairs the advisory council, said it was obvious that there would be a shortage of heirs to the throne in the future. He had good reason to say so, given the current rules on Imperial succession.Attaching great importance to the Imperial tradition, some academics have said succession in the male line should be maintained. If there is good reason to perceive their proposal as practical, it should be given serious consideration.In fact, the advisory panel discussed whether it would be possible to preserve Imperial succession in the male line by reinstating the households of former princes who seceded from the Imperial family shortly after the end of World War II. But Yoshikawa said, "We've determined it would be difficult to get such a proposal accepted [by the public] today."The panel's conclusion shows there will be a barrier to members of the former princes' families returning to the Imperial family after living as private citizens for many years.Have various issues related to the Imperial system--including changes in the history of succession and the right of enthronement at royal families overseas--been so comprehensively discussed as debated by the 10-member advisory council? We believe the panel's unanimous proposal should be given serious consideration.The Japanese family system has undergone great changes in the postwar years. The changing circumstances surrounding society may well affect discussions on the Imperial system.Other issues still up in airThere still are some important questions to be addressed, including who should be given precedence in succession to the throne by a relative descended from an emperor, the firstborn or the eldest son among siblings.Another is a review of the system requiring princesses to secede from the Imperial family if they get married. We hope the advisory council will further discuss these issues.The planned final report likely will arouse controversy about various issues concerning its proposals, including why it has suggested granting the right of succession to princesses and anyone from the female line of the Imperial family, as well as whether the proposals will create a well-balanced Imperial system. The council should explain its proposals in a manner that wins the public over.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2005-10-28	YOSHIN0020051031e1as000g4
YOMSHI0020051028e1at0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051028e1at0000f	EN	\N	LDP draft set to spark debate on top law reform	Since its inauguration, the LDP has maintained a policy of seeking reform to the Constitution. Japan's society and economy, as well as the international community, are vastly different today compared with when the supreme law was enacted.	4	2005-10-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP proposed a draft of a "new constitution," not a constitutional amendment, apparently because the ruling coalition party considers what is needed today is no longer a constitutional amendment, but a new constitution that embodies the national and social images of Japan in the 21st century.1955 system stymied reformStrong opposition to constitutional amendment grew under the political order established in 1955, centering on the political battle between the ruling LDP and the then leading opposition Japan Socialist Party.Under this situation, the LDP showed less and less willingness to tackle constitutional revision to avoid the political turmoil that would result by confronting the JSP.However, since 1990, the situation surrounding the Constitution has drastically changed.The Gulf War, which took place shortly after the end of the Cold War, shattered the illusion of one-country pacifism that Japan had cherished.While world peace has been threatened with international terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the growing military power of China and nuclear arms development of North Korea have destabilized the security environment of Japan and its neighborhood.The LDP draft maintains the pacifist statement of the first paragraph of the Constitution's much-debated Article 9.But it removes the second paragraph, which says "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained," and stipulates that Japan possesses military forces for self-defense. It also adds international peacekeeping to a list of roles for such self-defense forces.The provision on them is interpreted by the LDP as Japan can exercise the right to collective self-defense, which the government interprets as being banned under the current Constitution, though the draft does not clearly stipulate this.The LDP's interpretation is reasonable if the changes in the security environment after the end of the Cold War are taken into consideration.Meanwhile, the draft also includes provisions on protection of personal information, rights of crime victims, intellectual property rights and the government's duty to protect the environment. They are aimed at dealing with social and economic changes such as the advent of the information society, environmental destruction and deterioration in the security situation.The draft also stipulates the division of roles between central and local governments and the taxation powers of local governments. These provisions are needed in the age of decentralization of power.The LDP draft is an important springboard for deepening discussions on a new constitution.Diet debate neededThe Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, is going to make its own proposal on the top law. DPJ President Seiji Maehara has said his party will make a counterproposal to every important political issue raised by the ruling coalition. The parties should compete with each other over constitutional reform.A Diet forum for constitutional discussions is urgently required. The House of Representatives Special Research Committee on the Constitution should be turned into a standing one, and the House of Councillors should establish a similar body.Discussions on the supreme law at the Diet will lead to obtaining the two-thirds majority of lawmakers required for proposing constitutional revision.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2005-10-29	YOSHIN0020051031e1at001b5
YOMSHI0020051029e1au0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051029e1au0000g	EN	\N	In mauling postal rebels, a tiger changed its stripes	It was the toughest action the LDP has ever taken.	4	2005-10-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Former Defense Agency Director General Hosei Norota, who recently joined a parliamentary group formed jointly by new parties and others, was expelled from the party, and 27 others, including former Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma, were asked to leave voluntarily.Except for three postal rebels who had decided not to run for reelection to the House of Representatives and were merely reprimanded, the suspension from party positions for one year meted out to 17 lawmakers was the lightest punishment.The LDP stipulated in its election pledges made in the 2003 lower house election and the 2004 House of Councillors election that postal services would be privatized in April 2007. These were not election pledges made personally by Koizumi. If the postal rebels had been punished lightly, the public would have viewed the LDP as making light of the election pledges. Such a consideration apparently prompted the party to decide to hand down tough punishments.Too patient for too longThe LDP had long been very tolerant of rebellious actions by its members.In the June 1994 prime ministerial election at the Diet, former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and former Deputy Prime Minister Michio Watanabe did not vote for Japan Socialist Party leader Tomiichi Murayama, though the LDP, the JSP and New Party Sakigake had agreed to support him to form the coalition government.Nonetheless, Nakasone and Watanabe were not punished at all. The LDP said that their great contributions to the party had been taken into consideration.Some of the postal rebels were punished this time because they "put official party candidates at disadvantages" in the recent general election by running without party tickets in the same constituencies as the official candidates. That is an action punishable in party regulations, but it had never been used as a ground to punish anyone.Since its inauguration, the LDP had been an alliance of intraparty factions. Thus, party leaders in the past were cautious about confrontations among factions leading to an intraparty struggle and put priority on maintaining internal harmony.In addition, the supporters group of each lawmaker effectively functioned as the campaign office of the lawmaker in an election, and the backing of the faction the lawmaker belonged to was more important than a party ticket. Under such situations, the party headquarters could not crack the whip. The LDP--"Jiminto" in Japanese--was often satirized as "Jibunto," or "Me Party."LDP must adapt to timesHowever, since the single-seat constituency system was introduced in the lower house, the party leadership has been drastically strengthened. Election campaigns have been led increasingly by the party headquarters. Such political changes have finally spread to the disciplinary rules the party maintains.However, many local chapters of the LDP still are virtually supporting bodies of individual lawmakers. Vestiges of the Me Party are still found within the LDP. Local LDP chapters originally were modeled after those of the British Conservative Party and were expected to be a forum to choose election candidates. However, a local chapter of the LDP cannot play such a role because an incumbent Diet member is usually also the chapter head.Local chapters have recently become a cashbox of each lawmaker, receiving donations from corporations and interest groups.The LDP's broad political reform outline announced in 1989 stipulated that the party would take radical reform measures, including thorough implementation of the principle of work-and-you-will-be-rewarded and formation of rules on selection of election candidates, to transform itself into a modern national party.How can the LDP make itself a political party capable of responding to the demands of the present age under social and economic upheaval?Rather than drawing a line under the postal rebels issue with the punishments, the LDP should use the matter as an opportunity to ask itself what kind of political party it aspires to be.(The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	701	2005-10-30	YOSHIN0020051031e1au001z2
YOMSHI0020051030e1av0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051030e1av0000b	EN	\N	Major turning point in deepening of alliance	In the agreement, both countries confirmed specific arrangements for cooperation in responding to situations in areas near Japan and in improving the international security environment, such as participation in international peace cooperation activities.	4	2005-10-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government needs to demonstrate strong political leadership and try to deepen the alliance to realize the agreement.In the interim report, both countries agreed to establish a joint operations coordination center at the U.S. Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, to strengthen the coordination between air and missile command and control elements.A new U.S. Army integrated operations command center will be established at Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture, with responsibility for the "arc of instability," stretching from Northeast Asia to the Middle East.Also to be established at the camp is the headquarters of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Central Readiness Force Command, charged with responding to crises both at home and abroad, including terrorist attacks.Integration vital@: It is essential for the U.S. forces and the Self-Defense Forces to integrate information-sharing and the use of facilities to cooperate closely and deploy effectively.In February, both nations confirmed their common strategic targets. In the Asia-Pacific region, both countries will work to maintain peace and stability in Japan and the whole region, in light of China's buildup of its military capabilities and North Korea's development of nuclear arms. Both countries will also team up in such areas as international peace cooperation activities and the prevention of terrorism in the pursuit of world peace.While called an alliance by both sides, much remains to be done in working out concrete action programs for cooperation between the SDF and U.S. forces.In line with the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan as part of the United States' global reorganization, the two nations agreed on their respective roles and missions as part of efforts to fill the vacuum in the Japan-U.S. security arrangements.Will the SDF be able to operate in an integrated manner with the U.S. forces as long as the government maintains its interpretation of the Constitution, saying Japan has the right to collective defense but cannot exercise it?Collective defense@: To make the alliance effective, it is necessary to change the interpretation to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective defense.For smooth bilateral cooperation to improve international security, it is necessary for Japan to have a permanent law on the SDF's role in international peace cooperation.It is also reasonable to make such activities part of the SDF's primary mission on par with national defense. To do so it is necessary to expedite efforts to improve relevant legislation.In the interim report, both countries treat reducing the burden of hosting U.S. military facilities as an issue of major importance.Washington will cut the number of marines stationed in Okinawa by 7,000, including logistic support personnel. The SDF will shoulder part of the logistic work preformed by the troops being transferred and the cut in the number of marines should not reduce the level of deterrence.The realignment of U.S. forces in Japan has upset local governments that will assume an additional burden. The government needs to fully explain the significance of the realignment and win their understanding.The U.S. and Japanese governments will compile the final report by March. In substantially reinforcing the alliance, the government has to assume a heavy burden of responsibility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2005-10-31	YOSHIN0020051101e1av000cb
YOMSHI0020051031e1b10000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051031e1b10000f	EN	\N	Govt must tackle crises at home and abroad	Koizumi's new Cabinet was sworn in Monday. Shinzo Abe assumed the post of chief cabinet secretary, while Sadakazu Tanigaki retained his post as finance minister. Taro Aso, who was internal affairs and communications minister prior to the latest reshuffle, was appointed foreign minister. These three, reckoned "post-Koizumi" candidates for the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party and the office of prime minister, have become key Cabinet ministers.	4	2005-11-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fukushiro Nukaga, seen within the party faction once led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto as an LDP presidential candidate, has been reappointed as Defense Agency director general, while Yasuo Fukuda, 69, a onetime chief cabinet secretary also seen as a candidate to succeed Koizumi, was not named to any Cabinet post this time, probably because of his relatively advanced age. In the latest reshuffle, Koizumi apparently tried to bring a new generation onto the LDP executive.Koizumi's term as LDP president expires in September. Between now and then, Koizumi will try to complete his reforms, while at the same time hoping to put a process in motion to have his reform policy carried on even after he leaves office.Post-Koizumi candidates will compete with each other in the race to carry out reforms. If they aim to lead the nation, however, they must also compete in developing future visions of the nation, in coming up with ideas of what sort of a state they want Japan to become and what strategies must be pursued to achieve their goal.The nation's economic and social health are at a critical point.Accelerate reformWith the steadily declining birthrate and the aging of society, citizens aged 65 or older, will account for about 30 percent of the population 20 years from now. If the current system is kept intact, social security benefits to be paid out are projected to top the 150 trillion yen mark, about twice the current total. As things stand now, the social security system, including the public-run pension system, face disaster.In order to make the social security system sustainable, the public will have to face the pain of shrinking benefits and growing financial burdens. Koizumi has kept Tanigaki on as finance minister, while appointing Jiro Kawasaki, who belongs to the same faction as Tanigaki, as health, labor and welfare minister, probably because he wanted to see the smooth coordination between the finance and health ministries so that his Cabinet could take a bold step toward holding down social security expenses.Tanigaki's biggest task is to put the nation's fiscal house in order. If the government does not act to cut the central and local governments' outstanding long-term debts of more than 770 trillion yen, the state may face bankruptcy.Regarding fiscal reconstruction, the government said it would present a basic proposal on tax reform within fiscal 2007. Discussion of fiscal reconstruction has at a long last become active, with the issue of raising the consumption tax to a 10-percent level being discussed within the LDP.To quell anxieties about the future, this Cabinet needs to pursue reforms that will result in fiscal stability, which the preceding Cabinet had hoped to accomplish in the first half of the next decade.With the task of compiling next fiscal year's budget ahead, the new Cabinet has to immediately deal with such issues as the triple reform of local government finances, reducing the size and personnel costs of the public service, integrating and consolidating government-affiliated financial institutions and reviewing the special accounts.Heizo Takenaka, who had been state minister for economic and fiscal policy, was appointed internal affairs and communications, postal privatization minister in an apparent show of Koizumi's determination to complete the triple reform of local government finances as well as to trim the bloated bureaucracy by touching on cutting the number of local government employees under the leadership of Takenaka, his right-hand man.Overseas challengesIn foreign affairs, the most difficult issue is how to deal with China's growth as a world power.Aso said at a press conference that economic and cultural exchanges between Japan and China are generally progressing well. He meant that he would try to improve Japan's relations with China in a nonemotional manner without making Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine a bilateral issue.Abe seems to share Aso's position. Aso should try to reorganize the nation's policy toward China in cooperation with the Prime Minister's Office.However, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai is known for his pro-China stance. Cabinet members must maintain solidarity in their reactions to issues involving China, including trouble over the development of gas fields in the East China Sea.Koizumi told Aso to put reinforcement of the Japan-U.S. alliance at the top of his agenda as foreign minister. Beijing seems to be pursuing hegemony in Asia as it initially insisted on hosting an East Asia summit in China. The summit is to be held in Malaysia in December.Japan should deal with China by further strengthening its alliance with the United States. It should avoid the folly of aiding China, which is trying to sever ties between Tokyo and Washington.However, a shadow has been cast over the Japan-U.S. relationship recently by the U.S. Senate's consideration of trade sanctions on Japan to force to the government to lift its import ban on U.S. beef.The government must engage in strategic diplomacy to avoid damaging the alliance by considering what is in the national interest.Both pessimistic and optimistic views about the future of the nation are being expressed.A report released by the U.S. National Intelligence Council, an advisory body to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, called Japan one of "the aging powers," while the title of The Economist magazine's special report on Japan was "The sun also rises."The British magazine said that reform efforts have been producing results and "Japan is not doomed to decline."The new Koizumi Cabinet should not try to make Japan an aging power, but bring about a new dawn.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1083	2005-11-01	YOSHIN0020051102e1b1000ht
YOMSHI0020051101e1b20000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051101e1b20000f	EN	\N	TSE computer system must be made reliable	On Tuesday, a computer system failure at the Tokyo Stock Exchange halted trading in all shares for about three hours.	4	2005-11-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The TSE is the world's second-largest bourse in terms of the market value of listed stocks, following the New York Stock Exchange. The amount of money paid and received daily by foreign investors for stock transactions at the TSE frequently accounts for half of the total. The computer glitch at the TSE affected investors worldwide.The amount of money paid for stock trading at the TSE exceeded 90 percent of the total value of stock sales and purchases at all stock exchanges in this country last year. The latest failure at the TSE's computer system forced the Fukuoka and Sapporo stock exchanges, both of which run similar computer systems, to suspend their trading. This means that a halt in trading at the TSE will suspend transactions at nearly all bourses in the nation.Fail-safe steps neededFortunately, resumed trading at the TSE was brisk Tuesday, and stock prices at the bourse were hardly affected.It should be remembered, however, that the latest computer failure followed two similar incidents in the past--a malfunction that caused a major delay in transactions in August 1997 and another that suspended trading in some shares in June 2001.To ensure there is no repeat of Tuesday's glitch, the TSE must inspect its computer system in its entirety. The bourse should put together a set of comprehensive measures to achieve this goal as soon as possible, including software to detect defects in its computer system and measures to deal swiftly with a malfunction.According to the TSE, the latest computer failure was attributable to the bourse's failure to detect an error committed during the process of modifying application software when it upgraded the system in response to a sharp increase in the number of orders received for stock sales and purchases in October.Day trading taking offTuesday's computer failure came as the domestic stock market was experiencing an expansion in the volume of transactions as a result of the economy being brought back on the road to recovery. Among others, short-term trading by day traders--individual investors seeking profits through daily speculative transactions on the Internet--has been contributing to a sharp growth in the number of selling and buying orders received by the domestic stock exchanges in recent years. This has caused computer failures not only at the TSE, but at the other stock exchanges.For instance, the Osaka Securities Exchange's Hercules market for start-up firms was forced to temporarily stop accepting initial public offerings when its computer system was unable to deal with a rapid increase in short-term transactions. Meanwhile, the Jasdaq market in Tokyo has repeatedly suspended trading because of computer failures since early this year.The volume of short-term transactions, mainly by day traders, is expected to keep growing. It is essential for each domestic stock exchange to shore up its computer system to accommodate growing short-term trading. Top officials of each bourse have a responsibility to guarantee investors smooth stock transactions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2005-11-02	YOSHIN0020051103e1b2000hj
YOMSHI0020051102e1b30000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051102e1b30000j	EN	\N	BOJ must act cautiously on easy-money policy	The report has revised its April prediction for the consumer price index upward, saying that the CPI for fiscal 2005 likely will rise 0.1 percent from a year earlier, marking the index's first return to positive territory in eight years. It also forecasts the annual rise in the CPI will grow to 0.5 percent next fiscal year.	4	2005-11-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On the basis of these predictions, the report says there will be "a greater likelihood" that the central bank will end its continued quantitative relaxation of credit.The bank's current easy-money policy was adopted to prevent the economy from tumbling into a serious deflationary spiral. The latest report seems to reflect the bank's belief that it has no reason to keep the policy in place if the goal of its monetary easing policy has been achieved.However, it is no easy task to determine whether the easy-money policy should be scrapped. First and foremost, it is necessary to precisely grasp the current economic condition.There are some questions to be carefully explored in deciding whether the money-easing policy should be scrapped. Is it unlikely that the CPI's return to positive territory will prove to be transient? Are there any chances that the economy will take a downturn if the policy is ended?Cautionary tales from historyHistory has shown that the economy could be hit by deflation again after it appears to have been stemmed.During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the United States reversed its monetary policy in the belief that deflation had ended. Shortly afterward, however, the U.S. economy returned to a deflationary situation.In August 2000, the Bank of Japan ended its zero-interest rate policy in the assurance that there were no deflationary concerns any longer. But this was followed by worsening deflation when an economic boom generated by the information technology industry ended.It will be advisable for the central bank to end its easy-money policy only when it can be ruled out that the economy will become deflationary again. The bank also needs to ensure no confusion arises if it scraps the easy-money policy. The bank should start studying ways to achieve this now.Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui has said it is impossible to end the easy-money policy "all at once." The central bank intends to maintain an extremely low interest rate policy for some time if the money-easing policy is abolished. The bank should reiterate to market players its determination to do so. Otherwise, they will mistakenly think the bank's action to end the quantitative relaxation of credit means implementing a tight-money policy instead.Restore fiscal health ASAPChief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has said he wants the central bank to pay "full attention" to what could ensue if the easy-money policy is scrapped, so the bank's policies are coordinated with those of the government. An increase in interest rates will lead to a rise in debt-servicing costs of government bonds. Abe's remark shows the government, with the fiscal crisis in mind, wants the central bank to maintain its current money policy.If the government cannot stop issuing government bonds, however, there will be greater concerns about the future of the state coffers. Such a scenario would cause government bond prices to decline, a development that would sharply raise long-term interest rates.The first task to be tackled by the government is to show what it will do to restore fiscal health as soon as possible, thus eliminating uncertainties about the government's finances. This would help stabilize long-term interest rates.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2005-11-03	YOSHIN0020051104e1b3000b8
YOMSHI0020051103e1b40000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051103e1b40000b	EN	\N	Govt must work harder on U.S. base restructure	The local governments involved in the reorganization all protested the agreement, which was included in an interim report adopted Saturday.	4	2005-11-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fukushiro Nukaga, the new director general of the Defense Agency, said his agency would seek to win the local governments' understanding by making sincere and honest explanations.This is a matter of course. Securing the support of local communities is essential for the stable operation of U.S. bases in Japan.But the government should not delegate this task to the Defense Agency alone--it should be tackled by the whole government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister's Office.For local residents, the presence of a U.S. base causes noise pollution and psychological burdens.Under the agreement, carrier-borne aircraft at Atsugi Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture will move to Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Though the level of noise pollution will decrease in residential areas around the Atsugi base, the Yamaguchi prefectural government has protested that noise pollution will just be shifted from Atsugi to Iwakuni.The deal also calls for a new command of the U.S. Army, provisionally called a unit of employment (UEx)--which is to react rapidly to emergencies in East Asia, including Japan--and the command of a rapid reaction force to be established by the Ground Self-Defense Force, to share Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture.The government will have to prepare for this relocation by all means, including financial measures to reduce noise pollution and other burdens on residents.Relocate Futenma baseWith the reduction of 7,000 marines, the burden on Okinawa Prefecture, which hosts 75 percent of U.S. bases in Japan, will be lessened.Discussions on the relocation of Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, will make a fresh start between Tokyo and Washington under this new agreement.Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine opposes the agreement, saying the current plan to build a 2,500-meter offshore airport near Camp Schwab should be realized or any replacement facility for the station should be relocated outside the prefecture.However, the relocation plan of the Futenma base has not progressed partly because the Okinawa prefectural government complicated the situation by insisting that a replacement facility be built for both military and civilian use and be used for only 15 years by the U.S. military, conditions that were not included in the original agreement at the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa.Surely the most important thing is to relocate the air station, which has been called the most dangerous in the world.Don't listen to leftistsOpponents of the Japan-U.S. agreement include activists against U.S. bases in Japan, who are still tied to leftist ideologies of opposition to the United States and the Japan-U.S. security treaty.Their actions should not make local governments overly cautious about accepting the Japan-U.S. agreement.The folly of the Futenma relocation plan must not be repeated. Despite agreement being reached, the plan remains stalled.Some members of the government are considering a special law to enable the government to enforce the agreement's implementation if it fails to obtain the support of Okinawa Prefecture and other local authorities.The introduction of such a special law is worth considering to speed up the implementation of the Japan-U.S. agreement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	606	2005-11-04	YOSHIN0020051107e1b4000d3
YOMSHI0020051104e1b50000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051104e1b50000k	EN	\N	Prosecutors, lawyers must change old ways	As a precursory step, the revised Criminal Procedure Code was put into effect Tuesday with the aim of realizing speedy and understandable court proceedings--preconditions for the introduction of the lay judge system.	4	2005-11-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the past, judges in criminal trials have not studied evidence such as police documents on concerned parties before the first hearing. Only after the trials have begun have they spent a great deal of time on deciding whether to accept evidence submitted to the court.The revised Criminal Procedure Code will change such trial procedures drastically. Its core measure is the introduction of pretrial examination procedures.In the procedures, judges, prosecutors and lawyers--even defendants if necessary--will attend pretrial meetings to narrow down the focus of their arguments based on evidence disclosed by prosecutors. Judges can demand prosecutors disclose more evidence and decide which evidence is to be adopted.Lay judges will be randomly selected from the voter lists. To reduce their burden, courts will open daily to make their ruling within a week.Procedure change crucialThe proper functioning of the pretrial examination procedures is critical to the success of the joint jury-judge system. Courts, prosecutors and lawyers must cooperate with each other to put the procedures into gear as quickly as possible.Once the lay judge system starts, the procedures will be required in all serious crime cases, including murders. For the time being, however, courts will use the procedures only in cases that are relatively uncomplicated.They will develop basic rules with prosecutors and lawyers for the full introduction of the procedures.Mutual distrust a handicapThe main problem is deep-rooted mutual mistrust between prosecutors and lawyers.Prosecutors, who will be asked to disclose a great deal of evidence before trials, suspect lawyers will study it to find their weak points, while lawyers are cautious that they might become unable to make new claims if the focus of arguments is narrowed down in advance.Such mutual distrust makes it even more difficult to realize speedy and understandable proceedings. Elimination of distrust between lawyers and prosecutors is a basic premise for the smooth introduction of the procedures.Last month, the Tokyo and Osaka district prosecutors offices established new sections where the same prosecutors are in charge from investigation to trial. Those prosecutors, who understand criminal cases well, will be involved in the procedures. Other district prosecutors offices will create similar sections.The Japan Federation of Bar Associations has held seminars on the procedures and asked for the cooperation of lawyers. However, the federation has not yet started systematic efforts to produce lawyers that specialize in criminal cases and can adapt to the new procedures.Only 3-1/2 years are left before the launch of the lay judge system. The legal community must change its mentality drastically to break away from its traditional practices in criminal trials. The pretrial examination procedures are the first step toward this goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	519	2005-11-05	YOSHIN0020051107e1b500134
YOMSHI0020051105e1b60000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051105e1b60000d	EN	\N	Boost intl pressure on North Korea	Both agreed to continue their dialogue, but for Japan to get North Korea to make a sincere response, it must develop some effective strategies, including applying a certain amount of pressure.	4	2005-11-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Throughout the two-day talks, Pyongyang reiterated its stance that the abduction issue has been settled.The latest talks, the first since November 2004, were in accord with the joint statement made at the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programs in September.The statement said "Japan and North Korea will take steps to normalize their ties based on the Pyongyang Declaration and by settling unfortunate past and outstanding issues of concern."For Japan, the outstanding issues obviously mean Japanese abductees and Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programs. Yet the latest talks ended without any resolution to these issues.No new info on abductionsNorth Korea did not provide any new information concerning the whereabouts of 11 Japanese abductees, including Megumi Yokota, whose fate remains unknown.Pyongyang also cast doubt on Japan's DNA analysis of the cremated remains that North Korea handed to the Japanese delegation in November last year, which it said were those of Yokota but the analysis found to be otherwise.As long as North Korea fails to make efforts to resolve the abduction issue--a crime committed by a state--Japan may, as Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said, "have to think of various things," while continuing a bilateral dialogue.The government has taken steps to prepare laws that enable Japan to impose sanctions against North Korea unilaterally, including revising the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law that allows the government to suspend remittances from Japan to North Korea, and establishing a law barring North Korean ships from calling at Japanese ports.With the six-nation talks set to resume soon, the present conditions do not allow Japan to impose sanctions on North Korea unilaterally.Rights record rapped by U.N.With regards to pressuring North Korea, the U.N. Human Rights Commission has adopted a resolution condemning the regime's human rights violations for the third straight year.Meanwhile, Japan, the European Union and the United States have submitted, for the first time, a draft resolution to the U.N. General Assembly expressing "strong concern" over North Korea's human rights record.Closer cooperation among the international community toward Pyongyang over the abduction issue may serve as effective pressure on Pyongyang. Japan, for its part, should boost its diplomatic efforts in forming an international coalition against North Korea.For the latest talks, Japan proposed establishing discussion forums separate from the main discussions on three topics: the abduction issue; security, including nuclear and missile development; and the normalization of diplomatic ties, including the "settlement of Japan's past."Even if North Korea responds to such calls, it will put priority on the normalization of diplomatic ties, making efforts to win economic assistance from Japan, while delaying for as long as possible the abduction and nuclear and missile development issues.With the Liberal Democratic Party's landslide victory in September's House of Representatives election, the political foundations for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi have been markedly strengthened.With Abe and Taro Aso--both known for their hard-line stance toward North Korea--becoming chief cabinet secretary and foreign minister, respectively, the government's position toward the reclusive nation has been bolstered.It will become all the more important for the government to conduct a rational diplomatic policy toward North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	619	2005-11-06	YOSHIN0020051107e1b6001r0
YOMSHI0020051107e1b700001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051107e1b700001	EN	\N	Tough road ahead for '16 Games bidders	Almost half a century has passed since Tokyo hosted the 1964 Olympiad, an epoch-making event that became a symbol of Japan's postwar reconstruction and high economic growth. The newest bid to bring the world's greatest sports festival to Japan again is a dream that people in this country will certainly become more enthusiastic about as time goes by.	4	2005-11-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To host the Olympics, a candidate city must clear two major hurdles. First, it must be selected by the end of next year by the Japanese Olympic Committee as the country's sole candidate to host the Olympiad.Japan's candidate city then will compete with contenders from other countries in an effort to gain sufficient support from the international community to win the right to host the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city for the 2016 Games at its general assembly in 2009.Tokyo, Fukuoka enthusiasticDuring a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly session in September, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara expressed a desire to host the Olympiad. Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who also presides over the Japan Amateur Sports Association, gave Tokyo a high rating for the international appeal inherent in the city.Last week, the Tokyo metropolitan government inaugurated a council, comprising former members of Japan's Olympic teams and intellectuals, to draw up Tokyo's Olympic strategy. The group is now scheduled to compile a report sometime early next year, providing "ideas unique to Tokyo as an Olympic host city" as commissioned by Ishihara.The metropolitan government has already floated the idea of a \\1 trillion large-scale redevelopment plan to build a main 100,000-seat Olympic stadium in Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, and an Olympic Village to house athletes.The city of Fukuoka, for its part, earlier called for the involvement of other parts of Kyushu in its bid to host the Games. But it recently had second thoughts about this plan and, instead, has offered the greater urban area of Fukuoka as a possible Olympic venue. The city has taken into consideration the Olympic Charter that allows only one city from each country to bid for the Games. Recent Olympic Games have, in fact, been staged in a single host city.In his effort to trump Tokyo, Fukuoka Mayor Kotaro Yamazaki has emphasized that his city will map out an Olympic project that will be "less costly" through the construction of temporary facilities and utilization of existing facilities.IOC approval hard to winEven if one Japanese city prevails over the other in the domestic competition, it will not be easy for the Japanese contender to defeat its overseas counterparts in the international rivalry preceding the crucial session of the IOC general assembly.To convince IOC members, each candidate city has to show the rest of the world how actively it is involved in the promotion of the Olympic Movement and international sports.Various negative developments have been pointed out about recent Olympic Games, such as the bloated the number of events and participants and the excessive emphasis placed on commercialism. Furthermore, although the Olympiad is known as "the festival of peace," a huge amount of taxpayers' money has to be spent to prevent terrorist attacks on the Games. The spread of doping also mars the festival.If Japan can present a plan to the rest of the world that would enable the international community to bring back the original spirit of the Olympics, the Japanese dream of hosting the Games again will certainly have a better chance of being realized.The preliminary round has just kicked off. Those bidding for the Olympics should keep striving while thinking about what they should do to emerge as a successful finalist.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2005-11-07	YOSHIN0020051108e1b7000bw
YOMSHI0020051107e1b80000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051107e1b80000k	EN	\N	Keidanren must serve entire nation	Mitarai will be the first official from the information technology industry to lead this nation's largest business organization. His appointment to Nippon Keidanren's top position symbolizes an ongoing structural change in the nation's industrial sector as heavy industry is replaced by high-tech and IT businesses as the central pillar of the national economy.	4	2005-11-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 1946, the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), Nippon Keidanren's predecessor, was established as a business group charged with helping rehabilitate this country's war-torn economy. Three years ago, Keidanren merged with the Japan Federation of Employers' Associations, another major business organization, to launch Nippon Keidanren.Nippon Keidanren is the most powerful of the nation's three major business organizations. Its top position has been assumed largely by top managers from leading heavy industrial corporations, including Nippon Steel Corp. and Tokyo Electric Power Co.Canon is a precision instruments maker that manufactures such products as digital cameras and printers. Mitarai's appointment as Nippon Keidanren chairman can be seen as unusual in that his company is distinctly different in nature from those firms whose officials have previously been given the top post at the most powerful business lobby.Effort recognizedDuring the business term ending in December, Canon is expected to register a sixth consecutive quarterly increase in revenue and profits on a consolidated basis. Mitarai's appointment as Nippon Keidanren chief reflects full recognition of his successful efforts to make his corporation a winner at a time when many domestic companies are experiencing a deflationary slump.Beset by heavy debts combined with problems arising from their excessive investment in plants and equipment, Japanese corporations are facing stiff competition from Chinese and other Asian companies. The greatest challenge facing Mitarai as new Nippon Keidanren chairman is to look for ways to improve domestic corporations' international competitiveness.We hope Mitarai will take advantage of his own management skills in trying to lead the business community. First of all, he should encourage domestic companies to reform their business methods on their own, for example, by reducing their operational and other costs. Mitarai should also present the government with convincing policy proposals, to ensure it better supports corporations' efforts to improve their management.Management traditionalistFor years, Mitarai has drawn a great deal of attention through his proposals and comments, which differ from those of many corporate managers who often praise business methods used in the United States.For instance, Mitarai has invariably insisted lifetime employment--a system long recognized as a hallmark of Japanese-style corporate management--be maintained, saying, "[The system] enables employees to work with a sense of security." He has also said a top corporate official should be seen as a failure if he fires employees as a means of slashing fat from his company.We hope Mitarai will never change his avowed business philosophy after becoming Nippon Keidanren chairman.Hiroshi Okuda, the current chairman of the business organization, has adopted a system in which member corporations of the group are encouraged to determine how much will be donated to each political party, based on the group's assessment of each party's key policies. This seems to have achieved its purpose, as shown by the fact that Nippon Keidanren is gradually getting itself better heard by political parties today.However, Okuda came under fire when controversy arose over an attempt by the government to revise the Antimonopoly Law. Initially, he opposed an increase in penalties to be imposed on corporations that violated the law. His attitude was criticized as an attempt by Nippon Keidanren to prevent the revised law from hurting the group's interests. At the time, the number of corporations tainted by bid-rigging scandals seemed endless.Nippon Keidanren has a responsibility to act to benefit the entire population--not only for the sake of individual corporations and industries. Mitarai must live up to this obligation as the group's new chairman.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	707	2005-11-08	YOSHIN0020051109e1b8000gu
YOMSHI0020051108e1b90000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051108e1b90000e	EN	\N	Leprosy compensation should be fair for all	Late last month, the Tokyo District Court rejected a lawsuit filed by a group of former South Korean leprosy patients who demanded the Japanese government compensate them under the Hansen's disease compensation law. However, the district court ruled in favor of a similar suit filed by a group of Taiwanese plaintiffs.	4	2005-11-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government has said it will appeal the Taiwan case, adding it will consider a comprehensive relief package for former leprosy sufferers segregated in leprosariums during the days of Japan's colonial rule. The government intends to seek a court-mediated settlement with the South Korean and Taiwanese plaintiffs.Fair redress essentialThe question is how the government should redress the wrongs committed against these victims. On Tuesday, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki said the government would establish a framework for relief measures covering the South Korean and Taiwanese plaintiffs, separately from the one set up for former Japanese leprosy patients.An important task facing the government is to ensure the South Korean and Taiwanese plaintiffs do not feel they are being treated less well than former Japanese sufferers in terms of what classes of sufferers will be compensated and how much they should receive. A government failure in this respect would antagonize them, causing them to brand Japan's actions a new form of discrimination.The government must work to ensure not a single South Korea or Taiwanese litigant finds the aid unsatisfactory, which would leave the way open for the legal controversy to continue. The average age of the plaintiffs is close to 82, and during the past three months alone, five have died. No time should be wasted in aiding them.Drafted by a group of lawmakers, the Hansen's disease compensation law was established in 2001 to provide aid to a wide range of former leprosy sufferers. It would run counter to the spirit of the law if the government were to offer different compensation to the former patients segregated during Japan's colonial rule and those in this country.Some government officials have said providing the same compensation to the former South Korean and Taiwanese leprosy patients as that given to the Japanese sufferers would mean Japan had acknowledged its responsibility for the discriminatory treatment given to the sufferers in the former category even after Japan's colonial rule ended.It should be noted, however, that the South Korean and Taiwanese litigants have demanded the same amount of compensation as their Japanese counterparts who were segregated only during the prewar days. Taiwan is considering compensating its own sufferers for the agony they suffered after the end of World War II.Diet must not lollygagThe Diet should discuss aiding the South Korean and Taiwanese sufferers. To clarify the purpose of the Hansen's disease compensation law, lawmakers have a responsibility to swiftly revise the legislation and adopt a resolution, if necessary.The law requires former leprosy patients to file for compensation by the end of June. If the Diet is given leave to discuss measures needed to aid the South Korean and Taiwanese sufferers in its next ordinary session, more time would be wasted in helping those victims.All that needs to be done to include South Korean and Taiwanese sufferers to be included in the list of victims to be compensation under the law would be for the health, labor and welfare minister to issue a notice to that purpose. Although the health ministry is opposed to using that means to aid sufferers, that option should not be ruled out.We should not allow the spirit of the Hansen's disease compensation law to be be marred.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2005-11-09	YOSHIN0020051110e1b9000hz
YOMSHI0020051109e1ba0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051109e1ba0000f	EN	\N	Audit Board has power to cut wasteful spending	The best way to rectify this thinking would be to enhance the functions of the Audit Board, something the Audit Board Law was revised to do.	4	2005-11-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The revised law was sponsored by a cross-party group of lawmakers at the House of Councillors and passed during a recent special Diet session.The motive behind the law was the upper house's intention to emphasize its function to approve settlement of state accounts, in an attempt to display a political identity distinct from the House of Representatives, which has prior right of approval of national budgets over the upper house.Timely action now possibleNow that the revised law has gone into effect, the Audit Board should work on eliminating wasteful expenditure in cooperation with the Diet. An important element of the revised law is that the board now is empowered to report to the Diet as it sees fit, whereas it could do so only once a year under the old law.In the past, the board's reports were a kind of audit report on the annual closing of state accounts. Even if it noticed major wasteful expenditure by the central government or an irregularity in the course of a fiscal year, the board had to wait until the yearend to make a report to the Diet.Furthermore, as the reports were made only once a year, the descriptions of problematic practices were inadequate.However, the board now can announce inappropriate or illegal spending immediately after discovering it and submit a detailed report on it to the Diet. The board can now urge ministries and agencies to redress the problems as quickly as possible through deliberations at the Diet.The revised law also broadens the range of subjects the board can inspect and empowers it to demand ministries and agencies to be audited to submit account ledgers and other documents. The revised points are expected to enhance the functions of the board.Ministries and agencies have introduced a self-evaluation system to look at the effectiveness of their policies over the past several years.Peer reviews thing of pastAs a watchdog of other ministries and agencies, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is closely monitoring them, as is the Finance Ministry through budget assessment.However, such an inspection system tends to degenerate into a cozy review among peers.A body independent from the cabinet such as the Audit Board would be better at evaluating the efficiency of policy measures from a broader viewpoint and seeking to have them improved.The board is aware of this and in its fiscal 2004 audit report released Tuesday exhibited a greater tendency than before to evaluate policy measures of ministries and agencies rather than to refer to their spending in detail.For instance, the report referred to independent administrative bodies such as research and educational institutes separate from ministries and agencies.The board said in the report that quite a lot of such bodies had not reduced labor costs or produced research results. The board also urged them to improve their management efficiency.The board will have to reverse its way of thinking to become an agile organization as envisioned under the revised law.If it settles next-year's schedule at the end of every year and nets a wide range of subjects in a uniform way as it did in the past, the board will have difficulties in carrying out efficient auditing. It is important to single out and focus on areas with major problems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	623	2005-11-10	YOSHIN0020051111e1ba000gx
YOMSHI0020051110e1bb0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051110e1bb0000d	EN	\N	Govt must stop building roads to nowhere	The ministry as well as lawmakers representing the vested interests of the road construction industry must have been surprised by Koizumi's instruction. Behind the move is the much-enhanced power of Koizumi following his overwhelming victory in the recent House of Representatives election.	4	2005-11-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Politicians linked with the road construction lobby apparently had intended to defer discussions on the reform to next fiscal year or later and to accept only a slightly wider use of the resources. But their hopes have been dashed.The central and local governments are in a critical financial situation, with their long-term debts totaling 774 trillion yen as of the end of fiscal 2005. Under such difficult circumstances, it is illogical to spend excessive funds on construction of a road network that has already been well developed around the country.As the prime minister said, tax revenues set aside for road construction should be incorporated into general revenues to help the financial reconstruction of the central and local governments.Sept. 11 poll was watershedThe system to earmark some tax revenues for road construction was started 50 years ago to promote the improvement of underdeveloped roads in Japan. The revenues come from taxes on gasoline, automobile tonnage, diesel oil sales and other road-related items. In this fiscal year's budget, financial sources set aside for road improvement totaled 5.7 trillion yen--3.5 trillion yen for the central government and 2.2 trillion yen for the local governments.When his administration was inaugurated in April 2001, Koizumi indicated his willingness to review those funds. But he could not make much headway at that time because lawmakers linked with the road construction industry still wielded a lot of clout.However, their strength has diminished drastically since heavyweights among those lawmakers lost their seats in the Diet in the recent general election or moved to other parties.Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Makoto Koga resigned as chairman of the LDP Road Research Council and reformist Nobuteru Ishihara, former construction and transport minister, took the post, which Koga had held for a long time. This symbolizes the downfall of lawmakers representing the vested interests of the road construction industry.Keep provisional tax ratesOnly part of the funds earmarked for construction of roads should not be incorporated into general revenues.Part of the debts of the defunct Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority were being paid with those funds. In this fiscal year, 480 billion yen was allocated for that purpose.Since the authority's debts will be redeemed next fiscal year, lawmakers related to the road construction lobby said that only this part should be incorporated into the general revenues.However, that would be a half-baked measure. It is reasonable to incorporate all the funds into general financial resources and to allocate a budget to construction of roads only after studying if they are really necessary.There are pros and cons concerning provisional rates of the gasoline and diesel oil sales taxes, which are more than twice as high as the ones legally set. The automobile and oil industries are demanding the abolition of the provisional tax rates if those resources are used for a wide variety of purposes.However, their abolition would mean a drastic reduction in tax revenues. It might lower gasoline and diesel oil prices, increasing the consumption of gasoline and damaging the environment.As Koizumi instructed, the provisional rates should be kept as they are. They are no longer "provisional" and have already become conventional in our society. It would make more sense to set the provisional tax rates as the official rates.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	687	2005-11-11	YOSHIN0020051114e1bb000fl
YOMSHI0020051111e1bc0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051111e1bc0000h	EN	\N	North Korea sticking to nuclear development	This is because North Korea, which had promised in a joint statement issued in September to abandon all of its nuclear weapons and programs, showed signs of hindering the progress of the six-way talks instead of displaying a proactive stance toward fulfilling its commitments.	4	2005-11-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Pyongyang has once again demanded that it be given light water reactors in exchange for abandoning its nuclear programs.The joint statement said that the five other countries in the talks--Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--had agreed to discuss "at an appropriate time" the question of providing North Korea with light water reactors. At no time was a promise given to provide one.Pyongyang must ante upAs to the timing of the discussion, Japan and the United States had made it clear that talks should be held only after North Korea wins the trust of the international community by having its abandonment of nuclear programs verified and by rejoining the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.The reclusive nation should be entrusted with the means to produce nuclear energy for peaceful purposes only after it abandons its shadowy nuclear programs.During the six-way talks, North Korea basically rehashed issues for which solution had already been reached. It is only natural that Tokyo flatly rejected Pyongyang's demand for light water reactors, saying "it could hardly be considered constructive."Moreover, North Korea is continuing to operate a nuclear reactor that produces plutonium that could be used to make nuclear weapons. Neither has it closed its reprocessing facility, and it has shown signs of resuming the construction of a large nuclear reactor.When North Korea talks about "abandoning nuclear programs," it is only mouthing an insincere promise while buying time for nuclear development. It is obvious that Pyongyang has not yet resolved to give up its nuclear programs.If it really intends to abandon its nuclear programs and opt to live in harmony with the international community, North Korea should immediately halt operations at its nuclear facilities. Talks over the provision of economic assistance to the country can come later.During the latest talks, North Korea brought up themes unrelated to the nuclear issues. For example, it took umbrage at Washington for saying Pyongyang had manufactured counterfeit U.S. dollars. It also was upset that Washington had taken measures to ban U.S. businesses from having financial dealings with a bank in Macau for its involvement in a money-laundering operation run by North Korea.Delaying tactics unhelpfulPyongyang used off-topic matters such as these to buy time by blocking the progress of the six-way talks.And it did so at a time when the six-way talks had entered the stage of drawing up concrete plans for implementing the commitments made in the joint statement, including the procedures North Korea should implement to abandon its nuclear programs.As Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit talks are schedule for next week, the latest round of six-way talks ended after only three days. As a result, full-fledged discussions at the six-way talks, including one on drawing up a road map, were postponed.Japan proposed proceeding with working-level talks separately on three specific issues, including nuclear abandonment and its verification, and economic and energy assistance. Yet, prospects can hardly be considered bright.In tandem with the six-way talks, countries will hold talks with North Korea individually.Unless there are comprehensive solutions to the three pending issues, including nuclear and missile development, as well as Japanese abductees, it will remain impossible for Japan and North Korea to normalize relations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2005-11-12	YOSHIN0020051114e1bc0019d
YOMSHI0020051112e1bd0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051112e1bd0000d	EN	\N	Antinuclear sentiment misguided over carrier	Both the Kanagawa prefectural government and the Yokosuka municipal government have stated their opposition to the plan, with a protest campaign also being launched.	4	2005-11-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This issue should be considered first of all from the viewpoint of the peace and security of Japan as well as the whole Asia-Pacific region.In addition to having a greater cruising range than conventional aircraft carriers, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier also has better combat and operational capabilities.Deployment key for regionAccording to U.S. Forces in Japan, the decision to deploy a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at Yokosuka was taken because the forward deployment of high-performance navy ships is necessary in light of the security environment of the Asia-Pacific region.The deployment of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is also part of the realignment of U.S. forces that takes into consideration the military buildup of China, the nuclear development of North Korea, and the "Arc of Instability" that stretches as far as the Middle East.Boosting U.S. readiness to respond promptly to contingencies would contribute greatly to the peace and security of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.Yet citing concerns over nuclear safety, Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa and Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya have called for the deployment of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be canceled, demanding the deployment of a conventional aircraft carrier instead. Their opposition reflects the antipathy among local residents toward a nuclear carrier.The United States will replace its conventional carriers with nuclear-powered carriers in the future. There are only two old conventional carriers in operation now, including the Kitty Hawk, which is presently based at Yokosuka.To deploy a conventional carrier, a new one would have to be built at considerable cost. It seems unreasonable for Japan to ask the United States to do so.Since the mid-1960s, U.S. nuclear-powered navy ships have made calls at Japanese ports on more than 1,200 occasions without any nuclear reactor-related mishaps.For the deployment of the nuclear-powered carrier in Japan, Washington said it would take such measures as not having the nuclear reactor repaired or fuel rods changed at Yokosuka Naval Base, in addition to having the nuclear reactor stopped when the carrier is at anchor.The Japanese government also needs to do its utmost in taking safety measures and reassuring local residents.Leftist foes continue Cold WarAmong the protesters, there are those similar to the opposition to the United States and the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty seen years ago, based on leftist ideology.Local government heads should not be influenced by movements that continue Cold War hostilities.Meanwhile, some have said the deployment of nuclear carriers may contradict the government's three nonnuclear principles of "not to possess, not to produce, not to introduce nuclear weapons." They also say the deployment should be subject to prior consultation, as stipulated in the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.Yet it is obviously absurd to consider a navy ship that uses nuclear power to drive its engine as a nuclear weapon.The deployment of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has nothing to do with the three nonnuclear principles and is not subject to prior consultation.The issue should be dealt with level-headedly and not be swayed by antinuclear sentiment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 13 )	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2005-11-13	YOSHIN0020051114e1bd001x8
YOMSHI0020051113e1be0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051113e1be0000d	EN	\N	Beijing must negotiate on East China Sea	Despite an earlier agreement reached between the two countries to open working-level talks over the controversy in mid-October, it is still uncertain when Tokyo and Beijing will be able to start such negotiations.	4	2005-11-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The blame falls on China, which has rejected Japanese calls to hold talks on the dispute. Beijing has defended its attitude, saying, "The atmosphere is not ripe for talks." China's stubbornness in this respect apparently reflects its opposition to the recent visit to Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.However, the Chinese are unreasonable in arguing the Yasukuni dispute and the gas field controversy are closely connected. Beijing's attempt to deal with the two separate issues as one must be dismissed as a mere excuse for its efforts to present its gas field development projects in the East China Sea as a fait accompli.China's ongoing unilateral gas field exploitation projects in the disputed waters would give Japan cause to exercise its legitimate right to prospect the area as an initial step toward exploiting gas fields there. If Tokyo did so, it would have to send Japan Coast Guard patrol boats to ensure the safety of personnel engaged in the work.Rising tensionsIn recent years, the Chinese Navy has been spotted conducting maritime activities in waters around the disputed area. Neither Japan nor China want the current situation to create military tensions in those waters. This explains why the two nations agreed to accelerate bilateral talks over gas field developments projects about six weeks ago. Any delay in starting bilateral talks would only allow the situation to grow even worse, not only for Japan, but for China.In previous talks, Tokyo proposed the two countries carry out a joint gas field development project in waters that extend across the so-called Japan-China median line, a line of demarcation drawn by Japan to separate the waters subject to Japanese and Chinese sovereignty. In the next round of talks, China should reply to the Japanese proposal.For years, Beijing has asserted its sovereignty extends as far as an area near the Ryukyu Islands. To defend its argument, China cites the judgment given by the World Court in the North Sea Continental Shelf Case in 1969, which pitted West Germany against Denmark and the Netherlands. The court ruled that the continental shelf of a given nation constituted "a natural prolongation of its land territory."Legal precedentsIn later years, however, the median line--a line of demarcation drawn midway between the coastlines of two nations--has been used as a basis for the settlement of similar disputes. Examples include the World Court's 1985 ruling on the case involving continental shelf delimitation between Libya and Malta and the court's 1993 judgment on the case concerning maritime delimitation in the area between Denmark's Greenland and Norway's Jan Mayen.The 1985 ruling states that if the distance between the coasts of two nations is less than 400 nautical miles, geological or geophysical factors within that distance do not have any role to play in determining the legitimacy of each country's claim to a continental shelf subject to its sovereignty.It should be noted that China and Vietnam agreed to draw a line of demarcation midway between their coasts to delimit the Tonkin Gulf in 2000. The two nations also agreed to conduct a joint natural resources development project in waters straddling that line.Given the World Court's rulings and China's past conduct, the Japanese proposal must be seen as reasonable. If China wants to challenge the Japanese assertion, it should do so at the negotiating table if it wishes to have its argument heard.If Beijing truly hopes to make the East China Sea "waters for mutual cooperation," it should act in a manner commensurate with its avowed wish.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	688	2005-11-14	YOSHIN0020051115e1be000bh
YOMSHI0020051114e1bf0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051114e1bf0000c	EN	\N	Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Kuroda	She will become the first princess of the Imperial family to be married in 45 years. Takako Shimazu was the last princess to celebrate her wedding as the fifth daughter of Emperor Showa in 1960.	4	2005-11-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Kuroda has known Princess Nori's elder brother, Prince Akishino, since they were students together at Gakushuin Primary School. The princess came to know Kuroda without ceremony and their acquaintance has eventually ripened into marriage. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the princess and Kuroda.Princess Nori bid the Emperor and Empress farewell at the Choken-no gi ceremony Sunday. The Emperor said to the princess, "I hope you will raise a happy family and perform your duties as a member of society." The Empress said to her, "You have served the [Imperial] family well. I wish you eternal happiness."The Imperial couple raised Princess Nori with loving care. The princess has since been a good partner for the Emperor and Empress to talk to. All this may well cause the Imperial couple to be filled with deep emotion.Princess no moreUnder the Imperial House Law, Princess Nori's wedding means she will leave the Imperial family. She will also move from the Imperial Palace to live with Kuroda as newlyweds in a condominium. The princess' departure from the Imperial family means she will no longer be called Princess Nori, and that she will take the name of Sayako Kuroda as the wife of Yoshiki Kuroda.The princess has said, "I feel anxious [about my new life], but I hope I will gradually become accustomed to it, by experiencing confusion, unsureness and frustration."Princess Nori will not exchange rings with Kuroda during today's wedding ceremony. She will not change her dress during a wedding reception that follows. All this is her own decision. The Empress has described the princess as a person of calm and perseverance. We believe the princess and Kuroda will raise a solid family.For years, Princess Nori has fulfilled various duties as a member of the Imperial family. She has made eight official visits overseas, touring 14 countries. She has also made more than 300 visits to various locations in this nation, including numerous sites in Tokyo, neighboring and provincial prefectures.Charitable deedsThe princess has paid special attention to events organized for young people and activities conducted by welfare and charity organizations. She has been particularly interested in raising guide dogs.Many people associated with these organizations hope the princess will continue to play a part in such activities even after her marriage, as long as doing so does not adversely affect her new life.There has been growing public interest in the Imperial family as an advisory council on the Imperial House Law is discussing possible changes in the Imperial system.We believe Princess Nori's departure from the Imperial family will not keep her unpretentious personality from deepening the public's affinity and sympathy for the royal family and encouraging the Japanese people.Princess Nori has long served as an emotional support for the Emperor and Empress as their only daughter. She is still concerned about the health of the Emperor, who underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2003.The Emperor and Empress will feel truly reassured if their daughter raises a warm and loving family and occasionally visits the Imperial couple.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	582	2005-11-15	YOSHIN0020051116e1bf000gm
YOMSHI0020051116e1bg00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051116e1bg00001	EN	\N	LDP must push reform after 50th anniversary	The LDP won an overwhelming victory in the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the party is in a state of elation, secure in the belief it will guide the nation as a reformist party.	4	2005-11-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The two conservative parties merged out of concerns over the unification of the Socialist Party's right and left wings.In its inaugural declaration adopted on Nov. 15, 1955, the LDP stated it was planning to fulfill its duty under the constantly changing domestic and international situation and the intensification of the Cold War, while holding a vision of the world at least 10 years ahead.In other words, the party was only able to look 10 years ahead because the situation inside and outside Japan was changing so rapidly.A 50th anniversary declaration is to be approved at a conference to be held Tuesday to celebrate the party's five decades in existence. The declaration will stress that a third reform of Japan--following those of the Meiji and postwar eras--should be implemented as soon as possible.Changing timesIt is even more difficult today than it was at the time of the LDP's inauguration to predict the future due to the decline of Japan's population, the progress in globalization and the drastically changing international situation.However, it is a duty of the LDP as a responsible political party--the same as it was 50 years ago--to build a stable foundation for the future of Japan in the middle of a transitional period by solving difficult problems.To fulfill that duty, the LDP is urged to reform itself further. It played a major role in the rapid growth of the economy in cooperation with the administrative, economic and industrial sectors. The LDP has won the support of voters and remained in power by distributing slices of the steadily growing economic pie.Not time to rest on laurelsBut the end of rapid economic growth has shown that there is a limit to pork-barrel politics.Now, instead of distributing benefits to the public, the LDP has to ask it to shoulder a greater burden. Diet members with vested interests in ministries, specific industries and industrial organizations that benefit from their efforts have become impediments to reform.The so-called triple reform of central and local governments' finances, abolition and consolidation of government-affiliated financial institutions, and reform of special accounts, including the incorporation of tax revenues earmarked for road construction into the general account, are being carried out in the process of drafting the fiscal 2006 budget.Meanwhile, the LDP is trying to prevent the intervention of lawmakers with vested interests, limiting terms of research commission and special committee chairpersons as part of the party's reform effort.This is possible thanks to the strong leadership Koizumi, who spearheaded reform initiatives, has been displaying within the administration and the LDP.However, Koizumi is to resign in September when his term as LDP president expires. It is hard to predict if a new prime minister will be able to exercise the same brand of powerful leadership that has pushed ahead reform plans.Moreover, the party has yet to decide the directions of fiscal and social security reforms--important pillars of the reforms. If these reforms fail, Japan will face grave danger.Only by resolutely pushing through reforms will the LDP be able to remain the leading political party after its 50th anniversary.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2005-11-16	YOSHIN0020051117e1bg000hr
YOMSHI0020051116e1bh0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051116e1bh0000k	EN	\N	Strong Japan-U.S. ties vital for East Asia	Koizumi said at a joint press conference after the talks that Tokyo needs stronger ties with Washington to build better relationships with China and other Asian neighbors.	4	2005-11-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The growing military power of China, based on its rapid economic growth, is a major cause for concern in the Asia-Pacific region. China is trying hard to eliminate U.S. influence and establish its own ascendancy in the region.The Japan-U.S. alliance has long been considered the "public property" of the region in maintaining its peace and stability. Koizumi's remarks demonstrated his recognition that recent changes in the region have made the Japan-U.S. alliance more important than ever.Bush apparently shared Koizumi's view and said that Japan-U.S. ties acted as an "anchor" for peace in the region as well as in the world."I don't agree with those who say that Japan should put priority on international cooperation rather than Japan-U.S. relations," Koizumi said, in an apparent rejection of some domestic views that Japan should enhance its relations with China, South Korea and other Asian countries rather than with the United States.China doesn't share valuesChina is under the dictatorship of the Chinese Communist Party. It does not share values such as freedom and democracy with Japan. It is unrealistic to expect that peace and stability in the region could be built based on Japan-China relations instead of the Japan-U.S. alliance.In a lecture to business people after the summit talks, Bush reiterated the necessity of democracy and freedom, emphasizing the enhancement of the U.S. engagement with Asia. He strongly urged Beijing to improve its human rights. Like Koizumi, Bush recognizes that the United States does not share the same basic values as China.He also demonstrated his belief that stronger Japan-U.S. ties would lower the possibility of regional conflict.Washington is working on a global realignment of U.S. forces. Bush believes that a reinforcement of the U.S. alliance with Japan will prove a strong deterrent to any attempts to destabilize the region--part of the arc of instability ranging from East Asia to the Middle East.The price of freedomSome local governments oppose a realignment of the U.S. military presence in Japan because their communities would have to shoulder heavier burdens related to U.S. bases as a result.However, Koizumi said that he would try to seek their understanding by considering the security of the country in a comprehensive manner, promising Bush to realize the Oct. 29 agreement with the United States on the issue.The central government should discuss and solve the problems with concerned local governments as smoothly as possible to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance.Instability is likely to continue in East Asia. Thus, the maintenance of a tighter alliance between Japan and the United States, which share common values, has become even more important for peace and stability in the region.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	559	2005-11-17	YOSHIN0020051118e1bh000go
YOMSHI0020051117e1bi0000o	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051117e1bi0000o	EN	\N	Triple reform will boost local govts' self-discipline	The animated discussion has been triggered by the recent proposal by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry that welfare subsidies of more than 900 billion yen from the central government to local governments be cut, and the localities be empowered to collect taxes instead.	4	2005-11-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The local governments have opposed the idea, saying such a move is tantamount to shifting the burden of the expenses for public assistance to local governments.Yet public assistance is a system in which the local governments operate at the front line. To have the local governments gain more discretionary power, as well as a sense of responsibility, thus having them streamline the administration for public assistance, tax revenue sources for public assistance expenses should be transferred.The triple reform of local government finances is a plan to cut subsidies from the central government to local governments by 4 trillion yen, while empowering the local governments to collect taxes worth 3 trillion yen in compensation.So far the transfer of tax revenue sources worth a total of 2.4 trillion yen from the central government to localities, including the provisionally earmarked 850 billion yen for compulsory education expenses, has been decided.While ministries and agencies have shied away from proposing their own subsidy-reduction ideas for the remaining 600 billion yen worth of tax revenue sources, the health ministry has proposed the transfer of tax revenue sources worth more than 900 billion yen from the central government.Current system wastefulPublic assistance expenses for the current fiscal year are projected to total 2.5 trillion yen, with three-fourths of this amount covered by the central government. Experts have pointed out time and again that the high financial contribution assumed by the central government in meeting public assistance expenses has caused various problems related to welfare.About 1 million households in the nation receive public assistance, with 1.4 million people on relief. These figures are up more than 1.6 times from 10 years ago.Another problem is the regional discrepancy in the numbers of people on relief. The ratio of people on public assistance in Osaka Prefecture, where the figure is the highest in the nation, is 10 times that in Toyama Prefecture, where the figure is the lowest.Considering that there is not so much difference between the two prefectures in terms of such statistics as the jobless rate, which is closely related to the number of those receiving public assistance, it is obvious that local governments are using different criteria to determine eligibility for public assistance.Let municipalities take leadGiven the problems with the public assistance system, the health ministry has made the following proposals:-- Of the items constituting public assistance, the tax revenue source for housing assistance, including the provision of house rent, is to be entirely transferred to local governments.-- As for livelihood assistance, such as food expenses, fuel and lighting expenses, and medical assistance, including the provision of medical expenses, the ministry has proposed that a tax revenue source equivalent to one-fourth of what currently is allocated in the form of subsidies be transferred to local governments. With the transfer, local governments will secure half of the tax revenue sources for livelihood assistance.Should the tax revenue source for the housing assistance be transferred to local governments in its entirety, local governments will be able to set the payment level for housing rent in accordance with local situations. With the transfer, local governments will gain much from their discretionary power in this regard.Under the current welfare system, many people who are able to work remain on the dole, and many people who do not require treatment at hospitals nevertheless seek such treatment.Local governments at the forefront of providing public assistance need to manage the public assistance programs more strictly. If things are left uncorrected, the local governments will only be criticized for wasting their own tax revenue sources when they are eventually transferred from the central government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2005-11-18	YOSHIN0020051121e1bi000fa
YOMSHI0020051118e1bj0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051118e1bj0000g	EN	\N	Structural problems in the building trade?	It has been revealed that an architect of Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, who holds a first-class license falsified mandatory structural strength analyses for buildings in planning applications for 20 condominiums and a hotel in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures.	4	2005-11-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Structural strength reports are important documents certifying the soundness of buildings in respect of criteria such as their ability to withstand earthquakes. The falsification of data in the analyses means the buildings in question were installed with insufficient rebar, and their columns and beams were not designed thick enough.According to the Construction and Transport Ministry, 14 of the 21 buildings have already been constructed, and all 14 may fail to meet antiseismic standards. In particular, two condominiums--one in Kawasaki and the other in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture--could collapse if an earthquake with an intensify of upper 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 struck those areas.In July, an earthquake with a maximum intensity of upper 5 hit the Tokyo metropolitan area. The hotel, in central Tokyo, that was one of the buildings whose structural strength was misreported, has been forced to shut down only three months after opening.The ministry and local governments concerned must act to ensure the safety of those who live in or near the buildings in question.A catalogue of errorsIn the past five years, the architect at the center of the scandal has compiled structural strength analyses for about 90 buildings besides the 21 in question. Those who bought condominiums in that period must be feeling uneasy. It is a matter of urgency for buildings constructed following the submission of falsified data to be identified, and necessary measures taken, such as rebuilding and reinforcement.The structural strength reports drawn up by the architect were so botched up that certificates indicating ministry-approved computer programs were used in the compilation of the reports were not attached to them.As for the 21 buildings in question, the two ministry-designated inspection organizations conducted construction confirmation, a process to examine whether construction plans conform to relevant laws, including the Building Standard Law.Yet the organizations failed to conduct these basic examinations properly and were unable to detect the falsification of the data. Such failures call into question the reliability of the inspection system.We wonder why neither the architectural design firms that subcontracted the job of drawing up structural strength reports to the architect, nor the building contractors that constructed the buildings, nor the clients that commissioned the buildings questioned the construction data.Rigorous probe neededThe ministry will bring criminal charges against the architect for violating the Building Standard Law. But those who purchased units in the condominiums in question were victims of the deceptive business practice of selling faulty housing.The architect said he was pressured to reduce construction costs. A careful investigation should be carried out to determine whether the latest scandal reveals structural problems in the construction industry.The central government set antiseismic standards so buildings can withstand major earthquakes. If practices such as falsifying data for construction blueprints are widespread, however, sizable damage could result from a major earthquake.Private firms have been allowed to handle administrative procedures for construction confirmation since 1999. The ministry and other concerned entities should conduct a thorough check into whether the examination of construction plans is being conducted strictly, and whether there are other irregularities connected with the construction industry.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2005-11-19	YOSHIN0020051121e1bj001bi
YOMSHI0020051119e1bk0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051119e1bk0000j	EN	\N	Doha Round at heart of APEC declaration	The declaration was adopted Saturday as the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum--including Japan--closed a two-day annual summit meeting in Busan, South Korea. A special statement also issued by APEC members emphasized their resolve to reach an agreement in the WTO negotiations by spelling out specific measures to achieve that goal, including a plan to scrap agricultural export subsidies.	4	2005-11-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The APEC forum, a group of nations set up to promote free trade in the Asia-Pacific region, has played a leading role in global efforts to advance trade liberalization. This has been shown, for instance, by the group's 1994 agreement to ensure industrial nations abolish trade restrictions by 2010 and developing countries by 2020.APEC members also proposed bringing the Doha Round of WTO talks back on track at a summit meeting held after a WTO ministerial conference failed to reach an agreement in autumn 2003, a proposal that paved the way for the resumption of the Doha Round talks. The leaders of APEC countries--including Japan and the United States, both of which played an important role in adopting Saturday's declaration and statement--should act to prove their determination in ensuring the Doha Round makes headway.Failure to agree not an optionThe WTO has scheduled a ministerial conference to be attended by 148 countries and territories in mid-December. In past meetings, WTO members sought to reach a broad agreement on free trade rules. However, the United States and the European Union have been at odds over farm trade issues. This has sparked concerns about a breakdown in the upcoming ministerial conference, let alone a broad agreement.Two years ago, the ministerial meeting at the Doha Round failed to arrive at an agreement. If the forthcoming conference breaks down, it would make it extremely difficult for the WTO to produce an agreement. Such a scenario could deal a major blow to APEC members, whose exports and imports account for more than half of global trade.At the latest APEC summit meeting, some leaders expressed concern that failure to agree on common free trade rules at the upcoming WTO ministerial conference could encourage protectionism around the world.The APEC leaders' concerns have been reflected in their decision to shift the focus of their negotiations to free trade away from discussions centering on security-related issues that dominated in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.Japan can't skirt tariff issueThe APEC leaders' agreement in their special statement to scrap farm export subsidies in industrial countries by 2010 can be seen as a tacit demand for EU countries to make concessions in the dispute over agricultural subsidies. EU nations are still adamantly refusing to say when they will abolish their massive farm export subsidies.APEC members want the EU to address the problem. It is also important to note, however, that Japan cannot stay aloof from the dispute.The special statement also calls for "significantly lowering tariffs." Few nations support an attempt by Japan to keep tariffs on rice and other farm imports at a high level. Circumstances do not permit this country to persist in its position.Japan, the United States, European and other major nations will hold a hurriedly arranged unofficial ministerial meeting Tuesday. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has told Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa to join the discussions. The prime minister's determination--or lack of it--to settle the dispute over farm trade issues will also be put to the test.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	639	2005-11-20	YOSHIN0020051121e1bk00201
YOMSHI0020051121e1bl0002t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051121e1bl0002t	EN	\N	LDP must not play politics with tax hike	The tug-of-war began when Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki commented on the issue during a press conference held after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reshuffled his Cabinet on Oct. 31. The finance minister expressed a strong desire to raise the tax rate at an early date, saying, "Measures should be taken to ensure a bill [to raise the consumption tax rate] is submitted to an ordinary Diet session in 2007."	4	2005-11-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Tanigaki's remark caused LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa to object. Nakagawa emphasized the need to curtail spending first. Comparing the priority of each economic policy to the batting order of a baseball game, he said, "Discussion on the consumption tax hike is the fifth man in the batting order."The government's fiscal deficit in the fiscal 2005 budget is 34 trillion yen. Outstanding debts of the national and local governments are expected to reach 774 trillion yen at the end of the current fiscal year.Undoubtedly, both Tanigaki and Nakagawa fully recognize the need to increase taxes and reduce spending to cut the massive deficit.Both a tax increase and cuts in expenditures would adversely affect the popularity of the government. The former would force members of the public to shoulder a greater financial burden while the latter would lower the quality of services provided by the government. Given this, Tanigaki and Nakagawa have good reason to oppose each other's economic policies.Stop name-callingHowever, there is a tendency among legislators in favor of spending cuts to try to silence proponents of a tax hike. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka has dismissed tax hike supporters as "variants of antireform forces." Takenaka should know he cannot expect to promote constructive discussions with his opponents if he tries to paint them as being against reform.Since becoming prime minister in 2001, Koizumi has repeatedly said he would not raise the consumption tax rate while in office. His unbending attitude is said to reflect his belief that increasing the government's fiscal resources through a tax hike could leave government officials less disciplined in their attempt to promote administrative reform.It should be realized, however, that Koizumi's series of reforms--including the privatization of four highway-related public corporations and the state-run postal system, triple reform of the tax and fiscal relationship between the central and local governments, as well as a cut in the number of government employees--appears to be getting off the ground. These reforms should be detached from discussions on the tax increase, a move that requires they be carried out as separate policies.Tax hike can't waitSome LDP officials have said if a bill aimed at revising tax laws is submitted to the ordinary Diet session in fiscal 2007, it could adversely affect their party's bid to win the House of Councillors election that summer. However, an attempt to put off submitting such a bill until after the upper house election does not mean the ruling party can do so forever. The next House of Representatives election will be held within four years. Avoiding serious discussion of a tax hike just to fare well in national elections will make it impossible for the ruling party to ever raise the tax rate.Those in favor of cutting expenditures delight in citing the argument that fiscal reconstruction should be achieved by covering 70 percent of the needed costs with a reduction in fiscal expenditures and the rest of the costs with tax hikes. The assertion is based on successful efforts by Britain, Canada and some other nations to replenish their depleted state coffers in the past. If this argument is valid, Japan should raise its consumption tax rate by four percentage points to generate about 10 trillion yen in tax revenues, for the purpose of clearing its debts under the fiscal 2005 budget.Raising the consumption tax rate calls for debating a wide range of complicated issues, including whether lower taxes should be levied on food and other daily necessities and what kinds of goods should be defined as necessities. Another important issue is how much should be given to local governments from increased revenues resulting from a consumption tax hike.This means there is little time left to discuss raising the tax rate. Circumstances do not permit the issue to be discussed in connection with who should take over from Koizumi as prime minister.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	784	2005-11-21	YOSHIN0020051122e1bl000ce
YOMSHI0020051121e1bm0003b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051121e1bm0003b	EN	\N	Don't rush territorial talks with Russia	In short, the situation between Tokyo and Moscow is such that no real progress in the longstanding territorial dispute could be expected.	4	2005-11-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Such a result was predicted because Putin said in September that Russian sovereignty over the islands was confirmed under international law.The "international law" cited is probably a reference to the 1945 Yalta agreement under which the United States and Britain secretly promised the Soviet Union ownership of what it calls the southern Kurils in return for its entry into the war against Japan in the closing days of World War II.However, the Yalta agreement, which was not signed by Japan, has no legal standing. The Soviet Union unilaterally violated the 1941 Japan-Soviet Neutrality Pact and attacked Japan. Today, Russia--inheritor of the Soviet Union--still controls the islands illegally.Russia has taken a tougher line on the territorial row with Japan because Putin's political foundation and Russia's economy are both strong.Russian position strongAs the second-biggest oil producing country in the world, soaring oil prices have increased the annual growth rate of the Russian economy to 7 percent. Moscow now has less need than before to win Japan's economic assistance by compromising on the territorial dispute.Its political and economic stability has helped Russia recover its confidence as a major power. It also remains uncompromising in territorial disputes with Estonia and Latvia.Russia's friendly relations with China of late also have a potent influence on its policy in the territorial dispute with Tokyo. China is a major market for Russia's natural resources and weapons. Their two economies have become more interdependent than ever before.Moscow and Beijing have also agreed on their global strategies to deal with the United States, the predominant superpower.Uzbekistan has told U.S. forces to withdraw from its territory by the end of this year in response to demands from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, led mainly by Beijing and Moscow. Uzbekistan decided to exclude the U.S. military from Central Asia--Russia and China's backyard.Japan ties low priorityIt is reasonable for Russia, which has been developing friendly ties with China, to consider improving its relations with Japan, a U.S. ally, a low priority.Under the circumstances, any hasty move Japan makes on the territorial row is more likely to harm its own national interest.Since the time is not right, Japan should not try to force a change in its relationship with Russia.In response to the increasingly close ties between Russia and China, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Central Asia in October and succeeded in keeping a U.S. base in Kyrgyzstan. Washington also has tightened its ties with India, a country Russia and China are trying to improve their relations with.Japan, too, should undertake a strategic foreign policy, including enhancing its relationships with India and Central Asian countries, and monitoring the power game played by the United States, China and Russia.As part of such strategic foreign policy, Tokyo should revise its plan for negotiations with Moscow on the northern territories to find a clue for a breakthrough.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2005-11-22	YOSHIN0020051123e1bm000hu
YOMSHI0020051122e1bn0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051122e1bn0000i	EN	\N	Govt-affiliated banks must be streamlined	After Koizumi told the press on Oct. 6 that government-affiliated banks should be integrated into one if possible, the likelihood of their consolidation has been increasing.	4	2005-11-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has held final discussions on three reform proposals, including one for integration, while a Liberal Democratic Party panel has also been discussing the consolidation of the banks. Although it was unable to reach consensus at a meeting Tuesday, the panel is likely to approve the integration proposal.Integration plan favoredAccording to the integration proposal discussed at the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, the National Life Finance Corporation, the Japan Finance Corporation for Small Business, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance Corporation, and Okinawa Development Finance Corporation would be integrated to create a new organization. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation would transfer international financial operations, except those related to official development assistance, such as yen loans, to the newly integrated organization.The Development Bank of Japan and Shoko Chukin Bank would be privatized, while the Japan Finance Corporation for Municipal Enterprises would be abolished before its operations were transferred to an organization jointly funded by municipalities.The institutions are supervised by ministries and offer plum jobs for retiring ministry officials. The integration proposal will lead to a breakthrough in overcoming the opposition of ministries that would prefer things to stay as they are, and will also advance reform of state-affiliated banks.However, the proposal does not clarify which jobs would be left in the hands of government-affiliated financial institutions nor how many personnel would be cut. The integration would create a massive government-affiliated financial institution unless services and organizations were streamlined.The jobs that are to be abolished and those that are to be kept must be clearly defined. For instance, private banks could extend ordinary loans to small and midsize companies. The significance of policy-based finance in this field is decreasing.Cut state ties completelyHowever, the LDP only proposed that conventional loans be reduced and downsized, and showed an unwillingness to have government-affiliated banks withdraw completely from the loan business.Services to be left in the hands of government-affiliated banks should be limited to only a few, such as financial assistance to start-up companies. Targets and steps have to be drafted to reduce the balance of money loans and the number of employees of the new integrated institution.Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai said some room for state involvement, such as capital injections by the government, should be left in Shoko Chukin Bank under the jurisdiction of his ministry, which would be privatized according to the proposals of the council and the LDP. However, reducting the government contribution would not change the current situation at the bank very much.The council and the LDP should aim to completely privatize Shoko Chukin Bank and the Development Bank of Japan by selling all shares in the banks owned by the government.The LDP and the council also discussed proposals to transfer operations related to aid loans of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which specializes in technical cooperation.However, they have not talked this through as a comprehensive system to extend ODA, including grant aid.They must continue to deliberate on what is the best ODA system to maximize Japan's national interest.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2005-11-23	YOSHIN0020051124e1bn000et
YOMSHI0020051123e1bo0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051123e1bo0000b	EN	\N	Avoid rigid rules on golden shares	According to an unofficial plan, the second-largest stock exchange in the world will not list companies that issue "golden shares" that grant owners a veto on key corporate matters--such as mergers and election or dismissal of executives. Other proscribed practices for listed companies will include the issuance of "super voting shares" that empower a shareholder with multiple voting rights per share.	4	2005-11-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The TSE believes that such shares violate the principle of shareholder equality.Stock exchanges in Europe and the United States likewise are tightening restrictions on the listing of companies that issue golden shares, and the TSE has said its listing rules should be brought into line with international standards.Firms have right to defensesThe TSE said the earliest it could incorporate the bans officially into its listing rules would be in February, after it listened to the opinions of investors and listed companies.While the business sector admits that varying voting rights might pose a problem, it is concerned that a total ban would make it difficult for companies to take measures to prevent hostile takeover bids.A stock exchange is a place connecting investors and listed companies. And while the protection of investors is important, the development of capital markets could be hindered if business is bound by excessively rigid rules.The TSE must do its utmost to salve the concerns of the business sector.An Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry study panel said listing companies that issued preferential shares should be allowed only if super voting stocks come with a sunset clause and can be terminated at will. The ministry's proposal is worth considering.There is already one company listed on the TSE that has issued golden shares--Inpex Corp., the successor to the defunct Japan National Oil Corp. The shares are held by the economy, trade and industry minister to enable the minister to refuse a merger if he or she considers it would hinder Japan's ability to secure energy supplies.The TSE said that these golden shares would be exempt from the ban for national energy security reasons.But the exchange said it will attempt to restrict new listing of companies that issue golden shares, a policy that is attracting controversy.Look to other examplesIn the United States, the new listing of companies that issue super voting stocks is permitted as an exception because investors are aware of the super voting stocks before they buy shares.Common shares in Google Inc. went public on the U.S. Nasdaq Stock Market last year. However, founders of the Internet search engine company own super voting stocks, which have 10 voting rights per share, as an impregnable defense against hostile takeover bids.This has stabilized management of the company and increased its share value to the extent that Google shares have the highest market value shares in the world. Investors are buying into the potential of the company, not the right to manage it.Such a venture company may emerge in Japan--unless rigid regulations are allowed to stop the growth of promising firms. So, the criticism of Financial Services Minister Kaoru Yosano regarding the TSE is quite reasonable.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	563	2005-11-24	YOSHIN0020051125e1bo000da
YOMSHI0020051124e1bp0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051124e1bp0000h	EN	\N	Panel offers solution to succession issue	The report calls for females and their descendants also to be allowed to ascend the throne, and the emperor's firstborn child, regardless of sex, given priority in the order of succession. As female members of the Imperial household would gain the right of succession, they would retain their status even after marriage to commoners.	4	2005-11-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Imperial House Law says only male heirs who have emperors on their father's side may reign.There is no male heir born to the Imperial family later than Prince Akishino, now 39. Some have expressed fears that in the future, there will be no heir to ascend the throne.The Imperial system must be preserved by any means necessary. The latest proposals by the panel are what it considers the best way to ensure a stable succession.Reinstating royals difficultSome academics have asserted that more consideration should be given to the nation's history, in which Imperial succession has been preserved in the male line by allowing only those heirs who had emperors on their father's side ascend the throne.For that purpose, some panel members said earlier that former royals who lost their status after the war should be accepted back into the Imperial family through adoption or marriage to preserve the male line.To such ideas, the final report said the male-line tradition was made possible partly through allowing the succession of males born to concubines. Yet such a system is no longer possible in the modern era.With regard to the idea of having former royals reinstated as members of the Imperial family, the final report cited various problems, including the fact that such people have been living as commoners for nearly 60 years, and the difficulty of deciding in a fair manner who should be accepted.The final report explains in a concise and straightforward manner how the expert panel reached its conclusions on the various issues, including the difficulty of maintaining the male-line tradition in the future.Based on the final report, the government plans to submit a bill to revise the Imperial House Law to an ordinary Diet session next year. Yet it is also important the government explains its ideas clearly to the public and answers their questions.Princess Aiko 2nd in lineShould the new system be adopted, next in line to the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito is Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the crown prince and Crown Princess Masako.Prince Akishino, who is currently placed second following the crown prince in the order of succession, would rank after Princess Aiko. He would be followed by Princess Mako and Princess Kako--the daughters of the prince and Princess Akishino, in this order.Should Princess Aiko become empress, she would be the ninth female monarch in the nation's history. In the future, one in two of the nation's monarchs likely will be female, based on the law of averages.The Imperial family is also a symbol of the nation's cultural tradition. As the Emperor and his family have marched together with the people, through their daily life and their official duties, a new image has formed of the Imperial family, closer and friendlier to the people than before.If the new system proposed by the panel is accepted favorably by the public, the Imperial system will be firmly maintained.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	596	2005-11-25	YOSHIN0020051128e1bp000gs
YOMSHI0020051126e1bq00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051126e1bq00001	EN	\N	Panel's failure to mention consumption tax baffling	The commission has submitted the proposals to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.	4	2005-11-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel calls for abolishing the fixed-rate temporary income and residence tax rebates and the tax deduction on information technology-related investment--both introduced as exceptions to the tax system--to restore the status quo.The economy is back on the road to recovery, as shown by increases in both the revenues and profits earned by listed firms over several consecutive business terms.Given this, the commission has good reason to propose scrapping the tax cuts adopted as temporary and exceptional measures to end a deflationary downturn.It should be noted, however, that an end to these tax breaks does not mean an immediate increase in the financial burden on taxpayers. Some of the changes will not affect taxpayers until June 2007.Flexibility needed on timingIt is not unthinkable for the economy to take a sharp turn for the worse by that time. With this in mind, the government should be ready to retract its decision to abolish the tax breaks.Since its introduction in 1999, the fixed-rate tax rebate has given taxpayers a 20 percent income tax cut and a 15 percent residence tax reduction.This year's ordinary Diet session decided to halve the rebate, meaning that salaried workers will see an increase in their income taxes in January and a rise in their residence taxes in June.If the government scraps the tax rebate in its entirety in 2007 as the commission has proposed, salaried workers will face an average annual increase of \\290,000 in their taxes.There are concerns that incremental increases in taxes and social insurance premiums could deflate personal consumption. The government should closely monitor how the rise in taxation affects the economy.The government will reduce the lowest income tax rate from 10 percent to 5 percent, while also raising the top rate from 37 percent to 40 percent.This is aimed at transferring some revenue-raising powers from the central government to local governments, by authorizing local governments to collect additional residence taxes equivalent to the portion currently raised by the central government through income taxes.To adopt a uniform 10 percent residence tax rate, the government will also abolish the current three-grade rates. This will be complemented by a plan to allow low-income earners who do not currently pay income tax to become tax-exempt.All these are technical measures designed to ensure the planned transfer of revenue-raising powers will not affect the financial burden shouldered by individual taxpayers.The Finance Ministry and the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry must make sure that the drop in income tax revenue collected by the central government and the rise in residence tax revenue obtained by local governments balance exactly.The government panel has also proposed scrapping a special tax reduction scheme that will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.Tax breaks affected by proposed changes in the system would be a tax deduction on research and development and one on IT-related investment--both aimed at increasing investment in plant and equipment--as well as a registration and license tax break and a real estate transaction tax cut.Some analysts fear that the abolition of these tax breaks could lead to a drop in capital investment. The ruling parties will have difficult decisions to make in considering the panel's proposals.Consumption tax ignoredThe commission's proposals are contained in a five-page report. It seems odd that the panel makes no mention of consumption tax, if one stops to remember the commission emphasized the need to promote public debate on the issue last year.Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki has drawn fire from the prime minister for calling for an increase of the consumption tax rate at an early date. Some Cabinet members have also labeled the panel as antireform.If the panel refused to discuss consumption tax in its latest report due to fear of such criticism, its raison d'etre must be called into question.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2005-11-26	YOSHIN0020051128e1bq001cl
YOMSHI0020051126e1br0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051126e1br0000i	EN	\N	Close watch needed to achieve govt job cuts	The target is contained in a basic policy adopted by the council, chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, which aims to reduce the government's personnel costs. The government is scheduled to put together an implementation plan to achieve the goal by the end of the year.	4	2005-11-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The plan must be designed to make headway in accomplishing the goal. The government must steadily translate the plan into action while also working to prevent the plan from lowering the quality of administrative services provided for the public.The government panel said no administrative organ--not even the Self-Defense Forces, the Diet and courts of justice--would be a sacred cow in its campaign to trim the bureaucracy.The legally fixed number of central government employees currently stands at about 690,000. The personnel cuts will not cover the state-backed Japan Post, which will be privatized from April 2007.A reduction of more than 5 percent in the number of government employees means more than 34,000 personnel will be cut from the payroll.Past cutbacks failedIn the past, similar plans to cut government personnel failed to achieve their goals, largely because of increases elsewhere in the bureaucracy. This resulted in an annual reduction of only 0.1 percent or so in the number of government employees.Given this, the planned reduction of more than 5 percent in government personnel represents a daunting numerical target.Yet this goal cannot be taken at face value. For example, there are less than 240,000 SDF personnel, although the legally prescribed number of SDF members stands at somewhat more than 250,000.This means the personnel reduction goal could prove less exacting if it were pursued based on the legally fixed number of SDF members. A reduction in the number of SDF personnel should be sought based on their actual number under a new SDF realignment plan.The council's basic policy calls for "a drastic and structural review of operations" conducted by about 330,000 workers at central government offices. The panel lists specific divisions subject to personnel cutbacks, including those in charge of agricultural and forestry statistics and food control.The government has every reason to consolidate and reduce administrative tasks that are no longer of great use.The private sector also should be allowed to provide administrative services where possible, and this can be facilitated through competitive bidding between public and private sector organizations on projects under the so-called market testing system.Making administrative operations more efficient by taking advantage of information technology is necessary to keep up with changing times.Regional offices bloatedEmployees at regional offices of central government ministries and agencies account for two-thirds of the central government bureaucracy.With each ministry and agency running different offices in each prefecture, it is questionable whether their services are efficient. Some offices have outlived their usefulness.Measures should be taken to thoroughly review the operations of these regional offices and reduce, streamline and integrate them. It also is necessary to make progress in transferring some administrative power to local governments.Abolishing and integrating administrative organs and reducing their operations means reducing the vested interests of ministries and agencies.These bodies are expected to oppose personnel cutbacks and may seek to keep their administrative structure and operations intact.It takes strong political leadership to override such objections and promote personnel cutbacks. Admittedly, the relevant cabinet ministers have a responsibility to help achieve the goal.But the primary responsibility falls on the prime minister and other top government officials.They should take the lead in producing an implementation plan and carrying it out.The latest basic policy says the council will monitor progress in the personnel reduction plan and identify any problems.To ensure the cutbacks occur, severe restrictions should be imposed on any attempts by government bodies to increase their staff. If necessary, the reduction plan must be reexamined, for instance, by increasing the numerical target.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	706	2005-11-27	YOSHIN0020051128e1br0020f
YOMSHI0020051128e1bs00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051128e1bs00001	EN	\N	Let elderly pay medical bills based on means	Discussion of plans to reform the medical insurance system among the government and ruling coalition parties are focusing on how much of their own medical expenses senior citizens should be asked to shoulder.	4	2005-11-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Currently, people aged 3 to 69 pay 30 percent of their medical expenses at clinics and hospitals. Citizens aged 70 or older pay 10 percent, with the exception of those earning "the same level as those of working age," who pay 20 percent.The government and the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito are planning to raise the burden for elderly people earning "the same level as those of working age" to 30 percent of total medical bills."The same level as those of working age" means about 1.45 million yen or more in taxable income per household. In terms of annual income, it means about 6.2 million yen or more for a couple of senior citizens and 4.8 million yen or more for a single senior person.Such earnings may be insufficient for a retirement of leisure, but are sufficient to live in moderate fashion. Among senior citizens, about 6 percent or 1.2 million people, have incomes in excess of this level. The government would be able to win the public's support if it insists on increasing the burden to 30 percent for those people.Tax reform means changeSince the tax system reforms abolish some tax breaks next fiscal year, the taxable income for a senior couple earning 5.2 million yen a year will exceed 1.45 million yen. As a result, the number of senior citizens considered to be earning "the same level as those of working age" will increase to 11 percent or 2 million people.They are also people with enough financial strength to maintain good earnings even after retirement. There may be little opposition to increasing their burden as long as some measures are taken to alleviate drastic changes.However, careful discussion is needed on increasing the burden for the other nearly 90 percent of senior citizens.Financial circumstances differ widely among senior citizens. According to the results of a survey by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, 2.2 percent of senior citizens' households earn 10 million yen or more a year, while nearly a half of the households earn less than 2 million yen a year.Consider income disparityThe government and the ruling coalition are discussing a plan to charge medical burden of 20 percent for those aged 65 to 74 among senior citizens not earning an income at "the same level as those of working age." However, they have to pay more careful consideration to income disparity among the elderly population.Of the total medical costs of 32 trillion yen a year, senior citizens account for one third. This portion keeps expanding as the population ages. To maintain the public medical insurance system, the government cannot avoid demanding that senior citizens shoulder greater burdens according to their means, though careful consideration must be paid to those with low incomes.However, this reform of the medical insurance system has not been discussed as part of the social security system. Pension, nursing care and medical insurance reform plans have been discussed every year in this order, but, they have been discussed separately and every reform increases the burden borne by the public. This only increases people's concerns about their lives after retirement.The government and the ruling coalition should start a comprehensive review of the social security system as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2005-11-28	YOSHIN0020051129e1bs000ct
YOMSHI0020051128e1bt0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051128e1bt0000h	EN	\N	Nishimura's acts taint lawyers, politicians	The Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office and the Osaka prefectural police on Monday arrested Nishimura and his policy secretary on suspicion of violating the Lawyers Law, which prohibits lawyers from working with unlicensed people engaged in work properly done by lawyers.	4	2005-11-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The crime Nishimura allegedly committed is not directly related to his job as a lawmaker, but the fact that he exploited his position as a Diet member is relevant. He bears serious responsibility. The prosecutors and the police must clarify the whole picture of the irregularities.For the past seven years, Nishimura allegedly has allowed the person in the out-of-court settlement business, who was arrested earlier, to claim to be an employee of his law office and to work on out-of-court negotiations over insurance payments or compensation for traffic accident damages.Dirty moneyNishimura allowed the person to use his name in nearly 200 cases, but played virtually no role in the cases himself. Nishimura also allowed the person to use his lawyer's seal and manage his bank account.He is said to have received several million yen a year by sharing commissions with the person. The prosecutors also are planning to build a case against him on suspicion of violating the organized crime punishment law that is aimed at confiscating profits earned by illegal activities, an indication of the seriousness of his crime.According to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, 40 to 70 disciplinary actions have been issued annually against lawyers in recent years. Among them, actions taken against those who received money for working with unlicensed people have stood out. Such unlicensed people include those receiving commissions for clearing loans of heavy debtors.The Osaka Bar Association has started procedures to take disciplinary action against Nishimura. Such disciplinary actions have often been criticized for being as too lenient and too slow. The association's punishment of Nishimura should be swift and severe.Tarred with same brushWith the number of legal professionals increasing, the number of lawyers in the country has surpassed 20,000. The increase must not cause a decline in the quality of such professionals.Nishimura is known as a distinctly conservative politician, but he deserves punishment for his illegal side business, which is far removed from his political activities.The DPJ initially believed Nishimura's categorical denial of any involvement in the case. The largest opposition party deserves criticism for its naive approach to this matter.The DPJ refused to accept Nishimura's resignation from the party and plans to expel him and urge him to resign as a Diet member. These seem to be reasonable reactions.A spate of scandals involving politicians and money will increase public distrust in politics. Beyond that, political activities must never be funded with the profits from crime.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	531	2005-11-29	YOSHIN0020051130e1bt000hl
YOMSHI0020051129e1bu0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051129e1bu0000g	EN	\N	Public lenders must be thoroughly streamlined	The government and ruling coalition have adopted a basic policy to reform the eight state-backed financial institutions.	4	2005-11-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In line with an instruction given by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the public lenders, except for three institutions that are likely to be privatized or abolished, will be merged into one.With government ministries and agencies in control of their operations and personnel, these institutions have for years been bloated beyond need. Their integration means that a framework now exists to streamline their operations.Time to trim the fatBut a side effect of placing priority on the integration of the five institutions is that the task of reviewing their operations has been left unfinished. Without streamlining their operations, a merger of the institutions would amount to no more than a mere reallocation of operations. When bills are drafted on the future of the proposed merged institution, a thorough review of its operations needs to be made.One of the tasks oft cited as an operation that should continue to be handled by the integrated entity is the extension of loans to small and midsize firms. Yet most of these loans could be dealt with by private financial institutions.The functions of the integrated entity should be limited to providing loans to such businesses as start-up firms. Unless the extent of loans to be handled by the new entity is defined clearly, there are fears that loans extended by public lenders might not decrease.In the area of international financing, financial services deemed essential to securing international competitiveness are cited as ones to be left intact. Naturally, investment in high-risk projects would fall under this category.However, if the new public lender were to extend loans without much in the way of controls to companies such as major trading houses, this would represent no change at all from the current state of affairs. Conditions for the extension of such loans need to be applied strictly.Of the businesses handled by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, loan aid, including yen-loan businesses, will be discussed further by a study panel to be set up under Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe.Further integration neededThe yen-loan businesses should be integrated not only with technical cooperation to developing countries, handled by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, but also with the grant-aid that the Foreign Ministry directly carries out.Ways to deal with emergencies at home and abroad, such as major earthquakes and currency crises, are also issues to be discussed by the panel.Should private banks begin tightening their lending during financial turmoil, it is the government that would have to take action. Besides making use of government-backed financial institutions, there is room for loans by private banks to be guaranteed by the government. These issues need to be discussed in detail.Financing businesses to implement government policies are not handled by the eight government financial institutions alone. Such finances are also handled by more than 30 organizations, including independent administrative institutions under the supervision of government ministries and agencies, with a combined 16 trillion yen in loans outstanding.To overhaul the bloated financing businesses for policy implementation, the government also needs to reform these independent administrative organizations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	580	2005-11-30	YOSHIN0020051201e1bu000ha
YOMSHI0020051130e1c10000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051130e1c10000c	EN	\N	Who would manage medical plan for elderly?	Delayed by the dissolution in August of the House of Representatives over the passage of a set of postal service bills, a draft plan outlining reform of the medical system by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry was not made until the second half of October. Yet the accord over the outline was reached in just over a month.	4	2005-12-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	By taking advantage of the political clout of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who led his Liberal Democratic Party to an overwhelming victory in the September lower house election, the discussion over the issue was made under the leadership of the Prime Minister's Office. As a result, the influence of the Japan Medical Association and legislators representing the interests of the medical service sector has become less forceful than in the past.At the same time, however, there remains an inescapable impression that there has not been enough of the "national discussion" that the health ministry called for at the time of submitting its draft plan.Numeric indicators mootedThere were three main points of discussion.The first was whether a framework for capping total medical expenses, which have been ballooning at the rate of 1 trillion yen every year, should be established.The second was the issue of how to rebuild the medical system for elderly people in response to the rapidly graying society.The last issue was how clearly the reduction in medical treatment fees--paid to doctors and medical facilities from the national health insurance system for treatment given to insured patients--should be written in the outline.The focal point of discussion on how to hold down total medical expenses was whether a numerical target linked to such economic barometers as gross domestic product should be introduced.In the end, the outline opted for this approach, saying medical expenses should be indicated by a method such as its ratio to GDP. A yardstick such as this would then form the basis for discussing whether medical expenses were within a permissible range in respect of the combined tax burden and social security contribution to national income.The outline added that such discussion would not lead as a matter of course to adjusting benefits covering medical expenditures.While the cost of basic medical services would not fluctuate in line with economic conditions, a barometer that takes into account the overall economic scale of medical costs would enable the country to put the brakes on the uncontrolled swelling of medical expenses.We should give credit to the outline for stipulating the need for such efforts. Yet we have yet to see specifically what sort of barometers would be used and how they would be used.New plan for over-74sUnder the envisaged medical system for elderly people, a new medical insurance plan, separate from the current health insurance program for elderly people, would be established for those aged 75 or older. However, the matter has been settled in a far from clear-cut manner.The new plan is aimed at creating an insurer that would tackle the task of bringing down ever-increasing medical expenses for the elderly to reasonable levels.While the health ministry's draft called for having municipal governments--cities, towns and villages--act as insurers, local governments asserted that it was the job of the central government. The outline ultimately proposed the role of insurer be played by an association of public services to be run by each prefecture to which smaller municipalities within the prefecture would belong.As long as central and local governments continue pushing such burdens onto each other, the issue of who would be responsible for managing the new medical insurance plan will remain unclear. The central, prefectural and smaller municipal governments need to cooperate with each other and clarify what roles each one of them is to assume.With regards to remunerations for medical treatment, the outline said "they should be discussed so that they could be possibly lowered" from the current levels. Yet we wonder whether the outline should have said definitely that "they should be lowered."According to a health ministry survey, a medical institution on average posts a net balance of 2.28 million yen a month. Without zeroing in on this state of affairs, it would be difficult for the public to understand the need to shoulder a greater burden at the cashiers' windows of clinics.Reform of the medical system remains standing on the starting line.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	796	2005-12-01	YOSHIN0020051202e1c1000h1
YOMSHI0020051201e1c20000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051201e1c20000h	EN	\N	Rakuten-TBS standoff raises important issues	On Wednesday, Rakuten and TBS accepted the compromise brokered by a major bank to end the dispute over the nation's largest Internet shopping mall operator's proposal to integrate their business operations after acquiring a massive number of stocks issued by the major broadcaster.	4	2005-12-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest agreement will require Rakuten to withdraw its business integration proposal, while also reducing its stake in TBS to less than 10 percent from slightly more than 19 percent and handing over its remaining TBS shareholdings to a trust bank, a move that would freeze its voting rights. Under the compromise accord, the two will establish a committee to discuss business tie-ups.This means Rakuten will have to abandon--for the time being, at least--its ambition to place the key commercial TV station under its umbrella as an Internet-related corporation. This follows a similar aborted attempt by Livedoor Co. to take control of Fuji Television Network, Inc.Rakuten President Hiroshi Mikitani and his wife possess a majority of Rakuten shares, meaning that the couple, in effect, owns the Internet shopping mall company. TBS would have come under the strong influence of the Mikitanis as individual shareholders if the broadcaster were merged with Rakuten. That should be avoided, given TBS' position as a key commercial station that should serve the public interest. The latest compromise has averted such a problematic scenario.Users' interests paramountRakuten's business integration proposal was revealed in October. Rakuten and TBS have since used various tactics to turn the situation to their favor. Rakuten bought more TBS shares to raise its stake in the TV station. It also indicated it would seek to acquire TBS through a takeover bid.Meanwhile, TBS conducted negotiations with other Internet corporations to conclude business tie-ups aimed at distributing programs to their Web sites.TBS is not the only broadcaster eyeing such moves. Other TV stations are seeking tie-ups with Internet firms to merge their operations with Internet services. If Rakuten's Web site was the only one through which Internet users could access TBS programs, Net users would not favor such exclusive services. Users would not be pleased, either, if TBS was the only broadcaster they could access on Rakuten's site. This is increasingly evident in the situation surrounding TV stations and Internet firms.Can the planned joint committee come up with services that will attract users? As circumstances stand today, it is questionable whether the panel will be able to fulfill its purpose.Rakuten's attempt to demand TBS accept its business integration proposal by purchasing a massive number of shares in the broadcaster drew strong objections from the business community. Some deep-pocketed investment funds have come under fire for hostile takeover bids that make no concessions to the wishes of their target companies' employees and their corporate clients.Takeover defenses flawedAn increasingly number of listed corporations are wary about unfriendly approaches and are considering adopting the "poison pill" defense against hostile takeover bids. This defense measure grants existing shareholders of a corporation warrants for the purchase of yet-to-be-issued shares. If an unfriendly bidder acquires more than a certain percentage of shares in the company, the existing shareholders are issued new shares, thereby reducing the ratio of the bidder's shareholdings.Prior to the compromise, TBS adopted a variant of the poison pill defense. Admittedly, this may have helped deter Rakuten from taking forceful action to achieve its initial goal. But the broadcaster's poison pill was not a defense measure approved at a shareholders meeting. Specialists have said TBS would have been unable to maintain this line of defense if Rakuten had filed a shareholders lawsuit.If a corporation adopts a defense against a takeover bid, it must ensure the measure provides an ironclad defense against possible litigation by a bidder. The company also needs to complete necessary procedures for giving its defense legitimacy, including approval from a shareholders meeting. Corporations should not adopt such easy but outdated tactics as concluding cross-shareholdings.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	732	2005-12-02	YOSHIN0020051205e1c2000gv
YOMSHI0020051202e1c30000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051202e1c30000g	EN	\N	Noncontrolled drugs a menace to society	A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry panel has put together a report recommending that stricter restrictions be imposed on noncontrolled drugs. The ministry intends to submit to next year's ordinary Diet session a bill aimed at revising the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law for that purpose.	4	2005-12-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry has every reason to act on this issue. The government's move, however, comes too late. The bill should be written into law as early as possible.The Tokyo metropolitan government took action earlier than the central government. In June, the metropolitan government enforced an ordinance to regulate the production and sale of noncontrolled drugs. Under the ordinance, the local government may designate a noncontrolled drug as a narcotic if the substance is scientifically determined to cause psychosis. The ordinance does not require the metropolitan government to establish that the substance in question is a habit-forming drug.In November, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a man who possessed noncontrolled drugs for the purpose of selling them in Tokyo. He was the first to be arrested under the metropolitan ordinance.However, the regulation does not extend outside Tokyo. In many cases, noncontrolled drugs are being sold on the Internet. There is a limit to what can be achieved in regulating the sale of noncontrolled drugs, unless such a dragnet is spread nationwide. In revising the pharmaceutical law, the ministry hopes to set regulations aimed at clamping down on the sale of noncontrolled drugs in a manner comparable to that employed by the metropolitan government.Authorities slow to actNoncontrolled drugs are being sold in entertainment areas and online. If swallowed or inhaled, they can cause hallucinations and euphoria.In most cases, however, noncontrolled drugs are labeled as "head cleaner for videocassette recorders" and "laboratory reagent" when they are sold. This is intended to give the false impression that they are bona fide products, but ones that should not be swallowed. They are referred to as "noncontrolled drugs" because it is difficult to take action against sellers and buyers of such substances under current laws.This is because the authorities are slow in designating addictive substances as narcotics. The government is strict in determining what kinds of substance must be designated as a narcotic. This reflects the severity of punishment imposed on offenders under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Agents Control Law, under which lawbreakers may be sentenced to indefinite prison terms.Minors at riskThe law also requires the authorities to prove a substance is habit-forming for it to be designated as a narcotic. It takes one to two years to collect sufficient scientific data to establish whether a drug is narcotic. This has led to a vicious circle in which one addictive substance is designated as a narcotic, but a new, similar substance quickly takes its place.The current pharmaceutical law cannot easily be applied to probable offenders. The law stipulates that restrictions be imposed on substances "intended to influence the human body." This makes its difficult for the authorities to take action if sellers of suspected drugs insist these substances are used as VCR head cleaner, for example.In July last year, a man who became deranged under the influence of a noncontrolled drug stabbed to death a woman who lived with him in Tokyo. In April, the drug the man consumed was designated as a narcotic. Immediately afterward, however, a new drug with a slightly different chemical makeup hit the market.The use of noncontrolled drugs is spreading among an increasing number of people nationwide, including minors. This situation should not be allowed to continue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	639	2005-12-03	YOSHIN0020051205e1c3001es
YOMSHI0020051203e1c40000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051203e1c40000f	EN	\N	Japan should boost ties with ASEAN, India	East Asia is currently undergoing major political and economic changes, with the emergence of China and India as regional powers. Japan's Asia policy must be more strategic if it wishes to engage actively in the creation of a new regional order.	4	2005-12-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Sixteen countries are to attend the summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur, including Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Three members--the 10 ASEAN countries plus Japan, China and South Korea--along with Australia, India and New Zealand.China was the most passionate about the summit, considering it the first step toward the formation of an "East Asian community." Early last year, it even proposed hosting the summit in Beijing.However, some destabilizing factors exist for the region's security, including North Korea and the Taiwan Strait. East Asian countries also have major differences in their political systems.As a result, the creation of an East Asian community, including security and political aspects, is not yet realistic.China seeking hegemonyNonetheless, Beijing is increasing its efforts to make the community a reality. It apparently wants to gain hegemony in East Asia by keeping the United States out and containing Washington's ally, Japan.Beijing is now insisting that discussions on the community should be deepened not at the East Asia Summit, but at the ASEAN plus Three meeting instead.There are some reasons behind its change of mind. Japan's strong opposition prevented China from hosting the summit in Beijing. In addition, India will participate in the summit, a country China did not initially expect to attend.Beijing seems to have concluded that it would be difficult to take the initiative in pushing its own agenda under such conditions.China is now placing more emphasis on the ASEAN plus Three meeting because it considers it will be possible to marginalize Japan there by asserting its economic power over ASEAN members and forming a united front with South Korea over the history issue.India won't be left outIndia's dismay over China's change of policy means that New Delhi will not allow an East Asian regional order to be formed without its inclusion.Both Japan and China were last month admitted simultaneously as associate members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation led by India. Though China initially expressed its wish to join the regional grouping, India reportedly insisted that China could be only admitted if Japan also joined.India is apparently trying to cooperate with Japan to put pressure on China.Japan has to enhance bilateral relations with India by accelerating negotiations toward the conclusion of a free trade agreement. It also is important for Tokyo to deepen its cooperation with New Delhi in forming a regional order in East Asia.Not a few members of ASEAN are concerned with China's growing influence in the region. Japan should deepen its ties with them much further.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	519	2005-12-04	YOSHIN0020051205e1c40022s
YOMSHI0020051204e1c50000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051204e1c50000a	EN	\N	Deflation is dead; inflation new threat	Finance ministers and central bank governors of the G-7 countries--Japan, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States--wrapped up this year's last meeting in London, providing an outlook for the next year.	4	2005-12-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	"Overall global growth remains and should continue to be solid although slowed by high and volatile oil prices," the G-7 financial leaders said of the world economic situation at the top of the joint statement released after the meeting.This is a rather moderate analysis of the global economy compared to one released after the September G-7 financial meeting that said, "The global economy, as a whole, continues to expand."The G-7, in its latest statement, went on to point out increasing inflationary pressures stemming from high oil prices as a risk factor that could hamper stable growth, in addition to protectionist sentiment and growing global imbalances--two other factors of which the group had previously warned.The statement emphasized the need for "mutually reinforcing action" from G-7 and other countries to overcome such risks.Inflation returnsThis is the first time the G-7 has expressed concern about inflation in a joint statement since spring 1998.Core financial and economic policies should now be shifted from addressing concerns over deflation to guarding against inflation, and from easy monetary policy to mild belt-tightening: The statement indicates Japan and key Western countries now hold such common views on the economy.It is feared the effects of high crude oil prices will start spreading from prices of oil products, such as gasoline, to prices of other products.Under these circumstances, the United States hiked interest rates 12 times since June last year, and the European Central Bank raised the key interest rate Thursday for the first time in five years and two months.The Bank of Japan, which has maintained an ultralow interest rate policy, lags behind moves by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and the ECB. But the central bank recently expressed its intention to remove its quantitative easing monetary policy.Difference of opinionHowever, there are conflicting views between the government and the central bank as the Bank of Japan hopes to impose the removal next spring, while the government is cautious about the removal, saying such a move will slow the economy.Opinions in the United States and Europe are not unanimous on the issue. In the United States, the short-term interest rates have entered a so-called neutral zone in terms of economic stimulation and inflation control. While there are calls for further rate hikes, some insist more increases are impossible.In Europe, the German and some other governments have expressed opposition to the latest rate hike, saying the economy has not yet recovered.This makes it difficult for the ECB to impose any further rate hikes.Another issue is emerging regarding interests rates.Due to the huge disparity of interest rates between Japan and the United States, the dollar is appreciating against the yen.If the dollar further appreciates, worldwide imbalances, including the U.S. current account deficit that is another risk factor for the world economy, will deepen, possibly stirring protectionist sentiments.It has become more important to formulate flexible policies to realize sustainable growth while keeping a close eye on the domestic economic situation and international development such as currency market fluctuations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	610	2005-12-05	YOSHIN0020051206e1c5000bv
YOMSHI0020051205e1c60000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051205e1c60000f	EN	\N	Establish a system for effective R&D	We cannot help but feel such misgivings when looking at the work of the Cabinet Office's Council for Science and Technology Policy on the third phase of the basic plan on science and technology.	4	2005-12-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The basic plan covers the five years from fiscal 2006. The plan will serve as the basis for the nation's science and technology policy, following the first phase from fiscal 1996 to 2000 and the second phase from fiscal 2001 to 2005. Planning for the third stage has entered the final stage.The basic policy proposal that will form the core of the plan touts "the science and technology that is supported by the people" and "the fostering of human resources" as the main thrust, while listing six main objectives, including "going beyond the limits of science and technology," and "making environmental protection and economic growth compatible."Yet the basic policy proposal does not spell out the specific research and development programs the plan will pursue or the specific goals it hopes to attain, because these research and development programs to be implemented by relevant ministries and agencies are closely linked with each other.The basic policy proposal consists mostly of allocating budget on a priority basis, funding researchers, including those at universities, and emphasizing the need to improve relevant facilities.All these proposals, however, represent mere extensions of past measures. How can such a basic policy win public support?Setting specific goalsThe council will decide, within this fiscal year, on such specific targets as "bringing the success rate of rocket launches to more than 90 percent," by collecting opinions from related ministries and agencies. The council said it would attach such specific targets to the basic plan.Specific targets, however, should be clearly laid out in the basic plan, rather than being mere attachments. In doing so, it is also necessary for the basic plan to make provisions for pure research and research and development that the private sector cannot undertake.In spite of the tight fiscal situation, the government has allocated 3 trillion yen to 4 trillion yen annually for the promotion of science and technology. Yet the people's interest in science and technology is declining. Unless the relevant ministries and agencies try to win wide public understanding of their programs, it would be difficult for them to secure the funds they need.If such achievements as the one made recently by the space probe Hayabusa are made the public will become more interested and deepen their understanding of science and technology.Trim the fatAt the same time, it is vital to eliminate wasteful spending. Looking at the research-related government organizations that have received hefty sums in the past, a number of cases of questionable spending can be seen.For instance, some organizations have established one branch office after another in prime locations in central Tokyo, even going so far as to include a tea room for entertaining visiting researchers from abroad when establishing a new research facility.The screening process for allocating and granting research and development funds has become complicated, increasing the relevant paperwork. As researchers have to spend more time writing funding applications, many complain of losing time for research.The council has not yet set investment targets in basic policy proposal. For the first- and second-phase plans, the targeted amount of investment was 17 trillion yen and 24 trillion yen, respectively.While the council hopes to win a larger budget allocation, the Finance Ministry has been reluctant to have the amount specified, on the grounds that the fiscal plan would be bound by the targeted amount in the long run.Science and technology serves as the source of Japan's international competitiveness. There is no room to cut corners. To this end, the government should establish a reasonable system to ensure the budget can be used effectively to promote research and development.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	681	2005-12-06	YOSHIN0020051207e1c6000hr
YOMSHI0020051206e1c70000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051206e1c70000d	EN	\N	Govt should continue strategic aid to Iraq	How will the government provide continued reconstruction assistance in Iraq, while also considering the withdrawal of Ground Self-Defense Forces troops?	4	2005-12-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A combined 183,000 personnel from 28 countries are maintaining public security and assisting Iraq in its postwar reconstruction.Based on the new Constitution, parliamentary elections are scheduled for Dec. 15, which will lead to the formation of a full-fledged government.Extending the SDF mission would give indirect support to the all-important political process in Iraq.Prerequisites for withdrawalForeign troops will be able to start withdrawing from Iraq when its people can take charge of reconstruction and its troops can provide public security. U.S. President George W. Bush in a speech late last month indicated a course for the reduction and withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.In addition, the governments of Australia and Britain are looking at withdrawing their troops from southern Iraq, which includes Samawah where GSDF troops are stationed.It is only reasonable for the Japanese government to explore ways for the GSDF to withdraw, taking into account the political process and the removal of the security screen if Australian and British troops withdraw.The humanitarian and reconstruction assistance provided by the GSDF has yielded tangible results. Water-supply operations, one of the prime initial missions, have been transferred to Iraqis, and a water-purification facility has been built thanks to Japan's official development assistance. Much progress also has been made in medical assistance and improving public facilities.In Samawah, the GSDF provides up to 1,100 jobs a day. When it pulls out, it will become necessary to find new ways to secure jobs for local people to lessen the negative impact of the withdrawal.To this end, the government must draw up a strategy for assisting Iraq when the GSDF withdraws.Continued assistance neededThe government has considered the GSDF mission and the provision of ODA as closely connected. And although the government has started extending 1.5 billion dollars in grant aid to Iraq, it has only recently started negotiating with the Iraqi government regarding ODA loans totaling 3.5 billion dollars.The current situation in Iraq does not allow for civilians to play an active part in the country's reconstruction. With regard to the extension of ODA, Japanese government officials have to negotiate with Iraqi government officials and technical experts by inviting them for talks in neighboring countries.The government has to tax its brains to determine how to make the most effective use of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a governmental entity in charge of extending technical cooperation, as well as private-sector technical experts.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit Israel, Palestinian territories, and Turkey next month. During the visits, he is expected to stress Japan's involvement in the Palestinian issue, an issue that is central to peace and stability in the Middle East, and the importance Japan places on events in the region.Stability in the region is important for Japan, since nearly 90 percent of its oil imports come from there.How will the government implement its Middle East policy? Japan must continue to provide assistance by keeping the reconstruction and stability of Iraq in its strategic vision.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	581	2005-12-07	YOSHIN0020051208e1c7000hu
YOMSHI0020051207e1c80000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051207e1c80000h	EN	\N	Aneha key architect of house of cards	The first-class architect falsified structural design plans for more than 60 buildings. As a result, residents living in many of the condominiums built based on his structural plans have been ordered to leave their homes. In addition, some hotel operators have decided to demolish their hotels.	4	2005-12-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	That Aneha had close relations with companies linked to the scandal came to light during Diet sessions attended by senior executives of these firms as unsworn witnesses. These companies include Kimura Construction Co., a corporation that erected buildings for which Aneha drew structural design plans; Heisei Sekkei, an architectural design firm affiliated with Kimura Construction; and Huser Management Ltd., a condominium developer.The Metropolitan Police Department is questioning Aneha on a voluntary basis, and the Construction and Transport Ministry has filed a criminal complaint against him on suspicion he violated the Building Standards Law.The MPD and Chiba and Kanagawa prefectural police have set up a joint investigative headquarters and intend to search locations related to the scandal next week.Harsher penalties neededOn Nov. 29, Aneha refused to appear before the House of Representatives' Construction and Transport Committee to testify as an unsworn witness. On Wednesday, he failed to appear before the committee for a second time. Aneha's refusal to reveal the facts related to his involvement in the case before the Diet has left investigators with no choice but to take strong action against him, including possible arrest, to uncover the truth behind the scandal in which the business relationships among key players are so complex.But the maximum fine for violating the Building Standards Law is only 500,000 yen. Given this, it is essential to investigate the matter in a manner that would enable the perpetrators to be prosecuted under as many laws as possible, including those against fraud and falsification of documents. Another important task for the authorities is to give more and fiercer teeth to the Building Standards Law.The government has decided to use about 8 billion yen of taxpayers' money to address problems arising from the scandal, including financial aid to victims. Admittedly, the decision is extraordinary, but the plan must be implemented as early as possible given the gravity of the problem.The set of measures devised by the government to aid victims includes a plan for local governments to buy condominiums whose earthquake-resistance strength is less than half the legal standards using financial assistance from the central government. The buildings would then be demolished and new condominiums built and sold to residents who had been forced to leave the old ones. This package also includes a plan to cover part of the expenses incurred by victims for moving expenses and renting temporary residences.It should be noted, however, that the package of support measures is ambiguous as to its legal basis. There are concerns that residents in condominiums could demand similar assistance from the government if their housing were found to be defective in the future. Questions have also been raised about the fairness of the government's latest relief measures, compared with similar assistance for victims of natural disasters.Govt also to blameIt is reasonable to say that the government's failure to exercise proper control over the construction business has given rise to the latest affair--a development that left the government with no choice but to use taxpayers' money to resolve the problem.In 1999, the government ended restrictions on private-sector corporations examining and approving construction plans. But the government has been inadequate in its direction and supervision of corporations involved in that business. The government has done nothing to create measures to give financial and other assistance to condominium residents if their residences are found to be flawed.A law enforced five years ago to promote quality housing obliges housing developers to repair houses free of charge and compensate buyers for shoddy workmanship for up to 10 years after construction if the buildings are found to be defective in their resistance to earthquakes.The question is what should be done to ensure housing developers fulfill their obligations. Private-sector housing insurance is available to anyone who has bought a house, but it is not mandatory to take out an insurance policy.First and foremost, the blame must fall on housing suppliers and developers if their products are flawed. The government implement measures to ensure home buyers receive proper aid--but not from the government--if their houses are found to be defective, including changes in the law intended to promote quality housing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	793	2005-12-08	YOSHIN0020051209e1c8000gt
YOMSHI0020051208e1c90000s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051208e1c90000s	EN	\N	Defense Agency should be ministry	Awareness of this seems to be reflected in the renewed initiative by officials of the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, to seek a consensus about the issue within their parties.	4	2005-12-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We believe the government and the ruling parties should submit to the next ordinary Diet session bills aimed at raising the agency's status to that of a ministry, including one on the establishment of a defense ministry and another designed to revise the law on the establishment of the Cabinet Office. These bills should be written into law as early as possible.The Defense Agency is charged with defending the national security of this country, a task essential for the existence of the nation. However, the agency is comparable to the National Public Safety Commission as an administrative organ in that both are defined only as affiliates of the Cabinet Office.Granting the agency the status of a ministry means the upgraded organization will be able to demand cabinet meetings be convened and put a matter before the cabinet for discussion.Given its role and obligations, the agency has every reason to be upgraded to a ministry. In every country in the world, the organ responsible for the defense of national peace and security has ministerial status. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is correct in saying, "It's unreasonable [for the Defense Agency] to remain an agency."Parochialism outdatedThere are alarmists both at home and overseas who say giving the agency ministry status could make the Self-Defense Forces more militarily powerful, sparking concerns about friction between Japan and its Asian neighbors.That line of argument advanced by some Japanese should be regarded as a remnant of what can be labeled as "one-state pacifism"--a tendency among the Japanese to be preoccupied with their nation's own peace and security that meant this country did not play an active role in resolving armed conflicts overseas during the Cold War era. This mind-set, marked by insular pacifism, has played a role in blocking moves to upgrade the agency to a ministry.In recent years, China has stepped up its military preparedness with its Defense Ministry as a central pillar of its military buildup, presenting the greatest risk of regional instability. Beijing has no right to be apprehensive about the Japanese Defense Agency becoming a ministry.New Komeito has urged the LDP to increase allowances for dependent children on the sidelines of discussions on the proposal to upgrade the agency's status. Admittedly, the provision of child-support allowances is important for dealing with problems arising from a continued decline in the birthrate. Still, the two issues should be debated separately.New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki has argued the envisaged defense ministry be named boei kokusai heiwa-sho (defense and international peace ministry) or boei kokusai koken-sho (defense and international contribution ministry). He defends his assertion by saying that it will be desirable to present the proposed ministry as an organ instrumental in contributing to global peace. Kanzaki's assertion also seems to reflect his desire not to antagonize Soka Gakkai, the nation's largest lay Buddhist organization and New Komeito's chief supporter, which remains cautious about upgrading the agency's status.We believe the envisaged ministry should be given a name that simply and clearly describes its duties. The designations proposed by Kanzaki would be abbreviated to bokoku-sho. "Bokoku" is homonymous with a word that implies "national decay." If mention of "bokoku-sho" calls "national decay" to mind, it could adversely affect SDF personnel's morale.Maehara deserves creditSome members of the leading opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, are seeking to ensure the agency is granted ministry status, as shown by their establishment in April of a league for that purpose. However, other DPJ members who previously belonged to the Social Democratic Party remain cautious about the proposal.Common ground can be found in the fundamental attitude adopted by DPJ President Seiji Maehara and the ruling parties toward national security issues. We find it commendable that Maehara took the initiative in proposing upgrading the agency's status as DPJ leader after forming a consensus about the matter within his party. Doing so will help him better present the DPJ as a responsible party seeking to take power.In 2002, the then three-party ruling coalition of the LDP, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party agreed to settle the dispute over the agency's status as a priority task, after ensuring the passage of bills on national emergencies. Failure to accomplish the goal must be seen as negligence on the part of political parties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	803	2005-12-09	YOSHIN0020051212e1c9001g9
YOMSHI0020051209e1ca0000o	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051209e1ca0000o	EN	\N	Road tax reform yet to near finish line	According to the guideline, taxes earmarked for road construction will be incorporated into general revenue in principle, and their provisional rates will be maintained if they exceed the official ones.	4	2005-12-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The guideline seems to be in accord with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's instructions. However, the government and the ruling coalition deferred decisions on some important issues to next year, such as when and how the tax revenues are shifted to the general budget, due to strong opposition from Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers linked with the road construction industry.Other reform plans, including those of government-affiliated financial institutions and of fiscal relations between central and local governments, are advancing as Koizumi has intended. However, the resistance forces have succeeded this time in blocking reform.The government and the ruling coalition parties--the LDP and New Komeito--plan to establish a panel and discuss the details on the incorporation of the special tax revenues into general revenue, with a final decision eyed by June.Debt crisis looms largeAs the central and local governments are suffering from ballooning debts, it is not necessary to spend excessive funds on already well-developed roads. In discussions at the panel, the government and the coalition should fend off resistance by the road lobby and compile detailed measures to incorporate the special tax revenues into the general budget.In this fiscal year's budget, the central government has 3.5 trillion yen in tax revenues earmarked for road construction, while local governments have a total of 2.2 trillion yen for this purpose. The total amounts to 5.7 trillion yen.The attempt to reform road-related tax revenues follows an instruction issued by the prime minister shortly after the Sept. 11 general election. The reform has been a pet one of Koizumi since he took office.He has been trying to materialize the reform following the House of Representatives poll, in which the road lobby saw its influence decline as some powerful members lost their seats or switched parties.Koizumi tried to end the dispute on the special tax revenues by replacing the LDP Road Research Council chairman, former LDP Secretary General Makoto Koga, with former Construction and Transport Minister Nobuteru Ishihara, who is said to be a reformist.Road lobby a major obstacleHowever, road development is a very important issue not only for the road lobby, but also for many other Diet members.Lawmakers linked with the road construction industry protested the incorporation of the special tax revenues into general revenue during discussions within the LDP, winning support from others. With local government heads also appealing for the maintenance of the special tax revenues, Ishihara could not draw up detailed measures to shift them into the general budget.Part of the basic guideline even emphasizes the necessity of road development. Some observers have pointed out that the incorporation of the special tax revenues into general revenue could be watered down into merely expanding the use of such revenues.Some of the tax revenues earmarked for road projects have been used to repay the debts of the defunct Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority, but the debts will be repaid next fiscal year. This will leave a near 500 billion yen surplus.Similar to this, many tax revenues supposed to be set aside for road construction have actually been used for other purposes.It is reasonable to incorporate all financial resources set aside for road construction, including the surplus, into the general budget and to allocate separate funds only for the construction of essential roads.LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa has proposed using the funds incorporated into general revenue to redeem government bonds spent on construction. This is an idea worth considering.The Diet road lobby is trying to minimize the incorporation of tax revenues for road projects into general revenue, and will call for any incorporated funds to be spent on roads. This selfish claim cannot be permitted.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	708	2005-12-10	YOSHIN0020051212e1ca000mi
YOMSHI0020051215e1cb00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051215e1cb00002	EN	\N	Local govt thrift key to cutting bonds	A feature of the fiscal 2006 budget is the revival of Koizumi's earlier pledge to limit issuance of government bonds to \\30 trillion, a move that is emerging amid an increasing tax revenue resulting from the recent economic upturn.	4	2005-12-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, tax revenue increases alone will not allow him to honor his pledge. The point is how much wasteful spending the Finance Ministry can slash without bowing to political pressure.Budget requests submitted by ministries and agencies before the end of August deadline have reached about \\85 trillion. The Finance Ministry, however, plans to reduce this to about \\82 trillion--a sum equivalent to the fiscal 2005 budget.Fortunately, tax revenues are reportedly increasing. Initially, tax revenues in this fiscal year's budget were predicted to be \\44 trillion. But they are expected to have increase by nearly \\3 trillion, thanks to growing revenues from income, corporate and consumption taxes.Revenue estimates rosyMore tax revenues are expected next fiscal year because fixed-rate temporary tax cuts will be halved and several tax breaks for corporations will be revised. If the current uptrend continues, tax revenues are estimated at \\47 trillion to \\48 trillion.Meanwhile, government bonds worth \\34.4 trillion in total were issued this fiscal year, accounting for more than 40 percent of general revenue. Some experts predict that it will be possible to put a ceiling of \\30 trillion on bond issuance because of the substantial increases in tax revenues next fiscal year.However, the reality is not so simple. Interest payments on the bonds will naturally increase because of the government's massive past issuance. Social security spending will naturally increase, too.Medical treatment fees paid to medical institutions must be lowered to cut overall medical costs, of course. But it is also essential to slash other spending.Grants based on central government tax revenues allocated to local governments should be the main target of proposed cuts. Some central government tax revenues are allocated to local governments to supplement their revenue shortfalls--about \\16 trillion was earmarked for this purpose in this fiscal year's budget.Local governments wastefulHowever, undisciplined fiscal planning by local governments is causing headaches for the Finance Ministry, as the plans they compile are used to calculate their share of the central government's tax revenues. In the current fiscal year, the local governments' plans include a total of \\5 trillion they say is for public works projects, but is actually being diverted to other purposes.Local governments are believed to be using the money to subsidize retired officials' associations and mutual aid societies for current employees, or giving it as cash gifts to residents celebrating marriage or longevity. Such excessive spending is blamed for the ballooning in local allocation tax. Local governments should not wait for instructions from the Finance Ministry. They have to stop diverting such funds of their own free will.The recovery of the economy is expected to increase local tax revenues. If the funds currently diverted to other projects are reduced, a drastic reduction in central government tax revenues allocated to local governments will be possible.The ministry wants to slash about \\2 trillion from local allocation tax, which is a special portion of the general budget given to local governments. This must be realized by all means.Distribution of national government tax revenues to local governments was hardly touched on in the so-called triple reform of local government finances. This neglected issue needs to be dealt with in this year's budget compilation process.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2005-12-11	YOSHIN0020051213e1cb000ad
YOMSHI0020051212e1cd00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051212e1cd00008	EN	\N	BSE rules should match world standards	In line with a report submitted last week by the Cabinet Office's Food Safety Commission, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry lifted the two-year-old ban on imports of Canadian and U.S. beef.	4	2005-12-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.S.-made beef will make a comeback at gyudon beef bowl restaurants and supermarkets soon. We hope it will help remove the "splinter" between Japan and the United States and mend soured relations.Yet lifting the ban will not solve the problem completely. In Japan, cattle aged 20 months or younger are exempt from being tested for BSE. Therefore only North American beef from cattle aged 20 months or younger is permitted to be imported.In many countries, including those in Europe, cattle aged 30 months or older are subject to BSE testing, meaning the testing regime in Japan remains far tougher than that of other countries.International criteriaTo shift the domestic testing regime from one designed to respond to a crisis to a normal footing, it is vital to remedy the difference in standards.The farm and other concerned ministries should ask the commission to consider excluding cattle younger than 30 months from testing, starting the relevant discussion as soon as possible.The government banned imports of U.S. beef after a BSE-infected cow was found in the United States in late 2003 and refused to resume imports of U.S. beef, despite U.S. demands to lift the ban because Washington did not require universal testing, which Japan made mandatory.Testing of all cattle being slaughtered was introduced to quell rising fear of infected meat affecting beef sales after the first BSE-infected cow was found here in September 2001.At the time, many said that in accordance with world standards, only cattle aged 30 months or older should be subject to BSE testing. Pressured by legislators acting on behalf of the farm industry, the government adopted the stricter testing standards.Stricter testingBlanket testing was reviewed only last spring. As the youngest BSE-infected cow found in Japan was 21 months old, the government decided to exempt from testing cows aged 20 months or younger, a far stricter standard than the internationally recognized one.To date, there have been 21 BSE-infected cows found in Japan. But immediately after the first infected animal was detected, regulations on cattle feed were strengthened and no infected cows have been found among those bred since the tougher rules were adopted.The prevailing view among experts is that there is little likelihood of BSE occurring in cows younger than 30 months in Japan.The United States is asking Japan to approve imports of beef from cattle younger than 30 months. Blocking imports by such means as excessive inspection is considered a violation of World Trade Organization rules.From the viewpoint of averting useless trade friction with other countries, the domestic standards need to be reviewed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	539	2005-12-13	YOSHIN0020051214e1cd000i4
YOMSHI0020051213e1ce0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051213e1ce0000e	EN	\N	Maehara's policies must become DPJ's	Awareness of this obligation seems to have been reflected in Democratic Party of Japan President Seiji Maehara's remarks made about his foreign and security policies during his recent visits to the United States and China. Maehara should unite his party under his policy framework. Doing so is essential for him to pursue the goal of taking power.	4	2005-12-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Washington, the DPJ leader called China's military buildup a "practical threat." In Beijing, he also said, "Frankly, I feel [China's increased military preparedness] to be a threat."According to China's official accounts, the country has increased its annual defense spending by more than 10 percent for 17 consecutive years. It is believed, however, that the actual amount of China's accumulated defense expenditures is two to three times larger than its stated figure.Maritime activities conducted by the Chinese Navy have expanded as far as the western Pacific. In November last year, a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine intruded into Japanese waters. China's apparent ambition to become a military power poses a threat to regional security.Maehara was correct in saying: "Without the U.S. market, Asian economic development is inconceivable. Without the U.S. military presence, there would be no stability in this region." It was quite reasonable for him to reject the view that the United States should be excluded from the envisaged "East Asian Community."Policy continuity neededThemes taken up in Maehara's talks with former Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, currently a state councillor, included China's ongoing efforts to develop natural gas fields in the East China Sea. "[Japan] must improve its domestic legislation for prospecting [the gas fields] if your country doesn't stop its [gas field] development," Maehara said.To defend the interests of his or her country, it is extremely important for a political leader to adopt a stern and uncompromising attitude in dealing with other nations.An opposition party must pursue foreign and defense policies comparable to those of the party in power if the former strives to take the reins of government, by taking a practical approach toward issues in these areas. Voters cannot entrust the opposition party to take power if it says it will adopt key policies fundamentally different from those of the ruling party when it replaces the latter.Protecting sea-lanes vitalMaehara has proposed creating a multilateral framework for cooperation in better defending sea-lanes. The sea route for crude oil imports from the Middle East constitutes a lifeline for Japan. Pirates infest the Malacca Straits. There also are growing concerns about acts of maritime terrorism.Multilateral efforts to defend sea-lanes will require each nation to exercise its right of collective self-defense if the need arises. With this in mind, Maehara has emphasized the need to consider revising the Constitution for the purpose of permitting this country to exercise the right of collective self-defense. He has become the first opposition leader to insist in exercising that right in more firmly defending sea-lanes.The remarks made by Maehara during his trips to the United States and China have antagonized some DPJ members who previously belonged to the Social Democratic Party and still harbor anti-U.S. sentiment and oppose the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. They have said Maehara shares the foreign and security policies of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. They have also argued that the DPJ leader's statements run counter to the party's policy line. Such objections probably came as no surprise to Maehara.Maehara must establish his own external and defense policies as those of his party. Doing so will be essential to ensure the DPJ sheds its old skin and becomes a party capable of running the country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2005-12-14	YOSHIN0020051215e1ce000hq
YOMSHI0020051215e1cf00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051215e1cf00003	EN	\N	Aneha's testimony aids scandal's resolution	On Wednesday, the former first-class architect and three other key figures in the scandal appeared before the Construction and Transport Committee of the House of Representatives to testify under oath.	4	2005-12-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is known that Aneha falsified structural design plans for more than 70 condominium buildings and hotels.The scandal involves a number of firms, including Kimura Construction Co., which constructed many of those buildings, Huser Ltd., a condominium developer that sold them, and General Management Consultant Co., a consulting firm for hotel construction and operation.Aneha's testimony came after he had refused to attend the lower house committee as an unsworn witness two times--first in late November and second in early December. His first testimony has provided a glimpse into the whole picture of the scandal and its background.Profiteers must face musicSince the scandal broke last month, many key figures in the case have said the blame must fall on Aneha and the government-authorized inspection organizations that checked the quake-proof data provided by the former architect. However, Aneha does not seem to be the one who profited from the data falsification.The testimony gained from a sworn witness in the Diet carries a lot of weight because lying runs the risk of a perjury charge. The police need to uncover the full scope of the scandal by taking advantage of the testimony taken from Aneha and other witnesses who have testified at the lower house committee.During his testimony, Aneha said he started falsifying quake-resistance data in 1998 after receiving instructions from Akira Shinozuka, former head of the Tokyo branch of Kimura Construction, to reduce the amount of reinforcement steel in his structural plans.Aneha said he had repeatedly told Shinozuka that it would be impossible to further reduce the amount of reinforcement steel to be used in his plans. But Shinozuka brushed off his explanation, Aneha told the committee, quoting Shinozuka as saying that using the specified amount of reinforcement steel "won't meet the budgets" set for construction projects.Aneha also told the panel Shinozuka seemed "fully aware" of the illegality involved in reducing the steel reinforcement.Aneha's testimony was followed by that of the former branch manager. Shinozuka reiterated his assertion that he had asked Aneha to reduce the amount of reinforcement steel--but in a manner that would "comply with laws."Judging from the testimony given by both witnesses, it is safe to say that Kimura Construction's repeated pressure on Aneha to falsify quake-resistance data played a key role in causing him to alter the data in question.Aneha also told the Diet that the main reason for his data falsification was that the developers aimed to build condominiums and hotels at unreasonably low costs.Questions should be raised about whether construction projects devised by Huser as a condominium developer ignored safety considerations. Did Aneha's data alteration result from Huser's inadequate safety precautions?These doubts must be resolved by the Construction and Transport Ministry and the investigative authorities.The lower house panel did not ask Huser President Susumu Ojima to attend Wednesday's session. Admittedly, Ojima had testified before the committee as an unsworn witness. But that should not end efforts to establish his responsibility.Compensation essentialOwner-residents of the condominiums built based on Aneha's falsified data have suffered a great deal, both financially and mentally.Little progress has been made in negotiations between these residents and Huser over compensation for their anguish. Many are finding it difficult to leave their condos, with a good portion of their home loans yet to be repaid.During his testimony, Kimura Construction President Moriyoshi Kimura said he would compensate owner-residents for their losses, even if doing so would require drawing on his own assets.His pledge must be honored. Meanwhile, Huser should fulfill its obligation to compensate residents as a condominium supplier.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2005-12-15	YOSHIN0020051216e1cf000fy
YOMSHI0020051217e1cg0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051217e1cg0000e	EN	\N	Conditions set for major tax reform	This would pave the way for launching a radical tax system reform with a consumption tax hike at its center.	4	2005-12-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The coalition also is considering abolishing the fixed-rate, across-the-board reductions in income and local residence taxes in 2007. The reduction rates are scheduled to be halved next year.It also proposes the central government transfer \\3 trillion worth of tax revenue to local governments by reducing income tax and increasing the local residence tax.Along with these steps, the number of income tax brackets will be increased to six from the current four, according to the outline. At the same time, a wide variety of tax exemption measures will be introduced in respect of the local residence tax to avoid overburdening certain taxpayers. This will make the taxation system complicated, but the advantages of the envisaged system outweigh this disadvantage.In regard to the corporation tax, the coalition proposes that an extra tax credit provided for research and development should be reduced, and that the tax credit system for information technology promotion should be overhauled to encourage companies to establish large-scale information systems.Though tax breaks offered under the reform will decrease drastically, the business sector should accept the increased burden since the economy is on the recovery path.Smokers to pay moreThe taxation framework for tobacco and alcoholic beverages also will be revised.Alcoholic beverages, such as beer and sake, currently are classified into 10 groups for the purpose of taxation. But the coalition believes they should be divided into just four groups--sparkling, brewed, distilled and mixed beverages--and that the disparities among their tax rates should be reduced.The outline calls for cutting the taxes on beer and sake, while raising the tax on so-called third-category beer--an alcoholic beverage in increasing demand because it is taxed a lower rate than beer and happoshu low-malt beer--and wine.The highest tax rate within each group will be applied to new kinds of alcoholic beverage. This will contribute to halting futile races among liquor companies to invent new types of alcoholic beverage in a bid to limit the tax payable on them.The coalition is also planning to hike the tobacco tax by \\0.85 per cigarette. The tax levied on tobacco is smaller and cigarette retail prices are far lower in Japan compared with those in other advanced countries. This tax hike also is necessary to discourage minors from smoking.New Komeito urged the LDP to mention the need to increase tax revenues from tobacco in order to expand the child support allowance. But the LDP refused to do so and instead settled the issue by incorporating the tobacco tax revenues into general revenues. That was a reasonable judgment because earmarking tax revenues for a particular purpose makes the nation's finances inflexible.Quake tax break good ideaA proposal to use tax deductions to further preparations against earthquakes is a great idea. Up to \\200,000 will be deducted from the income tax for repairing houses that do not meet new earthquake-resistance standards, and the fixed-asset tax will be reduced in a similar way, according to the outline. The LDP and New Komeito also are planning to abolish tax deductions for casualty insurance premiums in exchange for creating a tax break for earthquake insurance.Many taxpayers are expected to make their houses more quake-resistant by using the new tax plan. However, the plan must be enforced strictly, and collusions by taxpayers and repair companies to issue false declarations must be prevented.The outline says the government and the ruling coalition will jointly discuss reform of revenue and expenditure starting next year. The outline also stipulates that a major reform of the nation's taxation system, including the consumption tax, should be realized in fiscal 2007.Not much time is left. Discussions on the issue should start early next year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2005-12-16	YOSHIN0020051219e1cg000gl
YOMSHI0020051216e1ch0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051216e1ch0000e	EN	\N	Iraq poll is a big step toward normal govt	All the religious and ethnic groups in the country, including Sunni Arabs who boycotted the January election for the provisional Iraqi National Assembly, participated in the election.	4	2005-12-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is significant that every group in Iraq has now engaged in the political process for the first time. In particular, the participation of Sunnis in the process may help improve the country's security in the future because most of the militants in Iraq are believed to be Sunnis.Through a popular verdict, the first regular government to be created under the new Constitution will be able to claim a strong basis for legitimacy.Thanks to the Sunni participation in the poll, the voter turnout appears to have exceeded the 58 percent recorded in the transitional assembly election by nearly 10 percentage points. The figure shows that the Iraqi people, who must be frustrated that there has been little visible progress in rebuilding their country and making it safe, have again pinned their hopes on the political process.Parties must compromiseWhoever wins a parliamentary seat or a post in the government, the country's new leader has a grave responsibility to respond to the public mandate.The election was a battle mainly among the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), a party of religious Shiites; the secular Iraqi List party; the Iraqi Consensus Front, an alliance of Sunni groups; and the Kurdish Alliance. Though the UIA reportedly has garnered most votes, it seems that no one party will be able to secure a majority.After the results of the election are officially announced, bargaining among the parties will go into full swing toward the formation of a coalition government. At that time, party leaders should remember that national reconciliation must take priority. If they insist on excluding rival groups, it will be impossible to form a stable government that can advance the reconstruction of Iraq smoothly.Japan could do more to helpTogether with negotiations to establish a coalition government, work to amend the Constitution, too, will be a litmus test for the future of the country. In the drafting process for the current Constitution, which was approved in October, the parties argued over whether to make Iraq a federal system because the issue is closely linked to the location of oil resources in the country, mostly in the north and south.The new National Assembly will discuss the issue of constitutional revision. If the parties fail to make concessions on this issue, the political and security situations in Iraq will become further strained.The international community will also have to keep providing Iraq with generous assistance. The United States will continue to play an important role, not only in keeping security, but also in mediating among the Iraqi parties.Expectations for Japan are still high in the country, as leaders of the Iraqi transitional government said when they visited Japan recently. It is high time for the government to study a wider variety of assistance that this country could offer, in addition to the humanitarian assistance extended in Iraq by the Self-Defense Forces, whose mission has just been extended for another 12 months.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	588	2005-12-17	YOSHIN0020051219e1ch001ce
YOMSHI0020051217e1ci0000t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051217e1ci0000t	EN	\N	Thorough review needed of Japan's ODA system	This is the key question facing the panel of experts established under the chief cabinet secretary. The panel is to reach its conclusion by March.	4	2005-12-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a recent proposal on reforming governmental financial institutions, there was little discussion on how ODA programs should be implemented and what the relevant policy planning system should be like.Under the proposal, the international finance operations of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation--one of its core activities--are to be separated from the public lender and integrated into a new governmental financial institution.It also said JBIC's yen-loan business, another core function, should be reviewed for possible integration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, while leaving specific discussions up to the new panel.Strategic use of aid essentialIn the basic policy concerning the reform of the governmental financial institutions mapped out by the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, three items were listed for discussion by the government panel:1) How their policy-based financial businesses should function in making strategic use of ODA and in effective implementation of the government's international economic policy.2) Improving their relations with other foreign aid-related organizations so as to make Japan's ODA more internationally recognized.3) An ideal structure for planning and implementing strategic foreign aid policy.ODA is a very important tool in advancing Japan's foreign policy, but it has not necessarily been implemented appropriately.We hope the panel will conduct comprehensive discussions on planning and implementing effective foreign aid policies.Japan's ODA consists of yen loans, technical cooperation and grant aid.With regard to policy planning, the Foreign Ministry and Finance Ministry are in charge of yen-loans programs. Thirteen ministries and agencies, including the Foreign Ministry, are in charge of technical cooperation programs, while the same ministry handles grant-aid programs.As to the implementation of ODA programs, JBIC provides yen loans, while technical cooperation programs are handled by JICA and other independent administrative organizations under the supervision of concerned government bodies. The Foreign Ministry directly runs grant aid.In order for the various relevant organizations to cooperate closely and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the ODA programs, the mere integration of the yen-loan business into JICA alone is insufficient.It is necessary to discuss the system of implementing ODA programs, by also considering the integration of the grant-aid program into JICA.The functions of the foreign aid policy planning also need to be reviewed for integration.Even if the system for implementing ODA programs is integrated into one, it would be difficult to avoid pressure from the relevant government bodies for their interests to be reflected in them while the planning functions remain with such bodies.The idea of integrating the functions of planning and implementing ODA programs has come from the business community and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, proposing the establishment of an international cooperation agency. Due to opposition from concerned ministries and agencies, however, the idea has not yet been realized.Study overseas examplesAmong countries in Europe and North America, Britain has the Department for International Development, while Canada has the Canadian International Development Agency under the international cooperation minister, both in charge of policy planning and implementation of foreign aid programs.Germany has the Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry plan foreign aid, while the implementation is done by such bodies as the German Development Bank and the GTZ, which provides technical cooperation.The Japanese government can draw upon these overseas examples.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2005-12-18	YOSHIN0020051219e1ci00210
YOMSHI0020051221e1cj00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051221e1cj00001	EN	\N	Allocate medical funds effectively	In negotiations on the fiscal 2006 budget between Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki, joined by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, the payment for medical treatment to medical institutions and pharmacies from the health insurance system was set to be lowered by 3.16 percent from the current level.	4	2005-12-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Medical services fees are revised every two years. The latest downward revision exceeds the previous record rollback of 2.7 percent four years ago.The payment to a medical facility that is linked to a doctor's skills in treating an insured patient will be lowered by 1.36 percent, while medication fees will be lowered by 1.8 percent. When both reductions are combined, medical expenses shouldered by the state will be cut by about 240 billion yen.Given the ever-aging population, national health care spending is projected to grow by 1 trillion yen annually. The central government must put the brakes on the rapid rise in its share of such spending.The government and the ruling coalition parties earlier this month adopted the medical system reform outline, which calls on insured patients to assume a larger share of medical services fees, including a hike to 30 percent of overall costs for elderly people with high earnings.Share the loadIt is difficult to win public sympathy for medical system reform unless medical institutions share the increasing burden.While government and private-sector personnel expenses of national government employees and private-sector workers have dropped markedly since 1999 as wages and the prices of most goods and services have dropped, medical services fees, excluding the price of medication, have risen by 0.6 percent.The more-than-1 percent cut in fees should be acceptable to medical institutions.Arguments for the latest cut were put forward by the Prime Minister's Office. In the past, such revisions were influenced by the Japan Medical Association and legislators representing the interests of the medical sector, both of which had wielded considerable political clout.Compared with past fee revisions, which gave the impression of having been decided through obscure political bargaining, the process for the latest adjustment was more open. There is a need to increase transparency in discussing revision of medical services fees in the future.Maintain medical standardsYet the reduction in medical services fees must not lead to a decline in the quality of medical treatment. It will become more important for medical revenue sources to be allocated effectively.Currently, the number of doctors per 100,000 people tops 200. While some claim there are too many doctors overall, they are not distributed evenly in number or speciality across the nation, leaving many areas short of qualified physicians.The situation is critical in outlying regions and at hospitals with emergency care units and specialties such as obstetrics and pediatrics. As clinics are paid higher treatment fees than hospitals under the current system, there has been a sharp increase in the number of doctors leaving the heavy workload of hospitals for private practice.This distorted state of affairs stems mainly from the lack of recompense for the most commonly needed medical services.Allocation of medical services fees will be discussed from now on by the Central Social Insurance Medical Council, an advisory panel to the health minister. Jobs with heavy workloads and those areas requiring a high level of expertise should be paid accordingly.Even if the total amount of medical treatment fees is reduced, it is possible to enhance the quality of medical care through adequate allocation of medical resources.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2005-12-19	YOSHIN0020051220e1cj000c1
YOMSHI0020051221e1ck00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051221e1ck00002	EN	\N	Balance cost-cutting, quality of education	The plan has greatly embarrassed the Education, Science and Technology Ministry and others in the education field who are concerned the plan could drive down the quality of public education.	4	2005-12-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The council has come out with a plan to achieve a net reduction in the number of teachers and other school staff over and above the natural decrease due to a decline in the number of students. School staff account for a large portion of the number of local government employees nationwide.The council's policy came after the ministry had incorporated into its fiscal 2006 budgetary appropriation request a plan to increase the number of teaching and other personnel at primary and middle schools by 15,000 over a five-year period, starting next fiscal year. The ministry intended to increase the number of school staff to assign more personnel than legally required to various education programs, including small-class teaching and programs for handicapped children, as well as to better deal with truants and bullied children, and raise the number of librarian-teachers.However, the council's latest policy will force the ministry to abandon the plan. There will be natural cuts in the number of primary and middle school teachers by 1,000 next fiscal year, and by 9,000 over the five years beginning in fiscal 2006. The reduction will be accompanied by major cuts in the number of government-employed school cooks and janitors, partly because the government intends to commission private corporations to undertake such work at many primary and middle schools.Cuts threaten qualityThe ministry and many teachers are concerned the council's policy will hamper efforts to better meet the needs of individual children.Admittedly, it is necessary to adjust the number of teachers to an appropriate level, given the government's severe fiscal straits and the continuing decline in the birthrate. At the same time, however, efforts should be made to ensure the quality of education does not decline because of an unreasonably large reduction in the number of school personnel.The council also has called for reconsidering the wage levels of school personnel, saying the review could eventually lead to the repeal of the Teaching Personnel Development Law, which was enacted in 1974 to ensure better pay for public school staff to boost recruitment of capable teachers. To achieve this goal, the panel asked the ministry to put together specific plans by the end of next fiscal year, with an eye to implementing necessary measures to reform the system in the spring of 2008.Shrinking labor poolIn recent years, there has been a dramatic drop in the ratio of applicants for teacher employment examinations to public school teachers hired. This decline reflects a rise in the number of people employed by private corporations due to the improving economy, as well as growth in the number of people hired as teachers to fill vacancies created by the retirement of teachers who were employed in massive numbers in the past. The ratio stands at 4.5 applicants for every newly hired primary school teacher this fiscal year, compared with 12.5 in fiscal 2000.The ministry insists the current state of affairs has raised concerns that people unfit to teach could be employed as primary and middle school teachers. The ministry has opposed the council's policy, saying that scrapping the Teaching Personnel Development Law would encourage such a tendency.It should be noted, however, that maintaining the law no longer guarantees a large number of qualified people suited to the profession want teaching jobs today.We believe the current teacher salary system should be transformed to allow individual teachers to be paid according to their performance and abilities, instead of both excellent and less capable teachers being paid the same. Teachers would be better motivated to fulfill their duties if enthusiastic and excellent personnel were better paid than those poorly equipped to teach children.It has long been said that the quality of teachers is declining. There has been an increase in the number of teachers suffering emotional breakdowns. There also has been no end to the number of teachers accused of sexually attacking children. Meanwhile, some teachers complain parents are unreasonably demanding.Growing calls for cutting spending on public school teachers' salaries, long considered an exception to austerity budgets, are not unrelated to the less-than-satisfactory status quo in the profession.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	809	2005-12-20	YOSHIN0020051221e1ck000gw
YOMSHI0020051220e1cl0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051220e1cl0000f	EN	\N	'06 draft budget step in right direction	On Tuesday, the Finance Ministry presented other ministries and agencies with its draft budget for the next fiscal year. The budget, likely to be the last put together by a cabinet under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, is marked by restraints imposed on the amount of government bonds to be issued next fiscal year. The budget limits the amount of new bond issues to less than 30 trillion yen.	4	2005-12-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The draft seeks cuts in government spending amid an increase in tax revenues largely due to an improvement in the economy. This has led to a reduction of more than 4 trillion yen in new government bond issues from the current fiscal year. In other words, for the first time since taking office in April 2001, the prime minister has honored his pledge to cap the issuance of new government bonds at 30 trillion yen a year.Consumption tax hike inevitableHowever, it is too soon to predict that rapid, uninterrupted progress will be made in rebuilding the tattered state finances. The amount of outstanding government bonds remains colossal. Given this, the government will have to accept a sharp rise in its debt-servicing costs if the economic recovery pushes up interest rates.Both the economy and interest rates are stable today. This provides a good foundation on which to base the planned fiscal reconstruction. However, it will be impossible for the government to get by without raising the consumption tax rate if it wants to meet snowballing social security costs and further curtail the issuance of new government bonds.Despite this, the prime minister and senior officials of the ruling parties are trying to postpone raising the consumption tax rate, which stands at 5 percent. Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki has said the government should decide to increase the tax rate by the end of next year, submitting a bill to the ordinary Diet session in 2007. We believe the finance minister's argument is sound.The government and the ruling parties are scheduled to draw up a plan for reforming the current system governing annual expenditures and revenues in June. The plan must include a stipulation that the consumption tax rate be raised, and the government must finalize by the end of next year the plan to increase taxes.Doing so is an obligation to be fulfilled by responsible political leaders.The Finance Ministry's draft general-account budget for next fiscal year stands at slightly less than 80 trillion yen, marking the first drop below 80 trillion yen in eight years. This has been achieved mainly by cuts in grants-in-aid for specified purposes as part of the so-called triple reform of local government finances.Achieving primary balanceThe draft budget incorporates 45.88 trillion yen in tax revenues, an increase of about 1.9 trillion yen from the current fiscal year. The increase in tax revenues is significant in that the draft contains a tax revenue source transfer to local governments totaling close to 2 trillion yen. The tax revenue rise can be attributed to the ongoing economic recovery.Under the draft budget, the proportion of revenue supplied by the issuance of government bonds will fall to just above 37 percent, compared with about 42 percent this fiscal year.The draft budget shows a marked improvement in government efforts to reduce deficits arising from expenditures, excluding interest payment and debt redemption, not covered by revenues excluding bond revenues. Figures in this category of government finance point to the degree of fiscal health, or a condition known as "primary balance."The draft entails deficits of somewhat more than 11 trillion yen, marking a reduction of about 5 trillion yen from the current fiscal year. There was a time when the figure was close to 20 trillion yen.The government has already achieved primary balance in this category of expenditure-revenue relationship concerning local government finances. This indicates the government should be getting close to achieving primary balance in the consolidated balance sheet of the central and local governments during the early 2010s, as initially envisaged.However, hurdles on the road to this goal could become even higher in years ahead. Some experts say corporate profits have peaked, adding that the government cannot expect to gain as much corporate tax revenue as it hopes during the years to come.This means it will be more difficult for the government to reduce its spending.To help clear long-term debts incurred by the central and local governments, the government will strive to redeem government bonds earlier than scheduled by using a portion of surplus funds from special accounts and through other means. However, the amount of outstanding government bonds is expected to stand at 775 trillion yen at the end of the next fiscal year.It is a foregone conclusion that raising greater revenues through an increase in the consumption tax rate is essential to restore fiscal health.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	884	2005-12-21	YOSHIN0020051222e1cl000hz
YOMSHI0020051221e1cm0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051221e1cm0000i	EN	\N	Stop exploitation of bungled orders	The brokerages made the decision because they recognize they cannot do business without the trust of investors.	4	2005-12-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Japanese Securities Dealers Association is looking at establishing a fund to take control of the capital gains the brokerages made on the bungled order.The six securities firms, which include UBS Securities Japan Ltd. and Nomura Securities Co., reportedly made more than 16 billion yen in total out of Mizuho Securities bungled sell order for 610,000 J-Com Co. shares at 1 yen each.The companies received a flood of calls and e-mails from customers criticizing them for exploiting the erroneous order.Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of financial, economic and fiscal policy, said, "Their deeds were not virtuous." One LDP member even said the firms acted like "looters at a fire."It is inevitable that the six firms are seen as having attempted to make money, realizing that Mizuho Securities made an honest mistake to sell 42 times more of J-Com's outstanding shares at a fraction of their share value.What the six companies did was not illegal, but the fact that they received a lot of criticism shows that many people have doubts about their actions.Profit not sole duty of firmsSecurities companies are obliged not only to maximize their profits but also to develop capital markets. Indeed, executives at some brokerages stopped their employees from pouncing on Mizuho Securities' bungled sell order.It is a wise management decision to give up the profits accrued from the erroneous sell order, for even if the firms were to derive immediate short-term gains, their reputations would be damaged, which would lead to losses in the long term.For its part, the Tokyo Stock Exchange should have had a rule in place to prevent unscrupulous firms from capitalizing on erroneously placed orders.Euronext, a cross-border exchange organization that oversees the Paris Stock Exchange and other exchange markets in Europe, has a provision to nullify transactions based on erroneous orders through an agreement among concerned parties.TSE should consider introducing such a provision. It should also improve its computer system as soon as possible so that bungled orders can be canceled easily.Heads deserved to rollThe TSE board of directors accepted the resignation of three top executives, including President Takuo Tsurushima, at a meeting Tuesday. As the bourse was responsible for throwing the stock market into confusion twice in one month due to problems arising from its trading system, the resignations are just.TSE Chairman Taizo Nishimuro, who will double as president for the time being, said the exchange must change drastically.The bourse has been satirized as being more bureaucratic than an actual bureaucracy. Nishimuro, who captained a private company, is expected to radically reform the mind-set at TSE.The bourse is planning to become a listed company by the end of next fiscal year, but the plan should be put on hold. The top priority should be the rebuilding of its management system.Investors will turn their backs on the TSE under its existing management conditions even if the bourse gets listed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	570	2005-12-22	YOSHIN0020051223e1cm000h3
YOMSHI0020051222e1cn0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051222e1cn0000h	EN	\N	Population decline a serious problem	In the time line of Japanese history, 2005 will be described as the year when the natural shrinkage of the population started. The nation reached this significant turning point earlier than predicted.	4	2005-12-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the ministry, the natural increase of the population is minus 10,000. Even if foreign residents in Japan are included in this statistic, it is still minus 4,000.Since these statistics were first compiled in 1899, the number of births has always exceeded that of deaths. However, the upward trend has reversed, starting this year. The term "natural decline" will be used instead of natural increase in reference to Japan's demographics.We will have to wait for census results to know if the overall population, including immigrants and emigrants, has increased or decreased in 2005. But by any measure, Japan has already entered the era of population decline.Birthrate continues to fallPreviously, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research predicted that the overall population would start declining in 2007, and the natural increase would remain positive this year.The sharp decline in the nation's population is partly attributable to deaths caused by an influenza epidemic early this year. But the major cause is the fact that the decline in the birthrate is accelerating. The number of births fell this year by 44,000 compared with last year, exceeding the decline between 2003 and 2004 by 30,000.The Cabinet Office noted in its white paper on the shape of a society with fewer children that today's Japan is a country with an extremely low birthrate. If the number of children keeps decreasing, economic problems will result, such as a reduction in the labor force and a slowdown in spending. The sustainability of the social security system will be at risk, too.Govt plans need rethinkingThe decline in the population of the generations that will inherit our society will reduce social vitality everywhere. This is a problem that society as a whole must recognize and try to solve.The government hammered out a plan to boost the birthrate 10 years ago and revised the plan five years ago. It also announced another plan to support children and their parents this fiscal year. However, the latest plan is still nothing more than a hodgepodge of various measures that try to please everybody.Meanwhile, the total fertility ratio, or the number of children the average woman will bear in her life, fell to 1.289 in 2004.The government should reexamine the previous plans to determine whether they were effective before selecting and consolidating policy measures.Assuming the worst scenario--that the Japanese population will shrink even faster--the government must quickly reconstruct the social security system from the bottom up.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	515	2005-12-23	YOSHIN0020051226e1cn000oh
YOMSHI0020051223e1co0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051223e1co0000d	EN	\N	Our sense of security, safety was shaken in '05	We wonder whether some unexpected changes may have taken place in the foundations for people's confidence that implicitly underpins our society.	4	2005-12-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Listed in our readers' top 10 domestic news stories for this year are events bright and dark, tinged with joy and sorrow.What made 2005 different was a number of revelations that betrayed our sense of living in a secure society.Tadao Ando, an architect and professor emeritus of Tokyo University, said, "Architecture conveys the spirit of the times and society." Shoddily constructed buildings indicate we live in "a society in which economic efficiency comes before the public sense of safety or security," Ando said."In the process of economic growth, many things have been disregarded, with no time left for us to look back on the past. We may have ended up pursuing only our immediate interests. Our professional ethics and people's power of imagination have been driven far away," he said.Events and accidents that prove these words took place this year one after another.On the morning of April 25, a rapid commuter train traveling on West Japan Railway Co.'s Fukuchiyama Line derailed, crashing into a nearby condominium, killing 107 people and injuring 555 others. It was the fourth-worst railway accident in Japan's postwar period.The derailment was primarily caused by the train entering a curve where the speed limit was set at 70 kph at more than 110 kph. The train was driven too fast mainly because the driver was trying to make up for time lost due to his overshooting a station, apparently in line with the company's policy of making sure trains ran on schedule. JR West cannot deny that it was operating the line in pursuit of economic efficiency, to compete with rival operators for passengers.'Economically efficient design'It was to be expected that as much as 94 percent of our readers chose the blunder made by an operator of a mass transit system, which is supposed to prioritize the safe operation of train services, as the biggest domestic news story of the year.An utterly unforgivable case of neglect of safety was the fabrication of antiseismic data for buildings, the news item that ranked fifth on the list.To reduce the amount of steel reinforcement in buildings, structural designs were falsified for a number of hotels and condominium buildings in this earthquake-prone country. This was an unprecedented development. Moreover, such defective construction plans were approved, and the defective buildings were built without proper inspections, leaving a number of those condominiums and hotels in danger of collapsing if a major quake occurs.It was symbolic that one of the developers involved in the scandal who appeared as an unsworn witness before the Diet responded angrily to questions put to him, saying, "What's wrong with economically efficient design?" The problem is deep-rooted. We hope the police will probe the scandal thoroughly.Behind the reports of deaths mainly from mesothelioma and lung cancer at factories that made products using asbestos, the story that was ranked sixth, is firms' pursuit of economic efficiency.Although its cancer-causing effect was first pointed out in 1972, it was only last year that the central government placed a near-total ban on the use and production of asbestos. Asbestos had been in much need as it is a cheap construction material.Cowardly acts spread fearIt is the most sorrowful thing for parents who see their children off to school in the morning not to see them come home safe. A string of incidents occurred recently in which children did not return home. The phrase "secure society" rings hollow in the face of such tragedies.In November, a 7-year-old primary school girl was murdered on her way home from school in Hiroshima. A Peruvian man was arrested as a suspect. That story placed 14th in the list.This month, another 7-year-old primary school girl from Imaichi, Tochigi Prefecture, who had gone missing while she was on her way home from school was found murdered (17th).It was not only children, but also elderly people who became targets of cowardly attacks.Most of those who fell victim to fraudulent home renovators, the story ranked 21st, are old people who were conned into signing unnecessary repair contracts. To prevent such mean crimes targeting the weak, laws need to be beefed up to make it easier to unearth such offenses.Creating smaller governmentFlags of the changing times calling for smaller government and increased privatization are being waved.The Liberal Democratic Party's landslide victory in the lower house election was ranked fourth in the list.The rout was achieved primarily by the strategy taken by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for the September poll whereby postal privatization was made the sole issue of contestation by his fielding "assassins" against former and incumbent LDP members who opposed the passage of the postal bills in the House of Representatives.With the momentum gained through the overwhelming victory, the postal bills were passed into law, the news story ranked seventh.Yet it should not be the case that relevant regulations or professional ethics are loosened in tandem with deregulatory moves in which public sector jobs are transferred to the private sector, leaving the tasks of assuring society's security and safety neglected.As this year has turned out to be one in which the foundations of our safe society were shaken, people may have favored more cheerful news stories in making their choice of the top domestic news items.The opening of 2005 World Exposition Aichi was ranked second on the list, probably because many people expected advanced environmental technology to realize their expectations. About 22 million people visited the exposition, far more than originally expected.Princess Nori's marriage came third on the list. It was the first time since Takako Shimazu celebrated her wedding as a daughter of Emperor Showa in 1960 that a princess in the Imperial Family had got married.Many people must have turned their thoughts to the deep emotion of the Emperor and Empress, who brought up Princess Nori.The Lotte Marines' winning their first Japan Series title in 31 years, ranked eighth, and the holding of the first interleague baseball games (16th), made us feel a fresh wind blowing in the world of professional baseball.Japan securing a spot in the 2006 soccer World Cup finals (12th) bouyed us with anticipation for the new year.Yokozuna Asashoryu pulled off an amazing feat in winning a record seventh straight championship (10th). He has already become one of the finest yokozuna in the history of sumo.Good news from spaceThis year we received wonderful messages from space sent by Soichi Noguchi, a Japanese astronaut who was one of the crew of the U.S. space shuttle Discovery.Noguchi's trip into space, which ranked ninth on the list, was a risky one. He bravely repaired parts of the International Space Station during spacewalks, the first time such extravehicular repairs had been carried out, and played a leading role in ensuring that the space shuttle returned to Earth safely."I was spinning as if I was a star...When I reached out, our Earth appeared to be well within reach," Noguchi said from space.Extravehicular activities require rigorous training. Noguchi said the efforts required for spacewalks reflected the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship.His messages remind us of the spirit of "good old Japan," which, swayed by the thought of immediate gain, we tend to forget. We would do well to reflect on his remark from time to time.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1313	2005-12-24	YOSHIN0020051226e1co0010g
YOMSHI0020051224e1cp0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051224e1cp0000a	EN	\N	Budget shows govt losing nerve on cuts	The government on Saturday finalized the fiscal 2006 budget of 79.69 trillion yen for the general account, down 2.5 trillion yen, or 3 percent, from the fiscal 2005 initial budget. It appears a sizable cut in government expenditures will be realized next fiscal year, but is this really so?	4	2005-12-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the so-called triple reform of local government finances, which is to be completed in fiscal 2006, subsidies from the central government to local governments have been cut markedly.As the economic recovery has spread to local economies, local municipalities have gained extra tax revenues, allowing the central government to cut its tax grants to them.Excluding these extraordinary factors, however, the central government's effort to cut spending has not made as much progress as originally hoped.Keep lid on spendingThe government will devise a plan to reform spending and revenues in an integrated manner in June. By that time, the government should have detailed discussions on the social security system and the level of tax grants to local governments.It is necessary to work out a system that would hold down expenditures permanently, and have it incorporated in the reform plan.In the fiscal 2006 budget, 14.56 trillion yen has been included as tax grants to local governments, showing a cut of about 1.5 trillion yen from the fiscal 2005 initial budget. But while this appears large, critics have called for even further cuts.Under the local finance program, which serves as the basis for calculating tax grants to local governments, tax revenues for local governments are projected to increase by 4.7 percent. On the other hand, spending on public works projects to be carried out by local governments on their own will be cut by 2.4 trillion yen.A long-standing criticism is that a sizable amount of money left unspent before the end of the fiscal year has often been used for purposes other than its original intent. We applaud the efforts made this time to stop such wasteful spending.When there is a surplus due to increased revenues and reduced expenditures by local governments, the surplus is used, in principle, to cut tax grants from the central government to local governments.This time, the surplus will be used not only for cutting tax grants, but also for reducing the issuance of local government bonds. This will allow the local governments to lower their dependence on bond issuance to 13 percent of their general account expenditures.An improvement in the state of local government finances is good news. Yet the central government's dependence on bonds, which has somewhat declined, still remains high, at 37 percent.When viewed in terms of the primary balance--a situation in which revenues equal expenditures, excluding debt-servicing costs--the central government's primary deficit stands at 11 trillion yen, while local governments remain in surplus. There is too big an imbalance between the central and local governments.In pursuing fiscal reconstruction, it is necessary to consider the current state of affairs of all levels of government. The current system whereby the central government almost unconditionally provides tax grants to local governments to make up any shortfalls in their budgets needs to be reviewed.The government has trimmed social security spending by having medical service fees paid to doctors and medical institutions under the national health insurance program reduced. Despite this, such spending is set to increase by nearly 200 billion yen from the fiscal 2005 budget, setting another record high.With society graying rapidly, social security spending is on the rise. The government should work out measures to contain such expenditures by considering the social security system as a whole, rather than taking measures for individual areas such as the public pension, medical services, nursing care and welfare.Rates rise a riskA worrying aspect is the increase in government spending on bond issuance. In the fiscal 2006 budget, 18.8 trillion yen has been set aside for such purposes, 8.6 trillion yen of which is for debt-servicing costs.Should interest rates rise by one percentage point, debt-servicing costs would jump 1.5 trillion yen next fiscal year.While the economic recovery should be celebrated, the government must take account of the interest rate trend in conducting its economic policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	747	2005-12-25	YOSHIN0020051226e1cp000ah
YOMSHI0020051227e1cq00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051227e1cq00001	EN	\N	Normalization of ties with N. Korea can wait	The three groups are scheduled to hold separate, parallel discussions in late January on three issues--normalization of relations, North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals and Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.	4	2005-12-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Though the framework of bilateral talks was agreed on at the government-level talks in Beijing, Pyongyang's stance remains untrustworthy.The abductions of Japanese by North Korean agents were a state crime that violated Japan's sovereignty and the human rights of its citizens. At the Beijing talks, Japan put priority on this issue.North Korean delegates reportedly agreed to take practical measures to deal sincerely with unresolved problems, including the abduction issue.This appears to represent a degree of progress because Pyongyang conceded in recognizing the matter as an outstanding issue instead of being already resolved as in the past.---No new info on abducteesHowever, North Korean delegates did not reveal any new information this time on 11 abductees who remain unaccounted for, including Megumi Yokota, and the other missing Japanese highly likely to have been kidnapped by North Korea.They neither apologized nor told the truth about the remains returned to Japan that Pyongyang claimed as Yokota's, but which the government scientifically analyzed as someone else's.Such dishonesty makes us doubt if further negotiations between Japan and North Korea will resolve the outstanding problems between the two countries. Pyongyang might use the bilateral negotiations just to gain time.Japan must pressure North Korea to take practical measures to deal sincerely with unresolved problems quickly and in a tangible manner.North Korea also claimed that its development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles is an issue to be discussed with the United States and others in principle, though it directly relates to Japan's security. It will be hard to achieve any progress on this issue in Japan-North Korea talks.Nonetheless, the government decided that talks should be held in parallel by the three working groups. Tokyo probably concluded that the resumption of the normalization talks North Korea longs for is necessary to break the impasse over the abduction issue.Another element could be a joint statement issued at the six-nation talks in September, which also stipulated as a measure to improve conditions for further talks that Japan and North Korea take steps to normalize diplomatic relations.---Comprehensive resolution keyThe government has so far insisted that a comprehensive resolution of the abduction issue and Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development is a condition for normalizing Japan's ties with North Korea. This requires the government to clearly show how to link the resumption of normalization talks with a comprehensive resolution of these issues.North Korea apparently wants Japan's economic assistance as reparations for its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. To achieve this, Pyongyang will try to put priority on normalization talks, and it may defer talks on the abduction issue.The government must not give the wrong signal to North Korea that the normalization of bilateral ties is possible without a comprehensive resolution of the abduction, nuclear arms and missile issues.It is important to maintain Japan's basic stance. There is no need to hurry the resumption of normalization talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2005-12-26	YOSHIN0020051227e1cq0009y
YOMSHI0020051228e1cr00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051228e1cr00001	EN	\N	Derailment provides vital safety reminder	On Sunday night, the JR East limited express derailed and overturned on the Uetsu Line in Yamagata Prefecture. Despite a snowstorm, rescue operations continued around the clock. The latest disaster killed four people and injured 32 others.	4	2005-12-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Construction and Transport Ministry has said the train is believed to have lost its balance and overturned when it was struck not only by a strong side wind, but a sudden gust from the direction of the surface of the Mogamigawa river during its travel along a railway bridge over the river.To uncover the whole truth about the latest derailment, the ministry's Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission has started its probe into the accident. The Yamagata prefectural police also have set up a task force to investigate the disaster. These authorities need to discover the whole truth, instead of dismissing the disaster as an inevitable accident caused by inclement weather.The driver of the train has said, "The train car rose during its run on the bridge when it was struck by a rush of wind." Some passengers have said there was a fierce gust of wind immediately before the accident. The wind was so heavy a windowpane of the carriage clattered violently, according to another passenger. However, JR East's transport command office did not order the driver to run the train at a reduced speed or bring the train to a halt.Sticking to manualsAccording to JR East's operating manuals, drivers must reduce speed if the wind is gusting to 90 kph and halt their trains if the wind blows at speeds of more than 108 kph.The railway firm has said it did not order the driver to reduce his train's speed because the wind velocity measured by a wind gauge installed near the bridge did not record wind velocities that exceeded the guidelines.Sunday's accident could be attributed to multiple causes. It should be noted, however, that the Yamagata Local Meteorological Observatory had issued a snowstorm warning prior to the disaster.Did JR East merely follow its own operating manuals at the time of the accident, instead of paying close attention to climatic conditions surrounding the Uetsu Line? If so, it is not surprising that the railway company failed to respond to the changing weather.Is it improbable that the accident should be regarded as the result of JR East's failure to consider the speed of a strong gust that struck the bridge and issue necessary instructions? It is essential to inspect JR East's operating system and the specifications of its train cars.Potential driver errorThe latest accident occurred on a mildly descending straight section of the line on which a train could be run at up to 120 kph. Given this, it is also necessary to closely examine whether the train driver made any mistakes leading to the disaster.In the past, there were accidents in which trains derailed and overturned along bridges when they were struck by a strong wind.In 1986, a train with no passengers operated by the then Japanese National Railways fell from the Amarube Bridge on the Sanin Line in Hyogo Prefecture. The accident killed six people, including five employees of a marine product processing factory under the bridge. Three employees of the JNR's train service command office were found guilty of professional negligence resulting in death, and other crimes. The accident was determined to have been caused by the failure of the three to halt the train despite their perception that the train could tumble from the bridge in the heavy wind.Abnormal weather continues in this country, as shown by record snowfalls in many parts of the nation this month. A large number of people travel during the year-end and the New Year holiday season. All railway companies must inspect their safety systems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2005-12-27	YOSHIN0020051228e1cr000d9
YOMSHI0020051227e1cs0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051227e1cs0000h	EN	\N	Too soon for BOJ to lift ultra-loose money policy	The nationwide consumer price index, excluding perishables, rose 0.1 percent in November in comparison with the same month last year. This is the first increase since October 2003. However, that increase was attributed to a special factor--the increase in the price of rice. With that month excluded, this is the first increase in seven years and seven months since April 1998.	4	2005-12-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Bank of Japan cites that the year-on-year change in the CPI must have stabilized above zero as one of the conditions for lifting its quantitative-easing policy. With one of the conditions considered satisfied, national discussions will become even more active on whether to lift the policy.More positive indicators neededIn lifting the ultra-loose monetary policy, it is essential to assess if the policy's aim--the end of deflation--has been achieved.Soaring oil prices and recovery of the economy have boosted consumer prices. Consumption is increasing, reducing the demand and supply gap, which is a cause for deflation. These factors clearly show an improvement in the deflationary situation.However, it is necessary to assess the overall economy by using not only one index but also others.In the United States, the core consumer price index, excluding energy and food prices, is considered important. This index in Japan dropped 0.2 percent from a year earlier.The gross domestic product deflator shows consumer price changes, including investment in plant and equipment, in a comprehensive manner. This index also dropped 1.4 percent in the July-September period from a year earlier. The GDP deflator seems to have continued to drop even after October.A comprehensive analysis reveals that the nation is still suffering from mild deflation.The central bank is required to review economic conditions in Japan carefully from various angles. Before lifting its quantitative-easing policy, even if the CPI continues to rise, the central bank must be confident that the economy is healthy enough to prevent the return of deflation.Consensus neededThe government and the central bank are locked in a fierce argument on whether to maintain its quantitative-easing policy. Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa hinted at a revision of the Bank of Japan Law to put pressure on the central bank to keep it. However, central bank Gov. Toshihiko Fukui protested that there would be a risk of inflation if the central bank were to do as the government tells it to.It is healthy that the government and the central bank debate economic policy actively. However, they have to avoid disagreements when it comes to central economic policy.In August 2000, the central bank lifted its zero-interest-rate policy despite strong opposition from the government. But, this proved to be a mistake, and the central bank had to reimpose the zero-interest policy seven months later.That policy gaffe, caused by a policy dispute between the government and the central bank, must not be repeated.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	540	2005-12-28	YOSHIN0020051229e1cs000d6
YOMSHI0020051228e1ct0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051228e1ct0000i	EN	\N	2005--A year of natural violence	Although they did not occur this year, the massive earthquake off Sumatra island, Indonesia, and the subsequent tsunami killed 230,000 people only six days before New Year's Day 2005.	4	2005-12-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	People around the world saw the huge destructive force of these natural events and were left without words save to pray for peace and tranquility in the new year.But despite these prayers, the biggest natural disasters in recent years continued after the turn of the year.These disasters ranked high in the list of top 10 international news events in 2005, chosen by readers of The Yomiuri Shimbun (Results of the poll will be carried in Friday's issue of The Daily Yomiuri).According to statistics compiled by a Swiss insurance company, natural disasters in 2005 claimed 112,000 lives and caused damage worth 225 billion dollars or 26 trillion yen. Victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake that hit Pakistan accounted for nearly 80 percent of these casualties. This news item ranked fourth in the top 10 list.The earthquake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, devastated Kashmir, a region over which both Pakistan and India claim sovereignty, and left 3 million people homeless. Although the quake victims are living in misery, the international community remains slow in providing aid. Developed countries are said to have become tired of helping victims of these mega-disasters because too many of them have happened in succession.U.S. humbled by natureHurricane Katrina hit the Gulf states of the United States and caused some of the worst damage in its history. This news ranked first on the top 10 list.New Orleans, the home of jazz music, was directly hit by the gigantic hurricane and turned into a ghost town. The majority of the hurricane victims were poor African-Americans. The city used to have population of nearly 500,000, but there are only 100,000 living in the city now. The remaining 400,000 have not returned to the city yet.The hurricane highlighted the weak points of the superpower. Its relief operation system was found inefficient. The disaster areas became lawless and racial discrimination surfaced. The hurricane also dealt a heavy blow to the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush that started its second term this year (ranked eighth). The administration's approval rating temporarily dropped to the 30 percent level, the lowest in the history of the administration.A series of supersized hurricanes struck the United States, raising public concern over abnormal weather conditions. The Kyoto Protocol on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions went to effect in February without the participation of the United States (ranked 11th).Troubles in EuropeThe April 2 demise of Pope John Paul II ranked second in the top 10 international news list. During a reign of more than 26 years, he traveled abroad more than 100 times and was known as the flying pope.John Paul II also played a role in helping to end the Cold War and tried to reach a reconciliation with Islam and Judaism. He was succeeded by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who took the name Pope Benedict XVI.After John Paul II, who stressed reconciliation, passed away, a series of events occurred that show there are rifts in the European community.Both French and Dutch voters rejected the European constitution in referendums held in May and June, respectively. The European Union charter, which is vital to the integration of Europe, is now basically moribund.On July 7, bombs exploded simultaneously at three locations in London and killed 52 people (ranked third). On that day, a summit meeting of the leaders of Group of Eight major nations was being held in northern Britain. British authorities concluded that a group related to the Al-Qaida international terrorist organization was responsible for the bombings.The number of immigrants from Islamic countries is increasing sharply in Western Europe. The four suicide-bombers in the London attacks included second-generation Pakistani immigrants. The London bombings showed how Muslim youngsters, who are marginalized in British society, can turn to Islamic radicalism, and revealed a flaw in Britain's immigration policy.Riots spread all over France (ranked sixth) as second and third generations of Islamic immigrants, who are experiencing social discrimination, vented their frustrations. The riots started in a few places throughout France in late October and spread in November, forcing the French government to declare a state of emergency.Asia making the headlinesThe population of China exceeded 1.3 billion in January.In October, it launched its second manned spaceship Shenzhou 6 (ranked 16th), after the July 26 launch of a U.S. space shuttle, the first since the 2003 Columbia disaster (ranked seventh).The Chinese economy is emerging, too. Its active energy demand has long been one of the causes for soaring oil prices. In June, the price of oil exceeded 60 dollars per barrel for the first time (ranked fifth).In the following month, the Chinese government revaluated the yuan (ranked 15th), but by only 2 percent against the dollar.Since the move did not have any effect on reducing China's massive trade surplus, the United States and other countries are becoming more vociferous in their demands for large-scale revaluation.Avian flu is spreading in an eery manner. It spilled over into Europe from Asia in the latter half of 2005. China confirmed the first human death caused by bird flu in November (ranked ninth).In addition to matters related to China, North Korea's nuclear development program became a focal point of political situations in East Asia. Pyongyang declared possession of nuclear weapons in February (ranked 10th). In the fourth round of the six-nation talks held September, North Korea agreed with the joint statement with six goals including abolition of all nuclear weapons and acceptance of nuclear inspections (ranked 12th). But, there is a major difference in the interpretation of the joint statement between North Korea and the other members of the six-nation talks.Rays of hopeBut some moves are bringing rays of hope for the next year.In Indonesia, the central government and an armed separatist group in Aceh Province signed a peace agreement, while Indian and Pakistani governments opened the Line of Control in Kashmir, which both Pakistan and India claim sovereignty over. The unprecedented natural disasters prompted parties involved in two separate disputes to reconcile their differences.A ray of hope also was seen in Iraq where gunfire never ceases. Following the establishment of the new Constitution in October (ranked 14th), the election of the National Assembly was held in December. The renaissance of Iraq by democratization is planned to reach its final phase in 2006.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1155	2005-12-29	YOSHIN0020051230e1ct0009p
YOMSHI0020051229e1cu0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051229e1cu0000d	EN	\N	Are public interest bodies fulfilling their purpose?	During the ordinary Diet session next year, the government plans to have a new law enacted to replace the current system for nonprofit foundations in fiscal 2008. The reform should be a substantial one that severs the link between such organizations and government interests.	4	2005-12-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The review of public interest entities was prompted by the bribery scandal in 2000 involving KSD Foundation for the Welfare of Independent Entrepreneurs, a mutual-aid foundation for small and medium-sized businesses.Its chaotic management and cosy ties with politicians became a big issue. The foundation provided a large number of retired officials of the former Labor Ministry with cushy postretirement jobs.Under the new system, the current system in which a public interest entity needs to obtain a license from a supervisory ministry or agency will be abolished, and such an organization will merely have to register with a government body to be established.But doubts remain over whether the new system will be able to achieve its goal of preventing public service entities being established mainly to secure postretirement sinecures for bureaucrats of the government offices that formerly oversaw them.The decision over whether an entity that claims to represent the public interest actually does so, which is now left to the discretion of government ministries and agencies, will be made by the Cabinet Office and a third-party organization to be set up by each prefecture.The third-party body will be a consultative committee comprising private sector experts, such as those from legal circles and certified public accountants.Licensing criteria vagueIt is not easy to judge whether a public interest foundation really serves the public interest. As yardsticks to make such a judgment, the government cites items including "welfare," "health," "the environment," "securing public safety," "culture," and "securing opportunities for fair and free economic activities and promoting them." But these designations are vague.Clear-cut guidelines are needed to distinguish nonprofit public interest corporations from profit-making businesses, and to determine what constitutes serving the public interest.Should concerned ministries or agencies send their officials to the consultative committee's secretariat, the new registration system could end up differing from the present licensing one only in name, rendering the reform meaningless.Existing public interest corporations, of which there are more than 25,000 in the nation, will be granted a five-year grace period from the enactment of the new law, during which time they will be screened by a third-party organization that will decide whether to authorize them once again as public interest foundations.Abolish unnecessary entitiesA large number of public interest entities that were established under the government's initiative are now providing bureaucrats with lucrative postretirement jobs.Close examination is needed of the public interest corporations that conduct government-assigned services, which number more than 1,700, including those under the jurisdiction of prefectural governments.Among the public interest bodies that take charge of inspections and administrative management, many play an important role in conducting public administration.While some public interest corporations have seen their services become obsolete along with changes in society over the years, there are cases in which such entities are kept in operation for the sake of securing postretirement posts for former bureaucrats. But there are also cases in which a public interest corporation is maintained under the pretext of providing public sector services, even though such services could be equally well provided by the private sector.A thorough review of public interest entities is needed, and those that are not performing their stated function should be abolished or their services outsourced to the private sector.The basic principle of administrative reform is to entrust to the private sector whatever can be left to the private sector. A framework for the new system of screening public interest corporations has been worked out, but there is room for discussing it in more detail so as to make the envisioned reform a substantial one.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	702	2005-12-30	YOSHIN0020060102e1cu00070
YOMSHI0020051230e1cv0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020051230e1cv0000e	EN	\N	Exploit resources of Okinotorishima	A case in point is Okinotorishima island on the southernmost tip of Japanese territory in the Pacific Ocean. Next fiscal year, the government is to make a serious attempt to preserve and make the best use possible of the island.	4	2005-12-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Cabinet Secretariat will oversee the project, which will involve a number of ministries, including the Construction and Transport Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry.More than 400 cargo and fishing vessels ply the seas around Okinotorishima every year.However, in the past 10 years four vessels have stranded themselves upon the atolls of the island. To remedy this, the government will rebuild the observation facilities on the island and install a beacon.The government is also to install a global positioning system equipped radar within the atolls to monitor waves in the area as part of a tsunami early warning system.China trying to rock the boatThe government also plans to install a pilot program to propagate coral around the island. If this can be done, it will help prevent the uninhabited island from being submerged.Also under study is the possibility of ocean thermal energy conversion that generates electricity by utilizing the temperature difference between different layers of water in the area.The government has targeted the utilization of the island primarily to secure the nation's marine interests. There is also a strong sense of alarm over China's assertions, made since spring last year, that Okinotorishima is just a collection of "rocks" rather than an "island."According to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, "rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zones [EEZs]."If the island is defined as "rocks" as claimed by China, it means Japan will see a 400,000-square-kilometer reduction of its EEZs, bigger than its total landmass of about 380,000 square kilometers.Beijing has ulterior motiveWhat China intends to do is to make it easier for its navy to operate in seas neighboring the island. This is because in the event of a contingency involving Taiwan, this area would be the shortest route by which U.S. forces could dispatch an aircraft carrier from Guam to Taiwan.China conducted marine research on 15 occasions last year within the EEZ of Okinotorishima without notifying Japan. Through this research, China collected data on water temperatures, information that is essential for submarines wishing to use the area for military operations.The recognition that Okinotorishima is an island has been established both historically and internationally. Japan declared in 1977 an exclusive fishing zone of 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) around the island. The fact that in the more than 25 years since this claim no country has raised any objection is proof of that recognition--that is until China last year asserted that Okinotorishima is not an island, but merely rocks.Despite this international recognition of Japan's rights regarding the island, the government has made little use of this important asset and has only lately showed signs of exploiting this asset.Only Japan ranks only 60th as a country in terms of land area, its EEZ is the sixth biggest in the world.As a marine country, Japan needs to make strategic use of Okinotorishima island.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	596	2005-12-31	YOSHIN0020060102e1cv000jv
YOMSHI0020040101e0110000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040101e0110000d	EN	\N	Japan's safety depends on strong government.	With government spending on social security programs ballooning year after year, a glimpse at the state of government finances is alarming. Social security-related expenditures in the state budget for fiscal 2004 amount to about 19.8 trillion yen, nearly one-fourth of general expenditures-the core of the general account that funds discretionary policy-related outlays.	4	2004-01-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Tax revenues, on the other hand, have fallen sharply because of the protracted business downturn amid the ongoing deflation. The government-proposed budget for fiscal 2004 projects tax revenues of 41.7 trillion yen, compared to 61.1 trillion yen in fiscal 1990.On top of this, the population is almost certain to start shrinking in two years, after peaking in 2006. The percentage of the working population that props up the social security system is sure to decrease rapidly.One glaring indicator that people are worried about this situation is the increasing number of those who do not pay into the national pension system. The percentage of people who fail to pay premiums has reached almost 40 percent of those required by law to be covered by the pension plan. The figure exceeds 50 percent for people in their 20s.This "hollowing-out" of premium payments threatens to undermine the national pension system, which is the main prop of Japan's social security.Anxieties over old ageFor some time in Japan, a lifespan of 80 years has been fairly common and people reaching the age of 100 is not remarkable.The increasing number of people refusing to pay into the national pension system, however, reflects growing unease among the public. Regarding their old age, people are anxious about whether they will receive pension benefits after paying premiums for several decades. They may even worry that the pension system will collapse before they qualify as beneficiaries.Despite these concerns, the government appears totally incapable of developing a convincing blueprint for the nation's future.The ruling coalition parties and government worked out a set of agreements on the pension issue toward the end of last year. They agreed to secure future pension benefit payments of no less than 50 percent of an average worker's income, and set an upper limit on premium rates of 18.35 percent of the policyholder's income.However, the crux of the pension problem-how to ensure financial sources to fund an increase in the state-paid portion of national pension benefits from the current one-third to one-half-remains to be addressed.Even though they have left the issue unaddressed, all the coalition party and government panel experts know exactly what must be done to solve the pension problem.There can be no hope of a solution unless the pension system is restructured to incorporate a funding formula that spreads the expense across the entire nation, from the young to the elderly, on a broad but not unduly heavy basis.Consumption tax hike neededIn other words, the government has no choice but to raise the consumption tax rate to secure funding for social welfare programs. As long as the government fails to come up with a reliable source of funds, public anxieties over the future will not be assuaged.However, as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has vowed not to raise the consumption tax while he is in power, the government has made no progress on the specifics of this crucial issue in discussions with the coalition parties.The prime minister's move to distance himself from this issue appears to be prompted mainly by his fear that a tax increase would reduce popular support for his administration.The prime minister's populist attitude has halted policy debates in the ruling camp.After the House of Councillors election in July, the next major election will be an upper house race in 2007. Barring unforeseen political events, there will be no general election during the intervening period. As unified local elections are scheduled for April 2007, it is highly likely that there will be no major elections during Koizumi's tenure of office, which expires in the autumn of 2006. This means that he will probably have an election-free period before he steps down, a rare occurrence since World War II.During this period, Koizumi, as the top political leader, could exercise his leadership to the full extent of his ability. He would be able to hammer out one important policy after another, with a view to tackling farsighted national reconstruction projects, even if these policies received public disapproval at first.The prime minister's stance on freezing consumption tax hikes throughout this period would be tantamount to throwing away a golden opportunity to drastically reform the social security system.We therefore urge the government to change its policies in the coming two years or so in favor of raising the consumption tax rate. Doing this three years from now is not advisable, as politicians then will be focused on the approaching election.The issue of raising the consumption tax is no longer politically taboo.For instance, the Tax Commission, the decision-making body on taxation affairs, worked out in June a proposal calling for the consumption tax to be raised to 10 percent or more. The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) and other major business organizations share much the same opinion.In the latest general election, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) also referred to the need to raise the consumption tax rate to maintain the pension system.Koizumi must rise to challengeAt stake is the task of creating an infrastructure suited to meet the challenge of farsighted national reconstruction. To accomplish this, the prime minister, as the top political leader, should tackle the challenge squarely, even if it means risking his political career.The prime minister must waste no time in declaring that the consumption tax should be raised for the sole purpose of funding social security programs, so that the pension and other social welfare systems can be rebuilt.If this declaration and subsequent government measures are enough to assuage people's anxieties about their old age, the working populace most likely will loosen its purse strings. A rise in personal consumption will help the economy, and tax revenues will expand.The slower the government is to act, the worse the situation will be for the overstretched government finances. Merely implementing stopgap measures to patch up the tax system will only cause further distortions.If the rate of the proposed social welfare tax is set at 10 percent or more, it will be easy to increase the government-funded portion of national pension benefit payments to 50 percent.In raising the tax rate, due consideration should be paid to people in low income brackets, such as by charging a lower rate on foods and other daily necessities, leaving the tax rate on such items unchanged at 5 percent.In addition, a similar low rate should be applied to books, newspapers and related goods that are deemed indispensable to retain the nation's cultural and intellectual standards. This policy has been employed widely in European countries.Regarding the purposes for which revenues from the envisioned social welfare tax should be used, feasibility studies should be carried out on using them to fund programs other than the pension system, such as medical and nursing-care services, on condition a revised pension system based on a firm framework is set up first.Furthermore, the government must pursue all possible measures to extricate Japan from deflation.The numerical goals the coalition parties agreed to for this purpose are based on a draft by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, on the assumption that inflation-adjusted wage increases will average 1 percent a year and 2 percent in nominal terms.Decreases in nominal wages because of deflation will lead to declines in medical and other government-run insurance premium revenues.The government, for its part, has said it really wants to see nominal wages grow 0.5 percent in fiscal 2004. According to a Bank of Japan outlook on price trends, however, deflationary pressure will continue to adversely affect the national economy.Under these circumstances, political leadership is all the more necessary to end deflation and place the economy on track to recovery as poor business performances, if left unchanged, will make a hike in the consumption tax difficult.Japan's resolve on IraqDiscussions of national reconstruction efforts also are being conducted in fields other than the pension and other social security systems. The term is being used in connection with Japan's diplomatic and national security challenges.Currently, preparations are under way to send Ground Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq.When the government decided on a basic plan for dispatching SDF units to that country, Koizumi stated, "The will of Japan as a state and the spirit of the Japanese people are now being tested."Japan is truly being tested. The government's decision to send SDF personnel to Iraq because of the dangers existing there is the most significant in Japanese history since the end of World War II.In light of the current situation in Iraq, it is highly likely that more people will fall victim to insurgents opposed to efforts to bring peace to that country. If this happens, Japan's resolve will be most severely tested.Forces chanting antimilitary and antiwar slogans presumably would avail themselves of such developments as an ideal opportunity to call for the immediate withdrawal of SDF personnel from Iraq.In such a contingency, the prime minister must be quick to convey clearly at home and abroad that the dispatch of SDF personnel is based on the firm determination of Japan as a nation.Should Japanese resolve waver in such a situation, terrorist forces would consider this country a weak link in the international antiterrorist chain. Japan would then risk becoming a target of concentrated assaults.In such a situation, domestic public opinion probably would differ widely depending on whether the prime minister remained resolute on Japan's role in Iraq.When it comes to ensuring the safety of SDF personnel dispatched to Iraq, however, more must be done.First, the current tight constraints on weapons use by SDF members must be relaxed, as it is not known what kind of insurgent action the SDF personnel will face.In the event they come under a concentrated attack, SDF members will hardly be able to defend themselves under existing rules governing the use of weapons. They are as restrictive as those on handgun use for police officers, which limit weapons use to "legitimate self-defense" and "an act of necessity in the eyes of law."Minshuto-which made a point of stressing the dangers of sending SDF personnel to Iraq-is calling for changes in weapons use criteria.Now the dispatch has been decided regardless of its protests, the main opposition party should formally propose revising weapons use criteria to the government and coalition parties.Another crucial step the government needs to take is to decide in favor of exercising the nation's right to collective self-defense. This matter needs a great deal of thought.The GSDF logistics team that will be sent to set up a camp ahead of the core GSDF dispatch will work under the protection of Dutch troops, deployed in the area of the planned camp.Remove restraints from SDFHow should GSDF personnel react if the Dutch troops are attacked by insurgent forces after the core dispatch has begun operations? Could the GSDF personnel refuse to go to the aid of the Dutch troops, simply on the basis of the constraints the Constitution supposedly places on enforcing the right to collective defense?Should Japan refuse to act in such a situation, it would see an immediate, irreversible decline of its international clout. The global community would shrug off Japan's avowed commitment to international cooperation against terrorism.In the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in the spring of 2001, Koizumi pledged to pursue the exercise of Japan's right to collective defense. That commitment, however, has not been honored.We strongly urge the prime minister to return to that starting point. The government should change the Cabinet Legislation Bureau's conventional, strange interpretation of the constitutional constraints-that Japan possesses the right to collective defense, but is prohibited from exercising it-to fit international standards of common logic.The interpretation can be changed instantaneously, but only if the prime minister makes it happen.Whether Japan allows itself to exercise the right to collective defense is closely linked to the problem of North Korea.Currently, an agreement has been reached to address the task of preventing Pyongyang from becoming a nuclear power through a consultative framework involving six countries.Should the current state of affairs remain unchanged-whereby Japan is powerless to do anything other than depend on the United States in case of an emergency involving North Korea-whatever Japan says concerning the threat posed by Pyongyang will fall on deaf ears.It is noteworthy in this connection that the threat of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms, is very serious to Japan, but less immediate for China, South Korea, Russia or the United States.Japanese preparations to play a substantial military role in joint operations with the United States in the event of contingencies is the only means for Japan to win respect for its views.There can be no doubt the world-including the Middle East, East Asia and Europe-is in a transitional phase, in which the world order is being realigned.We believe Japan's success or failure in adopting the necessary resolve at this stage in world history will affect how this country fares in tackling national reconstruction.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	2343	2004-01-01	YOSHIN0020040105e0110007t
YOMSHI0020040102e0130000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040102e0130000g	EN	\N	Bold moves necessary to address aging society.	To avoid crashing into the iceberg, Japan has no choice but to change course. Although everybody realizes this, in reality, only minor adjustments have been made, heightening people's concern about the future.	4	2004-01-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The future of Japan, where the birthrate is declining and the graying of society is racing along at the fastest rate in the world, is certainly not bright. Most people would recoil at the astronomical cost of social security estimated by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.Whether it is the declining number of children or graying of the society, it is a phenomenon common in industrialized countries and is proof of wealth. The phenomenon itself is not a problem. The problem is the fact that the country failed to prepare for the falling number of children and rising number of elderly people.In Japan, the phenomenon is moving at a furious pace. When the national pension system and the national health insurance system covering every citizen in the country started in 1961, those aged 65 or older accounted for only 6 percent of the population.Today, this figure is 19 percent, one of the highest in the world. The average life expectancy grew by 12 years for men and 15 years for women.Demographic changes have made it difficult to maintain the social security system as it is. But politicians avoid asking the public to bear a greater burden, riding out the situation by putting off contentious issues and making minor revisions to the current system.Japan's population soon will begin to decline. People know it is impossible to ask for higher benefits in return for small burdens. Politicians must have the courage to talk about the burden that will accompany reform and present a clear vision for social security.Generational disparityThere is a vociferous debate centering on young generations over the pluses and minuses of the social security system. The Annual Report on Japan's Economy and Public Finance last year took up the issue of the relationship between benefits and burdens in social security. The report estimated that while those in their 60s will have 65 million yen more in benefits, those younger than 20 will lose 52 million yen.We believe such an extraordinarily wide disparity among generations must be corrected, though the issue of social security should not be discussed from the view of financial advantage.The current social security system is based on the precondition that people of working age support the elderly. The system functioned well when the population in the country as a whole was still young and there were few elderly people.But this condition no longer holds.While the number of those of working age has declined, the number of elderly people who receive benefits continues to increase. Under the circumstances, the current system in which the working generation must bear the lion's share of the burden will no longer be viable. If it is impossible to depend on the working generation, there will be no choice but to ask the elderly to share the burden.The average income of the elderly is not much different from that earned by those working. While paying proper attention to low-income earners, we believe it will be necessary to ask elderly people who have sufficient income to bear more of the burden. We must change the current way of thinking of uniformly regarding the elderly as the socially disadvantaged.The move to strengthen taxation on pension benefits and to increase the share of burden borne by the elderly in the medical insurance is based on such a view. The younger generation should support the older generation, but we believe it also will be necessary to ask the elderly to support each other within the same generation.Many of the elderly today are active and self-reliant. But few jobs are available to make use of their experience and expertise. A system is needed to enable people to continue working according to their ability, instead of setting age limits. Companies bear a social responsibility to improve this environment.Consumption tax can helpTo overcome the difficulties expected in an aging society, one cannot neglect the issue of financial sources for the social security system. According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, social security benefits are projected to double to 168 trillion yen in 2025.Most social security expenses will be covered by insurance premiums and taxes. Currently, people already are asked to pay premiums totaling 58 trillion yen a year, an amount higher than the national taxes they are asked to pay. But there will be a limit in hiking health insurance premiums. People of working age are unlikely to agree if the government automatically continues to have them bear the burden of paying into the system.The remaining financial source is the consumption tax. The consumption tax is the most suitable source to cover social security because a broad range of generations are asked to bear a smaller burden, without placing a burden on a particular generation.Tax increases please no one. But politicians must resolutely carry out necessary policies even if they are unpopular with the public.Strong leadership neededIn the debate over pension reform at the end of last year, the government and the ruling parties ended up concentrating on how to make ends meet by putting off debate over how to secure financial sources.The ruling parties barely managed to incorporate a provision in their outline for comprehensive tax system reform, including the consumption tax, to be realized as early as in fiscal 2007.Compared with European countries, the consumption tax rate in Japan is still low. The majority of Japanese believe it will be inevitable to raise the consumption tax to improve the social security system.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must examine the social security system with an eye to raising the consumption tax rate. If a stable financial source is secured, people's lingering anxiety toward the future will be alleviated.Strong leadership is needed. With the iceberg rapidly approaching, there is no time to waste.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1042	2004-01-03	YOSHIN0020040105e013000jo
YOMSHI0020040104e0140000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040104e0140000c	EN	\N	The time has come to build a new Japan.	Few people are certain about what may evolve from far-reaching changes in the global situation, including the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the international antiterrorism campaign in Afghanistan and the Iraq war. North Korea's nuclear weapons program has profoundly shaken the foundation of Japan's national security.	4	2004-01-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This year marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Self-Defense Forces. The government is set to send Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to aid in Iraq's postwar reconstruction. The planned Iraqi mission will be the first overseas activities to be conducted by the GSDF-aside from its U.N. peacekeeping operations. The government's decision to expand the scope of SDF activities represents an effort to transform Japan into an "ordinary nation."Admittedly, there are growing signs of an improvement in the economy. But the economy has yet to be brought back on the road to full recovery. Members of the public are more seriously concerned about their future as a result of the government's decision to put off drastically reforming the pension system and other social security systems despite a sharp drop in the birthrate and the accelerated aging of the population. All this has been exacerbated by deteriorating public security.What should be done to overcome this host of domestic and overseas problems that pose threats to this country's security, and at the same time ensure Japan's peace and prosperity? The roles to be played by politicians in this respect have never been so important as today. Leadership, foresight, strategy, decisiveness and action are crucial to meet these challenges.Iraq mission Japan's dutyAs the leader of the nation, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has the greatest responsibility to shoulder in performing this task.The government's decision to send SDF personnel to Iraq was the only option available in carrying out what the prime minister has called an attempt to "cooperate with other nations and keep the Japan-U.S. alliance intact." The SDF dispatch is essential to defend global peace and security, while also protecting Japan from various threats posed by North Korea's weapons of mass destruction.Some opposition parties that have opposed the planned SDF dispatch may seek to turn the dispute over the mission to their advantage in their efforts to win the next House of Councillors election. But they should not use the controversy for political purposes. It should be noted that the SDF dispatch is aimed at carrying out a difficult task for the purpose of protecting Japan's national interests.No politician should be so misguided as to believe that the Koizumi administration will be endangered if SDF members are killed during their activities in Iraq. Such thinking reflects a tendency among many members of the population to pursue peace for Japan even at the expense of our obligation to help defend global security in what could be termed "one-nation pacifism." That kind of indulgent mind-set should be regarded as a remnant of the mistaken notion held by the public about peace during the days since the end of World War II. The country should grow out of such a mentality.Arms-use rules problematicThe decision to send SDF members to Iraq should be hailed as epochal for Japan. But such a decision is anything but extraordinary to most nations in the world. There is reason to believe that the SDF will play an even more important role in promoting international peace cooperation activities.Japan's self-imposed rules on actions of a military nature seriously restrict SDF activities overseas. They include the official view on Japan's right to collective self-defense as expressed by the government, which has said the nation possesses that right, but that its Constitution bans the use of it. No less restrictive are the regulations on the SDF's use of weapons. The current rules only permit SDF personnel to use weapons if they judge that doing so is the only way to defend themselves from an attack.These restrictions also have served to arouse a futile controversy over where a combat area-or a noncombat area, for that matter-begins and ends. This kind of argument does not fit the realities of armed conflicts today.Politicians and political parties should make decisions to change these restrictions, with the intention of enabling SDF members to perform their duties safely and effectively. This requires efforts to change the government's interpretation of the right to collective self-defense, revise the regulations on the SDF's use of weapons and establish a permanent law on Japan's international peace cooperation activities.The leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has said it will support SDF overseas missions as a means of contributing to international peace cooperation activities. Given this, all political parties should work to ensure that legislation for such SDF tasks is established.Tackle key policy issuesThe circumstances surrounding the Koizumi administration have changed since the House of Representatives election in November. First, the current political order centers around the LDP and Minshuto as the two largest parties. Second, the preelection three-party ruling coalition has been transformed into an LDP-New Komeito partnership.Under these circumstances, politicians cannot afford to put off dealing with key policy issues any longer.First and foremost, voters want the government to settle economic problems and improve the economy. But the belt-tightening budget for fiscal 2004 is open to debate. Some doubt whether the government is firmly determined to put the economy back on the road to full recovery led by domestic demand-not by exports to the United States.The government has been similarly negligent in reforming the state-run pension system, a matter of primary concern to the public. It has put off serious discussions on an increase in the consumption tax rate as a means of coming up with a stable revenue source. The government's attitude may well be seen as a desire to avoid asking voters to shoulder new burdens in anticipation of the upper house election in July. If so, the government's decision should be condemned as a mere attempt to indulge the public, instead of playing a responsible role in reforming the system.Such a seemingly irresponsible attitude also can be seen in the government's attempt to reform local tax and financial systems as well as four highway-related public corporations. The conclusions drawn by the government about these issues could be regarded, in many cases, as considerations and concessions to Liberal Democratic Party members with vested interests in those matters and to the LDP's junior coalition partner, New Komeito.Top law needs to be revisedIt is necessary for the Cabinet and the ruling parties to cooperate in reaching a consensus on key issues. This rule is part and parcel of a parliamentary system of government.It should be noted, however, that the Cabinet must take the lead in this respect at a time when government policies should be speedily carried out. Given this, the prime minister should first present clear-cut goals, policies and methods. Since taking office, Koizumi has drawn fire for his tendency to "explain little" about his policies and "task others with all duties" to be fulfilled in the pursuit of his goals.The prime minister's current three-year tenure will expire in September 2006. There will be no national election until then. No doubt this will allow the government to implement various drastic policies under Koizumi's leadership.Both the LDP and New Komeito have extremely important roles to play as the parties in power. They should never allow themselves to pursue their own interests or implement policies that will only serve the interests of some parties.The ruling parties also would be wise to draw up a specific timetable for an amendment to the Constitution. In 2005, the LDP is set to draft a constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, Minshuto has called for soken, which literally means creating a new constitution, while New Komeito has insisted on kaken-adding new principles to the current Constitution. In early 2005, the lower house Research Commission on the Constitution is scheduled to draw up a report on its debates about issues related to the supreme legal framework.All political parties must debate issues concerning what kind of constitution will serve the nation better and what kind of country Japan should be transformed into.They should formulate a national strategy for dealing with the problems facing this country and present that strategy to the public. That is the best way to dispel widespread uncertainty over the nation's future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1510	2004-01-04	YOSHIN0020040105e014000zo
YOMSHI0020040104e01500032	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040104e01500032	EN	\N	Fight against terrorism vital for global peace.	The U.S.-led strike on Iraq was preceded by sharp divisions among major U.N. members over whether to use force against that country, putting the United States and Britain at odds with France, Germany and Russia. In the end, the U.N. Security Council was unable to reach a consensus on this vital matter, a failure that showed the key U.N. organ's inability to serve its purpose.	4	2004-01-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This development forced the United States and Britain to invade Iraq without the support of other major U.N. members.The use of force against Iraq by the United States and Britain represented a determination to stop some countries from proliferating weapons of mass destruction. It also showed the two nations' determination to play central roles in the creation of a new global order.A warning to other dictatorsU.S. and British forces dealt mercilessly with former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who had ruled his country with such an iron fist that it remained a military power in the Middle East even after suffering a humiliating defeat in the 1991 Gulf War. No doubt their devastating attack served to warn other dictators around the world as to what they could expect in their turn.Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi has told the United States and Britain that it will abandon any attempts to build nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction after secret negotiations with the two nations. The unbending attitude shown by the United States and Britain during the Iraqi war has drawn concessions from Libya. This may be seen as one good result of the war.Some critics have said the Iraqi war was fought without cause, citing the U.N. failure to discover weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before the war.It should be noted, however, that Saddam had refused to allow U.N. inspectors to determine whether it had actually scrapped all of its weapons of mass destruction, a refusal that violated a U.N. resolution. The Iraqi dictator could have averted the war had he accepted U.N. inspections. The blame thus falls on Saddam, who refused to honor his international obligations, leading to havoc being wreaked on his people.Japan expressed its support for the U.S. and British action against Iraq. This country is playing a role in global efforts to rehabilitate the war-torn country after the fall of the Saddam regime. About 40 nations have sent military units to aid in Iraq's postwar reconstruction.The rehabilitation of Iraq is perhaps the most important challenge facing the "coalition of the willing." Efforts to prevent Iraq from becoming a haven for terrorists will help end acts of terrorism.The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, the organ overseeing the occupation of the nation, is planning to return the country to sovereign rule earlier than initially planned. The handover is scheduled to take place in June.Pessimism unnecessaryThere is no need for pessimism over Iraq's future, despite uncertainties surrounding the nation, including frequent terrorist attacks. Saddam's capture by the U.S. forces in December could expedite efforts to stabilize the nation.Saddam's fall freed Iraqis from his autocratic rule. Even France, Germany and Russia hailed the U.S. capture of the former dictator, despite their early objections to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. These nations have agreed to waive their claims to portions of their loans to Iraq, an indication that they are willing to cooperate in Iraq's rehabilitation.The urgent task facing the international community now is to restore peace and stability in Iraq. The number of U.S. soldiers killed in that country continues to rise, even though U.S. President George W. Bush announced an end to major combat there on May 1, 2003. Since that day, the toll has risen to more than 200 killed in terrorist attacks and other incidents. This means that U.S. soldiers killed since May 1 outnumber those killed in the actual invasion.U.S. presence in Iraq a thornThe list of terrorist targets was expanded to include U.N. officials, Red Cross employees, Iraqi police officers and anyone else seen to be aiding the occupation forces. Two Japanese diplomats aiding in Iraq's reconstruction were shot and killed in November.It is hoped that the former dictator's capture will end insurgency by Saddam loyalists. However, terrorist groups that have infiltrated Iraq from other nations are armed with powerful weapons, including portable ground-to-air missiles. They also seem to be funded by someone with deep pockets.Islamic nations continue to be antagonized by the U.S. and British presence in the Arab world. If it continues, there will be no end to anti-U.S. Muslims trying to commit terrorist attacks on the United States or on U.S. interests.Given this, the United States must end its occupation of Iraq and hand sovereignty back to the Iraqis as soon as possible. In addition, to prevent the further spread of anti-U.S. sentiment among Islamic nations, the Bush administration must play a serious role in expediting the Middle East peace process.A U.S. presidential election will be held this year. Bush's success or failure in winning reelection primarily hinges on whether he can make progress in addressing a host of domestic economic problems, including the jobless rate. But if he can successfully stabilize the Iraqi situation, that will go a long way toward ensuring reelection. A failure to do so would work in the Democratic Party's favor. For this reason, if no other, Bush will be working harder to stabilize the country.Saddam's fall was welcome news in Japan, too. However, this country still faces the threat posed by North Korea, an Asian neighbor ruled by yet another dictator.North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has said the fall of Saddam happened because the Iraqi dictator did not have an adequate deterrent. In light of this, the North Korean dictator has stepped up efforts to arm his country with nuclear weapons.N. Korea still to be dealt withNorth Korea's stance is in stark contrast to that taken by Iran, which has shown a readiness to join the other nations in the world by signing the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty drawn up by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a move that will require Iran to accept inspections of its nuclear facilities.North Korea's move to intimidate neighbors with nuclear and missile threats endangers peace in East Asia. It also undermines international efforts to halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The North Korean threat must not be tolerated.If the reclusive state has indeed successfully built a number of small nuclear weapons, Japan is highly vulnerable to the serious threat posed by North Korean ballistic missiles.Another round of six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis is scheduled to take place early this year. Japan should not relax its guard against North Korea. Efforts to promote dialogue with that country are not the only thing needed. Measures also should include legislative steps to implement economic sanctions against North Korea. The government should also shore up the foundations of the Japan-U.S. alliance, as it is the basis of a bilateral security setup.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1269	2004-01-05	YOSHIN0020040106e015000ac
YOMSHI0020040105e0160000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040105e0160000e	EN	\N	Mourning the war dead a domestic issue.	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 1. It was his fourth visit to the shrine since he took office in April 2001. He first visited the shrine on Aug. 13, 2001, then on April 21, 2002, and on Jan. 14, 2003.	4	2004-01-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi may have chosen the time that he deemed would have the least impact on the management of his administration, while considering his political agenda in the days ahead, which includes the dispatch of Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to Iraq, the House of Councillors election in summer and the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear arms program.At the New Year's press conference Monday, Koizumi said "I visited the shrine on New Year's Day as I thought the day was a good time for me to visit there."Shortly after the visit, however, Koizumi indicated he would not visit the shrine again this year, suggesting he would not go there on Aug. 15, the anniversary of the end of World War II, the day which China and South Korea regard as most problematic.Nonetheless, Beijing and Seoul have strongly protested Koizumi's latest visit to the shrine.Opposition's stance unpatrioticWe find questionable the remarks being made by the leadership of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan). Minshuto Secretary General Katsuya Okada said in Beijing late last year: "The judgment made by the prime minister of Japan may be wrong. The Chinese side is restraining itself to a great degree," criticizing Koizumi's repeated visits to the shrine.Minshuto leader Naoto Kan also said Koizumi's latest visit to the shrine "has resulted in damaging the national interest in its relation with China."This so-called logic fails to properly evaluate the importance of matters.The issue of when and in what manner a prime minister of a nation should pray for the war dead is, primarily, a domestic issue to be decided on the basis of the country's traditions and customs. Other countries are in no position to say anything about it.In addition, even if a political party is in the opposition camp, if it gives a foreign country an excuse to meddle in the domestic affairs of Japan, then that act runs counter to national interests.The fact that Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine have become a diplomatic issue is extraordinary.While the fact that the shrine honors Class-A Japanese war criminals along with the war dead usually becomes an issue, it is a traditional culture and custom of Japan to mourn for the dead equally.Return to Suzuki-era valuesAfter the Class-A war criminals were enshrined together with the war dead in 1978 and the collective enshrinement was made public in 1979, past prime ministers, including Masayoshi Ohira, Zenko Suzuki and Yasuhiro Nakasone, visited the shrine.Until Nakasone made an official visit to the shrine in 1985, these visits had not been a diplomatic issue.Although Koizumi has not made it clear whether he has visited the shrine in his capacity as a public person or as a private citizen, his visits simply signify a return to the policy taken when Suzuki was prime minister.The issue of separation of politics and religion also has nearly been settled. Koizumi visited Ise Shrine on Monday, yet there has been no argument whatsoever saying the visit runs counter to the Constitution. His visit was perfectly reasonable.Prime ministers in the past used to visit Yasukuni Shrine as a matter of course, just as they visited Ise Shrine. We would like to see prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine become as uneventful as they once were.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	654	2004-01-06	YOSHIN0020040106e016000vt
YOMSHI0020040106e0170000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040106e0170000i	EN	\N	Agricultural reform key to free trade.	The biggest challenge for the world economy this year is to get on a recovery track. For Japan, negotiations over free trade agreements with other countries and regions, which will hold the key to mid-and long-term stable growth for the national economy, will reach a crossroads.	4	2004-01-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi should not only "hope" for growth and progress in various fields; he is responsible for realizing it.The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in its outlook for the global economy revised late last year, expressed the optimistic view that the "strong trends of recovery in Asia, North America and Britain are about to support the economic recovery of the world."Yet we should not be overoptimistic. The United States, which has been the engine of the global economy, is burdened with so-called twin deficits-a current account deficit and a fiscal deficit. There is a possibility that the U.S. economy will slow down after the presidential election this autumn. We should not disregard the possible adverse effects on the global economy of the delay in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq and concerns over international terrorism.Strong yen, euro riskyJapanese and European economies have yet to make a self-sustained recovery led by domestic demand. There are concerns that given that these economies are beset with sizable fiscal deficits, the rise in the value of the yen and euro against the dollar may dampen their economic recoveries.Meanwhile, China, whose economy has continued to enjoy a high growth of about 8 percent in recent years, has yet to eliminate the ever-widening economic disparity among its regions, and its financial institutions have not yet written off their nonperforming loans.All countries are obliged to solve their own problems and at the same time realize a solid economic recovery.On the trade policy front, the issue of promoting free trade is important. By activating the international flow of goods, people and services, the basis for sustainable and stable economic growth can be formed.The Doha Round of global trade liberalization talks, held under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, became deadlocked in autumn due to a conflict between major industrialized countries and developing economies over such issues as liberalizing markets for agricultural products.While the prospect of reaching a package agreement by the end-of-2004 deadline has dimmed, moves toward concluding bilateral or interregional FTAs are accelerating.The United States' FTAs with Singapore and Chile came into effect on Jan. 1, while it is negotiating FTAs with other countries, including Australia and five Central American countries.Japan lagging behindIn Asia, China is moving fast. It has concluded an agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to completely liberalize trade in 2010, while moving forward the lowering of tariffs on certain agricultural products. India also concluded an agreement with ASEAN to complete trade liberalization by 2011.In this regard, Japan's sluggishness is conspicuous. While Japan is to start preparatory talks on an FTA with ASEAN shortly, full-scale negotiations will not begin until next year. Tokyo is eyeing complete trade liberalization in 2012.As for bilateral FTAs, Japan is about to begin negotiations with South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia, following its FTA signed with Singapore that came into effect in the autumn of 2002.But as was shown by the collapse last year of the Japan-Mexico FTA talks due to discord over liberalizing trade in such farm products as pork, there is little likelihood of FTA talks with other countries making progress for the time being.If this trend continues, Japan will be left behind in the trade liberalization race, and Japanese products will be at risk of being driven out of markets around the world.The main reason for the nation being in this situation is that agricultural organizations and Diet members in both the ruling and opposition camps who represent the interests of the agricultural sector have jealously guarded their respective turfs and are adamantly opposed to trade liberalization, thus blocking farm reform.Competitiveness needs a boostAgricultural production, which accounted for 4.2 percent of Japan's gross domestic product in fiscal 1970, accounted for only 1.1 percent of GDP in fiscal 2002. No matter how determined the agricultural organizations or lawmakers are to protect the interests of the agricultural sector, the farming industry's decline will continue.To check the farming industry from declining further, while at the same time promoting FTA negotiations with other countries, Japan has no choice but to drastically reform the agricultural sector from the perspective of enhancing its international competitiveness.In autumn, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "Taking into consideration our economy as a whole, we need to concede what needs to be conceded and reform what needs to be reformed (in the agricultural sector) so we can succeed (in FTA negotiations)," indicating at long last his intention of dealing with farm reform.The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, for its part, began late last year revising the Basic Plan of Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas, the guiding principle for the nation's agriculture.The ministry targets a shift of agricultural policy from that designed to protect the domestic agricultural sector with tariff barriers to an aggressive one aimed at realizing a competitive agricultural sector by subsidizing ambitious and enthusiastic producers.Eligible for direct income compensation would be producers of key products, such as rice and meat, who have a certain hectarage of farmland or raise a certain number of cattle.What is to be subsidized and how the compensation system is to be managed will be reviewed periodically, with an eye toward facilitating competitiveness.Tanaka example instructiveOpposition from legislators in both camps who lobby on behalf of farmers is strong. With the House of Councillors election slated for summer, they are intensifying their opposition to the liberalization of farm trade so as to retain support from their patron agricultural organizations.More than 30 years ago, negotiations over regulating textile exports to the U.S. market experienced rough going due to fierce opposition from the textile industry and legislators representing its interests.Shortly after he assumed the post of international trade and industry minister, Kakuei Tanaka said the negotiations would be settled without fail within three months.While asserting to Washington that Tokyo would implement a voluntary restraint on textile exports to the United States, Tanaka outmaneuvered those opposed to the reform by taking such bold actions as promoting the scrapping of textile-related facilities through the injection of state funds, and the talks were concluded on schedule as he had promised.Strong government leadership is needed for both agricultural reform and the promotion of FTA negotiations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1195	2004-01-07	YOSHIN0020040107e017000ix
YOMSHI0020040107e0180000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040107e0180000h	EN	\N	Don't blow 3rd chance to mend the economy.	Kogakuin University Prof. Yotaro Hatamura established a nonprofit organization named Shippai Gakkai (mistake society) a little over a year ago. The society's membership has already grown to about 1,100. Society members report failures they made at research institutes and factories and discuss the cause of their mistakes so they can learn from each other's experiences.	4	2004-01-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Learning lessons from mistakes is useful not only in the field of science and technology or manufacturing-it also could profitably be applied in the government's economic management.The country's economy has finally begun showing signs of recovery. The Cabinet Office believes that the economy has entered a recovery phase for the third time since the collapse of the economic bubble.However, its basis is still weak. The government's biggest task in this regard is to bring the economy back on track to a full-fledged recovery.Govt made 2 serious errorsBut how can this be achieved? The answer to this question lies in the economy's failure twice in the past to fully recover because of the government's serious mishandling of economic policy.The nation experienced the first economic recovery between 1993 and 1997. With stock prices rising sharply, the economy marked a year-on-year growth of 3 percent in real terms in 1996.However, in a hasty move to promote fiscal structural reforms, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto decided to raise the consumption tax rate, end special tax cuts and increase individuals' share of medical expenses in the fiscal 1997 budget. As a result, people were forced to bear burdens totaling about 9 trillion yen all of a sudden. These moves rapidly cooled down the economy, and it started shrinking in 1998.The second economic recovery came in 1999 and 2000, when the country was riding the crest of the information technology bubble. That time, monetary mismanagement poured cold water on the economy.In August 2000, then Bank of Japan Gov. Masaru Hayami lifted the bank's zero-interest policy despite the government's strong opposition, saying that concerns over deflation would soon cease. In fact, as a result of deepening deflation, the central bank was forced to revive the zero-interest policy only seven months later.The economy, which had just pulled itself out of the doldrums, was too weak to cope with the tight-money policy. In both cases, the government made a serious error of judgment.Fiscal reconstruction vitalThe economic recovery we are witnessing at the moment is led by exports to the United States and China. No strength is seen in domestic demand, such as personal spending, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of gross domestic product. The economy is still perilously dependent on foreign demand.The government must fully take into account this point in managing the economy.Given the massive amount of outstanding government bonds, fiscal reconstruction is a vital task for the government. Nevertheless, we believe the government should avoid hastily reducing fiscal deficits.The country's fiscal crisis is worsening mainly because of a decline in tax revenues resulting from lingering deflation. Tax revenues are projected to decline by about 9 trillion yen in the three years through the end of fiscal 2003. If the economy fully recovers, companies will earn more profits, which in turn will increase tax revenues.As for monetary policy, one pillar of economic management, there is no choice other than to stick to the current easy-money policy until deflation is arrested.Make-or-break for bad loansThe rate of decline in the consumer price index, a gauge showing the progress of deflation, began shrinking in spring last year. Though the index showed a slight upturn in October, this was because of certain special factors, such as increases in the price of rice. Deflation continues.The issue of the disposal of bad loans held by financial institutions has entered a make-or-break period. Leading banks have in their sights the achievement of the government-set goal of halving the ratio of nonperforming loans against the whole amount of outstanding loans by the end of fiscal 2004. However, not a few regional banks still have fragile operations.In April next year, the freeze on the introduction of the payoff system that caps the guaranteed refund of bank deposits at a 10 million yen principal plus accrued interest in the event of the failure of a bank will be completed lifted. The government should expedite efforts to draft a law to enable injections of public funds into financial institutions as a preventive measure to boost their capital base so the country's financial system will become healthy as soon as possible.No room for overoptimismThe economy can be compared to a living entity. Therefore, the preconditions for a full economic recovery might vanish due to fluctuations in the yen's value against the dollar and a slowdown in the U.S. economy.In this respect, we believe it is vital to flexibly use both engines of economic policy-fiscal and monetary policy-while closely observing economic trends.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said during his New Year's press conference: "Japan's economy has potential energy, and it has strong underlying strength. We mustn't be pessimistic."However, we should not forget the bitter lesson that an optimistic view over the state of the economy that inaccurately judges economic fundamentals has compromised recovery in the past.When one reflects on a mistake they made, they must think about what led them to make the error so they can avoid repeating it.Those touting reforms tend to be caught in the trap of taking it as gospel that the economy is back on track to a full recovery led by domestic demand, and that deflation has ended because they wish to emphasize their own achievements.We hope the Koizumi Cabinet will not make a third mistake.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1039	2004-01-08	YOSHIN0020040108e018000hj
YOMSHI0020040108e0190000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040108e0190000e	EN	\N	Review vulnerability to restore public security.	The number of criminal cases, which long hovered below 1.5 million a year after World War II, is close to 3 million now. The number of foreigners arrested annually is about 10 times those detained in 1980.	4	2004-01-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Justice Ministry also says the number of cases the prosecutors have received from police, the Japan Coast Guard and customs has increased by 30 percent during the past decade and the number of those sent to prison has risen 50 percent during this period.Japanese society, which once had a reputation of being the world's safest, has drastically changed. If people believe Japan is still safe, they will be vulnerable to criminals. To make this country safe again, we must first look squarely at reality.Fears of being next victimAccording to a survey conducted by the Tokyo metropolitan government last month, 90 percent of those polled said they were worried that they would be victims of burglary, purse-snatching or random attackers.Given the increasing number of crimes around us, it is natural people are worried that the next victim of a crime might be themselves.According to a survey conducted by the Cabinet Office last year, one-third of respondents said they did not want to see an increase in foreign visitors. Asked why, they said they were worried that criminals might enter the country posing as tourists.People should welcome foreigners who come to Japan to learn more about this country. It is unfortunate that many Japanese cannot see this. However, this reflects the increasing threat that crimes by foreigners pose to society.Because of such concerns, an increasing number of security cameras have been installed for personal protection. More and more shopping centers and local residents' groups have set up security cameras to deal with crimes in their neighborhoods. They all believe safety is irreplaceable.Local govt actions unhelpfulBut as in the case of Suginami Ward, Tokyo, some local governments are trying to limit installment of security cameras and the use of film footage to a certain degree by adopting ordinances in response to concerns that the use of security cameras might violate privacy and lead to a society where people closely watch each other's behavior. Some people have dubbed security cameras "surveillance cameras."But this can be compared to calling the Wiretapping Authorization Law a wiretapping law. If local governments act as a brake on such crime-prevention measures in the same way as they restrict police moves, only criminals would benefit.Some people have started using the phrase "chian-kaso" (lack of public order), referring to an area with few police officers and insufficient security equipment. An increasing number of local governments began providing subsidies to residents who want to install security cameras. This is natural. To eliminate "chian-kaso" areas, police and local governments must work closely together.Last year, the government for the first time took up the issue of public order as one of the most important items on the political agenda. For instance, a meeting of Cabinet ministers compiled an action plan to realize a society less vulnerable to crime. In addition, a task force dealing with educating young people drew up an outline of measures for this purpose.Ratio of arrested juveniles upThis year, the government must put into practice various measures contained in the action plan and the outline. This year the government will take the first step in restoring public order.An investigator complained about the increasing number of criminals, saying, "It doesn't matter how much garbage we pick up in the lower reaches of a river, more and more continues to flow from the upper reaches." This remark meant that it did not matter how many criminals the police arrested, more criminals would appear. A typical example is juvenile crime.Partly because of the declining number of children, the number of arrested minors has remained about the same in recent years. Yet, the number of those arrested per 1,000 minors is growing at a significant rate. Given the declining crime-arrest ratio, the actual situation might be much worse.There also have been many reports on crimes committed by young men in their 20s, such as the kidnapping of girls. Such crimes may belong to the juvenile crime category.Morals and community educational functions are deteriorating. According to surveys conducted by the Justice Ministry and family courts, there also are family problems. To thoroughly resolve the social security issue, it will be vital to make all sectors of society healthy.Deal with foreign criminalsAnother urgent task is how to deal with crimes committed by foreigners. Japanese society, which has pursued prosperity and convenience since the end of World War II, has fallen prey to Chinese criminals and others in the wave of internationalization.To ensure a peaceful and safe society, it is essential to review the current vulnerability of the country.The government must strengthen immigration controls and screening procedures to grant residence status, and tighten penalties. Both companies and individuals should become more aware of the need to do this.A group claiming to be the Al-Qaida terrorist group has threatened that it will attack Tokyo if the government dispatches Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq.In response, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, "We must not yield to threats." Certainly, people should not panic, but terrorism can be prevented only with a fully prepared system that has no loopholes.The government should fully review its preparedness against terrorists-its capacity to collect information, its inspection system at the water's edge, and whether there are any subversive elements that might cooperate with terrorists.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	991	2004-01-09	YOSHIN0020040109e019000l8
YOMSHI0020040109e01a0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040109e01a0000e	EN	\N	GSDF advance team must receive support.	On Friday, Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba issued an order for the dispatch of a Ground Self-Defense Force advance team under special legislation permitting Japan to contribute to the war-ravaged nation's rehabilitation. The GSDF advance team will be sent to Iraq late next week.	4	2004-01-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The southern Iraqi city of Samawah, where the GSDF is to carry out its Iraqi mission, is far from safe. Therefore, all possible measures should be taken to study the security situation with the aim of ensuring the safety of the GSDF members during their mission.The Iraqi mission will be the first of its kind for the GSDF in a foreign country, although it has taken part in U.N. peacekeeping activities. In this sense, the GSDF dispatch will open a new chapter in SDF history and set a new precedent for Japanese efforts to cooperate in maintaining global peace.Close to 40 nations have already sent troops to Iraq, where they are striving to maintain peace and order while also aiding in that country's reconstruction. If the efforts to transform Iraq into a democracy are successful, it will stabilize the Middle East, and the rest of the world for that matter. That would serve Japan's national interests.Job creation in SamawahBeginning in early February, Japan is scheduled to send its GSDF engineering unit and main contingent to Samawah. All personnel will be dispatched by late March. These units, with a total strength of about 550, are charged with purifying and supplying water, and providing medical services.Iraqis are extremely gratified about the start of GSDF activities in their country. Samawah residents reportedly expect the GSDF mission to help create jobs for them. They seem to feel that there is a common link between the SDF and Japanese corporations operating overseas.During Saddam Hussein's rule, the Iraqi government's efforts to improve the country's social infrastructure apparently did not include Samawah. The region still is experiencing a high jobless rate.To complement the SDF's assistance in Iraq's reconstruction, the Foreign Ministry is planning to use official development assistance to employ local Iraqis. They would engage in such tasks as carrying out public works projects, repairing damaged schools and cleaning public facilities.Increasing employment opportunities for Iraqis would help improve their livelihood. Some Iraqis in Samawah were killed or wounded during a demonstration by job-seekers.A decrease in the unemployment rate would make the circumstances surrounding Samawah easier for the SDF's mission. It would also make it more difficult for terrorists to catch SDF personnel off guard.What's wrong with Minshuto?To help SDF members devote their energies to the Iraqi mission, the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi-and the public, for that matter-should work to support the SDF members both physically and mentally.Given this, questions should be raised about the attitude taken in this respect by the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), as well as some lawmakers, including former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Koichi Kato.During a party convention Tuesday, Minshuto is set to adopt a platform for fiscal 2004 that will stress its determination to "even more bitterly confront the ruling parties" during the upcoming ordinary Diet session, with an eye on the House of Councillors election to be held in July. The largest opposition party has also said it will oppose the government plan to send SDF personnel to Iraq as long as the mission is based on domestic law.This dissenting attitude has been echoed by Kato, who has criticized the government, saying, "There is no safe place (in Iraq). Will it be able to defend its decision (on the Iraqi mission) if any SDF members are killed?"Some LDP members reportedly think Koizumi should step down or dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election if any SDF personnel are killed.However, the LDP-led coalition's success in winning the lower house election means that voters supported Koizumi's decision to send SDF personnel to Iraq. No political party or legislator should make any calculated move to undermine Japan's interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2004-01-10	YOSHIN0020040110e01a000ir
YOMSHI0020040110e01b0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040110e01b0000d	EN	\N	Education law must be revised.	The academic abilities of our children have declined, and their zeal for study, both in school and out, is the lowest among the developed nations.	4	2004-01-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Bullying and truancy are still serious problems in schools. An emerging issue is the number of young people who do not work, either through disinclination or through an inability to find jobs.Last year, a 12-year-old boy killed a 4-year child in Nagasaki. An 18-year old college student in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, killed his mother and injured his father and brother, while his 16-year-old girlfriend intended to kill her family.These incidents were emblematic of the "dark shadows" concealed in the hearts of many of Japan's young.The roots of these issues cannot be traced entirely to poverty or social chaos. Before we can come up with measures to deal with these problems, we must analyze the exact causes.Education debate wanderingBut the debate on education in the nation has lost its way.As an example, the education system was criticized for trying to cram too much into students' heads in too short a time, so schools introduced a more pressure-free system that put more weight on recognizing the students' initiative.Unfortunately, the result was a decline in overall academic ability, and schools are now engaged in the major task of teaching basic academic abilities.In another example, at one point it was decided that urging truant students to go to school would only worsen the problem.Based on this, schools refrained from giving truant students any guidance, saying they were respecting the students' individuality.But a panel of experts set up by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry compiled a report last year that urged schools to provide "appropriate guidance" to such students.For some time it was believed that bullying at schools was a uniquely Japanese phenomenon, a result of the reclusive mentality of the Japanese people.But studies, including those on a global scale, have shown that it is a problem in other major countries as well.The reason for the errant course set by these debates on education include an overemphasis on individuality and a tendency by the Japanese to blame themselves for problems.No man is an island. The people and the environment around us are instrumental in helping us develop a sense of values, a positive view of ourselves and trust in others.We have failed to give this natural course of individual development its fair due.Wrongheaded educational concepts have overemphasized the values of individuality and initiative. The Fundamental Law of Education, which barely touches on such important matters, is to blame for this.The law very nearly ignores the importance of family.People taking care of children abused by their parents say such children have great difficulty liking themselves.Children who do not receive love from their parents or from others often lack the ability to develop a positive self-image, and must devote a great deal of energy to compensating for what they lack.In this context, family is an essential component of education. But the law only briefly mentions home education as part of social education.Patriotism not a bad wordThe same problem exists with instilling in our young people a sense of national pride.There are several kinds of national pride. One is a love for your nation that manifests in a sense of belonging in or attachment to the society in which you were born and raised, and to its culture, language and history. Another is a sense of patriotism, which involves understanding that people constitute the nation. Both of these are related to each other and both have a strong influence on the formation of individual identity. They are also the basis of public morality and social norms.Patriotism impels citizens to participate in and feel responsible for the management of a nation, as does democracy.It is vital for the government to develop a healthy sense of patriotism among its youth, as well as a respect for the patriotism felt by people in other countries. But patriotism has been excluded entirely from the education law, which has contributed to the belief that patriotism is equal to militarism, and has led to the situation where the national flag and the national anthem are regarded as taboo in schools.Many Japanese believe that the historical period in Japan from the Meiji Restoration to our defeat in World War II was a terrible one. This is a result of the War Guilt Information Program carried out by the General Headquarters of Allied Powers during the postwar occupation period. The psychological damage resulting from that program lingers today.Today, computerization, globalization, the trend toward a nuclear family and the decline of the birth rate have all combined to cause complicated problems in the education sector.Aiding child developmentBut instead of dealing with problems one by one as they appear, the government should concentrate on helping children develop a stable sense of self, which would aid them in choosing how they live their lives.To realize this, the law should be revised so that children first learn to value family and nation.The National Council on Education Reform, an advisory panel to the prime minister, proposed a revision of the law in December 2000, and the Central Education Council compiled a detailed plan last March.New Komeito, a coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, is cautious about this revision. The party insists that cultivating patriotism will mean forcing the public to love the government. But the party is seeing just the tip of patriotism.The government must submit a bill to revise the law to the Diet, and should generate public debate on a review of education in the past and its direction in the future. Confusion in the education sector will not end until the government sets a guiding principle in this matter.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1029	2004-01-11	YOSHIN0020040111e01b000cj
YOMSHI0020040111e01c00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040111e01c00007	EN	\N	Venturing the rapids on a 'raft of life'.	"It was a time filled with seemingly endless feelings of despair and humiliation..."	4	2004-01-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These remarks can be found in the book "Hatachi-no-koro" (When we were 20), published by Shinchosha, which compiles statements made by prominent people in different fields about what they were like when they were 20 years old.For people turning 20, emotions can run a bewildering gamut, from enthusiasm to anxiety and from self-confidence to self-consciousness. In the middle of all this turmoil, they must also make choices that will influence the course their lives will take.The choices young people make generally reflect the social conditions around them. In recent years, the sluggish state of the economy, changes in the industrial structure and difficulty in finding jobs due to employment policy changes by business firms have led to a new social problem-young people who become job-hopping part-timers or who easily quit regular salaried positions.Young people just marking timeMany people point out that young people are just putting off making life choices when they say they "don't want to take jobs that don't suit them."Still, it is a matter for extreme regret that the time best suited for developing one's abilities to their fullest has become for so many mere wasted years. We hope that young people today will gain an understanding of what it means to work, by tackling even jobs they don't like and letting the experience improve them.Signs of change in young mindsets are already visible.At Rikkyo University, juniors are offered a class called "Jobs and Life," in which business people working at the trenches tell the students about their own working experiences.A 20-year-old female student who took the class said: "I thought when I got a job, I would become just a small cog in the company. But I learned through the lectures that I'll need my own vision." During the summer recess, she took on an internship so she could get an idea of what a real job would be like. Now she has almost made up her mind about which job she will pursue.A public employment security office for young people in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, is always crowded these days.The official in charge believes that "People in their 20s have begun thinking seriously that they can't remain jobless."Could it be that, at long last, a sense of crisis is emerging among these young people who, in an affluent society, have been poking along, just waiting for the perfect job to drop into their laps?A change in mindset neededA symposium on employment for young people was held in central Tokyo last year. One of the panelists called for young people in the audience to change their way of thinking about jobs.He said young people needed to stop lamenting that, "No matter how hard we look for mountains we want to scale, we can't find any." Instead, he said, they should approach job seeking as if they were "venturing into the rapids on a raft, navigating the currents to get downstream and find out what they really wanted to do."His suggestion can be interpreted as a call for young people to get out and get a job-any job-and think about what they want to do with their lives while experiencing the hardships of living in the real world.In Shinchosha's book, many people wrote that they grew as people by working hard even when they were worried about life.Monday marks Coming-of-Age Day. We know only too well that young people are facing hard choices in difficult times. Nevertheless, we hope the 1.52 million young people who will turn 20 years old over the course of the year will have the courage to venture into the real working world, and the endurance to stick it out.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2004-01-12	YOSHIN0020040112e01c00096
YOMSHI0020040112e01d0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040112e01d0000d	EN	\N	Time to expedite efforts on revising Constitution.	Study panels on the Constitution from both houses of the Diet will soon enter a stage of full-fledged coordination, preparatory to their presenting a final report by early next year.	4	2004-01-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In their manifestos presented during last year's House of Representatives election, the Liberal Democratic Party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and New Komeito advocated "amending the Constitution," "creating a Constitution" and "incorporating additions to the Constitution," respectively. All three parties won more seats than they held previously.In comparison, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, both of which advocated protecting the Constitution, sustained disastrous defeats.Given the major setbacks parties opposing amending the Constitution suffered in the lower house election, it is clear that the public understands and realizes the need to amend the nation's highest law.Against this backdrop, the LDP plans to compile an outline before the House of Councillors election scheduled for this summer, in a bid to draw up a draft for a new Constitution next year.Minshuto leader Naoto Kan also has made it clear that his party intends to draw up its own draft for amending the Constitution.Action needed on existing billsNow that amending the charter appears ready to be put on the political agenda, preparations for legislation stipulating concrete procedures for such amendments need to be expedited.There already is a bill for a national referendum and one for revising the Diet Law, which a suprapartisan league of Diet members, excluding the JCP and the SDP, promoting the study on the Constitution compiled in 2001.Hidenao Nakagawa, chairman of the LDP's Diet Affairs Committee, has made it clear that the party intends to submit the two bills to the Ordinary Diet session to convene Monday.The LDP also made it clear in its campaign pledge for the Nov. 9 lower house election and its proposed new party position for 2004 that it wants an early passage of the two bills into law.The amendment to the Constitution and its enactment is an important exercise of sovereignty for the people, and leaving these two pieces of procedural law in stasis is pure political negligence.Opposition denying public willIt is hard to understand the responses of New Komeito and Minshuto, both of which are taking part in the suprapartisan league.New Komeito is negative toward the passage of the two bills into law, saying that to let the Diet passage of the two bills precede all others may lead discussion on the Constitution a specific direction.Although New Komeito has made clear its stance of incorporating additions into the Constitution, the party is negative, probably because it remains extremely cautious at this moment about revising the Constitution itself, including the war-renouncing Article 9-a point at issue.But this stance is absurd.Legislating procedures to revise the Constitution is not related to the issue of how the Constitution should be amended. To continue putting off laws needed for the people to exercise their sovereign right is a dereliction of duty on the part of the ruling parties.The same can be said of Minshuto, the leading opposition party. Even though the bills are not ones over which the views of the ruling and opposition camps conflict head-on, Minshuto plans to seek a thorough Diet deliberation on the bills while presenting its own counterproposals.It is clear that the party wants to avoid seeing the early passage of the two bills on the ground that the passage of the bills would lead to Diet discussion on concrete revisions to the nation's fundamental law, which may bring to the surface intraparty conflict on such issues as national security.For the people to exercise their sovereign right, both the ruling and opposition parties are obliged to exclude party interests and get back to the basics of the Diet as the highest organ of state power. Political leaders should not be allowed to continue their nonfeasance any longer.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2004-01-13	YOSHIN0020040113e01d000gg
YOMSHI0020040113e01e0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040113e01e0000h	EN	\N	'2nd SDF' plan makes no sense.	Minshuto President Naoto Kan proposed at the party's annual convention that a special standby force distinct from the SDF be established to take part in U.N. peacekeeping missions.	4	2004-01-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The proposal is not worth discussing.The idea of forming a special U.N. standby force first emerged in debates to establish the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law. At that time, the proposal was turned down because it was deemed inappropriate to create a "second SDF" that would be inefficient in both systemic and functional terms.We suspect Minshuto came up with a similar proposal because of intraparty disputes. There are lingering objections within Minshuto to the dispatch of SDF personnel overseas, mainly from those from the former Japan Socialist Party who insist that SDF dispatches abroad mean the exercise of armed force. Many Minshuto members also believe it would be easier to approve the SDF dispatch if a relevant U.N. resolution was passed.But regardless of whether an SDF mission is part of a U.N. peacekeeping operation or of a multinational force, participation in international peacekeeping activities should never be interpreted as representing the use of force, which the Constitution renounces as a sovereign right of the nation. In this respect, it is completely inappropriate to link the SDF dispatch to Article 9 of the Constitution.U.N. PKOs at a crossroadsA series of controversies over Iraq made it clear that the United Nations is failing to fulfill its security functions. But even at a time when the United Nations is not functioning properly, it may be necessary to deploy the SDF in certain situations. The dispatch of the SDF to Iraq is a good example in this respect.The envisaged U.N. standby force, which would be unable to take any action without a U.N. request, would be unable to cope with the realities in Afghanistan and Iraq.Since the end of the Cold War, the world has experienced a number of terrorist attacks and regional disputes in the form of civil wars. U.N. peacekeeping operations are at a crossroads because it is often difficult to reach a ceasefire agreement or to obtain an agreement from disputing parties to accept U.N. peacekeeping missions, which are preconditions for U.N. PKOs. In the case of East Timor, the United Nations initially sent multinational forces and later switched to a PKO.Review of SDF role neededThe SDF have made a number of contributions in the field of international peacekeeping activities and have gained trust in the international community for their efforts.According to an opinion poll on diplomacy taken by the Cabinet Office, more than 60 percent of the respondents said they highly evaluated the SDF's participation in U.N. PKOs. Given this, people in this country have become increasingly aware of the importance of such missions.Both the international situation and the environment surrounding the Constitution have drastically changed over the years.We believe it is important to discuss a fundamental question that goes beyond the debate on PKOs-how the SDF should carry out international peacekeeping activities in the future. Kan is not against making use of the SDF in this respect.At the party convention, Kan expressed his intention to present by 2006 an outline of the form the Constitution should take as part of Minshuto's move toward revising the basic law.If so, Article 9 must be discussed from the viewpoint of how to promote international peacekeeping activities in the future. We believe this is a step Minshuto must take as a responsible party aiming to take power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2004-01-14	YOSHIN0020040114e01e000l6
YOMSHI0020040114e01f0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040114e01f0000c	EN	\N	Minshuto takes a historic step.	Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Naoto Kan declared Tuesday at the party's annual convention that Minshuto would present to the people the draft of a new constitution by 2006, which marks the 60th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution. This marked the first time for the head of a leading opposition party to publicly announce a plan to revise the Constitution.	4	2004-01-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ruling Liberal Democratic Party already has decided to draw up draft constitutional revisions by autumn 2005, when the party celebrates its 50th anniversary. Research commissions on the Constitution at the House of Councillors and House of Representatives also will compile reports by early next year. If Minshuto follows suit, moves to revise the Constitution will gain significant momentum.It has been pointed out that the existing Constitution has lost touch with the realities of the world. Since the establishment of the basic law, not only the international situation, but also the Japanese society and economy have changed dramatically. In the diplomatic and security fields, the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces overseas was unforeseeable at the time the Constitution was promulgated.Recently, new concepts of human rights, such as rights pertaining to people's living environment and personal rights, have emerged. At the same time, fears are spreading in society that people are losing an awareness of being members of the public and a sense of morality, both of which are supposed to support a society's sense of community.Ideological squabblesWhat kind of state will be established by tackling such problems? Naturally, it is the responsibility of a political party aiming to take power to review the Constitution in line with changing times and to present a new picture of the state.We would like to take Kan's statement as an indication that he has such an awareness and sense of responsibility.So why has the Constitution not been revised yet? Kan cited three reasons that we believe hit the nail on the head.First of all, the Constitution was drawn up by the GHQ, not by the Japanese people.The second point Kan took up was the ideological confrontation under the political framework set up in 1955, with the ruling LDP and the leading opposition party, the Japan Socialist Party, as key players in the political arena. Since protecting the Constitution was regarded as a dogma because of the Cold War and prevailing pacifist sentiment, calling for a revision of the basic law was long regarded as a taboo in this country.Kan declared his determination to put an end to such fruitless confrontations over ideology.Vision of future state neededAs the final reason, Kan pointed out that interpretations of the Constitution have been left in the hands of bureaucrats. The Cabinet Legislation Bureau, which is a mere cog in the government machine, has only been interpreting the Constitution to make it self-consistent, thus disrupting moves to revise the basic law.For instance, the bureau's interpretation of Article 9-that Japan has the right of collective self-defense, but may not exercise it-has limited and skewed Japan's security policies.As constitutional issues in contention, Kan pointed to the relationship between the central government and local governments, how to hand down a sense of ethics and preserve Japanese culture, and public welfare. He argued that it would be realistic to gradually revise the Constitution on points upon which agreement can be reached. But if the party is serious about promoting debate on a new constitution, every aspect of the current Constitution will have to be debated-no topic should be taboo.The combined number of Diet seats held by the LDP and Minshuto exceeds two-thirds of the number of seats in both the upper and lower houses, the proportion which is required for a bill on revising the Constitution to be proposed. It is time for both parties to take a step toward revising the Constitution by proposing a future picture of the state.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2004-01-15	YOSHIN0020040115e01f000j3
YOMSHI0020040115e01g0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040115e01g0000g	EN	\N	New set of principles on arms exports needed.	Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba's remark about the need to review the nation's three principles concerning Japan's self-imposed ban on weapons exports has the opposition up in arms.	4	2004-01-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Critics immediately reacted to Ishiba's statement by attempting to prevent arguments about the pros and cons of his proposal.Ishiba made the remark in connection with the government's plan to partially review the three principles as a means of expediting joint efforts by Japan and the United States to develop and produce a missile defense system. He said the scope of Japanese efforts should be expanded to include other military technology and nations.He also argued that the government should discuss what kind of approach Japan should adopt in its efforts to develop and produce military equipment in the post-Cold War era.Weapons development around the world is progressing rapidly today. To fulfill their obligations, the Self-Defense Forces should possess equipment commensurate with the technological levels of military hardware used by other countries. Given its dire fiscal straits, this country must reduce the cost of producing military equipment.'Arms trader' charge nonsenseAlthough Ishiba's proposal is convincing in many respects, some opposition parties angrily reacted to his suggestion, saying that he was attempting to "lift the ban on arms exports." They made it sound as if Ishiba wanted Japan to become an "arms trader." This assertion is ridiculous.In fact, Ishiba has emphasized the need to regulate arms exports, saying, "(Japan) should not recklessly sell weapons. Its arms sales must be ethically acceptable."Many nations have reduced military expenditures since the end of the Cold War. At the same time, however, costs have risen as a result of efforts to produce more advanced weapons.This has encouraged arms industries to integrate and realign themselves. Many countries are seeking to jointly develop and build weapons as means of reducing production costs.This can be seen in a U.S.-led project to develop the F-35 fighter. About 10 nations have joined the project, including Britain, Italy and Denmark. Singapore plans to buy the plane.Japan is the only major power to have fallen behind in this respect. This is due to its three principles banning arms exports.Missile defense affectedThe Type 90 tank, which Japan developed on its own, is three times as expensive as a similar U.S. tank. Is it in Japan's interest to strictly adhere to the three principles despite the various problems it faces in bringing its military technology up to par with other nations and reducing production costs? The three principles definitely have to be reviewed.The joint efforts by Japan and the United States to develop the missile defense system is an exception to these principles. However, the two nations are finding it impossible to bring the project to the production stage because of Japan's self-imposed ban on military parts exports. This could prevent the United States from selling jointly developed equipment to other nations. If that happened, Washington would think twice before teaming up with Japan again.In ensuring the nation's peace and security, the government must not only shore up Japan's security arrangements with the United States, it also should recognize the importance of improving the technological level of the nation's defense industry.The three principles were laid down by the administration of Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1967, and revised by the government of Prime Minister Takeo Miki to ban all arms exports in 1976.They were a product of the Cold War and were formulated to suit the domestic circumstances of those days. Therefore, it is time for Japan to create a set of new principles concerning arms exports in a manner suited to the new international situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2004-01-16	YOSHIN0020040116e01g000of
YOMSHI0020040117e01i0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040117e01i0000d	EN	\N	Fighting deflation must top govt's to-do list.	The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, a government panel chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has revised its mid-term economic outlook, which serves as a guiding principle for the government's economic and fiscal management over five years beginning in fiscal 2004.	4	2004-01-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the outlook, the gross domestic product deflator, a major barometer of price changes, is expected to rise 0.1 percent in fiscal 2006, with nominal economic growth exceeding real term growth.But the government has postponed the year the national economy is expected to get out of deflation by one year from fiscal 2005, the year projected in last year's mid-term outlook.Since the Koizumi administration was first inaugurated, the government has announced a mid-term outlook every January. The latest outlook was the third of its kind.In the first mid-term outlook, announced in 2002, the government forecast that deflation would end in fiscal 2003. In the second outlook, announced last January, the government postponed that by two years.Conquering deflation is one of the key issues touted by the Koizumi Cabinet in its economic policy. These continual postponements would seem to indicate that this policy is flawed.Deflation target put off againAnd now the target year has been put off yet again, seemingly because the government has lowered its guard against deflationary trends as, one after another, key economic indicators have lately been suggesting the economy is on a recovery trend.The consumer price index (CPI) temporarily moved into positive territory in October, compared with the same month the previous year. Along with economic pickup, the supply-demand gap, with supply exceeding demand, has gradually narrowed.But we should not underestimate the possibility that temporary factors, including a sharp rise in the price of rice, may have pushed up the CPI.In order to get the economy on a full-fledged recovery track, the present recovery, led by external demand, should be shifted to one led by domestic demand.The task of rescuing the economy from deflation, which prevents a domestic demand-led recovery, should be the administration's top priority.Monetary measures called forAt a conference on economic policy held at the Prime Minister's Office, many in attendance, including scholars, called for the government to make further use of monetary measures to fight deflation.The money supply last year posted its lowest year-on-year growth in 10 years. This indicates that, although the Bank of Japan continued its quantitative easing policy, the effects were limited, particularly for private-sector business.Experts have pointed out that some of the reasons for this limited effectiveness were that the amount of money the central bank supplied to the market was not sufficient to halt deflation and that the nation's banking institutions were prioritizing the disposal of bad loans and at the same time cutting back on new loans in fear they too might turn sour.The Bank of Japan needs to increase the money supply substantially, while the government should formulate a law that would enable it to inject capital into the banks to keep the nation's financial system from becoming unstable.The economy is showing signs of recovery. Now is not the time for the government to lose its determination to fight deflation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	579	2004-01-18	YOSHIN0020040118e01i000az
YOMSHI0020040118e01j00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040118e01j00006	EN	\N	U.S. military might intimidates rogue states.	It is not beyond the bounds of belief that the leaders of those countries named by the United States as "rogue states" sponsoring terrorism might be thinking that when observing the situation former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein now finds himself in.	4	2004-01-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest moves by Libya, Iran and Syria certainly seem to reflect such a possibility.Libya, which has decided to abandon its program for the development of weapons of mass destruction, has reportedly made unofficial contact with Israel, the archenemy of many Arab and Islamic countries.Iran has agreed to normalize ties with Egypt. The two countries broke off relations 25 years ago, when Egypt concluded a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.And then there is Syria. Syrian President Bashar Assad recently visited Turkey, the first head of state from that country to do so since its independence.Assad has also expressed hopes for resuming peace talks with Israel, suspended since January 2000.Libya, Syria, Iran recalculatingWhat Israel, Egypt and Turkey have in common is that each is either a U.S. ally or a pro-United States country. It can be safely assumed that these "rogue" states are trying to deflect U.S. pressure by attempting to develop better ties with these countries.Libya has declared an end to its development of weapons of mass destruction following secret negotiations with the United States and Britain, which lasted nine months. In this instance, the latest development came as a result of diplomatic efforts. But Libya softened its position primarily because of the overwhelming U.S. military power amply on display in the U.S.-led war on Iraq.The presence of this "stick " makes the "carrot" effective.U.S. President George W. Bush has made it clear that the United States is open to improving relations with Libya. The Libyan economy, which has been destroyed by long-lasting U.S. sanctions, will be able to begin recovery if bilateral ties with the United States are restored.If Libya, Iran and Syria have, in earnest, begun exploring ways to cooperate with neighboring countries, it can only be a positive step for the regional stability of the Middle East.But if their latest moves are mere pretense, they will not be taken off the list of terrorism sponsors.N. Korea getting worriedIt has been reported that the three countries had close ties, through such contacts as the provision of missile technology, with North Korea, also listed as a "rogue state."The North Korean government, under its leader Kim Jong Il, must be feeling that all the obstacles standing between Washington and its goal-having Pyongyang give up its nuclear weapons development program-are disappearing.North Korea, apparently keeping a close eye on developments on the international scene, has said that it has been convinced of the effectiveness of the "guns-before-butter" policy and maintains its stubborn stance-while letting a group of U.S. experts inspect its nuclear plant.For those countries who seem to be unable to learn lessons, the continued application of intense pressure is the only option.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	532	2004-01-19	YOSHIN0020040119e01j000g8
YOMSHI0020040119e01k0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040119e01k0000i	EN	\N	Deepen Diet debates on Iraq, Constitution.	The 159th ordinary Diet session, which was convened Monday, will provide the first opportunity for policymakers to carry out full-scale debates over the issue since the Liberal Democratic Party and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) emerged as the two dominant forces in the political arena following the House of Representatives election in autumn.	4	2004-01-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's policy speech focused primarily on the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq. This may be because he recognizes that Japan's international peace cooperation is at a crossroads in its history.Koizumi called for understanding of the SDF dispatch to Iraq, saying it was Japan's responsibility as a member of the international community to contribute to restoring the war-devastated country.In this regard, it was a matter of course for Koizumi to have indicated that financial assistance and manpower contributions were inseparable aspects of helping rebuild Iraq. Assisting Iraq to establish a democratic government would not only help stabilize the international community, but also benefit Japan.Minshuto remains opposed to the dispatch of the SDF, which was accomplished based on the special law on aid to rebuild Iraq. But an advance Ground Self-Defense Force team has already arrived in Iraq, and the main unit also is about to depart for the country, so it would be meaningless to revisit such "theological" questions as "What constitutes a noncombat zone?" or "Will the dispatch result in the exercise of military force?"SDF pullout would look badAs representatives of the people, lawmakers should promote constructive debates on how to create an environment that will enable SDF members to concentrate on their reconstruction mission. We also urge Minshuto to immediately approve the SDF dispatch at the Diet so the SDF mission in Iraq is supported by the entire country.LDP Secretary General Shinzo Abe has made clear that even if the SDF suffered casualties in Iraq, it would not necessarily mean that they would immediately be withdrawn from the country. Minshuto Secretary General Katsuya Okada also said the party would not question the government's responsibility if injuries or deaths of SDF personnel were reported in Iraq.If the SDF were withdrawn immediately after suffering casualties, the international community would view Japan as an Achilles' heel in the war against terrorism. In this respect, it is important for ruling and opposition leaders to indicate their determination not to yield to terrorism.Minshuto's credibility on lineIn his policy address, the prime minister stopped short of referring to constitutional revisions, even though he mentioned the Preamble to the Constitution in connection with the SDF dispatch to Iraq.The LDP plans to unveil a constitutional revision plan in 2005, and Minshuto recently declared its intention to present a new constitution in 2006. Constitutional reform already is on the political timetable.How should the SDF be utilized in international peacekeeping activities? What form should Article 9 of the Constitution take in this regard? Debates on the Constitution should be deepened through Diet deliberations on the Iraq issue.During the current Diet session, a series of important issues, including bills on the privatization of four road-related public corporations, a pillar of Koizumi's much-touted structural reforms, and on pension reform, need to be addressed.Minshuto's stance as a responsible party aiming to take power will be questioned if it squanders Diet debates by opposing the ruling camp as a form of grandstanding ahead of the House of Councillors election in summer.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2004-01-20	YOSHIN0020040120e01k000j4
YOMSHI0020040120e01l0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040120e01l0000k	EN	\N	Unified entrance exam for colleges a bad idea.	Preliminary national entrance exams were conducted over the weekend by the National Center for University Entrance Examinations. They will be followed by private universities' entrance exams, secondary tests set by national and other public universities and the announcement of successful test takers, who will subsequently start enrollment procedures. The long entrance exam season has just begun.	4	2004-01-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In this year's national entrance exams, most state-run universities increased the burden on examinees, requiring them to take tests in seven categories covering five subjects.Many national universities have been reducing the number of test requirements over the years with the aim of diversifying their entrance exams and making them more distinctive. Their decision to do so marked a drastic reversal of their previous policy. They made the decision because they have been forced to offer supplementary lectures for students who lack a wide range of basic knowledge because they concentrated on studying subjects necessary for them to pass university entrance exams at high school.In addition to public and private universities, junior colleges used the national exam center's tests for the first time. As a more diversified student body starts taking the national tests with the participation of junior colleges, even university officials have asked whether it is possible to accurately evaluate students' scholastic ability with the unified tests offered by the center.Follow-up surveys neededIn the secondary tests conducted by individual national universities, a series of mistakes have been uncovered in questions. Given this, it is hard to say that the tests have won examinees' confidence. Following the abolition of the school of general education at universities, which acted as a bridge between high school and university education, the number of faculty members capable of producing entrance exams has declined.In addition, not a few private universities' entrance exams reflect students' scholastic ability less accurately than before because the number of applicants has failed to reach quotas. Some private universities are outsourcing the production and scoring of exams. Behind this phenomenon is the fact that such private schools have been increasing the types of entrance exams and the number of test opportunities so as to attract more applicants.But entrance exams are conducted not only to screen exam takers-they also concern universities' basic principles concerning what they want students to learn. In this regard, we urge schools to make efforts to produce exams consistent with their educational goals.In doing this, it is vital to conduct a follow-up survey on students to verify the relationship between the exam method and students' performance at school and their career course.Schools should grab initiativeAfter World War II, university entrance exams were reformed a number of times, but few were checked for their effectiveness in assessing academic ability. Even though some experts have pointed out the negative effects of reducing the number of exam subjects and increasing the number of test opportunities, such problems have been left untouched-no follow-up surveys have been conducted to determine possible problems with the exams.Recently, the so-called admission office screening method, which places a higher priority on applicants' motivation and aptitude, has been drawing attention. Some private universities whose number of applicants falls short of quotas have launched efforts to use students' performance in entrance exams as a benchmark in deciding which classes they should take. They also have offered study guidance after the students enroll.Both initiatives certainly have high potential, but the same mistakes listed above might be repeated unless their effectiveness is verified.The entrance exam system is being shaken basically because a unified system is no longer able to cope with the current situation under which half of high school graduates enter either university or junior college. In addition, individual schools have different problems and situations. It is time for individual schools to carry out pragmatic reforms independently.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2004-01-21	YOSHIN0020040121e01l000kw
YOMSHI0020040121e01m0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040121e01m0000i	EN	\N	Kan's opening salvo falls wide of mark.	On Wednesday, the ordinary Diet session opened a series of question-and-answer sessions on the policy addresses Prime Minister Junichro Koizumi had delivered at both chambers of the legislature.	4	2004-01-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The major focus of the current Diet session is on the government's decision to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to aid in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq. The highlight of Wednesday's session was a debate between the prime minister and Naoto Kan, leader of the main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).Kan urged Koizumi to step down as prime minister, criticizing his decision on the SDF dispatch. "It (the decision) profoundly violated the principles stipulated in the Constitution, which prohibits (the government) sending the SDF overseas for combative purposes," the opposition leader said.Questions can be raised about Kan's argument. The prime minister has reiterated that the SDF mission is aimed at "playing a role in international peace cooperation activities"-not acts of combat. It is quite obvious to anyone that the SDF dispatch is anything but an attempt to invade Iraq or wage war with Iraqi insurgents.Self-defense not belligerenceSecurity is poor in Iraq due to frequent terrorist attacks conducted by Iraqis loyal to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Given this, the prime minister is correct in saying the dispatch of SDF units is the only option available to Japan in its effort to assist in Iraq's rehabilitation. During his debate with Kan, Koizumi described the SDF as an organ that "has all it needs to conduct activities under difficult circumstances using its accumulated training, and can avert dangers."Kan insisted that if SDF members struck back at terrorist attacks, it would mean that they were using armed force. The prime minister rebutted Kan's assertion, saying, "I do not think that SDF members taking actions to defend themselves are using force in a manner that contravenes the Constitution." Koizumi also argued that "the use of force as a sovereign right of the nation differs entirely from the use of weapons as a means of self-defense."The prime minister had every reason to say so. Kan's argument showed he was mistaken in telling the difference between "use of force" and "use of weapons." Article 9 of the Constitution bans the use of force as a "means of settling international disputes" through acts of aggression.Minshuto has said it opposes sending SDF personnel if the mission is carried out under special legislation for Japan's aid in Iraq's reconstruction. During Wednesday's session, however, Kan described the SDF dispatch as "unconstitutional." How will the largest opposition party explain the discrepancy between its earlier position and Kan's argument?Alternatives not presentedPrior to his debate with Koizumi, Kan said he would present his party's counterproposal in opposing each government policy. However, he never proposed specific ways to ensure that Japan would be able to play a meaningful part in Iraq's reconstruction.An advance team from the Ground Self-Defense Force is already at work in Iraq, and the main GSDF unit will shortly be dispatched to the country. With this in mind, Kan should have conducted an in-depth and constructive debate with the prime minister about what can be done to ensure the safety of SDF personnel and progress in the reconstruction of Iraq. Doing so would have fulfilled Minshuto's obligation as a responsible opposition party.During his party's recent convention, Kan said that Minshuto would present its idea about what kind of constitution will better serve this nation by the end of 2006, after exploring various key issues, including Article 9. However, his argument before the Diet arouse doubts about whether Minshuto intends to seriously debate the issue of constitutional amendment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2004-01-22	YOSHIN0020040122e01m000hu
YOMSHI0020040122e01n0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040122e01n0000e	EN	\N	Resist U.S. pressure to lift beef ban.	One month has passed since the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was reported in the United States. Japan immediately banned U.S. beef imports.	4	2004-01-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Unlike this country, the United States is not inspecting all its cattle, so without the ban infected beef could find its way into Japan. The ban on U.S. beef is entirely appropriate.In response, the United States has pressured Japan to lift the ban, saying that the cow at issue was one imported from Canada and that the U.S. inspection system was adequate.U.S. Agriculture Department officials will meet Japanese government officials in Tokyo on Friday to discuss the issue.The ban on U.S. beef, which accounts for about 30 percent of beef consumed in Japan, is starting to show some effects in this country. For example, beef prices are rising and gyudon beef bowl chains are changing their menus.Food safety main concernHowever, food safety is the key concern. It is unreasonable to accept the U.S. request to lift the import ban unless the safety of U.S. beef is confirmed to be at the same level as in Japan. Washington needs a much stricter inspection system.A month after the first case of mad cow disease was confirmed in Japan in September 2001, the government began inspecting all beef cattle-an unprecedented move-due partly to its failure to immediately ban the use of meat-and-bonemeal feed.This extreme measure led to some good results. Consumer confidence in beef recovered, and some cows younger than 2 years old were found to be suffering from BSE.On the other hand, the United States tests only certain cows, such as those unable to walk.The United States, which previously inspected 20,000 cows per year, said it would raise this number to 40,000. However, this is minuscule compared to the 35 million beef cattle slaughtered annually in the United States.The government sent a fact-finding team to the United States and Canada, and the results of this mission deepened concern.Import from designated farmsThe cow at issue was born in Canada and was raised on meat-and-bonemeal feed, the suspected cause of the disease.The cow was exported to the United States along with 80 others. However, the whereabouts of about 60 of these cows are unknown. This means cows suffering from mad cow disease may exist in the United States.The United States is reluctant to introduce blanket tests on the ground that it is costly to test such a vast number of cows. However, we believe it is possible to inspect all cows from which beef is to be processed and exported to Japan.There is one way for Japan to resume beef exports from the United States. Japan should only import beef from designated farms or slaughterhouses that have been proved free of BSE.Other countries and consumer organizations in the United States also have called for implementation of a stricter inspection system.As the world's largest beef-producing country, the United States should respond responsibly to such opinions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	548	2004-01-23	YOSHIN0020040123e01n000lo
YOMSHI0020040123e01o0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040123e01o0000g	EN	\N	Shortage of doctors must be dealt with.	According to a survey conducted by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, more than 1,100 doctors allowed themselves to be listed as staff members at 51 hospitals, where they accepted payment although they did not provide medical treatment. The hospitals represented more than 60 percent of the 79 hospitals affiliated with public and private universities around the country.	4	2004-01-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Many of those who lent their names are graduate school students.Despite the illegality of the name-lending practice, which is accompanied by fraudulent claims for medical treatment fees under the medical insurance system, it is virtually considered a normal state of affairs at medical institutions.In response to the results of the survey, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, and Tokyo and other prefectural governments decided to investigate hospitals that borrowed the names of doctors and will consider revoking licenses in malicious cases. Stern measures are needed to deal with this illegal practice.Ministries responsibleHowever, structural problems, such as the system surrounding medical institutions, may be faulted for encouraging the unlawful practice. The ministries must be taken to task for not rectifying the situation.Merely criticizing the illegal practice will not get to the root of the problem. Behind this name-lending practice is a shortage of doctors in rural areas.The Medical Service Law stipulates that a certain number of doctors should be available to treat a certain number of patients. If a hospital does not have the required number of doctors, it will see cuts in medical fees paid out under the medical insurance system. About 25 percent of hospitals do not meet this standard. In particular, nearly half the hospitals in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region suffer a severe shortage of doctors.Therefore, many hospitals engage in the name-lending practice to avoid reductions in medical fees. However, isn't it questionable to have a unified standard for doctors in cities and rural areas? Surely it would be better to adopt a more flexible system.Too many hospitals, clinicsConsidering the size of its population, Japan has a large number of hospitals and clinics compared to the United States and Europe. This is one of the causes for the shortage of doctors here. It is necessary to abolish or consolidate medical institutions or to convert some of them into nursing care facilities after investigating local needs.Although the upgrading of local medical services has long been urged, the central government has simply allowed local governments to deal with the matter as they see fit. Local governments in turn have left the matter to universities.It was the name-lending scandal that finally prompted relevant ministries and agencies to set up a liaison council in December to discuss local medical services. Up to now, the central government has been negligent in this regard.The Shimane prefectural government introduced a system in which doctors in remote areas work some of the time in key hospitals in major cities, while those specializing in certain fields at large hospitals in turn provide treatment in remote areas. When doctors in remote areas are temporarily absent for training or to take a vacation, doctors in other areas replace them.This is a good example for other local governments. We should establish a mechanism in which doctors in rural areas are supported by an entire local community.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2004-01-24	YOSHIN0020040124e01o000ka
YOMSHI0020040124e01p0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040124e01p0000a	EN	\N	Is this 'thaw' between India and Pakistan real?	Summit talks were recently held between Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf for the first time in 2-1/2 years.	4	2004-01-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the talks, the two leaders agreed that both countries would next month begin a comprehensive political dialogue in an attempt to settle their problems peacefully-including the territorial dispute over the region of Kashmir, a long-standing bone of contention between the two nations.Given the fact that both countries are nuclear powers, any improvement in bilateral relations must be welcomed as a boost to the security, not only of South Asia, but also of the whole world.We hope the two countries will continue to move forward steadily toward reconciliation.Optimism hard to come byBut it is difficult to be optimistic about the outcome of the political dialogue.The latest cause of enmity between the two nations was a deadly attack by Islamic extremists on the Indian parliament in New Delhi in December 2001.India, claiming that the attack was backed by Pakistan, recalled its ambassador. The two countries increased troop levels in Kashmir, leading to a highly volatile situation in 2002. Fortunately, a fourth war was averted, thanks to the efforts of the international community, including the United States.Last April, in a turning point for the two enemies, Vajpayee entreated Pakistan to mend bilateral relations. Since then, the two countries have taken confidence-building steps, reestablishing ambassador-level diplomatic relations and calling a ceasefire in Kashmir.The main focal point of the political dialogue is the territorial dispute over Kashmir. It has been the cause of two of the three wars fought after the two countries' independence from Britain.While India effectively controls nearly two-thirds of Kashmir, the majority of its residents are Muslims.Pakistan has called for settling the dispute through a local referendum, but India, considering it disadvantageous to the country, has so far refused.India is open to a fixed division of the region along the line of control that separates the two sides, an idea Pakistan strongly opposes.Leaders face hard choicesNeither administration can afford politically to give much ground on the issue.Musharraf narrowly survived two assassination attempts last month, allegedly by Islamic extremists from Kashmir.For Musharraf, who, after severing ties with the then Taliban Islamic leadership in Afghanistan, joined the ranks of countries cooperating in the fight against terrorism, his ability to contain Islamic extremists may be a decisive factor in stabilizing his administration and improving ties with India.India is expected to hold general elections this spring. If Vajpayee gives up too much to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, voters may revolt, putting Vajpayee at a disadvantage in his bid for reelection.The issue will not be easy to settle. The international community should extend its active support so the two countries can move toward easing tension between them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	518	2004-01-25	YOSHIN0020040125e01p000bs
YOMSHI0020040125e01q00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040125e01q00009	EN	\N	Nursing-care system needs thorough review.	The number of people using nursing-care insurance, a system launched in fiscal 2000, has doubled to about 2.9 million since its launch. Along with the increase in the number of insurance beneficiaries, the total cost of the system is projected to increase from 3.6 trillion yen in fiscal 2000 to 6.1 trillion yen next fiscal year.	4	2004-01-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Heavily burdened by this rapid increase in cost, the system has already become difficult to maintain.Under the nursing-care insurance system, those who receive services bear 10 percent of the cost, with the rest being covered by insurance premiums and taxpayers' money.If the system is not changed, it will drag the government's fiscal condition even further down, and could lead to more and more expensive insurance premiums burdening elderly people's lives.The law stipulates that the nursing-care insurance system be reviewed five years after its launch. In line with this, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry began a full-scale review of the system this month, and will draw up a reform proposal by the end of June.To help stabilize funding for the system, the ministry is considering lowering the age of those asked to pay premiums from the current age of 40 and over to those aged 20 and over. It also is expected to examine the possibility of reviewing how much beneficiaries pay for the services they receive.Services not always beneficialBut we believe the services themselves should be reviewed first.People requiring nursing-care services are categorized into six groups depending on the level of assistance they need. A breakdown of people who actually received services showed that the number of people in the two lowest-ranked groups of the six categories-"in need of support" and "in need of nursing care 1"-are increasing rapidly.A separate survey showed that half of those categorized as "in need of support" who received nursing-care services were found to be in poorer physical condition two years later. Given this, it is hard to believe the service is helping them lead an independent life.Day-to-day housework is useful for maintaining and improving physical function in the elderly. If aides do all the things the elderly can actually do themselves, such as cleaning rooms and cooking, they will grow weaker, and the possibility that they will become bedridden increases. The same can be said for such instruments as wheelchairs and electric beds. The use of such devices by those who do not really need them might eventually deprive them of their ability to sit up and walk.Inappropriate use a problemWhat those who require little in the way of nursing care really need is thorough physical rehabilitation designed to prevent the physical functions they retain from deteriorating further. Inappropriate use of nursing-care services must be strictly regulated.In addition to examining which nursing-care services will help the elderly lead independent lives, a system must be put into place to identify inappropriate uses of the service. Care managers, who are responsible for drawing up nursing care plans for individuals, are vital for this task.The government must also urgently review the services provided at nursing-care facilities, which, overall, cost far more than home nursing-care services.In principle, the system places a higher priority on providing home nursing-care services, but in reality, the number of elderly wishing to enter special nursing-care homes and other facilities is increasing all the time. This is caused by a flaw in the system-it costs far less in out-of-pocket expenses for people to live in nursing-care homes than to stay at home, where they must pay for all food and housing expenses.If the number of people entering nursing-care facilities continues to increase, the system will be unable to sustain itself financially, and the government will have to consider making those who live in nursing-care facilities and who can afford it bear a larger share of the financial burden.In order to use limited financial resources more effectively, the central and local governments, as well as recipients and providers of nursing-care services must become more cost-conscious.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2004-01-26	YOSHIN0020040126e01q000hr
YOMSHI0020040126e01r0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040126e01r0000h	EN	\N	GSDF dispatch 1st step in Japan's aid to Iraq.	The government decided to send both the GSDF and the Maritime Self-Defense Force based on the special law on aid to restore Iraq, and Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba issued the order for their dispatch.	4	2004-01-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a member of the international community, which pursues peace and stability, Japan obviously has the responsibility to take part in the reconstruction work in Iraq. But there is a long way to go until Iraq is fully restored. Given this, SDF personnel must be prepared to deal with the threat posed by terrorists.Once the situation in Iraq is stabilized, it will become possible for civilians to engage in reconstruction work in various fields, such as employment, education, electricity generation and the preservation and restoration of cultural assets. In this regard, the SDF should explore ways for civilians to offer assistance.According to reports by members of the GSDF's advance team and others, SDF personnel are expected to restore and improve medical, water supply and other public facilities in the southern city of Samawah.In the face of the worsening unemployment situation in Iraq, it is believed possible that local residents' frustrations over the lack of jobs might result in attacks on coalition forces in the area. Therefore, the government must provide aid centering on job creation in tandem with SDF activities. We believe this would help stabilize the region and ensure the safety of SDF activities.But there is a wide disparity between local residents' expectations and services the SDF can actually offer. Given this, lawmakers should discuss concrete measures to bridge this gap.Kan's remark unhelpfulDuring the Diet interpellation last week, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Naoto Kan criticized the SDF dispatch to Iraq, saying the measure was unconstitutional. In addition, at the House of Representatives Budget Committee, lawmakers continued to engage in "theological" debates on issues such as which areas are noncombat zones.Unproductive constitutional debates were launched again immediately before the departure of the GSDF core unit. SDF personnel sent to Iraq on the government's order must feel like they are being shot at from behind.Even some Minshuto members voiced regret over Kan's remarks, including former party President Yukio Hatoyama. "Kan's statement doesn't necessarily represent the entire party's view. (The dispatch) isn't unconstitutional," he said. He was quite right.More positive on dispatchThree Minshuto lawmakers, including lower house member Koichiro Genba, participated in a ceremony marking the dispatch of the GSDF advance team on Jan. 16. A Diet member who had his secretary attend the ceremony in his place said, "We mustn't leave the SDF under the sole control of the Liberal Democratic Party."Exactly-the SDF belongs to the nation and is beyond the framework of the ruling and opposition parties.People's understanding of the reason for the SDF dispatch to Iraq is gradually deepening.According to the results of a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll conducted this month, 53 percent of those surveyed were positive toward the government's decision to send the SDF to Iraq, when the number of those who evaluated the decision "highly" and "somewhat" were combined. In contrast, only 44 percent of the respondents said they disapproved of the deployment.In response to the public's expectations, SDF personnel should maintain their resolve to carry out their duties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2004-01-27	YOSHIN0020040127e01r000kc
YOMSHI0020040127e01s0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040127e01s0000f	EN	\N	Minshuto's about-face on SDF mission puzzling.	Lawmakers have started discussions on a government request for retroactive approval of its decision to send Self-Defense Forces personnel for Iraq's reconstruction. Minshuto has expressed its objection to the SDF dispatch.	4	2004-01-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Questions can be raised about why the party opposes the SDF mission.Interpellating Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi over his policy address, Minshuto President Naoto Kan blasted the government decision on the dispatch, saying, "It flies in the face of principles stipulated in the Constitution, which prohibits sending SDF units overseas for military objectives."Kan's sentiment was echoed by Nobutaka Tsutsui, a Minshuto member of the House of Representatives, who told the lower house Budget Committee that the SDF dispatch contravened this nation's professed vow to use SDF troops exclusively for its own defense.U.N. peacekeeping operations have been widely accepted by the public as a global mission to be carried out by the SDF. Given their sterile argument, Kan and other Minshuto legislators are no different from JSP members who defended their forcible attempt to delay a vote on a bill aimed at permitting SDF troops to join U.N. peacekeeping missions in 1992 by insisting that dispatching SDF personnel on such missions would violate the Constitution.The SDF dispatch is to assist in Iraq's rehabilitation and extend humanitarian aid to the Iraqis. The mission does not constitute an attempt to conduct "war as a sovereign right of the nation" or use "force as a means of settling international disputes." All this should be perfectly obvious to anyone.Peace at any price for Kan?There is reason to presume that SDF personnel may be forced to strike back at terrorist attacks. However, action of that nature should be regarded as the use of weapons for self-defense-not the use of force.In its manifesto unveiled prior to the lower house election in November, Minshuto expressed a favorable view about using the SDF to aid Iraq's postwar reconstruction, although the party insisted that Japan's aid in this respect must be preceded by a successful effort to establish an Iraqi government and the passage of a U.N. Security Council resolution.In his party's annual convention in mid-January, Kan insisted on establishing a consensus over the circumstances in which sending SDF members overseas would be justified. He also called for an end to "futile ideological arguments" about amending the Constitution.After the ordinary Diet session was convened, however, Kan started arguing his case as if he believed in defending Japan's own peace and security even at the expense of this nation's obligation to play a meaningful role in the defense of global peace-in what could be called "one-state pacifism." His assertion is the kind of argument prevalent in the days of the so-called 1955 political framework.Should Kan's change of heart be interpreted to mean that he feels he has no choice but to criticize the SDF dispatch as "unconstitutional" merely because he can find no ground for opposing the mission?Mission should be approvedMinshuto has repeatedly said the government should not send SDF personnel to Iraq, citing the United Nations' earlier decision to withdraw from that country and the refusal by France and Germany to cooperate with the United States and Britain in Iraq's reconstruction.But the United Nations is seeking a return to international efforts to stabilize Iraq by sending U.N. staffers to the country. The decision by France and Germany to waive a portion of their loans to Iraq apparently reflects their desire to help rehabilitate Iraq.Minshuto also has insisted that "many members of the public are opposed to the SDF dispatch." According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun poll, however, more than half of the respondents expressed favorable views about the mission. The change in public sentiment about the SDF mission might have been reflected in a remark Kan made during his debate with Koizumi in the Diet. "I hope all the SDF members will return home in one piece after fulfilling their duties," he said.If he truly hopes for the SDF's safe return home, Kan and other Minshuto members should work to revise this nation's standards for the use of weapons by SDF members to make them conform with those that apply in many other nations. Earlier, the party expressed a favorable view on revising the rules of engagement.The government's request for the approval of the SDF mission should be fulfilled with the backing of a majority of lawmakers who have constructively debated the issue. This would show the world Japan's desire to fulfill its obligations in the international community.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	847	2004-01-28	YOSHIN0020040128e01s000nt
YOMSHI0020040128e01t0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040128e01t0000g	EN	\N	Worst-case mind-set needed over bird flu.	Since late last year, cases of avian influenza have been confirmed in 10 Asian nations and territories, including Japan, and there are signs the epidemic is spreading.	4	2004-01-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government has banned chicken imports from these countries and territories, which is certain to deal a serious blow to consumers and the food service industry.In Japan, the disease has been confirmed only in one location. The government must implement all possible measures to contain the epidemic.Infectious disease specialists are extremely concerned that the bird flu virus may mutate into a human influenza virus. In a statement, the World Health Organization warned that the avian influenza could develop into an extremely infectious human disease.Unity is strengthTo ensure the safety of their food and protect the health of their peoples, nations affected by the disease must take concerted action to contain the epidemic, including the slaughter of affected birds. A successful fight against bird flu calls for keeping a global watch on the spread of the disease and united action in tackling it. To achieve this, the government should not scrimp on financial and technical support for a campaign to fight the disease.The importance of disclosing information about the disease must be emphasized. The best way to combat an infectious disease is to take swift measures at an early stage. However, many nations affected by the epidemic were late in revealing relevant information. It is difficult to say that they took heed of the bitter lessons learned from the spread of SARS last year.The list of influenza strains that ran rampant in the past includes Spanish flu in 1918, Asian flu in 1957 and Hong Kong flu in 1968. Spanish influenza caused an estimated 40 million deaths worldwide, although its virus was avirulent.The bird flu virus is virulent. If this virus mutated into a human influenza virus, the consequence could be catastrophic. The damage to people's health and the confusion arising from such a scenario could be even greater than when Spanish flu swept the world. To prevent this, Japan's cooperation with other nations in fighting the epidemic must be complemented by an effort to take precautions at home.New vaccines neededThe government should immediately consider stockpiling medicine needed to treat the disease. An antiviral drug used to cure influenza is believed to be effective against a mutated bird flu virus.Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi has acknowledged the need to stockpile antiviral agents. Measures should be taken to implement this policy as soon as possible.The current flu vaccine will not work against the feared mutated virus, and it takes about six months to develop a new vaccine. The process should be shortened by taking advantage of such state-of-the-art technologies as gene splicing. It also is necessary to ensure that large quantities of vaccine can be produced and distributed.The government must take swift action if a new type of flu breaks out in this country, including compulsory quarantine. Hesitation in this respect could mean irreparable damage. The central and local governments should draw up detailed action plans and conduct practice drills in preparation for a worst-case scenario.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	565	2004-01-29	YOSHIN0020040129e01t000iu
YOMSHI0020040129e01u0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040129e01u0000g	EN	\N	Policy assessment leaves room for improvement.	The policy assessment is intended to be used by member companies of Nippon Keidanren as a guideline for extending political donations to the two parties so that business circles can gain a larger say in the political arena.	4	2004-01-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 1994, the Federation of Economic Organizations, Nippon Keidanren's predecessor, ended its intermediary role regarding political donations from member companies. This assessment of the policies of the political parties marks the first time in a decade the organization has involved itself in guiding its members in making donations to political parties.As corporations are an intrinsic component of society, it is natural for them to try to influence policies through donations.Nippon Keidanren, an organization that represents the interests of the business world, plays a role in mediating conflicts among different industries from a wide economic and social perspective. The policy assessment, therefore, not only must be considered worthwhile to companies, but also to the public.However, the assessment report leaves much to be desired.Many ambiguous pointsThe report covers 10 policy areas, including reform of the tax and social security systems. It graded policies of the LDP and Minshuto on a scale from A to E. However, there are many ambiguous points regarding the criteria on which the parties were graded.For example, the LDP was rated A in its efforts to establish a creative nation promoting science and technology, while Minshuto received a C. But there seems to be no major difference between the two parties in this category because Minshuto presented a practical proposal to promote cooperation between industry and academia in the manifesto it drew up before the House of Representatives election in November.In this regard, Nippon Keidanren should provide reasons why its assessment differed.Predictably, Minshuto's grades were lower overall than the LDP's.In the next assessment, scheduled in six months, Nippon Keidanren will include a new area-actual achievement.Disadvantageous to oppositionOpposition parties rarely have their policies reflected in the decision-making process of the government and ruling parties. This is clearly disadvantageous for them. The report should take into consideration such factors as the comments an opposition party makes and its stance in debates on the revision of bills proposed by the ruling camp.In addition, Nippon Keidanren needs to disclose information about discussions held during the assessment process and make other efforts to make the process more transparent.The business organization wants political parties receiving corporate donations to disclose how that money is used. Monitoring this money to make sure it is used properly is natural, and political parties should not hesitate to disclose such information.Political parties also should ask Nippon Keidanren to account for the grades they have been given if they are dissatisfied. As the business organization provides a venue for dialogues with both the LDP and Minshuto, policy debates could be invigorated.Political parties will be graded from diverse points of view if Nippon Keidanren's assessment encourages other economic organizations and private research institutes to begin their own moves in this direction.We hope the policy assessment will encourage political parties to formulate policies designed to achieve tasks facing the country both at home and abroad.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2004-01-30	YOSHIN0020040130e01u000jg
YOMSHI0020040130e01v0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040130e01v0000g	EN	\N	Sanctions needed to pressure N. Korea.	A Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law revision bill, which would permit the suspension of remittances to and trade with North Korea, is certain to be passed by the House of Councillors early next month. The Liberal Democratic Party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and New Komeito all support the bill.	4	2004-01-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Later, a group of lawmakers are expected to submit to the Diet a bill under which North Korean ships will be prohibited from calling at Japanese ports when they are deemed to pose a threat to Japan's security.Also under study is a bill to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law, which would allow the government to prevent foreign nationals with permanent residency status, who are considered a threat to Japan's security, from reentering Japan.The measures to prohibit ships from calling at Japanese ports and foreign nationals from reentering Japan would cover all aspects, from money and goods to people. It is important for these bills to be passed into law by the current Diet and to establish a system whereby the government can readily impose such restrictions.Dealing a heavy blowThe government estimates that annual remittances from Japan to North Korea totaled about 4 billion yen over the past few years. Bilateral trade with North Korea stood at 45.3 billion yen in 2002, with Pyongyang enjoying a favorable trade balance of 12.2 billion yen.Imposition of sanctions-even the revised foreign exchange law alone-would deal a heavy blow to North Korea as its economy is in tatters. It is desperately trying to earn hard currency through such means as narcotics trafficking and counterfeiting dollars.Alarmed at the possibility of sanctions, Pyongyang keeps repeating that it "would consider such sanctions a declaration of war (by Japan)." This is proof that North Korea is taking recent developments seriously.North Korea's nuclear arms development and its development and deployment of ballistic missiles pose a serious threat to Japan's security.Yet the schedule for a second round of six-nation talks, a forum primarily aimed at having Pyongyang abandon its nuclear weapons development program, has yet to be set.Use measures correctlyIn regard to the abductions of Japanese nationals to North Korea-a state crime-Pyongyang has, since late last year, hinted at resolving the stalemated issue by having former abductees reunited in Japan with the families they left behind in North Korea. While calling such overtures "part of our sincere efforts" to resolve the issue, Pyongyang has so far refused to resume intergovernmental talks.The government needs to use sanctions effectively, especially in pressing North Korea to settle pending issues. Using this trump card without clear objectives would be useless. It would also be meaningless if it cannot be used at any time deemed fitting.Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said if North Korea caused the situation to deteriorate, Japan would immediately confer with the United States and South Korea.This could be taken to mean that Japan would take punitive measures if North Korea escalates tension. This would be a reasonable response.If Japan takes unilateral punitive measures, the pressure on Pyongyang will be increased significantly. North Korea would be well-advised to take the implications of such developments seriously.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	579	2004-02-01	YOSHIN0020040201e021000cs
YOMSHI0020040131e0210000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040131e0210000d	EN	\N	Discord over dispatch clouds clarity of goal.	The House of Representatives approved a government request for retroactive permission for the dispatch of the SDF early Saturday morning in a plenary session boycotted by opposition parties and backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.	4	2004-02-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The House of Councillors also is expected to endorse the dispatch in a plenary session in early February.On policies concerning security and international peacekeeping activities, it is best to win agreement from the widest possible range of Diet members, beyond the framework of ruling and opposition parties. In light of this, the boycott of the plenary session by opposition parties was extremely regrettable.A historic momentThe dispatch of the SDF to Iraq marks a historic turning point in Japan's international cooperation activities.Advance teams of the Air and Ground Self-Defense Forces already have set up shop in Iraq, and the government has issued dispatch orders for the main units of the ASDF, GSDF and the Maritime Self-Defense Force. The main GSDF unit will leave the country, possibly as early as Tuesday, to construct a camp in Iraq and begin work on the restoration and maintenance of various public facilities in the country.The SDF dispatch marked the first step in Japan's long-term plan for aiding in the reconstruction of Iraq. The SDF's mission is to establish an environment in which they can work with civilians in many different fields, with an eye to the formation of a new Iraqi government.However, Diet deliberations on the SDF dispatch brought some problems to light.The mistaken belief that a city council was still operative in Samawah certainly cast doubt on the government's ability to collect accurate information upon which to base its decisions. We urge the government to be fully prepared by making use of local information to ensure the safety of SDF personnel.The LDP itself was divided over the SDF dispatch to Iraq, with some members failing to accede to the party's request to vote for permission for the dispatch. Former LDP secretaries general Koichi Kato and Makoto Koga left the chamber before the vote was held. Former Policy Research Council Chairman Shizuka Kamei, along with some other members, stayed away from the session entirely. This discord within the ruling party must have made SDF personnel awaiting dispatch very uneasy.The government decided to send SDF personnel to Iraq to enhance international cooperation and strengthen the Japan-U.S. security alliance. Efforts to ensure the stability of the Middle East will eventually serve Japan's national interests.Security too important to bickerIt is only to be expected that there will be differences of opinion, even within parties.But security is a matter of basic policy, vital to Japan. It poses a problem when one of the ruling parties cannot reconcile its differences on such an important matter.Previously, both Kato and Kamei ran for the LDP presidential election. They did not agree with the government's request for approval of the SDF dispatch-but neither did they provide concrete ideas of their own as to how to help in the reconstruction of Iraq. They are not worthy to be called responsible politicians.If Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) members had not boycotted the lower house plenary session, some of its conservative members were expected to abstain from the voting because they reportedly wondered whether it was appropriate for a party trying to take power to oppose the SDF dispatch to Iraq.The confusion over the Diet's endorsement of the SDF dispatch illustrates the necessity of reorganizing the political world based on common principles and basic policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2004-01-31	YOSHIN0020040210e01v0000e
YOMSHI0020040201e0220000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040201e0220000b	EN	\N	Ota must demonstrate that she has what it takes.	In other recent gubernatorial elections, unaffiliated voters have propelled candidates to the winning ranks. Ota, who was jointly backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), New Komeito and the Social Democratic Party, won by a wide margin.	4	2004-02-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In her second term, Ota will face many pressing problems, including the Kansai region's slumping economy, Osaka Prefecture's fiscal condition, which is on the verge of collapse, and public security, which has become the worst in the nation.According to a preelection Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll, 48 percent of those surveyed said they supported Ota's four-year effort to reinvigorate Osaka during her first term, while 40 percent said they did not. Though more people supported Ota's efforts, it can hardly be said that she charted a clear course for revival.Now Ota must be aware that her ability to draw up policies and put them into practice will be tested. In her second term, she must exert leadership as governor and carry out necessary policies without hesitation.Osaka finances in shamblesOsaka Prefecture is saddled with debts that are increasing all the time. Currently, they amount to 4.7 trillion yen. The prefectural government's ratio of current income to current expense, a guage that shows how tight a financial situation is, has been ranked the worst among all prefectures in the country for 11 consecutive years.In addition, as a result of an ever-accelerating overconcentration of businesses, schools and other entities in Tokyo, Kansai is hollowing out.If the prefecture is to be restored to fiscal health, it will be necessary to increase the efficiency of public works projects, cut back on personnel costs and further streamline and merge semipublic joint venture companies.At the same time, the Osaka prefectural government needs to increase financial assistance to small and midsize businesses and strengthen measures to create employment.Ota must introduce the necessary policies without taking into consideration the wishes of the political parties that supported her in the election. The ruling parties, too, must help the governor implement policies for the revival of Osaka, rather than placing top priority on their own interests.The election was in effect a three-way race among Ota, former House of Councillors member Takenori Emoto, who was not backed by any parties, and Shoji Umeda, a lawyer backed by the Japanese Communist Party.Popularity not enough this timeAlthough Emoto tried to use his popularity as a former player for the Hanshin Tigers, he failed to win the support of floating voters. Because he has no experience in administration, his ability as a governor was unknown quantity.According to the Yomiuri Shimbun survey, among those who cast ballots in the 1999 gubernatorial election for Yokoyama Knock, a former Osaka governor who was forced to step down in the wake of a scandal, only slightly more than 23 percent said they planned to vote for Emoto. This suggests that many people had not forgotten the bitter experience of voting on the basis of Yokoyama's popularity, rather than his abilities as a politician.Voter turnout was the lowest in history.Because Minshuto, which is at odds with the LDP and New Komeito at the national level, supported Ota together with the ruling parties, there was no real policy debate between the parties, resulting in a very dull campaign. While the LDP and Minshuto tout themselves as "two major parties" opposing each other in national-level politics, they seemed to have no trouble getting in bed together to back the same candidate. Voters might have felt a little embarrassed for them.Of course, national-level confrontations do not necessarily belong in local politics. However, the political parties have a vital responsibility to vitalize local politics by competing to present a variety of policies and options.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2004-02-02	YOSHIN0020040202e022000fr
YOMSHI0020040202e0230000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040202e0230000h	EN	\N	Opposition camp dodging duties.	On Monday, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and other opposition parties rejected calls from the ruling parties to open discussions at the House of Councillors Budget Committee, a move that derailed all parliamentary sessions. The opposition bloc's action was a response to the ruling coalition's move to adopt a government request for the retroactive approval of the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq at a House of Representatives plenary session boycotted by opposition lawmakers.	4	2004-02-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Tuesday, the first batch of Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to be sent to Iraq for its reconstruction is scheduled to leave for the war-ravaged nation on a government plane. SDF members and their families may feel troubled by the fact that Diet sessions were derailed as a result of the opposition parties' refusal to attend parliamentary debates in protest against the dispatch of the SDF units to Iraq.The Diet is a forum for parties to discuss politically contentious issues and present their policies. By boycotting Diet sessions, opposition political parties and lawmakers abandoned their obligations.Argue case in DietDuring the days of the conservative-leftist tug-of-war, the former Japan Socialist Party often chose to boycott Diet sessions as a means of getting itself noticed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The JSP's tactics reflected its self-centered stance as a "perpetual opposition party" that was not concerned about trying to replace the LDP as the party in power. The Social Democratic Party, the JSP's successor, has seen its power wane because of its failure to respond to the changes facing this nation both at home and abroad in the post-Cold War era as a result of its irresponsible attitude toward politics.This also was the case with Shinshinto (New Frontier Party), an opposition party formed in 1994 that many people expected to play a role in the emergence of a system in which power would alternate between two major parties. During the ordinary Diet session in 1996, however, Shinshinto members refused to attend Diet sessions and carried out a sit-in in front of the lower house Budget Committee chamber. The action was taken to protest the government's policy on the liquidation of failed housing loan corporations.Shinshinto's approach hurt its popular image so much that it broke up in late 1997.Minshuto presents itself as a "responsible party" that seeks to take power. Few people believe the largest opposition party intends to risk making the same mistake the JSP and Shinshinto did.The opposition camp is criticizing the government for repeatedly changing its tune when asked by the opposition whether the city council of Samawah-the town in southern Iraq where the SDF will be dispatched-is functioning. The opposition parties are deeply opposed to the dispatch.If they believe their opposition is well founded, they should state their case before the Diet so voters can pass judgment on who to believe-the ruling or opposition parties.Important legislation delayedPrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must continue to answer every question raised about Japan's aid in the reconstruction of Iraq. At the same time, however, the opposition parties-Minshuto among others-should present and explain their own ideas about what role this country should play in helping rehabilitate and stabilize Iraq. They also should discuss the Japan-U.S. relationship in connection with this nation's commitment to Iraq's reconstruction.Despite their objection to the SDF's Iraqi mission, the opposition parties surely hope the SDF members sent to Iraq will return home in one piece. An important task facing all legislators is to conduct constructive debates about what should be done to ensure that the SDF personnel can carry out their activities safely and make progress in the reconstruction of Iraq.The opposition camp's refusal to attend Diet sessions has delayed government efforts to obtain retroactive permission from the Diet for the dispatch of the SDF personnel and to pass the fiscal 2003 supplementary budget through the Diet. These matters are not expected to clear debates at the Diet before Monday.The current gridlock could adversely affect parliamentary discussions on the fiscal 2004 budget and such important bills as one aimed at reforming the state-run pension system. This is disturbing in that an upper house election will take place in July, meaning that it will be difficult to extend the ongoing ordinary Diet session, which will end June 16.What should political parties and lawmakers should do under the circumstances? This question is a test of whether they can think and behave with common sense and reason.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	810	2004-02-03	YOSHIN0020040203e023000kf
YOMSHI0020040203e0240000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040203e0240000g	EN	\N	All overseas missions entail element of risk.	U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has said that the dispatch of SDF units to Iraq constitutes an attempt to "redefine Japan's role in the world."	4	2004-02-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Tuesday's departure was the GSDF's first mission overseas if its involvement in U.N. peacekeeping operations is excluded. Given this, the latest dispatch of GSDF personnel should be viewed as indicating Japan's desire to open a new horizon in its international peace cooperation activities. The success of the SDF mission-or lack of it-is bound to affect Japan's position in the international community.Armitage has told Japan that Iraq is not safe at present. This stark fact shows that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is correct in insisting that the SDF are the only organ capable of performing Japan's task of aiding in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq. His assertion is gaining greater acceptance among the public.However, some critics have argued that the SDF members sent to Iraq should withdraw from their operations in the war-ravaged nation. They are defending this claim by saying that if the SDF personnel struck back at terrorists attacking them during their activities in Iraq, their action would constitute the "use of force." Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has opposed the government decision to send SDF units to Iraq under special legislation for Japan's aid in that country's rehabilitation, although the leading opposition party has said it will support Japan's commitment to U.N. peacekeeping activities to be conducted after a U.N. resolution is adopted.PKOs dangerous, tooIt should be noted, however, that U.N. peacekeeping is not necessarily a risk-free proposition. Admittedly, no SDF member was killed during the GSDF's operations in Cambodia in 1992 and 1993. But Haruyuki Takada-a police superintendent sent to join the U.N. Transitional Authority in Cambodia as an unarmed officer-was killed by an armed group that attacked him during the pursuit of his duties.Another example can be seen in the SDF's humanitarian relief operations for Rwandan refugees in 1994. The SDF's mission in that country was highly dangerous in that SDF personnel were at risk of being attacked by armed insurgents disguised as refugees.In the past, about 100 personnel from Canada, France, Britain and other nations were killed while fulfilling their duties under U.N. peacekeeping missions. This fact seems to have affected Minshuto's stance on the SDF's use of weapons. The party has insisted on relaxing the standards for the use of weapons by SDF members performing their duties in U.N. peacekeeping. Undoubtedly, Minshuto's stance reflects its awareness that peacekeeping activities entail risks.Back the troopsIn 1992, the former Japan Socialist Party fiercely opposed a bill to adopt the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law, which the Diet passed after stormy sessions. The media also were divided over the law aimed at sending SDF personnel on overseas missions for the first time since the end of World War II. The government's decision to send SDF members on U.N. peacekeeping missions in Cambodia was opposed by political parties and news organizations that are objecting to the dispatch of the SDF troops to Iraq.Risks are involved not only in the SDF's Iraq mission conducted under the law on Japan's aid in that country's reconstruction; sending SDF personnel overseas under a U.N. resolution is no less hazardous.Currently, personnel from 37 nations are carrying out activities in Iraq. Some nations have been singled out as terrorist targets. Still, no nation has pulled out of Iraq. With this in mind, Japan should never be allowed to abandon its duty to help rehabilitate and stabilize Iraq as a means of playing a responsible role in the defense of global peace and security.If anyone needs to be reminded, the dispatch of the SDF members to Iraq is aimed at aiding in humanitarian and reconstruction activities in that nation. This should be taken to heart by critics who have repeatedly said that the latest SDF mission is an attempt to use force in war. Harping on that line of argument will only serve to unsettle the SDF personnel already sent to Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	767	2004-02-04	YOSHIN0020040204e024000kt
YOMSHI0020040204e0250000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040204e0250000e	EN	\N	Pyongyang's N-ambitions paving way for sanctions.	The North Korean regime under its leader Kim Jong Il has agreed to the resumption of the talks probably because it has concluded it would be unwise to continue to refuse to hold the talks. Doing so would only reinforce the resolve of the international coalition against North Korea's nuclear development program.	4	2004-02-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One year has passed since North Korea resumed its nuclear development program, yet so far there have been no prospects for a peaceful settlement of the issue.The current deadlock has been primarily due to North Korea, which is moving ahead avowedly to arm itself with nuclear weapons, while breaking the promise it made under an 1994 accord with the United States.Rattling plutonium saberLast month, North Korea invited an unofficial delegation of U.S. experts to inspect a key nuclear complex in Yongbyong. Saying they had recently completed reprocessing spent fuel, North Korean officials showed the delegation a 200-gram piece of plutonium made from spent nuclear fuel rods. The officials also let the delegation view the operation of a five-megawatt nuclear reactor.If we take what Pyongyang has claimed at face value, that nation has extracted enough plutonium to produce five or six nuclear weapons. It also has acquired the technology to produce nuclear weapons at a rate of one a year.It is obvious that North Korea is showing off its nuclear development capability in a bid to win concessions from the United States.North Korea is demanding that it be taken off the U.S. list of "rogue states" that assist terrorism, while at the same time calling for international assistance in the supply of heavy oil and electricity, in exchange for freezing its nuclear development program.However, Japan, the United States and South Korea are not demanding a mere freeze of the nuclear program, but the complete, irreversible and verifiable abandonment of it.We must not accept such a self-serving demand from Pyongyang as a moratorium on its nuclear program, which is an attempt to win rewards without surrendering the fruits of its nuclear development program.N. Korea's fate in own handsIn addition, North Korea also has denied that its nuclear development program utilizes highly enriched uranium (HEU), the issue that rekindled international concern over North Korea's nuclear program.But components of a centrifugal separator, needed for enriching uranium, were discovered by German authorities on board a ship in the Mediterranean Sea in transit from Germany to North Korea.A Pakistani scientist who was in charge of developing an HEU-type nuclear weapon has admitted he was involved in transferring nuclear technology to North Korea.These are serious issues that cannot be overlooked, and Pyongyang needs to clear itself of these suspicions.Should North Korea abandon its nuclear ambitions, the way can be opened for it to receive such international assistance as economic cooperation. But should it insist on going ahead with nuclear development, it cannot avoid facing sanctions.Japan is consolidating legislature so that it can unilaterally impose sanctions on North Korea. The planned revision of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law is just the first step.In order to pressure North Korea to resolve the issue of its nuclear weapons and missile development as well as its abduction of Japanese, the international coalition needs to be further solidified. Japan, for its part, needs to assume a suitable role.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2004-02-05	YOSHIN0020040205e025000hu
YOMSHI0020040205e0260000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040205e0260000e	EN	\N	Russo-Japanese War good learning experience.	We should recall that the war, which is fading from the memories of Japanese, was fought with the fate of the nation at stake.	4	2004-02-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In those days, most countries in Asia and Africa were colonies of the great European powers or the United States. The grim reality was that weak countries were ruled by strong ones.Aiming to expand its influence southward, Russia occupied Manchuria and was looking for an opportunity to establish a foothold on the Korean Peninsula. Confident of its military might, Russia rejected a Japanese proposal that Manchuria be placed under Russia's influence, while Japan took the peninsula under its wing.Fearing that Japan's sovereignty would be threatened if the Korean Peninsula came under Russia's control, Japanese leaders opted to confront that country.Deliberate preparationsPreparations were thorough. Japan concluded the Anglo-Japanese Alliance to ensure that London maintained a benevolent neutrality. From an early stage, Japan had asked the United States to mediate a reconciliation.Japan's victory over Russia took the entire world by surprise. It gave colonized nations hope in their drive toward national independence, not only Russian-controlled northern and eastern European countries, but also Asian and African countries from Egypt to Vietnam. This movement led to the collapse of the colonial rules of the European powers and the United States.Literally, the war altered world history.During the Allied Occupation after the end of World War II, discussing the Russo-Japanese War was proscribed because it was feared that doing so would lead to a resurgence of Japanese militarism. Books featuring that war were confiscated.The battleship Mikasa, which fought valiantly in the Battle of Tsushima, had its turrets and other parts dismantled at the request of the Soviet Union as part of the demilitarization of Japan. The warship was once used as a dance hall.Shiba book revives interestThis atmosphere prevailed for a time even after the Allied Occupation ended and Japan regained its sovereignty.The book "Saka no Ue no Kumo" (Clouds at the Top of the Slope), written by historical novelist Ryotaro Shiba, revived interest in the Russo-Japanese War. Shiba gave a lively depiction of the people during the Meiji era (1868-1912), who used their ingenuity to fight an uphill battle.Shiba, who was critical about the course the country took after the Russo-Japanese War, is known for his "Shiba shikan," or Shiba's historical views.We may learn by comparing the Russo-Japanese War with the reckless wars the country became involved in later. However, it makes no sense simply to draw a line before and after the Russo-Japanese War. We cannot judge right or wrong during these early days by comparing them with today's events.On the occasion of the centennial of the Russo-Japanese War, we should review the country's modern history from a variety of perspectives. This would help teach us to think more deeply about Japan today.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	528	2004-02-06	YOSHIN0020040206e026000l9
YOMSHI0020040206e0270000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040206e0270000e	EN	\N	Parties must act quickly on Constitution revision.	The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) have embarked on substantial debates at their respective Research Commissions on the Constitution. We hope these debates will help define what kind of country Japan should be in the future and bring the supreme law into line with the real world.	4	2004-02-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP has decided to draft a new constitution by autumn 2005. In addition, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has instructed the party to examine the possibility of having the prime minister elected by direct vote, rather than by Diet members as at present, and review the Diet's bicameral system.New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, has said it would like to add new concepts to the Constitution, such as the right to a healthy environment, the right to protection of privacy and the right to free access to information.Minshuto, which plans to draft its version of a new constitution in 2006, has set up five subcommittees with the task of coming up by the end of this year with specific recommendations on such subjects as "what kind of country should Japan be," "human rights" and "decentralization and autonomy."Significant changes to societyNaoto Kan, leader of the opposition party, said earlier, "Considering that the Supreme Court's constitutional review system is not functioning, we should discuss the possibility of establishing a constitutional court as part of our debate on a revision of the Constitution."What these moves and remarks indicate is that the gap between the Constitution and reality has reached its limit.Both the international situation and Japanese society have changed significantly since the promulgation of the Constitution. New concepts, such as the aforementioned right to a healthy environment, have emerged one after another. The advent of the Internet has resulted in another problem-the right to the protection of privacy.Behind the start of serious debate within the political parties is the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq.With Japan assuming a greater role in the international community, no party can remain on the sidelines when it comes to debating how the SDF should be used and how to deal with with Article 9 of the Constitution.New Komeito deserves praiseNew Komeito has decided to debate all issues, including Article 9, in order to gather opinions by November, when it will hold a convention. The party's latest decision to change its policy of keeping Article 9 intact should be praised as a step forward.Kan has called for the establishment of a standby force, distinct from the SDF, to take part in U.N.-organized peacekeeping operations. What is wrong with the SDF participating in U.N. missions? Even within the party, many members oppose Kan's suggestion.If Minshuto really believes it is capable of taking the helm of government, it should clarify its stance on the effective use of the SDF and the Constitution.In July, half of the House of Councillors seats will be up for election. A major issue during the election campaign should be what direction the country should take under a new constitution.The LDP plans to submit to the current ordinary session of the Diet a bill for a national referendum that will stipulate the procedures to be taken for a constitutional revision.New Komeito, however, has shown signs of rejecting this move, citing the tight parliamentary schedule. This reason is not convincing. Minshuto's wait-and-see attitude is also questionable.If they are trying to slow the movement toward revising the Constitution or are simply engaging in political maneuvers, they should realize they are subverting the purpose of constitutional debates.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2004-02-07	YOSHIN0020040207e027000kh
YOMSHI0020040207e0280000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040207e0280000f	EN	\N	Monju reactor should be restarted soon.	The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has approved a modification plan for the reactor, creating an environment-at least in technical terms-that favors getting things back on track.	4	2004-02-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To cope with its lack of natural energy resources, Japan has been trying to establish a nuclear fuel cycle that uses uranium efficiently. The Monju reactor is the pivotal experimental facility for the project.A fast-breeder reactor burns plutonium and uranium, producing more plutonium than it consumes. It thus greatly enhances the efficient combustion of fuels, resulting in the emission of less radioactive waste than in conventional nuclear power reactors,The Monju reactor was completed in 1985 by the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation-now the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute-at a cost of about 600 billion yen. In 1994, it reached the point of criticality-where the nuclear fission chain reaction becomes self-sustaining-for the first time. In August 1995, the facility began electricity transmission trials.Shutdown an overreactionHowever, in December 1995, there was a coolant leak. Operations at the reactor have been suspended ever since-an overreaction, given that the accident was not a critical one. Over that period, about 200 billion yen has been spent on upkeep.Interested parties abroad also are anticipating the resumption of operations at the Monju reactor. Many countries have scaled back their own fast-breeder reactor research projects because uranium ore is available at relatively low costs. But they remain keen to study fast-breeder reactor technology in preparation for a future scarcity of uranium. France would like to collaborate with Japanese researchers on the Monju project.There are some hurdles to be overcome.One of these is the ruling in a court case involving the Monju reactor. In January last year, the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court nullified the government's 1983 permission for construction of the reactor, citing flaws in its safety examinations.Court case pivotalThe high court ruling pointed out that the government had failed to look into the possibility that the reactor might develop a serious problem. But some experts are strongly critical of the ruling.The central government, which has appealed the high court decision to the Supreme Court, intends to let the institution go ahead with its modification plan. But if the Supreme Court rules against the government, it will have to go back to square one.Furthermore, the consent of the Fukui prefectural government and the municipal government of Tsuruga-where the Monju reactor is located-is necessary before any modifications can be made to the reactor and before it can resume operation.The Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute has held briefing sessions for residents living near the reactor and has gained the understanding of the local community.In November, a panel of experts commissioned by the prefectural government in 2001 compiled a report that said the modifications would ensure the safety of the Monju reactor.In a related issue, the Fukui prefectural government, desperately looking for ways to revitalize the local economy, is seeking an extension of a proposed Shinkansen line as a precondition for agreeing to the modifications and the resumption of operations.The demand is a tough one for the central government to meet. But we would like to remind it that, once the Monju reactor is back in service, it could well become the global center for research on fast-breeder reactors, which would certainly buoy the local economy.The importance of the Monju reactor and its future must be properly understood.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2004-02-08	YOSHIN0020040210e02800016
YOMSHI0020040209e02a0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040209e02a0000c	EN	\N	Parties must unite over SDF's Iraq mission.	The Ground Self-Defense Force's latest mission is the first of its kind to be carried out overseas except for the GSDF's involvement in U.N. peacekeeping operations. The dispatch of GSDF units to Iraq is extremely significant in that it has opened a new chapter in Japan's international peace cooperation activities.	4	2004-02-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Preferably, diplomatic and security policies should be finalized as a result of consensus among most lawmakers-not only from the ruling parties, but also those from the opposition camp. During a plenary session of the House of Councillors on Monday evening, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and other opposition parties voted against the request for the approval of the SDF mission.For months, the opposition camp has insisted that most members of the public are opposed to the dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq. According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, however, a majority of those polled said they supported the SDF mission. This shows that the public has greater sympathetic understanding of the SDF's humanitarian aid for Iraq's postwar rehabilitation.On Monday, the first batch of GSDF members sent for the SDF's main reconstruction work in Iraq arrived at Samawah, where they joined an advance GSDF team earlier dispatched to that country. The GSDF's main unit will set up a camp in the southern Iraqi city, where its members will undertake various tasks in cooperation with Dutch forces operating there, including water purification and supply, the provision of medical services and the repair of schools and other public facilities.Good intelligence vitalTerrorist attacks still continue in Iraq. Samawah residents have warmly greeted the GSDF personnel. However, this does not mean that they will be able to avoid terrorist attacks.The Foreign Ministry has said that facilities related to Japanese residents in Iraq are at risk of becoming terrorist targets. With this in mind, it is essential to adequately gather and analyze information about terrorist threats. This requires the GSDF to liaise with the U.S. and Dutch forces in Iraq. This also should be complemented by an effort to cooperate with Islamic and tribal leaders in the area.In Samawah, the GSDF presented sheep to a local sheik in early February, when local residents were celebrating an Islamic festival. However, this antagonized another sheik, who said he had been insulted by the GSDF's action. The incident highlighted the importance of having a thorough knowledge of the customs, cultural and social mores of tribal Islamic communities. This is essential to ensure that what the SDF does with the best of intentions does not backfire.Opposition has role to playDiet sessions on the government request for permission for the SDF mission were disturbed by conflicting answers given by top government officials in response to questions about whether Samawah's city council was functioning. Similar confusion also arose from government answers to questions concerning a report drawn up by the advance GSDF team about Samawah's security situation. The government should know that its failure to adequately address such questions undermines the public's trust in its credibility.The government needs to gather correct information about Samawah's security situation while also providing the public with adequate information about the SDF's mission.Other tasks facing the SDF include an effort to reduce the serious unemployment rate in Samawah and improve the living standards of local residents, using a portion of Japan's official development assistance. Doing so will serve to stabilize the lives of Samawah residents and also contribute to the safety of the SDF members assigned to the Iraqi mission. The government has every reason to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of the SDF personnel.The ongoing SDF mission marks a first step toward an effort to create an environment in which civilians from Japan will be able to conduct activities in Iraq. Despite their objection to the dispatch of the SDF personnel, the opposition parties may feel it desirable for the SDF members to complete their duties in that country.The success or failure of the SDF's work to rehabilitate Iraq does not solely hinge on what the ruling parties will choose to do. The opposition camp also should be held responsible in this respect.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	755	2004-02-10	YOSHIN0020040211e02a00014
YOMSHI0020040210e02b0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040210e02b0000g	EN	\N	Bring Penal Code in step with present-day realities.	The government on Tuesday asked the Legislative Council to deliberate on a revision of the Penal Code primarily designed to strengthen criminal penalties, including an extension of the maximum term of imprisonment, except for life imprisonment, to 30 years for serious and heinous crimes.	4	2004-02-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The move is part of a program adopted by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi late last year that seeks to realize a society resistant to crime.After studying the final report to be issued by the advisory panel in autumn, the government intends to compile a bill to revise the Penal Code within this year.Times have changed markedly since the Penal Code was established during the Meiji era (1868-1912).Crimes have become more internationalized and more heinous, as attested to by the marked increase in the number of crimes committed by foreigners, while the incidence of serious crimes such as murder, robbery and rape has hit record highs in recent years.Meantime, the average life span of Japanese, which serves as one yardstick for setting prison terms, has dramatically increased from 44 years for both men and women in 1908, when the code was enacted, to 78 and 85 for men and women, respectively, today.It is a matter of urgency to review the Penal Code in line with the changing times and to strengthen penalties for serious and heinous crimes.Law revision an urgent taskThe government attempted to drastically revise the code in 1974, when the Legislative Council, in a bid to overhaul the law, called for strengthened punishments in the final report it submitted to the justice minister.Faced with strong opposition to severer punishments from such organizations as the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, the government gave up its plan to revise the code.The current state of affairs leaves no room for such confusion to be repeated.Under the current Penal Code, penal servitude is divided into non-fixed-term imprisonment and fixed-term imprisonment. The maximum statutory fixed-term imprisonment is set at 15 years, while those who commit two or more crimes at the same time may be imprisoned for up to 20 years.The outline the government has submitted to the Legislative Council calls for raising the maximum terms for the above categories to 20 and 30 years, respectively, recommends strengthening statutory punishments for murder, assault and rape, and seeks to criminalize gang rape.The outline also proposes extending the statute of limitations for prosecutions from the current 15 years to 25 years for such serious crimes as murder, for which the death penalty may be applied.Council has much to studyWith the average life span of the Japanese increasing, we live in an era in which people's feelings of having been victimized by crimes linger for a long time. In light of these changes, a drastic revision of the Penal Code makes sense.Thanks to the application of scientific methods in criminal investigations, including DNA analysis, it has become possible to store evidence for extended periods.Some have strongly criticized the fact that the current code, established nearly a century ago, provides for severer penalties for crimes against property than against people's life or liberty.Many things need to be reviewed, including the correction of imbalances in the degree of punishment. Among other things, the issue of strengthening punishments for heinous and serious crimes should be examined first.Such efforts would mark the first important step forward in overhauling the Penal Code.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2004-02-11	YOSHIN0020040211e02b000gw
YOMSHI0020040211e02c0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040211e02c0000f	EN	\N	Govt must stop wasting pension premiums.	The main pillar of the reforms is the introduction of a formula to incrementally increase pension premiums to a set ceiling, while simultaneously lowering pension benefits in line with the declining birthrate and future economic conditions.	4	2004-02-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To our regret, the contents of the bills do not seem substantial enough to dispel public doubt over the fate of the public pension scheme. We hope legislators will hold in-depth discussions on what form the revised pension scheme should take.It also is necessary to make a fundamental review of the wasteful way in which public pension funds are used.Premiums paid by the workforce not only support pension payments for current pensioners, they also provide funds for future payments.Bureaucrats squandering fundsBut bureaucrats have been squandering these precious funds like water, lowering the reserve of available funds.Prime examples of such squandering were the 13 large "Greenpia" resorts built on large tracts of land, resplendent with five-star hotels and swimming pools, from the 1970s through the 1980s. All 13 resorts are to be scrapped by fiscal 2005 because they are heavily in debt. But the 380 billion yen or so required to repay outstanding loans taken out for such purposes as construction and operating costs will come out of public pension funds.Another unnecessary drain on public coffers is the 92 social insurance centers and social insurance and health centers set up to help people live healthy and fulfilling lives.While these centers offer a range of cultural and physical-exercise programs, the land and buildings were purchased with pension premiums. As part of the costs of operating these centers, an average of 15 million yen a year is paid to each center out of the public pension fund. What is even more staggering is that this average was once 40 million yen per year.There are many other examples of such bureaucratic generosity with public money. For example, 265 welfare facilities, such as hospitals, halls and sports facilities, have been built using public pension funds. Not only their construction costs but also the costs of operating and maintaining them come out of the premiums paid by the public. Total costs for these facilities have topped 1.5 trillion yen.These free-spending bureaucrats are completely lacking in managerial skills and efforts. The ratio of personnel expenses to revenues at these facilities is much higher than at their private-sector counterparts. But as there is no fear of the government-managed pension scheme going broke, the inefficient operation of these facilities is never challenged, no matter how deep they are in the red.Even worse is the fact that the management of the above-mentioned facilities, are outsourced mainly to five public corporations under the jurisdiction of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. Naturally enough, outsiders looking in at this cozy arrangement cannot help but view it as the ministry padding nests into which its officials can retire.Agency proposals sadly lackingThe Social Insurance Agency last week made proposals on how the operation of these public pension funded-facilities should be reviewed. The proposals included not injecting any premiums into the upkeep of these facilities, and either abolishing or selling off facilities that are expected to continue to run at a deficit.However, the agency did not specify a time frame for such actions. In addition, concrete ways to realize such ideas appear overoptimistic. Above all, there was a total lack of soul-searching by bureaucrats into their having squandered pension funds.The agency should immediately stop appropriating pension premiums for purposes other than their intended one-pension payments. In addition, unnecessary public corporations must immediately be scrapped. Premiums are not a cornucopia for bureaucrats.Unless bureaucrats rectify their habits of frittering away pension funds, there is no way they can regain public trust in the public pension scheme.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2004-02-12	YOSHIN0020040212e02c000f4
YOMSHI0020040212e02d0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040212e02d0000i	EN	\N	Japan-N. Korea talks outcome of pressure.	Pyongyang must immediately and unconditionally allow the family members of the former abductees to come to Japan. It must also admit that the abductions were state-commissioned crimes and reveal in minute detail everything in connection with the abduction cases. There is no other way to resolve this issue.	4	2004-02-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	High-ranking Foreign Ministry officials are meeting with their North Korean counterparts in Pyongyang after the Stalinist state agreed to hold talks on the abduction and other issues. We hope the Japanese delegates will be prepared to abandon the talks if the North Koreans fail to show a sincere attitude to resolve these issues.The government repeatedly has demanded that Pyongyang resume talks aimed at having the abductees' immediate relatives to come to Japan. North Korea has refused.At the end of last year, Pyongyang threw a wrench in the works by proposing at a meeting in Beijing to senior lawmakers trying to reunite the former abductees with their families that if the abductees traveled to North Korea, it would allow the family members to go to Japan.Govt steps worry PyongyangNorth Korea agreed to hold talks because the Japanese government stepped up its pressure.The Diet recently passed the revised Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, which will allow the government to stop money transfers to and trade with North Korea. Pyongyang angrily responded by saying, "(The revised law) is aimed at economically suffocating, isolating and crushing the country." This shows how worried the North Koreans are about the imposition of economic sanctions.In addition, another group of Diet members is moving toward submitting a bill to the current Diet session to regulate the entry of North Korean vessels into Japanese ports. In consideration of future talks with North Korea, it will be meaningful to have another card to increase the pressure.Recently, Libya and Iran have come under international pressure over their nuclear development programs. In addition, Japan, the United States and Europe have strengthened their joint actions to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Because of these moves, North Korea is also feeling the heat.Bid to undermine joint actionThe six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear development program are scheduled to start on Feb. 25. Behind Pyongyang's decision to accept Japan's request to hold talks appears to be its intention to undermine cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea, using the abduction issue as leverage, and to try to improve the way the Japanese view North Korea while, at the same time, dividing Japanese public opinion.For the time being, North Korea presumably hopes to coax food aid, such as rice, from Japan, and avoid economic sanctions. Also apparent is Pyongyang's desire to win Japan's economic assistance by normalizing diplomatic ties.In the past, however, Japan ended up sending rice to North Korea without receiving anything in return. Such aid turned out to be useless in improving mutual relations. The government and ruling parties must remember the bitter lessons of the past.In negotiating with North Korea, the government must hold to the principle of resolving not only the abduction issue, but also those involving Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programs. At this stage of negotiations, it is vitally important to stick to principles.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2004-02-13	YOSHIN0020040213e02d000jp
YOMSHI0020040213e02e0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040213e02e0000e	EN	\N	Increasing threat cause of Iraq war.	In testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and on other occasions, former chief U.S. weapons hunter David Kay said he did not believe Iraq had a stockpile of weapons of mass destruction.	4	2004-02-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Following Kay's remarks, some Japanese media and political forces critical of the Iraq war began saying there was no reason to go to war.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and other opposition parties stepped up their criticism of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who backed the war, and referred to Kay's remarks to support their objections to sending Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq.However, when we look at Kay's statement in its entirety, what he said was completely different from what opponents to the war inferred.Kay stressed justice of conflictKay emphasized the cause and justice of the war, saying the coalition forces were correct in launching the war. He also said the world had become much safer thanks to the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime.In providing reasons, Kay raised a number of points.One was Iraq's violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441, which gave the country a final chance to disarm itself. Although Iraq might have destroyed its WMD in the 1990s after the Gulf War, it did not give up its WMD development program because it planned to resume developing chemical or biological weapons.Kay implied that Saddam continued to deceive U.N. weapons inspectors because he had to hide so many things that would reveal his deceit.The former chief weapons inspector said that for these reasons it was concluded that Iraq was an increasing and deepening threat.Because of this, the United States and Britain launched their war against Iraq, a decision Japan supported. War was inevitable. However, if the regime had complied with the demand to disarm itself, war could have been avoided.Better intelligence neededKay also refuted the opinion that the war might have been avoided by carrying out continuous inspections for WMD. He said Iraqi scientists involved in the weapons development program had told him it was impossible to tell U.N. inspectors the truth because they were working under a "reign of terror."Of course, it is true that the WMD remain elusive, and that the U.S. and British governments should have taken a more circumspect attitude before launching the war. Intelligence services should also provide much more accurate information.Therefore, it is appropriate for Washington and London to set up research committees to investigate the failure of the intelligence services and try to improve intelligence activities in the future.In debating the "cause of the war," media and political opponents should not distort the meaning of remarks to lend weight to their criticism of the SDF dispatch to Iraq.What must be done now is to expedite efforts to reconstruct the country and restore security there. The SDF's activities in this respect will serve the "cause of peace."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	535	2004-02-14	YOSHIN0020040215e02e0000s
YOMSHI0020040214e02f0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040214e02f0000c	EN	\N	Japan needs leverage in dealing with N. Korea.	The latest developments in talks between Tokyo and Pyongyang are another indication that North Korea is an outlaw state.	4	2004-02-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bilateral negotiations mainly addressed the dispute over North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals. During the talks, Tokyo demanded that Pyongyang immediately and unconditionally allow the families of five repatriated Japanese abductees to move to or at least visit Japan. Japanese delegates also demanded that North Korea reveal the full truth behind the kidnappings.Pyongyang turned down all of Japan's demands, and North Korean negotiators merely parroted an earlier demand that the five abductees must be returned to the country before any action could be taken to resolve the controversy.Japan should take harder lineNorth Korea's use of the dispute over the abductees' families as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with Japan is unforgivable. The two nations agreed to continue official negotiations before wrapping up the latest talks, but Japan should take an even stricter approach to North Korea in future talks.North Korea's decision to hold the latest talks and its agreement to continue government-level negotiations with Japan may be part of a very calculated move. Pyongyang has good reason to fear antagonizing the Japanese even more by refusing to sit down at the negotiating table over the abduction issue. Under the recently revised Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, Japan could decide to impose sanctions against North Korea, including suspending remittances from Japan to that country, as well as halting trade between the two nations.Pyongyang is also increasingly nervous over a proposed bill aimed at banning port calls by North Korean ships. A group of Liberal Democratic Party members is seeking to submit the bill to the Diet.During the latest talks, North Korea denounced Japan for passing the bill revising the foreign exchange law. This reflected North Korean concerns that Japan could implement economic sanctions against that nation.N. Korea seeks to exploit issueThe government has said that diplomatic normalization talks must be preceded by the families of the five abductees coming to Japan. It seems that North Korea intends to use this issue as a means of appeasing Japanese public opinion, receiving food aid from Japan and steering diplomatic normalization talks in its favor.Six-nation talks on the North Korean problem are scheduled to resume Feb. 25. The United States, a key participant in the upcoming talks, has shown a sympathetic understanding of Japan's desire to see the controversy resolved through a comprehensive approach, meaning that the abduction issue could be settled along with the dispute over North Korea's nuclear and missile problems. North Korea, on the other hand, is possibly seeking to separate the abduction dispute from the six-way talks by continuing its government-level negotiations with Japan.The next round of talks between Tokyo and Pyongyang is expected to take place on the sidelines of the six-nation talks, but the abduction controversy should not occupy all of Japan's attention during these talks. Preparations for the upcoming negotiations must include thinking about what can be done to resolve the North Korean nuclear and missile issues, as well as what approach should be taken toward any possible future diplomatic normalization talks.Toward this goal, the government should step up efforts to pass as soon as possible the bill banning North Korean ships from calling at Japanese ports. Some critics of the bill have said Japan should think twice about this, because passing the bill might antagonize North Korea, undermining the slight change for the better represented by that country's decision to hold the latest talks with Japan. This argument should be dismissed as a spineless attempt to pander to North Korea.Japan must have as many cards as possible up its sleeve when dealing with North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2004-02-15	YOSHIN0020040215e02f000d0
YOMSHI0020040215e02g0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040215e02g0000c	EN	\N	Japan must take lead in WTO negotiations.	Efforts by WTO members to resume global trade talks that broke down at a ministerial meeting in September are gaining momentum.	4	2004-02-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick is urging WTO members to restart stalled international trade talks after presenting developing nations with concessions on farm subsidies and other issues. European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy has responded to Zoellick's moves by advancing a proposal to cut farm export subsidies.In recent talks with Zoellick, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said WTO members should seek to reach an agreement on an overall framework for the Doha Round of trade talks by mid-2004, mainly concentrating on measures to open markets for farm and non-agricultural products.Brazil and other industrializing nations appear to welcome these moves by major members of the world trade body.New round of talks essentialMultilateral agreements reached among WTO members serve as the basis for global free trade. The new round of trade talks is essential for ensuring stable world economic growth in that the WTO negotiations represent an effort to lay down new rules that accommodate changing times.It will be difficult for the WTO to accomplish its goal of reaching a final agreement on the new round of talks by Jan. 1, 2005. The U.S. presidential election is slated for November, while the European Commission also will be reshuffled in autumn, leaving both unable to focus fully on WTO matters.But it should be possible for the WTO to reach an accord on the framework by summer and assemble a ministerial conference by the end of the year, paving the way for a final agreement to be reached when the next U.S. administration and the new EU executive organ are in place.With this in mind, all WTO nations should work together to restart the stalled talks as soon as possible. This is particularly important for the United States and the EU, as well as for Brazil and other major industrializing countries, as they were directly responsible for the breakdown in talks in September.The WTO has decided that Shotaro Oshima, Japan's representative in Geneva, will be the next chairman of its General Council, the decision-making body of the global trade organization. He will be the first Japanese to sit on the council in that capacity. Japan has an important role to play in making sure that headway is made in the trade talks, which were originally launched in Doha in November 2001.Govt must not impede progressDuring last year's ministerial meeting, Japan, preoccupied with the effort to protect its own farm industry, did nothing to aid progress in the talks. In one case, Tokyo opposed a proposal to set an upper limit on tariffs on farm products.A continuation of this attitude would not just undermine Oshima as he tries to promote the new round of talks as chairman of the WTO General Council. It also would see Japan lagging behind as the United States, the EU and major industrializing nations take the lead in restarting the talks. This would mean that Japan would be unable to insist that other WTO members accept claims it considers vital, such as a cut in tariffs imposed on imports of industrial products by developing nations.The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has begun revising its basic agricultural policy with free trade agreement negotiations and the new WTO round of talks in mind. The degree to which Japan is listened to-or ignored-during these talks hinges on what it chooses to do in response to calls from other countries to open its agricultural market.The government must stop protecting rice and other major domestic agricultural products using high tariff barriers. It should instead assist motivated farmers by compensating them for any reduction in income in return for free competition in the market.The government pays direct income compensation only to farmers in mountainous areas. It might be wise to expand the list of recipients if so doing would not directly affect global trade. No WTO member will demand that Japan reduce such payments during the new round of talks.Japan should contribute to progress in the new round of WTO talks, mainly through a change in its farm trade policy. This could give us a louder voice in the WTO negotiations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	764	2004-02-16	YOSHIN0020040216e02g000ge
YOMSHI0020040216e02h0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040216e02h0000j	EN	\N	Input from private sector needed in postal reform.	At a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on Tuesday, the government will resume deliberations on the privatization of the state-run Japan Post's postal services.	4	2004-02-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet the study has progressed little. Efforts to work out a reform plan should be expedited.In a campaign pledge made ahead of the House of Representatives election last year, Koizumi outlined a plan to realize the privatization in April 2007, with a final blueprint to be worked out by this autumn.But the government has merely compiled the five principles underpinning the blueprint and has shied away from conducting an in-depth study on how to put it into practice. It seems almost impossible for the government to work out a final blueprint by this autumn, the first stage for realizing the privatization.Some say the government's foot-dragging on the study is due to its reluctance to provoke Liberal Democratic Party members who represent the interests of the postal services before the House of Councillors election this summer.If this is true, it is despicable. Koizumi should hammer out a course of action for concrete reforms and tackle the matter in a resolute manner by making it a key issue in the upper house poll.Individuals' savings wastedPeople's savings held in postal savings and postal life insurance have been channeled into the operation of public corporations, including Japan Highway Public Corporation, via the government's Fiscal Investment and Loans Program, propping up these inefficiently run businesses. The core of postal services reform lies in removing such inefficiency.In contrast to the government's inaction, business circles recently came up with various proposals on the reform of postal savings and postal life insurance.The privatization of the postal savings and postal life insurance businesses will create a private bank and an insurance company that will be among the world's largest. Even when the postal savings business is split into 12 regional operations, it will nonetheless create large banks whose assets will surpass those of regional banks.The key issues are how these businesses are to be divided, and how postal savings and postal life insurance businesses should be scaled down.The Japanese Association of Corporate Executives and the Federation of Bankers Associations of Japan propose that the newly privatized entity should stop accepting new fixed-term deposits and handle only ordinary deposits, while conducting online payment services by utilizing automated teller machines at post offices across the country. This proposal offers a realistic way of employing post offices for settlement services.However, it is questionable whether the new entity will be able to realize enough profits by focusing on payment businesses.Protect mail delivery serviceThe funds collected through postal savings and postal life insurance are leading underwriters of government bonds. Steps should be taken to ensure that postal services reform does not depress sales of government bonds in financial markets and stymie the national debt management policy.The Finance Ministry is studying the possibility of diversifying government bonds targeted at individuals. But at the same time, the ministry needs to work out ways to secure a large enough pool of would-be purchasers.Meanwhile, mail delivery is a service vital for people's daily life. A uniform, nationwide delivery service should be maintained. There are fears that the privatization of mail delivery could lead to the service being disrupted, should mail delivery businesses record big losses.Referring to similar cases abroad, the government's council should study the issue carefully and decide whether mail delivery should be privatized in the first place.Privatization of the postal services is a major reform that will affect the nation's financial and fiscal sectors, as well as the goods distribution and services sectors. The government would be well advised to take into account proposals from the private sector.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	676	2004-02-17	YOSHIN0020040217e02h000kk
YOMSHI0020040217e02i0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040217e02i0000g	EN	\N	Quibbling over sanctions plays into North's hands.	Three key panels of the Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday jointly approved an outline of a draft bill that would allow the government to ban vessels from specific countries-North Korea, in other words-from entering Japanese ports.	4	2004-02-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If enacted, the bill would be the second piece of anti-Pyongyang legislation following the passage of the revised Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law that enables the government to apply economic sanctions, including suspending cash remittances to and trade with North Korea.But some lawmakers-not only those in the opposition camp, including members of the Japanese Communist Party, but also those in the ruling camp-are cautious about having the bill passed swiftly through the Diet.If the bill is shelved at the Diet, or if the bill's submission to the Diet itself is delayed, North Korea would have reason to smirk and look at Japan contemptuously.The latest round of bilateral talks between Japan and North Korea over North Korea's abduction of Japanese, which was held in North Korea, was realized mainly due to pressure applied on Pyongyang, such as the recent enactment of the revised foreign trade law, which enables Japan to unilaterally impose economic sanctions.More sticks, fewer carrotsBilateral talks between the two countries in the past have taught us a lesson that when dealing with rogue states such as North Korea, this country will end up being duped if it does not have a bargaining chip it can use to put pressure on the country.As well as the revised foreign trade law, it is important for Japan to have other diplomatic tools at its disposal in future negotiations with North Korea.But according to New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki, "(The government) should wait and see how the dialogue with North Korea progresses" before taking action.Also at the joint meeting of the LDP's panels, some lawmakers called for the government to take a softly-softly approach, saying there was a risk that the bill's passage would have a negative effect diplomatically, just before the six-nation talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program.North Korea probably agreed to participate in bilateral talks on the abduction issue partly because it hoped to avoid Japan slapping it with economic sanctions or because it wanted to forestall the passage of the bill that would ban North Korean vessels from entering Japanese ports. If Pyongyang continues to refuse even to talk to Japan, it will only harden the stance of the Japanese government and people.During the latest bilateral talks, North Korea dodged the issue of the abductions-criminal acts it committed-and merely reiterated its demand that Japan send the five former Japanese abductees back to North Korea first.Taking a cautious stance on the passage of the bill banning port calls on the pretext of pursuing dialogue with North Korea and giving the impression that opinions are split over how to deal with North Korea would mean falling into a trap set by Pyongyang.Enact law on port calls ASAPMore than 1,400 vessels from North Korea made port calls in Japan in 2002. North Korean agents have slipped in and out of Japan aboard the passenger-cargo ship Man Gyong Bong-92, and nearly 4 billion yen is remitted from Japan to North Korea every year. Should North Korean vessels be banned from making port calls in Japan, North Korea's economy would be dealt a heavy blow.LDP Secretary General Shinzo Abe has played a key role in the push to have the bill banning port calls passed into law.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Naoto Kan said, "The bill deserves to be studied," while some senior members of his party said they would favor Minshuto's proposing the bill to the Diet jointly with the LDP.As a matter of course, the government's decision on whether to impose economic sanctions against North Korea mainly depends on how North Korea acts in the days ahead. Such a decision also would require careful consideration at the highest political level.But right now, the important thing is for the government to get the bill banning port calls passed into law and putting another diplomatic option within reach.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	732	2004-02-18	YOSHIN0020040218e02i000l0
YOMSHI0020040218e02j0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040218e02j0000e	EN	\N	Economic recovery yet to filter down.	Japan's gross domestic product expanded 1.7 percent in the October-December period over the previous quarter, which translates into an annualized expansion of 7 percent-a figure much higher than predicted. It was the first annualized growth of more than 7 percent in the 13-1/2 years since the April-June period in 1990, which was in the middle of the economic bubble.	4	2004-02-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In its monthly economic report for January, the government declared that the economy had begun steadily recovering, and as far as statistics are concerned, the economy has entered a phase of improvement.However, it is premature to conclude that the economy has entered the stage of full-scale recovery.Households yet to benefitIn the corporate sector, business recovery was seen only among leading manufacturers, while the recovery of small and mid-sized firms remained slow. No visible improvement was seen in the salaries and working environments of individuals, meaning that business recovery in the corporate sector has yet to be reflected in household income. In addition, most regional economies still lingered in the doldrums.In reality, the flow of economic recovery has yet to make it to the lower reaches of the river. For the full recovery of the country's economy, the government and the Bank of Japan must not ease up on policy management.The GDP growth rate was pushed up by the robust growth of exporting industries, which are the engines powering the Japanese economy.Led by high economic growth in the United States and China, exports in the October-December period increased 4.2 percent from the previous quarter. In particular, exports to China have drastically expanded. Japan's exports to China grew 33 percent last year from the previous year. As a result of a large number of companies expanding manufacturing plants in response to increasing exports, capital spending also rose 5.1 percent over the previous quarter.Personal spending, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of GDP, showed a steady growth of 0.8 percent from the previous quarter. Because of the cold summer, consumers did not spend as much as expected during the July-September period. Therefore, the increase in the October-December period is partly attributable to the lower-than-estimated spending in the previous quarter. In this sense, personal spending did not function as a locomotive to pull the Japanese economy forward, along with exports and capital spending.BOJ must act as neededEven exporting companies, which are enjoying brisk sales, are continuing restructuring measures with an emphasis on cutting their workforces. In the spring labor offensive, management is taking a hard line, proposing wage cuts to labor unions. Given this, it may take some time until consumers loosen their purse strings.The GDP deflator, the primary barometer that comprehensively shows trends in consumer prices, fell 2.6 percent from the same period last year. The margin of the year-on-year decline was larger than the figure marked in the pervious period. This indicates that delation still continues in the country.In January, the Bank of Japan decided to make additional easy-money policies, but some were critical of the move, saying it was inappropriate for the central bank to continue an easy-money policy given the fact that the economy was recovering.However, we believe it is appropriate for the central bank to consistently adopt the monetary policies necessary to arrest deflation as long as the country is plagued by deflation, which prevents the economy from fully recovering.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2004-02-19	YOSHIN0020040219e02j000ir
YOMSHI0020040219e02k0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040219e02k0000e	EN	\N	Shinsei Bank revival a rather costly lesson.	Shinsei Bank, which was created in 2000 from the ashes of the failed Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, made its debut Thursday on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.	4	2004-02-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A foreign investment consortium, led by Ripplewood Holdings LLC of the United States, raised about 230 billion yen from the market.As the consortium spent about 121 billion yen to purchase the LTCB, Thursday's sale left the bank with a profit of more than 100 billion yen.The government injected public funds totaling about 7.9 trillion yen into the LTCB and Shinsei Bank, including 3.6 trillion yen to make up for the excess in LTCB's liabilities, before it was sold to Ripplewood. The 3.6 trillion yen was posted as losses.In addition, some of the loans the government has purchased from the bank are expected to become uncollectible, so taxpayers will probably have to pay between 4 trillion yen and 5 trillion yen in the end.It is incredible that taxpayers are asked to pay so much to bail out a failed bank.Govt's strange guaranteeIn contrast, the foreign consortium managed to earn a huge profit only four years after purchasing the bank. Because it is based outside of the country, the government cannot levy taxes on its profits from stock sales.Is it any wonder that many Japanese are outraged?The government guarantee to purchase LTCB loans if their market value declined by a certain degree worked in the consortium's favor and led to a huge increase in the public burden. The provision, criticized as an "unfair Heisei era treaty," states that if the market values of loans taken over by Shinsei Bank decline by 20 percent or more from the original value, the government will purchase them and shoulder the losses incurred from the decline in value.Taking advantage of this provision, the bank managed to have the government purchase the loans of more than 300 companies in only three years.When it sells Ashikaga Bank, which went under at the end of last year, the Financial Services Agency plans to apply a so-called loss-sharing system, under which the government and an entity that would take over the management of the bank will share the losses. The provision applied to the LTCB sale will never be used again.Huge impact on economyThe LTCB case was an unique experiment in which a failed major bank was temporarily nationalized so that it could be bailed out. We believe the pros and cons of the case must be reexamined.The United States maintains the principle of "too big to fail," under which major banks are protected to prevent them from going under. This is because of the tremendous effect the collapse of a major bank would have on the entire economy, such as the collapse of borrowers.According to a survey by a private credit research institute, 152 companies went under following LTCB's collapse, with combined liabilities totaling about 11 trillion yen. This indicates the huge impact the LTCB's collapse had on the economy.Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economy, fiscal and financial policy, has praised Shinsei Bank as a "model of rehabilitation." However, if the government fails to learn from the bitter experience of leaving the management of a major bank up to a foreign consortium, the same mistake will be repeated in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2004-02-20	YOSHIN0020040220e02k000i6
YOMSHI0020040220e02l0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040220e02l0000l	EN	\N	SDF efforts can help improve Iraq situation.	On Friday, two Maritime Self-Defense Force ships set sail for Kuwait, marking a new development in Japan's reconstruction assistance to Iraq.	4	2004-02-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The MSDF's latest action follows the recent dispatch to Iraq of personnel from the Ground Self-Defense Force and the Air Self-Defense Force. This means that the GSDF, ASDF and MSDF are all involved in Japan's Iraqi mission. We hope that the three SDF services will cooperate closely in fulfilling their duties.The SDF's task is to help set the stage for extended global efforts to reconstruct and stabilize the war-ravaged country. With this in mind, the government should ensure that the SDF do their best to aid the country's rehabilitation. This goal may be achieved, for example, by using a portion of Japan's official development assistance for such a purpose and to complement the process by creating a framework for international aid for reconstruction purposes.The GSDF personnel sent to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah will soon begin full-fledged activities, including the provision of medical services, water purification and supply, and repairing damaged public facilities. However, the list of requests from Samawah residents will be difficult for the SDF to meet. For example, the SDF is finding it very difficult to meet such requests as job creation and constructing power stations, schools and roads.Study requests from all anglesThe Foreign Ministry needs to determine the most efficient way to accommodate these requests in cooperation with the Coalition Provisional Authority and local governments in and around Samawah. This is also true for medical aid. Effective ways should be explored to provide adequate medical guidance, medication and medical equipment.The government plans to invite sheiks from Samawah to visit this country in April. Undoubtedly, the government should be commended for encouraging these sheiks to better understand what the SDF is trying to do, as they can exert their influence in their region.However, the government could cause friction between Japan and the sheiks if it fails to take due note of their culture and traditions. For example, the ranking of each sheik must be viewed delicately. The government, therefore, should pay full attention to the manners and customs prevalent in Samawah in carrying out its plan.U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and one of his senior advisers, Lakhdar Brahimi, are scheduled to visit Japan on separate occasions. The government should take advantage of their visits to help the United Nations play a suitable role in expanding and shoring up the international framework to aid in Iraq's reconstruction.Aid from many nations neededSuch Japanese efforts, which could improve the situation in Iraq, would help stabilize the country and ensure the safety of the SDF personnel there. If all this transpires, Japan will be able to send civilians to help rehabilitate Iraq.It will be years before Iraq can set up industries and put itself on the road to economic health. No nation wants Iraq to collapse or become a militant Islamic country. International aid in Iraq's reconstruction should involve as many countries as possible.The government is not only considering establishing a permanent law governing SDF missions overseas, it is also thinking about revising the Self-Defense Forces Law to expand the list of its main duties to include international cooperation activities. This means that the SDF's principal obligations would include both the defense of Japan and sending missions overseas.Today, there is nothing extraordinary about SDF members being sent abroad. The start of SDF operations in Iraq signifies that Japan has entered a new stage of international cooperation.A Dutch commander stationed in Samawah has said this is an era when soldiers play a professional role in international aid. The SDF personnel sent there have probably taken this to heart in aiding local residents through their mission.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2004-02-21	YOSHIN0020040221e02l000iz
YOMSHI0020040221e02m0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040221e02m0000e	EN	\N	Lawmakers must first clean their own house.	The political parties are set to review the mutual-aid pension plan covering Diet members. To accomplish this, they are planning to set up an independent panel under House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono in March to discuss specific ways to reform the system.	4	2004-02-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The current system provides each legislator with 4 million yen in annual pension benefits after retirement if he or she has paid a little more than 100,000 yen in monthly premiums for at least 10 years.In 2001, a lower house commission studying ways to reform that chamber presented the then lower house speaker with a report recommending a review of the pension plan for Diet members. However, the proposal was left unaddressed because of objections from lawmakers anxious to defend their vested interests.A set of pension reform bills that has been submitted to the current Diet session stipulates a gradual increase in the premiums paid by subscribers to the government-administered pension scheme, while also reducing the pension benefits they will receive in line with the nation's declining birthrate and changes in the economy. If lawmakers want to debate reform of the public pension system, they also must review their own pension scheme. They would surely be too embarrassed to do otherwise.Munificent benefits for lawmakersThe mutual-aid pension plan pays benefits to anyone over 65 who has served in the lower house or the House of Councillors for more than 10 years. If you quit the Diet after serving in either chamber of the legislature for 10 years while paying about 1.3 million yen in premiums each year, for example, you are entitled to pension benefits totaling 4.12 million yen annually. Every additional year served, up to a total of 50 years, adds an extra 80,000 yen to that amount.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has been in the lower house for 31 years. If he resigned from the Diet now, Koizumi would receive 5.85 million yen in annual pension benefits, beginning three years after his resignation. Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone has served in the Diet for 56 years, meaning he is entitled to pension payments of 7.42 million yen a year if he resigns.How does that compare to subscribers to the state-run basic pension system, including the self-employed? They receive about 800,000 yen in annual pension benefits after paying 13,300 yen in monthly premiums for 40 years. To receive pension benefits under this system, you must pay premiums as a subscriber to the system for at least 25 years.Compare this with the corporate employees' pension scheme. A model married couple-a husband who has been on a corporate payroll for 40 years and a wife without a job-are entitled to pension benefits totaling about 2.8 million yen annually, including basic pension payments to the woman.In fiscal 2004, the mutual-aid pension system for lawmakers will pay benefits to 537 people. The system is expected to collect about 917 million yen in premiums, while paying out about 3.36 billion yen in benefits. The difference will be covered by funds from the government's general account, meaning that the money drawn from state coffers for this purpose will account for about 72 percent of the total pension benefits paid to former lawmakers.And that's not allIt is also disturbing to learn that former legislators of retirement age are entitled to benefits paid under the basic pension plan and the corporate employees' pension system. In addition, they are eligible for benefits under pension plans covering local assembly members if they served in any local assemblies for at least 12 years before becoming Diet members.Lawmakers have been exceedingly generous to themselves when it comes to their mutual-aid pension plan, in contrast to similar systems used in other nations.A major focus of the pension reform should be a reduction in the government share of contributions to the pension system for legislators. We believe the ratio should be reduced to 50 percent or so. This seems perfectly reasonable, especially in light of the fact that the ratio of government contributions to the basic pension scheme, which covers every member of society, will be raised to 50 percent from one-third.We hope that the political parties make decisions about various issues related to pension reform before the upper house election in July. Problems include the amount of premiums paid by Diet members and the benefits they receive. It is also necessary to debate whether subscribers to the system should be allowed to continue receiving benefits from other pension plans.The system needs true reform-not just cosmetic surgery.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	827	2004-02-22	YOSHIN0020040222e02m000cq
YOMSHI0020040222e02n0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040222e02n0000a	EN	\N	Technology transfer scheme needs more work.	The reason for this is that most universities are having a difficult time selling the results of their research to the private-sector.	4	2004-02-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a bid to strengthen the international competitiveness of Japanese businesses, the central government has been touting as a priority issue the transfer of university research results to the private sector, but little has been achieved so far.One of the leading factors behind this lack of progress is the failure of technology licensing organizations (TLO), which are supposed to serve as a bridge between the universities and private businesses.In most cases, the TLOs have been founded with money invested by faculty members and alumni. Their main function is to decide which technologies developed by the universities are saleable, patent them and sell them to private businesses.In the wake of the law concerning the promotion of the transfer of technologies developed at universities and similar institutions to private businesses, which was enacted in 1998, 36 TLOs have been authorized by the state.According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, the TLOs had applied for patents for about 4,500 technologies by the end of last year, and about 1,000 of those were bought by private businesses. The universities made about 1.2 billion yen.Sales not covering costsBut very few universities have made even enough money to cover the operating costs of the TLOs. Two who have are Tokyo University and the University of Electro-Communications.Two-thirds of the TLOs are either in the red or have managed to stay in the black only with subsidies from the central government.The central government needs to examine the actual situation the TLOs are operating under, and reassess the program. The transfer of technology must be made more efficiently.For instance, it might be a good idea for TLOs to cooperate with universities other than just the ones at which they were established.If a TLO is able to look into many more research results, it will be easier for it to respond to the needs of private businesses. Another idea might be for a TLO to serve as a go-between in research projects undertaken jointly by local businesses and universities.Universities also need to strengthen the degree with which they cooperate with their own TLOs. In particular, state universities, which are to be turned into independent administrative entities, have a lot of responsibility.Schools must get with programIn many cases, researchers at state universities have taken out patents themselves on their research results. Once the state universities are recategorized as independent entities, patents will belong to the universities, which must make the most of them.In order to promote this program, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry launched a project this fiscal year to have universities establish intellectual property headquarters in charge of managing their patents, and extended its support to about 50 universities.The function of these headquarters is little different from that of TLOs. In addition, there has been some criticism that the transfer of technology might stall due to differences of opinion between the two organizations over what research should be patented and how the patents should be marketed.But because some universities still have not established TLOs, the establishment of intellectual property headquarters can be very useful. To make it work, though, there must be flexible cooperation between the two organizations, with, for instance, the headquarters solely in charge of managing patents and the TLO solely in charge of selling technology to businesses.In recent years, Japan has injected a sizable portion of its budget into science and technology research-as much as 3.5 trillion yen to 3.6 trillion yen a year.Universities must work out a clear-cut strategy on how to transfer valuable research results to society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	679	2004-02-23	YOSHIN0020040223e02n000ed
YOMSHI0020040223e02o0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040223e02o0000e	EN	\N	U.N. praise for dispatch of SDF to Iraq notable.	Coming into question are what concrete efforts this country can make in the realm of international cooperation, an issue that Japan needs to consider in light of its obligations under the Japan-U.S. security alliance.	4	2004-02-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Annan, visiting Japan for the first time in two years, held talks separately with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi. During the talks, Annan expressed his appreciation for Japan's assistance in Iraq, noting that this country has become a leading contributor to the restoration of Iraq and expressing his gratitude for the humanitarian aid the SDF is offering.Japan's dispatch of its SDF units is aimed at helping Iraq stabilize the livelihood of its people through humanitarian assistance. Such efforts will promote the stability of Iraq, and in turn that of the Middle East and the international community.Annan told reporters that although the circumstances surrounding Iraq were complicated in the past, the important thing now was to help rebuild the country. He went on to emphasize that unity in the international community and the U.N. Security Council were essential for Iraq's reconstruction. What he said makes sense.The words "complicated circumstances" referred to the rift that opened up between the United States and Britain, and France, Germany and Russia over the pros and cons of waging war against Iraq, paralyzing the Security Council.Warm words put Kan in bindMinshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has asserted that unless an Iraqi government is established by its people and a new U.N. resolution is passed on the basis of a request from that government, Japan should not engage in assistance in Iraq, including the use of SDF units.The fact that the U.N. chief has given high marks to Japan's dispatch of the SDF units to Iraq gives Minshuto President Naoto Kan-who opposes the dispatch of the SDF units to Iraq, claiming it runs counter to the Constitution-something to chew over.Japan cannot sit idly by while rampant attacks by terrorists continue in Iraq and the jobless situation in that country worsens, threatening the stability of people's livelihood and hindering the handover of the reins of government to the Iraqi people.Annan's visit to Japan came as the United Nations has begun involving itself closely in the construction of a postwar government in Iraq.This development came after the United States called on the United Nations to get politically involved in the reconstruction of Iraq, in a bid to find a breakthrough in the stalled process of transferring sovereignty to the Iraqi people.Japan's cooperation will be necessary in various areas that the United Nations becomes involved in, including preparations for establishing a new constitution and for holding direct elections.Japan should act as mediatorDuring an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, Annan hinted at the possibility of the Security Council adopting a new resolution designed to strengthen U.N. involvement in Iraq's reconstruction.For U.N. member countries to jointly support U.N. activities, Japan needs to strive to improve the environment for such a resolution to be adopted. It is also important for this country to try to persuade France, Germany and Russia to lend a hand in rebuilding Iraq.As the Security Council effectively ceased functioning at the breakout of the Iraq war, there is a limit to what the United Nations can do to create and maintain peace. Yet the world body has a significant role to play in helping Iraq rebuild and stabilize itself.Koizumi has also repeatedly emphasized the importance of making the Japan-U.S. alliance and Japan's cooperation in the international community compatible.Japan needs to assume an active role in assisting the United Nations to play a useful part in the reconstruction and democratization of postwar Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	702	2004-02-24	YOSHIN0020040224e02o000if
YOMSHI0020040224e02p0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040224e02p0000j	EN	\N	Public's understanding needed on security bills.	A government panel decided Tuesday on the outlines of seven bills that will supplement war-contingency legislation enacted in June last year. The government plans to submit the bills to the Diet in early March at the earliest.	4	2004-02-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	No one knows when a contingency will arise. With this in mind, lawmakers must expedite efforts to pass the bills into law as soon as possible.Last summer, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) supported the passage of three contingency bills, including the foreign armed attack contingency law, which determines government procedures in the event of an armed attack on the nation.The largest opposition party also is willing to negotiate with the ruling coalition on revisions to the new bills, saying it wishes to help compile beneficial bills through negotiation.Such a stance is appropriate for a responsible party. It also is desirable for a suprapartisan approach to be taken toward such important bills concerning national security.A bill to protect the public will establish legal procedures for the central and local governments concerning the evacuation and protection of the public, with the aim of protecting people's lives and assets from foreign armed attacks and minimizing the damage resulting from such attacks. The bill also is expected to be applied to large-scale terrorist actions.People's cooperation vitalFrom the viewpoint of public welfare, the outline also stipulates that the government may take action to restrict some of the people's basic rights, such as the storage and sale of food and medicines as well as the use of land and buildings. It is unavoidable that people's rights would be restricted in a contingency that is a matter of life or death for this country.However, there is a limit on what the central and local governments can do to protect people's lives and safety. People may be asked to help the authorities evacuate other residents and rescue victims, as well as participate in evacuation drills.In this respect, we believe it is necessary for citizens to consider the best way to cooperate with each other for their own protection. Establishing organizations of mutual cooperation will be one such task for the people.Other legislation necessaryOther than the bill to protect the public, there are other bills that have long remained on the drawing board even though their necessity has been pointed out.A bill envisioned at ensuring the smooth operation of U.S. forces in Japan is one such bill. In line with the bill, the Japan-U.S. Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement would be revised to make it applicable to contingencies in Japan. The proposed bill also would enable the Self-Defense Forces to provide goods and services, such as food, fuel, weapons and ammunition, to U.S. forces.In an event of a foreign military attack on the nation, it would be extremely important to provide aid to U.S. forces, which would conduct joint operations with the SDF.In an event of such a contingency, it is likely that weapons and ammunition would be shipped by vessels to the country attacking Japan. An envisioned bill to regulate seaborne transportation of foreign military goods would enable the SDF to inspect foreign vessels in Japanese territorial waters and on the high seas. The bill also would allow the SDF to attack and sink suspicious ships that refused its inspections and attempted to flee.In addition, the government also plans to submit bills on the use of certain public facilities and concerning the treatment of prisoners of war.In deliberating the contingency-related bills at the Diet, lawmakers must discuss a variety of possible contingencies.We believe such Diet debates will help raise people's awareness concerning the protection of the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2004-02-25	YOSHIN0020040225e02p000kw
YOMSHI0020040225e02q0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040225e02q0000d	EN	\N	Sanctions essential if N. Korea fails to act.	Governmental negotiations between Japan and North Korea on the sidelines of the six-way talks in Beijing made no progress whatever. The only agreement was to continue talks on the matter, but no schedule was set.	4	2004-02-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korea merely parroted demands made in previous talks that the five former abductees should be returned to North Korea first and that the fate of the missing Japanese abductees had been determined.The North Korean delegation was headed by Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, who is responsible for U.S. affairs.Pyongyang obviously had no intention of taking the talks seriously. As a result, the Japanese government must be fully prepared both at home and abroad to act decisively.During the six-way talks that started Wednesday, Tokyo insisted that the abduction issue should be resolved in a comprehensive manner, along with North Korea's nuclear and missile development program.Abduction issue major topicThe United States also proposed resolving the abduction issue in addition to having Pyongyang abolish its nuclear development program. This is because the abductions of the Japanese prove beyond doubt that North Korea is a terrorist state.This is the first time the abduction issue has been taken up as one of the main topics at the six-way talks. North Korea is surely aware that it can no longer avoid this issue.Prior to the six-way talks, North Korea angrily refused to have the abduction issue placed on the negotiation table, saying that if this was attempted it wanted Japan barred from the talks. Pyongyang's efforts to have the abduction issue separated from the six-way talks failed miserably.China, South Korea and Russia initially did not want the abduction issue taken up at the talks, saying the problem was a bilateral one. Therefore, Japan must seek the understanding of the three countries on the issue while keeping up the pressure on North Korea during six-way talks to resolve the issue.In regard to domestic affairs, efforts should be expedited to enact a bill to regulate the entry of North Korean vessels into Japanese ports.Anti-Pyongyang legislationAccording to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 78 percent of those surveyed supported the enactment of the revised Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, which allows the government to suspend remittances to and trade with North Korea. The survey also showed that 80 percent of the respondents supported the planned bill to ban the entry of North Korean ships into Japanese ports. These results indicate that many people in this country believe Japan should have more options to impose sanctions against North Korea.With regard to legislation to ban North Korean vessels from calling at Japanese ports, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Shinzo Abe clearly said he wanted the bill enacted into law during the current Diet session. Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Naoto Kan also was positive about the bill, saying, "We're willing to examine any proposal."The LDP's coalition partner, New Komeito, the majority of whose members are cautious about such a bill, are now discussing it. As in the case of the revised foreign exchange law, the three parties should jointly propose a bill and enact it.The government must take into consideration the possibility of imposing sanctions against North Korea, not only when tensions rise between the two countries because of Pyongyang's nuclear experiments and ballistic missile launches, but also when it fails to take steps to resolve the abduction issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2004-02-26	YOSHIN0020040226e02q000n8
YOMSHI0020040226e02r0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040226e02r0000e	EN	\N	Foreign residents should not get the vote	A bill the party submitted to the previous Diet session for a similar purpose was scrapped when the House of Representatives was dissolved for a general election before the lower house could put the bill to a vote.	4	2004-02-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Foreign residents should never be given the right to vote in national election or in local polls.This conclusion is easy to reach if we look at non-Japanese residents from a constitutional point of view. In this connection, it is also important to consider what kind of nation Japan should become.Constitutional conflictIn 1995, the Supreme Court ruled that the people's right to "choose their public officials and to dismiss them" rests with Japanese nationals under Article 15. The court's decision also stated that the "direct popular vote"--as stipulated under under Article 93--signifies ballots cast by Japanese nationals to elect local government leaders and local assembly members.In other words, the Constitution explicitly prohibits foreign residents from voting in Japanese elections. Foreigners must become Japanese nationals before they can vote.Advocates of voting rights for foreign residents in local elections have based their argument on an opinion attached to the 1995 ruling, which stated that the Constitution does not preclude granting permanent residents voting rights in local elections. The opinion also said this depended on whether the government formulated a policy to give foreign residents such rights.Obviously, the supplementary opinion conflicts with the main text of the ruling, and it is not legally binding. Therefore, there is no reason to insist on giving foreigners voting rights by citing this opinion.New Komeito's bill aims to grant non-Japanese residents a wide range of rights. Not only does it include the right to elect local government chiefs and local assemblymen, it also incorporates the right to demand the establishment and abolition of local ordinances and the dismissal of local government heads and members of local boards of education.Local governments are part of this country's governing structure. Their role is not only to provide residents with ordinary administrative services in their regions. Their duties are linked to the basic policies formulated by the central government, including peace and security policies and educational programs.Security concerns take priorityThis can be seen in the enactment of a law last year to deal with contingencies, such as an attack on this country. This is also true with regard to a bill the government plans to submit to the current Diet session to define how the central and local governments should protect the people in the event of such an attack. Both cover measures in which the central and local governments would cooperate with each other to fend off an attack.Giving voting and other rights to foreign nationals of countries hostile to Japan means that they could choose to exercise their rights to disrupt this cooperation. This would prove disastrous for Japan.Foreign residents could also undermine the nation's educational system in connection, for example, with issues related to school history textbooks. This could happen if they were granted the right to dismiss educational board members.The foundation of this nation should never be undermined by giving non-Japanese residents the right to vote in local elections.Policies must cover allNaturally, it is important to ensure that the wishes of permanent residents are reflected in policies formulated by local governments in their areas. However, it is possible to achieve that goal if local governments pay due consideration to non-Japanese residents in carrying out their policies. Therefore, local governments do not need to give foreign residents voting rights.It is doubtful whether the Diet will pass the New Komeito bill. However, some observers believe the party's action is aimed at presenting itself as a party with distinctive policies and goals prior to the House of Councillors election in July. It may also be seen as a tactic to gain the upper hand over the Liberal Democratic Party in connection with a bill aimed at defining procedures for a national referendum on amending the Constitution.The dispute over New Komeito's bill is a matter that could affect the foundation of this country. We hope the party will think seriously about what it should do to help build a better future for this nation as the LDP's junior coalition partner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	781	2004-02-27	YOSHIN0020040227e02r000k1
YOMSHI0020040227e02s0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040227e02s0000f	EN	\N	Matsumoto's trial much too long	On Friday, the Tokyo District Court sentenced Matsumoto to death after concluding that he masterminded a series of Aum-related crimes. The ruling was a foregone conclusion.	4	2004-02-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The trial was a drawn-out affair, with Friday's ruling coming seven years and 10 months after the first hearing. The district court held 257 hearings during this period.The crimes committed by the cult stunned the public. They included the sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995, the sarin gas incident in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, the previous year, and the murder of Yokohama lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto and his family in 1989.These crimes left 27 people dead and injured or sickened more than 5,000. The agony endured by the victims must never be forgotten. The families of those who were killed will never be able to forget their losses.In its ruling, which covered 13 criminal cases involving Matsumoto, also known as Shoko Asahara, the district court described him as a person fantasizing that he was "an absolute being comparable to a deity." The decision said Asahara's merciless crimes could never be condoned.Defense counsel to blameThe court also concluded that his crimes were driven by "a baseless and ridiculous motive" to become the ruler of Japan, by using the status of his cult as a religious organization to conceal his dreadful ambitions.By all accounts, the blame for the prolonged trial must fall in the lap of the court-appointed defense counsel, which had no interest in sticking to questions and arguments on truly contentious issues concerning Matsumoto's crimes.Initially, prosecutors wanted to prove the extent of the damage caused to a large number of people in the two sarin incidents. However, the defense counsel's attitude forced them to reduce the number of victims to save time.Prosecutors also took the unusual step of dropping four cases related to Aum's unlawful production of drugs, in the hope of speeding up the trial.However, the defense counsel continued to ask witnesses hair-splitting and trivial questions, apparently with the aim of prolonging the proceedings. They spent about 1,000 hours questioning witnesses, five times as long as prosecutors spent examining witnesses.Admittedly, the defense of a person accused of a crime is an important constitutional right. However, the action taken by Matsumoto's defense counsel was "defense for defense sake."Judges too timidHowever, the district court failed to prevent the defense counsel from resorting to these tactics. In this sense, the court's failure to properly preside over the hearings should be called into question.Defense lawyers naturally had to attend all the court hearing for Aum-related crimes. The delay in the proceedings of Matsumoto's trial probably was the result of fear that the defense counsel might resign if the judges presided over the court with a heavy hand. Such an event would have disrupted the proceedings.Ongoing efforts by the government to reform the judiciary system include a plan to revise the Criminal Procedure Code to grant court judges greater control over court hearings, in the hope of speeding up court proceedings.However, revising the law may not serve the main purpose. If lawyers want to stick to defending their clients merely to prolong trials, it will be difficult to stop them from doing so.Matsumoto's defense lawyers are also to blame for failing to build relations of mutual trust between the defendant and the counsel. The defendant remained silent during most of the hearings. The counsel and Matsumoto also failed to make their thoughts known to each other.All this contributed to wasting the court's time, making it even more difficult to uncover the whole truth behind his crimes.Aum's crimes have done little to teach society what should be done to prevent similar deeds.About 1,650 Aum followers are active at 26 facilities in 17 prefectures. There has been constant trouble between cult members and local residents.Aum activities continuingAbout 400 Aum members and others have served terms of imprisonment after being arrested and indicted in the series of the crimes committed by the group. According to the Public Security Investigation Agency, however, more than 100 of them have returned to the cult.By using Web dating service sites, the cult are trying to recruit new followers using false names.It is known that efforts by some Aum leaders and members to reform their group by neutralizing Matsumoto's influence have been frustrated. Consequently, the cult appears to be even more deeply devoted to its founder.The group has sent some members to its Russian branch, from which they are stepping up efforts to propagate Aum's teachings.Aum's ability to continue its activities is because of the authorities' failure to disband the group under the Antisubversive Activities Law in 1997. The Public Security Examination Commission rejected a request from the agency to dissolve the cult under the law. The commission defended its decision by saying, "There is little chance that (Aum) will pose a danger in the future."Law with teeth neededThe freedom of religion, assembly and association are all important rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The commission, however, failed to take into consideration the importance of protecting ordinary citizens from such an explicitly criminal group as Aum.Despite an increase in the number of terrorist attacks worldwide, there has been little progress in upgrading this nation's legal system to fight new antisocial criminal organizations.What if leftist radicals joined hands with such an international terrorist network as Al-Qaida? This is particularly chilling as the authorities have little control over extreme leftists in this country.The Public Security Examination Commission's refusal to order Aum disbanded was followed by the establishment of the Subversive Organizations Control Law, which primarily seeks to restrict Aum activities. However, this law incorporates no provision that permits the disbanding of the cult.We believe Friday's sentence has provided an opportunity for us to think about how to improve the legal framework so crimes committed by Aum can be better combatted.In its ruling, the district court said Aum's crimes had genuinely shocked people both at home and abroad. It described them as "a series of profoundly brutal and serious crimes of a type that we had never known before."The cult's crimes shattered the myth that Japan was a safe country. The lessons learned from the havoc wrought by Aum should be used as steppingstones in efforts to once more make this country safe.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1139	2004-02-28	YOSHIN0020040228e02s000j4
YOMSHI0020040228e02t00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040228e02t00009	EN	\N	Don't ease pressureon North Korea now	At the six-way talks, held for the first time in six months with the aim of persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, Pyongyang said it would end its nuclear weapons programs if Washington abandoned its policy of hostility toward the country, and said it would take the first step by freezing its nuclear arms programs.	4	2004-02-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korea, however, continued to deny the existence of a uranium-enrichment program for nuclear weapons.If the focal issue of a uranium-based nuclear program is taken off the table, the only outcome to the six-way talks is an impasse.North Korea cannot be allowed to take advantage of a loophole whereby it could pursue a nuclear program for military purposes on the pretext of peaceful use. If this happens, discussion of punitive actions in the U.N. Security Council cannot be avoided.If any real progress is to be made, North Korea must promise to dismantle all its nuclear programs, including the uranium-based one.Follow Libya's leadNorth Korea should follow Libya's lead. Libya, which vowed to dismantle its nuclear programs, already has seen relations with the United States begin to improve.U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly said North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju clearly admitted during bilateral talks in autumn 2002 that North Korea was developing a uranium-enrichment program.After the United States made public North Korea's claim, Pyongyang initially remained ambiguous, neither denying nor acknowledging the program.It was only after the United States decided to stop supplying heavy oil to North Korea that Pyongyang began denying the existence of the program as "a fabrication by the United States." If there was no such program at all, why not deny it from the beginning?Meanwhile, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist in charge of that country's nuclear development program, admitted that he had provided nuclear weapons technology to North Korea, intensifying suspicions about Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.North Korea is seeking rewards for "freezing its nuclear program." Pyongyang said freezing included ending the production of, experiments with and transfer of nuclear weapons, and the suspension of operations of existing nuclear facilities.What about the plutonium?But Pyongyang made no reference to the plutonium the country last year claimed to have obtained by reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.It is absolutely meaningless to say North Korea's nuclear program will be "frozen" while ignoring enough fissionable material to produce six nuclear weapons.North Korea should clarify the existence of such materials and place them under the surveillance of the International Atomic Energy Agency.South Korea said it would be willing to extend energy assistance to North Korea in return for a nuclear freeze. China and Russia sided with South Korea.But a nuclear freeze must be just a first step toward the goal of complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear programs.Any energy assistance provided in the absence of this principle would reduce the pressure applied by suspending supplies of heavy oil and the construction of light-water reactors. Energy assistance rendered easily will merely hinder settlement of the nuclear program issue.Japan, the United States, South Korea, China and Russia should pursue measures that have the best possible chance of leading to the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear programs.In addition, Japan needs to intensify its stance of "pursuing dialogue and exerting pressure" so as to resolve the abduction issue. There is no reason whatsoever for Japan to ease its pressure on Pyongyang now.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2004-02-29	YOSHIN0020040229e02t000bp
YOMSHI0020040301e0310000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040301e0310000b	EN	\N	Respect for flag more important than ever	National anthems are equally diverse. While there are songs that allude to god or monarch or even both, as in Britain's "God Save the Queen," there also are those that hail the philosophy of nation-building or the history or character of the country.	4	2004-03-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Japan, fierce conflicts have raged over the national flag and the national anthem. Every year schools hold discussions on how the national flag and anthem should be handled during school ceremonies, such as enrollment and graduation.With graduation season just around the corner, guidelines as to the proper treatment of the national flag and anthem, issued by the Tokyo metropolitan board of education, is causing a stir in Tokyo schools.Precise placement orderedThe guidelines include detailed procedures for graduation ceremonies, including placement of the flag and the seating arrangements. The national flag is to be raised over the stage and seating in the hall is to be arranged so that pupils face the flag.In response to the guidelines, groups of high school teachers filed a suit with the Tokyo District Court, seeking confirmation that they were not obliged to comply with such guidelines.The guidelines are extremely detailed, to be sure, but realities in our schools have made such regulations necessary.The course of study set by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, which is the standard for curriculums in primary, middle and high schools, stipulates that teachers must help children understand the meaning of the national flag and the national anthem, and that they must instruct them as to how to raise the national flag and how to sing the national anthem on such occasions as graduation and enrollment ceremonies.In spite of this, opposition from teachers affiliated with the Japan Teachers' Union remains strong, at one point in 1999 driving the head of a Hiroshima prefectural high school to commit suicide.This incident led to the legislation on the national flag and the national anthem. Now the raising of the national flag and the singing of the national anthem are observed nearly 100 percent of the time.The problem is how both are observed.In many schools, graduating students and remaining students are seated face to face during graduation ceremonies. Because of this arrangement, the national flag, fixed in a tripod, is placed on the floor in a corner of the hall.Teachers sabotaging flagThis arrangement is said to be used to emphasize that the ceremony is being held primarily for the children. But in reality, many teachers opposed to the ministry's course of study make use of the seating arrangement to compromise the meaning behind the raising of the flag.The guidelines from the metropolitan board of education were inevitable, in light of the need to block such rear-guard sabotage. Graduation and similar ceremonies should be solemn, with the national flag raised at the front.Chiefly out of aversion to the prewar militaristic system, people in Japan have for many years tended to shy away from seriously questioning the significance of the state and have maintained an ambiguous attitude toward the national flag and the national anthem.Other industrially advanced countries generally attach great importance to educating children about the meaning of their national flags and national anthems in school.In the United States, it is stipulated by law that public institutions such as schools will hoist the national flag. The law is designed to reminds people of their own history, culture and identity and let them demonstrate their desire to work toward the country's future.In our increasingly globalized world, it is more important than ever to help our children form spiritual bonds by raising the national flag and singing the national anthem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2004-03-01	YOSHIN0020040301e031000ex
YOMSHI0020040301e03200039	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040301e03200039	EN	\N	Govt should limit role in privatized road firms	The government's share in the envisaged firms' capital, a focal issue, will be more than one-third. Consequently, the central government will remain deeply involved in the firms' operation even after their privatization.	4	2004-03-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But if the government continues to influence the management of the new firms, the significance of the privatization might be questioned. If the government aims to make the new firms truly independent, it must reduce its stake in them to a minimum so as to respect their independence with a view to fully privatizing them in the future.The size of the government stake in the firms is due to be reviewed in 10 years' time, but it would be better to reexamine it as soon as possible.The Construction and Transport Ministry will draw up the bills on the privatization of the four road-related public corporations in line with a framework adopted by a panel comprising government and ruling party officials at the end of last year. They will be approved by the Cabinet next Tuesday at the earliest.The legislation takes the form of four bills, including a bill on joint stock companies operating expressways. Under the privatization plan, the existing four public corporations will be split into two parts: an entity that will take over their assets and debts, totaling 40 trillion yen, and six companies that will lease and operate expressways.JR example instructiveThe government intends that the new companies will list their shares on the stock market. In that event, a question will arise over the ratio of the central government's share in their capital. The Construction and Transport Ministry initially planned to set the ratio at 50 percent or higher to maintain government influence over the new companies.But following criticism that the government would be too closely involved in the management of the corporations, the issue was settled by lowering the ratio to more than 33 percent. Even so, the government will retain strong influence over the new expressway-operating firms.East Japan Railway Co., which was established after the privatization of the defunct Japanese National Railways, was fully privatized after the central government sold all shares it held in the company. West Japan Railway Co. will soon follow suit. We note that the railway network in the country operates smoothly.In the case of NTT Corp., the law stipulates that the government hold at least 33 percent of its stock. But the new companies, which will simply operate expressways, not own them, should not be treated the same as NTT, which controls the core of the country's telecommunications system.Vested interests to benefitOne of the bills will include a provision stipulating that when the new companies and the government are divided over the construction of new expressways, the issue will be settled by the social infrastructure improvement council, an advisory panel to the construction and transport minister. But it is obvious that the council will tend to side with the government.In addition to the fact that the above-mentioned system will deprive the new companies of management freedom, we believe it will be problematic if the central government continues to control the new companies as a major shareholder. Under such conditions, lawmakers who have close ties with bureaucrats with vested rights in the road industry also will remain influential.It has been agreed that the government will guarantee loans when the new companies need to procure funds to build new roads. The measure is unavoidable because it will enable the new companies to receive low-interest loans.But Construction and Transport Minister Nobuteru Ishihara expressed his intention to limit the range of the government guarantees, saying, "If the government indefinitely guarantees the firms' loans, they'll lose their independence."Another task of the government, as the firms' "parent," will be to encourage them to be independent.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2004-03-02	YOSHIN0020040302e032000kk
YOMSHI0020040302e0330000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040302e0330000k	EN	\N	Japan should promote intl cooperation on Iraq	Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin met Tuesday and confirmed their two countries' cooperation in rebuilding Iraq in the fields of medicine, culture and sports, including training of Iraqi doctors and restoration of Iraq's cultural assets. Japan and Germany already had agreed at a working-level meeting to cooperate in the security field, such as training Iraqi police officers.	4	2004-03-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	By playing a role in expanding and reinforcing the framework of international assistance, Japan will be able to strengthen its status in the international community. In addition, the relationship of mutual trust underpinning the Japan-U.S. alliance will be further deepened if Tokyo can play an intermediary role to help Washington mend fences with Paris and Berlin.Now that Self-Defense Forces personnel are about to start full-scale activities in Iraq, Japan's diplomatic efforts will help them carry out their duties smoothly and safely.Last month, Germany and France agreed with the United States at a summit meeting and at foreign ministerial talks, respectively, to cooperate to rebuild Iraq, overcoming the sharp divisions they had over the war. The international community, including Germany, France and member states of the United Nations, is set to cooperate to try to realize the transfer of sovereignty to Iraq by the end of June.Minshuto ignoring realityRegarding the SDF dispatch to Iraq, de Villepin said in an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun that he could understand Japan's determination to expand its political role in the international arena. The SDF dispatch already has gained wide recognition in the international community.As one of its reasons for opposing the SDF dispatch to Iraq, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) pointed out the lack of an international agreement over rebuilding the country. But in the face of rapidly growing moves among members of the international community to join hands in the reconstruction work, we regret to say Minshuto's assertion is at odds with reality.The SDF dispatch and economic aid are inseparable parts of Japan's reconstruction aid to Iraq.The basic telecommunications network between Baghdad and Basra, a major city in the south of Iraq, will be set up with Japanese financial aid, reviving the country's telecom system, which was destroyed in the war. In the field of power supply, Japan will compile basic plans on electricity generation and supply. This nation also has started preparations to provide police patrol cars to tackle security problems and medical equipment to the country.National interest servedAll these measures need be taken as soon as possible. In promoting reconstruction aid, it is important to be flexible and speedy without being bound by precedents. It also is necessary to ensure transparency in the use of aid funds. By paying close attention to improving the unemployment situation in the country, we hope that such aid projects will be visibly Japanese.For the time being, Japan's cooperation with France and Germany in Iraq will be limited to certain fields. Taking this as a first step, Japan should ask not only those two countries, but also other members of the international community to become more involved in the reconstruction process.To promote the democratization of Iraq, such as the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people, and accelerate restoration work, joint efforts among the international community, including members of the United Nations, will become even more important in the future. Japan should therefore play an even more high-profile role in bringing peace and stability to Iraq as soon as possible. Such efforts will serve this country's interests in the end.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	653	2004-03-03	YOSHIN0020040303e033000lg
YOMSHI0020040303e0340000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040303e0340000g	EN	\N	New laws on N. Korea add arrows to govt quiver	The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), have nearly agreed to ensure the current Diet session adopts a bill that would give the government the power to bar North Korean ships seeking to call at Japanese ports. The broad agreement came during intensive discussions on problems related to the so-called Hermit Kingdom at the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives.	4	2004-03-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest development follows the recent passage of a bill seeking to revise the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law to enable the government to implement independent economic sanctions against North Korea.Former Minshuto President Yukio Hatoyama has urged Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to speak with one voice when it comes to the dispute over North Korea's abduction of Japanese. "This is not an issue that can divide the ruling and opposition parties," Hatoyama said.He had every reason to say so, in that all political parties should unite in working to resolve the dispute.No progress was made at the recent six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program. The blame lies with the Stalinist state's refusal to make any concessions at all during the negotiations.Intolerable attitudeIn a meeting with Japanese officials attending the six-nation talks, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said the controversy over the abductions was related to whether the nuclear problem could be solved and whether progress would be made in efforts to improve his country's relations with the United States. If he meant the abduction dispute would never be resolved unless headway was made in ending disagreement over North Korea's nuclear program, then Pyongyang's attitude on the abduction issue cannot be tolerated.For months, Japan has insisted on a comprehensive solution to the nuclear, missile and abduction issues. However, North Korea should immediately and unconditionally accommodate a Japanese demand for the eight family members of the five repatriated abductees to be allowed to visit or emigrate to Japan.During the Budget Committee session, the LDP, New Komeito and Minshuto argued that economic sanctions should be imposed on North Korea under the revised Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law. The prime minister expressed a cautious opinion about adopting such measures, saying, "If we can solve the problem without resorting to our last trick, nothing will better fulfill our goal."No tactic ruled outKoizumi's statement may have reflected his concern that hinting at economic sanctions against the communist country could adversely affect efforts to open another round of six-nation talks when a date has yet to be set for such negotiations. However, the prime minister's remark should not be interpreted as ruling out economic sanctions against North Korea.The mental stress felt by the repatriated abductees and their families is growing as no progress is being made in ending the current impasse. This is also true of Japanese efforts to uncover the true fate of other suspected abductees. Their families are feeling even greater distress.North Korea should know that stalling on the abduction issue will only encourage Japan to adopt sanctions against it.A large percentage of Japanese support sanctions against North Korea. According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 78 percent of those polled favored the revised Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law.Meanwhile, 75 percent of the respondents said they were dissatisfied with the government's attitude toward the abduction issue. Of those expressing such a sentiment, 52 percent cited the government's failure to adopt a strong approach to North Korea.Minshuto intends to vote in favor of the bill seeking to restrict North Korean access to Japanese ports after talks with the ruling parties over proposed changes in the legislation. This means the government will have another bargaining chip in talks with North Korea.Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the North Korean Workers Party, has denounced the bill as "an attempt to prevent (pro-Pyongyang) Koreans in Japan from visiting their homeland for a heartfelt reunion with their relatives."The statement must be taken to heart by the North Korean government--not the Japanese government--as it is the former that has not allowed the families of those abducted to come to Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	746	2004-03-04	YOSHIN0020040304e034000k1
YOMSHI0020040304e0350000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040304e0350000i	EN	\N	State-paid secretary system needs review	His resignation follows a series of recent scandals involving Diet members, including alleged vote-buying by some candidates who won seats in November's lower house election. Another legislator has drawn fire for misrepresenting his educational background in the election.	4	2004-03-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	All Diet members must take the seriousness of these scandals to heart and recognize their obligation to restore the public's faith in politics.Sato allegedly registered a woman as a government-paid secretary between June 2000 and April 2003, although she never worked in that capacity during the period. He is believed to have pocketed the money paid to her from the state coffers--about 6 million yen annually. If true, it would mean he defrauded the government.Elected to the Diet 11 times, Sato served as home affairs minister and National Public Safety Commission chairman in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa. In those days, he promoted political reforms as a cabinet member in charge of matters related to funds for political activities.Sato may face fraud chargesThe latest scandal would not have occurred had Sato realized his grave responsibility to prevent political corruption as a member of the Hosokawa Cabinet.Investigators are set to question Sato in connection with the alleged misuse of his secretary's salary and are likely to press fraud charges against him. Even after his alleged misuse of the state-paid salary surfaced, Sato insisted that the woman in question worked as his secretary. There is good reason to conclude that he lied.The ruling parties have lashed into Sato since the scandal came to light a few months before the House of Councillors election in the summer. Clamorous calls among Minshuto members for Sato to resign from the Diet left the lawmaker with little choice but to comply.In September 2000, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested Joji Yamamoto, then a Minshuto member in the lower house, on suspicion of misappropriating the salary received by his state-paid policy secretary. At the time, Sato said, "I'm flabbergasted. Measures must be taken as soon as possible to ensure such a scandal never occurs again."This comment is in stark contrast to his continued pretense that the woman in question was his secretary.Duplicitous actionSato allegedly cheated the government out of money by pocketing his secretary's salary even after a similar scandal involving then lower house member Kiyomi Tsujimoto came to light in March 2002. Sato's action can only be regarded as astounding.In September 2003, a research commission comprising academics and specialists issued a report detailing how to reform the current system governing legislators' state-paid secretaries. The report incorporated various proposals, including a plan to prohibit such secretaries from serving in other positions.The panel also insisted on prohibiting Diet members from employing their nephews, nieces and other relatives as government-paid secretaries. Proposals included a review of rules on donations to lawmakers and political parties from their secretaries.After studying these proposals, an advisory body to the lower house speaker will draw up plans to reform the system governing state-paid secretaries for legislators.However, many members of both the ruling and opposition parties oppose a ban on the employment of relatives as secretaries, as well as donations to Diet members from their secretaries. To legislators, giving up these practices means abandoning their vested interests. The panel has often been used to delay legislature reforms as a result of compromises between the ruling and opposition camps.Political parties and lawmakers surely realize that scandals similar to the one involving Sato will recur if they fail to drastically reform the state-paid secretary system. They should work to ensure the current Diet session adopts measures to truly reform the system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2004-03-05	YOSHIN0020040305e035000it
YOMSHI0020040305e0360000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040305e0360000h	EN	\N	Govt must do more to fight bird flu	With the spread of the infection, daily life in the area has been affected. While restrictions on the movement of chickens and eggs remain in place, the areas placed off-limits to ordinary people have expanded.	4	2004-03-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The central and local governments concerned must cooperate closely and take measures to prevent bird flu from spreading further.In both Yamaguchi and Oita prefectures, the spread of bird flu was contained thanks to prompt action taken at an early stage of the infection.The latest outbreak occurred at Funai Farm, which is operated by a poultry firm based in Hyogo Prefecture, but it was not reported to the Kyoto prefectural government until a week had passed and a huge number of chickens had died.To make matters worse, the farm shipped about 10,000 chickens to a poultry-processing firm in Yachiyocho, Hyogo Prefecture, without reporting that chickens had died. Is it any wonder that Funai Farm has been criticized for making last-minute shipments of chickens to minimize its losses?Firm should disclose factsAsked why it failed to report the case to the prefectural government promptly, the president of Asada Nosan initially said the dead chickens were inspected by a veterinarian who said they had died from enteritis. The explanation was later found to be false.Both the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Kyoto prefectural government are considering filing a criminal complaint against the president and other officials on suspicion that they violated the Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Law.Asada Nosan should disclose all the facts and admit its responsibility in the interests of food safety.Chickens shipped by Funai Farm and processed by the Yachiyocho firm have already been consumed in Kyoto, Hyogo and Osaka prefectures, while nearly 1 million eggs have been shipped to 17 prefectures.However, there have been no reports of anyone dying anywhere in the world after eating infected chicken or eggs, so consumers need not worry in this respect.The latest bird flu case has brought to light the lack of crisis control on the part of local governments and the failure of areas under the jurisdiction of these governments to cooperate.The Hyogo prefectural government did not realize that some chickens taken from Funai Farm to the processing firm were still alive, further spreading the infection.Action far from promptPrefectural government officials also failed to determine the distribution of the infected chickens in the prefecture promptly. A fax from the Kyoto municipal government informing the Hyogo prefectural government of this distribution was left unnoticed for nearly a day.Nowadays, food can be moved across the nation in less than a day. As in the SARS case, when an emergency like this arises, the central government must exercise its leadership as broadly and promptly as possible.It would not be surprising if a new spate of bird flu infections hit this country in the days ahead. Following the latest development, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has decided to strengthen the nationwide surveillance and liaison system. This action comes rather late in the day.The Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Law should also be revised.Under the current law, farmers failing to report promptly to a prefectural governor that their livestock has been infected or possibly infected with a contagious disease face prison terms not exceeding one year or fines of up to 500,000 yen. These penalties should be strengthened to encourage prompter notification.Also urgently needed is a review of the epidemics control manuals, drawn up by the government in September to deal with a possible worldwide spread of bird flu, so that local and central governments can deal more flexibly with an outbreak.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	666	2004-03-06	YOSHIN0020040306e036000km
YOMSHI0020040306e0370000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040306e0370000b	EN	\N	Opening labor market an important issue	One of the key questions that emerged from these talks, besides the issue of opening markets for agricultural products, was the issue of opening the labor market.	4	2004-03-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	All four countries are calling on Japan to allow doctors, nurses, caregivers and childcare workers to work in Japan if they are licensed in their own countries.They also want baby-sitters, who would take care of infants at home, to be able to obtain resident status.If society and the economy are to maintain stable growth, it is essential that Japan open its markets, not only in areas such as trade and investment, but also in labor, and to strengthen its cooperation with East Asian countries.Declining birthrate a problemThe birthrate is declining and society is aging ever faster, leaving Japan faced with the issue of how to maintain its labor force, an issue that must be dealt with keeping both mid- and long-term perspectives in mind. Looked at from this vantage point, opening the labor market is one of the most important issues under consideration.The government and the ruling coalition parties need to expedite their study into how to open the labor market, while taking into consideration the impact it will have on both public safety and employment security in the long run.The government, which has long been reluctant to open the labor market to foreigners, decided in 1999, with Cabinet approval, to allow foreign experts in 14 professions, such as university professors and technical experts, to work in Japan.But so far little progress has been seen, due to continued opposition from the government ministries and agencies concerned, including the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, all of which are under pressure from industrial organizations and legislators representing the vested interests of specific business sectors concerned about immediate impacts on the job market.According to an estimate by the Justice Ministry's Immigration Bureau, as of 2001, the number of foreigners working in Japan stood at 740,000, or just slightly over 1 percent of the total number of employees, with those in the 14 professional and technical fields allowed totaling only 170,000.Ease residency requirementsThe Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry made a request to the government last autumn, calling for expanded authorization for foreign licenses from the current 14 professional and technical fields and for an easing of the requirements for foreigners to obtain resident status.The industrial organization also called on the government to open the way for foreign nurses and caregivers to work in Japan, on condition they met certain requirements, including conversational Japanese ability and skill in nursing.In a report concerning the promotion of regulatory reforms late last year, the Council for Regulatory Reform presented Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi with a set of concrete proposals on regulatory reforms that would make possible a free and smooth flow of labor, as well as of goods and capital, to give impetus to the task of concluding free trade pacts with other countries.In response, the government, in its guidelines on structural reform and mid-term prospects for economic and fiscal management adopted at the Cabinet meeting in January, confirmed its policy of promoting the opening of the labor market as a step toward strengthening economic cooperation with East Asian countries, including the conclusion of bilateral free trade agreements.On opening the labor market, the Liberal Democratic Party reiterated its stance that it was fully ready to address the issue, through cooperation between the government and the ruling coalition, centering around a special committee on the promotion of FTAs.But announcing policy decisions and taking up stances are not enough to break down barriers. It is now time for the government and the ruling parties to take concrete steps.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2004-03-07	YOSHIN0020040307e037000i6
YOMSHI0020040307e0380000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040307e0380000c	EN	\N	A politician who lost his way	This is the qestion many people asked themselves when they heard the news Sunday that Aichi prefectural police had arrested Kanju Sato, former home affairs minister and chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, on suspicion of misappropriating the salary of his former state-funded secretary.	4	2004-03-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prior to this case, four similar cases of the misuse of the salaries of state-funded secretaries had been reported, including the case involving former House of Representatives member Kiyomi Tsujimoto. But Sato's case is significant in that he was a former Cabinet member who had held several important posts.Sato was first appointed to a Cabinet ministerial post in 1993, when the coalition government led by Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, including members of the Social Democratic Party to which Sato once belonged, was formed after the collapse of the long-term reign of the Liberal Democratic Party.Sato worked for reformsIn his inaugural speech, Sato said his first duty would be to realize political reform at the earliest possible date. With that remark, he expressed his intention to promote reforms of the electoral system, centering on the introduction of single-seat constituencies, and to tighten controls on political funds.The home affairs minister was in charge of election and political funds, while the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission takes charge of police administration. It is the duty of the police to control irregularities in elections and political funds.Sato said at a press conference before his arrest Sunday: "The misuse of a state-funded secretary's salary would be unforgivable in a lawmaker who once served as home affairs minister and who was involved in political reforms," as if he had had nothing to do with the scandal.He must be severely punished for increasing the public's distrust in politics, especially since he once worked for political reform specifically to eliminate such distrust.Sato served nine terms in a row in the lower house, sharing three seats in the former Aichi Constituency No. 3 with Liberal Democratic Party and othe parties' candidates under the multiple-seat system. But he suffered a crushing defeat when he ran in Aichi Constituency No. 9 in the first election held under the system of single-seat constituencies and proportional representation in 1996.It is ironic that Sato lost in an electoral system that he helped to introduce.Defeat led to money woesSome view this defeat as a contributing cause of the scandal. Sato made a comeback in the lower house election held in 2000, in which he ran in Aichi Constituency No. 10. But he had trouble raising enough money for political activities because of the four years in which he was out of office, during which he saw his support base weaken. This, they say, is why he ended up misappropriating the salary of his former secretary.If this is true, Sato behaved according to a proverb that says, "Poverty dulls the wit." But many lawmakers say they need more money under the single-seat constituency system, in which they are forced to cater to the needs and interests of voters. In this respect, the single-seat system could use some improvement.A review of the existing system for Diet members' secretaries is also urgently needed, including a ban, in principle, on Diet members recruiting relatives and people who work at other jobs. But the political parties and lawmakers appear to be reluctant to take such action.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), to which Sato belonged, has itself yet to reach consensus on a plan proposed by the leadership to prohibit its members from recruiting spouses, parents or children as secretaries, as many members strongly oppose the plan. Some LDP members are also cautious about the move.But those who adhere to vested interests can never become politicians with the kind of vision that voters can believe in.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2004-03-08	YOSHIN0020040308e038000ff
YOMSHI0020040308e0390000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040308e0390000e	EN	\N	Strong localities needed to aid decentralization	The Cabinet will adopt Tuesday a package of bills concerning mergers of municipalities, including a bill on special measures to promote mergers of cities, towns and villages.	4	2004-03-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Mergers of municipalities are aimed at establishing administrative systems to meet the age of decentralization. In its general provisions, the bill on special measures calls for establishing a new administrative system of municipal governments in line with the development of decentralization, increased socioeconomic mobility and economic and social changes such as the aging of the population coupled with the declining birthrate.The amount of outstanding loans held by local governments is projected to swell to 204 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2004. In the so-called triple reform of local finances, tax grants from the central government to local governments will be reduced. Mergers of local governments will be vital to improve their severe fiscal condition.The development of transportation and telecommunications networks has expanded the areas in which people commute and work. As society ages and the number of children dwindles, there is a growing need for nursing care services. Small towns and villages will no longer be able to deal with increased demand for such services.Governors should take leadThe Public Management Ministry envisages a local government with a population of 10,000 or more as a basic unit.The bill on special decentralization measures mainly is aimed at strengthening governors' roles to allow them to draw up merger plans and advise municipal governments to set up a council to examine such plans. Governors also will be entitled to appoint a commission tasked with coordinating mergers of municipalities.Governors must show leadership in promoting mergers of municipal governments as they are familiar with conditions in their regions.The current special law on mergers of municipalities, under which cities, towns and villages that merge receive favorable financial treatment from the central government, such as an increase in the allocation of tax revenue sources and permission to issue local government bonds, will expire next March. Therefore, the package of new bills is aimed at promoting mergers even after financial assistance from the central government is gradually reduced.It will be difficult for individual small municipalities to offer such public services as nursing care, firefighting and garbage disposal unless they join hands with neighboring governments.In merging municipalities, however, it is desirable for a city or town to take the lead, rather than small towns and villages teaming up just so they can scrape together enough population.It also will be necessary to set an appropriate number of local government officials. With the mass retirement of baby boomers expected a few years from now, local governments will have to be streamlined.Securing future of regions keyMergers of municipalities will enlarge the administrative area covered by each basic unit of local government. Consequently, prefectural governments will have more chances to help carry out the central government's policies, such as industrial policies and improvement of social infrastructure. This will encourage prefectures to merge with other prefectures and promote discussions on introducing the so-called doshu system, which would reorganize the nation into administrative blocs larger than the current prefectures. In this respect, the merger of municipalities is in the run-up to such a goal.Municipal governments are rushing to merge before the deadline for doing so expires under the current system. However, the new bill also retains a clause to extend current assembly members' terms by up to two years. This will create assemblies with huge numbers of members. The number of local assembly members will exceed 100 in four newly created cities, including Shin-Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.Local assembly members must place top priority on the future of their regions and local residents. In this respect, Diet deliberations must focus on the future of regions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2004-03-09	YOSHIN0020040309e039000mn
YOMSHI0020040309e03a0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040309e03a0000i	EN	\N	More measures needed to protect DV victims	Three years have passed since the Diet enacted the Anti-Domestic Violence Law, which seeks to prevent domestic violence (DV) and protect DV victims. There has been growing awareness that DV constitutes a crime. This is significant in that DV was often regarded as mere friction between couples in the past.	4	2004-03-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, there seems to be no end to the suffering of DV victims. A group of House of Councillors members from various political parties has drawn up a plan to revise the Anti-Domestic Violence Law. Although it incorporates many proposed changes, the plan is inadequate in some respects. We hope that these lawmakers will further discuss relevant issues and seek to reform the law in a manner that will better fulfill its goals.A main pillar of the law is a provision authorizing courts to issue an order for a woman to be protected from her partner, based on a petition filed by her seeking protection against his violence.Courts can issue two kinds of order in this regard. One requires a man using violence against his partner to leave their home for a certain period, while the other bans him from approaching his wife for six months. The law stipulates that an offender may be imprisoned for up to one year or fined up to 1 million yen.By the end of 2003, courts nationwide had issued 2,719 orders to protect abused women under the law. Those orders largely belonged to the latter category, aimed at prohibiting violent men from approaching their partners.Violence can take many formsIt should be noted, however, that many DV victims have escaped from their partners, taking their children with them. After their partners ran away from them, many men have dared to take the children away while they were returning to their mothers from school.The group of legislators had good reason to decide that the list of those eligible for court protection should be expanded to include children of DV victims.After unsuccessfully trying to find out where his wife was living since her escape from him, one man killed her acquaintance. To prevent such incidents, the list also should cover people whom abusive men could harm, including the parents, relatives and friends of DV victims.It is commendable for the lawmakers to call for rewriting the definition of DV to include mental cruelty. However, their plan is less than satisfactory in that it only cites physical violence as an act from which DV victims and their children should be protected under court orders.Aggressive behavior by men in the form of telephone calls, e-mail and fax messages can terrify DV victims who have escaped from their partners. With this in mind, tenacious threats posed by violent men should be incorporated into the list of behavior from which victims must be protected.Offenders need rehabilitationMeanwhile, the legislators have clearly defined what kind of obligation the central and local governments should fulfill in supporting and helping DV victims to support themselves economically. The central and local governments differ in their attitudes concerning the need to protect DV victims. An urgent task facing them is to cooperate with private organizations in stepping up efforts to provide counseling and shelter for victims and implementing other necessary measures.Admittedly, gradual progress is being made in introducing legislative and other measures to protect DV victims. But few such efforts have been made to help rehabilitate those who have been disciplined for their violence against their wives under the law.In other places in Asia, such as South Korea and Taiwan, courts are authorized to obligate men using violence against their partners to receive counseling as a means of rehabilitating them. To prevent such husbands from exercising greater violence, it is essential to ensure they receive care conducive to their rehabilitation.There are hurdles to efforts to establish such a system, including the need to review the current judiciary system. Still, it is important to discuss what needs to be done to accomplish the goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	724	2004-03-10	YOSHIN0020040310e03a000m6
YOMSHI0020040310e03b0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040310e03b0000j	EN	\N	The growing specter of juvenile crime	On Wednesday, coming up to seven years after the incidents, he was released on parole from a reformatory for youths with severe physical or mental disorders. He is 21 years old now.	4	2004-03-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	His discharge from the facility was a tentative measure taken before he served his full reformatory term, but it does not mean he has been fully reintegrated into society. The man will be under probationary supervision until the end of the year and he will be sent back to the reformatory if questions are raised about his behavior during this period.During his tentative release from the facility, the authorities will carefully determine whether he has been truly rehabilitated after recognizing the seriousness of his crimes and the gravity of his responsibility.Recidivism running at 20%There seems to be no end to the atrocious crimes committed by juveniles in recent years, including a case involving a Nagasaki middle school student who kidnapped and killed a 4-year-old boy in July. In November, an 18-year-old college student stabbed his mother to death in Kawachi-Nagano, Osaka Prefecture, and seriously wounded his father and brother.An important task facing the authorities is to determine what kind of action should be taken to better reform juveniles who have committed serious crimes. This is essential to help prevent further major crimes being committed by youths.The Kobe man in question received correctional education under a special program designed for him. The reformatory program lasted about 6-1/2 years. Such a lengthy correctional program for a juvenile offender was extremely unusual.The man has reportedly been cured of his sexual sadism and antisocial values. Reports also say he feels he must atone for his sins. However, all these changes were only seen in an attitude displayed at a secluded reformatory for youths with mental disorders. It cannot be known whether he will retain these traits if and when he is exposed to a flood of sensationalism after his full return to society.About 4,000 to 5,000 juveniles are discharged from reformatories each year. Over the past 10 years, the percentage of youths who misbehave themselves or commit crimes while on parole from correctional facilities is in excess of 20 percent.Given this, the families of the children killed or seriously wounded by the then 14-year-old boy have good reason to doubt whether he will be able to live a decent and honest life in society.During his parole, the man will have a job and be placed under the guidance of probation officers and must continue to receive correctional education.Tougher law for young offendersShortly after the man's release from the reformatory, the Kanto Regional Parole Board told the families of his crimes' victims that he had been discharged. The committee also informed them of the progress in his rehabilitation, adding that he would live in a location far away from the Kinki region. All this was also made known to the press.No such action had ever been taken in connection with a juvenile crime. The authorities provide victims and their families with information concerning adult convicts released from prisons.Admittedly, measures should be taken to protect the man's privacy so efforts to rehabilitate him will not be undermined. However, we commend the parole board's action as an adequate step taken to disclose information about him while paying attention to the seriousness of his crimes and the sentiment of the victims' families.Another serious task facing the government is to reduce the number of juvenile crimes committed in an increasingly brutal manner.In April 2001, the revised Juvenile Law took effect, requiring anyone over 16 who has intentionally committed murder to stand a criminal trial. The law also expanded the list of persons criminally punishable to include anyone aged 14 and older.Since the revised law was enforced, the percentage of murder suspects who face criminal trials has doubled. A 15-year-old boy has been indicted and given a prison sentence in connection with robbery and rape, marking the first case in which a minor was criminally punished under the law.Bringing up juveniles properly calls for not only protection but efforts to encourage them to know they will be held responsible for what they have done and not to stray from the norms of society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	786	2004-03-11	YOSHIN0020040311e03b000l8
YOMSHI0020040311e03c0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040311e03c0000g	EN	\N	Company too slow in owning up to defect	Since the 1990s, trailers and other large vehicles manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors Corp. have caused as many as 50 accidents after their wheels came off while in motion.	4	2004-03-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In one accident, a housewife walking along a sidewalk in Yokohama, together with her two sons, was killed by a wheel that came off a truck.Following this accident in January 2002, the company replaced the front-wheel hubs, which had a structural defect, free of charge.Previously, the automaker had insisted that the accidents resulted from improper maintenance. It told the Construction and Transport Ministry that there were no structural defects that would require a recall. Companies are obliged to notify the ministry of such defects.Senior executives of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp., which split off from MMC and took over the manufacturing of large vehicles, admitted Thursday that this assertion was incorrect.Mitsubishi Fuso to blameOn the basis of the company's investigation of technical factors, one of the executives said the design of the component could have caused the accident, rather than poor maintenance. Mitsubishi Fuso said it would notify the ministry of the recall.The company said it had determined that a crack could develop in the hubs that connect the axle to the wheel, even if they were properly maintained. By saying this, the company admitted that it was to blame, rather than maintenance mechanics or drivers.Regarding the hubs, Mitsubishi Fuso said the parts had been replaced in many vehicles. However, this is of little comfort to the bereaved family members of the Yokohama victim, others injured in these accidents and owners of the vehicles. More than two years have passed since the Yokohama accident, so the belated response by the manufacturer makes us suspect the company was trying to cover up the defects.Only three years ago, senior MMC executives, including the vice president, were ordered to pay fines for the systematic cover-up of a recall of vehicles by not disclosing information concerning customer claims.Lesson seems to be forgottenOn the heels of this incident, the Road Trucking Vehicle Law was revised to increase penalties for such a cover-up.Surely MMC amd Mitsubishi Fuso have not forgotten this lesson. However, the company does not seem to be fully aware of the seriousness of the problem caused when a wheel comes off a truck.The ministry says it is entirely possible the parts in question have design or manufacturing defects. Whenever such defects are discovered, a company must recall the vehicles concerned, the ministry says.It is important for the ministry to examine the company's fact-finding efforts in the wake of a spate of accidents, similar to the one that occurred in Yokohama.In regard to the Yokohama accident, the Kanagawa prefectural police are investigating the automaker on suspicion that it may have ignored structural defects in its vehicles.The prefectural police have already searched the MMC headquarters on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death. This may develop into a criminal case.For an automaker, the safety of its products is most important. Mitsubishi Fuso should respond sincerely in dealing with the issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	564	2004-03-12	YOSHIN0020040312e03c000j1
YOMSHI0020040312e03d0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040312e03d0000i	EN	\N	People must be aware of terrorist threat	The simultaneous bombings of trains during the morning rush hour at Madrid stations were abhorrent acts.	4	2004-03-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The terrorist group is believed to have carefully timed the devastating attacks just ahead of the Spanish general election on Sunday.We should never allow such a challenge to democracy to succeed. Taking cool-headed measures, without flinching in the face of terrorism, will eventually bring an end to these murderous acts. We should reaffirm this principle.The Spanish government believes the Basque separatist group ETA was most likely responsible for the attacks.With the aim of realizing an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain, ETA has been carrying out terrorist activities since the latter half of the 1960s. Recently, police arrested ETA members riding in a van containing a large amount of explosives.International group involved?After the bombing attacks, police found a stolen van on the outskirts of Madrid containing several detonators and tapes of Koranic verses in Arabic. The police are investigating to see if the attacks are linked to some Arab-Islamic militant group.Meanwhile, a letter purporting to come from an Al-Qaida-linked organization and claiming that it was responsible for the bombings has reached an Arabic newspaper published in London.We hope the Spanish authorities do their best to identify the terrorists responsible and clear up the matter.Should the police determine that an international group of terrorists is involved, the whole nature of the case will change. All countries will have to come up with antiterrorist measures to ensure they are prepared in case they become a target.The attacks in Madrid indicate the vulnerability of the public transport system, which is vital to urban life.Not someone else's problemLast month, a bombing attack on Moscow's subway system left a large number of people dead or wounded. What is needed now is for cities around the world, particularly major ones, to put into place more effective measures to fight terrorism.The terrorist attacks in Madrid cannot be written off by Japan as someone else's problem.The National Police Agency and other organizations tightened security at key facilities across Japan when the Iraq war began and at the time Self-Defense Forces personnel were dispatched to Iraq.Security measures were tightened at JR Tokyo Station and aboard Shinkansen trains. However, it is necessary to adopt a carefully thought out plan by drawing lessons from the latest terrorist act.However, we should not leave our safety completely in the hands of the public authorities. While we should not jump at every shadow, it is important for everyone to be fully aware of the possibility of a terrorist attack.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	478	2004-03-13	YOSHIN0020040313e03d000kb
YOMSHI0020040313e03e0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040313e03e0000f	EN	\N	After Mexico, Asian FTAs await	Mexico has the world's 10th-largest gross domestic product, and, with a population of more than 100 million, represents a huge consumer market. It also can serve as a staging ground for Japanese companies making forays into North and South American markets.	4	2004-03-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To provide for the sustainable development of Japan's economy, it is extremely important to expand and deepen economic relations, including trade, with Mexico.The government should speed up the process of working out the details of the new agreement with the Mexican government, with the aim of putting it into effect as soon as possible.When the free trade agreement with Mexico is concluded, the country will become Japan's second FTA partner, following Singapore. However, the FTA with Mexico is the first in which the liberalization of Japanese agricultural markets was on the agenda. It can serve as a role model for future FTAs with countries such as South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines, with which Japan has begun FTA negotiations.We hope the accord with Mexico will lead to speedier negotiations with those countries.Talks faced tough goingThe negotiations with Mexico faced tough going due to wrangling between the two countries. Mexico tried to win as many concessions as possible from Japan for agricultural products such as pork, while Japan steadfastly refused to give in to Mexico's maneuvers.After talks held last autumn when Mexican President Vicente Fox visited Tokyo failed, interested parties expressed concern that the bilateral negotiations had reached an impasse.The push toward the final agreement with Mexico came from the nation's business community. Business circles complained that Japanese companies had been placed at a competitive disadvantage as Japan fell behind the United States and Europe in terms of FTAs, and that such Japanese companies must be saved.One of the reasons the concessions granted to Mexico in the latest FTA negotiations faced so little domestic resistance was because the products involved were narrowed down to pork and a few other key items, and because the concessions granted would not seriously affect Japanese producers.The recent retirement of certain heavyweight lawmakers also helped in reaching the final agreement.In addition, Mexico seems to have realized that increasing their demands over items that they deem vital, such as pork and oranges, would only provoke a backlash from Japanese groups, including agricultural organizations, all of which are increasing their political activities ahead of the House of Councillors elections in summer.E. Asia a tougher challengeHowever, negotiations with East Asian countries will face even higher hurdles than those presented by Mexico.There is a much wider range of items to be negotiated, in agriculture, forestry and fishery businesses, than there were in the Mexico talks, including rice and poultry with Thailand, plywood with Malaysia and fishery products with South Korea.Liberalization of the labor market, including accepting nurses and caregivers, will be a tough new issue.Until the final stage of negotiations with Mexico, the concerned government ministries and agencies lacked a common strategy. They acted instead for their own interests. Such behavior weakened the government's overall negotiating power.It has repeatedly been said that government ministries and agencies must work closely together under trade strategies that are linked to domestic reforms such as agricultural reforms.As negotiations with Asian countries will soon begin in earnest, the concerned ministries and agencies must work together under the leadership of top officials from the Prime Minister's Office.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	624	2004-03-14	YOSHIN0020040315e03e000d5
YOMSHI0020040315e03g0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040315e03g0000h	EN	\N	Pluthermal plan must be made a reality	The Fukui prefectural government Monday decided to approve a plan by Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) to manufacture MOX fuel overseas for use in the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at its Takahama nuclear power plant in the prefecture.	4	2004-03-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If Japan is to continue using nuclear power in the future, the pluthermal project must be made into a reality.The storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel at the nation's nuclear plants are reaching full capacity, meaning that those plants that are unable to refuel will be forced to suspend operations.If the spent nuclear fuel is reprocessed to extract plutonium, the plutonium can be processed into MOX fuel and the volume of stored spent fuel can be reduced.Project vital to power industryBut if the pluthermal plan is not realized, the power industry will be severely affected.The nation's electric power industry is planning to carry out the MOX project at 16 to 18 nuclear reactors across the nation by fiscal 2010. Because it will be the first time reprocessed spent nuclear fuel is used in nuclear reactors, KEPCO's plan must proceed without problems.According to the Atomic Energy Commission, an advisory panel to the prime minister, MOX fuel has already been used at 55 nuclear reactors in nine countries overseas. It is not considered a particularly challenging task, technically speaking. But there has been no progress on the project in Japan since 1997, when the electric power industry drew up the pluthermal plan.The current standstill is chiefly due to a spate of irregularities involving the pluthermal project and nuclear power generation.KEPCO's plan to use MOX fuel for nuclear power generation was first stalled in 1999, when a scandal in which British Nuclear Fuels PLC doctored inspection data on MOX fuel it produced for one of KEPCO's plants surfaced.The Fukui prefectural government will approve KEPCO's overseas manufacturing order for MOX fuel, as it has given the company high marks in its efforts to improve its quality control system. But it is necessary to make sure that preparations are perfect so as not to repeat the same mistake.TEPCO must regain trustFor Tokyo Electric Power Co., negotiations with local governments over its pluthermal project have returned to the starting line after the nation's largest power company was found in 2002 to have doctored inspection data at its nuclear plants. It must take steps to overcome the distrust felt by local governments and residents as soon as possible.To use uranium more effectively, the government has set the realization of a nuclear fuel cycle, centering around reprocessing plutonium from spent fuel, as a national priority. The nation's first private-run reprocessing plant, scheduled to be put into operation in 2006, is now under construction in Rokkashomura, Aomori Prefecture.The nation's electric power industry has already commissioned Britain and France to reprocess plutonium, with about 30 tons of plutonium already extracted from spent fuel. Once the reprocessing plant in Rokkashomura begins operations, about five more tons of plutonium can be extracted every year.Moves to reinforce international controls over plutonium are under way, particularly in light of the nuclear arms development issue in North Korea. As an advocate of the peaceful use of plutonium, Japan should not invite unnecessary concern from abroad.Japan must see the realization of the pluthermal plan through to its conclusion.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2004-03-16	YOSHIN0020040316e03g000ie
YOMSHI0020040316e03h0000p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040316e03h0000p	EN	\N	Maintain the coalition against terrorism	There is no doubt that the bomb attacks on commuter trains in Madrid on Thursday, just three days before voters went to the polls, utterly changed the outcome of the election.	4	2004-03-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The way the government handled and disclosed information on possible perpetrators appeared to decisively alienate the voters from the ruling Popular Party.The Spanish government initially asserted that the attacks had been carried out by the armed Basque separatist group ETA. Even after evidence pointed to the likelihood that the attacks had been carried out by an organization connected to international terrorist network Al-Qaida, the government insisted that its original judgement was correct.Suspicion led to voters' choiceThis insistence apparently led the voters to suspect that the government was trying to cover up information, and this inept handling of the matter proved fatal to the government.On the day after the Madrid attacks, one in every four people in Spain participated in street demonstrations against terrorism. The Socialists' secretary general, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who will become the next prime minister, made clear his determination that his administration would make the fight against terrorism its top priority.But Zapatero also said he would bring home the 1,300 troops Spain has stationed in Iraq if there had been no change in the situation there by the end of June.This represents a major about-face in Spain's policy, as the administration of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, a member of the Popular Party, strongly supported the U.S.-led Iraq war and has assisted in Iraq's postwar reconstruction by dispatching troops there.Zapatero's latest remarks merely confirm the pledges he made during the election campaign, so it may be wrong to interpret them as meaning that Zapatero has been daunted by the latest terrorist attacks. But the upshot is that the Spanish government's turnaround fits in nicely with the terrorists' goals.Don't let terrorists winThis kind of victory will send the terrorists looking for their next target. If he want to see this vicious circle severed, can Zapatero continue to insist on keeping to his original path? We hope the administration of Prime Minister-elect Zapatero will make realistic decisions, with an eye fixed on the Iraqi situation.Only this month did the Iraqi Governing Council finally adopt the Transitional Administrative Law, which is Iraq's interim constitution. But voices of discontent over the law's contents continue to be heard, particularly from Islamic forces.It is necessary now to decide on the makeup of an Iraqi interim government, to which the Coalition Provisional Authority will hand over full sovereignty, and to set the process in motion for the transfer of sovereignty in June.Taking into account the current precarious situation in Iraq, the international community must not allow the negative effects generated by such acts of terrorism to gain momentum. Standing fast against the threat of terrorism, we must build a stronger international coalition.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, speaking at the House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting Tuesday, said Japan's basic policy would not be swayed by the results of the general election in Spain. This is the only reasonable stance to take.Self-Defense Forces personnel are carrying out humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance in Iraq. Activities such as these are the best protection against terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2004-03-17	YOSHIN0020040317e03h000mr
YOMSHI0020040317e03i0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040317e03i0000k	EN	\N	Privacy rights outweigh freedom of press	On Tuesday, the Tokyo District Court issued a provisional injunction to stop publication of the weekly magazine's latest issue, which went on sale Wednesday.	4	2004-03-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The court banned Bungeishunju Ltd., the publisher of the magazine, from selling the magazine's March 25 issue unless it dropped the article in question. The decision came after the court had accepted as "appropriate" the assertion by Tanaka's daughter that the article infringed on her privacy.On Wednesday, Bungeishunju formally protested the court's action.In the past, some publishers received provisional injunctions and court rulings ordering them not to publish novels and books. However, it was extremely unusual for the district court to take such an action against an influential and widely read weekly magazine.In recent years, many people have filed libel suits against publishers amid a flood of magazine articles that have flagrantly invaded individuals' privacy. Courts have handed down decisions that emphasized the importance of an individual's reputation and privacy. Today, courts also tend to rule in a manner that entitles victorious litigants to greater damages.No defamation protectionIt should be noted, however, that such rulings constitute efforts to redress the damage suffered by victims after their reputations had been damaged and privacy violated by publications. They will do nothing to prevent anyone from being defamed by publications. Given this, the court had reason to order Bungeishunju not to publish an article about Tanaka's daughter's private life.Recently, attempts to protect personal privacy have reinforced wide acceptance of the idea that privacy is an important individual right.While Makiko Tanaka, as a member of the House of Representatives, is a public person, her daughter is a private individual and her privacy must be protected. The district court's decision can be regarded as stern criticism of Bungeishunju's attempt to justify its publication of the article on the basis of the senior Tanaka's status as former foreign minister.The Supreme Court set a precedent by ordering a firm not to publish material on the grounds "the content of a publication is untrue or not intended to serve the public good, and therefore, there are concerns that someone could suffer serious and irreparable damage from that publication."Extreme stepThe ruling indicates the Supreme Court views the prohibition against publication of books and magazines as a legitimate but exceptional measure, reflecting the highest court's concern that such a prohibition could infringe on the right to freedom of speech.It is difficult to say that Shukan Bunshun's article is designed to serve the public interest. During a hearing prior to the district court's issuance of a provisional injunction, Bungeishunju insisted its article would serve the public good because Tanaka's daughter "may become a politician." Such an argument is far from convincing.Judges face a tough decision in determining whether to grant an injunction against publication of a book or article. They must choose between protecting the right to freedom of expression and protecting an individual's reputation and privacy.Free speech is part and parcel of democracy. A great deal of caution should be exercised in ordering a firm not to publish a book or article. A decision on such a prohibitive action must be based on clearly defined standards.Still, it must be understood that the foundations of democratic society could be profoundly shaken if an unprincipled emphasis on the freedom of speech permitted publishers and others to violate the right to privacy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	619	2004-03-18	YOSHIN0020040318e03i000kc
YOMSHI0020040318e03j0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040318e03j0000e	EN	\N	Japan playing vital role in rebuilding Iraq	Following an agreement reached between the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Governing Council in November, Iraq's sovereignty is expected to be transferred to an anticipated Iraqi interim government at the end of June.	4	2004-03-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	People in Iraq likely feel the nation's rebirth is just around the corner.Although they cannot eliminate their anxiety over public security, they are positive about the current situation and ardently hoping for a better future for Iraq. This sense of optimism, tempered by realism, was found among Iraqis in an opinion poll recently conducted by a British research agency.The survey, commissioned by NHK, the BBC and two other foreign broadcasters, polled about 2,700 people throughout Iraq in February.On the invasion of Iraq by the U.S.-led coalition, 48.2 percent of respondents said it was right, while 39.1 percent said it was wrong.Those who said things were going well recently stood at 70 percent, the same percentage of pollees who said they expected their lives to be even better a year from now. Only 18.6 percent of respondents said things had gotten worse.Budding democracyThe establishment of a democratic Iraqi government as soon as possible by nurturing the young buds that have begun to grow is the goal of both the Iraqi people and the international community.Just ahead of the first anniversary of the launch of the U.S.-led military campaign in Iraq, a car bomb explosion hit a hotel in Baghdad. A week ago, deadly bomb attacks on trains took place in Spain, an ally of the United States and Britain in the war in Iraq.Obviously, these bloody attacks have been carried out by an international terrorist organization in an attempt to disrupt Iraqi society and force nations around the world to break ranks. Bowing to such acts of terrorism and quitting the international campaign against terrorism could encourage terrorists around the world to step up their actions. To ensure the safety of their citizens, all nations must resolutely confront terrorists.The most immediate task to be tackled by the international community has been and will continue to be the restoration of peace and order. Currently, the CPA is training Iraqi police officers and security forces to maintain public order. Although they number as many as 200,000, the Iraqi police remain poorly equipped and undertrained. The multinational force led by 150,000 U.S. and British troops is the linchpin of efforts to maintain peace in Iraq.The United States and the rest of the international community must play a responsible role in restoring peace and order in Iraq and stabilizing the nation. To accelerate its efforts to achieve that goal, the United States should form a more cooperative relationship with the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.To stabilize the war-torn country, it is critically important for the global community to ensure the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqis in June. Establishing a provisional Iraqi government is certain to help convince them that they will be able to stand on their own feet. Doing so also will accelerate efforts to restore law and order in Iraq.However, it is disturbing to see an agreement has yet to be reached among the parties involved on how to establish an Iraqi government. The CPA and the United Nations should further promote talks with the Iraqi Governing Council to help establish a government as soon as possible.Efforts to stabilize Iraq requires the international community to play an active role in rebuilding the country even after sovereign authority is restored to its people. Iraqis have high expectations of Japan in this regard.According to the latest international survey, 35.9 percent of those polled cited Japan as a nation or organization that should be assigned the task of rebuilding Iraq, compared with 35.7 percent who included the United States on the question that allowed multiple answers.Terrorism biggest threatInternational terrorist groups armed with weapons of mass destruction present the most imminent threat of the post-Cold War era. One year ago, the United States launched a preemptive invasion of Iraq, insisting that the Iraqi regime led by then President Saddam Hussein were developing or possessed weapons of mass destruction.Some critics have said the Iraqi war cannot be justified because no such weapons have been discovered in the country. However, the blame must fall on Saddam's regime, which refused to fulfill its obligation to demonstrate that it had scrapped weapons of mass destruction.The U.S. attitude was in stark contrast to that of some European nations. Within Europe there is no collapsing nation working to build weapons of mass destruction. Today, the region enjoys a good deal of stability. Europe is distinct from Asia in that the latter includes North Korea, a nation that presents a serious threat through its nuclear weapons program.It is impossible for Asia or Japan to ensure its peace and security without maintaining its alliance with the United States. If U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq fail, it could deal a blow to the United States, a development that could shake international security.Stability in Japan's interestStability in the Middle East is extremely important for Japan, which relies on the region for about 90 percent of its crude oil imports. Japan has no option but to support the United States. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had good reason to support the U.S. invasion of Iraq a year ago.After establishing special legislation, the government sent Self-Defense Forces personnel to assist in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq. The dispatch of Ground Self-Defense Force members to Iraq was the first deployment of its kind for the GSDF, notwithstanding its role in U.N. peacekeeping operations. The mission marked an epochal change in Japan's contribution to international peace cooperation activities.As a member of the international community and a U.S. ally, Japan has an even greater role and responsibility to fulfill in restoring peace and stability in Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1066	2004-03-19	YOSHIN0020040319e03j000k6
YOMSHI0020040319e03k0000m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040319e03k0000m	EN	\N	Terrorist act in Taiwan mustn't disrupt election	Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was shot and injured Friday. Fortunately, his injuries reportedly were not life-threatening. We sincerely hope he will recover as soon as possible.	4	2004-03-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The incident happened on the campaign trail the day before the presidential election. The shooting was an act of political terrorism against a candidate in a democratic election that will determine Taiwan's future.Nothing is known about the suspect's identity or the background to the attack. We urge Taiwan's law-enforcement authorities to make the utmost efforts not only to arrest the suspect, but also to clarify the whole picture of the incident.The presidential election is a neck-and-neck race between Chen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition candidate Lien Chen of the Chinese Nationalist Party.Poll symbolizes progressThis will be the third time for the president of Taiwan to be elected by direct vote. The direct election is meant to put the finishing touches to Taiwan's democratization process, which started in the mid-1980s.Taiwan, which was isolated in the international community in the early 1970s, was able to make its presence felt in the world thanks to its remarkable economic growth and progress in democratization. The international community was no longer able to ignore the democratized Taiwan.Following the lifting of martial law, it became possible to form political parties in Taiwan, bringing an end to the despotic government by the Nationalist Party. With this, Taiwan moved toward a multiparty system.In this regard, democratization and "Taiwanization" are two sides of the same coin, and the people of Taiwan have become gradually aware of their identity as Taiwanese.The presidential election is a symbol of Taiwan's democratization. In the presidential election four years ago, Chen, who led the DPP, then in opposition, defeated his Nationalist Party rival. It was the first time for the Nationalist Party to become an opposition party.To achieve its victory, the DPP certainly took advantage of divisions within the Nationalist Party. But against the background of the political changeover was people's deepening awareness of their identity as Taiwanese.Let voters decideThe handover of political power through elections takes place only in democratic societies. It should be people's votes that decide where political power lies.During campaigning for Saturday's race, there has been a heated war of words over Taiwan's relationship with China.Chen claimed that both China and Taiwan are states, insisting that Taiwan should build a more independent relationship with China.On the other hand, Lien stressed the need to improve Taiwan's relationship with China, shelving disputes over Taiwan's sovereignty concerning whether Taiwan should be unified with China or become independent.A single bullet should not decide Taiwan's future and its relationship with China.The presidential vote will go ahead as planned on Saturday. We hope the election will be unaffected by the shooting and that it will confirm the fact that a democratic political system has taken root in Taiwan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	545	2004-03-20	YOSHIN0020040430e03k00001
YOMSHI0020040320e03l0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040320e03l0000c	EN	\N	Management, labor opt for stability	In the first phase of this year's shunto spring labor offensive, major companies in the metal industry, such as automakers, electrical machinery manufacturers, steelmakers, shipbuilders and heavy machinery makers, responded to their labor unions' demands.	4	2004-03-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Many companies and their unions compromised by agreeing to maintain current wage levels and to reflect increases in profits in employees' bonuses.When Toyota Motor Corp.'s union decided last month not to seek a wage hike for the second year in a row despite the firm's strong business performance, most other labor unions followed suit. This year's labor-management wage negotiations practically ended at that point. Other companies and labor unions must have been persuaded that even Toyota workers needed to give up hope of winning a wage hike, and this recognition doubtless set the trend in the negotiations.The management side stressed the importance of strengthening international competitiveness and the difficulty of making business projections. In response, the labor unions of the steel and electrical machinery industries chose not to object, accepting that now is the time to restore corporate strength.Unions changing tackWe live in an era when a mistake in business judgment may immediately result in job cuts. In this regard, unions made the right choice by placing top priority on stabilizing companies and strengthening their business foundation.Nissan Motor Corp. approved an obligatory pay-scale increase of 1,000 yen, as demanded by its union. With the decision, Nissan management effectively accepted the union's assertion that the pay raise was necessary to boost employees' motivation.But the habit of following the crowd is not necessarily to be recommended. Each company should make an independent decision depending on its situation. We believe such an attitude will be necessary if the spring labor offensive is to have any meaning.Instead of wages, the main focus of this year's labor-management negotiations was the improvement of labor conditions. Management and unions of steelmakers as well as shipbuilding and heavy machinery makers basically agreed to guarantee the employment of those aged 60 and older, while those of electric machinery firms reached a near consensus on improving the system to allow male workers to take paid leave when their wives give birth.Most major firms in the metal industry will finish shifting from the seniority-based pay system to the performance-based salary system by April. Under the new system, employees' salaries will be governed by the management's evaluation of their performance and ability. Consequently, the relative significance of negotiation results in the spring labor offensive will decline.Smaller firms left behindIf prices rise under inflation, the issue of wage hikes may be broached again. But the demand to comprehensively improve labor conditions is one of the new moves made by unions, which are seeking a new style of spring labor offensive.Unions reportedly are planning to pursue the themes of "worthwhileness" and "job satisfaction" in the future. Even if what is sought in the spring labor offensive has changed, it is important for management and labor to maintain a relationship that while necessarily adversarial, is based on mutual trust.Management and unions of small and medium-sized companies will soon start full-scale wage negotiations. But it is often said that smaller companies have not yet felt the warm winds of economic recovery. There also are an increasing number of part-timers and temporary workers who do not belong to labor unions.To vitalize the economy, it will be important to steadily improve labor conditions across the board.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2004-03-21	YOSHIN0020040321e03l000b2
YOMSHI0020040321e03m00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040321e03m00009	EN	\N	Northern territories issue at crucial juncture	It goes without saying that the government's goal is to have the four islands--the Habomai group of islets, Shikotan, Kunashiri and Etorofu-- returned to Japan.	4	2004-03-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Between the late 1990s and 2001, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Japan proposed drawing a national borderline between Russia and the four territories, while granting Russia the right to govern the territories for the time being, and discussing the return of Habomai and Shikotan in parallel with separate talks on the issue of sovereignty over Kunashiri and Etorofu.The Russians accepted neither of these proposals.The Japanese government hopes that further negotiations during the upcoming vice-ministerial-level talks, a planned visit to Russia by Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi in May and summit talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Putin later this year will lead to a breakthrough.Opportune time to negotiateJapanese government officials believe that now is an opportune time to resolve the territorial dispute as they think the foundations of Putin's administration are strongest following his reelection. They also believe that, if Putin is ready to resolve the dispute, he might use his strengthened position to take action toward realizing the return of the four islands to Japan.During the talks to be held in the months ahead, it is very important to make Putin and other top Russian officials realize that settling the territorial dispute will also prove beneficial to Russia. But this will be a very difficult job.Because Russian diplomacy places a greater priority on cooperating with Western countries, issues that are high on Japan's list of priorities fall rather low on Russia's list.Moscow is interested in an expansion of economic cooperation with Japan, including development of natural resources in Siberia and the Far East--cooperation that Japan has said could come with the conclusion of a bilateral peace treaty.But the Russian economy has been brisk in recent few years, thanks to a sharp rise in prices of crude oil, the country's main export, and Russia is under the illusion that even without resolving the territorial dispute, bilateral relations between Japan and Russia will progress--largely because some progress has been made in economic and trade relations between the two countries in line with the Japan-Russia Action Plan, which was agreed on during Koizumi's visit to Russia in January last year.All 4 islands must be returnedJudging from past negotiations, the Russian government's true intentions appear to be to settle only the return of the Habomai group of islets and Shikotan.But the return of Habomai and Shikotan has been settled. The 1956 Japan-Soviet Union joint declaration stipulates that the two will be returned to Japan upon the conclusion of a peace treaty. The core of the territorial issue lies in the return of all four islands, including Kunashiri and Etorofu.Russia is a member of the Group of Eight major powers and also a key player in East Asia. At a time when international society is undergoing great changes, closer ties between Japan and Russia are important for both countries.Next year marks the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-Russia treaty of peace and amity, while 2006 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Japan-Soviet Union joint declaration. The time is now ripe to finally settle the territorial dispute and conclude a peace treaty between Japan and Russia.But will Putin be daring enough, and will Japan's diplomatic strategies bear fruit? At this crucial juncture, these are the questions we must ask.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2004-03-22	YOSHIN0020040322e03m000ez
YOMSHI0020040322e03n0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040322e03n0000k	EN	\N	Support local economies to offset falling land prices	One is that average land prices of prime areas in central Tokyo have stopped sliding or have even begun to rebound. The other is that the decline in land prices in local cities has gained pace.	4	2004-03-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Average land prices in residential areas across the nation dropped 5.7 percent from a year earlier and those in commercial areas fell 7.4 percent, marking the 13th straight year-on-year decline for both figures.But land prices in large cities showed signs of smaller year-on-year declines, with the margin of decline narrowing from that posted in the previous year.In central Tokyo in particular, the margin of decline in land prices in residential areas narrowed to 0.4 percent, with residential land prices in Shibuya and Minato wards actually rising 4 percent to 5 percent from a year earlier. In central Tokyo's commercial areas, prices for some plots of land in prime locations such as Shibuya and Ginza rose nearly 10 percent.These developments in the price of land in central Tokyo apparently stem from increased investment by land and housing developers in prime urban locations for large urban area development projects, including condominiums and a spate of new luxury shops selling brand items."There are signs of change in land price trends in Tokyo," a ministry official said, stating that the tide of land prices was turning.Prices rising in large citiesAs with the economic trend, however, the rise is largely limited to major cities. The situation in regional areas, outside the three major metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, is very different. The margin of year-on-year decline in residential areas in regional areas widened to 5.7 percent this year, compared with a 4 percent decline in 2002 and a 5.1 percent drop in 2003.The situation is similar for land prices in commercial areas in smaller cities. In cities such as Akita, Kofu, and Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture, the price of some plots of land fell more than 20 percent from a year earlier. This sharp decline has chiefly been due to sluggish sales in the commercial sector, set against the backdrop of faltering local economies, which has driven a number of stores in shopping areas to close down.In the years when the bubble economy artificially inflated land prices, the upward trend of land prices, which began in metropolitan areas, also spread to local areas. This time, however, trends experienced during the bubble economy do not appear to be repeating themselves, as plots of land with limited use are valued less by developers.Halt decline in local land pricesShould land prices in local areas decline further and faster, they could have a negative influence on the recovering economy as a whole. It is difficult to put a brake on the downward trend of land prices in these areas, which have been hit by the hollowing-out of industries and declining populations. But all possible steps must be taken.It is particularly important to strengthen such measures as the establishment of special structural reform zones--aimed at creating new industries through deregulatory steps in specified zones--and other rejuvenating steps for local economies, in which both the central and local governments should cooperate.In Wakayama Prefecture, for instance, the prefecture's housing corporation is permitted to lease plots of residential land the corporation has developed but which have remained unsold, to a private firm that is experimenting with growing tomatoes. This is one example of putting underulitized plots of land to work.From next fiscal year, local governments will be able to reduce the fixed property tax on commercial land at their own discretion. This can be a good idea for local governments, as it can lessen the financial burdens on local residents and businesses, while at the same time shoring up land prices.In major cities, it is also vital for the public and private sectors to jointly offer support for the promotion of new public works, utilizing the funds and know-how of private businesses. It is also necessary to more actively establish real estate investment trusts, designed to attract private investment in office buildings and commercial facilities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	739	2004-03-23	YOSHIN0020040323e03n000nw
YOMSHI0020040323e03o0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040323e03o0000k	EN	\N	Defense Agency must be made ministry	The government of every major nation incorporates a ministry-level organ charged with defending the lives and assets of its people. But in Japan, the Defense Agency remains an administrative organ affiliated with the Cabinet Office. The agency was not upgraded to ministry status even under a new organizational chart for the government that took effect in 2001.	4	2004-03-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Agency's lack of status oddThe status, or lack thereof, of the Defense Agency should be recognized as being extremely unusual in that all other major nations have defense ministries.A team of lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, are set to start talks on a bill to upgrade the Defense Agency to ministerial level. An increasing number of New Komeito members are inclined toward granting the agency this status. This contrasts with the earlier cautious attitude taken by the party toward the plan.We hope New Komeito will help promote talks over the proposal, keeping in mind its responsibilities as a partner in the LDP-led coalition.Many members of the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan)--mainly those who previously belonged to Jiyuto (Liberal Party)--favor the proposal. Legislators from both the ruling and opposition camps should join hands to ensure the bill is written into law during the current Diet session.The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party have opposed the proposal, saying it would antagonize Asian neighbors who fear that Japan might seek to become a military power. It should be noted, however, that these nations have defense ministries.The government's failure to upgrade the Defense Agency to ministerial level can be attributed to the hesitant attitude of then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in discussions during the Administrative Reform Council in 1997. He did not want to offend the SDP, which had yet to overcome its negative attitude toward the Self-Defense Forces. In the end, the council put off reaching any conclusion on whether to transform the Defense Agency into a ministry-level organ. The final report said only that "the matter should be discussed by politicians and political parties."In 2002, however, the LDP, New Komeito and the defunct Hoshuto (New Conservative Party) agreed to address the issue as "a task of primary importance" after the Diet passed a set of bills defining prepared responses to a military attack. During its House of Representative election campaign last autumn, the LDP pledged to upgrade the agency to a ministry level. This promise was also written into a platform the LDP drafted for 2003.This nation's dispatch of SDF personnel for the reconstruction of postwar Iraq--an activity that puts the lives of the SDF personnel at risk--constitutes an attempt to play a role in international cooperative peace activities. Japan's ongoing involvement in Iraq's rehabilitation is promoting a better understanding of the role of the SDF among the public.Japan stands ready to expand the scope of activities the SDF can conduct to help maintain global peace and security. This is in stark contrast to Japan's usual tendency to focus on its own peace, even at the expense of its obligation to play a meaningful role in the maintenance of global security.Look to national securityBut the focus cannot be turned entirely outward. This country must step up precautions against various threats to national security, including acts of terrorism like the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. North Korea also poses a threat to Japan.Proposed legislation for protecting the public in the wake of a national emergency requires even closer cooperation among the SDF, local governments, the police and firefighters. Over the past two years, about 70 local assemblies, including the Hokkaido and Wakayama prefectural assemblies, have adopted recommendations that the Defense Agency be upgraded to ministry level.To better deal with the new global situation, the SDF will implement steps to ensure better coordination among its arms by the end of fiscal 2005. This will be followed by a plan to realign SDF troops. Meanwhile, the Defense Agency is set for a major reorganization.This year marks the 50th anniversary of the SDF. No time should be wasted in upgrading the Defense Agency to ministerial status.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	763	2004-03-24	YOSHIN0020040324e03o000l3
YOMSHI0020040324e03p0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040324e03p0000h	EN	\N	Senkaku Islands clearly Japanese territory	The eight Senkaku Islands inherently belong to Japan. This is obvious from a historical point of view and an examination of international law.	4	2004-03-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has expressed strong displeasure over the incident, saying, "They (the islands) are part of Japanese territory, and so I want China to take appropriate actions."On Wednesday, Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi summoned Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Dawei to the Foreign Ministry. During a meeting with the envoy, Takeuchi strongly protested the Chinese group's action, saying, "The Japanese government will sternly deal with the incident under the relevant laws."Wu responded that, "China has its own stance on Daioyu. I'll promptly report (the incident) to my government."Japan has every reason to arrest the Chinese activists and send them back to their own country. The government should strongly demand China take measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future.In October 2002, the government registered its right of lease on Uotsurijima and two other islets in the Senkaku group of islands. This was intended to demonstrate that the Senkaku Islands belong to Japan.Government must be firmThe government should reiterate its position on the territorial row to the international community.In January 1895, Japan incorporated the Senkaku Islands into Okinawa Prefecture after conducting extended research to determine that the islands did not belong to any other nation. However, China and Taiwan started pushing their territorial claims on the islands during the 1970s, when it was suggested that an abundance of oil and other natural resources lay under the seabed in the region.In 1895, Taiwan and Penghu Liedao, a group of islands in the Taiwan Strait, were ceded to Japan under the Shimonoseki Treaty, an accord signed between Japan and the Qing dynasty after the Sino-Japanese War. However, the ceded territories did not include the Senkaku Islands.The group of islands were was not included in the territory Japan relinquished under the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951. The United States had kept the islands under its rule until Okinawa Prefecture reverted to Japanese rule in 1972.Recent claim groundlessChina never protested these developments surrounding the islands. Today, Beijing insists the Senkaku Islands were unlawfully kept under U.S. rule. There is no doubt that China's claim on the islands is groundless.For years, the Senkaku Islands have been the subject of unfounded territorial claims, with activists from Hong Kong and Taiwan illegally landing on the islands in October 1996.In October 2003 and January this year, Chinese ships violated Japanese waters but were turned back by Japan Coast Guard patrol boats that prevented the intruders from approaching the Senkaku Islands.Wednesday's incident was the first case in which Chinese unlawfully landed on the Senkaku Islands. It is extremely deplorable that the JCG failed to prevent the seven activists from landing on the islands, despite its close watch on an approaching ship carrying the Chinese.Relations between Japan and China have been strained in recent years, largely because the latter country has raised objections to Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, suspending visits by the two countries top leaders.The blame must fall on China if unlawful acts by some activists from that country serve to worsen the bilateral relationship.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2004-03-25	YOSHIN0020040325e03p000ko
YOMSHI0020040325e03q0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040325e03q0000g	EN	\N	Individual rights reliant on protection of privacy	With the full enforcement of a set of laws concerning the protection of private information scheduled for April next year, the Cabinet Office's Social Policy Council's subcommittee on the protection of personal information compiled a draft policy on the system to protect personal information and methods to settle disputes concerning such information. The draft plan is expected to be approved by the Cabinet in early April.	4	2004-03-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Protecting personal information is vital to protecting personal rights because inappropriate handling of personal information may result in the violation of individuals' personal and property rights.The legislation on personal information prohibits private businesses from offering private information about individuals to third parties without the individual's consent. It also obliges such businesses to promptly deal with complaints filed by the individuals. Companies that violate the law will be subject to penalties.Control of informationFor instance, if someone receives a telephone call or letter soliciting them to buy or join something, that person can demand the caller or sender disclose what personal information they possess about the individual and how it was obtained. If people find the information questionable or inappropriate, they can refuse to allow the use of the information in the future or demand that it be revised.The draft plan presents guidelines that will allow businesses and industry organizations to voluntarily prepare for the system to go into effect next year. It also calls for the central and local governments to swiftly deal with complaints about the misuse of private information.In this respect, parties concerned must expedite their cooperative efforts to establish a system for dealing with personal information in an appropriate and careful manner.At minimum, businesses will be required to appoint someone to manage personal information, raise employees' awareness of privacy issues and ensure private information is handled responsibly. Even supermarkets will be obliged to take certain measures if they keep personal information on more than 5,000 customers.Industry cooperation vitalIt also will be necessary to set up detailed guidelines for individual industry organizations. If personal information is leaked, such organizations must immediately make the details of the leaks public to prevent secondary damage and recurrence of similar cases.As for the central and local governments, frontline officials at consumer rights agencies are expected to play a vital role. In many cases, violations of privacy rights go undetected until advice is sought from counselors at such centers.To smoothly deal with complaints about personal information, it will be essential to train counselors in special areas of knowledge and ensure close cooperation and information sharing between consultation centers and the relevant central and local government authorities.Currently, however, counseling officials at consumers' centers reportedly are already too busy taking care of day-to-day consultations. To improve the situation, local governments must pay more attentions to assigning personnel and allocating necessary budgets.Establishing a system to adequately protect personal information will enhance the credibility of administrative organizations and businesses that handle personal information and advance the role of telecommunications in society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	559	2004-03-26	YOSHIN0020040326e03q000qc
YOMSHI0020040326e03r0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040326e03r0000g	EN	\N	Thorough Diet debates needed on crucial bills	With the House of Councillors election scheduled in summer, it will be difficult to extend the current Diet session. With an eye on the upcoming election, it may be inevitable for parties to step up maneuvering over Diet affairs. However, excessive political wrangling would only impair the Diet's central function of enacting bills after sufficient deliberations.	4	2004-03-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For their part, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito appear to be trying to link the prioritization of bills with their cooperation in the upper house election. We find this absolutely unacceptable.At one point, LDP members nearly agreed to carry over the pension-related bills to the next Diet session. However, New Komeito insisted that it would be difficult for them to cooperate with the LDP in the upper house election unless top priority was placed on enacting the bills. The LDP eventually accepted the demand of its coalition partner.New Komeito, meanwhile, is trying to stop a bill to upgrade the Defense Agency to ministry status that the LDP plans to submit to the current Diet session.No time to wasteIt also is difficult to understand the stance of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) over the pension-related bills. The largest opposition party is attempting to draw out deliberations on the bills with the aim of scrapping them. Though the government and the ruling parties plan to explain the purposes of the bills at the lower house plenary session on Thursday, Minshuto is demanding that they postpone doing so, insisting that it has yet to come up with a counterproposal.In its policy pledges unveiled in autumn last year, Minshuto announced the outline of its own proposal for the public pension system. We regret to say the party is extremely irresponsible if it has yet to draft a counterproposal six months after the announcement of the outline. Furthermore, if it refuses to enter the Diet debate for this reason, it confuses the order of things.Sufficient time is needed for Diet deliberations. But if Minshuto tries to prolong the debate for no good reason and adopts the tactic of refusing to enter Diet debates, as the former Japan Socialist Party did in the past, it will become questionable whether the party is qualified to take power.First of all, a package of seven contingency-related bills, including a bill to protect the people in emergencies, needs to be enacted as soon as possible. We need to be ready to respond to emergencies, which could occur at any time, at the earliest possible date.Enact basic emergency lawAs a precondition for starting negotiations with the ruling camp to revise contingency-related bills, Minshuto has called for setting up a basic law to deal with emergencies that defines the government's responses to large-scale terrorist attacks and natural disasters. As Minshuto and the ruling coalition already have agreed in their negotiations to introduce the basic law on emergencies, it is highly possible that both sides can reach an accord on the legislation. We urge the parties to agree on the envisaged law as soon as possible so they can start full-fledged negotiations to revise the contingency-related bills.Political maneuvering between the ruling and opposition wings over pension reform must not affect deliberations on contingency-related bills.There also are a number of bills that have drawn public attention, such as ones on the privatization of road-related public corporations and others concerning the reform of the judicial system, including the introduction of a citizen judge system.If lawmakers raise pertinent questions and detailed answers are given in response, it will clarify problems in the legislation and help people understand the issues in question. We also urge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to fulfill his duty of accountability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2004-03-27	YOSHIN0020040327e03r000ks
YOMSHI0020040327e03s0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040327e03s0000d	EN	\N	Further disclosure of medical data needed	To promote public disclosure in the medical field, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will in April make it mandatory for hospitals that carry out technically difficult operations to disclose the number of such operations they conduct. Subject to public disclosure are 110 types of operations, including surgery for lung cancer and cerebral aneurysms.	4	2004-03-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The rule of the thumb is that the larger the number of operations conducted requiring a high level of medical skill and technology, the greater the success rate.Although releasing information that can be used in selecting a hospital is a step forward, much remains to be done.For instance, it still will be difficult for patients to select which hospital to place their confidence in as the information on the number of operations will be posted only inside hospitals.Display information on NetSuch data should be displayed on the Internet and elsewhere so comparisons can be made by laymen.A hospital boast about the number of operations it carries out is meaningless if the results are poor.Although it is difficult to subjectively evaluate the results of the treatment, this is the information patients want. It is urgent to improve conditions to make such information public. Medical information held by the government should be made public in easy-to-understand language.In the United States, the numbers of operations carried out and the results of treatment by both hospitals and individual doctors are made public.However, the Japanese medical system has long been run on the assumption that doctors are equipped with the same level of skill, while medical institutions all have the same capability. Symbolizing this tendency is the medical treatment fee system whereby remuneration is calculated on the basis of the cost of treatment, which does not take into account the difference in expertise or technology that doctors or hospitals possess.Medical information that should be made public has been strictly regulated in the belief that it would confuse patients with minimal medical knowledge.Only two years ago were hospitals and clinics allowed to offer such information as doctors' specialties, the average number of days patients spent in a hospital and demographics concerning types of illness. The difference between Japan and the United States in this respect is huge.Insurers must lower barrierInsurers, including the national health insurance programs managed by municipal governments, corporate health insurance societies, and government-administered health insurance scheme, have long failed to offer adequate medical information to the insured.Although the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies launched a system of medical data retrieval in October, crucial data concerning the number of operations and results of treatment have yet to be made accessible.We urge insurers to bear in mind the importance of lowering the "information barrier" between medical institutions and patients.With the rapidly graying society, the public faces heavier medical costs. The voices of people calling for better quality medical services commensurate with their costs are expected to become more clamorous.In the field of medical care, the transparency and accountability of medical institutions and doctors are being questioned. Patients must have access to information on diagnostic skills, available technology and results of treatment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2004-03-28	YOSHIN0020040328e03s000ce
YOMSHI0020040328e03t0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040328e03t0000c	EN	\N	Time ripe for reviewing arms export principles	The proposal may serve as an effective basis for reviewing the three principles of the nation's self-imposed ban on arms exports.	4	2004-03-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The proposal sets out four new principles to govern weapons exports.Discussion to review the current export ban principles should be promoted actively, not only within the government, but also among political parties.The three principles laid down in 1967 banned weapons exports to communist countries, nations subject to a U.N.-imposed arms embargo and countries involved in or likely to be involved in international conflicts.A policy guideline adopted by the administration of Prime Minister Takeo Miki in 1976, effectively banned arms exports regardless of destination.The unified view under the Miki Cabinet was the product of Japan's pacifist isolationism and the rivalry between conservative and progressive forces during the Cold War.Arms export policiesMany countries in the West have their own arms export control policies that reflect efforts to achieve regional stability and adherence to international accords, including those adopted by the United Nations. When judged against such international standards, however, Japan's arms export policy is peculiar.It is only natural for the three principles to be reviewed in accordance with changes in the international and national security situations.Under the four new principles, exports of weapons would be banned to countries named by U.N. resolutions or other international declarations as those assisting terrorists or infringing on human rights; nations subject to a U.N.-imposed arms embargo; and those areas where an international armed conflict is occurring. The new principles were worked out in conformity with international standards.Obviously Japan should not become a major power in terms of weapons exports.The decision to permit weapons exports needs to be made with careful consideration, remaining mindful of the goals of a peaceful and stable international society and Japan's national interests. It also is essential for the government to work out strict criteria for granting permission for weapons exports and to improve its export control system.National security at stakeThe key concern of a review of the principles must be safeguarding the nation's security.Improvement in defense capability backed by the latest military technology is vital for Japan's national security. Yet it is difficult in both fiscal and technological terms for Japan to single-handedly develop weapons and defense systems on the cutting edge of military technology.The nation's only option is to proceed with joint research and development of such weapons and defense systems with other countries, including the United States.Such joint research and development are permitted as an exception to the three principles, but only for the provision of weapons technology to the United States.Given the present circumstances concerning weapons technology development, it is reasonable for proposal to emphasize the need for joint research and development in reviewing the three principles.During the Diet session in January, Koizumi said it would be necessary to discuss review of the three principles to take into account joint Japan-U.S. research on missile defense technology.Support for such a review is being expressed not only within the LDP, but also within opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).The time is ripe for the three principles to be reviewed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	586	2004-03-29	YOSHIN0020040403e03t0000a
YOMSHI0020040329e03u0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040329e03u0000k	EN	\N	Extradition agreements can lead to confusion	Monday's judgment effectively serves as a final verdict on the case in that this nation's legal framework has no provision authorizing prosecutors to appeal such a ruling. The high court's decision was the first of its kind rejecting an extradition request from the Justice Ministry and the prosecution.	4	2004-03-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ruling came after the ministry and prosecutors insisted that the U.S. extradition request had "reasonable grounds," saying the researcher could be charged with theft in Japan, too.Ruling may hurt cooperationThe latest ruling could affect Japan's growing judicial cooperation with the United States and other nations.This country's law on extradition bans the government from handing Japanese suspects over to other countries, with the aim of protecting its own citizens.In 1980, however, the Treaty on Extradition enabled Japan and the United States to extradite suspects. Close cooperation among nations in investigations and extraditions has become more and more important in recent years. This is particularly true with Japan and the United States.Earlier, the government presented the Diet with a motion asking the legislature to ratify a treaty it had concluded with the United States to promote cooperation in criminal investigations. The pact requires each nation to voluntarily cooperate in investigating crimes committed in the other country if the latter asks the former to do so. This even applies to cases that do not constitute crimes in one country.However, the latest court ruling illuminates the confusion that can arise in talks between Japanese and U.S. judicial authorities over extradition requests. The United States could rule as the Tokyo High Court did against handing over a U.S. subject to Japan.The latest case concerns a former researcher of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Riken). The 43-year-old man is suspected of taking genetic material on Alzheimer's disease from a U.S. laboratory where he worked, and disposing of the remaining material. The U.S. authorities indicted the researcher for industrial espionage.No reasonable suspicion seenThe Japan-U.S. extradition treaty approves an extradition request if the criminal case in question calls for penal servitude of at least one year under both Japanese and U.S. laws, and if the person involved is the subject of reasonable suspicions.The high court's decision said there was no reasonable suspicion that the researcher had conducted industrial espionage for the purpose of benefitting Riken. The ruling was also highly unusual in that it determined whether the United States had good reason to indict him under U.S. domestic legislation.The latest case also shows that there is a wide gap between Japanese and U.S. researchers in the perception of intellectual property rights.Today, scientists around the world know no national borders when it comes to taking up positions at new laboratories and trading research materials. In this sense, there is cause to fear that the high court's ruling could undermine research cooperation among international researchers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	536	2004-03-30	YOSHIN0020040330e03u000lf
YOMSHI0020040330e03v0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040330e03v0000i	EN	\N	Hinomaru, 'Kimigayo' must be respected	A professional singer sang the national anthem at the opening ceremony of the summer National High School Baseball Championship.	4	2004-03-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	All that this shows is that the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" are being taken for granted by many members of the public.This is in stark contrast to the confusion arising at some schools when the national flag is hoisted and the national anthem is sung in unison.Punitive action to be takenIt is disturbing that some teachers refuse to rise from their chairs or that some schools choose to leave the national flag fastened to a tripod in the corner of the facility used for the graduation ceremony.On Tuesday, the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education decided to take punitive actions against about 200 teachers who had refused to stand up when the national anthem was sung in unison during commencement exercises at their schools this year. The education board said their actions constituted disobedience to orders for them to fulfill their obligations.At one Tokyo high school, a former teacher obstructed the opening of a graduation ceremony to announce his objection to the national flag and anthem. Later, the school reported the incident to police, complaining that the former teacher used force to disturb its commencement ceremony.In 1999, the Diet enacted a law making the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" the national flag and national anthem after the principal of a Hiroshima prefectural high school killed himself. The principle was distraught over a conflict with teachers at his school over the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo." Today, nearly all schools around the nation sing the national anthem and hoist the national flag during graduation and other ceremonies.Nonetheless, the attitude taken by some dissenting school teachers is extremely disturbing. Their behavior can seriously poison the atmosphere at graduation ceremonies, during which all students, parents and teachers must cooperate.Prior to graduation ceremonies at high schools this year, the metropolitan board of education issued an ordinance requiring teachers and other staff to "stand up from designated chairs, face the national flag and sing the national anthem." This was intended to ensure that the national flag and anthem were properly treated at graduation ceremonies.For all this, confusion erupted at this year's commencement exercises at some metropolitan schools.What if the national high school baseball championships were disrupted by officials responsible for managing the events turning their backs to the national flag? The behavior of teachers who refuse to rise to their feet during graduation ceremonies is comparable to this.Many of the teachers who rejected the order issued by the board of education have filed a complaint with the Tokyo District Court, urging the court to declare that they had no obligation to abide by the order. These teachers insist that the order violated their freedom of thought.Students must learn respectSchool administrators and teachers have the important task of not only teaching students the importance of respecting the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo," but of encouraging students to respect the national flags and anthems of other countries according to international etiquette.The teachers' behavior gives rise to the question of whether they taught their students the importance of the national flag and anthem under the course of study prepared by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry. The ministry's teaching guidelines require schools teachers to provide students with such education as part of social studies, music in primary and middle school and extracurricular activities in high school.It is not just a question of how teachers should behave at school ceremonies. The core of the issue concerns what kind of education they provide every day.It should be remembered that many young Japanese were seen waving the national flag during matches in the 2002 World Cup soccer finals.Some school teachers are an exception to the widespread practice of honoring the national flag and anthem. They must correct their thoughtless behavior.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	714	2004-03-31	YOSHIN0020040406e03v00008
YOMSHI0020040331e0410000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040331e0410000g	EN	\N	Violation of privacy by weekly undeniable	The high court overruled two previous decisions made by the Tokyo District Court--the temporary injunction against the publication of the magazine's article about the eldest daughter of former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka and its subsequent decision to uphold the injunction in response to an appeal filed by the magazine's publisher, Bungeishunju Ltd.	4	2004-04-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Judicial decisions at the district and high courts were completely split over the constitutional issue regarding the violation of privacy versus freedom of expression.The high court, however, also acknowledged that the magazine article in question violated privacy of Tanaka's daughter, saying "(The magazine) deliberately exposed private matters that must be protected." Regarding the content of the story, the court said, "Because the article has nothing to do with public interests, it's clearly not intended to serve public interests."Court decisions were divided over whether the article would cause damage to the daughter and others involved that could be considered sufficiently serious and irrecoverable to require the injunction against its publication.Differing views of damageWhereas the district court that banned publication clearly said the damage resulting from the publication would be irrecoverable, the high court concluded that the degree of damage would not be serious enough to ban publication of the article.The high court also said an injunction against publication, which restricts freedom of expression, requires cautious consideration of the highest degree.Following the high court decision, Bunshun said at a press conference that freedom of expression had been protected. However, it is undeniable that the article violated the privacy of Tanaka's daughter.In response to the recent trend among some publishers to place top priority on sales, as is seen in some media's indecent infringement of privacy, court judgements are becoming increasingly strict. Given this, Bunshun's overemphasis on freedom of expression may adversely result in unnecessary restrictions on freedom of expression.During hearings at the Tokyo High Court, Bunshun repeatedly insisted that the daughter was a "quasi-public" figure as she was likely to become a politician as a successor in a family of prominent politicians. However, the high court denied the argument as mere supposition.Freedom from defamationThe right to privacy encompasses both the right to personal privacy and the right to freedom from defamation, but the two rights are clearly different. It is necessary to clearly separate the two rights in thinking about how they might be violated.Once privacy is violated, it is difficult or impossible to restore it. As for defamation, however, it is possible to restore an individual's reputation through retroactive redress such as court-ordered compensation for damage suffered. The high court's decision was ambiguous on this point, and in this regard, some questions remain.In contrast, the district court's decision clearly acknowledged the article's violation of privacy, saying that an injunction prior to publication is more necessary to protect privacy than to protect fame. The district's court decision was a judgement that will be the focus of future debates on privacy issues.In light of a series of recent court judgements, it will be necessary to promote debates on the right to privacy, which is gradually being acknowledged as a fundamental human right.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2004-04-01	YOSHIN0020040401e041000ra
YOMSHI0020040401e0420000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040401e0420000h	EN	\N	People are calling for constitutional revision	In the latest Yomiuri Shimbun poll on the nation's basic law, 65 percent, or almost two-thirds, of the respondents said they favored revising the Constitution. Given this result, it is apparent that people's awareness of the issue has entered a historic phase of change.	4	2004-04-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the time of the confrontation between conservatives and reformists, leftist parties advocating unarmed neutrality, such as the Japan Socialist Party, linked their objection to constitutional revision to their pacifism.Since its formation in 1955, constitutional revision has been a plank of the Liberal Democratic Party's platform. But after the Japan-U.S. security treaty was revised in 1960, the LDP was reluctant to advocate revising the charter for fear of antagonizing opposition parties. Consequently, even referring to the issue of constitutional revision was viewed as taboo for a long time.Even after the end of the Cold War, this trend continued. In Yomiuri Shimbun opinion polls up until 1991, the number of those opposing revision of the Constitution significantly exceeded those supporting revision.But the situation changed in 1993, and those supporting constitutional revision have constituted the majority since 1998.In line with developments at home and abroad, The Yomiuri Shimbun published a draft revision of the Constitution for the first time in 1994. Since then, we have released a second draft revision of the Constitution and other related proposals. We believe our opinions and proposals have helped change people's awareness about the Constitution.Current law limits SDF's roleHowever, a few extremists still insist on keeping the current Constitution intact. When research commissions on the Constitution were set up at both houses of the Diet, a national newspaper opposed their establishment along with such parties as the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party. Given that people's awareness on the Constitution has matured over the years, it is obvious that such a perception of the Constitution has become a thing of the past.The latest opinion poll also showed that people have become increasingly concerned about security issues and international peace cooperation activities. This presumably is because of a series of post-Cold War developments as well as the threat posed by North Korea and the recent dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq.Asked which items referred to in the Constitution were of particular interest to them, those who picked "the renunciation of war" and "the Self-Defense Forces" accounted for more than 50 percent for the first time. The poll also showed that more than 60 percent of the people in the country believe the SDF will be unable to play a proper role in international peace cooperation activities if the Constitution is preserved in its current form.Lawmakers must heed publicThe LDP will draw up a new draft constitution by autumn 2005. The largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), said it plans to propose what form a new constitution should take by 2006. New Komeito plans to identify the points at issue in June at the earliest after debating contentious issues in the Constitution, including its war-renouncing Article 9. The research commissions on the Constitution at the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors will compile their final reports early next year.The time is ripe for revising the Constitution. Lawmakers must stay abreast of changes in people's awareness. Needless to say, it is politicians' duty to come up with a draft revision of the Constitution, but they also must expedite efforts to pass a law on a national referendum that stipulates procedures to revise the Constitution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2004-04-02	YOSHIN0020040402e042000iw
YOMSHI0020040402e0430000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040402e0430000k	EN	\N	Japan shouldn't extend ODA to China forever	The Cabinet approved the amount of yen loans to China for fiscal 2003 Tuesday.	4	2004-04-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yen loans to China, which hit a record high in fiscal 2000, dropped to less than 100 billion yen in fiscal 2003. As a result, the country that had been the top recipient of yen loans for the four years through fiscal 2002 now is ranked third, with India coming top, followed by Indonesia.But in its ODA white paper for fiscal 2003 approved the same day, the government did not explain how it would deal with the issue of ODA to China from now on.Skepticism has been mounting over the wisdom of Japan's continuing to provide ODA to China, centering on low-interest yen loans.China, which has achieved nearly double-digit annual economic growth over the past 10-plus years, has topped Italy to become the world's sixth-largest economy in terms of gross domestic product.In a bid to enhance its influence over neighboring countries, China has boosted its assistance to them. So is there any need for Japan to continue providing ODA to China?Technical assistance importantIn its economic cooperation plan for China adopted in fiscal 2001, the government revised its conventional formula for deciding on the amount of yen loans for plural fiscal years.Subsequently, the government trimmed yen loans to China by examining them on an item-by-item basis every fiscal year, narrowing the range of priority sectors such as environmental preservation.In this regard, the white paper for fiscal 2003 said only that the government would continue making decisions on ODA loans to China from a broad perspective and implement them appropriately.China, which has become an economic power on a par with the Group of Seven major industrialized countries, receives a sizable amount of private sector direct investment from abroad. It is only reasonable for the government to end, sooner or later, its ODA, in the form of yen loans and grants-in-aid.If necessary, Japan could continue to extend technical assistance to China in fields such as environmental protection, combating infectious diseases and securing energy supplies because failure to provide assistance in these areas could have a serious adverse effect on Japan.The government should carefully consider the implementation of yen loans for the time being.China's defense budget highThe ODA framework, which underwent a major revision last summer, says that in providing assistance, the government should take into account a recipient's defense spending and whether it is developing or producing weapons of mass destruction.For more than a decade, China has increased its defense spending at a pace exceeding its economic growth. Ignoring Japan's call to restrict such spending, China hiked its military budget for fiscal 2004 by 13 percent from the previous year.Meanwhile, Chinese survey ships have been intensifying research activities within Japan's exclusive economic zone, despite repeated warnings from Tokyo.Last week, a group of Chinese activists was arrested and later deported for illegally landing on Uotsurishima, one of the Senkaku Islands, which belong to Japan.But the Chinese government backed the activists, as well as Chinese who burned the Hinomaru national flag in China in protest over the activists' arrest.If the government continues offering ODA loans unconditionally to China, domestic opposition to the provision of assistance to that country will escalate.Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi is scheduled to visit China on Saturday to hold talks with officials including her counterpart, Li Zhoaxing.She should spell out the government's stance on the ODA issue during the meeting. Should she fail to receive a response from China acceptable to Japan, the government should study the possibility of suspending its ODA loans to the country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	658	2004-04-03	YOSHIN0020040403e043000ki
YOMSHI0020040403e0440000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040403e0440000c	EN	\N	Beijing should stop trying to exploit 'Yasukuni issue'	Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reminded visiting Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi on Saturday that he had repeatedly urged Japanese leaders not to visit Yasukuni Shrine, hinting that their doing so could harm relations between China and Japan. Wen's remark was an implied request that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stop visiting the war-related shrine in Tokyo.	4	2004-04-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The issue of how and when the top leader of a nation should mourn its war dead is a domestic issue based on the nation's tradition and customs.At the meeting, Kawaguchi explained that Koizumi visits the shrine in the belief that "Japan's current peace and prosperity has been realized through the sacrifices of the war dead," and with the wish that "Japan will never cause a war."Koizumi has indicated he will continue to visit the shrine. It is well and good for his visit to the shrine to be taken up for discussion at home, but it is not an issue in which a foreign country should involve itself.Why all the fuss now?Reciprocal visits to each other's country by the leaders of Japan and China have been suspended since Koizumi's visit to China in October 2001. When Koizumi visited the shrine on Jan. 1 this year, China conveyed its "strong indignation and sense of reproach."Referring to the fact that at the shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, convicted Japanese Class-A war criminals also are enshrined, senior officials of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party later reiterated their claim that Koizumi's visit to the shrine would hurt the feelings of Chinese people.Yet from 1979, when the war criminals' collective enshrinement was made public, Prime Ministers Masayoshi Ohira, Zenko Suzuki and Yasuhiro Nakasone visited the shrine two to four times every year. During the same period, the three prime ministers also visited China. Meanwhile, top Chinese officials, including Premiers Hua Guofeng and Zhao Ziyang and Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang, came to Japan.The reciprocal visits by the top leaders of both countries passed off uneventfully. It is absurd to say, with reference only to Koizumi, that prime ministerial visits to the shrine prevent reciprocal visits. By making the Yasukuni visit a diplomatic issue, China is trying to use it as a bargaining chip in its dealings with Japan.Japan's interests paramountAnti-Japanese public sentiment in China is said to be behind Beijing's criticism of Koizumi's shrine visits. Such sentiment has been fomented by the anti-Japan patriotic campaign promoted by the Chinese government since the 1990s as part of a domestic political strategy to foster unity among the Chinese people.Meanwhile, a leading national newspaper in Japan goes along with China's view on the issue of prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni.Such a situation may have prompted China to believe that the so-called Yasukuni problem can be used to gain diplomatic leverage over Japan.During a series of meetings with Wen and her Chinese counterpart, Li Zhoaxing, Kawaguchi emphasized that the Senkaku Islands belong to Japan and asked Beijing to prevent a recurrence of the illegal landing on the islands by Chinese activists.She also strongly protested against the burning of the Hinomaru national flag in front of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing by some Chinese supporting the activists, and the surveys conducted illegally by Chinese marine survey vessels in Japan's exclusive economic zone.Both issues are linked to Japan's sovereignty. Tokyo should maintain its determination to protect Japan's national interests in the future.Koizumi has said there is no need for him to visit China if Beijing does not want him to do so. His stance is reasonable.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2004-04-04	YOSHIN0020040404e044000hi
YOMSHI0020040404e04500009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040404e04500009	EN	\N	Time for JMA to join reform bandwagon	Haruo Uematsu, former chairman of the Osaka Medical Association, recently was elected chairman of the powerful medical lobby, defeating two contenders by an overwhelming margin. Uematsu has been a staunch critic of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's campaign to reform the medical system. His election to the top position at the JMA reflects the frustration felt by doctors about the prime minister's medical reforms, including a reduction in medical treatment fees.	4	2004-04-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a group of medical professionals, the JMA has every reason to try to have Koizumi's medical reforms reflect its wishes. Still, JMA members should know that they will not be able to gain public support for their demands if they are too obstinate in defending their vested interests. If the public comes to see the organization as a mere lobby group bargaining for higher fees for doctors, it would be highly embarrassing to the association.Better services neededThere are numerous tasks to be tackled in ensuring the safety of medical services and improving their quality, and the JMA has an extremely important role to play in achieving this goal. We hope that the group will mend its ways and transform itself into a professional group worthy of public support.The JMA's strength lies in its ample funds and its ability to raise votes in elections. For years, the association has been able to get its demands heard by the government in making changes in the medical system, including drawing up a new table of medical treatment fees. This has been made possible by its financial power and vote-gathering machine.However, there appears to have been a decline in the association's power, partly due to an increasing number of young doctors distancing themselves from the lobby group.There was a time when each doctor was said to be capable of getting 200 of his or her patients to vote for JMA-backed candidates. In the 2001 House of Councillors election, Keizo Takemi, an upper house member supported by the JMA, was reelected, but with a somewhat disappointing tally of about 230,000 votes. The figure meant that each JMA member raised only 1.4 votes in the upper house race.The JMA is finding it difficult to exert pressure on the government through a group of lawmakers with vested interests in health and medical issues. This is chiefly because the Koizumi Cabinet often makes policy decisions without allowing such lawmakers to play any role in the process.In fiscal 2002, the government reduced the medical fees obtained by doctors from treating patients. This was coupled with an increase in the portion of out-of-pocket medical expenses covered by corporate employees from 20 percent to 30 percent. The hike in medical costs has served to reduce the number of patients visiting clinics, hospitals and other medical institutions.The JMA insisted on revising the table of medical fees paid to doctors in the government's medical reforms for fiscal 2004. However, the association failed to get its demand heard. This was followed by a government decision to allow some joint-stock corporations to run hospitals as part of the Koizumi administration's drive to establish special structural reform zones.All this can work against the JMA, which has long opposed the Finance Ministry's strong emphasis on fiscal discipline and the principle of free market competition. The current tide against the group has encouraged many members to criticize its leadership for their flexible approach toward the government's medical reform drive. Uematsu's election as JMA chairman symbolizes this.Group must win public trustHowever, JMA members should realize that they should no longer try to keep the government under their thumb through their financial power and vote-collecting machine. We believe the JMA should seek ways to win the public over to its side, instead of getting political parties to take sides with it.To accomplish this, JMA members should increase their organization's transparency, while also continuing to work to ensure the safety of their medical treatment and improve the quality of their services.For its part, the JMA already is considering steps to remove incompetent doctors from the association and to require all member doctors to receive continuing education so they can provide better medical services while working in the profession. These measures should be implemented as soon as possible. It also is time for the government to consider whether the medical licensing system should be reformed to require doctors to renew their licenses on a periodic basis instead of giving them a lifetime passport to the medical profession.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	802	2004-04-05	YOSHIN0020040406e0450002h
YOMSHI0020040406e0460000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040406e0460000g	EN	\N	Diet turmoil could fuel distrust in pension plan	The leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), and the Social Democratic Party have boycotted all House of Representatives discussions on legislation concerning the reform of the pension system.	4	2004-04-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Reform of the pension scheme is a matter of key concern for the public. The boycott of Diet sessions means that political parties are neglecting their obligation to debate the issue in a responsible manner. Their neglect in this regard can only add to public distrust in the state-run pension program.It is difficult to say whether the government-sponsored bills on pension reform can drastically reform the system. These bills also have drawn fire from many quarters of society. Adding to the confusion was a recent statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who expressed his opinion about how to reform three public pension plans covering corporate employees, public servants and the self-employed, saying, "It's desirable for all these pension programs to be integrated into a single system."Minshuto has criticized the prime minister, saying he has acknowledged his administration's pension reform plan is not the best.Minshuto neglecting dutyMinshuto's reaction to Koizumi's statement came after the party's president, Naoto Kan, was apparently frustrated with the ruling camp's success in making progress in Diet discussions on various bills. Kan told Minshuto's Diet Affairs Committee to confront the ruling camp, insisting that the main opposition party should not hesitate to boycott Diet sessions.This was followed by Koizumi's remark supportive of a proposal to transform the three public pension plans into a unified program. His statement provided Minshuto with a good excuse for its boycott of Diet discussions. The opposition party's action also can be regarded as an attempt to make its presence felt more strongly by voters ahead of the House of Councillors election in July.It should be noted, however, that the primary task of Diet members is to improve pending bills by exploring issues involved through serious debate. If it is dissatisfied with the government-drafted bills on pension reform, the opposition bloc should state its case at Diet sessions. Opposition lawmakers' refusal to attend Diet discussions is a clear dereliction of their duty.Minshuto have cited two reasons for their boycott of Diet sessions. First, the opposition party insists that the prime minister did not adequately answer questions posed by the opposition camp at a plenary session of the lower house last Thursday.Second, Minshuto argues that the ruling parties refused to comply when it asked them not to start Diet discussions on the pension reform bills until Friday. The opposition party said it would present a counterplan by that day.However, it is quite unreasonable for Minshuto to boycott lower house committee sessions by citing the prime minister's inadequate answer at last Thursday's plenary session.In-depth Diet debate neededLawmakers have only limited time for questions at plenary sessions. This is why legislators should conduct in-depth debate on issues at committee sessions.The largest opposition party is no less unreasonable in insisting that it will not agree to start discussions on the government-sponsored bills before it presents a reform plan of its own.Pension reform was one of the main pillars of Minshuto's manifesto drawn up for the lower house election in November. If it had snatched power from the Koizumi administration in the poll, Minshuto would have had to submit a pension reform bill to the current Diet session and set the direction for discussions on the proposed legislation.Some members of the ruling camp believe Minshuto's boycott of Diet sessions is an attempt to paper over its inability to draft a counterplan for pension reform.The current Diet session must address a large number of bills, including seven bills on the nation's response to a military attack. Questions should be raised about the attitude taken by Minshuto as an opposition party if its refusal to attend Diet sessions causes a delay in efforts to establish laws indispensable to the proper administration of state affairs.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	758	2004-04-06	YOSHIN0020040406e046000nq
YOMSHI0020040406e0470003e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040406e0470003e	EN	\N	International community must help stabilize Iraq	Supporters of anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are intensifying their battle with U.S.-led coalition forces in Baghdad and other parts of the country, resulting in a large number of casualties on both sides.	4	2004-04-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Coalition Provisional Authority also said an arrest warrant had been issued for Sadr several months ago in connection with the 2003 murder of moderate Shiite cleric Abdul Majid al-Khoei.The CPA and U.S.-led coalition forces must make the utmost efforts to prevent the strife from spreading further.The transfer of sovereignty from the CPA to an interim government run by Iraqis is scheduled to take place at the end of June. In this respect, we sincerely hope that the military conflict--which is taking place at a crucial moment--will not affect the scheduled transfer of sovereignty that is said to be desired by the majority of Iraqis.Keep moderate Shiites onsideShiite Muslims account for 60 percent of the Iraqi population. However, supporters of Sadr, a hard-line opponent of U.S. occupation, are said to be in a minority among Iraqi Shiites. Many observers believe, therefore, that most Shiites are unlikely to immediately get involved in the fighting between the coalition forces and Sadr's followers.While Sadr is opposing the U.S.-led occupation, an opinion poll conducted by a British research agency that was commissioned by NHK and three other international broadcasters found that only 15 percent of Iraqis sought the immediate withdrawal of coalition forces.If ordinary Iraqis are caught up in the fighting due to efforts by the CPA and coalition forces to quickly quell the disturbances, even moderate Shiite Muslims may become involved.Shiite Muslims welcomed the collapse of the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein because of their oppression under the regime. After the regime was overthrown, the Shiites refrained from resorting to violence, instead adopting a moderate stance under Shiite religious leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, taking advantage of their influence as the majority in Iraq.Taking such factors into account, the CPA and the coalition forces are urged to deal carefully with future developments.Speed reconstruction workReconstruction work also must be sped up in line with the political process of transferring sovereignty to Iraqis.Sadr's supporters reportedly include the poorest segment of the population, including the unemployed. Once the reconstruction work becomes more visible, the number of those participating in violent acts against the occupying authorities due to their frustration over the current situation will decline.Strong support is necessary from the international community to promote the reconstruction of the country. No country welcomes turmoil and instability in Iraq.Samawah, where the Self-Defense Forces are engaged in reconstruction work, is said to be an area in which Sadr does not have much influence. Nevertheless, SDF personnel are urged to increase their precautions in preparation for unforeseen events and continue their reconstruction efforts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	513	2004-04-07	YOSHIN0020040407e047000qs
YOMSHI0020040407e0480000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040407e0480000f	EN	\N	Yasukuni visit ruling politically charged	The Fukuoka District Court said Koizumi visited the shrine in his official capacity as prime minister. It therefore ruled the visit contravened the Constitution because it is regarded as religious activity by the state or its organs, banned under the Constitution, which stipulates separation of religion and state.	4	2004-04-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The suit was filed by 211 plaintiffs mainly from the Kyushu region and Yamaguchi Prefecture, including religious activists and ethnic Korean residents of Japan, against the state and the prime minister, demanding 100,000 yen in compensation for each plaintiff. They told the court Koizumi's visit to the shrine infringed on their religious freedom.It was the first time for a court to have ruled in a compensation suit filed against the state that the prime minister's visit to the shrine violated the Constitution.Rulings at the Osaka District Court and the Matsuyama District Court in February and March in similar lawsuits against Koizumi's visit to the shrine that honors war dead and specifically enshrines World War II war criminals, rejected plaintiffs' demands without coming to any conclusion on the visit's constitutionality.Knew visit controversialThe Fukuoka District Court ruling said Koizumi had a strong determination and a political will to continue his visits to the shrine, adding that he visited the shrine even though he was fully aware it might spur constitutional debate as well as criticism from the public and neighboring countries.The ruling said that Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni, therefore, can hardly be accepted as a simple social courtesy by a member of the general public and has a religious character intended to support the shrine.However, since the end of World War II, many prime ministers have visited Yasukuni based on Japan's traditions and customs, as a natural ritual, just as they have visited Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture.The first lawsuit concerning a prime minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine was filed in 1981, questioning the constitutionality of a resolution adopted in 1979 by Iwate Prefectural Assembly, which sought an official visit to the shrine by the prime minister and other cabinet members.Following a 1985 visit by then Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone to Yasukuni in his official capacity, there were a number of suit filed claiming Nakasone's visit to the shrine was a violation of the Constitution.No lawsuits over Ise visitWhen Koizumi visited Ise Shrine on Jan. 5, he signed his name together with his official title of prime minister. Nevertheless, we have never heard of any lawsuits that questioned the constitutionality of any other prime ministers' visit to the shrine. This makes us wonder why the constitutionality of prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine has suddenly become the focus of so much attention in recent years.The Fukuoka court judgement on the constitutionality of Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni was presented as an adjunct to the ruling, which rejected the plaintiffs' demand for compensation.The plaintiffs decided not to appeal to a higher court, saying the ruling was a complete victory for them. Because the plaintiffs' demand for compensation was rejected, the central government technically won the suit and therefore has no right to appeal the ruling.Similar rulings were handed down at the Sendai District Court, where the suit regarding the resolution at the Iwate Prefectural Assembly was brought, and the 1992 ruling at the Osaka High Court, which pointed out that there were suspicions of unconstitutionality regarding Nakasone's visit to Yasukuni.We regret to say that the Fukuoka court decision itself, which ruled that Koizumi had a political intention in visiting Yasukuni Shrine, is itself characterized by its political intention.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2004-04-08	YOSHIN0020040408e048000jt
YOMSHI0020040408e0490000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040408e0490000f	EN	\N	Result of Koizumi's postal reform still murky	The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, a key economic policy panel, unveiled Wednesday a draft of its interim report on the full privatization of Japan Post. The full report will be formally adopted later in the month.	4	2004-04-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The draft does not go any further than sorting out points discussed earlier by the panel. It is still impossible to envision the future form Japan Post will take after it is fully privatized following a 10-year transition Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said would start in 2007.The privatization of the government-backed postal services is the centerpiece of the structural reforms championed by Koizumi.Despite that, the governmental panel shied away from presenting a clear picture of the privatization, apparently in accordance with a conclusion that it would be unwise to provoke anger among those Liberal Democratic Party members representing the interests of postal services, potentially throwing the party into disarray ahead of the upper house election.Vague plan can't be judgedIf no detailed plan for the full privatization of postal services--expected to become a major election issue--is presented, there is no way for the general public to judge the pros and cons of Koizumi's reforms.The council is not the first panel since the inauguration of the Koizumi Cabinet to discuss privatization of mail delivery, postal savings and "kampo" postal life insurance.A private advisory panel to Prime Minister Koizumi studying ways to reform the three postal services presented three possible reform paths for reforming the services, including full privatization, in September 2002. The council should work out a firm plan for the future of the postal services as soon as possible by referring to the ideas presented by the panel.The latest draft appears to be made up of plans which would draw the fewest objections, including an active utilization of the nationwide network of post offices, about 24,700 in all.The biggest point of contention in privatizing the postal services lies in how to review the postal savings and postal life insurance operations, which control more than 350 trillion yen in deposits and insurance equity. The draft recommends the government's current official full-refund guarantee for postal savings and postal insurance premiums in the event of a failure of Japan Post be abolished for those savings accepted and insurance contracts concluded after the government-backed entity went private. Such measures are deemed only reasonable.Privatization poses threatShould the operation of postal savings and postal life insurance be privatized at their current scale, they would pose an immense threat to private-sector financial institutions. While it is deemed inevitable for these operations to be split into several units of more appropriate size, there is no reference to such a plan in the draft.The draft said it would take about 10 years to complete the process of privatization, apparently out of consideration for the major impact on the employment of current Japan Post staff and on the purchase of government bonds. Yet the draft fails to clarify how the reform of the postal services, including streamlining operations, should be pursued during the transitional period.The LDP receives considerable support from the nation-wide network of special post offices, while opposition parties draw support from the Japan Postal Workers' Union and the All Japan Postal Office Labor Union. The privatization of the postal services is a thorny issue that would lead both the ruling and opposition parties to meet with strong opposition from their respective support base.In its manifesto for the House of Representatives election last year, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) shied away from making specific references to the pros and cons of privatization, out of consideration for those labor unions support of the party.Opposition parties should come up with their own reform proposals for the postal services.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun,  April 10 early edition)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2004-04-10	YOSHIN0020040410e04a000ja
YOMSHI0020040409e04a0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040409e04a0000f	EN	\N	We back Koizumi's vow not to withdraw SDF	An armed group is threatening to kill three Japanese taken captive in Iraq unless Japan pulls the Self-Defense Forces out of the country within three days. No progress appears to have been made in the kidnapping case.	4	2004-04-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi instructed concerned ministers and officials to do their utmost to rescue the three, while stressing that he would not withdraw the SDF from Iraq. The government's stance of not giving in to terrorists' demand is only reasonable.The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito supports the government's policy of not withdrawing the SDF from Iraq, and the main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), said it viewed the hostage-taking and an SDF withdrawal from Iraq as separate issues.Minshuto Secretary General Katsuya Okada said, "Complying with the terrorists' demand to withdraw the SDF from Iraq would be tantamount to sanctioning their cowardly act." This stance is shared by both the ruling and opposition parties.The SDF units are offering humanitarian assistance in Samawah, southern Iraq, with the aim of turning over sovereignty to Iraqi people. By doing so, Japan is fulfilling its obligations as a member of the international community.Only the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party are calling for the SDF to be pulled out of the country.Pullout wouldn't help IraqWhat would happen if the SDF were withdrawn from Iraq?It is obvious that a withdrawal now would play into the hands of the armed group. It also would send the wrong signal to the terrorists by showing them that the kidnapping of unarmed civilians helps realize their demands, possibly prompting them to use similar tactics against other countries.Should one country after another pull its troops out of Iraq, the international community, which is working together to help Iraq rebuild itself, might march out of step. As a result, the situation in Iraq would deteriorate further.Meanwhile, Japan would be seen as a country that easily caves in to terrorist threats, leading it to lose the trust of the international community. No country would be willing to work with Japan. There also would be a danger that Japan no longer would be able to dispatch the SDF abroad for international peace cooperation activities.Hostages partly at faultThe government has established a task force comprising concerned ministers to deal with the kidnapping, while calling on the United States to cooperate in rescuing the three held captive. The government also has dispatched Senior Vice Foreign Minister Ichiro Aisawa to Jordan to take charge of efforts to resolve the incident.The government needs to take all workable measures to rescue the hostages.But the hostages are not blameless. There have been many cases in which civilians have been targeted by terrorists in Iraq lately. Fully cognizant of such dangers, the three entered Iraq anyway, a reckless act indeed. They are partly responsible for bringing about the current situation.In Samawah, there has been a spate of explosions. The SDF should not let down their guard.U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the will of the countries helping Iraq rebuild itself was being tested and sought their continued support.It is now important for both the international community and Japan to deal with terrorist threats by maintaining a united front.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2004-04-10	YOSHIN0020040410e04a000j9
YOMSHI0020040410e04b0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040410e04b0000e	EN	\N	Designate April 29 as Showa Day	Meiji is far away,	4	2004-04-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Long gone nowThis is a noted poem composed in the early Showa period (1926-1989) by haiku poet Kusatao Nakamura (1901-83). The poem depicts the admiration and nostalgia felt by Nakamura for the Meiji era (1868-1912).This is the 16th year in the current Heisei era, which started on Jan. 8, 1989. The length of the Heisei era already exceeds the Taisho period (1912-1926). Many people may feel that the Showa era is already long gone.The Japanese should not forget to pass on various lessons learned from the history of Showa to later generations. This period in this nation's modern history carries a lot of weight for the Japanese, who during these years went through World War II, their country's defeat in the war, the subsequent Allied Occupation, the postwar years of recovery and the high economic growth.A group of lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito has submitted to the current Diet session a bill seeking to designate April 29 as Showa Day, effective from 2006. Currently, April 29 is designated as Greenery Day.Two similar bills were submitted to the Diet in the past, but both were scrapped when the Diet failed to complete discussions on them by the end of its session. The leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), already has abandoned its objection to such legislation. The party favors the idea now.We hope that legislators will adopt the bills sponsored by the ruling parties during the current Diet session.Key period in Japan's historySome critics have opposed the bill. They defend their position by saying that the mere mention of Showa reminds them of the dark days of World War II. Others insist that the designation of April 29 as Greenery Day has become widely accepted by the public.The bill in question defines Showa Day as an opportunity to remember Showa as an era in which this nation rebuilt itself after experiencing great turbulence and to think about its future. The bill also designates May 4 as Greenery Day. This means that May 4 will be designated as another national holiday between Constitution Day (May 3) and Children's Day (May 5).These proposals appear to be acceptable to many members of the public.There was a time when April 29 was designated as a national holiday marking Emperor Showa's birthday. In 1989, however, the government presented the Diet with a bill aimed at revising the National Holidays Law to redefine April 29 as Greenery Day after Emperor Showa passed away in January that year. The bill was adopted.In drafting the bill, the government did not seek to designate April 29 as Showa Day because it was concerned that doing so could antagonize opposition parties.However, the government should have chosen to designate April 29 as Showa Day in 1989, given the significance of that period in Japanese history.Diet should adopt billLater, efforts to establish Showa Day gathered momentum. In 2000, a bill seeking to achieve that goal was submitted to the Diet. The House of Councillors debated the bill and passed it. However, the bill was scrapped during discussions at the House of Representatives because of confusion arising from then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's "Japan is a divine nation" statement.The bill was submitted to the ordinary Diet session again last year. It cleared debates at the lower house with the backing of not only the ruling parties, but also Minshuto. The bill was referred to the upper house, which eventually decided the legislation would be debated in later parliamentary discussions. However, the bill was killed when the lower house was dissolved in October.The time is ripe to rewrite the National Holidays Law. Lawmakers have already fully debated the pros and cons of the proposal to designate April 29 as Showa Day. The Diet should adopt the bill as soon as possible.We hope the ruling and opposition parties will take to heart the historical significance of Showa Day.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2004-04-11	YOSHIN0020040412e04b000dx
YOMSHI0020040412e04d0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040412e04d0000f	EN	\N	Control nuclear hazards via risk management	How safe is atomic energy, and how can safety at nuclear facilities be improved?	4	2004-04-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The annual white paper compiled by the nation's nuclear safety watchdog tried to answer this difficult question in a special examination of measures to control the safety of nuclear energy by making use of risk management.Risk management in this case refers to calculating the potential dangers at nuclear facilities and carefully acting on such observations to reduce the hazards associated with nuclear energy.As the first step in such efforts, the annual white paper for the first time set safety goals for nuclear facilities in the country.The white paper called for reducing the risks faced by residents living around nuclear facilities, setting as a goal a maximum of one out of a million people dying from exposure to radiation. By comparison, the number of people who die in traffic accidents in the nation stands at about one in 10,000 a year.Given the relatively sparse population around nuclear facilities, the practical goal is zero deaths from radiation.Evaluation essentialThe central government and nuclear plant operators must evaluate the risks at individual nuclear facilities in line with this goal and take necessary measures to solve any problem. It also is essential for them to make public the results of such evaluations and make efforts to gain understanding from a wide range of people.Risk evaluation at nuclear facilities started in the United States in the 1970s out of the need for nonlife insurers to calculate premiums for nuclear-powered generating stations.Based on the probability of breaks occurring in parts such as pipes and pumps, insurers calculated the risk of a chain of events resulting in a major accident.After comparing a variety of scenarios, insurers recognized as a by-product of their study the vulnerability of nuclear power plants. They also realized that there were some wasteful regulations.In the 1990s, the United States introduced this method to control safety at nuclear facilities, believing that if they took detailed measures based on risk management evaluations, they would be able to improve the safety of nuclear plants in a rational manner.Improved operating rateThanks to this risk evaluation method, operating rates of nuclear reactors in the United States have steadily increased from 60 percent in the 1980s to around 90 percent. Due partly to declining operating costs, there are moves to build new nuclear power stations in the United States after a hiatus of more than 20 years.European countries followed suit. However, Japan lagged behind the United States and Europe in fully introducing the system because nuclear power plant operators in this country were hesitant to openly discuss the danger of nuclear power stations for fear of giving ammunition to the antinuclear movement.There also are other problems, including the lack of reliable data on the probability of failures of individual parts, which is essential for proper risk management evaluations.The Nuclear Safety Commission plans to set up a special task force to collect and study necessary data as well as to draw up guidelines aimed at speeding the introduction of the system.They must expedite efforts to tackle the goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2004-04-13	YOSHIN0020040413e04d000kq
YOMSHI0020040413e04e0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040413e04e0000j	EN	\N	Unite to overcome difficulties in Iraq	In addition to the abduction of three Japanese civilians, there has been a series of kidnappings targeting foreigners in Iraq, and it is far from certain whether battles between U.S. forces and anti-U.S. rebels will die down any time soon.	4	2004-04-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is certainly a major blow to members of the international community that are involved in reconstruction activities in Iraq. However, we must not flinch from the difficulties. As the countdown continues to the scheduled transfer of sovereignty from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to an Iraqi government at the end of June, the international community must overcome difficulties one by one.Kidnappings add to chaosThe situation in Iraq is chaotic. Following the abductions of the three Japanese, U.S. citizens and those from other countries have been kidnapped or gone missing.In many cases, no concrete demands have yet been made, but it is obvious that the insurgents are trying to rock the U.S.-led occupation forces both directly and indirectly.In particular, the rebels are apparently trying to split public opinion in Japan and other countries that support the reconstruction of Iraq led by the United States and Britain by presenting political demands, such as the withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces. We must never give in to such demands.The wave of abductions targeting foreigners began after an intensified U.S. crackdown on Sunni Muslim rebels in Fallujah. Following the murder and mutilation of four U.S. contractors, U.S. forces attacked the rebels, demanding that the suspects in the killings be handed over.Some experts point to the possibility that the deteriorating situation in Fallujah and the kidnappings are linked. They apparently believe that the rebels took foreigners hostage in an attempt to draw concessions from the U.S. forces, such as a withdrawal from Fallujah.Particularly worrisome in connection with the situation in Fallujah is the large number of casualties among both U.S. forces and Iraqi insurgents. Especially worthy of attention is that many of the 700 or so Iraqis who died in fighting between U.S. marines and Sunni rebels were reportedly civilians.IGC denounces crackdownFollowing such revelations, some members of the Iraqi Governing Council, which aids the CPA in administering the country, have announced their strong opposition to the crackdown.The U.S.-led occupation of Iraq was supported by a number of Iraqi people, who welcomed the U.S. and British forces, pinning their hopes on the changed future they expected the occupation forces to bring about.The U.S.-led occupation forces must be careful not to provoke antipathy against their rule among such people.Meanwhile, the Japanese government is making an all-out effort to rescue the three captives, but the situation remains unpredictable.Fortunately, a truce is holding in Fallujah. We sincerely hope that fighting in the battered city will end and that the abductions will be resolved quickly, leading to a smooth transfer of sovereignty from the U.S.-led occupation forces to the Iraqi people.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	545	2004-04-14	YOSHIN0020040430e04e0000a
YOMSHI0020040414e04f0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040414e04f0000f	EN	\N	Nation must never give in to threats	Such an idea is tantamount to saying Japan should give in to the armed group holding three Japanese civilians hostage in Iraq that is demanding the SDF pull out of Iraq. It is a very questionable statement to make.	4	2004-04-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since the three Japanese were taken hostage last week, Kan has said Japan should not give in to the armed group's threat by withdrawing the SDF personnel from Iraq. Even during question time in the Diet, Kan repeated this position. Such stance is only reasonable.Following his reiteration, however, Kan went on to say it had become difficult for southern Iraq, where Samawah is located, to be considered a noncombat zone, as required for the SDF unit to operate under the special law concerning measures to help reconstruct postwar Iraq. While saying this, Kan said the government should study the possibility of taking measures, including withdrawing the SDF.While Kan may consider it reasonable for the government to study the withdrawal of the SDF when conditions mean the area where the troops are deployed can no longer be deemed a noncombat zone as stipulated by the special law, a withdrawal in response to threats from an armed group is another matter.Difficult situationCurrently three Japanese hostages are being held by an armed group. The families of the hostages and their supporters are calling for the SDF to be pulled out of Iraq following the group's threat to kill the hostages if the SDF is not withdrawn.There is a view that the armed group may believe the hostages carry great political value because of the issue's potential for dividing public opinion in Japan.Under such circumstances, if the government refers to the "withdrawal of the SDF," for whatever reasons, the armed group is certain to welcome such statements as capitulation to their demands.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi opposed Kan's proposal, saying, "If we refer to 'preparing for the withdrawal' at this moment, we would fall into the group's trap." Truer words were never spoken.Kan also criticized Koizumi for refusing to meet face-to-face with relatives of the hostages.Koizumi said: "I'm wondering whether my meeting with them now would lead to a desirable result or not. I don't think it's the right moment now to meet with them."Meeting could backfireEven if Koizumi meets with the captives' families, there are things he cannot afford to speak about. There is even some danger of inviting misunderstandings. Such a meeting may even adversely effect chances for an early release of the captives.For some time now, Kan has criticized Koizumi for failing to be accountable to those concerned, including the families. If every single behind-the-scenes act of the government is disclosed, it would only prevent the resolution of the hostage crisis.In his remarks Friday, right after the hostages were taken, Kan said he would extend his full support to the government. In his remarks Monday, he made clear his opposition to the Koizumi administration by saying the administration bore grave responsibility for bringing about the current situation, while making no reference to "supporting the government."The unified by-election for the House of Representatives, slated for April 25, was officially announced Tuesday. Kan may be attempting to make the Iraqi policy of the Koizumi administration a key issue in the election.The future of the nation is at stake. To propose a change in such an important policy as the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq at this moment is tantamount to giving in to the threat from the armed group. Such a position should never be held by the leader of a responsible political party.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2004-04-16	YOSHIN0020040416e04g000nr
YOMSHI0020040415e04g0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040415e04g0000e	EN	\N	Medical council scandal shows need for changes	In a bribery scandal involving the Central Social Insurance Medical Council, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested the chairman of the Japan Dentist Association, a former member of the medical council who is also a former Social Insurance Agency director general and a current member of the council who is also a vice chairman of the Japan Trade Union Confederation (Rengo).	4	2004-04-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The medical council, an advisory body to the health, labor and welfare minister, is tasked with deciding the treatment fees paid to medical institutions under the medical insurance system once every two years, a role that gives it considerable influence over medical care policies.It is unforgivable to alter the setting of medical fees, which are supposed to be impartially determined, by an illicit exchange of money. Such an act also fosters distrust of the medical profession.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry should thoroughly clarify the context of the scandal, while at the same time reviewing the way the medical council is managed.The latest disgrace grew out of a political fund scandal involving a political wing of the JDA. The political entity, armed with considerable funds, has allegedly approached politicians in an effort to curry favor. We hope the public prosecutors office will clarify whether or not there is a flow of illicit money involved.The medical council is made up of doctors and dentists representing medical care providers, representatives of the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies and other entities that pay medical fees and experts representing the public interests.Conflicting interestsWhile medical care providers seek a hike in treatment fees, those paying the fees want to see them curbed. Under the present system, the treatment fees are supposed to be decided with those representing the interests of the public coordinating the opinions of medical care providers and those paying for medical care so as to find a middle ground.The former director general of the Social Insurance Agency, as a senior official of the federation of health insurance societies, had asserted at council meetings that the treatment fees should be lowered. As a former senior health ministry bureaucrat, his opinions carried considerable weight. He was reckoned by the JDA as a tough person to deal with.Behind the scenes, however, the former director general was asked by the JDA to see to it that the treatment fees were made more favorable to doctors and dentists and to make remarks sympathetic to a possible hike in the fees at council meetings.The bribes are believed to have coincided with such developments at the council meetings. If control of the treatment fees becomes lenient, medical expenses rise. This was a breach of faith deemed unthinkable for the people representing the interests of those who pay the fees.Under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's medical system reforms, which have been characterized as having "the pains shared among the three parties concerned," the public was forced to pay a larger portion of individual medical expenses. The financial burden borne by the elderly also became heavier. Yet it is doubtful whether sufficient questions were asked of those offering medical services.Composition of councilThe makeup of the medical council is also problematic. Members representing medical care providers are mainly from interest groups of medical practitioners, while many of those representing the opinions of such organizations as the national federation of health insurance societies often lack knowledge of the public-run medical insurance system. Meantime, those who are supposed to represent the interests of the public are consigned to the role of go-between, making few remarks at the council meeting.The council is supposed to be a forum for coordinating the often conflicting opinions of medical care providers and those funding medical care. If the council ends up split between the two sides, it is difficult to expect any drastic reform.The determination of medical treatment fees, which total about 30 trillion yen a year, should be made in a fair and transparent manner. The medical council needs to make an effort to rein in fee hikes and streamline and improve medical services.The medical council needs to be overhauled. It must shift from being simply a forum for labor-management negotiations to a body capable of discussing issues from a broader perspective, with the participation of professionals from the fields of nursing and medical institution management.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	761	2004-04-16	YOSHIN0020040416e04g000ns
YOMSHI0020040416e04h0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040416e04h0000g	EN	\N	Parties should cooperate to pass emergency bills	This nation deviates from the norm of nations around the world in that it has put off establishing such a legal framework for years.	4	2004-04-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A special House of Representatives committee is debating seven bills drawn up for such a purpose, including one aimed at protecting members of the public in the event of a national emergency. The bills will apply the finishing touches to the government's ongoing effort to establish a legal framework for Japan's preparedness to deal with state emergencies. Last summer, the Diet adopted a law on the government's response to a situation that could develop into an armed attack on the country.Before agreeing to start discussions on the bills, the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), demanded the ruling coalition take measures to ensure that the Diet would establish a fundamental law on national emergencies. The ruling parties agreed to enact such legislation during an ordinary Diet session to be convened next year. This paved the way for the start of parliamentary debates on the seven pending bills.The governing coalition is seeking to put the bills through the lower house before the Golden Week vacation, which starts in late April. Minshuto has acknowledged the need to provide a legal framework for national emergencies. The opposition party only demanded a partial amendment to the government-sponsored legislation. We hope that the seven bills will be written into law with the backing of both the ruling and opposition camps.Protecting lives comes firstThe bill on the protection of the public from a military attack, a central pillar of the legislation, is inseparably linked to the law on a situation that could escalate into an armed attack. The latter law governs the conduct of Self-Defense Forces troops in the event of a military attack.The former bill defines the role of the central and local governments in defending the lives and assets of the people from an armed attack and a major terrorist attack. Specifics of the bill include steps to evacuate residents, aid injured people and minimize the damage incurred through a military attack.Under the bill, the central and local governments would be allowed to impose restrictions on the people's rights. With the aim of aiding evacuated people, for example, prefectural governors could order manufacturers, distributors and others to stockpile food and medicines and sell them only to the prefecture. This is tantamount to restricting the freedom of commercial activities. Penalties would be imposed for refusal to comply with the order.Minshuto has called on the government to present as many specific examples as possible of which penalties would apply for which law infractions. The government should fully explain the scope of the penalties.We find it inevitable for the government to restrict people's rights from the standpoint of public welfare, if and when people's lives are at risk.Public should be preparedMinshuto has maintained that basic human rights must always be guaranteed--in peacetime or during a national crisis. However, we believe that there is a limit to what can be done in sticking to that principle.Minshuto has demanded that the bill on the protection of the public be revised to state that the Cabinet must retroactively receive Diet approval for a policy it has adopted to deal with an emergency.A similar ex post facto approval is stipulated in the law on a situation that could develop into an armed attack on the nation. Minshuto's demand is worthy of consideration.It is important to raise awareness among the public, through Diet debates, of the need to cooperate with the government in the event of a military attack, while the latter would defend the people by all means necessary.Efforts to establish the legal framework for war contingencies should be complemented by an attempt to ensure that members of the public are mentally prepared to protect themselves during national emergencies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	708	2004-04-17	YOSHIN0020040417e04h000mg
YOMSHI0020040417e04i0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040417e04i0000a	EN	\N	U.N. Iraq plan offers ray of hope	On Friday, U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed to throw their support behind the proposal of U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, that covers the process that would follow the transition of sovereignty from a U.S.-led coalition to Iraqis on June 30.	4	2004-04-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The proposal stipulates that the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Governing Council will be dissolved. However, the proposal is unclear about what kind of interim Iraqi government should be established.Brahimi also has proposed that a caretaker government, led by a prime minister, with a president and two vice presidents, be established by the end of May. Under his plan, the United Nations would most likely select people for these positions after consultations with the United States, the Iraqi Governing Council and prominent Iraqis.Brahimi's proposal viableIt remains to be seen whether Brahimi's proposal will be supported by Iraqi Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. It should be noted, however, that a U.S. plan to expand the Iraqi Governing Council to serve as a provisional government has been stalled as a result of lack of support from the Iraqis. Brahimi's proposal could be a viable alternate as a means of ensuring a smooth transition to Iraqi rule.The proposal needs all-out support from the international community. The United States and Britain should do whatever they can to ensure the transfer of sovereignty.In recent weeks, public security has deteriorated in Iraq, with clashes between U.S. forces and armed Iraqi groups, and a number of kidnapping cases involving foreign nationals. During the first half of April alone, more than 90 U.S. soldiers were killed--the worst statistics since the United States launched the military strike on Iraq in March 2003.The Iraqis will be more than disappointed if the transition to sovereign rule is prolonged because of declining security in the country. Such a situation would only leave Iraq in a state of greater chaos. The U.S. and British leaders have every reason to insist that the transition to Iraqi rule will take place as initially planned.U.N. role key in handoverBlair has emphasized the importance of a U.N. role in transforming Iraq into a democratic nation, saying that the international body would "play a key role" in the process. He has urged the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution that will authorize Brahimi's proposal.Such a resolution will be essential in keeping an Iraqi government in place after the transfer of sovereignty. France, Germany and Russia--all U.N. members who opposed the Iraq war--have insisted on a greater U.N. role in rebuilding the country.We believe that the Security Council should adopt a new resolution authorizing Brahimi's proposal as soon as possible. The international community must renew coordinated efforts to reconstruct Iraq.Stabilizing Iraq will make the world safer. The chief players in maintaining Iraq's security and aiding in the country's reconstruction under a caretaker government will be foreign troops sent to that nation. Self-Defense Forces personnel will be an important part of this international team.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2004-04-18	YOSHIN0020040430e04i0000d
YOMSHI0020040418e04j0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040418e04j0000d	EN	\N	Travel freedoms must be used responsibly	We cannot support any legislation banning travel because the principle of self-responsibility is more important. It would be more reasonable to work out measures requiring people to take full responsibility for their actions.	4	2004-04-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of course, the abductions of the three Japanese civilians--two men and one woman--were the result of their ignoring government travel warnings on Iraq. The government and concerned organizations went to a great deal of trouble trying to rescue them. Their abduction became an international issue and might have harmed national interests.But this case was an exceptional one.Families acted politicallyFirst of all, the families of the three acted and spoke politically in demanding that the government withdraw the Self-Defense Forces personnel from Iraq, which would change an important national policy. Their statement and actions can be interpreted as using the abductions for a political purpose.Of course, we shared the concern of the families for the safety of their loved ones. But the families of two other Japanese, who were abducted in Iraq after the first three but released unharmed Saturday, never made such political demands on the government.In the years since the end of the Vietnam War, many Japanese journalists and freelance writers have died covering dangerous countries and regions that the government advised them to leave.Those journalists, however, were apparently ready from the beginning to accept the risks for themselves. They acted freely, with self-responsibility, and died as a result.The three former hostages also should have been mentally prepared for their ordeal, because the situation was different from one, for example, in which tourists are taken hostage by terrorists. But they hardly looked prepared.Travel ban unwarrantedNevertheless, a legal prohibition on travel to a foreign country could be a path down the slippery slope that leads toward totalitarian ways of thinking, as in the former Soviet Union and Eastern European nations.The most important mission for border patrols in totalitarian states like North Korea is to prevent an exodus of their own nationals to other countries. But sometimes a hole is opened, such as the one in the Hungary-Austria border near the end of the Cold War era. That hole led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and to the collapse of all the authoritarian, totalitarian regimes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.Article 22 of the Constitution guarantees us the freedom to move to a foreign country, which includes the freedom to travel abroad. It is one of the basic human rights, and must be protected now as well as in the future.Meanwhile, some members of the government and the ruling parties have argued that the government demand that the three former hostages and their families pay part of the cost of the rescue operation. This is an idea that should be considered. Such an act might deter other reckless, self-righteous volunteers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	545	2004-04-18	YOSHIN0020040418e04i000db
YOMSHI0020040419e04k0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040419e04k0000h	EN	\N	Spain's decision mustn't disrupt solidarity in Iraq	Countries trying to restore order in the war-torn country and aid in its reconstruction must not avert their eyes from the negative effects that will ensue from this disruptive action. But the most important thing is that they not let the decision by Spain's new government deter them from continuing with their activities.	4	2004-04-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	U.S. and coalition forces are still fighting against Islamic militants and foreign terrorists in Iraq. Many foreigners taken hostage have not yet been released. Iraq needs strong support from the international community now more than ever.Spain supported the Iraq war, led by U.S. and British forces, from the beginning. The country dispatched about 1,400 troops to southern Iraq after the initial fighting ended. After U.S. and British troops, Spanish troops were the most important in the region.However, Zapatero promised during the election campaign in March that Spanish troops would come home if the United Nations did not take political and military leadership in Iraq by June 30.The new prime minister said he made the decision to pull them out much earlier than expected because he did not expect a U.N. resolution that met his conditions for keeping Spanish troops in Iraq to be adopted by the deadline.Madrid bombings keyIt was apparent that the bombing of four Madrid commuter trains, in which nearly 200 people were killed, influenced greatly the results of the Spanish election held immediately after the tragedy. We are worried that Zapatero's decision could be interpreted as a sign that Spain has given in to terrorists.Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose group is fighting fiercely against the U.S.-led coalition forces, called on his followers to stop attacks on Spanish troops after Madrid announced the withdrawal of its contingent. This seems to show that Zapatero's decision sent the wrong message to Sadr, and is being used to divide the coalition forces.U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed recently with the United Nations to allow it to take the lead in selecting a caretaker government to take the reins when sovereignty is transferred from the U.S.-led coalition to the Iraqis on June 30.Iraq situation criticalThe situation in Iraq is reaching a critical juncture. If the reconstruction of Iraq does not proceed smoothly and it takes the path that leads it to becoming a failed state, the coalition will have played right into the hands of international terrorist organizations. No one in the international community wants to see such an outcome.In addition to Spain, Thailand and a few other countries are reportedly planning to pull their troops out of Iraq. Calls for the withdrawal of Self-Defense Forces personnel from Iraq are likely to be heard here, too.But Japan must not take that road. The SDF contingent must continue its humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Samawah, southern Iraq, which will aid in the overall reconstruction of that nation. Japan must demonstrate its sense of international solidarity to the rest of the world.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	577	2004-04-20	YOSHIN0020040421e04k0004g
YOMSHI0020040420e04l0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040420e04l0000f	EN	\N	Emergency child care needs urgent first aid	There are only a few pediatricians who provide medical care to sick children at night or on Sundays and holidays, a situation that only grows worse as hospital after hospital either abolishes or scales down its pediatrics section. Adding to the problem is that the average age of the nation's pediatricians is increasing, while the number of pediatricians who treat emergency patients is declining.	4	2004-04-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There have been times when ambulances carrying children in need of emergency treatment have been refused treatment and sent from one hospital to another because of the absence of an on-duty pediatrician.24/7 help for kids necessaryParents of small children continue to feel a great deal of anxiety. We urgently need a pediatric emergency system in which parents can have their children treated by doctors whenever necessary.In a bid to provide around-the-clock medical services for children, the Japan Pediatric Society, comprised of pediatricians nationwide, plans to establish pediatric emergency centers across the country.Under the plan, pediatric centers will be established and staffed with pediatricians now working at different hospitals and clinics to provide emergency medical services anytime--including at night and on Sundays and holidays. Pediatricians working at hospitals and clinics not included in the project would work in the emergency medical services in shifts, if only during early evening hours.The scheme is expected to be an effective prescription for healing the critical state of the nation's pediatric emergency system. The central and local governments and university doctors' offices must actively support the society's plan so the scheme can be realized. It is also vital for private hospitals and practitioners to understand the scheme and extend their cooperation.Children are generally unable to accurately explain their condition to doctors. In addition, they are more likely than adults to take a sudden turn for the worse. But while it is harder work to examine and treat children, the average doses are smaller, meaning that under the fee-for-service system, it is less profitable to treat children. Because of this, many hospitals have closed down their pediatrics sections.Inadequate system can be fatalThis has led parents with sick children to flood the limited number of hospitals where pediatric emergency services are available. Some pediatricians have fallen ill due to overwork or, even worse, have been unable to give enough attention to serious cases because of heavy workloads, resulting in the deaths of some young patients.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry five years ago began promoting the establishment of a system in which local hospitals would take turns providing medical services to children at night and on Sundays and holidays. But the system still covers only a limited area, and many national hospitals still are not participating.In order to secure enough doctors to man the pediatric emergency system, their pay and working conditions must be improved.Under the medical insurance system, the ministry gives some preferential treatment in terms of pediatric treatment fees paid to medical institutions, but this is not enough. We would like to see a study on possibly hiking the treatment fees. We also would like to see new doctors taught the importance of the pediatric emergency system during clinical training.For areas where pediatricians are not available, a system must be established whereby doctors can treat children while receiving advice from a pediatrician via such tools as a TV phone.Although the number of children is declining, hospitals are kept busy treating them as many parents rush their children to hospitals even in the case of minor illnesses or injuries.Behind this parental anxiety is a general worry about how to rear children. It would also be useful, therefore, to improve consulting services so that parents can get advice on child rearing and health.The pediatric emergency system issue is an urgent one, which needs to be solved as soon as possible to support child rearing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	691	2004-04-21	YOSHIN0020040421e04l000ny
YOMSHI0020040421e04m0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040421e04m0000c	EN	\N	Progress elusive in talks on Pyongyang's N-arms	It was Kim's first visit to China since he held talks with then president Jiang Zemin three years ago shortly before the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush was inaugurated.	4	2004-04-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The leaders of China and North Korea reportedly have agreed the two countries will continue to jointly push forward in the six-party talks to peacefully resolve the issue of North Korea's nuclear development.Only two rounds of the six-way talks intended to break the impasse over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions have been held in the past year, with no substantial progress made. The talks with Kim should have been significant for Hu, not only because it was the first set of talk between the two, but, more importantly, because China is the host of the six-way talks.Hu reportedly won a pledge from Kim in the latest talks that North Korea would actively participate in the six-way talks and contribute to making progress in the talks. Such a promise should be considered an achievement.Calls to disarm ignoredWhile continuing to develop nuclear arms, North Korea's leader has only made demands about what he wants in return for freezing the operation of nuclear development facilities without responding to calls to abandon his nuclear program. We cannot take Pyongyang at its word. We need to cautiously ascertain how Pyongyang will act in the months ahead.U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney held talks with Chinese leaders, including Hu, last week. The main aim of Kim's recent visit to China may have been to directly confirm the contents of the U.S.-China talks and probe Washington's aims.During his recent visits to Japan, China and South Korea, Cheney emphasized the U.S. policy of urging Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear arms development program "in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."In China, Cheney reportedly showed evidence indicating Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions to Chinese leaders, including Hu, and called on Beijing to exert more pressure on Kim's regime.The United States has gathered plenty of information concerning North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs from Pakistan and Libya. It also has been reported that the Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of his country's nuclear program, saw three nuclear devices during a trip to North Korea five years ago.Chinese sympatheticDuring his talks with Kim, Hu reportedly showed his understanding for North Korea's "reasonable concern." Given such understanding, we wonder to what extent Hu was able to convince Kim of the need for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions.North Korea has demanded security guarantees from Washington, but no country can give security guarantees to a nuclear-armed North Korea. The main premise for other nations improving ties with Pyongyang is to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.In the recent general election in South Korea, the Hannara Party, which called for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions, was defeated, while the pro-government Uri Party, which embraces a policy of reconciliation with North Korea, advanced. North Korea hails this change. Pyongyang may calculate that by drawing China and South Korea to its side, it would be able to drive Japan and the United States into a corner in the six-way talks.A reconciliatory measure alone would make the prospects for solving the Pyongyang's nuclear issue recede. The question is: What direction is South Korea's policy toward Pyongyang heading and how determined is Seoul to achieve the common aim of having Pyongyang abandon its nuclear ambitions?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2004-04-22	YOSHIN0020040422e04m000kk
YOMSHI0020040422e04n0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040422e04n0000f	EN	\N	Reproductive technology must be controlled	A researcher from Tokyo University of Agriculture has succeeded in breeding a fatherless mouse without using sperm.	4	2004-04-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Mammals, including mice and humans, reproduce by fertilizing eggs with sperm. However, the latest achievement has been made possible by using a genetically manipulated egg and an ordinary egg.This process, known as parthenogenesis, has never before been used in mammalian reproduction.Chances are slim that this reproductive technique will become common for mammals. As circumstances stand today, the process cannot be applied to humans because of technical and ethical problems, according to scientists.Admittedly, the title of Nature's April 22 edition is sensational, but this achievement poses a fundamental question about why males are needed for reproduction.In recent years, cloning has attracted worldwide attention as a means of asexually reproducing a genetically identical copy of a life form. The parthenogenetic reproduction of mammals represents a scientific breakthrough in reproductive technology.Multitude of genesSperm and eggs have tens of thousands of genes needed to create and sustain life. A reproductive cell can grow into sperm or an egg, depending on which gene has been activated in it.A key to the Tokyo Universidty of Agriculture scientist's achievement was his success in reproducing a genetically modified egg that can work like sperm.The significance of the latest scientific success is not limited to a breakthrough in unraveling the basic mechanism of reproduction.During the process of growth, various genes in cells work and stop working. A malfunction of this sophisticated mechanism could cause serious disorders and sickness.The use of cloning technology could lead to genetic malfunctions causing stillbirths and abnormalities in children.Research on regenerative medicine using embryo stem cells, which can be developed into various cells or organs, indicates that guiding genes in embryo stem cells to work effectively is key to developing desired types of cells.The latest finding likely will contribute to solving this problem.Social impact significantAlthough the research is still basic, the impact of this new technology on society cannot be ignored.The birth of a cloned sheep named Dolly sparked anxiety throughout the world about future human cloning. Reckless attempts have been made to apply cloning technology to reproductive medicine.Although the government's guidelines currently regulate modification of human genes, nothing is certain about the future applications of the technology. In view of such rapid technological advancement, the government Council for Science and Technology Policy, which discusses reproductive technology, and other relevant organizations should consider measures to better control the use of such technology.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	465	2004-04-23	YOSHIN0020040424e04n00027
YOMSHI0020040423e04o0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040423e04o0000h	EN	\N	Koizumi must lay basis for Japan's future shape	On Monday, the Koizumi administration will enter its fourth year.	4	2004-04-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi is the sixth longest-serving prime minister since the end of World War II. If he serves out his current term, which is due to last until September 2006, he will become the third longest in office, following Eisaku Sato and Shigeru Yoshida.According to the latest Yomiuri Shimbun poll, an impressive 59 percent of pollees said they supported the Koizumi Cabinet. The survey also shows that 63 percent of those polled had a favorable view of the prime minister's achievements over the past three years.Since its inauguration in April 2001, the Koizumi government occasionally has had to make concessions to antireform forces within the Liberal Democratic Party and the party's coalition partner, New Komeito, in putting together its policies.Upper house election crucialIf the ruling coalition is victorious in the House of Councillors election in July, however, Koizumi will not have to worry about national elections in the two years and two months that follow--unless he chooses to dissolve the House of Representatives for general elections. This means he will be able to implement whatever policies he chooses.This is an important phase in Japan's struggle to lay the foundation--economic, social, security or otherwise--for its continued prosperity in the 21st century.According to the Yomiuri poll, voters want the Koizumi Cabinet to place priority on the economy. The prime minister must put the economy back on the road to full recovery led by domestic demand. This is essential for the country's stable economic growth.The latest survey also indicates that the public strongly wants the Koizumi adminstration to tackle issues concerning North Korea and Iraq.Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the Koizumi administration has been participating in antiterrorist operations, as well as humanitarian and reconstruction support under the banner of international cooperation and the Japan-U.S. security alliance. The government sent Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S. naval ships and dispatched Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to Iraq.New phase for allianceJapan and the United States have further cemented their alliance, whose role and significance are now entering a new phase.Japan's assistance in rebuilding Iraq is expected to be prolonged. We hope the SDF dispatch, the spearhead of ongoing support for Iraq, will be successful. The assistance will broaden the scope of Japan's international cooperation and lead to the creation of a permanent law to dispatch the SDF in such a situation.North Korea is a direct threat to Japan. Koizumi has adopted a strategy of "dialogue and pressure" in cooperation with the United States and South Korea to comprehensively settle such issues as abductions, nuclear development and missiles.The North Korean threat has encouraged the Japanese to even more keenly feel that they are members of a sovereign state, while also helping the Japanese public gain a deeper understanding about strengthening emergency legislation on national security. It is only natural for Japan to become a nation that is impregnable against terrorism and capable of overcoming crises.To better define what kind of nation Japan should become in the 21st century, it is essential to make headway in revising the Constitution. The Liberal Democratic Party plans to compile a draft proposal for amending the Constitution next year, while Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) plans to draw up its own proposal in 2006.Koizumi should present his own view about the Constitution and exercise leadership in debates on amending the supreme law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2004-04-24	YOSHIN0020040424e04o000oa
YOMSHI0020040424e04p0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040424e04p0000d	EN	\N	Lawmakers should stop squabbling, start talking	Since interpellations of unsworn witnesses related to the issue were completed at the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Labor and Welfare, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito now aims at putting the government-sponsored proposal on pension system reform to a vote at the committee, possibly before the Golden Week holiday period.	4	2004-04-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the opposition parties are stubbornly resisting the move.The government's plan is not the only reform plan before the Diet--the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has submitted its own counterplan. There were high hopes that lawmakers would hammer out a better bill by exploring issues in depth through vigorous discussions.Despite such expectations, ruling and opposition lawmakers contented themselves with finding fault with each other's plan. Their deliberations can hardly be described as "in-depth."Minshuto went as far as to station a picket line in front of the committee room as part of its strategy of refusing to participate in the discussion. But having failed to win the public's backing, Minshuto lawmakers later reluctantly returned to the deliberations.Their resistance to voting on the reform proposal before Golden Week stiffened, however, after it was revealed Friday that three ministers in Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet did not pay their pension premiums for between four and 21 years.Bills shouldn't be exploitedThe ruling camp also has problems. Under normal procedures, a public hearing on the pension reform issue would have been held. Instead, the ruling parties merely questioned unsworn witnesses and now are trying to railroad their own plan through the Diet. Reform of the nation's pension system is a topic in which the general public is quite interested. Therefore, we believe a speed-before-quality decision should be avoided.Behind the confrontation between the ruling and opposition camps is a tug-of-war concerning the House of Councillors election scheduled for July and Sunday's three lower house by-elections, which serve as the prelude to the July polls.But lawmakers should not try to use such important bills to mine political capital or win votes.The government's plan is designed to gradually increase the amount of pension premiums and lower the level of benefits to be provided to pensioners in an effort to stabilize pension financing. It is noteworthy that the government's plan set an upper limit for the burden to be shouldered by the public and a lower limit for benefits to be given. But this was just an adjustment to the current system and can hardly be called a drastic reform.The Minshuto plan was designed to integrate the current pension systems, which are roughly categorized according to occupation, into one system. It also aims at guaranteeing a minimum benefit payment for low-income earners. To some extent, the plan suggests the direction of future pension reform, but it fails to deal with some intractable problems, including how to accurately measure the income of self-employed people.Consensus neededOn the surface, the two plans seem as incompatible as oil and water. But they have some similarities. Concerning the level of pension benefits, the Minshuto plan basically follows the government plan in fixing pension levels at 50 percent of the after-tax income of working people.As the financial source, the government plan calls for cuts in premiums, while the Minshuto plan proposes raising the consumption tax rate. Both plans agree that an increase in the national burden is inevitable.Minshuto is not the only party calling for the unification of occupation-specific pension systems. The ruling camp says it is an issue that should be studied in the future.Given the rapid aging of the population and the extremely low birthrate, it is an urgent task to review the state of the premium and the public's burden. At the same time, it is a matter of urgency to comprehensively reform the current pension system, which was created based on the premises of fast economic growth and steady population growth.Mudslinging at the Diet only adds to the public's distrust in the nation's pension system. We hope each party has the wisdom to seek ways to build a consensus, not fuel confrontation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	749	2004-04-25	YOSHIN0020040425e04p000fy
YOMSHI0020040425e04q0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040425e04q0000b	EN	\N	G-7 fails to come up with any solutions	-- Giving further momentum to the recovery of the world economy.	4	2004-04-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	-- Strengthening solidarity among Group of Seven member countries, both politically and economically, to restore public safety and order in Iraq and reconstruct the country.The United States also wanted the two-day meeting in Washington to lay the groundwork for this year's Group of Eight summit, which includes Russia, in Sea Island, Ga., in early June.However, the Group of Seven's joint statement showed that none of these goals wereattained.The statement emphasized that the tempo of the global economic recovery had increased since February when the Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers held a preliminary meeting. But risks remain.Major questions unansweredAs an example of these risks, the statement referred to high crude oil prices. Nonetheless, it stopped short of spelling out measures to cope with rising energy prices.Each Group of Seven country has its own economic issues. What should Germany and France do to ensure that their economic recoveries continue? How should the United States tackle its twin deficits--the budget deficit and the current account deficit? How can Japan break from its current policies of keeping interest rates at zero and ensuring that the yen remains weak against the dollar? The joint statement did not answer these questions.If delegates had dealt specifically with those issues, the meeting would have turned into a free-for-all in which the members would have lashed out at each other's policies, demonstrating their disarray instead of cohesion. The United States and the other countries are believed to have made an effort to avoid such a development. But stressing only the bright side will not put the world economy on a stable growth path.At present, the key issue on the agenda for the world economy is the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq. The statement failed to come up with any measures to consolidate Group of Seven unity on this issue.Lack of cohesion on IraqThe statement did not single out Iraq as a specific target of their assistance. Instead, it simply reiterated the participants' determination "to assist Iraq, Afghanistan, and West Bank and Gaza in their development efforts" and "to call on others to join us in reducing the debt burdens of Iraq and Afghanistan."After the Group of Seven meeting, the Japanese finance minister told his U.S. counterpart Japan would cooperate further in Iraq's reconstruction efforts. During the Group of Seven meeting itself, there were no candid discussions about Iraq because of discord between the United States on the one hand and Germany and France on the other over how to help Iraq rehabilitate itself.In Iraq, the security situation has been deteriorating ahead of the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqi people by the U.S.-led coalition on June 30. At a time when strong solidarity is crucial, the Group of Seven countries could not come up with an appropriate response.Will the Group of Eight summit, which takes place in 1-1/2 months, be a repeat of the meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers? Or will the summit serve as a venue for the participating countries to consolidate their unity so that measures can be taken to stabilize and reconstruct Iraq? This is the test the United States faces.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	608	2004-04-26	YOSHIN0020040426e04q000g6
YOMSHI0020040426e04r0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040426e04r0000d	EN	\N	Interim report on aim of postal reform vague	The sign for the office was handwritten and hung by Koizumi himself, indicating his strong resolve toward realizing the privatization of the postal services.	4	2004-04-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But in spite of this resolve, discussions on privatization have barely begun.The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, a government entity dealing with economic and fiscal policies, plans to temporarily end the discussions ahead of the House of Councillors election slated for summer with the drafting of the interim report. The council will begin full-fledged discussions after the upper house election.There may be unavoidable reasons for the panel failing to present an overall picture of postal services reform at this moment.But privatization of the postal services is the centerpiece of the Koizumi administration's platform. Working-level discussions are expected to be carried out mainly at the preparatory office. Nonetheless, we hope the public will be kept as informed as possible as to how discussions on key issues are going. Doing so would give voters a yardstick by which to evaluate the Koizumi reforms.Politics as usualThe interim report apparently has been drawn up with great care, so as not to draw the ire of those who oppose postal service reform ahead of the election.For the special post offices, which are a strong support base for the Liberal Democratic Party and which are worried about possible reductions, the interim report emphasized the importance of maintaining the post-office network.For postal services labor unions, the report used wording that stressed the need to consider maintaining the morale of its workers and a stable labor-management relationship.This special consideration to the labor unions and the special post offices--long run by individuals commissioned by the government--is far from what the postal service reform was devised to achieve.Why are reforms of the postal services to be carried out? Discussions on the privatization issue must proceed, while reconfirming the original aims of the reform.The major goal of the reform is to reorganize the present structure of the services whereby funds in excess of 350 trillion yen, collected from the public through such channels as postal savings and post office life insurance, are placed under the management of the central government. With a sizable amount of these funds being diverted to a number of public corporations, the current structure has been a factor contributing to the inefficient operation of these corporations.Structure remains unchangedIn step with the reform of the government's fiscal loans and investment program, the postal offices are no longer obliged to deposit all of the collected funds into that program. But they still underwrite a large volume of government and investment-and-loan bonds. The same old structure remains in place.Placing the funds back into the private sector will revitalize the private-sector economy. It will further promote fiscal reform and the reform of the fiscal loans and investment program.We want a schedule for privatization, in line with such objectives, to be made public as soon as possible as discussions proceed. The interim report only suggests that privatization of the postal services will begin in 2007, with full privatization realized after a transitionary period of five to 10 years.Japan Post, a public corporation created in April 2003 to take over the government-run postal services, presently receives preferential treatment, including an exemption from corporate tax.When privatization begins in 2007, the corporation and private-sector financial institutions should be operating on level playing fields as much as possible.If concrete reform plans and time schedules are presented, the public will be able to get an idea of what the whole picture of postal service privatization will look like.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2004-04-27	YOSHIN0020040427e04r000ke
YOMSHI0020040427e04s0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040427e04s0000a	EN	\N	Today commemorates the true end of the war	On April 28, 1952, the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into force, liberating Japan from occupation forces that had run the country for six years and eight months.	4	2004-04-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Article 1 of the peace treaty states that the state of war that had existed between Japan and the Allied Powers was finally at an end. April 28, 1952, can therefore be considered, in the truest sense, as the day when the war ended and sovereignty was regained.Under the rule of the occupation forces, orders issued by the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers were paramount, and strict controls on free speech were in place.For instance, the occupation forces strictly forbade publication of the judgment written by one of the Tokyo Tribunal judges, Radhabinod Pal of India, who had declared the defendants not guilty. News coverage and literary works depicting the horrible conditions following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the closing period of World War II were also subject to GHQ's thorough censorship.The government was able to hold memorial services for the war dead only after the country regained its sovereignty.A most important dayApril 28 should be a day remembered as one of the most important in the history of the Showa era, but instead, its significance is being forgotten, just as we are forgetting the days spent under the rule of the occupation forces.As the peace treaty was being concluded, public opinion in the country was split, with leftist forces calling for a comprehensive peace treaty that would include the Communist bloc nations, including the Soviet Union, and opposing the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which was to come into force with the peace treaty. The situation at the time made it difficult to celebrate the day.Most of the Communist bloc nations have collapsed, and there no longer is a need to discuss the important role the bilateral security treaty has played in the peace and national security enjoyed by Japan.We would like to see a review of the significance of this day, and open discussion on the possibility of making April 28 a national holiday--perhaps "Sovereignty Day" or "Independence Day."Treaty stipulated territoryThe San Francisco Peace Treaty also stipulated the territory that belongs to Japan.China and Taiwan both assert sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands, and South Korea asserts sovereignty over Takeshima islet. But it is apparent upon reading the peace treaty that Japan has never relinquished sovereignty over any of these territories.A "Sovereignty Day" would be the perfect time to ponder territorial issues.A bill to revise the National Holidays Law has been submitted to the current Diet, proposing to rename April 29, which is currently called Greenery Day, as Showa Day, and to shift Greenery Day to May 4 beginning in 2006.Should the bill be passed into law and April 28 become a new national holiday, we would celebrate a string of consecutive holidays commemorating historically important events.There are pros and cons as to an increase in the number of national holidays. While taking such varying opinions into consideration, we should discuss the idea in depth.In any case, the significance of "Sovereignty Day" and "Showa Day" can be found by looking back at the modern history of Japan and deepening our understanding.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	582	2004-04-28	YOSHIN0020040429e04s00016
YOMSHI0020040428e04t0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040428e04t0000b	EN	\N	Don't let partisan games derail pension reform	On Wednesday, the Health, Labor and Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives passed a set of bills related to pension reform with the backing of only the ruling parties. The opposition bloc boycotted the session on the bills, a major focus of the latter part of the Diet session. The bills are expected to be passed at a plenary session of the lower house after the Golden Week holidays, setting the stage for discussions on the issue at the House of Councillors.	4	2004-04-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the current Diet session, the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), submitted a pension reform bill of its own, raising hopes for serious debate between the ruling and opposition camps. However, this expectation has been frustrated. The parties frequent efforts to oppose and outmaneuver each other should be seen as a conscious attempt to use the situation to win support for the parties in the upper house election in July.The parties have neglected their duty to fully debate measures to reform the pension system. Instead, their partisan tug-of-war now focuses on embarrassing revelations about the failure of some Cabinet members and others to pay pension premiums.Undoubtedly, the failure of these lawmakers to pay pension premiums should not be overlooked. They should take the seriousness of their negligence to heart. However, the ruling and opposition parties cannot be allowed to neglect serious discussions on the pension reform. The legislators' failure to pay premiums should be regarded as an indication of defects inherent in the complicated pension system.Public trust at stakeObservers have said confrontations between the ruling and opposition camps over the pension reform bills may become more bitter. Their antagonism should never be allowed to arouse even deeper public distrust of the state-managed pension plan. The parties should remember that their duty is to restore the public's trust in the pension plan through full debate of the system.The nation's population is graying and the birthrate is declining at an unparalleled pace. Given this, there is no need to reiterate the importance of reforming the pension system. This task requires an effort to remake the system in its entirety--not mere cosmetic reforms.This is no time for the ruling and opposition parties to play at petty partisan politics. To transform the system into a sustainable one, the ruling and opposition camps should share a sense of crisis about the current system and seriously debate pertinent issues so they can reach a consensus on necessary reforms.The government's pension reform plan has set an upper limit on premiums paid by subscribers and a minimum on benefits subscribers are to receive. If the birthrate and economic conditions fall below government projections by even the slightest margin, these promises will become meaningless. These numerical standards should be deemed a mathematical hypothesis.The government has not bothered to discuss whether the consumption tax rate should be increased to raise funds for financing growth in the ratio of government contribution to the basic pension plan. The government pension reform bills cannot be seen as a drastic plan, although the ruling parties praise them as "a plan that can put the public at ease for a century."Minshuto plan unclearMeanwhile, Minshuto's reform plan would integrate three pension schemes--the basic pension that covers every member of the population, the corporate employees' pension and the mutual-aid pension--into a unified system. The largest opposition party's plan incorporates some commendable proposals, including the introduction of a new consumption tax exclusively to help finance the state-run pension system.However, Minshuto's plan does not clearly state specific steps to achieve its goal, nor does it lay out the levels of benefits to be received by subscribers and burdens to be shouldered by them.Admittedly, the government's reform plan and Minshuto's proposal both have advantages and disadvantages. Still, both the ruling and opposition parties have agreed on the need to increase the financial burden to be shouldered by the public. We believe that the most practical step to be taken under the circumstances is to take more time to devise drastic measures to reform the system while also seeking to rebuild the troubled finances of the pension system.The public will be uneasy if a change in administration means a change in the pension plan. Given this, reform plans should be debated and conceived by a committee made up of representatives from all political parties.Sweden has been able to drastically reform its pension system through serious discussions among all political parties. Today, the Swedish pension plan is regarded as a model by countries striving to modify their pension systems. Japan should learn from the method adopted by the Scandinavian country to reach a national consensus on pension reforms.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	860	2004-04-29	YOSHIN0020040429e04t000fj
YOMSHI0020040429e04u0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040429e04u0000a	EN	\N	BOJ must continue battle against deflation	The report said most of the central bank's Policy Board members had predicted the real growth rate would reach the 3 percent range, but that the consumer price index would continue to fall.	4	2004-04-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report in effect rejected the optimism expressed by some market players, who said the recent economic improvement showed that the nation would be able to emerge from deflation sooner or later.Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui said it would be difficult to clear "the final mile" before deflation could be overcome. Indeed, it will be no easy task to haul the economy fully out of deflation.As for conditions for lifting the current policy of quantitative monetary easing, the bank said the average CPI must stay at zero or above for several months, and that there must be no fear of the index returning to negative territory in the foreseeable future. Market players therefore believe the bank is unlikely to change its policy this fiscal year.Maintain easy-money policyThe Bank of Japan should maintain its easy-money policy until there is no doubt that deflation has ended.It is true, however, that deflationary pressure has been gradually lessening. Sharp rises in the price of international commodities and other factors relating to price movements have changed significantly. The Bank of Japan and the government both need to watch changes in consumer prices even more closely.Market players have been concerned about whether sharp rises in the price of crude oil and other commodities would push up consumer prices. That has not been the case so far. Companies are seemingly holding back from raising prices out of fear that would lead to lower sales.Such forbearance could lead to a worsening of companies' balance sheets, but so far, this situation too has failed to materialize. Continuing appreciation of the yen has effectively helped companies offset the negative effects of higher commodity prices. Companies also have been trying to balance the effects of rises in the cost of raw materials by cutting personnel and other corporate costs.Watch U.S. economy closelyIt is also important to keep a weather eye on movements in the U.S. economy. U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan has testified before the U.S. Congress that deflation is no longer a concern. It seems increasingly likely that the Fed will raise interest rates and shift its easy-money policy by summer.Even if the United States does decide to shift its policy, Japan will not immediately be in a position to follow suit. As the central bank predicted, it seems that it will be difficult to overcome deflation within this fiscal year. Private banks have yet to complete their disposal of nonperforming loans. The nation's financial system could still be vulnerable.It is unknown whether we have to travel just one mile, or many more, before deflation can be conquered. What we do know is that the Bank of Japan and the government must not yet loosen the reins on the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	556	2004-04-30	YOSHIN0020040430e04u000g6
YOMSHI0020040430e0510000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040430e0510000d	EN	\N	U.S. report gives Japan leverage on abductions	For the first time, the report cited the kidnapping of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents as one of the reasons for that label.	4	2004-05-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	By citing the abduction cases as a reason for designating North Korea as a state sponsoring terrorism, the U.S. government apparently is indicating that North Korea must not only scrap its nuclear weapons development program as demanded at the six-party talks, but also resolve problems related to the abduction cases if it wants to see an improvement in its relations with the United States.This development offers very strong support for Japan's position. It could pressure North Korea to take serious action toward the resolution of both the nuclear and abduction issues.At a summit meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Pyongyang in September 2002, North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong Il, personally acknowledged that special operations institutions in the country had abducted Japanese citizens and said those responsible for them already had been punished.Since then, however, North Korea has neglected to clarify the whole picture of the kidnapping cases or pay compensation to the abductees and their families.Instead, Pyongyang has criticized Tokyo for breaking a "promise" that the return of the five surviving abductees from North Korea to their home country was "temporary."The return of the abductees, who were victims of crimes, to Japan was an obvious measure to restore their original living conditions. The attitude of North Korea in this respect is extremely unprincipled.Pyongyang should allow the victims' family members in North Korea to visit or move to Japan as soon as possible. The children of the abductees should be handed over to their parents in Japan.Many other Japanese abductees cannot be located. Pyongyang announced that they had died, or that there were no records of their entry to North Korea. The announcement was hard to believe and was far from the clarification of the abduction cases that Japan is demanding.Govt needs sanctions optionsThe United States placed North Korea on its list of countries supporting terrorism after the bombing of a Korean Air Lines passenger jet by North Korean agents in 1987. The U.S. government has kept North Korea on the list ever since for reasons including the fact that Pyongyang harbored former Red Army Faction members who hijacked a Japan Airlines jetliner in 1970.Since it first designated North Korea as a sponsor of terrorism, the United States has imposed sanctions on the country, including a ban on arms exports and economic aid to Pyongyang and the suspension of loans extended to North Korea by the World Bank and other international financial institutions. Pyongyang should realize that the day that the nation is removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism will be further delayed unless it resolves the abduction issue.With the revision of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, the government now is allowed to halt money transfers to North Korea as well as trade between Japan and North Korea. The government also should speedily enact a bill to ban the entry of specified vessels into Japanese ports to give it a range of ways to impose sanctions against North Korea unilaterally. Pyongyang's future actions need to be carefully watched.Build 'ring of steel'Among the seven countries that it designated in the report as sponsoring terrorism, the United States acknowledged that Libya and Sudan had taken significant steps to cooperate in the global war on terrorism.The report cited the Libyan government's assurance to the U.N. Security Council that it had renounced terrorism. The nation undertook to share intelligence on terrorist organizations with Western intelligence services, the report said. The report also said Sudan's cooperation and information-sharing had improved markedly.As for Iraq, the United States suspended all sanctions applicable to state sponsors of terrorism after the fall of the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein last year. The report said Iraq could be removed from the state sponsors of terror list once an Iraqi government was launched, though technically it is still a designated state sponsor of terrorism.Iraq is the main theater in the global war on terrorism. Japan has been engaged in international efforts to rebuild Iraq, and the international community should strengthen cooperation to stabilize the new Iraq.Japan must try even harder to build a "ring of steel" to thwart international terrorism by making further efforts to halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, strengthen immigration controls and stanch the flow of funds used for terrorist activities. With North Korea as a neighbor, such efforts are even more necessary.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	826	2004-05-01	YOSHIN0020040501e051000jo
YOMSHI0020040501e0520000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040501e0520000c	EN	\N	Expansion gives EU even more clout	Grouping 450 million people, the EU will gain a greater voice and a more important position than ever in the international community. The rest of the world cannot remain indifferent to its activities.	4	2004-05-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan also will have to take a different tack in its dealings with the new EU, with which it has been trying to strengthen ties through summit talks for more than a decade. The enlargement may affect economic relations between Japan and the EU. If it leads to an increase in trade disputes, Japan may have to demand that the EU take corrective steps.The participation of 10 new members expands the EU economy by just 5 percent because the newcomers are either small or have not yet left behind the obsolete socialist economic system.Pluses and minusesNevertheless, some factors that will have favorable effects on the EU economy as a whole can be identified.The first is the economic growth of the newcomers, which is higher than the average of the previous membership. Some estimate that the average economic growth rate of the new members this year will exceed 4 percent, though the old members will see only sluggish growth.An inexpensive, educated labor force in new member countries also is attractive to companies in and out of the EU. Their labor cost per hour is only one-fifth of the average in the old member nations. This fully offsets low productivity in those countries.Of course, the latest enlargement has some drawbacks.In the previous four enlargements, only countries with political, economic and social conditions similar to those of the incumbent members gained EU membership. However, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which have become new members Saturday, were under the socialist system for a long time. It is doubtful whether unification will be plain sailing for these countries.Wide disparities in income between new and old members as well as the high unemployment rate in some new member countries will have to be overcome.Poland, the largest country among the 10 newcomers, has an income level only 40 percent of the old members' average and an unemployment rate of nearly 20 percent. The new member states may suffer additional social problems if the benefits of EU membership come too slowly.Cyprus issue still not solvedMeanwhile, in a referendum held April 24, Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N.-backed plan to end the 30-year-long partition of their island and usher a united Cyprus into the EU. Since only the Republic of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot-controlled south, entered the bloc Saturday, the EU has embraced the problem of the small Mediterranean island split between Greece and Turkey.Today, the international community is burdened with many urgent tasks, including the reconstruction of war-torn Iraq. The latest enlargement has made the responsibility of the EU, already a major player in the international community, even heavier.The new and expanded EU is expected to eradicate instability within its borders and to make an even greater contribution to the resolution of various international problems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	574	2004-05-02	YOSHIN0020040502e052000d6
YOMSHI0020040502e05300009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040502e05300009	EN	\N	Put constitutional change on political timetable	Especially noteworthy in this debate are the major changes in public opinion in recent years concerning the merits of revising the supreme law.	4	2004-05-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A national survey by The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted in March on constitutional reform found 65 percent of respondents favored revising the Constitution.Up until 1991, shortly after the end of the Cold War, opinion polls had always found those against revising the Constitution outnumbered those in favor by a large majority.The situation, however, was reversed in 1993, and the proportion of respondents in favor of constitutional change has exceeded those against in every survey conducted since 1998. The recent figure of 65 percent in favor of revising the Constitution is an all-time high.During the Cold War period in which the domestic political arena was a battle between conservative and leftist forces, it was considered taboo to even mention possible revisions to the Constitution, mainly due to the strong influence of leftist and other forces who believed the top law should be considered sacrosanct and never changed.This kind of thinking about the Constitution has become a thing of the past.The disparities between the provisions of the current Constitution and the political and social realities have increased to an alarming extent.The dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel abroad on international peace cooperation missions, for instance, was never imagined at the time of the Constitution's drafting.The government's interpretation of the Constitution as banning this country from exercising the right to collective self-defense has imposed major constraints on the the nation's security policy as well as on the use of the SDF for international peacekeeping operations.Given that the international environment concerning Japan's national security has been changing drastically, these constitutional constraints, if left unrectified, are bound to adversely affect the country's interests.Create permanent panelsRegarding basic human rights, major social changes have led to a wide range of new concepts of human rights, as shown by the emergence of such notions as the right to individual dignity, privacy and a clean environment.Social considerations of the rights and duties of people have been called into question in modern society, with fundamental definitions of such key concepts as justice being disputed. Many people have therefore expressed concern over the erosion of the nation's basic shared values.Under the circumstances, a broad spectrum of society now hold the view that the challenges facing the nation cannot be adequately addressed through changes in the interpretation and implementation of constitutional provisions.Apparently in view of the marked change in public opinion concerning the Constitution, the major political parties have started moves to revise the basic law.Particularly worthy of note is the fact that the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has stated that it does not consider constitutional reform a taboo issue, and it plans to release an interim report on its basic stance toward the matter ahead of the July House of Councillors election.Minshuto also has committed itself to devising a draft of a revised constitution by 2006. The party's stance shows the maturity of today's political opposition compared with the defunct Japan Socialist Party and the like.The Liberal Democratic Party, for its part, plans to finish studying major proposals for constitutional revisions in June, with a view to drafting its reforms by November 2005, when the party marks the 50th anniversary of its founding.New Komeito, too, is set to move for constitutional change, having committed to producing a list of its major proposed changes before the upper house election.In addition, the Diet study panels on the issue--the Research Council on the Constitution in each chamber of the Diet--are scheduled to release a final report early next year.The LDP has come out with a proposal that the Diet's study panels on the Constitution, after being disbanded with the issuance of the final report, be succeeded by the creation in each chamber of a permanent committee in charge of the preliminary screening of proposed revisions to the Constitution. The Yomiuri Shimbun strongly supports the LDP's proposal.To materialize the proposed creation of the permanent committee system in the Diet for revising the Constitution, the legislature should act as quickly as possible to revise the Diet Law for that purpose.In view of the changes in people's views on the Constitution and new currents emerging in the political arena, now is the right time to put the issue of constitutional reform on the nation's political agenda. In this summer's upper house election, all the political parties should present the public with their proposals concerning constitutional revisions to make the matter a key election issue.Yomiuri ideas to spark debateThe Yomiuri Shimbun has put forward a new set of proposals for revising the Constitution, following earlier proposals in 1994 and 2000, in the hope that at a time of major changes in the nation, the proposals will help provide the basis for discussion of the matter in the Diet and among the public.The key issues in the debate on constitutional revision are what ideals should be pursued by the state and society, and what kind of relations between individuals and society are desirable, as well as what shared values the nation should uphold.In the 1994 proposal, we called for the Preamble to the Constitution to be rewritten into a concise statement, and also for such terms as the nation's "long history and tradition" to be incorporated into it.Newly added in the 2004 proposal regarding the Preamble is the noting of the importance of a "spirit of individual self-discipline and mutual cooperation" and endeavors for realizing a "fair society," by way of clarifying further the ideals of state and society.The collapse of the family is said to be a key factor behind an increasing number of social problems.The Yomiuri proposal this time includes a "family clause" to reaffirm the importance of the family as the foundation of society.Among our proposed revisions to the Constitution in 1994 was a chapter on "international cooperation" that referred to the SDF's participation in activities of "relevant well-established and internationally recognized organizations."The latest proposal has broadened the scope of the nation's international cooperation by adding to the organizations referred to in the 1994 proposal the wording "and other internationally coordinated activities for the maintenance and restoration of international peace and security, as well as those for humanitarian assistance."As shown by the sending of SDF personnel to Iraq, the role played by the SDF in international peacekeeping is great indeed.Considering the failure of the United Nations in effectively functioning for the cause of peace at the time of the Iraq war, Japan's participation only in activities of "relevant well-established and internationally recognized organizations" cannot be considered sufficient.Chart the nation's idealsFollowing the turn of the century, Japan and the international community have been caught up in increasingly rapid changes. Given the historic transformations of the world, it is nearly impossible to make any reliable predictions of things only a few years ahead, let alone in the next decade and beyond.Given that a new world order after the collapse of the Cold War framework has yet to be forged, it is almost impossible to predict how things will unfold in the international community, including what will happen in Iraq.On the economic front, the nation's economy is yet to stage a full recovery. Nothing definite can be said about how the nation's social security system, including the pension schemes, will look in the future. In addition, social unrest is on the rise over such problems as deteriorating public order.The Constitution by nature is the basis of a nation's judicial system, embodying the ideals of a state and the desired form of society.Particularly in this era of great and unpredictable change, no time should be wasted in laying down a new Constitution to guide the state and the people.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1401	2004-05-03	YOSHIN0020040503e053000b0
YOMSHI0020040503e0540000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040503e0540000f	EN	\N	Law on organ transplants must be revised	The revision would allow for transplants using organs from brain-dead donors if the family members agree and if the potential donor has not specifically requested his organs not be used.	4	2004-05-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Groups representing patients waiting for organ transplants from brain-dead donors will submit petitions to the Diet to revise the law shortly.Under the present Organ Transplant Law, organ transplants from brain-dead donors are not allowed unless the deceased gave written consent while still alive. Because of these strict requirements, organ transplants from brain-dead donors are relatively rare in Japan.The law was supposed to be reviewed three years after its enactment in 1997. Six and a half years have already passed with no review.Rules must be relaxedThe latest revision is aimed at making it easier for people to get organ transplants by relaxing the requirements for such operations, thereby increasing the number of organs available.Naturally there is strong opposition to the proposed revision, which would drastically alter the requirements for such operations. As the issue relates to how people view life and death, it is very complex, and there are many sides to be discussed.In Western and some Asian countries, transplants using organs from brain-dead donors are permitted if family members agree and unless the donor has specifically refused. Now it is time for Japan to deepen its discussion on a possible revision of the law.The idea of using organs from brain-dead donors with just the consent of the donor's family was discussed when the current law was being written.But voices of caution prevailed and the draft proposal was changed to make it absolutely necessary for prior, written consent from a donor.As a result, only a few transplants using organs from brain-dead donors are carried out every year. Many desperate patients have given up on receiving a transplant here and have gone abroad to seek help.Kids especially at riskEven more devastating is that children with serious cardiac disease are entirely robbed of the opportunity to undergo the often life-saving operations. The present law prohibits those under 15 from becoming organ donors because the Civil Code does not allow such young people to write wills, making it impossible for the smaller organs necessary for young patients to be donated.How long must we endure the hypocrisy of strictly regulating organ transplants here while saying it is all right to undergo such operations abroad?Every Japanese patient who undergoes an organ transplant in a foreign country takes away the chance of someone in that country to receive an organ. This is something we must bear in mind.The limited number of transplants using organs from brain-dead donors here does not mean that there are only a few patients seeking such operations.In a public opinion poll, nearly half of the pollees said they would not mind offering their organs if they were brain-dead. We must have the wisdom and ingenuity to take advantage of this goodwill.One of the reasons behind the strict requirements placed on organ transplants is a deep-rooted distrust of the medical services among the people.Even if organ transplants from brain-dead donors are allowed with the consent of family members, we might need to keep in place the present system whereby a third party makes the diagnosis of brain death and decides whether it is appropriate to use the organs for transplantation.In light of the fact that there are many whose lives can be saved only with organ transplants, constructive discussion of this issue is sorely needed in the days ahead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	653	2004-05-04	YOSHIN0020040504e054000c1
YOMSHI0020040504e0550000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040504e0550000g	EN	\N	On Children's Day, redefining Dad's role	I look like you, don't I?	4	2004-05-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Am I going to become more like you?I want to lose my hair, just like you.This poem, composed by a 6-year-old primary school boy, was published in the lifestyles pages of The Yomiuri Shimbun. The poem was praised as an expression of the feelings of a child who respected and trusted his father as a man who taught him the lessons of life. It also was used as the lyrics of a chorus.Fathers have very important roles to play in raising their children, but few in this country bother to play an active part in their children's lives.According to a survey taken by the former Management and Coordination Agency in 1996, fathers with children under 6 years of age spent an average of only 17 minutes per day with their children. This figure is far lower than that of their counterparts in the United States, Britain and other nations.Fathers must teach valuesWhile it is true that there is a growing tendency among fathers in the younger generation to place more importance on spending time with their children, there is some question as to what they actually do when they are together. According to an international survey, Japan is ranked lowest in the percentage of children who have ever been taught life lessons by their fathers. For example, few Japanese children have been told by their fathers not to bully others.In raising children, the most important thing is to ensure that they experience a sense of togetherness with their mothers. This must be complemented by efforts to teach them how to tell right from wrong.It is generally believed that teaching children social mores should be on the list of tasks undertaken by fathers, who must pass their values on to their children. Without such guidance, few children can begin to search for their own identities or recognize the importance of adhering to social mores."Almost everyone belongs to the second generation." This proverb illustrates the great influence exerted on children by their parents. We believe that fathers should play a more active role in child rearing.Hard time to be a fatherBut it is difficult for any man to be a perfect father in this day and age. Some fathers feel they do not belong in their own homes. It is also disturbing to see that there is a growing erosion of socially accepted values.Keeping all this in mind, we do not think fathers should become stressed while trying to decide how they should raise their children. They should just begin the task at home.A kindergarten in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, soon will begin an annual program that will require parents to take care of five or six children from other families in their homes.Fathers have an important role to assume in this program. In the past, one father took children to the fire station he worked for and gave them a ride on a fire engine. Another father took children to a Self-Defense Forces facility, where they were given a chance to ride in a helicopter. Some fathers encouraged children to use their imaginations in playing sports and other activities for fun. The kindergarten program gives fathers the opportunity to think about what they want their children to know about them.If they want their children to say, "I look like you, don't I?" fathers should think about what they can do to bring that about. Children's Day also is an important day for adults.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2004-05-05	YOSHIN0020040506e055000b0
YOMSHI0020040506e0570000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040506e0570000j	EN	\N	Hiding vehicle defect proves deadly mistake	A former vice president, a former managing director and other former executives of MMC were arrested Thursday in relation to a January 2002 accident in Yokohama in which a female pedestrian was killed and her two sons were injured by a wheel that came off of a truck made by MMC.	4	2004-05-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The executives are said to have been aware of structural flaws in the hubs that connect wheel and axle but allegedly filed a false report with the Construction and Transport Ministry claiming the hubs failed due to poor maintenance. They are suspected of violating the Road Trucking Vehicles Law.The former vice president of MMC was in charge of developing large vehicles and became chairman of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. when the company was spun off from MMC in January last year.Investigative authorities expect to get a clearer picture of how the former vice president and the other former executives conspired to compile the false report.In 10 years prior to the fatal accident in Yokohama, 33 accidents occurred in which Mitsubishi trucks and buses lost wheels as a result of hub damage. An internal investigation by the company as part of a voluntary recall shortly after the Yokohama accident sampled properly-maintained large vehicles made by the company and found cracks in 30 percent of their hubs.Maintenance blamedHowever, when the Construction and Transport Ministry demanded a report or searched the company, MMC repeatedly claimed hub failures could be prevented by proper vehicle maintenance.The automaker should have thoroughly studied the cause of wheel detachment at an early stage, asked the ministry for an official recall of its vehicles and taken other appropriate measures. If MMC had done so, the tragic accident in Yokohama could have been avoided and the company's former executives would not have been charged with criminal offenses.In past wheel-detachment accidents, MMC always foisted the blame on car maintenance companies and others that checked vehicles involved in the accidents.The automaker apparently carefully considered its deepening relationship with DaimlerChrysler AG or may have been afraid its corporate image would be tarnished if the false report was revealed. Whatever the motive, the company's management failed to be honest with its customers.In 2000, police investigated MMC in connection with a recall cover-up. Although the government stiffened the penalty for automakers filing false reports following the scandal, the same folly seems to have been repeated.Make safety first priorityFinancially troubled MMC is currently speeding up its efforts to draw up a rehabilitation plan and Mitsubishi Fuso, for its part, said it would strive to regain lost consumers' confidence by drastically restructuring its quality control section. It will be difficult for MMC to change unless it can make customers its top priority and demonstrate it is fully conscious of the importance of safety.However, the ministry also should be held partially responsible for the latest incident.The ministry merely called on truck and bus operators to ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles as suggested by MMC. The ministry conducted a formal inspection of the company that was virtually meaningless. Was there any way for the ministry to carry out a proper inspection at an early stage and press the automaker to recall defective vehicles?A defective vehicle can be deadly for the driver, other motorists and pedestrians--a fact automakers and the ministry must acknowledge.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2004-05-07	YOSHIN0020040507e057000jc
YOMSHI0020040507e0580000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040507e0580000h	EN	\N	Pension system reform required ASAP	Fukuda said he would take responsibility for "having increased public distrust in politics" after he and several other Cabinet members were found to have failed to fully pay premiums for the national basic pension plan. He said he took the matter seriously "as the Cabinet spokesman and the chief of the Cabinet Secretariat responsible for compiling pension reform bills."	4	2004-05-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a way to acknowledge his responsibility as a politician, he made the right decision.Fukuda won the trust of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and played a central role in the Koizumi Cabinet as a policy coordinator on domestic, foreign and security issues. His resignation will have a significant impact on the Koizumi administration.Besides Fukuda and six other Cabinet members, a number of lawmakers in the ruling and opposition camps were found to have failed to pay pension premiums for varying periods, including Minshuto leader Naoto Kan and former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata. Members of the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party also are suspected of having failed to pay the premiums.In each case, however, the lawmakers' delinquency seems to have been the result of carelessness--they overlooked their nonpayment of the premiums. That is not the same as refusing to pay premiums for the pension plan, something many people have done. The real problem is that the pension system has not worked properly, with the result that nearly 40 percent of those supposed to pay premiums for the basic pension plan have intentionally neglected to do so.No room for politickingThe three parties agreed to consider a drastic review of the nation's public pension system, with an eye on the possible introduction of a unified system, because they acknowledged the need for an overhaul of the system.Many Minshuto members still strongly oppose the three-party agreement, which finally was reached with the LDP and New Komeito, calling it an "easy compromise."Their opposition might be due to the fact that a House of Councillors election is slated for July, but they should not resort to tactics that will produce a fruitless stalemate between the ruling and opposition parties.If Minshuto lawmakers content themselves with playing political games and pointing fingers and fail to hold in-depth discussions on pension system reform, which is the real issue, they will deserve to be criticized for having put the cart before the horse.In revising the pension system, the ruling and opposition parties must try to transcend partisan interests and reach a consensus. Establishment of a consultative body by the ruling and opposition parties, which was incorporated into the three-party agreement, is highly significant in this respect.The ruling and opposition parties should view that agreement as the first step toward fundamental reform of the pension system. They should work together and start discussing details of the agreement as soon as possible.Consumption tax hike neededThe coalition plan to raise pension premiums every year up to a certain ceiling is a mere stopgap fiscal measure based on the current system and can hardly be called a drastic reform.An increase in the consumption tax rate is essential to secure a stable financial source for the pension system. Unification of pension schemes requires the creation of a system to measure the income of self-employed individuals accurately.Currently, tax is collected by the National Tax Administration Agency, and pension premiums are collected by the Social Insurance Agency. This inefficient collection system should be reviewed soon.The pension system is beset with a mountain of problems. The three parties agreed to reach a conclusion in three years' time on whether to unify the public pension schemes, but they should do so faster.It is the job of lawmakers to carry out a comprehensive reform of the public pension system quickly to end public distrust in the system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2004-05-08	YOSHIN0020040508e058000jx
YOMSHI0020040508e0590000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040508e0590000a	EN	\N	PIN-based system needed to protect people's deposits	The perpetrators steal a post office or bank passbook, forge the impression of the registered seal printed in it and withdraw savings or deposits.	4	2004-05-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Concerned financial institutions should do their utmost to prevent such crimes.According to a survey conducted by the Federation of Bankers Associations of Japan, a total of about 1,300 illicit withdrawals from banks in fiscal 2002 caused damages of more than 4.1 billion yen. In the same year, about 1,400 illicit withdrawals from post offices caused losses of more than 2.7 billion yen.The average amount of cash stolen in this way was between 2 million yen and 3 million yen. In many cases, the money was people's savings for old age or daily living expenses.The increase in the number of cases of the crime results from the lax procedures employed at banks and post offices for checking passbook holders' identity.Crime rings scan a seal imprint in a stolen passbook into a computer and use the image to forge a seal. An accomplice who looks about the same age as the passbook holder uses the counterfeit seal to withdraw money over the counter of a financial institution.Seal system easily abusedBanks and post offices have different ways of handling the resulting losses. Post offices return about 90 percent of the losses to the depositor, but few banks compensate victims of such crimes.The different ways of handling these crimes result from the different views banks and post offices have of their duty of care in checking the identity of those withdrawing money and different exemption clauses that come into force when depositors open accounts. Victimized holders of bank accounts can be forgiven for being perplexed over the treatment they receive from banks.The number of lawsuits in which plaintiffs sought reimbursement of lost deposits from banks has topped 200 in the past two years. Some court rulings found that banks were at fault and ordered them to return losses incurred.The Financial Services Agency in autumn asked each association of financial institutions to improve their business procedures so that depositors' identity could be confirmed, thereby preventing illicit withdrawals.Financial institutions should abandon their dependence on seals as a method of confirming customers' identity and adopt more rigorous identification methods.The main measure taken by banks to prevent illicit withdrawals is the abolition of the stamping column in passbooks.Sixty percent of banks have already taken this measure by introducing a depositor-verification system using seal imprints registered on their computer systems. Post offices, meanwhile, have started putting anticounterfeit covers over the seals in the stamping column of their customers' passbooks.But these measures have only been applied to passbooks newly issued or renewed or when a depositor asks for his or her passbook to be protected. Financial institutions should make efforts to promote such measures and put them into general use.Stricter ID checking inevitableWhat would be more effective is an identification system using depositors' personal identification number (PIN).Such major commercial banks as Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Mizuho Bank and Resona Bank have started asking customers to input their PIN when making large-scale withdrawals. UFJ Bank, meanwhile, has introduced savings accounts whose holders must input their PIN to withdraw cash.After studying the pros and cons of such systems, other banks and post offices should follow suit.To prevent money from being diverted to fund terror, a law concerning the identification of depositors at financial institutions was put into force in January last year.Under the law, a financial institution is required to confirm the identity of clients making transactions exceeding 2 million yen by checking such publicly issued certificates as the driver's license. But such a system is useless if these documents are forged.Although rigorous identification procedures may inconvenience depositors, they should be considered inevitable. We hope people's precious bank deposits and postal savings can be protected with a change in mind-set on the part of financial institutions and the cooperation of depositors.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	717	2004-05-09	YOSHIN0020040509e059000ih
YOMSHI0020040509e05a0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040509e05a0000b	EN	\N	Providers should pay part of initial portability costs	The major focal point for the scheme is how the financial burden of the initial costs, estimated at about 100 billion yen, will be split between service providers and phone users taking advantage of the system. A fee structure is needed that does not penalize those who do not use the system.	4	2004-05-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Cell phone service providers are in fierce competition with one another, offering such services as ring-tone melodies and the transmission and reception of images. Meanwhile, changes in market share among service providers are coming rapidly.Under the present system, however, those who switch providers must get new phone numbers and can no longer use their old ones. The extra effort required to notify acquaintances of a new number is having a negative effect on market competition among service providers.System increases competitionIn a bid to promote market competition, more and more countries in Europe and Asia have introduced the number portability system over the past five years. The United States, which had lagged behind in this regard due to opposition from phone service providers, introduced the portability system last year, leading to fierce competition that saw sharp cuts in rates.According to a survey taken last autumn by the ministry, 32 percent of cell phone subscribers were in favor of the number portability system, while 25 percent were against it, with the remaining 43 percent of pollees saying it depended on how much it would cost to use the portability service.These results show that many cell phone subscribers are willing to use the portability system if the service is available for a reasonable fee. It should be adopted in Japan soon.Fees must be kept lowDevelopment costs for the facilities and software needed to implement the new system are estimated at between 91.5 billion yen and 140.4 billion yen, assuming 10 percent of the nation's cell phone users took advantage of it, while the operational costs are estimated at between 700 million yen to 1.3 billion yen a year.The operational costs can be covered by the commission fees to be collected when the cell phone subscribers actually use the portability system. But unless service providers bear most of the development cost, commission fees are likely to be quite high.The phone service providers are eying postponing planned cuts in basic charges to subscribers so that they can cover the development costs.The ministry reportedly approves this plan, saying those who use the system will benefit directly, while those who do not use it will benefit indirectly because they communicate with those who do use the system.But the benefits for those who do not directly use the system are smaller.It is unreasonable for the service providers to use basic charges to foot the bills for the entire cost of development. They should bear a portion of the costs themselves, thereby winning over those who will not use the system directly.All cell phone service providers spend hefty sums on sales promotions to bring in new subscribers. They also need to try to provide better service to regular customers who have subscribed to the same provider for a long time, by, for instance, offering discounts for long-term contracts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2004-05-10	YOSHIN0020040510e05a000e4
YOMSHI0020040510e05b0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040510e05b0000j	EN	\N	Kan had to go so that reform could proceed	On Monday, Kan announced that he was resigning to take responsibility for the confusion arising from the revelation that he had failed to pay mandatory national pension premiums for a period of time. Later the same day, Minshuto members decided that all problems related to the recent accord reached between the opposition party's top echelon and leaders from the two ruling parties over pension reforms should be left entirely in the hands of the Minshuto leadership.	4	2004-05-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Kan's decision to step down was meant to end Minshuto's internal turmoil while making sure that a consensus would be reached among party members to approve the three-party accord, the latest version of which included a plan to integrate several government-run pension programs into a unified system.Kan may doubt that his failure to pay pension premiums required that he atone by resigning as Minshuto leader. But we would like to think that his decision means that he is gravely sorry about his contribution to public distrust in politicians and the pension system.Kan fulfilled obligationKan has fulfilled his obligation as signatory to the three-party accord as his resignation prevented the agreement from becoming just a scrap of paper.The fracas over nonpayment originally arose from a revelation by three Cabinet members that they had failed to pay national pension premiums in the past. Kan blasted them as the "three brothers" who had abused the system.Kan's actions should be dismissed as a misguided attempt to use the revelations as a tool to cause political strife. He should instead have used them as an excellent opportunity to shed light on the problems inherent in the current pension plan.The initial revelations were eventually followed by the bombshell that Kan himself had failed to pay premiums while serving as health and welfare minister in 1996. Yasuo Fukuda, also proven to have failed to pay pension premiums in the past, stepped down as chief cabinet secretary to take responsibility for his mistake. Fukuda's action was a blow to Kan since it was a step he should have taken first. All this served to single Kan out for criticism.Resignation helped partyOther Minshuto members had ulterior motives when they discussed the turmoil caused by Kan's mistake. They were apparently trying to use the situation to improve their chances in their bid to win the House of Councillors election in July.Kan's decision to resign therefore also reflected the growing sentiment among Minshuto members that their party would be unable to win in the upper house election if he remained party leader.Prior to Kan's resignation, many Minshuto members--particularly those who had previously belonged to Jiyuto (Liberal Party)--were vocal in their opposition to the three-party agreement, calling it an "excessive concession to the government and the ruling parties." They seemed to believe that Minshuto would be more effective in beating the ruling parties in the July election by adopting a confrontational attitude toward the opposing camp--which meant scrapping the three-party accord.Minshuto should know better than to use the pension dispute as a political football. It is an issue that could affect the nation for the next century, and should be debated with the seriousness such an issue deserves. The ruling and opposition parties should not let the current dispute simmer into a source of antagonism that might frustrate efforts to reform the pension system.Current reform bills too weakIt is necessary to establish a panel of lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties with the aim of making progress in discussions on reform of the system. The set of bills on pension reforms devised by the government is not remotely drastic enough. The government should waste no time debating a proposal to increase the consumption tax rate to raise the funds needed for the reform.Had Kan been unable to obtain the approval of Minshuto members of the three-party accord, the opposition party would have lost its right to promote drastic pension reforms, including the plan to transform separate state-run pension plans into a single system. That would have dealt a fatal blow to the public's trust in Minshuto as a political party.If Kan's successor had not adhered to the agreement reached among the three parties, questions would have been raised as to Minshuto's ability to function as a mature, responsible party. Minshuto's new leader must continue to work to ensure that his party's leadership translates the three-party accord into action.The dispute over the failure of lawmakers to pay pension premiums is an issue that should be settled properly--but not as a key issue in pension reform. We hope Minshuto will discuss pension reforms with the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito--and perhaps even take the initiative in such reform efforts.Doing so will help restore public trust in the troubled pension system and in political parties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	890	2004-05-11	YOSHIN0020040511e05b000ju
YOMSHI0020040511e05c0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040511e05c0000j	EN	\N	Now it's time to really reform pension system	On Tuesday, a plenary session of the House of Representatives adopted a set of government-sponsored bills on pension reform and a bill drawn up to partially revise the legislative package. The bills were endorsed by a majority of lower house members, largely those belonging to the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito. The package has been sent to the House of Councillors for further discussion.	4	2004-05-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the passage of the bills in the lower house does not mean that the pension reform legislation has received the public's support and trust.Earlier, the ruling parties and the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), reached an agreement to review the social security system as a whole, a far-reaching plan that included a proposal to transform various government-run pension programs into a unified system. An important task facing politicians and political parties is to establish a sustainable pension plan that will eliminate the anxiety felt by the public about the current system.An exploratory panel comprising legislators from both the ruling and opposition parties will be commissioned to discuss how to drastically reform the state-run pension system. But we would like to see the parties begin discussions on such a reform in upper house sessions before the panel is set up.All lawmakers should disclose the records of their mandatory national pension premium payments. They must understand that any failures to pay premiums in the past must be made public and apologized for. But these mistakes must not be allowed to hamper discussions on how to reform the system.Antagonism delays progressSome Minshuto members are planning to step up their attacks on the ruling parties, hoping to win the upper house election in July. The turmoil arising from the revelation that former Minshuto leader Naoto Kan failed to pay his premiums in the past was a hindrance to their attempts to blast the ruling parties. But Kan's resignation has cleared away that hurdle. Now these Minshuto members apparently want to renew their criticism of several Cabinet members who have acknowledged their failures to pay premiums in the past.Renewed antagonism between the ruling and opposition camps, however, would only serve to delay progress in reform efforts. This is definitely something the public does not want to see happen.Any reform plans will inevitably entail a reduction in benefits to be paid to subscribers to the pension system and an increase in the financial burden to be shouldered. This is unavoidable as the nation's birthrate is declining sharply, while its population is rapidly graying. Japan has the dubious honor of leading other countries in these figures.But questions should be raised about the pension reform bills, which call for a gradual increase in the ratio of premiums to be paid by subscribers into the corporate employees' pension plan. The bills would require the ratio of premiums--which would be halved between corporate employees and employers--to be raised from 13.58 percent to 18.3 percent. This legislation has aroused concerns about whether corporations and their employees would be able to handle such a burden.The reform bills also promise to pay pension recipients benefits in excess of 50 percent of the take-home pay of current corporate employees. The problem is that these figures are based on an overly optimistic projection of the birthrate in the future. At some point, the government will find it necessary to revise the figures again.Meaningless gamesAll in all, the government's reform plan is just a meaningless mathematical game--one the ruling parties insist will be able to serve the people "for a century." This only adds to the public's distrust of the plan.We propose that the ruling parties honestly acknowledge that the reform bills were devised as a make-shift plan to balance the troubled finances of the pension system.Another urgent task facing the government is correcting the flaws--flaws highlighted by the revelation that many lawmakers failed to pay premiums in the past--not intentionally, but because they themselves could not understand the system. It must be fixed so that such mistakes will not occur.And all of this must be complemented by more efficient methods of collecting premiums from people who purposely do not pay. To accomplish this, the government should consider collecting taxes and premiums together.The national pension plan is designed to cover every member of the population. The fact remains, however, that members of the public are in effect allowed to join on a voluntary basis. Again, this hole in the system must be corrected if the government wants to regain public trust in it.The legislators' failure to pay premiums showed their ignorance of how the system works. Their lack of knowledge stems rom the fact that politicians have long left all pension-related reforms in the hands of the bureaucrats, meaning that all reform attempts were rendered into mere cosmetic patches.It is now time for politicians and political parties to take the reins in reforming the pension system. We hope that the ruling and opposition parties will join hands and debate drastic reform plans, including one aimed at increasing the consumption tax rate. Raising the consumption tax is essential in securing a funds for the state-run pension plan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	926	2004-05-12	YOSHIN0020040512e05c000lc
YOMSHI0020040512e05d0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040512e05d0000i	EN	\N	Toyota's 1 tril. yen profit provides inspiration	Doubtless the figure was more the fruit of Toyota's global business strategy of meticulously tailoring its models to satisfy the various needs of customers around the world, coupled with its famed kaizen cost-cutting efforts.	4	2004-05-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The stellar record of more than 1 trillion yen in net profit is an achievement that will encourage Japanese businesses that had their confidence shaken by the burst of the economic bubble. We hope other companies will follow suit.Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. also reported record net profits for the year ended March 31.Major electric appliance manufacturers and 10 telecommunication companies turned profits, too. Sharp Corp. rode brisk sales of liquid crystal display televisions to record net profits in fiscal 2003.Average profits up 30%According to consolidated earnings reports issued prior to Tuesday compiled by Shinko Research Institute, 277 companies (not including banks) listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's First Section saw an average 2.4-percent increase in their sales and an average 30.5-percent gain in current profits for the year ended March 31.It is believed certain that their current profits will set a new record by surpassing those for the year ending March 31, 2000.The strong performance of major companies has been achieved because of increases in exports to the United States and China, as well as recovering sales in the domestic market as several years of restructuring efforts finally began to show results.The impressive performance of electric appliance companies has been driven by strong domestic demand for flat-screen television sets, DVD players and recorders, digital cameras and others home electronics.Price hikes for industrial materials in the international market resulting from a burst of demand from China, have led to increased sales of steel, chemicals and other basic products of industrial firms.Among such companies, the profit-earning capacity of Toyota is outstanding.The net profit of Sony Corp. is 88.5 billion yen, the largest among the big 10 electric appliances makers, but it is less than 10 percent of Toyota's.Auto industry key for JapanIn cooperation with its parts makers, Toyota has brought one new model after another to the market, models which cannot easily be copied by other manufacturers. The auto industry is a field where Japanese companies can maximize their potential merits. However, a way must be found for other industries to improve profit-earning capacity.In fiscal 2002, exports by Toyota alone accounted for 10.5 percent of all the nation's exports. Toyota's contribution to overall corporate tax revenue was probably near the same level.It is not healthy for a national economy to depend too much on one industry or one company. Recovery of the nation's other industries is much anticipated.However, factors that could damage corporate performance are creeping up on industrial firms, including higher prices for oil and basic materials, increasingly intense end-product price competition and moves in the United States and China to tighten money markets.How much can the finances of the banking industry, small and medium-sized companies and families be improved while the strong performance of large companies continues?The race against time has already started.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2004-05-13	YOSHIN0020040513e05d000n0
YOMSHI0020040513e05e0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040513e05e0000f	EN	\N	Stop pointing fingers and start fixing system	Three top New Komeito party executives, including leader Takenori Kanzaki, were found Wednesday to have failed at one time or another to make payments into the national pension program. Taking advantage of the findings, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) began intensifying its attack on the ruling parties with an eye to the House of Councillors election slated for July.	4	2004-05-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Minshuto announced that 33 of its lawmakers had failed to pay national pension premiums for varying periods of time. Minshuto used the announcement to underscore the difference between itself and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which was not willing to reveal which of its members failed to pay pension premiums.Five Minshuto chairmen of House of Representatives and House of Councillors committees resigned from their Diet posts to take responsibility for failing to pay pension premiums. Their resignations are said to be a strategic move to put pressure on the LDP and New Komeito to push their members who did not pay pension premiums to resign from important political posts. Minshuto reportedly will urge Cabinet members who failed to pay pension premiums to resign from the Cabinet.If Ichiro Ozawa, acting president of Minshuto, becomes leader of the party, Minshuto will become more hostile to the ruling parties and political confrontations will be aggravated because Ozawa strongly opposes the three-party agreement on public pension reform.Meaningful debate derailedRuling and opposition parties had been expected to hold serious discussions on the pension reform in the current Diet session to ease public skepticism of the pension system. Nevertheless, the scandal-mongering and recriminations over missed pension premium payments has obscured deliberations on the pension reform, which is supposed to be the real agenda.Unless the current situation is dealt with, deliberations in the upper house will be replaced by needless confrontations between the ruling and opposition parties and by bashing of lawmakers who failed to pay pension premiums.The government said its revision bills will stabilize the pension system for the next century. Though they can stabilize the pension system's finances for a short while, the bills are far from a drastic reform and leave a mountain of problems for discussion.To settle the nonpayment issue and start work on the real agenda, all lawmakers should reveal their pension premium payment records. The ruling and opposition parties have to clearly show the public they are determined to prevent recurrence of nonpayment and fundamentally reform the public pension system.The LDP said it is leaving the matter up to each party member. However, a Yomiuri Shimbun survey shows that more than 60 LDP lawmakers in upper and lower houses have admitted failing to pay pension premiums.LDP should reveal recordsGiven the circumstances, it would be wiser for the LDP to release the premium payment records of its members if it wishes to avoid public suspicion.The failure to pay pension premiums originally was discovered among ministers of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet and spread to the main opposition Minshuto, the Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party, and now has come back to hit the ruling parties, this time the LDP's coalition partner New Komeito.The series of nonpayment cases involving lawmakers that have come to light is aggravating public distrust of politics.However, in most cases, Diet members simply failed to fully understand the pension system and the period of nonpayment was temporary. The root of the problem lies in the complexity of the national pension system under which even former health, labor and welfare ministers and Diet members who represent the interests of the ministry and related businesses--who should know the system well--ended up failing to pay their premiums.While making the national pension scheme mandatory, the Social Insurance Agency did almost nothing to prevent nonpayment and subscription failure. The agency should be scrutinized strictly for its lax premium collection system.Although one can blame politicians for making careless mistakes, "nonpayment bashing" that portrays such errors as intentional nonpayment could lead to misjudgment of the nature of the problem and further deepen public distrust of politics and the pension system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	726	2004-05-14	YOSHIN0020040514e05e000mf
YOMSHI0020040515e05g0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040515e05g0000b	EN	\N	Focus on real problems facing pension system	We must point out that this whole premium nonpayment issue as it concerns Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is a tempest in a teapot, and the hysterical finger-pointing is only distracting us from the real problems related to pensions that we should be discussing.	4	2004-05-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In order to attack Koizumi on the issue of his "nonenrollment" in the pension system, his critics are following the trail back to his student days. The major controversy has focused on a three-month period when he was still in cram school, preparing to take his university entrance exam.It became compulsory for all students aged 20 or older to join the national pension program in 1991. In 1962, when Koizumi was studying for his exams, enrollment in the national pension program was still optional for students attending universities or two-year junior colleges, although it was mandatory for students aged 20 or older attending other schools, including cram schools.At that time, however, the reality was that almost no students studying in cram schools were enrolled in the system. In addition, the national pension program was still in its infancy. It is ridiculous to find fault in this case.Pattern of nonpayment variesThere are, however, several patterns of nonpayment regarding the national pension program.Again, there is no reason to accuse Diet members who did not pay into the system before 1986, which is the year it became mandatory for them to do so, of wrong-doing.Opposition parties, including Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), have set the years from 1986 and after as the time period for which they will disclose payments made into the national pension program, and even then, only for the times when they were Diet members.It is unreasonable to only criticize Koizumi for not paying premiums when he was not required to do so.Other patterns involve careless mistakes made after paying into the pension program became mandatory.Some lawmakers have failed to pay premiums because they did not understand the system, or because of simple procedural mistakes, generally when they changed professions or when they became cabinet members. Mistakes like these should not throw a lawmaker's entire political credibility into question.Two cases in point are those of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, who has resigned his position, and Minshuto leader Naoto Kan, who will step down soon, both because of the furor over pension premium payments.Kan used issue unwiselySmall problems were amplified when Kan, swayed only by party interests, turned the controversy into a political football.As a result, the nonpayment issue amplified the distrust already felt by members of the public toward the pension system, especially among those with little knowledge of how the system was created and those who were unable to understand the fairly complex programs.The core of the problem concerning nonpayment lies in the inconsistencies in the national pension system, and in the fact that nearly 40 percent of those who are covered by the system, particularly in the case of younger people, deliberately avoid paying into the system.The government-sponsored bill concerning revision of the public pension system, which is under deliberation in the Diet, might shore up the finances of the system for some time. But it fails to address the fundamental issues, including the complicated and incomprehensible nature of the present system.Immediately after the government-sponsored bill is passed into law, lawmakers, in accordance with the three-party agreement reached by the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto on the public pension reforms, should start tackling really drastic reforms through suprapartisan efforts.Lawmakers should not spend any more time on political maneuvering for partisan interests, but should get to the root of the matter.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2004-05-16	YOSHIN0020040516e05g000d4
YOMSHI0020040516e05h0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040516e05h0000c	EN	\N	Japan must help G-8 reach consensus on Iraq	The main focus of the three-day summit talks will be on what should be done to bring postwar Iraq onto the road to reconstruction and democratization. With this in mind, the latest gathering of G-8 foreign ministers in Washington was supposed to offer a hint on what would evolve from such international efforts.	4	2004-05-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he is ready to act as an intermediary between the United States, Britain, France and Russia during the summit meeting, which will open June 8. "I want to help the summit create an environment in which France and Russia will find it easy to join the reconstruction of Iraq," he said. The prime minister's remark is an indication of his desire to help close the schism created after France and Russia opposed the U.S.- and British-led war and occupation of Iraq.Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi may have held the same sentiments when she attended the Washington meeting.But it is difficult to say that Kawaguchi did a good job acting as a mediator in that meeting.There are only about three weeks left until the G-8 summit talks on Sea Island.The government should step up diplomatic efforts to maintain the Japan-U.S. alliance--the linchpin of this country's foreign policy--while also promoting close ties with other nations.Framework is vitalEfforts to rebuild a framework for Japan's involvement in international cooperative activities are crucial, especially since the nation sent Self-Defense Forces personnel to help with Iraq's postwar rehabilitation. Such a framework will be essential to Japanese efforts to help restore peace and order in Iraq and expedite its rehabilitation.The meeting of G-8 foreign ministers failed to achieve a consensus among the nations over how to transfer sovereignty from the Coalition Provisional Authority to a planned interim Iraqi government at the end of June. The foreign ministers also decided not to adopt a chairman's summary at the close of the meeting.But the G-8 conference did serve to clarify the issues that need to be debated in resolving conflicting opinions about the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis. All G-8 foreign ministers agreed that the United Nations should play a greater role in the process, and that the U.N. Security Council should adopt another resolution concerning Iraq's reconstruction.Japan has role as mediatorIf the United States and Britain remain at odds with France and Russia over the transfer of sovereignty, it could undermine efforts to issue a new Security Council resolution on Iraq. Antagonism could again flare up between the nations.If the Security Council fails to adopt a resolution that defines the U.N. role in Iraq's reconstruction and the powers of a provisional Iraqi government, it will be difficult to take up specific issues relating to Iraq's rehabilitation, including a reduction in that country's foreign debts and the formation of a multinational force, which would only hamper efforts to smoothly transfer sovereignty to the Iraqis and create greater turmoil there.Nobody wants to see the G-8 nations divided over Iraq and the Security Council unable to perform the necessary tasks. Despite their criticism of the United States and Britain over the Iraq war, France and Russia have no desire to see international efforts to rehabilitate and stabilize that country come to naught.Japan should work to mend the divisions among G-8 nations. To accomplish this, the government must do its best to help reach a consensus among the G-8 countries over the proposal to adopt another U.N. resolution as soon as possible.Iraq's stability--or lack of it--is bound to directly affect the national interests of Japan, which relies on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its oil imports. Japan is now facing a crucial test of its diplomatic abilities as regards efforts to aid Iraq's reconstruction.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	708	2004-05-17	YOSHIN0020040517e05h000eu
YOMSHI0020040517e05i0000m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040517e05i0000m	EN	\N	Kyoto Protocol pledge looking hard to keep	This estimate was contained in a report submitted to the Advisory Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, an advisory body to the economy, trade and industry minister that has put together a report on projections of long-term energy supply and demand.	4	2004-05-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming incorporates a Japanese pledge to ensure that CO2, alternative chlorofluorocarbons and other greenhouse gas emissions produced by this country will be reduced between fiscal 2008 and 2012 by an average of 6 percent from the 1990 levels.To achieve this goal, the government has set a target of zero growth in CO2 emissions in fiscal 2010 compared with the 1990 levels. The ministry's projection shows that it will be difficult for this nation to accomplish its CO2 reduction target.As circumstances stand today, there is no telling when the Kyoto Protocol will take effect, partly because of the delay in ratifying it by Russia and other countries.Environment a global problemIt should be noted, however, that the preservation of the global environment is a task to be tackled by every member of the international community. With this in mind, the government must strive to honor its CO2 reduction goal by upgrading its measures against global warming.The latest report on energy supply-and-demand projections through fiscal 2030 was made taking into account the nation's recent demographic, economic and social changes, as well as potential technological advancements. It revised projections made in a previous report, which said the country would see no growth in CO2 emissions in fiscal 2010.According to the latest report, Japan's energy demand will reach its peak in fiscal 2021, after which it will decline. CO2 emissions are predicted to begin decreasing in the late 2010s. The report attributes all this to a projected reduction in the nation's population and technological and other advancements in industry.But in fiscal 2010, the CO2 figure is projected to still be rising, meaning that it will exceed the 6 percent reduction promised by Japan under the Kyoto Protocol.The projections state that the amount of CO2 emissions from the civilian and transportation sectors will increase 20 percent from fiscal 1990 levels, canceling out the predicted 7 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from the industrial sector.Recent changes in nuclear power plant construction plans are also bound to adversely affect the campaign against global warming. Initially, the government said it expected electric power companies to build 10 to 13 new plants by the end of fiscal 2010. However, it later lowered that number to four.New laws may be neededThe government is set to review its overall anti-global warming measures. The difficulties facing the government in achieving its Kyoto Protocol pledge may give rise to calls for legally binding measures to help accomplish the target. These could include environment taxes to be imposed on corporations according to the amount of CO2 emissions they discharge, as well as a system in which an upper limit would be set on levels of CO2 emissions for each company.Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers--largely those elected from provincial areas--are already calling for the introduction of such an environmental tax. They have insisted that revenues from the tax could be used to create and better maintain forests in the nation as a means of ensuring that the forests absorb more CO2 emissions. Some critics of the tax, however, say lawmakers will use the revenues to inject more funds into mountain villages.The ministry has predicted that the amount of CO2 emissions will drop by more than 10 percent in fiscal 2030 from 1990 levels if new nuclear power plants can be built without any problems--if such construction is accompanied by progress in developing fuel cells and other new energy-saving technologies.The task facing the government for the time being, though, is to implement measures that encourage corporate offices and ordinary households to save energy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	721	2004-05-18	YOSHIN0020040518e05i000k0
YOMSHI0020040518e05j0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040518e05j0000h	EN	\N	Okada must stick to 3-party agreement	The current political turmoil erupted after former Minshuto President Naoto Kan politicized the revelation that three of the ministers in Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet had not paid national pension premiums at one time or another.	4	2004-05-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The brouhaha has aggravated public distrust in lawmakers and the national pension system, and Minshuto itself seems to have lost the confidence of voters.The greatest task facing the new Minshuto president is recovering public trust in the party before the House of Councillors election slated for this summer.In the run-up to the election, Minshuto primarily will be judged on its actions in relation to the pension reform issue.The party must reflect on events of the past few weeks and try to put Diet discussions on pension system reform, which were derailed by the nonpayment and nonregistration issues, back on the right track.Start over from agreementDiet deliberations should begin again, starting from the agreement reached among the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto in their attempt to realize drastic revisions to the pension system, including a unification of separate plans.Okada, then secretary general of the party, worked with representatives of the other parties on concluding the three-party agreement. That makes him responsible for setting a course for deliberations in the Diet toward realization of the drastic reforms.Ichiro Ozawa, former acting president of Minshuto, said he would not run for party president because he had failed to join the national pension scheme at a time when it was voluntary. Ozawa said he had made a decision to try to force Koizumi, who also failed to pay pension premiums, to resign as well. Koizumi did not pay premiums for 11 months before he became a lawmaker, and opted out of joining the system for six years after becoming a lawmaker at a time when it was not mandatory to do so.Many members of Minshuto have demanded that the prime minister resign.It became mandatory for lawmakers to join the pension system in 1986. The period when Ozawa and Koizumi opted not to join was before that date. The two cannot be accused of wrongdoing on this basis.Tadayoshi Ichida, secretary general of the Japanese Communist Party, said, "We won't question the responsibility of Diet members to pay national pension dues before they became lawmakers or when it wasn't obligatory for lawmakers."He added that the JCP would not question the responsibility of the prime minister in the nonpayment issue, either. The party's decision is the correct one.But Okada said he would appoint as executives of Minshuto only those who paid their premiums and joined the national pension scheme even before 1986.Okada missing the pointOkada was apparently trying to right the party's political posture with this announcement, but he missed the point.At a general meeting of Minshuto lawmakers, in which he was elected president, Okada stressed that he would try to have the pension reform bills scrapped.Of course, those bills are far from being a drastic reform. However, as drastic reforms are not possible right now, both the ruling and opposition parties should pass the bills on the table and then in short order begin discussions on fundamental reforms to the pension system.Together with the ruling parties, Minshuto successfully compiled a revision of the contingency bills, including one for protecting Japanese.National and social security matters are basic political issues related to long-term national strategy. The parties must not politicize them just because they are conscious of the upcoming election.Voters do not want to see lawmakers' pension premium payment records. They want to see a detailed reform plan to create a pension system that they can rely on for the foreseeable future without anxiety.Voters' distrust in lawmakers will only be further aggravated if the ruling and opposition parties keep slinging mud at each other over nonpayment and nonregistration issues ahead of the upcoming upper house election.Okada should exercise his leadership to put a stop to the serial resignations within the party and direct the members' attentions instead to deliberations on pension system reforms, which should be the real agenda.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	731	2004-05-19	YOSHIN0020040520e05j0002l
YOMSHI0020040519e05k0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040519e05k0000g	EN	\N	Flaw exposed in nation's antiterrorism measures	Police might not have been able to prevent a terrorist attack in Japan if Dumont had been determined to stage one.	4	2004-05-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The man repeatedly travelled to Malaysia and other countries, and reentered Japan on a bogus passport. He was also in frequent telephone contact with foreign residents in Japan and terrorists in European countries, police added.Dumont's name was on a list of individuals linked to Al-Qaida, whose assets have been frozen by the Japanese government as part of its antiterrorist measures.Japan was supposed to have strengthened its counterterrorism measures in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. However, Dumont was not only able to easily enter the country, but also to freely move around. The authorities must thoroughly investigate this failure and take steps to improve the nation's antiterrorism measures.Dumont is alleged to have attacked a cash transport vehicle in France in 1996, killing the driver. He was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of a Bosnian police officer. Dumont escaped from a Sarajevo prison in May 1999 and was apprehended by German authorities in December after he left Japan in September.Presence undetectedJapanese police were able to confirm that Dumont hid out in Japan, based on information from German authorities that interrogated him. Police here were previously unaware of his movements in Japan.Police must cooperate with German authorities to quickly find out why Dumont was in this country, what he did here and who helped him.Al-Qaida was allegedly involved in the March train bombings in Spain and the 2002 bombing in Bali, Indonesia. Terrorism has spread to various parts of the world, and has become indiscriminate and larger in scale.Terrorists have already threatened to attack Japan because of the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq.The best counterterrorism measure is to stop any and all terrorist activity at the earliest possible stage. It is vital to prevent terrorists from entering Japan and to ensure their activities are contained.Passport screening essentialSome countermeasures also have to be taken quickly to deal with bogus passports. The current immigration control system is said to make it difficult to detect high-quality forged passports.About 6 million people enter Japan every year. How can illegal entrants among them be detected and stopped?The U.S government announced last month that tourists from Japan and European nations that have visa exemption agreements with the United States, will be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter the country.A meeting of cabinet ministers from major countries including Japan was held last week in the United States. The participants there agreed to share information on stolen passports and to legislate against those supporting terrorists.Japan must not lag behind other countries in terms of such international cooperation. It is important for the government to gain the public's understanding and cooperation, and to keep strengthening antiterrorism measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	542	2004-05-20	YOSHIN0020040521e05k0001q
YOMSHI0020040520e05l0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040520e05l0000b	EN	\N	China, Taiwan must resume dialogue	In view of this, the content of Chen's inaugural speech for his second term Thursday drew much attention.	4	2004-05-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While indicating his intention to maintain the status quo in relations with China, Chen urged Chinese leaders to think of new way to build a relationship of mutual trust.The majority of people in Taiwan want a good relationship with China, while maintaining the current state of de facto independence. Chen's speech reiterated the sentiments of the people of Taiwan.The speech can also be interpreted as having considered the stance of the United States, which opposes any unilateral efforts to shift the status quo in relations between China and Taiwan.Calm relations across the Taiwan Strait are vital for the peace and stability of the region. We hope both China and Taiwan take Chen's renewed four-year term as an opportunity to move toward resuming dialogue and easing tension between them.The dialogue between China and Taiwan has been suspended for nearly five years since the days of former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui.'One China' vs. 'two nations'For China, acceptance of the "one China" principle is a precondition for a dialogue. Chen, who was considered pro-independence, did not accept this precondition in his inaugural address.For Chen, acceptance of the "one China" principle is not a precondition of dialogue, but a topic for discussion and an issue for possible future consideration. Nonetheless, Chen apparently tried to avoid irritating China and to soften his pro-independence tone.Although his pet theory of "one country on each side" of the Taiwan Strait defines Taiwan and China as separate countries, Chen did not directly refer to this in his speech.Chen indirectly reaffirmed his continued adherence to the "five noes" that he pledged in his inaugural address in 2000.The five noes include promises not to declare statehood or call for a referendum on independence so long as China does not use force against Taiwan. Apparently, these are intended to avoid giving Beijing any pretext for using force against the island.Unification not ruled outIn Thursday's speech, Chen also gave due consideration to China by not ruling out the possibility of reunification on the condition that Taiwan residents agree to it.Chen also announced that he would press ahead with plans to adopt a new constitution before finishing his term. The current Constitution was promulgated in 1946 when the Nationalist Party ruled mainland China. The new constitution would not be aimed at seeking independence but is intended to alter the supreme law to reflect the reality of Taiwan's current situation, according to Chen.China, which harbors growing distrust of Chen, is wary of moves to establish a new constitution it considers as a move toward independence. As a result, China's response to Chen's inaugural address may be a chilly one.However, if China takes a high-handed attitude toward Taiwan, islanders' sentiment toward Beijing will probably deteriorate. China is urged to take a cautious and flexible stance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2004-05-21	YOSHIN0020040521e05l000lw
YOMSHI0020040521e05m0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040521e05m0000g	EN	\N	Iron out problems in lay judge system	The legislation paves the way for the introduction by 2009 of the lay judge system, which will oblige members of the public to take part in the judicial process. The system is the main pillar of the first major judicial reforms in this country for half a century.	4	2004-05-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the new system, randomly selected voters will join with professional judges in deciding whether a defendant is guilty by majority and, in the event of a guilty verdict, determining the sentence to be handed down.The lay judge system will bring about a major revamp of the country's criminal justice system, which has long featured only judges, prosecutors and lawyers.The objective of the system is to reflect the common sense of a wide range of people in criminal trials. There are, however, many tasks to be tackled before the system is actually put in place.First, the extent of the burden imposed on people who are selected to serve as lay judges should be discussed. Lay judges will be obliged to ensure the confidentiality of information disclosed during court trials, and violators will be subject to punishment. Lengthy trials will inconvenience them. Discussions should be held on how to minimize the burden on lay judges to make it easier for members of the public to participate in the judicial process.Law has several flawsBut the law fails to clearly address these problems. Diet deliberations highlighted the significance of the new system, but there was little detailed discussion over how to ensure it functions properly.The law stipulates that it be reviewed three years after it takes effect.Also, on the bill's passage into law through the House of Councillors, a supplementary resolution was attached that said "the government and the Supreme Court shall handle appropriately any necessary review of the system, even before the law comes into force." This implies the need to review the law before its enforcement.It is unusual for legislators to refer, at the time of a bill's passage through the Diet, to the need to review the legislation before its enforcement. This is tantamount to admitting that the law as it stands is defective.The Supreme Court should closely examine pending issues before the law's stipulated enforcement within five years. The government also should amend the law after examining details of the envisaged lay judge system, if it deems this necessary.Who may be excused service?In particular, the grounds on which people may be excused lay judge service and the scope of what constitutes a leak of confidential information remain unclear.Under the law, people who have to look after their children or elderly relatives may be excused from serving as lay judges. Also, a government ordinance defining such grounds as "conscientious objection" for declining to serve will be drawn up later. Such an ordinance might make it easier for people to refuse to serve as lay judges.But this is an issue that relates to the "freedom of thought and creed" stipulated in the Constitution, so a law revision rather than an ordinance is required to define the scope of the dispensation.To lessen the burden involved in serving as a lay judge, cases in which such judges participate should be conducted as speedily as possible, with hearings scheduled within as short a period as possible. But a revision of the Criminal Procedure Law necessary to allow cases to be tried quickly is lacking.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 62 percent of pollees said they would prefer not to participate in hearings as lay judges when the system comes into being.The bill governing lay judges has become law, but the critical stage in realizing a "people-friendly judicial system" still lies ahead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	663	2004-05-22	YOSHIN0020040522e05m000jd
YOMSHI0020040522e05n0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040522e05n0000c	EN	\N	No real results from Koizumi's Pyongyang trip	Five children of repatriated Japanese abductees have been brought to Japan to be united with their parents, who returned home in 2002. Undoubtedly, this reunion provided great joy to both the former abductees and their children after 19 months of separation.	4	2004-05-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the husband and two daughters of Hitomi Soga, another former abductee, have chosen to stay in Pyongyang, leaving the Koizumi government with unfinished business. The government must continue to work to ensure that Soga's family also can come to Japan as soon as possible.During his summit meeting with Koizumi, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il provided the prime minister with no new information about the fate of 10 other abductees, including Megumi Yokota, who Pyongyang has said committed suicide. Instead, Kim said only that his country would conduct "another investigation" into the fate of the 10.It is also disturbing to note that Saturday's summit meeting did nothing to help resolve the issue of the many others also believed to have been kidnapped to the reclusive nation. Kim's attitude must be regarded as extremely insincere.N. Korea must atoneThe abductions of Japanese must be seen as crimes committed by North Korea, which infringed upon this country's sovereignty and the fundamental human rights of the Japanese victims. North Korea has an obligation to atone for its sins, and should have allowed all eight family members of the former abductees to come to Japan immediately and unconditionally. Serious questions should be raised about Koizumi's decision to visit Pyongyang with the aim of bringing the family members of the former abductees over to Japan.Koizumi and Kim agreed that a new probe into the 10 people, who North Korea has said died or never entered the country, would be conducted jointly by North Korea and Japan. However, it is useless to expect the reclusive nation to produce a reliable report on those Japanese if the probe is conducted under a North Korean initiative. The government should take strong action to resolve the whole dispute over the 10 people, including a direct investigation into their fate.Koizumi and Kim also reiterated the importance of the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, which they signed in September 2000, as "the basis of Japan-North Korea relations," while also agreeing to resume diplomatic normalization talks between the two states. The prime minister also urged Kim to scrap its nuclear program in its entirety, and gained assurances from him concerning North Korea's continuing moratorium on test-launching missiles. All this reflected Koizumi's desire to seek a comprehensive solution to the abduction, nuclear and missile problems.The prime minister may believe that Saturday's summit meeting accomplished at least part of his goal.No headway madeBut the latest meeting made no headway in resolving the abduction, nuclear, missile or any other issues related to Northeast Asia's peace and security. We find it difficult to say that Koizumi's meeting with Kim made any progress in this respect.In spite of this, the prime minister pledged to provide North Korea with 250,000 tons of food and medical supplies worth 10 million dollars as humanitarian assistance.Japan has previously provided the reclusive state with humanitarian aid in the form of 1.18 million tons of food, hoping to create "a better environment" for improving the bilateral relationship. All this aid was given to the cash-strapped nation, in effect, for reasons of "political considerations." However, Japan's aid has never improved the situation.We feel that Koizumi's latest aid promise is tantamount to rewarding North Korea for its decision on the five children.Questions should also be raised about Koizumi's pledge not to implement sanctions against North Korea, although he told Kim that his government must honor the Pyongyang Declaration if it wanted to avoid such treatment. The prime minister's pledge should be dismissed as it signals a decision not to use pressure as a bargaining chip any more.All issues must be resolvedNorth Korea has continued to develop nuclear arms, despite agreeing to the declaration reached between the two countries in 2002 that said, in part, "the two nations confirm that they will abide by all international agreements related to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula to resolve the problem in a comprehensive manner," .North Korea is an autocratic state, acting solely on the basis of self-interest. Japan must be ready to put punitive measures into action at any moment. It is therefore necessary to pass into law during the current Diet session the bill concerning a ban on the entry into Japanese ports of specific vessels that is primarily aimed at North Korea.Diplomatic normalization talks are expected to resume next month. North Korea's economy is in a woeful state and it is pegging its hopes on winning sizable economic assistance after diplomatic relations with Japan are normalized.During past negotiations, North Korea called on Japan to place higher priority talks on normalization and those on providing economic assistance.But it will be impossible for Japan to normalize diplomatic ties with North Korea until a comprehensive settlement on the issues of Japanese abductees and Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development program can be reached.The issue of nuclear and missile development is one that directly affects the national security of Japan and the regional security of Northeast Asia.North Korea is reprocessing nuclear fuel rods and producing plutonium. The country is strongly suspected of having a uranium-enrichment program.North Korea is also building up its deployment of Rodong missiles, which have a range that covers all of Japan. About 200 units already have been deployed. If North Korea is able to equip Rodong-class missiles with nuclear warheads, a serious threat will be posed to our national safety.With regard to the nuclear development issue, the theme for the six-nation talks, North Korea sees it as an issue to be discussed bilaterally with the United States, and opposed discussing the issue bilaterally with Japan. But the United States has no strong interest in the Rodong missile issue, as the missiles do not pose a direct threat to the United States.Press North to end N-programJapan therefore needs to take up with North Korea the issue of its nuclear and missile development programs, in accordance with the Japan-North Korea declaration, and press the country to abandon the programs completely.North Korea may think that it saved face by having the Japanese prime minister travel there twice. It is expected that North Korea will hasten progress in diplomatic normalization talks, in a bid to win full-scale economic assistance from Japan soon.There is also a possibility that Pyongyang might use the normalization talks, through a subsequent softening of Japan's stance toward North Korea, to cause a rift in bilateral cooperation between this nation and the United States.North Korea will most likely put various forms of pressure on Japan in the days ahead.The Japanese government must approach the normalization talks with a firm hold on the principle of resolving comprehensively all pending issues, including those of the abduction of Japanese and of nuclear and missile development.It is important to further strengthen cooperation with the United States and South Korea over the issue so that Japan and North Korea are not isolated. There is absolutely no need for Japan to be in too much of a hurry to realize the normalization of bilateral relations with North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1300	2004-05-23	YOSHIN0020040523e05n000de
YOMSHI0020040523e05o00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040523e05o00009	EN	\N	Friendly ties depend solely on North Korea	The prime minister had better think again.	4	2004-05-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The sole cause of the deep-seated animosity between the two countries is North Korea--not Japan. This is a fact, regardless of the propaganda Pyongyang spouts. The communist state's attitude toward the dispute over its abduction of Japanese is an excellent example of this.If North Korea wants Koizumi's comment about "friendship and cooperation" to be more than just empty rhetoric, it must take steps to eliminate the distrust the Japanese harbor toward that country.During his talks with Koizumi, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il refused the prime minister's demand to hand over the Japanese Red Army extremists responsible for hijacking a Japan Airlines plane to Pyongyang in 1970. They are suspected of playing a role in North Korea's kidnappings.It is also disturbing to learn that Sin Gwang Su--a North Korean agent responsible for kidnapping Tadaaki Hara in 1980--is still treated as a national hero in the reclusive state. Hara is on the list of 10 Japanese whose fate in North Korea is unclear, although Pyongyang has said they are either dead or never entered the country.Probe unlikely to dispel distrustDuring the summit, Kim told Koizumi his government would conduct "another investigation" into the fate of the 10 people. However, it is questionable whether North Korea will carry out an investigation reliable enough to eliminate Japanese distrust.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, more than 60 percent of those polled said the Koizumi-Kim summit would not provide the impetus for efforts to resolve the dispute over North Korea's kidnappings once and for all. These pollees refuse to believe another investigation will help establish the truth about the fate of the 10.The survey also showed that close to 70 percent of the respondents are pessimistic about whether the issue concerning North Korea's nuclear program can be settled.The Japanese have a deep-rooted distrust in North Korea. The government needs to toughen its stance in negotiations with North Korea. Resolving pending issues with North Korea will require intense efforts on the part of Japan.In October 2002, five abductees returned to Japan. This was followed by a Japanese demand for North Korea to allow their family members in Pyongyang to come to this country. However, North Korea insisted Japan should return the five to Pyongyang first. Had they chosen to return to North Korea, the five former abductees would have been forced to say, "We want to stay in North Korea."Abductees should speak upIn the 1980s, the captain and crew of the Fujisan Maru No. 18 were detained in North Korea, which called the cargo vessel a spy ship. It is known that these detainees were told to keep silent about the case by Japanese politicians who worked to have them freed. This shows these lawmakers wanted to accommodate the wishes of the North Korean authorities. After returning home, the crew members would not talk about the case for a long time.However, there no longer is a need for the five former abductees to be afraid. They should disclose the whole truth behind the abductions. Doing so would help settle all the abduction cases.North Korea is no less hostile toward Japan over issues concerning Northeast Asia's peace and security. About 200 Rodong missiles are aimed at Japan. It appears as if North Korea is calling for friendly relations with Japan while, at the same time, threatening this country with a knife. Friendly relations are out of the question unless these missiles are removed.In short, the normalization of bilateral relations is impossible unless there is progress in bringing about a comprehensive solution to the abduction, nuclear and missile problems.Will Japan and North Korea be able to open the door to mutual friendship and cooperation? The answer to this hinges solely on whether Pyongyang takes genuine steps to achieve that goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	701	2004-05-24	YOSHIN0020040524e05o000ih
YOMSHI0020040524e05p0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040524e05p0000g	EN	\N	Banks mustn't ease up on bad-loan disposal	Five of the seven groups reported Monday that they had swung back into the black on a consolidated basis in fiscal 2003. All seven posted losses for the two previous fiscal years, but the banks' performances now appear to have markedly improved.	4	2004-05-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The economic recovery apparently has helped the banking groups, with the amount of bad loans on their books slashed as a result of a decline in failed borrowers.Stock-related gains as a result of rising share prices also have contributed to an improvement in their capital-adequacy ratios.Nonetheless, UFJ Holdings Inc. reported an annual loss for the third straight year and three top managers of the group resigned. Resona Holdings Inc. also reported a huge loss in the year to March 31.Govt deadline approachingThe government has set a goal of halving the ratio of bad loans held by major banks against their outstanding loans from the 8 percent level in March 2002 to the 4 percent level by the end of next March.Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. and Sumitomo Trust & Banking Co. have lowered their ratios to less than 3 percent. The other three banking groups that reported net profits in fiscal 2003 also have shown prospects of reaching that goal. Though UFJ and Resona need to make further efforts, the nation's major banks as a whole appear much closer to reaching the target.Only one year remains until the government's deadline expires. The banks must pursue the final disposal of their nonperforming loans with steadfast determination.The enhancement of the banks' revenue bases is essential for the final disposal of bad loans. The banks are now paying more attention to new loans and services aimed at individuals or small and midsize companies.However, the development of new revenue sources remains a major challenge for them. Meanwhile, they need to carry out the consolidation and closure of branches and other restructuring measures more thoroughly.Public funds must be repaidEven if they have succeeded in halving the ratio of bad loans against outstanding loans, it means that they have reached just one milestone. The major banks may see the light at the end of the tunnel over the bad loan problem, but the fact remains that they are still being propped up by the huge amount of taxpayers' money the government has pumped into them.Mitsubishi Tokyo and Sumitomo Trust already have paid off the public funds injected into them, and the other major banks are planning to repay part of the funds.Nevertheless, the business of the major banks can only be called fully restored after they have fully repaid the public funds and become free from government control.In comparison with the major banks, many of the regional or small and midsize banks are still in poor financial shape. The government has submitted a bill to the current Diet session to allow the preventive injection of public money into small and midsize banks. They should not lag behind the major banks in the disposal of nonperforming loans.The nation's financial system will only be fully restored after small, midsize and major banks are all free of the burden of bad loans.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2004-05-25	YOSHIN0020040525e05p000jk
YOMSHI0020040525e05q0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040525e05q0000i	EN	\N	Find a way out of the Iraq quagmire	Only one month is left before the transfer of sovereignty from the Coalition Provisional Authority to an interim Iraqi government, but there has been little sign of any improvement in the security situation. In addition, the prestige of the United States has been badly damaged by the reports of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers.	4	2004-05-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The deterioration in the Iraq situation is beginning to cast a pall over Bush's strategy to win reelection in autumn. According to a CBS News poll, the public approval rating for Bush's handling of Iraq has dropped from 72 percent a year ago to just 34 percent. Bush's overall approval rating has plummeted to 41 percent, the lowest since his inauguration. The decision to make Monday's speech was apparently a reflection of his concern over these numbers.Bush reconfirmed that sovereignty would be transferred on June 30 and that national elections would be held no later than January. He also promised to restore security in Iraq, to continue aiding in the reconstruction of the country and to ask the international community for more support.Put priority on political processHowever, priority should be placed on seeing that the political process goes smoothly. The United States, as the instigator of the Iraq war, is obliged to ensure this from both diplomatic and security aspects.The United States and Britain unveiled a new draft resolution on Iraq at a U.N. Security Council meeting Monday.The draft resolution pledges a full transfer of power to Iraqis and an end to the occupation by U.S.-led coalition troops. It also promises to carry the political schedule forward and outlines the authority the interim Iraqi government will hold and the role of a U.S.-led multinational force in keeping order in the country.France and Germany have demanded that the United States and Britain state a withdrawal date for the multinational force in the resolution.Although it does not specify such a deadline, the draft allows for compromise, saying the mandate for the multinational force will be reviewed after 12 months, or earlier if the Iraqi transitional government to be formed after January elections requests it.UNSC must reach consensusThe U.N. Security Council was thrown into disarray when its members fought over whether to invade Iraq. If they again fail to reach a consensus, Iraq, as well as the Security Council, will descend into chaos. The resolution must be approved.Maintenance of security will be even more important after the transfer of sovereignty. The further the political schedule proceeds, the more violent the fighting over domestic interests becomes among the various factions in Iraq. If national elections are to be brought off successfully, security must be maintained.But the Iraqi police, military and border patrols are short of manpower, equipment and training.The United States must continue to play a central role in the maintenance of security in Iraq, especially in the face of Spain's withdrawal and Germany and France's continued refusal to contribute troops.Bush said in his speech that the Abu Graib prison, where Iraqi prisoners were abused by U.S. troops, would be demolished. He is apparently trying to wipe out a symbol of disgrace for the U.S. military. A military court has handed down a guilty verdict in the court-martial of a military police guard, the first U.S. soldier to be tried in the abuse cases. But the probe to expose the extent of the scandal has just begun.The United States must be very cautious in how it deals with the abuse cases so that Iraqis will understand that the presence of U.S. forces is indispensable if security in the country is to be achieved.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	689	2004-05-26	YOSHIN0020040526e05q000kr
YOMSHI0020040526e05r0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040526e05r0000f	EN	\N	Don't let terrorists take root in Japan	Police arrested three Bangladeshis, one Indian and one Malian connected to a Frenchman believed to be a senior member of a group linked to Al-Qaida who lived in Japan until last year, on suspicion of violating immigration control and other laws. The arrests came after raids on more than 10 locations in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Niigata Prefecture that the French muslim extremist allegedly contacted by phone.	4	2004-05-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of the Bangladeshis arrested operates a telephone-related company that has an office located across from the front gate of the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The man is reportedly a member of an Islamic fundamentalist party in his home country.Al-Qaida's international network is said to employ such methods, building up a support organization over the course of a few years and thoroughly working out members' respective roles before carrying out a well prepared terrorist attack, as they did with their Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.It is doubtful the Bangladeshi leased an office in front of the U.S. Navy base without reason. It is suspected the office was set up for the purpose of gathering information on the U.S. base or as a preparatory step for launching attacks on the U.S. forces stationed there.Police must investigateA terrorist organization affiliated with Al-Qaida has repeatedly said it would attack Japan. It is possible the group was not merely making threats, but actually planning to go ahead with a terrorist attack. The police need to investigate thoroughly what the group was aiming at and how they were operating.A top member of Al-Qaida arrested in Pakistan in March last year admitted he had a plan to carry out a terrorist attack in Japan during the World Cup soccer games cohosted with South Korea, but gave up because of the lack of a support network here.The French suspect was found to have deposited and withdrawn money frequently from a post office savings account. The company run by the Bangladeshi is also said to have had a dubious cashflow. It will be a grave matter if Japan is shown to have been a place for a terrorist group to secure funds.Japanese authorities failed to take the French suspect into custody during the 14 months he was hiding in Japan. They only learned of his presence here and the continuing presence of his alleged partners in crime through a report from the German authorities that arrested him.Serious lapseIt is reported that intelligence organizations in the United States and Europe have pointed to Japan's lax handling of the case, calling it "quite a serious situation."It is a matter of urgency for Japan to further strengthen relevant laws and systems governing such areas as investigative methods, control of funds and immigration control.In the United States and Europe, wiretapping has proven effective in fighting terrorism and organized crime.Although the Wiretapping Authorization Law is in force, it is applicable only to those crimes related to drugs and firearms, and application procedures are complicated. The law needs to be amended as soon as possible so that it can be used flexibly to fight terrorism.The government should squarely face the reality that Japan is also being targeted by international terrorist networks. Japan must not become the weakest link in the international alliance against terrorists.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2004-05-27	YOSHIN0020040527e05r000mh
YOMSHI0020040527e05s0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040527e05s0000e	EN	\N	New subsidy system needed for farmers	The plan will provide the guiding principles for the overall administration of agricultural programs from fiscal 2005 onward.	4	2004-05-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The centerpiece of the plan is the introduction of a direct disbursement system, through which the government would grant financial aid to farming households. The ministry plans to unveil an interim report in July and to draft a final report next spring.It is well known that the nation's protectionist policies, which impose high tariffs on imports of agricultural products, are impeding the agricultural trade talks at the World Trade Organization and have become an obstacle to the pursuit of free trade agreements.In order to open up the domestic market to foreign products through these negotiations, it is vital for the government to make a drastic policy change and lower such tariffs.Should the tariffs be lowered all at once, however, the nation's agricultural sector would be hit hard, making it inevitable for ratio of food self-sufficiency, which is currently the lowest among the major industrialized nations at about 40 percent, to decline further.The farm ministry therefore plans to introduce the direct disbursement system and grant financial aid to core farming households every year to stabilize farm management.The strategy is intended to meet the challenge of opening the agricultural market by establishing a framework to support the domestic farm industry.If agricultural imports become cheaper due to the lowered tariffs, consumers will greatly benefit. The ministry needs to deepen its discussions on the introduction of the direct disbursement system.Failure to boost productivityThe state of the nation's agricultural administration is that the government has passed out subsidies to farmers uniformly, but has failed to enhance the overall productivity.To avoid repeating the same mistake, it is vital to narrow down those core farming households eligible for the government's aid. There are many problems to be solved for the direct disbursement system to be introduced, for example, criteria for determining which farmers are and are not eligible for aid.Direct disbursement systems are allowed by the WTO. In the United States and Europe, direct payment systems are a main pillar of agricultural policy and are used to allocate sizable amounts of subsidies every year.In addition to the imposition of high tariffs, the government has sought to prop up the farm sector by distributing uniform subsidies to all growers of specific crops, such as rice and soybeans, with the amount of subsidy based on the type of crop.Such a system does not take into account the scale of farm production, nor does it question the efficiency of farm management, protecting farming households, most of which are part-time farmers, and leaving the nation's farming sector fragile and barely competitive internationally.Learning from the error of their ways, the ministry plans to trim the list of farms to be covered by the new system to about 450,000 of full-time farming households.Limit eligibilityThe non-profit Japan Economic Research Institute points out in its recent proposal on agricultural policy, that it is vitally important to limit the type of farms eligible for financial aid.Yet objections to the new system are being raised by part-time farmers who may not be eligible for aid and by agricultural cooperatives.Meanwhile, Diet members who represent agricultural interests will likely intensify their pressure against the new system. The main opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has come up with its own proposal on the introduction of the direct disbursement system. Yet the number of those eligible under the new system is too large.The money needed for the introduction of the new system should be obtained by abolishing the uniform crop subsidies and through cuts in agriculture-related public works spending which totals about 1 trillion yen a year.The test of the ministry's ability will be whether it can establish a clear-cut method of supporting the nation's farming households, while ending the lavish distribution of subsidies to them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	703	2004-05-28	YOSHIN0020040528e05s000k7
YOMSHI0020040528e05t0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040528e05t0000h	EN	\N	Attack on journalists differs from kidnappings	The incident shows that the security situation in Iraq remains unstable. But the incident was not so unusual.	4	2004-05-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Shinsuke Hashida, believed to be one of the two journalists, is a seasoned reporter, having covered the Vietnam War and a number of other armed conflicts overseas. Upon learning of the attack, Hashida's wife said stoutly, "I believe he was fully aware (of the risk he was taking)."This incident contrasted with the kidnappings of Japanese in Iraq last month. Those incidents were extremely unusual.It is a matter of course that the Japanese government is responsible for protecting the lives of Japanese. But when some hostages' families called for the government to perform a policy U-turn and withdraw the Self-Defense Forces personnel from Iraq, unnecessary confusion arose.Reaction to kidnappings oddAbout 150,000 signatures calling for the SDF to pull out of Iraq were collected in just two days as people responded to the families' calls. In front of the Diet building, a series of large demonstrations took place. It was odd that people chose to use the kidnapping to make a political statement.But after the families' calls for the government to alter its policy on Iraq were criticized, the families stopped making such demands, and the demonstrations and other protest activities suddenly subsided.It is not unusual for journalists and photographers to be killed in war zones and other dangerous places.According to the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists, 36 journalists were killed worldwide last year in the line of duty, including reporting from war zones. Of them, 13 lost their lives in Iraq.Sixty-eight journalists were killed during World War II, while 38 perished in the Korean War. In Indochina, from 1948 through the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, about 130 photojournalists either were killed or went missing. In the Bosnian war, 37 journalists lost their lives.These journalists included a number of Japanese. But their deaths did not always attract the public's attention.In war zones, danger is never far away.Attack, SDF mission not linkedJournalists sometimes risk their lives reporting from battlefields and places hit by disasters. They go to those spots because they are driven by passion for their work.Some members of the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), have begun calling for the withdrawal of SDF personnel, claiming that the latest incident proves that Iraq is no longer a noncombat zone, a condition stipulated in the special law to allow SDF personnel to engage in humanitarian and reconstruction activities in Iraq.The group behind the attack has yet to be identified. It also has yet to be determined whether the attack was targeted at Japanese. But it is inappropriate to make arguments linking the incident with the dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	523	2004-05-29	YOSHIN0020040529e05t000qm
YOMSHI0020040529e05u0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040529e05u0000e	EN	\N	Proposed pension reforms are too namby-pamby	Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi has said he will take steps to drastically reform the agency, including a plan to appoint a figure from the private sector--not a high-ranking bureaucrat--as director general.	4	2004-05-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the main thrust of his reform plan seems to be simply to improve the overall operations of the agency. Measures may include increasing the number of personnel exchanges between the agency's head office in Tokyo and its local branches. Sakaguchi also intends to review the current system under which the agency buys goods and services from private corporations it has chosen at its own discretion, without accepting public bids.None of these measures even remotely constitute drastic reform.Cosmetic surgery not enoughSakaguchi's reform efforts should not be limited to mere cosmetic surgery. His ministry must comprehensively reform the Social Insurance Agency as soon as possible, entirely changing the method by which the institution is run. For example, social insurance premiums could be collected along with taxes, instead of leaving the agency to collect premiums, as is currently the case.The agency's primary tasks are to collect premiums from members of the public and properly maintain and operate the social insurance systems. For many years, however, the agency has done little to gather premiums from those who have not joined the national pension system or who have failed to pay after joining, although the scheme is supposed to cover every member of the population.Anyone can forget to join a state-run pension program after changing jobs. The problem is not limited to the scores of lawmakers who have been found to have neglected their pension premium payments.Even given this, the government did not create a system to notify nonsubscribers to the national pension plan of their negligence until six years ago. It is also disturbing to note that not until recently has the agency forcibly collected premiums from those who intentionally did not pay.The recent revelation that many legislators failed to pay their pension premiums in the past has demonstrated just how defective the agency's method of collecting premiums is.Meanwhile, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the agency have used a portion of the premiums to build a number of luxury accommodation facilities, athletic centers and other buildings over the years. They have said that these facilities are aimed at providing health benefits for subscribers to the state-run pension system.The agency also has used premiums to build apartment houses for agency employees and to cover the entertainment expenses incurred by its director general.Resources wastedIn other words, while failing to collect premiums from all subscibers, the agency was also wasting a significant portion of the premiums it did manage to collect.It has been found that almost 40 percent of the nation's adults do not pay into the pension plan. To collect premiums from all subscribers, it is essential for the agency to cooperate with the National Tax Agency.The House of Councillors is currently debating a set of bills on pension reforms that includes a provision aimed at making it easier for the agency to gather information from city, town and village governments around the country on people who have not paid premiums. The legislation would also make it easier to forcibly collect premiums from high-income earners who do not pay.These steps undoubtedly mark a step forward. Still, it is unreasonable for the agency to have neglected these duties for so many years. To raise the number of people who properly pay premiums, the government should consider collecting taxes and social insurance premiums at the same time, as is done in the United States. Doing so also could reduce the cost of collecting the premiums.It is also necessary to adjust the attitude of agency employees. Some social insurance offices do not accept applications for counseling from subscribers during lunch breaks. These offices refuse to extend their working hours even when a flood of people descends on them. This shows a lack of willingness to provide people with the services they need.The inappropriate mind-set of agency employees can also be seen in the confusion arising from the revelations that one well-known actress and many politicians failed to pay their premiums in the past. The leak of the information to the media was obviously the work of agency employees. This must be seen as an irresponsible failure to follow prescribed rules.If the task of reforming the system is assigned to bureaucrats, we will never see the bold, painful reforms that are needed. Sakaguchi should display strong leadership by carrying out thorough reforms.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	835	2004-05-30	YOSHIN0020040530e05u000co
YOMSHI0020040530e05v0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040530e05v0000a	EN	\N	Set up basics for talks on upper house reform	The reason for this is that a council in the upper house convened to discuss the problem decided not to redress the disparity during the current Diet session.	4	2004-05-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the last upper house election held in July 2001, the ratio of a ballot's value between the most represented electoral district and the least represented was 5.06 to 1.In a Jan. 14 ruling on the election, the Supreme Court said it considered the gap in the value of ballots among electoral districts "not unconstitutional." But, it added, "Should the existing disparity be left unrectified because of the inaction of the legislature, the next upper house election may be deemed as violating the Constitution."Drastic reform neededThe council, which is composed of upper house members belonging to parliamentary groups, said it was necessary to take time to discuss the reapportionment of seats because it directly affects problems of propriety in the current two-chamber system and in the electoral system. It is likely that a new consultative body will be established to replace the council after the July poll.It is expected that the new consultative body will not only discuss the coordination of Diet seats, but also will map out a drastic reform plan addressing the role and authority of the upper house and what form the electoral system should take.Feasible reforms should be gradually put into practice, beginning with the upper house election to be held in three years.Diet seats for electoral districts in the upper house are apportioned into 47 prefectural electoral districts, with even numbered seats from two to eight allocated to each district so that half the seats can be replaced in elections every three years. However, with the system remaining unchanged, there is a limitation to what can be done to make drastic changes in upper house seats.In the council meetings, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party maintained that seats should be increased in urban area electoral districts.There are about 490,000 eligible voters in Tottori Prefecture, compared with about 10.09 million in Tokyo. If the principle is applied that the ratio of the gap should be less than 2 to 1 in the House of Representatives, Tottori Prefecture should be allotted two seats, while Tokyo should get more than 20.Ideas may meet resistanceIt will be difficult to persuade locals who oppose the idea to introduce an electoral district combining one prefecture with a less-populated prefecture, especially when the consolidation of regional administrative structures in prefectures still has not been widely accepted.If the minimum number of seats in an electoral district is set at one, some electoral districts will only be able to replace seats in elections every six years. This would violate the principle of equal opportunity.If all upper house members are elected through the proportional representation system, partisanship would increase and the integrity of the upper house would be compromised.If the upper house seats are allotted equally to each prefectural electoral district on the assumption that upper house members are prefectural representatives, the principle of equality in the value of votes would be violated, as would Article 43 of the Constitution, which says, "Both houses shall consist of elected members, representatives of all the people."The upper house is expected to scrutinize the lower house and discuss matters in depth that were not sufficiently addressed in the lower house. The original function of the upper house is to maintain a balance between the two houses to keep public trust.But currently the upper house wields the deciding vote for the coalition government, at a time when a two-party system is under serious consideration. This distorts the parliamentary cabinet systemAn advisory panel to the president of the upper house in 2000 drafted proposals to drastically reform the upper house that required constitutional revisions. The proposals included measures to allow the lower house to take up matters for a second time if the upper house reversed decisions it had made, and to abolish the right of the upper house to nominate the prime minister.In 1994, The Yomiuri Shimbun put forth many of these same ideas for reform of the upper house in its proposal for constitutional revision.The Liberal Democratic Party and the largest opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) plan to present their own proposals for constitutional amendments in 2005 and 2006, respectively. The central theme will be how the two-chamber system should work. The new upper house consultative body has a responsibility to set up a framework for such discussions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	811	2004-05-31	YOSHIN0020040531e05v000eu
YOMSHI0020040531e0610000m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040531e0610000m	EN	\N	Attacks in Saudi Arabia part of global problem	The most remarkable feature of the latest terrorist attack, in which over 20 civilians, including many foreigners, were killed, was that the militants targeted the oil industry upon which Saudi Arabia depends for its very survival.	4	2004-06-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The gunmen, dressed in military fatigues, stormed the offices of oil industry-related firms as well as a housing compound for the firms' employees. A statement purported to be from the Al-Qaida terrorist network said the attack was aimed at U.S. oil companies that exploited the wealth of Muslims.This was the second terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia in less than a month. On May 1, a petrochemical site in the Red Sea industrial town of Yanbu was also attacked.Terrorists' goals clearerSome observers say the latest attack has further clarified one of the goals of the terrorists.Saudi Arabia is the largest oil-exporting country in the world, and a very important ally for Japan, as one-fourth of our imported crude oil comes from there. If crude oil production in Saudi Arabia is threatened by terrorists, the damage will be not limited to that country. The Japanese economy, as well as the global economy, would likely stall.The terrorists are apparently trying not only to topple or undermine the Saudi royal family, which rules the country, but also to destabilize the international community through Saudi Arabia. Every measure must be taken to prevent this from happening.The latest incident took place as world oil prices remained at high levels, partly due to the recovery of the global economy and a subsequent increase in oil demand in the United States, China and other countries.Effects reverberate globallyThe effects of the attack in Saudi Arabia were already being felt Monday as gasoline futures prices rose to their upper limits in Tokyo.Global attention is now focused on a general meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to be held Thursday in Beirut. OPEC members are expected to decide to increase oil production to prevent prices from rising any further.Meanwhile, the Saudi government must beef up its counterterrorism measures. It has failed to prevent a series of terrorist bombings that have occurred in its oil industry cities and in the capital Riyadh since last year. It needs to take tougher steps than before, including finding terrorist bases and cutting off their financial support.According to some observers, a backdrop to the incident is the fact that the Saudi public is frustrated by a domestic political system that has seldom seen reforms and an unemployment rate for younger Saudis that is reported to be more than 20 percent. Along with reinforcing counterterrorism measures, the Saudi government may have to stabilize the domestic situation through political and social reforms.The terrorist problem is not one that Saudi Arabia can handle alone. The international community must support Riyadh by further expanding the global coalition against terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	525	2004-06-01	YOSHIN0020040601e061000kn
YOMSHI0020040601e0620000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040601e0620000i	EN	\N	Were signs missed that pointed to tragedy?	An 11-year-old sixth-grade girl slashed and killed a 12-year-old female classmate with a box cutter. Even considering the spate of ever-worsening juvenile cases over the past few years, the latest incident is shocking.	4	2004-06-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The life of a girl who was studying and playing with her classmates cheerfully just a short while ago has been suddenly extinguished. The incident, which must seem incomprehensible to the victim's family, also must have come as a great shock to the other students in the school.What sort of relationship did the two girls have? What prompted one girl to assault the other? Why was she carrying the box cutter around at school? No details have been unveiled except that shortly after the school lunch had been prepared, at which time the teacher in charge of the sixth-graders noticed that two of his students were missing, the assailant, covered in blood, rushed into the classroom.According to the National Police Agency, four murders or attempted murders were committed by primary school students over the past three years.In June 2001, a sixth-grade boy stabbed a male classmate with a kitchen knife in a park in Fukuoka Prefecture, inflicting serious injuries. The attack was said to stem from bullying in school.Schools, teachers complacent?Before this incident, there had been no murders committed by primary students in a school for at least 15 years. Have teachers and schools become complacent?What we want to know first and foremost is whether the girl had exhibited any unusual behavior recently. If so, did the adults around her, including her family and teachers, notice it? The latest case must be thoroughly investigated.We have to try harder to inculcate in our children an appreciation of the preciousness of life.Six years ago, a first-grade middle-school male student knifed a female teacher to death at a school in Kuroiso, Tochigi Prefecture.After a spate of knifing incidents committed by boys occurred shortly afterward, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry distributed a booklet to all primary and middle school students that was designed to help children understand ethical values.In addition, the ministry is studying a plan that would have schools and related organizations, such as local education boards, join hands to form a support team to help deal with problematic behavior in children.Reach out to childrenBut these efforts alone will not be enough. We urgently need measures that will enable us to reach into the hearts of children.It is also vital that the factors behind the latest incident are analyzed. The assailant will not be charged criminally as she is younger than 14, and therefore will be treated as a "juvenile who broke the law."The police have taken the girl into custody and have notified a child consultation office about the case. At the consultation office, experts specializing in children psychology, including a child welfare officer, a counselor and a doctor, will question her.In order to prevent similar incidents from happening, we must examine the details and make public as many of them as possible, taking into consideration the girl's privacy. We must look at the family environment the girl was brought up in, the state of mind she was in that led to the incident and how the school responded to any problems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	589	2004-06-02	YOSHIN0020040602e062000nd
YOMSHI0020040602e0630000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040602e0630000e	EN	\N	Privatization must benefit public purse	With the legislation, the four entities are to be reorganized into six companies that will start operating next autumn, thus realizing reform of the public highway corporations.	4	2004-06-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main aim of the reform is to ensure the steady repayment of the entities outstanding 40 trillion yen in debt. To do so, it is necessary to build a system whereby the new entities can make steady profits.To that end, it is vital for the new entities to make drastic cost-cutting efforts and to make an aggressive business expansion into related fields. It is also a matter of urgency for the corporations' management and employees to shed their long-standing dependence on the central government.The appointing of top management is also vital.The top management posts should go to candidates from the private sector well-versed in corporate management. Former high-ranking bureaucrats from the Construction and Transport Ministry, which is responsible for supervising the highway operators, should not be handed cushy jobs at the new companies.The four public corporations will be reorganized into an independent administrative organization that will take over the debts and road assets held by the four, while the six new companies will operate the roads under lease from the administrative organization.Pay off debtsThe administrative organization will use the leasing fees to pay back the outstanding debts within 45 years.The new companies will be in charge of building new highways, with construction plans to be worked out in consultation with the central government. If a company turns down a construction plan on the grounds that it would be unprofitable or other reasons, the ministry's advisory panel on social infrastructure improvement will decide on the plan.It is doubtful a panel under the influence of the ministry would be able to make an objective conclusion on such plans. It is essential for the panel's decision-making process to be made transparent by having the panel disclose the reasoning behind its decisions.Even after the four corporations are privatized, the state will hold more than one third of the shares in the new companies. While East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), the main precedent for privatization of state-run enterprises, has been fully privatized already, by law more than one third of the shares in NTT Corp. and Japan Tobacco Inc. are to be held by the central government, just as with the new road operators.Firms will be independentThis does not mean that NTT and JT are in thrall to the central government. NTT, for instance, enjoys a considerable degree of discretion in its operation. This means that the new entities will be able to operate their business boldly and independently.The new entities will also be able to venture into related businesses if they report those businesses to the government.The sales from related businesses run by those JH-affiliated enterprises total about 350 billion yen now. A previous problem was the corporate structure that kept profits from such sales at the affiliated firms instead of returning them to JH. After the privatization, this structure needs to undergo drastic change.The new companies reportedly are planning to venture into operating hotels and tourism-based businesses, with the aim of making sales of 1 trillion yen on the related businesses alone. We hope they will not only raise sales, but also generate profits.If the new companies list themselves on the stock market in the future, the central government, as a major shareholder, will benefit.Through the sales of shares of JR companies and NTT it owned, the central government garnered 3 trillion yen and 13 trillion yen of profits, respectively. It is hoped that the new entities will bring the government similar benefits.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2004-06-03	YOSHIN0020040603e063000mb
YOMSHI0020040603e0640000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040603e0640000h	EN	\N	Only drastic reform will save MMC	MMC announced Wednesday that it has been involved in additional cover-ups of defective auto parts and failed to recall defective vehicles. The automaker covered up defects in more than 160,000 passenger vehicles of 17 models that were manufactured between 1992 and 1997. In addition, MMC also said Thursday that it filed with the Construction and Transport Ministry a recall of about 110,000 vehicles of seven models.	4	2004-06-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The scandal came on the heels of revelations of a cover-up of accidents involving trucks manufactured by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. due to a defective part and another cover-up of a faulty clutch that caused a fatal accident.Every time problems surfaced, including its failure to recall vehicles and systematic concealing of customer complaints four years ago, MMC pledged to prevent the recurrence of such a scandal. But measures taken by the automaker have proven ineffective.While the company's very existence is threatened, the major task facing its new top management, who assumed their posts in April, is to break away from the past.The latest scandal surfaced during MMC's reinvestigation under the new management team into its previously unrevealed past handling of defective parts. It should be natural for the automaker to uncover all hidden irregularities, but MMC has definitely lacked the willingness to do so.Rehabilitation planLast month, MMC compiled a rehabilitation plan under which it intended to recruit a vice chairman from outside the company to spearhead a team to ensure thorough legal compliance within the company. The automaker also decided to establish a corporate ethics committee to be made up of experts from outside the company, including a former prosecutor.Recruiting people from outside the company to tighten up its ethically lax organization should prove useful. MMC must realize that preventing such scandals from reoccurring is the only way to save itself.In 1997, MMC was found to have paid nearly 10 million yen to corporate racketeers. The automaker came under severe public criticism after it was revealed in 2000 that the company had for years concealed customer complaints and parts defects that should have sparked recalls. The company later filed a request with the ministry for the recall of as many as 760,000 passenger vehicles.Lax ethics revealedWhenever a scandal surfaced, MMC moved to solve the problem through such measures as drafting a code of ethics for its employees to follow, but its record since indicates the measures were not strong enough.The series of scandals has already directly damaged MMC. Sales of vehicles, excluding those with engines 660cc and smaller, dropped by more than 50 percent in May compared with the same month last year.Consumers are shunning MMC more than expected. Its management must act immediately.MMC employs about 45,000 people and has many suppliers. If the company is further damaged, the country's recovering economy could be adversely affected.The Mitsubishi group including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. has announced their full support for MMC in formulating its rehabilitation plan. While German automaker DaimlerChrysler AG, which formed a capital tie-up with MMC, appears to be backing away from the alliance, MMC needs the Mitsubishi group's support more than ever.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2004-06-04	YOSHIN0020040604e064000oj
YOMSHI0020040604e0650000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040604e0650000h	EN	\N	Pension bills held up by political maneuvers	A struggle between ruling and opposition lawmakers delayed a vote on the bills in a plenary session of the House of Councillors.	4	2004-06-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), submitted motions to dismiss the chairmen of the health, labor and welfare committees of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors in a protest against the ruling bloc's move to forcibly put the bills to a vote at the upper house committee by abruptly ending the debate on the legislation.Using the so-called ox walk tactic, in which lawmakers delay the voting process by walking to the ballot box extremely slowly, and filibustering, opposition lawmakers resisted voting on the bills until the very end.But what the public expected lawmakers to do was to conduct in-depth discussions so that the current pension systems can be transformed into ones that people trust. Many people probably were disappointed by the fact that the voting on such important bills related to people's daily life took place against a backdrop of confusion and animosity between the ruling and opposition camps.Minshuto actions irresponsibleMinshuto's stance was extremely questionable. In deliberations on the bills at the lower house, the party agreed to insert an additional clause in the bills that stipulates that discussions will be held on unifying the nation's public pension systems. The plan was based on an agreement made earlier by the Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner New Komeito and Minshuto.The upper house held deliberations on that revised version of the bills, but Minshuto called for their abolition. This is hard to understand.It can be inferred that the party intended all along to oppose the revised bills in the upper house and thus renege on the three-party agreement.Minshuto leader Katsuya Okada said that opposing the bills should be seen separately from the pact. But Minshuto Secretary General Hirohisa Fujii has said the agreement made by the three parties would "die a natural death." This is an irresponsible stance for a political party to take.The ox walk is a tactic that frequently was used by the former Japan Socialist Party to express knee-jerk opposition to the ruling LDP under the so-called 1955 political framework, in which the LDP and the JSP played dominant roles in the nation's politics.Minshuto's conflicting stances in the lower and the upper houses and its use of obsolete dilatory tactics in the Diet look like mere showboating. It seems that with an eye on the upcoming upper house election, the party is trying prove its credentials as a worthy opponent of the ruling camp. It was absurd to see grown men and women performing the ox walk.But if Minshuto attempts to use the issue of pension system reform for short-term political gain, it does not deserve to take over the reins of government.Other key bills pendingDuring the upper house deliberations on the pension bills, much of the discussion was centered around the issue of political leaders' nonpayment of pension premiums for the national basic pension scheme, and few in-depth arguments were made to promote a drastic review of the pension system.There is a view that holds that the ruling camp rushed to vote on the enactment of the bills because the LDP hopes to win cooperation from New Komeito, which was the architect of the pension reform bills, in the upper house race.It is regrettable that the upper house, where common sense and cool heads are supposed to prevail, turned into a political battlefield.While the end of the current Diet session is in sight, a number of key bills, such as those on the nation's handling of a foreign armed attack and one to strengthen financial systems, are due for enactment. The latest confusion in the Diet should not be allowed to hold up the passage of these bills.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	701	2004-06-05	YOSHIN0020040605e065000kf
YOMSHI0020040606e0670000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040606e0670000a	EN	\N	Public fund injection bill must be enacted now	Diet deliberations on the bill have stalled due to the fierce battle between the ruling and opposition parties over pension reform bills.	4	2004-06-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the bill is very important for the recovery of the nation's financial system. Both the ruling and opposition parties should start deliberations on the bill as soon as possible to ensure it is passed during the current Diet session.The bill aims to establish a new mechanism that would allow preventive injections of public funds into regional financial institutions that appear healthy on the surface, but underneath are financially stricken.Currently, an injection of public funds into a single bank is allowed only when there are fears of a financial system crisis, according to Section 102 of the Deposit Insurance Law.However, in many cases, it is necessary to inject a huge amount of taxpayers' money to salvage a failing financial institution if nothing is done until it collapses. After the bill is passed, the government will be able to inject public funds into a bank before it reaches a crisis situation. This will speed up the rehabilitation of the ailing bank and reduce the burden on taxpayers.Regional banks still weakFive of the nation's seven major financial groups reported last month that they had swung back into the black on a consolidated basis in fiscal 2003. They are apparently turning the corner on dealing with their bad loans.However, many regional financial institutions still have very weak business bases. Since the economic recovery has yet to reach their regions, the businesses of their borrowers are still deteriorating, resulting in additional nonperforming loans.The rehabilitation of regional financial institutions is an urgent task in the restoration of the nation's entire financial system. Preventive injections of public funds would be an effective instrument in this regard.Some members of the ruling parties have said the bill could be resubmitted and passed at an extraordinary Diet session scheduled for autumn even if it is scrapped at the current session. But this is too late.If the enactment is delayed until autumn, it will be too late for applications for preventive injections in the half-year period ending in September. Applications could be made only for injections during the settlement period ending in March.Payoff system at riskNext April, the payoff system will be fully implemented, replacing current special measures that fully protect deposits with a limited guarantee. Shortly before it commences, consumers will scrutinize financial institutions more closely than ever when deciding where to deposit their money. It is feared that such a situation may lead to various rumors spreading about financial institutions that apply for injections of public funds.Unless the nation's financial system, including regional banks, is made completely stable, the payoff system cannot be fully implemented, and it could even be delayed.Japan's financial system, which has been badly damaged by the collapse of the bubble economy and by a deflationary downturn, will enter a crucial stage in its recovery over the next 12 months.Both the ruling and opposition parties must realize it is wrong to postpone the bill's enactment to the next Diet session.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2004-06-07	YOSHIN0020040607e067000hc
YOMSHI0020040607e0680000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040607e0680000d	EN	\N	Reagan earned a place in history	Reagan, who led the world's most powerful country for two presidential terms, a total of eight years, died Saturday at the age of 93.	4	2004-06-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Reagan took office at a time when the United States appeared to have lost its self-confidence in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, and the hostage crisis in the U.S. Embassy in Iran.With his trademark optimism and wit, Reagan helped turn the United States back into "a strong America."One of the most noted features of his administration was his diplomatic policy toward the then Soviet Union.The 'evil empire'During his first presidential term, he made clear that the United States stood in direct opposition to the Soviet Union by denouncing the country as an "evil empire."Reagan continually reinforced the United States' defensive capabilities, as symbolized by the Strategic Defense Initiative, which led to the present missile defense system, therefore continuing to exert pressure on the Soviet leadership.At that time, the Soviet Union's economic system was already on the verge of collapse, leading many to speculate that the country's national strength was weakening.Although it was partly due to the administration of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who advocated a "new thinking" diplomacy, the Soviet Union eventually softened its stance toward Western countries because of Reagan's diplomatic stance combined with the threat of force.The epochal events--the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Cold War and the demise of the Soviet Union--all took place after Reagan left office. But it should be pointed out that his diplomatic policies triggered these historic developments.Looked at in this light, Reagan also contributed to significant changes in Japan.Ripples spread to JapanWith the end of the Cold War, the political structure of conflict between conservatives and progressive forces in the nation, centering around the rivalry between the Liberal Democratic Party and the then Japan Socialist Party, began collapsing.Even the then Communist Party of Japan called the former Soviet system a "great evil." The then JSP made an about-face in 1994, making clear its official support for the Japan-U.S. bilateral security system and calling the Self-Defense Forces constitutional. Shortly afterward, the JSP was erased from the political stage.Although some political elements are still obsessed with the vestiges of the so-called 1955 political regime, pro-Soviet, anti-U.S. movements have become a thing of the past.On the economic front, Reagan asserted the importance of small government, and came up with a new economic policy that became known as Reaganomics, a blend of sizable tax cuts and deregulatory supply-side measures. The policy was aimed at lessening the role of the central government and stimulating the private sector, leading to a reinvigoration of the overall economy.Although Reagan's prescription brought about huge fiscal and current account deficits, the policy is said to have established a basis for improvements in the U.S. economy in the 1990s and later.Reagan suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his later years, but he lived long enough to become the oldest former president. He is said to have died a tranquil death.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2004-06-08	YOSHIN0020040609e0680001s
YOMSHI0020040608e0690000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040608e0690000h	EN	\N	Wishes of royal couple must come first	In referring to the princess' illness, the prince earlier said, "It is true there were developments that denied her career as a diplomat as well as her personality."	4	2004-06-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prince's remarks were made on May 10, shortly before he left on a goodwill visit to three European countries--without his wife.The remarks were unusually candid for the prince, who was expressing his anguish over his wife's illness. The remarks left the public and media speculating as to the real meaning behind them. In connection with this, the prince, who recently returned home, issued a written statement Tuesday.He did not go so far as to make any detailed explanations of his earlier remarks, considering that to be of little benefit.Instead, he made clear that he was conveying his sincere wish that the princess would recover her good health and return to her official duties.Princess trying hardThe royal couple have issued messages on several occasions at such venues as press conferences. At one such occasion, the princess said her inability to travel to foreign countries as often as she liked had required of her "immense effort."The prince also has referred to the pressure of responsibility the princess has been feeling, especially over the issue of a male heir.The royal couple have made only three goodwill visits to foreign countries. Although there may have been reasons some trips could not be made, including special circumstances in the host countries, the Imperial Household Agency could have arranged more such visits, thus making good use of the princess' former career as a diplomat.Was the agency unable to take any action in response to the wishes of the royal couple before the princess became so seriously ill as to require a long period of rest, and before the prince was driven to make his unusually candid remarks?Nonetheless, the important thing now is to do everything possible to help the princess get well soon. Perhaps the princess could be allowed to go somewhere else for a change of scenery.Problems must be fixedIf there are problems in the system that supports the royal couple within the agency or in the way their official duties are assumed, they need to be corrected."Just looking at the increased use of the Internet, for example, I'm surprised at how much the world has changed," the princess said about a year ago. The prince has also said from time to time that he and his wife wanted to take a more active part commensurate to younger members of the Imperial Family.The tradition and history of the Imperial Family are important. The issue of a male heir for the crown prince also inevitably comes up when the future of the Imperial Family is discussed.But if the Imperial Household Agency adheres strictly to convention, there are bound to be times when its views differ from those of the prince and princess.People want to see the royal couple brimming with happiness, not in a state of constant agony.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	561	2004-06-09	YOSHIN0020040609e069000nh
YOMSHI0020040609e06a0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040609e06a0000f	EN	\N	UNSC's Iraq resolution will aid reconstruction	There are many hurdles to clear in pursuit of this aim. To make tangible progress in this undertaking, international cooperation must be combined with Iraq's own efforts to achieve the target.	4	2004-06-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Tuesday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1546, which lays out the specific rules under which the interim government of Iraq will operate after power is handed over to them. We welcome the new resolution as a pledge by nations around the world to step up their cooperation in stabilizing Iraq.The Security Council resolution endorses the transfer of sovereignty to a caretaker Iraqi government by June 30, marking an end to the U.S.-led occupation of that country. The Coalition Provisional Authority will be dissolved, a move that will also transfer control over the use of financial resources generated by a fund supervised by the CPA for the rebuilding of Iraq. This will enable the new Iraqi government to use its discretion in determining how the nation's oil revenues will be used.The main focus of discussion at the Security Council was on clarifying the powers of the Iraqi government to ensure the transfer of power was genuine, not merely nominal. France, Germany and Russia urged the United States and Britain to agree that the resolution should set the date for the withdrawal of an envisaged multinational force, while also granting the Iraqis a veto over U.S.-led military operations.Time set for withdrawalThe Security Council eventually agreed that the multinational force would pull out of Iraq when the "political process" in the country ends. This means the multinational force will withdraw from Iraq in December 2005, after a democratic government has been established there. The council also reached a compromise requiring the resolution to state that the multinational force and the Iraqi government would hold close consultations about military operations in the country.Prior to the start of the war in Iraq, the council was a house divided, unable to function as it should, with the United States and Britain at odds with France, Germany and Russia. However, the latest compromise has given the council an opportunity to put its house in order again. The compromise among the council members must be complemented by efforts to ensure the resolution serves its intended purpose.Election key taskAn important task to be tackled by the Iraqi interim government is to conduct a national election in January 2005 to establish a parliament charged with drafting a constitution. However, there are concerns that Iraq's three main groups--the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds--could be even more deeply divided as they seek to protect their respective interests during the political process.With this in mind, the international community should do its best to stabilize postwar Iraq.Under the circumstances, the U.S.-led multinational force must play a central role in maintaining peace and order in Iraq. The United States should establish good relations with the Iraqi government and gain the support of the Iraqi people.The latest resolution urges U.N. members to make contributions to the multinational force's activities under agreements with the Iraqi government, including the dispatch of military personnel.For months, Japan has played a role in aiding Iraq's reconstruction by sending Self-Defense Forces troops to the country. The new resolution will give Japan ample reason to continue the SDF's activities in Iraq. The SDF should stay in that nation.The global efforts to aid Iraq's reconstruction will serve to stabilize not only Iraq, but the Middle East as a whole. It will be Japan's interest--relying as it does on the Middle East for about 90 percent of crude oil imports--to continue aiding Iraq. This nation should continue to play an active role in the reconstruction of Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2004-06-10	YOSHIN0020040610e06a000jn
YOMSHI0020040611e06c0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040611e06c0000i	EN	\N	Only Pyongyang benefits from U.S.-ROK quarrel	The move is part of a global redeployment of U.S. forces. The number of U.S. troops in Germany is likely to be slashed, too. Washington's forward deployment strategy, which puts 100,000 troops each in Europe and East Asia, is going to change drastically.	4	2004-06-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is a significant issue that directly affects the security of Japan. Will U.S. forces in Japan be redeployed, too? Will the reduction of U.S. troops in South Korea destabilize East Asia?Tokyo should consult closely with Washington to prevent the peace and security of Japan from being endangered.This is the first reduction of U.S. troops in South Korea since 1990-92, when 7,000 troops were pulled out. Washington had planned to cut an additional 6,500 troops at that time, but shelved the plan due to North Korea's nuclear development program. The latest reduction, however, will take place at a time when Pyongyang is overtly developing nuclear weapons and deploying ballistic missiles.Deterrence against North Korea must not be diminished. Washington last year compiled a budget totaling 11 billion dollars (1.2 trillion yen) to boost U.S. forces' strength in South Korea. As the first step, they were equipped with Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles, the most sophisticated surface-to-air guided missiles. South Korea also is trying to beef up its own national defense by increasing military spending.Communication breakdownWhat is worrying is not the combat strength of U.S. and South Korean forces, but the shakiness of their alliance.In mid-May, Washington suddenly announced a decision to send a 3,600-strong brigade of its combat troops, the backbone of U.S. forces in South Korea, to Iraq. The decision apparently was made to deal with deteriorating security situations in the country.A problem was that Washington did not discuss the transfer in enough depth with Seoul beforehand, though allies are supposed to do so as a matter of course.The timing of the reduction, which Washington said will be by the end of next year, also has shocked South Korea. The U.S. and South Korean governments last year agreed to move U.S troops gradually from their current position near the Demilitarized Zone to rear areas south of Seoul. South Korea expected the timing of the troop reduction to be around 2007, when relocation of U.S. troops will be almost complete.The misunderstanding developed from the two countries' differing perceptions of the threat presented by North Korea. This perception gap is shaking the U.S.-South Korean relationship. A lack of communication is bound to endanger any alliance.Ranks of appeasers swellingAn increasing number of South Koreans, especially younger generations, have the twisted idea that the real threat facing their country comes not from Pyongyang, but from Washington. This idea has its roots in North-South summit talks four years ago whose only achievement was to promote support for appeasement among South Koreans toward North Korea.Some members of the ruling Uri Party, which won the last general election, are demanding that the government review the additional dispatch of South Korean troops to Iraq. This has increased U.S. distrust of South Korea.Disharmony in the U.S.-South Korea alliance cannot be allowed since it will be exploited by North Korea.It is important for Japan to make unstinting efforts to uphold its alliance with the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	620	2004-06-12	YOSHIN0020040612e06c000m9
YOMSHI0020040612e06d0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040612e06d0000c	EN	\N	Investor tax ID plan too narrow in scope	The proposed taxpayer IDs would entitle investors to enjoy the privilege of offsetting capital losses with stock dividends as well as gains accrued through other types of financial instruments, such as interest on savings. Currently, taxes on income from financial products are withheld at source on a stand-alone basis.	4	2004-06-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a starting point for dealing with the long-pending issue of a possible introduction of ID numbers for all taxpayers, the commission's scheme, which effectively will help ease tax burdens on investors, does not go nearly far enough.The commission reportedly is inclined to initially apply the tax-netting method to financial products offered by securities houses, such as equities and investment trust funds, since banks would require more time to make their computer systems compatible with the envisaged consolidated taxation system.Taking opposition to the plan among some taxpayers into consideration, the commission is considering introducing the taxpayer ID number system in a less forcible manner by making it optional rather than by introducing a mandatory, across-the-board assignment of numbers.The consolidated taxation method for investors is aimed at rectifying the lopsided concentration of personal financial assets in so-called indirect financing--or deposit-taking--institutions by encouraging people to invest in so-called direct financing instruments, such as equities and corporate bonds. A tax relief measure for capital losses from stock sales is expected to accelerate a major shift of personal financial assets into the latter, a development that will stimulate the economy as a whole.Should the government not allow investors to opt for the offsetting--or netting--between interest on savings and losses from stock transactions, few will be happy to be assigned taxpayer ID numbers.Blanket system widely backedFor its part, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) has called on the government to adopt a mandatory, across-the-board taxpayer ID number system as an effective way of consolidating income of all kinds received by taxpayers. The combined income should then be subjected to progressive taxation, according to Rengo's proposal.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the main opposition party, has proposed that an all-inclusive taxpayer ID number system be introduced so the earnings of self-employed people and farmers, among others, can be accurately assessed--a measure essential for integrating the nation's old-age pension systems.Integration of the pension systems is part of an agreement among the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner New Komeito and Minshuto. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has also emphasized the necessity of unifying the three separate pension systems. How to deal with the proposed taxpayer ID number system is thus a focal point of pension reform discussions.We fear that the Tax Commission's proposal concerning investors may impede a full-fledged debate on a comprehensive taxpayer ID number system. The advisory panel ought to look into the issue by paying due attention to pension reform instead of narrowly focusing on taxes on financial products.The commission's proposal will enable taxation authorities to trace each individual's financial assets across the board regardless of how many financial institutions they use for investment. As a result, it will become possible for the taxation authorities to provide precise tax refunds.Foreign examples instructiveIn the United States and Scandinavian countries, tax administration is based on social security ID numbers or resident ID numbers that are assigned to all members of the populace. Both salaried workers and self-employed people in the United States, for example, report their respective earnings in detail to tax offices, quoting their Social Security numbers.In Japan, we already have pension ID numbers and the basic resident registers, so the infrastructure prerequisite to the implementation of an across-the-board taxpayer ID number system is in place.If invoices--bills with the amount of tax specified--become compulsory for the payment of consumption tax and are coupled with a taxpayer ID number system, it will be possible to accurately assess the earnings of self-employed people, such as small-business owners.Tracking the precise amount of individuals' income is indispensable for pension reform. With overseas systems in mind, the Tax Commission should immediately begin studying what form the country's future mandatory taxpayer ID number system should take, and how it should be administered.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	772	2004-06-13	YOSHIN0020040614e06d000dj
YOMSHI0020040614e06f0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040614e06f0000j	EN	\N	Parties acted wisely on contingency bills	Bills, including one concerning the protection of the people in the event of attacks by foreign forces, designed to supplement war contingency legislation that was passed into law last year, as well as a bill giving the government the power to ban vessels from specific countries from making port calls, were passed into law Monday with the backing of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and main opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).	4	2004-06-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ninety percent of House of Representatives members and more than 80 percent of House of Councillors members approved the bills' enactment.Earlier in the current Diet session, which is to end Wednesday, Minshuto, apparently in consideration of the upper house election in July, tried to oppose the passage of public pension reform bills by staging an ox walk, a vote-delaying tactic, throwing the Diet into disarray.Minshuto worthy of praiseBut Minshuto came out in favor of the bills designed to supplement the contingency legislation and of the ones related to Japan-U.S. security arrangements, probably because the party realized its responsibility as the main opposition party. The party should be praised for demonstrating this moderate stance.Even though the enactment of the supplementary laws completes the contingencies-related legislation, many issues remain to be solved.The government plans to map out a new National Defense Program Outline, more in step with the times, as the nation's new defense strategy. It also needs to promote further measures to deal with terrorist attacks and keep public order.Discussions over the bill concerning basic principles for how the government should deal with such contingencies as large-scale terrorist attacks and natural disasters will now begin. The LDP, New Komeito and Minshuto earlier reached a broad accord on the bill. We hope Minshuto will take an active and constructive role in these discussions.The law concerning the protection of the people in an emergency, which serves as the core of the contingency legislation, stipulates the roles and responsibilities of the central and local governments in the evacuation and rescue of civilians. This law puts the finishing touches on the contingency legislation.The three parties, in line with their joint revision of the legislation upon its passage in the lower house agreed, at Minshuto's behest to include in the armed attack contingency legislation stipulations concerning measures to be taken during such emergencies as large-scale terrorist attacks.With the enactment of the law concerning the protection of civilians during contingencies, the central government will begin to decide on a basic guideline that will include evacuation instructions and how to rescue victims, while local governments will draw up concrete plans to protect the people.Cooperation, coordination vitalTo effectively put the legislation into effect, the police, firefighters and the Self-Defense Forces must cooperate and coordinate with each other.It is important for local governments to carry out repeated drills on the basics of the plans and to make public any problems that need to be solved. This will improve the nation's crisis-control system and enhance people's awareness of the need for national defense.The law concerning special measures to ban specific vessels from making port calls here will serve as yet another tool the government can use to pressure North Korea, following the enactment of the revised Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, with its economic sanctions.The new law, if effectively used, should help persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile development programs and to resolve the abduction issue.The law concerning the preventive injection of public funds into financial institutions in need of assistance was enacted only after last-minute negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties.If the bill had not been passed into law during the current Diet session, leading to a delay in efforts to put local financial institutions into order, local economies would have been hit hard.Minshuto acted wisely in backing the new contingency-related laws, so why did it oppose this badly needed financial bill? Minshuto should never have made the financial bill a bone of contention with the ruing camp.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	726	2004-06-15	YOSHIN0020040615e06f000la
YOMSHI0020040615e06g0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040615e06g0000i	EN	\N	Politicians must now try to restore public trust	The Diet session should have provided voters with a yardstick to use to judge the policies espoused by the parties and which party to support in the upper house race. However, this Diet session has no doubt confounded many voters, seriously shaking public trust in politicians and political parties.	4	2004-06-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It was most disturbing to see how lawmakers settled their dispute over a set of pension reform bills during the session.The bills were aimed at averting the financial collapse of the state-run pension system. With this in mind, the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) agreed to start debating sweeping changes in the system, including a plan to integrate some state-run pension programs into a unified scheme. The agreement was reached during discussions on the bills in the House of Representatives before they were sent to the upper house for further debate.This accord reflected their awareness of the need to fundamentally reform the system as soon as possible.Minshuto undermined accordHowever, Minshuto undermined the accord when it chose to use the revelation that many legislators had failed to pay national pension premiums in the past to revisit points of contention on the issue between the ruling and opposition parties. This caused the parties to put off serious debate on how to reform the system, which only added to public distrust in the state-run pension plan.One Minshuto official has said publicly, "The three-party agreement has, in effect, been scrapped." During a vote on the pension bills in a plenary session of the upper house, Minshuto turned the clock back when it adopted the so-called ox walk tactic to delay the vote. This tactic was reminiscent of the stale approach adopted by the former Japan Socialist Party, which opposed anything the LDP proposed. It remains unknown whether the ruling and opposition parties will be able to reopen discussions on drastic pension reforms under the three-party accord.Both the LDP and Minshuto have touted a unified pension system as part of their respective electoral pledges. But neither party is clear about the specifics of their plans.It is never too late. The political parties should present voters with specific pension reform plans and timetables to reach their goals.The turmoil arising from the tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition parties over the pension reform bills continued through the final days of the ordinary Diet session. Still, the ruling parties were able to push through approval of several important bills toward the very end, with the backing of Minshuto. The enacted legislation includes a set of national emergency laws, including one aimed at protecting the public from a military attack and a law that could ban North Korean ships from docking at Japanese ports. Minshuto's cooperation in this respect may have resulted from a desire to present itself as a responsible party.Upper house in disarrayThe passage of the pension reform laws, the contingency laws and legislation for banning North Korean ships from calling at Japanese ports came after the LDP, New Komeito and Minshuto agreed to adopt them with some modifications after discussions in the lower house. This means the bills should have passed the upper house without all the trouble that ensued.It is extremely deplorable that the parties' refusal to honor their agreements as a result of intraparty strife dealt such a blow to public trust in the legislature and politicians.The upper house was the scene of all the squabbling among the political parties during this Diet session. We find this disturbing in that the upper house is usually regarded as the sensible chamber. The confusion engulfing the last Diet session raises questions about this nation's parliamentary system.Toward the end of the Diet session, a question arose over whether Self-Defense Forces personnel sent to aid in Iraq's reconstruction should be allowed to join a planned multinational force in that country. The issue will likely become a major focus of the upcoming upper house elections. The question should be discussed as a policy issue concerning what the nation can do to play a responsible role in the international community. It should not be used as a tool to maintain futile disputes among the political parties.The primary task of politicians and political parties is to create law and implement policies necessary to carry out economic and social reforms while also ensuring national peace and security. But our politicians must first work to restore public trust in politics.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	798	2004-06-16	YOSHIN0020040616e06g000nw
YOMSHI0020040616e06h0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040616e06h0000k	EN	\N	Don't let semantics block SDF mission	As a player on the world stage, Japan has every reason to have Self-Defense Forces personnel join a planned multinational force to continue its humanitarian activities in aid of Iraq's reconstruction under a recently adopted U.N. Security Council resolution.	4	2004-06-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, some members of the ruling and opposition parties have raised questions about a government plan to send the SDF on the mission, insisting that doing so contravenes the Constitution.For years, the government has said the Constitution bans the SDF from joining a U.N. force if its operations entail the use of force. There are two kinds of involvement in a U.N. force--participation and cooperation. The former requires a U.N. member nation's forces to come under the control of a unified U.N. command, while the latter covers a wider range of activities, including taking part in activities with the U.N.-commanded forces.The primary task to be tackled by the U.N.-sanctioned multinational force is to maintain peace and order in Iraq and extend humanitarian aid to support the country's reconstruction. Japan's humanitarian assistance to the war-ravaged nation is anything but an element that could contravene the constitutional ban on the use of force.The government's yet-to-be-issued statement on the SDF's involvement in the multinational force reportedly stipulates that the SDF would not be placed under the control of the multilateral force's unified command, and that the SDF would never be involved in the use of force by other nations' military units. The statement also says that Japan would be able to reject requests from the multinational force's command if they ran counter to the basic position on the SDF's involvement. The U.S. and British governments have reportedly accepted Japan's decision not to place the SDF under the authority of the multinational force's unified command.Role fits with rulesThere should be no question about the constitutionality of SDF activities to be carried out in support of the multinational forces. We hope that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will explain this to the public in an easy-to-understand manner.During Diet debates, however, the director general of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau confused the issue when he used tactically ambiguous language to explain the SDF's proposed involvement in the multinational force. He may have wanted to emphasize that the SDF's mission would never be linked to the type of use of offensive force banned by the Constitution.The international community has undergone great changes in recent years. The SDF should play a role in a wide range of international cooperative activities to further the cause of peace, including not only the provision of humanitarian aid for the reconstruction of a war-torn country, but the maintenance and restoration of peace. Japan would be unable to fulfill its obligation as a responsible member of the international community if it sought only to ensure that SDF operations matched the government's outdated interpretation of the Constitution.Govt must leadThe Legislation Bureau is only an organ of the Cabinet, not the sole and absolute interpreter of the Constitution. The government should demonstrate leadership in properly defining the SDF's involvement in the multinational force under the Constitution.It is disturbing to note that the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has demanded the withdrawal of SDF troops from Iraq. If it walked out on global efforts to aid Iraq, Japan would be singled out for international contempt. Minshuto's position should be dismissed as extremely irresponsible.In its manifesto issued for last year's House of Representatives election, Minshuto stated that Japan should implement various measures to aid Iraq, including the use of the SDF, if the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution after receiving a request from a government established by the Iraqis.The largest opposition party may be seeking to stir controversy about the constitutionality of the SDF's involvement in the multinational force in hope of using the dispute to its advantage in the House of Councillors election campaign. Minshuto should realize that any responsible party knows better than to change its position on an important issue, depending on the situation it faces.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	746	2004-06-17	YOSHIN0020040617e06h000mj
YOMSHI0020040617e06i0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040617e06i0000e	EN	\N	Objections to patriotic education senseless	A panel of Diet members from the ruling coalition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito have compiled an interim report on a planned revision of the Fundamental Law of Education.	4	2004-06-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although panel members agreed on a basic policy to fully revise the law, they failed to narrow a difference of opinion over how to refer to the cultivation of patriotic spirit, the focus of the revision.While the LDP insisted on the wording, "to love one's hometown and country," New Komeito stood firm on its counterproposal to use the expression, "to treasure ones' hometown and country." Reflecting the division, the lawmakers agreed to use both expressions to describe the patriotic element to educational reform in the report.The panel put off reaching any conclusion on what should be taught in religious education or on reform of the current nine-year compulsory education system until after the House of Councillors election next month.Contentious phraseThe ruling bloc began discussions on revising the law in response to a proposal by the government's Central Education Council in March last year that called for a comprehensive revision of the law. Although the panel initially aimed at submitting its draft revisions to the ordinary Diet session last year, it decided to delay the submission as New Komeito objected to the LDP proposal to use the expression, "spirit to love one's country." This is the same point of contention seen in the interim report.Why is the expression unacceptable?In explaining their objection to the phrase, some have said: "It smells like the nationalism before World War II," and "'To love one's country' evokes the image that people must be willing to die for the country." There are even those who pose the unusual question: "Does it mean people must love the governing system as well?"Amid the ongoing advance of globalization in all aspects of life, Japanese, as members of the international community, are required to live together with people who have cultures and histories that are different from our own. It is therefore necessary for us first to deepen our understanding of the traditions and culture that are deeply rooted in our lives.Basic awareness vitalFrom this point of view, the council's proposal stressed the necessity of cultivating students' "awareness of being Japanese and spirit to love and be proud of one's hometown and country." We advise the panel members to reread the proposal.The "spirit to love one's country" is also stipulated in the existing course of study. The official teaching guidelines say third and forth grade primary school students should be instructed in an ethics class "to become familiar with our country's culture and traditions and have a spirit to love the country as well as to take interest in people and cultures of foreign countries."A law concerning national holidays explains the National Foundation Day as a day "to commemorate the national foundation and foster a spirit to love the nation."Cultivating the patriotic spirit is a matter that has nothing to do with nationalism. Nevertheless, when a law defining the national flag and anthem was established five years ago, groups inclined toward a certain ideology aroused a feeling of hostility against the Hinomaru flag and "Kimigayo," saying that they were "symbols of the war of aggression against neighboring countries."Whether it is right or wrong to cultivate patriotism is never a matter for debate in other countries. We should put an end to the fruitless dispute.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2004-06-18	YOSHIN0020040618e06i000mh
YOMSHI0020040618e06j0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040618e06j0000h	EN	\N	N-fuel reprocessing makes sense for Japan	The facility will become the hub for the nuclear fuel cycle in Japan. It should be put into full operation as soon as possible so it can fulfill that role.	4	2004-06-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the plant, plutonium and uranium will be extracted from spent nuclear fuel and used again as fresh fuel for nuclear plants. This is a more efficient way to use uranium rather than using it only once and discarding it. The amount of nuclear waste generated will be drastically reduced, too. The nuclear fuel cycle will maximize the advantage that nuclear power generation offers--ensuring a stable supply of electricity for a long time.Cost not only factor to weighConstruction of the plant began in 1993, funded by 2.14 trillion yen from Japan Nuclear Fuel, which is financed jointly by the 10 electric power companies in the nation. The government has supported the construction, too, touting realization of the nuclear fuel cycle as a national policy.Nonetheless, some members of the government are now demanding a review of that policy as the time for revision of the government's long-term plan for the study, development and use of nuclear energy, which comes round every five years, has arrived.The review advocates see the enormous costs of reprocessing as a problem. Preparing for further liberalization of the electricity market, the electric power industry has estimated long-term costs for reprocessing to be 19 trillion yen. They consider this too high.But this is the total cost necessary for the next 80 years. Even with this amount added, the costs of nuclear power generation will still be less than those incurred through power generation using oil and other fuels.Some critics of the reprocessing plan say it should be aborted. But if not reprocessed, spent nuclear fuel has to be stored or abandoned. That also costs a lot, which means that the 19 trillion yen cost is not so outrageous.Even if the reprocessing cost is passed on to consumers, it is estimated to total only 105 yen per month per household. This is a burden, but seeing the costs involved as a problem is shortsighted because there is no guarantee that adequate oil and gas supplies will continue to be available in the future.N-power key energy sourceThe Aomori prefectural government has become concerned about the possible change in the central government's nuclear fuel cycle policy and is growing increasingly cautious of approving the plant's test operations.But if the plant is not run for a long time, nuclear power plants around the country will experience trouble. The amount of spent nuclear fuel is approaching the limit of storage capacity at some plants. That may force them to halt operations.Of course, the facility in Rokkashomura alone cannot reprocess all the spent nuclear fuel from the nuclear power plants around the nation. Part of it will have to be kept at interim storage facilities. How it should be treated in the future remains a problem.Nuclear power generates nearly 40 percent of electricity in Japan. Measures to protect this major electricity source should be discussed in the process of revising the government's long-term nuclear development plan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2004-06-19	YOSHIN0020040619e06j000m9
YOMSHI0020040619e06k0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040619e06k0000d	EN	\N	Iran has itself to blame for IAEA censure	After days of diplomatic maneuvering over how to deal with Iran's secret nuclear development program, the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors on Friday adopted a resolution sharply rebuking Iran for not fully cooperating with the IAEA. Issuing the censure motion was the obvious course of action for the U.N. nuclear watchdog to take.	4	2004-06-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report compiled by the IAEA 's director general on IAEA nuclear inspections in Iran shows that Iran's claim that its nuclear development program is intended for peaceful purposes is hard to swallow.IAEA inspectors found highly enriched uranium (HEU)--which can be used to make nuclear warheads if enriched to a sufficiently high level--at a research institute in central Iran.As it did when HEU was found at two other sites earlier, Iran blamed HEU contamination of imported centrifuges for the latest find.As the resolution pointed out, Iran should volunteer more evidence as soon as possible to support its claim that it is not producing HEU. If it fails to do so, its claims will not be believed.Something to hide?The report also noted that Iran tried to import 4,000 centrifuge components.Iran said it intended to use the parts for experiments on uranium enrichment. But as this amount is far too large to be used solely for experimental purposes, it is only natural for the international community to doubt Iran's word.After initially trying to brush aside these issues as "trifling," Iran vented its anger toward the IAEA when the latter described them as "problematic." If Iran really believes the HEU finds are a matter of little concern, its animus toward the IAEA is hard to understand.As the board's resolution said, Iran must give an honest and comprehensive account of its uranium enrichment program.Referring to Iran's tardiness in disclosing information about its nuclear program and its unconvincing explanations about the HEU, the resolution said the board "deplores" that "Iran's cooperation has not been as full, timely and proactive as it should have been," and that Tehran's stance has undermined the trust of the international community.The world is watchingLast year, Iran, at the urging of Britain, Germany and France, suspended its uranium enrichment research and signed an additional protocol allowing the IAEA to conduct snap nuclear inspections in the country. But some hard-liners in the country have said there is no need to ratify the protocol quickly.Iran should not misjudge the mood of international community concerning nuclear issues. As was recognized at the recent summit meeting of the Group of Eight major nations, it is a matter of urgency to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear missiles.The agency's board also decided to reduce the frequency of its inspections on nuclear facilities in Japan, on the ground that they are only used for peaceful purposes. Funds and personnel that will become available through the easing of inspections on facilities in this country could be used for stepped-up inspections in Iran.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2004-06-20	YOSHIN0020040620e06k000d0
YOMSHI0020040620e06l0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040620e06l0000b	EN	\N	Banks must take last step in restoration of finances	The bill designed to allow the government to inject public funds into financial institutions in need of assistance, which at one stage was on the brink of being scrapped, was passed into law during the recently ended Diet session.	4	2004-06-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Before the law's enactment, an injection of public funds into a single financial institution was allowed only when there were fears of a financial system crisis, in accordance with the Deposit Insurance Law.The new law will allow the government to make preventive fund injections into financially stricken banks that are not on the brink of collapse, but nonetheless in need of assistance.With the new legislation, the government will be able to administer a more effective remedy in putting the nation's financial system on a healthy footing.Payoff deadline loomsNext April, the payoff system will be fully implemented, thereby limiting the government's guarantee on deposits at failed banks to a principal of up to 10 million yen plus accrued interest. Depositors are expected to scrutinize financial institutions more closely then ever when depositing their money.Unless the nation's financial system regains its vitality before then, there are fears that the full implementation of the payoff system may cause a loss of public confidence in the system.With the payoff deadline approaching, the new law must play a very important role in rejuvenating the financial system.The law is primarily aimed at rehabilitating regional and locally based financial institutions, which are said to lag behind major banks in the disposal of bad loans.The government's target of halving the ratio of bad loans held by major banks against their outstanding loans to the 4 percent level by the end of March 2005 is now in sight.But several regional banks still have bad-loan ratios of more than 10 percent.Many regions have yet to bail their economies out of their impoverished state, while regional banks are having difficulty finding investors to buy the additional stocks they are issuing to boost their capital. Public fund injections may be a decisive factor in boosting such banks' net worth.Banks can't wait for recoveryInjections of public funds are to be made only after a financial institution first applies for such capital. However, banks are reluctant to do so for fear of government intervention in their business.Bank managers should not take the irresponsible stance that the recovery of the nation's economy will get them out of trouble. Instead, they should aggressively utilize the public funds available.Ashikaga Bank, a regional bank based in Tochigi Prefecture, collapsed in November and was temporarily placed under state control. With negative net worth of about 680 billion yen in fiscal 2003, it is almost inevitable that a sizable amount of public funds will have to be injected into the bank.Had public funds been utilized before the bank fell into this critical state, it would have avoided collapse and reduced the burden on taxpayers. We hope bank managers act in such a way so as not to repeat Ashikaga Bank's mistake.Compared with major banks that have undergone large-scale corporate reorganization, regional and locally based banks are lagging behind in reforming themselves.Injections of public funds can be used by such banks to obtain the capital needed for their revitalization. The Financial Services Agency needs to urgently proceed with the reorganization of regional banks by using such funds.The nation's financial institutions must pass this last critical milestone in the restoration of the financial system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2004-06-21	YOSHIN0020040621e06l000fl
YOMSHI0020040621e06m0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040621e06m0000k	EN	\N	Diet members must tackle issues after poll	On Monday, the five leaders locked horns over various issues at a debate organized by the Japan National Press Club. This served as a prelude to the official start Thursday of campaigning for the July 11 upper house election.	4	2004-06-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Efforts to reform the state-run pension system are essential to ensure that the public can live out their lives in comfort. Our involvement in Iraq's postwar reconstruction could affect global peace and security.If a change in administration leads to changes in the government's pension and other social insurance policies, young people would begin to distrust the system as a whole. If the advent of a new government means a change in the nation's security policies, few other countries would trust us.During Monday's debate, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Katsuya Okada urged the government to scrap a set of recently enacted pension reform laws. The largest opposition party's leader said he would abolish the laws if he came into power.Admittedly, it is difficult to describe these laws as a fundamental reform of the state-run pension programs. Nonetheless, Minshuto should understand that, if it took power, it could not stand by and watch the pension system's coffers be depleted.Full discussions neededDuring the last Diet session, the ruling parties--the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito--and Minshuto agreed to discussions on how to drastically reform the pension system, including a plan to integrate the public pension programs into a unified scheme.Before anything else is done, voters want the political parties to conduct constructive discussions on how to reform pension, medical, nursing-care and other insurance systems in a way that would dispel the anxiety felt by the public about the future.During Monday's debate, Okada proposed transforming the public pension programs, including the national pension plan, which largely covers self-employed people, into a unified system. To help finance his proposal, the Minshuto leader called for introducing a new consumption tax, the revenues of which would be used exclusively to fund the pension system.No one who truly wants the system to be reformed should shirk a debate on the ways and means of financing the pension scheme--including an increase in the 5 percent consumption tax. The political parties should use Okada's proposal as a basis for discussion on the use of consumption tax revenues as a means for funding the pension reform plans.Both Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Okada mentioned the need to adopt a system in which every taxpayer would be allotted an identification number. The proposed system is essential for unifying the state-run pension programs. The proposal should be more seriously debated.Monday's debate also addressed Iraq. Okada urged the government to withdraw Self-Defense Forces personnel sent to aid in the reconstruction of that country, raising objections to a government plan to continue operations as part of an envisaged multinational force.Minshuto's views contradictoryThe prime minister rebutted Okada's remarks by bringing up Minshuto's earlier position on the issue. Koizumi reminded listeners that Minshuto had previously said the government should consider sending the SDF to participate in a multilateral force under a new U.N. resolution, if the Iraqis requested it.The prime minister was correct in raising questions about the seeming contradictions between Minshuto's stated Iraqi policies.However, Okada replied that the SDF should participate in the multinational force only after a request was made by an Iraqi government that has received a national mandate through elections, and that a request from an interim government was insufficient.It should be noted, however, that the Iraqi provisional government is a U.N.-sanctioned entity to which the country's sovereignty will be transferred. Given this, Okada's argument should be dismissed as irresponsible.In response to a question about what the nation should do if it decided to pull the SDF out of Iraq, Okada said it should extend financial aid and step up its diplomatic efforts to ensure that the United Nations played a greater role in Iraq. This response was too abstract. We hope the Minshuto president will present specific measures to address the Iraq problem.Those who win the upper house election will serve in the Diet until 2010. Diet members should tell themselves that their task is to discuss vital policy issues, with a determination to lay a foundation for Japan in the 21st century.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	796	2004-06-22	YOSHIN0020040622e06m000jl
YOMSHI0020040622e06n0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040622e06n0000j	EN	\N	Speed bad-loan disposal by easing tax burdens	Evidence of this can be found in a report put together by a working group of the Financial System Council, an advisory body to the prime minister, concerning capital adequacy requirements to be met by commercial banks operating internationally. The capital adequacy ratio is used to determine the financial health of corporations.	4	2004-06-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The major focus of discussion within the council was on how to deal with so-called deferred tax assets. Some taxes paid by corporations are to be refunded in the future. Corporate expenditure in this category is to be carried forward as an asset in corporate accounting.Phase in restrictions graduallyThe latest report concludes that restrictions on banks seeking to treat their tax payments as assets should be enforced gradually after a grace period. This will likely cause the government to give up implementing draconian measures initially incorporated into Takenaka's financial revitalization program. His scheme could have dealt a serious blow to commercial banks by rewriting the rules on banks' deferred tax assets.With Takenaka's radical plan in mind, major banks are striving to write off some of their tax assets from their equity capital. If restrictions on deferred tax assets are enforced gradually, however, the chance that the Takenaka plan will disrupt the financial system becomes more remote.For years, banks have been allowed to count the taxes they pay in writing off their nonperforming loans as part of their equity capital. This is because such taxes are refunded to banks after the amount of their actual losses is determined.The Takenaka plan, unveiled in October 2002, was designed to impose strict regulations on banks seeking to count their tax assets as equity capital. This rule reflected Takenaka's belief that the equity capital of domestic banks appeared larger than it was in actual terms.Takenaka planned to leaving most major banks short of their capital adequacy requirements through his strict scheme. By doing so, he planned to implement a hard-landing strategy for reforming the financial system, including measures to place some financially troubled banks under state control.Takenaka plan too harshHowever, the Takenaka plan antagonized the ruling parties and the banking industry, all of whom were concerned that his program would seriously scramble the financial system. It was eventually decided that the Financial System Council working group would study the feasibility of the Takenaka plan.The latest report states that measures should be taken to ensure that restrictions on deferred tax assets do not contradict macroeconomic policies carried out by the government.The government has said that banks must work hard to make good progress in writing off nonperforming loans by the end of March in 2005. Its goal is to halve the ratio of the banks' bad loans to lending by that date. The council's report has proposed that the government work, first and foremost, to see a good portion of the bad loans cleared by the end of March, after which it should impose restrictions on deferred tax assets. Given the circumstances of domestic banks, the council's advice is wise.The Financial Services Agency will follow up on the report by working out the specifics of the planned regulations. The FSA should note that the stringent restrictions adopted in the United States are not a good example for this nation to follow.The report is correct in reminding its readers that losses incurred by writing off nonperforming loans are for the most part not taxable in the United States. This is in contrast to the method adopted in Japan, where such losses are generally taxable. This explains why domestic corporations' tax assets constitute a sizeable portion of their equity capital.Given the differences between Japan and the United States in this regard, it would not be wise for the government to enforce strict regulations comparable to those used in the United States.It should be noted that the U.S. administration has provided corporations with tax benefits to help expedite their write-offs of bad loans, despite its restrictions on deferred tax assets.Japan should resolve its bad-loan problem once and for all by implementing drastic measures to ease the tax burdens shouldered by banks in writing off their nonperforming loans, including an expansion of tax-free write-offs.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	792	2004-06-23	YOSHIN0020040623e06n000qj
YOMSHI0020040623e06o0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040623e06o0000g	EN	\N	Informed electorate vital to democratic process	The July 11 upper house election, the 20th of its kind, is expected to play an extremely important role in determining the policies that could significantly influence Japanese life and decide the kind of country Japan should become in the 21st century.	4	2004-06-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In their campaign pledges, the political parties have stated their positions on various key areas, including pension reform and Iraq, both of which will be central issues in the upcoming race. Other issues in the spotlight include social security, external relations, national security, international peace and stability, economic management and the Constitution.The upper house election will be followed by important developments in the dispute over reform of the state-run pension system and the controversy over proposals to change the Constitution. In this sense, the single ballots to be cast by individual voters in the upper house race could affect the outcome of these disputes.The upcoming election is also expected to provide voters with an opportunity to give each party a midterm report card on the manifestoes drafted for last year's House of Representatives election. A political party's manifesto serves as a set of promises detailing the timelines and funding for each policy it has put forward, as well as numerical targets involved.Have the ruling parties made progress in carrying out the key policies spelled out in their manifestoes for the last lower house election? Have opposition parties made their policies more convincing to voters?Grading manifestoesThese questions may serve as the main yardsticks in doing a midterm assessment of each party's manifesto. Wiser voters will also study reports issued by business organizations and think tanks assessing each political party's manifesto.The ruling parties have already assessed their own manifestoes. The Liberal Democratic Party has said that it is "seeking to carry out" 94 percent of the policies listed in its manifesto. However, these policies include some that the LDP has just started discussing.New Komeito, a partner in the LDP-led coalition, has said that it has "carried out or made great progress in implementing" 31 of the 100 items it cited in its manifesto for the lower house election.In its latest manifesto, the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has proposed abolishing a lucrative pension program for Diet members and integrating the Social Insurance Agency and the National Tax Administration Agency to set up a "revenue agency." These proposals are intended to complement a plan published in Minshuto's earlier manifesto to integrate the national pension plan, the corporate employees' pension system and other state-run pension programs into a unified scheme.The main opposition party has also changed its policy priorities. Minshuto's new manifesto is led by a proposal to unify the state-run pension plans. The opposition party has removed a plan to make toll highways toll-free from a list of key policies announced for the last general election. Instead, Minshuto has incorporated the toll-free highway plan into a list of specific issues it will address in carrying out its new manifesto.The Constitution serves as a basis for all government policies. It defines what kind of nation Japan is. In its manifesto, the LDP has declared its determination to amend the Constitution. New Komeito's manifesto insists on incorporating environmental and other fundamental rights into the supreme law.Constitutional proposalsMeanwhile, Minshuto has proposed creating a constitution that matches a new age. Both the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party have opposed changing the Constitution.Several days before the start of official campaigning for the upper house election, the political parties started discussing issues related to their election promises, as in the latest debate among party leaders. However, they have not yet done enough to fully address important issues. We hope all parties and candidates will engage in meaningful debate about policy issues.According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, a disturbingly modest 61 percent of those polled said they definitely intended to vote in the July 11 election, six percentage points down from a similar survey taken three years ago. Voter turnout stood at 56 percent in the 2001 upper house election, marking the third lowest rate.An unabated decline in voter turnout means democracy in this country could be reduced to a mere slogan. Voters should remind themselves that national elections provide them with an excellent opportunity to ensure their wishes are reflected in important policy issues. They must closely study the policies of each party.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	777	2004-06-24	YOSHIN0020040624e06o000ke
YOMSHI0020040625e06q0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040625e06q0000i	EN	\N	Don't let terrorists stop transfer of sovereignty	The Coalition Provisional Authority, led by the United States and Britain, will hand over sovereignty to a caretaker Iraqi government on June 30. The latest spate of attacks came just prior to the transfer of power.	4	2004-06-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is obvious that the latest attacks were aimed at destroying public order in Iraq and disrupting the smooth transfer of sovereignty. While the methods of attacks varied from the use of firearms and rocket-propelled grenades to car bombs, the targets were primarily public security-related facilities, including police stations, police training facilities and checkpoints.The attackers may have been trying to impress on the world the "powerlessness" of the interim Iraqi government and the United States.On the eve of the transfer of sovereignty, armed attacks on military and police units, as well as terrorist attacks on key Iraqi officials and foreigners have been frequent.Insurgents belonging to the Tawhid and Jihad movement believed led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have claimed responsibility for many recent attacks in Iraq.Terrorist extortion failedThe same organization demanded that the South Korean government, which earlier decided to send an additional 3,000 soldiers to Iraq, withdraw its troops from the country. When Seoul refused to budge, the organization killed a South Korean hostage.If the state of disorder becomes more serious and terrorist attacks more wide-spread, Iraq will be plunged into anarchy. Such a development would run counter to the wishes of Iraqis who hope to establish a stable state.The CPA had handed over administrative authority for all 26 government ministries to Iraq's interim government by Thursday.After the handover of sovereignty the interim government will prepare for a national election in January to establish a parliament, which in turn will draft a national constitution.A general election is to be held in December 2005 under the new constitution, ushering in a full-fledged government.Steady movement toward the establishment of a democratic administration is the only way to secure the rebuilding of Iraq. The transfer of sovereignty will mark the first step toward the goal. Rampant lawlessness by terrorists and armed groups seeking to block such efforts should never be permitted.Maintain law and orderThe public security capability of the caretaker government remains far from sufficient in terms of the size, training and equipment of its security forces. For at least the time being, the multinational forces led by the United States need to shoulder the burden of maintaining public peace in Iraq.Without the understanding and cooperation of the Iraqi people, public order cannot be maintained. Members of the international community, including the United States, need to cooperate with the caretaker government and do their utmost in stabilizing the country.The roles of those countries which have sent troops to Iraq are important. South Korea's confirmation of its plan to send additional troops to Iraq was a meaningful decision by Seoul, in terms of combining forces of the international community.Japan has also decided to continue the deployment of its Self-Defense Forces personnel in Samawah, southern Iraq. Terrorist attacks targeting Japan are possible. Guarding against such a possibility is vital.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	564	2004-06-26	YOSHIN0020040626e06q000im
YOMSHI0020040626e06r0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040626e06r0000e	EN	\N	World should pull plug on North's N-program	The United States proposed that if North Korea promised to dismantle all its nuclear programs, Washington would give a provisional multinational security guarantee and supply fuel to Pyongyang. It also said it would agree to bilateral talks with North Korea to discuss lifting its economic sanctions against the communist country.	4	2004-06-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush previously had refused to countenance the idea of offering North Korea "rewards" for giving up its nuclear ambitions.With the U.S. presidential election looming, Washington's apparent adoption of a more flexible stance toward North Korea may be an attempt to deflect criticism from the Democratic Party that the administration lacks a policy on North Korea's nuclear development.While Washington refrained from inserting in its proposal the phrase "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement (of North Korean nuclear facilities)"--a demand Pyongyang has rejected--it nevertheless called on Pyongyang to do exactly that. The proposal, which recommends a three-month "preparatory period" for scrapping North Korea's nuclear programs, apparently was too tough for North Korea to accept.Details of freeze lackingJapan has expressed its readiness to join other countries in providing fuel aid to North Korea on condition that Pyongyang freezes all its nuclear programs, discloses information on them and allows the freeze to be verified by inspections.The problem is whether North Korea will accept such proposals.North Korea said it would "freeze" all its nuclear-related facilities and eventually abandon them if it received "compensation" in the form of fuel aid and the removal of its name from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.By only promising to freeze its plutonium-reprocessing program and reiterating its denial that it is enriching uranium, North Korea fell short of agreeing to dismantle all its nuclear programs. Unless it changes its stance, no progress is likely in the six-nation talks.The talks should continue to be held on condition that North Korea freeze its nuclear programs as the first step toward their dismantlement.But the tasks of working out details of such matters as which nuclear-related facilities would be frozen, ways to verify the freeze and what North Korea would receive in return for freezing the facilities were all put off.Issue may come before UNSCWhile the six-nation talks drag on without achieving any results, North Korea continues its nuclear programs. The nuclear reactor now in operation in North Korea generates enough plutonium to produce one nuclear weapon a year.If North Korea manages to enrich uranium to weapons-grade level, it will be able to produce two to three more nuclear missiles annually.North Korea should not be allowed to use the six-nation talks to buy time. Should the country's nuclear and missile development programs be left unchecked, the threat to global peace and security will increase.If North Korea does not agree to the complete dismantlement of its nuclear programs, the issue inevitably will have to be taken up at the U.N. Security Council, where punitive measures could be considered.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	561	2004-06-27	YOSHIN0020040628e06r0002z
YOMSHI0020040627e06s00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040627e06s00009	EN	\N	SDF must be reformed to face modern threats	Some people have criticized the existence of the SDF as unconstitutional, but the results of a May opinion poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun show that more than 80 percent of the public approve the activities and roles undertaken by the SDF over the past 50 years.	4	2004-06-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The results appear to show that the public appreciates their accomplishments in U.N. peacekeeping operations, and the relief and reconstruction activities they performed after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.Today, however, the SDF faces a turning point amid the nation's changing security situation, including North Korea's nuclear development program and China's expansion of military strength and maritime strategy--not to mention the new security threats posed by terrorism, ballistic missiles and chemical and biological weapons.Based on these changes to the security situation inside and outside the country, a new National Defense Program Outline will be drawn up in autumn. Operations to construct a new security strategy and to review the equipment and structure of the SDF have already started.Look to regional securityOne task to be addressed in the new outline is making sure the SDF is able to maintain regional security as well as participate in international peace cooperation.The government has decided to introduce a missile defense system to intercept Rodong and other missiles that may be fired by North Korea, and is aiming at deploying it in fiscal 2007. The cost of the system is expected to be enormous--more than 500 billion yen.Since the defense budget is tightly restricted, unnecessary equipment and personnel will have to be slashed. A Cabinet meeting in December, at which the introduction of the missile defense system was decided, also decided to downsize the number of Ground Self-Defense Force tanks and artillery, Maritime Self-Defense Force escort ships and fixed-wing patrol aircraft, and Air Self-Defense Force operational aircraft.Old strategies obsoleteAfter the end of the Cold War, traditional military strategy--focused on defending the nation against a possible invasion by the then Soviet Union and patrolling for enemy nuclear submarines--became obsolete.But the SDF retains its old structures and equipment. For instance, the GSDF deploys 470 of its 980 tanks in Hokkaido, a possible landing site for the former Soviet forces.The SDF must quickly revise its organization, deployment and equipment plans, which have not been upgraded since the Cold War era. The deployment of forces with too much importance placed on the northern front must be reviewed. Priority must be shifted to the western front, facing China and North Korea, and to protection of the Tokyo metropolitan area and nuclear power plants against terrorist attacks.Streamlining the organizational structure of the SDF goes hand-in-hand with this review. The government should not stop at just a simple reduction of equipment and personnel.The GSDF will not need to maintain a force of 150,000 troops if its structure and operations are drastically changed, for instance by deploying mobile units using large helicopters.The opportunities for SDF participation in international peace cooperation will increase. More transport planes and ships will be needed in the future to speed up the dispatch of SDF personnel to other countries.It is the high time for the SDF to modify its structure and equipment drastically in response to changes in the security situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2004-06-28	YOSHIN0020040628e06s000hd
YOMSHI0020040628e06t0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040628e06t0000f	EN	\N	Success of new Iraqi govt key to global security	On Monday, the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the interim government.	4	2004-06-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The transfer of power took place about 14 months after former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled in April 2003. The move marked an important step for the start of the democratic process in Iraq.January elections vitalThe Iraqi interim government has an extremely important role to play in this process. Its greatest task will be to ensure that parliamentary elections take place smoothly in January. To achieve this goal, it is essential for the interim government to closely cooperate with the United Nations, as the global body is expected to play a key role in ensuring stability in Iraq.In July, the provisional government will hold a national council, to be attended by all political parties, religious sects and tribes in Iraq. At the meeting, about 100 people will be elected to a consultative council and charged with fulfilling the function of a parliament. This is designed to provide the interim government with a high degree of legitimacy.Still, various challenges lie ahead of the provisional government. Perhaps its first task will be to improve the security situation in the country, which is being shaken by unabated terrorist bombings, attacks and hostage-taking incidents.The CPA's decision to move forward the handover of power by two days apparently reflected concerns about terrorist attacks by insurgents. Failure to restore peace and security in Iraq will delay the return of U.N. officials to the country and make it impossible to conduct parliamentary elections.Iraqis mustn't be intimidatedIt is easy to understand what international terrorists, Saddam loyalists and anti-democracy forces are trying to accomplish. Their ambition is to instill a sense of fear in Iraqi leaders and citizens and hinder the political process in the country.It should be noted, however, that the Iraqis will play right into the hands of the insurgents if they are daunted by terrorist bombings and attacks.Efforts to foil terrorist attacks will require the envisaged U.S.-led multinational force to play an important role. That force must be complemented by Iraqi troops taking a central role in ensuring the security of their nation. With this in mind, the provisional government should shore up its troops as quickly as possible.North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders have decided to contribute to the training of Iraqi forces. The move is bound to boost Iraqi morale. It will show that the international community is determined to help the Iraqis take on the challenge of turning their country into a democracy.International efforts to help improve security conditions in Iraq and reconstruct the war-torn country are essential to dig the nation out of the ashes. Japan should continue its humanitarian aid for the reconstruction of Iraq through Self-Defense Forces operations in Samawah.According to an opinion survey, the Iraqis largely support their interim government, believing that it will be able to do them some good. Nothing could be more encouraging for the provisional government, which must work resolutely, but carefully to expedite the political process.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2004-06-29	YOSHIN0020040629e06t000im
YOMSHI0020040629e06u0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040629e06u0000l	EN	\N	Companies, shareholders need to communicate	This is the first case in the banking and securities industry of this country in which the annual salaries of a company's executives were disclosed.	4	2004-06-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Disclosures of executive salaries have attracted a lot of attention at other companies' general shareholders meetings this year.But Nikko Cordial is an exception, as the other companies have just revealed the total of their executives' salaries without disclosing individual salaries.Sony Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. shareholders submitted proposals to disclose individual executive salaries at their general shareholders meetings. The proposals were voted down at both companies, but more than 30 percent of Sony shareholders approved their proposal.'Matter of privacy'Many companies are opposed to this proposal. They say it is enough to reveal the total amount of executives' salaries as the amount of individual salaries is considered a matter of privacy.Top executives seem to be concerned that the media might sensationalize their salaries. This is understandable. And, after all, it is a simple calculation to work out the average salaries of the executives given a total salary figure.But shareholders and investors think it is important to know the exact salaries of individual executives.Whether or not executives have earned their salaries by improving the performance of a company is vital information when vetting the appointment of executives at shareholders meetings.In the United States, Britain and France, laws require that the executives' salaries be disclosed.The Japan Association of Corporate Directors, a private group of top executives interested in corporate governance, compiled a report early this month that urges companies to study disclosing CEO salaries.Release executive salariesFirst, management should research how many shareholders actually want such a disclosure. If it concludes that shareholders need the information, the company should release it voluntarily.Companies should not have to be forced to disclose salaries through a new rule. This should be a matter of effective communication between the companies and their shareholders, leading to a voluntary disclosure.Meanwhile, fewer companies are holding shareholders meetings on the same day as other companies. Tuesday marked this year's busiest day, with 64 percent of companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange that closed their books on March 31 holding meetings.In 1995, a record 96 percent of companies held their shareholders meetings on the same day. The trend to hold them on different dates is apparently growing.Holding the meetings on the same day was a measure to keep out sokaiya corporate racketeers. However, the racketeers have become less active thanks to police control.More shareholders meetings need to be held on different dates to increase the attendance of individual shareholders. In addition, communication between management and shareholders will be enhanced if more companies hold meetings on Saturday or Sunday, so ordinary workers holding stocks will find it easier to attend.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	533	2004-06-30	YOSHIN0020040630e06u000k3
YOMSHI0020040630e0710000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040630e0710000c	EN	\N	Afghanistan will be crucial test for NATO	The question being asked about NATO at the moment is whether it will be able to restore the credibility the alliance has lost in the eyes of the international community.	4	2004-07-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	NATO leaders agreed at the summit attended by all 26 member nations to train Iraqi security forces at the request of Iraq's new interim government. This is an apparent compromise between nations that backed the invasion of Iraq and those that opposed the war, finding a middle ground between the demand by the United States and Britain for a boots-on-the-ground role for NATO in Iraq, and the desire of France and Germany to avoid direct involvement in Iraq.Where the Iraqi forces are to be trained and other details have been left for later discussions. It also remains unclear whether the job is to be tackled by individual member nations or by the alliance as a whole.The real testThe real test of NATO's credibility will be how it deals with the situation in Afghanistan rather than its assistance to Iraq.The alliance's credibility will be badly damaged if it fails in its voluntary efforts to assist in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.NATO took command last summer of the International Security Assistance Force that is providing security in Kabul. NATO's action in volunteering for the mission attracted international attention at the time because the deployment was NATO's first official mission outside Europe.Though the Afghan government expected the ISAF to expand its peacekeeping activities into areas outside Kabul, NATO failed to do so thus far.NATO leaders agreed at their latest summit to increase the number of NATO troops deployed in Afghanistan from the current 6,300 to 10,000.Security deterioratingThe planned reinforcement is aimed at dealing with the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan as national presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled in September approach. Another reason looming behind the reinforcement might be NATO leaders' concern that the alliance's raison d'etre would be questioned if it further disappoints member nations and rest of the international community.After winning the Cold War, NATO proudly called itself the most successful alliance in history. It was an appropriate evaluation given the role NATO played after World War II. However, the alliance has failed to adapt to the drastic changes in the international situation since the end of the Cold War.A war against terrorism has been started in Afghanistan. To win that war, Afghanistan must be successfully rebuilt and not allowed to slide back into a failed state. Obviously the international community cannot sit on its hands.NATO is expected to spearhead assistance for Afghanistan and to prove the significance of its presence to the world.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	499	2004-07-01	YOSHIN0020040701e071000li
YOMSHI0020040701e0720000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040701e0720000g	EN	\N	Hard to say goodbye to 'easy money'	The Fed is set to gradually bring its ultra-easy rates, with the benchmark federal funds rate of 1 percent at its lowest since 1958, back to levels considered normal. While minimizing possible adverse effects on the stock market, private consumption and corporate performances and nipping the inflationary trend in the bud, the U.S. central bank will ensure the United States' economic recovery. This is the beginning of a daunting task.	4	2004-07-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Speaking at a U.S. Senate hearing to confirm his nomination for a fifth term as chairman of the board, Alan Greenspan hinted at the possibility that the central bank would change the pace of raising rates, depending on economic trends, while, in principle, cautiously pursuing gradual rate hikes.While the U.S. economy has gotten back on the recovery track since the latter half of last year, concerns about inflation have emerged in some sectors of the U.S. economy, as seen in rising retail prices of gasoline, due to soaring crude oil prices, and in prices of houses in urban areas.Uncertainty also lingers over the situation in Iraq, the threat of international terrorism and other factors.No room for errorShould the Fed misjudge the timing or level of its next rate hike, it may interrupt the economic recovery and even bring about rapid inflation.The task of stabilizing U.S. economic growth is also vital for putting economies in the rest of the world back on a recovery track. We hope the Fed will enact its monetary policies flexibly and effectively.In terms of monetary policy, the responsibility to ensure stable growth without inflation does not rest with the United States alone. Governments and central banks in Japan and Europe are also responsible.In its annual report on the world economy, the Bank for International Settlements said the challenge in monetary policy for countries now is shifting toward finding a way to move away from ultra-loose money policies.In Japan, the discussion on changing the ultra-loose monetary policy is likely to intensify.Optimism growingAccording to the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey released Thursday, the diffusion index for large manufacturers has posted the five consecutive quarters of improvement, rising to a level last seen in August 1991, at the end of the economic bubble.The diffusion index for small and medium-sized manufacturers also entered positive territory for the first time in 12 years and seven months, indicating signs of economic recovery are being seen more broadly in the overall economy.Speculation has emerged that the Bank of Japan, in light of a steady economic upturn, may lift its quantitative monetary easing policy in the near future, driving up long-term interest rates.In finding a path of retreat from its easy-money policy, the Bank of Japan should bear in mind that Japan's economic fundamentals differ from those of the United States.While the United States was able to get out of a deflationary trend relatively quickly, the downward trend in consumer prices continues in Japan. The nation has yet to completely bail itself out of its deflationary trend.Should expectations of the end of super-soft policy lead to speculative moves in the market and an increase in long-term interest rates, the economy will be adversely affected. The Bank of Japan has suggested it will hold on to the present quantitative easy-money policy. The central bank needs to make its intentions on monetary policy clear by further deepening its dialogue with the market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2004-07-02	YOSHIN0020040702e072000if
YOMSHI0020040702e0730000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040702e0730000k	EN	\N	Vigorous debate needed on Constitution	By using the word "create," both parties seem to be trying to show their determination to build a nation that can weather the fast-changing world situation and cope with the rapid aging of the population and declining birthrate.	4	2004-07-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Despite these intentions, discussion on the Constitution, which should serve as a blueprint for such daunting tasks, remains quite dull.The Constitution is the basic legislation that embodies the basis of the state. The LDP, which advocates amending the Constitution, has promised to present its own ideas on amending the Constitution next year, while Minshuto, which advocates creating a new Constitution, has said it would come up with its own proposals for amending the supreme law in 2006.Naturally, one would expect vigorous discussion of the issue.In mid-June, shortly before the upper house election was officially announced, the LDP, Minshuto, and New Komeito, which advocates the need to make additional stipulations to the Constitution, all made public reports on the key constitutional points being discussed within their parties. In their reports, the parties went straight to the crux of specific issues and suggested specific courses of action.Collective defense core issueThe issue of the nation's right to exercise collective defense, which the government's conventional interpretation of the Constitution holds that the nation has such a right but cannot exercise it, is the core issue of Constitutional revision.The LDP, in its list of of key points under discussion, made clear that the exercise of collective defense should be incorporated in the Constitution.Meanwhile, Minshuto, in its interim report, has incorporated the idea of active participation in U.N.-led collective security activities with the maximum restrictions on the use of force in such activities.When it comes to the campaign pledges and campaign arguments, these issues are not reflected. It is only natural for the arguments during the campaign to become dull.In the initial phase of the campaign, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made reference to the need to have the right of collective defense stipulated in the Constitution so that the nation could exercise the right. But Koizumi later stopped mentioning the topic.He may have calculated that his party would face criticism and be at a disadvantage in the election if voters associated the issue with the government's recent decision to have the Self-Defense Forces act alongside the multinational forces in Iraq.Political accommodationThe LDP also may have had to accommodate the views of New Komeito to ensure smooth cooperation between the coalition parties in the election.New Komeito, in its list of key points under discussion, has clearly advocated retaining the Constitution's war-renouncing Article 9 and the party's disapproval of exercising the right to collective defense.Minshuto has done little but criticize the government's decision to have the SDF join the multinational forces in Iraq, making no reference to the issue of collective defense in its interim report.Minshuto stance may have something to do with the debate within the party over the exercise of the right of collective defense, as the party comprises members, ranging from former LDP members to those from now-defunct Japan Socialist Party.The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party oppose amending Article 9 and advocate protecting the present Constitution.How should the country's system of government, social security and welfare system be revised, let alone the issue of restructuring the rules governing national security? And to what extent should such new concepts of human rights, including environmental rights and privacy rights, be incorporated in the Constitution?As long as the parties shy away from discussing a wide range of important issues related to the Constitution, their responsibility as political parties should be questioned.The biggest political issue after the upper house election is Constitutional revision. Both the parties and candidates are obliged to address this vital issue in a substantive manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2004-07-03	YOSHIN0020040703e073000jm
YOMSHI0020040703e0740000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040703e0740000f	EN	\N	Fixing local finances vital reform issue	The triple reform of local government finance would curtail subsidies from the central government to local governments for designated industries, businesses, projects and other specified purposes. This would be balanced by a transfer from the central government of some tax revenue sources, with the aim of giving local governments more discretion in the use of tax revenues. Third, the proposed reform seeks to reduce tax grants from the central government for unspecified purposes, a move aimed at helping local governments restore fiscal discipline to their bloated coffers.	4	2004-07-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For years, the current subsidy system has served to undermine the discretionary power of local governments to determine the kind of administrative services they should provide. Each central government ministry and agency can influence the types of projects to be carried out by local governments through subsidies under its control. Such practices can force local governments to conduct similar subsidy-financed projects.The administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has undertaken to promote the triple reform with a declared determination to curtail subsidies by 4 trillion yen and transfer tax revenue sources worth 3 trillion yen annually within three years.Triple reform proposed by allWe believe that Koizumi's reform drive is on track. In fact, all major political parties have pledged to carry out triple-reform plans in their campaigns for the July 11 upper house election.However, there is a difference between the ruling and opposition camps in the proposed scale and methods of such a reform. During their election campaigns, the political parties should show voters how their respective reform plans differ from each other, thus helping them decide which plan would best serve its own purpose.The election promises of the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, are largely similar to the Koizumi Cabinet's reform policy.However, the LDP's election pledge concerning tax grants should be questioned. The ruling coalition party states it will work to ensure the government apportions "the amount of tax grants needed by local governments." LDP leaders and members have been embarrassed to see that the local governments were strongly antagonized by a government decision to reduce tax grants for the current fiscal year by close to 3 trillion yen. The LDP's attitude could reverse Koizumi's reform drive.As part of the subsidy reduction plan, the government has asked local government to work out the specifics of the proposed cutbacks. However, it is unclear whether the local governments will be able to put together a clear subsidy reduction plan. Different local governments have different interests in subsidies from the central government.Success far from assuredIt is no less difficult to tell whether the LDP will be able to carry out the plan that could emerge from efforts by the local governments to decide which subsidies should be trimmed. In fact, the government's decision to curtail tax grants for fiscal 2004 by 1 trillion yen irritated central government bureaucrats and lawmakers affected by the move, making it extremely difficult to produce plans that could lay their objections to rest. The LDP must show it is determined to prevent such folly from recurring.Among opposition parties, the Social Democratic Party favors a large tax revenue transfer. The Japanese Communist Party has opposed cutting subsidies.The practicality of the election promise by Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is questionable. The main opposition party's plan seeks a 90 percent reduction in subsidies totaling 20 trillion yen annually. This would be offset by transferring tax revenue sources worth 5.5 trillion yen and granting local governments 12.5 trillion yen for unspecified purposes.Minshuto's plan means local governments would receive money equivalent to the amount of subsidies cut. Such a plan will do nothing to make local governments' fiscal structures more efficient. Fulfilling Minshuto's promise would require transferring not only money from the central government, but also administrative authority and personnel.Minshuto's plan could never be put into action quickly. It also has been suggested the opposition party's plan could create administrative problems for the central and local governments.Voters have good reason to hope Minshuto explains its reform plan in a convincing manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	772	2004-07-04	YOSHIN0020040704e074000g1
YOMSHI0020040704e0750000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040704e0750000g	EN	\N	Parties must commence debate on postal reform	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has emphasized that the postal privatization plan constitutes one of the main pillars of his structural reform campaign. He has also said he will decide, probably in September, how the three state-administered postal services--mail delivery, postal savings and insurance services--will be transformed into private sector operations. There is little time left to achieve that goal.	4	2004-07-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Liberal Democratic Party, however, has refused to spell out the specifics of the privatization plan in its election promise. The main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has been just as ambiguous about what it will do to reform the postal services.Without direction, voters will be left unsure as to which party's reform plan they should support.All political parties and candidates should present voters with their respective reform plans and promote in-depth debate over postal privatization.The LDP's election pledge only describes the progress made in discussions in an internal ad-hoc committee on postal privatization. It does not say whether the largest ruling party will, in fact, take on the challenge of privatizing the postal services, a goal long pursued by the prime minister.LDP caving in to lobby?For years, Zenkoku Tokutei Yubin Kyokucho-kai--a national association of government-commissioned post office chiefs--has lobbied against postal privatization. The LDP's evasive attitude apparently reflects a decision that it would be unwise to antagonize the association--one of the ruling party's main support organizations--by discussing the privatization plan in specific terms.According to an earlier survey taken of those running in the forthcoming election, most LDP candidates were cautious about privatizing the postal services. A predominant 51 percent of candidates fielded by the party said a final decision on whether to privatize the postal services should be made after studying progress in reforms by Japan Post, a state-run corporation established in 2003 to take over the postal services. The figure indicates that there are many hurdles to clear before postal privatization can be accomplished.New Komeito, LDP's coalition partner, has said it will work to ensure that the postal services are reformed in a manner that will benefit the public. However, the party's election pledge does not state whether the postal services should be privatized.Opposition must open up tooThe opposition parties are just as unforthcoming when it comes to making public their thoughts on postal privatization. Minshuto's election pledge incorporates a plan to scale back the postal savings and insurance services, for example, by lowering the upper limit on savings held by each depositor and the amount guaranteed to each insurance policyholder.But Minshuto has not stated whether the party thinks the postal services should be privatized.Meanwhile, both the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party oppose privatization.The opposition parties' stance would seem to show that they do not want to offend the postal workers' unions that have long supported them in national elections.For years, a portion of the massive funds raised from members of the public through postal savings and insurance services have been loaned to public corporations, contributing to bloated, inefficient operations at these entities. The collected funds total about 340 trillion yen.The flow of postal funds to public corporations should end as soon as possible.There are as many post offices nationwide as there are primary schools. We hope the political parties and candidates will carefully explain to the public why the government should reform the current system governing post offices, which serve as direct providers of mail delivery, postal savings and insurance services.Key issues include whether the three postal operations should be maintained as one unit, or whether they should be separated from each other. Should postal savings be separated from postal insurance services, given that both have long adversely affected private operations in these sectors?Postal reform represents a far-reaching enterprise that covers a wide range of issues, including fiscal and financial matters as well as physical distribution. The political parties have many contentious issues to debate in their election campaigns.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	748	2004-07-05	YOSHIN0020040705e075000ff
YOMSHI0020040705e0760000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040705e0760000i	EN	\N	Parties must tackle health, nursing care	Due to the rapidly aging population and the diminishing number of children, the stability of the nation's entire social security system is in danger. The results of Sunday's House of Councillors election will have a very significant impact on the system's future.	4	2004-07-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	First, Japan's population will begin to decrease in three years. This will be a historic change for the country, in which the population has always grown.Second, following pension system reform, nursing care insurance system reform is planned for fiscal 2005 and health insurance system reform for fiscal 2006.All of these issues are ones upper house members who will be elected Sunday must tackle during their terms in office. Makeshift measures to reform the three systems separately will only increase uncertainty in the future.Is Japan going to end up with a large government, like those of Northern European countries, or with a small government, like that of the United States, which stresses self-reliance? Or will it choose a third way? It is more important now than ever that the government draft a comprehensive new design for the social security system.The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, said they would comprehensively review the entire social security system based on their agreement with the main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) to discuss the consolidation of public pension programs.Although they agreed to reach a conclusion in three years' time on whether to unify the programs, the details of what the three parties are planning to study are not yet clear.Discuss consumption taxThe LDP and New Komeito are not willing to deal forthrightly with the issue of hiking the consumption tax, although it is an indispensible issue when discussing problems in the social security system. The ruling coalition must not take their eyes off of the real issue. They should put it on the political agenda as soon as possible.On the other hand, Minshuto, which advocates the unification of the public pension schemes, has gone one step further than the ruling parties by proposing the introduction of a new consumption tax as a financial resource for the pension system. But the pension system is not the only one with insufficient financial reserves.What comprehensive design is the party planning to draw for the social security system, including the health and nursing care insurance programs? By how much do they think they will have to increase the consumption tax to pay for the social security system? Minshuto needs to provide more in-depth explanations on these questions.Meanwhile, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party will be labeled as irresponsible if they urge the government to provide handsome social welfare benefits without detailing the cost and how to secure financial resources to pay for them.Demographics changingThe nation's demographic structure is changing drastically.In the postwar baby boom, 2.7 million babies were born every year, but that figure has dropped to 1.1 million in recent years. The birthrate has plummeted from 4.54 to 1.29.The country's population is also aging rapidly.In 1961, when pension and health insurance systems covering every citizen were introduced, the average age of Japanese was 29. The average age now is 42. This means that the middle-aged and elderly comprise a majority of the nation's population.According to an estimate by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the social security allowance budget will increase to 152 trillion yen in fiscal 2025. The traditional social security system, in which working generations supported the elderly, retired generation, has apparently reached its limit.The parties should discuss the problems of the social security system in a straightforward manner, even though it may be an unpleasant topic, and seek the voters' understanding. Burdens must be shared across all generations if we are to survive in a society with a decreasing population.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	700	2004-07-06	YOSHIN0020040706e076000l6
YOMSHI0020040706e0770000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040706e0770000g	EN	\N	Reorganization of SDF should be done with care	An acknowledgement of these facts is apparently reflected in this year's defense white paper, which says the SDF should aim to become more functional in the future.	4	2004-07-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korea is still developing nuclear weapons and trying to extend the range of its ballistic missiles. China is increasing its military strength and accelerating operations in waters near Japan.Unpredictable threats in various guises, including international terrorism, continue to multiply and spread throughout the world.Restructuring is inevitableA restructuring of the SDF is inevitable if it is to deal with these changes in the international situation and with new security threats.In December, the Cabinet approved the development of a missile defense system. It decided at the same time to review the conventional defense development plan and the equipment system with an eye to making drastic changes, and to reduce the number of tanks, artillery, escort ships, antisubmarine patrol planes and other aircraft.Meanwhile, the white paper proposes to create new Ground Self-Defense Force units to deal with nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and to handle international peace cooperation activities.The white paper says the Maritime Self-Defense Force should build up an efficient system that can facilitate expanded and more lengthy SDF missions abroad, while the Air Self-Defense Force needs to put together an air defense system that can protect against missiles.It also needs to acquire a more efficient logistics capability for when it participates in international peace cooperation activities, according to the paper.White paper on right trackThe white paper, in its emphasis on the necessity for an alert, mobile and flexible SDF, is a step in the right direction. In addition, the SDF must deal with the constant advances in military technology. The white paper says international joint development and production of next-generation fighter planes and other weapons has become a global trend since the end of the Cold War.However, the government's three rules on arms exports prohibit Japan from participating in international development of weapons, based on the premise that Japan will eventually export them to other countries, although the government decided in 1983 to make an exception to the rule and allow the nation to supply arms technology to the United States.These three rules must be reviewed to prevent Japan from falling further behind other countries when it comes to military technology. Doing so would eventually cap the increase in arms development costs.The issues pointed out in the white paper will be incorporated into a new version of the National Defense Plan Outline to be compiled by the end of this year.The nation's defense capabilities have to be developed in a difficult fiscal climate. In spite of this, the white paper details only which defense capabilities to increase, while spending little space on where and how to slash them.The government must not take the easy way out and restructure or downsize the SDF by simply cutting the budgets of the three forces across the board. Unnecessary personnel and equipment should be gotten rid of, but necessary units and weapons must be enhanced. Through careful reorganization, the SDF should become more economic and efficient in fulfilling its missions. That would be what the white paper describes as a "more functional SDF."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2004-07-07	YOSHIN0020040714e077000j6
YOMSHI0020040707e0780000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040707e0780000g	EN	\N	Questions remain over attack on public order	A former police officer who was also a cult member, and two former senior members of the cult were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the March 1995 shooting of then National Police Agency Commissioner General Takaji Kunimatsu.	4	2004-07-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The shooting took place while society was still reeling from the March 20, 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system and the police raid on Aum facilities eight days later.Although the police investigation has taken a great leap forward after making slow progress over the last nine years, the three were arrested on suspicion of such actions as helping the gunman get away from the scene, leaving the question of who shot Kunimatsu an open one.Was the shooting carried out by order of then cult leader Chizuo Matsumoto, also known as Shoko Asahara? What was the motive behind the shooting? There remain many mysteries behind the incident.The arrest of the three alone will not clarify the truth of the matter. The real investigation is only just beginning. The case needs to be thoroughly probed.Case gathering momentumThe former Metropolitan Police Department officer had admitted his involvement a year after the incident, telling the police that he shot Kunimatsu. Yet the investigation was suspended, as the police believed there was too much evidence to the contrary to conclude the officer had been the perpetrator.The MPD then hid the bombshell confession of its own officer, did not report it to the NPA, and failed to make sufficient investigations seeking for corroborative evidence, drawing a shower of criticism. The entire police organization was also hit hard by the MPD's negligence, forcing the chief of the MPD to step down to take responsibility.With the credibility of the police authorities at stake, why did it take so many years to identify the former police officer as an accomplice? Was it correct to have suspended the investigation? These issues also need to be clarified.In the guise of a religious organization, the cult put forth such self-righteous arguments as "building the state of Aum," for committing various acts of terrorism, including the murder of lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto and his family, the sarin gas attack in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture and the similar attack on the subway system.Exposing evilIf the shooting of Kunimatsu was also done by Aum members, the brutal and antisocial traits of the cult would be exposed once again.Many young cult members were involved in the spate terror attacks, including science graduates of top-notch universities. What drove these young men to take part in terrorist acts that shocked the whole nation? This too remain as mystery.The police had failed to crack down on the cult until many innocent people were victimized. This is a bitter lesson the police should learn.The cult is still under constant monitoring by the Public Security Investigation Agency, in accordance with the law concerning ways to regulate an organization which committed indiscriminate mass murder.The cult is still believed to be under the absolute influence of Matsumoto, now in prison, and to pose a threat to society. The United States has also designated the cult as one of a foreign terrorist organization.To prevent the cult from threatening society, the police need to strictly monitor its activities and rigorously deal with any illegal acts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2004-07-08	YOSHIN0020040714e0780023k
YOMSHI0020040708e0790000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040708e0790000i	EN	\N	Enhancing security of Internet vital task	This adage is implied by the white paper on telecommunications compiled by the Public Management Ministry. While judging that the nation is a world leader in broadband communications, the white paper also warns that the negative effects of the high-speed communication society are expanding.	4	2004-07-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We need to enhance the security of information networks by preventing leaks of personal information and averting the spread of computer viruses.It is also necessary for both the public and private sectors to seek ways to stop the so-called digital divide among regions from expanding further.Broadband communications using fiber optic networks or ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) have become the most popular type of internet connection.Broadband subscribers totaled 14.95 million as of the end of last fiscal year. In the international comparison made in 2002, the number of subscribers in Japan ranked third among countries in the world, with that of the United States and of South Korea ranked first and second. Japan ranked ninth in the world in terms of the percentage of the population using broadband communications.At the same time, the fee for transmitting or receiving data at a rate of 100 kilobytes per second via broadband is the world's lowest at only 9 cents, or lower by far than 25 cents set in South Korea. In the United States, it costs 3.53 dollars for the same service.High-tech era dawningIn light of these developments, the white paper said that the realization of the so-called ubiquitous computing society, in which access to high-speed information networks is available at any time and at any place, is no longer a fantasy.The arrival of such an age will see technology allow consumers to operate such home appliances as air-conditioners and washing machines by remote control while far from home, take part in a teleconference while sitting in a taxi, or get the production history of farm products, including the types of chemicals used, displayed at the point of sale.The white paper estimates that the market for ubiquitous information networks will grow to about 88 trillion yen in 2010, while generating about 121 trillion yen worth of ripple effect on the overall economy.Yet in light of the ever-advancing information network systems, users are increasingly concerned about such negative aspects as falling victim to fraud or seeing personal information leaked from businesses and misused.Recently, there was an incident in which a sizable amount of personal information leaked from a telecommunications company.In another incident, personal information on customers of a consumer finance company was leaked and misused, with customers being billed for non-existent purchases.Precautions lackingDespite these sort of incidents, the ministry's survey of companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange found that about 40 percent of them had not taken any measures to protect personal information. Such figures demonstrate a critically low sense of awareness on the part of businesses.One computer virus after another has emerged, forcing users to take countermeasures.We should not be carried away with the emergence of a ubiquitous society, without improving the security of such information systems.Although broadband communications services are now available in every city in Japan, 22 percent of the nation's towns and villages and 39 percent of sparsely populated areas do not have access to such services.While it is difficult, in terms of cost effectiveness, to have fiber optic networks spread to every corner of the nation, alternatives such as wireless connection systems should be studied. If things are left unchecked, the digital divide among regions will aggravate the exodus from the countryside.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2004-07-09	YOSHIN0020040714e079002wc
YOMSHI0020040709e07a0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040709e07a0000k	EN	\N	Temper joy over reunion with dose of skepticism	Soga must be delighted over her reunion Friday with Jenkins, a former U.S. soldier, and Mika and Belinda after about 21 months of separation following her return home in October 2002. Soga has said she wants to live with her family in Japan. We sincerely hope her wish will be fulfilled.	4	2004-07-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But there are many difficulties that will have to be overcome before Soga's wish can be realized. The U.S. government reportedly intends to accuse Jenkins of being a deserter from the U.S. Army if he comes to Japan with his family. This means that the United States may demand the handover of Jenkins under the Japan-U.S. Treaty on Extradition.North Korea distributed to the Japanese media television footage of Jenkins' departure from Pyongyang for Jakarta with his daughters. The country's action seems to reflect its desire to show the Japanese that there is a thaw in the strained relationship between the two nations.But Japan should not be carried away by what seems to be temporary euphoria over Soga's reunion with her family. We should remind ourselves that there still are bilateral problems to be resolved, including North Korea's nuclear and missile threats to the security of Japan and Asia as a whole. Pending issues also include the communist state's abduction of Japanese.Kim's motives questionablePrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's recent visit to Pyongyang for a second meeting with North Korea leader Kim Jong Il was accompanied by that nation's decision to allow five family members of former abductees to be brought to Japan. Soga's reunion with her family represents another major development in the bilateral relationship.A similar conciliatory gesture also can be seen in Pyongyang's recent attitude on Japan's continued demand for the handover of former Red Army faction extremists who sought asylum in the communist nation after hijacking the Japan Airlines jetliner Yodo in 1970. North Korea has said that it will "not oppose" Red Army faction members seeking to return home.All this may be regarded as an attempt by Pyongyang to create an environment conducive to restarting diplomatic normalization talks with Tokyo. By bringing the bilateral relationship on track, North is seeking to receive a massive amount of funds from Japan in the form of economic assistance.By improving bilateral ties with Japan, North Korea may be hoping that Japan, a U.S. ally, will serve as a bridge between Washington and Pyongyang. North Korea also seems to be hoping that the United States will remove it from the U.S. list of countries sponsoring terrorism by allowing the Yodo hijackers to return to Japan and be arrested.But Kim should have allowed the former abductees' families to come to Japan immediately after he admitted North Korea carried out the abductions and apologized for them. The handover of the hijackers--who are terrorists--to Japan should have been realized as well. But Pyongyang used those issues as bargaining chips.Govt must stick to principlesA basic premise for the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea is the comprehensive settlement of Pyongyang's nuclear programs, missile development and the abduction issue.Although the abolition of North Korea's nuclear program has been placed on the agenda at the six-nation talks, no major progress has been made. Pyongyang's missile development, a grave threat for Japan's security, has been left untouched.On the abduction issue, North Korea had promised to conduct a reinvestigation into the 10 Japanese abductees North Korea says are dead or never entered the country, but it has yet to explain what happened to them.These are all difficult matters to resolve, but the government needs to pressure North Korea to settle them as soon as possible.For Japan, the abduction issue is the main problem. The government should demand North Korea present the results of a proper reinvestigation into the fate of the 10 abductees before resuming the normalization talks. The government must stick to its principles in talks with Pyongyang.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2004-07-10	YOSHIN0020040714e07a003of
YOMSHI0020040710e07b0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040710e07b0000f	EN	\N	Voters must play part in building new Japan	Today, Japan stands at a major crossroads in its efforts to determine how to deal with various issues it faces at home and overseas. The upper house election, the 20th of its kind, provides voters with an excellent opportunity to choose which party and candidate gets a mandate to determine the course of Japan's political future.	4	2004-07-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Each political party's election promise--and that of each candidate for that matter, too--is important in this respect. Each party's stand on key issues that can influence matters of state and the life of the people gives voters ample information to help them decide at the polls.Pension reform has been debated as a major focus of the 17-day election campaign. It is a matter of urgency for this country to transform its state-run pension plan into a sustainable system as its population is rapidly aging and its birthrate dropping sharply. With this in mind, voters should closely examine which party has presented the most convincing and specific reform plans and methods for their implementation.Iraq is another issue that has attracted voters' attention during the campaign. The government's decision to have Self-Defense Forces personnel join a planned multinational force in that country has been supported by the ruling parties. Meanwhile, the opposition parties have opposed the decision, insisting on pulling SDF troops out of Iraq.In late June, the U.S.-led coalition transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government. A newly adopted U.N. resolution states that the multilateral force's tasks include humanitarian aid for Iraq's reconstruction. The provisional Iraqi government has asked Japan to ensure that the SDF continue their operations in its country. The international community is reaching a crucial stage in its efforts to bring peace and stability to Iraq.Parties split on Japan's intl roleDivisions between the ruling and opposition parties over Iraq reflect differences in their thinking about what kind of role Japan should play in international peace cooperation activities.The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, have argued that Japan should play an active role in rebuilding war-ravaged Iraq through various means that could involve the use of SDF members. Meanwhile, the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has insisted that SDF personnel not join global efforts to rehabilitate Iraq unless peace, order and stability has been restored in that country under the initiative of the United Nations.The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party have said the SDF should never be involved in such efforts.Another important focus of the upper house election concerns whether Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reform campaign should be given credit. The Japanese economy is back on the road to recovery after years in the doldrums. The parties are split over whether the economic improvement can be attributed to the "Koizumi reforms."Voters may be advised to compare each party's assertion concerning such key policy issues as reform of the postal system and four highway-related public corporations, as well as the so-called triple reform of local government finances. What has each party done to accomplish its own goals? Are its reform plans well thought out?Young voters' apathy worryingA series of election irregularities committed by lawmakers, combined with scandals involving legislators' misappropriation of their secretaries' salaries, has aroused even greater distrust in politicians and political parties. Voters should examine each candidate's personality, insight and political aptitude.There are concerns about a continued fall in voter turnout. The figure stood at 56 percent in the 2001 upper house election, the third-lowest rate in national elections of this sort. According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 73 percent of the respondents said they would go to the poll "without fail," down four percentage points from a similar survey taken prior to the 2001 election. The fall in the ratio of respondents ready to vote is particularly noticeable among young voters. The figure for respondents in their 20s did not reach 50 percent.Pension reform is an issue that young people cannot afford to ignore, either. We hope they will play a part in helping rebuild the pension system as a form of social insurance by going to the polls.Every voter has a heavy responsibility to fulfill in Sunday's upper house election.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	755	2004-07-11	YOSHIN0020040714e07b004a3
YOMSHI0020040711e07c0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040711e07c0000d	EN	\N	Minshuto gains show trend toward 2 parties	The administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the LDP now face a stern reality. The LDP won by a landslide in the last upper house election, boosted by the high popularity enjoyed by Koizumi, but this uplifting mood was nowhere in sight during this election.	4	2004-07-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Even though the LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, have secured a majority in the upper house when combined with the seats uncontested in this election, Koizumi is certain to face difficulty in steering the government through rough political seas. Koizumi expressed his intention to keep hold of the reins of government, but he will certainly find that the influence he once wielded has diminished.The government must tackle daunting challenges both at home and abroad, the outcomes of which will affect the nation's future.Stable economic growth vitalPutting the economy on the path to stable growth is the most crucial task. It is also vital that public concerns about the future be assuaged by making sweeping reforms in the social security system--namely, the pension, medical and nursing care programs.North Korean issues and the reconstruction of Iraq have great implications for the security of this nation and for defining its role in the international arena.In politics, even momentary paralysis can be fatal.Should the Koizumi administration weaken, its ability to implement policy will also suffer. A lame-duck administration will lead to a loss of impetus for important policy issues. Should such a development occur, it will be necessary to build a political regime that can replace the Koizumi administration as soon as possible.Even in the event of such a development, however, we must minimize the confusion, which can lead to a political vacuum.The LDP campaigned largely on the results of Koizumi's reforms, asking voters to put to vote based on their trust in the three-year political leadership of the prime minister.In a Yomiuri Shimbun survey taken just before the upper house election, half of eligible voters who responded said the latest election would "be a referendum on what the Koizumi Cabinet has achieved."Triple reformsIn fact, none of the preceding administrations ever turned their hands to the reforms the Koizumi administration has attempted, such as the reform of the four highway-related public corporations, the triple reform of local government finances and financial system reform.But the LDP's setback in this election has much to do with some of the disgruntlement felt by voters as to the policies and actual performance of the Koizumi administration.The LDP must naturally take the results of the election to heart and strive to achieve tangible results in the days ahead.Although the LDP struggled to win the number of seats it had targeted, New Komeito had no trouble securing the seats it hoped to get. This, naturally, will give the junior coalition partner an even greater say within the coalition on political management.But the LDP and New Komeito do not see eye-to-eye on several very important policy issues, including the Constitution, security and the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education.The LDP should remain true to its policies, without watering them down to please New Komeito.Can Minshuto aim at govt?Minshuto fought for seats in this upper house election under the leadership of Katsuya Okada after the party's former president, Naoto Kan, resigned due to the chaos brought about by the pension nonpayment scandal during the ordinary Diet session.The party chose pension system reform as its main issue, with other key issues being the participation of the Self-Defense Forces dispatched to Iraq in the multinational force in the country.Minshuto concentrated particularly on the nonpayment and nonenrollment problems facing the pension system, focusing on the statement Koizumi made when problems emerged with his pension payments in the past. Koizumi said, "Everyone is different." The party believed that these issues were important to voters. That strategy seems to have been effective in winning votes among those with no party affiliation.The party also argued for the integration of several pension systems and the creation of a new consumption tax system to provide a revenue source for the pension system. However, the party did not offer any concrete proposals for these drastic pension reforms, such as what rate a new consumption tax should be.As Minshuto opposes the SDF's participation in a multinational force in Iraq and had demanded that the SDF units currently stationed there be withdrawn, the party should offer alternative policies. During the election campaign, the party did not come up with any convincing counterproposals.Because it plays a key role in the two-party political paradigm, Minshuto bears a grave responsibility. From now on, the party will be obliged to come up with responsible policies as a matter of course.The election setback of the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party is evidence that voters consider socialist policies irrelevant.During the election campaign, both the JCP and the SDP called for "lighter" burdens on those paying pension premiums and "more generous" benefits from the public pension schemes. However, faced by the reality of the fast declining birthrate and rapid aging of the population on the one hand and the deteriorating state coffers on the other, many voters believe it is inevitable to bear a greater burden and expect smaller benefits.The JCP and the SDP also proved that they hold unrealistic views on national security policies and constitutional issues.The losses suffered by the JCP and the SDP were gained by Minshuto, meaning that the anti-LDP forces are more likely to converge on Minshuto.Gain voter trust in politicsSunday's voter turnout was as low as the previous upper house election--the third lowest to date.Voters perhaps are increasingly alienated from politics. One reason may be attributed to pension reform in the recent ordinary Diet session. Instead of looking into fundamental solutions, lawmakers were sidetracked by a series of revelations that many politicians had failed to pay pension premiums.If the public's distrust in politics continues unabated, the country's party-oriented politics and parliamentary democracy would be thrown into serious trouble.To restore voter trust in politics, all the political parties must present and implement concrete policies and national goals regarding the future of the country and the life of the people. Political parties and lawmakers should immediately tackle such tasks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1149	2004-07-12	YOSHIN0020040714e07c001ap
YOMSHI0020040712e07d0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040712e07d0000j	EN	\N	Lawmakers must start working together	No national or unified local elections will be held in this country in the next three years, a rare "golden" period after World War II in which lawmakers can carry out policies concerning the foundation of the country without having to worry about running for election.	4	2004-07-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The country faces a mountain of issues, including those related to reform of the pension and other social security systems; working out policies to decide Japan's position as a responsible member of the international community and to protect the safety of the country; and revision of the Constitution to define Japan's stance as a nation.Nonpartisan approach vitalLawmakers must tackle all of these issues in a nonpartisan manner.During election campaigns, parties naturally criticize each other in presenting their own opinions. But, at this critical juncture, it is meaningless for parties to continue to sling dirt now that the House of Councillors election has ended. They should hold constructive discussions on the future of the country.Japan's population is expected to start declining in 2007. The number of young people, who sustain the pension system at present, will decrease and the system will edge closer to collapse.The pension system should bring a sense of security to the public and a sustainable system must be built quickly.The Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner New Komeito and the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), must revert to their agreement to carry out drastic reform measures for the pension system, including possible consolidation of pension programs.They should start discussions immediately on measures to consolidate the plans and consider introduction of a taxpayer identification number system.Like national security, social security is not an issue over which the ruling and opposition parties should confront one other.The possibility of raising the consumption tax to help finance the pension system should be considered.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi declared that he would never raise the consumption tax during his term as LDP president, which ends in September 2006. However, he might have made this comment with the upper house election in mind.Discuss tax hike soonIn spite of the prime minister's declaration, discussions on a consumption tax hike must begin as soon as possible as lawmakers are likely to expend much sound and fury before reaching an agreement. It will also take time to pass related bills and to familiarize the public with the details of the hike.If a consumption tax hike is decided, is it imperative that it be used only to finance the pension sytem, as Minshuto advocates? Should it not be used to finance social welfare in general, including health and nursing care insurance?Discussions on financial sources must be aimed at stabilizing the entire social security system. The ruling and opposition parties must form a consultative body to lay out the system's future.The security situation facing Japan is also changing.New measures are required to deal with the broadening of international peace cooperation activities and with "new threats," including international terrorism and North Korea's nuclear program and ballistic missiles.For instance, it has been decided that the Self-Defense Forces will join a multinational force that is to provide humanitarian assistance and help bring about a democratic government in Iraq.Minshuto must act responsiblyDuring the election campaign, Minshuto advocated the immediate withdrawal of SDF troops from Iraq. However, in the last Diet session, the party approved civilian protection and other contingency bills; a revision of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law that enables Japan to impose economic sanctions on North Korea; and a bill to prohibit port entry of ships from some countries, particularly North Korea.Minshuto was not initally opposed to using SDF personnel for international peace cooperation activities if they were predicated by a U.N. resolution.The election is now over. Minshuto must discuss diplomatic and security issues in a responsible manner if it hopes to achieve its goal of taking power some day.By the end of the year, a new version of the National Defense Program Outline will be compiled. To make the SDF more functional, its basic structure and equipment should be reviewed.At an ordinary Diet session next year, the government plans to pass a permanent law to dispatch SDF personnel abroad for international peace cooperation activities. It also will revise the Self-Defense Forces Law to upgrade international peace cooperation actitivies, making them one of the forces' main missions, as is homeland defense.We hope the ruling and opposition parties can soon reach an agreement to lift a self-imposed ban on exercising the nation's right to collective self-defense.Decide fundamental idealsThe Constitution is the basic law of the nation. Only after its fundamental ideals are set can the government handle domestic and international issues effectively.The LDP said it would compile the draft of a new Constitution in 2005, while Minshuto has promised one in 2006. The parties should unite in making revision of the Constitution a priority issue in the next House of Representatives election. Debating the Constitution means debating Japan's stance.However, approvals by two-thirds of Diet members are required to propose a revision to the Constitution. If anything is to be accomplished, the LDP and Minshuto will have to share some basic ideas on the Constitution.A national referendum law, stipulating necessary procedures to revise the Constitution, must be realized quickly.It is vitally important that the two parties come to some agreement before trying to revise the second paragraph of Article 9, which prohibits the nation from maintaining land, sea and air forces. They will have to share some ideas on security issues, including changes in the international situtation and the utilization of the SDF based on a new security policy.The parties must use these three golden years to solve the issues that hold great significance for the future of Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1028	2004-07-13	YOSHIN0020040714e07d004zc
YOMSHI0020040713e07e0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040713e07e0000h	EN	\N	Too soon for excess optimism on economy	The government, in its monthly economic report for July, upgraded its assessment of the economy for the first time in six months, saying, "The economy is recovering at a solid pace." In its June assessment, the government had said, "The economy is continuing its steady recovery."	4	2004-07-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Bank of Japan also upgraded its assessment of the economy, saying, "The economy is expected to deviate above the forecasts" it made in its consumer price report in April.The current phase of economic recovery, which began in February 2002, was triggered by rises in exports, particularly to the United States and China. Those rises led to an increase in capital investment by businesses.The improved assessment was made based on the judgment that private consumption is about to take off, becoming the third booster rocket for the overall economy.With the ignition of private consumption, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of Japan's gross domestic product, a robust recovery can be expected.But businesses have not relaxed their attempts to hold down labor costs. As long as there is no foreseeable marked improvement in people's income, we cannot afford to become optimistic about an upturn in private consumption.The nation's economy marked its 30th straight month of upturn since the current phase of economic recovery started. At this rate, it will soon reach 33 months, which is equal to the average economic recovery phase in the post-war era.Govt seeks 2% growthThe administration under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has set a policy target of realizing "a nominal economic growth of 2 percent or higher in fiscal 2006."To achieve that target, it is essential for the administration to maintain the economic upturn for as long as possible. Therefore, it should remain watchful for causes for concern, both at home and abroad, that could hinder such development.In particular, the government should watch economic trends in both the United States and China.The U.S. Federal Reserve Board raised U.S. interest rates for the first time in four years late last month to rein in its ultra-easy money policy. China, whose economy had been overheating, tightened credit.Watch U.S, China economiesThe ability of the U.S. and Chinese economies to achieve economic soft landings will have a direct impact on the Japanese economy, as they have helped fuel the economic recovery.We also should keep an eye on rises in long-term interest rates. Behind the recent rises are leading speculations that the central bank may soon lift its quantitative easy-money policy. Should long-term interest rates soar due to such speculation, it could have an adverse impact on the economy.The central bank should make sure the market is aware of its intention to strictly maintain its quantitative easing stance, and deal with market trends cautiously to keep the market from running wild.Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda earlier this month indicated an optimistic view of the economy, saying Japan was "at the threshold of an economic boom."But many local economies remain sluggish. Although the deflationary trend has slowed, deflation still continues. We must not be blindly optimistic about the national economy.The government and the central bank cannot relax now. They must work to overcome the factors contributing to the fragility of the national economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2004-07-14	YOSHIN0020040715e07e000g3
YOMSHI0020040714e07f0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040714e07f0000i	EN	\N	Merger will reinforce financial rehabilitation	UFJ Holdings Inc. has made a formal merger proposal to Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. MTFG is prepared to respond positively to the proposal, with the two leading banking groups expected to agree on a comprehensive integration plan soon.	4	2004-07-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	UFJ Holdings almost appeared to have been left out of the market competition among mega-banks.Should UFJ Holdings be integrated with MTFG, which has very much recovered its corporate soundness, as evidenced by its repayment of public funds, there will be much progress made in dispelling concerns burdening the nation's financial system. We hope the latest reorganization proves successful, leading to the completion of the rehabilitation of the financial system.The latest financial reorganization drama was triggered by UFJ Holdings' corporate plight.While five leading banks and financial groups returned to profitability in fiscal 2003 that ended in March, UFJ Holdings remained in the red, incurring a group net loss of more than 400 billion yen, forcing its top management to step down and leading the banking group to opt for a merger to ensure its survival.MTFG financially solidMTFG surpassed other big banking groups in disposing of bad loans and has already completed its repayment of public funds. MTFG, however, has been relatively weak in retail banking operations dealing with individuals and small and medium-sized firms and has compared poorly with other mega-banks in terms of net operating profit.The integration will make it possible for both MTFG and UFJ Holdings to dispel their weaknesses.The merger will create the world's biggest banking group with total assets of about 190 trillion yen, which will prompt other mega-banks to come up with new strategies to reinforcing their corporate health.There remain several issues to be solved for the merger to be realized.Before the merger, UFJ Holdings needs to drastically reduce its nonperforming loans. Unless it makes unstinting efforts to cut these loans, the merger plan will not go ahead.For MTFG, the merger with UFJ Holdings, which is still burdened with the need to repay sizable public funds, may become a drag on its management.Huge size, tiny profitForeign financial market officials have often ridiculed Japan's mega-banks as "being big in size, but small in earning power." This is because the nation's banks were forced to dispose of a considerable amount of nonperforming loans accumulated during the deflation-led economic slowdown in the post-bubble era and could not afford to strengthen their revenue base.With scarcely a glance at the Japanese banks, major U.S. and European banks have been strengthening their market competitiveness.By polishing up their latest financial tools for utilizing derivative products, U.S. and European banks even advanced into diverse fields, including the securities business, and are improving their earning power.Japan's mega-banks are required to achieve by the end of fiscal 2004 the government-set target of halving their respective ratios of bad loans from those posted at the end of fiscal 2001. If that target is achieved, the rehabilitation of the nation's financial system is sure to be realized.From now on, the mega-banks should finish fighting their bad loans and start fighting against their U.S. and European rivals. They need to establish a system to take the offensive so they can compete well with their foreign rivals on the world market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2004-07-15	YOSHIN0020040716e07f000fw
YOMSHI0020040715e07g0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040715e07g0000h	EN	\N	Flow of JDA donations must be fully charted	Following an investigation into the massive political donations made by Nisshiren, the political arm of the Japan Dental Association, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested former JDA Chairman Sadao Usuda and two other people, including former House of Representatives member Yukihiro Yoshida, on suspicion of embezzlement.	4	2004-07-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Usuda allegedly had Nisshiren donate 50 million yen to Yoshida, and then had Yoshida return the money to him. Usuda is suspected of having used 30 million yen of the money to buy votes for his reelection as JDA chairman.Part of the money was listed in Nisshiren's income and expenditures report on political funds, but not in Yoshida's report. It is suspected that Usuda let Nisshiren members believe the money was used as political donations, when in fact he used the money for his own purposes.It also was learned that Usuda gave a check for 100 million yen to former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, the head of the Liberal Democratic Party faction named after him, immediately prior to the House of Councillors election in 2001.LDP faction must come cleanThis money also was not recorded in the income and expenditures report filed by the faction's political funds management body nor that of Nisshiren. Nisshiren claimed this was because it could not receive a receipt from the faction. Both the Hashimoto faction and Nisshiren are suspected of having violated the Political Funds Control Law by cooking the books regarding political donations.The Hashimoto faction must come clean on the matter and explain the purpose to which the money was put.Prosecutors, meanwhile, must thoroughly investigate the matter and untangle the web of shady Nisshiren transactions.Nisshiren had donated more than 700 million yen to politicians and political parties, according to figures made public in 2001.The biggest recipient of these donations was the People's Political Association--the LDP's fund-raising body. In three years through 2002, it received about 1.5 billion yen from Nisshiren. During the same period, Nisshiren separately made donations to more than 100 individual lawmakers.Usuda and several other people had been indicted on suspicion of bribing members of the Central Social Insurance Medical Council, a government advisory panel on medical issues. The panel is the de facto decision-making body regarding fees for medical services.Politicians must look to moralsThe actions of Usuda and his cohorts have made the public distrustful over the way public funds are allocated for medical services. Such money should be allocated in a fair manner. The entire picture of Nissiren's involvement in politics, which is believed to be wide-ranged, needs to be unveiled.Nisshiren's alleged involvement in the illegal flow of political funds first came to light earlier in the year when the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office searched the Nisshiren office on suspicion it had falsified bookkeeping regarding political donations in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.The prosecutors confiscated internal financial accounts that showed shady transactions of political donations, and the information contained in these documents charts the flow of Nisshiren's political donations.Scandals over money illegally given to politicians are continuously being unveiled. The political world must view the latest case as a chance to correct their morals.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2004-07-16	YOSHIN0020040721e07g0011v
YOMSHI0020040716e07h0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040716e07h0000i	EN	\N	Economy white paper short on analysis	The paper listed three answers--the increase of exports, mainly to the United States and China; corporate restructuring, centered on debt reduction; and government-led structural reforms.	4	2004-07-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Concerning the first, the paper said exports played a leading role in bolstering the economy in the initial phase of its recovery. In particular, it pointed to exports to China, which accounted for 10.3 percent of total exports in fiscal 2002, rising to 12.4 percent in fiscal 2003. The paper pointed out that the increase in exports boosted corporate profits substantially.The paper also said efforts made by the corporate sector to trim three excesses--debt, workforces and facilities--were the second factor propelling the economy forward.These independent efforts by the corporate sector helped increase corporate profits, the paper said. In particular, labor costs, often cited as a major weakness of Japanese companies, have been falling.Concrete analyses persuasiveThose two factors were presented with concrete analyses and are extremely persuasive.As for the ongoing structural reforms, the paper noted some achievements, saying the reforms so far accomplished helped lift some of the pressure off the Japanese economy and contributed to boosting private sector demand.As an example, the paper explained in detail the steady progress being made in bad-loan disposals.However, the paper did not touch on the fact that, as of June, combined outstanding loans extended by banks nationwide had fallen year-on-year for 78 months in a row. This shows that the financial intermediary function of the banks--to pour funds into the corporate sector--has yet to be normalized, even though bad-loan disposals are well underway.Reform merits unconvincingIt is therefore unclear just how the reforms are linked to the economic recovery.The necessity for structural reforms is undeniable. Such reforms are indispensable mid- and long-term undertakings that will strengthen the economy. But the paper must provide more persuasive analyses if it wants to make its case that the reforms turned the economy around and led to major achievements over a short period of time.Meanwhile, the paper also said that increases in pension premiums and other social security burdens would affect the economy.Reporting the results of a survey, the paper pointed out the possibility that raising pension premiums might lead to a decline in consumption.How much of an increase in this burden can the economy absorb? The paper failed to provide an analysis of this point.The annual white paper on the economy, predecessor of the white paper on finance and the economy, was first published in 1947, two years after the end of World War II. The paper at that time explored the economy in depth, and the government economists' sense of mission to rebuild the postwar economy could be read clearly between the lines.The paper is in danger of losing relevance to readers if it continues to put its priority on drumming up enthusiasm for government policies while failing to provide in-depth analyses.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	549	2004-07-17	YOSHIN0020040721e07h001u1
YOMSHI0020040717e07i0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040717e07i0000d	EN	\N	Time has come to end blanket testing for BSE	As the proverb has it: "A scalded cat fears cold water." The panel's proposal suggests that the authorities should not overreact in their zeal to combat BSE.	4	2004-07-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel pointed out that it is difficult to detect BSE in young cows, and that the risk of BSE transmission to human is extremely low.Though some panel members remain cautious about ending the blanket testing, the panel's draft is expected to be approved within two months.After the panel reaches a final conclusion on the testing protocol, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which is carrying out the across-the-board tests, plans to limit testing to cows above a certain age.With testing technology currently available, BSE infection can be detected only in cows about 2 years old or older. Many European countries only carry out BSE tests on cows at least 30 months old.It is expected that the government will set the testing age at around 20 months.Consumers need detailed infoJapan is the only country in the world that carries out blanket tests for BSE. The time has come for this country to bring its BSE testing in line with global standards.Instead of testing all cows for BSE, what is more important is to completely remove specified risk materials, such as brains, spinal cords and parts of the small intestine from slaughtered cows since abnormal prions, which are believed to cause the disease, accumulate in such organs.Like European countries, Japan has been removing such dangerous parts from all slaughtered cows, and this operation will continue. Experts point out that dangerous beef will not be circulated in the market.The Food Safety Commission should clearly explain the current circumstances concerning BSE testing so as not to arouse consumers' concern about the wisdom of ending the blanket tests.Blanket testing for BSE started in Japan in October 2001, after the nation's first BSE case was confirmed in September of that year. BSE testing of all cows to be shipped to market was introduced to allay fears among consumers, who had stopped buying beef.Eleven cows were found to be infected with BSE, and the shipment of beef from the animals was prevented. This contributed to rebuilding consumers' confidence in domestic beef.But those in the food business, both in and outside Japan, pointed out that tests of all cows were not necessary.Good news for gyudon fansIf the blanket BSE tests are ended, a resolution of the pending issue of the ban on imports of U.S. beef will become possible.Tokyo has insisted that Washington introduce BSE testing as stringent as that carried out in this country as a condition for the resumption of beef imports from the United States. But Washington objected, saying there were no scientific grounds for blanket testing.If across-the-board testing is ended, Japan's condition for resuming imports of U.S. beef would be eased to a level that the United States will be able to accept.If imports of U.S. beef are resumed, gyudon beef bowl fans throughout the country would have cause for celebration.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	572	2004-07-18	YOSHIN0020040721e07i002f5
YOMSHI0020040718e07j0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040718e07j0000d	EN	\N	Govt must not rush to give Pyongyang aid	Their stay in Jakarta was cut short because of Jenkins' need for medical treatment. Soga, who suffered severe hardships after being abducted to North Korea, must have felt deep emotion when she returned to Japan with her family in tow.	4	2004-07-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It remains to be seen whether the family will be able to enjoy a peaceful life in Japan.The United States considers Jenkins a U.S. Army deserter and eventually plans to ask the Japanese government to hand him over.Some government officials think it necessary to ask Washington to deal leniently with him. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker has suggested a plea bargain on the charges against Jenkins. The Japanese government should consider how to resolve the problem.However, as both the United States and Japan believe in the rule of law, Japan should refrain from asking Washington to take extralegal measures or any steps that would amount to bending the relevant laws.1st step on abduction problemWith the arrival of Jenkins and his two daughters, all the family members of the repatriated abductees are now in this country.Now, the government probably will extend the humanitarian aid--250,000 tons of food and 10 million dollars worth of medical supplies--that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi promised Pyongyang when he paid his second visit to North Korea in May. Bilateral negotiations to normalize diplomatic relations are also likely to resume.However, the return of the abductees and the arrival in Japan of their family members are only the first step toward resolving the abduction problem. Also to be resolved are the cases of at least 10 Japanese nationals who are still missing and believed abducted by the North Koreans.The government should be in no hurry to provide Pyongyang with humanitarian aid until progress is made on the remaining problems.The government should bide its time until North Korea informs Japan of the result of its investigation into the case of the 10 missing abductees, which North Korean leader Kim Jong Il promised Koizumi in May, and until the government confirms that it is satisfied with the result.Offering deadline irresponsibleSo far, Japan has given North Korea more than 1.1 million tons of food, but the assistance has not led to any tangible progress in settling problems between the two countries. We must not make the same mistake again.Koizumi hopes to normalize diplomatic relations with North Korea no later than September 2006, when his term as president of the Liberal Democratic Party expires. But this will only come about if there is a comprehensive solution on North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, as well as the abduction issue.However, it is highly doubtful that a solution will be found to these problems. If Koizumi proposes a deadline for normalizing diplomatic relations with North Korea, isn't he being irresponsible?In addition, the international situation surrounding the North Korean problem, such as the U.S. presidential election in November and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun's appeasement policy toward Pyongyang, remains uncertain.Under the circumstances, it is important for Japan to stick to its principles in entering into negotiations. No progress can be achieved if we forget our principles.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2004-07-19	YOSHIN0020040721e07j002w0
YOMSHI0020040719e07k0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040719e07k0000c	EN	\N	Public records are lifeblood of democracy	Remember the saying: "There can be no democracy without an archival library."	4	2004-07-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A private panel advising Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda recently compiled a report on providing a system for the management, storage and use of archives and records.The government must, in turn, respond to this report with an all-out effort to improve its archives, which are far inferior to those of other countries.Administrative documents produced by government ministries and agencies are to be kept from one to 30 years. When such documents near their expiration date, a decision is to be made as to whether they are to be scrapped, transferred to the National Archives, or kept as they are for another period of time.The major problem is that such decisions are currently, for all intents and purposes, left up to the ministries and agencies. The decision as to whether such public records should be scrapped or transferred to the National Archives ostensibly is to be made by agreement between the Cabinet Office and the relevant ministry or agency. But the ministries and agencies are the ones that understand the contents of the documents. They can extend the period for which they keep the documents, therefore maintaining control over them.Fragmented processBecause of this, documents containing information on important policies instituted by ministries and agencies have been preserved in the National Archives in mere drips and drabs.In the United States, the U.S. Archivist, who is the chief of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is appointed by the U.S. president with the Senate's advice and consent. He decides which official documents are to be transferred to NARA. This demonstrates the fundamental different approaches Japan and the United States take toward preserving public records.The panel's report suggested a revision of the law governing the National Archives so that certain public documents would not be allowed to be scrapped and said the idea of having all public documents transferred to the National Archives should be studied.Fundamental reform neededWhile such suggestions might be a step toward reform, more fundamental reforms of the archives are necessary.The National Archives, which formerly were affiliated with the Prime Minister's Office, were transformed into an independent administrative institution in April 2001 as part of administrative reform.Before, the National Archives consulted directly with ministries and agencies as to which documents were to be transferred to the archives. Currently, the National Archives are limited to expressing opinions when asked by the Cabinet Office.If we are going to get serious about recognizing the importance of preserving public documents, the National Archives should be reorganized into a state institution with enough authority to pursue the collection of public documents and records in all areas, including those of the judiciary and of the legislature.In the report, the panel proposes that experts specializing in evaluating documents be fostered and that we establish an intermediate library, in which important administrative documents can be temporarily placed under integrated management.These proposals can best be realized by shifting the status of the National Archives from that of an independent administrative institution back into that of an organization affiliated with the Cabinet Office, and giving it greater authority.We must proceed with drastic reforms in the system governing the preservation of archives and public records.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2004-07-20	YOSHIN0020040721e07k000d7
YOMSHI0020040720e07l0000n	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040720e07l0000n	EN	\N	U.S. forces' realignment must match Japan's needs	The United States presented the outline of its plans for realignment during deputy minister-level bilateral talks held in San Francisco from Thursday to Saturday. The realignment is one part of the U.S. military's overall transformation of its overseas forces.	4	2004-07-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.S. proposals are mainly aimed at enhancing the functionability of the U.S. military command. The U.S. has proposed to meld the commands of the U.S. Army 1 Corps in Fort Lewis, Washington State, with that of the 13th Air Force in Guam, and integrating both into the command of U.S. forces in Japan, currently located at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo. The joint commands will then be moved to Camp Zama, in Kanagawa Prefecture.The U.S. military forces stationed in Japan are deployed to cope with contingencies that occur in the area called the Arc of Instability, which stretches from the Korean Peninsula through South Asia to the Middle East.The deployment is based on the U.S. strategy of responding quickly to new types of threats, such as terrorist attacks and missile launches. The planned enhancement of command function means that Japan will become the site of a strategic U.S. base.U.S. major source of stabilityThe United States is important because it helps maintain the stability of the international community through its military might. Japan's prosperity depends upon stability in the international community.As a close ally of the United States, Japan must cooperate as it realigns its military.Japan-U.S. cooperation entered a new phase when the government decided to introduce the missile defense system promoted by Washington. Already strong ties will need to be deeper if the two countries are to deal with international terrorism.The realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan will no doubt have a major effect on security in the Asia-Pacific region and Japan-U.S. defense cooperation.For the Japan-U.S. alliance to function effectively in the region, Japan has to pull its weight.Changes impact SDF's futureThe future of the Self-Defense Forces--including organizational structure, positioning of bases, armaments and equipment--cannot be discussed without taking the realignment of the U.S. forces into consideration.Some related items, such as how Japan and the United States will share defense tasks and duties after the realignment, will of course be included in the new National Defense Program Outline that is scheduled to be compiled this year.The U.S. proposals also included the relocation and integration of U.S. bases in Japan, including the relocation of Atsugi Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture to Iwakuni Air Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture and the integration of Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture into nearby Kadena Air Base.If the U.S. bases in Japan lose some of their functions, Japan-U.S. joint operations cannot be carried out smoothly. The government must work to convince concerned local governments and residents of the importance of the U.S. bases in Japan.The government will soon establish a task force at the Prime Minister's Office to study the U.S. proposals and coordinate with local governments. The team will comprise officials from related government bodies, such as the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Agency.It will not be an easy task to mediate between the United States and concerned local governments.But it is important that Japan's national security strategies be in balance with the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2004-07-21	YOSHIN0020040722e07l000gw
YOMSHI0020040721e07m0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040721e07m0000j	EN	\N	Maintain strong stance on North Korea	On the first day of their two-day talks, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun agreed to closely cooperate with the United States in ensuring North Korea scraps its nuclear weapons program.	4	2004-07-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The question is what kind of approach Tokyo, Seoul and Washington should adopt toward Pyongyang. Efforts to properly deal with North Korea require not only dialogue, but pressure. It seems as though the Japanese and South Korean leaders were oblivious to the importance of using pressure as a bargaining chip in negotiations with North Korea. They appear to be overly enthusiastic about dialogue with the communist state.The international community must more strongly unite in making the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free. Cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea has never been more important than today, when it comes to accomplishing this goal.There is deep-seated anti-U.S. and pro-North sentiment in South Korean political circles. The same is true among the South Korean public.The United States is planning to cut back its forces in South Korea by about one-third. Meanwhile, Roh has said that Seoul will step up efforts to ensure its national security on its own. All this has had an adverse effect on the South Korea-U.S. alliance.Some members of Roh's ruling Uri Party are increasingly against sending additional South Korean soldiers to Iraq.Seoul taking soft approachMajor topics taken up during inter-Korea talks do not include Pyongyang's problematic nuclear program. South Korean officials may believe that the reclusive state would never dare use nuclear weapons to attack their country as the two nations comprise the divided peninsula.In fact, the South Korean government has implemented various measures to improve bilateral relations in recent years, including food and other aid for the communist nation and a continued project to reunite Koreans separated from each other by the Korean War (1950-53). These have been followed by projects to build rail and road links between the South and North, while also helping build a model industrial complex in Kesong, North Korea.It is disturbing for Japan to see South Korean-U.S. relations strained in recent months.According to the South Korean defense minister, Pyongyang is trying to build and deploy new intermediate-range ballistic missiles that can reach Guam. The country is still operating graphite-moderated reactors in Yongbyong. This means there has been no change in North Korea's pursuit of its nuclear and missile programs.Resolve conflicts firstKoizumi has said that he is willing to normalize relations between Japan and North Korea during his tenure as Liberal Democratic Party president. It should be noted, however, that the pursuit of diplomatic normalization must be preceded by a comprehensive solution to the nuclear, missile and abduction issues.The recent six-nation talks saw no substantial progress in resolving the dispute over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang has made no sincere effort to provide Japan with information about the fate of Megumi Yokota and nine other Japanese abductees who it says are dead or never entered the country, as well as a number of other people believed to have been abducted by North Korean agents.During his talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in May, Koizumi pledged 250,000 tons of food and medical aid worth 10 million dollars for that nation. The prime minister also told Kim that Japan would not impose economic sanctions against the communist country as long as it adhered to the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration. Shortly after returning home from the summit meeting, Koizumi sent a congratulatory message to a meeting of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). He was the first LDP president to do so.All his actions can be interpreted as conciliatory toward North Korea, reversing his earlier strong position on that country.North Korea is developing nuclear weapons and building and deploying ballistic missiles at this moment. The prime minister has no reason to be hasty about normalizing ties with that nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2004-07-22	YOSHIN0020040723e07m000en
YOMSHI0020040722e07n0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040722e07n0000g	EN	\N	Strong steps needed to deal with suicides	Last year, 34,000 people killed themselves, a figure 4-1/2 times greater than the number of people who died in traffic accidents in 2003 and the largest annual number since the National Police Agency began keeping such statistics in 1978. Suicides increased in all age groups, with males making up 73 percent of the total.	4	2004-07-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Those killing themselves because of financial distress rose to 8,897, nearly 1,000 more than the previous year. Many people committing suicide were in their 40s and 50s, an age group when people are supposed to be in the prime of their working lives.Financial distress included that caused by accumulated debts and the difficulty in making ends meet because of low income. Joblessness and sluggish business were also among financial troubles that drove people to end it all. These causes can be attributed to the prolonged economic stagnation and high unemployment rates.Coping with stressAccording to the results of a survey conducted last year by the National Institute for Japanese Language, the foreign-language buzzword was "stress," an indication of our ailing society. Chronic stress causes severe depression and this has led to an increasing number of people committing suicide.A middle school student chose to take her life after saying that things were too difficult for her to cope with. An increasing number of college students are killing themselves. The lack of deep human relationships may be a factor behind these extreme actions.Suicides resulting from trouble at the workplace, such as accusations of poor performance and unhappy human relationships, also have increased. According to a survey conducted by Japan Productivity Center for Socioeconomic Development, more than 90 percent of labor unions and company managements predict that mental illness will grow in the future both in society and at the company level.We cannot avoid stress in our daily lives, but it is important to examine the causes of stress and take measures to alleviate stress in individuals and organizations.Family foundations crumblingDouble suicides, committed by elderly couples exhausted by caring for themselves, also are on the rise. A number of parents who cannot cope with rearing their children chose to take their lives and those of their children. These tragic cases probably occurred because family foundations are crumbling while our society rapidly ages as the birthrate declines."No one really wants to die. They want someone to talk to," said Yukio Shige, who counsels troubled people who come to Tojinbo, Fukui Prefecture, a scenic area where a cliff is famed as a suicide spot.Shige said that while there are many volunteers working to prevent traffic accidents, no system has been set up to prevent suicides. The central and local governments should take this into account.The ratio of those committing suicide to the size of population is about twice as high in Japan when compared to the United States and advanced European countries. We must consider society as a whole when we examine why this terrible situation has come about.The NPA's statistics should offer more details, such as what types of suicide are on the rise. These details should be examined and such data made public.This data would be helpful in looking into the causes for the increase in suicides and for coming up with specific measures to try to prevent them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2004-07-23	YOSHIN0020040726e07n000ey
YOMSHI0020040723e07o0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040723e07o0000i	EN	\N	Minshuto pension policy irresponsible, inconsistent	Regarding the 40 errors found in the pension reform laws, opposition parties are pressing the government to submit revised pension reform bills instead of simply publishing a list of errata in the official gazette.	4	2004-07-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government deserves criticism for its poor handling of the matter. However, senior officials of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry have already been admonished and the government also has apologized. There is no need to rehash the issue.Having focused on the pension issue during the upper house elections, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) appears unable to drop its confrontational stance on the issue. The party plans to compile a bill to scrap the pension reform laws next week and intends to submit it to the Diet at an appropriate time.Massaging the figuresIt is true that the pension reform laws did little more than massage the figures, making the government and ruling parties' assertion that the laws would restore public trust in the public pension system for the next 100 years seem overblown.Even so, that does not mean pension reform could have been left unaddressed. It takes time to carry out thoroughgoing reform and, if no action is taken, the deficit in pension finance will balloon to more than 1 trillion yen a year. In this regard, the pension reform laws were necessary ad hoc measures ahead of more drastic reform.Minshuto should know that. It is contradictory for the opposition party to propose a bill to abolish the pension reform laws, while at the same time calling on the government to submit the revised bills.Minshuto will prove itself extremely irresponsible if it rejects debate on comprehensive reform until it submits its bill to scrap the existing reforms.Creating a reliable public pension system is an urgent task that should be tackled through cross-party efforts. The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto have agreed on drastic reform of the public pension system, including unification of the different types of public pensions.Although Minshuto in principle supported the unification of the separate pension schemes, the details of its policy on the matter are yet to be revelead.The party should now form a consultative body involving the ruling and opposition camps and start debating pension reform.Graying societyWhen more than 7 percent of a country's population is aged 65 or above, society is said to be "graying." When the figure hits 14 percent, the "aged society" has arrived. In Sweden--a country that both ruling and opposition parties held up as a model for pension reform--it took 85 years for the figure to rise from 7 percent to 14 percent.In Japan, it took just 24 years--the fastest pace of change of any country in the world. In eight years, the baby boomers born between 1947 and 1949, a huge demographic bracket, will start to turn 65. There is not much time left to carry out reform.The country's social security system reform has been inconsistent, with changes to pensions, health and nursing care all handled separately. This is one of the problems with leaving everything in the hands of bureaucrats. Politicians should now show leadership in reforming the social security system and face up to the need to raise the consumption tax rate to boost revenues and properly fund the system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	610	2004-07-24	YOSHIN0020040726e07o0016x
YOMSHI0020040724e07p0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040724e07p0000j	EN	\N	Make or break time for WTO farm talks	Less than a week remains before the expiry of the deadline for the WTO members to conclude an agreed framework on new trade rules under the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations.	4	2004-07-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The deadline was set because substantial negotiations cannot take place between August and spring due to the busy political calendar in major countries and regions--a presidential election will be held in the United States in November, and appointments of officials to the European Commission currently are taking place.If the WTO members cannot hammer out the framework agreement by the end of July, it will be difficult for them to fix a schedule for resuming talks after spring.The new round of WTO talks to map out rules for promoting free trade has floundered since the failure of a key ministerial conference in Cancun, Mexico, in September.In addition to the setback at Cancun, if efforts to effect the framework agreement by the deadline end in failure, the centripetal force among WTO members to accomplish the organization's goal of reaching a final agreement on the new round of talks could dissipate, and the steady development of global economy through smooth trade expansion could be impaired.Japan's plan merits a hearingAs a trading nation, Japan will find itself at a disadvantage if it cannot enjoy the benefits that would accrue from the expansion of free trade under new rules to be decided at the new round of WTO talks. Also, Japan lags behind other countries in terms of bilateral free trade agreements.The WTO General Council meeting will be held from Tuesday with the participation of ambassadors of the 147 member states and regions. The final stage of negotiations for the framework agreement will take place there.An informal ministerial meeting may be held before or after the council meeting. Each country or region will go all out to convince the others of the claimed merits of its position. But the participants should not forget that the deadline is approaching.Shotaro Oshima, Japan's representative in Geneva and chairman of the WTO General Council, which manages the overall WTO negotiations, has released his draft proposals for the framework agreement.The draft proposals say that, in the agricultural sector, the focal point of the talks, the issue of setting upper limits on tariffs for all agricultural products, which importing countries, including Japan, oppose, cannot be settled this time and so must be carried over to the negotiations to be held next spring and thereafter.On the other hand, the draft proposals also give consideration to agricultural exporters. They incorporate a system that would ensure that high import tariffs are cut by a larger percentage than low ones--a key demand of many agricultural exporters, such as the United States and Australia. They also list some exceptional items whose tariffs would be lowered slightly on condition that import quotas for agricultural products with low tariffs are expanded as an alternative measure.Washington and Brussels have indicated they will conditionally accept a reduction of subsidies granted to U.S. and European Union farmers and an abolition of subsidies to farmers in the United States and the EU who grow agricultural products for export. The draft proposals spell out these two policies.Spirit of compromise neededFrench President Jacques Chirac criticized Oshima's proposals, saying they would hurt France's national interests. A group comprising least-developed countries (LDCs), such as African nations, also slammed the proposals, which they said give priority to advanced countries.The LDC group asked the council to delete the clause setting an upper limit on tariff rates for all agricultural products from the framework agreement document and significantly expand the list of items granted exceptional treatment in terms of tariffs.It is natural for countries to pursue their own interests to gain an advantage when negotiations are held after spring to reach a final agreement on the new round of talks. But such efforts will come to nothing if the negotiations in late July end in a rupture.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2004-07-25	YOSHIN0020040726e07p001rx
YOMSHI0020040725e07q0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040725e07q0000e	EN	\N	Kerry needs to present his own policies	This presidential campaign is being waged at a time when not only the United States, but the global community, are asking themselves, "Is the world safer than before?"	4	2004-07-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The shock of the terrorist attacks on the United States three years ago is still vivid in our minds. The final report of the U.S. national commission probing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has criticized as many as 10 operational failures by U.S. intelligence organizations, allowing Al-Qaida, the international terrorist group, to carry out its attacks. Concerns over a future large-scale terrorist attack remain.With turmoil lingering more than a year after the end of the Iraq war and the overthrow of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime, peace and public order have yet to be restored in Iraq.In Afghanistan, mopping-up operations continue in the fight against the remnants of Al-Qaida and the former Taliban regime. But there is no end in sight to the "war on terror."The Democrats are trying to counter the self-proclaimed image of U.S. President George W. Bush as a "war-time president" by emphasizing that Kerry is a "leader well-acquainted with national security issues."In public opinion polls in the United States, Kerry lags behind Bush in approval ratings on issues such as the war on terrorism and leadership.An era of uncertaintyIn an era of uncertainty, it is not uncommon for people to feel more reassured at the idea of keeping an incumbent president, rather than electing one whose abilities as president are still unknown.The big question for Kerry is how to differentiate himself from Bush in terms of policy.Samuel Berger, who served as national security adviser to former U.S. President Bill Clinton and later as foreign policy adviser to Kerry, wrote in Foreign Affairs, a U.S. magazine, that "the Bush administration's unilateralist approach has given our allies an excuse to shirk their responsibilities." He made it clear that the United States should make it a priority to work in concert with its allies in defense of shared values and interests.But, he also asserted, "A Democratic administration will need to reaffirm the U.S. willingness to use military power--alone if necessary--in defense of its vital interests."Kerry, Bush policies similarWhile Berger does emphasize the need for a Democratic administration to further strengthen international cooperation, there is, overall, no great difference between his proposed policy and Bush's national security policy.Given this, will Kerry be able to present policies that are clearly his own? We would like to hear what Kerry has to say about key policies, including those that affect East Asian affairs, when the party's platform is presented at the convention and in his nomination acceptance speech.Katsuya Okada, leader of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), will attend the U.S. Democratic convention. The main opposition party maintains that Self-Defense Forces personnel, now working on humanitarian activities in Iraq, should be pulled out of the country immediately.But the Democrats welcome more participation by allied countries in the task of rebuilding Iraq, and have no intention of supporting the withdrawal of any country's troops out of Iraq. We hope Okada takes a good look at the Democratic Party while he is in the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2004-07-26	YOSHIN0020040727e07q000bi
YOMSHI0020040726e07r0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040726e07r0000d	EN	\N	Minshuto must devise workable foreign policy	Katsuya Okada, the leader of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), will visit the United States to attend the U.S. Democratic Party convention and to hold talks with senior U.S. government officials. This should serve as a good opportunity to measure Minshuto's potential for assuming power.	4	2004-07-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To some extent, we can understand how Okada might feel a bond with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who is attempting to topple the incumbent U.S. president, as Okada is looking to seize power from the ruling coalition in the next House of Representatives election.Nonetheless, Okada's attendance at the convention of a party that has no alliance with his own has the appearance of mere grandstanding.For one thing, both parties completely differ in terms of foreign and national security policies. What values can Okada's party possibly share with the U.S. Democratic Party?In the latest House of Councillors election, Minshuto called for the withdrawal of Self-Defense Forces personnel from Iraq.The U.S. Democrats are calling for an additional dispatch of troops to support U.S. forces stationed in Iraq. Kerry has emphasized the need for international cooperation, saying that by bringing more troops form other countries into Iraq, the U.S. occupation could be ended. His assertion is aimed at lessening the burden on U.S. troops in Iraq. Kerry naturally opposes the withdrawal of troops of other countries from Iraq.Bush, Kerry agree on IraqThe Iraq policy advocated by Kerry does not differ very much, in principle, from one championed by U.S. President George W. Bush. Therefore it will be difficult for Minshuto to win the Democrats' understanding of its proposed policy to pull SDF troops out of Iraq.It is also doubtful that Okada's line of reasoning--which says, "We oppose Washington's Iraq policy but nonetheless attach the highest priority to bilateral relations between Japan and the United States"--will be understood by those in the United States.Minshuto inconsistentMinshuto once opposed the Antiterrorism Law, which allows the government to dispatch SDF personnel to such areas as the Indian Ocean. But now that Afghanistan's postwar reconstruction is under way, Minshuto has nothing to say on the matter. Minshuto is inconsistent in its diplomatic and national security policies.Okada asserts that: "The use of force is included in the pursuit of U.N.-led collective security. In order for Japan to be able to take part in such missions, we should have the tasks we can undertake as a nation spelled out clearly in our Constitution."But Okada also says, "From the standpoint of approaching the use of force carefully, we should not permit the use of the right to collective security casually."There is something deceptive in the use of the term "casually." Does he mean to say Japan can wield the right to collective self-defense if we do not do it "casually?" Ambiguous stances such as this one could have something to do with the party's desire to placate members who support maintaining the present Constitution. As things stand, however, we cannot figure out whether Minshuto approves the use of the right to collective defense or whether it does not.Okada is also scheduled to hold talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who holds the position that Japan should revise its constitutional interpretation to enable it to exercise the right to collective defense.Okada must face the fact the global community considers the right to collective defense a matter of common sense.Minshuto should use Okada's visit to the United States as an opportunity for Minshuto to reflect realistically on such issues as Japan's cooperation in international peace and areas related to the Japan-U.S. alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	663	2004-07-27	YOSHIN0020040728e07r000go
YOMSHI0020040727e07s0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040727e07s0000g	EN	\N	Govt, schools must face '2007 shock' today	For years, people involved in the administration of colleges and universities in this country have worried about how the low birthrate--also called the 2009 problem--will affect the way they manage their schools.	4	2004-07-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a new estimate by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, the scenario will likely come about two years earlier than previously anticipated. It is now believed that the number of applicants for admission to colleges and universities will equal the number of places open in such institutions in 2007.However, many applicants will likely want to enter the same popular universities. This means that an increasing number of colleges and universities will experience financial difficulties because of an inability to fill seats. Administrators of some small and mid-sized colleges and universities fear they will suffer because of "2007 shock."The announcement that the 2009 problem would likely take place two years earlier also reflects the fact that the percentage of students seeking admission to colleges and universities after graduating from high school is rising at a slower rate than predicted.The prediction that the number of applicants for institutions of higher learning would equal in 2009 the number of openings was contained in a report issued in 1997 by the University Council--an advisory body to the former Education Ministry. The panel's report said the percentage of high school students who wanted to attend college after graduation would continue to rise every year until the figure exceeded 60 percent in the 2006 academic year, although the birthrate would continue to decrease.Drive for college degree fadingIn the 2003 school year, however, the figure stood at 55.7 percent. The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has revised the estimate, and now says about 57 percent of high school students will seek admission into colleges or universities in 2006. This shows that the drive to obtain a higher education is actually slowing down.This slowdown may be attributed to the widespread perception that a university diploma is no longer an automatic passport to success in one's career, especially in light of the large number of corporations going under or slashing the number of people they employ. In fact, vocational schools have seen an increasing number of enrollments in recent years.Colleges and universities should have been striving to transform themselves into schools of distinction by improving their curriculums. However, many of these institutions have chosen to try to attract as many students as possible through methods that make it easier for applicants to get in, such as the admission-upon-recommendation system. Other methods include the admission office-managed entrance examination system, in which examinees are admitted largely through interviews.Academic levels droppingThis has contributed to a decline in the academic levels of colleges and universities in the nation.And the government's role in this cannot be ignored. In the late 1980s, the government allowed colleges and universities to increase their admission numbers as a temporary measure. This was because the population of 18-year-olds was at its peak.Later, the number of people in that age bracket rapidly declined. But colleges and universities cling to the inflated admission numbers.The Education, Science and Technology Ministry receives about 10 applications every year from entities seeking permission to open colleges or universities. A growth in the number of such institutions might encourage competition among them, breathing fresh life into their educational standards. But some schools would be forced out of business. The nation could witness the bankruptcy of many colleges and universities even earlier than predicted.The government should thoroughly examine the financial health of entities seeking to open colleges and universities, as well as their planned curriculums. These checks must be complemented by an effort to keep watch on them after they set up their schools. Such institutions must provide examinees with the information they need to determine which school might suit them best, as well as an assessment of their educational quality done by a third party.Another task the government should tackle urgently is to think about what can be done to deal with the anticipated increase in the number of financial crises at and failures of such institutions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	749	2004-07-28	YOSHIN0020040729e07s000eq
YOMSHI0020040728e07t0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040728e07t0000g	EN	\N	Public trust in police damaged by failure	The investigation was believed to have been made after thorough preparations that obtained convincing evidence. The result, however, went against expectations. The police should reorganize their investigative team and again aim to uncover the truth behind the shooting.	4	2004-07-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The three suspects released included a former officer of the Metropolitan Police Department, who was once a member of the Aum Supreme Truth cult. The three were freed and the charges against them stayed. The prosecutors not only failed to identify who shot the NPA chief, but could not even determine whether the shooting was committed on the instructions of the cult.The incident in which the nation's top police officer was targeted drew immense public attention. It is unusual that suspects were arrested on charges related to such a major incident, but that prosecutors failed to bring them before a court.It was not the first time that the police investigated the former MPD officer. Eight years ago, he was investigated after he said he shot Kunimatsu because he was told to do so by a senior cult member. But his statements changed again and again, and included a number of irregularities. The investigation was eventually stopped.Conflicting statementsThis time, investigations started after the former MPD officer said he had let a man, believed to be the shooter, borrow his coat. But after he was arrested, he made different statements. Again, he made fools of the investigators.The MPD investigated several former senior members of the cult who had been sentenced to death for murdering lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto and his family among other crimes. But the police failed to make any significant progress in their investigation as the convicted former Aum members and two other members, who were arrested over the 1995 shooting of the NPA chief, all denied their involvement.In fact, there was no new convincing information or evidence relating to the 1995 incident. Authorities could hardly put the suspects on trial as they lacked information and evidence investigators could use in grilling the suspects. They also found the confessions by the former MPD officer to be unreliable.Why did investigators take such a big gamble with little prospect of success at this time? Did they intend to bring an end to their investigations of the former police officer that had continued intermittently for eight years?Failures feed anxietyCriticism has been heard even from within the police that investigations were based on mere presumptions. The nation is facing a situation in recent years in which an increasing number of atrocious crimes are being committed and fewer crimes are being solved.As long as the police conduct investigations that result in failure as the latest case has at such a critical time for the nation, people's confidence in the police will be further hurt and their anxiety over public safety will increase.The 1995 incident has been investigated mainly by the MPD's Public Security Bureau, which is in charge of cases related to terrorist and radical activities. Their investigation style is characterized like this--they map out the entangled web of crime links based on tips obtained from informed sources. Some observers pointed out that bureau investigators made insufficient efforts to obtain eyewitness reports and physical evidence, elements vital in criminal investigations.It has also been pointed out that there was discord existing between the Public Security Bureau and the Criminal Investigation Bureau over such matters as sharing of information obtained through investigations. If there truly is confrontation like this inside the MPD, it could have a serious impact on the future of public safety in the nation.The statute of limitations on the 1995 murder attempt will expire in five years and eight months. We must not allow this case to be brought to an end without the truth being revealed, especially because this case is one that has challenged the nation's public safety. From now on, the true value of the nation's police will be tested.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	712	2004-07-29	YOSHIN0020040730e07t000f7
YOMSHI0020040729e07u0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040729e07u0000f	EN	\N	Budget must take advantage of recovery	The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on Thursday approved a ceiling on budgetary request by ministries and agencies for fiscal 2005 budget.	4	2004-07-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the request guidelines, the government will trim public works spending by 3 percent compared to fiscal 2004 and discretionary spending such as defense and official development assistance expenditures will be cut by 2 percent.The government will do its best to rein in the natural increase in social security spending in the face of the country's aging population, but a hike of about 860 billion yen in the outlay is inevitable. As a result, general expenditures are expected to climb to 48.2 trillion yen in fiscal 2005 from 47.6 trillion yen in the current fiscal year.In view of the country's massive debt, it is essential to reduce spending. However, the cost of social security makes doing so a daunting task.The natural growth in the social security spending itself is incredible. Unless expenditures are held down by reforming the social security system, it will be difficult to compile a budget with any degree of freedom in choosing spending priorities.Pension reform urgentThe Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) have agreed on a drastic review of the social security system. It is an urgent task, especially from a financial standpoint, to draw up and implement a reform plan as soon as possible.Despite great pressure stemming from the snowballing social security costs, the reason the government and ruling parties seem to be optimistic, though modestly, is that budget compilation is to get underway amid an economic recovery for the first time in years.The government forecast the real gross domestic product growth rate for the current fiscal year to be 3.5 percent. If the current trend continues, we can expect some desirable effects. The first will be an increase in tax revenues.In fiscal 2003, actual tax revenues surpassed revenues projected in the initial budget by nearly 1.5 trillion yen. It is likely that the tax revenues for the current fiscal year will also exceed projection by about 2 trillion yen. Many predict that a certain level of increase in tax revenues also is possible in fiscal 2005. The country's critical fiscal condition has been alleviated compared with past years.Cut bond issuanceHowever, we must never let up on the reins. If there are extra revenues, appropriating them to reduce the issuing of government bonds is desirable. During the current fiscal year, the government plans to issue nearly 37 trillion yen of government bonds, which account for about 45 percent of the government's revenues. It must be kept in mind that the ratio of the country's fiscal deficit to GDP is far higher than that of any other industrialized country.The interest rate is another concern. Since the country has vast sums of government bonds outstanding, interest payments would balloon if the interest rate rises. To reduce the interest burden as much as possible, it is crucial to try to curtail the issuance of more government bonds.It is also indispensable for the government to continue to offer a certain level of financial assistance to regions and industries that are still slow in getting back on the recovery track. However, overall, it seems that the government's helping hand is gradually becoming unnecessary.It is essential to review wasteful subsidies and instead selectively allocate resources to scientific and technological fields that can ensure a bright future for Japan. This is the fastest way to put the economy on a more vigorous recovery path.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2004-07-30	YOSHIN0020040802e07u000g0
YOMSHI0020040730e07v0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040730e07v0000i	EN	\N	Time to talk about consumption tax	This astronomically high figure must frighten many people. It is an urgent task for politicians to work to dispel people's concern about the future.	4	2004-07-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A consultative body set up under Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda has begun discussions to review the country's social security system. The panel comprising experts from labor and management as well as concerned ministers is tasked with identifying problems to be addressed and aims to present an overall vision for reform within two years.The panel has a wide variety of subjects to debate, but a major focus of its discussions will be how to secure the financial resources to fund the social security system.There is now a widespread acceptance among members of the public as well as the government and ruling parties that the consumption tax rate inevitably will have to be raised to cover snowballing social security expenditures. The impressive showing made in the House of Councillors election by Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which advocated hiking the consumption tax during the election campaign, provides evidence of this growing recognition.Therefore, it was natural for Hosoda to imply that the government might decide to raise the consumption tax rate while Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is in office, and that the consultative body would put the matter on its agenda.Securing funds key issueAlthough Koizumi is not against debating an increase in the consumption tax, he appears cautious about deciding on a tax hike before he leaves office, saying he will not do anything that puts the next prime minister in an awkward position. Koizumi's pet project is administrative and fiscal reform, but it will be impossible to design a social security system for the future if the problem of how to fund the system is not tackled.Combined social insurance premiums paid by employees and employers currently total about 52 trillion yen, which greatly surpasses their tax burden. The population is rapidly aging, but there is a limit to how much social insurance premiums can raised. Therefore, it is a crucial task for the government to discuss a plan to make the consumption tax, which is imposed on people in all generations broadly but lightly, a tax exclusively used for welfare purposes.It also is vital to review the current balance of the social security system's premiums and benefits. Even if the government secures funds for the system, it will be impossible to maintain it if social security spending increases.Parties should cooperateSecuring funds for the social security system and reviewing the balance between premiums and benefits are problems that defy a simple solution. It is unlikely that the consultative body, which has limited human resources, will be able to hammer out a concrete reform policy. The government should seek to build a consensus on designing the future social security system through discussions between the ruling and opposition camps.That is exactly why the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto agreed on a sweeping reform of the social security system.Following the upper house election and the opening of the extraordinary Diet session, the ruling and opposition camps have been content to play politics and have made no progress in discussing a comprehensive reform of the social security system. They are neglecting their responsibilities.The country's population will soon start shrinking. With this in mind, the ruling and opposition parties should immediately start debates on reforming the social security system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2004-07-31	YOSHIN0020040802e07v001ac
YOMSHI0020040731e0810000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040731e0810000d	EN	\N	Scandal should goad LDP into action	Hashimoto resigned as chairman of his intraparty faction--the largest in the LDP--and left the faction to take responsibility for accepting a 100 million yen "donation" from the then chairman of the Japan Dental Association.	4	2004-08-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Hashimoto also said he would not run for the next House of Representatives election from a single-seat constituency.The former prime minister is reported to have received a check for 100 million yen from the then JDA chairman in an expensive restaurant just before the House of Councillors elections in 2001.Former LDP Secretary General Hiromu Nonaka and Mikio Aoki, then secretary general of the LDP upper house members caucus, were also reportedly present at the meeting.At the meeting, the JDA allegedly asked the faction leaders to support an upper house lawmaker from the faction who was representing Nisshiren, the political arm of the JDA, in the upcoming upper house elections.Around that time, Nisshiren was lobbying political circles and bureaucrats for support for its demands, including a revision of medical service fees.The faction did not include the 100 million yen donation in its political fund report. It corrected the report in July after the news of the questionable donation broke.Donation itself not illegalThe Political Funds Control Law does not limit the amount of political donations one political organization can make to another political organization. Intraparty factions and the political arms of industry groups, like Nisshiren, are the kind of organizations that are controlled under the law.Therefore the 100 million yen donation from Nisshiren to the faction was not illegal. But since the faction failed to include it in its political fund reports, we are naturally led to suspect that there was something about the 100 million yen check that the faction wanted to hide.Nisshiren wanted the check handled as a proper donation and repeatedly requested a receipt for it, but the faction refused to comply. This also raises doubt in our minds.Accountability still lackingHashimoto has resigned to take responsibility, but neither he nor his faction has yet assumed accountability regarding the donation.Someone must explain the key factors regarding the donation, including what was discussed at the meeting with the JDA and how the 100 million yen was spent. We also need an explanation as to why the donation did not get into the political fund report.The scandal shows the gap between how the general public and the faction leaders view money, and that the faction leaders lack any sense of financial propriety.When the scandal surfaced, Hashimoto asked, "Should I be blamed?" He then refused to comment on the matter for two weeks. When he announced his resignation, he still claimed that he did not remember whether he had received the check.Nonaka and Aoki also have said they do not recall being present at the meeting.Some young members of the faction have stated their belief that the public will not accept such attitudes.The LDP has discussed many party reform measures in the past. These include the introduction of vigilant outside auditing of the political funds of factions and the party as a whole.With this new money scandal, the party should revive discussion of the idea.The LDP should not consider the scandal at an end merely because the faction chairman has resigned.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	589	2004-08-01	YOSHIN0020040802e08100201
YOMSHI0020040801e0820000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040801e0820000e	EN	\N	WTO shouldn't let events block final accord	The multilateral trade talks under the current Doha Round were launched in autumn 2001, with the goal of reaching a comprehensive and final accord by Jan. 1, 2005. But due to difficulties in reaching a consensus between developed and developing nations, a WTO ministerial conference collapsed last autumn in Mexico.	4	2004-08-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the WTO members had failed to narrow their differences, making the prospects of reaching a final accord unobtainable, the growth of the global economy could have been undermined.Against such prospects, the WTO members managed to work out the framework accord through negotiations that continued until early Sunday morning.Yet it is apparent in the contents of the framework accord that members put priority on striking a deal, while putting off the task of working out the details on contentious issues until future negotiations.Momentum must continueIn the latest accord, WTO members also decided to extend next year's deadline for the conclusion of the current Doha Round talks without specifying a new deadline, and to hold a ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December 2005.Many concerned officials have pointed out that substantial negotiations will not resume until after spring because of the upcoming series of key political events in autumn, including the U.S. presidential election and the scheduled change in executive members of the European Commission.Should negotiations be suspended for more than half a year just because of the extended deadline, momentum for the talks may slow.In the latest framework agreement, the WTO decided to put off reaching a final accord due to difficulties in ironing out differences among members over such issues as how to deal with subsidy cuts and the margin of reductions in tariffs and their implementation dates.These issues will be the basis for future talks aimed at securing a final agreement. Continued negotiations are therefore very important.In the framework accord, WTO members agreed to make major reductions in their subsidies to large-scale domestic producers of farm products, including cotton producers in the United States.The sizable export subsidies of the European Union member countries also will be abolished within a certain period. However, specific ways to reduce or scrap these subsidies were left to future negotiations.The same is true with the issue of lowering tariffs of those products that closely concern Japan.The framework accord proposed having "sensitive" products, such as rice in Japan's case, made an exception to drastic tariff cuts.Key issues remain, such as which products should be designated sensitive, how much the tariffs should be lowered and whether import quotas on low-tariff products should be increased in compensation for exceptions to major tariff cuts. All these issues have to be taken up in future discussions.With regard to the idea of setting a tariff cap or ceiling on all farm products, WTO members, in response to opposition from food-importing countries, including Japan, said in the accord document that "The role of a tariff cap with distinct treatment for sensitive products will be further evaluated," thus postponing the resolution of the issue.Agricultural reform essentialIn earlier talks, Japan's presence was barely visible as the nation was largely on the defensive over its protection of rice farmers with high tariffs. It is unknown how long the government can maintain this position, however.The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has launched drastic reforms of agricultural administration, including fostering large-scale farmers, on the basis of the expected liberalization of farm product markets under the Doha Round.It is a matter of urgency for the government to come up with a concrete vision for making the nation's agricultural sector strong enough to compete internationally, while working out a system so that Japan can negotiate aggressively in the current round of talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2004-08-02	YOSHIN0020040803e082000d3
YOMSHI0020040802e0830000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040802e0830000g	EN	\N	Japan, U.S. must agree on military realignment	The issue should be addressed in a manner that shores up the Japan-U.S. alliance while also easing the burden shouldered by local governments and residents affected by the U.S. presence.	4	2004-08-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The United States has presented the Japanese government with some tentative realignment plans to gauge Japan's response. The plans include the integration of Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture with Kadena Air Base and related facilities in the prefecture. Another plan calls for transferring some U.S. marines in Okinawa Prefecture to Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture. Washington is also considering relocating functions performed at Atsugi Air Base in Kanagawa Prefecture to Iwakuni Air Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture.The United States has said all these plans are aimed at curtailing the cost of operating military facilities and reducing the burden on the residents and local governments that host them.But there is some question as to whether the integration and relocation plans will undermine the security of the Asian region and weaken U.S. deterrence in the area. Will the plans truly help reduce the burden on residents living near U.S. military installations? Japan and the United States should explore these questions carefully and work to reach a consensus on the problems involved.The dispute over the accord reached between Japan and the United States to relocate functions carried out at the Futenma base has undergone many twists and turns. In 1999, however, the government adopted a plan to build an alternative facility in waters off Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.This was followed by a demand from Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine for the alternative facility to be used for a limited period of no longer than 15 years. The controversy over his demand is ongoing.It should be noted, however, that it will take at least 12! years to complete the alternative base, beginning with an environmental assessment of the relocation plan prior to the start of construction work.U.S. growing impatientThe new U.S. moves toward realignment of its military facilities in Japan reflect Washington's impatience with the long-running relocation project. However, there are many problems to be resolved in integrating the Futenma station with the Kadena base. Will the plan impose new burdens on residents living near the Kadena facility? Who will pay the bill for the relocation project, Japan or the United States? What happens to the plan to construct an alternative base in Nago?Residents in areas that are set to lose some of the U.S. personnel stationed there are no doubt pleased that some of their burden will be lessened, but residents living in areas that are set to become the new hosts to such personnel must feel that they are just taking over the burden.In January 2003, it was found that the United States was considering changing night landing practices held by a U.S. squadron using aircraft carrier-based planes at Atsugi Air Base to an uninhabited island in waters off Okimicho, Hiroshima Prefecture. This bitterly antagonized Okimicho residents, eventually forcing the plan to be scrapped.Issue must be settled hereAll in all, the integration and relocation plans are issues that must be settled at home. The government faces the important task of looking for ways to help reach agreements between the United States and the local governments and residents affected.Alarmed by the Sept.11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, Japan and the United States have reviewed their respective duties in the defense of global peace. This has been complemented by efforts to increase the nation's cooperation in the U.S. campaign against terrorism, as demonstrated by the transport of U.S. goods and supplies by the Air Self-Defense Force at home and overseas under the Antiterrorism Law. This shows that the Self-Defense Forces are performing some duties on behalf of the U.S. armed forces in this country.To keep the Japan-U.S. alliance in place, it is essential to ensure that residents living near U.S. bases understand the necessity of their presence. To make this easier, the government also should urge the United States to pay full attention to how the U.S. military presence in this nation conducts itself.Budgetary appropriations for host-nation support given to U.S. troops in Japan, known as the "sympathy budget," total 244.1 billion yen this fiscal year. This budgetary allocation is used to cover paychecks to Japanese personnel working at U.S. bases in Japan, electricity, heating and water supply expenses incurred by the bases, as well as the costs for the construction and maintenance of golf courses used by U.S. military personnel.Does Japan have good reason to pay for these things, in light of the fiscal austerity it is practicing? The sympathy budget needs a review.Japan and the United States must strive to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides over the integration and relocation plans. This is essential to deepening the bilateral alliance and increasing our trust in each other.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	878	2004-08-03	YOSHIN0020040804e083000hm
YOMSHI0020040803e0840000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040803e0840000j	EN	\N	Public, private sectors to go head to head	An interim report issued by the commission incorporates a plan to start preparations for such a system. The system will be tested next fiscal year and is scheduled to be put in place in fiscal 2006. The system is seen as an essential tool for opening the public service market to the private sector.	4	2004-08-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The timetable was detailed in the interim report, which was recently submitted to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi by the panel charged with promoting regulatory reform and liberalizing the public service market. The report was the first of its kind to be issued under the panel's three-year regulatory reform program.After studying the report, the Cabinet Office is scheduled to take the initiative in selecting model projects to be carried out on a trial basis by the end of the year, while also drafting a bill to lay down fundamental rules on the promotion of regulatory reform.Under the planned system, public and private entities will be invited to tender bids on contracts for the provision of public services. This covers some services long provided by central government ministries and agencies, independent administrative institutions and public corporations. The contract for a given project would be awarded to the entity that proved it could provide better service for a lower price than other bidders.The list of services to be covered by the system runs the gamut from the supervision and management of state-run facilities to air traffic control.Learn from success, failureSimilar bidding systems have been used in the United States, Britain and other industrial nations. The U.S. Defense Department has said it reduced its personnel and other operating costs by 34 percent during the five-year period to the end of 2000 by using a similar bidding system.We hope the government will make all the necessary preparations to test the system next fiscal year, especially studying both successful and unsuccessful systems in pioneering countries.According to the panel's interim report, the Cabinet Office would compile the list of services to be covered by the system, studying suggestions by the private sector and local governments, conducting consultations with relevant government offices and having its plans assessed by a third-party organization. The successful bidder on a contract for a given project would be chosen by the ministry supervising the services to be provided under the project.Safeguards to be put in placeThe winner of the contract would be periodically monitored by an independent institution. In addition, another bidding session would be held after a set period to choose a new contract winner. All this is aimed at preventing successful bidders from looking for easy ways to carry out the projects they have undertaken.The plan to introduce the system has been opposed by some government ministries and agencies that do not want to lose their vested interests.The adoption of the system does not mean commissioning private sector corporations to provide public services or transferring all such services to the private sector. Public organizations could beat private sector corporations in bidding sessions, as all bidders are supposed to compete on an equal footing. If public organizations think they can provide better service than the private sector, and at a lower cost, then they should not be afraid to square off in a bidding competition.Undoubtedly, there will be many problems to be tackled in introducing the system. It will be difficult to operate smoothly if bidding sessions entail great expenses, or if there is any doubt as to the fairness of relevant authorities in choosing the winner of each contract.It also is important to ensure that there are jobs for employees who might be made redundant if the firms failed to win contracts for the provision of services.Testing the bidding system on some projects next fiscal year--rather than just discussing the issues involved in abstract terms--is essential to help highlight problem in the system and find solutions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	723	2004-08-04	YOSHIN0020040805e084000h8
YOMSHI0020040804e0850000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040804e0850000e	EN	\N	Chinese government to blame for booing	"I don't care about booing (by Chinese fans against the Japanese team)," said Japanese national team coach Zico, a Brazilian. "But any soccer fan in the world should pay due respect when a national anthem is played."	4	2004-08-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As Zico pointed out, Chinese soccer fans apparently went beyond the bound of ordinary behavior since they kept booing even when the Japanese national anthem was played.Anti-Japanese sentiments were expressed in the crudest manner Saturday at Chongqing Olympic Sports Center during the game between Japan and Jordan. Some Chinese fans provoked unrest by throwing things at Japanese supporters, surrounding the bus carrying the Japanese national team and heaping abuse on them.The Chinese government should be blamed for developing such narrow-minded nationalism among the public.Anti-Japanese sentiment in China has spread like an epidemic since the mid-1990s. This has been particularly evident since 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, when then Chinese President Jiang Zemin's government launched a major campaign to celebrate China's victory in the anti-Japan war in an effort to strengthen patriotism and solidarity among the public.Wartime antipathy rekindledThat year, Chinese newspapers and TV programs were filled with various reports on the invasion of China and the atrocities committed there before and during World War II by the Imperial Japanese military.Since then, patriotism in China has been taught based on anti-Japanese sentiment. A majority of Chinese soccer fans who filled Asian Cup venues are young people educated in such a way. It is unfortunate, but antagonism toward Japan has become a self-evident truth for them.Through patriotic education, Jiang and his government have amplified the antagonism of the Chinese people toward Japan to maintain the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party's dictatorship and its ability to unify the Chinese people.Japan tends to be used as a target for the venting of frustration by Chinese youths who are not allowed to criticize their own government.The Chinese government may be able to learn various lessons from the Asian Cup.Host's role may be questionedIn four years, it will host the Olympic Games in Beijing with its national prestige at stake. If it cannot control the unruly, bad-mannered jeering seen during the current tournament, Beijing's ability to host the Olympic Games will be questioned.The China Youth Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Youth League of China, carried an unusual article warning Chinese fans to show restraint in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games when the quarterfinal match between Japan and Jordan was held in Chongqing.However, the article apparently had a limited effect on the crowd at the game held between Japan and Bahrain in Jinan on Tuesday. Saturday's final match between Japan and China will test whether the country and its people are really ready to host the Olympic Games.When he visited Japan in 1998, Jiang one-sidedly and doggedly repeated that Japan must keep learning lessons from history. His remarks in turn ignited anti-Chinese sentiment among Japanese.Current Chinese President Hu Jintao's government, which will host the Olympic Games, a festival of peace and friendship, in four years, must end the vicious cycle created by Chinese antagonism toward Japan that has been nurtured by China.It is unfortunate for both Japan and China to see this cycle of antagonism continuing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2004-08-05	YOSHIN0020040806e085000fb
YOMSHI0020040805e0860000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040805e0860000i	EN	\N	Business world backs constitutional revision	The country's economic and social circumstances, like those around the world, are drastically changing. Given the situation, the business community apparently consider it is inevitable that a new constitution will be needed to shape this country in a new era and guide Japan's national strategy. Both would set guidelines for their economic activities in the future.	4	2004-08-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In April last year, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) announced its intention to seek constitutional amendment. The move was followed by Japan Economic Research Institute (Nikkeicho), a policy think tank representing business interests, that put forth its own proposed amendments.Since then, the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) has established "a committee to discuss the country's fundamental issues," while the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry has set up "a panel concerning constitutional issues." The panels began deliberations on the matter last month and plan to compile proposals by the end of the year.These existing proposals and the debates that will go into a full swing at Nippon Keidanren and JCCI place national security and problems concerning Article 9 of the Constitution at the top of the agenda.Security vital for growthNippon Keidanren's committee Chairman Shigemitsu Miki, chairman of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, insisted reviewing Article 9 is inevitable, saying, "Without security, it would be difficult for the country's economy to grow."Japan's prosperity as a trading nation can never be ensured without international peace and stability. This is particularly true when we consider that the country's economic activities are expanding around the world and deepening mutual dependence amid ongoing globalization.The national economy will suffer crucial damage if, for example, the Middle East region on which the country depends for nearly 90 percent of its crude oil falls into chaos or crude oil imports are halted because the sea lanes used to transport the oil are threatened.It is quite natural for the business community to consider problems surrounding Article 9 important also from viewpoint of securing a peaceful and safe country and world to ensure stable economic activities.Change interpretation at onceIt should be noted that Keizai Doyukai and Nikkeicho insist that the government, should--as an imperative measure without waiting for the Constitution to be amended--change its interpretation of the Constitution so that the country can exercise the right of the collective self-defense.They argue that the government's interpretation--that the country has the right to collective self-defense, but cannot exercise it--is a view based on an interpretation by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, which they say is merely a single administrative body, and stress that the government can change the interpretation on its own if it has the will to do so.Currently, the country is unable to properly fulfill its responsibilities and play a full role, not only Iraq, but also in dealing with other problems related to peacemaking and peacekeeping that have to be tackled through cooperation in the international community. There is also a sense of crisis that the Japan-U.S. security alliance may become hollow."If a leader makes up his mind to allow the country to exercise the right of collective self-defense, the cabinet will deserve for the highest reputation among postwar cabinets for building the foundation for the country's security policy in the 21st century," they say. We wonder what Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi thinks about this?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2004-08-06	YOSHIN0020040809e086000g1
YOMSHI0020040806e0870000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040806e0870000h	EN	\N	Tying antinuclear appeal to politics was a mistake	"The Japanese government, as our representative, should defend the peace Constitution, of which all Japanese should be proud, and work diligently to rectify the trend toward open acceptance of war and nuclear weapons increasingly prevalent at home and abroad," Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba said in his annual Hiroshima Peace Declaration at the memorial ceremony to mark the 59th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city.	4	2004-08-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It was unprecedented for a Hiroshima mayor to go so far as to refer to the question of constitutional revision in the peace declaration.Linking the protection of the pacifist Constitution with antiwar and antinuclear movements is typical of the mind-set of left-wing movements during the Cold War. It sends the wrong message to the world.The Liberal Democratic Party will present its draft for a revised Constitution next year, while Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) will do likewise in 2006, making constitutional revision the biggest political issue in the days ahead.Akiba out of touchAkiba, a former House of Representatives member of the opposition Social Democratic Party, may have hoped the remarks he made in his speech would help stem the tide in favor of revising the Constitution. But his assertion, made on the basis of his political beliefs, is at odds with the thinking of atomic bomb victims and their families and will only alienate Japanese people from the antinuclear movement.Sixty-five percent of the respondents to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll taken in March were in favor of amending the Constitution.Akiba's remarks fly in the face of the sentiment held by Japanese about the Constitution, which has undergone a sea change since the Cold War ended.Last year, Akiba sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, inviting him to attend the peace memorial service--a gesture that can only be described as grandstanding.In this year's peace declaration, he called on participants in the 2005 Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to adopt an action program targeted at eliminating nuclear weapons by 2020.Why 2020? Akiba did not present any concrete steps for eliminating nuclear weapons by that year. He just spouted a pie-in-the-sky political slogan.A trend toward linking the defense of the Constitution with the antinuclear movement has been conspicuous this year.The Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo), an organization affiliated to the Japanese Communist Party, advocated "protection of the Constitution" as one of the major themes at its world convention this year.By taking up the domestic issue of constitutional revision at a convention to which officials of foreign governments were invited, Gensuikyo showed a lack of common sense.Activists or agitators?At a meeting of the committee drafting the peace declaration to be made at a memorial ceremony for atomic bomb victims to be held in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, some committee members called for the words "defense of the Constitution" to be incorporated in the declaration. But the committee sensibly turned down the call on the ground that the declaration should not broach issues that might polarize public opinion.The antinuclear movement started 50 years ago following the exposure of the Japanese fishing boat Fukuryu Maru No. 5 to radioactive fallout from a U.S. H-bomb test near the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean in March 1954. People who were exposed to radiation in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are aging.Again this year, antinuclear international conventions were held separately by Gensuikyo and the Japan Congress against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikin), an organization affiliated to former Japan Socialist Party.It is time for the antinuclear movement to sever its ties to politics and pursue the purpose for which it came into being: sending out constructive appeals for nuclear disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2004-08-07	YOSHIN0020040809e0870018e
YOMSHI0020040807e0880000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040807e0880000e	EN	\N	Show voters blueprint for upper house reform	When she assumed the post of upper house president, Chikage Ogi, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, said the upper house would establish by the time of the extraordinary Diet session in autumn a council comprising representatives of parties and parliamentary groups to discuss that issue and the issue of upper house reform.	4	2004-08-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Each party and group should make efforts to ensure that the council carries out its tasks of redressing the vote disparity and implementing comprehensive reform of the upper house.In a Jan. 14 ruling, the Supreme Court said it considered the 5.06-1 ratio of a ballot's value between the most represented constituency and the least represented in the upper house election held in July 2001 to be constitutional.But six justices on the court's 15-member grand bench dissented. Among the nine justices who said the election was constitutional, four warned that "should the existing disparity not be redressed because of inaction on the part of the legislature, there is enough room for the outcome of the next upper house election to be considered as violating the Constitution."But the parties and parliamentary groups put off rectifying the disparity in the value of votes in the latest upper house election, held last month, on the ground that there was not enough time to address the issue.As a result, the disparity in the upper house widened to 5.16 to 1. After the election, a lawsuit was filed calling for the election to be nullified due to the excessive disparity of vote value. It is possible that the Supreme Court will rule that the disparity in vote value in the latest upper house election is unconstitutional.Piecemeal fix no goodThe council will discuss issues with the aim of correcting the electoral system during the ordinary Diet session in 2006 on the basis of the national census slated for next year. No time should be wasted in correcting the disparity of vote values.Within both the ruling and opposition camps, there are some who say that the disparity in vote value is permissible as long as it is held within the 5-1 ratio,and that this could be achieved by reducing the number of seats allotted under the proportional representation system and increasing the seats allotted for electoral districts in major cities, including Tokyo.But a makeshift correction achieved by juggling numbers will not lead to a comprehensive solution to the problem.The important thing is how to reform the upper house, which appears not to be fully assuming its parliamentary function. From that perspective, the election system for the upper house needs to be discussed.The upper house electoral system, which comprises the constituency system and the proportional representation system, is the same as that used in the House of Representatives. Party strength in each chamber differs little. Interparty rivalry in the lower house is replicated in the upper house, creating the setting for political strife.When the ruling and opposition parties were at loggerheads over bills related to public pension system reform in the recent ordinary Diet session, the upper house fell into turmoil when the opposition camp resorted to the so-called ox walk filibustering tactic.Policymaking hamperedEarlier this year, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and then leader of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) Naoto Kan referred to the issue of reviewing the present two-chamber system. They did so primarily because of their concern that the present upper house system does not suit the current times, when prompt policymaking is required.Under the electoral system for the upper house, each prefecture serves as a constituency, while Article 46 of the Constitution stipulates that "the term of office of members of the House of Councillors shall be six years, and election for half the members shall take place every three years." Because of this, an even number of seats is allotted to each prefectural constituency.Under the present system, there is a limit to the reduction of vote disparity that can be achieved. It is also difficult to differentiate the upper house election system from that of the lower house. Any sweeping reform of the upper house, which may require constitutional revisions, such as indirect election of members through recommendations, will be even harder to achieve.An urgent task for the time being is to minimize the disparity in vote values and to transform the upper house electoral system into one that differs from that of the lower house as much as possible. Then, in the future, drastic reforms that require constitutional revisions can be carried out.The council must present voters with a time frame for the realization of these tasks as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	823	2004-08-08	YOSHIN0020040809e088001wy
YOMSHI0020040810e08b0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040810e08b0000h	EN	\N	Guaranteeing incomes could save agriculture	The report points the direction drastic reform of Japan's agriculture must take, but there are many problems to be overcome before it can be implemented.	4	2004-08-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The major pillar of the plan is the introduction of an income indemnity system for farmers. The system would guarantee incomes for farm households of set sizes that are committed to continue farming. It aims to prop up the operation of farm households as well as to improve the efficiency of the nation's agriculture.However, in the report, the advisory body sidestepped setting criteria for selecting those eligible for the system and suggesting ways to secure funds for the system.If the government continues to hand out subsidies to all farm households even after the income indemnity system is introduced, it could be a death knell for the nation's agricultural industry, which would be unable to survive in the face of the accelerating liberalization of the global agricultural market.Before the final report is issued in the spring, the ministry should work with the council to define the qualifications for receiving income indemnity.Old policies no longer feasibleThe government has so far protected domestic farmers by levying steep tariffs on imported agricultural products while distributing subsidies to those growing rice, wheat and other agricultural products.However, such policy measures will no longer be effective following developments in the World Trade Organization's Doha Round of multilateral trade talks and in Free Trade Agreement talks.It has apparently become necessary to introduce the income indemnity system to strengthen the nation's agriculture sector against the liberalization of the domestic farm market, as well as to maintain and hopefully improve the nation's food self-support ratio, which has dropped to 40 percent, the lowest among advanced countries.The report did stipulate that full-time farm households and regional farming groups would qualify for the system.Opposition to reform strongHowever, part-time farmers and agriculture cooperatives, which are unlikely to be covered by the system, opposed the conclusions of the report. Lawmakers with vested interests in the agriculture industry are sure to object to them, too.Bringing these powerful groups around will be key to the introduction of an effective income indemnity system.Finding a source of funds for the system also will be a major undertaking. Currently, agricultural subsidies total about 500 billion yen. Expenses for public works projects related to agriculture have reached nearly 1 trillion yen in total. These expenses should be cut to create a fund for the system. But such subsidies and public works projects come with many strings attached. Strong opposition is expected from the civil engineering and construction industries.In a framework agreement reached last month in the current WTO round of the trade talks, the setting of maximum tariffs in the agricultural field, which Japan opposes, were postponed. The decision spread optimism throughout the Japanese agricultural sector that drastic reform measures would not be necessary in preparing for the liberalization of the agricultural market. This could set back agricultural reform efforts.However, the WTO talks are entering a key stage now. If the nation's agricultural industry is to be saved, reform efforts must be accelerated rather than slowed down.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2004-08-11	YOSHIN0020040812e08b000gf
YOMSHI0020040811e08c0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040811e08c0000d	EN	\N	Despite problems, Olympics always excite	More than 10,000 athletes from 202 countries and territories, the biggest number in the Olympic history, will participate in the Athens Games where 301 events in 28 sports are to be held.	4	2004-08-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Greece is the country where the ancient Olympic Games started in the eighth century B.C.The quadrennial sports festival was halted in the fourth century, but the first modern Summer Olympics was held in 1896 in Athens. After 108 years, the 2004 Olympics mark the return of the Games to its ancient and modern birthplace.Needless to say, the biggest concern at the Games is terrorism. This is the first Summer Olympics to be held under the clouds of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. A hand-made bomb exploded Aug. 4 in the suburbs of Athens, but as of Wednesday, no perpetrator had been identified.The Greek government has allocated nearly four times the money for its security budget compared to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. About 70,000 police and military personnel are on high alert. Security cameras have been installed in various parts of Athens. Some stadiums are protected by Patriot interceptor missiles deployed nearby.Reputation on the lineGreece's national prestige is also at stake. The nation is expected to demonstrate the international community's determination not to succumb to terrorism by containing all terrorist threats by any means and finishing the 28th Games without incident.Meanwhile, the problems of the ballooning size and commercialization of the Olympic Games have yet to be solved.Only 245 competitors, all of them men, took part in the first modern Olympic Games. In the century since then, the Olympics has swelled to over 40 times its original size. The International Olympic Committee is studying the possibility of reducing the number of athletic events, but no major move has been made due to opposition from the International Sports Federation and related organizations.Expenses to run Olympic Games amount to 2 billion dollars (220 billion yen), but the International Olympic Committee receives massive amounts of money for TV broadcasting rights and from sponsors. A bribery scandal involving IOC members and a possible venue for the 2012 Olympics surfaced last week. Money is not supposed to control the Olympics.Excitement in the airIn spite of these problems, once the Olympic Games start, we are engulfed in the aura of excitement that is different from what we feel at other international sports events.We hold our collective breath watching the performances of Japanese athletes, cheer them on and feel proud of our national flag when it is shown. Whether it is because of the powerful sense of history attached to the Olympics or simply awareness that people all over the world are watching the Games with similar feelings is a difficult question.Japan's national team in Athens has 312 members. The Japanese Olympic Committee hopes to win 24 or 25 medals, including ten or more gold medals. Attention also will be focused on who will win Japan's 100th gold medal at the Games since the country had won a total of 98 gold medals so far.In the face of a plethora of bad news these days, athletes at the Athens Olympics are expected to move and impress spectators with their sportsmanship and athletic excellence.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2004-08-12	YOSHIN0020040812e08c0017z
YOMSHI0020040812e08d0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040812e08d0000g	EN	\N	Report on missing fuels distrust of N. Korea	During the latest working-level talks in Beijing, North Korea gave only an interim report on its reinvestigation into the 10 missing Japanese, going so far as to say that its efforts were continuing.	4	2004-08-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Concerning the 10 Japanese the government considers missing, the North Korean side claimed during the summit talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in September 2002 that eight of them were dead while the remaining two never entered North Korea.Pyongyang's claim contains a number of doubtful points, including the fact that the death certificates for seven of the eight Japanese were issued by the same hospital in North Korea, while the places they allegedly died differ.Ashes North Korea claimed were those of Kaoru Matsuki, one of the eight Japanese Pyongyang said had died, could not be confirmed as his through DNA tests conducted in Japan.The Japanese side later presented to Pyongyang a list of 150 items it wished to question.In the second Koizumi-Kim summit, held in May, Kim promised to reinvestigate the cases of the 10 missing Japanese. Yet there was no substantial response from the North Korean side this time.There was no special information on Susumi Fujita, who went missing in 1976. Fujita is not included in the government's official list of 15 abductees--of whom five were repatriated after the first Koizumi-Kim talks--but a picture smuggled out of North Korea by a defector was thought highly likely to be of him.Dealing in bad faithPyongyang's responses were far from sincere. The government should insist on a sincere response from North Korea by a firm deadline.Prior to the latest working-level talks, Japan decided to offer food and medical aid in two stages to North Korea through international organizations. Koizumi promised to do so during the May summit on humanitarian grounds and in exchange for the return and visit to Japan of the eight family members of the five former abductees.The move was aimed at getting North Korea to act in good faith by showing Japan's sincerity first and sending the message to Pyongyang that Tokyo would keep its promise. All to no avail as it appears pointless to try to resolve these bilateral issues with North Korea through dialogue without pressure.Less carrot, more stickThe government should suspend provision of the yet-to-be-delivered humanitarian aid until Pyongyang makes another response.During the talks in May, Koizumi promised Kim that "Japan would not impose sanctions on North Korea as long as North Korea abides by the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration," issued at the first summit in 2002. We wonder whether such a promise was the right course to take.As to the four remaining Japanese Red Army Faction members who hijacked a Japan Airlines plane to North Korea in 1970 and were granted political asylum there, the Japanese side demanded the unconditional handover of the four. The North Korean side, however, said only that the Japanese government is welcome to try to persuade them to return home. Such a response from North Korea is irresponsible.North Korea's development of nuclear arms is being discussed at the six-nation talks involving North and South Korea, Japan, China, the United States and Russia, but so far there has been no substantial progress made toward the eventual abolishment of Pyongyang's nuclear program.The present state of affairs is such that North Korea shows no signs of removing the estimated 200 Rodong ballistic missiles it has deployed targeting Japan.Normalization of diplomatic relations cannot be made without a comprehensive settlement of the abduction, nuclear development and missile issues.Koizumi has indicated his eagerness to normalize bilateral ties by September 2006 when his term as president of the Liberal Democratic Party ends, but there is no need to hasten efforts to resume normalization talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2004-08-13	YOSHIN0020040816e08d000cz
YOMSHI0020040813e08e0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040813e08e0000i	EN	\N	Is slowdown in growth of GDP just a blip?	Gross domestic product during the April-June quarter rose only 0.4 percent in real terms from the previous quarter, or 1.7 percent on an annualized basis. Although the GDP was up for the fifth straight quarter, the growth rate slowed markedly compared with the previous quarter.	4	2004-08-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	GDP calculated on a nominal basis, which reflects economic conditions under deflation more accurately than real GDP, shrank 0.3 percent from the previous quarter, marking the first decline in five quarters.The primary factor behind the sharp decline in GDP growth was that corporate capital investment, which had been a driving force for the economic upturn, remained almost at the same level as that recorded in the previous quarter. Exports on a real basis rose 3.5 percent, compared with the 4.5 percent growth posted the previous quarter.The Cabinet Office said the latest figures were only a temporary phenomenon, adding that there was basically no change in the tone of the economic recovery.In fact, capital investment in the April-June quarter was down steeply from the rapid growth posted in the October-December and January-March quarters.Private spending still briskBut there was good news about private consumption, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of GDP: It posted a steady 0.6 percent quarter-to-quarter growth in real terms.Thanks to the scorching summer weather and special demand due to the Athens Olympics, sales of home electrical appliances, such as air conditioners and flat-screen televisions, and summer clothing remained brisk. The prevailing view is that there is no need for concern over the economy.But according to the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey, corporate capital investment for all industries in the second half of this fiscal year is projected to decline by 4 percent over the corresponding period of fiscal 2003.There are even some who say that capital investment, which was the engine for the overall economy, has lost much of its momentum.Meanwhile, there are signs of a slowdown in the U.S. economy, whose real-term growth during the April-June quarter slowed to 3 percent on an annualized basis. Should the slowdown become more apparent, Japan's exports could be adversely affected.If the driving forces for the Japanese economy, namely capital investment and exports, lose steam, the economy inevitably will slow down further.The government should closely watch whether the latest change in tone of the economic upturn is a temporary phenomenon, without presuming so.Overoptimism dangerousBank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui last month indicated that prospects for the economy were bright, saying, "The Japanese economy is approaching the end of the protracted and painful adjustment phase that occurred after the bursting of the bubble economy."Government officials hold the optimistic view that, in light of the steady economic recovery posted until the January-March quarter, the national economy will bail itself out of a deflationary phase shortly.But adverse winds have begun blowing for the Japanese economy lately, such as uncertainty over the prospects for both the U.S. and Chinese economies and soaring crude oil prices. The Japanese economy may not have seen the last of the hard times just yet.Now that a change in tone of the economic upturn has become visible, the government and the central bank should refrain from being overoptimistic about the future and bear in mind the need to adopt more cautious economic policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2004-08-14	YOSHIN0020040816e08e0011p
YOMSHI0020040814e08f0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040814e08f0000e	EN	\N	Class-B, -C 'war criminals' should never be forgotten	Under international law, however, Aug. 15, 1945, did not mark an end to World War II for this nation. Article 1 of the San Francisco Peace Treaty states that a technical end to the warfare between Japan and the Allies took place on April 28, 1952, when the pact went into effect.	4	2004-08-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During those years, 25 Japanese wartime leaders and others were convicted as so-called Class-A war criminals in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, known as the Tokyo Trial. Of the 25 convicts, former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and six others were sentenced to death by hanging.After the conclusion of the trial, Dutch Judge B.V.A Roling visited Maj. Gen. Charles Willoughby, the chief intelligence officer at GHQ, to bid him farewell before leaving Tokyo for the Netherlands. In his meeting with Roling, Willoughby is said to have denounced the Tokyo Trial as the "worst hypocrisy" in legal history. The GHQ officer told Roling that he would even ban his own son from serving in the army.The episode symbolizes the nature of the Tokyo Trial.Meanwhile, about 5,700 Japanese and others were tried at 49 military tribunals at home and overseas on charges relating to the violation of wartime laws, including the mistreatment of prisoners of war and the slaughter of civilians. A total of 920 convicts, including Koreans and Taiwanese, were executed as Class-B and -C war criminals.Undeniably, the Imperial Japanese Army's conduct was marked by such barbarous acts as the abuse of POWs. Given this, it was correct that those involved in these atrocities were tried as Class-B and -C war criminals.Victor's justiceBut questions must be raised about many cases involving those tried as Class-B and -C war criminals.The Allies hunted for suspects mainly on the strength of testimony taken from former POWs. But many Japanese and others were arrested and executed for crimes they had nothing to do with. Judges at those military tribunals were often careless in examining items presented as evidence. In some cases, defendants were never given the opportunity to state their cases.It is said that the Dutch military tribunal in Indonesia was egregious in this respect. The tribunal was set up by the Netherlands, which invaded Indonesia two years after Japan's surrender to the Allies in 1945.Two Japanese military officers were put to death as Class-B and -C war criminals for "competing to see which would be able to behead 100 Chinese with swords" during Japan's incursion into Nanjing in 1937. The accusation must be dismissed as fictional.In 2003, the families of the two officers filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court, seeking to restore their honor by proving that the accusation against them is groundless. The case is being heard at the district court.Some rank-and-file soldiers were sentenced to death for executing POWs under orders issued by their superiors.This is in stark contrast to the failure to dispense justice by trying Allied soldiers who visited atrocities on Japanese civilians. No one has been tried for the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki or the U.S carpet bombing of Japanese cities.On the contrary, the Allies tried a jurist of the Imperial Japanese Army for allegedly mistreating a U.S. pilot who was taken prisoner after his plane was downed. The jurist had sentenced the pilot to death for carrying out indiscriminate air raids on a Japanese cities.Experts have said that the decision by the Allies to try the jurist was made because there were defects in procedures carried out by the Imperial Japanese Army in sentencing the pilot to death. Still, the trial of the Japanese jurist should be deemed to be retaliatory.U.S. soldiers have drawn international condemnation for abusing Iraqi prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Graib prison. Reports have said that victims include those who were ordered to stand on small boxes with electric wires tied to their fingers and toes. Other victims were forced to go naked and form human pyramids. Some female prisoners allegedly were raped. Reported cases also include some deaths of prisoners.U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz has acknowledged that some methods employed by the U.S. forces to interrogate Iraqi prisoners violated the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.If the standards applied in trying Japanese Class-B and -C war criminals were applied in the prosecution of the U.S. soldiers involved in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, then it follows that they should receive the death penalty for committing such atrocities. We are interested to know what the United States will choose to do.'Criminals' died for countryOn May 30, 1958, the final 18 Class-B and -C "war criminals" were released from prison. This was six years after the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect.In 1959, those executed as Class-B and -C war criminals were enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine, where the souls of the war dead rest in peace. In 1978, the executed Class-A war criminals were enshrined at the Shinto shrine.China and South Korea have reacted angrily to visits to Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in recent years. These nations defended their attitude by emphasizing that the shrine hosts the souls of the "Class-A war criminals."Neither China nor South Korea have yet issued official comments critical of Japan's decision to enshrine the Class-B and -C "war criminals" at Yasukuni Shrine.But what will China do if the Japanese government gives in to Chinese pressure and relocates the souls of the Class-A "war criminals" from the shrine to another facility? There are concerns that China and some of Japan's other neighbors could point a finger at Japan's decision to enshrine the Class-B and -C "war criminals" at the Yasukuni facility when they deal with issues involving their relations with this country.Concerning the issue of paying tribute to the dead, it is a cultural tradition in Japan for everybody to be treated equally once he or she has passed away. In this sense, no "war criminal" should be excluded from the list of those to be honored at an annual government-sponsored memorial service for the war dead.A bronze statue stands near the Marunouchi south exit of Tokyo Station, with its arms spread toward the sky. The statue's pedestal bears an inscription that reads "Love."The bronze was erected in 1955 by an association called Sugamo Isho Hensan-kai, which hoped it would symbolize its members' earnest wish for world peace. Proceeds from the sale of "Seiki no Isho" (Wills of the Century)--a collection of essays written by the executed "war criminals" and later published by the association--were used to build the statue. It is a pity that this fact seems to have been forgotten."Seiki no Isho" contains about 700 essays and other articles written by Class-A, -B and -C "war criminals." The book shows that many of these "war criminals" quietly accepted their destinies as they looked toward their nation's future, although they insisted that the trials conducted to judge their wartime conduct were unfair.No one should forget that Japan's current peace and prosperity have been made possible through the contribution that about 3.1 million Japanese killed in World War II and other wars made to their country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1307	2004-08-15	YOSHIN0020040816e08f001l5
YOMSHI0020040815e08g0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040815e08g0000g	EN	\N	KEPCO shouldn't shut reactors unnecessarily	However, questions should be raised about the post-disaster decision by KEPCO, the operator of the ill-fated facility, to suspend operations at all its other nuclear power stations and temporarily freeze its plutonium-thermal project. No defects have been found at the condensation pipes installed at these plants that specialists say could sustain a rupture in a manner comparable with the Mihamacho accident.	4	2004-08-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	KEPCO must be blamed for its failure to prevent the recent disaster. However, it is illogical for the utility to decide that the accident at one of its power stations justifies shutting down all its other plants.The pipe that suffered a rupture at the Mihamacho plant had never been inspected since the facility's No. 3 reactor was put into service in 1976. KEPCO never bothered to examine the pipe despite a report about an accident similar to the steam leak at a U.S. nuclear power plant in 1986.It is all the more disturbing to note that KEPCO left the pipe in question unchecked despite a report issued late last year by an inspection company that said the pipe was not included in the list of equipment subject to inspection. KEPCO did not bother to implement corrective measures until a periodic inspection scheduled for this month.All this led to a rupture at the pipe, the inside of which had long been worn away by water running through it. This caused a leak of extremely high-temperature steam, killing four workers at the plant.Open investigation neededKEPCO must uncover the truth behind its repeated mistakes, while also taking tough action against the company officials and employees responsible for the tragedy. The utility also should know better than to lie about the results of its investigation into the incident if it wants to regain the trust of local residents.The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has instructed all electric power firms and steel manufacturers to report their latest findings about inspections on steam pipes installed at their power plants, nuclear, thermal, or otherwise. The utilities have every reason to determine whether they have left any important equipment at their facilities unchecked. This is crucial to prevent another steam-leak incident.However, power stations must be kept running if it has been established that they have been properly checked in the past.KEPCO intends to halt operations at all eight of its nuclear power plants for the purpose of inspecting the thickness of their pipes. The facilities subject to such inspection include ones where the condensation pipes already have been replaced with stainless steel ones.The utility's decision means that the list of nuclear power stations to be suspended for close inspection includes ones with condensation pipes incapable of rupturing.The decision came after KEPCO decided to meet a request from Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa to suspend operations at the facilities. The governor made the request based on the concerns of residents in the prefecture over the safety of the facilities.Threat to electricity supplyHowever, the suspension of operations at KEPCO's nuclear power stations could arouse concerns about the stable supply of electricity in the Kansai region as the area is currently experiencing an extended heat wave. It also should be noted that KEPCO's plan to increase its thermal power generation could further raise crude oil prices.Nishikawa also has said a plan to start a plutonium-thermal project at KEPCO's Takahama Nuclear Power Plant in the prefecture in 2007 could be postponed. A freeze on the project could arouse undue suspicion among other nations about the plutonium to be left unused in the project. Such material can be used to produce atomic bombs.All in all, KEPCO's decision to halt operations at all its nuclear power stations could produce extremely adverse side-effects. It is necessary to determine what must be corrected and what can be accepted. The governor should urge residents in his prefecture to remain calm and open-minded toward whether to continue operations at the latter facilities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2004-08-16	YOSHIN0020040817e08g000al
YOMSHI0020040816e08h0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040816e08h0000i	EN	\N	Iraqi interim government fighting uphill battle	The conference opened amid continuing fighting between Shiite militants and U.S. and Iraqi troops. If it fails, the reconstruction of Iraq will suffer a serious blow.	4	2004-08-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One major purpose of the conference, at which about 1,300 delegates from various regional, religious, ethnic and tribal groups are in attendance, is to select 100 people to serve on a national council.The council will be an interim assembly that monitors the budget and bills until a general election in January.The conference, with participants drawn from all walks of life, was intended to be an appeal for national reconciliation and unity, both domestically and internationally.The inauguration of the national council might also boost the legitimacy and credibility of the interim government.Given all this, merely holding the conference is an achievement, even though it was delayed for two weeks. However, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and other leaders in the interim government must realize that huge obstacles still stand in their way.Militants a major problemShiite militants opposed to the United States are the major obstacle. The decision on how to deal with the militants, led by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, has significance in both the security and political arenas. They have repeatedly clashed with Iraqi troops and U.S. forces acting at the request of the interim government.In August, such clashes intensified and spread from Najaf to Baghdad and southeastern Iraq. Of major concern is whether the clashes might lead to a general backlash by Shiite Muslims, who account for 60 percent of the Iraqi population.Najaf, where Sadr's forces are currently holed up, contains the Imam Ali Mosque, one of Shiite Islam's most sacred sites. If attacks by U.S. and Iraqi forces impinge upon the mosque, there is a possibility that almost all Shiites might turn anti-U.S. and anti-interim government in one fell swoop, which would make the reconstruction process infinitely more difficult.Getting tough with SadrThe interim government apparently has decided to take tough measures against Sadr to try to keep the political schedule on track. The prestige of the interim government could have been damaged if the opening of the conference had been delayed any longer.However, the interim government leaders must not forget that their decision is a two-edged sword. Even though the going is tough, the government should continue negotiating a ceasefire with Sadr until the last minute.Military clashes have even spread to Samawah, where members of the Ground Self-Defense Force are stationed to help with the reconstruction of Iraq. GSDF troops should continue doing their jobs, without making a fuss about the attacks, though of course they must not lower their guard.No matter how things fall out, Iraq will still desperately need international assistance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	506	2004-08-17	YOSHIN0020040818e08h000fk
YOMSHI0020040817e08i0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040817e08i0000h	EN	\N	U.S. troop realignment reflects new reality	Bush said 60,000 to 70,000 U.S. troops would be pulled out of Asia and Europe over the next 10 years.	4	2004-08-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There is no doubt that the action will affect Japan's security strategy and the Japan-U.S. alliance.After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the Bush administration began looking at international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as new security threats, and started reviewing U.S. national security strategy.The deployment of 100,000 U.S. troops in both Asia and Europe was a countermeasure against the military threat posed by the then Soviet Union during the Cold War era. But it cannot deal with the new threats.The restructuring of U.S. troops aims at putting together a new system that can quickly deploy large military forces equipped with sophisticated military technology to deal with emergency situations, including terrorist attacks and regional conflicts.Avoid a power vacuumIn Asia, 12,500 U.S. troops will be removed from South Korea. Some of the about 40,000 troops stationed in Japan might also be slashed. It is of utmost importance, however, that the realignment does not lead to a power vacuum or a decline in deterrence.In East Asia, several regions are potential flashpoints, including the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Straits. If a power vacuum is created, regional stability will be threatened.The greatest security threat for Japan is North Korea, which has been developing nuclear arms and has deployed ballistic missiles that can reach the nation. The reorganization of U.S. forces in this region must not send Pyongyang the wrong signal.The United States calls the area ranging from Northeast Asia to the Middle East the "arc of instability" of the Eurasian Continent. In this arc, India and China, among others, are rising regional powers. The political and social systems of many of the countries in the arc are still unstable. China is well on its way to becoming a military superpower.Aiming for a quick responseThe U.S. plan to consolidate its East Asia headquarters and transfer them to Japan, a long-time U.S. ally, could be aimed at enhancing its bases here so that it can respond quickly to emergency situations in the region.In a new version of the National Defense Program Outline, which the government is currently working on, countermeasures against new security threats such as terrorism and weapons of mass destruction are considered major pillars of the nation's security strategy, as they are in the United States. It is possible that the two allies will be able to respond jointly to such threats.However, as things stand now, Japan will be unable to cooperate smoothly with the United States because the Cabinet Legislation Bureau says that although the nation has a right to collective self-defense, the Constitution prohibits us from exercising it.It is high time for the government, of its own volition, to change its interpretation of the Constitution--not because outside voices, including those of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and other U.S. leaders, have called for it.The United States will soon start official talks on the redeployment of U.S. forces with Japan and other allies.Through close and frequent talks, Tokyo and Washington must build an enhanced cooperative framework to protect the security of Japan and the region, and to deal with new threats.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2004-08-18	YOSHIN0020040819e08i000gb
YOMSHI0020040818e08j0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040818e08j0000d	EN	\N	LDP's future in jeopardy unless party reforms	In the July 11 House of Councillors election, the LDP trailed Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) in terms of overall results and garnered far fewer votes in the proportional representation section of the poll than the main opposition party.	4	2004-08-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under such circumstances, the LDP should have begun wholeheartedly reforming itself. In reality, the party has been slow to move toward self-reform. Now that Abe has declared his intention to quit his party post in September, there is a mood among some party members to end to the quest for party reform.Ahead of the upper house election, the Party Reform Examination and Promotion Committee, chaired by Abe, compiled an interim report. Its key proposals include a plan to recruit LDP candidates from outside the party ranks; the inauguration of a new think tank to engage in policy research; and the introduction of a personnel evaluation committee.The idea of putting people chosen from outside the party on the LDP ticket is aimed at recruiting candidates who will be as appealing to voters without party affiliation as the young candidates fielded by Minshuto. The proposed think tank is intended to boost the party's policymaking capability and reduce its heavy dependence on on government officials. The personnel evaluation panel, which will come directly under the president of the party, is purposed to ward off the pressure of factions as to internal appointments.New blood neededThe proposal to pick candidates from the general public has run into opposition from local LDP support organizations--spearheaded by prefectural and municipal assembly members--on the grounds that such a system would not represent local interests. If this opposition prevails, it will be impossible for the LDP to field attractive candidates in elections and the traditional practice of giving priority to incumbent Diet members or hereditary candidates will only gain ground.LDP lawmakers lobbying for the interests of particular ministries, industrial sectors or other groups vehemently oppose the proposals for setting up the policy think tank and the internal personnel evaluation committee. As long as the interests of particular ministries, agencies or business organizations are given preferential treatment, it will be difficult to respond to policy demands from the broader public.The ideas of selecting candidates from the public and creating a policy think tank have been studied since the LDP was thrown out of power in 1993 and thus compelled to discuss ways to reform itself. In 1998, the party incorporated identical proposals in a series of guidelines for party reform. It cannot afford to procrastinate on the issue any longer.Change with timesWhat matters is that the LDP has not embarked on any far-reaching reform of the party's structure and policy-formulating system, especially when the trend toward a two-party Diet is gathering steam amid the sharply changing social and economic environment.The LDP has been run by a collection of factions and its policies have been mainly prepared under the influence of pork-barreling lawmakers, while election campaigns have been carried out by individual lawmakers' supporting organizations.At the center of this paradigm is the faction led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto--which began as a faction led by late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka.Hashimoto recently resigned as faction chief to take responsibility for an illegal political donation to the group. However, the faction has been unable to appoint a successor to Hashimoto--a development that symbolizes the limit of the traditional system.There is one reform that can be realized immediately: Abolition of approval by the LDP of government-sponsored bills before submission to the Diet. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as president of the LDP, once instructed the ruling party to look into the possibility of ending the prior approval system, but his proposal went nowhere due to opposition within the party.The prior consent system should be terminated to enable the government to implement necessary policies as promptly as possible on its own.If the LDP continues to neglect the task of reforming itself, its future is in jeopardy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	721	2004-08-19	YOSHIN0020040820e08j000g4
YOMSHI0020040819e08k0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040819e08k0000f	EN	\N	Nation shouldn't cut corners on education	Their proposal may be seen as the beginning of a series of measures that must be seriously pursued in fiscal 2004 in order to press ahead with the planned three-way reform of fiscal and tax relationships between the central and local governments.	4	2004-08-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	From now on, the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy will become the focus of attention in the three-way reform, accelerating negotiations between the government and the ruling parties.In June, the Cabinet decided to transfer the power to collect about 3 trillion yen to local governments by fiscal 2006. The central government has since requested the local government side to come with a specific trade-off proposal to cut a similar amount of state subsidies to local governments. This week, the local authorities put the ball back in the central government's court.The latest proposal contains a questionable part--a reduction of 850 billion yen for middle school teachers' salaries out of about 2.5 trillion yen in state subsidies for compulsory education.Options limitedObviously, state subsidies for social welfare services can hardly be trimmed, given the rapid aging of the population. Likewise, there is little room left for cuts in public works subsidies as they have already been subject to streamlining measures. As a result, the local governments officials said they had no choice but to look at reducing compulsory education subsidies.It must be emphasized that the state is obligated to provide compulsory education to people as guaranteed by Article 26 of the Constitution, which states "All people shall have the right to receive an equal education...as provided for by law."The subsidy cutting program proposed by the local side has 161 areas up for reduction, including, among many others, compulsory education, public works, the upkeep of public school and welfare service facilities, subsidies to private schools, home nursing care services for the elderly, operating subsidies for private day care centers and welfare institutions for children.It is wrong to treat subsidies for compulsory education in the same way as other kinds of subsidies.Middle schools targetedStrangely, the latest proposal singles out middle schools from the compulsory education system--without involving primary schools--and calls an 850 billion yen cut in funding for middle school teachers' salaries. It is not good to resort to such a cavalier solution.During the National Governors' Association conference the pros and cons of the proposal were debated, often heatedly. However, the prefectural governors failed to spend sufficient time discussing the fundamental point of the issue--how national and local governments should play their roles in the sphere of education. Instead, they set an overall goal of reducing subsidies by 3.2 trillion yen and then simply matched the numbers, resulting in a proposal that demonstrates a lack of insight and judgement.It is also questionable that the governors' association was unable to reach a consensus and chose to adopt the proposal by a majority vote.The National Governors' Association is not a decision-making entity. In any case, the decision-making process for local governments should be reviewed.Education, the very foundation of the state, must not be lightly dealt with through the manipulation of numbers.Is it really advisable to slash state subsidies for compulsory education? The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and the government need to have thorough, far-reaching discussion on the matter.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2004-08-20	YOSHIN0020040823e08k000fm
YOMSHI0020040820e08l0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040820e08l0000g	EN	\N	Economy strong enough to handle high oil prices	The rising prices basically reflect increases in oil demand driven by a recovery in the world economy.	4	2004-08-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Taking this into account, it is difficult to artificially control oil prices. But if prices remain above 45 dollars for long, the world economy will be hard hit. To prevent the economic recovery from stalling, coordination among oil producing and consuming countries is needed.In its monthly report for August, the International Energy Agency forecast that world demand for crude oil this year would reach 82.16 million barrels per day--up 750,000 bpd from the July report.The biggest factor behind the rise in oil prices is a sharp increase in demand from China. In the April-June period, China's oil demand shot up about 25 percent from the same period last year to 6.48 million barrels. Demand also is growing in such nations as the United States and India.The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, meanwhile, has tried to raise oil production. In July, production stood at 27.11 million bpd, 1.11 million bpd more than the output ceiling set for August.Threat of perfect stormCrude oil is not in short supply. Inventory in the United States as of the end of July was up 6.5 percent on the year-ago figure.But as OPEC's output is approaching capacity, the impact of a contingency such as an attack on oil fields would be hard to absorb. Amid such concern, a series of events fueling concern over a supply shortage has surfaced.Although Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez survived a recall referendum, he remains at loggerheads with oil majors. In Nigeria, labor disputes in the oil industry are ongoing. Russian oil giant Yukos has been in dire financial straits since the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin hit the firm with a huge tax bill, accusing it of tax evasion.Speculators exploited those buying factors, pushing oil prices up further.Yukos issue destabilizingThe effects of the rise in oil prices are appearing in Japan. Hikes in gasoline prices are accelerating. Household electricity charges are due to rise between 42 yen and 161 yen from October.But the Japanese economy now boasts a beefed-up capacity to cope with rises in oil prices.In fiscal 1979, during the second "oil shock," the average price of imported crude oil was 33.5 yen per liter. But the equivalent figure for June this year was 25.9 yen. The ratio of crude oil in the nation's imports also has fallen from 39 percent at one time to 15 percent.Even if crude oil prices hit 50 dollars a barrel, there is no need for Japan to panic. But it should be noted that the United States and China would be worse hurt than Japan, and that their pain would produce secondary effects in Japan.The Putin administration should give careful consideration to the fact that the Yukos issue has been accelerating rises in oil prices. It is also important that oil-consuming countries promote energy-saving measures so that oil demand can be held back.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	564	2004-08-21	YOSHIN0020040823e08l0018m
YOMSHI0020040821e08m0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040821e08m0000g	EN	\N	Govt neglecting duty to protect N-facilities	This quote comes from a recent report issued by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, an affiliate of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, which details measures currently in place to protect nuclear materials while also discussing what should be done to better achieve that goal. The government's determination in this respect marks a renewed effort to step up this nation's defense of its nuclear facilities from external threats.	4	2004-08-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This country lags behind other nations in protecting nuclear installations, arousing great concerns about their security.Japan must assume it is on the list of international terrorist targets. Threats to this country include North Korea, which has carried out repeated acts of terrorism for years. If bilateral tensions worsened, the reclusive state could strike nuclear facilities in Japan as part of a military attack on this nation.There are 52 nuclear reactors in the nation. Related facilities include experimental reactors, fuel-processing plants and storage sites for spent nuclear fuel. Given this, increasing the protection of domestic nuclear facilities is an urgent task.Since the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, Japan has taken measures to better safeguard its nuclear facilities. Steps include increased efforts by operators of such facilities to patrol their sites on their own. This has been complemented by efforts by the police authorities to patrol nuclear power plants. The Japan Coast Guard has mobilized patrol boats to assist in this endeavor.IAEA guidelines spell out riskUndoubtedly, full preparedness to contain an attack on nuclear facilities requires a lot more than these measures.The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material outlines measures to be implemented for the defense of nuclear substances. The international convention, to which Japan is a signatory, presents a set of measures to be taken by member nations in the storage and registering of nuclear material. However, these measures were not designed to cover terrorist attacks or wars.The International Atomic Energy Agency has revised its guidelines for the defense of nuclear facilities four times. The 1999 version of the guidelines calls for thorough measures to protect the confidentiality of relevant information, including penalties against offenders. The guidelines also require IAEA members to set up alarm stations at nuclear facilities, while also cooperating with their police authorities and military in the event of an armed attack.European nations and the United States took measures designed to complement the IAEA guidelines immediately after these principles were announced. The United States conducted an antiterrorism drill in line with recommendations in the guidelines.But the Japanese government has done nothing comparable to these measures. The government's attitude must be criticized as neglectful. Had any domestic nuclear facility been struck by a terrorist attack, the government would have been condemned for its inexcusable neglect. The government must realize it deserves to be censured for not fulfilling its responsibilities.Reinforced defenses neededThe government is belatedly working to revise the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law. Planned changes in the law would require not only government employees, but also employees of private sector nuclear facilities to maintain the confidentiality of information related to their work, for example. Offenders would be strictly punished. All this is in line with the IAEA guidelines.The government hopes to submit to the next ordinary Diet session a bill to revise the law. By the end of the year, the government also is seeking to draft a set of measures stipulating how to safely shut down nuclear facilities and prevent disasters in the event of a military or terrorist attack.The government must establish a comprehensive framework for the defense of nuclear facilities that will protect the public from any emergency.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	650	2004-08-22	YOSHIN0020040823e08m001u4
YOMSHI0020040822e08n0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040822e08n0000d	EN	\N	Reformation of baseball should take center stage	Top Yomiuri Giants executives were dismissed and the owner resigned to assume moral responsibility in the player recruitment scandal. Their inappropriate activities were severely criticized by those concerned with professional and amateur baseball, including fans.	4	2004-08-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Yomiuri Shimbun, as one of the companies under the Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings umbrella, would like to apologize for the Yomiuri Giants' act, which betrayed the spirit of student sports. At the same time, The Yomiuri Shimbun sincerely hopes that Ichiba will be able to overcome this setback and continue striving for an outstanding career in the pro baseball world.Pro baseball is currently in turmoil over the issue of reorganizing the league system, an issue triggered by the proposed merger of the Orix BlueWaves and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. If the merger is realized, the Pacific League will lose one team, forcing pro baseball next season to deal with the subsequent problems.A meeting of general managers of 12 pro baseball clubs will be held Monday, and public attention will be focused on "one or two leagues" discussions.At the last owners' meeting, Seibu Lions owner Yoshiaki Tsutsumi proposed a one-league system with 10 pro baseball clubs, hinting at the possibility of another merger. The other Pacific League clubs agreed to Tsutsumi's proposal because they believe the Pacific League cannot continue to exist with only four clubs.The Yomiuri Giants are flexible on this matter, having taken the position that they will support the current two-league system even if the number of Pacific League clubs is reduced to five, but will support a one-league system if the number is cut to four.Pro baseball in bad shapePro baseball is in critical condition. Two-thirds of the total 12 clubs are operating in the red and most of them are suffering declining spectator numbers. Television viewing ratings have also been dropping. Now is a good time to discuss structural reforms of the nation's pro baseball system from a wider standpoint.Two of the most important things to do are to broaden the base from which baseball players can be drawn and to internationalize the sport.One way to realize the first goal is to develop even further baseball for boys through high school, as this is the underpinning for the pro baseball system. It is important to create fans of baseball while they are still young.Many nonprofessional baseball teams sponsored by companies have been shut down, while the number of "club teams" for adults, without such support, has been increasing. These club teams need financial support and competent coaching.The public is passionately following the Japanese baseball team at the Athens Olympics, known as "Nagashima Japan," for Shigeo Nagashima, the team's manager, who is a strong presence at the Games in spite of his absence due to illness. Baseball is more than ever an international event. International games, with players competing with their national flags on their uniform, attract many sports fans. We hope the number of such international games will increase.Global strategy neededThe Yomiuri Giants have talked about a global strategy, including the establishment of an Asian Championship under which the winning teams from leagues in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan would compete. The Giants have also proposed a plan in which the winner of the Asian Championship would participate in U.S. Major Leagues play-offs.There have been some criticism of these ideas due to misunderstandings, while some have mentioned the irresponsible idea that the Yomiuri Giants should be divided into two teams to cover the shortage after a merger. We are very sorry to hear such things. It is, after all, more important to hold constructive discussions on the reformation of the pro baseball world.Baseball is part of Japanese culture, and the public should take an active role in its development.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	701	2004-08-23	YOSHIN0020040824e08n000cf
YOMSHI0020040823e08o0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040823e08o0000i	EN	\N	Expense not only factor in nuclear fuel issue	This question, like the problem of maintaining a secure food supply, is directly related to the nation's basic strategy and security. The government should look at what the situation might be like in 50 or 100 years, make comprehensive policy plans based on these projections and carry them out with resolve.	4	2004-08-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A major pillar of Japan's nuclear policy is the Long Term Program for Research, Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy, which has as its highest priority the realization of the nuclear fuel cycle.In the nuclear fuel cycle, uranium and plutonium are extracted by reprocessing nuclear fuel spent at nuclear power stations, and using it again as fresh fuel for nuclear power generation. This cycle is said to have several advantages, including the promotion of efficiency in consuming uranium resources and in disposing of nuclear waste.However, the Atomic Energy Commission has started to review this cycle because, ahead of a review of the program done every five years, some experts have said that burying nuclear waste is more economical. They have demanded a change in the nation's nuclear policy toward more cost efficiency.Security should come firstIn light of this, the commission since June has been working on a revision of the program based on cost comparisons. But the program should not be discussed solely on this basis.If the government decides to change its nuclear policy in favor of burying waste, the nation will have to obtain more uranium than ever. But it is uncertain that we will be able to secure a stable supply as we are already using 12 percent of global uranium output, while China is planning to build more nuclear plants.Such a policy change could result in an even more excessive dependence on oil and natural gas as sources of power.There are few studies on the safety of burying spent nuclear fuel underground, and it will be extremely difficult to find any municipality willing to accept such a burden. The opposition of local communities and political speculation could boost the cost of burial.Keep hidden costs in mindCalculating the expense of burying nuclear waste without taking such invisible costs into consideration is highly likely to damage the long-term security of the nation.The state and the electric power industry have been criticized for not revealing results of several similar cost calculations done in the past.But according to those provisional calculations, the nuclear fuel cycle would raise the running cost of nuclear power plants by only a few percentage points. The unit cost of nuclear power generation would still be cheaper than that of a unit of power generated by oil or other power sources.A working group established by the Atomic Energy Commission to revise the program has already held five meetings, but the discussion has yet to gather any steam.This delay means that Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.'s nuclear fuel-reprocessing plant in Rokkashomura, Aomori Prefecture, which is nearly ready to go on line, has been unable to obtain the approval of the local community to conduct its final-phase tests. The cost of maintaining the plant is said to amount to several hundreds of millions of yen per month.Discussions on the nuclear issue must be carried forward immediately.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2004-08-24	YOSHIN0020040825e08o000gh
YOMSHI0020040824e08p0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040824e08p0000i	EN	\N	Okada has to present practical security policy	Needless to stay, foreign and security policies that protect the state and the people are of the utmost importance for a governing party. If the main opposition party truly plans to try to take the helm of government, it must present workable policies in these areas.	4	2004-08-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But Okada's security policy remarks to date arouse many questions.In a speech during a recent visit to the United States, he said, "Japan should revise the Constitution to enable itself to use force overseas in the event of a U.N. Security Council resolution."This statement is tantamount to saying that he opposes the participation of the Self-Defense Forces in a U.N.-sanctioned multilateral force in Iraq unless the Constitution is revised. In other words, according to Okada, such SDF activity would be prohibited under the supreme law, which forbids the use of force overseas.Ichiro Ozawa, former deputy head of Minshuto, has strongly criticized Okada for saying that Japan cannot use force under the Constitution. We feel that it is irresponsible to insist that the nation can do nothing unless the supreme law is revised.Is revision really necessary?What the Constitution bans is the "use of force as a means of settling international disputes." Isn't it possible through an interpretation of the supreme law to use force for maintaining and building peace within the framework of international peacekeeping activities?Okada is not enthusiastic about allowing the country to exercise the right to collective self-defense. In its upper house election pledges, Minshuto said it would forge an even and mature alliance between Japan and the United States. But an alliance on such an equal footing would not be viable without the ability to exercise our right to collective self-defense.An option to exercise that right is indispensable in facilitating international peacekeeping cooperation.Minshuto remains dividedHowever, Minshuto remains divided over this issue. For instance, Seiji Maehara, who is in charge of foreign affairs in the opposition party's shadow cabinet, maintains that Japan should be allowed to exercise the right to collective self-defense, even in international waters, when dealing with emergencies in and around the country or when countering a missile attack. But about 50 young Minshuto lawmakers who oppose any revision of the Constitution recently formed a study group to try to prevent any move that would allow the country to exercise its right to that defense.Ozawa and Takahiro Yokomichi, a former deputy leader of Minshuto, have advocated the creation of armed forces--distinct from the Self-Defense Forces--to take part in U.N. peacekeeping missions.The idea for a U.N. standby force was originally floated more than 10 years ago as a means to avoid overseas deployment of SDF units at a time when the political parties were arguing over a bill for cooperation with U.N. peacekeeping operations. The bill was eventually voted into law.After years of SDF involvement in international peacekeeping activities, this idea is now outdated.As long as Okada remains preoccupied with internal Minshuto affairs, his security policies will remain ambiguous. If he is to be trusted--both at home and abroad--he must present rational and practical policies. Without these, the idea of Minshuto becoming the ruling party cannot even be entertained.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2004-08-25	YOSHIN0020040826e08p000h9
YOMSHI0020040825e08q0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040825e08q0000b	EN	\N	U.S. must refrain from provoking distrust	On Wednesday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine to discuss the crash. Inamine called for the suspension of flights from the U.S. military's Futenma Air Station and a revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, among other measures.	4	2004-08-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	What the U.S. side has done since the accident is extremely problematic. It refused to let Japanese police examine the scene of the accident and Shogo Arai, parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, was not allowed to inspect the scene. Later, while the Japanese side was still waiting for detailed explanations about the crash, six helicopters of the same type as the one that crashed flew out of the U.S. Marine Corps base and left Japan aboard a U.S. Navy vessel.These developments only further offended local residents. It was quite natural for Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi to express her regrets over the matter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in a telephone conversation. The Japanese government should have acted much earlier to call on the United States to take appropriate measures.Goodwill necessaryFavorable sentiment among local residents and the Japanese populace as a whole regarding the U.S. military bases in Japan can help enhance the functioning of such facilities and eventually the Japan-U.S. alliance--a situation essential for the security of Japan and the surrounding region. To that end, the burden borne by residents living around military bases should be reduced.The ongoing global realignment of U.S. forces will have the Japanese and U.S. governments review the configuration of U.S. military facilities in Japan. The understanding of residents in the relevant areas will be a prerequisite for the smooth progress of such a review.In dealing with the crash and ensuing events, the U.S. side has shown little consideration for the importance of building a trust-based relationship with local residents.The United States refused a request for on-site investigation by the local police, citing the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, which requires Japan to obtain U.S. consent to investigate U.S. military aircraft or vehicles involved in accidents while on training missions. Dissatisfied with such a restriction, Inamine wants the agreement revised.Cooperation requiredHowever, it must be noted that the Status of Forces Agreement also obliges the U.S. military to abide by Japanese law and calls for mutual cooperation. Therefore, there are areas where the agreement can be practically applied without waiting for its revision.As for on-site investigations, it would be sufficient to establish a rule under which the U.S. military and Japanese police will have due consultation--rather than have the United States unilaterally turn down Japanese requests for on-site probes. The U.S. side's unilateral investigations should be justified by such factors as military secrecy, for example.The Japanese and U.S. governments will shortly hold a subpanel meeting of the Joint Committee to look into the crash. Reflecting sufficiently on the Ginowan case, the two sides should establish a new rule for settling bilateral issues with a view to preventing any recurrence of a similar case in the future.The smooth functioning of the Japan-U.S. security treaty is of the utmost importance. It would be unforgivable if a trifling lack of consideration damaged the very foundation of the security arrangement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	621	2004-08-26	YOSHIN0020040827e08q000g0
YOMSHI0020040826e08r0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040826e08r0000h	EN	\N	New Komeito must not shirk duty on Article 9	New Komeito has wound up discussions at its Research Commission on the Constitution concerning a proposal to revise the nation's fundamental law. It is disturbing to know a statement to be issued at a party convention in late October about the coalition party's position on proposed constitutional reform will state that the party does not favor revising the two-paragraph Article 9.	4	2004-08-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During debates at the commission, some New Komeito members reportedly insisted a third paragraph should be added to the article stating the nation possesses the Self-Defense Forces while also mentioning the nation's commitment to contributing to the international community.However, most party members opposed rewriting Article 9. Their sentiment was symbolized by such remarks by party members as "It is in conflict with our party's pursuit of pacifist goals" and "Amending the article means (Japan) will not be able to reject requests from the United States any more and owe blind obedience to the United States. Article 9 has long served as a pretext for (Japan's) rejection (of U.S. requests)." Another member said, "We should not be affected by the LDP's attempt to revise the Constitution."We believe pursuing peace in a responsible manner means taking resolute actions, including the use of SDF troops, to defend the nation's security and protect peace around the world. Merely chanting pacifist slogans will do nothing to create and maintain peace.Lead responsiblyThe assertion that revising Article 9 means Japan would "owe blind obedience to the United States" in security matters is highly questionable. It should be noted that determining what specific policy should be taken after amending the article to defend Japan's security and global peace is the duty of the Japanese government. In this regard, New Komeito should fulfill its obligations as a ruling party.The largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), is also positive about rewriting the Constitution, despite its emphasis on how its approach to constitutional reform differs from that of the LDP.It must be asked why the LDP and New Komeito should go hand in hand as partners in the governing coalition if they are divided over whether to revise Article 9. The dispute could affect Japan's basic peace and security policies.In recent years, New Komeito has said that it seeks to be a party that shows its pacifist orientation through its actions. The party has demonstrated this stance since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, by helping establish the Antiterrorism Law and special legislation for Japan's aid in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq. The ruling coalition party also assisted the government in sending SDF troops to Iraq.Center of disputeThe pros and cons of rewriting Article 9 are a pillar of the debate on constitutional amendment. The global security situation has undergone great changes since Japan's current Constitution was established. Today, this country is confronted with a variety of new and complicated threats that have emerged since the end of the Cold War, including international terrorism. Given this, it is not at all surprising that whether to revise Article 9 is a pressing task to be tackled by this nation now. There is a great difference between the principles stipulated in the article and the realities facing Japan.Opposing changes in the article means turning a blind eye to the great changes of the times. Such an attitude is no different than opposition to constitution reform by the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party on ideological grounds.New Komeito's evasive attitude toward amending Article 9 may signify an attempt to save the party from oblivion at a time when the LDP and rival Minshuto are becoming the dominant parties. However, New Komeito should know that Article 9 is not an issue to be debated as a matter of partisan self-interest.New Komeito cannot afford to avoid addressing the Article 9 controversy if it wants to perform its duties in defending the nation's peace and security. The party still has time to address the issue before the October convention. We hope New Komeito members will fully debate the proposal to rewrite Article 9 in a manner reflecting their responsibility as a ruling party.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	757	2004-08-27	YOSHIN0020040830e08r000ga
YOMSHI0020040827e08s0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040827e08s0000j	EN	\N	Centerpiece of reform must not lack substance	But the outline of the basic policy that the panel compiled early this month was problematic in many respects. Before wrapping up the discussions, the panel must clarify the basic policy so that the guidelines match the purpose of the reform initiatives undertaken by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.	4	2004-08-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of the main problems with the outline is that it does not specify which management style a new body would use when the privatization process of Japan Post begins in April 2007. It was not clearly stated in the outline because Japan Post claimed it would not be prepared to launch the new entity as a holding company as it would take several years to adjust computer and other operational systems.It is now likely that a plan supported by Japan Post to set up a special company wholly owned by the the government to operate mail delivery, postal savings and kampo life insurance services will be implemented in the first stage of the privatization process.But such a management style would be little different from that of the state-run Japan Post, which took over the government's postal services in April last year. Koizumi made a policy pledge ahead of the House of Councillors election last month to privatize the postal body in 2007, but the plan to set up a special company would go against that.No more lame excusesIn this time of speedy business reorganizations, there have been few cases in the private sector where mergers, such as those of banks, have needed several years to make computer and other operational systems compatible with newly formed companies. This is a mere excuse and an attempt to delay the privatization process.In the basic policy outline, the panel proposes that the three businesses as well as the management of nationwide networks of over-the-counter services at post offices, be separated and put under the umbrella of a holding company in the final stage of privatization. We consider this to be a reasonable idea, as opposed to launching a special company from the beginning.It should only be applied in the transitional period toward full privatization, however.If a holding company were established, there would be no way to ensure that financial difficulties that might arise at one entity would not affect the others. If, for example, mail delivery performance dropped, that could negatively affect the postal savings and other businesses. The upshot is that the four businesses must become fully independent from each other.The Liberal Democratic Party and other political groups have expressed their opposition to the plan to strip employees of thenew body of their status as civil servants. But it is ony natural that they become private sector workers.Build a level playing fieldIn addition, the new entity should not be allowed to expand, except under special circumstances, until it is fully privatized.Japan Post's tie-up with a convenience store operator drew some attention. After Lawson Inc. signed a contract with Japan Post to handle postal parcels at its convience stores, Yamato Transport Co., the nation's largest door-to-door parcel delivery company, was forced to dissolve its agreement with Lawson.Japan Post currently enjoys preferential treatment such as an exemption from corporate taxes. Even before it was transformed into a government-backed corporation, it used its special standing to pressure the private sector.Even after the privatization process begins, the government will be involved with the entity until the process is completed. During this transitional period, restrictions on launching new businesses will be needed.If things continue as they are going, the centerpiece of Koizumi's structural reforms will prove to be just another empty slogan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2004-08-28	YOSHIN0020040830e08s001b2
YOMSHI0020040828e08t0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040828e08t0000e	EN	\N	Student troublemakers should be taken in hand	According to the survey results, acts of violence in school grounds in the last academic year increased for the first time in three years, and cases of bullying rose for the first time in eight years.	4	2004-08-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There were 31,278 cases of violence in school grounds in academic 2003, up 6.2 percent from the previous year. Of them, just 1,600 cases took place at primary schools, but in comparison with the previous academic year, assaults by students against teachers increased by 40 percent, and assaults by students against other students were up 30 percent. Cases of school property being damaged also rose, by 20 percent.The ministry says those figures were the most worrying.Violence also has been spreading among younger children. The sixth-grade primary school girl in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, who killed her classmate, was a conspicuous example of that trend.What is behind the increase in acts of violence at schools? The ministry reports that the same child or the same group of children tended to show a pattern of violent behavior. An increasing number of children displayed a lack of patience in class, had trouble associating with others and suddenly ran amok, it says.As a countermeasure, the ministry has been promoting for the past two years the establishment of "support teams" to analyze violent incidents at schools around the country. The teams comprise police officers, a child counseling center and a parent-teacher association.Schools too lenientThis is obviously a step in the right direction. But isn't it also necessary to make sure that children clearly recognize their responsibility for the results of their violent behavior?Of schoolchildren who committed acts of violence in academic 2002, only 1.4 percent of primary school students received punishment in the form of expulsion, transfer, suspension or admonition by the school principal, while 2.6 percent of middle school students received such penalties. Of the schoolchildren who acted violently in that year, 2.3 percent of the primary school students and 7.6 percent of the middle school students were taken into police custody or sent to a child counseling center.Of course, before taking tough action against delinquent children at primary and middle schools, where schooling is compulsory, a correct understanding of facts and careful consideration of how to reform the children are essential. But firm measures are sometimes more effective for those who repeatedly act violently and cannot be controlled.Suspend bulliesMeanwhile, there were 23,300 bullying cases in the last academic year, up 5.2 percent from the previous academic year. The 6.9 percent rate of increase at primary schools exceeded the 4.1 percent at middle schools. According to the survey, bullying occurred at 10 percent of primary schools, 40 percent of middle schools and 30 percent of high schools.It is worrisome to see that an increasing number of bullying victims changed or dropped out of their schools. This trend is most evident at primary schools, where the number of children staying away from or leaving school increased to 136 last academic year from 77 five years ago. Meanwhile, only 37 cases of bullies being suspended were reported. Is the current situation, in which bullies are forcing their victims to leave school, acceptable?When school resumes in September, we urge teachers to watch each student carefully and try to nip delinquent behavior in the bud.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2004-08-29	YOSHIN0020040830e08t001z4
YOMSHI0020040829e08u0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040829e08u0000e	EN	\N	Latest donation scandal shows legal loophole	Prosecutors Sunday arrested the treasurer of the LDP faction that was until recently headed by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Control Law.	4	2004-08-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office also searched the offices of the Heisei Kenkyukai, the faction's official name, in Nagatacho, Tokyo, and other places related to the scandal. It is unusual for an intraparty faction to become the target of a criminal investigation.The treasurer is suspected of knowingly violating the law by failing to record in the faction's accounts a check for 100 million yen Hashimoto allegedly received as a political donation from the JDA just before the House of Councillors election in 2001.Hashimoto said he had no memory of receiving the check from JDA officials. They asked for a receipt for the donation, but the LDP never gave them one, JDA officials were quoted as telling the prosecutors. However, the treasurer told those around him that JDA officials never asked him to issue a receipt, sources said.Former premier in hot seatThe prosecutors are reportedly planning to question Hashimoto. They are expected to clarify the whole picture of the scandal, including how the 100 million yen was used.The JDA was found to have tried to influence lawmakers by making political donations through its political arm, Nisshiren, revealing a flaw in the Political Funds Control Law.The law on political donations has been repeatedly revised to prevent collusion between the private and political sectors.The current law prohibits companies and organizations from donating funds directly to politicians. It also sets ceilings on donations to parties and political fund management organizations based on capital funds and other conditions of donors. The ceiling is 100 million yen a year.However, there is no legal limit on a donation from one political organization to another. The 100-million yen donation from Nisshiren to Heisei Kenkyukai was considered to fall under this category.Gap must be pluggedA private company must have capital of 105 billion yen or more to donate 100 million yen legally to a political party or organization. However, there is no such legal restriction on donations between political organizations. Political organizations include the political arms of various industries such as Nisshiren and intraparty factions. The loophole in the law that allows unlimited donations between political organizations, must be fixed.After the scandal surfaced, Heisei Kenkyukai added the covert donation to its income in 2001 and corrected its political funds accounts by listing the money as an amount brought forward. However, the faction is not required to submit a certificate of deposit balance to the Public Management Ministry in correcting its books. This is also a legal loophole that allows easy corrections for the purpose of balancing financial statements.It is a fact that political campaigns and organizations require money. It is also a matter of course that a party needs legal political donations. That is why government subsidies totaling more than 30 billion yen a year are granted to parties.Scandals over political funds seem to show no sign of abating. Unless those in politics take this covert donation scandal seriously and use it as an opportunity to tackle problems involving the role of money in politics, nothing will stop the worsening of public distrust in the nation's lawmakers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2004-08-30	YOSHIN0020040831e08u000ce
YOMSHI0020040830e08v0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040830e08v0000d	EN	\N	Japan expected to repeat medal bonanza in Beijing	The Japanese delegation bettered its own pre-Games target of 24 to 25 medals, including more than 10 gold medals. Our female athletes deserve special commendation--they outperformed men 9-7 in terms of the number of gold medals won in Athens.	4	2004-08-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Exciting and touching by turns, the scenes broadcast live to Japan every night throughout the Games remain seared in our memories. We would like to praise all the Olympic athletes.But before the sports officials get back to the job of training athletes for future Olympiads, they need to consider the following facts: The Japanese team's medal bonanza was in part a result of the Athens Games having 301 events--nearly two times the number of events held in the Tokyo Olympics--with far more gold medals awarded overall.Japan clinched 20 of the 37 medals in judo, gymnastics and wrestling. Indeed, we were pleased to see our athletes excelling in the sports that are supposed to be the country's forte. But it is true that our athletes seldom prevailed in events, especially team events, upon which many other countries enthusiastically focus their Olympic preparations.To catch up with sports giants such as the United States, which enjoyed a large haul of medals in a wide range of competitions, Japan should begin providing special training programs for athletes in sports that we are not traditionally strong in. We should also work on building stronger teams.Peace prevailsPrior to the opening of the Athens Games, there were concerns about possible terrorist attacks. But peace prevailed throughout the Olympics. This was because of the security measures undertaken by the Greek government, which spent four times more on making the Games safe than Sydney did in 2000.As long as there continue to be terrorist threats, countries hosting the Olympics will inevitably face enormous pressure, including that of a heavy financial burden.Doping troubles did mar the latest Olympics. The International Olympic Committee had declared beforehand that it would crack down on doping violators. As a result, about 3,000 doping tests were carried out during the Games, up more than 25 percent from the Sydney Olympics. Many athletes were consequently disqualified or deprived of medals after testing positive for drugs.The use of drugs makes athletics--competitions testing the limits of human strength and skill--meaningless. The IOC and all other sports federations should continue their fight until drug use is eliminated.China staking prestigeIn four years, the Olympic flame will be lit in Beijing, the third Asian host of the Games after Tokyo and Seoul. The 2008 Olympiad will be the largest international event in China in its history.China dispatched about 500 officials, mostly from the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, to attend the Athens Games. They reportedly inspected how the opening ceremony and competitions were held, traffic flow to the venues for each event, the management of the Olympic Village and security measures, among other aspects of the Games. Such thorough, close observation reflects the fact that the Chinese Communist Party is committing all its prestige to the success of the Beijing Olympics.China earned the second-most gold medals in Athens--32--just behind the United States.We hope to see Japanese athletes storm the Games again in China, a sports superpower in its own right.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	621	2004-08-31	YOSHIN0020040901e08v000f8
YOMSHI0020040831e0910000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040831e0910000g	EN	\N	Can the FY05 budget kill 2 birds with 1 stone?	Requests from ministries and agencies for allocations out of the general account budget amounted to 85.52 trillion yen, up 4.2 percent from the fiscal 2004 budget.	4	2004-09-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Certainly, the critical circumstances surrounding the state coffers will remain little changed for the new budget, with tax revenue shortfalls forcing the government to finance more than 40 percent of the budget by issuing new bonds.Furthermore, as long-term interest rates are expected to rise, the debt-servicing cost--such as government bond interest payments--in the general account budget is likely to increase.The Finance Ministry is determined to keep the overall scale of the new budget little changed from the fiscal 2004 budget as a way of slashing the outstanding fiscal deficit. To that end, it is crucial for the ministry to rigidly scrutinize the appropriation requests with the aim of drastically trimming nonurgent and nonessential spending proposals.Prioritize economic stimulationOn the other hand, special consideration must be given to certain spending plans. The mood of uncertainty is proving resilient in the economy, which is showing signs of losing steam all too shortly after getting back on the track to recovery. Against this backdrop, the government, while basically making no compromise in its austerity approach, has to give priority to research and development and other appropriations that can lead to future growth of the economy.Such an approach would enable the government to reconcile its quest for fiscal soundness with special consideration to economic stimulatives.The main focal points in the process of compiling the fiscal 2005 budget are the amount of grants to local governments--the money the central government subsidies out of income tax revenues--and social security costs.In the fiscal 2004 budget, the government earmarked 16.5 trillion yen for tax grants to local governments, down nearly 1 trillion yen from a year earlier. The contraction became possible owing to a reduction in local government budgets in a number of areas such as public works and relatively high salaries for local government employees.Nonetheless, there is room in local governments' budgets for further streamlining. For instance, they would be able to save a considerable amount of money if they were to use private-sector companies to collect garbage instead of undertaking such operations on their own. The ministry should not stint on its efforts to cut back further on tax grants to local governments in the new budget.Under an ongoing plan for reforming local finances, local governments have asked the central government to delegate parts of the tax-collection rights to local authorities in return for accepting a cut of more than 3 trillion yen a year in central government subsidies. To forge a concrete procedure for such a swap, efforts should be made to discontinue unnecessary state subsidies to local public works projects so that local governments can eliminate waste from their own budget structures.Time to kill off 'sacred cows'Social welfare expenditures amounted to about 20 trillion yen in fiscal 2004. In fiscal 2005, the comparable figure is expected to swell to about 21 trillion yen due to an increase in medical and nursing service costs in line with the continued graying of the population. If it does not plunge a scalpel into this ever-growing budgetary category, the ministry's determination to contain the size of the overall budget scale will remain so much hot air.Even in the social welfare appropriations, which are traditionally regarded as "sacred cows," there are many problems that must be remedied. For example, there exists a difference of almost 10-to-1 among municipalities concerning the portion of recipients of livelihood protection payments to the municipal population. Such a disparity stems from the fact that the criteria for giving assistance vary from one municipality to another.Similar regional gaps are seen in per capita medical service costs for the elderly.These problems should be rooted out, and the government should spare no effort to arrest "natural increases" in social welfare expenditures, no matter how small the cut would be.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	747	2004-09-01	YOSHIN0020040902e091000hj
YOMSHI0020040901e0920000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040901e0920000d	EN	\N	Permanent UNSC seat carries obligations	The Security Council's permanent seats have been occupied by the five victor nations in World War II. It is difficult to say, however, that the predominant role played by the five countries, known as the P5, in the highest U.N. decision-making organ represents the realities facing each nation in the world today. Japan--the second-largest economic power in the world--has every reason to sit on the council as a permanent member and fulfill a role and obligation commensurate with its strength and ability in ensuring the global peace and security.	4	2004-09-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But questions can be raised over the prime minister's attitude on this issue. He recently said: "The P5 are all nuclear powers. These nations are all ready to engage in combat overseas if an international dispute arises."He has also said: "Japan can't always do what the P5 does. I'll tell (the United Nations) that Japan wants to be heard (by other nations) as a country that will act differently from the P5."For years, the prime minister has maintained a passive stance on Japan's bid to become a permanent Security Council member, citing restrictions Article 9 of the Constitution imposes on this country with respect to its conduct overseas. Koizumi's latest statement apparently reflects his adherence to these restrictions, although he did not say as much.Going nuclear not necessaryJapan's desire to become a permanent Security Council member does not mean that this nation must possess nuclear weapons if it eventually joins the U.N. decision-making body in that capacity. The P5's readiness to participate in combat overseas if an international conflict erupts constitutes an important obligation to be fulfilled by these nations. But its duty in this respect should never be treated as an obligation comparable to the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel overseas for the purpose of creating and maintaining global peace.Article 9 bans "war as a sovereign right of the nation" and the "use of force." Sending SDF troops overseas to create and maintain peace under a Security Council resolution does not mean waging war or using force. In fact, the prime minister favored a plan to have the SDF personnel operating in Iraq join a multinational force.Should each U.N. member state join the multilateral force in Iraq or not? It is not a question of whether doing so is an obligation of a U.N. member. It depends solely on what kind of decision the government of each U.N. member state makes on the issue. France, Russia and China have declined to join the multinational force in Iraq, despite their P5 status.Reinterpret ConstitutionMinshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Katsuya Okada has insisted that the SDF be allowed to use force overseas under a Security Council resolution after the Constitution is revised. The prime minister appears to be less committed to Japan's involvement in global efforts to maintain peace.Undoubtedly, Japan's commitment to this international task could be best fulfilled by rewriting the Constitution. We believe, however, that Japan can do much in this area by reinterpreting the "use of force" under the current Constitution. The prime minister has the authority to do so. This also is true of a proposal for the government to change its official view about Japan's right to collective self-defense. For years, the government has said that this country possesses that right, but that the Constitution prohibits the nation from exercising it.All these changes alone would considerably expand the scope of Japan's cooperation in maintaining global peace with the use of SDF personnel.It is questionable whether Japan will be able to gain the support of other U.N. members for its bid to become a permanent member of the Security Council if it keeps saying that "we can't always do what the P5 does." The government must think about what this country can and should do, instead of only stating what it cannot do.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	722	2004-09-02	YOSHIN0020040903e092000gj
YOMSHI0020040902e0930000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040902e0930000b	EN	\N	N-plant disaster probe reveals KEPCO's laxity	The Fukui prefectural police have started a full-scale investigation into the lethal steam leak at KEPCO's Mihama Nuclear Power Plant that killed five workers and injured six others. The police reportedly are treating the case as one of professional negligence resulting in death and bodily injury.	4	2004-09-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The accident took place on Aug. 9, when a secondary condenser pipe installed at one of the plant's nuclear reactors fractured after years of corrosion. The incident may be regarded as less disastrous in that it did not involve a radiation leak and other failures that could have struck the core of the nuclear power plant.But KEPCO is the first power utility to be investigated in connection with an accident that took place at a nuclear power station in operation. We hope investigators will uncover the whole truth behind the steam blowout.Safety measures inadequateThe focus of the ongoing investigation into the accident is on whether KEPCO had implemented appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the section in question in the knowledge that it could suffer a fracture as a result of the pipe corroding.The condenser pipe that failed had never been inspected since the Mihamacho plant was put into service in 1976. As a result of an error committed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., which manufactured the pipe and installed it at the facility, the pipe was not included in the list of sections subject to periodical inspections.In 1990, KEPCO prepared a set of guidelines for the supervision of the secondary condenser pipe after an accident similar to the Mihamacho disaster occurred in the United States in 1986. To draw up the guidelines, the power utility asked MHI to produce a list of sections that required regular inspection. But the list prepared by MHI did not incorporate the section of the pipe that eventually fractured. KEPCO overlooked this error, too. The firm did not discover the omission during periodical inspections that followed.In November, an inspection company told KEPCO that the pipe in question had never been examined. But the utility did not immediately inspect it, apparently planning instead to implement corrective measures during a periodical inspection scheduled for last month.Prior to the latest accident, the electric utility industry knew that condenser pipes were vulnerable to corrosion. It seems that KEPCO may have neglected to inspect the pipe in question just because it was not directly linked to the nuclear reactor. KEPCO also commissioned the inspection firm to conduct all work involved in a periodical inspection. This attitude must be criticized as irresponsible.Power firms must learn lessonAdmittedly, inspections at a power station require cooperation from the manufacturers of parts used to build the facility and an inspection company. But each electric power company has the principal responsibility to carry out a proper inspection of its facilities. They must take the initiative in this respect.There is no doubt that the incident at the Mihamacho facility was a result of errors committed by several firms. Given this, the prefectural police have every reason to accuse those responsible for the accident of negligence in the conduct of their duties.In the wake of the Mihamacho disaster, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency instructed 11 electric power firms operating nuclear power stations to conduct renewed inspections of secondary condenser systems at their facilities. It has been found that KEPCO failed to inspect 11 pertinent sections over the years. It is also known that operators of more than half of thermal power stations nationwide have failed to inspect the thickness of condenser pipes at their plants.All power utilities must be extremely careful in conducting periodical inspections of their facilities so their plants can be operated as safely as possible. Meanwhile, the government should give the industry proper instructions and ensure it strictly abides by them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	720	2004-09-03	YOSHIN0020040906e093000gr
YOMSHI0020040903e0940000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040903e0940000i	EN	\N	War on terror main plank in Bush platform	In a speech Thursday accepting the nomination, he expressed his strong determination to be reelected, saying, "I am running for president with a clear and positive plan to build a safer world and a more hopeful America."	4	2004-09-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The coordinated terrorist attacks on the United States that took place three years ago have changed the world. The Republicans staged their national convention in New York, the scene of the tragedy, part of the party's strategy to win reelection by highlighting the leadership of the president in spearheading the war on terrorism in their appeal to U.S. voters.According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, the main focus of U.S. voters has shifted from the state of the economy to foreign policy and security issues for the first time since the Vietnam War era. The poll found that 41 percent of the respondents cited "war, foreign policy and terrorism" as the most important problems facing the United States, compared with 21 percent who gave higher priority to "economic issues."The Bush administration launched attacks on Afghanistan, once the stronghold of the Al-Qaida international terrorist organization. Then, it embarked on a war in Iraq, sounding an alarm over the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Given the fact that more than 100,000 U.S. troops remain deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan today, it is natural to see foreign policy and security issues emerge as the main concern of the U.S. voters.Few differences over securityIn criticizing Bush for his tendency toward unilateralism, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, for his part, has been underscoring the importance of international cooperation. However we see no big difference between the two candidates.Both pledge to prioritize the safety of the United States while committing to the reconstruction of Iraq and maintaining the framework of six-party negotiations over North Korea's nuclear development program.As a "wartime president," Bush is in an advantageous position as far as such policies are concerned. The incumbent leader is enjoying a high degree of voter confidence with regard to antiterrorism measures and strong leadership. In the Pew survey, about 60 percent of the pollees said "preemptive force can be justified."But, despite the collapse of the dictatorship of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, U.S. postwar rule of Iraq has failed. Consequently, the situation in Iraq remains in disarray.Stabilize IraqThe foremost task of the incumbent president is to show the way toward victory and implement necessary measures in a war in which no end is yet in sight. A failure to stabilize the situation in Iraq will result in the continuing evolution of a terrorist hotbed, plunging the security of the world into chaos. If this is the case, Bush is unlikely to be reelected.The weakness of the Bush administration lies in domestic policies--economic policies in particular. The president envisions the permanent implementation of large-scale tax cuts while the U.S. government is faced with bloated defense spending, increased pension and Social Security and health expenditures that will stem from a review of their systems. Therefore, Bush will have to urgently devise steps to trim federal budget deficits. When he was inaugurated as the head of state, the unemployment rate stood at 4.2 percent but the rate had soared to 5.5 percent as of July.The presidential election will be held in two months. In that time, Japan, which has deployed Self-Defense Forces units in the Indian Ocean and Iraq, should keep a close eye on the direction of U.S. foreign and security policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2004-09-04	YOSHIN0020040906e094001aa
YOMSHI0020040905e0950000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040905e0950000d	EN	\N	ROK must come clean on uranium enrichment	Such suspicion followed a recent revelation that Seoul failed to report to the International Atomic Energy Agency that scientists had produced 0.2 of a gram of highly enriched uranium via atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) in early 2000 at the South Korean Atomic Research Institute, located in the west of the country.	4	2004-09-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The South Korean government denied any involvement, saying in a statement that "a few scientists conducted an experiment on their own" and the enrichment was aimed at "domestic production of nuclear fuels." It added all the laboratory equipment used for the experiment had since been dismantled.The official explanations do not answer several serious questions:How could the South Korean government have no involvement at all in the experiment given that the AVLIS process took place at a government-run research institute? Exactly when and how did the government learn of the experiment?Inspection request refusedSouth Korea is rumored to have refused an IAEA request for a site inspection in mid-2003 when the international nuclear watchdog detected highly enriched uranium while analyzing environmental samples collected at the institute. If this is true, the South Korean government was definitely aware of the production of highly enriched uranium from that point.What the South Korean scientists produced was uranium enriched to 80 to 90 percent--known as weapons-grade uranium. Enrichment levels of 3 to 5 percent are sufficient for use as nuclear power plant fuel. Some IAEA officials reportedly remain unconvinced by Seoul's excuse that the process was part of "research into domestic production of nuclear fuels."The Vienna-based nuclear watchdog thinks that Seoul violated the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty's Safeguards Agreement that obligates parties to the NPT to provide prior notification to the IAEA. South Korea maintains that it had not been obligated to report the uranium enriching experiment to the U.N. agency until February this year when it ratified the Additional Protocol--which stipulates the enlarged notification obligation only for peaceful use of nuclear materials and facilities and mandatory IAEA inspections.IAEA should have been toldHowever, it must be noted that the South Korean government signed the Additional Protocol in June 1999. Considering the ultimate aim of the accord is absolute nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, Seoul should have notified the IAEA without delay of the atomic research institute's experiment even ahead of the ratification of the protocol. The way it dealt with the case deepens the international community's suspicion about its nuclear policy.Uranium enrichment is a focal point of discussion at the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear development program. Seoul's production of highly-enriched uranium may come as a windfall for Pyongyang, providing it with a lever to change the tide of the talks in its favor.The U.S. government expressed its displeasure with Seoul's secret experiment, saying it should not have happened.The South Korean government renewed its commitment to adhering to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nonproliferation of atomic weapons. The administration of South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun should not only cooperate fully with IAEA inspectors, but also carry out an urgent investigation of its own into the case.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2004-09-05	YOSHIN0020040906e095001yi
YOMSHI0020040905e09600036	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040905e09600036	EN	\N	Space program needs realistic strategy	The Cabinet Office's Council for Science and Technology Policy recently compiled a basic strategy for the development and use of outer space. The council looked at the current situation in the harsh light of reality, and mapped out a 10-year course of action for the nation's space development program.	4	2004-09-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In light of a series of setbacks in the space program, such as the failed launch of the rocket booster H-2A, the engine trouble with Nozomi, Japan's first probe to Mars, and the suspended operation of the environmental research satellite Midori-2, the council has put priority on restoring confidence in the nation's space-related technology.The council has listed ways to strengthen space-related industry and has also initiated a policy of launching basic research, in consideration of the possibility of implementing manned space missions in the future.But the current state of affairs is critical.Since the failure in November of the H-2A, there has been little prospect of its relaunch. In research areas such as planetary exploration, which normally bring out those with vision, there are no new programs in the pipeline, due chiefly to failures such as that of the Mars probe.Without cooperation among industry, government and academia to solidify our foothold in space development, any new strategy is just so much pie in the sky.Rapid changes force reviewThe same council drew up a similar strategy two years ago. Due to rapid changes both at home and abroad, however, the council was forced to review it.U.S. space shuttle flights, which Japan counts on for its manned space missions, remain suspended after the disaster involving the space shuttle Columbia last year.The United States changed its space policy early this year. It has decided to retire the shuttles in 2010 and develop a new spaceship, shifting emphasis to such activities as manned probes to the moon.In Asia, China in October succeeded in sending a man into space.For Japan, whose presence in this field has waned internationally, the new strategy meets only the minimum requirements to remain active. But space development reflects the technological power of a nation, and also helps related sectors expand. More effort is needed to turn this into a true national strategy.National security role vitalIn addition, satellite information-gathering and telecommunications activities, as well as the global positioning system, play an important role in the area of national security.The issues of space development and national security tend to trigger ideological debates, because the government interprets the 1969 Diet resolution that limits the use of the nation's space development program to peaceful purposes as meaning the nonmilitary use of space.Even the use of communications satellites by the Self-Defense Forces gave rise to controversy at one time. Japan currently plans to launch its own GPS satellite. As there is a possibility that such a satellite could work in conjunction with its U.S. counterpart, which was developed for military use, further controversy may erupt.As to the peaceful use of space, the Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967, calls for no nation to make use of outer space to launch attacks on other countries.Even though the treaty does not ban using space for national security purposes, the Cabinet Office's new strategy only calls on relevant organizations to discuss the issue.The nation's basic strategy on space development aims to secure public safety, pursue economic development and create knowledge. This is a national strategy. Now it needs to be rewritten to make it a realistic and effective strategy as well.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2004-09-06	YOSHIN0020040907e096000d6
YOMSHI0020040906e0970000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040906e0970000e	EN	\N	Review of blanket testing for BSE timely	A Food Safety Commission study panel has recommended that the nation's three-year-old program to test all cattle for bovine spongiform encephelitis be reviewed.	4	2004-09-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report pointed out that it is difficult to detect BSE in cows aged 20 months or younger. In response to the report, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry plan to map out a new standard excluding such cows from testing.Japan is the only country in the world that tests all cattle headed for consumers' plates. We support the recommendation made by the study panel.Wholesale testing for BSE began in October 2001, after the first case of BSE was detected the previous month.So far, more than 3 million cows have been tested in Japan, with 11 cows confirmed as having BSE. Those infected cows were successfully kept out of the market.But even as the program was being put in place, a discussion began over whether the testing standards needed to be reviewed.Cattle's age mattersIt takes about two years for abnormal prions, the proteins that cause BSE, to accumulate in numbers sufficient for detection. Because of this, it is deemed difficult to detect BSE in young cows. In European Union member countries, only cows aged 30 months or older are subject to testing.Late last year, a BSE-infected cow was discovered in the United States, leading the government to ban all beef imports from that country.As a condition for lifting the ban, the government requested that U.S. beef cattle be blanket tested for BSE, as they are in this country. The United States rejected the request on the ground that "excessive testing is unnecessary," pushing the government to further review its testing standards.The study panel, in its discussions on the matter, found that the youngest cow confirmed to have BSE in Japan was 21 months old, leading the panel to conclude that a testing cut-off at 20 months would be the most likely to win public understanding. This judgement seems sound to us.Remove dangerous partsOne of the most important considerations in preventing mad cow disease is to remove the brains, spinal cords and parts of the small intestine from all cattle, as these are the parts considered most likely to accumulate abnormal prions.If these parts are removed completely and cleanly, the beef can be considered safe for consumption. In Japan, these hazardous parts are removed from all cattle, a process that will continue even if blanket testing is reviewed. Many experts have pointed out that no dangerous beef has yet been or will be put on the market.Should blanket testing be reviewed, negotiations with the United States over the resumption of beef imports can begin in earnest.The government is expected to compromise with the United States in line with these proposed new domestic standards. As many cattle in the United States are slaughtered at the age of 20 months or younger, it is likely that beef imports will be resumed this year, provided the negotiations go smoothly.The removal of hazardous parts could be the sticking point. As such removal is done in European countries, Japan should demand that the United States take the same measures for those cattle to be imported to Japan.The United States employs different breeding methods from Japan, and it is said to be difficult to identify the exact day cows are born there. It will be maddening if the United States tries to exploit this "loophole" to get around the 20-month age limit. The United States must come up with a better way of counting the months from birth.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2004-09-07	YOSHIN0020040908e097000fz
YOMSHI0020040907e0980000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040907e0980000f	EN	\N	Policies on Japan Post must stay true to intent	A set of basic privatization principles adopted Tuesday by the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, a key government panel led by the prime minister, is significant in that it raises doubt as to whether his reform goal can be realized as initially intended. The set of privatization principles formulated by the council contains a number of concessions to antireform forces and appears to be little more than a desperate attempt to translate the privatization plan into action at the expense of serious efforts to accomplish its original goals.	4	2004-09-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main focus of Koizumi's reform drive is to correct the long-sustained system under which the lion's share of the huge amount of funds collected through postal savings and kampo life insurance services has been loaned to public corporations to finance inefficient projects. The reform goal represents a departure from the system whereby the government controls massive amounts of money collected from the private sector, a system that can be termed "financial socialism." The postal privatization plan is intended to be a tool to accomplish that goal.The council's privatization principles do not incorporate a specific timetable for the completion of the privatization process. The state-run Japan Post would be taken over by entities to be established as joint-stock corporations wholly owned by the government during the initial stage of the privatization process.It is important to note, however, that the state-run postal services would be transformed into fully privatized operations if and when the corporations' government-owned shares are all offered for sale. However, the basic principles do not state when the shares will be sold. The panel should declare the target year for that goal.4 separate entities proposedThe focus of attention of the basic principles is what kind of formula would be adopted to provide mail-delivery, postal savings and life insurance services at the start of the privatization process in April 2007. The panel has decided that these businesses would be conducted by four separate entities under a holding company.This is in contrast to the formula advocated by Japan Post, which had insisted on establishing a special corporation that would provide the four postal services. The state-run corporation defended its argument by saying it would be impossible to establish by April 2007 a computer network system that would cover the four postal services.With this in mind, the council should be given credit for its decision to divide Japan Post into four corporations, a decision that should serve the purposes of Koizumi's privatization plan.The council says the four corporations to be operated under a holding company would remain intact even after privatization has been completed.Policies need clarifyingHowever, the system is not sufficient to prevent poor business performance at any one of the new corporations from adversely affecting the others. For instance, a decline in the mail-delivery business could have a negative impact on the postal savings and kampo life insurance services, triggering a financial panic.The panel's principles state that the postal savings and life insurance businesses would be "owned and operated by the private sector." However, the council is not clear about whether these businesses would be fully privatized, meaning that the government would have no stake in these corporations at all.The set of principles state that the four postal services would be entirely independent of each other in the final stages of privatization. The panel calls for ending all restrictions on business activities to be carried out by each corporation by the completion of privatization.The wisdom of this plan also needs to be questioned. The public has good reason to believe that the government will continue to provide a tacit guarantee for the four planned corporations if it retains a stake in them even after the start of privatization.The privatization plan would eventually lift the limit on the amount of postal savings and life insurance policy held by each customer. However, an end to restrictions on the scope of business operations to be carried out by each planned corporation means that it will be able to release new financial products. This raises concerns that the already gigantic postal savings and kampo insurance businesses could bloat further.The principles state that the limit on the amount of postal savings and life insurance policy would be "maintained for the time being." Caution should be exercised in dealing with such delicate issues during the privatization process.There is still time for the government to address pertinent issues before it submits bills on postal privatization to the Diet next year. We hope the government will further improve its privatization plans. Koizumi's drive for postal privatization--the main focus of his reform campaign--should not be reduced to an empty slogan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	889	2004-09-08	YOSHIN0020040909e098000f0
YOMSHI0020040908e0990000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040908e0990000h	EN	\N	Strike by ballplayers would benefit no one	The pro baseball players union has decided that if its demands are not met, it will strike every Saturday and Sunday from Sept 11. Among the union's demands are that the merger between the Orix BlueWave and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes be put on hold for one year.	4	2004-09-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In September alone, 30 weekend games would be canceled. Should the strike drag on, it will affect both the Central and Pacific League pennant races, as well as the Japan Series.The merger of the two clubs was approved at an extraordinary owners meeting Wednesday, perhaps increasing the chances of a strike. We can only hope Thursday's meeting between the players union and the team representatives will produce an agreement that will prevent a strike.Apart from a freeze on the merger, the union also is demanding the removal or reduction of the entry fee for new teams and an overhaul of the current draft.Merger a management issueGenerally, in collective bargaining between union and management, labor issues such as compensation and working hours are discussed.However, the players have questioned a management decision, in this case, the merging of two clubs. Management matters such as this are not grounds for entering collective bargaining.This point also became the focus when the players union took management, in this case Nippon Professional Baseball, to court, filing for an injunction against the merger.The ruling by the Tokyo High Court on Wednesday said that the merger does include issues relevant to the players' working conditions, and that those specific issues justified collective bargaining.Some players will have their contracts canceled because of the merger. But NPB has said all long that it would protect them by increasing the number of players allowed on each team's roster.Both sides must give groundThe court ruled that the players had the right to enter into collective bargaining only because the rescue measure was not approved at an owners meeting.Yet the ruling also rejected the injunction since Thursday's meeting effectively provided a venue for collective bargaining.The players need to accept the reality of the merger before heading to the negotiating table. Equally, management must be sincere about securing the players' livelihoods.At the extraordinary meeting, the owners decided to ease the requirements for newly entering teams, one of the demands put forth by the players union--a possible first step toward averting a strike.Surely no baseball fan wants to see dead, empty ballparks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	450	2004-09-09	YOSHIN0020040910e099000fv
YOMSHI0020040909e09a0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040909e09a0000g	EN	\N	World must unite to contain terrorism	Rather than abating, terrorism seems to be spreading across the globe.	4	2004-09-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A powerful car bomb exploded outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday. Last week, Chechen rebels seized a school in North Ossetia, southern Russia.Memories of terrorist explosions on the Moscow subway system and the downing of two Russian passenger airplanes are still raw. Commuter trains were blown up by terrorists in Madrid in March, while the Israelis and Palestinians are trapped in a vicious circle of terrorist attacks and retaliatory strikes.Depending on their cause, a political solution may be found for some conflicts. The Troubles in Northern Ireland are a case in point.But there is no political fix for struggles waged by terrorist groups trying to destroy the world order, including Al-Qaida, an international terrorist network of Muslim radicals responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. If they obtain weapons of mass destruction, the world will face a grave security threat.With this threat in mind, Washington decided to start wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The old regimes were toppled in both countries, but they remain highly unstable.Stable Afghanistan, Iraq vitalThe stabilization of Afghanistan and Iraq is the highest priority for the international community. The world will lose the war against international terrorism if it fails to reconstruct those countries and establish democratic governments in them.More than two months have passed since sovereignty was transferred to the Iraqi government. Members of the Iraqi National Council, which is equivalent to an interim assembly, have already been selected.Ahead of Iraq's first general election in January, for which preparations are about to start, the biggest worry is the deterioration of the domestic security situation.The city of Fallujah in central Iraq has become a hotbed of militants, including supporters of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born terrorist with close ties to Al-Qaida. Casualties and injuries are reported in Fallujah almost every day due to clashes with U.S. forces.Meanwhile, U.S. military casualties have surpassed 1,000 since the Iraq war started.U.S., Europe should make upTaliban remnants detonated a bomb in Kabul late last month. This was a worrying development, given that Afghanistan is due to hold a presidential election in October and a general election in April.Without an improvement in the security situation in that country, the United Nations will be unable to play a major role in the elections. If the political schedule is significantly delayed, Afghanistan could become a breeding ground for terrorists again.Another cause for concern is that anti-U.S. sentiment has been increasing around the world since the Iraq war started. This likely is due in part to the perceived unilateralist tendency of U.S. President George W. Bush's administration.But the stability and prosperity of the international community are guaranteed by the United States, the sole world superpower.France, Germany and Russia have not joined the multinational forces in Iraq since they disagreed with the United Sates on the justification for the Iraq war.To make the world a safer place, Europe and the United States should try their best to mend the rift between them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	574	2004-09-10	YOSHIN0020040913e09a000h5
YOMSHI0020040910e09b0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040910e09b0000h	EN	\N	Bill needed to clarify postal privatization	The government has been controlling a huge amount of money in postal savings and kampo insurance and investing it in and loaning it to state-affiliated corporations. The main aim of privatization is to revitalize the Japanese economy by disbanding the gigantic state financial institution and redirecting the flow of its funds to the private sector.	4	2004-09-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Some parts of the basic policy are incomplete and vague, and the privatization process is not clear. Will the four companies be completely financially independent from each other? Will they take unfair advantage of the process to expand their businesses during the transitional period to complete privatization? Doubts about the basic policy are numerous.The government will establish a task force led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to draft a bill on postal privatization. The task force must identify specific problems in the basic policy and complete a bill that guarantees the original intentions of the postal privatization can be accomplished. The prime minister himself must do his best to seek the understanding of all political parties on the issue.LDP opposing govtHowever, both ruling and opposition parties oppose the government's policy on privatization of postal services.The ruling coalition Liberal Democratic Party did not agree with the basic policy and opposed the Cabinet's approval of it.The LDP claims there has been a long-standing practice that government bills must be approved by the LDP's General Council before they are submitted to the Diet. However, at the heart of its opposition is the LDP's desire to protect the interests of tokutei (privately-owned) post offices, which have been supporting the party for years.More than 70 percent of post offices around the country are privately owned and the postmasters have been staunch supporters of the LDP. These postmasters have played major roles in their respective communities in collecting votes for LDP candidates.Most of them fear losing various benefits they enjoy as contractors to the state company.Vested interests at workLDP lawmakers with vested interests in the postal services are going to try to draw the teeth from the privatization plan during the process of drafting the bill. Of course, it is not entirely wrong for a political party to try to influence a government policy. However, the question is whether their efforts are based on the best interests of Japan.The attitude of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is also questionable. Though this is a very important political issue, the biggest opposition party has not yet revealed the details of its own plan for postal reform in spite of pledges to do so in the last House of Representatives and House of Councillors elections.Some members of Minshuto support privatization of postal services. But others, mainly lawmakers from the defunct Japan Socialist Party, steadfastly oppose it out of consideration for the labor union of Japan Post, a group that supports the party. They have just inaugurated a league of Diet members opposing privatization of postal services.Minshuto cannot clarify its position on this important political issue probably because it is concerned with the possible revelation of intraparty conflicts. Such an attitude disqualifies Minshuto from calling itself a responsible party capable of forming a government.Any party that is obsessively devoted to protecting the vested interests of its supporters will destroy public trust in politics. What voters long for is responsible, broad-minded politics.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2004-09-11	YOSHIN0020040913e09b001c3
YOMSHI0020040911e09c0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040911e09c0000b	EN	\N	Does funding report chart true flow of funds?	But many people believe that this report does not reflect the true state of affairs.	4	2004-09-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is because of the scandal involving money donated from Nisshiren, the lobbying body of the Japan Dental Association, to a political grouping.Heisei Kenkyukai--the political organization of the former Hashimoto faction within the Liberal Democratic Party--corrected its income and expenditure report for 2001, adding 100 million yen to its income account while increasing the balance carried forward to the next account by 100 million yen, after it was revealed that the money was in fact an undeclared donation.As there was no legal requirement for the organization to present a balance certificate, the correction was easily made. However, there is a suspicion that the money may have been disposed of as unaccounted-for funds carried forward to the next account.New Komeito is calling for a ceiling on donations made from one political organization to another. However, unless the flow of such funds are entered into income accounts the proposed cap would be to no avail.Stricter accounting neededIt costs money to do politics. But there is no justification for shady funds that taint politics and give rise to public distrust in politicians. While reflecting upon the latest scandal, it is necessary to continue with reforms of political funding.Recent testimony by a Nisshiren official has brought to light suspicion of yet another scandal involving an indirect donation. If the suspicion turns out to be true, it will be further cause for concern.In making the donation to Kokumin Seiji Kyokai, the LDP's political fund-raising organization, Nisshiren reportedly designated the name of a Diet member, so that the money would be handed over to the legislator.The government report for 2003, documented a large and unreasonable flow of money from the LDP to its constituency branch, leading some government officials to suspect it was an indirect donation.Government policies can be distorted not only when a flow of dubious fund is covered up, but also when such money is linked to specific Diet members.To dispel such misgivings, it is necessary to raise the transparency of political funds.LDP mulling voluntary codePolitical parties have also shown signs of pushing for reforms.The LDP is studying such ideas as a framework that would remove all doubts as to whether a donation was indirect, and asking party members to make a voluntary disclosure when donations in excess of 10 million yen are received. The party has also switched its long-held practice of handing over cash to see its members over the New Year period in their home constituency to paying such support money directly into the bank account of the party branch.A policy for a voluntary disclosure of large amounts of money received by LDP members should be implemented soon.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has recently posted on its Web site the income and expenditure reports of party headquarters and its branches. This is indeed a step forward as the overall picture of funds can be seen at a glance, with both funds registered at headquarters and those at its branches combined.Minshuto leader Katsuya Okada plans to submit to the extraordinary Diet a bill to revise the Political Funds Control Law, which calls for tougher penalties for failing to enter such funds in reports.Minshuto may simply be trying to put pressure on the LDP. But the issue of money and politics is one with which every party should cooperate from the viewpoint of gaining public trust in politics, and no party should dream of mindlessly turning the issue into a political football.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2004-09-12	YOSHIN0020040914e09c000bq
YOMSHI0020040913e09e0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040913e09e0000g	EN	\N	Okada must unify Minshuto via reform	In an address before an extraordinary party convention Monday, Okada said, "Our sole and greatest task is to replace the ruling coalition in the next general election." He had every reason to trumpet that goal as leader of the main opposition party.	4	2004-09-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, there are difficult tasks to be tackled in accomplishing the goal. First and foremost, Okada must overcome the conflict of opinions about basic policies and goals among party members from different generations and internal groups.In reshuffling Minshuto's top cadre, Okada asked former Acting President Ichiro Ozawa to lead the party's election campaign headquarters. However, Ozawa refused the position. Ozawa's group--largely those who belonged to Jiyuto (Liberal Party) before the party merged with Minshuto a year ago--is keeping its distance from Okada. The new party leader does not have a group of Minshuto members to rally around him and lacks a strong support base within the party.During Monday's convention, Okada cited three measures he plans to implement to topple the current Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition. He insisted on first reforming his own party, second, presenting a set of specific policies and third, making preparations for the next House of Representatives election.Party transformation vitalOkada's decision to give high priority to reforming his party seems to reflect his full recognition of the need to do so.The question is what Okada will do to reform Minshuto. He stated that he would seek to increase the transparency of his party's political funds. He called for restrictions on Minshuto candidates succeeding their parents and other relatives as legislators, and for the party to work to increase the number of female Diet members.As important as these issues may be, they are not the party's main problem. It is doubtful whether Minshuto really will be able to restrict candidates from running for parliamentary seats as successors to their relatives. In fact, some influential Minshuto legislators have received Diet seats by taking over their relatives' electoral districts.The most important goal to be achieved in reforming Minshuto is to overcome its lack of internal unity. A schism between different groups of Minshuto members could adversely affect the party's efforts to formulate policies. The conflict of opinions among Minshuto members can only pave the way for compromising principles in drawing up fundamental party policies.Rift on securityThis can be seen in the formulation of security policies. Okada's platform drafted for Minshuto's recent presidential election incorporated a plan to set up a standby force for U.N. peacekeeping activities. But his election promise never discussed the issue in relation to Japan's right to collective self-defense.Okada's failure to address this aspect of the issue may have reflected his desire not to offend Ozawa and former party Vice President Takahiro Yokomichi, both of whom have called for creating a similar force detached from the Self-Defense Forces.However, we feel that Okada's argument simply represents an attempt to bar SDF personnel from overseas missions.Minshuto intends to submit a basic bill on collective security to the next ordinary Diet session. Okada's task is to play a leading role in promoting debate among Minshuto members about peace and security issues and ensure that the bill will serve its purposes both at home and abroad.Okada has a two-year term. This means that he will have to win a third term as Minshuto leader in September 2006 if he wants to lead his party's campaign in the next lower house election. Such a scenario does not include the possibility that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi could choose to dissolve the lower house for a general election during his current term as LDP president.Some veteran Minshuto members are seeking to replace Okada with such old hands as Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan, both former party presidents, and Ozawa. Meanwhile, some junior Minshuto members reportedly want to engineer a generational change within their party all at once.According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, the LDP's public approval rating stands at 34 percent, and Minshuto's at 19 percent. This means the gap between the two major parties has widened since immediately after the House of Councillors election in July.Okada must know that he will be able to more firmly unite his party and gain greater popular support only if he can make progress on reforming Minshuto and producing an intraparty consensus on basic policy issues. Doing so would earn him true recognition as leader of the largest opposition party.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	800	2004-09-14	YOSHIN0020040915e09e000hf
YOMSHI0020040914e09f0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040914e09f0000f	EN	\N	Shame on S. Korea for covert N-program	IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei expressed "serious concern" about the series of covert uranium and plutonium experiments South Korea has conducted.	4	2004-09-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest disclosure of South Korea's secret nuclear experiments comes amid grave international concerns about North Korea's open nuclear weapons development program and growing suspicions about Iran's nuclear program. Seoul's covert activities should not be allowed to contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.Revelations about secret nuclear experiments by South Korea started surfacing earlier in the month. The latest disclosures concern an uranium-enrichment experiment carried out by the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute four years ago and a report that Seoul succeeded in extracting a minute amount of plutonium in 1982. In a speech at the recent IAEA Board of Governors meeting, ElBaradei said South Korea had produced uranium metal in the 1980s.The separation of plutonium and the enrichment of uranium are precursors to the development of nuclear weapons. South Korea should have reported these activities to the IAEA. South Korea has flagrantly violated its obligations as a member of the U.N. nuclear watchdog body.Defense unconvincingSeoul has denied any involvement in covert nuclear experiments, saying South Korean scientists conducted the tests without government permission. If this assertion is true, then the South Korean government must be severely criticized for failing to control its country's nuclear program.South Korea has defended its production of uranium metal in the 1980s, saying natural uranium was so expensive in those days that it produced the metal on an experimental basis, hoping to produce nuclear fuel domestically.It should be noted, however, that the fuel used in South Korean nuclear power stations is uranium oxide. There is no plausible peaceful use for uranium metal in South Korea. Given this, South Korea's argument is hardly convincing. The country's production of uranium metal was followed by an experiment in the laser-enrichment of uranium, using a portion of the uranium metal it had produced.There is reason to suspect that South Korea may have sought to enrich uranium for practical purposes.The amount of extracted plutonium and uranium enriched in South Korea was quite small. The quality and quantity of these substances were far from enough to produce nuclear weapons.However, the modesty of the scale of South Korea's plutonium extraction and uranium enrichment does not justify that nation's covert activities.South Korea's failure to report its nuclear activities to the IAEA is undermining international efforts to resolve nuclear issues involving certain countries.Playing into rogue armsNorth Korea is now beginning to justify its nuclear weapons program by insisting that the South's uranium enrichment experiment had a "military nature." Pyongyang also is using the latest revelation about its rival's nuclear program as a pretext for its attempts to put off a new round of six-way talks. Meanwhile, Iran is closely watching how the IAEA deals with South Korea, as it is making preparations for the process of enriching uranium.If the IAEA fails to deal sternly with South Korea, it could encourage North Korea and Iran to develop nuclear weapons. If that transpires, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty would be seriously shaken.In February, South Korea ratified an additional IAEA protocol, a move that required that country to accept inspections by the nuclear watchdog body unconditionally and without delay. South Korea should cooperate with the IAEA in uncovering the whole truth behind its unreported nuclear activities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2004-09-15	YOSHIN0020040916e09f000in
YOMSHI0020040915e09g0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040915e09g0000g	EN	\N	Why were 2 boys' lives taken so cruelly?	Unfortunately, however, this has happened again. Akihiro Shimoyama, a 39-year-old construction worker of Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, allegedly abducted the two sons, aged 4 and 3, of the man who shared his apartment, Yasunori Kobayashi, 40, and threw them over a bridge.	4	2004-09-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The killings could have been prevented.Before the incident, an employee at a store near the apartment contacted police after noticing that the two boys' bodies were covered with bruises. A child consultation center then put them into a child care facility for their protection.However, since Kobayashi said he wanted his sons back, the child consultation center released them from the facility on condition that they live with their grandmother.The center said it repeatedly called the grandmother to inquire after the boys. But the center did not take any action even after being told that Kobayashi and his sons had returned to Shimoyama's apartment, and that Shimoyama had started assaulting the boys again.Local police, too, did not question Shimoyama, though he was suspected of assaulting and inflicting injuries on the boys.Were the center and the police unaware of the fact that Shimoyama was highly likely to cause great harm to the brothers?Revised law targets abuseThe victims were small boys under school age.When children of this age are at home, it is often hard for an outsider to notice that they have been abused or subjected to violence.Our society has already witnessed too many cases of small children who were killed without being able to escape from their abusers or seek help.The revised Child Abuse Prevention Law to be put in force next month stipulates that not only guardians of children, but also those who live with the guardians can be held criminally responsible for child abuse. The law also obliges a wider range of citizens to report suspected child abuse cases to authorities. The revisions were made to enable cases of child abuse to be detected as soon as possible, and to protect children before their lives are endangered.Officials overburdenedThe number of reported cases of child abuse has been increasing every year. Child consultation centers around the country were informed of 27,000 possible child abuse cases in fiscal 2003. But government offices charged with preventing child abuse have been unable to cope with the sharp increase in reported cases of the crime.Child consultation centers are chronically understaffed. The number of child welfare commissioners, who are experts in child affairs, is less than the governmental standard in a total of 37 prefectures and government-designated special cities around the country. Since they have to deal with many cases simultaneously, commissioners often have difficulty taking quick action in respect of new cases. A larger budgetary allocation may be needed to increase the number of commissioners.It is also a fact that a commissioner's investigation into a possible child abuse cases can be stymied if family members of the child in question refuse to let the commissioner into their home.In revising the law, a proposal to authorize police to enter a home where child abuse is suspected was discussed. But it was shelved due to objections from opposition parties, which claimed that allowing investigators to forcibly enter suspects' homes would violate the suspects' human rights.But nothing is more precious than the life of of a child. With a warrant issued by a court, a child consultation center official accompanied by a police officer should be allowed to enter a home where child abuse is suspected.A lesson should be learned from the latest incident so that the recurrence of another tragic case of a child being fatally abused can be prevented.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2004-09-16	YOSHIN0020040917e09g000gx
YOMSHI0020040916e09h0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040916e09h0000e	EN	\N	DPRK must comply with spirit of Pyongyang pact	But the peace and stability in Northeast Asia envisaged in the declaration have not been realized. Rather, the security situation has deteriorated, and the threats to Japan have increased due to North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and buildup of long-range missiles.	4	2004-09-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It has become an important task for Japan to make the best possible preparations for the worst-case scenario.Since the signing of the declaration, Pyongyang has openly been developing nuclear weapons by reprocessing spent nuclear fuel rods and producing plutonium.North Korea has expressed its unwillingness to attend the next meeting of the six-nation talks aimed at persuading it to abort its nuclear arms development program. This development means the talks inevitably will become stalled.Meanwhile, the United States, fearing North Korea is preparing to test a nuclear bomb, is tightening its security measures against that country.North Korea's actions violate such provisions in the declaration as compliance with all international agreements related to the nuclear issue, and the promotion of dialogue among countries concerning nuclear, missile and other security-related issues.This again highlights the fact that North Korea--a garrison state--is a serious threat to security in this region.Time ripe for sanctionsWhen he revisited North Korea in May, Koizumi said, "The Pyongyang Declaration is the basis of Japan-North Korea relations." But he should have demanded that Pyongyang implement the declaration in a sincere manner."Japan will never impose any sanctions on North Korea as long as it doesn't violate the Pyongyang Declaration," Koizumi said.But the state of affairs seems to be getting serious enough to justify sanctions.As for the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents, Kim promised in May to resume investigations into the whereabouts of 10 missing Japanese, including Megumi Yokota. But the results of the investigations have not been presented yet. North Korea is also unlikely to report the details of its investigations at a working-level meeting between the two countries scheduled for late September.Japan wants to resolve the nuclear, missile and abduction problems with North Korea in a comprehensive manner.But the six-nation talks have become bogged down, and issues related to missiles, a serious threat to Japan, have not yet been taken up for discussions in that forum. No progress has been seen on the abduction issue, either.Normalizing ties impossibleUnder such circumstances, negotiations on the normalization of Japan-North Korea diplomatic ties cannot be resumed. When he visited Pyongyang in May, Koizumi promised Kim that Japan would provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea, including 250,000 tons of food aid.Though the Japanese government decided last month to provide half of that amount for the time being, a majority of the public may not agree with the decision. The remainder of the aid should not be sent yet.The enactment of a set of contingency laws and supplementary legislation will be complete with the implementation of the civilian protection law Friday, which happens to fall on the second anniversary of the Pyongyang Declaration.A new version of the National Defense Program Outline, which lists as new threats weapons of mass destruction, including missiles, and terrorism is to be compiled by the end of this year.These developments have become possible particularly because the abduction of Japanese by North Korea, which trampled on the sovereignty of Japan and the human rights of Japanese people, and threats posed to Japan by North Korea's missiles and nuclear arms have made the public more aware of Japan's status as a nation-state and of the importance of maintaining its security.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2004-09-17	YOSHIN0020040920e09h000hb
YOMSHI0020040917e09i0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040917e09i0000f	EN	\N	Players' strike betrays pro baseball fans	Players in the Nippon Professional Baseball league decided Friday evening to proceed with a strike on Saturday and Sunday.	4	2004-09-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It will be the first strike ever in the history of Japanese pro baseball. The cancellation of the games is nothing but a betrayal of those baseball fans who were looking forward to watching them.It was only a week ago that management and labor compromised and postponed a strike. Have all the negotiations held since then been in vain?The Professional Baseball Players Association stuck doggedly to their demand that the merger of the Pacific League's Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and Orix Blue Wave be halted or at least frozen. Yet the merger of franchises is basically a management concern.When the association sensed it would be difficult for its demand to be met, it then insisted on allowing new teams to enter NPB as early as next season.Management could not compromise that far, chiefly because it requires a thorough screening for new teams to enter NPB.Compromise rejectedA compromise plan, which the neutral NPB Commissioner presented in the final phase of the latest round of negotiations, was trampled underfoot.The commissioner warned that "When the players strike, the pro baseball teams will be further exhausted financially, making it possible for a team to be forced to disband or to collapse.The legality of the strike is sure to be discussed in the days ahead.The league and team owners are studying whether it is possible to claim compensation for losses to be incurred due to canceled games.There are estimates that the team operators will suffer damages totaling several billion yen, including admission and broadcast revenues. Also likely to be affected are the income of transportation operators providing access to ballparks, nearby shops, and tourism businesses.Professional baseball has a 70-year history in this country. In our day-to-day lives, pro baseball is often the basis of conversation with those around us.Preseason games, the pennant race, the Japan Series and off-season moves or trades are all part of our everyday life, special features of each season that form part of the nation's common culture.Even during the Athens Olympics last month, pro baseball games were played for the sake of the fans, including children on summer vacation.Full schedule vitalIt is important to play all scheduled regular season games to determine the winner in each league and record complete player statistics with regard to records. The strike will undermine the significance of pennant race victories and personal records.We fear that Japanese baseball will be tainted with the image of labor-management disputes. We hope the players' association knows when to end the strike.If the strike is prolonged, it will create negative consequences similar to those seen after the strike in the 1994 season in the U.S. Major Leagues. Major League players went on strike to oppose management's plan to introduce a salary cap system to contain the skyrocketing salaries of some high paid players. The strike went on for 232 days. A great number of fans then started to stay away from Major League baseball, and what awaited players the following season were releases and salary cuts by clubs.Both players and management should continue efforts to bring the pennant races back to normal.Calling off the strike would be a bold decision.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	606	2004-09-18	YOSHIN0020040920e09i001by
YOMSHI0020040918e09j0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040918e09j0000c	EN	\N	What is true aim of unproductive strike?	During Friday's negotiations with management, the Professional Baseball Players Association unsuccessfully demanded that the Nippon Professional Baseball agree in writing to "increase (the number of teams) in the 2005 season" and "make the maximum effort" to facilitate the entry of new teams.	4	2004-09-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Management said it refused to give in because promising the NPB would have 12 clubs in 2005 would mean the process of evaluating new applications for franchises would not be carried out in a fair manner.Some people hold management responsible for forcing the players to resort to a walkout because of the owners' stubborn stance concerning the new entries in the NPB. The correctness of such an outlook is questionable.Applications to enter the pro leagues must be assessed with the utmost care. Management's uncompromising attitude reflects the fact that there have been a number of failed teams in the past.Past confusion, instabilityIn 1954, the Pacific League was so uncomfortable with the odd-numbered configuration of the league that it took drastic action to increase the number of teams to eight--with the backing of business community leaders--by enrolling the Takahashi Unions, completing the entry procedures in three months.At the end of the same year, the Takahashi Unions, suffering from financial difficulties, had to come under the protection of another company. Three years later, the team was absorbed by the Daiei Stars.In the early 1970s, the parent company of the Nittaku Home Flyers disposed of the Pacific League team after running it for one year. The uniforms of the Nishitetsu Lions frequently changed in line with the sponsorship changes from the Taiheiyo Club in 1973-76 to Crown Lighter in 1977-78 before becoming the Seibu Lions.Prudent evaluation is indispensable in determining whether the heads of companies applying for franchises have an adequate sense of responsibility and are sufficiently conscientious to operate professional baseball teams and whether their companies are sound enough to support their entry bids.The representatives of the clubs were unanimously in favor of creating a committee for evaluating new applications for entry in a fair and transparent manner in 2005. The creation of the panel had been proposed by NPB commissioner, Yasuchika Negoro.Compromise was closeFriday's negotiations were held as a closed session at the request of the players association. Management and players were close to reaching an eleventh-hour accord at one point--a compromise proposal in which management would promise "assessment with the maximum sincerity" of entry applications.Nonetheless, the lawyers acting for the players association and a handful of players association representatives stuck to their demand for the insertion of the time element--2005. As a result, the talks were sent back to square one."The only winners are the lawyers," a former team representative in the Pacific League said afterward. "We should not have let third-party people intervene."We want to ask each player the following questions: Will you categorically say "no" unless the Pacific League has six teams in 2005? Will you continue to strike until this demand is met?Daisuke Miura, a pitcher for the Yokohama BayStars, said after Friday's negotiations, "We're obliged to create an environment that makes our children crazy about becoming baseball players." We concur. We want kids to pursue the same dreams as their heroes in professional baseball--those of becoming pro baseball players.For this reason in particular, we do not want children to see the example set by professional players who refuse to play ball.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2004-09-19	YOSHIN0020040920e09j0020j
YOMSHI0020040919e09k0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040919e09k0000a	EN	\N	Strengthen NPT to remove loopholes	Iran should strive to restore international trust not only by immediately freezing all work on uranium enrichment--technology that can be used to make nuclear weapons--but by fully accepting IAEA nuclear inspections.	4	2004-09-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The sternly worded resolution states that the next board meeting in November will decide whether "further steps" should be implemented after judging Tehran's fulfillment of obligations stipulated in the IAEA Safeguards Agreement and its compliance with the IAEA's demand for a freeze on Iranian uranium enrichment. The IAEA Board of Governors may decide to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council when it meets again in late November if Tehran does not comply--a move that could pave the way for economic sanctions against the Islamic republic.Last year, after mediation by Britain, France and Germany, Iran said it would suspend a study of uranium enrichment. However, the country has since threatened to step up enrichment activities.A report issued by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei states that Iran has resumed producing parts to build centrifuges, and that it has completed a test run of a uranium conversion facility. Meanwhile, Iran has declared that it will produce hexafluoride--the gas that when spun in centrifuges converts to enriched uranium.Good reason for suspicionsIran has defended its nuclear activities by insisting that they are intended to serve the "peaceful purpose" of domestically producing fuel needed to operate nuclear power stations under construction at home. However, the international community has good reason to remain suspicious about the motives behind Iran's nuclear program, judging from past records of the country's suspected nuclear weapons development.Iran was found to have conducted uranium enrichment and plutonium extraction experiments at facilities unreported to the IAEA. Earlier, traces of highly enriched uranium were detected at some Iranian nuclear facilities, although it was not known where the substance came from. Tehran has offered a little more information each time such incidents occur. Iran's attitude in this respect must be regarded as an insincere attempt to divert international suspicions about its nuclear ambitions.Iran must take NPT seriouslyDuring the IAEA board meeting, the United States was insistent that the deadline on determining whether Iran should be referred to the Security Council be set for Oct. 31. However, the board meeting decided to make a decision about the deadline at its next meeting, a move aimed at allaying concerns among Britain, France and Germany that doing so could push Iran to the wall.However, Iran should not be mistaken about the IAEA decision. After years of seeking to resolve the problem through dialogue, the three European nations are increasingly distrustful. Iran must know that there will be a limit to what it can gain by driving a wedge into the alliance between the United States and the European nations.The dispute over Iran's suspected nuclear program serves as another indication of the deficiencies inherent in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.Admittedly, any member of the NPT is allowed to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. But this can arouse concerns that an NPT nation ambitious to build nuclear weapons might pursue a study of uranium enrichment, using the treaty as a pretext. What if such a country declares its withdrawal from the NPT when it reaches a certain stage in the pursuit of uranium enrichment technology?The NPT must be shored up so that no country with nuclear ambitions can use loopholes in the treaty.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2004-09-20	YOSHIN0020040921e09k00091
YOMSHI0020040920e09l0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040920e09l0000e	EN	\N	Hu must overcome Jiang's negative legacy	On the final day of a four-day plenum that closed Sunday, Jiang handed over his last post to Communist Party chief Hu Jintao.	4	2004-09-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Hu replaced Jiang as party General Secretary in 2002, and as president the following year.However, Jiang remained chairman of the party's decision-making Central Military Commission, meaning that he continued to exercise control over Hu as de facto supreme leader.Jiang's departure may signify a complete leadership transition to a younger generation led by Hu and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.The handover of power could give fresh impetus to Hu's pursuit of policies and goals unknown to an older generation of Chinese leaders, according to analysts.Growth problems seriousHowever, Jiang has left Hu with a poisoned chalice. During the 15 years of Jiang's rule, China saw exceedingly high economic growth. However, the nation's rapid rise has produced profound ill effects.This can be seen in the wealth gap between China's economically vibrant coastal regions and its still poor interior areas, as well as the income differential between individual Chinese. The abuse of power by corrupt party leaders and bureaucrats also has become widespread, incurring bitter resentment from the public.These are serious problems that could profoundly shake the Communist Party's rule.The Central Committee's plenum reiterated its determination to shore up the party's ability to govern the country.This shows that the Communist Party is increasingly concerned about the alienation of ordinary Chinese from the party and the growing frustration felt by the public, and a decline in the party's ability to rule the nation as a result.Given this, there are numerous problems to be tackled by the new Chinese leadership led by Hu and Wen.Japan ties need mendingAnother important task facing them is deciding what policy China should take toward Japan.During his reign as party chief, Jiang initiated powerful anti-Japanese propaganda for the purpose of promoting what he termed "patriotic education." His anti-Japanese campaign was pervasive--not only in educational and social activities, but also in the media. Jiang's success in this respect was clearly demonstrated by the thousands of Chinese who ceaselessly booed Japan national team players during the recent soccer Asian Cup finals.During his visit to Japan in 1998, Jiang urged the Japanese government to apologize for this country's conduct in the "historical past"--a move that only fanned anti-Chinese sentiment among Japanese. There have been no reciprocal visits by Japanese and Chinese leaders since October 2001.The anti-Japanese sentiment brewed among the Chinese by Jiang places a burden on Hu as he seeks to improve ties with Japan.Upon Hu's rise to party chief, the Chinese media and some scholars advocated a "new thinking policy" concerning China's relationship with Japan, calling for the past to be put to rest and urging forward-looking relations with this nation.However, this policy, which analysts say reflected Hu's desire to improve relations with Japan, only antagonized the Chinese public and some party leaders. The new thinking policy was eventually shelved.Observers have said that Jiang may remain influential among China's military. Hu's rise to the top position in the military, preceded by his ascent to party chief and president, is just the beginning of a battle over Jiang's negative legacy.We hope Jiang's resignation will lead to a change in Beijing's foreign policy toward Tokyo. Hu's success in this regard--or lack of it--will provide a yardstick to measure whether he has been able to go it alone and escape Jiang's influence.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2004-09-21	YOSHIN0020040922e09l000cy
YOMSHI0020040921e09m0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040921e09m0000g	EN	\N	Land prices recovering throughout nation	A recent annual survey released Tuesday by the Construction and Transport Ministry showed that there was a trend toward land prices rising for the year to July 1.	4	2004-09-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the average prices of residential and commercial land declined for the 13th consecutive year, the rate of decline was smaller.However, this was not true for major cities and the regions surrounding them. The rates of decline in land prices for Tokyo's 23 wards were 0.8 percent for residential land and 1.3 percent for commercial land.As the rate of decline was smaller than in the previous year, land prices seem to have bottomed out.The average price of residential land in central Tokyo, which includes Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato and five other wards, increased by 0.3 percent. The average land price in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, which is located next to Tokyo, increased by 1.7 percent.This is the first time since the collapse of the so-called bubble economy in the early 1990s that average land prices in large areas, such as the eight wards of Tokyo or the city of Urayasu, had increased, although previously some smaller plots of land had shown a price increase.Trend bodes well for economyThis recovery in land prices has spread to other major cities in addition to Tokyo. The price of commercial land in front of JR Nagoya Station increased by 9.9 percent--the highest rate in the country. The land price of some locations in Fukuoka increased by more than 5 percent.One of the factors that has long been delaying a full-fledged recovery from deflation has been the decrease in land prices, which has been a heavy burden on the Japanese economy. The latest increase in land prices seen in many areas could be the long-awaited light at the end of the tunnel.Areas in which land prices have increased share a common factor--land in those areas has became more attractive to investors because of redevelopment projects or the opening of prestigious brand-name shops.Large-scale redevelopment projects in the Marunouchi, Shinagawa, Shiodome and Roppongi areas of central Tokyo, led to the opening of a succession of office buildings. A large number of high-rise condominiums also are being constructed.Land prices in Nagoya were boosted by the construction of a large building in front of JR Nagoya Station.Redevelopment projects have attracted people, materials and investment to the areas and increased their asset values. This proves that improving the amenities a piece of land offers increases its value.Looking to the private sectorIt is vital to take steps to ensure that this upward trend in land prices in major cities spreads to other areas around the country. Two effective ways of achieving this would be through the establishment of real-estate investment trusts, and the promotion of a new type of public works project that utilizes funds and the expertise of the private sector.In areas outside major cities, average residential land prices declined, for the seventh consecutive year, by 4.4 percent. The decline in commercial land price was 7.1 percent, a slight improvement on the previous year, but the margin of decline was still large. It is not easy to prevent land prices declining in such areas because of the lingering depression and declining population.However, the establishment of special structural reform zones, where some regulations are relaxed, and an improvement in the living environment have arrested falling land prices in some areas.Municipalities and local businesses around the country should combine their ideas to stop deflation in land prices.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2004-09-22	YOSHIN0020040923e09m000gi
YOMSHI0020040922e09n0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040922e09n0000j	EN	\N	Joining P-5 club crucial for Japan's diplomacy	When Japan's national interest and the role it should play in the international community are taken into consideration, it is obvious that this country needs to join the club of five Permanent Members (P-5) of the Security Council.	4	2004-09-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Global peace and stability of the international community are the basis for Japan's existence as a trading nation.It is the Security Council that takes major responsibility in the United Nations for keeping and creating peace in the world.Japan must join the P-5 club to gain a stronger voice in the international community and to play a more active role in realizing peace and security in the world.The prime minister said in his U.N. speech that "countries with the will and resources to play a major role in international peace and security" should participate in the Security Council's decision-making process.He also said the United Nations should expand the Security Council by adding new members from both developing and developed countries.Today, the international community faces new threats such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. But the United Nations was paralyzed when the P-5 members were sharply divided on whether to start a war against Iraq.New efforts must be made to prevent recurrence of such a situation and to restore the original functions of the Security Council.UNSC not working properlyU.N. membership has increased from 51 countries when the global body was inaugurated to 191 today. Nonetheless, the P-5 has remained unchanged for nearly 60 years.The Security Council, whose makeup does not reflect the drastic changes that have taken place in the international situation over the past several decades, seems incapable of dealing with current problems properly.The permanent membership of Japan and other qualified countries is essential to vitalize the Security Council. This also would bolster the legitimacy and effectiveness of the United Nations.It would serve Japan's national interest, too, if reform of the Security Council brought better results in creating and keeping peace in the international community.But, Japan must overcome huge obstacles to gain a permanent seat in the Security Council--revision of the Constitution and difficulties in U.N. diplomacy.With or without a revision of the Constitution, Japan can play the role of a permanent Security Council member, Koizumi said.But problems related to the Constitutional revision, including the country's right to collective self-defense, must be discussed in deciding to what extent the Self-Defense Forces should be utilized.Alter top law interpretationEven within the boundaries of the current Constitution, the government could expand a variety of international peace cooperation activities considerably. That will become possible if the prime minister himself decides to change the government's current interpretation that Japan has the right to collective self-defense but is constitutionally prohibited from exercising it.After the official interpretation is changed, how the SDF actually would be used should be decided on a case-by-case basis.The United Nations will hold a special summit meeting next year to commemorate its 60th anniversary. Japan considers this as an important opportunity for it to press its case on membership of the P-5 club and plans to engage in vigorous diplomacy to realize U.N. reform.But it will become extremely hard to adjust the conflicting interests of member states once discussions on Security Council reform get down to specifics.Acquisition of a permanent Security Council seat is crucial for Japan to build a foundation for its diplomacy in the 21st century.We urge the government to exert diplomatic efforts in a persistent and multidimensional way to achieve this goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2004-09-23	YOSHIN0020040924e09n000d9
YOMSHI0020040923e09o0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040923e09o0000c	EN	\N	Forward-looking talks needed to save baseball	With the settlement, the players strike slated for this weekend has been averted. We are delighted that the thwack of bat against ball and spectators' cheers will resound in ballparks Saturday and Sunday.	4	2004-09-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Labor-management talks were held intermittently over the past two weeks. Initially, the biggest bone of contention was over the propriety of the planned merger of the Pacific League's Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and Orix BlueWave. Later, discussions shifted to the issue of when the entry of a new team into the PL should be allowed.Yet both labor and management remained apart. On the issue of when a new team should be permitted to enter the PL, the players association called for the NPB to allow one to enter next season, while the NPB insisted this should happen from 2006 or later, leaving both sides at loggerheads.On Sept. 18-19, the players struck. The first-ever walkout in Japanese pro baseball history led to the cancellation of 12 games.It is to be regretted that the players and the NPB, in whose hands the future of the nation's pro baseball lies, failed to understand each other.The players were concerned that with a drop in the number of pro baseball teams, the sport as whole would suffer, putting their jobs at risk.Fans' anger directed at NPBIn a bid to keep the current six-team PL system intact, players called on the NPB to let the Internet company that had applied to enter a team in the PL and other would-be entrants join the league from next season. There is no doubt that many pro baseball fans backed the players on this issue.Meanwhile, management asserted that the issue of the entry of new teams should be dealt with prudently, pointing out that there had been a number of cases in which companies that began managing pro baseball teams ended up quitting the business within a few years.Management maintained that what was needed first was to establish a system to examine whether a would-be ball club owner had the know-how and financial wherewithal to manage a club, and whether preparations to launch a club were well under way.But there is no denying that the NPB did not go far enough to win players' understanding of its position, and that it failed to make its case to baseball fans.Due to these failures, NPB came under a barrage of criticism for its perceived obstinacy, eventually prompting it to offer a compromise to settle the dispute.Screening must be fairAs for the entry of new teams from now on, we hope the NPB will do its utmost to conduct the screening of would-be entrants in a fair and transparent manner so as to win the understanding of players and fans.The latest labor-management talks drew much attention, not only from those in the pro baseball business and fans, but also from people who have little interest in the sport.With the latest development, the critical situation in which pro baseball clubs find themselves has been highlighted--some clubs are operating in the red or have seen attendances at games shrink, and television audience ratings have declined.To rejuvenate Japan's pro baseball, players and the NPB must end their showdown and launch forward-looking discussions.Meanwhile, we hope we will be able to watch exciting games that will dispel the clouds that have overshadowed pro baseball lately.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2004-09-24	YOSHIN0020040927e09o000d7
YOMSHI0020040924e09p0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040924e09p0000l	EN	\N	Paying the price for not taking voters seriously	So went the statement made by House of Representatives member Junichiro Koga. Koga faces criminal charges for allegedly lying about his academic record when he ran in the lower house election last autumn. The statement was issued while he was on his way to tender his resignation to the lower house Friday, but to our ears rings hollow.	4	2004-09-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koga's tendering of his resignation at this moment may have much to do with the certainty that police intended to refer his case to prosecutors on suspicion that he violated the Public Offices Election Law.He may have calculated that by resigning from his Diet seat, he may avoid being indicted.Koga is not alone. He is the fourth lower house member to resign to take responsibility for causing a scandal since the lower house election was held last November.Hiroshi Kondo and Masanori Arai, both former lower house members from the Liberal Democratic Party, were arrested on suspicion of buying votes in the lower house election, while Kanju Sato, former lower house member from Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), was arrested on suspicion of misappropriating the salary of his state-funded secretary.Sato was formerly home affairs minister in charge of issues related to political funds.Many disgracedThe list of scandal-tainted legislators does not end there. Senior campaign staff of three lower house Minshuto members are are now on trial on charges of violating the Public Offices Election Law. Should they be found guilty, the legislators themselves will lose their jobs as the guilt-by-complicity system is applied. If this happens, the number of lower house members driven out of their positions since the last election will total seven. Voters should be appalled.When running for election to the lower house, Koga claimed that he had graduated from Pepperdine University in California. In reality, however, he did not graduate.After he was expelled from Minshuto, he worked on his own as an independent legislator. He may not have taken seriously the idea that he would be forced to resign his seat for having lied about his academic background.Elections are the core of parliamentary democracy and a candidate's academic record is an important piece of information for voters in judging what sort of person the candidate is. If an aspiring politician lies about their academic background, they are not qualified to be a candidate.Moral lapse by partyAs a party, Minshuto failed to act properly. When the scandal surfaced, Minshuto did not question Koga or thoroughly investigate the case, and only expelled him rather than recommending that he resign as a legislator.Nor are there any indications of the party having persuaded Koga to hold himself accountable for the scandal.Minshuto may have made a political calculation that if Koga resigned immediately and a by-election was held to fill the lower house seat, former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki, whom Koga beat at the polls, would have made a comeback.There was also a rumor that the Minshuto leadership at the time, led by party president Naoto Kan, gave special consideration to Ichiro Ozawa, former Jiyuto (Liberal Party) leader, the party that merged with Minshuto late last September. Koga came from Jiyuto. This indicates that Minshuto put a higher priority on the interests of the party than the interests of voters.Since the scandal over Koga's academic credentials came to light, there have been a number of LDP and Social Democratic Party legislators who have been forced to explain suspect educational records or correct their academic records.In a bid to prevent similar scandals, since the latest House of Councillors election in July, Minshuto has made it obligatory for candidates running on the party ticket to submit their graduation certificates. It is a matter of course for a party to check educational and vocational records when nominating candidates.Legislators and political parties alike need to take seriously the fact that so many legislators have been forced to resign over scandals.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	707	2004-09-25	YOSHIN0020040927e09p0013b
YOMSHI0020040925e09q0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040925e09q0000c	EN	\N	Central, local govts must agree on fiscal reform	The debate over how to reduce state subsidies to local governments for specific purposes--a major focus of the ongoing review of the tax system and local finances--is reaching a crucial stage, as shown by the recent start of discussions between local governments and state ministers related to the triple reform.	4	2004-09-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A plan drawn up by the National Governors' Association and five other organizations to cut subsidies by 3.2 trillion yen in return for the transfer of tax revenue sources has been bitterly opposed by central government ministries and agencies that would otherwise have control over the subsidies.Both the national and local governments are in dire fiscal straits. Under these circumstances, it would be more effective to leave local governments to their own devices in determining how to use financial resources as they are more knowledgeable about what it takes to provide services and carry out projects in their own communities.With this in mind, the central and local governments should fully discuss pertinent matters in a manner that would grant the local governments greater discretion in spending, a move that calls for a tax revenue transfer that complements a drastic cut in designated grants. The details of a subsidy reduction plan should be worked out by achieving a consensus on accomplishing that goal.However, there are questions about the subsidy reduction plan devised by the local governments. The latest plan entails a cut in state subsidies for services provided by the local governments under the compulsory education system. This is disturbing in that the provision of schooling for children is an obligation to be fulfilled by their government. The education system is the basis for the long-term future of the nation. The central and local governments should work to reach a conclusion about the planned reduction of education subsidies after thoroughly debating what role they should play in the compulsory education system.Plan cuts major grantsThe latest subsidy reduction plan cites 160 grants to be cut. The plan incorporates a 1.15 trillion yen cut in subsidies from the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, a 950 billion yen reduction in tax grants from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and a 660 billion yen paring down of subsidies from the Construction and Transport Ministry.The subsidy reduction plan also includes doing away with 410 billion yen in grants for assistance to mentally handicapped children, a 130 billion yen reduction in subsidies for the construction of social welfare facilities and many other important subsidies. Those to be affected by the reduction plans have been divided over the propriety of the proposals. The matter must be further examined before a consensus can be reached on whether these planned cuts should be incorporated into a final subsidy reduction plan to be drawn up by the central and local governments.The local governments have good reason to argue that public works projects must be high on the list of items subject to subsidy reductions. They have insisted on a tax revenue source transfer that would authorize local governments to collect taxes equivalent to the sum of state subsidies they currently receive for public works projects.The proposal would give local governments greater discretion in determining what kinds of projects should be carried out to better meet the needs of their respective communities.Revenue transfer opposedHowever, the Finance Ministry has opposed a tax revenue transfer linked to a cut in subsidies for public works projects. The ministry's argument is that it has no money to give to the local governments because funds for public works projects can be raised by issuing construction bonds, creating public debt to finance such projects.However, it should be noted that construction bonds must eventually be redeemed with tax revenues. This means that there is no reason to draw a line between subsidies for public works projects and those for other purposes. The tax revenue transfer is part and parcel of the triple reform of local finances.The latest subsidy reduction plan devised by the local governments also incorporates a tax revenue transfer worth 700 billion yen in return for a reduction in subsidies for construction and improvement of local highways. For years, subsidies for such purposes have been covered by national taxes collected exclusively for road construction.The local governments treat this tax revenue transfer proposal separately from the 3.2 trillion yen subsidy cut plan.Highway construction and improvement take a back seat to many other important tasks facing the local governments. Given this, the local governments have no reason to treat the tax revenue transfer plan and the subsidy reduction plan separately. They should more strongly demand the tax revenue transfer as another important item in its subsidy cut plan.Another important issue to be discussed in relation to the triple reform is the reform of tax grants for unspecified purposes and projects to be conducted by the local governments. The central and local governments also should strive for a reduction in such subsidies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	874	2004-09-26	YOSHIN0020040927e09q001se
YOMSHI0020040926e09r0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040926e09r0000g	EN	\N	North Korea's attitude shows need for sanctions	During Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang in May, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il pledged to conduct "another investigation" into the abductees' fate. Given the lack of progress in this regard exhibited during the latest talks, however, serious questions must be raised about Kim's sincerity. North Korea's attitude is only adding fuel to our distrust of the reclusive state.	4	2004-09-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We think it is advisable that the government consider specific economic sanctions against that country.Prior to the working-level talks in Beijing, Song Il Ho, vice director of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Bureau and representative of his nation's delegation, described the fate of the 10 as "the issue of those deceased" when he spoke to reporters. He is the first North Korean official to describe the dispute over the 10 abductees using this term.His statement can also be regarded as an attempt to defend his country's assertion that eight abductees have died, while the other two never entered his nation, in the hope that Japan might accept its version as the truth.Meanwhile, North Korea continues to insist that it is "difficult" to investigate the fate of those kidnapped, saying some abductees lived in "a facility controlled by a secret military agency." This explanation is impossible to accept.Kim trying to buy timeIf Kim issued an order for a new investigation into the fate of the abductees, even a "secret military agency" would be forced to comply. North Korea, after all, is ruled with an iron fist.North Korea's attitude should be dismissed as an attempt to buy time, as it has no intention of disclosing the truth behind the kidnappings. Pyongyang's readiness to continue talks with Tokyo despite its refusal to reveal the truth can be seen as an attempt to get all of the 250,000 tons of food aid pledged by Koizumi during his meeting with Kim in May. Earlier, the government finalized a plan to extend half the promised aid, with the remainder pending.All issues are on the tableDuring the latest talks, Japanese negotiators took up issues concerning not only the kidnappings by North Korea, but also its missile and nuclear weapons programs. All these issues could profoundly affect the peace and security of Japan and this part of Asia. The government is justified in addressing these issues during the talks as it has insisted on a comprehensive solution to the abduction, nuclear weapons and missile problems.During the talks, Japan expressed "grave concern" about activity monitored in North Korea that could be preparation for the launch of a Rodong ballistic missile.If North Korea launches a Rodong missile, it will violate the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration of 2002, which stipulates a continued freeze on its test-firing of missiles. Such actions must not be tolerated.If the current activity is a military drill, the resulting increase in tension will emphasize the threat posed by Rodong missiles, which can reach nearly all of Japan.The Japanese negotiators also urged Pyongyang to accept a proposal to open a new round of six-nation talks on its nuclear ambitions. One of the most urgent tasks facing Japan is to prevent North Korea from putting nuclear warheads on Rodong missiles.However, North Korea has been stalling on the six-way talks while promoting the development of nuclear weapons and missiles. In this area, as in the issue of the kidnappings, Pyongyang is doing little to advance a resolution.Under these circumstances, Japan should find it impossible to extend the rest of the planned food aid or reopen bilateral diplomatic normalization talks. North Korea's attitude may force this country to consider implementing economic and other sanctions against the reclusive nation, including a ban on money remittances, restrictions on imports and exports, and regulations on ships seeking to call at Japanese ports.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	708	2004-09-27	YOSHIN0020040928e09r000e7
YOMSHI0020040927e09s0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040927e09s0000d	EN	\N	Nation's future depends on Koizumi reforms	If he finishes his current term, he will have been in office for five years and five months, marking the third-longest administration in postwar Japan.	4	2004-09-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Koizumi administration is therefore responsible for constructing a suitable base for the nation in the 21st century--a significant responsibility.In the Cabinet reshuffle, important ministers responsible for postal privatization retained their posts, including Public Management Minister Taro Aso, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy. Takenaka also takes a new post as state minister for postal privatization.Judging from this, it is obvious that Koizumi placed priority on creating a firm structure with which to promote the political drive toward postal privatization, which he sees as the core of his structural reform policy.As for the new party executives, Tsutomu Takebe, the new secretary general, belongs to a tiny faction led by Taku Yamasaki, who lost his seat in the last House of Representatives election. Another of the key party players, General Council Chairman Kaoru Yosano, currently belongs to no faction.New LDP execs look weakThe new LDP executive lineup looks rather weak. Takebe and the others will be tested on whether they can effectively handle the difficult situations that are expected when administration policies face opposition within the ruling coalition.Before last year's general election, Takebe took charge of creating the party's manifesto, which was centered on postal privatization and other reforms. Yosano, who is well-informed on the nation's fiscal system, has long advocated postal privatization.New LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kyuma belongs to the party's largest faction, until recently led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. Most members of the faction are opposed to postal privatization, but Kyuma, who is close to Mikio Aoki, chairman of the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors and currently an ally of Koizumi, is not considered an opponent of the prime minister.Koizumi chose close confidants as the key party executives in preparation for the crucial stages in the realization of postal privatization.A prime minister must win the cooperation of the ruling parties in passing the laws he needs to realize his policies. For this very reason, past prime ministers paid close attention to opinions within the ruling party, and when necessary, did not hesitate to make compromises.Koizumi does it his wayHowever, Koizumi has constantly pushed his own ideas through, backed by his high popularity with the public, even when the majority of his own party opposed to them. A prime example of this was seen in the process of discussions on privatization of the road corporations. Koizumi might be afraid that his reform policies could be distorted by opposition forces who wish to protect their vested interests.Koizumi will soon face an important phase in the compilation of bills related to postal privatization, and coordination within the ruling parties will be crucial.The purpose of postal privatization--one that should not be forgotten--is to do away with the current inefficient system, in which huge funds raised through inflated postal savings and kampo life insurance policies flow into public corporations, consequently creating invisible burdens on taxpayers. Postal reform should shift this flow of funds mainly to the private sector.In addition to the privatization of the postal services, there are many important political issues, including foreign and security policy, social security system reform, fiscal reconstruction, education system reform and the triple reform of financial relations between central and local governments.In the areas of foreign and security policy, the nation faces several difficult problems, some of which could put the very future of the nation at stake, such as the abduction of Japanese by North Korea, Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, and the extension of the mission of the Self-Defense Forces to provide humanitarian assistance in Iraq.Machimura must be toughSince she was not a Diet member, former Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi faced limits on how far she could exercise her leadership. Sometimes, she just did not seem decisive enough. We hope the appointment of Nobutaka Machimura, a member of the House of Representatives, to the post is an indication that the lawmaker will take greater responsibility in foreign affairs.Machimura must take a tough stance, and must be ready to impose economic sanctions on North Korea without hesitation if that country threatens our security.In Iraq, the Dutch troops stationed near the SDF unit in Samawah are scheduled to go home in March. The prime minister should decide to lift the self-imposed ban on exercising the nation's right to collective self-defense in order to proceed smoothly with international peace cooperation activities. The government's restrictions on the use of arms for SDF members must be also relaxed in line with global standards.It will also be necessary for the government to balance the conflicting interests of the local communities that will be affected by the relocation and consolidation of U.S. bases in Okinawa and other prefectures as a result of the reorganization of U.S. forces in Japan.Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono and Taku Yamasaki, an assistant to the prime minister, will be put in charge of negotiating with the U.S. government on this issue. The most important thing is to strike a balance between maintaining the deterrence that the U.S. forces in Japan provide, and alleviating the burden on Okinawa Prefecture.In the domestic arena, drastic reform of the nation's pension system is looming. Substantive talks based on the political agreement among the LDP, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) should be started as soon as possible.The government plans to carry out nursing-care insurance reform next year and health care insurance reform in 2006. It should clarify a reform blueprint of the whole social security system.Regarding the so-called triple reform, the most important issue is to flesh out the reduction of central government subsidies. Aso and Tanigaki must conclude the issue to reconstruct relations between central and local governments.Postal reform not only issueKoizumi should exercise strong leadership not only in the privatization of the postal services, but also concerning other political issues.The prime minister said he would not try to revise the Constitution or raise the consumption tax during his term. Revision of the Constitution is aimed at achieving an ideal state image for Japan in the 21st century. Meanwhile, a consumption tax hike is unavoidable if we are to secure sufficient financial resources for social security expenses and fiscal reconstruction.Koizumi should use the remaining time in his term to pave the way to realizing both constitutional revision and the tax hike.However, New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, is hesitant about revising the Constitution and raising the consumption tax. It is possible that Koizumi's basic policies could be watered down in the process of negotiations between the LDP and New Komeito.The future of Japan is dependent on whether the Koizumi administration can succeed in solving these political problems in the next two years.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1253	2004-09-28	YOSHIN0020040929e09s000h9
YOMSHI0020040928e09t0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040928e09t0000h	EN	\N	Robust policies needed on diplomacy, security	The lineup of the new Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi shows the prime minister's determination to put top priority not only on privatizing the postal services, but also on diplomatic and national security policies.	4	2004-09-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is indicated by the replacement of the foreign minister and the Defense Agency director general as well as the appointment of former Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Taku Yamasaki, a former Defense Agency director general, and former Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi as advisers to the prime minister.These appointments show the prime minister's desire to enhance cooperation among the Prime Minister's Office, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Agency to compile basic strategies to secure the peace and prosperity of the country in the 21st century.Koizumi gave the new foreign minister and Defense Agency director general written instructions on issues they should tackle as a matter of urgency.The prime minister gave Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura five tasks, including enhancing relations with the United States, international cooperation and North Korean issues.Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono was instructed to deal with three issues--compilation of the new National Defense Program Outline, humanitarian reconstruction assistance in Iraq and the issue of the realignment of U.S. military forces stationed in Japan.Political appointments misfiredJapan's basic stance on diplomatic and national security issues is to promote peace and stability in the international community with the Japan-U.S. alliance as the centerpiece of the nation's diplomacy while utilizing the framework of the United Nations.At the same time, given its location in East Asia, Japan needs to resolve the issues of North Korea's nuclear and missile development and its abduction of Japanese, which threaten Japan's safety, and enhance its relations with such countries as China and Russia.But it cannot be said that the Koizumi administration's diplomacy has functioned properly since its initial inauguration in April 2001.Before Machimura, the post of foreign minister was held by two women in the Koizumi administration--Makiko Tanaka and Kawaguchi.The appointments of women to the post probably were made in the hope that they would boost the public approval rating for the Koizumi administration and give the ruling coalition an edge in elections.But under Tanaka, the nation's diplomacy ground to a halt as a result of her battles with Foreign Ministry bureaucrats, prompting Koizumi to replace her.As a former bureaucrat, Tanaka's successor, Kawaguchi, showed a measure of steadiness in carrying out diplomacy, but she appeared to lack negotiation skills and the ability to transmit the nation's messages to other countries.She also failed to take the lead in ending sectionalism among bureaus within the ministry.More than anything, the increased workload that resulted in connection with drastic changes in the world situations after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States prevented her from demonstrating leadership.We want Machimura to carry out strong administration-led diplomacy in cooperation with the Prime Minister's Office, utilizing clear diplomatic strategies.Nation approaching crossroadsIn his instructions to Ono, Koizumi listed compilation of the new National Defense Program Outline as the most important task.This is because Japan needs to come up with new national security policies to properly respond to new types of threats, such as terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, as well as the threat posed by North Korea, shifting from current national security strategies that existed under the Cold War framework.Obviously, in tandem with the amendment of national security strategies, the structure, deployment and equipment of the Self-Defense Forces must be reviewed. The revision is also necessary due to the planned realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan.With Japan facing a turning point, the Koizumi administration bears great responsibilities in the prime minister's remaining term in office.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	681	2004-09-29	YOSHIN0020040930e09t000hq
YOMSHI0020040929e09u0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040929e09u0000h	EN	\N	Intl cooperation needed to curb crude prices	If the abnormally high oil prices continue for a protracted period, the global economy will be badly hurt, in particular the U.S. and Chinese economies, which are highly dependent on oil.	4	2004-09-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At a meeting slated for Friday of finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven major economic powers that also will be attended by ministerial-level officials from China for the first time, the issue of how to curb crude prices is expected to be high on the agenda.We hope the upcoming meeting will send out a message calling on the commodity market, which has become increasingly speculative, to regain stability.Japan is building an economy that is resilient to spikes in crude prices by developing alternative forms of energy, including nuclear power, as well as implementing stringent energy-saving measures and fostering industries that manufacture products with high added value.But a slowdown in the U.S. and Chinese economies will have an adverse impact on Japan, whose economy has recovered thanks mainly to its expanded exports to the United States and China.Some industries, such as airlines and land transportation businesses, are beginning to see their profit margins come under pressure. Sharp increases in gasoline prices have hit car owners hard. Prices of petrochemical products also have begun rising gradually.There is no need for panic. But higher crude prices will prove disadvantageous to Japan.High demand behind spikeThe direct cause of the recent surge in crude prices lies in the increasingly volatile situation in Nigeria, whose output of 2.45 million barrels of oil per day is the fourth-largest among the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The worsening insurgency in the oil-rich country has triggered fears over a possible disruption in the global oil supply.Recently, a sizable amount of speculative funds have been flowing into New York's commodities exchanges. Record-high prices for crude futures have resulted, with factors such as the volatile situation in Nigeria prompting a new wave of buying.Behind this development is the structural change in global oil supply and demand. Rapid economic growth in populous countries such as China and India has boosted global consumption of crude.On the other hand, oil-producing countries and major international oil companies have remained extremely cautious of an oil glut ever since they experienced that nightmarish development in 1999, when oil prices fell below 10 dollars per barrel, making them reluctant to increase output sharply.The current high price of crude also stems from the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and from the lack of investment in oil development for a long period.New technologies neededThe prevailing view among oil industry officials has it that while oil prices above the 50 dollars mark are excessive, they will not fall below the 40 dollars threshold for the time being.This suggests that the time has come to promote oil development in such adverse locations as the deep sea, and to develop alternative energy sources, such as ultra-heavy oil and liquefied coal.With Japan's technology, coal liquefaction will prove commercially practicable if crude oil prices stay above 30 dollars a barrel. It appears that the time has come to study the possibility of applying these new technologies.But it will take time to drill new oil wells and develop related technology. In the short term, there is no alternative but for oil-consuming countries to promote energy-saving efforts together. We hope the upcoming G-7 talks will serve as a turning point toward such a trend.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2004-09-30	YOSHIN0020041001e09u000ge
YOMSHI0020040930e0a10000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020040930e0a10000f	EN	\N	Kyoto pact leaves Japan with long to-do list	This is because the Cabinet of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has approved the treaty, will soon submit a draft bill on its ratification to the State Duma, or lower house of parliament.	4	2004-10-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Seven years have passed since the protocol was adopted. Russia's move is indeed a big step forward after a series of twists and turns.The protocol has been ratified by 124 countries, including Japan, and the European Union.To take effect, the protocol must be ratified by industrial countries that accounted for at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 1990. If Russia's State Duma ratifies it, that condition will be met.Once the protocol takes effect, Japan will be obliged to fulfill the promise it made to the world community to cut its greenhouse gases.The government must soon come up with ways to cut greenhouse gases and set in process a motion to implement necessary domestic measures.Emission trading eyedWhen the protocol takes effect, Japan will be obliged to cut average emissions of greenhouse gases for the 2008-12 period by 6 percent compared with 1990 levels.Since 1990, however, greenhouse gas emissions have been on the rise, up 7.6 percent in fiscal 2002 from the 1990 levels. This means Japan has to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by a total of 13.6 percent.But it will not be easy for Japan, which already has advanced energy-saving technologies, to become even more energy-efficient. Even a 6 percent reduction from the 1990 levels will be hard for Japan to achieve.Achieving a 13.6 percent cut on the basis of current measures, which center around energy-saving efforts and the adoption of innovative environmental technologies, will be even harder.Measures that Japan could utilize include the system under which CO2 emissions can be traded on the market. The European Union is scheduled to launch the system in January, while countries including Canada and Norway also plan to introduce it in the near future.Under the system, businesses can trade CO2 emissions on a newly established market at home. Companies that have reduced their CO2 emissions beyond the required level can sell emissions credits to companies that have failed to meet their permitted emission level. By employing the market mechanism, the cost of cutting CO2 emissions will be minimized.The Environment Ministry will implement the emission trading scheme on an experimental basis, starting next fiscal year, with companies participating voluntarily.New tax may be necessaryBased on the results of the experiment, the government aims to create an emission trading system for Japan. The system is expected to prove effective, eventually enabling emission credits to be traded among countries, leading to the development of international cooperation to cut greenhouse gas emissions.Businesses account for 80 percent of CO2 emissions in Japan. To find ways to reduce emissions, it will be necessary to determine exactly how much gases are being emitted by each business operator. It is also essential to formulate a system to publicize the amount of gases that firms emit.Another task for the government will be to study the possibility of introducing a tax designed to combat global warming, which would be levied on fossil fuels and the revenues used to explore ways to tackle the greenhouse effect.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	596	2004-10-01	YOSHIN0020041004e0a1000h9
YOMSHI0020041002e0a30000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041002e0a30000g	EN	\N	Major league maestro shows mastery at plate	The usually unemotional man appeared to be teary-eyed. Not only the fans at Safeco Field, but baseball fans everywhere watching on television were filled with great emotion.	4	2004-10-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Friday, the 30-year-old Mariners star set the major league record for hits in a season, breaking George Sisler's record of 257 hits with a pair of early singles. Ichiro rewrote the the record set by Sisler, who died in 1973, the year of Ichiro's birth.Ichiro added another hit in the Mariners's 8-3 victory over the Texas Rangers, giving him 259 so far this season.We heartily congratulate Ichiro on his feat.After announcing his departure from Japan's Orix BlueWave in 2000, Ichiro chose to play on the other side of the Pacific the following year. During his nine seasons with BlueWave, he won the batting title seven years in a row. Ichiro also set the Japanese single season record for hits with 210.Prior to his first season in the major leagues, however, some questioned whether his batting skills could handle major league fastballs. Some even said Ichiro would merit praise if his batting average reached .300.Triumphant debutHowever, his record in the major leagues has been simply amazing. In his first season, Ichiro won most valuable player and rookie of the year, and led the league in hitting and stealing bases. His look of fearless determination, combined with his peculiar routine when stepping up to the plate, earned him great popularity. He was also selected to play in the All-Star Game.In his second and third seasons, Ichiro kept his batting average above .300 and collected more than 200 hits per season. All this has made a name for him as one of the best lead-off hitters in the major leagues.This season has also been a good one for Ichiro. He is the leading hitter in the American League. He has collected more than 50 hits in each of three months. He has played 10 games in which he had four or more hits. Ichiro's successful attempt to break Sisler's 84-year-old mark was a foregone conclusion.American baseball fans have embraced Ichiro as he took on Sisler's formidable record. Many cheered for the Japanese player in each game, with signs and banners bearing his name in their hands.The U.S. media has been no less sympathetic toward Ichiro. The Los Angeles Times has lavished praise on him, saying "No one puts more pressure on a defense than Suzuki."The hitting machineIt is truly exciting to see major league players swat out-of-the-park homers. That is in contrast to the enjoyment created by Ichiro as a "hitting machine." Ichiro has been recognized as a new type of major leaguer.Pitcher Hideo Nomo was the first Japanese to flourish in the major leagues. Ichiro has demonstrated that a Japanese baseball player can succeed as a fielder in the major leagues. New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui has whacked out 31 homers so far this season.All these major leaguers started playing sandlot baseball in their childhood. They honed their skills at high school and on industrial teams before eventually turning professional. Today, they are flourishing as top major league players after striving for fame and honor.Their success as major leaguers may serve as an unspoken message to Japanese pro baseball--that baseball must be a field of dreams.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2004-10-03	YOSHIN0020041004e0a300230
YOMSHI0020041003e0a40000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041003e0a40000e	EN	\N	Okinawa's base burden must be reduced	The U.S. bases here are the foundations upon which the smooth operation of the U.S. security alliance is based--an alliance that provides security for Japan and other countries in this region.	4	2004-10-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But 75 percent of U.S. bases in Japan are located in Okinawa Prefecture.Koizumi said in his latest summit talk with U.S. President George W. Bush that Okinawa Prefecture has been stuck with an excessive share of a burden that should be carried by all Japanese. But the question of how to alleviate that burden has been a political issue for a very long time.Japanese and U.S. government officials are discussing the consolidation and relocation of U.S. bases in Japan in relation to a global realignment of U.S. forces. In his remarks, Koizumi clarified his intent to involve himself actively from now on in the relocation of U.S. bases from Okinawa Prefecture to mainland Japan. We expect him to demonstrate firm leadership on the issue.The prime minister also announced his intention to negotiate with local governments in areas that may have to host the relocated bases, and to seek the approval of residents there before negotiating with the U.S. government.Local govts balkingBut convincing local governments to accept U.S. bases is going to be the the most difficult task. After three U.S. servicemen in Okinawa Prefecture raped a 12-year-old girl in 1995, the Japanese and U.S. governments studied relocating some U.S. bases in the prefecture to several locations in mainland Japan. Every local government that was asked to accept a base refused, in a classic example of NIMBY, or not in my backyard.The U.S. blueprint for realignment of its bases in Japan includes relocating U.S. Navy units from Atsugi Air Base in Kanagawa Prefecture to Iwakuni Air Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and moving some U.S. marines in Okinawa Prefecture to Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture. However, both the governments and residents in these prefectures are opposed to the idea.Koizumi taking chargeKoizumi appointed Taku Yamasaki, former vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, and former Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi as his advisers, probably because he likes to handle foreign and security affairs under the leadership of the Prime Minister's Office. They are expected to play major roles in negotiating with local governments in areas slated to receive U.S. bases.Koizumi said he would continue the plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from Ginowan to reclaimed land off the Henoko district in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture.However, it is expected to take three years to finish environmental impact assessments at the alternate site, which means the government cannot decide when to start the construction of necessary facilities there. Once construction of the facilities does begin, it will likely take 9-1/2 years to finish. The relocation plan for Futenma Air Station already seems infeasible. The plan will soon have to be reviewed completely.Observers said the number of U.S. marines and other troops in Okinawa Prefecture would be reduced in the future.Downsizing U.S. bases in Japan could be made easier by reviewing the roles of U.S. and Self-Defense forces and enabling SDF bases and civilian airports or seaports to take over some of the functions currently handled by U.S. forces.The government should study every measure possible to lighten the burden on Okinawa Prefecture as it discusses with the United States the consolidation and relocation of U.S. bases in this country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2004-10-04	YOSHIN0020041005e0a4000d6
YOMSHI0020041004e0a50000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041004e0a50000g	EN	\N	Panel plan good start for new defense system	The next step is to come up with details to flesh out the report's ideas when the government compiles the new National Defense Program Outline and the Midterm Defense Buildup Program this year.	4	2004-10-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report proposed that Japan shift its defense capability concept to that of a multifunctional, flexible defense force from a fundamental defense force set up to handle Cold War threats.The proposal was made because the nation's defense forces must be able to respond not only to new threats such as terrorist attacks and ballistic missile attacks, but also to requests to participate in U.N. peacekeeping operations.The report said the nation's defense capabilities needed to be flexible, with reform and realignment of organizational structures and arsenals vital in a time when the birthrate was low and the government's coffers limited.Specifically, the panel's report proposed that the mobility and transport capability of the nation's defense forces be boosted while the amount of hardware, including tanks, artillery, destroyers and aircraft, be decreased, and at the same time made more efficient.Current needs call for a shift from purely conventional equipment to that which will allow us to respond to new threats and take on new missions.Focus on broader issuesIn the new National Defense Program Outline, unlike previous ones, a shopping list-like appendix will not be produced. Detailed numerical figures are expected to be included in the new five-year Midterm Defense Buildup Program that will cover fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2009.Discussions for the buildup should not focus on the number of planes, submarines or other equipment. Instead, discussions should center on what functions defense arsenal will need to handle designated purposes, and on how the organizational structure of the Self-Defense Forces should be changed in conjunction with cuts in heavy weapons.In the report, the panel proposed that participation in U.N. peacekeeping activities be defined as one of the SDF's basic missions under the Self-Defense Forces Law. The report also proposed the creation of a permanent law to allow for overseas deployment of the SDF.These are all proper proposals as the peace and stability of the international community is the basis of Japan's safety and prosperity.The report included some extremely important points of discussions, though they will not be included in the National Defense Program Outline.Review arms export banOne of the points was the need for a review of the three principles for arms exports.Currently, almost all arms exports from Japan are prohibited, except some for Japan-U.S. joint technology development.However, the panel proposed to ease the ban on arms exports at least to the United States--the nation's key ally--depending on the progress made in joint studies of missile defense.The report also called for more discussion on the use of collective self-defense, saying a conclusion must be reached as soon as possible. The panel pointed out that discussions on collective self-defense have focused too often on constitutional issues, with not enough policy debates.The United States views Japan as the base from which it covers what it calls the arc of instability that stretches from Northeast Asia to the Middle East. The report pointed out the importance of Japan's role in the Japan-U.S. alliance in dealing with such threats as terrorist attacks and international crimes in regions in the arc.It is urgent that the government decide that the nation can be allowed to exercise its right to collective self-defense.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2004-10-05	YOSHIN0020041006e0a5000hn
YOMSHI0020041005e0a60000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041005e0a60000f	EN	\N	It's time to end yen loans to China	How should Japan's ODA--extended as part of the nation's foreign policy--be implemented under the changing situation at home and abroad in the days ahead? Now is the time to review Japan's efforts in the ODA arena by looking back on the past 50 years.	4	2004-10-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the white paper on ODA for fiscal 2004, Japan extended 221 billion dollars to 185 countries and territories over half a century.In the 10 years to 2000, Japan was the world's top ODA donor, contributing greatly to the growth and stability of the world--particularly to that of East Asia. Japan has extended assistance in areas ranging from the improvement of economic infrastructure such as power plants, airports and telecommunication networks to the eradication of polio in Southeast Asian countries.While the white paper emphasized Japan's achievements over the past five decades, it failed to mention that ODA is at a major crossroads.Thanks to rapid economic growth, a growing number of East Asian countries are no longer recipients of ODA, making it necessary for Tokyo to review its assistance to the region.Changing face of Japanese aidJapan is now having to deal with such global issues as frequent occurrences of international terrorism, the degradation of the global environment and the spread of infectious diseases.Japan's ODA, which for a long period was the most generous in the world, has been in decline since the late 1990s due chiefly to the fiscal restraints placed upon the government. In 2001, Japan stepped down as the world's top ODA donor, giving way to the United States. Last year, Japan's ODA declined to 8.9 billion dollars, or only about 60 percent of the ODA extended by the United States.The government's new general framework for ODA says Japan's ODA is aimed at contributing to the peace and development of the international community while at the same time ensuring safety and prosperity for Japan. But the question now is how Japan can implement ODA programs effectively when the environment for extending assistance is changing.A diverse number of issues need to be tackled, ranging from a sweeping review of how ODA programs should be planned and implemented to improving how it is distributed by country and sector. But the matter of utmost urgency is how yen loans--the core of Japan's ODA to China--should be reviewed.Beijing has outgrown ODAOver the past quarter of a century, Japan has extended 3 trillion yen in low-interest yen loans to China, which has contributed to the country's economic development. China is now the world's seventh-largest economy and enjoys a sizable direct private-sector investment from abroad. Beijing is not only continuing to build its military power but is also expanding its economic assistance to neighbors, thus gaining influence over them.In response to strong criticism at home, the government has reduced its yen loans to China since fiscal 2001, to 96.7 billion yen in the last fiscal year, or less than half the peak amount extended in fiscal 2000. Nonetheless, China is the third-largest recipient of yen loans from Japan, following India and Indonesia.Within the Liberal Democratic Party, there have been calls for ending yen loans to China by the 2008 Beijing Olympics or the 2010 Shanghai Expo."Of course, the time will come when we ask China to graduate (from being a recipient country)," Nobutaka Machimura, the new foreign minister, said, suggesting that Japan would end yen loans to China in the future.The government should put an end to its extension of ODA to China as soon as possible and make more effective use of the money.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2004-10-06	YOSHIN0020041007e0a6000hf
YOMSHI0020041006e0a70000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041006e0a70000h	EN	\N	Govt should expedite terror countermeasures	Are the public security authorities in Japan adequately prepared to deter possible terrorist attacks? If an international terrorist organization attempts to carry out large-scale attacks in Japan, will the security authorities be able to get wind of them and avert them?	4	2004-10-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Such concern must be felt by many Japanese at a time when terrorist organizations are spreading beyond national borders.A governmental task force against terrorism--the first of its kind--comprising officials from concerned ministries, including the Justice, Foreign, Internal Affairs and Communications ministries, and the National Police Agency, was established and has started discussions on relevant issues. The task force is expected to map out countermeasures within this year and expedite its efforts to implement them by a certain date.The NPA has also drawn up an outline to promote measures against terrorism, which will serve as a basis for the government to work out its own measures.The key phrase in the governmental discussion is "Western standards." This means Japan should aim at realizing measures against terrorism as comprehensive as those in Western countries.The international terrorist network Al-Qaida has repeatedly warned of attacks against Japan. It is also a fact that a person connected to Al-Qaida was in Japan.Should Japan become a weak link in the international coalition against terrorism, the country would lose the trust of other countries.New legislation neededWhile not all the countries in the West have adopted the same countermeasures, Japan should introduce measures deemed effective in light of the circumstances in this country.According to the NPA's outline, countermeasures include the use of biological information, such as fingerprints, for identifying people who visit this country at the time of their entry, reinforcing patrols along coastlines, measures to prevent terrorist attacks on trains, measures against North Korean agents, and promoting cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard.As well as describing antiterrorist legislation in the United States and European countries, the outline also points out the need for Japan to introduce new laws to combat terrorism.In Britain, the storage and use of materials that can be used for biochemical weapons are required to be reported to the home secretary.There is no such law in Japan. Authorities in this country are not fully informed of where such dangerous materials are stored.In Germany and France, managers of hotels are required to identify, by their passports, foreign guests who stay in their hotels, and hand over that information to police. There is no such stipulation in Japan's Hotel Business Law.International cooperation vitalFor concerned officials, such efforts may become extra burdens. If such efforts prove effective in preventing terrorist attacks, however, the government should study the possibility of making such requirements law, after trying to achieve a public consensus on such legislation.The U.S. government has decided not to permit airplanes without armed air marshals aboard to take off or land at U.S. airports when information about possible terrorist attacks has been received.The NPA plans to have air marshals board U.S.-bound flights when circumstance require and has begun consultations on the issue with the Construction and Transport Ministry and with airlines.When it comes to measures to fight terrorism, no country can succeed in such efforts singlehandedly. It will become all the more necessary to strengthen the international coalition against terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	586	2004-10-07	YOSHIN0020041008e0a7000gi
YOMSHI0020041007e0a80000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041007e0a80000f	EN	\N	No WMD found in Iraq, but risk mandated action	The U.S. team that hunted for WMD in Iraq has issued a report stating there is no evidence to prove that Iraq had stockpiles of such weapons. According to the report, Saddam destroyed his nation's WMD stocks and production facilities after the 1991 Gulf War, in the wake of international sanctions and inspections.	4	2004-10-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prior to the start of the U.S.-led war on Iraq in March 2003, the United States and Britain said they had reached the conclusion that Saddam was still continuing to develop NBC weapons. But their analysis has proved to be wrong.Meanwhile, the latest report says that Saddam had a desire to "retain the knowledge of his nuclear team" to resume WMD production if U.N. sanctions against his country were lifted. This shows that the U.S. team believes that Iraq was a threat to the international community.Menace couldn't be ignoredIn starting the war on Iraq, U.S. President George W. Bush cited a growing threat from that country's WMD as a major reason for attempting to overthrow the dictator.Bush still insists on justifying the Iraq war by saying, "There was a real risk that Saddam Hussein would pass weapons or materials or information to terrorist networks," and "that was a risk we could not afford to take."The U.S. team's report concludes that Iraq's decision to retain its ability to resume WMD development was of Saddam's own making. He was convinced that chemical weapons did much to help his country in its war with Iran after he used them as genocidal weapons against his own people during the 1980s, the report said.Saddam repeatedly defied U.N. resolutions demanding his country dismantle its WMD. He never bothered to prove there were no such weapons in his country, either.Under these circumstances, the international community had every reason to believe that Iraq possessed WMD.Hans Blix, the former U.N. chief weapons inspector in Iraq and former director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has said he would have been able to report that there were no WMD in Iraq if he had had a few more months to continue his inspections.But the latest report argues that Iraq could have resumed WMD development if the U.N. Security Council lifted sanctions against the country.World must help rebuild IraqBritish Prime Minister Tony Blair has emphasized that the report shows that Saddam had a desire to build WMD, and that he never intended to abide by the U.N. resolutions. Blair's remarks reflect his belief that only military action against Iraq could have allayed international concerns about Saddam's nuclear ambitions.Despite the Saddam regime's collapse, Iraq remains in great confusion. Undoubtedly, the postwar U.S. rule of Iraq is open to question in many respects. This has given cause for skepticism about the justification--or lack of it--for the Iraq war.To stabilize Iraq, it is essential to restore peace and order in the country and smoothly implement measures to bring the nation's democratic process on track. The United States and other members of the international community have an obligation to strive for that goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	588	2004-10-08	YOSHIN0020041011e0a8000gc
YOMSHI0020041008e0a90000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041008e0a90000j	EN	\N	U.S. base relocation key to Japan's security	During his visit to Washington on Thursday, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura met separately with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. They agreed that the governments would continue talks on a proposal to reallocate U.S. troops in Japan as part of the planned realignment of U.S. forces worldwide.	4	2004-10-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Machimura are correct in saying that one task of prime importance to be tackled in line with the proposed realignment is for Japan to further shore up the bilateral alliance and relax the burden shouldered by Okinawa Prefecture, which hosts the majority of the U.S. military presence here.In Hanoi, the prime minister told reporters that he would seek to reduce the burden on Okinawa Prefecture by urging the United States to relocate some U.S. military bases and functions to other nations. This statement came after Koizumi had said in Japan that he hoped to see several U.S. military installations and troops in the prefecture removed to other parts of the country.However, the relocation of U.S. military bases in Japan must not be allowed to undermine the bilateral alliance, which is a central pillar of this nation's peace and security.Select new sites ASAPThe proposed transfer of some U.S. military facilities and functions from Okinawa Prefecture to other locations in the nation represents another important issue to be seriously addressed. The government should waste no time selecting new sites for the military bases to be relocated, and starting negotiations with the local governments that would host them.A reduction in the burden on Okinawa Prefecture is expected to help create favorable sentiment among local residents toward the United States, thus helping U.S. bases in the region function more smoothly and effectively. This would serve to boost the Japan-U.S. alliance.The proposed reallocation of the military bases in Okinawa Prefecture must be discussed in line with the progress made in realigning U.S. troops on a global scale.The United States has approached Japan with a proposal to relocate the command of the U.S. Army 1st Corps in Washington State to Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture. The U.S. administration apparently considers this proposed relocation to be the cornerstone of its planned military realignment in Japan.The U.S. forces in Japan cover an "arc of instability" that extends from Northeast Asia to the Middle East. The 1st Corps headquarters commands the disposition and dispatch of U.S. troops in that arc of instability. Expanding the geographical scope to be covered by the U.S. forces in Japan means increasing the extent of Japan-U.S. military cooperation in these regions.Foreign Ministry doubtfulSome Foreign Ministry officials are opposed to the proposal to transfer the 1st Corps headquarters. They have said it means that U.S. military operations to be carried out under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty would cover a wider area than that stipulated in the bilateral pact, which geographically limits U.S. duties to the "Far East."Their arguments reflect their concern that if Japan accepted the proposed transfer, the government might reject its own interpretation of the security treaty and its own answer to a question posed in the Diet about the geographical extent to be covered by the pact.It should be remembered, however, that U.S. troops mobilized in the 1991 Gulf War included those dispatched from U.S. bases in Japan. This is also true of the U.S.-led war against terrorism in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. U.S. aircraft carriers and marines were dispatched for both actions from U.S. military bases in this country.Meanwhile, Japan has sent Self-Defense Forces personnel to the Indian Ocean and Iraq, determined to keep the bilateral security pact intact and contribute to international peace cooperation. One must squarely face the fact that Japan and the United States are already cooperating in military operations outside the "Far East." Stability in the region as a whole is extremely important to our national security.Japan has reached the point where it must devise a new strategy for national defense that is in line with changes in U.S. military strategy. The reallocation of U.S. troops in Japan must be addressed with this in mind.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	762	2004-10-09	YOSHIN0020041011e0a9001ae
YOMSHI0020041009e0aa0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041009e0aa0000f	EN	\N	Transplant procedures need to be improved	The current Organ Transplant Law was put into force in October 1997 to make organ transplants possible from brain-dead donors. Though there is a provision requiring a review of the law every three years, seven years will soon pass without any review being done.	4	2004-10-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since 1997, there have been only 30 cases of organ transplants from brain-dead donors in Japan. However, there are several thousand cases of brain-dead transplants reported every year in the United States and several hundred cases a year in Britain and France.Organ transplant from a brain-dead donor is permitted in Japan only when the donor is over the age of 15 has expressed his or her will in a donor card or other document to accept the brain death diagnosis and to donate his or her organs for organ transplantation, and the donor's family accepts both the diagnosis and the will of the donor.In the United States and European countries, there is no age limit on donors. Organ transplants are permitted with the consent of the family of a brain-dead donor even when his or her will cannot be confirmed.Ease regulationsIf the government relaxes legal conditions in line with these countries, the number of organ donations will increase and more lives of patients awaiting transplants will be saved in this country. Transplants between children, whose hearts are smaller than those of adults, would also be permitted. It would decrease the number of cases in which parents spend a huge amount of money pursuing organ transplant operations for their children in other countries.However, this issue is directly related to views on life and death. Thorough public discussion is necessary to form a consensus, even though it may take a lot of time.First, the possibility of lowering the age at which organ transplants are permitted should be studied to increase the opportunity for organ transplant and to promote public understanding about the subject.A document stating the intention to donate organs is considered legally valid only when a donor is 15 years old or older. The government has applied the age limit on leaving a will set under the Civil Code to organ donation.However, it is not strange at all for a child of middle school age to wish that his or her organs be donated to others in the event of his or her death.Abolish age limitIf a child younger than 15 has a clear will to donate his or her organs, it should be respected regardless of restrictions in the Civil Code.Many cases have been reported recently in which juveniles have ignored the value of human life. Such incidents have prompted society to realize the significance of education that stresses the sanctity of life. It would provide an excellent opportunity for them to understand the value of life if young people in their early teens were to study organ transplants as an issue that directly affects them.There is also room for improving the donor card. The current form is difficult to understand. There have been 105 cases up to June in which organ transplants were not permitted because brain-dead donors, who apparently had declared their intention to donate organs, filled out the form incorrectly. The figure is really discouraging for people awaiting transplants. The form should be revised as soon as possible.The organ transplant system in this country should be reviewed to prevent the intentions of donors from being thwarted. We hope to see the number of transplant operations from brain-dead donors increasing steadily.That is the only way to enhance public confidence in transplants and increase the number of people willing to donate their organs.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2004-10-10	YOSHIN0020041011e0aa0020d
YOMSHI0020041010e0ab0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041010e0ab0000f	EN	\N	North Korea's insincerity could drive it into corner	In May, when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi flew to Pyongyang for the second time, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il promised to reinvestigate the cases of 10 Japanese believed to have been abducted, including Megumi Yokota, who remains unaccounted for since she was taken by North Korea 27 years ago at the age of 13.	4	2004-10-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But no progress at all was reported on the investigations during two rounds of bilateral working-level talks that were held in Beijing following the May summit meeting.The North Korean representatives were evasive, saying, "We'll study (Japanese requests for clarification and full information) when we return to Pyongyang," or "(The abduction cases) are beyond our jurisdiction because a clandestine organization was involved."When Koizumi made his first visit to Pyongyang in September 2002, he was told that Yokota had committed suicide in a North Korean hospital in March 1993. But, during the working-level talks in Beijing, North Korea told Japan that she had been hospitalized from April to June of 1993 and again from August to October of the same year.This amounts to a confession that the information North Korea provided in September 2002 was false.In mid-November, a new round of bilateral talks--the third since Koizumi's second visit to Pyongyang--will take place in the North Korean capital. The venue has been changed from Beijing at Japan's request.Japan changing tackIn those talks, Japan intends to change the way the talks are held, with a view to applying strong pressure on North Korea to make tangible progress in the reinvestigations. The Japanese delegation will be led by Mitoji Yabunaka, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanic Affairs Bureau, whose deputy represented Japan in the August and September talks in Beijing. By dispatching the director general of the bureau to Pyongyang, the government hopes to force North Korea to include in its delegation a similarly high-ranking official, who will be able to provide specific information about the missing Japanese.The government is also considering demanding that a senior official from the North Korean entity responsible for investigating the abductees' cases participate in the talks so that the Japanese delegation will be able to receive a firsthand account from the relevant organization. Depending on developments, the government wants to conduct an investigation of its own to verify Pyongyang's explanations.If North Korea just repeats past statements, we can only conclude that it has no will to resolve the issue. In such an event, Kim's promise to reinvestigate the abductions will be shown to be a lie.Abductions a global problemThe U.S. Congress recently approved a bill aimed at prohibiting the United States from giving any nonhumanitarian economic assistance to North Korea unless Pyongyang fully discloses all information on Japanese and South Korean citizens abducted by North Korean agents, and allows them to return to their respective home countries. The human rights bill will go into force once U.S. President George W. Bush signs it.U.S. congressional members are thought to recognize that the abductions--which were state crimes that violated the sovereign rights of Japan and infringed upon the basic human rights of its citizens--are not a bilateral issue between Japan and North Korea, but an issue that affects the entire international community.A recent Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll showed that 68 percent of respondents were in favor of imposing economic sanctions on North Korea, and that 70 percent did not support a government plan to provide North Korea with humanitarian aid.The findings of the poll reflect not only the Japanese public's distrust of North Korea with regard to the abduction cases, but also its fear of the serious threat posed by Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programs to the security of Japan and neighboring areas.North Korea has prevented a China-initiated six-party framework from making any progress in multilateral discussions about measures for dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear development program. Should North Korea continue to stall the international talks, it would seem only natural for the U.N. Security Council to be called in to take up the issue.North Korea's insincerity could drive it into a corner of its own making.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	750	2004-10-11	YOSHIN0020041013e0ab0009k
YOMSHI0020041012e0ad0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041012e0ad0000g	EN	\N	Time Koizumi detailed postal privatization plan	There are less than two years until Koizumi's term as president of the Liberal Democratic Party ends.	4	2004-10-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prime minister probably considers the extraordinary Diet session, the first forum for political debate since his new Cabinet was inaugurated, as the beginning of the last stretch for the reforms he has long championed.The privatization of postal services is aimed at dismantling the state-run financial institution, which is inefficient in the way it makes use of the sizable amount of money it collects through postal savings and kampo postal life insurance.But Koizumi's policy speech likewise was inadequate when it came to giving an explanation of such key points in postal reform as the ideal form of privatization and what benefits the reform would bring to people.Koizumi may think everything will be OK provided explanations on specifics are made when a related bill is submitted to an ordinary Diet session next year.But unless he gives an adequate explanation regarding what kind of bill he plans to draw up, its purpose and its contents, he will find it difficult to win public understanding.Public needs specificsIn a survey by The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted immediately prior to the opening of the extraordinary Diet session, 69 percent of respondents cited economic stimulus measures as the key policy issue they want the Cabinet to prioritize, followed by a reform of the social security system at 65 percent. Privatization of postal services trailed at only 11 percent, a clear indication that it is a matter of low priority as far as the public is concerned.This most likely is due to the fact that Koizumi has given only the vaguest descriptions of what form his highest priority will actually take.In order to fill the perception gap between the Koizumi Cabinet and the public, Koizumi needs to explain clearly why privatization is needed.Privatization of the postal services is not the only item listed high on the agenda at the extraordinary Diet session. In this regard, Koizumi's speech did not cover enough ground as it left many items badly in need of explanation.One such example was the triple reform of local government finances, which is aimed at achieving three goals simultaneously--cutting subsidies from the central government to local governments, transferring tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments and slashing tax grants to local governments.Concerning this issue, Koizumi only said he would finalize the overall picture of the reform this year after the local governments come up with their own ideas on cuts in subsidies.Koizumi should have presented a course of action and won public understanding, with which he could fend off opposition from concerned ministries and lawmakers representing the interests of specific sectors.Other tasks need attentionThe prime minister also called for talks to be held as early as possible on wide-ranging reforms of the entire social security system, including the integration of the various public pension schemes, in accordance with the tripartite agreement concluded among the LDP, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).Koizumi should not use the reform of the pension system, which is a permanent national policy, as a political bargaining chip. For its part, Minshuto, as a responsible party, should agree to talks on the reforms immediately. The Japan Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), one of the most powerful organizations supporting Minshuto, is also calling on the largest opposition party to attend the tripartite talks.As to the issue of politics and money, which loomed large after the 100-million yen donation scandal involving the LDP faction formerly led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto surfaced, Koizumi emphasized that he would tackle political reform in a bid to regain public trust in politics.The prime minister needs to do his utmost not only in clarifying facts but also in realizing the revision of the Political Funds Control Law so as to dispel public distrust in politics.The government, and the ruling and opposition parties, need to make the just-opened Diet session one in which a process is put in motion to resolve these issues.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	752	2004-10-13	YOSHIN0020041014e0ad000ir
YOMSHI0020041013e0ae0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041013e0ae0000h	EN	\N	Minshuto needs to show it's a responsible party	Members of the public want to see legislators engage in constructive discussions about important issues that could significantly affect the future of this country. Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Katsuya Okada may have had this in mind when he told the Diet that he would "present the people with options."	4	2004-10-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But some doubts arise over questions Okada put forward in connection with the prime minister's policy speech. For instance, the Minshuto leader failed to present his own party's plan for postal reforms.Instead, Okada said he intended to watch how the government and the Liberal Democratic Party would put together a set of bills on privatization of the postal system. His remark may indicate that he will see to what extent Koizumi can accomplish his reform goal given the objections to the postal privatization from LDP members with vested interests in postal issues. Okada's attitude shows that his own party includes legislators who lobby for postal interests.Earlier, Minshuto's leadership adopted a plan to privatize postal savings and life insurance services in the future.But more than 90 Minshuto lawmakers--mainly lower house members backed by the Japan Postal Workers' Union--comprise a group that trumpets efforts to encourage the growth of Japan Post, meaning that they oppose postal privatization. Their presence has made it extremely difficult for the opposition party to draw up a postal privatization plan of its own.Party split on securityThis also is true with Minshuto's dilemma over diplomatic and security issues, including the proposed realignment of U.S. military forces worldwide. Commenting on the U.S. military realignment, Okada did not present his thoughts on what kind of strategy Japan should adopt for its peace and security. He only said, "Will it be in the interests of Japan to expand (the scope to be covered by) the Japan-U.S. alliance?"Minshuto members include members who remain opposed to the bilateral alliance and the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel overseas, largely those who joined the party after defecting from the Social Democratic Party. Consequently, Minshuto finds it impossible to clearly state its case concerning what kind of alliance should be established between Japan and the United States.Minshuto does not deserve to be called a responsible party that seeks to take power unless it can present its own strategy for national security despite the internal conflict of opinions.Okada also persisted in challenging the prime minister to a debate about whether there was justification for the Iraq war. But the overriding issue in this respect is what kind of role Japan should play in rebuilding and stabilizing the postwar Iraq.Okada was succeeded by former Minshuto President Yukio Hatoyama as a questioner in Wednesday's Diet session. Hatoyama reiterated his objection to the SDF dispatch to Iraq, while also insisting on sending nongovernmental organizations to aid the war-ravaged country instead. His argument should be dismissed as unrealistic in that it suggests Japan should do nothing to assist in Iraq's rehabilitation for the time being.Pension demand unrealisticMeanwhile, Okada offered a pension reform plan to counter a set of laws enacted in the last Diet session for similar purposes. He emphasized the need to wholly finance the state-run basic pension plan with tax revenues and to introduce a new consumption tax as a means of raising funds for the pension reform. We believe that his plan could be used as a basis for discussions on what should be done to drastically reform the troubled pension system.But a question should be raised about his demand that Koizumi promise to endorse Minshuto's pension reform plan if the prime minister wants the opposition party to enter into discussions on the issue with the LDP and New Komeito under an accord previously reached among the three parties.It is impossible to expect the prime minister to promise that he will accept Minshuto's plan before starting three-party discussions on pension reforms. Minshuto should state its case during discussions between the ruling and opposition parties.Promoting in-depth discussions on pension reforms requires coming up with alternative plans that can rival the government-sponsored laws. We hope Minshuto will lock horns with the government in a manner conducive to a true reform of the pension system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	787	2004-10-14	YOSHIN0020041015e0ae000gp
YOMSHI0020041014e0af0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041014e0af0000g	EN	\N	Action needed to stop youths killing selves	On Tuesday, the seven, in their 20s and 30s, were found dead inside a van in Minanomachi, Saitama Prefecture, apparently having fatally poisoned themselves with carbon monoxide. On the same day, the bodies of two women in their 20s were discovered in a car in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. They also are believed to have killed themselves. Another group suicide, involving three men and a woman, took place in late September, also in Minanomachi.	4	2004-10-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prior to each incident, those who committed group suicide were strangers to one another. They got acquainted through Internet sites targeting suicidal people.A series of group suicide cases involving people who got to know each other through the Internet occurred during the first half of last year. The recent outbreak of similar cases appears to be another chain of copycat suicides.None of those who killed themselves was able to summon the will to pull back from the brink. We find this deeply regrettable.The latest group suicide committed in Minanomachi was extremely unusual in that no fewer than seven young people took their own lives together. They were from such different locations nationwide as Tokyo and Osaka, Saitama and Saga prefectures.The seven apparently had different reasons for committing suicide. Reports say that one man and one woman were distressed by their inability to find work after graduating from high school. Another man apparently fell into despair after failing to pass university entrance examinations for two years in a row.No one to turn to?Undoubtedly, there is nothing unusual about men and women being troubled by such difficulties and failures during their youth. In some cases, however, young people find it extremely difficult to bail themselves out of such adversity. Were the seven latest suicide victims unable to seek advice and encouragement from their families and friends, or from teachers who had taught them?People who committed group suicide in the past have expressed similar feelings of desperation. Before taking their own lives, many complained of being fed up with this world. Others said life was hard for them, and that they felt lonely having no one to talk to.It has been said that many young people nowadays find it difficult to communicate their feelings to others face to face. For them, the Internet is the only vehicle for expressing their feelings.In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of young people who do not attend school, do not take up work and do not bother to hunt for jobs. They have been dubbed NEETs--the acronym refers to the fact they are "not in education, employment or training." Is there a link between the increasing number of such youths and the higher frequency of group suicides by young people today?Alienated from societyAccording to a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry survey conducted on NEETs last year, many respondents said they were reluctant to work full-time for a company. Others answered that they did not know what kind of abilities and aptitudes they had. Some said they had no idea how to find a job.A large number of young people today do not know where they belong in society after graduating from school. Given this, the ongoing government campaign to improve the ratio of young people on the payroll should be complemented by efforts to think about how to encourage NEETs to stand on their own feet--economically, socially and otherwise.There has been a rise in the number of young people who kill themselves in recent years, including those who commit group suicide. To devise effective measures to prevent suicide by youths, it is important to clarify the motives and backgrounds of young people who have taken their own lives.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2004-10-15	YOSHIN0020041018e0af000h2
YOMSHI0020041015e0ag0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041015e0ag0000h	EN	\N	Court slow to hold state responsible for disease	It took too long--nearly a half century--from the time Minamata disease was officially recognized as one of the first industrial-pollution-related ailments in Japan since the end of World War II until the top court confirmed the responsibility of the central and prefectural governments.	4	2004-10-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The suit had been originally filed by 45 plaintiffs, who were not officially recognized as Minamata disease patients, against the state, Kumamoto Prefecture and Chisso Corp. to seek compensation for damage caused by the industrial poisoning.The Supreme Court rejected the appeal by the national and prefectural governments and finalized the Osaka High Court 2001 ruling ordering the governments to pay the plaintiffs.According to the top court, it was highly probable that the state recognized by the end of November 1959 that the dumping of organic mercury from a factory of Chisso Corp. into the Minamata Bay, Kumamoto Prefecture, had caused Minamata disease.Nevertheless, the state and the prefecture had failed to take appropriate action in line with laws on water quality and controlling the discharge of industrial waste water to stop the dumping."It had been extremely unreasonable," the court said.Failure to actIn April, the Supreme Court recognized for the first time the state's legal responsibility for failing to impose regulations on a coal mining company in the Chikuho region of Fukuoka Prefecture to prevent workers from contracting pneumoconiosis.The latest ruling following the same path represents a tough stand by the judiciary against the government's sins of omission. The ruling will have a major impact not only on safety problems concerning food and drugs, but also on the role of the government in general.In the process of Japan's rapid economic growth after the war, many pollution-related lawsuits were filed around the country. Among them, the four suits respectively related to Minamata disease in Kumamoto Prefecture, the second incidence of Minamata disease in Niigata Prefecture, Itai-Itai disease in Toyama Prefecture, and the Yokkaichi asthma in Mie Prefecture were the most famous.However, Friday's ruling was the first and last decision made by the top court on the suits related to them.Slow processThe plaintiffs in the other pollution-related suits had been forced to reach out-of-court settlements with the defendants because they had become too old in the long legal process. A pollution-related suit takes a huge amount of time because the court has to assess the damages claimed by each plaintiff.All other suits relating to Minamata disease had been dropped after the government endorsed in 1995 the out-of-court settlement calling on Chisso to pay compensation to plaintiffs not officially recognized as Minamata disease patients.However, the state's responsibility had been left vague. The plaintiffs in the suit that ended Friday had refused the settlement to clarify the administrative responsibilities of the central and prefectural governments.The government, which is considered to have a wide range of discretionary powers, has not previously been held legally responsible for failing to exert its authority. In this case, the state kept insisting that it had not been legally responsible.Today, the quality of the government's judgement in exercising its discretionary powers is being questioned. The latest ruling by the Supreme Court, which is the final chapter in the history of the Minamata disease suits, is of huge significance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2004-10-16	YOSHIN0020041018e0ag001c2
YOMSHI0020041016e0ah0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041016e0ah0000e	EN	\N	BSE policy hijacked by meat industry	The government unveiled Friday a package of new measures on the disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, that calls for discontinuing the current practice of blanket testing for the disease by exempting cattle aged 20 months or younger.	4	2004-10-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government's new policy is generally considered appropriate based on a report by experts of the Food Safety Commission in the Cabinet Office.However, the only exception is that the government added a plan to subsidize the full costs for local governments that want to keep testing all cows domestically for three years.It is apparent that a majority of the local governments in the country will want to continue blanket testing. This means blanket testing will be not discontinued for domestic cattle, and that the government will allow different safety measures--a kind of double standard--for imported and domestic beef.Discussions will soon begin on when to lift the ban on the import of U.S. beef from cattle younger than 20 months. After imports are resumed, tested Japanese and untested U.S. beef will be sold on the domestic market, though both will come from cattle less than 20 months old. It is likely to cause public confusion at meat counters all over the country.Subsidization is endorsementLocal governments cannot be stopped from continuing the blanket BSE testing with their own money. However, if the central government subsidizes all the test costs for them, it is tantamount to state endorsement of continuation of the blanket testing.Such an excessive measure, which might send the wrong message to other countries, should be withdrawn immediately.The Food Safety Commission has spent a lot of time on discussions and finally decided to discontinue blanket testing. In Japan, all 3.5 million cows sent to market in the last three years were tested and 14 were found to be infected with BSE. Of them, the youngest cow was 21 months old.In Europe, a majority of countries test cattle only 24 to 30 months old or over.Also, abnormal prions, the cause of BSE, are said to concentrate in the brain, spinal cord and a few other organs. The global understanding is that it is safe to eat beef from cows from which these dangerous parts have been removed.In Japan, such dangerous parts are removed from all beef cattle, and this measure will continue even after blanket testing ends.The commission has made the latest decision after studying all those facts in a comprehensive manner.Division of responsibilitiesThe commission's job is to evaluate the safety of food, while the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry take actual measures to control risks based on the commission's evaluation. This division of roles was supposedly decided based on a lesson learned from the first BSE outbreak three years ago.Nevertheless, some LDP lawmakers have forced the government to alter its BSE policy to serve the interests of the livestock industry.It should be remembered that an excessive measure taken to protect the livestock industry allowed some meat companies to receive government subsidies illicitly after the first BSE outbreak was reported.It is a fact that the plan to discontinue blanket testing has prompted many consumers to express concern about the safety of beef.Those in charge of the BSE issue should provide consumers a thorough explanation of the reasons behind the new policy and try their best to eliminate public concerns about food safety.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2004-10-17	YOSHIN0020041018e0ah00213
YOMSHI0020041017e0ai0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041017e0ai0000b	EN	\N	New Komeito should step up top law talks	The coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party is expected to include the views in its draft campaign plans, and formally approve them at a party convention scheduled for Oct. 31.	4	2004-10-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Regarding Article 9, the party maintains that the first clause, which stipulates the renunciation of war, as well as the second, which denies the nation the right to belligerency, should both be kept. As for whether the existence of the Self-Defense Forces should be stipulated and in what way the nation should contribute to international society, the party intends to "hold further discussions and cautiously consider" these issues, saying they are issues that need to be further stipulated in the Constitution.But wouldn't a stipulation of the existence of the Self-Defense Forces contradict the policy of not recognizing the right to belligerency?Some progress being madeWhen New Komeito discussed these issues in June, it went no further than simply listing both supporting and opposing viewpoints. At least this time the party has actually taken a stance--that the party might call for new clauses under Article 9 to cover those issues--showing that some progress has been made.But the party cannot be allowed to take much more time for "further discussions and careful consideration."In its draft campaign plans, the party raised such questions as how the nation could overcome the global security crisis in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and how it can contribute to international peace. It also referred to major changes in circumstances over time, and newly emerging problems that were inconceivable when the Constitution was enacted.With these dramatic changes in the security situation, the gap has been growing between the stipulations of Article 9 and what reality dictates. Revision of the Constitution has become an urgent task for the nation.Party must not shirk dutyAs part of the ruling coalition, New Komeito cannot shirk its duty to help come up with basic ideas and principles to be stipulated in the Constitution that will create and maintain peace in both the nation and international society in the 21st century.We question the party's stance that the nation not be allowed to exercise the right to collective self-defense, a stance it says most of its members adhere to.The party has advocated a "new pacifism," and referred to the nation's ability to maintain territorial integrity and build international peace as pillars of its draft campaign policy.But the nation's ability to maintain territorial integrity could be seriously damaged, as in the following scenario. If a U.S. warship were attacked in international waters near Japanese territory, any Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels nearby would have to stand idly by due to our current constraints on exercising the right to collective self-defense. The security alliance between Japan and the United States would be seriously shaken.In the new defense policy outline, which the government is hammering out, international peace cooperation activities aimed at protecting the world from terrorism and other security threats is expected to constitute a main pillar.If we don't allow ourselves the right to exercise collective self-defense, can we really help establish international peace? New Komeito must discuss this point thoroughly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2004-10-18	YOSHIN0020041019e0ai000df
YOMSHI0020041018e0aj0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041018e0aj0000j	EN	\N	Full-scale export controls urgently needed	Officials participating in a recent bureau-chief level policy dialogue meeting agreed to form a strong coalition to prevent such materials from falling into the hands of problem countries such as North Korea.	4	2004-10-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main features of the accord are:-- The introduction of a legal system controlling exports that provides for punitive measures, and the creation of a structure to implement such controls, in accordance with international treaties on the nonproliferation of nuclear and biochemical weapons.-- Coordination on actions such as exchanging information, to block indirect exports via a third country.-- Working to bring other countries into the policy dialogue group.The first meeting of the policy dialogue group was held last autumn, with Japan chairing the forum. At the meeting, the forum members agreed that strict export controls on WMD-related materials held the key to preventing the proliferation of such weapons, and agreed to work together on such controls.1st step has been takenWith the latest accord, the member countries have taken a cooperative step toward building and implementing the export control system.The reinforcement of export controls on materials related to WMD is a global trend.At the summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the leaders of member countries agreed to implement effective export controls.This spring the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution calling on all of its member countries to establish a system to strictly control the exports of WMD-related materials, with penalties to be leveled on those who did not abide by it.For Japan, the establishment of an export control system in the Asia-Pacific region is a matter of urgency.North Korea and other problem countries have tried ever more ingenious methods to get their hands on materials to make WMD, such as importing them indirectly via a third country, making it difficult for any one country to prevent the trade in such materials single-handedly, no matter how strictly it controls such trade.Indirect shipments a problemThe Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry in spring banned two trading companies from exporting goods as they allegedly exported such devices as a direct-current stabilizing power supply, which can be used for the development and production of nuclear weapons, to North Korea via Thailand and China.Meanwhile, a South Korean company was found to have exported sodium cyanide, which can be converted for use in chemical weapons, to North Korea via Thailand and China.It also came to light in September that a precision measuring instrument made in Japan had been exported to Libya via a Malaysian dealer.Of those participating in the policy dialogue group, only Japan, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong have established full-scale export control systems.While related legal systems have been passed in China and South Korea, systems to implement them are now being developed. In Thailand, the legal system is still in the preparatory stage. We hope these countries will expedite their efforts to establish full-scale export control systems.In a bid to support countries in the Asia-Pacific region that are working to upgrade such systems and put them into operation, Japan has hosted seminars in Tokyo for the past few years following the policy dialogues, inviting relevant government officials.Pakistan and Dubai are scheduled to participate in the next seminar, a first for both countries, together with the 13 countries, including Malaysia, that have taken part in previous seminars.We hope that efforts will also be made to extend the reach of the coalition beyond the Asia-Pacific region.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2004-10-19	YOSHIN0020041020e0aj000gt
YOMSHI0020041019e0ak0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041019e0ak0000d	EN	\N	New law shows U.S. adamant on N. Korea	On Monday, U.S. President George W. Bush signed a bill that had been unanimously adopted by the U.S. Congress. The North Korean Humanitarian Act of 2004 shows that the United States is determined not to overlook the suppression of human rights by the reclusive regime. The enactment of the law serves as a new message urging North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to improve his country's attitude toward human rights. The law also will lend support to Japan in its effort to resolve the dispute over Japanese kidnapped to North Korea.	4	2004-10-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The North Korean Humanitarian Act requires the U.S. administration to ban any nonhumanitarian assistance to the totalitarian state until it has made substantial progress in settling the abduction problem. The legislation urges North Korea to disclose all information regarding the Japanese and South Koreans it abducted, while also allowing them to return home unconditionally.Human rights an intl issueThe abductions of Japanese represent crimes committed by the North Korean government, which violated this country's sovereignty and the fundamental human rights of the victims. The problem is not just an issue to be settled between Japan and North Korea, it should be tackled by the international community as a whole. The U.S. decision to enact the humanitarian legislation means that the Bush administration has acknowledged the legitimacy of the Japanese assertion regarding the abductions. North Korea should take this harsh fact to heart.Japan and North Korea are scheduled to meet in Pyongyang for a third round of working-level talks over the abduction issue next month. Japanese negotiators should strongly urge North Korea once again to attempt to make headway in a renewed investigation into the fate of Megumi Yokota and the other nine abductees whom Pyongyang insists have died or never entered the country.North Korea should be made to realize that it will be unable to improve relations with the rest of the world unless it first resolves the abduction controversy and the dispute over its nuclear and missile programs.The new U.S. legislation seeks to ensure that North Korea respects and defends basic human rights, settle problems arising from the outflow of North Koreans from their country and improve the transparency of humanitarian aid to that nation.The new U.S. law has savagely antagonized North Korea. A spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry criticized the legislation, saying, "The United States has blatantly revealed its true intention of destroying the (North Korea's) socialist system. It (the enactment of the law) is a declaration of its hostile move against North Korea." Pyongyang is seemingly prepared to put off holding another round of six-nation talks aimed at scrapping North Korea's nuclear weapons program.Silence not always goldenNorth Korea is making a grave mistake in pointing a finger at the United States in this respect. It is obvious that the regime is neglecting fundamental human rights at home, as shown by the large number of North Koreans fleeing their country for food and freedom.The new legislation stipulates that a special envoy of the U.S. president be chosen to deal with human-rights issues in North Korea for the purpose of promoting dialogue with that nation and conducting talks with the United Nations and pertinent countries. The law also states that the United States will extend 20 million dollars in financial aid annually to organizations and individuals working to protect and assist North Korean escapees.South Korea's ruling Uri Party has criticized the legislation, saying, "It will antagonize the North."However, it is wrong to overlook the regime's iron-fisted rule and suppression of human rights. No one should be misguided into believing that keeping silent on the human-rights issue in North Korea will achieve progress in the six-way negotiations.It has become a common occurrence to see North Korean escapees seek asylum in foreign embassies. Given the severity of the problem, the international community must tackle this problem. China and North Korea--both home to North Korean refugees--should grapple with the problem through close talks with the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	731	2004-10-20	YOSHIN0020041021e0ak000he
YOMSHI0020041020e0al0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041020e0al0000g	EN	\N	Softly-softly approach needed on Myanmar	Khin Nyunt, a relative moderate, shared power with Senior Gen. Than Shwe, supreme leader of the junta, and Vice Senior General Maung Aye, the number two in the junta. Prior to Tuesday's surprise announcement, there had been no indication that Khin Nyunt would be forced out of power. In fact, he was on a tour of inspection in provincial districts on the day of his removal.	4	2004-10-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Myanmar government announced his departure from the Cabinet by saying that he was "permitted to retire for health reasons." But it is believed that Khin Nyunt was ousted as a result of internal strife within the junta over rights and interests related to political power and a conflict of opinions about what kind of attitude the junta should adopt toward the pro-democracy movement in their country.The Thai government has said that Khin Nyunt was "placed under house arrest on corruption charges." His successor is Lt. Gen. Soe Win, a hard-liner who has moved from his fourth-highest post of first secretary of the junta, which is officially called the State Peace and Development Council.Speculation is growing that Khin Nyunt's ouster will make it further difficult for Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed from house arrest. No one wants Khin Nyunt's downfall to destabilize his nation and its neighbors.Natl assembly has crucial roleWhile in office, Khin Nyunt put together a "road map to democracy" while also convening a national assembly to draft a constitution. Critics dismissed his approach as designed to fend off pressure from the United States and European nations for Myanmar to make itself more democratic. But Southeast Asian governments praised his attitude as a positive step toward the transfer of power to civilian control.The ruling junta should, at least, keep the democratic process in place. If it chose to suspend the national assembly, the junta could arouse dissatisfaction among the Myanmar public. Doing so would also undermine Myanmar's relations with other countries in the region.Myanmar enjoys amicable relations with Japan. The Japanese government has extended grants-in-aid to Myanmar this year, too, with the aim of helping protect that nation's environment. This is in stark contrast to diplomatic pressure exerted on Myanmar by the United States and European countries that have strengthened economic sanctions against that nation.Japan also played an important role in getting Myanmar to join the Asia-Europe Meeting as a new member during the ASEM conference this month. The government worked to ensure that European members of the meeting would drop their earlier objections to Myanmar's entry.Japan should stick to its policyThis indicates the basic attitude adopted toward Myanmar by the Japanese government, which wants to see that country establish cooperative relations with the rest of the world and gradually transform itself into a democracy through economic assistance and policy advice.Khin Nyunt's ouster may provide the United States and European nations with cause to apply greater pressure against Myanmar. But they should realize that any attempt to further isolate Myanmar could encourage the country to seek even closer ties with China.Myanmar is a nation of strategic importance for China as it seeks to exert greater influence in the Indian Ocean. Myanmar's isolation in the international community and China's growing influence could destabilize the region. With this in mind, Japan should stick to its own diplomatic policy toward Myanmar.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2004-10-21	YOSHIN0020041022e0al000do
YOMSHI0020041021e0am0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041021e0am0000e	EN	\N	Typhoons showed flaws in anti-disaster plans	This week, powerful Typhoon No. 23 crossed the Japanese archipelago and wreaked havoc around the country, breaching embankments, flooding urban areas, touching off mudslides and generating high waves.	4	2004-10-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The typhoon left more than 80 people dead or missing.Including the latest one, a record-high number of 10 typhoons have made landfall in Japan this year. If victims of this summer's heavy rains are added, more than 200 people in total were killed or left missing this year as a result of damage caused by strong winds and floods. This is the worst figure in the last decade.High-pressure systems in the Pacific Ocean brought a series of typhoons to Japan.Typhoons created in seas east of the Philippines have been moving to the Japanese archipelago one after another along the edge of high-pressure systems. With the autumnal rain front, they have brought strong winds and heavy rains to the country.Such natural phenomena cannot be prevented. For this reason, however, disaster-prevention programs should be reviewed carefully to minimize the damage they cause. This year's natural disasters revealed that the anti-disaster programs of some municipalities do not contain proper provisions for evacuating residents.Municipalities ill-preparedWhen Typhoon No. 23 hit the city of Muroto, Kochi Prefecture, evacuation advisories were issued too late. During the delay, high waves breached a sea dike and killed three people.Local government officials confessed they were unaware of the high waves crashing along the coast until residents contacted them. The city did not have a disaster-prevention community radio system to issue evacuation advisories and other warnings.When Typhoon No. 22 hit the Kanto region in early October, several houses were flooded above floor level, and some roads were submerged in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture. But four senior officials of the city government in charge of disaster prevention reportedly were playing golf that day.The same typhoon flooded underground restaurants and shops in Nishi Ward, Yokohama, though the businesses were located outside the areas where evacuation advisories were issued. The ward government took too long to assess the situation. The typhoon hit on a Saturday, so the ward head had the day off, and only a few officials were on duty.Not only typhoons, but also various other kinds of natural disasters are forecast to hit Japan. Experts predict that Tonankai, Nankai and other major earthquakes may occur in the near future. Are we really ready to cope with these threats?Kochi Prefecture is seen particularly at risk from severe damages caused by tsunami that would result from the anticipated Nankai earthquake. Loopholes in disaster-prevention programs that were revealed by the typhoons must be closed.Elderly at greatest riskIt is also a matter of concern that victims of the recent typhoons included many senior citizens aged 65 or older. They could not respond quickly after evacuation instructions were issued and consequently were left behind. In cooperation with community associations, municipalities should compile detailed evacuation procedures for elderly people.The central and prefectural governments, meanwhile, should offer more assistance to municipalities. The former could do a lot more for the latter by providing them with information enabling them to better deal with natural disasters, including accurate forecasts of the amount of rainfall to be expected when a typhoon hits, and by presenting them with guidelines on evacuating residents.Municipalities, after all, have only a limited capacity to prevent disasters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2004-10-22	YOSHIN0020041025e0am000f4
YOMSHI0020041022e0an0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041022e0an0000h	EN	\N	Pragmatism must guide talks on security treaty	Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda and Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono recently made contradictory comments on Article 6 of the treaty--the so-called Far East clause--in relation to a reported U.S. plan to transfer the U.S. Army's 1st Corps headquarters from Fort Lewis, Wash. to Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture.	4	2004-10-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government was later forced to issue a unified view on the clause that limits operations of U.S. forces stationed in Japan to the Far East.Ono said at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on Wednesday that he saw no problem with hosting a U.S. Army headquarters in Japan, even if the unit were expected to covers areas outside the Far East.However, some government officials expressed concern that his comments could be interpreted as a possible change of the Far East clause to allow the hosting of the U.S. Army headquarters.The government hurriedly compiled the unified view, stating that it has no intention to revise the Far East clause, and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan should be discussed within the framework of the security treaty and relevant agreements between Japan and the United States.Teamwork key to successAs negotiations between Tokyo and Washington on the reorganization of U.S. forces in Japan are about to go into full swing, the government has to encourage teamwork among its members to tackle the issue in an integrated manner.Meanwhile, theoretical arguments on the interpretation of the Far East clause must be avoided.The Far East clause has become an issue recently because the U.S. military is trying to place a command center in Japan, which will apparently oversee operations in the so-called arc of instability, a region ranging widely from the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East.Some oppose the envisaged transfer, saying that it is designed to oversee operations of U.S. troops in the Middle East or South Asia that are beyond the region specified in the Far East clause. Others point out that the Far East clause must be revised for this very reason.In 1960, the government defined the Far East in the security treaty as areas surrounding Japan and north of the Philippines, and also covering South Korea and Taiwan.Realistic view neededThe opposition parties may push theoretical arguments on those points in the future. The issue of the Far East clause will remain calm for a while with the unified view of the government. However, the dispute will be revived as the plan to transfer the U.S. Army 1st Corps headquarters to this country becomes closer to reality.U.S. forces stationed in Japan have already been involved in operations outside the Far East, including the Gulf War, the Afghanistan war and the Iraq war.Meanwhile, Japan as an ally of the United States has dispatched Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to the Indian Ocean and Ground Self-Defense Force troops to Iraq for international peace cooperation activities.The arc of instability is a hotbed for international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and various other threats. The United States is planning to enhance U.S. bases in Japan to deter those threats. If the threats become reality, the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, will be destabilized.The maritime transportation route from the Middle East to Japan along the arc of instability is the lifeline of the Japanese economy because nearly 90 percent of the crude oil imported to this country is produced in or passes through the region.That is why pragmatic, not theoretical discussions are required on the issue, in which the highest priority must be put on maintaining the peace and stability of Japan and the international community.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	681	2004-10-23	YOSHIN0020041025e0an00194
YOMSHI0020041023e0ao0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041023e0ao0000b	EN	\N	Postal privatization bill must level playing field	The academic and business experts that make up the government's advisory panel on privatization of the three postal businesses has started to study the specifics of new postal-related companies that will be created in the privatization.	4	2004-10-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Cabinet approved in early September a basic policy on privatization of postal services that splits Japan Post into four companies to be placed under a holding company. The expert panel is tasked with fleshing out the details of the basic policy.Among specific issues the postal reform must address is rectifying the long-standing, questionable practice of spending the people's money collected through postal savings and kampo insurance--now amounting to about 340 trillion yen--on supporting inefficient government-related businesses, mainly public corporations.We doubt the basic policy can change this structural defect since several points of the reform plan are unclear. To implement thorough reform, these vague points must be fully clarified.First, postal saving and insurance firms, to be created in the initial stage of privatization in 2007, should stand on their own without capital injections by the government as fully-privatized corporations by the end of the process. The basic policy does not clarify whether these companies will be fully privatized in the end.Firms must be independentIn the first stage of the privatization, a holding company will be created with the four companies under its umbrella. The other two companies will be specialized in mail delivery and management of over-the-counter services at post offices.Under this formula, however, a decline in the mail delivery firm will adversely affect the finance-related postal savings and insurance firms. Clearly, the risk cannot be fully hedged against. The draft must clearly stipulate the postal savings and insurance firms will become independent from the holding company. The draft also must state when this should be achieved.The basic policy also is vague about whether the government will limit expansion by the two firms.For example, the basic policy incorporates a provision to maintain the upper limit of 10 million yen on postal savings accounts and insurance policies per person. The basic plan says the limit will remain in place "for the time being," but does not say when or if it will be lifted.Government protectionUntil the privatization process is completed in 2017, the government will continue injecting capital into the two firms, which therefore remain state-run financial institutions. As long as they continue to be state-run firms, consumers will think they are protected by tacit government guarantees, on postal savings deposits and insurance if anything goes wrong. Under such circumstances, the practice of using private funds to prop up state-run businesses will not change.Setting limits is vital as a measure to halt the growth of the two financial firms. The upper limit must be maintained while government involvement is being phased out.Yamato Transport Co., a major transport, moving and door-to-door delivery service firm, has filed a lawsuit in which it demanded an injunction to prevent the expansion of the postal parcel service by Japan Post. Japan Post is ready to square off against Yamato, labeling the firm's claim of unfair competition as inappropriate. If Japan Post maintains this position during the privatization process, it is expected that the new postal delivery firm will continue to expand.The basic policy also provides for the establishment of an organization under the headquarters for the promotion of privatization of the postal services to monitor the operation of the new firms. This monitoring panel must be empowered to issue advisories and corrective orders to prevent the firms from taking unfair advantage of the privatization process.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun,Oct. 24 early editions)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2004-10-25	YOSHIN0020041026e0ap000bg
YOMSHI0020041024e0ap0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041024e0ap0000b	EN	\N	Cooperation vital in disaster relief efforts	In Ojiya, which is located close to the epicenter of the quakes, and neighboring cities, towns and villages in Niigata Prefecture, the quakes left many people dead or injured, with some crushed to death when their homes collapsed.	4	2004-10-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Area hospitals have been inundated with injured people seeking treatment.Tens of thousands of residents were forced to take shelter at schools and other facilities. There also are many whose communities were left isolated due to damaged roads and railways, who spent a second night Sunday in shelters, trembling from aftershocks, cold and worry.Damage to essential public utilities, such as electricity, gas, water and telephone services, also is severe. These vital public services remain disrupted and out of operation in Ojiya and many neighboring communities.There are a number of areas where a swift return to normalcy seems out of reach. There are shortages of blankets, water and food.There was at least one community that apparently lost contact with the outside world, which prompted residents to spell out an SOS on a local road to signal a helicopter flying by for help.In Ojiya, business activities have also been disrupted, with several electronic equipment plants located there having suspended operations. With roads damaged and the line of physical distributions in disarray, the impact on economic activities is expected to be felt more widely in the coming week.Swift response essentialWhen major natural disasters occur, prompt action can limit damage and prevent adverse effects. Relief efforts to aid victims and restore economic and social infrastructure as quickly as possible are vital.We hope the organizations concerned, including the central and local governments, do their utmost in dealing with the latest disaster, while making full use of disaster-relief capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces.In conducting relief and restoration operations, vertical cooperation such as that among the central, prefectural and local governments alone is insufficient to deal flexibly with the situation.Meanwhile, horizontal cooperation among neighboring and distant communities, businesses and nongovernmental organizations can prove effective.Since the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, the number of communities forging disaster damage prevention accords with other communities has increased markedly. More and more communities are forming logistical support agreements with private businesses to take effect in the event of such disasters.Bilateral supportAfter the latest series of quakes, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, which has just such a mutual support arrangement with Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, acted promptly. Within 12 hours of the quakes, Katsushika sent truckloads of its stockpiled bottled water and food to Tokamachi.Tokyo and Chiba prefectural governments also have dispatched support teams and water-supply trucks to Ojiya.For these wide-spread horizontal cooperative ties to run smoothly, the central government should become actively involved in such tasks as providing information and coordinating views.Weak points in infrastructure that underpins economic and social activities, such as railways, roads and rivers, have also been identified.Not only did a bullet train on the Joetsu Shinkansen line jump the track when the quakes struck, but reinforcement bars on bridge piers were found damaged in several spots. Some reinforcement measures were supposed to have been taken since the Great Hanshin Earthquake. Along the Shinanogawa river, cracks were found in the embankment at a few dozen places.In the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, the acceleration of the quakes, which indicates their intensity, exceeded that of the Great Hanshin Earthquake.Judging by the damage done in the latest quakes, we should have economic and social infrastructure more resistant to earthquakes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2004-10-25	YOSHIN0020041026e0ap000bf
YOMSHI0020041025e0aq0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041025e0aq0000c	EN	\N	Time running out on reform debate clock	Little has been accomplished in tackling the task, despite a good deal of progress having been made in the schedule for parliamentary discussions following the opening of an extraordinary Diet session. Earlier, representatives from each political party took the podium to raise questions about Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's policy statements during plenary sessions in both chambers of the legislature. Lawmakers also wrapped up their question-and-answer sessions at the Budget Committee of each parliamentary house.	4	2004-10-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In May, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito reached an agreement with the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), regarding how pension reforms were to be debated. The accord required the three parties to set up a subcommittee at the Health, Labor and Welfare Committee of each house, while also creating a council comprising representatives from the ruling and opposition parties.However, Minshuto has reportedly refused to start discussions unless the ruling camp presents specific reform plans. The main opposition party's attitude apparently reflects its calculated decision that readily entering into discussions with the ruling parties would only allow them to serve their own purposes.Parties must sit down togetherWe believe that both the ruling and opposition camps should start discussions on pension reforms as soon as possible, instead of playing political games.The ruling and opposition parties should not antagonize each other over social security policies. An attempt to establish a social security system that could undergo drastic alterations as a result of a change in administrations would only prove to be of great disservice to members of the public. It is important for all political parties, ruling or otherwise, to join hands in promoting pension reforms, beginning with efforts to draft the necessary bills.Minshuto has drawn up a pension reform plan--although it leaves much to be desired. Minshuto's proposal entails some bold ideas that would impose a greater financial burden on the public and draw strong objections from self-employed people. For instance, the party's reform plan stipulates that the basic pension scheme, which covers every member of the population, be entirely funded through tax revenues. To accomplish this, Minshuto has proposed creating a consumption tax whose revenues would be used exclusively to finance the pension system. This would be complemented by a plan to introduce an identification number system for taxpayers.Minshuto's plan can be used as a basis for discussions between the ruling and opposition camps over how to reform the pension system.The ruling and opposition parties should come to the negotiation table first, and then lock horns with each other over specific reform plans.Minshuto's proposal has been modeled on a pension-reform plan adopted by Sweden in the 1990s. If it wants to draw a lesson from the Scandinavian country's reform, Minshuto should present itself as a party truly dedicated to reform.The Swedish pension reform was made possible by a working group of officials from five ruling and opposition parties that strove to drastically change the system despite a change in administrations. This showed that they were fully aware of their responsibility in reforming the system.Koizumi needs to learn new tuneMeanwhile, the prime minister has his own duty to fulfill in this respect.Minshuto is correct in emphasizing the need to raise the consumption tax rate sooner or later, as a means of financing the social security systems. However, the prime minister continues to harp on about his pledge not to raise the tax during the remainder of his two-year tenure as LDP president, saying, "The circumstances are not ripe yet." His attitude does little to bring about progress in discussions on how to fund the social security systems.It will take a great deal of time and effort to debate raising the consumption tax rate and complete the necessary procedures, legislative or otherwise. The prime minister must convince the public of the need to increase the tax and take the lead in promoting discussions on the matter. Otherwise, the issue will be left unaddressed.The state-run nursing-care system for elderly people will be reviewed next year. The medical insurance system will be subject to a similar review two years from now. The population is expected to decline in 2007. The government must make headway in reforming the pension, nursing-care and medical insurance systems simultaneously. A failure to do so would only render it impossible to keep the nation's social security system in place. There is precious little time remaining in which to implement reforms.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	791	2004-10-26	YOSHIN0020041027e0aq000i7
YOMSHI0020041026e0ar0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041026e0ar0000f	EN	\N	East China Sea data vital to defend rights	Senior officials of the Japanese and Chinese governments held talks in Beijing on Monday regarding China's ongoing project to develop a natural-gas field in the East China Sea. The Japanese side asked China to provide information about the project and data on its precise location, a request with which the Chinese side refused to comply. Such an attitude has to be deplored as insincere.	4	2004-10-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea defines waters up to 200 nautical miles from the coast of a country as its exclusive economic zone and grants that country the sovereign rights to explore the continental shelf in its EEZ and exploit its natural resources.The distance between Japan and China separated by the East China Sea is less than 400 nautical miles. Therefore, Japan maintains the Japanese-Chinese EEZ boundary line should be a median line--equidistant from each other, while China regards as its EEZ the whole of the continental shelf that stretches from the Chinese coast to a deep trench just west of Okinawa Prefecture.The dispute between Tokyo and Beijing over the EEZ demarcation stems from the fact that the Chunxiao gas field, where China has been constructing an offshore exploration facility, is located only five kilometers to the Chinese side of the median line proposed by Japan. There is the possibility of natural resources extending to the Japanese side of the line. If this is the case, natural gas on the Japanese side of the ocean bed could be siphoned off by China.China ignoring intl lawArticle 74 of the U.N. convention states that pending a bilateral EEZ demarcation agreement on the basis of international law, the countries concerned "shall make every effort...not to jeopardize or hamper the reaching of the final agreement." Unequivocally, China's development of the Chunxiao gas field runs counter to this clause.China did not clarify its position concerning reports that it has designated parts of the seabed on the Japanese side of the median line as its exploration zones. China's reported designation of exploration zones on the Japanese side of the line is an infringement of Japanese sovereignty that we cannot overlook. If China has made such a designation, Tokyo must demand that Beijing rescind it.A Japanese-Chinese summit meeting is likely to take place during next month's conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should raise the continental shelf issue with his Chinese counterpart and demand that Beijing act in sincere accordance with international law.Japan should claim its ownFor more than 40 years, the Japanese government has shelved private-sector applications for exploring rights in the disputed area, and refused to grant permission for initial surveying and development plans. Furthermore, Japan remained inactive with regard to the matter even after the mid-1990s when China started full-fledged oceanic surveys in waters off its coast.Such attitudes have reflected excessive consideration by the Foreign Ministry and other government entities toward China. For example, the Japanese government reluctantly started collecting data on seabed resources in the area in July--only after the Chunxiao gas project came to light--because of a spate of criticisms within Japan over the government's inaction.In its quest to become a maritime nation, China steadily increased its maritime interests in the South China Sea in the 1970s and 1980s by employing a step-by-step policy--first declaring its sovereign rights in the diplomatic arena and then conducting oceanic surveys, dispatching naval vessels and stationing armed forces on disputed offshore spots. In the East China Sea, China has already conducted frequent oceanic surveys and regularly deploys naval vessels.Japan should no longer stand by with folded arms while China plays out its ambitions in the East China Sea. The first thing it has to do is to carry out surveys of its own to gather precise and detailed data on natural resources in the disputed area.Without data of its own, Japan cannot stand on an equal footing with China in bilateral talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	709	2004-10-27	YOSHIN0020041028e0ar000im
YOMSHI0020041027e0as0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041027e0as0000g	EN	\N	Iraq's democratization mustn't be hindered	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi immediately rejected the hostage-takers' demand, saying he would not give in to terrorists. As it is a principle of the international community not to bow to terrorists' threats, it was no surprise that the prime minister quickly declared his firm stance.	4	2004-10-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The hostage crisis and the nation's policy on Iraq must be considered separately. Japan would quickly lose the trust of the international community if it was seen as a country that easily gives in to a threat and drops an important policy.If the nation conveys to terrorists its determination not to give in to their threats, they will realize it is useless to target Japanese. A stern and uncompromising attitude is important in preventing terrorism.The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) announced their support of the government policy, apparently based on this reasoning. But we do not understand why the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party are demanding the withdrawal of SDF troops from Iraq. To do so would be to comply with the terrorists' demand and would encourage terrorism.Abductors have political aimIn Iraq, more than 150 people from about 30 countries have been taken hostage, and about 30 of them have been murdered. The Philippines is so far the only country that has given in to the hostage-takers' demand by withdrawing its troops from Iraq.The abductors of the Japanese man are believed to be members of the Al-Qaida Organization of Holy War in Iraq, a group led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.Since May, the group has abducted a South Korean, an American and many others. When its demands, including the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, were rejected, the group killed one hostage after another. It also claimed responsibility for the recent murder of 49 Iraqi Army recruits.Those crimes were committed apparently with a political aim--to cut the international community's support to Iraq and to prevent the democratization process in that country, including the parliamentary election scheduled in January.The group has become increasingly aggressive, and the security situation all over Iraq has deteriorated. A rocket shell landed within the SDF camp in Samawah on Saturday. But in the face of such difficult situations, solidarity among members of the international community is necessary more than ever.Man ignored govt's adviceJapan, too, must fulfill its role by keeping SDF troops to extend humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.It is a matter of course for the Japanese government to do its best to free the hostage.But the Foreign Ministry had already classified the whole of Iraq as an extremely dangerous area and urged Japanese to leave the country. The kidnapped man ignored this advice and entered Iraq. It seems he was naive about the situation there.The naivete of only one person could deal a serious blow to the democratization and reconstruction process in Iraq. That is the reality in that country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	557	2004-10-28	YOSHIN0020041029e0as000hn
YOMSHI0020041028e0at0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041028e0at0000e	EN	\N	Bigger SDF role needed in PSI	The drill was the first held in East Asia under the PSI launched by U.S. President George W. Bush in May last year to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In addition to the Japan Coast Guard, the Maritime Self-Defense Force participated in the exercise for the first time.	4	2004-10-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the MSDF could not play a central role in the exercise because it is not authorized to stop and inspect ships in peacetime. This meant that the drill had to take a very unusual form.The drill was conducted based on the scenario that a Japanese-registered ship had received from a U.S.-registered vessel on the high seas near Japan materials that could be used to manufacture sarin nerve gas.The JCG played a major role in the drill, interdicting and inspecting the suspect ship as well as searching and confiscating the suspicious materials. Meanwhile, MSDF destroyers and patrol planes merely patrolled the exercise area and provided information to the navies of other participating countries.The MSDF joined the exercise based on a "research" provision in the Defense Agency Law because it could not find any other legal ground.Held separately from the main interdiction operation, the activities of the MSDF and three other navies were limited to stopping and inspecting a suspect ship in waters off Yokosuka Port, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Wednesday. The MSDF exercise was held based on the scenario that the government had ordered the MSDF to conduct policing actions.Laws tie MSDF's handsBased on this lame excuse, the government conducted the PSI maritime interdiction exercise for the JCG and a separate, limited inspection exercise for the MSDF.Though the MSDF conducted the inspection exercise, it actually may not stop ships for inspection in peacetime.Under current laws, the MSDF may inspect ships on the high seas only when Japan is attacked by an enemy, emergency situations take place in regions around Japan, or the government orders it to take defensive or policing actions.But with such legal limitations, the MSDF will not be able to make a proper contribution to preventing the proliferation of WMD. At the third PSI meeting held last autumn in Paris, member nations agreed to revise and enhance related domestic laws.Japan should review relevant laws to enable the Self-Defense Forces to participate in ship inspections and other interdiction activities in peacetime.Pussyfooting over PyongyangThe MSDF could not play a central role at the latest drill not only because of legal problems, but also because the Foreign Ministry was afraid that the MSDF's participation in the PSI drill might offend neighboring countries.But this is a matter closely related to the security of Japan. The ministry's fears were beside the point.North Korea exported missiles and related parts to Pakistan and Iran, and obtained nuclear-related materials and technology from those countries in return.China and South Korea decided not to send observers to the latest PSI drill, apparently because they did not want to do anything that might anger North Korea.But both China and South Korea should beef up their monitoring of North Korea if they are serious about realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.Japan and Singapore are the only two Asian countries among the 15 nations that have signed up to the PSI. Japan should play a leading role in increasing the number of PSI member nations.Ship inspections are only one brick in the wall built to prevent WMD proliferation, but it is still important to strengthen them.(From Oct. 29, The Yomiuri Shimbun)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2004-10-29	YOSHIN0020041101e0at000i5
YOMSHI0020041029e0au0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041029e0au0000f	EN	\N	Stop earthquakes from becoming human disaster	More than 80,000 people remain away from their homes, staying in shelters for evacuees. There are also many people living in their cars due to fears their damaged homes may not withstand aftershocks.	4	2004-10-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Thanks to the flow of relief supplies from around the country, food and drinking water have begun reaching the evacuees. Meanwhile, essential public utilities, such as electricity and water, are gradually being restored.Yet evacuees cannot tolerate the harsh conditions under which they are living for much longer, with some already saying they are reaching the limit.The important thing now is to learn what quake victims need most and to meet their needs insofar as it is possible.Many are liable to be worrying about how they can rebuild their quake-damaged homes or when they can possibly get back to normal life. There are many enduring health difficulties or spending sleepless nights worrying about their livelihoods because they are unable to work.The central and prefectural governments, as well as local municipalities concerned need to establish as quickly as possible a system to promptly respond to the diverse concerns of quake victims.As the period of evacuation becomes protracted, the number believed to have died due to such factors as stress accounts for more than half of those who died because of the earthquakes.Living conditions fatalThere are even some who have died from such ailments as economy-class syndrome, something almost unheard of during past natural disasters. The syndrome, in which blood clots develop due to lack of movement and then travel to the brain or lung, is caused by remaining in the same constrictive posture for long periods, such as on a long air trip.According to the Niigata prefectural government, four quake victims who were sheltering in their cars have died from this syndrome. Carefully worked out measures are needed to address this problem, for instance, by advising such evacuees to take such preventive steps as changing their postures often and drinking enough water.We must not allow this natural disaster to become a human disaster by failing to take necessary measures promptly.The central government is considering renting hotels and ryokan in hot spring resorts near the quake-affected areas to shelter evacuees. Even with a few days' stay at such facilities, evacuees would be able to rest without feeling any constraint. Such an idea should be put into action at once.At the same time, it is necessary for governments to expedite efforts to build temporary housing for evacuees and let them move into such facilities as quickly as possible.More staff neededSpecial consideration should also be given to those officials from concerned municipal governments and medical personnel working in quake-hit areas. The central and prefectural governments must provide further support by securing and dispatching replacement staff.Mid- and long-term efforts toward restoration will also become ever more important in the days ahead. The prefectural government needs to take the lead in mapping out and implementing concrete plans as soon as possible.There are areas where entire communities were damaged by large landslides, leaving little prospect of villagers returning home.Restoration measures are urgently needed to give the quake victims hope for the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2004-10-30	YOSHIN0020041101e0au001dp
YOMSHI0020041030e0av0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041030e0av0000f	EN	\N	Summoning reporter to testify unreasonable	The assembly is asking the reporter to testify about a news article he wrote that was carried on a local news page reporting that a specific social welfare entity had been given preferential treatment in a meal-catering program for the elderly, which was run by the town.	4	2004-10-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is an unreasonable request that infringes upon freedom of the press and upon the people's right to know. We can hardly abide by such request.Our reporter intends to appear at the commission, but will not testify as to how he gathered relevant information.Limiting the use of information gathered for the newspaper is a basic principle of journalism.In particular, it is of paramount importance in terms of professional ethics for reporters to protect their news source. News coverage relies on the trust between a reporter and his or her news sources.If the identity of a source of information is revealed without the person's consent, trust breaks down, constraining the collection of information. Such a development undermines the people's right to know.Shielding the identity of news sources is in accordance with the principle of professional confidentiality under which one is allowed to refuse to testify under the Civil Procedure Code. This point of law has been confirmed by a judgement of the Supreme Court.Protect sources at any costA U.S. federal judge on Oct. 7 jailed a New York Times reporter for contempt of court for refusing to testify in an investigation into whether the U.S. administration illegally leaked the name of a covert officer of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to the media.The need to protect confidential news sources is a point of professional ethics shared by reporters of every responsible news organization in the world.It was revealed in August that a reporter from The Asahi Shimbun secretly recorded a conversation with a news source and later handed the tapes over to a third party. Such an act is professional suicide and betrays the public's trust in the newspaper.Meanwhile, the town assembly of Kawasakimachi, in Fukuoka Prefecture in January last year asked another Yomiuri Shimbun reporter, who reported on a slush fund scandal involving a former housing complex in a coal-mining area, to reveal a news source. The Yomiuri Shimbun also refused to allow the reporter to testify.Investigation commissions are established to probe scandals or irregularities involving a local government on the basis of Article 100 of the Local Government Law.Pursue truth, not pressIn the case of Heguricho, the news article cast doubt on whether the public money spent on the meal-catering program for the elderly was appropriate.Although the service provider was supposed to be decided, in principle, through competitive bidding, the town government offered a contract to a social welfare entity. In addition, the town had allegedly granted the entity free use of kitchen facilities, not even charging for the electricity and water used.The investigation commission was established after The Yomiuri Shimbun reported the irregularities. There is nothing wrong with the news article. In fact, five officials of the town government were disciplined for having exchanged notes with the welfare entity arbitrarily.Why does the town assembly ask our reporter to testify before it? Is it not irresponsible for the assembly to use the media to find out the truth? Is the assembly trying to pressure the reporter by calling for his testimony?As pointed out by the editorial committee of the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association in March last year, hunting those who blow the whistle to the media or the police or pursuing inquiries into organizations reporting the news is a drastic deviation from the original purpose for which the investigation commission was established.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2004-10-31	YOSHIN0020041101e0av00234
YOMSHI0020041031e0b10000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041031e0b10000d	EN	\N	Koda's death can't stop fight against terrorism	The savage group led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, which is notorious for mercilessly killing hostages, is believed to have executed Koda.	4	2004-11-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In appearances in satellite television programs, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and Koda's family members urged the militants to release the youth. But there was little hope that, unlike the captors of three Japanese in Iraq in April, the al-Zarqawi group would listen to such appeals for his life.In April, the family members of the Japanese hostages pleaded with the government to withdraw Self-Defense Forces personnel from Iraq in tandem with organized signature-collecting campaigns and demonstrations, turning the crisis into a political issue.In the latest hostage-taking case, Koda's family neither touched on the withdrawal demand of the captors nor asked the government to change its policy. For their part, many Japanese calmly watched the government's rescue efforts.Needless to say, the government has to do its utmost to ensure every Japanese citizen complies with its advice against visiting dangerous areas such as Iraq. It is equally important for each of us to refrain from acting recklessly.Intl aid to Iraq essentialThe latest incident clearly reminds us anew of the reality--the international community is still in a state of war on terror, a battle that Japan has joined.If Iraq fails to be democratized and reconstructed and becomes a bankrupt nation, it would become a stronghold of terrorists--a situation that would pose a grave menace to the peace and security of the international community, including Japan. This is the reason for the international community to extend assistance to Iraq for reconstruction without yielding to dirty acts of terrorism.Japan, therefore, has to continue the SDF's humanitarian and reconstruction mission in Iraq. It is essential for the SDF deployment to be extended beyond the Dec. 14 deadline set by a special law.In this connection, further security measures should be taken to protect the camp of the Ground Self-Defense Force unit in Samawah, southern Iraq, where a shell was fired recently.Withdrawal would aid militantsThe three opposition parties, which have opposed the dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq, are demanding the SDF's withdrawal upon the deadline. Some members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party also are not enthusiastic about extending the SDF mission.Katsuya Okada, president of the main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), is of the opinion that "the deployment of SDF personnel to Iraq has made Japan more prone to terrorist attacks."However, the SDF's withdrawal from Iraq would be tantamount to encouraging terrorists. The matter should be addressed from the viewpoint of the national interest, rather than as a political football.Ruling coalition party New Komeito has said it will make up its mind on the extension of the SDF mission only after the U.S. presidential election and based on public opinion in Japan.But it has to be pointed out that the United States will not withdraw its troops from Iraq, even in the event of Democratic candidate John Kerry's triumph in Tuesday's contest.Insurgents in Iraq are likely to intensify their activities to hinder parliamentary elections scheduled for January and other ongoing processes for democratization of the country.The international community faces the vital task of consolidating its solidarity toward Iraq's reconstruction. As a member of the international community, Japan has to play its part in a responsible manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2004-11-01	YOSHIN0020041102e0b1000dc
YOMSHI0020041101e0b20000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041101e0b20000i	EN	\N	Soft landing still far off for China's economy	The People's Bank of China raised interest rates on loans by financial institutions to corporations and individuals for the first time in nine years. The central bank said it aims to restrain an excessive use of funds by businesses and lead the economy in the direction of sustainable economic growth.	4	2004-11-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Now that China has emerged as the world's seventh-largest economic power with year-on-year growth rates approaching double digits, sustainable and stable growth is essential for the world economy--not to speak of the Chinese economy itself.The Chinese government and the central bank have acted correctly in resorting to a concrete monetary measure to restrain the excessively robust state of the Chinese economy, in addition to their earlier administrative directives for less investment in plant and equipment in some industrial sectors and for less lending.While soaring high on massive direct investment from abroad, the economy clearly started showing signs of overheating in the latter half of 2003. To stem the worrisome trend, Beijing has been letting steel, cement and other manufacturers as well as construction companies--which are blamed for overdriving the economy--cut back on or cancel new investments since spring.Business still bubblingHowever, the overheated state of the Chinese economy has shown no signs of subsiding because some provincial governments have not been cooperating with the central leadership as their priority is to help local businesses expand.The Chinese economy registered an annualized growth rate of 9.1 percent in real terms during the July-September quarter-- far above the 7 percent level considered to be a benchmark for sustainable growth. As year-to-date fixed asset investment has soared nearly 30 percent from a year earlier, the corporate goods price index of the People's Bank recorded a year-on-year jump of 9.6 percent in September, while the consumer price index for the month rose 5.2 percent.The People's Bank kept interest rates unchanged for such a long period out of concerns that higher rates would have a negative impact on the economy.The central bank feared that a rise in borrowing costs would curb consumer spending as well as activity in industrial sectors that were not responsible for the overheated economy.Furthermore, higher interest rates would accelerate the influx of foreign funds, increasing the pressure for a revaluation of the Chinese yuan.Other brakes neededThe recent interest rate increase was a modest one--the benchmark rate on one-year yuan loans was raised by 0.27 percentage point--prompting some analysts to doubt the effectiveness of the tight credit policy in cooling the economy.But the majority reaction was that the People's Bank, overcoming its own fears about a negative impact, displayed its strong determination to combat overheating by opting to raise interest rates for the first time since 1995.Crude oil futures in the West plunged late last week in the wake of the Chinese interest rate increase, which market participants expect to result in decreased oil consumption in China due to a slowdown in its economy.Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the Chinese central bank's move will be short-lived unless it takes bold new measures such as further interest rate increases and applies a stricter hand to rein in investment--moves that "forces of resistance" such as provincial governments would hate to see.Can the Chinese economy make a soft landing? The abilities of the Chinese government and the People's Bank will be really tested from now on.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2004-11-03	YOSHIN0020041104e0b3000e5
YOMSHI0020041102e0b30000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041102e0b30000d	EN	\N	Golden Eagle day for Sendai, pro baseball	Japanese pro baseball was plunged into a maelstrom back in June when financially troubled Kinki Nippon Railway Co. announced a plan to merge its Kintetsu Buffaloes with the Orix BlueWave.	4	2004-11-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	That caused pro baseball officials to take a close look at whether Rakuten and Livedoor, an Internet service provider that also sought the new franchise, were serious enough and financially strong enough to keep a baseball team running for a long period. Their qualities as public entities were also scrutinized.The outcome was that Rakuten was selected over Livedoor.It can safely be predicted that the new baseball team will lose money for a while. But it is harder to predict what the new team will be like. Nonetheless, Japanese pro baseball fans will warmly welcome the Rakuten Eagles, as the new team will be commonly called.Dot.com mania hits JapanRakuten boasts yearly sales of 18 billion yen from a virtual shopping mall and online securities brokerage. Livedoor, too, operates a variety of Internet-related businesses.Since the Internet has become an essential tool in daily life, it reflects the times that young companies consider ownership of a pro baseball team as a new business opportunity and want to get into pro baseball."We would like to enliven pro baseball and give our company some class to boost its profile," Rakuten President Hiroshi Mikitani said.Mikitani is said to have a number of plans to promote pro baseball, such as online sales of baseball tickets, live webcasts of games and baseball seminars for children utilizing information technology. Some people expect he will bring a breath of fresh air to Japanese pro baseball.We also would like to mention Mikitani's plan to create a community-based team. Although Livedoor had its eye on Sendai first, Rakuten zoomed in on the capital of Miyagi Prefecture just six days later.Local residents are really excited. It will be the first time Sendai has hosted a pro team since the Lotte Orions left the city in 1977.Interest at fever pitchThe Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry has estimated the economic effects of the new team to be 20.8 billion yen for the first year. Major companies in the city and other entities have started discussing a plan to construct a domed stadium there.When the baseball team sets up home in the city, there will be more opportunities for little baseball players to watch professional players work their magic, which will implant a dream in their hearts. An increase in the number of amateur baseball players and pro baseball fans is a crucial issue when it comes to the fate of professional baseball.Coincidentally, there are a number of plans related to pro baseball in the offing, such as the creation of an independent league in the Shikoku region, a new team in Niigata Prefecture and a new league in Japan affiliated with an independent league in the United States.Japanese baseball in general seems to be becoming more lively.Rakuten has passed the first stage, but it is now at a crucial junction. The players the new team hires will determine the interest in and quality of its games in the upcoming season. Bearing this in mind, the pro baseball entry draft on Nov. 17 will be an especially important event.This winter, baseball fans will not be able to take their minds off the red-hot events in the league.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	623	2004-11-03	YOSHIN0020041104e0b3000e6
YOMSHI0020041103e0b40000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041103e0b40000b	EN	\N	New U.S. leader must shoulder heavy burden	U.S. President George W. Bush has a lead over his Democratic rival Sen. John Kerry in the latest election, but Kerry has insisted on waiting until evaluation of provisional ballots, cast by people not registered on the voters list, and counting of absentee ballots had been completed in the key state of Ohio. This had not been accomplished as of late Wednesday Japan time.	4	2004-11-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This was the first U.S. presidential election since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, and also a wartime election with U.S. forces still fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.Americans wondered which of the two presidential candidates would make the United States a safer place to live in. With such a question hanging over the campaign, security and foreign affairs became important campaign issues in the latest election along with policies related to employment, finance, education and social security.World security at stakeWhile the situation in Iraq is in disarray, who becomes top leader of the United States, the dominant superpower in the world today, directly affects global security. This is why the international community has been monitoring the election closely.However, there were no major differences in the policy goals of the two candidates, with Bush and Kerry merely seeking different means to the same end.In foreign and security affairs, the two candidates' top priorities were fighting against new threats including international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.As for the Iraq war, Bush emphasized its legitimacy and announced a plan to increase Iraqi security troops quickly to restore civil order in the country.Meanwhile, Kerry said that the Bush administration's unilateralism and bad judgment have isolated the United States from the rest of the world. He also claimed that he would alleviate the burden borne by the United States by pursuing broad cooperation from the international community.Iraq election vitalIn Iraq, voter registration has already started in some regions for January's parliamentary election. Holding the democratic election will be the first significant step toward formulation of a new constitution and establishment of a regular government.However, Fallujah, in Iraq's Sunni triangle, has been turned into a base of armed Islamic radicals, becoming an impediment to the scheduled election.It is a task of the new U.S. administration to restore civil order and to advance the political schedule smoothly in Iraq.Meanwhile, both Bush and Kerry promised that they would be able to halve in four or five years a federal deficit that has ballooned to the worst level in history.Payments of pension and medical insurance benefits are expected to increase in the near future when the generation of baby boomers hit the compulsory retirement age. With what financial sources, will those payments be made?The new U.S. administration is required to tackle this difficult problem while saddled by the huge federal deficit.The winner of the U.S. presidential election will have heavy responsibilities to shoulder.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	539	2004-11-04	YOSHIN0020041105e0b4000f4
YOMSHI0020041104e0b50000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041104e0b50000b	EN	\N	Bush entrusted with world's security	Bush's main opponent, Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry, who campaigned for a change of course in Iraq, conceded defeat.	4	2004-11-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The result ensures the continuation of the Bush administration's foreign and security policies.Amid the ongoing "war on terror," the world has been split in two over the legitimacy of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.The world remains troubled by the situation in Iraq, which is still unstable, even after the overthrow of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. There are no signs of terrorist activities by Islamic militants abating.The election was the first since the Vietnam War-era poll of 1972 to be overshadowed by war. The United States has suffered more than 1,000 military fatalities in Iraq, and despite increasing public anxiety, a resolution to the conflict does not appear to be near.Voters back strong leadershipU.S. voters have indicated their support for Bush's approach of putting priority on security, trusting in the strong leadership offered by their "wartime president."Bush's victory, however, was achieved by a razor-thin margin, as almost half the voters opposed him. He now faces the task of trying to win his opponents over.In his victory speech in Washington on Wednesday, Bush said, "Today I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent," seeking cooperation from a broad spectrum of the public.Pledging to do his utmost in the war on terrorism in addition to pursuing tax reforms and improving Social Security, the president stressed his resolve to enhance cooperation between the United States and its allies.The president's position should be considered right and proper.There are, however, a number of thorny issues ahead for the Bush administration. Should the United States fail to address the problems adequately, the consequences would affect not only that country, but the whole world. Bush must buckle down to the task, using all his sincerity and sound judgment.During the election campaign, Kerry lashed out at Bush over Iraq, accusing him of "a colossal error of judgment." Kerry said the president had invaded Iraq with insufficient military might and without preparing for governing the country after the fall of the Saddam regime.Concerning the wisdom of the Iraq war, there is no doubt that Saddam is at fault for consistently breaching U.N. Security Council resolutions and failing to prove beyond all doubt the destruction of the country's WMD.But only Bush can achieve a breakthrough in the troubles that have plagued Iraq since the war.In 2005, the first year of Bush's second term, Iraq will reach a critical crossroads. Elections will be held in January for a constitutional assembly, which will draw up a constitution. A general election will then be held under the new constitution, with a full-fledged Iraqi government scheduled to be established toward the end of the year.The elections are key to establishing a legitimate Iraqi government and stabilizing the country.As the U.S. presidential election is over, U.S. forces in Iraq are expected to shortly start full-scale operations to clear Iraq of armed Islamic extremists that, if left unchecked, would pose a serious impediment to the elections.But if these operations lead to massive civilian casualties, the elections will be impossible to realize. The planned political agenda would then come to nothing, with no timeline possible for a U.S. withdrawal.As is the case with Afghanistan, stability in Iraq is impossible without successful elections. Without a stable Iraq, there would be no prospects of a stable Middle East as a whole, and the security of the United States itself could not be guaranteed under such circumstances.The broadest possible international coalition, including Islamic countries, is essential for Iraq's recovery. The Bush administration must seek far-reaching cooperation from the international community for this purpose.Close Japan-U.S. dialogue keyIn its fight against terrorism, the Bush administration has bolstered relations with such major nations as Japan, China and Russia.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, with a view to solidifying the Japan-U.S. alliance, dispatched Self-Defense Forces troops in support of the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns. Koizumi's actions signify a new phase of Japan's contribution to international peacekeeping.The United States' ongoing review of its global military strategy is of great significance in relation to the reconfiguration of U.S. military bases in Japan.Tokyo and Washington need to have a more comprehensive dialogue on such issues as the SDF's role in Iraq and the restructuring of U.S. bases in this country.Also of vital importance is the problem of North Korea's nuclear development program.Left unchecked, Pyongyang would be certain to push ahead with plans for a nuclear arsenal.During the election campaign, Kerry stated his support for bilateral talks between Washington and Pyongyang, but Bush rejected this, saying it was "precisely what Kim Jong Il wants." The president said face-to-face talks between the United States and North Korea would "unravel" the framework of the six-nation approach.The six-nation consultation framework formed to make North Korea scrap its nuclear program includes China, a neighbor with a strong influence over Pyongyang, both politically and economically.We hope China will do its utmost to fulfill its responsibility to resolve the crisis. Japan and the United States, for that matter, should closely cooperate to ensure progress.Bush must drive WTO talksConcerning trade, Bush is committed to a policy of free trade, in line with the Republican Party's traditions. The facilitation of global trade is key to the stability and development of the world economy.Bush's reelection is welcome for Japan, a country that is a beneficiary of free trade.Japan-U.S. ties under the current administration are incomparably better than in the 1990s, when the relationship was strained due to trade disputes with the then Democratic administration.Except for very minor problems, relations between the two countries since Bush's inauguration have been very friendly. We hope the Bush administration will maintain these friendly relations.The World Trade Organization has the task of formulating a new framework for free trade to ensure global prosperity.Bush has the job of taking the lead in the WTO negotiations, which have effectively been stalled due to the U.S. presidential election and the change of the European Commission presidency.(From early editionsof The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1117	2004-11-05	YOSHIN0020041108e0b5000fh
YOMSHI0020041105e0b60000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041105e0b60000h	EN	\N	Set specific goals for scientific research	These are the results of the sizable amount of money the government has injected with the aim of turning the nation into a technological leader.	4	2004-11-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Efforts to improve the situation have been made possible by the government's basic program on science and technology, adopted every five years in accordance with the Science and Technology Basic Law, which came into force in 1995.The ongoing second phase of the basic program will conclude at the end of next fiscal year. With the close of this stage of the program drawing near, the Cabinet Office's Council for Science and Technology Policy began studying the third phase of the basic program, which will run for five years from fiscal 2006.Specified under the basic program are methods to promote science and technology, the areas to be given priority, and the total budget earmarked for the entire five years.The total funds invested in the first and second phases of the program have reached about 40 trillion yen. Thanks to these efforts, the laying of the foundations for rebuilding the nation as a technological power has almost been completed. The third phase of the program should be the one to bring about concrete results.Set prioritiesOne of the biggest tasks is deciding which areas of research and development should take priority.In the second phase of the program, four areas of research were given the highest priority: life science, information and communications technology, environmental science, and nano-technology and material science, with these areas having more money allocated to them than the others.Meanwhile, development in those areas which were not deemed high priorities appears sluggish.In the area of space development, which is said to reflect a nation's overall technological strength, rocket development and space exploration efforts remain in the doldrums.In the development of high-speed computers, there is no large-scale project to follow up on the state-developed Earth Simulator. Because of this, there is a possibility of Japan being overtaken by the United States.Countries such as China and South Korea are rapidly catching up with Japan in every sector.How can Japan keep up and develop those areas in which other countries are catching up fast, while conducting basic research in areas that will not yield any tangible results in the short term and still efficiently invest in high-priority areas?Gauge public desireExtra consideration must be given to what the public hopes to gain through scientific advancements.Until the second phase of the program, the emphasis has been on how science and technology could help reinvigorate the economy when the nation was in a protracted economic slowdown.Yet according to a recent public opinion poll taken by the Cabinet Office, as many as 80 percent of pollees were said to be seeking spiritual enrichment through advances in science and technology in addition to an immediate economic upturn.Fostering the next generation of researchers also is an important task to be considered.According to surveys taken by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, people's interest in and understanding of science and technology is declining. It is possible that talented people will not go into research and it may become difficult to win support for investment into research and development.A plan for winning society's understanding and support for science and technology also should be included in the new basic program.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2004-11-06	YOSHIN0020041108e0b6001ap
YOMSHI0020041106e0b70000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041106e0b70000c	EN	\N	Approval of Kyoto pact brings new challenges	However, the latest development may well be regarded as limited progress in that the list of participants in the pact does not include the United States, China and India--all major culprits for the growth in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.	4	2004-11-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Russia's decision to give the protocol the final stamp of approval means the global climate pact will come into force in February, requiring 39 industrial nations and territories, including Japan and European countries, to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.After announcing in March 2001 that it would withdraw as a signatory to the protocol, the United States, the largest producer of global-warming gasses, has shown no sign of returning to the fold. Recently reelected U.S. President George W. Bush remains steadfast in his objection to the protocol. The absence of the United States from the 1997 agreement means there may be little progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions even after the pact takes effect.It is even more disturbing to note that several major developing nations, including China and India, have yet to join this global framework. The protocol only requires industrial powers to reduce their emissions in the first stage of the anti-global warming fight, which extends from 2008 to 2012.Rapid growth in emissionsToday, these nations--China, in particular--are witnessing a remarkable increase in their greenhouse gas emissions as a result of their rapid economic growth. This can be seen in the share of each nation in total CO2 emissions worldwide in 2000. Japan accounts for 5.2 percent of the total. This compares with China's 12.1 percent, implying that country follows the United States and the European Union in this respect. India is on its way to catching up with Japan, with its share standing at 4.7 percent.If its CO2 emissions continue to grow, China will likely replace the United States as the greatest producer of global-warming gasses around 2030. India is predicted to overtake Japan in this respect around 2010.The protocol stipulates that signatories to the pact start negotiations in 2005, over what kind of framework should be adopted to fight ongoing global warming from 2013 on, after the first-stage campaign ends in 2012. Preliminary talks are scheduled to begin by the end of the year.Major themes to be discussed in the upcoming negotiations include whether the United States will return to the protocol. The greatest focus will be on whether nations around the world will be able to establish a global framework aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that includes China and India.Further reduction difficultAs circumstances stand today, it is extremely difficult for Japan to further curtail its global-warming gas emissions. No industrial power beats Japan in terms of how far it has come in its energy-conservation campaign.Under the protocol, Japan must reduce, by 2012, its greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent from their 1990 levels. However, this country must strive to curtail its greenhouse gas discharge by more than 13 percent by 2012, given the constant growth in its gas emissions since 1990.However, Japan has not yet been able to come up with a decisively workable method of reducing its gas emissions. The progress in this nation's anti-global warming campaign is largely attributable to energy-saving efforts by corporations and ordinary households today.The government is set to seek an internal consensus on specific measures to be incorporated into a new set of guidelines for an anti-global warming campaign that will start next fiscal year. Major areas of discussions include such key issues as whether an environmental tax should be imposed on oil and gasoline consumption.It has taken seven years for Japan, which chaired the Kyoto conference on global warming, to see the protocol take effect. There will be even greater hurdles to reach the greenhouse gas reduction goals set in the protocol. An important task for Japan to tackle as the chair of the Kyoto meeting is to help set up a new framework for anti-global warming efforts that will bring the protocol into full play, while also striving to accomplish its own greenhouse gas emission target.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	748	2004-11-07	YOSHIN0020041108e0b700208
YOMSHI0020041108e0b800001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041108e0b800001	EN	\N	Civil service review needs teamwork	The government and the ruling parties are at odds with labor over how to operate a merit-based personnel evaluation system--the main pillar of the reform of the civil service--among others. This has made it very difficult for the government and the ruling parties to decide when reform-related bills should be submitted to the Diet.	4	2004-11-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the new system, promotion and the salaries of civil servants will be based on merit and ability. The new evaluation system is being introduced to correct an age-old flaw in the civil service whereby promotion and pay increases are decided on the basis of seniority and horizontal egalitarianism. If the merit-based system is introduced, a noncareer-track bureaucrat could outstrip a so-called fast-track elite.New system better for allIn comparison with the current rigid, inefficient system, the new system would help improve policy planning and administrative services by placing the right people in the right jobs.However, labor claims that several factors--most importantly the evaluation criteria, which are a central part of the merit-based ranking system--should be decided upon through negotiations between labor and management because they are "conditions of work."But the government and the ruling parties maintain that the criteria are not a compulsory subject for negotiation between labor and management because it is an administrative matter, in the same way as the current job performance evaluations.Labor worries that promotion, pay increases and personnel allocations might be decided unilaterally if they are left solely to the discretion of government ministries and agencies. That is why labor has been demanding that the government grant it the right to conclude collective-bargaining agreements.For their part, the ministries and the agencies are worried that labor may bring pressure to bear on them to influence the results of merit-based personnel evaluations if its criteria appear on the agenda for labor-management talks.The interests of both sides are in clear conflict with each other.Currently, a civil servant in a general administrative post enjoys the right of association and the right to bargain as basic labor rights. But there is no such right to conclude collective-bargaining agreements.Mutual understanding requiredThe right to strike is strictly regulated for civil servants, too, because their jobs are directly related to the public interest, but this is not currently a major issue.We think there is room to study the possibility of granting civil servants the right to conclude collective agreements from the viewpoint of ascertaining whether it would lead to a more effective operation of the merit-based personnel evaluation system.Some sort of negotiations between labor and management are necessary to help a personnel management system based on new evaluation criteria function smoothly.The new system will not function properly, and problems could even emerge after its introduction, if management and labor end up with feelings of mutual distrust concerning the evaluation system itself, as well as the pay increases and promotions based on them.A certain degree of mutual understanding is necessary regarding what is evaluated and how. If both sides reach an agreement on the evaluation criteria and ways to disclose them, it will help the new system function smoothly. Of course, labor should not use this understanding to put unfair pressure on management to alter personnel evaluations.The government and the ruling parties should submit to the Diet bills related to the reform of the civil service as soon as possible after narrowing down the issues in question with labor and management, allowing all sides to help shape a new system to maximize the fruits of the reform.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2004-11-08	YOSHIN0020041109e0b8000d5
YOMSHI0020041108e0b90000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041108e0b90000g	EN	\N	Quality of philanthropy better than quantity	To the Japanese, the word has come to mean corporate philanthropy, which became a very common practice around 1990, during the asset-inflated bubble economy.	4	2004-11-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, after the bubble economy collapsed, the situation of Japanese companies changed drastically, and the direction mecenat should take is now being questioned.The Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan, a mecca of Middle Eastern cultural studies in this country, had to close its exhibitions at the end of last year. The center had been sustained by generous donations from a major oil company after it opened in 1979. But as the donations decreased year by year, the center finally ran out of funds.The exhibitions were resumed last month with support from the city of Mitaka, Tokyo, where the center is located, among others, but the scope of the project had to be reduced.Contributions decliningThe Association for Corporate Support of the Arts last year surveyed 4,000 listed companies around the country, and found that 9 percent were performing philanthropic activities. Although the percentage remained almost the same as a decade ago, the amount of money donated per company had fallen by half to 66.45 million yen.The way mecenat has been used has changed over time. In the past, funds were most often used to construct cultural facilities or contribute to cultural foundations. However, those in charge of mecenat today must explain their philanthropic goals to other members of their companies.Role of corporations vitalWhile the role corporations play in society is valued more than ever, philanthropic activities with clear objectives, such as contributions to local communities or projects stressing the characteristics of companies, are increasing.This trend can be seen in the Kawamura Memorial Museum of Arts in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture. The Association for Corporate Support of the Arts granted this year's Japan Mecenat Award to the museum, which was founded by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Inc. The association lauded the museum's educational programs and contributions to the cultural image of the city of Sakura.Other mecenat standouts include a book store that allows the public to use its multipurpose space for cultural activities, a regional bank that runs a community museum and a trading company that sponsors overseas performances by an orchestra made up of young people.The revitalization of a local community and the improvement of a company's image through cultural activities can lead to increased business for the company.Corporate support for the arts that emphasizes speed and efficiency can stimulate cultural administrations and the activities of cultural organizations.We have passed the time when mecenat was considered vindication for a corporation making excessive profits. Today, corporate philanthropy is evaluated by quality rather than quantity.Mecenat should be developed carefully, utilizing corporate wisdom.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	502	2004-11-09	YOSHIN0020041110e0b9000ig
YOMSHI0020041109e0ba0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041109e0ba0000f	EN	\N	SDF in need of basic structural reform	For instance, the Defense Agency plans to increase the number of Ground Self-Defense Force troops by 2,000 from 160,000, and to reduce the number of tanks from 944 to 678. But the Finance Ministry wants to reduce GSDF troops to 120,000 and tanks to 425.	4	2004-11-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To put it in other words, the agency basically wants to maintain the status quo while the ministry is stressing the need to cut defense expenditures. They are in constant combat over the figures.But the nation's defense strategy is supposed to be presented in the National Defense Program Outline. Discussing a blueprint to develop our defense capabilities before deciding on a basic security strategy seems to be putting the cart before the horse. The new version of the defense outline should be drafted before the details of the defense development plan are discussed.The Self-Defense Forces are required to protect Japan and to deal with new threats such as international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They also have a new mission--participating in international peace cooperation activities. It is important to design a structural reform plan for the SDF that will take all of these factors into consideration.SDF busier than everThe agency is demanding the personnel increase because the SDF has more to do than before, including taking measures against terrorism and conducting disaster relief operations and international peace cooperation activities. However, any attempts to protect vested interests should be questioned.According to the agency's plan, nearly one-fourth of GSDF personnel and about half of its tanks are still in Hokkaido. But it is difficult to imagine any enemy trying to invade the northern island these days. The agency's deployment plan still follows Cold War patterns, and must be acknowledged as being obsolete.According to the ministry's blueprint, three divisions and one brigade of the GSDF currently stationed in Hokkaido will be reduced to one division. We agree that some downsizing is necessary, without necessarily agreeing with the proposed figures.Current size unsustainableTaking into consideration the nation's financial constraints and the fewer number of young people due to the declining birth rate, it will be difficult to maintain the current size of the organization. Downsizing personnel and reducing the amount of equipment could be offset by integrating the operations of the three forces, using high-tech weapons and enhancing our intelligence-gathering and analysis capabilities.The times demand that the SDF deal with various threats flexibly and carry out international peace cooperation activities promptly.It will become necessary to establish special units that can respond quickly to terrorist and guerrilla attacks, and others that specialize in international peace cooperation missions.While the number of tanks and artillery should be reduced, we must enhance our ability to promptly deliver troops and equipment wherever they are needed by boosting the numbers of helicopters and transport planes. The current defense development plan that emphasizes defense against submarines and air attacks must be transformed into a plan that concentrates on a national missile defense system, with the protection of the Japanese territorial islands as a priority. This is a reasonable transformation in light of the changes in security situations around Japan.It goes without saying that measures to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and to divide security roles between the two countries as the United States realigns its forces around the world should be studied before drafting new versions of the National Defense Program Outline and the Midterm Defense Buildup Plan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2004-11-10	YOSHIN0020041111e0ba000in
YOMSHI0020041110e0bb0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041110e0bb0000h	EN	\N	Beef up MSDF's ability to patrol nation's waters	A nuclear submarine, suspected to be a Chinese Navy vessel, entered Japanese waters off the Miyako Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. If the submarine is confirmed to be a Chinese vessel, the government must strongly protest to China immediately.	4	2004-11-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the latest intrusion was indeed made by a Chinese submarine, it will clearly demonstrate that China is becoming a real threat to Japan in areas surrounding Japan.China is expanding the activities of its marine research vessels under its state strategy of becoming a naval power. Having surveyed its coastal waters, the country is surveying areas in the East China Sea and even the western Pacific.The marine research China has been conducting involves measuring ocean currents and the quality, depth and temperature of seawater, which serve as basic data for oceanographic charts. The Defense Agency believes the aim of the research is to facilitate the navigation and operation of Chinese Navy submarines.China seeks blue-water navySince the beginning of this year, China has frequently conducted marine research in waters near Okinotorishima island, Tokyo. These waters are located between Guam and Taiwan. It is said that China intends to contain the navigation of U.S. aircraft carriers and submarines by deploying its submarines in the Pacific in case of a contingency involving Taiwan.In the early summer of 2000, Chinese Navy vessels gathered information around Japan, by sailing through the Tsushima and Tsugaru straits.Whenever such incidents occurred, the government lodged protest against China, but China more or less ignored the protests.Concerning the intrusion by a suspected Chinese submarine, the Defense Agency believes that the Chinese Navy, in its attempt to transform its posture from one oriented to defending its coastlines to one oriented to operating in the high seas, is trying to secure sea routes for its submarines into the Pacific.China's maritime capability is said to comprise about 740 naval vessels, including about 70 submarines.Recently, China has made efforts to strengthen and modernize its submarine fleet by buying from Russia vessels that run quietly.For its part, Japan should closely monitor the increasingly active movements of Chinese Navy vessels in this country's waters.Government dragged its feetThe delay in the government's issuance of an order for the Maritime Self-Defense Force to carry out a maritime patrol operation is troubling.In a bid to promptly deal with unidentified submarines cruising in Japanese waters, the government in late 1996 simplified the relevant procedures that allow the maritime policing act to be invoked by the prime minister, without prior cabinet approval.But this time the order was issued only after the submarine in question had cruised in Japanese waters for as long as two hours.Why was the government unable to issue the order for the MSDF to carry out the patrol operation before the submarine entered Japanese waters despite the fact that the MSDF had been tailing the vessel since early Tuesday?Was there a lack of cooperation within the government concerning the transmission and analysis of relevant information on the incident and in judging how to deal with it?The readiness of the Self-Defense Forces, whose duty it is to patrol the nation's waters, should be reinforced so it can better deal with intrusions by foreign naval vessels.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2004-11-11	YOSHIN0020041112e0bb000hz
YOMSHI0020041111e0bc0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041111e0bc0000f	EN	\N	Will Arafat's death help bring peace to M.E.?	Will his death signal a turning point in the chaotic Palestinian situation? Events in the Middle East have reached a crucial phase.	4	2004-11-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Arafat became chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestinians' highest decision-making body, in 1969. While moving from one stronghold to another since then, he signed interim peace deals with Israel in 1993 and returned from exile in Tunis in 1994. In 1996, he was elected to head the Palestinian Authority, a limited self-rule government.Arafat was reluctant to clamp down on Palestinian militants who had been ramping up terrorist offensives against Israel since the autumn of 2000, effectively leaving them to their own devices.Israel had turned its back on Arafat as an "obstacle to peace," while the United States, the biggest mediator for peace talks, pursued a policy on the Palestine question that shunned Arafat.The peace talks stalled partly because Arafat, whom foreign powers no longer viewed as a credible negotiating partner, retained control over such pivotal power structures as public security and state finance.Militants must be reined inThe new leadership after Arafat is, for the time being, expected to be a collective system, comprising Mahmoud Abbas, newly appointed PLO chairman, and former prime minister, and Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.How can the power vacuum created by Arafat's death be filled? This will be the biggest challenge in the days ahead.Within the Palestinian Authority, there is said to be an axis of conflict between the old and new generations, or the faction of moderates and that of extremists. Arafat's death may cause this confrontation to boil over.To avoid such a chaotic situation, the new leadership urgently needs to rebuild the self-rule system.So it can win support from the international community, it is also an important task for the new leadership to crack down on Palestinian militants who have refused to abandon the armed struggle against Israel.More settlements must goMeanwhile, the Israeli parliament has approved a plan to remove Jewish settlements in part of the West Bank and the whole of the Gaza Strip. The decision signifies a shift in the policy of enlarging settlements pursued by Israeli administrations in the past. It is a welcome development as the settlements have been considered a major obstacle to the resolution of the conflict.But according to an international peace plan known as the road map, which points the way toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, removal of more settlements is needed. As long as most settlements in the West Bank remain, peace in the Middle East will remain elusive.Can the turning point created by the departure of Arafat become a starting point for reinvigorating the peace talks?For the administration under the reelected U.S. President George W. Bush, now may be an opportune time to resume full-fledged mediation. Support from the international community also will be necessary for the talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	547	2004-11-12	YOSHIN0020041115e0bc000h1
YOMSHI0020041112e0bd0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041112e0bd0000f	EN	\N	Take firm stand against Chinese incursions	On Friday, the government lodged a stern protest with China over its submarine's incursion into the nation's territorial waters near the Miyako Islands off southern Okinawa Prefecture. Tokyo had every reason to request an apology from Beijing for its violation of Japanese sovereignty and demand it ensure nothing like the recent incident will ever happen again.	4	2004-11-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Chinese submarine's behavior was enough to arouse our great distrust. Increased efforts by China to expand the scope of its maritime activities to cover areas outside its territorial waters through more frequent use of its submarines appear to be an attempt to warn the United States that it would forestall the U.S. Navy in and around the Taiwan Straits if a military conflict erupted between China and Taiwan.According to some experts, China's latest violation of Japan's territorial integrity can be regarded as an attempt to examine how adequately this country deals with foreign submarines in its waters as a U.S. ally.Japan and China are increasingly at odds over the latter's ongoing natural gas field exploration project in the East China Sea. It is necessary to acknowledge, once again, that China's maritime strategy is serving to raise tensions in this part of Asia.It is not enough for Japan just to demand that Chinese vessels never invade Japanese waters again. Japan must make its own preparations to prevent China from repeating its violation of Japanese territory, keeping Beijing's maritime strategy in mind.The way the Japanese government responded to China's violation of its territorial integrity was untenable. Japan's reaction to the incident can only be seen as a grave error.Unconscionable delayFirst, it took the government about three hours to issue an order for the Maritime Self-Defense Force to police the violated waters in what is technically termed a maritime patrol operation, after the MSDF spotted the submarine invading Japanese waters. It was also disturbing to see that the submarine had left Japan's territorial waters by the time the order was issued. Why did the government let China get away with violating Japanese territory?The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea does not permit a submarine from one nation to cruise underwater in foreign waters. By not running on the surface and flying the Chinese flag, the submarine in question flagrantly ignored international rules during its cruise in Japanese waters.Investigate readinessQuestions should be raised about the government's preparedness to deal with emergencies similar to the recent incident. Were top officials at the Prime Minister's Office and the Defense Agency able to properly impart relevant information to each other and make necessary decisions?Their delay in reporting the incident to senior officials of the ruling parties should also be called into question.This deplorable state of affairs raises serious questions about whether the government is able to safeguard the country in a national emergency.At an early stage in the recent incident, the MSDF concluded that the submarine in question belonged to the Chinese Navy. However, the government took a long time to officially determine that the submarine was in fact of Chinese origin.The delay in this regard has caused some Liberal Democratic Party members to express their skepticism about the government's attitude, feeling that the government may have been excessively careful not to offend China. Such a hesitant attitude toward China could seriously undermine Japan's national interests.In recent years, China has been striving to build up its military and expand the scope of its maritime activity to cover an area that extends from the East China Sea as far as the western Pacific Ocean. This apparently reflects China's desire to increase that nation's maritime rights and interests.China's maritime activity in recent years could significantly affect Japan's sovereignty and security. To defend its national interests, Japan must be resolute in dealing with China.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 13)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	692	2004-11-13	YOSHIN0020041115e0bd001br
YOMSHI0020041113e0be0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041113e0be0000a	EN	\N	Environmental tax plan too watered down	During their intensive discussions on a host of problems arising from global warming, some members of the government's Tax Commission insisted it was necessary to introduce the environmental tax. However, many members of the panel were critical of the specifics of the proposed tax. The pros and cons of the tax have not yet been fully debated. There are too many hurdles to be cleared to create an environmental tax for next fiscal year.	4	2004-11-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry's plan would tax consumption of oil, coal and other fuels at a rate of 2,400 yen per ton of carbon contained in such fuel. By imposing such taxes, the plan would seek to curtail carbon dioxide emissions in this country by 4 percent.The ministry's plan means that 1.5 yen in taxes would be collected on every liter of gasoline. A single household would pay about 3,000 yen in new taxes annually. This would enable the government to gain about 490 billion yen in new tax revenues. A sizable portion of the money raised from the tax would be added to the government's general revenue stream. Of the total, about 70 billion yen would be allocated to local governments.The ministry's plan incorporates numerous measures to ease bitter opposition to the proposed tax from the industrial sector.The tax rate set in the plan is much lower than the rate initially considered by the ministry. This means that the amount of revenues to be raised by the ministry's plan would be about half its initial estimate.It also is disturbing to note that the plan would allocate revenues from the proposed tax to general revenue, meaning that no restrictions would be imposed on the purposes for which such financial resources could be used. This is in contrast to the ministry's initial plan to allocate environmental tax revenues exclusively to finance anti-global warming programs.Numerous exemptionsUnder the ministry's plan, coal used to produce iron and steel, as well as fuel oil used in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, would be exempted from taxation. The tax rate for kerosene consumed by residents in cold districts would be half that for people living in other areas. To reduce the burden to be shouldered by low-income members of the population, residents who consume a small amount of electricity and gas would be granted exemption from the proposed tax.The allocation of revenues from the planned tax to general revenue is an attempt to placate the Finance Ministry. The plan to distribute a portion of such revenues among local governments may be an effort not to antagonize municipalities nationwide. Various tax reductions and exemption stipulated in the plan are an attempt to ease objections to the proposed tax from consumers and the industrial sector.The highly preferential treatment given to those affected by the proposed tax should be dismissed as unreasonable. Before deciding to allocate a portion of environmental tax revenues to local governments, the ministry never bothered to examine what could be done to fight global warming through measures implemented by each municipality. The ministry's plan would favor the iron and steel industry, which has fiercely opposed the plan. The plan also would preferentially treat the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries, all of which exert strong influence on politicians and political parties.Effectiveness questionableIt is even more questionable whether the ministry's plan will truly do much to help halt global warming.In September, a sharp rise in crude oil prices pushed gasoline prices up by 18 yen per liter from a year earlier. However, this only caused a 1 percent reduction in the amount of gasoline sold. This shows that a modest increase in the financial burden to be shouldered by gasoline consumers will do little to reduce their energy consumption.The Environment Ministry has said that, seen from a long-term point of view, its new tax plan will encourage consumers to buy fuel-efficient cars if they buy new ones. However, many consumers already are highly conscious of fuel efficiency, while carmakers are desperately trying to improve their models' gasoline mileage.The ministry's decision to put together an environmental tax plan that would offend as few people as possible and raise modest revenues will produce little progress in achieving the goals it initially pursued.With Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, the threshold number of nations ratifying the treaty has been reached and the protocol will go into effect. Japan cannot afford to waste time in achieving its mandated pledge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent from their 1990 level.The government already has put in 1.2 trillion yen annually to implement its anti-global warming programs. The first task for the government is to examine whether these programs are making progress. After doing so, the government should more generously fund programs that have worked well.The environmental tax is one weapon available in the fight against global warming, but the ministry's plan has many faults.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	909	2004-11-14	YOSHIN0020041115e0be00205
YOMSHI0020041114e0bf0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041114e0bf0000f	EN	\N	Aichi Expo to send message for new century	As the first Exposition of the 21st century, what message will Expo 2005 Aichi transmit to the rest of the world?	4	2004-11-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Construction of facilities at the Exposition site is proceeding as scheduled. Various interesting exhibits, including a frozen mammoth discovered in Siberian permafrost and a lunar rock collected by astronauts on the U.S. lunar module Apollo, will soon be arriving one after the other.In addition, government representatives from the more than 120 participating countries and other concerned officials are working hard on the details of their exhibitions to make them even more attractive.We hope they will do everything they can so that Expo 2005 Aichi catches international attention.It is important not to forget the significance of this event. Expos have been held every three or four years, mostly in Europe, since the first one was staged in London in 1851. Most of them were aimed at showing off the progress of civilization, science and technology.Expo '70, in Osaka Prefecture, the first held outside North America and Europe, was also organized to display Japan's economic growth and technology.Nature and developmentHowever, the theme of Expo 2005 Aichi is "Nature's Wisdom."Due to the destruction and deterioration it has wreaked on the global environment, we can no longer praise development unreservedly.But conventional development was called for in the original plan, including the exploitation of the forest at the venue and the construction of apartment blocks after the Expo is over.In the face of mounting protests, the plan was changed and destruction of the forest was avoided. Woods, ponds and other natural land features have been conserved in the development of the main venue. Exhibition facilities are constructed of standardized modules to minimize the environmental impact by reducing the amount of construction materials needed and abbreviating the construction process. In addition, the concrete used to build them will be recycled.Symposiums and events related to the environment will be held during the opening period through Sept. 25. Citizens groups dealing with environmental problems will participate in the Expo for the first time ever.Technology vitalHowever, it goes without saying that modern civilization cannot exist without scientific and technological progress. Expo 2005 Aichi will utilize a wide variety of modern technologies for energy, communications and transportation.One example is robot technology, of which Japan boasts some of the world's most advanced. Humanoid robots will be used to receive and guide visitors, and for baby-sitting and cleaning. Automatically operated buses and electric cars will also be used to transport visitors inside the Expo site and to and from the venue.Expo 2005 Aichi should be a place where people can observe ideas on how to harmonize the environment and civilization.But the problem is its low recognition among the public. The Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition has opened official shops selling Expo-related goods around the country, in addition to other public relations efforts. But some participating countries are still complaining about insufficient publicity.The association's Web site does not offer very much that is interesting or amazing. We expect the association to send a more powerful message, both domestically and internationally, by further utilizing advanced information technology.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	581	2004-11-15	YOSHIN0020041116e0bf000d1
YOMSHI0020041115e0bg0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041115e0bg0000e	EN	\N	Sanctions on N. Korea should be considered	In the third round of Japan-North Korea working-level talks on the abduction issue, North Korean delegates did nothing more than repeat past claims. According to these claims, of the 10 Japanese abductees whose fates are still unknown, eight died and two never entered the country.	4	2004-11-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korean delegates gave explanations and materials, including medical records of the Japanese abduction victims, to their Japanese counterparts in support of those claims.For example, they handed over remains that they claim are those of Megumi Yokota, but the government must conduct DNA tests on them before coming to any conclusions as Pyongyang previously sent the remains of strangers labeled as those of Japanese abductees.In fact, North Korea's explanations are full of contradictions, and according to the results of a recent poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun, more than 80 percent of voters do not believe that Pyongyang conducted a serious investigation into the fate of the Japanese abductees.The government must thoroughly study North Korea's explanations and the materials provided, and must grill Pyongyang on any questionable points.Pressure must be increasedJapan also must increase pressure on North Korea by being ready to impose economic sanctions on the country whenever it gives us unconvincing explanations.The latest round of talks was upgraded to the senior-official level and held for the first time in Pyongyang. The talks lasted more than 20 hours in total.A bureau chief of North Korea's People's Security Ministry, who was allegedly in charge of reinvestigating the fates of the 10 Japanese, also attended the talks.Japanese delegates interviewed a man said to be Yokota's husband and visited the hospital she stayed in before her reported death.North Korea demonstrated flexibility apparently to buy time and to put the brakes on any Japanese moves toward sanctions, as well as to get food aid from Tokyo as soon as possible--but this flexibility was purely superficial.The government and the ruling parties are leaning toward imposing sanctions on North Korea. The Foreign Ministry is studying a detailed scenario of that move, while the Liberal Democratic Party's task force on the abduction issue has already compiled a five-phase sanction plan.Freeze food aidMany in Japan are also strongly of the opinion that the remaining half of the 250,000 tons of humanitarian food aid to North Korea should not be sent yet, something that should go without question as long as no substantial progress is being made on the abduction issue.The U.S. Congress recently passed a bill on human rights in North Korea that prohibits any economic assistance to the country unless the fates of the abduction victims are disclosed or they are repatriated. The first special report on human rights issues in North Korea being compiled by the U.N. Human Rights Commission is likely to include the abduction issue, too.Today, the international community is very interested in issues related not only to nuclear weapons and missiles, but also to the abductions. With the reelection of U.S. President George W. Bush, the United States will put even more pressure on North Korea. Pyongyang is driving itself into a corner.North Korea seems willing to do nothing more than try to have its previous claims that eight of the Japanese abductees died and the remaining two never entered the country established as fact. There is not the slightest sign of any show of regret for the abductions, which were state crimes.The government should be even tougher in future talks on the abduction issue with Pyongyang.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2004-11-16	YOSHIN0020041117e0bg000hl
YOMSHI0020041116e0bh0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041116e0bh0000d	EN	\N	Suffrage for foreigners insufferable nonsense	We cannot help but harbor doubts about both the bill itself and the deliberations on it.	4	2004-11-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Other parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party, are said to have agreed to deliberate the bill in response to a strong request from New Komeito. This is absurd.A 1995 Supreme Court ruling clearly stated that Article 15 of the Constitution stipulates that the right to choose public officials and to dismiss them rests with "the people," that is, Japanese nationals.As stipulated in Article 93 of the Constitution, it is "the Japanese people" by whom chief executive officers of local public entities, the members of their assemblies, and such other local officials as may be determined by law shall be elected through direct popular vote within their communities.The same can be said of stipulations made in other related legislation, including the Local Government Law.The top court ruling made clear that stipulations concerning the right to vote, as provided in the Constitution and other laws, including the Local Government Law, do not go as far as to extend suffrage to foreigners.New Komeito's stance absurdNew Komeito bases the idea of granting permanent foreign residents the right to vote on a supporting argument to the main subject of the 1995 court ruling.The supporting argument says granting permanent foreign residents suffrage is not prohibited under the Constitution and is an issue that concerns the legislative policy of the state. The argument runs counter to the main subject.Calls for granting the franchise to permanent foreign residents on the basis of a nonlegally binding supportive argument ignores legal principles.Takenori Kanzaki, the leader of New Komeito, said the LDP, Jiyuto (Liberal Party) and New Komeito agreed in October 1999 that they would submit the bill to the Diet through a proposal by legislators, and see it passed into law.The LDP did not join New Komeito in submitting the bill to the Diet this time, due to strong opposition to the bill within the party, saying it constituted a violation of the Constitution. Nonetheless, the LDP approved the deliberation of the bill, in consideration of the desires of its coalition partner.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), within which there is as much opposition as support for the bill, also agreed to its deliberation.Yet it is absurd to approve in the first place the deliberation of a bill that is unconstitutional.National security at riskSaying that he would strenuously seek the deliberation and the passage into law of the bill, Kanzaki asserts that the LDP should allow its members to vote freely on it.Kanzaki's call may have something to do with the party's new-found confidence in having gained more influence on LDP Diet members through the cooperation New Komeito extended to them during the elections.The first thing to be considered is that granting permanent foreign residents the right to vote in local elections would have a serious bearing on the fundamentals of the state.The bill submitted by New Komeito also would grant the right to seek the enactment, revision and repeal of ordinances, and the right to call for the dismissal of heads of local governments and members of local boards of education.Should permanent foreign residents who are nationals of countries hostile to Japan wield their influence--through a right to vote--on the enactment, revision and repeal of an ordinance that stipulated cooperative relations between the central and local governments at the time of national contingencies, the nation's security could be undermined.The use of a right to seek the dismissal of board of education members might also affect the way local education is organized and managed.It is only reasonable for legislators to voluntarily withdraw bills that might distort the foundations of the state.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2004-11-17	YOSHIN0020041118e0bh000hk
YOMSHI0020041117e0bi0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041117e0bi0000e	EN	\N	LDP draft a good basis for top law reform talks	A panel within the Research Commission on the Constitution of the Liberal Democratic Party has begun compiling a draft for constitutional revision, making the LDP the first political party to have done so. LDP sources say the party will decide on the proposal for constitutional revision at its convention, scheduled to be held on Nov. 15 next year, to mark the 50th anniversary of its founding.	4	2004-11-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) advocates "creating a constitution that fits the new age," while New Komeito asserts "incorporating new ideas," including environmental and other fundamental rights, into the supreme law.Minshuto and New Komeito should waste no time in expediting discussions on constitutional revision.In doing so, parties should reinvigorate, accelerate and create a grand trend in discussions toward the enactment of a new constitution that will embody new visions of what the state and society of Japan should be like in the 21st century.The Yomiuri Shimbun has made proposals for constitutional revision on three occasions since 1994. The draft of the outline for constitutional revision presented at the first meeting of the LDP's panel has much in common with the proposals advanced by this newspaper.The panel's draft calls for maintaining and advancing the basic principles in the new constitution, as stipulated under the current Constitution: the sovereignty of the people; respect for fundamental human rights; and pacifism.New times need new lawsBesides these ideas, the draft presents fundamental concepts outlining a new vision for the state that will serve as guiding principles for Japan against the backdrop of the dramatic changes that have taken place both at home and abroad since the enactment of the current Constitution.As for Article 9 of the current Constitution--a focal point of constitutional revision, the draft upholds the idea of "renouncing war" as a sovereign right of the nation stipulated in Section 1 of the article, while calling for the establishment of a military force for self-defense.The draft also specifies that a military shall be required to contribute to the maintenance and creation of international peace, which may involve the use of arms, while giving the nation the right to exercise collective defense.The stipulation of these ideas in the new constitution is only reasonable when we take into account changes in the international situation and the security environment that could not have been foreseen at the time the current Constitution was enacted.Concerning fundamental human rights, the draft specifies "new human rights," such as the right to the protection of one's honor, privacy and image, the right of access to information, and the right of crime victims to be protected.The draft also calls for people to observe social norms, to respect human life, the nation's history, culture and tradition, to protect the family unit, to assume responsibility for preserving the environment, and consideration of bioethics.All these are issues that merit sufficient discussion so that the nation can deal with the diverse problems that have accompanied the rapid changes in postwar society.The public may have many doubts and questions about the LDP's draft. But the draft can be used as a basis for prompting a broad range of discussions on constitutional revision among political parties and various groups, not just those within the LDP.Set up standing committeeIn May, the research commissions on the Constitution of both Diet houses will publish their final reports on constitutional amendment.Following the LDP's lead, Minshuto will announce its own ideas for constitutional revision in 2006, which marks the 60th anniversary of the Constitution's promulgation.Now is the time for constitutional revision to be placed at the top of the political agenda. But there are important issues that need to be resolved.While Article 96 of the current Constitution stipulates procedures to be followed in amending the nation's basic law, no provision is made for a referendum, which is vital for amendments to be made. A suprapartisan group of legislators of both Diet houses, including those from the LDP and Minshuto, has already compiled a relevant bill. We suggest that the bill be brought before the next ordinary Diet session for passage.It is worth considering transforming the research commissions on the Constitution into a standing committee on constitutional revision, at which the revision bill would be discussed, after they finish their work.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	776	2004-11-18	YOSHIN0020041119e0bi000gt
YOMSHI0020041118e0bj0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041118e0bj0000d	EN	\N	Transparency key word in political donations	Both the ruling and opposition parties have submitted their respective bills to the Diet to revise the Political Funds Control Law. The move follows various recent money scandals involving politicians and political parties, including one that rocked the Liberal Democratic Party faction previously led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, which received a 100 million yen donation from the Japan Dentists Federation (Nisshiren). The bills are aimed at imposing controls on the amount of donations that one political organization may make to another and increasing the transparency of the flow of such money.	4	2004-11-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The bill devised by the LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, would set a limit of 50 million yen on political donations given by one political organization to another annually. This is in contrast to a similar provision stipulated in the current Political Funds Control Law, which imposes no upper limit on such donations.The ruling coalition's bill deserves some credit for trying to impose controls on donations given by political organizations to one other. For years, such political donations effectively have been regarded as a sacred cow.But it is questionable whether the bill will be able to help rectify the situation. One political organization could give money to another in excess of 50 million yen annually if it divided itself into different bodies. Similarly, a political organization could receive more than 50 million yen in donations from another if it split itself into several groups. There is no denying that this could provide political organizations with a loophole in the envisaged law.Minshuto's bill the better oneThe ruling coalition's bill incorporates no upper limit on donations to political parties and political fund-raising organizations. For example, the bill would impose no restrictions on donations to the National Political Association, a political fund-raiser operated by the LDP.It is suspected that donations received by the association from Nisshiren, a political arm of the Japan Dental Association, may have been given to individual lawmakers in what could be termed bypassed donations.A bill put together by Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), incorporates a ban on bypassed donations and penalties against offenders. The ruling coalition's bill includes no such provision. The ruling parties defend their attitude in this respect, saying it is difficult to define what bypassed donations mean and to prove a donation received by a political party has been given to individual legislators later.We feel, however, that the provision stipulated in Minshuto's bill may discourage political organizations from extending donations to political parties and political fund-raising organizations in the hope of seeing the money diverted to individual Diet members. The Diet should fully debate Minshuto's proposal.Another pillar of the ruling coalition's bill is a ban on political organizations giving cash donations to such political fund-raisers as the National Political Association. Instead, the bill would require a political organization to transfer money to a bank account held by a recipient if it wanted to make a donation. The proposal is part of an effort to increase the transparency of political donations through keeping records of the flow of funds between donors and recipients.But the bill would exempt from this regulation such bodies as political organs run by factions and fund-management organizations operated by individual lawmakers. The LDP opposes the regulation, saying that such a restriction would make it difficult to collect donations from individuals and small donations from corporations. The ruling coalition's attitude on this matter can be dismissed as irresolute.Do it right this timeIt has been 10 years since a set of political reform bills has been enacted. During the past decade, the Diet has sought to ensure that the primary recipients of political donations are political parties--not factions or individual politicians--with the aim of raising the transparency of the process involved.But efforts to tighten regulations on political donations have been followed by a scramble to find a loophole in the law. This can be seen in what ensued after the Political Funds Control Law was revised several years ago to ban corporations, labor unions and other organizations from making donations to individual lawmakers. The change in the law has seen a sharp increase in the number of local chapters representing each political party. Nearly all such local chapters are led by legislators in their areas, while their members comprise these politicians' support associations.Political parties should not repeat the same folly as they seek to revise the law this time. Minshuto's bill would require all donations exceeding 1 million yen to be transferred to bank accounts, while also obligating recipients to have the donations they received externally audited. With this in mind, the ruling parties may be advised to consider incorporating similar provisions into their bill.To restore public trust in politics, all political parties and Diet members should work to further increase the transparency of donations they receive.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	873	2004-11-19	YOSHIN0020041122e0bj000g7
YOMSHI0020041119e0bk0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041119e0bk0000g	EN	\N	Changing winds could signal stormy seas	Such a description is borne out by the midterm results for fiscal 2004 of companies listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.	4	2004-11-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a report compiled by Shinko Research Institute on 813 listed nonfinancial companies in the section as of Thursday, those companies recorded a combined 6 percent increase in sales and 33 percent in recurring profits compared with the same period last year, while posting record high sales and recurring profits.Those listed companies literally achieved a V-shaped recovery after recording a combined net loss in fiscal 2001.However, the economies in the U.S. and China that have aided the Japanese companies' recovery have now started to show signs of change.Rapidly increasing prices of primary commodities, such as crude oil and coal, have until recently had a positive influence on corporate performance with the yen's appreciation against the dollar. But they now could have a negative impact on corporate results. Companies should not settle for good results for the first half of fiscal 2004, and management must not slacken their efforts.At the same time, corporate leaders should not only focus on belt-tightening, but also should proactively deal with replacing aging plants and equipment, and ensuring the technological know-how and skills of experienced workers are passed on to the next generation of employees.Raw materials prices upWhat is noteworthy in the midterm results is the 6 percent increase in sales resulting from an increase in product prices and sales volumes.The majority of the listed companies have developed healthy management structures and cultures due to intensive restructuring measures. This has combined with increased revenues to push up profits.Industries at the upper end of the production stream have higher increases in recurring profits. Materials industries, including steel and chemical producers, recorded an increase of 79 percent, while processing industries, including auto and electrical equipment makers, posted improvements of 30 percent. Nonmanufacturing industries posted a 23 percent increase in recurring profits.This indicates that increased prices for primary commodities could be passed along as higher product prices in upper stream industries, but industries further down the production stream were reluctant to boost prices due to competition from inexpensive imported products.This situation can be seen in the steel and shipbuilding industries.Costs flow downstreamAmong the nation's five leading steel companies, four were able to post record high after-tax profits because they successfully balanced increased material prices with increases in their product prices and increases in sales volumes.However, among the six leading shipbuilding and machinery companies, three of them recorded after-tax losses because they failed to absorb increases in the value of the yen against the dollar and rising prices of steel products.The second half of the fiscal year that ends March 31 will be a tug-of-war decided by whether the effects of increasing material prices flow to downstream industries or whether low final product prices have an impact on upper stream industries.There is no end to corporate restructuring. Companies should painstakingly carry out "selection and concentration" of their operations to focus their management resources into business fields that have future potential.Manufacturing industries, especially materials industries, will face tough decisions on plant and equipment investment.The future of those companies will be greatly effected by decisions on when, which and where to renew their plants and equipment.As the first baby boomers are now reaching retirement age, it is an urgent task to train younger human resources. Those companies that will survive will be the ones able to pass on skills and know-how to younger generations and expand such knowledge and ability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2004-11-20	YOSHIN0020041122e0bk001a2
YOMSHI0020041120e0bl0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041120e0bl0000b	EN	\N	Weak dollar could spark global recession	The dollar's exchange rate against the Japanese yen has been about 110 yen to the dollar since early summer. However, selling of the dollar has been accelerating since late October and its value temporarily dropped to the 102 yen level for the first time in four years and eight months this weekend in New York. The euro also recorded its highest value against the dollar since its introduction in January 1999.	4	2004-11-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The South Korean won and currencies in other East Asian countries also recorded their highest values against the dollar.The increasing trade and fiscal deficits of the United States are a factor behind the dollar sell-off.The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush has not presented any concrete measures to reduce the twin deficits. After the U.S. presidential election, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow and other administration officials repeated remarks about allowing a weak dollar, consequently accelerating the speculative selling.A moderate depreciation of the dollar might be necessary to some extent to reduce the twin deficits. However, the weakening of the dollar and appreciation of other currencies spurred by speculative selling is not favorable for the global economy.Recovery flaggingIn Japan, the economy is beginning to lose momentum as exports and capital investments, the driving force behind the recovery, are slowing.There are also concerns that soaring crude oil prices, high unemployment rates and shrinking domestic demand might adversely influence the economies of Germany, France and other eurozone countries.An international economic recession could begin if the dollar keeps free-falling under such conditions.This weekend's sharp depreciation of the dollar was triggered directly by a warning from U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan that the large U.S. current account deficit might result in a marked decline of its international investment position. The dollar selling triggered sales of shares and securities, resulting in the triple fall.If the dollar's sharp depreciation sparks repeated drops in prices of shares and securities, the performance of the corporate sector in the United States and eventually the U.S. economy itself will be adversely affected.Cooperate on countermovesFinance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said he would take decisive action if some sharp move is spotted in the currency market, hinting that dollar-buying intervention, which has been stopped since spring, might be resumed.Finance ministers of 12 nations in the eurozone have also expressed their intention to stop the dollar's slide. Cooperation between Japan and European countries will increase the effect of efforts to suppress speculative moves.Though Washington's intervention cannot be expected for the time being, U.S. officials should at least refrain from making any remarks speculators may consider bearish. To reduce the twin deficits, they should keep trying to control excessive borrowing and overconsumption by raising interest rates steadily.Japan and European countries also should keep trying to adjust trade imbalances with the United States.It is also important for the international community to urge China to revaluate the yuan and introduce more flexibility to its dollar-pegged currency system under which the yuan is excessively undervalued.Today, China has grown to become the world's seventh largest economy. It should join the floating exchange rate system of Japan, the United States and European countries to realize a fair evaluation of the yuan. Such a move would lead to increased overall stability in the world's currency markets.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2004-11-21	YOSHIN0020041122e0bl001zf
YOMSHI0020041121e0bm0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041121e0bm0000d	EN	\N	Japan-U.S. security talks are of global importance	They discussed strategic issues between the two countries during their first meeting since Bush won a second four-year term in the Nov. 2 U.S. presidential election.	4	2004-11-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The issues that the two leaders think should be tackled, based on the strong Japan-U.S. alliance, include problems with Iraq, the reorganization of U.S. forces in Japan as part of an overall U.S. military realignment and the six-nation talks aimed against North Korea's nuclear ambitions.All of these are urgent and significant issues that affect the peace and security of Japan and the international community.As for Iraq, Koizumi said Japan would continue to support the reconstruction of the country. He apparently meant that the deployment of Self-Defense Forces personnel in Samawah, southern Iraq, would be extended beyond the Dec. 14 deadline.Some in Japan are cautious about extending the period of the SDF dispatch to Iraq, but not doing so would not help Japan fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the international community.Iraq at crucial stageThe process of democratizing Iraq has entered a crucial phase, with the national assembly election scheduled for January. Although restoration of law and order in the country should be left to U.S. forces and the Iraqi interim government, an enhancement of international cooperation is essential to advance the democratization process, including the elections, and to continue reconstruction of the war-torn country.With all possible measures taken to ensure their safety, the deployment of SDF troops in Iraq must be extended.Some people are concerned that the United States will act even more unilaterally. There is still a rift over the Iraq war between the United States and some European countries, such as France and Germany.However, if the reconstruction of Iraq fails due to international disunity, the whole international community will be exposed to a serious danger.U.S. must seek intl supportKoizumi asked Bush to enhance international cooperation on the reconstruction of Iraq, apparently with such concerns in mind. Japan should ask the United States to cooperate, of course, but it also must increase its own diplomatic efforts to boost international assistance for the country.Regarding the envisioned realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, Koizumi reconfirmed with Bush that the United States would maintain the level of deterrence, while reducing the burdens on Okinawa and other prefectures that host U.S. bases in Japan.These burdens must of course be alleviated. But it is even more important to establish our own security strategy in accordance with the global strategy of the United States.In East Asia, there are some destabilizing factors that could affect the security of Japan and other countries in the region, including the volatile situation on the Korean Peninsula and China's military expansion.Japan must not only deal with these regional problems, but also play a larger role in creating and keeping peace and stability in the world.Japan cannot deal with any of those issues without its alliance with the United States. As Koizumi said, the Japan-U.S. alliance should be considered in the global context.It will become even more important in the future to continue a close dialogue between Japan and the United States based on the security alliance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2004-11-22	YOSHIN0020041123e0bm000cm
YOMSHI0020041122e0bn0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041122e0bn0000f	EN	\N	China shouldn't meddle in Japan's internal affairs	During the summit talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday in Santiago, Hu strongly criticized Koizumi's repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine and asked him to stop going there.	4	2004-11-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When, where and how the leader of a state chooses to honor the memory of that state's war dead is the business of that country, based on its own traditions and customs. It may arise as a source of contention among citizens of this nation, but foreign countries do not have the right to comment.At the talks, Hu cited the visits by the Japanese leader to the Tokyo shrine as an obstacle to political exchange between the two countries.Koizumi answered that his visits were intended to express sympathy for Japan's war dead and to renew his pledge to never go to war again. He emphasized that he had no intention of ending his visits to the shrine. This is a reasonable stance for a nation's leader to take.Hu also said Japan needed to move into the future while reflecting on its past. Again referring to Yasukuni Shrine, Hu said next year would be especially sensitive as China will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its victory over fascism. Hu's remarks were apparently made to call attention to the fact that the shrine honors Class-A war criminals together with Japanese war dead.China has no right to lectureBut few other countries have so dramatically changed their perceptions of history or their evaluations of historical figures than modern China under the dictatorial rule of the Chinese Communist Party. Given the changing descriptions of the country's successive dynasties in ancient times or its Cultural Revolution in modern days, we wonder whether such a country has any right to tell another country to reflect on its past.Reciprocal visits by the leaders of both Japan and China ended after Koizumi's visit to China in October 2001 as China has refused to continue them because of his visits to Yasukuni Shrine.But even after 1979, when it was revealed that Yasukuni had enshrined Class-A war criminals along with the war dead, China did not protest the visits to the shrine by then prime ministers Masayoshi Ohira and Zenko Suzuki. Interchanges between the leaders of both countries continued unchanged back then.Mere political opportunismThis can only be political opportunism--China is trying to use Koizumi's visits to the shrine as a diplomatic bargaining chip.During the talks, Koizumi called on China to prevent the recurrence of an incursion into Japanese territorial waters by a Chinese nuclear submarine and to refrain from exploring natural gas fields in the East China Sea.Hu responded to Koizumi's remarks only in the vaguest terms, saying the two countries should try to solve pending problems from a wider viewpoint. But we cannot overlook this if the remarks on "solving from a wider viewpoint" mean we are not to regard the issue as problematic.There have been other similar incidents, including an illegal landing by Chinese on the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture and illegal maritime surveys in Japan's territorial waters.Japan, as a sovereign state, has every right to respond resolutely to issues involving the violation of our sovereignty or threats to national security.Hu did say he would make putting the bilateral relationship between China and Japan back on a normal footing a priority, in hopes that the two countries can coexist peacefully and cooperate in a friendly manner. Koizumi shares the same view.When we take into consideration the roles and responsibilities assumed by the two countries in the areas of economy and security, not only in the Asia-Pacific region but also in the rest of the world, the present situation, in which the leaders of both countries have only a limited exchange, is bad for both.For this reason, China should stop meddling in internal Japanese affairs and instead work on making a breakthrough in the current political standstill.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2004-11-23	YOSHIN0020041124e0bn000eq
YOMSHI0020041123e0bo0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041123e0bo0000g	EN	\N	Wisdom needed to solve territorial dispute	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks after the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit to confirm that Putin would make a state visit to Japan early next year.	4	2004-11-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-Russia treaty of commerce and amity in 1855.As the two leaders have agreed upon the visit, both countries should make the year 2005 a special one to give impetus to the development of Japan-Russia relations.In Asia and the Pacific region, China is achieving rapid economic growth, while it is becoming a major military power by continuing its military buildup.There is also antagonism between China and Taiwan, which is a cause of real dispute in the region. Meanwhile, on the Korean Peninsula, the threat of North Korea is escalating due to its nuclear development ambitions.Russia borders both China and North Korea. It is a member of the Group of Eight major nations, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a member of the six-way talks aimed at pressing North Korea to abandon its nuclear development ambitions.Boosting ties with Russia are important for Japan's national security and for regional security.In addition, when we take into account the rich natural resources, including natural gas, in Siberia and the far east of Russia, Japan needs to strengthen its ties with Russia as part of the nation's strategy on natural resources.Mending fences benefits bothFor Russia, the emergence of China is a threat, and the development of Russia's natural resources, through the cooperation and support of Japan, would greatly contribute to the development of Russia.Yet in a region where countries, including Japan, the United States, China and Russia, compete with one another, relations between Japan and Russia lag those between Japan and the United States or between Japan and China.Koizumi told Putin that when taking the strategic environment into account, dramatic progress in bilateral relations would serve the strategic benefits of both Japan and Russia. Koizumi's remarks may have been made on the basis of such recognition.Northern territories key pointTo that end, however, there remains a long-pending bilateral issue that cannot be sidestepped. That is to settle the decades-long territorial dispute over Russian-held islands off Hokkaido and conclude a peace treaty.There have been a succession of renewed calls from Russia seeking to resolve the dispute through the return of two of the four islands to Japan.It may be gathered from such calls that Russia is attempting to settle the dispute by returning only two of the four islands, namely Shikotan and the Habomai group of islets, on the basis of the 1956 Japan-Soviet joint declaration.Such calls were made by Putin himself, followed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his meeting with Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, held last week on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Santiago.Yet in the 1993 Tokyo declaration, both countries confirmed that the territorial dispute concerned the return of all four islands, including Kunashiri and Etorofu.Tokyo has made clear its stance that provided Japan's sovereignty over the four islands is acknowledged, it would be flexible as to the manner of return.Early next year, foreign ministers of both countries will make reciprocal visits in preparations for Putin's planned visit to Japan.One of the items they will focus on is the territorial dispute.Now is time for both countries to show wisdom in resolving the issue by taking account of the major changes of the times, so that both countries can see progress in overall relations between them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2004-11-24	YOSHIN0020041125e0bo000cv
YOMSHI0020041124e0bp0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041124e0bp0000j	EN	\N	Writing off bad loans just one task for banks	According to the September midterm settlement of accounts, all financial groups but UFJ Holdings, Inc., have achieved the government-set goal of reducing the ratio of their outstanding nonperforming loans to their total lending by half.	4	2004-11-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. and another major financial group--neither of which has yet released reports on its interim settlement of accounts--are expected to achieve the bad-loan reduction target.Earlier, the government said it would try to ensure that the ratio of bad debts held by major commercial banks as a proportion of their total amount of loans would be halved during a three-year period that extended from the settlement term ending in March 2002 and the term closing in March 2005. This means that the major financial and banking groups--except for UFJ Holdings--will have achieved the bad-loan reduction goals six months earlier than initially planned.These groups' success in this respect is attributable to a tailwind supplied by a recent improvement in the economy. The economic recovery has helped reduce the number of corporate borrowers going bankrupt, while also increasing the number of companies whose business performance has improved. All this has contributed to a significant reduction in outstanding nonperforming loans.Bad-loan ratio still too highNonetheless, the major banks cannot afford to rest on their laurels after accomplishing the bad-debt reduction goal. For instance, the ratio of UFJ's outstanding nonperforming loans to its total lending is a far cry from the government-set target. The figure for Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group exceeds 4 percent.These financial groups must reduce their ratios by further increasing efforts to write off their bad loans if they want to survive in the global financial world. It is taken for granted in international financial circles that major banks must keep their ratios in this respect well below 3 percent.The reduction in the nonperforming loans held by domestic major banks does not mean that these institutions have fully mended their financial foundations. The government injected a massive 8 trillion yen in taxpayers' money into these banks, which they have yet to repay.Banks that have received public funds are required to take instructions from the government about their lending and other business operations. This is an extraordinary state of affairs for them as commercial banks.The task to be tackled by the banks is to repay their debts owed in the form of taxpayers' money injected by the government as soon as possible, meaning they will not have to receive government instructions about their operations.Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group and Sumitomo Trust and Banking Co. have already paid their debts back. Meanwhile, other major banks in debt to the government remain unsure about when they will be able to repay what they owe, largely because of their pressing need to dispose of their nonperforming loans.Use public funds judiciouslyFirst and foremost, banks must shore up their revenue basis so they can repay all their debts. Efforts to achieve this goal require the banks to tap individual customers and small and midsize corporations for new revenue sources. Another important task facing them is to curtail their operating costs, by consolidating branches, for example.The major banks' success in writing off a good portion of their nonperforming loans is in stark contrast to a less-than-satisfactory state of affairs surrounding regional financial institutions. Many of these entities are still beset by the high ratio of their bad debts to their total loans. Their business foundations are no less weak.The last Diet session passed a law aimed at injecting public funds into weakening regional financial institutions before their financial problems seriously degrade. By using the injection of public funds as a powerful means of aiding troubled regional and other financial institutions, the government must work to restore health in this country's financial system as a whole.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2004-11-25	YOSHIN0020041126e0bp000gi
YOMSHI0020041125e0bq0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041125e0bq0000g	EN	\N	Put public interest first: Keep tax cuts in place	On Thursday, the government's Tax Commission presented Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi with a set of tax reform proposals for fiscal 2005. The main feature of the package put together by the advisory body to the prime minister calls for abolishing income and residence fixed-rate tax deductions in two phases, starting in January 2006. The tax breaks in question were introduced to boost the economy in 1999.	4	2004-11-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel has said that "the economic situation has improved remarkably." This conclusion is the basis for the panel's proposals.Listed corporations in the nation posted record profits during the interim account settlement ending in September. It should be noted, however, that the exceedingly high profits that domestic companies earned are largely attributable to their increased exports and their successful efforts to trim their payrolls.Also, small and midsize businesses are lagging behind the listed corporations in their attempt to improve their business performance. There is little room for cuts in the number of employees at such enterprises.Economy still on shaky groundAccording to some economists, the recent improvement in the economy has already passed its peak. During the July-September period, the nation's gross domestic product rose by a meager 0.3 percent from a year earlier, marking a slowdown in the growth rate.There also are concerns that a rapidly appreciating yen and a depreciating U.S. dollar in recent weeks could hurt the profitability of major exporters during the rest of the year and early next year. The unabated rise in crude oil prices is another matter of concern.We feel that the Tax Commission is too optimistic about the nation's economic prospects.In 1997, the economy took a rapid turn for the worse, preceded by a slight business recovery. The change came when the government increased the consumption tax rate and scrapped a special tax cut while also raising the ratio of medical expenses covered by individual patients. All this dealt the economy a serious blow in the form of a new 9 trillion yen burden imposed on the public.Today, there are similar increases in financial burdens to be shouldered by the people. In October, subscribers to the state-run corporate employees pension plan took an increase in the ratio of premiums they pay under the system. In April, those covered by the national pension scheme are scheduled to bear a similar new burden. Some lawmakers seem keen to try to increase premiums to be paid under the nursing care insurance system.If the rates set for the income and residence tax deductions in question were reduced by half, every taxpayer would have to shoulder a new tax burden of up to 145,000 yen annually, translating into a tax increase of 1.7 trillion yen for the public as a whole. We find it questionable whether the still-shaky economy could weather the negative impact caused by a new financial burden on the public.Ministry seeks to protect turfThe Finance Ministry, meanwhile, has reason to seek an end to the fixed-rate tax deductions. A planned transfer of 3 trillion yen in tax revenues from the central government to local governments--a central pillar of the so-called triple reform of local government finances--will entail two schemes. Income tax--a national tax--will be reduced, while the residence tax--a local tax--will be raised.The ministry's attitude on the issue reflects its desire to offset the revenue reduction resulting from the planned income tax decrease by scrapping the fixed-rate tax deductions at an early date.A final decision on how to deal with the fixed-rate tax deductions will be made after the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and the ruling parties hold discussions on tax reforms. The ruling camp should decide to retain the tax deductions. They should consider what would better serve the public--not just cater to the interests of the Finance Ministry.The current income and residence taxes have many defects. For example, they incorporate too many deductions, contributing to an erosion in the tax base. There is also inequality in tax burdens between self-employed people and corporate employees. This is because it is difficult to determine the full amount of income earned by individual self-employed people under the current tax system.Instead of recommending an end to the fixed-rate tax deductions, the Tax Commission should have debated how to resolve these problems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	792	2004-11-26	YOSHIN0020041129e0bq000ie
YOMSHI0020041126e0br0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041126e0br0000l	EN	\N	Don't play politics with fiscal reform	The government and the ruling parties on Friday approved a general framework for the triple reform of central and local government finances, but gave the impression they were preoccupied with a political numbers game.	4	2004-11-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	They accepted the outline of a plan proposed by representatives of local governments, which called for cutting 3.2 trillion yen in central government subsidies, and agreed to slash a total of 2.8 trillion yen in fiscal 2005 and 2006. As for the transfer of some of the state's rights to collect taxes, the government and ruling parties decided to let local governments collect taxes normally collected by the central government totaling 3 trillion yen to make up the proposed subsidy reduction. Details were decided for about 80 percent of such taxes, but measures for the remaining 20 percent were left to be negotiated later.Reflecting Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's intention to assign maximum value to the plan put forth by the local government heads, the government and the ruling parties focused their discussions on how to realize reductions of 3 trillion yen. They did not give much consideration to which subsidies should be cut, though it was supposed to be the most important part of the plan.Most symbolic was their treatment of a two-year reduction of state subsidies to local governments for provision of compulsory education.Cuts hit educationThe local governments, which called for a reduction of 850 billion yen in central government subsidies used to pay salaries and retirement allowances of teachers at public primary and middle schools, stood squarely against the Education, Science and Technology Ministry's opposition to the reduction.Consequently, a cut of 850 billion yen in total was agreed and, as a provisional step, the central government will cut half the subsidies in fiscal 2005.The central government and the ruling parties said they would leave the details of the reduction to discussions at the Central Education Council, a government advisory body, but stressed the total amount of the reduction would not be changed.In negotiating this reduction, the parties concerned do not seem to have discussed what compulsory education should entail.We must seriously question whether subsidies should be cut so easily for compulsory education, a significant matter for the long-term future of the nation.Discussions at the Central Education Council should start not with reduction, but with basic issues such as the ideals of compulsory education, its contents and division of roles between central and local governments in compulsory education.It is reasonable to decide whether to slash the subsidies and if they are to be cut, how to do so based on those discussions.Concern over reductionsMany municipalities favored continuing state subsidies for private high schools, something initially included in the list of cuts proposed by the local governments, proving residents are concerned about the drastic reduction of state subsidies deemed essential for their communities.It was a matter of course that these subsidies were removed from the list of reductions this time.In many cases, the amount of subsidies to be cut will be supplemented with loosely tied grants or reduction of the subsidy rate. Some local governments voiced their dissatisfaction over such measures, but quite a few subsidies will be incorporated into their general revenue stream. Transfer of subsidies to grants will give more discretionary fiscal power to local governments. The cuts are not necessarily bad for the local governments.The other pillar of the triple reform program is a review of the system of granting some central government tax revenues to local governments. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry and the Finance Ministry have been confronting each other over this review.The Finance Ministry has been questioning whether some municipalities are wasting tax grants. Wasting precious public money should not be overlooked. Such waste must be investigated in the process of drafting the next fiscal year's budgets to drastically streamline the tax grants.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	683	2004-11-27	YOSHIN0020041129e0br001e2
YOMSHI0020041127e0bs0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041127e0bs0000d	EN	\N	Regional banks should ask for public funds	In November, Kanto Tsukuba Bank and Ibaraki Bank, two regional banks based in Ibaraki Prefecture, agreed to merge into a single bank by January 2006.	4	2004-11-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Kiyo Bank and Wakayama Bank, regional banks in Wakayama Prefecture, have also started negotiations on integration of their businesses, including a possible merger.In April next year, the government's blanket protection on bank deposits will end. After that, if a bank fails, deposits will be guaranteed only up to 10 million yen plus interest. Merger and integration talks apparently are being pursued in preparation for the reduction in government guarantees.With the abolition of unlimited guarantees, depositors are sure to become more cautious in selecting their banks. Regional banks are trying to enhance their business foundations with mergers to survive fierce competition with their rivals.The aforementioned pairs of banks are discussing possible applications for injections of public funds.Major banks healthyAccording to the September midterm settlement of accounts, all the major financial groups except UFJ Holdings, Inc. have achieved the government-set goal of reducing the ratio of their outstanding nonperforming loans to their total lending by half six months ahead of schedule.While the major banks are reaching the final stages of their efforts to write off their bad loans, regional financial institutions have delayed in disposing of them, and quite a few have weak business foundations.We urge those regional banks that are concerned with their businesses in the future to seek access to public funds voluntarily to quickly solidify their finances.Public money can be injected into regional banks to help strengthen them under a new financial function enhancement law that took effect in August.In the past, injection of public funds was limited to cases that could trigger a financial crisis--essentially major banks--under the Deposit Insurance Law.Under the new law, preventive injection of public money has become possible in the cases of banks that look sound superficially, but are actually languishing and unable to recover by themselves. Banks can also apply for an injection as a means of strengthening their business foundation through a merger.Regional recovery slowBenefits of the recent economic recovery have not yet reached regional economies. As a result, many banks cannot get support from regional companies even if the banks plan to increase their capital. An injection of public money under the new law provides a powerful means for regional financial institutions to beef up their capital.Nonetheless, some officials of regional banks are reluctant to apply for an injection of public funds as they do not want the central government to interfere in their business.However, the new law is to expire at the end of March 2008. This will be the final opportunity for them to use public money to make their finances sound.Japan's financial system, which was badly damaged with the collapse of the so-called bubble economy and deflation, is now beginning to recover from its wounds. Whether all the financial institutions in this country, including small ones, can regain sound financial footing is dependent on the determination of regional bank operators.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	543	2004-11-28	YOSHIN0020041129e0bs0022g
YOMSHI0020041128e0bt0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041128e0bt0000e	EN	\N	No need to increase law student quota	Some teachers at these law schools have called on the government to increase the number of students to be allowed to pass, saying, "Should things stand as they are, the whole new law school system could collapse."	4	2004-11-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But we disagree with this demand. Calls to raise the quota of those who pass the bar exam just for the sake of raising the ratio would be the opposite of what the new justice system is intended to do.The latest controversy was triggered by the announcement of the provisional guidelines made by the Justice Ministry last month.A total of 5,767 students were enrolled at 68 law schools that all opened at the same time this spring. Of these students, those who had already received a bachelor's degree in law and are enrolled in the two-year law school course will sit for the new national bar examination, to be held for the first time in fiscal 2006.According to the government's calculations, since the total of students who will have completed their studies at the new law schools is about 2,300, if the quota of those allowed to pass the test is set at 800, the ratio would be about 34 percent.In fiscal 2007, the students who are currently enrolled in the three-year law school course because they had no bachelor's degree in law, and those who failed the new bar examination the previous year would sit for the new examination together, dropping the ratio to about 20 percent.Quotas just a goalLaw schools officials have reacted to these calculations with deep distrust, saying the quota is too low.The government's Justice System Reform Council, which worked out a scheme for establishing law schools 3-1/2 years ago, originally called on law school administrators to provide a legal education substantial enough that about "70 to 80 percent" of students would pass the new bar exam.But those figures were just a goal when viewed from an educational angle, and were not meant to be the basis for setting the quota. Students who enrolled in law schools should have been aware of this.Law school is just one of the steps in the nation's legal training system, and is not designed to guarantee that all enrollees will be able to enter the legal profession.Quality also importantWhether they pass or fail the new bar examination will depend greatly on the methods of education and the guidance of teachers at the law schools, not to mention the students' own efforts and skills. The most important thing is for the schools to offer a quality education.Some of the teachers at the law schools have said that if the percentage of those passing the test is too low, law schools could end up merely "teaching to the test."They have also said that working adults or those who have obtained bachelor's degrees in fields other than law may give up attempting to enter the legal profession altogether.But these will not become issues as long as the quota for those allowed to pass the new bar exam continues to rise. The principle of justice system reform lies in improving the legal profession both in quantity and quality, in response to a growing need from society.In accordance with this, the council's reform has set the objective of raising the number of those allowed to pass the new bar examinations to 3,000 a year by 2010.In the alarm voiced by the teachers at the new law schools, we can detect the fear that if none of their students pass the bar exams, students will stop enrolling in their schools.Six new law schools, including those at Tsukuba and Shinshu universities, will open next spring, bringing the overall number of those enrolled in law schools to nearly 6,000.Once the new bar exam begins, the schools will be rated. As the balance between the appropriate number of law schools and law students settles, it is inevitable that some of the law schools will eventually be screened out.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	736	2004-11-29	YOSHIN0020041130e0bt000dh
YOMSHI0020041129e0bu0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041129e0bu0000i	EN	\N	Unified stance essential in North Korea dispute	While all three have officially agreed on the need to cooperate with each other on the issue, the differences in stance among them are very obvious.	4	2004-11-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the three countries must not let these differences send North Korea the wrong message.Japan, for its part, must do its best to build a cooperative framework among the three countries to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea held trilateral summit talks Monday in Vientiane on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit meeting, and agreed to cooperate on the early resumption of the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear development program.When it came to details, however, the talks were lacking. Everyone agrees as to the vital importance of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula in the interest of regional peace and stability, and on the need to solve the North Korean nuclear issue through the forum of the six-way talks. The problem lies in specific approaches to solving these problems.Compared with the three leaders' summit talks, during which they spoke only in principle, the meeting of the three countries' foreign ministers held prior to the leaders' talks was much more productive.U.S., DPRK must be flexibleChinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said both the United States and North Korea must be prepared to make more flexible responses toward the resumption of the six-way talks.South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon said other countries should avoid making provocative remarks or actions toward North Korea, and work instead to create an environment that would induce North Korea back to the negotiating table.These statements were likely aimed at remarks made by U.S. President George W. Bush following his reelection earlier this month. Bush said North Korea must immediately and completely abandon its nuclear development program.Both China and South Korea have urged Washington to make concessions, ranking its behavior as intransigent as that of North Korea.South Korea even called for a study into the possibility of holding an unofficial meeting that would be attended by fewer members, as part of "creating an environment to induce North Korea back to a negotiating forum."But this idea is tantamount to lending a helping hand to North Korea, which is waiting to see how the United States will respond at unofficial talks.Don't isolate WashingtonThe differing stances could cause cracks to develop between the United States and China and South Korea, which could give the impression that Washington is isolated. That is a situation that would only allow Pyongyang to move further away from abandoning its nuclear ambitions.Behind these differences lie the domestic circumstances in China and South Korea.In South Korea, in the wake of advances made by the Uri Party, the country's ruling party, both political circles and public sentiment have seen a rise in anti-United States, pro-North Korea sentiment.China, which shares a border with North Korea, has traditionally been friendly toward the reclusive state.Dialogue alone, however, is not going to be enough to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions. The key to resolving the issue is figuring out how to combine dialogue with international pressure. It is for this reason that cooperation among all countries concerned is necessary.There has been no change in the reality that North Korea, which is moving ahead with nuclear development, not only poses a serious threat to the region, but also unbalances the nuclear nonproliferation system worldwide.Should North Korea continue refusing to resume the six-way talks, we must consider the possibility of discussing sanctions against Pyongyang in the U.N. Security Council.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	663	2004-11-30	YOSHIN0020041201e0bu000i1
YOMSHI0020041130e0c10000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041130e0c10000g	EN	\N	Hashimoto's explanations leave much to be desired	During a session of the House of Representatives Deliberative Council on Political Ethics, Hashimoto presented his case concerning a scandal involving the 100 million yen donation from the Japan Dentists Federation (Nisshiren) to the Liberal Democratic Party faction he formerly chaired. His statement to the panel, however, did little to uncover the whole truth about the scandal. During his explanation, Hashimoto often equivocated on key questions concerning how the money had been handed to him.	4	2004-12-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Hashimoto's appearance before the committee was the first time he had stated his case in public since the scandal came to light in July. His latest action cannot be regarded as an honest attempt to fulfill his responsibility to explain his involvement in the scandal. His failure in this regard only serves to arouse greater distrust in politics.In July 2001, Nisshiren, a political wing of the Japan Dental Association, is said to have handed Hashimoto a check for 100 million yen at a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. The episode was included in the opening statement made by prosecutors during the first hearing in the trial of Toshiyuki Takigawa, former chief accountant of the then Hashimoto faction and a key figure in the scandal.According to the opening statement, Takigawa received the check in question from Hashimoto after his meeting with Nisshiren. Takigawa did not enter the money in a report on the faction's political funds for 2001, under the instruction of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka, then acting chairman of the LDP faction.No grounds for indictmentTakigawa and Muraoka have been indicted for these alleged irregularities. But prosecutors decided there were insufficient grounds for indicting Hashimoto.During Tuesday's session with the Diet panel, Hashimoto said his asserted acceptance of the money must be seen as "an objective fact," as other people associated with the case said he had taken it, and as the money had been transferred to one of the faction's bank accounts. He did not tell the panel, "I have no memory (of accepting the money)," as he repeatedly claimed after the scandal broke out, although he may have wanted to.During Tuesday's session, Hashimoto also was asked whether receiving such a massive amount of money was an everyday occurrence for him. He replied, "If I had received such an enormous sum of money, I'd never forget it." Hashimoto also told the panel that his office had paid the bill from the restaurant for the meal served during his meeting with Nisshiren.Statements not credibleGiven these statements, few people would believe Hashimoto's statement that he did not remember receiving the money.Hashimoto told the committee that he "had nothing to do with the decision" not to include the money in the political funds report. This raises the question of who did order that the money not be included. Are prosecutors correct in arguing that all faction officials were involved in the affair? Hashimoto only said, "I haven't yet looked into these matters."His attempt to evade answering such key questions shows that there is a limit to what can be done to uncover the truth about a scandal through the Deliberative Council on Political Ethics. No one can be accused of perjury if he or she lies to the panel.Lawmakers have agreed to debate a bill to revise the Political Funds Control Law in the next ordinary Diet session, instead of voting on it during the current Diet session, which ends Friday. This is disturbing in that the bill was drawn up as a means of ensuring no incident similar to the money scandal in question would take place again.The bill devised by the ruling parties has many defects. It only sets an upper limit of 50 million yen annually on donations given from one political organization to another.The bill sets no upper limits on donations from political organizations to political parties and political fundraising organizations. It includes no measures to prevent political groups from giving money to individual legislators through their parties. When it is debated in the next Diet session, the bill, put together by the ruling parties, must be reviewed and rewritten to prevent further irregularities in political donations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	789	2004-12-01	YOSHIN0020041202e0c1000j3
YOMSHI0020041201e0c20000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041201e0c20000k	EN	\N	Panel envisions beefed-up UNSC	The report incorporates 101 proposals, including one aimed at shoring up the role of the U.N. Security Council. Another proposal calls for increasing the number of nations sitting on the council.	4	2004-12-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The end of the Cold War has been followed by the emergence of new threats to the world, including international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Can the United Nations effectively cope with the threats confronted by the global community?The report compiled by the advisory body to the U.N. secretary general serves as a basis for discussions on how to reform the world body, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, for the purpose of fighting the host of new threats to global security.2 options for larger UNSCThe report presents two specific options for the council's expansion. Both options would expand the 15-member council--five permanent members with veto rights and 10 nonpermanent members--to 24.The first option calls for creating six new permanent council members without vetoes and three nonpermanent members. The second option proposes creating eight quasi-permanent seats whose holders would be granted four-year but renewable terms, while also establishing one nonpermanent seat.The first proposal is a viable option for Japan, which has sought to gain a permanent seat on the council over the years, although its refusal to grant new permanent members vetoes is unsatisfactory to this country. Which option has a better chance of becoming a reality? It depends on which will be endorsed by the United States.The U.S. military strike on Iraq was preceded by divisions among the council members over whether to adopt a resolution authorizing the use of force against that country. Their failure to reach a consensus on the issue left the council in a state of paralysis like that which afflicted it during the Cold War.Alarmed by threats posed by the WMD it was assumed Iraq possessed, the United States urged other council members to permit the use of force against that nation. But France and many other council members opposed the U.S. proposal. This caused the United States to join hands with Britain in launching a preemptive strike on Iraq.Annan has said that such a preemptive attack violated international law. He asked the high-level panel to study a set of standards for justifying the use of force, saying that the Security Council needs to address the concerns held by the United States and Britain about possible threats they face.What to do if council is split?The 95-page report has confirmed that U.N. members are permitted to use force if they have good reason to exercise its right of self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, or if the Security Council approves the use of force. To champion this principle, the report said the use of force could be approved if and when five guidelines are met. The guidelines include whether there is a serious threat to be contained, whether the use of force is intended for an appropriate purpose, and whether all possible means have been taken to contain the threat.But the panel did not acknowledge the need to revise the charter in a manner that would expand the right of self-defense. This seems to reflect the panel's desire to emphasize conventional international law.The advisory body's decision to set the standards can be commended for increasing the validity of a resolution to be adopted by the council to authorize the use of force. An important question is what the council should do if it is divided over whether to approve the use of force. Is it possible to reconcile the panel's stance on this issue with that of the United States, which has said it will not hesitate to launch a preemptive strike alone, if necessary?All in all, the latest report may well be regarded as a springboard for discussions on this intractable question.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2004-12-02	YOSHIN0020041203e0c2000h9
YOMSHI0020041202e0c30000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041202e0c30000d	EN	\N	Relax arms export rules for security of East Asia	But we would like to question the stance of New Komeito, coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, on the issue.	4	2004-12-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government proposed to the coalition parties that restrictions on the export of weapon parts be relaxed so Japan can participate in arms development and production programs jointly with the United States or as part of a U.S.-led multinational project.The LDP accepted the government's draft proposal, but New Komeito insisted that only parts of the missile defense (MD) system that is being developed jointly by Japan and the United States should be exempted from the three rules, which prohibit Japan from selling arms to communist countries; countries where the United Nations bans export of weapons; and countries fighting a war.Japan could be left behindSince the end of the Cold War era, the United States and European countries have teamed up to develop and produce arms and weapon systems because the costs of such programs are enormous if they are undertaken by a single country.If the relaxation of restrictions on arms exports is limited only to MD parts, Japan will not be able to participate in programs to develop and produce new weapons. This could cause Japan to fall behind other countries in the development of advanced technology directly related to the nation's security since what has been termed a "revolution in military affairs" is taking place in the world today. The case of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Type 90 tank demonstrates that development of a weapons system by a single country increases its production costs.If Japan fails to keep up with global standards in military technology, the combat efficiency of the Self-Defense Forces will deteriorate, and the SDF will not be able to coordinate smoothly with U.S. forces in joint security-related operations.The government's draft proposal would help prevent such a situation.Some members of New Komeito reportedly have said that the party should not risk tarnishing its pacifist image ahead of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election scheduled for summer.It is natural for a political party to give due weight to public opinion. But we believe New Komeito, as a member of the coalition, must accept the need to build a long-term security policy for this country.Fighting piracy a crucial taskThe government proposal calls for a relaxation on the export of retired Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to Southeast Asian countries as part of Japan's assistance to them in combating terrorism and piracy. But New Komeito members said their party would not back this plan.The navies of Indonesia and Malaysia, whose vessels are becoming obsolete, have asked Japan to sell them retired MSDF ships so they can interdict pirate ships.Pirates are threatening the safe navigation of oil tankers and other ships in Southeast Asian waters, through which pass Japan's sea lanes, a lifeline of this country's economy.If retired MSDF ships were used to inspect unidentified vessels based on the Proliferation Security Initiative, it would be beneficial for the security of East Asia as a whole.It goes without saying that Japan must firmly stick to the basic principle underpinning the three rules, which prohibits the export of weapons when doing so could exacerbate an international dispute.But Japan also should constantly review its policy on arms exports in line with changes in the international security situation and advances in military technology.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2004-12-03	YOSHIN0020041206e0c3000v9
YOMSHI0020041203e0c40000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041203e0c40000j	EN	\N	Coalition deal on reform of Constitution epic step	The step is an agreement struck between the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito to submit bills on a national referendum to amend the Constitution and a revision of the Diet Law to next year's ordinary Diet session.	4	2004-12-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This will drastically improve the legal framework to amend the supreme law in the future.Formulation and amendment of the Constitution is the most important exercise of the sovereignty of the people. Though Article 96 of the Constitution stipulates procedures to amend the Constitution, no laws have yet been passed to set out the practical details of the process.The Research Commissions on the Constitution at the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives will submit their final reports on a referendum bill to president of the upper house and speaker of the lower house in May.The LDP will soon compile an outline of its own draft amendments to the Constitution and will decide on the final text in November when the party celebrates its 50th anniversary. New Komeito does not plan to propose any amendments, but to add some clauses to the Constitution.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the largest opposition party, plans to decide on its own draft amendments in 2006 when the current Constitution marks its 60th anniversary.Move forward swiftlyAs amendment of the Constitution moves onto the political schedule, it is a matter of course to try to rush the amendment-related bills through the Diet.The bill to revise the Diet Law is aimed at giving the Research Commissions on the Constitution of the upper and lower houses authority to study and draft a bill on a national referendum. The coalition parties hope to pass the bill into law in April.After that, deliberations on a national referendum bill will start at the Diet. The coalition parties said in the agreement that they would try to pass it as soon as possible. However, we think they should try to pass it during the next ordinary Diet session.It is based on a draft bill compiled by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in 2001. Since some Minshuto members belonged to the group, we think the opposition party does not have any particular reason to oppose the bill in the next ordinary Diet session.Originally, the defunct Home Affairs Agency started drafting a referendum bill in 1953. But the agency ended the project without Cabinet endorsement. No referendum bill has been proposed since. Successive Cabinets and the LDP have tried not to make it a political issue as conservative and progressive parties have been engaging in ideological and political confrontations for many years.However, since the end of the Cold War era, parties opposed to altering the Constitution have lost most of their political power.Most favor changing charterAccording to results of the nationwide opinion poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun in March, 65 percent of eligible voters supported amendment of the Constitution. The latest agreement between the coalition parties was apparently helped much by dramatic changes on the nation's political scene.However, one important issue is left in the latest development of legal conditions toward possible amendment of the Constitution. That issue is revision of the Diet Law to set procedures on proposing and deliberating draft amendments to the Constitution. The coalition parties sidestepped this revision of the law in the agreement and said they would keep studying it in line with development of political conditions.This would leave the Diet unable to deliberate draft amendments to the Constitution, though it could discuss a referendum bill, even if the Diet Law is revised in April.The LDP and other major political parties will not be able to advance discussions on amendment of the Constitution any further, even if they propose blueprints for doing so in autumn and later because there is no forum for deliberations on such proposals.The Diet Law must be revised as soon as possible to allow the proposal and discussion of draft amendments to the Constitution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2004-12-04	YOSHIN0020041206e0c4001d2
YOMSHI0020041204e0c50000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041204e0c50000b	EN	\N	Rocket program vital to national interest	The Space Activities Commission (SAC), an advisory panel to the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, recently approved the result of the general inspection of the H-2A rocket conducted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).	4	2004-12-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While some work has yet to be completed, the H-2A Launch Vehicle No. 7, loaded with the Multi-functional Transport Satellite-1R (MTSAT-1R)--the successor to the weather satellite Himawari--is to blast off in February, provided everything goes smoothly.Launching a rocket built with state-of-the-art technology is obviously fraught with difficulties, but another failure resulting from a simple oversight or misjudgment cannot be allowed.The failed liftoff of H-2A Launch Vehicle No. 6 last November was found to have been the result a hole in the nozzle of its large auxiliary rocket. Although the potential problem had been pointed out as a weakness since the development stage, there had been no drastic improvements made.For H-2A No. 7, the structure of the auxiliary rocket has been changed drastically. It is to be hoped that carefully worked-out preparatory work will be done for the next launch in addition to the structural change.Vital to securityWe have moved beyond the stages at which rocket launches were pursued to develop the relevant technology and further research and development activities. In the current era, the launches have become directly linked to national security and the people's safety.The No. 6 rocket was loaded with two surveillance satellites. With North Korea moving ahead with its nuclear and missile development programs, the failed launch dealt a heavy blow to our national security.The situation surrounding the weather satellite is also serious. The previous weather satellite Himawari No. 5 was scheduled to be retired in 2000. Yet the launch of its successor failed in 1999.Although the satellite's life was extended, it was later retired and weather observation is currently carried out using a U.S. weather satellite.But the U.S. satellite is also old, with the images sent from it becoming unclear. There is no telling when it will go out of service.Typhoon warnings essentialWeather satellites are essential for predicting and observing typhoons. An unusually high number of typhoons struck the nation this year--as many as 10 typhoons, well past the previous record of six, hit the nation--leaving more than 200 people dead or missing. To observe and predict the course of typhoons, we depend entirely on an aging, foreign satellite. Because of this, hopes are high for the success of the next launch.In the case of the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, there was no Japanese satellite that could provide images showing the situation in the quake-hit areas. The government's disaster-related organizations had to purchase pictures showing the quake-hit areas from the operator of a commercial U.S. satellite for analysis.Originally, the nation's Advanced Land Observing Satellite was supposed to have been launched two years ago. Due to repeated trouble with the satellite, however, the launch was postponed until sometime after the summer.Last month, JAXA's new president, Keiji Tachikawa, formerly a senior advisor of NTT DoCoMo, Inc., was appointed. He has shown enthusiasm for pursuing a satellite launch business with the H-2A rocket as a launch vehicle. But that enthusiasm can be realized only when JAXA's foundation is firm.The important thing now is for JAXA to do its utmost to successfully launch the vital new satellite.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	628	2004-12-05	YOSHIN0020041206e0c5000iv
YOMSHI0020041205e0c60000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041205e0c60000i	EN	\N	Prepaid cell phones need restrictions too	The government has enacted a bill revising the law on the identification of bank account holders as a measure to prevent the sale of bank accounts. The revised law bans the sale or transfer of bankbooks and bankcards without a legitimate reason.	4	2004-12-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The law will go into effect this year, making it possible to penalize purchasers and sellers of such accounts with fines of up to 500,000 yen, while those who sell or transfer them as a business are liable for imprisonment for up to two years or fines of up to 3 million yen.The damage caused by ore, ore scams from January through September this year totaled 12.9 billion yen, triple the amount for all of 2003. But the arrest rate is only 7 percent. This is, indeed, an unusual situation.Bank accounts are being traded openly on the Internet. Sales organizations called bank account dealers specialize in trading such accounts. The accounts have become indispensible in crimes such as black-market lending and drug trafficking.The law concerning the identification of bank account holders was put into force in January last year. Under the law, financial institutions are obliged to check the identification of anyone attempting to open a new bank account. Anyone trying to open an account under a false name is subject to persecution. In spite of this, abuse of the system is rampant.Bank accounts not only toolWith the revision of the law, it is hoped that this misuse of bank accounts will be stamped out. But these countermeasures alone are not enough. Controls must be established over prepaid mobile phones as well.A prepaid mobile phone is one whose user fees are paid in advance, with no monthly basic charge. The phone companies have been lax in asking for proper identification at the time of purchase, and it is relatively easy for such phones to be sold or transferred. As a result, it is difficult to identify the user even if the telephone number is known. Such phones have been used in kidnapping or blackmail cases.There are also traders who purchase prepaid cell phones in bulk from mobile phone companies--several hundred at a time--and then resell them.Scammers use prepaid phonesAccording to a survey by the National Police Agency, 93 percent of mobile phones that were used in ore, ore scams during the first six-month period of this year, and whose callers were identified, were the prepaid type.A project team of the ruling coalition parties is studying the possibility of submitting a bill introducing restrictions on prepaid mobile phones to the ordinary Diet session early next year.Some ideas that have been floated include a rule requiring mobile phone companies to identify users and another to ban their resale for illegal purposes. But the important thing is to gauge how effective such restrictions would be.The mobile phone companies and the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, which supervises the industry, oppose excessive restrictions on the grounds that prepaid cell phones are very convenient and as many as 2.7 million of them are already in use. They also cite the principle of free competition in the telecommunications industry.But if prepaid cell phones continue to be instrumental in causing so much evil in society, the businesses concerned should be held responsible for working out their own effective measures.Crimes are being committed with ever more ingenuity. Unless something is done to resolve the problem of prepaid mobile phones, the industry may find itself faced with calls for their abolishment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2004-12-06	YOSHIN0020041207e0c6000d5
YOMSHI0020041206e0c70000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041206e0c70000g	EN	\N	Nation must prepare for coming flu epidemic	The WHO has warned that the probability of a new strain of the flu taking hold in parts of the world is greater than it has been for years.	4	2004-12-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Humans have no immunity to a new virus to which they have never been exposed. According to the WHO, a new virus could spread across the world within six months of an outbreak. In a worst case scenario, 30 percent of the world's population could become infected, with the resulting heavy toll amounting to an estimated 7 million lives.The WHO's report cites three reasons for alarm.First, avian influenza, a virus that could mutate into a new flu that would be easily transmissible to humans, has raged across Thailand, Vietnam and some other Southeast Asian countries--particularly in poultry farming areas--since the winter of 2003. These nations have put down more than 120 million chickens and other fowl to contain the spread of bird flu.True to its name, the bird flu virus easily spreads among poultry. But the spread of the virus could induce a mutation, which raises concerns about human-to-human transmission. The spread of bird flu among Southeast Asian people over the past two years is a telling sign. More than 30 people have died of the disease in the region, including in Thailand and Vietnam.Historically, the world has seen the rise of a new strain of influenza about every 20 to 30 years, but the global community has gone for more than 30 years without a major outbreak. It would seem that we are overdue for an epidemic.Japan vulnerableJapan is no exception. There was an outbreak of bird flu in the poulty industry this year. And with the SARS virus we experienced a taste of the turmoil that could arise in the case of such an epidemic. The central government and some local governments have drawn fire for their failure to appropriately deal with the turmoil triggered by these incidents.Measures must be taken to minimize the spread of any new influenza viruses. In August, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry put together a set of measures to achieve this goal. The package includes steps to prevent the spread of bird flu and new strains of influenza, and to treat and quarantine infected patients.To complement these measures, the government has sought to create a stockpile of antiviral medicine believed to be somewhat effective on such influenza viruses. But the package includes many plans that lack specific details.Govt slow off the markThe central government has been slow in devising action plans that can serve as guidelines to be followed by prefectural governments in fighting an outbreak of influenza in their areas. Questions to be considered in the battle against the flu include which patients should be given antiviral drugs first, what can be done to detect infected persons earlier and which hospitals should be used to accommodate patients.Japan should also cooperate with other nations in preventing the spread of bird flu.A new vaccine for chickens has shown promise as a preventive measure against future outbreaks of bird flu. Industrial associations in the nation have called for the use of antiviral vaccines to prevent an epidemic. Such a vaccine has been used in the United States and European nations in the past.But so far the vaccine has had little effect. Only a limited number of poultry have been vaccinated against the flu. It is important to develop a more powerful vaccine and study how to more effectively vaccinate chickens.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 7)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2004-12-07	YOSHIN0020041208e0c7000ib
YOMSHI0020041207e0c80000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041207e0c80000h	EN	\N	Authorities must reverse decline in 3Rs	This was made evident in the result of the latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) test conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.	4	2004-12-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The PISA test determines the abilities of 15-year-old students from 41 nations and territories to put their knowledge and skills to practical use. The skills tested under the program are similar to what the Education, Science and Technology calls a "zest for living," an ability the ministry emphasizes in its current course of study.In the latest test, conducted in 2003, Japanese children ranked sixth in mathematics and second in science compared with first and second, respectively, in 2000. It is disturbing to see that the mathematical skills of Japanese children have declined, but the ministry maintains they are still among the best in the world.The reading skills of Japanese children have dropped to 14th from eighth in 2000, marking a fall from the top-ranking group. This means that 15-year-olds in this country are close to the OECD average in reading comprehension and acquiring knowledge.The percentage of Japanese students ranking lowest in reading skill exceeds the OECD average. Japan also has fallen behind Oceania, major European nations, South Korea and some other countries in the percentage of highest achievers in reading ability.Decline in reading said to blameWhat has contributed to this decline in the reading skills of Japanese children? The Education, Science and Technology Ministry says that students read less than in the past, and that there are few classes designed to encourage children to express their opinions.To improve the quality of classwork, the ministry intends to ensure teachers encourage students to read books in the morning. Nothing is more important in school education than to ensure that children learn to love books.In recent years, most schools use slender textbooks that are full of photographs and illustrations, instead of classical works and difficult, long passages. In addition, most colleges and universities use computer-graded multiple-choice tests in their entrance examinations, which prompts middle and high schools to educate students in a manner geared to ensuring a high score on such tests. The ministry should keep these facts in mind as it works to encourage children to acquire the habit of reading regularly.Need to study other countriesIt is also necessary to look at the education systems of OECD nations that ranked highest in the latest PISA test. In Finland, one must have a master's degree to become a teacher, and Finnish teachers enjoy a higher social status. The Finnish government also is using a wide variety of means to encourage its people to read.In South Korea, schools are spurring children to work hard, under a curriculum approved by their government, in the hopes of seeing them better compete internationally. This also is true of Hong Kong.The PISA test showed that Japanese children study for only 6-1/2 hours a week outside school, compared with the OECD average of 8.9 hours. Japanese students also are among those spending the least amount of time on homework, with 3.8 hours per week.The decline in the reading skills of Japanese children may be attributable to the small amount of time they spend reading and thinking. Their aversion to reading may adversely affect their performance in other school subjects. The problem must be tackled with a sense of urgency.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2004-12-08	YOSHIN0020041209e0c8000i6
YOMSHI0020041208e0c90000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041208e0c90000k	EN	\N	N. Korea must tell truth to avoid Japan sanctions	DNA analysis conducted by the government has shown that, contrary to North Korea's claims, the remains provided to Japan last month by Pyongyang are not those of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korean agents in 1977.	4	2004-12-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The rogue state previously handed over what it falsely claimed were the remains of Kaoru Matsuki, also a Japanese abductee. But this time, Pyongyang apparently mixed the remains of two people, neither of them Yokota.As in the Matsuki case, the remains Pyongyang claimed to be Yokota's reportedly were cremated at a very high temperature in an apparent attempt to sabotage a DNA test.North Korea also handed over photos of Yokota to Japanese officials at November's meeting, but experts pointed out that some of them are composite.We are shocked by the nation's irresponsibility and dishonesty. Now North Korea looks like a clown, cobbling together a cheap cover story in hurry only to give the whole show away.Protest not enoughWhen Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi revisited Pyongyang in May, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il promised him that a reinvestigation would be conducted of the cases of 10 abduction victims whose whereabouts are not known. Since then, three working-level meetings have been held. However, North Korean delegates just parroted the same old story that eight of them were dead and two never entered the country.The fact that the remains are not Yokota's, contrary to Pyongyang's claims, suggests that all the explanations North Korea has made so far about the abductions are lies.North Korea has not only betrayed the expectations of the abductees' families. It has also ridiculed Japan and its people by shamelessly providing false materials at bilateral meetings.The government reportedly has lodged a strong protest with Pyongyang, but this is not enough. The government should consider imposing sanctions against North Korea if Pyongyang has no intention of clarifying the whole picture of the abduction problem and settling it.The government has already completed legal preparations to impose sanctions against North Korea, including laws to restrict trade with North Korea, to stop remittances to the country and to prohibit the entry of North Korean ships into Japanese ports.Cancel food aidIt is worth considering the imposition of sanctions based on a five-phase program compiled by the Liberal Democratic Party. According to the program, humanitarian assistance to North Korea would be frozen or postponed in the first phase, and trade and remittances restricted in the following phases. In the final phase, the entry of North Korean ships to Japan would be banned.As for humanitarian assistance, half of the 250,000 tons of food aid Koizumi promised Kim when he revisited North Korea has not been delivered yet. The government said it would freeze the food assistance, but it should cancel it as a first-phase sanction.North Korea must tell the truth or face economic sanctions by Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	538	2004-12-09	YOSHIN0020041210e0c9000h1
YOMSHI0020041209e0ca0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041209e0ca0000g	EN	\N	SDF mission in Iraq not accomplished yet	Koizumi said at a press conference that the government decided on the extension because Japan must fulfill its responsibilities under the Japan-U.S. alliance as well as those it has as a member of the international community. He added that the Iraqi interim government had requested that the SDF continue their activities in the country.	4	2004-12-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the National Assembly election scheduled for late January, the democratization process in Iraq will start in a full-fledged manner, moving toward a general election and the formation of a regular government next December.Though some countries have already withdrawn their troops from Iraq, 30 countries are continuing reconstruction assistance there. Group of Eight countries and those neighboring Iraq agreed to maintain assistance for the country at a ministerial meeting held last month in Egypt.As a member of the international community, Japan must keep doing its bit in Iraq.Take all steps to protect SDFAn assistance project undertaken by SDF in combination with Japan's official development assistance is taking off in Samawah, Muthana Province, in southern Iraq.But the security of Iraq is now under threat, with armed insurgents trying to destroy the democratization process. Security in Samawah, where SDF troops are stationed, is said to be relatively stable, but every possible measure must be taken to protect the safety of SDF personnel there.Since mortars and rockets have been fired at the SDF camp, it is a matter of course for the government to try to enhance the security of the camp by studying the possible introduction of a radar system that can detect where a mortar is launched.The Dutch military, which has been keeping security in Muthana Province, is scheduled to withdraw in March. The SDF must strengthen their coordination with British and Iraqi security troops, who are expected to replace the Dutch military.The government's basic plan on deployment of the SDF has been revised, and a new clause, which stipulates that the government take appropriate measures to protect SDF troops dispatched to Iraq, was added. The inclusion of the clause may be seen as an "exit policy" in the basic plan, which would make withdrawal of SDF personnel easier in case of an emergency, taking the unpredictable situation in the country into consideration.Govt must respond flexiblyAccording to the plan, the government will take appropriate measures in respect of SDF personnel in Iraq after carefully studying the progress of the reconstruction work and the political situation in the country, as well as the security situation and activities of multinational forces, including the SDF, there.Under the plan, SDF personnel could withdraw from Iraq after transferring the reconstruction activities they are carrying out to local governments or nongovernmental organizations in the country. On the other hand, they could be forced to withdraw if the security situation deteriorated in Iraq and the lives of SDF troops were endangered. The government must be able to respond flexibly to the changing situation in Iraq.The deployment of multinational forces in Iraq based on a U.N. Security Council resolution will expire next December.If the SDF withdraw from Iraq before that deadline, the government must hold in-depth talks in advance with Washington and the Iraqi government on the issue.Of course, the SDF should not pull out early if their doing so would damage the Japan-U.S. alliance and hamper the democratization process in Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2004-12-10	YOSHIN0020041213e0ca000ho
YOMSHI0020041210e0cb0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041210e0cb0000k	EN	\N	Defense policy outline suits tenor of times	The new National Defense Program Outline, which sets the parameters of the country's defense for the coming decade, was adopted by the Cabinet on Friday.	4	2004-12-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the international community has been confronted by new threats of international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.In Japan's corner of the world, North Korea is pursuing development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, while China is strengthening its military power.Setting out the key objectives of the new defense policy, the outline first refers to the need to deal with direct threats to Japan. In addition, the outline cited the need to improve the international security environment. These objectives take into account the changes in the security situation in Asia and the Pacific, including the area around Japan, and the circumstances faced by the international community.With regard to Japan's immediate environs, the outline described North Korea's military behavior as "a serious destabilizing factor." The government's stance is eminently reasonable considering North Korea is not only developing missiles and nuclear arms, but also has repeatedly carried out acts of international terrorism and its armed spy ships have entered Japan's territorial waters several times.Wary of ChinaIn terms of mid- and long-term regional security, the developments in China are deemed more important, as the country is modernizing its nuclear and missile capabilities and its maritime and air forces, while at the same time attempting to develop a bluewater navy.The outline emphasized the need for Japan to keep a close eye on developments in China, probably because of its recognition that China can become the biggest "potential threat" to the region.The China issue needs to be designated more clearly in Japan's security strategy.Addressing new types of threats, the outline cited the need to deal with ballistic missiles, guerrilla attacks, invasions of outlying islands and incursions by armed spy ships and foreign submarines into Japan's territorial waters. Japan needs to expedite its efforts to establish an effective ready response to these threats.The peace and prosperity of Japan, a trading nation, cannot be realized without peace and stability in the international community.Even problems occurring far away from Japan, such as those in Iraq, may threaten the peace and prosperity of Japan. Improving international security is an issue Japan needs to tackle proactively.Japan's participation in U.N. peacekeeping activities, the work of Self-Defense Forces' vessels in the Indian Ocean, and the dispatch of SDF personnel to war-torn Iraq can be called concrete efforts in that vein.Reflecting the needs of the day, the outline formally designates international peacekeeping cooperation activities as being on par with national defense as one of the SDF's integral duties.Global allianceThe presence of U.S. forces in areas around Japan, and in Asia and the Pacific, and the Japan-U.S. alliance are "public assets" for the regional stability.No improvement in international security can be expected without the presence of the United States, the sole superpower. The Japan-U.S. alliance will further strengthen its global characteristics.In step with changes in the security environment, the issue of how to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance is vital for Japan.In particular, the strategic dialogue concerning the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, as part of an overall reorganization of the U.S. military worldwide, is important.The U.S. Army is reported to be considering moving the headquarters of its 1st Corps--tasked with command and control of U.S. forces in the so-called arc of instability that stretches from Northeast Asia to the Middle East--to Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture.Should major conflicts occur in this area, they may have an adverse impact on Japan. The seas within the arc of instability include the main shipping routes between Japan and the Middle East, on which Japan relies for nearly 90 percent of its crude oil imports. In terms of our national interest, it is necessary for Japan to assume the largest role it can in stabilizing the arc of instability.The outline revises the present formation, organization and levels of personnel and equipment for the nation's defense, formerly calculated to defend against an invasion attempt by the former Soviet Union during the Cold War. The review was in line with major changes in the security environment since the era of East-West confrontation.Stop fighting Cold WarBut the review is lacking in several aspects when it comes to the personnel, formation, deployment and equipment of the SDF. Issues remain to be solved. For example, there has been no change in the deployment of four divisions and brigades in Hokkaido, stationed there on the assumption of a Cold War Soviet invasion.No change has been made because the Defense Agency took to defending its own organization. The government needs to expedite its efforts to have the formation and deployment of SDF units reflect the new security environment.With regard to enhancing the nation's defense capabilities in the future, the government needs to create a "more streamlined and muscular SDF," by carrying out structural reform of the SDF, utilizing more high-tech equipment and having its organization run by fewer, more capable personnel.The government needs to take into account such constraints as fiscal limitations, but should not neglect going ahead with improving defense capabilities needed to protect people's lives and the nation's safety, just because of fiscal constraints.The government's self-imposed ban on weapons exports was eased in only a limited way to exclude components of the missile defense system being jointly developed by Japan and the United States, due to strong calls from New Komeito during the process of coordinating views among the ruling coalition parties over the outline.Due to New Komeito's opposition, the idea of incorporating the study of acquiring surface-to-surface missiles in the new midterm defense buildup program was put off.Amid the ongoing so-called revolution in military affairs, which has seen dramatic changes in operational, organizational and combat capabilities, arbitrarily limiting the development of military technology may lower the SDF's defensive capabilities, thus undermining the safety of Japan.It is dubious at best to withhold approval for mere research on surface-to-surface missiles, considering such threats as missile development by North Korea.To make the outline effective, it is necessary to constantly review not only issues related to the SDF's equipment and organization, but also the question of relevant legislation, including approval of the nation exercising its right to collective defense, so the SDF can function more effectively.To give proper status to the SDF, it is also a matter of urgency to upgrade the Defense Agency to to a full ministry.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1176	2004-12-11	YOSHIN0020041213e0cb001fb
YOMSHI0020041211e0cc0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041211e0cc0000e	EN	\N	Some teachers deserve to be kept after class	In the 2003 academic year, the number of teachers at public-run primary, middle and high schools who were disciplined for indecent acts was a record 155, a three-fold increase from five years earlier.	4	2004-12-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of those disciplined, 107 were dismissed and 40 suspended from duty. Among those who lost their jobs, 61 teachers were penalized for committing lewd acts with their own students.One primary school teacher allegedly took a female pupil into his car and touched her body, while frequently sending e-mails to her, saying he wanted to see her.A high school teacher was found to have sexually harassed a female student of his, by hugging and kissing the resisting girl while he was supposed to be counseling her on her choice of college.It was only natural for those teachers to have been fired immediately.Yet there was another case in which a middle school teacher who was in charge of a wind music club had the club's female students swim to "build up physical power" while he watched and even touched the bodies of some students, but was given a considerably lesser punishment--a one-month suspension from duty.Ministry powerlessThe middle school teacher's case moved a senior official at the Education, Science and Technology Ministry to ask in disbelief, saying, "Was the punishment too lenient?"As the right to punish teachers rests with individual prefectural boards of education, the education ministry has no way to direct boards to alter the punishments meted out.The education ministry three years ago made public its disciplinary criteria to each prefectural board of education. In the criteria, the ministry called for a provision clearly stating that teachers committing indecent acts on a student would be immediately dismissed. The provision is designed to deter teachers from committing such indecent acts.But only 12 prefectural boards of education and those in major cities have complied with the request. With no clear yardsticks, most rural boards of education make disciplinary decisions by referring to often lenient measures taken in the past.Teachers are required to have a strong sense of duty and ethics as educators. There is an urgent need to improve the quality of teachers recruited and to enhance their skills through apprenticeship and in-service training. At the same time, it is necessary to more strictly discipline those disqualified teachers.Willful disobedienceMeanwhile, 194 teachers were disciplined in 2003 for not following orders from their principals and not standing up and singing the national anthem in unison at such occasions as commencement ceremonies.Most of these teachers were those working at schools in Tokyo, with some having complained to the court, saying the orders violated their freedom of conscience.Similarly, eight teachers were disciplined for having distributed political leaflets, in spite of teachers being prohibited by law from engaging in political activities.It is suspected a political organization under the umbrella of the Yamanashi prefectural board of education has collected a sizable election campaign fund from teachers for the House of Councillors election this summer, part of which has been donated to the political organization of a Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) legislator. The Liberal Democratic Party is probing the case, while the education ministry has also launched its investigation.There are teachers who lack ethics the sense that they should abide by the law. There are also teachers who neglect their duty as public servants, while demanding their rights be upheld. How can children respect such teachers?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 12)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	650	2004-12-12	YOSHIN0020041214e0cc000aq
YOMSHI0020041213e0ce0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041213e0ce0000g	EN	\N	Govt must demonstrate resolve over sanctions	Sanctions against the communist regime should be complemented by a bill aimed at resolving human-rights issues involving that country, including its kidnapping of Japanese.	4	2004-12-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), intends to ensure that the next ordinary Diet session adopts a bill it will submit to improve human rights in North Korea. Liberal Democratic Party Acting Secretary General Shinzo Abe has said his party would consider submitting a similar bill to the Diet. All political parties should unite in presenting the legislature with such a bill, and make sure that it is adopted as soon as possible.This country has already taken legislative measures to apply pressure on North Korea, including revising the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law to control trade between the two countries and money transfers from this nation. Steps also include the enactment of a law designed to restrict calls at Japanese ports by North Korean ships.Given the extremely insincere attitude adopted by North Korea toward its problems with Japan, however, the government needs to take stronger action, under its fundamental principles of dialogue and pressure, that can be used as levers in negotiations with the insular nation.Use U.S. act as modelAn envisaged bill designed to improve human-rights conditions in North Korea could well be modeled on the North Korean Humanitarian Act, which the United States established earlier.The legislation requires the U.S. administration to ban any nonhumanitarian assistance to North Korea until it has made substantial progress in settling the abduction problem, including disclosure of information about the fate of those kidnapped by North Korean agents and the repatriation of Japanese abductees. The U.S. act also incorporates assistance to deserters from that nation.Minshuto's bill would primarily cover not only those believed to have been abducted by North Korea, but also Japanese women married to North Korean men and living in the communist nation. The list of people covered by the bill also includes those who went to that nation under a pro-Pyongyang residents repatriation project initiated in 1959.The leading opposition party's bill seeks to settle human-rights problems in relation to the bilateral relationship. The bill also includes efforts to aid North Koreans who have deserted to Japan, recognizing them as refugees to be protected under domestic laws, and backs private-sector organizations that support North Korean refugees.The U.N. Commission on Human Rights has adopted resolutions condemning North Korea for its human-rights abuses. The resolution, passed by the commission in April, calls for the abduction issue to be resolved in an unmistakable, transparent and urgent manner.Efforts too little, too lateJapanese efforts to create a law to help improve human-rights conditions in North Korea signify an attempt to work in concert with the increasing number of nations critical of abuses in North Korea. But the moves come too late.During their discussions on the bill, Minshuto lawmakers remained ambiguous about possible sanctions to be taken against North Korea. Minshuto's bill should, at the very least, incorporate a provision urging the government to consider sanctions against the communist state--under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, for example--if it fails to make any progress in improving human-rights conditions. This is necessary to ensure that the bill serves its purpose. Minshuto should further work to narrow down their discussions on the bill.According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey, 74 percent of those polled said they favored economic sanctions against North Korea.Admittedly, there are numerous problems to be considered if sanctions are eventually enforced. For instance, it is necessary to determine whether Japanese sanctions would really serve to settle the abduction problem, and whether sanctions imposed by Japan alone would be effective in resolving the dispute. Another issue concerns how sanctions would affect six-nation talks aimed at urging North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.But it may be advisable for the government to at least consider partial sanctions against North Korea if it attempts further fabrications such as the one about the cremated remains. The Man Gyong Bong-92, for instance, could be barred from docking at any ports in Japan.All in all, it is essential for Japan to show North Korea that it is firmly determined to resolve the abduction dispute, even if that means forcing Pyongyang to take the necessary measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 14)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	801	2004-12-14	YOSHIN0020041215e0ce000i1
YOMSHI0020041214e0cf0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041214e0cf0000g	EN	\N	Lifting of EU arms ban would destabilize area	We are very concerned about this.	4	2004-12-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The EU told China of the contemplated move during their latest summit meeting.The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush has reiterated its opposition to the lifting of the ban. The U.S. concern is quite reasonable, since if the advanced military technology of EU member nations was allowed to help modernize Chinese forces, the military balance in Asia would be seriously upset. That would be an especially worrisome threat for Taiwan.China moving on JapanIt would mean even more of a headache for Japan, as it would present a serious security problem for the nation.Over the past year, China has been making moves that pose a threat to Japan's security. For instance, it sent a nuclear-powered submarine into Japan's territorial waters and has repeatedly conducted illegal oceanic surveys in them.In the East China Sea, Beijing has developed a natural-gas field near a median line equidistant from both countries, which Japan maintains should be an exclusive economic zone boundary between the two countries.Beijing has also refused to comply with Tokyo's request to provide information on the project.These moves, which are designed to enhance the Chinese military, cannot be overlooked. The government should urge the leaders of EU member countries harder than ever to rethink the lifting of the arms embargo.The EU is considering lifting the ban because ties between it and China have improved over recent years. Immediately after the Tiananmen Square incident, the EU's relationship with China cooled over the latter's infringements of human rights. However, it has been improving gradually to a level where in 1998 they began holding regular summit meetings.Guns for slice of pieTheir relations have become closer, particularly in trading. China is the second-largest trade partner for the EU, while the EU is the biggest for China. Between last year and this year, the leaders of Britain, Germany, France and Italy--core members of the EU--visited China in succession because they all wanted a slice of the Chinese market.Given these circumstances, Beijing said the continued improvement of these ties would be impaired if the arms embargo was maintained, increasing pressure on the EU to lift it. On the EU side, some countries, particularly Germany and France, were in favor of lifting the embargo.However, other members of the EU, including Britain and Northern European countries, are more cautious about lifting the ban, saying no improvement has been noticed regarding human rights in China. However, such opposition might weaken if Beijing were to ratify the section of the International Conventions on Human Rights that stipulates protection of political rights.The EU is an important player in international politics. It should refrain from pursuing its own economic interests at the expense of causing instability in Asia.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 15)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	515	2004-12-15	YOSHIN0020041216e0cf000hv
YOMSHI0020041215e0cg0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041215e0cg0000g	EN	\N	Abolishing tax rebates is a risky proposition	Time will tell whether their agreement will win praise as a first, courageous step toward fiscal rehabilitation or be castigated as a foolish measure that blew a chance to pull Japan out of deflation. Their decision is that significant.	4	2004-12-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The fixed-rate tax breaks were introduced as a temporary, special measure in 1999, when deflation was at its worst. The tax rebates have warmed the nation's business climate, but they have also hurt the government's finances. Anyway, they cannot be kept in place for good.The problem is that the parties have proposed halving the rebates toward their abolition in two years.According to the results of the quarterly Tankan survey of business sentiment reported by the Bank of Japan on Wednesday, the business confidence of the nation's major manufacturers has weakened for the first time in seven quarters. Japan's economic recovery is losing momentum.The coalition parties stipulated in their outline proposals on abolishing the tax breaks that necessary measures will be implemented in a mobile and flexible way, depending on economic conditions, suggesting that the 50 percent curtailment could be canceled if the economy starts deteriorating.Brave or foolhardy?In 1997, the administration of then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto increased the consumption tax from 3 percent to 5 percent and abolished special tax cuts, though prospects for the economy were still unclear.If the parties' latest decision is realized, the burden on taxpayers will increase in January 2006. Until then, the government should watch economic conditions carefully and adjust its policy measures in a flexible manner when necessary.The amount of government bonds to be issued in fiscal 2005 is expected to fall below 36 trillion yen as projected in early fiscal 2004, thanks to tax revenue increases resulting from the economic recovery.But the amount of government bonds that will have to be sold on the financial market is expected to increase from 115 trillion yen to around 120 trillion yen because refunding of bonds will increase due to the issuance of huge amounts of government paper in the past.The journey to fiscal reconstruction is unimaginably long and arduous. The coalition parties' outlines could be seen as an expression of their determination to march ahead toward this faraway destination.Trim the porkNonetheless, overoptimism triggered by the recent economic recovery is evident in some parts of the outlines.For instance, the ruling parties proposed creating a new tax deduction system to encourage companies to extend greater vocational training for employees. Under the system, expenses for training materials would be deductable from corporate tax, but we believe each company should spend its own money on the development of human resources without having to be prodded to do so by tax incentives.The ruling parties also approved keeping basically intact most of the special tax reduction measures granted for a variety of businesses.Meanwhile, the simultaneous construction of three new sections of Shinkansen line has been decided, and a second runway will be built at Kansai Airport. Huge amounts of central government tax revenues allocated to local governments reportedly have been misused in the past. It remains uncertain whether such wastage can be stopped.If the fixed-rate tax breaks are abolished in two years, the tax burden per person will increase by a maximum of 145,000 yen in fiscal 2006 and 290,000 yen in fiscal 2007.The government should not waste taxpayers' money on big-ticket public works projects or on funding local governments' lavish spending.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2004-12-16	YOSHIN0020041217e0cg000hd
YOMSHI0020041216e0ch0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041216e0ch0000g	EN	\N	More efforts needed to prevent crime	The National Police Agency released Thursday a report on the number and type of crimes committed in Japan in 2004. Based on statistics gathered between January and November, the agency analyzed the trend for each crime.	4	2004-12-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The number of confirmed crimes totaled 2.36 million, down 180,000 from the corresponding period last year. For the whole calendar year, the number may rise to about 2.6 million.Of the total so far, the number of heinous crimes, such as murder and aggravated robbery, slightly declined from the corresponding period last year to about 12,000.The number of crimes is expected to decline for the second straight year since a postwar-high 2.85 million crimes were recorded in 2002. It appears that the upward trend in such offenses is being checked.Making the determent of crime a priority, the NPA is stationing officers in more police boxes and reinforcing street patrols. Over the past two years, the NPA has increased the number of beat officers.These efforts seem to have paid off. The decline in crimes may also have something to do with the public's heightened awareness of the importance of crime-prevention measures.Overall picture far from rosyDespite the latest figures, however, the overall level of crimes has not improved markedly in recent years.Ten years ago, the number of crimes stood at 1.78 million a year. The number of heinous crimes did not top the 10,000 mark until five years ago. The police authorities must do more to deter crime.We should not overlook the fact that the number of crimes that strike fear into people's hearts is rising.While the number of burglaries as a whole shows no great change from the corresponding period last year, the number of house break-ins totaled 882 cases, a 10 percent increase from the same 11-month period last year. Things have come to a pretty pass if we cannot feel safe in our own homes.The number of cases in which children--mostly girls--were abducted or kidnapped also rose, with 287 such cases, up nearly 20 percent from the corresponding period last year.In a case that occurred in Nara last month, a first-year student was abducted while she was on her way home from school and was later found dead.The perpetrator sent a second threatening e-mail to the bereaved family earlier this week, as if to thumb his nose at the police investigation.Police, public must cooperateThe arrest rate stands at 26 percent so far this year, with the figure for the whole year likely to post a year-on-year increase for a third straight year.Many serious crimes have drawn much public attention lately, including the abduction-murder in Nara, and the arson-murder case in Aichi Prefecture in September in which a mother and her three children were killed.It goes without saying that arresting perpetrators is the best way to deter crimes. To maintain the public trust, police must catch criminals quickly.In the latest serial arson case, in which discount store Don Quijote's branches in Saitama were targeted, three shop clerks were killed.Meanwhile, heinous crimes by foreigners continue to be reported.We are approaching the end of a year in which public anxiety over crime has intensified. The police and local communities should work more closely to create safer neighborhoods.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 17)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2004-12-17	YOSHIN0020041220e0ch000gm
YOMSHI0020041217e0ci0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041217e0ci0000i	EN	\N	Fight N. Korean effort to divide and conquer	When it comes to concrete responses to the issues of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and Japanese abducted by North Korea, however, Roh's conciliatory stance toward the North has become apparent, bringing to the fore the differences between Japan and South Korea over how to deal with Pyongyang.	4	2004-12-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	South Korea's stance may allow Pyongyang to exploit such divisions to its advantage.It is essential to apply pressure to North Korea.Such differing perceptions may undermine cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea. But we should not let North Korea take advantage of such weakness on our side. Both Japan and South Korea need to make diplomatic efforts so as not to let North Korea take advantage of such an opening.So far, there has been no prospect for resuming the six-way talks since the third-round of talks were held in June. North Korea has refused to attend the next round of talks, apparently in an attempt to assess the new lineup under the administration of reelected U. S. President George W. Bush and any changes in U.S. policy on North Korea.In the talks, Koizumi said there had been increasing demands for the government to impose economic sanctions on North Korea, since the cremated remains brought to Japan from Pyongyang by a Japanese delegation in November were recently found not to be those of abductee Megumi Yokota as claimed by Pyongyang.Sanctions possibleDepending on how North Korea responds to the latest finding, Koizumi hinted to Roh that Japan would exert pressure by taking action, including possible economic sanctions, and called for South Korea's cooperation.While showing understanding for Japan's policy, Roh emphasized his concerns about the negative impact such sanctions would have on the six-way talks.As to the six-way talks, Roh told Koizumi that South Korea would patiently continue dialogue with the North and continue to urge it to change. Such a position, however, indicates that Seoul would continue its dialogue, but would put aside efforts to exert pressure.In speeches he made while visiting the United States and Europe, Roh said he could see some logic in North Korea's assertion of its right to pursue nuclear development. Roh also said there was almost no possibility of a collapse of the North Korean regime and that neither South Korea nor China hope to see such a collapse. These statements may be aimed at restraining the Bush administration's policy on North Korea.Roh's latest remarks made during his talks with Koizumi are an extension of that argument. Yet North Korea's nuclear development program is the biggest factor contributing to instability in the region, greatly shaking the international nuclear nonproliferation system.Reasonable responseWith regard to the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korea, it is only reasonable for Japan to consider economic sanctions against North Korea as an option.In pursuing a swift settlement of these pending issues, it is vital for Japan and South Korea to coordinate policies at this early stage.While pointing out the necessity of exerting pressure on North Korea, Japan needs to persistently call on South Korea to keep in step with Japan, using its close relations with the United States as a lever.During Friday's talks, the two leaders also agreed on promoting negotiations for concluding a bilateral free-trade agreement and on increasing the number of flights between Tokyo's Haneda airport and Seoul's Kimpo airport.Koizumi and Roh also decided that the two countries would conduct shuttle diplomacy between the two leaders, by holding no-tie talks in each other's countries next year--the 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties--and beyond.It also is necessary for the two countries to steadily strengthen and expand their reciprocal exchanges, thus building an environment in which the two countries can reach agreement on issues concerning North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 18)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	707	2004-12-18	YOSHIN0020041220e0ci001dj
YOMSHI0020041218e0cj0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041218e0cj0000e	EN	\N	Contract cost overruns bleeding govt dry	The national government made extra payments on about 13,000 contracts in the five years up to the end of fiscal 2003. The additional payments--totaling almost 600 billion yen over the five years--were the result of increases in the amount stated in the contracts after they had been signed.	4	2004-12-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Some of the extra costs may have been incurred through unavoidable changes in the contracts involved, but extra payments by the government beyond what is required by contract have been too large and too numerous. This is in stark contrast to desperate efforts by private corporations to curtail their contract payments.The figures lead one to suspect there may be collusive ties between the government and companies that have been awarded contracts to supply goods or services. It is necessary to fundamentally review the system used to award government contracts to prevent signed contracts from being changed too readily.The aforementioned figures were included in an answer given by the government to a question posed in writing by Akira Nagatsuma, a House of Representatives member of the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan). The answer was based on surveys conducted by each government ministry and agency concerning contracts they had awarded in the past.Billions in extra paymentsThe surveys show that all government ministries and agencies paid more than they had originally contracted to pay. The practice was particularly evident in contracts awarded by the Construction and Transport Ministry and the Defense Agency. The former paid a little less than 300 billion yen in additional costs, and the latter just under 180 billion yen.In January 2001, the ministry signed a contract worth 2.7 billion yen for tunnel mending along a national highway in Hokkaido. In March 2001, the ministry paid 1.2 billion yen in cost overruns for "unexpected work to stabilize soil (in the tunnel)."Meanwhile, the agency signed an 800 million yen contract for a periodic inspection of the Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Umigiri in January 2000. Only two months later, the agency paid an additional 600 million yen for "modifications in the specifics of an inspection due to unexpected changes in the circumstances."The government has defended its decisions to pay extra charges under these contracts, saying there was good reason for the decisions and therefore no legal problems should arise.There was a time when nobody questioned a huge increase in the cost of large public works projects as a result of what corporations responsible for the projects called "great difficulties" in the work involved. Examples include the Tokyo Bay Aqualine, whose eventual construction costs were 25 percent greater than initially estimated. The costs for the first stage of the Kansai Airport construction project were 36 percent larger than an initial estimate for the plan.Costs can be cutThis compares with a significant 15 percent reduction in the construction costs for Chubu Airport from an initial estimate. The 120 billion yen cut in the construction costs for the new international airport, which will open in February, has been made possible by employing a process of work similar to that of Toyota Motor Corp. The cost of public works projects can be curtailed if the government truly wants to cut costs.The Construction and Transport Ministry is scheduled to start a project to expand Haneda Airport in Tokyo next fiscal year. Corporations working on the project will have no problem finding reasons to charge more for construction work, including a rise in steel prices and a change in the location of land reclamation.Contracts for the project must be signed in a manner that will preclude any later changes in the initial bills.Growth in the amount stated in contracts awarded by central government offices is noticeable in the area of information technology. In April 1999, the Finance Ministry signed a 100 million yen contract for the development of a computer system for paperwork related to budget compilation. Ten months later, however, the ministry paid an extra 1.3 billion yen. There are too many similar cases to list them all.A group of 10 major corporations known as "IT general contractors," including NTT Corp., Fujitsu Ltd. and Hitachi, Ltd., receive all contracts for the development of computer systems from government and other public institutions.All government ministries and agenciesmust join to build a system in which outside specialists determine whether the amount of money demanded is reasonable or not.It also is advisable for the government to require each ministry and agency to disclose information about changes in the amount agreed to in every contract it has signed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 19)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	815	2004-12-19	YOSHIN0020041220e0cj0022i
YOMSHI0020041219e0ck0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041219e0ck0000b	EN	\N	Amending Constitution supremely important	Questions have been raised about the circumstances surrounding the LDP concerning the issue, especially given the recent internal turmoil caused by an outline for constitutional revision that was put together by a party panel.	4	2004-12-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the LDP has finally managed to end the confusion, thus setting the stage for the start of full-bore discussions early next year on amending the Constitution. The ruling party must keep its troubled project for revising the supreme law on track, and accelerate its efforts to achieve the goal.The LDP is scheduled to draw up the draft of a new constitution when it celebrates its 50th anniversary in November. Earlier, a subcommittee of the party's Research Commission on the Constitution presented the outline in question. However, some LDP House of Councillors members were bitterly opposed to the outline, insisting that some specifics of the proposal treated the upper house lightly. They dismissed the outline as a document prepared behind their backs, and protested at the procedures carried out within the party to submit the outline.Their objections to the outline of constitutional amendment reflect their concerns that the proposal could undermine the upper house's raison d'etre, leading to a decline in the power of the chamber. The outline proposes that upper house members be barred from becoming cabinet members and calls for abolishing the current system under which members of the chamber are elected by direct popular vote.What will Diet's role be?The main question is this: What kind of role should be fulfilled by the Diet as a central pillar of the nation's political system, in line with the great social and economic changes of our times? Any reform of the upper house should be discussed from this point of view.For years, the upper house has been called a carbon copy of the House of Representatives. It has been argued that the nation will be unable to swiftly tackle the major tasks it faces if its two parliamentary chambers, each with nearly equal power, conduct separate but similar discussions on each issue.This perception is reflected in a proposal included in the outline, which states that the lower house will take precedence over the upper house. This idea is similar to a report issued in 2000 by a private advisory body to then upper house President Juro Saito setting forth proposals for a reform of the upper house. Points in common can be found in the advisory panel's report and the latest outline. The former proposed that the upper house not designate the prime minister and that upper house members exercise self-restraint in taking up cabinet posts.LDP committee was remissThe subcommittee failed to do sufficient groundwork within the party before submitting the outline of constitutional reform, as demonstrated by its failure to present a board of party executives with its proposal. But the LDP's top cadre was just as remiss in this respect. The party's leadership was not exactly enthusiastic about cooperating with the party's Research Commission on the Constitution or taking the lead in tackling the key issue of constitutional reform.With the internal confusion over the outline in mind, the LDP is set to establish a task force led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for the purpose of promoting the drive for constitutional amendment. A subcommittee to be chaired by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori will operate under the new panel's umbrella. Its members will include LDP lawmakers, local chapter officials and representatives of rank-and-file party members.The establishment of the new task force does not mean that the LDP must start the discussion on constitutional revision from scratch. The subcommittee's outline can serve as a springboard for debate on the issue at meetings of the task force, especially as the proposal is based on discussions conducted within the LDP for about a year.The outline might be acceptable to most LDP members. If any party members are critical or skeptical about specifics of the proposal, they should fully debate the relevant issues and come up with better ideas.The attempt to frame a new constitution is seen an an effort to ensure that the supreme law defines what kind of country Japan will become, with the aim of overcoming various problems that are a result of changes in the world over time. The LDP--and all other parties--should take the importance of this formidable task to heart as they grapple with constitutional reform.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 20)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	790	2004-12-20	YOSHIN0020041221e0ck000cu
YOMSHI0020041220e0cl0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041220e0cl0000h	EN	\N	Govt losing appetite for spending cuts	Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki presented the ministry's budget proposal for fiscal 2005 to an extraordinary Cabinet meeting Monday. The projected 47.28 trillion yen worth of general expenditure, or policy-related discretionary spending, was below the previous fiscal year's budget for the first time in three years, indicating that this is a belt-tightening budget.	4	2004-12-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Tax revenues are expected to total 44 trillion yen next fiscal year if the economy continues to recover, a more than 2 trillion yen increase over revenues in the initial budget for fiscal 2004.Thanks to this, the amount of government bonds to be issued in the next fiscal year will drop 2 trillion yen to 34.4 trillion yen for the first reduction in four years.Sunny skies finally appear in sight for the nation's finances, which have continued to deteriorate since the bursting of the bubble economy. However, the situation is only improving because the recovery is set to boost tax revenues.The business climate is still unstable. Once it hits a downward curve, tax revenues will quickly start rolling downhill again, too.The debts of central and local governments will reach a total of 774 trillion yen at the end of next fiscal year. That is 1.5 times the gross national product--the worst debt level among industrialized nations.Wasteful projects plannedNevertheless, the ministry's draft budget contains some lenient expenditure items, which makes us wonder if the projected increase in tax revenues has robbed the ministry of its enthusiasm for belt-tightening measures.The most notable largess is the generous allowances for construction of new Shinkansen lines. The allowances have been increased as the construction of three new sections on the three Shinkansen lines has been decided.The government has put up future national revenues as collateral for the money it will have to borrow to build the lines. We doubt if it is really necessary to provide such money for such a gigantic public works project with questionable cost-effectiveness.Inefficiencies in social securitySocial security expenditures will exceed 20 trillion yen for the first time ever. But this is an increase of a mere 580 billion yen compared with the previous fiscal year because the government's share of National Health Insurance spending was reduced and some tax powers were transferred to local governments from the central government under the so-called triple reform process.The increase was small, but not because the natural increase in social security spending, which was expected to exceed 1 trillion yen, was controlled.With our society rapidly aging, social security spending is expected to post rapid growth in coming years. But despite this, social welfare and medical allowances are not being spent efficiently. We urge the government to eliminate such inefficiencies and drastically reform the social security system as quickly as possible to put a brake on the budget increase.The amount of tax allocation grants, which have been a subject of discussions in the triple reform process, is virtually the same as the previous year's.The Finance Ministry initially planned to slash 7 trillion yen to 8 trillion yen from grants to local governments because the ministry considered them excessive. But it could not overcome opposition from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry and local governments.Defense spending was cut by 1 percent compared with the previous fiscal year, but it could have been slashed more if the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces and their weapons, which have not been revised since the Cold War, had been thoroughly reviewed.Fixed-rate tax breaks will be halved in the next fiscal year, which will increase the burden on taxpayers. This can be accepted in view of the government's cash-strapped coffers, but it must carry out thorough reviews of spending if it is to ask the public to suffer the pain of its fiscal reconstruction.The public will not accept the government's measures if there is any waste in the budget.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 21)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2004-12-21	YOSHIN0020041222e0cl000hh
YOMSHI0020041221e0cm0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041221e0cm0000f	EN	\N	Oversight panel must restore faith in NHK	More than 110,000 households have refused to pay license fees to the public broadcaster, at least for the time being, in protest over these scandals. In addition, many viewers are frustrated with NHK, although they reluctantly continue to pay the fees.	4	2004-12-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a senior NHK producer on Dec. 4 on suspicion of pocketing 48 million yen earmarked for production costs of television programs he was in charge of, including "Kohaku Uta Gassen," the immensely popular year-end song battle.Although the alleged embezzlement was unearthed during an internal NHK investigation three years ago, it was reported only to the producer's direct superior. The people around him may have swept their own troubles under the carpet.NHK also demonstrated ineptitude in handling this scandal after it became public knowledge in July. Other scandals, including bogus business trips and the embezzlement of license fees, have also been discovered.NHK also offended viewers in September by failing to broadcast live a Diet session to which NHK President Katsuji Ebisawa had been summoned as an unsworn witness.Mea culpa lacked atonementThe public broadcaster finally aired a program of apology Sunday night, which ran for two hours and 15 minutes. Ebisawa appeared on the show to explain and apologize for the scandals in an apparent attempt to show that NHK's top manager listens to the voices of viewers.However, he said he had no immediate intention of resigning to take responsibility for the scandals, saying he would decide upon his fate after "setting reforms firmly in motion."NHK's supreme decision-making body is its management committee. The committee is authorized to make decisions on important managerial and business issues, and also has the authority to fire the president. The committee comprises 12 academics and business leaders who--according to NHK--have broad knowledge and experience and can make fair judgments on public welfare.After the scandals surfaced, the management committee could have shown leadership by investigating them and studying ways to reform the public broadcaster.Instead, the committee seems to do little more than rubber-stamp agenda items and focus on red-tape procedures without getting involved in serious discussions. Given that the committee members are part-timers and there is no secretariat, it seems highly unlikely it can provide any useful advice to senior management at the broadcasting company.Steps to avoid a rerunFirst, NHK should review the purpose of the management committee and enhance its oversight function. Membership on the committee traditionally has been considered an honorary position. From now on, its members should be conscious of the fact that they represent viewers and they should closely monitor all operations of NHK.Along with self-reform, NHK must continue to provide quality programs that satisfy viewers. This is the only way it can regain the confidence of viewers.Kunio Ishihara, president of Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., was appointed chairman of the management committee Tuesday.Ishihara emphasized at a press conference that all the committee members had vowed to do their best to restore public confidence in NHK.We expect them to demonstrate their determination in a concrete form as the first step toward the revival of the scandal-tainted public broadcaster.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 22)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	582	2004-12-22	YOSHIN0020041223e0cm000i6
YOMSHI0020041222e0cn0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041222e0cn0000h	EN	\N	Push N-fuel cycle plan by building confidence	Depleted uranium is being used as fuel for the test run. It has similar chemical properties to the spent nuclear fuel that will be used in the actual reprocessing. During the test run, which will last about a year, the JNFL will examine the facility's equipment for any defects.	4	2004-12-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the experiment runs smoothly, an experiment using spent nuclear fuel will begin late next year, with the aim of putting the plant into full operation in July 2006.The plant is the core facility for the nuclear fuel cycle, a project being pursued under a national policy. Under the project, 800 tons of spent nuclear fuel are to be reprocessed each year to extract plutonium and uranium for reuse.With the project, uranium can be effectively utilized, and radioactive waste will be greatly reduced. The project will also prove useful for ensuring a stable energy supply for this country, which is poor in natural resources.It is indeed an important experiment and must be carried out with meticulous attention to detail. With the test, all possible problems should be identified and corrected. Doing so will secure the safety of the plant's operation and help restore public confidence in the nation's nuclear program.Transparency importantThe Rokkashomura facility is a huge chemical plant, with 1,500 kilometers of piping. Subject to the latest test run is the 1,300-kilometer stretch of piping in which the main process in the nuclear fuel cycle takes place--chopping up and dissolving spent fuel and separating and recovering plutonium and uranium.A variety of problems can be expected to occur, ranging from pipe leakages, clogged pipes, inaccurate equipment readings, defective control systems and fires.Taking all these possible mishaps into account, the JNFL has studied past problems that occurred at similar facilities at home and abroad, and has come up with a total of 190 types of glitch that can be expected to occur, which it has made public via such means as its Web site.The latest test is primarily aimed at preventing problems from occurring when the plant eventually goes into full-scale operation.The radioactivity level of the depleted uranium used in the test is extremely low, meaning that there is no danger of a criticality accident occurring. So as not to prompt any needless fears, the JNFL must disclose relevant information on the experiment.Put safety firstA nuclear reprocessing plant operated by the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute in Tokaimura, Ibaraki Prefecture and one in France have been in operation for many years. Nuclear reprocessing is not a particularly advanced technology.In parallel with the reprocessing test-run, efforts for the establishment of a nuclear fuel cycle should be accelerated.What is needed first is the construction of a plant to process extracted plutonium into fuel. There are plans to build such a plant within the premises of the reprocessing plant, making it vital to win the Aomori prefectural government's consent for the construction.It is also necessary to expedite efforts to realize the government-envisaged Pluthermal Project for burning plutonium in existing light-water reactors in the form of mixed oxides (MOX) of uranium and plutonium.Though the nation's power-generating industry plans to make use of the MOX at 16 to 18 plants, power companies, except for Shikoku Electric Power Co., have yet to win consent from local governments to do so.If ways are found to deal with problems that can be expected to occur in the operation of the nuclear fuel cycle, public understanding of the program will spread.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 23)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	639	2004-12-23	YOSHIN0020041224e0cn000eu
YOMSHI0020041223e0co0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041223e0co0000b	EN	\N	2004 a year of natural, man-made calamities	Given that the Japanese archipelago was hit by a succession of calamities this year, we can understand why the kanji "sai," signifying "calamity," was chosen as Kanji of the Year in the annual year-end event of the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, which invited entries from the public.	4	2004-12-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Shizuka Shirakawa, an eminent scholar of ancient Chinese ideograms who was awarded the Order of Culture in autumn, explains in the dictionary of archaic words he authored titled "Jikun" how the character sai was derived.Natural catastrophesSai is made up of the radicals magarigawa (twisting rivers) as the upper element and hi (fire) as the lower one. The top radical, which depicts streams of water, formerly signified water-related calamities, such as floods.Later, many fires occurred in a certain community, giving rise to sai, which combined the ideas of twisting rivers and fire, he explains. With changes in people's daily life in later years, the meaning of the character expanded and also was used to refer to man-made calamities.An earthquake registering the maximum magnitude of seven on the Japanese scale hit the Chuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture on the evening of Oct. 23, upsetting the hitherto peaceful life in local communities and disrupting most public utilities, including water, electricity and gas supplies.The earthquake left 40 people dead and more than 4,000 injured, while the number of those who were forced to evacuate to temporary shelters totaled as many as 100,000 at one time.With nature having raged before our very eyes, it was a matter of course that the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake was listed as the top domestic news story. It marked the first time for a natural disaster to be named No. 1 on the list of the top 10 domestic news stories since the Great Hanshin Earthquake made the top spot in 1995.Listed in seventh place was the record number of 10 typhoons that hit the nation this year. The typhoons inflicted many scars on the nation, leaving many people dead and sending prices of green vegetables higher, hitting family budgets.The abnormally high temperatures that hit various parts of the nation ranked 14th. The heat may have something to do with abnormal weather patterns that have accompanied the acceleration of global warming. Meanwhile, the appearance of bears in many villages across the country--placed 27th on the list--may also have been a side effect of global warming.Human errorCalamities are not limited to natural disasters. Least forgivable are calamities resulting from human error.The top human calamity was the abduction of Japanese by North Korea, a state-sponsored crime.We were relieved by the arrival in Japan of the five children of four Japanese abductees from North Korea--two children of Kaoru Hasuike and his wife, Yukiko, and three children of Yasushi Chimura and his wife, Fukie. The homecoming (ranked in fifth place) was realized through the second visit to Pyongyang by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in May. Nonetheless, there has so far been no change whatsoever in the North Korea's despicable stance on the abduction issue.Pretending that cremated remains it handed over were those of abductee Megumi Yokota, though they were later confirmed to be those of others, was meant to play on the feelings of her family and ridicule the Japanese people. We should deal with the issue resolutely.There was also a spate of ore, ore (It's me calling) money scams (ranked 10th), in which perpetrators took advantage of victims' concern about the safety of their relatives and deceived them into paying money to the perpetrators' bank accounts, resulting in damages estimated at more than 15 billion yen. This new type of crime was a man-made calamity.The arrest of six former Mitsubishi Motors Corp. executives, including a former president, over a series of systematic cover-ups of product defects (ranked 21st) also can be considered a man-made calamity.In court, the former executives apologized for accidents involving MMC vehicles, but denied their criminal responsibility. Their excuses were hard to understand. We can hear the Mitsubishi group's three-diamond logo wailing.We should prevent calamities from happening by all means.The reconstruction of war-torn Iraq will face a critical phase ahead of the establishment of a new government, starting with the election of the national assembly in January.At this point, there is no telling how the security situation in Iraq will develop. Should the international community stop extending reconstruction assistance now, unthinkable calamities would occur.The entry of the main contingent of the Ground Self-Defense Force into Iraq, which was ranked sixth in the list, shows that many people have come to recognize the importance of Japan's assuming a role commensurate with its position as a member of the international community. We hope the SDF personnel will fulfill their mission while ensuring their own safety.Causes for celebrationThere were not a few bright news items that made people forget calamities for a while.The gold medals rush by Japanese athletes at the Athens Olympics, ranked second on the list, was an outstanding achievement, which lifted people's spirits during the heat wave this summer.Japan won 16 gold medals during the Games. The winning spree started with Ryoko Tani's winning her second straight Olympic gold medal in the women's judo, gained momentum with swimmer Kosuke Kitajima's winning his two gold medals in breaststroke--he shouted, "Cho kimochi ii!" (I feel so good!)--and rounded off with Mizuki Noguchi's finishing first in the women's marathon. "I thank God," she said.It was amazing that Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners managed to break the 84-year-old major league record of 257 hits by notching up a total of 262 this season. His feat ranked fourth on the list.The third-ranked story was the strike by Japanese pro baseball players that was followed by the creation of a new club for the first time in 50 years, giving baseball fans a sense of high expectation over the scheduled interleague play between the Central and Pacific league teams, as well as over the performance of the new club--the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles--next year.The booming interest in South Korean culture among Japanese women, triggered by the popular South Korean television drama "Fuyu no Sonata" (Winter Sonata), may have developed from a desire among the Japanese people to seek peace of mind in a year full of difficulties. The hanryu (Korean culture) boom ranked eighth on the list.If only we could lighten the gloomy mood in the nation with the issuance of new banknotes, for the first time in 20 years, the story that ranked 13th.Brightening people's hearts toward the end of the year was the news of the planned marriage of Princess Nori, the daughter of the Emperor and Empress, which ranked ninth on the list.Hope springs eternalResidents who were forced to evacuate by the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake until recently were finally able to move into makeshift homes Monday, with the temporary shelters all closed. As if waiting for the shelters to shut, heavy snow has started falling in the quake-hit region.We recall the story of Yuta Minagawa, then 2, who endured hunger and cold under debris following the earthquake, but was rescued on Oct. 27, four days after the van he was in was buried in a landslide in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.We should never give up hope. This is what we learned from the boy's miraculous survival--and what we will keep in mind at this close of a year of calamities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1333	2004-12-24	YOSHIN0020041227e0co000bf
YOMSHI0020041224e0cp0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041224e0cp0000h	EN	\N	Time to put an end to N. Korea's lies	Anyone reading the government's analysis of the documents submitted by that nation on the fate of the 10 Japanese abducted by North Korean agents must be appalled at the communist state's irresponsible attitude on the issue.	4	2004-12-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Friday, the government said the documents in question contained nothing to support North Korea's assertion that eight of the 10 abductees had died, while the remaining two never entered the country.The contempt shown by a rogue state such as North Korea toward Japan is insupportable. There is actually no reason for Japan to take such abuse any longer. It is not surprising that the government said Friday it would take "stern action" if the reclusive state did not respond to its calls for clarity on the issue "swiftly and sincerely."According to the government's announcement, it has been determined that the ashes claimed by North Korea to be those of abductee Megumi Yokota actually belong to someone else. The government also said a document claimed to be a copy of Yokota's medical chart contained many items open to doubt.It has also been found that the ashes North Korea said were those of Kaoru Matsuki, another abductee, are those of several other people. It is the second time North Korea has tried to pass off the ashes of strangers as those of Matsuki's. North Korea's shameless actions deserve nothing but bitter condemnation.Abductees could be aliveThe reclusive state's fabricated documents and false claims could be evidence that the abductees are still alive. The government must act quickly to ensure that those kidnapped, if still alive, are repatriated from North Korea as soon as possible.The government will accomplish little if it just urges North Korea to take "sincere actions."During his meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in May, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il pledged to "investigate (the fate of the 10) from scratch." The result of this pledge has been one shameless lie after another about the fate of the abductees.North Korea reacted hysterically to the government's statement that the ashes it claimed were those of Yokota were actually those of another person. Pyongyang has dismissed the Japanese conclusion about the ashes as "unacceptable." The communist regime has said Japan is "only causing a fuss" by insisting that North Korea has lied--and has even gone so far as to say that if Japan imposes economic sanctions against it, the action will be regarded as a "declaration of war."Don't expect sincerityIt's just no use expecting an outrageous country like North Korea to act "sincerely."The government should swiftly prepare to take stern action against Pyongyang. During a joint press conference following a recent Japan-South Korea summit meeting, Koizumi said his government would "consider exercising pressure and imposing sanctions (against North Korea)."South Korea and some other nations have asked Japan to be cautious when it comes to imposing unilateral economic sanctions against the reclusive country. Their attitude reflects the concern that North Korea could use Japanese sanctions as a pretext for refusing to attend another round of six-nation talks aimed at ensuring Pyongyang scraps its nuclear weapons development program.The issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons program directly impacts on Japan's national peace and security. Given this, Japan must carefully consider how economic sanctions against North Korea would affect the six-way negotiations.If it does decide to impose sanctions against North Korea, Japan should first gain the support of the United States, South Korea, China and Russia. Doing so would make it easier for Japan to level the sanctions, and such diplomatic efforts to work closely with other nations in dealing with North Korea would serve to put additional pressure on that country.Special committees on the abduction issue in both chambers of the Diet have adopted resolutions urging the government to consider sanctions against North Korea. It may be advisable for both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors to pass similar resolutions in their plenary sessions. Such action is essential to let North Korea know that the Japanese are determined to resolve the kidnappings.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 25)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	737	2004-12-25	YOSHIN0020041227e0cp000yo
YOMSHI0020041225e0cq0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041225e0cq0000c	EN	\N	Delay in detection of bird flu inexcusable	A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry investigation has found that the avian influenza virus infected one of the former employees at the chicken farm in February. Why then were the results of the ministry's investigation not announced until the end of the year? This delay is very disturbing.	4	2004-12-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The prevention of any epidemic requires early and vigilant efforts to ascertain the true state of the spread of an infectious disease. The ministry's delay in releasing the results of its investigation into the spread of avian flu at the poultry farm in question casts doubt on whether the government can implement adequate measures to deal with such emergencies as the spread of a new strain of influenza, unknown infectious diseases, or biological terrorist attacks.The former poultry farm employee was one of many who helped dispose of thousands of chickens at the facility. The ministry also said bird flu had probably infected three other former employees who engaged in disposal work, as well as one Kyoto prefectural employee who inspected the farm.The five people were particularly susceptible to the avian flu because during their work there, they wore no flu masks or protective clothing and took no antiviral medicines.Public safe--this timeFortunately, none of the five developed any symptoms of avian flu. Their cases seem to have been mild, as indicated by the fact that the avian flu virus was not found in their blood. Therefore, there is no risk of secondary infection. The spread of bird flu at the farm has been contained, meaning that consumers are not at risk of contracting the disease this time.The investigation was conducted by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. When one is infected with a virus, the body develops antibodies in the blood as a result of an immune reaction. To determine whether they had bird flu, blood samples were taken from the former employees and others engaged in preventing bird flu at the farm from spreading to other locations.The ministry said it took a long time to convince the employees to allow blood samples to be taken and to develop a fool-proof method of detecting the virus. In total, about 7,000 people were engaged in containing the epidemic, but only 58 of them were tested for the disease.Admittedly, it is no easy task to ensure that everyone takes such a test, whether they want to or not. Still, the government should urge members of the public to recognize the importance of doing so. It is also necessary to examine whether the current infectious disease control laws are flawed. It is no less important for the central and local governments to shore up their antiviral research and inspection systems.Speed is of the essenceThe turmoil arising from the chicken farm in Kyoto Prefecture highlighted how vital it is to implement necessary measures as soon as possible when it comes to fighting an epidemic. At the initial stage of the epidemic, the operator of the chicken farm failed to inform the prefectural government and other relevant authorities of the situation. Farm employees were left defenseless against the flu until an anonymous phone call tipped off the prefectural government to the problem.In recent years, Asia has been struck by frequent outbreaks of bird flu. The disease infected 44 people in Thailand and Vietnam. Of these, 32 died.Frequent cases of bird-to-human infection could lead to a mutation of the avian flu virus into a virus that passes easily from human to human, resulting in a new variant of a highly pathogenic influenza. The death toll caused by the spread of such a flu would be unimaginable.Past variants of influenza that raged across some parts of the world began as avian viruses.Having determined that the former chicken farm employee was infected with bird flu, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is calling for the early detection of avian influenza, accompanied by efforts to swiftly report the disease to relevant authorities and ensure that personnel engaged in containing the spread of the disease wear protective clothing. The central and local governments, as well as poultry farmers, must take these directives to heart.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	760	2004-12-26	YOSHIN0020041227e0cq001lv
YOMSHI0020041226e0cr0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041226e0cr0000g	EN	\N	Iraq, terrorism dominated news in '04	The Yomiuri Shimbun readers' poll of major overseas news stories in 2004 was dominated by the words "Iraq" and "terrorism," with the two words frequently linked as though one.	4	2004-12-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The abductions of foreigners in Iraq, which ranked seventh in the poll, symbolizes this sad situation. Iraqi militias in 2004 abducted and killed foreigners regardless of their nationalities.Inevitably, Japanese would become victims, and in April, five Japanese civilians who had been abducted by Iraqi militias in two separate operations were released unharmed. But Shosei Koda, a Japanese backpacker who entered Iraq on his own, was killed after being abducted in October.Counterterrorism experts believe most abduction victims, including Koda, were taken hostage by international terrorist organizations, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.These organizations are demanding the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq, demands they press by beheading hostages in the hopes of breaking the will of the international community to help reconstruct the war-torn country.Japan shows firm stanceThe Philippines government was criticized by the international community when it cowed to a demand from a terrorist group to withdraw its armed forces from Iraq in exchange for the release of a Filipino hostage.But the Japanese government refused to cower to demands to withdraw Self-Defense Forces troops from Iraq in exchange for the release of Japanese hostages. It was the right thing for the government to do, and sent a clear message that the government will stick to its guns--abductions or not--when it comes to its policies on Iraqi.Five other Iraq-related events ranked 11th to 15th in the poll, including the news that the death toll of U.S. soldiers in Iraq had exceeding 1,000, which ranked 11th. This toll has continued to climb, exceeding 1,300 in December, a grim reminder that there is little sign of improvement in the Iraqi situation.In just over a month, on Jan. 30, Iraq will reach an important crossroads on its path to democracy when the first free election for the national assembly will be held.A world threatened by terrorIn addition to Iraq, other parts of the world were visited by terrorist outrages, and some of the most chilling were a series of terrorist attacks in Russia.The eyes of the world were riveted to television screens reporting the takeover of a school by terrorists in North Ossetia, which ranked third in the poll. The terrorists stormed the school at the start of a new term, holding students, parents and school staff hostage in a drama that was to end in death for hundreds.The school massacre was followed by a terrorist bomb attack on the Russian subway, 10th in the poll, and the downing of two Russian aircraft by terrorist bombs, at 25th.Chechen rebels were responsible or suspected of being responsible for those tragedies in Russia. Branding all rebels terrorists, the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin has resorted to the use of military force to eradicate them. Needless to say, there is no room for softness in dealing with terrorist attacks. However, the repeated attacks by rebels may indicate that Putin's uncompromising hard-line approach to Chechnya has not been successful.The sixth-ranked overseas news story was the train bombings in Spain that killed about 190 people. The reverberations from the blasts caused a serious aftereffect throughout the international community.Public backlash to the bombings swept the Popular Party out of office in the general elections. The Popular Party government had supported the United States in the war in Iraq and dispatched Spanish troops to Iraq. The Socialist Party, taking the helm of government in an election upset, decided to withdraw troops from Iraq.The pullout of troops from Iraq was in line with the Socialist Party's election campaign pledge. In that sense, it was different from the Philippine government's decision to withdraw its soldiers from Iraq. But the new Spanish government's policy has undoubtedly encouraged terrorists, causing a new worry to the international community.The ninth top overseas news story was the all-time high for crude oil prices recorded on the New York futures exchange. The main cause of the rapid price spiral was an unabated upward trend for crude oil demand in China and other countries. At the same time, we should not overlook the fact that terrorist attacks in oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia stirred up fears among market players of the possibility of disruptions to the world's oil supply.Ranked eighth was the explosion of a goods train in North Korea. Initially, it was speculated that opponents of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had sabotaged it. North Korea is a really troublesome neighbor that assumed a belligerent attitude--rather than repeating "We don't know"--when its dishonesty was made clear in connection with the issue of Japanese abductees. We have to keep a close eye on the North.Olympics under tight securityOur readers chose the first Olympic Games in Athens in 108 years as the No. 1 overseas news story of 2004. The return of the Olympiad to its birthplace certainly immerse people in historical nostalgia.But historians of the future may recall the 2004 Olympics as the Games that were held in the most stringent alert in history. Greece reportedly spent the equivalent of 148 billion yen on security while the North Atlantic Treaty Organization deployed troops to enhance security.The fatal outbreak of bird flu was ranked fifth. If avian flu becomes rampant, it can become more mutagenic, increasing infectiousness among human beings. The selection of this news story reflects a serious worry directly affecting readers.What sorts of challenges will we face in 2005? The international community must cope with the New Year with new wisdom and energy to act boldly for the realization of new wisdom.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 27)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1038	2004-12-27	YOSHIN0020041228e0cr000aj
YOMSHI0020041227e0cs0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041227e0cs0000f	EN	\N	Fixing Imperial system will require wisdom	We expect the council to deepen the discussion on the Imperial family from many angles, including from a historical perspective.	4	2004-12-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Constitution stipulates "The Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and the unity of the people" and "The Imperial throne shall be dynastic and succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial House Law."The Imperial House Law also stipulates "The Imperial throne of Japan shall be succeeded to by male descendants in the male line of Imperial ancestors." Women in the Imperial family are banned from becoming female emperors, better known as empresses regnant.Neither Crown Prince Naruhito nor Prince Akishino has a male child. If this situation continues, it could endanger the continuation of the Imperial family. Crown Prince Naruhito once said Crown Princess Masako felt enormous pressure over the heir issue.The Constitution Research Commission of the Liberal Democratic Party last month compiled a draft outline to revise the Constitution, under which a female member of the Imperial family would be allowed to become an empress regnant.Koizumi supports changePrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also has said he supports granting female members of the Imperial family the right to ascend the throne.Both the council and the prime minister formulated their views apparently based on the current situation of the Imperial family.The male hereditary system has been a focus of discussions several times in the past. It has been discussed in the Diet. Opinions both for and against the system have been expressed.In Japanese history, there have been eight empress regnants under 10 different names. Britain, the Netherlands and other constitutional monarchies in Europe grant female members of royal families the right to ascend the throne.However, some people have pointed out that all empresses regnant in Japan have filled that position only temporarily. They also point out that only members of the Imperial family have ever married an empress regnant.No need to imitate EuropeThe government also maintains the stance that Japan's Imperial Household system has a long and unique history of its own and does not have to be like those in European countries.The system has long been criticized for discriminating against women. The government explains that away by saying the system, which recognizes the emperor as a symbol of the state, does not violate the principle of the equality of sexes guaranteed by the Constitution.Even if female members of the Imperial family are granted the right to ascend the throne, many other issues will have to be solved, such as where a female member should be placed in the succession line to the Imperial throne and what status should be given to her husband. Another question is whether a female member of the Imperial family should be allowed to create a new royal family after marriage.The government's council must present plausible views on those issues. It must give serious consideration to the feelings of the general public. We also expect the council to ask the opinions of the Imperial family, including the Emperor, the Empress and Crown Prince Naruhito.History and tradition should be respected. But, at the same time, the Imperial Household system needs to be modified so that it can cope with changing times.The wisdom of the Japanese people will be called for in reviewing the Imperial Household system, with all of its long history.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 28)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2004-12-28	YOSHIN0020041229e0cs000d6
YOMSHI0020041228e0ct0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041228e0ct0000h	EN	\N	Full Joetsu service puts area on recovery track	We hope the full resumption of services will help people in the quake-hit area recover their spirits.	4	2004-12-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The line is a major transportation artery between Niigata Prefecture and the Tokyo metropolitan area. After the quake, the number of holidaymakers visiting the prefecture nosedived, and traditional industries in the area were badly damaged.With the skiing season just around the corner, the reopening of the line is good news for the tourist industry in the prefecture. It will also make it easier for people with parents in the region to make the visit home for the New Year. The reopening will reinvigorate the quake-affected area both physically and spiritually.The full resumption of services after a suspension of only a little over two months was due to the unstinting efforts of railway engineers.Shaken but safeToki No. 325 was hit by a shallow-focus earthquake while it was traveling through Nagaoka in the prefecture at about 200 kph. Although it was derailed, it did not overturn, and none of the 151 passengers were injured, averting a terrible disaster.The rails on the elevated section of track where the derailment occurred were torn from their sleepers over a distance of 1.6-kilometers before the Shinkansen train slid to a halt.The interior walls of a tunnel on the track caved in and the railbed was thrust upward. Concrete was shaken lose from elevated pilings on the line, leaving rebar bare. In all, 45 pilings were seriously damaged.The damage threatened to give lie to the legendary safety of Shinkansen trains, a proud boast earned during the 40 years since the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen line.Shinkansen lines have advanced earthquake-safety technology, with seismometers placed along the line to detect preliminary tremors and cut off the power supply to the train, automatically triggering the brakes on a train. But the system had only a limited effect when it was struck by an earthquake with a shallow focus, but a strong shock.But an investigation has revealed there was no major disaster on the line, except for the derailment, and has proved the safety of Shinkansen lines.During the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, oscillations much greater than the ones registered during the Great Hanshin Earthquake pounded the railway system. Yet the damage to the elevated tracks of the Joetsu Shinkansen line was less than it appeared, and the stretch of track retained its structural integrity.These factors have also contributed to the early reopening of the line. A full resumption of services was possible after relatively minor work, including the injection of fresh concrete into damaged pilings.Lessons learned pay offLearning the lessons of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, during which girders supporting the elevated track of the Shinkansen line gave way, JR group firms reinforced their lines by, for example, enclosing pilings in steel sheet.In the section where the Joetsu Shinkansen train derailed, similar reinforcement helped to limit damage to the elevated track. If these pilings had been badly damaged during the quake, a major disaster could have occurred. This shows the importance of diligent, continuous efforts to improve safety.Many sections of elevated tracks on Shinkansen lines have yet to be reinforced and JR group companies need to reinforce them as soon as possible.The central government and JR companies are investigating how the derailment occurred. When we learn more about the accident, which was caused by an unexpectedly severe quake, we should adopt any lessons that can be put to practical use.The Shinkansen train system symbolizes Japan's technological prowess and we hope its safety will be enhanced even further.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2004-12-29	YOSHIN0020041230e0ct0009o
YOMSHI0020041229e0cu0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041229e0cu0000e	EN	\N	Will the latest bailout revive Daiei's fortunes?	The IRCJ-led rehabilitation calls for financial assistance of nearly 600 billion yen, much more than had been expected, from its main creditor banks, including UFJ Bank, while calling on Daiei to implement harsh corporate restructuring, including the closure of more than 50 outlets.	4	2004-12-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Daiei group will retain promising businesses, such as credit card operations. Meanwhile, Daiei avoided becoming a supermarket store chain specializing in foodstuffs and having some lines of its businesses sold off, as was envisaged under an earlier rehabilitation plan formulated by the IRCJ and Daiei's three major creditor banks.The IRCJ and the creditor banks have concluded that a shortcut for Daiei's rehabilitation would be for it to make use of its existing organizations and its network of chain stores.Daiei is a behemoth, employing more than 70,000 people. To avoid triggering mass layoffs through a ruthless downsizing and corporate reorganization, the IRCJ has opted for a soft-landing policy.Daiei earlier had asserted that it would survive on its own if it could get rid of its mountain of debts. Under the IRCJ-led rehabilitation plan, it has cleared many high hurdles.Firm has its back to the wallIt can be said that Daiei has made a step forward toward its rehabilitation, although many pending problems remain.Having suffered a setback with the burst of the bubble economy, Daiei received financial assistance on two occasions from its main creditor banks. Still burdened with debts of 1 trillion yen, Daiei has sought financial assistance from its creditor banks for a third time.As a condition for extending yet more financial aid, the creditor banks called on Daiei to seek help from the IRCJ. As it worried about losing its corporate management rights, Daiei strongly resisted IRCJ-led rehabilitation.In a tug-of-war that came to involve the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Financial Services Agency, Daiei, driven to the brink of filing for court-assisted protection, announced its intention to accept assistance from the IRCJ.According to the new financial assistance plan, drawn up through negotiations between the IRCJ and the creditor banks, UFJ Bank and the other creditor banks plan to waive claims on loans totaling about 400 billion yen and retire most of the preferred shares they have in Daiei.The plan also calls for reducing Daiei's common stock by 99 percent, merging 10 shares into one, to make shareholders responsible for the company's plight.With its own rehabilitation plan, Daiei would never have been able to expect such assistance.Restoring shoppers' trust keyThe focus for Daiei's rehabilitation now shifts to the corporation that will sponsor Daiei's rehabilitation. After an initial first bidding, the IRCJ shortlisted seven candidates to sponsor Daiei's rehabilitation, most of whom are rival retailers, such as supermarket store chain Aeon Co. and U.S. retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc.The IRCJ will conduct two more biddings to decide on a single sponsor by March.As Daiei is likely to survive as a conglomerate, there is little possibility of the firm being absorbed by others, no matter who the sponsor is, according to industry sources.The IRCJ will later inject money in Daiei and take the lead in managing the retailer. The first thing for the IRCJ to do is halt Daiei's declining sales. The key to this is to restore consumers' confidence in the retail giant.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 30)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2004-12-30	YOSHIN0020041231e0cu0006z
YOMSHI0020041230e0cv0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020041230e0cv0000g	EN	\N	Princess' engagement cause for celebration	On Thursday, the Imperial Household Agency announced the engagement of the princess, the only daughter of the Emperor and Empress, and Kuroda, a Tokyo metropolitan government employee.	4	2004-12-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Kuroda has known the princess through Prince Akishino since both were close friends as students at Gakushuin Primary School. During a press conference, the couple described how they felt deeper affection toward each other after meeting again in January last year.The princess said she had became attracted by Kuroda's "great generosity of spirit that tolerates others." The remark showed that they have ample mutual trust. We offer our heartfelt congratulations on their engagement.The announcement of the royal engagement came after it had been postponed twice. First, the Imperial Household Agency put off the announcement out of consideration to thousands of people who experienced great suffering in the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake in late October. The announcement was postponed again when Princess Takamatsu died on Dec. 18.New life as a commonerIt is said that Princess Takamatsu was anxious to see the young princess married. On Sunday, a Renso no gi funeral for the deceased princess took place. Princess Nori may have been filled with deep emotion about Princess Takamatsu's demise.The Empress and Empress expressed their thoughts about the royal engagement through the grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency, saying, "We find it reassuring for the young couple to announce they have decided to spend the rest of their lives together after two years (of deliberation)."In a written message issued on her 70th birthday in October, the Empress said, "I cannot forget how happy I was to have little Sayako (Princess Nori's first name) as my third child." The comment probably described sentiments the Empress felt about her daughter's soon-to-be-announced engagement.After marrying Kuroda, Princess Nori will lose her status as a member of the Imperial family, meaning that she will become a commoner. The princess may be anxious about the new life she will begin, as she said at Thursday's press conference. The Imperial couple may be concerned about their daughter's life as a commoner, too.Various preparations must be made for the royal couple's wedding and new life, including choosing a wedding hall and a new residence. We hope all organizations and people associated with their wedding, including the Imperial Household Agency, will lend full support to the couple by paying attention to their wishes.Media should act responsiblyFor years, Princess Nori has taken part in events organized for young people, as well as those held by welfare and charitable organizations, as a member of the Imperial family. Many people may want the princess to carry on these activities.Crown Princess Masako has been undergoing medical treatment this year. This has played a part in arousing a controversy about how members of the Imperial family should fulfill their duties. Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino expressed their honest feelings about the issue. The Emperor expressed his thoughts on the problem, too.The Emperor said some reports on the issue were "unfounded," adding that such reports often made him feel depressed. Discussing the issue in reports just for entertainment runs counter to efforts to make the Imperial family "open" to the public.The Emperor and Empress said they want Princess Nori and Kuroda to be "watched over fondly." We want to ensure that the wishes of the Imperial couple will be honored.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 31)	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2004-12-31	YOSHIN0020050103e0cv00096
yomshi0020021231dz110005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021231dz110005p	EN	\N	Change policy to avert depression.	That era is supposed to be a thing of the distant past. Yet the years of the Showa Depression increasingly are talked about today. This is because the economic policy adopted during that period, when the administration pursued an austere fiscal policy during an economic slowdown and brought about a depression, is reckoned to be similar to the one being pursued by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, which is attempting to take further deflationary steps in the current deflation-led recession.	17	2003-01-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The depression in the early part of the Showa era is being cited as a historic lesson these days as a sense of crisis is spreading over the possibility the Japanese economy may sink into a depression if current problems are left unchecked.Some also have pointed to a similarity between Japan's current situation and that in the United States during the Great Depression, which formed the background to the Showa Depression.Even after the stock market crash in October 1929, then U.S. President Herbert Hoover said production and distribution of his country's wealth rested on a sound and prosperous foundation. He apparently ignored the real state of the country's crisis.In the years that followed, Hoover continued to avert his eyes from the reality of a worsening depression, and emphasized the short-term fiscal deficit, even at the time of the change in administrations in 1933. Hoover even wrote to President-elect Franklin Roosevelt saying the fiscal equilibrium, or balance of fiscal revenue and expenditure, should be observed at all costs, and would no doubt be the main policy challenge.@: Meanwhile, Andrew Mellon, secretary of the Treasury under the Hoover administration, advocated a program of liquidating jobs, stocks and real estate, thus adopting a policy of eliminating waste and inefficiency in the recessionary economy.'Creative destruction'Put differently, it was a program that held that the destruction of one thing would usher in the creation of something new, a line of economic thinking known as "creative destruction." Yet the program ended up aggravating the depression as it failed to present a vision for the future of what would be created after the destruction.The slogan championed by Koizumi-"without structural reform, there is no economic growth"-also fails to clearly show a concrete vision of growth, which he says is supposed to come after reform. On the contrary, the basic policy for structural reform compiled by Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, shortly after the Koizumi administration was inaugurated used the phrase "creative destruction" as a key economic management term.Since the Koizumi Cabinet was inaugurated, various economic indicators have continued showing signs of decline under the banner of "creative destruction."Such indicators include the real gross domestic product, the nominal gross domestic product, stock prices, the number of corporate failures, the jobless rate, the index of industrial production, and the value of capital investment in plants and equipment by all industries. On the monetary front, there is a continuing decline in outstanding loans extended by financial institutions-the so-called credit crunch-for the first time since the Showa Depression.Many people are worried about accelerating deflation in an apparently deflation-led recession under the current policy of accelerating the disposal of nonperforming loans held by banks, an idea advanced by Takenaka.Indeed, the prompt disposal of nonperforming loans is desirable when it comes to the bad-loan issue alone. Yet Takenaka's plan does not pursue policy integration for overall economic management.The basics of the plan lie in forcing banks to accelerate the disposal of their nonperforming loans in accordance with U.S.-style accounting standards. Yet the plan lacks a responsible approach as it leaves it up to the Finance and other ministries to decide whether the tax system should be adjusted to be more in tune with relevant tax systems in the United States.Deflation-fighting measuresNonperforming loans, the current focal issue, have surfaced one after another as a consequence of progressing deflation. The issue can be dealt with only on the condition that the government adopts powerful deflation-fighting measures that integrate fiscal and tax systems and monetary policies. Takenaka's plan, above all others, may plunge the economy to the bottom of a deflationary spiral.What about fiscal policy? The real meaning of the "structural reform" Koizumi champions is vague and indefinite. Yet one thing is clear-it also means tightening the fiscal policy line.The catchphrase of the administration of Prime Minister Osachi Hamaguchi, which ushered in the Showa Depression, was the "readjustment of fiscal affairs." This is a policy line similar to the fiscal reconstruction and 30 trillion yen cap on the issuance of new government bonds advocated by Koizumi.Yet it is obvious Koizumi's tight fiscal policy line has collapsed already. The ongoing economic contraction has brought about a sizable drop in tax revenues for two straight years, further hurting the fiscal state of the government rather than leading to its fiscal reconstruction. The Koizumi administration managed to cover the tax revenue shortfall in fiscal 2001 with funds diverted from the government's special account for the National Debt Consolidation Fund.In fiscal 2002, however, the government decided to cover the tax revenue shortfall of 2.5 trillion yen by issuing new government bonds, thus forcing the Koizumi administration in effect to give up its policy of a 30 trillion yen cap on the issuance of new government bonds.But Koizumi calls it "policy reinforcement" rather than policy change. It is apparent to anybody that this line of logic is a laughable sophism.Putting aside the real meaning of "structural reform," Koizumi should declare clearly that his administration will, for now, put economic recovery before fiscal reconstruction. At least for the time being, such a move would change the general mood significantly and might have a favorable impact on corporate behavior and consumption trends.On top of this, the Koizumi administration should take action to create demand through large-scale fiscal measures. The supplementary budget for fiscal 2002 and the Cabinet-approved budget for fiscal 2003 should be revised drastically, and include a sizable cut in corporate tax.More bond issuance crucialAs to a revenue source for revising the budgets and carrying out tax cuts, the government has no alternative but to issue additional government bonds. It also might be worth studying whether by issuing interest-free, tax-exempt government bonds to the tune of 10 trillion yen (beyond the issuance of ordinary bonds), the so-called underground money that businesses or individuals concealed from tax authorities and excluded from the nation's gross domestic product could be absorbed.The Bank of Japan needs to take action aimed at realizing a moderate increase in prices by introducing inflation targets. Even Takenaka has referred to the need to adopt inflation targeting.Inflation targets can be implemented in various ways, such as by increasing the outright purchase of government bonds by the Bank of Japan. All possible means should be mobilized.Guiding the yen's depreciation against other major currencies is also an effective means of bailing the economy out of this deflationary phase. The purchase of foreign government bonds by the Bank of Japan could be a workable option, too.The important thing is for the Koizumi administration to push forward with these diverse deflation-fighting measures as a comprehensive and coherent policy package.For many economists and business officials, the year 2003 will be a historic turning point as to whether the economy sinks into a depression or manages to bail itself out of a critical situation.History shows that once an economy sinks into a depression, it may take a long time, perhaps several decades, to recover. If Koizumi continues with his current style of economic management, he is highly likely to do lasting damage to the general population. Koizumi's responsibility is immensely heavy.The country also will face an important turning point in the international political arena in 2003.It is highly probable that the United States will launch a military attack against Iraq in the not-too-distant future. In that event, what should Japan do?International terrorism poses a threat to the very existence of Japan, a nation based on commerce and trade in a peaceful international society. Japan should act according to the principle that it will not tolerate terrorists or countries likely to provide terrorists with weapons of mass destruction.Terrorism a common enemyThis policy also will constitute a fundamental principle for Japan over the days ahead in maintaining its alliance with the United States, with which Japan shares the values of democracy.What Japan can do falls into the category of what is being called logistic support. In interpreting the nation's right to collective self-defense under these circumstances, it is necessary to draw the line between what is realistic and a pacifistic argument that is oversubtle and out of tune with the harsh reality of the international scene.Japan already has dispatched Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to the Indian Ocean to fight international terrorism in Afghanistan by carrying out support activities for fleets of vessels, including those of the United States. No matter what pretext the Cabinet Legislation Bureau uses to deny the fact, the dispatch constitutes, in a real sense, an undoubted act of collective self-defense.The deployment and operation of MSDF P3C antisubmarine patrol aircraft used during the Cold War era, is nothing but the exercise of the right to collective self-defense. The P3Cs contain a system Japan and the United States used to share information concerning the movements of Soviet submarines-in the event of emergencies, the two countries could attack Soviet submarines immediately based on shared information.Arguing that, legally, Japan has the right to collective self-defense but cannot exercise it is nothing but hot air, completely divorced from reality. It is just like the sophistry of the lie that rings hollow even to children, that the Self-Defense Forces are not a military force.At the time of the presidential election in the Liberal Democratic Party in spring 2001, Koizumi referred to the possibility of changing the interpretation of the nation's right to exercise collective self-defense. Now is the time to change that interpretation from one considered absurd by the international community into something realistic.The United States is expected to squarely tackle the issue of North Korea once it settles the Iraqi issue.The issue of North Korea directly affects the national security and safety of the people of Japan.How should Japan consider this abnormal country, known for sheltering terrorists, kidnapping foreign nationals, conducting state terrorism, smuggling drugs as a state project, proliferating ballistic missiles and developing nuclear weapons?We must bear in mind that in the coming new year, situations may arise in which the government will not be able to respond adequately as long as it continues using the static style of diplomacy and national security adopted after World War II.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1907	2003-01-01	yoshin0020030104dz110008w
yomshi0020030102dz130005o	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030102dz130005o	EN	\N	Rocky road to a peaceful world.	They are the menaces posed by Iraq and North Korea's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. The international community has been fretting over how to deal with these threats since the end of the Cold War.	8	2003-01-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We believe that future global stability depends on how these two problems are handled.The team of U.N. arms inspectors is to submit a report on the results of its inspections in Iraq to the U.N. Security Council by Jan. 27. The submission of the report will be the critical juncture for the United Nations to decide whether a military campaign should be mounted against Iraq.If the U.N. inspectors find evidence that Iraq has hidden WMD, this concealment apparently will constitute a "further material breach" of the U.N. resolution. It will provide a good reason for the United Nations to approve the use of force against Iraq.The United States has started preparations for military action against Iraq and plans to dispatch a further 50,000 soldiers early this year to the Gulf region, where 60,000 soldiers already have been mobilized.In autumn last year, U.S. President George W. Bush won the backing of Congress for a resolution that approves a military strike against Iraq. The Bush administration repeatedly has warned the world about the danger Iraq poses, saying that if the international community lets Iraq buy time, it soon will be armed with nuclear weapons.In the United States, various scenarios for the war are now being discussed. Of them, the most likely is the one in which the United States and its allies achieve a decisive victory in four to six weeks.Since the Gulf War, the gap in military strength between the United States and Iraq has become a gulf. In addition, the United States has made much progress in the development of precision-guided munitions.There is always a possibility of war as long as Iraq's elimination of WMD is not verified.However, if a war actually occurs, the ensuing risks and repercussions will be immense. The international community should cooperate closely in dealing with Iraq, while carefully taking into consideration its postwar reconstruction and recognizing the necessity of stabilizing the Middle East.N. Korea more threateningRegarding concerns over nuclear weapons development programs, North Korea poses a more serious threat than Iraq.At the end of last year-ignoring a warning from the International Atomic Energy Agency-North Korea unsealed its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon and moved nuclear fuel into its graphite-moderated nuclear reactors. It also expelled IAEA inspectors and declared it would restart operations of the nuclear facilities within one or two months.Once North Korea reprocesses spent nuclear fuel, it will be able to extract weapons-grade plutonium that can be used to produce nuclear weapons. Considering that the U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework, which stipulates that Pyongyang freeze its nuclear weapons program, has virtually collapsed, it is clear that North Korea's nuclear arms development poses a more imminent threat than Iraq's.It also can be assumed that Washington may again seriously consider launching air strikes on Yongbyon if Pyongyang seeks to arm itself with nuclear weapons.We see no change in North Korea's diplomatic policy of dangerous brinkmanship from the one it employed during the nuclear crisis in 1993-94.Pyongyang clings to this policy in the hope of dragging Washington to the negotiation table. But the Bush administration is determined not to enter into talks with Pyongyang until the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il resolves the crisis it created. We assume there is a possibility that the world will discuss imposing sanctions on North Korea at international forums, such as the U.N. Security Council, as it did in 1993-94.Russia, China should exert pressureThe international community should make every effort to make Pyongyang abandon its nuclear weapons development program.To realize this goal, efforts from Russia and China, in addition to those mounted collaboratively by Japan, the United States and South Korea, are vital. A lack of coopesation among these five nations could end up inviting further provocations from North Korea.In particular, attention must be paid to political and diplomatic developments in South Korea, which will see a change of government in February. The diplomatic stance of the new administration of South Korean President-elect Roh Moo Hyon differs significantly from that of the Bush administration: Roh says he will follow incumbent South Korean President Kim Dae Jung's "sunshine policy" of engagement with North Korea, while Bush has signaled his intention to intensify pressure on North Korea.We urge both Washington and Seoul to coordinate their policies toward Pyongyang as soon as possible.The environment surrounding international politics is undergoing drastic changes. The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks served as a catalyst for the United States to deepen its cooperation with Russia and China. Economic interests shared by these countries, such as market expansion and cooperation on energy issues, also are strengthening Washington's ties with Moscow and Beijing.In Russia, in particular, President Vladimir Putin has consolidated his pro-West policy, and his country has become a formal member of the Group of Eight major nations. Moscow's move has helped pave the way to establishing a new, peaceful, global order.Japan-U.S. alliance keyBut the world still faces the fact of the existence of so-called rogue states-such as Iraq and North Korea-that have set themselves against the United States. Another worrisome problem is the expansion of the influence of international terrorist networks, including Al-Qaida, across the globe. Both will continue to present serious challenges to international security.The post-Cold War global framework has not changed: The United States, as the sole superpower, plays the main role in managing the crises facing the international community, backed up by its overwhelming military power.We regard this year as a critical time for the world, in terms of efforts that the international community will have to make to mold a U.S.-led new order of international peace.North Korea is a neighbor of Japan. Japan depends on Middle Eastern nations for most of the petroleum it consumes. Therefore, the establishment of a new order of international peace also will greatly affect the future of this country.As a matter of course, Japan should play an active part in the process of building a new order of international peace by fulfilling its obligations under the Japan-U.S. security system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1135	2003-01-03	yoshin0020030104dz13000dj
yomshi0020030103dz14000ba	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030103dz14000ba	EN	\N	Fear itself only thing to fear.	That was 70 years ago. Today, the world once again seems about to step onto the "road to fear," which may lead the world economy from deflation to depression.	12	2003-01-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In its year-end economic estimate, the World Bank warned that there was a great risk of global economic stagnation.The bank cited the following as risk factors that threaten major industrialized countries: deteriorating consumer sentiment, feeble stock markets, increases in nonperforming loans and distrust in corporate management. In addition to these factors, uncertainty about the stability of Japan's financial system was cited.Under these circumstances, global economic growth will be at the 2 percent level, much lower than the predicted longer-term trend, the bank said.In its latest report, the Asian Development Bank called on countries to take precautions against the possibility of a global deflation as serious as during the Depression triggered in 1929.The remote factors said to have caused the Great Depression were the fast-moving globalization of about 1870 and long-term deflation.Along with the Western powers' colonial expansion and the ensuing flow of cheap raw materials, a transatlantic cable was laid, international steamer lanes were inaugurated, and rail networks expanded rapidly. All of these developments gave impetus to the globalization trend.Risks of globalizationAs the freer flow of capital, information, goods and people more closely linked the world's economies, costs of raw materials, transport and production dropped, causing a deflationary trend that lasted for about 30 years.Similar developments have been observed in the world economy since the 1990s.Following the collapse of the Cold War structure of East-West confrontation, low-cost products from China and former Communist bloc states have flooded the world market, creating a glut.Due to rapid progress in information and telecommunications networks, the cost of information and telecommunications has plunged, creating a potential for deflationary pressure that overlaps the World Bank's risk factors.In Asia, the Japanese economy, which also is suffering the aftereffects of the bursting of the bubble economy, has sunk into long-term deflation, while deflationary trends have started spreading in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, too.The United States also has seen its producer price index hovering low for more than a year, while in Europe, the German economy is particularly sluggish.Meanwhile, the prevailing view holds that an impending U.S.-led strike against Iraq would end quickly, with the possible rise in petroleum prices lasting only briefly.Depending on its outcome, however, an attack could wreak major damage on the fragile world economy.Fears also linger that the ailing Japanese economy, hit by a growing deflationary trend and escalating bad loans, may trigger a global crisis.To avert such a crisis, Japan, a "front-runner" among deflationary economies, also needs to take the lead in economic-stimulus measures, both on the fiscal and monetary fronts.The government must take bold, comprehensive measures, including the effective and immediate implementation of both the 2002 supplementary budget and fiscal 2003 budget, which should be rewritten, if necessary.Other necessary measures are expanded purchase of long-term government bonds by the Bank of Japan and a correction in the over-appreciated yen through Japan's purchase of foreign bonds.There are limits to the effectiveness of actions taken by one country alone.Stronger yuan neededInternational cooperation on economic measures to fend off global deflation is urgently needed, among not only the major industrialized nations like Japan, the United States and those in Europe, but also China, which has been rapidly gaining economic clout, especially since it joined the World Trade Organization.Each of these countries must set inflation targets and implement comprehensive stimulus measures, including fiscal, taxation and monetary steps, simultaneously and intensively.In addition to monetary relaxation, the United States, under the leadership of President George W. Bush's new economic task force, is preparing a stimulus measure featuring additional tax cuts, such as a tax break on investment.Meanwhile, the European Union is studying the possibility of easing a regulation governing fiscal discipline among member nations to allow them to take economy-boosting fiscal measures. These measures also must be implemented quickly.China has been accused of exporting deflation when it ships out vast quantities of low-priced products produced by cheap labor, on the basis of the U.S. dollar-pegged yuan's exchange rate, which is far below its effective value.Along with adjusting excess production, one of China's highest priorities should be the appreciation of the yuan, whose fixed rate to the U.S. dollar has remained unchanged since 1994.Lessons of the DepressionShortly after taking office, Roosevelt launched the New Deal, which helped the U.S. economy get on a recovery track, at least temporarily.Yet it took more than a decade for the Depression-hit U.S. economy to recover to its 1929 level. The recovery came after World War II broke out, flooding the United States with orders for armaments and munitions.Rebuilding an economy that has fallen into the depression trap is an enormous task. Such a necessity should be staved off at all costs.Now is the time to learn history's lessons.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	934	2003-01-04	yoshin0020030104dz14000ib
yomshi0020030106dz150005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030106dz150005s	EN	\N	Change economic policy.	The domestic economy has not been able to escape the "lost decade"slump that followed the collapse of the bubble economy of the 1980s, a slump that is unprecedented in the world.	8	2003-01-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nearly two years have passed since the government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was inaugurated with the policy of structural reforms as a key tool to rebuilding the economy.However, his reform initiatives have not borne fruit, and the economy remains mired in deflation.If he continues to implement deflationary policies amid the deflation, he will only prolong the recession. This year may be the last chance to find ways out of the recession.Koizumi should shift his economic policies to avoid making the early years of the 21st century a "new lost decade" of economic slump. There is no time to waste.The nation's economy faces three major problems this year.First, plans to accelerate disposal of nonperforming bank loans could seriously aggravate deflation.At about the time when the financial rehabilitation program compiled under the leadership of Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, was announced last year, stock prices of major banks took a nosedive.Introduction of a U.S.-style discounted cash-flow method to evaluate bank assets may lower banks' capital-adequacy levels.Financial system fearsBanks may seek to recover their outstanding loans to private companies, increasing bankruptcies and unemployment. Thus, fears over the nation's financial system will increase toward the end of the current fiscal year at the end of March.The second problem is a possible military attack on Iraq. If a war starts and is prolonged, oil prices may rise and U.S. stocks may decline, likely leading to plunges of Japanese stock prices and affecting other aspects of the Japanese economy. In this connection, the situation regarding North Korea is also worrisome.The third problem is political uncertainty. A general election for the House of Representatives is highly probable this year. And the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential race in September may also cause some instability. The uncertainty over the nation's politics will only increase.At the same time, pessimistic scenarios dominate among business circles.The recent business improvement backed by export-led growth has shown signs of losing steam, and the government revised its economic assessments downward for two straight months for November and December.In the worst case, the current streak of growth may end up the shortest since the war-shorter than the record short 21-month growth up to October 2000.Is Koizumi aware of such critical economic conditions?The Koizumi administration under its slogan "Without reforms, there will be no economic growth" has taken the position that structural reforms will lead to economic rebuilding.Structural reforms harmfulCertainly, a shift of economic resources from unproductive business sectors to more productive sectors to strengthen the supply side would vitalize the economy. But this is a midterm issue. In the short term, structural reform will hurt the economy.The current domestic economic problem is not a supply-side problem, but a lack of demand. Koizumi should not make policy mistakes. The prime minister should first find a way out of deflation, then finalize structural reforms.Takenaka policies dangerousEspecially, Takenaka's policies on disposing of nonperforming loans may cause a financial system-based depression.Takenaka reportedly said, "No bank is too big to fail." This remark reflects a dangerous principle: that "destruction" leads to "creation."His plan, which eyes effective nationalization of megabanks and sale of those banks to foreign funds, has to be reconsidered. If he seeks to introduce U.S.-style rigorous accounting standards, Takenaka should introduce other U.S.-style measures such as wider tax breaks in disposing of nonperforming loans and drastic extension of periods for such tax breaks.Rigorous asset assessment may lead to drastic credit contraction, and punitive pursuit of top bank managers for their role in in the bad-loan problem would end up as a mere grandstand play.Planned belt-tightening fiscal measures should also be urgently reconsidered.Looking at the magnitude of the gap between supply and demand, the fiscal 2003 budget and revisions of the tax system are insufficient.The government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has decided to delay the target year to realize halving the fiscal deficit by one year to fiscal 2007. This move reflects the government's dilemma under which austere fiscal policy amid deflation would lead to a further business slump and reduction in tax revenue, further expanding the fiscal deficit.If the business climate requires, Koizumi should not hesitate to impose additional fiscal measures such as compiling a supplementary budget.The prime minister should study issuing new types of government bonds, such as tax-exempt government bonds bearing no interest that would act as tax shelters, as a new source of revenue.This is also is a crucial period for the Bank of Japan.The current yen exchange rates do not reflect the real condition of the nation's economy. In addition to monetary easing, the central bank should aggressively purchase foreign bonds, which would lead to a depreciation of the yen.Discussions on introduction of an inflation target may surface along with the appointment of a new central bank governor as the current governor's terms expires in March.If Koizumi does not want to remembered in history as a man who triggered a depression, he should now make bold changes in his economic management.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	949	2003-01-05	yoshin0020030106dz15002pd
yomshi0020030105dz1600004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030105dz1600004	EN	\N	Cooperation key to security.	In addition to the war against terrorism that has been conducted in Afghanistan and in other areas, it is inevitable this year that the international community must deal with increased tension related to Iraq and North Korea.	8	2003-01-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan, too, is now urged to take a new approach toward these nations.First, let us talk about Iraq."The international community must stand together to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said in a speech to a New York audience in September during a visit on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.It is highly likely that the United States will go to war against Iraq as early as this month. If the United States does launch an attack, what should Japan do? Whether Japan likes it or not, there will be a time when people will question the real intention of Koizumi's September speech, which stressed the importance of international coordination.The government has been considering wide-ranging plans for international cooperation, including providing help to refugees, in the event of an attack on Iraq. The major focus has been on how to use the Self-Defense Forces.Beefing up logistic supportShould the United States and its allies attack Iraq, the government is considering "indirect support" measures, based on beefing up logistic support to the U.S.-led forces engaged in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and shouldering some of their burdens. The government has already dispatched an Aegis-equipped destroyer to the Indian Ocean in line with this plan to ensure it will be in place when the attack starts.Another idea that has surfaced recently is to dispatch Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers to the Gulf under special maritime orders to take actions necessary to protect Japanese tankers in the region.The government has also been studying a plan to send SDF personnel to help rebuild a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq by enacting a new law.Japan depends on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its crude oil imports. Instability there could result in a serious crisis in this country.If the international community takes a stand and backs coordinated action to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Japan, as a matter of course, should participate and take the steps necessary to support such actions.However, no in-depth discussions have been held in the Diet or elsewhere, even though the possibility of an attack on Iraq has existed since the issue of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction resurfaced last year. The major reason for the current situation has been the government's evasive attitude toward discussion of concrete issues concerning the attack on Iraq. As seen in the enacting of the Antiterrorism Law, the government has relied solely on last-minute measures.Confronting North KoreaAs the Iraq crisis gathers momentum, the United States will most likely press North Korea in a more determined way to abandon its nuclear development program.The North Korean issue is directly connected to the security of Japan. As in the case of Iraq, Japan must make a strong appeal to the international community to unite and confront North Korea.To do so, Japan has to positively participate in international cooperative actions. This policy should be added to the main pillars of Japan's security policy along with building up the nation's defensive capability and strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance. The government has to carefully study what Japan can do in this regard from a positive point of view.The first step that should be taken is to streamline existing laws immediately to permit permanent legislation to enable the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces for international peacekeeping operations.Such a move would aim at dispatching the SDF for international peacekeeping activities without enacting additional laws if only some conditions are met-such as conformity with U.N. resolutions and the Japan-U.S. security arrangement. The government should no longer rely on stopgap responses to this issue.International peacekeeping missions constitute "collateral duties," similar to tasks such as transport of Antarctic expedition teams under the Self-Defense Forces Law. However, considering the importance of peacekeeping missions, it is quite proper that the duties be categorized as part of the SDF's main duties-defense of the nation.It is also vital to review the deceptive interpretation of the Constitution by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau. For instance, it argues that Japan has a right to collective self-defense, but cannot exercise it-an obvious contradiction. It also professes the idea that Japan's logistic support-such as supply and transport-is allowed under the Constitution unless such action constitutes the use of force together with military forces of other countries. These arguments, quite contrary to international common sense, have been used as the grounds for unjustifiably suppressing SDF activities.It should not be forgotten that security legislation should be formed based on international standards.Prepare for terrorismGlobalization is rapidly progressing and thus the threat of terrorism has spread across the world. Domestic arrangements against terrorism must also be coordinated properly.The optimistic idea that Japan alone is free from terrorism may ironically produce a situation of making the country an easy target for terrorists.Of prime importance is preventing terrorists from entering Japan by checking and controlling their entries. To do so, it is important for immigration and police authorities as well as other government offices concerned to cooperate in gathering and analyzing information on terrorists.The most commonly raised and most difficult question is how to protect the privacy of individuals while gathering intelligence.Of course, unjust interference with human rights should not be allowed. However, it is also necessary for all of us to fully acknowledge that social defense against terrorism rests on the shoulders of each member of the public.Japan does not have an espionage prevention law under which those who leak classified information concerning security matters are severely punished. Some point out that this situation presents a major obstacle for Japan to receive intelligence support from the United States. If this is true, it may be necessary for us to debate the necessity of enacting such a law.With these international crises before us, there are a variety of things Japan should do, including early enactment of emergency legislation. Politicians, obsessed with the idea that Japan is always peaceful, should not be allowed to maintain their irresponsible attitude any longer.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1125	2003-01-06	yoshin0020030107dz16001pz
yomshi0020030107dz1700005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030107dz1700005	EN	\N	Politicians must regain authority.	His words indeed ring true, given that the prime mission of politicians is to maintain peace and stability.	8	2003-01-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Ohira led the country from 1978 to 1980. Despite the two oil crises of the 1970s, Japan recorded economic growth rates between 2 percent and 6 percent around Ohira's term.It seems that people had the leeway to allow the running of the economy to politicians.A quarter-century later, Japan faces its first full-scale deflation since the end of World War II. The economy has been deteriorating and the unemployment rate has remained high. Once upon a time, now would be the time for politicians to take the lead in guiding the nation out of the crisis.But both the politicians and political parties of today seem to lack the spirit and ability to respond to such needs. They no longer guide the people.Break out of inertiaPrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must be the first to take the blame for this. He should stop repeating economic policies centering only on reforms based on his mistaken view of the prevailing situation.Koizumi must see that not only his policies but also his political methods have run up against a brick wall.Koizumi's Cabinet relies mostly on its approval ratings, which are still higher than those of past administrations, as its power base. Indeed, Koizumi's pithy mottos, such as "No economic growth without reforms," sounded sweet to many people.But the public is beginning to tire of this approach because reforms have not manifested themselves in a hands-on form in economic or any other field for a long time.Various statistics attest to this. In the latest Yomiuri Shimbun survey, most of those who said they did not support the Koizumi Cabinet cited his policies as the reason. Even among Koizumi supporters, only a few said they supported him because of his policies.Koizumi's silver tongue seems to be getting tarnished. More than half the respondents said they did not understand the meaning of Koizumi's comments on television and in other media. Koizumi must face the fact that his opportunistic "one-phrase political" style has reached its limits.Since taking office, Koizumi has aimed to establish a prime minister-led system of policymaking. That a prime minister is often required to take swift action is now a given.But the effort is meaningless if the prime minister leaves all the decision-making to others, as seen in issues like the privatization of road-related public corporations and tax reforms, and if he fails to clarify what he really wants to do.Insufficient explanations only amplify public distrust. Sooner or later, the distrust will come home to roost as anti-Koizumi criticism.Legislators and political parties also should be held largely responsible for having let Koizumi go his own way unchecked.A situation in which faction leaders jockeying for power influenced the administration had been the hallmark of Liberal Democratic Party-run politics. While some in today's LDP criticize Koizumi, their voices are not loud enough to drown out Koizumi's high public approval rating.Opposition parties are also to blame. As internecine power struggles destroyed the unity of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the government and ruling parties grew lax. The number of vacant seats at the second extraordinary Diet session late last year testified to the sad state of the legislature.Because political parties have lost sight of their original responsibilities, nearly half the public has ended up with no particular party affiliation-in what could be described as a deflationary spiral of politics involving legislative and administrative bodies.Politicians should no longer allow the public to witness such sorry scenes. Politicians and political parties must join forces and explore ways to return clout to the political arena.Numerous tasks have piled up, not to mention the economy. Domestic issues such as the graying of society can no longer be neglected. Security and diplomatic issues concerning North Korea's nuclear arms program and the United States' possibly imminent attack on Iraq also are pending.Constitution focus of electionsThe external affairs task force, an advisory panel to Koizumi, proposed drafting a strategy based on national interests. But a diplomatic strategy is not the only one needed.A large majority of the public are anxious about the future. The main factor behind the fear is the government's lack of a national strategy based on a clear vision of the nation's future.Amending the Constitution, the nation's main pillar, is the most important task. Public opinion polls show that the time is getting ripe for amendments. Koizumi should make ready to hold debates as soon as possible on amending the Constitution, basing them on the interim report of the House of Representatives Deliberation Committee on the Constitution.Unified local elections are scheduled for April, while a House of Councillors election will be held in summer next year, before which lower house elections will take place.Each party should ask voters to evaluate national strategies that clearly show the future course of the nation with the Constitution as the axis. Only by doing so can political parties become able to meet the needs of the people.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	915	2003-01-07	yoshin0020030107dz170022e
yomshi0020030107dz180005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030107dz180005s	EN	\N	Last chance for North Korea.	The warning came in a strongly worded resolution adopted by the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The unanimous resolution strongly criticized North Korea, which has unilaterally decided to resume operations of its nuclear facilities.	8	2003-01-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The international community is united in its condemnation of North Korea's move. We believe Pyongyang must take to heart the significance of the warning and bow to the IAEA's will immediately.We urge Pyongyang to reseal its nuclear facilities and allow expelled international inspectors to return to the graphite-moderated nuclear facilities in Yongbyong. Pyongyang should reverse its decision to resume operations at its nuclear facilities and freeze the operations.North Korea should explain the whole picture of its new nuclear development program, which reportedly makes use of enriched uranium, and immediately abandon all its nuclear weapons development programs. Needless to say, Pyongyang also should open its nuclear plants for inspections.Brinkmanship strategy won't workAs IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei pointed out, the moves Pyongyang made at the end of last year constituted a serious violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that threatens the arms-control system based on the treaty.North Korea also declared that it would resume operations at its nuclear facilities within one to two months. Though the country insisted that the move was aimed at generating electricity, which is expected to run short due to the U.S decision to stop the supply of fuel oil, we regret to say that Pyongyang's argument is patently illogical.The facilities that Pyongyang plans to reopen include those designed for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. This obviously has nothing to do with electricity generation; rather, Pyongyang is carrying out its threat to continue its nuclear development program using plutonium.A prerequisite for the United States to resume supplies of crude oil to North Korea is the latter's abandonment of its program to enrich uranium. Pyongyang already has admitted to the existence of the program.Such brinkmanship diplomacy, with North Korea using its nuclear development program as a bargaining chip, will simply deepen its isolation.The latest IAEA resolution stopped short of reporting North Korea to the U.N. Security Council as being in breach of its international nuclear obligations. The United States may have calculated that it was advisable to avoid creating a new problem at a time when international weapons inspections in Iraq are about to conclude. On the other hand, some in South Korea claim that reporting North Korea to the Security Council at the current stage might even stiffen Pyongyang's attitude.Japan, U.S., ROK should join handsElBaradei said the IAEA would give North Korea a "last chance," adding that the nuclear watchdog would make another report to its governing board in a few weeks. If Pyongyang fails to respond positively and appropriately, the issue will be taken up at the Security Council. North Korea should be fully aware that this is its final opportunity to comply with the IAEA.If the Security Council decides to impose sanctions on North Korea, it would certainly deal a blow to the country, which faces the urgent task of reconstructing its economy.The current nuclear crisis will deepen if North Korea does not toe the line. In this regard, countries concerned are advised to expedite efforts to coordinate their policies toward North Korea.The countries concerned agree that the Korean Peninsula must be a nuclear-free zone. In this connection, the two Koreas jointly issued a nuclear-free declaration.Consequently, we believe it is vital for Japan, the United States and South Korea to cooperate in dealing with North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2003-01-08	yoshin0020030108dz18004em
yomshi0020030108dz190005y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030108dz190005y	EN	\N	Public safety on shaky ground.	Nowadays, many Japanese probably feel anxious that they may become victims of crime.	16	2003-01-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The environment surrounding criminal offenses has changed dramatically. We should realize that conventional ways of thinking are insufficient for dealing with this new development.Statistics attest to the deteriorating state of law and order.A record 2.6 million crimes were logged in this country for the January-November period last year, an increase of 100,000 from the previous record posted during the same period in 2001. The latest figure also represented an increase of 1 million from 10 years earlier.On the other hand, the ratio of arrests to reported violations of the Penal Code, excluding traffic violations, during the 11-month period was only about 20 percent.Until the 1980s, this country boasted a crime-arrest ratio hovering around 60 percent. It can now safely be said that crime pays.A factor behind the deteriorating state of public safety is the fact that crimes committed by foreigners have been occurring more frequently and have become more heinous.Fifty-two Chinese people who were being transported by truck to an unknown destination after illegally entering Japan were arrested in Ginza, Tokyo, late last year. They were daring enough to land in Japan at Harumi Pier in Tokyo Bay.This is just one instance showing that Japan, with its lax border controls, has become an easy target for foreigners seeking to enter the country illegally.Many foreigners have entered Japan using forged passports. Not a few came to Japan ostensibly to study in preparatory colleges or to travel, but later committed crimes.There are 220,000 foreigners who have overstayed their visas in Japan. In addition there are an estimated 30,000 foreigners who were smuggled into this country. Many of these illegal overstayers have been found to have been involved in crimes.Chinese involved in many crimesThefts and burglaries committed by Chinese have become rampant. Incidents in which people have been robbed of their bank or credit cards after they withdrew money from automated teller machines, apparently by groups of Latin Americans, also have been reported. Crimes committed by foreigners have become diverse.Crimes committed by so-called snakehead crime syndicates from China working in league with Japanese gangsters also have been on the rise.There has been a rash of cases in which ATMs have been uprooted and stolen by criminals using power shovels. Although police have arrested a few Japanese who were involved in such robberies, they believe Chinese carried out many of these crimes. Robberies committed in a style as brutal as this are a new phenomenon in this country.The reality is that the police have not been responding properly to changing patterns of crimes. Should things be left uncorrected, we fear that the situation will become irreparable.New York's crime rate fell dramatically in the latter half of the 1990s. The number of murders and burglaries has declined by half.It is said that the improvement was achieved because the city authorities hired a large number of police officers and stepped up the number of street patrols by uniformed officers, who were instructed to crack down on even minor offenses.The police should first enhance their investigative ability and make an all-out effort to tackle ever-diversifying and increasingly heinous crimes.As long as they can solve only one in every five reported crimes, they will only encourage criminals to commit more offenses. The police's responsibility is grave.More police officers should be hired, and more facilities such as detention houses and prisons, of which there is a chronic shortage, should be built.In a lecture he gave at Keio University in June last year, Prof. Peter Tettinger, dean of the law department at Cologne University in Germany, said that the important objective in politics in the near future will be "freedom in safety."The professor's remark that safety constitutes a major premise for securing freedom is worth heeding.The people should share such a recognition. That will certainly serve as a first step forward for the nation to restore law and order.Police should be suitably equippedRecently, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at street corners in many places around the nation. These CCTV cameras seem to have had a tangible effect in deterring crime.However, some people claim that the installation of such devices will lead to a society in which people are under constant watch, or that the presence of the cameras infringes on people's privacy. But such a way of thinking only benefits criminals.In the United States and European countries, new types of investigative methods have been adopted, including giving informants immunity from criminal responsibility, and undercover operations in which plainclothes police officers make contact with criminals.Judicial arrangements to cope with diverse crimes have seen progress in Japan, too.The Wiretapping Authorization Law was put into effect in 2000. Compared with similar laws in force in the United States and Europe, however, the scope of application of the Japanese law is subject to various restraints, with the result that investigative authorities rarely make recourse to it.Some people are skeptical of legal moves to give the police expanded powers. They worry that efforts to prevent a further deterioration of law and order will lead to the creation of a police state.But for police to confront criminal organizations that make use of information technology to commit crimes, it is vital for them to be equipped with effective IT "arms."Considering that crimes have become ever more internationalized, it is essential to introduce countermeasures that are in line with international standards.It is vital to shake off taboos based on conventional modes of thinking.That is the best way to prevent Japan from becoming a "paradise for criminals."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1026	2003-01-09	yoshin0020030109dz19002q6
yomshi0020030110dz1a00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030110dz1a00008	EN	\N	Fund welfare with consumption tax.	Although he has ruled out the possibility of raising the tax rate while he is in office, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has also said there will be no discussion of the public pension system as long as there is opposition against a hike in the consumption tax. This indicates that discussions on a tax increase will be held in the future.	12	2003-01-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) and the other two major business organizations concur with each other on the issue.With expenses mounting because of the rapidly graying society and declining birthrate, the social security system urgently needs an infusion of funds. There is no recourse but to increase the consumption tax.It is important to decide when to raise it and by how much.Worried people spending lessDue to a sharp rise in medical expenses for the elderly, the nation's health insurance system is on the brink of collapse.The public pension system, which is kept afloat through a vicious circle of hike in burdens and cuts in benefits, is likened to a mirage and is treated with skepticism, particularly by the younger generations. Anxieties about the future are prompting people to spend less today.The social security system has been in a crisis for a long time. While everyone agrees that the system should undergo drastic reforms, only stopgap remedies have been taken.The nation's population is projected to peak in 2006 and then decline. So the age of a declining population is almost upon us.The people are unwilling to accept any increase in the burden to keep the social security system afloat. Their acceptance of a greater burden will be all the more difficult to obtain today when the nation is undergoing a serious economic slowdown. Yet, discussion of this issue can be put off no longer.This issue should not be considered taboo. It must be discussed now.The conditions on which the social system is based have changed greatly, making it more difficult to maintain the system.Remittance system has reached limitUniversal pension coverage, under which people are eligible to participate in some form of state-sponsored social security plan, and universal medical insurance coverage, under which people are covered under some form of state-sponsored medical insurance plan, began around 1960 during the early phase of the nation's rapid economic growth.The social remittance system, whereby the working generation supported the elderly, which at that time formed a small minority in society, functioned well because the younger generation constituted a great majority.However, the graying of society and the decline in the birthrate are progressing fast. As long as the social remittance system under the reverse population pyramid is maintained, the burden on the working population to keep the social security system running will become heavier. It will also affect the international competitiveness of Japanese businesses, which pay half of the contributions into social security schemes.The idea that all elderly people are "socially weak" is out of tune with reality. Rules should be changed when conditions change.There is no alternative but to ask the older generation to support the social security system financially, rather than depend solely on remittances paid by the working population.Before we can do this, it is imperative to improve working environments so that they are flexible and do not take age into account.Elderly people who own their homes but have little income should be eligible to receive public-funded loans for their daily needs, with their houses as collateral. The loans would be settled upon their death. It is desirable for society to draw up this kind of plan to help people lead a self-sustained life in their old age.The sense of uneasiness among the younger generation must be dispelled, and soon.Although the idea of calculating profit and losses does not fit well with the social security issue, the widening generational gap in burden-sharing will undermine the "social solidarity" that constitutes the basis of the social security system. There is no alternative but for the entire population, including the elderly, to share the ballooning costs.According to a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimate, social security benefits are projected to rise from the current 78 trillion yen to 176 trillion yen in 2025. Not only should the expenditures of the central government be thoroughly reviewed, but it is also essential to ensure that the social security system is run efficiently.However, such efforts are not enough. The possible effects from a hike in insurance contributions will be limited.Discussions must be held on having consumption tax revenues devoted solely to welfare purposes not only to flatten the burden as much as possible but to make sure it is shared equally.Come up with clear-cut visionIn the pension system reform, which is scheduled to be made next year, the focal point of discussion will be a hike in state funds injected into the basic pension scheme, which most people will benefit from.Yet the method of securing funds for the hike, projected to total 2.7 trillion yen, have yet to be worked out.Nippon Keidanren has made public a proposal, which it calls the "Okuda Vision," that suggests a 1 percent hike in consumption tax each year until it reaches 16 percent, with the aim of reforming the social security system. Putting aside the range of the hike, we can only understand the sense of alarm that led to the proposal.The consumption tax rate in Japan is low when compared to the 10 percent to 20 percent levels in European countries. The consumption tax on daily necessities, such as food, should be held down while on other items it could be raised.The only way to dispel the people's anxieties is to come up with a clear-cut vision.It is the responsibility of the political world to explain to the people what the problems are and what prescriptions are needed to cure them. Above all, an effort should be made to win their understanding.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1070	2003-01-10	yoshin0020030110dz1a001xh
yomshi0020030110dz1b0005v	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030110dz1b0005v	EN	\N	N. Korea's threats won't work.	The announcement came immediately after Washington said it was ready to seek a dialogue with Pyongyang during a meeting of the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group-Japan, the United States and South Korea.	16	2003-01-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Shortly before Friday's announcement, the International Atomic Energy Agency called on North Korea to stop unsealing its nuclear facilities and take other steps to end the ongoing nuclear standoff, giving the country "one last chance."North Korea's announcement should be regarded as a blatant challenge to the international community.Pyongyang must immediately rescind its decision.The announcement may reflect North Korea's belief that it should take an aggressive stance toward the United States after it decided that Washington's willingness to seek a dialogue was a fainthearted reaction to its threats, which include plans to reactivate its nuclear facilities and expel IAEA inspectors. However, North Korea is grossly mistaken if it believes it can extract more concessions from the United States by displaying such a militant attitude.Statement kills hope for talksThe United States has said that if Pyongyang wants to enter talks with Washington it must reverse its earlier decision to unseal its nuclear facilities and abandon its plans to make enriched uranium for nuclear weapons. North Korea should realize that its latest announcment serves only to put an end to this hope.The statement may also be aimed at attempting to drive a wedge between Tokyo, Washington and Seoul before South Korean President-elect Roh Moon Hyun launches an administration that will continue the pursuit of his predecessor's "sunshine policy" of engagement. With this in mind, Japan, the United States and South Korea must cooperate even more closely to prevent North Korea from taking advantage of the situation.The NPT was enforced to ensure that no nation other than the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain would become a nuclear power. In this sense, the treaty serves as a central pillar of global peace and security.The treaty grants a signatory the right to withdraw if the signatory determines that its ultimate interests have been threatened. An NPT member is allowed to withdraw three months after notifying other signatories of its intention to pull out.Violation of Agreed FrameworkHowever, no NPT member has ever withdrawn from the 188-member treaty, although North Korea said 10 years ago that it would do so.The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution calling on North Korea to reconsider its plan to withdraw. In talks with the United States in 1994, the country signed the Agreed Framework, a bilateral accord that included a pledge by Pyongyang to remain an NPT member.The ongoing crisis arose from North Korea's admission in talks between Washington and Pyongyang in October that it had continued its nuclear weapons program. Obviously, North Korea's nuclear program violates the 1994 accord.Therefore, Pyongyang must abandon its nuclear weapons program. The international community is unanimous in this regard. North Korea surely must understand that its brinksmanship, which it practiced 10 years ago, will not get it anywhere.Pyongyang has no reason to withdraw from the NPT if it plans only to produce electricity at its nuclear facilities, and not nuclear weapons. But its latest announcement only adds to speculation that North Korea wants to possess nuclear weapons.The Security Council needs to hold talks on North Korea and demonstrate its determination that Pyongyang will never receive any incentives in return for its nuclear threats.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2003-01-11	yoshin0020030111dz1b001xa
yomshi0020030113dz1c0005u	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030113dz1c0005u	EN	\N	Push corporate revitalization.	The new reform drive seeks to simultaneously rejuvenate both troubled industries and corporations. This campaign comes at a time when the government's accelerated efforts to have banks write off nonperforming loans are bound to realign some industries and force ailing corporations out of the market.	8	2003-01-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Proposed government measures include a plan to set up an industrial revitalization agency charged with aiding troubled but potentially resilient corporations to complement bad-loan write-offs. The government is also considering drastically revising the Industrial Revitalization Law and upgrading the system in which government-affiliated financial institutions acquire bankrupt and ailing corporations with funds collected from investors. The corporations would be revitalized with the aim of eventually selling them for gains.However, whether any troubled corporation can be revitalized hinges, all in all, on what it will do to pull itself together. Public funds to be used in this regard play only an auxiliary role in accomplishing the goal.In this sense, no troubled company should expect the government's aid program alone to end all its problems. Embattled corporate officials cannot dispense with the extremely painful work of slashing fat from their firms and a firm determination to take on this challenge without counting on the aid program. They must know that they will otherwise be unable to turn their corporations around.Agency bill crucialThe administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is set to present a bill on the proposed industrial revitalization agency to an ordinary Diet session that will open on Jan. 20. The government regards the bill as a central pillar of its aid program for industrial revitalization.The planned agency would buy bad credits from banks that have dealings with potentially resilient corporations whose loans have become unrecoverable, excluding their main banks. This would be followed by an effort by the agency to cooperate with these main banks in drawing up reconstruction plans for the corporations in question. The agency would work to revitalize these firms by, for example, extending loans to them.The greatest challenge facing the agency is how to offer workable solutions.Few banks saddled with bad loans would sell such credit if the agency set purchasing prices too low. However, the government remains unclear about what kinds of standards would be set for purchasing prices. The government has also not clearly defined how to distinguish between potentially restorable corporations and those without such potential.Corporations that cannot compete domestically and internationally any more must be put out of business, if the government is truly determined to nurture industries that would enable the Japanese economy to survive and prosper in the future. There is no point in establishing the agency if it only helps ailing companies stay in business without making profits.Even stricter standardsThis way of thinking can be seen in the Construction and Transport Ministry's decision to establish a separate set of even stricter standards for screening major construction companies under the industrial revitalization aid program. Many such corporations are experiencing financial difficulties today.The proposed agency would establish an industrial revitalization committee charged with screening troubled corporations and playing a role in drawing up rebuilding plans for chosen companies. The government hopes to ensure that the envisaged committee comprises such figures as lawyers and business leaders who have successfully rebuilt troubled corporations. However, there is yet little progress in producing a list of such members.The Financial Services Agency will soon start to conduct special inspections of loans extended by major banks under its financial renewal program, with the aim of urging the banks to more strictly assess the loans extended to corporate customers in terms of recoverability. These inspections could delay work to revitalize troubled corporations, which could result in a series of corporate failures and other forms of confusion.Establishing the agency does not necessarily mean smoothly revitalizing corporations. However, using the agency wisely would prove to be instrumental in accomplishing the goal. The government must translate revitalization programs into action without delay.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	688	2003-01-12	yoshin0020030114dz1c0012n
yomshi0020030112dz1d00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030112dz1d00006	EN	\N	Make Defense Agency a ministry.	Since then, the focus of administrative reforms has shifted to public corporations, the public servants' system and local autonomy.	8	2003-01-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Needless to say, it is important to continue to press ahead with these and other reforms. However, one important issue remains unaddressed-the upgrading of the Defense Agency to a ministry.In the 2001 realignment of government offices, the Environment Agency, which was smaller than the Defense Agency in both personnel and budget terms, was transformed into a ministry-an independent government body. However, the Defense Agency was left untouched and positioned as an external office of the Cabinet Office.The cabinet minister in charge of the Defense Agency remains the prime minister, the same as before the reorganization. The director general of the Defense Agency, therefore, has no authority to make budgetary requests, or initiate and revise ordinances.Japan must be the only country in the world that has not made independent the government organization in charge of protecting people's lives and assets, ranking it as a body lower than other offices. This runs counter to common sense as practiced in the rest of the world.With tensions mounting in the world, especially with regard to Iraq and North Korea, the importance of defense policies has never been greater. Given the current situation, we can no longer let things continue as they are. We need to make it clear to the world that Japan's stance on security issues is a positive one.Those who oppose the idea of upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry have no reasonable grounds for doing so. Some critics point to the possibility that China and other neighboring countries might object to the upgrading of the Defense Agency, but all of our neighbors have already established their own equivalents of a Defense Department. In this regard, it is clear that such an argument does not constitute a good reason for objections.Weak-sister coalition partnersThe Defense Agency was not changed into a ministry during the realignment two years ago because the coalition government-the Liberal Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Sakigake (Pioneers)-that drafted the plan in 1998 were swayed by arguments from the SDP, which was influenced by people opposed to the very idea of the Self-Defense Forces.When the current ruling coalition of the LDP, New Komeito and Hoshuto (New Conservative Party)-now Hoshushinto-was established, Hoshuto submitted to the Diet a bill to set up a Defense Ministry, a move welcomed by a growing number of LDP members who called for the early passage of the bill.But as before, one of the coalition partners-this time New Komeito-was opposed to the idea, and managed to dissuade some LDP members from supporting the idea. Consequently, debate on the issue has once again been shelved.Thus New Komeito is the party that holds the key in respect to the fate of the Defense Agency.At the end of last year, the three parties agreed at a meeting of secretaries general and the chairs of policy research councils that they would place top priority on promoting the Defense Agency to ministry status, with the precondition that the issue would be dealt with only after the enactment of contingency bills.New Komeito has sea changeTaking into consideration the fact that New Komeito has never been enthusiastic about the idea of upgrading the agency to a ministry, we can safely call this recent sea change an epoch-making decision.We urge New Komeito to expedite efforts to arrive at a consensus within the party in line with the three-party agreement with the aim of passing the necessary legislation at the ordinary Diet session at an early date.As is seen by its opposition to the dispatch of an Aegis-equipped destroyer to the Indian Ocean, New Komeito has consistently tried to limit SDF activities. We wonder whether the party has been overly influenced by the pacifist way of thinking.Recently, however, New Komeito took a step toward becoming a party willing to get involved in the realpolitik of government by expressing a willingness to go along with the idea of amending the Constitution by including a new provision on human rights.We see this move by New Komeito as a step in the right direction and we hope the party will completely abandon its pacifist stance regarding national defense.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	764	2003-01-13	yoshin0020030114dz1d001hz
yomshi0020030114dz1e00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030114dz1e00003	EN	\N	Education system merits an 'F'.	These arguments have been behind the criticism of "force-fed" education and the calls for education reforms, such as a greater latitude in education and an emphasis on individuality.	8	2003-01-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But nowadays, the declining birthrate has meant there is less competition for entrance into schools and colleges. There has also been a reduction in curriculum content and number of classes that students have to attend, which has given them more latitude. A wider choice of classes also has been introduced. All of these things should nurture the "individuality" for which the reform-minded were calling.According to the game plan, children are supposed to make use of this latitude and grow up to become independent individuals. They should be motivated to study and think for themselves.But what is the reality?Truancy at primary and middle schools set a record high last school year and school violence also is on the rise.Among Japan, China and the United States, this nation has the lowest percentage of middle school students who think it is wrong to lie or skip classes.A recent survey by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry revealed that the academic ability of the nation's students is declining. According to the findings of the survey, Japanese children were markedly less motivated to study and actually studied far less than their counterparts in many other countries.Individuality overstressedA wide variety of flaws in the postwar education system are concurrently emerging.Since the end of World War II, the concept of individualism has been prominent in education philosophy. The Fundamentals of Education Law, which is called the constitution of education, proudly advocated "dignity of individuals" and "perfection of character." The reformist slogans of "latitude" and "individuality" sprang from these concepts.However, the concept of individualism stipulated in the education law was too abstract and could not be transformed into reality. What did happen was that an overemphasis on "latitude" and "individuality" damaged society in a number of ways.At schools, teachers refused to face the fact that there was a wide disparity in the academic ability of students, with some even insisting that poorer ability was part of the students' individuality. "Assistance" was more emphasized than "guidance," with the result that some teachers failed to teach things they were supposed to teach.According to a study conducted by the government-affiliated Japan Youth Research Institute, the nation's children place top priority on making decisions on their own. But when we look at girls who turn to prostitution-insisting that it is a decision they made for themselves-the immaturity of their mindset becomes readily apparent.In theory, it is certainly important to respect the concept of individualism. But in reality, the idea leads to an overemphasis on the importance of the individual and is linked with false egalitarianism. The postwar infatuation with "the individual" ended up damaging society, producing teachers who gave up on teaching students and a self-centered attitude among children.We now have to determine how to nurture individuals who can make decisions and take action on their own initiative.There is a concept of "externality of norm," which refers to the importance of accepting norms outside of oneself and internalizing them. In the case of studying, students will never make progress unless they try to acquire the architectonics of the knowledge that has been accumulated by their predecessors.Unfortunately, however, the Fundamentals of Education Law, which was enacted under the control of GHQ, failed to present a clear picture of how to educate and raise individuals.Revise the education lawThe law does not incorporate such important concepts as patriotism, tradition, religion and family. Under the GHQ, the very things vital to build people's identity as Japanese were deliberately excluded.It was a measure taken to suppress the nationalism of the Japanese people. But it is difficult for children to regulate themselves without being aware of the existence of something that transcends individualism.As long as children make light of the foundation of their own culture, it will be difficult for them to sustain creativity.At the end of last year, the Central Council for Education released an intermediate report with an eye to revising the Fundamentals of Education Law. The council's proposal was intended to incorporate the missing factors with the aim of nurturing patriotism and respect for traditions among children. While the proposal was a bit late in coming, we welcome the move.Some critics claim that revising the law would not be decisive in resolving the problems with the education system, including school bullying. But to restore education from its very foundation rather than merely deal with problems as they prop up, we definitely need a fundamental theory.Children are unable to have a standard by which they can make decisions without first forming their identities as Japanese. Without this identity, they will end up as rootless wanderers who have no confidence and pride.In this regard, we believe it is of paramount importance for children to acknowledge their country and culture to attain self-identity, and based on this identity, they should also learn to respect other countries and cultures.The postwar education system was an attempt to breed abstract individuals without a solid foundation. Such a notion-which can be compared to trying to build castles in the air-is the root cause of the rot in the nation's education system.It is a matter of urgency for the government to revise the Fundamentals of Education Law as soon as possible. It is the duty of the government to take every possible measure to nurture individuals with solid backbones.Such efforts are particularly needed in this age of internationalization and information, where it is difficult to establish individuality and acquire systematic knowledge.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1032	2003-01-14	yoshin0020030114dz1e001vw
yomshi0020030114dz1f0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030114dz1f0005q	EN	\N	Shrine visit strangely timed.	His previous two visits to the shrine since he took office were made on April 21 last year, during the shrine's springtime festival, and on Aug. 13, 2001, two days before the Aug. 15 anniversary of the close of World War II. Both visits apparently were made in consideration of particular circumstances and carried certain implications.	8	2003-01-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	So why did Koizumi visit the shrine in January?"It's the new year, and so with a fresh feeling, I'd like to realize anew the preciousness of peace and offer my prayers with the thought that we'll never launch another war," Koizumi told reporters before visiting the shrine.He added that he did not plan to visit the shrine again this year.Does he think that it does not matter when he visits, as long as he makes one visit a year?Tradition, customs ignoredFormer prime ministers had made it a rule to visit the shrine during the shrine's festival in spring, or sometime in autumn, or on Aug. 15. This practice was based on Japan's traditions and customs.The prevailing view has it that Koizumi made his latest visit to the shrine ahead of both the springtime festival and Aug. 15 so as to avoid diplomatic confusion.In South Korea, President-elect Roh Moo Hyun will be officially installed as that country's new president in late February. In China, a new regime will be created in March, centering on Hu Jintao, who will succeed Jiang Zemin as the country's president.China has criticized visits to the shrine by Japanese prime ministers on the ground that the shrine honors Class-A war criminals along with the war dead.Koizumi's visit to China, scheduled for last autumn to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, was called off as a result of the prime minister's visit to the shrine last April.Were he to have visited the shrine after the new administrations of both China and South Korea were inaugurated, Beijing and Seoul would have criticized Tokyo anew, souring this country's relations with these two neighbors.Koizumi is believed to have concluded that his visit to the shrine prior to the inauguration of the new administrations in China and South Korea would minimize possible adverse repercussions in China and South Korea.This is queer logic.Koizumi should speak his mindA visit to a war memorial by a national leader to mourn for the war dead should be an act based on the traditions and customs of that country. Other countries, in principle, have no right to dictate how another country honors its war dead.Needless to say, it is undesirable for a prime ministerial visit to the shrine to stir up controversy at home and abroad every time such a visit is made. We should think long and hard about how to deal with this issue.A private advisory panel to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, in its report compiled in December, called for building a state-run nonreligious facility to honor the nation's war dead and pray for peace.The panel said the facility could coexist with Yasukuni Shrine, which is a religious facility run by a religious organization.But two things remain unclear: whether Koizumi made his latest visit in consideration of the panel's proposal, and what he thinks about the proposal itself.The prime minister needs to speak out clearly on what he thinks of prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2003-01-15	yoshin0020030115dz1f002lq
yomshi0020030115dz1g0005w	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030115dz1g0005w	EN	\N	Overhaul grad school education.	The success of such a reform move will depend wholly on whether graduate schools can produce capable talent.	16	2003-01-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The result of the reform may drastically change the role of education in undergraduate courses and alter the relationships between graduate schools and companies, and central and local governments.The graduate schools should fall in line with the new thinking because it will afford them a chance to raise professionals with advanced specialist knowledge and technical skills who can make their presence felt internationally.As can be seen in the United States, where the master of business administration degree is seen as a passport into the top management echelons, there is a worldwide trend in which graduate schools have been setting curriculums that have practical, real-world applications. But in Japan, with the exception of science and engineering courses, such efforts have been lagging behind those of other major countries.This is largely because of the mind-set of university administrations, which have long seen graduate schools as places for grooming academics. Industry is also partly responsible: Corporations tend not to rely on universities to provide professional education for newly graduated students, preferring to train them on their own.But when it comes to responding to fast-emerging technical innovations and international competition, and coping with the prolonged economic slump, there is a limit to what corporations' in-house professional training can offer.Will good use be made of system?In 1998, the then University Council under the former Education Ministry proposed setting up special graduate schools to foster expert professionals. Since then, major public and private universities have offered master's degrees at their graduate schools to cultivate expert professionals in such fields as business management, finance, medical science and international accountancy. These universities include Hitotsubashi University, Kyoto University, Kyushu University and Chuo University.In addition, the revised School Education Law, which will be enforced in April, enables universities to establish "graduate schools for specialists" whose students are not required to submit academic theses. Some universities, including Waseda University and Shibaura Institute of Technology, plan to launch such institutions. Attention also is focused on whether Tokyo University will set up a public policy course at its graduate school under the revised law.Although efforts to reform graduate school education focusing on raising expert professionals can be described as a current of the times, there are plenty of problems to overcome.For example, there is the question of whether companies and the central and local governments will be able to make effective use of those who have completed courses at the graduate schools. There also is a fear that friction could be created in the deep-rooted seniority-oriented personnel system if firms promote workers with master's degrees over the heads of their less-qualified colleagues.Course content crucialWhat matters above all is the content of graduate school education. Analyzing concrete problems and gaining hands-on experience is indispensable for practical education. The success or failure of the new graduate schools will hinge upon whether universities can staff them with suitably experienced teachers.The plan to launch special graduate schools to raise expert professionals was triggered by the decision of some universities to launch in the spring of 2004 graduate law schools aimed at boosting the quantity and quality of legal professionals. However, students who complete master's degrees at graduate schools in other fields cannot expect to be immediately accorded the same privileges as those who are certified by the graduate law schools.Only when those who have completed master's courses at graduate schools of the type envisaged can prove to the satisfaction of the public that what they have learned has utility in the real world will the new educational system become firmly established in society. The caliber of those who have completed the courses also will be closely scrutinized by the international community.To enable the planned reform to succeed, university administrators should think outside the box. If universities view graduate school reform as a mere passing phenomenon, the prospects for future graduate school education will not be bright.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	720	2003-01-16	yoshin0020030116dz1g002k0
yomshi0020030117dz1h00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030117dz1h00006	EN	\N	LDP must act like ruling party.	It states: "Serious questions are being raised about what has long been taken for granted by Japan as a society. This country has become the first industrial power since the end of World War II to experience a deflationary crisis. Its public security is deteriorating. An erosion of morality can be seen in every sector of the Japanese business world and society."	12	2003-01-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To overcome the current gridlock, the LDP platform also calls for more power to be shifted from the public sector to the private sector while also putting paid to vested interests.These goals appear to reflect a sense of crisis held by the LDP as the main ruling party about the status of this nation.However, the platform is complemented by few specific steps to achieve these goals. In fact, the LDP's annual convention on Thursday closed without any discussion on specific measures to accomplish the targets stipulated in its platform.No debate on Koizumi approachMany LDP members are frustrated with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's stringent economic management, such as in his efforts to draw up belt-tightening fiscal budgets in line with his structural reform campaign. The prime minister's austere approach may well pose a serious dilemma for LDP local assembly members who have direct contact with members of the public.However, the LDP convention refrained from debating Koizumi's approach to the economy. Is the ruling party truly concerned about the host of problems facing this country?The LDP is proving inadequate in many other respects, too. Members of the party are trying to hinder the pursuit of structural reform goals.For instance, a group of LDP lawmakers allied with bureaucrats are doing their best to hamper efforts to promote deregulation. Surely they realize that the public will become increasingly critical of the LDP if they merely chant slogans and fail to take any action in improving matters.The current circumstances surrounding the LDP are far from favorable.Admittedly, the party has a majority of seats in the House of Representatives. The three ruling parties-the LDP, New Komeito and Hoshushinto (New Conservative Party)-enjoy a solid majority in both the lower house and the House of Councillors. As a result, both the Koizumi administration and the LDP appear unassailable.Party's approval rating still poorThe LDP has not been able to push its approval rating much above 30 percent for months. The figure is far smaller that the percentage of people who do not support any political party. Voters in the latter category account for about half of those covered in polls.In 1998, the LDP suffered a serious setback in an upper house election, largely because many floating voters cast their ballots for opposition parties. The LDP should not forget this.The pitiful state of affairs surrounding Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is serving to keep the LDP's head above water. The largest opposition party has been unable to form an internal consensus about whether to support a set of envisaged laws on national emergencies. In recent weeks, several Minshuto members bolted the party. These events have led the public to believe that the opposition camp cannot be trusted.The LDP should realize that its current position as a ruling party is not only a result of its own endeavors.There are numerous tasks to be tackled by the LDP, including the battle against the ongoing deflation and responses to the Iraq and North Korea issues. To fulfill its obligations as the main ruling party, the LDP must pull itself together and get down to work.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2003-01-17	yoshin0020030117dz1h00247
yomshi0020030117dz1i0005x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030117dz1i0005x	EN	\N	Attitude flies in face of ethics.	On Thursday, a reporter from the paper's Seibu head office attended a special committee the town council set up to investigate the circumstances behind his expose of a secret fund the local government ran under a project to build public housing on land previously occupied by apartment buildings for coal miners. During the session, the committee ordered the reporter to disclose who had tipped him off about the slush fund.	16	2003-01-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The town assembly's action is nothing but an attempt to pass the buck to The Yomiuri Shimbun instead of fulfilling its obligation. The local council knows nothing about newspaper reporters' obligation to abide by professional ethics-nor does it even understand the principle of local autonomy.Under the project that started in fiscal 1984, the Kawasakimachi government bought the land from Mitsui Sekitan Kogyo, a Tokyo-based coal mining firm. The local government was found to have secretly pooled at least 692 million yen, by having the firm refund a portion of the money the government gave it for the land. Although it told assembly members about the secret fund during a closed-door session, the town government never informed residents about the money.Reporter not to blameAfter the Yomiuri disclosed the secret fund, the town assembly set up an ad-hoc committee under Article 100 of the Local Government Law.This kind of committee is charged with investigating a local government's administrative activities. Thus, the Kawasakimachi assembly's committee should have looked into why the local government had the company refund part of the money and created the secret fund. The committee is also responsible for explaining the whole affair to residents.The committee, however, refused to fulfill its responsibility. Instead, it ordered the Yomuri reporter to attend Thursday's session to testify about how he had obtained a copy of the minutes of the assembly's secret meeting.During the session, the reporter refused to explain how he had gained access to the minutes, saying that doing so would be tantamount to neglecting his duty to protect the confidentiality of news sources. He had every right to do so as a journalist.Protecting the confidentiality of news sources is a highly important ethical rule for reporters and constitutes a basis of free speech and freedom of the press.No reporter will be trusted by anyone he or she interviews if the reporter reveals news sources. The Yomiuri reporter's success in exposing the secret fund may have lain in the trust given him by many people who had faith in the established code of journalistic ethics.Previously, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of reporters' right to protect the confidentiality of news sources as "professional secrecy."Confusion about dutyDuring Thursday's session, however, the chairman of the Kawasakimachi town assembly's committee repeatedly demanded that the Yomiuri reporter testify about who had tipped off about the secret fund, saying that it could sue him for theft. We are simply disgusted with the assembly's attitude.The town assembly is mistaken about what it should know. Its duty is not to find out who tipped off the reporter, but to give residents every detail about the slush fund scandal.The town assembly's secret fund is also unpardonable under the Local Government Law, which requires local governments to incorporate all revenue and expenditures into their fiscal budgets.The Kawasakimachi assembly must learn what it means to disclose administrative information and fulfill its responsibility for explaining its own actions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	628	2003-01-18	yoshin0020030118dz1i001t2
yomshi0020030120dz1j00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030120dz1j00007	EN	\N	Minshuto must change nature.	The action policy adopted at the party's convention Saturday contained a number of self-criticisms: "We must seriously reflect on the fact that we have failed to win the public's confidence." "We face the biggest crisis since the party's formation." "We are rapidly losing public support."	8	2003-01-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Such reflections are quite natural if the party looks squarely at reality.A Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll conducted at the end of last year showed that the party's approval rate had dwindled to 3.8 percent, the lowest figure since the party was launched. The approval rate has been seriously affected by a series of confusions within the party, including the resignation of former President Yukio Hatoyama and the subsequent departure of former Vice President Hiroshi Kumagai and other members.The convention's slogan was "Change Japan by taking power." But under the current situation, this sounds like nothing more than a dream.Declaring that "Minshuto will unite to launch an offensive," party President Naoto Kan proposed a policy of stimulating demand to overcome deflation.Flip-flop on bond issuancePreviously, Minshuto supported Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's fiscal reconstruction policy of limiting the issuance of new government bonds to within 30 trillion yen. The party later reversed its position, but unless it clearly presents the reason for doing so, it will fail to persuade the public on its new position.The first thing Minshuto must do is unify the party's basic policies.There is a wide gap in opinions within the party between conservative members and those who branched off from the Social Democratic Party, over such issues as the Constitution and security. Therefore, the party failed last year to present a clear stance in debates over the reextension of the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to the Indian Ocean based on the Antiterrorism Law.We regret to say that a party that is unable to unify opinions on such important policies concerning the fate of the state is not qualified to take power.The party's handling of contingency bills concerning possible military attacks on the nation would be the touchstone for success for the time being. At the convention, Kan made clear his intention to present the party's alternative plans to contingency bills at the ordinary Diet session.Can Kan exert leadership?Kan was elected party president with the support of a wide range of party members, including former SDP members who are negative about the contingency bills. In this respect, we have to see whether Kan will be able to exert his leadership in the compilation of responsible alternative plans by suppressing opinions of those who stick to long-held principles.The same is true with the argument over the Constitution.Former party President Hatoyama actively dealt with revisions on the Constitution through a series of efforts, including his proposal to stipulate the right of collective self-defense in the basic law. In contrast, Kan is seen as very negative in this respect. In his address at the party convention, he failed to utter even a single word on the issue of the Constitution.We believe it is impossible to draw up a picture of the nation's future without referring to a review of the Constitution, whose contradictions with reality are widening.As to the opposition wing's refusal to allow the prime minister to deliver his policy address at a plenary session of the Diet, instead of separately in both houses, Prime Minister Koizumi criticized the opposition parties as being the most conservative of all political parties. In this and other issues, it cannot be denied that Minshuto, which is bound by leftist forces within the party, is also conservative in the sense of sticking to tired policy stances.The public will never support such an opposition party that is backward-looking in carrying out reforms. Minshuto must keep this in mind.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2003-01-19	yoshin0020030121dz1j000bc
yomshi0020030121dz1k0005x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030121dz1k0005x	EN	\N	Will to work needed at Diet.	The session has to deal with a number of contentious issues, such as deciding upon measures to combat inflation. With such difficulties in mind, it is imperative that the individual parties at least agree to debate these issues.	8	2003-01-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The most important topic that needs deliberation during the new Diet session is the economy, which has deteriorated to a worse state than ever.The government's fiscal 2003 budget is extremely inadequate in terms of antideflationary measures. We believe the government must either revise the budget to incorporate bold pump-priming measures or adopt additional policies.We also believe the government must facilitate an environment in which it can implement the budget immediately following the passage of the fiscal 2002 supplementary budget, which is scheduled to be passed at the beginning of the new Diet session.Stop lollygagging on contingency billsThe Diet session will also be tasked with deliberating a number of important bills. In particular, from the standpoint of ensuring the state's security, it is vital that contingency bills on possible attacks by foreign armed forces on the country be enacted.The contingency bills were submitted to the ordinary Diet session early last year. This means that they will have been deliberated at three consecutive Diet sessions. We regret to say that politicians have been dragging their feet over the issue.For their part, the ruling parties have already presented amended bills on the basis of past Diet deliberations. Now, it is the opposition's turn to make a response. In this regard, political observers will pay particular attention to the response of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the largest opposition party, which has acknowledged the significance of contingency legislation. Minshuto's newly elected leader, Naoto Kan, must get his party to reach a consensus on the issue.Policymakers also must continue to pay close attention to developments in the international arena, such as the tense situations regarding Iraq and North Korea. In this respect, it is paramount for lawmakers to continue their debates-even in times of peace-so that the nation will be able to deal with any emergency.A number of key events are scheduled to take place during the newly convened Diet session, beginning with the unified local elections in April. There also will be important diplomatic events, including a summit meeting of leaders of industrialized countries.Extend Diet session if need beTaking these factors into account, we have to admit that the deliberation schedule will be tight at the Diet.But nevertheless, in addition to the contingency bills, there are number of other important bills that need to be dealt with, such as bills to protect the privacy of the individual and those designed to expedite court procedures.Top priority must be placed on the passage of important bills such as these. We believe therefore it will be unavoidable to extend the Diet session to a certain degree.The extraordinary session at the end of last year exposed certain shabby aspects of the Diet, such as low attendance at committees and the listless Question Time debates among party heads.Policymakers must not repeat their past disgraces at the new Diet session. If they do, the public will only become more disenchanted with them.With rumors of the dissolution of the House of Representatives in the air, some observers are concerned that lawmakers will be unable to concentrate in Diet deliberations. But they must not falter. Instead, they should reflect on their shameful behavior during the last extraordinary Diet session and resolve to steadfastly fulfill their duties to the electorate and the nation as there is much to be done during the new Diet session that is of particular significance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2003-01-20	yoshin0020030121dz1k000pa
yomshi0020030121dz1l0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030121dz1l0000c	EN	\N	Sumo must return to basics.	Game to the last, yokozuna Takanohana decided to participate in the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament despite a knee injury, putting his career at risk. However, a blow to his left shoulder sidelined him from the ring for two bouts.	8	2003-01-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Takanohana returned to the ring on the fifth day of the tournament, but he could not produce the powerful sumo that he used to demonstrate.In a shinning career, sumo's golden boy won 22 championships, making him the fourth-highest ranked yokozuna in history. Takanohana posted a number of other remarkable records, including youngest promotion to the juryo second division, youngest winner of a grand tournament and youngest promotion to ozeki.Takanohana and his older brother, former yokozuna Wakanohana, created a sensational in what became known as the "Waka-Taka" era, which helped to maintain the popularity of the national sport.Toward the end of his career, Takanohana was plagued by illness and injury, but he battled on despite these ailments to earn the accolade of "one of the greatest yokozuna of the Heisei era."We hope he will take advantage of his retirement to enjoy a well-earned rest for a while.Sumo facing a sea changeSumo is undergoing many changes as retiring veteran wrestlers are replaced by younger blood, and ozeki Asashoryu is looking to move up in the ranks and join the yokozuna division that has now been further depleted by the retirement of Takanohana. It is also failing to draw the fans it once did, and the retirement of the popular yokozuna is likely to speed up the fall of its popularity.One of the reasons for declining audiences in recent tournaments is the large number of wrestlers absent from the ring due to injury. For example, during the current tournament, one yokozuna and two ozeki were sidelined from day one, which forced Takanohana to make the decision to compete despite his injuries.The number of wrestlers being sidelined due to injury is increasing at an alarming rate. A total of 61 wrestlers in the top two salaried divisions-makuuchi and juryo-sat out matches last year.The growing number of injuries is due partly to the fact that sumo wrestlers are become larger. And although they are bigger, they are not proportionally stronger and as a result take more punishment.A reason sometimes attributed to this lack of strength is that young wrestlers who have grown up in an affluent society prefer training machines instead of more physically demanding sparring bouts.The sumo world needs to reconsider the training methods and diet of young sumo wrestlers.The increase in the number of large wrestlers has led to more unsophisticated bouts in which wrestlers depend solely on size rather than technique. These slugfests have have failed to satisfy sumo afficionados, resulting in more and more empty cushions.Sumo has degenerated to the point that these simple push-and-shove-only bouts have become dominant and the number of techniques announced after each bout has is now extremely limited.There are only a few small wrestlers competing nowadays who win because of superlative skill and tactics.Sport needs to recoup popularityAnother trend that is escalating in sumo is the increasingly good performance of foreign-born wrestlers competing in its ranks.At the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November, the champions for both the makuuchi and juryo divisions were born overseas.Remarkable performances by foreign-born wrestlers are certainly welcomed, but at the same time, the declining presence of Japanese wrestlers in the national sport is sad.During the bubble economy, front box seats were used for corporate entertainment, and regular fans started deserting the arenas. We hardly ever see children doing sumo for fun. The sport is certainly facing a very tough time.The Japan Sumo Association has put forward "sumo with good offense and defense" as the key element necessary for the sport to regain its popularity. The association needs to see this realized as soon as possible to revive interest in the sport.The basis of sumo is that wrestlers with good spirit, technique and physical condition fight attractive bouts, each using a unique style. A return to these fundamentals would make sumo attractive once again.The retirement of Takanohana should be viewed as a chance for sumo to return to the way it should be.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	756	2003-01-21	yoshin0020030121dz1l001hw
yomshi0020030122dz1m0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030122dz1m0000d	EN	\N	Let firms run schools, hospitals.	In the second phase of acceptance of proposals from local governments and private entities that ended last week, 651 proposals were submitted. That was 200 more than in the first phase in summer, reflecting a strong eagerness in the nation for the introduction of the system.	8	2003-01-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The special zone system is designed to liberalize or abolish certain regulations-a process that would be difficult to carry out uniformly throughout the nation-in a designated area, with the aim of jump-starting the revitalization of the nation's economy.But some government bodies and lobby groups have shown resistance toward the introduction of special zones. The elimination of pressure from such organizations will be the first step toward making the system a success.Though the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Education, Science and Technology Ministry claim to have accepted the principle of deregulation in special zones, they are threatening to impose restrictions through issuing administrative guidances or by other means in an attempt to make the system toothless in practice.Govt caved in to vested interestsIn response to such moves, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stipulated in the new policies that related ministries and agencies may not put new regulations in place by issuing instructions. "The aims of special zones should be furthered and not undermined (by ministries and agencies)," Koizumi said, pointing out something obvious.But this stipulation does not go nearly far enough. Though local governments and corporations have submitted a raft of proposals for projects they want to launch, bureaucrats have given the thumbs-down to many of them. One such proposal is allowing stock companies to operate schools and hospitals.Some organizations, including the ministries and special-interest groups such as medical associations, lobbied the government to keep private firms at arm's length from the fields of education and medical care, and the government obliged by not including the two items in the new law and the basic policies.In a show of defiance against such pressure, the Nagano prefectural government and a private company proposed in the second phase of applications that special zones be established for operating hospitals. Nearly 30 bodies, including nongovernmental organizations, private companies and the local government of Mitaka, Tokyo, have proposed setting up special zones in which firms can run schools. This underlines the determination of many local governments and corporations to put schools and hospitals in private hands.Buck stops with KoizumiDuring the extraordinary Diet session, both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors adopted resolutions concurrently with the passage of the law asserting that necessary bills would be submitted during the current Diet session, and that the basic policies for the special zones should be revised to accommodate a broadening in the range of proposals.The new law on special zones should be revised during the current Diet session to allow stock companies to run hospitals and schools.In the second phase of acceptance, many enthusiastic proposals for special zones were submitted, including a farm community rehabilitation zone by the Hokkaido government, a space development zone by the Kagoshima prefectural government and a zone to rehabilitate small and midsize manufacturers by the government of Higashi-Osaka, Osaka Prefecture.With the introduction of the new system, local governments and private organizations should be allowed to give full play to their imagination and creativity so that their achievements can provide a model for other areas in the nation. That would lead to a revitalization of the economy as a whole.As the person in charge of the headquarters, the prime minister must take a close look at the submitted proposals and fulfill his responsibility to realize the goals of the new system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2003-01-22	yoshin0020030122dz1m0065m
yomshi0020030123dz1n00063	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030123dz1n00063	EN	\N	Banks take step in right direction.	Mizuho Holdings, Inc., the holding company of Mizuho Financial Group, has said it will increase its capital by about 1 trillion yen. Mizuho's latest decision has been followed by the announcement of similar plans by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) and UFJ Holdings, Inc.	16	2003-01-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The major banking groups' decisions to raise their capital represent an effort to protect themselves from strict measures announced by Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, under which public funds could be reinjected into financially troubled banks. Takenaka's policy could effectively place such banks under state control. The banks need to further shore up their financial foundations with the aim of preventing a financial crisis from striking in the accounting period that will end in late March.It should be noted that Mizuho's capital expansion is extremely large.Mizuho is expected to write off nonperforming loans totaling a massive 2 trillion yen by the end of the current accounting term. This is partly due to measures adopted early this year by Hazama Corp. and Seibu Department Stores, Ltd., both major corporate customers of Mizhuo's, to lift themselves out of their financial plight.Mizuho's write-off of its massive bad loans could have reduced its capital, bringing its capital-adequacy ratio down below the 8 percent benchmark set by the Bank for International Settlements. In that event, the government would inject taxpayers' money into Mizuho. To prevent this, the bank has decided to increase its capital by the end of the current financial year.March deadline loomingAdmittedly, the major banking groups have lacked a sense of crisis concerning the risks posed by their financial difficulties. This complacency caused them to delay writing off their bad loans extended to heavy borrowers. Still, we commend the major banks for their belated but bold decisions to dispose of their nonperforming loans and boost their capital.A government decision to place a bank under state control would tie the bank's hands in doing business. Such a decision would adversely affect the bank's corporate customers, too. It also would be disturbing if a domestic bank that had received an injection of public money became a subsidiary of a foreign investor. That would mean that the benefits of a successful effort to rebuild a collapsing bank would be enjoyed by a foreign investor, not by the Japanese public.SMFG is set to receive a capital injection totaling 150 billion yen from Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. of the United States. Meanwhile, UFJ Holdings has made arrangements with Merrill Lynch & Co. under which the latter will hold preferred shares issued by a UFJ subsidiary. These moves mean that SMFG and UFJ are relying on foreign investors to put their troubled operations back on a sound footing.The major commercial banks may have no second chance to increase their financial foundations through their own efforts by late March, if they miss that deadline.If a bank is forced to shut down its international operations because it fails to meet the 8 percent capital-adequacy ratio, some corporations served by the bank may be unable to receive international banking services. Given this, such corporate customers must look for ways to increase their stakes in their banks' capital.Govt, BOJ must act in concertUndoubtedly, the financially troubled banks must take drastic steps to reform their operations. If they fail to do so, they will find it difficult to obtain their corporate customers' agreement to help increase their capital, and their stock prices could plummet as a result.The banks must implement measures to gain profits with the aim of shouldering a greater financial burden in the form of dividend payments that would accompany an increase in their capital.The ongoing deflationary crisis facing this country is contributing to an increase in bad loans incurred by banks. This has made it difficult for the banks to raise interest rates on loans. The government and the Bank of Japan must join hands in striving to pull the nation out of the ongoing deflationary crisis.Because they are umbilically tied to major commercial banks, measures also should be taken to shore up the financial base of life insurance firms. The government should put together a bill to revise the Insurance Business Law for the purpose of enabling troubled life insurance companies to lower their anticipated rates of return on premium investments, thus helping them avoid bankruptcy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	777	2003-01-23	yoshin0020030123dz1n00241
yomshi0020030123dz1o000ba	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030123dz1o000ba	EN	\N	Implement fiscal steps now.	On Thursday, the House of Representatives Budget Committee began debate on a supplementary budget for the current fiscal year. Undoubtedly, the major focus of the new Diet session is how to put an end to the current deflation. However, the prime minister has not told lawmakers what he plans to do to accomplish this goal.	12	2003-01-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) leader Naoto Kan challenged Koizumi to a policy debate for the first time since taking the helm of the main opposition party in December.During Thursday's session, Kan argued that the current economic situation was reminiscent of the panic prevalent in this country during the Great Depression of the 1930s.However, Koizumi brushed Kan's assertion aside, citing a drop in price increases. "I'm simply amazed to hear you say that there is a similarity (between the economic situations) now and seven decades ago," the prime minister said before the lower house committee.Remember the 1930s panicAdmittedly, Koizumi is correct if the indicators of the economic situation in the 1930s are compared to those of the current economic circumstances. However, there is great concern that the ongoing deflationary crisis, if left unaddressed, could develop into a panic comparable to the nation's depression during the 1930s. The prime minister does not seem to comprehend the severity of the situation.Since the beginning of this year, Koizumi has said the government's greatest task is to overcome the deflationary crisis, and that he would implement all possible measures to achieve this end.The prime minister should clearly state whether his newly professed goal signifies a major change in his economic management objective from structural reform to an economic recovery.During Thursday's debate, Kan took up Koizumi's failure to cap the issuance of new government bonds at 30 trillion yen under the fiscal 2003 budget. The Minshuto leader attributed the tax revenue reduction of 2.5 trillion yen-a major factor contributing to Koizumi's failure to keep his promise-to what he described as the administration's inability to address problems.However, Koizumi refused to concede that his government had taken the wrong approach to economic management.Fiscal 2003 budget inadequateIt should be noted that, as Koizumi said, Minshuto had urged him to live up to the 30 trillion yen-cap promise by establishing a law aimed at accomplishing that goal. In this sense, the opposition party should share the blame.Diet discussions on the supplementary budget will be followed by debate on the fiscal 2003 budget. As it stands, this budget will not revitalize the economy. The government should adopt flexible steps to ensure that the budget will serve its purpose. These should include corporate tax cuts and the issuance of additional government bonds to make up for revenue losses due to the tax reduction.The prime minister has said it is desirable to adopt an inflation target, saying that "the government and the Bank of Japan must work together to increase prices as soon as possible."During Thursday's Diet session, however, he also said: "I'm fully aware I will come under fire if I actually adopt an inflation target."The prime minister cannot afford to play around with semantics and send up trial balloons now.If he considers inflation-targeting a good prescription against deflation, the prime minister should not pass the buck to the Bank of Japan.An assortment of workable measures are needed to defeat deflation. The government must implement fiscal steps to create demand and stimulate the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	621	2003-01-24	yoshin0020030124dz1o003zh
yomshi0020030124dz1p0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030124dz1p0005s	EN	\N	Korea talks unproductive.	At the meeting, which was held for the first time in three months, the two countries only agreed to "actively cooperate to resolve the issue peacefully."	16	2003-01-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, they failed to incorporate any specific measures in the agreement, which was virtually the same in content as the one reached at the previous Cabinet-level meeting.Though South Korea hoped for a positive response from North Korea to its call to abandon the nuclear development program, Pyongyang did not make any commitments. In this regard, President Kim Dae Jung's "sunshine policy" appears to have hit a brick wall.Having unsealed its nuclear facilities, North Korea announced it would resume operations at the end of this month or in February. It has expelled International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.Pyongyang's obdurate stanceDuring the talks, South Korea said it had presented in no uncertain terms its own and the international community's concern about North Korea's unilateral actions.Yet, North Korea reiterated that it had no intention of manufacturing nuclear weapons. At the same time, Pyongyang repeated its position that the matter can only be resolved through direct negotiations with Washington.Pyongyang's stance is obviously aimed at bringing the United States to the negotiation table.However, its stance has resulted only in deepening the doubts harbored by the international community over the country's nuclear development program.South Korea has decided to send a special presidential envoy to Pyongyang next week to discuss the nuclear crisis with North Korea leader Kim Jong Il. Under the circumstances, however, it appears that South Korea has an impossible task in trying to persuade Pyongyang to make concessions.Meanwhile, the United States has expressed its willingness to begin negotiations with North Korea, saying it would consider stating in writing that it would guarantee the country's status quo.Roh must stand fastYet, Washington refuses to make concessions in the face of Pyongyang's threats to go ahead with its nuclear development program. We cannot fault this position.Next month, South Korea will have a new leader in Roh Moo Hyun, who will take up where Kim Dae Jung left off. We believe it will be necessary for the new administration to take a tough stance with North Korea, which refuses to heed the warnings of the international community to reconsider its position.In the latest inter-Korea meeting, North Korea called for cooperation from South Korea as two countries with the same type of people. By doing so, Pyongyang evidently wants to hammer a wedge between Seoul and the United States and other countries. South Korea must not be taken in by these tactics.North Korea insists that it plans to resume operations at its nuclear facilities for the peaceful purpose of generating electricity. But how can the international community believe this when Pyongyang has withdrawn from the NPT? The resumption of operations at the nuclear facilities will make it even more difficult to peacefully resolve the nuclear crisis.The first step Pyongyang must take is to scrap its nuclear development plan. North Korea must clearly realize this.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	572	2003-01-25	yoshin0020030125dz1p000gx
yomshi0020030125dz1q00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030125dz1q00003	EN	\N	Clarify political donations.	The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) has recently announced that it would aggressively promote political donations under its newly adopted "Okuda Vision," named after Nippon Keidanren Chairman Hiroshi Okuda.	8	2003-01-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), the predecessor of Nippon Keidanren, used to require individual industries to meet quotas of political donations. At one stage, the organization, which was transformed into Nippon Keidanren after merging with Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers' Associations), donated more than 10 billion yen each year to the Liberal Democratic Party. But following the revelation of a series of scandals involving collusive ties between politicians, bureaucrats and business, as represented by the Recruit stock-for-favors scandal, it stopped mediating political donations in 1993.Guideline for companiesUnder the envisaged system, Nippon Keidanren will compile a guideline companies can refer to in deciding on political donations by evaluating policies and accomplishments of parties and politicians. Based on the guideline, individual companies will decide whether to make donations at their own discretion. The basic idea seems appropriate.But we would like to point out one thing: Transparency always becomes the center of debates in political donations by businesses.One good example is the increasing number of fund-raising parties held by political parties and politicians in recent years. Parties and politicians are not required to make public names of individual donors if the amount of contributions is below a certain level. Because private businesses and organizations are banned from making donations to individual politicians, such fund-raising parties are used as a kind of loophole in the system.Furthermore, politicians and their secretaries continue to receive donations from companies in return for their mediations.As Nippon Keidanren has decided to promote corporate donations, it is essential for the organization to take measures to ensure their transparency. It must focus on this point in compiling the guideline.Seeking more influenceWith its new policy, Nippon Keidanren apparently intends to enhance its influence on policymaking. However, having a say in politics must not result in deepening the collusion between business and politicians. It is necessary for the organization to present measures to prevent that from happening and thus win public understanding of its new policy.A number of other problems could be pointed out in connection with political donations.Major political parties receive a certain amount of grants from the government every year under the Political Party Subsidization Law-30 billion yen in total, or 250 yen per capita.The grant system was introduced with the goal of helping the parties encourage donations from individual voters. Nevertheless, there is no sign that political parties or politicians tried to encourage individuals to make more contributions.At the same time, political parties' local chapters, which are entitled to receive donations from businesses and organizations, have effectively functioned as another "wallet" for politicians who head the chapters. This practice remains as it was before.Last summer, a panel of intellectuals tasked with advising the LDP produced a set of proposals, including a limit on donations from successful public works bidders. However, the party has yet to sufficiently debate the issue.It cannot be denied that politicians deliberately avoid taking up the issue. Nippon Keidanren is urged to be fully aware of this aspect in finalizing the guideline on political donations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	582	2003-01-26	yoshin0020030127dz1q001zz
yomshi0020030127dz1r00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030127dz1r00007	EN	\N	ODA helping make laws.	For instance, in Cambodia, Japanese experts are for the first time helping the country draw up its civil code and civil procedure code, both of which are vital for the people's daily life. After four years of efforts, the drafting of both codes is nearly complete.	8	2003-01-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The civil code comprises eight sections and 1,200 articles, while the civil procedure code comprises seven sections and 550 articles.Similar ODA to other Asian countries is under way. This type of development assistance deserves high marks as it differs from such conventional ODA programs as road and dam construction.The development of a market economy is possible only when there is a free movement of people, goods and capital. To that end, it is vital to improve legal systems.In former Communist bloc countries, which were forced to shift from planned economies to market economies following the end of the Cold War, little progress has been made in improving their legal systems, while Asian countries have failed to respond sufficiently to the globalization of the world economy.Aid started in VietnamJapan's full-scale official development assistance in this area began when it started helping Vietnam revise its Civil Code in 1994.This assistance is still under way, with the Japan International Cooperation Agency taking the leading role, with the cooperation of the Supreme Court, the Justice Ministry's Research and Training Institute and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.Japan's assistance to Cambodia, which began after that to Vietnam, started from scratch. That country had abandoned old laws established during the French colonial days, and many of the country's legal experts were massacred under the Pol Pot regime.The drafting work was undertaken with scholars, judges, public prosecutors and lawyers working in two separate groups: one for the civil code and the other for the civil procedure code. In the drafting work, not only Japanese laws but also German and French laws were referred to.No legal system can function well as long as it is detached from the reality of the concerned society.As a matter of course, Cambodia's culture, manners and mores differ totally from those of Japan. Moreover, the form of families differs from that in Japan, while land ownership rights have yet to take root in Cambodia.Bilateral collaborationThe drafting work has required a collaboration of legal experts of both Japan and Cambodia. Cambodia created its own working team, comprising officials from its Justice Ministry, while the Japanese members have repeatedly visited Cambodia to gather relevant information.Correspondence of Khmer words to those used in the Japanese drafts are carefully confirmed, and the Japanese words are replaced one by one.An earlier draft of the Cambodian criminal code proved to be out of tune with the reality in Cambodia and was shelved without ever having been submitted as legislation. This demonstrates that Japan was right to offer its assistance in such a way as to reflect the reality in Cambodia.But Japan's assistance will not end here. With an eye to the submission of legislation related to the drafts next year, Cambodia is calling on Japan to extend its cooperation in such areas as explaining the draft in the Cambodian parliament. It is also essential to train officials who will enforce the codes.Meanwhile, Japan's assistance in legal systems is expanding to such countries as Laos, Indonesia, Mongolia and Uzbekistan.It can be said that nation building begins with the formulation of law.After adopting foreign laws in the early Meiji era, Japan made efforts to ensure that these laws became firmly rooted in its society over the past 130 years. Such experiences would be useful in helping other countries make sure their laws take roots. But long-term efforts will be necessary to this end.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2003-01-27	yoshin0020030127dz1r002jk
yomshi0020030128dz1s00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030128dz1s00009	EN	\N	Monju ruling a dubious one.	The Fukui District Court, where the case was first heard, had dismissed a suit filed by local residents, saying that there was nothing wrong with the government's preconstruction safety assessment. Monday's decision was a total reversal of this lower court ruling.	8	2003-01-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It was the first time a court had handed down a decision to nullify the government's approval of the construction of a nuclear reactor, which had already been constructed based on the government's safety assessment.The ruling is a serious development that strikes to the core of the government's nuclear policy. The central government should appeal the high court ruling to the Supreme Court, which should thoroughly reexamine the case.Monju is the core of the government's nuclear fuel recycling policy, which was drawn up to make the most effective use of a limited amount of uranium. It is a wholly domestic-made reactor, built by the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation, the predecessor of the institute.The reactor has been shut down since 1995, when a massive leak of sodium coolant at the plant during test operations gave raise to calls for its closure. Foremost amongst the plant's critics were residents of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.During the latest suit, the major issue of contestation was the preconstruction safety assessment, which had been made by the Nuclear Safety Commission-an advisory panel to the prime minister-among other bodies.Court: Safety assessment flawedOn Monday, the court ruled the safety assessment was flawed. It said that not only did it fail to prevent a leakage of radioactive material inside the reactor, but that it could not ensure the safety of other parts of the system, including the steam generator. Given the flawed nature of the assessment, the court said that the possibility of a concrete threat could not be ruled out.However, we are skeptical about the wisdom of the latest ruling because the court may not have fully taken the realities of technology into consideration.We perceive, in various passages of the ruling, a line of thinking that calls for "absolute safety" in the operation of a nuclear reactor.While it is reasonable that the maximum degree of safety is required in the operation of a nuclear reactor-which has inherent potential risks involved-in reality there can be no risk-free engineering system.While acknowledging the risks involved, what is needed is to find how such potential risks can be eliminated. To do so, we need to draw on the experiences and lessons of the past. If we do not continue in this vein, no new technological development is possible.Did the high court take these factors into account before deciding to nullify the government's approval for the building of Monju?Unreasonable expectationsIn the past, there was a period when the central government and business operators took pains to explain the operation of nuclear facilities to the public, emphasizing their "absolute safety." This plan backfired, however, and instead eventually fueled public distrust in nuclear facilities-a lesson that other industrially advanced countries also learned.Such unreasonable expectations of the nuclear power industry made the headlines last year when it was revealed that Tokyo Electric Power Co. falsified data on the airtightness of a nuclear reactor. But those who inspected the plant were obviously of the belief that everything at a plant that had been in operation for a while should be as squeaky clean and perfect as a brand-new product.Should the latest court decision be left to stand, not only the government's nuclear power policy but the future of the nation's technological development as a whole could be affected.The central government needs to take its case to the Supreme Court and fully explain the reality of the operation of nuclear facilities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	698	2003-01-28	yoshin0020030128dz1s005j3
yomshi0020030129dz1t0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030129dz1t0000i	EN	\N	Report shows Iraq in poor light.	Given this, it would make no sense to end the inspectors' hunt for WMD. The U.N. weapons inspection in Iraq must continue. This requires Baghdad's cooperation.	22	2003-01-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In his report to the U.N. Security Council, U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission chief Hans Blix strongly condemned Iraq, saying that Baghdad had failed to cooperate fully with the U.N. inspectors.Numerous cases cited in the report support suspicions that Iraq has repeatedly lied to the international community.Baghdad has admitted producing several tons of low-grade VX during its experimental production of the deadly nerve agent, but denies weaponizing it and insists that it scrapped the whole amount. However, the team of U.N. weapons inspectors believes that Iraq produced a greater amount of VX than it initially reported, that its VX gas has a higher degree of purity than Iraq claimed, and that it has indeed been weaponized.Pattern of deception evidentDuring their WMD hunt in Iraq, the U.N. inspectors found empty rocket warheads designed to carry chemical warfare agents. Baghdad insisted that its failure to declare the weapons casings to the United Nations was inadvertent. However, the U.N. team refuses to accept Iraq's assertion and regards the incident as "the tip of the iceberg." There is no denying the possibility that Iraq is concealing more hidden rocket warheads.It is disturbing to note that Iraq imported 380 rocket engines during the four-year absence of U.N. weapons inspectors. This kind of equipment is on the list of items whose exporters are subject to U.N. sanctions because it could be used to manufacture banned missiles that have a range of more than 150 kilometers.The U.N. inspectors have a list of more than 3,500 Iraqi scientists who have played a role in the country's weapons production. However, an Iraqi list submitted to the United Nations names fewer than than 500 scientists, even including those whose names were added to the list after its submission.Earlier, Iraq assured the United Nations that it would encourage its scientists to submit to individual interviews. However, no such interviews have taken place because Baghdad demands Iraqi officials sit with the scientists during interviews.Iraq's attitude in this regard is a far cry from an honest effort to "immediately, unconditionally and fully" comply with the Security Council resolution regarding Iraq's cooperation with the U.N. weapons inspectors. Baghdad must cooperate with the U.N. team wholeheartedly.U.S. should try to boost intl supportMost Security Council members argue that the use of force against Iraq should not be authorized at a time when there is no incontrovertible evidence proving Baghdad's WMD development. The United States and Britain take a different view.However, the latest weapons inspection report has encouraged Washington to warn even more strongly that there is no time to lose in launching an attack on Iraq. During the U.N. inspections in Iraq, the United States insisted that Baghdad's unwillingness to cooperate with the inspectors represented a serious violation of the Security Council resolution.Washington's warning reflects its concern that a prolonged U.N. weapons inspection could give Baghdad more time to conceal its arms program and produce WMD.However, there is some more time left for the United States to bolster its efforts to shore up international support for an attack on Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2003-01-29	yoshin0020030129dz1t003dx
yomshi0020030130dz1u0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030130dz1u0000i	EN	\N	Ban spy ships from Japan's ports.	The Metropolitan Police Department has found that the Man Gyong Bong was serving as a control tower responsible for conveying directives issued by Pyongyang to North Korean agents in this country.	16	2003-01-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ship's covert activities were brought to light after the MPD took statements from a pro-Pyongyang Korean resident in Japan who spied on South Korea in his capacity as an agent in an intelligence department run by North Korea's Workers' Party of Korea. He previously was engaged in espionage activities in the South before sneaking into Japan.After illegally registering himself as a foreign resident in Japan under the name of another man in 1993, the North Korean in question worked to establish clandestine organizations and recruit South Korean servicemen as operatives for the North until 2001. He also had several agents under his wing.The Workers' Party of Korea's intelligence department is directly controlled by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. The department is tasked with spying on South Korea and directing and supervising the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).The latest revelation shows that North Korea's spying activities have been carried out under directives issued by the Stalinist regime. This means that such orders are given by North Korea's top leader and relayed to agents in Japan through the Man Gyong Bong.Hundreds of agents thought at largeIt is believed that several hundred North Korean agents are operating in this country. There is good reason to suspect that the ship has been playing an important role in conveying orders from Pyongyang to such operatives.The government must be seriously criticized for allowing North Korea to infringe on Japan's sovereignty for many years.To prevent the Man Gyong Bong from engaging in unlawful acts, the authorities must conduct necessary measures under the current laws, including inspections of the ship, checks on cargo unloaded from the vessel and identification of its passengers.It also would be advisable to consider implementing legislative steps to ban arrivals at domestic ports by foreign ships that could pose a threat to this nation's security. It must be remembered that North Korea has carried out numerous terrorist activities in the past.The United States and European nations are seeking to revise international treaties for the purpose of authorizing countries to refuse port calls by foreign ships believed to threaten their security. Japan must fully cooperate in this regard.Chongryon's indignation misplacedThe Man Gyong Bong's predecessor was put into service between Japan and North Korea in 1971. The current Man Gyong Bong crosses the Sea of Japan between Niigata and Wonsan, North Korea, more than 20 times every year.The ship's official function is to transport North Korean residents in Japan to their country for visits to their relatives and for other lawful purposes. However, it has long been suspected that the ship is engaged in transporting massive amounts of money from Japan to North Korea, smuggling drugs into this country and infiltrating North Korean agents into the nation.It appears highly likely that the Man Gyong Bong has been involved in illegally transporting to North Korea materials that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction and conveying orders to agents who played a role in kidnapping Japanese nationals to the communist nation.The Man Gyong Bong should not be allowed to engage in unlawful acts any longer. Chongryon has reacted angrily to past revelations about North Korea's alleged irregularities in Japan, dismissing them as "fabrications." However, it cannot defend itself by repeating such accusations anymore.It is disturbing to note that Japan can be so easily penetrated by foreign spies. The government should study legislative and other practicable measures to neutralize foreign agents as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	706	2003-01-30	yoshin0020030130dz1u0031x
yomshi0020030130dz1v0005n	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030130dz1v0005n	EN	\N	Bank tax battle waste of time.	The high court ruling said the bank tax was "rational to a certain degree" but it upheld the lower court decision that the law should be nullified. We believe this ruling was reasonable as it is in line with most opinions expressed in government and academic circles.	12	2003-01-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In response to the ruling, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara made it clear that he would appeal. It is high time for the governor to stop being stubborn merely for the sake of contrariness.We urge Ishihara to accept the ruling, have the metropolitan assembly abolish the bank law ordinance and return the taxes paid by the banks as soon as possible.Under the taxation formula, the local corporate tax is levied on banks on the basis of the size of business by applying an exceptional clause in the local tax law, rather than regular taxation levied on the basis of the size of net income.Quid pro quo for servicesThe metropolitan government adopted the ordinance so that it could levy tax on financial institutions capitalized at 5 trillion yen or more for a period of five years starting in fiscal 2000.It came up with this idea because major banks were not paying local corporate tax as they were operating in the red due mainly to the disposal of nonperforming loans, even though they were receiving a number of public services from the metropolitan government.These banks filed suit with the Tokyo District Court, demanding the bank tax be nullified.The district court saw no rationality in the bank law and applied an extremely narrow interpretation of the exceptional clause in the local tax law.In contrast, the high court ruling was more neutral overall as seen in its broad-minded interpretation of the clause.However, another clause in the local tax law stipulates that the introduction of a local corporate tax formula on the basis of the size of business must not create an imbalance with the amount of tax levied on the basis of net income. The high court came to the conclusion that the bank law violated the local tax law on the basis of this point.Tokyo govt's effort too costlyBoth the central government and tax experts have said the disparity in tax burdens is the most serious problem in the bank tax.Even after filing suit, the banks have been paying the bank tax in case the court ruled against them. If the metropolitan government appeals to the Supreme Court, the amount of tax money to be paid by the banks will continue to increase.However, if the metropolitan government loses its appeal, it will be asked to pay hundreds of billions of yen plus additional charges, which will be calculated at an interest rate of 4 percent per annum. The metropolitan government's serious fiscal situation will become far worse if this happens.On top of the additional charges, local residents might go to court to force the governor and the senior metropolitan government officials to make up for the losses. Because of the gigantic additional charges, the situation surrounding the metropolitan government would become chaotic.The longer the court battle continues, the more insecure Tokyo's fiscal situation will become and the larger the additional charges will be. The metropolitan government should forget about saving face and give up its stubborn battle.The bank tax is a tax that caters to the strong public disdain for banks. In this regard, it was an unreasonable idea from the beginning.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2003-01-31	yoshin0020030203dz1v0040n
yomshi0020030203dz21000bi	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030203dz21000bi	EN	\N	Koizumi must change his policy.	As usual, the differences in the parliamentary addresses by the Japanese and U.S. leaders were striking.	16	2003-02-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Of course, the political cultures of the two countries are far apart, but we have to admit that one of the reasons the differences were so striking this time was the lack of substance in Koizumi's address. The speech sounded stale and he did not display his eloquent speaking style.Above all, the prime minister failed to answer the question the public was most interested in. What measures does he plan to take to overcome ongoing deflationary pressures?"We need to use every possible means to revive the Japanese economy," Koizumi said at the top of his voice. But did he come up with bold measures, including fiscal spending steps, to accomplish this task? The answer, of course, is no.Address wrecked LDP hopesWhat he stressed in his speech was his determination to continue the policy of placing top priority on structural reforms in line with his much-touted slogan: "Without reforms, there will be no economic growth."At a recent convention of the Liberal Democratic Party, Koizumi said his administration's biggest task was to arrest deflation. Following this remark, many party members speculated that the prime minister was ready to change his policy. His policy address Friday shattered such hopes.If he announces a change in policy, it will be seen as a concession to the so-called resistance forces within the LDP. In that event, his Cabinet's high approval rating, which is helping to keep the administration in power, might plummet. Therefore, it is widely believed that the prime minister will stick to his policy of placing priority on structural reforms because of such fears. If so, we can only say that he is taking populism to extremes.In a policy address last year, the prime minister pledged that he would demonstrate to the public the achievement of his reforms in fiscal 2003 and begin taking steps from fiscal 2004 to ensure steady economic growth led by private demand.Reforms dependent on recoveryHowever, in his speech Friday, Koizumi took a step back from this pledge, saying "it will be a little while before the reforms bear fruit." The fact that he was unable to keep his pledge illustrates the collapse of his economic policy. Although Koizumi has said in the Diet that his inability to keep his pledges "does not matter much," the issue is not so simple.Reforms will not proceed without an economic recovery. We call on the prime minister to stop pursuing an ineffective strategy and immediately announce a change in policy.His address was also inadequate with respect to diplomatic and security policies.On the Iraq crisis, Koizumi merely expressed his intention to "continue making diplomatic efforts on its own initiative."When he took office, Koizumi was positive about reviewing the government's interpretation of the right of collective self-defense, but he did not mention the issue in the speech.It is the prime minister's duty to make clear how he plans to deal with crises in this country and abroad.Koizumi should recognize the situation concerning Japan today and come up with clear, responsible policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	608	2003-02-01	yoshin0020030203dz210046g
yomshi0020030203dz220005m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030203dz220005m	EN	\N	Cut yields on insurance.	Needless to say, a solution must be provided that can prevent life insurance companies from collapsing while at the same time easing the burdens on policyholders as much as possible.	8	2003-02-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Financial Services Agency has decided to submit a bill to the current ordinary session of the Diet to revise the Insurance Business Law with a view to allowing life insurers to reduce promised rates of return on premium investments to avoid bankruptcies.A cut in guaranteed yields would certainly decrease insurance and pension benefits. However, policyholders would have to face a far larger reduction in benefits if insurance companies actually went bankrupt.Given the fact that life insurers and banks hold each other's shares, a failure of the former could throw the banking sector into grave confusion and result in a major loss of wealth on the part of the people.From a broader point of view, the lowering of promised yields on premium investments would surely protect the benefits of policyholders.Huge negative yieldsIn the past, life insurance companies sold a great number of policies by promising policyholders high rates of return. But the ensuing plunge in interest rates has kept insurers from honoring their yield pledge-they have amassed a huge amount of negative yields. On top of that, the contraction of the market value of their stock portfolios has rapidly eroded the financial strengths of life insurance companies.Under the existing law, insurance companies can reduce guaranteed yields-a measure that will help shrink the amount of negative yields-only when they go under.To prevent the collapse of life insurance companies, the FSA has decided to allow them to lower the guaranteed yields, which the insurers promised to offer to policyholders during the bubble economy, to about 3 percent upon the request of insurance companies.Of course, a unilateral cut in promised yields would hardly be welcome.Nonetheless, we are now in an era of lower interest rates, a situation that could not have been foreseen when contracts were signed for the insurance policies in question. For this reason, life insurers alone cannot be to blame. Under such circumstances, it is not necessarily advisable to force them to stick with the original contracts.Policyholders may acquiesceConsidering the guaranteed yield rate of about 1.5 percent for policies of late, the lowering of promised returns on earlier policies to about 3 percent may be acceptable to many policyholders.The FSA envisions two scenarios in which the agency will not agree to insurers' request for a cut in guaranteed yields: if more than three-quarters of representatives of policyholders do not support a reduction or more than 10 percent of policyholders express dissent.Such harsh criteria mean that passage of the new bill would not readily jeopardize the benefits of policyholders.At the same time, the FSA should map out measures to prevent a run by policyholders on the life insurance companies that apply for a possible cut in guaranteed yields.The agency must be wise. For instance, it should impose a freeze on the cancellation of policies by policyholders for a certain period of time to allow mergers or business tie-ups with other insurance companies with sound financial fundamentals.The new bill has to be thoroughly explained to policyholders to win their consent to the FSA's new policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun Feb. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	578	2003-02-02	YOSHIN0020030722dz2200008
yomshi0020030204dz2400008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030204dz2400008	EN	\N	Let reforms start at the top.	Both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors have started debating what should be done to accomplish reforms.	8	2003-02-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Diet's position as the highest organ of state power does not mean that the lower and upper houses can be made exempt to reform, especially when there is every reason to remove the factors that have rendered our parliamentary system inadequate and useless in some respects.Despite repeated calls to reform the Diet, however, lawmakers have been either unable or unwilling to do so. Legislators and all others concerned in the latest attempts at reforming the two chambers must do better this time.Lower house Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki has presented a list of pertinent issues to an advisory panel studying ways to reform the nation's parliamentary system.Wide range of reforms neededThe list of issues to be addressed is a wide-ranging one. It runs the gamut from political ethics and the electoral system to the method used for conducting question-time debates between the prime minister and opposition leaders.An important problem confronting the upper house is how to shore up the chamber's role in auditing each fiscal budget with the aim of determining whether the budget and government policies have been executed as initially planned.Issues facing both the lower and upper houses include a proposal to reduce pensions received by long-serving Diet members. Another major task to be tackled by both chambers is how to integrate their separate training schools for the stenographers that transcribe Diet sessions. The lower and upper houses are already working on ways to implement this particular reform.Progress is also being made in the upper house's efforts to increase its role in auditing the government budget for the purpose of fulfilling duties distinct from those of the lower house. The upper house is working to ensure that its Audit Committee calls a meeting with all Cabinet members present during the current ordinary Diet session, with the aim of examining tax revenues and expenditures under the fiscal 2001 budget.This is in stark contrast to the Diet's long-standing practice of calling Audit Committee sessions on the preceding year's budget after an ordinary Diet session closes.Lawmakers may well be given some credit for their efforts to transform the Diet into a more efficient chamber that can better monitor government policies. These efforts could raise reasonable expectations for their reform campaign.Time for action, not talkIt should be noted, however, that there is nothing new about all of the current parliamentary reform plans-including the integration of the transcribing schools for stenographers and the increased role of the upper house's role in auditing the budget. Similar proposals have been advocated time and time again over the years.The Diet must ensure that its audit of the budget has a significant effect on government policies to be implemented under a new budget. Otherwise, there is no point in having the budget audited by the Diet. The success-or a lack of it-of the Diet's efforts in this regard hinges on whether our lawmakers are truly ready and willing to establish and run a workable system aimed at achieving that goal.Another major focus of the parliamentary reform is to find a way to turn Diet sessions into lively debates. Measures should be taken to achieve this goal.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has proposed that the incumbent prime minister deliver a policy speech before the Diet with all lower and upper house members present, instead of giving such an address before each chamber. During the current Diet session, however, lawmakers decided not to adopt Koizumi's proposal. This meant that many legislators take the current system for granted and remain passive about breaking with convention.But it will be a while yet before we learn whether Diet members are prepared to seriously tackle parliamentary reform.Lawmakers came under fire last year for their actions-or inactions-during the latter part of the extraordinary Diet session. It was disturbing to see lawmakers chatting with each other during Diet sessions and neglecting to attend meetings. We must not allow the latest attempt at parliamentary reform to be reduced to a mere cosmetic effort to fend off such criticism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2003-02-04	yoshin0020030207dz240040m
yomshi0020030204dz250005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030204dz250005s	EN	\N	Is cutting nails a job for doctors?	That kind of care is categorized as a form of medical practice. Therefore, home-visit nurses could violate the Medical Practitioners Law if they engaged in services of that nature. The law prohibits anyone from conducting medical activities unless he or she is licensed as a medical doctor or nurse.	8	2003-02-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	No one would be held criminally liable for providing a family member with such care as checking his or her blood pressure. Technically, such activities are interpreted as services of a nonprofessional nature. However, home-visit care workers could run counter to the law if they provided such services as part of their nursing care.Applying eye drops and ointment to a patient is an easy task. The law is too inflexible if it can be interpreted to ban care workers from carrying out such activities while allowing family members to do so.However, care workers are unofficially engaged in a wide variety of activities that could be legally be regarded as forms of medical practice. They include removing phlegm from patients' throats, replacing old bandages with new ones, giving enemas and administering medicine.Law is out of touch with realityIt is impossible for doctors and nurses to provide all services needed by elderly people. Given this, personnel at nursing facilities and home-visit care workers have no choice but to conduct what the law defines as "medical activities." All this shows that there is a widening gap between what the law prescribes and what actually takes place.At long last, an attempt to bridge this gap is gaining momentum.The new campaign was triggered by calls from a group of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients who urged the government to authorize nursing-care workers to remove phlegm from patients' throats. Reacting to this petition, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has set up a committee to address pertinent issues.ALS is a degenerative nervous system disorder that causes muscle wasting and paralysis. Many ALS patients recuperating at home use respirators. Such patients need to have their phlegm removed with a suction tube once or twice an hour.They must have their family members do this if no doctor or nurse is present. This means that their families must shoulder heavy physical and mental burdens. In this sense, the group of ALS patients has good reason to raise questions about legal restrictions placed on home-visit care workers in conducting similar activities.Redefine 'medical,' 'nursing' practicesFour years ago, the former Management and Coordination Agency urged the then Health and Welfare Ministry to reconsider these regulations, with the aim of authorizing nursing-care workers to provide a wide range of services needed by elderly people. However, the latter ministry told the agency that "decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis."The ministry has been ambiguous about what constitutes medical activities. This has aroused confusion among care workers, who could mistakenly assume that clipping a patient's nails could be regarded as a form of medical practice.It is essential for the government to carefully study where to draw a line between medical practice and other activities. The government should make a pragmatic decision on the issue that reflects the state of affairs surrounding nursing-care workers.We believe that trained care workers must be authorized to conduct some "medical activities" if they have received consent from the family of a patient they nurse.A new demarcation line must be drawn between medical practice and nursing services. The government must implement measures to complement that task.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2003-02-05	yoshin0020030205dz25003du
yomshi0020030206dz2600064	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030206dz2600064	EN	\N	New bond strategy needed.	However, we caution financial authorities that they should not be too pleased with the product's high popularity because many problems still remain to be resolved to ensure the steady purchase of mass-issued government bonds.	14	2003-02-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government must take the next step in managing government bonds by moving to introduce a variety of new government bonds with high marketability and reduced debt-servicing costs.Ownership distortedThe structure of bond holdings in the country is extremely distorted. One remarkable feature is the extremely low percentage of government bonds held by individuals.About half of the government bonds outstanding are owned by public sector investors, such as the Public Management Ministry that is responsible for postal savings and kanpo postal insurance, with a further 40 percent held by private financial institutions. Consequently, government bonds owned by individuals account for less than 3 percent of the total outstanding government bonds, a figure far less than in the United States.The central government has been dependent on the purchase of government bonds by financial institutions and has neglected to build a system for individual investors to purchase bonds directly from the government, resulting in the distorted distribution of government bond holdings.In this respect, the government has finally begun efforts to increase the purchase of government bonds by individual investors by making it easy to buy the product. Though the step was taken a little late, we believe the government is moving in an appropriate direction. If government bonds specially designed for individual investors catch on, their popularity is expected to promote sales of government bonds in general.The issuance of government bonds specifically targeting individual investors indicates that it has become impossible for the government to sell massive amounts of newly issued government bonds through conventional means.Due to the deepening deflation, the government's tax revenues continue to decline year by year. The administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has announced that deflation will not be overcome until fiscal 2005 or later, stepping back from its initial goal of fiscal 2003.Revenue shortfalls resulting from declines in tax revenue need to be covered by the issuance of government bonds to pay for the government's mismanagement of economic policy.The total issuance of government bonds, including those issued to redeem previously issued bonds, is expected to exceed 100 trillion yen for the first time in this fiscal year.Following the issuance of the bond specifically targeting individual investors, the Finance Ministry is considering issuing another new type of government bond whose face value will fluctuate with inflation.It is appropriate for the government to minimize the financial burden on the public by cutting debt-servicing fees through the combination of various types of bonds of different redemption periods, but past efforts have been insufficient.Huge potential marketIf a variety of government bonds are made available and their values as financial products increase, individual financial assets worth more than 1,300 trillion yen and even so-called tansu deposits-money people keep socked away at home-could be invested in government bonds.Even in the midst of serious revenue shortages, the government cannot halt its efforts to resuscitate the economy. As a source of revenue to implement policies for restoring the economy, we believe it is worth considering issuing a new zero-interest, nontaxable government bond that will not add to the government's debt-servicing obligations.The government has a number of options to choose from as it takes the next step.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2003-02-06	yoshin0020030206dz2600323
yomshi0020030207dz2700007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030207dz2700007	EN	\N	U.S. shows smoking Iraqi gun.	U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation before the council clearly showed that Iraqi authorities were desperate to conceal arms before the arrival of U.N. weapons inspectors.	12	2003-02-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We believe it is almost certain that the country has hidden its weapons of mass destruction.Using audio tapes of intercepted conversations between senior Iraq officials and analysis of satellite photos, Powell explained in detail how Iraq is in "further material breach" of U.N. resolutions.With Powell's presentation, the United States again made clear its argument that there is a good reason for attacking Iraq.U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix and other officials are scheduled to arrive in Baghdad on Saturday, and the team is expected to make an additional report to the Security Council next Friday. With time running out, the onus is on Iraq to disprove the allegations presented by the United States.True intentions revealedIn his presentation, Powell referred to an audio tape of a conversation between senior Iraqi officials confirming with each other that they had "evacuated everything" in reference to a banned "modified vehicle" ahead of a visit by inspectors. This conversation reveals Iraq's real intention despite its officially stated willingness to cooperate with the inspection.In addition, a set of satellite photos showed facilities chemical weapons and ballistic missiles were believed to have been removed from before the arrival of the international inspectors. Judging from these photos, what Iraq has done seemed quite unnatural.Iraq dismissed the presentation, calling it lies and a typical American show with special effects, but such an argument will not satisfy the international community.Powell also pointed out that Iraq's refusal to allow U-2 overflights to provide closer aerial inspection was in violation of Security Council Resolution 1441 adopted on Nov. 8, which sought "free and unrestricted use" of airplanes and other means to search for banned weapons. This further illustrates Iraq's unwillingness to cooperate with the international inspectors.War possibleConcluding the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has no intention of abandoning weapons of mass destruction, Powell said the country was now in danger of suffering "serious consequences"-possible war. With this remark, Powell suggested the Security Council suspend further inspections.However, opinions within the council are split. While the United States and Britain insist that they need only a few weeks-not a few months-before making a decision about military attacks against Iraq, France, Russia and China have all called for giving the inspectors more time.If the United States attacks Iraq, it is preferable that such a step be taken after the passage of a new Security Council resolution. However, if the international community fails to reach agreement within a limited time frame, the United States and other countries may form a coalition and attack Iraq."(After Powell reported evidence Iraq has been deceiving U.N. arms inspectors,) suspicions that Iraq owns weapons of mass destruction deepened," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Thursday. "Japan will have to act in a responsible manner as a U.S. ally."Taking into account the significance of the Japan-U.S. relationship based on the bilateral security treaty, this response is absolutely reasonable.The government must consider its future course of action from this point of view.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2003-02-07	yoshin0020030207dz27004m5
yomshi0020030208dz2800009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030208dz2800009	EN	\N	Clarify views on Constitution.	Less than two years remain before the panel is to submit its final report in January 2005. Since elections for both the House of Councillors and the lower house are to take place before 2005, there is less time remaining than it may appear.	16	2003-02-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is therefore necessary to expedite discussions over which articles of the Constitution should be revised and how, so that the opinions of the panel members may be compiled.The lower house's study panel has established four subcommittees to discuss: the role of the Constitution as the supreme law; fundamental human rights; the ideal structure of the government; national security and international cooperation.All the articles in the present Constitution will be discussed by related subcommittees.During the first session of the subcommittee on national security and international cooperation, various specific proposals were made, including one by a member of the Liberal Democratic Party who said, "Paragraph 2 of Article 9 should clearly state that the nation needs to maintain a military capable of waging war for self-defense."Praise for specificsBy holding such in-depth discussions on every article of the Constitution, it should be made clear what in the present Constitution should be kept intact and what should be revised. Such straightforward discussion of specifics as seen in the first round of subcommittee sessions deserves high marks.The lower house subcommittees plan to continue hearing opinions from experts, while putting more emphasis on debates among the legislators on the subcommittees.In order to compile opinions from panel members, it is essential to clarify what is agreed on and what remains in dispute during the discussions.Each party needs to deepen discussions on the related issues within their own party so that each organization can clearly express its opinions.The situation that has developed within the upper house study panel is cause for concern.While the upper house panel is to begin its discussions soon for the current Diet session, its deliberations thus far have been more limited in scope and duration than those of the lower house panel.The committee in lower house compiled its interim report last autumn, while the upper house panel postponed compilation of its interim report. Even during the current Diet session, there has so far been no move toward having the panel's opinions compiled.Much to discussThere are many constitutional issues, such as the ideal structure of a two-chamber parliamentary system, that should be actively debated, especially by the upper house. We call on the upper house panel to expedite its efforts in discussing specific constitutional reforms.The Constitution plays a key role in formulating the nation's response to such on-going vital issues as those concerning Iraq and North Korea.The government's interpretation of the Constitution that "Japan cannot exercise its right to collective defense" has needlessly hampered the Self-Defense Forces in playing a role in international joint operations for maintaining international peace.It is desirable for the right of collective defense to be stipulated in the Constitution, however, in order to respond to the current crises, it is a matter of urgency for the nation to prepare to fulfill its international responsibilities by altering the interpretation of the relevant article.At the subcommittee on national security and international cooperation, one expert pointed out that "A state of emergency could occur as early as tomorrow. The Diet's responsibility for having failed to look squarely at the defects of the Constitution will be questioned."To actively discuss issues facing Japan today and to take the lead in bringing forth such issues for discussion as national security, is an important role for the study panel on the Constitution to assume.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2003-02-08	yoshin0020030210dz28005vh
yomshi0020030210dz2900007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030210dz2900007	EN	\N	Land mine job not yet finished.	Japan abolished the mines to fulfill its obligation, as a signatory to the Convention on Antipersonnel Mines, to complete the scrapping of its stockpile by the end of this month.	8	2003-02-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan, which signed the convention in 1997, has taken the initiative, together with Canada and other countries, toward abolishing the antipersonnel mines. The complete abolition of antipersonnel mines can be called a landmark in the overall effort to do away with such mines.But it does not mean we have eliminated the threat of antipersonnel mines, which have been dubbed the "invisible killer." There remains much for Japan to do.According to a U.N. statistics, more than 100 million antipersonnel mines now lurk in the soil of 60-plus countries around the world.While the number of victims has declined slightly, nearly 20,000 civilians-men, women and children-are said to be killed or maimed by land mines every year.These victims can be found in every corner of the world-countries such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Bosnia and Angola, that were once consumed by civil wars.Also, in many cases, the presence of mines has hindered the rehabilitation of those countries that have seen the end of civil wars.1st steps 1stJapan's first step should be to make further efforts in eliminating mines that already have been laid, a root cause of concern.Japan leads the world in the development of land mine-detecting technology. It should further develop the technology and make the best use of it.Monetary and human support is also essential.Since 1998, Japan has contributed a total of 10 billion yen toward removing mines and assisting mine victims. The government also has extended official development assistance and other support to nongovernmental organizations involved in eliminating mines.The government also has dispatched retired Self-Defense Forces officials to Cambodia, as part of its efforts to support mine-elimination activities.Government support in these areas also needs to be beefed up.Powers of persuasionThe horror of antipersonnel mines is that there is no knowing where they are. Also their removal is usually done via manual groping.To expedite the removal effort, it is essential to pursue the slow-but-steady task of compiling data about what kinds of mines and how many have been laid where.We should not forget trying to persuade nonsignatory countries to sign the convention. The number of countries that have ratified the convention now totals 131. Countries, including the United States, Russia, China, India and Pakistan, have yet to sign the convention.These countries have cited national security as the reason for their refusal to sign.Japan risked its national security to sign the convention. Even as it points this out, Japan should continue urging nonsignatory countries to join the convention.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	514	2003-02-09	yoshin0020030210dz29006ab
yomshi0020030210dz2b000bb	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030210dz2b000bb	EN	\N	Diet secretary reform needed.	To this end, and in response to a request from a House of Representatives panel for advice on how to reform the system, a research commission is about to get down to serious debate on the issue.	13	2003-02-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The commission, comprised of private-sector academics and specialists, is scheduled to present the lower house panel with a report detailing its proposals as early as this summer.We hope the commission will come up with workable reform plans to help restore public trust in politicians and political parties.The research commission has been asked to identify problems involved in the system for state-paid salaries received by secretaries and put together basic reform plans. Issues facing the commission include whether legislators' secretaries should be allowed to serve in other positions.Lawmakers favor pooled-salary planThe major focus of the problem revolves around the pros and cons of a proposal to adopt a system under which the government would give Diet members a lump sum with which to pay their secretaries' salaries. This system would give each lawmaker an amount of money equivalent to the salaries of three state-paid secretaries, leaving it up to the legislator to determine how many secretaries to employ and how much salary each secretary would be paid.An increasing number of Diet members from both the ruling and opposition parties are demanding the introduction of such a scheme. These demands began in earnest after Kiyomi Tsujimoto, then chief policymaker of the Social Democratic Party, stepped down as a legislator to take responsibility for misappropriating the state-paid salaries of her secretaries.The growing calls for the adoption of the system partly reflect the desire of lawmakers to increase the number of secretaries on their payroll without actually paying out any additional money.However, many people are critical of the pooled-salary system. In the autumn of 2001, another advisory body to the lower house speaker submitted a report that opposed the system, concluding that under the system, lawmakers' secretaries could end up doing more work for less money.Given the relationship between Diet members and their secretaries, there is good reason to question the wisdom of introducing a salary-pooling system.Critics of the system have argued that such a pooling system would make it legal for lawmakers to skim off a percentage of state-paid salaries intended for their secretaries.If adopted, the system could replace the current system, under which one of a Diet member's three state-paid secretaries is supposed to specialize in helping the legislator formulate policy. The loss of such a secretary would weaken a legislator's ability to formulate policies and give up the pursuit of the policy-secretary system's goals.Legislators' self-serving choicesAdmittedly, many questions can be raised about the efficiency of the current secretarial system.In 1991, an independent organ comprised of private-sector academics presented the lower house speaker with the list of specific proposals for reforming the secretarial system. The suggestions included the adoption of a policy-secretary system, a ban on Diet members employing their relatives as secretaries, and a recommendation that the responsibility of legislators regarding the conduct of their secretaries be more clearly defined.The only proposal both the ruling and opposition parties agreed to adopt, however, was the self-serving policy-secretary system. To make matters worse, they further bent the adoption of the panel's recommendations to their own ends by ensuring that anyone who had served as a secretary to a lawmaker for a number of years qualified as a state-paid policy secretary-professional expertise was not a prerequisite for the position.In addition, neither the ruling nor the opposition bloc got behind the idea of establishing a rule to prevent lawmakers from employing close relatives as policy secretaries.Members of the lower house panel on reforming the parliamentary system-both from the ruling and opposition camps-have already agreed that their committee will not be bound by the proposals issued by the research commission on the secretarial system. Does this mean that once again they will not implement proposals that do not serve their own convenience?Diet members must not be allowed to once again pick and choose from the commission's proposals-adopting only those that suit them-as they did in 1991.We hope the commission will fully debate all pertinent issues from various viewpoints.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	781	2003-02-11	yoshin0020030212dz2b006e0
yomshi0020030212dz2c00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030212dz2c00006	EN	\N	Tighten export rules on WMD.	Nearly a year has passed since Japan adopted the "catch-all" principle, a national export control system for materials and technologies that could be used to make WMD. The new system was introduced with the aim of making regulations on exports of such items as strict as those applied in the United States and European nations.	11	2003-02-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The previous export control system was far more limited in that it obliged exporters to seek permission to export only 80 materials and technologies stipulated in the state ordinance.However, the new system, as its name suggests, stipulates that permission must be sought for the export of all items designated by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry as ones that could be used to make WMD, which include nuclear, biological and chemical arms, as well as all materials or technologies exporters themselves learn will be used for such purposes.Strictly monitor exports to N. KoreaSo far, the new system appears to have proved effective.Between April, when the catch-all principle was introduced, and the end of last year, METI instructed exporters to seek export permission from the authorities in 15 cases after it learned of the risk that such items could be used to make WMD. Consequently, most dealers gave up their plans to export the relevant items, apparently believing that their applications would not be accepted.However, in one case, an application was made but rejected. A trading firm in Tokyo wanted to export a vacuum freeze drier to North Korea, but METI turned down the firm's application, concluding that the device could be used to powder Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming bacterium that causes anthrax. A North Korean dealer submitted an order for the device to the trading house last summer, when Tokyo and Pyongyang were at loggerheads over such issues as spy ships dispatched by Pyongyang and the abduction of Japanese to North Korea.Taking into account what has been achieved under the new system, the government needs to make further efforts to make export controls even more effective.In particular, we urge the government to strictly monitor prospective exports to North Korea. The government must stay alert to the threat posed by a country that continues to take a hard line in disputes over its nuclear arms development program and that tries to import items associated with WMD.Raise awareness across the boardAs future principles to strengthen the export control system, METI called for:- Enhancing the capability to gather and analyze relevant information.- Strengthening a network to jointly collect information with countries that have adopted international export control systems.- Stepping up cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Agency and other organizations concerned in the country.In line with these principles, METI is making efforts to enhance and strengthen a system to collect and analyze information by building a comprehensive database regarding information on exports associated with security matters.To block exports of items linked with WMD, the understanding and cooperation of businesses concerned regarding the new system is indispensable.However, when METI conducted a survey in autumn last year on 311 exporters, including manufacturers and trading houses, only about 50 percent of the pollees responded. Moreover, only about half of the respondents said they knew about the new system.Most of the pollees were leading companies in the country. It can be assumed, therefore, that small-and medium-sized firms know even less about the new system and its significance.In this respect, the government must make thorough efforts to improve its consultation service and raise public awareness about the new system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2003-02-12	yoshin0020030212dz2c0070x
yomshi0020030213dz2d00061	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030213dz2d00061	EN	\N	Mend holes in net around Iraq.	The United States asked member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to back alliance preparations to assist fellow member Turkey in the event of a war with Iraq, but Germany, France and Belgium refused to do so.	16	2003-02-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Turkey is the only one of the 19 NATO member states that borders Iraq. If the United States leads an attack against Iraq, the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein may take retaliatory action against Turkey, whose military facilities U.S. forces are expected to use. Therefore, the United States is seeking to deploy NATO's Patriot air defense missiles, AWACS surveillance aircraft and anti-chemical and biological warfare teams in Turkey in case of a counterattack by its neighbor.Germany and France, which have been urging the continuance of U.N. inspections for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, already were at loggerheads with the United States and Britain, which are stepping up military pressure on Saddam, saying that time is running out for him to disarm. However, the gap between the two sides is now wider than ever.Disarray plays into Saddam's handsWe find this situation very regrettable. Above all, we wonder whether it might send the wrong signal to Iraq.Iraq finally agreed to allow U-2 surveillance flights over its territory. Iraq's favorite ploy-as this latest decision shows-is to gradually alter its stance of cooperation while closely observing how the international community responds. If cracks emerge in the international community's unity, it plays right into Iraq's hands.Therefore, countries concerned need to make the utmost efforts to rebuild an encircling net around Iraq. In response to the refusal of the three NATO states to bolster Turkey's defense, Turkey invoked Article IV of NATO's founding treaty, under which allies seek consultations if they fear they are under threat.Negotiations among NATO member states have become severely strained, and it remains to be seen whether the alliance will succeed in resolving the differences of opinion among its members. In this regard, we urge each country to make concessions as soon as possible.NATO rift is also Japan's businessAs stipulated in a joint declaration from Russia, Germany and France issued by French President Jacques Chirac on Monday after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, no country objects to the international community's common objective of disarming Iraq.Attention is now focused on an additional report by U.N. weapons inspectors that is scheduled to be submitted to the U.N. Security Council on Friday. It is advisable for countries concerned to avoid bringing the rift in NATO into the Security Council meeting.But we also warn Iraq that it must not misinterpret situations in the United States and Europe. The country has yet to refute the allegation leveled by the international community that it is hiding weapons of mass destruction.It is still true that full compliance with U.N. inspectors is Iraq's only option.For Japan, which has been insisting on the importance of international cooperation, the discord within NATO is not a matter that it can wash its hands of. This country must continue to place top priority on maintaining the Japan-U.S. security framework.In this respect, the government must recognize anew that it might be asked to cooperate with the United States in a different manner from such leading European countries as Germany and France.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2003-02-13	yoshin0020030213dz2d005ix
yomshi0020030213dz2e000bb	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030213dz2e000bb	EN	\N	UNSC must act on N. Korea.	On two occasions since autumn, Pyongyang has ignored the IAEA's call to abandon its nuclear weapons program.	12	2003-02-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The IAEA's governing body had no other recourse but to refer the issue to the UNSC in accordance with its charter. Although Russia and Cuba abstained, all the other member countries of the governing body voted for the resolution.North Korea needs to understand that its own actions have further isolated it from the international community.Although the UNSC is in the midst of dealing with the issue of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, the council must tackle the North Korea issue promptly.It will be the first time in almost 10 years for the Security Council to take up North Korea's nuclear development.In 1993, it adopted a resolution calling on North Korea to rescind its planned withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and requested all member countries to settle the crisis through diplomatic efforts.Agreed Framework meaninglessAfter many twists and turns at high-level talks between U.S. and North Korean officials, the crisis was resolved with the adoption of the Agreed Framework.The North Korea issue has been referred to the Security Council at a time when the Agreed Framework has, in essence, become meaningless. Therefore, the situation is more serious than 10 years ago.U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet told a Senate committee in Washington on Tuesday: "Kim Jong Il's attempts this past year to parlay the North's nuclear weapons program into political leverage suggest he is trying to negotiate a fundamentally different relationship with Washington-one that implicitly tolerates the North's nuclear weapons program."Tenet's remarks indicated his strong sense of alarm that North Korea wants to build nuclear weapons, rather than engage in "brinkmanship diplomacy" aimed at receiving benefits in return for abandoning its nuclear weapons program.While it is important for the United States to take the leading role in dealing with North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, it is difficult to come up with an effective strategy.The series of hard-line actions Pyongyang has taken since the crisis erupted has exacerbated the situation.Serious threat to JapanNorth Korea, which is moving toward restarting its nuclear facilities, has contended that it is pursuing, at least for the moment, the peaceful use of the nuclear facilities to generate electricity. Yet, it has continued to refuse IAEA access to inspect its facilities.If nuclear fuel rods are reprocessed, North Korea will be able to produce weapons-grade plutonium for at least six nuclear weapons.U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said last week that North Korea could produce such plutonium "by May or June." There is no time to lose.In 1994, when Pyongyang was preparing to reprocess spent nuclear fuel, the United States seriously considered carrying out a military strike on North Korea. Should North Korea again start reprocessing nuclear fuel rods, the world should not sit back and do nothing.North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles pose a serious threat to Japan's national security. Japan must closely cooperate with the United States and other countries to remove such a threat.When we take into account the fact that, unlike 10 years ago, this country is not a member of the Security Council, Japan will have to make a greater diplomatic effort to have its position reflected in the UNSC's decision.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2003-02-14	yoshin0020030214dz2e004r9
yomshi0020030214dz2f0005y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030214dz2f0005y	EN	\N	Deflation still biggest challenge.	The gross domestic product for the October-December quarter posted a real 0.5 percent growth over the previous quarter, or an annualized growth rate of 2 percent.	16	2003-02-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is the fourth straight quarter that the economy has shown growth. Yet the growth in personal consumption, which constitutes a major portion of the GDP, has slowed markedly, while the deflationary trend has deteriorated.A development such as a military attack on Iraq in the days ahead would heighten concern about the world's economic outlook and Japan's already weak economy may sink further. We should bear in mind that the economy is in far worse shape than it appears.In the last quarter, the growth has been largely due to a 4.5 percent increase in exports, particularly to Asian countries and the United States.Puny personal consumptionWhile external demand, or net exports, made a positive 0.3 percent contribution to the overall figure, domestic demand only added 0.2 percent. This indicates a decline in private consumption.Compounded by the dismal job situation and reduced bonuses for many people, personal consumption rose a mere 0.1 percent, compared with the 0.8 percent growth in the July-September period. It also is of grave concern that the average propensity to consume has begun to decline.If private consumption, which has so far underpinned the overall economy, shrinks, the economy would enter a stage where such contractions would become the norm.On the other hand, capital investment posted a 1 percent growth, a far cry from a full-scale recovery. Housing starts and public investment also remained sluggish.The GDP deflator, the primary inflation barometer, fell 2.2 percent from a year earlier, registering its 19th quarterly decline in a row. The nominal growth rate for the October-December period posted a negative growth for the first time in three quarters.Narrow supply-demand gapThe biggest challenge the economy faces today is deflation. Unless the sizable supply-demand gap is narrowed, deflationary pressures will make it virtually impossible for the economy to make a full recovery.The Bank of Japan needs to further ease its monetary policy. The money supply for January recorded the lowest growth since December 2000, making it difficult for the economy to pull itself out of its deflationary doldrums.In its meetings on Thursday and Friday, the bank's policy-setting panel decided not to take additional credit-easing measures. However, this is precisely the time for the bank to do so. It should carry out such measures as introducing inflation targets and purchasing foreign bonds in an effort to reduce the value of the yen.It will also become necessary for the government to consider additional fiscal spending in the event of a military attack against Iraq.The government needs to shift from an austere fiscal policy as soon as possible, in view of its issuance of no-interest-bearing, tax-exempt government bonds.The economy will inevitably contract as long as the government and the Bank of Japan stick to the same old policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	539	2003-02-15	yoshin0020030215dz2f000ex
yomshi0020030217dz2h0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030217dz2h0000c	EN	\N	WTO at odds over free trade.	This was became particularly evident during a ministerial meeting of 22 selected WTO member economies that wrapped up a three-day session on the ongoing round of trade talks in Tokyo on Sunday.	8	2003-02-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The primary task facing WTO members at the latest meeting was to pave the way for a broad agreement on issues discussed at the trade round launched in 2001, including a plan to reach a consensus about proposed cuts in tariffs on agricultural products by March 31. However, the meeting made little progress in this regard. The WTO members also put off settling a dispute over a proposal to partially restrict measures implemented to protect manufacturing patents on pharmaceutical products, thus giving developing countries greater access to affordable medicines. Developing nations have said that they would be more deeply committed to the Doha round of trade talks if that goal were achieved.The WTO states are determined to reach a consensus on pending issues and conclude the current round by Jan. 1, 2005. However, the list of issues to be negotiated under the Doha round runs the gamut from farm products to mining and manufacturing products. Issues also include services and efforts to step up antidumping and other regulations.The WTO must advance the Doha round by meeting agreed-upon issue-by-issue deadlines, otherwise the global trade body will be unable to conclude the trade talks by the January 2005 deadline.Framework for Doha round essentialIt is essential for the WTO to reach an agreement on the new framework of its Doha round as a means of advancing global trade. There will be no achieving global economic growth and development if the goal is not met.Success-or a lack of it-in accomplishing that objective hinges on what the WTO member nations-both industrial and developing-that attended the Tokyo meeting choose to do in advancing negotiations under the Doha round. They must squarely face difficulties surrounding the trade talks and increase their efforts to overcome the hurdles that lay between them and their goal. The Tokyo session served as another reminder of the challenges facing the WTO.During the Tokyo meeting, ministers from the WTO nations debated issues, using a set of proposals earlier presented by farm talks chairman Stuart Harbinson as the basis for negotiations.However, WTO economies with opposing views were unable to reach agreement through mutual concessions. The United States, Australia and some other major agricultural exporters insisted on large cuts in tariffs on farm products, a move that sharply antagonized Japan and members of the European Union.U.S. out of step with Japan, EUThe United States hopes that a second set of proposal will be presented, calling for significant reductions in tariffs on farm products comparable to those imposed on industrial goods. The position taken by the United States is in stark contrast to that of Japan and the EU, both of which have rejected Harbinson's initial proposals, saying that the proposals would help distribute inexpensive imported rice in their markets, thus seriously hurting domestic rice farmers. Japan and the EU countries have also argued that the production of agricultural produces by a nation is part of an effort by that country to protect its food security and environment, and therefore farm products should not be treated the same as industrial goods in terms of tariffs.The sharp conflict of opinions among WTO members was also seen in a decision by Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, who chaired the Tokyo meeting, to regard Harbinson's proposals as a "catalyst"-not a springboard.The WTO members must show sympathetic understanding about each other's positions and strive to reach an agreement about how far they should go in reducing tariffs on farm products. This must be complemented by their efforts to reform their domestic agricultural industries and improve their international competitiveness.The Tokyo session also failed to see the WTO members resolve their disagreement about a proposal to restrict the measures taken to protect patents on medicines, a failure due to objections by the United States as a large number of U.S. pharmaceutical firms would be affected by the proposal. However, developing nations emphasized the need to adopted the proposal with the aim of importing, at low prices, a wide range of medicines for fighting the spread of infectious diseases in their areas.Developing countries account for three-fourths of the 145-member WTO. A delay in settling the controversy could pose a great obstacle for efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. With this in mind, the United States should take appropriate action to end the dispute.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	810	2003-02-17	yoshin0020030217dz2h005mw
yomshi0020030218dz2i0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030218dz2i0000b	EN	\N	Govt must stick to its guns.	Starting in April, salaried workers will be asked to pay 30 percent of medical expenses they incur rather than the current 20 percent. This had been considered a done deal. But now, at this late stage, four opposition parties have submitted to the Diet a bill to freeze the plan.	8	2003-02-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Likewise, the Japan Medical Association, a major support organization of the Liberal Democratic Party, is also lobbying the party with the aim of blocking the increase. The associationis concerned that if people have to shoulder a larger share of their medical treatment they may refrain from visiting hospitals, and as a result medical institutions would be faced with dwindling revenues.Naturally enough, no one wants to assume a greater financial burden, especially given the harsh economic climate. Even so, if politicians fail to face facts squarely and instead lavish honeyed words on people, they will rightly be criticized for adopting a populist policy.Criticism begins at homeThe LDP itself is not above reproach on this matter. Despite Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi having said he is still determined to implement the plan, some members of his party have begun calling for taking a cautious approach on it out of concern it would have an adverse effect on unified local elections in April.If the party, in an attempt to gain an immediate profit at the election, yields to pressures from a support organization and fails to keep its pledge, then it deserves any public criticism that may come its way for negating the raison d'etre of the Diet.Bringing up old debates is tantamount to postponing a problem. What is required is that efforts be expedited to transform the medical system into an efficient, high-quality one that gives correspondingly increased value for the increased financial burden people will be asked to bear.Taking into account the chaotic fiscal situation of the medical insurance system, politicians must surely know that nothing will be resolved by simply refusing to ask individuals to contribute more for health care.If the plan to raise the proportion of medical expenses to be borne by individuals is frozen, the government-run medical insurance scheme for salaried workers at small and midsize firms will end up deeply in the red, making it difficult to continue operations. As it is, the proposed 10 percentage point increase will only enable the system to run in the black for a limited period-five years or so.Last year, medical service fees paid by insurers to medical institutions were reduced, whereas the elderly were asked to pay more. But the effect of these measures in cutting medical costs is limited.Higher fees merit higher standardsIf we are to maintain a medical insurance system that covers all sectors of the population, it is essential to thoroughly reform the medical system in addition to asking individuals to shoulder a greater percentage of the cost of their medical treatment.The revised Health Insurance Law, under which medical fees will be raised to 30 percent for salaried workers, contains an appendix that stipulates the government shall spell out by the end of March the basic principles of the reforms. Envisioned reforms include the establishment of a new medical system for the elderly, a review of medical service fees paid by medical insurers to medical institutions, as well as the realignment and integration of medical insurers.It is vital that the medical insurance system be expunged of all forms of waste, such as excessive medical consultations and unnecessarily long hospitalizations. To help realize this, medical institutions must make public medical information, including their records. In this respect, it is the government's urgent task to reduce the high cost of medical services for the elderly, whose per-capita medical cost is five times higher than that of the working generations.If the government and ruling coalition are to ask the public to shoulder a greater financial burden, they have the responsibility to avoid striking an easy compromise in order to make it easier for them to produce a clear blueprint for the future of the medical system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2003-02-18	yoshin0020030218dz2i0038p
yomshi0020030219dz2j0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030219dz2j0000f	EN	\N	EU jury-rigs a show of unity.	Major EU nations, notably Britain, Germany and France, are deeply divided over Iraq's alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction. But with the joint declaration, the EU appears to have managed to find a common voice again.	8	2003-02-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While backing continued U.N. weapons inspections in the country, the declaration also stated that "inspections cannot continue indefinitely in the absence of full Iraqi cooperation." It can be said, therefore, that the language in the statement was carefully designed to gloss over conflicting opinions held by EU members.But for the first time, the statement issued by the EU leaders referred to the possibility that military action might be mounted against Iraq. Germany, which has been insisting that it will not join a war against Iraq even if a new U.N. Security Council resolution authorizes such a move, accepted the statement, which warned Baghdad that it had a "last chance" to disarm.Iraq should take this warning seriously. The regime of President Saddam Hussein should recognize anew that it has no option but to make serious efforts to disarm. The joint declaration made it clear that "Baghdad should have no illusions" on this issue.Declaration skirted touchy issuesAt the same time, it is also true that the EU leaders' agreement is based on an extremely fragile foundation.The leaders acknowledged both the pros and the cons of a U.S.-led military attack against Iraq in the declaration, balancing the opinions of Britain, Italy and other countries supporting the United States, which is urging military action, and countries that are calling for continued U.N. inspections, such as Germany and France.In the declaration, the EU leaders steered clear of contentious issues.The United States and Britain reportedly are preparing for a new Security Council resolution that will authorize military action against Iraq. However, the EU leaders did not debate the prospective resolution. British Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted that the leaders did not dare take up the issue because doing so would have risked fracturing EU unity.The EU leaders also avoided getting bogged down in debates over how much longer weapons inspections should continue. By not broaching these sensitive topics, the leaders presumably sought to avoid endangering the bloc's unity.Rift doesn't bode well for expansionNext year, the EU is expected to accept new 10 members, most of which are Central and Eastern European countries. To launch the long-anticipated 25-state system, the EU has been drawing up a European constitution and making other preparations.Under such circumstances, the latest disarray in the EU's handling of the Iraq crisis has resulted in shaking the very foundations of the organization, whose central pillars are common diplomatic and security policies.Although the EU leaders somehow managed to patch up the rift over Iraq at the latest summit meeting, much repair work remains to be done to restore the organization's unity.The stage for international debates over the Iraq issue will go back to the Security Council. Individual countries' stances in debates at the council may again reveal deep splits among EU member states.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2003-02-19	yoshin0020030219dz2j003e7
yomshi0020030220dz2k0000s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030220dz2k0000s	EN	\N	Japan was right to back U.S.	During an open debate in the Security Council over the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, Koichi Haraguchi touched on what Japan would do in the future in connection with the issue.	16	2003-02-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ambassador criticized Iraq for failing to cooperate fully with U.N. inspectors and questioned the effectiveness of further inspections while Iraq's attitude remains passive. He then emphasized that it was "desirable to adopt a new resolution" to show the resolute attitude of the international community.The United States, Britain and other countries are seeking a new resolution with a view to launching a military attack on Iraq. It can be said that Japan elected to make its stance clear amid a deepening tug-of-war between the United States and Britain, and a group of countries led by France and Germany calling for extended U.N. weapons inspections in Iraq.At home, there are opinions critical of the government for having indicated it will throw its support behind the United States in the event of a war. However, it should be pointed out that, considering the circumstances surrounding Japan, there was no other option for this country.Iraq to blame; Asia situation tenseWhen we think of how Japan should deal with the Iraq crisis, we should keep two things firmly in mind.First, it is Iraq that is to blame for the crisis. Baghdad used chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq war and has submitted false reports to the United Nations while remaining in breach of Security Council resolutions that oblige it to dismantle its WMD.Even during the ongoing U.N. inspections, some Iraqi violations of the Security Council resolutions have come to light. It is hard to believe that Iraq has fulfilled its obligation to dispel all suspicions concerning its WMD at its own initiative.When the past and latest attitudes of Iraq are taken into consideration, it is inevitable for the international community to exert further pressure on Baghdad. A new Security Council resolution could serve as a new tool for such a purpose.The second point to bear in mind is the volatile state of affairs in the vicinity of Japan. Unlike in Europe, where both the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact nations are things of the past, in Asia-notably the Korean Peninsula-confrontations and tension remain a fact of life.Strong Japan-U.S. alliance crucialNorth Korea has been developing nuclear weapons in violation of the Agreed Framework between Washington and Pyongyang, and it has already deployed ballistic missiles that can reach any part of Japan. There are growing indications that the North is aiming to arm itself with nuclear weapons, posing a grave threat to this country.It is difficult for Japan to cope with the threat from North Korea with its own defense capability alone. After all, we must not forget the fact that the presence of the United States, with which Japan has a security treaty, is the greatest deterrent in this regard.In the event of a North Korean crisis, it is indispensable to have an impeccable Japan-U.S. alliance. It is not Europe, China, Russia or the United Nations, but the United States that would be able to deal promptly with such a crisis.A hard-headed analysis of the prevailing situation leads to the conclusion that Japan was right to throw its support behind the United States.(From Feb. 20 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	619	2003-02-20	yoshin0020030220dz2k004ft
yomshi0020030221dz2l0005l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030221dz2l0005l	EN	\N	Tactics for intellectual property.	A task force on intellectual property strategy, headed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, will be launched next month.	11	2003-02-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As conflicts of interest among ministries and agencies are expected in the months ahead, the task force will have to exercise strong leadership in resolving problems as they arise.The law governing the fundamentals of intellectual property that was enacted last year emphasizes the need for strategies concerning "creation," "protection," and "utilization" of intellectual property to help improve the nation's industrial competitiveness. Each of these three themes are beset by mounting issues.Universities and businesses should assume leading roles in creating intellectual property. Yet their attitudes, particularly those of universities, should be questioned.In line with the change in status of state-run universities into independent administrative institutions scheduled for spring next year, the ownership of patents secured by university researchers will shift from individuals to universities.Support for task forcesAs long as patents are owned by individuals, researchers will be burdened with the duty of choosing which business enterprise patents should be transferred to. As a consequence, patents kept at universities may never be utilized.However, even when patents are owned by the universities, the situation may remain unchanged unless the government improves the current system significantly.The Education, Science and Technology Ministry will support efforts by universities to establish their own task forces on intellectual property.In fiscal 2003, the ministry plans to extend funds to about 30 universities so that they can establish their task forces. To that end, the ministry has begun accepting applications from universities.An effort should be made to obtain the best people from outside academia, including those from the private sector, and create a good working environment for them by ensuring that they have the final say on their research.At universities that already operate industry-academic organizations, such as technology licensing offices, officials need to work out ways to integrate the operations of both existing and new offices to avoid confusion.Speed up court decisionsWith regard to protection of intellectual property, a major challenge lies in finding ways to speed up court decisions. Hearings on cases concerning the infringement of patents are usually more prolonged than in other cases, and not only because there are few judges with expertise in such issues.In Japan, the Patent Office, as well as the court, has the right to rule on appeals concerning the validity of patents. Problems arising from this "double structure" cause problems.In lawsuits concerning patent violations, there are cases where the violation of such rights and the validity of the patents are combined.Such trials often drag on while the court waits for the Patent Office's examiner to rule on the validity of patents in question.There are also inconsistencies as the conclusions of the judge and the Patent Office examiner sometimes differ.Government bodies are now discussing how to integrate the structure concerning patent rulings.A system must be worked out to respond more rapidly to the need to protect intellectual property, rather than relying on stopgap measures.This year is regarded as crucial for Japan to rebuild the nation as a fully-fledged intellectual property power.In summer, the government has to draw up a comprehensive plan to promote such efforts. The task force on intellectual property strategy, which will act as beacon for these efforts, must assume a heavy responsibility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2003-02-21	yoshin0020030221dz2l004fp
yomshi0020030221dz2m000bg	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030221dz2m000bg	EN	\N	National-emergency law needed.	The government has said that it hopes to peacefully resolve the North Korea crisis by encouraging that country to act in concert with Japan through various channels.	16	2003-02-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, it should be noted that North Korea has announced its readiness to abrogate the Pyongyang Declaration that it signed with Japan. The declaration states that North Korea will abide by the international agreements it has signed. It is questionable, therefore, whether Pyongyang will act according to rules set by the international community.North Korea has provoked the international community in recent weeks by hinting that it may resume test-firing missiles and that it will regard economic sanctions as an act of war.Japan must strive to end the crisis through diplomatic and peaceful means. This also must be complemented by a constant effort to prepare for the worst.Japan will face its gravest threat if North Korea resumes test-firing missiles.Admittedly, the government has worked out measures to deal with such a crisis. However, these measures are inadequate in many respects.Attack not 'natural disaster'This is apparent in the recent government statement concerning a situation in which it is determined that North Korea is making preparations to launch a missile by, for example, fueling the weapon. Earlier, the government said it would inform the public if this occurred. However, it did not offer advice to the public and local governments on what they should do in this event.If a missile lands on Japanese territory, the government has said that members of the Self-Defense Forces, who are obliged to help people at times of "natural disasters," would aid those affected in this case. This line of reasoning is ridiculous. Is there any reason to regard a missile attack on this country as a natural disaster?The reason behind the government's laissez-faire attitude is that the country has yet to establish a legal framework to deal with an armed attack. It is deplorable that some political parties have opposed legislation on national emergencies. The government and the ruling parties should waste no time drawing up national-emergency legislation that includes a law aimed at protecting the lives and assets of the people in the event of an armed attack.The government must also move ahead in the Japan-U.S. study of a missile defense shield, with the aim of putting such a shield in place. This would serve to shore up the bilateral alliance as an essential means of ensuring Japan's peace and security.Some members of the opposition parties oppose the system, citing a constitutional ban on the right of collective self-defense, under which a country regards an armed attack on an ally as a threat to its own security and will use force to contain that threat. For years, the government has said that the Constitution prohibits the nation from exercising such a right.Unrealistic argumentsThese lawmakers argue that intercepting a missile when it is impossible to predict how far it will travel will constitute an attempt to exercise the right of collective self-defense.This line of reasoning is totally unrealistic and poles apart from the internationally accepted perception.To put an end to such a nonsensical argument, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should take the lead in changing the government's interpretation of the Constitution in relation to the right of collective self-defense. In fact, Koizumi pledged to do so during his campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency.During a recent Diet session, Katsuya Okada, secretary general of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the leading opposition party, criticized Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba for his response to a question about how Japan would deal with the launching of a North Korean missile. "It is not appropriate to name a specific country in discussing such an issue. Doing so will arouse unnecessary tensions," Okada told the Diet.Okada's line of argument is not unique. The government and lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties often argue in this way. However, this kind of argument is futile.It is a stark fact that North Korea poses a threat to Japan's security. Pyongyang may get the wrong message if politicians try to avoid complications and fall short in taking the necessary action.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	753	2003-02-22	yoshin0020030222dz2m000lo
yomshi0020030224dz2n0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030224dz2n0005s	EN	\N	Hands tied for providing real help.	On Saturday, international donors met in Tokyo for the one-day "Conference on Consolidation of Peace in Afghanistan," attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.	8	2003-02-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Conference participants agreed that the international community would fully support the war-devastated nation's efforts to promote disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of former soldiers with the aim of ensuring peace and security in that country. As the host of the conference, Japan pledged 35 million dollars-the lion's share of the aid for the DDR program.Afghanistan will see no peace or stability unless measures are taken to establish economic and social infrastructure in that country. It is also essential to restore public order in Afghanistan as the country is still split among regional warlords striving for power. The international community's pledge to give continued support to Afghanistan's struggle for peace bears great significance.Japan has a leading role to play in carrying out the DDR program, but it is bound by too many restraints in helping bring peace and order back to Afghanistan.For example, Japan is not allowed to send personnel on peacekeeping missions conducted by multilateral troops in Kabul. The current U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law does not cover activities to be carried out by multilateral forces.Legislation neededEarlier, an advisory panel to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda proposed considering legislative measures to rectify the status quo. In its report, the Advisory Group on International Cooperation for Peace emphasized the need to ensure that Japan can extend logistic support, including medical services and services in the areas of communications and transportation, for multilateral forces deployed under U.N. resolutions.Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi has also said that the Self-Defense Forces should be permitted to join multilateral forces.Japan has every reason to do so in supporting international efforts to maintain peace and order in Afghanistan. With this in mind, the government should consider implementing legislative steps to accomplish that goal.The lack of progress in improving the current legal framework can be attributed to the Cabinet Legislation Bureau's interpretation of the Constitution in relation to the range of activities permissible to the SDF in international peacekeeping missions.For years, the bureau has said that Japan's involvement in multilateral troops could be directly linked to the use of force because missions undertaken by multilateral forces are frequently backed by permission to use force. The bureau has long argued that the Constitution bans Japan from engaging in international missions directly linked to the use of force.No risk of constitutional conflictWe believe, however, Japan's logistic support for multilateral forces would not run counter to the Constitution. Rear-echelon support, a far cry from direct combat, would not be directly linked to the use of force."I don't think the Constitution bans all SDF missions to join and cooperate with multilateral forces," the foreign minister said earlier.Recent years have seen rapid growth in the range of U.N. peacekeeping activities. In an increasing number of cases, the United Nations has deployed multilateral forces in disputed areas immediately after warring factions ended direct hostilities.Japan must adapt itself to this change as soon as possible. The Cabinet Legislation Bureau must review its interpretation of the Constitution.If U.S.-led troops struck Iraq, multilateral forces could be deployed in that country for the purpose of rehabilitating a postwar Iraq. The government must take this to heart.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2003-02-23	yoshin0020030224dz2n002nb
yomshi0020030224dz2o00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030224dz2o00006	EN	\N	Iraq eclipses all at G-7 meet.	However, the recent meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations failed to agree on any concrete coordinated policies to counter the dangers.	8	2003-02-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A joint declaration issued by the meeting referred to a possible war with Iraq by using the vaguely worded expression "geopolitical uncertainties." While acknowledging that such "uncertainties" have increased, the declaration emphasized the strength and vigor of the global economy, apparently for the purpose of containing accelerating concerns regarding the future.In connection with the Iraq crisis, a series of important events are scheduled through the end of next week, including a new resolution the United States and Britain plan to submit to the U.N. Security Council and an additional report by U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq. Moreover, these events might be followed by drastic developments, such as a military action by U.S.-led forces against Iraq.World's markets at riskCurrency and financial markets as well as commodity markets worldwide remain volatile. Future developments in the Iraq crisis might lead to sharp drops in stock prices and skyrocketing crude oil prices, factors that would deal a serious blow to the global economy.Even against the background of a political rift among its member states-the United States and Britain leading the drive for war versus France and Germany hoping to avoid it-we regret to say that the G-7 declaration is significantly lacking in persuasiveness.As possible actions to be taken if the world economic outlook deteriorates, the G-7 finance ministers and central bankers said in the statement "we are prepared to respond as appropriate." This too failed to send a signal strong enough to offer market players any relief.Depending on what turn events take in the Iraq crisis, individual members of the G-7 nations are expected to jointly demonstrate their mobility to secure the stability of currency, stock and crude oil markets to prevent any undue fluctuations in the world economy.If a unified response to the Iraq crisis was an imminent task to be dealt with at the meeting, concern over the trend toward global deflation was an issue on which the G-7 countries were expected to share their understandings of current conditions and make sure that they would coordinate their fiscal and monetary policies as required.Government lacks credibilityDeflation has spread from Japan to some Southeast Asian countries. The drop in the rate of U.S. consumer price growth, which exclude services, also indicates signs of deflation in the U.S. economy. In Europe, Germany's growth rate has dwindled nearly to zero.However, because the United States and European nations showed no interest in Japan's proposal to work together to stave off worldwide deflation, the G-7 statement did not include the issue.Whereas the U.S. twin deficit in finance and trade is swelling, the European Union warned Germany and France to reduce their increasing fiscal deficits. Under such circumstances, these countries face more restrictions than before in taking measures to stimulate their economies. Therefore, other G-7 member states apparently concluded that if they were to emphasize their concerns about deflation without taking any concrete measures, they would simply escalate anxieties in the market.Japan, which brought up the problem, itself is still unable to overcome its own prolonged deflation. This provided Japan's G-7 colleagues with a good excuse to bury the issue of deflation, allowing them to claim that it is simply Japan's own problem, a problem the nation created itself by failing to take effective steps to cope with the problem.Unless Japan addresses the issue of deflation more seriously and does its utmost to arrest it, other countries will not listen to what it has to say. The government must realize this.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2003-02-24	yoshin0020030224dz2o003bs
yomshi0020030225dz2p00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030225dz2p00006	EN	\N	Fukui must try a new tack.	Fukui, currently chairman of the Fujitsu Research Institute, a private think tank, will be expected to drag the Japanese economy, which is on the verge of crisis, out of deflation.	8	2003-02-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If he is to do so, he will have to chart a new course for the central bank, departing from its traditional policies. We urge Fukui to listen carefully to the opinions of his new deputy governors-former Vice Finance Minister Toshiro Muto and Kazumasa Iwata, director general for policy planning at the Cabinet Office-and launch a counterattack on deflation by mobilizing unconventional policies.According to Article 2 of the Bank of Japan Law, the central bank's main mission is to stabilize prices. Thus, the central bank chief is tasked with fighting not only inflation but also deflation.Hayami's monetary policy became self-justified partly because he took office shortly after the enactment of the new Bank of Japan Law, which strengthened the central bank's independence. The bank's decision in August 2000 to lift the zero-interest rate policy in spite of the government's objections was a typical example of its newfound independence.The central bank bears a heavy responsibility for allowing deflation to reach its current worrying stage.Time for unconventional policiesThe stock market did not show any marked reaction to Fukui's appointment because it is widely assumed that it will be business as usual when he takes office.But the first thing Fukui should do when he takes over is to make a clean break with established polices, policies with which he is well familiar as he worked at the central bank for more than 40 years and held the post of deputy governor from 1994 to 1998.The nation's economic situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the central bank can no longer stand on the sidelines and say "the Bank of Japan alone cannot stop deflation."The new governor must note that nowhere in the world is there a central bank that is not charged with taking principal responsibility for stabilizing prices.Unless the person responsible for monetary policy-the central bank governor-is determined to overcome deflation, it will be impossible to reverse the projection that the country will continue to be saddled with deflation.Inflation-targeting policy neededThe Bank of Japan has already tried all the conventional monetary policies to address the problem-and to no avail. Given the circumstances, the bank has no logical option other than to try policies that go beyond the conventional measures a central bank normally employs in times of peace.To reduce the real rate of interest and to free the economy from the so-called liquidity trap, from which further easing of monetary policy cannot extract it, the new governor should examine the possibility of introducing an inflation-targeting policy. This measure has been adopted by the central banks of many other major countries.To achieve a set target, the bank must also positively consider purchasing exchange-traded funds, real estate investment trusts or foreign government bonds, in addition to pursuing its conventional policy of increasing purchases of long-term government bonds.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's decision to appoint two members of the public sector as deputy governors reflects his determination that the government and the bank work together to overcome the current economic hardships. Iwata is known as an advocate of an inflation targeting policy.Fukui should not allow himself to become narrow-minded and overlook matters provided the central bank itself remains healthy. We urge the new governor to seek the advice of those around him, consider things from a broader than hitherto used perspective, and draw up a blueprint to rescue the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2003-02-25	yoshin0020030225dz2p002b5
yomshi0020030226dz2q0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030226dz2q0000c	EN	\N	UNSC should back resolution.	The resolution asks the council to rule that Iraq "has failed to take the final opportunity" to disarm that it was afforded in the resolution adopted in November. Washington wants the council to vote on the resolution in mid-March.	8	2003-02-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The council needs to make the utmost effort to build a consensus among its members on the resolution.Yet the rift within the council remains.Among the permanent members of the council that have veto power, France, Russia and China have taken the stance that the requirements for taking military action against Iraq have not yet been fulfilled. Council members in favor of the latest resolution remain in the minority.Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda has expressed his support for the resolution, saying it "forms part of the final diplomatic overtures toward Iraq" pressuring it to disarm. The government should intensify its effort to persuade the council member countries to back the resolution.Saddam can't be trustedThe antagonism within the council stems from differences in views over how to judge whether Iraq's cooperation with U.N. inspectors has been adequate and over the necessity of continuing weapons inspections.France, Germany and Russia, which believe that there still remains a possibility of the crisis being resolved through peaceful means, have circulated a memorandum seeking strengthened and continued inspections.But there is no guarantee that the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will cooperate fully with the U.N. inspections. According to the reports issued so far by the inspectors, Iraq has not cooperated sufficiently.Faced with the overwhelming military power mobilized in the Gulf region, in the form of 200,000-strong U.S. and British forces, Baghdad has made piecemeal concessions to the U.N. inspections.As far as the United States and Britain are concerned, despite U.N. inspections and sanctions, and U.S.-British air strikes launched in response to Iraq's hostile actions in the "no-fly" zones in Iraq, Saddam remains in defiance of U.N. resolutions.The submission of the resolution is the manifestation of Washington and London's strongly held belief that now is the time to break the current impasse once and for all, rather than letting the Iraq crisis remain unsettled with no exit in sight.Much at stake for United NationsMembers of the Security Council are in agreement that Iraq must be banned from possessing weapons of mass destruction. During talks in the days ahead on the resolution, the council should strive to bridge the gaps among its members on other Iraq-related issues.In any event, the council must avoid voting down the resolution.Even if the resolution is voted down, the United States likely will lead a military strike on Iraq. In that case, the council may cease functioning, possibly leading to the disintegration of the United Nations. The political power of the permanent members of the council would be lost.For the United States, victory in a war against Iraq does not mean it will have achieved its aims. We cannot afford to fail in rehabilitating Iraqi society and in restoring regional stability in the post-war days. This makes it all the more important for the international community to continue to work together.The rift in the international community also will have ill effects on the "war against terrorism." The council should not precipitate a crisis by rejecting the resolution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2003-02-26	yoshin0020030226dz2q001dg
yomshi0020030227dz2r0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030227dz2r0000d	EN	\N	Accelerate municipal mergers.	The biggest bone of contention in the upcoming elections is the merger of local municipalities.	16	2003-02-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	About 80 percent of the heads of local governments across the nation who were canvassed by The Yomiuri Shimbun cited the issue of merging with other municipal governments as a big issue in the unified local elections.A special law that provides financial assistance to local governments created from a merger will expire in March 2005.In usual cases, it takes nearly two years from the time when a municipality wishing to merge with its neighbor sets up a council-required by law and to comprise representatives of concerned municipalities-to discuss the merger and realizes the integration.Therefore, a municipality that wishes to realize a merger with another municipality before the special law expires needs to establish such a council soon. The upcoming unified local elections will offer a good opportunity for local people to express their opinions over mergers.The task of reinforcing the administrative basis of local governments through mergers with other municipalities is an issue that all municipalities will have to face at a time when government power is being decentralized.Doubtless, this is why local government heads consider the merger issue will be a focus of attention at the elections.Some officials wearing too many hatsWhat sort of local municipality is most desirable for an area to develop? If the upcoming unified elections are to serve as a big step toward mergers, prospective candidates and voters will have to discuss this question in depth.There has been a tide toward merger lately. More than half of the about 3,200 cities, towns and villages across the country have either established a legal council under a statute or voluntarily set up a precursory body to the legal council.Nonetheless, it is unlikely that the government and ruling parties' target of having the nation's municipalities reorganized into about 1,000 units will be realized.While there are municipalities that have been unable to find a merger partner yet, due to geographical and other reasons, there are many cases in which municipal heads or municipal assembly members have been digging in their heels to prevent mergers.Both the National Association of Towns & Villages and the National Association of Chairmen of Towns & Villages Assemblies assert that some framework needs to be worked out whereby smaller towns and villages not seeking a merger will not be swallowed up against their will.Yet, if we look at smaller municipalities with a population of less than 5,000, for instance, there are quite a few in which just one official is in charge of the same number of administrative jobs that are handled by five or six sections at a prefectural government. Under such conditions, it will be difficult for the complex and diverse administrative needs of such municipalities to be met.Naysayers can't have it both waysAlso, many local municipalities do not employ officials who specialize in such fields as construction or civil engineering. This means that it is impossible for these municipalities to conduct inspections of public works projects, which require technical knowledge.Local organizations such as associations of towns and villages are pressing the central government to devolve more powers and transfer more tax revenue sources. Should such transfers proceed, it will become all the more difficult for small towns and villages to meet local needs.It makes no sense for those concerned to ignore this problem and oppose municipal mergers while demanding increased transferal of power.We urge heads of municipal governments and local assembly members to act with self-awareness and a sense of responsibility when it comes to building a municipality that will be ready to assume more administrative power from the central government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2003-02-27	yoshin0020030227dz2r0037t
yomshi0020030228dz2s00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030228dz2s00004	EN	\N	Answer N. Korea's provocations.	Pyongyang insists that its latest action represents "peaceful use (of the nuclear facility) for the purpose of generating electricity at this stage." However, as it has refused to accept IAEA inspections, North Korea's action must be perceived as an attempt to arm itself with nuclear weapons.	12	2003-02-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The threat posed by North Korea is growing even greater. Its nuclear weapons program must be condemned as a threat to Japan's peace and security.North Korea's action undermines global efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. As a result, the international community must take concerted action to stop Pyongyang from developing nuclear arms.Not diplomatic brinkmanshipThe reactivation of the Yongbyon reactor also represents an attempt to produce nuclear weapons in violation of the U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework of 1994. An increasing number of experts are inclined to believe that the reactivation is an attempt to build nuclear weapons and not an act of diplomatic brinksmanship practiced, as in the past, with the aim of obtaining assistance from the United States and other nations in return for concessions.This observation is borne out by North Korea's announcement that it planned to restart its reprocessing facilities. Such facilities play no part in the generation of electricity.Nine years ago, North Korea removed about 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods from the reactor. The spent fuel, if reprocessed, could be used to extract weapons-grade plutonium sufficient for the production of six nuclear weapons. The United States expects that the country could start that process-at the earliest-in May or June.There are also concerns that North Korea could resume building two graphite-moderated nuclear reactors. In that event, the country would, sooner or later, be able to build more than 50 nuclear weapons annually.North Korea is also accelerating efforts to upgrade ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.Pyongyang's missile capabilitiesIt is already known that its Rodong ballistic missile could reach Japan. North Korea could also strike the United States with a long-range missile.In early February, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet told the Senate that North Korea's Taepodong 2 missile was capable of reaching the U.S. West Coast. Washington suspects that North Korea may test-fire the long-range missile.If North Korea continues to take provocative actions, sanctions against Pyongyang will inevitably be considered. Japan, the United States and South Korea, as well as China, Russia and other neighboring countries, must discuss what kind of coordinated policy they should take before such a scenario transpires.It is disturbing to note that a gap exists between Japan and South Korea in the perception of the threat posed by Pyongyang. Seoul does not take the ongoing crisis as seriously as Tokyo. This difference of opinion could seriously affect the bilateral relationship.Meanwhile, the United States is determined to consider all possible options, including sanctions. This would run counter to the South Korean "sunshine policy" of engagement.The administration of South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun should take to heart the grave concerns harbored by Japan and the United States.North Korea's provocative acts could lead to international sanctions. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il must be strongly cautioned in this regard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2003-02-28	yoshin0020030228dz2s0037w
yomshi0020030228dz310005x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030228dz310005x	EN	\N	Colleges must accept reforms.	The bills will be submitted to the current Diet session. If adopted, the legislation will turn all national universities into corporate entities independent of the Education, Science and Technology Ministry in April 2004.	16	2003-03-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The envisaged bills will free colleges and universities from government controls so that they can draft their own budgets and carry out academic activities on their own. The bills will also ensure that people not directly associated with these institutions will play a role in making management decisions and selecting their presidents.The radical shift from state control means that universities and colleges will lose government protection. The system will be replaced by a scheme to encourage institutions of higher learning to carry out activities at their own risk and compete for excellence.These changes will signify a reform comparable to the start of a new system governing colleges and universities that was established after the end of World War II.The colleges and universities should inform the public what they will seek to accomplish, while instituting measures to improve academic activities. Their failure to do this could mean large cuts in government subsidies under the envisaged laws.Modification of early planAt first, the plan was to help reduce the number of national government employees. However, this plan was later modified during discussions at the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, which decided to reinvent colleges and universities in what would amount to massive changes in their academic and other activities.Initially, provincial state-managed colleges and universities strongly objected to the plan to turn them into corporations, a move that would deprive them of financial aid and other protection provided by the government to all national universities. However, they failed to win public support.Some state-run colleges and universities have been slow to reform themselves. It is also unclear how they make decisions concerning their operations. Many educators at such institutions have been preoccupied with their own academic activities, and few are ready to play a role that would benefit society through their studies.The objections raised by regional state-run colleges and universities had no effect on local governments and other entities that would be affected by the reform. This apparently shows that these local governments are unhappy about the management of state-run universities. Educators, administrators and others at these educational institutions should take this to heart.Already there are signs of change in this regard. Some universities have invited academics and others from outside to serve as presidents. They are also trying to promote various reforms, such as conducting studies aimed at encouraging the growth of regions that host them. Some universities are incorporating industrial-government-academic tie-ups into their activities.Change in attitude neededIncorporated colleges and universities will submit reports to the Education, Science and Technology Ministry detailing midterm goals and plans for their educational and academic activities once every six years. They will receive ministry subsidies on the basis of how much effort they have made to achieve their targets.In setting up goals and drawing up plans under the system, some state-run universities have brought together representatives from all sectors to discuss pertinent issues. This is unprecedented.Although this kind of action must be encouraged, it also should be complemented by an effort to change the attitude educators and administrators have taken in reforming their institutions.The success in turning state-run universities into corporations-or the lack of it-will be measured under a new system that will assess the effort of each institution in achieving its goal. As a result, measures should be taken as soon as possible to set fair and objective standards to assess this progress.We hope these institutions of higher education will reform themselves from a long-term perspective, instead of seeking to make progress only over a short period.The autonomy enjoyed by colleges and universities in the postwar years has often been used to defend their vested interests. However, the reform will force colleges and universities to engage in competition and their performances will be assessed.Institutions of higher learning that attempt to remain autonomous must expect to reap the consequences of their actions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	741	2003-03-01	yoshin0020030301dz31000gb
yomshi0020030301dz3200006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030301dz3200006	EN	\N	Emasculated plan disappointing.	At a recent meeting, the Headquarters for the Promotion of Special Zones for Structural Reform decided to conditionally allow joint-stock companies to be involved in hospital management-a focal point of revisions to the system to deregulate various industries in the designated areas.	8	2003-03-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The details of the decision, however, are rather disappointing as only medical services not covered by public medical insurance will be approved for such hospitals. We believe this measure leaves much to be desired.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is charged with the task of hammering out detailed guidelines for the plan by the end of June. These details will not be included in a bill to revise the law on government-designated areas for the promotion of structural reform that is to be submitted to the current Diet session.Therefore, we will have to wait for the enactment of a new law to revise the revisions after the next Diet session if we want to see any deregulation of the hospital industry.Since delivering his policy speech at the start of the current Diet session, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has repeatedly emphasized the role of deregulation in the specially designated areas as a major pillar of his structural reform policy.Partial deregulation uselessSuch partial deregulation, however, would only serve to limit the number of patients going to hospitals in those areas, as the patients themselves will have to shoulder all medical expenses.In addition, in the recent meeting, panel members decided not to implement a so-called mixed services system, in which treatments covered and those not covered by state or public insurance are combined. Many in the medical field already have complained that there are few advantages to having joint-stock companies run hospitals.Furthermore, we worry that even this partial deregulation measure may face further emasculation as the ministry and the Japan Medical Association, both of which firmly oppose having corporations run hospitals, are likely to take a leading role in formulating standards for approving companies that wish to run hospitals.After pushing his reforms-albeit conditionally-at the panel's meeting, Koizumi said, "What's important here is at least to try, rather than fearing failure." If he really thinks that, he must take responsibility for making sure the ministry and association do not further emasculate the decision.Koizumi must not yield to any pressure to further emasculate the decision. Instead, he must make the concerned parties formulate reasonable standards, which must be quite practical, to allow companies to participate in hospital management and incorporate the standards in the further legal revision.The recent meeting saw some good decisions, in fields other than medicine, such as newly approved deregulation measures for the special government-designated zones.For instance, the current ban on the involvement of joint-stock corporations and nonprofit organizations in running schools will be lifted.The following measures also are likely to be realized:- Extending the employment period for temporary local government workers- Having children cared for at combined kindergarten-day care facilities- Relaxing conditions for licensing alcoholic beverage brewing-a measure indispensable for zones where production and sales of doburoku privately-brewed sake will be allowedThese measures will be incorporated in a bill, which will be submitted to the current Diet session, to revise the special government-designated areas for the promotion of structural reforms.1.5 tril. yen in new demandAt a recent Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting, four members from the private sector presented their predictions for the economic benefits to be conferred by deregulation.They estimated that the promotion of deregulation in fields such as medical treatment, health, welfare and education would generate about 1.5 trillion yen a year in new demand-an amount considered effective for helping the economy bottom out.Therefore, they urged Koizumi to actively promote structural reform.The government is now scheduled to take submissions in June and November for ideas that local governments and private companies want to realize in the special structural reform promotion zones.The government must respond to the applicants' enthusiastic proposals and make efforts toward full-scale promotion of deregulation in various fields.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	735	2003-03-02	yoshin0020030303dz32002ne
yomshi0020030303dz3300006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030303dz3300006	EN	By the people for the people.	Don't scrap nationality clause.	Late last month, Nagano Gov. Yasuo Tanaka asked the prefecture's board of personnel to abolish the nationality clause in the prefecture's regulations governing the recruitment and promotion of prefectural officials. The clause places limitations on the employment of non-Japanese for certain prefectural positions.	10	2003-03-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the board rejected the governor's request saying it was "inappropriate."The board's response was not a surprise. Local administration makes up one element of national governance. In line with the spirit of the Constitution, the principle of which is sovereignty of the people, the premise is that Japanese govern the nation.Tanaka should take the decision by the board to heart.When it comes to hiring local public servants, the amount of openness extended to foreign residents should not be expanded without limit.The central government's view on the hiring of non-Japanese by local governments is that an official has to have Japanese nationality to exercise public authority and to participate in governmental decision-making. This view is based on the principle that the main body of governance is the people.By the people, for the peopleEleven prefectures, including Kanagawa and Kochi, and the 12 government-designated large cities have eased their nationality clauses with respect to local government employment, according to Public Management Ministry data.But these prefectures and cities have all clearly defined positions to which non-Japanese cannot be assigned or have placed restrictions on the promotion of foreigners to managerial positions.For example, Kawasaki defines the "imposition of municipal tax and other taxes" as "exercise of pubic authority." The city government also states "bureau and section chiefs" are posts that "participate in governmental decision-making."Tanaka said he wanted to abolish the nationality clause to eliminate any such restrictions.If the governor's wish were to be adopted, it would make it possible for a non-Japanese to assume a high-ranking key position in prefectural government.Did Tanaka overlook the fact that at times local governments can be involved in issues affecting the country's diplomacy or national security?Due partly to Japan's shared history with Korea, the central government extends special treatment to South Korean residents and Korean residents of Japan.The government also grants permanent resident status to refugees under certain conditions, and there are a significant number of foreign permanent residents.Opportunities expandingIt is reasonable that local governments hire non-Japanese in various positions in order to meet the needs of all residents. Local governments also need to be properly staffed to meet the challenges of internationalization.As a result, the number of positions at local governments that are suitable for and open to non-Japanese is increasing. Likewise, foreign staffers at local governments now have more opportunities for promotion.It is natural that local governments reflect these trends in their policies regarding the recruitment of non-Japanese.However, there should be a limit to this openness.The head of a local government should always remember that a local government is a part of the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	537	2003-03-03	yoshin0020030303dz330035p
yomshi0020030304dz340000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030304dz340000b	EN	\N	Slipshod safety at N-plants.	During the trial, the presiding judge said a sloppy safety-management system that has prevailed throughout the entire company is deep-rooted and that the company should be subjected to the maximum penalty under relevant laws for the accident.	8	2003-03-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Monday's ruling was a reasonable one given that the incident, the worst in the nation's history of nuclear power development, killed two workers as a result of radioactive exposure and forced hundreds of local residents to flee to safety.Not only the company, which was charged with violating the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law and a labor law, but also six former senior officials were tried on various charges, including professional negligence resulting in death. All six defendants received suspended sentences for terms lighter than prosecutors had sought.The ruling clearly shows that while the court thought that the defendants bore a grave responsibility-along with the company-for leaving such a sloppy safety-management system intact, it would be improper to single out the six defendants for heavy punishments.The defense team asserted that the accident was attributable partly to the lack of supervision on the part of the administrative authorities. This caused speculation as to whether the ruling would apportion some of the blame to the central government.Yet the court dismissed the claim, saying that the suggestion of central government culpability was merely an attempt by JCO and the six defendants to evade responsibility.Central govt also to blameIn our opinion, the trial should have investigated the root cause of the incident more fully. Developments following the incident showed that the central government was also to blame for the scale of the disaster by having failed to implement adequate disaster-prevention measures.Just 10 weeks after the criticality incident, a law on special measures to deal with nuclear-power disasters came into effect. In reconsideration of the existing slipshod crisis-control system, a framework was established whereby the central government would play the key role in handling major nuclear-related disasters in cooperation with local governments.In the wake of the Tokaimura disaster, public emergency support centers have been set up in communities in the vicinity of nuclear facilities. Full-fledged disaster-prevention exercises have also been held under the leadership of the central government.The central government has also taken steps to correct the lopsided safety-inspection system at nuclear facilities that had focussed on whether the plant itself met safety regulations. The central government now oversees a maintenance and inspection system that also checks daily operations at nuclear facilities.These measures clearly indicate that the central government acknowledges that it had failed to implement adequate safety measures prior to the criticality incident.The Tokaimura incident has also dispelled to the long-held mind-sent of administrative authorities that to prepare for a major accident would only make the public worry.Further improvements neededThe important question is whether progress has been made in the 3! years since the Tokaimura incident.However, last year's revelation that Tokyo Electric Power Co. had falsified safety-inspection records at its nuclear plants clearly indicates that the nation's nuclear facilities are still being run by "professionals" who believe that they should be the sole guardians of safety at these plants.A number of improvements to safety have been implemented since the criticality incident, yet there remain many issues that need addressing, such as the creation of an emergency medical system to deal with those exposed to radiation.But a mere improvement in such systems alone is not enough to guarantee safety. The core factors are the companies and people that operate the nation's nuclear-fuel facilities.Those involved in the development of nuclear power should take note of the sorry state of affairs at JCO, where safety consciousness became atrophied over the years. And when doing so, they should not dismiss it as someone else's concern, but take it to heart as a grim warning to look to their own safety protocols.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2003-03-04	yoshin0020030305dz34003pu
yomshi0020030304dz350005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030304dz350005p	EN	\N	Snail-paced trials are a disgrace.	The district court Tuesday sentenced Ezoe to three years of imprisonment with hard labor, suspended for five years.	8	2003-03-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the scandal, which entwined politics, bureaucracy and business and came to symbolize the bubble economy period, unlisted shares of Recruit Cosmos Co., a Recruit Co. real estate affiliate, were transferred to more than 70 lawmakers, senior public servants and industry bigwigs.After the case surfaced, four people, including Ezoe, were charged with offering bribes, and eight, including former Chief Cabinet Secretary Takao Fujinami, were charged with receiving bribes.According to Tuesday's ruling, unlisted shares are "regarded as bribes since it is quite difficult for the general public to purchase them, and it was quite clear that their value would go up." The ruling also stated that Ezoe was the chief culprit in the bribery operation since he decided who would be offered the unlisted shares and the amount that would be offered to each person.Were 322 hearings really necessary?Given the previous verdicts in the trials of 11 other defendants involved in the scandal, who have already been convicted, Tuesday's decision was a foregone conclusion.The real issue is the length of the trial. We wonder why 322 hearings were held, including Tuesday's ruling.Last year, prosecutors criticized the tactics employed by Ezoe's defense counsel, claiming the counsel was trying to fix things so Ezoe would not have to serve time in prison.Ezoe's counsel even refused to cooperate with the prosecution in clarifying issues of contention, which is indispensable for speeding up a trial. It must be true that Ezoe's attitude during the trial was one of the reasons why it was so protracted.However, the ruling also noted the defendant was not solely to blame for the trial's prolongation.At present, the procedure for criminal trials is based on investigation documents made by prosecutors that contain confessions made by suspects during the investigation stage. At the court, judges decide whether the prosecutors' papers were compiled based on confessions made voluntarily by the defendants.During trials based on prosecutors' papers, people other than the defendant are asked to testify at court if the defendant denies the charges against him or her, and the trial becomes a drawn-out affair. As Ezoe claimed the investigation report was false, about 130 witnesses were called to testify.Ezoe's trial took so long not only because of his recalcitrance, but also because of a number of factors, including the fact that the court neglected to instruct both the prosecution and the defense to act to speed up the trial.Politicians' snouts still in the troughSpeeding up trials is one of the major pillars of the ongoing judicial reform. The factors behind the prolongation of Ezoe's trial should be thoroughly studied so that future criminal trials can be concluded earlier.The Recruit scandal also presented the opportunity to create a political world free from corruption and other shady practices.However, there seems to be no end to scandals involving politicians and money. On Tuesday, a state-paid policy secretary and a former aide of House of Representatives member Takanori Sato of the Liberal Democratic Party were arrested by investigators of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of violating provisions in the Political Funds Control Law concerning undeclared donations.Meanwhile, a donations-related issue involving a former aide of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Tadamori Oshima has become a major focus of the current Diet session.Both those who offer and those who receive political funds must reflect again on the use of money in politics. That is the only way that the lessons of the Recruit case will not end up buried within the reams of court documents.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	698	2003-03-05	yoshin0020030305dz350045c
yomshi0020030306dz3600007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030306dz3600007	EN	\N	BOJ should set inflation target.	During its monetary policy meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, the central bank decided that it would not further relax its easy-money policy.	12	2003-03-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Agreements reached at the meeting included a plan to ensure that interest-free deposits held by financial institutions at the Bank of Japan will be maintained at about 15 trillion yen-20 trillion yen for some weeks to come.Beginning in April, the Bank of Japan will keep the amount somewhere between 17 trillion yen and 22 trillion yen. However, the increase will take the form of money from an account to be opened at the central bank by the new postal public corporation, Japan Post, when it is inaugurated in April.Given the serious economic crisis facing this country, Toshihiko Fukui, governor-designate of the central bank, must immediately implement drastic measures to help surmount the problem.There are persistent concerns that the economy could take another downturn amid rising tensions over Iraq and North Korea. A renewed financial panic could strike if stock prices continue to fall as corporations prepare to settle accounts in late March.Budget unlikely to revive economyIt is disturbing to note that the Bank of Japan's easy-money policy is doing little to improve the economy these days. For example, the nation's monetary base-the sum of cash in circulation combined with deposits held by financial institutions at the central bank-increased only about 12 percent on a year-on-year basis in February.The figure compared with an increase of 20 percent or so in December. This means that the growth rate in this regard significantly declined last month. Under the circumstances, the government will find it even more difficult to bail the country out of its ongoing deflationary crisis.It also should be noted that it appears far from certain that the fiscal 2003 budget, which the House of Representatives approved Tuesday, will help boost the economy. Appropriations for public works projects under the next budget are comparable to those under the initial budget for fiscal 1992. The current deflationary trend could continue unabated if the central bank refuses to further ease its monetary policy.For all this, outgoing Bank of Japan Gov. Masaru Hayami did not adopt any decisive antideflation measures during his bank's monetary policy meeting, which afforded him a last opportunity to decide what kind of steps should be taken to end the economic crisis.If the economy was in good shape, Hayami would be given credit for his aversion to implement measures that could cause inflation and bring down the value of the currency. However, Japan has become the first industrial power to experience serious deflation since the end of World War II.End piecemeal policymakingThe central bank should abandon its one-policy-at-a-time approach to the problem. Otherwise, concern in the private sector will mount that the current deflation could worsen.Fukui, who will be installed as central bank governor on March 20, must shelve such an approach. The central bank can no longer afford any more time to continue discussions on policy. At his inaugural monetary policy meeting in April, Fukui should not miss the chance to implement new antideflation measures.The new Bank of Japan governor should not hesitate to take all possible measures to fight deflation, including buying more government bonds and shares held by banks. Steps to be taken also should include unconventional ones such as purchasing exchange-traded funds and inflation-targeting.Fukui has indicated that he is cautious about adopting an inflation target, saying, "It's not a magic wand." At the same time, however, he has insisted that setting such a target is "an important tool" for the central bank.The Bank of Japan should consider introducing an inflation target as soon as possible. Of course, this must be complemented by an effort to carefully weigh both the advantages and disadvantages of such a policy and implement measures to overcome such negative effects of inflation-targeting as a fall in the value of government bonds.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2003-03-06	yoshin0020030306dz36004fd
yomshi0020030307dz3700009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030307dz3700009	EN	\N	No end to politics-money ties.	The key figure in the latest scandal is Takanori Sakai, a Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives. On Thursday, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office requested permission to arrest Sakai on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Control Law.	12	2003-03-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The investigators' action is similar to that taken against lower house member Muneo Suzuki, who was arrested last summer on charges of accepting a bribe in exchange for favors.Sakai is accused of receiving about 120 million yen in unlawful donations from a major vocational training company over a five-year period ending in 2001. The money was not listed in a political funds report he submitted to the government.The scandal is shrouded in many mysteries.Sakai is an influential member of the "labor tribe," a group of lawmakers who can significantly influence the decision-making process in matters concerning the interests of labor and management. He has served as parliamentary vice labor minister and was chairman of the lower house Health, Labor and Welfare Committee until his former and current secretaries were arrested Tuesday in connection with the scandal.Focus on temp firmsThe period in which he allegedly received donations from the vocational training firm overlaps a time when the Diet was debating a bill to revise the Temporary Staffing Services Law to expand the list of duties for which personnel placement agencies could dispatch workers.This has given both the ruling and opposition parties cause to suspect that the suspicions surrounding Sakai could develop into a major bribery scandal involving the temporary staffing industry and government offices.Thursday's action by a special task force of the prosecutor's office covers allegations that Sakai failed to list donations from the vocational training firm in his report on political funds. However, investigators are apparently determined to ensure that their action will serve as a step in uncovering the entire truth behind the case.Since the Recruit stocks-for-favor scandal, legislators have worked to revise the Political Funds Control Law several times, with the aim of promoting political reforms. Legislative changes that they implemented include the creation of the political party subsidies law, a measure designed to help fund political activities with taxpayers' money.However, there appears to be no end to money-oriented scandals involving lawmakers.In 2002, the Diet was rocked by a number of scandals involving legislators' secretaries and former aides in connection with their role in helping corporations win contracts for public works projects in exchange for bribes. The case involving Suzuki is among these scandals.Little progress by LDP, DietEarly this year, it became known that the LDP's Nagasaki prefectural chapter had collected illegal donations from major construction companies and other firms. In addition, the Diet has been jolted by the dispute over a corporate donation received by a former secretary to Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tadamori Oshima.Lawmakers are also debating what should be done to prevent corrupt practices arising from donations received by politicians and political parties from corporations that have won contracts for public works projects.In the Diet, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi commented on Sakai's scandal that he was determined to make "a certain measure of progress" in establishing clear rules on political donations during the current Diet session. To accomplish this goal, the prime minister told the LDP to come up with appropriate measures.However, the LDP has made little progress in discussions on this matter. The Diet has also shown itself to be inept in this regard.Under the circumstances, the public's dismay with politicians and political parties is certain to grow.The latest scandal has shown again how deep-rooted the questionable relationship between politics and money is.All political parties and politicians must earnestly strive to eradicate the root of the problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	658	2003-03-07	yoshin0020030308dz370000m
yomshi0020030310dz380005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030310dz380005r	EN	\N	Don't ignore economic crisis.	A plunge in stock prices Friday dragged the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average down to 8,144.12, its lowest close in 20 years. The figure renewed the previous post-bubble low of 8,303.39 on Nov. 14 last year.	8	2003-03-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the event that U.S.-led forces launch a war against Iraq, the Nikkei index will almost certainly tumble below the 8,000 mark.Given this situation, the government and the central bank can no longer twiddle their thumbs.To avoid the so-called March crisis-a chaotic situation in which financial institutions could go under as a large number of companies settle their accounts at the end of the fiscal year-the government and the Bank of Japan must come up with immediate measures aimed at stifling deflation and propping up the economy.Friday's sharp decline in stock prices was caused by "geopolitical risk" factors. A wide-range of export-related shares were sold because of fears of a possible U.S.-led war with Iraq and North Korea's provocative moves have prompted foreign investors to sell Japanese shares.Nosediving shares hurt banksThe falling stock prices of major banks cannot but have an adverse effect on investors' sentiment.After drawing up plans to strengthen their capital positions, individual banks made an effort to improve operations. Despite this, however, share prices nosedived because investors feared that the increase in the number of shares issued by the banks would reduce their profits per share.With the deadline for the settlement of accounts approaching, there are lingering concerns that a collapse in share prices would deal a serious blow to companies and financial institutions. In this regard, the government and the central bank must do something to assure the market that this does not happen.To prevent the economy from collapsing, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should bite the bullet and change his policies by taking such measures as compiling a supplementary budget for fiscal 2002.In the fiscal 2003 budget, which is currently under deliberation at the House of Councillors, allocations for public works projects were cut 4 percent compared to the current fiscal year. With this kind of reduction, it will be impossible to fill the yawning gap between supply and demand, a factor behind the worsening deflation.Adopt inflation-targeting policyUnder the leadership of Toshihiko Fukui, who will become governor of the Bank of Japan, the central bank needs to implement additional easy money policies as soon as possible.In September, the central bank introduced a scheme to buy shares held by banks. It is time for the bank to expand this quota and adopt an inflation-targeting policy.For its part, the Liberal Democratic Party needs to urgently come up with policies to stabilize the financial sector.From this fiscal year, the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants will tighten the application of deferred tax accounting, which is expected to lower the capital adequacy ratio of many banks. However, we believe this issue must be considered jointly with the issue of tax system reforms, such as expanded use of tax-free write-offs. The LDP needs to confirm this principle.The government also should try to have a law enacted within the current Diet session to allow life insurance firms to lower guaranteed returns, which will help them stabilize their operations.However, we believe the government should postpone the introduction of an accounting system designed to reflect declines in the value of fixed assets in a firm's business performance.The government and the central bank must realize that Japan faces not only a security crisis, but also an economic crisis.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2003-03-08	yoshin0020030308dz38000ge
yomshi0020030308dz390005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030308dz390005q	EN	\N	UNSC must adopt resolution.	The U.N. weapons inspectors' report to the Security Council on Friday failed to bridge the gap between those supporting military action and those opposed to it.	8	2003-03-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The United States, Britain and Spain on Friday proposed a March 17 ultimatum for Iraq to obey disarmament demands, setting the date as the deadline for the council to conclude whether Iraq has cooperated fully with its disarmament obligations.The Security Council should adopt the resolution to put Iraq on notice that time had run out.The revised resolution is, to all intents and purposes, designed to approve military action against Iraq. It says: "Iraq will have failed to take the final opportunity...unless on or before March 17, 2003, the council concludes that Iraq has demonstrated full, unconditional, immediate and active cooperation with its disarmament obligations."Iraq again falls shortThe United States intends to press for a vote on the resolution as early as Tuesday.On the other hand, France, Germany and Russia have again expressed opposition to military action. Their opposition is based on the understanding that Iraq has become more cooperative toward U.N. weapons inspections.However, chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said in his report that Iraq still fell short of full cooperation with the inspectors, contending that President Saddam Hussein's regime had failed to provide sufficient documentation and other evidence.The report said 29 "clusters," or groups of weapons programs, have yet to be resolved. It pointed out that about 10,000 liters of anthrax has gone missing and the whereabouts of about 1,000 tons of chemical weapons, including sarin nerve gas, have yet to be determined.In November, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1441, giving Iraq its last chance to comply with demands to disarm. However, it is evident that Baghdad has continued to violate the obligations stipulated in the resolution.At the same time, the Blix report praised Iraq's cooperation in some respects, such as its decision to destroy 34 of its Al-Samoud 2 missiles, which have a range exceeding the limit set by the United Nations, and to allow U.N. inspectors to individually interview Iraqi scientists.Veto won't stop attackBut it was only at the end of January, two months after U.N. inspections resumed in November, that Iraq became actively cooperative. Moreover, this cooperation came in the face of the U.S. and British military buildup.However, Iraq still fails to fulfill its responsibility to prove that it is compliant. Even 12 years after the Gulf War, it is obvious that Iraq has not carried out its obligations to destroy its weapons of mass destruction.French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, who is in the vanguard of those opposed to adoption of the new resolution, has suggested that France will use its veto power.But even if the resolution is vetoed, Washington has declared that it will launch an attack against Baghdad because of Iraq's serious violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions.This would lead to an abnormal situation in the Security Council. In all likelihood, the council would be unable to deal effectively with North Korea, which has resumed its nuclear weapons development program.If Pyongyang arms itself with nuclear weapons, it will present a grave security threat to Japan. Therefore, it is natural for the Japanese government to ask Security Council members to adopt the new resolution, while declaring support for its ally, the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	610	2003-03-09	yoshin0020030310dz39004ft
yomshi0020030311dz3b0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030311dz3b0000h	EN	\N	Time to move on rice policies.	The scrapping of government control over rice acreage, which has long been the nucleus of rice production, is also linked to what form agriculture in Japan will take in the future.	16	2003-03-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Looking at the details of how the bill came to be submitted to the Diet, however, it becomes apparent that both administrators and rice producers are far from ready to deal squarely with the crisis facing rice production.Included in the bill is a proposal to replace government-guided cuts in paddy acreage by fiscal 2008 with a system whereby producers themselves would determine rice output.The problem is that it is likely that the central government would remain involved in implementing cuts in rice production in response to strong calls to do so from rice farmers.Under the bill, rice growers' organizations would draw up production quotas on the basis of supply and demand, which would then be approved by the central government.Rice farmers face challengesShould rice farmers choose to deal directly with the market or consumers, and produce popular varieties of rice, rivalry among localities and producers would intensify. Measures would be needed to control this, as they would in the event of overproduction. In both cases, rice producers will face a challenge.However, if the government remains involved in cutting rice acreage, we are unlikely to see the sweeping reforms needed to create a competitive rice market.In addition, a framework under which the central government effectively controls production quotas is diametrically opposed to the goals such reforms aim to realize.What is needed is a comprehensive strategy that encompasses not only the production system but also measures to help farmers produce diverse types of rice and assist them in finding alternative uses for their fields, of which the nation has a surplus.In rebuilding the nation's rice policy, we should also take into account increases in imports of foreign rice.In the agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organization, which aim at reaching a broad agreement by the end of the month, Japan has been under strong pressure from rice exporters, including the United States, to lower import tariffs on rice and to expand access for foreign rice.A further unilateral opening of the market would likely lead to a decline of the nation's agriculture, and it is only natural for the government to resist such a policy.Looking to the futureBut when we look at the nation's middle-and long-term agricultural strategies, there is no alternative but for Japanese producers to produce rice that can compete internationally.The government has long had a policy of not pressuring farmers to switch from rice to other crops, the rationale behind this being that imports of foreign rice would not adversely affect the domestic supply of and demand for rice.In reality, however, imports of foreign rice, mainly in the processed-food sector, are eating away at the domestic rice market, and the nation's rice acreage is being steadily reduced year by year. The government needs to immediately review its own policy regarding these matters.U.S. rice producer organizations began selling two popular California rice varieties-Akitakomachi and Koshihikari-late last month through rice merchants in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area. Both brands are cheaper than domestically grown counterparts.The push for an expansion in rice imports has already started; we no longer have the time to idly sit back and watch.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2003-03-11	yoshin0020030311dz3b005eb
yomshi0020030312dz3c00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030312dz3c00009	EN	\N	Act now to avoid a March crisis.	On Tuesday, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed at a 20-year low, sinking below 8,000.	8	2003-03-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The large fall in the stock market likely is attributable to widespread concerns about rising anxieties over the international situation. The plunge should largely be blamed on the failure of the government and the Bank of Japan to implement workable measures aimed at improving the economy and fighting the ongoing deflationary crisis.If rising tensions over Iraq eventually result in a war being waged against that country, it could arouse even more profound fears among market players. The government and the central bank should waste no time in adopting steps to bolster stock prices, while also announcing a shift in the focus of their economic policies. Otherwise, an economic catastrophe could strike in March, as feared in previous months.The stock market has undergone too rapid a fall since last week. Contributing to the stock price decline have been growing concerns about an imminent war against Iraq and the rising value of the yen. This has been exacerbated by corporations' decisions to unravel their cross-held shares as they prepare to settle their accounts in late March and a drop in the stock prices of banks due to an increase in their capital.Govt, BOJ sitting on their handsA lack of a sense of crisis among the government and the Bank of Japan also has encouraged investors to sell their shareholdings.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi remains cautious about taking urgent pump-priming measures. "I won't do anything unexpected. I'll try to deal with the situation by taking an honest and righteous approach," he told reporters.The Bank of Japan has been no less cautious in this regard. During its monetary policy meeting last week, the central bank decided not to further relax its easy-money policy.Many market players have expected the authorities to carry out stock price-boosting measures that may include short-selling restrictions, an approach adopted last year. The government's failure to implement any such step despite rising tensions over Iraq has left the market all the more deeply disappointed.No time should be wasted in carrying out necessary measures.The government and the ruling parties should postpone the September 2004 deadline to be met by major banks in selling off their shareholdings that exceed their core capital, with the aim of preventing a further decline in stock prices due to banks selling their shareholdings.This must be complemented by an effort by the central bank to raise the current 2 trillion yen limit on its purchases of banks' shareholdings.In addition, the Banks' Shareholdings Purchase Corporation should scrap its system in which banks are required to give the institution contributions equivalent to 8 percent of the prices at which their shares are sold to the body. This is essential to make it easier for banks to take advantage of the corporation's good offices.Shift macroeconomic tackAll these urgent measures must be accompanied by changes in the authorities' macroeconomic policies.Japan Business Federation Chairman Hiroshi Okuda has insisted that the central bank implement all possible measures to drastically expand the money supply, including purchases of exchange-traded funds.Toshihiko Fukui, the governor-designate of the central bank, should listen closely to the heartfelt voices of the business community.At the same time, the government should consider drawing up a large supplementary budget for the next fiscal year.The prime minister and Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, have said the government will never allow a financial panic to strike in March. To keep this promise, the government must reconsider a financial renewal program drawn up under Takenaka's initiative.The Japanese economy could collapse if the government fails to reverse its economic policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2003-03-12	yoshin0020030312dz3c002x2
yomshi0020030312dz3d0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030312dz3d0005q	EN	\N	Unions should rethink shunto.	On Wednesday, this year's labor-management wage hike negotiations, known as shunto, took an important turn when major electronics manufacturers, carmakers and other corporations in the sector gave their answers to members of the Japan Council of Metal Workers' Unions (IMF-JC). Most companies accepted labor's demands for management to give them automatic annual base-pay hikes, as in the past.	12	2003-03-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A major focus of this year's shunto spring offensive has been on whether changes should be made in the long-running system governing automatic annual pay raises that could be combined with negotiated pay hikes in base pay scales.But Wednesday's agreement does not mean an end to the ongoing dispute over whether to review the mandatory annual pay increment system. During the latest shunto talks, management at NEC Corp., Hitachi, Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and many other firms presented labor with a proposal to reform the their wage systems as a whole-not just automatic wage hikes under their labor-management agreements. Their shunto negotiations will be followed by talks on whether these firms' wage systems should be reformed.This will mark an unprecedented step toward drastically changing the annual shunto practice. For many years, the guaranteed annual wage hike system-a formula in which workers are given pay raises according to their age and length of service-has been a central pillar of this nation's wage system.Merit-based pay system makes senseThe reform newly undertaken represents an attempt to curb pay raises given according to length of service, while also paying employees wages based on their contribution to their firms.In fact, some corporations have replaced their wage systems with new formulas. For example, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has scrapped its automatic annual pay increment system. Instead, the carmaker has adopted a system that could reduce the wages paid to employees if they are found to have failed in their duties.Canon Inc. and Honda Motor Co. have replaced their wage systems with a formula in which employees are guaranteed annual wage hikes until their early 30s, but are paid salaries according to their performance thereafter.Many labor unions have given up demanding negotiated hikes in base-pay scales amid continued financial difficulties experienced by their corporations this year. Labor and management may agree that the list of themes to be taken up during shunto talks next year does not include mandatory wage hikes, let alone negotiated pay raises.All this heralds a new era in which wages received by individual workers are greatly affected by the assessment given them by their companies concerning their performance.The merit-based wage system represents an option management cannot turn down. Many corporations are finding it impossible to predict what may happen to their industries, partly due to the emergence of China as an economic powerhouse that can take advantage of its low labor costs.Workers can be kept on the payroll-but only if their companies stay in business. It is impossible for corporations to survive these changing times and difficulties as long as they continue to operate on the seniority-based wage system. The current system does not allow companies to flexibly increase or curb their personnel costs.Reform offers opportunitiesLabor unions in the metal industry are not opposed to a proposal presented by management for changes in their wage systems. They have agreed that it is unavoidable to reform the system in line with the changing times.How will the wage system reform affect the corporate sector and people's standard of living? We hope the ongoing reform eventually will help corporations survive and prosper, while at the same time keeping workers on the payroll.The annual shunto offensive also is bound to undergo various changes. Individual corporations may be left to their own devices in setting their wage levels during shunto talks. This will mark a departure in the shunto's conventional industrywide wage-setting practice.Undoubtedly, the shunto offensive will play a less important role in determining the negotiated wage-hike levels. Still, the annual practice will continue to help labor and management at major corporations set their average wage levels and minimum wages under given economic conditions, a move that will affect wages at all other firms in their industry.The number of nonpermanent employees in the nation, including part-time and dispatched workers, has exceeded 15 million, accounting for about 30 percent of the total workforce. All labor unions must think about what kind of role the shunto offensive should play in benefiting not only regular employees, but also nonpermanent workers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	811	2003-03-13	yoshin0020030313dz3d002qt
yomshi0020030314dz3e00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030314dz3e00006	EN	\N	Continue backing U.S. on Iraq.	Britain, which submitted a new resolution jointly with the United States and Spain that would approve a war against Iraq, has proposed the inclusion of six tests to determine whether Baghdad really will disarm itself.	8	2003-03-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Security Council members must adopt the resolution in a last-ditch effort to bring pressure to bear on Iraq.In an open debate at a Security Council session Wednesday, Ambassador Koichi Haraguchi reiterated Japan's support for the three-nation resolution. "If the resolution is not passed, it will only benefit Iraq," Haraguchi said.When considering the radically changed international situation since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, as well as Japan's security, the course Japan must take is self-evident. This country has no other option but to support the United States, as Haraguchi stressed at the Security Council.Baghdad to blame for crisisWe must not forget, Iraq is to blame.The regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein insists that it has disposed of its weapons of mass destruction, but this claim has not yet been proved.Baghdad has also failed to comply with a series of U.N. resolutions. Even though the regime pledged to cooperate fully and unconditionally with U.N. weapons inspectors, it merely did so in dribs and drabs to gain time.If weapons of mass destruction fall into the hands of terrorists as a result of the world turning a blind eye to the illegal actions by a rogue state that has a history of using chemical weapons, it would pose a serious threat to the international community.Here is the core of the problem-what should we do to disarm Iraq?France and Russia oppose adoption of the resolution proposed by the United States, Britain and Spain, insisting that U.N. weapons inspections be continued.However, remembering Iraq's past actions, it is clear that this cannot be an alternative to the three-nation proposal.The handling of the Iraq problem will have a significant impact on the North Korean issue.Don't send N. Korea wrong signalIf half-measures are taken in the disarmament of Iraq, it will send the wrong signal to North Korea, which resumed its nuclear weapons development program. The government must keep this point in mind in dealing with the Iraq issue.Only the United States-not the United Nations-will be able to respond swiftly and efficiently in dealing with the North Korean crisis.Some people believe that the North Korean issue should not be linked to Japan's support for the U.S. handling of the Iraq problem as Washington is obliged to help defend this counry on the basis of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. However, these people should remember that so many treaties have been torn up in the past.Since North Korea could launch a ballistic missile at any time, Japan's national interests would be seriously damaged if this country acted in such a way as to adversely affect the Japan-U.S. alliance.We believe the government has acted correctly in dealing with the Iraq crisis as far as relations with the United States is concerned. However, the government has failed to provide the public with a sufficient explanation.If the government fails to do this because it is worried about the public response, it will only create more distrust. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must give a clear explanation about why Japan should support the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2003-03-14	yoshin0020030314dz3e00325
yomshi0020030317dz3f000bf	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030317dz3f000bf	EN	\N	Nuclear reactors are needed now.	Already 14 of them have suspended operations so that they can be checked for cracks following a series of revelations last year that TEPCO had covered up such faults. The remaining three will have their operations suspended soon for regular inspections and to test the leakage level of the reactors' containment vessels.	8	2003-03-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is essential for a reactor to suspend operations due to safety concerns.However, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry's Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency and the Cabinet Office's Nuclear Safety Commission have already confirmed the safety of some of these reactors.The government should take immediate steps to have these reactors resume operations.A stable supply of electricity is needed for information-related equipment and a variety of other systems that we rely on in our daily life.Even if currently unused thermal power plants and other power-generation facilities are put into full operation, the amount of electriicity generated would be far from sufficient to meet the needs of the midsummer peak period. The nuclear reactors must resume operations.We must avoid a blackoutA blackout in the Tokyo metropolitan area would have grave implications on a variety of activities in this country. Therefore, every possible effort must be taken to prevent this kind of scenario.TEPCO, Tohoku Electric Power Co. and Chubu Electric Power Co. have begun inspecting core shrouds, recirculation pipes and other parts of their nuclear reactors.Agency and commission officials have concluded that cracks in core shrouds of eight reactors that have been inspected would remain within the tolerance levels even if the reactors were used continuously over the next five years.But the pipes in the recirculation systems present a problem. The current fault-finding method of using supersonic waves has been found to be far from adequate.Following this revelation, the Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency requested TEPCO and other utility firms to test and ensure the efficiency of new fault-finding technology as early as May so that it can be introduced as soon as possible.If all goes well, the agency will begin examining and evaluating the safety of recirculation pipes with the new technology. But the problem can only be resolved if the cracked pipes are replaced before then.Minor cracks not consideredTEPCO reportedly plans to replace damaged recirculation pipes and conduct repair work on core shrouds by shaving cracked sections.The company has two new-generation reactors that need no recirculation pipes. However, it must put as many reactors back into operation as soon as possible by replacing and repairing faulty parts of the others.The fundamental problem was that the regulations regarding the examination of reactors and the safety precautions failed to specify how to deal with minor cracks.Although late in taking action, the government is about to come up with rules to rectify this and establish a system to implement them. This is a good opportunity for the government to improve the inspection and repair systems as efficient as those in other industrialized countries.The government plans to make a strenuous effort to explain the details of the safety inspections to local communities.The cooperation of local governments is vital in resuming reactor operations so that there will be no delays for factors other than safety, such as anxiety among local residents.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	580	2003-03-15	yoshin0020030315dz3f000et
yomshi0020030317dz3g0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030317dz3g0005s	EN	\N	Use oil reserves wisely.	Unusually high oil prices are casting a dark pall on the world's economic outlook.	8	2003-03-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Both oil producing and consuming countries must strengthen their cooperative ties and do their utmost to stabilize crude oil prices.At its general meeting last week, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to keep its production quota of 24.5 million barrels a day intact for the April-June quarter, a period of slackening demand.OPEC also made clear it would implement an extraordinary production increase should the United States and other countries launch military strikes on Iraq and oil prices skyrocket.In doing so, OPEC countries took the world economy into consideration, although its members failed to agree on temporarily lifting a production quota. Its response can be considered an adult one.Various factors have conspired recently to jack up oil prices-the tense situation over Iraq, the general strike in Venezuela, and a cold snap in the Northern Hemisphere.The New York market took the possible decline in the U.S. oil reserve due to the latest OPEC decision seriously and buy-orders prevailed.Widespread economic impactIf crude oil prices keep rising, the U.S. economy will inevitably slow down as private consumption will slacken and businesses will see profits drop due to higher energy costs.And a U.S. economic contraction will affect not only Japan and other Asian countries but also the oil producing countries.It was during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 when OPEC launched an oil embargo and triggered the first oil crisis. In the 30 years that have since passed the oil supply-demand situation has changed markedly.Back then, oil accounted for 74 percent of Japan's primary energy source supply. In fiscal 2001, it accounted for only 49 percent, thanks to the nation's efforts to become less dependent on oil, causing nuclear energy, which accounted for less than 1 percent 30 years ago, to now account for 13 percent of the annual energy supply.Even if crude oil imports drop markedly, Japan today has oil reserves worth 171 days of net imports, when public-and private-sector reserves are combined.DiversificationOn the other hand, the nation's dependency on crude oil imports from the Middle East has risen to 88 percent from 78 percent.There are also other concerns-not seen during the first oil crisis-that Asian economies such as China, South Korea and Thailand have rapidly increased crude oil imports, while lacking sufficient emergency oil reserves.Japan's need to further diversify its oil import sources is emerging as a mid-and long-term issue, as it urges its neighbors to expand their oil reserves.These efforts, however, will not help ease the current high oil prices. The only thing to do, for now, is hope Venezuela's oil production returns to normal, while Saudi Arabia, with its extra production capacity, increases its output.Oil consuming countries, including Japan, must make effective use of their oil reserves.It is also a matter of urgency that the nation's nuclear power plants, whose safety has been confirmed through inspections, resume operation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	571	2003-03-16	yoshin0020030317dz3g005lv
yomshi0020030316dz3h00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030316dz3h00004	EN	\N	Cleaning the Aegean Stables.	Takanori Sakai, a House of Representatives member, has been arrested on suspicion of failing to report massive corporate donations at a time when the Diet has not yet finished with the scandals involving Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tadamori Oshima over his former secretaries taking questionable money.	8	2003-03-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Last year, a series of irregularities involving legislators surfaced, including one involving lower house member Muneo Suzuki, who was indicted on charges of accepting bribes for influence peddling, and the misuse of state-funded secretaries' salaries.Some lawmakers implicated in such scandals have been forced to resign.Shady dealings have also come to light this year. Sakai and Oshima are not the only lawmakers to have been implicated in scandals, which have spread to local politics.A senior official of the Liberal Democratic Party's Nagasaki prefectural chapter has been arrested on suspicion of coercing general contractors into donating money for the party's use in the gubernatorial election.Greater transparency neededPoliticians and political parties have persistently failed to take any measures to put an end to such shenanigans. Public distrust of politics will continue to mount unless politicians take steps to put their houses in order.Political parties should draw up a list of scandal-causing factors and map out measures to deal with them as soon as possible.The recent scandals have highlighted several problem areas that need to be tackled.One of them is corporate donations.Corporations are important structures in society and it goes without saying that they should be allowed to participate in politics through making donations.The problem is, how can the transparency of such donations be improved to eradicate illegal donations?What is needed is a system that will permit corporations to make transparent remittances, but ban cash donations.Another subject that needs discussion is donations by companies that have been awarded public works contracts.Likewise in need of reform is the current situation whereby party chapters, which receive donations from corporations and organizations, have become personal wallets for the lawmakers heading them.These suggestions have been presented on various occasions by various circles.For example, last summer a meeting of LDP experts proposed abolishing small political party chapters and regulating donations from winners of public works contracts.New Komeito and opposition parties have also put forward suggestions for cleaning up politics.The time has now come for political parties to discuss specific measures to reform the political world.Govt must lead by exampleMore than six months have passed since the LDP proposals were made, but the LDP has so far yet to discuss them.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who replied to a question in the Diet by saying he would try to clean up politics as much as possible during the current Diet session, has the responsibility to push his party to tackle the problem.Meanwhile, the LDP plans to support a resolution submitted by opposition parties calling for Sakai's resignation.The Constitution guarantees lawmakers' special status and rights. Resolutions calling for the resignation of a lawmaker should not be handled lightly, out of concern that a majority party may abuse such resolutions to oppress minority parties.While the Diet considers Sakai's activities as being irregular in the extreme, simply adopting a resolution demanding his resignation will not solve the problem.Legislators should not forget that the resolution should be the first step on the road to rooting out illegal donations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	610	2003-03-17	yoshin0020030317dz3h0063j
yomshi0020030318dz3i0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030318dz3i0000f	EN	\N	War may be only solution.	On Sunday, U.S. President George W. Bush held emergency summit talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar on Portugal's Azores Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. During the meeting, the three leaders agreed that the U.N. Security Council should make a final decision regarding what is to be done to resolve the Iraqi crisis.	8	2003-03-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Earlier, the United States, Britain and Spain presented the Security Council with a new resolution that would authorize the use of force against Iraq. However, deep divisions within the Security Council have left the three allies well short of the nine "yes" votes needed for the resolution to be adopted. France and Russia have said they intend to exercise their right to veto the resolution.The United States and Britain are poised to issue a final ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein if they have determined that it is impossible to get the resolution adopted, a move that is certain to result in an armed attack on Iraq-which could take place as early as the end of the week.Saddam own worst enemyIraq has repeatedly contravened a Security Council resolution adopted to end the 1991 Gulf War, although it has accepted the resolution that requires it to scrap all its weapons of mass destruction. Given Iraq's repeated refusal to comply with the resolution, the use of force is an option that cannot be dismissed.In November, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1441, giving Iraq a final chance to resolve its standoff with the international community.Still, Iraq has refused to fully comply with the resolution, instead opting to make small compromises one at a time. The latest Security Council resolution would not have been submitted if the administration had swiftly and fully cooperated with U.N. weapons inspectors and taken the initiative in disarming itself.The blame lies with Iraq. There is no way war with Iraq can be averted except for Saddam going into exile.During Security Council meetings, France, Germany and Russia have opposed the resolution, saying that Iraq has become more cooperative with U.N. weapons inspectors than in the past. However, there are no assurances that Iraq will disarm even if inspections there continue.Blair has said at a press conference that extended discussions at the Security Council that do not entail an ultimatum authorizing force will mean further delay in resolving the problem. We believe that the British prime minister had every reason to say this.U.S., U.K. may face difficultiesNonetheless, there are concerns that the United States and Britain may encounter numerous difficulties in ending the current crisis if they strike against Iraq without a Security Council resolution authorizing the use of force.The U.S., British and Spanish leaders have said they will urge the Security Council to adopt a new resolution concerning measures to be taken in the wake of a war on Iraq. The proposed resolution calls for preserving Iraq's territorial integrity, swiftly extending humanitarian aid to Iraqis and rehabilitating a postwar Iraq.The three leaders have also emphasized the need to maintain close relations between the United States and European nations and promote close cooperation between these allies and the United Nations.These statements represent their desire to establish a new order in post-Saddam Iraq through international cooperation.The imminent attack on Iraq is bound to significantly affect the world economy and global circumstances. With this in mind, we hope the United States will work to gain greater support from other nations for its action against Iraq.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has reiterated Japan's support for the United States, saying that the U.N. resolutions adopted in the past authorize the United States to use force against Iraq. The government should cooperate with the Bush administration in mustering greater international support for the United States.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2003-03-18	yoshin0020030318dz3i002r8
yomshi0020030318dz3j000bf	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030318dz3j000bf	EN	\N	Koizumi was right to back Bush.	U.S. President George W. Bush said in an ultimatum delivered to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that he would face a U.S.-led war unless he and his two sons left Iraq within 48 hours.	8	2003-03-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Time is running out. The possibility that Saddam will comply with the demand may be extremely small, but we still hope that he will surrender power to avoid military action against his country.Commenting on Bush's ultimatum, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said it was "unavoidable." He added that the government would support the United States in the event it launches an attack against Iraq.We fully support Koizumi's unambiguous declaration.The prime minister also stressed that the government would make efforts to cooperate with the international community while underlining the significance of the Japan-U.S. security alliance."It would run counter to the national interest to ruin confidence in the Japan-U.S. relationship," he said.It was a natural decision for the prime minister to place top priority on maintaining the Japan-U.S. alliance from the standpoint of the national interest. The bilateral alliance contributes not only to Japan's security, but also to peace and security in East Asia.N-armed N. Korea a sobering thoughtRecent moves by North Korea are particularly noteworthy in this regard. When we look squarely at the fact that North Korea is stepping up efforts to develop and deploy nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, we must not take action that might shake Japan's alliance with the United States.Koizumi said the Iraq crisis should be considered a matter of concern for everyone, given the fact that if terrorists get their hands on chemical and biological weapons, the lives of tens of thousands of people would be at risk.Many Japanese were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Bearing this in mind, we cannot sit on the fence.The U.N. Security Council failed to agree on a new resolution jointly proposed by the United States, Britain and Spain due to implacable opposition from France, a permanent member of the council, which indicated it would veto the resolution and insisted that weapons inspections be extended.In this connection, Koizumi pointed out that a series of past U.N. resolutions, including resolution 1441, adopted in November, which called on Iraq to disarm, and resolution 687, passed at the end of the Gulf War, provide legal grounds for the use of military force against Iraq.Minshuto living in cloud-cuckoo-landThe core of the problem is how to prevent Iraq's weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists. The issue of U.N. resolutions must be considered from this viewpoint.Opposition parties, including the main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), opposed a U.S.-led attack on Iraq on the ground that a new resolution was not approved by the Security Council.Minshuto said military action without a U.N. resolution is a violation of international law. Based on this argument, it claimed that Japan must not offer any money for the U.S.-led campaign-neither for prosecuting the war nor for funding the postwar occupation of Iraq.Minshuto appears to be unaware that Japan should maintain the Japan-U.S. alliance to protect its national interest.Like the former Japan Socialist Party, Minshuto appears to believe that merely advocating peace is sufficient. If the largest opposition party does indeed have such a mind-set, it is a serious problem. A party that lacks an understanding of the national interest is not qualified to take power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2003-03-19	yoshin0020030319dz3j00340
yomshi0020030320dz3k00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030320dz3k00009	EN	\N	Saddam has himself to blame.	The deadline set in an ultimatum that U.S. President George W. Bush issued to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will expire at 10 a.m. Thursday, Japan time.	8	2003-03-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet Saddam is preparing for war, defying the U.S. demand that he and his sons leave Iraq within 48 hours. A U.S.-led military attack against the country is now deemed imminent.Nobody likes war. Looking back on what has happened to date, however, we regret to say that no option is left other than taking military action against Iraq. This fact deserves to be reiterated.The current crisis has its roots in the Gulf War, which took place following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait almost 13 years ago. A ceasefire was declared after Baghdad accepted a U.N. Security Council resolution that obliged the country to abandon weapons of mass destruction under an international monitoring system.Despite this agreement, Iraq has been violating the resolution by submitting false reports to U.N. weapons inspectors. As for the U.N. resolution adopted in November, which gave Iraq one last chance to disarm, the regime-under U.S. and British military pressure-has been pretending to cooperate with weapons inspectors by showing sporadic signs of compliance.It should be remembered that Iraq is responsible for proving that it has disarmed. But we regret to say that Iraq has neglected to fulfill that responsibility over the years, including during the four-month period since the last resolution was adopted. Given the fact that Iraq has thumbed its nose at the series of U.N. resolutions, it is clear that the country has no sense of right and wrong.Extended inspections a waste of timeTwo permanent members of the Security Council, France and Russia, opposed a draft resolution authorizing a U.S.-led war against Iraq that was jointly submitted by the United States, Britain and Spain, claiming that arms inspections gradually were proving to be effective.But given Iraq's persistent refusal to cooperate fully with weapons inspectors, the outcome of extended arms inspections is self-evident.What emerged during the inspections process, which lasted more than 10 years, was that the more time is spent carrying out such inspections, the more benefits Iraq will enjoy.We ask the international community to share this understanding.The rift between the United States and Britain, and France and Russia has overshadowed the basic goal of disarming Iraq. It is fair to say that the series of recent disputes over Iraq revealed the limits of the Security Council's functions.Japan-U.S. alliance shown to be keyConfusion in the council also led to doubts over whether the United Nations would be able to function effectively to ensure Japan's security. On the other hand, it reminded us anew of the significance of the Japan-U.S. alliance.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi declared Tuesday that the government would fully support the United States, Britain and their allies when they launch an attack against Iraq. The decision was made based on the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance and the recognition that Iraq is the one that is to blame for the current crisis.Washington has publicly named Japan as a supporter of a U.S. invasion of Iraq and expressed its strong hope that Tokyo would contribute to the rehabilitation of Iraq after the war. The government should finalize efforts to extend postwar support to Iraq in line with U.S. expectations.Nearly 90 percent of oil imported into this country is supplied by countries in the Middle East. In this respect, it is extremely important for Japan that the region is stable.The government must make proactive efforts to cooperate with the international community in this regard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	651	2003-03-20	yoshin0020030320dz3k003c5
yomshi0020030321dz3l00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030321dz3l00006	EN	\N	Let's hope Iraq war ends soon.	As casualties in Iraq and among the U.S.-led forces are expected to be high, the situation is horrific.	9	2003-03-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the war was inevitable, and we can only hope that it will end as soon as possible so that peace can be restored.For this to happen, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein must surrender immediately.The U.S.-led attack against Iraq is the result of the Iraqi regime's policies since the end of the Gulf War 12 years ago. The regime has repeatedly ignored U.N. resolutions and deceived international society.In the Gulf War ceasefire agreement, Iraq accepted a U.N. resolution that obliged the country to dispose of weapons of mass destruction. Despite the agreement, the country failed to fulfill its obligations and refused to accept U.N. weapons inspections in the four years following 1998.The U.N. Security Council in November unanimously adopted a resolution that gave Iraq one last chance to disarm itself. Nevertheless, Iraq merely showed gradual signs of compliance to U.N. weapons inspectors and failed to prove that it had rid itself of weapons of mass destruction.Criticism of hostilities unfoundedThe United States, Britain and Spain withdrew a new resolution authorizing a war against Iraq at the U.N. Security Council. This decision led many people both at home and abroad to criticize the U.S.-led military action as a violation of international law.However, in light of a series of events that have occurred since the Gulf War, this criticism is unfounded. The United States and Britain pointed to a series of Security Council resolutions as the legal ground for a war against Iraq. We believe this is reasonable.Following selective strikes with cruise missiles and other weapons Thursday, the U.S. military reportedly plans to carry out large-scale air strikes and send ground troops into the country to try to topple the Iraqi regime in a short period of time. However, Saddam has expressed his readiness to fight to the end, meaning that the U.S.-led forces will be forced to fight in the streets of Iraqi cities.For a quarter of a century, the people in Iraq have been suffering under a dictator. No one likes a war. But this is a good opportunity to free the Iraqi people from oppression so that they can start building a free and prosperous country.The United States is not isolated in the international community as more than 40 countries have expressed support for the U.S. policy on Iraq.However, it also is true that the current war has not received as much support from the international community as the Gulf War. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and other Middle East countries, which joined the multinational forces in the 1991 Gulf War, were not among the countries named by Washington as supporting the U.S. invasion of Iraq.Baghdad must be disarmedDictators and terrorists who acquire weapons of mass destruction pose a serious threat to the international community. From this standpoint, the United States decided to disarm Iraq as quickly as possible by resorting to the use of military force.For their part, France, Germany, Russia and other countries oppose the U.S. position, maintaining that "Iraq is not posing an imminent threat." Presumably, they are taking their national interests into consideration.The disarray in the international community will adversely affect postwar rehabilitation-which requires international cooperation-as well as efforts to create a new global order to facilitate world peace and stability.The international community must return to square one and understand the original cause of the Iraqi issue.Need to gain more supportThe United States and Britain should not spare any effort to gain as much support as possible from the international community.On Thursday, the Japanese government reiterated its support for the United States and decided on a five-point contingency plan, including the protection of Japanese nationals in the areas in and around Iraq, humanitarian aid to war refugees and security measures to protect U.S. military facilities in Japan.Depending on future developments in the Iraq war, the Japanese economy, already mired in deflation, is expected to encounter greater problems. The government and the Bank of Japan must keep a close eye on what is happening in the marketplace so that they will be able to act promptly to avert any confusion.The government should also start preparations for postwar rehabilitation measures. It is essential to quickly set a legal framework for the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces for a postwar mission. Allied forces are expected to be stationed in postwar Iraq but, under the existing U.N. Peacekeeping Operations Cooperation Law, Japan is not permitted to take part in such a multilateral force.Contributing to peace and stability in the Middle East is in line with the national interest of Japan, which relies on the region for nearly 90 percent of oil supplies.In Japan, there are people who strongly criticize the government's decision to support the United States as a simple "follow-America" policy.Alliance with U.S. crucialAs North Korea proceeds with its nuclear development program, the threat against Japan will increase. The security environment surrounding Japan is entirely different from the situation of France and Germany, which face no threat to their security following the collapse of the Soviet Union.Japan will face a hazardous future if it is determined through antiwar sentiment.The country has to assume a position on the Iraq issue by taking into consideration that Iraq is to blame for the current situation, and that Japan's alliance with the United States is crucial for its own security.The international situation has dramatically changed since the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001. However, as uncertainties about creating a global order remain, a well-thought foreign policy is essential.With the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance as the core of its foreign policy, all-out efforts must be made to reshape international cooperation. This should be the foundation of Japan's foreign policy.(From March 21 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1037	2003-03-21	yoshin0020030322dz3l000dh
yomshi0020030322dz3m00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030322dz3m00005	EN	\N	Koizumi has taken right course.	The Iraq war has caused disarray among peoples around the world and the international political scene is chaotic.	12	2003-03-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is on such occasions that political parties and politicians need to be fully aware of their heavy responsibilities and make correct decisions to serve national interests.During the Diet debate late Thursday evening, the difference of opinion between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and opposition party leaders was laid bare over the nation's response to the U.S.-led military strikes on Iraq.As Baghdad is to blame for repeatedly violating U.N. resolutions, Koizumi made clear once again his support of the use of force against Iraq by the United States.In referring to Japan-U.S. relations, Koizumi said the United States was an irreplaceable ally that provides Japan with a deterrent to protect its peace and security.He also asserted that it was Japan's responsibility to extend all possible support to Washington, which is making a great sacrifice in a noble cause for the good of the international community.Minshuto's position unreasonableIn response to Koizumi's remarks, Katsuya Okada, secretary general of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), termed the U.S.-led attack on Iraq "a war without a noble cause," and he criticized the prime minister by saying that Koizumi "has abandoned international cooperation (on the Iraq issue) and opted instead to put the Japan-U.S. alliance first...His diplomatic efforts are a failure."Which position is more reasonable?When we look at developments since the Gulf War, it is incorrect to term the latest use of force as "a war without a noble cause." It is Iraq that has trampled on the authority of the United Nations.The most important thing is not to undermine the Japan-U.S. alliance.However, Okada said, "we should put our trust in the Japan-U.S. alliance." Yet, if Japan criticizes the U.S. action, as Minshuto does, it may cause irreparable harm to bilateral relations.At this moment, North Korea is developing and will deploy nuclear and ballistic missiles. If Minshuto, the largest opposition party, maintains its current position, it will undermine national interests.Opposition's eye on electionSome political pundits say that the opposition parties are criticizing Koizumi's stance to curry favor with the voters in the upcoming unified local elections.By making such a simplistic assertion merely to win votes, the opposition parties forfeit their right to assume the reins of power.In line with the changing military situation, it is essential to improve laws to deal with emergencies.The current Diet session is the third since the government-proposed bills on the ways Japan should deal with contingencies, such as an invastion, have been submitted for deliberation.In response to objections by opposition parties, the ruling coalition parties have presented revised bills, which includes an amended definition of such a contingency as an armed attack. The government, meanwhile, has drafted legislation designed to protect the people's lives and assets if the nation faces a foreign attack.We must question the political responsibility of the opposition parties, particularly Minshuto. Despite having pledged to do so, Minshuto has yet to come up with a counterproposal to the packages of crisis-management legislation submitted by the government and the ruling coalition.Is Japan prepared for any contingency? It is on this point that the Iraq war presents a test case for Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2003-03-22	yoshin0020030322dz3m000sh
yomshi0020030324dz3n00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030324dz3n00008	EN	\N	EU must mend Iraq rift.	The leaders neither ventured into discussing the rights and wrongs of the U.S.-led military strikes on Iraq nor made an evaluation of the strikes in the statement.	9	2003-03-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Apparently, they wanted to avoid amplifying divisions over the Iraqi issue between the attacks' supporters Britain-whose forces have taken part in the attacks-and Spain and opponents France and Germany.The leaders put the issues least likely to cause contention among their countries on the agenda, while agreeing on the need for the EU to get actively involved in providing humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people.That the EU has a hard time coming up with common diplomatic and security policies, however, has been confirmed again.For both Germany and France, which consider themselves the EU's driving forces, the recent summit was also meant to mend yet another rift over Iraq-that with the United States.The statement noted the need to reinforce strategically important ties, indicating the EU's intention to mend ties with the United States. Yet the statement's words cannot be more than a mere slogan.No signs of improvementThere were no indications at all of an improvement in the rift between the United States on one hand and Germany and France on the other, which developed at the U.N. Security Council.Developments in the war in Iraq remain unpredictable. Yet it is obvious the international community needs to cooperate quickly and in a concerted fashion when it comes to Iraq's postwar reconstruction. Both sides should overcome their differences as soon as possible and seek a path toward cooperation.At the summit, the EU leaders also agreed the United Nations should play a pivotal role in administering postwar Iraq.Leadership questionsYet there are differences among the EU nations over who should take the lead in Iraq's reconstruction efforts.At the summit, British Prime Minister Tony Blair proposed a new U.N. resolution to authorize a postwar international administration for Iraq.Yet French President Jacques Chirac opposed such a resolution, saying it would allow the United States and Britain to run Iraq, while at the same time justifying the war. He insisted the United Nations should take the lead in administering postwar Iraq.The United States is seen as harboring a wish to establish a union of countries supporting the war as the core players in rebuilding postwar Iraq.If the status quo remains, the international community will be in disarray ahead of the task of conducting Iraq's postwar reconstruction.Such reconstruction efforts would be faulty and drag on if any of the three sides that must play an important role-Japan, the United States and Europe-is absent from the table. Such foolish acts should be avoided.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	503	2003-03-23	yoshin0020030324dz3n001a6
yomshi0020030324dz3o0005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030324dz3o0005r	EN	\N	Vigilance the price of safety.	While there is no need to take his threat seriously, the U.S.-led military campaign against Iraq has raised legitimate concerns that militant Muslims may carry out retaliatory acts of terrorism.	14	2003-03-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Likewise, there are sound reasons for Japan to be on the alert. These include Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reiteration of the nation's support-as a U.S. ally-for the military strike, and Japan's position as host to a number of U.S. military bases. In addition, North Korea could take advantage of U.S. preoccupation with Iraq to launch terrorist attacks on Japan.It would be unwise to believe that this country remains exempt from the threat of terrorism. Indeed, such thinking would only motivate terrorists to target Japan. Adequate security precautions must be taken to protect the nation against potentially dangerous overtures, whether they originate overseas or at home-including those by Japanese radicals who may take advantage of the U.S.-led war on Iraq to further their own causes.The government has established a task force to handle matters arising from the Iraqi crisis. The task force, which comprises all members of the Cabinet, has adopted a set of emergency measures to be implemented during the duration of the war in Iraq.Specific antiterrorism steps include increased immigration control as well as tough measure to combat any attempts at hijackings and attacks involving biological and chemical weapons.Know thy enemyThe first line of defense is stringent immigration control to deny international terrorist groups entry into the nation. This is essential to prevent terrorist organizations from singling Japan out as a soft target for terrorism. To help ensure this, the Justice Ministry is tightening immigration control through a variety of measures, including the use of state-of-the-art equipment to detect forged passports.These measures need to be complemented by activities to gather information about terrorist movements so that any planned attacks on Japan can be preempted. The collection and analysis of intelligence concerning possible terrorist attacks are part and parcel of crisis management.Unfortunately, Japan is woefully ill-prepared when it comes to gathering information about international terrorist organizations. The nation needs to increase its information-gathering ability while simultaneously increasing cooperation with intelligence agencies around the world.Case for antiespionage lawSome critics have said the nation's lack of an antiespionage law is an obstacle to its receiving intelligence reports from other nations. If this is the case, then it is high time to consider enacting such a law.For years, it has been argued that Japan's inadequacy in this regard stems from the tendency of central government ministries and agencies not to share information with each other. With this in mind, police, defense and other relevant authorities should cooperate more closely in sharing information.Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, not only the U.S. administration but the British, French, German and other major governments have established and revised their antiterrorism laws. But Japan has not taken such legislative steps. This is largely because the government fears that it could be accused of abusing human rights.Of course, any attempt to unlawfully curtail human rights would be unpardonable. However, the government must realize that it cannot protect public safety if it fails to implement vital legislative measures.Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka have already started inspecting visitors' baggage. The need to increase antiterrorism measures means that the public must learn to live with a certain amount of inconvenience. That, however, is the price they have to pay for their safety. Every member of the population must fulfill her or his part in helping to protect society from terrorist attacks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	658	2003-03-24	yoshin0020030324dz3o001t8
yomshi0020030325dz3p00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030325dz3p00004	EN	\N	Poll - Public backing Koizumi.	According to the findings of the poll, more than 70 percent of respondents said they found the government's support for the U.S-led war on Iraq "reasonable" and "unavoidable."	10	2003-03-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had every reason to back the U.S.-led action in Iraq in that his decision reflected his desire to defend national interests during the crisis. The latest survey indicates that the majority of the public feels that the prime minister made the right decision.Koizumi must continue to steadfastly support the United States in dealing with the current crisis. If necessary, he should directly appeal to the public for support.In urging the public to support his decision, the prime minister has cited two reasons-Iraq's repeated violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions requiring the country to scrap its weapons of mass destruction, and the significance of the Japan-U.S. alliance.Japan-U.S. pact a 2-way streetOver the past 13 years, Iraq has contravened 17 Security Council resolutions. The prime minister is correct in insisting that Iraq has disregarded, slighted and ridiculed the U.N. resolutions.The eventual reply given to Iraq by the United States was use of force. Japan's support for the U.S.-led military action was the only viable choice, given Tokyo's alliance with Washington, which must fulfill a grave obligation to defend this country under the bilateral security pact.The circumstances surrounding Japan's national security are growing even more tense in the wake of revelations concerning North Korea's ongoing nuclear weapons program. This was reflected in the survey, with 90 percent of respondents saying they were uneasy about the reclusive state's recent moves.U.S. military power is the greatest deterrent to North Korea. The importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance has never been greater than today. In this sense, it is anything but surprising to see that most members of the public do not want the bilateral alliance to be undermined.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and other opposition parties have criticized the prime minister's decision to support the U.S.-led military campaign against Iraq. However, the Japan-U.S. relationship could be dealt a fatal blow if the government were to deal with the crisis in a manner that would please the opposition camp.Popularity rating a good guideThe opposition bloc is not the only one to criticize the prime minister's decision. Many officials of the government and the ruling parties have been concerned that Koizumi's decision could lower the public's support rating for the Cabinet. However, the latest survey shows that the Cabinet's popularity rate stands around a favorable 50 percent, almost comparable to the figure in February.This should be interpreted as a sign that the public still employs reason and judgment when evaluating the performance of the Koizumi administration.A while back, the prime minister stirred up a mild controversy when he told the Diet that the government could "commit an error if it uncritically honored public opinion" in running the state. The fact remains, however, that a good measure of popular support for a prime minister will provide his government with a powerful tool for implementing policies.It is unpredictable how the ongoing war will unfold, thus the prime minister should spare no effort to solicit support from the public.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2003-03-25	yoshin0020030325dz3p0017f
yomshi0020030326dz3q0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030326dz3q0000a	EN	\N	Fukui has room to do more.	The central bank decided Tuesday on two key measures to further strengthen the nation's financial system at an extraordinary meeting of the bank's nine-member Policy Board and at a regular policymaking meeting.	10	2003-03-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The central bank announced it would boost its purchases of stocks held by banks from the current 2 trillion yen to 3 trillion yen. The bank also plans to inject further liquidity into the market, taking into account the current volatile international political situation.With the March 31 fiscal year-end at hand, there is increasing concern over possible adverse effects of the U.S.-led war against Iraq on the Japanese economy. Also, the government must tackle deflation as a matter of urgency.Following the steps announced Tuesday, Fukui should take additional measures to reinforce the nation's financial system in a concerted effort with the government.Following the launch of the U.S.-led military action against Iraq last week, markets around the world saw rising stock prices and falling oil prices in expectation of an early end to the war. But as gung ho sentiment began to wear off this week, stock prices retreated and oil prices began soaring.Makeshift measures won't workIn Japan, in particular, there is lingering concern that falling stock prices might deal a fatal blow to the financial system. In the event the war is prolonged, the global economy may slump and the Japanese economy could break down.Fukui acted immediately after taking office, apparently to eliminate such market concerns.As for the decision to boost the central bank's purchases of shares held by banks, Fukui suggested his readiness to be flexible in policymaking, saying, "I'm not worried if there is a misapprehension that the central bank is supporting the current level of stock prices."However, the steps announced Tuesday should not be stopgap ones to evade the encircling net of the government and ruling coalition parties. The bank should never again retreat into its own shell by stubbornly sticking to conventional policies and concluding that it has already done enough.The central bank also should raise its target for the outstanding balance of current account deposits held by private financial institutions at the bank. To achieve this goal, the bank must expedite efforts to increase purchases of long-term government bonds held by major commercial banks.We also urge the Bank of Japan to start purchasing riskier assets, such as exchange-traded funds. Also, the central bank should no longer hesitate to introduce an inflation-targeting policy.What is most expected from the bank now is action to overturn the projection that the current deflationary trend will be prolonged by announcing these thoroughgoing measures in quick succession.Govt, BOJ should work togetherFor its part, the government should no longer be allowed to leave everything to the Bank of Japan. The government must positively respond to the ruling parties' recent emergency proposal on monetary policies, including a review of the accounting system.It does not make sense to introduce an accounting system that would be a burden for companies during a period of deflation. A weakened patient is likely to suffer from serious side effects if he is treated with powerful drugs.As for the mark-to-market accounting method, the government should take measures to enable life insurance firms and other companies to choose whether to evaluate their shares held for more than one year either at purchase value or market value. Also, it is inevitable that the introduction of new accounting rules under which companies are required to book valuation losses on their fixed assets will have to be postponed by two years.The government and the Bank of Japan must join hands to deal with a series of problems. This will be key to overcoming the crisis.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2003-03-26	yoshin0020030326dz3q002mp
yomshi0020030326dz3r000b9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030326dz3r000b9	EN	\N	Time to invigorate local politics.	Campaigning for the 15th unified local elections will start Thursday, when the official announcement of the beginning of the 17-day campaign period for gubernatorial elections in Tokyo and 10 prefectures will be made.	9	2003-03-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This will be the first occasion in four years for voters across the country to select candidates to represent their communities. Local autonomy gives residents an opportunity to realize policies closely related to their daily lives. In this respect, we urge people to pay attention to the upcoming elections and choose leaders who will promote local autonomy.For their part, candidates should set out their policy platforms so voters know which options are available.The most pressing task for local politicians is how to resuscitate the economy in their communities. Against the background of prolonged deflationary pressures and the increasing uncertainty following the outbreak of the war in Iraq, politicians are tasked with finding ways to revive local economies.Local govts should display initiativeThe latest Yomiuri Shimbun survey showed that economic stimulus was the main issue on most voters' minds.With the introduction of the devolution of power law, an item of legislation on the decentralization of administrative power, the relationship between the central and local governments has been transformed from the conventional "master-servant" one into an equal and cooperative one. Consequently, certain rights of the central government have been transferred to local governments. Now, the issue is how local governments can invigorate their communities at their own initiative.The fiscal condition of local governments continues to deteriorate due to recession-induced declines in tax revenues, but government spending is rising because of the aging population and other factors.This has prompted the central government to consider transferring some tax revenue sources to local governments in exchange for cuts in subsidies and tax allocations. How can local governments eliminate waste and build efficient administrative and fiscal structures under such conditions? Now more than ever, the nation needs creative governors who can put their ideas into practice.Taking into account these viewpoints, we urge candidates to present concrete policy visions on how to boost their local economies.Attention on gubernatorial pollsThe upcoming gubernatorial elections in not a few prefectures are drawing attention nationwide.In Tokyo, the incumbent governor will be challenged by a prominent female critic and a Japanese Communist Party candidate. In Hokkaido, nine candidates will run-a record-high number in that region-and it is speculated that there will be a fresh election.The gubernatorial election in Kanagawa Prefecture is predicted to be a tough race as two Diet members and a nephew of the former Yokohama mayor have announced they will run in addition to a candidate supported by the three ruling coalition parties.Meanwhile, in Saga Prefecture, the Liberal Democratic Party plans to back four candidates in an unprecedented move.More independent candidates are running this time than four years ago, while the number of those supported by two or more parties has fallen. The phenomenon clearly indicates that while the presence of political parties in local politics is weakening, voters have more choice.Voter turnout at recent gubernatorial elections has hovered around the 50 percent mark. By casting ballots, voters make their opinions felt in local politics. The participation of residents is essential to building local communities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	577	2003-03-27	yoshin0020030327dz3r003v4
yomshi0020030327dz3s0005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030327dz3s0005p	EN	\N	Review Japan's U.N. diplomacy.	With the United States and Britain at odds with France, Russia and Germany over the use of force in Iraq, Security Council members are now differing over how to deal with the postwar reconstruction of Iraq.	10	2003-03-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In connection with this issue, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has suggested that a new U.N. resolution be adopted to have Iraq administered internationally after the war.France, Russia and Germany have opposed the proposal, which would allow the United States and Britain to administer postwar Iraq. The division on the Iraqi issue remains wide apart.The latest Security Council imbroglio stems from a difference of opinion between the United States and some if its long-standing European allies, a situation entirely different from the U.S.-Soviet confrontation during the Cold War.Should the transatlantic split deepen, the U.N. security functions will be undermined further, leading to a catastrophic situation.3 pillars of diplomacyThe council's current disarray also brings into question Japan's diplomacy in regard to the United Nations.Japan considers the maintenance of world order through international cooperation, centering around the United Nations, as one of its three guiding principles of its diplomacy, the others being adherence to the Japan-U.S. alliance and emphasis on relations with other Asian countries.In an address to the Security Council, Japanese Ambassador Koichi Haraguchi stressed the need for U.N. members to join forces in rebuilding Iraq after the war.Haraguchi emphasized the importance of international cooperation, centering on the United Nations, by taking into account the expected difficulties of realizing the country's postwar reconstruction. This indicates how seriously Japan considers the current turmoil in the Security Council.The dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel abroad to assist reconstruction efforts is being considered within the government and the ruling parties.While new legislation is considered necessary to realize this, views are split over the necessity of a new U.N. resolution as a precondition for such legislation.North Korea biggest threatConsidering the disarray at the United Nations, it is natural for us to seriously consider how much Japan should rely on the international body to maintain its national security. On the other hand, Japan cannot simply ignore the U.N. role in international society.What Japan first must consider is what action North Korea will take.North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons development, the biggest threat to Japan, has now been referred by the International Atomic Energy Agency to the U.N. Security Council.China and Russia, both permanent members of the council, are on friendly terms with North Korea. It would not be a surprise if the council ceased to function in an emergency. In that case, Japan could face a serious crisis.The deterrence provided by the U.S. forces under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty has ensured Japan's safety.Strengthening the alliance between Japan and the United States is crucial to this country's national security.Amid the rapidly changing international situation, we wonder if Japan should maintain its conventional stance toward the United Nations. Difficult times lie ahead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	538	2003-03-28	yoshin0020030328dz3s00218
yomshi0020030331dz3t000bb	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030331dz3t000bb	EN	\N	Make satellites real 'eyes in space'.	This event is significant because it helps protect the nation's security amid the current tense international situation, which includes North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons development.	12	2003-03-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet, the nation's protection cannot be fulfilled merely with the utilization of hardware, such as satellites.Unless "software," such as image-analyzing capability, is enhanced, these satellites will be virtually useless. Improvements in data analysis are needed urgently.One of the satellites was equipped with an optical sensor designed to detect minuscule images on the ground, while the other has a synthetic aperture radar capable of monitoring the Earth's surface even at nighttime or when the sky is overcast.The two satellites will pass over specific locations once every day during their south-to-north orbit. In August, two similar satellites will be orbited.Improve image analysisThe first task of the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center, which will oversee the satellites, is how to improve image analysis. Personnel must have sufficient expertise to understand the data sent back by the satellites.Are the 100-strong image analysts up the task? Further efforts to enhance the expertise of these analysts, both in terms of quality and quantity, is required.Japan has more than enough techological expertise in such areas as earth observation satellites, which can be regarded as the "wide-angle lens" of a camera.However, in using a "telephoto lens," such as a spy satellite, which zooms in on objects, the experience of Japanese experts is limited. In launching the latest satellites into space, Japan has relied partly on U.S. technology.Such technological challenges need to be overcome in developing an improved version of the information-gathering satellite.Besides the two "space powers"-the United States and Russia-other countries such as China and France have orbited spy satellites. Many other nations plan to do so in the future.Change unrealistic interpretationJapan has lagged behind in launching spy satellites for reasons peculiar to this country-the government's ideological and unrealistic interpretation of the peaceful utilization of space.When the use of space involves national security, even when purely of a defensive nature, the government has handcuffed itself at the behest of the opposition parties.In using satellites for national security, the government's conventional interpretation is that they "have already been put into general use in the civilian sector."Under this restraint, the resolution level of the latest satellites has been kept as low as those of commercial observation satellites.As long as we stick to such an interpretation, the technological capability of the next-generation satellites will remain on a par with commercial satellites, despite the huge amount of state funds injected into their development. The technological gap will widen between Japan and other countries.The government must rub the cobwebs out its eyes and rectify such a strange interpretation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	510	2003-03-29	yoshin0020030329dz3t000hf
yomshi0020030329dz3u00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030329dz3u00007	EN	\N	New reality needs new response.	The decision comes after the international community expressed concern that sending Turkish troops into the region could heat up the U.S.-led war on Iraq. The worst-case scenario has been averted.	9	2003-03-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Turkey fears that the ongoing war might reignite armed Kurdish separatism at home. Turkish Kurds account for close to 20 percent of the country's population. Until some years ago, Turkish soldiers were fighting radical Kurdish dissidents in what amounted to a civil war.The international community must not allow Turkey to intervene militarily in northern Iraq.The Turkish government has shown a shaky response to the Iraq crisis-even before the U.S.-led forces opened fire on Iraqi troops.In preparations for the war, U.S. President George W. Bush's administration asked Turkey to permit 62,000 U.S. soldiers to stay in the country. The request reflected Bush's wish to ensure that the U.S.-led troops could strike Iraq from both the north and south by sending in forces from Kuwait and Turkey. Thus, having U.S. troops in Turkey was part and parcel of U.S military strategy.Turkey's parliament, however, rejected the U.S. request. This was followed by tactically slow responses to U.S. requests from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Belated excusesAll the United States got from Ankara was permission to fly warplanes over Turkish territory, forcing the Bush administration to alter its strategy. A disgruntled Washington withdrew its proposal to extend massive financial aid to Turkey in exchange for its permission for U.S. soldiers to be stationed there.Later, a seemingly apologetic high-ranking Turkish official said his government had expected the United States to give up waging war on Iraq if it turned down the U.S. request. It was too late.We feel Turkey has yet to grasp great changes that have taken place in the global security framework since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.The incident made the United States and Russia "allies" in leading an international campaign against terrorism. Turkey's strategic importance to the United States is even greater than before.Turkey must review its perception of its own importance, given the new realities of global peace and security.NATO riftThe U.S.-Turkey relationship is not the only one to undergo fundamental changes vis-a-vis international peace.Similar changes may be seen in rifts in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-to which Turkey belongs-over the Iraq crisis. Strong French and German objections to U.S. calls for use of force against Iraq may have reflected the fact that Russia no longer poses a security threat to NATO members.The U.S. reply to the two nations' objections, however, was its decision to start the war with Iraq. The U.S. action is beginning to shake the NATO framework.There are signs that fundamental changes are taking place in the global security framework. Japan must squarely look at this stark fact when deciding how to respond to the global situation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	545	2003-03-30	yoshin0020030331dz3u0048a
yomshi0020030330dz3v00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030330dz3v00005	EN	\N	WTO talks a victim of war.	The World Trade Organization has abandoned its plan to reach a broad consensus about proposed cuts in tariffs on agricultural products by Monday. Efforts to promote freer farm trade have been the major focus of the new round of WTO talks.	9	2003-03-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The WTO's failure to meet the deadline is due to differences of opinion between exporters of farm products, including the United States and Australia-which are seeking to export more agricultural goods-and a second group, including Japan and France, that want to protect their domestic agricultural industries.In talks that resumed last week, the United States, France and Japan have reiterated their respective assertions concerning the proposed tariff cuts. The WTO's seemingly negligent attitude regarding the need to settle the dispute reflects divisions among its members over the Iraqi crisis.Plowshares falling beneath swordsSome influential U.S. officials have said that the profound U.S. disagreement with France and Germany over the war in Iraq has made it even more difficult for the two groups to make concessions in resolving the farm-trade dispute.Under the ongoing trade talks, the WTO members are also seeking to reach a broad consensus about cuts in tariffs on nonagricultural products in May, including mining and manufacturing goods. In September, the 144 WTO economies are scheduled to meet for ministerial talks in Mexico, with the aim of making sure that the global trade body will be able to reach final agreements on all issues in January 2005.However, the WTO's failure to establish a consensus in the agricultural sector could deal a fatal blow to such a scenario.Efforts to promote free global trade are essential for the stability and growth not only of Japan as an export-led economy but also the rest of the world. The antagonism among nations over the Iraqi crisis should not be allowed to continue adversely affecting the current WTO talks.In February, Japan hosted a meeting of ministers from selected WTO nations in Tokyo. This country should work even harder to make progress in the WTO talks despite the conflict of opinions between the United States and France over the war in Iraq. The nation should continue to play an important role in this regard, just as it sought to make headway in trying to produce an accord among the WTO members during the Tokyo meeting.Other economic summits at riskThe disagreement among major nations over Iraq could adversely affect not only the ongoing WTO talks but other global economic meetings. The list of planned international conferences include a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven major industrialized nations and a ministerial meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in April, as well as the Group of Eight major nations summit meeting in Evian, France, in June.The U.S.-led war in Iraq has shaken the global money and financial market, causing a continued rise in crude oil prices. The war, if protracted, could trigger a global depression.The major theme to be addressed in the planned international conferences concerns what nations around the world should do to coordinate economic policies for the purpose of averting a global economic crisis and stabilizing the world economy.The global economy will be dealt a serious blow if the disagreement among nations over Iraq is allowed to affect economic and trade talks, scuttling coordinated efforts to avert a global depression.The United States, France and other major nations should try to ease their conflict of opinions over Iraq through increased efforts to coordinate their economic policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2003-03-31	yoshin0020030331dz3v004vv
yomshi0020030331dz41000gu	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030331dz41000gu	EN	\N	Ignorance plea falls flat.	How many times have we heard that excuse over the years? Presumably, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tadamori Oshima realized that he would no longer be able to evade accusations by offering up this time-worn mantra.	9	2003-04-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Oshima stepped down Monday to take responsibility for his former secretaries' alleged misuse of political donations-nearly six months after the allegations came to light.During the half-year period, however, Oshima failed to offer any explanation credible enough to convince the public that he was free of involvement in the scandals. But on Monday, Oshima finally took the responsibility he should as a politician.In response to the allegation that his former secretary had received and misappropriated 6 million yen in political donations, Oshima told the Diet that he did not learn of the misdeed until 18 months after it occurred. But given the relationship between lawmakers and their secretaries, we find this extremely hard to believe.The allegation that he was involved in misusing donations was not the only suspicion surrounding Oshima, and many others have yet to be clarified.Oshima was also criticized by the opposition for reportedly asking the House of Representatives Legislative Bureau to prepare answers for him before he was questioned during a lower house Budget Committee session.Diet must keep diggingDespite having resigned, Oshima must not be allowed to escape his responsibility to explain the scandals.The Diet also bears a heavy responsibility in this respect. For example, although it had been agreed that a company president suspected of involvement in a scandal would be summoned before the Diet as an unsworn witness, the plan was canceled, due partly to the president's personal reasons.The Diet must work diligently to get to the bottom of the allegations surrounding Oshima.After Oshima's name was linked to the scandals, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi consistently said that Oshima should be given a chance to explain things. This was in stark contrast to the prime minister's treatment of former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, whom he summarily dismissed.Given that it was Koizumi himself who gave Oshima his portfolio, we believe Koizumi needs to give a satisfactory explanation.In recent years, we have witnessed a whole cavalcade of scandals involving politics and money.Lower house member Takanori Sakai has recently been indicated on charges of failing to report a number of large donations he received from companies in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.Last year, lower house member Muneo Suzuki was indicted over a bribes-for-favors scandal and several other charges.Time to break vicious circleThere are countless other cases in which lawmakers' secretaries and aides have been suspected of tax evasion and taking bribes in return for mediation.Some of these Diet members were forced to resign because they could no longer deny such allegations by simply saying, "it was all done by my secretary."Controls on political funds are gradually being tightened, albeit slowly. But the recent spate of scandals and allegations strongly suggest that other politicians and their aides have been involved in questionable acts but have so far escaped detection.But the real problem is that if the nation's politicians believe that corruption is not corruption unless it is discovered, we are in deep trouble.Just because Oshima has resigned, the case should not be allowed to be closed unsolved, nor should it be seen as the end of a sorry tale involving one particular politician. Rather it must be seized upon by politicians as an opportunity to clean up their acts and put an end to the vicious circle of politicians making rules and then breaking them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2003-04-01	yoshin0020030401dz41003a0
yomshi0020030402dz4200004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030402dz4200004	EN	\N	Japan Post is on the right track.	Private sector business expertise is expected to be introduced into the public corporation's three postal services-mail delivery, postal savings and kampo life insurance.	14	2003-04-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For Japan Post to be fully privatized, it will have to enhance efficiency by cutting through red tape.The corporation's establishment marked the first drastic reform of the country's 132-year-old modern postal system, which has been run by the government since 1871.Masaharu Ikuta, former chairman of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., was named Japan Post's first president. Among the corporation's midterm business goals over the next four years are the introduction of a self-supporting accounting system and corporate accounting principles.Japan Post already has set up mailboxes at outlets of major convenience store chain operator Lawson, Inc. and has received guidance from Toyota Motor Corp. on maximizing productivity.With the implementation of a series of changes, including the extension of business hours for automated teller machines, the extent of the privatization is expected to become apparent gradually.Corporation's size poses risksJapan Post's biggest challenge will be strengthening its earnings base with the aim of accumulating 3.9 trillion yen in earned surplus by the end of fiscal 2006. While improving its services and improving asset management, Japan Post must make thorough cost-cutting efforts."We'll embark on efforts to make our businesses healthy so that we'll be able to cope with any political decision, including privatization, over the next four years," Ikuta said.To successfully reform the postal services, the corporation's managers will have to work as hard as their counterparts in the private sector to boost Japan Post's efficiency.But a matter of greater concern is the fact that the corporation has swollen so much.Japan Post will be exempt from making payments to the state coffers equivalent to corporate taxes for the time being, and postal savings will continue to be under protection of the central government.If the new corporation is allowed to be managed freely while it retains privileges it was granted as a government body, it can be compared to unchained giant armed with a cudgel.If the situation remains unchanged, it might put more pressure on financial institutions that already are impoverished due to massive amounts of nonperforming loans, further weakening them.Unlock state-held savingsIn the mail delivery service, the corporation must ease strict conditions for private sector firms to enter the market as soon as possible. The hurdles are set too high.Currently, funds worth as much as 360 trillion yen in Japan Post's savings and life insurance services remain under state control, distorting the nation's financial market. The government should put top priority on resolving this problem.This is the ultimate goal of the structural reforms that have been carried out by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.The government should consider downsizing postal savings in tandem with reforms of the Finance Ministry's fiscal investment and loan program and public corporations. Recognizing that Japan Post will hold an increasing amount of government bonds, the government should consider what kind of business model the corporation should adopt in the future.At the same time, the corporation should stop selling life insurance because this puts it in competition with private sector life insurers for almost the same share of the market.Koizumi should immediately start debates over public financial institutions and the fate of the three postal services following the envisaged reorganization of Japan Post at the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and in other forums.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2003-04-02	yoshin0020030403dz42004ck
yomshi0020030402dz430005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030402dz430005s	EN	\N	More action needed on SARS.	Viewing the outbreak of the virus as a global threat, the World Health Organization has called on countries around the world to take precautions against the disease.	9	2003-04-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that has already spread from Asia to the United States and Europe shows no signs of dying down.Although no cases of infection have yet been reported in Japan, it seems likely that it is only a matter of time before SARS hits this country.We urge the central and local governments, and medical institutions to cooperate closely to prevent the disease from entering the country and spreading.Symptoms of SARS include fever, coughing and shortness of breath. In serious cases, the disease is fatal.It is highly likely that SARS is a new type of virus, and no effective vaccine or drug has been developed to treat it.It is believed that the first infection case surfaced in Guangdong Province, China, and spread to many countries and regions around the world, including Hong Kong, Vietnam, the United States, Canada and Britain. More than 1,800 people have been infected with SARS, and at least 60 have died.Government response tardyBecause sanitary and quarantine measures taken by hospitals where SARS-infected people have been hospitalized were inadequate, many medical workers and hospital visitors have developed SARS symptoms.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has instructed medical institutions to report cases in which people have developed SARS symptoms upon their return home from virus-stricken areas and provide people traveling abroad with information on the infection.But merely issuing warnings is not enough. Once the virus enters the country, there is a danger that it will disseminate fast.The WHO on Wednesday advised travelers to avoid Hong Kong and Guangdong Province in China. The United States already has issued advisories warning people against traveling to these areas. But it is Japan, which is close to the virus-stricken region, that should have quickly issued advisories telling people to avoid making unnecessary trips to the afflicted areas.Specialists, facilities lackingExisting measures to combat SARS are far from adequate in this country.Once a case of SARS infection is diagnosed, it is advisable to place the patient in a special ward to prevent the virus from spreading.Under the law concerning the prevention of infectious diseases and the treatment of infected patients enacted four years ago, prefectures are required to provide a special ward for such patients. But only nine prefectures have set up such wards so far.Also, there is a lack of doctors and researchers who specialize in treating infectious disease in this country. While cutting-edge research is conducted in areas such as cancer treatment and genetic medicine in Japan, infectious diseases tend to be treated lightly-as a thing of the past.We fear few doctors in Japan will be able to diagnose the mysterious disease when it enters this country.Besides, Japan lags behind other countries when it comes to measures taken to combat nosocomial infections. It is quite possible that a hospital could become a hotbed for SARS infections once such a case surfaces within its walls.There is no telling when or where a new virus strain will enter this country. It is a matter of urgency to develop experts specializing in infectious diseases and improve facilities to treat infected patients.The important thing is for people to remain alert and acquire basic knowledge about infectious diseases. Such preparedness also is essential for fighting biological terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	616	2003-04-03	yoshin0020030403dz43004rm
yomshi0020030404dz440005x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030404dz440005x	EN	\N	Bank shares nearing danger zone.	The downturn stemmed chiefly from "bargain sale" bank shares that were sold off by investors because of fears that the capital base of the banks will continue to deteriorate.	9	2003-04-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Despite the start of the financial revival plan, compiled by Heizo Takenaka, minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policies, the business environment for banking institutions has worsened.Unless the government implements immediate and effective measures to avert a financial crisis, together with a macroeconomic policy to battle deflation, the economy may face a financial crisis as the new fiscal year gets under way.The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average climbed early Thursday morning, following gains made the previous day, apparently because of expectations that the Iraq war would end soon. But in the afternoon, the index turned downward, falling below the 8,000 mark once again.The drop in the index was led by the shares of major bank groups.Mizuho Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group all registered new lows since they were listed. The prices of these bank issues are nearing the danger zone.Share sell-off acceleratingIn March, the Financial Services Agency compiled a six-item package of stock market revitalization measures that included an appeal to institutional investors, such as life insurers, to refrain from selling off bank shares. However, at the start of the new fiscal year, the sell-off of bank shares accelerated.The government's superficial measures obviously have had little effect. Why did the government fail to take strong steps earlier to shore up the stock market?More serious is that the capital increase made recently by major banks did not have the hoped-for effect and led to a further decline in bank shares.The rapid sell-off was the result of fears that the earnings per share would become smaller when the number of shares issued rose in line with the capital increase. It is also rumored that speculators took advantage of such a trend.A capital increase is a measure taken by a bank to avoid being placed under state control. This step was proposed in the financial revival plan.Self-help efforts damagedHowever, most of the 2 trillion yen-plus capital, which the major banks secured through a recent capital increase, has been lost in the latest flurry of stock declines. Takenaka's impulsive financial revival plan has ended up damaging the self-help efforts of the banks.The government and the ruling coalition parties must take immediate measures to avert a financial crisis so as to prevent banks and institutional investors with sizable bank shareholdings from suffering further damage.The Liberal Democratic Party has begun studying the feasibility of having a bill submitted to the Diet that would allow business corporations to appraise long-held stockholdings, not only by market price but also by the book value at the time of acquisition.A system that would drive corporations, already hit hard by deflation, into a corner is not very clever. It should be revised promptly.The government's Tax Commission has begun considering a new taxation system, including a tax-exempt write-off, aimed at helping banks dispose of their bad loans. The government should put an end to market concerns by presenting suitable measures.With the start of the Iraq war, the economic outlook has become increasingly uncertain, while there is growing concern that the economy will slide further. It is obvious that the government should compile a supplementary budget and take additional monetary easing measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2003-04-04	yoshin0020030405dz4400018
yomshi0020030407dz45000bb	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030407dz45000bb	EN	\N	Key tasks for revitalization corp.	On Wednesday, the Diet adopted a set of laws to establish the corporation, which will be charged with helping financially troubled companies turn their business around. The government has also finalized a list of seven members who will sit on a committee, set up under the corporation, that will determine which corporations should be aided. The corporation is scheduled to get off the ground after the end of the Golden Week vacation in early May.	12	2003-04-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new corporation will seek to rehabilitate corporations that face financial difficulties but are viable, in cooperation with their main banks. To achieve this goal, the corporation will purchase loans that have not been repaid from commercial banks other than the main banks. The scheme is aimed at placing such loans under the corporation's control and making quick progress in revitalizing troubled firms.The industrial revitalization committee, a major constituent of the state-administered corporation, must strictly apply transparent and fair standards in determining which firms should be aided. Creating the Industrial Revitalization Corporation is pointless if it serves to prolong the lives of ailing companies that will eventually fail. It is also important to prevent politicians from intervening in the selection of companies to be rehabilitated.Greater public financial burdenIt is stipulated that the new corporation should buy debts incurred by troubled firms at market value set with their rehabilitation plans in mind. However, there is good reason to believe that banks will want the corporation to purchase such debts at higher prices. If the corporation compromises in this regard and the firms aided by the institution fail to pull themselves out of their crises, the public will face a greater financial burden.The corporation's task is to help troubled firms recover by purchasing the debts they owe banks. If the corporation fails to rehabilitate the ailing firms despite its purchase of their debts from banks, it will have an unintended benefit.The corporate revitalization committee has a crucial role to play by undertaking to examine the rehabilitation plans drawn up by the main banks of the troubled firms, deciding whether these companies should be rehabilitated and determining the prices at which their loans should be purchased.The committee will be chaired by Shinjiro Takagi, a professor at Dokkyo University, who has a great deal of experience in corporate rehabilitation as a lawyer. Its members comprise experts in corporate management and financial matters. The corporation's staff, including experts from other institutions, must keep the importance of their task to heart.Govt shows lack of hasteSix months have passed since the government announced plans to establish the Industrial Revitalization Corporation. Takagi's appointment as the corporation's chairman was made after the government waffled on the issue to the very end.Corporate rehabilitation requires quick action. In this sense, the government has shown a lack of haste in its effort to launch the corporation.Despite the government's slow progress in this regard, Daiei Inc., Seibu Department Stores, Ltd. and other ailing corporations have unveiled rehabilitation plans. Struggling trading houses Nichimen Corp. and Nissho Iwai Corp. have decided to integrate their operations.On Friday, Kumagai Gumi Co. and Tobishima Corp.-both second-tier construction firms striving to rebuild their troubled finances with assistance from their banks-said they intended to combine their operations.Corporate rehabilitation is a race against the clock. The Industrial Revitalization Corporation is expected to make a decision about which firm will be the first to be aided-but no earlier than June. The sooner-the-better principle applies to the corporation's tasks. The new institution must put its corporate rehabilitation work on track as soon as possible.Troubled firms-along with their main banks-will be encouraged to seek rehabilitation under the corporation if it proves that it can furnish a workable solution to a corporate financial crisis.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	681	2003-04-05	yoshin0020030405dz45000ez
yomshi0020030405dz4600007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030405dz4600007	EN	\N	SDF should help rebuild Iraq.	It is natural for Japan to extend postwar cooperation. Once Iraq becomes an ordinary country, it will contribute to the stability of the Middle East.	9	2003-04-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is widely believed that postwar administration and rehabilitation in Iraq will be difficult processes because of complicating ethnic and religious factors. Keeping these factors in mind, Japan should quickly look into exactly what it will be able to do in a postwar Iraq.Various types of cooperation-cooperation that requires human and financial resources, for example-are feasible. The role of the Self-Defense Forces is certain to be particularly important.New U.N. resolution not sine qua nonThe SDF was praised for its minesweeping operations in the Gulf following the end of the Gulf War. SDF members took part in U.N.-led peacekeeping operations in Cambodia and East Timor. Against this background, some in the U.S. government are seeking the SDF's postwar cooperation in Iraq, too.The dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweepers is possible under the existing law. However, it is generally understood within the government that SDF members cannot be dispatched under the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law. To send Japanese peacekeeping units abroad, the law has a set of five criteria-including a ceasefire agreement between the warring parties, a situation unlikely to happen this time, though the final outcome has yet to be seen.Like the Antiterrorism Law that was enacted in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, new legislation will be required to govern the dispatch of SDF members in connection with the postwar rehabilitation of Iraq. The government should act fast to map out specific activities the SDF will undertake.There is one worrying factor: Some leaders of the ruling camp believe a new law concerning the dispatch of SDF units should be based on a U.N. resolution. They apparently want to take advantage of such a resolution to head off pressure from opposition parties and win public support.But we doubt that the U.N. Security Council will agree to a new resolution vis-a-vis Iraq. The council has not yet healed the disarray stemming from the fierce row between the United States and Britain, and a group led by France, Russia and Germany over a possible U.N. resolution allowing the use of force against Iraq.There should be no circumstances in which Japan remains undecided on its involvement in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq because of the United Nations' failure to adopt a resolution on such projects. The matter should be dealt with flexibly.In addition to its possible role in postwar Iraq, Japan should always be ready to respond rapidly to requests for support in rehabilitation activities elsewhere.Law on SDF dispatches neededThis time, it has become clear that the absence of a law regulating SDF dispatches impedes a possible SDF role in postwar peacekeeping activities in Iraq. Had Japan enacted such a law, it could have avoided case-by-case approaches in which it has reacted passively to individual situations.Last autumn, the Task Force on External Relations, an ad hoc panel of advisors to Prime Minister Koizumi, called on the government to study the possibility of dispatching noncombatant units, such as medical teams, of the SDF regardless of whether a U.N. resolution has been passed.It should be noted that such a framework will form the basis for Japan to prepare to assume its international responsibilities.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2003-04-06	yoshin0020030407dz46003lh
yomshi0020030406dz4700004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030406dz4700004	EN	\N	Freedom of speech at risk.	When passed, the bills will be the cornerstone of legislation essential to protecting the privacy of individuals in the information-technology age. Lawmakers must do their utmost to see that the bills are passed into law as soon as possible.	10	2003-04-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Preliminary discussions had taken place at the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee. However, when deliberations resume they will be under the auspices of a newly established special committee.The reason for the change is because the Cabinet Committee has so many other bills to handle that there was a danger that the privacy bills would be held over for future discussion. Given the importance of the privacy bills, the government was right in setting up the special committee.Freedom of press, expression at riskThe government submitted the new package of bills after modifying the set that had been scrapped at an extraordinary Diet session in autumn.In preparing the package, which mainly focuses on private business operators, the government deleted the five basic principles contained in the original set of bills, including the one stipulating the need to ensure transparency of use and source of information by allowing the individual concerned to vet the information.The modified bills also contained a stipulation that cabinet ministers must not be personally involved in the activities of those who help the press gather information.These amendments were made in line with criticism that such provisions would restrict the freedom of expression and the press.In response to the amendments, four opposition parties submitted to the current Diet session a counterproposal, claiming that the amended bills contain the same problems as the original ones.However, the counterproposal contains a number of provisions that contradict the principle of respecting freedom of expression.For example, it specifies that the individual concerned has the right to be involved in the gathering and use of personal data under Article 1, which stipulates the purpose of the law. In other words, this right is designed to give individuals control over their own personal data.Academics are still divided over this right, and they have yet to agree on what the right means and its legal character. If the right is stipulated in law without sufficient discussion, it might give individuals an excuse to interfere with press reportage.It was due to such concerns that the government decided to delete from the original bills the five basic principles, including the involvement of the individual concerned with the information.Oppositions' proposals badly flawedThe oppositions' counterproposal contains another problem in that it proposes enacting government ordinances to exclude certain parties from being subject to obligations stipulated in the law. This has given rise to concerns that government offices may interpret the ordinances for their own benefit and infringe upon the freedom of the press and freedom of expression.The opposition parties also called for the establishment of an independent committee on the protection of personal data. Again, this idea presents a problem as it would give a third party the right to determine whether press reports or other forms of print stories violate the personal data laws. We fear that if such a third-party committee were established, the right to freedom of expression might be further infringed upon.The opposition's package also calls for caution in handling so-called sensitive information, such as those regarding ideas, principles, medicines and crimes. However, it is not easy to define what information constitutes "sensitive" information, the collection of which must be prohibited.In this respect, we believe it would be more logical to specify such details in separate legislation, rather than trying to summarize it in basic legislation.With both government and opposition party proposals at hand, it has become easier to see issues in contention.We urge lawmakers to expedite their efforts to pass the bills into law as soon as possible to relieve the minds of citizens, who are deeply concerned about the violation of their privacy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	687	2003-04-07	yoshin0020030407dz470043y
yomshi0020030407dz48000gt	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030407dz48000gt	EN	\N	China relations stuck in mud.	Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, who visited China following the establishment last month of a new administration under President Hu Jintao, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Premier Wen Jiabao. In a series of meetings, Japan and China agreed upon the need for high-level dialogues to improve relations.	9	2003-04-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, China once again raised the thorny issue of the two countries' shared history. Li repeatedly expressed discontent over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, remarks that could be viewed as interference in Japan's internal affairs.The two countries also failed to make progress in agreeing upon mutual visits by leaders of the two countries.These points show the difficulties the two countries face on the road to restoring bilateral relations.Beijing key to N. Korea N-issuesHowever, the two countries did reach a basic agreement concerning North Korea's nuclear development program, agreeing to continue efforts to urge Pyongyang to take part in multinational negotiations on the issue.North Korea has deployed several Rodong missiles, which are capable of striking Japan. Coupled with the nuclear development program, this could pose a most severe threat to Japan.While it is natural for Japan to press China, which is on good terms with North Korea, to exert its influence on the country, the government must not be overly optimistic as to how far China will go to influence North Korea in this regard. The government must bear this in mind.The U.N. Security Council was to meet Wednesday to discuss how to deal with the North's nuclear development program. The United States has called on the world body to adopt the Security Council chairman's declaration urging Pyongyang to come back to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.But it is China that holds the key as to whether the council will adopt the declaration.A second option calls for the United States to build a framework among concerned countries to pressure Pyongyang to abandon its development of nuclear weapons.But as the political wrangling that took place prior to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq revealed, there is a limit to what the Security Council can do. Therefore, the Japanese government is calling for talks among the six parties concerned-the United States and North Korea plus Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.To date, Beijing has been calling for prioritizing Washington-Pyongyang talks in line with North Korea's insistence that it will only discuss nuclear issues with Washington and remains negative about U.N. involvement in the issue.However, China has reportedly recently begun showing understanding toward multinational dialogue on North Korean issues. The reason for this policy shift is believed to be China's irritation with North Korea, which is bucking Beijing's principle of turning the Korean Peninsula into a nuclear weapons-free zone.But North Korea remains adamant that it will only talk with the United States as far as nuclear issues are concerned. Therefore, it is uncertain how far China will be able to pressure North Korea into changing its mind.Notification pact in pipelineKawaguchi and Li agreed to start formal negotiations to conclude a treaty or an agreement that will oblige both countries to report to each other if they arrest or detain one another's nationals.The government has been pressing China over this issue following an incident in November, when an activist from a Japanese nongovernmental organization that helps North Korean refugees was arrested by Chinese authorities, which failed to immediately notify Japan of the detention.For its part, the Chinese government has asked Japan to provide information on Chinese criminals in Japan, the number of which is increasing drastically.The two countries must expedite efforts to conclude such an accord as soon as possible to enable the smooth provision of such information to both sides.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2003-04-08	yoshin0020030408dz48002rk
yomshi0020030408dz49000be	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030408dz49000be	EN	\N	Rebuilding a post-Saddam Iraq.	Although fighting is still taking place in isolated pockets of the country, victory for the U.S.-British coalition forces is almost certain. It appears that the end is near for the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.	9	2003-04-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the mission in Iraq is far from over. The major challenge of how to build peace in a post-Saddam Iraq lies ahead.What is the blueprint for a postwar Iraq? Such a blueprint will decide the future course of the country. Both the United States and Britain, which led the military strike against Iraq, should do their utmost to restore stability in Iraq by shifting the focus of their activities.U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair held talks in Britain and devised a plan to inaugurate an interim governing authority in Iraq soon.Under the U.S.-British plan, an interim authority including Iraqis will oversee ministries and govern the country while receiving advice from experts dispatched by countries including the United States and Britain.About six months later, an interim government made up of Iraqis will be established. Under the interim government, preparations will be made to form a full-fledged Iraqi government.Meanwhile, the U.S. and British forces will strive to restore and maintain peace and order in Iraq and seek out weapons of mass destruction in the country.Britain playing role of fence-menderWhile Bush and Blair made clear that they attach importance to the United Nations, the role to be played by the world body remains unclear.As far as the United States is concerned, it and Britain, which fought the war in Iraq, should take the leading role in establishing an interim governing authority in Iraq. Washington wants to see the United Nations' role in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq limited to support activities such as providing humanitarian aid.It is obvious that Washington does not want France, Germany and Russia, which opposed the U.N. resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq, to meddle in the postwar administration of the country.For its part, the British government is keener on the United Nations playing a bigger role, along the lines of the reconstruction efforts it is undertaking to support the post-Taliban administration in Afghanistan.Britain hopes to secure the legitimacy of the interim authority by gaining the support of the international community and win the cooperation of Iraqi people in making the authority work. It also wants to take into consideration the desire of other European countries to have the United Nations play a high-profile role in the postwar administration of Iraq.Law needed to permit SDF dispatchIt will be almost impossible for Iraqi society to stabilize if an interim authority fails to govern the country properly. To what extent will groups of Iraqi exiles and various forces within the country be represented in such an authority? Preparations for setting up an authority should be made from the viewpoint of quickly establishing political and administrative organizations that Iraqis will support.In their latest talks, Bush and Blair reiterated their determination, expressed before the start of the war, that they would support postwar reconstruction efforts and preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq through the adoption of a new U.N. resolution.The fate of a new resolution will depend on how much the discord within the U.N. Security Council can be ameliorated in the days ahead.We believe Japan should lend a hand in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq. However, some within the ruling and opposition parties say it will be difficult to enact a new law allowing the participation of Self-Defense Forces in the postwar reconstruction in the absence of a U.N. resolution.But there should be a way for Japan to help rebuild Iraq even if a new resolution is not adopted by the United Nations, which, it has been pointed out, has not been fulfilling its functions. The government should begin examining this scenario as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	717	2003-04-09	yoshin0020030409dz490057z
yomshi0020030409dz4a00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030409dz4a00008	EN	\N	Gender equality a worthy goal.	The Council for Gender Equality, a governmental panel, has compiled its final report on measures to support ambitious women and submitted it to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.	9	2003-04-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report cites numerical targets, including raising the percentage of women occupying senior positions in various areas of society, such as in public administration and private companies, to at least 30 percent by 2020.Although it will not be easy to achieve the goals listed in the report, public administrative offices and private companies should respond positively to the challenge and make efforts to realize the targets by forming a broad consensus among people concerned.In Japan, the percentage of women who hold managerial posts in private companies stands at 8.9 percent, far below the figure of 45.1 percent for U.S. businesses.Meanwhile, women account for only 9.8 percent of all Diet members and hold just 1.4 percent of managerial posts in central government offices.Better child-rearing facilities neededAccording to the 2001-02 report on international competitiveness released by the World Economic Forum earlier this year, Japan ranks 69th out of the 75 member nations of the international forum in terms of gender empowerment in the economy.The 30 percent target is an international yardstick adopted at a U.N. conference held in Nairobi in 1990. While it was almost impossible for Japan to aim at that goal back then, it has finally become a realistic target thanks to developments including the enactment of a basic law concerning the creation of a society with gender equality.One underlying factor behind the small percentage of women in managerial posts is the fact that they tend to hold jobs for relatively short periods.Therefore, further efforts should be made to improve child-rearing facilities for working women so that those who wish to work can continue holding down a job even after having a baby.Nonetheless, it is only natural for there to be some disparities between men and women in the circumstances of their employment, depending on the type of jobs they do. There also will be cases in which achieving the numerical target for women in managerial posts will simply not be possible.Demographic trends a major concernThe primary aim of making Japan a nation in which men and women have equality of opportunity is to realize an affluent society in which people, irrespective of gender, are able to fully display their respective individuality and ability.We should consider the numerical targets as a means to achieve this goal.Nonetheless, it is desirable that people will ultimately be able to compete with each other on their own terms, irrespective of gender, while equality of opportunity is fully assured.The report also says that the degree of progress that companies make to realize gender equality should be one of the criteria applied when local governments decide which businesses may bid for public works contracts.However, the principle of public works bidding is of a public and economic nature. It should be considered separately from the issue of gender equality.As the birthrate continues to fall and society continues to age, the nation's workforce will start to shrink. This will further undermine the vitality of the already sluggish Japanese economy, casting a cloud over the future of this society.Gender equality should be promoted as one measure to counter this socioeconomic problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2003-04-10	yoshin0020030410dz4a003hq
yomshi0020030410dz4b0005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030410dz4b0005r	EN	\N	U.S., U.K. need free rein in Iraq.	The jubilation expressed by Iraqis at their freedom from Saddam's oppressive rule has demonstrated that the United States and Britain were correct in their decision to launch a war to topple the dictator. This fact must be taken to heart in discussing the Iraq war.	9	2003-04-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The international community was divided over how to deal with the Iraqi crisis. The United States and Britain insisted on removing the grave threat Iraq posed to global peace and stability in the form of weapons of mass destruction. On the other hand, France, Germany and Russia argued that U.N. inspections should continue in Iraq. The confrontation left the U.N. Security Council paralyzed.The Saddam administration never made an effort to clear up suspicions that it possessed weapons of mass destruction after the end of the 1991 Gulf War. During the intervening 12 years, Saddam continued to disregard U.N. resolutions against Iraq. By making piecemeal concessions, he also sought to deflect international condemnation.Casualties kept to miminumThe United States and Britain made a courageous decision when they chose to attack Iraq.Full-scale street fighting in Baghdad was avoided. In addition, the U.S.-led forces prevailed after a three-week battle. This has served to hold the number of casualties to a minimum.To take full control of Iraq, the U.S. and British forces have launched a campaign to eliminate the remaining Republican Guards in northern Iraq. They are also doing their utmost to find Saddam and his sons, and uncover weapons of mass destruction.In addition, the United States and Britain are increasing their efforts to work out a formula for ruling Iraq after the war. They hope to convene a meeting of anti-Saddam groups in mid-April, with the aim of setting up an interim government in the war-torn country.France, Germany and Russia have insisted that the United Nations play a central role in governing postwar Iraq. However, the United States dismisses this idea as an attempt to acquire rights in a postwar Iraq without shedding blood during the war. The United States has every reason to play a key role in that task jointly with Britain because of their efforts to oust the Iraqi dictator.The fall of Baghdad has created a power vacuum in the capital. Iraqis in Baghdad and Basra set fire to and looted shops and government offices in these cities in what amounts to a state of anarchy. The overriding task of the United States and Britain is to end the chaos and restore peace and order in Iraq.U.N. not up to taskIt is highly unlikely the United Nations will be able to implement workable measures to accomplish that goal. Can the United Nations put together a powerful armed force to carry out such a task? If the United Nations chooses to assemble such a force, it will obviously take a long time. As a result, there is no choice but to give the United States and Britain a free rein in governing postwar Iraq.A practical course of action to be taken in postwar Iraq is for all religious and ethnic groups in the country to be gradually engaged in governing their nation despite their differences, under the aegis of the United States and Britain.North Korea should look squarely at the outcome of the Iraq war in relation to its continued nuclear weapons program. It must realize that its security threat to the international community cannot be ignored.The U.S. and British victory in the war has also shown that the Japanese government was justified in supporting the United States before the war was launched.Prior to the start of the war, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed his support for the U.S. military campaign against the Iraqi dictator, saying, "The blame falls on Iraq as it has continued to disregard U.N. resolutions."Koizumi has right attitudeDuring a press conference immediately after the war began, Koizumi said, "The United States is the only nation to say that an armed attack on Japan will be regarded as an attack on itself. (Japan) should not forget (the U.S. stance) serves as a great deterrent" against an attack on this country.Given North Korea's continued nuclear weapons program, Japan is also threatened by weapons of mass destruction.The communist state has deployed ballistic missiles that can strike Japan. The United States is the only nation Japan can rely to defend this nation's peace and security. The United Nations cannot do this.It is hardly surprising that the prime minister gained a good measure of popular support for emphasizing the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance. According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey taken in late March, more than 70 percent of pollees said they accepted Koizumi's position.This indicates the prime minister will receive popular support if he frankly explains his policies to the public. Koizumi must take this to heart. In the past, Koizumi has been crititicized for failing to explain his thoughts to the public.However, questions should be asked about opposition parties that continue to criticize Koizumi for his support of the U.S. decision to use force against Iraq.The leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), labeled the U.S. campaign against Iraq as "a war without cause." The party insisted that the prime minister had made a diplomatic blunder when he had attached greater importance to the Japan-U.S. alliance than the spirit of international cooperation.Kan irresponsibly misguidedMinshuto leader Naoto Kan said, "The United States has an obligation to defend Japan under the (Japan-U.S.) Security Treaty."He also said, "I don't think the bilateral relationship would have been dealt a decisive blow even if (the prime minister) declared he did not support the U.S. campaign against Iraq."Kan's remarks indicate that he is irresponsibly misguided about the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance. It should be pointed out that numerous alliance treaties have been scrapped in history. If Japan had been critical about the U.S. stand on the Iraqi crisis, the bilateral relationship would have suffered an irreparable schism.Despite their objections to the use of force against Iraq, France and Germany stated that they expected the United States and Britain to win the war at an early stage once the war began. However, Minshuto has not said it wanted to see the two countries prevail in the war.The fall of the Saddam regime has shown that the United States has an profoundly important role to play in defending world peace. It has also been proved that Japan's alliance with the United States is extremely important to this nation's security.This country must remind itself of the importance of pursuing foreign policies in a manner that serves its national interests.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1209	2003-04-11	yoshin0020030411dz4b003sl
yomshi0020030414dz4c000b8	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030414dz4c000b8	EN	\N	Ditch 2 accounting formulas.	The three ruling parties are set to present the Diet with bills aimed at partially freezing the former system and postponing adoption of the latter formula. The ruling coalition hopes to have the bills passed by the current Diet session.	12	2003-04-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In some quarters, there are negative opinions about reviewing the current accounting formulas. However, banks and corporations, which have been battered by the ongoing deflation, could be affected to an even greater degree by these formulas. With this in mind, emergency measures must be taken to avert an economic catastrophe.An ill-considered effort to put the Japanese accounting formulas in line with those prevalent in other countries could undermine the nation's interests and deal a fatal blow to this country's reform efforts.The mark-to-market accounting system-a formula that requires corporations to value their shareholdings according to prevailing market prices rather than at the price they paid for them-was applied for the first time to the accounting term ending in March 2001. Under the system, banks and other corporations have to ensure that their accounts incorporate a loss in the appraisal value of their shareholdings due to a decline in stock prices. This formula also requires corporations to deduct such a loss in the value of their shareholdings from their own capital.Banks, corporations on brinkThe Japanese economy is teetering on the brink of a crisis. A large number of corporations could collapse if they were forced to settle their accounts through these rigorous rules.Most disturbingly, banks could be dealt a crushing blow if they had to close their books under the two accounting formulas. The banks have seen a serious erosion of their capital as they strive to write off a good portion of their nonperforming loans.They would become even more reluctant to extend new loans if their capital was further reduced in order to write off their unrealized losses in their shareholdings.Questions should also be raised over the advisability of applying the mark-to-market accounting formula to life insurance firms in appraising their huge amounts of long-held shares according to prevailing market prices at the end of their accounting terms.The ruling coalition's plan would allow corporations to value their cross-held stocks and other long-held shareholdings at the prices they paid for them-not their prevailing market prices.There is nothing unusual about this. The method is an attempt to mitigate the harmful effects caused by the mark-to-market accounting formula. The government should consider introducing this method as a practical means of stabilizing the financial system.Far from a global standardThis is also true with the asset-impairment accounting formula, which requires corporations to declare a reduction in the value of their plants, land and other fixed property in settling their accounts. The system is scheduled to be applied to all listed corporations in two years' time. However, with land prices continuing to plunge, the government should postpone application of this formula.The mark-to-market accounting formula has been referred to as the internationally accepted standard. It should be noted, however, that the United States and Japan are the only nations to use the formula in its entirety. Many European countries use a system in which long-held shares are valued according to the prices their shareholders paid for them.It also should be remembered that the United States required banks to appraise their shares at the price they paid for them in the wake of the Great Depression in the 1930s.Some people argue that a partial freeze of the mark-to-market accounting formula could encourage corporations to mask latent losses in the value of their shareholdings. However, this could be dealt with by having corporations disclose their financial statements more transparently and deduce their unrealized losses from financial resources used in paying dividends.Life insurers expect the government to partially freeze the mark-to-market accounting formula. Needless to say, Japanese corporations listed on U.S. stock exchanges may well be subject to the current formula, as in the past. What is important is to allow corporations to choose what they consider to be the most suitable accounting procedure.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	745	2003-04-12	yoshin0020030414dz4c003qw
yomshi0020030412dz4d00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030412dz4d00007	EN	\N	Voter key to reviving community.	The 15th unified local elections will see the selection of 10 governors, 44 prefectural assembly members, the mayor of a major government ordinance-designated city and assembly members of 12 such cities.	9	2003-04-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The number of gubernatorial candidates supported by both ruling and opposition parties has dropped drastically, while the number of independent candidates not backed by any party has increased. Political parties thus seem to be losing their influence in local elections.A law for promoting the decentralization of authority has been in effect for three years. Sunday's election is significant in that it will be held even as central government authority is in the process of a dramatic shift into local government hands.This is an age when local governments are expected to compete with each other in the realm of ideas and creativity to build characteristic communities. In this regard, local governments must come up with their own ideas on how to solve their problems and implement the ideas, instead of relying on the central government. Governors and mayors are the ones who must take the lead.Local assemblies also are expected to play even more important roles in this regard. With governors and mayors granted significantly more authority than before, local assemblies must scrutinize their actions more closely.Long-term perspective requiredAt the same time, assembly members also need to be qualified and capable of examining problems in their communities from a long-term perspective, rather than focusing on efforts to bring short-term benefits to their localities.The most urgent task for the nation's local governments is economic revival. With the prolonged deflationary trend, the unemployment rate still is hovering at about 5 percent and one company after another is collapsing across the country.Local governments are saddled with growing debts due to declining tax revenues. Under such circumstances, they must spare no effort in running themselves more efficiently, cutting costs and streamlining their operations.Regarding local governments, the central government is currently studying measures to simultaneously reform three areas-subsidies, tax revenue allocations and the transfer of tax revenue sources to local governments. In response to such central government moves, local governments are now tasked with establishing a new system to become independent from the central government.In this regard, it is important for voters to pick local government heads and assembly members capable of designing and implementing policies to revitalize their local economies.Policies all-importantIn choosing who to vote for, we urge voters to place top priority on candidates' policies.Many criteria are involved in a decision-has a candidate presented concrete measures that will help promote the local economy or proposed welfare and education policies that will be able to glean sufficient funding?Voter turnout in local elections has been slumping in recent years. In particular, voter turnout in gubernatorial elections in the past few unified local elections has hovered at about 50 percent.Unless voters cast ballots, they will not be able to do anything to revitalize their communities. If the perfect candidate is extremely difficult to find, voters may be able to make a decision based on candidates' views and capabilities.In the years ahead, there will be an increasing need for local governments to take responsibility for their own actions. Local residents, who are expected to play a central role in community-building, must be fully aware of this when they cast their ballots on Sunday.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	628	2003-04-13	yoshin0020030414dz4d0041b
yomshi0020030414dz4e00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030414dz4e00005	EN	\N	G-7 split over reconstruction.	The meeting provided the first good opportunity since the collapse of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime for Japanese, European and North American economic ministers to discuss various economic policies including the reconstruction of Iraqi.	8	2003-04-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the participants failed to bridge the schism between the United States on the one hand and Germany and France on the other, created by the U.S.-led war on Iraq.The statement issued Saturday after the meeting said that G-7 nations "recognize the need for a multilateral effort to help Iraq" and support "a further U.N. Security Council resolution."On the surface, this suggests that G-7 nations have agreed to cooperate in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq. However, the statement failed to specify key issues, such as concrete measures to support reconstruction under an international framework and the degree of importance of a U.N. resolution concerning reconstruction.U.S. vs France, GermanyAs for reconstruction, the United States, holding the trump card of having paid in blood for the downfall of Saddam's regime, is claiming that it should play the leading role in reconstruction. But France and Germany continue to argue that reconstruction should be under the auspices of the United Nations.Washington has refused to accept the Berlin-Paris position, which is that a U.N. Security Council resolution is required and that the United Nations be given a leading role in reconstruction.On how to handle Iraq's external debts, estimated at around 130 billion dollars, the statement said, "We are looking forward to the early engagement of the Paris Club," an informal group of official creditors. Here again, the G-7 ministers expressed a proactive attitude to hide a lack of real accord, as no progress was visible in healing the rift between the United States and France over the issue. The United States wants early and drastic debt forgiveness, whereas France places priority on building a U.N.-led framework for the reconstruction of Iraq.The Washington-Paris confrontation is being played out against a backdrop of nations scrambling to secure their own interests and winning concessions for reconstruction projects and crude oil production in postwar Iraq.For its part, the United States has a strong antipathy toward nations that are now avidly seeking postwar concessions, but did not send their own sons and daughters to the battlefields.The inability to resolve this discord illustrates why the G-7 statement is riddled with passages that hint at member nations all having their own agendas and objectives.Macroeconomic policy at riskThe deep division over how to provide assistance for the reconstruction of postwar Iraq also casts a shadow over debates on macroeconomic policy.The statement presented a harsh view of the current economic situation, saying that although uncertainties brought about by the war have diminished, economic growth in most member countries has been subdued.But the statement gave only ambiguous expressions regarding practical policies that member nations should pursue. In this sense, the statement was a step backward from that issued at the end of the previous G-7 meeting in February, which presented a list of policies for each member country.Each G-7 member state, including Japan, which has not been able to extricate itself from its deflationary recession, faces difficult issues that will be hard to surmount. To make things worse, none of the member states have been able to find any clear prescription to their problems.Given the predicaments G-7 members face, it was not an opportune time for member countries to make requests of each other, and such agreement as exist on macroeconomic policy may well have been damaged if attempts had been made to do so.It seems that the member countries were aware of this, and carefully avoided triggering such a dangerous consequence.The meeting, which in a sense ended up with member nations sleeping in the same bed but having different dreams, indicates not only the difficulties that Iraqi reconstruction faces but also future difficulties in coordinating economic policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	720	2003-04-14	yoshin0020030414dz4e004l4
yomshi0020030414dz4f000mc	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030414dz4f000mc	EN	\N	Aozora Bank deal worrying.	The Cerberus Group, a U.S. investment fund, is set to acquire Aozora Bank, the successor of the failed Nippon Credit Bank.	8	2003-04-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As in the case of Shinsei Bank, the former Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan now controlled by Ripplewood Holdings LLC of the United States, Aozora Bank, which like the LTCB was nationalized after failing, seems set to be taken over by a foreign firm.In principle, the acquisition of Japanese companies should be as open to foreign companies as domestic ones. Yet we cannot help but feel concerned that yet another financial institution, which was rehabilitated with public funds, seems certain to fall into the hands of foreign capital.Softbank wins, nation losesUnder the deal, Cerberus would acquire about 49 percent of Aozora Bank shares from its largest shareholder, Softbank Corp.Softbank, an Internet investor, entered the banking sector proclaiming that it would introduce a new business model to banking. Instead, just 2! years later, it has been forced to withdraw in the face of difficulties in securing funds to invest in its core business, the telecom sector, following the collapse of the artificially inflated prices of information technology-related stocks.Nonetheless, it is projected that Softbank will reap a profit of about 50 billion yen through the sales of the shares it holds in Aozora Bank, which as the former Nippon Credit Bank received about 3.5 trillion yen in public funds, including taxpayers' money.Softbank is, basically, free to dispose of any shares it owns in any way it sees fit. Yet it is inevitable that the deal, which will earn the company a sizable profit through the resale of shares in a short period of time, will be criticized as being opportunistic.Cerberus was not the only company interested in Aozora Bank. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) was also looking to buy the bank to strengthen its net worth.However, SMFG lost its enthusiasm for the deal, in part because of strong opposition from Orix Corp., a leading Aozora Bank shareholder that did not want to see the bank end up as a subsidiary of the group.SMFG's loss of interest in acquiring the stock was a surprise for the Financial Services Agency, which had anticipated that the group would buy Aozora Bank.Need for govt control over banksIn addition to being a business, a bank has some of the functions of a public institution in that it provides settlement services and supplies funds.Even though the acquisition of a Japanese company by a foreign company may be considered an ordinary business deal, the financial authorities need to be more cautious about letting a domestic bank come under the control of foreign capital.In 1992, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. acquired London-based Midland Bank Plc. In authorizing the acquisition, British financial authorities insisted on having some control over the bank, for instance, by having the Hong Kong-based bank establish its group holding company in London.As it decides whether to approve the purchase of Aozora Bank by Cerberus, the FSA should above all else closely examine whether the U.S. investment fund truly intends to hold the shares of the bank for a long time.Heizo Takenaka, minister in charge of financial, economic and fiscal policy, has indicated he is not opposed to nationalizing banks nor to selling banks to foreign companies.This prompted hasty capital increases by leading domestic banks and plunges in bank shares.If Takenaka thinks it is inevitable that one of the nation's four major banks will end up being purchased by a foreign firm, in the same way that Aozora Bank seems fated to be, we strongly urge him to have second thoughts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2003-04-15	yoshin0020030415dz4f002r3
yomshi0020030415dz4g00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030415dz4g00008	EN	\N	Rebuilding Iraq won't be easy.	Though it can be said that the critical phase of the military campaign of the war in Iraq is over, the future prospects of that country do not necessarily warrant optimism.	8	2003-04-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Not only the Iraqi people, but also the international community, including the United States and Britain, should brace for a rough road ahead.In Baghdad and other major cities in Iraq, widespread looting and vandalism broke out, creating a state of anarchy. The quick restoration of law and order in the country is crucial.Should the current unrest continue, the vital task of rebuilding the nation will be delayed. It was probably based on this judgment that the U.S.-led coalition forces began shifting the emphasis of their activities toward the reestablishment of law and order in Iraq.Undertaking the postwar administration and reconstruction of Iraq will not be easy tasks either.The United States and Britain envisage transitionary phases of administration-governance by the U.S. military first, then rule by an interim governing authority comprising Iraqis before the enactment of a new constitution and the creation of a full-fledged administration of elected Iraqis.Under the military authority, the U.S. and British forces will take charge of restoring and maintaining law and order while the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), under the U.S. Defense Department, will administer civil affairs.Now is no time for bickeringIn parallel with these moves, the allies should waste no time in picking Iraqi officials to serve in the interim administrative authority.However, quite a few leaders of Iraqi opposition groups showed their reluctance to cooperate with the coalition forces by boycotting a U.S.-led meeting held Tuesday to prepare for the establishment of the interim authority.This indicates the difficulties lying ahead for the United States, which is poised to hold such meetings in various parts of Iraq and eventually convene a national meeting before the inauguration of the interim authority.Iraq is a mosaic state mainly comprising Arabs and Kurds who are followers of the Shiite and Sunni branches of Islam. Making the situation even more complex is the fact that many opposition groups have returned from exile.The volatility in Iraq was symbolized by the assassination of a Shiite Muslim leader who recently returned to Iraq from exile. His murder apparently came as a result of infighting between Shiite groups vying for power in the vacuum left by the deposal of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.The Saddam regime, which tyrannized the Iraqi people for more than two decades, has collapsed. Now is the best opportunity for Iraq to rebuild itself. Leaders of opposition groups should iron out minor differences in opinion for the common interest of building a new nation.Govt should draw up necessary billsThe international community, including Iraq's neighbors Turkey and Iran, will have to cooperate with each other so that the postwar administration of Iraq can run smoothly and the country can become a democracy as soon as possible.Japan should not hesitate from extending its support for the reconstruction efforts of Iraq in every respect.The government has asserted that there is no constitutional obstacle blocking the dispatch of civilians to ORHA. Such a view makes sense. The government also should accelerate efforts to take the necessary legislative steps enabling the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2003-04-16	yoshin0020030416dz4g002oz
yomshi0020030416dz4h00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030416dz4h00008	EN	\N	First do no harm.	However, many cases of medical malpractice have been concealed over the years. There has been little effort to learn from such failures. This has allowed similar medical errors to be repeated, only adding to the public's distrust in the medical system.	8	2003-04-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry panel has drawn up a report that recommends establishing a system in which hospitals will be required to report medical malpractice cases to the authorities. After studying specific ways to operate the system, the ministry hopes to put the scheme in place in fiscal 2004.The planned system will oblige medical institutions to report serious medical errors to an independent organ charged with analyzing the cases collected. The system also will ensure that similar information is gathered from patients and their families through medical safety support centers to be established in each prefecture this fiscal year.Efforts to prevent medical malpractice require medical workers to share information concerning such errors and adopt the same measures to make sure no new malpractice cases occur. The ministry panel's proposal should be praised as an initial step toward realizing that goal.System's scope should be expandedUndoubtedly, the pursuit of the goal calls for more than the envisaged system can accomplish.For example, the system will only apply its malpractice-report obligation to university and state-run hospitals. This is because many medical workers have opposed the system, saying it might discourage them from giving patients the treatment they need.This begs the question whether the system will be able to gather precise information concerning medical malpractice cases. The list of medical institutions subject to the malpractice-report rule should be expanded.The planned medical safety support centers are not merely tasked with providing counseling for patients and their families; other important obligations will include work to help resolve medical malpractice cases by giving medical institutions guidance. The central and local governments must take steps to ensure that the centers are properly operated as soon as possible.Measures also must be implemented to strike a doctor's name from the list of certified medical workers if he or she repeats malpractice.The Medical Ethics Council, an advisory panel to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, currently is responsible for determining whether a medical license held by any doctor should be suspended or canceled. However, the list of cases subject to such punishment is limited to criminal cases involving medical doctors. This means that the ethics council does not handle medical malpractice cases tried in civil courts.JMA should improve oversightOnly recently, the advisory council decided that it would cover malpractice cases that do not go to a criminal trial. However, the panel remains uncertain about what kinds of specific measure to be taken in treating such cases.The ministry must work to force negligent doctors out of the medical profession by collecting information about them in cooperation with the medical safety support centers.This is also true with medical licenses. Doctors are permanently guaranteed their professional status once they gain medical licenses. However, there also are growing calls to replace the current system with one in which doctors must renew their licenses. Doctors should constantly improve their skills and expertise.An obligation facing the Japan Medical Association (JMA) and medical societies is no less grave in this regard, too. The JMA must fulfill its tasks if it insists that medical doctors should act on their discretion. Its tasks include reeducating doctors whose skills are open to question and sternly disciplining such doctors. The medical societies also have responsibilities to fulfill. They should cancel licenses they have awarded to doctors as specialists in specific disciplines if they deem it fit to do so.Efforts to ensure the safety of patients and improve the quality of medical services are two sides of the same coin. Medical workers should take this to heart.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2003-04-17	yoshin0020030417dz4h003y0
yomshi0020030417dz4i000ba	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030417dz4i000ba	EN	\N	Trilateral talks face daunting task.	Next week, the United States, China and North Korea will open talks on how to resolve the crisis.	8	2003-04-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Earlier, Pyongyang refused to accept a proposal for multilateral talks on its nuclear weapons program. However, only three days after the fall of Baghdad the communist regime reversed its stand, saying it would be flexible in determining what kind of formula should be adopted for the talks.North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is continuing to develop weapons of mass destruction. No doubt he had good reason to be awed by the United States' overwhelming military power. The collapse of the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has played a decisive role in causing the North Korean leader to change his mind.The forthcoming U.S.-North Korea meeting in Beijing will be the first of its kind to be held in six months.Pyongyang actions provocativeThe series of provocative actions taken by North Korea during this period has heightened tensions significantly on the Korean Peninsula. Will the trilateral talks help ease these tensions? The answer to this question depends on what Pyongyang chooses to do.After acknowledging its new nuclear weapons program, which uses enriched uranium, North Korea declared it would withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. It also reactivated its nuclear reactors.The communist country could possess some nuclear weapons within a few months if it reprocessed its spent nuclear fuel rods. This would pose a serious threat to the international community. The trilateral meeting is unlikely to make headway if Pyongyang launches a ballistic missile at that time.North Korea will suffer irreparable damage if it engages in provocative actions. Pyongyang should understand that the consequences would be extremely serious if it tried to take advantage of the trilateral talks to buy time to build nuclear weapons.The upcoming meeting is aimed at persuading Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program in a verifiable manner. By agreeing to do this, North Korea would not only gain assurance that its regime would remain in place, but it would also pave the way for international assistance in its economic reconstruction.Constructive role for ChinaChina has a constructive role to play in realizing this goal. Beijing, Tokyo and Washington share a mutual interest in making the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free. In this sense, Chinese President Hu Jintao must determine whether-and how significantly-his country can influence North Korea in the trilateral talks.During the meeting, the United States plans to take up North Korea's missiles as well as the possibility that it possesses biological and chemical weapons. It should be noted that Japan faces a direct threat from Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. North Korean Rodong missiles can strike this country.With this in mind, the United States should call on North Korea to stop deploying Rodong missiles.Eventually, Japan and South Korea will have to join these negotiations, as stability in the region will not be possible without the cooperation of these two countries.The Japanese government should take all possible measures-in close cooperation with the United States-to prevent North Korea from arming itself with nuclear weapons.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	554	2003-04-18	yoshin0020030418dz4i000dj
yomshi0020030418dz4j0005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030418dz4j0005p	EN	\N	Realistic efforts needed for Iraq.	In a statement released at a meeting in Athens on Thursday, the EU reiterated that the United Nations must play a central role in rebuilding Iraq, but it stopped short of specifying what kind of role this should be. This evidently was intended to prevent the difference of opinions between the EU and the United States, which wants the U.N. role limited to the field of humanitarian assistance, from resurfacing.	8	2003-04-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In order to reconcile EU members, who were deeply split over the U.S.-led attack on Iraq, the EU leaders sought to find a common ground. At the same time, the statement also indicated that France and Germany, which expressed total disagreement with the United States over the war, had begun to make an effort to restore their relationship with Washington.French President Jacques Chirac, who was in the vanguard of the antiwar camp, adopted a flexible stance, saying it was not important whether the U.N. role was called "central."EU stance positiveObviously, the EU does not want to be left behind in the international effort to reconstruct Iraq. The stance the EU leaders have adopted is a positive one. It would be disastrous if the international community remained in disarray at the start of Iraq's reconstruction, as the country will require a massive amount of funds and human resources.The statement also included a clause that approved a postwar administration led by the United States and Britain.However, the United States and the EU still do not agree on the role of the United Nations in the Iraqi reconstruction process. As a result, there will probably be another intense debate in the U.N. Security Council and other forums.If the countries involved waste time engaging in maneuvers, it will delay the reconstruction of Iraq, which is the most important consideration. Food and water are now being supplied to Iraqis, and preparations are under way to establish the Iraq Interim Authority. These moves must not be hampered.Japan must not lag behindIraq's reconstruction also is an important issue for Japan.The government decided to dispatch civilian officials to join the U.S. Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA). The decision was made in the belief that Japan should be involved in the reconstruction efforts from the outset to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East and the rest of the world. We believe the government made an appropriate decision.Some people have expressed objections, contending that the dispatch of government officials to ORHA would mean Japan had become involved in the U.S.-led occupation administration despite the lack of a U.N. resolution.However, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance is extremely urgent, and Japan would be remiss if it decided it could not do anything without a U.N. resolution.But Japan should not stop with the mere dispatch of civilian officials.The most important problem is how to restore security in the country. Some U.S. officials reportedly expect Japan to send police officers and Self-Defense Forces units.In this respect, the government must expedite efforts to prepare for its involvement in the Iraq reconstruction process through various means, including the passage of new legislation, so that it will be able to participate at any level.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	582	2003-04-19	yoshin0020030419dz4j003tr
yomshi0020030419dz4k00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030419dz4k00008	EN	\N	Pyongyang up to old tricks.	North Korea announced it was in the final phase of reprocessing more than 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods, a process that could enable Pyongyang to build nuclear bombs.	8	2003-04-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Even as it agreed to take part in multilateral talks that it had previously rejected, North Korea opted for the provocation of flashing its nuclear bargaining chip-typical behavior for Pyongyang.North Korea apparently hoped to restrain the United States prior to the talks with the United States and China scheduled for this week.As if timing its move to coincide with bureau chief-level talks among Japan, the United States and South Korea in Washington and thus divide the three, Pyongyang proposed resuming bilateral talks with Seoul that North Korea had unilaterally suspended.North Korea's actions should fool no one.Show of strengthOne aspect of North Korea's decision to hold talks with the United States and China is clear-that the United States' determination to deal with nations suspected of possessing weapons of mass destruction and the overwhelming military might it displayed in the Iraq war impressed North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.The valuable lesson here is that it is important to make North Korea recognize the international community's uncompromising determination to stop Pyongyang's nuclear development. Members of the international community, led by the United States, should unite in keeping up pressure on North Korea.What must be confirmed is that North Korea was the one that broke the Agreed Framework with the United States and secretly kept working on nuclear development.When its banned nuclear program was revealed, Pyongyang expelled International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and declared its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.The focus must now be on forcing North Korea to abandon its nuclear development and establishing a rigid inspection mechanism to make certain it does so.Different viewsIn the Washington talks involving Japan, the United States and South Korea, the three reaffirmed their intention to work together to pressure Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program.The three countries, however, do not necessary share identical views of North Korea.The gap between the United States and South Korea in their Pyongyang approaches is especially conspicuous. While U.S. President George W. Bush's administration says no option, including military action, should be eliminated, South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun's government favors reconciliation.Cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea will be tested more than ever. Japan's fundamental policy toward North Korea should be one emphasizing continued pressure.The Bush administration's basic stance toward North Korea is that North Korea will get no rewards in return for abandoning its nuclear program because it was North Korea that broke the Agreed Framework.North Korea should realize the price that it must pay for the game of brinkmanship it chose to play.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	502	2003-04-20	yoshin0020030421dz4k003kz
yomshi0020030421dz4l00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030421dz4l00008	EN	\N	Act in unity on relic raiders.	Last week, UNESCO held a meeting of antiquities experts and issued emergency recommendations for an international effort to safeguard Iraq's cultural heritage and prevent further destruction following the recent plundering of the country's museums, archives and libraries.	8	2003-04-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The experts made six recommendations that include:- Immediate guarding and securing of all museums, libraries, archives, monuments and sites in Iraq by U.S. and British forces.- Prohibition on the export of all antiques, antiquities, works of art, books and archives from Iraq.- Immediate dispatch of a fact-finding mission under UNESCO coordination to assess the extent of damage and loss to cultural property in Iraq.- Facilitation of international efforts in assisting cultural institutions in Iraq to protect its cultural heritage.Intl community must cooperateEach of the recommendations requires immediate responses by countries and organizations concerned, which must proactively work together to achieve these goals.It is estimated that about 150,000 cultural artifacts were stolen from the Iraqi National Museum of Antiquities. There is a possibility that the missing treasures include a gold helmet dating back to 2600 B.C. and tablets engraved with Hammurabi's Code.The looting could have been avoided by deploying a single U.S. tank outside the museum, an omission we seriously rue.There are a number of valuable cultural ruins in Iraq, including Babylon, the ancient Babylonian capital where the Tower of Babel is believed to have stood, and the desert caravan city of Hatra, which is designated as a World Cultural Heritage site. Important museums are also located in regional cities such as Basra. We would like to ask the U.S. and British forces to guard these museums with great care to prevent any further plundering.Some artifacts believed to have been looted from Iraq have already been found in passenger luggage at a Paris airport.The UNESCO treaty obliges signatory nations that intercept cultural assets that have been illegally removed from the legitimate owner nation to return them. Japan ratified the treaty last year.However, it is not known what artifacts have been stolen, since the inventories of the antiquities possessed by the Iraqi museum are missing.Chance for Japan to show leadDuring the anti-Saddam regime riots that broke out immediately after the Gulf War, about 3,500 cultural assets were looted from 11 regional museums. Japanese archeologists participated in drawing up lists of the stolen cultural assets. Thus Japanese researchers and antiquities experts have an opportunity to help draw up lists of the latest looted assets and make an on-site contribution.The government in 1989 instituted the Japan Trust Fund Project within UNESCO and has donated about 40 million dollars toward the preservation and repair of cultural heritages around the world, including Angkor Wat. This fund should also be used to help preserve Iraqi ruins and cultural assets, if required.In his address announcing the beginning of U.S.-led military action in Iraq, U.S. President George W. Bush said, "We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization."The Iraq war should not be remembered as a "clash of civilizations." To prevent it from being viewed as such, Japan should lead international cooperative efforts to protect Iraq's cultural heritage.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2003-04-21	yoshin0020030421dz4l0049d
yomshi0020030421dz4m000gu	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030421dz4m000gu	EN	\N	Beijing at fault over SARS.	Amid mounting international criticism over its cover-up of the true number of SARS cases, Beijing finally came clean Sunday and released some authentic figures: 346 people were infected with SARS in the capital-almost nine times higher than previously reported, while the death toll was revised from four to 18.	8	2003-04-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These are truly alarming figures.Immediately following the release of the revised figures, the Chinese government sacked Health Minister Zhang Wenkang and Beijing Mayor Meng Xuenong for professional negligence.By doing so, Beijing-beset with mounting condemnation and distrust from the international community-has admitted that it failed to respond properly to the deadly disease and has demonstrated its commitment, both at home and abroad, to squarely tackling the SARS problem.Nonetheless, concerns remain that SARS is spreading in other parts of China.It is obvious that despite being the origin of the SARS infection, China, because of its secretive nature has spread the deadly virus to many parts of the world.We strongly ask China's new leadership, including President Hu Jintao, to make a full and frank disclosure of information regarding SARS and to do everything possible to prevent the infection from spreading further.Old habits die hardIt was after the outbreak of the disease was reported in Hong Kong in the middle of last month that the World Health Organization broke the news on SARS to the world.But four months earlier, a case involving a patient infected with a flulike pneumonia was first reported in Guangdong Province. However, Beijing chose not to disclose the case to the outside world. On the contrary, until early this month, the Chinese government had refused to open its doors to a fact-finding inspection by WHO experts. In addition, Beijing insisted that the SARS outbreak was under control and that the Chinese public and visitors were safe shortly after the WHO and foreign governments had issued regional travel advisories recommending people reconsider nonessential travel to SARS-infected areas, including Guangdong.If the Chinese government thought its deception would minimize the possibility of damage to its trade and tourism industry, it was totally mistaken.In this era of globalization, when people and goods travel across national borders freely, a virus can spread extremely rapidly. Any cover-up of vital information only serves to delay the primary response to deal with the infection, bringing about fatalities.As a matter of fact the spread of the infection has led to a stagnation of the flow of people and goods across the world. This is beginning to have a serious impact on Asian economies, including that of China-a growth center of the world economy.The price of deceitAn estimate by an international organization says that if the current situation continues for three months, China's economic growth rate will be lowered by 0.2 percent.This is the price Beijing will have to pay for covering up the truth about SARS.China, which joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, was just beginning to gain the status of being a major player in international circles. But until it grows out of its long-held habit of covering up unpleasant truths it has no right to be called a "major power."Another early victim of SARS was Taiwan, which was initially unable to obtain any information about the disease from the WHO because it is not a member nation-chiefly because of objections from China.Taiwan is asking the WHO for permission to join as an observer. The world health watchdog should allow it to do so as well as make an all-out effort to establish an international system to prevent the virus from spreading further.Political considerations have no place in the scheme of things when it comes to mounting a counteroffensive against a killer disease.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	668	2003-04-22	yoshin0020030422dz4m003zi
yomshi0020030423dz4n0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030423dz4n0000a	EN	\N	Weapons-use rules hinder SDF.	During a roundtable organized recently by The Yomiuri Shimbun, the secretaries general of the leading opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), New Komeito and Jiyuto (Liberal Party) agreed that the weapons-use restrictions should be relaxed to make them conform to those used by most other countries.	8	2003-04-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For years, the Liberal Democratic Party has been sympathetic toward the idea of easing the rules on the use of weapons. The government should take seriously the consensus reached among the senior officials of both the ruling and opposition parties on the issue of relaxing the weapons-use restrictions.The three-party agreement comes at a time when the government must address an important issue concerning international efforts to rehabilitate war-torn Iraq, namely, how to utilize SDF units in helping carry out that task. We hope that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will make a decision to revise this nation's weapons-use rules to bring them in line with internationally accepted standards.Japan out of step with other nationsThe current U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law does not permit SDF members to use weapons in fulfilling their international duties, except in self-defense.This is in contrast to the rules of engagement (ROEs) set by the United Nations on behalf of peacekeepers from its member nations. The ROEs allow peacekeeping troops to use weapons not only in defending themselves, but also in fending off armed attacks that prevent them from carrying out their missions. Japan is the only nation in the world that adheres to its self-imposed weapons-use rules instead of accepting the U.N.-set regulations.Under the circumstances, the SDF will find it difficult to perform obligations comparable to those carried out by peacekeepers from other nations.This country's weapons-use rules will pose another dilemma for SDF personnel carrying out peacekeeping missions with foreign troops in one area: In the event of an armed attack, the SDF will find it impossible to protect other peacekeeping troops though it may be defended by the foreign troops.Many Defense Agency officials have good reason to be cautious about sending SDF members on peacekeeping missions in areas where security is poor. They fear SDF personnel could become a burden on troops from other nations during their peacekeeping activities.The government's ban on SDF members using weapons in fulfilling their duties came about as a result of objections from the Cabinet Legislation Bureau concerning such weapons use. For years, the legislation bureau has insisted that the SDF's use of weapons could amount to "use of force," an act prohibited by the Constitution.Constitutional interpretation illogicalBut this should be dismissed as an unrealistic line of argument. U.N. peacekeeping operations are internationally coordinated activities aimed at preserving peace in a troubled area. In this sense, the SDF's use of weapons is essentially distinct from the use of force as a sovereign right of the nation, an action that the Constitution renounces.The legislation bureau also has considerably hindered efforts to carry out common-sense national security policies. For instance, the bureau has persisted in its irrational interpretation of the Constitution concerning the nation's right of collective self-defense. It insists that this country possesses the right to exercise collective self-defense, but that the Constitution bans the nation from exercising the right.The prime minister should-and can-correct the mistaken notion held by the legislation bureau about constitutional issues related to national security.Some members of Minshuto and New Komeito have opposed a proposal to ease the ROEs. The secretaries general of both parties should take the initiative in forming a consensus within their respective parties about the proposal, which they have said they favor.It should not be forgotten that national security issues should be debated from the standpoint of "what should be done"-not "what should not be done."(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2003-04-23	yoshin0020030423dz4n004c2
yomshi0020030424dz4o00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030424dz4o00009	EN	\N	Foreign Ministry slips up again.	Earlier, the ministry sent the U.N. Human Rights Commission a written reply to an inquiry the commission made about the abduction cases.	12	2003-04-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the ministry's initial reply was extremely short and perfunctory. The report, which was only about 10 lines long, said the ministry had no new useful information about the cases, and that it was difficult to provide additional information that would complement similar data the ministry gave the commission earlier.After its negligence came to light, the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau tried to defend itself by saying it had concluded that no new information had been gathered that could play a crucial role in resolving the dispute since it submitted relevant documents to the U.N. commission in November.That cannot be true. There have been numerous developments in the controversy over the fate of the victims since November.One example is the revelation about ashes that North Korea said belonged to one abductee whom it insisted had died. It has been found that the ashes belong to another person.In addition, the National Police Agency has placed a North Korean operative on the international wanted list in connection with his alleged role in issuing an order to kidnap another Japanese man.The government also demanded North Korea answer 150 questions concerning eight Japanese nationals who Pyongyang claims have died after being kidnapped to the communist state. However, North Korea has not given Japan any reply to the questions.Ministry's attitude high-handedAll this shows that there have been many new findings and developments on the abduction dispute. It is extremely difficult to understand why the ministry did not incorporate these new development into the report submitted to the U.N. commission.Censured by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe for its negligence, the ministry finally acknowledged that it was at fault. The ministry has submitted a new report to the U.N. commission that includes the new findings and lists developments in the abduction issue.The Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau's questionable attitude in the latest case is not an isolated case in the abduction dispute. In many instances, the bureau's actions have attracted a good measure of skepticism.A former top official of the bureau once brushed aside earnest calls from the families of the abductees to resolve the dispute, saying, "An attempt to resolve a problem concerning only 10 or so abductees should never be allowed to hamper efforts to normalize ties (with North Korea)."There was no progress in resolving the controversy. Instead, the government continued its rice aid to North Korea, with the aim of making headway in diplomatic normalization talks with the communist nation first and foremost.Govt shouldn't kowtow to NorthThe latest incident symbolizes the tendency of the Foreign Ministry and its Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau to avoid doing anything that might offend North Korea.Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi has told her ministry to uncover the truth behind the bureau's decision to submit such a superficial report to the Human Rights Commission. But that alone will not draw a line under the latest incident.Measures should be taken to determine why the bureau has been so craven toward North Korea. This should be complemented by an effort to ensure that all government officials deal with North Korea with a resolute attitude.After hearing the opinions of the families of abductees, Diego Garcia-Sayau, chairman of the commission's Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, pledged to continue trying to determine what had happened to the eight victims after they were forcibly taken to North Korea.This is in contrast to the Foreign Ministry's continued efforts to avoid offending North Korea. This could cause the international community to raise questions about whether Japan is truly determined to resolve the abduction cases.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2003-04-24	yoshin0020030424dz4o0039c
yomshi0020030424dz4p0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030424dz4p0005q	EN	\N	Big events helped Koizumi.	Although the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average stood at about 14,000 at the inauguration of Koizumi's premiership, stock prices went on a steady plunge thereafter and were about to dive below the 10,000 mark when terrorist attacks hit the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Consequently, the country's political focus was diverted from the stock market to measures against international terrorism.	8	2003-04-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In September last year, the Nikkei index plunged almost to the 9,000 mark in the deepening deflationary spiral. By that time, Koizumi Cabinet's approval rating already had tumbled from its pedestal, but regained lost ground following Koizumi's visit to North Korea.As a backdrop to all this, U.S. President George W. Bush's singled out North Korea as one of three nations forming an "axis of evil." For this reason, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il expedited efforts to normalize Pyongyang's diplomatic ties with Tokyo, even admitting to the abduction of Japanese by North Korean agents. And Koizumi, in his way, managed to capitalize on Kim's moves.Prime minister luckyThe Iraq war was the third coincidence. Now, the Nikkei index had already plunged to the 7,000 mark-a new low and nearly half the level it was at when the administration was launched. Koizumi, however, managed to keep his Cabinet's popularity rate from falling by clearly expressing his support for the U.S. attack on Iraq.Should we call all these events coincidences or the luck of Koizumi? The prime minister was saved thanks to a series of significant diplomatic and security events that emerged one after another.Yet, we regret to say Koizumi has failed to handle the economy appropriately over these past two years.The share price decline during the two-year period translates into a 151 trillion yen loss in the market value of stocks. The number of corporate bankruptcies has grown dramatically, and the number of unemployed last year marked a record high average of about 3.6 million. Things have only become worse for the nation's people.Nevertheless, Koizumi has failed to take any effective measures to guide the country out of recession and has merely repeated his much-touted slogan of "No growth without reforms."Koizumi has been enthusiastic about administrative reforms, including the privatization of postal services, his pet project since before becoming prime minister.Failure to adaptBut in fact, he has left all economic matters up to Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, financial and fiscal policy, and the Finance Ministry.While Koizumi stressed the need to accelerate the disposal of nonperforming loans for the sake of economic structural reform, he failed to adopt any antideflationary measures and the economy has entered a vicious circle as new bad loans continue to mount with no end in sight.Politically, the consistency of Koizumi's statements is not a bad thing. However, if he does not squarely face reality and refuses to listen to demands for a policy about-face from the ruling parties and business leaders, the Japanese economy may end up plunging into the abyss.At an initiation ceremony for government officials earlier this month, Koizumi cited the following axiom in his address to the young bureaucrats: "Wise men are quick to adapt themselves to circumstances."We would like to see the prime minister take his own advice. He should waste no time in changing his economic policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	626	2003-04-25	yoshin0020030425dz4p000vn
yomshi0020030425dz4q0005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030425dz4q0005r	EN	\N	North Korea shows true colors.	The three-way nuclear talks among North Korea, the United States and China in Beijing ended Friday, with Pyongyang claiming to possess nuclear weapons.	8	2003-04-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In its negotiations with the United States six months ago, North Korea admitted the existence of a nuclear development program using enriched uranium and said it had the right to possess nuclear weapons. Recently, it has suggested that it would arm itself with nuclear weapons to ensure that it had "a powerful physical deterrent force," following the lesson it learned from the Iraq war.Because of the previous statements, North Korea's latest claim that it possesses nuclear weapons is not surprising, but it is the cause of considerable anxiety.If the claim turns out to be true, it means that North Korea has continued its nuclear development programs in violation of a number of international agreements that it signed. Moreover, these suspected violations took place before the country withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.Aimed at 'hostile' U.S. policyIn the tripartite meeting, Pyongyang reportedly suggested that it was not only reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, but may test and export nuclear weapons. This statement was aimed at having the United States change what North Korea regards as a hostile policy.Naturally, it will be necessary to analyze carefully the statements issued by North Korean officials and determine the country's real intentions. But it is fair to say that the country has finally shown its true colors.North Korea's suspected possession of nuclear weapons not only rocks the world's nuclear nonproliferation system, but also poses a serious threat to Japan. The nuclear armament program cannot be tolerated. North Korea must be pressed to abandon its nuclear development program in a verifiable manner and dismantle its nuclear weapons.In this regard, China is expected to play a constructive role.Immediately before the Beijing talks, North Korean President Kim Jong Il sent a top military official to China, apparently out of concern over a possible preemptive attack by the United States against his country. Pyongyang probably wanted China to extend military and other forms of aid in the event of such an attack, as stipulated in a bilateral treaty of mutual assistance and cooperation.China cannot remain aloofHowever, China cannot overlook North Korea's suspected possession of nuclear arms.China shares the same interest as Japan and the United States in keeping the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free. Therefore, the three parties must continue to cooperate in dealing with North Korea.U.S. President George W. Bush has repeatedly expressed his determination not to yield to intimidation by North Korea and not to reward Pyongyang even if it abandons its suspected nuclear development program. His reaction is natural. Bush will not exclude sanctions and military action as options, although a peaceful resolution of the issue is his first choice.North Korea must not misinterpret the U.S. position. The Kim Jong Il regime must understand that the international community will have no choice other than to take resolute action unless Pyongyang stops acting in a provocative manner.For its part, the Japanese government must be fully prepared to respond to any circumstances through close coordination with the United States and other countries concerned.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	569	2003-04-26	yoshin0020030426dz4q000af
yomshi0020030426dz4r00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030426dz4r00007	EN	\N	Days for remembering.	Japan regained independence when the San Francisco Peace Treaty went into effect on April 28, 1952.	8	2003-04-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Thus, April 28 is the day Japan should celebrate the restoration of its sovereignty.Last year was the 50th anniversary of the return of sovereignty, but the day was marked with little enthusiasm. April 28's significance almost has faded into oblivion.At the time, calls by leftist groups and intellectuals for Japan to sign an all-out peace treaty with other nations-even communist countries like the Soviet Union-divided public opinion. Such a situation may not have been conducive to making the day a national holiday.Now that most communist regimes have collapsed, the disputes over the peace treaty have become a thing of the past.That Japan's decision to sign a single peace treaty-that is, only with the Western bloc-was the right one barely needs to be mentioned now.As we mark the day our country regained its sovereignty, we would like to keep in mind the significance of a nation's sovereignty.Sovereign responsibilityNorth Korea's abduction of Japanese is a serious infringement of Japan's sovereignty.The Chinese police's detention of North Korean asylum-seekers at the Japanese Consulate General in Shengyang is still vivid in our memory.Japan's initial responses to both these situations, however, were irresolute and unreliable.We should not forget the protection of lives and assets ultimately rests with the state. Therefore, we should hold lively discussions on "Sovereignty Restoration Day," including one on the possibility of designating the day as a national holiday.Regarding the holiday-studded Golden Week, a bill to revise the National Holidays Law, to change April 29-the late Emperor Showa's birthday-from Greenery Day into "Showa Day" has been submitted to the Diet. If enacted, Greenery Day will shift to May 4.Some oppose the creation of "Showa Day," saying the word "Showa" carries dark memories of war and they would not be able to frankly celebrate such a holiday.Yet the public should understand the spirit of Showa Day, which is intended as an occasion to look back on the Showa era (1926-89), during which the nation passed through tumultous days to rehabilitate itself from the war, and to think about the nation's future.Apples, orangesSome in the U.S. government are said to be insisting Iraq's postwar reconstruction and democratization should be modeled after Occupation Japan's.Yet the postwar reconstruction of Japan and Iraq can never be discussed in the same breath.Postwar Japan's administration under the Occupation was successful, partly because such foundations as the popular rights movements of the Meiji era (1868-1912) and the democratic movements of the Taisho era (1912-26) already existed.By casting a new light on the nation's history during the Occupation and other years of the Showa era, we should be able to discern delicate shades of a complex story that only the Japanese people can narrate.We hope public discussion on "Sovereignty Restoration Day" and "Showa Day" will pick up steam in the days ahead, in particular from such viewpoints.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	579	2003-04-27	yoshin0020030428dz4r004i1
yomshi0020030428dz4s00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030428dz4s00007	EN	\N	Time to stop borrowing loanwords.	The National Institute for Japanese Language's report presented examples of Japanese-language expressions that it proposes be used instead of 62 loanwords commonly used by the public administration.	8	2003-04-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A survey by the institute revealed that one in four people polled did not understand the meaning of 37 of the 62 loanwords, including "traceability" and "surveillance."These loanwords are sprinkled liberally throughout the pages of official documents such as government white papers.The almost nonchalant usage of loanwords-which the overwhelming majority of the population do not understand-clearly shows that bureaucrats are far from willing to fulfill their administrative responsibilities regarding information disclosure and accountability.End drift to linguistic elitismThe understanding of loanwords differs greatly from generation to generation, and an overzealousness to use them could create an "underprivileged in information" class.Officials in charge of administrative services should avoid using loanwords whenever possible. Instead they should concentrate on writing documents that can be easily understood by all.Naturally, when adopting a new concept from abroad there will be cases when there is no suitable equivalent in Japanese. This is why the institute did not recommend that the English term "normalization," which means a state of being able to lead a normal social life, be replaced by a Japanese phrase.But even in such cases, greater efforts are required to convey the correct meaning of the terms, by providing Japanese words that paraphrase the loanword.The trend toward the use of words that many people find incomprehensible could nurture the development of a linguistic elitism, which considers the use of loanwords fine provided they are understood by the "katakana intelligentsia."The proliferation of loanwords is spreading in our daily language. In addition, there are many words, based on English or other foreign languages, that have been coined in Japan. There are also a great number of loanwords, the original meaning of which has been localized for use in Japan and the original meaning of which has been changed beyond recognition.To give two examples: There is "freeter," a combination of the English "free" and the German "Arbeiter (worker)" used to refer to a young person without fixed employment; and "moratorium," which in Japanese usage means a period of respite for an adolescent to become an adult.The unrestrained adoption of loanwords tends to make the meanings of such terms ambiguous.Reclaiming our heritageThere are also cases in which everyday Japanese expressions have been katakanarized, for instance the Japanese term for a row of shops is commonly being vulgarized into the katakana equivalent of "shopping mall." Such replacement of an existing Japanese term for a loanword is sometimes an advertising gimmick used to "improve" a product's image. But the excessive use of loanwords for existing Japanese terms can only throw our language into disarray.There are those who think it inevitable that an ever-increasing number of loanwords will be assimilated into Japanese as part of the price of internationalization.Japanese, influenced early in its life by the adoption of Chinese words and expressions, is now being influenced by other foreign languages. Loanwords for coffee, glass and tinplate have already taken root in our society.Yet we should not cleave too readily to terms that have yet to take root. Now is the time for each and every one of us to put a brake on the excessive use of loanwords. Instead, we should bear in mind the importance of using the correct Japanese word in the correct place.In the Meiji era (1868-1912), the Japanese started using loanwords to express Western concepts such as "parliament," "mail," "nerves," "the earth," and "object."While acknowledging the efforts of our ancestors to adopt Western concepts, we would like to cherish our own words, which are the core of our culture.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	683	2003-04-28	yoshin0020030428dz4s00525
yomshi0020030428dz4t000gx	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030428dz4t000gx	EN	\N	Consensus on defense needed.	After the end of the Golden Week holidays early next month, the ruling coalition and the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), are scheduled to debate the revision of a set of government-sponsored bills on the nation's preparedness to deal with an armed attack and other military emergencies. The move comes as Minshuto has put together its own version of military emergency legislation.	8	2003-04-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Lawmakers have already spent more than 70 hours debating the bills, which the government submitted to the ordinary Diet session last year. They should no longer put off establishing the legislation required to defend Japan as an independent nation and protect the lives and assets of its people. The bills should be passed as soon as possible through talks between the ruling and opposition parties over how to amend them.For years, Minshuto has insisted on upgrading the nation's legal system to better deal with military emergencies as an election promise. But until recently, little progress had been made in working out the specifics of the party's emergency legislation. This was because left-leaning elements of Minshuto-largely former members of the Japanese Socialist Party-opposed any attempt to establish laws on national emergencies. In addition, Minshuto's top cadre was cautious about drafting such bills over fears that doing so could split the party.Minshuto bills stress human rightsMinshuto's latest move, which is long overdue, is a clear indication that the party's top brass, led by Naoto Kan, is seeking to surmount the disadvantages Minshuto has of being a party formed by groups with different political goals.The main opposition party's legislative package comprises two bills-one defining the country's responses to national emergencies and an amendment to the government-sponsored bill on the nation's preparedness to deal with an armed attack.The package incorporates a provision that would require the government to suspend measures taken to repel an armed attack if the Diet deems it necessary. It would also obligate the government to disclose pertinent information in the event of a military attack on the nation.Minshuto's package is specific about how it would relate national emergency laws to the protection of fundamental human rights. It states that freedom of thought and conscience must be absolutely protected, and that freedom of speech shall not be violated.It is important that the Diet play a role in determining what should-and should not-be done in the event of an armed attack on the nation. This is essential to ensure civilian control over the Self-Defense Forces.Nobody would dispute Minshuto's call for ensuring that basic human rights are protected, even during a national emergency, although this should not undermine efforts to defend national security.Given this, there may be room for the ruling parties to make concessions during talks with the leading opposition party.Kan to face leadership testHowever, Minshuto's package is not without problems. Its bill on national emergencies covers not only response in the face of a foreign military attack but also in the event of a major natural disaster. It is unknown whether Minshuto's bill is compatible with the Basic Law on Natural Disasters and other related legislation.This is true of another plan stipulated in Minshuto's package, which calls for the establishment of a "crisis management agency" that would play a key role in protecting the lives and assets of the public in the event of a military emergency. However, Minshuto's plan is unclear about what kind of organizational form the envisaged agency would take and what kind of authority it would be granted.It is advisable that a bill that would affect national security be passed as the result of consensus between the ruling and opposition parties.Some Minshuto members have reportedly argued that their party should not reach a consensus with the governing coalition during upcoming talks if their bill on national emergencies is not accepted by the latter camp in its entirety. This attitude should be condemned as an attempt to put off establishing national emergency laws.In drafting his party's counterproposal to the government-sponsored bills, Minshuto chief Kan insisted that the public is questioning whether the party would be able to replace the ruling coalition and assume power.Kan has good reason to say this. His perception must be taken to heart by every member of the leading opposition party. Minshuto must show a responsible attitude during discussions with the ruling camp over possible changes to the government-sponsored bills. In this sense, Kan is set to face a crucial test as Minshuto president.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	817	2003-04-29	yoshin0020030430dz4t0015d
yomshi0020030429dz4u0005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030429dz4u0005p	EN	\N	LDP's funding plan flawed.	The Liberal Democratic Party recently unveiled a draft plan to regulate political donations from companies and organizations before ruling parties launch full-fledged discussions to coordinate their opinions on the issue after the end of the Golden Week holidays.	8	2003-04-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There have been endless corruption scandals involving politicians and money. Just recently, Kenshiro Matsunami, a House of Representatives member of Hoshushinto (New Conservative Party), admitted allowing a construction firm with ties to a gangster to pay part of the salaries of two of his secretaries between March 1997 and February 1998.We applaud the LDP for finally making the decision to take what is a step toward cleaning up politics. However, in terms of the plan's content, we regret to say we must voice objections over not a few points.Proposal would hinder transparencyThe worst feature of the plan is a proposal to raise the ceiling for the amount of political donations whose contributors' names must be made public. Such a move would make political donations less transparent and would definitely run counter to political reforms. Such a proposal is unacceptable.Under the Political Funds Control Law, the names of individuals, companies and organizations that have made political donations exceeding 50,000 yen a year must be made public. However, the LDP plan proposes to raise the ceiling to 240,000-300,000 yen or more.The party claimed that prospective donors have been reluctant to make political donations because the existing criteria are too strict. In reality, political activities continue to require a massive amount of funds, and politicians must spend a lot of money. Therefore, they apparently did not want to see inflows of money dry up because of restrictions on political donations.With the latest proposal, the LDP apparently aims to relax controls on corporate donations. Some within in the party claim that they have no choice but to rely on corporate donations because given the country's political climate, individuals are unlikely to be inclined to donate money to lawmakers. Such remarks reveal LDP members' real intentions.Public unlikely to be persuadedCompanies are certainly important members of society. In this respect, it is natural for them to take part in politics through making contributions to politicians.On the other hand, it is certainly true that rampant illegal donations and the collusive ties between politicians and companies have twisted politics in the past.To eliminate such negative aspects, we should not forget that a number of efforts have been made in the past to reform various types of political activity, including an effort to ensure the transparency of political funds.The LDP plan has other problems.The plan proposes limiting the amount of funds the party's local chapters may accept from a company half of whose annual sales are earned from public works contracts to a maximum of 1.5 million yen a year.Upon a request by the LDP, a panel of intellectuals came up with a set of proposals on political funds last year, one of which called for limiting the total amount of donations from public works contractors. Though this proposal formed the backbone of the panel's recommendations, the party failed to incorporate it in its latest draft plan.All this means the party should not be surprised if people doubt if the LDP is serious about tackling corruption in politics. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has pledged to draw up concrete measures to accomplish this goal by the end of this Diet session.To do so, the prime minister must display leadership to win over those who may oppose his plans.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2003-04-30	yoshin0020030430dz4u001s1
yomshi0020030430dz510005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030430dz510005q	EN	\N	Appeasing North is mug's game.	At the conclusion of the three-day inter-Korean ministerial meeting in Pyongyang, North and South Korean negotiators agreed to seek a peaceful resolution to the nuclear crisis, a focal issue in the talks, after much wrangling. But the language in the joint statement issued Wednesday is very similar to that used in communiques released after previous ministerial-level talks. In other words, no progress was made.	12	2003-05-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The negotiations stalled because Pyongyang claimed at its meeting last week in Beijing with the United States and China that it possesses nuclear weapons.At the Pyongyang meeting, the South insisted that if the North did indeed possess nuclear arms, then it must scrap them, pointing out that the North's possession of such weapons would put it in violation of the 1991 South-North Joint Declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a bilateral pledge not to test, produce, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons. But the joint statement failed to incorporate a clause stipulating the two sides would abide by the denuclearization accord, although the South wanted to reflect the spirit of the agreement in the statement.For its part, North Korea clung to its conventional position that its negotiating partner over the nuclear issue is the United States, not South Korea. Pyongyang maintained that its discussions with Seoul would only cover the continuation of aid programs, such as the provision of rice and fertilizer, and economic cooperation.'Sunshine policy' hasn't workedThe North played the South like a violin. The latest meeting showed that Seoul's appeasement policy will not make Pyongyang abandon its nuclear development program.Previously, North Korea repeatedly insisted it had no intention of possessing nuclear weapons. Even when it declared it would withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and restarted one of its nuclear reactors, it insisted it had no choice but to resume operations of the nuclear facility to generate electricity because the United States had stopped providing it with fuel oil.We regret to say that the "sunshine policy" advocated by former South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and policies taken by current President Roh Moo Hyun, who followed Kim's line, have revealed their limitations.North Korea has been secretly developing nuclear weapons using enriched uranium and recently declared it would start reprocessing used nuclear fuel to obtain plutonium, in violation of the joint pact on denuclearization and the 1994 U.S.-North Korean Agreed Framework, under which the North froze its development of materials for making nuclear weapons. Not only has it refused to give up its nuclear development program, it has gone as far as to promote a plan to arm itself with nuclear weapons.3 allies have common causeNorth Korea said it made a "new bold proposal" to the United States in the three-way meeting in Beijing last week. According to the proposal, Pyongyang is ready to abandon its nuclear weapons and suspend missile exports, but only if Washington makes a "bold switchover" in its "hostile" policy toward the North and starts negotiations to normalize diplomatic ties with the country.But details of the proposal remain unclear, so it will have to be closely examined.We regret to say that Pyongyang is again resorting to its time-honored tactic of unilaterally precipitating a crisis and then seeking rewards in exchange for backing down. The country should know by now that this trick will not work any longer. The first thing it should do is to abandon its nuclear development program.The Roh administration must firmly adhere to the basic principle of making the denuclearization of the North the precondition for its extending financial aid to the North and not acquiesce in the North's nuclear armament. South Korea has only one choice-to press the North to abandon the nuclear program in close coordination with the United States and Japan.Roh's determination to resolve the nuclear dispute will be tested at the upcoming meeting among Japan, the United States and South Korea, and at the U.S.-South Korea summit meeting to take place later this month.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	705	2003-05-01	yoshin0020030501dz51003su
yomshi0020030502dz5200009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030502dz5200009	EN	\N	Back U.S. on rebuilding Iraq.	In his travels around Europe, Koizumi met with the leaders of four European nations-Britain, France, Germany and Spain. Koizumi agreed with these leaders on the need to promote international cooperation to reconstruct Iraq. However, the meetings clearly showed the wide gap in views on the role the United Nations should play in Iraq's reconstruction.	8	2003-05-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Taking these political realities into account, the prime minister should expedite efforts to determine Japan's role in rebuilding Iraq, but he must make sure it falls in line with U.S.-led rehabilitation plans.Koizumi's trip to Europe was aimed at bridging the gap between the United States and the two European countries in seeking a role for the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq.However, the series of meetings did not turn out as Koizumi had expected.Conflicting ideas on U.N.On the role of the United Nations, French President Jacques Chirac stressed that it must be the core of the international order. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called for a U.N. initiative to rehabilitate the war-torn country. These statements show how adamantly opposed they are to the U.S.-led reconstruction of Iraq.On the other hand, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said it would be difficult to adopt a U.N. resolution authorizing comprehensive U.N. involvement in rebuilding Iraq, saying that such a resolution should be adopted only for a specific area that is in urgent need.In a scheduled meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush later this month, Koizumi is expected to call on the president to help rebuild international cooperation.However, it is virtually impossible for the United States, which is already taking the initiative in the reconstruction of Iraq, to allow the United Nations to play a core role or take the initiative in rehabilitating the country as France and Germany insist. The United States and the two European nations have different views with respect to international cooperation when they talk about reconstructing Iraq.Govt must consider Japan's roleTaking this into account, Japan must now consider what role it can play-in cooperation with other countries-to reconstruct the war-torn country.The reconstruction of Iraq is proceeding at a much faster pace than initially expected.Bush is planning to officially declare the end of the Iraq war on Friday to accelerate efforts to reconstruct the country.At a preparatory meeting of an interim Iraq authority, which was held earlier this week, about 250 prominent members of Iraq's diverse political and ethnic groups agreed to hold a national conference within four weeks to choose an interim government, which would mainly comprise Iraqis.In the reconstruction of Iraq, Japan is expected to give assistance in such fields as infrastructure, medical services and transportation. The Self-Defense Forces could play a central role in these fields.The government, therefore, should immediately begin efforts to have a law enacted to permit the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq. It must not find itself in a position of being unable to do anything without a U.N. resolution.Japan supported the United States in the Iraq war. Now, it must support the United States in the reconstruction of Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2003-05-02	yoshin0020030502dz52002oq
yomshi0020030505dz53000bd	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030505dz53000bd	EN	\N	Constitution revision essential.	The international environment surrounding the nation's security is changing significantly.	8	2003-05-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the Constitution, the nation's supreme law, has remained unchanged since it came into effect 56 years ago. The discrepancies between what the Constitution stipulates and the real situation both at home and abroad are deepening year by year.Such discrepancies have been the result of deceptive interpretations of the Constitution. There are no grounds to support such interpretations.The government should realize that its insistence on maintaining such interpretations is generating a state of affairs that damages national security interests.A typical example of a deceptive interpretation is the view held by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau concerning the right to exercise collective defense. The bureau says it is a right that Japan "possesses but cannot use."Collective defense in operationTo help fight an international terrorist group in Afghanistan, Japan dispatched Self-Defense Forces vessels to the Indian Ocean. This assistance is still being extended to U.S. and other forces operating there.No matter how the Cabinet Legislation Bureau regards it, this assistance is nothing less than collective defense.If Japan had not supported the United States in the fight against international terrorism on the grounds of this interpretation of collective defense, what kind of nation would Japan have become?There is no doubt that Japan's alliance with the United States, which is of vital importance for its national security, would be seriously damaged.The bureau's interpretation is also unrealistic when it comes to allowing SDF members to use weapons in the U.N. peacekeeping operations they participate in.The U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law, in principle, allows such SDF members to use arms only in self-defense. However, U.N. criteria allow, in addition to self-defense, the use of weapons against armed attacks that would prevent U.N. peacekeepers from carrying out their missions.The bureau restricts the use of weapons because it believes that should the government's interpretation be brought in line with international standards, it may move into the realm of the "use of force," which the Constitution forbids.Yet the use of force, as a sovereign right of the nation, and the use of weapons in U.N. peacekeeping operations are issues that should be treated separately.Limitations of diplomacyThe Iraq war has spotlighted the limitations of Japan's support for a diplomacy centered on a U.N. role, which the government considers as one of its key diplomatic pillars, together with its bilateral security arrangement with the United States and its emphasis on its amicable relations with other Asian nations.The U.N. Security Council has been paralyzed because of the antagonism between the United States and Britain, which launched the military attack to topple the Saddam Hussein regime, and countries, led by France and Germany, that opposed the war.In the United States, opinions are being voiced about reviewing the Security Council to determine what shape this body should be.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi supported Washington, even though there was no U.N. resolution that allowed the United States to attack Iraq.Koizumi did so not only because he considered the Saddam regime was continuing to ignore U.N. resolutions, but also because he was concerned about North Korea's development of nuclear weapons. Koizumi made the right decision.However, there is a view in the government and among the ruling coalition parties that the dispatch of SDF members to take part in the reconstruction of Iraq would require a new U.N. resolution. Only Japan would be able to say that it cannot extend such support for the postwar reconstruction of Iraq.This illustrates that the government and political leaders are still unable to rid themselves of the conventional way of thinking since World War II, which is based on deceptive constitutional interpretations that suggest that SDF activities should be restricted as much as possible.Koizumi needs to actBehind Japan's inclination to attach too much importance to a U.N.-centered policy is the nation's unusual stance on the United Nations, which is idealized on the basis of the preamble of the Constitution.With the end of the Cold War between East and West and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the world has undergone a radical change.Cabinet Legislation Bureau's constitutional interpretations have failed at every turn.The fact that the bureau, which is just one Cabinet organization, has dominated the constitutional interpretation issue is in itself strange.The task of correcting deceptive interpretations of the Constitution rests with the political leaders.It is up to Koizumi to change the government's interpretation of the nation's right to collective defense. In this respect, his responsibility is great.The discrepancy between reality and what the Constitution stipulates is not limited to spheres of national security.Similar discrepancies exist with regard to subsidies from the central government to private colleges and universities. In this instance, private colleges and universities are receiving an increasing amount of aid from the central government, in addition to funds granted through third-party organizations.There are also mounting calls for the Constitution to add a clause concerning the right for people to enjoy a better natural environment.Although such issues as national security should be dealt with through a change in interpretation, constitutional amendments will be needed sooner or later.Parties' responsibility questionedAccording to a public poll taken recently by The Yomiuri Shimbun, 54 percent of those responding said they were in favor of amending the Constitution, the sixth straight year more than half of the respondents have favored constitutional revisions. It is apparent that calls for amending the Constitution have taken roots widely among the public.The responsibility of political parties must be questioned.Panels in both houses of the Diet are studying the Constitution, with an eye to making a final report in January 2005.To ensure that the panels draw up a substantial report, it is essential for political parties to deepen discussions within each party and come up with clear-cut opinions.The election for the House of Councillors is scheduled for summer next year, while the term for the House of Representatives will expire by June 2004.National elections offer a good opportunity for voters to question the positions of political parties on the Constitution.Even if the parties cannot offer any concrete revisions to the Constitution, they should at least include in their political pledges and ask for people's judgment on their positions concerning whether or not they "approve the right to collective defense," and "to realize legislation concerning a national referendum needed for a constitutional revision."Shaping the Constitution is tantamount to drawing up a future vision of the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1161	2003-05-03	yoshin0020030506dz53000mc
yomshi0020030503dz5400007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030503dz5400007	EN	\N	Pension plan a Pandora's box.	The public pension program, which is supposed to support citizens in their old age, has been hard hit by a rapidly graying population and a declining birthrate. These twin phenomena make it extremely difficult to maintain the current pension system.	8	2003-05-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Within the government, there are various schools of thought on how to handle the issue. Some are calling for substantial cuts in pension benefits, while others want any increase in the pension premiums to be shouldered by working generations to be held down as much as possible.All sides are missing the essential point of the proposed reform.The real issue is how to secure revenues to finance ever-ballooning social security costs.With that objective in mind, it is time to give serious consideration to raising the consumption tax, a tax that is distributed equally and fairly among all generations, including the elderly.The government's contribution to the basic portion of the pension program is scheduled to be increased from one-third to one half in 2004. This increase is essential to stabilize the pension system and to ease the current unfairness among the generations in terms of contributions to and benefits from the pension program.Time to grasp the nettleHowever, as things stand, there is no prospect whatsoever of the government securing the extra revenue required, estimated at 2.7 trillion yen.This is because our political leaders refuse to grasp the nettle and squarely face the fact that the consumption tax needs to be increased to secure the funds needed to keep the public pension system afloat.If they are shying away from the issue primarily out of fear of public backlash, then they are shirking their political responsibility and the entire political system has collapsed into a state of venal populism.A key task facing politicians is to regain the people's trust in the public pension program. It is of paramount importance to dispel the distrust in the future of the pension program, a distrust that is spreading like wildfire-especially amongst the younger generations.Discussions on reforming the pension scheme are under way at the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, at the Fiscal System Council, an advisory panel to the finance minister, and at the Tax Commission.However, the focus of discussion at these panels is on how to further bleed the public by redefining premiums, cutting benefits and increasing taxation on pension benefits.While it is important to increase impartiality with regards to contributions and benefits of the pension program through streamlining it, there can be no real reform unless the crux of the matter-where will the money come from?-is unaddressed.Koizumi must show leadershipIn December, Koizumi said there could be no meaningful discussion on reforming the pension program unless the eventual need for a hike in the consumption tax was accepted.Koizumi has ruled out the possibility of any increase in the consumption tax while he himself is in office. Be that as it may, as the person who first broached the once-taboo subject, the prime minister bears the responsibility to chart the course for future discussion.Without a doubt, the highest priority for the government is to tackle deflation. Therefore it is only reasonable that any increase in the consumption tax should be made only after the economy has recovered to some extent.Nevertheless, it is important to look at reforming the pension system from all angles, and not limit our options to increasing the government's contribution to the basic portion of the pension program. In order to present a clear vision of the overall social security system, the government needs to expedite its discussion on a number of issues, including using consumption tax revenues exclusively for welfare.These issues are so thorny that Koizumi's formula of leaving the issues up to ministers and bureaucrats will not work.The prime minister needs to exhibit some leadership.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	698	2003-05-04	yoshin0020030506dz540011q
yomshi0020030504dz5500007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030504dz5500007	EN	\N	Boys and girls go out to play.	For many schoolchildren, however, they are a time of boredom, especially since April 2002 when the five-day school week was introduced. Since the increase in the number of days off, one in every three schoolchildren feel bored because they have nothing to to do, according to the findings of an Education, Science and Technology Ministry survey.	8	2003-05-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Why are they feeling bored? As today is Children's Day, let us think about what it takes to help children enjoy their free time.The aim of the five-day school week was to give children the opportunity to enjoy a range of experiences at home and in the community through the pursuit of personal interests.While we feel it is unwise for adults to persistently tell their children to spend their holidays in a meaningful manner, we also feel it is a pity that many children waste their time off because they do not know how to make the best use of it. Something needs to be done to ensure that children enjoy holidays.Some children stay in bed till late in the morning. They also spend many hours watching television and playing video games. According to the survey, a large percentage of such children said they feel bored on holidays.However, there is a large number of children who put holidays to good use by playing sports. Children must be encouraged to do what they want to during holidays, instead of being left to feel there is nothing to do.Cut the apron stringsThe trend in recent years is for primary school students to spend their free time with their mothers rather than their friends. The fact that children and their parents are maintaining such close contact is commendable. However, if children spend too much time with their mothers, they could end up being unable to amuse themselves.The survey also showed that many children spend a great number of hours each day watching television. About 40 percent of the primary and middle school students polled said that they watch more than four hours of television per day. This finding means that Japanese children watch television for much longer than children overseas.With this in mind, children should be encouraged to do something other than watch television all day-such as reading a book or playing outdoors with friends. And for that to happen, parents have to speak with their children and persuade them to spend less time watching television.Community mentoring neededHaving said that, parents are not solely responsible for ensuring that their children spend their holidays in a productive way. The problems facing contemporary children are the result of a number of complex factors, such as the sharp drop in the birthrate, the increasing number of nuclear families, urbanization and the proliferation of harmful information.Social critics have also warned that children's development can be harmed if they spends too much time with their mothers.It is the responsibility of all adult members in a community to play a proactive role in helping parents raise their children.In recent years, significant progress has been made in achieving this goal in many locations. Facilities constructed for such purposes include open squares in which children are allowed to do whatever they want and vacated shops have been set aside for children to play in. Some communities are also working to build networks of children and parents.These attempts should be praised, and it is essential that the central and local governments support these campaigns.There was a time when adults played a role in helping other parents raise their children by reaching out to the children in various ways. It is time for all communities to create a system that nurtures children in a manner that fits the trend of the times.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2003-05-05	yoshin0020030506dz55001hl
yomshi0020030506dz5700006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030506dz5700006	EN	\N	Merger panel's idea has merit.	The current law on municipal mergers will expire in March 2005. Concerning the central government's roles after the law expires, the interim report proposes measures to accelerate mergers of municipal governments that would not be funded from central government coffers, but would respect individual municipalities' independence.	8	2003-05-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Particularly worthy of note in the latest report is a proposal to introduce a tentatively named "regional autonomy system," in which a newly merged government would set up several autonomous organizations to cover areas that formerly were separate municipalities. Under the system, a newly established government would transfer some administrative functions to the autonomous organizations.Not a few city, town and village governments that are reluctant to merge with other municipalities fear that only a central part of a newly formed city would flourish, and surrounding areas would decline. Also, some people are loath to see the names of their cities, towns and villages disappear.The envisaged autonomous system is aimed at eliminating such concerns. We believe it is a meaningful proposal from the viewpoint of respecting local residents' autonomy, which is important in this age of decentralization.Introduce new system ASAPThe interim report calls for introducing the new system after the merger law expires. But many municipal governments that already have merged or others that plan to merge while the current law is still valid also may wish to adopt the system.To accelerate municipal mergers, this new system should be introduced as soon as possible, and the point at which the system should have retroactive effect should be decided.The interim report also calls on prefectural governments to mediate among municipal governments concerning mergers and offer related advice to them.Judging from a series of moves in the past, it is certainly true that prefectural governments' attitudes have greatly influenced municipalities' willingness to merge with other autonomies. In this respect, the government should come up with a system for prefectural governments to be effectively involved in municipal mergers that clarifies prefectural governments' responsibility and roles.But the interim report falls short on some points.The report proposes reorganizing municipal governments into so-called basic local governments that would handle administrative matters close to people's daily life, such as welfare and education. But the report fails to state the ideal size of the population in each municipality.Unless the council presents guidelines on the size of populations in the catchment area of the envisaged basic local governments, some municipalities may be left scratching their heads.Govt, parties should intensify talksSome Liberal Democratic Party members propose simplifying governance systems for towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 by such means as outsourcing administrative work. The council should deepen discussions on the issue, including the appropriateness of the LDP proposal, so it can present clear guidelines in its final report.When mergers of cities, towns and villages are further promoted, prefectural governments will be required to play different roles. In this connection, the interim report said the council would examine the merger of prefectural governments and the introduction of a new zoning system in which current prefectures will be abolished and reorganized into larger zones.Three prefectures in the northern Tohoku region-Aomori, Akita and Iwate-have started debating their possible merger. Many business organizations also propose adopting the zoning system. It is high time for not only the Local Government System Research Council, but also the central government and political parties to launch full-fledged discussions on this issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2003-05-07	yoshin0020030507dz570044z
yomshi0020030507dz58000me	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030507dz58000me	EN	\N	Wanted - An economic policy.	Private sector members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy also plan to propose steps to prop up the sagging stock market at a council meeting Thursday.	7	2003-05-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These moves apparently come as a result of irritation over the government's reluctance to take any steps to tackle the ongoing economic crisis.The government can no longer afford to sit on its hands, using the temporary recovery of stock prices as an excuse for its inaction. It should take a hard look at the proposals and take all necessary measures to boost the economy.During the two-year period since the inauguration of the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average has almost halved in value, plummeting from about 14,500 to about 7,600 at the end of last month.This decline translates into a loss of about 160 trillion yen in share value. Koizumi seems remarkably unconcerned about the situation, judging from the way he has been handling it.Stock prices continue to tumble as the domestic and global economies remain unpredictable. Sellers far outnumber buyers in the stock market at the moment. Unless necessary steps are taken immediately to improve the supply-demand balance, the Japanese economy will be dealt a fatal blow.Bring forward date for fund returnParticularly worthy of mention in the coalition's proposals is a call on the government to act to ease selling pressures on stocks resulting from legislation allowing firms to return to the government the portion of employee pension funds they manage on its behalf.The government should bring forward the date when companies may return to the state the cash earned from the sale of stocks they manage for their national pension fund investments from the initially planned October. By doing so, it would offer companies an incentive not to dump shares in the expectation that stock prices will further deteriorate.In addition, to discourage firms from selling stocks to raise cash, the government must ease conditions under which firms may return national pension funds in the form of shares. Currently, companies are required to make available almost the same varieties of shares as those listed in the Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues when they wish to return pension funds in kind.It is also essential for the Banks' Shareholdings Purchase Corporation, a state-backed stock-buying entity, to temporarily suspend its requirement that banks make capital contributions worth 8 percent per transaction when selling their shares to the corporation.Furthermore, it is important to expand the portion of postal savings funds and postal insurance funds used for investment in domestic shares.Sometimes the state must interveneAll of these steps are incorporated in the proposals by the coalition parties and the private sector members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. It is fair to say that these proposals were appropriately drawn up based on an accurate evaluation of market and economic conditions.Some observers have criticized the ruling parties' proposals, claiming their implementation would add up to state intervention in the market. But the proposed review of the date when firms may return the portion of employee pension funds they manage to the state is aimed at restoring market functions, which have been distorted for political reasons.The proposal to expand the investment of postal savings funds and postal insurance funds into the stock market should not simply be seen as a means of boosting stocks with injections of public money.Currently, only 1 percent of postal savings is invested in domestic stocks; most is invested in public paper, such as government bonds. Consequently, the flow of money that is used for companies' capital investment through the stock market continues to shrink. In this regard, we see the latest proposal as the first step in resolving the ongoing economic crisis.We urge the prime minister to take steps to deal with each of the abovementioned problems in tandem with macroeconomic policy initiatives. The current situation leaves him no option but to intervene in the market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	734	2003-05-08	yoshin0020030509dz5800257
yomshi0020030509dz5900006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030509dz5900006	EN	\N	Revitalization models needed.	However, banks have been slow to respond to the IRCJ because they are unsure of the new entity's standards for determining the purchase prices of loans and the revitalization method itself. The IRCJ cannot operate through enthusiasm alone.	8	2003-05-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To entice banks to actively participate in the corporate revitalization process, the IRCJ must quickly select the companies it will assist, thereby offering corporate revitalization models at an early date.The IRCJ plans to purchase loans extended to companies that have already received assistance from banks and have promising core businesses, and therefore have a good prospect of recovery.Although the IRCJ will purchase loans primarily from banks other than main creditor banks, it will closely cooperate with main creditor banks in drawing up revitalization plans.Appropriate purchase priceThe focal point of the scheme is determining an appropriate market value for loans that takes into account the rehabilitation plans of companies. While banks want to sell their bad loans at the highest price possible to minimize their losses, the IRCJ wants to purchase them cheaply to minimize the losses that will eventually be compensated with public money if a company's revitalization efforts fail.Many banks are apparently taking a cautious approach to see what level the loans will be priced.The objective of the IRCJ is to smoothly promote the revitalization of troubled companies, where the process is slow because of differences of opinion between creditor banks, to help reinvigorate the stagnant economy.It will probably be necessary for banks to shoulder some losses to help rebuild companies they have been assisting.With its operation limited to five years, the IRCJ should not place too much emphasis on beating down the purchase price of loans.The balance of revenue and expenditure of the IRCJ, established as a stock company, needs to be worked out through its overall operations, rather than on each case it handles. It must make an effort to minimize the use of taxpayers' money.Firms must be screened carefullyThe body also must carefully screen companies before assisting them. Some people have expressed strong doubts about whether the IRCJ should assist a particular firm especially in industry that faces cutthroat competition. As its name suggests, the IRCJ should dedicate itself to industrial revitalization, not to a particular company.The business of corporate revitalization has been joined by a number of operators, including investment groups that have established their own funds, and major banks, which have set up a new entity for the same purpose, as well as state-run financial institutions.The entire process of corporate revitalization is expected to accelerate through cooperation between the IRCJ and other operators, and if it plays a leading role in coordinating separate cases.Six months have passed since it was decided to establish the IRCJ. During this period, banks and companies have weakened further as the stock market continues to slump.The IRCJ must understand that speed is everything in the effort to reinvigorate the country's dire economic situation. This is a point that cannot be stressed enough.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	540	2003-05-09	yoshin0020030509dz590031x
yomshi0020030512dz5a0005w	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030512dz5a0005w	EN	\N	Search for origin of solar system.	Hayabusa, launched by the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science (ISAS) under the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, is a highly ambitious probe. It is designed solely to travel the universe in search of an asteroid about 500 meters in diameter and about 300 million kilometers from Earth so that it can collect the samples.	8	2003-05-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It will take four years for the probe to make the trip to and from the asteroid. With its state-of-the-art technology, the probe must approach the asteroid, land on it, collect the samples and return to Earth.A U.S. probe has made an observation of the surface of an asteroid. But this will be the world's first attempt for a probe to retrieve samples from an asteroid.Japan has greatly contributed to the development of theories concerning the birth of the solar system.Asteroids perfect for studiesWe hope that through this probe Japan will help scientists answer questions about the formation of the solar system.Why are scientists interested in asteroids?Earth and the other planets in the solar system have undergone changes, such as condensation because of gravitational pull and crustal movements. Therefore, they do not retain the aspects they had at the time the solar system was formed.However, asteroids, which are estimated to number several tens of thousands, are believed to have been hurtling through the universe for more than 4.5 billion years without undergoing any major changes because they are extremely small.Aboard the probe is a ball, whose interior is covered with aluminum foil that carries the names of 880,000 people, including astronomy buffs, from around the world.The ball is to be left behind on the asteroid to convey the "dreams" of the people to the asteroid.Launchings of M-5 rockets, which are designed to send scientific satellites into space, had been suspended for more than three years after one carrying an X-ray astronomy satellite failed.Comeback of M-5 rocketsWith Friday's successful launch, the M-5 rockets can be said to have made a comeback. With many space plans ahead, a succession of successful M-5 launchings is required.With the resumption of these launchings, the nation's space exploration and observation projects, which had been suspended for some time, are expected to gain momentum. Future plans call for the launching of a lunar probe, infrared space observatory, X-ray space observatory, and solar and heliospheric observatory.Nozomi, a Mars orbiter Japan launched five years ago, is scheduled to reach Mars next year to begin observations. In future, probes will be sent to Venus and Mercury.These developments usher in a full-fledged era for Japan to explore the solar system.Japan has been conducting space observation programs, with relatively small budgets, that are valuable scientifically and stir up people's fantasies.In October, three space-related organizations, including ISAS and the National Space Development Agency of Japan, will be integrated into a single organization.The new organization should be run with efficiency and vitality to ensure that it does not damage the high esteem won by these organizations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	563	2003-05-10	yoshin0020030512dz5a004y3
yomshi0020030512dz5b0006d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030512dz5b0006d	EN	\N	Approve Iraq resolution quickly.	The United States, Britain and Spain have presented the U.N. Security Council with a draft resolution that would end nearly 13 years of U.N. sanctions against Iraq.	8	2003-05-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Security Council should promptly remove all sanctions imposed on Iraq, after working to reach a consensus on the issue with the latest resolution as a basis for debates. We want to see the council swiftly adopt the resolution for the benefit of the Iraqi people.The sanctions have been kept in place since the council resolved to impose them on Iraq immediately after it invaded Kuwait in 1990. The U.N. resolution adopted at the close of the Gulf War in 1991 requires Iraq to scrap all its weapons of mass destruction before the sanctions are lifted. The collapse of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, however, means there is no point in keeping the sanctions intact.In Iraq, the United States is working to help establish an interim government led by the Iraqis by the end of May. Iraq's reconstruction will require financial resources and international support.The new resolution requests that the anti-Iraq sanctions be removed while also phasing out the current oil-for-food humanitarian program, a U.N. scheme that permits Iraq to sell oil in exchange for food and other humanitarian-aid goods from other nations. The resolution, if adopted, will certainly expedite Iraq's reconstruction through an end to the control over its oil exports and the restrictions on the purposes for which its oil revenues can be used.Opposition not adamantFrance, Germany and Russia-all at odds with the United States and Britain over a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq before the war began in March-are not very strongly opposed to the new resolution. In fact, French President Jacques Chirac has said that his administration is ready to engage in constructive debate on the resolution. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said that his country will seek a practical solution to the dispute over the resolution.Given their prewar divisions, however, Security Council members are expected to face various difficulties in reaching a consensus on the new resolution.The resolution would give the coalition of the United States, Britain and their allies in the war the right to govern postwar Iraq. Although it described the U.N. role in this regard as "important," the resolution would limit U.N. officials' duties to humanitarian assistance and other low-key work. The new resolution thus would authorize the United States and Britain to take the lead in governing postwar Iraq.The chances that France and Russia will veto the resolution are slim, although they may seek to amend it.The resolution also stipulates that Iraq's oil and natural gas revenues be deposited in an "Iraqi Assistance Fund," with the United States and Britain controlling the fund's use. Conflicts of interest among Security Council members would raise controversy over how to operate the fund.SDF role essentialIraq's rehabilitation calls for a wide range of international cooperation. One viable plan would divide Iraq into three regions, each under the control of either U.S. or multinational forces working to restore peace and order there. Many other tasks also must be tackled in rebuilding Iraq, including mitigating the country's foreign debts.Given its support of the U.S. actions in the war, Japan must play an active role in helping rehabilitate Iraq. The Self-Defense Forces are this country's only organization with the ability to carry out activities needed for that goal, including improving Iraq's infrastructure, performing medical services and providing transport. The government must ensure that the Diet adopts a new law authorizing the SDF to be sent on that mission as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2003-05-11	yoshin0020030512dz5b0059z
yomshi0020030511dz5c00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030511dz5c00004	EN	\N	Standardize hospital fees.	This lack of standardized hospital care is a major defect in the medical system. For many years, it has been suggested that the problem stems partly from the billing system, under which patients are charged fees based on the content and amount of services and medicine they receive.	8	2003-05-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The fee-for-services system can encourage hospitals to provide inefficient and unnecessary care in that the more tests and medicine administered to patients, the larger income medical institutions receive.Efforts to improve the quality of medical services will require a drastic reform of this system. However, there is a sign of change in this regard as in April some university hospitals adopted a flat-fee system for the treatment of patients requiring hospitalization.The new system covers the types of medical treatment that can involve an excess of services, including examinations, medication and diagnostic imaging. Under the new system, hospitalized patients only pay the per-day costs specified for a particular illness.For years, medical reform has been almost synonymous with an increase in the financial burden to be shouldered by patients. However, the reform the public wants is high-quality medical care commensurate with a growth in medical fees. No time should be wasted in ensuring that patients receive standardized medical care at hospitals.1st step on road to reformIn this sense, the fixed-fee system can be praised as an initial step toward a true reform of the medical-fee system. This should be followed by an effort by nonuniversity hospitals to review their fee-for-services system.The content of medical treatment at university hospitals varies widely. This can be seen in the number of days spent by patients in a hospital. For instance, some hospitals discharge patients just two weeks after cardiac surgery, while others hospitalize patients for two months.Taking another example, some medical institutions hospitalize cataract patients for at least two weeks after surgery. This is disturbing in that an increasing number of hospitals allow such patients to return home on the same day as the surgery.The new medical-fee system requires hospitals to inform patients of how long they can expect to stay in hospital while they are being treated.Under the system, hospitals receive more in technical fees if they complete their treatment of patients in a shorter period than initially estimated. If they take longer, they receive less.Under the new system, the differences in services offered by hospitals is easy to see. This enables patients to choose the hospitals that best fit their needs by comparing the number of days they will be hospitalized, as well as the costs to be incurred.The flat-fee system stipulates that hospitals review the content of care given to patients if treatment is to take a long time. This is a step forward in providing standardized medical treatment.Need for oversight, databasesWhile the flat-fee system may prevent doctors from giving patients unnecessary treatment, at the same time it could encourage hospitals to shorten the number of days spent treating patients, even at the expense of the quality of their services. Hospitals must remember their priorities in this regard.With this in mind, the central and local government must increase efforts to monitor the quality of services provided by hospitals under the flat-fee system. This is essential to ensure that the system takes root not only among university hospitals but in nonuniversity hospitals.To achieve progress in providing standardized, efficient medical care, it is also important to build databases to collate and analyze medical information. In South Korea, there is nothing unusual about using computers to add up medical fee bills. However, this country has yet to make progress in this regard.Most domestic medical institutions remain negative about patients comparing the quality of services they provide. However, they should realize that such an attitude should no longer be accepted.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2003-05-12	yoshin0020030512dz5c005s0
yomshi0020030513dz5d00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030513dz5d00006	EN	\N	Putting a cap on high-rises.	In recent years, there have been numerous disputes over the construction of high-rise condominiums and similar buildings between developers and local residents. Thus, the latest move is noteworthy in that local governments are taking a proactive position to tackle the problem.	8	2003-05-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In tandem with the scheduled review of city planning for the next fiscal year, local governments in Tokyo's Setagaya, Edogawa and Sumida wards as well as in Machida and Mitaka are planning to introduce new zoning regulations. Without exception, these wards and cities have huge residential areas where the maximum height of housing is restricted.The Building Standard Law restricts the height of buildings in areas designated as low-housing zones to between 10 and 12 meters. Areas designated for other usage are subject to other restrictions. For instance, the height of buildings facing a road of less than four meters in width is restricted. Nevertheless, it is possible under the current system to circumnavigate such height restrictions by building on a large plot of land.To address such contradictions, local governments need to set an absolute cap on the height of buildings that takes precedence over other regulations by designating certain areas as special zones in which the existing cityscape or other environmental factors must be maintained.Building local communitiesThe ongoing decentralization process is steadily transferring the rights once held by central government to local governments. As a result, individual localities are now able to plan and develop communities that meet their own requirements and sensibilities.The scheduled introduction by local governments of a system to regulate the height of high-rise buildings will be the first step marking their independence from centrally dictated standards regulating city planning. This move will enable local governments to build communities in harmony with their desires.Setagaya ward government plans to designate three areas as special zones where the height of buildings will be restricted to less than 30 meters to 45 meters. About 90 percent of the ward is expected to become subject to the new regulation.Downside to deregulationHowever, there is also a downside to such regulation.For instance, when an existing high-rise condominium needs to be reconstructed, it will be impossible to build a new one of equivalent height as it would violate the new standard.Out of consideration of residents of such high-rise buildings who might be put at a disadvantage in the future because of a new restriction, Setagaya ward government plans to set the upper limit of buildings in such areas in line with the tallest condominium in the ward.The trouble-free reconstruction of old condominiums is an issue of great concern in the central government's housing policy from the city-planning perspective. But the envisaged regulation on the height of new buildings could deter the replacement of old condominiums. In this respect, it is imperative for authorities to take into account the consistency of various housing policies.The Tokyo District Court in December ordered a Tokyo construction firm to reduce the height of a condominium in Kunitachi, western Tokyo, to 20 meters, on the grounds that the structure spoiled the view that residents in the area used to enjoy. The ruling determined that the benefits of a view are worthy of legal protection and that the infringement of such benefits is against the law. The defendant appealed to a higher court.After the introduction of the envisaged system, there will doubtlessly be further heated debates over protecting the landscape in various parts of the country.For their part, developers of high-rise buildings need to become more involved in city planning and have better lines of communication with local governments and residents than they have previously had.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2003-05-13	yoshin0020030513dz5d003db
yomshi0020030514dz5e00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030514dz5e00005	EN	\N	Accord will fill legal vacuum.	The ruling camp and the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), agreed Tuesday on a plan to amend a set of bills designed to give the government a legal framework to respond to a foreign armed attack on this country.	8	2003-05-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is the first time that the main opposition party has agreed on a government-proposed bill of special importance concerning the country's fundamental security policies.It is desirable to pass the bills, which are aimed at protecting the country's independence and its people's lives and property, with the backing of as many political parties as possible. To do so, policymakers must act beyond the framework of the ruling and opposition camps and not use the bills for partisan political ends.The ruling and opposition camps managed to reach the agreement thanks to their constructive debates on the issue.The ruling camp complied with some of Minshuto's amendment demands, including the inclusion of a clause to enable the Diet to end contingency measures through a Diet resolution and another obliging the government to provide information to the public.As for the protection of basic human rights in the event of a foreign armed attack on the country, an issue over which negotiations had long stalled, the ruling camp and Minshuto compromised by incorporating a clause stipulating that people's rights guaranteed in the Constitution will be respected as much as possible.All these agreements make up for shortfalls in the government-proposed bills.Minshuto ideas need a close lookThe two sides also agreed to continue debates on two Minshuto proposals-the enactment of a basic emergency law covering terrorist attacks and natural disasters, and the establishment of a crisis-management agency that will comprehensively deal with emergencies.But if a new basic law that also deals with natural disasters is to be introduced, it will be necessary to keep it consistent with the Basic Law on Natural Disasters and other related laws.In addition, some are critical of the other proposal to establish a crisis-management agency, claiming that it would run counter to the current trend of administrative reforms, under which the number of government offices is reduced.There are certainly many problems that need to be addressed, but these issues are of unquestionable importance.However, the set of bills constitutes only a part of the entire legal framework this country needs to respond to contingencies. If various separate laws are enacted in the future to deal with terrorist attacks and spy ships as well as to protect the people's lives and rights, it might become necessary to review the entire contingency legislation, including the possible enactment of a basic emergency law.Now that the ruling camp and Minshuto have agreed to examine these issues, we expect both sides to deepen their discussions with a view to enacting effective laws.Peacenik pols should get realA quarter-century has passed since the government started examining contingency laws during the administration of Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda. Politicians' negligence and irresponsibility must be blamed for the extremely slow progress of debates on this issue.The former Japan Socialist Party, the Japanese Communist Party and certain mass media organizations consistently opposed the proposed legislation, claiming it would be "a law to prepare for war" and that "people's rights would be restricted" under such a law.In addition, subsequent Liberal Democratic Party administrations failed to take up the issue, placing top priority on avoiding political frictions with the opposition camp.But such pussyfooting makes no sense. Without the contingency legislation framework, the Self-Defense Forces would have no choice but to act outside the law, a situation in which people's rights would be more likely to be infringed. In such an event, this country would no longer be a law-governed state.Objections to the contingency legislation are based on the naive assumption that peace is best maintained by tightly restricting the scope of the SDF's activities.In addition to approving the contingency bills, politicians should snap out of their "peace-at-any-price" mind-set.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	715	2003-05-14	yoshin0020030514dz5e00455
yomshi0020030514dz5f0005t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030514dz5f0005t	EN	\N	Stock-boosting steps inadequate.	Measures adopted Wednesday at a meeting of economic ministers to discuss ways to boost the stock market turned out to be insipid, as had been feared.	12	2003-05-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There is little noteworthy in the package of measures, apart from the one easing selling pressures on stocks by allowing firms to return to the government the portion of employee pension funds they manage on its behalf, which is likely to have some immediate effect. It was decided to postpone indefinitely the introduction of most other steps that might have helped boost share prices.The Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, which has failed to promptly respond to sagging stock prices, has once again shown itself to be dilatory.Should the Koizumi Cabinet continue dragging its feet, there is no telling when fear of a market crisis will flare up again.The government's measures were mapped out based on the list of steps presented earlier by the ruling coalition parties and private sector members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy.With no new steps seen, almost all the measures are designed to improve the supply-demand situation of the stock market.Piecemeal steps unlikely to helpThe pillar of the measures "to be taken immediately" is the one that eases conditions under which firms may return to the state, in the form of shares, the portion of employee pension funds they manage on its behalf.Currently, when companies want to return pension funds to the state in kind, rather than in cash, they need to make available more than 90 percent of shares listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Under a new measure, the minimum required figure will be reduced to the 80-plus percent level.This is to prevent companies from rushing to cash in their shareholdings.By bringing forward the date when companies may return to the state the portion of employee pension funds they manage to September from the initially planned October, companies will be discouraged from selling off shares hurriedly in the expectation that stock prices will decline further.Yet these piecemeal revisions of the existing measures are unlikely to improve the supply-demand balance in the stock market markedly.The usefulness of the idea of having the postal savings funds and postal insurance funds purchase more of the government-guaranteed bonds issued by the Banks' Shareholdings Purchase Corporation remains uncertain in terms of its effect on the stock market.Through that measure, a new fund-procuring route will be created. But even banks will not hesitate to buy bonds if they are guaranteed by the government. The Cabinet may have taken into consideration the wishes of the Public Management Ministry, which does not like the idea of having the postal savings funds and postal insurance funds buy shares directly.Govt's confidence misplacedMeanwhile, most of the measures that require revisions of existing laws were discussed long ago. The idea of lowering the capital contributions to be made to the shareholdings purchase corporation by banks when selling their shares to the corporation will be meaningful only if it is passed through the current Diet session.Koizumi was forced to discuss a list of stock-boosting measures that he had long dismissed as "a cunning plan" because there were no signs of a slowdown in the stock-price slide, even after the specter of the so-called March crisis failed to materialize. There were fears of a stock market crash in the month when most businesses settle their accounts for the fiscal year. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average plunged to the 7,600 level late last month.Although the key index has advanced only to the 8,000 level, the government seems not to be taking the situation seriously enough. Its unconcerned attitude is reflected in the latest package of measures adopted by the Cabinet.The current economic situation does not warrant optimism, and it is still possible that stock prices will nosedive, given the fragile market structure.As well as front-loading measures already announced, the government also should study taking additional steps.It is also necessary for the government to shore up its macroeconomic policies so that it will not be forced to introduce risky policies every time stock prices drop markedly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	732	2003-05-15	YOSHIN0020030610dz5f0000e
yomshi0020030515dz5g0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030515dz5g0005q	EN	\N	Close gap on N. Korea N-issue.	This exercise in bilateral cooperation was outwardly successful, but the two leaders have yet to undertake concrete action.	8	2003-05-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There is a gap between the two countries over how to deal with North Korea, particularly its development of nuclear weapons. While preventing this from becoming an issue, the two leaders apparently decided to place priority on a pledge to hold North Korea in check.They expressed strong determination to do their utmost to discourage Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.However, the problem is determining what kind of steps would be effective in realizing this goal.While emphasizing international cooperation in bringing about a peaceful solution to the North Korean nuclear standoff, the joint statement said "increased threats to peace and stability on the peninsula would require consideration of further steps."U.S., South Korea still apartBy using the words "further steps," a slightly stronger term than previously used, the two leaders appear to be hinting at the possibility of taking economic sanctions against North Korea.Nonetheless, the United States and South Korea have not eliminated their basic gap in perception over Pyongyang's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.The Bush administration has not changed its position on North Korea, and is keeping all options open, including military action.The United States remains convinced that resolving the North Korean nuclear problem will be difficult under the appeasement policy of the Roh administration, which believes a dialogue with Pyongyang will achieve a breakthrough.While Bush and Roh expressed confidence that a peaceful resolution to the crisis could be achieved, they failed to come up with ideas on what measures should be taken.They warned the North Korean regime of Kim Jong Il that as long as Pyongyang continues to take such provocative actions as reprocessing spent nuclear fuel and developing nuclear weapons, the country would be isolated further. This warning is natural.Leave all options openWhen it is confirmed that North Korea has reprocessed spent nuclear fuel, imposing sanctions will be a realistic option.North Korea should realize that unless it changes its attitude, the international community will be forced to take more stringent measures.With Pyongyang repeatedly taking actions that run counter to a peaceful solution of the nuclear standoff, South Korea should not rule out any option. By keeping all options open, cooperation between the United States and South Korea will become more substantial.The joint statement also made clear that the two countries would go ahead with relocating U.S. forces stationed north of Seoul.Discussions on relocating U.S. forces away from the Demilitarized Zone have taken on added importance with the North Korean nuclear development issue becoming more serious.This issue may lead to a reduction or withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and that would have extremely grave consequences for Japan's national security.Should the Roh administration display an optimistic perception of the current situation by placing priority on the appeasement of North Korea, it might destroy trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	558	2003-05-16	yoshin0020030517dz5g001eh
yomshi0020030518dz5h0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030518dz5h0005s	EN	\N	Economy needs rescuing now.	The figure compares with an all-time high of about 521 trillion yen in fiscal 1997. This means that the Japanese economy has shrunk a significant 4 percent over the past five years.	8	2003-05-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We cannot ignore this dire state of affairs.The economy will not stop shrinking unless drastic antideflation measures are implemented. The government and the Bank of Japan must reverse their economic policies.The economy saw no quarter-on-quarter nominal growth in the January-March period and a reduction of 0.6 percent in real terms, according to the statistics. The contraction can be attributed to negative growth in exports-mainly to the United States-due to tensions surrounding the Iraqi situation.More difficulties aheadAll this translates into a discouraging 0.7 percent decline in the nominal GDP for fiscal 2002 from the previous year, despite a 1.6 percent year-on-year growth in real terms.The continued decrease in prices in fiscal 2002 brought about a sizable 2.2 percent drop in the GDP deflator, a key inflation barometer for commodity prices.Failure to end the deflation means that consumption and investment will remain sluggish. It also means a lack of progress in writing off nonperforming loans and a continued drop in tax revenues.The current economic condition is worrisome in many other aspects, too.The decline in exports has been exacerbated by a propensity among consumers to buy less because of a drop in personal income and an extremely high jobless rate. Although there is a slight improvement in capital investment, corporations are only trying to renovate their plants and other facilities on a small scale.The economy is expected to encounter even more serious difficulties in the April-June quarter.For example, Japanese exports to other Asian nations are beginning to decline due to the outbreak of SARS in the region.Along with this decline are signs of a slowdown in production. The slump in stock prices has increased concerns about the financial systems.Compile supplementary budgetSome views have become so negative that the current economic slump is regarded as a serious downturn.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must look reality in the face. His administration must compile a supplementary budget as soon as possible.The economy is certain to come under greater deflationary pressure if its growth remains stagnant. The government should not try to wiggle out of compiling a supplementary budget on the ground that the economy has not seen negative growth in real terms yet.The government should also step up efforts to devise specific measures to boost the stock market. This should be complemented by an effort to revise the Insurance Business Law to permit life insurers to lower the rates of yields promised to policyholders before they go under.The rapid rise in the value of the yen must also be halted.Under the leadership of Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui, the central bank must adopt unconventional steps to help overcome the current crisis. The bank must implement drastic antideflation measures, including purchases of exchange trade funds.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2003-05-17	yoshin0020030517dz5h001sj
yomshi0020030518dz5i000bb	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030518dz5i000bb	EN	\N	Hard-liners to blame for Resona.	The group's Resona Bank is to be the first bank left with NO choice but to accept an injection of public funds under Clause 102 of the Deposit Insurance Law, as it saw its capital-adequacy ratio fall due to stock price plunges and accelerated disposal of nonperforming loans.	8	2003-05-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who made the public funds injection decision, must do his utmost to prevent the crisis from spreading.At the same time, we should not forget Resona's case has been influenced by the hard-line financial reconstruction policy championed by Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, which has gone astray.A fresh round of discussion is needed on the pros and cons of Takenaka's policy.In blocking a financial crisis, a bank's capital shortfall must be made up as early as possible. If a bank is shackled with overly strict rules, however, its self-help efforts will falter and further confusion may occur.Resona's capital shortfall came to light when the use of its deferred tax assets in calculating its capital was examined.The tax a bank pays before a tax-deductible bad-loan write-off using its loan-loss reserves is refunded when the bank later posts sufficient profits.A firm that audited the Resona group's accounts found the its earnings projections were overly optimistic and included too large an amount of deferred tax assets in its capital assets and asked the group to reduce its potential tax credits.Strict reviewThe Financial Services Agency earlier asked the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants to strictly review banks' earnings projections, which serve as the basis for calculating deferred tax assets, in line with Takenaka's financial reconstruction plan.Yet the issue of how to handle deferred tax assets is now under discussion for full-fledged review at the Financial System Council, also in accordance with the financial reconstruction plan.The application of the stricter rule in line with the plan on the settlement of Resona's accounts for the fiscal term ending in March-even before the council has come to a conclusion about deferred tax assets-cannot be considered appropriate.Deferred tax assets have often been calculated far beyond the level allowed under corporate accounting law in Japan, primarily because the nontaxable write-off on bad loans has not been permitted widely enough.In the United States, where the use of the potential tax credits has been strictly regulated, businesses are allowed to make ample recourse to such means as nontaxable write-offs, loss deductions brought froward for banks, and refunds for banks to carry a loss back to a previous year.The handling of deferred tax assets and the tax system should be discussed together.Resona corneredThe failure of the government's financial administration is what has delayed the tax system review, while driving the Resona group into a corner.Regarding the sharp drops in bank shares in recent months-considered a factor behind banks' current plights-contrary to original expectations, they are the result of capital increases made by major banking groups in line with the financial reconstruction plan.For discontent to escalate in the banking sector over the government's methods, that is, abruptly stiffening rules while not taking effective stimulus measures, is only reasonable.Takenaka made waves when he remarked that no bank was too big to be brought to its knees.If the hard-line financial reconstruction policy in which stock prices hover at a dangerously low level conttinues, market anxiety is only likely to escalate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2003-05-18	yoshin0020030519dz5i003kk
yomshi0020030519dz5j00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030519dz5j00004	EN	\N	Resona sounds clarion call.	The meeting was held to lay the groundwork for the annual G-8 summit meeting on June 1-3 in Evian, France.	8	2003-05-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The joint declaration of the G-8 finance ministers clearly stated that Japan must continue structural reforms in the financial and corporate sectors and intensify its efforts to combat deflation.It was initially believed that the G-8 finance ministers would not take up detailed measures that might restrict the polices of individual countries. Furthermore, the joint declaration was simply expected to confirm continued policy coordination among member countries to ensure the stable growth of their economies.However, the scenario changed after the government announced shortly before the meeting that it would bail out Resona Holdings. The decision gave the strong impression to participating countries that Japan's financial system was on the brink of a crisis.Koizumi needs to learn new tuneWith nominal gross domestic product growth for the January-March quarter having declined for two consecutive periods, the nation's economy has shown signs of worsening deflation. Consequently, the attention of the G-8 finance ministers was firmly focused on Japan's responses to the Resona news.At the meeting, Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa expressed his strong determination to make the utmost effort to prevent the country's financial sector from falling into crisis. This was effectively seen as a pledge by Japan to the international community that it will intensify its efforts to avert a financial crisis and so combat deflation.But Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi appears set to stick to his existing economic policies, which obviously have failed to turn the economy around. The prime minister reportedly tried to verify with Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, financial and fiscal policy, that the planned injection of taxpayers' money into Resona would not be taken as a sign of a U-turn in his economic policy.However, the sad state of the nation's economy no longer allows Koizumi to be particular about his policy preference.Starting Monday, the government and the Bank of Japan must do their best to prevent panic in the financial and stock markets and aggressively implement measures to boost the slumping stock market. The government and the central bank must immediately make a bold change in fiscal, taxation and monetary policies to pull the country out of its deflationary state, including the compilation of a large-scale supplementary budget.Time for concerted intl actionThe economies of European nations and the United States have reached the stage that need concerted actions among countries to arrest deflation.In the United States, the real economic growth for the January-March period declined to the 1 percent range on an annualized basis following the previous quarter. In addition, both wholesale prices and consumer prices showed month-on-month declines in April.In Europe, the economic growth of Germany, Italy and the Netherlands shrank in the first quarter of 2003, underlining a concern that European economies have entered a recessionary phase.In East Asia, economies, including that of China-once dubbed a growth center, have been seriously hit by the lingering SARS scare. There is a possibility that this may develop into a factor that will push the fragile global economy into a deflationary spiral.In order to take concerted actions to fight deflation, Japan, which is beset with its own financial woes, must implement bold economic policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	623	2003-05-19	yoshin0020030519dz5j0043i
yomshi0020030519dz5k0005t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030519dz5k0005t	EN	\N	Japan not immune to SARS.	We urge both the central and local governments as well as medical institutions to be fully prepared to prevent a SARS epidemic from breaking out in this country.	8	2003-05-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Taiwanese doctor visited Japan four days after he was in contact with a patient who had SARS and he continued his journey even after he developed a fever, one of the symptoms of SARS. Such an action by a medical practitioner is completely unacceptable, and it was only natural that the government lodged a protest with Taiwan.The World Health Organization is advising people in SARS-stricken countries and regions not to travel overseas after presenting symptoms of the disease or having close contact with SARS victims. The government should join in urging countries and regions with the disease to strictly abide by the WHO advisory.Govt must tighten controlsThe government also needs to tighten controls at quarantine stations. Obviously, it is impossible to detect SARS-virus carriers at the time of their entry simply by asking them whether they have exhibited any symptoms of the disease. Therefore, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry gave instructions to ask people arriving from overseas about their jobs and whether they had been in contact with SARS patients. We believe this decision was quite reasonable.However, there is a limit to how much quarantine stations alone can do to prevent SARS from entering the country. Therefore, contingency plans must be made in the event of an outbreak of SARS and a system established to minimize the spread of the infection. We regret to say, however, that both the central and local governments are far from being fully prepared to handle an epidemic.For instance, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry initially was reluctant to make public the names of the places the Taiwanese doctor had been during his visit, before finally announcing them.The ministry is believed to have been reluctant to do so because of the difficulties in pin-pointing the locations at which the doctor had stayed as they straddled five prefectures in the Kansai and Shikoku regions. Nevertheless, the ministry was slow to react and it must establish clear guidelines to deal with any such future cases.Although the ministry had to make public the names of the places at which the doctor had stayed, it was, of course, unpleasant for the hotels and restaurants named. Therefore, once the central government has determined that the facilities pose no threat as a source of infection, it should make an announcement to that effect so that the hotels and restaurants did not suffer financially. In this respect, the understanding of the public also is required.Better local preparedness neededLocal governments were also at fault in their handling of the incident.In Osaka Prefecture, the governor was not informed of events until nine hours after the first reports had been received. The prefectural government also failed to conduct immediate follow-up investigations on its own authority because it was waiting for direction from the central government.Saitama Prefecture is in the vanguard of preparedness regarding SARS countermeasures, having established a special task force to deal with a possible SARS outbreak. The purpose of the task force is to coordinate the activities of prefectural government divisions and enable a flexible response in the event of a SARS case. We urge other local governments to follow Saitama Prefecture's example.The incident involving the Taiwanese doctor clearly shows that infectious diseases travel freely beyond the bounds of national boundaries.WHO opened a meeting of its annual General Assembly in Geneva on Monday, which took up Taiwan's petition to be given observer status.China is strongly opposed to the move for political reasons, but it is not in Japan's or the world's best interest that Taiwan be frozen out of an international system designed to prevent the spread of epidemics. China must learn to separate political issues from the issue of infectious disease.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	728	2003-05-20	yoshin0020030520dz5k002fs
yomshi0020030521dz5l00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030521dz5l00009	EN	\N	BOJ move won't cut mustard.	The central bank decided Tuesday to take an additional easy-money step, raising the outstanding balance of current accounts held by private financial institutions at the central bank to 27 trillion yen-30 trillion yen from 22 trillion yen-27 trillion yen.	8	2003-05-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the move was just the latest example of the central bank's conventional, ad hoc, quantitative-easing steps.Even after the serious state of the nation's financial system has become apparent with Resona Holdings Inc. having been effectively placed under state control, the monetary authorities are not taking the situation seriously enough.The government and the central bank should immediately come up with drastic measures to avert a crisis, reverse the deflationary trend and remove concerns over the financial system.The main items on the agenda at the latest central bank policy-setting meeting were how to deal with the yen's appreciation and declining stock prices, and how to avert confusion in the wake of the Resona affair.But the Policy Board members ended up deciding only on a narrow-range liquidity increase in the outstanding balance of current accounts held by private financial institutions.Meanwhile, pending issues, including the central bank's purchase of risk assets, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and loans and securities held by major commercial banks, were shelved for future discussion, as was a full-fledged study on the possible adoption of a reference value for inflation.Fukui should try something differentThe central bank supplied funds beyond the upper limit of 27 trillion yen soon after the Resona problem surfaced. Its latest decision is no more than a confirmation of its present stance.The market had pinned its hopes on Toshihiko Fukui, the new Bank of Japan governor, who announced one new measure after another every time the Policy Board convened.The latest move is part of a series of measures. But their contents have disappointed us. Tuesday's liquidity injection could be described as the latest example of the futile exercising of force of arms.The central bank should have ventured to take an unconventional policy to turn market concerns and worries around at a stroke at a time when a crisis in one of the nation's leading financial groups surfaced.Now is the time for the central bank to shift from conventional quantitative money-easing steps to qualitative money-easing measures by purchasing risk assets.For instance, even the announcement of the central bank's intention to purchase ETFs could be expected to send stock prices sharply higher.Considering the fact that there already have been calls for adopting an inflation guideline within the central bank, the Bank of Japan should start studying the issue immediately.Give the banks a breakThe central bank also should quickly materialize a new policy of listing asset-backed securities-securities backed by assets such as sales credits-as a possible option for purchase.Meanwhile, the government should look squarely at the present situation, whereby Japanese banks have been driven into a corner.Current conditions in the nation's financial system are such that it is essential for the government to compile a sizable supplementary budget to put the brakes on the deflationary trend, which will only generate more nonperforming loans.If the government regulates the deferred tax assets of banks as strictly as the United States does, it will become necessary to adopt a tax system that would allow businesses to make recourse as broadly as in the United States to such actions as nontaxable write-offs of bad loans and refunds for banks to carry a loss back to the previous year.The injection of public funds into Resona was decided at the meeting of a council to deal with financial crises, which Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi chairs and in which Bank of Japan Gov. Fukui participates.Since the decision was made in such a context, the government and the Bank of Japan must come up with effective crisis-management measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2003-05-21	yoshin0020030521dz5l003oz
yomshi0020030522dz5m0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030522dz5m0000a	EN	\N	Put loan sharks on notice.	The Liberal Democratic Party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and New Komeito have compiled bills to revise the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Control Law and the Moneylending Control Law.	12	2003-05-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has instructed the LDP to realize the revision of both laws during the current Diet session. The revision bills should be passed quickly so that the hardships caused by illegal moneylending can be minimized.According to the National Police Agency, a record 238 cases of unauthorized moneylending were unearthed by police in fiscal 2002, with a record number of 122,000 people victimized. People indebted to multiple consumer loan firms and financially strapped small-business operators have been the main targets of loan sharks, some of whose accrued profits are said to be revenue sources for criminal syndicates.However, only 12 of the 225 people convicted of violating the aforementioned laws in fiscal 2002 were given prison sentences, the Yomiuri Shimbun survey found.Most of those who were found guilty escaped with a suspended sentence or with a fine not exceeding 500,000 yen.Expanding the scope of illegal moneylending practices subject to punishment and significantly boosting statutory penalties, including fines, would go a long way toward curbing loan-sharking.Bills target unscrupulous lendersThe revision bills mapped out by each of the three parties have one thing common: Each is designed to prevent malicious would-be moneylenders from entering the business and to make it easier for authorities to apprehend such individuals.The first thing lawmakers should do is review the lenient regulations concerning the entry of would-be operators into the moneylending business.Under the existing law, people may register as moneylenders by paying a 43,000 yen fee. The bills call for the law to be revised so that would-be moneylenders would have to prove they have assets of several million yen. The revision is designed to drive out would-be loan sharks backed by only a small amount of capital who try to reap huge profits by charging exorbitant rates of interest.Under the revision drafted by the three parties, moneylenders would be subject to punishment if they charge interest rates higher than 29.2 percent, the maximum rate stipulated in the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Control Law. Advertisements and soliciting by unregistered moneylenders also would be made illegal. It is a matter of course to tighten laws against illegal moneylending to reflect reality.It is also essential to raise fines and penalties for loan-sharking.Under the bill drafted by the LDP, the penalties imposed on unregistered moneylenders and moneylenders charging illegal interest rates would be raised from "imprisonment of up to three years or a fine not exceeding 3 million yen" to "imprisonment of up to five years or a fine not exceeding 10 million yen."Enable new laws to functionWithin the moneylending business sector, there are calls for raising the upper limit of the interest rate stipulated in the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Control Law, which is slated to be reviewed in June.Those in favor of raising the limit assert that with the drop in the upper limit of the legal interest rate, made three years ago following the scandals involving leading operators of shoko loan firms, which extend short-term loans for small businesses that use promissory notes as collateral, even those who want to borrow money from authorized moneylenders, despite their legal but high interest rates, are availing themselves of loans from unauthorized moneylenders.But slightly raising the upper limit of interest rates will not get rid of unauthorized moneylenders. Legislators should not be swayed by the discussion on the review of the upper limit of the interest rate, which could lead to a delay in Diet deliberations on the bills.Even if the revised laws are enacted, they will not function properly unless the police and relevant offices within prefectural governments are given the means to enforce them.The Tokyo metropolitan government has doubled its officials in charge of regulating the moneylending business since 2001, meting out strict punishments to violators, including canceling their registration. It is vital to provide enough funding to reinforce such functions.It also will be necessary for lawmakers to take up for discussion such issues as asking moneylending business operators to exercise self-restraint in airing television commercials advertising easy-to-obtain loans and improving the system for disclosure of information concerning moneylenders' business operations.There are other complex issues that lie behind the illegal moneylending business.We hope both the ruling and opposition parties will accelerate moves to draw up new legislation to stamp out loan-sharking, in tandem with the government's drawing up comprehensive countermeasures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	830	2003-05-22	yoshin0020030522dz5m0045f
yomshi0020030522dz5n000bb	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030522dz5n000bb	EN	\N	N. Korea needs serious warning.	North Korea therefore must learn in no uncertain terms that the international community could take economic sanctions against it.	8	2003-05-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan, however, is highly unprepared to take a resolute stand on the reclusive state. Necessary laws must be implemented as soon as possible.Japan's inadequacy in this regard became glaringly obvious recently when a North Korean defector who had worked on that country's missile program testified to a U.S. Senate subcommittee about its illegal imports of missile parts. It is very disturbing to know that more than 90 percent of parts in North Korean missiles come from Japan despite strict restrictions on such exports.The Man Gyong Bong-a North Korean freight-passenger ship that irregularly plies between the communist country and Niigata Port-also turned out to have played a role.In December, the Metropolitan Police Department searched the office of a Tokyo manufacturer on suspicion of using the Man Gyong Bong to unlawfully export components that could be used to build missiles to North Korea. It also has been suggested that vessel is used to transport large sums of money from Japan to North Korea.Tougher laws requiredIn April 2002, the government enforced so-called catch-all regulations aimed at controlling exports of goods and technology linked to weapons development. It is nonetheless difficult to regulate such illegal exports through a third country. In addition, Japanese regulations do not apply to the money remitted to North Korea from Japan via financial institutions in a third nation.The government must deploy all pertinent laws in a crackdown on unlawful exports to North Korea. That alone, however, will not be enough.The government has reinterpreted the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law in connection with possible economic sanctions against North Korea. The new interpretation allows the government to suspend cash transfers and exports under an agreement between Tokyo and Washington, dispensing with the need for a U.N. resolution and a multilateral accord. This change has come too late. Japan has had every reason to take such an approach in dealing with North Korea.Some Liberal Democratic Party members are seeking to revise the same law to enable Tokyo to implement economic sanctions against another country at its own discretion. They also hope to establish a new law that would bar ships from entering Japanese ports if they are determined to pose a threat to security. The government must give serious thought to adopting these proposals.3-way cooperation keyUnder its current legal framework, Japan cannot forcibly inspect North Korean ships in international waters even if economic sanctions have been taken against Pyongyang.Japan could apply pressure on North Korea by making preparations to handle any emergency.Washington has said that it has not ruled out any options in dealing with North Korea. It is important to ensure that Japan can work with the United States to counter such a critical threat as North Korea's nuclear weapons program.The upcoming Japan-U.S. summit is expected to underscore the two nations' commitment to this goal. The summit will be followed by a meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun in June.A main focus of the Japan-South Korea summit will be on what concerted action South Korea can take with Japan and the United States in dealing with North Korea, although Roh has been conciliatory toward Pyongyang.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2003-05-23	yoshin0020030523dz5n003nt
yomshi0020030526dz5o0005t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030526dz5o0005t	EN	\N	Privacy now better protected.	The package of five laws is essential for Japan as an information society in that they are designed to defend the rights and interests of individuals while also respecting the value of access to personal information.	8	2003-05-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Eight years ago, the European Union banned its member nations from transferring personal information to countries outside the EU that had yet to take adequate measures to protect personal information. Given this, the package of the five laws on personal information represented an effort to accommodate a request from the international community.The law seeking to protect the confidentiality of personal information, a central pillar of the legislative package, will take effect in late May. A set of obligations to be fulfilled by businesses under the law will be put in place within two years. We hope that the government will make all possible preparations to ensure that this legal system serves its own purposes.There are numerous tasks to be tackled in implementing the five laws.First, there is an enormous number of private sector corporations subject to the law on the protection of personal information. It is difficult to make sure that the legal system works if these businesses do not fully understand what they should do under the law. Confusion also would ensue if different companies deal with pertinent cases in different manners. With this in mind, it is necessary to prepare easy-to-understand manuals for relevant businesses so they will know exactly how to fulfill their duties.It is also necessary to establish private sector associations responsible for receiving complaints from the public about the treatment of personal information as soon as possible, as well as offices set up by the central and local governments for similar purposes.More laws neededThe law on the confidentiality of personal information is a comprehensive, basic item of legislation that covers all sectors of society. As the law alone will hardly suffice, separate laws should be established to cover areas in which personal information must be handled with extreme care, including the financial business, the information and communications industry and the medical business.The law on the protection of personal information held by administrative institutions, another main pillar of the legislative package, stipulates heavy penalties for abusing personal data. These punitive provisions may help prevent offenses to a certain extent.An important task facing the new legal system is to raise the awareness of personnel who undertake to handle personal information.An information-seeker list scandal that rocked the Defense Agency in 2002 served as another reminder of the lack of awareness among bureaucrats about the importance of protecting the confidentiality of personal information. The creation of the five laws does not guarantee that all government employees will follow their legal obligations. If they do not obey the laws, there will be no end to the abuse of human rights by government officials.Educate public servants on legislationIn this sense, it is necessary to educate employees of the government ministries and agencies about the need to abide by the laws. It is also essential to determine who is responsible for ensuring everyone follows the rules at each government office.The law on the protection of personal information excludes news organizations from the list of institutions subject to the duties imposed by the law in deference to the freedom of the press.However, this does not mean that news organizations are allowed to handle personal information arbitrarily. Some low-brow magazines should be condemned for glaringly violating the privacy of individuals.Given their exclusion from the list, news organizations must even more harshly discipline themselves in news reporting. As a newspaper publisher, we will take our duty to heart and strive to live up to the trust of our readers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	666	2003-05-24	yoshin0020030524dz5o000fh
yomshi0020030525dz5q00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030525dz5q00002	EN	\N	Defense policy doesn't fit times.	Discussion of the nation's defense policy must be held without making any subject taboo and paying due consideration to changes in the military circumstances surrounding this country, from the viewpoint of what specific measures should be taken to ensure the nation's security.	8	2003-05-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The views calling for giving second thought to the conventional defense policy concept are worth listening to, and there should be in-depth discussion about which facets of the concept should be changed and how.The term "exclusively defense-oriented policy" was first used in the 1970 edition of "Defense of Japan," the white paper on national security.Since then, the government has persistently explained the concept as signifying that Japan, in the event the nation faces the need to defend itself from a military attack, will "limit the actions of self-defense exclusively to Japan's own soil and surrounding areas, without making any direct attack on any base of the assailant country."In line with this policy, the nation's programs to build up defense capabilities have been based on the principle of "not possessing what are characterized as offensive weapons."New era demands new stanceIt was due to this kind of thinking that a proposal to allow the Air Self-Defense Force to be equipped with air-to-air refueling aircraft was not approved, and SDF fighters were ordered to do without precision bombing apparatus.Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, for that matter, recently propounded the problem in a lecture. Abe said, "Given that weapons technology has been making rapid progress, while military strategies and tactics in many parts of the world have been changing fast, the wisdom of limiting the nation's defense to the conventional idea of an exclusively defense-oriented policy should be brought under review."Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba, for his part, has come out with the stand that considering the advisability of allowing the SDF to have the capability to strike an enemy military base is "worthy of study." The Defense Agency chief's view has been echoed by some legislators well versed in security affairs, both from the Liberal Democratic Party and the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).What is common to these lines of argument is a sense of crisis over military threats from North Korea.North Korea is said to have deployed nearly 200 medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles that have all been aimed at Japan. Should Pyongyang become able to mount nuclear arms-the development of which is now under way-on the missiles, Japan would be confronted with an even graver threat.The SDF as it now is does not have any means to defend the country effectively from a ballistic missile strike.The Defense Agency is considering introducing such missile-interceptors as PAC-3 missiles and other up-to-date antimissile systems. The areas to be covered by such systems, however, are narrowly limited-the systems are far from being able to protect the entire country from an ultra-high-speed ballistic missile assault.Govt must not shirk reviewFacing up to this reality, we cannot help but say it is only natural for us to wonder whether Japan's total dependency on the United States for deterrence against a missile attack should be kept unchanged through continuing the conventional exclusively defense-oriented policy, or whether we should ponder the need for Japan to acquire, to a certain degree, the capability to cope with missile threats itself.In 1956, then Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama said in a Diet interpellation, "Inaction that would bring the nation to ruin can never be considered something that is dictated by the Constitution."The spirit of the exclusively defense-oriented policy, which consists of never applying military threats to other countries and not possessing defense capabilities in excess of the minimum level necessary for self-defense, has taken root with the public.While keeping intact this principle, the government should not shirk its responsibility to make efforts to ensure that the nation's defense capability will keep adequately abreast of changes in the times and in security situations.There can be no justification for the government bringing the force of thought to a halt in this regard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	771	2003-05-26	yoshin0020030526dz5q0051p
yomshi0020030527dz5r0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030527dz5r0000b	EN	\N	Takenaka caused banks' woes.	The consolidated accounts for the business year to March 31 announced by the major banking groups reveal they posted a combined loss of 5.2 trillion yen incurred by writing off bad loans, while chalking up a combined net loss of 4.6 trillion yen.	8	2003-05-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The profits earned by the banking groups were wiped out by their need to write off sizable bad loans, as well as by a plunge in stock prices.The change in the method of calculating deferred tax assets, the reason behind Resona Holdings Inc. going cap in hand to the government, has driven each of the banking groups into a corner.The most worrying thing, in terms of the future, is the sense of misgiving in the financial system, and fears that credit contraction may spread at a stroke.Takenaka plan needs reviewAs part of efforts to avoid such future concerns it is vital to discuss suspending the financial revitalization program, championed by Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, financial and fiscal policy.On the one hand, the seven major banking groups posted a record high of more than 4 trillion yen in net operating profits. They chalked up sizable profits in their core businesses chiefly because of a reduction in the cost of procuring funds thanks to record low interest rates, and increased profits in managing funds, including government bonds.But on the other hand, a special audit of banks and the introduction, under the Takenaka plan, of a U.S.-style formula for calculating loan-loss reserves that more strictly assesses loan assets meant that the cost of disposing of bad loans exceeded the banking groups' combined net operating profits by more than 1 trillion yen.The capital strength of the major banking groups has also been hit hard by declining stock prices.In total, losses from the booking of large-margin declines in the value of equity holdings as appraisal losses in earnings reports, together with the losses on sales of stocks held, came to a combined 3 trillion yen for the major banking groups.Given this, there is no way the banking groups could post profits, no matter how much they earned through core banking businesses.The measure to accelerate the write-off of bad loans held by banking institutions-advocated in the Takenaka plan-has exerted excessive burdens on banks.We should not overlook the fact that the capital increase, which the major banking groups were forced to do ahead of the settlement of accounts for the year to March 31, also sent stock prices tumbling.Making matters worse was the review of the calculation of the deferred tax assets at banks.In the latest account-settlements, not only Resona but other banking groups, including Mizuho Holdings Inc., gave up including sizable deferred tax assets in their equity capital.With a capital increase totaling about 2 trillion yen, the five banking groups managed to keep their capital-adequacy ratio at above 8 percent-the minimum requirement for internationally operating banks. Yet it will be difficult for them to increase capital further.Time to loosen tight fiscal policyConcern lingers that the banks could experience a shortfall in capital in the future. Any sudden rush by the banks to withdraw existing loans from corporate borrowers could seriously damage the economy.It is government policy that the ratio of bad loans to total loans at major banks be halved by the end of fiscal 2004.The burden of achieving the target, coupled with a further decline in stock prices, could prove too much for some banking groups to endure.The matter of deferred tax assets should be reviewed in tandem with such tax incentives as eased criteria on nontaxable write-off of bad loans and an expanded scope of refunds for banks to carry a loss back to the previous year.To fight the deflationary trend that generates fresh bad loans, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi needs to make a drastic shift away from the current tight fiscal policy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	694	2003-05-27	yoshin0020030527dz5r0031i
yomshi0020030528dz5s0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030528dz5s0000a	EN	\N	Deal harshly with suspicious ship.	The ship's activities are deeply suspicious and Japan as a sovereign state must not sit idly by, but should instead pursue new ways to deal with the vessel.	8	2003-05-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Investigations by public security authorities have raised a variety of doubts and suspicions about the ship.The vessel has been used to illegally remit cash from Japan to North Korea and to pass instructions from Pyongyang to North Korean intelligence agents in Japan to recruit South Korean military personnel as spies.There also are suspicions the ship has been used to transport machinery from Japan that can be converted for use in North Korea's missile development program, and even that it has been used to illegally export missile components to North Korea.Recently a North Korean defector who worked as an engineer in North Korea's missile program testified before a U.S. Senate panel, saying that about 90 percent of the components in North Korea's missiles were manufactured in Japan and transported there by the ship.Ship shrouded in suspicionLocal governments, including the Niigata prefectural government, have begun calling on the central government to conduct stricter inspections of the cargo and to restrict the vessel from entering ports in their areas.As long as suspicions remain, the central government is obliged to investigate and take appropriate action when illegal acts are discovered.The government has worked out a policy to strengthen inspections aboard the ship by the Japan Coast Guard and inspections of cargo by customs personnel when the ship enters port. Taking such action is reasonable, the issue is whether it is sufficient. For example, coast guard officers are authorized to board and inspect the ship if necessary, but under the current laws it is difficult for them to inspect every part of the ship.The first step is to determine what can be done under the existing laws.Cabinet unity requiredDuring a recent meeting of ministers concerned, there were conflicting opinions over the issue. As long as the Cabinet members remain divided in their approach to the current situation, it will be difficult to respond effectively. These divisions are the reason the government's responses appear to be too little and too late.If the initial response was not adequate, then alternative measures should be worked out.Some within the Liberal Democratic Party are making the case for drafting new legislation to restrict vessels considered a possible threat to the nation's safety from entering Japanese ports. The government needs to treat these suggestions favorably and seriously consider the idea.The Man Gyong Bong 92 reportedly is scheduled to call at ports in Japan 10 times by September. The upcoming call will not be the last. The government should come up with a permanent solution to replace its stopgap measures.At the recent Japan-U.S. summit talks, the leaders of both countries agreed to deal with North Korea by pursuing dialogue and exerting pressure.It would be a significant move for Japan to exert pressure by clearly demonstrating it will deal harshly with illegal and suspicious acts by North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2003-05-28	YOSHIN0020030528dz5s003d5
yomshi0020030528dz5t0005n	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030528dz5t0005n	EN	\N	ES success a boon for science.	It is the first time scientists in Japan have produced ES cells, which have the potential to grow into nerve and organ tissue. The Kyoto University group has said it will continue to cultivate the cells with the aim of distributing them for free to other research institutes in the autumn.	12	2003-05-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There is growing competition among scientists internationally over research into ES cells. Japan has so far had to buy human ES cells from overseas to conduct such research.The Kyoto University group's accomplishment means that ES cells can be produced at home, circumventing the need to import them, and is of great significance in domestic ES research. We hope that the latest achievement will encourage related research to find a means to transform the study of regenerative medicine into practical treatment.ES cells are made using fertilized eggs that have started to divide. They have the potential to differentiate to form various cells that grow into nerves, bones and various internal organs.A successful attempt to freely control the growth of ES cells means that sufferers of a wide range of diseases could be treated via regenerative medicine, or tissue transplantation. The list of diseases includes myocardial diseases and liver ailments as well as Parkinson's disease, a progressive nervous disease associated with the destruction of brain cells.This is why scientists worldwide are fiercely competing to make headway into ES research.Regulations address ethical questionsMeanwhile, ethical questions have been raised over the study of ES cells as it uses fertilized eggs-an embryonic form of life.Two years ago, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry drew up a set of guidelines for the study of ES cells. In producing the nation's first ES cells, Kyoto University strictly adhered to the guidelines. The ministry's guidelines impose severe restrictions on both producers of ES cells and recipients of such cells. ES researchers also must have their study plans examined and screened by the government before conducting their research.Research institutions and scientists must continue to follow the rules laid down by the ministry in conducting their studies.A task of immediate importance facing scientists is to determine the safety of regenerative medicine involving ES cells. They must fully ensure the safety of cells into which ES cells have differentiated on the strength of their techniques. Otherwise, the use of such cells in treating patients will not be allowed.Rules must keep up with scienceIn recent years, scientists around the world have made rapid progress in life sciences. Some researchers have said that regenerative medicine involving ES cells will soon be employed in treating intractable diseases.However, today's regulations only cover basic ES cell research. It is necessary to establish rules on the clinical application of ES cells as soon as possible.There also are problems to be tackled in the protection of intellectual rights when it comes to promoting the study of ES cells. Japan falls behind the United States in this regard. U.S. corporations are stepping up efforts to gain basic patents on technology involving ES cells.For years, the Japanese Patent Office has not granted patents on medical inventions or technology.If the situation is not addressed, Japan will have to pay massive patent royalties to foreign holders of patents on regenerative medicine. This could bring about a sharp rise in medical bills to be paid by domestic patients.The Patent Office is reversing its policy and working out specific measures to grant patents on medical treatment. We hope that the Patent Office will implement its new policy as soon as possible for the purpose of supporting domestic researchers in their study of ES cells.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	654	2003-05-29	YOSHIN0020030529dz5t000jg
yomshi0020030529dz5u00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030529dz5u00005	EN	\N	Taiwan also part of anti-SARS war.	The ease with which people and goods flow across national borders is a key element of this globalization. It is no less easy to see, however, that dangerous diseases also know no national boundaries, making it difficult to effectively contain the spread of such diseases.	8	2003-05-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During its recent annual meeting, the World Health Organization adopted a resolution calling for stronger preventive measures against SARS.WHO plans to revise its regulations to permit the prompt dispatch of investigators to SARS-hit nations by taking advantage of information provided by nongovernmental organizations and the media. This reflects the bitter lesson learned from China, which covered up the number of its citizens infected with SARS and other matters, a factor that contributed significantly to the spread of the lung infection in that country.Swift measures should be implemented to set up a global anti-SARS network. The latest WHO resolution is a welcome move, but it comes too late.However, an important question has still not been addressed. Due to strong objections from China, WHO has rejected a request from Taiwan to be given observer status. The territory has sought observer status for the past six years.WHO resolution far from clearThe SARS resolution was ambiguous in addressing calls from the United States and some other members to increase support for nonmember Taiwan, saying the U.N. health agency would "respond appropriately to all requests for WHO support." This was also an attempt to ensure the resolution did not offend China.Even this vaguely worded phrase seems to have antagonized Beijing, which called the request "an unpardonable attempt by some nations to politicize the health problem." The only nation that attempted to politicize the crisis was China.If the international network battling SARS does not cover Taiwan, it will be flawed. Such an omission could pose a serious threat to Japan, given its close relationship with the territory.The Japanese were recently shocked by the revelation that a SARS-infected Taiwan doctor visited the Kansai region and Shikoku. Fortunately, no Japanese was found to have contracted the disease. However, the incident dealt an economic blow to tourism related businesses in these areas.Swift detection, quarantine essentialThe list of themes to be taken up by the Group of Eight summit, which opens in Evian, France, on Sunday, will include anti-SARS measures. Japan should reiterate the importance of building an international anti-SARS network that includes Taiwan.It is extremely difficult to contain the spread of SARS in any area if the virus finds an entry point.For example, WHO earlier declared Toronto SARS-free. However, Canada's largest city has been put back on the list of places affected by the virus after new cases were discovered. More than 5,000 residents in Toronto have been quarantined.This holds true in the Philippines, which was recently removed from the list of SARS-affected places. However, new suspected SARS victims have been reported.It is essential to swiftly detect and quarantine SARS patients, so that victims do not move from one place to another. This is necessary to prevent the spread of SARS, for which there is no treatment.Closely coordinated efforts among all nations and territories are essential.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	563	2003-05-30	YOSHIN0020030530dz5u000ka
yomshi0020030530dz5v00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030530dz5v00007	EN	\N	Deflation causes more 'freeters'.	The government's white paper on national life, titled "Deflation and Daily Life-Young 'Freeters' at Present," issued warnings in this respect about the country's current situation.	8	2003-05-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The white paper defined "freeters" as part-time workers between 15 and 34 and jobless people in the same age bracket, a broader definition than the one generally accepted. "Freeter" is a Japanese-coined word derived from the English-German combination "free-arbeiter," "arbeit" being the German word for "work."The number of freeters more than doubled from 1.83 million in 1990 to 4.17 million in 2001. In April, the jobless rate among those aged 24 and younger was 12 percent, far higher than the average unemployment rate of 5.4 percent.The employment situation for young people today is terrible. As long as they remain freeters, they will not be able to attain special job skills, a factor that may adversely affect productivity. If this situation is not addressed, economic prospects will remain dark. The government must rectify this situation as soon as possible.Young people put lifestyle 1stSome experts attribute the rapid increase in the number of freeters to the different perspective young people have toward jobs as they reportedly place a higher priority on their own lifestyle rather than a career.However, the white paper contended that the phenomenon was caused by companies reviewing their employment strategies, such as reducing the number of college graduates they hire, due to the prolonged recession.The white paper referred to an opinion poll on freeters, in which more than 70 percent of them expressed a wish to become permanent employees. In other words, many freeters are forced to work as part-timers or are unable to find suitable jobs.The report also covered similarly troubled countries and explained how they are dealing with the increasing number of unemployed young people.The United States, for example, succeeded in motivating students to find jobs through an internship system, in which companies accept students for a certain period of time. Britain, on the other hand, managed to drastically reduce unemployment among young people through a policy centering on vocational education. Japan could learn something from these efforts.Koizumi must change policyAlthough it is obvious that the government must take the necessary policies to correct the situation, the main factor that deprives young people of employment opportunities is deflation.The white paper stressed that deflation must be arrested if the unemployment situation among young people is to be resolved. However, to tackle the problem, the report kept pounding away on the theme of structural reforms.The main structural reform efforts carried out by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet were a belt-tightening budget and an acceleration in the disposal of bad loans. Yet these policies have escalated the deflation spiral. Koizumi must be aware that his policies have led to a deterioration of the employment situation, thereby adversely affecting this country's young people.The government must reverse its macroeconomic policy to lead the economy out of deflation as soon as possible if it wants to prove that it is capable of governing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2003-05-31	YOSHIN0020030531dz5v000kt
yomshi0020030611dz61000b5	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030611dz61000b5	EN	\N	Is China changing under Hu?	The first summit meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao proceeded amicably all the way through. The atmosphere at this meeting in St. Petersburg was completely different from the icy atmosphere at the meeting between Koizumi and former Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Mexico in autumn.	8	2003-06-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At that meeting, Jiang referred to Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, including Class-A war criminals, no less than three times. The former Chinese president even told Koizumi it would be better if he stopped visiting the shrine.However, it is a purely domestic affair how a leader expresses mourning for his country's war dead. Other countries have no say in this matter.In his talks with Koizumi Saturday, Hu stopped short of mentioning the Yasukuni issue. Instead, the two leaders agreed on a future-oriented approach to Tokyo-Beijing ties and confirmed plans to exchange further visits between the two leaders.Recently, some Chinese opinion leaders and academics have been making remarks that differ from the country's usual official views, such as "the dispute over Japan's apology for the past has already been settled," or "it is an illusion to claim that Japan's militarism has revived."Too early to tellHu may wish to open a new era in Japan-China diplomacy, different from the one under the rule of Jiang, in line with these new trends in his country. If that is really his intention, it could be a move that would herald a new era in China.But it is still too early to decide that China has changed under the new president. As proof, Hu reportedly asked Koizumi to be sure to handle historical controversies and the Taiwan issue appropriately.In the summit meeting with Koizumi, the Chinese side might have had in mind the support the Japanese government has provided in China's fight against SARS. Taking this into account, more time is needed to ascertain China's real stance toward Japan.At the summit meeting, Koizumi and Hu also agreed to comprehensively and peacefully resolve a series of North Korean issues, including its nuclear arms development program and the abduction of Japanese nationals.Naturally, it would be most desirable to settle the issues through dialogue, even though North Korea claimed to have been secretly developing nuclear weapons in violation of the Agreed Framework, a 1994 agreement between the United States and North Korea.Keeping the pressure onWe believe it is important to keep the pressure on a rogue country like North Korea, in an attempt to promote dialogue.Japan must ask China, which is on friendly terms with North Korea, to understand this point. In this respect, Koizumi and the Japanese government are expected to play the important role of making requests to the Chinese government based on the agreement made at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting last month.A quarter century after the conclusion of the 1978 Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship, bilateral relations have moved beyond the framework of friendship.Based on national interest, the government is urged to say what must be said and try to develop a new relationship by so doing. Japan-China diplomacy must evolve into one between two equal partners.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2003-06-01	YOSHIN0020030602dz61000ej
yomshi0020030611dz62000b8	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030611dz62000b8	EN	\N	Improve home health care.	Take, for example, the removal of phlegm by suction, which had long been considered a medical act that could be performed only by doctors or nurses. This can now be done, in certain cases, by home helpers-on the condition that they do so in cooperation with family doctors and home-visit nurses.	8	2003-06-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The decision to allow home helpers to perform the act was made by a study panel of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry in response to a request from groups of sufferers of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). In a report, the panel approved the measure as "an exception." Though the decision has taken time, it is a step in the right direction.Many sufferers of ALS, an incurable neuromuscular disease, rely on artificial respirators. Families and care-givers need to clear the phlegm out of the patients' throats every 30 to 60 minutes to prevent clots from forming.The physical and mental burdens this places on families and care-givers are quite heavy. But thanks to the ministry's decision, the burden on them has been lessened somewhat.More exceptions neededIt is not only ALS sufferers who rely on artificial respirators, others include those with muscular dystrophy and the severely physically handicapped. Yet their caregivers were excluded in the panel's report.Although discretion needs to be applied when it comes to letting nonmedical professionals perform a medical act, there is no reason that the exception should not be applied to those providing care to non-ALS patients who depend on artificial respirators. The ministry should extend the same privilege to such patients and their caregivers.Behind the issue is the fact that support for patients receiving medical treatment at home, whose number is on the rise, is inadequate.The nation's medical system has been run on the premise that medical care be given at hospitals and clinics. Thus, elementary procedures such as applying ointments or eye drops, or taking a person's blood pressure or temperature are classified as medical acts, because hospitals and clinics are well-staffed by medical professionals-doctors and nurses.However, the introduction of the public-run nursing-care insurance system has meant that an increasing number of people who need medical care are being treated at home.Given this, the reality is that certain medical acts must be performed by home helpers and caregivers.Health ministry must actIdeally, certain areas of health care, such as house calls by doctors and nursing care by home-visit nurses, should have been improved before the nursing care insurance system was introduced.The hard-and-fast interpretation of what constitutes a medical act also should have been reviewed in light of the reality of the situation.The ministry bears a heavy responsibility for failing to do so, and it should remedy the shortcomings in the system as soon as possible.The ministry would do well to look at the system established in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, for a lead.There, family doctors and home-visit nurses, working in collaboration with home helpers and the families of those receiving care at home, have established a system that provides high-quality medical treatment and care at patients' homes.Under the system, home helpers are given training under the guidance of doctors to perform certain medical acts at patients' homes.The family doctors of the patients receive reports from the helpers and keep a close watch on the conditions of the patients. It is important that similar programs be launched throughout the nation.The number of people that will need to receive medical treatment at home will increase in the future. We should realize, as soon as possible, systems whereby those working in medicine and nursing care work together to support patients receiving care at home.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2003-06-02	YOSHIN0020030602dz620011s
yomshi0020030611dz63000bc	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030611dz63000bc	EN	\N	Unity needed over N. Korea.	The challenge that lies ahead is whether the international community will be able to act in concert in taking tough measures, including sanctions, against Pyongyang if its actions warrant such steps.	8	2003-06-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Leaders of the Group of Eight major nations attending a summit meeting in Evian, France have held bilateral talks with each other, and have collectively announced their determination to call on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons development program.The leaders of China and the United States, which together with North Korea are holding trilateral talks on the issue, agreed in bilateral talks to work toward finding a peaceful resolution of the issue through diplomatic means.Also at the summit, the G-8 leaders reconfirmed, during the political session held Monday afternoon, the policy of calling on North Korea to give up its nuclear ambition.North Korea should take such a warning from the international community seriously and abandon its nuclear weapons development program completely and promptly in a verifiable and irreversible manner.Both stick and carrot requiredJapan and the United States reconfirmed in a summit meeting their position of dealing with North Korea by pursuing dialogue while at the same time letting Pyongyang know that they will take tougher measures if the North escalates its nuclear activities, by, for instance, resuming the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.But the leaders of China and Russia are adamant that dialogue alone should be used to resolve the issue, sending signals to Washington that they would accept neither the use of pressure nor any attempt to settle the issue through the use of force.But when we consider that North Korea, which U.S. President George W. Bush has called a rogue state, has disregarded a number of international accords, the advocacy of peace through dialogue alone will not patently work. The only way pressure can effectively be applied on Pyongyang is if it is aware that tougher options have not been ruled out.In an attempt to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Bush is advocating a new multilateral accord.The accord would enable spot inspections of ships and aircraft suspected of transporting weapons.Japan, for its part, needs to step up its monitoring of North Korean vessels, including the Man Gyong Bong 92 cargo-passenger ship, so as to prevent Pyongyang from smuggling equipment and parts out of Japan that could be converted into missile parts. It is also necessary to start discussions on the legislation required to take economic sanctions against North Korea.Bureaucrats overstepping the markHowever, there is a problem in that certain bureaucrats in charge of foreign affairs oppose the idea of the government exerting pressure on Pyongyang.Prior to the Japan-U.S. summit talks, at which the dual policy of "dialogue and pressure" was drawn up, some bureaucrats strongly opposed the incorporation of the word "pressure" in the policy, saying that the use of such wording may send Pyongyang out of control.When the bureaucrats prepared a gist of the policy for distribution to the media at the conclusion of the summit meeting, they dropped the word from the summary.It is reasonable for bureaucrats to argue over such wording during the formulation of policy, but it is unacceptable for them to oppose a policy decision made by the prime minister. In any case, the bureaucrats' line of logic that the mere hint of exerting pressure on North Korea would enrage that country was absurd in the first place.The only way the international community can show North Korea that it means business is to make it plain to Pyongyang that both dialogue and pressure will be used as required.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2003-06-03	YOSHIN0020030603dz63000j8
yomshi0020030604dz6400009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030604dz6400009	EN	\N	G-8 should put house in order.	A major focus of this year's summit was on what kinds of specific prescriptions the G-8 nations would be able to write in their efforts to solve the economic and political challenges facing them. This was particularly significant in that the latest summit came after the United States had been at odds with France, Germany and Russia over the Iraq war.	8	2003-06-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, U.S. President George W. Bush left France early for talks with Middle East leaders in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt.A task of prime importance confronting the G-8 leaders was to discuss what to do in rehabilitating war-torn Iraq. However, they spent little time taking up issues related to Iraq's reconstruction, apparently in the hope of preventing the divisions between the United States and France from surfacing again.This evasive attitude was evident, for example, in the Chair's Summary, which merely said the G-8 nations welcomed a U.N. Security Council resolution pledging to end 13 years of economic sanctions on Iraq.Economic issues taken up in the latest summit meeting included the sharp fall in the value of the U.S. dollar, which has raised concerns about adverse effects on the Japanese and European economies. With this in mind, Bush pledged to maintain the strong dollar policy. However, this has only helped weaken the dollar in global markets, reflecting the failure of Japan, the United States and the European Union to pursue new policy coordination, including joint market intervention.The Evian summit also issued more than 10 documents, including an action plan and a declaration. This may be interpreted as an attempt to paper over the rift among the G-8 leaders.Cooperation vitalThe participants in the three-day summit devoted one day to dialogue with top leaders from emergent and African countries.This expanded dialogue at the G-8 summit was a brainchild of French President Jacques Chirac, who believes that efforts to promote the growth of industrial powers call for cooperation with developing nations. Put another way, one purpose of the dialogue was to put a brake on the United States as it is increasingly inclined to go it alone in dealing with international affairs.The annual summit started in 1975, when industrial powers-Japan, the United States and some European nations-stood determined to join hands in fighting an economic crisis due to the first oil shock. Nearly three decades later, the international community is beset by a host of profound problems, including the global deflationary crisis and international terrorism.To overcome these problems, the G-8 leaders must mend fences and put their cooperative relations back on track.Japan tasked with boosting economyJapan lacks an international forum for frequent discussions among global leaders that compares to the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This country is not a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, either. Given this, the G-8 summit provides Japan with a precious opportunity to discuss common tasks with the leaders from the major powers. To this nation, the annual summit is still an international conference of high value.The Evian summit has significantly benefited Japan in that it agreed to present an internationally united front against North Korea in resolving the crisis arising from the communist state's nuclear weapons program and the dispute over Japanese abducted by that country.It is important for Japan to ensure that it continues to carry a lot of weight in the G-8 summit if it wants to see the annual gathering serve the interests of this country.However, Japan's influence on the summit could decline if it remains economically weak under the weight of its deflationary crisis. Swift measures should be taken to ensure that this nation regains its economic and financial power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2003-06-04	YOSHIN0020030604dz64000km
yomshi0020030616dz65000gr	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030616dz65000gr	EN	\N	Help local govts help themselves.	Members of the Council for Decentralization Reform are putting the final touches to a paper detailing their opinions about reform of the local government financial system. The reform entails efforts to carry out three key plans simultaneously, under what is called the trinity formula, with the aim of shoring up the financial foundation of local governments.	12	2003-06-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The council's report calls for delaying the implementation of one of the three major reforms, namely, a transfer of some tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments.Some time earlier, the Local Government System Research Council submitted its opinions on the same theme. This panel's report clearly states that some tax revenue sources should be transferred to local governments through various measures, including by raising individual residence taxes and the portion of consumption tax revenues allotted to local governments.Both the Council for Decentralization Reform and the Local Government System Research Council are advisory bodies to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Their reports present the prime minister with conflicting views on how to reform the local government financial system.Nonetheless, there is no doubt about which report Koizumi should endorse.The trend toward decentralization is irreversible. There has been slow but steady progress in transferring some authorities from the central government to local governments. Given this, it is essential to ensure that local governments can avail themselves of the financial resources needed to accommodate the ongoing changes.Implement trinity formula by all meansThe trinity formula calls for curtailing subsidies received by local governments for specific purposes set by the central government, while also reviewing the system governing tax grants from the central government to local governments. This will be complemented by an effort to make headway in transferring some tax revenue sources from the central government to the local governments.The ongoing reform inevitably would produce unbalanced results if the central government reduced its subsidies to local governments while refusing to give them more tax revenue sources.Koizumi has often said that local governments should be left to do what they can on their own. His assertion has been echoed by the government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, which emphasizes the need to transfer tax revenue sources.After studying the reports issued by the two panels on local autonomy and decentralization, the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy will soon begin discussions in the final stages of its efforts to reach a conclusion on the trinity formula. The third panel's consensus will be incorporated into a so-called big-boned reform policy to be adopted in late June.Koizumi, who chairs the council, must demonstrate his leadership in carrying out the trinity formula by any means.Koizumi must forge ahead with reformFinance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa has said that he will not oppose a proposal to transfer revenues from some taxes to local governments, including tobacco and liquor taxes. Shiokawa's attitude probably reflects his thinking that it is difficult to resist the ongoing trend despite objections from Finance Ministry bureaucrats.With this in mind, the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy should work to present specific plans, including a list of tax items to be transferred, the amount of revenues to be given to local governments and a timetable for these reforms.The transfer of tax revenues needs to be complemented by a cut in state subsidies to local governments. Measures must be taken swiftly to accomplish this. However, central government ministries and agencies that have stake in such subsidies are bitterly opposed to the reduction, as are lawmakers with vested interests.The prime minister must rebut their objections and make a firm decision to go ahead with the reform.There also are numerous tasks to be tackled by local governments. They must stop taking state subsidies for granted and cut their expenditures. To provide more efficient administrative services, it also is essential to make progress in integrating local governments as a basis for the ongoing decentralization campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2003-06-05	YOSHIN0020030605dz65000if
yomshi0020030619dz660005l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030619dz660005l	EN	\N	New step in the Middle East.	In a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmous Abbas accepted the U.S.-backed "road map," which calls for the creation of a Palestinian state.	8	2003-06-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Sharon is the first Israeli prime minister to approve the creation of a Palestinian state since the establishment of Jewish state. In response, Abbas said he would try to bring an end to the Palestinians' armed struggle. We welcome the agreement as one that shows the determination of the two leaders to sever the chain of violence and bloodshed.Of course, peace in the Middle East will not be realized simply because the two leaders expressed their determination to bring peace. However, the two prime ministers are expected to carry out their obligations as stipulated in the Middle East "road map."Promises must be fullfilledAbove all, it is essential to end terrorism and violence. Although Palestinian extremists declared that they would continue their armed struggle, Abbas must do his best to honor his pledge to end "the militarization" of the uprising. If the leaders fail to fulfill their promises, the road map will end up as a mere scrap of paper.It is also important to reform the Palestinian Authority drastically. To do this, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and other senior leaders must fully back Abbas.On the other hand, Sharon's first challenge will be the settlement issue.Although Sharon pledged to immediately uproot outposts established in the West Bank without the Israeli government's permission, the Palestinians are demanding the evacuation of all settlements. The road map calls for the evacuation of all Israeli settlements established after March 2001, when Sharon came to power.In Israel, Jewish settlers, mainly rightists, are strongly opposed to Wednesday's accord, complaining that Sharon made concessions to the Palestinians. However, Sharon must show political determination in faithfully following the road map.Don't leave everything to U.S.Bush should be praised for successfully bringing the two Middle East leaders together in order to resume the peace process.Although the president was believed to have ignored this process since he took office, he eventually exerted strong leadership to put it back on track.Saying that Middle East peace was the top U.S. diplomatic issue, Bush pledged to dispatch a mission to monitor implementation of the road map.Worsening Palestinian conditions resulted in the destabilization of the Middle East and increasing anti-U.S. sentiment in the region. Therefore, we expect the U.S. government to play a pivotal role in the peace process as a strong mediator.However, the international community should not rely completely on U.S. efforts to resolve the problem. Not only Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, which jointly helped draw up the road map, but the rest of the world, including Japan, should help bring peace to the region.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	521	2003-06-06	YOSHIN0020030606dz66000k7
yomshi0020030620dz67000ba	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030620dz67000ba	EN	\N	Don't stop with contingency laws.	The plenary session of the House of Councillors on Friday passed three contingency bills into law, including one specifying the steps the government should take in the event of armed foreign attacks on Japan. The new laws will allow the government to take certain measures in the event of emergencies and lay out procedures defining the activities of the Self-Defense Forces.	8	2003-06-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the enactment of these laws, Japan now has a system that all states governed by law are supposed to have.North Korea's nuclear arms and missile development programs pose a serious threat to Japan. Thus, the passage of the contingency legislation sends a clear message to North Korea that Japan will resolutely respond to threats posed by that country.The enactment of the three laws allows the SDF to deal with armed foreign attacks without taking supralegal measures.Nearly 90 percent of lawmakers voted for the three contingency bills in both chambers of the Diet. After the government submitted the original bills to the Diet in April last year, the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), made a counterproposal in April this year, which eventually led to the two sides agreeing to revise them in May.Expanded SDF roleIt is desirable for legislation, which constitutes the basis of Japan's security, to be passed with as broad an agreement as possible. Therefore, it is highly significant that the ruling and opposition parties made concessions.In addition, the new legislation will give a much-needed boost to the Japan-U.S. alliance framework. Enactment of the laws effectively strengthens the legal framework for Japan to repel armed foreign attacks jointly with the United States.In the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, the SDF will be allowed not only to support the United States on the basis of the law governing its operations to assist U.S. military forces during an emergency in areas surrounding Japan, but also to embark on preparations to repel a possible armed foreign attack on Japan even before such a contingency arises.Yet, although Japan finally managed to put in place the so-called "legal infrastructure" to protect the country, this does not necessarily mean that it is fully prepared to respond to emergencies.Other emergency issuesThe contingency laws are set up primarily on the assumption that an armed foreign attack would be launched by the national army of an enemy state.However, the main threats to Japan today are not limited to general emergencies. This country also faces the threat of large-scale terrorist actions in which the attackers are "invisible," such as the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, as well as subversive activities by guerrillas and intrusions into Japan's territorial waters by spy ships.The government must expedite efforts to enact laws to deal with these contingencies.As the next step, the government must come up with a legal framework to protect people in the event of an emergency. This should specify procedures on issuing warnings, evacuating people and rescuing victims in emergencies.The government also must prepare measures concerning the handling of prisoners of war, mutual exchange of services and goods by Japan and the United States, and ensuring the smooth operation of U.S. forces' activities.Also, it is time to resolve the dispute over the right of collective self-defense, which according to the government's interpretation of the Constitution cannot be exercised.We believe it is necessary for the government to make a political decision to change this interpretation to allow the country to "exercise" this right. It will not only strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, but also the country's response to contingencies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2003-06-07	YOSHIN0020030607dz67000na
yomshi0020030625dz6800002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030625dz6800002	EN	\N	Talks open Japan-S. Korea gaps.	During the talks Saturday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun agreed that they would not tolerate the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea and would strongly urge the country to abandon the program.	8	2003-06-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi said that Japan would pursue the policy of "dialogue with and pressure on" North Korea. While agreeing on the need for both "dialogue and pressure," Roh stressed he would place greater emphasis on dialogue.This can be considered as the true intention of Roh, who has continued with the "sunshine policy" of engagement with Pyongyang, which was initiated by his predecessor Kim Dae Jung.The joint statement, issued by Koizumi and Roh, used less specific wording on ways to deal with North Korea's nuclear issue than those used in the U.S.-South Korean summit talks, or in the Japan-U.S. summit talks held recently.With regard to responses to be taken in the event Pyongyang decides to aggravate the situation over the nuclear issue, the U.S.-South Korea summit talks used the wording of "additional measures," while the Japan-U.S. summit talks used "tougher measures."The Japanese delegation attempted to have the phrase "additional measures" in the joint statement, but it was rejected by the South Koreans.Out of consideration for the South Korean side, which did not want to exasperate Pyongyang on the nuclear issue, both parties said in the statement they "reaffirmed principles on which they agreed in respective meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush."Perceptual divide must be narrowedThe summit has again made clear the perceptional gap between Japan and South Korea on North Korea's nuclear aspirations. Moreover, it can be said that a perceptional gap among Japan, South Korea and the United States, which is preparing to take tough action, has been reconfirmed.Past developments have proved that it is necessary to pressure North Korea, as the country has often ridden roughshod over international accords. The Roh administration needs to take this into consideration.In a bid to solve the Pyongyang nuclear issue, trilateral talks between the United States, China and North Korea have been initiated.South Korea needs to narrow the gap with both the United States and Japan to allow the trilateral talks to become multilateral, with Japan and South Korea being admitted to the table.Koizumi, Roh seek closer bilateral tiesBoth Koizumi and Roh reconfirmed the new era of future-oriented bilateral ties between Japan and South Korea, which was inaugurated in 1998 during a visit to Japan by then South Korean President Kim.At a state banquet held Friday night in honor of Roh, the Emperor made no direct references to Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-1945. It was apparently in line with the future-oriented trend and away from retrospective references to historic woes.In deepening the bilateral ties in the days ahead, it is important for the two countries to promote liberalized flows of people, goods and money.At the latest summit talks, both sides also agreed that Japan would give entry visa exemptions to South Korean students on school excursions and on a start, at the earliest possible time, of shuttle flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Seoul's Kimpo Airport.However, the two countries again made little headway over the issue of a bilateral free trade agreement, which would be designed to lift tariff barriers on the bilateral trade of goods and services.The Japanese side had wanted to agree on launching intergovernmental negotiations over the conclusion of such an accord within this year, while the South Korean side opposed the suggestion, leaving both sides undecided as to when such talks should begin.South Korea's opposition reflects the voices of business sectors in South Korea, which are concerned about possible damage to their domestic industries, which could result if imports from Japan were to rise sharply.The stability and progress in bilateral ties between Japan and South Korea will lead to "peace and prosperity" in Northeast Asia. For that end, it is essential for both sides to close their perceptional gaps.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	727	2003-06-08	YOSHIN0020030609dz68000d2
yomshi0020030626dz6a00002	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030626dz6a00002	EN	\N	Things far from shipshape.	Prior to Pyongyang's decision to cancel the port call, Tokyo was poised to take unusually stringent measures when it inspected the Man Gyong Bong. In addition to giving the ship a thorough customs and quarantine check, the government was also planning a port state control that would have determined the ship's seaworthiness. The government's no-nonsense attitude may have caused North Korea to cancel the port call.	8	2003-06-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the Man Gyong Bong is scheduled to sail the route between Japan and North Korea about 10 times by the end of September. Given this, the government must continue its determination to implement all possible measures to give the ship a thorough inspection if it docks in Japan and to monitor its movements closely.The Man Gyong Bong is suspected of having been involved in a number of unlawful acts. There is reason to presume that the ship has been used to illegally export missile components, unlawfully transport money, smuggle stimulant drugs into the country, and pass on directives from Pyongyang to its operatives here in Japan.Suspicions abound about vesselThe Man Gyong Bong can be described as a ship that arouses suspicions.It has also been discovered that the ship is equipped with a military-grade sonar, which indicates the Man Gyong Bong may have been used to carry out military missions.Given that there is reasonable cause to believe the Man Gyong Bong has been conducting military operations, Japan-as a law-governed nation-has every right to be even more rigorous in its inspections and monitoring of the ship.For years, Japan has not been too energetic about subjecting the Man Gyong Bong to close scrutiny for fear of antagonizing North Korea. The government must learn the bitter lessons of its benign neglect and think about what should be done to ensure that the ship is subjected to more thorough inspections in the future.The Man Gyong Bong is not the only North Korean vessel to ply the route between North Korea and Japan. About 1,400 North Korean ships dock at Japanese ports annually, including Maizuru Port in Kyoto Prefecture and Sakai Port in Tottori Prefecture.They are mainly cargo ships that transport marine products, shiitake mushrooms and other agricultural goods to Japan, shipping goods such as trucks and used cars back to North Korea on the return trip. However, suspicious persist about what these ships have actually been transporting between the two nations.More stringent inspections must be made of these cargo ships.New legislation neededSome critics have said there is a limit to what can be done under the Port and Harbor Law and other relevant legislation. For example, local governments are not allowed to deny a foreign ship the right to dock simply because of the vessel's nationality.The Niigata prefectural government has asked the central government to enact legislation that would impose restrictions on foreign ships that want to visit Japanese ports if they are seen as posing a threat to national security. Some members of the Liberal Democratic Party are also considering seeking similar legislations.In addition, the LDP is preparing to revise the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law to prevent illegal remittances of money to North Korea from Japan. The move is designed to enable the government to impose economic sanctions against the secretive state at Japan's own discretion, including suspension of the remittance of money to that country.All these measures are needed to defend the nation's security. If the existing legal framework is not up to the job of preventing North Korea from engaging in illegal acts, the government must enact new laws that are.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	693	2003-06-10	YOSHIN0020030610dz6a000m5
yomshi0020030626dz6b00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030626dz6b00007	EN	\N	Cut the banks some slack.	On Tuesday, the government finalized a plan to inject public funds totaling 1.96 trillion yen into Resona Holdings Inc. under the Deposit Insurance Law, a move that effectively will place the major financial group under state control. Resona will become the first financial institution to receive special government assistance under a financial revitalization program devised by Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy.	8	2003-06-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In recent weeks, former Resona executives have commented on the financial group's crisis, while lawmakers have discussed the Resona problem at Diet sessions. This has done much to further elucidate why the government decided to inject taxpayers' money into the institution.It has emerged that the audit corporation in charge of Resona played a critical role in causing the government to infuse public money into the banking group. The auditor concluded that Resona should reduce the value of its deferred tax assets to be written into its account book. This eventually brought Resona's capital-adequacy ratio below the 4 percent benchmark set by the Bank for International Settlements.Tax revenues shouldn't be sacrosanctAdmittedly, the decision to reduce the value of Resona's deferred tax assets was made by the auditor. However, the decision came after the auditor chose to tighten its accounting rules under the government's financial revitalization program dubbed the "Takenaka Plan."Financial market players are speculating which bank will become the "second Resona." There are concerns about what will happen when auditors in charge of domestic banks examine their clients' account books for the periods ending in September or March. A "second Resona" may well emerge.We would like to remind the government and others why banks have long chosen to add their deferred tax assets to their capital. For years, the tax authorities have imposed strict restrictions on banks writing off their nonperforming loans free of tax.The authorities have not allowed the banks to treat expenses incurred to write off bad loans as losses. This policy forced the banks to clear portions of their nonperforming loans as taxable procedures. The banks are to be refunded their paid taxes when the amount of their losses has been finally determined as a result of the failure of corporate customers to which they have extended loans.This method has served as a basis of the practice used to count the taxes paid by the banks in writing off their bad loans as part of their capital.To encourage them to make progress in clearing their bad loans, it is essential for the government to aid the banks through preferential tax treatment.However, the Finance Ministry remains reluctant to extend such aid for fear of suffering a cut in tax revenues. But the government should not make a sacred cow of tax revenues if it stands determined to avert a financial crisis first and foremost. Its task is to implement temporary but drastic measures to adjust the tax system so it will aid the banks.Stimulus plan may bleed economy dryEfforts to give the banks greater leeway in writing off bad loans free of tax also should be complemented by other measures. For example, it may be advisable to reinstate the system in which a bank is to be refunded a portion of corporate taxes paid in the past if and when it has suffered losses during its accounting period. The government has frozen the system, citing its financial difficulties.It is also necessary to extend the period in which corporations that have suffered losses in their accounting period may deduct their losses from their income in their ensuing accounting periods.The amount of outstanding loans extended to corporate customers by the nation's banks is more than 100 trillion yen lower than the peak figure. This has made it difficult for corporations to come up with operating and other funds, only exacerbating the ongoing deflationary crisis.The problem has also been compounded by restrictive lending policies instituted by the banks in an effort to prevent their capital-adequacy ratios from declining.Enforcing the Takenaka Plan will further encourage the banks to reduce their loans to financially troubled customers and recover more loans received by such borrowers. This means greater stagnation in the flow of money in the nation's economy. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should take this to heart.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	757	2003-06-11	YOSHIN0020030611dz6b000lc
yomshi0020030627dz6c0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030627dz6c0005q	EN	\N	Find cash for pension reform.	In the pension system reform scheduled for next year, the most important thing will be to eliminate public distrust in the system, which is particularly widespread among the younger generations, and to reorganize the system into a trustworthy one.	12	2003-06-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To achieve this goal, the government will have to present to the public a clear blueprint of not only the pension program, but also the country's entire social security system, which covers medical services and nursing care.But the government's current discussions are confined within the framework of the current fiscal circumstances, shelving the essential issue of how to secure fiscal resources to cover social security costs, which are expected to swell in the aging society.The government's only option will be to raise the consumption tax, in which people of all generations are asked to equally share a modest financial burden to cover ever-increasing social security costs.Amid the current serious economic climate, it goes without saying that the government must place top priority on arresting deflation. In this regard, it will be natural for the government to raise the consumption tax rate after the domestic economy has revived to a certain degree.In any event, the government will have no choice but to raise the consumption tax in the future. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has rejected raising the tax while he is in office, but it is irresponsible for him to avoid laying the groundwork for future discussions on such a hike.Public funds will keep system afloatThere is no point in the government continuing to debate the possibility of cutting pension benefits or raising the financial burden on the working generation within the framework of the current fiscal circumstances without resolving the issue of how to secure financial resources for the pension program.The Fiscal System Council, an advisory panel to the finance minister, called for drastically cutting pension benefits in its recommendations submitted to Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa concerning the compilation of the fiscal 2004 budget. But it avoided making explicit reference to the issue of increasing the government's funding of the pension program.Shiokawa also suggested postponing the increase in the government's burden, saying it would be difficult to do so under current fiscal conditions. Instead, he proposed slashing pension benefits by 30 percent.A supplementary provision of the pension law stipulates that the government's burden in the pension program must be raised from the current one-third to one-half by 2004, by which time the government must secure stable financial sources to cover necessary costs.If more public funds are channeled into the program, it will become possible to limit increases in pension premiums and thus stabilize the financial condition of the pension program. This will be an essential measure to maintain the system.However, if the government fails to find the fiscal resources to raise its burden in the pension program, which is considered a prerequisite for keeping the system intact, it is highly likely that it also will postpone the scheduled increase in its burden in the basic pension plan it has promised to introduce next year.Pensions increasingly importantThe government is certainly in dire straits fiscally. Taking into account an expected increase in the financial burden on younger generations, it will be necessary to examine the possibility of cutting pension benefits for current beneficiaries. Nevertheless, it is meaningless to continue discussions on certain pension-related issues without examining the whole picture of the system.Pensions play a central role in the so-called safety net supporting people's postretirement life. With an increasing number of elderly people living alone or as couples, pensions are expected to play an even more important role in society. On the other hand, people are increasingly burdened with medical and nursing care costs.In this respect, politicians bear the responsibility of deepening discussions to secure financial resources for the pension program. If the government fails to address the current situation, people in this country will become even more worried about their future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	710	2003-06-12	YOSHIN0020030612dz6c000j9
yomshi0020030626dz6d0005m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030626dz6d0005m	EN	\N	Basic policy must have teeth.	Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa presented a set of draft proposals on the so-called three-pillar reform, which involve reducing state subsidies, reviewing the allocation of tax grants to local governments and transferring tax collection authority to local governments. However, the council was unable to draw up concrete plans because of objections from ministers concerned.	8	2003-06-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If the council comes up with a sweeping reform plan to improve the fiscal system of local governments, a long-awaited outcome, it would change the relationship between the central and local governments radically. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must exert his leadership.Since Koizumi took office in 2001, the council has made a point of releasing the government's basic economic and fiscal policy in June each year. This year will be the third in the series.Ease financial burden on peopleIn regard to structural reforms, the draft report points to the need to revitalize the domestic economy, ensure that the people are free from worry, and to transform the fiscal system to help future generations. Above all, it calls for easing the financial burden on the people.To realize these goals, the draft plan proposes seven specific measures, including regulatory reform, revitalization of financial and industrial sectors and reform of the social security system. Of these goals, top priority was placed on reform of the central and local governments-the so-called three-pillar reform.On the three-pillar reform, Shiokawa proposes cutting state subsidies to local governments by 4 trillion yen over the next three years and transferring tax resources totaling 70 percent of those reduced subsidies from the central to local governments. As tax items to be transferred, the proposal refers to not only taxes on tobacco and alcoholic beverages but also income tax, a key tax, with an eye to cutting income tax and raising the residents' tax.Subsidy cuts opposedThe Shiokawa plan is apparently aimed at breaking the deadlocked negotiation process. However, ministries and agencies likely to see their subsidies reduced are adamantly opposed to this proposal.On the other hand, lawmakers with vested interests in the fields of education and social security hope to keep intact allocations to local governments for mandatory education and public nurseries. If the situation remains as it is, the council may be forced to shelve its plan for large-scale cuts in the subsidies.The main subject in the first "big-boned" policy report two years ago was acceleration of the disposal of bad loans. But this policy has been criticized as causing the current economic plight, with its falling stock prices and financial uncertainty.The core proposals in last year's report called for sweeping reform of the tax system and cuts in fiscal spending. However, the tax reform changes were minor and the cuts in fiscal spending accelerated deflationary pressure. Given these outcomes, many people pointed out that the past policies failed to revive the economy, which was supposed to be their essential goal.If the council fails to incorporate the three-pillar reform, which is expected to be the report's core, the third "big-boned" policy will end up as a mere scrap of paper.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	588	2003-06-13	YOSHIN0020030613dz6d000k3
yomshi0020030630dz6e000b8	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030630dz6e000b8	EN	\N	Deletion of WMD clause rubbish.	On Friday, the Cabinet approved a bill that if passed by the Diet would allow the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq to help reconstruct that country.	8	2003-06-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the bill has already had one of its provisions removed. This provision would have permitted SDF personnel to help dispose of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.Some Liberal Democratic Party members are wary about allowing the dispatch of SDF personnel to the war-ravaged country.Taking into account such views, the LDP General Council made deletion of the provision a condition for endorsement of the bill, reasoning that "there is no need to have a provision referring specifically to the SDF's handling of WMD, as these weapons have not yet been found."If Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the LDP leadership compromised on this matter to ensure quick Cabinet endorsement of the bill, we can only say that their attitude was irrational.'Great cause' behind Iraq warThe United States and Britain launched the war against Iraq for a very good reason-the administration of then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had failed to prove that it had abandoned such WMD as nuclear and biochemical weapons. This was the "great cause" behind the Iraq war.Although such weapons have yet to be discovered, U.S. and British forces are leaving no stone unturned to find them. Koizumi also said they would be found sooner or later.Would Japan pretend ignorance once they are found by saying, "We cannot do what is not written down in law"?The United States, which is trying to maintain public order in Iraq, has reportedly expressed its expectation that the SDF would extend such logistic support to the U.S. forces as the transportation of goods.It is the responsibility of Japan to cooperate with the U.S.-led reconstruction efforts in Iraq, through the dispatch of SDF personnel, as Japan supported the United States during the Iraq war.Together with the task of extending logistic support to U.S.-led security activities in Iraq, one of the SDF's key missions should have been WMD disposal.This provision should have been left in the bill, because if such weapons are discovered, Japan could take the necessary action.Bill needs modificationIt is the responsibility of the government and the LDP leadership to persuade members of the party to approve the provision.We cannot help but think that the government and the LDP leadership have forgotten the "great cause" that Japan supported.Also shelved in the government-drafted bill is a provision that would have allowed SDF personnel to use weapons if necessary while carrying out humanitarian and reconstruction tasks in Iraq.U.S. soldiers are still coming under attack in Iraq. Under the bill, the SDF's assistance would be limited to areas where combat is not taking place or not expected to take place, but there is still a possibility that hostilities could break out in these areas.Therefore, it is important to allow SDF personnel to use force should they be targeted by armed attackers. It is reasonable to change the current criteria, which allows the use of force only for self-defense.The government plans to have the current Diet session extended for debate on the bill. These deliberations are needed to amend the bill to remove the inadequacies. The government must ensure that the SDF leaves on its Iraq mission free from anxiety about the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	621	2003-06-14	YOSHIN0020030616dz6e000kj
yomshi0020030614dz6f00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030614dz6f00006	EN	\N	'Road map' only path to peace.	Only 10 days have passed since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas accepted the U.S.-sponsored "road map" to peace.	8	2003-06-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet at least 30 civilians have died in the tit-for-tat exchange of terrorist attacks and military action between the two sides that began right after the road map was accepted.Ironically, the new peacemaking plan ended up triggering a fresh spate of violence.Authorities, including Sharon and Abbas, should not allow any such moves that militate against a trend toward Middle East peace.At the same time, they must reconfirm that steady adherence to the road map is the only path to peace in Middle East.Abbas, as had been feared, has revealed his inability to rein in Palestinian extremists.Points that must be considered include the fact that the domestic security organization in charge of controlling militants has been weakened by a protracted period of clashes with Israel.Nothing can begin unless the violence stops. Every possible effort must be made to realize a pledge to stop the armed struggle.Stop eye-for-an-eye actionsMeanwhile, the Sharon administration's response leaves points open to question.U.S. President George W. Bush has become more critical than ever of Sharon's bids to assassinate leaders of militant Palestinian groups with missiles. Indeed, these operations have sparked retaliatory suicide bombings, causing an escalation in the violence.While Israel's stance of putting the maintenance of public peace and order to protect its people first is understandable, its military attacks on militants in a way that ignores Palestinian self-rule only serve to antagonize the Palestinians and aggravate the situation.The U.S. government has unveiled a plan to send a delegation to the region charged with overseeing the implementation of the road map's reciprocal confidence-building steps. Their first mission will be to contain the violence.They need to restore an environment in which both sides can come to the negotiating table by cooperating closely with security officials on both sides.Keep up pressureSome within the United States are said to be skeptical about the road map's worth.Apparently, no breakthrough will occur with the involvement of only the Israeli and Palestinian governments. We hope the United States will keep taking the initiative and doggedly exert its influence.A foreign minister-level meeting of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, which jointly drew up the road map, is slated to be held shortly.They must reaffirm the importance of the road map, which is on the brink of disintegration, and make clear the world's intention to bring about peace in the Middle East.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	480	2003-06-15	YOSHIN0020030616dz6f001g5
yomshi0020030615dz6g00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030615dz6g00008	EN	\N	Yangon must free Suu Kyi.	Myanmar's military leaders had earlier said that her detention would be temporary, but they remained tight-lipped about her release when they met a special U.N. envoy early this month.	8	2003-06-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If Yangon wishes to promote democracy through dialogue, its first step must be to release her immediately.The junta says Suu Kyi was taken into "protective custody" following a bloody clash between her followers and projunta supporters while she was making a tour of the north of the country. A number of people were reportedly killed or injured during the clash.But the U.S. government, citing its own on-the-spot investigation, said the clash was in fact a premeditated ambush by projunta supporters.The junta has also detained about 20 senior members of the National League for Democracy-which Suu Kyi heads-and shut down NLD offices. Given these developments, one can only conclude that the junta has launched a crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar.End to house release hollow shamSuu Kyi was held under house arrest for 19 months. Upon her release in May 2002, she said she wanted to enter into substantial talks with the junta about political issues, such as a transition to civilian rule. At that time, the international community became optimistic about the possibility of dialogue in Myanmar developing into a peaceful settlement.But the junta's real goal in freeing Suu Kyi was to entice Europe and the United States to lift the sanctions they had placed on Myanmar.For the past several years, Myanmar has been in an economic plight. Prices and unemployment have been on the rise, while foreign direct investment has been on the decline. As a result, the country has been suffering an acute shortage of foreign currency.To cure its fiscal ills, Myanmar has been seeking not only the lifting of economic sanctions but also renewed economic assistance and investment from abroad.But the sanctions remain in place despite the junta's expectations. Furthermore, Suu Kyi remains so popular among the people of Myanmar that the junta apparently has come to the conclusion that her presence is a threat to the military rulers.To date, meaningful dialogue between the junta and pro-democracy groups has yet to take place.ASEAN pressure also neededUnlike Western countries, Japan has continued to maintain contact with the junta by providing Myanmar with humanitarian assistance and by encouraging the junta to adopt pro-democracy policies. As part of Japan's active involvement with Myanmar, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi visited the country in August, the first Japanese foreign minister to do so in 19 years.Europe, the United States and Japan are all demanding that Suu Kyi be freed immediately. In addition, Washington is moving to intensify its sanctions against Myanmar.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations-which includes Myanmar among its members-has a principle of noninterference with the internal affairs of member countries. Nevertheless, ASEAN should also press Myanmar to release Suu Kyi.The junta has been holding the reins of government for nearly 15 years-despite its earlier pledge that military rule would be a temporary measure.It is time that Myanmar finally frees Suu Kyi once and for all.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	574	2003-06-16	YOSHIN0020030616dz6g00242
yomshi0020030616dz6h000mg	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030616dz6h000mg	EN	\N	Japan lagging in FTAs.	There is good reason to be apprehensive if one looks at what efforts the nation is making to conclude bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs).	8	2003-06-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Earlier this month, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks with the leaders of South Korea, Thailand and other East Asian nations in Tokyo. The meeting came after official and unofficial discussions between Japan and these countries concerning proposed FTA accords.Therefore, the meeting raised hopes that progress would be made in efforts to start negotiations aimed at concluding such agreements. However, the Tokyo meeting produced no such accord.Next week, Koizumi is scheduled to hold talks with Indonesian President President Megawati Sukarnoputri. It remains to be seen whether the two leaders will be able to reach an agreement to set up a joint study meeting on FTA-related issues.Domestic fears hurt intl opportunitiesA major challenge facing Japan and the other nations is how domestic objections to ending restrictions on farm trade can be surmounted.For example, the proposed FTA between Japan and Thailand has been made the subject of bitter controversy not only by agricultural organizations but also by Liberal Democratic Party members who can exert influence over farming issues. Major exports from Thailand include rice and chicken. During his meeting with Koizumi, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra insisted that the two nations initiate government-to-government negotiations. However, all Koizumi could do was pledge to "begin preliminary work."Admittedly, care must be exercised in reducing restrictions on farm imports, because this is essential to ensure a stable food supply at home. However, objections to all forms of farm trade liberalization would hamper efforts to make headway in FTA talks. Such an inflexible attitude would undermine attempts to encourage the Japanese economy through free trade.Japan should waste no time in starting government-level negotiations with nations that want to sign FTA agreements with this country. To accomplish this, it is advisable to ensure that the negotiations seek agreements on specific demands submitted by each nation. Pertinent issues include how far each country will open up its agricultural market and what kind of approach will be employed in attaining such a target.In January 2002, Japan signed an FTA accord with Singapore, the first of its kind to be concluded by this country. The move came after Japan had lagged behind other countries in opening up domestic markets through FTA agreements.Admittedly, there was no major hurdle to bilateral efforts to sign the FTA because agricultural trade between the two nations was negligible. However, Japan has since been unable to reach FTA agreements with any other countries.China gaining upper handThis is already beginning to cost Japan dearly. For instance, Mexico has signed FTA accords with the United States, the European Union and others and abolishing tariffs on mutual imports and exports. However, the list of these countries does not include Japan, which has taken an estimated 400 billion yen in annual losses from a reduction in its exports to Mexico.The government is negotiating an FTA agreement with Mexico in the hope of concluding a treaty in autumn. However, Japanese corporations are taking losses because they have, in effect, been shut out of the bidding for the purchase of goods by the Mexican government.In May, Singapore became the first Asian country to sign an FTA agreement with the Untied States, which is seeking to conclude similar accords with other Asian trade partners.China is gaining the upper hand over Japan in concluding FTA accords with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In autumn, the Chinese and Thai governments are scheduled to eliminate mutual tariffs on 200 agricultural products.Japan could even lose the East Asian market to the United States and China if it does not rethink its policies on FTAs. This is highly disturbing in that nations in that region are major targets of Japanese trade and investment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	688	2003-06-17	YOSHIN0020030617dz6h000kq
yomshi0020030617dz6i0005o	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030617dz6i0005o	EN	\N	Arms use rules put SDF at risk.	In response to the decision, the government and the ruling coalition parties aim to pass into law a bill to dispatch Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq to help restore the country.	8	2003-06-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is Japan's responsibility as a member of the international community to support the process to reconstruct Iraq in a variety of fields, including provision of funds and human resources. In particular, the U.S. forces that are trying to maintain public order in Iraq reportedly have expressed high hopes that the SDF will play a role supplying fuel and water.In Iraq, military forces from more than 10 countries already have started working on the rehabilitation program.Given this, lawmakers should enact the special bill on the reconstruction of Iraq as soon as possible to allow the SDF to start preparations for their dispatch to the war-torn country.However, political maneuvering was seen over the Diet extension within the Liberal Democratic Party with an eye to the party presidential election scheduled for September. Lawmakers should keep in mind that clumsy handling of the Iraq bill will call into question Japan's stance on this critical issue in the international community. In this regard, policymakers should not seek to make political capital out of Diet deliberations.Hiding under other armies' skirtsYet the Iraq bill still contains flaws. The biggest problem is its failure to ease the criteria for the use of weapons by SDF personnel.The current criteria are based on a provision in the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law that basically allows SDF personnel to use weapons solely for self-defense purposes, including to avert imminent danger.Although U.S. President George W. Bush announced that major combat operations in Iraq were over, reports continue of armed attacks against U.S. forces in the country. The SDF is mainly expected to provide logistic rear-echelon support in noncombat zones. Though the government maintains that the current criteria will be sufficient for the envisaged dispatch of SDF members to Iraq, we believe it is necessary for them to be prepared for situations that would be inconceivable in peacekeeping operations.If SDF members are not allowed to protect other countries' military personnel, but have to count on other countries' soldiers protecting them, they will end up as a drag on other armies participating in the reconstruction process.Lawmakers should, therefore, make every effort to amend the current bill to authorize SDF personnel to use weapons in carrying out their duties.Minshuto should cooperate on billIn this connection, there is an opinion not only within the ruling parties, but also within the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), that SDF personnel are more likely to face danger if the current rules of engagement are not revised. To reflect such a common sense position on the special Iraq bill, we urge Minshuto to respond to calls from the coalition parties in a constructive manner by proactively negotiating with the ruling camp in revising the bill.Another focus of the extended Diet session will be a bill to extend by two years the Antiterrorism Law, a special item of legislation aimed at restoring Afghanistan that will expire in November. Because Afghanistan still is in the process of rehabilitation, it is a matter of course to extend the law. The Diet should pass the revision bill as soon as possible.Also, it is high time for the government to review the practice of responding on a case-by-case basis every time it is asked to take concerted actions with the rest of the international community. Now, the government must start taking concrete steps to facilitate permanent legislation centering on the utilization of the SDF.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	654	2003-06-18	YOSHIN0020030618dz6i000jl
yomshi0020030619dz6j00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030619dz6j00009	EN	\N	Vested interests win out again.	The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on Wednesday drew up the final draft of the three-part reform package on the allocation of funds between the central and local governments. The reform involves cuts in state subsidies received by local governments for specific purposes set by the central government, transfer of some tax collection authority to local governments and a review of tax grants from the central government to local governments.	12	2003-06-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As for cuts in state subsidies to local governments, the council incorporated a numerical target of 4 trillion yen in the draft proposal, but with the exception of a few cases, it failed to specify which subsidies would be subject to cuts and the margin of cuts for individual subsidies.The council effectively postponed a review of tax grants to local governments, merely saying that reducing the allocations was a future target.In the end, the council failed to iron out differences between itself and bureaucrats and lawmakers who were unwilling to give up their vested interests in certain industries.Don't jeopardize 'trinity formula'The so-called trinity formula is integral to the basic plan on economic and fiscal policy and structural reforms-the third in the series of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's so-called big-boned policies. The council is scheduled to release the report next week. The next step for materializing the policy will be the compilation of the fiscal 2004 budget, which will continue through the end of this year. But the policy remains far from being materialized.If the situation remains unchanged, the trinity formula might end up being pie in the sky. Koizumi and Cabinet ministers concerned should acknowledge the gravity of the situation and renew discussions to make any necessary adjustments to the formula.The council started examining the trinity formula as part of its second big-boned policy, which called for cutting subsidies to the central government by several trillions of yen.Because the council managed to present a specific figure in the draft of the economic policy blueprint, it appeared as if debates at the council made progress. But it should be noted that this figure was not based on long and careful study; rather, it was merely a target to be aimed at.Unless the council comes up with more specific goals for cuts in state subsidies to local governments-when and which subsidies will have to be reduced, and to what degree, it will be difficult to realize such reductions. But the council's final draft of the economic policy blueprint contains only a limited number of concrete proposals on cuts in state subsidies. This indicates how strongly bureaucrats and lawmakers with vested interests opposed proposals to slash state subsidies.Panel has more mountains to climbAnother issue at stake was the proposal to make the entire amount of state subsidies-20 trillion yen-subject to the proposed cuts. Though some council members attempted to narrow down which subsidies might be trimmed in the process of debate, they suffered a setback in face of furious objections. Consequently, the proposal on state subsidies ended up going nowhere.In other words, the debate is back to square one. Bureaucrats at ministries and agencies overseeing subsidies targeted for reduction must be gloating.Though the council's final draft report set certain goals for the transfer of some tax collection powers to local governments, it has yet to specify which tax revenue sources will be transferred from the central government to local governments. The council is expected to experience further resistance, including during negotiations with the Liberal Democratic Party's Research Commission on the Tax System, whose opinions have not been reflected in the council's debates so far.Meanwhile, the council's discussions have hardly touched on the review of tax grants to local governments. However, if the issue of such allocations, for which 17 trillion yen is earmarked in the fiscal 2003 budget, remains unaddressed, the trinity formula will be unworthy of its name.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	745	2003-06-19	YOSHIN0020030619dz6j000j9
yomshi0020030619dz6k0005w	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030619dz6k0005w	EN	\N	Time to reconsider IWC ties.	Japan's request to be allowed to resume commercial whaling was dismissed out of hand. Only moves by antiwhaling nations were considered, as shown by the adoption of a resolution that apparently was intended to turn the IWC into an organization that would solely prohibit whaling.	8	2003-06-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The IWC, which was established 55 years ago to ensure the orderly utilization of whales, is not functioning properly. The time has come for Japan to reconsider its relationship with the IWC.The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, which has served as the basis for the IWC's establishment, states that the purpose of the convention is to conserve whale stocks and to help the whaling industry develop.The resolution in question-called the "Berlin Initiative"-was approved by a 25-20 vote with such antiwhaling nations as the United States and Britain leading the pack.Convention fundamentally changedHowever, the resolution says the purpose of the convention lies in the conservation of whales, an interpretation completely different from the original one.To protect whales further, antiwhaling nations voted to form a conservation committee within the IWC. They also plan to come up with an action plan for adoption by the IWC to reinforce across-the-board the conservation activities. The character of the IWC is undergoing fundamental changes.The IWC meeting also adopted a resolution calling on Japan to suspend "whaling for scientific research," conducted in such regions as the Antarctic Ocean. Antiwhaling nations claim that these whales are being caught for "commercial purposes."Japan catches about 400 minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean annually.As there have been no changes in the relevant stipulation in the convention and the resolution has no binding power, Japan said it would continue scientific whaling.No one listening to JapanNevertheless, it was a development that made Japan realize that the noose around the whaling industry was being tightened. Japan's arguments were brushed aside.Japan asked that it be allowed to catch 300 whales a year in waters near Japan, so as to protect its long-standing tradition of whaling and dietary culture. Also, in an effort to blunt the pressure of environmental groups on pro-whaling nations, Japan also proposed that voting on Japan's request be made through a secret ballot. Both these proposals were turned down.At present, there are 760,000 minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean. If commercial whaling was resumed under proper management, there would be no problem in preserving the whales. Yet antiwhaling nations turned a deaf ear to Japan's assertions in connection with its scientific research.The developments at this year's meeting also have dismayed other pro-whaling nations.Japan contributes 18 million yen annually to the IWC, about 8.6 percent of the body's budget and the largest contribution among IWC members.In this country, there are mounting calls that Japan should take drastic action, such as cutting, or even suspending, its contribution.Japan should make an effort to try to prevent the IWC from becoming a mere conservation organization by taking strong measures in cooperation with other pro-whaling nations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	551	2003-06-20	YOSHIN0020030621dz6k0000z
yomshi0020030623dz6l000be	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030623dz6l000be	EN	\N	OSE case shakes trust in market.	Osaka prosecutors and the Exchange Surveillance Commission conducted a joint search for evidence at related offices, including the Osaka bourse, on Friday.	8	2003-06-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the case, which appears to be a violation of the Securities and Exchange Law, former OSE Vice President Takuo Noguchi and the others are suspected of organizing fake transactions to make OSE's dealings in equity options appear to be drawing more participants than the Tokyo Stock Exchange.A stock exchange is one of the foundations of a market economy and it was at such a venue that manipulations took place.With the stock market sagging under the weight of the deflation-led recession, public trust in the market has been shaken to the core. The latest irregularities must be investigated thoroughly.The OSE should publicly disclose all the details of the case through an in-house investigation to prove to the public that it is prepared to come clean.Rivalry with TSE behind scandalEquity option trading is the purchase or sale of stocks of individual issues at specified prices after a specified period. Falsified buy and sell orders were repeatedly made to securities companies via an affiliate company of the OSE, with most of the orders coordinated to take place at the same time and price.According to the OSE, these dealings totaled 2.6 billion yen.The OSE has filed a complaint with the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office against Noguchi, who was a Finance Ministry bureaucrat at one time, on suspicion of breach of trust for causing damage to the exchange and its affiliates by establishing 11 affiliate companies without the approval of the OSE's board of directors.Suspicions about the falsified transactions resulted from an investigation conducted by the prosecutor's office and other agencies.The motive behind the irregularities was the accelerated pace of Tokyo-centered financial and capital market functions in recent years.As more than 90 percent of spot transactions of stocks are conducted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the OSE was no rival to the TSE.In order to overcome disadvantages in such spot transactions and to take the lead in futures and derivatives, the OSE in 1988 launched futures trading of the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average. The OSE sometimes exceeded the exchanges in Tokyo and Chicago in terms of turnover.Bourse must revitalize itselfIn 1997, the OSE launched option trading of individual stocks, a kind of derivative transaction, at the same time as the TSE.Initially, the OSE enjoyed more than 70 percent of the trade. Soon after suspicions of falsified trading by Noguchi came to light and the illegal trading was terminated in March 2000, the volume of trade at the OSE plummeted to 20 percent of total dealings. This demonstrated that the expanded volume was the result of falsified trading.For investors, the location of a securities exchange is no longer a major issue, thanks to the growing popularity of stock trading via the Internet.Bourses that cost less money and are more convenient attract more investors. This is one of the reasons why the number of companies delisting from stock exchanges-other than the TSE-is on the rise.The OSE can be revitalized only through such efforts as developing attractive products, adopting flexible trading hours and cutting commission fees.Needless to say, it is essential for a bourse to be operated in a fair and transparent manner. That is the very least it can do to regain the trust of the investors.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2003-06-21	YOSHIN0020030621dz6l000jc
yomshi0020030621dz6m00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030621dz6m00008	EN	\N	Govt to grade universities.	The ministry has drawn up a set of guidelines on procedures to be completed by colleges and universities seeking greater financial assistance from the government for their educational programs. The new system is the first of its kind to assess educational programs offered by these institutions with the aim of encouraging them to provide students with lessons that have distinctive features.	8	2003-06-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The system will receive reports from two-year junior colleges and four-year universities about their achievements in five categories, including curriculums, teaching methods and learning support for students. The reports will be screened by specialists and academics, who will then select schools exhibiting excellence in education. Colleges and universities selected through this process will be apportioned a greater share of budgets and subsidies from the government.We hope the system will be operated in a manner that objectively and fairly assesses the achievements of individual universities for the purpose of improving their skills and expertise in imparting knowledge.Higher education needs rethinkThe need to improve university education has never been so great as today. The 21st century is referred to as the age of intellectuality. Social critics say there is a limit to what private-sector corporations can do to educate new employees. This has given rise to even louder calls for colleges and universities to better educate students.Another important question is what should be done about students who hardly bother to think about their career options.There was a time when great importance was placed on efforts to ensure that students studied under their own initiative. This way of thinking meant that teaching methods adopted by colleges and universities did not carry a lot of weight.Admittedly, students themselves should still make a voluntary effort to learn. But this should not be turned into an excuse for delaying efforts to improve the environment surrounding university education. It also should be noted that about half of the nation's teenagers go to two-year junior colleges and four-year universities. Given this, it is important for colleges and universities to play a role in motivating students to study harder.Steps must be taken to prevent individual educators from restricting themselves to their own areas of expertise, thus only teaching students within their respective disciplines. Such an approach should be replaced with an integrated system in which educators clearly show students what skills and expertise they should acquire before graduating from colleges and universities, while also playing their respective roles in accomplishing that goal.Some colleges and universities have already initiated a number of programs aimed at achieving this goal, such as by presenting students with a list of subjects ranked in ascending order of difficulty with the aim of helping them approach these courses in a systematic manner. They also include holding seminars targeting first-year students, giving lessons under a curriculum that covers several faculties, and getting students from different faculties to use a uniform foreign-language textbook. In addition, some colleges and universities have produced standards for assessing the academic achievements of students, while training teaching staff in ways to improve their teaching methods.Transparency vital to successHowever, these attempts have not done enough to achieve the desired target. The ministry's latest reform plan should serve as an initial step toward changing the mental attitude of university educators.Some university educators have objected to the ministry's plan, which will authorize the government to assess their educational programs and teaching methods. They have argued that the plan represents a form of intervention in university education by the national government. They have also insisted that the content of each university's education plan be assessed by high school graduates-who are free to choose whether to attend that facility-not the government.However, an attempt to allow would-be college students to select colleges must be complemented by efforts by universities to disclose information about their educational activities and achievements. There is a growing tendency among many countries to end regulations on their university education systems and assess each school through its academic and other achievements.The question is whether the ministry will be able to make a balanced assessment of the efforts made by individual colleges and universities. It is also important to fairly and objectively assess the initiative taken by provincial colleges and universities.To gain the public's trust in its assessment, the ministry must reveal information about how it has examined and screened the accomplishments of each school. We hope that efforts to assess colleges and universities in a manner open to the public will serve to help institutions of higher learning in this country compete with their international counterparts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	841	2003-06-22	YOSHIN0020030623dz6m000dl
yomshi0020030623dz6n00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030623dz6n00007	EN	\N	Iran should open doors.	Iran is pushing ahead with an extensive nuclear program, including uranium enrichment and the building of heavy-water reactors. Alarmed by this, a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors issued a chairwoman's statement demanding that Iran disclose full details of its nuclear program and immediately and unconditionally sign an additional protocol to allow more detailed inspections.	8	2003-06-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency has every reason to insist that Iran comply with the demands.Iran has cited the peaceful use of atomic energy as justification for its nuclear program. However, it did not declare its imports of natural uranium to the IAEA. Likewise, Tehran said nothing about its nuclear facility construction project to the IAEA until the U.N. body pointed the finger of suspicion at it.This dishonest behavior has aroused international suspicion about Iran's nuclear program. With this in mind, it would be unwise of Iran to delay complying with the chairwoman's statement.Chance to allay fears on N-armsThe statement incorporates a list of demands to be met by Tehran, including answering questions about its nuclear program. The IAEA's demands also require Iran to put a stop to its planned loading of uranium-enriching facilities with nuclear material, and allow environmental samples to be gathered from Iranian facilities.Iran should respond to these demands without delay. It also must agree to sign the additional protocol that will authorize the IAEA to carry out inspections at any facility it wishes at short notice. Doing so is the only way Iran can to put to rest international concerns about its suspected nuclear ambitions.During the IAEA's board of directors meeting, the United States demanded that the U.N. body adopt a resolution against Iran, insisting that Tehran's nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. However, the meeting decided that it was too early to adopt such a resolution as the IAEA had yet to complete inspections in Iran.But Tehran should not make the mistake of taking the IAEA's decision not to adopt an anti-Iran resolution as a sign that the international community is divided over the issue.Govt should pressure TehranU.S. President George W. Bush has reiterated his warning that his administration will never allow Iran, which he has called part of an "axis of evil," to build nuclear weapons. His sentiment has been echoed by Russia and the European Union-despite their earlier objection to the U.S.-led war on Iraq. Russia and the EU are both adamantly opposed to the idea of an Iranian nuclear weapons program.The Russian government has clearly stated that it will stop selling nuclear fuel to Iran if it fails to answer the questions raised by the IAEA about its nuclear program. Russia's policy is significant in that Moscow has aided Tehran in its nuclear power plant construction projects for years.The EU has also urged Iran-which has asked for greater commerce and trade ties with the union-to accept more rigorous IAEA inspections.From the Japanese perspective, Iran has been a chief crude oil exporter with which Tokyo has long enjoyed good relations. The dispute over Iran's nuclear program could affect its relations with Japan. The government has already told Tehran that it is concerned about its nuclear program. By taking advantage of its relationship with Iran, Japan should continue to tell the Islamic country that it should try to clear international suspicions about its nuclear program.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	640	2003-06-23	YOSHIN0020030624dz6n00015
yomshi0020030623dz6o000xi	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030623dz6o000xi	EN	\N	Kabul still needs intl aid.	Although progress has been made in some areas, such as a return of refugees and the resumption of education for girls, overall the administration is still unable to function as a state government with regard to such core functions as military, finance and security matters.	8	2003-06-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In early June, 40 Taliban militiamen were reported to have been killed in an exchange of fire with the government's military force. The high figure of Taliban combatants is generally taken as an indication of a resurgence of the Taliban, whose regime was ousted by a U.S.-led war.Four German peacekeepers attached to the Kabul-based International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed in a suicide bombing earlier this month that ripped through a bus. Some suspect that Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaida terrorist network was involved in the attack.There also seems to be growing support among Afghanis for the Taliban. If nothing is done to reverse this, things may end up back at square one. The Karzai government alone cannot eradicate terrorist groups. This goal can only be achieved by the international community working together and presenting a united front.Winning the peace is vitalAnother reason for the ongoing problems in Afghanistan is the large number of warlords who control different regions of the country.Some observers are ridiculing Karzai's efforts, saying he is merely the mayor of Kabul-not the president of Afghanistan. These jibes have been made because the central government is still unable to control most of the country outside the capital. But these warlords are generally better off, in both military and financial terms, than the Karzai government.Granted, these warlords played an extremely important role in ousting the Taliban regime, however, if they continue to vie with one another for power and wealth, Afghanistan's dreams of restoration will end up as so much pie in the sky.The Karzai administration is a transitional government. According to the timetable agreed upon by various Afghan factions, a constitutional loya jirga, or grand council, is to be convened by the end of the year and a new constitution adopted. This is to be followed next year by a general election that will establish a new government.SDF must be allowed to continue aidTime is running out. If Afghanistan is to be reconstructed according to the agreed timetable, the Karzai administration will have to exhibit strong leadership and institute more self-help measures.In this respect, assistance from the international community, including the ISAF, will remain essential for the time being. If such assistance is not forthcoming, Afghanistan will remain a country on the verge of collapse.As a member of the international community, Japan must not spare its efforts to help rebuild Afghanistan. International society has high expectations for Japan, which has been assisting Afghanistan in a number of ways, such as by hosting the Tokyo Conference on Consolidation of Peace in Afghanistan in February.The Antiterrorism Law, which was enacted to enable the Self-Defense Forces to provide logistic support to U.S.-led forces engaged in antiterrorism operations in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, will expire in autumn. Given the current situation in Afghanistan, it is a matter of course that the law should be extended.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	592	2003-06-24	YOSHIN0020030624dz6o000lf
yomshi0020030624dz6p0005u	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030624dz6p0005u	EN	\N	Minshuto must support Iraq bill.	The House of Representatives on Tuesday started debating the bill to allow the government to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq to help restore the war-torn country.	8	2003-06-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Based on a U.N. resolution calling for countries to help reconstruct Iraq, military forces of more than 10 countries are engaged in such work in the country. In this regard, it is Japan's responsibility to cooperate with the international community's coordinated efforts to restore the country.We believe it is necessary to prepare for the dispatch of the SDF to the country by passing the bill into law as soon as possible.It is desirable to enact key bills concerning the state's fundamental policies, such as those on international contributions and security matters, with the agreement of both ruling and opposition camps.Of the opposition parties, Jiyuto (Liberal Party), the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party are opposed to the Iraq reconstruction bill. However, Minshuto has yet to clarify its position.Presumably, Minshuto should have no objections to cooperating with the reconstruction work in Iraq.U.S. forces, which are engaged in maintaining public order in the country, reportedly have called on the SDF to play logistic support roles, such as supplying fuel and water.Taking into account such requests from those working in the country, Minshuto must draw a conclusion on its stance toward the bill from a broad perspective.Bill should reflect global standardsMinshuto took a pragmatic approach in the Diet debate on a set of contingency bills. After presenting a counterproposal, the party managed to reach a compromise agreement to revise the government-backed bills and passed them through the Diet.In the debate on the special Iraq bill, the party must not delay making a conclusion just because of the difficulty of unifying opinions within the party.But it also is true that the bill contains some flaws.For instance, the SDF would be allowed to use weapons solely for self-defense purposes, including averting imminent danger, as stipulated under the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law, under the bill.However, those supporting the ousted regime of former President Saddam Hussein and other factions are continuing to attack the U.S. forces in Iraq.Although the SDF personnel are expected to engage in logistic support activities in noncombat areas, we believe it is a matter of course that the criteria on the use of weapons be relaxed.Under the bill, SDF personnel would be protected by other countries' forces, though they would be unable to protect them in turn. Other countries would find this hard to understand. In this regard, we believe it is necessary to revise the bill to bring it in line with the international community's common sense concerning military affairs.Enact Afghanistan legislation soonSome insist that Diet approval of the SDF dispatch to Iraq should be given prior to dispatch, rather than afterward, as specified in the bill. But in anticipation of a case in which SDF personnel need to be dispatched urgently, it is a matter of course to make it possible to respond flexibly to any situation.Along with the debate on the special Iraq bill, the Diet has started deliberating a bill to revise the Antiterrorism Law, a special item of legislation designed to help restore Afghanistan, to extend the dispatch of the SDF personnel by another two years. Because this is also a part of international joint actions, the bill should be enacted as soon as possible.We also expect Minshuto to act in a responsible manner in debating the revision bill.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2003-06-25	YOSHIN0020030625dz6p000lh
yomshi0020030625dz6q0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030625dz6q0005s	EN	\N	War against SARS not over yet.	Now that the SARS infection has, at least for the time being, been brought under control in mainland China, where the first case in the world was identified, the only remaining infected areas are Taiwan and Toronto.	12	2003-06-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But it is too early to say that the battle against SARS has been won.The source of infection-the focal point of the SARS crisis-has yet to be identified. There also remain a number of uncertain points concerning how the infection spread around the world. No effective anti-SARS drugs or reliable checkup methods have yet been developed.More worrisome is that when it comes to an infectious respiratory disease such as SARS, there is a high possibility of its breaking out again in winter even though it ran its course in summer.It seems sensible that the WHO nonetheless said that precautions against SARS should remain in place for at least a year. We should not be caught off guard.To prevent another SARS epidemic, it is vital to reinforce international monitoring of the disease. If countries share up-to-date information on the infection, SARS can be prevented from crossing borders.Transparency, joint efforts neededAt issue now is the way China responded to the disease. SARS spread around the world because the Chinese government initially concealed information on the illness. This should not be allowed to happen again. We strongly urge the Chinese government to fully disclose relevant information from now on.The development of effective drugs and diagnostic methods is urgently needed. As this is a task that the international community must unite to carry out, Japan, for its part, should not stint on necessary funds and manpower.No SARS cases have yet been identified in Japan. However, we should take all prudent measures to deal with an outbreak should one occur.SARS first appeared in the 21st century. Yet countermeasures for the disease were the same as those developed for contagions in the 19th century-forced isolation and comprehensive checkups.The key to winning the battle against SARS is acting quickly to prevent its spread. Should the government delay in taking steps to counter the illness, the results would be disastrous. Close cooperation between the central and local governments is vital in this regard.Travelers should get flu shotsBroad-based countermeasures are needed to fight infectious diseases. In this respect, it also is an urgent matter to review current legislation concerning infectious diseases, which basically leaves it up to prefectural governments to deal with outbreaks.Winter, during which it is feared SARS will break out again, also is the season in which the influenza virus spreads. Both illnesses have similar initial symptoms, such as high fever and coughing.To minimize possible confusion in clinical settings, governments should advise those who are traveling to such SARS-hit countries as China to get vaccinated against influenza. While this will not prevent people from getting infected with SARS, those who are infected with influenza will not be mixed up with those with SARS once the influenza symptoms abate.The battle against an invisible enemy has just begun.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	589	2003-06-26	YOSHIN0020030626dz6q000jl
yomshi0020030627dz6r00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030627dz6r00007	EN	\N	Fed rate cut to avert deflation.	The Fed cut its bellwether federal funds rate for overnight loans between banks by a quarter of a percentage point to 1 percent, the first cut in seven months and the lowest level in nearly 45 years.	8	2003-06-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Some economic indicators in the United States are showing positive signs. Housing starts picked up in May, the first month-on-month upturn in two months, while the industrial production index improved in the same month, the first rise in three months.With expectations of an economic recovery, U.S. stock prices are about 20 percent higher than they were just prior to the launch of the Iraq war.Despite these signs, the Fed trimmed key rates to make clear its determination to keep deflation at bay in the days ahead.Lesson learned from JapanThe Fed has analyzed in detail the cause of the prolonged deflation-led recession in Japan. From this lesson, it realized the importance of taking further monetary steps, without hesitation, even if there was the slightest hint of a deflationary trend.It decided to trim the key rates this time by taking as a deflationary sign the month-on-month declines in the wholesale price index in April and May and a further fall in the consumer price index.Earlier this month, the European Central Bank cut interest rates by half a percentage point in response to signs of deflation in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The United States and European countries are, in a sense, cooperating to avert deflation.Japan was the first to issue a warning that deflation could spread around the world. At a meeting of finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven major industrialized countries in February, Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa called for policy coordination among G-7 countries to avert deflation.However, Japan itself has so far failed to take drastic countermeasures and there are no prospects that it will be able to bail itself out of a deflation-led economic slowdown.BOJ must take proper stepsMeanwhile, the Bank of Japan is taking such "unconventional" steps as purchasing securities backed by accounts receivable and other assets held by small and midsized firms. Not much is expected from these steps.The central bank's quantitative easing of the money supply without taking any measures to stimulate fund demand has resulted in a sizable money glut among financial institutions, leading to an extraordinary situation whereby the weighted average of the nation's key unsecured overnight call rate has fallen below zero for the first time.The central bank needs to take comprehensive unconventional measures. For instance, it should immediately introduce an inflation reference target-a desired increase in prices with no deadline for its achievement-and purchase exchange-traded funds.The government needs to speed up its preparations to take economic stimulus measures on both the fiscal and taxation fronts, including compilation of a large-scale supplementary budget.The government and the central bank have an obligation to the world to bail the economy out of deflation-led recession as soon as possible by drastically changing their policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	575	2003-06-27	YOSHIN0020030627dz6r000kj
yomshi0020030627dz6s000b9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030627dz6s000b9	EN	\N	Reform plan hardly 'big-boned'.	On Thursday, the Cabinet finalized the council's reform plan, dubbed a "big-boned" policy, the third of its kind to be adopted since 2001. This policy is aimed at presenting clear goals to be accomplished in tackling important tasks facing the government. However, the council's latest plan lacks substance.	8	2003-06-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The third big-boned reform plan does not incorporate substantial and specific measures to be implemented in the pursuit of the so-called "triple reform." The simultaneous, three-way reform-a major focus of the council's latest policy line-aims at reducing central government subsidies to local governments for specific purposes, transferring some tax revenue sources from the national government to local governments and reforming tax grants from the national government to local governments for unspecified purposes.The new plan is disappointing in other respects, too. It offers only nonbinding targets for a list of reforms unrelated to the triple reform.The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy should review its method for conducting discussions, choosing major themes for debates and other pertinent issues, if it wants to put together big-boned policies next year and beyond.Triple reform underminedWhy has the government's drive for triple reform lost momentum? The blame should be laid at the feet of political leaders, including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who failed to seriously discuss how to accomplish this goal.Those chiefly responsible for discussing problems related to the triple reform over the past year are bureaucrats at government ministries and agencies. But they did not want their vested interests undermined by reform efforts.Issues related to the triple reform have also been taken up by the Council for Decentralization Reform and the Local Government System Research Council, both advisory panels to the prime minister. However, discussions by both councils appear to have been reduced to a tug-of-war between the Finance Ministry and the Public Management Ministry.Only a few weeks prior to the adoption of the third big-boned policy, some Cabinet members tried hard to iron out the differences among their ministries concerning the triple reform. Their efforts were in vain and the prime minister did not venture to resolve the conflict.As a result, there is no reason to expect the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy could have produced an effective "big-boned" policy.The latest reform plan is no different from the one put together in June 2002, the second in the series.Bitter lesson ignoredIn working out the second reform plan, private-sector members of the council made an effort to produce recommendations for a drastic tax reform, including a reduction in the ratio of corporations' national and local tax payments to their taxable incomes. Ultimately, however, the Finance Ministry and other government offices opposed the council's plans, a move that eventually led to the panel coming up with less-than-satisfactory reforms. The council's plans were further emasculated through changes made by the government and the ruling parties in the tax reform in late 2002.The second big-boned policy taught a bitter lesson. The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy could only come up with ambiguous reform goals because the prime minister and Cabinet members failed to cite specific reform items and neglected to propose numerical targets. In working out the latest policy, the council obviously ignored the lesson.Another question concerns whether the council chose the right theme as a main focus of its discussion this year-the triple reform of the local finance system. There were many tasks of more immediate importance, including efforts to overcome deflation and dispel widespread concern over the pension and medical insurance systems. These are matters of great public concern.In developing a big-boned policy, the council should thoroughly debate what must be done to raise revenues for the state-run pension system and what kind of role the consumption tax should play in this respect, with the aim of presenting the public with a set of specific measures needed to achieve these goals.When it devises such a policy, the council must accurately determine what the public wants and reach an appropriate consensus about pressing issues under the strong leadership of the prime minister. Otherwise, the reform plans will turn out to be nothing more than hollow phrases.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	773	2003-06-28	YOSHIN0020030628dz6s000k5
yomshi0020030630dz6t000h4	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030630dz6t000h4	EN	\N	Execs should woo individuals.	In recent years, an increasing number of corporations are arranging their shareholders meetings on separate days. However, most of companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange met for general stockholders meetings on Friday. The meetings accounted for about 70 percent of listed corporations, which closed their books on March 31.	8	2003-06-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This apparently reflects concerns that corporate racketeers may find it easier to disrupt shareholders meetings if they are held on separate days. However, it should be noted that many individual investors have stakes in more than one corporation, and it would be impossible for such investors to attend shareholders meetings at some corporations.Given the importance of shareholders meetings, corporate executives have every reason to make it easier for their investors to attend such meetings. The absurd practice of same-day shareholders meetings must be discontinued.Savings can save slumping stocksSuccessful efforts to revitalize the stock market can play an immediate role in turning the troubled economy around. It is also extremely important to ensure that a portion of the population's personal financial assets-which are in excess of 1.3 yen quadrillion-is invested in the slumping stock market.However, the value of stocks held by individual investors nationwide accounts for only 6 percent of the population's personal financial assets, compared to far more than 30 percent in the United States.The government should implement measures to encourage individuals to invest more money in the stock market, including a drastic cut in personal tax burdens on such investments. It is also necessary for corporate officials to think about why so few individuals have moved to increase their stock portfolios.Some corporations have chosen to hold their shareholders' meetings on weekends to enable salaried workers to attend. Other companies should consider following suit.One company has provided its individual investors with opportunities to try out its products and speak with its executives, in addition to holding a general shareholders meeting. As a result, the company has attracted about 23,000 new individual shareholders since last year.Corporations must not only work to transform their annual shareholders meetings into forums for an exchange of opinions with their individual investors. They should also strive to increase the transparency of their operations by reviewing their organizational structure.Reforms no guarantee of profitabilityIn recent years, many corporations have been seeking to reform their management structure in line with the series of changes made in the Commercial Code. From April, the law allowed corporations to draw a line between executives responsible for supervising their operations and those undertaking their business affairs. An increasing number of firms, including Sony Corp., has since adopted the system.However, reforming a corporation's organizational structure does not necessary guarantee that the company will be immune to corporate scandals, or that it will enjoy a stable business performance. We have witnessed bookkeeping frauds involving major U.S. corporations, including energy giant Enron Corp. and telecommunications titan WorldCom Inc. Such accounting scandals highlight that the management style of firms in the United States and Britain is not flawless.A primary task facing corporate executives is to try to develop new products and improve the profitability of their companies, while also openly disclosing information about their business operations. Doing so is the best way to encourage individual investors to put their savings into stocks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2003-06-29	YOSHIN0020030630dz6t000fx
yomshi0020030630dz6u0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030630dz6u0000a	EN	\N	Govt must act in public interest.	The government addressed this question in its basic plan to thoroughly reform the public interest corporation system, which was adopted by the Cabinet last week.	8	2003-06-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the proposed system, public interest corporations will be placed under the new category of nonprofit corporations. The system will also make it possible to establish such corporations without obtaining the approval of relevant government ministries and agencies. Profits earned from their operations will be taxed in principle, but businesses that are recognized as having a highly public nature will be entitled to receive preferential tax treatment, according to the proposal.The Cabinet-approved plan aims to transform bloated public interest corporations led by bureaucrats into private sector-led nonprofit corporations. At the same time, the government also hopes to boost nonprofit activities in the private sector.The move to review public interest corporations was triggered by the 2000 bribery scandal involving the former director of the KSD Foundation for Promoting Welfare of Independent Entrepreneurs. The scandal also revealed that a massive number of former bureaucrats of the former Labor Ministry landed in lucrative jobs at the corporation through the practice of amakudari (descent from heaven).Number of public interest corporations upCurrently, public interest corporations are established based on the judgment of government ministries and agencies in charge. When a group is acknowledged by a government body to have a public nature and its establishment is approved, it is entitled to preferential tax treatment and its corporate and other taxes will be exempted or reduced.The number of public interest corporations has drastically increased since it became difficult to establish public corporations following a recommendation issued by the ad hoc Administrative Reform Council headed by the late Toshio Doko, former chairman of the Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren). Bureaucrats established public interest corporations that would handle administrative clerical work to secure a place for them to obtain an executive post after their retirement, an alternative to obtaining jobs at public corporations.In order to protect vested interests and interfere with the entry of new businesses, some public interest corporations began setting their own standards and obliged private companies to undergo inspections and receive certifications.Regulating 'the industry'The central government was supposed to take certain measures against government-commissioned public interest corporations, which are nicknamed "the industry surrounding governments," by making their businesses open to the private sector and cutting government subsidies to them. In reality, however, barely any progress has been made.As a next step, the government reportedly is considering categorizing both nonprofit organizations and associations that operate under corporate status for neither profit-making nor public interest purposes as nonprofit corporations. The government intends to draft a bill for the new system by March 2006.But there are certainly objections to the government proposal, which taxes nonprofit organizations in principle but gives them preferential tax treatment by deciding whether individual businesses have a public nature. It will be necessary to finalize more details of the proposal, including the criteria for receiving preferential tax treatment.The focal point in the future debate on the proposed system will be who will decide whether a business has a public nature and which projects will be entitled to preferential tax treatment. An administrative office, tax authorities or an independent body are the three candidates for the body to make such decisions.However, it is conceivable that a particular ministry or agency will attempt to interfere with the process of making the final decision. It is necessary to get rid of corporations working for the interest of bureaucrats by overcoming such interventions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2003-06-30	YOSHIN0020030630dz6u0013v
yomshi0020030630dz71000mg	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030630dz71000mg	EN	\N	Unity needed on Iraq bill.	It is imperative that a special bill to enable the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq to help reconstruct the country be enacted without delay.	8	2003-07-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has yet to decide its position on the bill, apparently content to wait and see which tack the three coalition parties take. If this is in fact Minshuto's tactic, then the party is behaving irresponsibly.It is Japan's duty, as a member of the international community, to help in the reconstruction of Iraq. Minshuto leaders must persuade party members, many of whom are said to be strongly opposed to the bill, of this need with a view to starting negotiations with the ruling bloc on revisions to the bill.To date, Minshuto has listed six main bones of contention. These include the U.N. resolution that will serve as the grounds for sending the SDF to Iraq and the appropriateness of retroactive Diet approval for the dispatch.Rules of engagement need revisingIn its arguments, Minshuto has of course made much out of the issue of easing the criteria for the SDF to use weapons.In this connection, Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba suggested that it would be unnecessary to revise the bill. "It would be possible to secure the safety of SDF personnel under the current criteria," he said before a House of Representatives special committee in answer to a question. SDF members are planned to be dispatched to noncombat zones. However, the reality is that attacks, including fatal ones, on British and U.S. forces in Iraq are not contained to readily identifiable areas.Given this reality, it is a matter of course that the current criteria that limit the use of weapons by SDF personnel for self-defense purposes-including averting imminent danger-be eased. The criteria need to be revised and brought into line with international standards so that SDF personnel would be able to stop hostile attempts to interfere with their mission and to protect forces of other countries.In a typical argument at the special committee on the bill, the government stressed the need in Iraq for SDF personnel, whereas opposition parties vehemently emphasized the possible dangers involved.Bill only a frameworkBut one must not forget the fact that the bill is only supposed to present a framework on possible SDF operations in Iraq.This framework will be fleshed out with specific details of SDF operations in Iraq, such as actual tasks and areas of operation, in a basic plan, which is scheduled to be adopted by the Cabinet around September and subsequently approved by the Diet.The government has explained that SDF personnel are expected to engage in such duties as water purification and supply as well as air transportation of personnel and materials.But it must be noted that the situation in Iraq is fluid. Therefore, at the point of compiling the basic plan-guided by reports on the prevailing situation in Iraq-the Diet will once again have to debate such things as specific tasks to be undertaken by the SDF, where it will operate and the level of danger there.During deliberations on the bill, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed determination to set up a permanent law to enable Japan to make a contribution to the international community by dispatching the SDF as required.The Liberal Democratic Party's joint division concerning foreign and security affairs also called on the government to make efforts to establish such a permanent legislation as soon as possible.As things stand, the government is forced to enact special or temporary legislation on an ad hoc basis. Because of this, it is impossible for the country to respond swiftly to changes in the international situation.The SDF has been playing an important role in a number of international contributions to peace. The government must make efforts to enact a permanent law to allow the SDF to continue to play a proactive role.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	706	2003-07-01	YOSHIN0020030701dz71000lb
yomshi0020030701dz720000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030701dz720000g	EN	\N	Optimism on economy undue.	This trend also was attested to by the Bank of Japan's Tankan quarterly economic survey of enterprises released Tuesday.	8	2003-07-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The diffusion index of business sentiment among major manufacturers rose five points in June from the previous survey in March to minus 5, the first improvement in two quarters.The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, which began recovering after sinking to 7,600 territory in April, returned Tuesday to the 9,200 level for the first time in seven months.It is welcome news that business pessimism among corporate managers is abating in light of the recovery in stock prices. But we are concerned that undue optimism over the economy is fast coming to the fore within the government.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi typifies this mind-set.At a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy in June, Koizumi emphatically ruled out the possibility of his making a policy change, saying: "Am I to make a policy change? Doing so would be tantamount to my affirming an intention to ruin the nation rather than save it."Buoyed by the recent advances in stock prices, Koizumi may hope that if he sticks to his guns on structural reform, the overall economy will pick up.Foreign investment behind recoveryBut such view is misjudged because the recent rebound in stock prices is not due to a self-sustaining economic recovery; rather it is mainly attributable to foreign investment.From mid-April to the week of June 16-20, foreign investors were net buyers of Japanese stocks, to the tune of about 2 trillion yen. Japanese companies and financial institutions were net sellers of Japanese stocks during the same period.Foreign investors are using profits accrued from the recovery in New York stock prices to buy Japanese stocks, which are seen as undervalued.On the New York Stock Exchange, stock prices have been boosted by the expectation that the U.S. economy will enter a full-fledged recovery phase in the latter half of this year, against the backdrop of a prevailing sense of relief that the war in Iraq ended quickly.Stimulus measures needed ASAPIt can be said that the rebound in Japanese stock prices was spurred by the recovery in U.S. stock prices.However, the outlook for U.S. economy does not warrant any optimism.As the U.S. Federal Reserve Board pointed out in its statement issued following its decision to cut a key interest rate last month, there is growing concern over deflation.A prevailing view among Japanese market players has it that if there are signs of a deterioration in the U.S. economic outlook, foreign investors, whom the market players see as fickle, will quickly dump Japanese stocks.Also, the current level of stock prices on the TSE, despite the recent rebound, remains more than 30 percent lower than the 14,000 level the Nikkei index was hovering about at the time when the Koizumi Cabinet was inaugurated.Now that stock prices have steadied somewhat, the Koizumi Cabinet should waste no time in launching an all-out effort-not makeshift steps-to bail the economy out of the deflationary phase.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	560	2003-07-02	YOSHIN0020030702dz72000ld
yomshi0020030702dz730005u	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030702dz730005u	EN	\N	Join hands to stamp out crime.	As in preceding years, law and order has continued to deteriorate in 2003. When we look at the number of serious crimes committed up to May, robberies rose 23 percent, murders were up 13 percent and housebreakings increased 6 percent over the corresponding period last year. In the five-month period, 571 foreigners were arrested, up 16 percent from the corresponding period last year.	12	2003-07-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Heinous crimes continue to disrupt everyday life. The incidence of random assaults by knife-wielding assailants has skyrocketed across the nation. A man allegedly stabbed to death a female acquaintance following a row with his wife in Tokyo on Tuesday, while in Nagasaki, a little boy who apparently was kidnapped was found dead Wednesday.Police actions in dealing with the crime wave can be compared to shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. The police need to move proactively to contain crime.Police HQs should cooperateFollowing the order given by the NPA, prefectural police headquarters across the country have begun drawing up plans to crack down on crime and will assess the success of their campaigns after certain periods.The Metropolitan Police Department has set a target of cutting street robberies and housebreakings by 20 percent over the next three years, down to the level seen a decade ago.Each prefectural police headquarters will be under pressure to reduce crime in its precincts. It is also important for prefectural police headquarters to boost cooperation so they can deal more effectively with organized crime, which often involves more than one prefecture, and offenses committed by foreigners.Prefectural police chiefs, who stand at the front line in the battle to maintain law and order, bear a heavy responsibility in this regard. We hope they will do their best in protecting local communities by establishing close cooperative ties with municipal governments and local people.Local, national efforts neededNow more than ever, the police need to pursue well-conceived public safety measures that take into account local realities and residents' needs.Awareness of the deterioration in law and order has been rising sharply among local governments and residents recently.The Tokyo metropolitan government has appointed an NPA bureaucrat as a deputy governor solely in charge of public safety measures, the first such post created at the prefectural government level.There also is a plan to temporarily transfer a metropolitan government official to the MPD. Meanwhile, local governments have begun establishing ordinances aimed at creating towns where people can live without concern for their safety.In many communities, local government officials, volunteer firefighters and residents have joined forces to patrol neighborhoods. Such efforts attest to the strong sense of concern over public safety among local residents.Moves are afoot to increase the number of police officers in the nation, but this will have little effect in slowing the accelerating crime rate.If things remain the same, the situation surrounding the nation's public safety may worsen until the plummeting arrest rate encourages criminals to behave as if they own society.To prevent this from happening, police and local governments should cooperate more closely, and police and concerned central government offices such as immigration offices should pool their resources.It will only be possible to declare 2003 "the year in which law and order is secured," both in name and effect, when such efforts are made at both the local and national levels.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2003-07-03	YOSHIN0020030703dz73000i7
yomshi0020030703dz74000gy	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030703dz74000gy	EN	\N	Minshuto unrealistic on Iraq bill.	On Thursday, a special House of Representatives committee on Japanese assistance for Iraq's reconstruction adopted the government-submitted bill.	8	2003-07-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Minshuto's bill was aimed at having a list of activities to be conducted by the Self-Defense Forces in Iraq removed from the government's bill. After the ruling parties rejected the opposition party's demand on the grounds that the SDF's mission in Iraq was the main pillar of the bill, Minshuto voted against it.The opposition party justified its position by insisting that it was impossible to determine if Iraq's needs could be fulfilled only by SDF personnel. Minshuto has also argued that the SDF would lose support from the Japanese public and the international community because the envisaged SDF operations in Iraq would be regarded as part of the U.S.-led forces' occupation of that country.However, with Iraq's rehabilitation making only slow progress, there are persistent calls for Japan to carry out various noncombatant activities in Iraq, such as purifying and supplying water and airlifting personnel and goods. Given the locations in and around Iraq where such services are needed, the SDF is the only Japanese entity capable of fulfilling these duties.Other nations not losing supportTroops from more than 10 countries, including Poland and South Korea, have been sent to Iraq, where they are cooperating in rehabilitating the country. There are no signs that these forces are losing the support of the Iraqis and the international community.Prior to voting against the government-sponsored bill on Thursday, some Minshuto members-mainly conservative lawmakers-looked for ways to incorporate the SDF into Japan's support for Iraq's rehabilitation. However, Minshuto's top cadre gave in to left-leaning party members-mostly those previously belonging to the Social Democratic Party-who objected to the SDF dispatch. This showed a distinct lack of leadership.For weeks, Minshuto has said Japan had every reason to support Iraq's reconstruction. With this in mind, the party must be taken to task for reneging on its responsibility to play a role in extending Japanese support for international efforts to rehabilitate Iraq.Minshuto insisted that private citizens and government employees-not SDF personnel-should be sent to Iraq. Such a mission is possible under the Constitution, and Minshuto's submission of its bill to the Diet may well be to show that it is not a party that opposes government policies for the sake of opposition.Another important vote delayedThe party's attitude is in marked contrast to its recent decision to vote in favor of a set of bills concerning a response to a military attack, after it established an intraparty consensus on the proposed legislation. However, Minshuto's vote against the bill on Iraq's rehabilitation shows once again that it still can think and act unrealistically.This raises the question of whether Minshuto has what it takes to form a government.In seeking to put the bill on Iraq's reconstruction through the lower house committee, the government and the ruling parties decided to postpone a vote on another important bill, one that would revise the Antiterrorism Law, which expires on Nov. 1. The move represented an effort to ensure passage of the former bill at the expense of the latter.The Antiterrorism Law authorizes the government to send SDF personnel to the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S., British and other warships dispatched to support the campaign against members of the Al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan and other areas. With the global war on terrorism continuing, the government has good reason to extend the SDF mission in the Indian Ocean.The ruling coalition's decision to postpone the vote on the bill to revise the Antiterrorism Law during the current Diet session reflected a calculated motive about when-and whether-it should seek to dissolve the lower house for a general election, according to observers. This kind of calculation should never arise in connection with a bill tintended to ensure Japan fulfills its obligation to fight international terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	751	2003-07-04	YOSHIN0020030704dz74000k8
yomshi0020030707dz75000b9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030707dz75000b9	EN	\N	H.K. should keep special status.	The envisaged law could scuttle Hong Kong's pledge to remain a special administrative region under the "one-nation, two-systems" formula for 50 years. The international community cannot afford to stand by with folded arms.	8	2003-07-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Hong Kong's basic law requires the enactment of a law to prevent any attempt to threaten the territory's security, including conspiring against the government and stealing state secrets.The Hong Kong government started work on the law last autumn, and in February, it presented the territory's legislature with relevant bills, including one aimed at revising the criminal code.The territory's authorities have insisted on passing the bills as soon as possible, saying that the legislative measures were not intended to threaten freedom and fundamental human rights.Bill may restrict freedomsHowever, the bill on national security has been opposed by people who argue that it could eventually restrict freedom of expression, association and religion, a move that they say would undermine the one-country, two-systems formula.On Tuesday, about 500,000 people, 7 percent of the territory's population, took to the streets in a demonstration organized by opponents of the bill, the largest mass action since a demonstration against the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989.The demonstration was testimony to the pent-up frustration felt by Hong Kong residents over the territory's government, which is led by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.Immediately after its return to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong was dealt a blow by the Asian currency crisis. The territory is still experiencing a slump, exacerbated by the recent SARS crisis. The jobless rate has risen to a record 8 percent or so, compared with the 2 percent rate at the time of its reversion to Chinese sovereignty.The Hong Kong government's delayed response to the SARS crisis has only added to public frustration.The recent demonstration also reflects widespread concern about the rapid decline in the territory's economic status.China not relying on territoryFor years, Hong Kong has played an important role as a gateway to China, a new economic powerhouse. However, China is finding it increasingly unnecessary to rely on Hong Kong as a door to its markets. This is particularly so since China joined the World Trade Organization in late 2001, a move conducive to an improvement in the nation's business environment.The dispute over the national security bill has fueled the frustration and concerns harbored by Hong Kong residents.Beijing has long urged the Hong Kong government to enact a national security law. This is because the Chinese government is concerned that Beijing's critics may take advantage of the territory's special status.However, if China insists that Hong Kong give up its freedoms because it is an integral part of its sovereign land, Beijing's pledge to maintain the one-country, two-systems formula would be meaningless.An attempt to undermine the one-nation, two-systems formula would only bring about a decline in Hong Kong's economic power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	543	2003-07-05	YOSHIN0020030705dz75000jf
yomshi0020030705dz7600005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030705dz7600005	EN	\N	SARS victory only half won.	The World Health Organization removed Taiwan from its list of SARS-infected areas, effectively announcing the containment of the global SARS outbreak. At the same time, however, the organization stressed the necessity for continued vigilance and heightened surveillance.	8	2003-07-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	About four months have passed since WHO issued its global alert on SARS in March. The highly contagious disease has infected 8,400 people worldwide to date, and killed more than 800. The flow of people and goods between countries was frozen, dealing a devastating blow to the Asian economy.Everybody was waiting for the containment declaration, and Japanese firms that have manufacturing plants and offices in China are no doubt relieved at the news.But health experts were gloomy, because they have yet to identify the source of the infections, establish accurate examination methods or find a cure.Fears of a comebackExperts are concerned over the possibility that the illness could make a comeback in winter. If the epidemic spreads simultaneously with an outbreak of influenza, the symptoms of which are extremely similar to those of SARS, it would be very difficult to deal with.As Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi put it, we should all be aware that the WHO announcement signifies a mere "comma," not a "period."In order to prevent SARS from spreading again, it is essential to determine the source of the infections and step up surveillance in potentially dangerous areas. In particular, it is necessary for international organizations to tighten monitoring in southern China, where the disease is believed to have originated.As people and goods now move around the globe at high speed, the world is constantly threatened with the possibility that a dangerous virus or bacteria could spread like lightning. Given this situation, it is vital to mount a global effort. In this regard, we want to reiterate the importance of coordinating efforts in the international community.Japanese system flawedThere are still some flaws in the current Japanese system as far as handling infectious diseases is concerned. The government could do little more than throw up hasty countermeasures in response to the SARS outbreak in Asia, tightening the quarantine system and setting up isolation rooms for potential SARS patients. The central and local governments often seemed to be in disarray. Japan was incredibly lucky to have seen no SARS cases in the country.Many problems need to be resolved, but as a first step, the government must expedite efforts to revise the Infectious Disease Law. The government must change the current situation, in which measures against infectious diseases are left in the hands of local governments. Integrated efforts over a wide area are essential to address this problem.At the same time, it is still necessary for local authorities to coordinate carefully with others. We urge the government to set up a new system to make use of Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry health bureaus in regions such as the Tohoku region and Kyushu. Under the envisaged system, concerned parties in local governments, university hospitals and quarantine stations in each region could cooperate closely.Another immediate task for the government is the education of experts. Only a few epidemiologists-experts indispensable to tracing the route of infections-graduate in Japan every year. Very few doctors here are familiar with infectious diseases. If this state of affairs does not change, we are concerned whether appropriate measures can be taken in case of an emergency.We must not become complacent. The SARS virus is in hiding somewhere, waiting for the chance to make a comeback. We must be fully prepared for that day, as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2003-07-06	YOSHIN0020030707dz76000dc
yomshi0020030707dz7700005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030707dz7700005	EN	\N	IT system needs invigorating.	In other words, whereas the social infrastructure for the Internet has been developed and the number of Internet users is steadily increasing, the quality of its use remains inferior to those in the United States and other countries.	9	2003-07-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Given these findings, the nation's IT industry needs to enhance the efficiency and security of the Internet in Japan as soon as possible.The number of Internet users in Japan reached 69.42 million by the end of last year, up 24 percent from the previous year. During the same period, the Internet penetration rate climbed from 44 percent to 55 percent, moving the nation from 16th to 10th in world ranking.This surge in the number of Internet users can be attributed to the rapidly improved environment surrounding Internet access.Intensifying price competition to high-speed Internet services reduced charges for digital subscriber line and other broadband services to the lowest in the world.Past IT white papers had always been full of gloom and doom, claiming that Japan would be left behind in the IT revolution. However, this year's white paper painted a brighter picture for the future. It seems efforts to improve the nation's IT sector have finally borne fruit.Net usage still underdevelopedHowever, we still apparently have further to go in terms of digitalization, for the report cautioned: "While many U.S. firms succeeded in utilizing their investment in information and technology to grow their businesses and strengthen their competitiveness, Japanese companies regard such an investment as merely a tool to boost their business efficiency."Likewise the majority of individual users just use the Internet for e-mail and information gathering, rather than for on-line shopping and playing games.The is mainly because Internet providers have failed to offer services that are closely linked to people's daily needs. It is vital for providers to develop attractive content and make it available on the Internet.The central government plans to make it possible to complete administrative procedures online by the end of the fiscal year. If the envisioned service enables people to do such things as file their tax returns online and apply for passports from their homes, people would become more aware of the convenience of a digitalized society.Cyber-security needs strengtheningIt also is vital to ensure security on the Internet.During the past year, 75 percent of companies reported experiencing Internet-related problems, such as virus infections and illegal access by hackers. These attacks cost industry 346.5 billion yen in direct damages, such as damage to computer systems. Even individual users were troubled in this way with 30 percent of users suffering such attacks for a combined 41.7 billion yen in damages.In addition, a series of leakages of private data have been reported. Despite this, 41 percent of firms polled have not taken any steps to address the problem, according to the white paper. We find this very problematic.The government must expedite efforts to introduce appropriate legislation and toughen penalties against Internet exploiters. Both the private sector and individual users also are urged to make efforts to improve the security of the Internet so that the country will be able to build an even more advanced IT society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2003-07-07	YOSHIN0020030707dz7700111
yomshi0020030708dz7800007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030708dz7800007	EN	\N	Dispel suspicion over Iran.	Some in Japan oppose this U.S. pressure, saying it is unreasonable interference by Washington in the free economic activity of private companies.	8	2003-07-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet preventing nuclear proliferation is an issue of national security that Japan should give a higher priority to than immediate economic interest, especially at a time when North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons development poses the biggest threat to the country.It is time to exert international pressure on Iran to clear itself of suspicion it is developing nuclear weapons.Therefore, the Japanese consortium must halt its negotiations with Iran over the oil development deal until Iran concludes an additional protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency and promises to allow IAEA inspections at all its nuclear facilities without prior notice.The consortium is interested in developing the Azadegan oil field, located near Iran's border with Iraq. The oil field is estimated to be one of the world's largest in terms of oil reserves.The Japanese consortium of Inpex Corp. and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. acquired preferential negotiating rights in the development project in 2000 and ever since have been negotiating with Iran over a detailed development program and financial terms to conclude a formal contract.Oil project government-backedBoth Japanese companies have the Japan National Oil Corporation, a governmental organization, as their biggest shareholder. Therefore, the development program can be said to be a national project, led by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.Recently, U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage have expressed their disapproval with the Azadegan oil field development program, saying it is ill-timed and warning Japan not to send the "wrong message" by allowing Iran to pursue nuclear development program to Iran.Iran is constructing nuclear plants with Russia's support, but maintains that its nuclear development program is meant for peaceful use.Tehran's actions dubiousYet the country has also drawn much attention for such dubious actions as enriching uranium and producing heavy water, both of which can be used to develop nuclear weapons. It has also failed to report the import of uranium from China to the IAEA.It is only natural for the United States to have begun forming an international coalition against Iran due to its suspected nuclear development, and Iran has only itself to blame. Japan should join such a coalition without being urged by Washington.Unlike North Korea, Iran remains a member of the IAEA. We hope Iran will conclude an additional protocol as soon as possible and prove that the country's nuclear aims are peaceful.Until Iran clears itself of suspicion, it is not desirable for Japan to go ahead with the Azadegan oil field development program. The pursuit of this oil exploration program can continue after Iran answers the accusations.If Japan stalls on the Iranian oil development program, it is feared that its negotiating rights may be usurped by European companies.When it comes to forming an international coalition against the suspected nuclear development of Iran, profiteering should not be allowed. Japan should make efforts to engage in diplomatic negotiations aimed at establishing such an accord.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2003-07-08	YOSHIN0020030708dz78000kk
yomshi0020030709dz7900009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030709dz7900009	EN	\N	Suspend the KEDO project.	Differences of opinion have arisen among Japan, the United States and South Korea concerning the project being undertaken by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization to build two light-water reactors in North Korea.	8	2003-07-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The project started with site preparation in 1997, and construction of the reactors is scheduled to begin in August.At working-level talks among Japan, the United States and South Korea held earlier this month, Tokyo and Washington asserted that the KEDO project should be suspended. But Seoul, which wants to see the project continued, hedged on the issue.North Korea has declared that it is building nuclear weapons. Now that the 1994 Agreed Framework between Washington and Pyongyang-the very premise for KEDO-has collapsed, it is only logical to freeze the project.Under the framework accord, North Korea was to freeze and later dismantle its graphite-moderated reactor, from which weapons-grade plutonium needed to make nuclear weapons can be extracted fairly easily. To replace the graphite-moderated reactor, KEDO was to build two light-water reactors, from which it is difficult to extract weapons-grade plutonium.Japan's national security at stakeBut in October, it emerged that North Korea has been pursuing a nuclear weapons development program using highly enriched uranium. In January, Pyongyang announced that it would withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. During talks in April with the United States and China, it announced that it had nuclear weapons. All this indicates that Pyongyang has indeed embarked on a nuclear weapons development program.If things are left unchecked, there is a high likelihood of the light-water reactors and their related facilities being put into military use.This is an issue that cannot be overlooked because it involves Japan's national security.South Korea is distancing itself from Japan and the United States, preferring to stick to its policy of appeasing Pyongyang. This stance is in line with the "sunshine policy" advocated by the administration of former South Korean President Kim Dae Jung.But North Korea has repeatedly flouted the Agreed Framework. South Korea should squarely face up to this fact.Less carrot, more stickAt the China-South Korea summit talks held on Monday, the leaders of both countries did agree that they want a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, but they emphasized their intention to seek "dialogue" with Pyongyang on its nuclear program.Nobody would oppose a peaceful solution to the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. But it is obvious that when it comes to North Korea, a country that has broken international agreements time and again, dialogue alone will only result in deadlock. Without pressure, even dialogue may be impossible.It is for this reason that during the summit talks between the United States and South Korea, between Japan and the United States, and between Japan and South Korea, the leaders of these countries agreed that they would take "further measures," or "tougher action" should North Korea aggravate the situation concerning its nuclear ambitions.It is vitally important to have North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons development program in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. Only if North Korea fulfills this obligation should construction of the light-water reactors go ahead.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	575	2003-07-09	YOSHIN0020030709dz79000mo
yomshi0020030709dz7a0005w	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030709dz7a0005w	EN	\N	What made a 12-year-old kill?	The 12-year-old boy is believed to have pushed Shun Tanemoto from a multistory parking building in the city about four kilometers from a large electrical appliance store from where he had lured the kindergartner. The boy became the victim of an appallingly brutal murder when he was visiting the store with his family.	12	2003-07-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The victim was naked when his body was found on July 2. Did the alleged killer intend to molest the boy when he lured him out of the store? Why did he have to murder the boy? It is difficult to imagine how profoundly the victim's family must be grieved.Under the Penal Code, no one under 14 years of age may be held criminally responsible. This means that the 12-year-old boy will be exempt from such criminal procedures as arrest.On Wednesday, the Nagasaki prefectural police took the boy into custody and informed a child consultation office of his case under the Child Welfare Law. The case will be sent to a family court that will investigate the incident.The competent authorities should never leave their investigation into the case incomplete in consideration of the boy's age. The boy reportedly told investigators that he was sorry for what he had done. The authorities should disclose findings from their comprehensive investigation into the case, including how his family has raised him and what his school life has been like. What was the motive for the murder? What happened between the time the boy abducted Tanemoto and the time the 4-year-old was murdered? All this must be made known to the public.Authorities must reveal facts of caseThe authorities have every reason to reveal the facts of the case, considering how deeply the incident has shocked the public and out of consideration for the feelings of the victim's family. The bitter lessons from the incident should never be forgotten.Footage from a security video camera installed at a shopping area near the scene of the murder shows a boy in a middle school uniform walking along hand in hand with the victim. The footage played a decisive role in determining who was responsible for the recent murder. No local resident would have imagined that a middle school student would go so far as to kill a boy attending kindergarten.Over the past year, there have been four cases involving infant victims in Nagasaki, including one in which a little child was pushed from a passage in an apartment building. In another case, a child was stripped of his clothes. Prior to the recent murder, local police had received reports about these incidents.Given this, the latest incident could have been averted had police adequately investigated these cases.Many kids can't tell right from wrongCommon ground can be found between the recent incident and a 1997 case in which a 14-year-old Kobe boy killed a primary school student and seriously injured another who later died. In both cases, a middle school student was implicated in an attack on one or more younger children. The Kobe incident was followed by a series of crimes committed by teenage boys who found it difficult to control their emotions. They included a bus hijacking and other crimes involving several 17-year-olds. The most recent case involves a group of boys believed to have killed a 13-year-old middle school student and buried his body in Okinawa Prefecture.The number of minors arrested and taken into custody has risen for a second consecutive year despite a decrease in the juvenile population. The figure stood at 160,000 in 2002. This clearly points to an increase in the number of boys and girls who do not know the importance of life and have no compassion for others.Our society has finally seen a 12-year-old boy held responsible for a murder. This stark fact must be squarely looked at.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	694	2003-07-10	YOSHIN0020030710dz7a000j1
yomshi0020030710dz7b000b8	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030710dz7b000b8	EN	\N	Revision of Penal Code needed.	On Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld an appeal by prosecutors over the 11-year prison sentence imposed on the 40-year-old man, Nobuyuki Sato, by the Tokyo High Court. The top court rejected this ruling and restored the initial prison sentence of 14 years that was handed down by the Niigata District Court.	8	2003-07-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Earlier, prosecutors sought a 15-year prison term for Sato, who had been charged with abduction and confinement resulting in injury, as well as theft. The Supreme Court's sentence will be finalized at 14 years.The district court and the high court were widely divided over how to consider separate but related offenses committed by a single person in handing down a sentence under the Penal Code.Criminal law stipulates that a person charged with more than one offense can be sentenced to a prison term 1 1/2 times as long as the most serious crime committed by the defendant.Prosecutors combined crimesSato would have received a prison term of up to 10 years if he had been punished solely for abducting and confining the girl. However, not only the victim but many members of the public wanted the defendant dealt with more harshly.With this in mind, prosecutors served Sato with a supplementary indictment in connection with the theft of women's underwear. Combining the abduction-and-confinement charges with the theft charge, prosecutors demanded he be sentenced to 15 years in prison, the maximum penalty that could be given when these charges were combined.The district court accepted nearly all assertions made by prosecutors, saying that Sato should receive a sentence that takes into consideration the circumstances surrounding all his crimes. However, the high court refuted this line of argument, saying that the defendant should not be sentenced to a prison term exceeding the combined length of terms for all these crimes.Thursday's ruling means a defendant can receive a sentence after the circumstances surrounding all the crimes he or she has committed have been examined, if the term imposed on the defendant does not exceed the 1 1/2-times limit. The decision can be interpreted to imply that a term imposed on a defendant charged with multiple crimes is not subject to restrictions laid down under applicable individual laws. The latest ruling is the first of its kind by the Supreme Court.Limit to flexibly interpreting lawsThe decision may serve to enable judges to give appropriate sentences for crimes that have not been postulated under the current legal system, by flexibly interpreting relevant laws. The Supreme Court apparently considered the high court inflexible in handing down its ruling.However, there is a limit to flexibly interpreting laws. The case involving Sato illustrates that the Penal Code is flawed in determining the length of prison sentence to be imposed for crimes.The Penal Code states that a defendant found guilty of abduction and confinement resulting in injury and one found guilty of theft or fraud should serve prison terms of up to 10 years. For years, it has been argued that the penalty for an offense that threatens the freedom and life of an individual is far too light compared to one for a crime that violates property rights.Nearly a century has passed since the Penal Code was established in the Meiji era (1868-1912). Since then, there have been few major amendments. The case involving Sato should serve as a basis for starting debate on revising the Penal Code.It should also be noted that the failure of investigators to properly deal with the girl's disappearance at the initial stage contributed to her ordeal. They should not forget this.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2003-07-11	YOSHIN0020030711dz7b000iw
yomshi0020030714dz7c0005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030714dz7c0005r	EN	\N	Status change not end of reform.	The government's advisory panel to the Special Public Institutions Reform Promotion Headquarters submitted its recommendations to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi concerning mid-and longterm goals and plans drawn up by these corporations.	8	2003-07-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel repeated its sternly worded call for independent administrative corporations to change their mind-sets.Independent administrative corporations were launched in April 2001 as part of the reform of the nation's public corporations. Public corporations were reviewed from the perspective of how necessary they were and how much pressure they put on public-sector firms engaged in similar businesses. Those it was deemed too difficult to either abolish or privatize were transformed into independent administrative corporations.The corporations are granted state subsidies to cover the cost of operations. In return, they are required to submit midterm plans over a range of three to five years. After a plan has been implemented, performance is assessed by the relevant government body committee tasked with evaluating them. Based on the evaluation, the government is to determine whether the corporations should continue in operation.As the advisory panel put it, the independent public corporations' midterm plans are basically contracts agreed upon between the corporations and the ministers overseeing their operations.Vagueness not good enoughHowever, according to the advisory panel's opinions on the 32 independent administrative corporations that are scheduled to be set up in October, many of the corporations used such abstract expressions as "to promote" and "to make efforts" in their plans. Unless specific numeric goals are set, the panel will be unable to assess performance afterward.As to the goal of cost reduction, many corporations set their goals at a paltry 1 percent per year or 5 percent over a given period. The panel quite rightly called on the corporations to set goals of 10 percent to 20 percent cuts over a given period.The panel also raised questions on operations of specific corporations.Regarding the Japan External Trade Organization, the panel said the Economic, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Foreign Ministry should take over the tasks currently handled by JETRO, and that JETRO should instead focus on research and development as well as the provision of information.Furthermore, the panel focused on the basic nature of the business to be conducted by an orgaization on labor policy research and training, questioning the necessity of having an independent administrative corporation do such work.It is vital that reforms of such public corporations proceed, not only with the aim of meeting numeric targets, but also with the aim of eventually abolishing them completely.Abuses still prevalentAccording to data provided by a Public Management Ministry committee tasked with evaluating policies and independent administrative corporations, these organizations are still rife with abuses prevalent in the days when they operated as public corporations.In the first group of 59 independent administrative corporations, launched by the end of last July, 103 of 179 full-time executives were retired high-ranking government officials who received the lucrative positions in a practice called amakudari (descent from heaven). In addition, 34 corporations were found to be paying salaries to their chairmen that are as high as those paid to bureau heads at central government agencies and ministries.It is difficult for the public to closely monitor independent administrative corporations. But the corporations must not take advantage of this situation and duck accountability. They must try to change their own mind-sets by monitoring themselves honestly and learning from the private sector.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2003-07-12	YOSHIN0020030712dz7c000jx
yomshi0020030712dz7d0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030712dz7d0000b	EN	\N	Money scandal fells Tsuchiya.	His oldest daughter allegedly misappropriated donations to his political fund management organization.	8	2003-07-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After the facts came to light, Tsuchiya-as her father and Saitama governor-seems to have had no option but resignation.He decided to resign apparently to take responsibility for the suspected violation of the Political Fund Control Law by Chiho Gyosei Kenkyukai, his political fund management organization.The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested his daughter, Momoko Ichikawa, and an employee of the organization Thursday on suspicion of falsely reporting the amount of political donations it received.They are suspected of not reporting 113 million yen of the money contributed to the organization. Ichikawa allegedly used it as operating funds for her company or to repay its debts.In the beginning, Tsuchiya denied any intention of resigning."My daughter and I are separate individuals," he said. "I did not know about that (misappropriation of money) at all."However, with public criticism growing and on the advice of his own family, Tsuchiya apparently concluded that he could not escape moral and political responsibility for the alleged violation.Prosecutors won't restBut Tsuchiya's resignation is not the end of the matter. Prosecutors are expected to continue their investigations until they clarify the flow of money completely, including whether the governor, who admitted receiving reports on the political fund management organization, really was uninvolved in the suspected violation.Tsuchiya, who once served as president of the House of Councillors, is a so-called big shot governor. He has headed the Association of Prefectural Governors and was reportedly planning to run in the gubernatorial election scheduled for next year, seeking his fourth term.As the oldest daughter of an important governor, Ichikawa sometimes served as his representative during the election campaign. In the Saitama prefectural government, she was dubbed the "third deputy governor," in addition to the two official prefectural deputy governors.Under the cloak of her father's power, Ichikawa may have strengthened her influence on prefectural politics and used that reinforced position to collect donations. Prosecutors must lance this political boil.Public suspicious of politiciansThis is not an isolated case, however. Scandals involving dubious money and politicians are a constant in both central and local governments.Last year, House of Representatives member Muneo Suzuki was indicted for accepting bribes in an influence peddling scheme and violating the Political Fund Control Law.This year, Takanori Sakai, a lower house member, was indicted for underreporting the amount of corporate donations he received. Influence peddling by other Diet members and their secretaries also came to light.Many lawmakers insisted that the actual number of bad-apple politicians was very small, and said they should not be lumped into one barrel. However, since so many scandals have surfaced, politicians must forgive our suspicion that many of them think it is all right to break the law as long as they do not get caught.Prosecutors have begun applying the Political Fund Control Law, which was not often used in the past, to an increasing number of cases. This surely reflects the moral paralysis of dishonest lawmakers.Both politicians and their secretaries should take Tsuchiya's case as a strict warning.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2003-07-13	YOSHIN0020030714dz7d000dv
yomshi0020030714dz7f000gt	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030714dz7f000gt	EN	\N	Pressure needed on N. Korea.	It is said that the United States has for the first time detected the nuclear reprocessing byproduct krypton 85 in air samples taken near nuclear facilities in North Korea. This implies that North Korea is now producing plutonium, which could lead to the production of nuclear weapons.	8	2003-07-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	More than half a year has passed since North Korea announced it had resumed the operation of its nuclear facilities. Has the country already succeeded in manufacturing nuclear weapons?As long as there is nothing to deny such a possibility, the international community should take steps to deal with a worst-case scenario.Since the end of the Iraq war, North Korea has made a strained justification of its nuclear weapons development, saying that the only way for it to avert war is to possess a powerful military deterrent. This is absurd logic. A North Korea that is armed with nuclear weapons would in fact be a threat to peace.North Korea needs to promise it will completely abandon its nuclear weapons program in a verifiable and irreversible manner.Multilateral talks necessaryThe first step toward this end is for the country to agree to hold multilateral talks on its nuclear development program, involving not only North Korea, China and the United States, but also by Japan and South Korea. This is the only way to reach a peaceful solution to the issue.The United States has already presented a draft of its chairman's statement denouncing Pyongyang's nuclear weapons development to the U.N. Security Council. It is presumed that both China and Russia cannot afford to continue to refrain from denouncing Pyongyang. If the council adopts the U.S.-drafted statement, it is necessary that Pyongyang accept a proposal for holding multilateral talks.Previously, North Korea had suspended the construction of two nuclear reactors, both of which are larger than the one the country restarted.However, a South Korean intelligence source said that Pyongyang has resumed the construction of the reactors. If their construction is completed, this would enable North Korea to produce several dozens of nuclear weapons a year.The international community should take all possible measures to prevent Pyongyang from developing, possessing or proliferating nuclear weapons.Suspend reactor constructuionThe Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) should suspend the construction of the light-water reactors it is building in North Korea.It is out of the question for KEDO to compensate North Korea for suspending the construction of the two light water reactors as the country has been developing nuclear weapons in defiance of its bilateral accord with the United States.In further strengthening an international coalition to contain North Korea's nuclear ambitions, it is also important to cut funding for Pyongyang's development of missiles and nuclear weapons.In this respect, Japan can play a great role. Japan should further work to crack down on the illegal trade of missile-related components, drugs and counterfeit banknotes. It should not relax its vigilance on North Korean ships, including the Man Gyong Bong-92 cargo-passenger ship, which enter Japanese ports and are suspected of transporting such items to and from North Korea.It is also necessary for Japan to establish a system whereby it can stop-at its discretion-North Koreans from trading with or receiving remittances from Japan immediately after it is confirmed that Pyongyang is reprocessing spent nuclear fuels. Without further pressure, it will be impossible to make North Korea change its conduct.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2003-07-15	YOSHIN0020030716dz7f0000u
yomshi0020030715dz7g0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030715dz7g0000b	EN	\N	Red Cross' reputation tainted.	According to an estimate by the Japanese Red Cross Society, about 2,200 people annually have donated such potentially tainted blood. Over the past three years, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has received reports concerning about 300 cases of hepatitis infection thought to have been caused by blood transfusion. Some hematological specialists have said that these cases are just the tip of the iceberg.	8	2003-07-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There are increasing doubts about the safety of blood transfusion procedures in this country. The government and the Red Cross should take all possible measures to uncover the truth behind the cases in question, while also making sure similar infections do not recur.By law, donated blood must be tested for hepatitis, HIV and other viruses. The blood must be discarded if it tests positive for these viruses.However, it is impossible to determine whether donated blood is tainted if it is taken from a donor who was infected by a virus immediately before he or she donated blood because the number of viral organisms is extremely small in such a case. The time frame between infection with a virus and the point at which the virus can be detected is called the "window period."During this period, viruses in donated blood are undetectable. This means that a recipient of such blood is susceptible to infection.For years, it has been suggested that there is a limit to what antivirus tests can do. However, the Red Cross has done little to prevent possible viral infection among donated blood recipients.This can be seen in cases involving donors who have been found to be infected with hepatitis. The Red Cross has not done enough to determine how they were infected.Infection risk downplayedInitially, the Red Cross refused to follow instructions issued by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry that it examine records concerning donors whose blood tested positive and recall their donated blood. The Red Cross dismissed these instructions as "unscientific."The Red Cross' attitude apparently reflected its confidence in its ability to detect viruses in donated blood through a highly precise detector. The Red Cross was convinced that its state-of-the-art virus detector had significantly shortened the window period.It should be noted, however, that the equipment did not reduce the window period to zero. Given this, the Red Cross should have taken swift measures to ensure that potentially tainted donated blood would never be given to patients.Donated blood is indispensable in the provision of medical treatment. However, blood transfusion always poses the danger of viral infection.In the United States and European nations, white blood corpuscles are removed from donated blood because they could cause adverse effects. This is part of an effort to make blood transfusion risk-free.A health ministry panel has insisted on establishing rules requiring white blood corpuscles to be removed from donated blood. However, the Red Cross has been cool toward the proposal, saying it could prove costly. This serves as another indication that the Red Cross does not take seriously enough the risk of viral infection due to blood transfusions.Spirit of law should be observedThe health ministry is not blameless, either. Three years ago, the ministry drafted a set of procedures to be fulfilled in determining the health of donated blood recipients and recalling tainted blood if antivirus tests failed to detect viruses in such blood. However, it neglected to consider whether and how these guidelines should be implemented. Appropriate steps could have been taken even earlier if the guidelines had been put in place.The Blood Law will take effect in late July, requiring the central and local governments, as well as the Red Cross, to ensure the safety of donated blood and a stable supply of such blood. The law was established following a bitter lesson learned from the AIDS tragedy that arose from the use of contaminated blood products and the spread of hepatitis due to the administration of inappropriate drugs. The spirit of the law should be taken to heart by anyone associated with the safety of blood donation and transfusion.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	724	2003-07-16	YOSHIN0020030716dz7g000jy
yomshi0020030716dz7h00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030716dz7h00006	EN	\N	Iraq council has long to-do list.	The Iraqi Governing Council will join hands with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA)-a U.S-led body that administers Iraq's occupation-to play a central role in rehabilitating the country.	12	2003-07-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A full three months has passed since Saddam's ouster. This shows that it is not an easy task to fill the political vacuum created by the fall of the long-running dictatorial regime.Top CPA administrator Paul Bremer has said that the governing council is a politically balanced body whose like Iraq has never seen. His remark was intended to highlight the CPA's success in assembling representatives of the country's main political factions and ethnic groups.Put another way, however, the council is an odd mix of political, religious and ethnic groups. With this in mind, the council should work to establish cooperative relations among its members, first and foremost.Council members must have the courage to ignore minor differences in their opinions, when it comes to exercising the council's power. Issues it will take up include appointing ministers, making decisions on fiscal and other matters and drafting a new constitution. If its members refuse to compromise, the council will be unable to reach a consensus on important matters.Restoring order No. 1 taskAnother important task is to ensure that the council and Bremer work hand in hand. The council will not be able to ignore the CPA's opinions, while the latter should not arbitrarily overturn decisions made by the former.After its inauguration, the council decided that it should give top priority to restoring peace and order in Iraq, resuming administrative services and rehabilitating the tattered economy. The council had every reason to put these tasks at the top of its agenda, given the host of difficulties facing its nation. In fact, Iraqis have become even more frustrated with their day-to-day problems, including cuts in electricity and water supply and a high unemployment rate.Many Iraqis also are dissatisfied that the council is dominated by representatives from factions and groups once oppressed by Saddam, including those in exile during his reign and Kurds who enjoyed autonomy under his regime. The council must keep this in mind as it attempts to rehabilitate Iraq.Lend U.S., Britain a handIt is also disturbing to note that there is no sign of an end to Iraqi attacks on U.S. soldiers. More than 30 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq since President George W. Bush announced the end of major combat operations in that country.The attacks are believed to have been carried out largely by Iraqi forces still loyal to Saddam. In return, the U.S. forces are campaigning to uproot those forces.A lack of law and order in Iraq poses the main hindrance to international efforts to reconstruct that country. In this sense, this is a crucial stage in the U.S. work to occupy and rehabilitate Iraq.Undoubtedly, the international community should never leave that task to the United States and Britain. There are innumerable tasks other countries can fulfill in achieving the goal. With this in mind, Japan should begin where it can.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2003-07-17	YOSHIN0020030717dz7h000i1
yomshi0020030717dz7i000ba	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030717dz7i000ba	EN	\N	Children become easy prey.	A series of appalling events have been reported recently, but the latest incident was most extraordinary.	8	2003-07-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The girls, all sixth-year students at the school, were handcuffed and confined in a condominium in central Tokyo. They were rescued after one of them managed to escape and sought help at a nearby florist shop. They are suffering from shock, which is natural for girls of such a young age.A dead man, who appears to have committed suicide, was found in another room in the condominium, with his body covered with a plastic sheet. Yet, many things about the man remain unclear, including the reason for his death and the purpose of confining the girls.After finding the girls, the Metropolitan Police Department began trying to work out what actually happened. Besides the dead man, there reportedly was another man involved who helped lure the girls into two taxis. We hope the case will be cleared up as soon as possible.Lure of entertainment areasThe four girls went missing after they left home Sunday, telling friends that they were going to Shibuya. According to police, the girls got into the taxis in front of Shibuya Station that afternoon, probably lured by an offer of well-paid part-time jobs.Many young girls flock to such entertainment districts as Shibuya and Shinjuku on weekends and holidays from other parts of the Tokyo metropolitan area as well as from rural areas.But the youngsters must keep in mind that there is always a danger that they will fall into a trap. A number of drug-related crimes as well as incidents involving pedophiles and mobsters have been reported in entertainment districts. Because of their immaturity, primary and middle school students are easy prey.The girls were found confined in a condominium in a busy area where the Prime Minister's Office and many company offices are located. This fact might symbolize the deterioration of the social order.Number of young victims soarsWhile the number of juvenile delinquents is increasing, a rising number of minors are falling victim to crimes. The number of such victims has exceeded 400,000 for two years in a row, a significant increase given that the number stood at 350,000 in 2000. Nearly 30,000 primary school students were victims of criminal offenses.There is a tendency in society to ignore problematic actions among young people, such as runaways and those engaged in prostitution. A "runaway" who stays away from home for a short period is called a "puchi iede," or petite runaway, and the practice of being paid for a date by providing sexual services is referred to as "enjo kosai," or compensated dating. We find this tendency problematic.The summer vacation will begin on Saturday at many public primary and middle schools and children will have a greater opportunity to go out. The environment surrounding children is deteriorating along with general social morality.To avoid tragic incidents and accidents, parents and school officials must offer thorough guidance to children.Adults should instill discipline into their children to ensure sound growth, both physically and mentally.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2003-07-18	YOSHIN0020030718dz7i000hy
yomshi0020030721dz7j000gz	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030721dz7j000gz	EN	\N	Insurers should avoid yield cuts.	However, given the serious situation life insurance firms face today, a system should be established to allow them to reduce guaranteed yields to policyholders. Regrettably, the move comes too late.	8	2003-07-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Friday, the Diet passed the revised Insurance Business Law to allow life insurers to lower guaranteed yields before they go under.Insurance firms' settlements of accounts in the business year ending on March 31 illustrate the sector's precarious situation. The 10 major life insurers held more than 1 trillion yen worth of reverse spread-the loss resulting from investment returns on premiums being lower than yields promised to policyholders. This is because investment returns are on the decline due to the prolonged recession.May affect entire financial sectorFalling stock prices dealt another serious blow to the business performance of life insurers. In their settlements of accounts for fiscal 2001, the 10 major life insurers posted a combined sum of more than 1.8 trillion yen in unrealized profits in their share holdings. However, they suffered losses for fiscal 2002.There is a danger that the grave situation in the life insurance business might develop into a crisis affecting the entire financial sector because of cross-held shares. While life insurance firms provided funds of more than 6.3 trillion yen to banks, banks provide funds totaling 1.8 trillion yen to life insurance companies.Therefore, if a life insurance company goes under, bank funds in the form of shares in the insurance firm will become uncollectible, possibly resulting in a financial crisis for the bank. In this respect, it is extremely important to avoid the collapse of life insurance companies to prevent the country's financial system from being turned on its head.Since the collapse of Nissan Mutual Life Insurance Co. in 1997, six other life insurers have gone under. As a result of measures taken to rehabilitate the failed insurers, the amount of insurance benefits were halved in some cases.Lower yields better for policyholdersBut it is more advantageous to policyholders for insurers to lower guaranteed yields and avoid collapse than it would be to see them go under because of the heavy financial burdens resulting from reverse spreads as the margins of cuts in insurance benefit will be smaller.All the life insurance companies have declared that they have no plans to apply for permission to cut guaranteed yields. Of course, they must make strenuous efforts to reform management to avoid having to do so.To prevent the situation from deteriorating, insurance firms should take painstaking restructuring efforts. It has been pointed out that they have failed to make adequate efforts to cut the number of salespeople and branches, and have yet to review the salary levels of their employees.There have been endless rumors about the financial insecurity of some insurance firms. This is partly the fault of insurers because of their failure to disclose information regarding their operation, including data on profits incurred from the difference between the projected death rate and the actual death rate.Executives of insurance firms should disclose all relevant information in order to eliminate strong public distrust in the life insurance sector.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	589	2003-07-19	YOSHIN0020030722dz7j0001q
yomshi0020030720dz7k00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030720dz7k00008	EN	\N	Nurturing Japan's gifted children.	At the event, secondary school pupils answered questions far tougher than those found on university entrance examinations.	8	2003-07-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The questions were far too difficult for mere calculating ability or exam-taking techniques to handle. Included were posers that even mathematics experts would be hard-pressed to solve.At the event, where participants' resourcefulness was tested, one of the six high school students on the Japanese team won a gold medal, awarded to students who ranked 37th or higher based on their marks.The remaining five Japanese students won either silver or bronze medals, and their efforts deserve our praise.Nevertheless, it is indeed difficult to be ranked as the world's highest in this field. In this year's competition, Bulgaria was ranked No. 1, followed by China, the United States and Vietnam. These are all nations that usually rank high in this international competition.Japanese teams fall behindJapanese teams, which have been participating in this event since IMO 1990, held in Beijing, can hardly be called high ranking, since the highest they have ever placed is 8th.When Japan first took part in the competition, other countries regarded the Japanese team as one of their strongest rivals, with some reckoning that Japan would win the championship. This was because Japan had always ranked high in international surveys of the scholastic ability of its students.In a survey conducted in 2000 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on 15-year-old pupils from about 30 countries, Japan ranked highest in terms of mathematical ability.But these surveys are primarily aimed at assessing the average scholastic ability of students. Japan's high showing reflects the way education is offered in the Japanese school system, a system that emphasizes the follow-the-leader mentality.The stark reality is that, in Japan, it is almost impossible to foster students who might be ranked among the world's best, and not only in the sphere of mathematics.Recognizing talent is tabooOne factor behind this reality is the Japanese mentality that considers special education for gifted children taboo-a mentality that is particularly strong at the primary and secondary education levels. This is in stark contrast to the education systems in the countries that rank high in the mathematical olympiad, in which various and flexible educational systems, including accelerated education programs, are in place for gifted and talented children.In addition, the system that evaluates children's special talents and efforts from a variety of aspects needs to be improved in Japan. Under the present educational system, preparation for university entrance examinations is given the highest priority. Efforts on the part of schools to do anything else is seen as hindering those preparations.In the United States, students who distinguish themselves in competitions like the mathematics olympiad or in science competitions are given an advantage in being admitted to colleges and universities.In Japan, however, there are only a few universities, like Waseda University, that take into consideration a student's prowess in such competitions when admitting students.While improvement in the basic academic ability of students is important, it is also essential to foster gifted and talented children who can compete with their peers from leading countries around the world.The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has established a system of "super science high schools," offering support since 2001 to 52 high schools across the country where special education in science and mathematics is provided for students. Some municipalities are also planning to launch special educational support for gifted and talented children.The buds of change are appearing. It is up to us to nurture them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2003-07-20	YOSHIN0020030722dz7k000cy
yomshi0020030721dz7l00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030721dz7l00009	EN	\N	Intern medics not cheap labor.	Intern doctors who have limited clinical skill and knowledge are being forced to work in the forefront of medical care, without much support from senior doctors. It is the unfortunate reality of the nation's medical services.	8	2003-07-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Last month, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry handed down concrete instructions on the issue, and major changes are planned for the internship system next fiscal year. It will be an important reform that will influence the quality of medical services. We hope the medical-services community will assist in the challenge of fostering good doctors, who have the trust and respect of the public.Problem with internships twofoldThere are two main problems with the current medical intern system.One problem is the closed nature of university hospitals at which most interns opt to do their on-the-job training.There is often a strong sense of sectionalism among medical departments, with the nature of training often biased toward their specialized fields. The training of basic clinical skills and knowledge tends to be neglected, resulting in the production of doctors who are ignorant of fields outside their chosen speciality.The other problem lies in the poor financial compensation for interns. They are usually required to work more than 100 hours a week, with minimal remuneration. In particular, an intern's salary at many hospitals that are affiliated with private universities is less than 100,000 yen a month.It has become commonplace for interns to work part-time at private hospitals to supplement their incomes. There is significant risk in leaving inexperienced interns to single-handedly supervise clinical practices at a hospital. Yet, in reality, part-time interns run many hospitals on weekends or at night.Under the new system, it will be mandatory for interns to undergo on-the-job training for a minimum of two years to enable them to obtain basic clinical skills, while hospitals in regional areas will be added to the list of candidate venues for such training. In addition, remuneration for trainee doctors, who have been exploited as "cheap labor," will be increased.Lighter rules create new woesSuch moves are a great leap forward, but some concerns remain. Under the health ministry's guidelines, the requirements for hospitals to be designated as venues for on-the-job training and the principle of banning interns from holding part-time jobs have been relaxed.Under the new criteria, for instance, it will be possible for interns to train at hospitals that have less than the required number of doctors as stipulated by the Medical Service Law, while the clinical experience requirement for supervisory doctors has been reduced from at least 7 years to at least 5 years.The revisions have been made to accommodate hospitals that do not have enough doctors. But how can interns be adequately trained at hospitals with insufficient doctors? This may result in a reduction in the quality of training.More problematic is that a ban on part-time work for interns, which should have been one of the major pillars of the reforms, is not included in the criteria.While the shortage of doctors is indeed a serious problem, interns should no longer be considered "cheap labor."The health ministry suggested interns should receive monthly remuneration of at least 300,000 yen. However, no budgetary allowances have yet been made, let alone for supervisory doctor stipends.The central government has to establish as soon as possible a system whereby newly licensed doctors can devote their time and energy to their on-the-job training, without working part-time jobs to make ends meet.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	661	2003-07-21	YOSHIN0020030722dz7l001hu
yomshi0020030722dz7m00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030722dz7m00007	EN	\N	Beef tariff hurts consumers.	The government plans to raise its tariff on imported beef from August as a safeguard emergency import control measure in the wake of a steep year-on-year increase in imports of beef.	8	2003-07-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the surge is just a reaction to a sharp dip in imports of beef that followed the detection of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), in the autumn of 2001.Japanese stockbreeders have not been suffering from any ill effects following the outbreak, such as a plunge in prices. Nonetheless, the government is sticking fast to a stipulation in the relevant law-a questionable measure.The safeguard against imports of beef is based on a law regulating import tariffs that allows Japan under a World Trade Organization agreement to automatically raise its import tariff on beef from 38.5 percent to 50 percent in the event of a year-on-year increase of more than 17 percent in beef imports over a certain number of months. Once the tariff is raised, the higher rate will remain effective during the rest of the given fiscal year.Restaurants oppose schemeIn April and May, the country imported a total of about 50,000 tons of fresh and frozen beef. As a result, the combined volume of imported beef during the April-June quarter-scheduled to be announced later this month-will certainly exceed the year-earlier level of about 54,000 tons by more than 17 percent.However, it must be remembered that during the corresponding quarter of last year there was a steep contraction of about 40 percent in beef imports from about 92,000 tons recorded in the April-June quarter of 2001. So far this year, beef imports have quickly recovered, but the total volume is still far below the 2001 level.Fast food providers and other restaurants are strongly opposed to the government's plan to raise the import tariff on beef. One estimation projects an annual burden of more than 10 billion yen on consumers.The tariff on imported beef is subject to an annual review. In March, the Diet voted in favor of keeping the past tariff regime intact throughout fiscal 2003.As for the government's plan to trigger the safeguard measure following the confirmation of the volume of beef imported during the April-June quarter, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said that it "will stick fast to the stipulation of the law."Ministry's motives incomprehensibleThe ministry's moves to date are beyond comprehension. If it had set the year 2001 instead of the year 2002 as the base year for comparing 2003 imports, the emergency import control would have been averted.In fact, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) submitted to the Diet a bill demanding that beef imports in fiscal 2003 be compared with those in fiscal 2001. But the ruling coalition did not listen to the opposition party in a move that was in favor of the livestock industry.Lawmakers cannot technically revise a law they voted upon earlier during the same Diet session. But it should be possible for the Diet to have second thoughts about its own decision in an extraordinary session to be convened in autumn.Major beef exporters such as the United States have already threatened to impose some punitive action against Japan if it introduces an emergency tariff on imported beef.The government must swiftly act to prevent unnecessary trade friction from taking place.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2003-07-22	YOSHIN0020030722dz7m00101
yomshi0020030722dz7n0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030722dz7n0005s	EN	\N	Punish problem doctors.	That way of thinking is all the more reasonable when it comes, in particular, to the field of medicine, which deals with peoples' lives. In reality, however, doctors' errors are treated fairly leniently, and doctors who have repeatedly made mistakes are rarely disciplined.	8	2003-07-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If things are left uncorrected, the public distrust in medical care will only deepen.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry created earlier this month an office to review ways of disciplining error-prone doctors. It is an urgent matter to work out a system to strictly discipline and retrain problematic doctors.Drivers who repeatedly cause traffic accidents lose their driver's licenses, but doctors who repeatedly make medical errors are not stripped of their doctor's licenses.This absurd situation is allowed to continue chiefly because the only doctors who are subject to discipline by the Medical Ethics Council-an advisory panel to the health minister that decides what disciplinary measures should be meted out in malpractice cases-are those who have been convicted of a crime and fined or given a harsher punishment, those found to have padded medical treatment fees paid to medical institutions under the health insurance system, and those convicted of "inhumane" crimes such as murder or sexual assault. Those who have violated the "doctrines of medicine" are not subject to discipline by the council.Japan lenient in malpractice casesEven if a doctor is held criminally responsible for a medical error, he or she usually is only punished lightly. Moreover, as seen in most medical malpractice incidents that do not constitute criminal cases, doctors involved are not subject to the council's punishments, no matter how often they may be held responsible for reparations in civil litigation.Doctors, to whom patients' lives are entrusted, require advanced medical skills and a strong sense of ethics. What is needed is a framework enabling doctors who lack such characteristics to be rooted out.In the United States, not only doctors who have repeatedly made medical errors, but also those who curse in front of patients are subject to punishment. More than 1,000 doctors are stripped of their medical license in the United States each year. In Germany, doctors who have violated professional regulations stipulated by the doctors association are tried at a vocational court.In Japan, the actions taken against doctors involved in medical errors are lenient compared with those in other major industrialized countries.The Medical Ethics Council late last year decided on a policy of making doctors involved in medical accidents, which are short of criminal cases, subject to punishment by the council. But the policy has yet to be studied in detail.Medical groups have part to playFirst of all, the present state of affairs concerning doctors who have repeatedly made serious errors should be grasped.This fiscal year, every prefectural government has opened an office to support medical safety, where patients and their families can seek advice. Such information should be utilized actively.The council, whose meetings are closed to the public, in principle, needs to be made more transparent, by, for instance, releasing the contents of its deliberations. It may be advisable to have a representative of a patients group and a lawyer familiar with medical litigation sit on the council.It remains to be seen whether medical and doctors associations can put their houses in order. Removing or retraining problem doctors is what such groups are supposed to do as a matter of course, yet they have tended to close ranks.To live up to their title of "professional groups," they should compile as soon as possible effective measures to deal with medical malpractice. Such action also is vital to eliminate the public distrust in medical services.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2003-07-23	YOSHIN0020030723dz7n000is
yomshi0020030723dz7o0005u	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030723dz7o0005u	EN	\N	Was Mosul raid a turning point?	Leading Iraq's elite military units and paramilitary forces, the sons supported their father's authoritarian policies literally from the inside.	12	2003-07-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After the collapse of Saddam's regime, the sons vanished along with their father. It had been rumored that they were leading resistance forces that have been launching attacks against the U.S. and British forces occupying the country.It is certainly true that the survival of the father and his sons gave psychological support to the resistance forces.But the whereabouts of the former president are unknown. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to immediately predict the impact of the sons' deaths on Iraq's future.Nevertheless, given the extent of the power exerted by the two men, it is doubtless that their deaths will be significant in the postwar governance of Iraq. Their passing will certainly help U.S. and British troops restore law and order, the lack of which has hindered Iraq's reconstruction process.Iraqis freed from mental thrallSome experts also pointed out that the death of Saddam's sons is significant in that Iraqi people have finally been freed from a psychological burden. What they meant by this is that because of the killing of the two despots, who were believed to be in line to take over power from Saddam, Iraqi people will finally become able to freely say what they want to say.It is precisely because of this that White House released a statement welcoming the fact that the two can no longer exert a baneful influence over the Iraqi people.However, overoptimism about the situation in Iraq is unwarranted.Since major combat operations were declared over, 40 U.S. service members have lost their lives, while the total toll since the war began has surpassed that of the Gulf War.Taking into account this fact alone, the situation in Iraq cannot be considered positive for the United States, which is playing a pivotal role in the reconstruction of Iraq.U.N. presence would be helpfulUnder the circumstances, we welcome the fact that Washington now seems ready to review the U.N. Security Council resolution that approved the U.S. and British initiative in governing war-struck Iraq.The Indian government, which had rejected a U.S. request to send peacekeeping troops to Iraq, said it would reconsider the dispatch if a clear request was issued by the United Nations. Russia also expressed a willingness to consider sending troops to Iraq.U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has proposed the establishment of U.N. team that would back the Iraqi Governing Council, which was launched earlier this month.These moves indicates an increased willingness in the international community to support Iraq.The Iraqi people's frustration over the sporadic supply of power and water is amplifying their hostility toward the U.S. and British occupiers. It is still uncertain whether the death of Saddam's sons will lead to the restoration of law and order in Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	531	2003-07-24	YOSHIN0020030724dz7o000i3
yomshi0020030725dz7p00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030725dz7p00008	EN	\N	Border controls need bolstering.	This follows a series of revelations, including those concerning the leniency with which the North Korean cargo-passenger ship Man Gyong Bong-92 was dealt with and the failure of quarantine officials to prevent a SARS-infected Taiwanese doctor from entering Japan.	8	2003-07-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Border control is the duty of officials of various government ministries and agencies.For example, the Finance Ministry is in charge of regulating the flow of goods at customs, the Justice Ministry oversees the inflow and outflow of people through immigration offices, and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's quarantine stations are duty-bound to prevent infectious diseases from entering the country as well as food that does not meet Japanese standards.In addition, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry's quarantine stations are charged with stopping the illegal import of animals and plants, the Transport and Construction Ministry regulates operations of ships and airplanes, and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry controls the export and import of components that could be used in the development of weapons of mass destruction. The National Police Agency is also deeply involved in border control.Lack of coordinationUnfortunately, border control is a clear example of the lack of coordination among ministries and agencies. We wonder whether this lack of coordination caused problems in the past.In the case of the Man Gyong Bong, police and customs cooperated well to form a strong surveillance system. If the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry had been able to work closely with customs, it might have been possible to prevent the export to North Korea of parts that could have been used to make missiles.In this respect, ministries and agencies should remain in constant contact with each other to strengthen control over the country's borders.The central government is now making an effort to enhance cooperation among government offices as well as with the private sector.The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry's Customs and Tariff Bureau organized a study session, inviting officials from relevant ministries and agencies as well as people in charge of distribution at manufacturers, trading houses, shipping firms and consumer organizations.It was the first time for such a meeting to be held on the border control issue.Industries have called on the government to reduce the time spent to clear customs. In an era when a large number of parts are shipped from factory to factory around the world, Japan's international competitiveness will suffer if cargo is held up by customs.The travel industry wants to make immigration procedures more hassle-free for foreign tourists. The industry said it would be impossible for the government to achieve its goal of doubling the number of foreign tourists by 2010 unless foreign nationals return to this country after receiving a good impression on their first visit.Officials should be better trainedOn the other hand, consumer organizations and others expressed strong concern about the danger posed to this country by the illegal entry of foreigners and the inflow of stimulant drugs and guns.Given this situation, it will be necessary to decide whether to simplify and expedite immigration controls or make them tougher and more detailed, depending on the circumstances. Efforts should be made to train officials to make quick decisions.According to the Public Management Ministry, the number of central government officials in charge of border controls, including those at immigration and quarantine stations, has increased by 977 during the past decade.However, officials are still unable to cope with the increasing amount of foreign cargo that must be inspected. Because such inspections are a fundamental task of the central government, priority should be given to increasing the number of officials engaged in this duty. It also will be necessary to automate certain procedures.The United States integrated some border control-related divisions into the Department of Homeland Security. We should closely observe this development to see whether it proves effective.In Japan, an important first step should be for various border-control offices at ports and airports to increase their cooperation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	701	2003-07-25	YOSHIN0020030725dz7p000hm
yomshi0020030728dz7q0005u	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030728dz7q0005u	EN	\N	Secure funds for pension system.	The rate of contributions to the national pension program, designed mainly for the self-employed, students aged 20 and older and young people working part-time, dipped to a record 62.8 percent in fiscal 2002. Premium payments left unpaid totaled 1 trillion yen. These figures indicate how serious the situation has become.	8	2003-07-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The payment of national pension premiums is a national obligation. In principle, the responsibility of participating in the program is placed on those required to join, but the scheme, in reality, has more or less become one in which enrollment and payment is not being enforced.This dismal state of affairs has been exacerbated by the government, which tightened the criteria for granting total exemption from paying premiums and transferred the collection of premiums, which had been entrusted to municipal governments, to the central government.At the core of the problem is deep-rooted public distrust of the pension program.The number of those in arrears has increased because these people fear that they may not receive pensions in their old age. This has resulted in a further loss of public trust.Act against those in arrearsTo reverse matters, the government must carry out drastic reforms to regain public trust in the public pension system.People in arrears have nearly doubled in the past five years. In particular, young people are delinquent in their payments, with more than half of those in their 20s in arrears, while 30 percent to 40 percent of people aged in their 30s and 40s are delinquent.Under the public pension system, the working generation supports those in their old age. The higher the number of those in arrears, the heavier the financial burden placed on those who continue to pay the premiums. Needless to say, this situation must be rectified.People in arrears are not necessarily hard-pressed to make ends meet. Some have annual incomes exceeding 10 million yen.Legal action should be taken against those who refuse to pay premiums, such as seizure of postal savings and bank deposits. It also might be worthwhile to have local governments provide the central government with tax information on those in arrears.The current method of allowing tax deductions should also be reviewed.In their final tax returns, individuals are not required to submit data concerning premium payments into the national pension program. Therefore, those in arrears may able to receive tax deductions by asserting that they had paid into the pension program. Making it mandatory to attach a certificate proving payment of pension premiums would end this sort of trickery and help improve the rate of payments.Use consumption taxHowever, improving the collection of premiums will not solve all the problems inherent in the system.It is important for the central government to present the public with a clear future vision of the public pension system and detail the sources of needed funds. Inevitably, discussions will revolve around the consumption tax, including the idea of having it used solely for welfare-related purposes.The central government must by law use revenues to raise its share of the funding of the basic pension scheme, which covers residents in Japan, to one-half from the current one-third.Obviously, the consumption tax should be used for this purpose. But Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has ruled out the possibility of raising this tax during his term, thereby spiking any full-fledged discussion of the issue.It is difficult to raise the consumption tax at a time when the economy is in the doldrums. However, political leaders would be derelict in their duty if they cannot determine how to secure the necessary funds. If the situation does not change, the hollowing-out of the public pension system will only worsen.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2003-07-26	YOSHIN0020030728dz7q00047
yomshi0020030726dz7r00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030726dz7r00005	EN	\N	1st step toward rebuilding Iraq.	Japan has supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq from the beginning, so it has an international obligation to help rebuild Iraq.	8	2003-07-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	About a dozen or so countries have already dispatched troops to Iraq to help in its reconstruction and to bring public order to the war-torn country. Japan is a latecomer in this effort.Japan plans to have SDF personnel carry out humanitarian assistance, such as helping war victims, transporting materials and rebuilding infrastructure, as well as lending logistic support to U.S. and British forces working to restore and maintain public order.SDF personnel have been refueling U.S. ships and other vessels now operating in the Indian Ocean, in accordance with the Antiterrorism Law.Under the new law, the government will for the first time dispatch ground troops abroad on a mission other than those connected with U.N. peacekeeping operations or relief activities in disaster-stricken areas.Basic plan to be worked outThe dispatch of SDF personnel has been sought by the United States and will also contribute to strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance.Through a fact-finding survey in Iraq, the government will work out a basic plan on what kind of activities would be carried out and where. The government must make the necessary preparations to dispatch the SDF personnel as quickly as possible.From beginning to end of the Diet deliberations on the bill, the opposition parties, worried about the worsening state of public order in Iraq, questioned the government on how it would distinguish between areas where there is no fighting or where fighting is not expected and areas where hostilities are taking place.The issue of ensuring the safety of SDF personnel will be given priority in the basic plan. This will be discussed in detail when the government seeks Diet approval of the basic plan.In the final phase of the battle over the bill in the Diet, the opposition parties made a last-ditch effort to stop its enactment, an action that merely underlines their confrontational attitude, apparently with an eye on the next House of Representatives election.In an attempt to block the vote on the bill, the opposition camp submitted a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet in the lower house, and presented censure motions in the House of Councillors against the ministries concerned.Opposition tactics disgracefulThe opposition camp also adopted the "ox walk" style of voting favored by the defunct Japan Socialist Party, which was unable to lose its perennial opposition party tag.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the largest opposition party, once emphasized that Japan should assist Iraq in the country's reconstruction.It is disgraceful for Minshuto, which hopes to take over the reins of power, to adopt tactics used by a perennial opposition party, while ignoring the international responsibility placed on Japan.Even though the law was enacted, problems remain to be solved.Japan contributes in various ways to international efforts in dealing with conflicts abroad, such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq, by formulating a special or temporary law each time.The SDF will no doubt be called on more frequently to join international efforts in dealing with future conflicts.A private panel to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda has proposed that the government formulate a permanent law to enable SDF personnel to offer a logistic support to multinational forces. Such a proposal could serve as a basis for discussion.Koizumi also indicated that he favored a permanent law so that SDF personnel could be sent abroad to lend support in international undertakings. The Koizumi administration should hold discussions on the issue as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	672	2003-07-27	YOSHIN0020030728dz7r000fw
yomshi0020030728dz7s00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030728dz7s00007	EN	\N	Enforce new moneylending laws.	On Friday, the Diet revised the Moneylending Control Law and the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law, with the aim of regulating moneylenders that impose unlawfully high interest rates on their loans. The revised laws are even more stringent in controlling moneylending operations than legislative proposals initially submitted by the Liberal Democratic Party. Stricter rules on the moneylending industry are a result of an agreement reached between the LDP and other parties.	8	2003-07-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The revised Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law is strict in that it annuls contracts for loans whose interest rates exceed 109.5 percent per annum-the maximum interest rate permitted on loans extended and received by individuals. This means debtors do not have to pay any interest on their loans if their lenders demand unlawfully high interests.Tragedy spurred actionInitially, many LDP members opposed this rule, arguing that it would allow unscrupulous borrowers to flee, leaving their debts unpaid.However, a recent tragedy involving a debt-ridden elderly couple and another person in Yao, Osaka Prefecture, roused all parties to impose stricter controls on the moneylending business. The three killed themselves by leaping into the path of a train after a moneylending firm the couple had borrowed from ruthlessly continued to demand they pay more money.The couple had borrowed 30,000 yen from the moneylender to cover their living expenses. They repaid the moneylender more than 100,000 yen over about four weeks. However, this was considered as interest payments and did not reduce the principal of their loan. The moneylender also telephoned the couple's neighbors demanding they repay the loan on the couple's behalf.The revised legislation imposes tighter controls on anyone wishing to begin a moneylending business, while also expanding the list of such businesses' activities subject to the laws. However, this will not do enough to accomplish the goal. It should be noted that profits from illegally collected interest provide moneylenders with financial resources for new unlawful loans. To prevent further tragedies, it is important to ensure that the public is aware of the specifics of the revised laws.The two laws stipulate stricter penalties. Maximum penalties for people who conduct moneylending activities without registering with the authorities have been increased to five years imprisonment or a 10 million yen fine.This compares with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 3 million yen under the old laws. The new laws are particularly harsh on corporate lenders in that they will be fined up to 100 million yen if found guilty of violating the new rule.The new penalties will take effect in August, although the political parties initially had considered implementing the rule somewhat later.1 million victims nationwideAccording to an estimate, there are more than 1 million victims of unlawful moneylending across the nation.Since last year, lawyers and others have filed criminal complaints against more than 10,000 alleged illegal moneylenders. However, there were only 238 cases in which the police took action against alleged offenders.It also is disturbing to note that only a few illegal moneylenders have been imprisoned for their offenses. The police must clamp down on unlawful moneylending, while public prosecutors offices and courts should strictly apply relevant laws.There are many other tasks to be tackled. Sellers of multiple-debtor lists, produced by collecting information about consumer finance customers, are contributing to the spread of illegal moneylending. However, it is not an easy task to regulate those who leak, sell and buy information about customers. Given this, it is necessary to create a law aimed at protecting the confidentiality of such personal information.To make sure the laws serve their purposes, it is necessary to promote cooperation between the police authorities, prefectural governments, bar associations and organizations that aid victims of unlawful moneylending. In December, the Nagano prefectural government set up a council comprising 13 organizations, and sent out written warnings to unscrupulous moneylenders. Other local governments should consider taking similar actions.The government should carry out a package of measures to prevent crimes involving moneylenders, including educating borrowers about the business and establishing a system aimed at disclosing information about moneylenders. First and foremost, steps should be taken as soon as possible to encourage borrowers to seek advice from relevant institutions about how best to deal with moneylenders who may prey on them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	786	2003-07-28	YOSHIN0020030728dz7s0012b
yomshi0020030729dz7t0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030729dz7t0000b	EN	\N	Diet session failed to deliver.	On Monday, the extended Diet session closed. The six-month session enacted several important laws, including one aimed at protecting the confidentiality of personal information and special legislation for sending Self-Defense Forces personnel on a mission to help rebuild Iraq.	8	2003-07-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Another feature of the latest Diet session was Naoto Kan's return to the helm of the leading opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan). His comeback gave renewed life to one-on-one debates between the prime minister and opposition leaders.It is particularly worth noting that the Diet session has approved a set of bills designed to better prepare the nation for a military attack, although they leave much to be desired. The passage of these bills comes after many people started calling for such legislation more than two decades ago.Moreover, close to 90 percent of lawmakers from both chambers of the Diet voted in favor of the bills after Minshuto and the ruling parties agreed to jointly revise them.Preferably, basic legislation for national security should be a result of a consensus among many ruling and opposition parties. In this sense, Minshuto's practical approach to the bills on national emergencies aroused a great hope in the minds of many people that the largest opposition party's move heralded a new era that would put to rest the so-called 1955 political framework. This could have meant a total departure from a futile tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition camps over basic national security-an issue that had continued to bitterly pit the Liberal Democratic Party against the then Japan Socialist Party since 1955.Party politics still kingHowever, Minshuto reversed its attitude toward the ruling bloc when the Diet started debating the bills on the SDF mission to Iraq. During the latter part of the Diet session on the bills, the opposition took a defiant posture similar to an unbending attitude assumed by the former JSP under the 1955 setup. This reflected Minshuto's desire to show the public, first and foremost, that it was determined to confront the ruling camp under circumstances that could run up to a dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election.Prior to the passage of the bills on Iraq's reconstruction, Minshuto and other opposition parties submitted several resolutions against the Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, including a no-confidence motion against his administration and censure motions against three Cabinet members.The opposition parties were oblivious to the significance of an SDF mission to Iraq when they chose to take these steps. The roar and heckling of legislators in the Diet was reminiscent of a stormy but futile fight fought in the days of the 1955 framework.This has dealt a crushing blow to the commendable relationship that arose when Minshuto and the ruling camp agreed to revise the bills on a prepared response to an armed attack.All political parties and lawmakers should remind themselves that the Diet is a forum for debating issues until a consensus is reached.Lawmakers still untrustworthyThe latest Diet session served as another reminder of dubious ties between politics and money. A lower house member was arrested for his involvement in the allegedly unlawful treatment of political donations. Another legislator stepped down as agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister in connection with a scandal involving political donations.During the ordinary Diet session in 2002, one lower house member was arrested over a bribery scandal, and three other scandal-ridden legislators resigned from the Diet.All of this shows that there has been no end to the questionable relationship between politicians and money.The latest Diet session also saw many politicians put their feet in their mouths. Koizumi was no exception.In his answer to a question about his failure to deliver on his promises, the prime minister told a lower house Budget Committee meeting, "It's no big deal." A few months later and Koizumi is emphasizing the importance of his pledges to be made for the upcoming LDP presidential election. "If I'm reelected (as LDP president), it automatically means my promises will serve as the LDP's pledges for a general election," he has said.For politicians, speech is a powerful weapon. It would be suicidal for lawmakers to slight the power of speech.The latest Diet session has proved to be all the more disappointing to the public in that it had made many people euphoric about possible changes in the relationship between the ruling and opposition parties. This could further deepen popular distrust in politics. According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, about 50 percent of those polled said they did not support any political party.With the Diet session over and an anticipated general election in sight, nearly all lawmakers are returning to their constituencies. With a bitter lesson from the latest Diet session in mind, they must tell voters what they are trying to accomplish as lawmakers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	870	2003-07-29	YOSHIN0020030729dz7t000io
yomshi0020030730dz7u0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030730dz7u0000d	EN	\N	New system may avert disasters.	In preparation for a major earthquake that many experts say could hit the Tokai region, which includes Shizuoka, Aichi and Mie prefectures, the government decided to introduce a new three-tier warning system concerning the probability of a quake occurring. In line with the new warning system, the government's panel adopted a new basic disaster prevention plan.	8	2003-07-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the current system, warnings are issued in four stages, in order of perceived risk, from "advisory" to "prediction." But these warnings do not provide any information on what anti-disaster preparations local governments should make in response to the warnings. Therefore, local governments and other parties concerned have complained that the information was not only difficult for them to understand, but also insufficient to help them prepare for a possible disaster.Under the new system, when the Meteorological Agency detects signs of a major earthquake, it will issue a "caution" and urge the central and local governments to make necessary preparations.If the level of perceived danger increases, the "caution" notice will be replaced by a "prediction" notice, and the prime minister will issue a formal warning. When abnormalities are detected in observational data, but are not considered to indicate that an earthquake is imminent, such information will be provided as an "abnormality observed" notice.Under the current system, almost all day-to-day activities are to be stopped when warnings are issued, but under the new system, railways, department stores and hospitals designed to resist earthquakes are allowed to continue operations.Predicting quakes an inexact scienceOne of the world's most advanced seismic observation networks operates in the Tokai region. Nevertheless, it is difficult to predict when an earthquake will occur with total accuracy. Given this, it is a matter of course for authorities to take measures to prepare for quakes, enhancing their anti-disaster systems while minimizing disruption to people's daily lives.However, local governments in other parts of the country should not treat major earthquakes as something that does not concern them.Beginning early Saturday, a series of strong earthquakes hit northern Miyagi Prefecture, an area where nobody had predicted a major temblor would occur. The disaster reminded us of the danger quakes pose and the importance of taking disaster countermeasures beforehand.More than 600 people were injured in the Miyagi Prefecture earthquake, and such lifelines as electricity and water supplies were suspended. In one case, a school where local residents were evacuated collapsed, and people had to be relocated. In other areas, the Self-Defense Forces were unable to supply water promptly because of poor coordination between the prefectural government and municipalities.Countermeasures still insufficientThere is an increasing danger of major earthquakes occurring across the country, including East Nankai and Nankai quakes, which are predicted to hit areas encompassing those off Shizuoka Prefecture to the Shikoku region within the first half of this century and a quake off Miyagi Prefecture, the probability of whose occurrence within 30 years is assessed at 99 percent.However, according to this year's white paper on disaster prevention, the number of earthquake-resistant primary and middle schools-which are expected to be used as shelters in case of emergency-and residences is still limited. In addition, there are about 400 densely populated urban areas across the country where it is feared large-scale fires would break out following a temblor.The special legislation concerning countermeasures for the East Nankai and Nankai earthquakes was put into force on Friday. Based on the legislation, the government will start full-fledged preparations, designating areas where damage, such as those caused by tsunami, is anticipated.As for major earthquakes that are predicted to hit Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, including the one off Miyagi Prefecture, the Central Disaster Prevention Council will form a panel of experts to examine disaster-prevention measures. For its part, the Liberal Democratic Party plans to enact a special law to prepare for quakes in the area by submitting a bill backed by lawmakers.In addition to such efforts on the part of authorities, individual members of society should review what they can do to prepare for an emergency.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	731	2003-07-30	YOSHIN0020030730dz7u000n0
yomshi0020030731dz7v0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030731dz7v0000c	EN	\N	The little airport that could.	The operator of Chubu Airport, which is under construction off Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, and is scheduled to open in February 2005, has committed heresy-it reportedly has slashed the construction costs of 768 billion yen forecast three years ago at the start of the project by as much as 120 billion yen, or 15 percent.	12	2003-07-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The project was initiated by a joint stock company capitalized by both public and private sector investors, and the firm's president formerly worked for Toyota Motor Corp.The Toyota-style management of the airport project, based on rationalization, has given the lie to the received wisdom concerning how public works projects should be undertaken. The cost-cutting strategies employed in the construction of Chubu Airport should be applied to other public works projects.'Can't be helped' excuse rings hollowThe combined cost of constructing three bridges linking Honshu with Shikoku was estimated at 750 billion yen when the plan was drawn up in 1973, but it eventually swelled to 2.87 trillion yen. With the entire construction period lasting as long as 26 years, the project was seriously affected by a sharp increase in prices resulting from the "oil shocks" of 1973 and 1979.In addition, construction costs of the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, which were projected at 1.12 trillion yen, also rose, to 1.44 trillion yen, and costs for the first-phase construction of Kansai Airport increased to 1.46 trillion yen from the initial estimate of 1.07 trillion yen.Inflated construction costs resulted in rising highway tolls and steeper landing fees at airports. High fees discourage individuals and companies from using these facilities, resulting in a deterioration of the business performance of their operators.But relevant government ministries and agencies as well as construction companies blamed the higher-than-projected expenses on factors such as rising material costs and unforeseeable problems in construction. Judging from such excuses, they appear to feel no responsibility at all.It is true that the Chubu Airport project benefited from low interest rates and declining material costs due to deflation. Of total business expenses, 40 percent is funded by capital and interest-free loans provided by the government, but the other 60 percent consists of interest-bearing loans. Therefore, low interest rates cut expenses by as much as several tens of billions of yen.Toyota-style management paid offHowever, if the project managers had not made any cost-cutting efforts, the airport operator would have been unable to take advantage of this fair wind. What impelled management to try to boost efficiency as far as possible was its strong determination to reduce construction costs as much as possible to stabilize the airport's operation by keeping landing fees to a minimum.To achieve this goal, the airport operator chose a construction company that employs advanced technology and tasked it with developing a breakthrough method of cutting construction costs.The constructor decided to first build a liaison bridge to conduct land reclamation works from both land and sea. In addition, the airport building, whose design comprised various curved shapes in the initial blueprint, was redrawn into a cheaper square shape. The bulk of the savings achieved reportedly were the result of such creativity and invention.We believe such cost-cutting expertise could be applied to state-initiated public works projects.What is needed now are rules on how to return reduced costs to business operators. We wonder whether it would be possible to establish a system under which a certain percentage of any unused budget would be returned to the section of a firm that has made most effort to cut costs.In the case of Chubu Airport, more than 30 billion yen worth of interest-free loans is surplus to requirements. If possible, it would be advisable to allocate this amount to the budget for the next fiscal year to repay loans. The smaller amount of loan interest the airport is saddled with, the lower its landing fees will be.(The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	733	2003-07-31	YOSHIN0020030731dz7v000j0
yomshi0020030731dz810005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030731dz810005s	EN	\N	Guidelines won't end deflation.	When examining these two guidelines, it is obvious that several points are missing. There are no prescriptions to drag the nation out of deflation.	8	2003-08-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may appear unconcerned now that stock prices have risen somewhat recently, but the Japanese economy is in such dire straits that he cannot just sit back and do nothing.The consumer price index has dropped for the 46th month in a row, the unemployment rate is hovering at the 5.3 percent level and land prices are still falling, chiefly in smaller cities. The nominal growth rate for the January-March quarter stood at a minus 1.5 percent on an annualized basis, leaving the nation firmly stuck on a deflationary path.On the other hand, corporate performances are improving, with production showing signs of having bottomed out.Some people have pointed out that if effective economic stimulus measures are taken now, the national economy may extricate itself from the deflation-led recession. The financial authorities must take economy-boosting measures now.Budget curbs innovative ideasDespite this situation, the government's budget request ceiling merely follows precedents. The ceiling for fiscal 2004 budget requests has been worked out on the basis of year-on-year changes, with a year-on-year decline being the rule. There is no room whatsoever for ministries to come up with innovative ideas or to seek budgetary allocations in new areas.How can even a limited amount of financial resources be injected into areas deemed effective to boost the economy when government spending has been curbed to such an extent? The financial authorities must change their way of thinking in regard to fiscal policies.The other point that appears to have been omitted is how to deal with social security expenditures.The guidelines include a policy of "squeezing" social welfare expenses, which are projected to grow by 900 billion yen a year because of the aging population.Pension issue left vagueWith regard to having the government's share of basic pension payments increased from one-third to one-half from fiscal 2004, the guidelines have skipped over how to secure funds to finance this increase. This is because the government has yet to secure the necessary 2.7 trillion yen needed for the increase.Unless the issue is considered properly, the overall direction of the budget, not only that of social security expenses, will remain uncertain.The government needs to offer ways to settle the financial resources issue as soon as possible, including how to handle the consumption tax, to dispel public anxiety over the fate of the nation's public pension system.Also, in carrying out three tax-transfer steps simultaneously-cutting subsidies from the central government to local governments, reducing tax grants to local governments, and shifting tax revenue from the central government to local governments-the guidelines offer few concrete measures.The budget request ceiling and the "overall picture" both lack punch and prove once again the Koizumi Cabinet's inability to come up with the right policies.To have the fiscal 2004 budget truly revitalize the economy, political leaders should take the lead in dealing with the expenditures, instead of relying on the bureaucrats. Time has run out. The government must make drastic policy changes, including measures to stimulate the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2003-08-01	YOSHIN0020030802dz8100016
yomshi0020030804dz82000be	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030804dz82000be	EN	\N	Don't let North Korea buy time.	North Korea has conveyed its intention, via Russia, to participate in six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons development program.	8	2003-08-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Pyongyang had insisted on discussing the issue in bilateral talks with Washington, rather than in multilateral talks favored by Japan and the United States. The latest development indicates that Pyongyang was forced to compromise.However, the latest development does not mean that the door has opened for North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions, the main aim of the international community.What we have to ascertain is whether North Korea has attached conditions to its acceptance of the multilateral talks, and, if so, what are they?Behind Pyongyang's change of attitude is the decision by Japan and the United States to seek dialogue with and put pressure on North Korea.5 nations must cooperateWith Washington hinting that it might ask the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions on Pyongyang, North Korea may have decided that a change of stance was the best policy.The international community must continue to take a tough attitude toward North Korea in the days ahead to force it to respond to the world's demands.In this sense, the other five countries-Japan, the United States, China, South Korea and Russia-have extremely important roles to play in the upcoming talks.What must be kept in mind is that the key to solving the nuclear weapons development program lies in North Korea promising to abandon the program in a verifiable and irreversible manner.During the meeting in Beijing, the five countries must come up with a common understanding.They agree that North Korea should abandon its nuclear weapons development program peacefully, but differ on how this should be done. Should this difference of opinion widen, it might give North Korea the opening it is looking for.We must keep the pressure onChina and Russia both have friendly relations with North Korea. The administration of South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun, who has taken over Kim Dae Jung's "sunshine policy," favors "appeasement" as the basis of its stance toward North Korea. Some experts believe North Korea may attempt to use these three countries as a "screen" in the six-nation talks.Even though North Korea accepts the call for dialogue, we will lose all we have gained if we ease the pressure.Japan, in concert with the United States, should call on the other three countries to understand this position.While moving ahead with its nuclear weapons development program, North Korea continues to take actions aimed at intimidating the international community.We should stop North Korea from taking advantage of the six-nation talks to buy time for its policies.A representative of a Japanese nongovernmental organization visited North Korea recently and met the children of abducted Japanese, who have returned home.This is obviously an attempt by Pyongyang to exert pressure on Japan as North Korea is facing a tough response from the international community. We should not be tricked by these kind of North Korean tactics.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	540	2003-08-02	YOSHIN0020030804dz8200015
yomshi0020030802dz830000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030802dz830000e	EN	\N	Education law needs revision.	The ruling coalition failed to present a bill seeking revision of the basic education law to the latest Diet session. Initially, the three ruling parties had argued the pros and cons of the specifics of the bill. However, New Komeito, a partner in the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition, opposed a proposal to submit the bill to the Diet.	8	2003-08-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is regrettable that the bill was not brought before the Diet. Legislators should seek to pass the bill at the next ordinary Diet session after it is thoroughly debated.The proposal to reform the law was put forward by the National Commission on Educational Reform, a panel set up in March 2000 to advise then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. In March, the Central Council for Education, an advisory board to the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, put together a set of specific proposals regarding a reform to the law. Three years of discussions on the reform will come to naught if the ruling parties put the issue on the back burner.Fears of militarism are unfoundedThe major issue that pitted New Komeito against its two coalition partners, was whether a revised fundamental education law should incorporate a new principle, requiring the education system to "encourage students to nurture a love of their country."New Komeito remained cautious about adopting this principle, arguing that it could be associated with "a desire to arouse prewar nationalistic sentiment." The party also said that the principle would "encourage students to love their government."New Komeito's line of argument is more or less akin to the assertion by the Japan Teachers' Union, which has long maintained that attempts to arouse patriotic sentiment among students means seeking a revival of prewar militarism.Undoubtedly, an attempt to emphasize the importance of patriotism when militaristic sentiment is prevalent could give rise to unwholesome nationalism. This was seen in the prewar period, in which the military acted on its own authority. The prewar military justified its conduct by citing Article 11 of the 1889 Constitution, which incorporated the "independence of the supreme command" principle. The article stated that "the Emperor has the supreme command of the Army and Navy," This meant the army and navy were independent of civilian government. However, there are no concerns that contemporary Japan would be driven to foster militaristic sentiment. Parliamentary democracy represents a principle long established and maintained by the Japanese. Moreover, a consensus by the people is the sole power that can determine what kind of government should rule their nation.Sense of national identity crucialJapan has never needed a balanced sense of patriotism so desperately as today. It should be noted that Japan belongs to East Asia, where some governments are stirring up jingoistic nationalism among their peoples.The Japanese must seek their national identity. This is essential to ensure that they will be able to survive and prosper at a time when the international community is increasingly complex.Efforts to nurture patriotism should never be regarded as an attempt to arouse militarism. This must be taken to heart by the Japanese. With this in mind, it is important to ensure that the Japanese gain a proper perception of history and a broad view of international society.Established under the strong influence of the GHQ, the current Fundamental Law of Education has excessively emphasized the need to develop "individualistic" thinking. This has helped many people disregard the "public" good.All this has prevented members of the population from feeling strongly that they are Japanese.New Komeito also has insisted that lawmakers should, first of all, debate such urgent issues as truancy and bullying.However, people cannot discipline themselves if they have no self-identity. Children in this country should be encouraged to feel national pride. This will constitute a basis for efforts to end bullying and other problems facing children.Steps must be taken to identify the problems inherent in the postwar education system and reform the basic education law. This effort will set clear goals to be pursued in tackling various challenges facing students and educators.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	741	2003-08-03	YOSHIN0020030804dz83000e1
yomshi0020030804dz8400008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030804dz8400008	EN	\N	Global warming changing life.	There have been reports of abnormal weather from many parts of the nation, including unusually heavy rains, below average sunshine hours and abnormally low temperatures. The end of rainy season in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region was the second latest on record.	8	2003-08-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Summer-sales campaigns at department store and other retailers have been sluggish, and the growth of fruit and vegetables has also been restricted by the unusual weather-resulting in barely ripe tomatoes and less sweet watermelons.The growth of rice has been seriously affected by the low temperatures and lower hours of sunshine since June. The abnormal weather has adversely impaired the growth of rice in 20 prefectures, especially in the Kinki district. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has set up a task force to provide farmers nationwide with technical advice on how to prevent the unseasonable weather from damaging their rice crops. The ministry last took such action in 1993, when unusually cold conditions restricted the nation's rice harvests.Other countries are also experiencing unusual weather patterns. Millions of residents in southern China are experiencing a shortage of water resulting from a long spell of dry weather. In Shanghai, many factories have been temporarily shut down following restrictions on electricity consumption due to the intense heat.The United States and many European countries are also suffering from significantly lower than average rainfall and heat waves.Warmer Earth behind wild weatherAccording to meteorologists, the abnormal weather can be attributed to global warming. The onset of global warming can cause climate changes worldwide, including temperature and rainfall extremes. The World Meteorological Organization has said global warming is contributing to abnormal weather conditions in many parts of the world.To reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential for the international community to cooperate in achieving the goal.The Kyoto Protocol on global warming, which has set numerical targets to be achieved by individual nations in curtailing their greenhouse gas emissions, is likely to take effect by the end of the year, as Russia is certain to ratify the pact.However, efforts to fight global warming will be insufficient if the United States, which produces a quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, does not retract its decision to withdraw from the protocol. It is essential that the United States return to the Kyoto Protocol if the goals pertaining to global warming are to be met.Intl. weather monitoring requiredAnother urgent task is to set up a global framework to quickly predict the onset of unusual weather patterns by monitoring and detecting climate changes.The weather in one region is strongly influenced by climatic conditions in another, including winds, temperatures, snowfalls and oceanic currents. For instance, the amount of snowfall on the Himalayas can affect weather conditions during the rainy season in Japan. To predict abnormal weather, it is essential to carry out weather observation with a global perspective.In late July, more than 30 nations, including Japan and the United States, met for the Earth Observation Summit in Washington. The meeting sought to ensure that its members cooperate to establish an international weather observation network.For years, Japan has played a significant role in promoting global weather monitoring. Its achievements include the launch of a tropical rainfall measuring satellite and the development of a computer to calculate atmospheric movements on a global scale.However, domestic financial difficulties appear to be hampering Japan's contribution in this regard. For example, the operational rules established by the government for its contribution to global weather observation does not allow for budgetary appropriation for repairs on broken buoys used in oceanic current observation.With this in mind, it is necessary to make the global weather observation system even more efficient and effective. A number of new measures need to be applied, including a more even distribution of weather observation tasks by summit member nations.The global fight against damage from abnormal weather requires the combined wisdom of the world's nations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2003-08-04	YOSHIN0020030804dz8400127
yomshi0020030805dz8500007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030805dz8500007	EN	\N	N. Korea's tactics inhumane.	The director general of a nongovernmental organization supporting North Korea recently met six children of the five abductees-Kaoru and Yukiko Hasuike, Yasushi and Fukie Chimura, and Hitomi Soga-in Pyongyang and brought back letters and photographs they had given him.	8	2003-08-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government passed the letters and photographs on to the five former abductees. This was the first confirmation the five have had that their children are safe since being repatriated in October-almost 10 months ago. In the letters, the children expressed their wishes to be reunited with their parents as soon as possible. However, the children apparently have still not been informed that their parents had been abducted by North Korean agents."I got the impression she (my daughter) was told by the North Koreans to write this way. I can't help but think our parent-child ties are being exploited," the Hasuikes said.The Chimuras said they believe their children must have been told by North Korean officials that their parents are being detained in Japan.Pyongyang is attempting to break the impasse in the Japan-North Korea dialog by playing on the former abductees' parental affections through the letters written by their children.Pyongyang groping for leverThe dispute over its nuclear development program caused North Korea to become increasingly isolated in the international community. Consequently, it has finally agreed to six-way talks on its nuclear weapons program, something it had long resisted. Given these circumstances, Pyongyang, in an act of impatience, is trying to use concern over the former abductees' children and the other abductees believed to be in the country to split opinions in Japan.The abductions of Japanese were criminal acts committed by North Korean authorities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had admitted that his state was responsible for a series of abductions of Japanese. In this respect, we believe the least Pyongyang can do is to allow the abductees' family members to come to Japan.If Pyongyang is considering allowing the abductees' relatives to come to Japan, it must take appropriate measures not through an NGO but through official channels.But the issue of the abductions concerns not only three families.As for the eight abductees North Korea claims have died, Tokyo has asked Pyongyang to reinvestigate these alleged deaths. The government has supplied North Korea with a list of 150 points over which it is suspicious, including the situation at the time of their deaths and factual errors in documents concerning their deaths, such as their dates of birth, that North Korea handed Japan. In addition to 15 people recognized by the government as having been abducted by North Korean agents in 10 incidents, a significant number of other Japanese are believed to have been abducted by Pyongyang.However, North Korea has refused point-blank to even discuss the matter, taking the position that the abduction issue has already been settled. We regret to say North Korea's attitude is extremely unhelpful.Govt must keep up pressureThe government is reportedly set to raise the abduction issue at the six-way talks, which are expected to start soon. It will be impossible for Japan to normalize ties with North Korea unless the abduction issue is resolved as well as the dispute over that country's nuclear development program.In an effort to stem the flow of funds to North Korea to finance the development of nuclear weapons, the government is tightening controls on narcotics, stimulant drugs, counterfeit banknotes and the right of entry to Japanese ports for the North Korean passenger-cargo ship Man Gyong Bong-92, among other measures. The government also is planning to ban money transfers and to tighten controls on exports to North Korea.The government must continue, in cooperation with other countries, to keep up the pressure on North Korea and not to make concessions without gains. It is only through such an approach that the abduction issue can be finally resolved.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	714	2003-08-05	YOSHIN0020030805dz85000ix
yomshi0020030805dz86000b9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030805dz86000b9	EN	\N	Build a crisis-resistant state.	To that effect, the recently released white paper on national defense called for the necessity to promote public discussion about the future of the Defense Agency and the Self-Defense Forces.	8	2003-08-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Because the debate will inevitably lead to discussions on how to build a crisis-resistant state, the nation's security policy will have to be thoroughly reviewed.During the Cold War period, the government's defense policy was focused on the protection of the northern part of the country to guard against possible invasions by the Soviet military force in the Far East. However, after the end of the Cold War, the nation's self-defense policy shifted to cover potential threats from countries west of Japan, keeping Chinese and North Korean missiles in mind.In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the entire Japanese territory now requires defense strategies, with a special emphasis on antiterrorism and antiguerrilla measures in large cities.Reduce armory, focus on 'new threats'This year's white paper called for priority to be placed on enhancing defense capabilities to deal with the "new threats" posed by international terrorism and missile attacks, including cyber attacks and attacks by nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.The white paper also proposed a reduction in the current SDF armory to counter hostile invasions of Japan, while maintaining a "fundamental" defense force to deal with such invasions.Highlighting international activities, such as peacekeeping operations, as an important SDF task, the white paper proposed that SDF more proactively participate in such activities to promote world peace and stability.As to the threat posed by North Korea, the white paper warned that Pyongyang may have made significant progress in its nuclear program.In addition, the white paper for the first time referred to the possibility of a contingency in the Taiwan Strait arising from China's rapidly modernizing army, which may soon lead to a major change in the qualitative advantage of Taiwan in terms of military balance between China and Taiwan.The white paper pointed out such problems in a detailed and convincing manner.The reorganization of the SDF to upgrade their equipment is a natural response to changes in the international situation. Such proposals must be reflected in the review of the National Defense Program Outline planned for 2005.Make missile defense top priorityA new idea has recently surfaced to establish a special force trained to counter terrorist and guerrilla attacks and to flexibly deal with international cooperation activities. We believe this proposal deserves serious consideration.In the wake of missile threats from neighboring countries, the formulation of a national missile defense program is an urgent task. Within the framework of a limited budget, the government must consider placing top priority on the missile defense program even if it is forced to reduce the budget allocation for tanks and artillery.There are some objections within the Ground Self-Defense Force, but such an initiative is necessary for the country to guarantee its security.We believe it also is important to allow the right of collective self-defense to be exercised, and to ease the criteria on the use of weapons by SDF personnel when they are dispatched overseas. It will also be essential to enact a new law on the dispatch of SDF personnel abroad for international cooperation activities.It will be only after these goals are realized that the national defense system will be able to meet the challenges of the new age.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2003-08-06	YOSHIN0020030806dz86000km
yomshi0020030806dz870005v	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030806dz870005v	EN	\N	N. Korea threat underestimated.	Yet the "protest" toward North Korea expressed by Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba was insufficient.	12	2003-08-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In his annual Peace Declaration, Akiba made reference to North Korea only when he called on North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to visit Hiroshima and learn about the reality of nuclear war.He made the invitation so he could convey the message that "nuclear weapons are utterly evil, inhumane and illegal under international law."Akiba sent a letter of invitation to Kim to attend a peace memorial ceremony in June. However, it is obvious that Kim would never attend such a ceremony and Akiba's action should be considered nothing more than a crude attempt to gain attention.On the other hand, his tone toward the United States, which is conducting military operations against Iraq, was quite harsh.The chief reason why he said "the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is on the verge of collapse," is that those who craft U.S. nuclear policy apparently "worship nuclear weapons as God."Antinuclear movement politicalAn indelible and incorrect impression has been made by the remarks of the Hiroshima mayor, who needs to look squarely at the nuclear threat the country faces.The antinuclear movement often tends to be biased toward the politics of a given time.The Japan Council Against A&H Bombs (Gensuikyo), affiliated with the Japanese Community Party, and the Japan Congress Against A-and-H Bombs (Gensuikin), which was affiliated with the former Japan Socialist Party, this year again held their world conferences against nuclear weapons separately.Gensuikyo and Gensuikin split in 1965 chiefly because of a confrontation between the JCP and JSP over their interpretation of a nuclear arms test conducted by the Soviet Union at that time.While the JCP considered the nuclear weapons of the United States as aggressive and those of communist countries as defensive, the JSP was opposed to all nuclear arms.It was only in 1973, when public sentiment over nuclear tests in China intensified, that the JCP changed its position and opposed all nuclear weapons.During this time, the National Council for Peace and Against Nuclear Weapons (Kakkin), affiliated with the former Japan Democratic Socialist Party, held its own antinuclear conferences.Japan should not be intimidatedThere should be alternative ways for Japan, the only country that has been attacked by atomic bombs, to apply what it has learned from the bombings.We should not ignore the fact that the biggest nuclear threat Japan faces is from the terrorist state of North Korea.The United States, Russia and China have ceased targeting their long-range nuclear missiles at one another.However, China continues to target its medium-range nuclear missiles at Japan. We have never heard Hiroshima and Nagasaki protest to China about this issue.We should never let Japan become a country that would give in to nuclear intimidation from North Korea. The prayers to be made during the peace memorial ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, at least for the time being, should be made to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	555	2003-08-07	YOSHIN0020030807dz87000jo
yomshi0020030807dz880005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030807dz880005s	EN	\N	Real political reform needed.	At the same time, the Liberal Democratic Party's one-party rule came to an end after governing for nearly 40 years under the so-called "1955 status quo," by controlling both houses of the Diet.	8	2003-08-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since then, the composition of the ruling coalition changed frequently, starting with the coalition of the LDP, JSP and New Party Sakigake (Pioneers), followed by the LDP and Jiyuto (Liberal Party); the LDP, Jiyuto and New Komeito; and the LDP, New Komeito and Hoshuto (New Conservative Party), now Hoshushinto. Over the past 10 years, more than 10 political parties emerged and then disappeared like bubbles bursting.In an economic sense, these 10 years are called the "lost decade" following the bursting of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. How should this decade be evaluated politically?At least we can say that the LDP lost power once. Unlike the so-called 1955 status quo, under which the LDP ruled as a matter of course, the ruling coalition is a normal state of affairs nowadays. Major aspects of the political situation have undergone serious change.LDP has hardly changedAlthough the LDP was thrust into the role of opposition party, it regained power in less than one year and since then has retained its ruling party status by changing its coalition partners from time to time. In other words, the LDP has not changed much.More time is needed before the past decade can be evaluated thoroughly.However, one thing is certain. While the political system and rules have changed, politicians and political parties have not.The key phrase over the past decade was "political reform," which was aimed at having political parties form and carry out policies.Single-seat constituencies for the House of Representatives were originally introduced to prevent intraparty factions from influencing general elections and to revitalize the competition among political parties.The central government's grants to political parties were mainly directed at reinforcing the policymaking capability of political parties.What is the real state of affairs?Grants should help policymakingMost local LDP chapters established in single-seat constituencies were originally support groups for individual Diet members. However, the reality is far from the ideal in that a political party should nominate its own candidates.The government's grants to political parties also end up being used as personnel and operational expenses of political parties. In other words, these grants serve as subsidies to political parties. The purpose of grants to help reinforce the policymaking capabilities of political parties appears to be of secondary importance.Political parties that adopted policies opposed to those of the LDP in their election campaigns later jettisoned those policies in order to join the LDP in a ruling coalition. They have ignored their duty to explain the changes in their policies to the voters who supported them during election campaigns.In light of these political trends, public opinion surveys do not conceal the truth. According to a survey on political reforms conducted by The Yomiuri Shimun in June, those who said the nation's politics have deteriorated or have not changed much accounted for 90 percent of the pollees.Both politicians and political parties need to take this criticism seriously. Also, they should reconstruct party politics, centering on policies. This is the only way to stop public distrust of politics from increasing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2003-08-08	YOSHIN0020030808dz88000lh
yomshi0020030811dz890000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030811dz890000b	EN	\N	Doi must give account of case.	The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office indicted former SDP House of Representatives member Kiyomi Tsujimoto and Masako Goto, former policy secretary of SDP leader Takako Doi, on charges of defrauding the state out of about 18 million yen in funds earmarked for the salaries of policy secretaries.	8	2003-08-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the indictment, the two defendants conspired to register two secretaries of other lawmakers as Tsujimoto's policy secretaries in name only, so they could pocket their salaries.Tsujimoto has insisted that the practice was "a type of work sharing" in which the salaries were used to pay her staff.However, prosecutors apparently concluded that Tsujimoto did not have the secretaries work for her or had no intention to use them, and that they clearly used their names.Investigators have said Tsujimoto diverted some of the money for her personal use.We hope that everything will come to light during the trial.Goto's role in borrowing nameIn announcing the results of an internal investigation into the scandal, the SDP said Goto "only introduced" the secretaries to Tsujimoto and the party as a whole was not involved.However, the indictment of Goto indicates she played a key role in the scandal by instructing Tsujimoto how to go about "borrowing a name." This shows that prosecutors believe the whole party is involved in the scandal.Goto has worked for Doi for such a long time she can be considered the alter ego of the SDP leader.Doi must accept accountability in the case. She recently said, "I will safeguard the party even if I get stuck in the mire." But this kind of attitude will not win much support from the public.Former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka is involved in another scandal in which she was accused of misappropriating state funds meant for secretarial salaries.However, prosecutors apparently have decided not to indict Tanaka for allegedly misappropriating state funds.Prosecutors' double standardUnlike Tsujimoto's case, prosecutors evidently concluded that Tanaka's secretaries actually worked for her, and that they received almost all of their state-funded salaries, though some money was channeled through Echigo Kotsu bus company, which has close ties with Tanaka, and other entities.However, Tanaka has not yet given a full accounting of the scandal. Some people consider the prosecutors' reported decision on Tanaka is unfair when compared with Tsujimoto's case. Prosecutors should explain their criteria in this regard.The introduction of the system of state-paid policy secretaries was aimed at enhancing the policymaking abilities of Diet members.In addition to those who pass a qualifying examination, people with experience of working as regular state-paid secretaries for a certain period are eligible to become policy secretaries.This situation has led to incidents and scandals similar to the Tsujimoto case.Politicians should regard the indictments as a strong warning. If they do not, public distrust of the nation's politics will increase.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	525	2003-08-09	YOSHIN0020030809dz89000jf
yomshi0020030809dz8a00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030809dz8a00005	EN	\N	Reducing schoolchild truancy.	In the 2002 academic year, about 131,000 students failed to attend primary and middle schools for 30 days or longer, according to a nationwide survey by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry. The figure represented a year-on-year decline of about 7,500.	8	2003-08-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Since the annual truancy survey was first conducted in the 1991 academic year, the number of truant students was found to have risen every year. In one year the number soared by about 22,000 cases.However, the truancy statistics have finally shown a contraction. As a result, the truancy ratio for the entire population of middle school students decreased from 2.81 percent in the 2001 academic year to 2.73 percent the following year.Truancy reduction educators' taskThe reasons for truancy are varied, but it is not at all desirable for children to skip school. Truancy often leads to social withdrawal. It is a major responsibility of educators to reduce the number of truant students.Various measures to that end are already in place. Among them are the appointment of school counselors to help students and the establishment of additional education support centers run by local boards of education. In addition, there has been a significant increase in the number of "free schools" set up by private sector entities. Such efforts have combined to lower the number of truant students.Societal attitudes to truancy have swung like a pendulum since the matter emerged as a serious social issue in the latter half of the 1980s.Initially, the majority view was that truant students were simply lazy. Later, schools bore the brunt of criticism for their impersonal management-oriented approach to students.In 1992, a group of specialists collaborated with the then Education Ministry to tackle the issue of truancy. They issued a report stating that any child could become truant and attempts to force students to attend school would only escalate the problem.The report apparently sent the wrong message to schools and other educational authorities as they began refraining from working to keep students in school, adopting a wait-and-see attitude instead, which led to years of inaction on truancy.Recently, teachers have begun to offer "early, appropriate" measures to truant students and to consider each case individually.The attitude shift toward truancy is presumably behind the decline in the number of truant primary and middle school students.A similar change of course has taken place vis-a-vis "yutori" education-the policy of allowing children some freedom to make decisions for themselves. However, the policy tended to reduce student learning time and many people began having second thoughts about it.Each case should be treated separatelyAs for the issue of truancy, it must be noted that each truant student has unique circumstances. Thus, there is no general solution to the problem-truancy cases must be dealt with individually.In addition to the responsibility of schools in the matter, the role of families is also being questioned. For example, parents should know how to listen to tacit appeals from their children.Despite the decrease in the number of truant students, we must remember that the total is nearly twice that of the 1991 academic year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	569	2003-08-10	YOSHIN0020030811dz8a000az
yomshi0020030811dz8c000b7	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020030811dz8c000b7	EN	\N	Time to crack down on crime.	A recent National Police Agency report on crime for the first half of the year clearly showed that public safety as well as law and order are deteriorating.	8	2003-08-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While the report showed that the overall number of crimes had declined slightly year-on-year, the number of serious crimes such as murder, robbery, arson and rape had risen 16 percent from a year earlier.As a result, the half-yearly total for serious crimes has surpassed the 10,000 mark for the first time since 1989, when the NPA began compiling such statistics. Indeed, the total for the January-June period matches the annual totals for such crimes in the latter half of the 1990s.On the other hand, the arrest rate for serious crimes dropped below 50 percent, compared with more than 80 percent recorded five years ago. The reality is that crimes have become more heinous, making it harder for the police to apprehend suspects.To bring a return to the peace we once knew, this disruption of public peace and order must be halted as early as possible. Restoring public security is an urgent task that requires an all-out effort by the government.Foreigners, juveniles chief culpritsAs major factors for deteriorating public safety, the NPA cites crimes committed by foreigners and juveniles as well as the existence of crime syndicates that often have something to do with crimes by foreigners and juveniles.In the first half of the year, about 9,000 foreigners were arrested, up about 20 percent from a year earlier. Of those arrested, about half were staying illegally in the country. It is not unusual for foreigners to commit crimes in Japan after coming here originally to study at Japanese-language schools.In Fukuoka, two former Chinese students at Japanese-language schools are suspected of having been involved in the murder of a family of four. Both suspects left Japan shortly after the incident, making it difficult for the police to pursue their inquiries.We must not overlook the fact that offenses by juveniles have also become increasingly heinous. The number of juveniles aged 14 or above who were detained on suspicion of murder or robbery in the January-June period hit an all-time high since the NPA started compiling statistics on juvenile crime in 1979.Look to the examples of othersToward the end of July, the Liberal Democratic Party issued a series of emergency proposals, calling on ministries and agencies to join forces to improve public safety by taking measures to combat crimes committed by foreigners and juveniles.Specifically, the LDP is seeking an increase in the number of public safety personnel at police stations, customs houses and immigration offices; the construction of more detention facilities and prisons; the application of sophisticated crime-fighting technologies; and heightened policing and monitoring of the nation's coastlines.The NPA is also working on emergency measures to restore public safety and order.The more public security deteriorates, the more costly it becomes to reimpose law and order-an immeasurable loss to the nation. The government should not waste time, but should act boldly and swiftly.Since the 1980s, Western European nations have been suffering from an increase in crimes resulting from a rise in immigrant populations, among other factors. Japan can learn a lesson from these countries by looking at their investigative methods and legal approaches to the issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2003-08-12	YOSHIN0020030812dz8c000j8
YOMSHI0020030812dz8d0005x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030812dz8d0005x	EN	\N	GDP rise raising false hopes.	The seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product in the April-June period rose 0.6 percent from the previous quarter, or a 2.3 percent increase on an annualized basis.	8	2003-08-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	While the economy has posted stronger-than-expected growth, we should not take it at face value because the growth figure has been inflated by several special factors. If these factors are excluded, it can be seen that the economy grew only slightly or remained almost static.It is too early to conclude that the economy has begun moving toward sustainable growth-despite the fact that the GDP expanded for the sixth straight quarter.The special factors are only temporary and, once deprived of them, economic growth will once again head downward.The government needs to recognize that the economy remains weak and do its utmost to counter the vicious deflation that is preventing the economy from recovering.Special factors massaging figuresOne of the special factors buoying the economy is heavy demand for replacement trucks ahead of October's introduction of stricter controls on exhaust gas emissions. The purchase of trucks will be regarded as capital investment by companies. Affected by this demand, corporate capital investment posted a real 1.3 percent increase from the previous quarter.The second factor is a sharp drop in the number of Japanese going abroad, partly due to the SARS epidemic.As the result of a subsequent decline in spending by Japanese travelers overseas, which is calculated as imports, external demand, or net exports, has been pushed up greatly.Personal consumption, which accounts for about 60 percent of the GDP, grew 0.3 percent from the previous three-month period, a welcome positive aspect.The increase in consumption was chiefly due to brisk sales of liquid crystal display televisions and digital cameras. Another factor was the last-minute demand for cigarettes before a tax increase in July.No true ground for optimismIn light of a recent rebound in stock prices, government officials in charge of economic policies are making optimistic noises. And it is highly likely that this optimism will gain momentum in light of the economy's higher-than-expected growth.Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, indicated his strong confidence in economic recovery at a town meeting on Aug. 4, saying that the economy "is coming near to boiling point."During talks with an economic commentator earlier this month, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said the "deflationary trend in assets has ended."However, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average remains mired at the 9,000 level, far below the 13,000 territory at the time when the Koizumi administration was inaugurated. It is remiss of him to declare the end of asset deflation with this degree of rebound in stock prices.Since its beginning, the Koizumi administration has been characterized by a lack of a true understanding of how serious a problem deflation is.Work will soon begin in earnest on compiling the budget for the next fiscal year. When this happens, Koizumi should move away from supporting a belt-tightening budget and instead implement a budget that will help bail the economy out of deflation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	568	2003-08-13	YOSHIN0020030813dz8d000gj
YOMSHI0020030813dz8e0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030813dz8e0000j	EN	\N	Peace education needs review.	The issue of peace is an important theme in school education, yet it has been pointed out for some time that this nation's peace education policy has been stripped of much of its substance.	8	2003-08-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The current issue of paramount importance for Japan in terms of peace is that of North Korea's development of nuclear arms and its abduction of Japanese, but most teachers have given these topics scant attention in their lessons.The nation's efforts at educating students about peace has primarily been aimed at developing an emotional antiwar sentiment. It is necessary for a drastic review of the principles of peace education and of the way such education should be conducted.The Japan Teachers' Union has long emphasized Japan's invasion of Asian countries and the injuries it inflicted upon them before and during World War II, on the basis of postwar war crimes rulings handed down at the military tribunal known as the Tokyo Trial.During the postwar period, the union promoted the stereotype that capitalist countries were belligerent while socialist countries were pacifist.Historical revisionism existedThere were times when photographs with captions that were incorrect or misleading were displayed at such places as peace museums in local municipalities, primarily to emphasize the brutal acts of the Japanese military during the war.It is obvious that in the nation's peace education policy, there were misconceptions and biases in many areas, including the understanding of history and international situations as well as the consideration of children's sensitivity. The present state of affairs has to do with pacifism led by so-called "progressives" that lasted for much of the postwar period.There were several opportunities to review the nation's peace education policy.The Japan Teachers' Union, in a book titled "Another 'peace education'-From antiwar peace education to education on peaceful coexistence," published by its education and culture bureau in 1996, acknowledged that its former peace education policy had not won public support.In the book, the union also expressed its opinion that people's views on World War II varied and cautioned teachers against imposing their own understanding of history on their students.This proposal reflected the political situation at the time, including the inauguration of the coalition government led by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Socialist Party.Yet it can hardly be said that this new type of peace education is being taught at schools.Comprehensive policy neededThe aim of peace education should not be to condemn the nation's history using present values. It should be aimed at not only teaching children about the disasters and horrors of war, but also helping them develop the ability to analyze the circumstances that led the nation to war and learn lessons from it.Some teachers discuss with their students when and how Japan could have avoided World War II by looking at U.S. policies toward Japan that pushed Washington to go to war.An educational magazine featuring materials to help students reflect on war from new perspectives is also scheduled to be published.In Okinawa Prefecture, the prefectural board of education has compiled a manual on peace education, warning that if children are shown graphic photographs from the war, they may become distrustful of people in general.The idea of a "comprehensive" peace education curriculum, which would combine reading and gardening, is gaining popularity. We should applaud such new approaches.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2003-08-14	YOSHIN0020030815dz8e000eg
YOMSHI0020030814dz8f0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030814dz8f0000b	EN	\N	New WWII perspective needed.	The anniversary of the war's end often arouses heated debates about issues related to Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines those killed in wars Japan fought, including Class-A war criminals. In recent years, controversy has often arisen over how Japan's prewar and wartime history should be perceived in relation to the enshrinement of these war criminals at the Shinto shrine.	8	2003-08-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Sometime during the postwar period, China and South Korea suddenly started denouncing Japan for enshrining those war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine. This triggered a dispute over the political, military and other leaders condemned as Class-A war criminals after the war's end.In 1978, Yasukuni Shrine enshrined these war criminals. One year later, this fact was made known to the public. In those days, Beijing and Seoul hardly bothered to mention visits to the shrine by such prime ministers as Masayoshi Ohira, Zenko Suzuki and Yasuhiro Nakasone. These leaders worshiped at the shrine just as their predecessors did.Deal with Class-A war criminalsHowever, China and South Korea raised objections to an "official" visit to the shrine by Nakasone on Aug. 15, 1985. Since then, these nations protested whenever a prime minister visited the shrine.One question addressed in the Yasukuni Shrine dispute focuses on whether the Class-A war criminals are included in the list of war victims honored at the government-sponsored annual ceremonies dedicated to the war dead.This question became more pertinent after an advisory body to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda issued a report on Yasukuni-related problems in late 2002. The panel's report said it was advisable to establish a government-run memorial facility unrelated to Yasukuni Shrine, while also stating that no restriction should be imposed on the list of war victims to be honored at such an establishment. The latter proposal meant that the Class-A war criminals should not be removed from the list.This line of thought may also have been reflected in the attitude taken by the government in organizing annual memorial services for the war dead. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has said the Class-A war criminals should not be removed from the list of war victims honored in the government-sponsored ceremony.The dispute over the Class-A war criminals should not be limited to whether they should be removed from the list of war victims. Another important question that should be explored concerns how to deal with the situation surrounding the Class-A war criminals.Tokyo Trial called unfairA number of scholars and critics have insisted that the International Military Tribunal for the Far East-popularly known as the Tokyo Trial-was unfair.It is worth noting that the Soviet Union was represented both on the judges' bench and at the prosecutors' table at the Tokyo Trial. The Soviet Union conspired with Adolf Hitler to partition Poland, thereby triggering World War II. The Soviets also annexed three Baltic states, and invaded Finland to seize its territory.Furthermore, the Soviet Union violated its neutrality pact with Japan toward the end of World War II. The country flagrantly ignored international law when it forced thousands upon thousands of Japanese prisoners of war to engage in hard labor in Siberia. The Soviets' involvement in the Tokyo Trial both as a judge and prosecutor meant that the victors in the war tried the vanquished.During the trial, a lawyer for the Japanese defendants referred to "a crime against humanity" in accusing the United States of murdering a massive number of civilians through the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, simultaneous translation for the lawyer's argument was immediately cut off.Censorship stifled dissentQuestions about these aspects of the war were all stifled during the trial and the Allied Occupation of Japan under GHQ's stern and manipulating censorship. A dissenting opinion prepared by Radhabinod Pal in the final judgment on the trial-an Indian judge who found all the defendants innocent on all counts-was never published until Japan restored its sovereignty in 1951.Meanwhile, leftist forces that have a misguided notion about socialist nations as guardians of peace have garbled history by arguing that World War II was a victory for democracies in war against fascist states, and that assertion has been accepted by all other nations. However, the Soviet Union was anything but a democracy. It was a state that established a reign of terror over its people. Today, this view has been accepted by many nations.This is also true with China, which was also on the victors' side in the Tokyo Trial. China has never been a democratic country.Whatever views may be advocated about the Tokyo Trial, honor has already been restored to the Class-A war criminals under domestic laws. The laws classify seven such convicts who were executed by hanging-including Prime Minister Hideki Tojo-as persons who "died as a result of their fulfilled duties"-not as those executed. Consequently, the bereaved families of the war criminals have been eligible to receive pensions since 1953.Today, many people tend to feel that there are no other Class-A war criminals than the seven who were hanged. However, the Tokyo Trial classified 25 defendants, including soldiers and civilian officials, as Class-A war criminals.Japan should not repeat errorsThey included Mamoru Shigemitsu, a wartime foreign minister who became deputy prime minister and foreign minister under the Ichiro Hatoyama Cabinet in the postwar years. Okinori Kaya, a wartime finance minister who was sentenced to imprisonment for life, served as justice minister under the administration of Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda. It is extremely ironical for a Class-A war criminal to become a justice minister.Few nations challenged the ministerial appointments given to former Class-A war criminals. This meant that the controversy over Class-A war criminals was a thing of the past.During its prewar days, however, Japan committed errors that should never be repeated.It is an undisputable fact that this country witnessed the rise of militaristic and fascist sentiment at home during the early Showa era (1926-1989). Those years were a depressing period. It should not be forgotten that the Tojo Cabinet used the military police to ruled the nation.However, the principle of parliamentary democracy has been firmly established in the nation since the war's end. There is no cause for alarm about a revival of militarism in Japan.The government and the Japanese must continue to inform some parochial, jingoistic and anti-Japanese Asian neighbors that their fear of this country are groundless.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1145	2003-08-15	YOSHIN0020030815dz8f0012x
YOMSHI0020030815dz8g0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030815dz8g0000e	EN	\N	Learn from N.Y. power outage.	The blackout paralyzed urban life in New York and many other areas, affecting millions of people.	8	2003-08-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A major power outage that rolled across New York in 1977 was followed by riots and looting. Fortunately, the areas affected by Thursday's outages were, with some exceptions, relatively quiet. We hope that electricity supplies will return to normal as soon as possible.It is still unknown what caused the latest blackout. However, it is suspected that a malfunction occurred in the electric grid, causing several stations to automatically shut off power supplies so that these facilities would not sustain serious damage.Nevertheless, the reason behind the largest power blackout in U.S. history can be surmised. With the current power plants and electricity-distribution equipment, slightly more than minimum power needs are being met in the region. In fact, growing demands for electricity in New York are being satisfied-but just barely.This allowed the latest blackout to cause greater damage, and failed to prevent it from spreading.Failure to build new plantsTwo years ago, there was a major blackout in California. A long spell of very hot weather in the western part of the United States caused a power shortage in the region, and the authorities were considering supplying certain areas in the region on a rotation basis.With the deregulation of the power industry, U.S. electric power companies are fiercely competing in the retail market. Under the circumstances, these companies are reluctant to build new plants because of the high cost of installing auxiliary equipment.Two years ago, The Washington Post pointed the finger at the fragile U.S. electricity supply and insisted that the ongoing deregulation of the electric power companies be complemented by efforts to invest more money in plants and equipment. The campaign failed to persuade the utilities to change their policies.In Japan, each electric power company has auxiliary transmission equipment that can be put into use if a malfunction occurs in the electric grid. This served to minimize the damage when a Self-Defense Forces plane sliced through a high-voltage power line in Saitama Prefecture, as well as when an accident occurred at a substation in Kyoto Prefecture. Blackouts following these accidents were limited to areas where they occurred and power was quickly restored.Keep equipment in running orderHowever, it should be noted that these fail-safe systems contribute to higher electricity bills in Japan compared to other countries. It is not easy to strike a balance between the cost of supplying electric power and ensuring stable power supplies.There were concerns that a major blackout would strike the Tokyo metropolitan area this summer because Tokyo Electric Power Co. had suspended operations at some of its nuclear power plants. It is ironic that Tokyo has avoided a blackout while New York was hit by a major outage.The latest blackout brought New York subway services to a standstill and caused a gridlock on streets when traffic lights failed. This proves that a blackout can deal a serious blow to a major city. New York's financial markets could have been thrown into turmoil had the blackout occurred earlier in the day. In that event, the damage could have spread around the world.Japan should learn from this blackout. Auxiliary generators were not put into service smoothly at airports and other important facilities in New York. Such generators should be tested at least once a year, otherwise they might not serve their purpose in an emergency. Japan should take this to heart, too.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2003-08-16	YOSHIN0020030816dz8g000cd
YOMSHI0020030816dz8h0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030816dz8h0000c	EN	\N	Stick, then carrot for N. Korea.	Japan, the United States, China, South Korea and Russia will begin talks with North Korea in Beijing on Aug. 27.	8	2003-08-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the launch of the six-way meeting will not immediately mean a resolution to the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons development program.The five countries are unanimous as to their goal-making North Korea give up its nuclear weapons program-but they differ in regard to specific approaches to realizing that goal. To put it bluntly, the five countries need to coordinate their policies and continue to look for the optimum approach.Senior officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea just wound up preparatory talks for the Beijing meeting, where they confirmed that the three countries would demand that North Korea completely dismantle its nuclear weapons program in an easy-to-verify and irrevocable manner. They also agreed that during the Beijing talks the three countries would not present any kind of road map spelling out the phases of possible reciprocal measures such as economic assistance in the event of concessions by Pyongyang.North Korea has been developing nuclear arms in violation of the 1994 Agreed Framework with the United States-which was itself a road map for North Korea to scrap its nuclear weapons program in exchange for two light-water nuclear power reactors and supplies of heavy oil.Rewards to come after good behaviorWith this reality in mind, a similar approach should be avoided. The first thing the five countries should do during the six-way talks is to rigorously scrutinize North Korea's moves.North Korea has been demanding that the United States conclude a bilateral nonaggression treaty and cease putting obstacles in the way of economic cooperation between North Korea and other foreign countries. Pyongyang insists that it will not do away with nuclear deterrents of its own or agree to early inspections of its nuclear facilities as long as the United States remains hostile.These arguments are selfish, given the fact that North Korea is engaged in many dubious activities-developing nuclear weapons in defiance of international norms, exporting ballistic missiles and trafficking narcotics and stimulants as well as counterfeit foreign currency abroad.North Korea expelled inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency-the U.N. nuclear watchdog-in order to reactivate its nuclear facilities. It is now believed to be capable of arming itself with six to eight nuclear bombs by the end of the year and mass-producing scores of nuclear bombs every year in a few years' time.Continued vigilance requiredThe international community must keep a vigilant eye on North Korea. Prolongation of the talks would mean that Pyongyang would have the time to continue developing nuclear weapons. The world cannot afford to wait very long.Eleven countries, including the United States, some European countries, Japan and Australia, are considering conducting joint drills to stem the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related materials. International pressure like this, which obviously contributed to North Korea's decision to take part in the six-way talks, should not be eased until the North abandons its nuclear weapons program.For its part, the Japanese government is expected to call for a solution to the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea during the Beijing meeting. However, it is government policy to hold concrete discussions on the issue bilaterally with North Korea.Japan will never be able to normalize relations with North Korea unless the issue of nuclear weapons and missiles and the abduction issue are solved. The government must by all means stick to its principle of extending economic assistance to North Korea only after the normalization of bilateral ties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2003-08-17	YOSHIN0020030818dz8h0008c
YOMSHI0020030818dz8i00032	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030818dz8i00032	EN	\N	No to 'amakudari' liberalization.	The government had originally thought of submitting a set of related bills to the recently concluded ordinary session of the Diet that emphasized the proposed introduction of a merit-based evaluation system for public servants. However, the LDP did not give its consent, which effectively shelved the plan.	8	2003-08-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ruling party was particularly displeased by the fact that the proposed performance-evaluation criteria were too ambiguous and the possibility of effectively lifting the controls on "amakudari" (descent from heaven), a practice in which retired senior officials parachute into lucrative jobs in the private sector in fields where they previously had administrative jurisdiction.In a recent report on public service system reform, the National Personnel Authority also drew attention to the flaws in the government's proposals.Constructive criticism should be acceptedThe two points are the most serious shortcomings in the government's plan. Therefore, the government should scrap its original plan and thoroughly rework the proposal with reference to the LDP's criticism and the NPA's comment.The government had envisaged an end to the existing system of requiring retired bureaucrats to obtain the approval of the NPA for their respective amakudari plans. Alternatively, cabinet ministers would have been authorized to approve the amakudari requests by former officials from their ministries or agencies.It is questionable for cabinet ministers, who usually have short office tenures, to make prudent decisions on amakudari requests. All they could realistically be expected to do is to follow the advice of officials from each ministry or agency. Therefore, it is extremely likely that self-serving amakudari practices would prevail.Following a barrage of strong criticism from a variety of sources, the government once drafted a substitute proposal, obligating high-ranking officials-whose appointments are based on government ordinances-to obtain cabinet approval of their amakudari plans.Rightfully, the LDP also rejected this proposal on the grounds that a cabinet approval system would be essentially the same as a minister approval system, as the cabinet would be incapable of screening each amakudari request.Address 'katatataki' simultaneouslyAnother issue is "katatataki," or the practice of tapping on the shoulder of senior officials to pressure them into early retirement. Katatataki targets commonly drop out of the competition among fast-track bureaucrats for the top spot in each ministry or agency. This system must be fundamentally reviewed in addition to the practice of amakudari.There must be no barrier to the key aim of reforming the public service personnel system-merit-based performance evaluations of all public servants. However, the criteria for such evaluation must be both highly unequivocal and objectively convincing. In its process of reviewing the public service system, the government should duly consider this point.When it touched on a merit-based evaluation system, the government should also have considered the existing fast-track promotion system. However, the reform plan did not propose a review of the central government's employment examinations for Class 1 (fast-track) and Class 2 officials.It is inevitable that thorough reforms involve some pain-in this case, an end to the vested interests of certain parties. If the government fails to address such issues, its determination and fortitude will be seriously questioned.However, recent circumstances in the nation's political sphere are so fluid that the Diet should now wait until the next ordinary session to deliberate the difficult issue of the reform of the public service personnel system. The government, therefore, has ample time to draw up a new blueprint for the public service system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2003-08-18	YOSHIN0020030819dz8i00014
YOMSHI0020030818dz8j00061	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030818dz8j00061	EN	\N	Time to stimulate economy.	The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average climbed to close above the 10,000 threshold Monday for the first time since August last year.	8	2003-08-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the Nikkei index first broke the 10,000 barrier back in January 1984. Taking into consideration that the nominal gross domestic product back then was only about 60 percent of what it is today, the Nikkei index breaking the 10,000 mark is fairly low in real terms.One of the effects of looking at the world from the bottom of an economic ravine is that we tend to delude ourselves into thinking we have scaled the heights when we get such news, when in reality we have but inched a little higher. The sight of economic ministers reacting jubilantly to the recent rebounds in stock prices show that they are suffering from such a delusion.No time to rest on laurelsBut the government should not take the rebound of stocks to the 10,000 level as an excuse to rest on its laurels. Rather, it should initiate bold measures to buoy the economy.Lying behind the recovery of stock prices into the 10,000 territory is a rising expectation for economic recovery in light of the higher-than-expected real economic growth for the April-June period announced last week.But the real issue is whether stock prices can maintain the current upturn. If the government simply celebrates the rebound in stock prices without coming up with any new economic measures, the upward trend in stock prices will not be maintained.As deflation accelerates, corporations and individuals have come to feel that their debts have become heavier in a real sense and their first priority is to pay off these debts, thus dampening any sentiment for new investment.But if the deflationary trend is stemmed, they will be more inclined to invest anew, which would boost the economy.For stock prices to rise further, it is essential that the economy be extradited from the current deflationary trend.Marked rebounds in stock prices have occurred three times in the post-bubble era: in 1992, 1995 and 1998. In all of these cases, they rebounded as the result of the government implementing comprehensive economic measures.Govt, BOJ should lever optimismThe economic ministers of the Koizumi Cabinet are unanimous in saying that the latest rebound in stock prices is a result of the structural reforms of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration. However, his administration has yet to implement any full-scale measure to pull the economy out of deflation.In reality, the rebound in stock prices has chiefly been due to U.S. economic measures.With the implementation of unprecedentedly large tax cuts and a bold low-interest rate policy, there is rising expectation for a full economic recovery in the United States. New York stock prices have risen, giving foreign investors more funds to invest in stocks in Japanese markets.What the government needs to do, by cashing in on stock prices having recovered to the 10,000 territory, is to take full-fledged measures to fight deflation when it compiles the next fiscal year budget.The Bank of Japan needs to try new monetary policies, such as the adoption of an inflation reference target, a desired increase in prices with no deadline for its achievement.The government should not depend solely on the United States to fix Japan's own economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2003-08-19	YOSHIN0020030819dz8j000hy
YOMSHI0020030820dz8k00015	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030820dz8k00015	EN	\N	Offer easy recourse to the law.	The idea of building a "judicial net" is aimed at developing bases offering comprehensive legal services in the localities of each prefecture where district courts are located. The initiative will be funded by the central government.	8	2003-08-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	People involved in legal disputes often have little idea where to seek legal advice or how they can solve their problems through the judicial process.The current system for providing legal services to the public, including through such private sector organizations as bar associations, is insufficient.Also, legal practitioners are few and far between in certain areas. Some localities lack any jurists, even though they are under the jurisdiction of either a district court, which is located in each prefecture, or its branch office.To remedy this situation, the judicial net will provide an easily accesible legal aid system. The government plans to submit a relevant bill to the ordinary Diet session next year. If the new system works well, people will find the judicial system closer to their daily lives.Current system user-unfriendlyThere are many examples illustrating the user-unfriendly nature of the nation's judicial system.In civil cases, bar associations, legal aid associations and legal aid sections of local governments operate separately, handling disputes independently.As for criminal cases, a defense lawyer may be assigned by a court to represent a defendant at the central government's expense. But criminal suspects receive no financial support from the government prior to their indictment-they can only be served by lawyers dispatched by bar associations.With the judicial net, a lawyer paid for by the government also will be assigned to such suspects.Meanwhile, outlets for various legal services will be integrated.But many problems connected with the envisaged judicial net need to be solved.In order to distribute the state budget fairly and provide legal aid equitably across the country, it is essential for such services to be managed in an impartial manner.Fair management of legal services can be realized only when those entities that can fulfill this requirement, both in terms of their organizational setup and manpower, are established.Sectionalism rife in judicial worldConcerning the new system of assigning a defense lawyer paid for by the government to suspects in criminal cases, the government should explain to the public the reason for creating such a system.The government spends about 6 billion yen annually on court-appointed lawyers and more than 3 billion yen on legal aid related to civil cases.If more state funds are to be injected into the judicial net, the government should come up with a method to ensure that existing spending on legal aid does not overlap with spending on the envisaged services.The creation of the judicial net has been delayed by sectionalism within each of the three elements of the judicial community-the courts; the Justice Ministry and public prosecutors; and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.In particular, mutual distrust still runs deep between the ministry and public prosecutors, and members of the federation of bar associations, who cross swords at court hearings. Unless such distrust is overcome, the judicial net will not function properly.Now is the time for those in judicial circles to try to resolve minor differences of opinion to carry out their common task of meeting the needs of the times.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2003-08-20	YOSHIN0020030820dz8k000kx
YOMSHI0020030820dz8l00037	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030820dz8l00037	EN	\N	Don't let the terrorists win.	On Tuesday, an explosives-laden cement truck was blown up at the U.N. facility, killing and injuring many people, including the top U.N. envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.	12	2003-08-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Vieira de Mello had been assigned to provide humanitarian aid for Iraqis under the U.S. and British occupation forces. At the same time, the special U.N. representative was looking for ways to help Iraq regain sovereignty through consultations with the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council.However, unidentified bombers responded by killing and wounding scores of people.Any form of terrorism must be condemned. Tuesday's bombing-the first of its kind to target U.N. offices in Iraq since the end of the U.S.-led war on that nation-showed even more starkly how abominable terrorist attacks are. World leaders, including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush, had every reason to express their profound indignation over the suicide attack.List of targets expandingThe latest incident has demonstrated again that a task of prime importance to be tackled in rehabilitating Iraq is to restore peace and security in the war-torn country. The attack has also shown that armed Iraqi groups opposing the U.S. and British initiative in rebuilding their country are expanding their target list.In early August, an explosion took place in front of the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, killing more than 10 people. Although acts of terrorism against U.S. and British solders have subsided somewhat, soldiers and others from other nations are increasingly subject to terrorist attacks.Tuesday's bombing was an example of terrorists choosing to target poorly guarded nonmilitary facilities and personnel. Earlier, a convoy carrying U.N. officers was attacked, leaving one dead and another wounded. Facilities directly related to the life of Iraqis and their nation's reconstruction work-including water pipes, electricity cables and oil pipelines-have not been spared terrorist attacks.There is speculation that groups attempting to prevent Iraq's rehabilitation include forces still loyal to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Islamic fundamentalists who have entered Iraq from neighboring countries.SDF dispatch should go aheadThe greatest task facing Iraq today is to transform itself into a democracy in the aftermath of Saddam's fall. To accomplish this goal, it is essential for the international community to play an active role in the process.Nations around the world should not cower in the face of terrorist threats. The terrorists would win if the international community abandoned its goal of helping rehabilitate Iraq. Instead, additional ways should be found to make terrorists a black sheep in global society and render them powerless.Undoubtedly, immediate measures should be taken to contain threats of terrorism in Iraq. To this end, the United States should play a central role in maintaining peace and security in that nation. It is also worth reconsidering the role to be played by the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, a new body recently authorized by the U.N. Security Council.Japan has already adopted a plan to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq. The government should stick to its plan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	551	2003-08-21	YOSHIN0020030821dz8l000jb
YOMSHI0020030821dz8m0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030821dz8m0000b	EN	\N	Who will challenge Koizumi?	The incumbent, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has said he will seek reelection and, with the official LDP election campaign kicking off on Sept. 8, he is now hurriedly working out the details of his election pledges.	8	2003-08-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, it is still not known who will challenge Koizumi. Undoubtedly, some LDP members are adamantly opposed to his reelection, but they appear unclear about how to block it. For instance, they are unsure whether to support a unified candidate or back more than one candidate.The anti-Koizumi forces believe that if they field more than one candidate, they can beat the prime minister in a run-off ballot that would be held if no candidate wins a majority of the 657 votes cast-357 by LDP lawmakers and 300 allocated to rank-and-file party members.The current situation is partly the result of the indecision of the LDP largest faction, led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, over what attitude to adopt in the election. Some members of the Hashimoto faction apparently believe it is unwise to replace Koizumi, whose Cabinet still enjoys a popular support rate of about 50 percent. His popularity counts at a time when legislators expect the House of Representatives to be dissolved for a general election in autumn.Lawmakers must put party firstThe LDP's presidential election should be a contest among candidates who have presented their respective policies to the public. It is preposterous for LDP lawmakers to think only of winning a general election when it comes to choosing their leader.The time is ripe for Koizumi and his party opponents to debate pertinent issues. The anti-Koizumi forces are pointing a finger at the prime minister's economic policies, saying, his emphasis on reforms adversely affects provincial areas and small corporations.However, the prime minister has said he will not change his structural reform policies. Because of this stance, the anti-Koizumi forces have good reason to challenge him.Despite his high popular support, a majority of people want Koizumi to shift the focus of his policy from structural reform to stimulating the economy, according to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey. This means that the public does not necessarily agree with the prime minister's economic policy.This is also true with other policies pursued by Koizumi. Many LDP members still oppose his plans to privatize four highway-related public corporations and the postal services.Candidates should debate key issuesDebates on key policies by candidates for the LDP presidency would reinvigorate the party. Clear differences in their policies would help rank-and-file LDP members decide who to support. The candidates should lay out their policies before the voters as soon as possible.Koizumi has stated that his reelection as LDP president means that his policies will become the party's policy platform for the lower house election. His attitude has caused some LDP members to criticize him as a "dictator." However, it should be noted that the LDP race will be fought among candidates on the strength of their policies. As a result, the policies advocated by the winner of the election must be adopted as the LDP's platform for the general election.Meanwhile, the prime minister has indicated that he may dissolve the lower house for a general election if he is defeated in the LDP election. However, he would be wise to step down as prime minister if he suffers a defeat. This is a matter of principle for any political leader who believes in party politics. After all, the top position of the main ruling party is a passport to the helm of the nation.The LDP presidency is incomparably more important than those held by other parties. Under the party's new regulations, the winner of the upcoming election will serve in his position for three years, up from the current two years. The LDP's presidential election must be held in a manner that honors the principle of government by party politics.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	722	2003-08-22	YOSHIN0020030822dz8m000io
YOMSHI0020030822dz8n00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030822dz8n00008	EN	\N	NATO's role in Afghanistan.	The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has taken over command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which has the task of bolstering security in Kabul and surrounding areas.	8	2003-08-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The move marked NATO's first operation outside Europe since the organization was established in 1949.NATO has said that its main mission is to reconstruct the war-torn country, although it will press ahead to enforce public order. This mission is light-years away from its original task as a military organization acting as a bulwark against possible attacks by the former Soviet Union.Previously, Britain, Turkey and other nations commanded the 30-nation peacekeeping force for six months each. Now, a high-ranking NATO official has made clear that the alliance will command the force over the long term, without setting a specific time frame.New reason for existenceBy deploying troops outside Europe, the military structure, which has praised itself as the "most successful alliance in history" for its triumph in the Cold War, even though it did not do any fighting, has apparently found a new reason for its existence.In the past, NATO has taken part in missions to bring peace to various regions, such as Bosnia and Kosovo. Therefore, NATO's mission in Afghanistan can be seen as an opportunity to make use of this experience, so the alliance is expected to play an important role in the country.However, a serious situation still exists in Afghanistan.Even after President Hamid Karzai's administration was launched, public order has not improved. There are signs that the Taliban is attempting to make a comeback in the southern and southeastern parts of the country. A large number of warlords also remain active.ISAF mission should be reviewedThe ISAF's sole mission is to maintain public order in Kabul and surrounding areas. Afghanistan's current situation does not permit NATO to extend its activities beyond that.But there are mounting calls for the ISAF to play a greater role in the country, not only from the Karzai administration, but also from the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations that have extended humanitarian assistance to the Afghans.In that event, it will be necessary to increase the number of ISAF personnel in the country. While the ISAF maintains public order in the capital, U.S. troops are engaging Al-Qaida and Taliban forces in other parts of the country. For the ISAF to play a greater role in Afghanistan, the parties concerned must review how this should be done.It is the responsibility of the international community, which has been conducting the war on terrorism, to reconstruct devastated Afghanistan into a democratic country with no ties to terrorists.Japan, which has offered considerable assistance to Afghanistan, must make clear its determination in this respect by extending the soon-to-expire Antiterrorism Law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	502	2003-08-23	YOSHIN0020030823dz8n000jl
YOMSHI0020030823dz8o0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030823dz8o0000e	EN	\N	Ethical breaches threaten safety.	Three major petrochemical and petroleum refining companies were found to have falsified documents related to safety inspections at their plants. Without conducting in-house inspections, as required under the High Pressure Gas Safety Law, the firms fabricated data and submitted a report to the agency that no safety problems had been found in their plants.	8	2003-08-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, which is under the jurisdiction of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, uncovered the unethical practice during on-the-spot inspections at Tosoh Corp.'s plant. In response to the agency's request that they conduct internal investigations, Nippon Petroleum Refining Co. and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. reported their misdeeds to the agency.One year ago, Tokyo Electric Power Co. also was found to have falsified data on the firm's in-house inspections at its nuclear power plants. The recently revealed fabrication of data by the three companies is as vicious a crime as TEPCO's illegal practice.The question, however, is: How did such apparently illegal acts remain unnoticed? The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency must thoroughly investigate what happened in these cases and take punitive measures against the three companies and the people involved in such misconduct.Under the High Pressure Gas Safety Law, to ensure safety, companies are obliged to examine the thickness and level of metal fatigue of pipes and tanks that are constantly under high pressure, by regularly suspending operations at their plants for inspections.Law revised in 1996Previously, prefectural government officials and neutral research institutes were responsible for inspecting such petroleum plants. However, the 1996 revision to the law enabled companies that have been acknowledged as "credible" by the agency to conduct their own in-house plant inspections.To be considered eligible to conduct in-house inspections, companies must meet certain conditions, including the existence of an internal independent inspection organization. Because only large companies can meet such conditions in practice, only 50 firms have been accredited under the system. Of the few accredited companies, three turned out to have betrayed the agency's trust.When the law was revised, some criticized the new system as too lenient with large companies. However, because such inspections are essentially aimed at protecting the lives of employees and the property of relevant companies from accidents, such as pipe explosions, an agency official in charge said it was unimaginable that companies would fabricate inspection data.Simplifying inspectionsIn line with the current deregulation trend, the central government has come up with policies to simplify various inspections formerly performed by the government or its agents, provided the parties concerned are deemed highly credible.For instance, the Construction and Transport Ministry has simplified the inspection of airplanes that have undergone repairs and maintenance at large maintenance plants operated by major airline companies.As an exceptional measure, customs officials also allow about 50 manufacturers and trading houses that have no record of violating tax laws and the Customs Law to receive cargos earlier than other importers after completing simple procedures.We believe it is right to make such efforts toward deregulation with the aim of strengthening companies' global competitiveness and reducing administrative costs.However, the latest data fabrication scandals clearly show it is difficult for authorities to determine whether companies are reliable simply from their structure, size and appearance.In this respect, it will be necessary for government ministries and agencies in charge of overseeing industries to carry out inspections on an irregular basis and watch closely to determine whether companies are observing laws and ordinances in return for giving them privileges.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	620	2003-08-24	YOSHIN0020030825dz8o000gd
YOMSHI0020030824dz8p0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030824dz8p0000b	EN	\N	Use teacher hiring boom wisely.	For many years, would-be teachers have had a hard time of it, faced with a declining birthrate and the ensuing decline in the number of pupils. But that situation is changing now, especially in major cities, and it is becoming much easier for people to enter the teaching profession.	8	2003-08-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The large number of teachers who were hired in the 1970s, chiefly in preparation for the second baby-boom generation when it reached school age, are about to reach retirement age.In addition, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry is advocating smaller classes, which necessitates more teachers.Because of these two factors, the number of newly employed teachers is on the rise across the nation after hitting a trough in academic year 2000.Teachers of different ages neededThe current age range of teachers is quite lopsided, with only a limited number of younger teachers in their 20s and 30s, chiefly because of cutbacks in new hiring of teachers for many years.The average age of teachers at primary and middle schools is over 40. Some experts have pointed out that this gap in age negatively impacts interaction between teachers and pupils.Local governments must take advantage of this hiring rush to establish a long-term vision of its employment strategy.Should the jobs now open be filled solely with new college graduates, schools will end up with a repeat of the current system, where teachers of the same generation are massively over-represented.The danger also exists that, as employment is opened up, competition will be reduced, leading to a crop of less-qualified new teachers.With these possibilities in mind, the Osaka prefectural board of education this year expanded its present hiring quota and adopted a policy of accepting applications from established career teachers from other local governments.The Tokyo metropolitan government for the first time held an explanatory recruiting meeting for new college graduates from areas outside Tokyo.But hiring career teachers or new college graduates from other areas are not the only things that can be done to improve the present situation.Local governments should also try to recruit teachers from the ranks of those working in other professions, including those working at private companies.Tests and training need reviewBefore doing that, however, it is vital to hold a review of teacher employment tests and post-recruitment training.It is also necessary to work out ways to maintain or improve the teaching ability of newly employed college graduates. The Tokyo metropolitan government will launch, in cooperation with colleges, a teacher training center for college seniors, which will focus on the practical aspects of teaching. Efforts like these should be made more widely.The current rigid personnel structure has also brought about an irregular situation where "temporary teachers," who often teach full time, outnumber regular teachers.These temporary teachers, whose status is uncertain and who are deprived of sufficient teaching training, cannot be expected to bring much to their jobs. The present system of hiring temporary teachers also must receive urgent review.School administrations must attempt to hire teaching staffs with evenly distributed age groups. This will help improve the quality of teachers.The current situation can be seen as a long-awaited opportunity. Each and every local government must rack its brains to work out ways to turn what have hitherto been setbacks into advantages.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2003-08-25	YOSHIN0020030825dz8p0013l
YOMSHI0020030825dz8q0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030825dz8q0000c	EN	\N	Keep pressure on N. Korea.	Authorities carried out a strict inspection of the Man Gyong Bong on Monday when it made a port call at Niigata-Nishi Port in Niigata, and subjected crewmen, passengers and their baggage to rigorous immigration checks.	8	2003-08-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Man Gyong Bong has been suspected by experts of complicity in suspicious activities.According to maritime experts, the vessel's safety equipment is not up to international standards. Following Monday's stringent inspection, the government ordered the ship's owners to implement five corrective measures, including the installation of emergency signs along escape routes.North Korea and the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) are offended, saying the strict inspection was a provocative action against North Korea. This assertion is irrelevant.As a result of Japan having adopted a position of dealing with Man Gyong Bong in strict compliance with the law, the ship's port call was delayed markedly from the initially scheduled date of early June.Pyongyang's reaction excessiveThe excessive reactions to Monday's development on the part of North Korea is a result of Pyongyang's bewilderment over Japan's resolute stance.The Man Gyong Bong is scheduled to make several visits to Japan in September, and the government should continue its policy of conducting strict inspections on the ship and monitoring its movements.Such inspections should not be limited to the Man Gyong Bong alone. About 1,400 North Korean vessels dock at Japanese ports every year, and it would be inappropriate if inspections on these vessels were to be neglected as the result of extra attention being paid to the Man Gyong Bong.Although the recent inspection has ended, suspicions about the Man Gyong Bong remain.It was discovered, through investigations by public safety authorities, that the ship transported such machinery as a jet mill, which can be converted for missile development. It also was discovered that North Korean agents operating in Japan were briefed onboard the ship.At a U.S. Senate panel session, a former North Korean engineer testified that the vessel had transported missile parts from Japan to North Korea.Govt must stick to its gunsMany people harbor reservations about granting permission to the ship to enter Japanese ports.The issue is related to national security, and the current relevant laws should be reviewed. Should they be found lacking, the government needs to study the possibility of drafting new legislation.There are moves within the Liberal Democratic Party to explore ways to formulate new regulations. These discussions need to be accelerated.Six-party talks on North Korea's suspected nuclear development program are set to begin Wednesday. When they do, North Korea may present demands on how it thinks Japan should treat the Man Gyong Bong.It is important for Japan to express clearly its stance on the issue and convey its message to North Korea.Problems between Japan and North Korea are not limited to those related to the Man Gyong Bong. In addition, there is not only the nuclear issue but also the one concerning Japanese abducted by North Korea.Japan should make clear its position that unless North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons development program and settles the issue of Japanese abductees, there can be no economic assistance to North Korea.As with the government's response to the Man Gyong Bong, a resolute stance will prove meaningful at the upcoming six-nation talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2003-08-26	YOSHIN0020030826dz8q000k0
YOMSHI0020030826dz8r0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030826dz8r0000f	EN	\N	Constitutional debate overdue.	Koizumi, also LDP president, reportedly has approved a plan for the party to draft a bill to revise the Constitution by Nov. 15, 2005, when the LDP celebrates the 50th anniversary of its foundation. He also reportedly told LDP Secretary General Taku Yamasaki on Monday that the party should aim to compile a bill on a national referendum stipulating referendum procedures necessary to revise the Constitution.	8	2003-08-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP called for the drafting of its own version of the constitution as one of the party's goals when it was formed in 1955 through the merger of the Liberal and Democratic parties. However, the party has since managed to avoid debating the issue. This is the first time that a prime minister or an LDP president has set a deadline for writing bills designed to revise the Constitution.The Yomiuri Shimbun announced in 1994 a set of proposals concerning constitutional revision. Since then, we have been trying to persuade the public of the necessity of amending the nation's supreme law. We firmly support the prime minister's decision.At the same time, however, Koizumi revealed his intention not to lobby for constitutional revision during the LDP election campaign, saying, "The public pledges at the presidential election are an immediate issue, but constitutional revision is an issue that's quite a long way off."We believe Koizumi's thinking on this point is muddled.If the LDP intends to compile bills on revisions to the Constitution two years from now, we think now is the perfect time-with the LDP's presidential race just around the corner-for the prime minister to clearly state, for instance, deadlines for drafting bills on a national referendum on constitutional revision, on changing the Constitution's preamble or on the revision as a whole.Will Koizumi keep promise?Koizumi has said repeatedly that if he is reelected LDP president, he will make his policies the party's pledges in the next House of Representatives election campaign. If constitutional revision becomes one of the big issues in the LDP presidential race, each political party will be forced to clarify its stance on the Constitution in the upcoming lower house election and next year's House of Councillors election.In fact, Koizumi has already engaged in de facto work designed to revise the Constitution. For instance, he has proposed studying the advisability of letting members of the public directly elect prime ministers and has set up a private panel of intellectuals to examine the issue.On the other hand, in the LDP presidential race of April 2001, Koizumi proposed a review of the execution of the right to collective self-defense, which the Constitution forbids under the government's formal interpretation. But he has avoided facing the issue squarely so far.We wonder whether Koizumi instructed Yamasaki to compile the constitutional revision proposal at this time taking into consideration the argument that the issue of whether Japan may exercise the right of collective self-defense has been restricting this country's participation in various international cooperation efforts, including direct involvement in U.N. peacekeeping forces.All parties should indicate stancesResearch commissions on the Constitution of both Diet houses are scheduled to issue their final reports in January 2005, but the reports likely will consist of mere lists of arguments expressed by each party.The LDP's Research Commission on the Constitution has compiled draft guidelines on revising the Constitution. For instance, concerning security-related issues, it says Japan should call its Self-Defense Forces a "military," and that the country should be allowed to exercise the right of collective self-defense. The panel will further study such themes as new basic human rights, including the right to a better living environment and decentralization of power from the central government to local governments.Meanwhile, Jiyuto (Liberal Party) compiled in December 2000 what it called "basic guidelines for creating a new constitution." There have been bitter intraparty confrontations on the issue within Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which is scheduled to merge with Jiyuto, and the party has shelved debate on the issue.In the next lower house election, we hope not only the LDP, but also other parties, including Minshuto, will indicate their own stances on the Constitution in their policy pledges.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	763	2003-08-27	YOSHIN0020030827dz8r000l0
YOMSHI0020030827dz8s0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030827dz8s0000f	EN	\N	NASA's culture must change.	A team of independent investigators looking into the fatal midair breakup of space shuttle Columbia in February on a flight back to Earth has issued a report that harshly criticizes NASA.	12	2003-08-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the report, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board vividly reproduced a series of developments leading to the tragedy by citing remarks made in e-mails and during meetings within NASA, attributing them to individuals that it identified by name.The board's findings cite the excessive self-confidence prevailing in NASA concerning safety, violations of rules and regulations, and a lack of communication.Although the nuclear power and medical fields have been increasingly inclined to foster a "safety culture" by placing top priority on minimizing risk, NASA, the global leader in space development, had lacked such a culture, according to the board.In response to the report, NASA said it would develop a solution enabling shuttle astronauts to carry out in-flight repair work so it could resume space flights using the three remaining shuttles as early as next summer.To do so, NASA must urgently proceed with organizational reforms with a view to always putting top priority on safety.Safety measures lackingThe direct cause of the accident was damage to the heat-resistant leading edge of the left wing. Foam insulation covering the external fuel tank peeled off and hit the wing's edge. The breach apparently allowed superheated gas to penetrate the wing on reentry and eventually destroy it.The board's report pointed out that NASA knew-immediately after the liftoff with the help of video footage and flight data-that the piece of foam had come off the fuel tank, struck the left wing and damaged it. Nonetheless, the board found that NASA did not take the accident seriously because foam had come off shuttle fuel tanks before without causing trouble and "we couldn't have done anything about it anyway."Although a NASA regulation obliges the space agency to hold safety conferences every day while a shuttle is in orbit, there were only five such sessions during the 16-day mission. Furthermore, NASA managers rejected a suggestion by some engineers that the agency seek the assistance of the U.S. military to photograph the damaged section with a surveillance telescope.Parallels to Challenger disaster seenThe investigation board drew parallels between NASA management problems today and at the time of the Challenger accident in 1986, saying NASA had begun to neglect the safety measures introduced after that disaster.The board pointed out that behind the tragedy were large-scale cuts in both budgetary allocations for NASA and its staff, for which the report held both the U.S. government and Congress responsible.In the meantime, the future of the International Space Station, an ongoing project involving Japan and 14 other countries, hinges upon the availability of shuttles with increased load-bearing capabilities. Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi will be aboard the first space shuttle to take off when the shuttle program resumes following the Columbia accident.The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), for its part, plans to assign a task force to evaluate the shuttle's safety on its own. It is important for NASDA to make sure that NASA listens to its opinions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	574	2003-08-28	YOSHIN0020030828dz8s000j0
YOMSHI0020030829dz8u0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030829dz8u0000e	EN	\N	Press harder for N-free N. Korea.	Rather than talking of the possibility of dismantling its nuclear program, North Korea indicated its readiness to go nuclear and threatened to conduct nuclear tests. Pyongyang thus showed further defiance toward the international community, which has been demanding that North Korea put aside its nuclear ambitions.	8	2003-08-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan, South Korea and the United States were unanimous in demanding that North Korea dispose of its nuclear weapons program in a "verifiable and irreversible" way. The other participating countries in the six-way talks, China and Russia, emphasized the importance of creating a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.In response, North Korea reiterated its oft-repeated stance that it would not dismantle its nuclear program unless the United States discontinued its hostile policy toward the country. It resorted to selfish arguments to justify building nuclear armaments. Its delegation said that the current circumstances did not allow for the option to end its nuclear program-that, to the contrary, it was being driven to provide nuclear deterrents of its own.The six nations were unable to agree on a date and venue for the next round of talks, but did decide to discuss through diplomatic channels when and where they would meet again. However, no further progress can be expected in future talks unless North Korea changes its attitude.Intl community must press N. KoreaA North Korean decision to scrap its nuclear weapons program is the prerequisite to peacefully settling the nuclear issue.To that end, it is vital for the international community to continue pressuring North Korea to give up its nuclear program. Without such pressure, Pyongyang will hardly be inclined to listen to the rest of the world.China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States agree that they will not tolerate a nuclear North Korea. The five countries must demand that North Korea immediately freeze any nuclear facilities currently in operation as a measure to prevent it from advancing any further in its nuclear weapons development program. To supervise such a move, it is essential that inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency return to North Korea.What is more, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, materials for such weapons and missiles must be stemmed. North Korea is believed to have extracted enough weapons-grade plutonium to make six nuclear bombs. There are concerns that North Korea might sell them to foreign countries or terrorist organizations.As a nonproliferation measure, international cooperation is crucial not only between Japan and the United States, but also with China, Russia and South Korea-all of which share a border with North Korea. North Korea's smuggling activities must be stringently clamped down on.Mutual distrust runs deepEven should Pyongyang finally give in and promise that it will dismantle its nuclear weapons program, many difficulties must be overcome.During the Beijing talks, North Korea categorically denied developing nuclear weapons with highly enriched uranium, a program that North Korea itself reportedly unveiled to the United States last October during bilateral talks. Such denials only increased U.S. skepticism of North Korea.While mutual distrust remains so deep, it will not be easy to bring about IAEA inspections or the scrapping of nuclear facilities in North Korea.Despite its promise to do away with weapons of mass destruction, Iraq repeatedly balked at U.N. inspectors' efforts, preventing them from completing their duties.Taking the Iraqi case as a precedent, it would seem that a complete settlement of the North Korean nuclear issue will take a long time.And if Pyongyang finally does agree to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States must take care that it does not secretly restart nuclear weapons development.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2003-08-30	YOSHIN0020030830dz8u000ms
YOMSHI0020030830dz8v0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030830dz8v0000h	EN	\N	Start efforts to reform tax grants.	The ministry will present a draft budget to the Cabinet by the end of the year, by which time the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election will have been held, followed by the dissolution of the House of Representatives and subsequent general election. Under this tight political schedule, the government is tasked with addressing a number of important political agendas while compiling the budget, such as arresting deflation and reviewing the social security system.	8	2003-08-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Among these important issues is the so-called trinity reform plan, a three-part reform package involving a cut in state subsidies to local governments, the transfer of some authority for tax collection to local governments and a review of tax grants from the central to local governments.In particular, the review of tax grants is a subject that needs to be addressed immediately.In fiscal 2003, tax grants from the central government to local governments totaled 17.4 trillion yen, accounting for 21 percent of the total budget. In the budgetary requests for fiscal 2004, the amount requested for tax grants has increased significantly from the previous year. Given this, it is no longer possible to make the budget efficient without reforming tax grants.Vital new system neededUnder the circumstances, the government must closely review the current tax grant system. While minimizing increases in tax grants, it is urged to transform the current system into one that will help vitalize local economies.As principles of the trinity reform, the government in June proposed:- To cut the amount of state subsidies to local governments by 4 trillion yen in three years.- To transfer 80 percent to 100 percent of certain tax resources from the central government to local governments to make up for revenue shortfalls resulting from the cut in state subsidies.- To promote a review of tax grants from the central government to local governments.However, there is no substance in these proposals, and there has been barely any discussion on the issue of tax grants.Tax grants have two major functions: One is to adjust economic disparities among local governments and the other is to guarantee fiscal resources so that local governments can provide administrative services at a state-set level.However, because the system is designed for the central government to compensate for local governments' revenue shortfalls by allocating tax grants, it is practically impossible to stop the current trend, in which the amount of tax grants continues to surge.Local governments also use tax grants to redeem previously issued bonds. In this manner, the central government is essentially paying local governments' debts.This system discourages local governments from making efforts to minimize wasteful spending.Lawmakers must take leadIn addition, local government officials are often much better paid than salaried private-sector workers in the same localities. This is because local governments are able to secure revenues from tax grants received from the central government.Of course, we must admit that tax grants play important roles in maintaining the level of public services for local residents and supporting local economies.But there is still room for improvement. For instance, the central government could reduce the total amount of tax grants by changing its formula for calculating individual local governments' necessary expenditures. It also could increase spending on social security programs in exchange for the wages paid to local government officials being lowered.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is expected to incorporate realizing the trinity reform in his LDP presidential election pledges.Past experiences have proved there will be no progress in tax grant reform as long as the matter is left in the hands of bureaucrats. Lawmakers must not waste time in taking the lead to tackle this problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2003-08-31	YOSHIN0020030901dz8v000e8
YOMSHI0020030831dz910000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030831dz910000c	EN	\N	Restore public trust in N-power.	The Nuclear Safety Commission's annual report, released Friday, particularly focused on two major developments:	8	2003-09-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	- Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s cover-up-which came to light last year-of technical trouble at nuclear power plants.- A high court ruling in January that nullified an earlier government permit to establish the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor.Based on these two events, the white paper concluded that the public has lost confidence in the safety of nuclear power.In the aftermath of the TEPCO scandals, many nuclear power plants had to stop operations, leading to worry among residents and businesses in the metropolitan area over the possibility of serious power shortages.Change industry mindsetTo prevent a recurrence of similar illegalities, the white paper came up with two specific measures. First, utilities should begin a companywide campaign-involving everyone from engineers at nuclear power plants to top executives-to change how they think about safety issues. Second, all efforts to that end should be carried out in a manner transparent to the public.The annual report described TEPCO's cover-up and the resulting developments as "an extremely regrettable case" in more than 40 years of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the country. Everyone in the nuclear power sector is urged to do his or her utmost to restore public trust in nuclear power.The white paper also focused on the ambiguity of some safety regulations, such as the scope of discretion granted on-site operators of a nuclear power plant and the level of obligation to report problems to the government.In the United States and some European countries, specific criteria exist to determine whether a nuclear power reactor can remain operational if a crack is found anywhere in the power generation system. The white paper lamented that the lack of such criteria had resulted in the continuation of operations at nuclear power plants here even after problems were found.Tighten safety regulationsAfter TEPCO's cover-up of the scandals became public knowledge, the Nuclear Safety Commission issued a recommendation to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry (METI) that safety measures be tightened.A dual-checking system is applied to safety regulations concerning nuclear power plants in the country. METI's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency is directly responsible for enforcing regulations, while the Nuclear Safety Commission, which is under the umbrella of the Cabinet Office, keeps an eye on the agency's activities. The commission's recommendation to the agency was the first of its kind since the inauguration of the commission in 1978.METI has consequently acted to strengthen safety regulations by revising relevant laws, including the Electricity Enterprises Law, and tightening on-site inspections. The new safety regime will be in place in October.For its part, the safety commission, which is also to blame for inaction over safety regulations, should translate into action the measures it reflected on in the annual white paper, and strengthen its supervisory functions.For years, criticism has been meted out to the Nuclear Safety Commission for its lack of real expertise in the operation of nuclear power plants. The revision to the relevant laws now enables the commission to beef up its functions and conduct first-hand inspections of the utilities that operate nuclear power plants, a responsibility hitherto borne solely by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.To ensure the safety of nuclear plants and return a sense of safety to society, the nuclear regulatory authorities must become more vigilant and must be fully aware of what is going on at each nuclear power plant.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2003-09-01	YOSHIN0020030901dz910012f
YOMSHI0020030901dz920000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030901dz920000d	EN	\N	Time to debate missile shield.	The nation cannot afford to remain defenseless in the face of this threat, and it is essential that a missile defense system be established.	8	2003-09-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Defense Agency has incorporated 142.3 billion yen into its budgetary appropriation request for fiscal 2004, earmarked to cover the cost of establishing a missile shield.The missile defense screen is a two-stage scheme comprising an Aegis destroyer-based Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) system and a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system. The SM-3 missiles would intercept incoming ballistic missiles in the upper atmosphere, while the ground-based PAC-3 system would destroy any missiles that slipped through the first line of defense before they could hit their targets.The SM-3 was developed by the United States, which will put the system into operation in 2004. The PAC-3 was used in the Iraqi war.If its plan is finalized during the process of putting together the next fiscal budget in December, the Defense Agency hopes to have the system up and running in fiscal 2007.It should be noted, however, that it is a fairly expensive system. The agency expects to spend at least 500 billion yen on it by the end of fiscal 2010, including costs of modifications to its Aegis-equipped destroyers. According to experts, the total outlay for the system could exceed 1 trillion yen, including expenses for the introduction of a command channel and communications system required to receive information from the United States.Rethink on strategy requiredThe introduction of such a costly system as the missile shield must first be the subject of detailed study to ascertain how effectively it would be in defending the nation against a missile attack. The government needs to think about what should be done to improve the nation's military preparedness in line with the changing times. To accomplish this, it is necessary to correct the conventionally heavy emphasis on land-based equipment, while also devising a defense budget that would better serve its purpose.The Defense Agency is studying with the United States what technology will be needed to develop the next-generation SM-3 system. However, experts have said it will probably take several more years to develop the SM-3's successor.Given this, the government should explain to the public how the planned adoption of the SM-3 system is related to the ongoing Japan-U.S. study on the system's successor.There are also numerous legislative issues to be addressed in introducing a missile shield. One key issue is the right to collective self-defense, something the government has long maintained the country has, although the Constitution prohibits the nation from exercising this right.Some opposition parties have expressed concern about a scenario in which Japan and the United States would share information about a ballistic missile launch or intercept a missile while its destination remains unknown. They argue that such an action could be interpreted to mean that Japan had exercised its right to collective self-defense.This line of thinking is argument for the sake of argument. We believe that what is needed is for the government to change its interpretation of the Constitution in relation to the right to collective self-defense.The 10-minute realityA Rodong missile could reach Japan within just 10 minutes of being launched. Under the current legal framework, it would take far too long for the government to issue the order to deploy the missile defense system to intercept an incoming missile.The Cabinet and the Security Council of Japan would have to meet to evaluate the emergency and the prime minister would then have to directly issue an order for the Self-Defense Forces to intercept the missile. If the government had to follow all these time-consuming procedures, it would be impossible to destroy a missile before it hit its target.Some government officials are reportedly considering a plan to ensure that the prime minister is authorized to immediately issue an order for the SDF to go into action if the circumstances meet predefined requirements. They insist the Cabinet empower the prime minister to act freely in the event an emergency has arisen.The Security Council of Japan should fully debate all these issue by the end of the year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	752	2003-09-02	YOSHIN0020030902dz92000kt
YOMSHI0020030902dz930000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030902dz930000c	EN	\N	LDP factions' power waning.	Former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Shizuka Kamei has already expressed his determination to enter the race. Candidates also include former Transport Minister Takao Fujii, a challenger from the LDP faction led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. In addition, former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and former Health and Welfare Minister Yuya Niwa have expressed a willingness to run.	8	2003-09-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The LDP's top position is a passport to the premiership. With its responsibility as the largest ruling party in mind, the LDP must ensure that its forthcoming election is a meaningful race.This requires Koizumi and his challengers to seriously debate policy issues. The prime minister should fully explain his policies. By doing so, Koizumi will be able to show that critics have no reason to label him a "sound bite politician."LDP legislators critical of the prime minister have been particularly harsh on his economic policies designed to promote structural reforms. If they are truly loyal to their beliefs, these LDP members should come clean and tell the people they are opposed to Koizumi, who is highly popular among the public. Koizumi's challengers in the LDP race should state what is wrong with his economic policies, while also listing what should be done to bring the nation's troubled economy back on track.Regrettably, one LDP faction has determined what kind of approach it will take in the upcoming election-it chose to field a person whose candidacy would not split the faction. The faction hardly bothered to think about what kind of policies its candidate should present in campaigning for the election. This attitude should be condemned.Vigorous policy debates neededThe need to improve the economy is not the only task facing the government today. There are many other issues to be addressed, including the declining birthrate combined with the rapid graying of the population, and the medical insurance, pension, nursing care and tax systems. Challenges also include problems related to foreign policy and national security.The candidates should be encouraged to shed light on these issues through policy debates during the election campaign.The anti-Koizumi groups experienced great difficulties in deciding what kind of stance they would adopt toward the presidential election. In stark contrast to the past, LDP factions have found it extremely difficult to bind their members to decisions their leaders make, in what could be described as a "meltdown" of the factions.This can be seen, for example, in the Hashimoto faction, the largest LDP faction. At one time, three members of the faction said they were prepared to run. The faction wasted a great deal of time debating whether to field any candidate until at last it was decided that Fujii would run.Party has chance to chart new courseDespite Fujii's candidacy, most House of Councillors members who belong to the Hashimoto faction do not intend to vote for him. They are poised, in effect, to support Koizumi's reelection bid.For many years, the Hashimoto faction was strongly united. Its members called themselves "comrades of one mind who eat boxed meals of a kind." The pitiful state of affairs surrounding the Hashimoto faction shows that the group is far less united than in the past.The same applies for the faction led by LDP General Council Chairman Mitsuo Horiuchi. Horiuchi has said he will support Koizumi in the upcoming race, but some senior faction members have rebelled against him.The LDP presidential election used to be a battlefield in which each party faction engaged in a bitter contest. It is ironic to see, however, that the upcoming election is serving to show that the LDP factions are rapidly losing their internal cohesion.All this should be seen as a sign that the LDP factions are virtually unable to function as a pivot of the party's management any more.The forthcoming LDP election will provide the party with an excellent opportunity to choose a leader whom voters-the party's lawmakers and rank-and-file members-have determined to be best suited for the party's top position by examining the candidates' policies. By selecting its new leader through that process, we believe the LDP will be able to open a new horizon in its history.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	767	2003-09-03	YOSHIN0020030903dz93000l3
YOMSHI0020030903dz940000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030903dz940000a	EN	\N	Slower trucks, safer highways.	The device, which adjusts the amount of fuel supplied to the engine, makes it impossible for drivers to accelerate beyond 90 kph no matter how hard they step on the accelerator.	12	2003-09-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Subject to the new system are trucks weighing 8 tons or more and those with a load-bearing capacity of at least 5 tons. All newly manufactured trucks are required to have the device installed, while those already in use must install it within three years.The speed limit for large trucks is 80 kph on expressways. As long as truck drivers obey the speed limit, there should be no problem. In fact, however, many truck drivers break the speed limit on a daily basis.According to the Construction and Transport Ministry, large trucks are driven at an average speed of 110 kph on expressways.The new system was introduced against the backdrop of an increasing number of accidents on expressways. Nearly 30 percent of fatal accidents on expressways involve large trucks, and many of them are rear-end collisions due to truck drivers speeding. Following the introduction of the new system, authorities must make sure that not only large trucks, but also all types of vehicles obey the speed limit.Goods distribution system stretchedCurrently, more than 90 percent of cargo in the country is transported by truck. In this regard, trucks are indispensable for the country's economic activities and people's lives.Certainly, time is at a premium for truck drivers, who transport perishable foods and other products from their place of origin to consumers around the country. Therefore, during Diet deliberations on the newly introduced system, some lawmakers pointed out that its negative impact on the economy would outweigh the benefit it would produce in terms of reducing the number of accidents.But the current situation, in which the goods distribution system can only function if truckers break the speed limit, is abnormal.Many drivers must have had the scary experience of being passed at high speed or approached suddenly from behind by a large truck.Speed limiters also are expected to help reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from large trucks.Europe has seen many benefitsThe public demands that close attention be paid to safety and the environment. Keeping this in mind, distribution and transport industries should accept the introduction of the new system as a good opportunity to rebuild the nation's distribution system.European nations started controlling the speed of large trucks by introducing speed limiters from the 1970s to the mid-1990s. In Germany and France, the speed limit for large trucks is set at 90 kph.The introduction of speed limiters in Europe is said to have produced various benefits, such as reducing stress on drivers, improving fuel efficiency, cutting the number of casualties in traffic accidents, and reducing the cost of repairing and maintaining engines, brakes and tires. Therefore, there have been calls in some European countries for the system to be expanded to include medium-sized cars.The Construction and Transport Ministry should closely monitor how transportation flows change following the introduction of the system and take further steps to improve the situation, if necessary.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	572	2003-09-04	YOSHIN0020030904dz94000mj
YOMSHI0020030904dz950000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030904dz950000e	EN	\N	Bar suspicious vessels from ports.	The North Korean cargo-passenger ship Man Gyong Bong-92 entered Niigata-Nishi Port on Thursday. Given that the visit comes only 10 days after the vessel's previous call at the port, many people still feel dissatisfied.	8	2003-09-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After the ship docked at the port, the government carried out a port state control inspection and other onboard inspections.As a result, it was confirmed that four safety shortcomings that the ship was ordered to correct during its last visit have been rectified. The flaws were a lack of evacuation route signs, radio equipment for communications with aircraft, functioning portable fire extinguishers and defects in an exhaust duct in the galley.Because the government confirmed that the problems have been corrected, it will be difficult for the government to refuse to allow the North Korean vessel to enter port next time for safety reasons. This is because of an international rule which stipulates that vessels that have passed safety inspections should not be subjected to another inspection for six months.Ironically, by strictly enforcing the port state control, the government has effectively granted an official guarantee of entry to the Man Gyong Bong.The Man Gyong Bong's visit Thursday marked the ship's third call at the port this year. Until last year, however, the vessel traveled between Japan and North Korea 20 to 30 times a year.Shady pastPublic security authorities say that over the years, the ship has been used to illegally export missile parts from Japan to North Korea and to give instructions to Pyongyang's spies in this country. In addition, it also was discovered to have been involved in various other criminal acts, such as illegally transferring yen to North Korea and smuggling narcotics and stimulant drugs into Japan.However, the safety inspection check is not the only test that is conducted on the Man Gyong Bong. The government must continue to thoroughly examine its cargo and carry out other inspections.North Korea is continuing its nuclear development program in violation of an international agreement, and it still fails to show a sincere attitude to resolve the issue of its abduction of Japanese nationals. Taking these facts into account, it is natural for the government to apply the letter of the law strictly in dealing with such a country. Such an approach will bolster national security.Remain vigilantWhile their attention is focused on the Man Gyong Bong, authorities must not let down their guard regarding irregularities by other North Korean cargo ships. Every year, 1,400 North Korean vessels visit ports around the country.In 2000, the government inspected 12 North Korean ships, of which four were ordered to take corrective measures to bring certain items up to international safety standards.But this year alone, 50 North Korean vessels already have been examined between January and April. Of those, 40 were ordered to make improvements. This increase clearly shows how lenient past inspections have been.It also will be necessary to increase the number of personnel to carry out onboard inspections and port state control checks. In connection with this, the Construction and Transport Ministry made a budgetary request for fiscal 2004 to raise the number of inspectors of foreign vessels, which currently stands at 103 across the country. If necessary, the ministry must review the stationing of such officials.For its part, the Liberal Democratic Party is considering the introduction of a new law to regulate the entry of foreign vessels that might pose a national security threat.The government, too, must start making a strong effort to enact new legislation that would include measures to refuse the entry of such problematic vessels.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2003-09-05	YOSHIN0020030905dz95000j9
YOMSHI0020030905dz960000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030905dz960000e	EN	\N	Govt must face pension reforms.	Following the release Thursday by the Social Security Council of a list of proposals on pension reforms, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi on Friday released his own draft proposal.	8	2003-09-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	How can public distrust in the government-run pension program be dispelled? The challenge of public pension reform lies with this question, because if the younger generation refuses to contribute to the public-run scheme, the pension system, which works on a pay-as-you-go formula, will fall apart immediately.But the proposals put forward by the panel and Sakaguchi do little to dispell the sense of distrust felt by the public.There are two problems with the proposals.The problem of fundingOne of the problems, and the one that launched the call for reform, is how to secure funds for the program. The government currently supplies funds for one-third of the benefits paid to beneficiaries under the national pension plan, which constitutes the basic portion of the public pension program. By law, that percentage is to be raised to 50 percent next year.While this measure is essential in ensuring the sustainability of the system and abating a sense of unfairness felt among generations in terms of burdens and benefits, there has so far been no suggestion whatsoever as to where the extra funds, totalling 2.7 trillion yen, are to come from. Neither the panel's proposals, nor those of Sakaguchi, had any specific proposals.There is no other way to fund the pension plan except to use the consumption tax, a burden that can be spread lightly over all generations, exclusively for this purpose.The nation's political leaders, in fear of an angry reaction from the public, have shied away from dealing with the issue squarely. Such cowardice can be considered an example of the downside of populism.Even Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, despite acknowledging the necessity of discussing the consumption tax in connection with the pension system, has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of raising the tax while he is in office.Should a decision to raise the tax be made, the hike should be implemented only after the economy has recovered to a certain degree. But it is imperative that the prime minister put into motion a process to realize the hike. Should he fail to do so, he should be considered to have failed to fulfill his political responsibilities.Balancing burden and benefitsThe other problem concerns how to balance the benefits and burdens to be shared by the public.Just as the number of people qualifying for pensions is on the rise, the working population, which underpins the pension scheme, is on the decline. The faster Japan's birthrate declines and its society ages, the heavier the working population's burden of supporting the system becomes.The latest proposals call for adopting a new formula whereby an upper limit is set on the premium paid by workers, while the levels of benefits received are adjusted to stay within the limits of the actual revenue the pension fund takes in.The new proposal gives more consideration to working generations, but it still means that over time, the premiums will rise steadily, while benefits will gradually shrink. Younger generations can hardly be expected to fully support such a plan.In pension reform, there probably will not be any optimal solution that will satisfy every generation. The only way it can work, therefore, is for each generation to share the burden. One thing that can be done immediately is to reduce the tax deductions for public pension benefits now lavished on the elderly and divert them to the pension fund.It is also important to make use of the pension reserve fund, which now totals about 147 trillion yen. Sakaguchi suggested in his proposals that the reserve fund be broken into over 95 years, beginning in fiscal 2005, and the funds be used to help pay out benefits.Further studies on the matter are needed to reduce the time frame of breaking into the fund from the 95 years and to contain possible rises in premiums and declines in benefits.Pension reform is an extremely difficult issue to tackle, but it is the task of political leaders to speak frankly about the burdens of maintaining the system and to win public accord.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	751	2003-09-06	YOSHIN0020030906dz96000j3
YOMSHI0020030906dz970000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030906dz970000a	EN	\N	Ease taxes on bad-loan disposal.	In the work of tax system reform, which will get into full swing shortly, one of the focal points is whether to adopt the taxation system designed to help banking institutions dispose of their bad loans.	8	2003-09-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Financial Services Agency has begun approaching the ruling coalition parties and the Finance Ministry by incorporating the idea of a taxation system advantageous to the banks in its requests for tax system reforms.The notion of reforming the tax system to support the beleaguered banks emerged when Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, unveiled the government's financial revitalization program last year. Saying that the banks' equity capital is inflated by so-called "deferred tax assets," and thus is quite fragile, the program calls for rectifying the accounting practices that have led to such a situation.Deferred tax assets are essentially taxes paid in advance that are expected to be refunded when the bank incurs losses, for instance by writing off bad loans resulting from the bankruptcy of corporate borrowers. These deferred tax assets, or potential tax credits, account, on average, for nearly 60 percent of leading banking institutions' core capital.Reliant on deferred assetsThe deferred tax assets have become such a large part of their accounts because the tax authorities do not allow, in principle, banks to treat the disposal of nonperforming loans as losses, forcing them to make a taxable write-off.Even if the banks record their bad loans as losses in their corporate accounting, such loans are not treated as losses in their tax accounting. The sizable inclusion of deferred tax assets in their capital set aside as loan-loss reserves stems from this difference between the banks' corporate and tax accounting practices.In order to correct the fragile nature of the banks' capital base, it is necessary to review the tax system that has led to this precarious state of affairs and to make bold reforms to the system to correct the problem.Tax authorities oppose the introduction of a tax system advantageous to banks exclusively, reasoning that such a system would run counter to the principle of fairness in taxation.Yet banks function as a heart to circulate funds in the body of the Japanese economy, and thus assume a public role. The government's injection of public funds into those banks facing shortages of equity capital is made to protect such functions of the banks.Backdate write-offsIn leading economies abroad, the disposal of nonperforming loans is made in most cases through a non-taxable write-off.Since 1976, U.S. tax authorities have twice allowed tax refunds for banks by allowing them to backdate losses incurred in the present and spread them out over the previous ten years, a system that proved effective in accelerating the pace of bad-loan disposal. Japan should take note of the U.S. experience in this area.In order to hold in check the amount of deferred tax assets in banks, it is necessary to greatly expand the scope of tax-free disposal of bad loans.Allowing banks to claim a tax refund by carrying a loss back to the previous year has not been allowed since fiscal 1992 in Japan, due chiefly to the fiscal plight of the central government. Such choices need to be made available again as soon as possible.Also advisable is further study of the idea of extending the period for banks to deduct their losses from taxable income by allowing them to carry their losses forward to following years.The Industrial Revitalization Corporation, designed to help revive both the financial and industrial sectors, has at long last begun its operations.While stock prices shifted upward, the sentiments of corporate managers have shown signs of improvement lately.We should drastically accelerate the pace of disposal of bad loans that have restrained the national economy and put the issue behind us.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2003-09-07	YOSHIN0020030908dz97000dq
YOMSHI0020030907dz980000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030907dz980000d	EN	\N	Control damage to road map.	Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who many have seen as instrumental to making progress on the U.S.-backed peace plan, submitted his resignation Saturday.	8	2003-09-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Abbas is known as a moderate, someone U.S. President George W. Bush has described as "a man I can work with." His departure is certain to deal a crushing blow to the road map.But the crisis must not be allowed to get even worse. The international community-especially the Palestinian Authority and Israel-must do all it can to overcome the turmoil that now reigns.Arafat bears much of the blameAbbas' resignation was primarily a result of discord with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.For months, Abbas has tried to crack down on Palestinian extremists, as dictated by the road map. However, he has been unable to come up with effective measures to achieve this goal. According to analysts, his failure in this respect can be attributed to Arafat's refusal to hand over the power needed to deal with radical fundamentalists.To make matters worse, Arafat dealt Abbas a stinging rebuff when he appointed an interior minister and other officials responsible for controlling extremists without asking for the prime minister's input. Arafat's move should be condemned for what it was-a foolish attempt to scuttle the fragile peace process.According to reports, Abbas will remain prime minister for about five weeks until a new Palestinian cabinet can be formed. This means Arafat still has some time to defuse the crisis. We hope the Palestinian leader will think hard about what must be done to bring the troubled peace process back on track. One possibility would be for him to reappoint Abbas as prime minister in the new Palestinian cabinet.Israel's actions also questionableQuestions also must be raised about Israel, which acknowledged Abbas as a legitimate negotiator in the peace talks. On Saturday, an Israeli warplane fired missiles in Gaza City, targeting the spiritual leader of the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas. The attack can be seen as a continuation of Israel's avowed intention to assassinate Hamas leaders after Hamas claimed credit for a suicide bomb attack that took place in Jerusalem in August.These military actions only serve to trigger retaliatory acts of terrorism. It is easy to see that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's hard-line policy has dealt a serious blow to Abbas, whose footing in the Palestinian Authority was tenuous to begin with.There is reason to believe that Washington does not want to see the road map collapse after playing an intermediary role in the peace process, since the road map was put together by the United States, with the support of the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.If Washington plans to support the Abbas' approach toward the peace process, now is the time for the U.S. administration to urge Israel to exert self-restraint.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	511	2003-09-08	YOSHIN0020030908dz9800117
YOMSHI0020030908dz990000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030908dz990000c	EN	\N	LDP race a time for debate.	We hope Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his three challengers for the position debate their policies in earnest, setting forth their views about how the country should function. Topics for debate range from the Constitution, the economy, social security systems to national peace and defense.	8	2003-09-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Campaigning for the party presidential election, to be held on Sept. 20, began officially on Monday.Koizumi's bid to win reelection is being challenged by former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Shizuka Kamei, former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and former Transport Minister Takao Fujii.Winning the LDP presidency automatically means gaining a passport to the premiership. The party's top position will bear greater significance this time around in that the winner of the upcoming race will serve in his position for three years, rather than two years as in the past.Time to evaluate Koizumi's recordFirst and foremost, Koizumi and his rivals should debate the progress-or lack of it-that has been made in the prime minister's campaign for structural reforms launched when he first took power in April 2001. Despite a recent rebound in the average stock market level to the 10,000 range, there is yet no sign the economy will soon be brought back on the road to full recovery.In the 2001 presidential race, Koizumi pledged to cap the issuance of new government bonds at 30 trillion yen as a means of applying a tourniquet to hemorrhaging state coffers. However, his belt-tightening financial policy contributed to tax revenue shortfalls. Under the fiscal 2003 budget, his administration had to issue government bonds totaling a massive 36 trillion yen. Faced with the difficulties in preventing a loss in tax revenues, Koizumi has stopped mentioning the 30 trillion yen cap.This unfavorable state of affairs also is true of his promise to transform four highway-related public corporations into private institutions as part of his structural reform drive. It is unclear whether Koizumi will be able to achieve this goal, although he intends to present the next ordinary Diet session with a bill on privatizing the road-related public corporations.Koizumi has stated he will use his policy platform for the LDP race as the party's platform for the next House of Representatives election. However, his campaign platform is less than specific in addressing the issues facing the country.For instance, Koizumi's campaign platform only says that he will promote reforms in various areas, including financial, tax and regulatory systems as well as budget expenditures. It includes no reference to specific prescriptions for the nation's deflationary woes.Initially, the prime minister intended to incorporate into his election platform the goal of ensuring that the economy would grow by more than 2 percent in nominal terms by the end of fiscal 2006. As it turns out, however, he did not include that target in his election promise, largely because his Cabinet has already adopted a similar goal as a basis for his economic management.Policies, gentlemen, pleaseA joint press conference attended by Koizumi and his challengers shortly after announcing their candidacies showed how their policies differed.The prime minister reiterated his position on the economy, saying: "There is no immediate remedy for economic problems. Progress in structural reforms will lead to sustainable growth led by the private sector." Fujii insisted on a review of the land taxation system and other pump-priming measures as a means of ending the ongoing deflation. For their part, Kamei and Komura called for a shift in the focus of the economic management from structural reform to fiscal expansion through efforts to improve the nation's social infrastructure.The lack of specific policies in Koizumi's election platform can also be seen in noneconomic areas, including matters related to the Constitution.Koizumi has instructed LDP Secretary General Taku Yamasaki to put together a draft text that would replace the fundamental law by November 2005, when the LDP will celebrate its 50th anniversary. However, he did not incorporate a constitutional amendment into his election pledge, saying it was difficult to revise the nation's supreme law during his tenure as LDP president.The LDP presidential election provides an excellent opportunity to debate fundamental issues concerning the state, including a reform of the Constitution. Koizumi's three contestants should challenge him to a debate about amending the basic law if he does not bother to take up the issue. Doing so will do much to turn the LDP's presidential election campaign into a meaningful and exciting contest.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	796	2003-09-09	YOSHIN0020030909dz99000jk
YOMSHI0020030909dz9a0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030909dz9a0000d	EN	\N	Bid-rigging ruling makes sense.	The issue of contention before the court was whether the Fair Trade Commission may disclose the content of documents submitted to its hearings held to examine alleged bid-rigging cases concerning public works projects to residents who have filed lawsuits against the companies suspected to have been involved if the residents demand access to the documents.	8	2003-09-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the first ruling of its kind, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision that found that the FTC had no such right.The Antimonopoly Law stipulates that documents submitted to FTC hearings may be disclosed to certain concerned parties upon their request, including local governments that order public works projects and those suspected of engaging in bid-rigging.In line with this clause, the ruling said the information also may be disclosed to residents who file lawsuits in connection with alleged bid-rigging cases when local governments choose not to do so because the residents should be considered concerned parties in that by initiating litigation they assume a position comparable to that of a victim of bid-rigging.By flexibly interpreting a clause in the Local Government Law, the Supreme Court ruled last year that there is no time limit for residents to demand the disclosure of information concerning alleged bid-rigging of public works projects. The law previously had been interpreted to mean that residents must file requests for documents relating to suspected bid-rigging cases within a year after a contract is signed.Decision will encourage transparencyFollowing this trend in the court's thinking, the latest ruling can be said to be aimed at preventing bid-rigging practices and promoting information disclosure. In this respect, the ruling is expected to encourage residents to file more suits over bid-rigging cases in the future.Tuesday's ruling concerned a suspected bid-rigging case exposed by the FTC in which a public works contract was awarded for the construction of large-scale garbage incinerators.In 1999, the FTC ordered five firms to stop alleged bid-rigging practices related to contracts they won from local governments to build 60 large incinerators. However, the companies denied the allegations, and the case still is under examination in FTC hearings.Residents in Tokyo and other prefectures subsequently filed suits against the companies suspected of bid-rigging, seeking compensation for damages from the firms. In connection with the case, the FTC already had decided to disclose documents submitted to its hearings in response to the residents' requests.Dissatisfied with the FTC's decision, the companies filed an administrative lawsuit demanding that the FTC reverse its decision. The district court upheld the FTC's right to disclose the documents in question, but the high court overturned the decision.Local govts should fulfill their dutiesThere are always difficulties involved in lawsuits filed by residents over bid-rigging cases because the residents are required to prove that businesses have acted illegally and to state to the court the amount of damages allegedly incurred. However, because bid-rigging is conducted behind closed doors, it is hard to gather evidence proving that it took place.In connection with the bid-rigging case in question, 15 lawsuits filed by residents around the country are still pending in the court. The Supreme Court ruling, therefore, will pave the way for residents involved in other suits to obtain documents submitted to FTC hearings. The ruling also is expected to have a significant impact on 25 other bid-rigging lawsuits filed by other groups of residents seeking compensation from businesses suspected of bid-rigging.The revision last year to the Local Government Law only granted local governments the entitlement to seek compensation from businesses that have engaged in bid-rigging. Therefore, residents now have to sue local governments to force them to take such companies to court.But when companies suspected of bid-rigging deny such allegations, many local governments are reluctant to file lawsuits against them or take any other effective measures to solve the problem.In this respect, the Supreme Court ruling will help local governments more aware of their responsibilities and give them a chance to take action swiftly to stamp out bid-rigging.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	730	2003-09-10	YOSHIN0020030911dz9a0003i
YOMSHI0020030910dz9b0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030910dz9b0000b	EN	\N	Factional politicking outmoded.	Hiromu Nonaka, an influential member of the LDP faction headed by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto who held such key party posts as secretary general, on Tuesday announced his intention to retire from politics, saying he would not run in the next election.	12	2003-09-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the party leadership race, Nonaka supports former Transport Minister Takao Fujii, one of three candidates challenging Koizumi. But his anti-Koizumi campaign was hamstrung when Mikio Aoki, who heads the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors, and other members of the Hashimoto faction declared their support for Koizumi in the party presidential election, effectively splitting the party's largest faction. Under such circumstances, Nonaka was unable to prevent his influence in the party from declining.Taking into account his age, the 77-year-old Nonaka seems to have realized he has no future in politics.The waning of the Hashimoto faction, which had boasted of its "iron unity" since the days when it was led by late former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, demonstrates that the LDP's time-honored faction-led political style has reached an impasse.The incident also showed that it has become an urgent task for the LDP to build a new system. This is the LDP's responsibility as a ruling party.The footsteps Nonaka has left on the political landscape attest to the clout he has wielded. He battled Jiyuto (Liberal Party) leader Ichiro Ozawa, with whom he parted ways following the breakup of the faction led by late former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, and he suppressed the rebellion led by former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato, who attempted to wrest power from then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.Electoral reform undermined factionsBolstered by support from the LDP's largest faction, Nonaka accumulated power and played a leadership role in the party. His first defeat came when Hashimoto, whom Nonaka supported, was beaten by Koizumi in the LDP presidential election held following Mori's resignation.In the so-called 1955 political framework, under which the LDP and the leading opposition party, the Japan Socialist Party, dominated politics, LDP members were united under faction leaders who aimed for the premiership.In the conventional faction system, cabinet and party posts were divvied up among faction leaders, who in turn allocated them to their subordinates. In elections, faction leaders supported their subordinates, raising political funds and channeling them to individual members. At the same time, power struggles among LDP factions helped galvanize the party.In the single-seat constituency system, however, LDP candidates from different factions no longer compete against each other as they used to do in the multiseat electoral system. In addition, individual LDP members began to receive more money from governmental grants to political parties than they received from the factions they belonged to.Furthermore, under the Koizumi government, cabinet posts have been allocated to party members regardless of their factional affiliation. Given this, LDP factions have gradually been losing their function of winning and distributing cabinet and party posts.Debate lacking on new systemNevertheless, we wonder why no candidates in the party leadership race have yet raised the issue of establishing a new system to take the place of the LDP's malfunctioning, antiquated, faction-led politicking.Koizumi and former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Shizuka Kamei touched upon the need to reform the party in their campaign pledges for the presidential competition.But the prime minister, who has declared his willingness to "destroy" the party, if necessary, to reform it, failed to make substantive pledges, merely saying he would "reform the party with the aim of making politics trustworthy."For his part, Kamei criticized Koizumi for his attempt to destroy the party while lacking a philosophy or goals. Though Kamei urges turning the LDP into a party that sincerely serves the people's interests, he also failed to present concrete measures to achieve this target.We believe it is necessary for the candidates to initiate debates on party reform during the presidential race.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	693	2003-09-11	YOSHIN0020030911dz9b000li
YOMSHI0020030911dz9c0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030911dz9c0000e	EN	\N	Tepid debate on economic issues.	The four candidates expressed their opinions on key issues in a debate held at the Japan National Press Club on Thursday.	8	2003-09-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On economic policy, the biggest issue, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated his position. "I will carry structural reforms forward and promote sustainable economic development led by the private sector," he said.However, his three rivals-former Transport Minister Takao Fujii, former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Shizuka Kamei and former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura-called for a shift toward a more open-handed fiscal policy.Fujii said the land-related tax system should be reviewed, while Kamei and Komura saw a need for increasing spending on public works.As Koizumi pointed out, there are signs of an economic recovery, as indicated by an upturn in capital investment in the private sector. The gross domestic product for the April-June quarter grew by 1 percent from the previous quarter, with the growth rate on an annualized basis revised upward from 2.3 percent to 3.9 percent.Dependence on external demandYet, the economy remains too dependent on external demand, and deflation has not been defeated.According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey of 100 leading companies, not one firm said the economy was on its way to a full-fledged recovery. The sense of alarm over the economy has not been eradicated.Komura said, "As the economy shows signs of an upturn now, it is time to drag it onto a full recovery track by implementing economic stimulus measures as insurance." He has hit the nail on the head.Koizumi must offer concrete measures to fight deflation now. The other candidates also need to present their ideas concerning the scale of a supplementary budget and specific measures to boost the economy.Another focus of the debate was on the shape of the social security system and how to finance it.Consumption tax hike neededWith regard to financing the system, the three lawmakers challenging Koizumi for the top LDP post made it clear that they would study a possible hike in the consumption tax.Fujii and Kamei said the consumption tax should be reserved for welfare-related spending.Koizumi must be taken to task for his stance on the issue of financing the social security system.While acknowledging the need for discussing a consumption tax hike, Koizumi once again ruled out any increase while he is prime minister. He said a future prime minister would have to decide on this issue.Most people hope the government will reform the social security system and come up with a plan to fund the system to dispel their post-retirement anxieties. It is for this reason that a majority of people responding to the recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey approved of a consumption tax hike.Fujii and Komura cannot be faulted for criticizing Koizumi's position on the consumption tax hike. They called him irresponsible and said he was sidestepping the issue.During the debate, however, the three challengers did not present their own measures.The candidates should delve more deeply into the issues of how to reform the social security system and when and by how much to raise the consumption tax.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2003-09-12	YOSHIN0020030912dz9c000k6
YOMSHI0020030912dz9d0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030912dz9d0000e	EN	\N	Don't relax until full recovery.	In its monthly economic report for September, the government said "the economy is moving toward an incipient recovery," a more promising economic assessment than that made the previous month in which it said the economy "remains essentially flat."	8	2003-09-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The brighter assessment was due chiefly to an upward revision, made earlier this week, of the real growth in the gross domestic product for the April-June quarter from 2.3 percent in a preliminary report to 3.9 percent on an annualized basis.On the other hand, deflation has yet to be conquered. The deflator, which indicates the overall trend in prices, dropped 2.5 percent in the April-June period compared to the corresponding period last year. However, the basis for recovery remains weak.The government must take all measures to ensure a full economic recovery. It cannot afford to relax.It also needs to pay extra attention to such trends as the rise in long-term interest rates, which may apply the brakes on the recovery.Repurchasing government bondsLong-term interest rates have soared almost fourfold in the past three months as a result of plunges in the government bond market, in line with the upturn in the stock prices, after the rates hit a record low in mid-June.As a result, the base lending rate of the Housing Loan Corporation and the preferential interest rate for companies have risen. This means that housing starts and corporate capital investment will be dampened.The Bank of Japan has begun studying the possibility of extending the period for repurchasing government bonds, a system under which it purchases government bonds from financial institutions on condition that they would be repurchased by the financial institutions after a certain period. It is also continuing its monetary easing policy.In addition, the central bank must try to prevent excessive upturns in the long-term interest rate by increasing outright purchases of long-term government bonds and taking other measures.Market intervention necessaryIf the yen's value against the dollar appreciates too rapidly, export-oriented businesses will suffer. The government and the central bank must continue to intervene in the market to ensure this does not happen.When the economy was about to recover in 1996, the administration of then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto launched a fiscal structural reform program. His belt-tightening policy, which included hikes in social insurance premiums and in medical fees borne by the insured, brought the incipient recovery to a sudden halt.What remains fresh in our memory is that the economy at that time was later rocked by the Asian financial crisis, coupled with the financial crisis at home, including the bankruptcies of Yamaichi Securities Co. and Hokkaido Takushoku Bank.In this sense, the central bank made a mistake in August 2000 when it lifted its policy of guiding to zero the unsecured overnight call money rate, in spite of opposition from the government and business circles. This prolonged the recession.The government and the central bank must avoid such mistakes in future policymaking.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	534	2003-09-13	YOSHIN0020030913dz9d000if
YOMSHI0020030913dz9e0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030913dz9e0000f	EN	\N	Firm stance needed on Iran.	The latest resolution urged Iran to disclose all details of its nuclear program by the end of October. The 35-member board had every reason to make such a request.	8	2003-09-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Iranian representatives, however, walked out of the meeting to express their displeasure over the resolution. They went so far as to say that their government might review its relations with the IAEA.The Iranian attitude should be regarded as a challenge to the international community's due concerns.For months, the international community has strongly urged Iran to clear up question marks over its nuclear program. However, it is suspected that Tehran is continuing to develop nuclear arms. It is all too easy to tell which party is at fault.Friday's resolution came after the IAEA board urged Iran to help resolve the dispute in June. At that time, the IAEA put together a chairman's summary report outlining a proposed protocol granting the nuclear watchdog the right to conduct unannounced nuclear inspections in Iran.Tehran showed a willingness to cooperate with the IAEA in this respect. Indeed, the Iranian government said that it would start talks aimed at signing the proposed protocol.Revelations fan suspicionsHowever, the international community has since become even more suspicious of Tehran's nuclear ambitions following various revelations that could discredit its seemingly cooperative attitude.IAEA inspections have detected traces of highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium at an Iranian nuclear facility. Tehran sought to convince the IAEA that its nuclear program was designed to serve civilian purposes, insisting that the facility in question was contaminated with enriched uranium from imported equipment.Iran also had to take back its assertion that it had never conducted uranium conversion tests after the IAEA reported finding traces of evidence that such an experiment had been carried out at another nuclear facility in that nation. Tehran's unreported uranium conversion testing was an unmistakable violation of the IAEA nuclear inspection treaty.These developments, combined with Iran's inadequate and inconsistent explanations of its nuclear program, gravely undermine international trust in that country.Other nations have good reason to conclude that Iran's assertions cannot be taken on faith.Nothing to hide?If Tehran has only peaceful goals for its nuclear program, it has nothing to hide. The Iranian government should meet the deadline set by the IAEA board and disclose its nuclear program in its entirety.This should be complemented by Iranian efforts to sign, ratify and implement the additional protocol as soon as possible. Tehran has demanded that the IAEA ensure the protocol would not violate Iranian sovereignty. However, Iran can hardly justify such demands, given that the protocol is in effect in more than 30 IAEA member nations, including Japan.Iran also should take to heart that the IAEA members who submitted the latest resolution included Japan and European nations, all of which have maintained relatively favorable relations with that country. Tehran should not be mistaken about the international community's determination to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.Japan relies on Iran for about 10 percent of its oil imports. However, given the severity of the dispute over Iran's suspected nuclear program, the government should take a resolute attitude on this issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2003-09-14	YOSHIN0020030916dz9e000e6
YOMSHI0020030914dz9f0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030914dz9f0000b	EN	\N	Candidates must speak to issues.	There are many matters of critical importance to Japan, but two of the most difficult are the country's role in helping rehabilitate a war-torn Iraq and the various thorny issues facing Japan and North Korea.	8	2003-09-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his three challengers are divided over whether the government should send Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq. Koizumi and former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura are willing to see SDF members dispatched on an Iraq mission. "(Japan) should not hesitate to extend support for Iraq's rehabilitation," the prime minister has said.Komura has echoed this sentiment, saying: "Iraq's stability and rehabilitation are in the interests of Japan. (This nation's Iraq mission) is best fulfilled by the SDF in that SDF personnel are equipped to defend themselves (during work in Iraq)." The former foreign minister is absolutely correct in these remarks.Former Transport Minister Takao Fujii, however, is cautious about sending SDF troops to Iraq under current circumstances. "The current Iraq situation is unfavorable for an SDF mission to that country," he has said.Iraq mission an obligationIt is more disturbing to note that former LDP chief policymaker Shizuka Kamei is not in favor of dispatching SDF personnel to Iraq. He has said, "A special law on Iraq's reconstruction won't work," even though he voted in favor of such special legislation as an LDP lawmaker. Given this, his attitude can only be seen as inconsistent.Kamei has stated that he regards the Japan-U.S. alliance as a key element of this nation's foreign policy. In light of his statement on Iraq, this raises the question of whether Japan can maintain that alliance if it refuses to send SDF members to Iraq. Kamei must clarify his stand on this issue.It should be noted that Japan's involvement in Iraq's rehabilitation would come as part of a coordinated global effort to help Iraqis rebuild their tattered nation. Taking that into consideration, Japan has every reason to play a role in this global mission.Clarify stance on N. Korea issuesThe four candidates are no less evasive when it comes to how Japan should react to North Korea. This can be seen in their arguments for and against possible economic sanctions against Pyongyang.The prime minister has not mentioned economic sanctions against North Korea, while Kamei has emphasized the need to consider implementing such measures as a means of helping resolve the dispute over Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea. "Japan should do what it must on its own. Measures should include economic sanctions," Kamei has said.Fujii has said, "Economic sanctions can be used as a bargaining chip for negotiations with a sovereign state."Komura has acknowledged the need to consider legislative and punitive actions against North Korea, but has also said, "I don't think now is the appropriate time (to take such steps)."But none of Koizumi's challengers has listed specific measures that might be taken to punish North Korea economically.Do the economic sanctions proposed by Kamei and Fujii mean a ban on the remittance of money from Japan to North Korea under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law? Do their proposals include taking legislative steps to impose restrictions on foreign ships seeking to enter Japanese ports if they pose a security threat to this country? The candidates must be more clear on this topic.Questions should also be raised about just how much Japan would be able to accomplish if it were the only nation to implement economic sanctions against North Korea. The four candidates must state their opinions on specific issues related to possible sanctions against the reclusive state.To overcome the current gridlock in North Korean issues, Japan should work with other nations to exert pressure on Pyongyang.The four contenders must debate specific strategies for resolving the difficult issues between Japan and North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	691	2003-09-15	YOSHIN0020030916dz9f000z2
YOMSHI0020030916dz9h0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030916dz9h0000f	EN	\N	N. Korea-related issues highlight state's role.	In the summit meeting a year ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il apologized to Koizumi for North Korea's abduction of Japanese, acknowledging for the first time that Pyongyang was responsible for the kidnappings. Subsequently, five abductees returned to Japan from North Korea. However, Pyongyang has yet to allow eight family members of the former abductees to come to Japan.	4	2003-09-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The abductions were criminal acts comitted by a terrorist state that violated human rights and this nation's sovereignty. It is a state's responsibility to protect people's lives and property. There is a deepening understanding among the public about matters of course-that only the state can protect abductees' human rights, and that the abduction issue cannot be resolved without the state.Japan will not normalize ties with North Korea before the abduction issue is settled and North Korea has abandoned its nuclear development program. The government must demand that North Korea not only hand over family members of the five former abductees, but also clarify what happened to other Japanese who have been kidnapped by North Korean agents.Threat becoming apparentIt was later revealed that North Korea had continued its nuclear development program in violation of the 1994 Agreed Framework pact between Washington and Pyongyang and other international accords. The country also continues to boost the deployment of Rodong missiles, which are capable of hitting Japan.The Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, which was signed by Japanese and North Korean leaders, clearly stated that both countries would abide by all international agreements concerning nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula. But the spirit of the declaration has already been violated.People in this country have started to share the understanding that North Korea, a despotic state, is a serious threat to Japan's peace and security.Contingency legislation was passed through the Diet with the support of about 90 percent of lawmakers, including those belonging to Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan). The rising awareness of security issues among the public helped secure the legislation's passage.In addition, people in this country have started to more deeply recognize that the Japan-U.S. alliance is indispensable to addressing the threat posed by North Korea. We believe this is why many people threw their support behind Koizumi's decision to back the United States in the Iraq war and why the special law to send Self-Defense Forces to help reconstruct Iraq was passed through the Diet without delay.Enact necessary lawsIt is natural for the government to use both dialogue and pressure in dealing with North Korea. Two pressure tactics were the government's decisions to levy taxes on facilities related to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and to conduct safety inspections on the North Korea passenger-cargo ship Man Gyong Bong-92 by strictly applying the law.In putting pressure on North Korea, it is essential to take coordinated steps with the international community. Japan played a central role in the recent Pacific Protector joint exercise in the Coral Sea off Gladstone, Australia, in which Australia, France and the United States also participated. The four countries plan to invite China, Russia and South Korea to take part in the drills in the future with the aim of strengthening the encircling net around North Korea.Economic sanctions against North Korea might be broached in the future, depending on the development of Tokyo-Pyongyang negotiations.For its part, the Liberal Democratic Party is planning a bill to revise the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law to crack down on illegal money transfers. In addition, some lawmakers are considering a bill to tighten controls on port calls by specific vessels. The government must expedite efforts to establish necessary legislation.A system for dealing with Pyongyang should be developed by enacting laws so that necessary action can be taken at any time. This will bring more pressure to bear on North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	724	2003-09-17	YOSHIN0020030917dz9h000iq
YOMSHI0020030917dz9i0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030917dz9i0000h	EN	\N	Get down to nitty-gritty of constitutional revision.	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his three rival candidates agree that Article 9 of the Constitution should be amended to enable Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense and to stipulate that this nation may cooperate with the international community in peacekeeping efforts.	4	2003-09-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Candidates in past LDP presidential races have called for the Constitution to be revised. Since the LDP advocates constitutional revision in its party platform, such calls are only natural.But this is the first time that all the candidates have spelled out what form constitutional amendment should take. The latest development also is unprecedented in light of debates to date on constitutional revision. This trend should be further promoted in the days ahead.Before the LDP presidential race officially kicked off, Koizumi suggested a specific date for the party to come up with a draft for constitutional revision-2005, when the LDP will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its foundation.After the presidential election was officially announced, Koizumi pointed out that under Article 9, the Self-Defense Forces are not considered to be military forces, and that the nation may not maintain land, sea or air forces, or other war potential. He asserted that the nation's right to exercise collective self-defense and that the SDF constitutes a military be stipulated in the Constitution.Suprapartisan debate neededFormer LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Shizuka Kamei, one of the candidates in the forthcoming poll, says the party should come up with a draft for constitutional revision within two years, and that a national referendum should be conducted on such a revision within three years.Another candidate, former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, calls for deleting Section 2 of Article 9, which stipulates that the nation will not maintain any military forces or other war potential. He emphasized that the time is ripe for such an amendment.The fourth candidate, former Transport Minister Takao Fujii also says that Article 9 is ambiguous and emphasizes the need to have the nation's right to extend international cooperation stipulated in the Constitution.Given that the approval of more than two-thirds of the Diet members is needed for constitutional amendment to be proposed at the Diet, it is essential for lawmakers to cooperate across party lines.Koizumi should stop waveringThe general election that is expected to be held in November will offer a good opportunity for parties to hold discussions that will add momentum to moves for constitutional amendment.But the stance of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which is slated to merge with Jiyuto (Liberal Party) shortly, is questionable.Minshuto reportedly has no plans to broach the constitutional issue in its campaign pledges for the general election, probably because within the party, chiefly among former Japan Socialist Party members, there is strong opposition to amending the Constitution.However, Minshuto leader Naoto Kan has said that if the nation's top law is out of sync with the times, efforts should be made to revise it through democratic procedures.Former Minshuto leader Yukio Hatoyama also has said that the Constitution should refer to the SDF as a military.Jiyuto leader Ichiro Ozawa has released a draft plan that calls for a third section to be added to Article 9 that clearly states that the nation may exercise the right to collective self-defense and maintain a military.Constitutional revision means creating a template for the shape the nation should take that reflects current realities. It is wrong for a party that aims to take over the reins of power to block moves to chart the nation's future course.Also open to question is Koizumi's stance.Claiming he will be preoccupied with other important issues if he is reelected as party president, Koizumi said he would neither make constitutional revision a priority task for a new cabinet while he is in office, nor include it in his campaign pledges for the general election. As long as Koizumi takes this tack, movement toward constitutional revision may run out of steam.In the general election, parties should debate what specific routes could be taken toward revising the Constitution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2003-09-18	YOSHIN0020030918dz9i000jq
YOMSHI0020030918dz9j0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030918dz9j0000g	EN	\N	Take measures to stem decline in land prices.	According to the annual survey by Construction and Transport Ministry, the average price of land in both residential and commercial areas in the year ending on July 1 declined for the 12th straight year. Moreover, the decline in land prices is expanding.	4	2003-09-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Recently, there have been signs of improvement in some economic indicators and the government is taking a more optimistic view of the economy.However, if land prices continue to decline, the economy will remain stuck in its deflationary quagmire.The government and the Bank of Japan must end this pitiful state of affairs by making an all-out effort to stem the fall in land prices by stimulating demand for land.Land prices in commercial areas declined 7.4 percent, compared to a year-on-year drop of 7.2 percent the previous year and a fall of 6.6 percent posted in 2001. In residential areas, the respective declines were 4.8 percent, 4.3 percent and 3.3 percent.Many prefectures hit hardThe rate of decline is particularly serious in regions outside the metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. In what seems to be a reflection of the dismal state of regional economies, an increasing number of prefectures have seen the decline of commercial land prices enter double-digit territory.In the Tokyo metropolitan area, there are an increasing number of districts where land prices went up or leveled off. Nevertheless, the average decline in both commercial and residential land prices remains above 5 percent.Desite the continuing decline in land prices, a movement is afoot to make landholdings more burdensome. A new corporate accounting formula, scheduled to be introduced in fiscal 2005, will oblige businesses to include as appraisal losses in their earnings reports the losses incurred from booking large-margin declines-about 50 percent or so-in the market prices of their fixed assets.Fearing that their losses would expand because of declines in their fixed assets, businesses might be tempted to expedite disposal of their land. If some kind of action is not taken, this would accelerate the decline in land prices. The government needs to reexamine its plan to introduce its new corporate accounting formula.Reduce tax burdensThe government also needs to review the current structure of fixed-asset taxes, which have often been criticized for imposing an excessively heavy burden. It also needs to reduce the tax on income earned through the transfer of land, so as to promote the purchase and sale of land.To increase housing starts, the current system of providing tax breaks for housing loans should be maintained, not reduced as is planned. The government also should implement urban renewal projects that enhance the convenience and profitability of land.However, fighting deflation is of paramount importance and the government and Bank of Japan must do their best in this regard. Obviously, this means a change in policies.The government should compile a budget to stimulate the economy and the central bank needs to work out measures within its monetary policies to ensure that prices increase to a certain degree. These steps would help stem the decline in land prices.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2003-09-19	YOSHIN0020030919dz9j000jh
YOMSHI0020030919dz9k0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030919dz9k0000f	EN	\N	Listing of good colleges step in right direction.	The ministry has unveiled a list of colleges and universities that will receive subsidies for their excellent educational programs. This is the first time the ministry has taken this kind of action.	4	2003-09-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For years, there have been complaints that many colleges and universities are not doing enough to educate students. This state of affairs partly reflects a tendency among teachers at these institutions to devote themselves primarily to the pursuit of academic interests, as well as the business world's inclination to look down upon university education.However, an increasing number of corporations want to see college students better educated, largely because they feel there is a limit to what corporate training can do to improve the skills and expertise of employees.Meanwhile, educators are finding it increasingly difficult to teach students in the manner that they once did when they defined colleges and universities as institutions in which students were supposed to pursue academic activities on their own. However, changes have taken place in the perception of students about the real meaning of a good education.Assortment of coursesColleges and universities will not be able to fulfill their duties as institutions of higher learning if they fail to properly teach students. The ministry's latest support program should serve initially to encourage colleges and universities to reform their education programs.The universities selected under the ministry's support program are promoting an assortment of courses that have distinctive features. For instance, one university has incorporated part of its postgraduate advanced studies into its general education courses for first-and second-year students. Another university attaches greater importance to work-study programs at corporations and other entities as a means of motivating students to study harder.One university allows students to attend a wide range of courses offered by different faculties, and a junior college is trying to survive by giving students intensive courses in foreign languages.The diversity of the education programs at the selected universities shows the different academic levels of their students and the role society wants to see each school play.Each university and college faces the important task of informing the public what it is trying to accomplish through its education program, while also exercising ingenuity in providing lessons that fit educational goals. Doing so will help students preparing for entrance tests to determine which university they should enter, by examining the quality of each school's education program-not through test scores or the prestige of each school.Applications difficult to assessWith the aim of applying for subsidies under the ministry's support program, many colleges and universities have reexamined the courses offered by their faculties. This kind of effort deserves credit.For years, most institutions of higher learning have left it up to the teachers to determine how to teach their students, instead of setting clear goals for their education programs as a whole. This should be regarded as a shortcoming of the nation's university education.Compilation of the list of selected colleges and universities is the result of the assessment of applications submitted by institutions of higher learning since last year. Close to 300 researchers have worked to assess the education programs at these institutions.However, critics are correct in pointing to the difficulties experienced by these researchers in examining the applications for subsidies for programs of different disciplines at the same time.With this in mind, the ministry should work to ensure that the screening method is better accepted by colleges and universities. Necessary steps include creating standards for assessment, accumulating data to be used in the screening process and examining results gained from education programs financed by the ministry.The courses selected under the support program include many pioneering projects. The task facing the ministry, colleges and universities is to consider how to take advantage of these courses in improving the quality of lessons.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	714	2003-09-20	YOSHIN0020030920dz9k000jh
YOMSHI0020030920dz9l0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030920dz9l0000e	EN	\N	Koizumi must help LDP find its footing.	However, 46 percent of LDP lawmakers voted in favor of Koizumi's three opponents in Saturday's presidential race. The prime minister should take this number to heart.	4	2003-09-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The major focus of the LDP race was on Koizumi's structural reform campaign and economic policy. During the election campaign, Koizumi insisted that pursuit of his structural reform goals came first, reiterating that "no economic growth will be possible without reforms." His challengers emphasized the need to shift the focus of economic management from reform to economic recovery.Their calls for a shift in the government's economic policy were not echoed only by anti-Koizumi LDP legislators. The sentiment was shared by many LDP leaders and members who supported Koizumi in the presidential race, including party General Council Chairman Mitsuo Horiuchi and Mikio Aoki, secretary general of the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors. LDP lawmakers seeking a change in the government's economic policy comprise more than half of the party members in both chambers of the Diet.Koizumi garnered an impressive 68 percent of the votes allocated to rank-and-file LDP members nationwide. According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, however, one of the things pro-LDP voters want the government to do is improve the economy.This shows that there is a large gap between the strong popular support received by Koizumi and the policies they want him to implement.During a press conference held shortly after his victory, Koizumi commented on reshuffling the LDP's top echelon and the Cabinet, saying, "I'll close ranks (among various LDP groups) by thinking about how to maintain the balance (of power) within the party."Koizumi should listen to criticsIf he is true to his own promise, Koizumi will listen to opinions critical of his economic policy and to calls for a shift in the focus of his economic management.The prime minister also said, "It's important for the LDP as one of the parties in power to earn support and trust from many people in the next general election." To accomplish this goal, Koizumi should respond to calls demanding he change his economic policy.For junior Diet members, winning reelection in parliamentary elections is usually a high priority when it comes to determining how they should behave as politicians. Meanwhile, middle ranking and experienced lawmakers tend to consider first and foremost how to achieve ministerial and other important positions.Prior to the start of the presidential election campaign, Koizumi determined that his reelection as LDP leader would be immediately followed by a Cabinet reshuffle and a House of Representatives general election. Koizumi's overwhelming victory in Saturday's race may be proof that his clever strategy, taking advantage of LDP lawmakers' desires for parliamentary seats and important posts, was a success.Koizumi's victory also signified that many junior LDP lawmakers and party upper house members chose him as a symbolic icon of their party for the upcoming general election. Prior to Saturday's race, Aoki formed a pro-Koizumi group with 40 upper house members belonging to the LDP faction led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. This served as a prelude to Koizumi's sweeping victory in the presidential election.It should be noted, however, that many LDP members turned a blind eye to their differences with Koizumi over policy when they picked him as their election figurehead. This partly explains why the latest LDP race saw no heated policy debates among Koizumi and his challengers.Victory highlights LDP changesKoizumi's victory has highlighted the changes taking place in how the LDP operates. For instance, the Hashimoto faction, the largest of all LDP groups, did not function in the manner it did in the past, when it was a key player in the choice of LDP president. The change in the LDP's mechanism was also symbolized by former party Secretary General Hiromu Nonaka's announcement that he would quit politics. The intramural schism in the Hashimoto faction over Koizumi's reelection bid forced Nonaka to decide not to run in the next general election.LDP factions have been losing power as organs charged with raising political funds and distributing the money among faction members. This is a result of the current electoral formula combining single seat constituencies with the proportional representation system, which was adopted for the lower house.In addition, the Koizumi administration has ended the long-running practice of taking recommendations from each LDP faction on who to appoint to the cabinet.All this means that the LDP is finding it impossible to function as a party in power on the strength of factional struggles for power.The LDP remains unsure about what approach it should take as a ruling party. Koizumi must play a responsible role in establishing a new approach to be pursued by the LDP.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	846	2003-09-21	YOSHIN0020030922dz9l001s2
YOMSHI0020030921dz9m00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030921dz9m00007	EN	\N	Koizumi chooses youth over experience.	Koizumi, who was reelected as LDP president Saturday, will reshuffle his Cabinet on Monday. In the shake-up of the party leadership that will be followed by the Cabinet personnel change, the newly elected LDP leader picked Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe as secretary general of the party.	4	2003-09-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A junior party member who has been elected to the House of Representatives only three times, Abe has no experience as a cabinet minister and is inexperienced in party affairs. At 49, he will be the second youngest LDP secretary general, after former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka and Jiyuto (Liberal Party) leader Ichiro Ozawa, who assumed the post at the age of 47. In addition, he will be the first party secretary general to hail from the same faction as the party president since Kunikichi Saito in the Cabinet of the late Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira. Koizumi left the faction of Yoshiro Mori, to which Abe belongs, when he became prime minister.Given all these factors, Abe's appointment was extremely unusual.Above all, the surprising appointment is believed to have been made to insure the party's success in the general election, which is expected to be held as early as November.Yamasaki switched overMany LDP members said it would be impossible for Secretary General Taku Yamasaki, who is under fire over alleged sex scandals, to steer the party to victory in the next general election. Koizumi decided to name Yamasaki as the party's vice president and appoint Abe, who is held in high esteem by the public for his clear-cut statements concerning the abduction of Japanese by North Korean agents, to the LDP's No. 2 post as the "party's face" in the upcoming election. However, his ability to serve as secretary general is unknown.Mikio Aoki, who heads the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors, and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori strongly urged Koizumi to replace Yamasaki in the LDP leadership reshuffle. With these appointments, the prime minister managed to keep the unity of the so-called "new mainstream factions"-factions that have abandoned their anti-Koizumi positions to support him in the presidential race-by complying with demands from Aoki while saving face for Yamasaki at the same time.It also can be inferred that Koizumi intends to retain long-time ally Yamasaki, as a pipeline between the government and the ruling party and to serve as a mentor to Abe. Besides, the prime minister appears to intend to restore the relationship between the party and the Cabinet, which has been in discord, in order to establish a system under which he could smoothly implement policies he is aiming at.Likewise, Koizumi named acting Secretary General Fukushiro Nukaga, to whom Aoki is a mentor, as LDP Policy Research Council chairman, and retained Mitsuo Horiuchi, chairman of the party's decision-making General Council, apparently in consideration of Aoki and Horiuchi, who played decisive roles in Koizumi's victory in the LDP leadership race. As a whole, the new mainstream factions will take the lead in managing the party under the new system.Cabinet picks must be capableThe general election can determine the fate of a political party. In this regard, it is natural for the prime minister, who also heads the LDP, to make party leadership appointments with due respect to the general election.However, as for reshuffling the Cabinet, which is responsible for implementing policies, the prime minister must not make personnel appointments on such a basis. He must pick members who will be able to overcome crises both at home and abroad.Posts that need special attention are those of economy-related ministers. The most urgent task for the new Koizumi cabinet is to implement policies that would lead to the full-fledged recovery of the economy.Now that the economy has begun showing signs of a recovery, the government must put it on a recovery track using all possible policies to try to expand domestic demand.The choice of foreign minister also is important because of contentious issues concerning North Korea and Iraq. There are a number of other problems that need to be addressed, including education reform, the "trinity" decentralization reform aimed at transferring administrative powers from the central government to local governments and the reform of the social security system. The source of revenues for the social security reform, which could take the form of a consumption tax hike, is the focus of debate.The new Koizumi cabinet will need not only slogans but also strong members with the ability to implement policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	804	2003-09-22	YOSHIN0020030922dz9m002gv
YOMSHI0020030922dz9n0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030922dz9n0000d	EN	\N	Koizumi sticks to guns in cabinet reshuffle.	The nation is beset by a number of difficult problems-the reconstruction of the economy, the North Korean issue, the situation in Iraq, foreign policy and security. In addition, a number of reforms are on the books including reforms of the social security system and its fiscal resources, education-such as a revision of the Fundamentals of Education Law, and a "trinity" decentralization reform aimed at transferring administrative powers from the central government to local governments.	4	2003-09-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Faced with a pile of important issues at home and abroad that need to be addressed, the prime minister has immediately made a fresh start without allowing himself the luxury of basking in the glory of a landslide victory in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential race.Of the 17 members of the new Koizumi Cabinet, six have retained their posts and two have been given new portfolios, while the number of those appointed from the private sector declined by one to two.The focal point of the cabinet shake-up was whether Koizumi would reappoint Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy. Not only anti-Koizumi forces, but some within mainstream factions, including Mikio Aoki, who heads the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors, had strongly urged the prime minister to remove Takenaka. But Koizumi decided to keep Takenaka on in the same post, making clear his determination to continue his policy of structural reforms.It also is inferred that the prime minister made the decision because the replacement of Takenaka might be interpreted by the public as Koizumi yielding to forces that have been demanding he change policy. Bowing to this pressure could have caused a drop in his popularity rating, something he wishes to avoid in the run-up to a general election.Another minister who stayed on despite calls for her resignation was Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, who retained her post.Taking into account the need for continuity in foreign affairs, it was not desirable to change a foreign minister with such a short tenure in the position. However, Kawaguchi has little presence, and it has often been said she has little aptitude for managing her ministry or for coordinating affairs between the ministry and the Prime Minister's Office.Despite this, Koizumi is believed to have retained Kawaguchi for the same reasons he retained Takenaka.In other words, the prime minister stuck to his guns.Anti-Koizumi forces peevedIn connection with the privatization of three postal services and the reform of expressway-related public corporations-Koizumi's much-touted structural reform goals-former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Taro Aso was named public management minister and Nobuteru Ishihara, formerly minister in charge of administrative reforms, took over at the Construction and Transport Ministry. These appointments show the prime minister's intention to show the public in the lead-up to the general election that he is determined to continue promoting reforms.Koizumi also appointed three new members to the Cabinet from the faction jointly led by former LDP Research Council Chairman Shizuka Kamei and Takami Eto, as well as two from the faction led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.As practically all anti-Koizumi forces were removed during the cabinet reshuffle, these forces are expected to be critical of the new members of the Cabinet. Within the mainstream factions, Aoki and other senior party members reportedly are frustrated with the new administration. This dissatisfaction among some party members is casting doubt over how newly appointed LDP Secretary General Shinzo Abe will steer the party.The current political schedule to convene the extraordinary Diet session on Friday, dissolve the House of Representatives in October and hold the general election in November remains unchanged.In order to establish a political foundation to further Koizumi-style politics, the most urgent task for the prime minister is to win the general election.With the Cabinet led by Koizumi and the LDP controlled by Abe, the prime minister succeeded in forming a formidable force for the general election to counter the two heavyweights in the opposition bloc-Naoto Kan, who leads the largest opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), and Ichiro Ozawa, who heads Jiyuto (Liberal Party). The two opposition parties plan to merge soon.Present concrete policiesHowever, a party's policies are the main thing the public looks at when deciding which party to support. In this regard, it is the responsibility of the cabinet and political parties to present basic principles and concrete policies concerning the well-being of the state and the people.Taking into consideration the situation in which Japan is placed today, the most important and urgent task for the government is to bring the economy, which has finally began showing signs of recovery, back on the track.Some economic indexes, including corporate capital investment, have certainly improved. Although the prime minister has insisted that his structural reforms are finally bearing fruit, the recent improvement in economic data is believed to owe a lot to cost-cutting measures-such as streamlining-in the private sector. Therefore, structural reforms cannot be credited for the nascent economic recovery.Deflation lingers, unemployment remains high, and local economies are still in dire straits. Given these woes, every possible policy must be adopted that can set the economy firmly on the road to recovery, and the fiscal 2004 budget must be compiled based on this viewpoint.Yomiuri Shimbun polls also showed that what voters, including LDP supporters, want most from the government is an effective economic pump-priming policy.Given this, we urge the prime minister to present concrete economic stimulus policies. At the general election, his economic policies must compete with those of Minshuto and other opposition parties.Do not postpone problemsIn the past, the prime minister has said he intends to postpone dealing with certain crucial, yet barbed issues, such as increasing the consumption tax rate and revising the Constitution.However, many people think an increase in the consumption tax rate is an inevitable step to secure the financial resources needed to reform the social security system, including state pensions.To eliminate public concerns about the future, a public consensus must be reached as early as possible by debating the issue of a consumption tax rate increase.But during a press conference Monday held after appointing his new administration, Koizumi reiterated that he does not plan to raise the consumption tax rate while he is in office. This is tantamount to saying he will not resolve the problem during his tenure. We are afraid this statement will only accelerate public concerns all the more.Turning to the debate on the Constitution, the government's interpretation that Japan has the right of collective self-defense but cannot exercise it has restricted the Self-Defense Forces from participating in international peacekeeping activities. It also is one of the factors that has complicated debates on sending the SDF to Iraq.If revising the Constitution would take too much time, the government must change its interpretation of the Constitution to enable the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, leaving a final decision on whether to exercise the right to whatever government is in power at the time.If Koizumi has decided to shelve finding solutions to these thorny problems out of concern of their possible effect on the outcome of the impending general election and the upper house election next year, we regret to say he is being irresponsible.Policies that are needed by the state, and the people must be represented by the prime minister. The Japanese people expect the prime minister, a staunch advocator of reforms, to take a leadership stance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1301	2003-09-23	YOSHIN0020030924dz9n000fa
YOMSHI0020030923dz9o0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030923dz9o0000c	EN	\N	Ishihara must accelerate road corporation reform.	As administrative reform minister, Ishihara managed the committee promoting the privatization of the four highway public corporations when the panel compiled a final report at the end of last year calling for the corporations-Japan Highway Public Corporation (JH), Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation, Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation and Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority-to be split up and privatized.	4	2003-09-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At that time, Ishihara struggled to coordinate committee members' conflicting opinions and reportedly almost gave up efforts to complete the report.As construction and transport minister, Ishihara must now work to compile bills for the restructuring and privatization of the four road-related public corporations. His resolve should not weaken at the final stage of compiling the bills like it did before.The main purpose of the reform of the public corporations is to end the construction of unprofitable highways. Ishihara should tackle the job of compiling the bills keeping this basic policy in mind.What he should do first is replace the top management of the corporations. Under the current situation, in which former bureaucrats from the now defunct Construction Ministry parachuted into top positions in the corporations and resisted government moves to shake them up, restructuring and privatization cannot progress.The committee's report recommended bringing in people from the private sector to manage the corporations.However, this suggestion was only adopted in the case of Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority.Fujii an obstacle to reformIn addition to the proposals in its final report, the committee twice called for JH President Haruho Fujii to step down.Fujii denied that JH had compiled financial statements using strict private sector accounting standards.But Fujii was forced to admit to the existence of the statements after a senior JH official told a magazine about them.The JH president also took other actions designed to hamper reform, including posting an official who took a pro-privatization stance to a local branch and ignoring the committee's demands that he hand over documents on the corporation's finances and other matters.At a press conference following his appointment to the post Monday night, Ishihara said he wanted to meet with Fujii soon and listen to what he had to say.The new construction and transport minister went on to say that he would fire Fujii if he was not satisfied with Fujii's explanation of his stance.A decision on Fujii's fate should be made as soon as possible.No more roads neededMeanwhile, voices have been raised recently questioning whether the Construction and Transport Ministry intends to write legislation aimed at promoting highway construction.One point is the role of a new organization to be established after the restructuring and privatization of the corporations that will take over the ownership of highways from the corporations and repay their debts.The committee's final report states that the organization will own highways and other assets and receive fees from the newly privatized road companies for use of the highways. The collected fees will be used to repay the debts now held by the public corporations, which total about 40 trillion yen.But it has been reported that the ministry is considering including a mechanism in the bills to enable funds paid to the new organization to be used to build new highways. If this is true, it is problematic.At the news conference, Ishihara said: "The public is closely watching the progress of reforms. I'll respect the recommendations of the report and go ahead with restructuring and privatizing (the highway public corporations)."We applaud his remarks. The new construction and transport minister should scrutinize the bills and answer any questions about their contents.If the bills in their present form would not bring about the desired reforms, Ishihara must revise them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2003-09-24	YOSHIN0020030924dz9o0018e
YOMSHI0020030924dz9p0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030924dz9p0000i	EN	\N	Minshuto should prove it has the right stuff.	Through the merger, a large party with about 200 legislators will be created, the first of such a size to be born in nine years since the defunct Shinshinto (New Frontier Party) was formed. Yet the new Minshuto will have a difficult birth.	4	2003-09-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a survey taken by The Yomiuri Shimbun following the reelection of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, 38.5 percent of the pollees said they supported the LDP, while only 10.8 percent supported the party to be formed through the merger of Minshuto and Jiyuto.However, the debut of the new Minshuto seems to have unnerved the LDP. Fears over the challenge that a reborn Minshuto might present may have prompted the party to reelect Koizumi to lead it in the upcoming House of Representatives election and Koizumi to pick the youthful Shinzo Abe as the party's secretary general.Ironically, the effect of the merger has become uncertain following the surprise appointment of Abe to the LDP's No. 2 post.In campaigning for the lower house election, Minshuto will claim in its manifesto that it is a party capable of taking over the reins of power.After signing the merger agreement, Minshuto leader Naoto Kan said voters would have the chance to decide which party is fit to govern during the process of debate among parties over key policies.Manifesto mealymouthedWhile the issue of who should represent a party in fighting an election is important, parties should, in principle, compete among one another by comparing and contrasting their stances on key policies. In this respect, Minshuto's first draft manifesto contains much that is questionable.First of all, the party has dodged the issue of national security, saying it will map out a new defense program in fiscal 2005.In referring to the plan, the party has merely listed items such as reducing the size of the Ground Self-Defense Force, and upgrading the nation's missile defense capability. The party said the Iraq issue was still being "coordinated."Concerns over the threats posed by international terrorism and North Korea are spreading among the public. It is the primary responsibility of the state to protect the people's lives and ensure their safety. If a party fails to compile a security policy, its fitness as a party capable of governing will be questioned.At the extraordinary Diet session that will convene Friday, a bill to revise the Antiterrorism Law, which will expire Nov. 1, will be taken up for discussion with a view to extending the nonpermanent law.It is unreasonable for Minshuto to oppose this bill while it has yet to come up with its own policy on national security.Divisive issues must be facedConcerning Iraq, Minshuto has criticized the United States and has suggested it would not dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq should the party be voted into power.As a member of the international community, Japan is obliged to deploy the SDF when necessary and to help rebuild Afghanistan and Iraq. What must be discussed in the days ahead are issues including Japan's exercising of the right of collective self-defense and measures to protect SDF members to be dispatched on reconstruction missions abroad.On economic policies, Minshuto said in its draft manifesto that it would stimulate private consumption and boost domestic demand, but it has not specified any stimulus measures.The party has proposed cutting medical expenses borne by individuals and abolishing expressway tolls. Yet the party is vague on how to secure revenue sources for the state, merely saying funds would be raised by reviewing government expenditures, including public works projects.The party also has failed to state its views on such issues as constitutional revision and a hike in the consumption tax rate.Minshuto should make efforts to reach a consensus on these and other matters without fretting over possible schisms that might appear within the party and try to make a convincing case for itself as a party capable of governing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2003-09-25	YOSHIN0020030925dz9p000jp
YOMSHI0020030925dz9q0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030925dz9q0000h	EN	\N	Don't ignore proposals on state-paid secretaries.	The report is an assortment of feasible and extremely modest proposals, said Shinkichi Eto, professor emeritus at Tokyo University, who chairs the research committee. The committee advises lower house Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki.	4	2003-09-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel's recommendations are less than satisfactory in some respects. However, the ruling and opposition parties must use the report as a basis for discussion on how to reform the system, with the aim of restoring public trust in political parties and politicians.The report was part of an effort to prevent a recurrence of scandals similar to those involving Kiyomi Tsujimoto and Makiko Tanaka, both former lower house members who stepped down over alleged misuse of state-paid salaries to their secretaries.The advisory committee called for a ban on legislators employing all relatives down to the level of grandparents, aunts and uncles, while also insisting that secretaries to lawmakers be prohibited from engaging in other jobs. The panel proposed that Diet members' secretaries should step down at the age of 70.Dishonest relativesAccording to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey of lawmakers in April 2002, one in every four legislators employed relatives as state-paid secretaries. However, many of them performed few duties as secretaries. In fact, the panel's report said the dishonest actions of some legislators' relatives serving as state-paid secretaries contributed significantly to the corrupt practices of lawmakers.The advisory council was correct in proposing a ban on Diet members employing their relatives as secretaries.The panel also had good reason to insist on prohibiting state-paid secretaries from engaging in other work. Lawmakers' secretaries could form collusive ties with private corporations if they engage in other work.The research commission did not incorporate into its report a proposal to establish a system in which the government would give each Diet member a fixed amount of money equivalent to salaries received by three state-paid secretaries. This system would allow legislators to determine how many secretaries to employ and the salary they should be paid.However, many people argue that this system would benefit Diet members. According to a poll conducted by the research commission, no lawmakers' secretaries supported the system, while only 10 legislators favored the system.The report said state-paid secretaries should be allowed to "voluntarily" donate money to the lawmakers who employed them. Given the relationship between Diet members and their secretaries, however, it is difficult to expect them to strictly abide by this rule.Forced 'donations'An association of secretaries for lower house members has called for a ban on donations from lawmakers' secretaries to the local chapters of political parties and fund-managing organizations operated by the legislators. The association says secretaries for Diet members have often been "forced" to give donations to these organizations.This may be true for the secretaries of Japanese Communist Party lawmakers. For years, these secretaries have given a portion of their state-paid salaries to the JCP in the form of "donations." However, the Liberal Democratic Party has criticized the JCP for this practice, saying it constitutes the institutionalized misappropriation of salaries paid to the secretaries.Regulations to stop this practice should be considered.Questions should also be raised about a "loophole" in the system governing state-paid secretaries, such as those responsible for assisting lawmakers in the formulation of policies. The system permits Diet members to employ anyone who has worked as a secretary to a legislator without any expertise, as a state-paid policy secretary.The report said the research commission would not have to issue proposals to reform the system if the Diet had instituted measures to implement proposals it had presented 12 years ago. All lawmakers must take this to heart.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2003-09-26	YOSHIN0020030926dz9q000k7
YOMSHI0020030926dz9r0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030926dz9r0000g	EN	\N	Koizumi speech to Diet just more of the same.	A policy address delivered by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the opening of the new Diet session Friday was a virtual rehash of the policy pledge he made during his campaign for the recent Liberal Democratic Party presidential election. Prior to the LDP race, Koizumi said his policy pledge would be used as the party's platform for the lower house election. In this sense, the prime minister's latest policy speech can be regarded as a pledge to the public concerning the policies he will implement if he is reelected prime minister after the general election.	4	2003-09-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Debates between the ruling and opposition parties at the extraordinary Diet session will serve as a prelude to the battle between the two camps in the lower house race.Some questions should be raised about Koizumi's policy address. He told the Diet that his structural reform campaign was on track, and he expressed optimism about the economy. However, he did not refer to "the fight against the deflation"-a phrase used in his policy address at the opening of the last ordinary Diet session in January.Economic woes not addressedAdmittedly, the prime minister was correct in saying there was a sign of economic improvement, as shown by "an increase in the number of people on corporate payrolls and a 12th consecutive monthly decline in the number of corporate failures year on year." He also said "the economy has achieved a positive growth over the past 18 months in real terms, and its nominal growth has also taken a positive turn."However, the prime minister failed to address the stark statistics concerning the economic woes still afflicting this nation. The jobless rate stood at a significant 5.3 percent in July, while the number of corporate bankruptcies totaled 1,321 in August. It is also disturbing to see that the average prices of residential and commercial land have declined for the 12th consecutive year, with the rate of decrease increasing year by year.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll taken immediately after Koizumi's recent Cabinet reshuffle, 55 percent of those surveyed said they wanted the prime minister to shift the focus of his economic policy from structural reforms to economic recovery. These people probably found Koizumi's address less than satisfactory.His policy speech will be followed by debates between the ruling and the opposition camps, including question-and-answer sessions involving the prime minister and representatives from each party, as well as Budget Committee sessions.Through their debates in the newly opened Diet session, the ruling and opposition parties should give voters an opportunity to determine whether they should vote for the LDP-led coalition or the opposition camp in the general election. This will oblige the ruling and opposition blocs to seriously discuss not only economic policies but many other issues. Themes to be addressed in the Diet session include Japan's assistance for Iraq's rehabilitation, Koizumi's pledge to privatize state-run mail-delivery services and reforms of pension and other social security systems.Minshuto policies puzzlingAt the top of the list are foreign and national security issues. On Friday, the prime minister said he would ensure passage of a bill seeking to revise the Antiterrorism Law, which will expire on Nov. 1, with the aim of extending the law for another two years. Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has insisted that the bill be fully debated. The largest opposition party has not yet stated whether it will support the bill.The bill must be adopted so Japan can cooperate better in the international antiterrorism campaign and keep its alliance with the United States intact. Given this, Minshuto has only one option in this respect if it is seeking to remove the ruling coalition from power.Diet debate on Japan's assistance to war-torn Iraq will probably focus on the pros and cons of a government plan to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to that nation, as well as calls for Japanese financial aid for Iraq. In the draft of its manifesto for the general election, Minshuto said it was still trying to reach an intraparty consensus on the Iraqi issue.Will Minshuto be able to challenge the LDP-led coalition in a policy debate in the Diet if it is still unsure about what kind of policy to adopt on national security issues?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	768	2003-09-27	YOSHIN0020030927dz9r000kt
YOMSHI0020030927dz9s0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030927dz9s0000b	EN	\N	Govt aid key to curbing particulate emissions.	Air and other road-related pollution is mainly caused by the exhaust from cars and other vehicles, and particularly by particulate matter (PM) emitted in the exhaust from diesel-powered vehicles.	4	2003-09-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The central government has set a standard for the permissible level of PM emitted by vehicles. However, because the regulation applies only to newly manufactured vehicles, it does not cover the ones already on the roads. Even the shaken safety check system for vehicles does not strictly measure PM emissions.In light of this circumstance, the governments of Tokyo and Kanazawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures set up a new ordinance that focuses on diesel-powered vehicles and principally bans the use of trucks and buses whose PM emissions exceed the limits.Tokyo govt in vanguardThe Tokyo metropolitan government, which has been campaigning to have diesel-powered vehicles taken off the roads, took the lead in drawing up the ordinance.A series of past rulings in road-related pollution lawsuits, including one filed by Tokyo residents over health problems caused by vehicle emissions, have highlighted the central government's negligence in the regulation of air pollution. In the field of PM regulation, in particular, Japan has lagged behind the United States and European countries for about a decade. The government of Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara played a significant role in realizing local government-initiated controls in this field.But there are some problems. The new ordinance will be applied to trucks and buses that were first registered seven years or more ago. Such vehicles will be banned unless they are equipped with PM-grade emission filters. Otherwise, the owners will have to replace them with new vehicles that meet the new PM emission control standards. This has caused some confusion in the truck industry and other sectors.If a business operator cannot afford to buy new vehicles and decides instead to outfit his current ones with emission filters, the cost will still come to about 1 million yen per vehicle.According to estimates by the local governments concerned, of about 600,000 vehicles subject to the new regulation, more than 170,000 are expected to fail to meet the new standards.However, production of the emission filters cannot meet this demand. Therefore, the four local governments have decided to allow business operators who cannot make the deadline a three-month grace period.Central govt must helpThe four local governments have also set up a subsidy system to promote the purchase of emission filters by businesses. However, Chiba and Saitama prefectures already have ended their subsidies, saying they have already used up the budget allocated for the scheme.The Construction and Transport Ministry also appropriated a budget to promote the use of low-pollution vehicles by granting subsidies to help businesses equip their vehicles with emission filters. The ministry suspended its subsidy in June.Strong support from the central government is vital if the four local governments in the Tokyo metropolitan area are to smoothly and successfully cut down on PM emissions. It may be necessary for the central government to look at the possibility of making a special outlay to facilitate the resumption of subsidies.The regulation of road-related pollution will be effective only if the central and local governments join hands. We must not lose sight of this point.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2003-09-28	YOSHIN0020030929dz9s000fy
YOMSHI0020030928dz9t0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030928dz9t0000a	EN	\N	Organized crimes threaten natl security.	This year's white paper on police featured the current situation of worsening organized crime and the problems involved. Presumably reflecting the police's sense of crisis, the white paper's contents were extraordinary-it appeared not to care about discrediting the police and revealing their weaknesses. It included the results of surveys of police investigators around the country and referred to problems involving investigations.	4	2003-09-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Organized crimes by foreign groups are rapidly increasing. They include criminal groups from Shanghai and Fujian Province in China, gangs of pickpockets from South Korea, groups of thieves from Colombia and drug smuggling organizations from Iran.Japan a 'paradise for crime'In the home countries of these foreign criminals, rumor has it that Japan is a haven for crime, according to the white paper. It is reportedly rumored that people can get a large amount of money in a short period of time and that even if they are arrested, they will only be given a suspended sentence as long as it is their first arrest.Such rumors have apparently encouraged the entry of ill-intentioned foreigners into this country. Even if they are deported, they come back with fake passports. In this respect, it is an urgent task for the Japanese government to set up a system to make such foreigners aware that Japan's security system is strict and that Japanese investigators are tough.In addition, criminal syndicates in this country are increasingly heavily armed and investigators often complain that it has become more difficult to determine the actual workings of criminal organizations and their activities. They also complain that mobsters have become more resourceful in raising funds. In other words, police are unable to keep up with the criminals.Smuggling and illicit sales of guns and drugs are typical examples of organized crimes. Although the number of shooting incidents is increasing, only a few gun smuggling plots are foiled on shorelines each year and the number of seized guns has been decreasing for the last seven years.According to the white paper, the number of investigators capable of obtaining key information is decreasing and suspects often keep silent out of fear of retaliation from criminal groups. Suspects' unwillingness to cooperate with police is considered a main reason why police are unable to get close to the centers of criminal organizations, whose methods of operation have become more sinister and resourceful.New approaches neededIn response to this situation, the white paper called for the consideration of new investigation methods, such as undercover investigations, to obtain information on cases under investigation and control organized crime. Police must consider introducing a new system as soon as possible, borrowing from U.S. and European legal systems.Three years after the enactment of the Wiretapping Authorization Law, wiretaps were conducted in only two cases last year. This number is too small compared with the 1,491 wiretaps recorded in the United States in 2001. This is because restrictions on the law, which authorizes wiretaps in investigations of organized crimes, are extremely stringent. The introduction of a law is meaningless if it is designed not to be effective.In addition, the white paper pointed to the international community's concerns about the possible integration of criminal syndicates and terrorist organizations. It also referred to North Korean state crimes such as stimulant drug smuggling.It will be necessary to thoroughly examine security measures and strengthen the functions of security-related organizations to overcome the current crisis.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	606	2003-09-29	YOSHIN0020030929dz9t0014c
YOMSHI0020030929dz9u0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030929dz9u0000g	EN	\N	Koizumi, Kan should debate for voters' sake.	The interpellations by political party leaders concerning Koizumi's policy speech Friday were, on the whole, one-way monologues and thus were far from being a free and frank exchange of opinions between them.	4	2003-09-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nonetheless, there were the occasional rare scenes when Koizumi stood up to reply to inquiries made by Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) leader Naoto Kan without a prepared script.These verbal sparring matches have laid bare the bones of contention that exist between the two leaders. They include an economic policy to get the economy back on track for a full-scale recovery, diplomatic policies regarding Japan's assistance to the postwar reconstruction of Iraq and on North Korean issues, the privatization of the postal services and road-related public corporations, and reforms aimed at decentralization.However, the debates on these topics frequently lacked substance on many points.With the rebirth of Minshuto, following its recent merger with Jiyuto (Liberal Party), a two-party system has emerged. Inevitably, this means the major focus during the upcoming general election will be a confrontation between the Liberal Democratic Party and Minshuto.A taste of things to comeFor this reason, the confrontation between Koizumi and Kan drew the most attention during Monday's parliamentary debate.Opening the proceedings by saying, "I would like to discuss manifestos" before the general election, Kan criticized Koizumi, saying the prime minister had made little progress in structural reforms, and questioned whether his administration could really privatize the postal services and road-related public corporations as Koizumi has vowed.On Iraq issues, Kan expressed his party's opposition to the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq and Japan's financial contributions to the postwar reconstruction of that country.Minshuto intends to woo voters by presenting policies that contain concrete schedules and numerical targets. There was no mistake in that Kan attempted in his interpellation to emphasize the superiority of his party's manifesto to that of the LDP.Koizumi refuted Kan's criticisms by saying that reform of the public sector could never happen under Minshuto, which is opposed to privatizing public corporations. The prime minister added that the government would contribute to the postwar reconstruction of Iraq in cooperation with the international community.Debates lacked substanceGenerally speaking, we were dissatisfied with the debates on economic policy issues. Voters are hoping to see concrete measures that will strengthen the budding economic recovery and help reinvigorate small and midsize companies and improve the employment situation.However, the prime minister has offered no such concrete plans.Kan, for his part, has failed to explain convincingly enough to voters the effectiveness of what the Minshuto manifesto calls "a revival of a strong economy free from unemployment."There also is a doubtful element in Kan's attitude concerning Iraq issues.If Japan neither dispatches SDF personnel to Iraq nor makes a financial contribution, it will be looked on critically by the international community. There also is a danger that a failure to make a meaningful contribution could undermine the credibility of the Japan-U.S. alliance.It is hard to understand why there were no exchanges of views between Koizumi and Kan over such issues as reforms of social security schemes, including the pension program and ways to finance it, at a time when concerns are rising among voters over the future of these public-run schemes.The leaders of the nation's two most powerful parties need to engage in in-depth debates of key issues so that voters can determine by listening to their policies which party they can entrust with the task of governing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2003-09-30	YOSHIN0020030930dz9u000l1
YOMSHI0020030930dza10000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020030930dza10000f	EN	\N	Poison gas shells in China, Japan must be disposed of.	The Japanese government, in close cooperation with the Chinese government, should expedite the disposal of these weapons.	4	2003-10-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In China, incidents resulting in casualties have occurred when workers building sewage works and other facilities were exposed to chemical weapons and other arms abandoned by the Japanese military at the end of World War II.In a damages suit in which the government's responsibility to dispose of the weapons was recognized, the Tokyo District Court sustained most of the allegations made by 13 victims and bereaved family members of such incidents and ordered the government to pay them about 190 million yen in compensation.The same court dismissed a similar damages suit filed by other Chinese in May, and the plaintiffs appealed the ruling.The latest ruling said the damages could have been avoided if, following the normalization of ties between Japan and China in 1972, the Japanese government had provided the Chinese government with information on the probable locations of the chemical weapons abandoned by Japanese soldiers.In May's ruling, the same court dismissed the damages suit, saying it would have been difficult for Japan to have surveyed and collected the chemical weapons and thus prevented them from causing damage in China because Japan has no sovereign authority in that country.2007 target looks unrealisticBut how much damage could have been avoided if the Japanese government had provided the Chinese government with information on the whereabouts of the weapons? This will be a focus of attention when the issue of the abandoned chemical weapons is taken up at higher courts.But no matter what judicial decision is made, it is an urgent task to collect and neutralize the weapons.The total number of such weapons, according to a Japanese government estimate, is as high as about 700,000. The government is obliged to start collecting the weapons in 2000 and dispose of them by 2007, in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention that took effect in 1997 and a memorandum signed later by Japan and China. The collection and disposal of the arms is projected to cost several hundred billions of yen.But only 36,000 weapons have been collected so far. As things stand, it will be difficult to dispose of the weapons by 2007.Meanwhile, there are concerns that similar incidents may occur. There was a similar incident in Heilongjiang Province in August in which one person was killed and more than 40 injured.Govt response inadequateChief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday that the government would speed up the pace of collecting the weapons. This is the right thing to do.On the pending issue of constructing a plant to dispose of poison gas shells and other arms left behind in China, the government should draw up a plan and build the plant as soon as possible in consultation with China.In this country, bottles containing poison gases were found at a road construction site in Samukawamachi, Kanagawa Prefecture, in September last year.In March this year, an organic arsenic compound believed to have been contained in chemical weapons abandoned by the Imperial Japanese Army was detected in groundwater taken from wells in Kamisumachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, damaging the health of local residents.It is undeniable that the government has failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation.The government should assess the extent of the danger posed by the abandoned weapons in this country and China and expedite efforts to solve the problem.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2003-10-01	YOSHIN0020031001dza1000pa
YOMSHI0020031001dza20000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031001dza20000i	EN	\N	Recovery threatened by stronger yen.	According to a Bank of Japan survey, the diffusion index (DI) of business confidence among large manufacturers improved for two consecutive quarters in September, marking the first positive reading in 33 months.	4	2003-10-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The DI measures the percentage of corporations that consider business conditions favorable minus the percentage of firms that think otherwise. A negative reading means that pessimists outnumber optimists.The latest quarterly survey of short-term business outlook-known as the Tankan-clearly shows that the economic upturn has been led by a growth in exports. The DI index has improved considerably among carmakers, machine manufacturers and other export-related businesses as a result of the growth in exports due to economic recovery in the United States and this country's Asian neighbors.It should be noted, however, that the export-led economic growth could falter if the U.S. economic upswing slows down or if there is a rapid surge in the value of the yen. With this in mind, the government and the central bank should seek to put the economy back on the road to self-sustaining recovery led by growth in domestic demand by implementing additional fiscal and monetary measures.Nonmanufacturers in troubleSince the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s, this country has experienced several phases of economic revival. But these economic upturns have all been short-lived. This is because temporary economic upswings in these periods, undermined by misguided government and Bank of Japan policies, did not permeate small and midsize corporations and nonmanufacturing businesses.This can also be seen in the latest Tankan survey, which shows that there is a delay in economic improvement among small and medium companies, as well as nonmanufacturing corporations. The DI reading among both sectors remains negative, with the indexes for them unchanged or only slightly improved.This unfavorable state of affairs is particularly conspicuous among nonmanufacturing businesses. There is extremely slow progress in economic improvement among corporations in this category, largely as a result of sluggish sales at retailers and others due to the ongoing deflation. Achieving economic improvement among a wide range of sectors calls for implementing powerful antideflation measures.Joint intervention neededThere are serious concerns that the strong yen and the weak U.S. dollar could hurt the current economic uptown led by exports.A meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven nations in September has been followed by an increase of more than 5 yen in the yen's value against the dollar in just a week. This reflects a prevalent view among market players who believe that a G-7 joint statement issued at the meeting worked to prevent the Japanese monetary authorities from intervening in the market.The government and the Bank of Japan reacted to this Tuesday by asking the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to intervene in the New York foreign exchange market on its behalf through yen-selling, dollar-buying operations for the first time in 15 months.The Japanese authorities had every reason to intervene in the foreign exchange markets in reaction to the sharp rise in the yen's value. To ensure that their market intervention produces greater results, the government and the central bank may be wise to consider joint market intervention with the U.S. and European monetary authorities.In mid-October, U.S. President George W. Bush is scheduled to visit Japan for a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The summit will provide Koizumi with an excellent opportunity to convince the president that the rapid surge in the yen's value would impair the current improvement in the Japanese economy and deal a blow to the world economy.The prime minister should seek to build close relations between Japan and the United States in their efforts to not only help rebuild the war-torn Iraq, but also to resolve issues related to their currencies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2003-10-02	YOSHIN0020031002dza2000k7
YOMSHI0020031002dza30000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031002dza30000g	EN	\N	Budget Committee debates needed some fireworks.	Budget Committee debates are distinct from question-and-answer sessions that take place after the prime minister delivers his policy addresses at the opening of a new Diet session. The latter interpellations generally fail to stir up any kind of argument between the ruling and opposition parties.	4	2003-10-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, Budget Committee sessions provide forums for lawmakers to pose questions on issues that must be answered by the prime minister or members of his Cabinet.However, the legislators attending the Budget Committee sessions failed to take full advantage of this opportunity. There were few meaningful arguments between the government and the opposition camp on key policy issues, except for some topics, such as reforming the state-run pension plan.This probably reflected their desire to impress voters in anticipation of the expected dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election, while also avoiding issues that could adversely affect them in the lower house election.Reforming pension systemOne exception was Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi, who talked about raising funds to reform the national pension system. "There will be no choice but to raise taxes," he said.His thinking naturally calls for debate on tax reform, including an increase in the 5 percent consumption tax.Sakaguchi's view was echoed to some degree by Yukio Edano, chief policymaker of the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan). To raise funds to reform the pension system, Edano said government expenditures should be thoroughly curtailed for five years, followed by a plan to use revenues from the consumption tax gradually to cover shortfalls due to the pension reform.During a press conference after a lower house Budget Committee session, Edano said, "By raising the consumption tax by 2 percent or so, it will be possible to weather the difficult situation when the rapid aging of the population peaks."The two lawmakers' statements were in contrast to the evasive attitude taken in the past by the ruling and opposition parties about tax issues before elections. For years, lawmakers have avoided arguing the pros and cons of proposals to increase taxes.Admittedly, both Sakaguchi and Edano were irritatingly ambiguous about some key issues of the consumption tax hike, including how soon and by how much. However, it was extremely significant for the leading opposition party to mention a future raise in the consumption tax.Minshuto policies questionableMeanwhile, questions should be raised about Minshuto's approach to foreign and security issues in the current Diet session. The party is determined to vote against a bill seeking a two-year extension to the Antiterrorism Law, which expires on Nov. 1.It is important to note that more than 70 nations have joined global efforts to fight terrorism and help rehabilitate war-torn Afghanistan. About 20 countries have sent forces to Afghanistan.How can Japan refuse to help? Given the importance of Japan's role in such global efforts and its alliance with the United States, Minshuto must not oppose the bill.Another question mark is Minshuto's attitude toward a government plan to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq under a law that permits Japan to assist in that country's rehabilitation. The main opposition party opposes the SDF mission in this respect. However, Minshuto has said the SDF should join U.N. peacekeeping operations and peacekeeping forces.Minshuto's support for SDF personnel joining peacekeeping forces should be commended as a constructive approach to the issue. However, it is not time to send SDF members to Iraq on a U.N. peacekeeping mission conducted under a U.N. resolution. It is also unlikely that the United Nations will adopt such a resolution under current circumstances.The international community wants to see Iraq rehabilitated and stabilized as soon as possible. Therefore, Japan has an international obligation to dispatch the SDF and extend financial assistance to Iraq.Minshuto should take this to heart.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	677	2003-10-03	YOSHIN0020031003dza3000k1
YOMSHI0020031003dza40000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031003dza40000b	EN	\N	Political party manifesto buzzword or real stuff.	The lower house passed a bill to revise the Public Offices Election Law on Friday to realize this innovation. The bill is likely to pass the Diet on Oct. 10 with the approval by the House of Councillors.	4	2003-10-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), New Komeito and the Social Democratic Party have already unveiled their manifestos, including draft versions, while the Liberal Democratic Party and other parties are working on their political platforms.However, the manifestos look superficial when compared to those produced in Britain, where political manifestos originated.A manifesto is not a preelection promise made by an individual candidate. It is a package of political pledges a party will carry out if it is elected to office, and must include such details as numerical targets, deadlines, revenue sources and what steps will be taken to realize them.Parties must carry out pledgesA party has to carry out the pledges listed in a manifesto with responsibility if it assumes office.In Britain, mass media and research institutes study the manifestos of political parties to assess their feasibility as well as how much was achieved in manifestos drawn up for the previous election.British Prime Minister Tony Blair disclosed in his annual report which Labour Party pledges had been successfully achieved, which were on the way to being achieved or which had not yet been undertaken.What about the manifestos announced by Japanese political parties?Minshuto listed various numerical targets in the first draft of its manifesto, but in regard to financial sources for pension reform, for example, it merely proposed curbing government spending drastically in the first five years.Even in later discussions within the party, the best Minshuto could come up with was that the consumption tax should be used to reform the pension system after the economy recovered.Assessment system neededMinshuto failed to detail when and by how much the consumption tax should be raised. Its manifesto may look like one but in substance it is far different from those produced in Britain.Japan has no tradition to compare the merits or demerits of such manifestos.If political parties plan to use their manifestos to slug it out in the upcoming election, they must construct a system to assess them before and after the election.Without such a system, manifestos would be little different from the old preelection promises, except for the inclusion of various targets.In reality, the parties are merely playing with the word "manifesto." Compare it to the British model.It remains to be seen if the manifesto version produced in this country ends up as a buzzword or actually develops into something with teeth.Everything depends on whether the parties are able to present verifiable, detailed and responsible political pledges.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	504	2003-10-04	YOSHIN0020031004dza4000kn
YOMSHI0020031004dza50000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031004dza50000a	EN	\N	Signing FTAs vital to national interest.	However, Japan, which failed to take an active role in trying to avert the breakdown of the WTO negotiations, is also likely to lag behind in FTA talks because its hands are tied by strong domestic opposition to the import of agricultural products.	4	2003-10-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In January last year, Japan signed its first FTA with Singapore. Since then, the government has been discussing an FTA with Mexico. However, negotiations became deadlocked after Japan refused to include pork in a list of farm products to be made tariff-free.Japan is scheduled to start FTA negotiations with South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines between now and sometime next year. In addition, Tokyo is to kick off preparatory talks with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) early next year to try to realize a regional economic partnership with FTAs at its center.Mexico agreement necessaryIf the conclusion of an FTA with Mexico is postponed, negotiations with other countries or with ASEAN will not progress either. The United States, European countries, China, India and Southeast Asian countries are all working hard to conclude FTAs with others. If Japan is left behind, the very foundations of the country could be badly shaken.Mexican President Vincente Fox will visit Japan next week. The government must do its best to advance negotiations with Mexico so the two countries can strike a basic FTA deal when Fox and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hold summit talks.Mexico has already signed FTAs with several countries and regions, including the United States and the European Union, leading to mutually abolished tariffs.Some Japanese companies operating in Mexico had to withdraw from the country because they were at a disadvantage when competing with corporations from other countries that have signed FTAs with Mexico. To put a stop to this situation, Japan tried to speed up negotiations with Mexico.Govt must give way on porkHowever, the strong resistance of pork farmers to the liberalization of the domestic pork market caused the government to maintain its heavy tariff system, which strictly controls the import of pork products. Meanwhile, Mexico's attitude has become more intractable, as it considers negotiations with Japan to be meaningless as long as it refuses to make any compromises on pork imports.It is still possible to break the impasse over this issue. Some government officials are trying to find common ground with Mexico by proposing a tariff quota system that applies no or very low tariffs on a certain amount of pork imports.In its FTA talks with Chile, South Korea decided to apply a tariff quota system to imports of beef and three other items the Chilean government had prioritized. This created the opening both countries needed, and they signed the agreement.Koizumi expressed his willingness at a meeting last month to conclude an FTA with Mexico as early as possible."Although those in the agricultural industry strongly oppose the liberalization of pork imports, the conclusion of an agreement will be in the best interests of all of Japan," the prime minister said.We expect Koizumi to keep his word and exercise leadership to bring about the conclusion of an FTA with Mexico.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	575	2003-10-05	YOSHIN0020031006dza5000df
YOMSHI0020031005dza60000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031005dza60000d	EN	\N	New Minshuto sets sail, but key policies unclear.	The Minshuto convention Sunday, held to mark the launch of the new party, also served as a pep rally for the main opposition party in the runup to the House of Representatives election, expected to be held in November.	4	2003-10-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Minshuto's leader, Naoto Kan, said, "If we win (in the upcoming election), a change of power will be realized, something that is a matter of course for many countries, but which has never happened in (postwar) Japan." It was an expression of his determination to bring his party into power.There is little doubt that many hope for a two-party system in national politics.But some also criticize Minshuto's merger with Jiyuto as a mere "mutual support group for the election," or a "merger without a guiding principle." This criticism may be a reflection of the ambiguity of its basic policies.At the convention, Minshuto unveiled five election pledges and two proposals as the priority issues of its manifesto.Fundamental issues not priorityWe question the fact that such fundamental policy issues as national diplomacy and national security are not included as priority issues. We cannot understand why issues related to North Korea and Iraq are not considered a priority.There are also questionable points in the manifesto, which the party formally adopted.The only reference to the Constitution in the manifesto is a slogan saying the party would promote constitutional discussion from "debating issues concerning the (present) Constitution" to "creating a constitution."As long as the party is calling for "creating a constitution," it should present a guiding principle to do so, including specific amendments, but there is nothing whatsoever like that in the manifesto.The party had said earlier that it was still in the process of "coming to a concensus" on issues concerning Iraq, but it made clear in the manifesto that it would not allow the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces troops to the war-torn country just on the basis of the special law concerning assistance to the postwar reconstruction of Iraq.The party said it would consider an SDF dispatch to help with Iraq's reconstruction as part of a U.N. peacekeeping operation or as part of a U.N. peacekeeping force if the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution submitted by a government established by the Iraqi people.SDF stance problematicPresently, the United Nations is attempting to put in motion a process to allow "a government to be established by the Iraqi people." Is Minshuto saying that Japan does not have to contribute personnel to such an effort?From the viewpoint of maintaining international cooperation and the Japan-U.S. alliance, Japan must send SDF troops to Iraq no matter what.Minshuto also opposes the extension of the Antiterrorism Law, which is to expire on Nov. 1. If Minshuto takes power, will Japan become the only country to withdraw from the international fight against terrorism and from cooperative efforts to help Afghanistan rebuild itself?The party's manifesto fails to answer these simple questions.With regard to reform of the pension system, the party said consumption tax revenues should be used to fund the government's contribution to the basic portion of the public pension program. Again, the proposal lacks specifics, such as when the consumption tax should be raised and by how much, thus leaving only questions.Minshuto is trying to turn the upcoming election into a battle between party manifestos. If it plans to do so, Minshuto must also make clear its stance on the Constitution and on national security.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	639	2003-10-06	YOSHIN0020031006dza600112
YOMSHI0020031006dza70000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031006dza70000i	EN	\N	Attempt to breath live into budget system.	Model project budgets, under which a ministry or agency is permitted to carry over unexpended budgetary items for a given fiscal year to following fiscal years, will be introduced on an experimental basis next fiscal year. In budget requests submitted by the end of August, nine ministries and agencies requested that a total of 10 budgetary items be allocated under the new flexible system.	4	2003-10-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The model project was ushered into being by the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy.If model projects take root and are adopted more widely, the current common-though unreasonable-methods of using up unused portions of budgets, such as frantic road-construction campaigns in the closing months of a fiscal year, will no longer be necessary. Moreover, more efficient budget compilation can be expected.Increased flexibility a riskWith the increased degree of flexibility they offer, however, there is a fear that the most effective use may not be made of model project budgets. The Finance Ministry needs to thoroughly scrutinize budget requests submitted under the new formula by assessing the feasibility of objectives put forward for each budget item.The budget for the central government is compiled using a single-fiscal year formula, whereby the revenue and expenditure is balanced for each fiscal year in accordance with the Finance Law. Under this system, unused funds allocated for a given fiscal year have to be returned to state coffers every fiscal year. In addition, a budget cannot be diverted for purposes other than those for which it was originally allocated.The model project system, however, enables a budget to be used more reasonably and over more than one fiscal year, by easing the rigidity concerning budgetary spending.In making a budget request to the Finance Ministry, each ministry and agency has to present a numerical target for the budget item to be realized. Meanwhile, the Public Management Ministry makes policy evaluations of such budget spending by checking the degree of achievement made for the budget item each fiscal year.For instance, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has set a target of lowering by 30 percent the price of environmentally friendly plastics within three years by using biomass technology.To do so, the ministry requested more than 2.2 billion yen for the next fiscal year, on the assumption that the project will last for three years.In addition to being able to be carried over, more flexibility also will be given to the use of model project budgets. For instance, a budget earmarked for a specific type of machine can be used to purchase another type of machine.Postmortem evaluations a mustHowever there will be checks in place, and the amount of headway made in a project will be a factor when the Finance Ministry assesses budget requests for the following fiscal year. Should a project fail to achieve its target by the stated fiscal year, this will be made public through a postmortem evaluation.Britain and Sweden are two countries using this budget system and their governments give their ministries and agencies a free hand over the use of budgetary items, within set parameters, and thorough appraisals are made after a project has been completed.In Japan, some local municipal governments began using this system a few years ago.At long last, the central government also is going to experiment with the system.Should the new system bear fruit and be applied to projects widely, the government will need to improve the legal environment, such as by revising the Finance Law.More pressingly, an evaluation system needs to be established to examine model projects both before and after they are implemented, and on the basis of the results of the evaluation decide how to allocate budgets.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2003-10-07	YOSHIN0020031007dza7000if
YOMSHI0020031007dza80000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031007dza80000h	EN	\N	Less carrot, more stick may bring North round.	In their meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun signed the joint declaration calling for increased cooperation among the three countries in tackling the problems.	4	2003-10-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The declaration signified an attempt by the three nations to not only ensure mutual growth through their economic and security ties, but also to play a significant role in promoting stability and prosperity in East Asia as a whole.The crisis arising from North Korea's nuclear weapons program poses a challenge to be tackled by the three nations in ensuring regional security.But can the three countries take concerted and workable actions to ensure Pyongyang gives up developing nuclear arms? If one reads the joint declaration, there is cause for skepticism about their ability to accomplish that goal.Declaration mealymouthedThe declaration states that the three nations have reconfirmed their policy of engagement in efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Still, it makes no overt reference to North Korea.The declaration is no less vague about what should be done to scrap all nuclear weapons on the peninsula. It only says that the three countries will seek "a peaceful solution through dialogue." The declaration includes no reference to "pressure."Questions should be raised about whether the three nations will be able to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program through such an approach.The declaration does not mention North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals. Instead, it merely says that the three nations will address "all matters of concern."The declaration's ambiguous wording shows that China and South Korea do not want to impair their relations with North Korea. The former countries strongly opposed referring to North Korea by name and using strong language in urging Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear arsenal.Initially, China and South Korea reportedly were negative toward mentioning issues related to North Korea even through indirect language.North Korea is stepping up its brinkmanship diplomacy by telling the United States that it has reprocessed more than 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods and that it already possesses nuclear arms. Under the circumstances, it is not yet known when six nations that have a stake in the North Korean issue, including Russia, will be able to meet for another round of negotiations.Govt needs new Asia strategyEfforts to make Pyongyang abandon its nuclear arms program inevitably require not only dialogue, but also international pressure. Koizumi must patiently work to convince the Chinese and South Korean leaders that pressure is essential to accomplish the goal.How each nation will respond to the North Korean problem is bound to significantly affect a future framework for regional order and security.Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are drawing closer together, as shown by their nations' agreement to adopt Bali Concord II, a blueprint that envisions a European-style single market.The move comes at a time when China is striving to increase its ties with ASEAN members in economic, political and security spheres. Beijing's commitment in this respect can be demonstrated by its plan to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the Japanese government likely will decide not to sign the pact, concerned that doing so could undermine the Japan-U.S. security setup.Some ASEAN countries have voiced concerns that China's commitment to their cooperative framework could eclipse Japan's presence in the region while also allowing Beijing to take the lead in establishing a regional order.With all this in mind, Japan needs a clear strategy for dealing with various issues confronting the region, including the North Korean problem and its relationship with China and ASEAN members.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2003-10-08	YOSHIN0020031008dza8000k7
YOMSHI0020031008dza90000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031008dza90000h	EN	\N	Joint intervention needed to stem yen's appreciation.	There is speculation that the yen's value may continue to surge now that the yen-dollar rate has broken 110 yen, which market players viewed as a psychological Rubicon. The ongoing robust yen-buying, dollar-selling operations are being led by foreign investors who believe the Japanese economy is recovering at long last.	4	2003-10-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the rapid surge in the yen's value could deal a blow to Japan's export drive and export-related businesses, thus nipping the economic recovery in the bud. According to an estimate by one financial institution, a rise in the yen's value could push down the nation's domestic gross product by an annualized 0.4 percent in real terms if the level stayed below 110 yen against the dollar.To put the economy back on the road to full recovery, further progress in the yen's appreciation and the dollar's depreciation must be contained. The government should not hesitate to intervene in the currency market through bold yen-selling and dollar-buying operations.Treasuries plan worth a tryIt is disturbing to note that outstanding debts incurred under a special foreign exchange account operated by the government are nearing the limit imposed under general provisions of the budget. This has aroused concerns that these debts may pose a hurdle to active market intervention by the government, which uses a portion of funds under the special account to achieve that goal.Although the government is considering raising the limit by drawing up a supplementary budget, that approach will take time because the Diet must approve a new budget.Under another proposal, the Bank of Japan would purchase some government holdings in U.S. Treasuries as a means of providing the government with funds for market intervention. We believe the proposal is worth considering as an emergency measure.The surge in the yen's value against the dollar started in early August, when foreign investors stepped up their purchase of Japanese stocks. The foreign investors' move encouraged yen-buying operations in foreign exchange markets.The yen's appreciation was accelerated by a joint statement issued at a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven major industrialized nations on Sept. 20. The statement called for more flexible foreign exchange policies. Market players saw this as an attempt to restrict market intervention by the Japanese government.Weak dollar could hurt U.S.The government and the central bank are striving to contain the yen's appreciation, as shown by their recent decision to intervene in the market by asking the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to conduct yen-selling operations on their behalf. The Japanese authorities' action was the first of its kind in 15 months.But the move has done little to curb the yen's appreciation. This is because many market players feel the Japanese government is finding it difficult to forcefully intervene in the market because of U.S. pressure for a strong yen and cheap dollar, combined with restrictions imposed by the G-7 statement.The U.S. dollar has dropped sharply in value not only against the yen, but also against the euro, the South Korean won, the Thai baht and other currencies. The dollar's depreciation is worrying not only Japan; European nations and many of this country's Asian neighbors also are concerned that the weak dollar may deal a blow to their economies.The United States cannot afford to feel at ease, either. There is reason to believe that the dollar's depreciation may decrease overseas investment in the U.S. market. That could push down stock and bond prices, raising long-term interest rates. Such a scenario could hinder an improvement in the U.S. economy.The dollar's accelerated depreciation could hurt not only the Japanese economy, but the global economy as a whole. The government and the Bank of Japan should urge the United States and European countries to jointly intervene in the market.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	727	2003-10-09	YOSHIN0020031009dza9000jc
YOMSHI0020031009dzaa0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031009dzaa0000e	EN	\N	Policy debates needed during election campaign.	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) leader Naoto Kan locked horns in the Diet's Question Time, their third confrontation after a question-and-answer session and a clash in the lower house Budget Committee. It was their sixth Question Time confrontation since the start of the ordinary Diet session this year.	4	2003-10-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, it is impossible to probe deeply into matters during a Question Time session, which lasts only 30 minutes or so.When Kan asked Koizumi to agree to hold a debate during the upcoming election campaign, the prime minister said: "Naturally I will be present at any debate among political party leaders." We sincerely hope Koizumi and Kan present compelling arguments to support their respective policies during such a debate.The debate between Koizumi and Kan became heated when they touched on the reform of the four road-related public corporations, one of the prime minister's much-touted structural reform goals.Clash over highway tollsRegarding one of the Minshuto's key pledges in its manifesto-abolishing highway tolls-Kan said the party would definitely realize this goal within three years once it takes power. He was obviously aiming to show that his party was capable of implementing policies.In response, Koizumi took issue with the Minshuto proposal, but said he would expand on his opposition to the plan later.How to dispose of the Japan Highway Public Corporation's 40 trillion yen debt if highway tolls are abolished is an extremely interesting question. However, Koizumi must explain why he is opposed to this idea.Koizumi and Kan also debated reform of the pension system and the fiscal sources needed to cover a planned increase in government contributions to the system.In connection with this, Kan said, "It is irresponsible (for Koizumi) to say he won't raise the consumption tax during his next three years as prime minister." Minshuto clearly stated in its manifesto that the consumption tax would be used to cover an increase in the government's contributions to the basic pension plan.Economic plan neededHowever, the Minshuto manifesto also said the government's share in contributions to the pension plan would be increased to half in five years by raising funds through a reduction of expenditures, among other measures. It would be only after this goal was achieved that the consumption tax would be used for the pension plan. Moreover, the manifesto said the plan would be put into practice only after the economy had recovered and the nominal economic growth rate had stabilized to about 2 percent.If so, the consumption tax rate would be raised in five years at the earliest, and if the economic recovery is delayed, introduction of the new scheme might be postponed to an even later date. Therefore, we feel it is necessary at the same time for the party to give us an idea how it plans to effect an economic recovery.The prime minister certainly should come in for criticism, but we wonder whether Kan is in a position to attack Koizumi as "irresponsible" or call his decision not to raise the consumption tax the "postponement" of a controversial issue? The two leaders must thoroughly debate the social security system and financial sources for the pension system.After the lower house is dissolved, the election campaign will begin, even before the official announcement.Leaders of the political parties must hold policy debates to shed light on various problems. It is the responsibility of political party leaders to help voters make a decision in an election.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2003-10-10	YOSHIN0020031010dzaa000jk
YOMSHI0020031010dzab0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031010dzab0000d	EN	\N	Japan's future is now in the hands of voters.	The House of Representatives was dissolved Friday for a general election. The campaign will officially start Oct. 28, with voting taking place Nov. 9. This will be the first general election in the 21st century and the first under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration.	4	2003-10-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As voters will be asked to pass judgment on the Koizumi administration, the focus of attention will be on whether the prime minister's much-touted structural reform campaign has been a success or failure.With the Liberal Democratic Party and Minshuto (Democratic Part of Japan) intensifying their rivalry, voters must choose between a coalition government led by the LDP or a government centering on Minshuto.There are many issues to be taken up in the upcoming election campaign.Concrete policies essentialThe most important task of the new government will be to revitalize the economy, which has finally begun showing signs of recovery, by putting it on the right track.How to reform the social security system, including the pension system, and secure sufficient financial resources for this purpose must also be addressed. Other issues that must be taken up are the deterioration of public order, education reform and decentralization.The economy and society are facing a number of difficulties.What role will Japan play in Iraq's reconstruction as a member of international society? What should Japan do about North Korea's nuclear development program, which is a serious threat to this country?In regard to foreign affairs and security, Japan must come up with strategic responses that take into account the world order in the future.Voters must decide which party and leader are capable of resolving these issues. The outcome of their decision will affect Japan's future course and goals.Naturally, political parties have the responsibility to present the voters with clear options on what policies they plan to undertake and how they will carry them out.Since launching his administration, Koizumi has promoted structural reforms. Whereas he insists he has made some progress, Minshuto leader Naoto Kan criticized the structural reform campaign, saying that no progress had been made so far. Nevertheless, both the LDP and Minshuto share the same goal of promoting structural reforms.Explain structural reformsHowever, from the voters' perspective, all they hear is the "structural reform" slogan. The political parties must clearly state what they mean by structural reforms, provide concrete substance and procedures for promoting those reforms, and describe what form the economy and society will take after the structural reform goals have been fulfilled.Only with such blueprints will the voters be able to cherish hopes for the future and society will be invigorated.The word "manifesto" is flying back and forth in the political world these days.Manifestos, which have taken root in British politics, are essentially designed for political parties to present clear timetables, numerical targets and the financial resources for the policies they plan to undertake. Parties also are expected to examine how much has been achieved after the relevant policies have been carried out.In one sense, the Japanese version of the manifesto is an attempt to address the voters' distrust in political parties. It seems to be a better idea than the conventional party pledges, which were full of abstract slogans that attempted to please everyone.But some of the manifestos are not much different from the old party pledges. Other manifestos appear similar to the British ones, presumably to attract voters' attention, albeit temporarily.The party policy pledges on economic policy and reform of the social security system are studded with figures. However, some of these parties fail to present concrete measures and financial resources to attain their goals.The problem is the same with the debate on the consumption tax rate.To maintain the social security system, including the pension system, the consumption tax rate must be raised to secure the necessary financial resources.Though the Minshuto manifesto stated that revenues from the consumption tax would be used to cover the basic pension system, it stopped short of specifying a clear timetable or a margin for the expected hike.For his part, Koizumi merely reiterated his position that he would not raise the consumption tax rate during his term of office. From this statement, it is hard to visualize a sustainable social security system.Debate consumption tax hikeAt one time, debates on tax hikes immediately before an election were considered taboo as political parties thought they would lose votes. But candid debates might help eliminate voters' concerns for the future. The parties should state their cases in a compelling way.The outcome of the general election might move the country into a period dominated by two major parties. In this respect, the election could provide an indication of the future political structure and the direction of party politics.While the duo of Koizumi and Secretary General Shinzo Abe will lead the LDP election campaign, Minshuto's big-name campaigners will be Kan and Ichiro Ozawa, leader of Jiyuto (Liberal Party), which was recently absorbed by Minshuto. Naturally, this is not a popularity contest, but an election over competing policies.For instance, there is lingering opposition to Koizumi's plan to privatize the three postal services-mail delivery, postal saving and life insurance-within the LDP. Minshuto, for its part, includes a number of members with diverse political positions, ranging from left to right. As the people have a deep-seated distrust in politics, the stance of political parties will come under the microscope during the election campaign.International society is undergoing drastic changes. At the same time, politics, the economy and society in this country are at the crossroads. Because these are fast-changing times, we believe it is necessary to draw up a picture of what the state should be like.The Constitution is the basic law that reflects the state's structure. Therefore, it also will be an important task of responsible political parties to hold in-depth discussions for drawing up a new Constitution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1044	2003-10-11	YOSHIN0020031011dzab000h7
YOMSHI0020031011dzac0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031011dzac0000d	EN	\N	Business expansion not what Japan Post needs.	Japan Post, which was inaugurated this April by refashioning itself from a government organization into a public corporation, has started preparing to expand the services it offers, including selling new postal life insurance products.	4	2003-10-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	New services planned by Japan Post include the sale of whole life insurance with a term insurance rider-in which policyholders would receive a large amount of coverage over a specific term and a smaller amount for the rest of their lives-and over-the-counter sales of investment trusts.The nation's three postal services-mail service, postal savings and postal life insurance (kampo)-which had been under direct control of the Public Management Ministry-were taken over by Japan Post in April. Despite the takeover, however, the three postal services continue to be operated by the state.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi emphasized that "those services that can be handled by the private sector should be left to the private sector," as a basic principle of the structural reform he champions. In this regard, Japan Post's new businesses signify a deviation from this principle. The government should not approve such a development.Muscling in on private sectorWhole life insurance with a term insurance rider, which Japan Post has applied for approval to sell, is a leading product of private life insurers. It accounts for more than 60 percent of life insurance contracts. If Japan Post enters into this line of business, it will inevitably compete with private-sector businesses.When asked why Japan Post was entering this line of business, Japan Post President Masaharu Ikuta said it was to "shore up our rapidly shrinking life insurance business," now that new contracts for kampo postal life insurance were on the decline.Yet the total funds for kampo policies had reached about 125 trillion yen as of the end of fiscal 2002. Over the last 10 years, the total amount of money in kampo policies has doubled, and is now approximately four times as much as the total funds held by Nippon Life Insurance Co., the nation's biggest life insurer. "Kampo has been growing quickly," said Tomijiro Morita, chairman of the Life Insurance Association of Japan, a statement which may be all too true.The recent decline in new postal life insurance contracts is chiefly due to the decline in investment returns during a period of low interest rates, but such difficulties are also faced by private life insurance companies.Over-the-counter sales of investment trusts are being studied as part of the government's measures to shore up the stock market. By selling investment trusts at 24,000 post offices across the nation, the government will attempt to draw individual investors' money into the stock market.While such attempts can be understood to some extent, it would also allow Japan Post to enter into the over-the-counter securities business.An unfair advantageIt would be unfair if Japan Post were allowed to enter into any financial services businesses, as private-sector financial institutions are strictly regulated over their ability to enter other lines of businesses.Japan Post is in an advantageous position in terms of its ability to compete with private-sector financial institutions.For instance, it is exempt from paying corporate tax and local enterprise tax, both of which private-sector firms are required to pay. As insurance payments are guaranteed by the government, there is no fear of insurance payouts being reduced as a result of a corporate failure, a risk faced by private-sector firms.It is quite unusual that a state-run financial institution, which receives preferential treatment from the central government, has collected about 350 trillion yen and has taken business from private-sector rivals.The issue of reviewing Japan Post's business operations will be a focal point in the upcoming general election. What is urgently needed is not the expansion of Japan Post's services, but efforts to give concrete shape to the privatization of this state-run enterprise.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	705	2003-10-12	YOSHIN0020031014dzac000h7
YOMSHI0020031012dzad0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031012dzad0000f	EN	\N	Parties must address economic recovery.	We long to somehow be returned to a succession of bright days on the economic front. The people, who have long suffered the woes of a deflation-led recession, are hoping that the upcoming general election will bring this about.	4	2003-10-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a recent public poll taken by The Yomiuri Shimbun, 55 percent of those polled wanted the government to shift its policy to one that prioritizes economic stimulus measures.But campaign pledges and manifestos produced by the major parties are unconvincing, lacking any concrete prescriptions for getting the economy onto a recovery track.Presently, the economy is at the crossroads of a full swing toward recovery. Many recent economic indicators have signalled that the economy has bottomed out and is beginning to recover.Nonetheless, it is also true that the actual state of the economy is not as bright and brisk as these indicators suggest.For instance, the nation's gross domestic product posted a growth higher than expected for the April-June period, but that growth was inflated by special factors, including an increase in demand for environmentally friendly trucks because of stricter emission controls on diesel-powered vehicles.Self-sustainable recovery vitalThe economy may have bottomed out, but that is chiefly because of an upturn in exports in response to a recovery in the U.S. economy. Should the U.S. economic recovery run out of steam and the value of the yen rise too fast, there is a risk the Japanese economy will stall again.Government policy management in the days ahead should be aimed at realizing a self-sustainable recovery led by domestic demand.In its campaign pledge, the Liberal Democratic Party made the target of "realizing at least a 2-percent nominal economic growth in fiscal 2006" the pillar of its economic policy.The 2-percent-plus growth is based on the assumption that the deflator-which shows the overall price trend-in fiscal 2006 would, according to the government's calculations, rise 0.7 percent from the previous year, with the economy rescued from deflationary pressure.However, the deflator for the April-June quarter this year posted a 2.5 percent drop from the corresponding period last year, indicating that the economy was still under deflationary pressure.Manifestos lack concrete termsIn spite of this, the LDP's campaign pledge does not incorporate any full-scale deflation-fighting measures. How can the government realize these numerical targets, as the LDP promises it will?Meantime, the leading opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) in its manifesto said it would map out a five-year economic revival plan should the party come into power. This merely puts off the need to draft concrete measures. If the party really aims to take over, it should present specific plans.It is also necessary to map out ways to proceed with coordinating policy between the government and the Bank of Japan.The BOJ decided late last week that it would continue with its ultraloose monetary policy until the rate of increase in the consumer price index was no longer expected to dip into negative territory again. The latest decision was apparently based on the blunder it made in August 2000, when it lifted its zero interest rate for banks, which resulted in prolonging the deflation-led recession.Mistakes in government have often stalled economic recovery in the past, preventing full-fledged economic recovery. We hope all political parties and candidates in the upcoming election will address each other and the problems responsibly, so as not to repeat past mistakes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2003-10-13	YOSHIN0020031014dzad00127
YOMSHI0020031014dzaf0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031014dzaf0000l	EN	\N	N. Korea recalcitrant on abduction issue.	"When I think of my family left behind in North Korea, my heart aches," Hitomi Soga, one of the five abductees, wrote in a letter she sent to The Yomiuri Shimbun recently.	4	2003-10-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the letter, Soga described how deeply she yearned to be reunited in Japan with the husband and two daughters she left behind in North Korea.The abductions were criminal acts committed by the North Korean state. At the Japan-North Korea summit meeting held in Pyongyang last September, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il admitted to Koizumi that North Korean agents masterminded the abductions, for which he apologized. It is only right for North Korea to let the abductees' family members in North Korea come to Japan immediately.But North Korea has not only failed to do so; through its words and deeds it has repeatedly acted in a high-handed manner. Unofficial remarks made by spokesmen for its Foreign Ministry are one example of such arrogance.Remarks made by the spokesmen have included, "The abduction issue was solved when the Pyongyang Declaration was issued (after the Koizumi-Kim summit talks)," and, "The Japanese authorities should return the (five) survivors to Pyongyang, where their families are waiting."North Korea also has claimed that if Japan insists on bringing up the abduction issue at the six-nation talks involving Japan, North and South Korea, the United States, China, and Russia, it will refuse to participate in the talks.Such statements are mean-spirited.Koizumi should speak outNorth Korea has escalated its provocative stance toward Japan since Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi referred to the abduction issue in her speech at the U.N. General Assembly. She was the first Japanese foreign minister to broach the subject at the assembly.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has chosen not to respond forcefully to Pyongyang's comments, simply saying, "Japan won't let itself be swayed by any provocative remarks." But if he remains silent on the issue, it will send the wrong message to North Korea.The abduction case is not an issue that only concerns the five returned abductees. The government has called on North Korea to reinvestigate the cases of eight other abductees whom Pyongyang claimed had died and has submitted to North Korea a list of 150 questions, including how the abductees died and why there were discrepancies in the dates of birth given for some of them in a report on the abductions that North Korea gave Japan. Pyongyang has shown no sign of responding to these requests.United front neededIn the past year, there has been a marked change in sentiment among the Japanese public on the abduction issue.Groups that had long sided with North Korea and described the abduction cases as fabrications are fast losing public support at home.In the run-up to the House of Representatives election in November, the five major political parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), have referred to the abduction issue in their campaign pledges.Japan should reinforce such unity so as not to let North Korea take advantage of it on the abduction issue.The government's basic stance is to solve the abduction issue in tandem with the issue of North Korea's nuclear and missile development. In doing so, it is vital for Japan, the United States and South Korea to cooperate with each other more closely on these issues.For the time being, Japan should seek support from other countries on the abduction issue on such occasions as the upcoming Japan-U.S. summit talks and the meeting of the leaders of the member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.Establishing a solid international net encircling North Korea on these issues will lead to the resolution of the abduction issue and the reuniting in Japan of the five abductees with their eight family members.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	694	2003-10-15	YOSHIN0020031015dzaf000nc
YOMSHI0020031015dzag0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031015dzag0000h	EN	\N	Prescription needed for pension reform.	Lawmakers must act to allay such concerns as a matter of urgency. In particular, they must overcome people's distrust in the pension system, which is supposed to support them after they retire.	4	2003-10-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Pension reform is one of the subjects in manifestos parties have drawn up for the upcoming House of Representatives election.The largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has made particularly bold reform proposals, such as the creation of a pension system that takes account of people's income and covers the entire population, and a basic pension plan targeting low-income earners that will be funded by tax revenues. The party also referred to the possibility of using some consumption tax revenues to fund the national pension system.Manifestos short on detailBy broaching the issue of the consumption tax, which the public is reluctant to see rise, Minshuto has certainly taken the bull by the horns. But it failed to set out the concrete amount of pension premiums and benefits to be paid in the future. Its manifesto also skirted the issues of the timetable and margin of the consumption tax hike-key points in the debate on raising the tax.The contents of the manifesto do not give voters enough information to make a decision in the lower house election.But we regret to say that there is even less substance in the Liberal Democratic Party's policy pledge. It simply states that the party will compile a reform plan by the end of this year and submit it to the ordinary Diet session next year. It stops short of touching on how to come up with the 2.7 trillion yen that will be needed to raise the government's share of contributions in the basic pension plan from one-third to half.As for the issue of the consumption tax hike, the party merely stated that a national debate would be held to form a consensus on the issue. In this respect, it is difficult to say that the party has fulfilled its accountability to voters.The law stipulates that the state share of the basic pension plan will be raised next year. But because of the difficulty of securing the funds to do so, both Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Minshuto have expressed their intention to raise the state burden in stages by allotting revenues other than those earned from the consumption tax.If so, they must spell out how this will be achieved as soon as possible. Their failure to do so would mean shelving the issue.Intensify policy debatesSome opposition parties are urging that spending on public works projects be cut and the money saved used to raise the state share of the basic pension plan.It is certainly vital to cut wasteful expenditures as much as possible. But can 2.7 trillion yen really be saved by reducing public works and other spending? Given that the government's share in the pension system will definitely continue increasing in the future, clumsy handling of pension reform would simply increase the public distrust in the pension program. In this regard, it is inevitable that the consumption tax, which is shared by all generations broadly and lightly, will end up being used exclusively for social security purposes.It will not be long before Japan enters the age of population decline. Therefore, many people in the country believe it will be unavoidable to raise the consumption tax rate to boost the social security system.We urge all political parties to present a more concrete and effective course of reform through policy debates from now on. People are seeking a prescription that will relieve them, even though it may taste bitter.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	667	2003-10-16	YOSHIN0020031016dzag000i9
YOMSHI0020031016dzah0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031016dzah0000h	EN	\N	What is China's ultimate aim in space?	With this success, China has become the third nation to put a man in space after the former Soviet Union and the United States. It certainly is a great leap forward for China to become a leader in the field of space development.	4	2003-10-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The main purpose of China's space program in the short term was to enhance the country's international prestige before the Beijing Olympic games open in 2008. It also is expected to help the Communist Party maintain and strengthen its single-party rule.However, launching a manned spacecraft, which was an extremely expensive endeavor, was not undertaken merely for political reasons.The space program is linked strongly with China's military strategy. Although Beijing says the mission was designed for the peaceful development of space, its space program has been undertaken mainly by the military. Space technology can easily be used for military purposes.Shifting to the unknownMore than 40 years have passed since Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth in 1961. Since then, more than 400 people from around the world have been sent into space. Now, using a Russian spacecraft, space tourism has become possible, although it costs about 2 billion yen per person.Concerning the peaceful use of space technology, the question is what will be undertaken in space? The main purpose of space programs these days has shifted to exploring the unknown by carrying out complex scientific experiments and development of new materials.China is believed to have spent about 300 billion yen on its manned spacecraft program, much more than Japan has spent on developing the H-2A rocket.Since 1979, Japan has extended a total of 3 trillion yen in official development assistance to China. However, in line with China's rising economic and military power, Japan cut its ODA to China by 40 percent last year compared to assistance extended in fiscal 2000. Even so, China received about 130 billion yen last year.Is ODA to Beijing necessary?Is it necessary to continue extending such financial assistance to a country that has used a massive amount of money to send an astronaut into space? We can expect mounting calls in this country to review the ODA program for China.China's success in the manned space program indicates that the country possesses highly advanced technology. However, it also is true that it lacks new technologies.Beijing reportedly has more ambitious plans, such as constructing a space station and putting a man on the moon. It also is expected to aggressively advance into the space business, particularly in launching satellites, taking advantage of its cost-effectiveness.For its part, Japan, which has boasted that it is Asia's leader in the field of the space development, has set the development of a cost-effective rocket as its next goal. As for manned space activities, it plans to nurture expertise through its experience at the International Space Station, now under construction.Though some people are calling for Japan to launch its own manned spacecraft, there is no need to cross swords with other countries in this field. It is more important for Japan to make steady progress in research and development.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2003-10-17	YOSHIN0020031017dzah000iz
YOMSHI0020031017dzai0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031017dzai0000i	EN	\N	Japan must take initiative in Iraq's reconstruction.	Earlier, the government decided to extend 1.5 billion dollars, or about 165 billion yen, in grants for 2004. Japan's total contribution, including loans, is expected to amount to 5 billion dollars, or about 550 billion yen, over a four-year period until 2007.	4	2003-10-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a recent U.N. and World Bank estimate, Iraq's reconstruction will cost 55 billion dollars. Japan's contribution is roughly equivalent to 10 percent of this amount.Koizumi's promise of such a generous contribution is significant in that it comes shortly before international donors open a conference on Iraq's rehabilitation in Madrid on Thursday.Goal may be difficult to realizeTwo days ago, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of a multinational force and international cooperation in raising funds for Iraq's postwar rehabilitation. However, it is uncertain whether the U.N. resolution will be able to accomplish this goal.In fact, France, Russia and Germany have said they will not provide troops for the envisaged multinational force. Although they will pay a portion of the 230 million dollars European Union contribution for Iraq's reconstruction in 2004, France and Germany will not provide any additional aid for that cause.With this in mind, Japan should take the lead in calling for global cooperation in Iraq's rehabilitation by, for example, urging other donors at the Madrid meeting to be generous.During debates at the last extraordinary Diet session, some lawmakers insisted that it was too early for Japan to extend support for Iraq's rehabilitation. They said Japan should wait until an Iraqi government had been formed and had started working to rehabilitate the country with the help of the United Nations.This line of reasoning is nonsense. The most important task facing the international community is to make sure the circumstances surrounding Iraq are conducive to successfully forming a democratic Iraqi government.Important tasks aheadThe Middle East is the world's largest oil producer. If the international community fails to rebuild and stabilize Iraq, the Middle East situation will deteriorate and the global economy will be seriously affected.Stability in the region is extremely important for Japan, which relies on the area for 90 percent of its crude oil. Some critics say Japan's contribution to Iraq's rehabilitation is a burden that covers the "war expenditures" incurred by the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq.That should be dismissed as an outrageous argument.Japanese contributions to Iraq's reconstruction will be used to repair the nation's infrastructure to provide electric power, public health, education and other essential services. Achieving this goal will eventually help stabilize the Middle East.This is also true with Japan's decision to send Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to Iraq, which is an initiative taken on the basis of special legislation adopted for Iraq's rehabilitation, not a move to join the multinational force formed under a new U.N. resolution.The SDF will extend logistical support for the coalition forces in their effort to maintain peace and order in Iraq, while also supporting the lives of Iraqis through efforts to purify and supply water.It is in the interest of Japan to send personnel and extend financial aid to Iraq to help reconstruct and stabilize that country.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2003-10-18	YOSHIN0020031018dzai000jp
YOMSHI0020031019dzak00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031019dzak00008	EN	\N	What form should political parties take?	The nation's economy and society, both of which have been sluggish for a protracted period of time, have much to do with party politics, which have not been functioning well.	4	2003-10-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Despite these issues, however, campaign pledges and manifestos of major political parties have made little reference to the form a political party should take. In the run-up to the Nov. 9 House of Representatives election, it is necessary for this issue to be seriously discussed. Yet so far there has been little discussion on the issue.The Liberal Democratic Party, which touts itself as "a party to promote reforms," says it will "drastically promote party reforms," by strengthening its policymaking functions and fostering and promoting talented people. Yet the party has failed to clarify what concrete steps it will take to realize these aims.The issue of the form a party should take has nothing to do with its policies. The fact that other major parties, including Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), have not mentioned this issue in their manifestos or campaign pledges is perhaps not surprising.Yet according to recent polls taken by The Yomiuri Shimbun, unaffiliated voters regularly account for more than 40 percent of respondents. Voters' distrust in the established parties has been deeply rooted since the 1990s.Era of shifting alignmentsWith the inauguration of a non-LDP-led ruling coalition under then Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa in 1993, Japan entered an era of ruling coalitions. Among them was the one in which the LDP joined hands with the Japan Socialist Party (JSP), but failed to promptly carry out necessary policies because of the parties' differences over key issues.As seen in the merger of Minshuto and Jiyuto (Liberal Party) just prior to the dissolution of the lower house, there have been a series of changing party alignments, and many Diet members have switched parties. For voters, such developments can be hard to follow.Parties inevitably change with the times, such as when there is a generational change.Fifty legislators retired from politics following the lower house dissolution.Former LDP Secretary General Hiromu Nonaka, who stood against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in the recent party presidential election, was one of 26 LDP Diet members to retire. This symbolized the limitations of conventional politics led by intra-party factions.New system neededOne issue the LDP should address is building a new party system to replace the old one.While a generational change is under way, more than 20 candidates expected to run in the upcoming general election are related to politicians. For voters, a political party may resemble a closed society.Minshuto comprises various groups of people who came from the defunct Jiyuto or the former JSP and who differ on key policies. In the LDP, many members oppose Koizumi's policies on such issues as privatizing the postal services, diplomacy and national security.If a particular party comes to power, voters should have some misgivings about intra-party coordination over and smooth implementation of policies.Now is the time for every political party to respond to the changing times. We would like to hear opinions from parties on the form political parties and party politics should take.The issue of how to overhaul party politics should be among the key issues to be considered in the upcoming general election.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2003-10-20	YOSHIN0020031020dzak00125
YOMSHI0020031020dzal0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031020dzal0000g	EN	\N	N. Korea must first abandon N-program.	In separate summit talks with Japanese, Chinese and South Korean leaders, U.S. President George W. Bush said he is considering giving North Korea assurances on security, possibly in writing, within the framework of the six-country talks, in return for Pyongyang promising to abandon its nuclear program.	4	2003-10-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Chinese President Hu Jintao and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun have backed Bush's move.Bush's proposal is the best possible concession Washington could offer Pyongyang with an eye to restarting the six-nation talks among Japan, China, Russia, the United States and the two Koreas, which have been suspended since August.Bush proposal best alternativePyongyang has been calling on Washington to desist from its hostile policy toward North Korea and has been insisting a nonaggression treaty be concluded.However, Bush is refusing to conclude a treaty that is legally binding. This refusal is a reasonable one given that North Korea has continued to press ahead with its nuclear weapons program and no multinational framework of peace has been achieved on the Korean Peninsula.Bush's new proposal is aimed at offering security assurances to North Korea in one form or another instead of a nonaggression treaty.Should North Korea refuse to agree to the resumption of the six-nation talks and continue with its nuclear development program, tension will escalate further and the international community will be forced to make an important decision.In light of this, North Korea must make a wise choice.If the six-way talks resume, the issue of the form and content of a written security assurance will become an item of high priority. Even if North Korea is given a written promise, the problem of whether it will fulfill its side of the pledge and abandon its nuclear program will remain.What would be required are concrete, infallible procedures for verifying North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear program. It would have to dismantle and scrap its nuclear facilities and nuclear materials in a manner that is irreversible.Japan's security paramountEven if a written assurance is to be made, careful consideration should be given to when it is signed. Security assurances should not be given too readily, such as in return for an insincere declaration by Pyongyang that it will abandon its nuclear program.It also would be totally unacceptable for any written assurance to contain wording that may undermine the peace and safety of Japan.We cannot allow a situation to develop whereby even if attacked by North Korea, by missiles for example, the Japan-U.S. security arrangements would not function, and the United States, bound by its security assurances, would not be able to strike back at North Korea on Japan's behalf.There are concerns that Beijing and Seoul, both of which show some understanding toward Pyongyang, may call for an assurance that is too concessive.Japan needs to keep a close watch on how the countries involved in the six-way talks act in the days ahead so as not to show any weakness to North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2003-10-21	YOSHIN0020031021dzal000mk
YOMSHI0020031022dzam0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031022dzam0000i	EN	\N	Peace, stability needed for Asia-Pacific to thrive.	The 21-nation APEC summit concluded two days of talks in Bangkok on Tuesday after adopting a joint declaration.	4	2003-10-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The declaration noted that transnational terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction pose "direct and profound challenges" to APEC states. Given these threats, ASEAN leaders vowed to strengthen efforts to contain them. They also adopted a statement concerning health security that centers on the prevention of bioterrorism attacks.APEC members made clear their united front against terrorism apparently because Southeast Asian countries continue to be at high risk of attacks from international terrorist groups, mainly Islamic extremists, a factor that is feared will hinder economic development in the region.Tighter export controls neededOn his current tour of Asia, U.S. President George W. Bush is visiting four Southeast Asian countries to indicate his resolve to continue his fight against terrorism, positioning the region as the "second front" in the U.S. antiterrorism campaign.But some APEC member states expressed opposition to stressing joint antiterrorism efforts, saying they are unrelated to the organization's essential function of promoting economic cooperation.But the region will not be able to enjoy economic development without peace and stability. Therefore, ASEAN leaders should take every possible measure to eliminate terrorism.For its part, it is natural for Japan, a neighbor of the terrorist state of North Korea, to play its part in the antiterrorism fight and stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.North Korea, which is building nuclear weapons, has opened up new routes to procure parts for developing weapons of mass destruction through such third nations as Thailand. To block Pyongyang's dangerous moves, Japan should share information with other countries concerned and promote measures to tighten controls on exports and to inspect vessels.China has pivotal role to playIn the face of objections lodged by China and Russia, APEC leaders decided not to adopt a declaration calling on North Korea to give up its nuclear development program. Consequently, the North Korean issue was merely mentioned in passing by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at a press conference. Thaksin called on the country to peacefully resolve the issue through dialogue.China and Russia reportedly opposed making direct reference to North Korea in the declaration because they were concerned that doing so would provoke Pyongyang ahead of the restart of six-nation talks on the nuclear dispute. But we are afraid that the decision sent the wrong signal to Pyongyang.In particular, we urge China, which has influence over North Korea, to recognize its responsibility to try to persuade the country to agree to resuming negotiations on abandoning its nuclear program.On the economic front, the leaders agreed to urge the World Trade Organization to restart the latest round of multilateral trade liberalization talks at the earliest possible date following the collapse of the talks at the ministerial meeting in Mexico.APEC member states are also leading members of the WTO. Given this, APEC leaders should display leadership so the WTO can restart talks toward concluding a new global trade deal as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2003-10-22	YOSHIN0020031022dzam000nk
YOMSHI0020031022dzan00039	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031022dzan00039	EN	\N	Iran must match words with deeds.	The country, which was the subject of an IAEA resolution that demanded it comply with these measures, on Tuesday conveyed its decision to the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany. In return for compliance with the resolution, the three visiting ministers pledged to provide Iran with the latest nuclear technology on condition that it allay suspicions that it aims to build atomic bombs.	4	2003-10-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If Iran had remained uncooperative, the issue likely would have been brought before the U.N. Security Council. In that event, it was feared that tensions between the Islamic country and the international community would escalate. It seems Iran made a pragmatic decision to prevent such a crisis from developing and to avoid being ostracized by the international community.Complete disclosure vitalOf course, it is up to Iran to prove that the concerns expressed concerning its nuclear ambitions are misplaced. Although Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has denied that the country intends to develop nuclear weapons, Iran must be fully aware that it has no choice other than to show through deeds as well as words that its nuclear program is intended purely for peaceful purposes.As the first step in this process, Iran must expedite efforts to sign the Additional Protocol. Tehran said it probably would sign the protocol on nuclear checks by the time of the next IAEA board meeting on Nov. 20, but following this, early ratification and implementation of the protocol would ensure the transparency of Iran's nuclear program and help restore the international community's trust in Iran.Iran also pledged that it would fully disclose information on its past uranium-enrichment activities.When the IAEA found weapons-grade enriched uranium at two facilities in central Iran, Tehran insisted that the substance must have been brought into the country via imported machinery. But it failed to give further information to support that contention. Iran must disclose all information sought by the IAEA, including that concerning the weapons-grade enriched uranium, by the Oct. 31 deadline specified in the IAEA resolution.Politics a complicating factorBut the political situation in Iran is posing a serious concern. In the country, religious conservatives, whose supreme goal is to maintain the authority of Muslim clerics, and reformists, who want to promote freedom of speech and improve relations with Western countries, are at loggerheads over various issues-a factor that makes the country's political situation volatile.In connection with the nuclear arms dispute, when the reformist Khatami administration sought ways to work out a compromise with the IAEA, conservatives thwarted the move. This bodes ill for the future solution of the crisis.At the same time, it should be noted that the international community's united efforts and resolute attitude succeeded in forcing Iran to make concessions.There is an important lesson for the international community in this diplomatic success that should be applied in dealing with the dispute over North Korea's nuclear development program, which poses a serious threat to Japan's peace and security.With the aim of resuming the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear program, Japan, the United States, China, South Korea and Russia must press the country to abandon its nuclear weapons, taking a similar stance to that adopted in the dispute with Iran.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2003-10-23	YOSHIN0020031023dzan000is
YOMSHI0020031023dzao0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031023dzao0000d	EN	\N	Fighting crime obligation of political parties.	The need to defend peace and order at home has been emphasized by the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partners, New Komeito and Hoshushinto (New Conservative Party), as well as the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), in the policy pledges they announced for the Nov. 9 general election. The LDP's election platform calls for "ending the crisis facing this nation's peace and order within five years." Minshuto says it will work to "resolutely combat crime so people can live in safe communities again."	4	2003-10-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The importance of fighting crime has never been so seriously discussed by political parties as in this election. A party striving for power must put on its thinking cap and determine what should be done about crime. Both the ruling and opposition parties should be taken to task for their indifference in this respect.According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey conducted in spring, more than 90 percent of respondents said peace and order in this country had deteriorated over the past several years.Huge increase in feloniesThe outcome of the survey is not surprising. Since the 1980s, there has been a continuous increase in the number of crimes committed nationwide. The figure is close to 3 million annually. This is appalling considering that the figure stood at less than 1.5 million annually for many years after the end of World War II.It is also disturbing to see a rise in the number of serious crimes committed by foreign residents. This situation has been exacerbated by the growing threat of international terrorism.Peace and order calls for coordinated efforts by the criminal justice system as a whole. A number of government institutions are involved in this task, including the police, public prosecutors, the immigration authorities, the Japan Coast Guard and customs offices. Comprehensive measures by these authorities are essential to fight crime successfully. With this in mind, politicians and political parties must take their responsibilities to heart.All political parties want to increase the number of police officers and ensure that no police box is left unoccupied while officers are on the beat. The number of emergency calls received by the police has increased by about 40 percent over the past five years. In 2002, the number of such calls stood at about 8.9 million. Last year, the number of cases in which members of the public sought advice from the police exceeded 1 million for the first time.The acute shortage of police officers is a matter of serious concern not only for the police themselves, but also for many local governments suffering from deteriorating public security situations in their regions. Members of the public find it disturbing that police boxes in their areas are sometimes left unoccupied while police officers are on patrol. Something should be done to deal with this problem.Shortage of personnelThe police are not the only government organization to suffer a shortage of personnel. This problem also afflicts the immigration offices and many other entities. The Tokyo metropolitan government has decided to send personnel to immigration offices in the capital to deal with problems concerning illegal foreign residents. The central government should have addressed this problem earlier.It is also necessary to review relevant laws. The LDP, New Komeito and Hoshushinto have proposed stepping up efforts to regulate foreigners entering and leaving the country. Minshuto wants to impose tougher penalties against criminals, including broadening the range of crimes punishable by life imprisonment. Both proposals should be considered as soon as possible.Meanwhile, Minshuto and the Social Democratic Party have called for a freeze on or an end to the law authorizing wiretaps in investigating organized crime. However, their proposals reflect their tendency to address pertinent issues from a narrow point of view. Both parties should observe how the United States and European nations are fighting domestic and foreign crime organizations. Japan should not allow itself to be left defenseless against crime.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	726	2003-10-24	YOSHIN0020031024dzao000lr
YOMSHI0020031024dzap0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031024dzap0000f	EN	\N	Does age really matter in the political world?	Yasuhiro Nakasone-an elder politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a determined proponent of revising the Constitution-has long called for a complete "reconsideration" of this nation's post-World War II politics.	4	2003-10-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On the other hand, Kiichi Miyazawa-another senior LDP politician and an opponent of constitutional revision-wants to pass postwar politics on to a new generation.Both politicians have accomplished great achievements in postwar politics. Their statements still carry a lot of weight.The 85-year-old Nakasone flatly rejected Koizumi's request to retire from politics, saying, "I'll never accept (the request) by any means." The 84-year-old Miyazawa said he was prepared to quit because "I cannot put (Koizumi) to shame."On Thursday, Koizumi asked the former prime ministers to retire under an LDP regulation stipulating that party candidates running in proportional representation contests should be no older than 73. His request reflected the LDP leadership's desire to show voters that the party has shed its old skin.Nakasone, Miyazawa differentIt should be noted, however, that the circumstances surrounding the initial bids of Nakasone and Miyazawa to run in the Nov. 9 House of Representative election are different.In the 1996 lower house election, the LDP's top cadre asked Nakasone to give up running in a single-seat constituency in Gunma Prefecture. Instead, it was promised that he would permanently top the list of party candidates fielded under the proportional representation system.This was something Miyazawa was never asked to do.In the 2000 general election, Miyazawa chose to run in the proportional representation race to allow a nephew to run in the single-seat constituency where the former prime minister held a seat. However, Nakasone did not ask a relative to run for the seat he held when he switched to the proportional representation race.After serving as prime minister until 1993, Miyazawa was named finance minister under the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi in 1998. He was likened to former Finance Minister Korekiyo Takahashi (1854-1936), who successfully pulled the nation out of a serious financial crisis in the early Showa era (1926-1989).Takahashi was 81 years old when he was murdered in the Feb. 26 Incident in 1936, while serving as finance minister. In those days, it was surprising for people to live beyond the age of 50. Given the longevity of contemporary Japanese, Miyazawa has reason to regret retiring from politics.Constitutional revision goalIn rejecting Koizumi's appeal for him to resign, Nakasone cited the pursuit of his goal to revise the Constitution. "I have dedicated my entire political career to this goal," he said. In fact, Nakasone has attended every session of the lower house Research Commission on the Constitution. His diligence is in stark contrast to the attitude of junior legislators on the commission.Nakasone's angry reaction to Koizumi's request may reflect his determination to continue to serve as a lawmaker with the aim of fulfilling his lifelong goal. He probably is more determined than ever now that the LDP has pledged to put together a draft of a new constitution in 2005.Nakasone once challenged the LDP's rule on the age limit, saying that party candidates should be chosen "through both a 100-meter swimming race and an essay contest requiring candidates to state their opinions on international politics." Even today, he speaks sharply about issues for more than 30 minutes, without prepared notes. This shows that Nakasone has not lost what it takes to serve as an active politician-intellect and mental and physical power.Koizumi's stance puzzlingNaoto Kan, leader of the main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has commented on the ongoing confusion. "Is age all that counts? Some old candidates may include those who have ability and stamina, and they are needed in this day and age. Voters should decide whether such candidates should be elected or not," he said.Kan's remark was intended as a sarcastic comment on the LDP's confusion. However, it seems to reflect his honest feelings.In 2001, Koizumi unveiled a Cabinet that included 79-year-old Masajuro Shiokawa as finance minister. He called Shiokawa's appointment part of an effort to maintain a balance among young, middle-aged and elderly members of the Cabinet. This is in sharp contrast to Koizumi's latest call for "transition of power between generations and rejuvenation of the party." His occasional changes of heart are not easy to understand.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	813	2003-10-25	YOSHIN0020031025dzap000k1
YOMSHI0020031025dzaq0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031025dzaq0000d	EN	\N	Nation must aid Iraq in spite of fiscal woes.	The donors' conference was the first to address the problem of finding ways to finance Iraq's postwar rehabilitation.	4	2003-10-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The amount of donations pledged by Japan, the United States and other participants did not come close to 55 billion dollars, the figure earlier cited by the United Nations as an estimate of the amount needed over a four-year period for the reconstruction of Iraq. However, the amount of aid and loans promised by the donors for 2004, the initial year, exceeded the target set by the United Nations.Prior to the two-day meeting, Japan was determined to ensure that the amount promised by the donors reached the goal set for 2004, aiming to make progress in this initial stage of a global campaign to help rebuild Iraq. The international donors deserve credit for reaching that goal.The donors also agreed to establish trust funds under the oversight of the United Nations and the World Bank. The money pledged by the donors will be placed in these accounts.The success in meeting the initial goal set for funds for Iraq's rehabilitation can be attributed, in part, to pledges of new donations from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Arab oil-producing nations.All-out global effort needed nowFrance, Germany and Russia declined to extend grants or loans from their own coffers. This reflected their determination to wait until a provisional Iraqi government has been established before extending aid to that country.Admittedly, it is important to produce a timetable for the launch of an Iraqi administration as soon as possible. However, we feel that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was correct in saying global efforts to rebuild Iraq cannot wait until rule over the war-torn country reverts to the Iraqis.Progress has been made in restoring infrastructure needed to supply electric power and other necessities. It should be noted, however, that Iraqis are still experiencing many difficulties. The jobless rate stands at 50-70 percent amid a sharp rise in the prices of commodities and rent. If these problems are left unresolved, there is reason to believe that Iraq could be reduced to becoming a hotbed of terrorism. In light of this, no time should be wasted in extending full-scale global aid for Iraq's reconstruction.Japan must guard its interestsDuring the Madrid meeting, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi pledged to extend 1.5 billion dollars in grants for 2004, and up to 3.5 billion dollars in yen-denominated loans and others for the three-year period after that. Japan was the second-largest donor after the United States.Japan has great incentive to cooperate in U.S.-led efforts to rehabilitate Iraq, given its alliance with the United States. This is particularly important in that the U.S. and British forces are experiencing great difficulties in controlling postwar Iraq.It is also important to note that efforts to stabilize Iraq are essential to the national interests of Japan, which relies on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its oil imports.Japan's massive pledge of aid for Iraq's rehabilitation should be seen as a burden it must shoulder in spite of its own fiscal woes. Precisely because it is such a burden, this nation must also work to see that the trust funds are properly managed.The United States has said it will urge other donors to waive their claims to loans made to Iraq, which is currently 125 billion dollars in debt. It will be difficult for Japan to accede to this proposal. Japanese loans to Iraq compare with those extended by such large creditors as France and Russia. Caution must be exercised in making a decision about the U.S. proposal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2003-10-26	YOSHIN0020031027dzaq000ci
YOMSHI0020031026dzar0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031026dzar0000a	EN	\N	School reading programs need systematic approach.	This gap is thought to be one of the factors leading to children being alienated from reading. We must eliminate this gap and help children get into the habit of reading. Reading Week, which starts Monday, is the perfect time to think about how to realize this goal.	4	2003-10-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to surveys taken last year, including one by the Japan School Library Association, primary school sixth-grade boys read an average of 5.3 books a month, while sixth-grade girls read an average of 6.5 books. In middle school, however, the average drops to 2.5 books per month for boys and 3.7 books for girls. High school students read an average of only 1.5 books per month, according to the surveys.Middle school students tend to become busy with preparations for high school entrance examinations or extracurricular activities, and these factors are believed to contribute to the sharp decline in reading that begins in the first year of middle school.Training needed to bridge gapHowever, some researchers have pointed out that the decline in reading also has to do with the difference in what children read in primary and middle schools.Primary school children tend to read entertainment-oriented books suited to children, while middle school children may feel unsatisfied unless they are reading books that contain a certain level of intellectual tension. But unless they have learned to concentrate and have cultivated a habit of reading, they find it difficult to get through books they can really sink their teeth into.Children need training to switch to an adult style of reading so they can tackle more difficult books. Experts point out that an inability to conquer this gap between children's books and adult books is what causes children to turn away from reading in middle school and later.Children who have trouble with this gap need help from adults, but only 40 percent of children in middle school who were surveyed reported having teachers or family members who advised them on what books to read.What is needed are more adults with the conscientiousness to tackle the subject. Of particular importance is a systematic approach to reading guidance at school.Schools have had a tendency to shy away from making suggestions to children concerning what books to read, on the grounds that such guidance would "interfere with the child's inner life." It is important to respect a child's initiative. But if schools abandon the task of providing children with appropriate guidance on reading, they are not fulfilling their duty.Reading environment vitalA home reading environment is also known to have great influence on how much children read. For children who lack that environment, schools should try to replace it. It would be negligent on the part of schools to allow children to graduate without providing them with the ability to read.In primary schools, children should be taught that reading can be fun. In middle and high schools, children should be taught how to read and enjoy fine literature or basic technical books. Such an education should continue at the college and university level, with students given credit for reading assigned books.Reading guides attuned to specific ages are greatly needed.Children should also be provided with opportunities to exchange their views on the books they have been assigned to read and to exchange their reading lists.Of course, to provide guidance in developing a lasting love of reading, the teachers themselves must know what they are talking about. Teachers who do not read books do not belong in the classroom.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2003-10-27	YOSHIN0020031027dzar00108
YOMSHI0020031027dzas0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031027dzas0000f	EN	\N	Party chiefs fail to paint clear vision of future.	The election will determine what measures will be taken to revive Japan and what form the nation will take in the 21st century.	4	2003-10-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For eligible voters, the election provides an opportunity to decide to which party they will entrust the stewardship of the nation-whether to continue with the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi or replace it with a government led by Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).During a public debate held at the Japan National Press Club on the eve of the start of official campaign for the Nov. 9 election, leaders of six major parties argued about the framework of the coalition government after the election and their party manifestos.Talk of swapping partnersKoizumi, who also is president of the Liberal Democratic Party, said the LDP will maintain its coalition with New Komeito and Hoshushinto (New Conservative Party) even if the LDP gains a majority independently. But the prime minister also touched on the possibility of stepping down, saying that if the three-party ruling coalition fails to win a majority, the LDP will become an opposition party.New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki denied his party would team up with Minshuto irrespective of the outcome of the election.But Minshuto President Naoto Kan, when asked about the possibility of cooperating with the Japanese Communist Party to take power if the LDP-led coalition fails to win the majority, left room for future discussion, saying: "We won't deny any possibility. It's possible to cooperate with the party without having a Cabinet member from the party." However, JCP leader Kazuo Shii reserved judgment on the issue.The framework of the coalition government has been maintained by the three parties since the last lower house election. However, since that date, Hoshuto split to form Hoshushinto by accepting some members from Minshuto. In this respect, the coalition framework is unstable.It is not enough for voters to consider a party's policies, they also should consider the framework of the government under which the policies will be implemented when deciding for which party to vote.The Constitution as well as diplomatic and security policies also were taken up as important issues of contention during the debate.In connection with the LDP plan to come up with draft revisions to the Constitution by 2005, Koizumi brought up the issue of revising the war-renouncing Article 9. "We should revise the Constitution so that the Self-Defense Forces are acknowledged as the nation's military to deter invasions and play an active role in the international community."Clearer visions requiredReferring to Minshuto's principle of creating a new constitution or revising the current one, Kan said the Constitution should be amended if necessary. We urge the Minshuto leader to be more specific about what needs to be revised.With regard to Japan's assistance to help restore Iraq, Koizumi, who is in favor of dispatching the SDF to the war-torn country, asked Kan about the impact of an administration led by the Minshuto leader, who is against sending SDF personnel to Iraq, on the Japan-U.S. relationship.Speaking on North Korea's nuclear development program and abduction of Japanese, Kan mentioned economic sanctions against Pyongyang through such measures as the suspension of money transfers to North Korea.The party leaders also took up such issues as the economy, social security and education.Many candidates are on record as saying they will not tow their respective party lines. Given this, the leaders of the parties bear the responsibility of not letting voters down. Therefore, we would like them to hold a debate in which they clearly spell out their individual pictures of the state they would create.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2003-10-28	YOSHIN0020031028dzas000k1
YOMSHI0020031028dzat0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031028dzat0000e	EN	\N	Voters should ask, where's the beef?	In this respect, political parties and candidates naturally bear the important responsibility of presenting concrete policies and drawing up blueprints for the shape the state should take so voters can decide which party to vote for.	4	2003-10-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll, voters will place top priority on social security system reform and economic revival when deciding how to cast their ballots. There also is strong interest in the North Korea issue, education and law and order.The nation is now at a crossroads. It has been a long time since it was recognized that the postwar system that supported rapid economic growth had reached an impasse and reform of that system was urged.Recently, there have been signs of recovery in the nation's economy, which has been in the doldrums since the burst of the economic bubble. But this recovery is believed to owe a lot to the economic recovery in the United States as well as streamlining and other efforts in the private sector. It still is too early to jump to the optimistic conclusion that structural reform efforts are finally having an effect. Every possible measure should be taken to bring the economy back on track to a full-fledged recovery centering on domestic demand.Under the current severe fiscal conditions and the rapidly aging society coupled with the low birthrate, the foundations of the pension system have been shaken, and people are in the dark about the burdens they will be asked to bear and the benefits they will receive in the future. Given this situation, people are increasingly concerned about and losing trust in the pension system.The number of crimes in the country continues to rise-reaching nearly 3 million a year-and crimes are becoming increasingly heinous at the same time. Consequently, there is a growing sense of crisis among the public over not only the deterioration in law and order, but also over the fact that society seems at risk of losing a sense of morality and cohesion.Confronting a changed worldPoliticians have never been under as much pressure as they are now to compile a plan on how to deal with this era of change and to put the plan into practice.Since the last lower house election, the world has witnessed a series of dramatic events, including the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iran, as well as North Korea's nuclear development program and the six-party talks to discuss the problem. Consequently, the international situation has become even more unstable.According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun poll, more than one-third of voters will place high importance on the North Korean issue in making their decision in the upcoming election. This presumably reflects people's concerns that Pyongyang's nuclear development and abduction of Japanese pose a threat to Japan's security.Turbulence in the international community over the last couple of years has significantly changed voters' awareness, and consequently, patriotism has begun spreading among the people as a matter of course.In the election, one of the bones of contention will be financial assistance to help restore Iraq and the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to the country. Taking into account Japan's national interest, it is natural for this country to make due contributions. The issue must be addressed with a view to not only Iraq, but also the future international order, including that in East Asia, based on the Japan-U.S. alliance, fully taking into consideration the nation's security and prosperity.Another feature of the upcoming election is party manifestos, or election pledges.Modeled after a system in the British party politics, manifestos present parties' policy pledges to be implemented during their term in government along with numerical targets, deadlines for achieving those targets and revenue sources to carry out pledged policies. In Britain, voters can cast their ballots in an election after measuring the extent to which the government has met its targets, which pressures parties to put their policy pledges into practice.Manifestos short on detailIn addition, because political parties draw up policy pledges independently, the decision-making process is expected not to be controlled by bureaucrats, but led by politicians themselves. If the system takes root in this country, it might change the form of party politics here.But judging from the manifestos presented by the parties so far, it cannot be denied that they appear more superficial than their counterparts in Britain.For instance, a Yomiuri Shimbun questionnaire conducted before the start of the election campaign revealed that even within Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which seems most enthusiastic about the manifesto system, only 44 percent of the candidates said they would abide by election pledges if those pledges conflicted with their own stances.In terms of content, most manifestos fail to spell out how policies will be put into practice, in terms of procedure and priority.As for pension reform, Minshuto proposes securing financial resources by reining in government spending for the time being and using revenues from the consumption tax in the future to fund its envisaged two-tier pension system.New Komeito, for its part, unveiled a manifesto that stipulates the level of pension benefits, in line with a trial plan drafted by Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi, a New Komeito member.But these blueprints contain many ambiguous points when it comes to their details. Although the Minshuto proposal refers to the consumption tax as the source of revenue for the pension program, it stops short of specifying the timing and margin of the tax hike. Given this, it is questionable how many voters will be able to grasp the size of the burden they will be asked to bear and how much benefits they will receive.But the problems with the manifestos are not confined to the pension issue. None of the manifestos presents a future vision of the economy, society and the state that is supposed to be achieved through the implementation of pledged policies.New state framework neededMoreover, parties should actively debate the Constitution and the framework of the state.The Constitution is the basic law governing the political system and reflects the makeup of the state in this respect. Whereas the Liberal Democratic Party states in its election pledges that it will come up with draft revisions to the Constitution by 2005, Minshuto calls for creating a new constitution.Yet both parties fail to specify what form the Constitution should take. We would like to hear more detailed arguments from both parties on this point during the election campaign.Taking into account Japan's situation and the problems it faces, the election must not be contested simply as a popularity vote between the LDP, whose election faces are Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, and Minshuto, which also is represented by two big names-President Naoto Kan and Ichiro Ozawa, former leader of Jiyuto (Liberal Party). If that happens, the election will end up as political theater.If voters remain passive bystanders in the electoral process, it is tantamount to their giving up their responsibility to support democracy. It is time for voters to stop being bystanders in the democratic process and make a responsible decision for the future of this country.(From the Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1283	2003-10-29	YOSHIN0020031029dzat000fr
YOMSHI0020031029dzau0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031029dzau0000f	EN	\N	Parties skirting issue of education reform.	Educators in this country are beset by a host of serious problems facing contemporary children, including a decline in their academic standards and growing erosion of their respect for rules and mores. An important task to be tackled by political parties is to analyze what causes these problems and set forth guidelines for reform of the education system.	4	2003-10-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, election platforms issued by both ruling and opposition parties are inadequate in many respects. They appear to do little more than to paper over the problems.In their campaign pledges, many parties are seeking to address the issue of halting the decline in students' academic achievement. For example, the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), has called for a review of the five-day school week, which went into effect at primary, middle and high schools nationwide in April 2002.The system constitutes a basis for specific administrative policies to be carried out under the education system.The key question is how the five-day school week should be reviewed. But Minshuto's manifesto only proposes putting together fundamental plans for educational reforms.The Japan Teachers' Union (Nikkyoso) has said it will support Minshuto and the Social Democratic Party, another opposition party, in the upcoming House of Representatives election. But Nikkyoso's line of action insists on maintaining the five-day school week. Questions can be raised about whether Nikkyoso's approach to the issue is compatible with Minshuto's campaign pledge.Meanwhile, Minshuto, the SDP and the Japanese Communist Party have proposed reducing the size of each school class to 30 students. New Komeito, a partner in the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition, has insisted that parents play a role in managing their children's schools. Hoshushinto (New Conservative Party), another coalition party, has called for a review of teaching guidelines issued by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry.Fine words but little substanceBut none of the parties' election platforms incorporate specific measures to achieve their goals. For instance, the parties have not presented convincing plans to raise funds for increasing the number of teachers as a means of achieving the 30-students-per-class goal.The LDP is equally vague in this respect. The largest ruling party has said it will work to increase the overall ability of students as humans through efforts to improve their knowledge, moral standards and physical attributes, while also educating them about what kind of food they should eat. These goals should be dismissed as being too abstract.The lack of specific plans in the parties' election pledges reflects their evasive attitude toward a fundamental question to be explored in reforming the nation's education system-that is, how each party assesses post-World War II education in its entirety.The LDP and Hoshushinto favor a reform of the Fundamental Law of Education. The JCP and the SDP oppose such reform. The election platforms of Minshuto and New Komeito include no reference to possible changes in the basic education law.Despite its calls for a reform of the law, the LDP has not presented a bill to accomplish that goal. The party's election platform only emphasizes the importance of encouraging children to "take pride in their country" and improving the ability of the family and the community to educate children.The LDP's less-than-satisfactory attitude reflects its consideration of the cautious attitude taken by New Komeito about the reform. In fact, the three ruling parties are continuing talks on the issue.Why are standards dropping?It is nearly three years since the National Commission on Educational Reform proposed reforming the basic education law. Given this, the ruling parties seem to be putting off seriously dealing with the problem. Minshuto also failed to reach a consensus within the party before announcing its manifesto.The decline in children's academic standards should not be attributed solely to a certain measure of relaxation in competition in school entrance examinations. The problem also can be blamed on factors that can affect the hearts and minds of children. Under the circumstances surrounding them, for instance, contemporary children are finding it increasingly difficult to strongly feel that they are Japanese.Efforts to determine what is causing the decline in academic achievement call for putting each and every aspect of the postwar education into review. Without an in-depth analysis of the situation, it is impossible to provide proper prescriptions for the problem.Focuses of preelection debates among the political parties should include the differences in their approach to children's education. To achieve this, the parties should clearly state their opinions on reform of the basic education law.The parties should more seriously debate what kind of education system this could should establish in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	831	2003-10-30	YOSHIN0020031030dzau000ge
YOMSHI0020031030dzav0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031030dzav0000i	EN	\N	Clear vision needed on social security reform.	The blame must be placed on politicians because their failure to reform the systems has left the responsibility for reviewing social security programs to bureaucrats.	4	2003-10-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a result, it is not surprising that debates in the run-up to the House of Representatives election have focused on reform of the state-run pension plan. In their election platforms, some political parties have even called on voters to swallow a bitter pill in the form of a tax hike. Their election pledges are in stark contrast to the sugar-coated promises made in past elections.In its manifesto, the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), calls for using a portion of the revenues from the consumption tax to keep the pension system intact. Hoshushinto, a partner in the Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition, has proposed using the consumption tax exclusively for social security programs.Confronting harsh realitiesNew Komeito, another coalition partner, has proposed a review of the permanent income tax deduction implemented in 1999, as well as imposing heavier taxes on pension benefits. The LDP has called, somewhat hesitantly, for a national debate on a proposal to increase the consumption tax rate, which stands at 5 percent.These election pledges mark a step forward in efforts to reform the pension scheme. The promises show that both the ruling and opposition parties stand ready to confront harsh realities surrounding the system. We hope that the parties will continue to debate pertinent issues during their election campaigns, including the financial burden to be shouldered by subscribers to the system and the benefits they will receive in the future. Another point is what should be done to raise funds to reform the pension plan?It should be noted, however, that the pension system is not the only issue facing a crisis. The medical insurance system is in dire financial straits due to the continued growth in medical bills incurred by elderly patients. Also disturbing is the rapid increase in costs for nursing-care services for the aged.According to an estimate by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, pension, medical nursing-care and other social security benefits will rise to 176 trillion yen in 2025 if the current situation is not corrected, an increase more than double the current level. Meanwhile, the national contribution ratio-the percentage of tax and social insurance premium payments by individuals and corporations vis-a-vis their incomes-will exceed 50 percent by that year.Parties must secure fundsThe social security systems must be operated in a more efficient manner. However, there is a limit to what can be done to reform the systems in their entirety. It will be impossible to sustain the systems as long as the costs of services to elderly subscribers are covered by those in the workforce. With this in mind, political parties must draw up a blueprint for social security to reform the systems as a whole.The LDP has said that it will work to keep the national contribution ratio within 50 percent to ensure fair and sustainable social security systems. However, the largest ruling party has not set forth specific procedures for this. For instance, it has not said how much subscribers would have to pay in premiums and how much they would receive in benefits. The party's election platform includes no reference to where the funds would come from to achieve this goal.Despite their plans to reform the pension plan, Minshuto and New Komeito remain vague on how much should be paid in premiums and how much would be received in benefits. Neither party has presented its opinion about the national contribution ratio.Which system is suitable?The Scandinavian countries are planning to reform their welfare programs in a manner that will impose a greater burden on their people. This partly reflects their declining birthrates. Japan's birthrate is declining at a faster pace than in Europe. No time should be wasted in reforming this country's social security systems.Should Japan seek high welfare standards and high financial burdens as the Scandinavian nations do? Or should it strive for low welfare standards and low financial burdens as the United States does? Perhaps it should aim for a happy medium with medium welfare standards and medium financial burdens.The people already know they cannot expect to receive "greater benefits at lower financial costs." Political parties should give the public a clear vision of the future concerning reform of the social security systems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	795	2003-10-31	YOSHIN0020031031dzav000jt
YOMSHI0020031031dzb10000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031031dzb10000i	EN	\N	Resuming 6-way talks not the main goal.	In a meeting in Pyongyang on Thursday, Wu Bangguo, head of China's National People's Congress, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il agreed in principle to hold a new round of talks to end the standoff over North Korea's nuclear ambitions.	4	2003-11-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In regard to the resumption of the talks, U.S. President George W. Bush said he put forward a plan in which the United States and four other participants in the talks would give North Korea written "security assurances" if North Korea promised to dismantle its nuclear program. Bush already has won consent from the leaders of Japan, China, South Korea and Russia.North Korea initially called Bush's proposal "laughable," but it changed its stance shortly before Wu arrived in Pyongyang. It now says it will consider the idea.Pyongyang probably concluded, after the U.S. "compromise" and China's strong initiative, that it was the right time to agree to resumption of the talks.N-program must be scrappedBut resuming the talks is not the main goal. The most important issue is for North Korea to commit itself to abandoning its nuclear weapons development program in the next round of talks. Without that, it is impossible to keep the negotiation process on course, with the aim of reaching a peaceful settlement to the nuclear issue.In agreeing to resume the talks, North Korea expressed "its willingness to take part in the future talks if they (its negotiating partners in the talks) provide a process of putting into practice the proposal for a package solution based on the principle of simultaneous actions." This condition suggests that Pyongyang will not disarm itself if no favors are forthcoming from Washington.According to its conditions, North Korea would declare its intention of abandoning its nuclear development program, if at the same time the United States resumed supplies of heavy oil and expanded food assistance to Pyongyang.North Korea would also freeze its nuclear facilities and nuclear materials and accept international inspectors into its nuclear facilities if the United States promised not to take any aggressive action against Pyongyang and compensated it for the loss of electric power caused by the delay in the construction of light-water nuclear reactors.N. Korea conditions nonsenseThese conditions are ridiculous in that North Korea is seeking favors in return for a mere verbal promise to dismantle its nuclear program.North Korea calls on the United States to make a promise of "nonaggression." Yet five nuclear powers-the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China-have already declared that they would never launch a preemptive nuclear strike against nonnuclear nations that had ratified the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.North Korea has created a situation that has put its own national security at stake by withdrawing from the NPT. It is vital for Pyongyang to terminate its nuclear development program immediately.China, the host nation for the six-way talks, has an important role to play.Beijing has placed its highest priority on economic development and is scheduled to host the Olympic Games in five years. Escalating tension in the Korean Peninsula could destabilize the country. The fate of the talks will have a major impact on China's future.China needs to hold talks with Japan, the United States, South Korea and Russia first. The five countries should adhere firmly to the common target of having North Korea abandon its nuclear arms development program in a complete, irreversible and verifiable manner. Such a stance would pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2003-11-01	YOSHIN0020031101dzb1000lb
YOMSHI0020031101dzb20000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031101dzb20000c	EN	\N	Excessive ethnic pride does nothing but harm.	First, a lack of understanding about another country can cause unexpected rows. Second, excessive ethnic pride is not good for anybody.	4	2003-11-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The demonstration was triggered by a skit performed by three Japanese students during a cultural festival at Northwest China University in Xian. Wearing tags upon which the characters for "Japan" and "China," and a picture of a heart were drawn, the three reportedly performed a risque dance before the audience."We just tried to demonstrate the feelings of friendship between Japan and China," the three students were quoted as saying.However, Chinese teachers and students watching the show ordered the three to stop their dance immediately, calling it vulgar and an insult to Chinese.Ribald skit leads to protestsChinese students later held street demonstrations in the city, demanding an apology for the performance, and some Chinese students attacked two Japanese students who had nothing to do with it.The Japanese students who had performed the skit expressed their regret that they had been indiscreet, and decided to return to Japan. That seems to have put the matter to rest.But one question remains: Why did the performance, which in Japan might just have raised a few eyebrows, lead to a huge "Japanese-go-home" street demonstration?Of course, it is apparent now that the Japanese students were insufficiently aware of how the Chinese would feel about their skit. Nevertheless, there is something very uncomfortable about the backlash expanding into a large-scale rally.After the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, Chinese President Jiang Zemin put an emphasis on extremely nationalistic education.In those days, the inhumane behavior of Imperial Japanese troops who invaded China before the end of World War II and the heroic deeds of Chinese Communist Party soldiers who fought against them were stressed. Patriotism and anti-Japanese sentiment were inextricably linked.In China, government-regulated textbooks propound the only historical view approved by the government and the CCP. The results of such an anti-Japanese education can be clearly seen in the demonstration in Xian.Is China developing a complex?As a result of China's remarkable economic development over the past 25 years, the Chinese people are becoming more self-confident-perhaps even developing something of a superiority complex. The mixture of this superiority complex and an inferiority complex spawned by its humiliating modern history since the Opium War seems to be producing very complicated feelings.Their ethnic pride was most likely ignited by such a trivial thing as a bawdy skit because the performers were Japanese.This anti-Japanese sentiment would seem to be an obstacle to improving and further developing the Japan-China relationship.Needless to say, Japan must give proper consideration to the domestic situation in China and to the feelings of the Chinese. At the same time, however, China must understand the danger of excessive ethnic pride targeted against Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	511	2003-11-02	YOSHIN0020031104dzb2000i0
YOMSHI0020031102dzb30000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031102dzb30000c	EN	\N	Constitutional debate needs more depth.	The parties' election pledges and policies represent their basic positions on such issues.	4	2003-11-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Liberal Democratic Party, which aims to revise the Constitution, says it plans to come up with a draft revision by 2005, which will mark the party's 50th anniversary. Hoshushinto (New Conservative Party), for its part, pledges to draw up its proposals to revise the Constitution by the end of next year.Whereas Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) calls for creating a new constitution, New Komeito, which has said it is willing to debate revising the Constitution, has also said it would consider incorporating new human rights, including individual environmental rights.Meanwhile, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party remain steadfast in their determination to "protect" the Constitution.Slogans not enoughBut it is difficult for voters to fully understand the parties' positions with regard to the Constitution based solely on campaign slogans.In light of this, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi touched on the issue of revising Article 9 of the Constitution, which renounces war, during a public debate among party leaders that was organized by the Japan National Press Club last week.In his statement, the prime minister made clear his position of maintaining one of the two clauses in the article, which says: "...the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes."But in regard to the second clause, which states: "...land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained," Koizumi said: "I wonder if it's reasonable not to recognize that the Self-Defense Forces represent war potential. I think it's better to legitimize the SDF as our military forces in everyone's eyes." According to the prime minister, such a view is simply "common sense."With a view to dispatching the SDF to Iraq to help reconstruct the war-devastated country, Koizumi also said, "It's better to amend the Constitution to enable (the SDF) to play an active role in peacekeeping activities in international society."Koizumi apparently meant the Constitution should clearly stipulate that the SDF be fully utilized in international peacekeeping activities.In response to Koizumi's remarks, Minshuto leader Naoto Kan argued that the Constitution could be revised by adding additional clauses, such as those on information disclosure, environmental rights and national referendums. However, he stopped short of referring to Article 9.This was apparently out of consideration for members of his party, including former Japan Socialist Party members, who are steadfastly opposed to revising the Constitution.Is SDF military force?But it is rather humorous to debate whether the SDF is a military force or has the potential to wage war. Within Minshuto, former party leader Yukio Hatoyama insisted that the Constitution should stipulate the SDF as the nation's military. Compared with Hatoyama, Kan's statements are ambiguous.On the other hand, former Jiyuto (Liberal Party) leader Ichiro Ozawa, who became a Minshuto member after the merger of the two parties, called for establishing a third clause in Article 9 to stipulate that the SDF may execute the right of self-defense and maintain its war potential. He proposed setting up a new article to allow the SDF to participate in international peacekeeping activities.It seems to us that, in an era when changing times necessitate amending the Constitution, the status quo position championed by the JCP and the JSP seems likely to further widen the gap between the Constitution and reality.Monday marks the 58th anniversary of the creation of the Constitution. In the midst of campaigning, it is the perfect time to discuss it.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	689	2003-11-03	YOSHIN0020031104dzb30011r
YOMSHI0020031103dzb400009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031103dzb400009	EN	\N	More to fiscal recovery than structural reforms.	Unlike recent editions, the Annual Report on the Japanese Economy and Public Finance 2003, which was released in October, is full of bright observations. This is because the economy has begun showing progress, evidenced by rising share prices and an upward revision of the economic growth rate.	4	2003-11-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Two factors were behind this economic recovery.The first was the rapid recovery of the U.S. economy. The real economic growth rate for the July-September quarter marked an annualized rate of more than 7 percent over the previous quarter, the highest in 19 years. Increased exports to the U.S. market and other foreign demand helped Japanese companies increase capital investment.The second factor was the painstaking restructuring efforts by the private sector. Efforts by companies to trim their workforces and reduce plant and equipment will soon be rewarded with improved profit-making structures.Govt's contribution doubtfulBut these achievements cannot simply be attributed to the government's structural reforms. In fact, one may ask whether the government-initiated reforms had any positive effect at all.For instance, the key fiscal structural reform-intended to make the state's finances sound-backfired completely, having the opposite effect of the one desired.As a direct result of the government sticking to an austerity budget, deflation has worsened, and as a consequence income from tax revenues has declined about 9 trillion yen over the past three years. This happened because the government failed to pay close attention to the economy.The fact that the government has become less wary of deflation remains another cause for concern. The white paper said, for instance, "With the economic recovery, there will be a clearer prospect of overcoming deflation."The Bank of Japan, on the other hand, predicted in its biannual report on the economy and prices, also released late last month, that deflation will continue during the next fiscal year. This means the central bank has a much more serious view of the current state of deflation than that expressed in the white paper.Last month, Tokyo stocks took the largest tumble of the year following a sharp drop in the New York stock market.The Japanese economy remains frail enough to catch a cold if the United States sneezes. This is why Japan must aim for achieving self-sustaining economic growth centered on domestic demand. Overcoming deflation is one of the conditions that are essential to achieving this goal.Need to present full pictureThe white paper touched on the issue of reforming the pension system along with management of the macroeconomy, saying that the rapidly aging and declining population means it will become impossible to maintain the current pension system.If public concern about the future helped create the current economic slump by such factors as restrained personal consumption, then we believe a review of the pension system will be the pillar of structural reforms.While the white paper calls on the public to bear a heavier burden, stating that the pain of pension reform must not be visited upon future generations, it also warns that an excessive burden would lower economic vitality.But to what degree will it be possible to increase this burden? The white paper stopped short of presenting a clear picture of pension benefits and the burden to be borne.What is the light of structural reform, and what is its shadow-which causes pain? We urge the government to clearly spell out the future course of its structural reforms, and explain in detail the points that were not fully explained in the white paper.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2003-11-04	YOSHIN0020031104dzb4001oe
YOMSHI0020031104dzb50000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031104dzb50000g	EN	\N	Foreign, security policies should be key poll issues.	The political parties are sharply divided over what kinds of diplomatic and security policies this country should pursue.	4	2003-11-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In its election platform, the Liberal Democratic Party has said that the Japan-U.S. alliance should constitute the cornerstone of the nation's basic foreign policy. This is in contrast to the manifesto issued by the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which insists that this country devise foreign policies that primarily reflect the value it places on its membership of the United Nations, while sustaining Japan's partnership with the United States.This difference between the two parties is most clearly mirrored in their respective approaches to Japan's support for Iraq's postwar rehabilitation.The LDP and its two coalition parties have defended a government plan to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq under the special legislation for aiding the war-ravaged nation's reconstruction.LDP Secretary General Shinzo Abe has insisted that the SDF is the only organ capable of contributing to Iraq's rehabilitation amid poor security in that country today. There is reason to presume that Abe's statement reflects his consideration of various factors, including not only international cooperation, but also the Japan-U.S. alliance and this nation's strategy for securing energy supplies.To gain voters' support for its policy on Iraq's reconstruction, the LDP should explain why the SDF's mission to Iraq will serve the interests of this country.Japan-U.S. alliance at stakeDespite their acknowledgment of the need to support the rehabilitation of Iraq, all opposition parties have opposed sending SDF personnel to that nation.Minshuto has said that it would look for ways to aid Iraq's reconstruction-including the use of SDF personnel-if an Iraqi government was established, followed by a U.N. move to adopt a resolution to support Iraq's rehabilitation after the world body received a request from that country to do so. The largest opposition party differs from the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party in this respect.Minshuto President Naoto Kan has urged voters to support his party's Iraqi policy, saying, "A change in administration-or a lack of it-will determine whether the (government) plan to send the SDF (to Iraq) can be scrapped." However, the SDF's contribution in this regard is essential for Japanese efforts to support Iraq's reconstruction. Does Minshuto's plan mean that this nation should just sit back and watch as Iraq further deteriorates and becomes a hotbed for terrorists?The Japan-U.S. alliance would be fundamentally eroded if Minshuto decided against sending the SDF to Iraq after replacing the LDP-led coalition as a party in power. With this in mind, Kan and other Minshuto leaders should explain how they would keep the bilateral partnership intact if they came into power.North Korea policies also keyAnother major focus of the election platforms concerns various issues involving North Korea. All parties have insisted they will do all they can to resolve crises arising from the reclusive state's nuclear and missile programs, as well as the dispute over Japanese nationals abducted to that country. During its election campaign, Minshuto expanded the list of its election pledges to include a plan to take legislative measures aimed at restricting the remittance of money from Japan to the communist country.The LDP is preparing a bill to revise the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law for a similar purpose. We propose that the LDP and Minshuto tell the public they will work to pass such a bill during a special Diet session to be convened after the lower house election. Voters will feel reassured if major parties show they will work hand in hand to carry out this important diplomatic policy.In their election pledges, few parties have taken up Japan's foreign policy toward China and other Asian nations.East Asia's stability and prosperity will largely hinge on the foreign policies followed by China, a new economic powerhouse that is boosting its military power. Given this, the political parties should present clear visions about what kind of relationship Japan should establish with China.No foreign and security policies can be too seriously debated.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	768	2003-11-05	YOSHIN0020031106dzb500026
YOMSHI0020031105dzb60000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031105dzb60000e	EN	\N	Organ Transplant Law isn't fulfilling purposes.	Patients included in the list of prospective organ recipients have good reason to be disappointed with the situation. They have lamented the fact that efforts to create the law have been wasted.	4	2003-11-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The small number of organ transplants from brain-dead donors can be attributed to the extremely strict regulations imposed on such surgeries.In many other nations, it takes only the consent of a brain-dead patient's family to remove an organ from the donor and give it to a living patient. This is in stark contrast to the extremely tight restrictions stipulated in the Japanese law on organ transplants. The law requires that written consent be obtained from a donor while he or she is alive before an organ removed from the donor may be transplanted into a recipient.The law also bans a person from voluntarily donating an organ if he or she is under 15 years of age, meaning that an eligible donor must be at least 15. This age limit is similar to a provision stipulated in the Civil Code, which states that a person must be at least 15 to leave a legally valid will. Under the circumstances, children with heart diseases must undergo operations overseas if they want to be given hearts whose size match their own.Parties sidestepping issueThe strict restrictions imposed by the Organ Transplant Law reflect the public's distrust of domestic medical services. However, the status quo means that people in this country who require transplants are subject to extremely rigid regulations while they can receive organs overseas much more easily. It is difficult to believe that the current situation will be allowed to continue for much longer.The law states that the Diet must review it three years after its enforcement. However, little progress has been made in discussions among lawmakers about a review of the legislation. In their election platforms, no political party has addressed the issue. This negligence is deplorable.Swift measures must be taken to drastically review the law, including amending it.It has been suggested that doctors should be allowed to remove an organ from a brain-dead patient aged 14 or younger and donate it to another patient if the donor's family is agreeable. Some experts also have called for relaxing the current restrictions imposed on transplant that are carried out with the sole consent of donors' families. They argue that the regulations should be brought in line with those used in many other nations, where the consent of a donor's family is the only requirement to be met in harvesting organs, whether a donor is a child or an adult.Meanwhile, many other specialists oppose removing the consent of a donor from the list of requirements to be fulfilled before conducting an organ transplant from a brain-dead patient.New rules neededThis is a complicated issue that concerns people's opinions about life and death. Caution should be exercised in addressing the issue. Nonetheless, there is no reason to leave the situation as it is.The slow growth in the number of transplants from brain-dead donors starkly contrasts with the increasing number of cases in which livers, kidneys and other organs are transplanted from living donors.Live organ transplants impose great burdens on donors. Ethical questions can also be raised about such operations. With this in mind, many other countries have established legal rules on various matters, including those stipulating who may donate organs and methods for obtaining approval from such donors.However, the Organ Transplants Law includes no provision concerning transplants involving organs from living donors, except for a ban on the sale and purchase of organs.The law is defective in that it imposes strict restrictions on organ transplants from brain-dead donors while leaving it up to medical associations and individual hospitals to set guidelines for surgeries involving organs from living donors. The law must incorporate a set of defined principles regarding surgeries of the latter category.Steps should be taken to establish new rules on organ transplants in a manner that will respect the wishes of both prospective recipients and donors.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2003-11-06	YOSHIN0020031106dzb6000mh
YOMSHI0020031106dzb70000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031106dzb70000d	EN	\N	Convention important to protect diverse cultures.	With the trend toward modernization, there are many instances in which folklore and folksongs indigenous to a locality are lost because they are not passed down generation to generation.	4	2003-11-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At a general conference last month, UNESCO approved an international convention to safeguard and promote folklore, the performing and traditional arts, and other forms of intangible cultural heritage.The convention will go into effect within three months after 30 countries ratify it. To help bring this about as soon as possible, Japan should expedite formalities to ratify the convention.The international accord on the protection of tangible cultural heritage, such as remains, historical structures and natural scenery, came into effect in 1975.In a way, the convention on intangible cultural heritage complements the 1975 pact.Imperiled forms of heritageBased on recommendations by countries, forms of intangible cultural heritage will be selected and placed on the registration list. Forms of intangible cultural heritage that are deemed to be endangered will be placed on a list for urgent protection and given international assistance. This aid will be in the form of a fund with each country contributing the equivalent of 1 percent of what that country contributes to UNESCO.The convention can also be considered the product of "cultural diplomacy" extended by Japan, which has been actively involved in protecting intangible cultural heritage.In 1993, Japan established, within UNESCO, a trust fund for the protection and promotion of forms of intangible cultural heritage. It has contributed 7.6 million dollars to the fund so far.Using the trust fund and other financial resources, UNESCO in 2001 issued a proclamation of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in a move made in anticipation of the adoption of the intangible cultural heritage convention.UNESCO chose 19 forms, including Sanskrit dramas, Bolivia's Oruro carnival and the art of noh. These will be registered as intangible cultural heritage.Contrast with EuropeMany intangible forms of cultural heritage are found in Asia, Africa and Latin America.This is in stark contrast to the fact that European countries, which have a traditional stone-building culture, account for about half of those forms of tangible cultural heritage registered on the World Heritage Site list.Some European countries say the contribution a country makes to the fund should be decided by that country.There are also countries that were initially cautious about approving the convention, apparently in fear that approval would conflict with domestic ethnic policies. Eventually, most countries voted to approve the convention, thanks to strenuous efforts by Japan and developing countries to persuade them.The adoption of the convention is significant in that international society has acknowledged the importance of intangible cultural heritage. The convention is important as it honors and protects diverse cultures in the world.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	500	2003-11-07	YOSHIN0020031107dzb7000it
YOMSHI0020031107dzb80000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031107dzb80000e	EN	\N	Voters need to sort through complex issues.	Many features have made this House of Representatives election different from previous ones. Take, for instance, the manifestos, which have become a major topic of conversation.	4	2003-11-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Also, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has emphasized that the election is one in which the voters have a good opportunity to bring about a change in regime, the first time an opposition party has made such a statement since the showdown between the Liberal Democratic Party and Shinshinto (New Frontier Party) in 1996.In that year, Shinshinto was led by Ichiro Ozawa, former leader of Jiyuto (Liberal Party), which merged with Minshuto just prior to the official launch of the upcoming lower house election.Another topic of conversation has been the confrontation between the pairs of leaders representing the Liberal Democratic Party-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Secretary General Shinzo Abe-and Minshuto in the form of party president Naoto Kan and Ozawa.Foreign diplomacy and national security, which were rarely a point of contention in past elections, have moved into the spotlight, particularly with the dispute over the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq.Manifestos played roleHow will voters consider these issues? The outcome of the election will give some idea of the future course of national politics.Although the major parties unveiled manifestos similar to those released in British politics, these documents fail to state clearly what steps should be taken to realize policy targets and how to finance them.In response to criticism during the campaign, Minshuto and New Komeito issued additional pledges.When the LDP's manifesto came under fire because of the lack of specific figures to realize public pension reforms, Koizumi occasionally offered concrete figures regarding the benefits pensioners would receive and the premiums people would have to pay.Setting aside how much these issues have been delved into, we can say that the manifestos played a certain role in reinvigorating policy debates among the parties.The difference between the number of lower house seats held by the LDP and Minshuto at the time of the dissolution was nearly two to one.However, Minshuto has succeeded in producing a situation in which the election appears to be a confrontation between two major parties by telling voters that there is a greater possibility of a change in regime. As a result, smaller parties fear they might be forgotten by the voters.We are now in an era where politicians are using television to such a degree that politics has become a media event. Other developments make us feel that this trend has accelerated.One case in point is the rivalry between the two pairs of leaders representing the LDP and Minshuto.Parties offer political dramaMeanwhile, the Koizumi administration's dismissal of Haruho Fujii as president of Japan Highway Public Corporation under the so-called reform of road-related public corporations, and the advice given to former Prime Ministers Yasuhiro Nakasone and Kiichi Miyazawa to bring about a "generational change in politics," was considered by some to be political drama designed to appeal to voters.Minshuto's announcement of key shadow cabinet members, including "Deputy Prime Minister Ichiro Ozawa," in the final phase of the campaign period, was also an attempt to generate dramatic effect.A number of candidates have called on voters to cast their ballots for two different parties in the single-seat constituency and in the proportional representative bloc.There are also many candidates who say their party's manifesto is one thing and their own campaign pledges another. These developments probably bewilder many voters.What are voters to make of all this? In the end, however, voters must act in a responsible fashion in casting their votes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2003-11-08	YOSHIN0020031108dzb8000hy
YOMSHI0020031108dzb90000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031108dzb90000g	EN	\N	Japan must send SDF to Iraq to show support.	Last Sunday, a U.S. helicopter was shot down and 16 soldiers killed in the deadliest single attack on U.S.-led forces since the beginning of the Iraq War.	4	2003-11-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nonetheless, it would be incorrect to say that the U.S.-led coalition has been drawn into a quagmire, although the current situation leaves little room for optimism about the future.Besides U.S. troops, terrorists have recently targeted Polish soldiers, U.N. facilities, Red Cross personnel extending humanitarian assistance and Iraqi police. Consequently, the United Nations has found it necessary to withdraw all non-Iraqi staff from Baghdad, while the International Committee of the Red Cross has had to scale down operations in Iraq.Little is known about those responsible for the series of indiscriminate terrorist assaults. But their aim is clear-to isolate the United States and force its troops out of Iraq.U.S. must stay the courseShould the United States give in, the terrorists would win. Iraq would be turned into a stronghold of international terrorism, with unending disorder and chaos prevailing.But U.S. President George W. Bush has said the United States will not run from its mission in Iraq. He is right to say this. Generally speaking, the U.S. public, for its part, continues to rally behind the president. What needs to be done at this stage is to implement effective measures to stamp out terrorism.The majority of Iraqis also are believed to be against an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces. Most of Iraq, including the southern area of the country, is calm-hospitals and schools have been reopened and electricity supplies have returned to normal, leading to lively and normal street scenes. Most of the Iraqi people obviously want order and sovereignty, not a life lived under the rule of terrorists.Terrorist attacks have been occurring in only about 5 percent of the country, mainly in Baghdad and Fallujah, a stronghold of Sunni Muslims. To reduce terrorism, it will be necessary to tighten security measures.The unspoken desire of the United States government, especially with a presidential election looming next year, is to avoid further burdens on the nation, such as the deployment of more troops to Iraq. The U.S. administration has unveiled plans to train Iraqi police and troops so that Iraq will be able to police itself, an indispensible ingredient for a stable Iraq.Sovereign Iraqi regime neededIn addition, a clear timetable must be set for the earliest possible establishment of a sovereign Iraqi regime.The latest U.N. Security Council resolution requires the Governing Council of Iraq, set up by the United States and Britain, to come up with a political road map by Dec. 15 for the restoration of Iraq's sovereignty. A blueprint must be clarified to permit the inauguration of a new Iraqi government.All such actions toward improving the future of Iraq are essential if the United States is to be able to begin reducing the number of troops it has stationed in Iraq in January, as declared by U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in a press conference Thursday.In their recent meeting in Madrid, donor countries pledged to extend 38 billion dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq, creating a solid basis for funding the future of the country. Chaos in Iraq leads to cracks in the international community's solidarity, a situation that runs counter to the national interest of Japan.Japan has emerged as the second largest donor country for postwar Iraq, behind only the United States. To help facilitate the stabilization of Iraq, it also is important for Japan to dispatch Self-Defense Forces personnel there so that the people of Iraq will be able to clearly see that international support is growing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	654	2003-11-08	YOSHIN0020031108dzb8000hz
YOMSHI0020031109dzba00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031109dzba00008	EN	\N	Election undermines ruling coalition's mandate.	On the other hand, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) made major gains. The political landscape is about to suddenly turn into a two-party system.	4	2003-11-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Even if Koizumi continues to bear the responsibility of setting the future course of this country, he is likely to continue to face difficulties in managing the government.A new prime minister will be nominated at the extraordinary Diet session to be convened shortly, in which a second Koizumi cabinet is to be launched.The government is urged to immediately start making its utmost efforts to rehabilitate the Japanese economy; reform the social security system, including the pension program; reform the four road-related public corporations and three postal services, and make progress on the so-called "trinity" reform of local governments' fiscal conditions. With international situations, such as those in Iraq and North Korea, growing strained, the government will be asked to respond appropriately, based on the country's national interests.LDP bears heavy responsibilityThe second Koizumi administration bears the heavy responsibility of dealing with important issues both at home and abroad.The election campaign was viewed as a question of which party voters wanted to run the government and a competition over manifestos. Minshuto took an early lead in both areas, and other parties followed suit.Regarding the issue of selecting a party to run the country, Minshuto succeeded in framing the election as a battle between the two major parties. Minshuto attempted to use its manifesto to win votes from floating voters, a strategy that bore fruit. The effect of its merger with Jiyuto (Liberal Party) also was evident in the surge in the number of proportional representation seats it won.However, the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and Hoshushinto were buried in the battle between the two major parties.The wane of the JCP and the SDP illustrates that their socialist policies, which depend on public expenditures by big government, and their basic policies concerning security and the Constitution are no longer relevant.SDP leader Takako Doi's failure to retain her seat in the single-seat constituency was symbolic of this.Many factors in LDP's favorThe LDP conducted its election campaign by focusing on the popularity of Koizumi and LDP Secretary General Shinzo Abe and cooperating with New Komeito, which could rely on a well-organized network of voters from Soka Gakkai, a lay Buddhist organization that supports the party.Voter turnout for the election was the second lowest in history. Previously, low voter turnout was believed to favor parties with well-organized voters.Thanks to the U.S. economic recovery and restructuring and other efforts in the private sector, the Japanese economy started showing signs of recovery, as seen in rising stock prices. This eased criticism of the Koizumi government's economic management. In this respect, the environment was supposed to be favorable for the LDP.In spite of these circumstances, the LDP was handed a setback, probably because voters were frustrated with the Koizumi administration's policies and lack of achievement as well as the LDP, even though Koizumi's own popularity remains high.The results of a Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted before the official announcement of the election showed that less than 20 percent of respondents rated favorably the policies of the Koizumi Cabinet or the results of those policies. It was less than a sterling evaluation for the Koizumi government, which was launched 2! years ago.Although the three-way coalition managed to prevail, they must take the voters' disapproval seriously because they lost a significant number of seats.Minshuto can't rest on laurelsMinshuto was unable to unseat the ruling coalition, although it significantly increased the number of seats it holds, partly because of the party's failure to provide a clear picture of what a Minshuto-led government would be like, a failure that caused voters to feel anxiety over whether the party would be able to implement policies.Party manifestos played a role in increasing policy debates among the parties and in changing the traditional style of election campaigns, which formerly consisted mostly of chanting candidates' names and calling for support.But it is unclear whether voters really took into account the policy pledges.Minshuto has been boasting that it was the party for structural reform. For voters, Minshuto's policy pledges seemed to differ little from those of the LDP, which touts reforms under Koizumi's initiative, aside from variations in the processes and speed of reforms.As for the future of the pension system, the two parties did not differ much in their policies. They both said company employers and employees should pay a combined total of about 20 percent in pension premiums and the employees would receive about 50 percent of their salaries as pension payments. Minshuto was correct to refer to the use of the consumption tax as a revenue source to finance the pension system, but it failed to indicate when and by how much the tax rate should be raised.Voters probably found it difficult to see the pension issue as a determinant in choosing which party should be in power.Restore trust in politicsMinshuto also focused its debates on the issues of dispatching Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq and revising the Constitution. But it could not satisfactorily explain what would happen to the Japan-U.S. security alliance if the SDF was not sent. As the party embraces former members of pro-revision Jiyuto (Liberal Party), which was absorbed by Minshuto, and the antirevision Japan Socialist Party, predecessor of the Social Democratic Party, it failed to explicitly refer to revision of the Constitution's war-renouncing Article 9, although it called for constitutional revisions.For politics to be energetic, an opposition party is needed that is capable of running the country. Minshuto has some way to go before it reaches this level.The low voter turnout demonstrated that the voters' strong distrust in politics since the 1990s has not dissipated. If voters keep on taking an apathetic attitude toward politics, the efforts of both politicians and voters to overcome the challenges of the times will come to nothing.Restoring trust in politics is the most pressing task for lawmakers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1129	2003-11-10	YOSHIN0020031111dzba0003k
YOMSHI0020031110dzbb0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031110dzbb0000g	EN	\N	Ruling coalition cannot rest on its laurels.	On Nov. 19, Prime Minister Junichiro is set to launch a new cabinet. Despite its failure to gain a majority in the 480-member House of Representatives in Sunday's election, the Liberal Democratic Party will be able to add some non-LDP winners to the list of its party members. The LDP acknowledged some elected independents to be ticketed LDP candidates after the general election, and it also intends to annex Hoshushinto (New Conservative Party), a junior coalition partner that suffered a huge setback in Sunday's election. This is certain to grant the LDP a majority in the lower house.	4	2003-11-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This means the LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, will be able to raise the number of their seats to almost 280, a figure comparable to their preelection strength.The leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), emerged as a major party capable of confronting the LDP by gaining an impressive 177 seats in Sunday's race.The LDP relied heavily on New Komeito to collect more votes in the election. Many observers said this would give New Komeito a greater say within the Koizumi administration.This observation may be even more justified if the current three-party coalition is transformed into an LDP-New Komeito alliance because of Hoshushinto's merger with the LDP.However, the ruling coalition's success in obtaining an absolute stable majority in the lower house means voters have given the Koizumi administration a new mandate to continue running the country. With this in mind, his new cabinet must address various issues facing the nation both at home and abroad.Economy of prime importanceThe duty of prime importance to be fulfilled by the government is to put the economy back on the road to full recovery as soon as possible. The Koizumi administration should implement all possible measures-including fiscal and financial ones-to revitalize the nation's troubled economy. Koizumi should also work to ensure that the fiscal 2004 budget is put together in a manner that gives more money to projects and policies truly necessary for economic recovery.The government intends to draft a bill seeking to reform the state-run pension plan by the end of the year and submit it to the next ordinary Diet session. Reform of the pension system was a focus of debates among political parties during their campaigns for the general election.One focus of Diet debates will likely be a plan to increase the ratio of contributions from state coffers to the basic pension scheme, which covers every member of the population, from the current one-third to half of the funds needed to run the system. Another focus will be on how to raise funds for the increase in government contributions.Lawmakers should draw up a blueprint for a new pension plan that can dispel widespread concerns about the system.In addition, no time should be wasted in reforming the four road-related public corporations and the local government tax and fiscal systems. However, the Promotion Committee for the Privatization of the Four Highway-Related Public Corporations-a government panel debating ways to reform the corporations-and the Construction and Transport Ministry remain divided over how to reform these entities. In addition, some government ministries and agencies are strongly opposed to the so-called triple reform of the local government tax and fiscal systems, which will entail a reduction in subsidies to local governments.The prime minister has sometimes made concessions to antireform forces within the LDP. He has also frequently left government offices and advisory councils to their own devices in putting together reform plans.Koizumi must lead reformKoizumi should realize, however, that such an approach will do little to promote true reform. The prime minister must display strong leadership in this regard.Japan has reached a critical stage in its efforts to deal with various problems related to Iraq and North Korea. The government will soon adopt a basic plan concerning a mission to be carried out by Self-Defense Forces personnel under the legislation for Japan's support of Iraq's postwar rehabilitation. By the end of December, an advance team will be sent to the war-ravaged country.Global peace and stability are essential to ensure Japan's peace and prosperity. It will be in the interests of this nation to help stabilize Iraq through humanitarian aid.It is up to the government to ensure that the public supports an Iraqi mission carried out by SDF personnel, while also making sure no SDF member is injured during the mission.Some legislators have insisted that the government not send SDF members to Iraq because doing so will put them in great danger. However, this view should be ignored as it turns a blind eye to the obligations politicians must meet.SDF regulations need reviewSwift measures should be taken to review this country's current standards for the use of weapons by SDF members during missions, and bring them up to the levels found in many other nations. Current regulations permit SDF personnel to use weapons only in the event that they must defend themselves from an armed attack. However, SDF members should be allowed to use weapons in performing their duties, too.For years, lawmakers have avoided a review of the regulations on the SDF's use of weapons, partly because of the government's interpretation of the Constitution regarding this issue. This has only served to prevent SDF personnel from better defending themselves and fulfilling their duties.Minshuto's election manifesto included a review of the current standards for the use of weapons. The LDP and Minshuto should take the lead in reviewing the regulations and transforming them into internationally accepted standards as soon as possible. This is an obligation a responsible political party should carry out.Minshuto is opposed to an SDF mission to Iraq under the special legislation for that country's reconstruction. The largest opposition party should realize, however, that its objection is tantamount to an assertion that Japan should refuse to join coordinated global efforts to establish a democratic government in Iraq. If Japan did as Minshuto wishes in this regard, it would have to sit back and watch as Iraq was engulfed in even greater chaos.We are very concerned about Minshuto's attitude on this issue, which could undermine the Japan-U.S. alliance. To the United States, Minshuto's argument might appear to be a sign that Japan is not a U.S. ally.Minshuto must step up to plateDuring his party's election campaign, Minshuto leader Naoto Kan insisted that U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture should be relocated. His statement should be treated with the skepticism it deserves. The alliance with the United Stated is necessary to defend Japan's own safety, especially in the face of the deepening threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.Minshuto has great responsibility as a major party that might be able to unseat the current administration in the future. It must begin to consider Japan's foreign and security policies in a more practical light to serve the interests of this country if it wants people to see it as a viable contender for power.The LDP's election platform called for an amendment to the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education. The party has said it will put together a draft of a new constitution in 2005.Politicians must respond to the demands of the times by drawing up a new picture of the country and thinking about which educational principles will best serve the public.However, the LDP and New Komeito remain deeply split over these issues.Admittedly, New Komeito has said that the Constitution should be reformed to incorporate new clauses on environmental rights and the protection of privacy. However, the party is still cautious about revising Article 9. This is also true of New Komeito's attitude on a proposal to reform the Fundamental Law of Education.Attempts by the LDP to avoid antagonizing New Komeito over these issues should not be allowed to hamper efforts by legislators to reform the Constitution and the basic education law.The Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education constitute the basic legislation of this country. The prime minister should demonstrate leadership by addressing these issues and presenting the public a clear view of his goals for the nation and its educational system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1444	2003-11-11	YOSHIN0020031113dzbb0000e
YOMSHI0020031111dzbc0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031111dzbc0000g	EN	\N	New responsibilities for New Komeito.	Hoshushinto's move will transform the current three-party coalition into an LDP-New Komeito alliance.	4	2003-11-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The recent general election has given the LDP-New Komeito-Hoshushinto coalition more than an absolute stable majority in the lower house. It also has become evident that many successful LDP candidates would have been unable to gain lower house seats had they failed to receive support from New Komeito in the election. Not surprisingly, this will give New Komeito an even greater say in the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.New Komeito has been in power since October 1999, when it chose to join a coalition government led by then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, with the LDP and Jiyuto (Liberal Party) as partners. However, there was a mutual sense of antipathy between some LDP and New Komeito members. This encouraged both parties to look for a third party as a "lubricant" between the two sides. The LDP and New Komeito have since sought to ensure that the ruling coalition is always kept a two-plus-one alliance.Hoshushinto's departure from the coalition as a mediator means that the LDP and New Komeito must talk to each other face to face within the administration. New Komeito must play a more conspicuous role in helping form a consensus on policy issues within the Koizumi administration.Party took head out of sandDuring the days of the so-called 1955 political framework, Komeito (Clean Government Party)-a predecessor to the current New Komeito-took an unrealistic approach to foreign and national security issues. Its attitude on these issues were no different than that of the Japan Socialist Party, the predecessor of the Social Democratic Party. With the Cold War ended, however, there was a turnaround in Komeito's approach to foreign and security issues. Komeito replaced its hitherto unrealistic stand on these problems with a pragmatic one. In 1992, a year after the Gulf War, Komeito cooperated with the LDP in getting the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law adopted by the Diet.Since joining the ruling coalition in 1999, New Komeito has played an active role in enacting such important legislation as the Antiterrorism Law, a set of laws governing a prepared response to a military attack and the law on Japan's support for Iraq's postwar rehabilitation. This may reflect New Komeito's awareness of its obligation as a coalition partner that must work to keep the Japan-U.S. alliance intact, while also maintaining this nation's commitment to international cooperation. New Komeito's responsible attitude is in stark contrast to that of the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which has opposed sending Self-Defense Forces personnel for Iraq.However, it was disturbing to note that New Komeito officially opposed dispatching Aegis-equipped destroyers to the Indian Ocean, although it eventually chose to go along with a government plan to do so. The ruling party should know that it will even more frequently face situations in which it must make decisions on issues in a manner that will serve the interests of this country first of all.National interest paramountThere was a time when New Komeito was criticized for its tendency to propose too generously financed government programs and policies, even at the expense of fiscal health. This reflected the party's belief that Japan needed a big government.However, there is a sign of change in New Komeito's attitude in this respect. The party's election platform included a review of a permanent income tax cut introduced in 1999 and the current rules concerning taxes on pension benefits. The proposal means a tax increase. New Komeito should be commended for this responsible attitude.By the end of the year, the government hopes to put together a plan to reform the state-run pension scheme. To accomplish this, the government intends to take advantage of reform plans devised by Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi, a senior leader of New Komeito, and incorporated into New Komeito's election platform. Given this, New Komeito has an important role to play in reforming the pension system.Questions can be raised about New Komeito's stance on the issue of revising the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education. With the changes of the times in mind, however, the party should work to ensure a reform of the supreme law and the basic education law.Minshuto is set to even more bitterly confront the Koizumi administration with the intention of beating the ruling coalition in the House of Councillors election to be held next year. New Komeito must accept that it will sometimes have to make unpopular decisions in an attempt to resolve the host of problems facing the nation both at home and abroad.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	857	2003-11-12	YOSHIN0020031112dzbc000jh
YOMSHI0020031112dzbd0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031112dzbd0000d	EN	\N	Satellite muddle shows risks of cutting corners.	The launch was scheduled for this winter, following two postponements due to such factors as problems in the satellite's production phase. The manufacturer, Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a California-based company, collapsed this summer, filing for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.	4	2003-11-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	SS/L has asked the Japan Meteorological Agency and other offices to exempt the company from paying a penalty fee for the delayed delivery, not to claim damages, and to pay SS/L additional fees totaling 3.3 billion yen. If they do not comply with the requests, SS/L has said it may suspend production of the satellite.These requests are patently unreasonable. The postponements were due to the production problems SS/L experienced and difficulty it had in acquiring an export license for a component of the satellite. SS/L was to blame in both cases. The Japanese government should continue negotiating with the company and urge it to fulfill the contract.Japanese side out of pocketUnder the contract, the cost for manufacturing the satellite was set at 16.3 billion yen, and delivery was scheduled for the end of last year.The Japanese side had already paid by this spring 16 billion yen of the satellite's total cost of about 22 billion yen, which includes the cost of putting it into orbit.In addition, Japan has leased the U.S.-Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-9) to temporarily replace Himawari No. 5 at a cost of more than 100 million yen, including operating expenses.Not including the costs incurred due to the postponement of the launch of the MTSAT-1R, the Japanese side owes SS/L only about 6 billion yen.There is no way that Japan should pay additional expenses to SS/L without proper reason, let alone exempt it from paying the penalty fee.The manufacturing of the MTSAT-1R is said to have been almost completed, with the satellite undergoing tests including heat tests, which are conducted in a space-simulating vacuum. It would benefit the company to finish the satellite and deliver it to Japanese.All things considered, the twists and turns involved in securing a satellite to succeed the Himawari No. 5 are lamentable.According to the initial plan, a new satellite was scheduled to take over the observations of the Himawari No. 5 in the spring of 2000. Yet the launch of the successor, by the H-2 No. 8 rocket, a domestically developed launch vehicle, failed in the autumn of 1999.Expect the unexpectedIn 2000, the Japanese side contracted with SS/L for the manufacture of a new meteorological satellite. As SS/L is one of the world's leading satellite manufacturers, the Japanese side never imagined that the company would collapse.But it is a matter of course for unexpected things to happen in the area of space development, which has only a short history. The SS/L affair goes to show how important it is to make preparations for unforeseen events, as it involves a meteorological satellite, which is essential for people's daily life.The MTSAT-1R is a multifunctional transport satellite designed to assist in air traffic control and carry out meteorological observation. Due to the agency's limited budget, the satellite will perform functions needed by other government offices, too.Compared with a satellite solely designed for weather observation, the production of a multifunctional transport satellite takes more time and costs more money. Japan could not afford to have an auxiliary satellite manufactured in case of emergency. The Japanese side should prepare for any eventuality by ordering a satellite designed solely for meteorological observation and a backup satellite.A way should be found to deal with the latest problem affecting the development of space.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2003-11-13	YOSHIN0020031113dzbd000kv
YOMSHI0020031113dzbe0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031113dzbe0000g	EN	\N	SDP's decline sign of the times.	The former Japan Socialist Party, which once played a key role in postwar politics, outlived its usefulness and dropped out of sight. Now the SDP, which took over from the JSP, appears to be on the way out.	4	2003-11-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Elected chairwoman of the JSP in 1986, Doi was the first female party leader in Japan.In the House of Councillors election in the summer of 1989, she attracted female voters with her straightforward manner of speech and helped many female JSP candidates to win seats, a phenomenon dubbed the "madonna boom." As a result, the opposition outnumbered the Liberal Democratic Party in the upper house. Doi, who was at the peak of her career, said at the time: "A mountain has moved."Doi assumed the post of speaker of the House of Representatives in 1993, the first woman to do so. In 1996 when the party changed its name to the Social Democratic Party, she made a comeback as party leader.Doi decided to resign from her post to take responsibility for the crushing defeat in the Sunday's lower house election.Rocked by scandalHer party has been rocked by the indictment of former SDP lower house member Kiyomi Tsujimoto and a close aide of the party leader in a scandal involving the salaries of state-funded secretaries.Over the years, including the time when Doi was chairwoman of the JSP, the party also failed to acknowledge the abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea. It is obvious that the party's election defeat was due partly to public criticism over the party's stance on these issues.More importantly, the party alienated many voters because of its failure to keep up with the times.During the election campaign, Doi said the voters had to choose whether or not to "protect the pacifist Constitution," by emphasizing that this was the biggest bone of contention.In her appeal to voters, she said, "At stake in this election is whether to let the Constitution live or die," a plea that appeared to be almost like that of a religious group pledging to protect the supreme law.About 60 percent of respondents in a public opinion survey said it was inevitable to revise the Constitution to keep it in line with changing times both in the international and socioeconomic sense. Two-thirds of the public now approve the use of Self-Defense Forces personnel in international peacekeeping activities.Public awareness of national security concerns also is on the rise, following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and anxieties about North Korea's nuclear weapons development program.Anachronistic stanceThe LDP, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and New Komeito are calling for the Constitution to be amended or reviewed, because they are aware of changes on the international scene.Tomiichi Murayama, former leader of the SDP, took a realistic stance by supporting both the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and the SDF when he assumed the post of prime minister in the ruling coalition of the LDP, SDP and New Party Sakigake (Pioneers).Yet, during the latest election, Doi asserted that "the SDP would stick stubbornly to peace," and "As long as Article 9 is in the Constitution, Japan should not send the SDF abroad," a far cry from the current sentiment.Such an anachronistic stance would hardly sway voters when opinions have changed so much. Is it any wonder that the party has declined, along with the Japanese Communist Party, which holds the same stance?Doi said she was resigning so that the party could be reborn, suggesting that she would like to see the party rebuilt to protect the Constitution. However, the party has little chance of rejuvenating itself.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	666	2003-11-14	YOSHIN0020031114dzbe000j3
YOMSHI0020031114dzbf0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031114dzbf0000f	EN	\N	New insurance product bad for private sector.	Public Management Minister Taro Aso on Friday approved a new kampo insurance product that Japan Post had lobbied for. The product will go on sale in January.	4	2003-11-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The basic principle for structural reforms, Koizumi tells us, is "leave what can be done by the private sector in the hands of the private sector."The privatization of the postal services, which is viewed as a pillar of the structural reforms, is essentially intended to change the current twisted structure in which government-run businesses pressure private businesses.However, the new kampo product will almost certainly exert more pressure on private life insurance companies. Therefore, approval of the new product runs counter to the ideas behind the structural reform.Koizumi under the gunThis is why some Cabinet ministers objected to the decision. Aso is responsible for this situation, but Koizumi will no doubt come under fire for not stopping him from approving the new product.The fixed-term whole-life insurance policy-the type that Aso approved-is a major product of private-sector life insurers. The product accounts for one-fourth of the total amount of insurance held by private-sector life insurance firms. Therefore, the new product could cut into the share of private-sector insurers in this field.Japan Post President Masaharu Ikuta, who once headed a private firm, was appointed to the position with the task of improving the public corporation's business performance by adopting private-sector business methods. But the public corporation must not be allowed to become further bloated under the excuse of improving its profit-making structure.After the new product makes its debut, Japan Post plans to start over-the-counter sales of investment trust funds. We believe it is high time for the prime minister to step in and stop the public corporation from becoming too bloated.Opposition from many quartersPublic corporations are exempted from paying corporate and enterprise taxes. When private life insurers go bankrupt, insurance benefits are reduced. In regard to kampo insurance, however, benefits are guaranteed by the government. Therefore, kampo insurance products will have a strong advantage over competitors in the private sector.The United States and European nations expressed their opposition to the scheme to the Public Management Ministry in the form of documents and other means. These countries cannot understand why a publicly run entity should be allowed to cut into the business of private companies by taking advantage of favorable treatment by the government.Japan Post currently holds a combined 350 trillion yen worth of assets in kampo insurance policies and postal savings, surely making it the world's largest government-run financial institution.The massive amount of assets under the government's control have been used to pump up public corporations' inefficient businesses.The Liberal Democratic Party pledged during the campaign for the last election to privatize the three postal services in April 2007. Unless the party expedites debate on how to realize this goal, it will be unable to put its plans into practice by the target year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	557	2003-11-15	YOSHIN0020031115dzbf000m3
YOMSHI0020031115dzbg00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031115dzbg00009	EN	\N	Japan-U.S. alliance must take top priority.	During a series of meetings between Rumsfeld, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba, it was confirmed that Japan and the United States would strengthen the Japan-U.S. security alliance and work closely to halt North Korea's development of nuclear arms.	4	2003-11-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This was Rumsfeld's first visit as U.S. President George W. Bush's defense secretary. He is scheduled to visit South Korea when he leaves Japan.Rumsfeld is considered one of the most rigid hard-liners in the Bush administration, which named North Korea as one country in an "axis of evil," along with Iraq and Iran. Given their geographical proximity to North Korea, Rumsfeld's visits to Japan and South Korea will certainly send a strong signal to Pyongyang.Six-party talks among Japan, the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and North Korea are expected to resume as early as next month to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons development program. Countries calling for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons are negotiating the multilateral security guarantee Pyongyang has demanded and how to proceed with the disposal of the country's nuclear arms.Visit sends message to N. KoreaIn particular, the three countries that face an imminent threat from North Korea's nuclear weapons-Japan, the United States and South Korea-are being urged to step up cooperation. From this point of view, Rumsfeld's visit to Japan and South Korea at this point is particularly significant.Regarding security guarantees for North Korea, Rumsfeld assured both Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and Ishiba that his country would never make any arrangements with another country that would undermine the Japan-U.S. alliance. We think this was the only natural thing to say.Some observers have expressed concern that the Japan-U.S. alliance might be undermined by such a security guarantee if the United States were bound by the guarantee under international law.Those concerned believe that if North Korea attacked Japan with missiles or by any other means, the United States might be constrained from counterattacking North Korea by the security guarantees.'U.S. would defend Japan'At a joint press conference, Ishiba stressed that even if North Korea was given security guarantees, the United States would certainly join Japan in defending this country if North Korea launched a sudden military attack. Rumsfeld endorsed Ishiba's remarks, saying he completely agreed with the director general. Their remarks eliminated concerns lingering within certain parties, and the steadfastness of the Japan-U.S. alliance was confirmed.Rumsfeld and Ishiba also confirmed bilateral cooperation to promote the missile defense system. The Japanese government plans to appropriate related costs in the fiscal 2004 budget with a view to introducing the system.North Korea's Rodong missiles, which are already aimed at Japan, pose the most serious threat to this country. As long as Japan maintains its national security policy of nonaggression, it must have the capability to promptly intercept missile attacks and precisely shoot them down.In this respect, we believe it is important to further deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance in line with the current ever-changing security environment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2003-11-16	YOSHIN0020031117dzbg000fl
YOMSHI0020031116dzbh00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031116dzbh00009	EN	\N	Higher-quality foreign students needed.	The number of foreign students in this country exceeds 100,000, meaning that the government has accomplished its goal of ensuring that this nation hosts 100,000 students from overseas.	4	2003-11-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The numerical target was set in 1983 as part of a government effort to promote international exchange. There were only about 10,000 foreign students in the nation at the time.Japanese efforts to host foreign students were made in the hopes of producing people who would work to bridge the gap between this nation and their home countries. Doing so constitutes an attempt to establish stable relations with the international community. This also helps educational and academic activities at Japanese colleges and universities. In this sense, the government's successful effort to achieve its numerical goal deserves praise.Students straying from studiesIt should be noted, however, that an increasing number of foreign students at Japanese schools are poorly motivated to learn. They spend a good portion of their time working part-time to earn money. Some foreign students have committed crimes.Two years ago, it was found that a large number of Chinese students at a junior college in Yamagata Prefecture had moved to Tokyo and neighboring areas with the aim of working part-time. Recent criminal cases involving Chinese students included the murder of a Fukuoka family allegedly by former students from that country.Chinese students in this nation account for a predominant 64.7 percent of foreign students studying at Japanese schools.China's economic growth in recent years has contributed to an enthusiasm in that nation for opportunities to receive higher education. There is growing interest among many Chinese in studying at Japanese colleges and universities.It is easy for Chinese to obtain visas to study in Japan. They also find it possible to work part-time in Japan while studying. This has encouraged many Chinese students to obtain both academic qualifications and money in Japan.Meanwhile, some private colleges and universities, faced with a reduction in the number of students due to a sharp decline in the birthrate, are seeking foreign students without much thought to their motivations or abilities.The effort to attract more foreign students to Japanese schools has contributed to the growth in the number of foreign students working illegally in this country. This fact should not be ignored. With this in mind, the government must drastically review its policy toward foreign students attending Japanese schools.Beginning in 2002, students from many other Asian nations were required to take a test prepared by an organization affiliated with the Education, Science and Technology Ministry to assess their scholastic abilities before being admitted to Japanese schools. However, China has not given such a test to students hoping to study in this country. Tokyo should strongly urge Beijing to adopt the test.Schools must tighten rulesGovernment attempts to examine the quality of foreign students seeking to study in Japan must be complemented by an effort by colleges and universities to correct a tendency to accept foreign students too readily. Otherwise, no progress will be made in efforts to change the status quo.Colleges and universities must implement strict measures to examine all aspects of foreign students' intended studies in Japan, including their admission to schools. School authorities also must work to teach foreign students properly and give them adequate guidance in their studies. It is also necessary to give foreign students the assistance they need to live in Japan, such as helping them find housing. In addition, colleges and universities should ensure that foreign students becomes too low.It may be advisable for the Education, Science and Technology Ministry to take punitive measures against schools-for example cutting subsidies-if the ratio of foreign students who complete their studies becomes remarkably low.Many foreign students in Japan are studying earnestly despite various difficulties they experience here, including high prices. Nevertheless, the government should not allow foreign students to work illegally. Otherwise, a mistaken notion may prevail among the public about foreign students as a whole. This must be taken to heart by those involved in educating foreign students attending Japanese schools.The nation has achieved its numerical goal for foreign students. The next challenge is to improve their quality.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2003-11-17	YOSHIN0020031117dzbh0012o
YOMSHI0020031117dzbi0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031117dzbi0000h	EN	\N	Spell out pension plans to dispel public distrust.	The main thrust of a tentative pension reform plan released Monday by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is to adopt a fixed-premium system. The formula would set an upper limit on the level of pension premiums, meaning that the amount of pension benefits to be received by individual subscribers would be automatically determined, based on total revenues from collected premiums.	4	2003-11-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry is correct in setting such a target. It seems, however, that the reform plan is merely an attempt to balance the books under the current system. The ministry remains vague about how it will come up with the financial resources needed to achieve the goal. Therefore, it is difficult to say that the ministry's plan will do much to alleviate public anxiety over the pension system.The responsibility falls on the government and the ruling parties to put together a final reform plan and implement it. Before finalizing the fiscal 2004 budget in December, the government must present the public with a plan, which includes details of how it will raise the required funds, that is both acceptable and convincing.Premium rate too highUnder the ministry's plan, the rate of premiums to be paid by corporate employees would be gradually increased each year until the figure reached 20 percent of their annual income. The ministry has said its reform plan would ensure that subscribers to the corporate pension system would continue to receive benefits, the levels of which would not fall below 50 percent of the salaries paid to them while in the workforce, despite a continuing fall in the birthrate.It should be noted, however, that the ministry's proposal would entail a year-on-year rise in the premium rate, combined with a continued reduction in pension benefits paid to corporate employees. It is difficult to expect that younger generations will support the ministry's reform plan.The 20 percent upper limit also is too high. Social insurance premiums to be paid by corporate employees-including those paid under the medical and nursing-care insurance systems-are expected to reach 34 percent of their annual income in 2025. It is questionable whether the workforce would be able to shoulder such a heavy financial burden.The 20 percent premium rate also is expected to deal a blow to private-sector corporations that must cover half the premiums to be paid by their employees. Even today, companies must pay more in pension premiums than in corporate taxes.Admittedly, the ratio of tax and social insurance premium payments by individuals and corporations to their incomes in this country is still lower than those in European nations. The government has used this fact to insist that there still is room for an increase in pension premiums. However, there is a limit to how much subscribers to the system can pay in premiums. We believe that the 20 percent upper limit should be lowered.Ministry plan omits key detailsThe ministry's plan also incorporates a proposal to use up a pension reserve fund totaling 148 trillion yen over a 95-year period, with the aim of helping secure funds for pension benefits. The proposal should be implemented to help curb the growth in pension premiums and reductions in pension payments. However, we believe the ministry should carry out this plan in a shorter period.The ministry also has said that subscribers aged 70 and older should continue paying premiums if they earn high incomes, insisting on a cut in their pension benefits if their total incomes-pension payments and salaries-exceed a certain level. The ministry has good reason to propose that affluent elderly people shoulder a burden commensurate with their financial means.However, the ministry's reform plan includes no reference to how it will raise the 2.7 trillion yen needed to increase the ratio of the government contribution to the basic pension plan, which covers each member of the population. The plan would not serve its purpose if it did not entail a drastic reform of the tax system.Many specialists have insisted on curtailing deductions from pension payments to elderly subscribers while also thoroughly reviewing government expenditures.Undoubtedly, these proposals should be implemented. At the same time, however, the government should not avoid considering raising the consumption tax as a means of raising the massive amount of money needed to keep the pension system intact. Increasing the tax means that every member of the population will shoulder the financial burden of maintaining the system. This would help bridge the gap among generations in financial burdens they have shouldered and benefits they received.Politicians and political parties should tell the public what needs to be done so that people can live their lives free of anxiety over their futures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	850	2003-11-18	YOSHIN0020031118dzbi000jy
YOMSHI0020031118dzbj0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031118dzbj0000f	EN	\N	N. Korea at fault over KEDO project freeze.	The decision will mark the second punitive action the international consortium has meted out to North Korea, following its suspension of delivery of heavy fuel oil to the country last year.	4	2003-11-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	KEDO has decided to suspend the construction of the reactors because North Korea is carrying out a covert nuclear weapons development program in violation of the Agreed Framework signed by the United States and North Korea nine years ago.It is impossible for the KEDO project to be continued since the country has violated the international accord, begun operating a nuclear facility and threatened to arm itself with nuclear weapons. The planned suspension was the only logical decision.KEDO is a consortium created through international cooperation under the leadership of Japan, the United States and South Korea in accordance with the Agreed Framework.Under the accord, KEDO was to construct two light-water reactors, which cannot easily be converted for nuclear weapons development, in exchange for North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear ambitions. During the period of the reactors' construction, KEDO was to deliver about 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil annually to North Korea.1.38 billion dollars already has been spent on the 4.6 billion dollars project. South Korea has extended loans totaling about 1 billion dollars, Japan about 400 million dollars, while the United States has shouldered 370 million dollars for the delivery of heavy fuel oil.North must let workers leaveNorth Korea turned its back on the international community and resumed its nuclear weapons development program.KEDO should freeze the project until North Korea promises anew to abandon its nuclear program and allows strict verification procedures to be implemented.The North Korean Foreign Ministry has strongly protested against the plan to suspend construction of the reactors. It has said it will not permit the removal of materials from the construction sites in South Hamgyong Province until the United States compensates it for damages resulting from the delay in the construction of the reactors. It is grossly unfair for North Korea to make such a statement while ignoring its own fault in the matter.About 500 people, mostly Uzbeks and South Koreans, are working at the construction sites. Construction materials and equipment worth a total of 40 million dollars have been brought to the sites. With the suspension of construction, nearly all of these employees and most of the equipment will have to be withdrawn from the sites, leaving only a few workers to carry out maintenance.Under the agreement signed between North Korea and KEDO, the safety of KEDO employees and the free removal of materials, equipment and facilities from construction sites is guaranteed. North Korea should not obstruct the removal of men and machinery.N-plants no longer an optionKEDO's decision represents a suspension of the project, not its cancellation. As well as preventing the loans extended for the project from becoming uncollectible and avoiding an obligation to pay damages for breach of contract, KEDO's decision also was aimed at prompting North Korea to take a positive stance at the six-way talks to be attended by Japan, the United States, North and South Korea, China and Russia by leaving some room for the project to be resumed.Nevertheless, a resumption depends, first and foremost, on North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear ambitions. And even if the project to provide power for North Korea is resumed, the provision of light-water reactors is no longer a realistic option. The United States has already made it clear that the light-water reactor project has no future. KEDO should explore ways to offer to construct conventional thermal power plants for North Korea.North Korea, which has withdrawn from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, is no longer eligible to avail itself of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2003-11-19	YOSHIN0020031119dzbj000md
YOMSHI0020031119dzbk0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031119dzbk0000d	EN	\N	Coalition must coordinate to implement policies.	On the domestic front, the Koizumi administration faces such issues as the compilation of next fiscal year's budget, pension system reform and the so-called triple reform plan regarding local government finances.	4	2003-11-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On the diplomatic front, the administration will face such issues as the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq and ones related to North Korea. Koizumi needs to handle these pending matters with due care.At a press conference held following his reappointment as prime minister Wednesday, Koizumi indicated his confidence in managing his administration in the days ahead.He said the ruling camp secured an absolute stable majority in the latest House of Representatives election because "most people understood the need for reforms."Smooth coordination keyThe framework of the ruling coalition has changed from the previous one comprising the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Hoshushinto (New Conservative Party) to a two-way coalition of the LDP and New Komeito as Hoshushinto merged with the LDP.Now that Hoshushinto, which functioned as a buffer between the LDP and New Komeito, has disappeared, some are concerned about whether the two parties will be able to smoothly coordinate their stances on key policies.But there could be more room for policy coordination to be handled more easily under the two-way coalition. At a time when there is a growing need for accelerating the pace of implementing key policies, the two-way coalition may turn out to be advantageous.On the other hand, there are concerns that New Komeito, in fear of being forgotten by voters with the emergence of a two-party system comprising the LDP and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), may push its own policies more strongly as next year's House of Councillors election approaches.Should the LDP and New Komeito lock horns with each other within the government, the administration's policy implementation may fall into disarray or be delayed. There also are concerns that decisions on key policies may be postponed. Taking into account the circumstances surrounding Japan both at home and abroad, such a situation should not be allowed to develop.One issue on which the two parties disagree is pension system reform. As a way to finance that reform, New Komeito advocates a review of the current fixed-rate income tax cut. But the prevailing view within the LDP opposes that idea, fearing it would have an adverse impact on the overall economy.At the press conference, Koizumi said, "We (the LDP and New Komeito) might have different views on certain issues, but we'll be able to coordinate over policies." To do so, Koizumi needs to display leadership.SDF should be sent to IraqAs a matter of course, policy coordination should never end up as easy compromise. Both parties should hold on to their ideals when coordinating their views on policies.The same can be said with diplomatic and national security policies.The highest-priority issue at the moment concerns the dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq.During talks he held with Koizumi, who spoke in his capacity as LDP chief, New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki said, "It's fine to push the idea of dispatching the SDF (to Iraq), but we want the government to make a decision on that matter carefully based on the security conditions on the ground there."Helping reconstruct postwar Iraq is an act of international cooperation that will benefit the stability of the international community. While it is quite reasonable for the government to do its utmost to protect the SDP personnel to be dispatched, it is nonetheless necessary for Japan to send SDF personnel to Iraq. We should not postpone the dispatch over concerns that they might become victims of terrorist attacks.Whether it concerns domestic politics or diplomatic and security issues, the resolute implementation of key policies by a responsible administration will dispel concerns over the LDP-New Komeito coalition.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	721	2003-11-20	YOSHIN0020031120dzbk000j4
YOMSHI0020031120dzbl0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031120dzbl0000g	EN	\N	IRC must communicate with banks better.	Six months have passed since the public corporation was inaugurated with the aim of revitalizing troubled banks and industries. So far, the IRC has decided to extend assistance to only eight firms. Moreover, it has yet to deal with companies with sales exceeding 300 billion yen.	4	2003-11-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This is because the corporation has failed to establish good relationships with banks. The banks, on their side, have not offered the IRC any large-scale projects, although it has set aside 10 trillion yen in funds to purchase nonperforming loans so that it could handle more than 100 projects in two years. Already, it has become clear the corporation has problems.On the other hand, the Resolution and Collection Corporation and councils that have been set up in local chambers of commerce to assist the revitalization of small and medium-sized corporations in individual regions are dealing with a growing number of projects. In addition, bank-operated revitalization funds also are at work. If the situation does not change, some people might wonder whether the IRC is necessary.Large projects lackingThe IRC was established under the initiative of the government, with a minister in charge. Backed by government guarantees, the corporation is designed to press ahead with the disposal of nonperforming loans that banks have extended to large companies and expedite the revitalization of the Japanese economy. However, if the corporation does not handle any large projects, it will not be very effective.To have the banks consult with the IRC on troubled companies, the corporation must improve its relationships with these financial institutions as soon as possible. Some bank officials complain that their banks are always asked to bear a burden. The corporation must try to improve this situation.The corporation decided on the first four companies that it planned to revitalize at the end of August.Mitsui Mining Co., a major client, was considered in dire need of rehabilitation, but Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., the firm's main bank, was asked to waive more than 90 percent of unsecured loans it had extended to the company.Following this, the major banks put up some resistance, believing that it would be meaningless to ask for help from the IRC if it handled financially troubled firms in a similar manner to legal liquidations.Flexible thinking neededThis was not the only reason for ill feelings between the two sides. More than 10 staff members were dispatched by banks to help prepare for the IRC's launch, but they were not hired when the corporation started operations.To change this situation, the IRC should enhance communications with banks by hiring bank employees and taking other measures.Many of those working at the IRC used to work for private-sector revitalization funds, including foreign-affiliated ones. They seem to be very conscious about making profits and getting results.Some critics have pointed out that the IRC has been trying to purchase bank-held loans at the lowest possible prices and asking banks for debt waivers larger than initially planned. If this attitude continues, they cannot expect banks to cooperate in the future.We are not encouraging the corporation to chalk up losses, but believe it is important for IRC officials to think more flexibly so they can make ends meet in projects the corporation carries out during the five years it will be in operation.The IRC's assessment of bank assets revealed that many banks failed to set aside sufficient amounts of loan-loss reserves. Banks must rectify this by assessing their assets more rigidly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	619	2003-11-21	YOSHIN0020031121dzbl000jf
YOMSHI0020031121dzbm0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031121dzbm0000d	EN	\N	Preparations improving to tackle contingencies.	The legislation on the protection of the public is supplementary to a set of war-contingency laws, which is a pillar of a package of emergency-related laws.	4	2003-11-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When the war-contingency laws were enacted by the regular Diet session in June, the ruling coalition parties and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) agreed that a law on protecting the people should be enacted within a year. In this regard, the legislation should be passed into law at the next ordinary Diet session.The contingency laws define a series of procedures to utilize the Self-Defense Forces in the event of emergencies.The envisioned law, on the other hand, will stipulate how the central and local governments should share their roles in protecting the people in the event of a military attack or large-scale act of terrorism. For instance, the outline empowers the central government to issue a warning, as well as having local governments evacuate people, assist victims and take measures to minimize damage from military attacks.People's rights may be curbedHowever, the outline stated that while people's freedom and rights should not be violated, their rights might be limited to some degree.The outline said those who violated regulations and orders would be subject to punishment. Others to be penalized would be those who refuse to have their rights curbe, such as people who prevent the use of their land and houses or who will not allow their private goods to be seized, and people who fail to comply with traffic bans on specific throughfares.Limits on personal rights also are stipulated in the Basic Law on Natural Disasters, which will be applied when earthquakes and other natural disasters occur.Contingencies are emergencies in which the sovereignty of the state is violated. If we look at things from the standpoint of what each of us must do to protect people's lives and property, it is obvious that individual rights have to be limited to a certain degree.The envisioned law will include a clause on compensation to be paid to cover losses resulting from restrictions on individual rights, such as seizure of private goods.Cooperation vitalIn the event of an emergency, cooperation will be vital. The outline suggested four areas in which people can cooperate, including rescuing and leading evacuees to safety, and ensuring hygiene.However, it said such cooperation should be made on a voluntary basis. Is this sufficient? The people should be obliged to protect the nation and cooperate with each other. Further discussions are needed on this issue before the government draws up the bill.Compared with an earlier outline, which was unveiled in April, the new outline clarifies role-sharing among national, prefectural and municipal governments.It also enhances the prime minister's role in dealing with damage caused by nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, which local governments would be unable to fully cope with.At the same time, the legislation would strengthen prefectural governors' power in devastated areas in the evacuation and rescue of people. We believe these measures are appropriate.In the next regular Diet session, the government should come up with separate legislation to enable U.S. military forces to work smoothly with the SDF, deal with prisoners of war, and punish inhumane acts.Only after these laws are enacted will the contingency laws be complete and start functioning properly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2003-11-22	YOSHIN0020031122dzbm000ki
YOMSHI0020031122dzbn0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031122dzbn0000d	EN	\N	New law schools bear great responsibility.	After studying applications for permission to open postgraduate law schools submitted by 72 state-run, public and private universities, the Council for University Chartering and School Juridical Persons on Friday presented Education, Science and Technology Minister Takeo Kawamura with a report suggesting that the ministry give the green light to 66 of them. The ministry will soon officially approve the council's recommendations.	4	2003-11-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel also urged the ministry to reject the applications of four universities and put off making a decisions on the applications of two universities.The council's recommendation to reject the requests was the first such rejection in 28 years of vetting requests for permission to establish graduate schools, colleges or universities. The decision deserves praise, as it was the result of rigorous examinations of the curriculums of the universities that submitted applications, as well as of the academic achievements of their full-time teaching staffs.Three-year law schools are responsible for teaching small groups of students the wide range of expertise that must be acquired by prospective legal professionals, including legal theories and practical skills. They seek to produce a number of excellent lawyers by teaching various would-be legal professionals, including graduates not only from law faculties, but also from other departments at colleges and universities. Law students also include full-time workers.Schools seeking advantagesThe large number of applications received from state-run and other universities for permission to open law schools reflects, in part, their desire to gain advantages from the law school system. The new National Bar Examination, which will take effect in 2006, automatically will qualify graduates from law schools to take the test. Applicants also included some universities that saw opening a law school as a means of survival.The council rejected applications from a few private universities that have formed partnerships with preparatory schools that specialize in the bar examination. In denying them permission, the panel said these universities had failed to correct flaws in their curriculums, which the council described as being too heavily adapted to the new bar examination.The ministry's decision to set up law schools is intended to produce legal professionals with a wide range of knowledge and expertise. The council's move to reject applications from the four private universities is justified if these schools are only interested in pursuing goals unrelated to those set by the ministry.It should be noted, however, that the list of universities the council did approve included many institutions that will be required to correct inadequacies in curriculums and other areas. In an unusual move, the council's report listed corrective measures to be implemented by 52 universities if they are to open law schools. For instance, the panel insisted that some universities change their staffing plans, saying their full-time teaching staff included too many people who were considered too old to be instructors. Other universities were told to improve their curriculums and to adhere to their initial plans concerning the recruitment of teaching staff.All this shows that, in their hurry to meet the deadline set for the submission of requests for permission to open law schools, many universities were too hasty in their preparations. The universities cited in the panel's report must rectify the defects in their plans as soon as possible, while also informing applicants to their law schools of the changes made.Future students right to worryThose applying as students to these planned law schools have good reason to be anxious. They have not yet been fully informed of the specifics of the curriculums prepared by the universities planning to open law schools. This is disturbing to the applicants in that they will start taking entrance tests for law schools as early as January. Some universities have not even determined how much tuition they will charge.The law school system is expected to triple the number of successful applicants for the National Bar Examination to about 3,000 in 2010.The 66 universities acknowledged by the panel as eligible to open law schools are expected to accommodate about 5,500 students. But completing a course of study at a law school and qualifying to take the bar examination does not guarantee passing the test.This means the universities who have qualified to open new law schools will have a highly responsible role to play in educating prospective legal professionals.Universities must realize that they will eventually lose out if they fail to provide adequate educational programs and live up to the expectations of their students.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	790	2003-11-23	YOSHIN0020031125dzbn000hf
YOMSHI0020031123dzbo0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031123dzbo0000e	EN	\N	Japanese corporations must remain vigilant.	Most major corporations have announced their midterm account settlements for the period ending in September. Despite a less-than-satisfactory increase in sales, the corporate sector saw a year-on-year growth of more than 10 percent in its recurring profits during the last business term.	4	2003-11-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	All this reflects the growth in profits by corporations from their main line of business as a result of a rise in retail prices due to increasing exports and domestic demand, coupled with successful efforts to slash their production and other costs by reducing the number of employees on their payrolls.Many companies expect to increase their profits for the business term ending in late March 2004. There is reason to assume that the corporate sector's business performance will continue to improve during the months that follow.No cause for celebration yetHowever, the circumstances surrounding the domestic economy give no cause for optimism about the situation. A recent decline in bullish sentiment among foreign investors in the Japanese stock market has caused domestic stock prices to decline. This has been combined with the continued surge in the value of the yen in the foreign exchange market. There are growing concerns that the Iraqi situation could upset the U.S. economy, the locomotive engine that powers the global economy.The government and the Bank of Japan should implement further measures to achieve an economic expansion led by domestic demand. To accomplish this, the government should ensure that its fiscal 2004 budget incorporates measures to more generously finance programs and projects that will do much to improve the economy. This must be complemented by steps to maintain and shore up the current easy-money policy.The Shinko Research Institute has put together a report detailing the financial results of 939 corporations listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange-excluding, banks, securities and insurance firms-that had released their interim account settlements by the end of last week. According to the report, these corporations saw an increase of 12.3 percent in their recurring profits despite a diminutive 1.2 percent increase in sales from a year earlier, and a 27.1 percent increase in their after-tax profits. This represents a double-digit increase in the corporate sector's recurring profits for a third consecutive semiannual period, following favorable statistics in the business terms ending in September 2002 and March 2003.Steel, shipping industries robustThe encouraging business performance for the accounting term ending in September is symbolized by an economic improvement in the steel industry. During the term, Nippon Steel Corp. achieved a fivefold increase in its recurring profits from a year earlier, returning to profitability on an after-tax basis. This was largely due to an expansion in domestic demand for steel sheets used to produce automobiles and favorable steel exports to the Chinese market. Nippon Steel and four other major steel corporations considerably raised their profits.The steel industry's success in increasing its profits during the term ending in September 2002 was attributable to the sector's reduction in expenditures through workforce cuts. However, the industry's large gains in the accounting period ending in September were due to an increase in its profit margin.This is also true for the shipping industry. A rapid growth in freight volume along Asian maritime routes contributed to an increase in freight charges. Three major shipping firms increased both their incomes and profits, all gaining record after-tax profits.For years, China has been viewed as a nation whose export drive derives from its inexpensive products. However, the latest statistics show China is emerging as a significant importer of Japanese goods.Favorable business performance can also be seen in many electric appliance manufacturers and carmakers.However, Sony Corp. took a cut in income and profits during the last accounting period, partly due to slow progress in shifting the focus of its production to digital consumer electronics. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. reported a deficit during the term in which it released fewer new models than its competitors.Any corporation that has improved its business performance could easily suffer a decline if its top management makes misguided business decisions. In this sense, it is up to corporate executives whether their corporations survive and prosper. This has been clearly demonstrated by the latest interim account settlements.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	765	2003-11-24	YOSHIN0020031125dzbo0011k
YOMSHI0020031124dzbp0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031124dzbp0000c	EN	\N	Stopping WMD spread requires regional unity.	Officials from the export-control authorities of eight countries and a territory, including Japan, South Korea and the United States, have held inaugural policy talks on the issue and have agreed to cooperate in exchanging information, improving legislation and fostering human resources. They also agreed to map out a common and basic rule on the matter by spring.	4	2003-11-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum confirmed during summit talks last month the importance of eliminating the serious danger the proliferation of WMD would bring about, by implementing effective export controls. What is needed now are efforts to expedite the preparation for building this cooperative system.In spring last year, Japan adopted "Catch-all Controls," which ban exports of specified noncontraband items, that are as strict as those in force in Europe and the United States.Under the export-control system, the export of materials and technologies that can be used for developing and producing WMD are subject to strict regulations, and such exports require prior approval by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry. Since it came into effect, the new control system has prevented the export of regulated materials in 20 cases.Sanction busters get shrewderRecently, however, exporters of such materials and technologies have become more devious, for instance exporting them via a third country, making it difficult for the authorities to know the final destination. These developments mean it is difficult for a country acting on its own to check the export of such materials and technologies.For example, a Tokyo company early this year attempted to export to North Korea a direct current stabilizing power supply, a device that can be used for stabilizing the trajectory of a nuclear missile, by falsely declaring it was being shipped to Thailand.Fortunately, the trade ministry learned about the illegal shipment shortly after it left port in Japan and informed the Hong Kong customs authorities, who impounded it on arrival.However, Hong Kong is one of the few areas that can promptly cooperate with Japan in such cases.Other attempts were made around the same time to export controlled equipment to undesirable destinations through third countries. They included an attempt to ship to North Korea a large trailer that could be used to transport missiles by routing it through China, and one to export a large number of measuring instruments, which could be converted into missile parts, to Syria, by way of North Korea, with which Damascus has cooperative militarily ties.Joint safety needs joint actionIf it were not for the vigilance of the Japanese authorities, it is likely that once such items were shipped from Japan they would have reached their final destinations.In Asia and the Pacific region, only Japan, Australia and the United States have effective controls concerning the export of WMD-related materials and technologies.For their parts, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea have just completed upgrading their systems, while Thailand and other developing countries are either making preparations for upgrading them or studying such systems.For many years, Japan has worked to create relevant legal systems and develop human resources in Asia and the Pacific region by organizing yearly seminars and other events.It is now time to put to use the lessons learned at these events and improve the export controls of countries in this region. Also, the circle of polity dialogue must be expanded through cooperation with the United States, which is advanced in such controls.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2003-11-25	YOSHIN0020031125dzbp001pe
YOMSHI0020031125dzbq0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031125dzbq0000g	EN	\N	Time to finally resolve bad-loan problem.	Except for Resona Holdings, Inc., which was effectively nationalized due to a capital infusion earlier this year, all the leading banking groups posted a group net profit for the half year ended Sept. 30.	4	2003-11-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Given that in their accounts for the year to March 31, all seven banking groups posted net losses for the second straight term, the nation's banks appear to have bailed themselves out.Yet on several occasions in the past, top officials of these banks have claimed that the worst was over, only to betray people's hopes later.This time, the banks have to finish, once and for all, the disposal of bad loans, which are a sore on the body of the ailing Japanese economy.To do so, the banks' profit structure needs to be strengthened. Yet their efforts toward corporate restructuring, such as reducing their employees' high salaries and consolidating and eliminating branches, are far from adequate. They also face a big challenge in developing new profit sources, such as venture businesses.Stock price upturn helpedThe biggest factor that has helped the banks improve their earnings lies in the upturn of stock prices.Due to falls in the prices of stocks they held in the accounts for the year to March 31, banks suffered a sizable appraisal loss on their stockholdings. For the midyear accounts, the upturn in stock prices has brought about sizable profits from stock sales.As they have reached a court-mediated settlement with the Tokyo metropolitan government over the metropolitan government-imposed corporate tax based on factors other than profit, they were able to have part of the taxes they paid returned, thus pushing up their profits.Quite a few banks have markedly reduced the amount of bad loans they had to write off. Behind this is the declining trend of bankruptcies among their corporate borrowers, due to the pickup in the overall economy.Yet there are worrisome points, too.There have been cases in which banks' plans for turning around their financially troubled corporate clients were either insufficient or postponed. Should banks dare to take drastic steps to rebuild their corporate clients or to take even harsher measures, they themselves may end up being burdened with sizable losses. Some believe the banks may have purposely avoided such a scenario.Deflation must be haltedIn August, the Financial Services Agency instructed five of the nation's major banking groups and 10 regional banks to improve their earnings. Should any of the banks fail to improve their earnings for the year ending March 31, the agency will ask their respective chief executives to step down. If some of the banks' rebuilding plans for their corporate borrowers appear lukewarm, this probably is because the banks feared ending up suffering sizable losses.The government has a target of halving the ratio of banks' bad loans to their overall lending by the accounts settlement for the end of fiscal 2004.Banks can hardly be blamed for feeling perplexed if they make drastic efforts to dispose of their bad loans, in line with the government's plan, see their net earnings deteriorate as a result and then end up being punished by the financial authorities.The fair way to solve the bad-loan problem lies in self-help efforts on the part of banks and efforts to fight deflation on the part of the government and the Bank of Japan.In the budget for the next fiscal year, the government needs to allocate funds boldly to projects that will stimulate domestic demand. It also should implement tax breaks for banks, including expanding the range of banks' loan-loss reserves that are exempt from taxation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2003-11-26	YOSHIN0020031126dzbq000lu
YOMSHI0020031126dzbr0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031126dzbr0000f	EN	\N	Reserves possible source of revenue for pensions.	Since the start of the extraordinary Diet session, discussions at the Budget Committees in both Diet houses have been focused on where to set the upper limit of pension premiums and the lower limit of pension benefits.	4	2003-11-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	How to balance burdens and benefits is certainly an important question, but as long as there is no debate on the basics of the pension system, the reform might simply end up as a zero-sum formulation.What is fundamental in the pension system is how to secure a revenue source so the government's share of contributions to the basic pension can be raised, a prerequisite for pension system reform.When the Pension Law was revised in 2000, it was stipulated in a supplementary provision to the law that the government's share of the pension contribution would be raised from the current one-third to half of the total starting in 2004. This measure is essential for limiting the increase in pension premiums in the future and stabilizing the system.To cover the increase in the state share of contributions to the basic pension, 2.7 trillion yen will be needed in the initial fiscal year alone. It has been pointed out that a consumption tax hike will be the only way to secure a stable revenue source for that purpose. But politicians have so far avoided taking up this issue because of fears of provoking public opposition to a hike in the tax.Govt, parties short of ideasThe government is expected to complete its plan on pension system reform in December. Nevertheless, the government and ruling coalition parties have still failed to come up with any candidate revenue sources, with the Liberal Democratic Party only having decided on the principle of gradually raising the state's share in contributions in the basic pension to half.If this is the case, the government may end up shelving the issue. Of course, the current economic condition will not allow the government to raise the consumption tax rate next year. But we believe it would be irresponsible for the government to continue to drag its feet in coming up with a plan to raise the consumption tax rate in the future.We urge the government to embark on debates on a revenue source to enable pension system reform, including the possibility of using the consumption tax exclusively for welfare purposes.It also might be possible to use pension reserves to fund the government's share of pension contributions for a clearly specified period.Both the ruling and opposition parties called for raising the state share of pension contributions in their policy pledges, but few parties explained how a revenue source would be secured for that purpose. New Komeito was the only party that put forward a clear-cut proposal to raise taxes. The plan calls for reducing the tax exemption for public pension benefits for which pensioners are eligible and the abolition of across-the-board income tax cuts.Blueprint neededWe believe it will be unavoidable to reduce the size of the tax exemption for those who receive public pensions because this exemption is overly generous. But doing so would only secure additional revenues of 200 billion yen or so.On the other hand, if the fixed-rate, across-the-board tax cut system is abolished, taxpayers will be asked to pay an additional 2.5 trillion yen. Consequently, a greater financial burden would be put on the working generation. Given this, such a measure must be avoided not only because of the adverse effect on the economy, but also from the perspective of ensuring that different generations bear a fair burden.When the government's share of contributions to the basic pension is raised to half, the government will need additional revenues of 3.2 trillion yen in 2010 and 3.8 trillion yen in 2025. It will be difficult to secure a revenue source to cover such an amount solely by abolishing fixed-rate, across-the-board tax cuts.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has refused to raise the consumption tax rate during his tenure, but we believe he has the responsibility to pave the way to securing a stable revenue source for pension system reform.Politicians should promote comprehensive debates on how to secure a revenue source for the basic pension and present a blueprint for a sustainable pension system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	760	2003-11-27	YOSHIN0020031127dzbr000iy
YOMSHI0020031128dzbs0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031128dzbs0000d	EN	\N	Subsidy reduction key to 3-way reform.	The reform aims at reducing central government subsidies to local governments for specific purposes, transferring some tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments and reforming tax grants from the national government to local governments for unspecified purposes.	4	2003-11-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has called for a reduction of 1 trillion yen in subsidies in the first fiscal year of the reform's implementation. Cutting central government subsidies to local governments for specific purposes is considered the first order of business.The prime minister's instructions surprised government ministries and agencies, which are scratching their heads about how to cut the subsidies. Since lawmakers fear the reform effort will undermine their vested interests, their opposition makes it unclear whether Koizumi will succeed in carrying out his plan.As the subsidies have not been reduced by the amount desired, discussions on the transfer of some tax collection powers to local governments and a review of tax grants from the central government to local governments are also stalled.Toward the end of the year, discussions will go into full swing at a conference comprising officials of the government and the ruling parties as well as at the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. If these discussions fail to make headway, the entire reform plan may end up on the scrapheap.Last-ditch effort neededThe prime minister must make an all-out effort now. He should encourage the ministers concerned to come up with a practical detailed plan.According to the "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Policy Management and Structural Reform 2003," which was announced by the council in June, the three-way reform involves slashing 4 trillion yen in state subsidies to local governments for specified purposes over the next three years, compensating local governments by transferring to them tax revenue sources equivalent to 80 percent-100 percent of the amount of subsidies reduced, and drastically reforming tax grants from the central government to local governments for unspecified purposes.However, some observers voiced their concern that the reform targets may not be realized as decisions on which subsidies should be cut were deferred to the end of the year. These concerns are understandable.So far, a reduction in subsidies totaling 500 billion yen is more likely. They include subsidies related to various public works projects and 230 billion yen in retirement benefits for teachers and child allowances, which are included in a state subsidy on compulsory education under the jurisdiction of the Education, Science and Technology Ministry.Targets for ministriesBeyond this, no discussions have been held on any additional subsidy reductions. The ministries and agencies are in virtual agreement that a reduction of 500 billion yen in subsidies is sufficient.Annoyed by this attitude, Koizumi quickly ordered that the subsidies must be reduced by a greater amount.In response, the Cabinet Secretariat allotted reduction targets to ministries and agencies in an extraordinary measure. The reduction targets included 330 billion yen for the Construction and Transport Ministry and 250 billion yen for the Health and Welfare Ministry.However, the ministries and the agencies have been slow to act. Some are trying to avoid cutting the subsidies further, but instead are trying to change the state subsidies for specified purposes to tax grants for unspecified purposes. However, this is just government money with different names.Unless the reduction in the amount of subsidies is decided, discussions on tax revenue sources will remain stalled. Details of reduction must be discussed immediately to ensure a breakthrough and keep opponents at bay.The transfer of tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments is not easy. The amount of tax revenues varies between urban and rural areas. Many local governments will not benefit much even if a tax revenue source is moved to them. Measures must be taken to avoid a deviation in tax revenue sources among local governments.Proposals by the Fiscal System Council will help up to a point in reviewing tax grants for unspecified purposes. The total amount of tax grants should be compressed by reducing administrative costs by such measures as cutting the relatively high salaries for local government employees.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	725	2003-11-28	YOSHIN0020031129dzbs0001k
YOMSHI0020031128dzbt0003a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031128dzbt0003a	EN	\N	Deflation still with us despite CPI increase.	The general CPI index for October, which excludes perishable goods, rose 0.1 percent from a year earlier, the first year-on-year CPI growth since April 1998.	4	2003-11-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Some market players are hasty to say the latest CPI figure signifies an end to deflation.It should be noted, however, that the rise in the CPI index is due to factors peculiar to recent economic conditions. The government and the Bank of Japan should not relax their efforts to overcome deflation, a task of prime importance facing their economic management.In 2002, the CPI continued to drop by close to 1 percent on a month-on-month basis. However, the rate began to shrink early this year. The CPI declined a minimal 0.1 percent in September.The CPI rise in October-the first in 5-1/2 years-can be attributed primarily to an increase in the rice price as a result of this year's unusually cold summer. In October, rice prices increased by more than 11 percent on a year-on-year basis.Unusual factors hiked growthThe rice price increase combined with other unusual factors to raise the CPI index in October. They included a growth in expenses covered by subscribers to the medical insurance system beginning in April. An increase in tobacco prices, which went into effect in July, was another factor behind the CPI growth.Another factor was a pause in the price-slashing competition among businesses, including the food service industry, as the economy showed a mild improvement.With these factors behind the CPI rise in October, it is apparent that commodity prices are still falling. The economy remains deflationary.In its October report, the Bank of Japan predicted that deflation would continue in fiscal 2004. We are confident the central bank will not repeat its previous error in monetary management.Earlier, the Bank of Japan decided it would not end its easy-money policy unless the CPI reached a stable zero or a higher level on a year-on-year basis. According to some analysts, the CPI rise in October may encourage the central bank to consider ending its easy-money policy.Maintain easy-money policyHowever, the Bank of Japan also set additional requirements to be met before it would end its easy-money policy. The bank has said that it will abandon its current monetary policy:- If the monthly CPI remains constant at more than zero.- If it is assured that the CPI will not return to a negative figure in the foreseeable future.In August 2000, the central bank ended its zero-interest rate policy, a move contributing to the prolonged deflation. The bank's current monetary policy appears to reflect its determination not to commit the same error.The Bank of Japan must not scrap its easy-money policy until the nation overcomes deflation.In its policy platform for the recent House of Representatives election, the Liberal Democratic Party pledged that the country would achieve an economic growth of more than 2 percent in nominal terms in fiscal 2006.The government and the ruling parties must ensure that the central pillars of next fiscal year's budget incorporate antideflation measures to honor this pledge. This means the government should generously finance policies and projects to attract investment from the private sector.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	581	2003-11-29	YOSHIN0020031129dzbt000nq
YOMSHI0020031129dzbu0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031129dzbu0000c	EN	\N	Govt must deal quickly with bank crisis.	The move follows a decision reached Saturday night at an emergency meeting of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other top officials to temporarily place the Utsunomiya-based bank under state control. The decision was based on Article 102 of the Deposit Insurance Law.	4	2003-11-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government and the Bank of Japan must take all possible measures to ensure that the prefecture's financial system is not thrown into chaos by Ashikaga Bank's failure. The authorities should not hesitate to inject public funds into any financially troubled banks.Article 102 seeks to protect all deposits at a collapsing bank through injections of taxpayers' money and other public funds if the authorities have determined that the bank's problems could seriously undermine efforts to maintain credit-based financial order in the country or in a given region. The idea is to prevent depositors from being thrown into a panic.Ashikaga Bank is the predominant financial institution in Tochigi Prefecture. Deposits at the bank account for about 40 percent of all savings held by financial institutions in the prefecture. Its loans make up about 45 percent of money lent by local banks.Article 102 right way to goIf the government had chosen to deal with Ashikaga Bank's failure through measures outside those stipulated in Article 102, depositors at the bank would likely have been subject to the so-called payoff system, which guarantees only the refund of a principal of 10 million yen plus accrued interest. The bank's depositors would be panic-stricken, a state that could easily spread to other banks in the prefecture. If that happened, the economy of the entire region and the lives of its residents could be immeasurably damaged.Given this, the government had every reason to take advantage of Article 102 in its attempt to deal with the regional bank's collapse.Ashikaga Bank is the second financial institution to be nationalized under Article 102, following Resona Holdings Inc. However, there are marked differences between the two cases, especially in the specific steps taken to deal with each failure.To place Ashikaga Bank under state control, the government will acquire all shares of the bank free of charge. This means the prefectural government and the local business community will take a huge loss as a result of their agreement to increase their shares in the bank's capital. Ashikaga Financial Group Inc. must assume some responsibility for the bank's failure as the bank's only shareholder.Government steps taken to deal with Resona's collapse did not incorporate a reduction in the banking group's capital, meaning that the shareholders in the bank were unaffected by the failure. This drew fire from critics, who challenged the propriety of a government decision to leave Resona shareholders unhurt. They said it was unreasonable to exempt the shareholders from responsibility, especially as public funds had to be injected into their bank.Initially, Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, advocated strong measures to write off nonperforming loans held by financial institutions, including placing some troubled major banks under state control. After bitter opposition from the ruling parties and the banking industry, however, Takenaka reversed his policy. The Resona case was a symbol of his change of heart.Takenaka reverting to old waysHowever, the government's decision to bail out Ashikaga Bank signifies Takenaka's return to a more heavy-handed approach toward failing of banks. His latest decision is seen as an attempt to protect himself from being criticized as he was in the Resona case.The government's decision to nationalize Ashikaga Bank could arouse concerns among shareholders at other banks. That could adversely affect the stock market, perhaps leading to a drop in the price of stocks issued by banks. There are also concerns that local governments and business circles may become reluctant to cooperate in rehabilitating failed financial institutions in their regions.Keeping these warnings in mind, the government needs to keep a close watch on developments in regional financial systems and their markets.The Financial Service Agency is considering legislative steps to inject public funds into banks before their crises are brought to the boiling point.Swift measures should be taken to shore up this country's financial system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	749	2003-11-30	YOSHIN0020031201dzbu000fm
YOMSHI0020031130dzc100009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031130dzc100009	EN	\N	Japan must not quit battle to rebuild Iraq.	But we should not flinch. There should be no retreat from Japan's offer of assistance in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq, including the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel.	4	2003-12-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In Iraq, two Japanese embassy officials traveling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle were shot to death Saturday. The two diplomats killed were Katsuhiko Oku, 45, a counselor from the Japanese Embassy in London, and Masamori Inoue, 30, third secretary from the Japanese Embassy in Baghdad. It is quite possible they were killed by terrorists.They were on their way to Tikrit, north of Baghdad, to attend a conference on reconstruction work in northern Iraq. Tikrit is the hometown of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and a focus for forces resisting U.S. and British troops.Why was the conference held in that city, of all places? And why did the two head for Tikrit without accompanying security personnel? The Foreign Ministry must investigate the reasons behind this latest attack and whether information gathering and security measures taken were adequate, and make good use of the lessons to be learned.'We will not give in'Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "We will not give in to terrorism. Our policy to do our utmost to help Iraq rebuild remains the same," emphasizing his oft-reiterated stance. We believe this stance is eminently reasonable.In his serial column (in Japanese) titled "Messages from Iraq," carried on the Foreign Ministry Web site, Oku wrote that we should sense "the strong resolve" behind the great number of precious lives lost to terrorism.Japan should act decisively to extend its support to postwar Iraq. Only by doing so can Japan carry out the wishes of the two diplomats, who died violent deaths with their work unfinished.Under the law concerning special measures on reconstruction assistance to Iraq, Japan states that it will "carry out adequately and promptly" support activities in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq.The Koizumi Cabinet is expected to adopt shortly a basic plan for the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq and to send an advance SDF team there before the end of the year. To fulfill its international responsibilities, Japan must carry out this plan.Opposition parties are wrongIn response to the latest incident, opposition parties reiterated their opposition to or questioned the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq. But such words only play into the hands of the terrorists.The next six months will be vitally important in bringing about stability in Iraq. In June, a provisional government is slated to be inaugurated, with sovereignty to be handed over to the Iraqi people.What most Iraqis want is the early restoration of their sovereignty. For Iraq to stand on its own, the international community should continue to offer assistance.In Iraq, terrorist attacks are still occurring frequently. U.S. servicemen there continue to be killed, even though Washington declared major combat over in May, and the terrorists are spreading the range of their targets to United Nations personnel and those from other countries, all of whom support the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.Nevertheless, the countries that have lost people in Iraq, including Italy and Spain, but most of all the United States and Britain, have refused to withdraw from the reconstruction efforts.If the postwar chaos in Iraq is left unchecked, if terrorists are allowed to walk around doing whatever they like, the entire international community will become destabilized.Until Iraqi society becomes stable, Japan must not quit the battle to assist Iraq.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2003-12-01	YOSHIN0020031201dzc10013k
YOMSHI0020031201dzc20000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031201dzc20000f	EN	\N	Hasty tax hikes a threat to economic recovery.	The Tax Commission's interim report on tax system reforms for next fiscal year contains an array of planned tax increases for individuals.	4	2003-12-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the next fiscal budget, the ratio of tax revenue to the government's total revenue is expected to decline to about 50 percent. Given this prognosis, the tax panel's anxiety can be understood to some extent.However, the fiscal health of the economy is not robust enough to stomach hastily implemented tax hikes. The growth in the gross domestic product in the recent quarter was solely sustained by a rise in exports. The economy has not yet reached the stage where it would be able to withstand being overstrained.Even if the government has to make minimal tax increases, they should be limited to items that will have the least impact on the overall economy. But if the government were to attempt to implement the entire plethora of tax hikes the tax panel calls for, the nascent economic recovery would be nipped in the bud.The interim report compiled by the commission, an advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, proposes reducing tax deductions allowed for housing loans, public pension benefits and special tax deductions for the elderly, while increasing the per capita levy of residential tax.Cutting deductions riskyThe biggest threat to economic recovery contained in the panel's recommendations is the reduction in tax deductions for housing loans.The current system grants a tax break of up to 500,000 yen a year, depending on the outstanding housing loans, for 10 years from the date a house owner moves in. In all, a house owner can deduct up to 5 million yen from income tax.But the panel's interim report blames this tax exemption for having hollowed out revenues from income taxes and has called for "a sizable cut to be made" in housing loan deductions.However, housing investment in the private sector only returned to positive growth territory in the July-September quarter, for the first time in nearly four years in nominal terms. Housing starts have a tremendous ripple effect on the overall economy, and to prop up demand, the current tax breaks for housing loans should be left in place.However, a review of the two tax deductions extended to those aged 65 or older, which are extremely favorable to the elderly, is both fair and inevitable if the tax burden is to be shared fairly with the young generation.But tax deductions for spouses also are scheduled to be trimmed. Therefore, careful consideration is required to avoid having only a certain group of people affected by tax hikes.The revision of the per capita levy of residential tax is primarily aimed at correcting the distorted state of the tax system for individual incomes, which has long been left uncorrected.The increase in the financial burden this would bring about for the average tax payer would be only a few thousand yen a year, and it would have little adverse effect on the overall economy. This revision also would increase tax revenue sources for local governments.Not on my watch?The issues taken up in the interim report are relatively minor ones, with discussion on issues that would affect the overall framework of central government finances mostly postponed.This is because the government and the ruling coalition camp have broadly different perspectives on key issues, and as a result, consensus-building is proceeding with difficulty.One key issue is how to restructure the tax system to bring in extra revenues so there will be enough funds in state coffers for the central government to bear the burden of having its share of basic pension payments increased to one half from the current one third.Another issue concerns the transference of tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments as part of the triple reform of local government finances.The interim report said the panel would "discuss issues that may arise when the consumption tax is raised to double-digits."Is that a feeble attempt at resistance to the prime minister, who has vowed there will be no hikes in the consumption tax while he is in office, thereby postponing any in-depth discussions on the issue?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	749	2003-12-02	YOSHIN0020031202dzc2000nn
YOMSHI0020031202dzc30000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031202dzc30000j	EN	\N	Govt must stick to policy of sending SDF to Iraq.	Despite the tragic deaths of two Japanese diplomats in an armed attack in Iraq on Saturday, Koizumi made clear his resolve to maintain the policy of dispatching Self-Defense Forces personnel to that country.	4	2003-12-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We believe the two deceased diplomats, who staked their lives to help reconstruct the war-devastated country, would have felt the same determination as the prime minister. It is a natural decision for the government to make from the viewpoint of the national interest.The government must proceed with its efforts to draw up the basic plan to dispatch SDF personnel to Iraq based on the special law on the restoration of Iraq.In the wake of the envoys' deaths, however, strong objections have been voiced against the planned dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq.Koizumi expressed the intention to explain his stance on the dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq after the Cabinet approves the basic plan on the dispatch. In addition, ruling and opposition parties are discussing the possibility of deliberating the issue at the House of Representatives' special committee on the prevention of terrorism while the Diet is out of session. We believe the prime minister, as the top political leader in this country, bears the responsibility to strive to win the public's understanding on the SDF dispatch.National interest at stakeWe believe it is necessary to confirm again why the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq serves the national interest.The latest U.N. Security Council report says Iraq "is proving to be an ideal battleground for followers" of the Al-Qaida terrorist network. If Iraq fell into the hands of terrorists, international terrorism would spread from Iraq to the rest of the world. Consequently, not only Japan, but also the entire international community would be threatened by terrorists.Japan, a trading nation, can engage in global economic activities only if there is peace and stability in the international community. If terrorists come to rule Iraq, which is one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world, the world economy will be destabilized, and the economy of Japan, which imports nearly 90 percent of crude oil from the Middle East, might be shaken to its foundations.U.S. forces in Iraq are desperately fighting to maintain public order in the country and cannot afford to work on reconstruction. But if international assistance to restore the lives of the people of Iraq is delayed, the situation in the country will become even more unstable.It also is necessary to think about the threat posed by North Korea.If the government gives up its plan to dispatch SDF personnel to Iraq, North Korea will certainly scorn Japan. By firmly sticking to its policy on the SDF dispatch, Tokyo will send a clear message to Pyongyang.As a matter of course, the situation in Iraq must be closely examined before SDF personnel are sent there, but we have no option but to dispatch the SDF. It also will be vital to take steps to ensure the safety of SDF personnel.Revise rules of engagementIn connection with the diplomats' deaths, problems have been pointed out concerning the government's information-gathering on the incident and the security of Japanese officials. We urge the government to revise the Self-Defense Forces Law to allow the SDF to guard Japanese embassies and other government offices overseas like other countries do.SDF personnel are not allowed to use their weapons except for self-defense and in an emergency when the lives of other SDF personnel are threatened. If this situation continues, it will be impossible to fully ensure their safety. The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) also has said it is necessary to review the rules of engagement. We believe it is policymakers' responsibility to review the criteria on the use of weapons by SDF personnel and revise relevant laws through suprapartisan efforts.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2003-12-03	YOSHIN0020031203dzc3000lj
YOMSHI0020031203dzc40000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031203dzc40000g	EN	\N	U.S. deterrent role crucial in Asia.	With the scheduled realignment, the U.S. government intends to place the right capabilities in the most appropriate locations to best address the new security environment characterized by a heightened threat from terrorists that emerged after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.	4	2003-12-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The realignment of U.S. forces is certain to have significant impacts on the security of the United States' allies. In this regard, we urge Washington to conduct in-depth and comprehensive negotiations with its allies to ensure that their security will be maintained and strengthened.Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has maintained regional stability and international security by deploying 100,000 troops in Europe and the same number in Asia.The planned realignment will mean a change in the way U.S. forces are deployed around the world. With the aim of enabling U.S. forces to move with the greatest agility, U.S. bases and troop deployment will be restructured on a global scale. The alignment will focus on capability rather than on boosting troop numbers and materiel. It may lead to the reduction of U.S. forces stationed abroad.But restructuring U.S. forces in Asia must take into account the reality that the security environment in the region is different from that in Europe.Asia has many hot spotsDuring the Cold War, European countries maintained stability in the region under the collective security framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. But after the end of the Cold War, the threat posed by the Soviet Union disappeared. Therefore, the reduction of U.S. troops and relocation of U.S. bases would be easy. It is said that about 70,000 U.S. troops in Germany will be either cut or transferred to bases in Poland and other East European countries.On the other hand, there is no such collective security framework in Asia. In addition, even after the end of the Cold War, a number of potential conflict triggers remain, such as the Korean Peninsula, the Taiwan Strait and the territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. In this regard, the deterrent provided by U.S. forces is vital in Asia.North Korea, which continues developing nuclear weapons and missiles, poses a serious threat to Japan. Pyongyang maintains a menacing attitude toward Seoul, claiming that it could turn the South Korean capital into a sea of flames.New security plan neededFrom the viewpoint of security in Northeast Asia, Japan must closely watch how U.S. forces in South Korea and Japan will be realigned.As for U.S. forces in South Korea, the United States and South Korea have agreed to gradually move U.S. troops away from the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea. The United States claims that new weapons technologies will make it possible to maintain deterrence on the Korean Peninsula.However, the pullback must be conducted cautiously, paying close attention to developments on the peninsula.On the other hand, U.S. forces in Japan have been playing the role of ensuring security in the entire region. Of course, it is necessary to examine how to ease the excessive burdens placed on Okinawa Prefecture, where most U.S. military facilities in the country are concentrated, but the planned realignment must not end up weakening the deterrent role U.S. forces play in the region.U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the realignment of U.S. forces will be carried out over a period of four to six years.During negotiations over the realignment of U.S. forces in the country, Japan, as a U.S. ally, must closely watch changes in the security environment in the region and build a new security plan for the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	680	2003-12-04	YOSHIN0020031204dzc4000ls
YOMSHI0020031204dzc50000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031204dzc50000g	EN	\N	Honor slain diplomats by dispatching SDF.	To pay tribute to the two victims, who gave their lives for the postwar rehabilitation of Iraq, Japan must renew its efforts to honor its pledge to assist in this work as a member of the international community.	4	2003-12-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Cabinet is set to adopt a basic plan for the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq soon. After this plan is finalized, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he will explain his administration's position on the Iraqi mission at a press conference and pertinent Diet committee sessions.Some people are strongly opposed to the dispatch of SDF personnel, citing deteriorating conditions in Iraq. However, Japan has an international obligation to help in the reconstruction of Iraq through the dispatch of SDF members. Doing so will serve the national interests of this country. Japan should not be daunted by terrorist threats.Nowadays, Koizumi appears to be more punctilious in explaining the government's position on Japan's role in Iraq's rehabilitation, in the hope of gaining public support. This was apparent in his recent public lecture and his responses to questions at Budget Committee meetings at the last Diet session. To ensure that there is no Cabinet hitch in approving the basic plan, the prime minister should provide an honest and sincere public explanation on why it is necessary to dispatch SDF personnel to Iraq.Coalition accord essentialThere should be no discord between the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner on this issue.In his party's organ, New Komeito Secretary General Tetsuzo Fuyushiba has expressed his readiness to approve the government plan to send SDF personnel to Iraq. "Peace can be built through a fierce fight-not by paying lip service to it," he says.He has also commented on the chances of SDF members falling victim to terrorist attacks in Iraq, saying, "(New Komeito) will accept responsibility for the situation as a ruling party."Fuyushiba's remarks seem to reflect his firm determination to play a role in the SDF's Iraq mission as a party leader.The prime minister has said, "SDF personnel must be sent when necessary." Even though Fuyushiba has urged the government to exercise "caution" in sending SDF members to Iraq, the government must proceed with its plan to send SDF units when it is deemed necessary.Questions should be raised, however, about the attitude taken by the leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).No role for U.N. to playA statement, recently issued by the party's committee on foreign and security issues about the Iraqi problem, calls for Japan to aid Iraq's reconstruction under U.N. auspices. This is in line with the party's manifesto, issued for the recent general election, which called for Japan to support Iraq's rehabilitation under the intitiative of the United Nations.Minshuto also has said there is no legitimate reason for the government to send SDF personnel to Iraq when the war-ravaged nation does not have a functioning government.Today, the international community is striving to ensure that a provisional Iraqi government will be created in June to restore sovereignty to the Iraqi people.Under the circumstances, it is impossible for the United Nations to play a role in Iraq's reconstruction because of the deteriorating security in that nation. The global body is finding it extremely difficult to initiate any actions.Minshuto's approach is tantamount to putting off any action for months to come.What is needed now is to stabilize the lives of Iraqis through international support for their nation's rehabilitation, while having the U.S. and other forces restore order in that country, with the aim of establishing a democratic government in Iraq. The SDF has a role to play in this process.Japan will be viewed with contempt by the international community if it sends SDF members to Iraq only after that country is stabilized.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2003-12-05	YOSHIN0020031205dzc5000jr
YOMSHI0020031205dzc60000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031205dzc60000f	EN	\N	U.S. steel decision move in right direction.	On Thursday, Bush announced that the U.S. safeguard tariffs imposed on steel imports from eight economies last year would be lifted immediately.	4	2003-12-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In March 2002, the Bush administration slapped steep tariffs on steel products from the eight nations and territories, in the hope of keeping them in place for three years. The U.S. decision to remove them comes after the eight economies took their case before the World Trade Organization in May last year, saying there was little reason for Washington to impose the tariffs, which they regarded as a violation of the WTO accords.In early November, the global trade body put together a final report supporting the case presented by the eight economies, with the intention of presenting its ruling by the end of next week. Prior to Thursday's announcement, the European Union, Japan and other nations said they were determined to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports if Washington refused to abide by the WTO decision. However, the decision by Bush to scrap the tariffs prompted the eight economies to withdraw their list of targeted products.Bush caught in dilemmaThe U.S. government's decision was a tough one as it had to determine what would serve its interests better-keeping the tariffs in place or scrapping them. Abolishing the tariffs could cost the Bush administration support from the U.S. steel industry and labor unions, and undermine Bush's bid to seek reelection as president next year.However, Bush apparently concluded that the advantages gained by scrapping the tariffs outweighed its loss of support from the steel industry. If tariffs on steel imports continued, the prices of steel products in the United States could increase. That would antagonize U.S. carmakers, electric appliance producers and other consumers of steel products. The U.S. administration apparently concluded that lifting the tariffs would please such corporations.The Bush administration evidently also was concerned that it could come under fire from domestic corporations affected by the retaliatory tariffs the EU planned to impose. The EU's list of targeted goods comprised textiles, oranges and many other products.All in all, the Bush administration's latest decision was a calculated move linked to his reelection bid.However, the president's decision does not necessary mean the prevalent protectionist sentiment in the United States will cease. It does not guarantee an end to trade disputes between the United States and its trading partners.Protectionist sentiment strongToday, the United States imposes high tariffs on more than 10 Japanese steel products, insisting that they are exported at unfairly low prices. This action was taken before the United States imposed the safeguard tariffs 21 months ago.Admittedly, the WTO determined that some of those products violated its accords. But no Japanese products in this category have been removed from the U.S. list.In recent months, the United States has also implemented antidumping measures against textiles and color television sets imported from China. This has angered China, which is striving to reduce its trade surplus with the United States by buying a large number of U.S. passenger planes.Previously, the EU argued that preferential tax treatment the U.S. government extended to corporations ran counter to a WTO agreement that bans export subsidies. In 2000, the WTO ruled in favor of the EU. When Washington refused to comply with this ruling, the EU issued a warning that it would impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products, beginning in March 2004.Despite a slight improvement in the global economy in recent months, it is uncertain whether the trend will continue. The emergence of a global trade dispute could hamper smooth transactions in services and goods. This could undermine the slight recovery in the world economy.We hope that the U.S. administration's decision to scrap its steep tariffs will serve to overcome friction in other areas. We also hope that Washington will cooperate with Japan and the EU in overcoming the current gridlock in efforts to resume multilateral trade talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	710	2003-12-06	YOSHIN0020031207dzc60005e
YOMSHI0020031206dzc70000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031206dzc70000e	EN	\N	Nation has responsibility to follow envoys' wishes.	The funeral for the two Japanese diplomats gunned down by terrorists in Iraq last weekend, held jointly by their families and the Foreign Ministry, was a solemn affair.	4	2003-12-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi, speaking to the two diplomats, who risked their lives to assist in the rebuilding of Iraq for the national interest, said: "You are the pride of Japan and of the Japanese people. We'll never forget your achievements and the passion you held for your work," expressing his deep sorrow at their deaths.We would like to assume that Koizumi's words are a sign of his firm resolve not to ignore their wishes.As the deaths of the two envoys in the line of duty indicates, there is risk involved in assisting in Iraq's reconstruction. In light of this risk, there is nothing to do but to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces personnel, who are capable of defending themselves, to Iraq.No guarantee of safetyActs of terrorism can occur at any time and at any place. A report made by an SDF fact-finding mission that recently returned from Iraq said public security was stable in Samawah, the area in southern Iraq where SDF personnel are scheduled to be sent. But the report also said "there is a possibility of attacks" by terrorists in southeastern Iraq in areas other than Samawah.Even if the most stringent safety measures are taken, we cannot say positively that there will be no emergencies.Should we come to fear such a possibility, and flinch from doing our duty, however, we will be unable to assume our responsibilities as a member of the international community.These latest deaths were the result of an act of terrorism and came while the two were on duty assisting in the reconstruction of a war-torn country. The deaths mark the first such case since the death of Haruyuki Takada, an assistant police inspector who was posthumously promoted to superintendent, after being killed in May 1993 in Cambodia. Takada was dispatched for U.N. peacekeeping operations there, serving as a civilian police officer to protect election observers.The postwar reconstruction assistance in Cambodia was the first time the Ground Self-Defense Force had been dispatched abroad.The public security situation in Cambodia back then was bad, as Cambodian government troops and Pol Pot's revolutionary army were fighting in various parts of the country, while military personnel from such countries as Bulgaria and Bangladesh were being killed in guerrilla attacks.Nation didn't withdraw in pastAt that time, many called for the withdrawal of the SDF personnel and civilian police from Cambodia. But Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa made his decision not to withdraw them, so that Japan could fulfill its duty to the international community.Miyazawa later recalled, "If there had been more (Japanese) victims, it (the government) would have been placed in quite a critical situation."All nations consider it inevitable that some people will be hurt or killed during international peacekeeping activities, let alone during wars. And such casualties are a terrible thing for families and friends of the victims.But it is also held to be common sense in the international community that precious lives lost in the line of duty are honored and compensated for as much as possible.Japan must be the only country in which the argument arises that "If there is even one victim, the administration will be in danger."International conditions have changed markedly. The idea that "Things are different in Japan" no longer holds much currency.Prime Minister Koizumi is asserting the necessity of dispatching SDF personnel to Iraq to help restore the war-torn country because he is following the common-sense notions of the international community.Japan cannot dispatch SDF personnel to Iraq as long as the nation is not ready to face casualties. Koizumi must candidly seek the understanding of the people, while keeping the need for that readiness in mind.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	720	2003-12-07	YOSHIN0020031207dzc7000iy
YOMSHI0020031207dzc800009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031207dzc800009	EN	\N	Consumption tax hike vital for pension funding.	Consensus-building within the government and the ruling coalition parties over public pension system reform is not making much progress.	4	2003-12-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The parties are converging on levels of benefits and contributions. Yet the issue of securing funding for increasing the amount covered by the government from one-third to one-half seems likely to be postponed.It would be shameful if the government and the ruling coalition are merely trying to avoid discussing issues that may increase people's financial burdens due to the House of Councillors election scheduled for next summer.The issue of raising the government's share of basic pension payments to one-half is a basic premise for reforming the pension system. We would like to point out once again that the government and the ruling coalition are obligated to tackle the issue of securing the necessary funds and putting a process in motion to solve it.Sustainability neededThe most important aspect of public pension system reform is to build a sustainable system and to restore people's trust in the system.As long as a solution to the public pension system problem continues to retreat like a mirage-whereby the cycle of benefit cuts and contribution increases is repeated-people's anxiety about the future will not be assuaged.The government and ruling coalition have agreed to maintain the level of pension benefits for a household covered by the employee pension plan at more than 50 percent of the average take-home pay of a current worker covered by the same plan.While some say the level is too high, it is appropriate when one considers that the purpose of the public pension system is to give people a sense of security in their old age.Regarding the premium rate for those covered by the employee pension plan, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and coalition partner New Komeito believe the maximum contribution rate should be 20 percent of an employee's annual income.Yet the Liberal Democratic Party, the other party in the ruling camp, the Finance Ministry and the business sector strongly oppose raising the limit to 20 percent, leaving both sides moving toward a compromise at the 18 percent level.The hike in the premium rate means a heavier financial burden for both employees and their employers.Efforts are needed to find ways to maintain an appropriate level of benefits while restricting the range of possible premium hikes.Reserve fund always an optionThe 148 trillion yen pension reserve fund can be used if necessary. The health ministry has unveiled a plan to gradually start using the reserve fund around 2050, when the number of elderly people is expected to peak.The government and ruling coalition should consider using the fund earlier, while still restricting possible premium rate hikes.Even if benefit and contribution levels are decided, any plan that does not specifically address the key issue of where financing will come from cannot leave the drawing board.For the government to cover half of basic pension payments, an additional 2.7 trillion yen would be needed. The government and ruling coalition plan to raise the government's share of the contribution over the next five years. Higher taxes would be imposed on pension benefits and the additional tax revenues made available would cover the government's higher contribution to the basic pension payment.Even if the government's contribution is raised gradually, the revenue increase through heavier taxation on pension benefits is projected to remain at around 200 billion yen a year, which is far from enough.A prevailing view among the public is that in order to secure a stable revenue source, the consumption tax must be raised.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has repeatedly ruled out raising the consumption tax while he is in office, said "It's fine to make an argument" for a possible hike.If so, the ruling coalition should include a clearly-detailed statement on the possibility of launching a study on a possible hike in the consumption tax in its general policies on tax system reform, expected to be compiled shortly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2003-12-08	YOSHIN0020031208dzc8000gh
YOMSHI0020031208dzc90000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031208dzc90000h	EN	\N	Unified system needed for medical specialists.	As medical treatment has been becoming more sophisticated and complicated, it has likewise become important to nurture doctors who have specialized skills and knowledge.	4	2003-12-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, a framework to foster qualified medical specialists is not well developed.The criteria for a specialist qualification varies from one medical association to another. While some medical associations have rigid qualification standards so that they can rigorously check the ability of applicants to give medical treatment, some associations have extremely lax criteria.Reform qualification systemStarting next fiscal year, new doctors will be obliged by law to undergo training at hospitals. The purpose of this legal obligation is to ensure that new doctors acquire the basic abilities required to provide medical treatment. This will be the first legal reform in doctor training in 36 years.This should be followed by a reform of the entire system covering medical specialists. A complete overhaul of the framework of training doctors-from basic skills and knowledge to specialized ones-is required to improve the standard of the nation's medical treatment.The oldest specialist qualification system in Japan is the one for anesthesiologists, which was established about 40 years ago.After this system was established, most medical associations created their own qualification systems. However, the issue is that the training systems and qualification standards among medical associations are not unified.There are about 260,000 doctors in Japan, who hold about 200,000 specialist qualifications among them. A number of these doctors are qualified in two or more specialist fields, but a considerable number of these qualified specialists lack basic abilities.Another problem is that if a qualified specialist makes a medical blunder, the medical association that issued the qualification rarely voids the doctor's qualification.Some associations only require attendance at meetings to renew a doctor's specialist credentials, demonstrating a complete lack of interest in guaranteeing the quality of medical specialists.Following last year's deregulation of medical practice, doctors are now allowed to advertise that they are qualified specialists. The idea was that this information would help people when it comes to choosing a medical facility for treatment.In the United States, there are third-party organization made up of associations, doctors and experts that check the actual ability of qualified medical specialists.In Japan, there is a nascent movement to introduce stricter examinations and training for qualified medical specialists, but it is still in its infancy. It is urgent that a system be established to ensure that medical specialists are properly qualified.As long as it is left to the various medical associations to oversee the own qualification systems, we cannot hope to see an improvement in the quality of the nation's medical specialists.Reward experience, knowledgeWhat is needed is a third-party, objective qualification systems.The current system of reimbursement for medical services, which is calculated by volume of service and disregards a doctor's specialized skills, should be reconsidered.Currently, a highly experienced specialist gets paid the same as a novice doctor for providing the same service. A system should be introduced that rewards doctors who make the effort to improve their value to society by learning new skills and acquiring new knowledge.Full information disclosure is indispensible to achieving this goal. If the number of surgeries, records of treatment and other information on individual doctors were made available, patients would be able to identify and choose the most-skilled doctors.The nation does not need "qualified medical specialists" that are such in name only.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2003-12-09	YOSHIN0020031209dzc9000ld
YOMSHI0020031209dzca0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031209dzca0000g	EN	\N	SDF Iraq dispatch to test public resolve.	The government Tuesday adopted a basic plan to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq to help rebuild the country.	4	2003-12-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Citing the Preamble to the Constitution, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said at a press conference following the Cabinet approval of the mission: "Japan's philosophy as a state, its will and the Japanese people's spirit are being tested."Reconstruction assistance for Iraq is one front in the battle against terrorism. By adopting the basic plan, the government displayed its determination to provide assistance to Iraq not only in the form of funds and goods, but also in the form of human assistance, even though the security situation in the country is deteriorating.The international community continues its desperate efforts to restore peace and stability in Iraq with the aim of establishing self-rule in that country in June. In this regard, the SDF dispatch is a self-evident responsibility Japan must fulfill as a member of the international community.The SDF will not be sent to Iraq to take part in military action, nor will they join activities to maintain public order led by U.S. and British forces.As Koizumi said, the Ground Self-Defense Force, which will be the core of the three SDF arms dispatched to Iraq, will engage in humanitarian and reconstruction activities, such as water purification and supply and the repair of school facilities.Global stability at stakeTwo Japanese diplomats-Ambassador Katsuhiko Oku and First Secretary Masamori Inoue-were killed in Iraq while they were engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, including construction of power plants and hospitals. Because civilians are an easy target in Iraq, the only option was to dispatch SDF personnel, who can protect themselves.Terrorists in Iraq have been indiscriminately attacking a wide range of targets, including international organizations such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, assistance troops from other countries, civilians and even infrastructures. In this regard, by stabilizing the lives of the Iraqi people, it will be possible to isolate the terrorists and block terrorism.If such efforts succeed, it will become possible for civilians of Japan and other countries to engage in works to stabilize public welfare, such as medical care and electricity generation. This is the very reason why the SDF must be dispatched.The stability of the international community serves Japan's interests.If Iraq became a failed state and a hotbed of terrorists, the entire Middle East would be destabilized. This might deal a fatal blow to the economy of Japan, which relies on the region for nearly 90 percent of its crude oil.If the U.S. forces yielded to terrorists' threats and withdrew from Iraq, the country would be thrown into turmoil, and Iraqis' lives would become even more miserable. In that event, Japan would be seriously damaged by the destabilization of the international community that would ensue.Japan-U.S. alliance keyKoizumi also stated that Japan must be a reliable ally for the United States. From the viewpoint of maintaining the Japan-U.S. alliance, this country should indirectly assist the United States, which is endeavoring to stamp out terrorists and restore law and order in Iraq.The Japan-U.S. alliance has served as the foundation for the stability of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the alliance has deepened and widened in the field of the battle against terrorism.More than 30 countries have already dispatched military forces to Iraq to cooperate in reconstruction efforts.If Japan were to sit on the sidelines while other countries performed work that makes them liable to suffer casualties and other pain and decided that it will help in the reconstruction effort only after Iraq becomes a safe place, this country would not deserve its description as a country occupying "an honored place in international society," as is mentioned in the Preamble to the Constitution.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Naoto Kan on Tuesday reiterated his opposition to the dispatch, saying the nation's plan to extend assistance to Iraq's reconstruction should be re-created within a new U.N. framework that involves France, Germany and Russia-countries that did not take part in the Iraqi war.In 1992, Kan, as a member of the United Social Democratic Party, opposed Japan's participation in U.N.-led peacekeeping activities in Cambodia.Kan has said reconstruction assistance to Iraq should be extended under U.N. leadership. But there is no immediate prospect that a U.N.-led framework will be built. Therefore, we cannot help but suspect Kan is only aiming at blocking the SDF dispatch, instead of supporting Japan's playing a role in Iraq's reconstruction.World now a combat zoneIt would unforgivable if Kan was trying to drive the Koizumi administration into a tough corner for political reasons.The government says the SDF will be sent to "noncombat zones" under the special law on extending assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq.On the other hand, the opposition bloc insists that there are "no noncombat zones in Iraq."But if a place targeted by terrorists is described as a "combat zone," then the whole world is a combat zone.Needless to say, a noncombat zone is not necessarily a safe place. It only makes sense to send the SDF after safety conditions in Iraq are carefully examined.Weapons that dispatched SDF personnel are to be issued, such as antitank weapons, are the minimum equipment necessary to ensure their safety.As the prime minister said, the dispatched SDF personnel will not necessarily be safe under the current situation in Iraq. The Japanese public shares the same concerns.Support SDF personnelEven so, the prime minister, who made the decision to dispatch SDF personnel, said, "I want people to show respect and appreciation for the SDF, which is ready to set off (for Iraq) with a burning sense of mission and a firm determination."This is a natural feeling shared by people in every country.As Japanese, we need to fully understand the mission and duties of the SDF, which will serve the national interest, and we should accept the dispatch.As for possible incidents that the dispatched mission may face, Koizumi said, "I'll make a decision at that time concerning the responsibility I should take," clearing demonstrating that he will not shirk such responsibility.The comment was an apparent reflection of Koizumi's awareness of the significance of his decision to go ahead with the dispatch.It is natural for the prime minister-the country's political leader and the supreme commander of the SDF-to show such determination.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1152	2003-12-10	YOSHIN0020031210dzca000nn
YOMSHI0020031210dzcb0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031210dzcb0000c	EN	\N	Govt should slash tax grant allocations.	Undoubtedly, the agreement marked a modest but nevertheless noteworthy step toward accomplishing the goal. However, there still are many tasks to be tackled in reaching the target.	4	2003-12-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Wednesday, the government and the ruling parties settled their dispute over a plan to reduce subsidies to local governments as an initial step toward the triple reform. The far-reaching goal also entails a transfer of tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments and a review of tax grant allocations to local governments from the state coffers.Wednesday's agreement means the government will be able to curtail its subsidies by 1 trillion yen in fiscal 2004-the goal set for the initial year of the triple reform. However, the list of items subject to reductions includes those hardly conducive to efforts to grant the local governments greater discretion in raising and using tax revenues. The local governments have good reason to be discontent with the 1 trillion yen reduction target.The administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is seeking a subsidy reduction totaling 4 trillion yen during the next three fiscal years-the goal announced by the prime minister in June. Until recently, however, there had been little progress in forming a consensus among concerned government ministries about how to achieve this numerical goal.A breakthrough came when Koizumi went public with the 1 trillion yen reduction target for the initial year of the reform. The ministries could have resolved the controversy by reducing the numerical goal to a modest subsidy cut worth only about 500 billion yen had he not issued the order.Govt fudged issueAll this has shown again that the prime minister will be unable to make headway in curtailing subsidies if he leaves it up to bureaucrats to put together specific reduction plans. The situation also could be exacerbated by intervention by lawmakers with vested interests in subsidy allocations.Concern has already arisen over whether Koizumi will be able to continue reducing subsidies in the second year of the reform and later. A bitter lesson has been learned from the latest confusion arising from the government's subsidy reduction goal. First of all, the prime minister should take the lead in carefully debating how subsidies should be curtailed in a manner that will grant local governments greater power in raising and using tax revenues. The triple reform goal should never be reduced to a mathematical game.The stickiest part of the latest dispute concerned subsidies controlled by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. In the end, the government resolved the controversy by incorporating the amount of money equivalent to subsidies to public day care centers into local government coffers in the form of general revenues. The government also chose to lower the ratio of financial resources covered by the central government in enabling local governments to provide welfare benefits in fiscal 2005, a year later than initially planned.The local governments opposed the plan to lower the ratio of state contributions to financial resources for welfare benefits, insisting that doing so would do little to grant them greater discretion in budgetary affairs. Favorably responding to the opinions of the local governments, the Public Management Ministry called for a reduction in subsidies to day care centers as a means of opposing a fall in the ratio of state contributions for the welfare benefits funds.The government eventually chose to settle the row by taking the middle road between the two opposing plans. This settlement should be seen as a compromise reached without seriously thinking about why and how subsidies should be reduced.Tobacco tax practical targetThis less-than-satisfactory situation also was true with a cut in subsidies linked to the Education, Science and Technology Ministry.A new focus of the triple reform goal will concern a transfer of some tax revenue sources from the central government to local governments. The government and the ruling parties intend to single tobacco taxes out as a target for this plan.According to experts, the government will be able to transfer tax revenue sources worth only 500 billion yen. Given this modest figure, the tobacco tax may well be seen as an unsatisfactory but practical target.It should be noted, however, that the government initially sought to consider targeting the income, consumption and other key taxes. In the pursuit of the triple reform goal next fiscal year and later, the government should start discussions on the transfer of key tax revenues sources as soon as possible.Some critics have argued that transferring tax revenues sources without much thought would serve to widen a gap in tax revenues among local governments in the country. Wisdom should be exercised in devising workable measures to attain the goal.The government is set to enter a key stage in its review of tax grants allocated to local governments. The Koizumi administration must put together a drastic plan for reductions in tax grant allocations before completing work to draft the next fiscal budget.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	885	2003-12-11	YOSHIN0020031211dzcb000ir
YOMSHI0020031211dzcc0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031211dzcc0000k	EN	\N	Govt must forge ahead with ASEAN FTAs.	On Thursday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi agreed with top leaders from Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines to open separate negotiations aimed at signing bilateral free trade agreements. The latest development came when Koizumi held separate meetings with these leaders, who are in Tokyo for a two-day summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.	4	2003-12-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Japan is already making preparations to start FTA negotiations with South Korea in late December. In early 2004, this country is scheduled to open preliminary talks aimed at signing an economic partnership treaty with the 10-member ASEAN as a whole.Rapid progress has been made toward reaching FTAs among many nations in recent years. Japan is falling behind in this regard, with Singapore as its only FTA partner. Under the circumstances, Japan could find itself behind China and India in their respective efforts to conclude FTAs.The ASEAN trading bloc is Japan's second largest trade partner after the United States. Lack of progress in forming economic partnerships between Japan and the ASEAN economies would hamper efforts to smoothly expand bilateral trade. This would undermine Japan's efforts to achieve stable economic growth.Japan faces many hurdlesWith this in mind, Japan should accelerate efforts to sign FTAs with individual ASEAN nations and an FTA-based economic-partnership treaty with the 10-member bloc.Japan will face many hurdles in negotiating FTAs with ASEAN economies.Japanese efforts to conclude FTAs with ASEAN nations have been preceded by an attempt to sign a similar accord with Mexico. However, Japan and Mexico were unable to reach a consensus on a Mexican demand for an end to Japanese import restrictions on pork, oranges and other farm products.In the end, the two nations failed to reach an agreement when the Mexican president visited Japan in October. Under the circumstances, it is virtually impossible for the two countries to resolve their differences by the end of the year.The gridlock in negotiations between Japan and Mexico is partly due to objections raised by Japanese farmers and agricultural organizations who fear that ending import restrictions on Mexican farm products could lead to opening up domestic markets to agricultural goods from other nations. Their sentiments have been echoed by lawmakers with vested interests in the agricultural sector.It is expected similar objections may be raised in various sectors about demands from South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. These nations have urged Japan to open its market to farm and marine products, as well as nurses and nursing-care personnel.New trade strategy neededFor years, it has been suggested that the government devise a comprehensive trade strategy that would better complement domestic industrial policies. This calls for looking ahead five years-or even 10 years.The question is how should the government make headway in liberalizing the domestic market for farm imports and foreign workers? It is important to consider what must be done to make the domestic agricultural sector and relevant industries internationally competitive.So far, the government has been unable to come up with ways to meet these challenges. This is largely because some ministries and legislators are trying to defend the interests of a few.However, there are signs of changes taking place. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has begun work to revise its food and agricultural policies. The ministry is seeking to make Japan's agricultural sector more competitive in the global market through a number of measures, including subsidies to farmers. This is apparently aimed at ensuring that the farm industry will be able to survive if import restrictions on agricultural products are lifted.Meanwhile, some members of the ruling coalition are trying to set up a committee comprising officials from the government and the ruling parties that would help reach FTAs with other nations.The government should take advantage of these efforts to sign FTAs with the individual ASEAN countries and the regional bloc as a whole.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	691	2003-12-12	YOSHIN0020031212dzcc000je
YOMSHI0020031213dzcd0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031213dzcd0000l	EN	\N	Strategic vision needed in dealing with ASEAN.	At the summit talks Friday, the leaders of Japan and the 10 ASEAN member countries adopted the Tokyo Declaration, which they consider a "historic document," to serve as a guiding principle in strengthening their relations.	4	2003-12-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Adoption of the declaration is designed to reinforce the economic partnership and cooperation in social and economic development, while at the same time expanding cooperative ties in political and security areas.The declaration described efforts to reinforce cooperative ties to prevent transnational terrorism and halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.Like Iraq, terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists are a frequent occurrence in Southeast Asian countries. The threat of terrorism also has become a reality in Japan. Therefore, it is natural for Japan and ASEAN member countries to cooperate closely to eradicate terrorism.Flip-flop on amity treatyWhen we examine Japan's diplomatic stance toward Asia in recent months, however, we cannot help but be worried.Look at Japan's response to the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia.During his meetings with leaders of ASEAN countries in Bali, Indonesia, in October, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said there was no need for Japan to join the treaty. This time, however, Koizumi said Japan would join.The treaty is the fundamental agreement for the regional organization as it contains such basic principles as protecting the sovereignty and territory of each member country as well as noninterference in the domestic affairs of each other. China and India signed the treaty in October.Again, in negotiations toward concluding the free trade agreement with ASEAN, China and India moved ahead of Japan, leaving this country behind in the areas of economy, politics and security.Koizumi probably expressed his intention of having Japan join the treaty this time in an effort to catch up with China and India.Does Japan have a strategy?However, when we see how far back Japan lags in regard to the treaty and talks to conclude FTAs, we cannot help but question whether Japan has any diplomatic strategy toward Asian countries, including China and India.Japan's proposal to establish an "East Asia Community" was included in the Tokyo Declaration as a way of integrating the regional grouping.Even though it is dubbed a community, countries in the Southeast Asian region differ in history, race, religion and culture. They also have diverse political systems and complex national interests. It is impossible at present for them to form a regional community similar to the European Union's.ASEAN is also wary of China, whose presence is growing in the political, security and economic areas.Member countries of the grouping appealed to Japan to join the TAC, probably because they have concerns over China's expanding influence in the region.When we look at the world as a whole, it is obvious that Asia is undergoing the most rapid changes. Japan needs to develop a strategic vision in carrying out its diplomacy toward other Asian countries, which should also cover its relations with China.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	532	2003-12-13	YOSHIN0020031213dzcd000jr
YOMSHI0020031213dzce00032	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031213dzce00032	EN	\N	Early passage of bills needed to press N. Korea.	The international community, through such occasions as the six-way talks, is continuing its efforts to have North Korea abandon its nuclear ambitions. Yet there is also something Japan should do on its own. This is for Japan to improve its preparedness for imposing economic sanctions on North Korea to pressure the country.	4	2003-12-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The country we are dealing with is a rogue state. Even while Japan is engaged in talks with North Korea, it is possible that country will destabilize the situation at any moment, raising the tension internationally.Even if concerned countries cooperate with each other in dealing with North Korea, Japan also needs to have its own card to play.Bill would allow sanctionsThe Liberal Democratic Party plans to submit as a private members' bill to the ordinary Diet session to be convened in January a bill to revise the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, which would enable Japan unilaterally to suspend remittances to and trade with North Korea. LDP Secretary General Shinzo Abe has said the party will take responsibility and work for the passage of the bill into law.Annual remittances from Japan to North Korea are said to total several tens of billions of yen. In recent years, Japan has become the largest trading partner of North Korea, second only to China.The suspension of remittances to and trade with North Korea would prevent North Korea from procuring funds and materials needed for the development of nuclear weapons and missiles.Under the present law, remittances to and trade with other countries can be suspended if a U.N. resolution is passed or a multinational agreement is signed.This spring, the government changed its conventional interpretation of the law, enabling it to take such actions upon the agreement of a bilateral accord, with one with the United States in mind.Yet if it remains unable to take such actions without a U.N. resolution or U.S. consent, Japan will not be taken seriously by North Korea.Under the bill, Japan could impose sanctions on its own, through Cabinet approval, "when there is a particular need for such actions to maintain the peace and security of the nation." The bill has already been approved at the party's General Council.Japan may have no choiceRegarding imposing sanctions on North Korea, Takenori Kanzaki, the leader of New Komeito, said that if North Korea does not abandon its nuclear ambitions, "there would be no other option but for Japan to take action, including economic sanctions."Meanwhile, the opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), in its manifesto for the recent House of Representatives election, said the party would introduce legislation that would enable Japan to restrict remittances, implying those to North Korea.When it comes to issues concerning North Korea, there are no major disparities in public opinion. A favorable environment for the revision bill to be passed into law at an early date at the regular Diet session already exists.Within the LDP, a bill to ban vessels of certain foreign countries from making port calls, targeting North Korean vessels, is also under study.The bill would allow the government to inspect foreign vessels and, if necessary, restrict them from making port calls, "when there is a possibility such vessels could harm the peace and security of Japan and the Japanese people."The Diet should expedite efforts to draft the bill and get it passed through the regular Diet, together with the bill to revise the foreign exchange law.Making legislative arrangements that would enable Japan to impose unilateral sanctions carries great implications for making North Korea recognize Japan's position toward it.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	663	2003-12-14	YOSHIN0020031215dzce000h9
YOMSHI0020031215dzcg0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031215dzcg0000c	EN	\N	Saddam's capture not cure-all for security ills.	Saddam was captured late Saturday by U.S. forces in a village near Tikrit, his hometown, after eight months on the run.	4	2003-12-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The capture of the man, who started three wars in a quarter of a century and did not flinch from using chemical weapons, is certainly good news for the international community, which is seeking the reconstruction of Iraq.Organizations involved in this reconstruction, including the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the Iraqi Governing Council, as well as the United States, Britain and other countries, need to expedite their efforts to create a new Iraq through their reconstruction efforts.For its part, Japan, which is to dispatch Self-Defense Forces personnel to the country, must play its role as a member of the international community.The detention of Saddam is expected to improve the deteriorating situation in Iraq, as least to a certain degree.Attacks by anti-U.S. forces, including international terrorist groups, against U.S.-and British-led coalition forces have turned into indiscriminate attacks against a wide range of targets, including international organizations, including the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the diplomats of Japan and other countries supporting the United States and Britain, and even Iraqis engaged in reconstruction.Spectre of evil laid to restThese anti-U.S. forces contained Saddam loyalists, and the capture of their former leader has certainly deprived them of a symbolic pillar.Although suicide attacks by terrorists might intensify temporarily following Saddam's capture, his arrest is expected to decrease the number of terrorist attacks by Saddam followers in the long run.Even after the ouster of their former leader, people in Iraq have been terrified by the spectre of Saddam's ghost, both publicly and privately. With Saddam's arrest, this ghost has finally been laid to rest.The anxiety that the Saddam regime might be revived, bringing with it another reign of terror had discouraged Iraqis from making an effort to rebuild their home country. We hope that the Iraqi people, now finally freed of this fear, will devote themselves to reconstructing their country.However, it is too early to be complacent about the news of Saddam's arrest.While one source of horror has been removed, terrorists will continue to seek out chances to ply their dark trade throughout the length and breadth of the vast territory of Iraq. Therefore, it is premature to say that the capture of Saddam will put a complete end to insurgency.We would like to see an improvement in public order and progress in reconstruction develop and go forth in unison, just like the wheels of a car.In post-war Iraq, unemployment is high partly because of the slow progress in reconstruction. Observers say the slow improvement in public order is due to the Iraqi people freely voicing their frustration with the CPA and other aid organizations. To remedy this, these organizations must do their utmost to increase employment opportunities among other things.What the CPA and other concerned parties have gained by Saddam's detention should not be overestimated. They need to deal with the above issues quickly and appropriately.The leaders and other officials of France, Germany and Russia, which opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq, welcomed the news of Saddam's capture, and it is obvious that a stabilized Iraq also is important for those countries. Therefore, it is time that the entire international community exert its maximum efforts to bring stability to the country.Japan is sending senior lawmakers, including former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, to the United States, European countries and Arab countries as special envoys of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. However, Japan needs to further increase its efforts to deepen international cooperation.Transition to Iraqi ruleIn addition to improving law and order in Iraq, another key issue is how the scheduled transition of sovereignty to the Iraqi people can be achieved smoothly.Under an agreement between the CPA and the Iraqi Governing Council, the former is scheduled to hand over sovereignty to an interim government run by Iraqis by June. However, an opinion has emerged that the transfer should come earlier than that date.Although there are differences of opinions, the first consideration should be what is best for the reconstruction of Iraq. Concerned parties should keep this in their minds and act flexibly as required.The government is expected to finish compiling details this week regarding the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq. It also is preparing to dispatch an advance element of the Air Self-Defense Force within this month.It is hoped that the capture of Saddam will lead to an improvement in law and order in Iraq, thereby creating a safer environment for the Ground Self-Defense Force units.The purpose of the dispatch of SDF units, which will be tasked mainly with extending humanitarian reconstruction assistance, is to help stabilize the welfare of Iraqi people.Better living standards for Iraqi people will contribute to an improvement in law and order, leading to the creation of a better environment in the near future for civilians to extend large-scale reconstruction assistance.Japan must play its partIn a recent Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey, two-thirds of respondents were positive about the dispatch of SDF personnel, although they expressed differing options regarding the timing of the deployment, with some replying, "as soon as possible" and others saying "after security conditions were stabilized."However, some people remain totally opposed to the planned deployment.During an out-of-session meeting of a special committee on the prevention of terrorism of the House of Representatives, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) Secretary General Katsuya Okada and Minshuto lawmaker Seiji Maehara, foreign minister in its Next Cabinet, the Minshuto version of a shadow cabinet, said they opposed the dispatch at this moment.Their comments were based on the largest opposition party's insistence that any dispatch of SDF units be carried out under a U.N.-led framework to extend assistance for Iraq's reconstruction.However, as there is no prospect of such a framework being established anytime soon, Minshuto's opinion means Japan would stand by and allow the turmoil in Iraq and the suffering of the Iraqi people to continue until such a framework is created.Maehara said he agrees with the three concepts of international cooperation for Iraq reconstruction, determination not to give in terrorists and the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance.In that case, why should Japan not do its bit now? Not only Koizumi, but Minshuto has accountability.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1152	2003-12-16	YOSHIN0020031216dzcg000nb
YOMSHI0020031216dzch0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031216dzch0000e	EN	\N	Dispatching SDF to Iraq clearly in Japan's interest.	During relevant committee sessions at both chambers of the Diet, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other top government officials detailed their position on the SDF's mission in Iraq. The sessions were convened as an exceptional measure following the closure of a special Diet session in late November.	4	2003-12-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the sessions, opposition parties argued that the United States and Britain should not take the initiative in aiding Iraq's reconstruction, saying that this work should be carried out under a U.N. framework. The opposition camp also said the planned dispatch of SDF members to Iraq ran counter to Article 9 of the Constitution. The opposition parties challenged the government to a debate on whether there were any "noncombat areas" in Iraq today.The Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Governing Council are seeking to establish a provisional government in Iraq in June, in the hope of restoring self-rule in the nation. Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi has said that the next six months will be "extremely important" for the pursuit of this goal. Given this, the government should hurriedly accelerate its aid for international work to rehabilitate and stabilize Iraq.Element of danger inevitableThe opposition camp has insisted that Japan should not aid in Iraq's reconstruction until the U.N. framework for that task is established. But that kind of attitude should be dismissed as an irresponsible approach that Japan, as a member of the international community, should not adopt. The argument that giving the United Nations a mandate to rehabilitate Iraq is the best way to overcome all problems involved is questionable. This is easy to recognize if one stops to remember that the United Nations has often found itself in a fix because of conflicts of interest among its members.The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party have insisted that the dispatch of the SDF violates the Constitution. However, Koizumi was correct in saying that the SDF dispatch is not intended to fight a war, use force or engage in combat. The mission constitutes an effort to send SDF personnel overseas for the purpose of conducting peaceful international cooperation activities under a U.N. or mutilateral framework. There is no reason to regard such action as "the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes."Some critics have questioned whether operations in noncombat areas mean activities in "risk-free" areas. However, Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba has flatly dismissed that line of assertion as "misguided." There is a danger of coming under terrorist attacks and other threats even in noncombat areas. The SDF dispatch is the only method for Japan's contribution to Iraq's reconstruction in that the SDF has what it takes to defend itself in high-risk areas.Insisting that SDF operations in noncombat areas entails exposure to danger means arguing that the SDF should only be sent to absolutely safe locations. But U.N. peacekeeping operations are never a safe proposition. Such U.N. missions conducted in the past have cost participating nations many fatalities. This should be particularly taken to heart by the largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which has already accepted the dispatch as a form of Japan's international contribution.Koizumi's explanation adds upDuring the Diet sessions, the prime minister dwelt on Japan's role in helping establish a democratic government in Iraq, building peace in the Middle East and the international community, as well as Japan's need to secure energy supplies and shore up its alliance with the United States.We believe his explanation has helped convince the public about Japan's obligation as a member of the global community and the significance of the SDF's Iraqi mission in relation to this country's national interests: political, economic, national security or otherwise.According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, close to 90 percent of those polled said Koizumi should tell the public in more detail why the government intended to send SDF members to Iraq. As a political leader who has made the weighty decision to send the SDF to that country, Koizumi should repeatedly explain the meaning of that mission.(The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	767	2003-12-17	YOSHIN0020031217dzch000kv
YOMSHI0020031217dzci0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031217dzci0000e	EN	\N	Pension reform plans skirt crucial issues.	The government and the ruling parties have finalized new pension reform plans after debating how to upgrade the state-run pension system as a matter of urgency.	4	2003-12-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, the latest plans for reform of the corporate employees pension scheme are no more than a set of cosmetic measures comparable to those contrived for a similar goal in the past. The main feature of the new reform plans is an increase in financial burdens to be shouldered by pension subscribers still on corporate payrolls. The plans are vague on how to raise funds for a rise in the ratio of the government's contribution to the basic pension system, which covers every member of the population.In four years, this country is expected to reach a point at which its population will begin to decline. Given this, no time should be wasted in discussing the pension reform issue merely as a numerical formula. The government and the ruling parties should immediately start debating how to drastically reform the troubled pension system, instead of making do with such irresponsible plans as their latest ones.It has been concluded that the ratio of pension premiums to be paid fifty-fifty by corporate employees and their employers should be allowed to reach 18.35 percent of the annual salary earned by each employee. How high the figure should be was the biggest bone of contention in the dispute.The agreement on such an awkward percentage reflected a tug-of-war between the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, as well as the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, over tiny differentials among their respectively proposed figures.Plans overburden workersThe ruling coalition's mutually shared goal was to honor its earlier agreement that post-reform pension benefits to be received by subscribers to the system would never fall below 50 percent of the take-home pay earned by those still on the payroll.The pension plan is designed to guarantee a person's livelihood in his or her old age. Given this, lawmakers have good reason to promise pension subscribers that their future benefits will not fall below a certain level. However, they are grossly mistaken if they take it for granted that the goal should be accomplished through an increase in the burdens to be shouldered by those still on the payroll. A growth in premiums to be paid by corporate employees will automatically mean an increase in financial burdens to be shouldered by the employees. No corporate employee will support the governing coalition's reform plans if it attempts to impose greater burdens on subscribers, whom it apparently feels can take the pain.The figures cited in the latest reform plans appear to have been elaborately contrived. However, the promises offered by the government would come to nothing if the birthrate and economic conditions fell below initial predictions even slightly. In this sense, these pledges should be seen as only hypothetical.The government and the ruling parties have neglected to debate what should be done to reform the current system so the nation will be able to meet various challenges arising from the extremely rapid aging of its population. Setting numerical but hypothetical goals is a waste of time.The government and the ruling parties do not seem to have stuck to a clearly defined principle when they sought to come up with financial resources for a reform of the system. Admittedly, they may be justified in trying to impose greater tax burdens on wealthy pension recipients to cover a portion of the 2.7 trillion yen needed to raise the portion of state contribution to the basic pension plan from one-third to half in fiscal 2004. The idea should be regarded as an unavoidable method for redressing inequalities between generations in burdens and benefits.Tax cut mustn't be scrappedHowever, serious questions should be raised about a plan to reduce or abolish a permanent income tax cut introduced in 1999. Scrapping the tax reduction means a tax increase targeting midlevel salaried workers. Doing so would run counter to the goal stipulated in the reform plans, which the government has said will seek to ensure that no excessive financial burden is imposed on those on company payrolls. The decision to abolish the income tax cut should be reconsidered.Meanwhile, tax reform plans adopted by the ruling parties seek to "implement drastic tax reform, most likely in fiscal 2007, including a change in the consumption tax system." The move can be seen as a meaningful step toward achieving the goal in that a rise in the consumption tax rate, which stands at 5 percent, is viewed by many as an appropriate measure to generate financial resources for the planned increase in the government's contribution to the basic pension fund. However, it remains to be seen how the government will try to accomplish the target. The government should start to study specific ways to achieve the goal, while also revising the Pension Law to incorporate a provision requiring the government to reach a conclusion about the issue by a certain deadline.The social security system of a country reflects what kind of nation it is. No one will trust the system if a change in administration means a change in the system. The ruling and opposition parties should establish a forum for serious discussions aimed at reaching a consensus about a drastic reform of the pension system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	928	2003-12-18	YOSHIN0020031218dzci000iy
YOMSHI0020031218dzcj0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031218dzcj0000g	EN	\N	Japan, U.S. can't share same ideas about history.	The fully restored Enola Gay was put on display at a newly opened annex of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Virginia on Monday.	4	2003-12-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On the plaque, there is only a brief description of the plane's performance and the fact that it dropped the first atomic bomb.Japanese survivors of the atomic bombing protested that the plaque failed to describe the cost in human lives and misery of the bombing. Representatives of the survivors visited the museum to present letters from the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a petition signed by 25,000 Japanese citizens asking that changes be made in the way the bomber was displayed.Some U.S. historians have also expressed dismay over the exhibition.Enola Gay protests continueThe Smithsonian Institution, while considering the display as part of a record of the history of aviation technology, says it will "neither admire nor criticize" the historic role the bomber played.The display brings to mind the Enola Gay exhibition held from 1995 through 1998 at the museum's main building in Washington, D.C. in which the bomber's fuselage was exhibited.The original plan to display the plane, which included data related to the atomic bombing, met with protests from veterans' groups.The controversy over how the display should be organized led to the resignation of the museum's director and forced the museum to cancel the planned display of related data. The latest display is a continuation of the previous one.In the United States, there is an opinion that the atomic bombings made landing operations unnecessary and therefore saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of U.S. servicemen.Moreover, the United States had excluded several major cities, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, from conventional bombing raids to make it easier to determine how effective the atomic bomb would be.However, another view prevailed among senior U.S. officers before the atomic bombing that Japan was about to surrender.Revenge for Pearl Harbor?In the United States, some people view the atomic bombings as retaliation for Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. But that attack pinpointed military targets and cannot be discussed in the same terms as dropping atomic bombs, which were aimed at massacring civilians.When the defense counsel for the Japanese defendants at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East said the atomic bombings should be considered a war crime, the simultaneous interpretations was immediately stopped.During the Occupation, news coverage of the damage from the atomic bombings was subject to the strict censorship of the GHQ, as was criticism of the Tokyo Trial and the drafting process of the current Constitution.As relations between Japan and the United States are important, maintaining the bilateral alliance serves the national interests of Japan. However, there is no need for Japan to go along with the U.S. version of history on these controversial issues, including how to consider the historic significance of the Tokyo Trial.As nations and peoples differ from country to country, it is impossible for different countries to have exactly the same perception of history.This is a reasonable way of looking at Japan's relations with the United States, as it is with ties with China and South Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	594	2003-12-19	YOSHIN0020031219dzcj000k3
YOMSHI0020031219dzck0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031219dzck0000g	EN	\N	Missile shield needed against N. Korea threat.	North Korea has reportedly deployed a sizable number of ballistic missiles that can reach Japan. As there are no effective countermeasures, it is reasonable for Japan to introduce a defense system to intercept such missiles.	4	2003-12-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This system has been developed in the United States, which has put part of it in place.Japan will adopt this system, which combines the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launched from Aegis-equipped destroyers to intercept ballistic missiles in outer space and the ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles that will shoot down any missiles that evade the SM-3s.The system is designed entirely for defense, which would meet Japan's defense-only policy. China once opposed the system on the ground that it might "lead to a new arms race." There is no reason for Japan to be criticized on that ground.System for defense onlySome people say the system could infringe on the nation's policy of not exercising collective defense. This is nonsense as the system is aimed only at defending Japan.In its manifesto for the recent House of Representatives election, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) showed a positive stance, saying, "With regard to a ballistic missile defense system, we will study it, in light of its necessity, from a comprehensive viewpoint, including its cost-effectiveness."Deployment of the missile defense system will be completed in fiscal 2010. The estimated cost will range between 800 billion yen and 1 trillion yen.This huge cost is unavoidable as the system will protect people's lives and property from weapons of mass destruction.Recent tests conducted in the United States have demonstrated that the system's capability to intercept missiles is improving. If we introduce a missile defense system, we must increase this accuracy.In the review of the nation's three principles banning arms exports, the government needs to expedite efforts to make an exception for the export of components to the United States.Japan and the United States are making advances in joint technological research on missile defense. At present, Japan cannot export components to the United States, even when a joint research project reaches the production stage.Dealing with new threatsIn the Cabinet meeting where it was decided to introduce the missile system, the government also approved a draft to revise Japan's defense capability.The draft covers the points that will be discussed in drawing up a new National Defense Program Outline by the end of 2004.It said Japan would shift priority in national security from one focused on an invasion by ground troops to one that would effectively deal with new types of threats, such as terrorism and ballistic missile attacks. The missile defense system is to help deal with these threats.On the other hand, the draft has made conventional weapons subject to reduction. These include tanks, artillery, antisubmarine patrol aircraft and fighter-interceptors.Depending on circumstances, a nation should rearrange the organization and logistics adopted during the Cold War era and make them more efficient.It is also necessary to state clearly that the Self-Defense Forces should be used for the maintenance of world peace and stability.The Self-Defense Forces Law should be amended so that peacekeeping activities become one of the SDF's main missions. A general law concerning the dispatch of SDF personnel abroad also is desperately needed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2003-12-20	YOSHIN0020031220dzck000lm
YOMSHI0020031220dzcl0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031220dzcl0000b	EN	\N	Lukewarm reform efforts affecting FY04 budget.	The Finance Ministry proposed the new budget Saturday. With general expenditures, which are the core of the general account financing discretionary policy projects, kept at almost the same level as in the initial budget for the current fiscal year, the ministry has proposed a belt-tightening budget for the third straight year.	4	2003-12-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government plans to issue fresh government bonds totaling a record high 36.59 trillion yen, as only half of the necessary revenue will be covered by tax revenue. As for expenditures, the proposed budget is even more strict than previous ones, with debt-servicing costs exceeding 17 trillion yen. In this respect, the nation's severe fiscal condition has not improved at all.What is needed now is "selection and concentration." To reinvigorate the economy and stabilize society, it is necessary to cut wasteful spending and concentrate the allocation of funds where they are most needed. But regrettably, the ministry has managed to avoid doing that.Bolder action neededSome areas of the budget have been improved, such as cuts in tax allocations from the central government to local governments. But most of these cuts were very small. What was needed was a bold adjustment, such as 10 percent-20 percent cuts from the previous fiscal year, but the ministry failed to do make such changes.The proposed budget was insufficient because the series of reforms promoted by Koizumi are half-baked.Take the case of pension reform, in which the government came up with figures on pension burdens and benefits without thoroughly reviewing the program. It also failed to secure the financial sources that will be needed to raise the government's share of contributions to the basic pension from one third to one half of the total.As for the three-way reform of local government finances, the government also ended up making stopgap measures on cuts in subsidies and the transfer of tax sources from the central government to local governments.Moreover, preoccupied with debates on reform, the government failed to pay close attention to the economy.It is true that the economy is showing nascent signs of recovery. But it is a recovery led by foreign demand, centering on exports to the United States and China. Domestic demand remains weak. At the same time, deflation is lingering. In order to put the economy on a steady recovery track under these circumstances, government backup is vital.Use funds for greatest impactPublic works spending was cut by more than 3 percent in the new budget, which would seem to indicate that the government will be forced to place a higher priority on the quality of such projects, rather than the quantity. The reality, however, is quite different.We believe it is necessary to take budget funds from agriculture-related projects, such as reclamation projects that are no longer essential, maintenance of unnecessary forest and agricultural roads and improvement of seldom-used ports in rural areas, and allocate them to the improvement of beltways and other projects in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The economic effect of such projects would be much larger.It also will be effective to distribute budget funds in such fields as research and development projects as well as projects that tackle environmental problems. If there is not enough time for thorough discussions before the Cabinet officially endorses the draft, it must be revised during Diet deliberations next year.This is the third time since the bursting of the economic bubble in the early 1990s that the economy has nearly made a full-fledged recovery. If the flow of this recovery is stopped now, the government will lose its chance to promote reform.The government must pay close attention to economic trends, and if the economy shows signs of taking a turn for the worse, it must respond flexibly, taking measures that include compiling a supplementary budget.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2003-12-21	YOSHIN0020031222dzcl000bu
YOMSHI0020031221dzcm0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031221dzcm0000c	EN	\N	Libya's decision good lesson for North Korea. [CORRECTED]	However, the delay must not allow North Korea to gain time in its development of nuclear weapons. The other countries involved in the talks-Japan, the United States, South Korea, China and Russia-must aim to resume the negotiations early next month.	4	2003-12-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The talks were put off after North Korea said it would not dismantle its nuclear weapons program unless certain conditions were met.Pyongyang demanded that its neighbors and the United States supply a "reward" package in exchange for freezing its nuclear development program. The package contained three demands: removal of North Korea from the list of nations sponsoring terrorism; lifting of economic sanctions; and the supply of energy, including electricity and fuel oil.Once again, Pyongyang proved its self-centeredness by trying to win a maximum "reward" for minimal concessions.Pyongyang's 'justification'Naturally, U.S. President George W. Bush rejected these demands, insisting that the final goal was not the freezing of North Korea's nuclear weapons program, but verifiable and irrevocable dismantling of the program.Pyongyang has justified its development of nuclear weapons, saying former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed because it did not have an adequate deterrent. This rigid attitude has made North Korea's isolation in the international community even more conspicuous.Libya, against which the United States imposed an embargo after accusing it of sponsoring terrorism, has made a move to rejoin the international community. North Korea must consider this fact carefully.Tripoli, which had been working with Pyongyang in the military field, admitted in negotiations with the United States and Britain that it had a program to develop nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction and vowed to dismantle them along with its ballistic missiles.This is an outcome of persistent diplomatic efforts by the United States and Britain, and the power the two countries displayed in the Iraq war helped them win this concession from Libya.Iraq, which also was suspected of developing nuclear arms, signed the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty of the International Atomic Energy Agency that allows unannounced on-site inspections of its nuclear plants and research facilities.China should do moreNorth Korea, which has withdrawn from the NPT, is openly trying to arm itself with nuclear weapons. This frustrates the efforts of the international community trying to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We cannot tolerate this situation.The other members of the six-way talks must do everything in their power to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear development program.China vainly presented a draft of a joint statement aimed at drawing concessions from both North Korea and the Japan-U.S.-South Korea camp. Another joint statement worked out earlier by Japan, the United States and South Korea was rejected by North Korea, and a revised version of the Chinese draft was not accepted by the United States.Although the content of China's revised version was not made public, it reportedly weakened the wording concerning verifiable dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. If China made a concession to North Korea in an effort to come up with a new draft, then all we can say is that Beijing needs to get its priorities straight.China must do more to push North Korea into dismantling its nuclear weapons program by making full use of its position as Pyongyang's main supplier of food and crude oil.CORRECTION - Monday's editorial, headlined "Libya's decision good lesson for North Korea," erroneously referred to Iran as Iraq in the 11th paragraph. (YOMSHI, 23/12/2003)   (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2003-12-22	YOSHIN0020031222dzcm00138
YOMSHI0020031222dzcn0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031222dzcn0000i	EN	\N	True independence key to privatization.	It is unclear whether the latest accord will ensure that the new corporations to emerge from the privatization plan will be able to make managerial decisions at their own discretion.	4	2003-12-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The agreement will allow the privatized corporations to form decisions on their own. It also will authorize them, in effect, to veto new highway construction plans.For years, the government has ordered the four public corporations to build new highways. However, the latest accord would change all this, authorizing the newly privatized firms to reject new highway construction projects if these plans have been predicted to be unprofitable. This is to be praised as a major step toward privatization.However, it is uncertain whether Monday's accord on the privatized firms' discretional power will actually be translated into action. The government should put together a range of measures to ensure the independence of the new corporations before working out the details of the bill seeking to privatize the four public entities. The fate of the reform goal will depend on whether the government will be able to establish the systems that are essential to ensuring the new entities' independence.Two-tier formula envisionedIn privatizing the four public corporations, the latest agreement would adopt a two-tier formula. The planned formula would establish an independent administrative institution charged with taking over the corporations' assets and debts, while also stipulating that road-related operations be supervised and carried out by the new entities.The accord would replace the current corporations with six new companies, including the three that would take over operations at Japan Highway Public Corporation. An envisaged company to replace Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority would be integrated with one of the six new firms.The planned institution would repay about 40 trillion yen in debts incurred by the current corporations over a 45-year period, using fees to be collected from the new firms in leasing its highways to them. This formula reflects efforts by the government and the ruling parties to respect the opinions of the Promotion Committee for the Privatization of the Four Highway-Related Public Corporations about how to clear the current corporations' massive debts.The formula would be complemented by efforts to respect the new firms' independence. Each section covered by a highway construction project would be examined by one of the new firms and the government. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement on the course in question, the government would ask another new private entity to build a highway in that section. If no agreement emerged from this procedure, the matter would be taken over by the Panel on Infrastructure, an advisory body to the construction and transport minister, which would examine the argument of each side.This formula represents an attempt to help disclose information about developments in each road construction project, while also preventing the government from forcing the new firms to build highways.Ministry could steer committeeHowever, questions persist about a system in which the advisory committee would be asked to pass judgment on the propriety of each highway construction plan. There are concerns that the Construction and Transport Ministry could guide the council to a conclusion it needed. We believe that the government should create a system in which each road construction plan would be more objectively assessed, for example, by setting up a highly independent organ at the Cabinet Office for such a purpose.The latest agreement will make it difficult to build unprofitable highways if the privatized corporations were allowed to operate at their discretion. It would also help deter an attempt to build highways along unfinished courses stretching about 2,000 kilometers under a government highway construction project.Monday's decision also called for a cut in road construction costs. The current corporations' initial plans would require 16 trillion yen in building roads along the 2,000-kilometer courses. However, the latest accord would curtail the total costs by 2.5 trillion yen by reducing the number of lanes on the planned highways and through other cost-cutting measures. This achievement should be attributed to serious discussions by the highway privatization committee.The latest agreement also entails a review of plans to build highways along extremely unprofitable routes. There is nothing unusual about this decision. It should be noted that many other highway construction projects should be frozen or abandoned.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	811	2003-12-23	YOSHIN0020031223dzcn000ee
YOMSHI0020031223dzco0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031223dzco0000d	EN	\N	Nippon Keidanren could help forge party policies.	The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) has triggered a controversy with its proposals over how private corporations should shoulder a portion of political parties' costs.	4	2003-12-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nippon Keidanren has said it will assess the policies formulated by each political party to tackle urgent and important tasks. The nation's largest business organization wants its member corporations to study a report on its assessments of political parties' policies in determining how much to donate and which party to donate to.In January, Nippon Keidanren is scheduled to publish its first report on each political party's policies. Corporations will be asked to study the report before determining how much they donate and which party they donate to. The organization also intends to publish a list of parties that have received donations from its members and the amount of money each party received.Meanwhile, Nippon Keidanren will urge political parties to use donations received from its member corporations to help cover the costs needed to formulate and carry out policies, while also demanding they disclose what they have used political donations for.Assessments should be fairWe believe Nippon Keidanren has good reason to assess political parties' policies to help its members make better decisions about their political donations. The organization's move could help encourage parties to strive for better policies and increase the transparency of political funding. The question is what should be done to ensure that the organization's policy assessment serves its own purpose.Admittedly, it is not unreasonable for Nippon Keidanren to make sure that the policies of political parties reflect the opinions of the business community. At the same time, however, the organization should be as impartial as possible in its policy assessment so it can benefit the Japanese economy and society as a whole. With this in mind, Nippon Keidanren should work to ensure, first and foremost, that its policy assessment is fair and balanced.Its assessment covers 10 priority policies, including tax and social security reforms. The list also covers deregulation, administrative and educational reforms. Nippon Keidanren will assess each political party's policies from three points of view-how closely they fit its own policies, what kind of specific activities the party has carried out in the pursuit of its policies, and what kind of results the party has accomplished. The business federation will rate each policy on a scale of one to five.However, it is questionable whether the business organization can appropriately assess each party's policies. For instance, how does it intend to assess what opposition parties have achieved?We hope Nippon Keidanren will establish a set of proper guidelines for its policy assessment. It also should disclose the details of its assessment concerning each party's policies. For instance, the organization should spell out why it favors or disfavors individual policies. It also should give a fair verdict on the policies of opposition parties, including Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).This is essential to make sure that Nippon Keidanren's assessments are not treated as arbitrary judgments on the political parties' policies.Disclosure necessaryAll this constitutes an important effort to help political parties compete to devise better policies, while also raising voters' awareness about party policies.During the days of the so-called 1955 political framework, the business community financially supported the Liberal Democratic Party. In 1994, Nippon Keidanren stopped playing an "intermediary role" in determining which corporation should donate how much, leaving it up to each company to decide whether and how much it would give in donations. However, it has been suggested that this decision reduced the business community's political influence.Over the past decade, the political community has undergone various crises. This political confusion has been a factor behind the "lost decade" in various sectors of society.Nippon Keidanren's new guidelines for political donations can be seen, in part, as an attempt to rebuild this nation's party politics with the intention of encouraging parties to implement economic and social policies it favors.Nippon Keidanren should operate its policy assessment system in a manner acceptable to most political parties, while also disclosing and explaining its assessments. This is essential for the system to function as a means of encouraging parties to strive for better policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	758	2003-12-24	YOSHIN0020031224dzco000cq
YOMSHI0020031224dzcp0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031224dzcp0000c	EN	\N	Stop dangerous imports at the water's edge.	In the United States, one of the leading beef-producing countries, a cow most likely infected with bovine spongiform encephalophathy, or mad cow disease, has been discovered. If the infection is confirmed, it will mark the first such case in the United States.	4	2003-12-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government on Wednesday decided to ban all imports of beef and beef products from the United States. It also issued orders that of U.S. beef and beef products already in the country, either in storage or on the market, certain parts, including the brain and the spinal cord, as well as products that might contain such parts, should be recalled.Govt measures reasonableThese measures are eminently reasonable. To alleviate concerns over beef and beef products, U.S. beef products should be halted at the water's edge.In fiscal 2002, Japan imported 240,000 tons of beef from the United States, which accounted for about 30 percent of domestic beef consumption. With the import ban, there is a danger of triggering a shortage of beef, along with price increases.The government should try to fend off market instability by urging traders to release stored beef products.So far, BSE-infected cattle have been found in 23 countries, chiefly in Europe. In North America, the first case of mad cow disease was found earlier this year, in Canada, at which time experts pointed out the possibility of infection in the country's southern neighbor, the United States.In Japan, the first case of mad cow disease was confirmed in 2001. Reflecting a failure in promptly imposing a total ban on meat-and-bone meal (MBM) for cows, which was believed to be the cause of the disease, the government launched a program to screen all cows, an undertaking almost unprecedented in the world. Nine cases of mad cow disease have been found so far.In European countries, all cows above a certain age are screened. But experts have pointed out the laxity of the screening system in the United States, where only cows suspected of having contracted the disease are subject to screening.Japan has asked Canada to screen all cows as a condition for the resumption of imports of Canadian cattle and beef. It is necessary to make the same demand of the United States.Exporters should be accountableWith the enactment of a law governing the labeling of beef from domestic cattle, it has become possible to trace where cows were raised and how beef is distributed in Japan. It might be advisable for Japan to ask beef-exporting countries to take action so that the same measures can be applied to imported beef.Presently, there are about 80,000 tons of beef and beef products in stock, the equivalent of one month of domestic consumption. Even with imports of U.S. beef halted, there will be no shortage any time soon, according to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry.Businesses trading beef should refrain from doing anything that would lead to price increases, such as withholding stocks. Consumers must also be prudent.Japan imported 560,000 tons of beef in fiscal 2002. Of that, 260,000 tons, the largest amount imported from one country, came from Australia.So far, no cases of BSE have been detected in Australia. The same holds true of New Zealand. By replacing imports of U.S. beef with beef from these countries, the government may be able to fend off any instability and alleviate concerns.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	608	2003-12-25	YOSHIN0020031225dzcp000i8
YOMSHI0020031225dzcq0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031225dzcq0000g	EN	\N	SDF personnel are national representatives.	At a send-off ceremony at an ASDF base in Aichi Prefecture on Wednesday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, "I would like to express my heartfelt respect to the efforts and a sense of mission of SDF personnel who have endured hard training." By saying this, Koizumi made clear his recognition that he, as prime minister and supreme commander of the SDF, is sending the SDF personnel to Iraq as "representatives of the nation."	4	2003-12-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With regard to the Ground Self-Defense Force, an advance team will be sent to Iraq in mid-January, followed by an engineering unit and the main contingent.Won't kowtow to terrorismJapan's assistance in the reconstruction of Iraq is part of the war against terrorism. Participating in such a battle sends a message to the world that Japan will not kowtow to terrorism.Nearly 40 countries have already sent troops or units to Iraq to help the country rebuild itself. South Korea recently decided to send an additional 3,000-strong force, including combatants, starting in spring.The dispatch of SDF personnel will provide indirect support to the U.S. and British forces that are striving to bring peace and order to Iraq. This will help reinforce the alliance between Japan and the United States.Cooperating in building a democratic government of Iraq and contributing to regional stability will serve the national interests of Japan, which depends heavily on oil from the Middle East.The dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq is significant from the viewpoint of utilizing the SDF to deal with various types of threats, including terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in the days ahead.Besides national defense, international peacekeeping activities are expected to be an important task to be considered under a new outline for national defense program, which is to be drawn up next year.Support from public neededThe dispatch of SDF personnel to Iraq will be a step along the way. It will also provide an impetus toward creating a permanent law to allow the government to dispatch SDF personnel for international peace cooperation purposes.Therefore, it is desirable for the dispatch of SDF personnel to win broad support from the public.Dissident views to the SDF dispatch are generally expressed out of concern that Iraq is a dangerous place. However, it is precisely because of this danger that SDF personnel should be dispatched because they are equipped to defend themselves.We hope the SDF personnel will exert a strong fighting spirit and refined skills to fulfill the difficult tasks ahead in such areas as humanitarian assistance and rebuilding the country.At the send-off ceremony that marked the beginning of preparations for full participation in Iraq's reconstruction, five Diet members, including Takashi Kawamura, of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which opposes the dispatch of SDF to Iraq, were present.Kawamura said, "I want those leaving for the sake of Japan's national interests to work vigorously and then come back. This kind of sentiment should be considered natural for a Japanese."It is suprapartisan support like this that gives the SDF personnel extra encouragement.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	576	2003-12-26	YOSHIN0020031226dzcq000k9
YOMSHI0020031226dzcr0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031226dzcr0000j	EN	\N	Erroneous education views caused confusion.	The Education, Science and Technology Ministry revised part of the teaching guidelines for primary, middle and high schools. Although the revised guidelines still retain provisions that limit the range of fields to be taught in classes, they allow schools to breach the guidelines in those fields. At the same time, the revised guidelines called on schools to link classes of comprehensive study, which individual schools are allowed to use for any purpose, with certain subjects.	4	2003-12-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry revised the guidelines in response to the declining scholastic ability of children. In line with the revisions, schools should make strenuous efforts to improve the quality of the education they offer.The revisions represent a change in educational policy, which has been promoted under the banner of "less strenuous education" and "respect for individuality." In this respect, the ministry should clarify what was the problem with past education policy. Without reflecting on this, the mistakes will be repeated.Clear goals, principles neededUntil a few years ago, many schools went by the slogan "assistance rather than instruction." This was based on the belief that voluntary study by children should be respected and forced study by teachers eliminated as much as possible. This attitude was termed "children centralism."It certainly is important for children to be motivated to study. However, unless teachers have clear goals and teaching principles concerning the nurturing of children's abilities, the "assistance" might become a simple teaching tool that caters to children's likes and dislikes.Some people argued that teaching meant injecting an adult's sense of value into children, but it was more important for children to think for themselves. This way of thinking was tied to objections over moral education and became characterized by an ideological movement.In its proposal on education reform in November 2000, The Yomiuri Shimbun called for the need for children to be given explicit instructions, referring to Immanuel Kant's statement: "Man is the only being who needs education."Developing 'real human beings'Children will develop into "real human beings" only after undergoing education and social training. Education without social training will result in indulgence. The Yomiuri's proposal was based on the recognition that erroneous views on education are responsible for children's declining academic ability.In response to criticism on scholastic ability, an increasing number of schools started using workbooks. In addition, some schools started classes based on individual student's level of achievement and local governments began conducting surveys on children's scholastic abilities, both of which were viewed as taboo before.These moves are welcome, but if they turn out to be superficial, they will end up being a mere fad. We believe it is important for teachers to review their ideas about education and have confidence and pride in their teaching.From the standpoint of brain and cognitive sciences, experts pointed out it is desirable to conduct classes centering on basics and principles at primary schools.The education ministry's Council on Cultural Affairs' subcommittee on Japanese education proposed a large increase in the number of Japanese-language classes at primary schools.The ministry must continue examining the issue, and if necessary, change the structure of subjects and classes.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2003-12-27	YOSHIN0020031227dzcr000g3
YOMSHI0020031227dzcs0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031227dzcs0000a	EN	\N	Nation took steps toward becoming 'normal'.	Large ships steer so slowly that passengers may not realize at first that the ship has changed course. But they would be surprised at the direction they were going after just a little while.	4	2003-12-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With Japan on the verge of entering a new age, we seem to find ourselves in a similar situation.Japan's top 10 news stories for 2003, selected by readers of The Yomiuri Shimbun, included both the delightful and the sad, and looking at some of them, it might appear that the year was a fairly ordinary one.Included on the list of top news stories, however, are a few important ones-about events that might change the course Japan has followed for more than half a century since the end of World War II.In the future, when we look back on 2003, it might be remembered as the year Japan quietly changed course.U.S. and British coalition forces launched a military attack on Iraq in March, and their blitz tactics swept away the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The U.S.-led forces finally captured the deposed leader earlier this month.SDF dispatch decision historicArguments over the legitimacy of the attack on Iraq led to a deep crack being opened between the United States and Britain on one side and France, Germany, Russia and other countries on the other. However, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi immediately expressed support for the coalition's attack on Iraq. In line with this stance, the government adopted a basic plan to dispatch units of the Self-Defense Forces to aid in the reconstruction of that country.It was a historic decision, one in which Japan made clear, both at home and abroad, its stance on Iraq. The news about the decision was ranked fourth for the year by readers.The situation in Iraq remains unpredictable. At the end of November, two Japanese diplomats-Ambassador Katsuhiko Oku and First Secretary Masamori Inoue-were killed in an ambush by terrorists.People across the nation were deeply saddened by the painful news, which was ranked 12th.But we must not flinch. The SDF dispatch is aimed at assisting the reconstruction of Iraq, to allow Japan to fulfill its vital responsibilities as a member of the international community.North Korea was also much in the news. No progress has been made in resolving the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents, while the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program stoked concerns.Naturally, the country was on high alert when the North Korean cargo-passenger ship Man Gyong Bong-92 made a call at Niigata-Nishi Port, a story ranked 11th. However, we must not forget that, until very recently, the ship docked at the port almost at will.The enactment of a package of three contingency laws, which placed 15th on the list of top news, also represented a drastic change for this country.With the enactment of the laws, which stipulate the government's policies in the event of armed attacks on Japan by foreign entities, the nation finally took its first steps toward becoming a "normal nation."In the world of politics, the past decade saw the coalition government formed and reformed in various combinations of parties in a sign that the political system had failed to function adequately.Signs of changeJust before the House of Representatives election, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and Jiyuto (Liberal Party) merged, a story that was ranked 21st. The merger raised people's expectations about the establishment of a two-party system, under which voters would choose which party gets to steer the country.In the lower house election, the ruling coalition secured an absolute majority, a story ranked second, and the political system crept even closer to the two-party system, which seemed to further support people's expectations in that regard. However, the actions of political parties in the future will determine what will happen.This year also saw the nation stunned by an increasing number of serious crimes.We were particularly shocked and saddened by a series of crimes committed by minors, including the murder of a 4-year-old boy by a middle school student, a story that ranked third.In Fukuoka, four members of a family were murdered and their bodies later discovered in Hakata Bay, a story that made No. 14 on the list. It was such a cruel crime that it made us want to flinch from the terrible news.A rash of thefts of farm products, such as expensive cherries, was reported. Hitting the list at No. 18, the news made us wonder if the fabric of social norms was unraveling. Rapes committed by students from top-flight universities, coming in at No. 29, were unforgivable crimes.As the number of crimes rose, the news that a convoy of Pana Wave Laboratory members wearing white garments had occupied forest roads (ranked 20th) and a series of reports on suicide pacts by people who met on the Internet (ranked 30th) suggested that the social malaise was widespread.But even as things seemed to be heading south, the country took its first steps toward restoring public order.At the end of the year, the government adopted an action plan on public order aimed at halting the increase in the number of crimes over the next five years. It was the first time the government had acted as a whole on such security measures.Meanwhile, structural reform touted by Koizumi was making slow progress.Though Japan Post was launched in April, there is still no prospect of privatizing the three postal services, No. 13 on the list. On the other hand, Japan Highway Public Corporation President Haruho Fujii was dismissed after a protracted bout of political wrangling, No. 16 on the list. Both stories highlighted the snail's pace of the reforms.In addition to the Koizumi reform program, which failed to make much progress, the nation was hit by the coldest summer in 10 years (ninth on the list). In addition, people were asked to shoulder more of the burden of medical expenses (No. 25).And now for the good newsBut the story that topped the list and swept away society's gloomy fears, at least for a while, was the Hanshin Tigers winning the Central League pennant for the first time in 18 years.Tigers fans, delighted by the team's overwhelming victory, sang the team song, "Rokko Oroshi," in triumph.The New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, who said he would stake his life on a chance to succeed in the Major Leagues, delighted fans across the nation with his outstanding performance in the World Series (fifth on the list), as did swimmer Kosuke Kitajima, who won two gold medals and set new world records at the World Swimming Championships (sixth on the list).We were uplifted when Hayao Miyazaki's animated film, "Spirited Away" (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi), won an Academy Award (eighth on the list), but we felt melancholy after yokozuna Takanohana announced that he would retire (seventh on the list).Though the Emperor's prostate surgery (10th on the list) made us worry, we were relieved by its success.And now, SDF personnel are undergoing intensive training in preparation for their dispatch to Iraq.After taking a short break for the New Year's holidays, the main units will enter the final stage of training. Their sense of mission and their morale are high.We sincerely hope their role in Iraq's reconstruction will be successfully and safely carried out.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1297	2003-12-28	YOSHIN0020031228dzcs000a0
YOMSHI0020031228dzct0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031228dzct0000f	EN	\N	2003 began and ended with turmoil over Iraq.	Still, there is no cause for optimism over postwar Iraq. There is a long way to go before the international community can transform the war-ravaged nation into a democratic and stable country.	4	2003-12-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It feels as if this year dawned as the Iraq crisis gathered steam, and is now ending with a dramatic turn in the situation. The list of top 10 international news events in 2003, selected by Yomiuri Shimbun readers, provides food for thought: What did the past year mean to the international community?Iraq tops list of news eventsThe top 10 list is led by the fall of Baghdad and the ensuing collapse of Saddam's regime as a result of a powerful military strike launched by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush in March.In May, Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq. But his declaration marked a new phase, as insurgents stepped up attacks in the post-Saddam Iraq.Ranked fifth on the list was the ever-increasing number of victims of intensifying guerrilla attacks and suicide bombings by Hussein loyalists and international terrorists. The target list was expanded to include international organizations and civilians.Upset by deteriorating security conditions in Iraq, Bush announced a plan to return the country to rule by Iraqis in June 2004, ending U.S. control over the nation earlier than initially planned. This change of heart apparently reflected Bush's desire to ensure reelection as U.S. president in November 2004.France, Germany and Russia, which opposed the U.S. decision to attack Iraq in March, remain at odds with the United States over the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.But there are signs of change in this situation. The three countries seem to be seeking to mend fences with the United States, as shown by their cooperative stance on proposed cuts in foreign debts incurred by Iraq.Security conditions in Iraq have not improved since the U.S. capture of the former Iraqi dictator. The status quo in Iraq poses a problem for the government, which is sending Self-Defense Forces personnel to aid in Iraq's reconstruction.N. Korea matters also of interestThe international community was also roiled by a major crisis arising from North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Ranked 10th on the list was the reclusive state's decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in January.Eleventh on the list were international efforts to resolve the North Korean crisis through dialogue. In April, the United States, North Korea and China met to discuss the issue in Beijing. In August, six-nation talks that also included Japan, South Korea and Russia were held in the Chinese capital. The Chinese government has played an active role in trying to bridge the gap in opinions between North Korea and the other nations.Still, there are great differences between North Korea and the others in this respect. The United States and Japan are seeking to ensure that Pyongyang scraps its nuclear weapons program in a "verifiable and irreversible" manner, while the North Korean government is desperately seeking a "security guarantee" from the Bush administration. All this presents a formidable challenge for China in its efforts to reach a brokered agreement among the six parties.The six nations have chosen to give themselves until early next year to reopen their talks. The current gridlock serves as a test of whether China's efforts to settle the North Korean problem through international dialogue will bear fruit.Spread of SARS was alarmingRanked second on the list was the turmoil caused by the spread of the SARS epidemic worldwide in the spring, mainly in East Asia. The infectious disease, believed to have broken out in southern China, has killed close to 800 people in that nation, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other areas.One factor behind the spread of the disease was China's decision to conceal the truth. In the early stage of the SARS crisis, the Chinese authorities lied about the number of SARS patients at home, insisting that the problem posed no threat to the rest of the world. This delayed international efforts to contain the spread of the disease. China's attitude drew international condemnation, seriously tarnishing its image in the global community.China's successful manned space flight was ranked fourth. To the absolute delight of the Chinese, China became the third nation to send an astronaut into space, following the former Soviet Union and the United States. The nation's accomplishment symbolized its strength as a new economic powerhouse. There are reports that China has its eye on exploring the moon next.It should be noted, however, that China has received a massive amount of official development assistance from Japan over the years. China's success in sending an astronaut into space has raised questions about what policy Japan should adopt toward that country as an ODA recipient.The midair disintegration of a U.S. space shuttle was ranked third on the list. The accident killed all seven crew members onboard. The incident followed the 1986 explosion that destroyed another U.S. space shuttle, and forced the United States to suspend its space shuttle program. The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is planning to resume space shuttle flights-but no earlier than autumn 2004.Space failures raise questionsIn 2003, Japan suffered a setback in its space program, as well. A series of failures in this regard included stopping the Midori-2, an environmental observatory satellite. The launch of an H-2A rocket that was to carry an intelligence-gathering satellite into orbit also ended in failure, and the nation had to give up on placing the Nozomi Martian explorer in Martian orbit. These failures have raised questions about whether Japan's space technology can be trusted.Ranked six on the list was a major forest fire that scorched mountains in California. The fire lasted about two weeks, killing more than 20 people.Eighth on the list was U.S. movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger's election as California governor. The greatest task facing the actor-turned-governor is turning around the U.S. state's troubled finances. However, his first task became tackling the aftermath of the fire.Ranked seventh was a major disaster involving two packed subway trains in South Korea. Fire raced through the trains after a man lit a carton filled with inflammable materials that burst into flames, killing about 200 people. The failure of the subway operator to properly evacuate passengers increased the number of victims in the disaster.Ranked ninth was a major blackout that extended from the Untied States to Canada. The power outage paralyzed traffic and communications in New York and many other cities. Reports attributed the blackout to failures along power transmission lines on the U.S.-Canada border. Specialists said one factor behind the problem was neglecting to create a reserve of emergency power, a result of deregulation of electric utilities in the United States.There were concerns that a major blackout could strike the Tokyo metropolitan area during the summer because nuclear power plants run by Tokyo Electric Power Co. were shut down for inspections. Fortunately, such a crisis was averted, partly because of an unusually cool summer. Nonetheless, the confusion taught the public that this nation is anything but safe from power outages.The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States marked an epochal change in the international community. More than two years after those acts of terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction continues unabated, and there is no end in sight to the global fight against terrorism.Given this, it seems a matter of course that the situations in Iraq and North Korea will remain volatile.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1333	2003-12-29	YOSHIN0020031229dzct000ab
YOMSHI0020031229dzcu0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031229dzcu0000h	EN	\N	Electoral fraud must be exposed, eliminated.	In early December, then LDP lawmaker Hiroshi Kondo was arrested after gaining a lower house seat in the proportional representation race fought in the Tokai region despite being defeated in the single-seat constituency election.	4	2003-12-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Members of leading opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), also are suspected of electoral fraud. A labor union leader and 10 other people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in irregularities. They campaigned for two Minshuto lawmakers from single-seat constituencies in Miyagi Prefecture. Investigators are continuing to investigate the two cases, although they are still unsure whether the probe will result in a decision to implement legal steps-known as the guilt-by-association system-to nullify the election of a candidate if he or she, or relatives or campaign workers, are found guilty of violating election laws.There have been few national elections in this country after which so many candidates, successful or unsuccessful, have been subject to police investigations as in the last lower house race. The general election was referred to as a contest in which voters would be asked to choose between the LDP or Minshuto as the party in power. Candidates from both parties fought close races in many constituencies nationwide.Dirty deeds in the hustingsHowever, it looks as if the two parties were also competing to see which could commit the most irregularities. This is extremely deplorable in that the lower house election was seen as a prelude to the emergence of a two-party system.Swift measures should be taken to uncover the truth behind the cases while also determining whether the lawmakers in question should be held responsible for the alleged wrongdoing.Arai is suspected of giving election campaigners more than 1 million yen in cash to buy votes for him by visiting the homes of voters prior to the general election. Seventeen persons related to Arai, including his chief election campaigner, have been arrested and indicted. Investigators believe the alleged bribery was planned and carried out by his election office as a whole.Arai's election campaigners allegedly bribed voters by visiting their houses and asking to see them in supermarket parking lots. Such brazen campaign tactics should be regarded as a thing of the past.Arai should take the blame for so many of his campaigners being arrested on suspicion of electoral irregularities. Kondo stepped down as a lawmaker to take responsibility for his arrest. Arai, likewise, should resign from the Diet if he cannot plead not guilty to the allegations against him.Subsidizing scandalsIt has been claimed that the money allegedly used by Arai's campaigners to buy votes came from state subsidies received by the LDP and allocated to a local party branch he headed.The political subsidies system was introduced to put an end to money scandals involving politicians. Subsidies given to political parties come from tax revenues. Arai should be harshly condemned if he misappropriated the money given to the local LDP chapter, as alleged, although no legal restrictions are imposed on the purpose to which subsidies may be usedIn 1994, the Diet revised the Public Offices Election law to expand the list of persons covered by the guilt-by-association system to include those responsible for supervising campaigners, as well as secretaries. The move was followed by a gradual decline in the number of offenders exposed and punished under the system. No election candidate is qualified to seek a seat in the Diet if he or she-or officials of their election campaign offices, for that matter-commit irregularities punishable under election laws.In July 2004, a House of Councillors election will be held. Political parties should draw up lists of candidates they will officially endorse in the upper house race after scrutinizing them closely to verify that they are above suspicion.There is reason to presume some successful candidates may have circumvented the election laws in the latest lower house race. Each and every election violation must be exposed. This is essential to ensure the sound growth of democratic government in this country, a goal stipulated in the Public Offices Election Law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	750	2003-12-30	YOSHIN0020031230dzcu0008l
YOMSHI0020031230dzcv0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/YOMSHI0020031230dzcv0000f	EN	\N	Every step must be taken for HIV-free transfusions.	The Japanese Red Cross Society revealed Monday that blood donated by an HIV-infected person passed through its screening test, and that another person who received the tainted blood eventually became infected with the virus. Experts had warned this could happen at some point.	4	2003-12-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Blood transfusions always entail the risk, although very slight, of infection of blood recipients. The Red Cross and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry must do their utmost to ensure the safety of the blood transfusion system by enhancing the accuracy of the screening test for donated blood and reviewing overall inspection procedures.Under the current system, donated blood goes through two rounds of screening to check for hepatitis or HIV infections. However, there is a so-called window period during which tainted blood from people newly infected by either virus passes the screening tests because it contains an insufficient amount of the virus.Four years ago, the Red Cross adopted a highly accurate blood screening test-ahead of any other institution in the world-which reduced the length of the window. However, such breakthroughs hardly mean the outright elimination of the danger of infection.In fact, even since the advanced test was introduced, there have been some cases in which hepatitis infections have gone undetected. Given the limitations of detection technology, it is inevitable that some HIV-infected blood will pass the screening test.Prevention as key as detectionIn Europe, blood for transfusions is widely "deactivated" by being treated with certain medicines or with ultraviolet rays to prevent viruses and bacteria from spreading infection.The relevant European institutions also store blood plasma from each blood donor for a certain period of time so they can immediately recall tainted blood if it is learned that a donor is HIV-positive.In contrast, the Japanese Red Cross has been so confident that its screening method is the safest in the world that it has not adopted the deactivation method for processing blood for transfusions or mandated storing donors' blood plasma. For its part, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has let the society do as it pleases.In the wake of the latest incident, the Red Cross announced a set of measures to prevent any recurrence of similar cases. The society will start preparations to introduce a virus deactivation processing method, and a complete system to retain blood plasma will be put in place by autumn 2005.Had the Red Cross taken such measures earlier, the latest case of infection could have been prevented. In this sense, the society should be blamed for neglecting its duty. It should implement the new safety measures ahead of schedule.Donors contributing to riskMeanwhile, the morals of donors should be questioned. It has been pointed out that the risk of infection from transfusions has risen because of an increase in the number of people who donate blood solely to check whether their blood is HIV-positive. Therefore, it would be natural for the Red Cross to perform thorough identity checks on each donor.At the same time, a system urgently needs to be established to allow people worried about the possibility of HIV infection to be tested easily at public health stations and medical institutions.Transfusions are indispensable for medical treatment, even though there is no way to make transfusions absolutely free of the danger of infection.To increase the safety of transfusions, the principle of using the minimum amount of blood should be followed strictly. In this connection, operations that cause less bleeding or transfusions that use the patient's own blood should be more prevalent.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2003-12-31	YOSHIN0020031231dzcv0006y
yomshi0020020402dy3v000bd	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020402dy3v000bd	EN	\N	When will reform begin?	Regulatory reform is an important pillar of the structural reforms Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is attempting to promote to revitalize the country.	8	2002-03-31	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The most immediate goal for the country is to get out of the deflationary recession. Therefore, any measures thought to be effective in achieving that goal should be implemented as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.We regret to say that the revised plan fails to set urgent goals.We believe the plan's steps must be put into practice as swiftly as possible, rather than blindly sticking to the original schedule.The government drew up the revised plan in response to proposals on 15 important areas of regulatory reform submitted to Koizumi at the end of last year by the Council for Regulatory Reform, an advisory panel to the prime minister.Some steps in the government's three-year plan have already been set in motion. One example is the plan to encourage factories and universities to return to urban areas by repealing a law regulating construction and expansion of factories and universities.Proposals postponed, watered downOn the other hand, our attention was caught by certain projects that were postponed to next fiscal year although the council had proposed to "either examine or implement (them) within the current fiscal year." In certain fields, items put forward for examination were scaled back from the council's proposals.A good example is allowing the entry of joint stock corporations into the medical service industry. The business community and other parties have been calling for this deregulatory measure as a means to enhance the efficiency and quality of medical services.Though the council proposed examining the possibility of allowing "joint stock corporations or other methods" of management of medical institutions, the revised plan toned this down by using the more vague expression "private sector management or other methods."Also, the deadline for a final decision on medical services reform was postponed from the end of fiscal 2001, as specified in the council proposal, to fiscal 2002 in the government plan released Friday.Another example is the agricultural producers' cooperative corporation. In a deregulatory measure that went into force last spring, it became possible for an agricultural producers' cooperative corporation, provided for in the Agricultural Land Law, to turn into a joint stock company. However, the practice has yet to become common because of remaining regulations, such as one that limits investment by private companies to less than one-fourth of the corporation's capital. The council proposal failed to spell out concrete measures to promote the practice or set a timetable to carry such measures out.Politicians save no jobs but their ownUnder the current severe employment conditions, it is imperative to allow the private sector to fully enter the job placement field and to drastically liberalize conditions for temp agencies and fixed-term employment. However, the plan mentions only examining such measures and taking steps for them as soon as possible.Those who put the brakes on these reforms are reportedly industry, lawmakers lobbying for their interests and government bodies with vested interests in regulation.The introduction of "deregulated special zones" has surfaced as a breakthrough to overcome their resistance and gather impetus for reform. The idea is to do away with regulations in specific fields in particular districts to prove the feasibility of doing so on a wider basis.Under the special law for urban renewal, "special zones for urban renewal" will be introduced so that the private sector can take the lead in development without being controlled by conventional regulations, such as those regulating land use.Although there is a loud cry for the introduction of the deregulated special zones on the part of the Council for Regulatory Reform, it has yet to be incorporated into the plan. Against this background is new resistance on the part of government bodies and lawmakers who have strong interests in centralized control and who resist the erosion of their vested interests by these deregulatory efforts.It is the duty of the prime minister, who is seen as the standard-bearer of reform, to take the lead in accelerating deregulatory efforts. He must not shirk this profound responsibility.(From March 31 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	741	2002-03-31	yoshin0020020503dy3v003qm
yomshi0020020402dy4100007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020402dy4100007	EN	\N	Safety net removed too soon.	Finally, every member of society is compelled to face the risks involved in the management of their own assets.	8	2002-04-01	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In an era when individuals are asked to choose financial institutions and products at their own discretion, the government's eventual decision to end its full guarantee on the repayment of deposits was inevitable.However, we cannot help but wonder why the government had to reintroduce a limit on protection at this particular time, when a danger of a financial crisis still lingers.The training wheels come offThe government decided to reimpose the cap, declaring that "the banking system is ready." Now that the declaration has been made, the government should be determined never to shake the financial sector in the future. The government is required to make its utmost efforts to avoid creating a situation in which the payoff system would be required.In fact, opinion had been split until quite recently over whether scrapping the full guarantee on deposits should be canceled or postponed. However, after an easing of concerns thanks to the recent rapid recovery in stock prices, opinion within the government shifted suddenly toward the replacement of the cap.It is certainly true that a full guarantee on the repayment of deposits allows financial institutions to be lenient with their management, thus becoming hotbeds of moral hazards.The government's decision to end the full guarantee on the repayment of deposits pressured financial institutions to change. Thanks to this pressure, a large number of regional banks, shinkin credit banks and credit unions have been consolidated and reorganized, and the efficiency of the financial sector has been enhanced.However, compared with the situation at the end of 1999, when the government decided to extend the unlimited payoff system by one year, we wonder whether the financial sector today is really more stable.Stock prices have dipped since then, and the financial foundations of banks have deteriorated even further. Most leading banks are projected to post net deficits on a consolidated basis for the business year that ended March 31. In addition, banks are troubled with newly emerging nonperforming loans, and they might be burdened with an even larger amount of bad loans in the future.On the macroeconomic level, the country has been suffering from deflation, and the declared value of land has been declining for 11 consecutive years.We regret to say, therefore, that imposing a cap on the payoff system under such economic circumstances was a decision made too hastily, without enough consideration. However, households and companies have already started taking measures to protect their assets by shifting their funds into other financial products and institutions. We can no longer turn back.The government's task in the future will be to establish a comprehensive safety net. It also will be important to minimize the costs shouldered by depositors in the event of bank collapse.In the process of the Financial Services Agency's special inspections of financial institutions, some of them might be asked to dispose of more bad loans. If such banks become short of funds in the process, the government must immediately inject public funds to nip the danger of collapse in the bud.Emergency plan must be put in placeAuthorities are urged to make it a principle to complete the process of taking over a failed bank over a weekend. Under the new system, authorities will be recommended to declare a problem bank "collapsed" after it ends operation on Friday, and a successor bank will take over operations on Monday morning.In the event that no buyer is found over the weekend, it will be necessary to make use of the Bridge Bank of Japan, which will temporarily take over the operation of the collapsed bank.Financial institutions have no time to lose in enhancing their profitability, streamlining and information disclosure.Deposits are, so to speak, unsecured credit held by the people with financial institutions. The central government and financial institutions should make the utmost efforts to preserve deposits from the viewpoint of protecting the people's asset rights.(From April 1 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	748	2002-04-01	yoshin0020030212dy41000xi
yomshi0020020402dy420005y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020402dy420005y	EN	\N	New fiscal year, old fiscal news.	According to the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey of business confidence released Monday, the diffusion index of business confidence among major manufacturers stood at minus 38, and that among major nonmanufacturers at minus 22, both unchanged from the previous quarterly measure taken in December last year.	8	2002-04-02	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Negative confidence among these major businesses has flattened out chiefly because of a slowdown in the decline of exports and progress in inventory adjustment.Nonetheless, business conditions remain dismal, with any recovery in the near future likely to be weak.Too soon for sighs of reliefAlthough the predicted "March crisis," with a possible stock price crash triggering a crisis in the financial system, did not come to pass, the Japanese economy in the new fiscal year remains beleaguered by deflationary pressure and fear of a financial crisis.Should the government relax its policy measures, the economy may start deteriorating once again. The current situation does not allow any optimism.According to the latest survey, five of the 15 business sectors for major manufacturers, including electric appliances and iron and steel, and four of the nine sectors for major nonmanufacturers, including telecommunications, showed signs of improvement in business sentiment, compared with the previous survey.Such improvements are based on signs that other Asian economies and the U.S. economy are bottoming out.In step with a slowdown in the decline of exports, there has been progress in inventory adjustment in such products as information-related goods, with market conditions improving as well.On the other hand, there were seven major manufacturing sectors and three major nonmanufacturing sectors in which business confidence deteriorated when compared with the previous survey.While conditions in the overall economy remain mixed at best, indicators such as exports, often considered a driving force for the economy, remain unhealthy. Many elements of the economic outlook are worrisome.The latest survey examined, for the first time, planned investment in plants and equipment for fiscal 2002. Major companies plan to invest about 8 percent less this year than they did last year. Small and medium-sized companies plan to lower such investment by about 16 percent.It is difficult to foresee any full-fledged recovery until business earnings improve.In this spring's labor offensive, many companies said that they could not afford to raise the basic wages of their employees. This indicates that income and employment situations will continue to deteriorate, further delaying recovery of personal consumption.It should be noted that financial institutions have become more hesitant in lending money despite the central bank's easy-money policy. They are just trying to secure appropriate profits in return for taking risks, but this strategy works against macroeconomic recovery.Deflation shows no sign of ending, either. A peculiarity of this business cycle is that deflation is highly likely to continue even after the economy enters the recovery process.Govt must step up economic effortsThe package of measures the government has recently implemented to stop deflation should be considered just the beginning. If additional measures are not taken, deflation might nip economic recovery in the bud.The details of tax system reform, which the government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has only begun to discuss, should be decided as soon as possible. If necessary, the government may well study the possibility of executing the fiscal 2002 budget earlier than scheduled.The central bank still can afford to further elaborate its monetary policy, including the introduction of an inflation target that would show its strong determination to eliminate deflation.The recent collapse of Nissan Construction Co. suggests that even more companies will be liquidated as nonperforming loans are disposed of. Needless to say, development of a social safety net is indispensable.(From April 2 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	652	2002-04-02	yoshin0020030212dy420054g
yomshi0020020403dy430000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020403dy430000e	EN	\N	Change bureaucrats' mind-set.	Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi announced Tuesday she had reprimanded senior ministry officials over the spate of scandals involving Muneo Suzuki, former director general of the Hokkaido and Okinawa development agencies.	8	2002-04-03	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest punishments were meted out because of the officials' failure to do their jobs properly and make sure ministry officials did not allow Suzuki to abuse his political influence over aid projects to Russian-held northern islands off Hokkaido and over the issue of the questionable granting of residence status to a Congolese private secretary of Suzuki's.Held most accountable among the officials was Ambassador to the Netherlands Kazuhiko Togo, who is said to have had close ties with Suzuki when Togo was director general of then European and Oceanic Affairs Bureau. Togo will be dismissed.Explaining the reasons for Togo's dismissal, Kawaguchi said Togo had thrown the ministry's diplomacy toward Russia into disarray and severely damaged the people's trust in public servants through his words and deeds-conduct that she said was unbecoming for a senior ministry official.Problems were systemicGiven that he failed to take a firm stand against pressure from politician that went far beyond what should be considered appropriate, it is only natural for Togo to take responsibility-particularly at a time when the relationship between politicians and bureaucrats is being questioned.Yet Togo is not the only one to blame on this score.Long-established dubious practices at the ministry, which put itself at Suzuki's beck and call, were highlighted in the latest punishments.The punishments can hardly be said to have settled all the problems related to the ministry.They were only handed out to those who were involved with the government's aid projects for the northern territories, claimed by Japan, and those involved with the questionable extension of residence status to the Congolese secretary.The scope of the influence Suzuki wielded over the issue of the northern territories should not be overlooked. This matter has yet to be clarified.Both Suzuki and Togo reportedly advocated the idea of having Shikotan Island and the Habomai islets returned first, while at the same time putting the issue of the return of the remaining two islands up for discussion.Togo reportedly attempted to excuse himself during the ministry's internal inquiry, saying that he did nothing wrong. But if the government's diplomatic policy was distorted by political interference, it is indeed a serious matter.The facts behind how the idea of having two of the four islands returned to Japan first was propounded and in what context that idea and the idea of having all the four islands returned to Japan at once were discussed need to be disclosed.These major issues, which involve the national interest, must be cleared up.Ministry: Heal thyselfReform of the ministry should begin with changing the mind-set of bureaucrats and encouraging the ministry to search its soul over its having let Suzuki meddle in its own affairs.As Kawaguchi emphasized in her address to new ministry officials at an entrance ceremony Monday, what should be sought first and foremost is "reform of people within an organization."A large share of the blame for the current problems at the ministry also rests with former foreign ministers. It had been pointed out for some time that Suzuki exerted an unhealthy influence over the ministry.A private advisory panel to Kawaguchi will compile an interim report next month concerning the ideal relationship between politicians and bureaucrats.Based on that report, Kawaguchi should come up with a vision for drastic reforms of the ministry. That would be the first step forward toward revamping the ministry.(From April 3 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2002-04-03	yoshin0020030214dy43001v6
yomshi0020020404dy440000x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020404dy440000x	EN	\N	Allay public anxiety over e-govt.	To better use the system, the government is scheduled to present the current Diet session with bills related to a plan to significantly expand the list of administrative duties to be fulfilled under the system. Initially, the system was to cover 93 kinds of duties.	17	2002-04-04	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Rapid progress has been made in transforming many countries around the world into highly networked information societies. The government is working to ensure that, beginning in fiscal 2003, administrative duties at both central and local government levels will be fulfilled through electronic means. A growing enthusiasm for e-government is an irreversible trend of the times. The planned computer network involving 10-digit codes will constitute a foundation of e-government.To put the system smoothly in place, the government must take all possible means to prevent leaks of information on individuals. It also should explain to the public why it must put such a system in place.New system will reduce red tapeThe government will expand the list of administrative duties to incorporate more than 150 services, including real estate, automobile and small vessel registration, and passport issuance.As things stand today, one must submit a copy of one's resident card to the authorities if one applies for such documents and wants to prove one holds the relevant license. However, the planned networking system will enable the government to obtain information needed to establish the identity of a person seeking to receive certain administrative services. This will save the applicant the trouble of attaching a copy of his or her resident card to a letter of application for services. All in all, the system will serve not only to provide administrative services more efficiently, but also will ease the burden to be shouldered by members of the public in receiving such services.Some critics have expressed caution about a government plan to expand the list of online administrative services prior to the launch of the system. They say doing so could encourage the central and local governments to use information available on the system to a limitless extent.There is nothing wrong with an attempt by the government to broaden the list of areas in which the authorities are allowed to use the planned system. That will constitute a part of an effort to keep the nation abreast of rapid progress in the information technology revolution. However, it is important for the government to clearly state how far it will go in expanding the list during upcoming Diet debates on the bills.Public, private sectors must harness ITStill, people in some quarters continue to oppose the system. They say the system could permit the government to acquire and control such highly personal information as earnings and medical records of individuals. They also insist that the system could cause massive information leaks.The planned system will limit the scope of information about individual residents to four items-their name, address, sex and date of birth. Laws ban the government from feeding other data to the system. There also are legal restrictions on recipients of such information and on the purposes for which data may be provided. Government employees will be punished harshly if they are found to have infringed on the confidentiality of such information.However, critics have refused to accept the government's argument in this regard, saying it is impossible to guarantee that the confidentiality of information will be protected.Given this, the government should tell the public what will be done to prevent unauthorized access to information available on the system and to protect the confidentiality of personal information. This is necessary to alleviate people's concerns about the networking system.Not only the private sector, but the government must exploit the benefits of IT if this nation is to be transformed into a vigorous society in a new age. To make headway in accomplishing this goal, the government must obtain the public's support for the planned networking system.(From April 4 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	729	2002-04-04	yoshin0020030212dy440049e
yomshi0020020406dy450000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020406dy450000e	EN	\N	Foot-dragging on Constitution.	The results of a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey on the Constitution, taken late last month, shows once more that public support for a revision of the nation's basic law has clearly taken root.	12	2002-04-05	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the survey, about 57 percent of respondents support revision of the Constitution, up about three percentage points from a year earlier. Those opposed to a revision accounted for 29 percent, almost the same level as last year.This is the 10th consecutive year that those supporting the revision have exceeded those opposed. Supporters of a revision have also accounted for more than 50 percent of respondents five years in a row.We can say that debate on whether the Constitution should be revised or remain unchaged has been settled as far as the public is concerned. What is needed now is debate on the finer points of the Constitution to determine what should be revised and how.What stands out in the latest survey is the increase in public awareness on such issues as national security and the Self-Defense Forces.Outline defense right, SDF issueAsked for reasons why they supported a revision of the Constitution, those who responded "To outline the nation's right to self-defense and the existence of the Self-Defense Forces" increased by about seven points from the previous year.As for the right to collective self-defense, those supporting this right exceeded those who opposed it. The government currently agrees that Japan has the right to collective self-defense, but cannot exercise it.On specific items related to the Constitution, "renunciation of war and the issue of the Self-Defense Forces," which ranked second to "environment issues" in the previous survey, regained the top position in the latest poll.Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the world has undergone a drastic change. Japan has dispatched SDF vessels to seas near war zones and this logistic support for U.S. and other military forces continues.This has certainly affected public opinion on the Constitution's Article 9. Forty-two percent of respondents said they back revision of the article because "interpretation and application of the article has limitations." This is the highest response among views on this article.The main problem is that politicians are dragging their feet. They don't seem to be listening to the public's voice.Parties failing to take initiativeThe Liberal Democratic Party, in particular, must come in for a great deal of blame. Though the party advocates revising the Constitution, it has not come up with any incisive proposals.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the largest opposition party, is still in the phase of "debating of the Constitution," due partly to the fact that some strong advocates of protecting the current Constitution are members of that party.The research commissions on the Constitution, established two years ago in both houses of the Diet, are entering the half-way point in their designated five years of discussions, but public interest in the commissions has decreased.If national politics becomes alienated from public opinion, public distrust in politics will grow. Political parties and politicians should begin earnest efforts to revise the Constitution by taking into account views on what form the nation should take.Legislation must be worked out first to set out procedures for revision of the Constitution, including a law on a national referendum on ratification of constitutional revision. These procedures-plus public support of more than 60 percent for the legislation-are a requirement for a revision under the current Constitution.Political parties should cooperate to work out the legislation during the current ordinary Diet session to fulfill their responsibilities. Politicians should never lag behind changes in public opinion.(From April 5 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2002-04-05	yoshin0020021206dy45004mp
yomshi0020020408dy460006v	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020408dy460006v	EN	\N	BSE issue handling unresolved.	Although this means Takebe will remain in the Cabinet, rejecting the motion submitted jointly by the opposition parties has not resolved his responsibility as far as the BSE issue is concerned.	16	2002-04-06	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The BSE problem concerns the safety of food in this country. A report submitted Tuesday by a panel investigating the government's handling of mad cow disease stressed the ministry's "serious maladministration" in handling the problem. That statement clearly indicates the heavy responsibility Takebe should assume.However, in the political wrangling prior to the vote Friday, it was obvious that many of those involved were placing top priority on party interests as if food safety, the core of the problem, were a mere afterthought.From beginning to end, Prime Minister Junichiro Takebe did not have Takebe assume responsibility for losing public trust in the government's handling of food safety.We wonder why he is so eager to keep Takebe in the ministerial post, when he fired Makiko Tanaka as foreign minister.Koizumi eager to keep TakebeIn principle, Koizumi wants to keep his ministers in their posts for the duration of the Cabinet. We support this as it is important for members of the Cabinet to have sufficient time to implement policies.But many political observers believe Koizumi wants to keep Takebe in his post in order to exert his political leadership.In response to New Komeito's demand that Takebe resign, the Liberal Democratic Party faction led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto had also urged the minister to step down. Therefore, if Koizumi fired Takebe, it could ignite calls within the party for a Cabinet reshuffle. In this event, the resistance forces, represented by the Hashimoto faction, might take over the political leadership. Koizumi obviously wanted to avoid this.However, this kind of reasoning is hardly acceptable to the public.New Komeito's wishy-washy stanceNew Komeito's wavering attitude on the matter was noticeable in that while it opposed the censure motion in the House of Representatives, it later did an about-face and called on Takebe to resign.New Komeito cited the report on the BSE issue, which shed light on Takebe's responsibility, as the reason for its later action.However, Takebe's serious missteps were obvious without any finger-pointing by the report.In an effort to save face and a desire to remain in the coalition, New Komeito abstained from the vote in the upper house.The prime minister should realize that his responsibilities have become heavier after deciding to allow Takebe to remain in his post.The Cabinet plans to take the initiative to work out comprehensive legislation to ensure food safety and consider the establishment of a new government body on food safety.Establishing a system capable of eliminating the evils created by a lack of coordination in the current administrative system will test the prime minister's political leadership.Takebe also has the responsibility to reverse as soon as possible agricultural policies that cater to producers rather than consumers.The prime minister is determined to carry out structural reforms, but there is just as strong a need to come up with reforms leading to a highly transparent administration that can block high-handed meddling by lawmakers representing vested interests.Unless Takebe restores public trust over food safety, which has fallen to its lowest level, it cannot be said that he has assumed responsibility for his handling of the BSE outbreak.(From April 6 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	618	2002-04-06	yoshin0020020503dy4600g5g
yomshi0020020408dy470005t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020408dy470005t	EN	\N	Restore trust in banking.	The financial group's computer system still continues to malfunction. And it is expected to take a very long time to completely restore the system.	8	2002-04-07	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The huge number of delays in money transfers and double withdrawals are serious incidents concerning the banks' core businesses. We cannot overlook the fact that the megabank-the world's largest in terms of assets-committed such a blunder immediately after it had started operations.If interbank rivalry over leadership among the three banks that had been merged into the financial group was behind the large-scale computer malfunctions, the management would be unable to evade responsibility for the fiasco.To restore its damaged reputation, we urge the entire group to make utmost efforts to revive the system as soon as possible. At the same time, there are demands for greater accountability to customers. It is also imperative for bank officials to act immediately to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.Basic infrastructureOne of the aims for the three banks-Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Fuji Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan-to merge into the Mizuho Financial Group was to survive the global competition by exploiting the banks' combined strength.A system utilizing information technology is part of the basic infrastructure for banks. However, the first thing we witnessed after the merger was a shambles in the computer system. On the day the group launched its operations, Mizuho Bank, the core of the group, had troubles in its automated teller machines. Then a series of unbelievable mishaps were revealed one after another, such as delays in transfers and withdrawals of utility fees, and double withdrawals of credit card payments.There have been as many as 2.5 million unprocessed money transfers. And early this week, many more corporate and personal bank tranfers will be made to settle accounts and pay bills. Unrest caused by the further spread of malfunctions in account transactions could spread to all of the nation's financial system.Influential overseas commercial banks have maintained an advantage with transactions for derivative products by using high-tech computer systems. In light of this fact, the large-scale malfunction of the computer systems used by Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank is really deplorable. In spite of the 18-month "grace period" the banks had to prepare for the start of their joint operation after the launch of the holding company, why did they fail to properly establish the new system?Customer service came secondThe group company adopted a method to link the three banks' systems through a host computer for the present. It is said that the banks ended up making this decision because their desire to keep their own systems delayed a final decision for an integrated system. Their behavior indicates that they worked harder to defend their respective interests than to provide customer service.To recover the public's trust, it is necessary for the group's executives to exercise leadership and restore the computer system as early as possible. The recovery of the system is also imperative to dispel costumers' worries.If the customers suffer from actual damages by the malfunction of the computer system, the banks should seriously consider paying them compensation for the delay of the money transfers and decreasing service charges for those affected.The Mizuho confusion makes us imagine an even worse case. Under the so-called payoff system, the government assures bank deposits for only up to 10 million yen in principal plus accrued interest per depositor in the event of a bank's collapse. The Mizuho shambles, therefore, made us imagine that a bank collapse today could lead to devastating confusion and spreading damage, such as delays in determining the amount of deposits held by individual customers in any one bank.The Financial Services Agency should order other financial institutions to thoroughly inspect their computer systems.(From April 7 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2002-04-07	yoshin0020020503dy4700fs9
yomshi0020020408dy480000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020408dy480000d	EN	\N	Cut pensions to match deflation.	We refer to the sliding scale system for public pension payments, whereby payments are supposed to fluctuate automatically in step with price changes in the preceding year.	8	2002-04-08	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	By law, the payment of public pensions from April, the first month of the new fiscal year, should have been cut in line with the decline in the consumer price index in the previous year.In consideration of a protracted period of economic slowdown, however, a bill was passed into law last month designating this fiscal year as an exceptional case and canceling the payment adjustment.While the deflationary trend has become almost normal, this exceptional legislative step has been taken for the third straight fiscal year.Not cutting the pension payment may sound good. Yet it does nothing but postpone the inevitable financial reckoning. The fiscal state of the nation's public pension system will certainly deteriorate by the amounts that should have been cut, thus piling financial burdens onto the next generation.The rampant use of an exceptional step will only undermine the trustworthiness of any system. It also contains many problems from the viewpoint of pursuing equity among different generational groups. The government should expedite its efforts to draw up a clear-cut rule on pension payments, in step with deflation.Less is the same; the same is moreThe sliding scale system for pension payments is aimed at guaranteeing pensioners the real value of their pension payment. In times of inflation, payments increased in step with price increases.Now is a time of deflation. In step with declining prices, payments are supposed to be cut. Yet the sliding scale system has been frozen since fiscal 2000.Over the past three years, the consumer price index declined a total of 1.7 percent. In this light, unchanged pension payments have actually increased to a level 1 trillion yen higher than they should be.Because pension payments are the daily bread of many senior citizens, there is strong and persistent opposition to reducing them. But in these deflationary times, putting the payments on hold is tantamount to increasing them.On the other hand, members of the current working generation who support the pension system are enduring the pain of corporate restructuring and wage cuts.As the nation's pension system is stretched increasingly thin, more equitable intergenerational burden-sharing has been postponed again and again, with little discussion among politicians. Is this at all defensible?Solution postponed until 2004The next round of public pension system reform is slated for 2004. Faced with a sharply declining birthrate and a rapidly aging society, the nation has no choice but to take unprecedentedly drastic measures. Yet as long as the government continues to dither, we cannot help but feel uncertain about how serious it is about pension system reform.The government plans to reevaluate the sliding scale system for pension payments in step with the next round of pension system reform. Yet by then it will be too late.The government has to reach conclusions as soon as possible on such issues as whether the sliding scale rule should be strictly applied, and whether a new rule should be worked out so that excess pension payments made in deflationary times will be recouped by refraining from equivalent increases when inflation returns.When it comes to the pension system, it is difficult to find an answer agreeable to everyone. Left uncorrected, however, its inconsistencies are certain to grow. The only thing left is for every generation to assume its fair share of the burden. Meantime, the government is required to make thorough efforts to enhance efficiency and transparency in managing the pension system.Irresponsible government action-or continued inaction-will only add to uncertainty among the people and undermine their trust in the system.(From April 8 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2002-04-08	yoshin0020020503dy4800fk7
yomshi0020020409dy490000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020409dy490000g	EN	\N	How the mighty have fallen.	Kato was once called the lawmaker with the best chance of becoming prime minister. In the last 10 years, he had always been a mainstay of the LDP, exerting great influence in Japanese politics.	8	2002-04-09	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Taking such a political career into consideration, we have to say that Kato should be held to a higher standard of responsibility than other politicians for aggravating public distrust of politics.He had earlier seemed to make clear that he would never quit the Diet. Now that he has decided to quit as a legislator, we wonder if he has come to understand his grave responsibility.Yet to resign as a Diet member and to clarify his involvement in the scandal are two separate matters.On the spate of allegations, Kato has repeatedly said, "I would like to assume my accountability at a public venue."Unclear confession fails to impressYet his explanations, given as an unsworn witness before the lower house Budget Committee, contained many ambiguities and were considered far from convincing. Kato is obliged to explain the matter more clearly.In particular need of clarification is the suspicion that he used political funds for private purposes.During his unsworn testimony at the lower house committee, he was questioned over the allegation that some of his political funds went to pay rent on his condominium in Tokyo."I used the condominium as my office to meet with reporters and to draft speeches," he repeatedly stressed during the testimony.Not only Kato, but any politician does some work at home. And it is nothing unusual for a company employee to do some work related to his job at home. Yet nobody would file their income tax return as if the purchase of their own house or payment of their own rent were a tax-deductible business expense.Kato is seriously lacking in his sense of where to draw the line between public and private matters.Also troubling is Kato's lack of clarity on such matters as the use of his annual government allowance as a Diet member and the accumulation of his personal assets.Kato tried to rule out any wrongdoing on his part by saying, "There have been basically no changes in my private assets (during the period in question)."Kato also said, "I would like to clarify this matter by cooperating with the investigative authorities," while at the same time paradoxically declining to make further explanations.This spate of allegations may also implicate Kato in violations of the Political Funds Control Law and the Income Tax Law. We hope the matter will be clarified by the investigative authorities.Standard-bearers stumblingDuring the lower house Budget Committee session, Michihiko Kano, former vice president of the main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), also appeared as an unsworn witness over his connection with his former secretary, who was indicted on charges of bribing several individuals over public works projects.Both Kato and Kano were once considered men of influence and "standard-bearers of reform" within their respective parties. Yet both failed to mind their own footing.In particular, Kato failed to shed an outdated power-grabbing style reminiscent of the so-called 1955 political status quo, whereby he aimed at becoming party president, which would assure his becoming prime minister, by collecting money via his secretaries and using it to expand his intraparty faction.How did the people perceive Kato and Kano, both of whom were once considered reform-minded, as they were grilled over their respective allegations at the Diet?(From April 9 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2002-04-09	yoshin0020020503dy4900ez2
yomshi0020020410dy4a0000q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020410dy4a0000q	EN	\N	Govt indecisive on textbook issue.	The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has just completed work to screen textbooks to be used by first-grade high school students. The latest screening process represented an attempt to modify such textbooks with the aim of complementing the ministry's new teaching guidelines, which will be applied to first-grade high school students in the 2003 academic year.	20	2002-04-10	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In August, the ministry suddenly told textbook publishers that they would be allowed to rewrite their drafts of textbooks on some subjects to incorporate teaching points not covered by the ministry's teaching guidelines. This unusual move came at a time when the ministry was in the middle of screening those textbooks.The ministry took the action after it came under fire for imposing tight restrictions on descriptions provided by primary and middle school textbooks under its new course of study, which features a large cut in the number of teaching points. Critics have said that those textbooks would contribute to a decline in students' academic performance.In this sense, the ministry's notice issued in August marked a great change in its textbook-screening policy. However, no textbook publisher has rewritten its textbooks to include teaching points not covered by the teaching guidelines.Notice could produce various anomaliesFirst, the attitude taken by textbook publishers in this regard reflected their decision that they had no time to rewrite their drafts before the ministry-set deadline. The ministry's notice came after the publishers had started to edit their new textbooks about a year earlier.Second, many publishers chose not to rewrite their textbooks because they were unsure about what the ministry was seeking to accomplish through its change of heart. The ministry should be sternly criticized for reversing its policy, a move that confused the textbook publishers.It should be noted that school textbooks remain the main learning tools for students. They are used not only in class. They are also supposed to aid students in their self-study. Given this, full attention should be paid to what school textbooks should teach students.In adopting its new teaching guidelines, the ministry's changed its basic policy concerning what kind of role these guidelines would play, saying that they would serve as "minimum standards." The ministry should have known that its policy change could arouse controversy over whether descriptions to be provided by screened textbooks were appropriate.The ministry should have realized that restrictive policies stipulated in its new teaching guidelines could serve to produce inadequate textbooks. Such poorly edited textbooks would be bound to adversely affect students and teachers.Under the current textbook-screening system, second-grade high school students are supposed to use textbooks that have been revised while they are in their first year in school. Third-grade students will also use textbooks to be modified through a similar method. This could mean that a student would use textbooks that have been compiled under the policy adopted in the past, while the same student would learn with textbooks that have been compiled under different editorial policies.Council has responsibility to get it rightThe ministry's notice issued in August presented textbook publishers with guidelines regarding how many teaching points not covered by the teaching guidelines could be incorporated into their still-to-be screened textbooks. The ministry gave this instruction without asking the Textbook Authorization Research Council to debate it. It was not until this year when the ministry commissioned the government panel-which undertakes to screen school textbooks-to discuss a review of its textbook-screening policy. The ministry should be blamed for making a mistaken decision about what should be done first.All in all, the ministry has been forced to pay for its failure to change its textbook-screening policy when it should have done so. The ministry's delay in this regard should be seen as a serious mistake. Suspicions may also arise over whether the ministry had properly considered the whole issue when it redefined its new teaching guidelines as minimum standards.We hope that that the textbook council will fully debate what school textbooks teach students, so it will ensure that ministry-authorized textbooks encourage students to learn more than they are taught. That will help open a new horizon in the government's efforts to deal with various problems arising from the decline in the scholastic abilities of students.(From April 10 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	766	2002-04-10	yoshin0020020503dy4a00eer
yomshi0020020411dy4b0000w	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020411dy4b0000w	EN	\N	Tanaka should come clean.	We wonder whether former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, who has been hit by a scandal surrounding her alleged misuse of the state-paid salaries of her former secretaries, agrees.	15	2002-04-11	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Tanaka issued a statement on the scandal Friday. In it, she said that, in line with the secretaries' wishes, the whole of their state-paid salaries were transferred to a company run by her family that employed them. She claimed the salaries had not been diverted, while also rejecting allegations that she had entered the secretaries' names on the list of state-paid secretaries merely for the purpose of receiving their salaries.However, if Tanaka believes that the statement has answered all the questions leveled at her, she is sadly mistaken. She should now answer the allegations that have been made in connection with the scandal.For example, she said the secretaries' salaries had been transferred to the company at their wish, but she needs to explain why the salaries-which represent compensation for labor done on her behalf-were given to the company untouched. She previously said that the secretaries were paid by the company and also received secretarial allowances, but she has not explained why such a complicated procedure was introduced. She also has not accounted for the difference in the amount of the salaries paid by the company and the amount of the state-funded salaries.If the company paid the secretaries' salaries, this would mean it had made political donations to Tanaka-donations that are governed by the Political Funds Control Law. She also must explain how the salaries were listed in her political funding reports.Sauce for ganders is sauce for gooseMany other questions remain. Tanaka concluded the statement by saying, "(The allegations add up to) accusations and defamation. I don't need to comment any further." However, we must say we think it is unreasonable for her to think she can settle the issue with a short comment scribbled on a piece of paper.Tanaka's frankness and outspokenness are characteristics that work to her benefit when she is on the warpath. This is the basis of her popularity among the public. Therefore, she deserves to be accused of irresponsibility for not explaining the facts behind the scandal now that she finds herself on the defensive.Meanwhile, there are some troubling aspects in the way that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, to which Tanaka belongs, has handled the Tanaka scandal.Even former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato and Muneo Suzuki, former chairman of the House of Representatives Rules and Administration Committee, appeared before the LDP's Political Ethics Hearing Committee in connection with scandals in which they were implicated.However, members of the ethics committee seem to be reluctant to question Tanaka. For example, they initially decided that they would informally question her to determine whether to hold a hearing to probe her on the allegations against her.But even this decision was scaled down-the committee sent her a list of questions on the affair. It has been pointed out that the LDP leadership wants to avoid creating a stir because a House of Councillors by-election in Tanaka's home prefecture, Niigata, will take place on April 28.LDP shouldn't cast first stoneThe LDP has not given up pursuing a state-paid secretary-related scandal involving the Social Democratic Party. The LDP's ability to keep its own house in order will be questioned if it actively seeks to hold the SDP accountable over this scandal while being hesitant to address its own problems.It is the responsibility of LDP Secretary General Taku Yamasaki and other LDP executives to show leadership in elucidating scandals involving the party's members.Reforms of the system for hiring and paying lawmakers' secretaries can only be carried out after the questions surrounding Tanaka are cleared up.(From April 11 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2002-04-11	yoshin0020020503dy4b00dsf
yomshi0020020412dy4c0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020412dy4c0000g	EN	\N	U.S. only possible peace broker.	Israel's actions in launching further raids seems to be an attempt to pour cold water on the long-awaited peace mission by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was due to arrive in the country Thursday.	12	2002-04-12	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations called on Israel Wednesday to immediately withdraw its forces from Palestinian cities in the West Bank. Instead of heeding their urging, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered his army to launch new raids. Such a recalcitrant attitude cannot be condoned.Sharon has explained the military campaign as a "battle for the survival for the Jewish people, for the survival of the state of Israel."Israel's actions, such as crushing Palestinian homes in refugee camps with tanks and obstructing rescue activities by shooting at ambulances, can never be justified.Sharon claims the offensive is intended to root out the infrastructure of the terrorists. Since the start of the offensive, the Israeli Army has not only attacked terrorist bases, but has also besieged Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in his headquarters and targeted the Palestinian Authority's security-control facilities.Sharon seeking to oust ArafatAs Sharon has made clear his intention to expel Arafat, it has become obvious that the prime minister aims to strip the president of his power and dissolve the Palestinian Authority.However, in the event that peace talks between the two sides are resumed, who else but President Arafat could represent the Palestinians in negotiations with Israel?The Israeli prime minister should bow to the international community's consensus that Arafat is the only option.Some doubt that Prime Minister Sharon has any intention of bringing about peace in the Middle East.He should show the world that he is serious about making peace by immediately withdrawing all Israeli troops from the West Bank and guaranteeing Arafat's freedom.Suicide bombings by Palestinian radicals have further stiffened Israel's resolve.The radicals say the suicide bombings have been carried out in reprisal for Israeli military incursions, but terrorism targeting ordinary people should not be tolerated.U.S. efforts necessaryThe administration of U.S. President George W. Bush has become more closely engaged in attempting to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.The deteriorating situation in the region has led to mounting anti-U.S. sentiment among usually pro-U.S. moderate Arab nations, undermining U.S. efforts to create an environment that would enable it to take military action against Iraq.There are also concerns over rising prices for crude oil resulting from predictions of regional instability.The unrest in the Middle East may dampen the recovery of the U.S. economy and its possible impact on Japan's economy cannot be ignored.The conditions in which Powell must work to broker a truce are becoming more severe and mediation is becoming increasingly difficult, but it is only the United States that can exert influence on both parties.This is why we expect Washington to persevere in attempting to broker a ceasefire. This should not be a mediation that brings about a temporary truce, but one that paves the way for lasting peace.(From April 12 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2002-04-12	yoshin0020020503dy4c009qv
yomshi0020020415dy4d0006c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020415dy4d0006c	EN	\N	Remain resolute against N. Korea.	Meeting Zhu on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia at the resort of Boao on China's Hainan Island, Koizumi asked for China's understanding on the matter.	16	2002-04-13	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the unidentified ship sank inside China's exclusive economic zone, we believe Japan has sufficiently explained the projected salvage operation to China and that no legal problems should arise. All the correct procedures for the operation have been taken.The Japanese government is planning to send divers down to examine the ship as early as April 25 and salvage the ship in May or afterward. We believe that the government should carry out this plan as scheduled.The vessel, which is highly likely to be a North Korean spy ship, infringed upon Japan's sovereigny, sending ripples of alarm throughout the East Asian region.Uncover truth about 'spy ship'It is indispensable to uncover the truth concerning the vessel, including its identity, and try to bring about an end to illegal activities in the area. To achieve this, the ship must be salvaged and examined thoroughly.Investigators believe the ship was also engaged in trafficking narcotics and stimulant drugs. In this respect, China cannot overlook the activities of suspicious vessels from the viewpoint of ensuring safety at sea.Taking advantage of this situation, the Japanese government should step up efforts to strengthen its capabilities in dealing with suspicious ships.The JCG, the Defense Agency and government bodies concerned have compiled a report on their investigations into the suspected spy ship case.In a set of guidelines, the report proposed the dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Force ships upon discovery of a suspicious vessel. It also urged the Cabinet Secretariat and relevant government bodies to share information, however small, from an early stage.Such measures should be taken because the JCG patrol boats were placed in a very dangerous situation when chasing the unidentified ship, which fired a shell at one of them.The Japanese government came under fire for its delay in liaising information on the suspicious ship.To strengthen measures to deal with such ships more effectively, the government should work out necessary procedures and improve JCG equipment as soon as possible.Don't ignore kidnapping issueIn dealing with Pyongyang, the alleged kidnapping of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents is an issue the Japanese people cannot ignore.Koizumi stressed in his talks with Zhu that Japan would not shunt this issue aside when it holds diplomatic normalization talks with Pyongyang.The prime minister's remark was aimed at conveying Tokyo's resolute stance toward Pyongyang through Beijing, which can exert influence on North Korea.A meeting of the Japanese and North Korean Red Cross societies will be held this month at the earliest after Pyongyang agreed to resume investigations into the "missing" Japanese nationals.In a recent meeting with South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, Koizumi said he would take a tough stance on the kidnapping issue.Observers believe his remark was one of the factors that prompted Pyongyang to soften its attitude.The House of Representatives and House of Councillors both passed resolutions calling for a solution of the issue as soon as possible.With such a united front, it is important for the government to maintain its resolute position.(From April 13 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2002-04-13	yoshin0020020503dy4d0096q
yomshi0020020415dy4e00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020415dy4e00008	EN	\N	New ties in Asia needed.	According to a report released by the Asian Development Bank, the economic growth rates for Asian countries-except for such major economies as Japan-have been revised upward to an average of 4.8 percent for this year.	8	2002-04-14	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The biggest factor for the upward revision is the faster-than-expected recovery of the U.S. economy.Yet the brisk U.S. economy is not the sole factor. The bank also pointed out the major advance made by the economy of China with its vast market, a contribution we should not overlook.The problem is that the Japanese economy, which should have been a driving force for the regional economy, remains sluggish, and is likely to hold back other Asian economies.These economies, especially the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which have built up strong economic ties with Japan, have grown frustrated with the faltering Japanese economy. This is only natural.Era of Japan-led growth overThe transformation of other East Asian economies also shows that the period of Japan-led economic growth, with other economies following as if in a flight of wild geese, has already passed.Nonetheless, the Japanese economy alone still accounts for 60 percent of the regional economy. Japan needs to be fully aware of its own economic responsibilities in the region.Without this awareness, Southeast Asian nations will become further frustrated with Japan. Even Japan's past achievements in its economic diplomacy may eventually disappear. The country cannot be inefficient or lag behind in this age of intensifying world competition.Considering the current situation, we can now understand why Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi unveiled Japan's new policy initiative in January, a plan to build an Asian community based upon a comprehensive economic partnership treaty between Japan and ASEAN.The prime minister again stressed the necessity for cooperation among regional economies at the Boao Forum for Asia on China's Hinan Island.Koizumi must actHis policy vision is great. But this alone cannot satisfy us. He must take more active steps toward realization of his vision. Koizumi's signing of a free-trade agreement with Singapore is one step toward regional cooperation, but it is still unclear whether Japan's new initiative will succeed.Unlike Japan, China has already agreed with ASEAN members to sign free-trade treaties within 10 years. China has also started to discuss details with the regional organization and is steadily moving toward signing the treaties.However, it should be noted that ASEAN diplomacy emphasizes a balance of power. The member nations are interested in China as a big potential market, but at the same time, are afraid of its overwhelming influence.Tokyo must understand this properly and respond to their expectations of Japan. It will be a reassuring message for them if Japan carries out the plan to build a more inclusive Asian community with ASEAN clearly defined as its core.Koizumi is strongly urged to take strategic actions to this end.(From April 14 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	555	2002-04-14	yoshin0020020503dy4e00dak
yomshi0020020416dy4g0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020416dy4g0000f	EN	\N	Has China outgrown ODA?	The new forum seeks to promote dialogue between the countries with the aim of making headway through "mutually complementary" economic ties, a goal emphasized by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in his speech at the first annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia.	8	2002-04-16	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Economic relations between the two nations continue to grow. For example, Japan is China's largest trade partner in terms of its trade value. Meanwhile, China is this nation's second largest trade partner, following the United States.Tokyo and Beijing should be commended for their agreement to start economic partnership talks if the meeting served to promote their mutual understanding in a wide range of areas, end various forms of friction and produce ties that would benefit both countries.Treat China like the power it isTo accomplish that goal, however, the two nations should transform their relationship into an equal partnership first and foremost, instead of leaving Japan an aid-giver and China an aid recipient as things stand today.In recent years, the Chinese economy has grown by more than 7 percent annually amid a continued slump in the world economy. Today, that country rivals Italy, a Group of Seven industrial power, not only in its gross domestic product but also in its export value.China has grown into a new economic power that has attracted direct investment from Japanese and other foreign corporations in excess of 40 billion dollars annually, or about 5.2 trillion yen per year. Given this, Japan has no reason to continue giving China as much aid as in the past.The government has reduced its fiscal 2001 yen-denominated loans to China-which account for a good portion of Japan's official development assistance to that nation-to 161.4 billion yen, or three-fourths the level of fiscal 2000. We believe that the government should further curtail its ODA to China, ending its yen loans and grant-in-aid to that country as soon as possible.Instead, the government should limit its aid to cooperation in China's fight against environmental and other problems by sending needed personnel, as well as extending emergency aid in the event of natural disasters.Why finance a military buildup?It should be noted that China is stepping up its military preparedness while receiving massive aid from Japan. China's fiscal 2002 defense budget has grown 19.4 percent from its initial defense budget for fiscal 2001. The figure signifies a double-digit increase for the 14th consecutive year and sets a record for recent years.In its "2001 Defense of Japan" white paper, the Defense Agency warned that China's attempt to upgrade its weaponry through increased military spending exceeded the scope of preparedness needed to protect its security. This wary sentiment was echoed by a report issued by a U.S. Congress research bureau that expressed a grave concern about China's continued expansion of its nuclear-weapon and missile capabilities.The government's framework for Japan's ODA programs stipulates that full attention be paid to the military expenditures of recipient nations, as well as the recipient's attempt to develop and build weapons of mass destruction and missiles. Japan would undermine efforts to maintain peace and stability, not only at home but in the rest of the world, if it violated its own principles through ODA to China-a policy that could encourage that country's nuclear arms buildup.Japan should not hesitate to stop all its aid to China if Beijing refuses to take appropriate action despite this nation's strong warning on its nuclear buildup.It is also known that China has extended aid of its own to certain Asian and African nations in excess of 500 million dollars annually, with the aim of exercising greater political influence on developing countries around the world.The government must not only review its aid to China, but also map out a better strategy for dealing with other nations. To accomplish this goal, it must hurriedly work to establish fundamental principles regarding its foreign aid.(From April 16 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	705	2002-04-16	yoshin0020020503dy4g00cl5
yomshi0020020417dy4h0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020417dy4h0000e	EN	\N	Expand scope of security bills.	This is an indispensable first step toward creating a legal framework to protect the nation's peace and independence, and the safety of the people.	8	2002-04-17	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the adoption of the bills as a starting point, the government and each political party should increase their efforts to create a system to respond to a military attack. Such a system should be a basic feature of a sovereign state. We urge the government and political parties to hold in-depth discussions on how to achieve this goal.What should not be neglected in the discussions is the viewpoint that an effective legal framework for crisis control must be established to take account of the current changed world situation as it affects Japan.In this regard, the three bills are insufficient because they limit the definition of "emergency" to "direct foreign military attack" and "expected military attack."Ways to respond to terrorist attacks and suspicious vessels, which Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had instructed be discussed, are not included in the bills. They merely call for legislation to be drafted to define responses to these threats, and they fail to set a time frame for such legislation.For post-Cold War Japan, threats more likely to be encountered include infringement of the nation's territorial waters by armed spy ships and large-scale terrorist attacks. The government will find it difficult to gain the public's support for its efforts to ensure national security if it remains unprepared to overcome such crises.The government should quickly start drafting wide-ranging legislation that will enable Japan to deal with all possible emergencies, including suspicious vessels and terrorist attacks.Draft laws full of holesThe bill to create the new law on the basic security framework is inadequate in several respects.It stipulates that the prime minister has the authority to "instruct" a local government to carry out various measures adopted by a task force to be headed by the prime minister in the event of an armed attack. However, the prime minister will not be authorized to exercise that right until a separate law is enacted to define what kind of instruction will be issued in that event.Another bill among the three to revise the Self-Defense Forces Law does not incorporate a punitive clause concerning a citizen who disobeys an order to perform a specific duty in an emergency situation, unlike the Basic Law on Natural Disaster, which contains such a clause.The reason given for the noninclusion of a punitive clause reportedly was that such clause "would give the impression that the government wielded absolute power." But this argument is seriously flawed, if one takes into account the seriousness of the threat that an emergency situation would represent for the nation. We must say it lacks common sense.No time for procrastinationLegislation concerning such topics as evacuation of members of the public and the rescue of victims of attacks, which directly affects people's lives, and that regarding operations to be conducted by the U.S. military in an emergency and the handling of prisoners of war will be enacted "within two years," according to the bills.There are a number of issues and tasks that need to be addressed concerning the creation of a legal framework on responding to foreign military attacks. Given this, the three bills should be passed immediately, and discussions should start on the next steps, such as legislation directly related to people's lives and terrorist attacks.Some lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party say that legislation to respond to foreign military attacks need not be drafted in a hurry. But if the legal framework is incomplete, the SDF may have to deal with emergency situations under supralegal conditions. Such opinions show a lack of understanding that Japan is a nation governed by the rule of law.A quarter-century already has passed since the government started studying legislation on foreign military attacks. It is a time to put an end to the neglect of the nation's politics and to earnestly discuss the way the country should be.(From April 17 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	733	2002-04-17	yoshin0020020503dy4h0088t
yomshi0020020418dy4i0000u	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020418dy4i0000u	EN	\N	Untie SDF's hands for PKOs.	For its part, Japan, as a member of the Asian community, has a duty to do all it can to help the country develop. The pillar of Japan's contributions to the country is the participation of the Self-Defense Forces in U.N. peacekeeping operations in East Timor.	15	2002-04-18	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	About 680 SDF personnel, the largest contingent to date, recently were dispatched to the country. The SDF members, who will engage in logistic activities, such as the repair of roads and bridges, over the next two years, already have embarked on some activities.The latest SDF mission will break new ground-seven female members were dispatched for the first time, and the contingent is scheduled to undertake unprecedented joint operations with a South Korean infantry regiment in certain areas.This year marks the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law. Although a decade has passed since the law was enforced, some problems emerged during debates on the SDF dispatch to East Timor. We believe the government should take this timely opportunity to thoroughly review the legal framework concerning Japan's participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations.Time to review '5 principles'One feature of this framework that should be reviewed is the so-called five principles required for the SDF participation in activities of U.N. peacekeeping operations.U.N. peacekeepers have been monitoring East Timor since February 2000, when they took over the task from multinational forces. However, the Japanese government decided not to send an SDF mission to the country for several reasons. The government pointed out that the SDF's participation in activities of U.N. peacekeeping forces might be sought-such participation was under suspension at that time-and that there was uncertainty concerning whether the truce agreement among the conflicting parties would hold.The freeze on the SDF's participation in the main operations of U.N. peacekeeping forces was lifted when the peacekeeping cooperation law was revised at the extraordinary Diet session last year.However, the government postponed reviewing the five principles that restrict PKO activities.Consequently, the government was forced to interpret the peace agreement in April 1999 as corresponding to a ceasefire agreement.Given the growing number of international conflicts and the increasing complexity of these disputes, the government should make the conditions for dispatching the SDF fit today's realities, so that Japan can play its part in PKOs without unnecessary delay.Japan should be a 'normal country'The criteria for the use of arms by SDF members in the U.N. peacekeeping activities also should be eased.The revision of the peacekeeping cooperation law last year enabled SDF members to use arms to defend PKO personnel from belligerents in other countries that are "under the protection of Japanese peacekeepers." However, they may only defend individuals-they may not defend troops in an organized, tactical sense. The use of arms is limited to self-defense, and SDF members are not allowed to use arms for the fulfillment of their duties-a practice authorized by the United Nations.The is because the government is unable to extricate itself from the Cabinet Legislation Bureau's interpretation that use of arms by SDF members might develop into the exercise of military force, which is prohibited under the Constitution.PKOs are international joint activities conducted under the United Nations for the purpose of maintaining peace in the international community. In this respect, they bear no relation to the use of military force as the exercise of the state's right. As far as arms use in PKO activities is concerned, the government should set rules of engagement that would enable SDF officers to carry out the same activities as troops from other countries.So that Japan's contributions to the international community are recognized, we believe it is the duty of the Japanese government to position the PKO mission as one of the SDFs' main duties, on a par with its defensive role in the event of armed attack on this country.Japan should try harder to become a "normal country."(From April 18 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2002-04-18	yoshin0020020503dy4i00c3e
yomshi0020020419dy4j0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020419dy4j0000f	EN	\N	Diet must aim to uncover truth.	Inoue issued the denial during a meeting with representatives from both ruling and opposition parties in the upper house.	8	2002-04-19	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the meeting, he went so far as to insist that the former president had blackmailed his secretary out of 10 million yen.Inoue's statement differed radically with that of the former president. When the facts come to light, one of them must be held criminally responsible.The policy secretary has filed a criminal complaint against the former president. We should keep a keen eye on future developments in the investigation.The Diet must also continue its efforts to uncover the truth, taking into account Inoue's comments during the upper house meeting.Inoue fails to dispel suspicionsAs the assertions of both sides are completely contradictory, the next step is for the Diet to seek explanations from the individuals involved.Inoue's explanations failed to clear the air as far as his secretary was concerned.The secretary was allegedly blackmailed out of 10 million yen by the former president in September. Why didn't he file a criminal complaint at that time?Tape recordings of conversations between the two parties have been reported in the media. We wonder whether these conversations really took place.As for the money allegedly handed to the former president by the secretary, Inoue told the upper house members he only learned about the matter afterward. However, given the long relationship between Inoue and the secretary we find it hard to believe that he was unaware of what was going on.Inoue gave his account at a closed meeting of upper house members representing both ruling and opposition members. These lawmakers listened only to one side of the story and did not hold a question-and-answer session. Inoue has so far refused to hold a press conference in connection with the scandal.It is a pity that Inoue has shown reluctance to address the allegation adequately.Why so many money scandals?The code of political ethics, which was enforced in 1985, requires Diet members to maintain their integrity in the fulfillment of their duties. The code has the following provision: "When a Diet member falls under suspicion of having violated political ethics, the lawmaker should make every effort to clear his or her name of suspicion."As represented by the allegations against former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka in connection with the misuse of state-paid salaries of her policy secretaries, a series of scandals involving lawmakers' secretaries have emerged recently.Considering the importance of the post of upper house president, Inoue has an obligation to follow the ethics code more strictly than other lawmakers.Even so, we cannot help but wonder why money scandals involving Diet members never cease.Since the current Diet session convened, debate has concentrated on a series of scandals, rather than important matters such as the economy and security. Now the allegation involving Inoue's secretary has surfaced.Diet members should be aware of the fact that public confidence in politics continues to dwindle.(From April 19 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2002-04-19	yoshin0020020503dy4j00bnd
yomshi0020020422dy4k000bq	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020422dy4k000bq	EN	\N	Resignation doesn't end scandal.	In that sense, Yutaka Inoue had no choice but to resign as upper house president since the scandal he is involved in is causing turmoil in the Diet.	16	2002-04-20	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, his resignation does not mean an end to the bribery scandal involving Inoue's policy secretary. It is the duty of other Diet members to try to determine what transpired.The process leading to Inoue's resignation is difficult to understand.Inoue denied a series of allegations at a meeting of upper house lawmakers representing both the ruling and opposition parties on Thursday, one day before he announced his resignation. During the meeting, he categorically denied that his secretary had received 60 million yen from a former president of a construction company in Chiba Prefecture. He said his secretary should be viewed as a blackmail victim, who had been forced to pay 10 million yen to the former president.Bring facts to lightWhat Inoue hopes to accomplish by this explanation remains a mystery.His secretary has filed a criminal complaint with the Chiba District Public Prosecutors Office against the former company president in connection with the alleged blackmail. However, the facts behind the scandal are unclear and must be brought to light by all means possible.In the process leading up to Inoue's resignation, Diet deliberations stalled because the opposition parties were unhappy with his explanation. They planned to boycott the upper house plenary session from Saturday.The ruling camp fueled confusion in the Diet by opposing a demand by opposition parties that Inoue's secretary and the former company president be summoned to testify before the Diet.What the ruling and opposition camps should have done was to explore ways to throw light on the scandal.However, they worked mainly to pave the way for Inoue to resign as upper house president.The opposition parties may have believed that they could score some points by having Inoue, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, step down from the upper house presidency because of the scandal.Damage control for by-electionsThe ruling parties, particularly the LDP, reportedly placed priority on having Inoue resign rather than clear up the scandal in an effort to stop the scandal from adversely affecting by-elections that are scheduled to be held later this month in both houses of the Diet.Both the ruling and opposition parties have failed to treat the post of upper house president with the respect it deserves, even though the upper house is a pillar of the legislative branch, one of the three branches of government along with the administrative and judiciary branches.Both ruling and opposition camps need to recognize this.Rarely in the history of constitutional government in Japan has the president of the upper house been forced to resign due to involvement in a scandal.Should the truth behind the scandal remain unclarified and the fact that the upper house president stepped down be kept on record, it could prove to be problematic for parliamentary politics in future. Such a situation should be avoided by all means.It is essential for the authorities, which accepted the criminal complaint, to investigate the case, while at the same time, the upper house should bring the facts to light by all means at its disposal, including the summoning of officials before the Diet as sworn or unsworn witnesses.This case should not be allowed to end with the resignation of the upper house president.(From April 20 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	609	2002-04-20	yoshin0020020503dy4k00b6o
yomshi0020020422dy4l0005y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020422dy4l0005y	EN	\N	Team terminal care crucial.	Based on her judgment that she no longer had the heart to keep him alive with life-sustaining measures, the doctor allegedly administered the muscle relaxant without confirming the patient's intention to seek mercy killing.	8	2002-04-21	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is clear that this is not a case of mercy killing but is an illegal act that may bring a charge of murder against the doctor.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry must not stand idle, while leaving the task of probing the case solely in the hands of the investigative authorities.The ministry should determine what happened and inform the people of its findings.In principle, euthanasia is not permitted as a medical act in Japan.Yet there are exceptional cases in which mercy killing is permitted.It is permitted only when a case meets four conditions set forth in a ruling handed down by the Yokohama District Court on a mercy killing conducted at a hospital affiliated with Tokai University:-The patient is suffering unbearable pain.-There is no way to relieve the pain.-The death for the patient is imminent.-The patient's intention to seek a mercy killing is apparent.Patient felt no painIn the latest case, the patient was unconscious and not suffering unbearable pain.Neither was there a clear-cut explanation concerning the imminence of the patient's death, making the case all the more questionable.Furthermore, the patient's family did not seem to be aware that the doctor's act would directly lead to the patient's death. It is also doubtful whether there was informed consent, in which the patient agrees to the medical treatment after receiving an explanation of the treatment from the doctor.Moreover, it is suspected that false entries were made on the patient's chart and the death certificate.But most problematic of all is that the doctor took the questionable action without having the patient's own intention confirmed.Some countries, including the Netherlands, have legalized euthanasia. But it is allowed only when a patient's consent is clearly confirmed.From every point of view, the Kawasaki incident is apparently a crime and not worthy of the phrase "mercy killing."The hospital is also heavily responsible for the incident. Knowing what the doctor had done, the then director of the hospital only gave a strict warning to the doctor involved without investigating the incident thoroughly.Case went unreportedIn addition, the hospital took such a long time to finally make the incident public Friday."We were afraid of losing public confidence," the hospital director said. It is astonishing to see that morals of the hospital are so low, although the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has designated it as a clinical training hospital. We wonder if similar incidents have happened at other hospitals.In terminal medical care, it is said to be a basic principle that a team of doctors and nurses takes care of a patient. Emphasis on care by family members of the patient is also essential.The world of medicine remains closed and self-righteous. How many hospitals in Japan can proudly say that they maintain all the basic principles of terminal care?It is important to consider this incident as an opportunity to deepen discussions on how terminal medical care should be done. At the same time, a lack of control at a hospital, where a wrong judgment by one doctor remains unchecked as in this incident, must be thoroughly revised.An incident like this would not have occurred if the principle of team medical care had been strictly followed.Such an incident should never be allowed to happen again.(From April 21 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2002-04-21	yoshin0020020503dy4l00an3
yomshi0020020422dy4m0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020422dy4m0000b	EN	\N	Koizumi did the right thing.	It was not unusual for the prime minister to visit Yasukuni Shrine-which enshrines war dead, including Class-A war criminals-during rituals the Tokyo shrine performs every spring and autumn. There was a time when successive prime ministers attended these twice-a-year ceremonies at the Shinto shrine as a matter of course. This practice started with Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, who headed the government for a total of about six years after World War II, and ended with Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who served from 1982 to 1987.	8	2002-04-22	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yasukuni furor is of recent vintageHowever, visits to Yasukuni Shrine by the prime minister grew into a sensitive issue in 1975, when then Prime Minister Takeo Miki visited the shrine on Aug. 15 that year in a "private" capacity. He became the first prime minister to worship at Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II.After Miki's visit to the shrine, every prime minister was subject to a dispute over whether he worshiped there as a "private figure" or a "public person." In 1979, it came to light that the spirits of the war dead enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine included 14 Class-A war criminals. Despite this revelation, no prime minister stopped visiting the shrine.However, visits to Yasukuni Shrine by the prime minister were suspended in 1986, after Nakasone visited the shrine on Aug. 15, 1985. His official visit to the shrine turned the smoldering Yasukuni dispute into an even more complex issue. After Nakasone's controversial visit, no prime minister worshiped at the shrine, either on the Aug. 15 anniversary of the war's end or at the shrine's twice-a-year Shinto rituals.In this sense, Koizumi's latest visit to the shrine marked a return to the circumstances that had prevailed until Nakasone's last worship there or Miki's final visit to the facility.Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 13, 2001-two days before the anniversary of the war's end-aroused controversy involving China and South Korea. His earlier-than-planned visit reflected his desire to show that he never gave in to "pressure" from China, which had signaled it would acquiesce to the prime minister's visit to the shrine only if he did so after Aug. 15.Japan and South Korea will soon cohost the World Cup soccer finals. In addition, Japan and China are planning various events commemorating the 30th anniversary of the two nation's restored diplomatic relations. Given this, the prime minister made a wise decision when he chose to visit Yasukuni Shrine in April. Renewed confusion could arise if he visited the shrine in August.No country has grounds to say when the top leader of another nation should pay homage to the memories of the latter nation's war dead. Any issue of that nature is a domestic one that reflects the tradition and customs of a nation.In the days of Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki, the government said that it would not answer a question concerning whether a visit to Yasukuni Shrine by the prime minister constituted a "private" act or an "official" one. The current government should stand by this principle when it comes to the "private-or-official" controversy.Honoring war dead is properStill, it is not desirable that every Yasukuni visit by the prime minister stirs up controversy both at home and overseas.Every nation has good reason to pay tribute to the memories of the people who have given their lives for their country.For years, the government has held a ceremony in memory of the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo on Aug. 15. We suggest that a new facility be established to perform this government-sponsored annual ceremony. The facility should be made always open to anyone who wants to visit it, including foreign dignitaries and ordinary Japanese citizens.A private advisory body to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda is studying various issues related to the proposed facility. We are interested in learning what kind of conclusion the panel will reach.(From April 22 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	724	2002-04-22	yoshin0020020503dy4m00ad1
yomshi0020020423dy4n0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020423dy4n0000e	EN	\N	Prosecutor falls from grace.	The Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office arrested Monday the head of the public security department of the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of fraud and other charges.	8	2002-04-23	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is an incident that could shake public trust in prosecutors to its very foundations. Thorough investigation to reveal the truth of the case is imperative.It is alleged that the prosecutor bought through an auction a Kobe condominium that had been used as a crime syndicate office and then falsely registered himself as the resident of the condominium. In doing so, he allegedly falsely obtained a certificate from a ward office in Kobe to receive a tax break on residential real estate.Moreover, the prosecutor is said to have tried to sell the condominium to gang members, and he repeatedly met with them at his government office. He is also suspected of abusing his authority by studying the criminal records of the gang members to gain leverage in negotiations with them.It is outrageous that a prosecutor has done injustice by abusing the legal system.Public servant or real estate magnate?The prosecutor owns a surprising 10 or more pieces of real estate that he obtained through auctions. We submit that how he managed to secure funds for such purchases and why he was involved in the auctions must be revealed.Doubt has surrounded the prosecutor about his connections with people involved in such auctions and other affairs.We wonder why such a person was promoted to such a high post as head of a department at a high public prosecutors office. It is natural that this episode will call seniority-based personnel management into question. Moreover, we also wonder why he has stayed in his current post for three years.Apart from the revealed incident, the prosecutor in question purportedly was to inform to the media about the use of funds allocated to public prosecutors offices for investigations and information gathering.It is said he was to reveal that the fund had been used for dining and other personal purposes.In this regard, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama said that the investigation-fund accusation is "a complete fabrication." The government needs to provide an explanation that the public can accept.Scandal latest in an ugly seriesOther scandals involving prosecutors have surfaced in recent years. A Tokyo High Prosecutors Office superintendent resigned over an extramarital affair. An instructor of the Justice Ministry's research institution, a former prosecutor of a special investigation squad, was caught molesting a woman on a train. Investigation information was leaked by the deputy head of the Fukuoka District Public Prosecutors Office. And now this.Prosecutors are entrusted with huge authority in criminal procedures, such as investigations and indictments. They are also well rewarded with high salaries and high status. Because of those factors, prosecutors are held to a higher standard of fairness and incorruptibility than other public servants.Basically, prosecutors must be appointed from among those who have such characteristics. We wonder if this has actually been done when looking at scandals involving prosecutors.It is obvious that each prosecutor must have ethical awareness and high morality. It is difficult to regain public trust once it is lost.It is shameful to say, but the education system for prosecutors should be reformed to increase their morality.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	594	2002-04-23	yoshin0020020503dy4n007ol
yomshi0020020424dy4o0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020424dy4o0000d	EN	\N	Revisions to JAS law crucial.	A series of recent mislabeling scandals showed that this wicked practice was common among meat dealers in the country long before the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) scare last year.	8	2002-04-24	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Needless to say, business operators' awareness of their responsibilities and their abiding by relevant laws and ordinances are prerequisites for the prevention of such irregularities.On the other hand, we cannot deny the fact that lenient punishments for offenses encouraged such illicit activities in the past. Taking into consideration the rampant mislabeling practices, which went beyond the pale, we believe it was natural for the government to decide to strengthen penalties for such crimes.Under the current law, when it is learned that a business operator has mislabeled a product, the ministry gives an order instructing the operator to end the practice. If the operator does not follow the order, the government reveals its name. If the operator fails to take measures to clean up its business practices even after its name is made public, it is subject to a fine of up to 500,000 yen.Firms getting off too lightlyPrevious revisions to the JAS law in 2000 obliged producers or dealers of perishable foods to label the origin of their products. Even under the reinforced system, however, the ministry has so far announced the names of only a few firms that violated the law. As long as they took measures to improve their business practices, they were not punished at all.In the envisaged amendment to the law, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry will raise the maximum amount of the relevant fine to 100 million yen for corporations that have violated the law. It will also establish a new clause to penalize employees of an offending firm with a prison sentence of up to one year. The names of offending firms will be disclosed as soon as the government learns of the violation.The series of revisions are aimed at not only strengthening the current lenient oversight system, but also establishing a new principle of dealing strictly with irregularities.Snow Brand Foods Co., which was severely criticized by the public for its mislabeling of beef products, will be liquidated at the end of this month.Consumers' disgust with Snow Brand Foods' illegal acts forced the company, which used to boast of the strength of its brand name, to decide to liquidate itself.The Snow Brand Foods case showed that cheating consumers could even endanger a company's existence. All companies involved in the food business should take this lesson to heart.Consumers should be provided with plainly worded, accurate information about the products they buy. As well as abiding by relevant laws, food business operators should make efforts to turn over a new leaf.Govt organs should coordinateAs for problems concerning the labeling of food, observers have also pointed out problems arising from the lack of coordination among government organizations concerned.In the case of processed food, the JAS law requires food producers and dealers to list on labels the names of ingredients and the methods in which products are stored, whereas the Food Sanitation Law, under the jurisdiction of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, requires them to list food additives. Several items are required to be listed under both laws, including a product's shelf life.In response to a report by the committee investigating the BSE problem, which was set up by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the government has started work to draft a comprehensive law to ensure food safety.It is important for government bodies concerned to clarify their roles so as to develop a comprehensive food safety system with provisions concerning the labeling of food.The planned revision to the JAS law will be the first step toward that goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2002-04-24	yoshin0020020503dy4o0076n
yomshi0020020425dy4p0000s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020425dy4p0000s	EN	\N	Revival of Ariake Sea vital.	The ministry decided to conduct the study in response to a proposal at the end of last year by a third-party panel established by the ministry to look into the causes of the poor seaweed harvests in the sea. In its proposal, the panel pointed out that "the reclamation work in Isahaya Bay is believed to have affected the entire Ariake Sea environment."	16	2002-04-25	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	By opening up the lock gates, the ministry will allow seawater into a freshwater reservoir located behind the seven-kilometer-long locked dike in the bay, for the first time in five years, and gradually pump freshwater out of the reservoir into the sea.The study is aimed at examining the changes that occur in water quality and tide flows, the impact on the wildlife inhabiting the bay, and other factors in the process of restoring the bay's ecosystem to the condition it was in before the bay was closed. Duration of research critical In the study, the government is expected to thoroughly examine the extent of the causal relationship between the reclamation and a series of changes that have been observed in the sea, including the poor seaweed harvests.In this respect, we believe that the duration of the study will be an important factor. Many experts insist that a lengthy study will be required to clearly observe seasonal changes in the sea. In line with such calls, the ministry panel proposed carrying out the study in several phases, beginning with a research project that would last about two months, a second stage lasting about six months and a final stage lasting several years.However, the latest study, which is scheduled to last about two months, is the only study the ministry has announced so far. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tsutomu Takebe sidestepped the issue of whether medium-and long-term research should be carried out, saying he would consider it after examining the results of the short-term study.The ministry decided in autumn to scale down the reclamation project in consideration of its effects on the local ecosystem. Takebe obtained approval from the Nagasaki prefectural government and other local governments, which are opposed to the opening of the gates, to study the causes of poor seaweed harvests in the area by promising them that the project would be completed by fiscal 2006 as scheduled.The compromise agreement was the result of the minister's face-saving efforts on behalf of both seaweed growers, who had demanded that the gates be opened for the study, and local governments, which are calling for the early completion of the project. Ministry should do the right thing We regret to say that the ministry is taking an irresponsible stance that could lead to distrust in the political process. A series of makeshift measures will never bring about a solution to the problem. The opening of the gates for a short-term study should be viewed as the first step toward full-scale research.If a series of studies, including medium-and long-term ones, proves that the reclamation project is partly responsible for the decrease in the catch and other changes in the Ariake Sea, the focus will be shifted to what concrete measures need to be taken to resuscitate the sea. In that event, it might become necessary for the ministry to drastically review the project.The ministry already has promised local governments concerned that it will move ahead with the project as scheduled at this stage, when the results of the ongoing study are not yet known. We regret to say that the ministry fails to realize the necessity of linking the outcome of the study to the revival of the sea.The ministry should only begin to consider the future of the project after it receives the results of the current study.Now is not the time for the ministry to worry about saving face.(From the Yomiuri Shimbun, April 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2002-04-25	yoshin0020020503dy4p006jw
yomshi0020020426dy4q0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020426dy4q0000f	EN	\N	Politicians must clear up scandals.	Though we might sound like a broken record, we must again call on political parties and lawmakers to make themselves fully accountable and ensure that political activities are transparent.	8	2002-04-26	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a former member of the House of Representatives, attended the lower house Budget Committee on Thursday as an unsworn witness. She resigned her seat in late March under a cloud of suspicion that she misappropriated the state-paid salary of her policy secretary.However, we cannot say Tsujimoto accepted full responsibility before the Budget Committee.The scandal centered on whether Tsujimoto misappropriated her secretary's salary in a systematic way, based on the instructions of Masako Goto, policy secretary to Takako Doi, leader of the Social Democratic Party, the party to which Tsujimoto still belongs.At a March 26 press conference held to announce her resignation, Tsujimoto hinted that somebody coached her on how to misappropriate the secretary's salary.Tsujimoto explanation obscureHowever, during interpellations at the Budget Committee, Tsujimoto only admitted that Goto introduced the secretary to her. She denied receiving any instructions from Goto or that the SDP was involved in a systematic manner.If that is so, why did she consider misappropriating the state-paid salary of the policy secretary? She failed to provide a reasonable explanation on that point.By having Tsujimoto appear as an unsworn witness at Thursday's interpellation, it is thought the SDP hoped the scandal would finally be put to rest.In the past, the SDP has gone on the attack more strongly than other parties in regard to scandals involving politicians and money. If the party is found to have a double standard and is tough only on other parties, no one will listen to it anymore. As a political party, it has a duty to answer questions concerning the scandal.Yutaka Inoue, former president of the House of Councillors, and former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka are involved in similar scandals.In Inoue's case, he explained a money-transfer scandal involving his policy secretary only at a closed meeting.Inoue's explanations differ greatly from the testimony of a construction company manager who allegedly offered funds to the policy secretary in question.To take responsibility for disrupting Diet business because of the scandal, Inoue resigned as the head of the upper house. Yet he continues to refuse to hold a press conference on the issue, thereby failing to assume any responsibility for the scandal.Interpellations waste of timeAs one of the three most important officials in the nation, Inoue should be more aware of the need to establish political ethics.Tanaka, who reportedly had the salaries of her state-funded secretaries diverted to a company she was associated with, has failed to give a proper account of the scandal, denying there is a problem.She should follow the instructions of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who said Tanaka should give an account of the matter on the basis of documented data.Tanaka turned the tables on Koizumi and Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, by saying that "those who suggest this should be the first ones to do so." As the person accused of wrongdoing she should first clear her name before attacking others.We are fed up to the teeth with the repeated rounds of questions and answers made by legislators at the Diet in connection with these scandals.Should the people's distrust of politics escalate further, the basis of the democratic form of government may crumble.To have legislators concentrate their energy in dealing with mounting policy issues, it is necessary for both ruling and opposition parties to expedite their efforts in clearing up these scandals.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	643	2002-04-26	yoshin0020020503dy4q005ys
yomshi0020020429dy4r000by	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020429dy4r000by	EN	\N	Maintain sound competition.	During an earlier stage of studying the planned merger, the FTC said fair competition would be adversely affected if the civil aviation industry only had two major companies-the merged company and All Nippon Airways. It also bitterly criticized the merger plan itself.	16	2002-04-27	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, on Friday the commission approved the merger after praising a revised plan, whereby the two companies would give up some of their landing slots at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.Had the FTC turned down the revised merger plan, the financially troubled JAS would have been in a tight spot.Although the commission's shift in its course may give the impression that it is weak-kneed, the approval of the merger plan can be called realistic.With the increasing deregulation of the civil aviation industry, the world's airlines are exposed to an unpredented scale of competition.Respect private initiativeThe two companies believe the merger will ensure their survival. Such corporate reform taken at the initiative of private companies should be respected.The question is, however, whether the civil aviation industry, which is undergoing deregulation, will engage in "collusion" as a result of the merger of the two companies.In the revised plan, the two companies have promised to give up nine landing slots at Haneda Airport in October. They also promised to help new airlines in the use of airport facilities, such as ticket counters, as well as fuselage maintenance and repair.These are steps to be taken in response to the FTC's judgment that to promote greater competition among domestic airlines, it is essential for new airlines to have an opportunity to expand their businesses.Since the deregulation of the civil aviation industry, Skymark Airlines and Hokkaido International Airlines, better known as Air Do, entered the market on domestic trunk routes.However, JAL, ANA and JAS slashed their airfares, reducing the utilization rate of the new airlines and ensuring that they operate at a deficit.It is a matter of urgency not only for the two new companies but also for future newcomers to have access to sufficient landing slots and adequate airport facilities.Turbulent flight aheadThe slots JAL and JAS will give up will be offered to newcomers first. This is a step forward.We need hardly remind anyone an airline is a capital-intensive industry that needs a massive amount of funds to expand its business.It will take time for new companies to grow and compete on an equal footing with a major airline. In this sense, it will be important for the merged company and ANA to maintain sound competition.Industries in which two leading companies compete head-to-head to the exclusion of all others, such as in the U.S. soft drinks industry, are relatively rare.We hope competition accelerates in the civil aviation industry, starting with the uniform 10 percent cut in airfares proposed by the companies planning to merge.JAL and JAS have just stepped into the starting blocks, but the two airlines can expect a turbulent flight ahead, especially with opposition from the labor unions and mixed reaction from other quarters.Above all, utmost care is needed to integrate the computer systems of the two companies, as one glitch could directly affect the lives of passengers. A problem such as the one that affected Mizuho group banks must not occur.The responsibility of the management of the two airlines is heavy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2002-04-27	yoshin0020020503dy4r005gk
yomshi0020020429dy4s0005z	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020429dy4s0005z	EN	\N	Honor return of sovereignty.	For years, the pact has usually been remembered for its signing ceremony in San Francisco on Sept. 8, 1951, as an epochal phase in Japan's post-World War II history. However, it should be noted that April 28 signifies the anniversary of the peace treaty's enforcement as an event that ended the Allied Occupation of Japan, which lasted for six years and eight months.	7	2002-04-28	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	April 28, 1952, marked an end-both technically and formally-to the hostilities between Japan and the Allies, as stipulated in Article 1 of the treaty. Prior to the pact, Japan was not allowed to publish a dissenting opinion prepared by Judge Radhabinod Pal of India in giving verdicts on Class-A war criminals at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also known as the Tokyo Trial. He found all the defendants innocent of all charges against them. In addition, the Japanese government was not allowed to hold a ceremony in memory of the war dead.Why no commemoration?Given this, all the Japanese people should have been commemorating April 28 as the anniversary of their nation's restored sovereignty and independence every year since 1952.However, this never took place. Why?In those days, leftist forces and those intellectuals sympathetic to them carried out a bitter campaign against government efforts to sign the treaty, arguing that the pact should be sealed by all nations at odds with Japan during World War II, including the Soviet Union and other communist-bloc countries.Japan's failure to designate April 28 the anniversary of its regained sovereignty has been due to a remnant of a rift in public opinion caused by the leftist forces' antitreaty campaign.History has already shown whether the leftist forces were correct in insisting on what was called an all-party peace treaty. It is evident that the antitreaty forces-including leftists and intellectuals who had naively admired the Soviet Union-erred in their judgment.We suggest promoting a public debate concerning a proposal to designate April 28 a national holiday. Such a debate would shed new light on the question as to why Japan had fought a great war with the Allied nations until at last it lost its sovereignty and independence. Doing so would also put into perspective the question of why the April 28 anniversary of the peace treaty's enforcement has not been made a national holiday in the postwar years.Emperor Showa's birthdayThis argument is also in line with another proposal to designate April 29-Emperor Showa's birthday-"Showa Day," not Greenery Day as things stand today. Both the anniversary of the peace pact's enforcement and the late emperor's birthday would provide a good opportunity to reflect on the turbulent Showa era, which extended from 1926 to 1989.In May 2000, a bill designed to designate April 29 Showa Day was sent to the House of Representatives after passing the House of Councillors. Immediately before voting on the measure, however, the Diet chose to kill the bill under the weight of controversy created by then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's "Japan is a divine nation" statement.In addition, the bill would have designated May 4 Greenery Day. Doing so would have added another holiday to the Golden Week vacation. If the anniversary of the peace treaty on April 28 is designated another national holiday, Golden Week will be further expanded.The new national holiday could be called "Sovereignty Restoration Day," "Restored Independence Day" or some other name.All in all, what is important is to ensure that the public remembers the significance of April 28.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2002-04-28	yoshin0020020503dy4s0051g
yomshi0020020429dy4t0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020429dy4t0000a	EN	\N	Forests need management.	Japan is a one of the world's most heavily forested countries, with woodlands accounting for 70 percent of the nation's land area. However, this massive resource is becoming devastated, with the 60 percent of the nation's forests that are privately owned especially hard-hit.	8	2002-04-29	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The root of the problem is the waning of the forestry industry. Privately owned forests utilized to produce wood products have benefitted from a traditional cycle of care including thinning and replanting.But now, such necessary forest maintenance work is not being kept up.Forestry firms ailingIn a survey of forestry businesses conducted by the Forestry Agency, about 60 percent of the polled managers said they had not done thinning work in the past five years, and more than 70 percent of pollees responded they had not replanted land on which they had cut down trees.In most cases, the reason for such answers was that it was not "profitable." Domestic wood products have lost international competitiveness year after year, hit by inexpensive imported materials. Currently only 20 percent of the lumber used in Japan is domestically produced.If forestry remains unprofitable, those in the industry will lose their enthusiasm for it, and young people will not want to take jobs in the business. If mountains are not replanted, they will be ruined. The nation's privately owned forests are already caught in such vicious circle.The Forestry Agency is carrying out an urgent five-year project for the systematic thinning of privately owned forests. However, with no prospects for improvement in the forestry business, those in it will have no incentive to continue the traditional methods of forest management like thinning and replanting.This year's white paper on forests and forestry emphasizes the necessity of "structural reforms in the forestry business." It is obvious that wasteful projects, such as development of forest roads that are rarely used, should be eliminated. Only effective projects should be carried out.However, it is unreasonable to seek appropriate management of forests only from the forestry industry.Considering forests' functionsThe basic law on forests and the forestry business established last year proposes development of forests in the nation with a view that forests are divided into three functional categories:- Environmental forests that maintain water and soil.- Standing forests that play a role in people's lives.- Industrial forests for cyclical lumber production.Actual forest development is carried out by municipal governments which have a better idea than the national government of current forest conditions in their jurisdictions. For this important role they need the flexibility to carry out development so that unattended industrial forests can be converted into recreational forests.Fortunately, public concern for forests has increased. Some local governments on lower parts of rivers have established forest development funds by imposing surcharges on water supply services with the aim of supporting other local governments upstream in carrying out forest development projects. Also, an increasing number of volunteer organizations are participating in forest development projects.The way the nation's forests are passed on to next generation is an issue for discussion in which everyone should be involved.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	584	2002-04-29	yoshin0020020503dy4t004tv
yomshi0020020430dy4u0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020430dy4u0000d	EN	\N	History is just a month away.	Though there are ballooning hopes for the event, the two countries should not overlook their heavy responsibilities.	7	2002-04-30	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The event will be characterized by a number of notable firsts. It will be the first World Cup finals in the 21st century, the first in Asia and the first to be cohosted by two countries. We sincerely hope that the event will be a safe and pleasant one.It will be an exciting opportunity not only for soccer fans but also for other people to see the advanced techniques of the world's top soccer players with their own eyes while meeting sports fans from all over the world.The number of spectators in Japan and South Korea is projected to be as high as 2.7 million, including about 400,000 visitors to Japan from overseas. During the previous World Cup finals in France, 1.5 billion people, or about one-fourth of the world population, watched the final match on TV.As a gigantic sporting event surpassing even the Olympic Games, it is impossible for the World Cup to remain completely apart from world politics and economics.World Cup brings neighbors closerThe decision for Japan and South Korea to cohost the World Cup finals was a compromise reached because the countries' campaigns to invite the event had nearly developed into a state conflict.Yet, according to a recent opinion poll jointly conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and South Korean newspaper Hankook Ilbo, about 51 percent of pollees in Japan and 49 percent in South Korea said that the cohosting of the World Cup finals will help improve the relationship between the two countries.Prince and Princess Takamado are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup finals in Seoul on May 31. It will be the first time for a member of the Imperial family to officially visit the Korean Peninsula since the end of World War II. Prince Takamado is one of the Emperor's first cousins, and seventh in line to the throne.We believe it is imperative to make use of the event to build a mature relationship between the two countries. Both countries need to prepare by demonstrating their unique qualities to lead the event to success. Such processes will certainly help the two nations establish a relationship looking to the future.The recently announced insolvency of the German media group that had the exclusive television and radio broadcasting rights for both the 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals has prompted debates on the excessive commercialism of FIFA, soccer's world governing body.Logisitic challenges to be metWhile the Olympic Games are held in venues centering on one city, matches in the World Cup finals are held in a number of cities within a host country. Games will be held at 10 locations in Japan, and there are an additional 27 locations that will be used as training camps for participating teams.One concern, demonstrated by a scare over potential riots by hooligans, is the need to fully ensure the safety of the events. Nearly 100 arrests and a number of injuries among policemen were reported in the previous World Cup finals in France. Some observers have even pointed to the specter of terrorism.To tackle such concerns head-on, the nation will be put under a large-scale security system for a period of more than a month. Riot police are being equipped with new, upgraded helmets and shields, and plainclothes policemen will be deployed in soccer stadiums. The spectators' personal belongings will be closely examined at the entrance to each stadium. Therefore, each and every spectator is asked to cooperate with the authorities, making sure to arrive at the stadiums well before the games' scheduled opening times and to leave potentially dangerous items such as umbrellas at home.It is often said that the World Cup is a window that links the world with the host countries. Knowing that the eyes of the world will be upon us, people are urged not to lose their self-control while enjoying the World Cup events. We hope people in Japan will be able to make use of this rare opportunity that was given to Asia in order to promote mutual understanding with countries worldwide.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	746	2002-04-30	yoshin0020020503dy4u004n8
yomshi0020020503dy530000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020503dy530000d	EN	\N	Sound security concept needed.	The Antiterrorism Law, enacted in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, allows Japan, for the first time, to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to countries in a state of war.	8	2002-05-03	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the Indian Ocean, an SDF flotilla is extending logistic support to the U.S.-led multilateral forces.Legal arrangements to handle such contingencies as armed attacks on Japan, an issue that has been pending for the past two decades, have at long last taken hold.The government has submitted to the Diet a package of bills related to armed attacks on Japan. Although they fall short of what is actually needed, their importance should not be underestimated.Due to a revision of the relevant law late last year, the SDF is now permitted to engage in major U.N. peacekeeping operations, such as monitoring ceasefires.Expanded SDF roleThe revision went into effect about the same time that Japan Coast Guard patrol boats fired at an unidentified ship, suspected to be a spy ship from North Korea, in the East China Sea. The mystery ship was believed to have blown itself up before sinking.Ten years ago, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a heated debate in the Diet on the U.N. peacekeeping activities cooperation bill before it passed into law. This law allowed SDF units to take part in U.N. peacekeeping activities only after armed conflicts had ended.Today, SDF units operate in areas not far from battlefields.Only three years ago, the JCG failed to take effective steps to catch a North Korean spy ship that was detected in waters off Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture.At that time, Japan was unable to respond to the spy ship for a number of reasons-ineffectual legal system, ill-equipped coast guard units and the mind-set of JCG personnel.Indeed, major changes have been made since then.Meanwhile, as indicated in opinion polls, the general public has more or less come to view more positively the government's change in national security policy. This represents a step forward from its conventional stance.It is also apparent that public sentiment, and the understanding of the government and lawmakers, who draw up policies and execute them, is also changing in line with Japan's situation and changes in views outside the country.Legislation lags public sentimentSome people concerned about the way Japanese regarded national security, not long ago voiced the following opinion: "The Japanese may think that their safety comes free of charge, just like air and water."In this sense, it should be considered positive that the nation has adopted a response, which can be considered up to international standards, in carrying out such actions as ensuring national security and eradicating international threats.The problem is that the Constitution and legislation, which are supposed to deal with these issues, have lagged behind or remain at odds with changes in policies and public sentiment over the past few years.Pondering what the nation should or can do in light of the changing situation and progress in military technology is what national defense is all about.However, Japan's national security in the postwar era has depended on a constitutional interpretation of what the nation can or cannot do.Because the government has determined very narrowly what it should or can do in terms of national security, sometimes one law will be at odds with another.One example is the peculiarity between a bill that defines the basic framework for the nation to deal with an armed attack, the main pillar of the package of bills concerning the nation's response to emergencies, and the law that governs SDF operations to assist U.S. military forces during an emergency in areas surrounding Japan.Limitation of legal systemHow is it possible to make a clear distinction between "a situation that could evolve in a direct military attack on the country," which is incorporated in the bill, and an event in areas surrounding Japan that could affect national security?Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi once said the two pieces of legislation "could coexist." But the problem is not as simple as that.The reality is that limitations have become apparent over the nation's legal system, whereby one law after another have been drawn up in a makeshift fashion and without a consistent philosophy.A similar problem is seen in the debate over the right to collective self-defense, which according to the government "the country has, but cannot exercise under the Constitution." With the deepening of the Japan-U.S. security alliance, constant repetition the constitutional interpretation made by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau is becoming rather tiresome.The use of weapons by SDF personnel in peacekeeping operations, in areas where a state of war does not exist, are subject to many regulations.Constitution should be reviewedNeedless to say, peacekeeping operations constitute a major pillar of the nation's cooperation with the international community. Should the implementation of PKOs be adversely affected due to interpretation of related laws, it may harm the national interest.Besides the issue of national security, many other issues have emerged that cannot be dealt with through existing regulations. Environmental rights, for example, is a problem that was not even imagined when the Constitution was enacted 55 years ago.Naturally, universal principles laid out in the current Constitution, such as respect for the basic human rights, should remain untouched.However, at the same time, it is important to decide whether the Constitution no longer matches the times and whether it should be reviewed. But it is pointless to simply shout such slogans as "Protect the Constitution" and "Revise the Constitution."According to Yomiuri Shimbun surveys conducted over the past five years, more than half the respondents said they supported constitutional revision.Among opposition lawmakers who used to be considered advocates for protection of the Constitution, a movement has emerged to discuss changes.Discussions on the Constitution by the Research Commissions on the Constitutions in the two chambers of the Diet appear to have reached the halfway mark. The time will come soon when the political parties will have to offer up their own constitutional concepts for the people's judgment. We hope they will be prepared for it.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1095	2002-05-03	yoshin0020020507dy53002p7
yomshi0020020506dy5400068	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020506dy5400068	EN	\N	Put a stop to political scandals.	On Thursday, former House of Councillors President Yutaka Inoue tendered his resignation from the Diet. He became the third lawmaker to quit over a scandal during the current Diet session, following in the footsteps of Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a former House of Representatives member of the Social Democratic Party, and Koichi Kato, former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party.	16	2002-05-04	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Inoue called his resignation an expression of his desire to take political and moral responsibility for a scandal involving his former policy secretary's alleged unlawful interference in the bidding procedure for a public works project. The secretary has been arrested by the Chiba District Public Prosecutors Office.Before his former aide's arrest, Inoue repeatedly denied reports that the former secretary had accepted massive kickbacks linked to the public works project. The former upper house president based his argument on a statement made by the former aide, who insisted, "I swear by heaven and earth I did not accept the money."However, Inoue's assertion lost conviction with the arrest of the former secretary, leaving him no choice but to resign from his Diet seat.Resignation doesn't end mattersInoue's resignation should not be accepted as an excuse for neglecting to uncover the truth behind the scandal.A construction company has told the media that it made contact with Inoue in connection with the money given to his former secretary, an assertion Inoue denies.In addition, Inoue has offered ambiguous statements about the construction company's payment for party tickets that he sold to the firm.On numerous occasions, including a meeting of deputies from the ruling and opposition parties in the upper house, he has been far from convincing when he gives his version of the scandal. Close attention should be paid to the progress of the investigation into the many aspects of the affair, including whether Inoue was involved in his former aide's alleged wrongdoing.Inoue's resignation represents the first case in which someone serving as either lower house speaker or upper house president has resigned from the Diet because of a scandal. It is disturbing to acknowledge this stark fact as the Diet is the highest organ of state power.His resignation should be regarded as more serious than the cases involving Tsujimoto and Kato in that it has undermined the dignity of the upper house presidency, a post filled by a person who sits at the head of one of the three branches of government.To restore the prestige of the Diet, the ruling and opposition parties should step up efforts to uncover the truth behind this scandal, and Inoue should fulfill his duty to further explain it.What will Suzuki do?Another focus of popular attention is what lawmaker Muneo Suzuki will do concerning his political and moral responsibility for a scandal that eventually forced him to quit the LDP. Both the Suzuki and Inoue affairs are similar in that the top secretaries of both politicians have been arrested on suspicion of unlawfully interfering in bidding procedures for public works projects.What will Suzuki do to defend himself when his secretary's arrest has only served to arouse deeper suspicions about his role in the scandal? In this sense, he must explain his position on the scandal before the Diet.Former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka also has a responsibility to provide an explanation concerning suspicions of alleged misuse of salaries paid to her secretaries from the state coffers. Since the scandal broke, she has refused to display documents concerning her secretaries' salaries or provide an explanation about the scandal.How long will the current confusion last?The Diet must debate various important bills after Golden Week, including a set of bills governing the nation's response to an armed foreign attack and those designed to reform the country's medical insurance system. The ruling and opposition parties should fully debate the bills while working to end the confusion arising from those scandals.Shedding light on the wave of scandals must be complemented by an all-out effort by lawmakers to do what must be done.This will call for measures to prevent similar scandals from occurring. For example, it may be necessary to strengthen the law banning politicians from receiving payments from businesses and other quarters in return for mediation with government offices on their behalf.All political parties and politicians should live up to this obligation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	761	2002-05-04	yoshin0020020507dy54002oi
yomshi0020020506dy550000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020506dy550000f	EN	\N	If you have a computer, worry.	Among the newest viruses is one called KLEZ. The virus instructs infected PCs to send e-mails with fake senders' names and also destroys data in infected PCs on the sixth day of odd-numbered months, raising fears of widespread damage.	8	2002-05-05	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There are now 20 million Internet users in Japan, and the use of broadband Internet services that provide a constant connection to the Net is rapidly increasing. The chances of infection will only increase in these circumstances, and never decrease.It has been 12 years since the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan, started accepting reports on computer viruses from domestic computer users, and the increase in the number of reports in last two or three years has been remarkable.Three years ago, about 3,600 computer virus infections were reported to the public corporation, but the number of reports topped 10,000 two years ago. Last year, it exceeded 24,000 reports.When a computer is infected with a virus, important documents and other data stored in it can be damaged or irretrievably lost.Victims become virus' weaponsReports of new types of viruses have been on the rise recently. They typically lurk in attachments that arrive with e-mail messages. If such an attachment is opened, the virus infects the computer and instructs it to send an enormous number of e-mails to those listed in the computer's address book, thereby spreading itself to other computers.In such a case, a victim of a virus unwittingly becomes a spreader of it. One cannot just lament the damage the virus causes to oneself; it is always moving on to fresh victims.Computer viruses know no national borders. It is said there are about 50,000 computer viruses in circulation worldwide, with new viruses and new varieties being created month after month.It is not easy to root out computer viruses. Still, in this age of information technology, every computer user must protect his or her own computer from viruses first and foremost, so as to neither fall victim to nor pass along a damaging virus.A byte of preventionThere are a number of simple precautions that one can take. Suspicious e-mails and attachments should immediately be deleted without opening them. Backup copies of important data should be copied onto floppy disks or other memory devices from a hard disk.A widening array of antivirus software is available at reasonable prices, and a number of Web sites offer countermeasures against computer viruses. It is prudent to utilize such items.We also would like to urge managers of networks for corporations and other organizations to take enhanced countermeasures against computer viruses. Surveys and other research have revealed that many organizations have not set up fire wall systems on their networks and lack network security staff.Also, enhanced investigation of computer viruses is urged. The National Police Agency has set up a special team called Cyberforce to deal with computer crimes. We would like to urge the promotion of international cooperation to carry out worldwide investigation into this kind of crime.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	549	2002-05-05	yoshin0020020507dy550031x
yomshi0020020507dy560000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020507dy560000c	EN	\N	The devil is in the details.	However, it cannot be denied that decisions on more than a few important items have been postponed. We should keep a close eye on the ministry's moves until the corporation's abolition is accomplished.	8	2002-05-06	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Oil corporation a test of reformReform of public corporations is the so-called drawing card of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration. The oil corporation will be the first one to be dealt with in a series of efforts to reform and reorganize public corporations. Therefore, other government organizations are closely watching the development of debates between the government secretariat and the ministry. If the attempt to reform the oil corporation fails, it inevitably will have an adverse effect on reform of other public corporations, including the Japan Highway Public Corporation, which is next in line.In this regard, Koizumi is urged to be aware of the strong sense of crisis as he makes the final decision on the bill.Coordination between the government secretariat and the ministry has become a drawn-out process mainly due to the ambiguity of the plan to consolidate and streamline public corporations, which the Cabinet had adopted at the end of last year.Agreement was smoothly reached to abolish the Japan National Oil Corporation and turn the state oil stockpiling function into a government-operated business. Besides, there was little opposition to the plan to consolidate some of the corporation's functions-such as supplying venture capital for oil development and conducting research and development-into the Metal Mining Agency of Japan, which is scheduled to become an independent administrative body.The greatest point of contention is which organization will be responsible for processing the assets held by the corporation, including shares in as many as 82 subsidiaries engaged in the oil development business, and how such assets should be handled.Among a number of oil development businesses funded by the corporation, there are a few companies that have achieved success and are operating in the black. Yet as a whole, its development business is a disaster, having incurred massive losses.Liberal Democratic Party General Council Chairman Mitsuo Horiuchi was the one who brought the situation to light.In spite of that, the ministry opted for a plan to allow the oil corporation to divide its subsidiary companies into three groups-those to be liquidated, those to be sold and those to be kept in operation-on the basis of the assessment of the ministry's own council.The ministry also declared a project to set up special companies to take over the operation of blue-chip subsidiaries that would be retained after the abolition of the corporation so as to develop them into the Japanese equivalent of major international oil companies.In response, the government's secretariat on administrative reform criticized the ministry's move, claiming that the plan was a ruse to maintain the corporation in the guise of special companies, and asked the ministry to revise the draft bill so as to aim at true abolition.Amakudari slows progressThe corporation and its subsidiaries employ a large number former high-ranking bureaucrats of the ministry through the practice called amakudari (literally, descent from heaven). The government's secretariat on administrative reform pointed out, therefore, that the ministry's council and the corporation obviously would be unable to make strict, objective decisions on their fates. We believe the secretariat's response is fair.In the end, the ministry and the secretariat on administrative reform accepted a compromise plan proposed by the prime minister's office. According to the proposal, the corporation's operations will be limited to the management of assets and disposal of its subsidiaries, and among the three bills related to the abolition of the oil corporation, the bill to set up new special companies will be shelved.Consequently, several projects, including the one to put national oil stocks under the direct management of the government, will get under way. However, such issues as the handling of subsidiaries and the envisaged establishment of the Japanese version of major oil companies were set aside once again.It is necessary to secure a supply of crude oil drilled and shipped by Japanese companies operating overseas in preparation for a future oil crisis. Even so, state funds cannot be spent like water. The fate of the corporation's subsidiaries should be determined under the close surveillance of other government organizations, rather than in a way tailored to suit the needs of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	798	2002-05-06	yoshin0020020507dy56003cc
yomshi0020020508dy580000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020508dy580000e	EN	\N	Suu Kyi's release a good omen.	The move deserves praise as an important step toward democratization of this Asian country. But it is only a first step. We hope further steps will be taken in this direction.	8	2002-05-08	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest in September 2000. The following month, she began a dialogue with the military government under the mediation of the special envoy for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Her release is the result of this 18-month-long dialogue.Upon releasing Suu Kyi, the military government promised to allow citizens to participate freely in the nation's political processes and to release more political prisoners on the premise of maintaining "the peace and stability of the nation."It is indispensible for the military government to live up to this promise to bring an end to its needless confrontations with pro-democracy advocates.Some positive signsSuu Kyi said the phase of building confidence with the military government was over and that she wanted to start discussions with the military government on substantive political issues, such as transferring power to a civil government.However, the path toward political dialogue remains thorny. There inevitably will be difficulties ahead.Both sides are-at least superficially-positive toward a continued dialogue, and this is a hopeful sign for the country.Suu Kyi asserted that her release was unconditional. However, she said she would limit her political activities within Yangon. This self-imposed restriction can be seen as a gesture of consideration toward the military government.In the past, Suu Kyi has clung tightly to her ideals and refused to accept compromises. If she has adopted a more pragmatic stance, progress can be expected in her dialogue with the military government.The junta that has ruled the country since it crushed the pro-democracy movement in 1988 also placed Suu Kyi under a house arrest in 1989. The first house arrest was lifted in 1995, but Suu Kyi was subsequently confined to her home repeatedlyn. This must not happen again.Japan's approach fruitfulBehind the military government's decision to release Suu Kyi is the fact that Myanmar's economy is in crisis. The public feels mounting frustration with the military rulers.Prices are increasing and unemployment has soared in Myanmar. Power cuts have become an everyday affair. Overseas investments have dried up, and the country is facing a serious shortage of foreign currency.On top of this, sanctions imposed by Western countries have worsened conditions in Myanmar. Releasing Suu Kyi was an indispensable condition for the sanctions to be lifted.Western countries have welcomed Suu Kyi's release, but they are still cautious about lifting the sanctions.Taking a different tack from Western countries, Japan has worked with Myanmar to promote democratization while extending humanitarian and other assistance. Japan should continue to press the military government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	510	2002-05-08	yoshin0020020508dy5800303
yomshi0020020509dy590000q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020509dy590000q	EN	\N	Salvage the unindentified ship soon.	The JCG has completed its underwater exploration of the ship. The exploration achieved some concrete results-two bodies believed to be crew members of the ship were recovered, along with weapons and ammunition.	18	2002-05-09	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the limitations of the underwater probe also were revealed. For example, a number of tasks, such as an examination of the inside of the ship, cannot be completed underwater. Many key questions, including the country of origin of the ship, its mission and what kind of cargo it was carrying, remain unanswered.Weather a complicating factorIt is thought highly likely that the vessel is a spy ship dispatched by North Korea. But there also has been speculation that as well as spying, the ship was smuggling stimulant drugs.It is an urgent task to find out the story behind the ship, taking these suspicions into consideration.To do so, a thorough exploration of the structure and equipment of the ship must be carried out, and documents and cargo remaining in it must be examined.Raising the ship is a minimum condition for carrying out this research.The ship is lying on the seabed in waters about 90 meters deep. Experts say there is no major technical obstacle to salvaging it.However, typhoons likely will pass through the area where the ship sank in the summer. The government should compile a plan for salvaging the vessel and start the salvage operation as soon as possible.Some have voiced cautious opinions over raising the ship because it is lying in waters in China's exclusive economic zone. However, China's sovereign rights in its EEZ only cover activities such as exploration of marine resources and environmental conservation.The JCG's patrol boats were damaged and three crew members were injured when the suspicious ship opened fire. In response to this criminal act, Japan has acted in accordance with international law, launching a probe in February with a remotely operated camera and conducting the latest investigation.Raising the vessel is the next step. Japan should carry out the salvage operation steadily and carefully.Security issues involvedWeapons recovered from the underwater exploration include a rocket launcher that was used to fire on one of the JCG ships, and they are viewed as important evidence for future investigations into the ship. At the same time as work to salvage the ship is carried out, detailed examinations of this evidence as well as the clothes and personal effects of the dead crew members should be conducted.If the facts about the ship are revealed, it will help Japan come up with measures to deal with suspicious ships that appear in waters near this country in the future. That also will contribute to securing security in waters surrounding Japan. In this regard, salvaging the ship will be useful.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	508	2002-05-09	yoshin0020020509dy59005mi
yomshi0020020510dy5a0000h	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020510dy5a0000h	EN	\N	China must return asylum-seekers.	Five people, believed to be North Koreans seeking political asylum, attempted to enter the consulate general in the northeastern Chinese city, but were thwarted by security guards who went into the facility without Japanese permission and took them into custody.	12	2002-05-10	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Chinese action appeared to run counter to the Vienna Convention, which grants diplomatic missions extraterritorial status.The Japanese government has lodged a protest with China, and has demanded that Beijing provide Tokyo with details of Wednesday's incident and hand over the five people. As a sovereign nation, Japan has every reason to make this demand.We strongly urge the Chinese government to hand over the five people to Japanese authorities and take all other necessary measures with sincerity.Beijing cannot avoid blameOn Wednesday, two of the five slipped past the guards at the consulate general's front gateand entered the first-floor waiting room for visa applications at the facility, where they were held down by the security guards. Obviously, the Chinese police authorities went too far in dealing with the asylum-seekers. China cannot avoid blame.On Thursday, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Dawei told Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi that the security guards' action was intended to ensure the safety of the Japanese Consulate General. He emphasized that China had not violated the provisions of the Vienna Convention.Since last year, an increasing number of North Korean asylum-seekers have entered U.S. and European embassies and consulates in China after fleeing their country to escape their difficult life and political oppression at home. This has led to China stepping up efforts to keep watch on North Korean residents and prevent defections. The strong action by the security guards reflected Beijing's attitude in this regard.Still, China's disregard of the Vienna Convention cannot be condoned and Wu's explanation is unacceptable. The Chinese government should think about how to respond to the situation after carefully examining what happened and why.Ties should not deteriorateIn recent years, the relationship between Japan and China has remained strained. This comes at a time when the two nations are commemorating the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties this year.Wednesday's incident-which appeared to have occurred on the spur of the moment-should not be allowed to complicate bilateral relations further. We believe that China does not want the latest incident to damage its ties with Japan.In this sense, China needs to show a sensible attitude in dealing with the confusion arising from Wednesday's affair so that bilateral relations will remain on track in the future. What course of action the country takes will have a strong bearing on what other nations think of it.If China agrees to hand the asylum-seekers over, steps should be taken to transfer them to another country after determining their wishes. It should be remembered that North Koreans have sought asylum at Japanese diplomatic missions overseas in the past.The government should resolutely try to persuade China to change its mind if Beijing refuses to hand over the asylum-seekers. But Japan should not allow the situation to deteriorate. It should be noted that the international community is paying close attention to what this country will do.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	590	2002-05-10	yoshin0020020510dy5a0036g
yomshi0020020513dy5b000bx	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020513dy5b000bx	EN	\N	Realistic security debate needed.	An ad hoc House of Representatives committee is debating a set of contingency-related bills, including one governing this nation's response to an armed military attack. It defines the actions of the Self-Defense Forces and the government's decision-making process under such circumstances, the kinds of roles local governments should play in that event, as well as the cooperation expected from the public. In addition, the bill spells out the legislative steps to be taken to complement the three bills in the future.	15	2002-05-11	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In this sense, the bill represents a post-World War II landmark in Japan's national security.First and foremost, the Diet should debate how this country should act in the face of a national crisis.However, legislators often appear to be taking an unrealistic attitude during question-and-answer sessions in the Diet, as if they are engaged in "theological debates."This can be seen, for example, in discussions on "a situation in which an armed foreign attack may be anticipated."Flexible legal frameworkThe government has told the Diet that the emergency in question represents "a situation in which an order can be issued for the Self-Defense Forces to stand by for mobilization under the Self-Defense Forces Law," adding that "it is difficult to define such a situation because it can take a number of forms."This answer angered the opposition camp, which criticized the government for being "ambiguous" about the issue. The opposition parties have demanded that the government provide a clear definition and specific examples of the situation in question.Needless to say, the government must explain what constitutes a situation in which a foreign military attack could be anticipated. However, the legal framework governing the nation's preparedness for a national crisis must be flexible. This is essential to ensure that Japan is able to deal with a crisis similar to last September's terrorist attacks on the United States.Therefore, the opposition camp should be criticized as being unrealistic for demanding that the government offer specific examples of such an emergency. Doing so would impose restrictions on government procedures for determining whether a tense situation comes within the boundaries of the law.Another major focus of the ongoing Diet debate is on Japanese support for U.S. forces in the event of an emergency. Such assistance can be provided under two kinds of legislation-the existing law governing SDF operations to assist U.S. military forces during an emergency in areas surrounding Japan, and one that would authorize the SDF to support U.S. forces in a situation in which an armed attack on this country could be predicted.Supporting U.S. military forcesDuring the Diet debate, the government said a situation stipulated in the former law and one covered by the latter could take place at the same time. However, the government insists that the SDF would provide support for the U.S. forces, as stipulated in the two separate laws.The opposition bloc has attacked the government's assertion, saying that a clear line cannot be easily drawn between a situation governed by the former law and one covered by the latter.However, it is unrealistic to debate which law should be applied in supporting the U.S. forces in a situation where the country faces a serious threat. That kind of argument disregards the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance.Both the ruling and opposition parties should present constructive proposals that would help the government-sponsored bill serve its purpose more effectively. There are numerous issues to be debated in this regard, including what kind of government body should be established to come up with the fundamental principles to deal with an armed attack on this nation.This should be complemented by in-depth discussions on legislative measures to deal with specific aspects of Japan's response to a foreign military attack, including instructions issued for evacuees and efforts to rescue people endangered by a military attack. The government did not submit to the Diet bills seeking to accomplish such goals, saying it would take the necessary legislative steps within two years.We hope the ruling and opposition parties will engage in constructive and fruitful debates on what should be done to protect the lives, property and independence of the Japanese people.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	757	2002-05-11	yoshin0020020513dy5b002pb
yomshi0020020513dy5c0005z	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020513dy5c0005z	EN	\N	Reform bidding systems.	Tokushima Prefecture and Ishioka and Shimotsuma, Ibaraki Prefecture, whose governor and mayors, respectively, have been arrested and indicted in bribery scandals involving a former secretary of a Diet member, made a fresh start under new local government heads.	8	2002-05-12	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	What the newly elected leaders should first do is thoroughly review the bribery cases and uncover administrative problems, including the bidding mechanisms, so as to carry out drastic reforms to contain corruption.Newly elected Tokushima Gov. Tadashi Ota announced that he planned to set up an investigative team, which will include outside experts, and disclose the whole picture of the graft scandal, including the background and how the scandal developed.Meanwhile, the newly appointed mayors of the two Ibaraki cities decided to wait until details of the incidents are clarified in court, announcing that they would leave the matter in the hands of the judiciary.What needs to be done first by heads of local governments to prevent the recurrence of such incidents is to conscientiously carry out their duties.Public works prices leaked?The two former mayors allegedly leaked the budgeted prices of public works projects, which they themselves had determined, giving in to the former Diet secretary's mediation requests. The former governor is believed to have instructed a contract winner of a public works project to include a firm that had offered him bribes among its subcontractors.It is believed highly likely that local government officials favored bribers in picking contract winners. To restore the public trust by starting afresh with new government heads, we believe it is necessary for the local governments to severely punish such officials.To severe such ties, Gov. Ota declared that he would not have a supporters' group, that all requests made by politicians to government offices would be recorded and that the records would be subject to information disclosure. The governor added that the prefecture is considering passing an ordinance designed to prohibit mediation targeting government officials.The bidding system must be overhauled as soon as possible, because it is not only the three local governments that have an entrenched bidding structure allowing irregularities such as influence-wielding, bid-rigging and subcontracting entire public works contracts.Although public bidding is the best way to secure transparency, only one-third of local governments across the country had such a bidding system in fiscal 2000, according to a survey conducted by the Public Management Ministry.Furthermore, only large-scale public works projects were subject to public bidding.Only 5 projects subject to bidsOf about 3,000 construction contracts the Tokushima prefectural government awarded in fiscal 2001, only five were subject to public bidding.In Ishioka and Shimotsuma, companies were selected to bid for public works projects.The three local governments have spelled out measures to improve the bidding system. The Tokushima prefectural government said it would conduct on-the-spot inspections to prevent public works contracts from being entirely subcontracted by winners, Ishioka will use a lottery system to decide minimum and maximum prices of projects subject to bidding, and Shimotsuma will release cost estimates for projects before bidding is carried out.However, these improvements are not sufficient.The Miyagi prefectural government introduced a system that has eliminated discretionary meddling by bureaucrats by randomly selecting candidates from among companies that have a good record of performance.Last autumn, the Yokosuka City government in Kanagawa Prefecture began using the Internet to announce public works projects and bidding for the projects, putting an end to briefing at sites of the public works projects and leaving no room for bid-rigging.Yokosuka officials said that the number of bidders has increased and winning prices have fallen since the new system was introduced.The Okayama prefectural government also began employing the Yokosuka system in April.Leadership is indispensable for reform of the bidding system. Half-hearted reforms will not work.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	670	2002-05-12	yoshin0020020513dy5c0060x
yomshi0020020513dy5d0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020513dy5d0000g	EN	\N	Group tax a misguided move.	For the system to be introduced, bills were submitted to the Diet on revising the Corporate Tax Law and the Special Taxation Measures Law.	8	2002-05-13	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But the problem with the consolidated tax payment system is that companies who choose to adopt it would be levied a 2 percent surtax for the first two years of the consolidated tax payment system. This would in effect raise the corporate tax rate from 30 percent to 32 percent for that period.Understandably, most major companies have said they would postpone adoption of the new taxation system.There is even a movement within the three ruling coalition parties to oppose introduction of the surtax. Both Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and Jiyuto (Liberal Party) are expected to fight the bills, mainly because of the surtax.We urge the Diet to remove the surtax from the bills during its deliberations.Advantage for red-ink firmsUnder the consolidated tax payment system, companies would have to add its own profits to those of its fully funded affiliates and pay corporate tax on the combined total.The system is essentially intended to help companies restructure themselves as a way of revitalizing the economy.However, a corporate group saddled with money-losing companies could take advantage of the system to reduce its tax burden.Under the current system, companies that spin off deficit-incurring divisions have to pay more tax.The consolidated tax system would not increase the amount of tax such companies pay, but would allow a corporate group launching new businesses by setting up subsidiaries to offset initial deficits with profits earned by the parent company.In urging companies restructure and restore their international competitiveness, the government lifted the ban on establishing a holding companies and brought in legislative measures to promote spinoffs. The consolidated tax payment system is intended as the final move in the series of policies.However, acting on a Finance Ministry proposal, the government decided to incorporate a 2 percent surtax in the first two years of the consolidated tax payment system.The ministry projected the government's tax revenues would decline by 800 billion yen once the new system was introduced. The surtax is intended to make up 100 billion yen of the decrease.This is one example of how the government's insistence on limiting new issuance of government bonds to below 30 trillion yen is adversely affecting the economy.Profitable firms to be unfairly hitIf the 2 percent surcharge is implemented, a corporate group that has adopted the consolidated tax system will end up paying more tax than under the existing system-unless the total losses of its below-par group companies exceeds 6.25 percent of the total surplus made by its companies in the black.The new tax system would apply retroactively from the April 1 start of fiscal 2002. All corporate groups would have to decide whether to adopt the system by the end of September.Only a small number of corporate groups, such as NTT Corp., Hitachi, Ltd. and Daiwa Securities Co., have been positive about the new system.These companies would likely avoid having to pay any corporate tax. The reason for this is that their parent companies posted huge losses when closing their accounts in March and carried over their losses into the current accounting term by taking advantage of a system that permits such a move.However, healthy corporate groups, such as the one headed by Toyota Motor Corp., reportedly have decided not to adopt the consolidated tax system so as to avoid an increase in their tax burdens.For these reasons, there is little chance the ministry will see the tax revenues it hopes to net.Restructuring for constructive purposes should enhance the international leverage of the private sector. Even profitable companies would do well to take this advice.However, the 2 percent surcharge is the wrong move. Revise the bills. Bury the surcharge.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	711	2002-05-13	yoshin0020020513dy5d006cc
yomshi0020020514dy5e0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020514dy5e0000a	EN	\N	Tell truth on consulate incident.	The police officers entered the premises of the consulate without the consulate's consent when five North Korean nationals, seeking asylum, rushed into the consulate. The officiers also forcefully pinned two women to the ground and later took all five off the premises.	8	2002-05-14	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Chinese side denied the Japanese government's assertion with its own version of events, stating that its public security officers took the five into custody based on consent from the Japanese side.No matter how Beijing attempts to explain the actions taken by the police officers, it is a stark fact that the action violates an international convention that stipulates the inviolability of diplomatic establishments that handle consular business.China should follow own adviceThe Chinese side, in a statement issued by Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan, said that both sides should refrain from aggravating the situation.If this is sincerely meant, the Chinese side should first admit its fault and attempt to restore things to the status quo. We strongly urge that the Chinese government promptly release to the Japanese side the five who were taken away.In response to the Chinese claim, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi on Monday made public the result of her ministry's investigation and categorically denied that the consulate officials had given any consent for the police to enter the consulate premises, including its building, to seize the two asylum-seekers who had gained entry, or to remove all five.In addition, Kawaguchi said that a vice consul tried, by spreading his arms, to block the Chinese public security officers from taking the five away, but to no avail.As things stand now, the Japanese government must stick to its resolute stance on this matter.The investigation results from the Japanese side show the facts of the incident in great detail. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo made public details of its own probe results, emphasizing that the actions of the Chinese officers were made with the consent of the Japanese side.Both sides should strictly refrain from inflaming antagonism to no purpose. Elucidating the facts is essential for preventing similar incidents from happening again. Both Japan and China need to make further efforts to elucidate the whole truth.South Korea is said to be sounding out China and other countries on whether or not the five could be sent to Seoul.We are not denying the humanitarian actions to be taken to ensure safety of the five. Yet, it is necessary for Japan to pursue a reasonable solution to the issue.Ministry should put house in orderKawaguchi also pointed out, based on the investigation results, that some of the consulate officials may have handled the incident inadequately.Included in their faults are: that they had initially perceived the incident as only a quarrel of some kind; that there was not enough communication between a vice consul and other consular officials; and that there were defects in the security system of the consulate.Kawaguchi said she is considering punishment for the officials in charge. Yet this is not enough, because its officials' lukewarm responses to emergencies and their lack of a sense of national interest are not limited to the consulate in Shenyang.The ministry, taking the latest incident as a lesson, needs to expedite its efforts to change the mind-set of its officials, while at the same time thoroughly reviewing how its diplomatic establishments abroad should deal with emergencies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2002-05-14	yoshin0020020514dy5e006vw
yomshi0020020515dy5f0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020515dy5f0000g	EN	\N	Time to face the music, Suzuki.	The resolution calling for a vote to be taken in a plenary session of the House of Representatives to have legislator Muneo Suzuki resign from the Diet was voted down by lawmakers, including those from the Liberal Democratic Party.	7	2002-05-15	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Suzuki's secretary was arrested in connection with the government-funded construction of Friendship House, nicknamed Muneo House, on Kunashiri Island.In consideration of public sentiment and other critical views, the LDP had been inclined to judge that it would be inevitable for the resolution to be put before the Diet. The biggest reason for the LDP to vote against the opposition motion was that the opposition camp changed its stance and decided not to boycott Diet deliberations, regardless of whether the motion passed.The prestige of a Diet member derives from the fact that the member is elected by the people.While pretending to honor the principle of respecting the trust that voters placed in the legislator, both camps' true intention seemed to be to give priority to exploiting the affair for short-term political gain. Such a stance can only be described as self-indulgent.Affair grows murkier day by dayThough the motion was voted down, the suspicions surrounding Suzuki have not been dispelled.On Tuesday, a Foreign Ministry official seen as Suzuki's right-hand man who had been involved with the government's Russian policies and the assistance projects for the Russian-held northern territories off eastern Hokkaido was arrested, together with yet another official, on suspicion of breach of trust in connection with the misappropriation of funds to be withdrawn from the ministry-affiliated Cooperation Committee. With their arrests, the suspicions swirling around Suzuki have further deepened.The committee, which is said to have been under Suzuki's influence, has injected more than 8 billion yen into the assistance projects for the northern territories, which are claimed by Japan.Giving sworn testimony before the Diet, Suzuki denied that his secretary was involved in the assistance projects. He also said he had never given any instructions to the secretary over the bidding process for the projects. If he was not lying, how can he explain the arrests of his secretary and the ministry official?Also, claims continue to mount that the intergovernmental talks on the northern territories with Russia were distorted by Suzuki's intervention. The truth of the matter remains obscure.With suspicions over all these issues growing, it is a matter of course for Suzuki to be questioned concerning his political and ethical responsibility. Suzuki also should be aware of his duty to respond publicly to the allegations leveled against him.Diet failing to discharge its dutiesYet the issue is not limited to Suzuki. There are several issues, including changes in the nature of the bilateral territorial talks, that the Diet must investigate under its own initiative.While it is only natural for prosecutors to probe Suzuki's involvement in the government-funded assistance project and the dubious operations of the Cooperation Committee, the Diet should not neglect its duty to investigate the issues on its own just because the issues have been examined by prosecutors.As well as the problems related to Suzuki, cases in which the Diet has not fulfilled its responsibility to pursue political and other scandals have become conspicuous recently.Concerning former House of Councillors President Yutaka Inoue, whose secretary was arrested over an illegal act in connection with a public works project, there is a feeling that the affair has already been settled with Inoue's resignation from the Diet.As for the suspicion that former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka misused her state-funded secretaries' salaries, LDP executives appear to be attempting to put a lid on the case without having sought a satisfactory explanation from Tanaka.The party leadership, whose job it is to persuade Tanaka to take the responsibility to explain the case, continues to shy away from doing so, as if it sees the affair as a political hot potato.The recent series of examples of nonfeasance on the part of the Diet inevitably calls into question its credibility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	730	2002-05-15	yoshin0020020515dy5f004fi
yomshi0020020516dy5g0000w	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020516dy5g0000w	EN	\N	How to save social security.	On Wednesday, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry released a forecast on the future of the social security systems after compiling relevant statistics based on a new demographic estimate for the nation's future.	15	2002-05-16	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In fiscal 2002, the financial burdens to be born by members of the public to maintain the state-run pension, medical and social welfare systems are expected to total 82 trillion yen. However, this figure is predicted to soar to 182 trillion yen in fiscal 2025.The so-called national contribution rate-the ratio of tax and social security premiums by individuals and corporations to national income-is also predicted to exceed 50 percent in that year.The social security systems face an extremely bleak future if there is no progress in halting the sharp decline in the nation's birthrate accompanying the rapid graying of the population. Among other things, the state-run pension system will be seriously affected by the declining birthrate and the aging population.According to the ministry's estimate, the premium rate set for the pension system for corporate workers will reach 24.8 percent in fiscal 2025 if policyholders are allowed to receive benefits comparable to the current standards. The figure represents an almost twofold increase from the current level. Under the current system, salaried workers and their employers pay such premiums on a 50-50 basis.The latest estimate means that the government must reconsider its earlier promise to ensure that the premium rate will not exceed about 20 percent. In addition, the government will have to significantly raise premiums to be paid under the basic pension scheme, which covers all members of society, if recipients are to be guaranteed pension payments equal to the current level. The per capita premiums would rise to 29,600 yen monthly.Japan should follow Europe's exampleThese depressing figures show that the current pension system is reaching a point at which it can no longer ensure that the generations still working pay premiums sufficient to support elderly people eligible for pension payments. Given this, an urgent task facing the government is to establish a new system that would cover all services provided under the current pension, medical and social welfare systems.For years, European nations have worked to promote reforms in this regard through public debates on relevant issues. No less seriously beset by dwindling birthrates coupled with graying populations, their governments have strived to establish rules governing the relationship between financial burdens to be shouldered by their peoples and benefits they receive.This is in stark contrast to the attitude taken by politicians and political parties in this country in reforming their country's systems. They have only sought a cosmetic solution to their nation's problem in the form of repeated cuts in benefits and repeated increases in policyholders' financial burdens. They have neglected to undertake a drastic reform of the systems.In addition, they have often applied stopgap measures to deal with problems inherent in the systems. For example, they have agreed to give up cuts in pension payments in line with declining commodity prices for a third consecutive year, while also freezing a step-by-step increase in the premium rate. This only means that future generations will shoulder greater burdens to be passed on to them from older generations.The government also has adopted a plan to raise the ratio of premiums to be covered by the state coffers from one-third to half two years later. However, the government remains unsure about what should be done to come up with the 2.7 trillion yen in funds needed to finance the plan. This is because the government has continued to avoid discussions about the kinds of measures to be taken in accomplishing that goal, including a proposal to transform revenues from the 5 percent consumption tax into those used exclusively for social welfare programs.Politicians should stop vacillatingPoliticians are to blame for exacerbating popular distrust in the pension system as a result of their irresponsible attitude toward the problem.Ten years later, this country will see its baby-boom generation join the elderly segment of the population. There is little time left for lawmakers to address the problem.Given this nation's falling birthrate and its rapidly aging population, the only possible solution will be for the generations still on the payroll and the elderly population to make mutual concessions and share the pains involved.Politicians and political parties must tell the public what kind of nation they will seek to transform Japan into in the 21st century. This requires them to help bridge the divide in opinions between the generations about the pension system and put the whole issue into a long-term perspective. In this sense, all political parties should present the public with their proposals concerning the social security systems as a step toward forming a national consensus on this contentious issue.The primary task facing politicians and political parties is to put forward clear goals-specific and responsible policies. They should know better than to present no measures to finance necessary changes in the system and insist on using funds from the state coffers to ease the public's financial burdens.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	925	2002-05-16	yoshin0020020516dy5g007mz
yomshi0020020517dy5h0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020517dy5h0000f	EN	\N	Pass legislation for SDF missions.	On Thursday, the Security Council of Japan decided to extend by six months the Self-Defense Forces' operation to support the antiterrorism campaign led by U.S. and British forces. The decision will be reported to the Diet after the Cabinet finalizes it Friday.	12	2002-05-17	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As Japan is a party to the ongoing antiterrorism campaign, there was no alternative to Thursday's decision.Undoubtedly, the current state of affairs in Afghanistan is in stark contrast to the circumstances that prevailed in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11.The U.S-led antiterrorism campaign has led to the capture of major strongholds operated by Al-Qaida, an international terrorist network run by Osama bin Laden. The ruling Taliban, the chief supporter of Al-Qaida, has also collapsed. In June, a loya jirga-an Afghan national council that will choose a new transitional government-will be convened, marking an important milestone in the war-torn country's rehabilitation process.No end in sight to war on terrorMeanwhile, the U.S. and British forces are still trying to root out Al-Qaida remnants in the eastern part of Afghanistan; bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks, is still at large; and warships and other vessels from many countries are deployed in the Indian Ocean.The U.S. government has said that this situation will remain unchanged for some time to come.The ongoing global campaign against terrorism is being carried out by troops from 20 nations. No nation has withdrawn any of its military units from the joint battle.Victims of the Sept. 11 attacks included a large number of Japanese. Japan must always remember that it too was a victim of the terrorist attacks, and that it needs to fulfill its global obligations until the end of the antiterrorism campaign.The SDF has provided U.S. and other vessels with about 129,000 kiloliters of fuel on 75 occasions. It has also flown aircraft to transport supplies to U.S. bases on 52 occasions. Japan's continued support for the antiterrorism campaign will serve to cement the Japan-U.S. alliance.People in some quarters have insisted that the government should not extend the SDF's operation to support the antiterrorism mission. They defend their argument by expressing concern about what would happen if the United States attacked Iraq. In that event, they say, the SDF's logistic support for the global campaign could be expanded to incorporate aid for U.S. raids on Iraq.Antiterrorism Law limits supportThe Antiterrorism Law limits the SDF support to activities conducted by the U.S. and other forces that are directly linked to last year's terrorist attacks. In this sense, the dispute over the government's decision to extend the SDF's antiterrorism mission is unrelated to the question about what Japan should do if the United States attacks Iraq.It must be assumed that Japan will face situations in which it will have to send SDF troops overseas for purposes similar to its ongoing support for the antiterrorism campaign. However, the Antiterrorism Law has a limited duration of two years and if a new emergency breaks out after the law expires, Japan must come up with new legislation that will serve a similar purpose.Legislative measures should be taken as soon as possible to lay down a set of principles that would be permanently applied to SDF overseas missions comparable to the current operation in the Indian Ocean. This is essential to avoid confusion if an emergency requiring an SDF mission arises after the current antiterrorism legislation expires.No one should forget the problems encountered in the effort to establish the Antiterrorism Law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	653	2002-05-17	yoshin0020020519dy5h00039
yomshi0020020520dy5i000bs	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020520dy5i000bs	EN	\N	Cut taxes to revive economy.	On Friday, the government announced in its monthly economic report for May that the economy had bottomed out, although it cautioned that "the economy continues to be in a difficult situation."	15	2002-05-18	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a basis for its assessment, the report referred to increases in exports, mainly to the United States and Asian countries, progress in inventory adjustment and the bottoming out of industrial production.In concert with the improvement in the global economy, the Japanese economy is expected to emerge from its prolonged recession, but as this is expected to be extremely gradual, deflation will still remain a problem.The situation is extremely delicate. If the government relaxes its policy now, the economy will not be able to get on the recovery track and might even start deteriorating.The government has upgraded its official economic assessment from the April report, which said the economy "is moving toward bottoming out." This is because the recovery in exports is certain to increase industrial production.Assessment more optimisticAs for exports, the May report referred to increases in exports centering on Asia, while the April assessment merely said exports had stopped decreasing.The latest report also said industrial production had stopped decreasing, compared to the April report, which said it was about to do so.Along with the changes in assessment concerning exports and production, the monthly report said business sentiment was becoming more optimistic. It pointed to "firmness" in some areas of personal consumption, which was described as "stagnant" in previous report.Eighteen months have passed since the economy began deteriorating in November 2000. We believe it is fair to say that companies have completed their adjustments in inventories and production during this period and that the economy reached its lowest point at the beginning of this year.However, even though we see signs of recovery in this respect, we are not out of the woods.There is a wide gap between supply and demand, which has resulted in a continuing decline in prices. We still do not know when the country will free itself of its bad-loan problem.Even Toyota Motor Corp., which posted a recurring profit of 1 trillion yen for the business year ending March 31, decided not to raise wage levels beyond the mandatory increases in spring. This indicates that the wage and employment situations are still severe, so it is highly unlikely personal consumption will fully recover.Precautions still neededThere also is no sign that capital investment will recover, and domestic demand is still weak.Uncertain factors, such as slumping capital investment, are also affecting the U.S. economy.In June 1993, prior to the Group of Seven summit of industrialized countries in Tokyo, the government announced that the economy had hit bottom. However, it was forced to retract the statement when the economy started heading downhill again. To ensure that it does not make the same mistake again, the government should take additional antideflationary measures.For this purpose, the government should make use of the taxation system by giving tax breaks for research and development as well as capital investment, and reducing gift and inheritance taxes this fiscal year.The government also must implement as soon as possible the proposals of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy to resuscitate the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	568	2002-05-18	yoshin0020020519dy5i000ka
yomshi0020020520dy5j0005y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020520dy5j0005y	EN	\N	JCG must remain vigilant.	Many people must have been struck by concerns over the country's safety after seeing the unnerving chase in waters surrounding Japan.	8	2002-05-19	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Amid growing concern over the country's safety, the 2002 edition of the Japan Coast Guard Report, which features suspicious vessels and organized crime such as smuggling of people, smuggling of goods and piracy on the high seas was released.The report has been put on sale at kiosks on the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (Eidan) line-the first time an official annual government report has been sold at subway stations-in the hopes it will be read by the public.Securing safety on the seas and carrying out operations to prevent crimes from reaching our shores are important JCG duties.Because public cooperation, such as providing information on suspicious people, is indispensable, the growing interest in the JCG is quite meaningful.Report provides detailsThe report describes in detail the pursuit of the unidentified vessel-from JCG boats ordering the vessel to stop to firing warning shots, wounding its crew members and the sinking of the vessel-as well as providing a chart of the vessel's course.However, the report stops short of mentioning concrete problems.For example, a special high-speed JCG ship deployed along the Japan Sea coast after JCG boats failed to capture a suspicious ship off the Noto Peninsula in 1999 did not arrive in time to help capture the unidentified vessel in the latest incident last year.Specially trained JCG members could not be mobilized, because the JCG does not have large-capacity helicopters.Though the JCG expects the public to read the report, it is regrettable to see that it is merely another bureaucratic document.It could have stressed the significance of the incident more if it had included comments of JCG officers who actually exchanged fire with the suspected spy ship.Though a total of 21 suspected spy ships have been reported so far, the JCG said in the report that they were just the tip of an iceberg.A range of illegal activitiesThe ships are suspected of engaging in various criminal and covert activities, including transporting agents, stimulant drugs and arms, and kidnapping Japanese nationals.The JCG should increase its personnel and upgrade its equipment in addition to establishing closer ties with the Defense Agency. Its firm stance of not tolerating any violation of Japanese laws will act to deter crime.The report also says that countermeasures against pirates are an important issue. This is a matter of course because our living depends heavily on maritime trading, and the pirates' victims have included Japanese ships.Last year, 335 cases of piracy were reported in the world. The number has been increasing sharply in the last two or three years, and 70 percent of the cases have taken place in Asian waters. It is notable that not only cargo but also whole ships have been stolen in some cases.Mutual cooperation is necessary among Japan and Southeast Asian countries to fight against pirates. The government must extend more assistance to those countries to develop human resources and technology to further increase their maritime police power.The peace and security in seas around us are being challenged. The JCG must now more than ever carry out its duty steadily and efficiently.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2002-05-19	yoshin0020020520dy5j004mk
yomshi0020020520dy5k0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020520dy5k0000a	EN	\N	Introducing East Timor.	We congratulate the country on its debut in the international community.	8	2002-05-20	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yet its independence will not be easy. We hope the East Timorese will make steady progress in building their new nation by overcoming the hardships ahead.Fighting poverty must be top priorityEast Timor is a small, poor country of 750,000 people. Its per capita GDP is less than 500 dollars, with more than 40 percent of the people living on less than 55 cents a day.The highest priority issue for the country is to free itself from this dire poverty. Yet East Timor has no special industry and no major export other than coffee. For the time being, it is vital for the country to receive economic support from the international community.However, one ray of hope is that the young country is blessed with offshore petroleum and natural gas reserves in the Timor Sea.Through the joint development of these natural resources with Australia, East Timor's neighbor to the south, the country is expected to earn an estimated 7 billion dollars over 20 years, starting around 2005.The level of education is low, with an adult literacy rate less than 50 percent. Efforts to guarantee access to primary education and to develop the labor force are urgently needed, and international cooperation in this respect is essential.Language differences among people of different generations and different social classes leave the country without a universally understood mode of communication, a factor sure to hinder nation-building. This characteristic results from the country's history of hardships.East Timor was a Portuguese colony for more than 400 years, up to the middle of the 1970s.During World War II, it was occupied by the Japanese military. After Portugal left the island, East Timor was annexed in an invasion by Indonesia and kept under Indonesian rule for the decades that followed.Although East Timor's people voted to split from Indonesia in a 1999 referendum, anti-independence militias backed by the larger country led uprisings in which more than 1,000 people were killed, 70 percent of East Timor's buildings were destroyed and as many as 260,000 people were put to flight.In the 2! years that followed, efforts to rebuild the nation and maintain peace and order made progress under the administration of the U.N. Transitional Adminstration in East Timor. Most of the refugees returned to East Timor. The country's independence became complete as the U.N. administration over East Timor came to an end. Yet some of the U.N. peacekeeping forces will stay on until 2004 to maintain peace and order.Dangerous tensions remainThe antagonism between the pro-and anti-independence people in the new state is a worrisome factor. Pro-independence citizens must have mixed feelings toward the anti-independence refugees who now have come home.Newly inaugurated President Xanana Gusmao, a hero in the struggle for independence, is calling on East Timor's people to achieve national reconciliation as soon as possible and to join forces in building a new state.Yet there are not a few people, especially among those who lost relatives during the uprisings, who complain that the president is calling for national reconciliation too hastily while losing sight of justice.The realization of national reconciliation in a reasonable way is a heavy responsibility that the president and other political leaders in the new state have to assume.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2002-05-20	yoshin0020020521dy5k002sv
yomshi0020020521dy5l0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020521dy5l0000i	EN	\N	Whales a sustainable resource.	The annual plenary assembly meeting of the International Whaling Commission opened Monday in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.	8	2002-05-21	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Twenty years have passed since the IWC approved a moratorium on commercial whaling, and fourteen years have passed since Japan suspended its commercial whaling activities.Over the years, there have been futile rounds of argument between the countries that favor responsible whaling and those that oppose any sort of whaling.Management, not prohibitionThe IWC was launched in 1948 as an international organization to discuss ways to prevent overfishing of whales and to properly manage stocks of the mammal as marine resources.We hope IWC member nations at the meeting will remember the original point of the organization and conduct a cool-headed and scientific discussion on the issue.At the plenary session, focal points of discussion will include the introduction of a new formula for managing whaling resources and a plan that Japan is expected to propose to expand the quota for scientific whaling.The new formula calls for the establishment of a catch quota based on scientific calculations to prevent whales from being overfished and to prevent the fishing from adversely affecting whaling resources.The introduction of the new formula has already been approved by the IWC. Yet the antiwhaling camp is stressing the need to introduce a system to monitor and control the whale hunt in step with the introduction of the new formula, thus delaying the realization of the new formula.Antiwhaling countries also insistently oppose the expansion of scientific whaling activities, which Japan is conducting in accordance with the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.The IWC has been controlled by the "logic of the force of numbers." The member countries are divided into two camps: the pro-whaling nations, including Japan and Norway, and the antiwhaling nations, including Britain. Both camps have poured their energies into winning over more countries to support their views. Such maneuvering for support is the biggest reason that serious debate on the management of resources has been neglected.Antiwhaling members command the majority within the IWC. Antiwhaling countries-which also should pay attention to the preservation and protection of animals at home-make it all the more difficult for IWC member countries to coordinate their views.Unless both the pro-and antiwhaling camps make efforts to reach a breakthrough over these issues, it will be difficult for us to hope for substantial discussions at the meeting.Science supports resumed huntThe results of Japan's scientific whaling clearly indicate that the number of minke whales has increased and that the whales consume sizable amounts of fish, which, as some experts have pointed out, may bring about adverse effects on global fisheries.Japan is responsible for explaining such survey results in detail and for creating a forum for scientific discussion at the plenary meeting.If Japan takes the course of presenting its arguments with a mind solely to win the resumption of commercial whaling, it will not be able to win the understanding of other IWC member countries.In the traditional whaling nation of Japan, many fisheries companies withdrew from the whaling business after the nation's suspension of commercial whaling, making it difficult for whaling as large-scale as it was in bygone days to ever resume.Japan would do well to place more emphasis on its basic stance of proper management of marine resources and the sustainable use of whales.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2002-05-21	yoshin0020020521dy5l00379
yomshi0020020522dy5m0000j	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020522dy5m0000j	EN	\N	Govt faces key test on Kyoto.	On the day, the plenary session of the House of Representatives adopted a government plan to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on global warming and related legislation. By early June, the government hopes to ratify the Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1997, which requires industrial powers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at home	10	2002-05-22	\N	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The protocol was adopted after all-night sessions chaired by Japan at the Third Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto.The government's decision to ratify the pact represents a declaration that Japan is determined to fulfill its global obligation in the fight against global warming. To complement its commitment in this regard, the government should urge the United States to retract its decision to withdraw from the protocol, while also ensuring that measures will be implemented to curtail carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions at home as soon as possible.Urge Russia to ratify protocol soonThe protocol will go into effect 90 days after it has been ratified by more than 55 signatory nations and the 1990 levels of CO2 emissions from these countries have exceeded 55 percent of the total emissions from all industrial powers.The member nations of the Kyoto Protocol are seeking to ensure that the pact will take effect when global leaders meet for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in August and September.There is no chance that the United States, the largest producer of CO2 emissions, will return to the pact in the foreseeable future. However, the circumstances are increasingly ripe for the protocol to take effect without the United States.For instance, 54 nations have already ratified the protocol. In addition, the 15 members of the European Union are set to ratify it by June 1, so it will become effective when the summit in South Africa opens.The numerical target set in connection with CO2 emissions from ratifying nations appears to be attainable because the EU nations and Japan are certain to ratify the pact. Only Russia needs to ratify the protocol for it to go into effect.It should be noted, however, that the Russian government has insisted that various conditions be met if other nations want to see Moscow ratify the pact, including cuts in its foreign debt repayments. If the circumstances go unchanged, it may be difficult to see the protocol take effect by the end of the year.In this sense, Japan and the EU should join hands in persistently urging Russia to ratify the pact as soon as possible.Timetable, workable measures neededThe Kyoto Protocol requires Japan to achieve a 6 percent reduction in its CO2 emissions from its 1990 levels by 2012. In 1999, however, the nation's CO2 emissions increased a significant 7 percent from its 1990 levels. The 6 percent reduction goal represents a difficult challenge for this country.To make headway in accomplishing the goal, the government wants the industrial sector and the public to reduce their energy consumption for the three years to come, first and foremost.However, the government has few specific measures to complement its own efforts. It is also questionable whether the government will be able to make progress in this regard by relying on the industry and public to cut energy consumption.The government must present a timetable for the pursuit of its goal and additional workable anti-global warming measures as soon as possible, so it can gain the public's support for its campaign.The government's anti-global warming campaign will face a crucial test after this country ratifies the Kyoto Protocol.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2002-05-22	yoshin0020020522dy5m003uo
yomshi0020020523dy5n0000v	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020523dy5n0000v	EN	\N	Asylum-seeker policy needed.	On Wednesday, the Chinese government sent to the Philippines five North Korean asylum-seekers who had been forcibly taken into custody by Chinese armed police after rushing into the consulate compound in the capital of Liaoning Province in early May. It is believed that the five eventually will settle in South Korea.	16	2002-05-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If sent back to North Korea, the five inevitably would have been severely punished. Beijing's latest decision apparently reflected its desire to show the world that the country had sought to end the dispute from a humanitarian point of view, despite its friendly ties with Pyongyang. In addition, the United States and South Korea had expressed deep concern about the fate of the five asylum-seekers.In this sense, the transfer of the five to the Philippines means that the fundamental human rights of the five North Koreans were protected largely as a result of various forms of international pressure.China owes Japan an apologyStill, China's latest decision does not abrogate its violation of Japan's sovereignty. There is no doubt that the Chinese police officers' action at the consulate contravened the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which stipulates the inviolability of diplomatic offices. The Japanese government has urged China to apologize for the incident, citing its findings that the consulate did not consent to China's entry into the compound.Given all this, Japan has every reason to demand China's apology.However, China continues to assert that it obtained the necessary consent from the consulate. The Japanese government should continue urging China to take appropriate action to help resolve the controversy. This is essential, in that Tokyo and Beijing remain divided over the most contentious issue involved in the dispute-that is, whether China violated Japan's sovereignty. The controversy should not be settled without establishing Beijing's responsibility in the affair.The latest incident has brought various problems to light. For example, questions can be raised over whether staff members at Japanese diplomatic offices overseas are well prepared to properly deal with cases similar to the Shenyang incident. Another question concerns what the Foreign Ministry should do to cope with emergencies arising at overseas diplomatic offices.Were the consulate staffers well aware of the need for them to prepare for an emergency when Beijing saw an increase in the number of North Koreans seeking asylum in recent months? In its report on investigations into the Shenyang case, the Foreign Ministry said that few officials at the consulate were mentally prepared to deal with an emergency that might strike their office.Problems were systemicUndoubtedly, the consulate staffers fell far short of dealing with the incident appropriately at its initial stage. They also failed to properly report the incident to the relevant authorities. However, the Foreign Ministry's head office was equally blameworthy in its response to the situation. A lack of good judgment appears to have been inherent in the ministry. This problem should not be overlooked.It is also disturbing to see that the ministry's probe into the latest incident failed to uncover the truth about some important facts related to the dispute. The ministry was humiliated when these facts were brought to light by China and a fact-finding mission sent by the largest opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).The ministry deserves to be sternly criticized if it sought to conceal these facts despite being in possession of them prior to the revelations by Beijing and Minshuto.Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi should work to ensure that all ministry officials thoroughly correct their attitude toward dealing with emergencies, while also reexamining whether the ministry's head office and its diplomatic offices overseas are well prepared to deal with emergencies.Another important task facing the government is to establish principles concerning how to deal with refugees and asylum-seekers. Although it knows how to deal with such foreigners at home under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law, the government has no basic policy toward them if they seek protection and asylum at Japanese diplomatic offices abroad, let alone legal provisions.Some officials of the government and the ruling parties have insisted that such regulations be laid down. Now is the time for the government to seriously study what kinds of principles should be established to deal with refugees and asylum-seekers overseas.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	773	2002-05-23	yoshin0020020524dy5n005aw
yomshi0020020524dy5o0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020524dy5o0000d	EN	\N	Bureaucracy reform still remote.	However, the most important problem is to thoroughly change the mind-set of the bureaucrats, who consider the interests of the government bodies they work for more important than the state.	7	2002-05-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As long as they do this, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's much-touted structural reform will show virtually no progress.This tendency can be observed through the strong resistance to the reform of public corporations that is put up by central government officials intent on securing postretirement amakudari (descent from heaven) posts, in which high-ranking officials take executive posts at corporations, government-affiliated bodies and other organizations.Reform of the bureaucratic system, currently promoted by the central government, however, might make bureaucrats more resolute in placing priority on the interests of the organizations to which they belong.The government's outline on reform of the system, which serves as the basis for drafting concrete plans, calls for transferring to cabinet ministers the right to control personnel affairs, currently under the jurisdiction of the National Personnel Authority.Change amakudari systemIn regard to the amakudari question in the private sector, the outline called for replacing the current system in which prior approval from the NPA is required, with one in which approval must be obtained from cabinet ministers.This move is aimed at limiting the involvement of the NPA as much as possible to enable government ministries and agencies to take control of personnel affairs, including making decisions on positions desired by high-ranking officials who plan to retire.However, we feel that such a system might lead to aggravating the sectionalism of individual government bodies, which might lead bureaucrats to become even more loyal to their organizations, which would help them to obtain amakudari positions.In an effort to prevent the government from making the situation worse, a private-sector group of intellectuals recently compiled a reform proposal and presented it to Koizumi.The group proposed that the Cabinet Secretariat take control of personnel affairs for senior government officials ranked counselor or above.As for the amakudari practice, the group also called for transferring to the secretariat the right to mediate or approve new employment positions for officials ranked section chief or above, regardless of whether the new jobs are in the private sector, or at public or nonprofit corporations.Switching loyalty to premierUnder such a system, bureaucrats would have no choice but to switch their loyalty to the prime minister from the ministries and agencies to which they belong. It also would help promote cabinet-led decision-making, centering on the prime minister-the main goal of the reorganization of government ministries and agencies. In this respect, the group's proposal is worth examining.To end the "ministry first" mind-set, it is imperative to abolish the practice under which bureaucrats are encouraged to retire before the mandatory retirement age.More than half of fast-track career bureaucrats retire before they are 53 after they receive recommendations that they do so. This is aimed at maintaining a pyramid personnel structure based on the seniority system.Without reforming the personnel system, it would be difficult to stop bureaucrats from desperately seeking postretirement posts. Although the government outline on reform does not touch on this point, we believe it is the most important issue in reforming the bureaucracy.More specifically, it would be necessary to ensure that bureaucrats retain their positions longer. To achieve this goal, the government should review certain systems, including one in which bureaucrats receive an extra amount of retirement allowance if they retire before the mandatory retirement age. It would also be necessary to slow down the pace of their promotions.The task of reforming the system should not be left solely to central government officials. This would be like having a patient carry out an operation on himself.Prime Minister Koizumi must exert strong leadership to carry out the reform efficiently.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2002-05-24	yoshin0020020524dy5o005ow
yomshi0020020527dy5p000bt	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020527dy5p000bt	EN	\N	Banks should use their strength.	According to major banks' consolidated earnings reports for the business year ending in March 2002, losses incurred from the disposal of loans totaled more than 7.7 trillion yen and net losses exceeded 4 trillion yen.	16	2002-05-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Outstanding bad loans increased nearly 9 trillion yen from a year ago to more than 26 trillion yen, showing that the efforts of banks to reduce bad loans have proved futile.For one thing, a large amount of credit cannot be removed from the balance sheets of banks even though loan-loss reserves have been set aside. In addition, the banks are also beset by new nonperforming loans.To eliminate the heavy burden of nonperforming loans on the economy, it is imperative to take all measures to enhance the profitability of the banking sector and end the deflationary cycle.Losses almost doubled in yearThe amount of losses incurred from the disposal of nonperforming loans is almost double that of the previous year. This is because the banks were ordered to keep a huge amount of funds to cover the nonperforming loans, following special inspections by the Financial Services Agency.The losses the banks incurred far outstripped their operating profits, obtained from core banking business, such as lending and commissions. Consequently, all major banks ended up incurring net losses.The FSA's special inspections uncovered many cases in which loans that had been categorized as "healthy" by banks should have been labeled "nonperforming."However, only a small portion of such nonperforming loans have been removed from the banks' balance sheets as a result of the problem borrowers either undergoing consolidation or being reorganized. The financial straits that banks found themselves in made it difficult for them to take steps to rehabilitate or liquidate problem borrowers under the relevant laws. Consequently, banks still hold a large amount of loans from borrowers on the verge of collapse.An increasing number of loans turn out to be nonperforming because of a deterioration in the business situation of the borrower or the value of the real estate used as collateral has fallen.Must review earnings structureEvery year, major banks have to dispose of nonperforming loans that exceed their net operating profits, forcing them to fall back on their legal reserves, as the latent profits of their stockholdings have hit bottom.Now they are using interest rate profit margins and commission fees as financial resources to write off bad loans.Therefore, it has become essential that they review their earnings structure.The key to ensuring higher profit margins is the introduction of higher loan interest rates capable of covering risk.As a result of fierce competition in the past, interest rate profit margins were kept too low to cover loans that went sour.The problem is whether borrowers will accept higher interest rates.Banks should aggressively negotiate with borrowers, expand their services, which would include giving advice on financial affairs to borrowers, and carry out drastic streamlining efforts.The integration of banks has not improved their earning power, as initially expected.On the contrary, the integration of banks has involved more risk as major banks have taken over bad loans from smaller banks that they have integrated with.It is about time for banks to make good use of the strength they gained by integrating.The government and Bank of Japan must put an end to deflation. Obviously, they have to implement a second package of antideflationary measures and map out sound financial policies.The bottoming out of the economy comes at an opportune moment to revive the financial sector.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2002-05-25	yoshin0020020525dy5p000pd
yomshi0020020527dy5q0005z	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020527dy5q0005z	EN	\N	Closer U.S.-Russia relations.	U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin may have been thinking something like this during their latest summit talks in Moscow as they were considering the future of their countries' bilateral relations.	8	2002-05-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As proof of their determination to leave the hostility of the Cold War behind, the two leaders signed documents that included a nuclear arms reduction treaty and a joint declaration concerning a new strategic framework.The arms reduction treaty requires the United States and Russia to reduce their respective nuclear arsenals to between 1,700 and 2,200 deployed strategic nuclear warheads, or to about one-third of their current levels.For Russia, which is having difficulty due to its fiscal plight in maintaining a large nuclear arsenal, the cut will come as a relief at least for some time.With regard to missile defense, which the Bush administration plans to go ahead with, the countries agreed in a joint declaration to study future sharing of information in this field and joint research in related technology. Such accords are certain to be favorable to the United States.Steps to counter terroristsIn the fight against terrorism, both countries agreed to boost cooperation in preventing weapons of mass destruction, missiles and weapon-class nuclear materials from falling into the hands of terrorists.In the economic area, both countries pledged to cooperate in the development of petroleum and natural gas in the Caspian Sea, while putting priority on Russia's joining the World Trade Organization.Russia is the world's second-largest oil exporting country, after Saudi Arabia, and also the largest exporter of natural gas. Cooperation between the two major powers in the area of energy resources will cause various ripple effects.Through wide-ranging cooperation, the bilateral relationship appears to have shifted to one "based on mutual responsibility and interests," which Bush is aiming for. Should such a relationship be firmly established, it would lead to the stability of the world community, which is indeed significant.It is necessary for the two countries to produce tangible results on these scores and to have the new strategic framework take roots. To this end, the two countries are urged to promote further nuclear arms reduction, on their own initiatives. The two countries will win the high regard of the rest of the world only by fulfilling their responsibility as nuclear superpowers.Proliferation fears remainBecause the accords leave the dismantlement and scrapping of the nuclear warheads that are to be demobilized to the discretion of both countries, fears of nuclear proliferation remain. If the accords really seek reduction, cuts should be made in the form of scrapping, rather than mere storage, while cuts in delivery systems and tactical nuclear arms are also made.Accelerating the trend of rapprochement between the United States and Russia is the strong leadership and realistic approaches taken by Putin, who is pursuing pro-U.S. and pro-Western Europe policies. Such an approach was made evident by the pledge of cooperation against terrorism Putin made to Bush right after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.Russia, as a member of the Group of Eight major nations, is assuming a responsible role. Yet it is too early to say that the country truly shares such values as democracy, market economy and the rule of law with Japan, the United States and European countries.Whether or not Russia comes to share such values will hold the key to the future course of the new U.S.-Russian relations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	624	2002-05-26	yoshin0020020527dy5q003pb
yomshi0020020527dy5r0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020527dy5r0000b	EN	\N	Break chain of protectionism.	In response to the U.S. imposition of safeguard tariffs on steel imports, the European Union slapped temporary import tariffs on steel products in late March. The move by the EU was echoed by China last week.	7	2002-05-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Now that China has decided to join the United States and the EU in imposing import restrictions with the aim of protecting their own steel industry, protectionist barriers are currently in place in the world's three major steel markets.The latest decision by China will affect not only Japan's steel industry, which sends 20 percent of its exports to China, but also Japan's overall economy.Recent statistics, including trade figures for April, clearly show the increase in exports to China and other Asian countries has greatly contributed to the recent improvement in the Japanese economy.Protectionism has been spreading from steel products to other areas.The United States has put into place a new farm law that nearly doubles subsidies to domestic farmers, triggering strong opposition from major exporters of agricultural products such as the EU and Australia.Left unchecked, this expanding chain of protectionism will hinder smooth international trade and prove harmful to the economic recovery of Japan and the entire world. The chain must be broken.Remove safeguard measuresTo this end, the United States should remove its safeguard measures.Even if it is politically difficult for the U.S. administration to repeal the safeguard tariffs in the face of Congressional elections scheduled for later this year, the administration is still able to expand the list of products exempted from the safeguard measures, thus lessening the damage to its trading partners.China and the EU have argued that they must impose safeguard measures to protect their steel industries from a flood of imports from steel producers hit by the U.S. tariffs. If the United States were to effectively repeal their safeguard measures, China and the EU would lose the justification for their protectionist actions.To rescue themselves from the current sluggish steel market, the world's steel-producing countries must not resort to protectionism, but should take the initiative in scrapping their excess production capacity, the root cause of their poor business performance.Forty countries and regions, including Japan, the United States and EU member nations, agreed during talks at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development early this month to scrap 10 percent of their current annual production capacity, or the equivalent of about 120 million tons, by 2005.OECD deal threatenedThese countries, however, may lose their enthusiasm for living up to such an agreement when faced with the chain reaction of protectionism.The World Trade Organization launched a new round of multilateral trade talks earlier this year.The WTO's member countries are aiming at reaching accord on rules to promote trade liberalization in a broad range of sectors by January 2005. Should the chain reaction of protectionism, which runs counter to trade liberalization, continue, it will be difficult to reach such agreement.In June, a summit of the world's major economic powers will be held in Canada.The leaders of these nations need to confirm the importance of reaching an accord on the new round of trade talks at an early date to make clear their commitment to breaking the chain of protectionism, and must cooperate to achieve agreement on trade liberalization.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	579	2002-05-27	yoshin0020020528dy5r005pv
yomshi0020020528dy5s0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020528dy5s0000e	EN	\N	Humbling numbers for Koizumi.	According to the poll, taken this month, those who support the Koizumi Cabinet are outnumbered by those who do not for the first time since the Koizumi administration was launched in April 2001.	8	2002-05-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The result of the latest survey presents a stern verdict on Koizumi, who has counted on public support as an important basis of his administration. The prime minister must carefully determine why an increasing number of voters feel alienated from his government, although he also should remember that it is not his job merely to please the public. The task now facing him is to ensure that the bitter lesson learned from this poll will be reflected in his policies.Sound and fury, signifying littleKoizumi had enjoyed approval ratings as high as 80 percent until early this year. His enormous popularity reflected widespread belief that he would work for the public good. Catchy slogans chanted by Koizumi-"There will be no growth without reforms," for example-left the public even more strongly assured that he would be able to do something good for them.However, it is no wonder that the public's euphoric sentiment toward Koizumi is fading since he has done little to deliver on his promises.A large number of listed corporations suffered declines in their business performance during the accounting term ending on March 31. Factors contributing to this include an increase in their nonperforming loans. Widespread concern about employment and the state-run pension system keep consumers tight-fisted, with no sign of improvement in personal consumption.Given all this, the poll indicates that the public takes a critical view of the meager progress in Koizumi's efforts to improve the economy, a task of prime importance facing his administration. This can be shown by the fact pollees who did not support the Koizumi Cabinet most commonly cited "the absence of tangible achievements" in his government's work.The prime minister should remind himself that the public will not support him any longer if he simply trumpets sugar-coated slogans. With this in mind, Koizumi needs to tell people what his administration is seeking to accomplish after deciding which policy must be implemented, first and foremost.His tasks include improving the economy. It is essential for the prime minister to present specific programs aimed at ending the current deflationary crisis facing the country so the economy will pick up and recover its erstwhile vigor.Get back on the road to reformAnother task concerns his pledge to reform highway-related public corporations. Many members of the public believe that Koizumi has made concessions to bureaucrats and the old guard within his Liberal Democratic Party in this regard. An important job for him here is to display leadership in accomplishing the goal, by telling the public how he will go about his reformist campaign so they will support him.Some LDP leaders and members are seeking to take advantage of a sharp drop in the Cabinet's approval rating and make sure the party's top cadre replaces Koizumi as a prime mover in running the administration. It should be noted, however, that the public's support for the LDP in recent months has declined nearly as sharply as that for the Koizumi administration. In this sense, LDP members should tell themselves that they may eventually have to pay for their attempt to frustrate the prime minister's efforts to get his administration going.One might remember that the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone reversed the decline in the public's approval rating for him and then enjoyed a good measure of popularity after implementing necessary measures. The question is whether Koizumi will be able to regain the public's support by making headway in tackling various problems facing the nation. The fate of the Koizumi Cabinet hinges on what he will choose to do in this regard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	685	2002-05-28	yoshin0020020528dy5s0064y
yomshi0020020529dy5t0001g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020529dy5t0001g	EN	\N	Okuda must rise to the challenge.	On the day, the Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) and the Japan Federation of Employers' Associations (Nikkeiren) formally merged to launch the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren). The merger signified a mix of the business community's "general headquarters" (Keidanren) and its "labor management department" (Nikkeiren), both prime movers in the business world's efforts to lead the nation's economy since the end of World War II.	27	2002-05-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nikkeiren Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, who also serves as chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., has been named to chair Nippon Keidanren.A crucial task facing Nippon Keidanren is to revitalize Japan's industry through private sector initiatives at a time when this nation's economy is not as brisk as it used to be. Another important question concerns what kind of relationship the new business organization will be able to establish with the political community.What will Nippon Keidanren do to meet the challenge of the times? We hope that Okuda-an industrialist known for his unwavering spirit-will demonstrate leadership in helping reform the nation's troubled economy.This country's four major business groups-Keidanren, Nikkeiren, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japanese Association of Corporate Executives-have joined hands with the political and bureaucratic communities in transforming this nation into an economic power.Business leaders should embrace reformDuring the days of the country's high economic growth, the four business organizations successfully adjusted the conflicts of interests arising from intense competition among domestic corporations. Their efforts significantly contributed to the nation's search for economic excellence.However, the business organizations are finding that they are playing an increasingly minor role in this regard nowadays, as a result of an even more intense conflicts of interests among Japanese companies. This comes at a time when the nation's economy is reaching full maturity. Its activities know no national borders today.Some critics have even argued that this country does not need its business organizations any longer. Business leaders must take this to heart and strive to achieve organizational reform. They should remind themselves that an increasing number of corporations have chosen to merge with other companies so they can survive these difficult times. Meanwhile the government is working to restructure some administrative organs. Given this, the business community should not be be granted special dispensation to keep its outdated systems and functions intact.First and foremost, Nippon Keidanren must struggle to reinvigorate the Japanese economy, which remains mired in malaise even after the past 10 years of missed opportunity dubbed the "lost decade."To create new businesses and jobs, the largest business organization must implement steps to help improve tax, legal, accounting and other systems related to corporate activities. To accomplish this goal, Nippon Keidanren needs to hone its expertise so it can present the government with various proposals. This is essential to help corporate executives regain their self-confidence at a time when they appear to be unsure about what they should be doing.Nippon Keidanren has long 'to do' listFor years, Keidanren undertook to address issues related to corporate taxes, while Nikkeiren was in charge of matters concerning social insur ance premiums. A major task facing Nippon Keidanren-the organization launched by integrating these two institutions after lengthy discussions-is to think about what kind of new role corporations should play in addressing problems relating to the social security systems and employment given that the nation's population is rapidly graying.Another important issue concerns political donations from corporations. In 1993, Keidanren stopped playing an intermediary role in channeling donations from companies to the political community. This left the business community with a less powerful voice in political circles.Undoubtedly, the business community should not be allowed to form collusive ties with politicians and political parties, as in the past. What is important is that the business and political communities establish cooperative relations in their efforts to achieve mutually shared goals despite differences of opinions. In this sense, it is important for Nippon Keidanren to establish new rules on political donations.There are many other problems to be tackled by the new business organization. They include what kind of role it will play in the protection of the global environment, and what it will do to help promote private sector economic diplomacy with China and other nations. Nippon Keidanren also should draw up the list of new officials at its secretariat and devise ways to streamline the secretariat's operations.Okuda played a leading role in helping Toyota to overcome the problems that afflict any big business. During his tenure as Nikkeiren chairman, he also insisted that Japan must seek to establish a market economy with a "human face." Now is the time for Okuda to play decisive role in ensuring the revival of the national economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	832	2002-05-29	yoshin0020020529dy5t0057t
yomshi0020020530dy5u0000y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020530dy5u0000y	EN	\N	Celebrate the beautiful game.	Eleven years have passed since Japan launched the committee to invite the World Cup finals here. It was certainly a long path. Cohosted by Japan and South Korea, the event will be held in Asia for the first time, although there were a number of vicissitudes to overcome in realizing this. We should be sincerely grateful that we have managed to materialize the event.	15	2002-05-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We sincerely hope that the 2002 World Cup will be a festival that will be remembered fondly by people around the world. Players in the stadiums will, of course, be the ones who will play the main roles in the festival.Soccer is called the "world's common language." Because of its simplicity-there are only 17 rules-soccer has become an international sport that can be enjoyed by anyone.On the other hand, it is also said that soccer is "politics and culture." This is because the sport has a lot to do with politics, as evidenced by the phenomenon in many African countries, where soccer is often used as the symbol for uniting multiple races. The culture of individual countries is also reflected in the style of play, such as the long-ball game in northern European countries and the fancy footwork of players from Latin American nations.Truly a 'World' CupWe truly are looking forward to enjoying top-level performances in which international and local characteristics are harmonized."Glocal" is a neologism formed from the words "global" and "local." The word conveys the ethos of the World Cup, in which those who have left to play for teams in other countries represent the team of their native country.Expectations are high that the Japanese national team will advance to the second stage of the tournament.The average age of the Japanese team members is 25, even though veteran players such as Masashi Nakayama and Yutaka Akita were selected. Compared with the average age of other teams in Group H-Belgium, Russia and Tunisia-the Japanese team is two to three years younger.Many in the Japanese national team were picked out as talented soccer players at one of the nine training centers established by the Japan Football Association. They have, therefore, experienced international games at a young age.Some Japanese players moved to professional teams overseas, though they were raised in the Japanese training system. The fact that such players are active overseas will help soccer culture to take root in this country.The tournament will be tough, but we sincerely hope Japan puts up a good fight.Chance for Japan, S. Korea to start overIn managing the event, Japan and South Korea are required to make their own efforts to lead the event to success, while inviting international support.The two countries, whose relationship has long been soured by lingering problems over the past, are expected to work hand in hand toward the common goal of making the event a success. We urge both sides to cooperate closely and be fully prepared for any eventuality. We sincerely hope that the cohosting of the event by Japan and South Korea will serve as the first step to build a new relationship between the two countries.Law-enforcement authorities worldwide have made coordinated efforts to counter hooligans. As many as 50,000 police officers will be mobilized during the event. The utmost efforts should be made to prevent violence, which would ruin the event's friendly atmosphere.In staging the World Cup finals, many problems have been encountered, including FIFA's overcommercialization and confusion over the delivery of tickets.Anyway, the event is finally about to kick off. Let's enjoy the splendid performances of the world's top players and make the event one full of energy and grace.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	663	2002-05-30	yoshin0020020530dy5u005b8
yomshi0020020531dy5v0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020531dy5v0000b	EN	\N	Leniency with Tanaka puzzling.	The Liberal Democratic Party has finally decided to discuss at the LDP's Party Ethics Committee whether former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka should be punished over her alleged misuse of her state-funded secretaries' salary. We believe this to be the correct decision as Tanaka still refuses to give a clear-cut explanation to the party concerning the allegation.	8	2002-05-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ethics committee must take the necessary steps and not waver if it feels she should be punished.In answering questions put to her by the party's Political Ethics Hearing Committee, Tanaka admitted that one of her policy secretaries, who was dispatched from her family company, had handed the entire state-paid salary to the company and received the same sum from that company. However, she denied she had used the secretary's salary for private purposes.We regret to say that Tanaka's explanations, including why she used such complicated procedures to pay the secretary's salary, were far from convincing.Above all, she failed to submit documentary evidence to support her explanation, such as the secretary's salary statement. She also refused to comply with a request from party executives to submit such materials.Unwilling to take responsibilitySince the start of the current Diet session, certain Diet members took responsibility for failing to supervise their subordinates in connection with allegations involving their secretaries. Some resigned as Diet members while others quit their parties.But in Tanaka's case, she is unwilling to take responsibility for her own accountability, let alone responsibility for supervising her subordinates.She should realize that salaries for state-funded secretaries are paid for by taxpayers. In this respect, we ask Tanaka once again to provide a clear-cut explanation on the matter.Nearly two months have passed since the scandal was brought to light. The LDP is partly responsible for allowing Tanaka to act in such a selfish manner.During this period, the LDP was often seen to be treating Tanaka with kid gloves. Sometimes, the LDP executives and the Political Ethics Hearing Committee were seen attempting to push the responsibility onto each other.In scandals involving lawmakers, political parties are supposed to take the lead in bringing the facts to light and clear the air. The LDP must now pursue this role as a responsible political party.Remove the kid glovesThe same thing can be said about the opposition parties. In scandals involving ruling party members, the opposition parties have almost always pursued their responsibility with a single-minded attitude, demanding that lawmakers be summoned as sworn or unsworn witnesses.In the case of Tanaka, however, the opposition parties have recoiled from taking such action, deliberately taking a hands-off attitude. Such an attitude is puzzling and is nothing more than opportunistic.It appears that both ruling and opposition parties are taking half-hearted approaches to this scandal because of Tanaka's popularity among the public.But Tanaka is involved in a scandal over state-funded secretaries in the same manner as other Diet members, who have resigned from the Diet or quit their parties. Giving Tanaka special treatment will eventually lead to the ruination of political credibility. The ruling and opposition parties should be keenly aware of their responsibility in this respect.The Diet members' secretary system will soon be examined under the initiative of the House of Representatives speaker.But regardless of how excellent a plan is drawn up, it could end up as a castle in the air as long as lawmakers and political parties fail to take resolute action.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2002-05-31	yoshin0020020531dy5v0023x
yomshi0020020603dy61000br	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020603dy61000br	EN	\N	Don't postpone relocation issue.	The deadline for selecting the site out of three candidates chosen earlier was set for the end of May. Yet, through negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties, it has become certain that the ultimate choice will be put off to a later date.	18	2002-06-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the same time, the ruling and opposition camps are studying whether they should continue the selection process by setting up a new consultative organization under the speaker of the House of Representatives.The decision should not be postponed any longer because it leaves in limbo the officials directly involved.Ten years have passed since the law governing the transfer of the Diet and other central government functions was enacted, following resolutions adopted by both houses of the Diet.The significance of transferring the capital's functions should be discussed once more in light of the changes in circumstances and the ever-critical fiscal conditions of the central government.Plan not being taken seriouslyThe legislators need to come up with clear-cut plans on how to manage the relocation in the future or whether to put the transfer on hold.The council concerned with transferring the Diet and other central government functions proposed three sites: an area spanning the Tochigi-Fukushima prefectural border, a region crossing the border of Aichi and Gifu prefectures, and a site encompassing northern Mie Prefecture and the neighboring Kio district.On the basis of the proposal, ad hoc committees at both houses have made an attempt to select one relocation candidate.The main factor preventing the relocation plan from making headway is that, except for the municipalities of the areas concerned and Diet members representing constituencies involved, members of the Cabinet, central government bureaucrats and many Diet members are not taking the issue seriously.The relocation of the Diet and other functions is aimed at bringing about a series of reforms in national politics, such as deregulation and decentralization.Although the stalemate over the relocation plan continues, the central government ministries and agencies were reorganized in the biggest reform of administrative organizations since World War II, a new office for the prime minister has been built, and the reconstruction plan of the Diet members' building is being drawn up.Ogi shows cautious stanceConstruction and Transport Minister Chikage Ogi, who is in charge of the relocation issue, has made plain her cautious stance to the move, emphazing instead the need to reinforce Tokyo's fundamental functions as the capital.In the meantime, a cluster of agency branches has been transferred to the "Saitama New Urban Center" in Saitama, symbolizing the development of a network of core cities in the metropolitan area.In light of these developments, the lack of consistency in the government's position and policy is nothing short of amazing.If the government is not serious about the issue, it is natural for the general public to have little interest in and harbor great skepticism over realization of the plan.The ad hoc committees of both houses of the Diet mainly comprise legislators who come from areas involved in the relocation, meaning that the committees are at the center of a tug-of-war over the ultimate relocation site.As a result, it will be difficult to win a national consensus on the issue, even if the relocation site is finally chosen.It is also questionable whether a new consultative organization, if established, would function properly. Now is time to put an end to irresponsible discussion on the relocation issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	627	2002-06-01	yoshin0020020601dy610016c
yomshi0020020603dy620005z	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020603dy620005z	EN	\N	Clarify authority of food panel.	The general public has almost lost confidence in public administrators in charge of food safety, because of their sloppy handling of the mad cow disease cases and the scandals over the mislabeling of food products.	8	2002-06-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	To make the creation of the new organization the first step toward recovering people's trust, the committee must adopt as its basic stance the protection of the public's safety. In this respect, it is important that the new organization be given clear-cut and powerful authority.According to an organizational outline adopted by the government at a meeting of concerned ministries, the new organization will be set up within the Cabinet Office as an independent committee of experts, including scientists.The committee would check the safety of all kinds of foods, including their possible effects on the human body, and would serve as an advisory panel to concerned ministries, including the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.Under the committee, teams of experts in specific sectors would assess food risks, while some Cabinet ministers would be put in charge of food safety.Responsibilities blurredIn dealing with the cases in Japan of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the government's administration of food safety was split. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry was in charge of generally overseeing food-production facilities, and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry was in charge of supervising on-site inspections at meat-processing plants, leaving the government unable to promptly implement measures.It would be a step forward if the government established a unified system to deal, under the leadership of the Cabinet Office, with possible food risks.Although the concerned ministries will work out specifics, with the aim of having the new committee debut in the next fiscal year, many challenges remain when it comes to the authority and organization of the new committee.A framework is needed that would allow the committee to collate data and analyses concerning food safety.Before BSE surfaced in Japan, a European Union committee had tried to compile a report on the possible occurrence of BSE in this country.But the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry rejected the attempt by the EU body, while not disclosing any related negotiations with the EU.As for the new Japanese committee, its monitoring of the public administration of food safety is as important as its role of making proposals to the government.Report all informationIt is essential to have a framework in which all information related to concerned ministries is reported to the committee. It is also necessary for the committee's proposals to be taken very seriously.At the same time, the committee itself must disclose information, and consumers' concerns must be taken into account by making public detailed results of studies by food-risk assessment teams.A secretariat staffed with several hundred people is expected to be established under the committee. The Liberal Democratic Party wants the secretariat to mainly comprise officials of the Food Agency, while taking into consideration the possible abolition of the agency in the future.It cannot be helped that the new organization would at first chiefly comprise officials sent on loan from both the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. Yet a tug-of-war over the leadership between the two ministries must be avoided. The ill effects of bureaucratic sectionalism, as seen in the BSE cases, must not be repeated.And for the officials to maintain a sense of mission, they must cut all ties with their ministries, instead of being shuttled back and forth between the committee and the ministries.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2002-06-02	yoshin0020020603dy620060x
yomshi0020020603dy630000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020603dy630000b	EN	\N	Diet dawdling disgraceful.	There are only about two weeks to go until the Diet session closes, despite its need to pass numerous important bills, including those defining the nation's prepared response to armed foreign attack and proposed legislation related to a plan to replace the state-run Postal Services Agency with a postal public corporation. Another important bill concerns a reform of the medical insurance system.	15	2002-06-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, it is still unclear whether and how soon these bills will be put through the House of Representatives, let alone the House of Councillors.Legislators neglecting nation's needsAll these bills bear great significance in that they will profoundly affect this country's peace and security and the lives of its people. No less important is a bill designed to protect the confidentiality of personal information. If lawmakers find it necessary to revise any part of the bills-the one seeking to protect private information, for example-they should do so immediately to get these important pieces of legislation enacted.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has told Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party, to ensure that the ongoing Diet session is extended for the number of days needed to put all these significant bills through the legislature.The Diet Law allows an ordinary Diet session to be extended only once. Given this, it is essential to prolong the current Diet session for a considerable length of time with the aim of ensuring passage of the important bills. Doing so will help the government and ruling coalition parties demonstrate their determination to enact all these bills.All this should be complemented by an effort by the LDP and its two coalition partners to decide what approach they will adopt in their attempt to get the bills approved.The ruling coalition has been inadequate in this regard. Earlier, the three ruling parties retracted their decision concerning the dates for public hearings on the set of bills relating to national emergencies, despite their resolve to get them approved in the current Diet session first and foremost. This change of heart reflected mounting calls not only from among opposition parties but from some LDP members to more carefully debate the controversial bills before writing them into law.This is also true with the LDP's approach to discussions on the bills related to the planned establishment of the postal public corporation. The party has been extremely slow in making headway in parliamentary debates on the bills. This development should be regarded as odd in that the LDP should promote discussions on them as the dominant party in power.This is largely due to the unusual circumstances in which the Koizumi administration submitted them to the Diet session. The government presented the bills to the Diet without bothering to reach an agreement with the LDP's decision-making organ about them. This came about when a group of LDP lawmakers lobbying to protect the interests of the state-run postal services were opposed to the bill that would pave the way for private corporations to enter the mail-delivery business.It should also be noted that some members of the governing coalition are beginning to say that the Diet may be allowed to put off passing the bills on Japan's response to a military attack and the one on the protection of personal information.If the current situation drags on, the Koizumi Cabinet cannot expect the various important bills to clear debates at the Diet. In this sense, the LDP should work to ensure that party members speak with one voice in connection with the government's effort to put the bills through the Diet. One task facing the LDP's top cadre is to demonstrate leadership in accomplishing that goal.Meanwhile, the opposition camp will lay itself open to public criticism if it only harps on its objection to the bills.In fact, the government and the ruling parties have shown that they are prepared to revise the bills on national emergencies and the one on the protection of personal information. Given this, the opposition bloc should draw up constructive plans for revising the bills and enter negotiations with the ruling camp over possible changes in the proposed legislation.Procedures too prone to delayThere is also room for improvement in the method of running Diet committees on these bills.Since the start of debates on the bills, these parliamentary panels have often decided against meeting for discussions if Cabinet members in charge of the bills do not attend committee meetings. This has contributed to the delay in Diet debates on the bills. If a Cabinet member is unable to attend a Diet session on a bill, senior vice ministers from his or her office should attend the meeting so progress can be made in discussions on the bill.It should not be forgotten that the primary objective of creating the position of senior vice minister was to enable Cabinet ministers to skip Diet session for other duties, but without hampering the progress of such debates.Since its opening in January, the current Diet session has devoted a good portion of its time to deliberations on various scandals involving legislators and Foreign Ministry and Defense Agency officials. Needless to say, the Diet should debate these issues to regain the public's trust in national politics. This does not mean, however, that lawmakers should be allowed to neglect debating the important bills.None of the political parties should be allowed to forget the Diet's constitutional obligation as the highest organ of state power.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	954	2002-06-03	yoshin0020020604dy63006o3
yomshi0020020604dy640000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020604dy640000d	EN	\N	Truth needed on list scandal.	It has been found that the Maritime Staff Office-a key organ operated by the Maritime Self-Defense Force-was not the only one to produce a list of people who had sought information related to the Defense Agency under the Freedom of Information Law. The latest revelation shows that similar lists have been prepared by various bureaus at the agency's head office, the Ground Staff Office and the Air Staff Office. It has also been revealed that some of those lists were produced under instructions issued by senior officials. This means that efforts to prepare such lists amounted to work conducted by many Defense Agency and Self-Defense Forces sections as a whole.	7	2002-06-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Each list prepared by these divisions incorporated personal information unnecessary for the administrative work carried out under the law by information disclosure offices run by the agency and SDF divisions in question. The information included data concerning organizations to which people seeking agency-related information belonged. The lists were also publicized over an intra-agency computer network, making it possible for many agency staff and officials to read about the individuals who sought to obtain agency-related information.Systematic disregard for regulationsThe law on the protection of personal data held by administrative organs lays down restrictions on government offices seeking to produce and preserve files that contain information about individual persons. The law permits administrative organs to keep personal data in files only if doing so is necessary for them to carry out their duties.The Defense Agency officials who produced and read the lists in question may have violated the law in this regard. Also, critics have said that such activities could have a chilling effect on others who might wish to receive agency-related information under the Freedom of Information Law.Earlier, the Defense Agency tried to minimize the damage by insisting that the list in question had been produced as a document to be used by a high-ranking MSDF official for personal reference.However, this line of argument fell apart on Monday, when the agency published an interim report on its in-house investigation into the scandal. The report has shown that the official in question was not the only one who failed to adequately recognize the significance of personal data and the disclosure of administrative information. It indicates that the lack of proper perception in this regard prevails in the agency as a whole.These revelations have profoundly tarnished the agency's credibility in light of its earlier explanation. Nor is such lack of candor unprecedented. Some years ago, it came to light that senior agency officials had attempted to destroy evidence related to a disgraceful case in which the agency's Central Procurement Office had padded bills for purchases of SDF equipment from corporations.Agency must not close ranksWe should be able to presume that agency officials would never conceal findings from their probe into the scandal or deliberately release their findings in dribs and drabs. The Defense Agency should hurry to uncover the whole truth behind the case. This is essential to ensure that no doubts will be raised about the credibility of the agency's report.There are numerous questions to be raised about the affair. Who gave the order for each list to be prepared? How deeply was the agency as a whole involved in the production of such lists?Another question arises as to the agency's method of preserving information it has collected. The agency was extremely insensitive to the need to protect the confidentiality of personal information when it published the lists on a computer network through which any agency staffer or official could access information contained in the lists. The leaking of such information obviously would constitute a violation of personal privacy. The agency must be blamed for its inappropriate attitude on the need to protect highly confidential data.It should be noted that the agency possesses numerous secrets that could deeply affect the nation's peace and security. Given this, measures should be taken to ban the agency from illegally producing lists of personal information, while also reviewing its method of storing information.Earlier, the government presented the Diet with a bill seeking to entirely revise the law on the protection of personal data held by administrative offices. We believe that it is necessary to modify the bill because it contains no penal regulations on the unlawful acquisition or use of information by government workers for purposes unrelated to objectives initially cited by those requesting such information.In this regard, the government-sponsored bill should be regarded as more permissive with administrative offices than with the private sector.The bill should incorporate strict bans on anyone illegally obtaining and using personal information. It should also punish perpetrators. Such bans are essential to ensure that no incident similar to the latest case happens again.The government has insisted that the bill need not include penal regulations, saying that bureaucrats are legally bound to obey the law in fulfilling their duties. However, the present scandal has shown that the government's argument is not too convincing.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	899	2002-06-04	yoshin0020020606dy64004sq
yomshi0020020605dy650000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020605dy650000e	EN	\N	Ticket confusion inexcusable.	Since the opening of the event last week, a large number of empty seats have been seen in stadiums in both Japan and South Korea. Many soccer fans gave up their plans to watch the games at stadiums because they were unable to get tickets. As shown by the swaths of vacant seats, however, it turned out that a large number of tickets were actually unsold.	7	2002-06-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	On Tuesday, when the match between Japan and Belgium was held at Saitama Stadium, soccer fans made a last-ditch effort to purchase tickets for the game, lining up in front of official World Cup ticket centers. Yet when the game started Tuesday evening, a large number of seats remained vacant.Byrom Inc., the British agent that was entrusted by FIFA, world soccer's governing body, with World Cup ticket sales and other operations, was directly responsible for the mishap.Of 1.35 million tickets for 32 games scheduled to be held in the country, a large number of tickets for sale overseas have not been sold. Though the Japan World Cup organizing committee (JAWOC) demanded that the agent hand over the unsold tickets, the company refused.After the opening of the World Cup finals Friday, the company suddenly started selling the unsold tickets on FIFA's Web site, which was swamped after receiving a massive number of hits. Subsequently, JAWOC and FIFA announced Tuesday that they would also sell unsold tickets by telephone. But the decision was made too late to make available unsold tickets for the Japan-Belgium match.Why was Byrom given the job?Byrom's response to the ticket fiasco lacks sincerity, as shown by its attempt to put the blame on the organizing committees of participating countries. Observers have pointed out that the agent had refused to hand over the unsold tickets to Japan because of its determination to get commissions from ticket sales.The company has caused various problems in the past, including missing deadlines for printing World Cup tickets.The issue is why FIFA commissioned those tasks to such a company.It was pointed out that a small and inexperienced firm like Byrom did not have the capability to carry out the tasks it was given.It is said that FIFA President Sepp Blatter strongly recommended that Byrom be picked to carry out the ticket sales and other operations for FIFA, and that Blatter has personal connections with Byrom.The affair highlights the dubious relations that FIFA has with specific companies.No room for mistakesDuring FIFA's Extraordinary Congress held in Seoul late last month, the organization's vested-interest-oriented characteristics were debated. After Blatter was reelected to the FIFA presidency during the congress, a criminal complaint filed with Swiss authorities by 11 members of the executive committee accusing him of mismanaging the organization and misusing its funds was dropped. No reasons were given for the decision to drop the complaint.It is easy to imagine that the latest scandal to hit FIFA is closely connected with its money-oriented characteristics.The organizing committees of both Japan and South Korea should take a firm stance on the Byrom issue.To help Japan play its part in cohosting the World Cup, many local governments have cooperated through taking a number of special measures. Some local governments have decided to close schools near stadiums when matches are played. No questionable factors should be allowed to interfere with the running of the World Cup.The Japanese and South Korean organizing committees should cooperate to discover the causes of and those responsible for this ugly incident. Such cooperation is part of the significance of cohosting the event.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	649	2002-06-05	yoshin0020020606dy65004ub
yomshi0020020606dy660000u	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020606dy660000u	EN	\N	Scandals give food for thought.	The president of Kyowa Perfumery & Chemical Co., which was found last week to have been using banned chemicals in flavoring agents since 1970, tried to excuse the firm's action, saying, "We were afraid that we might not be able to maintain the quality of our products if we changed the ingredients, and that would have adversely affected sales."	16	2002-06-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Tokyo-based manufacturer has been using two of the three banned food additives, including acetaldehyde, for more than 30 years.The manufacturer bears a heavy responsibility in that it continued to ship products containing the additives although it was aware they were banned. It is a great surprise that a food manufacturer engaged in malpractice that lacked any ethical consideration regarding food security.Kyowa has been shipping flavoring agents to as many as 175 food manufacturers around the country. Because they contain only a small amount of the additives, which are banned under the Food Sanitation Law, they are believed to pose no immediate threat to human health. Yet the flavoring agents are used in a large number of foods consumed by children, such as confectionary and dairy products. Although food makers have begun recalling their products, it will be difficult to eliminate concerns among consumers.Tighten up inspection regimeThe Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry recently issued a nationwide directive to Hokkaido, Tokyo and all prefectural governments, instructing them to conduct safety spot checks of facilities manufacturing food additives. The inspections should not be nominal. We urge the local governments to thoroughly inspect the factories and make public the results of the inspections as soon as possible. We recommend that food makers, for their part, expedite efforts to check up on companies from which they have purchased ingredients for their products.Be that as it may, the series of scandals among food makers is more than we can stand.In the wake of the revelation that Snow Brand Foods Co. mislabeled beef, similar cases in which food was falsely labeled surfaced one after another in many parts of the nation. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has so far ordered 13 companies to improve their operations.Mister Donut, which is run by Duskin Co., was found to have used an unapproved antioxidant in its nikuman Chinese steamed meat buns. This was an egregious case in that the company continued selling large numbers of the product even after it realized that the additive was prohibited.A common feature of the scandals is the twisted mind-set of the companies, which placed more importance on sales than on safety and maintaining the public's trust.Firms must turn over new leafIn the wake of reports of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Japan, it has become an urgent task for the nation to secure the safety of foods. Shamed by the professional negligence of administrative organizations, the government is setting up a new administrative body to secure food safety. The government also is planning to establish a labeling system that will indicate the names of producers and distributors and to toughen the Food Sanitation Law.However, the first consideration should be given to establishing corporate ethics. The recent cases have shown that if a company cheats consumers, its own existence will be threatened. But with one food-related scandal coming on the heels of another, it must be said that food makers' awareness of the importance of safety is lacking. The food-manufacturing industry should search its soul.Food makers need to clarify how they will protect food safety, and they must thoroughly instruct employees to comply with codes of ethics and rules. It is also essential for the companies to introduce checks by third parties and hire outside directors.The government has started discussions on establishing legislation to protect the rights of employees who blow the whistle on their firms' unlawful acts for the sake of protecting consumers.The most important thing is that the mind-set of companies must be in tune with that of society as a whole. The fact that something so self-evident needs to be repeated now indicates how deep-rooted the problem is.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	733	2002-06-06	yoshin0020020606dy6600568
yomshi0020020607dy670000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020607dy670000b	EN	\N	New energy sources significant.	Under the law, electric power companies are required to generate a certain percentage of their sales through new energy sources, thus enhancing the value of such sources.	10	2002-06-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The law is also aimed at promoting capitalinvestment in new energy sources, which are more costly than conventional power generation.The use of cleaner energy sources is essential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.However, nothing will be achieved if the government, anxious to expand use of these new sources, imposes an excessive burden on electric power companies, causing electricity rates to skyrocket.The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry should expand the use of new energy sources gradually, while taking into account technological development trends.The new law allows the electric power companies a certain amount of flexibility when procuring electricity generated from new energy sources.Rational procurement methodAn electric power company can choose what it considers the most rational procurement method from:- New energy sources that it generates on its own.- Purchasing electricity from companies generating power from new energy sources.- Having another power company procure such electricity in exchange for a fee.In the Hokkaido and Tohoku regions, which are suitable for wind-power generation, state-of-the-art wind power plants are being built one after another.As a result, the Hokkaido and Tohoku electric power companies are able to procure electricity generated from new energy sources more cheaply than other companies, including Tokyo Electric Power Co.When the new system becomes fully functional, the Hokkaido and Tohoku electric power companies will be able to purchase electricity generated from new sources in excess of the ratio of electricity they are required to sell, so that the extra portion can be sold to other power companies.Electricity generated from new sources will be avidly sought after and the extra burden is expected to be spread evenly among the power companies.At the Diet, debate centered on the scope of electricity generated from new sources.Power generation from wasteOne proposal was to have power generation based on carbon dioxide-generating waste made eligible for the government's preferential treatment, in addition to energy from solar and wind power, biomass fuel and small-scale hydroelectric power generation.Wind and solar power may suffer because power generation from waste costs less. It is also anticipated that the recycling and reuse of plastics may be hindered even though this process is getting into full swing.The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has included power generation from waste among its new energy sources. This is because:- 55 percent of household garbage sent to incinerators is not utilized for power generation.- Much of the plastic waste that is collected is too dirty to be recycled.The reuse of plastics generated from plants as industrial waste should be given higher priority.Therefore, the relevant ordinance should state that electricity generated from industrial waste plastics is not subject to the new law.The ministry aims at realizing a 23-fold expansion in solar-power generation and a 38-fold increase in wind-power generation by fiscal 2010, compared with the figures posted in fiscal 1999, respectively.Although such targets appear hard to attain, it is by no means impossible given the current pace of technological progress.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	568	2002-06-07	yoshin0020020610dy67001k7
yomshi0020020610dy68000bl	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020610dy68000bl	EN	\N	Stay alert until recovery realized.	The gross domestic product for the January-March period registered real growth of 1.4 percent from the previous quarter, or a growth of 5.7 percent in annual terms, marking the first positive quarter-to-quarter growth in a year.	11	2002-06-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With the global economy on the road to recovery, the Japanese economy appears to have shifted to a moderate recovery phase, led by external demand.Yet it seems highly likely that the growth announced in the January-March period was higher than it actually should have been, due primarily to the way the statistics are compiled. In reality, the economy has narrowly turned positive, as if just breaking the surface of the water.Until business corporations and the general households are able to feel that the economic recovery has really taken hold, the government and the Bank of Japan should not rest on their laurels.Since the start of the year, Japan has seen its exports grow and its production rise, in step with the economic recoveries in the United States and other Asian countries.Household surveys suspect@: Exports for the January-March period registered a growth of nearly 30 percent from the previous quarter, with external demand pushing the overall growth rate up by 0.7 percent.Private consumption, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of the gross domestic product, also registered firm growth, thanks partly to a sharp increase in spending by single households.Yet the household surveys, which serve as one of the basic statistics for the GDP, are based on a limited number of samples, making them highly suspect.This means that the figures were probably inflated for the survey. It would be reasonable to assume that the real growth of personal consumption was not much different from the previous quarter.As in the previous quarter, capital investment fell. Corporate managers placed priority on repaying outstanding debts as interest rates became increasingly burdensome under the pressure of deflation. As a result, the recovery of domestic demand lacks momentum.Such sectors as the export-oriented manufacturing industry are finally moving in the right direction. But it will take time for a recovery to gather momentum among nonmanufacturers, small and medium-sized companies, and general households. Therefore, we cannot express optimism without reserve.In Japan, the labor share-the share of employees' income in proportion to national income-is high, making it inevitable for downward adjustments to be made to employment and wage factors in relation to the national economy. There is little prospect at present for private consumption to head down the path to a full-fledged recovery.Change in compiling statistics@: The Cabinet Office plans to review the current formula for compiling GDP statistics and to introduce a new method for the April-June quarter. When the planned change goes into effect, it is highly likely the private consumption figures will start shifting downward.In the U.S. economy, there are worrisome factors, including the pressure of downward adjustment of capital investment on the overall economy. Should the U.S. economic growth rate slow down in the April-June quarter, the Japanese economy may follow suit. Another matter of concern is the recent strengthening of the yen, which helped exports when it was weaker.Positive growth, as indicated in the latest figures, does not necessarily mean a full-fledged recovery, as can be seen in similar post-bubble situations in 1993 and 1999. Should errors occur in the nation's fiscal and monetary policies, it will be difficult to realize sustainable growth.The government needs to institute concrete steps, such as tax breaks for investment, and research and development, in a second round of comprehensive economic measures.It is also urgent for the government to flesh out specific economic stimulus measures, including the creation of special areas for structural reforms.The central bank also needs to consider as an option the purchase of foreign bonds to stop the yen from rising and fend off deflationary pressures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	691	2002-06-08	yoshin0020020610dy68001yt
yomshi0020020610dy69000ch	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020610dy69000ch	EN	\N	Government's tax plan lacking.	This may apply to instructions issued Friday by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and the government's Tax Commission about corporate tax reforms. The prime minister has told the two bodies to study ways to reduce the so-called effective tax rate through the introduction of a corporate tax formula based on the size of a business, known as pro forma standard taxation.	8	2002-06-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The effective tax rate represents the ratio of corporations' national and local tax payments to their taxable incomes.It is reasonable to presume that a cut in the effective tax rate means lower corporate taxes. In fact, this country's effective tax rate would decrease if corporations paid taxes under the pro forma standard system.However, it does not follow that all corporations would enjoy tax reductions. Indeed, only a few companies would do so. The pro forma standard tax formula would cause many companies, including those operating at a loss, to shoulder greater tax burdens. If the government chooses to reduce the effective tax rate, it will ensure that the resulting decline in its tax revenues will be offset by an increase in gains from other tax revenue sources.The government should stop speaking about corporate tax reforms in such a childish way. Instead, it should ask the public whether it would support the pro forma standard tax as a means of reforming the nation's corporate tax system.Corporations pay various taxes, including corporate taxes that go to the state coffers. Meanwhile, their local taxes include those levied on various services received from local governments in conducting their profit-earning activities, also known as corporate activities taxes.The effective tax rate is calculated by determining the ratio of all these taxes paid by corporations to their pretax profits.Effective tax rate 40.87%Today, Japan's effective tax rate stands at 40.87 percent, compared with 35 percent in the U.S. state of Washington and 38.44 percent in Germany. However, the figure stands at somewhere between 20 percent and 30 percent in many Asian nations whose industries are highly competitive in the global market.This country's business community is increasingly assertive about reducing its effective tax rate. There is nothing surprising about its argument, given the figures at home and abroad.Meanwhile, the pro forma standard tax represents a substitute for the corporate activities tax formula, which imposes a 9.6 percent tax on corporate profits. Under the pro forma standard tax system, all corporations would pay taxes in accordance with simplified standards concerning their respective sizes.In December, the Public Management Ministry put together a plan to introduce its version of pro forma standard taxation. The ministry's plan would reduce the current 9.6 percent tax on corporate incomes to 4.8 percent. This would be complemented by a plan to impose taxes on corporations, profitable or not, at a certain on the aggregate of each corporation's capital, personnel costs, interest payments, profits and other gains. This plan would be aimed at gaining the same amount of revenue that that would be realized if a 4.8 percent corporate income tax were imposed on the same companies when they are profitable. This formula would enable the government to offset losses due to a 50 percent reduction in corporate income taxes.Burdens on small companiesThe ministry's formula also incorporates various measures to ease financial burdens to be shouldered by small corporations capitalized at 10 million yen or less, including a plan to allow them to choose fixed-amount taxation totaling 48,000 yen in pro forma standard taxes annually. We believe that the proposed system will serve as a good basis for discussions on a reform of the corporate tax system.If the ministry's formula is adopted, the effective tax rate will decrease to somewhat more than 38 percent, compared with the current 40.87 percent. This is because the new system will cause companies operating at a loss-which comprise about 70 percent of all corporations nationwide-to shoulder tax burdens commensurate with the amount of services received from local governments in their activities.The pro forma standard tax system seeks to bring the financial burdens shouldered by corporations to appropriate levels, while also trying to make sure that tax revenues earned by prefectural governments will not be excessively influenced by changes in economic conditions.It is also essential for the government to take other complementary tax measures if it wants to see corporations regain international competitiveness on the strength of cuts in their tax burdens. The government should consider a large reduction in corporate taxes and other bold tax measures.With an eye to revitalizing the nation's economy, Prime Minister Koizumi has asked the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and the Tax Commission to study a tax cut on expenses for corporate research activities. However, the Finance Ministry is seeking to limit such preferential treatment to researches on some areas, including biotechnology, information and communications technology.However, nobody knows what kind of research may produce truly epochal technology. If the ministry is preoccupied with its goal of offsetting a reduction in tax revenues with other tax measures, it will find itself reducing corporate taxes in a manner that lacks coordination and balance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	910	2002-06-09	yoshin0020020610dy69002gq
yomshi0020020610dy6a0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020610dy6a0000d	EN	\N	Loya Jirga has its work cut out.	The 1,501-strong national council meets for a weeklong session aimed at forming a new transitional government to rule Afghanistan, replacing the current interim government led by Hamid Karzai.	8	2002-06-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	There are clear signs that the nation's various ethnic groups are engaged in complex maneuvering for a greater slice of power-apparently including even the murders of some Afghans associated with the run-up to the grand council.The start of the Loya Jirga will mark a new phase in Afghanistan's rehabilitation process. We hope that delegates to the grand council will work to proceed smoothly with their epochal meeting, so they will be able to fulfill the expectations of the international community.Observers have said that Karzai is almost certain to be elected to head the new transitional government. However, the Loya Jirga is expected to engage in stormy discussions about how to divide key cabinet posts among the Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group, and other factions in the country.Ethnic equilibrium a delicate issueThe current interim government head, Karzai, is a Pashtun. However, key ministerial posts in the government are occupied by factions of the Tajik-dominated Northern Alliance, which played a role in ending the Taliban's rule.The Loya Jirga should seek to maintain equilibrium among ethnic groups in allocating key posts in the new transitional government. This goal must be pursued first and foremost, despite anticipated bitter strife during the Loya Jirga's weeklong session. Maintaining such equilibrium will do much to bring all Afghans together under their new government.An important task facing the new government will be to draft an Afghan constitution to be approved by future loya jirga to be held in 18 months. This will be followed by a national election six months after the next national council, setting the stage for the launch of a democratically elected government in Afghanistan.During its two-year tenure, the new transitional government must work to maintain peace in Afghanistan and pull the country's tattered economy together again.By and large, there is peace and security in Kabul, where the 18-nation International Security Assistance Forces are deployed. However, many rural regions in the country are under the control of armed ethnic groups.Supported by the international community, Afghanistan is producing and training military personnel with the aim of establishing a national army and police force. The current interim government must make steady progress in this work to bolster its nation's peace and security. Another task facing the government is to disarm the ethnic groups in Afghanistan's rural areas.Nation reborn in a troubled worldMeanwhile, there are growing tensions between Pakistan and India over their Kashmir dispute. Afghanistan has good reason to be concerned about the ongoing antagonism between the two nuclear-armed rivals. The volatile situation could adversely affect the ongoing campaign conducted by the U.S. and British forces in rooting out the Al-Qaida international terrorist network along the Afghan border with Pakistan.Another urgent task confronting the government concerns Afghan refugees. Recent months have seen a sharp increase in the number of refugees returning to their country from Pakistan. About 800,000 Afghans have come home in the past three months.There are numerous challenges to be taken on by Afghanistan. It is impossible for the country to tackle these problems on its own. The global community must continue its aid to the war-devastated nation.However, what is truly needed to end the 20-year war in Afghanistan and turn the country into a democracy is the determination of its people to accomplish these goals by their own might. The Afghans must tell themselves that the Loya Jirga will show whether they will be able to live up to this obligation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	674	2002-06-10	yoshin0020020612dy6a0021t
yomshi0020020611dy6b0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020611dy6b0000d	EN	\N	Nuclear gaffe a distraction.	The House of Representatives' special committee on government responses to foreign armed attacks on the country has had intensive debates on Fukuda's controversial statement.	8	2002-06-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The uproar began when Fukuda said: "The three nonnuclear principles have been something similar to the Constitution. Given that there are (public) calls to revise the Constitution, calls may also arise among the public (for Japan) to possess (nuclear arms) should major changes occur in the country or international situations."This statement was reported as a high-ranking government official's suggestion that the three nonnuclear principles possibly should be reviewed. Eventually, the opposition camp demanded Fukuda be dismissed from his position.But in the first place, Fukuda's statement was not meant to suggest reviewing the three nonnuclear principles: not making nuclear weapons, not possessing them, and not allowing them into the country.Nuclear policy unchangedConcerning the possession of nuclear arms, the government is of the position that even though such possession is not banned under the Constitution, it maintains the policy not of possessing them. In this regard, the chief cabinet secretary's statement is not a deviation from the government position.At press conferences and other occasions afterward, Fukuda repeatedly said, in vindication of his remarks, that his true intention was different from what had been reported.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also made clear that the government was not considering reviewing the three nonnuclear principles. As long as the government's policy is confirmed, lawmakers should put this problem behind them now that the lower house committee has debated the issue.The Chinese government also chimed in to criticize Fukuda's statement, calling it "quite shocking that a high-ranking official of the Japanese government released such a statement in the current circumstances, when nuclear disarmament is consistently promoted in the international community."However, criticism from China, which continues stepping up its own nuclear potential, is unreasonable. If the opposition parties will not accept Fukuda's defense of his remark but rather continue trying to get political mileage out of it, confusion will be the likeliest result.Fallout really a political smoke screenSome observers have pointed out that the opposition camp's dogged pursuit of the Fukuda statement is a ploy to delay Diet deliberations on a package of bills on government responses in the event of foreign armed attacks.If so, such tactics are completely out of bounds.What the special committee must do now is to have fruitful debates on the contingency bills.Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and Jiyuto (Liberal Party) have recognized the necessity of having legislation to deal with emergencies. Therefore, the two parties are urged to point out any problems in the government-sponsored bills so that they may be revised and passed into law.Minshuto members hold a wide range of opinions on security policies. Therefore, if the party complies with the ruling bloc's demand to have talks to amend the bills, cracks within the party might be widened. In this respect, we suspect that the party is refusing talks with the ruling block to amend the bills in order to avert the envisaged crisis in the party.Some ruling party members began saying that the debates on contingency bills might have to be carried over to the next Diet session if they put priority on the enactment of other key bills, including a set of bills on the privatization of postal services, in the current Diet session. But, we regret to say, such an attitude is also irresponsible.Lawmakers should not put party interests first when dealing with basic policies that may involve the country's very existence.Getting back to the starting point, policymakers are urged to deepen their debates on the true interests of the state.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2002-06-11	yoshin0020020612dy6b002li
yomshi0020020612dy6c0000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020612dy6c0000i	EN	\N	Reinforce the privacy law.	But we doubt whether the report is sufficient to eliminate public distrust of the agencies.	20	2002-06-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The agency's in-house investigation revealed that the Defense Facilities Administration Agency compiled a similar list and posted it on the agency's local area network (LAN).Also, an official of the information-disclosure section of the Air Staff Office in the Air Self-Defense Force handed a document containing the names of information-seekers and the information they had sought to another official in charge of gathering and sorting materials and information, according to the report.The agency's investigative report admitted that the series of actions violated the law concerning the protection of personal information at administrative offices in that the information was used for purposes other than stipulated in the law.However, it can be hardly said that the report has clarified all the allegations.After the revelation about the compilation of the list at the Maritime Self-Defense Force, information-disclosure offices within the Defense Agency, the Ground Staff Office and the Air Staff Office temporarily suspended the posting of the lists in question on their computer networks and deleted parts of the lists posted on the networks. Above all, they failed to report to the Defense Agency chief the fact that they had compiled lists of individuals who had sought information from the organizations.Report fails to answer questionsThe Defense Facilities Administration Agency denied until quite recently that it compiled a list.The investigative report said that officials concerned had "no intention to hide evidence."So why did the officials erase part of the list posted on the LAN, and why did they fail to inform the defense agency chief about the existence of the lists immediately after the revelation of the first list? Why did the Defense Facilities Administration Agency, in particular, try to cover up the facts until this stage?Initially, Defense Agency officials tried to characterize the scandal as a case of "individual misconduct" on the part of a high-ranking MSDF official. But the scandal spread day by day.Besides, the agency kept on changing its explanations. This is one reason why we are unable to accept the investigative report at face value.We urge the Defense Agency to continue investigations into the allegations and to pursue the responsibility of those concerned. To prevent similar incidents from occurring, the agency also should strive to ensure that its officials are thoroughly familiarized with systems designed to protect personal information and the importance of such systems.Law needs penalty clauseA problem similar to the latest scandal could occur not only in the Defense Agency, but also in other administrative organizations.With the progress in the field of information technology, the quantity of personal information possessed by administrative organizations is increasing and its quality is advancing. If such information is used in an inappropriate manner, it may lead to serious infringements of privacy. But the current law on the protection of individual information at administrative offices, which was enacted more than 10 years ago, is extremely insufficient. For instance, only information related to computer data-processing is subject to the law.The bill to revise the law, which had been submitted to the current Diet session, is designed to fill the gaps in the current legislation. For example, the envisaged revision will oblige administrative organizations to clearly state the purposes for which they request personal information about particular individuals.The latest scandal revealed certain common problems in the current law and the revision bill, such as the lack of a penalty clause.Both the ruling and opposition parties should cooperate to make necessary amendments to the revision bill and pass it into law as soon as possible. This also will encourage bureaucrats in all government ministries and agencies to change the way they think about the protection of personal information.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2002-06-12	yoshin0020021008dy6c002t8
yomshi0020020613dy6d0000y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020613dy6d0000y	EN	\N	Secure air traffic safety.	Related concrete measures are being drawn up by the Construction and Transport Ministry and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).	16	2002-06-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Passenger transportation on international flights has been sluggish. On Pacific routes, the volume of passenger traffic in March stood at about 80 percent of what it was a year earlier.First and foremost, it is necessary to recover passenger confidence in air traffic security.At the ministerial meeting of its member countries in February, the ICAO adopted a declaration concerning air traffic security. Later, the international body approved a revision to the declaration that reinforced regulations concerning air traffic security. The ICAO plans to map out a future action program shortly.Envisaged as one of the key security measures is to have aircraft cockpit doors reinforced, by November next year, so that bullets from small arms cannot penetrate them.International cooperation vitalIn addition, ICAO officials will be dispatched to each member country from next year to audit regulations and systems concerning air traffic security, including checking the efficacy of preventive measures such as screening before boarding at airports.Also being studied is the idea of equipping flight crew with some sort of nonlethal weapon to disable terrorists or hijackers.The declaration pointed out that a defect in the air security system of a single country poses a global threat. In this sense, it is important for each member country to act in concert to improve the quality of countermeasures for terrorism.To achieve this, the audit system needs to be implemented strictly. Japan plans to dispatch experts to the ICAO as audit personnel while extending financial assistance to the international body. We hope this country can make a big contribution to such international efforts.Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Construction and Transport Ministry ordered that cockpit doors of all the 416 aircraft owned by Japanese airliners be reinforced.By revising a regulation concerning the application of the Civil Aeronautics Law, the ministry also prohibited passengers from bringing into aircraft cabins any objects that could be used to kill or wound people, such as knives and baseball bats.The ministry also plans to take further steps in line with the ICAO's action program in the future.Role of governments highlightedThe responsibility of governments in the area of security is also emphasized in the declaration.The ministry must shoulder a heavy responsibility in training and supervising airport inspectors.It would be unforgivable if Japan failed to prevent a terrorist attack or hijacking because of defects in this country's air security system. Not only the nation's airliners, but also the government need to bear this in mind.In a bid to secure in-flight safety during the soccer World Cup finals, the government also has taken the step of placing armed plainclothes police officers aboard flights flying on main routes.Police, immigration authorities, the Construction and Transport Ministry and airliners must join hands to ensure air flight security, and the government, for its part, must liaise closely with other countries.Steps such as banning dangerous weapons from aircraft and blocking unauthorized entry into the flight deck, as well as concerted efforts among concerned organizations in preventing terrorist attacks will be the most effective deterrent to terrorism.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	587	2002-06-13	yoshin0020020614dy6d0013e
yomshi0020020614dy6e0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020614dy6e0000d	EN	\N	Fiscal discipline blocks reform.	The draft of the second basic plan for the nation's economic and fiscal management, drawn up by the government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, calls for a review of the nation's tax system, as well as the administrative and fiscal systems of local governments, with the aim of reinvigorating the economy.	10	2002-06-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The first basic plan, also referred to as a "comprehensive policy," which was unveiled last year, went so far as to call for measures centering on eliminating bad loans from the balance sheets of financial institutions.In the latest plan, the Koizumi administration at long last appears to have reached the core of the issue of the much-touted structural reforms.Yet, we must question the details of this plan.Under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi slogan "No tax cuts without a revenue source," the latest plan fails to offer drastic reform of the tax system to reinvigorate the economy. This could be translated as a setback in the administration's quest for reform.If Koizumi has become less pessimistic about the state of the economy because of recent signs of an economic upturn, it is a worrisome situation.To put the Japanese economy on a new growth path, it is necessary for the government to continue exploring genuine steps to rejuvenate the economy.Review tax systemReform of the tax system, which serves as the basis of the nation's economy and society, would be a powerful tool to promote structural reform.Both former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher revitalized their countries' sluggish economies through drastic tax reform.However, the second plan failed to touch on the issue of reviewing the progressive tax system to realize a "society whereby people would be rewarded depending on how hard they work." It also reduces the scope of income tax deductions.The plan clearly stated that the possibility of lowering of the effective corporate tax rate should be studied. Yet the cuts in corporate tax are expected to be implemented together with the introduction of the so-called pro forma standard corporate tax, which is levied on the basis of such nonprofit areas as the size of payroll and capital, thus making companies operating in the red subject to tax collection.Tax system reform designed to invigorate the private sector is likely to be more or less emasculated because the plan is bound by the restraints of ensuring "neutrality" in the tax system, whereby tax cuts will be made now, but only in combination with tax hikes in the future.The tendency to focus on the logic of keeping the fiscal house in order is apparent these days, not only in the nation's fiscal policy but also in other policy areas.In its policy for the compilation of the fiscal 2003 budget, the tight monetary policy has been reinforced, with the priority budgetary allocation areas reduced to four sectors, compared to seven sectors this fiscal year. The planned cuts in the distribution of local allocation taxes would mean declines in revenue sources for local governments until the transfer of revenue sources from the central government is realized.Drastic stimulus measures urgedSome council members have called for the introduction of drastic economic-stimulus measures.However, the council cannot disregard fiscal discipline, including "capping at 30 trillion yen the issuance of national bonds for the fiscal year." This kind of contradiction makes it hard for the government to come up with any drastic structural reforms.The Koizumi administration is studying the possibility of advancing the timing of tax cuts, including one that could be put into effect this fiscal year. Such tax cuts are unlikely to have much effect.However, these scenarios appear inevitable because the administration seems determined to compromise between tax cut demands from the ruling coalition parties and the need to put the nation's fiscal house in order.Although Koizumi's slogan is "No economic growth without structural reform," neither reform nor economic growth are likely to be sufficient.Koizumi needs to wield his strong political leadership once again to map out additional antideflationary measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	718	2002-06-14	yoshin0020020617dy6e006y6
yomshi0020020617dy6f000bh	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020617dy6f000bh	EN	\N	Tax plan likely to increase burden.	The current tax system falls short of balancing tax cuts and increases to ensure stable tax revenue.	11	2002-06-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In drafting its guidelines, the government panel considered what would be needed in 10 years or even 20 years. This may explain why the commission's latest plan concentrates on tax increases.It should be noted, however, that no financially troubled country has ever replenished its depleted coffers through large tax hikes. Increasing the tax burden discourages the motivation of individuals and has an adverse effect on the economic vitality of a nation. It is essential to ensure that tax revenue is automatically increased through measures aimed at revitalizing its economy.The Tax Commission's guidelines are aimed at expanding the current taxable base so that a larger number of taxpayers shoulder the burden. However, the guidelines do not incorporate a tax cut, because such a cut was carried out under the administration of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. This may be disturbing to anyone who notes that the guidelines call for various plans to expand the taxable base.Plan won't reinvigorate economyAs a result, the commission's tax reform plan cannot serve to reinvigorate the nation's economy.Take the changes proposed by the commission in the income tax system as an example.The panel called for a review of various tax deductions received by a certain category of taxpayers who shoulder a greater burden to support their families. These taxpayers include people whose spouses earn modest incomes through part-time work, and those whose children attend high schools, colleges and universities.The commission's plan would result in taxpayers paying more because no income tax cuts have been included.It also plans to lower the minimum amount of taxable income, saying that the government's efforts to "flatten" progressive tax rates has gone too far. The current tax system stipulates that a breadwinner whose family earns 3.3 million yen or more annually should pay a tax rate of 20 percent.The commission's proposal will mean that middle-income earners will face a significant increase in their tax burden.The panel also indicated that the government should raise the current 5 percent consumption tax in the foreseeable future. It has said that such an increase should be complemented by curtailing two forms of preferential treatment for small and medium-sized businesses.Under the current system, businesses that earn less than 30 million yen in annual sales are exempt from paying consumption tax. In addition, businesses with total sales revenues of less than 200 million yen are allowed to pay their share under the so-called simplified tax system, which automatically regards a certain portion of their proceeds as costs incurred through purchases of goods for sale.Larger social security billFor years, consumers have criticized this system. They argue that the money they pay in the form of consumption tax remains in the hands of small and medium-sized businesses, instead of going to the state coffers.The rapid graying of the population means that the government is certain to pay a larger social security bill. We believe the government will have to raise the consumption tax in the future as this will be the only source of revenue to meet the greater needs of the aging population. It was inevitable, therefore, for the Tax Commission to call for cuts in the preferential tax treatment given to small businesses.The panel has also proposed that the so-called pro forma standard taxation replace the corporate activities tax system in which local governments collect taxes from companies in return for supplying electricity, water and other necessities. The pro forma standard taxation system imposes taxes on corporations, including those operating at a loss, based on the size of the business.We believe that the proposed tax formula should be adopted to provide local governments with a stable revenue source.However, small and medium-sized corporations would suffer a severe blow if the national government introduced the pro forma standard tax, while reducing special preferential treatment under the consumption tax system.Other measures should be taken to prevent this, including a cut in the ratio of corporations' national and local tax payments to taxable incomes, which is known as the corporate effective tax rate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	753	2002-06-15	yoshin0020020617dy6f004vm
yomshi0020020617dy6g00060	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020617dy6g00060	EN	\N	Koizumi at on-ramp of reform.	Koizumi's campaign to privatize these organizations is a major pillar of his administration's efforts to reform public corporations. It is no exaggeration to say that the success or failure of his reform drive hinges on who will sit on the committee responsible for the promotion of the reform.	8	2002-06-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For months, the prime minister has often reiterated his resolve to choose "highly reform-minded persons" in establishing the planned committee. However, some Liberal Democratic Party members are attempting to throw up roadblocks to Koizumi's initiative in this regard to defend their vested interests in highway-building projects. The so-called "road tribe" of LDP lawmakers has been apprehensive that the panel may be dominated by "reformists" who could scuttle their privileges. There still is a tug-of-war between the prime minister and these legislators over who should be named to the committee.There is no turning back on the plan to privatize the four highway-related public corporations because it has been adopted as policy by the Cabinet. To carry out reforms as planned, the prime minister must choose the group best suited to help accomplish his reformist goal, not shrinking from the resistance of antireform lawmakers.The privatization promotion committee will be set up as an organ under the control of the Cabinet Office. It will be composed of seven or fewer members.This special committee is charged with debating what kinds of organizations should replace the four public corporations-JH, Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation, Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation and Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority-and what should be done to ensure the profitability of each new body. The panel is scheduled to present specific plans for the reform of the current corporations by the end of the year.Fork in the road to JH's futureThe principal focus of the committee's debate will be on what kind of institution JH-a body that has long undertaken to build expressways across the country-should be transformed into.Two conflicting proposals have been put forward on the issue. One plan would establish a private corporation responsible for carrying out all necessary work, from highway construction and possession to the long-term maintenance and control of such facilities, under what could be called an "all-in-one" formula.Another plan stipulates that highways built across the country be possessed by an independent administrative institution, or any public entity, and be controlled by a privatized corporation under what may be termed a "separation" formula.Koizumi is seeking to fully privatize the four highway-related public corporations under the former formula. However, the LDP and the Construction and Transport Ministry largely favor the latter formula. Their attitude reflects their belief that lawmakers will be able to continue asserting their influence in highway-construction projects if each public corporation is replaced by two separate entities. This formula would allow the national government to continue playing a role in the operation of highways, as in the past.It is important to note, however, that Koizumi's reform campaign would come to naught if the newly privatized corporations were operated in a manner that would allow expressways to be built without considering whether they would make profits.2,400 kilometers of roads not taken?Another major task facing the committee is to debate whether to go ahead with some expressway construction projects planned but not yet started by the four highway-related public corporations. Many such roads are expected to turn no profit if they are built in provincial areas as planned. Constructing them would mean greater debts incurred by the new corporations.To step up its reform drive, the Koizumi administration has stopped injecting funds from state coffers into the four public corporations, starting this fiscal year. For years, the government has set aside about 300 billion yen for such purposes annually.No time should be wasted on second thoughts about pending highway construction projects. However, LDP members with vested interests in such projects and others still insist on building a planned 2,400 kilometers of new expressways.Every issue related to Koizumi's reform campaign needs to be debated by informed individuals unencumbered by self-interests in highway construction projects. No lawmaker should be allowed to intervene in Koizumi's work to select the members of the committee on the promotion of privatization. In this sense, the prime minister has reached a crucial crossroads in his reform drive.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	784	2002-06-16	yoshin0020020618dy6g002kb
yomshi0020020617dy6h0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020617dy6h0000d	EN	\N	Halifax a disappointment.	The statement began with a sentence full of confidence: "Growth in our economies has strengthened and should continue to consolidate throughout the year." However, what follows is not convincing at all, failing to provide specific policies to support this argument.	8	2002-06-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The global economy began showing signs of recovery from the beginning of this year. However, some began expressing concern over the future prospects of the U.S. economy, which has been leading the global recovery.Ministers sidestep Japan's problemsThe Japanese economy, said to have bottomed out, is still far from overcoming deflation or completing the disposal of nonperforming loans, and is failing to eliminate lingering concerns over its prospects.What awareness do the finance ministers in Japan, the United States, Canada and Europe have of such circumstances, and what coordinated efforts are they planning to take to ensure the economic recovery? The ministers were expected to hold in-depth discussions on such issues. However, they ended up evading these issues in order to avoid revealing their weaknesses.If the economic statement to be issued at the G-8 summit meeting from June 26 is based on the finance ministers' joint statement, it would disappoint players in the Japanese, U.S. and other markets, which have been dropping due to poor future prospects. Then, it might interrupt the recovery of the world economy.We strongly urge G-8 leaders to make serious last-ditch efforts to agree on policies to put the economy on a sure track to recovery.In this regard, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi bears a particularly heavy responsibility.At the Halifax meeting, the finance ministers reportedly neither criticized Japan's economic prospects and policies nor made any demands in relation to them.However, many in the U.S. government reportedly are voicing concerns, some saying that Japan lacks an awareness that it should put top priority on the economy and others insisting that Japan cannot expect sustainable growth unless it adopts new policy measures. The United States and European countries have deep-rooted anxieties concerning the Japanese economy.Summit needs Koizumi leadershipAt the upcoming summit meeting of the world's seven leading industrialized countries plus Russia, Prime Minister Koizumi is urged to express his strong determination to overcome deflation and to revitalize the economy by presenting effective Japanese economic policies.Discussions among the government and ruling coalition parties are running into difficulties over a second package of antideflationary policies. The first thing the prime minister is asked to do now is to exert strong leadership to decide effective antideflationary policies that center on tax cuts as the first step.The G-7 finance ministers also failed to debate the issue of the weak dollar, which the Japanese government claims is a factor that blocks the Japanese economy from recovering.In the United States, manufacturers strongly support the weak dollar as their international competitiveness had been deteriorating due to a strong-dollar tendency. The U.S. government is also unwilling to arrest the weak dollar, with an eye to the upcoming congressional election in autumn.Likewise, European countries are also supportive of the weak dollar due to their anticipation that if the dollar remains at its current level, they can expect favorable effects, including restrained inflation.If the G-8 summit meeting avoids discussing the weak dollar issue, it could further prompt market moves to buy yen and sell dollars. The prime minister is urged to form a consensus among the summit participants to block the dollar from further weakening.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2002-06-17	yoshin0020020618dy6h002tx
yomshi0020020618dy6i0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020618dy6i0000c	EN	\N	Prosecutors at Diet's door.	Diet members are immune to arrest while the legislative body is in session unless permission for their arrest is given by the house to which they belong.	8	2002-06-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The immunity clause is designed to ensure the freedom of lawmakers' activities in the Diet. Therefore, many Diet members in the past were arrested over their irregularities while the Diet was not in session; others were indicted without being taken into custody.The prosecutors' request for Diet approval of Suzuki's arrest is seen as showing their strong determination to conduct aggressive investigations to resolve the series of scandals involving the lawmaker.One tree in a corrupt forest?They are looking into the allegation that Suzuki received 5 million yen from the Hokkaido lumber company, which had been subjected to administrative punishment by the Forestry Agency, in exchange for interceding to secure favorable treatment to offset their losses resulting from the penalties.The agency punished the company for cutting down trees in a national forest by barring it from participating in public works projects for seven months.Under the offense with which Suzuki is to be charged, a public servant is held criminally responsible for accepting a bribe in exchange for favorable treatment regardless of his or her official authority. Such action is established as criminal even when an "illegal mediation" concerns other public servants' official duties in exchange for bribes.Therefore, the focus of the investigation into Suzuki's case will be whether the lawmaker carried out an "illegal mediation" that effectively made meaningless the administrative penalties imposed on the firm by the Forestry Agency.The fundamental structure of the "mediation" scandal typifies the series of suspicions involving Suzuki. Therefore, it is possible that the case will help investigators resolve other major allegations taken up in the Diet, such as his alleged meddling in government-funded assistance projects on the four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan.Yet, it is often difficult to prove "illegal mediation behind closed doors" because concrete evidence is often lacking. Prosecutors may face a difficult challenge in overcoming this problem.Peering into the murkAgainst the background of the dubious relationship between politics and money is the existence of Diet members with vested interests, who manipulate certain industries and government offices by exerting their influence despite having no official authority in such areas. Many such Diet members have not been held criminally accountable, a factor contributing to a number of corrupt practices in the political world.Prosecutors' request for Diet permission to arrest Suzuki for his alleged acceptance of a bribe represents, in a sense, their resolve to expose politicians' illicit pressure on government offices despite their previous ineffectiveness at pursing politicians who were involved in scandals outside their areas of official authroity.Such corruption does not always involve Diet members themselves. Recently, former secretaries of policymakers have been arrested one after another in scandals connected with bids and orders for public works projects. Suzuki's top-ranking public secretary has also been arrested and indicted.The current Diet session makes clear the necessity of eliminating a political style that depends on shady mediation.The request for Diet approval of Suzuki's arrest is a call for Diet members to take responsibility for their own activities and change their ways.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2002-06-18	yoshin0020020619dy6i0059g
yomshi0020020619dy6j0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020619dy6j0000f	EN	\N	The national team inspires us.	Despite the fight they put up, the Japanese team lost to Turkey 1-0 in their Round of 16 match in the soccer World Cup finals at Miyagi Stadium.	8	2002-06-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In their group matches, Japan tied Belgium and beat Russia and Tunisia back to back, which allowed them to move on to the Round of 16 match. We would like to praise them for their strong effort.It had long been pointed out that a weakness of the Japanese soccer team is that it is poor at setting the pace of the game.In this year's World Cup, however, the team was flexible enough to change its pattern of play to adapt to its opponents.The players also showed they could construct plays on their own, rather than always depending on instructions from the manager. Both the players and the team have become mature.As the Japanese team continued to win, the entire nation gave it their support. Televised matches received record-high audience ratings.People's enthusiasm for the World Cup is partly due to the fact that the Japanese team, which was formerly known as a team in development, went head-to-head with the some of the best teams in the world.Team's performance a ray of hopeJapan is currently in a protracted period of economic slowdown that has lasted more than 10 years. The wave of corporate restructuring has not proceeded as expected. It has also been pointed out that the nation's international competitiveness in various sectors is in decline.The team's success has given a ray of hope and encouragement to the Japanese people, who have lost confidence lately. For this reason, their support for the team has increased.Worldwide, countries compete to construct systems to foster talented soccer players.Since about 10 years ago, training has been given to young and promising talent in Japan, including middle school students.Training is primarily aimed at improving passing techniques, in which Japanese players trail far behind their international rivals. Principles have also been introduced by coaches to train young players nationwide.Young players who have received intensive training later played for foreign teams and developed further.National team manager Philippe Troussier chose such players without being restricted by past practices and created a team that could compete well on the international scene. As the team's regular members were not fixed, there were fierce rivalries among the players.We look forward to seeing how far the members of the Japanese team, who are younger on average than those of other national teams, will develop to face the next World Cup finals, scheduled to be held in Germany in 2006.Success can extend to other fieldsNow that long-term efforts, the goal of which was a team that could compete at an international standard, have been successful, many people that were previously beset with a sense of hopelessness may feel that Japan can enjoy similar successes in fields other than soccer.Let us continue to create a system in which we will be able to compete on a par with world-class teams in all fields, so that we can recover from the effects of the so-called lost decade of economic slowdown in the postbubble era.We have indeed been given vitality from our young soccer players.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	583	2002-06-19	yoshin0020020619dy6j005ms
yomshi0020020620dy6k0000v	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020620dy6k0000v	EN	\N	Diet not playing its part.	On Wednesday, when the decision to extend the current Diet session was made, House of Representatives member Muneo Suzuki was arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe from a private company.	15	2002-06-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the recent series of scandals involving Diet members' secretaries, one Diet member after another resigned or quit their party, with Suzuki's arrest symbolizing the current "scandal-riddled Diet."A regular Diet session lasts 150 days. Important bills that are directly linked to the people's daily life and safety, such as those concerning medical system reform and the government's emergency responses in dealing with foreign armed attacks on the nation, should have been passed into law by the end of the current session.Far from being made law, none of these key bills passed even the lower house. In this sense, the Diet can only be described as supine.Should the functional paralysis of the Diet continue, its raison d'etre will come into question, adding fuel to people's distrust of politics. Both the ruling and opposition camps need to seriously consider the critical state of the national legislature.Suzuki's arrest does indeed taint the Diet. The Diet's approval of the request submitted by the Cabinet to arrest Suzuki marked the 15th such case and the first in five years.Within a few days, the lower house is expected to approve the resolution to advise Suzuki to resign from the Diet. It would be the first time the lower house has made such a resolution.LDP entangled by vested interestsThe latest case highlighted once again the extent to which the Liberal Democratic Party is at the mercy of vested interest practices, whereby politicians wield influence over bureaucrats in return for bribes from third parties.Scandals involving Diet members' secretaries have implicated lawmakers in both the ruling and opposition camps. The world of politics needs to drastically rethink the relationship between politicians and their secretaries and between politics and money.The Diet should pass as soon as possible the bill designed to revise the law penalizing politicians who lobby government officials on behalf of a specific company, to make lawmakers' private secretaries also subject to the law.There also are moves among legislators to try to enact a law designed to prevent public servants from becoming involved in bid rigging, and another designed to reinforce political ethics. Legal frameworks deemed necessary should be studied urgently.Besides the scandals involving politicians, bureaucrats' sloppy handling of their duties has become more apparent than usual during the current Diet.During the session, the Foreign Ministry was blasted for the slipshod state of its assistance projects to the four northern islands off Hokkaido held by Russia and for the indifference of its officials, which was revealed in the incident in which North Korean asylum-seekers were seized by local police in the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang, China.Meanwhile, it was revealed that Defense Agency officials compiled lists of people who sought information from the agency under the information-disclosure law.Ruling, opposition parties culpablePrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi failed to display leadership in handling these scandals, while LDP Secretary General Taku Yamasaki failed to play his role as a "control tower" in the management of the Diet affairs.Among the important bills, the prevailing view even within the ruling camp is that it will be impossible to pass the bills concerning the government's emergency responses in dealing with foreign armed attacks and the one concerning the protection of private information on individuals.The biggest challenge for the extended Diet lies in the passage of such important bills as the one concerning medical system reform and the one concerning the transfer of postal services to a new postal service public corporation.Koizumi and the LDP leadership need to redouble their efforts to manage the Diet effectively.The responsibility of the opposition parties is also grave in this regard. The opposition camp, upset over the government's handling of the Defense Agency scandal, has boycotted Diet deliberations.Yet such a reaction is irrational. The Diet, in principle, is the field of verbal battle. The opposition camp should rid itself of the evil habits nurtured during the so-called 1955 political regime, in which the LDP controlled both the lower house and the House of Councillors, and the Japan Socialist Party held about half the number of seats held by the LDP in each house.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	765	2002-06-20	yoshin0020020620dy6k005hk
yomshi0020020621dy6l0000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020621dy6l0000l	EN	\N	Scandal must not hold up bills.	On Thursday, the agency said many officials would be disciplined for their role in the case involving lists of individuals who have sought agency-related information under the Freedom of Information Law.	10	2002-06-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Subject to discipline are 29 agency officials, including Administrative Vice Defense Minister Yasunari Ito and the chiefs of staff of the Ground, Maritime and Air self-defense forces. Meanwhile, Defense Agency Director General Gen Nakatani will voluntarily return part of his salary to the state coffers.The agency's latest announcement serves as another indication that many of the agency's sections were involved in producing the lists in question.The agency must uncover the entire truth behind the scandal to determine what really occurred. This is essential to regain the public's trust in the agency.Bolster Defense Agency disciplinePrior to Thursday's announcement, the agency began studying ways to ensure that all agency officials abide by basic rules on how to deal with personal data about individuals who have sought access to agency-related information, while also stepping up efforts to examine whether these regulations are followed properly.To complement these measures, it is particularly important for the agency to correct lax discipline among its officials.The affair began with the revelation about a list of information-seekers prepared by the MSDF.Immediately after the disclosure, Nakatani told agency and Self-Defense Forces officials to determine whether their respective sections had produced similar lists. However, it was several days before he received reports from the bureaus at the agency's headquarters and the GSDF and ASDF chiefs of staff. The Defense Facilities Administration Agency took even longer to submit a report to the director general.It should be noted that the Defense Agency is distinct from other government bodies in that it controls armed forces to defend the nation. In this sense, the agency must employ a rigid discipline, more so than other institutions.Agency officials cannot be trusted to defend the nation if they do not instantly obey the director general's instructions and dutifully report their findings. The latest case may raise concern about whether the SDF is operating under the fundamental principle of civilian control.Earlier, Nakatani summoned senior SDF officials and those from various bureaus to the agency's head office, to tell them, "You should think about whether you carried out my instructions faithfully." His statement appears to reflect his serious concern about the lax discipline of the agency's officials.Diet debate severely affectedThe scandal has adversely affected Diet debate on a set of bills that define the country's prepared response to a foreign attack.The agency sought to end the confusion over the information-seeker lists by publishing a summary of its in-house investigation-instead of a full report-after receiving instructions from the Liberal Democratic Party. The revelation antagonized the opposition camp, which has, in turn, refused to attend Diet discussions. All this has exacerbated the confusion.A government office must uncover the truth about a scandal it is involved in and work to make sure similar incidents are avoided. As a result, the LDP was extremely unwise to give the Defense Agency instructions that apparently reflected its desire to speed up the Diet's deliberations of bills the party wanted adopted.The LDP sought only to prevent the opposition bloc from pointing a finger at the agency's irregularities. Equally inappropriate was the action of the Defense Agency, which complied with the LDP's instructions.The confusion arising from the LDP's action is subsiding following the party's expression of regret about the affair. However, the turmoil has left many members of the LDP and its coalition partners reluctant to pursue passage of the contingency-related bills. Under the circumstances, it will be difficult for the government to have the bills approved by the current Diet session.Both the ruling and opposition parties should be held responsible if they allow important bills on national defense to be carried over to future Diet sessions.The Defense Agency is not the sole organization that must work to regain the public's trust.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	743	2002-06-21	yoshin0020020622dy6l0007a
yomshi0020020624dy6m0006a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020624dy6m0006a	EN	\N	Reflect on Diet members' status.	On Friday, the lower house set a precedent when it passed a resolution urging lawmaker Muneo Suzuki to step down two days after he had been arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe. The passage came when all ruling and opposition parties voted in favor of the motion.	18	2002-06-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Although the resolution is nonbinding, it is both politically and socially significant. Suzuki, a former member of the Liberal Democratic Party, should seriously take this to heart.The current Diet session has seen former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato and then upper house President Yutaka Inoue step down. Both did so to take responsibility for the arrests of close aides and others involved in criminal cases. Similarly, Kiyomi Tsujimoto of the Social Democratic Party resigned from the lower house because of her alleged misuse of state-paid salary to a secretary.All this is in stark contrast to the attitude taken by Suzuki. He apparently intends to stay on as a Diet member despite his arrest, which followed the apprehension of his aides. He does not seem to feel one iota of responsibility.Suzuki should have quit earlierSuzuki should have stepped down as a lawmaker before the lower house adopted the resolution calling on him to resign.However, great care must be exercised in dealing with a resolution that calls on a legislator to give up his or her seat. The Diet should never be carried away by a rapid rise in popular resentment against a lawmaker implicated in a disgraceful situation.The Constitution guarantees all Diet members special status and rights as representatives granted a popular mandate through elections. The supreme law stipulates that a lawmaker be disqualified from the Diet only under specific circumstances.For instance, a legislator loses his seat if the lower house is dissolved, the chamber to which he belongs resolves to expel him as a punishment, or he has lost his eligibility for election as a result of his conviction in a legal dispute.The privileges granted to Diet members also include immunity from arrest.For years, many critics have insisted that the Diet has no reason to adopt or reject a motion urging a lawmaker to resign. If a legislator refuses to step down despite the adoption of a resolution demanding his resignation, it would seriously tarnish the dignity of the Diet as the highest organ of state power. A political party that commands a majority in the Diet also could submit such a motion as a means of oppressing a smaller party.Parties serving self-interestsWith this in mind, the LDP has always argued that a motion demanding a resignation should never be put to a vote at a plenary session of either house of the Diet. However, the LDP reversed its position and voted in favor of the resolution against Suzuki.The party's change of heart reflected its decision to respect New Komeito's support of the anti-Suzuki motion to keep its three-party ruling alliance intact. In addition, the Suzuki scandal has drawn mounting criticism from the public.The change in the LDP's attitude toward the anti-Suzuki motion also pointed to the party's desire to put the derailed Diet discussions back on track by having the opposition camp attend a lower house plenary session to vote on the resolution.Meanwhile, the opposition bloc apparently tried to drive a wedge in the three-party partnership by telling the public that the LDP and its coalition partners were defending the scandal-ridden lawmaker.In this sense, both the ruling and opposition parties put their self-interests first in voting on the motion against Suzuki.The LDP has said it will never again support a resolution demanding such a resignation. However, its latest change of heart was nothing but a decision without principle. Such an attitude could cause trouble later.Suzuki should resign. But both the ruling and opposition parties should reflect more seriously on the significance of the status accorded to Diet members.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	710	2002-06-22	yoshin0020020622dy6m000ka
yomshi0020020624dy6n0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020624dy6n0000d	EN	\N	Set rules on data protection.	The 32-year-old woman is the third Japanese researcher investigated for allegedly stealing research data in a little over a year. In May last year, a researcher at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Riken) in Japan and his Japanese colleague were charged with violating the U.S. Economic Espionage Act.	7	2002-06-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The woman and her colleague are suspected of illegally removing genetic material related to immune reactions from Harvard University, where they had been working.A lot of attention is focused on these genes. They are believed to be useful in the development of an immunosuppressant drug that could halt organ rejection in transplant patients.The latest case resembles last year's one in that research material in one of the most advanced fields of biological science allegedly were stolen. In last year's case, the researchers stole genetic substances related to Alzheimer's disease.That case shed light on the fact that Japanese research institutes and universities do not have any clear regulations on the transfer of researchers and their research results.Biotechnology the new battlefieldThe government's Council for Science and Technology Policy and the Education, Science and Technology Ministry finally compiled guidelines on such transfers last month after long discussions.The latest case took place just before the guidelines were to be used to create detailed regulations at the research institutes and the universities. It is an urgent task to accelerate the development of the regulations.In June 1982, just 20 years ago, a Japanese company employee was arrested for stealing computer secrets from International Business Machines Corp. of the United States.In those days, Japanese companies were chasing after their U.S. counterparts to develop supercomputers. U.S. companies were trying frantically to outdistance their rivals.Years later, the battlefield for advanced countries has shifted to functional genomics, which analyzes the functions of genes and their possible applications.The race to further the national interests at stake is an extremely tough one. Japan is pursued by other countries in some fields, but this country lacks strict laws protecting its intellectual property.Japanese researchers' attitude laxAlthough a law equivalent to the U.S. Economic Espionage Act is said to be necessary, nobody has acted to draft such a law because concerned ministries and agencies have not been much interested in doing so.The Strategic Council on Intellectual Property, under the direct jurisdiction of the prime minister, recently announced a plan to include an economic espionage clause in the Prevention of Unfair Competition Law. The clause may need to have a tough punitive provisions for the sake of deterrence. The law has to be revised as quickly as possible.A lack of relevant laws and regulations has caused Japanese scientists to develop a lax attitude toward the protection of research data.Researchers are moving over borders quicker and quicker. The number of foreign researchers is increasing in Japan, too.It is feared that without clear rules, problems related to research findings also will occur frequently in Japan.It is also an urgent task to raise awareness of researchers concerning intellectual property and research findings by enhancing education on these issues at universities and graduate schools.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	562	2002-06-23	yoshin0020020624dy6n006gr
yomshi0020020624dy6o000bg	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020624dy6o000bg	EN	\N	Decentraliziation's glacial pace.	Decentralization is one of them.	8	2002-06-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If we turn our eyes to the ever-deteriorating fiscal conditions of the central and local governments and the basic economic and social changes brought about by the aging of society coupled with the low birthrate, politicians can no longer be allowed the luxury of negligence.The Council for Decentralization Reform, an advisory panel to the prime minister tasked with reviewing administrative works and projects conducted by the central and local governments, has compiled an interim report and submitted it to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Taking this as a good opportunity, the government is urged to expedite its efforts to promote decentralization.Be realistic on 'national minimum'The focal point of the interim report is the proposal to depart from the "national minimum" theory.The national minimum is the minimal guaranteed level of administrative services for every citizen. Central government offices have cited the inadequacy of local governments' administrative services as a good reason for their involvement in local government activities.In response to such a claim, the interim report said that local governments' administrative services have already met the minimum requirement in many fields and proposed that central government officials should change their mind-set to accept that individual local governments would implement the most suitable policies based on the situation in their respective areas.More specifically, with regard to the current system under which half the salary for public primary and middle school teachers comes from central government coffers, the report called for introducing a new system under which subsidies are provided based on objective indexes, such as the number of students.Concerning public works projects, the report proposed abolishing state-subsidized projects so that projects would be conducted either only by the central government or only by local governments.We regret to say, however, that the report merely points out problems relating to the issues in question, failing to provide concrete proposals in all but a few instances.Therefore, we urge the council members to come up with concrete reform proposals in their final report, which is expected to come out at the end of the year.Also indispensable in accelerating the proposed decentralization is a reform of the mind-sets of officials at both the central government offices and local governments.It apparently is customary that officials of the central government offices, whose authority will be diminished in the event that decentralization becomes a reality, accept the general but oppose the particular when it comes to the issue.However, now that a long time has passed since the end of uninterrupted postwar economic growth, the nation barely will be able to keep up with changing times as long as it sticks to the long-established centralized administrative system.All central government offices are urged to respect this fundamental principle of administrative reform: What can be done by local governments should be entrusted to local governments.Time to cut the cordOn the other hand, local governments also should promptly shed their deep-rooted dependence on the central government's financial assistance, such as grants-in-aid and allotments of national tax revenues.Local governments now are urged to further accelerate their efforts in such areas as securing sources of tax revenue themselves and promoting mergers of municipalities on the levels of city, town and village to better take over portions of power to be ceded by the central government.Koizumi recently instructed the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy to map out plans to reduce grants-in-aid from state coffers, transfer tax revenue sources to local governments and review the system of providing allotments of national tax revenues to local governments.The prime minister's instructions to the government panel all echo what has been repeatedly called for over the years.What counts most now is the government's prompt action in working out specific plans and translating them into action.We demand that Koizumi demonstrate leadership in promoting the proposed decentralization.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2002-06-24	yoshin0020020625dy6o00429
yomshi0020020625dy6p0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020625dy6p0000c	EN	\N	Upgrade to Democracy 2.0.	The mayoral and city assembly elections in Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan's first to be held with an electronic voting system, concluded with no major confusion.	8	2002-06-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new mode of voting has also achieved the initial targets of cutting the vote-counting time and avoiding invalid votes.This is, indeed, an epoch-making development. It can be said that Niimi's success has paved the way for electronic voting, whose use is currently limited to local elections, to be adopted for national elections.The government and each and every political party need to start serious studies on the adoption of electronic voting in the national elections as soon as possible.Computers bring swiftness, accuracyIn Niimi, voters touched the names of their chosen candidates on the screen with an electronic pen. It took only 25 minutes to count the electronically collected votes.The counting of manually written absentee ballots was conducted at the same time as the electronic vote counting. Even though the number of absentee ballots was barely over 10 percent of the entire vote, it took four times longer than the electronic vote counting to count absentee ballots, according to a local election committee official.The difference between computerized and manually written ballots was made apparent in the difference in time needed to count votes.In view of a key purpose of the Public Offices Election Law, namely "to let voters be informed of an election result as soon as possible," the relative merits are apparent.Even so, some were voicing concerns that elderly voters might refuse to vote or shy away from casting a vote under the electronic voting system.According to the results of various surveys taken in the city after the election, however, the majority of voters said "it was easier than expected." When considering the fact that Niimi has a higher percentage of elderly voters than many other municipalities, such worries appear to have been unfounded.It can be said that while the benefits of the electronic voting system have become apparent, those issues that earlier had been considered potential obstacles turned out to cause almost no trouble at all.Cost of progress is measured in yenWhile similarly situated municipalities are readying for further use of the electronic voting system, the key problem is cost. Compared with the personnel costs that the electronic voting system could save with its lower need for manpower, the expense of purchasing or leasing the electronic voting equipment would be far higher.This is why not a few municipalities are leery of adopting the electronic voting system despite their interest in the "experiment" conducted by the city government of Niimi. Such concerns are all the more understandable as the electronic voting system is currently allowed only in local elections.At the national level, candidates are allowed to run in the House of Representatives election under both the constituency system and the proportional representation system. Meanwhile, an open-list system under the proportional representation system has been in place for the House of Councillors since its last election.It is in these ever more complicated national elections that the adoption of the electronic voting system should be promoted, in view of the need to cut both time and manpower needed for the vote count.So, it is only natural that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Public Management Minister Toranosuke Katayama have been positively disposed toward the introduction of the electronic voting method in the national elections.Yet positive attitudes are not enough for the promotion of the new voting system. It is essential for the Koizumi administration to show concrete steps, such as moves to revise relevant laws and the announcement of a timetable for the introduction of the new voting system. That is the way to convince local municipalities to adopt the electronic voting system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2002-06-25	yoshin0020020625dy6p004cg
yomshi0020020626dy6q0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020626dy6q0000k	EN	\N	Universities-heal thyselves.	The tax authorities have launched a probe into questionable donations from parents of students taking entrance examinations for Teikyo University's faculty of medicine.	18	2002-06-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The donations, which the Tokyo-based university allegedly received from the parents before the announcement of entrance examination results, totaled about 14 billion yen over seven years. The donations allegedly were paid in advance, a practice that the former Education Ministry banned in 1981 for fear that it would encourage "backdoor admissions."The university deposited the donations into a bank account managed by one of its affiliated foundations, rather than the school's accounting section.Half of the donations later were pooled in other foundations and affiliated firms, a practice that the tax authorities deem to constitute concealment of taxable income earned by a profit-making business, in which brokers negotiated the students' admission with the university.Teikyo even altered the dates of receipt of the donations issued to the parents so as to make it appear that the donations were made after the students were admitted to the university.There is no room for excuses. Teikyo's act was nothing but an organized attempt to conceal taxable income and a maneuver to disguise tax evasion.Meanwhile, the tax authorities have filed a criminal complaint with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office against a younger brother of the university's president on suspicion of concealing taxable income earned as brokerage commission.Trust in medical care at stakeSome of the parents reportedly have said they thought Teikyo would not have admitted their children if they had not donated money to the university.The university apparently took advantage of the examinees' desperation to gain admission.If Teikyo's admissions policy is shown to have depended on donations, it may undermine the public trust not only in entrance examinations and education at the university, but also in medical care offered by its affiliate hospital.An institution charged with training doctors, who take care of people's health, that solicits advance donations from examinees and conceals taxable income, deserves to be severely criticized.The suspected tax-evasion case surfaced last year, but Teikyo failed to respond sincerely to the authorities concerning the allegation.The Education, Science and Technology Ministry called on the university to conduct an in-house investigation of the suspected irregularities, but the university has yet to compile a detailed report on the case.The investigation must determine whether Teikyo broke the law in deciding who passed the entrance examination and who did not, and it must uncover who was involved in concealing taxable income.Admissions policy questionableTeikyo's soliciting of advance donations is unforgivable. However, the fact that faculties of medicine at many private universities often solicit a sizable amount of donations from students even after they gain admission cannot be ignored.The fact that only children of well-to-do families normally can be enrolled at private universities' schools of medicine may affect the quality of medical care on offer in this country.The public disclosure of universities' financial management-for instance, how donations or other payments are spent-should be further promoted.According to a ministry survey conducted last year, 85 percent of the 655 educational foundations that run universities or junior colleges have made public the state of their finances, but not a few disclosed only sketchy details. Teikyo, for its part, has refused to disclose its financial condition.The fact that the authorities currently are unable to take any firm action against suspect universities has aroused controversy. It may become necessary to empower the relevant authorities to issue instructions, which could be accompanied with penalties for noncompliance, to such universities to improve their management.Yet the bottom line lies in whether the nation's private universities can clean up their act. Now that all universities find themselves standing on shaky ground due to the declining birthrate, private universities should learn a lesson from the latest case and make efforts to regain the public trust.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2002-06-26	yoshin0020020626dy6q005tk
yomshi0020020627dy6r0000z	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020627dy6r0000z	EN	\N	Special zones could aid reform.	The Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has finalized the package of fundamental policies concerning economic and fiscal management and structural reforms, the second of its kind to be produced by the panel chaired by the prime minister. The new measures include a plan to designate some areas as special zones in which government regulations will be relaxed and abolished, with the aim of making headway in promoting Koizumi's structural reform campaign.	15	2002-06-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Undoubtedly, the establishment of such special districts could provide a breakthrough for the government's regulatory reform drive, which many people tend to support in general terms, but oppose in specifics. The special zones of that nature are certain to produce tangible results in this regard.It should be noted, however, that residents in special zones for structural reforms could flood the central government with petitions for favors if the government decided to provide these areas with a great deal of preferential treatment as a means of promoting its deregulation drive. In that event, the special zones would be reduced to another form of free-for-all government spending only for some areas, as in the past.In this sense, the government should work to ensure that the special zone plan is designed to encourage local governments to take the initiative in promoting reforms and compete in carrying out imaginative programs and activities.Zones could function as 'laboratories'Regulatory reforms constitute an important part of the government's structural reform drive. However, the government has yet to make significant progress in accomplishing the goal. This is partly because people in many quarters have opposed the reform campaign, saying that it remains unclear whether the drive will be able to gain tangible results.However, it will be easy to determine whether the reform effort has produced results if special zones were established to relax government regulations in some regions. The government would be able to set up similar zones across the country if it determined that such areas were causing no problems. It also would be possible to encourage each local government to step up its industrial activities, by making sure that many corporations in one industry were located in that region. In addition, each local government that hosted a special zone for structural reforms would strive to turn itself into an entity with distinctive features.For example, the government could expect to improve the productivity of the nation's agricultural sector and create more jobs in that industry if it eased regulations on corporations seeking to join the agricultural business.Meanwhile, it is possible that some companies might choose to buy farmland for speculative purposes. The establishment of special zones would provide an opportunity to decide what kinds of advantages and disadvantages would accrue to such areas.Koizumi has insisted that what can be done by the private sector should be done by the private sector, saying that this rule should also apply to local governments. Proposed special zones for structural reforms should be used as "laboratories" to determine whether the prime minister's plan serves its own purposes.Don't let bureaucrats fudge the planThe special zone plan is still a blueprint that has just been presented to the public. Specifics of the proposal have yet to be worked out.What is important is to ensure that the special zone project does not end up being an attempt to promote the economic and industrial growth of some regions through conventional methods. There are concerns that central government offices could play a leading role in determining which areas should be designated as special zones for reforms, and that politicians could intervene in that process. In that case, established special zones would be indistinguishable from each other and would have deep pockets due to free-for-all government funding.To prevent this, the national government should leave local governments to draw up necessary plans and think about how to support special zones for reforms. The central government should not implement the kind of fiscal measures implemented in the past for the purpose of encouraging the growth of local governments, including tax reductions and subsidies.This also should be complemented by an effort to ensure that local governments compile necessary plans after taking into account the opinions of the private sector, and that the cabinet-not administrative organs that can implement government regulations-accept and approve all such plans.Some government ministries and business circles have opposed the special zone plan, saying that it would amount to a "one-nation, two-systems" formula. However, their objection apparently reflects their determination that the vested interests they represent be afforded the protection they receive under the current system for government regulations.It would not be inappropriate to allow some deregulated regions to temporarily operate under a system distinct from those intact in other areas, if areas in the former category enjoy competitive technology and facilities and can play a leading role in promoting structural reforms. After all, special zones for reforms can fulfill their own purposes only if they enjoy such advantages.Possible problems involved in special zones could be cleared up if thorough measures are taken to disclose information concerning the zones, plans are carefully examined before they are implemented and the progress of such projects is weighed.The prime minister and his aides should take the initiative in the whole process of establishing special zones, beginning with an effort to draw up relevant bills. This is essential to make sure that unprecedented special zones plans live up to the public's expectations, and that bureaucrats and others are not allowed to scuttle the main features of the plans.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	970	2002-06-27	yoshin0020020705dy6r002h0
yomshi0020020628dy6s0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020628dy6s0000f	EN	\N	G-8 agreement an epochal step.	On Wednesday, it was agreed to grant Russia full G-8 membership, a move that would allow the former Soviet republic to join not only political sessions, as in the past, but also economic discussions in the annual three-day gathering. The G-8 nations also agreed that Russia would host the 2006 summit.	8	2002-06-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For years, the G-8 summit has played a leading role in addressing a host of political and economic problems facing the international community. Russia's full membership in the G-8 group will be significant in helping to combat new world threats, including international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.The G-8 decision shows that common ground can be found in the interests pursued by the U.S. and European governments and those of the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has employed a pragmatic approach to diplomacy since the terrorist attacks on the United States in September.Russia's drive for market economyRussia has since fully supported the United States in its antiterrorism campaign. In May, Moscow and Washington signed a strategic nuclear warheads reduction treaty. In addition, Russia and the 19-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed to establish a new NATO-Russia Council that would discuss matters affecting security for the 20 countries, a move that brought Russia into the Western defense alliance as an associate member.The G-8 agreement to give Russia full membership is aimed partly at helping the former communist nation accelerate its drive for a market economy, with the aim of having the nation join the World Trade Organization as soon as possible. It reflected the group's desire to transform Russia into a free economy and a democracy that would serve to stabilize and shore up the global economic system.To live up to such expectations, Russia should carry out structural reforms at home and step up efforts to become a full market economy.Russia should also work earnestly to promote the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including residual nuclear materials in that country.The Kananaskis summit, the first of its kind to be held since Sept. 11, has agreed to form the G-8 Global Parnership, a framework designed to assist Russia in its effort to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction at home. To complement this goal, the G-8 members have also agreed to establish an international institution charged with disposing of surplus plutonium in Russia and other nations.Preventing nuclear nonproliferationThese measures are aimed at preventing weapons of mass destruction and nuclear materials-including nuclear weapons possessed by Russia-from falling into the hands of terrorists. They are also significant in terms of global efforts to preserve the environment.Since 1991, the United States has extended financial aid to Russia aimed at preventing the proliferation of that nation's nuclear weapons. The U.S. government has called on the other G-8 members to donate 10 billion dollars to cover a portion of the 20 billion dollars in funds needed to ensure the nonproliferation of Russian weapons of mass destruction for 10 years to come.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has told the other G-8 leaders that his government would extend 200 million dollars to pay part of the bill. For nearly 10 years, Japan has extended funds for programs aimed at making Russia nuclear-free. However, more than 60 percent of the funds donated by Japan remain unused because of Russia's uncooperative attitude toward that goal.Therefore, it is most important to ensure that the envisaged international organization, which aims to dispose of Russia's surplus plutonium, will be successful. For its part, Russia should fulfill its obligations as a full member of the G-8 group.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	675	2002-06-28	yoshin0020020628dy6s003xz
yomshi0020020701dy6t00065	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020701dy6t00065	EN	\N	Fight 'visible' economic issues.	The world leaders were expected to discuss how to deal with such issues as falling stock prices and the weakening dollar, which shook markets around the world, including those in the United States and Japan, during the summit.	18	2002-06-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, although the global economy was taken up by the meeting, the G-8 leaders failed to discuss these problems in depth and the meeting ended without the adoption of any specific measures on how to address them.Instead, the chairman's statement expressed strong confidence in the prospect of economies of the G-8 countries and the world economy as a whole.At a press conference, Chretien brimmed over with confidence, saying that even Japan, which was suffering from severe economic problems, could look forward to a bright future.Koizumi encouraged by G-8Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, on his part, appears to have become more confident in his own policy, as evidenced by his remarks in the meeting. "There will be no growth without reforms-I remain firm in this. I received warm encouragement from other leaders," he said.But he should not be so naive as to believe that Japan's economic crisis is over.The G-8 leaders' show of confidence in the prospects for global growth is intended to cover up the reality that they were unable to hammer out coordinated policies on the problems they face, such as falling stock prices and the weakening dollar, because of the conflicting interests of individual countries.The weak dollar is a good example of this. Japan says that a weak dollar will adversely affect the business performance of exporters, while the United States and European countries believe this will help their economies, but for different reasons.The United States favors a weak dollar because it will make its exports cheaper. Europe believes it will help control inflation.It was virtually impossible for the G-8 leaders to reach a consensus on how to stop the dollar weakening.Led by the U.S. and Japanese stock markets, stock prices around the world firmed after plunging in midweek, but the situation is still far from reassuring.The dollar has slipped below the psychological barrier of 120 yen.Reforms produce 'invisible' resultsAfter the summit, Koizumi said his economic reforms had already produced some "invisible" results, but unemployment and deflation are "visibly" deteriorating.The June consumer price index in Tokyo's 23 wards dipped for the 33rd straight month on a year-on-year basis. The jobless rate in May hit the second highest figure on record.The Nikkei Stock Average may well fall below the 10,000 yen level if market players believe the G-8 summit has put current economic problems on the back burner.The second package of measures to stimulate the economy, adopted by the Cabinet shortly before the summit, led to the postponement of the introduction of measures to use the tax system to reinvigorate the economy.The package also called for a tightening of the belt in compiling next fiscal year's budget.These policies may hamper the economic recovery and spur deflation.To avoid hindering the export-led economic recovery, speeding up deflation and increasing bad loans, which can be brought about by falling stock prices and the weakening dollar, Koizumi should shift from passive policies to bold measures.In addition, he must hammer out new policies as soon as possible to fight deflation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	615	2002-06-29	yoshin0020020701dy6t000ya
yomshi0020020701dy6u000bg	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020701dy6u000bg	EN	\N	Fresh start on territorial issue.	They also confirmed in the talks on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit that Japan and Russia will continue negotiations on the territorial issue over Russian-held islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan.	8	2002-06-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This will be a starting point for Japan and Russia to reconstruct their bilateral relations.The two countries will hold foreign ministerial and vice ministerial-level talks in the next six months with an eye to the next Japan-Russia summit.The government must do its utmost at those meetings to pave the way for a breakthrough in the territorial dispute.It is important for the government to hold firmly to its principle that all the four islands-Kunashiri, Etorofu and Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets-are inherently Japanese territory, and that its ultimate goal is to get them all returned.2-track formulaThe territorial talks reached a deadlock after the two-track negotiating formula proposed by Japan to separately discuss the return of Shikotan and Habomai, and sovereignty of Kunashiri and Etorofu failed due to differences of opinions.Japan was partly responsible for that. Some people in the country nearly sent the wrong message to Moscow that Tokyo would settle the territorial dispute with the return of only Shikotan Island and Habomai group of islets. It cannot be denied that this lack of unity on the Japanese side may have encouraged Russia, which wanted to end the negotiations with the return of only the two islands.The government should never repeat such a stupid mistake.The return of Habomai and Shikotan islands has already been addressed as even Russia acknowledges the validity of the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration, which specifies the handover of the two islands.The core of the territorial dispute will be to which country Kunashiri and Etorofu islands belong.Distorted diplomacyThere are indications that Muneo Suzuki, who wielded strong influence on the Foreign Ministry, distorted the country's diplomacy toward Russia.Dual diplomacy initiated by the government and ruling party that undermines national interests is not worth discussing.At the G-8 summit, Koizumi and Putin agreed to map out plans to deepen cooperation and designate 2003 "Japan Year" in Russia to promote bilateral exchanges.The government apparently wants to lay the groundwork for negotiations on the four islands through an expansion of financial assistance and cultural exchanges with Russia.It is totally unacceptable if financial assistance is separated from the territorial issue and gradually expanded.The guiding principles in diplomacy toward Russia are resolution of the dispute over the four islands and conclusion of a peace treaty.It is necessary for the government to hammer out scrupulous diplomatic strategies based on these principles and including financial assistance.Territorial negotiations are a collision of national interests.The groundwork has been laid for fresh negotiations between the two countries, but the road to a settlement is still bumpy.The prime minister should take a firm attitude when dealing with Putin based on the presumption that the four islands belong to Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	543	2002-06-30	yoshin0020020701dy6u0017n
yomshi0020020701dy7100008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020701dy7100008	EN	\N	World Cup result mixed.	The 2002 World Cup Korea-Japan ended Sunday, concluding a month of excitement for people around the world.	9	2002-07-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the period, throngs of people took to the streets, excited over the performances of players representing their countries, and cheered on their national teams with singing and dancing.The soccer World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea once again impressed us with how much the sport of soccer is loved by people around the world.Teams new and old shone on fieldThe latest World Cup was characterized by the narrowing of differences among countries, not only in terms of fan support but also in terms of the competence of the teams.Although the final was fought by the two veteran teams of Germany and Brazil, such Asian and African teams as Japan, South Korea and Senegal went on to the round of 16.The good fight put up by teams representing countries outside Europe and South America-considered the twin powerhouses of world soccer-will further boost soccer fever in those nations.Meanwhile, there were no incidents of hooliganism, as originally had been feared. Photos of women and children enjoying the games at stadiums were transmitted to countries around the world. In both Japan and South Korea, various cultural exchange events were held.It should be said that the 2002 World Cup, the first ever held in Asia and cohosted by Japan and South Korea, ended in success, thanks to the strenuous efforts of the players, fans and organizers in the cohosting countries.On the other hand, the response of FIFA, soccer's world governing body, to the ticketing problems that left a large number of seats empty in the early matches hurt the feelings of soccer fans.FIFA turned in shabby performanceWhile it is apparent that the ticketing problem was attributable to the poor handling of ticket distribution by Byrom Inc., FIFA's ticketing representative in Britain, some senior officials of FIFA made remarks blaming the fiasco on the World Cup organizing committees of both Japan and South Korea. This is a disgusting trait of FIFA.With the charges for broadcast rights soaring, it was impossible to broadcast every match on conventional television. Excessive commercialism betrays the expectations of fans. FIFA's self-righteous stance, which runs counter to soccer's increasing popularity worldwide, should be put under scrutiny.Problems related to the poor performance of some referees also caused major repercussions.On the home front, the issue of how to make use of the stadiums constructed for the 2002 World Cup will become a future challenge.Only a few of the 10 newly constructed or renovated stadiums are expected to put their operators in the black. Deficits, including maintenance costs, are projected to total at least 2.5 billion yen a year.It is feared that World Cup facilities, including stadiums, will sap the finances of local governments. Various plans need to be worked out to minimize the losses, such as utilizing the facilities as centers of sports culture.The gala event has ended. While the echoes of excitement remain, it is a matter of urgency that the problems left behind be dealt with.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2002-07-01	yoshin0020020701dy71001jy
yomshi0020020702dy720000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020702dy720000b	EN	\N	No way but upor sideways.	According to the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey, business sentiment remained in negative territory in June but improved for large companies for the first time in 21 months, and for small and medium-sized companies for the first time in 18 months.	8	2002-07-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In particular, the index of business sentiment for large manufacturers improved 20 percentage points from the previous survey taken in March, marking the largest margin of improvement on record.The index of business sentiment has at long last stopped falling because the economy has stopped its downward trend, thanks to rises in exports.Tankan not the whole storyYet the latest survey does not fully take into account the recent rise in the value of the yen and the decline in stock prices. It is important for the government and the central bank to refrain from becoming overly optimistic and to continue their efforts to relieve the national economy of deflationary pressure.The latest survey is characterized by a recovery in business sentiment in export-related sectors. Among large manufacturers, electric machinery makers saw their index of business sentiment improve by 41 percentage points from the previous March survey, and the index of precision machinery manufacturers improved 26 percentage points.Inventory adjustment in the high-tech sector has accelerated around the world, pushing up the nation's exports from the January-March quarter.During the April-June period, industrial production expanded from the previous quarter, with the central bank's latest survey confirming that the economy has bottomed out.Yet domestic demand is still weak and recovery in the consumption-related business sector is slow. In fiscal 2002, large manufacturers plan to cut spending on plant and equipment by 8.9 percent from the previous fiscal year.The Japanese economy has merely entered a phase in which it is like a plane in flight with only one wing functional, and the wing on the other side cut off.Moreover, the latest survey was taken on the basis of an assumed exchange rate of 125 yen to the dollar, not taking into account the current exchange level, with the dollar falling below the 120 yen mark.Should the trend of a stronger yen and a weaker dollar accelerate, the nation's exports will slow down, negatively affecting the pace at which the national economy can free itself from its deflationary trend. Further appreciation of the yen, when coupled with the effect of declines in U.S. stock prices, may lead the economic upturn to falter.Both the government and the central bank need to check the yen from rising too far against the dollar. To this end, they need to explore the possibility of concerted market intervention with other countries, in addition to the dollar-buying intervention already taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, acting on behalf of the Bank of Japan on the U.S. and European markets.It is worrisome that the government has recently begun reinforcing its fiscal reconstruction stance.Tax revamp would be prematureIn its second package of basic policies concerning economic and fiscal management and structural reform, the government has floated the idea of introducing the so-called pro forma standard tax, under which corporate tax is levied on the basis of norms other than profits, such as the number of employees and the amount of capital. This move is apparently in preparation for lowering the effective levy rate for corporate taxation.The idea of a pro forma standard tax is fine, but it should be noted that such tax would increase the burdens on small and medium-sized companies, many of which are in the red.It is more immediately necessary to implement within this fiscal year tax credits for research and investment and for the value of new plant and equipment, which is expected to bring about a quick positive effect. After such a measure is taken and the economy makes a full-fledged recovery-and only then-the government should carefully choose the time for adopting the pro forma standard tax as a business enterprise tax.In 1997, under the cabinet of former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, we already learned the lesson that an impetuously adopted tax-hike policy will only nip an economic recovery in the bud.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	752	2002-07-02	yoshin0020020702dy72005yj
yomshi0020020703dy730000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020703dy730000g	EN	\N	Benefits for jobless overgenerous.	This question is being explored by the Labor Policy Council, an advisory body to the health, labor and welfare minister, which hopes to draw up a report detailing how the issue should be addressed by the end of July.	8	2002-07-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Major focuses of discussions at the panel include the pros and cons of a proposal to raise the ratio of premiums paid by employers and employees. Another focus concerns a review of benefits to be provided for those out of work.The unemployment insurance scheme seeks, first and foremost, to afford workers a stable livelihood and help unemployed people find new work. To ensure that the system serves its purpose, the Labor Policy Council must study ways to more strictly determine whether a person seeking unemployment insurance claims is entitled to such benefits, by determining why the person quit his or her job and whether he or she is willing to take up a new job. This is essential to make sure that the system chiefly aids the people who are finding it difficult to support themselves and their families after becoming unemployed.To give jobless workers unemployment allowances, the system requires both employers and employees to pay premiums equivalent to six-thousandsths of the salaries paid to the workers. Funds raised through such payments are combined with government contributions equal to 25 percent of unemployment benefits given to recipients.Room exists for cost-cuttingThe system has been deficit-ridden since fiscal 1994. To keep it intact, the government has had to use a portion of its surplus funds each year. By the end of fiscal 2003, however, the government could run out of such financial resources that once totaled as much as 4.7 trillion yen. Given these dire circumstances, the government must review the whole system as soon as possible.Undoubtedly, the government has had to pay larger bills for unemployment insurance expenditures than in the past, to cover the growing number of benefit recipients. It should not be forgotten, however, that the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has generously expanded the list of other benefits to those out of work.For example, the government adopted a system four years ago to cover part of the expenses incurred by people who have received training at various educational institutions, including colleges, universities and vocational schools. This system covers up to 80 percent of tuition fees to be paid by a person who has completed programs designated by the ministry. However, jobless trainees account for slightly more than 20 percent of those attending such programs. The remaining trainees are on the corporate payroll.Some critics have said that the system should be replaced by one in which a loan is extended to a person who wants to attend such a program, instead of the government paying up to 80 percent of his or her school fees. It also has been suggested that the government narrow down the list of programs to be covered by its subsidies.These proposals deserve attention and consideration. It is necessary to reform the system in a manner that will truly help jobless people acquire skills needed to find new work.The Labor Policy Council also is discussing other pertinent issues, including a proposal to lower the upper limit of unemployment allowances. Another problem concerns the need to revise a government program established in fiscal 1995 to provide allowances for corporations that keep workers aged 60 to 64 on their payrolls.Raising premium could be riskyThere is a limit to how much the government can pay to aid unemployed people. If it continues to pay jobless workers generous sums in benefits, it will never be able to bring the financially troubled unemployment insurance system back on track.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has said that it must increase the unemployment insurance premium rate to improve the financial condition of the unemployment insurance system. It should be noted, however, that the premium rate was raised 50 percent in April last year. In addition, the ministry is scheduled to raise the premium rate under the health insurance system covering employees at small and middle-sized corporations.Associations of small companies have good reason to insist that an increase in the premium rate could hamper efforts to keep employees on the payroll and create more jobs at a time when they are struggling to reduce their operating costs. In this sense, the government should exert caution in determining whether the premium rate will be raised.The government will not be able to end the current crisis facing the unemployment insurance system, if it seeks to address its financial aspect alone. There is no doubt that the best way to improve the system's balance sheet is to ensure that the current 5 percent jobless rate is never be taken for granted. With this in mind, the government should discuss workable ways to reform the troubled unemployment insurance system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	865	2002-07-03	yoshin0020020703dy730056b
yomshi0020020704dy740000v	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020704dy740000v	EN	\N	Postal bills far from satisfactory.	Still, the agreement poses a great hindrance to private corporations seeking to join the postal market as deliverers of all sorts of mail. There also are concerns that amendments made to the four bills could transform the planned Postal Public Corporation into a bloated behemoth.	16	2002-07-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It also should be noted that the primary goal of reforming the current Postal Services Agency-a state-run enterprise that administers mail delivery, postal savings and life insurance-is to privatize the latter two services. However, Tuesday's agreement should be regarded as a settlement that followed a futile power game between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the LDP's yuseizoku (a group of lawmakers lobbying to protect the interests of government-commissioned post office operators). The latest accord falls far short of accomplishing the postal service reform goal.Legislators should remind themselves that the prime minister's reform campaign seeks, first and foremost, to provide the public with more convenient postal services, when it comes to debating the four revised bills that the government submitted to the House of Representatives on Wednesday.During discussions at the House of Councillors, the government and lawmakers should fully debate what should be done to further deregulate the mail-delivery business. In addition, they should start discussing a thorough reform of the postal savings and life insurance systems as soon as possible.Awkward topics neglected in debatesDuring a series of negotiations on amendments to the bills, the yuseizoku legislators insisted that the legislation be revised to incorporate various provisions that would narrow the territory in which private corporations would be allowed to operate as mail deliverers. They included a measure to exclude direct mail (DM) from the list of postal items that would be delivered by the private sector. For years, the DM delivery has been an extremely profitable service for the government.Although Koizumi rejected these demands, he had to make some concessions to the yuseizoku negotiators. Tuesday's agreement will allow the envisaged Postal Public Corporation to have stakes in private corporations closely tied to mail-delivery services, while also reducing the financial burden to be shouldered by the public corporation in the form of contributions to state coffers.In striving to clear the high hurdle erected by the yuseizoku members and lay a foundation for his reform drive, Koizumi may have had no choice but to accept a compromise. However, it was disturbing that the prime minister and the yuseizoku lawmakers hardly debated what should be done to open up the mail-delivery business as a means of better serving consumer interests and boosting the Postal Public Corporation's business.Both sides merely stubbornly stated their cases without listening to each other's opinions during their negotiations on the four bills, including one on the definition of mail.The bill defining letters, postcards and others incorporates various high hurdles to be cleared by private corporations seeking to enter the mail-delivery market. Requirements include an obligation to set up mailboxes in all parts of the nation and collect and deliver mail six days a week. This caused Yamato Transport Co., a leading door-to-door parcel delivery firm, to abandon its plan to join the mail-delivery business. Earlier, Yamato was seen as a primary candidate for a pioneering position as a private corporation entering the mail-delivery market.Keep planned corporation in checkAnother matter of serious concern is an agreement reached between Koizumi and the LDP's yuseizoku to grant the Postal Public Corporation greater discretion in its operation than initially stipulated in the bill concerning its establishment.It already has been shown that a public corporation that has invested in private firms to set up subsidiaries and sub-subsidiaries can end up producing harmful effects. Japan Highway Public Corporation is the best example in this regard. The Postal Public Corporation should not fall into the same trap. To this end, the upper house should debate workable ways to ensure that the planned corporation will stand by its own guiding principles.All this should be complemented by an effort to make sure that lawmakers will start seriously discussing how to privatize the postal savings and life insurance systems-both central pillars of the postal service reform campaign.Funds raised through these postal businesses amount to an astronomical 360 trillion yen. A good portion of the money goes to public corporations and other organizations in the form of loans and investment programs largely drawn up by bureaucrats.This has helped create a large number of unnecessary projects, while also enabling many retired bureaucrats to take up executive positions at various institutions.It will be impossible to correct the inefficiency of economic and social systems in this country unless measures are taken to eliminate the harmful effects arising from state-controlled lending activities involving the massive funds collected through the postal saving and life insurance systems.Tuesday's agreement will curtail contributions from the Postal Public Corporation-equivalent to corporate taxes paid by private sector companies-to the state coffers. The accord also will exempt the corporation from paying deposit insurance premiums. The planned corporation will not have to meet capital-adequacy requirements either.The emergence of the Postal Public Corporation means that private sector financial institutions will have to fight an even more intense battle in the financial market.Koizumi's postal reform drive will end up pie in the sky unless he successfully reforms the postal savings and life insurance systems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	990	2002-07-04	yoshin0020020704dy7400513
yomshi0020020705dy750000l	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020705dy750000l	EN	\N	Ministry's actions inadequate.	She expressed her intention to return 20 percent of one month's salary to the state coffers.	12	2002-07-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, we wonder if the ministry reflected deeply enough on the incident. Many aspects of the disciplinary measures puzzle us.In the first place, the ministry was extremely slow to take action as nearly two months have passed since the incident took place.In addition, the ministry initially planned to punish those involved on the basis of its internal regulations. However, following instructions by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the ministry included disciplinary measures based on the National Civil Service Law, which are stronger.Concessions made to avoid troubleThis episode clearly illustrates that the ministry will make any concession to avoid trouble.It is also apparent that the disciplinary action taken by the ministry was far from adequate.The consul general was the only one who was punished on the basis of the National Civil Service Law. He was punished for failing to give appropriate instructions because he was not at the consulate general at the time of the incident.However, the ministry's senior officials, who appeared to have failed to respond promptly and appropriately to requests for instructions from the consulate general, were simply punished under the internal regulations.Regarding its reluctance to apply the law in meting out punishments against the diplomats involved, the ministry explained that there had been very few cases in the past in which disciplinary measures had been taken against officials for failing to do their duties.This explanation is far from convincing.The vice consul and other consulate officials failed to show a resolute attitude against the Chinese police officers who entered the compound of the consulate general and forcibly removed the North Korean nationals. Obviously, they were negligent in their duties.Public confidence in the Foreign Ministry has deteriorated significantly following the Shenyang incident. How can trust in foreign affairs be restored if the ministry takes such an attitude toward disciplinary action?Pledge for stronger measuresKawaguchi said she was determinated to take steps to prevent the recurrence of such an incidents by improving the crisis-management system and strengthening security measures. These are measures that should be taken automatically.The Foreign Ministry now must consider what diplomatic policy it should take toward China. It will be vital for the ministry to review what is called the "China School," a group of diplomats specialized in the Chinese language.It has been pointed out that there is a danger the group will adversely affect Japan's diplomatic policy toward China by favoring China's position rather than Japan's national interests.A good example is the dispute over the issuance of visa for former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui. The director of the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at the time attempted to support China's position, even telling an obvious lie that Lee had not submitted a visa application to the Japanese government.It has also been pointed out that Japan has gone to extraordinary lengths not to rock the boat with China in the ministry's handling of the Shenyang incident.It should be remembered that the ministry has yet to resolve the issue of China's violation of international law caused by Chinese police officers entering the consulate general compound. This issue must be clarified.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2002-07-05	yoshin0020020706dy750001k
yomshi0020020709dy7600068	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020709dy7600068	EN	\N	Voters should never be ignored.	It was the second no-confidence motion against a governor in a quarter of a century. In 1976, a motion was passed against the Gifu governor for allegedly accepting a bribe.	16	2002-07-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In this regard, this is a rare case.Since Tanaka took office in the autumn of 2000, the relationship between the governor and the prefectural assembly has been strained on a number of occasions.The feud came to a head after Tanaka expressed his intention late last month to cancel the construction of two dams in the prefecture, angering those promoting the projects.However, Tanaka's "dam-free" policy was not the only cause for the strained relationship. Another major factor was the frustration of the prefectural assembly over the governor's political style, manner and statements, which appeared aimed at drawing attention to himself. The assembly even adopted a resolution calling on the governor to reflect on his deeds and remarks.Tanaka, assembly bid to save faceWhile the animosity on both sides increased as they attempted to save face, they seemed to have forgotten the existence of the people they represent.The passage of the motion will be followed eventually by an election. In this event, political activities in the prefectural assembly will cease to function for a while, and both sides should reflect on the gravity of the situation.Tanaka took into consideration the environmental impact when he adopted his dam-free policy as one of his key goals. The issue does need to be addressed not only from the environmental standpoint but also in regard to reducing wasteful public works projects.However, dams serve to control floods and irrigate farmland. This is why the prefectural assembly and city, town and village mayors challenged the governor over his dam-free policy.The prefectural assembly said the governor should present an alternative plan after he canceled the dam projects.No alternatives to dams offeredAs Tanaka has not offered any alternative plans, he cannot complain about being criticized for abandoning his responsibilities.The governor and members of the Nagano Prefectural Assembly were elected by voters in the prefecture, who expected them to carry out the policies they advocated.Tanaka and the assembly members should explore ways for agreement through talks when they cannot see eye to eye on policies.Policies can only be improved through such a process.It would be arrogant for Tanaka to think that the prefectural assembly would capitulate and go along with his dam-free policy because of his popularity among voters when he was elected.Tanaka did not try to convince the prefectural assembly that the dams were not needed.It is also obvious that prefectural assembly members appear unaware that Tanaka was elected on the strength of the voters' strong discontent with the conventional bureaucrat-controlled governance in the prefecture.After the election, both the governor and the prefectural assembly, which serve as the two divisions of prefectural politics, should keep in mind that the residents they represent cannot and should not be ignored.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	552	2002-07-06	yoshin0020020706dy76000ef
yomshi0020020708dy770005w	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020708dy770005w	EN	\N	Enhance medical openness.	Legislation concerning the disclosure of patients' charts was put off three years ago due to objections from the Japan Medical Association.	9	2002-07-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the time, the Council on Medical Service Facilities under the then Health and Welfare Ministry said the following three years would pave the way toward possible legislation and in effect put the legislation off for three years. At the time, the council said it would study the issue further in line with changes in circumstances.The council put off the legislation in consideration of the opinions of the Japan Medical Association, which emphasized that doctors should be allowed to decide whether to disclose patient's charts.Over the past three years, the number of medical institutions that disclose their patients' charts has been rising steadily. Some hospitals even allow patients to view their chart at any time on a display monitor installed at their bedside.Allowing doctors and patients to share medical information can strengthen their relationships of trust, thus enhancing the quality of medical care.Nonetheless, some doctors have refused to disclose their patients' charts. It is said that not a few of these doctors would disclose their patients' charts under normal circumstances but would not disclose charts to the families of patients who have died.Disclosure not a favorIt is a gross error if doctors do not recognize that the disclosure of charts is a natural right of patients and not a favor bestowed on patients by doctors.The period set to pave the way toward possible legislation on this issue will end within this fiscal year. In light of this, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has launched a panel to study the drafting of legislation and draw up relevant rules.The Japan Medical Association, on its part, issued its own guidelines concerning the disclosure of patients' charts. But it cannot be said that such efforts have been effective with enough doctors.There is no other way but to legally require disclosure of patients' charts.Yet mere disclosure would not be considered enough. The important thing is that the information being disclosed is worth looking at.As there has so far been no unified format for charts, the way the charts are prepared varies among doctors. Some doctors use their own abbreviations, and others scribble their notes on charts in a way that only they could understand.Furthermore, not a few doctors consider their patients' charts nothing more than private memorandums and have no intention of letting others look at them.It is urgently necessary to make efforts to standardize the format of patient's charts by considering them public documents.Alteration not illegalIt is also problematic that there are no penal provisions banning alteration of charts.Under the Medical Practitioners Law, medical practitioners are obliged to draw up patients' charts and store them. Yet the law does not have penal provisions banning alteration of charts.In a recent incident at a hospital affiliated with Tokyo Women's Medical College, a doctor who altered a medical record was arrested. He was arrested because he allegedly attempted to destroy evidence that would proved malpractice.Yet the mere alteration of patients' charts does not now constitute a crime. This can be said to be a loophole of the law.It is also necessary to extend to much longer the legally required period for storage of patients's charts from the current five years.In the cases of those who contracted AIDS through the use of imported blood products tainted with HIV and those who contracted hepatitis through transfusion of tainted blood products, some patients developed full-blown symptoms only several years after they were administered those products, and some of their charts had already been abandoned.Transparency and accountability are strongly sought for medical practitioners and institutions as they are for other fields. We call on those medical institutions that are reluctant to disclose vitally important information to cease operating.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	697	2002-07-07	yoshin0020020708dy77005p6
yomshi0020020708dy780000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020708dy780000c	EN	\N	1997's Asian economic legacy.	Five years have passed since then. In East Asian countries, domestic financial systems are being reorganized and improved, and now include reinforced government supervision and inspection systems for banking institutions.	8	2002-07-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Such efforts are being made in the belief that the 1997 financial crisis stemmed from the underdeveloped state of financial systems in these countries, which allowed a massive influx and exodus of short-term speculative hedge funds from abroad.Many of these crisis-hit countries have since shifted to more flexible currency exchange systems such as floating exchange rates, as they concluded that the currency exchange system hitherto used, under which their currencies were pegged to the dollar, was ironically a key factor undermining the stability of their currency exchange rates during the crisis.Talks are now under way between such countries and Japan over concluding bilateral accords whereby countries would extend funds to each other when one temporarily faces a sizable shortage of foreign currency.Thanks to these policy efforts, East Asian countries have recovered much stability in their currencies and financial markets, while their foreign currency reserves have increased and debts owed to foreign countries have dropped.Regional risks remainYet it is too early to sit back and relax. The economic recovery of East Asian nations depends much on increases in their exports to the United States, whose own economy has been shaken, sending a warning signal to the region.The reinforcement of their financial institutions and improvements in their stock and bond markets are not yet sufficient.There are fears that if speculative money, directed by internationally active hedge fund operators, makes an exodus from the U.S. market and shifts into the money market in East Asia, economic turmoil could break out all over again.The Finance Ministry's Council on Customs Tariffs and Foreign Exchange and Other Transactions emphasized in its report compiled on Friday that each country should expedite its efforts to reinforce its domestic financial system in several ways: by having banking institutions disclose more information and improving managerial capability, by improving the financing of small and medium-sized companies, and by improving the state of the domestic market for government and corporate bonds. Japan should cooperate with these countries in these respects, the council added.The report also said that it is desirable for the present currency exchange systems of these countries, which include both floating exchange mechanisms and dollar-pegged exchange systems, to be shifted to one in which their currencies are pegged to a basket of three major currencies: the dollar, the yen and the euro.Japan must put own house in orderAmong these measures, more than a few appear useful to the stability and recovery of these regions. Yet as long as Japan itself remains a factor posing risks to East Asian economies, Japan's call on other countries to cooperate in implementing these measures will not be convincing.Japan needs to free itself from deflationary pressure, dispel concern over its financial system and realize an economic recovery led by domestic demand so as to assure the stable growth of East Asian economies.In contrast to the frail state of the Japanese economy, China's economy is brisk.While enjoying annual economic growth of over 7 percent in recent years, China has been liberalizing its markets, taking advantage of its new membership in the World Trade Organization, and rapidly establishing a presence as a key export country for other East Asian countries.Yet China also is burdened with serious domestic problems, including an increase in the number of jobless people. Excessive dependence on China could add a new element of uncertainty to East Asian economies.It follows that the revival of the Japanese economy is important for balanced economic growth in this region.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2002-07-08	yoshin0020020708dy780060t
yomshi0020020709dy790000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020709dy790000e	EN	\N	Clamp down on bid rigging.	The number of bid rigging cases that led the Fair Trade Commission to impose legal measures, including fines, reached 33 in fiscal 2001, up from 10 cases in the previous fiscal year.	8	2002-07-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The increase in bid rigging cases demonstrates that countermeasures taken by the central and local governments have not functioned efficiently.Bid rigging cases that involve public officials-those who place orders with the private sector-are also increasing. Such cases are detrimental to the interests of taxpayers, and the active involvement of public officials in bid rigging is a betrayal of trust that makes such scandals all the more heinous.Public officials must be accountableWith the aim of eliminating such unsavory relations between the pubic and private sectors, the three ruling coalition parties-the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Hoshuto (New Conservative Party)-have submitted a bill to prevent the entanglement of public officials in bid rigging to the current ordinary Diet session.Lawmakers should speedily pass the bill, which would be a breakthrough in the elimination of bid rigging. At the same time, countermeasures against big rigging should urgently be overhauled.The bill would empower the head of a government body to impose punitive measures on, and demand compensation from, public officials when it becomes clear that such officials were involved in big rigging. The bill also would allow the FTC to have public offices change their bidding systems.Under the current Antimonopoly Law, contractors involved in bid rigging are punished but those who placed the orders are not held responsible. The bill is designed to remedy this legal inadequacy.In bid rigging cases revealed in spring 2000 over agriculture-related civil engineering projects by the branch office of the Hokkaido prefectural government overseeing Asahikawa and surrounding municipalities, prefectural government officials were systematically involved with private companies in the cases.Officials of the prefectural government's agriculture department were reportedly involved in the process of deciding who should win the contract-and companies hiring retired prefectural government officials received favorable treatment in winning orders.Bill sends the right messageThe bill merely recognizes the importance of holding public officials responsible, and in this sense it is not an almighty tool to prevent the bid rigging in which public officials and private companies are systematically connected.However, if the bill becomes a law, it will lead to heightened awareness on the part of central and local government officials. The lure of bid rigging in local areas and among private companies is strong. Unless there is change on the side that does the ordering, corrupt practices cannot be rooted out.According to the results of a survey compiled by the FTC late last month, many local governments have enhanced their own countermeasures, including widening the types of projects to be covered by general open bidding and increasing the amount of compensation sought from those who carried out bid rigging.On the other hand, many local governments also maintain systems to give favorable treatment to local companies in selecting contractors for public works. There are many issues that need to be addressed.The central and local governments first should take firm stances to never tolerate bid rigging. This is one efficient way to prevent this insidious practice.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	598	2002-07-09	yoshin0020020710dy790021z
yomshi0020020710dy7a0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020710dy7a0000a	EN	\N	It's time for Tanaka to fess up.	The ruling and opposition parties reached a basic agreement to ask Tanaka to explain the alleged misuse at the House of Representative's Political Ethics Council. Although the council normally convenes behind closed doors, it likely will hold an open meeting this time.	8	2002-07-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Three months already have passed since the allegation was reported in several weekly magazines. There is no denying that the Diet has dragged its feet in tackling the issue. But now that the Diet has officially decided to question Tanaka at the council, we hope the facts of the case will be revealed.Tanaka has told the council's chairman, Seisuke Okuno, that she will appear before the council. Given that she has flatly denied misusing her secretaries' salaries, it is a matter of course for Tanaka to take this opportunity as a Diet member to refute the allegation and clear her name.LDP's censure a slap on the wristIn connection with the allegation, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party suspended Tanaka's party membership for two years because she refused to cooperate with the party's probe into her alleged wrongdoing and because she violated a party regulation by failing to support an LDP-backed candidate in an April by-election.The LDP maintains that "the two-year suspension of party membership is a severe punishment, and the LDP has clearly taken a firm line against the alleged misuse" of the secretaries' salaries.However, it does not follow that the matter has been cleared up. The truth of the affair still remains a mystery.For example, the secretaries were transferred from a company with links to Tanaka. The salaries allegedly were disbursed after being paid into the company's account. It is suspected that the amount of salary that the secretaries should have received from the Diet was larger than the amount they actually received from the company.Why did Tanaka operate such a complicated scheme for paying her secretaries? Why were the secretaries not given a leave of absence by their original employer while they were working for Tanaka? Were their salaries properly dealt with under the Political Funds Control Law?Many such questions remain unanswered. However, Tanaka has so far refused to hand over relevant documents and has made equivocal remarks in reference to the case in an attempt to throw the media and her fellow lawmakers off the scent. She has never volunteered a satisfactory explanation on the matter.No more room for prevaricationThis is why the council's planned meeting has attracted attention. The truth of the matter must be revealed through Tanaka's testimony. If necessary, people connected to the company that dispatched the secretaries and the secretaries themselves should be questioned.So far, both the ruling and opposition parties have been hesitant to pursue the matter because of Tanaka's high popularity among the public. To recover their reputation, the parties should do their best to discover the truth.Tanaka should respond in a straightforward manner to questions put during the session. The scandal involves taxpayers' money. If she wants to vindicate herself, she should not refuse to provide necessary documents or try to duck questions.During the current ordinary Diet session, many scandals in connection with lawmakers' secretaries have surfaced. Some lawmakers even resigned from the Diet to take responsibility. For Tanaka, cooperation with the council is the first step toward fulfilling her responsibility.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2002-07-10	yoshin0020020711dy7a004e1
yomshi0020020711dy7b0000z	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020711dy7b0000z	EN	\N	Throw the book at the hijackers.	Since the mid-1980s, they frequently have spoken about their wish to come home. However, the latest move is seen as a step forward in that they reportedly have started preparations to ask the Foreign Ministry to issue them the travel permits necessary for their return to Japan.	16	2002-07-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Meanwhile, although one of the members reportedly said he was ready to risk arrest upon returning to his home country, the four have demanded negotiations with the Japanese government prior to their return.We regret to say that they are completely deluded in this respect. The four men fail to understand the reality, which is that they are criminal suspects who are on an international wanted list.A thorn in Pyongyang's side?Until now, the hijackers have repeatedly demanded lenient treatment from Japan, insisting that the government agree not to prosecute them or requesting that they be allowed to return to Japan on humanitarian grounds.It was natural for the government to have ignored the hijackers' demands. Needless to say, they should be prepared to face trial and be punished under the law as a prerequisite for their return to this country.Explaining why they want to return to Japan, the four said the international community views North Korea as a state sponsoring terrorism because it is harboring them.Many observers believe that this explanation echoes the thinking of the North Korean authorities.North Korea is on the United States' list of states sponsoring terrorism. It may be true that the hijackers are no longer useful for Pyongyang and are hindering the country's efforts to improve relations with the United States and Japan.The four face many criminal charges, including hijacking and robbery resulting in injury. After their return to Japan, investigators must institute legal proceedings against them expeditiously. The statute of limitations for the four has been suspended as they have been on the run abroad, so there is no problem in bringing criminal charges against them.Light may be cast on abductionsInvestigators also will be tasked with resolving the alleged abduction of Japanese nationals. Kimihiro Abe, one of the four hijackers, is believed to have been involved in the suspected kidnapping by a North Korean agent of Keiko Arimoto, who went missing in 1983 in Britain, where she was studying. The National Police Agency is preparing to put him on the international wanted list.According to the testimony of a former wife of one of the hijackers, one of the nine hijackers instructed them to "find and grab a Japanese who can become part of the core of a revolution," saying the order came from Pyongyang.In addition, Yodo hijackers are suspected to have engaged in other espionage acts because they often left the country using North Korean diplomatic passports.In the 32 years after the hijacking, three of the nine hijackers have died, one is on trial and another left prison after completing his term.Even if the remaining four successfully return home, there are Japanese who remain abducted. It is essential to thoroughly uncover the truth behind all the suspicions that have been raised in connection with the abductions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	563	2002-07-11	yoshin0020020715dy7b005vc
yomshi0020020712dy7c00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020712dy7c00007	EN	\N	It's too soon to be complacent.	The government upgraded its assessment in its monthly report on the state of the economy in July. In its May report, the government declared the economy had "bottomed out," an assessment it maintained in its June report. But the July report stated that "recovery movements can be seen in some areas."	12	2002-07-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The upgraded assessment was based on a significant increase in exports, mainly to other Asian countries, and signs that the decline in capital investment is likely to bottom out in the future.However, falling stock prices and the depreciation of the U.S. dollar increased uncertainty over the global economy. Therefore, there remains a risk that the economy will begin deteriorating again.To realize a full-fledged economic recovery from the current signs, the government should not relax its policies at this stage, but continue forging ahead.Export assessment upgradedThe July report also upgraded its assessment of exports. Whereas the June report referred to "increases" in exports, the July report said exports were showing "large increases." It also said industrial production began showing signs of an insipient recovery in all sectors, instead of "certain areas" as in the June report.As for capital investment, which continues to decline, the report said there were signs that this was bottoming out, suggesting that the worst would be over shortly.Yet, under the severe income and employment situations, personal consumption has yet to show indications of a full-fledged recovery. As far as public investment is concerned, the second supplementary budget in fiscal 2001 has had a favorable effect on the economy to some extent. However, the impact of this investment is expected to tail off in autumn.While the government has been unable to stop the vicious cycle of deflation and the ever-increasing nonperforming loans, the weak yen helped increase exports. But now the yen is becoming stronger.If Japanese stock prices continue to fall whenever there is a plunge in U.S. stocks, the country might be hit by another financial crisis.What concerns us now is the government's inclination to adopt a belt-tightening policy.The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy wants to compile an austere budget for fiscal 2003 and introduce a new corporate tax formula based on the size of business. This stance reminds us of a situation five years ago, when the economy slowed down because of a series of hasty policies, including cuts in budgetary allocations for public projects and raising the consumption tax from 3 percent to 5 percent.Keep fiscal policy neutralWe believe that fiscal policy should remain neutral toward an economy on the verge of recovery.Tax reforms must be carried out to invigorate the corporate sector, and deregulation should be promoted to encourage private business. With deflation in the wings, it is essential to continue and strengthen the easy-money policy.The freeze on the so-called payoff system-the limit on guaranteed deposit payments from failed financial institutions of up to 10 million yen in principal and accrued interest-will be lifted next April. Now, deposits are continuing to flow out of regional financial institutions.In response to this, the Financial Services Agency came up with a proposal to raise the guaranteed deposit payout to more than 10 million yen for regional financial institutions planning to merge.Such an exceptional measure is unavoidable in order to stop making fund transfers from regional banks and to ensure that depositors do not suffer from unpredictable damage.However, we should not become too complacent simply because the economy is showing signs of an upturn after bottoming out. What needs to be done must be done in preparation for any volatility in the future.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2002-07-12	yoshin0020020715dy7c004k1
yomshi0020020715dy7d0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020715dy7d0000d	EN	\N	Standardize air traffic rules.	The near-miss occurred because an air traffic control trainee ordered the pilot of Flight 907 to descend, when he should have ordered the pilot of the other plane to descend. The pilot of Flight 907 followed the controller's order, even though the computerized Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) instructed the pilot to climb.	16	2002-07-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The major point made in the recommendations was that when instructions from an air controller differ from those of the TCAS, the pilot should always follow instructions from the TCAS.The Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission also recommended that the International Civil Aviation Organization revise its regulations so as to incorporate a similar principle.The commission spent 1! years on its investigation into the incident, a period that should not be considered too long when similar serious incidents in the past are examined.Collision might have been avertedIf the panel had made its recommendations to the ICAO earlier and if other countries had drawn lessons from the near-miss between the two JAL planes, the midair collision between a passenger plane and a cargo jet over Germany on July 1 might have been averted.The collision is said to have been caused when the pilot of the Russian passenger plane followed the orders of the air traffic controller to descend, rather than those of the TCAS to climb.However, we cannot fault a pilot if he fails to follow the instructions of the TCAS when he is required to make a snap decision.The problem is that, except for such countries as the United States and Britain, there are no set rules on which instruction a pilot should follow when the TCAS and the air controller issue contradictory instructions.Such rules are not found in the ICAO's regulations, which members of the organization follow, and they have not been adopted by Japan.Equipping passenger planes with the TCAS only became obligatory in Japan in January last year.The latest instruments are being installed in cockpits and air traffic control centers one after another. Yet, it seems that the basic issue is how can human beings keep up with and operate these machines properly.International regulations neededThe ICAO should expedite its efforts to draw up international regulations by resolving relevant problems, including those related to sophisticated equipment. Japan, as a leading member of the international body, needs to take the initiative in tackling the issue, together with the United States and European countries.The final report contains vivid accounts from witnesses, including those of the two JAL captains, who commented "the other plane almost filled the flight deck window" and "it (the other plane) came so close that I thought it would snag my tail."With demand for air travel increasing, the skies are certain to become more crowded. It is, therefore, difficult to dispel concern that a similar incident will occur.However, the principle that human beings should prevent air accidents from occurring remains unchanged. It is essential to improve the scope of qualification tests for air controllers and pilots and enhance their training.The environment for air traffic also needs to be improved as early as possible, by, for example, creating double-track lanes for air traffic going in one direction, or keeping to one-way traffic lanes.It also might be necessary for Japan's civil aviation authorities to improve the coordination of air traffic zones of control with such entities as the U.S. forces in Japan.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13 ).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	628	2002-07-13	yoshin0020020715dy7d001pi
yomshi0020020713dy7e0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020713dy7e0005s	EN	\N	Diet evading defense duty.	We refer to the stance of both the ruling and opposition parties concerning Diet deliberation of bills on dealing with emergencies, including the government's planned responses to foreign armed attacks on Japan.	8	2002-07-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the past month, there was only one day when the Diet discussed the bills. Moreover, it remains uncertain when the next deliberation will be held.There are only a little more than two weeks to go before the end of the current Diet session, which was extended but to little avail.The ruling parties are said to have decided to have the House of Representatives carry the bills over to the next Diet session for further deliberation.Both sides responsible for delayThe current standstill stems not only from the opposition parties' objections to the bills. It also has much to do with trouble the government and the ruling parties have brought on themselves.Public distrust of the Defense Agency mounted over its inappropriate handling of private data on individuals seeking disclosure of information.The ruling coalition failed to remain coherent in its stance on how to manage Diet affairs, for instance, by canceling the original schedule of public hearing on the bills.Meantime, such minimizing remarks as "There is no need to hurry" on the deliberation of the bills were repeatedly made even within the Liberal Democratic Party.The legislation, with which the nation prepares itself for emergencies, is essential for a country governed by laws.The pending bills may not be sufficient on their own but nonetheless would constitute the first step forward for the nation to get ready for contingencies.It should be said that both Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the top executive members of the ruling parties, who have not displayed any strong leadership in realizing the passage of the bills through the current Diet, should be held heavily responsible.The ruling parties have given up on passing the bills into law even during this extended Diet session chiefly because they have given higher priority to the passage of other key bills, including those related to the postal services.Even so, it is irresponsible to put off the Diet deliberation of the government-sponsored bills without working to increase the prospects of passage in the next session.It is necessary to chart a clear course for the remainder of the current session to ensure that the bills pass into law in the next Diet session without fail.Minshuto could be brought aboardMinshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has made clear its stance of supporting, in principle, the idea of enhancing readiness to deal with a national crisis.Katsuya Okada, chairman of Minshuto's Policy Research Council, has listed in his party's written interpellation to the government what the party sees as the problems of the bills.Among them, "There should be a clause stipulating that the government's responses to foreign armed attacks on the nation should be ended by actions such as a Diet resolution." Such an idea deserves further study, creating some room for the ruling parties and the largest opposition party to come into accord.Minshuto has consistently refused to participate in the talks to modify the contingency bills that the ruling party has proposed.Apparently lying behind this refusal is the party's intention to shake up the Koizumi administration by killing the bills. Besides, there is said to be concern within the party that if it agrees to talks to modify the bills, the existing rift among its members-between those originally from the former Japan Socialist Party and those from conservative parties-will grow wider, thus influencing the outcome of the party presidential election slated for autumn.Legislation on responses to contingencies, which could affect the existence of the nation, should not be placed at the mercy of any party's benefit.Included in the bills is a proposal to come up with, within two years, legislative measures to deal with specific aspects of Japan's responses to a foreign armed attack, including those designed to ensure people's safety and rights in case of emergencies.Even if the contingency bills are to be carried over to the next Diet session, the government should expedite its efforts to map out legislative measures to deal with specific aspects of the nation's responses to contingencies.Presenting to the public the overall picture of the contingency bills early would help win people's understanding for the bills.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14 ).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	758	2002-07-14	yoshin0020020716dy7e006sb
yomshi0020020715dy7g000b9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020715dy7g000b9	EN	\N	Plan 2003 budget with care.	The fiscal 2002 budget was part and parcel of an attempt by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to promote structural reforms. There are numerous tasks to be tackled by Koizumi in devising a budget for his second year as prime minister.	7	2002-07-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi must continue to implement drastic cuts in government expenditures in all areas, including those in fiscal spending for public corporations. Another important task is to thoroughly review public works projects. These measures constitute major pillars of his reform campaign.With all this in mind, the prime minister must think about what his administration should do to end the current deflationary crisis facing the nation.The Koizumi government has defined the current and next fiscal year as an important "adjustment period" in which it is working intensively to make headway in writing off nonperforming loans while also trying to pull the country out of its deflationary crisis. It is no exaggeration to say that the success-or a lack of it-in achieving Koizumi's structural reforms as a whole will hinge on whether he is able to accomplish these targets.Still, it is difficult to say that the Koizumi administration is firmly determined to end the deflationary crisis when it comes to drawing up the next fiscal budget.Bond cap a stumbling blockIn formulating the fiscal 2002 budget, the administration sought to cap the issuance of new government bonds at 30 trillion yen. The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has said that the government should stand by this restrictive policy in drawing up the fiscal 2003 budget. The panel is also set to ensure that government expenditures for fiscal 2003 will fall below the fiscal 2002 levels.Koizumi's pledge to limit the issuance of government bonds to 30 trillion yen or less has symbolized his effort to reform the nation's fiscal structure. He translated this target into action under the fiscal 2001 budget. However, this restrictive policy produced harmful results rather than favorable achievements.For example, the Koizumi government found it impossible to halt the decline in economic conditions because of the 30 trillion yen cap, which restricted the administration's ability to raise revenues for improving the economy. The government's failure to adequately address the problem served to produce a vicious circle of worsening business performance and reduced tax revenues.Under those circumstances, the government is certain to suffer revenue shortfalls in fiscal 2001 when it completes a balance sheet for that year, largely due to a drop in its revenues from corporate taxes. All the blame falls on the Koizumi administration, which was obviously mistaken in sizing up economic conditions.Learn from last budget's mistakesThe current belt-tightening budget is hardly designed to improve the economy. Despite its promise to overcome the deflationary crisis, the Koizumi administration has put off dealing with problems involved in encouraging the economy. The same folly must not be repeated in compiling the budget for fiscal 2003.Some recent economic indicators have shown that the Japanese economy is putting the worst behind it and improving gradually.However, the government cannot afford to relax its vigilance on the economy now. There still are many worries, including unsettling elements of the U.S. economy and the rising value of the yen.There are encouraging signs of economic recovery. Now is the time for the government to put together workable measures to improve the economy, including reform of the fiscal and tax systems. In this sense, the Koizumi administration must make sure that the fiscal 2003 budget is drafted in a manner that will adequately address the problems of encouraging the economy. This is essential to correctly judge economic conditions and carry out resolute measures needed to improve the economy.The Koizumi administration should show the public that it stands determined to honor its promise to end the deflationary crisis.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	680	2002-07-16	yoshin0020020716dy7g0069i
yomshi0020020717dy7h00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020717dy7h00007	EN	\N	Don't let lobbyists make policy.	But we wonder whether the guidelines will be able to eliminate inappropriate ties between politicians and bureaucrats.	8	2002-07-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The effectiveness of the guidelines will depend on how the new rules are implemented.The issue of the relationship between lawmakers and bureaucrats emerged as one of the most important items on the agenda in the current Diet session following the revelation of House of Representatives member Muneo Suzuki's inappropriate involvement in Foreign Ministry affairs and a series of money-for-favor scandals involving Diet members' secretaries.Under the new rules, a ministry official will be asked to report to his or her minister, senior vice minister or a parliamentary secretary if a lawmaker or a lawmaker's secretary pressurizes the official to work in their favor. Bureaucrats are also asked to keep records of requests they receive from lawmakers. The records must be disclosed upon request.The introduction of the new rules will make it more difficult than at present for lawmakers to file petitions and requests by taking advantage of their positions, a kind of practice they would not want to be disclosed. If bureaucrats maintain a resolute attitude and implement the new rules properly, they are expected to prevent politicians from exerting influence over bureaucrats to certain degree.'Substantive' exchanges not definedHowever, the guidelines are insufficient in certain respects. Bureaucrats will be asked to keep records only on individual administrative procedures, such as decisions and approvals of the provision of subsidies. Personnel affairs, for instance, will not be subject to the new rules.The envisaged guidelines also will contain a provision stating that when making a record of a "substantive" conversation, the bureaucrat must confirm the lawmaker's intention. However, it is not spelled out how a bureaucrat is supposed to determine whether a conversation is "substantive."If a bureaucrat asked a lawmaker to confirm the substance of their conversation, the politician might demand that the official omit certain parts of it to conceal evidence of his or her inappropriate intervention.If certain parts of a conversation were deleted from the record at the request of a lawmaker, any pressure that actually had been exerted would end up having no effect because the bureaucrat would not act on it. But on the other hand, the politician might seek to have parts of the record deleted as a way of evading responsibility.The guidelines were drawn up based on an agreement within the ruling coalition parties.Some members in the Liberal Democratic Party, however, reportedly claim that the implementation of the new guidelines will not drastically change the current practice. If that is the case, public distrust in politics likely will intensify.Ministers must be on their mettleThe new rules also will stipulate that ministers and others must deal responsibly with inappropriate requests by lawmakers that are significantly at variance with government policies.In this respect, senior vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries will have to be particularly aware of their responsibilities. One of their primary duties is to liaise between the Diet and government offices. They are expected to function as the official channel between lawmakers and bureaucrats.It also will be important to review the system under which government-sponsored bills need to be approved by ruling parties before they are submitted to the Diet. The practice is believed to help Diet members lobbying on behalf of certain industries and ministries wield clout.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and some LDP members are aiming at centralizing policymaking power in the Cabinet, following the British example.Because the Japanese political framework is completely different from the British one, it will not be easy to introduce a similar centralized policymaking system. Yet it is also true that the current system is beset by many acute problems. Taking this as a good opportunity, discussions on how to consolidate policymaking should be deepened within the government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2002-07-17	yoshin0020020717dy7h005hb
yomshi0020020717dy7i00062	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020717dy7i00062	EN	\N	Political fund reform needed.	This is certainly a good opportunity to review how political funds should be dealt with.	16	2002-07-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The panel proposed that companies that have received administrative punishment due to irregularities in biddings for contracts be banned from making political donations for a certain period. It also called for donations from party chapters to politicians' political fund-control organizations to be restricted.The group originally was launched by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to examine the possibility of restricting donations from companies that win contracts for public works projects.On this particular point, the panel called for setting ceilings on donations from such companies if the proportion of public works contracts they win against the total number of biddings they take part in exceeds a certain level. The panel recommended that companies that win more than 50 percent of the biddings for public works contracts in which they participate be allowed to donate no more than half of the legally specified maximum.We believe this proposal is worth examining.In connection with the same issue, opposition parties have submitted to the House of Representatives a bill centering on a proposal to limit the number of party chapters that are entitled to receive political donations from corporations and organizations.We urge both the ruling and opposition parties to deal seriously with this matter.Politicians exploiting loophole in lawThey also must address how to deal with donations from businesses and organizations to party chapters.Businesses and organizations were banned from making political donations to individual policymakers in 2000. Since then, the amount of donations to party chapters from businesses and organizations has shot up. According to reports on political funds in 2000, though the total amount of political donations from businesses and organizations declined from the previous year, the amount of donations extended to party chapters, mainly LDP chapters, increased fivefold.It should be noted that many LDP chapters are virtually indistinguishable from LDP members' supporters organizations. For example, they often are headed by LDP Diet members. It is also true that the political donations that the chapters have received from businesses were funneled into political fund-control organizations in not a few cases. In other words, the chapters are used to get around the law.Scandals reveal graft widespreadJunior members of the LDP and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) recently released reports on political funds. The reports indicated that as far as office and personnel expenses were concerned, it was unclear whether the money was actually spent on party chapters or individuals.Taking this point into account, it would make sense to regulate flows of funds from party chapters to individual politicians.Some LDP members have criticized the proposal to restrict donations from companies that win contracts for public works projects, claiming that such an idea is unrealistic.However, the series of scandals that have surfaced during the current Diet session have made it clear that some Diet members are peddling influence to get money. In this respect, it is essential to seek appropriate ways to regulate donations from the private sector. We urge the government to take concrete steps in response to the panel's proposal.Political activities inevitably require a certain level of funding. While bearing that in mind, it is imperative that flows of such money be made transparent. Ensuring this will help eliminate the public distrust in politics.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2002-07-18	yoshin0020020719dy7i00544
yomshi0020020719dy7j00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020719dy7j00007	EN	\N	Move ahead on N-waste site.	Major industrialized countries are planning to store this hazardous waste hundreds of meters underground but they still face serious problems.	12	2002-07-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The United States, the world's largest producer of nuclear energy, has formally decided on its first nuclear waste burial site, clearing a massive hurdle toward resolving its own problems in this respect.In Japan, where a similar project has been seriously delayed, there have been new developments. The Nuclear Safety Commission released a report Thursday on geological conditions that are not suited for the burial of nuclear waste.Nuclear power generates about one-third of the electricity used in Japan. As long as the country reaps the benefits of nuclear energy, it is necessary to move ahead steadily with a nuclear waste storage plan.Protect human environmentSpent nuclear fuel, generated after the fuel was burned at nuclear power plants, contains high-level radioactive waste.As it takes thousands of years for the radioactivity in nuclear waste to decline to safe levels, it is necessary to isolate the hazardous waste to protect the human environment.The plan to store the waste underground has been contrived so that the burden of waste-management would not be left for future generations to deal with.While some countries dispose of spent nuclear waste, other nations attempt to reprocess waste into depleted uranium and plutonium and then dispose of the residue in a "vitrified form." The United States exemplifies the former group, and Japan the latter group.The U.S. government, which launched its nuclear waste storage plan 20 years ago, decided on Nevada's Yucca Mountain as the waste burial site after many twists and turns. U.S. President George W. Bush endorsed this plan in February.Local residents in Nevada fiercely opposed the plan and Gov. Kenny Guinn, R-Nev., invoked his veto power. However, Bush's decision was supported by the U.S. House of Representatives in May and the Senate this month, so the plan will go ahead.The United States is the second country to have decided on an ultimate waste storage site after Finland, which reached its decision last year. The United States plans to make the Yucca Mountain site operational in 2010.Earmarking funds for disposalIn Japan, a law stipulating the basic policy on nuclear waste disposal was enacted two years ago, while the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) was established to operate the disposal project.In preparation for future needs, the nation's power-generating companies began earmarking funds for future disposal costs.The biggest challenge for Japan lies in the selection of the disposal site.Thanks to thorough research carried out by such organizations as the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC), a number of geological formations have been discovered that are expected to remain stable for 100,000 years.Starting in autumn, NUMO plans to launch a selection process for a nuclear waste site by inviting local governments to offer a candidate site in their areas.Meantime, the JNC has begun construction of a research facility in Gifu Prefecture in which rock in deep strata and the flow of underground water will be studied so as to help find a safe burial site for nuclear waste.We must be prepared to wait a long time for the relevant studies and safety assessments to be made, as well as to win understanding from the general public.We should go ahead step by step and avoid putting off problems to a later date.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	607	2002-07-19	yoshin0020020719dy7j005ei
yomshi0020020719dy7k00061	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020719dy7k00061	EN	\N	Eliminate influence-peddling.	The law, proposed by the ruling coalition parties of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Hoshuto (New Conservative Party), concerns the punishment of officials who intercede in government affairs on behalf of businesses.	16	2002-07-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the closing phase of the current Diet session, which has been rocked by an unprecedented number of money-related scandals, the nation's political world has at last assumed part of its responsibility.Needless to say, this alone will not be sufficient to dispel public distrust in politics. Political parties and politicians must straighten themselves out and do their best to win back public trust. At the same time, they need to move ahead with political reforms to ensure such irregularities do not occur again.The original law, which bans Diet members and their state-funded secretaries from receiving remuneration in return for influencing government officials on behalf of businesses, was enacted in November 2000.Revised law filled loopholeThe law was amended in less than two years, chiefly because the then representative of the office of former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato was arrested on a charge of tax evasion, bringing to light a loophole whereby Diet members' privately hired secretaries were not subject to punishment.With the latest amendment, the law has broadened the scope of officials who can be charged with illegal influence-peddling as "those who aid the political activities" of Diet members. Naturally, the intercession of private-funded secretaries in government affairs on behalf of businesses will be subject to punishment.Under the amended law, however, secretaries of local assembly members and heads of local governments are not subject to punishment. As governmental functions become more decentralized, administrative powers over public works will shift from the central government to local governments. In light of such a development, the revised law should be amended again, if necessary.To prevent influence-peddling activities from recurring, it is important to clarify the responsibility of Diet members in regard to scandals involving their secretaries.When secretaries intercede in government affairs on behalf of businesses they usually do so with the support of lawmakers. Government officials, who are targets of influence-peddling, generally consider these actions to have been taken by "Diet members and their secretaries working in unison."Legislators likely to blame aidesHowever, many legislators are certain to blame their secretaries when scandals come to light. This should no longer be permitted.Influence-peddling is not limited to the former representative of Kato's office and to House of Representatives member Muneo Suzuki, who has been indicted on charges of receiving money in return for his influence. This kind of action is prevalent throughout the political world.According to a survey of unionized national public servants, 20 percent of officials at government ministries and agencies have in the past three years been targeted by influence-peddling politicians or their secretaries, who wanted some sort of permission, licensing or subsidies granted by their offices.It cannot be denied that the reflection of the public's voice on the central government is an important political activity.However, being compensated for wielding influence over government officials on behalf of individuals or corporations cannot be considered a genuine political activity. All politicians need to bear this in mind.Such long-held practices among voters to seek the help of politicians in having relatives admitted to school, obtain a job or find a spouse have led to increased influence-peddling practices. With the passage of the revised law, voters also need to change their mind-set.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2002-07-20	yoshin0020020723dy7k0061t
yomshi0020020722dy7l000gu	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020722dy7l000gu	EN	\N	Help financial consumers.	A private panel advising Hakuo Yanagisawa, state minister in charge of financial policy, has compiled a report on what the nation's financial system should be like in the future.	8	2002-07-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the burden of nonperforming loans, the nation's banks have lost their ability to take risks, and it has become difficult to maintain indirect financing mainly in the form of loans. As its main point, the report called for creating a double-track system in which indirect financing would be complemented by direct financing, with the latter playing a greater role in the market than in the past.To realize sustainable economic growth in this country, a market-based finance model would be effective because such a mechanism would ensure that risks involved are spread among more market players. The issue is what kinds of strategies will be compiled to realize such a model.Self-reforms crucialWhat is important is self-reform of banks and securities companies as well as creation of an appropriate environment by the government, including reviewing the taxation system and financing operations by government-affiliated financial institutions.In postwar Japan, indirect financing predominated. However, now that risks of making bad loans have increased and the value of collateral has fallen, banks have become unwilling to assume new risks by lending to growing companies.Unless the role of direct financing, in which funds are procured from securities markets, is enhanced, the paralysis of the nation's financial system will never end. Current circumstances no longer allow banks to depend on their conventional business method, that is, lending funds raised through the difference on interest paid for loans and that paid for deposits.The report proposed a reform plan to securitize loans held by banks and to put securitized loans in small lots, making it easier for potential buyers to buy them.Under this scheme, banks could decouple loans from their assets and would not have to hold nonperforming loans. On the other hand, investors would have a wider selection of investment vehicles such as investment trusts.That would encourage the flow of money in line with fluctuations in stock prices, a development that could make the nation's economy as a whole more efficient.Many obstacles remainHowever, there are many issues that need to be addressed before such reforms can be realized.What is important is to carry out reforms that will benefit investors, who cannot be attracted unless the performance of investment trusts is improved. It is necessary to make it possible to make a deposit or buy insurance, stocks and other financial products at one bank window.It is also important to simplify the currently overly complicated taxation system on securities. It may be useful to introduce a system to impose income tax on interest and dividends together, separately from tax on salaries.How public finance is incorporated in a market-based finance system is an inevitable issue of discussion.The report proposed that private financial products should be sold at windows of post offices.It is necessary for public financial institutions to be converted into market-based investment companies. For example, the Housing Loan Corporation could purchase private housing loans and securitize them for sale.Based on the report, the Financial Services Agency is expected to soon compile a mid-term vision on the nation's financial system. The nation's banks and the FSA must be busy dealing with nonperforming loans, but they must remember to complete the half-finished Japanese version of the big bang financial reforms for the benefit of Japan's future.(From The Yomiuiri Shimbun, July 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	617	2002-07-21	yoshin0020020723dy7l00614
yomshi0020020722dy7m0005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020722dy7m0005p	EN	\N	Don't apply JH error to airports.	The Construction and Transport Ministry is attempting to force through a proposal to realign the nation's key international airports-separating the construction and possession of airports from their management and operation-in the name of privatizing them. It is obvious that such a move will make airport management inefficient. We disagree with the ministry's proposal.	8	2002-07-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Currently, the New Tokyo International Airport Authority runs Narita Airport, which is expected to begin operating in the black in the near future while two other public corporations, which are partly financed by the government, run deficit-ridden Kansai International Airport and Chubu International Airport, which is under construction. The three companies build, own and manage their respective airports.Plan goes from simple to complexIn its proposal, the ministry calls for realignment of the three airport companies by creating one independent administrative institution, which will construct and possess infrastructure such as runways for all three airports, and three separate stock companies to manage and operate the each airport.Under the proposal, the three management companies would collect monies such as landing charges from airlines and airport facility use fees from passengers, and would pay fees for use of the infrastructure to the construction and ownership company.The ministry argues that the following advantages would exist under this scheme:- National funds could be injected into large-scale airport infrastructure construction projects such as the project to expand Kansai International Airport.- The central government could responsibly deal with such issues as noise pollution at Narita Airport.- The management and operation companies could freely launch related businesses as fully private companies.The ministry has submitted the proposal to a subcommittee of the Transport Policy Council, which is discussing the next national airport development plan, in a desperate attempt to get an official go-ahead.However, this proposal has a serious flaw: It would require the infrastructure company to charge higher infrastructure fees to Narita in order to give discounts to the Kansai and Chubu management corporations to help them reduce the fees they charge. The ministry explains this as an "adjustment of competitiveness disparities among the three airports after privatization."The ministry estimates that annual financial assistance from Narita of 12.7 billion yen to Kansai and 2.8 billion yen to Chubu will be required in the 30 years after privatization.We've been down this road beforeThis means the so-called pool system used by Japan Highway Public Corporation will be applied to the airports. Under this system, revenues from a handful of profitable expressways, including Tomei Expressway, are used to continue building other expressways that few people use.For both airports and expressways, a sense of responsibility toward management is generated only when construction and operation are put together. If an infrastructure company is separated from management companies, reckless investment by the infrastructure company is inevitable.Only the business community in the Kansai region expressed support for the ministry's proposal. The Chubu region business community expressed opposition, saying the responsibilities of management will become unclear. The International Air Transport Association, comprising airlines around the world, has expressed a strong objection, saying that financial assistance to deficit-ridden airports by profitable ones is a violation of the international agreement on landing charges.If Narita Airport is privatized without separating infrastructure from operation, it will become possible to reduce landing charges. Profits on sales of stock in the airport company then can be expected. It is stupid to lower the corporate value of Narita by assisting Kansai International Airport.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	644	2002-07-22	yoshin0020020723dy7m006l0
yomshi0020020723dy7n0005t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020723dy7n0005t	EN	\N	WorldCom fall a call to action.	WorldCom Inc. filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code Sunday night nearly four weeks after the long-distance telephone and data services company disclosed that it had concealed almost 4 billion dollars in expenses through deceptive accounting.	8	2002-07-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	With 107 billion dollars in assets and 41 billion dollars in debt reported in its filing, WorldCom's bankruptcy is the largest in U.S. history.Of greatest concern is the adverse effect of the collapse on financial institutions and investors that extended loans to the firm or held its shares or bonds, not only in the United States but also in other parts of the world.Collapse throws fuel on the fireYet the problem goes beyond that. A series of accounting scandals and delays in the recovery of corporate performance are accelerating falls in stock prices on the U.S. markets, along with the weakening of the dollar. If the WorldCom bankruptcy intensifies this trend, it might delay the recovery of the U.S. economy, thus adversely affecting the world economy.In the face of the Black Monday stock crisis in 1987 and the financial crisis involving major hedge funds in 1998, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board prevented the U.S. economy from falling into catastrophe by supplying a large amount of funds into financial markets.To deal with the WorldCom case, a group of major banks reportedly decided to extend loans of 2 billion dollars (230 billion yen) for the firm to use as operating funds to enable it to continue its core businesses, such as Internet access services, in an effort to minimize the negative effects.The U.S. government and financial authorities also are urged to closely monitor market developments in order to avoid an immediate crisis.If U.S. stock prices decline further in the wake of WorldCom's collapse, prompting fears of deteriorating corporate performance and individual consumption, the U.S. government will be urged to take both fiscal and monetary measures.The U.S. government, Congress and businesses are also urged to jointly make efforts to eliminate distrust in corporate accounting, which is shaking the basis of U.S. economic activities.In response to U.S. President George W. Bush's announcement of his determination to deal strictly with irregularities involving business managers, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission began taking action, filing suits against companies for window-dressing their accounting records. U.S. authorities are urged to immediately clean up the corruption in accounting as soon as possible.The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives started coordinating a bill to reform the U.S. corporate accounting system so as to reinforce regulations through such measures as the establishment of an independent body to monitor accounting firms. It is important to pass the bill into law as soon as possible.Japan too must respondThe 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average on Monday closed at 10,189.01 after briefly falling below 10,000 for the first time in five months.We should note that the WorldCom collapse came just as the government's scenario of a U.S.-led economic recovery was being shaken. In this respect, it is too early to judge whether Japan managed to evade the impact of WorldCom's bankruptcy.To stop further falls in stock prices and the continued weakening of the dollar, the government and the Bank of Japan are urged to continue selling yen and buying dollars while exploring the possibility of joint intervention in the market with other countries.To put the economic recovery back on track, the government is urged to cut taxes on research and development programs and capital investment in the current fiscal year. It should also compile a budget for next fiscal year that will lead to a domestic demand-led recovery.The Bank of Japan will be asked to enhance its easy-money policy in certain situations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2002-07-23	yoshin0020020724dy7n006om
yomshi0020020723dy7o000b9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020723dy7o000b9	EN	\N	Special zones key to reform.	In its interim report submitted to Koizumi Tuesday, the Council for Regulatory Reform proposed specific outlines of the special zones.	8	2002-07-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After Cabinet approval of the establishment of the headquarters tasked with promoting the special zones, which may come as early as this week, Koizumi plans to start preparations to introduce the system by examining necessary legislation. The headquarters will comprise all Cabinet ministers.Given the difficulty of promoting regulatory reforms simultaneously nationwide, the special zones are aimed at accomplishing radical regulatory reforms within specific areas to pave the way for nationwide reforms by proving that the system is effective, eventually revitalizing the entire Japanese economy.The country's economy has begun showing signs of recovery, led by increased exports. However, there are fears that the recent U.S. economic turmoil will throw the Japanese economy into crisis again.Under such circumstances, the introduction of the special zones is expected to play a pivotal role in reinvigorating the economy.Koizumi's decision to found the headquarters is seen as an indication of his reformist zeal. We would like to urge the prime minister to take resolute action.Local government support crucialAs key measures to reinvigorate the economy, the report proposed giving more freedom to stock companies to operate hospitals and schools, relaxing regulations on the legally required maximum amount of capital for stock companies and facilitating the launch of new companies.The report called for these proposals to be examined and necessary steps taken within the current fiscal year.In addition to these points, the council also set out the philosophy, basic principles and procedures for establishing the special zones to advance the promotion of regulatory reforms in the country.To realize the special zones, the council proposed enacting a basic law stipulating the outline of the zones in the form of a generic item of legislation covering the jurisdictions of all government offices and authorities. From the viewpoint of respecting the independence and special features of local governments, the council proposed that the central government's fiscal assistance to local governments not be provided through such measures as tax breaks and subsidies. We find these proposals appropriate in that they are in line with current trends in local autonomy.The council already has received detailed plans on special zones from more than 20 local governments, including those of Osaka Prefecture and Kitakyushu, such as those focusing on promoting new industries and international distribution hubs.We hope the introduction of special zones nationwide will benefit from the enthusiastic support of local governments, leading to the promotion of regulatory reforms in the country.Don't let bureaucrats call the shotsAs the shape of the special zones has become clearer, however, certain government offices have begun intensifying their resistance to the zones. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, for instance, oppose the proposal to allow stock companies to operate hospitals and schools, insisting that the practice would be inappropriate even if it was limited within the zones.Some government offices are against enacting a basic law on special zones, claiming that individual offices should deal with the zones based on separate legislation.About 10 years ago, with the aim of relaxing regulations and promoting local autonomy, government officials debated the possibility of introducing what was called a "pilot local government system" designed to set up special zones in certain regions.However, government ministries and agencies concerned, which did not want to see deregulation encroach on their bailiwicks, hamstrung the proposal.Political leadership must be exercised so that this mistake is not repeated.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2002-07-24	yoshin0020020724dy7o0070j
yomshi0020020725dy7p0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020725dy7p0000d	EN	\N	Protect the economic recovery.	Led by increased exports, the Japanese economy recently has begun to show signs of recovery. But with the fall in U.S. stock prices and the value of dollar, dark clouds have begun looming over this nation's economy.	16	2002-07-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Should the latest developments continue, the feeble base underpinning the latest signs of recovery may crumble, making it highly likely that the overall economy will lose steam.The government and the Bank of Japan cannot afford to wait and see how the situation will turn out. The government must show the market its determination to put top priority on realizing an economic recovery by modifying its current tight financial policy, while the central bank needs to take such measures as comprehensive market intervention to check the yen from appreciating further.The upturn of the Japanese economy since this spring had been backed by a steady recovery of the U.S. economy. Now that the U.S. economy has shown signs of running awry, it has become almost inevitable that the scenario for the recovery of the Japanese economy will have to be rewritten.The unfolding scandals related to fraudulent accounting practices at U.S. firms are likely to continue rocking Wall Street. Should the stock plunge dampen private consumption and as a result affect economic fundamentals in the United States, it is highly likely that the U.S. economy will experience a prolonged adjustment phase.Weakening dollar a major risk factorAs it has become almost certain-due to increases in national defense expenditures-that the United States will be beset with a fiscal deficit together with a current account deficit, concern over the revival of the twin deficits is accelerating selling pressure on the U.S. stocks and the dollar.In step with the plunge in New York stocks, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average has dropped to a level more than 1,000 points lower than the close of 11,024 posted on the account-settlement day for fiscal 2001 that ended in March.Japanese financial institutions have seen their accumulated latent assets-the market value of assets in excess of book value-dwindle.Meanwhile, with the end of the government's full guarantee on ordinary deposits in the event of a bank's failure, slated for March 31 next year, the flight of deposits from financially weaker, smaller financial institutions shows no signs of stopping.With the midyear account settlement scheduled in September, concerns over the stability of the nation's financial system inevitably will grow again should stock prices dip further.What is particularly worrisome is that there are signs of a reversal in the trend of a stronger dollar and a weaker yen that started in the latter half of the 1990s.If Japan's exports fall off and there is no pickup in private consumption or capital investment, the recovery of the national economy may be dealt a fatal blow. Should the dollar continue falling and the yen continue rising, deflationary pressure will gain pace.Government, BOJ must act in concertMeanwhile, the government has resolved to restrict expenditures for next fiscal year to an amount lower than that for the current fiscal year and plans to raise taxes in the near future. Such a stance is bound to dampen market sentiment further.Instead of raising taxes, the government first needs to implement tax breaks for investment in plant and equipment, and research and development. If the economic recovery fizzles out, the government should flexibly review its stance in the compilation of the next fiscal budget.Besides market intervention to check the yen from appreciating further, it is also worth studying whether the central bank should ease its monetary policy further and purchase foreign bonds, which would help prevent the yen from rising further.The government also needs to examine the possibility of putting off the planned end of the full guarantee on ordinary deposits in the event of a bank's failure.The government should waste no time in drawing up a comprehensive program for reducing deflationary pressure on the national economy and for realizing an economic recovery.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	728	2002-07-25	yoshin0020020725dy7p005wo
yomshi0020020726dy7q00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020726dy7q00005	EN	\N	Push ahead with postal reform.	With the passage of the bills, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has taken his first step in realizing the privatization of postal services, Yet, the hurdles that a private firm must clear in entering the mail delivery business remain high, and radical reforms of other postal services-postal savings and "kampo" life insurances-have been put off.	10	2002-07-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi must not relax his reform zeal. He should move ahead toward privatizing the post savings and life insurance fields, the biggest challenge in the reforms.With the enactment of the four bills, the mail delivery business, which has been monopolized by the state since the early Meiji era, has been pried open.Nonetheless, mail delivery operators, which would handle all types of mail nationwide at a uniform delivery rate, would be placed under strict regulations, including one that would require them to set up about 100,000 mailboxes throughout the country.On the other hand, the new public corporation would be given preferential treatment, such as permission to invest money in related businesses.Results not too goodUnder these conditions, it seems only natural for Yamato Transport Co., once considered the likeliest candidate to enter into the mail delivery service, to abandon plans to do so.Due to fierce opposition from legislators representing the interests of the state-run postal services sector, Koizumi failed to achieve the results he wanted in the initial battle in the privatization of the postal services.Next month, a private advisory panel to Koizumi, tasked to study the ideal situation for the three postal services, will issue a report that will usher in, at long last, the main debate in the privatization of the postal services.Funds totaling 360 trillion yen from postal savings and life insurance fields flow into state-run or state-subsidized public corporations, ensuring that they remain highly inefficient. Unless this area is scrutinized and reformed, the gloom prevailing over the Japanese economy will remain.There is also skepticism about whether a state-run corporation can single-handedly manage these funds safely and efficiently. They account for one quarter of the financial assets owned by individuals in Japan.When the four bills were being deliberated in the Diet, Liberal Democratic Party members representing the interests of the state-run postal services, attempted to make it a condition for passage of the bills that discussions on the structure of management of the corporation would be frozen for four years following its inauguration.Koizumi overrode this proposal. However, it is certain that the forces of resistance will intensify their efforts to curb discussions when the crucial part of the postal services reform is debated in the days ahead.Koizumi should present blueprintTo fend off such moves, Koizumi should present, as soon as possible, a blueprint on the scope of business and the structure of management of the state-run corporation.The prime minister should try to raise public interest in the issue by offering this blueprint as a focal point of discussion. The blueprint should include plans for retrenchment and abolishment, as well as splitting the corporation into regional entities.The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, which is scheduled to review public financing, should also discuss the postal savings and life insurance issues to ensure that debate on the postal service reform would move forward.The state-run corporation, which will be inaugurated in April, will also need to carry out its own reforms in view of the possible future privatization of the postal savings and life insurances.The key to such an effort will be the selection of the first president of the corporation. Public Management Minister Toranosuke Katayama will name a candidate shortly. The post should be filled by a reform-minded person from the private sector who is skilled in corporate management.Katayama should not consider an official from the former Posts and Telecommunications Ministry, who would represent the interests of nearly 20,000 post offices run by individuals commissioned by the government.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2002-07-26	yoshin0020020727dy7q0001r
aiwyos0020020805dy7r000bg	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/aiwyos0020020805dy7r000bg	EN	\N	Health insurance needs overhaul.	Yomiuri	\N	2002-07-27	Financial Times Information Ltd (AAIW/CIW)	Asia Africa Intelligence Wire	CTGAIW	The Daily Yomiuri/Yomiuri Shimbun	AIWYOS	The passage of medical reform bills in the Diet marked only the start of an effort to reform the nation's troubled health insurance system.The package of laws approved by the Diet on Friday included one aimed at requiring corporate employees covered by the state-run medical insurance system to pay 30 percent of outpatient treatment expenses, up from the current 20 percent.The passage of the laws means that the public will have to shoulder an additional 1.5 trillion yen in annual out-of-pocket medical costs and premiums. People may well complain about the increase in their financial burden. They also have good reason to be frustrated with the medical reform laws in that the legislation probably will do little to reform the critically troubled medical insurance system, and instead keep it afloat for only about five years.First and foremost, the government must work to steadily carry out programs stipulated in a supplementary provision attached to the revised legislation with the aim of drastically reforming the system-a task that must be pushed through to provide even better medical services. This is essential to gain people's sympathetic understanding about their increased burden.An urgent challenge facing the government is to reform the current system that governs medical services for elderly people, in that medical care for the aged poses the greatest burden for the coffers of the state-run health insurance system as a whole.Medical bills incurred by people over the age of 70 total 11 trillion yen annually, about one-third of the nation's total medical expenses. Under the massive weight of the rapidly aging population, the figure is expected to exceed 40 trillion yen in 2025, approximately 60 percent of the medical costs.Plenty of fat could be trimmedAging makes everyone more susceptible to illness. It is not surprising, therefore, that this country's medical costs are ballooning. In many instances, however, patients receive unnecessary treatment and are hospitalized for too long-a factor contributing to the growth in wasteful medical expenses.In addition, Japanese people visit medical institutions nearly three times as frequently as Americans and Europeans. This is particularly evident among elderly Japanese.Needless to say, no one should be prevented from receiving the medical treatment he or she truly needs. However, thorough measures should be taken to ensure that no unnecessary medical services are provided to anyone.To accomplish this goal, it is necessary to curb treatment fees paid to doctors and medical institutions on a piecework basis because such a system reaps greater rewards for doctors and hospitals that treat individual patients more often and write out more prescriptions.Instead, doctors and medical institutions should be paid for their services on the basis of "package rates." The latter system sets the amount of fees for the treatment of a particular ailment. It will be impossible to reform the health insurance system unless bold steps are implemented to reduce wasteful medical spending.It also is essential to make sure that medical institutions compete according to market principles. Medical institutions should disclose clinical records of patients they have treated and documents concerning their accomplishments in medical treatment. It will be possible to improve the quality of medical services in this country if patients are able to choose excellent medical institutions, forcing less-than-satisfactory ones out of the market.Well-off elderly should chip inAnother serious question is who will pay how much to accommodate the sharp increase in medical expenses incurred by elderly patients.The current system stipulates that such bills are paid by contributions(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 28)Copyright 2002 The Daily Yomiuri.	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	620	2002-07-28	yoshin0020020729dy7s002rb
yomshi0020020729dy7r00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020729dy7r00007	EN	\N	Be logical on numbering system.	Objections have been raised to the system not only by citizens' groups but by local assemblies and several heads of municipal governments. Four opposition parties have submitted to the Diet a bill aimed at freezing the launch of the system. Some members of the Liberal Democratic Party are expected to join the opposition camp to try to accomplish that goal.	16	2002-07-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, opponents of the system have failed to apply logic to the development of their argument. They disregard the fact that a system similar to the computer network in question has been in operation for five years. The basic pension plan has allocated 10-digit numbers to all adults whose personal information has been stored in a government-run computer system.Those insisting on a freeze on the computer-controlled resident registry system offer a variety of reasons. For example, they argue that the system could allow a massive amount of personal information to leak. They also warn that the system would permit the government to arbitrarily centralize control of private information about individuals.Opponents biased in warningsHowever, no opponent of the system has bothered to warn of a massive leak of information in regard to the pension plan, under which 70 million subscribers have been allocated 10-digit numbers so that their personal information can be stored on a nationwide computer system. In this sense, the state-run pension plan represents a system in which every member of the population has been given a number.The lack of logical argument on the part of opponents of the computerized registry system is also true in regard to their warning about the government's centralized control of personal information. The pension plan's computer system has centralized control over many kinds of personal information about subscribers. The data include such information as name, address, date of birth and sex-the kind of information to be stored in resident registry system.The pension system's computer also stores data about the subscriber's income, workplace and family members, as well as personal information about their spouses and their bank account numbers.Some people have warned that the resident registry network could be targeted by anyone seeking unlawful access to it. However, the pension plan's computer system faces such a risk.Why do these people take such a negative attitude about the new network, while turning a blind eye to the pension scheme's numbering system?No problem with confidentialityMany people calling for a freeze on the launch of the resident registry system have said the system should be put in place only after the Diet approves a pending bill aimed at protecting the confidentiality of personal information. However, they have no reason to insist on this point.It should be noted that the bill seeks to impose restrictions on private corporations and organizations that handle personal information. The Resident Registration Law prohibits private organizations from using information available on the resident registry network. The pension plan's numbering system incorporates no such restriction, meaning that no one would be punished if information stored in the system was leaked to a company that buys and sells lists of names.Therefore, measures should be taken as soon as possible to stop abuse of the pension plan's numbering system-not the resident registry network-under the envisaged law on protection of personal information.The resident registry network provides for a heavy penalty against any government official who violates the confidentiality of personal information. In this sense, the system is tougher about protecting individual privacy than the pension plan's computer system and a bill submitted to the current Diet session to revise a law to protect the confidentiality of information held by government offices.The progress of the information society is irreversible. It is essential to promote a constructive and realistic debate about the resident registry network while ensuring that the system will not undermine the protection of personal information.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	711	2002-07-27	yoshin0020020727dy7r000jo
yomshi0020020730dy7t0005t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020730dy7t0005t	EN	\N	Stamp out highway robbery.	JH has unveiled for the first time data on revenues and expenditures at individual expressways and other toll roads as well as data relating to the repayment of their loans.	8	2002-07-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The public corporation was moved to take action after repeated requests from the Cabinet Office committee tasked with promoting debate on the reform of four road-related public corporations.Initially, the corporation explained that data was unavailable on individual routes, claiming it would take months to compile them. However, it is a stretch of the imagination to think the corporation operates without any data on individual expressways and other toll roads.A massive amount of state funds have been injected into the corporation's operations in the form of investments and subsidies. It is inexcusable for the corporation to deliberately avoid disclosing detailed information on its management. It does, however, serve to shed light on the nature of the public corporation and the Construction and Transport Ministry, which together are branded the "road family."Profit-pooling pays for losersThe financial data released by the corporation was full of sloppy accounting.The balance sheet for expressways showed that for 27 out of 40 expressway routes, toll revenues did not cover expenses, resulting in mounting deficits.On the other hand, for five routes, including the Tomei and Meishin expressways, the income earned in tolls has already exceeded the cost of building the roads.In theory, these five expressway routes have paid off their loans and, under the law, must stop charging tolls.In reality, however, there is no such thing in Japan as a debt-free expressway. There is, however, a pooling system that diverts profits from routes in the black to make up for deficits from routes in the red.The current pooling system was implemented in 1972, and there was concern from the very beginning that highways might be constructed willy-nilly without any advance assessment of whether the proposed highway could in fact make money.The then Construction Ministry's Road Council submitted a report recommending the introduction of the pooling system. This report included an important condition-that road-related public corporations keep a constant watch not only over whether the highways under their jurisdiction are profitable, but also on the progress of the repayment of loans extended from government coffers.Despite this, in the 30 years since the report came out, a number of highways have been constructed haphazardly, with little consideration given to whether individual routes are actually turning a profit.Check the numbers againIt should be noted that the recently released revenues and expenditure records for individual JH highways are merely basic data and nothing more than the necessary background for a debate on reforming the four road-related public corporations.We urge the government to make detailed analyses on the following key issues-whether assessments of expected traffic volume on existing highways made in the initial planning stages were accurate; and whether repayment of government loans is made as scheduled.The government must also conduct a thorough review of JH's accounting practices to determine whether they are in line with private-sector accounting standards.While cover-ups are of course unconscionable, the doctoring of accounting records also cannot be tolerated.The Cabinet has already approved the abolishment and privatization of four road-related public corporations, while the government has decided to stop pouring taxpayers' money into new highways from the current fiscal year.In other words, the conditions that have sustained the highway-construction program in its current form no longer exist.This raises the all-important question: Do the ministry and road-related public corporations completely understand the need to put reform into action?(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	659	2002-07-29	yoshin0020020729dy7t0032i
yomshi0020020730dy7u00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020730dy7u00006	EN	\N	Futenma heliport balancing act.	The panel discussing the relocation issue, comprising central and local government officials in the prefecture, agreed to a basic plan Monday on relocating the heliport functions at Futenma Air Station in Ginowan to a site on reclaimed land to be created on a reef off the Henoko district in Nago, on the east coast of the prefecture's main island.	8	2002-07-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Accommodation of local needsThe basic plan was made in line with the wishes of local governments. The replacement heliport's runway will be 2,500 meters long, or 100 meters shorter than originally planned, in response to the Nago municipal government's concerns about a larger facility's impact on the environment.In addition, the idea of reclaiming land on the reef was adopted to make it easier for local civil engineering firms to undertake the facility's construction, as land reclamation does not require especially complex technology compared with other construction methods. Also, maintenance costs to be shouldered by the prefectural government will be minimized as much as possible.On the other hand, it should be remembered that the envisaged heliport will have a significant impact on the natural environment and marine resources in the region, such as reefs and seaweed. In this respect, the government is urged to take all possible measures to protect the environment in the area.Six years already have passed since the Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to relocate the heliport functions at Futenma Air Station within "five to seven years." Two years were needed for the governments to draw up the basic plan.From now on, it will take another three years to complete an environmental impact assessment. The land reclamation and construction work are projected to take about 9! years.Now that the blueprint of the new heliport is finally ready, the government is urged to expedite construction work by completing the environmental impact assessment as soon as possible. The government should no longer postpone the relocation of the air station's heliport functions.Seventy-five percent of U.S. military facilities in Japan are concentrated in Okinawa Prefecture. What needs special attention is that Futenma Air Station's current location is next to a residential area. Therefore, the local government has been concerned for years about how to ensure the safety of local residents against the possibility of U.S. military airplane or helicopter crashes.However, Monday's meeting failed to produce any conclusions regarding the strong demands of the Okinawa prefectural and Nago municipal governments that the central government limit the U.S. military's use of the new airfield to a maximum of 15 years.We believe it is impossible to set a time limit on the use of an alternate facility.Recognition of international realitiesThe Asia-Pacific region is still threatened by unstable factors, including tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, the emergence of new threats embodied by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States has made Okinawa strategically more important for U.S. forces.A limit on U.S. use of a military facility could weaken the credibility of the Japan-U.S. security framework and damage the peace and stability in the region.We believe it is also necessary to make efforts to share the burdens of Okinawa's people among the entire population of Japan.Along with the agreement on the relocation of heliport functions at Futenma Air Station, the Japanese and U.S. governments also agreed to launch a joint study on the use of civilian airports in Japan by U.S. forces in the event of emergencies. In an emergency such as an armed attack on the country, the whole population will have the responsibility of sharing the burdens of military use of airports in the country.Toward the goal of strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance, senior officials of the Japanese Foreign Ministry and U.S. State Department are also urged to start the strategic dialogues that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush agreed to last year.With agreement on the basic plan for the relocation of Futenma heliport as a starting point, the two countries have to discuss measures to promote and strengthen the Japan-U.S. security framework.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	762	2002-07-30	yoshin0020020731dy7u004p0
yomshi0020020730dy7v000gs	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020730dy7v000gs	EN	\N	Diet could try harder.	The primary objects of the current Diet session should have been to discuss measures to put the economy on a recovery path and to pass a number of important bills, including a set of bills to enable Japan to deal with security contingencies.	8	2002-07-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, debates centered instead not only on scandals involving politicians and their secretaries, but also on administrative blunders committed by the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Agency.It goes without saying that an important role of the Diet is to investigate scandals and unearth the causes of administrative failures. But this does not mean that it does not matter if the Diet's main tasks are neglected.Though the latest Diet session lasted about 200 days, discussions on economic stimulus measures made little progress. Among the bills that the government and the ruling parties considered to be the most important in the latest session, only two sets of key bills-medical reform bills and a set of four bills concerning the establishment of the public postal corporation-passed the Diet. Considering this, the government and the ruling parties cannot boast about their achievements.National security at stakeJust 85 percent of government-submitted bills passed the Diet this time-the second-lowest proportion, after the ordinary Diet session in 1998, in the last 10 years.Within the government and the ruling parties, the claim has been made that there was never any chance that many of the bills that were submitted would make it through the Diet. This claim sounds more like an excuse. The government and the ruling parties submitted the bills, and they were responsible for making efforts to secure their passage.The fact that the set of contingency bills was not passed is a problem that cannot be ignored.It is a matter of course for Japan, as a sovereign state, to prepare a legal framework designated to facilitate operations conducted by the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. troops to deal with an armed attack against this country.Even if the set of contingency bills was incomplete and contained some flaws, the bills should have been passed by all means through the latest Diet session.As the bills were carried over to an extraordinary Diet session in autumn, it is hardly surprising if it is pointed out that lawmakers lacked a sense of crisis.Public fed up with politics-as-usualFaced by this head-in-the-sand mentality, we have to turn our eyes to the issue of what politicians and bureaucrats, who were behind the scandals and administrative failures, should be like.During the current Diet session, a lawmaker was arrested and three resigned from their posts. The way these legislators tried to pass the buck to their secretaries highlights their lack of responsibility as politicians.The Foreign Ministry failed to take immediate and appropriate actions in the incident in which five North Korean asylum-seekers sought to enter the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang, China. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has been under fire for its handling of outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. The Defense Agency was found to have illegally compiled and distributed lists of individuals who requested information from the agency.These poor responses by bureaucrats to problems that arose were the outcome of their lack of awareness of their duties as public servants.There is a possibility that the cracks evident in the government and the bureaucracy could bring the foundation of politics itself crashing down.As things stand, public distrust in politics seems sure to grow. According to a recent opinion poll taken by The Yomiuri Shimbun, about 50 percent of the electorate do not support any political party.Rebuilding the framework for government and the bureaucracy is the main challenge for the nation's political leaders before the extraordinary Diet session begins. The public demands that this be done.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	686	2002-07-31	yoshin0020020731dy7v00517
yomshi0020020731dy810005z	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020731dy810005z	EN	\N	Protect the settlement function.	In response to the prime minister's instruction, the Financial Services Agency has started studying the possibility of continuing to extend protection of deposits in checking accounts that are used by corporations for settling business transactions, and creating a new type of account whose deposits would be fully protected.	16	2002-08-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Full protection for term deposits ended in April. Since around that time, withdrawals of deposits at regional financial institutions have continued apace. If the situation is left unattended to, the settlement of business transactions-a fundamental function of a financial system-inevitably will become paralyzed.Taking the current economic conditions and the business condition of the nation's financial institutions into consideration, Koizumi's instruction deserves to be praised as an appropriate decision.Run on banks must be avoidedTwo types of movements in deposits have been taking place. One is a shift from term deposits to ordinary savings accounts, and the second is a shift from second-tier regional banks and credit banks to major commercial banks.If the full protection of deposits in savings accounts and checking accounts is lifted in April as scheduled, it is obvious that shifts of deposits into large banks will accelerate.If withdrawals of deposits continue at small and medium-sized financial institutions, the institutions' lending capabilities will deteriorate, and local economies, where many prospective borrowers depend on such financial institutions, will be hard hit.Another cause for concern is that, from April, if a financial institution goes under, companies that have checking accounts at that financial institution will become unable to conclude checking transactions or settle bills and will go bankrupt.The business transaction settlement function of financial institutions is part of the social infrastructure, and as such it has the characteristics of a public asset. Though they are both liquid deposits, interest-bearing savings accounts and non-interest-bearing checking accounts should be considered separately.Needless to say, the lifting of the freeze of the payoff system is a necessary measure to realize financial structural reforms. Extending protection of deposits with no strings attached would run the risk of exposing financial institutions to moral hazard.However, if the local and national economies are plunged into confusion due to a rush to lift the freeze, it would be like, as the old proverb goes, burning one's house down to get rid of the mice in it.Create new type of accountGiven that the economy is not yet on a full-scale recovery track and the nation's financial institutions hold a huge amount of nonperforming loans, a non-interest-bearing account for individuals should be created and deposits in such an account should be protected like term deposits.Koizumi and Yanagisawa have delayed changing tack because they wanted to save face. Maintaining consistency in policymaking is important, but it is also a very important role of the government to protect people's assets as far as possible by weeding out the seeds of crisis as soon as possible.The FSA should come up with detailed recommendations on the protection of deposits. Local governments' deposits also need some sort of protection. It is especially important to create a system in which not only companies, but also private, unincorporated enterprises and individual depositors need not fear suffering unforeseen damages.Financial institutions, meanwhile, should stay on guard and adopt such reform measures as corporate realignments.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2002-08-01	yoshin0020020801dy8100505
yomshi0020020806dy82000gt	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020806dy82000gt	EN	\N	Be resolute on abduction cases.	It is known that a former North Korean agent played a role in the abduction of a Chinese restaurant employee from a beach in Miyazaki Prefecture in 1980. The arrest warrant concerns the North Korean man's alleged violation of the Passport Law. The Metropolitan Police Department is preparing to place him on the internationally wanted list through Interpol.	12	2002-08-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In 1985, the former North Korean agent was arrested by the South Korean authorities after infiltrating that country. He was sentenced to death on charges of violating the South Korean national security law, but was released under an amnesty program later. In September 2000, he was sent back to the North.During his trial in South Korea, the former agent acknowledged that he had kidnapped the Chinese restaurant worker under a directive issued by the North Korean authorities. Meanwhile, Japanese investigators have already determined that the former agent, posing as the Japanese man he allegedly kidnapped, obtained a passport and a driver's license in Japan, and that he frequently used these documents.Abundant evidence in caseThis means that the Japanese authorities have abundant evidence to prove the authenticity of the former agent's testimony before a South Korean court.During talks in Bandar Seri Begawan, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and her North Korean counterpart agreed to resume high-ranking talks aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries. A joint statement issued after the meeting said the dispute over the alleged abduction cases represented "a matter of humanitarian concern," and that the two governments would settle the issue as soon as possible.However, it is questionable whether North Korea will show sincerity in striving to resolve the problem. It should be noted that diplomatic normalization talks between Tokyo and Pyongyang have been suspended since October 2000, precisely because the North Korean government has said that "there is no such a thing as abduction cases"North Korea first must acknowledge that it kidnapped Japanese nationals.Negotiators from the Japanese and North Korean Red Cross societies are expected to discuss bilateral humanitarian issues, including the alleged kidnapping cases, by the end of the month. However, the Japanese government should not agree to resume diplomatic normalization talks unless it is certain how talks on the abduction problem will turn out. The government should not leave the Red Cross officials to their own devices in discussing the abduction dispute.Koizumi must keep wordPrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said that problems to be settled before normalizing ties between Japan and North Korea "naturally include the abduction cases." He should not be allowed to go back on his own word.North Korean agents are believed to have been involved in eight kidnapping cases involving 11 Japanese nationals. Other Japanese are believed to have been abducted by North Korea. These cases represent a flagrant violation of Japanese sovereignty.Japanese investigators are preparing to put Kimihiro Abe-a member of an extremist group that hijacked a Japan Airlines jetliner to North Korea in 1970-on the internationally wanted list. Abe is suspected in the kidnapping of Keiko Arimoto, a Japanese woman who was studying in Britain at the time of the incident.The first abduction took place 25 years ago, and it cannot be said that the Japanese government has taken a resolute attitude with North Korea in connection with the kidnapping cases.Japan must arrest the kidnappers, bring the victims home and uncover the truth about North Korea's actions. Abnormal bilateral relations also must be corrected. All this must be carried out to settle the abduction cases once and for all.The Japanese government must tackle these tasks with determination.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2002-08-02	yoshin0020020803dy820006x
yomshi0020020802dy83000bh	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020802dy83000bh	EN	\N	Boost defense preparedness.	"Defense of Japan 2002 White Paper" serves as another reminder of this stark truth.	16	2002-08-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This year's white paper on national defense offers an in-depth analysis about last September's terrorist attacks on the United States and the ensuing war against terrorism.This outrage shows that terrorism poses a new threat to the international community. The coordinated campaign against terrorism has been joined by many countries, including Japan, as these nations realize the importance of cooperating to maintain global peace. As partners in the antiterrorist campaign, the United States and Russia have reached a new stage in their relationship.The U.S. military has demonstrated the power of guided weapons in Afghanistan. This has convinced the international community that technological innovation in military hardware is essential in modern warfare.The defense white paper offers details of the impact of last year's terrorist attacks on international relations and military strategy. It underscores the dramatic changes in the military situation facing the world.Has Japan kept abreast of these changes?Upgrade military equipmentAdmittedly, Japan has tried to do what it can by, for example, establishing the Antiterrorism Law. However, its state of preparedness is far from satisfactory. It should review its security policy in line with the white paper on national defense.First, Japan should step up its efforts to introduce more advanced information and communications technology with the aim of improving its military preparedness. Its military equipment should be upgraded to fight terrorism and other threats, and its troops redeployed in a manner suited to that purpose. In addition, it is indispensable for the Ground, Maritime and Air self-defense forces to become more coordinated.To accomplish these goals, the government must revise as soon as possible the basic defense program it worked out seven years ago.Measures should also be implemented to establish permanent legislation to enable Japan to join with other countries in maintaining global peace. The Antiterrorism Law is good for only two years. Japan should stop taking temporary measures in the event of an emergency.Legal framework essentialAnother important task is to establish a legal framework for a prepared response to a national crisis. This legislation needs to incorporate not only a response to an attack on this country but also to threats that are more likely, including large-scale terrorist attacks.The white paper also says that a proposal to upgrade the Defense Agency to ministerial level should be carried out as soon as possible.The director general of the Defense Agency is subject to greater restrictions in exercising power than other cabinet ministers. For example, the director general is not allowed to establish regulations as agency ordinances in his or her own capacity alone. This is because the Defense Agency is an affiliate of the Cabinet Office.Japan is the only country in the world where the status of a government body responsible for defending the lives and property of the people is lower that those of other government authorities.During a recent meeting, the leaders of the three ruling parties discussed a proposed bill to transform the Defense Agency into a ministry. They agreed that the parties should consider relevant issues, including a plan to submit the bill as a Cabinet-sponsored one.We believe the ruling parties should endeavor to have the next Diet session approve the bill. This would send a message to both the Japanese public and other nations that the government was determined to ensure that this country enjoyed peace and security.The government, political parties and politicians must make sure that proposals contained in the white paper are reflected in actual government policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	650	2002-08-03	yoshin0020020805dy830062l
yomshi0020020805dy840005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020805dy840005p	EN	\N	Protect private information.	We strongly urge those responsible for the system once again to do their utmost to protect private information.	8	2002-08-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The system allocates 11-digit numbers to residents and stores their personal data for use in various administrative procedures at central and local governments.With the system, residents do not have to submit a copy of their resident registration in making various applications because information necessary to identify applicants is available online.Starting next summer, residents can obtain a copy of their resident registration at a counter of not only the local government where they live but also of any local government nationwide.Foundation of e-governmentThe central government is currently promoting e-government on the national and local levels. The resident registry system linking national and local governments online will be the foundation for that.Quite a few of those opposing the system seem to be making statements that ignore the fact that the basic pension system, which has allocated 10-digit numbers to all adults, has already been in operation for five years and few protests were heard at the time of its introduction.We cannot agree with such objections, but strongly believe that those responsible for the system should listen seriously to any technical suggestions on risks of information leakage and take every possible measure to prevent leaks.Measures to foil computer hackers and others trying to illegally access the system will become more important than ever with the system's launch.Besides, officials operating the system must be trained to become more sensitive about personal data.In May, Defense Agency officials were found to have compiled lists containing personal data on individuals who had sought information from defense-related agencies under the law concerning disclosure of information.The case has shown that the agency officials were little aware of protection of privacy.Duty to protect informationThrough seminars and other means, national and local governments once again must make officials fully understand their duty to protect private information.Some local governments said that they opposed the launching of the resident registry network because a bill regarding the protection of individual information failed to pass during the last ordinary Diet session. However, the bill the government proposed was designed basically to cover the private sector.Another bill to revise the current law on protection of individual information at administrative offices is not directly related to the resident registry network either. It is aimed mainly at making hand-written administrative documents and other information subject to the law, which currently covers only computerized information.However, compared with the bill, which has no penalty clause, the Law of Basic Resident Registers is more advanced in terms of protecting private information since it has tough penalties for violators.Though laws to protect personal information should be developed as quickly as possible, it is wrong to oppose the resident registry network because of that.Our society is becoming more and more dependent on information technology. Nobody can stop this trend of the times.It is better to cool-headedly study a way to allow protection of private information and efficient use of information technology to coexist without fueling unnecessary concerns and fears.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	591	2002-08-04	yoshin0020020805dy84006af
yomshi0020020805dy8500005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020805dy8500005	EN	\N	Telecommunication bosozoku.	Wan-giri literally means "hanging up after only one ring." Wan-giri operators usually ring the cell phones of recipients just once or twice, but their numbers remain on the telephone displays. Cellular phone users who return calls to those numbers are greeted with recorded messages offering sexual and other adult services, and can be charged extortionate sums for the services.	8	2002-08-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	NTT firms try to halt disruptionsNTT East Corp. and NTT West Corp. recently decided to revise their agreements with clients so that they can suspend telephone services to wan-giri operators if they jam telephone lines deliberately.However, even if the agreements are revised, legal action cannot be taken against these nuisance businesses. The government should pass legislation to contain the wan-giri practice, under which violators would face legal punishment.In Osaka last month, such a firm caused widespread disruption to telephone services on two occasions by placing thousands of wan-giri calls, crowding out ordinary calls.Initially, NTT West was lenient with the firm. Being hesitant to stop the wan-giri operator from making the calls, NTT West first limited phone calls by ordinary users. Thus, the area's civic life and economic activity were hampered.Telecommunications networks are an important part of the social infrastructure, and it is fundamental that they can be used freely by anybody at any time. But, unnecessary increases in the capacity of the circuits would only lead to a rise in overall costs.Japanese society has a self-imposed rule of not making New Year's greeting calls around midnight on New Year's Eve lest a flood of calls paralyze the phone system. This is because members of society know that the rule works to the benefit of everyone.The wan-giri practice is a challenge to this social contract. If wan-giri were to be carried out with political intent, it would constitute a criminal act tantamount to cyberterrorism.Law must punish system's abusersWith the revision of the agreement, the NTT firms became to be able to stop wan-giri calls and to terminate contracts with their originators.However, if a wan-giri operator changed its name or location, it would be difficult to deal with promptly.Public Management Minister Toranosuke Katayama said he would consider legislation if the revision of the agreements proves insufficient.Meanwhile, the Liberal Democratic Party has started considering its own measures against wan-giri. These include:- Revising the Wire Telecommunications Law, which bans the disruption of telecommunications facilities, so that it will apply to large-scale wan-giri operation.- More strictly enforcing the technical standards of the Telecommunications Business Law to restrict the use of machines that makes a large number of calls simultaneously.There also is an idea to create a new law, modeled after a recently enacted law to counter unsolicited e-mails, to ban making calls to phone numbers created by a computer program, including nonexistent numbers.The Public Management Ministry should quickly come up with countermeasures to crack down on such heinous practices without disturbing the use of phones by ordinary, law-abiding citizens.In April, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect who allegedly forced phone users to hear sexually offensive voices for a fee on suspicion of peddling obscenity. Not only new legislation, but also existing laws, should be utilized fully to drive wan-giri operators out of business.Those who ring us up even in the small hours, making us uneasily wonder, "Who could that call be from?" are enemies of society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	642	2002-08-05	yoshin0020020805dy85006nn
yomshi0020020806dy86000bd	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020806dy86000bd	EN	\N	Is North Korea sincere now?	North Korea also agreed to send its national team to the Asian Games to be held in Pusan, South Korea, from late September.	8	2002-08-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These developments are seen as a move to ease tension on the Korean Peninsula, which escalated following a battle between naval vessels of both countries in the Yellow Sea in June. The agreement came as North Korea expressed its "regret" over the deadly sea battle.Since the inter-Korean summit talks in 2000, the two countries have seen their dialogue suspended and then resumed again and again. The new agreement only indicates that the two Koreas are back to the starting point of their dialogue. We are waiting to see what concrete results the two countries can bring about in the days ahead.The highest priority should be given to the task of getting inter-Korean security talks back on track and taking steps to prevent another military clash.At prime ministerial talks ten years ago, the two countries agreed to concrete steps such as the establishment of a military hotline.With only six months remaining in South Korean President Kim Dae Jung's term in office, it remains uncertain how much progress the two countries can make. Yet we do hope, this time, that they earnestly will tackle the tasks before them while keeping in mind what they have agreed on.N. Korea launches charm offensiveIn tandem with the resumption of inter-Korean talks, North Korea has begun making higher-profiles attempts to overcome its isolation from the international community.One such indication is that North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun attended the 23-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum for the first time in two years, and held his first talks, albeit unofficially, with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.Paek emphasized that North Korea would accept a visit to Pyongyang by a U.S. envoy, thus signaling its readiness to launch a dialogue with Washington.The United States in June proposed sending James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, to North Korea. After receiving no response from North Korea, Washington later withdrew its proposal.Pyongyang now has put on a less unwelcoming face, apparently because of the rigid stance of the U.S. administration under President George W. Bush toward North Korea.Meetings with Japan OK'dDuring his talks with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, Paek agreed to a high-level meeting of Japanese and North Korean officials with the rank of ministry bureau chief, and another meeting of Red Cross officials of both countries, in an apparent effort to resume talks on the normalization of bilateral relations.North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, during earlier talks with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, expressed his willingness to improve bilateral ties with Japan, the United States and South Korea.Pyongyang's peace offensive may also be part of an attempt to bail itself out of its economic crisis.North Korea sharply hiked wages and prices in July in a bid to break the current situation in which commodities are sold mainly on an unofficial "farmer's market"-essentially a black market where food prices are 10 times higher than those farmers can receive for selling their products to the state-sending the centralized economy out of control. This is a sign that the North Korean economy has collapsed.If North Korea truly aims at improving ties with Japan, the United States and South Korea, it should demonstrate sincerity on pending issues such as its threatening military posture and the abductions of Japanese to North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	631	2002-08-06	yoshin0020020807dy860059r
yomshi0020020806dy87000mi	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020806dy87000mi	EN	\N	Restructure public projects.	The central plank of the fiscal 2003 budget, and the object of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's pledge to continue spending reforms, is expenditure related to public works projects.	8	2002-08-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the budgetary request guidelines, the government has fixed the amount of public works spending at 3 percent less than that allocated in the initial budget for fiscal 2002. As with the fiscal 2002 budget, in which public works spending was cut by 10 percent from the previous year, the government is sticking to its stance of trimming such spending.While the size of the reduction has fallen, it is natural for the government to give due consideration to the economic situation, which has become ever more severe at the local as well as national level.The reform of public works spending calls for a thorough review of the content of public works projects-not just the size of the outlays.To promote drastic reforms, the government should do away with its conventional method of almost uniformly cutting project spending by ministry or by the type of project.Various efforts have been made in recent years to reform public works projects. For instance, concerned ministries adopted a system to reevaluate such projects. However, no progress has been made toward rationalizing public investment.Long-term projects problematicOne factor blocking reform is the government's 15 long-term projects, which were formulated by type.Presently, concerned ministries make budgetary requests for many public works projects, including the five-year program on road construction and improvement, the 12th of its kind, and carry them out as part of long-term projects.These long-term projects, which are formulated to include the total project costs for the scheduled period of implementation, have to be approved by the Cabinet. Cabinet approval serves as the "Imperial standard," a sign that metaphorically gives authority to an act or assertion.As these projects are drawn up by a ministry or agency or by a concerned bureau within a ministry, there is little room for offices concerned to act in concert with each other and little room to check and balance the concerned offices. This is a big problem.Koizumi's instruction to concerned ministers to review the long-term projects, which have been criticized for having brought about rigidity in budgetary spending, arguably came too late.Shoot white elephantsThe key to reforms may lie in the hands of the Construction and Transport Ministry, which accounts for about 80 percent of public works expenditure.Construction and Transport Minister Chikage Ogi has made it clear that of the 10 long-term projects overseen by the ministry, she will streamline and consolidate nine that are scheduled to end next fiscal year into five.Yet merely streamlining or consolidating these projects will not be enough to realize drastic reforms.The government should go back to the drawing board and work out whether there is a need to continually draw up and carry out such projects. It should take into account the circumstances surrounding the launch of the projects at a time when the nation's social infrastructure was far from sufficient and how the infrastructure has subsequently improved. It is only natural to scrap projects that have become obsolete.In the case of the long-term project aimed at improving fishing ports and fishing grounds, which the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry launched this fiscal year, the total estimated costs for the entire period of the project have not been calculated. Instead, the ministry adopted a new formula that measures the cost-effectiveness of the project.The government should be flexible in drawing up new projects. For example, the content of the projects should be reviewed every fiscal year, and the total projected costs should not be fixed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2002-08-07	yoshin0020020807dy87005nz
yomshi0020020807dy880005x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020807dy880005x	EN	\N	Public shouldn't pick premier.	Such a risk is inherent in a proposal to elect the prime minister through a direct popular vote. A private advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has issued a final report on its study of the proposal, which Koizumi strongly supports.	16	2002-08-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report presents three specific ideas on the issue, including bold formulas that would scrap the current system with the aim of directly electing the prime minister by a popular vote in what could amount to a presidential system.Two of the three plans set out in the report call for a reform of the Constitution. The third proposal seeks to reinforce the country's parliamentary system of government within the current constitutional framework.The council's report does not say which plan it thinks is best. Despite its goal of promoting discussions on the direct election of the prime minister, most members of the panel expressed negative opinions about such a system during their debate.As stated in the report, it is impossible to adopt the system without amending the Constitution. In this sense, Koizumi deserves credit for his efforts to start serious debates about various issues related to constitutional reform. He is the first prime minister to do so.Nonetheless, the council had every reason to form its final opinions on the issue cautiously. We believe that this nation should never adopt a system to elect the prime minister through a direct vote by the public.Example of 2 Tanakas instructiveIt is too obvious what kinds of harmful effects could be brought about by the direct election of the prime minister, if one is reminded what former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka did and what ensued. In her words and actions, she proved time and again she was unfit to hold the Foreign Ministry portfolio. She was unable to keep ministry bureaucrats under control. Tanaka ended up throwing Japan's diplomacy into great confusion.For all this, Tanaka once enjoyed extraordinary popularity. If a politician like Tanaka was elected prime minister through a direct popular vote, the nation would be stuck with him or her.In contrast to national politics, each local government chief and local assembly members are chosen through a vote by local residents. Nagano Prefecture offers a good example of the confusion that can be attributed to the election of politicians by a direct popular vote. The Nagano prefectural government has been caught in a gridlock following a tug-of-war between the now-ousted governor and local assembly members. If such an extraordinary situation were to arise, the nation's politics would be dealt an incomparably greater blow.Bolster parliamentary systemThe great interest aroused among various people in the issue reflects the fact that the nation's political system has outgrown its usefulness in many respects. For example, the current system does not grant the prime minister strong power to exercise leadership, with the result that the prime minister cannot make decisions in a flexible manner.In Yomiuri Shimbun surveys taken in the past two years, more than 60 percent of pollees have said they favored a system in which the prime minister would be elected directly by voters. But these poll results should be regarded as a sign of the disappointment and frustration felt by the public about the current political system-not a popular desire to see the prime minister elected by voters.Steps should be taken as soon as possible to shore up the parliamentary system of government. Measures should include enabling the prime minister to display stronger leadership and reinforcing the roles of ruling parties and the Diet. Implementing such measures would make the best of the council's final report.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	662	2002-08-08	yoshin0020020808dy88006vi
yomshi0020020809dy8900004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020809dy8900004	EN	\N	Govt workers can't avoid pay cut.	On Thursday, the NPA presented Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the leaders of both houses of the Diet with a proposal concerning changes in pay scales for national government workers.	12	2002-08-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The NPA's proposal calls for an average monthly salary cut of 7,770 yen, a 2.03 percent drop in this regard. The recommendation for cuts in central government workers' salaries was the first of its kind since the NPA was assigned the task of making such proposals.The proposal also calls for the seasonal bonus to be cut by a margin of one-twentieth of a month. All told, the NPA's proposal would reduce the annual income of government employees by an average of about 150,000 yen.Under the National Civil Service Law, central government employees should be paid salaries that conform to those paid by private corporations.Wages lower in private sectorThe NPA carried out a survey of salaries earned in April by about 400,000 workers at approximately 8,000 offices across the country. According to the findings, the levels of salaries paid to private-sector workers were much lower than those of wages earned by government employees. It is known that many corporations sought to curb salary payments, for example, by freezing their workers' base wages and cutting their wages, rather than offering the mandatory pay raise.The NPA's proposal represents an attempt to offset the gap.The recommendation will probably be frustrating for government workers, especially if they have worked hard to fulfill their duties. Government ministries and agencies should treat their employees according to ability and accomplishment, instead of promoting them and raising their salaries according to length of service as in the past.Even under the current system, government employees can be promoted and paid more as a reward for good work.It is also essential to review the levels of retirement allowances paid to government workers, although this issue falls outside the purview of the NPA.For example, a national government employee receives about 90 million yen in retirement allowance if he or she quits public service as an administrative vice minister. Is this fair?The Public Management Ministry is reportedly checking into the levels of retirement allowance paid to corporate employees. It should release a report on the survey as soon as possible and reduce retirement allowances received by administrative vice ministers to levels acceptable to the public.At the same time, the ministry should also study ways to reform the current system governing severance allowances to have them conform with levels paid to private-sector employees.Reform public service systemIn addition to its recommendations for cuts in government workers' salaries, the NPA has issued a report on reforming the public service system.In this respect, the Cabinet Secretariat is working to put together specific measures needed to carry out plans stipulated in a broad outline adopted earlier by the Cabinet. The NPA's latest report has raised many questions about the goals cited in the outline.For instance, the report criticizes a plan in the outline to impose restrictions on retired government workers taking up executive positions at private businesses under the practice known as amakudari (descent from heaven). The outline says retired bureaucrats must receive approval from a cabinet member heading a government organ to which they belonged before they could accept a senior position at a corporation.However, the NPA's report argues that the plan is open to criticism because it will encourage government ministries and agencies to defend their own turf. Instead, the report suggests that the Cabinet be solely responsible for administering affairs related to retired bureaucrats seeking positions at private corporations.The NPA's latest report is convincing in many respects and may reflect its regret that it had not done enough in the past to reform the public service system.Meanwhile, Koizumi has told members of the Cabinet to correct flaws in the current system in which many high-ranking bureaucrats quit before their mandatory retirement ages and take advantage of the amakudari practice. To restore the public's trust in government employees, the government should reform the civil service system. If necessary, the general guidelines for a reform of the system should be reviewed.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	757	2002-08-09	yoshin0020020812dy89001gj
yomshi0020020810dy8a0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020810dy8a0000d	EN	\N	Tanaka not off hook so easily.	But Tanaka is completely wrong if she believes her resignation from the Diet will help her evade the allegations.	16	2002-08-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Tanaka responded to the allegations at an open meeting of the lower house Deliberative Council on Political Ethics on July 24. She ended up repeating the same old story, however, claiming she had never misused the secretaries' salaries for private purposes and failed to present to the council with sufficient evidence to clear her name.Moreover, when a Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) member brought up an allegation that most of her state-paid secretaries' salaries had likely been distributed among her private secretaries, she stood there speechless.Although the meeting was at Tanaka's suggestion, her explanations failed to convince. On the contrary, she only managed to stir up deeper suspicions. Having failed to dispel the suspicions in the Diet, she apparently hoped her resignation from the Diet would put a lid on the scandal.Yet, even though she has quit the Diet, the allegations remain. Tanaka's case is completely different from that of the Social Democratic Party's Kiyomi Tsujimoto, who resigned from the Diet to take responsibility for alleged misuse of her state-funded secretary's pay, in that Tsujimoto admitted the allegations before giving up her seat.Nuisance lingersTanaka should not forget she is still accountable for alleged irregularities. We believe she should provide convincing responses to the allegations-including ones that have emerged recently-in the Diet and other venues.At the same time, both the ruling and opposition camps should not be patting themselves on the back, thinking they have rid themselves of a nuisance. In this connection, the report of the lower house Deliberative Council on Political Ethics report clearly stated that it failed to resolve the allegations. Lawmakers should make every possible effort to get to the bottom of the allegation, such as calling witnesses to testify in front of the Budget Committee-even while the Diet is not in session.Tanaka sparked controversy while she was serving as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's foreign minister. In more than a few cases, Tanaka's remarks paralyzed Japan's diplomatic activities, becoming the target of harsh criticism both at home and abroad.Her cancellation of scheduled meetings with foreign VIPs and refusal to go overseas on business were examples of her erratic behavior. Her thoughtless remarks included a reference to the relocation site of the U.S. State Department right after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, which was supposed to be confidential information.Warning to allTanaka seemed to be doing fine until she marched into the Foreign Ministry under the banner of "reform." Due to her questionable qualifications and judgment as foreign minister, however, the ministry became full of confusion rather than reform.Tanaka's high popularity with the public was one of the reasons Koizumi took the risk of appointing her to the key cabinet post of foreign minister. Nonetheless, he eventually decided to remove Tanaka from his Cabinet-a vivid illustration of the dangers of relying on a politician's popularity when making political appointments.Populist politics, as symbolized by Tanaka, should be avoided at all costs. In this regard, the Tanaka phenomenon looms as warning on Japan's political landscape.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	586	2002-08-10	yoshin0020020812dy8a0087l
yomshi0020020810dy8b0005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020810dy8b0005p	EN	\N	Time to get tough on crime.	The number of crimes topped 1.35 million in the first half of 2002, an increase of more than 60,000 from the same period last year, which itself was a record high, according to a recent NPA survey.	8	2002-08-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In particular, the number of robberies increased by more than 9 percent, to 3,155. Another notable trend in the survey was a rise in the number of arrests of foreign suspects in heinous crimes, which showed a year-on-year increase of more than 10 percent.The clearance rate-the number of arrests and questionings against the number of criminal cases-dipped below 20 percent in the first half of 2001 for the first time since the NPA began keeping records. In the first half of 2002, it rose slightly to 20.1 percent. The clearance rate still has failed to gain ground on the ever-increasing crime rate.In what is an alarming and persistent tendency, there has been a rash of murders recently, committed for a variety of motives.At JR Tokyo Station, the manager of a fast food store who chased down a man who had stolen items from his shop was stabbed to death. In Yokohama, an elderly couple and their grandson were killed by their daughter's husband over divorce troubles. In Chiba Prefecture, the wife and eldest daughter of the president of Mabuchi Motors Co. were killed in a murder-arson.In communities in which people live as peacefully as anywhere else, heinous crimes are easily committed.The shadow of organized crime, involving mobsters and foreigners, also signals potential threats. We cannot help but feel gloomy in the face of these phenomena.Small problems snowballFurther cementing the idea that society has become twisted is the high number and nature of appeals made for police assistance last year.There were a record-high 930,000 cases last year in which citizens sought help from the police. Mainly, citizens had community concerns-they received abusive or prank phone calls; their neighbors annoyed them; or they were worried about stalkers, peeping toms, child abuse and domestic violence.Some of the cases later developed into serious crimes. With this in mind, we urge the police to make the right response whenever a citizen calls for help.The NPA last year notified police nationwide to tighten patrols as their top priority. If officers take control of a situation before it develops into something serious, and if they keep a careful eye on suspicious elements, this will go a long way to salving citizens' concerns.Get more officers on streetsHowever, the police must constantly update its procedures to change with the times, especially when crime is on the rise and more and more citizens are turning to them for assistance.But police numbers are low. In the United States and Britain, one police officer serves less than 400 citizens; in Germany and France, there is one officer per 300.In Japan, the figure is one per 550 citizens.Although the government is planning to add another 10,000 police officers to the force over the next three years, coverage still will remain far below Western standards. The shortage of detention houses and prisons must also be urgently addressed.The NPA's latest report pointed out that the erosion of social values is reflected by systemic factors such as changes to family and local community structures, as well as rising concern over the effect the prolonged recession will have on peoples' livelihood.We are sincerely committed to stopping the toughening and roughening of society, which symbolizes its decline.At the same time, though, we urge the police to get more serious about fighting crime.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2002-08-11	yoshin0020020812dy8b008kl
yomshi0020020813dy8d00001	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020813dy8d00001	EN	\N	Confront social security issues.	Under the budgetary request standards for next fiscal year, the government will reduce the ordinary year-on-year increase in its social security expenses, which support people's daily lives in systems ranging from public pensions to medical services and nursing care, by about 200 billion yen.	8	2002-08-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As long as there is a framework of tight budgets for the next fiscal year, it will be necessary to cut into what normally would be considered a sacred budget allotment.Yet such efforts should not have as their end a mere tidiness of budget figures. The crucial thing is the government's carrying out drastic reform of the social security system and dispelling people's concerns over the system's future.Follow the rules on deflationOne aspect of next fiscal year's budget subject to review is the proposed lifting of the freeze on the price-indexing of public pension payments.Price-indexing normally means that pensions rise with inflation. Due to deflation, however, pensions would have been reduced by a total of 1.7 percent over the past three years if not for the freeze. This year, overall prices are expected drop by 0.6 percent over the preceding year.Whether the cut in pension payments to be applied when the freeze is lifted should be limited to that of this year alone or those of the past three years will be discussed in the days ahead.Pensioners will be disgruntled. Yet the current working generation, who keeps the pension system operating, has been enduring the pain of wage cuts. The price-indexing system is a rule based on the law. A certain cut in pension payments is unavoidable.The review of the employment insurance system, which has been criticized for its reckless generosity, is also a matter of urgency.By strictly defining the eligibility of jobless individuals, those who have left their jobs due to marriage or mandatory retirement and have no intention of finding further work should be excluded.Vocational training allowances, with which the government subsidizes part of the expenses needed for people to receive work-related training designated by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, is often granted to those who are not jobless. The program should be closely scrutinized-and perhaps scrapped.Yet cuts in these benefits and allowances are a mere temporary fix. Needed now is not a simple readjustment of the social security system but an overhaul.Long-term leadership is lackingIt is apparent to all that fissures are opening in the nation's social security system, which is premised on the assumptions of continued economic growth and a rising population. There is a need for the system to undergo drastic reform.Such reform, however, long has been postponed by irresponsible politicians. The government has set a goal of raising state contributions to so-called basic pension benefits-which are uniformly fixed and offered through the national pension insurance system-to one-half from the current one-third, but it has so far found no way to secure revenue sources to make this possible.Annual expenses for social security payments are projected to rise from the current 82 trillion yen to 176 trillion yen in 2025. The conventional method of discussion-giving separate treatment to the systems related to public pensions, medical services, and nursing care separately-no longer applies.In order to draw up a blueprint for people's security, it is essential for the government to make a cross-institutional study, discussing related systems in an integrated manner.Tax system reform is inevitable, including the designation of the use of consumption tax revenues for welfare-related purposes.The most important task for political leaders is to present to the public a clear-cut future vision and give them a sense of future security.Now is time for politicians to demonstrate leadership in this area, instead of leaving the task up to public administrators.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	688	2002-08-13	yoshin0020020813dy8d005na
yomshi0020020813dy8e000bd	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020813dy8e000bd	EN	\N	Environment tax may be needed.	Debate on the introduction of an environment tax, seen as one efficient method of achieving this goal, has intensified.	8	2002-08-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One organization that has begun discussing an environment tax is the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), which recently was formed as a merger of the Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) and the Japan Federation of Employers' Associations.Keidanren had been negative about discussing the introduction of such a tax, but Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, who assumed the post of Nippon Keidanren chairman, has said an environment tax must be actively discussed as a countermeasure for global warming. Since then, industry has shown signs that it is softening its stance toward an environment tax.Meanwhile, a committee studying a tax to counter global warming within the Central Environment Council has compiled an interim report recommending that an "anti-global warming tax"-a type of environment tax mainly targeting CO2 - be introduced as soon as possible after 2005.European models worth studyingThe government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy also has decided to discuss "a taxation system friendly to the global environment" as one element of taxation reforms.It appears that full-fledged discussions on the introduction of an environment tax in Japan finally are getting under way.European countries, including Britain, Germany and Sweden, already have introduced environment taxes.Such taxation systems vary from country to country, but they basically tax fossil fuels, such as gasoline, to curb the consumption of these fuels. The tax revenues are used for anti-global warming measures and to fund the development of environmentally friendly technologies.Noteworthy among these taxes is Britain's Climate Change Levy, which was introduced in April as a tax on overall energy consumption, including natural gas, in addition to the existing tax on gasoline.Under this new taxation system, industries that consume massive amounts of energy, including the cement and steel industries, which have concluded agreements with the British government concerning CO2 reduction targets, qualify for an 80 percent rebate on the tax. Companies can participate in a new market for emission reductions by trading their CO2 emissions quotas with other companies.The new British tax reflects the viewpoint that an environment tax must not hamper competitiveness.Review Gasoline TaxWhen considering the introduction of an environment tax in this country, handling of the Gasoline Tax-one of the taxes whose revenue is specifically designed to be used for road-related projects-is certain to be a focus of discussion.The Gasoline Tax, which currently is applied at twice the basic rate as a temporary measure, generates revenue of about 2.8 trillion yen a year. The temporary imposition of the 200 percent rate is scheduled to expire at the end of March. However, the National Institute for Environmental Studies estimates that if the tax rate is cut to its original level, gasoline consumption will rise steeply, leading to a drastic increase in CO2 emissions.Whether the Gasoline Tax should continue to be applied at the temporary 200 percent rate and whether the revenue it raises should only be used for road development will be topics for discussion in compiling the budget for the next fiscal year. The issue of an environment tax should be introduced as a fresh element in the budget-compilation process, and discussions on it should be promoted.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	585	2002-08-14	yoshin0020020814dy8e00533
yomshi0020020815dy8f00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020815dy8f00006	EN	\N	An honest review of history.	Since 57 years have passed since the end of the war, why is this service only the 41st to take place? One reason is that the GHQ set up by the Allied Occupation forces did not allow Japan to hold a memorial service until this country regained its sovereignty and independence when the San Francisco Peace Treaty went into force on April 28, 1952.	8	2002-08-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Aug. 15 is designated as the day on which "the end of the war" is commemorated. However, under international law, a war ends the day that a peace treaty is put into force. This reminds us of the historical fact that Japan was occupied and controlled by the GHQ until April 28, 1952.The interpretation and application of the Constitution also were affected by the Occupation.The Constitution took effect on May 3, 1947, but the GHQ continued to censor speech and the press strictly. In other words, one of the pillars of the Constitution, set out in Article 21-"Freedom of assembly and association as well as speech, press and all other forms of expression are guaranteed"-was ignored.In this sense, 2002 can be said to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitution.On Aug. 15, 1945, Soviet troops were continuing to advance through the Kuril Islands toward the northern territories-currently the four disputed islands off Hokkaido held by Russia-in violation of the Japan-Soviet neutrality treaty.It is extremely paradoxical that the treaty-violating Soviets served on the prosecutorial and juridical sides in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also known as the Tokyo Trial, to try Japan.Moreover, the Soviet Union was putting hundreds of thousands of Japanese prisoners of war into forced labor in severe conditions in Siberia-in obvious violation of international law-while the Tokyo Trial was taking place.At the same time, British, French and Dutch troops were reinvading Asia. Dutch troops concluded a truce accord with Indonesian independence troops in 1949, the year after the Tokyo Trial concluded. In 1954, French troops surrendered in Dien Bien Phu, northwestern Vietnam.Japan invaded colonies, not countriesDuring World War II, Japan's actions did not amount to an invasion of "countries" in Asia. In those days, with the exception of China and Thailand, only U.S., British, French and Dutch colonies existed in East Asia. Apart from the extension of the Sino-Japanese war that broke out ahead of the start of World War II, Japan's military actions in the early 1940s consisted of staging incursions into "territories of the United States and European countries."Judge Radhabinod Pal, who represented India in the Tokyo Trial, acquitted all the defendants on this point, saying that given the history of their own imperialistic adventures, the United States and European countries were not entitled to try Japan. However, GHQ banned Japanese media from reporting the "Pal ruling," and it was not published until Japan regained its sovereignty.It is also incorrect to put Japan and Germany in the same boat. Under the Nazi government, Germany pushed ahead with its policy of eradicating the Jewish people ideologically and systematically as an instrument of war. Indeed, operations of the organization undertaking the Holocaust drive were given priority over the requirements of military operations from time to time.It is true that Japan's military operations also resulted in various types of brutality, but Japan never intended to persecute any particular race. In this context, what Japan did during the war is fundamentally different from a "crime against humanity."Nonetheless, it cannot be said that the leaders of Japan at that time were totally free from responsibility. Those who were indicted as Class-A war criminals can be said to shoulder "Class-A war guilt" because they recklessly dragged their country into a war.Abandon masochistic mind-setAt any event, we should take another look at the view of history based on the "judgment of civilization," namely the verdict of the Tokyo Trial, which proceeded while the GHQ imposed control over freedom of speech. Those who subscribe to a historical viewpoint based on the verdict of the Tokyo Trial are often trapped in the self-reproaching mind-set that holds that "Japan alone is to blame for everything."The issue of the so-called comfort women is a case in point. The most egregious example of the misrepresentation of this issue was the series of campaigns conducted by some newspapers that fabricated history by claiming that wartime female volunteer corps who offered their services as laborers were victims of a system to mobilize "comfort women."During the war, Germany rounded up women in the name of the government to work in comfort facilities for the military rank and file in occupied areas. However, the atrocities resulting from the persecution of Jewish people were so appalling that the issue of the "mobilization of women" has drawn little attention in relative terms-both the leaders and people of Germany appear to be of the opinion that such things never happened under the Nazis.Those people in Japan who denigrate their own country choose to ignore this historical fact and instead maintain that, compared with Germany, Japan has not expressed sufficient remorse for its wartime actions.Since the beginning of the 21st century, discussions about the identity of Japan as a nation have been gathering momentum. To facilitate debates of this kind, it is necessary to review-without prejudice-what really happened in Asia in wartime and look at the prewar and postwar history of Japan with due consideration to the relevant historical circumstances.In today's Japan, such a review would never signify a return to prewar militarism. The great majority of the Japanese people is fully aware of this.Japan is a country that cannot secure an affluent livelihood for its people without a peaceful international framework and a global free trade regime.Paying tribute to those who perished in the war has significance in that it offers a way to recognize anew such visions of a peaceful world.(From Aug. 15 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1055	2002-08-15	yoshin0020020815dy8f00595
yomshi0020020816dy8g00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020816dy8g00007	EN	\N	Suspicions only deepen with report.	On Wednesday, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry released the results of its probe into allegations that the subsidiary mislabeled meat in a bid to exploit a government-financed beef buyback program.	7	2002-08-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The ministry plans to file criminal complaints against those suspected of involvement in the fraud, including the three regional marketing chiefs of Nippon Meat Packers' subsidiary. Now that the suspicions have grown deeper, we feel the ministry has done the right thing in deciding to turn over the investigation to law enforcement authorities.In response to the ministry's report, Nippon Meat decided to voluntarily halt sales of beef for the time being. The company is planning to release the results of its in-house investigation soon. The only way for the nation's largest ham and sausage maker to restore its credibility is to use its investigation to provide sincere responses to all the allegations and take corporate responsibility.The focal point of the ministry's questioning of those suspected of involvement in the scam was whether the mislabeling fraud had been carried out systematically.The report, however, fell short of answering such questions, stating that "it was difficult to conclude that the scam was carried out under uniform instructions." Behind this inability to clear things up, according to the report, were the testimony of the three sales managers at the Nippon Meat subsidiary, who insisted that the mislabeling had been performed under their independent initiatives, and the different forms of mislabeling discovered.Ignorance is blissThe subsidiary reported the mislabeling to Nippon Meat's senior managing director, after which the information was conveyed to the vice president in charge of meat sales. The president, however, was not told, because "he was not in charge of meat sales."The scam happened right during the revelation of a similar mislabeling scandal involving Snow Brand Foods Co., which was eventually forced to dissolve due to its misconduct. We wonder how the head of the company could possibly not know about irregularities that could seriously affect the firm's fate. Suspicion lingers in this area.The ministry report failed to shed light on various other suspicions, such as whether the three marketing chiefs contacted each other and how deeply Nippon Meat was involved in the scam.The relationship between Nippon Meat and the Japan Ham and Sausage Processors Cooperative Association, which accepted its applications for the government's beef buyback program, remained unclear.The ministry report only made clear that, in response to Nippon Meat's request, the association withdrew 1.3 tons of imported beef that had been mislabeled as domestic beef from the government-financed buyback program and instructed the firm to incinerate the meat on its own initiative.Shades of amakudariThe association cannot complain if it is seen to have helped the firm cover up the fraud.Nippon Meat's chairman served as the head of the association's board of directors. In this regard, the chairman is also responsible. But he cannot exonerate himself by simply resigning as the head of the association. He is accountable for the extent of the association's involvement.The Nippon Meat case took place against a backdrop of a beef buyback program that was full of loopholes-as the ministry had quickly cobbled it together in the wake of the mad cow disease scare-involving an industry association.Former farm ministry bureaucrats hold posts in the association in a practice called amakudari-literally descent from the heaven-in which retired high-ranking government officials become executives at corporations and government-affiliated and other organizations.It is no exaggeration to say that the case was caused by such collusive relationship.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	657	2002-08-16	yoshin0020020817dy8g000mt
yomshi0020020817dy8h00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020817dy8h00009	EN	\N	Privatize Narita Airport first.	On Friday, the aviation subcommittee of the Council for Transport Policy, an advisory body to the construction and transport minister, released an interim report on upgrading the country's airports from the next fiscal year.	12	2002-08-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report said a decision on the privatization of international hub airports, a major issue discussed by the subcommittee, would be made in the final report to be released at the end of the year. Yet, it supported the ministry's idea that it would be appropriate to separate airport operations into two categories-managing and operating airports and constructing and maintaining them.In regard to construction of a second Kansai Airport runway, the report expressed support for the Construction and Transport Ministry's plan.In its draft plan on the privatization of hub airports, the ministry proposed that the operators of Narita, Kansai and Chubu international airports be reorganized into one public entity that would construct and maintain airport infrastructure, such as runways, and three separate private firms to manage and operate the airports. Chubu International Airport is scheduled to open in Aichi Prefecture in 2005 as a new international gateway.Competition would be affectedUnder the proposed system, the private firms would pay leasing fees to the public organization. The system is aimed at evening out the debts incurred through the construction of individual airports by setting the leasing fees higher for Narita Airport than those for the other two airports.We have already expressed our objections to the ministry's plans. If construction and operation of the airports are separated, it will be impossible to monitor the capital investment. If the leasing fees for Narita Airport are set unfairly high, landing fees and other charges at the airport will remain high. This would adversely affect its efforts to compete with South Korean and Chinese airports in attracting more flights.The ministry obviously intends to make up for Kansai Airport's deficit through high leasing fees at Narita Airport.Based on a projection that the number of departures and arrivals at Kansai Airport will reach 160,000 a year by fiscal 2007, the airport has been proceeding with construction of a second runway, contending that it will be unable to accommodate such a large number of flights with a single runway.Construction should be frozenThe ministry, however, has revised the projection downward to 136,000. Despite this, the subcommittee decided to go ahead with construction of the runway. We believe construction should be frozen until demand begins rising.The government has made a series of mistakes in its airport policies. It built one airport after another in rural areas where the number of passengers is limited, rather than expand airport capacity in the Tokyo metropolitan area, where it encountered difficulty in securing land. Consequently, many local airports are deficit-ridden because they are unable to secure sufficient flights to and from Haneda, where demand is high.On this particular point, the subcommittee is attempting to rectify the situation. Its latest plan is to place priority on completing the extension of the second runway at Narita Airport and an extension at Haneda Airport.Narita Airport's second runway opened in the spring. The government should expedite efforts to extend the runway to its full extent of 2,500 meters.On the other hand, Haneda is facing financial difficulties in its expansion efforts. The most realistic plan would be to privatize Narita Airport first and use the capital gains from stock sales for Haneda.There is no future for the nation's airports as long as the profits incurred from Narita are used to rescue Kansai Airport.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	637	2002-08-17	yoshin0020020819dy8h006yh
yomshi0020020819dy8i0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020819dy8i0005q	EN	\N	Efforts needed to beat the heat.	The root cause of the heat wave in major cities lies in the so-called heat island phenomenon, an unusual rise in temperatures stemming from urban activities in the heart of major cities.	8	2002-08-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Most land in cities is covered with blacktop streets and concrete buildings, with the result that there is little scope for exhaust heat to dissipate. Exhaust heat from air-conditioners and automobiles continues to increase.The idea of studying the necessity of drawing up an outline for measures to counter the heat island phenomenon has been incorporated in the government's plan concerning the promotion of regulatory reforms.Next month, a meeting to discuss the countermeasures will be held, attended by officials from the Environment Ministry, the Construction and Transport Ministry and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.However, the three ministries have yet to make clear whether they will draw up the outline, let alone the time frame for adopting it.They totally lack a sense of alarm concerning the critical state of affairs. They should start working out countermeasures as soon as possible.Nation to stay hotter for longerThe rise in temperature due to the heat island phenomenon is occurring at a pace several times faster than that of global warming.The annual average temperature in major cities in Japan has risen 2.5 C over the past 100 years, with that in Tokyo rising 3 C.Should the nation continue to be urbanized at the current pace, both the total area in which temperatures of at least 30 C are recorded and the length of time in which such temperatures are recorded are projected to increase by 34 percent from current levels in the near future.Little progress has been made in coming up with ways to counter the heat island phenomenon because the reasons for the occurrence of the phenomenon have yet to be clarified. The factors underlying the phenomenon are far more complicated than those underlying global warming, which stems primarily from rising emissions of carbon dioxides.Both the Tokyo and Osaka prefectural governments in July started detailed weather observations specific to each locality. We should have such data serve as the basis for working out countermeasures for the heat island phenomenon.The central and local governments have not ignored the problem. The Tokyo and Hyogo prefectural governments have made it obligatory for newly constructed buildings to have greenery on their rooftops. Meanwhile, not a few local governments subsidize households and businesses that plant bushes or trees facing streets instead of building concrete walls. The central government also subsidizes the cost of installing energy-saving air-conditioners.Yet such efforts should only be considered partial countermeasures.According to an estimate by the Environment Ministry covering central Tokyo, the area's temperature will drop by a mere 0.7 C if the exhaust heat from buildings and automobiles is reduced by 50 percent and 20 percent, respectively, if half the blacktop streets are covered with water-retentive ones, and if half of the rooftops of existing buildings are covered with greenery.Public, private sectors have roleThe costs of implementing these measures for central Tokyo alone are estimated to total several hundreds of billions of yen. But unless such efforts are made now, the costs will be even greater.While the number of people hospitalized suffering heat-related ailments, including heatstroke, is increasing, habitats of mosquitoes that carry infectious diseases are expanding.The heat island phenomenon can also be said to be the price Japan has paid for failing to come up with planning policies that paid due consideration to the environment.In New York and Paris, spacious parks and rivers generate air-cooling effects, while in Germany, urban development takes air-flow patterns into account.Steps to ease the heat island phenomenon also will help curb global warming. There are also steps that individuals can take-reducing the use of air-conditioners, for instance.Both the public and private sectors should make efforts to rebuild our urban areas so that we can experience summer days that are more pleasant than now.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	736	2002-08-18	yoshin0020020819dy8i0077e
yomshi0020020819dy8j00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020819dy8j00007	EN	\N	Defuse insurance 'time bomb'.	Financial Services Agency Commissioner Shokichi Takagi recently  reiterated he would like to look into the possibility of lowering the  prospective yield rates life insurance companies have promised to  policyholders.	8	2002-08-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During the bubble economy, life insurers sold a large number of  policies by promising high yields. Now, however, all the insurers are  saddled with an enormous amount of negative yields as returns on their  investments have plunged due to ultra-low interest rates-a consequence  of the bursting of the bubble.Unless the life insurance industry gets rid of the massive negative  yields that threaten the financial soundness of insurers, the country's  financial system, including not only life insurers but also banks, can  hardly stabilize.FSA Commissioner Takagi's judgment is correct: The provisional yield  rates should be lowered as early as possible.Major insurers' decks awashAs of the end of March, 10 leading life insurance companies' negative  yields stood at a total of about 1.25 billion yen, causing pressures on  their operations.Under the existing Insurance Business Law, life insurance companies are  not allowed to revise prospective yield rates unless they go bankrupt.The Financial System Council, an FSA advisory panel, last year compiled  a report agreeing to permit insurers to choose a pre-bankruptcy cut in  prospective yield rates as a way of preventing collapse. If insurers  manage to remain afloat, damage to policyholders would be minor,  according the council.But nothing happened. At that time, the life insurance industry  disapproved of the council's recommendation since insurers were afraid  of a possible rush of policy cancellations that could be triggered by a  public announcement of their decisions to lower prospective yield  rates.If such an attitude continues to prevail, the causes of the life  insurance industry's plight cannot be addressed.Also, we are uneasy about the fact that one insurance company's failure  will now have a grave impact on banks that are closely linked to the  insurer by means of cross-shareholding.The new rehabilitation law for financial institutions enacted two years  ago gives a preferred creditor status to policyholders seeking refunds  of their premiums. This means that banks will face increased difficulty  collecting their subordinate loans and other outstanding credits from  insurers.Under this law, banks and life insurance companies are now in the same  boat. The financial system cannot escape from the life insurance "time  bomb" indefinitely unless the life insurance industry regains its  financial health.Further measures neededThe FSA should resume deliberations at the Financial System Council  with a view to submitting a bill for amending the Insurance Business  Law to the Diet as soon as possible.To assuage the life insurance industry's fears of possible policyholder  flight, there should be some new approaches such as simultaneous  announcements of a cut in prospective yields and measures to reinforce  life insurers' financial standing. Those steps can include the  strengthening of business and capital tie-ups with other financial  services companies.It also should be on the FSA council's agenda to appease worried  policyholders by limiting the product types that can be subject to a  downward change of prospective yield rates to private pension plans and  yoro-hoken insurance instruments. The latter pays the full benefit  amount not only in the case of the death of the policyholder during the  insurance period but also upon maturity.The government also has to deal with the issue of replenishing the  resources of the Life Insurance Policyholders Protection Corporation of  Japan, which is designed to function as a safety net in the case of  insurers' failure. The corporation has almost run through the private  sector's mandatory contribution of 560 billion yen, while a 400 billion  yen facility, based on public funds, will expire in March 2003.Both the government and the private sector should continue to cooperate  to keep the safety net intact to strengthen the creditworthiness of  life insurance companies.(From Aug. 19 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2002-08-19	yoshin0020020819dy8j007h8
yomshi0020020820dy8k00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020820dy8k00008	EN	\N	North Korea is insincere.	The Red Cross societies of the two countries wound up their latest talks in Pyongyang on Monday without any genuine progress on the most important bilateral issue-the whereabouts of the 11 Japanese citizens allegedly abducted to the North by its agents in eight separate abduction cases.	8	2002-08-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During last month's bilateral foreign ministerial meeting in Brunei, the North's Paek Nam Sun promised that Pyongyang would seek an early settlement of pending bilateral humanitarian problems, including the kidnapping cases, in a sincere manner. Nonetheless, the North Korean side divulged no relevant information at all about those cases during the talks in Pyongyang. This is an extremely deplorable outcome.No real progress in North's tiny stepsThis time, the North agreed to let Japanese spouses of North Koreans visit Japan for family reunions in October, while the North Korean Red Cross Society arranged the first meeting between a delegation from its Japanese counterpart and the People's Security Ministry-a police agency-and other relevant organizations in charge of searching for the missing.In addition, the North told the Japanese delegation that it had located six-two of them alive-of 49 Japanese nationals Tokyo had demanded that Pyongyang seek. The six did not include any of the alleged kidnap victims.The inescapable conclusion is that throughout these developments North Korea was only pretending to cooperate with Japan in searching for the missing people. It also has to be pointed out that the reach of the authority of the People's Security Ministry remains unclear.In the latest talks, the North Korean side maintained that the alleged abduction cases are a political issue and that therefore the issue does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Red Cross societies, which deal with humanitarian problems.If this particular statement signals the North's intention to separate the kidnapping cases and the search for the other missing Japanese nationals, it amounts to reneging on an earlier agreement that the kidnapping cases would be dealt with in Red Cross talks.Promises made, then discardedFurthermore, North Korea has conspicuously and selfishly linked the abduction issue to Japan's supplies of rice to the North as relief aid. In the past, Pyongyang agreed on occasion to Japan's demands for searches for the abductees so as to receive rice aid from Japan, only to unilaterally suspend the promised searches once Tokyo complied with the North's requests.On Aug. 25 and 26, the two countries are scheduled to hold talks between bureau director generals of their foreign ministries.It goes without saying that kidnapping citizens of Japan is an infringement upon the sovereign rights of our country. This is the point the Japanese government must adhere to.The Japanese government should demand once again that North Korea understand that resolving the kidnapping issue is the prerequisite to any type of bilateral negotiations.It is understood that the North has of late been actively engaging in dialogues with Japan, the United States and South Korea as a way of securing international economic assistance amid the virtual demise of its own economy.The North is ultimately aiming to resume negotiations with the United States, and its dialogues with Japan and the South may be Pyongyang's peripheral efforts to facilitate the talks with Washington, according to some observers. For its part, Japan should prudently deal with the North with Pyongyang's real intention in mind.The Japanese government has to maintain a resolute attitude when it negotiates with North Korea. It is most important for Japan to tenaciously insist that the North abide by international rules.(From Aug. 20 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	629	2002-08-20	yoshin0020020820dy8k006ef
yomshi0020020821dy8l0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020821dy8l0000a	EN	\N	A long way to go to regain trust.	However, an in-house investigation revealed fresh cases of fraudulent labeling of imported meat, indicating that the roots of fraudulent practices run very deep in the firm. Consumers may be forgiven for doubting whether the firm has truly turned over a new leaf.	8	2002-08-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nippon Meat, which falsely labeled imported beef as domestic to take advantage of the government's buyback program, announced Tuesday the results of its in-house probe of the affair and punitive measures it meted out.The vice president who was informed of the mislabeling and the senior managing director who ordered the incineration of the beef at issue will resign from the company to take responsibility for the malpractice. Such steps are a matter of course.The president will be demoted to a senior managing director.Four top executives will give up their representative rights and either resign or be demoted. These are fairly severe punishments.Yoshinori Okoso, the founder of Nippon Meat, will give up his representative rights and resign as chairman of the firm, but stay on as honorary chairman.Ethics forgotten in pursuit of profitThe firm claims it will make a fresh start under the new leadership, but it cannot be denied that it is looking out for its own interests.The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry is preparing to file criminal complaints against three of the firm's regional sales chiefs. Even though Nippon Meat has imposed punitive measures and come up with steps to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents, it faces an uphill struggle to regain public trust.Nippon Meat is the third company to have misused the nation's beef buyback program, following Snow Brand Foods Co. and Nippon Shokuhin Co.The ministry bears a heavy responsibility for creating a sloppy buyback system that was overly biased toward the beef industry.However, a number of food-mislabeling cases came to light recently that were unconnected with the buyback system.Why do so many firms have no compunction in cheating consumers?The answer is obvious: The belief that compliance with the law will reduce profitability has become part of the corporate mind-set.Those who were involved in the malpractice committed by Snow Brand Foods and Nippon Meat reportedly said they thought their sales results would be affected unless they disposed of surplus inventory.Nippon Meat admitted in its report of its in-house probe that "pursuit of sales and profits was paramount, and there was scant understanding of the importance of complying with the law."Break the law, suffer the consequencesIn the series of malpractice cases, the obvious fact that no good comes of breaking the law has been recognized anew as a truism.Snow Brand Foods was forced to wind up its business after consumers turned their backs on its products. Nippon Shokuhin has filed for bankruptcy. Nippon Meat has been dealt a heavy blow, with its products having been pulled from store shelves and having voluntarily decided to suspend its beef business.A common factor among these companies is the lack of a sense of responsibility on the part of their top executives, who chased profit at any cost. They also lack the ability to manage crises.Even if they were unaware of irregularities in their firms' operations, they deserve to be criticized for failing to rectify problems in the corporate structure that led to the irregularities. Such negligence disqualifies them as corporate managers.All companies-not just the food firms that have been hit by the recent scandals-should realize the importance of obeying the law.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	624	2002-08-21	yoshin0020020821dy8l005yz
yomshi0020020821dy8m00063	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020821dy8m00063	EN	\N	University reform has just begun.	By turning them into independent administrative institutions, the principle of competition is to be applied to state-run universities. It is high time for local government-run universities, along with the governments that operate them, to seriously think about how they can survive in the future, including studying the possibility of reorganizing and merging.	16	2002-08-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Currently, about 110,000 students, or about 4 percent of the total number of students at tertiary-level educational institutions in the country, study at local government-run universities. In the last decade or so, local governments have set up one university after another.The number increased rapidly due to two major reasons: Many nursing junior colleges were turned into four-year universities, and local governments rushed to set up new departments related to information technology and social welfare in an attempt to secure human resources that could play an active role in local communities.Some universities, such as Kushiro Public University of Economics and Aomori Public College, were jointly set up by various local governments. Many local governments apparently established universities in the belief that doing so would encourage young people to stay in their hometowns.Privatization trend picking up speedFollowing the move to turn national universities into independent administrative bodies, the Public Management Ministry has finally begun taking steps to create legislation to turn local government-run universities and hospitals into independent administrative bodies. It released a report that recommended taking this step earlier this month.The total amount allocated in the fiscal 2001 budget for local government-run universities was 277.5 billion yen, or 2.5 million yen per student. Most of this burden was shouldered by local governments, the operators of the universities.Due to tight fiscal conditions, however, local governments are unable to spend more money on operating public universities. To reduce the financial burden on local governments, local government-run universities inevitably will have to be turned into independent administrative bodies. But the funding problem will not be resolved simply by accomplishing this goal.The Osaka prefectural government announced this month a plan to merge Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka Women's University and Osaka Prefecture College of Nursing into a new prefectural university as early as fiscal 2005.The university will comprise seven departments-life and environmental science; natural science; engineering; economics; liberal arts; nursing; and comprehensive rehabilitation studies-plus a graduate school.The prefectural government aims to make the university a "base to create intellectuality" to support the industrial sector in Osaka Prefecture in fields expected to make swift progress in the future, such as biotechnology and nanotechnology.The prefectural government has said it aims to foster highly skilled business experts and academic researchers who will become leaders in their respective fields and actively contribute to local communities.The Tokyo metropolitan government also has decided to merge Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Technology, Tokyo Metropolitan University of Health Science and Tokyo Metropolitan College in fiscal 2005.The metropolitan government has decided to convert the new university into an independent educational corporation.Universities must diversify to surviveAs the number of students will decrease along with the decline in the birthrate, universities have been diversifying themselves beyond their traditional frameworks, regardless of whether they are state-run, local government-run or private.New types of universities-established by the public sector and run by the private sector-also have been established.Tottori University of Environmental Studies and Kochi University of Technology are examples of such new types of schools. Set up by local governments, the universities are managed by educational foundations to enable them to engage in studies of environmental issues and advanced technology in a more efficient manner.The Oita prefectural government invited Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University to the locality to strengthen ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.Local government-run universities will not be able to survive unless they carry out reforms while taking into account a range of possibilities, including mergers with other local government-run universities, absorption into state-run universities and full privatization.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	705	2002-08-22	yoshin0020020822dy8m005gr
yomshi0020020826dy8n0005t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020826dy8n0005t	EN	\N	Sea's name not just a name.	South Korea has pressed the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to start calling the Sea of Japan the "East Sea." In response to the request, the organization deleted a page containing the Sea of Japan area from the final draft of "The Limits of Oceans and Seas," which it plans to update next year.	12	2002-08-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	South Korea's demand seems unacceptable. Yet, at the same time, the Japanese government should be aware of its own part in that it has failed to resolutely deal with the issue in the past. We urge the government not only to lodge a firm protest with the IHO but also to stress the legitimacy of using the name "Sea of Japan" in a counterargument to South Korea's claim.There are several problems with South Korea's argument. In the eyes of those in the Korean Peninsula, the sea might be an "East Sea," but "east" is not an appropriate designation for other countries facing the sea. In this respect, the sea definitely differs from the Arctic Ocean, which is located to the North of all the globe's countries.From the historic perspective, as well, the "Sea of Japan" is an appropriate name.The name appears as early as the 17th century on a map of the world drawn up by an Italian missionary. Since the end of the 18th century, when Japan was still isolated from the rest of the world, the name became commonly used in most European nations. South Korea incorrectly insists the name became widely used as a result of Japan's colonization policy in the early 20th century.Mystifying failure to actAnyway, we wonder why the Japanese government failed to take appropriate action before the situation got this far.It was at the U.N. Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names back in 1992 that South Korea first proposed the name change to the "East Sea."Since then, Seoul has intensified its behind-the-scenes approaches to the IHO and others concerned whereas Tokyo was slow to respond to such moves, failing to effectively lobby the IHO.The Japanese government made a similar "mistake" in the past. In the Japan-China fishing pact that went into effect in 2000, the East China Sea is described as the "East Sea." One wonders how an official document was so brazen as to use that name when that body of water is called the "East China Sea" on maps in Japan and the rest of the world.Presumably, the so-called China school-a group of Foreign Ministry diplomats close to China-were trying to cater to their favorite country. We find this absolutely shameless.Double standardIf Japan yields to the demands of China and South Korea, there will be two "East Seas" on Japanese maps.It is entirely up to South Korea if it wants to call the Yellow Sea the "West Sea" and the East China Sea the "South Sea," but neither name is internationally acceptable. Above all, we have never heard of South Korea demanding that China and the international community change the name of the East China Sea to the "South Sea."Seoul has made this nationalistic demand only about the Sea of Japan-apparently because of Tokyo's failure to maintain a consistent diplomatic policy toward South Korea.In this respect, we strongly urge the government to take a resolute stance in dealing with the issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	600	2002-08-23	yoshin0020020823dy8n005hl
yomshi0020020826dy8o0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020826dy8o0000f	EN	\N	Profit not always bad in medical care.	The association warns that "the public nature and impartiality of the medical-care field will be destroyed," while the ministry sings a similar tune, saying, "The logic behind the pursuit of profit will not fit with the medical-care field."	15	2002-08-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Raising concerns about easing regulations on the basis of market principles is not completely unreasonable, given that medical care affects people's lives and health.But it is unreasonable to exclude the medical-care sector alone from regulatory reforms when all of our economic and social systems are now under review.We wonder why the public weal cannot be compatible with market principles in the first place. A cool-headed assessment of the merits and demerits of allowing joint-stock companies to enter the medical-care sector seems to be what is needed, rather than an outright refusal to allow entry.For starters, it might be advisable to let joint-stock companies enter the medical-care sector via so-called special regulatory reform zones aimed at accomplishing radical reforms within specific areas, thus paving the way for nationwide reforms by proving the system is effective.The Medical Service Law authorizes governors to deny permits to establish hospital run solely for the pursuit of profit. This provision is seen as the basis for banning joint-stock companies' entry into the medical-care sector.When read with an unbiased eye, however, the provision does not categorically deny the pursuit of appropriate profits. As a matter of fact, some hospitals are run just like joint-stock companies.'Nonprofit' scoundrelsThese are the ones that either were established in the pre-World War II years, before the enactment of the Medical Service Law, or were allowed as exceptions to offer medical care to employees. Some of these hospitals are even the main medical-care providers in their communities.It is wrong to think that, just because a hospital is run like a joint-stock company, it is merely pursuing profit at the expense of the quality of care it gives to its patients.Even some so-called nonprofit medical institutions-albeit only a few-profit off unnecessary tests and medications or make illegal requests for reimbursements from insurers.Also some family-run medical institutions pay their managing directors or other board members exorbitant salaries. Whether such medical-care providers can be considered nonprofit is doubtful.Nonetheless, a medical institution run as a joint-stock company does not necessarily guarantee efficient, high-quality medical care. The United States has so far seen no reports of for-profit hospitals' being superior to nonprofit institutions.What is important is not who operates such medical institutions, but how they are operated.Public distrust in medical care runs deep, due to the spate of headlines about malpractice and medical errors.Beef up inspection powersFor patients, the key thing is to receive efficient, high-quality care from a medical institution-whether it is a for-profit or nonprofit one.More important is the creation of a framework in which patients choose those hospitals that are willing to disclose medical information and are known for excellent care, while inferior institutions are driven out of business.Reinforcing public authorities' powers to inspect medical institutions is also essential. The current inspection system is considered too lenient. For instance, officials give hospitals advance notice of when an inspection will be carried out. Such inspections should be carried out, in principle, without prior notice.While transparency and accountability in the medical-care sector are as strongly desired as elsewhere, both the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Japan Medical Association have failed to make active efforts toward that end. The term "nonprofit" should not serve as a shield to protect the vested interests of medical institutions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2002-08-24	yoshin0020020824dy8o000et
yomshi0020020825dy8p0000c	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020825dy8p0000c	EN	\N	Century of environment?	While the Earth's population is increasing explosively, global environmental degradation is causing a vicious circle of spreading poverty and epidemics like AIDS.	8	2002-08-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	What should we do to stop the environmental degradation, break the vicious circle and help the whole world realize sustainable growth?To what extent will the world community be able to allign its views into a workable action plan with concrete measures, including implementation plans?These are the issues for the U.N. World Summit on Sustainable Development, which starts Monday in Johannesburg.The summit will be attended by more than 60,000 people, including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other heads of state, officials from international organizations, business enterprises and nongovernmental organizations. At the U.N.-sponsored environmental conference, NGOs will be given, for the first time, a say at the gathering.While the summit is of an unprecedented scale, so far no bright prospects have emerged. The final preparatory talks, held in June and attended by ministerial-level officials from major countries, ended with the industrialized and developing countries remaining at odds over assistance from developed countries to developing ones.Among the industrialized countries, the United States appears least committed to the upcoming summit, with U.S. President George W. Bush staying home. He will have U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell attend on his behalf.This makes the roles of other major industrialized countries, including Japan and the European Union countries, all the more important at the summit.Rio summit follow-upThe summit is a follow-up to the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development, a historic event better known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, with the attendance of more than 20,000 people, including heads of state and NGO officials from about 180 countries.At the Rio summit, the participants made a commitment to "sustainable development," which would make both "environmental protection" and "development" compatible, as a basic future course in solving the issues of global environment.At the same summit, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, which serves as the basis for international cooperation in curbing global warming, was signed. Through many twists and turns in later years, the Kyoto Protocol to the framework convention was adopted at the third round of the Conference of the Parties (COP3) held in Kyoto in 1997.We hope the world leaders will confirm the implementation of the protocol at the Johannesburg summit.The decade following the Rio summit did not bring about any satisfactory results when looked at from the viewpoint of "sustainable development."The figures contained in this year's white paper on Earth compiled by Worldwatch Institute, attest to this:- While the annual gross output of the world economy increased from 31 trillion dollars in 1990 to 42 trillion dollars in 2000, about 1.2 billion people, or one-fifth of the Earth's 6 billion-plus population, live under conditions of dire poverty, with a daily subsistence of less than 1 dollars.- About 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe supplies of drinking water, while about 9 million hectares of forests-equivalent to the area of Portugal-are depleted every year.The main issue is that environmental degradation is concentrated in those developing countries suffering from dire poverty and rising populations.A vicious circle of expanding poverty linked to environmental degradation is occurring. Indeed, the issues of the global environment and poverty are inseparably linked.The prime factor causing widespread environmental degradation is the worsening trend of global warming.Economic lossesThe U.N. Environment Program has come up with various estimates on economic losses the world would suffer based on the assumption that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase to an amount in 2050 that is twice that in the pre-Industrial Revolution years.Over the past 10 years the world economy, led by the U.S. economy, has become ever more globalized and information technology-oriented. As a result, the world economy as a whole has expanded.On the other hand, the economic gap between the developed countries and the developing countries, which are being deprived of the benefits of the advanced technology and information, is widening.It may be the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States that have made the international community recognize the dark side of globalization.Poverty is not a direct cause of terrorism. However, the United States and other developed countries have come to believe more strongly that poverty is part of the background of terrorism and its alleviation is important as part of measures to counter terrorism.Poverty in developing countries became an urgent issue at the U.N. International Conference on Financing for Development held in Monterrey, Mexico, in March. There, developed countries agreed to provide developing countries with additional financial assistance. That might be a sign of change.The most difficult issue to be discussed at the Johannesburg summit is financial assistance from developed countries to developing countries. It remains to be seen how far the developed and developing countries can go in resolving their differences.Developing countries demand economic assistance and market liberalization of developed countries as essential measures to eradicate poverty. However, developed countries, including Japan, are currently experiencing financial difficulties themselves.Developed and developing countries first should share a sense of crisis, and then start with what can be done.What is expected of Japan is its technology and know-how on official development assistance accumulated for years as the world's biggest ODA donor.Success or failure of the summit will determine if the 21st century is going to be an era of the environment.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	988	2002-08-25	yoshin0020020826dy8p005jw
yomshi0020020825dy8q0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020825dy8q0005q	EN	\N	Russian crutch failing North.	This superficial end to the Vladivostok summit may bear calculated symbolic significance in that the Russian and North Korean leaders sought to ensure that their meeting improved their political images.	8	2002-08-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest meeting between Putin and Kim was the third consecutive annual summit of its kind. The meetings in the past two years have served to show the international community that Russia and North Korea have mended their ties, which were temporarily strained after the end of the Cold War.However, the latest talks between the two leaders have failed to produce tangible results in relation to their efforts to cooperate on economic and other issues. This may well indicate a limit to what the relationship between the two nations can accomplish.Economic lifeline growing thinThe scale of Russia-North Korea trade has declined to about one-tenth of the level reached while the two nation's military alliance was kept intact. Today, Russia cannot afford to aid its economically tattered communist neighbor on the scale that it managed during the days of the Soviet Union.Nowadays, South Korea is a more important trade partner to Russia than the North is. Given this, there will be no way to improve relations between Moscow and Pyongyang without stabilizing the Korean Peninsula.Putin has said that his country would continue to play a part in improving the North-South relationship. To help accomplish this goal, the Russian and North Korean leaders discussed a plan to connect the Trans-Siberian Railway with a railway that will link the North and South, a project that would symbolize Russia's commitment in this regard.Russia will enjoy massive income from tolls and other revenues if a physical distribution network is established to link Europe and Asia by connecting the Trans-Siberian Railway with the envisaged North-South railroad.However, it is still impractical to open railroad services between North and South Korea. Military tensions between the two rivals first must be eased to achieve that goal.There is reason to assume that Putin is seeking to make sure that an improvement in the Moscow-Pyongyang relationship will benefit his foreign policy, rather than pursuing the relationship in hope of economic advantages.Pyongyang must repentNorth Korea, a sponsor of international terrorism, has been called part of an "axis of evil" by U.S. President George W. Bush. Russia can make its presence more strongly felt in the international community by telling Kim that many nations are concerned about his regime's suspected nuclear program, its missile development and export programs, human rights and other issues.To Pyongyang, Russia is less of a bargaining chip in its diplomatic games with Japan and the United States today than it has been in the past. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States have brought Washington and Moscow closer together in presenting a united front in their antiterrorism campaigns.With this in mind, North Korea should sincerely maintain a dialogue with Japan and the United States to resolve various issues facing them.The Putin-Kim meeting has been followed by talks between Foreign Ministry bureau chiefs from Japan and North Korea in Pyongyang. Prior to the new talks, Hitoshi Tanaka, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, met North Korean Prime Minister Hong Song Nam to deliver a message from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that called for efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute over several Japanese citizens allegedly abducted by North Korean agents. However, Hong only reiterated North Korea's demand for an apology for Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before and during World War II and compensation for the suffering inflicted upon Koreans during that period.There will be no progress in normalizing diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea as long as the latter nation refuses to show sincerity in trying to settle the controversy over the abduction cases and other problems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	695	2002-08-26	yoshin0020020826dy8q005vg
yomshi0020020827dy8r0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020827dy8r0000a	EN	\N	Wariness is the watchword.	The two-day meeting between Foreign Ministry bureau chiefs from both nations ended Monday with an agreement to continue talks on various bilateral issues, including efforts to normalize diplomatic ties between the two countries.	8	2002-08-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, there was no substantial progress toward resolving the long-standing dispute over Japanese nationals allegedly kidnapped by North Korean agents, an issue the Japanese side regarded as a principal focus of the latest talks. This followed a lack of progress in similar efforts made during talks between the Japanese and North Korean Red Cross societies a week earlier.During that meeting, the North Korean Red Cross Society insisted that the kidnapping controversy was a political issue that the two nations' Red Cross societies should not address. At the latest talks, however, the chief of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Bureau told Japan that his government would "do what it can by cooperating with the (North Korean) Red Cross Society." It should be noted that the meeting between Foreign Ministry bureau chiefs was intended to address political issues facing the two nations.Pyongyang's positions change at willAll in all, these responses show that North Korea has said different things to different negotiators from Japan. There is also reason to presume that Pyongyang is stalling for time, judging from its apparent attempt to state only principles without producing results.It has been quite a while since Tokyo has told Pyongyang that the two nations must work to resolve the alleged abduction cases. However, North Korea has since been opportunistic in dealing with Japan's request to investigate the alleged kidnappings. After first accepting the request, Pyongyang suspended its search for the abductees at one time and resumed it later, apparently to serve its own convenience. Its readiness-or reluctance-to resume diplomatic normalization talks has been a bargaining chip for North Korea.Some observers say that the latest talks have produced a certain measure of progress in resolving the kidnapping dispute, citing the fact that Pyongyang was not antagonized by Tokyo's assertion that the Japanese nationals in question were abducted by North Korean agents, as it has been in the past. This line of argument regards the fact as a sign of change in North Korea's foreign policy. Analysts who subscribe to that notion also see an earlier ministerial meeting between North and South Korea as a sign of a change in the North's attitude.However, no one should forget that North Korea's newfound smiling diplomacy reflects the nation's ongoing economic crisis, including a food shortage. History has shown that the North reverts to a hard-line foreign policy after such shortages ease off.Too soon for celebrationGiven all this, it is too early to conclude that North Korea has changed its policy toward Japan and other nations.Japan is expected soon to raise a spy ship that sank in the East China Sea after presumably being sent from North Korea in December. It is necessary to determine how Pyongyang will respond to Tokyo when it has salvaged the ship.The abduction cases represent an obvious violation of Japanese sovereignty. This country must never resume diplomatic normalization talks without resolving the kidnapping dispute in a clear and final manner.Japan has some evidence to prove that North Korea abducted Japanese nationals. For example, a Japanese woman has testified about her involvement in kidnapping a Japanese college student in 1983 in support of the communist regime. Tokyo should persist in urging Pyongyang to work toward resolving the kidnapping controversy, by presenting such evidence.The abnormal relations between Japan and North Korea should be corrected as soon as possible. Continued dialogue between the two nations is essential not only to the bilateral relationship but also to stability in East Asia.However, the government should not be oblivious to the many problems that must be settled before normalizing the Japan-North Korea relationship. Japan should be wary of haste in dealing with North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	701	2002-08-27	yoshin0020020827dy8r00694
yomshi0020020829dy8s0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020829dy8s0005s	EN	\N	Privatize the postal corporation.	Meanwhile, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's private advisory panel tasked with examining ways to reform the three postal services has compiled a memorandum on central issues to be incorporated in its final report. The memorandum contains three proposals on the future shape of the postal corporation, including full privatization of the three postal services.	8	2002-08-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The privatization of postal services, which Koizumi stresses is integral to his much-touted structural reforms, finally has started moving forward. However, the so-called postal tribe, a group of lawmakers lobbying on behalf of those working in the postal services, is expected to fight the privatization plan tooth and nail. Rough going can be expected until the privatization is realized.Koizumi should promptly present his opinions on the privatization of the postal services and ways to achieve it, and Ikuta, for his part, should manage the corporation with a view to privatizing it and make efforts to reform o fficials' awareness of the need to do so.Koizumi has described the postal corporation as a "preparatory organization" to privatize the postal services. The decision to appoint Ikuta to the post was made in line with Koizumi's principle to pick a private sector candidate keen to promote reforms.Ikuta has his work cut out for himMore than 360 trillion yen in postal savings and postal insurance funds are under the government's control, and this massive amount of money flows into public corporations and other government-affiliated organizations.As long as postal savings and insurance businesses are left in the hands of the government-run corporation, Japan's economy will remain inefficient.We believe it is indispensable to privatize the postal corporation so that it can conduct business freely, thereby maintaining the current network of p ostal offices amid intensifying competition.In this respect, the corporation's first director general bears a heavy responsibility. It is his job to pave the way for privatizing the corporation. To do so, he has to eliminate resistance from lawmakers lobbying for the postal sector and bureaucrats, and utilize the experience and savvy he has gained as a manager.Ikuta has been working in the shipping industry, which was exposed to tough international competition long ago and has been promoting rationalization for survival ever since.In the past, some former business leaders have succeeded in reforming public-run companies and other entities. Such successful reformers include Hisashi Shinto, the first president of NTT Corp., who formerly was president of Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., and Isamu Yamashita, the first chairman of East Japan Railway Co., who was a former chairman of Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co.The new postal corporation will have about 300,000 employees, who will continue to be employed by the central government. Following past successful examples, we urge Ikuta to make them aware that efficiency and cost-effectiveness must be the watchwords in operating the new entity.Those who will hold the key to the success of the new enterprise will be members of the preparatory committee to set up the corporation and executive members of the corporation, including two deputy chairmen and board directors. Ikuta should choose cohorts who will be supportive of his privatization efforts.3 options tabled for privatizationIt also will be important to incorporate measures to reform the organization aiming at privatization in the corporation's midterm business goals.Koizumi's advisory panel on the postal services presented three options for p rivatizing the postal corporation under which the corporation would become:- A special entity whose shares are owned by the government.- A completely privatized entity, with the three postal services operated together to keep the postal savings and insurance businesses intact.- A completely privatized entity, with the postal savings and insurance businesses abolished.The panel has come up with some extremely detailed proposals. Concerning the first option, it proposed lowering the limit on the amount of deposits held in postal savings per person. As for the second option, it proposed transforming an envisaged postal business firm into a holding company in which savings and insurance sections would be split into subsidiaries.In comparison with other industrialized countries, the privatization of Japan's postal services lags behind. By analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of individual proposals, we advise the government to expedite its efforts to privatize the postal corporation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	772	2002-08-28	yoshin0020020828dy8s0031a
yomshi0020020828dy8t00063	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020828dy8t00063	EN	\N	Train home helpers properly.	The Osaka prefectural police arrested last week a former head of a nursing-care school in the prefecture on suspicion of swindling its students out of admission fees by offering the Level 1 course for home helpers without first receiving authorization from the prefectural government.	16	2002-08-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the school's Level 2 course, which was accredited by the prefectural government, lecturers teaching at 70 percent of the classes were found to lack the qualifications and experience stipulated in the prefectural government's guidelines. Also, the number of classes was more than 20 percent short of the standard set by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.Consequently, about 500 Level 1 and 2 licenses issued by the school turned out to be invalid, and the trainees have incurred losses totaling 52 million yen.Other schools also were found to have conducted similar irregular practices.Earlier this year, the Kyoto municipal government revoked its authorization for three nursing-care schools where unqualified teachers taught classes. As a result, about 600 certificates were invalidated. Also, the Tokyo metropolitan government issued an administrative guidance to several schools following revelations that they hired teachers whose names were not listed in documents concerning planned home-help courses they had submitted to the metropolitan government.Oversight system flawedUnder the current system, home helpers obtain Level 1 to 3 certificates after undergoing training at schools designated by prefectural governments. Those with the Level 1 license may supervise helpers with Level 2 and 3 licenses.Elderly people receiving nursing services will find themselves at the sharp end of declines in the quality of home helpers. In this respect, we urge the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and local governments to make the utmost efforts to prevent irregularities at nursing-care schools.Not only the lack of sufficiently qualified instructors, but also flaws in the prefectural governments' oversight system are believed to have resulted in the series of irregularities.To be designated as educational institutions that train those seeking to become home helpers, schools are obliged to submit documents specifying their curriculums and the curriculum vitae of their instructors.However, because prefectural governments' monitoring of prospective nursing-care schools mainly involves screening documentation, it is not easy for the governments to recognize false applications, as was the case with the Osaka school, which listed experienced caregivers as lecturers without their permission.Besides, even if irregularities are found during on-the-spot inspections, the law does not stipulate punishments for such irregularities.In June, the ministry instructed the heads of prefectural governments' sections in charge of nursing-care schools to tighten controls over home helper schools.In response, the Tokyo metropolitan government began requesting the schools to submit documents proving their lecturers' agreement to teach at the schools. Hyogo Prefecture decided not to allow home helper schools to issue certificates before it completed its evaluation of what students had learned by taking the courses.Toss out bad applesHowever, we believe it is necessary to thoroughly review the system to eliminate ill-intentioned school operators.Above all, local governments' supervisory powers should be strengthened so they can order schools to correct irregular management practices and mete out punishments to schools that break the rules. Also, it would be a good idea to examine the possibility of setting up a system to disclose information about schools and their teaching staffs.There are about 3,500 nursing-care schools nationwide, including those run by social welfare corporations and private businesses. The operation of nursing-care schools, which are tasked with training home helpers, who are integral to the nursing care insurance system, has become a new business field.However, these schools are not as closely monitored as nursing facilities.The nursing-care insurance system, which is in its third year, already has entered a phase in which the quality of its services is being questioned.Dishonest businesses should not be allowed to be involved in the education of people who support the nursing-care system.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2002-08-29	yoshin0020020829dy8t0068m
yomshi0020020829dy8u000ba	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020829dy8u000ba	EN	\N	Where does pension buck stop?	At the same time, how the reserve pension fund is managed should be scrutinized.	7	2002-08-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Due to their own management of the reserve public pension fund-the money set aside for future benefit payments-the organization managing the fund incurred losses totaling 1.3 trillion yen in fiscal 2001 alone. The cumulative loss rose to 3 trillion yen.Gains in the fund's management would translate into a lighter burden in the form of annuity insurance contributions in the future. Continued losses, however, could force the insured to assume a heavier financial burden in the form of increased contributions.While management's recent losses are chiefly due to the sluggish state of the nation's stock market, the bulk of the losses is apparently the result of management errors.Nonetheless, nobody wants to take responsibility for the losses, including the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's Government Pension Investment Fund.The organization managing the fund has been entrusted with a precious public resource. The responsibility-not to mention the transparency and accountability-of those managing the public pension plan must stand up to scrutiny.What is left over from contributions paid into the National Pension Insurance program or the Employee's Pension Insurance program after benefits are paid is set aside as reserve funds. Reserve funds now total about 147 trillion yen.Conventionally, all reserve funds were deposited in the Finance Ministry's former trust fund bureau and loaned out to public corporations as part of the government's fiscal loan and investment program. The defunct Pension Welfare Service Public Corporation borrowed part of those funds to run itself.MismanagementWith the reform of the fiscal loan and investment program, the obligatory depositing scheme was abolished, and the Government Pension Investment Fund, which took over the operation of the pension corporation, manages the entire reserve fund itself.The amount to fall under fund management is scheduled to be expanded gradually. In fiscal 2001, about 28 trillion yen of the funds were invested in stocks and bonds.Fund management involves the risk of incurring losses. Yet the problem remains of whether the fund management should be left entirely in the hands of the Government Pension Investment Fund.The top posts at that organization are held by former high-ranking bureaucrats who have landed cushy jobs in the practice known as "amakudari" (descent from heaven) and its board members are alumni of the defunct pension corporation.Increasing the amount of funds it is managing is a highly risky prospect as long as the chain of responsibility remains murky.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has started looking into whether the investment fund should be made into an independent administrative organ. A complete overhaul of the organization-for instance, by appointing its head from the private sector-is essential.Stock investments riskySome have pointed out that it is inappropriate, in the first place, to put funds that should be handled in the most secure way possible into highly risky stock investments.A discussion of the fundamental issue of where and how much of the reserve fund should be invested is vital.There is also a problem with the scale of the reserve funds.The current pension plan, in which benefits are assessed in accordance with the size of the payments made by the working population, does not necessarily require a sizable amount of reserve funds.The amount of reserve funds in the nation's public pension plan-equivalent to about five years of benefit payments-is high compared to other countries.While the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policies is calling for decreasing the size of the reserve funds, a study must be made soon to determine an appropriate size for the funds.To prevent an increased financial burden on the public amid a dropping birthrate and a graying population, the government must take up straightforward discussion of public pension fund reform as a major issue.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	699	2002-08-30	yoshin0020020905dy8u000d0
yomshi0020020905dy950000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020905dy950000i	EN	\N	Revise policies to fend off crisis.	The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell again on Wednesday, dipping below the 9,000 mark for the first time in 19 years, if only briefly.	16	2002-09-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Despite the government's announcement that the nation's economy has hit bottom, it continues to flounder, and there are no signs of an end to deflationary pressures.The nation's financial institutions are creaking under the weight of bad loans and latent losses in their stockholdings, rekindling fears over the stability of the nation's financial system.So far, the government and the Bank of Japan have not indicated any intention to draw up new measures to boost the flagging economy and fend off deflationary pressures. As if to take advantage of such complacency on the part of policymakers, stock prices have accelerated their downturn.There is no more room left for the government and the central bank to sit on their hands. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi needs to come up with workable fiscal, tax and monetary measures and revise policies to avert the looming crisis.Stock prices are seen as a mirror reflecting the future outlook for the economy. The sharp drop in stock prices indicates the likelihood of an economic slowdown in the latter half of this fiscal year that could pose the risk of economic peril.Koizumi overtaken by eventsIn line with the downtrend of the U.S. economy, alarm bells have begun sounding over the outlook for the national economy, which until recently had been on a moderate, export-led recovery path.The industrial production index for July declined, on a preliminary basis, for the second month in a row, while there are no signs of a pickup in domestic demand, including capital investment.The fragile state of the nation's financial system gives cause for concern. The leading banks have seen their latent losses on their stockholdings top 4 trillion yen, while those at leading life insurers have risen to 1.5 trillion yen.Both banks and life insurers hold stakes in each other in the form of interlocked shareholdings, running the risk that the damage wrought by declining stock prices will be aggravated.Even though the benchmark Nikkei index dropped below the 10,000 mark in late July, government and central bank officials do not seem overly worried.Koizumi, apparently preoccupied with the issues of privatizing the highway public corporations and the state-run postal businesses, and with preparations for his planned visit to North Korea, has yet to launch any effective economic measures.It appears that the Koizumi administration, lacking effective economic measures, has been taken advantage of by the market revolt. But because stock prices have tumbled so far, the administration can no longer afford to sit idly by and wait for the stock market to bounce back.At the very least, the Koizumi administration needs to refashion its current tight fiscal policy into a neutral one to help narrow the sizable supply-demand gap in the national economy.Extra budget may be neededThere are some who have started calling on the government to compile a supplementary budget with an eye to the scheduling of an extraordinary Diet session this autumn. The government should study-as soon as possible-whether it would be able to compile a supplementary budget.The government also should implement corporate tax cuts to stimulate capital investment by expanding the size of its planned tax cuts of about 1 trillion yen.Another essential step the government need to take is to act to prevent investors from being scared away from the stock market by amending the new tax system for stock investment, which has been criticized as too complicated.If the health of financial institutions continues to suffer, the government should not hesitate to inject public funds into them once again. Also needed urgently are measures to strengthen the functions of the state-backed Banks' Stockholding Acquisition Corporation, which is designed to purchase stocks cross-held by financial institutions.Against the backdrop of a global stock market downturn, we would like to remind the Koizumi administration that it is the Japanese economy that is most vulnerable to falls in stock prices.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	716	2002-09-05	yoshin0020020909dy95001ru
yomshi0020020905dy96000bd	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020905dy96000bd	EN	\N	Maintain global cooperation.	The site where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood in New York is marked by the pitiful scars left by the attacks. On fences surrounding the site are photographs of victims and cards seeking information about the whereabouts of loved ones who went missing during the attacks.	8	2002-09-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This scene reminds us once again of the people's anger against terrorist atrocities and their sympathy for victims and their families.Under the banner of fighting terrorism, the United States put together an alliance not only of allied countries, but also Russia and China after the Sept. 11 attacks, while winning cooperation from Arab and Islamic nations.Creating an international cooperation framework on such a vast scale has transformed the world scene.About a month after the terrorist attacks, the United States, Britain and other countries launched attacks on Afghanistan, the stronghold of the international terrorist organization Al-Qaida. Japan provided logistic support to the U.S.-led forces.Arms needed to stop terroristsThe use of arms was necessary to stop the terrorists from striking again.It is important to maintain international cooperation in the war on terrorism. This cooperation is vital because there is a possibility that remnants of the Al-Qaida organization may launch other terrorist attacks.In Afghanistan, a transitional government under President Hamid Karzai is striving to rebuild the war-torn country.The international community must continue to support Afghanistan to help the nation's reconstruction and bring about peace.International cooperation, however, is facing a crucial test, with military attacks on Iraq, led by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, coming closer to reality.Bush has made clear his administration's intention of expediting its effort to bring down Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by emphasizing the need to "disarm the unlawful regime that possesses weapons of mass destruction."Iraq's stance cannot be condonedIf we are to protect civilized society from acts of terrorism, we must place top priority on the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.In violation of a Gulf War ceasefire resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council, Iraq has refused since 1998 to permit U.N. inspections aimed at eliminating weapons of mass destruction. Iraq's attitude cannot be condoned.However, European and Arab countries have expressed cautious opinions about an attack on Iraq. If the United States attacks Iraq without going through the correct procedures, the international cooperation framework, which was formed with great effort, may collapse.It is important for the Bush administration to listen to what international society has to say.Should the United States try to expand the war on terrorism when international cooperation is on shaky ground and the Afghan situation full of uncertainties, there is the danger that terrorists might be encouraged to commit another outrage.The Bush administration needs to consult closely with the countries concerned and take all necessary steps.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	518	2002-09-06	yoshin0020020909dy96001y8
yomshi0020020909dy9700061	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020909dy9700061	EN	\N	Be resolute toward N. Korea.	The government's irresolute attitude toward an unidentified ship, presumed to be North Korean, that was spotted in waters off Noto Peninsula on Wednesday, has us extremely worried. The government has obviously tried to downplay the incident so that the Sept. 17 meeting between the Japanese and North Korean leaders would not be adversely affected.	15	2002-09-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The incident was disclosed several hours after a Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol plane discovered the ship. Even then, the discovery was revealed only after the prime minister instructed government officials to do so.It is also disturbing to note that a Defense Agency source said a high-ranking government official at the Prime Minister's Office had told the agency not to pursue the ship too tenaciously. If this statement is true, the government must be taken to task for its reluctance to take resolute action against the unidentified vessel.Penetrating Japan's EEZThe ship was reported to have briefly penetrated Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The government has said that it has no evidence to support this report. However, the government's indecisive attitude indicates that government officials know the ship entered the EEZ.Judging from its shape and size, the vessel in question is similar to other vessels thought to be spy ships that have been seen in waters around Japan. However, the recently spotted ship had features not seen in the other ships. For example, the North Korean national flag was painted on the funnel.One thing is certain. The ship appeared to be engaged in suspicous activities by sending radio transmissions in waters around this country.It should be noted that the latest incident could have put Japan's security at risk. The government has an obligation to gather all the pertinent facts about the ship and make them public as soon as possible.The government has said the incident will not affect the Koizumi-Kim summit. However, the government must get its priorities straight. It should not treat the incident lightly merely to prevent the Sept. 17 meeting from being affected.Some members of the ruling coalition parties say the government fears that identifying the ship would antagonize North Korea and jeopardize efforts to resolve the dispute over Japanese nationals allegedly kidnapped by North Korean agents.Delay in identifying shipJapan is engaged in raising an unidentified ship that sank in the East China Sea after an exchange of gunfire with the Japan Coast Guard in late December, although recent typhoons have delayed the salvaging of the ship, probably until late September. Since announcing Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang, however, the government appears to want to put off determining the ship's nationality until after the Sept. 17 summit.There is a strong belief that the unidentified ship is North Korean. The government's reluctance to determine the ship's nationality at an early date is another sign of its irresolute attitude toward Pyongyang.Among major topics to be taken up at the summit meeting is the threat posed to Japan by such unidentified ships in recent years. During the talks, Koizumi should sound out Kim about Pyongyang's attitude concerning these ships, and provide him with the facts that have been gathered by this country.The government will not be able to win any concessions from North Korea if it takes a weak-kneed attitude toward that country before the two leaders meet. Tokyo will only be able to send an important message to Pyongyang if it adopts a resolute stance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	621	2002-09-07	yoshin0020030204dy97004h8
yomshi0020020907dy980005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020907dy980005p	EN	\N	People's sense of crisis fading.	Since the Sept. 11 acts of terror, the nation has tackled some tasks in this regard. However, numerous tasks remain. Japan should therefore more extensively debate what should be done to transform itself into a nation well prepared to deal with emergencies.	8	2002-09-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The terrorist attacks on the United States greatly shocked Japan not only because its target was the world's most powerful country, but also because many Japanese fell victim to the attacks.The Sept. 11 attacks taught the Japanese that they could be singled out as a target of a terrorist attack ay any time. Such a serious concern has greatly changed this nation's perception about its security, although its people still tend to be preoccupied with their own peace even at the expense of efforts to play a significant role in defending global security.In a Yomiuri Shimbun poll taken immediately after the terrorist incident, 87 percent of respondents said Japan should assist U.S. military operations in uprooting international terrorism.Security bills passedIn response to growing popular sentiment in favor of an international antiterrorism campaign, lawmakers enacted a series of bills related to the country's security during an extraordinary Diet session convened in the autumn of 2001. The legislation included the Antiterrorism Law, which authorizes the government to dispatch Self-Defense Forces personnel to aid the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism. In addition, the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law was revised to end the freeze on the SDF's participation in a major mission of U.N. peacekeeping forces.However, this country seems to have lost its own sense of crisis almost one year after the Sept. 11 attacks. After enacting the antiterrorism laws, legislators have become half-hearted in discussing national security issues. Each political party has primarily sought to turn parliamentary debates into political gains.This was most conspicuously demonstrated by lawmakers' failure to pass a set of bills defining the country's response to an armed attack during the last ordinary Diet session.First of all, the government and the ruling parties were inadequate in their attempt to put the bills through the Diet. In addition, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) continued to oppose the bills without producing alternatives. This was disturbing in that the leading opposition party had pledged to improve the nation's preparedness to deal with military emergencies.The last Diet session ended up carrying the bills over to the upcoming Diet session. All political parties must be blamed for their failure to act responsibly.Other measures neededThe Sept. 11 attacks taught Japan various lessons, including the need to step up its preparedness for national emergencies. Efforts to upgrade the nation's legal framework for war contingencies represent a first step toward defending this country from a military attack. However, this should be complemented by many other measures.One such measure is to periodically conduct a joint drill involving SDF personnel, police officers and firefighters, with the aim of preparing them to cooperate in dealing with emergencies. Otherwise, they would not be able to adequately function in an emergency.Sept. 11 has shown that nations around the world must work together to maintain global peace and order. Japan's efforts to enable itself to join such a global campaign is another task facing this nation.The Antiterrorism Law is temporary legislation of two-year duration. If another emergency similar to the Sept. 11 attacks arises, this country will have to create a new law. This could cause delay in a Japanese response to such circumstances.In addition, this nation must revise relevant legislation to adapt its rules on the SDF's use of weapons to internationally accepted standards. This will be essential to ensure that the SDF can effectively engage in U.N. peacekeeping operations.The passage of time has left lawmakers and others less acutely aware of the need to make their country better prepared for national emergencies. Politicians could put their nation at risk if they forget their duties in this regard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	722	2002-09-08	yoshin0020020910dy98000si
yomshi0020020911dy9b0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020911dy9b0000d	EN	\N	H-2A launch heralds new era.	The launches of the first two H-2A rockets were considered experimental. The third H-2A is the nation's first practical rocket, having put into orbit two satellites, including the Data Relay Test Satellite (DRTS).	17	2002-09-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the sphere of rocketry, it is said that "if a rocket is launched successfully three times, it may be considered full-fledged." The H-2A can be said to have won a "qualification certificate" as a world-class rocket.The H-2A also is scheduled to launch an information-gathering satellite and the Multifunctional Transport Satellite (MTSat), which is to take over the functions of the meteorological satellite Himawari 5.By carrying out thorough quality control and gaining a reputation for high reliability, the H-2A will be able to win overseas orders for satellite launches.Prioritize R&D themesThe nation's space development program has entered a phase of major change.NASDA and two other state-run organizations-the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and the National Aerospace Laboratory-will be integrated into a new entity next fiscal year.The H-2A program will be privatized, and the government is expected to make a formal decision this year on whether to have Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. build, take orders for and sell it.The nation's space development program is on the threshold of a new era. Formerly, Japan attempted to follow the lead of such space powers as the United States and Russia. Now that the program has matured and b ecome independent, the government needs to overcome and solve its long-standing problems and shortcomings.As one official in the nation's space development program has admitted, "We unwittingly have aimed at becoming a miniature of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration," indicating that organizations related to space development may have been spreading their limited budgets too thinly.The new organization needs to prioritize its research and development themes so as to foster areas of specialization in which Japan can become a pioneer. It is a matter of urgency to map out future visions concerning what sort of rocket and satellite technology will be needed to achieve that end.Security issue rightly acknowledgedThere are criticisms that in its pursuit of cutting-edge technology, the nation's rocket development program has tended to overlook commercial opportunities.The H-2 rocket, the predecessor of the H-2A, cost about twice as much to launch as rival rockets. NASDA officials had to rack their brains to think up ways of halving the cost of launching the H-2A.This was because the nation lacked a system to properly reflect international trends and users' requirements in the development of rockets. To rectify such shortcomings, the public and private sectors should expand their cooperative ties.The government's long-held stance of "adhering to the principle of peaceful use" of rockets also was out of tune with thinking in the rest of the world. The long-awaited planned launch of the information-gathering satellite, for instance, is only to be realized after near-meaningless debates in the Diet.The fact that the government's Council for Science and Technology Policy listed "security" and "risk management" as priority issues in its basic policy on the nation's space development program compiled in June may be considered a step in the right direction.In any case, now that the H-2A has proved its commercial viability, the dark clouds that have covered the nation's space development program have begun clearing.To maintain its status as a scientific and technological powerhouse, Japan must nurture its own space technology. Now is the time to take a bold step forward in reinforcing systems related to space technology.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	654	2002-09-11	yoshin0020020911dy9b001he
yomshi0020020912dy9c0005n	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020912dy9c0005n	EN	\N	Firms shouldn't be litterbugs.	An estimated 820,000 cubic meters of industrial waste has been dumped there, with the result that an area of natural beauty has been transformed into a wasteland.	8	2002-09-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Nearly twice as much industrial waste has been discarded at the site as was dumped on Teshima island, Kagawa Prefecture, formerly the worst example of illegal dumping in the nation.It is believed that the industrial waste in the latest case was dumped over a period of about 10 years. Various types of waste have been dumped there, including used oil, plastic refuse and food items whose sell-by date had expired.In a well located nearby, dioxins have been detected at concentrations dozens of times higher than the maximum allowed under the environmental quality standard, which stipulates the level of environmental quality necessary to protect people's health from various pollutants.According to the Aomori and Iwate prefectural governments, the industrial waste in question was dumped by about 2,600 business enterprises and organizations, most of which are based in or around Tokyo. The latest case shows that industrial waste discarded from urban areas tends to end up in rural areas, where environmental regulations and related monitoring are less strict.The two waste-disposal business operators found to have illegally dumped the waste were found guilty of violating the law concerning waste disposal. Both operators have gone bankrupt and been liquidated.Cleaning up the messIt has been estimated that it will cost several tens of billions of yen to restore the site to its original state. The issues of how to allocate responsibility for the illegal dumping and how to return the site to its original state are thorny ones. But moves have begun-at long last-toward settling these issues.The Environment Ministry, which has decided to provide half the funding needed to restore the site, is seeking 2.6 billion yen for that purpose in next fiscal year's budget.Meanwhile, the ministry, Aomori and Iwate prefectures, Tokyo, 10 other prefectures, 10 cities and the National Police Agency have decided to join hands in assessing the responsibility of the business enterprises and organizations that entrusted the two operators with the disposal of their industrial waste.It is a big step forward for such entities as the Environment Ministry, local governments and the NPA to cooperate in dealing with such a problem.The Environment Ministry should hold up this sort of joint effort as an example for mapping out ways to solve the waste-disposal problem.After a number of illegal waste-dumping cases, including the Teshima island case, came to light, the Waste Management Law was revised to hold business enterprises and organizations found to have inappropriately outsourced the disposal of their industrial waste to disposal operators responsible for restoring a site where waste was illegally dumped back to its original condition.It is only fair for business enterprises and organizations that outsource their waste disposal in the knowledge that their waste will be dumped illegally to be held legally responsible for restoring the dump site.Waste disposal a vicious circleOther problems related to industrial waste disposal were revealed in the latest dumping case.Industrial waste discharged from urban areas, including Tokyo, is often sent to such neighboring prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area as Chiba. But about 10 years ago, Chiba and other neighboring prefectures acted to restrict the inflow of such waste by holding prior consultations with local autonomies from where the waste was transported or by making it mandatory for such inflows to be reported to concerned prefectural governments. As a result, waste-disposal business operators started dumping industrial waste in areas further away from major urban areas, in regions such as Tohoku.After prefectures in the Tohoku region began taking steps to restrict the inflow of such waste from urban areas, including Tokyo, waste-disposal business operators resumed dumping it in neighboring prefectures such as Chiba, and illegal dumping became ever more flagrant.The horrible example of the industrial waste dumped in the Tohoku region and the vicious circle that disposal of industrial waste has become makes it necessary for business enterprises and organizations to become more aware of their social responsibility and the need for environmental protection.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	751	2002-09-12	yoshin0020020912dy9c00227
yomshi0020020912dy9d000bb	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020912dy9d000bb	EN	\N	Clean up political fund situation.	After political fund reports for 2001 filed with the Public Management Ministry by political parties and political fund management organizations were made available Thursday, it was obvious that many issues regarding these funds need to be corrected	8	2002-09-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	One of these issues concerns donations from private companies and other organizations.Donations to the political fund management organizations of individual lawmakers were banned in January 2000. As the result, these donations are now made to the local chapters of political parties instead.Although the amount of donations collected by political parties and fund management organizations in 2001 decreased slightly compared to the previous year, the overall fund-raising structure remains intact.In some cases, funds at local chapters were funneled to the political fund management organizations of individual lawmakers.Local party chapter loopholeThere are no restrictions on political donations to local party chapters. However, most lawmakers belonging to the Liberal Democratic Party serve as heads of local chapters, meaning that these chapters function as support organizations for the lawmakers.In other words, the flow of funds continues despite the ban on political donations to individual lawmakers.Four opposition parties submitted a bill during the last ordinary Diet session to revise the Political Funds Control Law to limit the number of local chapters that can receive political donations. A committee of academics set up by the LDP is also calling for a ceiling on donations from local chapters to political fund management organizations.On the basis of these proposals, urgent measures should be taken to close the current system's loopholes.Reports filed with the ministry and those filed with prefectural governments should be released at the same time so that we can obtain a better grasp of the political donation picture.It is also indispensable to increase the transparency of political fund expenditures.Receipts should be requiredIn the case of former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato, political funds were used to pay the rent for his home, although his political fund management organization listed this as a political activity. No mention was made in the report of any expense for rent. Such a report does not reflect the real situation concerning political funds.Receipts should be required to see where the money is really being spent.Donations from secretaries also should be reviewed.Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a former House of Representatives member, was accused of receiving part of her state-funded secretary's salary and failing to report that as a political donation as required by law.Even if she had reported this as a donation, it would still present a problem considering the relationship between lawmakers and secretaries. Are secretaries making such donations at their own free will?Lawmakers who employ relatives as their secretaries should be censured for mixing public and private affairs. Such a practice runs counter to a Diet agreement about employing relatives as secretaries.The public's distrust of politics originated with money-tainted scandals. Political parties and lawmakers should constantly review the political fund situation and fix what needs to be fixed.(The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	536	2002-09-13	yoshin0020020915dy9d00019
yomshi0020020916dy9e000bg	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020916dy9e000bg	EN	\N	Iraq issue is world's problem.	Bush then called on the United Nations to act in a resolute manner.	16	2002-09-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	His speech was aimed at pressuring Iraq to comply with all U.N. Security Council resolutions, including one concerning international inspectors who would check for weapons of mass destruction.It was an uncompromising warning that implied the United States would use force unilaterally if it was ignored.The Saddam regime should take this warning to heart and refrain from further deceptions and comply with the demands of the world community. Iraq should allow inspectors into the country immediately and unconditionally.On the other hand, Bush said the United States would work with the U.N. Security Council to adopt the necessary resolutions.Preparations for military actionWith his public pronouncements that the Saddam regime must be ousted, the Bush administration has started to prepare for military action against Iraq. Alarmed, the international community is urging caution by saying that military action would damage international antiterrorism cooperation.In his talks with Bush, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called on the U.S. president to make further diplomatic efforts to win understanding from the international community on the use of military force against Iraq.By saying that he would follow U.N. procedures, Bush has indicated that he wants to maintain the framework of international cooperation.The U.N. Security Council should adopt effective resolutions to force Iraq to accept inspections and dispose of weapons of mass destruction.After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, Bush has said the biggest threat to the world is that terrorists would acquire weapons of mass destruction from "outlaw states." The president also emphasized that the Iraqi regime could possess nuclear weapons within one year after acquiring nuclear materialsBaghdad's actions reprehensibleIf we look at Iraq's past actions, Bush's concerns are understandable.Iraq attacked Iran in 1980 and in 1990 invaded Kuwait. During the Gulf War, it launched missiles at neighboring countries, including Israel. It has also used chemical weapons to surpress the Kurds.Bush is not the only one who doubts whether the Saddam regime will accept the demands of the international community. However, it is important for the world community to take every possible measure to maintain the framework of international cooperation.In other words, the problems concerning Iraq should be resolved not from the viewpoint of U.S. justice, but from the standpoint of world justice.The Japanese government should come up with policies to deal with the Iraq problem. It is important for Japan not only to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but also to ensure stability in the Middle East as Japan depends on the region for most of its oil.(The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	509	2002-09-14	yoshin0020020917dy9e003mc
yomshi0020020915dy9f00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020915dy9f00008	EN	\N	Be fearless with North Korea.	However, Koizumi does not have to be overeager to accomplish something in his talks with the North Korean leader. The prime minister should dauntlessly convey Japan's position to Kim.	8	2002-09-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	These will be the first talks between leaders of the two nations. Indeed, few leaders of the former Western bloc countries have ever talked with Kim, and the international community will be paying attention to the summit talks.U.S. President George W. Bush called North Korea a member of "an axis of evil." That nation's actions have a grave influence on the peace and stability of the world. In the summit talks, Koizumi should keep in mind not only the Japan-North Korea relationship but also Pyongyang's relationship with the rest of the world.Abnormal relationshipJapan and North Korea must discuss a way to correct the abnormal nature of their relationship that has existed over the more than 50 years since the end of World War II. There are also other important issues like the alleged abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents, the suspected North Korean spy ships and settlement of issues related to Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before and during the war.Koizumi must clearly present Japan's opinions on these issues to Kim.Among them, the most significant is the abduction issue, an apparent violation of Japan's sovereignty. The prime minister must raise the question of Pyongyang's responsibility for eight alleged abduction cases involving 11 Japanese men and women.Koizumi has said; "We will never resume negotiations with the abduction cases still shelved."He should point out Pyongyang's responsibility again for the alleged abduction cases during the summit talks.Likewise in the spy ship case. It is becoming more and more likely that the unidentified ship salvaged recently from the bottom of the East China Sea is a North Korean spy ship. Koizumi must not fail to question the North Korean side about the purpose of the ship and point out its responsibility for the incident.North Korea's alleged development of nuclear weapons, and its development and deployment of ballistic missiles also pose threats to Japan's security, which cannot be overlooked.Threats to regional securityThese developments also threaten the security of Northeast Asia, and that of the international community as well. Bush, too, expressed grave concerns about these issues during the latest Japan-U.S. summit talks.The international community is watching military movements of North Korea. The prime minister should urge Kim to recognize this reality.Then, Koizumi had better take time to observe Kim's response. He should find out whether North Korea can be transformed into a normal country or not.During the summit talks between North and South Korea two years ago, Kim promised South Korean President Kim Dae Jung he would visit South Korea. Nevertheless, Kim's visit to the South has not been realized yet.Likewise, Japan, too, has been troubled with unreasonable reactions of Pyongyang countless times. Indeed, the dictatorial nature of North Korea has not changed at all.Koizumi should decide whether to resume talks on normalization of diplomatic ties with Pyongyang only after comprehensively studying all factors. He does not have to hurry at all, considering that the tough diplomatic stance of the United States has put Pyongyang in a very difficult position.Sometimes, a state leader is required to make courageous decisions in diplomacy. But such decisions should be made only when they are grounded on cautious analyses.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	641	2002-09-15	yoshin0020020917dy9f0040s
yomshi0020020916dy9g0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020916dy9g0005s	EN	\N	Can domestic jets take wing?	Since then, Japan has attempted to develop passenger planes many times, but none got off the ground. However, a new attempt is about to start.	8	2002-09-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has decided to tackle the development of a new passenger plane as a part of the strategic technology development program called Focus 21, which is scheduled to start next fiscal year with the aim of revitalizing the nation's economy.In a five-year project starting next fiscal year, METI hopes to develop a small passenger jet with a seating capacity of either 30 or 50-a type of airplane that would have few rivals overseas.The expected development cost of 50 billion yen is to be shared fifty-fifty between the government and the manufacturers. The ministry has requested the government allocate 1.2 billion yen for the project for the next fiscal year.Project a technological cornucopiaPassenger plane production integrates sophisticated machine and electronic parts, advanced materials and the latest high technologies to realize safe products that will endure severe conditions. Also, it is expected to create high added value and a wide range of spin-off effects.On the other hand, the development of an airplane is a risky business because it requires vast funds and takes a long time to turn a profit. Under such circumstances, advanced Western countries proactively assist the production of passenger airplanes as a "strategic industry."To realize a new domestically developed passenger plane, the government and the private sector have to work in very close cooperation.In the last several years, the development of advanced aviation technologies has progressed as a result of the nation's research and development projects. Such technologies include automatic layering technology for compound materials, large-scale en bloc casting technology and advanced piloting systems.It is desirable to make efforts to develop safe, internationally competitive passenger planes with good fuel consumption that are lighter and stronger than rival models of overseas makers by fully utilizing the results of Japan's research and development projects.Pull together to pull aheadDevelopment of the YS11 was launched in 1959 as a national project of the government and domestic aircraft makers, and 182 YS11s were sold to domestic and overseas airlines. However, accumulated losses due to competition from overseas makers led to Diet opposition, and production of the YS11 was stopped.Since then, feasibility studies to develop a successor to the YS11 were started several times as joint projects involving the government and a group of five domestic manufacturers and a U.S. manufacturer. However, actual development never got started because the companies were afraid to take risks.As a result, domestic manufacturers have been content to work as contractors to U.S., European, Canadian and Brazilian passenger plane producers, and they have not fully utilized the technologies they have.Early next fiscal year, METI will invite makers of airframes, materials and parts to apply to the development project, and a screening committee that will include outside experts will determine which companies will participate.Can the new project utilize lessons from the past, such as avoiding a lockstep mentality among Japanese companies and becoming independent from U.S. manufacturers? The project is worth watching.(The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	567	2002-09-16	yoshin0020020917dy9g004fz
yomshi0020020917dy9h00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020917dy9h00007	EN	\N	Halt unhealthy harvests.	The issue of unregistered agricultural chemicals that are known to be carcinogenic has caused wide repercussions.	8	2002-09-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	According to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, there are 41 prefectures in which businesses have sold such unregistered chemicals or farm households have purchased them.Consumers' confidence in food safety, already shaken by a recent spate of irregularities, has been damaged further. Farm families who work earnestly have the right to be resentful.It is essential to assuage consumers' worries.The ministry conducted a thorough check of about 40,000 sellers of agricultural chemicals and conducted a nationwide survey of farmers who had purchased the chemicals in question.The ministry should clarify the whole picture and make it public as soon as possible. It also should take thorough measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.Farmers, businesses flout lawUnder the Agricultural Chemicals Control Law, chemicals may not be used unless they are registered by the regulatory authorities.In reality, however, some chemicals continue to be widely distributed and used even though their registration has expired and they are suspected to cause cancer or birth defects.The sellers' responsibility is quite heavy. Farmers who casually use such chemicals because they are "cheap and effective," despite knowing that they are unregistered, show a serious lack of morality.At least a few agricultural cooperatives, which are supposed to advise farmers on the sensible use of agricultural chemicals, have played a role in the sale of unregistered chemicals. Such acts are inexcusable and the officials involved should do some serious soul-searching.The illegal acts have appeared chiefly because of defects in the law. While the sale of unregistered agricultural chemicals is restricted, there is no penalty for importing or using them.The ministry is studying the possibility of revising the law to plug such loopholes.Laissez-faire not the answerWe hope the ministry will come up with an amendment bill to effectively block unregistered chemicals from being distributed and to do its utmost to ensure the bill's passage during an extraordinary Diet session.The authorities' lack of crisis-management skills, first dramatized in the outbreak of mad cow disease, has been highlighted yet again.The current rash of agricultural chemical problems was first revealed in Yamagata Prefecture, where the relevant prefectural organization, despite having been aware of the use of such chemicals for more than a year, neither took any measures nor reported the situation to the central government.But this is not just Yamagata's problem. Both the central and local governments should take a hard look at themselves.To regain public confidence, it is essential for the producers to sufficiently disclose relevant information. At some wholesale markets and supermarket chains, farmers are required to submit a letter certifying that no unregistered chemicals were used on their products.All producers, including farm households, must try to be more sensitive to what consumers want. Without such efforts, the government slogan "rejuvenation of food and agriculture" will remain a husk of empty words.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	531	2002-09-17	yoshin0020020917dy9h004rn
yomshi0020020917dy9i0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020917dy9i0005s	EN	\N	Will Kim keep his promises?	It was revealed that eight of the Japanese nationals whose abduction to North Korea was confirmed and whose whereabouts Japanese had been very much concerned about have already died.	8	2002-09-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During his summit meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Pyongyang on Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il acknowledged for the first time that Japanese citizens were indeed abducted to North Korea.His remarks are tantamount to acknowledging that Pyongyang sponsored these crimes, and prove that North Korea was indeed a terrorist state.Both Koizumi and Kim agreed in the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration to resume negotiations on normalizing bilateral relations in October. However, elucidation of the whole picture related to the abductions, including the background to the cases and those who should be held responsible in connection with them, is a major premise for the resumption of such talks.While apologizing for the abductions, Kim, the general secretary of the Workers' Party of (North) Korea, explained that they were committed by some members of his country's special agents, adding that those held responsible already had been punished.But we wonder whether the abductions were indeed committed by only a handful of special agents. Why on earth have as many as eight of the abductees already died?As far as we are concerned, Kim's explanation alone does not satisfactorily explain the facts behind the abductions.Abduction issue not settledThe fact that North Korea has admitted to abducting Japanese citizens, despite having long denied doing so, can be said to indicate a change of heart on North Korea's part. Nevertheless, the abduction issue has not been settled.Besides the need to clarify all of the facts behind the abductions, there are various other outstanding issues, including when and how the Japanese abductees confirmed alive will be able to meet with their Japanese relatives, how to return to Japan the bodies of the abductees reported to have died and ways to compensate their families in Japan.Making efforts to solve these issues should be a minimum precondition for resuming the normalization talks.Meanwhile, both the Japanese government and lawmakers, who until recently had treated the abduction cases too lightly, also should be held responsible.Notable in this regard was the prevailing view within the Foreign Ministry that held that the abductions were a minor issue when set against the issue of diplomatic normalization.Diplomatic efforts by some Diet members, chiefly those who attempted to curry favor with Pyongyang, ended up delaying the settlement of the abduction issue.Concerning North Korea's suspected development of nuclear weapons, Kim pledged that his country would abide by all relevant international agreements so as to reach a comprehensive solution on the issue.Included in such accords are, as a matter of course, inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, in accordance with the U.S.-North Korea bilateral framework accord.Dispelling missile fears essentialOn the issue of his country's suspected missile-development program, Kim made clear his intention of extending North Korea's missile-testing moratorium beyond 2003. If he sincerely means to do so, this is certainly a step forward.The issue of missile and nuclear weapons development is a serious one, involving the peace and safety not only of Japan, but also of Northeast Asia and the international community.To dispel suspicions that it is developing nuclear weapons, North Korea should immediately enter negotiations with the IAEA concerning inspections by IAEA officials.North Korea has deployed Rodong-1 ballistic missiles, which could strike almost all parts of Japan. Four years ago, a North Korean Taepodong missile was launched over this country. All this poses a clear and present threat to Japan.As well as freezing missile test launches, the government should demand that the communist regime stop developing, deploying and exporting missiles.Koizumi also conveyed Japan's regret and apologies for its conduct in the past, in the hope of meeting North Korea's demand that this country resolve various problems arising from "past history," a reference to this nation's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.Tuesday's summit also addressed North Korea's demand that Japan pay "compensation" for its past conduct. The two leaders agreed that the issue would be settled chiefly through a method involving financial assistance from Japan for the communist country.The formula is similar to a method adopted by Japan and South Korea in normalizing their diplomatic relations in 1965, which stipulated that Tokyo give Soul a total of 500 million dollars in both grants-in-aid and loans after the two government relinquished their rights to claim assets lost during Japan's colonial rule. Tuesday's agreement meant that the Japanese demand had been accepted by North Korea in this regard.Is Pyongyang sincere?The big question is whether North Korea will work sincerely to implement accords reached during the summit. Pyongyang has often walked out on Japanese negotiators during diplomatic normalization talks in the past.The communist country has taken a similar attitude toward its relationship with South Korea. It has yet to honor an accord signed during a summit between the North and South Korean presidents in 2000. The agreement said that Kim Jong Il would visit Seoul.North Korea's flexible attitude in recent months apparently reflects its concern about the hard-line approach adopted toward that country by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.Following the terrorist attacks on the United States in September 2001, Bush blasted both Iraq and North Korea, claiming that they are part of an "axis of evil." He cited concerns about their possible roles in spreading weapons of mass destruction among terrorists. Many other nations around the world have joined hands in exerting pressure on the two nations in this regard.In addition, North Korea's food shortages and other serious economic problems may have contributed to the recent softening in Pyongyang's attitude.It should not be forgotten that North Korea must remain under close scrutiny in many respects.During the summit, Kim told Koizumi that Japan and North Korea should no longer be "nations both close (geographically) and distant (politically)." To live up to this pledge, Pyongyang should show that it can act as a responsible nation according to rules accepted by the international community, by taking specific measures.It is essential for the government to stick to its principles concerning its stance toward North Korea. Tokyo should not make any easy concessions to Pyongyang. It should be noted that North Korea-not Japan-has its back to the wall when it comes to the two nations' bilateral relations.It is also crucial for Japan to cooperate with the United States and South Korea as they play their respective roles in dealing with North Korea. By stepping up their ties, Tokyo, Washington and Seoul must work to transform their adversarial relationship with Pyongyang into a cooperative one.Japan should not rush to improve ties with North Korea before the United States and the South make efforts in the same regard.Some observers say the government should seek to normalize its ties with North Korea as soon as possible, by taking advantage of Tuesday's agreement. However, Japan has no reason to act too hastily in dealing with North Korea. This country should adopt a slow and careful approach to diplomatic normalization talks.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1267	2002-09-18	yoshin0020020918dy9i004g0
yomshi0020020918dy9j00066	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020918dy9j00066	EN	\N	Stop toadying to North Korea.	The government reportedly plans to demand that North Korea give a detailed explanation of the circumstances of the deceased abductees' deaths, return the surviving abductees to Japan and pay compensation for the abductions before resuming negotiations to normalize diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.	16	2002-09-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government should only resume full-scale negotiations after confirming that North Korea no longer poses a threat to Japan. Pyongyang's reaction to Tokyo's demand that it clarify all details of the abductions will show whether the country is still a threat.The government must pressure North Korea resolutely and not make easy compromises.One of the family members of the abductees said angrily: "If they were killed, it was as a result of the government's negligence. I'm even more distrustful of the government." The Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry have received numerous phone calls and e-mails criticizing the government's handling of the abduction issue.Of course, the finger of blame should be pointed first at North Korea, which perpetrated the abductions. But it is also true that many of the government's past responses were problematic.Pyongyang bit the hand that fed itThe abductions occurred between the mid-1970s and early '80s. In 1988, then National Public Safety Commission Chairman Seiroku Kajiyama told the Diet it was highly likely that the missing Japanese had been abducted by North Korea, but it was not until 1997 that the government confronted North Korea about the issue.Pyongyang steadfastly denied being involved in the disappearance of the missing Japanese until Tuesday, when it admitted abducting them. Meanwhile, Japan has provided a total of 1.18 million tons of food to North Korea on six occasions since 1995. In the end, Pyongyang wrapped Tokyo around its little finger.One reason why Japan was led down the garden path by North Korea was political parties' attitudes toward Tokyo-Pyongyang diplomacy. Influential lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party and those of the defunct Japan Socialist Party prioritized the normalization talks over the abduction issue. Some lawmakers mooted the idea of resolving the issue based on the fictitious scenario that the abducted people would be "found" in a third country.The Japanese Communist Party also insisted that the government must not insist on a resolution of the abduction issue as a precondition for resuming the normalization talks, saying that the government had not produced any firm evidence to support its allegation that North Korea had abducted the missing Japanese.Even in the Foreign Ministry, some diplomats said the national interest was being harmed because the normalization talks were stalled over the abduction issue.Govt should look before it leapsIt is a nation's obligation to prevent infringements on its sovereignty and protect the lives of its people. But the government's toadyish diplomacy, which overlooked the key issue affecting its relations with North Korea, led to a delay in resolving the abduction cases and resulted in tragic consequences.This sycophantic tendency among diplomats and lawmakers must be erased when the government resumes the normalization talks with North Korea. The government must abandon its foolish negotiating stance toward Pyongyang, which has been characterized by an overeagerness for immediate results and knee-jerk policy measures.Even though North Korea has shown signs of change, it remains a military dictatorship. The government must watch carefully how North Korea behaves from now on before resuming negotiations.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2002-09-19	yoshin0020020919dy9j004ek
yomshi0020020920dy9k0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020920dy9k0000f	EN	\N	Ministry's attitude indefensible.	During the summit talks in Pyongyang on Tuesday, the North Koreans handed a document to the Japanese side giving specific dates when eight of the abductees died. But the ministry withheld this information from the families of the abductees on the ground that the document was an unofficial one.	8	2002-09-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	How can anyone determine whether information received from North Korea, a dictatorial state, is official or unofficial? As Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda pointed out, this particular information should have been conveyed immediately to the abductees' next of kin.Although it has been disclosed that eight Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents are dead, it is still not clear when, where and how they died. The families of these people strongly desire these important pieces of informationCriticism richly deservedIt is natural, therefore, for the families of the abductees to strongly criticize the Foreign Ministry for concealing this information.The ministry's tendency to classify even de facto public documents as "secret" is indefensible.The North Korean document mentions that two abductees-who are said to have lived together-died on the same day, an extremely strange circumstance.It is inexcusable if the Foreign Ministry concealed this particular piece of information to make sure there were no impediments to resuming talks to normalize diplomatic relations between the two countries.Of course, some information concerning diplomatic negotiations must be kept secret. The Japan-North Korea summit is a case in point. All the behind-the-scenes preparatory sessions were held in total secrecy so that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il could meet.However, the people's confidence in the government's diplomatic efforts would be seriously affected if information that should not have been concealed was kept secret. It is essential for the country's diplomatic efforts to gain the people's support by divulging as much information as possible and thus enhancing the transparency of such efforts.Public support essentialDespite the Koizumi-Kim agreement to resume talks to normalize diplomatic ties, such negotiations will not be an easy process. The Foreign Ministry and the government as a whole should not forget that the people's support is essential for future talks with North Korea.In a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll, conducted soon after the summit, a large majority of respondents reacted favorably to the summit. Likewise, more than half of them favored the agreement to resume normalization talks.These findings can be taken to mean that the people are satisfied with the outcome of the summit although they are shocked that many of the abductees are dead. In other words, the people have judged the situation coolly.For Koizumi, who said he believed that he was right in deciding to reopen normalization talks with North Korea, the findings of the poll should be encouraging. To better reflect this favorable reaction in future talks with Pyongyang, the Foreign Ministry must refrain from repeating its past mistakes.(From Sept. 20 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	531	2002-09-20	yoshin0020020920dy9k0042w
yomshi0020020923dy9l0005y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020923dy9l0005y	EN	\N	Crack down on loan sharks.	We must not let this situation continue unchecked.	16	2002-09-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Lawyers and judicial scriveners in Tokyo and 14 prefectures, including Kanagawa, Osaka and Fukuoka, have filed complaints with police against about 2,000 moneylenders for violating a law that sets a legal ceiling on interest rates.Police must crack down on such moneylenders, and financial services supervisory authorities have to correct the lenient business registry system for lenders.Typically, victims of loan sharks include owners of small and medium-sized enterprises with cash-flow problems due to the recession. Other victims are unemployed people without sufficient financial resources and people who have no other viable channels to borrow money.Many loan sharks are known for their links to crime syndicates. The tactics they use are horrific and include such threats as "Pay your debts or we'll abduct your kid" or a suggestion that the borrower should engage in prostitution. Another tactic is to circulate slanderous leaflets to the borrower's workplace or the school that the borrower's children attend.A number of debt-ridden people have killed themselves, fled at night or committed crimes.Police efforts unsatisfactoryIn April, a senior National Police Agency official told a House of Representatives committee that the NPA had issued an instruction to police that loan shark cases should be prosecuted swiftly and properly. But the result has been far from satisfactory.The number of loan sharks increased significantly a couple of years ago. Regional finance bureas of the Finance Ministry, as well as the Tokyo metropolitan and prefectural governments, received complaints from and gave advice to about 48,000 people in fiscal 2001 concerning loan shark practices. Since the start of fiscal 2002, the number of loan sharks in Tokyo and Osaka have been increasing faster than in the 1980s, when consumer finance companies seriously affected Japanese society.Loan sharks generally demand interest rates of 30 percent to 50 percent on 10-day loans, which is equivalent to more than 1,000 percent per annum. They ignore the legal interest rate cap of 29.2 percent per annum, which was enforced two years ago in the wake of a series of loan shark cases in which moneylenders extended loans to small and midsize businesses with interest rates exceeding the then legal ceiling of 40.004 percent.With loan sharks conducting their business in an increasingly sophisticated and shrewd manner, it has become more difficult for police to take appropriate action and for local finance bureaus to give administrative guidance. For instance, loan sharks frequently change the names of their companies and withhold their addresses, luring borrowers through billboards and ads that bear only mobile phone numbers. They do not use contracts.Regulations for launching moneylending businesses are far too lenient. A moneylender can start a business after reporting to the relevant local authority where the office is located and paying a registry fee of only 43,000 yen. Loan sharks take advantage of the documents they receive-which have the seal of the prefectural governor-to attract customers.Review of system neededIn June, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara informed the metropolitan assembly of his decision to take stronger measures against loan sharks. He later punished eight loan sharks by revoking their registration or had them suspend business-the first action against unlawful moneylenders in 18 years. But he cannot go any further under the existing law.To eradicate these kind of moneylenders, the metropolitan government has asked the Financial Services Agency to have each moneylender deposit a certain amount of funds to guarantee a continuation of operations and to switch from a registration system to an approval system. We agree that the existing system must be reviewed.Even though moneylenders can earn hundreds of millions of yen easily by demanding illegally high interest rates, the criminal penalty is light. In 2000, 253 moneylenders were indicted for violating the financing act but only four of them were actually jailed. Most of them were ordered to pay a fine of less than 1 million yen each-and their cases were closed.The law must be rigidly enforced as a deterrence to illegal moneylending operations.While it is important for potential borrowers to refrain from knocking on the doors of moneylenders, they should also realize that they need not pay interest rates exceeding the legal ceiling.This brave attitude on the part of borrowers could be effective in halting the proliferation of loan sharks.(From Sept. 21 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	774	2002-09-21	yoshin0020020921dy9l000k2
yomshi0020020923dy9m000bc	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020923dy9m000bc	EN	\N	End retirement allowance gap.	The ministry survey showed that the retirement allowance for those who have worked for national government offices for 20 years or longer was higher by an average of 1.57 million yen, or 5.6 percent, than the amount paid to employees in private-sector businesses.	8	2002-09-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Based on the survey, the government is planning to submit to the ordinary Diet session next year a bill to reduce retirement allowances for national government officials.Taking into account severe financial conditions in the private sector, the government's plan is quite natural. However, the government should not simply stop there. With the survey as a good opportunity, we urge the government to improve the system concerning reviews of the retirement allowances for public servants.As to monthly salaries and bonuses for public servants, the National Personnel Authority has been conducting surveys on the situation in the private sector as of April every year. Based on the survey, the authority subsequently advises government offices in August to revise the payment systems for their employees.Just as in the case of monthly salaries and bonuses, retirement allowances for public servants are basically supposed to conform with the amount paid in the private sector. However, the government completely failed to set up basic rules on how and when to compare the two figures.Comparisons inconsistentThe latest comparison between public and private retirement allowances was the first in five years. But the intervals between the five previous surveys were not always the same. It was possible to delay the timing of the surveys when it was likely to disadvantage public servants.Another problem is the length of time it takes to grasp the situation in the private sector. For instance, the private-sector figures used in the latest survey were those from fiscal 1999. Due to the deepening deflationary recession, an increasing number of firms are reducing retirement allowances for their employees. We are afraid that the disparity in retirement allowances between the public and the private sector has widened even further over the past three years.Besides, no standard has been set on the size of gaps that should be corrected.In the previous survey, retirement allowances for national government officials were on average 3 percent higher than the private-sector standard. Despite that report, the government stopped short of taking measures to reduce retirement allowances for public servants.In connection with a series of recent irregularities at the Foreign Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, it was revealed during this year's regular Diet session that retirement allowances for former administrative vice ministers at the two ministries were about 90 million yen.Top allowances excludedHowever, the high retirement allowances for such high-ranking posts as vice ministers and bureau chiefs were not subject to the recent comparison between the public and private sectors.The ministry explained that this was because of the difficulty in determining retirement allowances paid for company executives. If so, it is impossible for the public to determine whether the amount paid to high-ranking ministry officials was appropriate or not.Another problem is the lack of coordination among ministries and agencies in implementing government policies. For example, the National Personnel Authority conducts salary revisions, but the Public Management Ministry reviews retirement allowances.It is necessary to balance the money paid to public employees and those in the private sector in terms of lifetime wages. From this point of view, we believe it is appropriate for the National Personnel Authority to unilaterally take charge of the problem as it has experience conducting surveys on private-sector wages.Previously, the House of Councillors' Cabinet Committee adopted a resolution calling for a thorough review of the retirement allowance for public servants. But bureaucrats, who tend to put priority on securing vested interests, have left the issue unaddressed.In this regard, politicians bear the grave responsibility of turning the retirement allowance system for public servants into one that can win the support of the public.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	704	2002-09-22	yoshin0020020924dy9m001jz
yomshi0020020922dy9n00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020922dy9n00004	EN	\N	Japan, China must be frank.	This year we mark the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which was achieved in September 1972.	8	2002-09-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Despite the historic nature of this year, many have said that Japan-China relations are at their worst since normalization.A nationwide poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun in August showed that pollees who did not trust China outnumbered those who did for the first time since surveys of this nature began.Compared with the 1970s and early '80s-when the word friendship had some meaning-bilateral relations between Japan and China have become frostier and frostier.Partly, this is a natural consequence of the major changes Japan and China have undergone since relations normalized. Bilateral relations have become more complicated and diverse, so conflict and friction between the two countries are bound to increase.Some of these bones of contention include disputes over history, particularly the interpretation of events during World War II. Disagreement over history textbooks intended for Japanese schools was one of these sore points.The relations as they stand now are based on what the two countries have undergone in overcoming such rows.In this sense, it can be said that bilateral relations have moved ahead slowly but, as a whole, steadily.Mature relationships are complexBut what needs to be stressed is that relations have matured beyond the point where any simplistic sense of friendship can suffice to win the Japanese public's understanding of China and vice versa.In China, the so-called fourth generation of leaders-those who will follow in the footsteps of Chinese President Jiang Zemin-is about to emerge.In Japan, the era of those who did their best work in normalizing relations with China is over. Those who form the core of society today were born in the postwar years.On the international front, the Cold War is over. The conflict that developed between China and Russia over ideology in the '60s-which eventually led China to make its first steps toward Japan and the United States-are almost ancient history.Time to recalibrate our standardsIt is getting harder and harder to measure the new world with the old yardsticks-and so it should be also with bilateral relations between Japan and China. For relations to become more constructive, Japan must speak out frankly about China, and China must be frank about Japan.The Yomiuri Shimbun's August poll found that respondents were most concerned about China's rapid economic development.But its military threat was hardly an insignificant concern-70 percent of pollees were worried about the threat China may someday pose to our national security.Surely the Chinese people also must have concerns about Japan.The important thing is for each side to say what it thinks and explain how it sees things. In this way, Japanese and Chinese people will be able to grow closer and deepen their understanding of each other.When Jiang visited Japan in 1998, both countries disagreed with each other over the wording of the joint declaration.Then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's insistence on Japan's historical perceptions concerning its wartime aggression against China eventually led China to change its view of Japan.Wherever you look, you see bilateral relations between Japan and China deepening, including in the economic sphere, and the prospects of these ties will have major repercussions internationally.Taking the relations up to the next level is the shared task of our two countries. It is essential we realize that the time when a mere sense of friendship was enough to sustain ties is well and truly over.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2002-09-23	yoshin0020020924dy9n001ty
yomshi0020020923dy9o000mc	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020923dy9o000mc	EN	\N	Hatoyama keeps the helm.	In a runoff vote, incumbent party leader Yukio Hatoyama defeated Secretary General Naoto Kan and was reelected for a third term. The largest opposition party thus continues to aim to take power under Hatoyama's leadership.	7	2002-09-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In any case, the latest election must have given Hatoyama a scare.In the election's first round, Hatoyama gained only one-third of the votes cast by each of two groups: party Diet members, rank-and-file party members combined with other supporters.In the runoff, Hatoyama lagged behind Kan in the ballots cast by party Diet members and party candidates for the next House of Representatives election, while squeaking through in the race thanks to ballots cast by rank-and-file party members and supporters.As party head over the past three years, Hatoyama failed to realize his campaign pledge, made during the previous leadership race, of leading the party to power. During the same period, he also failed to raise the party's public approval rate. Hatoyama's performance in the latest election illustrated how low expectations are for Hatoyama within the party.Slouching across the finish lineDespite the negative factors, Hatoyama did win the race, partly because party members sensed that he would be better for party unity than the sometimes high-handed Kan.Thus, Hatoyama's reelection can be seen as a sort of selection by default, which was made partly due to lack of powerful candidates.Hatoyama is dogged by a reputation as a "little master," and there are not a few who question his ability to lead the party.Hatoyama needs to make a fresh start by sincerely accepting such severe criticism and changing himself into a sturdy and trustworthy leader.To that end, he must first of all take on the challenge of clarifying the party's political philosophy and basic policies through thorough debates within the party.Over the issues of the Constitution and national security, there are differences in views between conservative members and those who once belonged to the former Japan Socialist Party (JSP), with their views so far apart as to make it unbelievable that they are members of the same party. This is one reason why public expectations for Minshuto have not grown as much as the party has hoped.As the party leader, Hatoyama has so far failed to make sufficient efforts in overcoming these hurdles.On the constitutional issues, he acted disgracefully by falling silent, despite previously asserting that Japan's right to take collective action for self-defense should be stipulated in the Constitution, after the assertion met with opposition from party members who originally came from the JSP.Go for broke or go nowhereIn his third term in office, he should wield strong leadership even at the cost of possible rifts within the party. The selection of the party leadership will be a test case for Hatoyama.Yoshihiko Noda, a party member in the lower house who called for generational change in the leadership election, criticized the Hatoyama-Kan leadership up to now as "sham teamwork."Should he give priority to intraparty appeasement while papering over the differences in views, he eventually will push the party into a deadlock on key policies.On the selection of the party leadership, it is important for him to utilize the energy of younger party members, instead of taking unnecessary consideration of their fractious elders.During his new term, there are slated to be unified local elections and elections of both houses of Representatives and Councillors.Hatoyama needs to immediately demonstrate the existence of the "new Hatoyama" described in his victory speech, with deeds as well as words.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	636	2002-09-24	yoshin0020020924dy9o0026p
yomshi0020020924dy9p0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020924dy9p0005q	EN	\N	Protect Japan-China trade ties.	The amount of trade between the two nations has continued to increase despite a slump in the world economy. In 2001, the figure reached a record 87.7 billion dollars, about 80 times as large as that in 1972, when Tokyo and Beijing reestablished diplomatic ties.	8	2002-09-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	China's is Japan's second-largest trade partner, following the United States. This country is China's largest trade partner.There also has been a rapid growth in Japan's direct investment in China, for example, in the form of manufacturing facilities built in that country. The accumulated total of Japanese investment in China exceeds 30 billion dollars. At the end of fiscal 1999, there were 1,400 Japanese companies operating in China. Their sales surpassed 4 trillion yen that year.The quantitative growth in the bilateral economic relations has been accompanied by qualitative changes. Initially, Japanese corporations starting business in China were largely such labor-intensive firms as textile-processing companies. However, the list of major Japanese corporations operating in China is dominated by capital-intensive businesses, including consumer electronics, information technology and car manufacturers. In addition, an increasing number of Japanese firms are seeking to move not only production bases, but also research and development facilities to China.Trade imbalance, piracy imperil tiesHowever, questions can be raised over whether the economic relationship between the two countries will continue to grow as smoothly as in the past. Japan and China should continue working to overcome various problems that could hamper efforts to further deepen the bilateral economic ties.Undoubtedly, the two nations have continued to see their trade grow over the years. However, their trade imbalance has continued to expand since the late 1980s, with China's trade surplus ballooning during the period.The sharp growth in Chinese exports of textile and farm products to the Japanese market has contributed to an increase in the bilateral trade imbalance. Japanese industries adversely affected by the trade gap have called for restrictions on imports of Chinese goods. The Chinese market has been flooded with domestically produced counterfeit goods that are imitations of such Japanese products as motorcycles and compact discs. This has created trade friction with affected Japanese corporations.If left unaddressed, these problems could drive the bilateral trade relations into turmoil and prevent their expansion.Negotiating framework neededBoth the public and private sectors in the two nations have started to address individual problems related to the bilateral trade. However, the problems would be better tackled through a framework in which the two countries can negotiate issues in a comprehensive manner.It is also important to note that the current Chinese economy is not without problems. The ongoing economic boom in that nation is accompanied by slow progress in integrating and scrapping deficit-ridden, state-owned corporations and a widening income gap and geographical inequity in economic growth. In addition, the Chinese economy is beset by a rapidly growing jobless rate and snowballing fiscal deficits.Japanese corporations operating in China would be dealt a serious blow if these problems threw a spanner in the works of China's economy.Given this, corporate executives in this nation must be even more careful in analyzing the Chinese economy and determining whether their firms should invest in China.In October, vice economy and trade ministers from Japan and China are scheduled to initiate economic partnership talks. Their negotiations must serve as a forum in which the two countries candidly discuss bilateral economic issues and look for solutions to such problems instead of merely exchanging pleasantries.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2002-09-25	yoshin0020020925dy9p007if
yomshi0020020926dy9q0000g	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020926dy9q0000g	EN	\N	Scale back state financing.	The government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy has started discussing ways to restructure government-affiliated financial institutions. The government itself has been slow in working to reach a conclusion about how to reform these institutions as part of its efforts to reform public corporations.	26	2002-09-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government must bite the bullet and scale back government-aided financing, the size of which has ballooned to an extent unparalleled in any other industrial nation. In doing so, it is essential that the current system regulating government-affiliated financial institutions be transformed into one that complements financing by the private sector.Such a move would add the finishing touches to the government's structural reform campaign. With this in mind, the government must prune back and integrate government-affiliated financial businesses.Since its inauguration, the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has laid the groundwork for the reform of public corporations, for example, by announcing plans to abolish the Housing Loan Corporation and privatize four highway-related public corporations.But a major task that remains unaddressed is the review of eight government-affiliated financial institutions, including the Development Bank of Japan and the National Life Finance Corporation. A review of these institutions is the final step to be taken in reforming the government's current loan and investment programs.Such a review would complement the government reform plan to ensure that government bodies that administer postal savings and postal insurance services manage their funds at their discretion. It also would ensure that public corporations and government-affiliated banks issue bonds in the market to raise funds for their operations, ending their long practice of collecting funds under government loan and investment programs.Financing ratio much too highOf course, financing operations based on government policies are by no means unique to Japan. However, this country stands out for the ratio of its government-backed financing to its gross domestic product-a massive 19.1 percent. The figure compares with the 5 percent range in the United States and Britain.Although the ratio is a significant 17 percent in Germany, it must be remembered that Germany's government-aided financing operations are largely used to extend loans to banks in the form of indirect financing. A scant 7 percent of resources overseen by the system are used to provide loans to individual and corporate customers in the form of direct financing, an operation that accounts for a good portion of Japan's policy-based financing.In the early 1990s, the French government privatized four of eight government-affiliated financial institutions and integrated two of them, paring the number of government-backed financial businesses down to three.Japan must reduce its government-backed financing operations at least to levels comparable to those of Germany and France. It should be noted that this country's policy-based financing is stripping private-sector financial institutions of opportunities to earn profits. Obviously, this runs counter to the goal the government should pursue through its policy-based financing.It is also important to realize that policy-based financing operations-which take advantage of government subsidies-are adversely affecting the price mechanism in the financial market. While this helps keep the heads of inefficient corporations above water, it lowers the nation's growth rate.Set market mechanisms freeIn this sense, it is essential to not only downsize government-aided financing but also review specific operations conducted under the system, with the aim of ensuring that market mechanisms serve their own purposes.It is commendable to carry out policy-based finance as a form of indirect financing, as in Germany. It may also be an advisable idea to use operating funds only for credit guarantees in the event that small and midsize corporations find it impossible to repay their loans.But it also is desirable that the government help finance programs designed to securitize credited loans extended by banks.The government should not hesitate to combine government-affiliated financial institutions that have similar goals and operating methods. But retired bureaucrats should not be allowed to take up executive positions at government-affiliated banks that come under the control of a ministry for which they have served. In addition, it would be advisable to appoint people from the private sector to head such institutions.Some critics have said there is no need to reduce policy-based financing operations at a time when private-sector financial institutions are finding it difficult to fulfill their primary duties. However, a distinction must be made about how the system can be used to overcome the nation's current economic difficulties and what should be done to reform the system from a long-term perspective.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	805	2002-09-26	yoshin0020020927dy9q003fa
yomshi0020020930dy9r000bb	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020930dy9r000bb	EN	\N	Megamergers boon to business.	JFE Holding will be established by NKK Corp. and Kawasaki Steel Corp.; Japan Airlines and Japan Air System will launch Japan Airlines System; and Nippon Mining Holding, Inc. will be jointly established by oil distributor Japan Energy Corp. and nonsteel metal manufacturer Nippon Mining & Metals Co.	12	2002-09-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	JFE Holding, to be set up by the nation's second and third largest steel manufacturers, is expected to rival Nippon Steel Corp. in terms of production and sales. On the other hand, Japan Airlines System already has enough muscle to compete against All Nippon Airways, the top airline operator in the domestic market.Meanwhile, under Nippon Mining, the companies in the same group will join forces with the aim of further growth.The success of a business merger through a holding company depends on how quickly the newly established firm is able to consolidate businesses. In this regard, a holding company's management must exert leadership in redistributing personnel and equipment by appropriately evaluating each one regardless of previous affiliations.Previously, it was common practice to equally distribute key posts in a newly established company to the executives of the companies that were merged. Nonetheless, the time is past when such things can be done at in a leisurely manner.New days, new waysIn JFE's case, both NKK and Kawasaki Steel will be kept intact within the operating company. The two firms, however, will be completely merged by next March so they can be reorganized into subsidiaries handling different areas of business, such as steel and engineering.The holding company's steel division decided to close two Kawasaki Steel shaft furnaces in an apparent effort to "strike while the iron is hot." Rival companies are reportedly threatened by JFE management's decision to put priority on profitability rather than the balance of the two companies.Japan Airlines System is also planning to keep Japan Airlines and Japan Air System intact for the time being, so they can be reorganized into subsidiaries operating international flights, domestic flights and cargo by the spring of 2004 at the latest.Even at this stage, the merger of the two airlines will certainly result in benefits, such as timetable revisions and integration of services. The real effects of rationalization, however, will not be seen until the merger proceeds into its second phase. Winning the cooperation of a total of eight labor unions in the two companies is believed to be key.Many industries are seeing intensifying international competition. In the steel industry, a megacompany was established in Europe through the merger of three steelmakers, and manufacturers in South Korea and China are rapidly growing. In the airline industry, carriers are facing reorganization and fierce competition for survival in the prolonged recession following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.Tax needs to be abolishedThe merger of businesses through a holding company is believed to be an effective means for Japanese companies to survive in an atmosphere of such intense competition. Both JFE and Japan Airlines System are projecting huge cost cuts through efficient personnel management in administrative areas and economizing on materials and equipment.The Fair Trade Commission must closely monitor business mergers to ensure they do not hinder competition domestically.At the same time, the government is tasked with another responsibility-helping businesses in the country regain competitiveness through the provision of an environment conducive to establishing holding companies.Currently, companies are asked to pay a 2 percent value added tax if they adopt the consolidated tax system. The government is urged to make efforts to abolish the tax as a first step toward helping domestic businesses regain their competitiveness.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2002-09-27	yoshin0020020927dy9r003t2
yomshi0020020930dy9t0005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020930dy9t0005q	EN	\N	Deflation must be tackled.	Since then, Japan has repeated the pledge internationally. But with no prospect of a solution, Japan's promise has so far proved to be empty.	8	2002-09-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At the latest meeting of G-7 finance ministers, it was stressed that Japan cannot afford to repeat such empty promises any longer.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made clear a new basic policy for his administration, just ahead of the Cabinet reshuffle expected to be carried out early this week.In the new policy, he emphasized first of all the need to revitalize the economy, saying that the government and the Bank of Japan would work together to overcome deflation and put an end to the bad-loan problem by the end of fiscal 2004.It is essential for the stable growth of not only the Japanese economy but also that of the world economy that Prime Minister Koizumi wields his leadership in ending deflation, in line with the new basic policy.Less optimistic viewIn a stark contrast to the previous two meetings of the G-7 finance ministers held in February and April, in which the ministers shared rosy outlooks for the world economy, the ministers and central bankers this time expressed a more austere view of the global economy, saying in a communique: "Economic growth in our countries is continuing, though at a more moderate pace than earlier this year...We recognize that risks remain."Although the communique did not refer to the risks in detail, it is obvious that they are the ones that the International Monetary Fund, in its economic outlook released just prior to the G-7 meeting, cited as having recently become apparent.These risks are falling stock prices around the world, rising oil prices in light of the expected U.S. military attack against Iraq, lack of public confidence in businesses triggered by a rash of corporate accounting scandals in the United States, and economic crises in Central and Latin American countries, including Argentina.Coupled with the problems facing the Japanese economy, these risks are more likely than ever to lead to global deflation and even to a global economic crisis.Long-standing risks facing the Japanese economy are a longer deflationary phase than in any other major economy in the postwar years and threats to the nation's financial system stemming from a delay in the disposal of bad loans held by banks.In response to such strong concerns among other G-7 member countries, Shiokawa, at the latest meeting, made clear Japan's determination to do its utmost in accelerating the disposal of bad loans and rescuing the national economy from deflation and called for their understanding.G-7 members skepticalYet it is doubtful whether finance ministers and central bankers of other G-7 member countries are convinced that Shiokawa can keep his latest promise.This is because the opinions within the Koizumi Cabinet differ on key issues such as the need to inject public funds into financial institutions-which holds the key to solving the bad-loan problem-and the size of any tax cuts that may be implemented.At the same time, Koizumi, adhering to his pledge of capping the new issuance of national bonds to 30 trillion yen per fiscal year, is not enthusiastic about the compilation of a supplementary budget.But unless the Koizumi administration carries out comprehensive measures, including fiscal, tax and monetary steps, together with accelerating the disposal of bad loans, it will not be able to save the nation from deflation.In the latest Yomiuri Shimbun public opinion poll on tax system reform, nearly 50 percent of the respondents called for sizable tax cuts to put the economy back on a recovery track.Prime Minister Koizumi needs to end the discord among Cabinet members on economic measures and drastically shift his policy on the occasion of the Cabinet reshuffle.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2002-09-29	yoshin0020020930dy9t00608
yomshi0020020930dy9u0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020930dy9u0000a	EN	\N	Kim can't stay mum on spy ship.	During the recent summit talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il admitted the ship was indeed a North Korean spy ship.	17	2002-09-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The crew of the ship fired on Japan Coast Guard patrol boats that were only acting in accordance with the law. The patrol vessels were damaged, and some JCG crew members injured.We believe this was a violation of the sovereignty of Japan. Kim's remarks, including his admission that North Korean agents kidnapped Japanese, are tantamount to an acknowledgement that his nation has committed crimes against another nation.Yet, at face value, his remarks merely identify the vessel's nationality. There is much that still must be clarified, including the ship's purpose and route, the nature of its command and control systems, and who was ultimately responsible for the spy operations. The issue of compensation also remains.JCG ships transporting the ship will reach shore shortly, and JCG and police authorities will then go over it with a fine-tooth comb. Once they determine the ship's specifications, instrumentation, weaponry and cargo, the Japanese side should present its findings to their North Korean counterparts and seek a full and transparent explanation.An uncommonly formidable arsenalThanks to underwater inspections by a team of divers, we already know some facts. The most important are that the ship was, unusually, bristling with weapons and built for speed.Surface-to-air missiles and rocket launchers have been recovered. There were four engines. The ship was fitted with a V-shaped hull that would have allowed it to attain speeds as fast as 70 to 80 kph.When Kim spoke to Koizumi about the ship, he emphasized that he knew nothing at the time of its activities, but that it was engaged in exercises involving special agents.Is it really necessary to arm special agents to the teeth for a mere exercise?More to the point, is it possible, in such a despotic country as North Korea, for a small unit of special agents to act on their own and without prior approval from Kim, the general secretary of the (North) Korean Workers Party?Some analysts believe the ship now in the care of the JCG acted under state orders to send agents to Japan and South Korea so they could engage in spy activities. Analysts also believe North Korea used it in drug running. Its high-speed specs and formidable armament make it well suited to a hit-and-run style of naval combat.Waters must be protectedIt is not the only such ship we know of. In early September, yet another suspicious ship was spotted off Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, adding to public anxieties about North Korean spy ships.We hold Pyongyang responsible for clearing up these suspicions. It is absolutely necessary that it endorse Kim's remark during the summit that "This will never happen again."The spy ship issue affects our national security. As things stand, Japan must remain on alert. It is a matter of urgency that patrols of territorial waters be increased.The JCG plans to build a high-performance patrol vessel with the next fiscal budget. We believe this is not enough. The government needs to study the possibility of assigning the Self-Defense Forces to patrol duties in our territorial waters.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	612	2002-09-30	yoshin0020020930dy9u006d4
yomshi0020020930dya1000me	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020020930dya1000me	EN	\N	Cabinet must fight deflation.	A major focus of Monday's cabinet reshuffle was on who would be given the economy-related portfolios. Hakuo Yanagisawa was removed as a state minister in charge of financial policy. Heizo Takenaka was appointed in his place, while also staying on as a state minister for economic and fiscal policy. This shows that the prime minister has made a serious decision on tackling the current economic crisis.	8	2002-10-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Yanagisawa's approach repudiatedFinancial institutions in this country are suffering serious difficulties due to the massive weight of their nonperforming loans and unrealized losses incurred by falling stock prices. During his Cabinet tenure, Yanagisawa was consistently negative about reinjecting public funds into troubled banks. This pitted him against Takenaka and Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa, both of whom have insisted that government measures aimed at ending the crisis could include a reinjection of taxpayers' money and other public funds into banks.We view it as appropriate for the government to use public funds, if necessary, in preventing the ongoing economic crisis from triggering a renewed financial panic. Takenaka's appointment to two economy-related ministerial posts shows that Koizumi has determined which course of action he will adopt in grappling with the problem.A statement issued by Koizumi to lay down basic principles concerning his economic management stated that the government would work to overcome the bad-loan problem by the end of fiscal 2004. The government has been under fire for its lack of progress in ending the problem.The reshuffled Cabinet should come up with specific plans regarding how to resolve the bad-loan problem as soon as possible, including methods and a timetable.This should be complemented by efforts to pull the nation out of the ongoing deflationary crisis, a task of prime importance to be tackled by the government.In fact, the deflationary crisis is hampering efforts to dispose of the banks' massive nonperforming loans. The increase in the bad loans is outpacing the banks' attempt to write them off. To straighten out this bewildering situation, the government must end the deflationary crisis, first and foremost.What is needed to increase demand and revitalize the economy?We believe that this task will require Koizumi to shift the focus of his economic policy from structural reforms to pump-priming measures that would boost the morale of corporations and encourage consumers to buy.The Yomiuri Shimbun recently put forth a set of tax reform proposals, including tax cuts on corporate expenditures related to research and development activities and investment in plants and equipment. Another proposal is to expand the nontaxable base of gift taxation. The Yomiuri proposals also call for expansion in the prime minister's recently announced tax reduction plan to be carried out prior to a tax increase.It also is advisable to consider drafting a supplementary budget, the bulk of which will be used to conduct such unconventional public works projects as urban renewal plans with the aim of encouraging the economy.No reforms without recoveryKoizumi cannot afford to take on structural reforms if the economy has collapsed. An urgent task confronting the prime minister is to turn around his economic policies and swiftly implement all necessary steps.Koizumi has hardly bothered to resolve the conflict of opinions among members of his Cabinet about how to settle the bad-loan problem. He has not taken any measures that can complement an unusual plan announced by the Bank of Japan to buy banks' shareholdings. Many critics have raised doubts about the prime minister's leadership in running the economy.Koizumi must take advantage of his cabinet reshuffle in taking actions for an economic revival and convince the public that he is determined to accomplish that goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	664	2002-10-01	yoshin0020021001dya1005d5
yomshi0020021002dya20005m	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021002dya20005m	EN	\N	All hands to the pumps.	In its quarterly Tankan survey of short-term business outlooks for September, the Bank of Japan reported the diffusion index of business sentiment among major manufacturers stood at minus 14, while the index for nonmanufacturing businesses was minus 13. These figures signified a modest rise of 4 points and a slight gain of 3 points, respectively, from the central bank's business confidence survey for June.	8	2002-10-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest Tankan statistics show a slowdown in what was a gradual improvement in business sentiment among large corporations. This reversal has been caused by sluggish growth in Japanese exports to the United States and falling stock prices.The primary task facing the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is to end the current deflationary crisis accompanied by the ensuing growth in nonperforming loans held by financial institutions. This has to be done to ensure that the bottom will not fall out of the economy.In June's Tankan survey, the diffusion index for major manufacturers showed an impressive 20-point increase over the March survey. But the halt to this spirited rise in business confidence, as evidenced in the latest Tankan, reflects reduced growth in Japanese exports to the U.S. market and a likely decrease in production.The latest Tankan survey shows the diffusion index for large electronic and machinery manufacturers-a prime mover of Japanese exports-has declined 8 points from June. This trend could adversely affect other sectors of industry.Domestic demand sluggishIt is also important to note that the growth in exports has done little to increase domestic demand. The diffusion index for small and midsize nonmanufacturers declined for the first time in two quarters, an indication that there has only been a slight improvement in business sentiment among personal consumption-related businesses.In addition, the September Tankan shows no growth in investment in plant and equipment. This means that an increasing number of domestic companies face bleak sales prospects amid a decline in stock markets around the world that started in the summer.The amount of capital investment projected by large manufacturers for fiscal 2002 shows a 9.2 percent fall from the previous year.It is also disturbing to see that an increasing number of companies are finding it difficult to raise funds, despite an easing of monetary policies. There is reason to presume that corporations will become even more pessimistic in this regard if the government accelerates efforts to clear up the bad-loan mess.For months, the economy has barely averted sliding into a nosedive largely due to strong exports. However, there is growing concern about the future of the economy because of a number of factors, including increasing tensions between the United States and Iraq.Cut taxes to stimulate demandThe government must implement drastic and timely measures to end the bad-loan problem-most importantly through a reinjection of taxpayers' money and other public funds into troubled banks. This is essential to restore this country's economic vigor before the nation tumbles into a full-blown crisis. Business sentiment will not improve unless measure are implemented to dispel widespread worries about the financial system.Meanwhile, there are concerns that accelerating the disposal of bad loans would lead to a rise in corporate failures and unemployment. To prevent this from happening, the government should complement its efforts to write off bad loans with job-creation schemes.With this in mind, the government must implement substantial tax cuts-mainly in inheritance and gift taxes-prior to tax hikes.The prime minister should put together a supplementary budget large enough to cover the immediate tasks his administration faces. He should not bind himself to his own pledge to cap the issuance of new government bonds at 30 trillion yen annually if he recognizes the current economic situation as an emergency.The Bank of Japan should not be left unaided in its recent decision to buy the banks' shareholdings. The government should waste no time in devising a set of comprehensive measures aimed at bringing the economy back from the brink of deflation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	708	2002-10-02	yoshin0020021003dya20054f
yomshi0020021003dya30000i	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021003dya30000i	EN	\N	N. Korea's answers suspicious.	The team's report presented the explanations supplied by Pyongyang on the fate of the Japanese abducted by North Korean agents. But many of the explanations were inadequate, especially those concerning the eight abductees who Pyongyang claims died.	15	2002-10-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As a result, the report has failed to eradicate our suspicions.The government has stressed its determination to uncover the truth, claiming that some points have not been clarified to the extent to which it is willing to conclude that the eight abductees are dead. We believe the government is absolutely right in this regard. The government must send another fact-finding mission, including law-enforcement personnel, to Pyongyang to thoroughly investigate the cases.In addition to the 11 people abducted by North Korean agents in eight separate instances acknowledged by police authorities, there are strong allegations that other Japanese were abducted by the North. In addition to this, during the fact-finding mission, Pyongyang suggested for the first time that a Japanese national sympathetic to North Korea had aided and abetted North Korean agents in their abduction of at least one Japanese.Stories on deaths unconvincingMany parts of North Korea's explanations were unconvincing, such as tales of death caused by traffic accidents, heart troubles and gas poisoning.Furthermore, when it came to being given access to the remains of the supposedly dead victims-essential in verifying their deaths-the mission was only able to bring back the remains of one dead abductee. Pyongyang claimed that the graves of all the other abductees had been washed away by floods in 1995. However, it is hard to believe that such a claim is true.Likewise, mystery still surrounds the abduction cases.North Korean officials said that a "certain department" within a special organization abducted the Japanese with the aim of having them teach Japanese to its spies and so they could assume the identities of the abductees.But we are highly suspicious that "a certain department" would be able to act on its own discretion in a despotic regime such as North Korea's.In addition, Pyongyang said five of the abductees had agreed to go to North Korea. Again, it remains uncertain how freely this "consent" was given.Pyongyang also explained that two of its agents responsible for the abductions were tried in 1998, with one being sentenced to death and the other given a 15-year term at a reeducation facility. But Pyongyang failed to identify for which organization they had worked, nor for that matter, why only two agents had been singled out for punishment.North Korea also stopped short of explaining the fate and whereabouts of its agents that had abducted Japanese nationals. As these "terrorists" have been named to an international wanted list by the National Police Agency, the government is urged to demand North Korea hand them over to Japan.The mission also failed to clarify the relationship between the abductions and hijackers of the Japan Airlines jetliner Yodo in 1970.Govt must take strong stanceIn the meeting with the fact-finding team, Pyongyang promised to cooperate fully with Tokyo in its efforts to uncover the truth. We believe North Korea must be made to honor its pledge.After meeting five people living in North Korea, the mission confirmed that they were-as Pyongyang had claimed-the five surviving abductees. If they are, we urge the government to act with all due dispatch to realize their return to Japan.The five reportedly have expressed strong desires to see their relatives at an early date, but reportedly are reluctant to return to their mother country. But once again, can we be certain that they are acting of their own free will?The government must take steps to discover what the abductees really want to do, and then take appropriate steps so that the surviving abductees will be able to return home.During talks on normalizing diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea, we urge the government to prioritize the resolution of the abduction issue and address it in a resolute manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	720	2002-10-03	yoshin0020021004dya300548
yomshi0020021004dya40000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021004dya40000d	EN	\N	Wisdom of delaying payoff system.	The government and the ruling coalition parties started negotiations to put off the full imposition of a 10 million yen cap on government guarantees on deposits for one to two years. The cap on the guaranteed refund of liquid deposits and their accrued interest had been scheduled to go into force next April 1.	10	2002-10-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The nation's economic situation continues to deteriorate in what Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has described as "a state of emergency." With the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average diving below 9,000 for the first time in 19 years on Thursday, the nation's economic deterioration is on the verge of flooding the financial sector with a sense of insecurity.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi launched his new Cabinet with the goal of accelerating the disposal of nonperforming loans at the top of its emergency agenda. Therefore, the government has no need to cling to the launch of the full deposit refund cap, as it could shake the foundation of financial institutions. We believe the government cannot avoid delaying the implementation of the full refund cap-known in Japan as the "payoff" system-until the final disposal of nonperforming loans is in sight.Hakuo Yanagisawa, former state minister in charge of financial policy, started applying the refund cap to time deposits last April, pronouncing financial institutions to be in a "safe state."Insecurity spreadsSince then, however, insecurity about the financial sector and depositor concerns have enshrouded the nation due to economic slowdowns in the United States and falling stock prices.Furthermore, the spring saw a massive amount of money begin to shift from time deposits to ordinary deposits.The Financial Services Agency has come up with the concept of protecting the full amount of deposits in zero-interest accounts opened exclusively for financial settlement purposes and to delay by five months the introduction of the deposit refund cap on ordinary deposits until September next year.These measures, however, failed to reassure depositors.Koizumi presented his policy goal of completing bad-loan disposal by the end of fiscal 2004. Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, has indicated the possibility of injecting public funds into financial institutions.In this respect, the recent Cabinet reshuffle has completely changed the government's assessment of the nation's financial sector.Previously, government policies were based on the premise of the "safety" of financial institutions, but this belief has totally collapsed. The full implementation of the deposit refund cap should be delayed at least until fiscal 2004, when the "make-or-break measures" for the country's financial sector are scheduled to be completed.Of course, it must be remembered that the postponement of the refund cap is only one of the government's measures to stabilize the nation's financial sector.Bold measures neededTakenaka needs to devise the necessary measures to speed up the disposal of bad loans at banks, including the injection of public funds, in the work of the special task force he set up on Thursday.The government should draw up bold measures to produce domestic demand that will significantly surpass the scale of the deflationary effects of the bad-loan disposal.If the government is slow in presenting measures to stabilize the financial sector, stock prices will continue falling, which in turn could accelerate the sense of insecurity.If the prime minister describes the current economic situation as an "emergency," he should be bold enough to break his promise to keep the issuance of government bonds within 30 trillion yen and compile a supplementary budget.We also urge the three-party coalition to join hands with the government in promoting measures to resuscitate the country's financial sector and economy.The Liberal Democratic Party's Research Commission on the Tax System is unwilling to discuss tax cuts. But the current situation does not allow the commission to take such a nonsensical attitude.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	683	2002-10-04	yoshin0020021004dya4005gu
yomshi0020021004dya50005x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021004dya50005x	EN	\N	Pyongyang has much to explain.	The government has concluded that a suspicious vessel that sank off Amami-Oshima island, Kagoshima Prefecture, after exchanging fire with Japan Coast Guard patrol boats late last year was a North Korean spy ship. The government plans to put the spy ship incident on the agenda at soon-to-be-launched negotiations on normalizing ties with North Korea, and to investigate further to clarify the whole incident.	15	2002-10-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government's stance is reasonable. Before it sank, the vessel started firing at the JCG patrol boats, damaging them and injuring some crew members.The spy ship, disguised as a fishing boat, was found to have been remodeled to travel at a high speed. A large number of weapons has also been recovered from the sunken ship. The government has to make North Korea face these facts and have Pyongyang explain the reason why it was operating such a vessel in Japanese waters.During the recent Japan-North Korea summit in Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il acknowledged that the vessel was operated by the country's special forces. Yet the things that have come to light are just a tip of the iceberg.It is necessary to learn the vessel's mission and its route, among other important facts. Other issues include how and from whom did the agents get their orders, who was responsible for the operation and how those responsible should be punished.Probe abduction-spy ship linkThe relationship between the abduction of Japanese to North Korea and spy ships also needs to be investigated.A Japanese woman who was confirmed to be one of the abductees who is still alive gave a vivid description of her abduction that seemed to back up the idea that spy ships were involved. She told a Japanese investigative team she had been put in a bag and taken to a small boat that traveled down a river to the open sea, where she was transferred to a larger ship.As for the reason for the abductions, Kim, who is also the general secretary of the Workers Party of Korea, cited having them teach Japanese to North Koreans at institutions for training intelligence agents.If so, it seems quite natural to believe that intelligence agents who learned Japanese were sent to Japan on spy ships.Something that also needs to be considered is the possibility of organizations in Japan having collaborated with North Korean spies.All these points need thorough clarification, including probes into organizations that may have been collaborators.The man doth protest too muchDuring the talks, Kim was cited as telling Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that he did not know any details about the activities on the spy ship. Kim also pledged that no similar incident would happen again.In spite of such pledges, the government must not let down its guard concerning such spy ships.Spy ship activity within Japanese waters is a violation of Japan's sovereignty and an offense by the state of North Korea.It is hardly believable that such activities could be carried out without Kim's instructions in North Korea, given every corner of the country is under Kim's rule. Therefore, we should not take Kim's explanations at face value.In the past, Japan was made a fool of by North Korea, which has tended to change its stance abruptly. We should never consider it enough just to win, rhetorically, North Korea's promise to not let similar incidents happen again.Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba has said he would reinforce Self-Defense Forces patrol in Japanese territories, in consultation with the JCG.Territorial defense activities such as guarding and monitoring should be defined as part of the SDF's regular duties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	654	2002-10-05	yoshin0020021007dya500349
yomshi0020021006dya600006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021006dya600006	EN	\N	Push special reform zones.	The headquarters for promotion of the special zones, headed by the prime minister, has already decided as a basic policy to put the Cabinet Secretariat solely in charge of accepting and approving applications from local governments to establish the special zones.	8	2002-10-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Later this week, the headquarters will compile a special zone-promotion program stipulating the framework of a fundamental law based on the policy, and related laws and ministry ordinances to be revised. Other preparations, including drafting of a bill for the special zones, will start, too.The vitality of the nation's economy has been sapped by lingering deflation, the delay in disposing of nonperforming loans, and declines of stock prices both in Japan and the United States.The establishment of the special zones aims at relaxing regulations-difficult to realize simultaneously and nationwide-first only in those zones. It will be done nationally afterward.Expedite preparationsIntroduction of the special zones will be a powerful measure to help reinvigorate the nation's weakening economy. Preparations must be carried out even more quickly to introduce the special zones by the end of this fiscal year.By the end of August, the headquarters had received a total of 426 plans on the special zones proposed by local governments, universities and private companies.They are eager to create business opportunities in their regions and reinvigorate their regional economies with relaxation of regulations in a wide variety of areas, including information technology, medical services, new energy sources and agriculture.Their enthusiasm must be be allowed to work toward the resuscitation of regional economies, and beyond, toward revitalization of the national economy with quick establishment of the special zones.However, growing resistance among some government ministries and agencies as well as interest groups is becoming a problem as more details of the plan for the special zones are becoming clear.A total of 1,045 cases of relaxation or abolition of regulations is said to be necessary to realize the special zones proposed by local governments and others. However, concerned ministries and agencies said by late September that less than 10 percent of them are possible. Negotiations held later between the headquarters and the ministries and agencies have increased the figure to a little more than 100 cases.Ministries balkingParticularly, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Education, Science and Technology Ministry still strongly oppose the participation of incorporated companies in the administration of public hospitals and schools, a structural reform measure the government put priority on and many local governments want to carry out.The special zones are likely to lose most of their original effects if the remaining deregulation is given up due to resistance by some government ministries and agencies as well as industry groups, which are all trying to protect their power and vested interests.After the Cabinet reshuffle, Koizumi named two key policy measures-reinforcement of policies that will accelerate structural reform to revitalize the economy; and acceleration of administrative and fiscal reform to promote privatization and decentralization.Promotion of the special zones will be crucial for those reforms. The prime minister must work on the plan dauntlessly to achieve expected results without yielding to resistance.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	566	2002-10-06	yoshin0020021007dya6003ez
yomshi0020021007dya700008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021007dya700008	EN	\N	N. Korea must show its sincerity.	During the talks, Kelly expressed Washington's concerns about several issues, including North Korea's development and export of weapons of mass destruction and missiles. He also raised the topic of the North Korea's menacing deployment of conventional weapons and its human rights records. The U.S. assistant secretary of state strongly urged North Korean officials to help dispel these concerns.	8	2002-10-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	After his trip to Pyongyang, Kelly arrived in Tokyo, where he met Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi. The three agreed that Japan, the United States and South Korea should cooperate in future dealings with the North. Kelly also told Japan that he had urged the North Korean officials to sincerely work toward resolving the dispute over Japanese abducted to their country.Stop missile sales; open up to inspectorsNorth Korea must seriously heed the United States' warning and implement specific measures in line with it. The country must allow inspectors unfettered access to its nuclear facilities and abandon its missile development program. These are necessary steps toward closer relations with Japan and the United States. To ensure that North Korea lives up to these requirements, Japan should not rest its guard in dealing with the country.On Sunday, Radio Pyongyang said the North Korean government was prepared to resume dialogue with the United States if it dropped its hostile policy toward North Korea. To survive its current difficulties, Pyongyang has no choice but to carry on a dialogue with Washington. However, North Korea cannot expect to find a way out of its dire situation unless it works to put U.S. concerns to rest.In this sense, it is out of the question for North Korea to dismiss U.S. worries about the threat it poses as a result of Washington's hostile policy toward it.Long-time menaceNorth Korea must seriously realize that the threat it has posed for years is a source of international distrust and caution. It continues to develop Taepodong and other long-range missiles despite international suspicion over its nuclear program, yet it is trying to gain money by selling missiles to the Middle East while soliciting food aid from the international community. This has posed a menace to an increasing number of countries.For years, North Korea has carried out hostile activities against Japan, including kidnapping Japanese citizens and dispatching armed spy ships to waters surrounding Japan.President Bush has consistently taken a stern attitude toward North Korea. He regards the North as part of an axis of evil, and says it is a nation attempting to acquire and proliferate weapons of mass destruction. His policy toward Pyongyang is marked by a firm determination to eliminate the threat posed by North Korea.Kelly's visit to the North Korean capital could contribute to an improvement in relations between Washington and Pyongyang. What comes out of the visit hinges on what North Korea does to dispel international concerns about the danger it represents.This question will also directly affect the fate of upcoming talks on normalizing diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang. North Korea should fully realize that it will not be able to make any progress in promoting dialogue with Japan and the United States if it continues to be dishonest and deceptive.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	605	2002-10-07	yoshin0020021008dya7003l9
yomshi0020021008dya80000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021008dya80000a	EN	\N	Rein in phone rate variablity.	Even the United States still applies the equal-fare-for-equal-distance principle to long-distance calls. This signifies an attempt to prevent telephone users from bearing a greater financial burden in sparsely populated areas.	8	2002-10-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Western high and eastern lowThis fundamental principle may be abandoned in Japan next fiscal year. There may be a reduction in bills for local and long-distance calls as well as those received by fixed-line telephones from cellular phones in a district served by NTT East, including Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi and Kanagawa prefectures and all of Japan east and north of these locations. Meanwhile, and in contrast, telephone users served by NTT West may see an increase in fares charged to them.All this is due to changes in connection fees charged to NTT DoCoMo and new telephone carriers for their use of local-call circuits operated by NTT East and West.Connection charges are set by the Public Management Ministry after studying the opinion of the Information and Communications Council, an advisory body to the ministry, and consulting with the United States. The ministry thereby ensures that new domestic carriers and foreign corporations are not disadvantaged in using NTT's city-call circuits. The current fare stands at 4.5 yen per three minutes.After calculating the costs needed to connect carriers to the local-call lines, however, the council concluded that connections to NTT West circuits were about 30 percent costlier than those to NTT East. The ministry's panel has submitted a report strongly hinting that it will call for a decrease in connection fees for NTT East circuits and an increase in those for NTT West lines.We feel that the council failed to consider how its proposal would affect the public.New telephone carriers find the connection fees they pay to be a great financial burden. If the Public Management Ministry sets different connection charges, new carriers operating in western Japan would pass on a rise in such fees to ordinary users. NTT East and West could also follow suit. That would inevitably widen the gap in fees charged for telecommunications involving the local-call circuits, with higher charges in western Japan and lower fees in eastern Japan.Are railroad, utility precedents valid?There is a differential of up to 9 percent in electricity bills charged to ordinary households by 10 electric power companies in this country. Meanwhile, railroad fares charged by six JR corporations show a gap of up to 11 percent for a 100-kilometer trip. Citing these examples, most members of the Information and Communications Council insisted that the anticipated gap in telephone charges was inevitable, given the difference in connection costs between eastern and western Japan.Still, we tend to question the proposal to set different telephone charges for different locations, abruptly abandoning the principle of equal charge for equal distance. Admittedly, the principle may be applied to the table of charges for cellular phone calls that bypass local-call switchboards and for high-speed, large-capacity communications, as in the past. However, the western Japanese economy would be dealt a severe blow if the "western high and eastern low" charges become the norm.Although NTT West must try to slash its operating costs, it must be acknowledged that the firm is disadvantaged in operating as a carrier that serves an area dotted with many isolated islands and small telephone offices. Still, the equal-fee-for-equal-distance rule must be maintained, for example, by setting up a "universal fund" to which all telephone carriers contribute financial resources.The Public Management Ministry is set to soon open discussions with the United States over connection fees. However, it is questionable whether the ministry should be allowed to take up such a domestic issue as connection fees during international negotiations. The connection-charges issue is already on the table for the upcoming bilateral talks-but it must never be placed there again.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	723	2002-10-08	yoshin0020021009dya8004ns
yomshi0020021009dya900007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021009dya900007	EN	\N	Pushing the final frontier.	The cause of the jubilation was Masatoshi Koshiba, professor emeritus of Tokyo University, winning the Nobel Prize in Physics.	17	2002-10-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It marked the third consecutive year a Nobel Prize had gone to a Japanese scientist. It is a source of great pleasure that these scientists have helped raise the status of Japan in the world of science.Koshiba won the award for his research into cosmic neutrinos, elusive particles that are hard to get to react with other compounds and which are believed to pass through high-density objects-even the Earth.In his search for the elusive neutrinos, Koshiba built the Kamiokande neutrino detector at the bottom of the Kamioka Mine in Kamiokacho, Gifu Prefecture. In 1987, the facility detected, for the first time in the world, neutrinos coming from distant supernovas.The discovery was a magnificent achievement, proving that neutrinos offer an effective way to observe the universe. Through the finding, Koshiba became known as the father of neutrino astronomy.His pupils, including Yoji Totsuka, went on to chalk up another world first by proving that neutrinos have mass, using the second-generation neutrino detector Super Kamiokande. These successes have firmly established Japan as the leader in this field.Scientists showed enterpriseKoshiba is the 11th Japanese Nobel laureate and the fourth to get the physics accolade since Leo Esaki garnered the prize in 1973, who in turn was proceeded by Hideki Yukawa and Shinichiro Tomonaga, who also received the physics prize.The achievements of these three physicists gave Japan a good reputation in the field of theoretical physics. With Koshiba becoming the first Nobel laureate in the field of experimental physics, the world of physics in Japan has been widened significantly.Though Koshiba's winning of the prize should be a great encouragement to those following him, we cannot be too optimistic. Koshiba, Ryoji Noyori-who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001, and Hideki Shirakawa-who received the same prize in 2000, were superior to others in their creativity as well as their persistent efforts and devotion to work.Next generation must heed callHowever, some critics say that young researchers today have a different mind-set from their predecessors.An Education, Science and Technology Ministry survey showed that while young researchers had higher specialized knowledge and were more internationally minded than those surveyed 10 years ago, they had less spirit of inquiry and creativity.This trend is not limited to researchers. A separate ministry survey last year on awareness of science and technology revealed that the trend permeates society as a whole.According to the survey, interest in scientific discoveries by the Japanese public was one of the lowest among industrialized countries. The survey also revealed that basic understanding of scientific and technological concepts was extremely low.We sincerely hope that Japan's winning of the Nobel award for the third year in a row will raise public respect for those who have contributed to the progress of humanity. We also hope that the younger generation will pick up the gauntlet and boldly go where none have gone before.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	570	2002-10-09	yoshin0020021009dya9004zm
yomshi0020021011dyab0000b	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021011dyab0000b	EN	\N	Change economic priorities.	As a result, the latent losses in the stockholdings of leading banks are estimated to be in excess of 5 trillion yen, while leading insurance companies have seen their stockholding gains virtually disappear. Stock prices have crashed through a critical level.	12	2002-10-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Even at this juncture, the government has yet to come up with comprehensive antideflation measures. The government cannot just sit back and do nothing.Koizumi should compile a large-scale supplementary budget and present other concrete measures as soon as possible to give the stock market the boost it needs.The government can only be accused of evading its responsibility if it fails to make a prompt decision on such measures.Takenaka's irresponsible remarksThe continued slump in stock prices can be blamed on the thoughtless remarks of Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, financial and fiscal policy.In a recent interview with a U.S. weekly magazine, Takenaka said: "Big banks have their merits...But we do not hold to the idea that they are too big to fail."His remarks came at a time when the market was already worried over the deflationary pressures of increasing unemployment and corporate failures as a result of writing off the bad loans held by financial institutions.These remarks would not have had such an impact if they had been made by a scholar or a commentator. But they should be considered totally irresponsible as they were made by a state minister in charge of financial policy and responsible for stabilizing the nation's financial system.His remarks bring to mind the financial crisis in 1927 when some banks, including Watanabe Bank, collapsed after careless remarks by Finance Minister Naoharu Kataoka in the Diet.We wonder how Takenaka will take responsibility if his remarks trigger a similar crisis in the Heisei era. He should do some soul-searching over this.Compile supplementary budgetWith the nation's economy in a state of emergency, the government must come up with policies to tide over the crisis. The first priority is the compilation of a supplementary budget. To battle recessionary pressures and contain deflation, it is necessary to narrow the supply-demand gap.On Thursday, Koizumi said he had no plans to compile a supplementary budget, which he said would only increase the national debt.He remains cautious about compiling a supplementary budget because he had promised to limit the issuance of new national bonds to 30 trillion yen. Yet, this limit is no longer viable.As an economic recovery is unlikely in the near future, this fiscal year's tax revenues are expected to drop sharply from the previous year, especially corporate tax revenues. The current situation has made it inevitable for the government to issue more national bonds.Policies aimed at putting the fiscal house in order have, in fact, aggravated the situation and the government finds itself unable to take flexible fiscal steps. The government is obviously putting the cart before the horse.The government must place priority on economic recovery, even if it has to temporarily freeze its fiscal reforms.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	570	2002-10-11	yoshin0020021011dyab0043c
yomshi0020021014dyac000bh	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021014dyac000bh	EN	\N	Resolution an ultimatum for Iraq.	The resolution gives Bush the authority to use U.S. military force, if he judges it necessary and appropriate, to protect the United States from Iraqi threats and have Baghdad comply with all existing U.N. resolutions to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction.	15	2002-10-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The U.S. Congress adopted a similar resolution to give the president the power to use military force against Iraq in the Gulf War 11 years ago. This resolution was approved in 1991 by a small margin, in stark contrast to the latest resolution, which won overwhelming congressional support.The Bush administration and Congress share the belief that the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein poses a threat to international society because of its suspected possession and possible proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.Saddam must cooperateAs Congress has granted Bush such strong authority on the use of military force, the United States has, in effect, sent an ultimatum to Iraq."There are no other options for the Iraqi regime. There can be no negotiations. The days of Iraq acting as an outlaw state are coming to an end," Bush warned in urging the Saddam regime to "disarm itself."Saddam should not mistake U.S. determination. His regime must clearly state its position that it will allow U.N. inspectors to inspect all facilities that they deem necessary, including the presidential palaces, and cooperate with them at all times.The U.S. resolution calls on Bush to make diplomatic efforts before launching a military strike on Iraq. It also urges the Bush administration to ensure that a U.S. attack on Iraq will not hinder its "war on terror," under way since the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11 last year.The U.N. Security Council is working toward the adoption of a new U.N. resolution to force Iraq to accept U.N. inspectors without restrictions or preconditions. The resolution adopted by Congress will serve to support the U.N. effort.The United States and Britain are trying to put real teeth into the new U.N. resolution by incorporating the power to use military force, as part of the preparations for a resumption of U.N. inspections of Iraqi facilities.UNSC should resolve differencesAmong permanent members of the Security Council, France, Russia and China are opposed to using military force against Iraq. The Security Council must expedite efforts to iron out differences in views among member countries.Bush recently held a telephone conversation with French President Jacques Chirac, while British Prime Minister Tony Blair held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, indicating efforts to reach a compromise on a U.N. resolution among permanent members of the Security Council.What is needed is the adoption of a resolution that ensures effective U.N. inspections in Iraq.Should the Security Council fail to deal adequately with Iraq, which has ignored U.N. calls for inspections for nearly four years, the United States will have no choice but to launch a military strike on Iraq. This would represent a heavy blow to the United Nations, which places priority on peacekeeping functions.The Security Council should no longer allow the outlaw regime of Iraq, which has repeatedly defied U.N. resolutions by blocking international inspections, to continue with its reprehensible actions.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	604	2002-10-12	yoshin0020021012dyac000e5
yomshi0020021012dyad00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021012dyad00008	EN	\N	Lawyers bill a sound document.	A government task force on judicial reforms is set to study the outline with the aim of drafting related bills to be submitted to an upcoming extraordinary Diet session.	8	2002-10-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Envisaged postgraduate law faculties are scheduled to open in April 2004. In its final report published last year, the government's Judicial Reform Council submitted a set of proposals that includes a plan to significantly increase the number of judicial experts. To ensure that the project will produce highly trained specialists, the advisory body came out with a plan to set up law schools.These institutions seek to provide postgraduate students with a wide range of practical education, including the study of legal systems and theories, as well as the acquisition of working knowledge about how to put such expertise into practice. All these are aimed at producing lawyers who have a broad outlook in their profession. We support the basic principles advocated by the council.Entering through the back doorThe outline of the bill stipulates that qualified candidates for the new national bar examination include not only students who have completed their studies at planned law schools, but those who have not studied at such schools but have passed an envisaged preliminary examination.This means that prospective lawyers will have two equally recognized ways to qualify for the bar examination. The new qualification of candidacy for the state-administered test is a major focus of the bill.This contrasts with a proposal included in the final report issued by the Judicial Reform Council, which would have qualified only law school graduates for the new bar examination. Those who did not attend law school, the council insisted, should only be eligible to take the bar examination in exceptional cases-even if they passed the envisaged preliminary test.However, the government rejected this proposal, and decided instead to qualify both law school graduates and those who pass the preliminary exam. This signified an attempt to ensure that the reform incorporates an advantage of the current National Bar Examination, which accepts any examinees, with or without legal training. The government was concerned that confusion could arise if only law school graduates were qualified for the bar examination.We deem the government's decision to be practical and reasonable.Still, there are numerous problems to be tackled in promoting judicial reforms. About 100 colleges and universities nationwide are planning or considering the establishment of law schools.However, few educational institutions are prepared to set up well-coordinated postgraduate law faculties. They are still uncertain when and whether they will be able to secure teaching staff, including judicial practitioners. They are also unsure what kinds of teaching materials and programs they will adopt.Get schools up to speed on standardsAll this has raised concerns that these colleges and universities may seek to establish law schools merely to survive difficult times. Under the circumstances, all sorts of law schools could mushroom that provide inadequate professional training.The project to create law schools reflects widespread concerns that few undergraduate faculties of law in this country are doing their job well enough, and that examinees get their real legal education from private-sector coaching schools.Given this, all colleges and universities should remind themselves that their initial goal of setting up law schools was to provide well-coordinated lessons at the postgraduate level.The outline of the bill also states that a private-sector authority would determine whether each new law school met government standards, with the aim of maintaining quality programs. If necessary, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry and the Justice Ministry would urge schools that do not fulfill the requirements to rectify their deficiencies.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, the Justice Ministry and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations are joining hands to complement the ongoing reform. For example, they are considering lending judicial specialists to law schools and studying what kinds of teaching materials and curriculums should be adopted.Not only colleges and universities but judicial circles as a whole have a grave responsibility to ensure that the quality and quantity of the envisaged law schools is of a satisfactory standard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	734	2002-10-13	yoshin0020021015dyad000rp
yomshi0020021016dyah000mo	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021016dyah000mo	EN	\N	Expedite passage of crucial bills.	Stock prices have plunged precipitously, and the Japanese economy has fallen into a state of emergency. The government should come up with ways to bail the national economy out of the crisis as soon as possible.	16	2002-10-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	But even if economic issues are considered to be the topic of highest priority at the session, this does not mean to say that the government can put off discussing other bills until the next Diet session.In particular, the bill concerning ways to deal with such emergencies as foreign armed attacks and another concerning the protection of private information, both of which the previous ordinary Diet session decided to carry over to the extraordinary session, should be passed into law at the upcoming session.Even before the session has opened, however, the prevailing view within the ruling camp is that it may be inevitable for discussion of these two bills to be postponed to the next ordinary session.This view has spread chiefly because calls are rising one after another from senior officials within the ruling camp saying that only economic issues should be taken up for discussion in the upcoming session.Ruling camp should keep its promiseThe ruling coalition parties-the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Hoshuto (New Conservative Party), had agreed at talks held among their leaders at the end of the previous ordinary Diet session that they would strive to get these two bills passed into law at the next extraordinary session.Based on this agreement, they should do their utmost to ensure the passage of the bills at the extraordinary session. To do so, efforts should be expedited to modify the bills.Particularly when it comes to the bill concerning the protection of private information, it is essential to amend the bill so that the issues of "protection of privacy" and "freedom of expression" can be reconciled.Within the ruling camp, an amendment bill that adds provisions calling for "consideration of freedom of expression" to the basic principle of the protection of private information is being studied under the leadership of New Komeito.The ruling camp should work out an amendment bill that would not violate the freedom of expression and of the press and have it discussed at the outset of the extraordinary session.Minshuto has important role to playConcerning the bill on ways to deal with such emergencies as foreign armed attacks, the government is slated to work out its basic standpoint and the makeup of the legislation on the protection of the people in response to a request from the opposition camp and to explain the legislation at the extraordinary session.Regarding the definitions of "a case in which there is a risk of an armed attack" and "a situation in which an armed attack is predicted," which have been deemed to overlap, the ruling camp has said it plans to revise them to clarify how the cases differ.The ruling camp should present concrete amendments as soon as possible and invite the opposition camp to discuss them.The responsibility of the opposition camp is also great-in particular, that of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan).Even though the party held up the need to improve the legislation concerning ways to deal with emergencies as an election campaign promise, it persistently refused to take part in talks during the ordinary Diet session on amending the bill, which the ruling camp had sought, for fear of deepening disunity within the party.After he was elected party leader for the third time, Minshuto leader Yukio Hatoyama made clear that he would invite his party members to conduct a lively exchange of views on such issues as national security policy, over which opinions are far apart within the party, and come up with a unified party policy.How the party handles the bill concerning ways to deal with emergencies and the one concerning the protection of private information will prove to be a litmus test for Minshuto.Hatoyama now has a perfect opportunity to showcase his "new image" as the party leader, by compiling concrete ideas constructively.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	712	2002-10-17	yoshin0020021021dyah004nw
yomshi0020021018dyai0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021018dyai0005s	EN	\N	N-arms admission changes game.	North Korea made the admission to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, who visited Pyongyang in early October, allegedly acknowledging that it launched a nuclear weapons program involving enriched uranium several years ago.	8	2002-10-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	This move, which is in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, also constitutes a serious breach of the 1994 Agreed Framework concluded between the United States and North Korea, under which Pyongyang promised to freeze and abandon its nuclear arms development program.The White House called on North Korea "to comply with its commitments under the Nonproliferation Treaty and to eliminate its nuclear weapons program in a verifiable manner."This demand is quite reasonable.Violation of trustNorth Korea, a signatory of the Nonproliferation Treaty, is obliged as a nonnuclear-weapon state to make only peaceful use of nuclear power and allow in International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors.Pyongyang's secret nuclear development is nothing but an unpardonable violation of the world's trust. The international community must make Pyongyang halt its nuclear arms development immediately.The latest development involves work on new nuclear arms using weapons-grade enriched uranium. North Korea's attempts at arming itself with nuclear weapons can thus be said to have entered an even more dangerous new phase.North Korea allegedly defended itself by telling Kelly that it "considers the framework nullified."Such an argument indicates North Korea's irresponsible and provocative stance, while exacerbating the violation of an accord it had agreed on its own.Under the framework, North Korea promised to scuttle its existing graphite-moderated reactor, which facilitates the production of plutonium, an ingredient in nuclear weapons, and its reprocessing facilities.In return, the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, established jointly by Japan, the United States, South Korea and other countries, is constructing in North Korea light-water nuclear reactors for power generation. Such facilities are harder to misuse to produce weapons material.Before the light-water nuclear reactors come on line, 500,000 tons of heavy oil-an alternative energy source-is being provided annually under the framework.Enough for 6 bombsNorth Korea's manifestation of its continued nuclear weapons program will only overthrow this series of agreed-on processes.North Korea is presumed to already possess enough plutonium for one or two nuclear bombs. It also has spent nuclear fuel, from which it could extract enough plutonium for six bombs, if Pyongyang forsakes the framework and goes ahead with reprocessing.U.S. President George W. Bush has declared North Korea, along with Iran and Iraq, as part of an "axis of evil" that is developing or trying to possess weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms.Of the three states, North Korea is the one thought to have come closest to possessing nuclear arms.What North Korea should do first is comply with the Nonproliferation Treaty and the framework and give up its nuclear arms program. At the same time, it should allow IAEA inspectors to conduct across-the-board inspections of its nuclear-related facilities and prove that it has abandoned the program.North Korea is said to have developed chemical and biological weapons, too. The threats of such weapons of mass destruction have been raised even further by the development and deployment of its missiles.Despite being faced with critical food shortages, North Korea maintain a military force about 1.1 million strong, which accounts for 5 percent of its total population.Closer consultationsThese facts seem to indicate North Korea's essential nature of placing priority on military force.Japan, the United States and South Korea have been working toward coordinating their policy for reducing North Korea's military threats.Faced with fresh provocation from North Korea, the three countries need to consult even more closely.Japan, which is slated to resume normalization talks with North Korea shortly, needs to give serious consideration to the latest developments.North Korea has consistently dealt with the United States, not Japan, on issues such as nuclear arms and missile development.Nonetheless, we cannot overlook the fact that it already has more than 100 Rodong missiles-capable of delivering a nuclear payload-aimed at Japan.During their summit in Pyongyang last month, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to comply with Pyongyang's promises to the world, including upholding the framework with the United States.In response to this demand, the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration included a clause saying, "The two nations confirmed they will abide by all international agreements related to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula."Strength in negotiatingNorth Korea's admission about its nuclear arms program runs counter to this declaration.North Korea's behavior-that is, signing the declaration while hiding the truth-can only be called abject. Under the circumstances, we cannot expect North Korea to uphold the declaration.Nuclear arms development and missile development are not the only threats to Japan.Surface-to-air missiles and rocket launchers were found on the North Korean spy ship that sank off the Amami-Oshima island in Kagoshima Prefecture. It remains to be determined why the ship was so heavily armed. The whole truth about this ship must be uncovered and measures must be taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.Abductions of Japanese to North Korea seriously undermined Japan's sovereignty.North Korea has admitted to the abductions and is seeking early normalization of ties with Japan, because Pyongyang is hoping for Tokyo's economic assistance.Unless all threats to Japan's security are removed, however, diplomatic relations cannot be normalized and economic aid cannot be extended.Normalization negotiations between Japan and North Korea will resume on Oct. 29 in Kuala Lumpur. The Japanese government has said it will try to uncover whole truth about the abductions and, at the same time, will put the national security issue on the top of the agenda.Now that North Korea's treacherous deeds have come to light, Japan should enter negotiations with the determination to not hesitate to walk out on them.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 18.).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1063	2002-10-18	yoshin0020021021dyai000ym
yomshi0020021018dyaj00067	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021018dyaj00067	EN	\N	Koizumi must show resolve.	A task of prime importance for the new Diet session is to address the host of economic problems facing the country. For months, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average has stayed mired below 10,000 points, and there are no encouraging signs of an economic improvement.	16	2002-10-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Koizumi administration must come out with comprehensive antideflation measures as soon as possible, including a substantial supplementary budget. An important duty of the government and the ruling and opposition parties during the Diet session is to rack their brains and debate what should be done to overcome the current economic crisis.This goal, however, can be accomplished only after the prime minister tells the Diet what constitutes the basic principles behind his efforts to bring the nation out of its deflationary crisis. Friday's policy speech could have provided Koizumi with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate his determination in this regard.Koizumi's address, however, contained no clear message that he would take all possible measures to end the current economic crisis.Time for bold moveKoizumi neither mentioned a supplementary budget nor did he refer to the use of taxpayers' money and other public funds, although such a measure could play a key role in stabilizing the financial system.All in all, Koizumi's policy address contained few specific ideas. He told the Diet that his government would join hands with the Bank of Japan to overcome the deflationary crisis. However, such an abstract concept will do little to convince the public that the government will take resolute action.Koizumi also reiterated his determination to carry on his "no growth without reform" policy. That he avoided mentioning a supplementary budget probably meant he wanted the public to know he still stood by his vow to cap annual issuance of new government bonds at 30 trillion yen.However, the country's deflationary crisis is doomed to grow more serious as long as Koizumi hesitates to implement fiscal policies just for the sake of ensuring fiscal health. Koizumi's pledge to curtail bond issuance should never be allowed to hinder the government's ability to take flexible measures.Once again, we urge Koizumi to be bold and shift the focus of his policy from fiscal discipline to economic recovery.Where are antideflation measures?It is also important to note that the government has repeatedly put off drawing up a set of antideflation measures. This is largely due to the failure of the government bodies concerned to reach a consensus on the issue because Koizumi has yet to present clear ideas on the matter.Koizumi's policy speech will be followed by debates between the government and lawmakers in both houses of the Diet. Representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties will raise questions about Koizumi's policy address next week. Discussions in both houses' budget committees will ensue.Koizumi must tell the Diet that he will change his economic policy, and then present specific antideflation measures as soon as possible.Important themes to be taken up in the new Diet session also include North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, that nation's abduction of Japanese nationals and a legal framework for Japan's response to military crises. These issues must be seriously debated at the Diet sessions that follow.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	597	2002-10-19	yoshin0020021023dyaj0032t
yomshi0020021019dyak00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021019dyak00008	EN	\N	Organ transplants still too rare.	However, only 20 such surgeries have been performed during the period. A number of people still travel to foreign countries for organ transplants because they simply cannot wait to receive organs from brain-dead donors at home.	8	2002-10-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The small number of organ transplants carried out in Japan-a mere handful of cases each year-can be attributed to legal requirements so strict that the legislation has been sardonically dubbed the "organ transplant prohibition law."Transplants routine in other countriesSurgeries involving hearts, livers, lungs and other organs removed from brain-dead donors come to several thousand a year in the United States and Europe. In this sense, organ transplants have become established as an ordinary form of medical treatment in these countries.To ensure that organ transplants become similarly ordinary in this country, measures should be taken to relax the requirements to be fulfilled for such surgeries.The current law states that an organ transplant may be carried out only when written consent has been obtained from the donor prior to brain death. Approval from the donor's family is also necessary. This explains why the Organ Transplants Law is the most draconian of all similar legislation in the world.According to a survey conducted by the Cabinet Office, a scant 9 percent of the public holds cards to indicate their willingness to donate their organs after brain death, despite a certain degree of progress in improving the public's understanding about organ transplants from brain-dead donors. It is also disturbing to see that only 69 percent of those surveyed said that they were aware of such cards, marking a 12-point decrease from two years ago.In addition, there has been an increase in the number of people who know nothing about how to obtain the cards, which are distributed by local government offices and post offices.With all this in mind, the national and local governments should work harder to convince more people to carry organ donor cards. We propose that driver's licenses, health insurance cards and other official certificates be designed to include sections to express holders' willingness to donate organs.In many cases, even people carrying organ donor cards have not donated organs after apparent brain death. There are only about 430 hospitals across the nation that are legally authorized to determine whether a patient is brain-dead. This means that organs cannot be removed from patients who have become brain-dead at other hospitals. Such instances occur very frequently.Steps should be taken as soon as possible to increase the number of hospitals authorized to determine brain death. It is also advisable to set up a system under which a team of doctors can be sent from such a hospital to another medical institution where they determine whether a patient is brain-dead.Law hits young patients hardIt also is disturbing to note that the Organ Transplants Law bans organ transplants from donors under 15 years of age. This is because the law qualifies only those over 15 as competent to state their readiness to donate organs in the event of their brain death.This clause matches a similar provision in the Civil Code, which qualifies those over the age of 15 to leave wills. However, it also means that young would-be donors are not allowed to save the lives of infant patients.Consideration therefore should be given to lowering the age limit for donors. This could be complemented by a rule authorizing parents of children under the new limit to approve organ transplants from their offspring.What is important is to make sure that anyone who could survive his or her illness with an organ transplant will actually do so. Given this, it is time to reconsider some of the principles of the Organ Transplants Law and how it should apply to patients and donors.An organ transplant has been called an attempt to "relay one's life to another." Donors' good intentions must be given a chance to save the lives of other people.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	713	2002-10-20	yoshin0020021023dyak0049p
yomshi0020021021dyal000ma	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021021dyal000ma	EN	\N	Reform inheritance, gift taxes.	Three years ago, then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi pledged to reduce inheritance taxes, but due to deliberate negligence by the Finance Ministry and the Liberal Democratic Party's Tax System Research Commission, the issue has been left unaddressed. However, neither ministry officials nor the LDP can be allowed to loaf any longer. Now, they are urged to draw up and implement effective tax cut plans as soon as possible.	8	2002-10-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Two taxes an inharmonious pairNoteworthy in this respect is the Finance Ministry's plan to introduce a system to consolidate inheritance and gift taxes.Currently, the maximum rate for both taxes is 70 percent. However, while the maximum rate is applied to the inheritance of assets worth more than 2 billion yen, the figure for gift tax is a much smaller 100 million yen. At the same time, individuals are exempt from paying inheritance taxes when they inherit assets of up to 10 million yen, whereas the figure is 1.1 million yen for the gift tax.In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the average life expectancy for men in this country was around 65. But the figure soared to 78 as of last year. It used to be common for people in their 40s to inherit assets from their parents, but today it is not unusual for heirs to be over the age of 60. Such people find it difficult to expand a family business they have taken over from their parents.The envisaged system is aimed at reducing burdens from the gift tax in terms of both tax rates and the amount exempt from tax by setting up an exception for assets that are gifted from elderly parents before their death to their adult children. When parents die after children have received gifted assets and children inherit any remaining assets, the amount of gift tax would be deducted from the inheritance tax.Only if the amount exempt from gift tax is raised to the level exempt from inheritance tax under the envisaged system will people be able to be receive assets of up to 10 million yen during their parents' lifetimes without paying taxes.This small step would have the effect of encouraging asset transfers from older to younger generations, and this in turn would stimulate consumption. In this respect, we believe the ministry's aim is not so bad.Consolidation not the only goalHowever, the introduction of the combined inheritance and gift tax system should not be used as an excuse to postpone cuts in the inheritance tax itself.In the first place, the maximum tax rate of 70 percent is too high, compared with figures around 40 percent in other industrialized countries. Compared with the maximum tax rate of 50 percent for income tax, the figure appears extreme.In this regard, the government is urged to reduce maximum tax rates and at the same time to make more gradual increases in the progressive inheritance tax rates.If the tax rate structure for the envisaged combined gift-inheritance tax system is made similar to that of the present inheritance tax, tax burdens on business operators in the next generation will be reduced, making it easier for small and medium-size businesses to shift their ownership.Yet, there remains another cause for concern. More than few recently introduced systems designed to implement tax cuts have been used less than expected due to the strict rules and conditions that taxpayers must meet.For instance, the use of the so-called NPO taxation system, which offers tax breaks for contributions to nonprofit organizations, and the so-called angel taxation system, which is meant to encourage investment in venture businesses, have been extremely limited.In the case of the consolidated tax system, under which group companies pay corporate taxes after consolidating their profits and losses, only 164 groups have decided to use the system for fiscal 2002 because the government has decided to require those adopting the system to pay a 2 percent surtax.Similar mistakes should not repeated in introducing the combined inheritance and gift tax system. To that end, the government is urged to ease conditions to apply the new system and to simplify the system as much as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	736	2002-10-21	yoshin0020021023dyal004pg
yomshi0020021021dyam000s0	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021021dyam000s0	EN	\N	Another N. Korean headache.	U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, who arrived Sunday in Tokyo, conveyed Washington's sense of crisis to the Japanese government.	8	2002-10-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	North Korea must unconditionally and immediately halt its newly revealed nuclear weapons development program.At the same time, the international community should stop Pyongyang from developing nuclear arms by applying as much pressure as possible by any necessary measures.KEDO may be kaputOne thing that needs to be reviewed at the moment is the project carried out by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). Based on the 1994 Washington-Pyongyang accord and funded by Japan, the United States, South Korea and the European Union, the project is building two light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea and providing 500,000 tons of fuel oil annually until the completion of the reactors.However, we can no longer continue the project, which was offered in return for Pyongyang halting the development of nuclear arms, now that Pyongyang's violation of the accord has come to light.The nations involved are urged to discuss what to do with the project-including its suspension-as soon as possible.Pyongyang's No. 2 leader, Kim Yong Nam, who is the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, said in his meeting Monday with South Korean Unification Minister Jeong Se Hyun that Pyongyang is ready to eliminate security concerns if Washington stopped treating it as an enemy.North Korea has crafted its own brand of brinksmanship, under which it creates tensions by itself and then attempts to win something in return for making partial concessions. We highly suspect that North Korea is resorting to these tactics yet again this time.However, Washington reportedly said that it would not accept such a deal. North Korea should be fully aware that its usual strategy will no longer work.Apart from the nuclear arms development program, North Korea must also refrain from nuclear proliferation in the form of sales of fissile materials such as plutonium and highly enriched uranium to other countries.To prevent North Korea from taking such actions, we believe it is imperative to win cooperation from its immediate neighbors, China and Russia. By involving those two countries along with Japan, the United States, South Korea and the EU, concerted action could be taken by the international community. Every possible measure must be taken, such as a binding resolution by the U.N. Security Council.Japan's time for leadershipIn this regard, Japan is expected to play an important role.In her meeting with Kelly on Monday, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi clearly said there would be no progress in normalization talks with North Korea unless there was progress on Pyongyang's nuclear arms development.It is natural for the government to take such a stance.Leaders of Japan, the United States and South Korea will hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which will start in Los Cabos, Mexico, on Saturday. Following the meeting, Japan is to resume talks on normalization of diplomatic ties with North Korea on Oct. 29.Japan bears a heavy responsibility in the international community in eliminating nuclear threats posed by North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	573	2002-10-22	yoshin0020021023dyam004lb
yomshi0020021023dyan0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021023dyan0005s	EN	\N	Has the FSA lost the plot?	A Financial Services Agency task force on bad-loan disposal, led by Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, decided not to release Tuesday an interim report, originally scheduled to be released on the same day, on new guidelines designed to speed up the disposal of nonperforming loans held by financial institutions.	8	2002-10-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report was not released Tuesday chiefly because its proposals on accelerating the disposal of bad loans, which would mean a hard landing for the economy, met with strong opposition from both the nation's business sector and from the Liberal Democratic Party, one of the ruling coalition parties.Measures deemed too drastic may bring about sharp rises in corporate failures and unemployment, pushing the nation's financial and economic activity into contraction.It can be said that the task force's complacent arguments, which make light of such possible consequences, have triggered the latest eruption of discontent and friction in the business and political sectors.Takenaka needs to take into full consideration opinions not only of private sector experts, but also of legislators of the ruling coalition parties and officials in the business sector. After taking these opinions into account, he should make a final decision on how fast the nonperforming loans should be disposed of and in what way. He cannot afford to make any more mistakes.Proposals are a recipe for turmoilThe LDP was most strongly opposed to a call for stricter evaluation of banks' loan assets and net worth.The original draft of the interim report was to contain a proposal calling on banks to set aside more loan-loss reserves for loan claims to heavily indebted firms by using the U.S.-style "discounted cash flow technique." Under this method, banks are required to calculate the value of loan claims by weighing interest income generated by the loans against the risk of possible future losses on them, rather than on the basis of the probability of corporate failures, as in the past.The draft also contained a proposal calling for a review of rules on deferred tax assets whose booking allows banks to inflate their net worth. The draft was to have proposed lowering the limit of the ratio of deferred tax assets to banks' equity capital to 10 percent.Should these proposals contained in the original plan be put into effect, banks would be forced to set aside far more loan-loss reserves for loan claims and would see their net-worth ratio drop sharply. This would cause turmoil in the banking sector.In addition, the original draft contained such drastic proposals as having the top management of banks that receive public funds be replaced, and even having such banks placed under state control.Lawmakers should think coollyAs long as the public property called the nation's banking system is faced with a crisis, it is inevitable for the disposal of nonperforming loans at the nation's banking sector to be accelerated.But overly radical methods for achieving this goal would panic the banking sector and the financial market, possibly driving banks to shy away from extending new loans and even to call in existing loans.There appears to be much bewilderment within the business sector and the LDP concerning the planned introduction of U.S.-style evaluation of banks' assets.Should deferred tax assets be assessed more strictly without the simultaneous introduction of measures to offset the resultant negative effects, such as an expansion of tax-free amortization, banks could be plunged into a crisis.If, in the days ahead, businesses are pushed to the brink of bankruptcy, the sense of concern in the market will escalate instantly.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet is reluctant to take antideflation measures, including the implementation of a supplementary budget or of large-scale tax cuts.Under such circumstances, it is only natural for opposition to measures to accelerate the disposal of bad loans to prevail.At this time, politicians, who must be held responsible for the results of their decisions, need to act pragmatically and form their judgments from a broad perspective.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun Oct. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	723	2002-10-23	yoshin0020021107dyan002hk
yomshi0020021024dyao00061	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021024dyao00061	EN	\N	Koizumi must heed his critics.	During interpellation sessions on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's policy address conducted by representatives of major parties at the House of Representatives and House of Councillors, all three ruling coalition parties publicly criticized Koizumi's economic policies-the biggest political issue of the day.	16	2002-10-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Koizumi must take the criticism on the chin."Steamrolling reforms may send the national economy into turmoil," said Mitsuo Horiuchi, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's General Council, expressing his objection to Koizumi's economic policies.Mikio Aoki, secretary general of the LDP upper house members caucus, strongly pressed Koizumi to make a policy U-turn, saying, "A wise man should adapt himself boldly to changed circumstances."Both Horiuchi and Aoki maintain that the Koizumi administration should lift the 30 trillion yen cap on the new issuance of government bonds and take stimulus measures, including the compilation of a sizable supplementary budget, to fight deflation.Both Horiuchi and Aoki, as influential figures in the LDP, are supposed to support the Koizumi administration. The main reason they have been criticizing it so strongly is because of their strong sense of alarm about the continuing deflationary trend.Premier has his head in the sandAkihiro Ota, acting secretary general of New Komeito, also called on the administration to compile a supplementary budget, saying, "What the people are calling for is 'reform with encouragement,' rather than 'reform with pain.'"Hoshuto (New Conservative Party), the third party in the coalition, also seeks antideflation measures of the same kind as those espoused by its coalition partners. This means the entire ruling camp has effectively submitted a "no-confidence motion" against Koizumi.While choosing not to respond directly to the criticism from the ruling camp, Koizumi replied to Aoki's remarks by expressing his gratitude for the latter's "candid opinions and encouragement." It seems that Koizumi does not take the deflationary crisis seriously enough.Concerning the contents of his economic policies, Koizumi has merely parroted his championed phrase of "no economic growth without structural reform" while declining to mention specifics of either measures for the disposal of nonperforming loans or antideflation steps.Koizumi emphasized that he has no intention of submitting a supplementary budget to the current Diet session.Also, he has refused to scrap the 30 trillion yen cap on the issuance of government bonds, even though it has become obvious that the cap is no longer workable due to falls in tax revenues against the backdrop of deflation.Save economy, not faceKoizumi probably is sticking to his guns because he is concerned that a policy shift would set back his publicly pledged efforts to achieve structural reform, which would hurt the public approval rating of his administration.Should the prime minister adhere to his official pledge, however, the nation's economy will fall into an even deeper crisis, leaving the administration bereft of options.What the administration should do immediately is to reverse the deflationary trend afflicting the national economy. The administration should recognize that it is essential to implement antideflation measures if progress is to be seen in the disposal of nonperforming loans.For his part, Koizumi should drastically revise his economic policies. He should scrap the 30 trillion yen bond-issuance cap and start compiling a large-scale supplementary budget as soon as possible.The focus of the current Diet session will shift to debates at the budget committees of both houses Thursday. Substantive debates should be conducted on ways to haul the nation out of the deflationary spiral.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2002-10-24	yoshin0020021105dyao0000r
yomshi0020021025dyap00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021025dyap00005	EN	\N	Don't send abductees back.	It also needs to create for the five abductees, who have temporarily returned home, a situation that closely resembles the one that existed before they were abducted.	12	2002-10-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In this context, it is the responsibility of the government to enable the five abductees and their families to reside permanently in Japan.There is no question that the abductions, in which North Korea trampled on the human rights of Japanese nationals and violated Japan's sovereignty, constituted a crime committed by another country.However, until recently, North Korea had repeatedly claimed the abduction cases had been concocted by Japan.North Korea cannot be trustedNorth Korea is a compulsive liar. It lied about the abductions and spy ships operating in and near Japanese waters, and it lied about its nuclear weapons program despite its pledge to adhere to international commitments, including the 1994 Agreed Framework with the United States.Relatives of the five abductees have told government officials that they do not want the five to return to North Korea. They fear that Pyongyang will break a pledge, if there is one, to return the five permanently to Japan if they go back to North Korea.This concern is understandable considering past North Korean behavior. The government must consider the feelings of family members and take all necessary measures to ensure that the five remain in Japan permanently.In normalization talks with North Korea which will start in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, the government will place priority on the abduction issue-along with the security issue in connection with North Korea's nuclear weapons program.This is natural. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has repeatedly said, "No normalization without a resolution of the abduction issue."Families must not be forgottenWhat should not be forgotten is that the abduction issue applies also to the families of the eight abductees that North Korea said had died.Many questions remain over the eight abductees who North Korea reported had died, including how they died and why it gave incorrect dates for their birthdays. Japan must continued to press North Korea to explain these points.Besides the 15 people that the government recognizes as being abducted by North Korea, many more Japanese are believed to have been abducted by that country.The government must pursue this issue to learn the truth about those people.Another problem concerns the responsibility of North Korea. At the summit meeting with Koizumi last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il said the people responsible for the abductions had been punished. But it is unclear who were punished and how.North Korea is expected to use the permanent return and other issues as bargaining chips for economic assistance from Japan.The government must continue to demonstrate its determination to protect its people. That is one way it can fulfill its responsibility to the nation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	511	2002-10-25	yoshin0020021026dyap0007a
yomshi0020021025dyaq0005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021025dyaq0005r	EN	\N	Bold antideflation steps needed.	Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, has been drafting a set of measures to speed up the disposal of nonperforming loans and to combat deflation.	11	2002-10-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As both the ruling parties and the business community oppose Takenaka's proposals to hasten a solution to the bad-loan issue, the situation has become chaotic. They are also unhappy the government has failed to come up with effective steps to stimulate demand.Any further confusion will only exacerbate the market's distrust in the government and deepen the public's anxiety.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Takenaka should listen to the ruling parties and come up with bold antideflation measures and viable policies to stabilize the nation's banking system.During policy talks between the ruling coalition and the government, the parties called on Takenaka to rethink his bad-loan disposal measures.Select group decides measuresBehind this demand is the ruling parties' concern that the government's action program-which includes a review of deferred tax accounting that currently allows banks to calculate their net worth by assuming future refunding of excessive tax payments-would only cause greater confusion and lead to a deterioration of the financial system's instability.Takenaka and a group of aides worked out measures for dividing bank assets into two batches and nationalizing troubled banks in a series of closed sessions, an action that made the minister's critics extremely unhappy.Needless to say, early disposal of nonperforming loans is an important task because the issue has impeded the rejuvenation of the economy. When banks are determined to have insufficient capital bases following a new reevaluation of their net worth, there will be no reason for the government to hesitate to inject public funds into financial institutions.However, if the approach to the bad-loan issue is made too precipitously, banks will almost certainly resort to widespread cancellation of outstanding loans from borrowers, causing the economy to contract.The government is likely to be inundated with lawsuits filed by banks and their shareholders in the event of losses caused by an abrupt revision of regulations.The ruling parties favor a soft-landing approach to the bad-loan issue by having the Resolution and Collection Corporation flexibly set prices for purchasing nonperforming loans from banks.Come up with viable solutionsThe government and the ruling coalition should work out viable solutions as soon as possible, including one to postpone beyond March 2004 the start of a review of the tax accounting method.The disposal of bad loans itself will not lead to an economic upturn. Rather, it will amplify recessive factors, such as unemployment and bankruptcies, causing stock prices to plunge and making the banking system more unstable.Deflation, which continues to make an increasing number of outstanding loans nonperforming, must be stopped in its tracks.The prime minister should retract his policy pledge of limiting new government bond issues to 30 trillion yen, which is no longer relevant given the shortfall in tax revenues, and immediately work out plans for large-scale tax cuts and compile a supplementary budget. The government should offer tax cuts of more than 2 trillion yen as proposed by the ruling parties.A supplementary budget should embrace not only job-creating measures and relief steps for small and medium-sized enterprises, but also major projects such as urban redevelopment that could help create demand on a massive scale.The Bank of Japan should also come up with further antideflation measures.Few effective measures have been discussed in debate in the Budget Committees of both chambers of the Diet. Given the prevailing situation, no time should be wasted.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	632	2002-10-26	yoshin0020021028dyaq006k4
yomshi0020021026dyar00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021026dyar00006	EN	\N	Police must restore security.	Koki Ishii, a House of Representatives member from Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), was fatally stabbed Friday morning by a rightist in front of his house in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a man Saturday who turned himself in, admitting that he stabbed the lawmaker to death.	8	2002-10-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The arrested man, who represents an extreme-right organization, had frequently turned up at Ishii's office, where he reportedly asked for money, trying to sell books and other items at high prices. The suspect was allegedly short of living expenses, unable to even pay his rent.Based on his confession and other evidence, it is believed that the man attacked Ishii out of spite because the lawmaker had refused to give him money.The act was apparently planned, judging from the fact that the suspect was witnessed to have been waiting for Ishii around his residence and was armed with a 20-centimeter knife.Get to bottom of murderWe strongly urge investigators to make utmost efforts to clarify the whole picture of the murder case, including any background.As a Diet member, Ishii has been diligently investigating the wasteful spending of taxpayers' money, such as through lax management of public corporations; the practice of so-called amakudari (descent from heaven), in which retiring bureaucrats take up high-ranking posts at public corporations and government-affiliated and other organizations; and illegal bidding in public-works projects. Recently, the lawmaker showed a strong interest in the disposal of nonperforming bank loans.Diet members are tasked with listening to a wide range of voices among the public to reflect their opinions in national politics. Because of the nature of their task, it is difficult to refuse to meet with visitors without a good reason even though they are total strangers.Exploiting this situation, the suspect stalked Ishii and attacked him when he was entirely defenseless.The act was nothing less than a malicious crime, an abominable act that could completely shake the foundations of our open democratic system.Three lawmakers have been murdered in this country since World War II.In 1960, Japan Socialist Party Chairman Inejiro Asanuma was stabbed to death by a young rightist when delivering a speech, and in 1990, Labor Minister Hyosuke Niwa was knifed to death.More than 10 others attackedIn the same period, more than 10 lawmakers, including some who barely escaped death, have been attacked.Cabinet members, high-ranking political party officials and former prime ministers are always guarded by police officers, but ordinary Diet members are not eligible for such special security.To prevent a recurrence of such incidents as Ishii's murder, legislators should try to protect themselves.The man who killed Ishii also had visited offices of other Diet members and reportedly acted strangely.Lawmakers must inform police immediately and take other necessary measures as soon as they are harassed by suspicious persons.Improvement in security should also be considered. Police should step up efforts to gather information on whether those in the underworld, such as radical rightists and gangsters, have visited legislators or have been seen around them.Ishii's murder reflects a recent deterioration in public peace and order.Police must make utmost efforts to restore safety and peace to our society.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	568	2002-10-27	yoshin0020021028dyar006s4
yomshi0020021027dyas00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021027dyas00008	EN	\N	N. Korea a nuclear menace.	Leaders of Japan, the United States and South Korea issued a joint statement calling on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons development program while keeping intact the 1994 Agreed Framework between Washington and Pyongyang, an accord aimed at ending the North's nuclear weapons program.	8	2002-10-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the recent summit meeting between the United States and China as well as the meeting between Japanese and Russian prime ministers, China and Russia agreed to cooperate with Japan, South Korea and the United States in a joint effort to halt Pyongyang's nuclear arms development program.At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which began Saturday in Los Cabos, Mexico, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sought member countries' cooperation in eliminating security threats including Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.A similar pledge is expected to be incorporated in the APEC leaders' declaration, which is to be issued after the two-day meeting.Pyongyang predictably recalcitrantNorth Korea is urged to promptly respond to such concerns and warnings of the international community. The country must halt its nuclear development program unconditionally and immediately.However, North Korea, in response, refused to unconditionally dismantle the arms program. Moreover, its ambassador to the United Nations is repeating threatening remarks, claiming that the country reserves the right to possess powerful weapons other than nuclear weapons.But North Korea's brinksmanship, in which it attempts to win concessions in such fields as energy and financial assistance by flaunting its "nuclear card," is no longer effective.In his meeting with Japanese and South Korean leaders, U.S. President George W. Bush revealed his intention to deal with the issue through diplomatic channels. The U.S. administration is apparently placing top priority on its possible military attack on Iraq. Also, the United States is acting out of consideration to the South Korean government, which is particularly cautious about taking drastic measures against North Korea.However, in a press conference after the trilateral meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell indicated the possibility of taking drastic action against Pyongyang, saying that the U.S. administration will make a final decision after closely monitoring how North Korea acts in the next few weeks, including during the Tokyo-Pyongyang talks on normalization of diplomatic ties.If North Korea continues to ignore warnings, the international community must force the country to dismantle its nuclear development program through every possible measure, including the freezing of projects by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO).Japan takes center stageIn this regard, Japan bears a heavy responsibility. The international community is paying close attention to the outcome of the normalization talks set to open Tuesday.So far, the United States has been the sole nation to negotiate directly with North Korea on security issues, including the nuclear development program.However, North Korea has already deployed 100 Rodong missiles that have every town and island of Japan within their range. Pyongyang's nuclear development program, linked with the missiles, is an immediate threat to this nation.The Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, which was issued by Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il at their historic summit meeting on Sept. 17, promised compliance with all international commitments, including dismantling of the nuclear weapons development program.At the three-country summit meeting on Saturday, Koizumi declared that Japan would not conclude the normalization talks without North Korea's full compliance with the declaration.The Japanese government is urged to negotiate with North Korea in a resolute manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	622	2002-10-28	yoshin0020021028dyas00745
yomshi0020021028dyat000ba	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021028dyat000ba	EN	\N	World pins hopes on Japan.	Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, at their summit in Mexico, adopted a joint statement urging North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.	7	2002-10-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It marked the first time that the leaders of the APEC forum, which usually emphasizes economic issues, has issued a separate statement naming a specific country in addition to the joint statement on trade issues.This indicates that the 21 economies, including China and Russia, both of which maintain favorable relations with North Korea, share the same sense of crisis over that country's nuclear weapons development program.Besides this sense of alarm, the statement also reflects the Pacific Rim economies' anger at and distrust of North Korea, which recently admitted to carrying out its nuclear arms development program in violation of international agreements, including a 1994 agreement with the United States.With regard to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, the leaders of Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed on a demand that North Korea abandon the program.During the U.S.-China summit talks held on Friday, U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin agreed that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-weapons free.Japan, N. Korea back to the tableOn Tuesday, the negotiations on normalizing Japan-North Korea ties will resume. It will be the first full-scale negotiation with North Korea to be held by any country after the APEC meeting.The leaders of Japan, the United States, and South Korea have called Japan's normalization talks with North Korea a way to channel the world's concerns about the nuclear arms program. The gravity of Japan's task therefore has become more profound than ever.At the negotiations, Japan must bear in mind the international community's escalating criticisms and concerns over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.Japan must make North Korea recognize that all countries concerned are fully united in their view that it is vital to have Pyongyang give up its nuclear weapons development.The Rodong missiles that North Korea has deployed have the whole of Japan within their range. The possibility of such missiles being armed with nuclear warheads poses an incalculable threat to Japan.There is also the issue of missile exports by North Korea, an issue that must not be ignored as it undermines the peace and stability of the entire world.The Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, issued after the Sept. 17 summit talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, said, "The two nations confirm they will abide by all international agreements related to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula to resolve it."Kim signed pact with fingers crossedIt was North Korean leader Kim who signed the Pyongyang declaration with composure, knowing all the while that his country was plowing ahead with a nuclear weapons development program.Japan needs to set right such breaches of faith by North Korea and urge Pyongyang to halt its nuclear weapons development program. This way Japan can meet the expectations of the international community.Along with nuclear weapons development, the issue of Japanese abducted to North Korea is another issue of the highest priority.Japan should insist that North Korea allow the abductees to return permanently to Japan with their families, now in North Korea, and that it make a full and clear disclosure of all facts concerning the eight abductees whom Pyongyang claims have died.The overarching principle that needs to be emphasized in resuming normalization talks is that there will be no normalization without resolving the two issues-the nuclear weapons program and the abductions. Sticking to that principle will prompt North Korea to respond accordingly.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	635	2002-10-29	yoshin0020021029dyat005yn
yomshi0020021030dyau00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021030dyau00006	EN	\N	Steps needed on vehicle emissions.	The Tokyo District Court handed down a ruling Tuesday in a lawsuit in which 99 plaintiffs residing in central Tokyo sought compensation from defendants including the central government for bronchial asthma and other health problems they claimed were caused by vehicle emissions. The plaintiffs also sought an injunction against emmisions of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by motor vehicles.	8	2002-10-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs also called into question for the first time the responsibility of automobile manufacturers by asserting that the roadside pollution affecting extensive areas of central Tokyo is attributable to the vast network of arterial roads in the capital.The ruling held the central government, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation responsible, as road administrators, for the pollution-caused illnesses of seven of the plaintiffs and ordered the defendants to pay compensation.The ruling recognized a causal relationship between vehicle emissions and damage to people's health, while limiting the area in question to that close to national highways, expressways and other trunk roads with a large volume of motor vehicle traffic in central Tokyo.However, the court decision rejected the plaintiffs' argument that air pollution affects extensive areas in the heart of Tokyo, citing a lack of clear-cut evidence for this assertion, and also turned down the plaintiffs' call for an injunction banning emissions of SPM and NO2 by motor vehicles.The court did not recognize the responsibility of automobile manufacturers for causing air pollution, either. As the chief reason for rejecting this claim, the court cited the fact that automakers cannot control how and where the automobiles they sell are operated.Road operators' responsibility citedIn air pollution-related litigation over the past 10 years, most rulings have recognized a causal link between vehicle emissions-particularly those from large-sized diesel trucks-and health problems suffered by residents in specified areas. In recent years, some rulings instructed defendants to take steps to ban emissions of particular pollutants.The ruling, which rejected the plaintiffs' call for such an injunction, may at first sight appear to be a step backward in air pollution-related litigation. However, it is firmly in line with the recent trend of rulings on similar cases since the latest verdict clearly recognized the responsibility of the road administrators-the central and metropolitan governments and the public corporation.On the other hand, the court did not accept the argument that air pollution from vehicle emissions affects extensive areas, thus highlighting the complicated nature of the issue-namely, to what extent air pollution can be linked to vehicle emissions.Law revision may be necessaryNotable in the latest ruling is that among the plaintiffs who were judged eligible to receive compensation, there was one whose health problems were not recognized by the government as air pollution-related according to the law on compensation for health damage from environmental pollution.The central government revised that law in 1988, incorporating the provision that "air pollution, except for that which is locally occurring, cannot be considered as a chief causal factor of such illnesses as asthma." With the law revision, the government stopped recognizing any new cases of air pollution-induced health problems.The latest ruling has pointed out the negligence of the central government in failing to monitor locally occurring air pollution.The central government should review how the present law on compensation for health damage should be applied and revise it, if necessary, so as to offer redress to people whose illnesses are not currently recognized as air pollution-related according to the law.The ruling criticized the central and metropolitan governments for not taking any effective measures to deal with vehicle emissions and traffic on major roads in central Tokyo. At the same time, the ruling emphasized that the public administrative organizations should cooperate with each other closely in an effort to improve road environments.Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, who is campaigning to outlaw diesel vehicles from Tokyo streets, said the metropolitan government would not appeal the latest district court ruling on air pollution.The central government, in cooperation with the metropolitan government and other entities, should quickly implement what the district court described as "comprehensive and effective" measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	734	2002-10-30	yoshin0020021030dyau0056k
yomshi0020021031dyav0000k	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021031dyav0000k	EN	\N	Antideflation package falls short.	On Wednesday, the government and the ruling parties adopted the package, including a measure to accelerate the disposal of bad loans.	17	2002-10-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The new antideflation package also incorporates tough measures for banks, including a formula designed to assess the assets they hold in a rigorous manner similar to a method adopted in the United States.However, the new package includes few effective remedies aimed at ending the current deflationary crisis, a major factor contributing to the continued growth in nonperforming loans.If it remains reluctant to adopt drastic antideflation measures, the government will never be able to revitalize the nation's troubled economy. The administration of Prime Minister Junichirio Koizumi should no longer adhere to its goal of replenishing the country's depleted coffers.The prime minister must immediately decide to put together a fairly large supplementary budget and implement a tax cut prior to a tax hike. This must be complemented by an effort to write practical prescriptions for the renewal of the nation's financial and industrial sectors.The latest economic package incorporates measures to create more jobs and provide safety nets for small and midsize businesses. However, it includes no provision for compiling a supplementary budget. In addition, the package incorporates few pump-priming measures, such as a reduction in corporate taxes, to overcome the ongoing economic crisis.Takenaka plan risks credit crunchThe delay in devising antideflation measures can be attributed to the confusion arising from an attempt by Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy, to write draconian prescriptions for the disposal of bad loans. The ruling parties and those in financial circles reacted very negatively toward Takenaka's package.The focus of the confusion was Takenaka's attempt to reform the taxation accounting system. He insisted that the government adopt an accounting method similar to the formula used in the United States.It should be noted, however, that U.S. banks receive even more favorable treatment than those in Japan when it comes to nontax redemption of nonperforming loans, carried-forward loss deduction and carried-back refunds.Takenaka's radical plan, if implemented, could encourage banks to call in massive loans from borrowers and trigger a credit crunch.Koizumi should drop bond-cap pledgeThe government's latest economic package has, in effect, put off implementing Takenaka's plan. However, the government had to work very hard to adjust the differences between Takenaka's ideas and the opinions of those opposing his package. This explains why the government has not done enough to come up with effective antideflation measures.The top priority of the government's economic policy is to end the deflationary crisis. This will pose a formidable challenge in that accelerated efforts to write off bad loans will further increase deflationary pressure.The economy could slow down even further because of the new rule the new packages has adopted in assessing banks' assets.No bank will be able to survive major surgery unless it receives fiscal and financial support. However, Takenaka turned a blind eye to such concerns as he was solely preoccupied with devising stringent measures to stabilize the nation's financial system, as state minister in charge of macroeconomic policy.The Bank of Japan has chosen to implement additional monetary-easing policies. The prime minister must resolve to reconsider his pledge to cap the annual issuance of government bonds at 30 trillion yen, while also taking fiscal measures aimed at promoting urban renewal and other projects.Now is the time for the prime minister to stop leaving Takenaka to formulate all economic policies and demonstrate his leadership.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	633	2002-10-31	yoshin0020021031dyav005ca
yomshi0020021031dyb10005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021031dyb10005q	EN	\N	Decentralization report lacks teeth.	A report submitted to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi by the Council for Decentralization Reform, an advisory body to the Cabinet Office, is far from satisfactory in its review of administrative services and projects conducted by the central and local governments.	10	2002-11-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Issues that need to be addressed include a review of the system in which a contribution from the state coffers covers a share of compulsory education expenses. By law, the central government is required to pay a portion of the bill for compulsory education programs run by local governments.The central government covers half of the salaries paid to teachers at public primary and middle schools. The central government contributes about 3 trillion yen for compulsory education annually.In its interim report issued in June, the council emphasized the need to drastically rethink the system to ensure that the amount of money equivalent to all compulsory education expenditures currently paid by the central government will be incorporated into local governments' budgetary resources whose use is not restricted by the central government. The proposal was intended to help run public schools in a more flexible manner.No follow-upThe most recent report, however, did not urge the government to immediately consider the proposal to ensure that local governments' budgetary resources not earmarked for specific uses include the amount of money equal to the sum of the current state contribution. Instead, it only stated that the government should "continue to study" the proposal.The only reform plan the council submitted was one to enable local governments to include about 500 billion yen-the equivalent of the current state contribution for teachers' retirement benefits and some other purposes-in their coffers as unrestricted-use financial resources.Furthermore, the council did not offer its opinion on how to provide local governments with tax revenue sources for such expenditures. It only stated that "the organizations concerned should fully discuss the issue and coordinate their opinions," instead of emphasizing the need to transfer some tax revenue sources from the central government to local authorities.Little room for flexibilityIt should be noted that there is little room for local governments to show originality in using such rigidly fixed financial resources as retirement benefits if tax revenue sources for such purposes are transferred from the central government to local authorities. In this sense, it is questionable whether the council's proposal can be regarded as a meaningful attempt to promote decentralization.The panel also called for a reform of the system that governs public works projects. Specifically, its report demanded the curtailment of grants-in-aid that can be used for such specified projects as road, sewage system and airport construction. It also said that such subsidies should be used only for certain truly important projects.However, the report never went into specifics about how much the government should reduce its grants-in-aid, although it stated what kind of goal should be pursued.Many local governments are facing serious financial crises. Efforts at financial reform require three simultaneous reforms-a reduction in state grants-in-aid, the transfer of some tax revenue sources and changes in central government subsidies for unspecified uses. The latest report came after the prime minister asked the council to draw up reform plans with the aim of accomplishing that goal.Task not completedNonetheless, the report never mentioned the transfer of tax revenue sources and how much should be cut from grants-in-aid for local governments' public works projects. Thus, it is difficult to say that the council has completed its task.Some politicians have ridiculed decentralization as a "never-ending task." There has been only slow progress as successive governments have tackled the issue.Central government bureaucrats have long undermined decentralization efforts. They have sought to protect their ministries' interests before anything else. This partly explains why the council ended up producing a less-than-satisfactory report. The prime minister must knock down the barriers built by bureaucrats.The report cited 135 items in five categories in promoting the reform, for which it set deadlines.Koizumi must tell his Cabinet members to come up with specific measures to transform the report's proposals into action. Whether he can make any headway in this regard hinges on the kind of budget he formulates for the next fiscal year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 1).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	780	2002-11-01	yoshin0020021101dyb1002pa
yomshi0020021102dyb20000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021102dyb20000d	EN	\N	Don't dilly-dally on Constitution.	First, the report indicates which sections of the Constitution should be revised. Secondly, almost all members of the ruling coalition and the opposition camp-except for those from the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party who have vowed to protect the Constitution-are aware of the need to revise it.	16	2002-11-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The interim report supports our view that an early review of the Constitution is essential.The issues being discussed by the commission are diverse, ranging from national security and basic human rights to central government systems and the autonomy of local government. All these issues are vital in setting the stage for creating a "new Japan."It is important for the commission to avoid a situation in which the discussions fail to reach a decisive stage.The Research Commission on the Constitution is to compile a final report by 2005, five years after its inauguration. With only about two years remaining, the panel should quickly move to bring matters to a conclusion on the basis of the ideas presented in the interim report.Each party must reach consensusThe commission has many issues on its agenda-determining what major amendments should be made, when the draft of the revised Constitution should be worked out, and who should be responsible for the draft.The House of Councillors Research Commission on the Constitution should also compile an interim report at an early date and embark on a process of bringing things to a head.If both commissions are to coordinate their opinions, it will be indispensable for each political party to reach a consensus among its members of those parties.Although the Liberal Democratic Party advocates a revision of the Constitution, it has made little progress in discussions within the party as to what approach to take. The LDP seems to thrive on idleness.For its part, New Komeito has finally made a positive move by reversing its past stance of failing to commit itself on revising the Constitution. The party is now ready to discuss the issue within the party with a view to adding new clauses, such as those concerning the people's "environmental rights."The constitutional panel of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the largest opposition party, has issued a report proposing that a new constitution be drafted, although it remains unknown whether all members of the party favor the proposal.Situation has changed drasticallyThe domestic and overseas situations surrounding Japan have changed significantly since the current Constitution was enacted half a century ago. Many of these developments were unimaginable in those days. The discrepancies between what is stipulated in the Constitution and the realities of the economy and society are becoming increasingly wide.These discrepancies are not limited to the relationship between Article 9 and the Self-Defense Forces. Recently, it was decided that the salaries of judges should be cut in spite of the constitutional guarantee (Article 79) that such compensation "shall not be decreased during their terms of office."The constitutional ban on state subsidiaries to private colleges and universities (Article 89) is also unrealistic as the government has been channeling public money to them. State subsidiaries are granted to private colleges and universities not only through a third-party entity, the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan, but also directly by the government. In the latter case, these subsidies have been on the rise.The "hollowing" out of the Constitution must not be overlooked because they affect the very foundation of a constitutional state.For the time being, a law could be enacted to allow for a plebiscite on the revision of the Constitution to remedy the flaws that now exist in the supreme law.All political parties and lawmakers should move forward tenaciously to restructure the Constitution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	684	2002-11-02	yoshin0020021102dyb2000dz
yomshi0020021104dyb30005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021104dyb30005s	EN	\N	Use road taxes for budget.	The initial goal set by Koizumi was to thoroughly revise the way road-related tax revenues are currently used exclusively to construct and improve roads and to instead put the road revenues into the general budget for wider use.	8	2002-11-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, discussion over shifting the funds to the general budget dropped off and instead is now focusing on merely expanding use of the revenue to other road-related projects.The government should not evade the issue by such a makeshift change. To effectively use limited revenue sources, Koizumi should not back down from his stance of shifting the funds to the general budget.There are plenty of problems concerning road-related tax revenues earned from automobile users such as the gasoline tax, automobile acquisition tax and automobile weight tax.What is most problematic is the fact that road revenue sources from road-related taxes are secured at a time when the central and local governments are suffering serious revenue shortages.Allocation of taxesThe portion of revenues allocated to the central and local governments is fixed according to the kind of taxes. In this connection, the Construction and Transport Ministry has made a budgetary request of about 3.5 trillion yen for fiscal 2003.Because plans to build and improve roads are drawn up on the assumption of assured revenue, the discussion over the necessity of roads and the order of priority for their construction tends to be taken lightly.A report compiled in July this year by the ministry's council for improvement of social infrastructure said that the nation's road shortage was largely resolved.We cannot understand why a system introduced about half a century ago as an emergency step to hurriedly construct and improve our nation's roads is still maintained after such progress in road construction and improvement.Road-related tax revenues are one of the vested rights enjoyed by the zokugiin (Diet members who represent the interests of special organizations), and they have been seen as a sacred cow for a long time. This situation has worked to retard reform.In an effort to partly change the system for the budget for fiscal 2002, the Finance and Construction and Transport ministries decided to divert about 220 billion yen of the automobile weight tax to the general budget for the fiscal year.As to how to use the revenues in fiscal 2003, Koizumi said, "It is not necessary to use the revenues exclusively for road construction and improvement." However, Koizumi failed to mention shifting the revenues to the general budget.Not drastic reformConstruction and Transport Minister Chikage Ogi has expressed her intention to expand the use of road-related tax revenues to other transport-related projects, including subway projects. But shifting money to projects under the jurisdiction of the same ministry cannot be called drastic reform.At least in the fiscal 2003 budget, the government should drastically expand the scale of the revenues to be used for purposes other than road construction and improvement and widen the targets of revenue use. In this way, the government should show in concrete steps now that it is serious about implementing other reforms in the future.If the government diverted part of its road-related revenue for measures for traffic-related environmental pollution and for constructing welfare-related facilities in relation to urban renewal projects, taxpayers would not oppose such steps.The problem of road-related tax revenues is closely related to future road construction and improvement. Reform of the use of such money should not be discussed only during budgetary compilation but should be discussed continually.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	646	2002-11-03	yoshin0020021105dyb3003td
yomshi0020021103dyb400004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021103dyb400004	EN	\N	Schools face long dark winter.	According to the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan, about 30 percent of four-year universities and about 50 percent of two-year junior colleges were underenrolled this spring.	8	2002-11-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The warnings have been floating around for years that a shrinking birth rate and fewer 18-year-olds would inevitably lead to management woes at universities and colleges. For a long time, though, schools were lucky. Enrollments actually went up for a time and more students were applying to sit entrance exams, giving schools a breathing space from the pressure of the declining population.However, the prolonged recession is obviously making it more difficult for them to hide from the ugly prospect of failure.And if a university or junior college still has students when it fails, the impact will be devastating.In fact, it has already happened-when Sakata Junior College in Yamagata Prefecture dismissed all its teaching staff last month. The college earlier had made the news for its practice of enrolling large numbers of Chinese students to make up for declining domestic enrollments. The crunch came in September, when a management crisis forced the junior college to discontinue all classes.In its final days, there were only 11 students at Sakata Junior College. Three students have been accepted into another junior college and will be able to complete certain courses. The remaining eight have had no choice but to return to China or leave the school.Walls of ivory towers crumblingWhile closing schools means students are deprived of the opportunity to obtain a qualification, there is an even more urgent issue-whether students will be given places in other institutions.If other universities and junior colleges fall, as Sakata Junior College has fallen, society will be headed for a catastrophe of epic proportions. Countermeasures must be worked out as soon as possible. Specifically, we need a network of schools to take up the slack when students are left stranded without a place to learn.The need is urgent. Some junior colleges have already decided to close down permanently in the near future, and last year stopped accepting new students. This spring, two four-year universities also opted not to take on new students in some departments.Of course, the management of any university or junior college facing closure must do everything they can do to safeguard their students' education. They owe their charges that much, at the very least.There is a new reality at work here, one in which enrollments at junior colleges decline and fewer applications are sent to universities. Schools must reshape themselves to confront that reality.The winter of their discontentThe Education, Science and Technology Ministry has decided in principle to do away with its decadeslong "softly softly" approach to granting permission to build new universities and junior colleges or allowig increases in enrollments. This means the ministry will no longer coddle universities and junior colleges under the so-called convoy formula. The upshot will be greater competition among universities and junior colleges.Actually, the ministry is also to blame for in effect having authorized the establishment of many new universities and junior colleges and allowed the expansion of existing schools, even though all the signs were that institutions of higher learning were approaching a "winter."For their part, universities and junior colleges will have to take a long hard look at the pressures facing them and undergo painful reforms.To regain public confidence in higher learning, these schools must show greater transparency in their balance sheets and enrollment statistics.The new realities of the education market require each university or junior college to be competitive in their teaching and research, and pitch their selling points to prospective students. They must realize that this is the first step on the road to survival.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	671	2002-11-04	yoshin0020021105dyb40043b
yomshi0020021104dyb5000b9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021104dyb5000b9	EN	\N	ERs for kids need shot in arm.	Moreover, hospitals that do have such units frequently have to turn infants and children away because they do not have pediatricians on duty. The result is that in many cases, the parents of children in need of emergency treatment are given the run-around by hospitals.	7	2002-11-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	For a long time, calls have been made for an improvement in medical services for children, particularly when it comes to providing emergency treatment for children in the evenings and on holidays. Yet such improvements that have been made have been made at a snail's pace.The central and local governments should immediately start building a network of emergency treatment units for children so that they can get medical attention at all times and without unnecessary inconvenience to parents.There are two main reasons for this shameful lack of emergency treatment for the nation's young. One is a lack of human resources, the other is that it is simply unprofitable.Children unprofitable patientsCompared to adults, children usually require fewer medical examinations and smaller doses of medicine, but at the same time, require greater care. As a result, children are less profitable as patients than adults under the medical treatment remuneration system. Under the system, doctors and recognized medical facilities receive remuneration from the national health insurance system for services rendered on the basis of a point system.The writing is on the wall for pediatric divisions that are unprofitable. Hospitals that have pediatric divisions have declined by 16 percent over the past decade.The result is that the hospitals that do have emergency units for children open in the evenings and on holidays are inundated with patients. In addition, the growing number of families in which both parents work has placed an additional demand on these hospitals as working couples tend to take their children to hospitals at night.In an attempt to alleviate the situation, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is offering preferential treatment for pediatricians as well as for medical institutions that have pediatrics and emergency treatment services for children. Yet the preferential treatment being offered is far from sufficient.The overall scale of remuneration for medical treatment of infants and children needs to be raised. In particular, extra consideration should be given to establishing more emergency treatment units.But money is not the only thing required; additional human resources are also needed.Hospital rota system neededThe ministry is expediting its efforts to create a network of hospitals under which hospitals in a given locality take turns accepting children in need of emergency treatment. However, 60 percent of these areas have yet to implement such a network.This is because in most areas hospitals have a shortage of pediatricians in general, and there is a declining number of pediatric practitioners willing to work in the evenings and on holidays.There are, however, some areas where pediatricians take turns staffing local hospitals that have emergency units for children. By expanding this formula across the nation, emergency services for children can be improved.To achieve this, it is vital for the central and local governments to play a proactive role in such networks and for local medical associations to cooperate with them.To put things in perspective, it must be added that most children treated at emergency units only have light injuries or minor illnesses. In addition, some parents simply take their children to hospitals at night, when they are less crowded, for their own convenience.Nonetheless, there are many cases when a pediatrician's expertise is required. This is especially true today, given the increase in nuclear families that do not have older, wiser heads to consult when a child is sick.The improvement of emergency medical services for children is part of society's duty to couples with small children, which may help prevent the birthrate from declining further.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	687	2002-11-05	yoshin0020021105dyb5004iq
yomshi0020021106dyb60000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021106dyb60000d	EN	\N	White paper lacks substance.	The Cabinet Office's white paper on the economy and public finance for fiscal 2002 insists-as did a similar annual report issued for the previous year-that the Koizumi administration's structural reform campaign will provide the best cure for the nation's serious economic woes.	8	2002-11-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The latest white paper titled "Annual Report on the Japanese Economy and Public Finance (2001-2002)" also is inadequate in its prescription for the ongoing deflationary crisis. It does not clearly state whether the government should provide a fiscal stimulus for the economy. Instead, the report only emphasizes the need to accelerate efforts to clear up the bad-loan mess and improve the productivity of industry.This means that the white paper has effectively given the nod to the government's "deflationary policies for a deflationary economy." The report may well be regarded as a prescription for the downsizing of the economy.The white paper notes that private sector demand remains weak and far from recuperating, although the economy has bottomed out. It goes on to argue that "there is no denying that the economy could take another downturn in a short period" if the U.S. economy slowed down.The report's analysis of the current asset deflation is no less bleak. It shows that the nation has suffered more than 1.1 yen quadrillion in capital losses due to decreases in the value of land and stockholdings since 1990. The paper predicts that price deflation will continue for some time to come.Government must aid private sectorAdmittedly, the white paper expresses concerns about a vicious circle of deflationary pressures and an economic slump. However, it endorses the government's thinking that progress in structural reform will bring the economy back on the path to robust recovery.Undoubtedly, the private sector should try to lift itself up by its bootstraps out of the current economic difficulties. However, such an effort will bear fruit only if and when it is supported by macroeconomic, antideflation measures.Nonetheless, the white paper insists on pursuing belt-tightening policies as in the past.In addition, the paper argues that the government should continue to curtail expenditures. This apparently is aimed at opposing growing calls from both the ruling coalition and opposition parties to put together a considerably large supplementary budget as soon as possible.The report also refers to South Korea as a nation whose government has injected massive amounts of public funds into domestic banks as a means of overcoming deflation. However, the paper does not mention that such an approach could entail negative effects-for example, an increase in the numbers of corporate bankruptcies and unemployment.The white paper may be commended for emphasizing the need to lower basic corporate tax rates with the aim of improving the international competitiveness of domestic corporations. However, such a measure is tantamount to implementing a larger-than-planned tax cut without immediately raising revenues through a tax increase. The reduction in basic corporate tax rates will require efforts to reach a consensus with the Finance Ministry.Extra antideflation steps neededAll in all, the only noteworthy antideflation measure proposed by the white paper is to ensure that the Bank of Japan further relaxes its monetary policy. It says that the central bank's quantitative easing of the money supply has caused a decline in the yen's value, boosting Japanese exports.The paper also expresses an optimistic view toward growing concerns about the hollowing-out of the nation's industrial sector. It forecasts progress in both expanding information technology-related imports from China and other producers and increased exports of Japanese IT products. The growth of intraindustry trade will benefit both Japan and other nations, according to the white paper.The report shows that the government is far from apprehensive about the current economic crisis. This is disturbing in that accelerated efforts to write off bad loans are bringing the economy to the brink of collapse. The Cabinet Office should have presented more drastic prescriptions for the nation's economic and financial problems.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	715	2002-11-06	yoshin0020021106dyb60045g
yomshi0020021106dyb70005y	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021106dyb70005y	EN	\N	Premium hike is a bad idea.	The ministry's proposal seeks to replenish the system's depleted coffers by raising the premium rate from 1.4 percent to 1.6 percent of corporate employees' monthly incomes, while also curtailing the amount of unemployment benefits received by subscribers. The current system requires corporations and their employees to split the bill for premiums. The ministry hopes to translate its plan into action in June 2003.	16	2002-11-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Providing unemployment benefits under the system constitutes part and parcel of the government's efforts to aid those out of work. The unemployment insurance system must be protected from financial collapse.However, the premium rate has been raised twice in 17 months. In April last year, the ratio was increased by 0.4 percentage point. In October, the figure was raised by another 0.2 percentage point.If the ratio is increased next year as planned by the ministry, it will mean a third consecutive annual increase in the rate. For example, a salaried employee who earns 300,000 yen monthly would pay 2,400 yen in monthly premiums in that event. The figure is tantamount to a double increase from 1,200 yen in monthly premiums he or she paid until April 2001. Financial burdens to be shouldered by corporations will increase by the same amount.Macroeconomic picture ignoredAll this presents a bleak picture for corporate workers, particularly at a time when the nation faces a deepening deflationary crisis.The government is planning to raise the rates of premiums to be paid under other social insurance systems, including the government-administered health insurance system covering employees at small and midsize corporations. An increase in the unemployment insurance premium rate could undermine corporate activities and government efforts to create more jobs. There also are concerns that the higher premium rate could deal a blow to personal consumption.For years, the government has chosen to force both employers and employees to shoulder financial burdens each time its finances seriously deteriorated. This approach deserves to be criticized as an attempt to look for an easy way out. In putting its latest plan together, the ministry has paid no attention to how it would affect the economy and the employment situation.In this sense, the ministry should be censured for allowing the unemployment insurance premium rate to be raised for three consecutive years.For years, expenditures for the government's employment-security packages have become bloated because of its too generous spending on allowances for those out of work besides unemployment benefits. The series of new employment-security programs includes one aimed at covering a significant portion of costs incurred by people attending vocational training programs.All this deviates from the main purpose of the unemployment insurance system, in which jobless people are to be aided. Meanwhile, the government has been unable to implement workable measures to place unemployed people on corporate payrolls again.Vocational programs need reviewingThe ministry's latest plan will seek to reduce subsidies to be received by each trainee attending vocational programs. However, there still is room for reconsidering the state-subsidized vocational programs.First of all, the ministry should curtail subsidies for programs that have done little to improve the vocational skills of trainees. This should be followed by an effort to consider reducing the planned increase in the premium rate and implementing the hike some time later than initially planned.The government has never borrowed money from private sector financial institutions with the aim of replenishing the unemployment insurance sytem's coffers. To financially bolster the system, some members of the ruling parties have proposed using funds from the work-related accident insurance system. The ministry should look for ways to come up with financial resources in a way that would least inconvenience the organizations involved.There are concerns that accelerated efforts to clear up the bad-loan mess could further raise the unemployment rate. Safety net programs included in the government's recent antideflation package are largely similar to less-than-satisfactory measures implemented in the past, including various subsidies. The package appears to be far from promising and workable.The fundamental solution to the financial crisis facing the unemployment insurance system is to reduce the number of jobless people through a swift improvement in the economy. With this in mind, the government must hurriedly work to devise effective antideflation measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	787	2002-11-07	yoshin0020021107dyb70036i
yomshi0020021223dyb8000mu	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dyb8000mu	EN	\N	Fed switches into war mode.	With the move, the Fed appears to be gearing up in monetary terms for the possible impact of attacks on Iraq the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is planning following his Republican Party's sweeping midterm election victories.	10	2002-11-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As for the U.S. economic outlook, the Fed suggested in a statement that the economy is about to slow down as the increasing possiblity of a U.S. attack on Iraq poses an economically risky factor, using the phrase "heightened geopolitical risks."The 0.5 point interest rate cut, which went beyond the market projections, was intended to prevent the possible attack from slowing down the economy, the Fed said.Yet, a number of recently released indexes show the U.S. economy actually is slowing down.In September, consumer spending, which has been supporting the U.S. economy, marked its first decline since November last year. In October, the consumer confidence index and the index of business activity, which shows growth and contraction in manufacturing, deteriorated, and the unemployment rate went up for the first time in four months.Risky businessIn anticipation of a U.S. attack on Iraq, U.S. businesses started avoiding risks, such as making capital investments and employing new workers, and this trend began to have an adverse effect on consumer behavior.Whereas real economic growth marked an annualized rate of 3.1 percent in the July-September period, it is projected to significantly decline in the October-December period.Not a few analysts claim, however, that the latest interest rate cut is unlikely to stimulate the economy as much as expected as the action was taken following last year's series of 11 interest rate cuts, which has already reduced U.S. interest rates to their lowest level in 40 years.To enhance the stimulating effect of the Fed's rate cuts, the Bush administration is expected to swiftly implement fiscal and tax stimulus measures, including tax cuts on investment designed to reinvigorate the stock market, in addition to the large-scale tax cut program that is under way.The United States, however, is not the only country whose economy has shown signs of deterioration. Not only Japan, but also European nations, centering on Germany, have begun showing economic slowdowns.To prevent the world's leading countries from falling into deflationary trends, we urge Japan and European countries to make concerted efforts with the United States to promote economic stimulus measures in both fiscal and tax aspects.Japan's responsibilityIn this respect, Japan, which has been a drag on the global economy, bears a particularly heavy responsibility.At the end of October, the government came up with a package of antideflationary measures, which centered on the acceleration of bad-loan disposal, yet stopped short of incorporating specific policies to overcome the economic crisis.The government is still unaware that a prerequisite to the accelerated disposal of nonperforming loans is to halt deflation as soon as possible. It decided not to submit supplementary budget bills to the extraordinary Diet session and postponed drawing up tax cut plans until next month.The administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi can no longer shirk its duty to get out of the deflationary spiral, not only at home but also abroad.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	579	2002-11-08	yoshin0020021109dyb80000c
yomshi0020021223dyb9000n9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dyb9000n9	EN	\N	Special zone bills fall short.	According to the government, the new system is designed to carry out deregulation in specific areas because the promotion of structural reforms nationwide at the same time is considered difficult.	16	2002-11-09	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Thus, the government aims to reinvigorate the ailing economy by extending deregulatory reforms to a wider area based on the results in the government-designated areas.In terms of easing or abolishing regulations in government-designated areas, however, a close examination of the bills clearly shows that they failed to reflect the wishes of local governments and private businesses due to opposition from government bodies, Diet members working for the interests of certain industries and other interest groups. We therefore wonder whether the planned system will be able to stimulate the economy if kept as is.Although local governments strongly urge the entry of the private sector in the operation of hospitals and schools, the plan was scrapped in face of opposition from the Health, Labor and Welfare and the Education, Science and Technology ministries as well as other concerned bodies.Byzantine rulesEven fields where regulations are to be eased or abolished are studded with complex rules.Under the envisaged system, corporations will be allowed to manage special nursery care homes for the elderly but the period of their ownership of the facilities will be limited.Corporations will be allowed to engage in farm management, but new entrants will need approval from an agricultural committee comprising farmers and agricultural cooperative representatives. Besides, the new entrants cannot own farmland.In addition, the system will make it possible to lend port facilities to private companies, but they will be required to meet certain conditions to be stipulated in ministry ordinances, thus leaving certain points to the discretion of the Transport and Construction Ministry.Local governments also will be allowed to offer free job placement services, but the services will be limited to mediation by prefectural government-operated agricultural universities.Yet, at the same time, the government is attempting to design the system not to be easily affected by government bodies and organizations. More specifically, the prime minister will be empowered to approve designations of special structural reform zones. In addition, government bodies will be obliged to respond to inquiries about deregulatory proposals by local governments and the private sector within a certain period of time.However, as long as the plan is far from containing bold deregulatory measures, such attempts are unlikely to be fruitful.Yoshitada Konoike, state minister for natural disaster prevention who also supervises matters relating to the planned special zones, admitted that the bills were inadequate, saying, "There are certain ambiguous parts." But he added he would like to examine the bills closely the next time local governments make demands.Continued efforts urgedWe urge the government to continue making deregulatory efforts that will help revitalize local economies, including the allowing corporations to engage in the operation of hospitals and schools.In his policy address at the start of the current Diet session, Koizumi expressed his determination to boldly carry out deregulatory reforms, asserting that the special zones will be the central pillar of measures to reinvigorate the nation's economy.But we regret to say that such determination is not convincing if the prime minister farms out all the coordination work to the minister in charge.We would like to make sure that Koizumi acts, rather than merely utter words of determination, and do what is necessary to revitalize the economy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 9).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	638	2002-11-09	yoshin0020021109dyb9000ek
yomshi0020021111dyba0005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021111dyba0005r	EN	\N	Last chance for Baghdad.	Iraq needs to consider the latest development solemnly and accept the resolution immediately. The only way for Baghdad to avoid war is to fully cooperate with the teams to be sent by the United Nations.	8	2002-11-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The resolution affords Iraq "a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations (under previous relevant resolutions by the council)," and gives Iraq one week to fully accept the latest resolution.Baghdad is also obliged to submit within 30 days from the date the resolution was approved, a complete list of its programs to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and ballistic missiles and other delivery systems.The U.N. inspectors will begin work, for the first time in four years, no later than 45 days after the resolution's approval.Iraq has run out of timeIraq cannot afford to play for time any longer. This time, it has to divest itself of weapons of mass destruction.Under a resolution, adopted at the end of the Gulf War 11 years ago, Iraq was obliged to abolish its WMD and missiles with ranges greater than 150 kilometers.Yet, Iraq has repeatedly prevented international teams of weapons inspectors from gaining full access to relevant sites to verify that it had complied with the resolution. Since 1998, Iraq has refused all cooperation with international inspectors.The new resolution has also strengthened the authority of U.N. arms inspectors by granting them the right to search every nook and cranny.Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had refused to provide access to facilities intimately linked to him. These facilities, which when combined have an area of about 20 square kilometers, equivalent in size to Minato Ward, Tokyo, are also subject to inspection under this resolution.During negotiations on the resolution draft, a difference of opinions was reported among permanent member countries of the UNSC over what to do if Iraq refused to comply with the resolution.While the United States and Britain asserted in the draft that Washington could take military action against Iraq if the U.N. inspectors report that Baghdad was not complying with the resolution. France said it would require another resolution to allow military action, an assertion that Russia agreed with.U.S. attack still possibilityUltimately, they agreed that if Iraq refused to comply with the latest resolution, the Security Council would consider this a "further material breach" of Iraq's obligations, and would discuss the Iraqi issue again.The final resolution is a product of compromises on both sides, as it does not rule out the possibility of the UNSC discussing yet another resolution, which would approve the use of force against Iraq.There was a possibility that Washington would have unilaterally launched an attack on Iraq if the UNSC had failed to adopt the resolution, with the United Nations losing prestige as a result.Unanimous approval of the resolution is the result of diplomatic efforts that emphasized international cooperation above all else.Iraq must recognize that international society will not allow a violation of the U.N. resolution to go unchallenged.The Bush administration has warned that it reserves the right to use force at its own discretion. It is up to Iraq to avert a possible U.S. attack.Japan, for its part, also needs to put diplomatic pressure on Iraq to comply with the latest resolution.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	614	2002-11-10	yoshin0020021111dyba005q9
yomshi0020021223dybc000nk	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybc000nk	EN	\N	Move fast on armed attack bill.	The ruling coalition has presented a proposal to revise the set of bills on war contingencies, which the last ordinary Diet session agreed to carry over for discussions during the current Diet session. Meanwhile, the government has unveiled an outline of an envisaged legal framework to protect lives and assets during a military attack.	7	2002-11-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Both legislative measures were proposed by opposition parties during the ordinary Diet session that ended in late July. The opposition camp should agree to debate the bill seeking to revise the bills on national emergencies, with the aim of writing them into laws as soon as possible.The ruling camp's amended bill is designed to clearly define situations that would constitute an attack on Japan. This is in contrast to a similar bill initially drafted by the government that provided ambiguous definitions of three such national emergencies.Getting the words rightFor example, these definitions included "a situation in which there is a fear of an armed attack breaking out." However, the new bill has revised the definition to read "a situation in which an obvious danger is imminent."On emergencies not involving armed attack-imminent or otherwise-the new bill is no less specific. It stipulates the government must set guiding principles concerning such emergencies as "the emergence of an armed unidentified ship" and "the outbreak of a large-scale terrorist attack."Envisioned emergencies include a major act of terrorism, which is even more likely to affect us than a direct armed attack. In recent years, armed unidentified ships have been spotted in waters surrounding this country. The government must be prepared to deal with such emergencies as soon as possible.The outline of the bill on the protection of lives and assets represents an attempt to precisely define the kinds of roles to be played by the national and local governments in issuing warnings, evacuating residents and other activities in the event of a military attack on the nation.The government also intends to ensure that the bill incorporates a provision regarding the "obligations" to be fulfilled by members of the public in operations that would be required in such an emergency, including providing buildings to be used to accommodate evacuees.The ruling parties have also proposed establishing a headquarters to implement legislative measures to protect lives and assets. The proposal requires all Cabinet members to join the headquarters, which would be run by the Cabinet.We believe it is essential that the government assume a bigger role in this regard, since efforts to defend the nation from national emergencies call for a large number of laws and ordinances to be created or improved.Minshuto must show responsibilityBy presenting the bill to change the initial bills, the ruling parties have done what is necessary to pave the way for the creation of a necessary legal framework. It is the opposition camp's turn to act in a responsible manner.The largest share of this responsibility falls on Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan). In its election pledges, the largest opposition party called for efforts to create a law on national emergencies. However, the party has rejected calls by the ruling coalition to debate the bill seeking to change the government's initial bill. This attitude reflects Minshuto concerns that doing so could widen division within the party over the need to create such legislation.If Minshuto remains divided over the problem and continues to deal with the issue in an irresponsible manner, it should not be regarded as qualified to hold power. Now is the time for Minshuto leader Yukio Hatoyama to demonstrate his leadership and form a party consensus on the dispute.On the other hand, the governing coalition's move to present the new bill has in a sense come too late-the ongoing extraordinary Diet session has ended its first half.Prior to the opening of the current Diet session, ruling party officials said the session would be devoted to discussions on how to improve the economy. However, the government has presented the Diet with no plans on tax reform and no supplementary budget.Do the three ruling parties have any reason to postpone work on the bills on national emergencies despite their earlier agreement to do so during the current Diet session?The ruling parties should remind themselves that they should bear a greater responsibility than the opposition parties in accomplishing this goal.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	768	2002-11-12	yoshin0020021113dybc0013g
yomshi0020021223dybd000s0	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybd000s0	EN	\N	N. Korea must stop telling lies.	It has been found that the ashes claimed by North Korea to be those of one of the abductees are in fact those of another person. The latest revelation comes after this country conducted a scientific test on the ashes, which Pyongyang handed over to a government fact-finding mission in October. The government has said it will insist that Pyongyang carry out another probe into the kidnapping cases. Tokyo has every reason to make such a demand.	8	2002-11-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During its meeting with the fact-finding mission, the North Korean government admitted that it could not state with complete confidence that the ashes in question belonged to the abductee. At the same time, however, Pyongyang defended its conclusion about the identity of the remains, citing the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the body from one location to another and its cremation.Numerous questions have been raised over the credibility of North Korea's investigation into the eight abductees it claims are dead. For example, Pyongyang's report on its probe provides implausible explanations about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the victims and erroneous information about their birth dates. No one can be mistaken about his own birth date when he gives such information to anyone else.During diplomatic normalization talks in late October, the first such talks in two years, Tokyo demanded that Pyongyang answer more than 100 questions concerning the latter's earlier report on the victims. Undoubtedly, this reflected Japan's skepticism about the North Korean report.The latest finding regarding the ashes in question has raised fundamental doubts about whether the North Korean explanations about the abductees can be trusted.Pyongyang has its back to the wallDuring the resumed normalization negotiations in Kuala Lumpur, North Korea expressed a strong desire to reach an agreement to establish diplomatic relations between the two nations as soon as possible. Toward the end of the talks, North Korea urged Japan to hold another round of the talks in late November. This was in stark contrast to the extremely defiant attitude taken in previous similar talks by Pyongyang, whose negotiators often walked out of the conference room while citing reasons for doing so that were far from convincing to Japan.This change in North Korea's approach probably reflects its desire to make rapid progress in the talks with the aim of receiving economic assistance from Japan after normalizing bilateral ties. However, Pyongyang is grossly mistaken if it thinks it can use any means to draw a line under the kidnapping controversy, which Japan has cited as an issue of top priority to be resolved before the bilateral relationship can be normalized.The greater the suspicions about the report on the abductees, the more skeptical Japan will become about North Korea as a negotiating partner.Govt shouldn't resume talks in hasteFor years, North Korea has told Japan numerous flagrant lies. A perfect example of this was its assertion that Japan's argument concerning the abduction cases represented "an insult to North Korea as a state." This deceitful attitude also was evident in the dispute over spy ships dispatched by Pyongyang to waters surrounding this country in recent years. It also has emerged that North Korea has continued its nuclear weapons program despite its 1994 pledge to freeze the program.First and foremost, Pyongyang must seriously take to heart the latest revelation about the ashes in question. This must be followed by a North Korean effort to present convincing documentation concerning the abductees and fully explain to Japan what actually happened to them.North Korea reportedly has told Japan that Tokyo should return to Pyongyang the five abductees who came back to this country in October. This shows that Pyongyang is turning a blind eye to the circumstances surrounding itself in connection with the diplomatic normalization talks. North Korea's attitude should be dismissed as an outrageous example of brinkmanship.The government does not need to make quick progress in the normalization talks. There are no signs of the two nations overcoming the current gridlock in the dispute over the kidnapping cases. If there is any lesson to be drawn from the latest revelation about the ashes, it is that Tokyo should closely study what moves Pyongyang makes, first of all, and then decide how it should respond.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	766	2002-11-13	yoshin0020021113dybd005i0
yomshi0020021223dybe000ss	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybe000ss	EN	\N	Antideflationary measures vital.	The nation's gross domestic product grew a real 0.7 percent in the July-September quarter from the previous quarter, which translates into an annualized expansion of 3 percent.	16	2002-11-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It marked the third consecutive quarterly rise since the January-March period. However, the business prospects for the October-December quarter and afterward are far from rosy.This is because of fears that the economy could sink into a double-dip recession due to the clouds hanging over the U.S. economy and rising deflationary pressures that will accompany the accelerated disposal of nonperforming loans.Reflecting worries over the economy, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell to a new postbubble low of 8,438.52. In this situation, we believe it is essential to compile a sizable supplementary budget as soon as possible and implement more effective monetary policies.The increase in private sector inventory was one of the causes of the GDP growth in the third quarter. Cuts in inventory were reduced following a round of inventory adjustment, boosting nominal GDP.Strong personal consumption also helped grow the economy. However, we should not overlook certain favorable factors. Hot weather in the July-September quarter pushed up beverage consumption, and leisure-related expenses grew thanks to back-to-back holidays in September.Fall in exports, investment worryingOn the other hand, the decline in exports, which have been a driving force of the nation's economic growth, is a major concern. Following the U.S. economic slowdown, demand for information technology-related products has fallen.Capital investment also declined for the first time in two quarters. It is possible that the recovery trend in the economy will stall before full-scale growth can get under way.With housing starts and public works projects remaining sluggish, the economy appears to have entered a new phase.The sense of uncertainty about this country's economic outlook is bound to intensify. In the United States, which had been expected to lead the Japanese economy out of the doldrums, growth in both consumption and investment is slowing down. In the event that the United States launches an attack against Iraq and the war is prolonged, the twin U.S. deficits in budget and trade certainly will expand due to increases in the price of crude oil and the cost of prosecuting the war, which might eventually push long-term interest rates up and depress stock prices.Govt should compile extra budgetMeanwhile, the government will soon launch a new program designed to halve the amount of nonperforming loans held by major commercial banks. The program, however, is expected to raise the unemployment rate and trigger a wave of corporate bankruptcies. Without sufficient antideflationary measures, an economic slowdown will become unavoidable.The government and the Bank of Japan should immediately take necessary steps so that the recovery of the economy, which was declared to have bottomed out early this year, is not short-lived.We urge the government to announce the compilation of a supplementary budget with the aim of easing deflationary pressures.In doing so, the government should exercise wisdom, not only by putting safety-net measures in place, but also by increasing the size of tax cuts and advancing the implementation of projects in four government-specified fields, including reviving urban areas and protecting the environment, which are scheduled to be appropriated in the fiscal 2003 budget.At the same time, the Bank of Japan should not hesitate to purchase foreign government bonds and introduce inflation-targeting.What is needed now is for the government to come up with a bold policy that will prevent the economy from sinking into a double-dip recession and avoid disappointing the market further.The fact that GDP has grown does not mean the government can afford to drop its guard.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	660	2002-11-14	yoshin0020021114dybe005s1
yomshi0020021115dybf00004	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021115dybf00004	EN	\N	Maintain global pressure on Iraq.	With the United States issuing harsh warnings, Iraq is believed to have come to the conclusion that it had no choice but to accept the resolution or face an attack by U.S.-led forces.	10	2002-11-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, this only marks the first step. Iraq must now fully cooperate with U.N. arms inspections.Under the resolution, Iraq is obliged to issue a complete and accurate declaration of all aspects of its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction to U.N. inspectors by Dec. 8.In response to Iraq's acceptance of the resolution, an advance U.N. team will arrive in Baghdad on Monday.If everything proceeds smoothly, weapons inspectors will have resumed their work by Dec. 23. They are required to issue a report to the U.N. Security Council by Feb. 21.In the event that Iraq's declaration on its programs to develop or deliver weapons of mass destruction turns out to be false or incomplete, or in case it refuses to comply with the resolution during the inspection period, the UNSC will be informed of a "further material breach of Iraq's obligations."Baghdad must convince inspectorsIraq's failure to carry out the terms of the resolution would give the UNSC a good reason to allow the United States to take military action.In a letter of acceptance to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Iraq stressed that the inspectors would find that it had not developed weapons of mass destruction since the suspension of U.N. arms inspections in 1998.With this statement, Baghdad now must convince the inspectors by cooperating with them unconditionally and fully.Iraq must fully realize that any violation of the resolution would be an act of folly that would lead to war.In past inspections, Iraq repeatedly deceived and obstructed arms experts. The four years since arms inspections were suspended in 1998 has been long enough for Iraq to conceal weapons and fabricate documents. Therefore, the inspectors must conduct thorough inspections promptly to uncover any such misconduct.Helicopters, airplanes and land vehicles will be essential to move around a territory 1.2 times the size of Japan and observe the terrain from the air. It will also be important to make use of satellite photographs.Quiz scientists outside countryThe inspections will be more effective if Iraqi scientists and high-ranking government officials, who are believed to have confidential information, are questioned outside Iraq, where Saddam's influence does not reach.In this respect, it is essential for the international community to support the inspectors' activities.The inspectors will have to complete a number of tasks.Iraq has admitted that it produced 3.9 tons of VX nerve gas but claims it has disposed of 1.5 tons. It also says if has destroyed a massive amount of biological substances, such as anthrax, and warheads filled with such bioweapons. However, neither of these claims has been verified. Above all, its suspected nuclear weapons development program has yet to be clarified.The international community is in common agreement that Iraq must disarm by disposing of all weapons of mass destruction.Iraq's fellow Arab nations, at an emergency meeting of foreign ministers, pressed Baghdad to accept the resolution.A unified front must be maintained to stop the proliferation of these horrific weapons.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	595	2002-11-15	yoshin0020021115dybf003xn
yomshi0020021118dybg000bl	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021118dybg000bl	EN	\N	Warning to Pyongyang for real.	This constitutes a stern warning from KEDO to North Korea that it must freeze its nuclear weapons development program, which it has conducted in defiance of international agreements, or face punishment.	16	2002-11-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the 1994 Agreed Framework between North Korea and the United States, KEDO was to build two light-water nuclear power reactors, which cannot easily be converted to produce weapons, in North Korea, in exchange for Pyongyang's halting its graphite-moderated reactor program.Under the accord, the United States was to supply 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to North Korea every year until the completion of the first light-water reactor.By stating that it would stop delivering heavy fuel oil, KEDO is prodding Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear development program.The nuclear weapons development program poses a great threat not only to Japan, but also to all East Asia and the international community.Penalties only naturalIt is only natural for North Korea to be penalized if it continues to violate international accords.North Korea needs to take the KEDO warning seriously. It should suspend its nuclear weapons program and accept international inspection teams unconditionally and immediately.The leaders who gathered at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit also adopted a special statement, urging Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons program.North Korea has to recognize the unified opinion of the international community.The KEDO statement also hints at the possibility that it might scrap the light-water reactor construction project, unless North Korea abandons its nuclear arms program.While Japan and South Korea were initially cautious about suspending heavy fuel oil deliveries, the United States took a hard line, saying a fuel oil delivery freeze was unavoidable. The United States said it would stop deliveries as of November, in a show of its determination to force Pyongyang to suspend its nuclear arms program.That Japan, the United States and South Korea have gotten in step with each other in taking a tough line on Pyongyang's nuclear program is significant.The ball is now in North Korea's court.North Korea needs to show with concrete actions that it is dismantling its nuclear arms program.Other WMD development at issueBesides the nuclear arms program, the issue of Pyongyang's development of biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction has emerged.A South Korea defense white paper pointed out that North Korea has eight chemical weapons plants and possesses 2,500 to 5,000 tons of such weapons, and is also capable of producing biological weapons.The Japanese government has to include not only the nuclear weapons program, but also the chemical and biological weapons program on the agenda of Japan-North Korea normalization talks and bilateral security talks, and strongly urge Pyongyang to abandon such programs.The government needs to form a clear view of how Pyongyang will act regarding how to proceed with normalization talks. While North Korea has indicated its intention of linking the nuclear arms issue to that of the Japanese abducted by North Korea and their families, the government should be steadfast, rather than hasty, in dealing with these matters.It is also important for Japan to be fully prepared for armed threats from North Korea. The state's responsibility is to reinforce its national security system, to defend itself from ballistic missiles and to respond to weapons of mass destruction. It also must improve legislation related to contingencies such as armed attacks by foreign powers.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	625	2002-11-16	yoshin0020021116dybg000dh
yomshi0020021223dybh000te	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybh000te	EN	\N	Foreign Ministry unprincipled.	The ministry Thursday decided not to issue a visa for Lee, who had applied in the hope of giving a speech at a meeting organized by a students' group of Keio University. Lee has reportedly given up making a visit to Japan this time.	8	2002-11-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As to the reason for not granting the visa, the ministry said, "It would be difficult to see the visit as a private one by a private person."Lee, who stepped down from public office when he retired as president in May 2000, is a private person. Considering the fact that he is not a criminal and has no problem whatsoever in terms of domestic laws, including the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law, the ministry should have proceeded routinely with the issuance of a visa to a private person.Other countries accepted LeeBritain accepted a visit by Lee shortly after he retired as president, Czechoslovakia approved Lee's entry to attend an international conference there in October 2000 and the United States last year issued a five-year multiple-entry visa to Lee.The issuance of visas is related to Japan's sovereignty. On what grounds did the Foreign Ministry judge Lee's visit as not a private visit to Japan this time?It is only natural for legislators both in the ruling and opposition camps to say they could not accept what the ministry said in refusing a visa for Lee.The ministry has a "criminal record" of having attempted to refuse a visa for Lee when he applied to visit for a medical checkup last April, by lying that "there was no record of a visa application" despite the fact that the application had indeed been made.China has adamantly and consistently opposed Lee's visiting Japan, as it considers Lee a supporter of pro-independence forces in Taiwan.The ministry's previous unprincipled behavior stemmed from excessive consideration for China taken by a group of the ministry's bureaucrats specializing in China diplomacy.Unnecessary deferenceDidn't the ministry learn anything from its previous behavior? In the latest instance, the ministry showed unnecessary consideration to China.We have no argument against the importance of Japan-China relations. But this does not mean to say that such bilateral relations can be maintained only if Japan abandons its independence and accepts whatever China says.The stance maintained by those bureaucrats specializing in Japan's diplomacy with China-which has often been criticized as currying favor with China-ends up amplifying anti-China sentiment among Japanese. Such sentiment emerged after the ministry's reaction when Chinese police seized North Korean asylum-seekers from within the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang, China, this summer.We wonder how long the ministry will continue such dishonorable behavior.In the latest incident, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said at a press conference that the government had left Lee's visa application up to the ministry to handle. Yet the Prime Minister's Office should not lack a sense of national sovereignty.The diplomatic stance of Japan is in question. It is up to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to rectify the position of the ministry.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	568	2002-11-17	yoshin0020021118dybh00525
yomshi0020021223dybi000u9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybi000u9	EN	\N	Fiddling while Japan sinks.	The administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must be sternly criticized for stubbornly adhering to his pledge to cap the issuance of new government bonds at 30 trillion yen annually and refusing to implement fiscal measures to improve the economy. The Liberal Democratic Party's Research Commission on the Tax System is no less in error in that it never agreed to a proposal to revise the tax system during the current fiscal year, saying, "Doing so will undermine our own prestige." The government's lack of flexibility in its economic management serves only to worsen the already tattered economy.	8	2002-11-18	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	At long last, the LDP's tax research panel has started discussions concerning what measures should be taken to reform the tax system in fiscal 2003. The powerful commission should look squarely at the ongoing economic crisis.The current deflationary economy is dealing a severe blow to the financial health of the state. A decline in the corporate sector's performance is seriously reducing corporate tax revenues. Gains from income tax are also shrinking due to wage cuts at many corporations. Meanwhile, revenues from the consumption tax have fallen below an earlier estimate largely because of falling domestic prices.The government is expected to face 2.7 trillion yen to 2.8 trillion yen in tax revenue shortfalls during the current fiscal year alone. Koizumi's adherence to the 30 trillion yen limit on bond issuance is aggravating deflation in what could amount to a crushing blow to the government's finances. All this has obviously arisen from Koizumi's misguided economic management.Don't lean on the publicIt is also disturbing that the government plans to implement measures that would force ordinary citizens to shoulder a huge increase in their financial burdens. The estimated increase in this regard would include an increase of 1.5 billion yen in medical bills, including a rise in premiums to be paid under the state-run health insurance system that covers employees at small and midsize companies. An increase of 300 billion yen in premiums to be paid under the unemployment insurance system would also be included.It should be noted that the greater financial burden to be shouldered by the public would not be eased by a planned tax reduction, which in any case is to be followed by a tax increase. The government must take this stark fact to heart as it seeks to devise tax-reform measures.Basic plans drawn up by the government to reform the tax system include a measure to reduce the lowest taxable income for individuals through cuts in special tax exemptions for spouses. Another plan would call for efforts to raise tax revenues by abolishing or scaling back the simplified taxation and tax exemption methods applicable to operators of small and mid-sized corporations under the consumption tax system.The government also hopes to increase the competitiveness of the corporate sector through a reduction in taxes on investments in research and development, and information technology. Other plans include a measure to combat so-called asset deflation by unifying inheritance and gift taxes and lowering their top rates, as well simplifying the securities taxation system. This approach would also involve a cut in real estate transaction taxes.'Neutrality' a poor standardThe government wants to maintain the principle of "neutrality in tax revenues" by ensuring that a tax cut implemented prior to a tax increase would be offset by a growth in revenues due to a tax increase over a span of several years. The government also plans to introduce the so-called pro forma standard corporate tax system, a formula that would entail a tax reduction for highly profitable companies and a tax increase for small and mid-sized corporations.All these plans will be debated by the LDP's Research Commission on the Tax System. However, the panel should realize that there is no point in discussing the principle of "multiple-year neutrality in tax revenues" without taking up issues relating to the consumption tax. The consumption tax should serve as a main pillar of the tax system.Given this, the LDP tax research commission should debate measures to stop providing unnecessarily favorable treatment for small and mid-sized corporations under the consumption tax system.From a long-term perspective, the government may need to reduce the lowest taxable income limit and adopt the pro forma standard corporate tax. However, the current economic circumstances are too unfavorable for the government to implement these plans next fiscal year. The government will not be able to halt a further deterioration in the current deflationary economy if it refuses to carry out an even greater tax cut than initially planned with the aim of offsetting negative effects from growth in the financial burden to be shouldered by members of the public.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 18).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	866	2002-11-18	yoshin0020021118dybi005g6
yomshi0020021223dybj000ua	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybj000ua	EN	\N	Set sail for the Indian Ocean.	On Monday, the government's Security Council of Japan agreed that the SDF's mission would be prolonged for another six months under the Antiterrorism Law. The decision is to be finalized at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and reported to the Diet.	8	2002-11-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	During their antiterrorism mission in the Indian Ocean, Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel have supplied a total of about 230,000 kiloliters of fuel to U.S. and British ships on about 140 occasions.The government's latest decision stipulates that the MSDF will continue to carry out similar activities until May, while also transporting materials to be used in improving and maintaining air stations in Afghanistan.Terrorist menace persistsEfforts to uproot terrorism call for the international community to present a united front against such unlawful violence. Japan has an obligation to play a role in this regard. With this in mind, this country must fulfill its duty to back the ongoing global antiterrorism campaign.It is believed that terrorists still concealing themselves in Afghanistan's border areas could number in the thousands.It is also unknown where most previously Afghan-based terrorist leaders are today. A senior U.S. official has confirmed the authenticity of a new audiotape broadcast by a Qatari television station that attributed its voice to Osama bin Laden, who is believed to have been behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001.In recent weeks, the international community has witnessed a series of major terrorist attacks, including an explosion that set a French oil tanker ablaze off the coast of Yemen.Given the continued tensions, nations around the world need to watch out even more closely for new acts of terror.It is quite disturbing for us to see that the government has decided not to dispatch Aegis-equipped destroyers as part of the MSDF's mission in the Indian Ocean. This follows a similar decision made by the government in adopting a plan to extend the MSDF's mission six months ago. The government's latest decision reflected objections to the dispatch of Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyers by some members of the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, New Komeito.The MSDF's Aegis-equipped destroyers are highly capable of gathering intelligence. They are also outfitted with information network systems whose specifications match those of similar systems used by U.S. warships.Dismiss shaky logic of criticsCritics of the proposed Aegis mission have said that it would amount to an impermissible exercise of collective self-defense if the intelligence collected by the MSDF's Aegis-equipped destroyers was shared by U.S. forces and used by them in launching military attacks. These opponents base their argument on the government's long-held official view that Japan has the right of collective self-defense but that the Constitution bans the nation from exercising it.However, there is no reason to defend this line of reasoning.It should be noted that the Aegis-equipped destroyers are not the only ones equipped with information network systems. In fact, the MSDF ships currently operating in the Indian Ocean are fitted with similar systems.There is nothing new in efforts by Japan and the United States to share military intelligence. Critics should be reminded that the two nations have long sought to step up their intelligence-sharing systems in an effort to improve their abilities to jointly deal with emergencies.The Defense Agency reportedly wants to consider sending Aegis destroyers to ensure the safety of MSDF personnel in the Indian Ocean, citing the need to protect them from possible terrorist attacks on their vessels.In addition, the U.S. administration has unofficially asked Japan to send Aegis-quipped destroyers. Washington's request reflects its desire to see these MSDF destroyers keep watch on the ocean if the U.S. forces leave the area for the Persian Gulf in the event of a U.S. attack on Iraq.The government should not bother with poorly reasoned objections to the Aegis dispatch. A decision should be made to send Aegis-equipped destroyers as soon as possible, after thinking about what would be best for Japan's antiterrorism strategy.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	742	2002-11-19	yoshin0020021119dybj005ig
yomshi0020021120dybk0000d	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021120dybk0000d	EN	\N	Tax panel overlooked deflation.	Now is the time to mobilize every possible policy to arrest deflation, but we regret to say that the commission is still hidebound by traditional ways of thinking.	18	2002-11-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report asserted the principle of maintaining overall tax revenues by implementing tax cuts first but offsetting tax revenue shortfalls from the reductions over subsequent years. Based on this principle, the report says both tax cuts and tax hikes should be incorporated in a bill to reform the taxation system.This could be translated into a policy of implementing specific tax cuts at specific times regardless of economic conditions in the future. In this respect, we regret to say that the plan is stupid because it abandons policy flexibility and reduces or nullifies the beneficial effects that might result from tax cuts.In the next fiscal year, the government must concentrate on taking bold tax-reduction measures. Tax burdens should be increased only for small businesses that receive favorable treatment in the so-called simplified taxation system for the payment of consumption tax and for businesses that are not required to hand over consumption tax paid to them from consumers. But other tax-hike measures should be removed from the bill.Past failures in connection with the taxation system reform are still fresh in our memory.Reform approaches shortsightedIn the tax system reform in fiscal 1997, the administration of then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto hiked the consumption tax rate from 3 percent to 5 percent in line with the reform program passed by the Diet in November 1994 and abolished special income tax cuts. It was a significant tax increase at a time when the global economy began slowing down, with Asia suffering worst.This tax hike ruined the economic recovery. Consequently, brokerage firms and banks, including Yamaichi Securities Co. and Hokkaido Takushoku Bank, collapsed one after another in autumn of that year.When cutting taxes, the government seems unable to abandon its wrongheaded practice of taking ad hoc steps.For example, in the case of measures to revitalize the private sector, the commission focused on tax reductions aimed at boosting corporate research and development as well as capital investment. However, it shelved a plan to lower the corporate tax rate to reduce the size of tax cuts.Govt should help out investorsTo break the mood of stagnation, businesses need to be more active. In this regard, corporate tax cuts will certainly motivate the private sector, which will be the driving force for an economic recovery in the country.Concerning the security taxation system, the commission proposed simplifying preferential measures for tax levies on capital gains and consolidating income from dividends and investment trusts.If these changes are made, it will be difficult to stabilize the stock market by shifting individual financial assets from savings to investment. We urge the government to make it possible to offset losses in stock transactions and dividends and examine the introduction of a new preferential taxation system under which tax rates on capital gains, which are assessed separately, would be lowered.Concerning inheritance and gift taxes, the commission proposed lowering the maximum tax rate of 70 percent and introducing a new system designed to reduce the burdens of the gift tax when assets are donated by elderly parents to their children while the donors are still alive by consolidating inheritance and gift taxes.However, at the same time, the commission called for lowering the threshold of the inheritance tax, including cuts in basic exemptions. If the inheritance tax exemption of 10 million yen per person is drastically reduced, asset donations will lose their advantages, and their economic stimulus effects will be lost. The government must not step on the accelerator and brake at the same time.With the submission of the commission's report, the focus will now move to discussions by the Liberal Democratic Party's Tax System Research Commission. Policymakers are tasked with the mission of building a taxation system that can arrest deflation.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 20).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	696	2002-11-20	yoshin0020021120dybk003mt
yomshi0020021121dybl0000a	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021121dybl0000a	EN	\N	N-plant checks need overhaul.	More nuclear reactors are expected to be temporarily shut down in the future. Considering that winter will bring increased demand for electricity, this is an extraordinary situation.	16	2002-11-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The series of irregularities uncovered at the plants can be linked to the authorities' failure to revise existing inspection criteria. The criteria are flawed because they fail to take into account important technical factors concerning the operation of the plants. The Diet currently is debating bills to revise the inspection standards.We urge lawmakers to enact the bills as soon as possible so that the inspection criteria can be revised and this extraordinary situation normalized.Two bills currently are being debated in the Diet, including a bill to revise the Electricity Utilities Industry Law. The bills are designed to clarify rules on voluntary inspections by nuclear power operators and to introduce a new system that will allow nuclear plants with minor defects to continue to operate under close observation as long as the defects do not compromise the plants' safety.The bills also are intended to strengthen punitive clauses concerning malicious violations of laws and ordinances and to pave the way for the establishment of an independent administrative institution to make up for a shortage of inspectors at the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.We believe these efforts are a good first step toward making inspections of nuclear plants in this country conform to global standards.N-plants should resume operationsSome opposition parties are strongly opposed to the introduction of a new system that would allow the operation of nuclear plants with minor defects. However, the system already has been introduced in many countries, including the United States. Those opposed to the plan should be aware of the irrationality of expecting nuclear plants in operation to remain in mint condition indefinitely.At the same time, lawmakers should remember that the expected revision to the law will only be a makeshift measure to improve the existing inspection system. The United States and European countries already have a sensible inspection system based on the so-called risk assessment method.The system adopted by the Western countries is designed to encourage electric power companies to take creative measures by reducing inspection burdens when their efforts to enhance safety are acknowledged by the state. We regret to say, however, that the existing system in Japan is nowhere near as flexible.From mid-and long-term perspectives, issues including what would constitute an ideal regulatory system for the nuclear industry and improvement of the inspection system are tasks that need to be examined closely.But from a short-term perspective, nuclear plants that have been shut down should resume operations as soon as possible.Electricity shortage must be avoidedTEPCO and others concerned voluntarily decided to shut down some reactors and are conducting inspections of their defects despite an assessment by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency that there was no need to close the reactors down.The agency and the Nuclear Safety Commission are planning to reevaluate the safety of these reactors from a technical standpoint and to issue advice concerning the resumption of their operations.In the end, it is up to local governments to decide whether to permit the shut-down nuclear plants to resume operations. When it comes to making that decision, we urge them to think calmly, placing top priority on guaranteeing safety.Meanwhile, to restore the public trust, electric power companies should urgently review their inspection systems and abandon their corrupt habit of flouting rules.But keeping nuclear plants shut down as a "punitive measure" is unconnected with efforts to enhance their safety. Every effort should be made to avoid an electricity shortage, which could hit the country if the existing problem continues to be addressed in an inappropriate manner.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	676	2002-11-21	yoshin0020021121dybl003at
yomshi0020021223dybm000vn	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybm000vn	EN	\N	Koizumi's folly strikes again.	We cannot help but think so when we look at the planned supplementary budget, whose outline was finalized on Thursday. We see no hint of an administration attempt to lift the nation's economy out of its deflationary trend.	10	2002-11-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A possible rejuvenation of the national economy will only be delayed yet again.The compilation of the latest supplementary budget is said to be primarily designed for the central government to deal with the expected drop-totaling 2.8 trillion yen-in fiscal 2002 tax revenues.Yet the tax revenue drop is undoubtedly the result of the mismanagement of the Koizumi Cabinet, which has failed to come up with any effective measures to deal with the accelerating deflationary trend.In compiling fiscal 2001's two supplementary budgets, designed to tackle the worsening job market, Koizumi adhered to his official pledge of limiting that fiscal year's new issuance of government bonds to 30 trillion yen. Therefore, government spending was restrained, resulting in inadequate antideflation measures.Fiscal 2001 tax revenues ended up falling short of even the revised projection the government made after both supplementary budgets had been compiled. The shortfall, due mostly to plunges in corporate tax revenue, was more than 1.6 trillion yen.Tax revenue shortages, stemming from the administration's misreading of economic trends and its economic mismanagement, have been occurring since fiscal 2001.Vicious circleThe Japanese economy has fallen into a vicious circle of a progressive deflationary trend, deteriorating business performance, deepening unemployment and declining tax revenues.Unless these trends are faced squarely, the nation's economy may sink.In this respect, the administration failed to shake off conventional wisdom when it compiled the latest supplementary budget. Unless the administration puts top priority on a strong deflation-busting stance, the compilation of an supplementary budget will be meaningless at this time.The government does need to take measures to improve the employment situation and provide generous support to small and midsize businesses to strengthen the safety nets for protection against the ill effects of accelerated disposal of banks' bad loans. Yet these measures alone would be only makeshift steps taken in hindsight.At this critical stage, when stock prices are hovering at a low level and the job market is deteriorating, it is more important for the government to focus on the intensive implementation of projects leading to an immediate expansion of job opportunities. Therefore, a supplementary budget made now needs to effectively pave the way for the economy to pull itself out of the deflationary trend.Although the latest supplementary budget earmarks 1.5 trillion yen for public works, it is not powerful enough as a pump-priming measure. The central government is assuming that the overall amount of public works will expand, in that it is asking local governments to implement projects. Yet, how far the local governments, with their own deteriorating fiscal situations, can follow the central government line is questionable.15-month budgetThe supplementary budget will, in effect, create a so-called 15-month budget, in which this fiscal year's supplementary budget will combine as a package with next fiscal year's regular budget to be implemented in a continuous manner over that period.The fiscal 2003 budget will probably provide for more spending in four specific areas, in line with the structural reforms advocated by Koizumi, including urban renewal and the environment.The administration, for instance, may go so far as to compile a supplementary budget that advances the implementation of such spending. In doing so, the administration must call on all of its wisdom and ingenuity.With a supplementary budget that contains only makeshift measures, we can hardly expect the nation's economy to find its way out of its current plight.Koizumi must clearly display a firm determination to lift the economy out of its deflationary phase.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	663	2002-11-22	yoshin0020021122dybm004di
yomshi0020021223dybn000xq	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybn000xq	EN	\N	Nagatacho's wayward classroom.	With only three weeks to go, the extraordinary Diet session has passed its midpoint. Yet discussion of economic issues, this session's main focus, remains flat. Meanwhile, there have been no prospects for the passage of key bills, including the one concerning the government response to contingencies such as an armed attack by a foreign power.	16	2002-11-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The various committees in both houses are showing so many vacancies that one legislator remarked, with a touch of self-derision, "It's just like an out-of-whack classroom." The legislator was putting the Diet on a par with the sort of malfunctioning classroom with its students either absent or loitering around and disrupting class.Indeed, the Diet seems to be off track. All parties and Diet members need to face up to the Diet's sorry state and gird themselves for a battle of words-the very duty they are charged with.The government and ruling coalition parties initially saw this extraordinary Diet session as a forum for economic issues. It is also the public's wish to see legislators engage in lively debate to come up with measures to boost the nation out of its deflationary crisis.Public disappointedThe Diet can be said to have failed to meet public expectations. The main culprits are Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his administration, which is failing to take the severe economic situation seriously enough.The first step to helping the nation emerge from its deflationary trend should have been the submission of a supplementary budget containing effective stimulus measures to the ongoing Diet session. Yet Koizumi decided to put off discussion of the supplementary budget to the next regular Diet session.The absence of such a major agenda item as a supplementary budget has kept the debate between the government and the ruling and opposition camps dull.On the other hand, no issue other than economic ones has sparked lively discussion so far.Little or no progress has been made in Diet discussions on the contingencies bill and one concerning the protection of private information, whose passage during this session had been previously agreed on by the leaders of the three ruling parties.Truant lawmakersWhile the ruling parties have used the excuse of "economic issues first" to show little enthusiasm for the bills' passage, the opposition parties are overly swayed by party interests. Given the situation, they cannot avoid a lambasting for having shirked their responsibilities.Conspicuous in the dull exchanges characterizing this session are each party's committee directors, who appear to be scurrying about the corridors of the Diet these days as they desperately try to fill the vacant seats on Diet committees.Those in charge of Diet affairs for both ruling and opposition parties are often seen calling on their parties' legislators to attend committee meeting, at such venues as Diet members council meetings.At a meeting of a Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) members council, one lawmaker even quipped in a fit of self-criticism: "The ruling parties have become corrupt because the No. 1 opposition party, Minshuto, is so slovenly."Some time is still left before the end of the Diet session. If both the ruling and opposition parties want to get the key bills passed into law, they have ample chance to do so. Both camps need to engage in a vigorous exchange of views to get these bills passed through the Diet.Question Time also has been subjected to criticism for becoming formulaic. The forum in which the prime minister debates with opposition party leaders was introduced to juice up Diet discussions. The form that the forum should take needs to be reviewed.It is the Diet's duty to snap out of its stupor and make the best use of the time remaining in its current session.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	669	2002-11-23	yoshin0020021125dybn006zu
yomshi0020021125dybo0005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021125dybo0005p	EN	\N	Debate how to fund pensions.	Take the national pension scheme for example. According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, a record 29 percent of people who should pay premiums for the system, which covers the self-employed and adult college students, did not pay their premiums in fiscal 2001. This was particularly evident among young citizens.	8	2002-11-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	If this situation goes unchecked, the government will find it difficult to maintain the system, which requires all adult citizens to join it. Admittedly, the increase in the ratio of people who do not pay premiums reflects, in part, the ongoing recession. However, the current situation should be seen primarily as a result of the public's growing distrust in the government-run pension schemes.The nation's pension systems are often likened to a road mirage. For years, subscribers to the systems have often had to accept an increase in their financial burden to keep the systems intact. Still, the government is seeking to gradually move back the age of eligibility for pensions.Future burden uncertainSubscribers are also uncertain how great their future financial burden will be. They are no less unclear about the amount of their pension benefits. The widespread concern about the system's future has left consumers more hesitant to spend, undermining efforts to improve the economy.The government has every reason to take all possible measures to ensure that all subscribers pay their dues, including forcible collection of premiums. To dispel deepening distrust and concerns about the pension scheme, however, the government must transform the systems into sustainable ones whose mechanisms are easier for everyone to comprehend.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will soon disclose basic plans for its pension-reform efforts, as well as pertinent issues to be debated. By doing so, it hopes to stimulate national debate about how to reform the pension systems.Given the sharp decline in the birthrate associated with the rapid graying of the population, we find it inevitable for the government to increase pension premiums and curb benefits to a certain degree. Still, the government must realize that it will arouse greater public distrust in the pension system if it continues, as in the past, to raise premiums and reduce benefits.The government should present basic reform plans that are easy for the public to understand. With this in mind, it is advisable to consider adopting a formula that would set an upper limit on premiums and automatically adjust pension benefits in line with the aging of the population and the economic condition.All this must be complemented by efforts by politicians to fulfill their responsibility in this regard.Govt contribution to increaseUnder a law adopted to reform the system, the government will raise, by the end of 2004, its share of contributions to the basic pension scheme from one-third to one-half.An increase in government contributions to the basic pension plan, which covers all subscribers of the government-run pension systems, would curb premiums and stabilize pension finances.However, there has been no progress in discussions about how to come up with enough financial resources to operate the pension systems.It is obvious to anyone that the consumption tax is the only means of raising funds needed to increase the government's share of contributions to the pension plans' coffers. Although its immediate task is to overcome the ongoing deflationary crisis, the government should never be allowed to consider it a taboo to discuss how to raise funds for increasing the government's share of contributions to pension finances.Now is the time for the government to seriously debate the pros and cons of a proposal to raise the consumption tax rate as a step toward transforming the tax into one for exclusive use for social welfare programs. Lawmakers should know that, if they neglect to fulfill their obligations in this regard, widespread concern about the pension systems' future will never end.Both the ruling and opposition parties have agreed to expand the share of public contributions to the pension coffers. They should be criticized for their irresponsible attitude as long as they refuse to clearly state how to come up with funds to that end.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	765	2002-11-24	yoshin0020021125dybo007e2
yomshi0020021223dybp000y5	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybp000y5	EN	\N	Fighting terror begins at home.	The bill had sailed through the U.S. House of Representatives, and last week the Senate passed it by majority vote as a major pillar of the Bush administration's antiterrorism fight. Once Bush signs off on the law, it will come into effect in January, creating a gigantic department with 170,000 employees and an annual budget of 35.5 billion dollars.	8	2002-11-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	U.S. public the spur for home defenseThe enactment comes less than six months after Bush proposed the antiterrorism department in June. The speed at which the White House and Congress created the law was a response to growing calls among the U.S. public for efforts by the Bush administration to ensure national security first and foremost in the wake of last year's Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.A chief aim of the proposed Homeland Security Department is to take precautions against possible acts of terrorism. In the event of a terrorist attack, the department would work to minimize damage and restore disruptions, including those to public services, as soon as possible.The new legislation will fold into the planned department 22 antiterrorism-related federal agencies whose main functions range from border patrol, transport, intelligence analysis, infrastructure protection, the fight against terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction and emergency relief. By integrating all or parts of the agencies into the ministerial-level department, the U.S. administration will seek to efficiently implement antiterrorism measures.The Homeland Security Department's main components will include parts of the Secret Service, customs services provided by the Treasury Department, immigration and naturalization services performed by the Justice Department, coast guard services provided by the Transport Department and post-disaster restoration work under the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The new organization will also incorporate some parts of the Energy Department and Pentagon.The planned administrative reorganization will be the largest of its kind since the days of U.S. President Harry Truman's Democratic administration, which founded the Defense Department and Central Intelligence Agency at the dawn of the Cold War under the National Security Act of 1947.Ironically, such a huge government body as the Homeland Security Department will be created under a Republican president who advocates less government regulation. In effect, the widespread fears aroused by the terrorist attacks have caused the U.S. president to ditch his Republican philosophy.The question is whether the Homeland Security Department will be able to perform its roles as efficiently and effectively as anticipated. To address such concerns, the Bush administration must ensure that officials at the new department do not engage in bureaucratic turf battles and that they keep the lines of communication among them open. The Homeland Security Department will come to naught if it is reduced to a hodgepodge of federal bureaus.This principle applies, for example, to the new department's role in analyzing the intelligence it gathers. The CIA and Federal Bureau of Investigation should share classified information with the new department and cooperate closely with it in collecting and analyzing that intelligence. These agencies should remember that they failed to make the best use of fragmentary information to prevent last year's terrorist attacks.Our turn to get with the agendaJapan should follow the example set by the U.S. administration's quick action in taking measures to set up an antiterrorism body. This country has had to learn many bitter lessons-a lack of preparation meant the government failed to deal properly with the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the deadly sarin gas attack on Tokyo's subway system and the appearance of North Korean spy ships in waters around Japan.In fact, when we look at recent efforts to facilitate communication and apportion official functions between the national and local governments, and among the police, Self-Defense Forces and Japan Coast Guard, we can see that we are still far from adequately prepared.In the age of globalization, the task of fighting terrorism involves all nations around the world. To further promote the global campaign against terrorism, the government should reexamine and improve its antiterrorism measures.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	730	2002-11-25	yoshin0020021125dybp007rn
yomshi0020021126dybq00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021126dybq00007	EN	\N	Give banks better tax breaks.	On Monday, major banks and banking groups released their earnings reports for the first half of fiscal 2002.	8	2002-11-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Many groups trying to write off nonperforming loans with greater speed increased their loss projections resulting from bad loan disposals for the current business year ending March 2003.The move can be seen as efforts to implement the government's financial revitalization program. Yet, the specifics of the plan are still to be determined, as are the criteria by which bank assets will be assessed. Many expect losses from bad loan disposals to increase drastically, leading to an inevitable downward revision of banks' business performance.In the second half of fiscal 2002 starting Oct. 1, bank management entered an even more difficult phase. In the current climate, major banks will surely be forced into desperate measures to ensure their survival, including drastic restructuring.In their midterm earnings reports, major banking groups revised initial loss projections resulting from bad loan disposal-Mizuho Holdings Inc. by 430 billion yen, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. by 200 billion yen and Resona Holdings Inc. by 70 billion yen.These increases can be put down to moves by the banks to increase their loan-loss reserves in preparation for measures that were written into a financial revival program by Heizo Takenaka, state minister in charge of financial, economic and fiscal policy.U.S. model bad news for banksThe nuts and bolts of the program probably will be decided at the end of the month, with the Financial Services Agency gearing up to conduct special inspections of banks early next year.The Takenaka program likely will introduce a discount cash flow system based on the U.S. model, under which loan values are calculated based on projections of how profitable a borrower is likely to be in the future. If this U.S.-style system is adopted, major banks will be forced to drastically increase their loan-loss reserves.Meantime, speculation that some major banks may find themselves with capital shortfalls and then nationalized is driving investors to dump the banks' shares. Recently, stock prices of some banks tumbled to below the psychologically important 100,000 yen level. This fall equates, in pre-Commercial Code revision terms-when shares had a face value of 50 yen and market values far higher-to a drop in market value to below 100 yen.This is an extraordinary situation, and the second half of the fiscal year will be extremely tough for major banks.We believe they must do what they can on their own to avoid an injection of public funds by streamlining their business and increasing their capital.All hands must pitch inWe also advise major banks' business partners to offer assistance-after all, if their main banks become unable to deal internationally, the business partners will also suffer.An example to keep in mind is that of the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, which was propped up with a massive injection of taxpayers' money and eventually sold to a foreign fund for a pittance.The government should not drive banks into the corner for no good reason, but instead take urgent measures such as providing a favorable tax climate. In particular, if the government plans to introduce a U.S.-style asset assessment method, it must balance this with a U.S.-style taxation system designed to cope with bad loan disposals.Under the U.S. taxation system, loan-loss reserves are automatically listed as losses, making them exempt from taxes. Moreover, U.S. banks that posted losses were allowed to claim a refund on corporate taxes for up to 10 years.We urge the government to create a favorable tax regime that contributes to improving the business condition of banks.As long as the government continues produce policies that seem aimed solely at the injection of public funds, banks may actually be discouraged from doing all they can to return to health.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	682	2002-11-26	yoshin0020021126dybq006ll
yomshi0020021127dybr0005s	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021127dybr0005s	EN	\N	Baghdad must toe the line.	Based on the U.N. Security Council resolution adopted on Nov. 8, U.N. weapons inspections in the country will resume Wednesday for the first time in four years. A group of 17 weapons inspectors, the first to enter Iraq since inspections ceased in 1998, already has arrived in Baghdad. About 100 inspectors will be in the country by Christmas.	8	2002-11-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein must now fully cooperate with U.N. inspectors and completely fulfill its obligations to rid itself of all weapons of mass destruction.The resolution, which instructs Baghdad to allow the inspectors to examine every corner of the country, was adopted at the Security Council unanimously. Subsequently, a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit meeting and a U.S.-Russia summit meeting issued statements urging Iraq to accept the resolution unconditionally.Iraq must not underestimate the general consensus of the international community.Declaration deadline loomsMany countries suspect that Iraq has engaged in the development of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons during the last four years, when arms inspections in the country were suspended.In response to such allegations, the Iraqi government has insisted that it does not possess any weapons of mass destruction, saying it has already destroyed all of them. If so, it must provide convincing documentary or other evidence to back up its claim.The Security Council resolution obliges Iraq to give the Security Council an "accurate, full and complete" declaration of all aspects of its nuclear, biological and chemical weapons development programs. Such information must cover the sites of weapons stockpiles Iraq possesses and related materials and devices, the status of its weapons research, development and production programs and the locations of its research facilities.The declaration is due on Dec. 8. The resolution says that any false statements or omissions in the declaration would constitute a "further material breach of Iraq's obligations" and would be reported to the council for assessment.Iraq's stance toward the inspections will be put under the spotlight.No more room for maneuverThe U.N. resolution gives inspectors the right to go anywhere at anytime, unconditionally, including presidential palaces to which Iraq previously had refused the entry of inspectors. It also made possible inspections without advance notice.Inspectors have brought into the country high-tech devices, such as special radars that can detect underground weapons-related sites and precision sensors capable of detecting minute amounts of radiation.Any failure by Iraq to comply and cooperate fully with the inspectors will be reported to the Security Council immediately. If the inspections proceed smoothly, the inspectors are expected to submit a final report by the end of January.Each time it receives a report from the inspectors, the Security Council will debate what, if any, action to take. Iraq must keep in mind that the Security Council has the option of approving military action against the country if fails to act in good faith.Before the inspections were suspended in 1998, Iraq repeatedly concealed evidence and made various excuses. However, Baghdad must be fully aware that such maneuvers will no longer work.The Iraqi government has claimed that the inspections are aimed at creating an excuse to launch a military attack against Iraq. But it is Iraq itself that has made the situation as bad as it is today through its repeated deceptions and stonewalling. Iraq has no option other than to cooperate with the U.N. inspections.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	603	2002-11-27	yoshin0020021127dybr003o7
yomshi0020021223dybs000yx	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybs000yx	EN	\N	Talks with Pyongyang can wait.	Hitoshi Tanaka, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, held unofficial talks on the issue with a North Korean official concerned in Dalian, China, but made no concrete progress. But this does not mean that the government should get rattled.	24	2002-11-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has instructed Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi that the ministry should keep pressuring North Korea to agree to resume the talks.As far as Japan is concerned, there are two primary conditions for a resumption of the talks: Pyongyang must agree that five Japanese who were abducted to North Korea a quarter-century ago and currently are in Japan should remain permanently in this country with their family members now living in North Korea, and Pyongyang must abandon its nuclear weapons development program.The government should deal with North Korea resolutely and stick to these conditions.Normalization talks are unlikely to restart by year-end because North Korea has taken a hard line over Japan's refusal to let the five abductees return to North Korea, a move that Pyongyang described as a "breach of promise" by the Japanese side.Pyongyang up to its same old tricksIt is obvious that Pyongyang is attempting to turn the negotiations to its advantage by using the family members of the returnees living in North Korea as pawns.Japan should not be fooled by North Korea's maneuvering.The House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a bill that would facilitate government measures to support the abductees and members of the abductees' families in North Korea who rejoin them in Japan.The bill clearly states that the abduction cases constituted an "unprecedented criminal act committed by a state."It is glaringly obvious that North Korea is wholly in the wrong and should back down.The abductees have expressed their intention to remain in Japan. Their relatives in Japan have vowed "to make no concession."The government should do its utmost to enable the abductees' family members, including their children, to come to Japan by taking into account the wishes of the abductees and their relatives in this country.Punitive steps may be necessaryMeanwhile, some within the government reportedly have refloated the idea of Japan's extending rice aid to North Korea. Such assistance, they say, would help break the stalemate in the normalization talks.In recent years, the government has extended a total of 1.18 million tons of rice to North Korea. For all such assistance, no progress was made toward settlement of the abduction issues.The government should not repeat such folly.In the bilateral talks between Japan and North Korea, the government should keep focusing on Pyongyang's nuclear arms program.North Korea recently admitted that it had secretly maintained its nuclear arms program, using enriched uranium, in violation of international accords, including the 1994 Agreed Framework with the United States.The international community repeatedly has called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear arms program. Within the U.S. administration, hard-line voices have called not only for suspending supplies of heavy fuel oil to North Korea, but also reviewing the ongoing project to construct light-water reactors in North Korea, both agreed on under the 1994 accord.Japan, in cooperation with the United States, needs to forge an iron will within the international community to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Japan also should seek the cooperation of South Korea, China and Russia in this regard.As long as North Korea refuses to heed calls for it to abandon its nuclear arms program, it may become necessary to study the possibility of taking punitive measures against North Korea.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	647	2002-11-28	yoshin0020021129dybs0018y
yomshi0020021129dybt0000e	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021129dybt0000e	EN	\N	Municipal mergers vision needed.	Approximately 40 percent of the nation's 3,200 municipalities have established either statutory councils-created on a legal basis-or voluntary councils-to discuss mergers.	15	2002-11-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The law granting special treatment to consolidated municipalities, under which they receive financial assistance from the central government and other entities, is slated to expire in March 2005. Lurking behind the increase in the number of councils is the law's impending expiration.In reality, however, actually achieving the government and ruling coalition parties' target of reorganizing the nation's cities, towns and villages into about 1,000 municipalities before the law expires is considered quite difficult.Also, many believe a large of number of small towns and villages will turn out to have fragile administrative underpinnings. Should such concerns prove true, the decentralization movement may slow down.We hope municipalities are energetic in tackling this difficult task. Both the central and prefectural governments also need to provide further backing to such municipalities.In-depth discussionAt the same time, in-depth discussion must be held on what measures the central government will take following the law's expiration and on what the future should hold for the envisaged municipalities.For fence-sitting local governments, such discussions will provide important fodder for making their decisions. For small towns and villages whose geography makes mergers difficult, they can serve to dispel anxiety about the future.While ruling out the possibility of an extension of the law, a Liberal Democratic Party panel said in an interim report that towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 should streamline themselves by outsourcing some of their administrative tasks.Officials with the Local Government System Research Council, an advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, are discussing an idea to reorganize cities, towns and villages into what are called "fundamental municipalities" which are, in principle, on a par-both in size and functions-with today's cities.As for towns and villages that cannot be shaped into "fundamental municipalities" and remain small in both size and functions, the research council is considering making exceptions of them by having them become internal organizations within fundamental municipalities or having some of their administrative tasks be taken over by such entities as prefectural governments.While many details still need fine-tuning, the idea is worth serious consideration.'Despotic developments'Meanwhile, the National Association of Towns & Villages oppose such developments as "utter despotism that would only kill off towns and villages."At a recent association meeting, the heads of towns and villages adopted an urgent resolution, opposing forced mergers of municipalities and calling for more tax revenue sources to be transferred from the central government to local bodies.If local governments' critically messy fiscal houses are to be put in order and if diverse administrative needs are to be met, municipalities must be reorganized into ones of a scale large enough to stand on their own. They should not be dependent on the central government.The small municipalities association should not merely oppose the central government's moves. It should also take a more active and constructive part in discussion of the future of local self-governing bodies.Should it call on municipalities to merge, the central government also needs to accelerate the transfer of power and tax revenue sources to local governments.The challenge of creating a decentralized society calls for collaboration between central and local governments.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	593	2002-11-29	yoshin0020021129dybt006vk
yomshi0020021223dybu000zj	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dybu000zj	EN	\N	Terrorism must be eradicated.	Fifteen people, including the three responsible for the crime, were killed in the car bombing that wrecked a Mombasa resort hotel. The latest act of terrorism followed a bomb blast at a nightclub in the tourist resort of Bali, Indonesia, in October.	17	2002-11-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Israelis were the target of the suicide bombing of the Mombasa hotel. Within minutes of the hotel blast, two ground-to-air portable missiles, believed to have been manufactured in the former Soviet Union, were fired at an Israeli jetliner taking off.The missiles narrowly missed the airplane, and the 270 passengers and crew aboard escaped unhurt. The attempt to shoot down a civilian aircraft is reprehensible.Anyone enjoying a peaceful life could have been present at the scene of this terrorist atrocity. The recent four-day siege of a Moscow theater by armed Chechen Muslim guerrillas left more than 100 spectators dead when the attackers were neutralized. More than 180 people died in the Bali blast, including a Japanese married couple.Al-Qaida hand seen in Kenya blastThis shows, once again, that we have a long way to go before terrorism is eradicated.Although it has not yet been determined what criminal organization was responsible for the Mombasa bombing, there is good reason to believe that the attack can be blamed on Al-Qaida, an international terrorist network of Islamic fundamentalists.It is still fresh in our minds that Al-Qaida adherents hijacked jetliners and crashed them into targets in New York and near Washington on Sept. 11 last year, killing about 3,000 people. Four years ago, Al-Qaida suicide truck bombers blew up the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, leaving more than 200 people dead. The methods used in those attacks closely resemble that of the Mombasa bombing.In Afghanistan, members of Al-Qaida are still active despite efforts by U.S. and British forces to uproot them.If Al-Qaida's involvement in the Mombasa bombing is proved, it means that the terrorist network has placed Israel higher on its list of targets because of the Palestinian situation.Israel high on list of targetsOsama bin Laden, leader of the Al-Qaida network, appears to be alive. The recent broadcast by a Qatar television station of a tape recording purported to be from bin Laden, represented a strong warning to the United States and its allies that Al-Qaida was prepared to continue its terrorist attacks. The U.S. allies mentioned in the recording included Israel.The taped message may have been an attempt to drive a wedge into the war on terrorism by arousing greater anti-Israeli resentment among Arab and other Islamic nations.The United States is keeping a close eye on African nations bordering the Indian Ocean, including Kenya, Somalia and Yemen. These nations have long provided a foothold for Muslim extremists.Two years ago, a U.S. destroyer in Yemen was the target of a terrorist bombing. In October, a similar attack was carried out on a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen.Terrorists must not be allowed a free hand. The international community must present a stronger united front against terrorists and exterminate these outlaws.Until spring, the government has decided to extend logistic support in the Indian Ocean by the Self-Defense Forces for the U.S.-led antiterrorism campaign. Japan must continue to play an important role in the global campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	611	2002-11-30	yoshin0020021130dybu000eh
yomshi0020021130dyc100005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021130dyc100005	EN	\N	Hatoyama move questionable.	Does Hatoyama really expect to attain a political breakthrough?	8	2002-12-01	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	He is no longer in a position to exert a unifying force within Minshuto in the wake of confusion over the selection of party executives after the largest opposition party's presidential election in September. A group of dissident members of Minshuto embarked on a campaign in October to oust Hatoyama from his post because of the party's debacle in a series of parliamentary by-elections.Indeed, the party has of late been having trouble conducting day-to-day headquarters business, with some members boycotting meetings convened by the leadership.Hatoyama seems to intend to overcome such a stalemate by offering to resign as party leader on one hand and make history by realizing a coalition of opposition parties on the other.Latest move too abruptHis latest move is too abrupt in that he apparently has not had talks about his new political initiative with members of Minshuto, Jiyuto or the SDP to find common ground concerning policies.Obviously, there is nothing wrong with efforts to have opposition parties join forces against the ruling coalition. But we cannot help pointing out that Hatoyama's latest move is very questionable.Hatoyama says that opposition parties have to strengthen their cooperation in elections so as to prevail over the Liberal Democratic Party. However, voters would hardly support an opposition coalition if such an alliance is formed primarily to attempt to lure as many votes as possible. An unequivocal example is the losses among the opposition parties-by Minshuto and Jiyuto in particular-in the recent by-elections in spite of widespread cooperation.The reason for Minshuto's impasse is that it has not won voters' confidence in its ability to run a government. The party is so widely split over the Constitution, national security and other fundamental policy issues that it can hardly be considered a single party.Without mending the split within the party, any move to join forces with Jiyuto and the SDP will only end up creating a casual grouping just for the sake of mutual help in elections. Hatoyama himself admits that the weakness of Minshuto lies in the fact that its house is in disorder. What he is trying to achieve will only deteriorate the environment of the party.Ozawa positive to ideaFor his part, Ichiro Ozawa, who heads Jiyuto, has reacted positively to Hatoyama's move, saying, "I will spare no effort to cooperate (with the Minshuto leader)." Hatoyama is believed to have recommended that Ozawa become leader of a new opposition coalition.In early 1994, Ozawa started a confrontation between the then Shinseito (Japan Renewal Party)-which he headed-and the then Social Democratic Party of Japan as well as New Party Sakigake (Pioneers). The discord among the three parties that had rallied behind then Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa led to the collapse of the coalition government.In December 1997 Shinshinto (New Frontier Party) broke up shortly after Ozawa was reelected leader of the party, which was formed in December 1994 following the dissolution of Shinseito. Ozawa and his followers then formed Jiyuto, but this party was also split later.There is antipathy toward Ozawa for his coercive political methods. This is why there is a growing number of people who expect any hasty move to join forces with Ozawa will result in the breakup of Minshuto.Political doctrines and policies are the lifeline of political parties. Without common doctrines and policies, no groups can be considered political parties. Those who are involved in the latest political maneuvering must remember tgfhe very basics of politics-the very reason for joining forces among opposition parties.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1 ).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2002-12-01	yoshin0020021202dyc10038j
yomshi0020021202dyc200008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021202dyc200008	EN	\N	Ministries need tighter discipline.	According to an audit board report on government bodies settlements of accounts in fiscal 2001, the board discovered about 300 cases of improper bookkeeping-including the squandering of budgetary allocations-amounting to a grand total of 24.3 billion yen.	14	2002-12-02	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The findings show that the inappropriate way in which taxpayers' money was spent has not been rectified at all. The ministries, agencies and organizations that were instructed by the board to take corrective measures or refund their budgetary outlays must reflect seriously on their conduct.Foreign and farm ministries the worstThe worst and most heinous case of fraudulent bookkeeping was the existence of slush funds at the Foreign Ministry.In November last year, the ministry announced that its in-house investigation into a series of irregularities, which included the practice of padding taxi fares, found that slush funds in the ministry had totaled nearly 200 million yen over a period of about six years.Moreover, the Board of Audit discovered that, even before the period subject to the in-house investigation, the ministry had pooled more than 100 million yen in slush funds. So, in fact, the ministry's total slush funds, including the outstanding amount, were found to have stood at about 460 million yen.The board's report shows just how corrupt the Foreign Ministry has been.Responding to the board's findings, the ministry announced a new round of punishments involving 39 officials, some of whom were given stern admonitions.The Board of Audit report added that many international organizations supervised by the Foreign Ministry have repeatedly carried forward budgetary appropriations to following years, despite not using up their expenditures. At blame is a flaw in the way the irregularities within the ministry are checked.The board also touched on the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry's improper expenditures in connection with measures against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.In October last year-shortly after the discovery of the first case of BSE in Japan-the ministry started testing all cows nationwide for BSE while ordering meat processors to put beef processed before the tests began into cold storage. As part of the emergency scheme, the ministry decided to give subsidies worth a combined 8.7 billion yen to the relevant industry organizations as compensation for losses incurred due to the deterioration of beef quality during the mandatory cold storage period.However, when the Board of Audit checked some of the beef in question, it found that more than half of the beef was actually frozen before the outbreak of BSE. The government had failed to conduct the proper checks on whether the beef it was subsidizing actually qualified for the compensation scheme, the board said.Strict voluntary measures urgedIt is quite natural for the government watchdog to demand that expenditures that were improperly used be returned to government coffers. But this is just the first step.In the name of the fight against BSE, the government spent 150 billion yen in fiscal 2001, and earmarked 200 billion yen for use in fiscal 2002. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry must clarify who is to blame for the inappropriate use of taxpayers' money.The common cause of the incidents of fraudulent bookkeeping and improper use of budgetary outlays are in-house inspection procedures at ministries and agencies that are less than comprehensive.The ministries and agencies must endeavor to seriously redress the problems on their own-for example, they should create independent in-house inspection departments that have greater authority. Otherwise, public distrust in the government will only deepen.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	656	2002-12-02	yoshin0020021202dyc2003ks
yomshi0020021203dyc300008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021203dyc300008	EN	\N	Caution needed on law schools.	The judicial reform, which will be the first major reform in half a century, is aimed at drastically boosting the number of Japan's legal professionals.	8	2002-12-03	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The schools intend to increase not just the number of legal experts, but also the quality. Modeled after U.S. law schools, the new schools will produce experts in a wide range of legal fields, from theory to practice, by educating them in small groups.More than 70 universities, mostly major schools in metropolitan areas, have announced plans to open law schools. With the new law now in play, there will be increasingly intense competition among universities to open law schools.However, universities are fighting to survive in a competitive climate in which they must restructure and merge to cope with a drastic decline in student numbers.In addition, the existing bar exam, which is open to anyone, qualified or not, will be used until 2010. Long before it stops being used, a new bar exam open to law school graduates will be offered from 2006.Under the new bar exam system, law schools play the central role in all facets of the exam. This will accelerate competition among universities to set up law schools.Hard to find good helpIn reality, however, it will be almost impossible to find enough lecturers, such as lawyers, judges and prosecutors, who have the right practical skills. Many universities have not even decided on their curriculums or chosen their teaching materials.Fears are mounting that there may be huge numbers of law schools failing to offer courses that will be relevant to today's society.If university officials feel obliged to open law schools no matter what, they will only end up confusing the natural order of things. The first thing they must do is take a good hard look at the way things stand now. Their top priority should then be to improve their content and the way they deliver it.Law departments need visionBut there is another problem. In their rush to set up graduate law schools, universities seem to have given no thought to what direction their law departments will go in the future.Many universities plan to assign professors at existing undergraduate law departments to teach at the envisaged law schools.But if teaching staff are spread too thin within law departments, people will wonder whether the law departments have any reason to exist.Law departments play a central role in liberal arts faculties and serve the important role of educating not only students who have set their sights on the bar exam, but also those wanting a solid legal grounding to help them secure careers in the public and private sectors. The crucial function the departments serve cannot be underemphasized.Not all students want to sit the bar. If the opening of graduate law schools results in declining standards at law departments, the needs of society will not be addressed.We urge universities to unveil their visions of the future of education at their law departments.We believe new law schools are a move in the right direction, but if they simply offer education that has no real relevance, they will find it hard to survive.If, in the current competitive climate, universities lose their way, they will only end up creating trouble for themselves.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	601	2002-12-03	yoshin0020021203dyc30029n
yomshi0020021203dyc40005q	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021203dyc40005q	EN	\N	Another fine mess for Minshuto.	Against this backdrop, Minshuto leader Yukio Hatoyama formally announced that he would resign when the current Diet session ends on Dec. 13. He had no other option.	8	2002-12-04	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Minshuto should work to end the turmoil within the party and do its utmost to start life afresh as a party trusted by the people.Hatoyama was driven to resign primarily because Minshuto members strongly opposed as "too reckless" his idea of merging the party with Jiyuto (Liberal Party).Since shortly after its presidential election in September, in which Hatoyama was elected for a third term, some party members had been calling for Hatoyama to step down to take responsibility for causing disarray within the party over his selection of the party's top executives.Calls for Hatoyama to quit had increased within the party recently, particularly among younger members, partly because Minshuto saw its public approval rating plunge to a record low since its inception.Hatoyama's gambit was ill-conceivedHatoyama may have gambled that he could find a way out of the crisis by putting his presidential post on the line and forging ahead with his vision of forming a new party through a merger with other opposition forces.For a party to unite with another party, however, the merger issue must first be discussed by both sides. It is also essential for the parties to coordinate their policies and stances on key issues.Without such preparatory efforts, it is impossible for party members to achieve a consensus on a merger plan, no matter how hard its leaders may push the issue.Also, Hatoyama's remarks on the creation of a new party and on his ultimate course have been ambiguous, leaving room for doubt over whether they were meant to be taken seriously.The curtain seems to have fallen on the latest "one-man show," with Hatoyama's ability as a party leader found lacking.The word "immature" can be applied to the actions and remarks of Minshuto's younger members, who kept up vociferous calls for Hatoyama's resignation right after the party's presidential election.As long as party members choose their leader in accordance with the party's rules, they should entrust the leader with the task of managing the party while he or she is in office. If they become disenchanted with the leader's ability, they should replace the leader when the next presidential election comes around. This is how a party's rules should be applied.Should party members attempt to force the leader to step down right after the presidential election just because they do not like whom the leader appoints to the party executive, turmoil is bound to be created within the party again and again, no matter who is elected as the party head.Ruling camp has got it too easyThis dismal state of affairs-evident in the largest opposition party-has let the ruling parties grow complacent, depriving the nation's politics of a sense of tension.The doldrums in the political arena is illustrated by the fact that the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has yet to respond to calls voiced by a large number of people for the administration to drastically shift its key policies to bail the nation out of a deflationary spiral.Minshuto should learn lessons from the confusion resulting from Hatoyama's resignation and apply them to building a new party structure.The major challenge Minshuto faces is to harmonize views within the party as quickly as possible on such key policies as ones concerning the Constitution and national security, over which party members are deeply divided.The first step for Minshuto to be reborn will be taken only when the party forms a structure equipped with a strong leadership capable of meeting such a challenge.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	665	2002-12-04	yoshin0020021204dyc4002v7
yomshi0020021204dyc500061	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021204dyc500061	EN	\N	The pacifist 'logic' is fallacious.	In accordance with the Antiterrorism Law, the MSDF has dispatched five vessels, including supply ships and destroyers, to the Indian Ocean to extend logistic support for the U.S.-led antiterrorism campaign.	16	2002-12-05	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The Aegis ship will be dispatched later this month to replace one of the destroyers now in operation in the Indian Ocean.The Aegis ship is a high-tech vessel capable of gathering and analyzing data. It also is capable of detecting terrorist attacks against a fleet of vessels at an early stage.The Defense Agency asserted the need to send an Aegis vessel immediately after the Antiterrorism Law was enacted. Washington also had sought the dispatch of an Aegis ship.From the viewpoint not only of securing the safety of Self-Defense Forces personnel operating in the Indian Ocean, but also to enhance the effectiveness of the support activities for the U.S. forces in operation, there was no reason for the government to hesitate over sending the vessel.New Komeito shirked its responsibilityThe decision to dispatch an Aegis vessel came so late because of strong opposition from New Komeito, one of the three ruling coalition parties, and some officials of other ruling parties, including former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hiromu Nonaka.At a meeting of its executives Wednesday, New Komeito unanimously decided to oppose the dispatch of an Aegis ship, saying the idea had yet to win sufficient public understanding. This is a line of logic that New Komeito often has taken in a bid to limit SDF activities.But the task of winning the public's understanding-if necessary-concerning the dispatch of an Aegis vessel, is what any responsible political party should undertake. The fact that New Komeito merely cited what it claimed was a lack of public consensus on the Aegis dispatch as the reason it opposed sending the ship instead of making an effort to generate such a consensus shows that it lacks responsibility as a political party.Another reason for opposing the dispatch, according to New Komeito and ruling party officials, including Nonaka, was that if the intelligence gathered by Japan's Aegis vessel was shared by the U.S. fleet to help it plan military attacks, this might be interpreted as Japan's exercising its right to collective self-defense, an act they say is forbidden by the war-renouncing Constitution.We can't help but question such specious logic.The network system under which intelligence gathered by Japan's Aegis vessel can be shared by the U.S. fleet already has been mounted on the MSDF destroyers now operating in the Indian Ocean.If the possible exercising of the right of collective self-defense is to be questioned, it follows that Japan's dispatch of destroyers-a fait accompli-should be questioned.Politicking imperils national securityWashington reportedly has made a renewed request to Tokyo recently that Japanese vessels take over lookout and surveillance operations from the U.S. fleet, should it be transferred to the Persian Gulf for a possible attack on Iraq.The government's latest decision can be said to have been made partly in consideration of the U.S. request.The SDF's mission is to shoulder part of the anti-terrorist operation being jointly undertaken by the international community.Japan is duty-bound to extend active cooperation in this regard so that the international antiterrorism campaign does not fall apart.The dispatch of an Aegis vessel is an issue that needs to be looked at coolheadedly from the perspective of whether the dispatch of such a vessel is necessary for Japan to carry out its logistic support activity. Political considerations should have no place in forming such a judgment.It is high time that Japan stopped discussing national security from the perspective of a muddleheaded pacifism, whose adherents say protecting national security is fine as long as the SDF's activities are restrained.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	690	2002-12-05	yoshin0020030220dyc50040i
yomshi0020021206dyc600008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021206dyc600008	EN	\N	Find funds for pension reform.	The national pension system should contribute to a comfortable life after retirement. However, public anxiety and distrust of the system have increased because the burden has become greater and pension payments have been reduced.	14	2002-12-06	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The so-called baby-boom generation will receive pensions in 10 years. It is urgent, therefore, to create a stable pension system that can survive the graying of the population and the low birthrate. Merely carrying out cosmetic measures, as in the past, should be avoided at all costs.Under the national pension system, workers' payments are being used to pay benefits to senior citizens.When the median age of the population was younger and the economy was growing, the pension burden faced by workers was reasonable. But the situation has changed. The number of people paying pension premiums will continue to decline and the number of recipients will increase.Bigger burden expectedThe government has gradually raised pension premiums to maintain the level of benefits. The annuity premium rate, which now stands at 13.58 percent, is expected to exceed 23 percent in 2030, if the current rate of increase continues. The burden will become greater if the birthrate sinks more than expected.As the ability of the working population to support senior citizens is declining, focusing only on the payment of benefits is no longer meaningful.In its report, the ministry proposed a "fixed premium" system to cap premiums at 20 percent of annual income with benefits linked to the growth of total wages and the birthrate.In Europe, pension premiums are reportedly limited to 20 percent of the annual wage. An excessive burden would have a negative effect on the economy. We basically support the proposal to cap premiums at this level because it takes into account the burden workers face.Benefits will decrease to some extent, but they should be kept within reason. To ensure that retirees are able to enjoy a comfortable life, a lower limit to pension benefits should be discussed.Increase government contributionIt may be necessary to study how to maintain pension payments at a certain level. For example, an injection of public funds or the use of pension-related reserve funds to finance the pension system should be considered if the level of benefits declines excessively.To ensure that the pension system has sufficient funds, increasing the government contribution to the basic pension plan is also unavoidable.By law, this contribution will be increased to one-half from one-third by 2004. However, it is not yet known how the government will secure the 2.7 trillion yen needed to do this.Financial resources to increase the government's contribution can be secured only by designating the consumption tax as a welfare tax in which everyone will share the burden evenly.Political leaders must realize their responsibility to move in this direction. Using the economic slump as an excuse to scuttle the discussion is extremely irresponsible.Many aspects of the pension reform need to be discussed and a national consensus must be won. The immediate concern, however, is to secure the financial resources for the reform.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	557	2002-12-06	yoshin0020021206dyc6005d3
yomshi0020021209dyc7000bk	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021209dyc7000bk	EN	\N	Stormy sky darkens road report.	The panel's report has set basic goals for the reform. The final report, however, is the result of a prolonged clash of opinions among the panelists.	16	2002-12-07	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The swirling confusion that has plagued the committee has been a dramatic illustration of the kinds of problems that can arise when an independent organ is tasked with debating fundamental issues that can significantly affect state affairs. No panelist can be held responsible for the results of the committee's confusion, nor is any panelist qualified to deal with the consequences of the confusion. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is the only one liable to face the music, in that he handpicked the panelists.At the eye of the storm was the acrimonious debate on how to keep building the highways the country actually needs. One of the basic reform plans the committee adopted stipulates that no highway will be built unless sorely needed. At the same time, however, the panel had good reason to engage in heated debate on how to raise the funds needed to build highways that are really needed.Clouds of conflictThe panel was unable to resolve the conflict among its members over how to raise funds for building needed highways. Most members insisted on ensuring that the new private bodies be furnished with scant funds for road-building. The panel's chairman and one member, however, dissented, saying the planned firms should be provided with such funding, including a portion of highway tolls.The debts incurred by the four public corporations have swollen to about 40 trillion yen as a result of their constant road-building-even at the expense of profitability. The corporations have long covered these costs with massive loans. Obviously, to continue building highways through this method so long employed by these corporations is impossible.It is also obvious the country should build truly needed new highways. The question is what kind of formula should be adopted to accomplish that goal-something the government must explore.We find it unreasonable that the seven-member independent organ made a final decision-through a majority vote-about basic goals for the reform of the public highway corporations. The committee had to produce a final report before resolving the dispute over how to build truly needed highways.Mountain of problemsThe panel's report has not cleared up the numerous problems that need to be surmounted. The issues related to the privatization of the four public corporations, including standard charges for road rental the planned private corporations will have to pay, are not the only concern.For example, specific formula to be adopted for building highways under the control of the central and local governments must be worked out. This issue is fundamental in that it will force a review of who should be held primarily responsible for building highways and under what methods.The committee has seen some good results from its debate. For instance, it has reached a consensus on the need to clear the massive debts incurred by the four public corporations before anything else. However, the bitter clash of opinions among the panelists has clouded the committee's pursuit of the lofty goal of ensuring that the reforms will benefit all members of society.All in all, the sour end to the panel's debate has shown that the prime minister still has a long way to go before making real progress in reforming the four public corporations, a central pillar of his structural reform campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 7).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2002-12-07	yoshin0020021209dyc7000pv
yomshi0020021209dyc800006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021209dyc800006	EN	\N	Bush's fate tied to economy.	Nonetheless, the New York stock market stopped short of a sharp rebound apparently because market investors felt that, while the announcement absorbed some of the shock of the unexpected rise in the U.S. unemployment rate, it failed to eliminate concerns over U.S. economic prospects.	8	2002-12-08	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The two men held key positions in running the Bush administration's economic policy. Their words and deeds, however, have been criticized by Congress and market players and have hindered the administration's economic policy.Signs of deflation are growing conspicuous in the global market. Coupled with the uncertainty over the possibility of U.S. military action against Iraq, lingering concern remains that the U.S. economy might sink into a double-dip recession. In light of such concern, those both within and outside the government have been calling more loudly for fresh blood to revitalize the economic management system.Unemployment surgesThe U.S. unemployment rate, which also was announced Friday, shot up to 6 percent in November, matching an eight-year high set in April. The Bush administration showed its determination to renew the system by announcing a revamp of the economic team at the very moment when frustrations over the government's economic policy were about to escalate. We can say the announcement was very finely timed.Now, the problem is whether the Bush administration will be able to restore its credibility with Congress and the market, swiftly pick successors to the ousted pair with the ability and the energy to implement policies in a coordinated manner and carry out effective economic-stimulus measures.O'Neill's and Lindsey's official resignations are expected within a few weeks. Under the current economic situation, however, a long vacuum would only prolong anxiety over the future.In November's mid-term elections, the Bush administration pledged to implement an economic-stimulus package, including large-scale tax cuts. Delays in the official resignations of O'Neill and Lindsey and the appointment of their successors, coupled with a Bush administration failure to implement new economic pump-priming measures by the end of the year, would adversely affect not only the U.S. but also the global economy.Stimulus options limitedIt is certainly true that there are many limits on drafting economic-stimulus measures.The official U.S. discount rate is already at a 41-year low, a level at which it can no longer be repeatedly lowered.In addition, the U.S. budget posted a deficit of about 160 billion dollars in fiscal 2002, which ended on Sept. 30. An even larger deficit is believed to be unavoidable in fiscal 2003, due to increased spending on Social Security and unemployment benefits-even with no additional spending on economic pump-priming measures.In the event of an increase in military spending due to an attack on Iraq, the budget deficit will loom larger. If the government continues to issue bonds to make up for losses, it will force up the long-term interest rate, throwing cold water on the economy.Iraq is now Bush's top priority, followed by the presidential election in two years.His father, George H. Bush, was not reelected despite his Gulf War victory because of his economic policy failures. The current U.S. economy, with its shaky foothold, is in a similar situation as it was shortly before the Gulf War.Will Bush be able to forge ahead without echoing his father's mistakes? The president's fate depends on whether he will be able to put the economy on a stable growth track under a new economic team.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	634	2002-12-08	yoshin0020021210dyc8000xi
yomshi0020021209dyca000gv	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021209dyca000gv	EN	\N	Clean up patent mess quickly.	The rapid progress in biotechnology has produced many technologies related to medical care. But Japan lags behind other major countries in drawing up standards that govern how such technologies can be patented.	13	2002-12-10	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Under the Patent Law, one of the conditions for a patent to be granted is that it should be "an invention that can be applied to industrial use."However, the Patent Office has deemed that "the field of medical care is not an industry," thus excluding most inventions in this sector from being considered for a patent.Yet the United States approves patents for a wide range of medical fields, including treatment methods, and this has helped venture businesses in the area grow rapidly.Innovations in medical fields have drawn a lot of attention in many countries, including regenerative medical techniques to treat ailing organs, gene therapy and developments in working with embryonic stem cells.Patent rules stymie researchIn Japan, patents for these technologies have yet to be approved, so medical researchers are leading the calls for improvements to the patent system. Even when researchers produce excellent research results, the current patent law does not allow these results to be put to practical use.An outline compiled by the government in July concerning a strategy for intellectual property calls for a resolution of the issue, which is now being studied by a subcommittee of a panel discussing intellectual property policies. The panel itself is part of the Industrial Structure Council.There are some who call for caution when it comes to expanding patents in medical research. Their reasoning goes something like this: "It's possible that a doctor may be prevented from using a certain medical technique to treat a patient on the brink of death because he or she does not have permission from the technique's patent holder."Such situations should never be allowed to happen. Yet they can be avoided by changes to the current system. Various methods could be used-for example, doctors could be given legal protection against being sued for patent violations.As things stand now, the trend for Japanese researchers who develop advanced medical technologies and then apply for patents only in the United States may accelerate and lead to what some are already calling the hollowing out of the nation's patent system.In this climate, there is also no way for venture businesses to grow. We may even see delays in introducing highly advanced medical services, and this will not be beneficial to patients.A new age dawningNow that the Fundamentals of Intellectual Property Law has been approved by the Diet, efforts to rebuild the nation as an intellectual property power will at long last shift into full swing.The government is expediting its efforts to come up with a general outline on expanding the patent system, and hopes to position biotechology as a strategic sector that will allow Japan to rejuvenate its industries.Further delays in resolving this issue of the patents on medical care techniques will lower the international competitiveness of Japanese industries so far it will never recover.How far should we expand the area covered by patents, and what system should we use? We urge the government to work out concrete steps as soon as possible and expedite its efforts in making much-needed revisions to all the pertinent laws and in mapping out standards for processing patents.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	610	2002-12-10	yoshin0020021210dyca001cj
yomshi0020021210dycb0005p	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021210dycb0005p	EN	\N	Can Kan rebuild Minshuto?	Ever since Minshuto was formed, Kan has represented the party, together with outgoing party leader Yukio Hatoyama.	8	2002-12-11	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	It is doubtful whether the party can rebuild itself by using conventional political methods. Minshuto needs to break away from the conventional style.It goes without saying that the party is in a critical situation. It suffered a devastating defeat in the latest unified by-elections for the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.According to a public poll taken last month by The Yomiuri Shimbun, the percentage of those who cited Minshuto as a party they disliked, at 9.1 percent, surpassed that of the 5.5 percent who said they supported the party. This was an unprecedented development.How did Minshuto get into such a mess? Kan first needs to take a good look at the makeup of his party, which hardly anyone supports, and then expedite efforts to drastically reform it.The biggest challenge Minshuto faces is that there still remain huge discrepancies between its conservative members and those who belonged to the former Social Democratic Party of Japan over such key policies as those concerning the Constitution and national security.This is one of the reasons why Minshuto has been unable to come up with a responsible stance on issues such as Japan's preparedness to deal with a foreign armed attack and on the bill governing the protection of individuals' private information. There are even signs of Minshuto's becoming complacent with its status as an opposition party.Party can't be all things to all menMore than four years have passed since Minshuto was launched in its present form, accommodating members who bolted from Shinshinto (New Frontier Party).Views among its members on key policies remain diverse even now, chiefly because the party leadership has given higher priority to maintaining harmony within the party.Kan is partly to blame for such intraparty disarray because he has played a pivotal role in the management of Minshuto since it was launched.The same mistake should not be repeated. The party leadership should not worry too much about causing a fissure among its members and instead should begin comprehensive debates on key policy issues and aim at forming a consensus on these issues.When doing so, it is particularly important for the party to conclude realistic policies in the light of national interests linked to diplomatic and national security issues, which relate to the fundamentals of the nation.Decide on a policy and stick with itA caucus within the party supporting Kan is the group of former SDPJ members who opposed the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces members abroad under the Antiterrorism Law.If Kan attempts to form a party consensus by positioning himself in line with this group, he is bound to antagonize the party's conservative members, thus aggravating the disunity within the party.Following due procedures, members of a political party should hold comprehensive debates on policy issues. Once they have made a decision, they should stick with it. This is how a party should be run.But Minshuto has long treated these obvious rules halfheartedly. Unless the party changes its behavior, it risks further alienating the public.Kan's term as president lasts until September 2004. While in office, unified local elections and elections for both houses of the Diet will take place.The immediate task Kan must undertake is making Minshuto a party that the public believes represents a realistic alternative-a party whose policies clearly differ from the policies of the Liberal Democratic Party.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	648	2002-12-11	yoshin0020021211dycb004py
yomshi0020021211dycc0005x	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021211dycc0005x	EN	\N	Lessons of the Hayashi trial.	On Wednesday, the Wakayama District Court sentenced Masumi Hayashi to death at the trial in the curry-poisoning incident that took place in Wakayama in July of that year.	16	2002-12-12	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The court decided that the 41-year-old defendant had sickened 67 local residents, four of whom had died later, by adding arsenic to a pot of curry served at a summer festival in the city. Still, Wednesday's ruling may do little to heal the great sorrow felt by the bereaved families of the victims.During all hearings in the lower court trial, Hayashi remained silent about the poisoning case, although she denied all the charges against her. She also refused to cooperate during police investigations into the incident.Despite the great difficulties they experienced in trying to prove her guilt, prosecutors did all they could to gather circumstantial evidence concerning her crime-including the results of advanced tests on the arsenic used in the case and facts established about the crime scene-instead of depending on her to confess to her crime.The court ruling said traces of arsenic discovered at various locations in and around Hayashi's home were identical to samples of arsenic found inside a paper cup recovered from the crime scene. The ruling went on to conclude that it was highly likely that she had used arsenic contained in the cup to lace the pot of curry with the lethal substance.The court also noted that Hayashi had spent time alone in the garage where the dish was being prepared. Thus, the court ruled that the defendant was the only one to have been able to mix the curry with arsenic.Hearings proceeded smoothlyThe ruling said that Hayashi's motivation for perpetrating the curry-poisoning was not known, rejecting the prosecutors' argument that she had committed the crime after being outraged by remarks made by neighborhood housewives about her. But the court said the mystery surrounding her criminal motive did nothing to affect the prosecutors' conclusion that she was guilty. To defend this line of reasoning, the court argued that Hayashi had been aware that the arsenic she had mixed with the curry could kill people, citing the fact that more than half of the substance contained in the cup had been used to lace the dish.Referring to the severity of its sentence, the court insisted that a death sentence was unavoidable, saying, "The case has inevitably made the public feel that social order has deteriorated."Wednesday's ruling indicated that the court accepted the prosecutors' arguments. Apparently alarmed by the growth in the number of cases in which suspects and defendants exercise the right to maintain their silence, the court also pointed the way toward what should be done to more effectively investigate crimes and prove criminal liability.Initially, there were concerns that the legal dispute over the curry-poisoning case could drag on for many years. However, the court concluded its trial in the case after 94 hearings that took less than four years. The court deserves credit for its smooth handling of the case.Case revealed risk of copycat crimesDuring the trial, Hayashi's defense lawyers cooperated in seeking to determine what issues should be contested as focuses of the case. For example, they did not contest prosecutors' assertions concerning her insurance fraud and other cases unrelated to the curry-poisoning. Meanwhile, prosecutors were willing to disclose the evidence they would use in their attempt to prove her guilt. All this did much to enable the court to hold three hearings each month.The government is studying how to encourage courts to speed up proceedings in legal cases in an effort to ensure all legal disputes are concluded within two years. The government plan should be complemented by continued efforts by all people involved in legal disputes to accomplish this goal. It is also necessary to improve the current system governing judicial proceedings.The curry-poisoning incident profoundly shocked the nation, leaving the public with many lessons to be learned. The incident showed, in particular, that crimes involving the use of poisons could be very easily imitated. In 1998 alone, for instance, 35 such crimes were committed in many places across the nation. During the initial stages of their investigations into these cases, police experienced confusion in determining what kinds of poisonous substances were used.Admittedly, there has been progress in equipping police investigators with better equipment for detecting and analyzing poisons used in crimes. It should be noted, however, that solving any poison-related crimes at an early stage is essential to prevent one such crime from leading to another.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 12).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	814	2002-12-12	yoshin0020021213dycc0040z
yomshi0020021213dycd00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021213dycd00008	EN	\N	Disarm North Korean threat.	On Thursday, a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said his nation would revive a nuclear program frozen under a 1994 accord with the United States, with the aim of immediately restarting the construction and operation of nuclear facilities to produce electricity.	12	2002-12-13	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The communist regime's new policy, if implemented, would reactivate its graphite-moderated nuclear reactor program-which could readily produce weapons-grade plutonium. In that event, Pyongyang could develop the capacity to produce more than 100 nuclear arms a year within 10 years.The North Korean announcement is, in effect, tantamount to scrapping the Agreed Framework the energy-starved country signed with the United States.The framework stipulated that North Korea freeze its graphite-moderated nuclear reactor program and dismantle related facilities. In return, the accord required the United States to give the communist state two modern, light-water reactors that North Korea would find very difficult to use to produce weapons-grade plutonium.To justify its decision to reactivate its plutonium-based program, Pyongyang cited the recent U.S.-led decision to suspend, in December, annual shipments of 500,000 tons of heavy oil under the 1994 agreement.North Korea, however, only has itself to blame for the decision.Outrageous attitudeIn October, Pyongyang told U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly that it had a secret program to enrich uranium to make nuclear weapons, despite the 1994 accord.North Korean's behavior was unmistakably in violation of a safeguards agreement signed with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the Agreed Framework and the 1992 Joint Declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.The decision by the Executive Board of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization to suspend oil shipments to North Korea reflected KEDO's determination not to overlook Pyongyang's dishonesty.Nonetheless, Pyongyang is in denial about its own cheating and singled out the United States for criticism. This attitude should be dismissed as outrageous.Under its resumed nuclear program, North Korea may prepare to restart fuel production with the aim of reactivating an experimental reactor. It may also resume work to build two large graphite-moderated nuclear reactors.There are also concerns that North Korea could choose to reprocess spent nuclear fuel kept under IAEA control and use it to produce enough weapons-grade plutonium for about six nuclear weapons.Futile brinkmanshipEight years ago, a United States determined to prevent North Korea from reprocessing its spent nuclear fuel was on the verge of launching a strike against the country. Pyongyang's latest hard-line policy may indicate that it trying to provoke Washington into extending new aid, as it did in 1994.If so, North Korea's tactics should be seen as a typical example of brinkmanship. Pyongyang should realize that such ploys will get it nowhere.Spanish warships recently intercepted and inspected a North Korean ship carrying hidden Scud missiles and heading for Yemen. The incident serves as another reminder of the spreading threat posed by North Korea in selling arms to other nations.The international community must present a united front against North Korea to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 13).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	550	2002-12-13	yoshin0020021213dycd004ek
yomshi0020021216dyce000be	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021216dyce000be	EN	\N	Tax reform plan disappoints.	Even with deflation worsening, the ruling parties are still engaged in conventional, wishy-washy decision-making, forcing various proposals into unhappy marriages.	16	2002-12-14	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	A typical example was their decision to introduce a new tax into the local corporate tax.This corporate tax formula is designed to ask all corporations to share the tax burden-regardless of whether they are losing money-according to the size of their capital and value added, such as personnel costs and interest payments. The three parties agreed to introduce the tax starting in fiscal 2004.The coalition, however, modified the original plan, reducing the portion to be levied according to a company's size from half to one-fourth of the company's entire local corporate tax bill. They also decided not to apply the formula to small and midsize businesses-that is, those with 100 million yen or less in capital. They also set up a special system to reduce the tax burden on firms with large amounts of capital and those whose ratio of personnel costs against entire overhead is extremely high.The coalition parties attempted to appease both prefectural governments, which seek stable tax revenues, and small and midsize businesses, which vehemently oppose the introduction of the new tax. Consequently, the formula ended up as a complicated tax targeting only large companies.Even if the new local corporate tax is necessary, we cannot endorse this plan. The government should wait for economic recovery and simplify the formula.Fuzzy goalThe fiscal 2003 tax reform plan initially aimed to ease the tax burden on businesses by increasing taxes that mainly target individuals, such as income and residential taxes as well as taxes on alcoholic beverages and tobacco, to make up for tax revenue shortfalls.Whether Japan can arrest deflation depends on the revitalization of the private sector, which eventually would benefit individuals. Therefore, that goal should not be criticized for decreasing the tax burden on the private sector at the expense of the public.During negotiations among the ruling parties, the goal of the tax reform proposal became ambiguous.The parties also agreed in principle to abolish in fiscal 2004 the special exemption for spouses, a system that usually applies to homemakers without outside employment, despite New Komeito's objections. On the other hand, however, the Liberal Democratic Party's initial proposal to abolish a tax exemption for children in high school and university was scrapped in the face of strong New Komeito resistance.In following the New Komeito line, the outline proposed expanding child-support allowances without closely examining the effectiveness of such a policy. This was definitely a political compromise.We also find the scrapping of conventional business-revitalization measures from the outline problematic.OversightsMeanwhile, the three parties barely discussed lowering corporate tax rates. They also agreed at an early stage to continue the 2 percent surtax levied on businesses that introduce the consolidated tax payment system. The surtax has been criticized for hindering the reorganization of businesses.Furthermore, the outline failed to include tax measures to help financial institutions dispose of nonperforming loans. It stopped short of referring to a system under which corporate tax is refunded when banks post losses, only saying that the ruling parties will examine how to deal with deferred tax assets.We urge policymakers to deepen discussions on these issues during Diet deliberations. If the nation's business climate changes drastically at the beginning of next year, they must not hesitate to reexamine their tax reform plans and revise them even in the middle of a fiscal year.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 14).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	655	2002-12-14	yoshin0020021215dyce000ph
yomshi0020021215dycf00007	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021215dycf00007	EN	\N	Extra Diet waste of time.	The session lasted 57 days, having passed all 71 new bills submitted by the government. Despite that, there is no sense of fulfillment.	8	2002-12-15	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The government as well as ruling and opposition parties were all aware that the session was tasked with deliberating measures to revive the ailing economy. Nevertheless, policymakers failed to deepen debate on the economy throughout the Diet session.Deliberations on most major bills were postponed. "Contingency" bills concerning the nation's response to an armed attack on Japan were carried over to the next Diet session, and bills concerning the protection of private information were scrapped.Now most people, including those in political circles, are wondering about the real purpose of the just-ended extra Diet. The government and individual parties must sincerely accept and thoroughly reflect on such criticism.Koizumi bears responsibilityPrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is the first one who must bear responsibility for turning the Diet session into such a superficial one. Many expected the government to take urgent steps to arrest deflation. Yet the government stuck to its negative stance on fiscal spending to arrest deflation and failed to submit a supplementary budget, which should have helped solve the problem.The market responded frankly. After investors concluded they could not expect much from the prime minister or the Diet, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average hovered around the 8,000 mark most of the period.This evaluation of the Diet might have been different if it had passed any important bills instead of fruitlessly debating economic measures. However, policymakers failed to come up with such visible accomplishments."At the extraordinary Diet session, contingency bills will be 'definitely' passed and bills on the protection of private information will be passed 'after revisions are made.'" This was the agreement among the leaders of the three ruling parties at the close of the ordinary Diet session in July.Despite the accord, it does not look like ruling parties vigorously worked on opposition parties to fulfill the goals. But the opposition had its own problems. Starting with Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), which failed to unify opinions within the party, opposition parties were negative about passing the bills from the beginning.Too little deliberationIn reality, the number of days and hours spent deliberating these bills was extremely short.But what drew most attention in the final phase of the extra Diet session was the confusion in Minshuto over an intraparty struggle that totally disregarded Diet deliberations.This internal focus of the largest opposition party further reduced the pressure on the government and ruling parties. We can say that the opposition thus allowed Koizumi and the so-called resistance forces opposing his reforms to carry on fruitless debate concerning economic policies.In light of the possible U.S. military attack against Iraq and North Korea's announcement that it was resuming its nuclear development program, the international situation is increasingly strained. And it is needless to emphasize the severe economic situation. Under such circumstances, the Diet is in a miserable state. We regret to say that policymakers lack a sense of crisis.Calls are growing in political circles for the dissolution of the House of Representatives. If the situation remains the same, we fear for the fate of the next ordinary Diet session, which convenes in January.But we should not falter. Both political parties and policymakers must recognize the essential role of the Diet-to deliberate problems and make use of the debate in carrying out policies.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 15).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	613	2002-12-15	yoshin0020021216dycf005v5
yomshi0020021215dycg000b9	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021215dycg000b9	EN	\N	Education standards slipping.	This evaluation appears overly optimistic.	8	2002-12-16	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Conducted in January and February, the test was administered to a total of about 450,000 fifth and sixth grade primary school students and first to third grade middle school students.It was designed to measure the actual state of students' academic ability, in response to a raging debate among education experts over students' declining academic ability.The ministry interpreted the result as "satisfactory" because, by proportion, students answered more questions correctly in many subjects than the ministry estimated they would, based on a national average.Declines from similar tests conducted from 1993 to 1995 were registered in only a handful of subjects, the ministry said.Expect little, get littleIt is important to check how well our students are doing by establishing academic targets. However, some education experts have pointed out that the goals the ministry set in its test were too low, particularly for primary schools.The test contained questions that, for standardization and comparison purposes, were the same as in the previous tests. The results of these questions were classified into three groups-questions on which students as a whole fared worse; those on which they fared about the same; and those on which they fared better.The ministry interpreted overall results for each subject as a decline in academic ability only when students fared worse on half or more of the questions in the subject.Looking closer at the comparison questions, though, we see that students did better in only one-quarter of the questions. Nearly twice this proportion actually did worse, so it is clear that, overall, academic performance is going downhill.The ministry's own report card on the students sends out the wrong message. It should wake up and start treating the decline in our students' academic skills seriously.Competition in entrance examinations has always been tough, and has led to a focus on cramming facts into students. Because of this, the ministry recently has taken the line that school work should make students want to learn, and it has advocated the importance of what it terms a "less strenuous school education."The latest results raise doubts about the ministry's education philosophy.Schools, too, have sometimes not been as strict as they should be on teaching children the basics, preferring to blindly pursue the goal of a stress-free education.The blind leading the blindA better interpretation of the latest results is that, in their pursuit, the ministry and teachers have stumbled down the wrong path-and the signs are showing.At long last, schools are starting to value basic principles such as the acquisition of knowledge and the proper use of skills through repeated practice. These principles are patently obvious, but we should beware of returning to the days when the education system was merely rote memorization.Broken down further by subject and school year, the latest test results show discrepencies in academic ability. Experts have long pointed out that location and home environment also play their parts in influencing how well students perform at school.What these test results show us is how vital it is for school curriculums to be carefully tailored to suit the needs and demands of individual subjects and regional characteristics.Since April, a new set of teaching guidelines has been implemented with a reduced curriculum and less demanding textbooks. However, the ministry has given schools a free hand to teach material over and above what is spelled out in the new guidelines, thus sowing the seeds of confusion among schools.Now that it is clear that students are performing worse at their studies, we urge the ministry to do everything necessary to stop the decline-even if it means reviewing the new teaching guidelines.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	678	2002-12-16	yoshin0020021217dycg0046n
yomshi0020021217dych00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021217dych00008	EN	\N	A rose by any other name.	The 46 separate laws make 49 public corporations subject to review.	8	2002-12-17	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Only seven of these public corporations, including the Teito Rapid Transit Authority, are to be privatized, while other corporations will be transformed into independent administrative institutions (IAIs).But a sizeable number of the public corporations are beset by problems-either failing to adapt their core role to the changing times, or making things hard for private businesses.If these deadbeat corporations change in name only and fail to transform the way they operate, then there will be no real reform.Far-reaching and drastic reform can only be promoted by taking a good hard look at how these corporations change their organizational structure and functions as IAIs.There are merits to transforming public corporations into IAIs. The government will evaluate their performance at the end of their corporate programs (probably between three and five years). If it is not satisfied with their performance, it can decide to scrap them.By doing so, the government believes it will be able to nip bad management or overambitious expansion plans in the bud.Govt track record uninspiringHowever, on the basis of the performance of 60 or so IAIs that were launched in April last year, we have doubts about whether the government can live up to its claims.One interesting fact that came up during the extraordinary Diet deliberations was that most of the full-time executive posts at the IAIs were held by former officials of related government ministries and agencies-posts the IAIs must surely have offered to the former bureaucrats.Another interesting fact: The IAIs have many more posts at the executive level than they had as public corporations. In some cases, top IAI officials were paid more than administrative vice ministers.A special committee of the House of Representatives has adopted a resolution calling for IAI executives to be recruited from wider walks of life-including the private sector-and for executive salaries to better reflect actual performance. The resolution is intended to prevent the new IAIs from becoming "yet another cluster of public corporations."Don't let IAIs off the hookDetractors, however, say that the way IAIs' performance is evaluated by the ministries and agencies that oversee them is too lenient.A Public Management Ministry committee in charge of evaluating ministry's policies and IAIs wants improvements in the assessment method. It says ministries and agencies should use tougher criteria in the so-called primary evaluation, and that these criteria should look at the way IAIs streamline their operations through outsourcing.We urge each and every IAI and government body involved to heed the critics' warnings and do everything they can to adapt themselves to new realities.The government has laid down a review plan that will apply to each public corporation as part of an overall plan to streamline the public corporations.For instance, with regard to the Water Resources Development Public Corporation, which is scheduled to be turned into an IAI, the review plan stipulates that the new entity may not undertake any further water resources development projects.Many pessimists see these new IAIs as just another cover for avoiding reforms. We urge the government to prove them wrong and show that its review plan to remold public corporations is definitely and-at the very least-steadily implemented.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 17).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	602	2002-12-17	yoshin0020021217dych004pk
yomshi0020021219dycj00009	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021219dycj00009	EN	\N	Hana Credit Union on notice.	The government has adopted a plan to use about 410 billion yen of taxpayers' money to resolve the problems arising from the collapse of the five credit associations, including Chogin Tokyo Credit Union.	16	2002-12-19	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The decision came after Hana Credit Union-a lender to be set up with the aim of taking over the operations of the five credit unions-accepted Financial Services Agency demands concerning the lineup of the planned institution's top cadre, including the instruction that a Japanese be appointed as its president.In April, it became known that a figure appointed to head the newly authorized Hana Credit Union had ties to the Pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). The appointment was counter to the statutes of the planned lender. Hana Credit Union's acceptance of the FSA's demands came only days before the lender was due to meet the Dec. 29 deadline set for completing procedures for the transfer of the five failed credit unions' operations under the Deposit Insurance Law.There may be reason to presume that the delay in Hana Credit Union's procedures was due to an attempt by Chongryon to continue influencing the envisaged institution.Cut unions' ties to ChongryonSince the late 1990s, the government has injected 950 billion yen in public funds to liquidate many Chogin credit unions across the nation. The latest decision to use 410 billion yen for similar purposes signifies an end to the government's efforts to resolve the Chogin problem. The taxpayers' money used to complete the procedure will amount to a hefty 1.36 trillion yen. This enormous sum approaches the total amount of funds used in liquidating three failed major banks-the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, Nippon Credit Bank and Hokkaido Takushoku Bank.For years, Chogin credit unions nationwide have been, in effect, under the wing of Chongryon. In fact, Chogin Tokyo's bankruptcy came partly as a result of the unlawful loans it extended to Chongryon. It should be noted that Chongryon is controlled by the North Korean government and is suspected of illegally sending money to the communist regime.It is also disturbing to see that Chongryon has not said it will sever ties with Chogin credit unions in several parts of the nation. Some members of the ruling and opposition parties have reacted strongly to the government's decision to use taxpayers' money to dispose of Chogin, saying that this is not the right thing to do, given the public's sentiment concerning the dispute over Japanese nationals abducted to the communist nation.There once were 38 Chogin credit associations across the country. However, the financial crisis that assailed these lenders will reduce their number to seven, including Hana Credit Union. An important duty facing the government is to ensure that the seven credit unions cut their links to Chongryon, while also transforming themselves into transparent and independent institutions.Pursue reponsibility in the courtsChongryon's long-standing exploitation of the Chogin credit unions can be attributed, in part, to the negligence by prefectural governments and the financial authorities in placing these leaders under harsh scrutiny. This attitude reflects these authorities' concern that they may be blamed for "discriminating against pro-Pyongyang Koreans" in Japan.Strong measures should be taken to monitor the seven Chogin lenders to make sure that they do not operate accounts opened under false names any longer. This should be complemented by an effort to ensure that an audit body strictly inspects their operations. In addition, no change should be made in the current rule requiring Hana Credit Union to be headed by a Japanese.Meanwhile, both criminal and civil actions should be taken against those responsible for the failure of so many Chogin lenders. Thorough measures also should be implemented to recover bad loans extended by these credit unions, including those tied to Chongryon.If yet another case surfaces in which the relationship between the Chogin lenders and Chongryon appears suspect, it could trigger debate about whether the credit unions should be allowed to survive. Chongryon and Chogin officials should take this to heart.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 19).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	739	2002-12-19	yoshin0020021221dycj000xm
yomshi0020021220dyck00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021220dyck00006	EN	\N	Roh must face challenge of North.	Roh Moo Hyun of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party prevailed by a narrow margin over Lee Hoi Chang, fielded by the opposition Grand National Party, in the presidential election, which was effectively a two-way contest.	14	2002-12-20	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As for the South's stance toward the North, the main point of contention in the presidential campaign, Roh pledged to stick to incumbent President Kim Dae Jung's "sunshine policy" of engagement. Although this policy goal has been backed by a majority of South Korea's voters, Roh will face difficulty in dealing fully with concerns over North Korea's possible proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.When Roh's administration is installed in February, its policy toward the North will have a major impact on developments on the Korean Peninsula. Roh will have to come up a comprehensive North Korea policy.Kim Dae Jung's "sunshine policy" has deployed reconciliation and increased North-South interchanges to prod the North into transforming itself. The North Korean regime of Kim Jong Il, however, keeps clinging to its preference for things military with its refusal to halt its WMD proliferation policy.If Roh insists that he definitely can rely on dialogue to solve the problem of the North's nuclear arms program, he must spell out a detailed approach.Clouds over 'sunshine policy'For his part, Lee vehemently criticized the incumbent's "sunshine policy" as merely continuing support for and exchanges with the North while doing nothing in particular to ease the military tension on the peninsula. Instead, the opposition candidate advocated a policy based on the principle of reciprocity.Lee meant that Seoul should extend aid to Pyongyang only if North Korea opted to ease the military tension. Such an approach is similar to the North Korea stance of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush-an attitude that placed importance on U.S.-South Korean consultations.Lee's campaign pledge seemed more convincing than Roh's when we consider Pyongyang's conduct of late, which consistently has run counter to the cause of peace. North Korea's deeds include a nuclear development program using enriched uranium; the export of ballistic missiles; and a unilateral declaration to lift an international freeze on its nuclear facilities in an evident violation of the Agreed Framework with the United States.It is vital for the new South Korean president to clarify his policy vis-a-vis North Korea to foster a close relationship with the Bush administration, which is increasingly skeptical of Kim Jong Il's leadership.Anti-American testMeanwhile, the burgeoning anti-American sentiment in South Korea, which emerged during the campaign, will test the new leader's capabilities.South Korea's anti-U.S. protests have stemmed from the acquittal in a U.S. military tribunal of U.S. servicemen following the deaths of two middle school girls hit by a U.S. military vehicle.To implement an effective North Korea policy, Roh will be pressed to reshape the U.S.-South Korean alliance by reviewing the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement.In a bilateral security meeting early this month, the United States and South Korea warned that North Korea would face the gravest consequences if it used WMD. This week's meeting between the Japanese and U.S. foreign ministers and defense chiefs also produced a similar warning in a joint statement. Whether Japan, the United States and South Korea now will be able to act jointly vis-a-vis North Korea on the basis such warnings is an issue of great concern for Japan.(From Dec. 20 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	630	2002-12-20	yoshin0020021220dyck003z7
yomshi0020021220dycl0005t	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021220dycl0005t	EN	\N	Draft budget lame on deflation.	The Finance Ministry presented its fiscal 2003 draft budget proposal to other ministries and agencies Friday. With 47.59 trillion yen allotted to the general expenditures-about the same scale as the allotment for the initial fiscal 2002 budget-the budget will be austere for a second consecutive year.	16	2002-12-21	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	We regret to say the draft budget, which placed top priority on size restraint, is not enough to steer the economy onto a recovery track.The ministry also proposed issuing a total of 36.45 trillion yen in new government bonds in the coming fiscal year, far exceeding the 30 trillion yen bond issuance cap Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had promised the public. The policy shift was meant to make up for tax-revenue shortfalls, including a significant decline in corporate tax revenues due to prolonged deflation.Many people have clamored for removing the cap on the government bond issuance, saying the policy militates against flexibility. Although the cap was finally scrapped, the decision was made not as a way to resolutely address deflation but rather as a backward-looking measure to deal with tax-revenue shortfalls.Tax revenues have been on the decline for two fiscal years in a row since the launch of the Koizumi government. The government managed to make ends meet by utilizing what is called "hidden debts"-in which the government supplements the general account by borrowing from the special account or delaying debt repayment to the special account. Unfortunately, however, such measures finally have reached their limit. In a way, the Koizumi administration's misrule can be said to be behind tax revenue shortfalls in that it failed to take effective antideflationary measures.Austerity doesn't payThe failure of an austere budget to deal with deflation has become evident, but the government still insists on adopting the same policy in the coming fiscal year without reflecting on its mistakes.Cutting wasteful spending and focusing money on certain important fields are reasonable measures. Indeed, the fiscal 2003 draft budget manages to partially improve certain sticky problems with measures including cuts in public spending on compulsory education and the introduction of a revised public pension system based on price fluctuations.Yet, the problem is that the government again has failed to present a clear vision of how to arrest deflation from a fiscal perspective when unveiling the draft budget for the next fiscal year. We have a strong impression that the government simply retraced the steps it took this fiscal year in its decision to reduce public works spending.Koizumi has loudly insisted that he would deal with the economy in a flexible way because it is a living thing. If he fails to take appropriate actions, however, the business and employment climate will be wracked with insecurity.Path to further deteriorationThe government has projected economic growth of 0.6 percent in fiscal 2003. The projection is based on the premise that the scheduled front-loaded tax cuts will be effective and business will see a revival. Yet, on the other hand, the government has conceded that the deflationary trend will continue, showing up as declines in consumer prices.The adverse effects of the accelerated disposal of nonperforming loans are highly worrisome. According to a government projection, the unemployment rate will rise to a record 5.6 percent in fiscal 2003. This could mean a further deterioration of the nation's economy.The government will be unable to deal with such a crisis by simply combining the fiscal 2003 budget and fiscal 2002 supplementary budget into a so-called 15-month budget aimed at shoring up the economy. We strongly urge the government to deploy all possible measures, including monetary policies, to tackle the current emergency.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 21).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	645	2002-12-21	yoshin0020021221dycl001i7
yomshi0020021221dycm00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021221dycm00003	EN	\N	Push Haneda expansion.	Under the project, a new runway-the fourth for the airport-would be constructed off Haneda in Tokyo Bay. The expansion would raise the number of arrivals and departures at the airport from about 270,000 a year at present to about 400,000.	8	2002-12-22	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	When the runway is completed, the routes linking Haneda with local airports, long neglected due to the limited arrival and departure capacity of Haneda Airport, would be expanded greatly.And with the expanded arrival and departure slots at the airport, rivalry among airlines would be intensified, leading to improved services for passengers.The airport's expansion would also make regular international flight services possible, chiefly at night, thus helping to prevent further damage to Tokyo's reputation as an international city.The airport's expansion, however, has hit a snag, making it difficult to formally launch new runway construction next fiscal year.Securing construction costsThe cause of the delay is the sharp divisions among the Construction and Transport Ministry and seven local prefectures and cities, including the Tokyo metropolitan government, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Yokohama, over how to secure construction funds.Construction and Transport Minister Chikage Ogi is scheduled to hold talks with heads of the seven local governments, including Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, early next year.The ministry should solidify cooperative ties with these local governments toward the launch of the expansion project as soon as possible.Haneda Airport is classified as a first-class airport, with the central government wholly responsible for its original construction and current management.The central government provided the construction expenses of the airport out of its special account for airport improvement.Yet the account is running short of funds to spare for the new expansion of Haneda Airport, because the account is also used to repay debts incurred for the previous offshore expansion of Haneda Airport and for financial assistance to the operation of Kansai International Airport.Part of the construction expenses for KIA and a new international airport, now being constructed off Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, is borne by local governments as the biggest beneficiaries of the airports, despite the fact both the airports are also classified as first-class airport.In the current expansion project for Haneda Airport, the Construction and Transport Ministry asked local governments to cover about 30 percent of the construction costs, estimated to total 900 billion yen. Once the ministry started doing the spadework, however, its call for help was severely rejected.Local funds limitedThe special account for airport improvement, which is limited to airport construction, is funded by such sources as the aviation fuel tax and landing fees. The funds provided for airport construction from local governments' general revenues, whose spending purpose is not specified, are more limited than their funds allocated for the construction of ports and harbors.Although the present way of improving airports and even operating air-traffic control systems with user fees needs to be corrected, it will be difficult for the expansion project of Haneda Airport to be launched early if the ministry only waits for changes in the present, sector-by-sector budget allocation for public works projects.It seems inevitable for local governments to share the construction cost for Haneda Airport's expansion, as local governments shared costs for KIA and the new international airport near Nagoya.Among others things, the Tokyo metropolitan government would be eligible for a tax grant from the central government equal to the fixed - property tax on the runway every year after the new runway is completed. It would thus pay for the metropolitan government to pay part of the expansion cost.We hope the metropolitan government will take the leadership in convincing other local governments to cooperate.The expansion project stumbled first when the ministry failed to decide on the method of constructing the runway. Those who favor the so-called floating method, whereby steel plates are linked and secured to the seabed, and those favoring the conventional land-fill method remain at odds.The ministry should first decide on the construction method and launch an environmental assessment as soon as possible. It should not waste time before the expansion work is formally started.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 22).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	734	2002-12-22	yoshin0020021224dycm000gu
yomshi0020021223dycn00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021223dycn00005	EN	\N	Let's promote car-sharing.	The pilot programs make cars readily available at designated parking lots in front of railway stations or in residential areas; members of the programs may use the cars for as long as they want whenever necessary. The experiment deserve praise as a way to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads.	8	2002-12-23	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Fewer cars means less pollutionThere are now about 75 million vehicles in Japan, an increase of more than 10 million from a decade ago. The rapid rise leads to more air pollution and traffic accidents. The nationwide car-sharing experiment is expected to gain popularity among drivers for its potential to alleviate the negative impacts of having more and more cars on the roads.The experiment has been running since around 1999 in Tokyo and nine prefectures, including Kanagawa, Osaka, Aichi and Fukuoka.About 90 percent of the participants in the pilot program in Tokyo have said they would be willing to continue car-sharing in the future, according to the organization that was commissioned by the Economic, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Construction and Transport Ministry to launch and run the program. In Kyoto, many urban participants reportedly are keen to see a full car-sharing service set up as soon as possible.A Yokohama-based company that has taken over a car-sharing project from a METI-affiliated organization launched its car-sharing operation in April with a fleet of 21 cars at seven parking lots servicing 60 mostly business clients.Users reserve cars through a Web site and use electronic cards to pick the cars up from the parking lots. The company says at least 200 clients are needed for it to make a profit.There are a host of advantages to car-sharing schemes-clients pay less for the use of cars since they do not have to buy any; and landlords do not have to spare as much land for parking lots. Once car-sharing operators establish a cross-region network, the service will become more convenient.In Switzerland, there are a number of car-sharing organizations with thousands of members each, combining car and railway services. According to one report, the annual mileage of an average member of such an organization has decreased from 9,300 kilometers to 2,600 kilometers since they started car-sharing. Members also have reported improvements in their health from an increase in walking and bicycling.Get the nuts and bolts rightOf course, many details have to be worked out for car-sharing to spread in Japan.First, there is a need for guidelines defining what constitutes a car-sharing service company that maintains and manages a fleet. Presumably such operators can be something like cooperatives established to serve mutual benefits-unlike car-rental companies, which serve a range of clients. Therefore, it may not be easy for new organizations that have no experience in turning a profit to run a car-sharing business.Second, it will not be easy to secure enough space for parking facilities at convenient locations, such as next to railway stations.In Switzerland, municipalities and other relevant entities offered financial assistance, cars and parking facilities to help kick start car-sharing schemes. Similar examples have been seen in the United States and France.Here in Japan, both the central and local governments should support the schemes by freeing up public parking facilities-which are not being fully utilized-for car-sharing.(From Dec. 23 Yomiuri Shimbun).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	599	2002-12-23	yoshin0020021224dycn000pt
yomshi0020021224dyco00003	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021224dyco00003	EN	\N	Labor, bosses must cooperate.	The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) has issued a set of guiding principles to be followed by corporate executives in conducting forthcoming annual wage-increase talks with their labor unions. Nippon Keidanren's move comes as Japan faces a serious deflationary crisis.	7	2002-12-24	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	In a report detailing these principles, the nation's largest business organization states that "a number of corporations will be forced to reduce employees' wages," and that "the era has ended in which industry labor unions sought to gain across-the-board pay hikes in shunto negotiations."The latest guidelines are the first of their kind to use such language as "wage cuts" and "an end to the shunto offensive."The Nippon Keidanren report also states that top priority should be given to efforts to keep workers on the payroll, adding that it is essential to adjust the average wages of Japanese workers to "an appropriate level" so that domestic corporations become more internationally competitive and can survive in the global market. Japanese wages are among the highest in the world.Give workers a visionIt should be noted, however, that overly aggressive efforts by corporations to curtail employees' wages could depress consumer spending and lead to even more serious deflation. With this in mind, management boards should not simply propose wage cuts, but they should also share with labor unions their vision of where their businesses are heading. Management should also strive not just to keep workers on the payroll, but create more jobs.The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) has criticized Nippon Keidanren's guidelines, saying that the shunto offensive has an even greater role to play today-for example, in helping improve working conditions for part-timers. Japan's largest labor organization has concluded that Nippon Keidanren's approach to the shunto talks will do little to encourage the economy.However, Rengo shares the opinion expressed by Nippon Keidanren about the need to keep workers on the payroll first and foremost. The labor organization has decided that, for the second consecutive year, it will not present the managements of all the nation's industries with respective unified demands for across-the-board wage hikes. Nippon Keidanren's determination to call off shunto negotiations for wage hikes may drive labor to lose its patience. However, the statement can also be seen as a sign that management is attempting to accept the current situation facing both sides of the negotiating table as irreversible.Commentators have said for several years that the function of the shunto offensive-to hammer out industry-wide wage hikes between labor and management-has broken down, and rejected the sceme as a means of triggering a domino effect in other industries. In fact, labor unions at automobile, electronic and other major industries have long taken the lead in presenting and negotiating demands for across-the-board wage hikes. The results of such negotiations has affected similar talks among other industries and government and other public offices.Old rules no longer applyHowever, this formula does not seem to work any longer, as shown by this year's shunto offensive. On the day designated as the deadline for management to reply to labor's pay-hike demands, some businesses proposed wage cuts and a freeze on mandatory pay raises-immediately after shunto negotiations at key industries agreed to wage hikes. No such confusion would have arisen if labor and management at each corporation had not obstinately sought to produce an agreement on the designated day.Nippon Keidanren's report argues that labor and management should strive to end the seniority-based wage system, and instead adopt a personnel system in which each employee is rewarded according to their achievements.In recent years, the gap between profitable and unprofitable companies has widened. Many firms have made good progress in tailoring wage systems to fit their circumstances. Given this, it is impossible to expect that the conventional shunto formula can any longer determine the correct size of an industry-wide wage hike. Japan has already entered an era in which individual unions and boards of management must discuss among themselves what kind of treatment the firm's employees should be given, and how better to run their companies.Nippon Keidanren has every reason to insist that the shunto offensive should be transformed into a forum for frank dialogue betwen labor and management about the business of running a business.Rengo must realize that rapid changes in society influence shunto negotiations. If it wants to halt the ongoing decline in its power, the labor organization must make progress in improving the overall environment surrounding labor unions.One way to do that would be to present realistic policy proposals.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	822	2002-12-24	yoshin0020021224dyco0013a
yomshi0020021224dycp0005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021224dycp0005r	EN	\N	Yasukuni report dodges issues.	On Tuesday, the panel released a report on its discussions concerning how this country should pay tribute to the memory of the war dead and pray for everlasting peace.	7	2002-12-25	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The report argues that this country should play an active role in maintaining global peace. It also insists that a permanent state-run facility not associated with any religion be erected to pay tribute to the war dead, with the aim of encouraging young people to realize that they are primarily responsible for fulfilling the obligation to realize a peaceful world.However, the advisory panel to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda falls short of stating what kind of facility should be built for that purpose and what kind of formula should be used in honoring the memory of the war dead. Its report only says: "It is too early (to address these issues)."The report remains vague in many respects. It is necessary for the public to fully debate various issues related to the proposed state-run facility.The report concludes that Yasukuni Shrine and the proposed facility can "coexist," saying that the former is a religious facility run by a religious corporation, while the latter would be a nonreligious, state-run building. The report asserts that the two facilities would be essentially distinct from each other.Should foreign invaders be honored?According to the report, the list of the war dead to be honored by the proposed facility for their services before the end of World War II would cover those killed in wars involving Japan since the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The report also says that those to be honored by the facility for their services after the war would comprise those who died while carrying out Japan's activities to maintain peace, including its national defense and its involvement in U.N. peacekeeping operations.The government has every reason to honor not only wartime victims, but also those killed while defending their country, fighting terrorism and engaging in global peace activities.However, the latest report is vague about many pertinent issues. For example, it says that the list of people to be honored by the proposed facility would cover all those victimized by military conflicts. Thus, the report remains ambiguous about the category of victims to be honored by the facility.To justify its ambiguity in this regard, the report states that the answer to the question of who should be honored lies in people's minds. The report goes on to say that no question should be raised over whether the list of victims to be honored by the facility should include any specific individuals.However, we find it disturbing to see that the report states that "there is no reason to treat foreign soldiers and civilians differently from Japanese people" in paying tribute to them at the new facility. Should the report be interpreted to suggest that the list of the war dead to be honored by the facility include Soviet soldiers killed while invading Manchuria at the close of World War II, in violation of the Japan-Soviet Neutrality Pact?During discussions at the panel, one member insisted that the list include North Koreans who died when their spy ship sunk after a firefight with the Japan Coast Guard a year ago. We find this argument simply outrageous.The panel is no less vague about how to treat the so-called Class-A war criminals enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine. These figures are included in the list of wartime victims to be honored at a government-sponsored ceremony held in memory of the war dead every August.Japan's traditions should be respectedThe report's ambiguity may have reflected an attempt by the panel to avoid debating the pros and cons of prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine. The council should have more deeply debated the issue of the war criminals in connection with the proposed facility. In fact, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he intends to continue visiting the shrine even after the new facility is erected.During the panel's debates, some members suggested the council openly express a revisionist opinion about what could be called a masochistic view held by many Japanese about their nation's conduct overseas during and before World War II. Many critics have said that this mind-set came to prevail among the Japanese public because of the judgments of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also known as the Tokyo Trial.In addition, the panel failed to discuss the proposed facility in connection with the constitutional principle concerning the separation of state and religion. The report remains inadequate in this sense, too.The ways in which the war dead of a nation are honored must reflect that country's history and tradition. A decision on such an issue should never be influenced by pressure from overseas.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 25).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	851	2002-12-25	yoshin0020021227dycp00269
yomshi0020021225dycq0000f	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021225dycq0000f	EN	\N	Latest party pantomime a flop.	Five former members of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), including former party Vice President Hiroshi Kumagai, joined with members of Hoshuto (New Conservative Party) to form Hoshushinto, which is also called the New Conservative Party in English. But three Hoshuto members, including party head Takeshi Noda, did not join the new party. They are said to be planning to join the Liberal Democratic Party by the end of the year.	16	2002-12-26	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Consequently, the new party has only two more members than Hoshuto. Moreover, since the ruling three-party framework will remain in place, Hoshushinto is expected to have almost no impact on the current political situation.In this respect, it is quite natural that not a few people wonder why the new party was created.Its establishment gave us pause for thought for too many reasons from the very beginning.First of all, Kumagai was in the vanguard of Minshuto lawmakers critical of the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. But now, he has performed an about-face and joined a party that supports the government.Commenting on his flip-flop, Kumagai said, "It's necessary to create a grand coalition government to pull the country out of crisis." But this explanation will not win much sympathy.Lawmakers put own interests firstFollowing party rules, Minshuto recently held a presidential election in which Naoto Kan, who is said to be at loggerheads with Kumagai, was elected as the new leader of the party. Judging from the circumstances surrounding the election, many observers believe Kumagai attempted to find a way out of a situation that did not favor him by joining Hoshushinto.It also has been pointed out that Kumagai and four other Minshuto members had good reasons to leave the party, including their concerns over competing against LDP candidates who might stand against them in their constituencies. The same is said to be true of the three Hoshuto members who plan to move to the LDP.If this is true, we regret to say that they have placed too much priority on protecting their own interests.Hoshuto's responses also were hard to understand.The party disbanded itself and followed procedures to form the new party so it could accept former Minshuto members who were elected under the proportional representation system.The Diet Law prohibits Diet members who were elected under the proportional representation system to move to another party because the law rules that this represents a breach of voters' trust. But if they join a newly formed party, they are not in violation of the law. The Diet members in question apparently took advantage of a loophole in the law, and they cannot escape the criticism that their action runs counter to the spirit of the law.Political map should be redrawnRecently, it has become quite a common practice for policymakers to move from an opposition party to a ruling party; and within the ruling camp, they tend to opt for a larger party. But this cavalier practice of jumping ship is not only attributable to the politicians' inconstancy-the main reason it happens is because both the ruling and opposition parties have been losing their tenacity.In the case of the largest opposition party, Minshuto, its support rate has plummeted to the worst level since its formation, and party executives have lost almost all of their centripetal power. It is rumored that a second group in Minshuto will defect to Hoshushinto.The move should be welcomed if the formation of the new party will help those involved thoroughly debate principles and policies and bring about a full-fledged realignment of the political landscape on the basis of commonly held policies.However, if allegiances are switched with the sole aim of protecting individual interests, distrust in politics will only increase.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	673	2002-12-26	yoshin0020030220dycq0040l
yomshi0020021227dycr00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021227dycr00006	EN	\N	Faint light at end of 2002 tunnel.	The unemployment rate, which has risen to a record high, shows no sign of improvement amid the accelerating deflationary spiral.	8	2002-12-27	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi continues to drone his litany of "no growth without structural reforms," while failing to present a clear picture for achieving that goal.With a growing likelihood of a U.S. attack on Iraq, North Korea announced the resumption of its nuclear development program, escalating its diplomatic brinkmanship.Many people must be anticipating a rough new year.Such a mood was reflected in the top 10 domestic news items selected by Yomiuri Shimbun readers.But a few bright spots help dispel such pessimism.We believe they can serve as the light to guide the nation out of the tunnel.Dreams beyond wildest imaginationThe entire country was awash with good cheer when two Japanese won the Nobel Prize in the same year for the first time. It is no surprise this was selected as the top news item.Masatoshi Koshiba, professor emeritus at Tokyo University, received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contribution to research on neutrinos, the elementary building blocks of the universe, and the development of neutrino astrophysics, opening a new window on the universe. Koichi Tanaka, a senior engineer at Shimadzu Corp., won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contribution to using soft laser desorption technology to analyze protein molecules, an essential discovery for the study of life.We were all fascinated by the two Nobel laureates' unaffected character and sense of humor. We still vividly recall Tanaka's refreshing appearance when he showed up at a press conference in his work clothes after learning he had won the prize, which he described as "a bolt from the blue."The two laureates' words upon winning the award provided great encouragement to the Japanese."Hold onto a big dream, young men," Koshiba said, while Tanaka advised: "Don't be bound by common sense, and don't be discouraged by failure."The young men in blue made an "unfinished dream" come true by advancing to the second round in the soccer World Cup finals, cohosted by Japan and South Korea (third place).Making the second round is extremely difficult even for a top soccer power. With the strong backing of enthusiastic supporters, Japan, along with South Korea, which advanced to the semifinals, managed to defy conventional wisdom.While the U.S.-produced "Harry Potter" series was a mega hit at the box office, director Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) received the Golden Bear, the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, testifying to the high standards of Japanese animated films (15th place).The untimely death of Prince Takamado, however, was an abrupt and sad departure from these encouraging news items (seventh place).Bad old habitsMeanwhile, a series of scandals revealed the lack of logic in what politicians, bureaucrats and businesspeople have regarded as "common sense."Following allegations of his involvement in bid-rigging in the construction of the so-called Muneo House, a guesthouse on Kunashiri Island, one of four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested House of Representatives member Muneo Suzuki on suspicion of influence-peddling (fifth place). Suzuki is suspected of pressuring the Forestry Agency to grant favorable treatment to a firm in Hokkaido in exchange for bribes.Though Suzuki boasted that he collected small sums in donations each from a wide range of supporters, part of those funds are suspected of having been bribes. Prosecutors thus served notice that this common practice in the political world would no longer be tolerated.Former Social Democratic Party member Kiyomi Tsujimoto and former Liberal Democratic Party member Makiko Tanaka resigned from their lower houses seats in connection with the alleged misuse of their secretaries' state-paid salaries (eighth place).Many other policymakers are suspected of indulging in the practice, and the scandals shed light on the long-standing misdeeds of the Diet.Tanaka's high popularity had catapulted her into the post of foreign minister. Koizumi, however, sacked her partly because of her lack of qualifications for the job (10th place).Industrial shenanigansAn industry that conceals information that consumers should know as a matter of course should face grave consequences. Typical of such misdeeds are the irregularities involving food-related industries.Consumers reacted fiercely to a host of cases of misuse of funds the government prepared for purchasing domestic beef as a measure against a bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak (sixth place). A series of food-mislabeling cases also occurred (20th place).The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Ministry is also to blame for those food-related scandals because of its producer-first stance. Nothing is more natural than for an advisory panel appointed by both the agriculture minister and the health, labor and welfare minister to conclude in a report that the farm ministry had made an utter policy mistake (21st place).Tokyo Electric Power Co. and other power utilities had falsified reports about troubles at nuclear power plants for many years as a common practice-another industrial scandal (l3th place).Time to face new challengesThe situation in Japan's environs has become increasingly tense-especially the rapidly changing situation on the Korean Peninsula.Koizumi visited Pyongyang for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, during which Kim admitted that his country had abducted Japanese nationals. Five abductees subsequently returned home. Ninety-four percent of our readers-the second largest portion-chose the story as the No. 2 news item.The five abductees showed a mix of anxiety, joy and embarrassment when they emerged from a chartered aircraft from Pyongyang, with the fate of other Japanese abductees unknown, while the returnees fretted about family members left behind in North Korea.Now that the five abductees have gained confidence in the government's diplomatic efforts, they no longer wear their badges with likenesses of North Korean leaders.The weak-kneed nature of Japan's diplomatic corps was shown up when armed Chinese police detained North Koreans trying to seek asylum at the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang (ninth place). The government must be more resolute in its diplomatic conduct.A brightly colored painting done by Nobel laureate Tanaka when he was a fourth-grader in primary school was found in the storehouse at the house where he was born in Toyama.The painting depicts exploration of the seabed. A submergible craft, called "Whale 50," moves forward extending a mechanical hand. The operator is of course the boy Tanaka. An express train track is under construction on the seabed, which is populated by frog-like fish.Tanaka's boyhood vision must have led him to receive the Nobel Prize.Hideki Matsui, Japanese baseball's top slugger, has decided to pursue his own long-cherished dream of playing for a U.S. major league team. "I'll find my way with a vision," Matsui said, displaying his strong determination. That readers put the victory of Matsui's team, the Yomiuri Giants, in the Japan Series and his decision to play in the major league in fourth place is a show of support for his dream.There is no tunnel without exits. The year 2002 reminds us anew of the importance of dreams and visions and efforts made without fear of failure.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 27).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1259	2002-12-27	yoshin0020021228dycr002sq
yomshi0020021227dycs0005r	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021227dycs0005r	EN	\N	Pyongyang N-games gone too far.	After unsealing its graphite-moderated nuclear reactors in Yongbyong and moving fuel rods to the reactors, North Korea notified the International Atomic Energy Agency that it would restart operations of the nuclear facilities in one or two months.	16	2002-12-28	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	Pyongyang also said it would expel international inspectors from the country.The communist regime unilaterally thawed out its nuclear development program, ignoring a warning from the IAEA.As a result, the U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework, which stipulates that North Korea freeze its graphite-moderated nuclear reactors and dismantle related facilities, has virtually collapsed.Pyongyang should stop playing with nuclear weapons in its effort to raise the stakes in its brinkmanship diplomacy.It should immediately stop moving fuel rods to the nuclear facilities and cooperate with the IAEA request that it seal the facilities and restore monitoring cameras.North Korea claimed that because the United States had halted crude oil supplies to the country, it had to unseal the graphite-moderated nuclear reactors to generate electricity to make up for the shortfall.Unconvincing claimsThis line of reasoning is unconvincing.The reason the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization decided to halt crude oil supplies to North Korea, starting in December, is that Pyongyang planned to use enriched uranium to restart its development of nuclear weapons.Pyongyang must first abandon its nuclear arms development program.As the IAEA has pointed out, North Korea's claim is fallacious in that the unsealed nuclear facilities included depositories for freezing spent nuclear fuel and a radiation chemistry research institute that reprocesses spent nuclear fuel.These facilities are not used to generate electricity.North Korea obviously plans to reprocess spent nuclear fuel, enabling it to produce about 30 kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium. The amount is enough to manufacture six nuclear weapons, resulting in North Korea's nuclear armament.Just eight years ago, when North Korea tried to reprocess spent nuclear fuel, then U.S. President Bill Clinton looked into the possibility of launching an attack on Yongbyong and the U.N. Security Council discussed imposing sanctions on the communist country.The crisis was averted when the late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung told visiting former U.S. President Jimmy Carter that his country would not reprocess spent nuclear fuel and would shut down the nuclear facilities.Threat of nuclear warNorth Korea's resumption of reprocessing operations would heighten tension on the Korean Peninsula at one stroke, possibly leading to a nuclear war.It is only right that the United States stand firm without yielding to the threat.As it has done before, North Korea apparently wants to bring Washington to the negotiating table to win more concessions, but its foolish games have dimmed the chances of a dialogue with the United States.The international community should make its utmost efforts to urge North Korea to scrap its nuclear arms development program.The IAEA will hold an emergency board meeting early next year to discuss the North Korea issue, with an eye to referring it to the Security Council.This is also a grave problem for Japan. The government should keep in close contact with the United States, Russia, China and South Korea to prevent Pyongyang from developing nuclear weapons.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 28).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	568	2002-12-28	yoshin0020021228dycs0035u
yomshi0020021228dyct00005	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021228dyct00005	EN	\N	Ban cloning of humans.	A sect based in Switzerland announced Friday that it had produced the world's first human clone, a baby girl. In the near future, four other human clones will be born, the sect added.	8	2002-12-29	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	As there is no scientific proof of the claim, many scientists strongly doubt that a cloned human was born.In a separate case, an Italian gynecologist had announced earlier that he successfully impregnated a woman with cloning technology. And there is yet another group reportedly trying to produce a human clone.We can no longer remain idle about this matter.As the success rate for producing healthy clones in other animals remains low, it is highly probable that cloned human babies would have abnormalities. To experimentally apply such technology to humans is vicious.Genetic diversity crucialAmong other things, it is ethically unacceptable. The survival of higher animal life depends on genetic diversity achieved by mixing the genes of parents.Producing a cloned human goes against the history of evolution of life over hundreds of millions of years. Human cloning may confuse parent-child relationships and other intrafamily relationships, thus producing a serious impact on social order.It is only natural for world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush and French President Jacques Chirac, to express their strong concerns over human cloning, saying it goes against human dignity.In Britain, a cloned sheep was born in 1996. For fear that such technology could be applied to humans, various countries began regulating human cloning.The practice is banned by law in Japan, Britain, Germany, France and Russia. In the United States, however, relevant legislation has been stalled.Early this year, a special U.N. committee began drafting a treaty to ban human cloning for reproductive purposes, but has yet to work out a final plan.Bright side, dark sideCloning technology has a bright and a dark side. The dark side is exemplified by the production of a cloned human, as indicated by the latest case.On the bright side, it is possible that cloning technology would open the way for producing rejection-free tissue for transplantation, by combining the technology with that of embryonic stem cells.Thus, opinions are split, with some calling for a ban only on human cloning for reproduction and others calling for a ban on human cloning for any purpose. But there is no longer time to argue.One group has said that if every country regulates human cloning, it will attempt to arrange for a cloned human to be born on the high seas.We need to accelerate efforts to create a treaty that at least would ban human cloning for reproduction. For those countries where there are no relevant regulations, it is urgently necessary to reinforce measures to prohibit such acts or to punish them.To plug all loopholes in banning the foolish act of cloning humans, it is essential for all countries to cooperate.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	504	2002-12-29	yoshin0020021230dyct000qu
yomshi0020021229dycu00008	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021229dycu00008	EN	\N	2002 marked by terrorism.	The impact of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States is still being felt around the world. The antiterrorism campaign initiated by U.S. President George W. Bush is not yet near an end.	8	2002-12-30	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	The unsettling and uncertain circumstances surrounding the world are reflected in the list of the top 10 international news reports selected by Yomiuri Shimbun readers.Weeks after his military campaign overthrew Afghanistan's Taliban regime, Bush delivered his State of the Union message in January, stating that the Taliban regime's collapse was not the end of the U.S.-led antiterrorism combat, but just the beginning. Ranked seventh in the top 10 list was Bush's move to denounce Iran, Iraq and North Korea as an "axis of evil," saying that they were terrorist sponsors attempting to develop weapons of mass destruction.The 'axis of evil'His "axis of evil" statement served as a warning that those three nations could be singled out as the target of the next U.S. military attack. Third place on the list went to the Bush administration's success in getting the U.N. Security Council to unanimously adopt a resolution to force Iraq to accept an unconditional international inspection of its WMD in November. Iraq's ensuing acceptance of the resolution may have shown that the country felt it had no choice but to accept the terms of the resolution.A U.N. team of inspectors now in Iraq is scheduled to present the Security Council with a report on the results of its inspection by late January.The United States is steadily making preparations for an anticipated military action against Iraq. This presents a challenge to Japan and other nations to think about their response to a U.S. attack on Iraq.In September, the Bush administration announced a new foreign policy doctrine that backed preemptive military action to counter perceived terrorist threats. The new doctrine is seen as a shift in Washington's military strategy-from the deterrence of threats and containment policies employed during the Cold War to a strategy of preventing war by using its overwhelming military power. The U.S. move may signal the country's determination to strike Iraq.War on Iraq contestedHowever, the new U.S. doctrine has drawn fire from some people who regard it as a perilous attempt to settle international disputes through the use of force first and foremost. Those critics include former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, whose winning of this year's Nobel Peace Prize was ranked 12th on the Yomiuri Shimbun list.Sixth on the list were reports about suspicions over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. International concern about the nuclear program grew rapidly after the isolated state acknowledged it was working on a secret program to make enriched uranium. After the revelation, the United States decided to suspend heavy oil shipments to North Korea, a move that caused Pyongyang to reactivate nuclear facilities frozen under the 1994 Agreed Framework between the two countries.Pyongyang is using its nuclear weapons program as a bargaining chip to force Washington to reopen bilateral negotiations. This approach apparently reflects a North Korean hope that improved relations with the United States will help the regime overcome the serious crisis facing it. However, the Bush administration has refused to enter talks with North Korea, demanding that the isolated country first abandon its nuclear weapons program. Washington likely will use diplomacy to get China and Russia to help it break the gridlock in its favor.Ranked 10th on the list was the news of North Korean residents in China seeking political asylum by rushing into foreign missions in that country.Al-Qaida's long armThe global campaign against terrorism has been unable to deal a fatal blow to Al-Qaida, the international terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden. This year has seen numerous terrorist incidents linked to Al-Qaida and organizations tied to it. In many parts of the world, terrorists have struck targets without regard for national borders.A car bomb that destroyed a nightclub on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in October was ranked second in the top 10 news items. The incident killed more than 190 people, including two Japanese.Several days before the Bali attack, a French tanker was blown up in waters off Yemen. This was followed by a bomb attack on a Kenyan hotel; the death toll in the hotel bombing included Israelis.Ranked ninth was Israel's storming of the Palestinian autonomous region in the West Bank-a move Israel characterized as a justified response against terrorist attacks by Palestinian radicals. The Bush administration has strongly antagonized Arab states even more than it had before by its tacit approval of Israel's excessive response.Topping the list of the year's most important news, however, was the October storming of a Russian theater by Chechen separatist gunmen who took about 800 people hostage. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent crack forces into the theater, forcing the attackers to surrender. In the same region, a blast was set off in Chechnya in late December, killing a large number of people.The Russian president has labeled Chechen extremists as "international terrorists," saying that the continued conflict with them was a fight against terrorism.Prior to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, European nations criticized Putin's strong-arm tactics. The general view after the Sept. 11 incident was that forcible measures can be justified in these countries if they are aimed at fighting terrorism.Europe, China grow in statureThe U.S.-led antiterrorism campaign has served to increase that nation's position as the world's sole superpower. However, the European Union has sought to deepen and expand its integration, with the aim of becoming another power in the world.In January, the 12 EU members, excluding Britain and two other nations, introduced euro notes and coins in the region. This news ranked fifth in the list.In December, EU leaders agreed that their union would be expanded to include 10 Central and East European countries, thus becoming a 25-member bloc. This will signify the complete collapse of the wall that divided East and West European countries during the postwar period. A new Europe will be ushered in that will enjoy a greater say in the international community.Fourth place on the list went to a historic flood-the worst to strike Europe for 150 years-that killed close to 100 people.In November, the Chinese Communist Party launched a new leadership with Vice President Hu Jingtao as party general secretary. This was ranked eighth on the list.China cannot rival the United States in military or other forms of power. Given this, there is good reason to believe that China will continue to strive toward greater strength, but that it will realize its best path is not to oppose the United States but to join hands with it in the antiterrorism campaign.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 30).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	1211	2002-12-30	yoshin0020021230dycu0010l
yomshi0020021231dycv00006	distdoc:archive/ArchiveDoc::Article/yomshi0020021231dycv00006	EN	\N	Insurance needs more work.	The agreement reached at the 42-member corporation on Friday will enable the institution to keep its coffers filled with 500 billion yen in operating funds after April.	7	2002-12-31	Yomiuri Shimbun, The	\N	\N	Daily Yomiuri	YOMSHI	However, this amount is smaller than in the past. There is no sign that the life insurance industry will finally be able to resolve various problems facing its business. These problems include the so-called negative spread-when the anticipated rate of return on insurance premium investments is higher than the actual yield of such investments, as it is now.Drastic measures should be taken to address the widespread concerns about the life insurance business and revitalize the industry. This would need not only an improvement in the current safety net but also a reduction in the assured rate of return on premium investments.The life insurance policyholder protection system is designed to provide assurances about the amount of insurance money to be received by policyholders in the future.Since its establishment as a private-sector foundation financed by life insurers in 1998, the Life Insurance Policyholders Protection Corporation has set up a system in which its member firms are obliged to pay 560 billion yen in contributions to the institution's coffers. This has been followed by a government decision to pay up to 400 billion yen in taxpayers' money to the fund if any life insurance firm goes under.However, the amount still remaining in the institution fund has been reduced to 22 billion yen as a result of measures implemented to settle the problems arising from the collapse of three mutual life insurance companies-Toho, Daihyaku and Taisho. In addition, government assurance about its contribution of taxpayers' money was scheduled to expire at the end of March.Get real on safety netEarlier, the Financial Services Agency decided to extend the period of the government assurances for another three years, while also urging the life insurance firms to pay 340 billion yen in additional contributions to the corporation's coffers. However, the life insurance industry rejected the FSA request. This raised concerns about whether the institution's safety net could be kept intact.Undoubtedly, some life insurance companies may force their policyholders to shoulder additional burdens if they must pay more money to protect policyholders because their fellow insurers failed. Many firms were also unhappy that the public funds promised by the government would not be easily accessible under the system-in effect, they charged, it was "show money."However, there were concerns that the failure to extend the period of the government assurances would have seriously damaged policyholder confidence. That in turn could have dealt a serious blow to efforts by life insurers to win customers.It will also be difficult to gain the public's support for using taxpayers' money to cover losses incurred by collapsed life insurers.On Friday, the corporation decided that life insurance firms would pay 78 billion yen in additional contributions to be added to the 22 billion yen already in the fund, a decision that would take the industry bill to 100 billion yen. This extra payment was a condition of the government decision to extend the length of its assurance, and means that both the life insurance industry and the government have made concessions in resolving the dispute.Their decisions have served to maintain the corporation's safety net, and both parties should be commended in this regard.Give insurers a breakIt should be noted, however, that the life insurance industry will be straining to pay off the additional burdens. The latest decision to impose new financial burdens on them should be the last of its kind.To turn the troubled life insurance industry around, it is essential to resolve the various problems facing the business, including the current negative spread.Banks and life insurers are in the same boat in that their cross-shareholdings constitute an important part of their business. In this sense, efforts to revitalize the life insurance business will play a key role in stabilizing the financial systems.The FSA was considering revising the Life Insurance Business Law to enable life insurers to lower their assured rates of return on premium investments. However, the agency has decided not to draft a bill that could accomplish that goal. Measures should be taken to address issues related to the problem as soon as possible.(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 31).	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	\N	788	2002-12-31	yoshin0020021231dycv00035
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